MSP Solution

SOLUTION
MODEL SPECIMEN PAPER–3
SECTION– A
THE TEMPEST —Shakespeare

Answer 1.
(a) (i) Prospero expresses that he does not wish Miranda to like Ferdinand. He discourages
her and hopes to have control over Miranda and also tests how much they can stand
up for each other.
(ii) Miranda who sees no evil in anybody, finds Ferdinand mesmerizing. She reasons
that if someone can be so pleasing on the outside, then his heart must also be in the
right place. She is confident that Ferdinand is a good man.
(iii) Prospero calls Ferdinand a deceitful man and incites him by saying that he just
makes a show of his sword and he lacks the courage to attack. Prospero further tells
him to dismount his valiant appearance as he can disarm Ferdinand with his magic
and make his sword drop.
(iv) Ferdinand, like any young person is full of confidence and wills to fight the threats of
Prospero. He is sure that he can stand on ground as long as he has the strength to do
so; not knowing who and what he is up against.
(v) Prospero takes satisfaction in using his power against the powerless. He freezes
Ferdinand, which is more of a reminder to Miranda that he is the authority and
nothing can go against his wish. He uses his power to keep them not only in physical
but emotional bondage as well.
(vi) i. Temple- the outward person.
ii. Entertainment- treatment.
(b) (i) Miranda is love-stricken with Ferdinand and wishes to see no other man. She states
that wickedness cannot dwell in him. He is a gentleman and not at all dangerous.
(ii) Prospero casts a spell that makes Ferdinand not just weak physically but emotionally
as well, where he feels the turmoil of losing his father, loss of the ship, and the
separation from friends. He makes him feel weak and vulnerable to listen to
Prospero's commands.
(iii) Ferdinand is under the spell where he is vacillating between his inner self and the
thoughts Prospero wants him to think. Yes, he agrees that he is weak but also
expresses his deep desire that even being imprisoned he would be happy, if he could
just gaze at Miranda once a day.
(iv) Prospero uses the help of his spirit servant, Ariel, to evoke such thoughts in
Ferdinand. Ariel becomes invisible and charms Ferdinand by singing songs in a
sweet voice.
(v) Prospero is glad that his plans to control Ferdinand worked just the way he thought
and he is content that his spell worked.
(vi) i. Nerves- muscles/will.
ii. Wrack- loss.
(c) (i) Prospero asks Miranda to open her eyes and see what's right out there. They are at
the shore watching the shipwreck and having a conversation.
(ii) Miranda is talking about Ferdinand and she says so because she has never seen
another man, apart from her father all her life and not anyone young and handsome
as Ferdinand. She does not know that there are other men too out there in the world.
2 | ISC Model Specimen Papers, XII
(iii) Prospero assures Miranda by saying that Ferdinand is a creature just like them who
eats, drinks and have five senses as them. He goes on saying that Ferdinand was on
the ship which got wrecked in the tempest. He has lost his companions and is now
wandering about in search of them.
(iv) Prospero was wrong when he did not teach Miranda about other people because he
knew that eventually she will meet them either through his power or otherwise. He
keeps her in the dark making it difficult for her to comprehend the world at large.
(v) Miranda calls Ferdinand divine, because to her he was pleasing to the eye and looked
noble. He was a far cry from Caliban who was an earthy and ugly creature, whom
she had seen other than her father.
(vi) i. Goodly- good-looking, attractive.
ii. Canker- anything that will destroy beauty.
CANDIDA —George Bernard Shaw
Answer 2.
(a) (i) Morell's explanation is that Candida is visiting him in between her visit out of town
to check how was he doing without her, how was he faring without her and to pick-
up some flannels. The explanation tells us that he needs Candida to take care of
everything and he might not do really well without her.
(ii) Lexy's fear of Scarlatina can be justified as he has always led a protective life and is
unaware of such disease, which petrifies him a little. It also shows how distant he is
from the regular life occurrences of the parish, who he helps in taking care of, with
Morell.
(iii) Morell gives credit to Candida’s care when he had German Measles stating that one
should fall sick in order to be taken care by Candida and also to comprehend what a
man might miss if he is not married to a woman like Candida. He humorously tells
Lexy to fall sick in order to experience Candida’s care, which is not taken too well by
Lexy.
(iv) To Morell, Candida is the universal care giver with the impression that one has to fall
sick to know how wonderful Candida’s care is. And to be taken care off by her is the
greatest thing possible.
(v) According to Morell, falling sick is one of the best things that can happen to anybody
who is going to be served by Candida. She has the capability to take care of her
patients like no one can. Morell tells Lexy, “Get a wife like my Candida; and you’ll
always be in arrear with your repayment.”
(vi) Lexy gets uncomfortable when Morell suggests that Lexy needs to fall sick to be
taken care of by Candida. He finds it a little discomfiting when he hears Morell
talking about his wife. He is respectful but quite unsure of what Morell expects of his
wife and how others need to perceive her.
(b) (i) Proserpine is indignant because Lexy asks her if she was jealous of Candida,
suggesting that the very nature of women is to be jealous of others. Lexy also subtly
refers that women are of lesser intellect and this angers Proserpine.
(ii) Proserpine does appreciate Candida on all her abilities and probably secretly admires
her beauty. She appreciates Candida more than these men, as men are carried away
by just a few qualities such as her beauty and her domestic abilities, whereas
Proserpine sees Candida for who she is; a person who is stronger and not vulnerable
as the men she is around with at the present.
(iii) Proserpine with her sarcasm conveys to Lexy that, she is just the opposite of what
Lexy thinks of her. She also expresses that women like her and Candida have greater
depth of character than Lexy or any other men can give credit.
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(iv) Lexy tries to be in tandem with Proserpine that women needs to understand the
strength of men, which lies in the thought that men are providers and as a man, he
needs to be respected. But we can see that Lexy has been quoting Morell, whom he
follows.
(v) Lexy like Morell, believes in the traditional roles for both men and women, with men
as intellectual and the source of livelihood and women representing, domestic bliss.
Like Morell, Lexy believes that why should there be any question at all.
(vi) When Proserpine confronts Lexy for assuming that all women are jealous of one
another and that they have no higher thoughts, Lexy feels cornered and becomes
defensive and states that it would be better if women look into the strengths of men
rather than blaming them for doing their roles to perfection. This shows that Lexy is
affected by the women question because he does not really want to know the answer.
(c) (i) Proserpine who has been the typist of Morell since a long time, knows his schedules
and what his lectures contain, as she helps him in organising every lecture.
Therefore, from her observation she comes to know that Lexy follows Morell not just
in words but also his mannerism.
(ii) Proserpine knows Lexy for being a noble who has had an education that does not
encourage him to think on his own. Lexy admires Morell without any doubt,
imitating him in everything. This makes Proserpine realise that Lexy uses Morell's
words and ideas often.
(iii) Greatly impressed by Morell’s ideals in life, Lexy seems to worship him blindly. His
devotion towards Morell is complete. He tucks his umbrella under his left arm, as
does Morell. He walks with his chin stuck out, again like Morell.
(iv) “If you women only had the same clue to Man's strength that you have to his
weakness”, is the thing that he heard from Morell at the Federation and he is just
repeating them without much understanding.
(v) Proserpine tells Lexy to give his own ideas and not mouth Morell's words without
thinking or understanding. According to her, he must have originality in thought and
that he cuts a poor figure by imitating Morell.
(vi) Though coming from a lower middle class, Proserpine is a keen and understanding
person, who has good observation and is wise to differentiate how the Morell’s
household functions. She is knowledgeable and worldly wise than Lexy whose
knowledge is bookish and not practical.
SECTION– B
Answer 3.
(a) Caliban is the only native of the island. Born as the son of the witch Sycorax, he is a devil.
He plays the perfect foil to Ariel's cheerful and patient spirit. As Caliban cannot be
completely considered human, he represents all evil and the dwelling arrogance is
expected in such a character.
Throughout the play, Caliban is portrayed as the insolent and rebellious slave who
cannot question his master. It is ironic that having been the master of the island once, he
is later enslaved. Prospero and Miranda who were washed ashore on this island behave
as if the island belongs to them by all means. Caliban is brave as he does not have any
magical powers but makes attempts against the powerful Prospero.
Caliban wills to bring justice for himself and retribution for the sins against him by
Prospero. Caliban however, is merely brutish but not wise enough to know whom he can
trust to work against Prospero. The role of Caliban also reflects the times when coloniza-
tion was predominantly making presence in land unknown just as in the play.
Caliban is described as 'a savage and deformed slave', he is disproportioned in his
manners as he is in his shape.
"A freckled whelp, hag-born — not honoured with a human shape."

Trinculo and Stephano, describe Caliban as less than human.
Trinculo doubts Caliban to be a man or a fish while Stephano describes Caliban as a
‘mooncalf’, a deformed creature.
(b) Innocence and experience juxtapose in the play. Miranda in all her innocence has a sense
of ingrained sophistication. Her declaration of love is direct against the ornate expression
of Ferdinand who is aware of the rules of courting. Miranda is unaware of the working of
young men, for her the only role model was her father who guided her to keep her in the
dark about most of the things that mattered, especially her background and early
upbringing.
On the other hand, we have Prospero who is strengthened because of his experiences,
knowledge of magic and his understanding of human character. We cannot say that he is
innocent because he has survived, took over the island and its only native. He has been
waiting patiently for the right time to take vengeance upon those who brought him and
his daughter to this island.
Antonio, Sebastian and Gonzalo are all players in the court who know how to play their
cards, but are powerless after coming to the island. Stephano and Trinculo experience
according to their stations in the society; they are cunning but not clever enough.
In conclusion, it can be said that innocence and experience strikes a neat bargain in “The
Tempest”.
(c) The characters of Caliban and Ariel play an important role in the play. They are a far cry
from each other, with Caliban being defined as 'a brutish or brutalized man' and Ariel as
'a spirit of the air.' True to the meaning of the words, one belongs to the earth and the
other to the air. One has a dark character and the other is more obliging for freedom at
the end of the service. One was subjected to slavery and the other was rescued from
bondage, only to render services later and to gain freedom at the end.
Caliban and Ariel are united with the fact that they are both subjected to oppression at
Prospero’s hand. Caliban is rebellious as he feels that he is the rightful inhabitant of the
island and Prospero cannot be his master, but has to succumb to his magical powers.
Ariel seems to be a willing slave and takes in all the tirades of Prospero. Caliban is
unhappy and begrudes everything he has to do and seeks leadership in Stephano where
his faith is misplaced. Moreover, we see that both are treated differently by Prospero and
hence their reactions and responses are varied. Ariel is naïve and is promised freedom at
the end, whereas Caliban is wicked and his wickedness leads him to struggles.
Answer 4.
Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” is packed with noises and sounds of all kinds. There are
horrible noises, hauling winds, clinking chains and sometimes the sweet music of a harp.
Shakespeare uses sounds perfectly to sustain the passion of his drama and to create
several distinctive moods. ‘The Tempest’ opens with loud noises of a storm and people
aboard a sinking ship.
The isle is indeed, as Caliban says, “full of noises”. We witness the opening of the play
with a “tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning”, and the splitting of the ship is
signaled in part by “a confused noise within”.
The lighter and perhaps illusionary effect in the play is musical, most of it comes from
Ariel. Ferdinand is led to Miranda by Ariel’s music. Ariel’s music also woke Gonzalo and
Alonso just before when Antonio and Sebastian were about to kill them. Moreover, the
magical banquet is placed out to the tune of “Solemn and strange music”, and Goddesses
Juno and Ceres sing in the wedding masque.
The noises, sounds, and music of the play are made most significant by Caliban’s speech
about the noises of the island. Shakespeare uses music to render a desired effect upon the
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character that reaches out to the theater audience, who are beckoned to become a part of
the journey.
One of the instances where the characters fall prey to music are when Ariel enters,
playing “solemn music”, and gradually all except Sebastian and Antonio fall asleep, not
because of the ineffectiveness of magic on them but because it was a part of Ariel’s magic.
