VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA ANNEXURE

CLASS: XII- ENGLISH CORE

Vistas
The Third Level
Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was the psychiatrist’s reaction when Charley told him about ‘The Third Level’?
Answer:
The psychiatrist told him that it was a walking-dream wish fulfillment. He also told that
Charley was unhappy.

Question 2.
What is the world filled up with?
Answer:
The world is filled up with insecurity, fear,war .worry and a lot of tensions. On the other hand,
there is joy, satisfaction, security and positivity in the world also.

Question 3.
What, according to the author is ‘Stamp Collecting ?
Answer:
According to the author, stamp collecting is a ‘temporary refuge from reality’. Its an
escapement from worldly worries.

Question 4.
What happened with Charley at Grand Central Station?
Answer:
At Grand Central Station, Charley entered into a subway to get the train to his home but he
was misdirected and entered into an another way that was, according to him ‘The Third
Level’.

Question 5.
What did Charley find there?
Answer:
At the third level, Charley saw the people wearing old-fashiond dress, an old locomotive,
newspaper dated June 11, 1894, brass spittoons, flickering gas same lights and many other
things related to that century.

Question 6.
What do you understand by escapement?
Answer:
Escapement, in this sense means the saving of oneself from worldly worries like insecurity,
fear, war, worry and a lot.

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Question 7.
I’ve taken the obvious step’. Explain.
Answer:
Nobody believed on Charley’s statement about ‘The Third Level’. His wife was alarmed and
brought him to the psychiatrist. Charley himself needed to meet the psychiatrist. It was an
‘obvious step’.

Question 8.
What was Charley’s vision about Galesburg town?
Answer:
Charley thought that Galesburg was still a wonderful town. In that century in 1894, people
used to sit on their lawns, having sufficient time to talk to each other, smoking cigars, women
waving palm-leaf fans in very long summer evenings, overall, it was a peaceful and friendly
place.

Question 9.
Why did Charley return from the third level?
Answer:
With the wings of imagination, Charley returned to collect enough money to buy two tickets
to Galesburg town for himself and his wife Louisa. (As the clerk was not accepting the
currency which Charley was having related to the modem world.)

Question 10.
When and how did Charley find the letter of Sam?
Answer:
One night, while fussing with his stamp collection, Charley found, among his oldest first-day
covers, the letter of Sam with a six-cent stamp mailed to his Granddad earlier into his
collection.

Question 11.
How much old currency did Sam buy?
Answer:
Sam bought the old currency worth eight hundred dollars.

Question 12.
What business did Sam want to do?
Answer:
Sam wanted to do the business of hay, feed and grain.

Question 13.
What did the ticket clerk say to Charley?
Answer:
The ticket-clerk scolded Charley that that was not the real currency which he was having.
Additionally, he warned Charley that if he was trying to skin him, he would not go very far.
He would be prisoned.

Question 14.
‘But now we are both looking….’ What does this refer to? Explain.
Answer:
The above mentioned words were said by Charley as he and his wife Louisa, both every
weekend started to search the third level because they had the proof. Charleys friend Sam
was disappeared. So, they both Charley Louisa were looking for the third level.

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Question 15.
What does the third level refer to?
Answer:
The third level refers to the subway of the Grand Central Station in New York. Though this
‘Third level’ was not present there physically, but Charley claimed it to be present there.

Question 16.
Would Charley ever go back to the ticket- counter on the third level to buy tickets to
Galesburg for himself and his wife?
Answer:
No, Charley would never go back to the ticket-counter on the third level to buy tickets to
Galesburg for himself and his wife because he would never find that third level again
possibly.

Question 17.
Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Answer:
Yes, The third level was a medium of escape for Charley because he might be unhappy and
fearful form worldly worries. He explained that he meant the modern world is full of
insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it, and he just wanted to escape from that and
this happens when any person is unable to face and fight such abstract aggressors.

Question 18.
What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?
Answer:
Sam’s letter to Charley proves that Sam has found and reached to the third level. He is
staying there in Galesburg since last two weeks and watching various activities and explains
to Charley. He invites both Charley and his wife Louisa and motivates them . to continue
their search of the third level. So, we can say that Sam was also a victim of worldly worries
and seeking the escapement, like Charley.

Question 19.
“The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress”. What are the ways in
which we attempt to overcome them?
Answer:
No doubt, the modern world is full of insecurity, fear,war worry and stress. And to overcome
them, people start to adopt their own ways. As some people start to imagine and develop
their own unreal world, whereas some people start to use alcoholic products and destroy
their lives. These all ways are just only escapement and not the solution.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Answer:
Actually, the third level did not exist at the Grand Central Station. It was confirmed by the
station master. Charley, during returning his home only imagined about the third level to
escape himself from the dissonant truth of this world. He often used to think to move to
Galesburg which existed in 1894. It was considered that the people at that time were without
worldly tensions.

He himself also wanted to reach there and imagined his presence in that century. Once he
returned to the real life but was continously thinking about that world. At the same time, his
friend Sam’s disappearance compelled him-fo believe about it and then again he as well as

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his wife Louisa, both started to search the third level. In this way, we can say that the third
level was surely a medium of escapement for Charley. Though it was an imagination, but
gave him more satisfaction.

Question 2.
Why did Charley again wanted to go to the third level?
Answer:
As once Charley had visited the third level in his imaginations, he found and noticed a big
difference and as Galesburg was in his thought since starting to find the peace, he became
totally satisfied but after reaching to the ticket-window, he came to know that he was unable
to buy tickets or to do any trans¬action due to lack of the currency of those days. He realised
it and returned to the real life to buy some old time currency from the exchange and than to
return to the third level and Galesburg to stay there permanently.

He, actually wanted to buy two tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife as he was sure
that in Galesburg, people live without worldly worries and have enough time to spend with
each other. Things were also very cheap and with the money with him, he would be able to
survive there easily. So, Charley wanted to return to the third level for his escapement and
satisfaction, though the third level actually did not exist, it was only his imagination.

Question 3.
Philately helps keep the past alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done. What do you
think of the human tendency to constantly move between the past, the present and the
future?
Answer:
Philately Stamp collecting, the study of postage stamps, postal routes, postal history etc. is a
way adopted by many persons to keep the past alive in their minds. Except this way, various
other ways keep our past alive as through museums, historical buildings & monuments,
things used by the past persons, photographs, old books; we travel into our past.

Its the common tendency of human beings to travel or to constantly move between the past,
the present and the future. Actually, we live in present but through the gift of memory given
by God, we go years back and through the power of imagination, we try to step into future
also. This shifting is controlled by our conscious and unconscious both parts of mind and
thus we find satisfaction and enjoy and survive in this world in the present.

Question 4.
You have read ‘Adventure’ by Jayant Narlikar in Hombill Class XI. Compare the inter
weaving of fantasy and reality in the two stories.
Answer:
The lesson ‘Adventure’ written by ‘Jayant Narlikar’ describes about the past’s happening and
its major effect on history of the world. Professor Gaitonde made transition from one world to
another during his unique experience about battle of Panipat and the professor went back to
that time, supposing Maratha’s victory, thus he experienced a different world.

In ‘the third level’, Charley and Sam both escaped from the present situations and
experienced a different world. Both the stories are the interweaving of fantasy and reality,
facing past and present experiences of the characters and define their mental condition and
imaginations.

Question 5.
Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?
Answer:
Yes, an intersection of time and space is seen in the story. Charley, as an escapist moves in

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past from present. He reaches in the last century in 1894, that is practically impossible but
due to his imagination he was shifted to the third level and found himself at Galasburg,
Illinois. That seems to be psychological and his psychiatrist friend Sam is also the victim of
modem worldly worries and he himself also shifts to the third level. The author Jack Finney
is a science fiction writer and presents the intersection of time and space both in a very
logical way and proves its possiblity due to escapement.

Question 6.
Apparaut illogicaly sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection? Discuss.
Answer:
Apparant illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection as most of the things we
see around, once were in somebody’s thoughts and seemed to be impossible, but later
proved possible. Science has made it possible. Our unconcious mind is responsible for such
happenings.

With the combination of these, we sometimes able to invent or discover the amazing things
and facts that are totally unknown for the world till its physical appearance. ‘So, at its early
stage, impossiblity arrives but soon, due to right projection, comes in the view and startles
the common mass.

Value Based Questions

1. Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection. Discuss with

reference to ‘The Third Level.’
Ans – Value points
It is true that apparent illogicality turns out to be a futuristic projection.
man could fly was unimaginable before the Wright Brothers invented the first airplane.
long-distance talks occurring in the real-time system were not thought of before Alexander
Graham Bell invented the telephone.
The internet has revolutionized communication and is now a part of our everyday life.
One-point visions that seem illogical; turn out to be ground breaking things that alter
mankind’s futures.
Similarly, it would not be farfetched to think of railway stations equipped with time-machine
tools that would allow traveling only a matter of time from one age to the next.

2. Philately helps in keeping the past alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done. What
do you think of human tendency to constantly move between the past, the present and the
future?
Ans – Value points
In addition to philately, collecting historical objects, drawings and inscriptions in a museum,
collecting and reading books written in various periods (including autobiographies, bio-
sketches, letters and diary entries), collecting and watching documentaries and other videos
are all a few ways to explore history.
Besides, if we observe the rituals in ceremonies, treasured memories in the form of images,
photos and audio recordings we will hold our culture and traditions alive.
Reviving old temples, buildings and other objects can also provide an immense learning
opportunity for those visiting these sites, while at the same time encouraging tourism.
A great intellectual gift is the capacity to oscillate between the past, the present and the
future. This human propensity helps him to prepare for the future in the present by reaping
past benefits.
A student makes an action plan to fix the poor areas further and score higher in the future,
taking into account the past outcome (of class testing or half yearly exams). This help in
making important decisions to improve future results.

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3. Why did Charley think that Grand Central Station was growing like a tree, pushing out new
corridors and staircases like roots?
Ans – The Grand Central Station had two levels and the narrator had been there many
times. On many occasions, he had new experiences. One day, he lost his way, and entered
a tunnel from where suburban trains left. One tunnel opened in the lobby of a hotel.
This made him think that the station was pushing up new corridors and staircases like roots
of a tree. Perhaps the tunnels led to Times Square and Central Park.
However, Charley reached the third level. This corridor had led him into the past.

4. Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story ‘The Third Level’?
Ans – Value points
Instances of intersection of time and place.
The two levels existed in present time while the third level existed in 1894.
Charley and Louisa live in present time but Charley gets old currency to reach the station of
Galesburg of 1894.
The platform of the old station is different from that of the two levels of the present time. The
newspaper- The World was published in 1894. It was dated June 11, 1894, overlaps with
Charley’s real time existence.
The letter mailed to Charley’s grandfather on July 18, 1894 displays the intersection of time
and space because both Sam and Charley live in the present time.
The people in 1894 dress in an old fashioned manner

The Tiger King

Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What were the different names given to the King of Pratibandapuram?
Answer:
The king of Pratibandapuram was known as many different names. He may be identified as
His Highness Jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajdhiraj Visva
Bhuvana Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C. or C.R.C.K.

Question 2.
How did the Tiger King acquire his name?
Answer:
The king of Pratibandapuram got the name of Tiger King as it was prophesized that his
death would come from the hundredth tiger. Therefore he decided to kill hundred tigers
before pursuing any other affairs. He killed so many tigers that he came to be known as the
Tiger King.

Question 3.
When he was only ten days old, a prediction was made about the future of the Tiger King.
What was ironic about it?
Answer:
When the Tiger King was born, the astrologers predicted that one day the royal infant had to
die. They further said that the death would come from the hundredth tiger. The Tiger King
did die because of the hundredth tiger. But ironically, the tiger was not the real tiger. It was a
toy tiger made of wood.

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Question 4.
Why did the Maharaja decide to get married?
Answer:
The Maharaja had killed all the tigers in his kingdom. But the number of killed tigers was only
seventy. He still needed thirty more tigers to kill to fulfil his vow. Therefore, he decided to
marry the princess from the kingdom which had a large number of tiger population.

Question 5.
When was the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom?
Answer:
A British officer wanted to hunt a tiger in the Tiger King’s kingdom. But the king denied him
the per-mission. Then the officer sent the word that the actual killing could be done by the
king himself, he only wanted to stand on the carcass of the tiger and be photographed. But
the king even refused to do that. As a result the king was standing in danger of losing his
kingdom.

Question 6.
How did the Tiger King manage to retain his kingdom?
Answer:
The king ordered fifty diamond rings from a famous jeweller. He sent all the rings to the wife
of the officer. He thought that the lady would keep one or two rings and send back the
remaining. But she kept all the fifty rings. The king had to bear the expense of three lac
rupees for it, but he managed to save his kingdom.

Question 7.
Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting in his state?
Answer:
The Maharaja had to fulfil his vow of killing hundred tigers. Therefore the tiger hunting was
banned by anyone except the Maharaja. A proclamation was issued that if anyone dared to
throw even a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated.

Question 8.
What sort of hunt did the Maharaja offer to organise for the high-ranking British officer? What
trait of the officer does it reveal?
Answer:
The Maharaja offered to organise a boar hunt, a mouse hunt, even a mosquito hunt for him,
but not a tiger hunt. However, the officer sent word that he only wanted to stand on the
carcass of the tiger and be photographed. But the king even refused to do that. This shows
the vanity and shallowness of the officer.

