BROTHERHOOD

In the poem “Brotherhood” the night is –

a) enormous

b) dark

c) short

d) silent

Ans: a) enormous.

In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet’s fate is written by –

a) the moon

b) the night

c) Claudius Ptolemy

d) the stars

Ans: d) the stars.

What is called ‘enormous’ in the poem “Brotherhood”? –

a) night

b) universe

c) stars

d) the poet

Ans: a) night.

The poet of “Brotherhood” is –

a) dealt out

b) kept out

c) spelt out

d) cut out

Ans: spelt out.

What do the stars write? –

a) the magnitude of the galaxy

b) every human being’s place in the world

c) the insignificance of the human being

d) the immortality of the gods.

Ans: b) every human being’s place in the world.

In the beginning, man sees himself in this vast universe as –

a) Godly

b) insignificant

c) dominating

d) huge

Ans: b) insignificant.

The actual poem was written in –

a) English

b) Spanish

c) Mexican

d) Bengali

Ans: c) Mexican.

“Unknowing I understand” – implies –

a) one cannot understand the unknowing

b) one can understand without knowledge

c) one can understand intuitively

d) one understands the unknowing.

Ans: d) one understands the unknowing.

Brotherhood comes to be established in the poem through –

a) the smallness of man

b) the vastness of the universe

c) the indifference of the universe

d) the significance of man

Ans: d) the significance of man.

To whom is the poem “Brotherhood” dedicated by Octavio Paz?

a) to his brother

b) to the concept of brotherhood

c) Claudius Ptolemy

d) to the readers

Ans: Claudius Ptolemy.

What kind of poem is “Brotherhood”? –

a) narrative poem

b) descriptive poem

c) lyrics

d) symbolic poem

Ans: a) narrative poem.

The poet in the poem “Brotherhood” feels that the night is –

a) small

b) enormous

c) very small

Ans: b) enormous.

What is written in the sky in the poem “Brotherhood”?

a) man’s place in the universe

b) the smallness of man

c) destiny

d) nothingness

Ans: a) man’s place in the universe.

1. "I am man : little do I last." - The poet will last little because  he - 
(A) is a man.
(B) is ill. 
(C) will be killed by his enemies. 
(D) has no hope of life. 

2. "And the night is enormous" - The night is enormous because - 

(A) day is short. 
(B) it is eternity. 
(C) it is out of our reach. 
(D) none of the above. 
3. "But I look up" - The poet looks up to discover - 
(A) God. 
(B) starry sky. 
(C) darkness. 
(D) the vastness of the universe. 

4.The poet Paz unknowingly understands that - 

(A) he is a man. 
(B) he will last little. 
(C) the stars write. 
(D) the night is enormous. 

5."Someone spells me out " - The intuition gives the poet - 

(A) joy and hope. 
(B) sorrow and shame. 
(C) love and ligth. 
(D) agony and anguish. 

6. " The stars write" - When - 

(A) the poet writes. 
(B) God writes. 
(C) it is dark at night. 
(D) the poet understands.

7. In the poem Brotherhood, the poet looks up at - 

(A) the starry sky.
(B) the sun.
(C)  the moon.
(D) the sea.

8. The poem, "Brotherhood" presents the relationship -

(A) among the citizens of a nation.
(B) among the members of a religious community.
(C) among different entitles that work organically in the universe.
(D) among the members of a club.

9. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the night is -

(A) little.
(B) short.
(C) silent.
(D) enormous.

10. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet considers himself as -

(A) a great thinker like Ptolemy.
(B) an insignificant man in the universe.
(C) a very important person in the universe.
(D) a member of a religious community.

11. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet’s life on earth is for a -

(A) long period.
(B) short period.
(C) night.
(D) none of the above.

12. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet stands -

(A) in the churchyard.
(B) in the forest.
(C) under the night sky.
(D) upon a bridge.

13. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet’s fate is written by -

(A) the night.
(B) Claudius Ptolemy.
(C) the stars.
(D) the moon.

14. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet understands that -

(A) life is predestined.
(B) life is enormous.
(C) life is unless.
(D) life is long.

15.In the poem, Brotherhood, the nightstands for -

(A) the vast universe.
(B) widespread darkness.
(C) the stars.
(D) the moon.

16. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet understands everything -

(A) by reading books.
(B) by using logic.
(C) intuitively.
(D) from other.

17. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet feels that -

(A) he is a point in the continuity and of the history of the universe.
(B) he is the proud lord of the universe.
(C) he is the master of his fate.
(D) he is superior to the universe.

18. In the poem Brotherhood, the stars write -

(A) a poem.
(B) the destiny of man.
(C) the present.
(D) the future.

19. In the poem, Brotherhood, the stars are cosmic entitles controlling -
(A) the course of the moon.
(B) human life on earth
(C) the night-sky.
(D) the flow on time.

20. In the poem Brotherhood, the sky is covered -

(A) mist.
(B) stars.
(C) cloud.
(D) sunlight.

21. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet realizes his position by using -
(A) his ability to reason.
(B) his knowledge of science.
(C) his intuitive knowledge.
(D) his bookish knowledge.

1. "I am man : little do I last." - The poet will last little because  he - 
(A) is a man.
(B) is ill. 
(C) will be killed by his enemies. 
(D) has no hope of life. 

2. "And the night is enormous" - The night is enormous because - 

(A) day is short. 
(B) it is eternity. 
(C) it is out of our reach. 
(D) none of the above. 

3. "But I look up" - The poet looks up to discover - 

(A) God. 
(B) starry sky. 
(C) darkness. 
(D) the vastness of the universe. 

4.The poet Paz unknowingly understands that - 

(A) he is a man. 
(B) he will last little. 
(C) the stars write. 
(D) the night is enormous. 

5."Someone spells me out " - The intuition gives the poet - 

(A) joy and hope. 
(B) sorrow and shame. 
(C) love and ligth. 
(D) agony and anguish. 

6. " The stars write" - When - 

(A) the poet writes. 
(B) God writes. 
(C) it is dark at night. 
(D) the poet understands.

7. In the poem Brotherhood, the poet looks up at - 

(A) the starry sky.
(B) the sun.
(C)  the moon.
(D) the sea.
8. The poem, "Brotherhood" presents the relationship -
(A) among the citizens of a nation.
(B) among the members of a religious community.
(C) among different entitles that work organically in the universe.
(D) among the members of a club.

9. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the night is -

(A) little.
(B) short.
(C) silent.
(D) enormous.

10. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet considers himself as -

(A) a great thinker like Ptolemy.
(B) an insignificant man in the universe.
(C) a very important person in the universe.
(D) a member of a religious community.

11. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet’s life on earth is for a -

(A) long period.
(B) short period.
(C) night.
(D) none of the above.

12. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet stands -

(A) in the churchyard.
(B) in the forest.
(C) under the night sky.
(D) upon a bridge.

13. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet’s fate is written by -

(A) the night.
(B) Claudius Ptolemy.
(C) the stars.
(D) the moon.

14. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet understands that -

(A) life is predestined.
(B) life is enormous.
(C) life is unless.
(D) life is long.

15.In the poem, Brotherhood, the nightstands for -

(A) the vast universe.
(B) widespread darkness.
(C) the stars.
(D) the moon.

16. In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet understands everything -

(A) by reading books.
(B) by using logic.
(C) intuitively.
(D) from other.

17. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet feels that -

(A) he is a point in the continuity and of the history of the universe.
(B) he is the proud lord of the universe.
(C) he is the master of his fate.
(D) he is superior to the universe.

18. In the poem Brotherhood, the stars write -

(A) a poem.
(B) the destiny of man.
(C) the present.
(D) the future.

19. In the poem, Brotherhood, the stars are cosmic entitles controlling -
(A) the course of the moon.
(B) human life on earth
(C) the night-sky.
(D) the flow on time.

20. In the poem Brotherhood, the sky is covered -

(A) mist.
(B) stars.
(C) cloud.
(D) sunlight.