This sets Antonio to persuade Sebastian to kill his brother. At this juncture, Ariel enters,
singing in Gonzalo’s ear to make him aware of the danger underway. Gonzalo wakes up
and shouts “Preserve the King!” His exclamation wakes everyone else. Sebastian quickly
fabricates a story about hearing a loud noise, like that of a beast that caused him and
Antonio to draw their swords.
The play’s hypnotic, magical atmosphere is brought about in a series of dreamlike events
such as the tempest, the magical banquet, and the wedding masque. Music and sounds
have special allure not just to the characters but to the audience as well.
Answer 5.
(a) Shaw portrays Candida as a woman, who is strong by nature. She is able to manage
people just by being nice, indicating that she does not reveal much of her true self to
others, in spite of. She uses her power over men to meet her own needs, without men
clearly knowing it. We find Morell and Lexy who see only what they want to see in her
and not who she really is.
Candida is not just the mother to her children, but she also plays mother to the men; both
Morell and Eugene at various times. It is her strength that is a perfect foil to the
conventional 'strength' of the men when it comes to a sense of success in the business, the
church and the arts. In general, women are the power behind the success of men.
Candida is intelligent and has a level of wisdom and insight that helps with her choices. It
is essential for women if they want to be content and happy within the framework of
marriage. She has very few social prejudices and is excellent in terms of cooking and
house keeping, but at the same time clever and kind and a true partner with a great
amount of practical common sense.
Candida is essentially an independent person who does not depend on the adoration or
praises of those around her for the work she does and is not emotionally dependent on
Morell or Eugene, though she does appreciate Eugene's efforts in understanding her.
(b) Candida, the wife of Morell, is enthusiastically described by her husband as an angel. At
the beginning of the play, he is presented as an ideal husband. He is happy in his married
life and has a view that the ‘kingdom of heaven’ can be established on Earth only by
marrying an ideal woman like Candida, “Get a wife like my Candida, and you’ll always
be in arrear with your repayment”. Candida too loves him, provides him with all the
necessary comforts so that he may compose his beautiful sermons undisturbed, “I build a
castle of comfort and indulgence and love for him…”.
All goes well till Eugene Marchbanks enters their house. For the first time in his life
Morell has to pause and consider himself, but still does not admit his shortcomings. There
is a violent quarrel between the two which makes Morell ask Candida to choose between
him and Eugene.
Candida is thus able to declare with no hesitation that she chooses her husband as the
weaker of the two men. She explains calmly that Eugene has always been a rejected child
and can therefore tolerate rejection better, but Morell has been spoiled from the cradle.
Without her strength and constant protection, she explains, Morell's entire ‘child’s world’
will collapse.
Thus, the axis around which Candida revolves is neither love nor hatred; it is a strong
woman choosing a weaker man.
(c) In Candida, Shaw diagnoses social ills in relation to the woman's world of home and
family life. Shaw presents the domestic woman, Candida, in a strange dilemma to choose
the clergyman, her husband James Morell or alternatively a young poet, Marchbanks.
They both adore her in different ways and for different qualities but they forget that she
is her own woman. Candida is attracted to them for their different qualities. She finally
chooses her husband Morell.
Morell is a highly cultured and respected man in the society. He is an ideal husband
whose marriage is shaken by the arrival of the young poet. He is heavily dependent on
his wife in all household matters and cannot think of living without her, she is his ''
greatest treasures on earth.'' She is one of his properties because she is economically
dependent on him. It seems that it is intelligence and not sentimentalism that governs
their marriage. Candida chooses her comfort through boring husband over the passionate
poet. She chooses to be a respectable wife of a respectable husband. However, all this is
not true. Through the character of Candida, Shaw also shows how neglected and
unappreciated Victorian women were. Therefore, the author employs her not only to
puncture both Eugene's Romantic ideas of love and Morell's idea of manly protection, but
he also assigns her with the task of being the mouthpiece of all the Victorian era women
in the House.
Answer 6.
Candida, a domestic play and a “critique of the Victorian society”, focuses primarily on
home affairs. Shaw was among the limited number of men who supported the principle
of equality between men and women. Most of his heroines have the characteristics of the
‘New Woman’. They are independent in spirit, self-confident, clear-headed, morally
dauntless and emotionally well controlled. Candida is not only a faithful wife, she is a
strong woman who has the power to make her own choice. She chooses her husband who
needs her more than her lover. She prefers to be the strong partner by choosing the role of
a wife, a sister and a mother to her husband. In a long speech at the end of the play,
Candida explains to Eugene why she chooses Morell.
“Ask James's mother and his three sisters what it costs to save James the trouble of doing
anything but be strong and clever, and happy. Ask me what it costs me to be James's
mother, three sisters, wife and mother to his children, all in one”.
Candida refuses to follow the longing in her own heart for the passion and excitement
that the younger suitor's presence has allowed her.
Candida is by no means the typical agonized wife of those sentimental melo dramas who
must either put up with an impossible husband or indulge a guilty passion for another
man. She is the strongest character in the play, and is guided by common sense, not by
emotion or passion.
The end of the play can be justified as Candida is right where she wants to be and
nowhere else. It is Morell and Eugene who have to manage themselves with Candida's
choices. Morell's world is shaken that all his assumptions of marriage and his own
marriage had been false and has nothing to fall back on. He is clueless how his marriage
would be now, and all the earlier beliefs have been torn apart. Eugene discovers that he is
in fact the stronger man who “has learnt to live without happiness.”
THINGS FALL APART —Chinua Achebe
Question 7.
This part of question is not given.
Question 8.
Question 9.
English-II | 7
CONTEMPLATIONS
Answer 10.
(a) Charles Lamb beautifully pictures the great house in Norfolk in which his great-
grandmother dwelled happily. He and his brother used to visit her during their holidays
when they were children. When the author narrates about his great-grandmother Field
and her house to his children as they remember from the ‘Ballad of children in the wood’
(the tragic story of the children and their cruel uncle carved out in wood upon a chimney
piece which was replaced into a marble one by a rich man). The huge mansion with its
vast empty rooms, the worn-out hangings, fluttering tapestry and carved oaken panels,
with the gliding almost rubbed out and the old-fashioned garden with the nectarines and
peaches hung upon the walls, the old melancholy looking yew trees, the firs, the oranges
and limes which spread its warmth and fragrance all around and a fresh water fish
darting to and fro in the fish pond which later decayed and was nearly pulled down. All
the valuable and useful ornaments in the house had been stripped off and carried away to
the other house owner and was set up there which the author claims to be looking
awkward and not a good decision and more of a foolish act.
(b) The author remembers how close he was to his elder brother who was so considerate that
he used to carry the author on his back when he was initially lame-footed. He also adds
up that his brother was admired by all, especially by their great-grandmother as he was a
handsome and spirited youth. He used to mount the daring horses and join the hunters
during the day, he was a brave man indeed. The author regrets being inconsiderate to his
brother when the latter became lame-footed in the future, not making allowances when
his brother was writhing in pain, being impatient and complaining. Even though the
brothers had quarreled at times, the author recollects how uneasy he felt after his brother
passed away and the trauma he faced when the doctor removed his limb as a part of the
treatment. The author realized how much he missed his brother’s love, kindness and even
his crossness only after the latter’s death. Thus Charles Lamb’s affection towards his
brother moves not only the hearts of his children but also that of the readers.
(c) The author envisaged the children’s mother to be a pretty fair lady. Charles Lamb told the
children that he had courted the first Alice for seven long years and tried to explain to
them how he had faced problems due to her ‘coyness’ and ‘denial’. At this point, he
noticed the strong similarity between the appearance of his wife and that of Alice. The
eyes and bright hair look alike in both of them. He feels as if his wife was communicating
with him through Alice.
Answer 11.
Ralph Waldo Emerson begins his essay with a quote which describes a person, who
yearns for the love from others. Gifts are presented only when there is love between the
giver and the recipient. It is understood that when love disappears, gifts cease to come.
The author remarks that there is a perennial shortage of gifts and gift-givers in this world.
Judicious selection of the gift item evokes the expected reaction in the recipient. Gifts
chosen with no feelings attached to it, leaves no impression on the receiver.
In the author’s opinion, flowers and fruits appear to be loftiest and most charming
offerings of nature. Flowers are, undoubtedly the messenger of love and sublime
creativity between the gift-giver and the receiver. Flowers make the receiver feel good,
wanted and important. Flowers flatter the receiver in a subtle way, as they with their
breathtaking beauty and variety, beguile the mind.
Next in queue is the gift of fruits, the adorable items to be given away as gifts. The
recipient cherishes fruits because these are one of nature’s best offerings. The author gives
the example of a fruit grower who walks unusually long distances carrying the basket on
his back and presents it to his friend, the sheer labour of love involved in this case
enhances the self-importance of the recipient. There is always a good feeling attached to
fruits.
The author feels that presenting a pair of shoes to a bare-footed person fills his heart with
instant joy, as he was craving for a pair of shoes. Food packets to deserving hungry man,
who relishes it, is not considered an unworthy gift item. In both the cases the recipient
and the gift-giver experience a sense of joy and a feeling of warmth.
Gifts can also be presented according to the needs of a person to suit his hobby or desire.
A guitar to a deserving music student or giving a dictionary to a young language learner
helps in their relationship with the gift-giver. The author is against the idea of gifting
costly rings and jewels and discards them as a barren idea. He expresses that these gift
items convey no amount of personal sentiment or sacrifice. A biography written as a gift,
builds an emotional bond and such gifts are treasured, valued and received with warmth
and delight and touches the heart of the receiver.
Receiving a gift may not be pleasant for a self-respecting man. Also if someone gives a
gift, the receiver should make a point that he does not take anything else from the giver,
which is the golden principle of gifting. When a gift arrives from a person, who is
unaware of the recipient’s likes and dislikes, it causes more harm than good. The latter,
might even expect to be given a large chunk of the giver’s assets and it would be wise for
the giver to keep such greedy people at bay.
Thus gifts given with love and compassion must be accepted joyfully, embraced with
pleasure and with the charm of love.
Answer 12.
Arthur Helps begins his essay wondering that there is no specific domestic epic created,
like the Greek poems ‘Iliad’ describing the final weeks of Trojan war and ‘Odyssey’ about
the Greek hero Odysseus, both written by the Greek poet– Homer.
The author claims that there are hatreds and disgusts behind friendship, relationship and
even service. Proximity of all kinds is one of the darkest spots upon the Earth. In the first
place, if people have to live happily together, they must not fancy because they have to
live and manage together as their lives are tied up with each other, as they have started
their journey exactly alike. The difference of men to life in social knowledge is a great
thing to be assured of and it is as similar as Newton’s Law is to astronomy. Men can live
happily only if they admit the fact that people have different views and do not expect the
outer world to agree with them at all points. To live in peace, one has to adapt a lifestyle
in which he should not interfere unreasonably with others, should not ridicule their
tastes, should not question and requisition their resolves, should not indulge in perpetual
comment on their proceedings, and to delight in their way of having different pursuits
and most importantly considering the simple fact that others are not same as him.
Another rule for living happily with others is to avoid having disputes and not to hurl
angry words at each other. Arthur Helps points out that people must not hold too much
logic and everything is to be settled by sufficient reason. He also quotes the words of Dr.
Johnson in this regard. He says that to be loved as a companion, unnecessary criticism
with the people around should be avoided in any case. It would be like living between
the glasses of a microscope. One of the most provoking forms of criticism is the “criticism
over the shoulder”, which does not provide any soothing effect to the people concerned.
An important rule to live in peace is, not to let familiarity swallow up all the courtesy. We
must not expect more from the society of our friends and companions than it can give
and especially we must not expect contrary things. The author here quotes William
Hazlitt, a famous English writer, who says that when we glance at the cheerful looking
rooms with bright lights, we tend to assume that the inmates are very happy, as we are
unmindful of the fact that there might be a hell too in those rooms.