Question 9.
How did the king ‘kill’ the tiger?
Answer:
In fact, the king did not kill the tiger. The bullet had missed it. It had fainted from the shock of
the bullet whizzing past. One of the hunters took aim from a distance of one foot and shot
the tiger.

Question 10.
Why did the king order the dewan to double the tax?
Answer:
The king could not find the hundredth tiger to hunt. As the days passed, his anxiety reached
alarmingly. One day when his rage was at its height, the king called the dewan and ordered
him to double the land tax.

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Question 11.
Why was the dewan not in favour of doubling the tax? What did the king then ordered him to
do?
Answer:
The dewan told that in case the tax is doubled the people would become discontented. Then
their state would fall a prey to the Indian National Congress. Then the king ordered the
dewan to resign from his post.

Question 12.
How was the royal infant brought up?
Answer:
The royal infant drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny,
tutored English by an Englishman, saw nothing but English films. His life was exactly like the
other crown princes of the other Indian states.

Question 13.
Why did one of the hunters kill the hundredth tiger?
Answer:
When the hunters went near the tiger, they found that the tiger was not dead; the bullet had
missed it. They decided that the king must not come to know that he had missed his target.
They thought they would lose their jobs. Therefore, one of the hunters took aim from a
distance of one foot and shot the tiger.

Question 14.
Why did the dewan arrange the hundredth . tiger for the king?
Answer:
When the king could not find the hundredth tiger he ordered the dewan to resign from his
post. To save his post, the dewan went to the People’s Park in Madras and brought a tiger
from there. It was a very old tiger.

Question 15.
What happened to the tiger provided by the dewan?
Answer:
The tiger provided by the dewan was very old. The dewan left it in the forest where the king
was hunting. The tiger wandered into the presence of the king. The king took a careful aim
and shot at him. The tiger fell in a crumpled heap.

Question 16.
What present did the king brought for his son on his third birthday? How much did he pay for
it?
Answer:
The king brought a wooden tiger on the third birth-day of his son. The shopkeeper quoted its
price to be three hundred rupees. But the king did not pay him anything and took the tiger
with him saying that it would be the offering to the crown prince from the shopkeeper.

Question 17.
How did the Tiger King meet his death?
Answer:
The king brought a wooden tiger as a birthday gift for his son. It was made by some unskilled
carpenter. One of the slivers of its body pierced the king’s hand. Soon the infection
developed. Three surgeons operated the king’s hand. But the king could not be saved.

Question 18.
Why was the Maharaja sunk in gloom even after having killed seventy tigers?

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Answer:
The Maharaja had managed to kill seventy tigers, during ten years. As a result, the tiger
population became extinct in his kingdom. This made the Maharaja gloomy because he
thought he would not be able to achieve his target of killing a hundred tigers and so his life
would be in danger.

Question 19.
How did the royal infant grew up?
Answer:
The royal infant grew taller and stronger day by day. He drank the milk of an English cow,
was brought up by an English nanny, tutored English by an Englishman, saw nothing but
English films. His life was exactly like the other crown princes of the other Indian states.
When he came at the age of twenty, the state, which had been with the Court of Wards,
came into his hands.

Question 20.
What did the Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to kill?
Answer:
The Maharaja had killed all the tigers in his kingdom. But the number of killed tigers was only
seventy. He still needed thirty more tigers to kill to fulfil his vow. Therefore, he married the
princess from the kingdom which had a large number of tiger population.

Question 21.
How will the Maharaj a prepare himself for the hundredth tiger which was supposed to
decide his fate?
Answer:
The Maharaja must be extra careful with the hundredth tiger. He still remembered the
astrologer’s word, “Even after killing ninetymine tigers, the Maharaja should beware of the
hundredth.” The Maharaja thought that after killing the hundredth tiger, he would leave tiger
hunting for good.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
How did the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom? How was he able to avoid the
danger? Explain.
Answer:
A British officer wanted to hunt tiger in the Tiger King’s kingdom. But the king denied him the
per-mission. Then the officer sent the word that the actual killing can be done by the king
himself, he only wanted to stand on the carcass of the tiger and be photographed. But the
king even refused to do that. As a result the king was standing in danger of losing his
kingdom.

The king ordered fifty diamond rings from a famous jeweller. He sent all the rings to the wife
of the officer. He thought that the lady would keep one or two rings and sent back the
remaining. But she kept all the fifty rings. The king had to bore the expense of three lac
rupees for it, but he managed to save his kingdom.

Question 2.
What rumour was rife in Pratibandapuram about the crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur?
Answer:
When the king was born, the astrologers foretold that one day the Tiger King would actually
would have to die. A great miracle took place. An astonishing phrase emerged from the lips

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of the tenday old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur. He said, “All those who are born will one day
have to die. There would be some sense if you could tell us the manner of that death.”

At this the chief astrologer said that the prince was born in the hour of Bull. The Tiger and
the Bull are enemies, therefore, the death would come from the Tiger. At this the crown
prince thundered, “Let tigers beware!” This rumour was quite rife in Pratibandapuram. When
the crown prince came of age of twenty, the state came to his hands. Then he also heard
about this rumour.

Question 3.
The astrologers predicted about the king, “The child will grow up to become the warrior of
warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions.” Do you think this prediction was right?
Ares.
The astrologers predicted about the king that he would grow into warrior of warriors, hero of
heroes and champion of champions. However, this prediction was nothing but flattery. The
second part of the prediction was that the death of the king would come from a tiger. The
king do nothing in his life but killed tigers.

There is no bravery in killing innocent animals with the help of a gun. In fact, the king was
not a warrior but a coward. To safeguard his life, he didn’t care about the ecology, about his
people and the interests of his kingdom. Ironically, his death was also like his life. He didn’t
die while fighting in the battlefield. But a wooden tiger became the cause of his death.

Question 4.
The astrologer’s prediction about the death of the Tiger King came to be true. Do you agree
with this statement?
Answer:
To some extent, we can agree with the statement that the astrologer’s prediction about the
death of the Tiger King came to be true. The astrologer had predicted that the death of the
Tiger King would come from the hundredth tiger. The king started killing tigers recklessly.
The hundredth tiger was not killed by the king himself but by the hunters, who found out that
the old tiger had not died by the bullet of the king but only fainted by the bullet whizzing past
him.

The hundredth tiger was a wooden toy tiger which the king had presented to his three- year
old son. It killed the king merely by a sliver of wood protruding from it that pierced his right
hand. The wound developed puss and it soon spread all over the arm. The best surgeons
failed to save the king and thus, the astrologer’s prediction about the death of the Tiger King
proved to be correct.

Question 5.
What values of life does the story “Tiger King” give us?
Answer:
This story tells us that there is a dire need to con-serve the wild life on this Earth. The
protagonist of this story is a comical king whom the story writer calls the Tiger King. On the
basis of a mere prediction he stared killing tigers recklessly in his kingdom. As a result the
tigers in his state became extinct. Then he started killing tigers in the kingdom of his father-
in-law and there also the tigers became extinct.

The story writer wants to tell us that there is need to maintain the ecological balance of this
earth. In the absence of this balance the life can’t be sustained. The author also exposes the
folly, cruelty and heartlessness of humans with regard to their attitude towards the wild
animals.

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Question 6.
How can you say that the dewan was a comical character?
Answer:
The dewan in this story is indeed a comical character. He is sycophant, hypocrite and
flatterer. When the tigers became extinct in the Tiger King’s kingdom, the king decided to
marry a princess of a kingdom where there was a large population of tigers. The king sent
for his dewan and told him brandishing his gun that there remained thirty more tigers to be
killed.

The dewan became frightened and told the king that he was not a tiger. He thought perhaps
the king wanted to kill him. Then the king told him that he wanted to get married. The foolish
dewan thought that perhaps the king wanted to marry with him. He replied, “Your Majesty, I
have two wives already.” Then the king told him, “What I want is a …” The foolish dewan
before completing the king’s statement said, “A Tiger King is more than enough for this state.
It doesn’t need a Tiger Queen as well!” All these statements of the dewan indicate that he
was a comical character.

Question 7.
Who was the Tiger King? Why did he get that name?
Answer:
The King of Pratibandapuram was known as the Tiger King. When he was born, the
astrologers fore¬told that his death would come from a Tiger. When the king came of age at
twenty years, he learnt about the prophesy. There were many forests in his state. The
Maharaja started on a tiger hunt. He was thrilled beyond measure when he killed his first
tiger. He showed it to the state astrologer. But the state astrologer replied, “Your majesty
may kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly the same manner.

But, you must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.” The Maharaja decided to kill hundred
tigers first before doing anything else. Tiger hunting was banned by anyone except the
Maharaja. A proclamation was issued that if anyone dared to throw even a stone at a tiger,
all his wealth and property would be confiscated. Maharaja faced many dangers also while
hunting but he braved all the dangers. As a result the king came to be known as the Tiger
King.

Question 8.
What happened to the astrologer? Do you think the prophecy was indisputably disproved?
Answer:
The astrologer had already died, therefore he could neither be awarded nor punished. His
prophesy was true but not indisputably. The astrologer had said that the king must be careful
with the hundredth tiger. But the king was not careful about it. He didn’t stop to ascertain
whether the hundredth tiger had been killed or not.

In fact the hundredth tiger was killed by a hunter not the king. We can say that for the king,
the hundredth tiger was the wooden tiger and he died because of it. The king didn’t die
because of any real tiger.

Question 9.
The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the author employ the
literary device of dramatic irony in the story?
Answer:
This story on the surface level appears to be a very simple story of a cranky king, who just
on the basis of a prophesy starts killing tigers ruthlessly. This story is a bit comical and also
has an element of suspense in [Link] on the deeper level, this story is in fact a satire on the

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conceit of those in power. As a king, Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur has a lot of responsibilities.
But he focuses his whole attention on the killing of tigers.

For his personal purposes, he proclaims that anybody in his kingdom is not allowed even to
throw a stone at a tiger. All his activities are centred on the tiger hunting. The astrologer has
told him that his death would come from the hundredth tiger. The king died but ironically the
cause of his death is not a real tiger but only a wooden king. Thus, in this story, the writer
satirised those in power by using the device of irony.

Question 10.
What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness of
human beings?
Answer:
In this story, the author brings out the cruelty of human beings towards the wild animals. On
the basis of a mere prophesy, the king starts killing tigers ruthlessly in his kingdom. He has
killed so many that the tigers became extinct in his state. Then he killed all the tigers in his
father-in-law’s state also. When he has killed ninety-nine tigers, he could not find the
hundredth one to complete his vow.

His dewan arranges an old tiger from Madras People’s Park. This tiger is so weak and old
that it could not cause any harm to the king. But even then the king shows no mercy and
aims at it. Though the tiger couldn’t be killed by him, a hunter later kills him. In this story, we
are also told about the cruelty and conceit of a British officer who is quite fond of tiger
hunting. Thus, in this story, the author exposes the cruelty and folly of human beings
regarding their behaviour towards the wild animals.

Question 11.
How would you describe the behaviour of the ‘ Maharaja’s minions towards him? Do you find
them truly sincere towards him or are they driven by fear when they obey him? Do we find a
similarity in today’s political order?
Answer:
The Maharaja’s minions are very selfish, hypocrite and flatterers. They are not at all sincere
towards him. They are just yes men. No one among those tried to tell the king that his
ruthless hunting of tigers was not good. Rather his dewan brings for him an old tiger from the
People’s Park in Madras. They are all driven by fear. They obey him only because of fear.

And fear can never bring sincerity. We can find the same position in modern political system
also. Though in our country there is democracy, political parties rule the country. In almost
every politics, the power is centralized and the normal workers follow their leaders blindly.
We can say that they are just like copies of the king’s minions.

Question 12.
Can you relate instances of game-hunting among the rich and the powerful in the present
times that illustrate the callousness of human beings towards wildlife?
Answer:
There have been a number of examples in the present times that show the rich and the
powerful people drive pleasure in game-hunting. These people think that they are above law
and with the help of high class lawyers they can’t be punished. A former nawab and cricketer
was found indulged in gamehunting. A case against a Bollywood star is still pending in the
court. This shows the callousness of human beings towards wild life.

Question 13.
We need a new system for the age of ecology a system which is embedded in the care of all
people and also in the care of the Earth and all life upon it. Discuss.

12
Answer:
Our present system of ecology is badly distorted. The nature has provided us an ecosystem
to maintain the perfect balance between human beings and animals. This system provides
us the best way to sustain our life on this Earth. It is an excellent system. But man in his
greed has disturbed this cycle or ecosystem.

Due to deforestation, poaching and other development activities of man, the species of wild
animals are becoming extinct. The forests are turning to concrete jungles. This is very
harmful for us and for our coming generations. Therefore, the time has come to evolve a
new system that can help to sustain life on this Earth

Journey to the end of the Earth

Short Answer Type

Question 1.
How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?
Answer:
Geological phenomena helps us to know more and more about the history of humankind as
only through it we come to know about the present, past and future of the Earth. How life
was then and gradually how it shaped now. Scientists admit that world’s geological history is
trapped under the layers of Antarctica.

