Section (C) Literature (2) Prose

(i) One out of two long-answer-type questions based on the text ( 100-125 words) (ii) Five short-answer questions based on the lessons. 2x5 = 10 Marks 10 Marks

Lesson .1. The Last Lesson Author: Alphonse Daudet Long-answer-type questions:
Q.1 . The people in the story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen? Ans: The story was written in the days of the Franco-Prussian war in which France was defeated by Prussia. In this story the French districts of Alsace-Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands. M. Hamel is the teacher of French and a boy, Franz who never serious in the class of M. Hamel. One day he was late for school. He feared that his teacher would scold as he was not very sure about participles which the teacher, M. Hamel, is going to test that day. But finally he decided to go to school. As he entered he saw the crowd has gathered round the bulletin board. He did not stop there. On arriving at school, he noted an unusual silence. He entered into the class and was greeted with a strange sight. The last benches which were always empty were occupied by the village elders who look grim and solemn. Franz noticed M. Hamel was dressed nicely and asked Franz to sit so that he could start his lesson. The teacher made a startling announcement that this would be their last lesson in French as the new teacher would be arriving the following day. He said, The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive. There came a sudden change in the minds of the people and they developed a new profound love French. Franz was overcome with a feeling of remorse and regretted for wasting his time in trivial pursuits. He decided to pay attention to the lesson since school had become very important for him. The people and Franz himself realized how precious their language is to them. M. Hamel had been teaching in that school for last forty years. His dedication, devotion, discipline impressed them. He realizes the real worth of his school and the teacher whom they have all taken for granted all these years. M. Hamel in his last address told about the importance of French. He called that it was the most beautiful language in the world. It is the clearest and the most logical one. M.Hamel was overcome by strong emotions and in large letter he wrote on the board Viva La France long live France! Q.2 Franz thinks: Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? What could this mean? Ans: The Alsace and Lorraine districts were under the regime of France. During the Franco-Prussian war in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck and both these districts have passed into Prussian hands. Earlier they were learning their own

language, French. As per new set up, an order was passed that German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.M. Hamel who had been teaching the French for the last forty years. In his last lesson he told that from the next day in the schools of both districts would teach only German instead of French from a new teacher. They wont be learning their own most beautiful, clearest and logical language. He told the importance of their own language, this feeling of M. Hamel aroused their patriotic feelings. There came a sudden change in Franz. He disliked learning German. He heard and saw the pigeons. He immediately remarked: Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? It is meant that the German can impose German language on the people of Alsace and Lorraine but they cant impose this language on the birds etc. They can enslave the people but have no authority to compel the cooing pigeons.

Short-answer questions :
Q.1.What was Franz expected to be prepared for school that day? Ans. Franz was expected to be prepared the topic of participles for school that day. But he did not know even the first word about them. So he was under great dread of being scolded by his teacher, M.Hamel. Q.2.What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day? Ans: Franz noticed that it was all so still, calm and quiet like Sunday morning while on other days there used to be a great hustle and bustle. The same could be heard out in the street. The opening and closing of the desks, lesson repeated in unison very loud. But on that day the school looked so strange. Q.3. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin board set up at the town hall? Ans: It was set up for all kinds of information and news for the public. For the last two years, the people received all the bad news from there like the news of the lost battles and the orders of commanding officer etc. When Franz was passing the Town Hall, he saw a large crowd in front of the bulletin board reading the news which stated that the German would be taught in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine. Q.4.How did the teacher describe the French language? Or What was the advice of M. Hamel about the importance of the French language? Ans: M. Hamel was very dedicated teacher of French language. While teaching his last lesson, he touched upon many aspects of French. He called it the most clear and logical language in the world. He urged all to guard it and never to forget it. In case they hold fast in their language, they had the key to their prison. Q.5. How did M. Hamel teach his last lesson in the class? Ans: It was the last day of M. Hamel in school. He was in his fine dress. The villagers had come there to pay their last respects. M.Hamel taught his lesson on French so decently that the students realized French is an easy language. At last he became emotional. He could not speak, he dismissed the school with writing on the blackboard, Viva La France.