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To have peace in a house, or a family, or any social circle, the members of it must avoid
passing on hasty and uncharitable speeches and not play mischief by conveying only a
part of the context. Even though they are not ill-natured, they might do this unknowingly
for the sake of excitement. The author asks to avoid anger, which might make those who
live under us suffer a lot. Intimate friends and relations should be careful when they go
out together, as not to let their dear ones down.
The author ends the essay with a note that to live happily with one another, we need to
consult others’ interests, giving way to their opinions and not offend their tastes.
ECHOES
Answer 13.
(a) B. Wordsworth during his walks with the little boy revealed to him about the secret of
writing the greatest poem of the world. The greatest poem of the world is invariably
different from what he had been working upon up till now. This poem is deep and holds
the maximum attention and hard work of the poet to ensure it’s a success unlike his other
writing ventures. Wordsworth wants this poem to strike the chord with his readers that
none others could do. Therefore, he writes only one line in a month even at the cost of
completing his poem in the next twenty two years. Wordsworth wants to ensure that this
poem of his, surpasses not only his expectations but also of his readers, he therefore
instils in the one line that he creates in a month, all the experiences of that month. He
works fervently to create the masterpiece of a poem only to never complete it.
Wordsworth fails to sell his poetry and his failure as a salesman, takes a toll on his ability
to write continuously without expectations. It is tragic that the world refuses to
appreciate poetry and considers poets to be worthless, writing absurd things. The little
boy's appreciation makes him see some hope and this is why he reveals a line of his
greatest poem, "The past is deep." However, he is soon disillusioned and realizes the
world does not appreciate deep thoughts. B. Wordsworth himself acknowledges his
mistake of spending his entire life writing the greatest poem in the world and living a
dream that was never going to be a reality.
(b) The poet negating his own story at the death bed is his way of shielding the little boy
from the harsh realities of life. The poet could see the brimming talent within the little
boy to be a poet. He saw his early life in the little boy. The fire and curiosity to
understand the little things in life was explicitly visible in the boy. The reflection of a poet
in making, who would have to invariably face the same trials and rejections as a poet,
hurts the poet to no end. To save the little boy from the misery and tragedy of the real life
where there are no buyers and appreciators of a poet's words. Poets are considered to be
worthless, churning out nonsensical content for the sake of appreciating beauty. People
fail to see through the deep meaning of a poet’s words and feel the enlightening
experience by reading it. Thus, to save the boy from the fate that he met in his life as a
poet, he negates his own story at the end, making a mockery out of his own existence.
(c) At the end of Naipaul’s story, “B. Wordsworth” the little boy revisits Alberto Street, a
year later and finds no trace of the poet and his humble abode. ‘The mango tree and the
plum tree and the coconut tree had all been cut down, and there was brick and concrete
everywhere. It was just as though B. Wordsworth had never existed.’
The last line of the story elucidates the fact that B. Wordsworth was never the greatest
poet in the world. He failed to make an impression on the minds of the readers and
therefore lived a life of oblivion. Poets are the greatest treasure troves for society because
they express the unexpressed by intertwining their beautiful words. Long after they are
gone, people always remember them for the words they wrote. Unfortunately for B.
Wordsworth he could not make a mark as a poet, enough to be remembered by the world
after he was gone. Therefore, his house being pulled down had no significance
whatsoever, as he was just another human being dead and forgotten, with no trace of
existence in this world.
Answer 14.
The writer explores the emotions of his characters which further induces a sense of fear
and horror. ‘Fritz’ begins with Jayanto in low spirits and his friend acknowledging the
change in Jayanto as soon as he arrived at Bundi. “Jayanto had turned rather quiet…
perhaps some of his memories had returned.” The write up clearly depicts depression
and leaves the reader with a sense of unease on what is about to happen. His description
in detail with no clear reference to the story, simply brings forward his technique to
heighten the sense of horror.
The writer in the short story “Fritz” employs the use of inanimate object to explore the
supernatural aspect and induce horror in the mind of the readers. While the obvious
reader would be terrorized by the concept of a lifelike doll, the intelligent reader would
see through the comedy that was being hinted through its description and appearance.
Fritz is described as a twelve inch long Swiss doll, very life like, whose arms and limbs
could be twisted. All modern dolls have arms and limbs that could be twisted. The mere
mention of it is nothing but comical.
Ray’s particular mention of ‘Fritz’, the doll that won’t respond unless he is called by his
name adds to the thrill and confirms the presence of a supernatural theme in the story.
This is indeed comical and funny, that an inanimate object would only respond when his
name would be called out. An inanimate object would never respond, it is a make-believe
story of a child playing and enacting his fun games.
Fritz’s tragic death and his burial by Jayanto seems to add a thrill to the supernatural
occurrences but readers by now cannot stop laughing at Jayanto’s childishness and recalls
their own childhood while reading the story. Ray like the authors of the horror genre,
uses situation that induces a sense of fright and horror in the reader’s senses but the
reactions of grownups to such situations evoke mirth and humour in the minds of the
readers.
Jayanto waking up to notice “tiny, brown circular marks” on his quilt is clearly one of the
technique employed to explore the dual theme–supernatural and inducing humour in the
story. This makes every reader relive the memory of their fear in childhood of finding a
ghost after waking up from their sleep. The situation though scary turns comical, with
Jayanto’s scared reaction and the reader’s realization of being in such a situation in the
past. The readers shrug their fear to laugh at their own childishness in earlier times.
Ray in the end gives the final brutal shock to its readers in the form of unearthing of the
twelve inch long, perfect little human skeleton under the Deodar tree. The constant
invoking of horror is a technique employed by Ray to ensure that his readers are goaded
to see beyond the eventual things. It probes them to go beyond the literal and find the
humourous relief in the situations as well as reaction of the characters.
Answer 15.
“A Gorilla in the Guest Room” is a very candid expression of the author’s attempt to
conserve species which were threatened with extinction in the wild state. His efforts to
buy a baby gorilla and bring him to the zoo, not as a showpiece but as a species that
needs to be conserved, spells out the kind of attachment that Durrell shares with the
animal. Durrell was determined to buy it, as he said “the gorilla had been high on my list
of priorities.”
The author braves many battles to bring the gorilla and perhaps this is one of the reasons
why it marks the formation of a strong bond between the two. N’Pongo wins the heart of
the author with his dainty moves and good behaviour in the very first meeting. Despite
his friendly and good behaviour the author was wary of keeping him in his house as a
guest, because of his last experience with the chimpanzee. He watched him like a hawk
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but N’Pongo was sure to win him over with his “beautiful behaviour”. N’Pongo was
soon to go on from being a guest in his house to an important family member, almost like
a son to him and his family.
N’Pongo displayed exemplary manners, he would pause “to look at a picture, stroke an
ornament, so gently that there was never any danger that he would break anything.”
However, the author could not be coaxed in accepting that the baby gorilla is a human
baby. Durrell was practical enough to accept that N’Pongo was an ape and could never be
as civilized as human. Though Durrell and his family had accepted N’Pongo as their own
family member, Durrell was deaf to the pleas of his mother to keep him in the house.
Durrell understood the fine lines between keeping a beast in the house, and making him a
part of a family and opening his heart to him.
Both Durrell and N’Pongo seem to share an acute understanding of a situation and they
came out of it displaying a high sense of maturity. Whether it is Durrell dealing with
N’Pongo’s floor wetting habits or destruction of floor and walls in the guest room, there
is a high sense of patience within him to deal with such incidents. N’Pongo on the other
hand would accept the necessity of being locked up in his cage with a grace that showed
his well-developed sense of humour and disposition towards understanding how to
behave in the need of the hour. N’Pongo’s appearance, disposition and good manners
made him a darling of the author and Durrell had strong paternal feelings towards him
and felt a sense of overwhelming responsibility and protectiveness in taking care of him.
Durrell had a feeling of paternal responsibility towards the ape as he wishes to see it
happy with its mate. While he understands the adverse effects of a fully-grown gorilla
trying to play with the humans, he also understands the need of the gorilla to have its
own family. Durrel goes out of his way to get N’Pongo a wife. Despite the financial
crunch and adversaries, he secures a match for N’Pongo.
His sense of concern and anxiety even extends “over N’Pongo’s health and well being.”
The author remained constantly worried about N’Pongo contracting any disease and
when N’Pongo contracted a real illness, he remained by his side taking account of his
illness every minute. He turned every stone to get the ape eating and was even ready to
cancel his prestigious trip to South France keeping the BBC people in quandary. This
shows the author’s deep sense of attachment towards the ape. N’Pongo to him was like a
son, whose presence made him happy and illness kept him on tenterhooks, leaving him
emotionally vulnerable throughout. While N’Pongo remained as “A Gorilla in the Guest
Room”, he definitely etched a permanent place in the heart of the author.
REVERIE
Answer 16.
(a) From the poem, ‘The Darkling Thrush’
Hardy finds various aspects of nature which seems to be clashing at times. It may be
depressing like a hell as we can witness in his "The Convergence of the Twain," and at the
same time it can be beautiful like “Birds at Winter Nightfall." One amazing fact of the
element of nature in his poems is that Hardy not only uses it as ornamentation but also as
a purpose to anticipate serious topics like life itself. As here we are solely concerned with
Hardy's "The Darkling Thrush". This poem reflects the poet’s enquiry about what life in
nature means. The puzzle to understand the meaning of nature to man, is left for the
reader to think upon. The speaker of the poem sees nature as alive as a source of
inspiration and influence. The word "nature," as concerned with this poem “The
Darkling Thrush" refers to everything in the universe, including all living beings whether
they are plants or animals. This concept, according to Hardy is the force that controls the
occurrences of this world .The outdoor life can also be taken in consideration. Here it has
different connotations such as sight, force, power, and inner feelings. The element of
nature is so much packed in this poem that it can be well-thought-out more like the
whole natural world in comparison or in presence of men. Though it's a small

adjustment, but in case of "The Darkling Thrush," it's a major one. As the importance has
been given to the “Frost and Winter” and the “land and birds” there is very less space for
humans.
I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-gray
● Though the speaker is leaning up against a gate leading to a big patch of brush and
brambles but it’s a very cold and dreary winter day which has been focused much.
● As the speaker ponders that “Frost” is “spectre-gray”, he is actually trying to
highlight or better say beautify the frost, to enhance the element of nature in this very
poem “Spectre” is also an extravagant term for “ghost” during 19th century.
The term of nature winter is an allegory for death which is presented with both the
purposes – natural element and the theme of despair in the poem too.
So it can be summed up that this poem “The Darkling Thrush” is full of natural elements
which are treated in Hardy’s own style to maintain the grim theme of the poem too.
(b) The poem “The Darkling thrush” was written itself with a Precise Prominence on Time
and Change. If we ponder upon the time when "The Darkling Thrush" was written then
it was the last day of the nineteenth century, again a time which has a great importance as
it’s a link between the forthcoming time and the past. The poem itself deals with a subject
about the evolution from one century to another in terms of time and change. If we
consider the significance of time in this poem it can be safely asserted that Hardy is not as
aggressive as Ezra Pound or as hypothetical as T.S. Eliot or as supremely casual as James
Joyce – rather he is one of the first poets to handle the complications of the ‘modern’
world i.e., isolation, despair, and hopelessness. Critics have applauded Hardy for writing
a poem at a crucial moment of time, as seen in this poem which is written at the turn of
the century or better say of the millennium. “The Darkling Thrush”, written at the very
end of the nineteenth century, has a compact view of the past and vision for the
forthcoming in precise and metaphorical stanzas. The ambience is made from the very
first stanza as is seen that the poem begins on a cold winters day; "When Frost was
spectre-gray and Winter's dregs made desolate". To make the weather more potent,
Hardy has personified the season and frost and has also given it humanlike qualities. It is
after knowing this fact the reader can comprehend the reason for the word "Darkling" in
the title of this poem. Hardy seems to be converted from a lively man in the former
century to that of a pessimist in the succeeding one. The main importance of time in this
poem, begins from its writing itself, as this poem is written exactly at the end of the 19th
century.