Question 2.
What are the indications for the future of human kind?
Answer:
Deplection of ozone layer, Reforestation, melting of glaciers, and the collapse of ice shelves
clearly give the indications for the future of mankind that it is not safe if global warming
continues, soon this mankind will banish from the planet ‘Earth’.

Question 3.
‘Akademik Shokalskiy’ was heading towards Antarctica, why?
Answer:
‘Akademik Shokalskiy’, a Russian Vessel was heading towards Antarctica with a troop of 52
peoples, to study and research the history of humankind under the guidance of Canadian
Geoff Green.

Question 4.
Name the programme and its objectives.
Answer:
The programme was ‘Students on Ice’ with the motive to give high school students, the
educational opportunity to do the study of Antarctica.

Question 5.
After reaching Gondwana, what were their reactions?
Answer:
They were highly exicted as they were at a remote area of the Earth where no mankind
could sustain and totally peaceful environment existed, a place without trees, billboards and
buildings.

Question 6.
Gondwana existed before six hundred and fifty million years. Explain.
Answer:

13
Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated Southern super continent
‘Gondwana’ did indeed exist, centred roughly around the present- day Antarctica.

Question 7.
How is Antarctica, a subject for debate for environmentalists?
Answer:
Antarctica is always a subject for debate for environmentalists because only Antarctica is
undisturbed by human beings, whether it would melt, will the Gulf Stream ocean current be
disrupted or will it be the end of the world; such many concerned issues are raised for
debate.

Question 8.
How did they reach Antarctica?
Answer:
They travelled over 100 hours in combination of a car, an aeroplane and a ship. In this way,
they reached Antarctica.

Question 9.
What was wondrous about Antarctica?
Answer:
Expansive white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon and its immensity and isolation
was wondrous about Antarctica.

Question 10.
What is the pretty mind-boggling fact, one can observe?
Answer:
By the study of Antarctica, the fact: India pushing north words, South America driffting off to
join North America and many others boggle the mind and produce many imaginations.

Question 11.
What types of sounds can be noticed/heard there?
Answer:
The sound of occasional avalanche or calving of ice sheets can only be heard in Antarctica.

Question 12.
Why Geoff Green started to bring only students to Antarctica?
Answer:
Geoff Green noticed that celebrities and retired rich persons visit Antarctica only for
entertainment but the students, who are the future policy-makers, took interest and ready to
accept the challenge.

Question 13.
Why Antarctica is the perfect place to study nature?
Answer:
Antarctica is the perfect place to study nature be-cause it has simple ecosystem and lack of
biodiversity; above all, it is untouched by human beings.

Question 14.
Why the programme ‘Students on Ice’ became so successful?’
Answer:
The programme became so successful because its impossible to go anywhere near the
South Pole and not be affected by it. Through this programme, students got the educational
opprotunities.

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Question 15.
What is photosynthesis?
Answer:
The process of converting light energy into chemical energy by plants is called
photosynthesis.

Question 16.
What various expanses did they cross to reach Antarctica?
Answer:
Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres were crossed
by them to reach Antarctica.

Question 17.
What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’
Expedition?
Answer:
Canadian Geoff Green started this programme, ‘Students on Ice’ before six years of writing
this chapter. The reasons for including high school students were to provide them most
inspiring educational opportunities which would make them aware about the depletion of our
ecosystem, create an understanding to save our planet as those teenagers still have an
ideology to absorb, learn, and most importantly act.

Question 18.
‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves: What is the
relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?
Answer:
Antarctic, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to
study/tell us how little changes in the environment can have big consequences. Single celled
microscopic phytoplankton use the Sun’s energy to do the process of photosynthesis. And
any obstacle in this process will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of that
region, the global carbon cycle. Scientists warn and advise to take care of the small things
and the big things will fall into plape.

Question 19.
Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and future?
Answer:
Only Antarctica on this earth presently is in its purest and original form as it holds in its ice-
cores half million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. Antarctica has never
sustained a human propulation and therefore remains relatively ‘pristine’ in this respect. So
Antarctica is the place to go to understand the Earth’s present, past and future.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
How did the writer justify the title journey to the end of the earth?
Answer:
The title ‘Journey to the end of the Earth is quite justified by the writer ‘Tishani Dosi’ through
this chapter. A visit to Antarctica thrilled the whole troop and made them realized that
Antarctica is the world’s coldest, driest and windiest continent. Their visit seemed to be very
fruitful because without reaching there physically, one can’t experience the immensity and
importance of Antarctica and its great role in balancing the ecosystem.

Writer found Antarctica still undisturbed by human beings and tried to understand where
we’ve come from and where we could possibly be heading; through the deep study of this

15
island. Writer presumed that without controlling the rapidly increasing global warming; we
can’t stop the melting of ice specially glaciers and as it is known that Antarctica covers 90
per cent of the Earth’s ice, its sustainment is mandatory. Or in near future, Antarctica would
be responsible (if not ceased the global warming) for the ruination of the Earth’s lives and in
this way, the end of the Earth would be brought by Antarctica.

Question 2.
Describe the journey to the Antarctica by the Vessel ‘Akademik Shokalskiy’.
Answer:
The journey starts with a troop of 52 peoples under the guidance of experienced Canadian
Geoff Green, an educator and adventurer. He started the mission ‘Students on Ice’ to aware
the teenagers about the present need of the escapement of Antarctica. Akademik
Shokalskiy, a Russian Vessel headed towards the coldest, driest and windiest continent in
the world: Antarctica.

Journey began 13.09 degress North of the equator in Madras, and involved crossing nine
time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water, and at least as many ecospheres. They
trevelled over 100 hours in combination of a car, an aeroplane and a ship and finally they
reached to view Antarctica’s expansive white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon
where immensity and isolation made them wondorous and tireless.

Question 3.
‘Take care of small things and big will take care of themselves’. What is the relevance of this
statement in the context of the Antarctica?
Answer:
The small things are having their own importance at their own place. Small things are
combined produce their effect on big things. As phytoplankton are very tiny single-celled
plants, but they nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean’s food proceedings, s
Phytoplankton is the grass of Southern Ocean and 1 through the process of photosynthesis,
they convert light energy into the chemical energy and supply food and provide oxygen to all
the marine life (animals and birds). So very tiny plants are responsible for the survival of the
life.

But global warming can affect the activity of these plants and also the whole ecosystem of
the Earth. Sun’s energy is used to assimilate carbon and synthesize organic compounds by
these plants. The rapidly increasing depletion of the Ozone layer will surely adversely affect
this natural system. By any means, the depletion should be stopped to preserve our
ecological balance and save whole mankind and all creatures from extinction. So, opening
our eyes, we should take care of little things to care the big things automatically and
naturally.

Question 4.
‘A lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes’. Explain.
Answer:
The author with a troop of 52 peoples visited the Earth’s coldest, driest and windiest
continent of the world i.e. Antarctica where she was highly exicted finding the untouched,
unhumane land without trees, billboards and buildings. The history of the world started from
Antarctica itself and the secret of evolution and extinction can be studied through the study
of Antarctica.

There is a prompt need to aware ourselves with this reality that if we’ve to save the mankind
from extinction, we need to save the nature and Antartica is the best place for this purpose
because it is covering 90 per cent of the Earth’s ice and hiding, under its layers, the mystery
of the world. Writer spent two weeks with a group of teenagers under the leadership of

16
Canadion Geoff Green, and after assuming the need of action, said, that a lot could happen
in a million years, but what a difference a day makes.

Question 5.
Geoff Green, a Canadian explorer and educator started to include high school students on
the expedition ‘Students on Ice’. Explain why?
Answer:
Geoff Green, who, since -the starting, started to include celebrities, retired rich, curiosity-
seekers to the Antarctica but they remained unhappy and dis-satisfied and also those men in
power and position did not understand the problems facing mankind. They never gave any
response in return and didn’t seem worried about the ecology.

Geoffs efforts remained futile and totally time wastage could be noticed. Geoff, then started
to inculude the learners, willing persons and school students for the mission and it was also
an opportunity for beginners to study more and more about our planet and ecosystem.
These youngsters seem ready to absorb, learn and act immediately.

They realize the threat of global warming and can actually do something as they are the
future policy-makers and also expected to act and solve the environmental problems. Thus,
the expedition/movement started to give its results in a positive manner and people seemed
to be aware for global warming.

Question 6.
‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region useful
to us?
Answer:
The study of Antarctica is useful to us in very mysterious and revealing way. Six hundred
and fifty million years ago, ‘Gondwana’ a super continent existed, centred roughly around the
present day Antarctica. The climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and
fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived.

Around the time, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe
much as we know it today. A grasp of where we’ve come from and where we could possibly
be heading; the evolution and extinction, can easily be understood through the study of this
region.

Answer the following question in about 125-150 words.

Question 1
How the programme, ‘Students on Ice’ was an attempt to equip future generation with
knowledge to save Earth? (2005 Delhi)
Answer:
The objective of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme was to take the High School students to
the limits of the world and provide them with inspiring opportunities in education to enable
them to understand and respect our planet. According to Geoff Green, the High School
students are the future policy-makers and through this programme they would be able to
save this planet from the ecological hazards and the harmful effects of global warming.
Antarctica, with its simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study
how little changes in the environment can have major repercussions. The school students’
impressionable minds can study and examine the Earth’s past, present and future by their
voyage to Antarctica.

17
Question 2.
The world’s geological history is trapped in the Antarctica. How is the study of this region
useful to us? (2008 Delhi)
Answer:
The Antarctic landmass dates back to 650 million years. It was an amalgamated southern
supercontinent called Gondwana. This landmass centered around the present-day
Antarctica. Human beings did not exist as their civilization is only 12,000 years old. The
climate at that time was warm and landmass flourished with a vast variety of flora and fauna.
The study of this region shows that Gondwana prospered for 500 million years. But then the
dinosaurs got wiped out and mammals began to appear. The landmass disintegrated into
countries and India, the Himalayas and South America was formed. This left Antarctica frigid
at the bottom of the earth. Today, it stores the key to the significance of coridelleran folds
and pre- Cambrian granite shields, ozone and carbon layers as well as a study of the
evolution and extinction. This can help us to understand in a better way the formation of
continents and mountains like the Himalayas as we find them in the modem world. Its ice-
folds hold over half-million-year-old carbon records that are so crucial for the study of the
Earth’s past, present and future, thus trapping the world’s geological history in Antarctica.

Question 3
What are phytoplanktons? How are they important to our ecosystem? (2010 Outside Delhi;
2012 Delhi)
Answer:
The microscopic phytoplankton are tiny forms of plant life on the sea. They nourish and
sustain the entire southern ocean’s food chain. They are single-celled plants and use the
energy of the sun to assimilate carbon supplying oxygen and synthesise compounds.
Depletion of the ozone layer that protects us from the harmful rays of the sun adversely
affects the activities of the phytoplankton. Any further depletion in the ozone layer will
hamper their activity which, in turn, is bound to affect the growth of marine animals and birds
and even the global carbon cycle. Thus to save the big organisms the small organisms need
to be cared for because even minor changes have huge repercussions.

Question 4.
The author calls her two-week stay in Antarctica, ‘a chilling prospect’. How far do you think is
she justified? What other features of the Antarctic environment are highlighted?
Answer:
Tishani Doshi, is a sun-worshipping South Indian and for her to spend two-weeks in a place
where 90 per cent of the Earth’s total ice volumes are stored is a chilling prospect—both in
terms of circulatory and metabolic functions and for the imagination. She has been
transported from the scorching sun to the ice floes and glaciers where ninety per cent of the
earth’s surface is ice-mass. Her two-week Antarctic encounter left an epiphanic effect on her
and she carried back indelible memories of the continent. For her, it was like walking into a
giant ping-pong ball, devoid of any human markers like trees, billboards and buildings. She
says one loses all earthly sense of perspective and time here. As the day pass in surreal 24-
hour austral summer light, a silence prevails which is interrupted only by the occasional
avalanche or caving ice sheet.

She learnt that Antarctica has a very simple ecosystem that lacks variety. But if this system
is interfered with and environmental changes are effected indiscriminately, it can lead to
depletion of the ozone layer, which protects us from the harmful rays of the sun. Since the
planet is unravaged by humans, it remains unblemished. Its ice-cores hold more than
half¬million-year-old carbon records that are imperative for the detailed study of our planet.

Question 5
Why does Tishani Doshi call her trip to Antarctica a “Journey to the End of the Earth”? What

18
experience did she have during this expedition? (2011 Outside Delhi)
Answer:
Tishani Doshi calls her trip to Antarctica a ‘Journey to the End of the Earth’ because she
crosses nine time zones, six checkpoints, three water bodies and many ecospheres to reach
there. The entire journey takes one hundred hours. She is wonder-struck by the immensity
and isolation of the region. She is also relieved to see its expansive wide landscape and
uninterrupted blue horizon. Antarctica provides young students like her with a platform to
study changes in the environment. The programme is also likely to help them develop a new
respect and understanding of our planet. Antarctica is also the perfect place for them to
study how little climatic changes can have big repercussions and how global warming and
further depletion of the ozone layer can affect the Antarctic region. The study of the
Antarctica will help them to understand the earth’s past, present and future.