Lesson .2. Lost Spring (Stories of Stolen Childhood)

Author: Anees Jung Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. Explain the significance of title Lost Spring. Ans: In this lesson, the author Anees Jung examines and analyses the grinding poverty and tradition that condemn children to a life of exploitation. Saheb as a ragpicker whose parents have left behind a life of abject poverty in Bangladesh. His family, like the many other families of rag pickers lives in Seemapuri. They live in miserable condition. The writer is pained to see Saheb, whose name means the ruler of the Earth, lose the spark of childhood. She then proceeds to tell about Mukesh who does want to be his own master. Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of Indias bangle making and glass blowing industry, he has always worked in the glass making factory. His family does not know that it is illegal for children to work in such close to furnaces with such high temperatures. They are exposed to various health hazards like losing their eyesight as they work in dark and dingy cells. The family of bangle maker of Firozabad are so burdened that they have lost their ability to dream. The writers observation is that these poor hopeless people are but pawn in the games that are played by Sahukars, middlemen, the policemen, the bureaucrats and the politicians. The title is meaningful as they lost their spring (childhood). The writer has beautifully essayed the story of stolen childhood with a view to sensitizing us to the plight of these poor unfortunate children. Q.2 .Why do children walk barefoot, in cities, or on village roads? Is it a tradition or something else? What does the author Anees Jung sate about it in her story Lost Spring? Ans: In this story the author analyses the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn children to a life of exploitation. She has been noticing the group of barefoot rag pickers children for many months. She asks one why he is not wearing footwear. Another adds if he gets, he will throw them off. A third boy says that he wants shoes, he has never owned a pair all his life. Then the author tells a story of a man from Udipi as a young school boy, every morning on his way to school he would briefly stop at the temple and pray the goddess for a pair of shoes. When he had finally got a pair of shoes, he prayed, Let me never lose them. When Sahib wears pairs of discarded tennis shoes due to a hole in one of them, it does not bother him. For one who has walked barefoot even shoes with a hole is a dream comes true. The reality of life is that there are number of innocent children who lose the spring (youth) of their lives under the threat of grinding poverty which exploit them under the demand of nature for satisfying their hunger for their survival. It is not due to lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one explanation. This is only an excuse for the continuing state of poverty which is the cause of the children staying barefoot in cities or on village roads.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1.Who is Saheb? What is he looking for in the garbage dumps and where has he come from?

Ans: Saheb is a rag-picker of Seemapuri. The writer encounters him every morning scrounging for gold in the garbage dumps in her neighbourhood. He hails from Dhaka and he was migrated from Bangladesh in 1971. His house and fields were destroyed by storm. Q.2. Why do these children remain barefoot? Ans: Throughout the country the author has seen many barefoot rag picker children. On asking about not wearing chappals, they many excuses. One says that his mother has not brought them down from the shelf. Another point out that he will throw them if she brings. The third one replies that it is an excuse. It is not the lack of money. Q.3. What is the condition of the children working in the glass factory/ furnaces of Firozabad? Ans: More than 20,000 children are illegally working in glass blowing factories in Firoza- bad. They work around furnaces in high temperatures to weld glasses. They work in dingy cells without light and air. Their eyes are adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. Many of them become victims of losing their eye-sight before they become adults. They work all day long. Q.4. Who is Mukesh? What is his dream? Ans: He belongs to the family of bangle maker in Firozabad where each family is engaged in bangle making. They live in half built huts. Mukesh says. I will be a mother mechanic. I will learn to drive a car. Thus he wants to be his own master. Q.5. Garbage to them is gold. Why does the author say to about the rag-pickers? Ans: More than 10,000 rag-pickers of Seemapuri live in squatters. For them is garbage is gold and it is wrapped in wonder. For a child, it is their bread. Sometimes a child can find a silver coin or more in a heap of garbage. For the elders it is a means of survival.