(c) Let us see from the very beginning of the poem as it starts with a day of winter which
reflects in itself the notion of depression and death. This is the environment which the
depressed narrator is trying to express to its readers. It demonstrates the badly depressed
narrator as he is not at all looking forward to a bright future rather the only thing he
knows will happen for sure is death.
"The tangled bine-stems scored the sky/ like strings of broken lyres". ...
This stanza portrays the sole impression of death, no vigour and nothing to look forward
for. Within all these depressed surroundings Hardy, the depressed narrator, is astonished
to hear "a voice arose among the bleak twigs overhead" in the third stanza. It was a bird
singing "a full-hearted evensong of joy illimited;" all this collectively presents a wonderful
contrast on one hand “a bird is singing a joyful song full of zest” whereas on the other
hand the narrator "seemed fervourless". The appearance of the singing bird brought a
hope; "An aged thrush, rail, gaunt and small, in blast-be ruffled plume". The thrush can
be taken as a mirror image of Hardy, the narrator himself, gloomy dull, tired and
hopeless. Its here, that the narrator finds a hope because he thinks that if he is like the
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thrush, old and feeble, but still it is singing in such a jolly tone then why can’t he have
happiness in life. Hardy was strikingly depressed throughout the poem and confused too
as to why the Thrush was singing so zestfully, as he cannot find any reason for the thrush
to sing so joyously. As soon as the song begins, the surrounding begins to shed off all its
gloom scattered around—the ghostly and gray frost started getting lighter , the
depressing winter landscape which made the sun set lonely and abandoned, faded, the
speaker leaned on a gate before a thicket of small trees. Twining plants, rising high, were
silhouetted against the sky like the strings of broken lyres, all these were regaining to
lighten their gloomy moods. Hardy assumes the song “o! the thrush represents hope !or a
better century”. Hardy thus tells the readers that earlier he believed that there was no
hope in the future for him to adjust.
“It is dusk on the last day o! the nineteenth century and
the atmosphere is dead and motionless.
But as soon as he suddenly heard the bubbly, jolly song of the thrush, he started
wondering if the bird i.e., the Thrush was a herald of some hope of which he was both
hopeless and unconscious.
Answer 17.
This is a poem written by Arthur O’Shaughnessy where the theme is most uplifting and
hopefully based on all sorts of art that has been written. The famous phrase ‘movers and
shakers’ found often quoted in terms of those who have a deep impact on the society
originated from here. The poem comprises of three stanzas of eight lines each. It also has
a rhythmic effect as in the very first stanza it’s ABABABAB, the second stanza is
AABBCDCD, and so on.
Apart from these, this stanza is very forthright: as it is written for all the artists, ‘music-
makers’ and the ‘dreamers of dreams’. As the poem has not mentioned any particular art
form or certain kind of artists, the poem has a universal appeal. Art, in this poem, has an
unsolidified definition. It has been emphasized throughout this poem that anything can
be a form of art if it involves enough creativity to beautify it with a desolation of the
spirit. The poet bestows his poem upon all sorts of artists whether it is a writer, a mason,
a painter or so on. He dedicates this poem to all those people who breathe in a world of
fantasy and build worlds outside this materialistic world.
There is an amazing contrast of the status or better say position of the artists. On one
hand they are considered to be the rebellious kind of people who contribute to their
society but at the same time being an artist is not easy. The phrase ‘world losers and
world forsakers’ denotes how difficult it is to sustain life on art alone – an issue that is
being proved time and again by the struggles of work patronizing or by the financially
crippled life of the artists. Here, the poet stresses upon the sacrifice one needs to do to be
an artist though the artists are often outcaste by the society but they are always
remembered by their immortal work in this mortal world.
Answer 18.
“John Brown” is a very famous song penned down by Bob Dylan, the renowned song
writer and singer as a reaction to the Vietnam War in 1962. Several anti-war songs were
written by Dylan. “Masters of War” and “John Brown” were some of the most popular of
his anti-war songs. In “Masters of War,” Dylan is highlighting those evil men who
perceive war as a means to earn profit, while young men fight for their nation and lay
down their lives. He has brought up one of the most hidden and worst facet of war,
hitherto less or not known. In this song he asserts :
“like Judas of old, you lie and deceive…you fasten the triggers for the others to fire, then
you set back and watch when the death count gets higher.”
As we are here concerned with the poem song “John Brown” which unlike “Masters of
War” describes the sham of the war, and its actual effect on human beings living around,
whether involved directly or not. This is a folk revival song which deals with the
dilemma of a soldier fighting for his nation and ultimately realising that his victory or
defeat will equally have a fowl effect on his life. John Brown, the hero of this song, is sent
to the war with great honour by his mother :
“brags about her son with his uniform and gun…in this old fashioned war.”
But when her son returns, she is unable to recognize his face because now her son is a
physically broken man, with a missing hand and a metal brace around his waist. His face
is almost shot off. It is here one can well find the protest well demonstrated against the
wrong, when John’s mom is shocked after receiving her broken wounded son. John
Brown who with great pride for his nation had set for war realized that he was nothing
more than just a “puppet in a play.”
❏❏
SOLUTION
SECTION– A

Answer 1.
(a) (i) Caliban assumes that Stephano is a spirit sent by Prospero which has come to trouble
and torture him for taking so long to bring the wood back. Caliban and Stephano are
in another part of the island.
(ii) Stephano is worried that how a monster with four legs, is in pain and knows his
language. He is sure that Caliban is a monster and plans to cure and tame him to take
him to Naples, where he can make good money by selling him.
(iii) After the ordeal at the seas, Stephano is in no mood to be teased by spirits or
monsters who are on four legs. He is like any other outsider who seeks to tame the
savages immediately. He thinks to cure Caliban of his fever and make him market-
able in Naples by presenting him to the King.
(iv) Caliban has been in constant fear of spirits who had been tormenting him every time
whenever he had rebelled against Prospero's commands. Lately, he had been taking a
long time to carry the logs to the cave, and was cursing Prospero for all his
wickedness against him. So, when he saw Stephano he was scared thinking that
Prospero had sent another spirit to torment him.
(v) Caliban is well experienced in all torments which Prospero has been sending against
him. He finds himself helpless against Prospero as he is always heard by the spirits.
And when they get their command they leash out all hell upon him.
(vi) i. Ague - fever
ii. Neat - cow's leather
(b) (i) As Caliban sees from under the cloak that Stephano is shaking, he feels that Prospero
had sent another spirit again to torment him. He is scared of the consequences as he
was recently cursing Prospero.
They are in another part of the island.
(ii) It seems like the fear of the unknown. Caliban is scared to be tormented by Stephano,
who he thinks to be another spirit sent by Prospero. So he hides under the cloak.
Surprisingly, Trinculo enters and takes refuge under the other end of the cloak when
he hears someone approaching him.
(iii) While wandering, Stephano finds a cloaked figure, seeing which he wonders that
how he can hear two different voices; one speaks well about his friend while the
other seems to be harsh and abusive. Stephano thinks that the creature may have
some kind of fever so, he thinks to cure it by offering it his bottle of wine to drink.
(iv) The scene is humorous because we witness Caliban and Trinculo hiding in fear in the
same cloak for protection. Neither Caliban nor Trinculo would have done so, if they
knew who they are taking shelter with and from whom.
Stephano is swaggering around in drunkenness, not knowing about Caliban and
Trinculo both hidden in the cloak. He assumes them to be some four-legged creature,
uttering two different voices.
(v) Trinculo hears Stephano's voice from under the cloak, so he calls out to him. On
hearing his name, Stephano assumes that it is the devil, who knows his name. He is
afraid and says that he will leave the creature alone and has no interest in getting
mixed up with the devil.
In simple words, he does not want to be dead now.

(vi) i. Anon - soon
ii. Recover - cure
(c) (i) Caliban along with Stephano and Trinculo are in another part of the island, and
Caliban is trying to tell his story and need for redeeming himself from Prospero.
(ii) While Caliban is narrating his side of the story to Stephano and Trinculo, Ariel enters
the scene invisibly and calls him a liar, to create confusion and rift between the three
present there and also to warn them that nothing can be done against Prospero.
(iii) Stephano is an opportunist, and when he finds that Caliban the 'moon-calf' is
willingly offering help, to conquer the island and be the master with Caliban to serve;
he stops Trinculo from interrupting Caliban, as Caliban is a means to an end.
(iv) Caliban states that he had been made a slave in his own island and that Prospero is
the tyrant who cunningly cheated him. Caliban wants Stephano to take revenge for
him and that he would serve Stephano as the master.
(v) Caliban is compelled to make Stephano 'Lord', firstly because Stephano was the only
person who listened to him and also chided Trinculo for interrupting. Secondly, he
felt that any other master apart from Prospero would be better.
(vi) i. Valiant Master - stephano
ii. Isle - island
Answer 2.
(a) (i) Morell is against the manner in which Burgess conducts his business and runs his
factory. It does not rest well with Morell that Burgess pay very less than the average
to the workers as he finds them in his parish affected so he had to address the issue.
(ii) Burgess considers Morell as a young fool, who with all his idealism will not be able
to carry any business as he has no understanding of the working class and is also a
person who will not know how to use money if it is in excess.
(iii) Burgess means that he has turned into a new leaf as he now does not employ women
and pays the minimum wages but does not tell Morell initially that he has been doing
it to gain contract from County Council.
(iv) Economic and technological changes were happening during the turn of the century.
Industries were becoming predominant with people fighting for better wages and
conditions such as mass production was expanding at all levels. Women's suffrage,
land and tenants' rights, including women property rights and many other issues
were taking precedence during the century.
(v) Workers for a long time have been leading campaigns for better wages and limiting
working hours and changes with laws which are made by the government. It can be
said that this process of claiming for better wages still continues.
(vi) Burgess takes pride in the fact that he has become the model employer who pays the
right wages and also admits that he has come to meet Morell and his daughter on
friendly terms. He is also proud that he has done the right thing by stopping all the
women workers and he did this out of concern for the workers.
(b) (i) Burgess expresses his enthusiasm at meeting Marchbanks by “crossing to him with
great heartiness,” as he is glad to make acquaintance with a person from nobility.
(ii) The domestic scene depicted here is that Candida is by the fire relaxing, along with
Marchbanks, we know this because Burgess goes to the hearth to greet Marchbanks.
(iii) The idea that Marchbanks comes from a noble family fascinates him. He is not
deterred by the fact that he is not rich, but is fascinated by the idea of nobility and
that he now has a connection with the upper class which is good enough for Burgess.
English-II | 3
(iv) Burgess never had a great opinion about Morell and what he stood up for, so he
expresses by asking Marchbanks if Morell puts up to him any foolish ideas.
(v) Burgess is well aware that Morell will not miss any opportunity to profess his ideas
on socialism so he anticipates that Morell would have taken a chance in filling
Marchbanks’ head with foolish ideas.
(vi) The opinions and views on socialism which Morell expresses through his sermons in
the church and the innumerable lectures are very well known to the family and to all
those who come in contact with him. Burgess finds them foolish as one cannot
survive by preaching them and in practical life it will not get food to the table.
(c) (i) Morell and Marchbanks are in altercation over Candida and the principles that
Morell stands, which Marchbanks ridicules. When their altercation takes a physical
turn, Marchbanks states that it is Morell who is afraid of him and not the other way.
(ii) Marchbanks has the capacity to be persistent and here in this scene where he drives
Morell to that extent of desperation where Morell uses physical force knowing that
Marchbanks is telling the truth. Morell does not like how he is perceived and how he
sees himself in the present that leads him to manhandle Marchbanks.
(iii) Marchbanks is weaker of the two physically and ‘he flies to the door in involuntary
dread,’ shows that Marchbanks is weak and scared that Morell might harm him
physically.