Question 6.
In what ways is the research on Antarctica helpful in the study and understanding of the
Earth’s past and future, according to the author of ‘Journey to the End of the Earth’? (2012
Comptt. Delhi)
Answer:
A visit to Antarctica will help us to understand where we have come from and where we
could possibly be heading. It will also suggest a lot of future possibilities, probably for even a
million years later. By visiting the Antarctica we get an opportunity to study about the future
climatic changes easily and more effectively. We also come to know about the repercussions
of the various environmental changes. It also gives us the realization of the appearance of
the ‘future world’. The ice-cores of Antarctica hold more than half-million-year-old carbon
records which are very crucial for the study of the past, present and future of our planet. All
this will also help us to understand our planet better and also give us ideas to save our
planet.

The Enemy
Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was his father’s chief eoncern about Dr Sadao?
Answer:
Sadao’s father was very serious about his son’s future. He would never joke or play with
him. His father’s chief concern was his son’s education. Therefore Sadao was sent to
America at the age of twenty-two to learn all that could be learned of surgery and medicine.

Question 2.
In what condition did Dr Sadao find the American soldier at the seashore?
Answer:
The American soldier was badly wounded and the t sand on one side of him had already a
stain of red soaking through. On the right side of his lower back Sadao saw that a gun
wound had been reopened. If immediate treatment was not given to the man he would
certainly die.

Question 3.
What role did the American professor play in bringing Sadao and Hana together?
Answer:
Both Hana and Sadao met at the professor’s house. Sadao started liking Hana. Though the
professor’s wife was very voluble yet they were kind people and Sadao also started living
there as a paying guest. Thus we can say that the American professor and his wife proved
instrumental in bringing Sadao and Hana together.

19
Question 4.
What was Dr Sadao’s father dream for his son ? How did Sadao realise it?
Answer:
Dr Sadao’ father wanted his son to be an educated and successful man. He never played or
joked with him. Sadao was sent to America to learn everything about surgery and medicine.
Eventually, Sadao became one of the most famous surgeons and scientists of Japan. In this
way Sadao realised his father’s dream.

Question 5.
Why did Dr Sadao treat the American soldier even though it was an unpatriotic act on his
part?
Answer:
As a doctor Dr Sadao’s was trained he should never let a person die if he could help. Thus it
was nothing unpatriotic on part of Dr Sadao. He even told the old General about the soldier.
Dr Sadao only performed his duty and saved the life of a human being not an American.

Question 6.
The General did not take any action against Dr Sadao even when he came to know about
his sheltering of the American soldier?
Answer:
The General needed Dr Sadao’s services as a doctor and surgeon for his treatment. He
himself told Dr Sadao that no one in the entire Japan is so capable to save his life. Any
action against Dr Sadao would also lead to his own death.

Question 7.
How did Hana help Dr Sadao?
Answer:
Hana helped her husband in the operation. She her-self washed the man. While Sadao
performed the operation, Hana helped him in giving the anaesthetic. She acted as a nurse
while her husband was performing the operation.

Question 8.
Why had Hana to wash the wounded man her-self?
Answer:
Hana asked the governess, Yumi, of her baby to help to wash the man. But Yumi bluntly
refused saying she had never washed a white man and would never wash one. Moreover
that man was their enemy. Therefore Hana had to wash the man herself.

Question 9.
How could you say that the American was tortured? Who could have tortured him?
Answer:
There were red scars on the back side of the neck of the American. It clearly showed that
the man was badly tortured. The Japanese General Takima was a very cruel man. He must
have tortured the man.

Question 10.
Why did the servants leave Dr Sadao’s house?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had given shelter to an enemy soldier. According to the servants, it was an act of
treason. They looked upon the Americans as their enemies since Japan and America were
at war. When they found that instead of handing over the enemy soldier to the police, Dr
Sadao had decided to treat him, they decided to leave his house.

20
Question 11.
Why was Dr Sadao not sent to the battlefield?
Answer:
Dr Sadao was a famous surgeon and scientist of Japan. He was perfecting a discovery to
make the wounds completely clean. Besides, he was treating the old General. The General
might need an opertation any time. Therefore, Dr Sadao was not sent to the battlefield.

Question 12.
How did Dr Sadao get rid of the enemy soldier?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had saved the man with great efforts. He didn’t want him to hand over to the police
and get him killed. Therefore he decided to help the man get away in his boat’ He loaded his
boat with sufficient provisions. He asked the man to row the boat to a nearby island.

Question 13.
How did Dr Sadao take bullet out of the body of the American soldier?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had to perfom an opertation to take bullet out of the body of the American soldier.
The soldier was given anaesthetic. Dr Sadao felt the tip of his instrument with some hard
object. It was a bullet. Then Dr Sadao probed with his fingers and took out the bullet with
cleanest possible manner.

Question 14.
What was the second thing that happened in the afternoon? Why did this frighten the
doctor’s wife, Hana too much?
Answer:
In the afternoon, the second thing happened. A mes-senger came to their house in
official’uniform. Hana became quite frightened. She thought that perhaps he had come to
arrest her husband. But the man wanted Dr. Sadao to come with him as the old General was
in pain.

Question 15.
How did the General react on Dr Sadao’s story . about harbouring the enemy soldier?
Answer:
Dr Sadao went to the old General and narrated him the whole story. He also told him since
he had done great effort to save that man and he didn’t want him to hand over the police.
Now, the General offered him to send his private assassins. He said that they were very
competent and expert in internal bleeding.

Question 16.
Why do you think that the General spare the American soldier?
Answer:
The old General was very selfish. He knew if the matter about the enemy soldier had come
to light,Dr Sadao would come to a great trouble. He might be arrested for treason. The
General did not want it happen. He needed Dr Sadao’s services for his treatment.

Question 17.
Did Hana think that the Japanese torture their prisoners of war? Why?
Answer:
Yes, Hana did think that the Japanese torture their prisoners of war. She found red scars on
the back-side of the neck of the American soldier. It was a clear fact that he was tortured
badly by the Japanese.

21
Question 18.
Why did Sadao wait to fall in love with Hana?
Answer:
Sadao had met Hana in America, but he had waited to fall in love with her until he was sure
she was Japanese. He knew his father would only accept any girl who had been pure in her
race.

Question 19.
Who was Dr Sadao? Where was his house?
Ana.
Dr Sadao was a famous Japanese surgeon and scientist. He was perfecting a discovery to
make wounds completely clean. His house was set upon rocks well above a narrow beach
that was outlined with bent pines.

Question 20.
Was Dr Sadao arrested on the charge of harbouring, an enemy?
Answer:
No, Dr Sadao not arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy. He has already told the
old General about the enemy. Also the old General needs his medical help, therefore, he
never wanted that any harm may come to Dr Sadao.

Question 21.
Did Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself ?
Answer:
Hana was a very understanding wife. She knew that her husband treated the man though he
was the enemy of their country. He would never desist from doing his duty. So she helped
her husband and washed the man herself since their maid had refused to do that.

Question 22.
What did Dr Sadao and his wife do with the man?
Answer:
After Dr Sadao’s treatment the man was now out of danger. But still he was very weak. If
they handed him over to the police, he was sure to be killed. Therefore, they decided to keep
the man with them in their house.

Question 23.
What did Dr Sadao do to get rid of the man?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had saved the man with great efforts. He didn’t want him to hand over to the police
and get him killed. Therefore he decided to help the man get away in his boat and he loaded
his boat with sufficient provisions. He asked the man to row the boat to a nearby island.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
To choose between professional loyalty and patriotism was a dilemma for Dr Sadao. How
did he succeed in betraying neither?
Answer:
As a doctor, Sadao was taught that he should never let a person die if he could help. One
evening, he found a badly injured enemy soldier on the sea beach near his house. The man
could die if not given proper medical aid. Now, Dr Sadao decided to perform an opertation
on the man though he was an enemy soldier. He tended him well and took great care of him.

22
In this way Dr Sadao was able to maintain his professional loyalty. But Dr Sadao was a
patriotic from the core of his heart. He knew it was an act of treason to harbour an enemy
soldier. Therefore, he wrote a letter to the authorities about it and put it in his drawer. He
even told the old General everything about the enemy soldier. It is other thing that the
General did not take any action against the enemy soldier. But Dr Sadao was able to
maintain a perfect balance between his professional loyalty and patriotism.

Question 2.
Good values are far above any other value system. How did Dr Sadao succeed as a doctor
as well as a patriot?
Answer:
Dr Sadao is full of finer values of humanity kindness, love for human beings and also love for
one’s passion. As a doctor, he is taught not to let a person die if he could help. One evening
he found a badly injured enemy soldier on the sea beach near his house. The man could die
if not given proper medical aid.

Now Dr Sadao decided to perform an opertation on the man though he was an enemy
soldier. He tended him well and took great care of him. In this way Dr Sadao was able to
maintain his professional loyalty.

But Dr Sadao was a patriotic from the core of his heart. He knew it was an act of treason to
harbour an enemy soldier. Therefore he wrote a letter to the authorities about it and put it in
his [Link] even told the old General everything about the enemy soldier. It is other thing
that the General did not take any action against the enemy soldier. Thus, Dr Sadao
succeeded as a doctor as well as a patriot.

Question 3.
How can you say that Sadao’s father was very serious about his son’s study?
Answer:
Dr Sadao’s father was very serious about his son’s studies. Dr Sadao’s lived with his father
in a house that was situated on the high rocks near the sea beach. He used to play there as
a school boy. There were some islands near the Japanese beach. His father would often
take him there and told him that those islands there were the stepping stones to the future
for Japan. Sadao’s father was very serious about his future. He would never joke or play with
him. Sadao knew that his education was his father’s chief concern.

Sadao was sent to America at the age of twenty-two to learn all that could be learned of
surgery and medicine. He came back at thirty and eventually became a famous scientist and
surgeon. As he was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely clean, he
had not been sent abroad with the troop. We can say that because of his father’s efforts, Dr
Sadao was able to become a famous surgeon and a scientist.

Question 4.
Explain the reaction of the servants in Dr Sadao’s house when he decided to give shelter to
an enemy in the house.
Answer: The servants in Dr Sadao’s house did not like the idea of giving shelter to an enemy
soldier. Yumi, the nurse of the doctor’s child bluntly refused to wash the white man. She said
that she had never and would never wash a white man. The old gardener was a
superstitious man. He said that there was no business in saving the man.

He told Hana bluntly that the white man ought not to be saved. First he had been shot. Then
the sea had caught him. But when they found that Dr Sadao was not going to hand over the
man to the authorities they thought that he had turned traitor. They decided to leave his
house.

23
Question 5.
Write in brief the character-sketch of General Takima.
Answer:
General Takima was an old Japanese General. He was a very cruel person. He used to beat
his wife mercilessly. He also tortured the prisoners of war very ruthlessly. He even had
private assassins to have anyone killed. He offered Dr Sadao to send two of them to kill the
American soldier. He said that they were quite capable and could also remove the dead
body of the soldier.

But later he did not do that. In fact there was a selfish motive behind it. He needed Dr
Sadao’s services as a doctor. He didn’t want any problem should come to him. Therefore, he
left the entire matter on Dr Sadao to solve. He pretended to be a patriot, but in fact he was a
very selfish person. He didn’t want him involve himself in the matter. Perhaps, he wanted Dr
Sadao to kill the man himself. The General was indeed a very self-absorbed person.

Question 6.
Dr Sadao faced a dilemma. Should he use his ‘ surgical skills to save the life of a wounded
American POW or should he hand him over to the Japanese police? How did he resolve the
clash of values? (2015 AI)
Answer:
As a doctor, Sadao is taught that he should never let a person die if he could help. One
evening he finds a badly injured enemy soldier on the sea beach near his house. The man
could die if not given proper medical aid. Now, Dr Sadao uses his surgical skills and perform
him an opertation on the man though he is an enemy soldier. He tends him well and took
great care of him. In this way, Dr Sadao maintains his professional loyalty and he is able to
save the life of the POW with his surgical skills.

But Dr Sadao is a patriotic person also. Therefore he informs everything to the old General.
The Gen-eral ensures him to send his private assassins to kill the man. However Dr Sadao
has saved that man with great effort. Naturally he does not want any harm should come to
that man. Therefore he helps escape the man in a boat in the end of the story.

Question 7.
How did Dr Sadao help then American POW to escape? What humanitarian values do you
find in his act?
Answer:
Dr Sadao saved the life of American POW with great effort. Naturally he did not want that
any harm should come to him and thus all his efforts be wasted. Therefore he decided to
arrange for the escape of that man. Dr Sadao decided to leave his boat on the seashore. He
also decided to load the boat with sufficient provisions. The American was dressed in
Japanese clothes which Sadao had given him, and at the last moment Sadao wrapped a
black cloth about his blond head.

He was told to row the boat to a nearby island, where nobody lived because it remained
submerged in the sea most of the year. The doctor displays finer human values in this story.
Though his country is in a state of war with America, he does not forget his duty and
obligations . as a doctor. He saves the life of the enemy even-at the sake of his life and
reputation.