Lesson 3. Deep Water Author: William Douglas Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water? Or I used every way I knew to overcome this fear. What was the fear and how did William Douglas finally overcome it? Or A man of courage is also a man of faith. How is this borne out by Douglas account of his conquest over the fear of water? Or At last I felt released. Describe the efforts undertaken by Douglas to find this moment of release. Ans: The author, William Douglas talks about his fear of water and how he overcomes it. He reveals how he had feared it ever since he was three or four years old and his father had taken him to a beach in California. He was terrified of the waves that swept over the beach and knocked him down leaving him breathless. He decided to learn how to swim at

the YMCA. Pool. Though the sight of the water revived unpleasant memories he was determined to overcome them and learn to swim. One day, while he was sitting on the side of the pool, a bigger boy flung him into the deep end of the pool. The author hitting the bottom and made a jump to the surface., but he sank to the bottom again. He finally fainted. Then he decided to hire the services of an instructor and master swimming. Initially, the instructor put a belt round him and the attached rope through a pulley that run on an overhead cable. Hour after hour, day after day till he began to get back his confidence. Thus through sheer will power and practice, William overcame his fear of water and became a swimmer. Though the instructor was satisfied with his progress but to test whether he had lost all the vestiges of panic and fear, he went up to the Tieton, to Conrad Meadows. He dived into it and swam across it and was overjoyed to learn that he had at last conquest his fear of water. This experience is indeed a sign of courage, grit, patience and determination and a lesson to us that any fear can be overcome provided one perseveres Q.2. What was the misadventure at the YMCA swimming pool that the writer William Douglas speaks about? Ans:The misadventure referred to happened at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool. The author, William Douglas had joined the pool to learn to swim. One day he was sitting alone on the side of the pool. There was no one there. He was afraid of going into the water alone. So he was waiting for others to come. Suddenly a big boy came in. He picked the writer up and tossed him into the pool. The writer was frightened but not much. He at once went to the bottom of the pool. On the way down, he made a plan. He would hit the bottom and make a big jump to the surface. But he came up very slowly. He could see nothing but water. He grew panicky. Twice he tried to jump, but the jump made no difference. At last he stopped all efforts. He relaxed. There was no more panic. Everything blanked out. The curtain of life fell. But luckily, before he was dead, he was taken out of the pool and saved.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1.What is the misadventure that William Douglas speaks about? Ans: One day William Douglas was sitting alone on side of the Y.M.C.A pool. He was waiting for the others to come so that he could start swimming. By chance there came a big boy. He asked, Hi skinny! Howd you like to be ducked? He picked and tossed and threw him into the deep end of the pool. He speaks about this misadventure, which caused a last of trouble to him. Q.2. How did the drowning experience affect Douglas? Ans: William Douglas feared water and whenever he went back to the pool, terror seized him. He avoided water as far as he could. When he tried to enter water, the stark fear would seize him. His legs became paralysed and icy terror would grab his heart. Q.3. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water? Ans: He was a man of courage, strong determination. He realized that fear of water has become his sworn enemy. It was following him everywhere. He decided to get rid of.

Under the e guidance of an expert instructor he learnt swimming and became confident to face this terror. He dived into the Warm Lake, swam across to the other shore and back. In this way he conquered his old terror. Q.4. What does the mother of Douglas say about the YMCA pool? Ans: He wanted to learn swimming. His mother had advised him against his visit to the Yakima River since it was treacherous in nature. She considered Y.M.C.A pool as the safest place because it was 2 or 3 feet at the shallow end and nine feet at the deeper end. Q.5. How did the instructor make Douglas a perfect swimmer? Ans: He gave Douglas a practice for five days in a week. In the beginning he put a belt around him and it was attached to the rope. The rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. Each time his old fear returned. It went on for three months. Then he taught him to put his face under water and exhale. He taught him a raise his nose and inhale. Thus, piece by piece the instructor built him a swimmer.