21. In the poem, Brotherhood, the poet realizes his position by using -
(A) his ability to reason.
(B) his knowledge of science.
(C) his intuitive knowledge.
(D) his bookish knowledge.

Question: Give the full name of Octavio Paz.

Ans: The full name of Octavia Paz is Octavio Paz Lozano.

Question: When was Octavio Paz born?

Ans: Octavio Paz was born on 31st March in 1914.

Question: Where was Octavio Paz born?

Ans: Octavio Paz was born in Mexico City.

Question: What is the nationality of Octavio Paz?

Ans: The nationality of Octavio Paz was Mexican.

Question: When was the poem “Brotherhood” written?

Ans: The poem “Brotherhood” by Octavio Paz was written in the year 1987.
Question: What type of poem is “Brotherhood”?

Ans: “Brotherhood” is a lyrical poem.

Question: “And the night is enormous” -What does ‘night’ symbolize here?

Ans: Here in the quoted line the ‘night’ symbolizes death.

Question: What who was the poem “Brotherhood” called in other term?

Ans: The poem “Brotherhood” was called “Hermandad” in other term.

Question: What helps the poet drive away his morbidity?

Ans: The writing of the stars helps the poet drive away his morbidity.

Question: What do the stars write?

Ans: In the poem “Brotherhood” by Octavio Paz, the stars write every human being’s place in
the world.

Question: Whom does the poet pay homage to in the poem “Brotherhood”?

Ans: In the poem “Brotherhood”, the poet Octavio Paz pays homage to the great astronomer
Ptolemy.

Question: Who is referred to as ‘I’ in the line “I too am written…”?

Ans: In the above-quoted line ‘I’ refers to the poet of the poem “Brotherhood”, Octavio Paz.

Question: What does the poet see when he looks up?

Ans: When the poet looks up, he sees that the stars are writing.

Question: What is written in the sky?

Ans: Man’s place in this universe is written in the sky.

Question: What is the striking similarity between “The Sick Rose” and “Brotherhood”?

Ans: The striking similarity between “The Sick Rose” and “Brotherhood” is that both are love
poems.

Question: How does the poet introduce himself?

Ans: The poet Octavio Paz introduces himself as a man in his poem “Brotherhood”.

Question: What does the poet do to cheer up his mind burdened with the thought of death?

Ans: In order cheer up his mind burdened with the thought of death, the poet looks up at the
sky overhead.

Question: “Little do I last…” What inevitable truth is suggested here?

Ans: The line suggests the inevitable truth of death.

Question: What is the final tone of the poem “Brotherhood”?

Ans: The final tone of the poem “Brotherhood” is one of cheerfulness.

Question: How many lines does the poem “Brotherhood” consist of?

Ans: The poem “Brotherhood” consists of eight lines.

Q. 1:-  What does the word ‘Brotherhood’ suggest?

Ans:-  The word ‘Brotherhood’ suggests that everything in the universe is organically
related.

Q. 2:-  Whom does the poet dedicate his poem, ‘Brotherhood’ ?

Ans:-  The poet dedicates his poem, ‘Brotherhood’ to Claudius Ptolemy who was a Greek
astronomer and mathematician from ancient Rome.

Q. 3:-   What time of the day is mentioned in the poem, ‘Brotherhood’ ?

Ans:-  Night time is mentioned in the poem, ‘Brotherhood’.

Q. 4:-  What do ‘the star’ symbolize ?

Ans:-  ‘The stars’ symbolizes the cosmic force that shape our life and control the human
world.

Q. 5:-  What is the full name of the poet of this poem ?

Ans:-  The full name of the poet of this poem is Octavio Paz Lozano.

Q. 6:-  What does the poet think about his life ?

Ans:-  The poet thinks that his life is short and his destiny is pre-determined.

Q. 7:-  In this poem there is a contrast between two things. What are they?

Ans:-  The two things are universe and man.

Q. 8:-  Why is the night enormous?

Ans:-  The night is enormous because it represents the whole universe.