Question 6.
There are moments in life when we have to make hard choices between our roles as private
individuals and as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the
story you have just read?
Answer:

24
Every individuals has his or her views. But he/she is expected to follow the rules of society
and be loyal to his country. However, sometimes the situation comes when we have to make
hard choices between our roles as private individuals and as citizens with a sense of
national loyalty. In this situation we must keep national interest at top priority. But some
exceptions are always there.

In this story, Dr Sadao meets a badly wounded soldier who is on the verge of death. Now he
is taught that he must not let the individual die if he can help. A doctor is not supposed to kill
a person even if he happens to be his enemy. But he is a loyal citizen of his country. Though
he treats the enemy soldier yet he remains in the state of dilemma. He himself doesn’t know
what he is doing.

Question 7.
Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made
Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Answer:
Dr Sadao has been trained not to let a person die if he could help. The enemy soldier is
badly wounded. He is sure to die if he is not given proper medical care. On the other hand,
Dr Sadao feels that it is his national duty to hand the enemy over to the authorities. Dr
Sadao’s wife, Hana, understands her husband well. She has spent great deal of time with
him.

The house staff of Dr Sadao do not like the idea of harbouring the enemy soldier. They
bluntly refuse to help their master in tending the enemy soldier. At this juncture, Hana herself
washes the enemy soldier and also helps Dr Sadao in giving anaesthetic to the soldier. She
feeds the soldier with her own hands. However, she likes her husband wants to get rid of the
soldier but she doesn’t know how.

Question 8.
How would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the shelter of doctor’s home
even when he knew he couldn’t stay there wit out risk to the doctor and himself?
Answer:
The soldier belonged to the American navy. He was prisoner of the war and somehow he
had escaped from the prison. He had a gunshot in his back. It was Dr Sadao who operated
on him and saved his life with great effort. He gave the American soldier shelter in his house.
It was a big crime and Dr Sadao could be arrested for it. But for Dr Sadao his profession was
the first. He was taught that he should not let the person die if he could help it. Dr Sadao did
his job with complete honesty.

He saved the prisoner’s life. The American kept on living there. He knew that he would be
killed if he left Dr Sadao’s house. He had full confidence in Dr Sadao. He knew that after
saving his life Dr Sadao would not let him die. He left it to the doctor to escape from the
problem anyway he liked. And indeed, Dr Sadao found a way to save the life of the prisoner.

Question 9.
What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldier? Was it human
consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of duty or simple self absorption?
Answer:
Japanese General Takima was a ruthless person. He even had private assassins to kill
anybody. He used to torture the prisoners of war very badly. Dr Sadao told him about the
American soldier. He assured the doctor that he would send his private assassins to get the
soldier killed. But he does not do any such thing. He perhaps leaves it on Dr Sadao to
handle the situation any way he likes. The General is worried of himself and he needs Dr
Sadao’s services. Therefore he does not want that any harm should come to him.

25
He does not want anyone know that Dr Sadao has given shelter to an enemy soldier.
Therefore he does not send any of his assassins to kill the enemy soldier. It was not in fact
human consideration. It was lack of national loyalty and dereliction of duty. The General
knowingly does not send any of the assassins. He wants Dr Sadao to deal with the prisoner
as he wants.

Question Question10.
While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime,
what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
Answer:
Every human being has love and hatred in their heart. When we think what harm has been
caused by the enemy, our heart gets full of hatred for the enemy. But when we find the same
enemy badly battered, our hatred diminishes. Then we tend to look at him like a human
being who needs our care and sympathy. In this story the same thing happens.

The American soldier belonged to the enemy country. Dr Sadao found him when he was
badly wounded. Dr Sadao told himself that he would have handed over that man to the
police if he had been fit. But that man had a gunshot on his back. He was badly injured. He
could die if he was not given proper medical aid. Dr Sadao had been taught that he would
not let the person die if he could help. Therefore. Dr Sadao saved the enemy soldier with
great effort.

Question 11.
Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the
circumstances?
Answer:
The doctor had harboured an enemy soldier in his house. All the servants of the house had
left their job. It was a grave crime to shelter an enemy soldier. Dr Sadao could be arrested
for that. Therefore, Dr Sadao wanted to get rid of that man as soon as possible. He did not
want him to handle him over to the police. He knew that they would certainly kill the man. He
was in a fix what to do.

Now the man had gained sufficient strength. Dr Sadao adopted the method that could be the
best in the given circumstances. He provided the soldier his boat. He also loaded the boat
with sufficient provisions. In this way Dr Sadao rose above the narrow considerations and
acted in a true humanitarian form. His solution to the problem was the best possible one in
the circumstances.

Question 12.
Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by A.J. Cronin that you read in Snapshots last year?
What are the similarities?
Answer:
Both the stories have one common theme. They both deal with the doctors who have great
passion for their profession. In the story ‘Birth’, Dr Andrew Manson brought back life into the
still born child with great effort. He knew that for the Morgans that child had great value. It
was their first child after twenty years of their marital life.

In this story, Dr Sadao saved the enemy American soldier though it was a great crime to
shelter an enemy soldier. He operated on him and gave him proper care and treatment. In
the end he helped him to escape by providing his own [Link] in both stories it has been
shown that for a doctor his true job is to save the life of his patient. He is above the
considerations of caste, creed or nationality.

26
Long Answer Type:Value Based

Question 1.
Dr Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. How could he honour
both the values?
OR
What impression do you form about Dr Sadao as a man and as a surgeon on your reading
the chapter, ‘The Enemy’?
Answer:
Dr Sadao was a true Japanese. He was obedient and loved the Japanese tradition and
culture. He waited for his father’s approval for marrying Hana, a girl he loved. He loved his
family a lot. Dr Sadao was an eminent surgeon as well as a scientist. He was the on-call
doctor for the General. Sadao truly believed in his professional ethics and hence, harbours
an injured prisoner of war. He faces a lot of difficulties at home from his wife and servants
but still decides not to forgo his professional duties.

With great risk to his life and his position in the society, he nurses him and cares for him very
well. He could not let personal prejudice override his duties as a doctor. However, out of
patriotism, he tells the general about the American P.O.W. in his house. He could not
destroy a human creation and therefore, asks for the General’s help. When the plan of the
General did not materialise, he helped the prisoner escape.

Question 2.
The fog in the story, ‘The Enemy’ is symbolic. Elucidate.
Answer:
The fog which appears soon before the American soldier shows up, symbolises Sadao and
Hana’s predicament and the lack of clarity concerning what they should do with the man on
the beach. It might also symbolise secrecy. Considerations of safety compel them to keep
the man’s presence in their home a secret. They’re faced with the dilemma of whether or not
to save the man’s life. On the one hand, sheltering an enemy in their home, especially an
enemy prisoner, could endanger the entire family. On the other . hand, they feel incapable of
throwing a wounded man back into the sea, where he would certainly die. For the same
reason, they hesitate to turn him over to the police.

Question 3.
How did Dr Sadao overcome the difficulty that came in his way to save the wounded soldier?
How did Hana help her husband?
OR
Dr Sadao faced a dilemma. Should he use his surgical skills to save the life of a wounded
person or hand an escaped American RO.W. over to the Japanese police? How did he
resolve this clash of values? [CBSE (AI) 2015]
Answer:
Dr Sadao was an expert surgeon. He was living in a house near the beach with his family.
He was very generous and loyal to his country. His wife was also a sympathetic, kind,
obedient and loving woman. While standing outside their house, they saw something crawl
on the beach. They rushed and found that he was a wounded prisoner of war. Initially, the
couple contemplated throwing the prisoner of war back into sea. But both of them did not
have the heart for it. Also the prisoner would have died, if he was handed over to the police.
As a doctor, Sadao was trained to save a life, if he could. Seeing him badly wounded, the
doctor and his wife brought him home for treatment.

It was a big risk. Even the servants were against them. Dr Sadao performed the operation
and his wife stood by him and helped him every moment. There was a great risk of Dr Sadao

27
being arrested for harbouring a prisoner of war. Being loyal to his nation, he declared
everything to the General and was ready to face the consequences. The General assured to
help him get rid of the man but forgot to send his men. At last, Dr Sadao arranged for a boat,
food and clothing to send him to the nearby island. He suggested to the American to board a
Korean fishing boat, and get away to safety.

Question 4.
What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldier? Was it human
consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of duty or simply self-absorption?
Answer:
Dr Sadao knew that the General needed his medical assistance as he was undergoing
medical treatment. So Sadao thought of taking advantage of the situation. He told the
General what had happened and how he saved the enemy. He tried to make the General
understand that the General is not dependent on him as a doctor, if he needed services for
his treatment. But the General trusted no one but Sadao to treat him. Thinking about his
personal well-being, the General now assured Sadao that no one will know of . the incident
about the enemy and he will arrange for the enemy to be killed in a way no one will know.
But the General didn’t seem to send his men to Sadao’s house, so Sadao helped in the
enemy’s escape.

Sadao now narrated everything that happened to the General, who apologised for having
failed to keep up his promise. He explained Sadao that he had taken ill so badly that he
could not think of anything else. But the General now assured Sadao that in case the
authorities question him in connection with the enemy, he would stand in support of him, and
his action would not be considered as lack of national loyalty or dereliction of duty but as
human consideration.

Question 5.
Why did Sadao help the American soldier to escape? How did he do it?
Answer:
Dr Sadao was sheltering an enemy in his house. This was no more a secret. It was the
cause of great deal of tension to his wife and him. Dr Sadao worked upon an idea to get rid
of the man and discussed it with the prisoner. He decided to put his boat on shore that night,
with food, bottled water and clothing plus two quilts. The man was to row to the little island
not far from the coast.

The island was uninhabited. The man would be safe there till a Korean fishing boat passed
by. In the night, the boat was pulled down with all the provisions in it, which he had secretly
purchased during the day. He even gave him a flashlight along with some instructions. If his
food ran out before catching a boat, he had to signal twice, at sunset. If everything was all
right and he was still there, he was to signal once.
The man escaped and Sadao had a peaceful sleep.

Question 6.
Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made
Hana, his wife, sympathise with him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Answer:
Dr Sadao was a Japanese surgeon. One day, he found a wounded prisoner of war of .
American origin on the seashore. He and his wife brought him home and tended his wounds.
He came to his senses and recovered fully. But Dr Sadao faced problems and dilemma. If he
treated him, he would be marked as a traitor who helped a P.O.W. who belonged to an
enemy country.

28
The domestic staff refused to nurse the soldier. Therefore, Hana, wife of Sadao, being an
obedient wife, helped her husband. She helped and sympathised with the soldier in the
name of humanity. The attitude of maid servants was laced with anger and prejudice
towards the enemy, but Dr Sadao and his wife’s attitude and feelings were of a very high
level.

Question 7.
Draw a character sketch of the old General in the lesson, ‘The Enemy’.
Answer:
General Takima, being the head of the Japanese army, was more concerned about himself
than the general people of his country. Dr Sadao was a surgeon. He could be a boon for the
wounded soldiers during the world war. But the General asked him to stay back for himself
only because he may require an operation any time. Thus, he was a selfish man. It was said
that he used to hit his wife. But he was a kind man also. Though the General promised to get
the P.O.W. killed, but he desisted from his plan. It is also hoped that he forgot to send the
assassins to wipe out the American soldier or he was concerned with the security of the
doctor and his family as the public knowledge of P.O.W. could harm them. For the General,
it was very important that no harm comes to his surgeon.

Question 8.
Why did Sadao Hoki go to America? Narrate his experiences there.
Answer:
Sadao’s education was his father’s chief concern. So he had been sent at twenty-two to
America to learn all that could be learnt of surgery and medicine. He studied there for eight
years and returned to Japan at thirty. Before his father died, Sadao had become famous not
only as a surgeon, but also as a scientist.

He had great difficulty in finding a place to live in America because he was a Japanese. The
Americans were full of prejudice and it had been bitter to live in it, knowing himself to be
superior than them. An ignorant and dirty old woman at last consented to house ftim in her
miserable home. He found her repulsive to him even in her kindness. One of his American
Professors and his wife were kind people. They were anxious to do something for their few
foreign students. But their rooms were quite small, the food was very bad, the professor was
a dull person and his wife was a silly talkative woman.

Question 9.
Good human values are far above any other value system. How did Dr Sadao succeed as a
doctor as well as a patriot?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had a harmonious blending of his profession and patriotism in him though he
suffered from a dilemma and acted more as a doctor, after he encountered Tom, the
American prisoner of war. Nationalism was ingrained in Dr Sadao and that made him return
home to serve his country and marry a Japanese as his father wished him to. His own
experience in America had been unpleasant because of a racial bias. However, when he
found the prisoner of war and waited for a couple of days for the General’s assassin to get
rid of Tom, his profession had taught him to save his life and not to kill a patient.

Dr Sadao withstood the discomfiture at hoe when all his servants left him, regarding him as
unpatriotic. He finally decided to put Tom on a boat, with food and clothing, to row to a little
island nearby and wait patiently to board a Korean fishing boat to escape. Things happened
as planned, leaving Dr Sadao in a state of bewilderment as to why he saved the life of an
American enemy. Perhaps, it is the doctor who dominated the patriot in him.