(iv) Apart from being the shy and weak person, Marchbanks is the strongest in character
next to Candida, for he is able to stand up for Candida and also sees through
Morell’s assumptions and false belief in things that do not actually matter. He is sure
that Candida will choose him over Morell if given a chance.
(v) Marchbanks’ strength lies in his ability to use words against Morell, but he will not
have a chance if Morell uses physical strength, he presents a volte-face within a
fraction of time stating that he will go.
(vi) Marchbanks breaks the bubble in which Morell had been living from so long that he
had been admired or loved because of his ideas. When Marchbanks conveys that his
ideas are nothing except ideas of slavery and that he will fight those ideas and rescue
Candida from them, he is shaken because all that he stood for becomes a lie and
eventually the life he built based on those ideas.
SECTION– B
Answer 3.
(a) The prime conflict in the play is the conflict between Prospero and his brother Antonio,
from which stems all other conflicts. Prospero who once had been the Duke of Milan
should have ruled it, but his mission of learning the dark arts gave leeway to Antonio, to
usurp the Dukedom with the help of Alonso, the King of Naples. Prospero who had been
put on ship by his friend Gonzalo, is stranded upon an island which he claims as his own,
and becomes its master with the help of his magical powers.
Prospero who had waited for twelve long years to take revenge on his adversaries
necessitates the tempest and brings them all to the island to bring about justice. Prospero
now has all the adversaries on his turf and it is in his power to punish or pardon them.
We see that Prospero gives them the illusion of severe punishment and when they are
bereft and bare, he orchestrates their meeting and eventually plays the high priest who
forgives them and has only goodness in heart, now willing to get back to retirement in
Milan.
Another conflict is between Prospero and Caliban where the former enslaves the latter for
menial work. While Caliban is working, he runs into Trinculo and Stephano and they all
agree upon a plan to take Prospero’s place by murdering him. Prospero finds out about
this and decides to get back at them.
The last conflict is of Antonio and Sebastian. They both plot to kill Alonso, so Sebastian
can become king. Ariel, overhears their conversation and wakes Gonzalo who then wakes
up Alonso. Later on in the story, Ariel tells Prospero about their plan which backfires
because Prospero threatens to tell the king.
(b) Miranda is beautiful, modest tender, unsophisticated, very delicately refined that she is
all about ethereal. There is none to compare her with, for she is amidst her old father,
Caliban and Ariel. There was nothing beyond these three that she is aware of. In addition,
she knows the tales of her father which are vague as she has nothing to base her thoughts
on.
Here, when she comes upon Ferdinand, she is smitten with this heavenly specimen of
mankind and does not miss a beat to express her love. Prospero plays a role in guiding
them by exposing Miranda to Ferdinand so that they fall in love with each other.
Later, when she meets the rest of the nobility, she is totally drawn to them and exclaims
how beautiful mankind is.
This clearly is ironical as the life prior to Prospero coming to the island was no “brave
new world” i.e., a wonderful new world, nor was it when Prospero controlled and tried
to bring all to justice. Brave new world does not seem to exist for the world is what it is.
When she sees Alonso and others all together, Miranda is amazed and happy because to
her they were a wonderful sight. She is ignorant of the fact that those same men are not as
wonderful as they appear as they were responsible for banishing her and her father from
their actual home.
(c) Alonso, the King of Naples, is neither a good guy, nor a bad guy. He is easily swayed and
has fallen to Antonio's self-interested flattery. In the later scenes, we come to know that
he is a sentimental person. He is grief-stricken when he learns about his son’s death by
drowning in the sea. But later he is overjoyed when he finds that Ferdinand is alive.
Alonso shoulders some of the responsibilities for the incidents that happened in
Prospero's life. Alonso had given in to the proposition of usurping Antonio's brother
Prospero. He gave into the flattery and he feels that he has been punished for his sins. He
is wrought with remorse and regrets marrying his daughter to the Prince of Tunis on the
apparent death of his son.
Ariel's expletives and condemnation at the vanishing feast makes him believe that his son
has drowned. He is a trance and when he awakes he is in front of Prospero from whom
he seeks pardon and restores the dukedom to Prospero. He is reconciled with Prospero,
when he realises that his son is alive and he is more than glad to give permission to
Ferdinand to marry Miranda. The circle of sin and retribution, injustice and forgiveness,
being lost and found all together bring Alonso as a redeemed man.
Answer 4.
Prospero, the rightful duke of Milan, was banished from his kingdom, by his treacherous
brother Antonio, who allied with Alonso, the King of Naples. Prospero is one of the
enigmatic protagonists of Shakespeare. One might sympathize with him, but will find it
difficult to like him when he is full of harangues and is seeking ways to justify his deeds.
His pursuit of knowledge gets him into trouble in the first place.
By disregarding his kingship, he gave his brother a chance to rise up against him. His
possession and use of magical knowledge renders him extremely powerful and not
entirely sympathetic. His punishments for Caliban are petty and vindictive, as he calls
upon his spirits to torture him when he curses Prospero. He is defensively autocratic with
Ariel. For example, when Ariel reminds his master of his promise to relieve him of his
duties early if he performs them willingly, Prospero bursts into fury and threatens to
return him to his former imprisonment and torment. He is similarly unpleasant in his
English-II | 5
treatment of Ferdinand, leading him to his daughter and then imprisoning and enslaving
him.
Despite his shortcomings as a man, however, Prospero is central to the play. Prospero
generates the plot of the play almost single-handedly, as his various schemes, spells, and
manipulations all work as part of his grand design to achieve the play’s happy ending.
Watching Prospero work through ‘The Tempest’ is like watching a dramatist create a
play, building a story from material at hand and developing his plot so that the resolution
brings the world into a line with his idea of goodness and justice.
Prospero emerges as a more likable and sympathetic figure in the final two acts of the
play. If Prospero sometimes seems autocratic, he ultimately manages to persuade the
audience to share his understanding of the world—an achievement that is, after all, the
final goal of every author and every play.
Answer 5.
(a) Eugene Marchbanks is a painfully shy youth, miserably irresolute and hardly knows
where to stand or what to do. He is sensitive and finds courage and confidence when he
writes poetry. He can be petulant and willful at times. Having been found by Morell
sleeping on the streets after he left Oxford, Marchbanks makes regular attendance in the
Morell household. His love for Candida is shrugged off as a child loving a mother; until
he professes his love for Candida to Morell. He transforms to a brave person who is
prepared to defend his love and Candida who needs to be rescued from the painful
drudgery of household chores. Marchbanks believes that Candida is not happy in her
relationship with Morell and wonders what Candida sees in him to be married to him. He
is sensitive to the needs of Candida and understands her better than Morell and is
resolute enough to bring about an altercation where he is able to deride Morell on his
blind assumptions that his wife is happy indeed.
Marchbanks’ criticism of Morell and Candida's marriage can be considered a wakeup call
for them to reflect upon the complacence Morell has got into and also Marchbanks'
praises about Candida gives an impetus to enjoy the adulation, though it is not
appropriate to receive from someone who is not her husband. Candida continues to treat
him warmly, as for her this is how she expresses herself , and she is quite aware of her
charm on others. She chooses to stay with Morell as he is the needier of the two.
Marchbanks is the stronger of the two and he leaves with a smile on his face knowing that
Candida’s first choice is him. Candida’s choices reflect that she is practical and for this
reason alone she decides to stay. For Morell, there would always be this doubts as to
where he stands in the marriage.
(b) Candida by Shaw was considered as a 'counterblast' to Ibsen's A Doll's House.' Ibsen shows
how women have been subjugated as a domestic dolls and how his heroine Nora assert
herself and her identity by leaving her family or by slamming the door. The New Woman
in Ibsen leaves the house and with Candida there is the mystery as to what this heroine
would do.
Shaw inverts the motif where Candida re-invents herself within the family. Here it is the
man who is the doll of the house as we realize that it is Morell who is clueless about the
state of Candida's mind and her needs. Marchbanks’ revelation of his love for Candida,
gives way for doubt and uncertainty in his relationship with Candida. The incident where
Marchbanks confronts Morell and the auction scene sets in momentum and movement as
per the choices of Candida. The challenge in itself provide suspense and the movement,
that is the new beginning in the marriage of Morell and Candida. The suspense clings on,
as Marchbanks leaves with a smile on his face. On the whole, Shaw presents Christian
socialism where the greater good is considered and the compromise where characters by
themselves present mystery.
(c) The play Candida in many ways can be concerned with Socialism. The presentation of the
scene with books on socialism and Titian's Virgin of the Assumption gives us a picture of
what to expect in the play. The cleric is a Christian Socialist and we can witness
ideologies of the time being interwoven in the play through the characters. We have
Morell who is caught up with his lectures and assumes that all those who listen are glad
and keep coming because he is making a change in their lives. He keeps Candida on the
pedestal where she is the total embodiment of womanhood who is content in domestic
bliss. He has no eye for Proserpine who secretly admires him and his attitude toward
Burgess shows that he is equally to be blamed; for he treats Proserpine and Lexy
similarly. In all these we find that everyone's assumptions and expectations are shaken
and are given a new direction that sets them on a different path. The issues of marriage,
labour, class, education and love are all answered in such a manner that it questions
every individual of the play. A little shaking of presumptions are necessary in any family
and society and Shaw does just and also gives courage to the characters to maintain the
balance.
Answer 6.
Of all the plays in the Shavian canon Candida is certainly one of the most provoking one,
in the sense that it has stirred more heated contempt, more thoughtless praise, than any
other Shaw piece. Yet it remains a considerable puzzle, even to critics sympathetic to
Shavian ideology and esthetic.
In Candida, we have Candida's children as absentee characters, and Morell and Eugene
take their place to play the role of the children. Candida, the mother figure, repeatedly
uses such expressions as "My boy", "a great baby", and a "bad boy" in her exchanges with
the two grown-up male figures.
Shaw's Candida, does not leave the house, but stays within, quite emphatically, and
disheartens both the contesting male figures. Eugene leaves Candida with a "secret" in
his heart. He feels that the vast world outside has more demand upon him than the petty
domestic happiness.
The 'happiness' of Eugene at the prospect of gaining Candida's love is balanced by the
unhappiness of Morell because of the fear of losing her. This brief sequence has a great
theatrical impact upon the audience as well as it shows how profoundly the two men
misunderstand Candida's attitude towards them. They have to learn a lot to acquire true
insight into a woman's heart, as well as into their own hearts. Candida has to undertake
the necessary process of educating them in the matter.
The choice that Candida has to make is a puzzle in itself, for Eugene clearly understands
that whatever Candida decides, she will choose herself.
Marchbanks (anxiously) : “Morell you don't understand. She means that she belongs to
herself.”
Clearly Candida belongs to herself and responds to the characteristic male weakness by
choosing Morell.
In the conclusion, we can see that there are no actual children, but grown up men who are
the children, the happiness that is assumed, the choice to stay back and the stance of male
roles, all of them present irony, for what happens and whatever is left hanging and
unsaid is the answer to the ironies presented in the play.
Question 7.
Question 8.
Question 9.
English-II | 7
CONTEMPLATIONS
Answer 10.
(a) The narrator, Margaret Atwood, feels very happy to attend her convocation at Victoria
College. An honorary degree holder from the university, she describes how education has
helped a callow and ignorant mind to develop into a splendor thing. The professors in the
Victoria college had to put up with so many overdue term papers and had struggled to
read one’s handwriting. She recollects how the college education had turned up against
her, as she could not land up in a job being overqualified and with no typing practice. She
quotes Northrop Frye, a Canadian literary critic, as the reason for her to get into a
graduate school. She is grateful to her college for teaching her the fact that truth would
make her free but funnily remarks that they failed to warn her about the kind of trouble
she would get into by trying to tell it. With a naughty humor she argues that the
graduating ceremony should be called as ‘Ejection’ instead of ‘Convocation’. She
compares the university degree to a refrigerator being sent to the middle of a jungle
where it is of no use. She expresses her fear and anguish of turning jobless in a world of
successful people. Also, she puts “You may not alter the reality but you can alter your
attitude towards it, paradoxically alters the reality”.