Lesson .4.The Rattrap Author: Selma Lagerlof Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. How can we transform and clean an evil doing person. Give examples from the story Rattrap. Or The rattrap. Express the universal theme highlighted by the author in the story. Or How did the line of thought bring a change in the life of the rattrap peddler? Ans: The author, Selma Lagerlof has highlighted a universal theme in this story. It is that we can arouse the goodness in the life of a man by love, understanding, sympathy and respect. Once upon a time there was a man who went around selling self-made small rattraps of wire. His condition was too miserable to beg and do petty things. One day he thought that the whole world around him was a big trap. It offered riches, joys , food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. Those who were tempted to touch the bait, it closed on them bringing an end to everything. One dark evening he stayed at crofters cottage, he was given food and shelter. But the next morning he stole thirty kronor from there. The he kept on walking all day long on the same path in the forest. On hearing the sound of hammer strokes, he reached the iron mill and lay near the surface. The ironmaster mistook him to be his old acquaintance and invited him for Christmas cheer but he refused. He sent his daughter, Edla who persuaded

him to their house. After him well dressed, the from master found that he mistook him. So he ordered him to get out at once. The young girl wanted him to stay as they promised him Christmas cheer. He was treated like real captain with food. In their absence when they were at the church he left at the church they learnt the rattrap seller had robbed the old crofter. So they became worried. When they returned they found that the stranger had taken nothing with him and left behind a Christmas gift for Edla. She found a small rattrap thirty kronor and a letter in it. The letter stated that she had taken him as if he were a captain, so he would be nice to her as a captain. It had given him power to cleanse himself. Q.2. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament. Ans: The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One can not imagine how dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread. The metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was plodding along the road, duly lost in his own meditations. The whole world about him- the whole world with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them. The world offered riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. As soon as anyone is tempted and he to touches the bait, it closes on him and then everything came to an end for him in life. Like the poor rattrap seller, people get tempted to the pouch baits hung on the window frame, break the window pane and steal the kronor. For self-temptation people like the peddler dont want to undeceive others about themselves. The touching of the bait always makes people realize that they are caught in the world rattrap now. It is their turn now, they must stop cherish it as their pastime of thinking about the known who get trapped and others who ware circling around the trap. They must rise above the baits and shun evil doings like Captain Von Stahle.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1.What idea suddenly struck in the mind of the rattrap peddler? Ans: One day the peddler was moving along the road suddenly an idea struck to his mind. He viewed that the whole world was a big rattrap to trap the people in. It offered, riches, joys, shelter, food, heat and clothing like the rattrap offered cheese and pork to tempt to the rats. The world existed only to set baits for the people. Anyone who was tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap was closed in on him. Q.2. Who was Crofter and how did he welcome the peddler? Ans: The Crofter was an old man, who lived alone in his house. One dark evening when the peddler knocked at the door of the Crofter. He was very hospitable person and offered him supper and bed to sleep He amused him with the game of mjolis. He told the fact that he earned thirty kronor by selling the milk of his cow.

Q.3. How did the peddler rob the crofter? Ans: The Crofter was living alone in his house. So, he needed someone to talk in his loneliness. That time the peddler reached at his house. He welcomed him. The crofter had taken out and stuffed thirty kronor in the presence of the peddler. Both left in the morning. After half an hour, the peddler returned, smashed the window pane and stole thirty kronor from the pouch and hung it on its usual place. Q.4.Why did the peddler accept Edlas invitation? Ans: Earlier the ironmaster had tried his best to invite the peddler to his house for Christmas. He wanted his company but he declined his offer. So the ironmaster sent his daughter to invite him as she had better power of persuasion. She looked at the peddler compassionately. Her friendly manners aroused confidence in him. So he accepted her invitation. Q.5. When the ironmaster threatened to call the Sherriff. How did the peddler conduct? Ans: The peddler defended himself that he was a poor man. He said that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to him were just baits. The baits were set out to drag a poor man into trouble. In case the Sherriff came to lock him up, the day was not far when the ironmaster would be trapped himself.