29
Question 10.
In marriage one expects complete trust and cooperation between husband and wife. How
did Hana help Dr Sadao when he was in trouble?
Answer:
Hana was an impeccable wife and stood by her husband in all his decisions. She helped Dr
Sadao when he was operating upon the American. Even though she was repulsed by the
wounds of the American, she stayed with her husband and played the role of a nurse.
Afterwards, she nursed the American till he was healthier. They could not call for a nurse
because keeping an American alive was against the law. When all the servants left them,
she washed the prisoner herself.

Question 11.
Dr Sadao planned and helped the enemy soldier to escape. Comment.
Answer:
Dr Sadao told General about the American prisoner of war and he promised to send his
assassins to kill him. Dr Sadao waited for three nights. When no one turned, then he decided
to help him. He gave him his Japanese clothes, boat and food. He instructed him that he
would row his boat to the little island. There he would have a Korean fishing boat. He
arranged everything for the prisoner. He told him that if he ran short of food, he would flash
two signals when the sun sets. If he was alright and was on the island, he would flash one.
So, the white soldier safely boarded the Korean fishing boat. This way, Dr Sadao planned
and helped the enemy soldier to escape safely.

Question 12.
The servants of Sadao and Hana reflect a particular mindset of the general public in society
towards the thinking and broad-minded human beings. Elaborate with the help of the story,
‘The Enemy’.
Answer:
The servants of Sadao and Hana reflected a particular mindset of the general public in
society towards the thinking and broad-minded human beings. They were openly defiant to
the fact that Dr Sadao had decided to give shelter to an enemy. They suspected Dr Sadao
as he lived in America so he might have sympathy for all Americans.

The servants, especially the gardener quoted that Dr Sadao had acted against the nature.
‘Idiey decided to quit, and leave. The cook too was most contemptuous of the fact that their
master was so proud of his skills to save life that he could save any person’s life even
though he was their enemy. They acted like any normal patriot and like the general public of
the society.

On the face of It
Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What is the bond that unites the two, Mr Lamb and Derry? How does Mr Lamb inspire the
boy?
Answer:
Mr Lamb and Derry are suffering from the same sort of physical impairment. Mr Lamb does
not have one leg while Derry’s face is burnt from one side. They both are feeling lonely. No
one ever comes to see Mr Lamb and people have spread many stories about him. People
look at awe at Derry’s face and generally avoid him. Thus they both are suffering from
common problems. This bond unites Mr Lamb and Derry.

30
Question 2.
Who is Mr Lamb?
Answer:
Mr Lamb is an old man. He is retired from the army. He has lost one of his legs in a bomb
blast. He lives alone in a house that has a garden. No one ever comes to visit him. Kids call
him Lamey Lamb. People have spread stories about him.

Question 3.
What peculiar things does Derry notice about the old man, Lamb?
Answer:
Mr Lamb is retired from the army. He leaves his doors always open. Everybody is welcomed
in his garden. There are no curtains on his windows. These are quite peculiar things for
Derry.

Question 4.
What physical impairment is Mr Lamb suffering from?
Answer:
Mr Lamb lost one of his legs in a war. There is a tin leg in its place. The children would
mockingly call him ‘Lamey Lamb’. Also, no one ever comes to see him. People have spread
many stories about him.

Question 5.
Why had Derry come to the garden?
Answer:
Derry had thought it was an empty place and no one lived there. He wanted to see what kind
of place it was. He had no mind to steal any apple.

Question 6.
In what sense is the friendship between Mr Lamb and Derry fruitful?
Answer:
The friendship between Mr Lamb and Derry proved quite fruitful for both of them. Mr Lamb
instils self confidence in the young boy. While the young boy’s company helps Mr Lamb to
ward off his loneliness.

Question 7.
Why does Derry say people are afraid of him?
Answer:
Derry says people look at his face and call it a terrible thing. They call it the ugliest thing they
ever saw. Therefore according to Derry, people are afraid of him.

Question 8.
Why does Derry tell Mr Lamb that he is afraid of seeing himself in the mirror in the play, ‘On
the Face of It’?
Answer:
One side of Derry’s face is burnt. Acid had fallen on this side. His face looked very ugly.
People would always keep on reminding of his face. Therefore Derry tells Mr Lamb that he is
afraid of seeing himself in the mirror.

Question 9.
How does Mr Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry?
Answer:
Mr Lamb tells Derry that he, like others, has two eyes, two ears, two legs, two arms, brain
and a tongue. He can do or achieve whatever he likes. In this way Mr Lamb tries to remove
baseless fears of Derry.

31
Question 10.
What did Derry’s mother think of Mr Lamb?
Answer:
Derry’s mother did not have any good opinion about Mr Lamb. She considered him to be a
worthless man. She thought that Mr Lamb’s talk was all nonsense. She did not want Derry to
go there.

Question 11.
How does Mr Lamb react when Derry enters his garden?
Answer:
Mr Lamb welcomes Derry in his garden. He only asks him to mind crab apples lest he should
trip. When Derry wants to run away from there Mr Lamb says that he need not go. Everyone
is welcomed to come in his garden.

Question 12.
What kind of garden does Mr Lamb have? Why does he like it?
Answer:
Mr Lamb has a garden-outside his house. It has flowers, grass, trees arid bees. He likes
every inch of his garden. He has positive attitude of mind. For him even weeds in his garden
are living things. He likes humming of bees. He passes his time by making jam from the crab
apples. Thus, he remains busy due to his garden. Therefore, he likes it very much.

Question 13.
What does Derry hear people talking down the downstairs?
Answer:
He hears people talking about him and saying, “What will he ever do? What is going to
happen to him when we are gone? How will he get on in this world with that face?”

Question 14.
What realisation comes to Derry about his face at the end of the play?
Answer:
At the end of the play, Derry realises that external looks do not matter much. The only thing
matters is the person’s worth. He decides now he would not care about anybody. He will
care about what he feels, thinks or

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Narrate the first meeting between Mr Lamb and Derry?
Answer:
The first meeting between Mr Lamb and Derry takes place in Mr Lamb’s garden. A teenager
named Derry comes into the garden. He thinks that no one is in the garden. But then he
hears Mr Lamb’s voice,” “Mind the apples.” Derry is startled to hear that voice. He has
thought that no one was there in the garden. He wants to run way from there but Mr Lamb
says that he is most welcomed in the garden.

Derry sits beside Mr Lamb. They have heart to heart talk. They thoroughly enjoy each
other’s company. Mr Lamb has been retired from the army. One of his legs had been blown
due to a bomb blast. Nobody comes to visit him. People have spread many stories about
him. Children mockingly call him ‘Lamey Lamb’. The condition of Derry is also not much
different. One side of his face is burnt due to acid.

Question 2.
Why do you think Derry is so pessimistic? How does Mr Lamb give solace to the boy?

32
Answer:
One side of Derry’s face is burnt due to acid. People look at him in awe. They say that it is
the ugliest’ thing that they have ever seen. Derry feels afraid of him when he sees himself in
the mirror. He has become highly pessimistic. He knows even his mother doesn’t love him
truly. She just fulfils her duty as a mother.

Therefore, she never kisses him on the burnt side of his face; she would always kiss on the
other side of his [Link] Lamb gives the boy great solace and inspiration. He tells him he is
not handicapped like him. He has two legs, two eyes, two ears and two hands. He can do
anything in life. He also advises him to have optimistic approach in life.

Question 3.
What lesson of life does Mr Lamb tell Derry? What effect it has on him?
Answer:
Mr Lamb has lost one of his legs in a war. He tells Derry he is not handicapped like him. He
has two legs, two eyes, two ears and two hands. He can do anything in life. He also advises
him to have optimistic approach in life. Then he starts explaining Derry about his own
approach towards life. He says every¬thing interests him that is created by God.

He says that people say the bees buzz but according to him . they hum. According to Lamb,
every growing thing has life in it. For him even weeds are important. He tells Derry that it’s
not what he looks like; it’s what he is inside. This makes Derry understand that beauty is only
skin deep. He understands that he is not inferior to anybody. He can do whatever he likes.

Question 4.
How did Mr Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life?
Answer:
Mr Lamb’s meeting with Derry indeed proved to be. a turning point in a young boy’s life. One
side of Derry’s face was burnt due to acid. People looked at him in awe. They would say that
it was the ugliest thing that they have ever seen. Derry felt afraid of him when he saw himself
in the mirror. He had become highly pessimistic. He knew even his mother didn’t love him
truly. She would just fulfil her duty as a mother. Therefore, she never kissed him on the burnt
side of his face; she would always kiss on the other side of his face.

But Lamb gave the boy great solace and inspiration. He told him he was not handicapped
like him. He had two legs, two eyes two ears and two hands. He could do anything in life. He
also advised him to have optimistic approach in life. Thus, this meeting proved to be a
turning point in Derry’s life. Now he doesn’t care what others say.

Question 5.
How did Mr Lamb try to give courage and confidence to Derry?
Answer:
Mr Lamb was retired from the army. He had lost one of his legs due to bomb blast. He met
Derry for the first time in his garden. One side of Derry’s face is burnt due to acid. As a
result, Derry had become quite pessimistic in his life. But Mr Lamb told him he was not
handicapped like him. He had two legs, two eyes, two ears and two hands. He could do
anything in life. He also advised him to have optimistic approach in life. Then he started
explaining Derry about his own approach towards life.

He said everything interested him that was created by God. He said that people would say
the bees buzz but according to him, they hum. According to Lamb, every growing thing had
life in it. For him, even weeds were important. He told Derry that it was not what he looked
like; it was what he was inside. Now Derry came to understand that beauty is only skin deep.

33
Question 6.
Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for them is
the feeling of loneliness. Comment.
Answer:
If a person is constantly reminded of his physical impairment, he will feel a great mental
pain. This pain is much more than the pain of actual physical impairment. The same thing is
with Derry and Lamb, One side of Derry’s face has been burnt due to acid. People look at
him with a sense of fear or shock. They would say that it is a terrible thing. Some would
show sympathy towards him. A woman looks at him and says, “That it is a face only a
mother could love.” It will give Derry a great pain. Even the people at his own home don’t
treat him well.

They think him to be a burden. Even his mother would not kiss him on the burnt side. She
would always kiss him on the other side. Derry is deeply hurt at all this. He wants to run
away from his house. Lamb has lost one of his legs due to bomb blast. Nobody ever comes
to meet him. Children mockingly call him ‘Lamey Lamb’. Thus for both of them the more
painful is the feeling of loneliness.

Question 7.
Derry sneaked into Mr Lamb’s garden and it became a turning point in his life. Comment.
Answer:
Mr Lamb’s meeting with Derry indeed proved to be a turning point in a young boy’s life. One
side of Derry’s face was burnt due to acid. People looked at him in awe. They would say that
it was the ugliest thing that they have ever seen. Derry felt afraid of him when he saw himself
in the mirror. He had become highly pessimistic. He knew even his mother didn’t love him
truly.

She would just fulfil her duty as a mother. Therefore she never kissed him on the burnt side
of his face; she would always kiss on the other side of his face. But Lamb gave the boy great
solace and inspiration. He told him he was not handicapped like him. He had two legs, two
eyes two ears and two hands. He could do anything in life. He also advised him to have
optimistic approach in life. Thus this meeting proved to be a turning point in Derry’s life. Now
he doesn’t care what others say.

Question 8.
Who is Mr Lamb? How does Derry get into his garden?
Answer:
Mr Lamb is an old man. He is retired from the army. He has lost his one leg in the war. Now,
a tin leg has been there in place of his original leg. People have spread many stories about
him. Hardly anyone comes to see him. He is living a lonely life. The children in the street call
him Lamey-Lamb. His house has a lovely garden. Mr Lamb always keeps the gate of his
garden open.

Everyone is welcomed in his garden. Derry does not come into the garden by the gate,
instead he climbs over the garden wall. He does not want that anyone should notice his
entry. Therefore, he climbs over the garden wall. The second thing is one part of his face is
burnt due to acid. He does not want that anyone should notice his ugly face and run away.

Question 9.
What is it that draws Derry towards Mr Lamb in spite of himself?
Answer:
Both Derry and Mr Lamb are suffering from the same sort of problem. Mr Lamb is living a
lonely life. He has lost one of his legs in a war. People have spread many stories about him.
The children would mock at him and call him ‘Lamey Lamb’. No one comes to see him.

34
The condition of Derry is not much different. Half side of his face has been burnt with acid.
People would look at him with awe. They would say what he would do in his life. Even Derry
thinks that members of his own family avoid him.

When the two, Mr Lamb and Derry, meet with each other, they have heart to heart talking.
Mr Lamb talks to him lovingly. He says that all the living things are beautiful. He also
encourages Derry by saying that since he has two legs, two hands two ears, two eyes and
two hands, he can do anything. It is by such words of encouragement that Derry is drawn
towards Mr Lamb.

Question 10.
In which section of the play does Mr Lamb display signs of loneliness and disappointment?
What are the ways in which Mr Lamb tries to overcome these feelings?
Answer:
At the end of the first scene Mr Lamb shows signs of loneliness and disappointment. He
says that everyone says that they will come but no one ever comes back. This shows how
much loneliness that old man feels. It is natural because people have spread many stories
about him. No one comes to see him. The children would mock at him calling him, ‘Lamey-
Lamb’.