Q. 9:-   “Unknowing I understand” — What does the poet mean by this expression?
Ans:-  By this expression the poet says that human life is merely a small span in the
continuity of time and that life's purpose is determined by the stars.

Q.10:-   By which poet was Octavio Paz much influence ?

Ans:  Octavio Paz was much influenced by the South American poet Pablo Neruda.

➣➣Last Years Questions | HS Final Examination:

Q. 1:-   “Unknowing I understand” — What does the poet understand ? HS - ’14, ’18

Ans:- The poet understands that his destiny is pre-determined.

Q. 2:- Who do the stars control in the poem, ‘Brotherhood’ ? HS - ’14

Ans:-  In the poem ‘Brotherhood’ the stars control the whole universe, as well as the
human world.

Q. 3:- What does the poet see when he looks up in the poem ‘Brotherhood’ ? HS -
’15, ’17

Ans:- When the poet looks up, in the poem ‘Brotherhood’, he sees the stars writing his
destiny.

Q. 4:- Who, according to Octavio Paz, writes the destiny of man ? HS - ’15, ’17

Ans:- According to Octavio Paz, the stars write the destiny of man.

Q. 5:- In ‘Brotherhood’, what does Octavio Paz mean by “Little do I last” ? HS - ’16

Ans:- The expression means that human life is very short on this earth.

Q. 6:- What do the stars write ? HS - ’16, ’20

Ans:- The stars write the destiny of man.

Q. 7:-  How is the night in ‘Brotherhood’ ? HS - ’18

Ans:- In ‘Brotherhood’ the night is enormous.

Q. 8:- How does the poet introduce himself in the poem ‘Brotherhood’ ? HS - ’19

Ans:- In the poem ‘Brotherhood’, the poet introduces himself as a simple man and earthly
life is temporal.
Q. 9:- Who spells out the poet's destiny ? HS – 19

Ans:- The reader of the poem spells out the poet’s destiny.

Q. 10:- What does the expression “Little do I last” refer to? HS - ’20

Ans:- The expression reflects the sheer insignificance of human existence against the
enormity of night which also connotes the cosmos.

1)How does the poet introduce himself in the poem ‘Brotherhood’? [Annual Exam. = 2019]
Ans. The poet introduces himself in the poem ‘Brotherhood’ as a man.

2)In the poem ‘Brotherhood’ what does Octavio Paz mean by ‘Little do I last’? Or. What does the
expression ‘Little do I last’ refer to? [Annual Exam. = 2020]
Ans. By this expression ‘Little do I last’ Octavio Paz means that the lifespan of humans is transient.

3)How does the poet express the magnitude of the night in ‘Brotherhood’? [Annual Exam. = 2017]
Ans. The poet expresses the magnitude of the night in ‘Brotherhood’ by calling it enormous.

4) How is the night in Brotherhood’? [Annual Exam. = 2018]

Ans. The night is enormous.

5) Why is the night enormous?

Ans. The night is enormous because it represents the whole universe.

6)What does the poet of ‘Brotherhood’ see when he looks up? [Annual Exam. = 2017]
Ans. The poet of ‘Brotherhood’, Octavio Paz sees the stars that write the destiny of the poet when he looks up.

7)What do the stars write? [Annual Exam. = 2016, 2020]

Ans. The stars write the destiny of man as a part of the universe.

8)What do the stars control in the poem ‘Brotherhood’? [Annual Exam. = 2014]

Ans. The stars control the whole universe including man.

9) ‘Unknowing I understand’ – What does the poet understand? [Annual Exam. = 2014, 2018]
Ans. The poet understands that he was predestined like the other things of the universe.

10)Who spells out the poet’s destiny? [Annual Exam. = 2019]

Or. Who, according to Octavio Paz, writes the destiny of the man? [Annual Exam. = 2015, 2017]
Ans. The almighty god or the reader of the poet spells out the poet’s destiny.

11) What does the title ‘Brotherhood’ suggest?