Lesson .5. Indigo Author: Louis Fischer Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1.How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in Gandhijis life? Explain with the reference to the text, Indigo. Ans: Gandhiji recounts that it was the year 1916, when he was approached by a peasant, Rajkumar Shukla from Champaran during the annual meeting of the Indian National Congress in Lucknow. He wished Gandhiji to visit his state and look into the condition of sharecroppers there. Gandhiji learned that the areas of Champaran districts were divided into large estates owned by English men and were worked by the Indians worked as their tenant farmers and they had to pay 15 % of their land. Gandhiji reached their and started by trying to get together all the facts and met with resistance from the British. After the investigates by Gandhiji and the lawyers into the grievances of the farmers, it was decided by the Britishers that 25% of the money would be refunded. Gandhiji accepted the money offered to the farmer as refund even though he had demanded 50 % and thus the deadlock was broken. The farmers learnt that they too had rights and they became courageous. Within a few years the landlords relinquished their claims over the estates, which reverted back to the farmers. Now Gandhiji embarked on a programme to reform the economic and cultural backwardness of the area. He appointed volunteers to teach the villagers. Kasturba taught the Ashram rules and personal cleanliness and community sanitation. He got a doctor to

volunteer his services for six months to improve the health conditions of the people. They realized the value of self reliance. Some of Gandhijis and lawyer friends thought that it would be a good idea of Charles Free Andrews, an English pacifist, who was a devoted follower of Gandhiji and on a farewell visit, should stay and help.Gandhiji strongly opposed it. If they get an English man on their sides it would show the weakness of their heart. They must rely on themselves to win the battle. The Champaran episode gave Gandhiji self confidence, direction and an impetus to launch freedom movement throughout India. Thus this episode was a turning point in his life as well in India. Q.2. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement? Ans: For the success of any movement, cooperation and participation of all is must. They make the movement not only a success but also lead to the pinnacle. When the peasants knew about Gandhiji, they reached Muzzafarpur. Gandhiji was ordered to appear in Motihari court on the following morning. Then the multitude of peasants blackened the town of Motihari. They knew that the Gandhiji, who wanted to help them, was in trouble with the authorities. It was perhaps the first kind of spontaneous demonstration of Indian against the Britishers. Seeing the situation beyond control, they sought his help to regulate the unprecedented crowd. The government was baffled. It has such an impact on the Government that the civil disobedience won for the first time in 1917 in modern India. Side by side the Government had to appoint an official inquiry commission to find out the atrocities done over the peasants. As a result, the owners had to refund the money. This opened the eyes of all. People from every nook and corner of India participated in the freedom movement. Women too gave up their homely comforts and worked with their leader. There were mass movements like freedom struggle, salt movement, quit India movement, civil disobedience, satyagraha and the boycott of foreign goods, etc. Ordinary people were there at the back and call of their leader. Consequently, India became free on 15th August, 1947.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1.Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute? Ans: Rajkumar Shukla is described as being resolute because he was fully determined to take Ganhiji to Bihar. Being an illiterate and poor share-copper from Champaran, he had come to apprise and complain Gandhiji about the injustice of the land lord system. He was accompanied Ganhiji everywhere. Gandhiji was very much impressed by his tenacity and fixed time for Calcutta. Months passed in waiting, Shukla was sitting on his haunches at the fixed place in Calcutta, till Ganhiji was free. Finally both boarded a train to Patna. Q.2. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant? Ans: Ganhiji and Rajkumar Shukla both reached the city of Patna. He led Gandhiji to the house of Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town. His servants knew Shukla as a poor sharecropper from Champaran who troubled Prasad to take up the cause of indigo. Gandhi went there with Shukla for the first time. So they took him to be another peasant.