(b) The speaker describes the mental state of the novelists and poets to be an emotional
enigmatic. She says that the aspiring writers should not be encouraged as she would not
prefer a competition. She does not seem to consider the writers to be among the
successful ones. She also mocks that the Homemakers magazine for the women and
‘Forbes’ or’ Economist ‘for the boys are widely read by all, than the more important ones.
She emphasizes on the uncertainty that many graduates are about to face and the best
thing she could do as a writer was the back and wrist exercises. She comments that
Dickens and Melville might have had the thickest wrists as they wrote the longest novels
while Emily Dickinson managed lyric poems with her spindly fingers.
The author uses a cautious and humorous tone while expressing her findings, feelings,
experiences, senses and thoughts.
(c) The speaker here compares her course study at the university to the tossing and turning
of a boat, which experiences ups and downs in a rough weather and is not a smooth
sailing one. She breaks into a cold sweat because of the discomfort she feels while
brooding over the idea about her speech to be delivered to her graduating class. She
wanted to quote Kurt Vonnegut by saying that everything would become unbelievably
worse and would never get better again and on second thoughts quits the idea as it was
an American style. As a Canadian she prefers to say that the things may be pretty average
but can be tried to be maintained firmly.
Answer 11.
The author reveals that he is not a firm believer of walking exercise ever since his
childhood by stating how much he was missing the pram he had used when he was a
baby. He was never fond of walks and thanked the fact that he was living in London, a
place which does not go well with walking because of its endless noise, hustle and the
polluted atmosphere.
The author’s objection to walking is that it stops the brain. He feels that the brain never
works well while walking. He states that an amusing person becomes a dumb one when
he sets out for a walk. The ideas, encyclopedic knowledge, the lively face and the light in
one’s fine eyes would disappear as he walks and has nothing to do while walking and he
just reads the sign boards and inscriptions like a mental wreck. The author expresses his
doubt that his walking companion might find him, a dull person to walk along with.
He says that the brain deteriorates for the ones who are walking for the sake of walking.
Before one sets out for a walk the brain asks the soul the whereabouts of the destination
to which the soul replies that there is no marked destination and no errand to cover and
thereby the brain shuts down and falls into a dreamy slumber till the body is safely back
into indoors.
He criticizes walking to be a spoil factor for the brain and feels that normally the brain
would expect one to take a vehicle to a destination and avoid both close and deep
thinking while walking. Even though he has composed the essay during one of his walks
he is keen to make his point that he would never go out of his way, to do off his own
premises and go for a walk.
Answer 12.
Rabindranath Tagore’s first trip to Europe was in the year 1878, when he was in his teens.
He was accompanied by his brother to Brindisi, a small town in Italy. He vividly
remembers the beautiful sight of a full moon from the deck of the steamer, the sight of
Europe asleep like a maiden dreaming of beauty and peace.
The poet was elated that the heart of the place Brindisi was open to welcome him and
even though they had to put up in a third-rate hotel with no conveniences, he had the feel
that Mother Europe had taken him in her arms and his heart could feel the warmth of her.
He recollects their visit to a closeby orchard, a Garden of Paradise. The poet then
describes the beauty of an Italian girl whom he saw in the orchard, comparing her beauty
to the Indian maidens, a simple girl with a colored kerchief round her head and a
complexion modulated by the warm kisses of the sun. The poet declares that it was his
love for her at first sight, while for his brother and the Indian friend, whom he was with,
it was a fleeting moment.
Tagore was then ushered away by his brother to continue their journey to take up English
lessons as he was under compulsion by the elders to learn the language as they believed
that it would give him a stamp of respectability. The author wanted to go back to his
home in India since the winter months were too cold and harsh and he felt homesickness.
The poet’s second trip was when the revelation came to him as to visit the sacred shrine
and his immediate thoughts flew to Europe. He was troubled with a sense of despair as
Europe was racked with unrest and overcome with suspicion, jealousy and greed. The
only soothing effect was the beautiful scenery he had seen on the way from Italy to
Calais. The poet is in full praise for the men folk marveling at their ability to rise up,
winning spirit, their struggle to eradicate the tough barrenness, their fight against evil.
He understands that Europe’s dark misery and the widespread doom in her sky is
because of the fact that modernization, commerce had played a great role contributing to
the ugliness of the city.
ECHOES
Answer 13.
(a) In the short story ‘The Chinese Statue’, Sir Alexander Heathcote, was a minister serving
under the British Crown in the Chinese Kingdom. Sir Alexander had been appointed to
serve as the minister for a short period of three months. He being loyal to the Queen,
never took any holidays and instead spent his time traveling in the outlying districts of
the province understanding the people and the culture of the place. During one such visit
while he was traveling to the village of Hi Luan Chan, fifty miles from Peking, Sir
Alexander happened to chance upon an old craftsman’s working place. Sir Alexander
was an admirer of the Ming dynasty and its art forms. He had a keen eye for art. The old
craftsman’s work was appreciated by his experienced eye and he wished to carry a
memento of his journey back home.
Sir Alexander’s keen enthusiasm for art was appreciated by the craftsman who warm-
heartedly welcomed him in his humble hut. Sir Alexander had lost himself to the display
English-II | 9
of ivory figurines made by the craftsman. Both of them communicated with the help of
the mandarin who had travelled with Sir Alexander as a guide and translator on his trip.
During the conversation between the two, the craftsman revealed that he possessed a
statue of the Ming Dynasty himself, a piece of inheritance handed down to him over
generations. It was a six inch Kung emperor, undoubtedly the work of the great artist Pen
Q as deduced by Sir Alexander. Sir Alexander, wished to own this piece of art and
regretfully uttered it aloud. The craftsman true to the Chinese tradition of generations
handed over the figurine to Sir Alexander. According to the Chinese tradition, “if an
honored guest requests something the giver will grow in the eyes of his fellow men by
parting with it.” The craftsman respectfully handed over the figurine. Sir Alexander was
overcome by guilt of taking away a prized possession from a humble man. He was sorry
to have uttered these words which resulted in outright dismay for the craftsman. The
Mandarin who accompanied Sir Alexander saw his torn state and apprised him of the
Chinese tradition “that when a stranger has been generous, you must return the kindness
within the calendar year.” Thus, helping Sir Alexander to repay the act of sheer kindness
of the craftsman.
(b) Sir Alexander was helped by the Mandarin with his knowledge of the Chinese custom
that “when a stranger has been generous, you must return the kindness within the
calendar year.” Sir Alexander wanted to repay the kindness of the old craftsman
genuinely and began his work as soon as he was back in Peking. He found out the value
of the Kung Emperor figurine and requested his bank in London to send him the amount
as soon as possible in Peking. The true worth of the figurine equaled three years of Sir
Alexander’s salary. However, true to his word Sir Alexander parted with his savings to
gift the old craftsman something he truly desired.
The old craftsman wished to retire in the village where his ancestors died. However, he
was too humble to afford a luxury like that. Sir Alexander used his savings to repay the
kindness of the craftsman by buying him a small house in the village of Ma Tien. The
Chinese craftsmen were restricted from accepting gifts from foreigners for their work of
art. Sir Alexander was considerate enough to get the necessary permits from the Chinese
Emperor to ensure a smooth process for the craftsman. Thus, Sir Alexander ensured
everyone’s happiness.
(c) Sir Alexander Heathcote considered the Ming statue as a prized possession, and it had
been duly handed over to generations with strict instructions that stated that it should
only be put up on display for others to admire, but it should never to be sold except when
the family honor was at stake. Sir Alexander’s sons had been true to his word, except for
the selfish, spoilt little brat of his great-great-grandson who had given himself up to the
pleasures of easy life and making a living out of an amazing system of roulette.
The great grandson got himself in trouble very soon as he found his advanced system of
roulette failing him at every step. When the debtors threatened him, Alex was left with no
choice but to sell the exquisite Ming Emperor in the false hope of saving his family’s
honor.
The Ming Emperor was put to value and found out to be a copy of the original. It was
very common for artists to create a fake and a look alike of the art. However, much to the
surprise of Alex the base that held no importance in the eyes of the admirers turned out
to be a true piece of the fifteenth century created by a genius.
Answer 14.
John Galsworthy, a noted English novelist and playwright mirrors the realities of society
prevalent in his time and in his works. He very carefully highlighted the decaying moral
value system, dehumanization and suffocation of quality human values in his era.
Machines had not only replaced human hands and their artistic quality but also led to the
corruption of human minds with petty money mindedness and cheap fashion. The author
portrays the upper British Society and the societal issues that plagues it. His works are a
social commentary devoid of any solutions but he contemplates readers and the society at
large to find solutions to the common problems of everyday life.
Quality is a narrative that draws the account of poor German immigrants—the Gessler
brothers who earn their livelihood by making excellent leather boots. They are dedicated
in creating masterpieces in boots with the wonderful art they possess. Their simplicity
does not allow them to compete and hard sell themselves in the changing times of fashion
and modernization. They remain steadfast about the quality of boots they produce by
working on each one themselves. They mete out the qualitative expectations of their
customers, offering a personal service that many customers fail to understand under the
garb of cheap fashion.
The central theme of the story highlights the hardships faced by true artists, whose hard
work and quality of work is ignored by customers in the love of cheap fashion. Though
the shoes of Gessler brothers lasted terribly, they failed to advertise their work of art to
gain more customers. Their insistence on quality and working on every boot themselves
costed them their customer’s precious time, who refused to wait a fortnight or two to get
hold of boots when they were readily available in other shops.
Galsworthy poses before the readers the persistent conflict that exists between the society
and the artist. While the author admired Mr. Gessler’s detailing and exquisite boots, he
failed to believe in the immense hard work and dedication put in by him to create the
masterpieces that “lasted terribly”.
The artist is never understood by the society and there always remains a perpetual
conflict about it. Mr. Gessler refuses to bow down before the pressure of the modern
society and abides by his own ideals, refusing to let his art go redundant and allowing
cheap fashion to thrive in his shop. He upholds his integrity at all costs refusing to give
himself to the modern advents like advertising and mechanization of work. He continues
to make boots that has “essence stitched into them.”
Galsworthy also highlights the conflict between man versus self through Mr. Gessler and
his constant dual with himself to create his “dream boots”. He puts his art before his own
life and “does not allow a soul to touch his boots”, driving himself to slow death through
starvation.
John Galsworthy does not attempt to find answer to any solutions, he only acts as a social
commentator highlighting the varied problem of the society. Galsworthy’s theme is in
sync adding an intrinsic value to the narrative, allowing the readers to contemplate the
issues that are applicable even till today.
Answer 15.
W. Somerset Maugham is an incredible author known for the parables he creates in his
short stories. His parables have always been a way of dictating moral lessons of life or
life’s greater good that every man possesses. Salvatore, written by Maugham in similar
fashion, highlights that goodness is a remarkable character trait that allows man to
surpass his ordinary troubles to live a life of meaning and satisfaction.
Maugham though hesitant of being able to hold the attention of his readers on a concept
that is about “goodness, just goodness,” that too a quality in an ordinary young man,
nonetheless is convinced by the end that the world is sure to accept a man with the rarest
quality, the most precious and the loveliest one that is the inherent goodness in the man’s
character.
Somerset’s Salvatore is an ordinary fisherman living on a small island of Italy named
Ischia. His childhood is spent in freedom lying on the beach every morning doing next to
nothing. His carefree childhood was definitely laced with responsibility as Salvatore was
English-II | 11
the nursemaid of his two younger brothers. This same responsibility of nursing is seen
when he is bathing his children with “delicate care.” Salvatore was not only responsible
in meeting out his duties but was also aware of the responsibility that came in life with
tough decisions. His ordeals though are ordinary, his sense of responsibility is way too
extraordinary. This we came across in his decision of marrying Assunta an ugly woman
he despised. But remaining true to his decision he upholds the decision of his marriage
with the most beautiful manners.