He finds in Derry a good friend. They have heart to heart chat for long hours. Derry goes
away saying that he will soon come. He feels like others Derry would also not come. He tries
to overcome his feelings of loneliness by watching, listening and thinking. He had no curtains
on his windows since he loves to have natural light. He finds no difference between flowers,
trees, herbs and weeds. It is by such thoughts that he tries to overcome his loneliness and
disappointment.

Question 11.
The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less than
the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What is the kind of behaviour that
the person expects from others?
Answer:
If a person is constantly reminded of his physical impairment, he will feel a great mental
pain. This pain is much more than the pain of actual physical impairment. The same-thing
happens in Derry’s case. One side of his face has been burnt due to acid. People look at him
in a sense of fear or shock. They would say that it is a terrible thing.

Some would show sympathy towards him. A woman looks at and says, “That it is a face only
a mother could love.” It will give Derry a great pain. Even the people at his own home don’t
treat him well. They think him to ‘ be a burden. Even his mother would not kiss him on the
burnt side. She would always kiss him on the other side. Derry is deeply hurt at all this. He
wants to run away from his house.

Question 12.
Will Derry get back to his old seclusion or will Mr Lamb’s brief association effect a change in
the kind of life he will lead in the future?
Arts.
There is little chance of Derry going back to his old seclusion. Now he has gained a lot of
self-confidence. Mr Lamb has told him that like every other person Derry has two eyes, two
legs, two hands, two ears and two hands. He can do anything he likes. Derry has been a
very pessimistic boy. But Mr Lamb gives him a lot of confidence.

His words of encouragement bring about a total change in the attitude and perspective of
Derry towards life. Now he does not care about how he looks like. Now he wants to live life

35
in his own way. Therefore he decides to leave his home and live with Mr Lamb. He
understands that beauty is only skin deep.

Long Answer Type:Value Based

Question 1.
Do you think Mr Lamb leaves Derry with a positive frame of mind in the end? Mr Lamb dies
but leaves his spirit behind.
OR
Describe how Mr Lamb and Derry’s conversation bring about a change in the views of Derry,
towards life.
OR
What benefits did Derry reap from his associations with Mr Lamb?
Answer:
The interaction between Derry and Mr Lamb had been short but the impact on Derry was
very powerful. Mr Lamb tried to show Derry that life is much more than his obsession with
his disability. It is good to know one’s limitations but limiting oneself because of the
limitations is wrong. To prove his point, Mr Lamb gave example of other people’s lives and
also his own. He wanted to show that disability is not in the body but in the mind and the
moment it engulfs the mind, one loses out on oneself.

Mr Lamb does not ask Derry the reason behind his disfigured face, something which
everyone else had done. Mr Lamb’s apparent disregard for his own disability also amazes
him. For someone who was fixated with his own disability and who had in fact started pitying
himself, it was a shock. Mr Lamb, without overtly advising him, through his actions and
behaviour, his benevolent nature and through his optimistic attitude towards life, made Derry
realise that there is more to life than being forever concerned with oneself. The old man
instilled a new hope in Derry to live life on his own terms.

Question 2.
How did Mr Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life?
OR
Derry sneaked into Mr Lamb’s garden and it became a turning point in his life. Comment.
Answer:
Mr Lamb turned Derry into a confident boy from a self-pitying one. Both were physically
handicapped but had a different outlook towards life. Derry had a pessimistic attitude and felt
that life cannot be lived happily with a handicap. Derry was a defiant and withdrawn boy who
hated socialising. He felt frustrated with people, their staring and their jibes at him. Meeting
Mr Lamb had a positive effect on Derry. Mr Lamb, though handicapped, had a very optimistic
outlook towards life. He felt that life can be lived happily irrespective of whatever one’s
handicap was.

Derry could be himself in front of Mr Lamb and Mr Lamb never pitied him. Mr Lamb did not
have a leg and even then he was happy with his life. He taught Derry to take life the way
God had given and live to the full rather than just being forlorn and complain throughout.

Derry made his mother understand that his handicap was something immaterial and would
not affect his happiness or hamper his progress in life. Meeting Mr Lamb had in fact led him
to turn a new leaf in his life.

Question 3.
Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is the responsibility of society to

36
understand and support people with infirmities so that they do not suffer from a sense of
alienation. As a responsible citizen, what would you do to bring about a change in the lives
of such people?
OR
How is Derry and Mr Lamb’s behaviour and attitude different towards people because of
their physical impairment?
Answer:
Derry’s main problem was his burnt face. One side of his face was eaten up by acid. He
suffered from a tremendous sense of inferiority complex. He was always conscious that his
face was “bad”, “terrible” and “the ugliest thing”. People were “afraid” of him. He tries to
escape people. He allows himself to be alienated from the world. On the other hand, Mr
Lamb doesn’t allow his physical disability to come in his way. He accepts life as it comes. He
has a positive attitude towards life, things and people.

He doesn’t find solace in escapism. Children tease him by calling “Lamey-Lamb” but he
doesn’t mind it. One of his legs was blown off in the war. But he is full of life and enjoys it at
his best. He enjoys sitting in the sun, reading books and growing weeds and flowers. Derry
is withdrawn and defiant. He doesn’t trust people.

He thinks that no one will ever love and kiss him except his own mother. He can’t stand
people staring at him or passing uncharitable remarks. He is touchy and hypersensitive. Mr
Lamb is open- minded and open-hearted. All were welcome in his house. He loves
everybody and everything. He teaches Derry how to handle people and things.

Question 4.
The lesson, ‘On the Face of It’ is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of alienation
experienced by people on account of a disability. Explain.
OR
Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for them is
the feeling of loneliness. Comment.
Answer:
Man is vain, selfish and prejudiced. He does not cherish anything that is incomplete or
impaired. This nature of man, creates a vaccum in the life of human beings who are
handicapped, for no fault of theirs. A war veteran, an accident victim, a polio affected, or a
person born handicapped is looked upon by the so called ‘Normal’ people with a false sense
of sympathy, disgust or repulsion. As a result, the injury that is physical becomes secondary
to the injury that is caused to the mind, and psyche of the person. They become pessimistic,
feel lonely and alienated.

Question 5.
Mr Lamb and Derry are two different sides of the same coin. Do you agree? Justify your
answer with evidence from the text.
Answer:
Both, Mr Lamb and Derry suffered from physical impairment and both were lonely. Lamb
was optimistic but Derry was pessimistic. Lamb ignored his challenge while Derry magnified
his ugly look. Lamb was not concerned about what people say while Derry was very much
taken up by the signs of fear and desire to avoid him, from people. He did not like being
pitied when people called him ‘poor boy’ or gave him uncalled for advice. Even when Derry’s
mother kissed him only on the right side, he felt that she did that out of sheer duty.

Lamb had positive attitude towards life. He did not mind people calling him ‘Lamey-Lamb’.
He did not want to shut out the world or have the bitterness and hatred that Derry had. Lamb

37
taught Derry the art of discovering beauty and leading a happy life. All these qualities of
each made them different from the other.

Question 6.
Optimism in one’s attitude helps deal with all the challenges of life. Prove the statement by
referring to the character Mr Lamb from the chapter, ‘On the Face of It’.
Answer:
Mr Lamb is an apostle of optimist, enthusiasm and hope. He is different from Derry. Though
both are suffering from physical impairment, yet the latter is full of optimism and zest. People
call him ‘Lamey-Lamb’ but he never reacts to it. He is a warehouse of knowledge. Although
he lives alone, he keeps himself busy reading books. He enjoys sitting in the sun. He makes
toffees and jellies. He is a nature lover. He has an open approach towards life. “The gates
are open” shows his welcoming nature.

He is an inspiring and practical man. Mr Lamb is a person with high self-esteem and positive
approach. Though he too feels alienated and lonely, he never lets it know to anyone. He is
an extrovert. He guides Derry to face the challenges of life by accepting it. He helps gloomy
and defiant Derry to come out of his cocoon by his witty remarks. This optimistic protagonist
really catches the attention of the readers towards them.

Memories of Childhood
The Cutting of My Long Hair and We Too are Human Beings

Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What does this chapter tell us about the weather in the land of apples on the very first day?
Answer:
Zitkala-Sa unfolds that the first day in the land of apples was a bitter cold one; for the snow
still covered the ground, and the trees were bare.

Question 2.
How were the Indian girls dressed? Why did Zitkala feel sinking in the floor?
Answer:
The Indian girls were in stiff shoes and closely clinging dresses. The small girls wore sleeved
aprons and singled hair. It appeared very immodest to Zitkala. She felt sinking in the floor
because her blanket had been stripped off from her shoulders.

Question 3.
Who was Judewin? What did she tell Zitkala?
Answer:
Judewin was a friend of Zitkala. She knew a little English. She had overheard the white
woman saying that they would shingle Zitkala’s long, heavy hair. She said that Zitkala had to
submit to them.

38
Question 4.
What had Zitkala’s mother told her about the tradition regarding hair in their tribe?
Answer:
Zitkala’s mother had told her that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair
shingled by the enemy. Among her tribe, short hair were worn by mourners and shingled hair
by cowards.

Question 5.
Where did Zitkala hide herself to save her hair?
Answer:
Zitkala hid herself in a big room. The windows were covered with dark green curtains, which
made the room very dim. No one was there in the room. She crawled under a bed and
huddled herself in the dark corner.

Question 6.
How were Zitkala-Sa’s long hair shingled?
Answer:
Women and girls entered the room where Zitkala-Sa was hiding. She was dragged out. She
resisted and cried aloud. They tied her fast in a chair. She was shaking her head all the
while until she felt the cold blades of the scissors against her neck. Thus her hair were
shingled.

Question 7.
At the dining table why did Zitkala-Sa begin to cry when others start eating?
Answer:
At the dining table all the others started eating us¬ing knife and fork. But Zitkala began to
cry. She found eating by formula a very hard trial for her.

Question 8
How did Zitkala-Sa’s first day in the land of apples begin?
Answer:
The first day in the land of apples was very cold. Zitkala saw. that the Indian people were
bearing tight clinging clothes which appeared very immodest to her. At the dining table, she
began crying since she could not eat with knife and fork. And in the end her hair were
shingled.

Question 9.
How long would it take Bama to reach her home?
Answer:
It was actually possible to walk the distance in ten minutes from Bama’s school to her home.
But, usu¬ally it would take her thirty minutes at the very least to reach home. Many
interesting things would tether her feet to the ground.

Question 10.
What did she see one day when she came from school?
Answer:
One day, when she came to her street she saw at the opposite corner a threshing floor had
been set up, and the landlord watched the proceedings, seated on a piece of sacking spread
over a stone ledge. The people of her community were hard at work, driving cattle in pairs,
round and round to tread out the grain from the straw.

Question 11.
What scene made Bama laugh loudly?
Answer:

39
Bama saw an elder of her street came along from the direction of the bazaar. He was
carrying a small packet in his hands. Bama guessed there was something like vadais in the
packet. Bama wanted to laugh loudly when she saw this. He was holding out the packet by
its string, without touching it. She thought that in this manner, the packet could be undone
and all the contents would fall out.

Question 12.
When Bama did come to know about the social discrimination towards her community?
Answer:
Bama came to know about it when she was just a school going girl. She saw an elder of their
commu¬nity carrying a packet of vadais from its string. She thought that in this manner, the
packet could be un done and the whole contents would be spilt out. But her brother told her
that the reason for that was that the person for whom that snacks brought belonged to high
caste and he thought that the very touch of any from their community would pollute him.

Question 13.
What advise did Annan give to Bama?
Answer:
Annan advised Bama that she should study with care and learn all. Then the people would
come to her of their own accord and attach themselves to her. These words of Annan made
a deep impression on her.

Question 14.
Why did the landlord’s man ask Bama’s brother on which street he lived? What was the
significance?
Answer:
The people of the community to which Bama be longed were segregated and lived in a
particular street. The landlord’s man wanted to ascertain the caste of Bama’s brother.
Therefore he asked him on which street he lived.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Explain in detail Zitkala’s experience at the land of apples?
Answer:
It was bitterly cold on the first day at the land of apples. A large bell rang for breakfast. There
was annoying clatter of shoes on the floor. An elderly white woman came up after them. She
saw Indian (Native-Americans) girls in stiff shoes and closely clinging dresses. It appeared
quite immodest to her. While the boys entered from the other door.

They all were marched for the breakfast.A small bell was tapped and all the students drew a
chair from under the table. Zitkala thought they were perhaps going to sit. She also sat down
but she found that the others were standing murmuring a sort of small prayer. Zitkala-Sa
also stood up.

But then she found that the others had sit in their seats. Then she heard a voice of a man.
Every one picked up their knife and fork and began eating. But Zitkala found this eating by
formula very difficult. But this was not the hardest trial for her. Her hair were shingled and
she felt herself like an animal in a herd.

Question 2.
Reproduce briefly in your own words Zitkala- Sa’s experience in the dining room.
Answer:
The tables and chairs were arranged in the dining room. A small bell was tapped, and each

40
of the students drew a chair from under the table. Zitkala also pulled out the chair and sat
down. But she noticed that all others were standing but she was sitting. She began to rise
up, but soon the second bell was tapped. All were seated at last.