Q.3. Why did Gandhi had to chide the lawyers of Muzzafarpur? Or Why did Gandhi conclude that the lawyers should stop going to the courts? Ans: During his stay at Muzzafarpur Lawyers told about the cases of poor peasants. They told about their cases and the size of fee. Gandhi chided them for collecting big fees from the sharecroppers. He suggested them to stop going to the law courts. He pointed out that the peasants were poor and fear stricken. It was urgent to make them free from fear. Q.4. How did the development of German synthetic indigo became a source of great trouble in Champaran? Ans: The British planters learnt of the synthetic indigo prepared in Germany. It was cheaper than the natural indigo. Being unprofitable the landlords wanted to free the peasants from the 15% agreement. For this they demanded compensation. Some signed willingly. Those who opposed engaged lawyers and the planters hired thugs. The illegal and deceitful collection of money started the trouble. Q.5. How did we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement? Ans: The success of the battle of Champaran, paved the path of the Indians to participate in the freedom movement. Women gave up their honestly comforts and worked with their leader. There were mass movements like freedom struggle, salt movement, Quit India movement and Satyagraha. These came ordinary people at the back and call of Gandhiji.

Lesson .6. Poets and Pancakes Author: Asokamitran Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. What does Asokamitrans lesson Poet and Pancakes deal with? Ans: The author, Asokamitran recounts his years spent at the Gemini studios. Gemini Studios was set up in the year 1940 in Chennai and grew into one of the most influential film producing organizations of India in the early years of the Indian film making industry. The studios of film production has never confined its activities within the four walls of the studios but it also gives a fine glimpse of outside world as well. The production department has two prominent divisions the make up department and the story department. In the make up room there had a team of workers from chief make-up man to the office boy who stopped the crowd players with lotions and pancakes. Pancakes were used by the actors and actress. Pancake was the popular brand name there. There was a strict hierarchy of make up man. The story department had its significant

contribution. There was a legal advisor duly accompanied with an assembly of poets and writers. They were engaged in creating story, songs, social and other work. In those days, it was mainly indoor shooting. The Boss had a strict vigil at every aspect. He was assisted by Kothamanglam Subbu, who was an indispensable person for the studios. Beside this, the Gemini Studios had become the favourite haunt of the poet and other visitors because of its decent mess that served coffee till the late at night. The studios hosted the visit of Moral Re-Armament Army and a poet-cum-editor Stephen Spender. The MRA was a counter movement to international communism but the people at the studios were averse in this ideology. The visit of Spender also became an unexplained mystery for all. Q.2. Why was Kathamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in the Gemini Studios? Ans: The Boss of the Gemini Studios was Mr. S.S. Vasan. He founded the Gemini Studios in 1940. In those days, it was mainly indoor shooting. It had a large team of six hundred strong workers engaged in the production of the films.Subbu was No.2 at the Gemini studios. He had the ability to look cheerful at all times. His sense of loyalty made him use all his creativity to his principals advantage. He was a many sided person with a specific identity in the team. He was the right handman of the Boss and he had himself indispensable at the Studios. He was tailor-made for the films and whenever the film producer came out with some difficulty and said, I do not know how to do this scene. It was Subbu that came with so many solutions. In this way film making had become very easy with the presence of Subbu. He was a man, who gave direction and definition to the Gemini Studios. He always worked hard for some body. Being loyal to his principal, he used all his creativity for him. Besides being a poet, he was a Brahmin, comic, admirable and hospitable. He composed several truly original story poems in folk style. Whatever role he played, he acted better than the main players. Being a charitable man he fed and supported many people at his residence still he had a few enemies. With the closure of the story department, Subbu was also out of the Gemini Studio.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1.What is the example of national integration that the author refers to in the Gemini Studios? Ans: In the studios the people from different regions and religions working together presented a glimpse of national integration. The make-up department was first headed by a Bengali. He was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. He was assisted by a Kannadiga from Dharwar and Andhra, Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and usual local Tamils. All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration in the make up room of the Gemini Studios. Q.2. What used to be the job of the narrator at the Gemini Studios? Ans: at the Gemini studios, the author Asokamitran worked in a cubicle having the French windows on two sides. He was to take up the clippings from the newspapers on a wide variety of subjects. He was to store them in files. He even had to write out in hand. He was the most known person there, most of the people at the studios thought that he