Salvatore is different from the rest and this is distinctively brought out in all the trials of
his life. In all the situations, he remains committed to his goodness, remaining stoic
throughout. Whether it is the first blow of joining the army, leaving his world behind or
the acceptance of his chronic disease that would never allow him to be fit again. In all of
these situations, Salvatore refuses to bow down and goes on to conquer and live a life that
he could have never imagined. Though it was a hard life for him, nonetheless he faces it
with complete grit and determination and most beautiful manners that he possessed.
Salvatore’s sensitivity touches the heart of the readers and this comes across when he as a
dejected lover cries his heart out on his mother’s bosom. He is gentle, sweet and a man of
feelings, yet he never allows his sensitivity to overpower him. Wrought in the worst
situations of life, he rises up to all occasions because he had the strength and endurance
of a fisherman. His eyes spoke about his sadness and heavy heart yet he never
complained or bad mouthed in any situation letting down his character. He always had a
pleasant word to say about everyone.
Never ever does Salvatore wallow in self-pity. Though life never works according to his
plans and imagination, he lives a life for himself with his brave decisions and goodwill.
He does not sit over the rejection of his lover and moves on in life to marry Assunta an
ugly lady but with love and devotion for her that could keep her happy. By adjusting to
situations and moulding his goodness every time, he is able to enjoy life and make the
most out of it. He enjoys his job as a fisherman, has a devoting wife and two children who
spell out the perfect life for him. And at the end all of this is possible for Salvatore due to
his most precious and loveliest quality—goodness. Salvatore, isn’t dynamic; even in his
stoicism he faces life with a cheerful acceptance and integrity. Maugham holds Salvatore
up to the reader as an example of pure radiance and goodness and as someone who
should be emulated in dealing with the trials and tribulations of life.
His goodness just goodness inspires the author to draw the portrait of the man and
present it to his readers. Salvatore isn’t afraid of the hard life and this is seen in his
actions. Despite fighting a chronic illness like rheumatism, he never shied away from
working hard to support his family. He worked on the wineyards as well as went fishing
in the season, he worked from “dawn till the heat drove him to rest and then again.
Salvatore though a very ordinary man rises due to his good manners and that alone is the
moral lesson that the writer aims to provide and admires about the character.
REVERIE
Answer 16.
(a) Bob Dylan was not only an influence over the American public, but also on rising
musicians of Modern Era, such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Joan Baez, Eric Clapton,
Van Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix. Dylan aroused basically as the promoter for positive
social changes. He brought out the bitterest truth about wars, through his poems or anti-
war songs, like the one given here “John Brown.” Actually wars have nothing to do with
the citizens of both the conflicting countries, be it any one at any point of time. Same is
the case with the soldiers too of both the conflicting nations; both sides face severity of
war and aftermath. It has all to do with the heads of supreme authorities of the concerned
nations who act like war-mongers at the cost of the lives of the citizens including innocent
children who are the worst hit ones. Just opposite is the situation of peace which is at
least allowing survival of citizens of both the conflicting nations. As in this poem John
Brown went off to war with great pride and high hopes. During the war itself his hopes
were shattered and he realized that the victory or loss of war is not going to make any
effect on his life. The observation of this song is based on poet’s much sensitive view
towards the patheticity of war. He grabbed well all such emotions going on, and crafted
them into immortal prose, poetry, or song.
(b) When the announcement of war comes up, John Brown and his mother both are filled
with the overflowing sense of patriotism. His mother sends him with a heavy heart but a
head held high with honour. John too realises that he has certain duty towards his nation
and he must stand up in the hours of need for his nation. The mastery of Dylan can be
well witnessed here in presenting the clear-cut contrast of opposite emotions before,
during and after the war, in the minds of the citizens’ as well as the soldiers. He has
conveyed out a bigger and deeper picture of war with much more clarity of the impact it
causes to the people living around. The idea of war which once was a matter of pride for
John, the hero of this song suddenly changed during the war itself. There he felt that the
soldier with whom he is fighting with an intention to kill him is not actually an enemy,
rather the man on the other side is also stuck in the same fix as he is. They both are
merely pawns for the war-mongers, and the war is not going to bring any great change to
them.
(c) As is the beginning of the poem with the description of the mother's pride for her son
who has now become a soldier. She takes pride in sharing the same with her neighbours.
When her son is on the war front she receives letters with optimistic tone from her son.
This makes her happier. But soon the letters stops coming from her son for next ten
months, and then her son returns back home in a badly wounded position.
So the issue which was a matter of pride in verse three for the mother:
“That’s my son that’s about to go, he’s a soldier now, you know”
…is paradoxically contrasted at the end of the poem in verse eight: Hence the mother had
to turn her face away, seeing the worst bruised condition of her son.
“Oh tell me, my darling son, pray tell me what they done.
How is it you come to be this way ?”
The author has presented the effects of the war from a different angle. He has tried to
show the deeper impact of war upon public through an individual soldier’s views.
Answer 17.
“The Darkling Thrush” has a major stress on the element of time since the very beginning
as it was being written at a very important point of time i.e., the last day of the nineteenth
century. This shows a great importance as it is a link between the forthcoming time and
the past. From the time of writing to the theme of the poem all has close association with
the element of time. The poem itself deals with a subject about evolution from one
century to another in terms of time and equally the theme which begins at a time when
the poet is depressed but when the bird sings the poet’s mood swings from depression to
surprise and then to a hopeful mood. All these effects come with the change of time. The
poet is same throughout the poem but his mood changes with every time the situation
changes bringing a swing in his thoughts and views.
In his poem, “The Darkling Thrush,” Thomas Hardy better uses the tone, imagery, and
personification to describe the then time of England which was through with the diverse
effect of second phase of Industrial Revolution, at the end of the nineteenth century and
beginning of the twentieth century. The swing in his mood which is being expressed
throughout the poem are actually his mixed concerns for his contemporary time and the
next age of time which is about to come. So at the end it can be well concluded as the
element of time is very well evident from the beginning till the end of this poem.
English-II | 13
Answer 18.
“The Gift of India,” is a famous and historic poem written by Sarojini Naidu a great
patriot, and a genius since her childhood in the galaxy of literary world’s scholars. Her
poems add to her glory and reflect her patriotism towards her motherland, India. “The
Gift of India,” is a poem among Naidu’s highly impressive nationalist collection. As far as
the gifts from India to the colonisers are concerned everything was owed by them, the
precious clothes, fine grains, or pearls, gold and a lot more. And the most precious were
the sons of India who had been assigned to the British Empire’s war cause, torn from
their mothers away’ from her bosom so heartlessly’.
This is how the gift of India was received by the colonisers (British).
shattered and lonely as they were away from home, the bodies of the sons of India lie in
“the blood-brown meadows of France and Flanders”, an intractable distance from their
families who moaned their departure, their loss. The bright and shining gifts of India’s
manhood seemed to be like pearls buried in a foreign field, similar to the numerous and
scattered shells on the sea side. These soldiers nameless and countless left behind poor
and orphan families in every dimension, but their deeds too were orphaned. As the
imperialism has bitten the dust, and their bravery proving it as if they served to an
unworthy cause.
Sarojini Naidu repents for the unfortunate fate of Mother India that had got nothing in
return of its gifts from the colonisers. They were so much ruthless to the vast number of
men who were separated from their farms and families to fight in foreign lands (for a
cause they were least concerned) shedding blood and most of them laying their lives too.
The colonisers (British Government) praised the sacrifices of their own soldiers only.
India’s economy crippled down by the war leaving the Indians penniless, rather
impossible to survive, above all an enormous loss of man power. Yet, the colonisers gave
nothing in return except some empty clichés.
❏❏
SOLUTION
SECTION– A

Answer 1.
(a) (i) Alonso is hearing strange and solemn music and they are in another part of the
island.
(ii) Prospero is invisible so that he can witness the reactions of all those present there and
also see if there is any remorse in them.
(iii) When they see strange shapes bringing in a banquet and welcoming them, Antonio is
sure that his mind is playing tricks on him and he might end up believing if travellers
came with stranger stories.
(iv) Prospero who is a witness to the conversation feels that those who are present there
are more wicked than the strange shapes that he has set upon them.
(v) Though they are in a strange situation with stranger shapes, he feels that no one will
believe him in Naples, but he finds that these creatures are gentler than the ones back
home.
(vi) i. Living drollery - kind of puppet show
ii. Credit - acknowledgment
(b) (i) Prospero is thanking Ariel because he has foiled the plans of Stephano, Trinculo and
Caliban to take Prospero's life. He is thankful because Ariel got them through enough
trouble, messing with them so bad that they are now in a filthy puddle.
(ii) Ariel is cheerful than ever before because he is near to the deadline of serving
Prospero. His time with Prospero is coming to an end, when he can gain his freedom.
(iii) The 'varlets' are Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban and he is reminded of them because
he cannot have any loose ends lying around. As he is 'settling' all the issues, he wants
to deal with 'varlets' too.
(iv) Ariel wants all of his final errands to be done well so he takes care of the varlets by
beating a drum that they followed the sounds through briers and thorny bushes
which scratched them so much that they fell into a filthy puddle to cool off the burns.
They stunk that and ran away from there unable to bear the stench.
(v) It is not only Ariel who is winding up, but also Prospero, who is upbeat that most of
his purposes have been accomplished and he needs to take of this small thing i.e., the
'varlets' before the grand finale.
(vi) i. Trumpery - fine clothes
ii. Bird - Ariel
(c) (i) The characters presented in this scene are Ceres, Iris, and Juno and they have been
conjured by Prospero to present the spectacle through the masque and to greet the
young couple Ferdinand and Miranda.
(ii) Ceres, the goddess of agriculture wishes the young couple natural prosperity and
plenty in their married life.
(iii) Iris wishes the couple a married life that is celebration of true love and a gift to the
lovers. She helps in bringing out nymphs and reapers to perform a country dance.
(iv) Juno's blessings for Ferdinand and Miranda are a prosperous life, many children,
honor, long life and unending joy.
(v) This scene is a farce due to the fact that it is the spirits who have taken the form of the
Goddesses and are not the real ones, leaving no actual blessings for the young
couple.
(vi) i. Color’d messenger - Iris, Juno's messenger
ii. Blest - blessed
Answer 2.
(a) (i) Marchbanks wants Morell to tell Candida what transpired between them as he is
convinced that as a married couple they need to share everything and also because
he knows what he has been trying to convey was true.
(ii) Marchbanks is well aware that if he professes his love for Candida, she might dismiss
it as a young person’s immature desire, but with Morell he can rake up a storm and
also find a solution to his own liking for Candida and her stance in her marriage with
Morell.
(iii) Marchbanks asks Morell to tell all that transpired between them to Candida or he
will tell her everything himself and irks Morell by calling him a coward.
(iv) According to Morell, in a marriage the man is the provider and the woman takes care
of the house. And he justifies that he is doing his part and Candida is the absolute
role model for a good wife and that's all that matters to Morell.
(v) Marchbanks is sure of his love for Candida, he understands her better than Morell
and that she enjoys his company. Marchbanks feels that he will be better for her than
Morell. He is also right about Candida and Morell's relationship that has lost its
lustre and that makes him courageous to think that Candida belongs to him.
(vi) Marchbanks is full of romanticized idea about love and marriage. He decries the
household chores that Candida does, as he would not completely understand for he
always had servants to do the chores. He might not fit in the regular and mundane
things that are part of a marriage. He is guilty for placing himself and Morell in a
tricky situation and is not prepared for a long-term relationship.
(b) (i) Candida who had gone inside the house is clueless of the altercation and scuffle
between Morell and Marchbanks and on return she finds Marchbanks’ dress all
ruffled and she goes about setting it right. She is unaware of the tension and acts her
usual cheerful self.
(ii) Candida would not have even in her remotest thoughts expected a scuffle because
Marchbanks had been so long welcomed in their house and the men pretended as if
nothing has happened when she enters.