She heard a man’s voice at one end of the hall, and she looked around to see him. But all
the others hung their heads over the plates. The man ceased his mutterings, and then the
third bell was tapped. Every one picked up their knife and fork and began eating. But Zitkala
started crying instead. This eating by formula proved too hard a trial for her.

Question 3.
What did Zitkala do to prevent her hair? How did her efforts prove futile?
Answer:
Zitkala decided that she would not let her hair shingled. She watched her chance and when
no one noticed, she disappeared. She hid herself in a big room. The windows were covered
with dark green curtains, which made the room very dim. No one was there in the room. She
crawled under a bed and hid herself in the dark comer.

From her hiding place she heard footsteps nearby. In the hall some voices were calling her
name. Even her friend Judewin was searching for her. The sounds came nearer and nearer.
Women and girls entered the room. She was dragged out. She resisted and cried aloud.
They tied her fast in a chair. She was shaking her head all the while until she felt the cold
blades of the scissors against her neck. Thus her hair were shingled.

Question 4.
How long did Bama take to reach home from school and why? Write briefly what she did on
her way?
Answer:
It was actually possible to walk the distance in ten minutes. But usually it would take her
thirty minutes at the very least to reach home. Many interesting things would tether her feet
to the ground. There could be a performing monkey. There could be a snake charmer with
his snake kept in a basket. There could be a cyclist who had not got off cycle for three days.

She would watch the huge bell hanging at the temple. She would watch the Pongal offerings
being cooked. Then there could be some entertainments going on the way-a street play, a
puppet show or a magic show. These were the things that stopped her at many points in her
way.

Question 5.
When did Bama come to know about the social discrimination towards her community?
Answer:
Bama found that the manner in which the elder of her community carrying snacks was funny.
He was holding out the packet by its string, without touching it. She thought that in this
manner the packet could be undone and all the contents fall out. But her brother told her that
there was nothing funny about it.

The people of upper caste thought that the very touch of the people of their community
would pollute them. It was then that Bama came to know about the social discrimination
towards her community. This thought filled her with rage. She thought that why their people
should run petty errands for the upper caste people. They should just take their wages and
that was all.

Question 6.
The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the

41
commonality of theme found in both of them?
Answer:
The first account refers to a Native American girl, Zitkala-Sa. The European settlers, there
are prejudiced against the native people. For them Native Americans are no better than
enemies. They shingled Zitkala’s hair much against her wish. They did not care to respect
their culture. The second account is of Bama. She belonged to a downtrodden community.
The people of upper caste looked at them with hatred. They thought that the very touch of
the people of her community would pollute them. Thus we can see that Zitkala and Bama
belonged to different cultures and communities. Yet the theme of both the accounts is same
that people of downtrodden communities are treated like animals and racial prejudice is
there in almost every part of the world.

Question 7.
It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed
early in life. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed even by
children?
Answer:
Elders of downtrodden communities become used to oppression. They consider it a part of
their destiny and thus do not protest against any oppression. But the minds of children are
very impressionable. They understand every oppression or humiliation. They generally rebel
against any oppression.

They feel quite disturbed when they see injustice being done to someone. When they grow
up, they try their best to root out all the traditions that consider them to inferior beings. Thus,
we can say that the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life.

Question 8.
Bama’s experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does
ZitkalaSa’s experience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?
Answer:
Zitkala-Sa was a Native American. The European settlers have great prejudice against the
Native Americans. They consider them inferior beings. They have no respect for their
traditions. That was why

Zitkala’s long was shingled. On the other hand, Bama belongs to a downtrodden community.
The people of high caste consider them inferior beings. They think that the very touch of
theirs would pollute them. Both Zitkala and Bama reacted to their respective situation in their
own way.

Zitkala hid herself in a room to prevent her hair from being shingled. But she was found out
and her hair were shingled. When Bama came to know the humiliation of an elder of their
street’ she was filled with anger. She studied very hard so that the others realise her worth
and come to her as friends.

Long Answer Type:Value Based

Question 1.
Describe how the narrator in ‘The Cutting of My Long Hair’ resists and fights against ‘ the
attempt of shingling her long and heavy hair. How is she ultimately made to lose her distinct
cultural identity?
Answer:
The narrator’s friend Judewin gave her a terrible warning. She knew a few words of English.
She had overheard the ‘pale-faced woman’. She had talked about cutting the long and
heavy hair of Native American girls. It was a shocking news. Their mothers had taught them

42
that shingled hair was worn only by cowards. Judewin advised her to submit. The narrator
had made a decision. She was not to submit. She was to struggle and fight against that
oppression.

The narrator disappeared unnoticed. She crawled under the bed and cuddled herself in the
dark corner. She shuddered with fear, whenever she heard footsteps nearby. Voices
became louder.

They stormed into the room. She was dragged out. She resisted by kicking and scratching
wildly. She was carried downstairs and tied fast to a chair. Then they gnawed off her long
and beautiful hair. No one came forward to help her. Nor was anybody present there to
console her. Thus, the narrator lost her distinct cultural recognition and identity. Now, she
was only one of the many little animals driven by a herder.

Question 2.
The narrator in ‘We Too Are Human Beings’ is amused at the way the elder of her street
carried the food packet by its string without touching it. But the same girl is provoked and
becomes angry when Annan makes her aware of the social inequality and untouchability in
the social system. Describe how the narrator attains honour and dignity in spite of her
humble birth.
Answer:
The narrator in ‘We Too Are Human Beings’ passes through different phases of mental and
physical development. The role of her elder brother (Annan) in shaping her personality can’t
be minimised. He inspired her to fight against inequality and untouchability. The narrator saw
a threshing floor set up at one corner of her street. An old man of her street attracted her
attention. The elder came along from the direction of the bazaar.

He was a big man carrying a small packet of food by its string without touching it. She
thought it quite funny. She narrated the incident to her elder brother, but he was not amused.
The man was not being funny. He belonged to a ‘low caste’. He couldn’t touch the food
packet. She
felt terribly sad. She felt provoked and angry that she wanted to touch those vadais herself
straightaway. Annan described that the people of their caste were not respected and given
importance.

Education, learning and prosperity bring honour and [Link] narrator was inspired by his
words. She studied hard and stood first in the class. Then many friends came to her on their
own accord.

Question 3.
Both Bama and Zitkala-Sa are victims of discrimination that is practised in the society. What
kind of experience did both of them go through?
Answer:
The lesson, ‘Memories of Childhood’ deals with the autobiographical accounts of women of
marginalised communities. Both narrate the prejudices and humiliation faced by them from
mainstream culture. The former is a victim of racial discrimination, whereas the latter is a
victim of caste discrimination.
Question 1
What kind of discrimination did Bama and Zitkala experience? How did they respond to their
respective situations?
Answer:
Bama and Zitkala belonged to marginalised communities. Zitkala was an American Indian

43
woman who was ill-treated by the whites who adopted force and oppression to compel the
natives to shed their age old customs and traditions. The worst indignity she suffered was
the cutting of her long hair. Her long and beautiful hair were cut after she was dragged out.
She cried and resisted by kicking and scratching wildly as she was tied fast in a chair but still
she did not submit. No one came to help her or to console her. Bama, who belonged to a
Dalit community was a victim of the caste system. She was upset by the inhuman attitude of
the people belonging to the ‘higher’ caste towards the ‘lower’ caste. She had experienced
the evils of untouchability when she was studying in the third standard.

Both these women fought and struggled against exploitation and oppression. Zitkala does
not submit but struggles when her hair is being shingled. She fights till she is overpowered.
Bama fights against the evils of untouchability in her own way. She works hard and stands
first in her class. People then come to her of their own accord.

Question 2
What are the similarities in the lives of Bama and Zitkala though they belong to different
cultures?
Answer:
Bama and Zitkala belonged to marginalised communities. Zitkala was an American Indian
woman who was ill-treated by the whites who adopted force and oppression to compel the
natives to shed their age old customs and traditions. The worst indignity she suffered was
the cutting of her long hair. Her long and beautiful hair were cut after she was dragged out.
She cried and resisted by kicking and scratching wildly as she was tied fast in a chair but still
she did not submit. No one came to help her or to console her. Bama, who belonged to a
Dalit community was a victim of the caste system. She was upset by the inhuman attitude of
the people belonging to the ‘higher’ caste towards the ‘lower’ caste. She had experienced
the evils of untouchability when she was studying in the third standard.

Both these women fought and struggled against exploitation and oppression. Zitkala does
not submit but struggles when her hair is being shingled. She fights till she is overpowered.
Bama fights against the evils of untouchability in her own way. She works hard and stands
first in her class. People then come to her of their own accord. The similarity between their
lives is the struggle and fight against racial and social discrimination. They did not accept
this exploitation and injustice meekly but fought against it.

Question 3
Describe how Zitkala-Sa tried in vain to save her hair from being cut. Why did she want to
save her hair?
Answer:
Zitkala-Sa’s friend Judewin warned her that her hair was going to be cut. Judewin knew a
few English words and had overheard the ‘paleface woman’ talking about cutting the native
Indian girl’s long hair. This news shocked Zitkala. Her friend told her to accept her fate but
she was not ready to submit and decided to fight against this oppression. She disappeared
unnoticed and went into a room where she crawled and hid under a bed, cuddling herself in
a dark comer. But she was caught and dragged out. She then resisted by kicking and
scratching wildly as she was carried down and tied fast to a chair. As they gnawed at her
long hair, she kept shaking her head. No one came to her aid. Zitkala was desperate to save
her hair because among her people short hair was kept by mourners and shingled hair was
a sign of cowardice. So she did not want her long hair to be cut.

Question 4
What activities did Bama witness on her way back home from school? (Comptt. All India
2014)
Answer:

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On her way back home from school Bama would take thirty minutes to cover a ten minute
distance. This was because she would witness various activities on her way back home. The
performing monkey, the snake charmer, the cyclist who had not got off his bike for three
days. She also watched the Pongal offerings being cooked in front of the Maariyaata temple.
At times people from various political parties would arrive, put up a stage and harangue the
public through their mikes. She would watch a street play, or a puppet show or a magic stunt
performance. All these would happen from time to time. But almost certainly there would be
some entertainment or other going on, that would delay Bama.

Question 5.
How did the scene she saw in the market place change Bama’s life? (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Bama usually reaches home late from school. She walks along leisurely watching and
enjoying the sights on her way home. One day on her way back, she saw the harvest being
threshed. The landlord stood watching the work being done. It was then that Bama saw one
of the elders coming down the street holding a packet by a string. The packet contained
vadais for the landlord. At first Bama thought that the elder man was being funny. But later
her brother told her that the elder man was of a low caste so he was not allowed to touch the
vadais brought for the landlord. This scene infuriated Bama and brought about a ‘ change in
her life wherein she decided to study well, make a position for herself in life and rebel
against caste inequalities.

Question 6
What were Zitkala-Sa’s experiences on her first day in the land of apples? (Comptt. All India
2015)
Answer:
The first day in the land of apples was bitterly cold and as the bell rang for breakfast, there
was an annoying clatter of shoes which gave Zitkala-Sa no peace. Though her spirit tore
itself in struggling for its freedom, it was of no use. Zitkala-Sa was placed in a line with the
Indian girls and marched into the dining room. All the girls were rather immodestly dressed in
tightly fitting clothes. As Zitkala-Sa sat down she observed that she was being keenly
watched by a strange palefaced woman. Later her friend Judewin gave her a terrible warning
that this palefaced woman was talking about cutting their long, heavy hair. Zitkala-Sa crept
into a room and crawled under a bed and huddled herself in the dark corner. But women and
girls entered the room and dragged her out. She resisted by kicking and scratching wildly.
Inspite of her resistance she was carried downstairs, tied fast in a chair and her long hair
was shingled.

Question 7
Untouchability is not only a crime, it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight
against it? (Delhi 2017)
Answer:
There is no denying the fact that untouchability is not only a crime but it is also inhuman.
Bama, who belonged to a marginalised community was a victim of the caste system. As a
little girl, studying in the third class, she had seen, felt and been humiliated by its effect. So
the spark of hostility towards this social evil had been ignited in her heart from a very early
age. Upset over the inhuman attitude of the people of the so-called higher caste towards the
lower caste, she decided to fight against this evil in her own way. Bama’s brother advised
her to study and make progress to throw away indig¬nities. She took the advice of her elder
brother seriously, studied diligently and stood first in her class thereby compelling people to
respect and befriend her.

Question 8.
In India, the so-called lower castes have been treated cruelly for a long time. Who advised

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Bama to fight against this prejudice, when and how?
Answer:
There is no denying the fact that untouchability is not only a crime but it is also inhuman.
Bama, who belonged to a marginalised community was a victim of the caste system. As a
little girl, studying in the third class, she had seen, felt and been humiliated by its effect. So
the spark of hostility towards this social evil had been ignited in her heart from a very early
age. Upset over the inhuman attitude of the people of the so-called higher caste towards the
lower caste, she decided to fight against this evil in her own way. Bama’s brother advised
her to study and make progress to throw away indignities. She took the advice of her elder
brother seriously, studied diligently and stood first in her class thereby compelling people to
respect and befriend her.

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