was doing next to nothing. Everything in the studio thought of giving him some work to do. Q.3. Subbu was a man of charitable nature, but he had his enemies. Give reasons. Ans: Subbu was a man of charitable nature and anyone who came in his close contact, he always showered his genuine love and goodness. His house was a permanent residence of dozens near and dear ones. Being very close to the Boss, people were jealous of him. Some called him a sycophant for his sweet manners,. He always said nice things about everything. But the make up department was feeling jealous for this. Q.4. Why is the Englishmans visit referred to as unexplained mystery? Ans: The Englishman visited Gemini Studios in 1952. Boss welcomed him. The visitor spoke to the audience but they could not understand what he said. It was because of his accent and nobody was able to understand English. The English poet must have felt the imbalance of his talk about the thrills. The purpose of the visit seemed to be lost. That is why his visit was referred to an unexplained mystery. Q.5. what does The God that Failed refer to? Ans: It is the name of book. Six eminent men of letters have contributed their sex separate essays in the book. In their essays they have described their journey into communism and their disillusioned return. They worked together but they had to return disillusioned.

Lesson .7.The Interview Author: Christopher Silvester Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. Describe opinions for and against the interview as are given in the lesson. Or Why do the celebrities despise and condemn interview? Describe their viewpoint. Ans: An interview is formal meeting, interaction or a kind of discussion with some one. In other sense it is a kind of conversation which aims at obtaining information. In actual practice the interview has become an indispensable feature of journalism today. Some call it a great art. In the same way the celebrities, criminals and victims are interviewed. In case an incident involves a celebrity, the media immediately rush to him for interaction. Most often the celebrities do not like to face the interviewer since it is like the stealing of ones soul. It even makes them feel that it somehow diminishes them. In the words of Nobel laureate, V.S. Naipaul, Some people are wounded buy interviews and lose a part of them. They feel a part of their personalities stolen. Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland was said to have had a just horror of the interviewer and he never consented to be interviewed. Caroline, the wife of Rudyard Kipling, went on saying that an interview is vile, crime and all offence. No respectable person would ask it, much less give it. On the other hand H.G. Wells referred it to be an interviewing ordeal. Nobel laureate Saul Bellow took it like thumb-prints on his windpipe. Thus most of the

celebrities do not find favour with interview but the interviewer hold a position of great power and influence. Q.2. How does Eco find the time to write so much? Ans: David Lodge was a famous English novelist. He was much amazed how Umberto Eco could do all the things he did. Mukund Padmanabhan put the same question to Eco of writing scholarly works and the novels simultaneously. Eco answered very modestly. Revealing his secret, Eco remarked that he was always doing the same thing. Eco pointed out that he had some philosophical interests. Eco tells thats there are empty spaces in the universe. In the same way there are empty spaces in the lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as interstices or intervals. He explains his style of working in empty spaces through an example. He tells when he waits for somebody coming from the elevator from first to the third floor, he wont sit idle. He would write during his arrival. Till the person arrives, he has already written an article. Thus by utilizing these empty spaces he finds time to write so much. Mukund is much amazed at his dexterity.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1.In what way have the interviews become a common place of journalism? Ans: Over the last 130 years, the interviews have become a commonplace of journalism. Almost everybody will have read an interview at some point during their life time. Several thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years. It is a great serviceable medium of communication. The interviewer holds position of unprecedented power and influence. Q.2.Why does some of the celebrities think the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their live? Or Why do most celebrities despise being interviewed? Ans: Most of the celebrities do not like to be interviewed at all. They consider it as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives. According to V.S. Naipaul that a man loses a part of himself during an interview. Rudyard Kipling has more condemnatory attitude about the interviewer. He called the interview to be immoral, a crime, cowardly or vile. Q.3. What is the secret of Umberto Ecos working style? Ans: He talks there are empty spaces in the lives of us all. He calls these empty spaces as interstices or intervals. He explains his style of working in empty spaces through an example. He tells when he waits for somebody coming from the elevator from first to the third floor, he wont sit idle. He utilises these intervals for his creative work. Q.4.Did Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar? Ans: In his interview with Mukund, Eco states, I am a professor who writes on Sundays. I participate in academic conferences and not at the meeting of pen clubs and writers. I identify myself with the academic community. I became a novelist only by an accident.