Ans. The title ‘Brotherhood’ suggests the relationship among every element in the whole universe.
12)Who was Claudius Ptolemy?
Ans. Claudius Ptolemy was an astronomer and mathematician who lived in Rome around 100 AD.

1)What does the poet mean by ‘I am a man: little do I last’? What does he try to convey through the
expression ‘the night is enormous’? [2+3 = 5] [H.S. =2020]
Ans. By this line, the poet means that man is very small and insignificant in comparison to the gigantic universe. He
realizes that his existence is very short in the vast and powerful universe. The lifespan of human beings is transient.

The poet looks up at the starry sky and feels the limitless existence of the universe. Enormous in terms of the eternity of
the universe is compared to the shortness of man’s life. On the other hand, the night stands for darkness. It means man’s
limitation of thought and ignorance about the infinite universe.

2)In the poem ‘Brotherhood’ what does the poet say about his position on earth? What does the poet mean
by ‘I too written’? How does he understand this? [2+2+1 = 5] [H.S. =2019]
Ans. In the poem ‘Brotherhood’, the poet says that his position on earth is very insignificant in comparison to the
enormous universe. He realizes his lifespan is too short as well.

By this expression ‘I too am written’ the poet means that his life is already prescribed by almighty god. Everything is
settled and controlled by cosmic laws like all other elements of the universe.

The poet understands this by his intuition or instinct.

3)Give the significance of the line ‘Unknowing I understand’ in Brotherhood. [5] [H.S. = 2015, 2018]
Ans. In the poem ‘Brotherhood’, the poet Octavio Paz looks up the starry night sky and realizes that stars control and
write the destiny of every element of the universe. The poet perceives this by his intuition or instinct. He fails to explain it
logically as human beings are ignorant all about the universe and the cosmic laws. But he understands that his life is an
integral part of the universe. So, his life was also predestined and prescribed by the almighty god.

4)Bring out the central idea of the poem ‘Brotherhood’. [5] [H.S. =2017] Or. What is the central idea of
the poem ‘Brotherhood’? [5] [H.S. = 2014]
Ans. The poem ‘Brotherhood’ tells about the insignificant position of human beings in this vast universe. He has
limitations of thoughts to unravel the mystery of cosmic laws and the universe. His lifespan is transient. He believes that
he is predestined like all other elements by the hands of the almighty god. But he also believes that he can reverse his
predicament and would gain a very special place in the universe by his own efforts.

5)Bring out the significance of the title of ‘Brotherhood’. [5] [H.S. = 2016]

Ans. In this poem, ‘Brotherhood’, the poet shows a relation among all the elements of the universe whether they are big
or small. Human beings are also part of this universe. And the poet feels that the life and destiny of man are controlled by
the cosmic force. In this sense, all the things in this universe are related to one another and share the brotherhood. So, the
title is appropriate. 1. Who composed the poem 'Brotherhood'? 

Ans :- Octavio Paz composed the poem Brotherhood.  

2. Whom does Octavio Paz pay homage in this poem?  

Ans :- Octorio Paz pays homage to Claudius Ptolemy.  

3.  Who was Claudius Ptolemy?  

Ans :- Claudius Ptolemy was an astronomer and mathematician who lived in Rome around 100 A.D.  

4.  How does the poet introduce himself in the poem?  

Ans :- The poet introduces himself as a man in the poem.  

5. "Little do I last "- What does the poet want to say here? 

Ans :- The poet wants to say here that his death is inevitable. 

6." The night is enormous " - What does the 'night' signify? 

Ans :- The night signifies death. 

7. "But I look up" - What does the poet see looking up? 

Ans :- The poet sees looking up that the stars write.

8. "Unknowing I understand "- What does the poet understand unknowing? 

Ans :- The poet understands unknowing that he is also written. 

9. "At this very moment"- What happens at this very moment? 

Ans :- At this very moment someone spells the poet out. 

10. What does the poem represent? 

Ans :- The poem represents universal brotherhood.

11. Who spells the poet out ?

Ans :- Someone spells the poet out. Perhaps he was his friend or native.