Q.5. The Name of the Rose deals with medieval history. Was it responsible for the novels success? Ans: Mukund tells Eco that The Name of the Rose got a huge success because of its medieval background. Eco did not seem to agree with it. A lot of books have been written about the medieval past much before him and they did not get much success. Perhaps his novel was written at the most appropriate time.

Lesson .8. Going Places Author: A.R. Barton Long-answer-type questions:

Q.1. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story? Ans: Sophie and Jansie were both classmates and friends. Both were considerate, sensible and were looming in between the ideas of finding some work after their schooling. Sophie was a girl of deep imagination and unrealistic dreams. On her way home she told her classmate Jansie to have a boutique. She will be like Mary Quant and will be having the most amazing shop this city had ever seen. On the other hand-Jansie was more practical and a realistic type of girl quite aware about their lower middle class family background. She asked Sophie to be sensible because the shop work required money and her father wont allow this. She knew that both were earmarked for the biscuit factory. Sophie entertained the idea of being an actress and then dream of becoming a fashion designer. She was unaware of the reality as to how she would do all these things. Jansie knew that all those different types of work needed money which was beyond the capacity of Sophies parents. She advised her to be practical. Sophie had no faith in Jansie and understood her to be nosey. She would spread all the news in the whole neighbourhood. So she did not want to tell any of her secret. Thus we can note a lot of difference in their attitudes towards life and things. Q.2. How did Sophies father react on hearing about Sophies meeting Danny Casey? Ans: Sophies father was a man of gentle and considerate nature.Inspite of his own hardwork he always helped in the chores. When Sophies mother Geoff was doing some work on the motorbike had completed the washing of clothes, he came in and switched on the television. Then he told his father Sophie met Danny Casey. He turned his head and looked at Sophie. Their father seemed sad and asked if it was true. He did not believe what he was told. During the conversation she ensured that Danny Casey was going to buy a shop. Hearing it, her father became rather confused and murmured something. He aggressively called her telling another of her wild stories. It was at this stage Geoff came to her help and told their father that she met him in the Royces arcade with details. Their father knew well Geoff would support her. Therefore, he cautioned Sophie that one of

those days she was going to talk herself into a load of trouble. It was a sincere advice from a father to his daughter not to invite troubles for her because of her fanciful talks.

Short-answer questions:
Q.1. On the news Sophie met Danny Casey how did their father react? Ans: Father looked at Sophie with sadness on their face, he did not believe it. He called it another of her wild stories. He warned her that those days she would put herself into a lot of troubles because of her talks. Q.2. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff silence? Ans: Sophies brother Geoff was an apprentice mechanic. He was almost grown up yet he hardly spoke any thing of his own. Words were prized out of his mouth like stones from the ground. She could only suspect areas of his life which she wanted to hear from him. So she was jealous of his silence. She took him to be out there in the world, when he was not speaking. Q.3. What did Sophie imagine about her meeting with Danny Casey? Ans: Sophie told that she met Danny Casey at the Royces window. She was looking at the clothes there. He came and stood beside beside her. She spoke to him first and asked if he was Danny Casey. He confirmed, she asked for an autograph but neither had paper nor a pen. They talked a bit. He assured for the autograph next week is she cared. Q.4.Why did not Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny? Ans: Sophie had requested her brother Geoff not to tell anything about her meeting with Casey. When Jansie asked Sophie about her meeting with Danny. Sophie was much amazed. She cursed Geoff for it because Jansie was nosey and would spread the facts everywhere in the neighbourhood. In case her father knew about it, there would be a great row which her mother did not like. She requested Jansie to keep it a secret. Q.5. What did the two school girls discuss while coming home? Ans: The two classmates Sophie and Jansie discussed about finding some work after leaving school. Sophie thought of having her own boutique, or to work in a biscuit factory. She was a nosey type of girl.