(iii) Poets are supposed to be lost in thoughts always brewing up ideas and poems and
are not really concerned about their appearances, so when Candida sees Marchbanks
messy, she fixes the dress and tells him that he does look like a poet.
(iv) Candida without having any knowledge of what had happened just a little while
ago, utters that Marchbanks looks like someone who had been throttled.
(v) The moment Candida sees Marchbanks’ collar, tie and hair out of place, she fixes
them, as a mother would fix her son.
(vi) Marchbanks adores Candida and when she asks him to stay back for the meal, he
kisses her hand and admires everything about her.
(c) (i) Candida plays her role as the cheerful care-giver and makes everyone do some chore
as she pleases with her pleasantness and genuine words of concern and she listens to
them. So when Marchbanks offers to clean the paraffin lamp, she agrees.
(ii) Marchbanks is not very happy with Candida doing all the household chores,
especially cleaning the paraffin lamps, which are always messy and makes hands
English-II | 3
dirty. His offer to clean the lamps is based more on the romantic notion than being
chivalrous.
(iii) Candida like a grown up who does her chores on her own, tells Marchbanks that she
will wait and see how he does the cleaning and also to note how someone with no
experience in household chores will do it.
(iv) As soon as she allows Marchbanks to trim the lamps, she tells Morell that he had not
taken care of the house as he should, which means that if Morell had cleaned the
lamps while she was away she would not have the need to clean it. Like any man,
Morell is clueless about what entails in keeping a house running.
(v) Candida here shows maternal qualities by reprimanding Morell in front of
Marchbanks, for she considers both of the men to be of equal stature. Both men need
someone to take care of them and are not independent to take care of a house.
(vi) Candida is a practical woman who would have her house kept in order and she
knows that the house would not be taken care of appropriately, so she comes in
between her trip to check on Morell and the house.
SECTION– B
Answer 3.
(a) There has always been a constant debate regarding the nature of Caliban, making one
think whether he is really 'bestial' or not. Caliban is the son of the witch Sycorax on the
island, lived on his own on the island with no one to interfere until the day Prospero and
Miranda washed ashore on 'his' island. After which, he has always struggled for power
from Prospero.
This has given rise to the question as to who is superior, civilised, nurtured man or the
uncivilised 'Natural man.' On some occasions we see that Caliban exhibits superior
qualities. The natural man is uncontrived, unaltered, incorruptible and genuine and we
see Caliban being 'natural' and not 'bestial.' Caliban reveals smarter outlook, when he
finds Stephano and Trinculo getting drunk, he is working to survive and escape the
situation. He is busy lugging wood to make a neat pile.
Caliban knows the island better than Stephano and Trinculo. Caliban is perceptive and
aware of things around.
“Thou dost me yet but little hurt. Thou wilt anon, I know it by thy trembling. Now
Prosper works upon thee.
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me
For bringing wood in slowly. I’ll fall flat.
Perchance he will not mind me.”
Caliban shows that he is superior by patronizing Stephano in order to gain the island
back for himself. He is intelligent but does not show in actions; for Stephano cannot think
straight without drinking.
Though the two consider Caliban a monster, they are willing to listen to him and help
him in bringing Prospero down. Caliban though falters here, he is sure that Stephano and
Trinculo can do no greater harm than Prospero who is presently making his life a living
hell. Caliban proves to be superior and genuine in his concern of freedom and his right to
it.
(b) Caliban is a product of earthy nature, the son of Sycorax the witch and the devil. Prospero
almost whisks in the island and makes Caliban his slave. Caliban is seen as a rebellious,
insolent, and petulant; controlled only by the power of magic. He is able to dig pig-nuts,
pluck berries and snare the nimble monkeys, yet Prospero calls him a tortoise. In one of
her speeches, Miranda ranks him with a man when she tells Ferdinand that she has just
seen two men in her life - her old father Prospero and the deformed Caliban. In another
instance, she excludes him from the category of human beings.
Some of his other names are "Hag-born" "Whelp," "Demi-devil," "Poor credulous
monster," "Hag-seed," "Strange fish."
These are just a few descriptions of Caliban, one of the most debated figures in all of
Shakespeare.
● Caliban reflects aspects of Prospero’s darker side in his vengeance.
● Caliban’s desire to rule the island reflects Antonio’s ambition which ultimately led to
the overthrow of Prospero.
● Caliban’s plot to murder Prospero mirrors that of Antonio and Sebastian’s plot to kill
Alonso.
Caliban is also a figure who can be read as a victim of Prospero's tyranny. When Caliban
declares, "This island's mine, by Sycorax, my mother", we're reminded that Prospero
basically took over the island and made Caliban his slave. Caliban also gets feisty and
challenges Prospero's authority, which we can't help but admire, especially when Caliban
points out that learning Prospero's language gave him the ability to "curse" his tormenter.
Regardless of how repulsive Caliban may be, he's also the character who delivers some of
the most beautiful and stunning speeches in the play.
(c) We are introduced to the history of Prospero and Miranda’s arrival to the island, while
Prospero and Miranda were watching the ship as it is tossed by the storm. Miranda is
aware that her father is creating the storm, and she begs him to end the ship's torment
and her own, since she grieves as she watches the ship's inhabitants suffer. Prospero
comforts his daughter by saying that his actions have been to protect her. He also tells
Miranda that she is uninformed of her heritage and goes on to give her the background
for coming to the island and her story.
Prospero commences his story with the news that he is the duke of Milan and Miranda is
a princess. He also recounts that he had abdicated day-to-day rule of his kingdom to his
brother, Antonio. Prospero admits that books held more attraction than duties, and he
freely allowed his brother the opportunity to grasp control. But Antonio used his position
to undermine Prospero and to plot against him. Prospero's trust in his brother proved
unwise, when Antonio formed a coalition with the king of Naples to oust Prospero and
get hold of his heritage. Prospero and his daughter were placed in a small, rickety boat to
die in the seas. A sympathetic Neapolitan, Gonzalo, supplies them with rich garments,
linens, and other necessities. Gonzalo also gave Prospero the books on magic from his
library. In due course, Prospero and Miranda arrived on the island, where they have
stayed since that time.
Answer 4.
In “The Tempest”, two different types of magic are explored, one is the art of evil through
the use of Black Magic, and the other is the study of meta-physics and the unknown
through the use of White Magic. The ‘black’ facet of magic is revealed through the merely
alluded evil witch Sycorax. The ‘white’ aspect of magic is revealed through the well-
developed character of Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan.
Prospero uses his great intelligence to win greater power for himself. The attributes of
magic used by Prospero are his robe, his wand, and his books which kind Gonzalo
cleverly hid on Prospero’s tiny ship. Prospero uses his robe to indicate his appearance of
a magician. Prospero’s wand is actually mentioned very little, a reference being in Act 1,
Sc. iii, when Prospero disarms the defiant Ferdinand. The books are without question,
Prospero’s chief source of power. Prospero’s robe represents his influence over common
materials, his wand is his ‘instrument of power’, and his books are apparently the basic
source of his knowledge.
English-II | 5
Shakespeare has given to Prospero some of the ordinary assistants of the professional
magician of that time. We find Prospero saying to Miranda:
"Lend thy hand
And pluck my magic garment from me;"
and as it is laid aside he adds, "Lie there, my art."
His wand also, as in the case of ordinary conjurors, was a potent instrument. With it he
renders Ferdinand helpless:
"I can here disarm thee with this stick.
And make thy weapon drop."
And when he abnegates his art, he is ready to break his staff and "bury it certain fathoms
in the earth," lest it should fall into hands that might not use it as wisely as he has done.
The spirits beckoned by Ariel may be categorized as those of fire, air, earth, and water.
Fire is conjured in lightning and the forms taken by Ariel in flames on the poles and
rigging of the ship. Water spirits appear and elves of the brooks and streams who are in
attendance in the masque, "bestow upon the eyes of this young couple some vanity of
mine art", said by Prospero to Ariel. The spirits of the air are of the highest type and
include Ariel and the divinities he summons, Ceres, Iris, Juno, and the nymphs. They
thunder, Music, Noises, sounds, and sweet airs with which the island abounds, says
Caliban. The spirits of earth are the goblins, the dogs and hounds used to plague Caliban
and his associates.
Another type of the magic used by Prospero, either by himself or with the aid of Ariel, is
in materialistic performances, more spectacular than most of the others, such as the
production and disappearance of the banquet, the line of glittering garments, the arrival
and dance of the reapers, and the magic circle in which the courtiers were charmed.
Answer 5.
(a) George Bernard Shaw's Candida contains many examples of humour; the play lampoons
the rigid British class system of the Victorian era. His dramatic technique throughout
relies on startling; comic surprise replaces the tensions, suspense and anticipations of
tragedy. Sometimes the comic character resorts to belittle or make fun of what other
people say by deflating it or reducing its significance. Notice how in Candida,
Marchbanks‘ statement is deflated—
Marchbanks “I would die ten times over sooner than give you a moment‘s pain.”
Candida: “much good your dying would do me!”
Like many husbands, James Morell too believes in the doctrine of male superiority and
pays no attention to the comforts of his own wife. But he cannot be called a ruthless and
exploiting husband, yet the way Eugene Marchbanks exaggerates his being a cruel
husband is quite amusing. The way he is handled and treated like a baby by Candida
herself is also amusing. In the auction scene he is scolded by Candida.
Burgess is a coarse and ignorant, guzzling man. His aim in the play is to provide comic
relief. We are amused when he begins to think that there are four mad people in Morell’s
house—Morell, Marchbanks, Proserpine and Candida herself. The way he uses the phrase
‘poetic horrors’ in Marchbanks is quite hilarious. He cuts a sorry figure before Proserpine
who calls him “a silly old fathead”. The way he threatens her is also amusing. The use of
cockney dialect makes him somewhat comical.
(b) Shaw's foremost objective behind drama was the reformation of the society through
imaginative thinking and scientific reasoning. These are two contradictory things but
Shaw puts them together; imaginative thinking through the art and scientific reasoning
embedded within the play that they become complimentary in his plays. Shaw often
revolted against the well-made play and never adopted the conventional style play where
plot is determined and characters are stereotyped. He produced very active characters
whose decisions would affect the course of events. For example, Marchbanks declaring
his love for Candida to Morell which upsets the apple cart revealing the vulnerabilities
and strength in the characters, and decisions they make.
Shaw raised different economic, social, religious and political questions. His plays
demonstrate the concern for socio-economic conflicts of the time. In Candida he deals
with the reality of marital relations. Candida favours the plain realistic life with Morell
over the romantic lover Marchbanks.
(c) Shaw considers his plays as problem plays in which the basic theme is society. He depicts
society in its true colour and puts forward all the problems prevalent in the society by
means of speeches and discussions in his play. For him, drama is the most appropriate
means to communicate with common people and to guide them in terms of moral issues.
In his plays, Shaw traces not only upon moral issues relating to telling a lie, betrayal, theft
and other criminal activities but also on the social problems that need moral concern such
as equal rights for women, matrimonial relationships, parental relationships, social
welfare and many other concerns of society that need to be morally corrected.
Candida serves as an example to the above mentioned issues in society prevailing in the
Shavian era. The play is a conventional domestic drama in the genre of comedy having
climactic plot structure which proceeds in a linear way. Through the character of
Candida, Shaw also shows how neglected and unappreciated Victorian women were.
Therefore, the author employs her not only to puncture both Eugene's romantic ideas of
love and Morell's idea of manly protection, but he also assigns her with the task of being
the mouthpiece of all the Victorian women in the house.
Answer 6.
Candida, a pretty woman of thirty-three, is married to James Mavor Morell, a popular
man of forty and a first-rate Christian Socialist clergyman, and they are the parents of two
children. Outwardly, Morell and Candida seem to be a happy couple, living amicably
without any kind of disappointment between them. However, with the intrusion of
Eugene Marchbanks, an eighteen-year-old poet, things take a different turn. He makes
certain that Morell does not deserve Candida, for he is just a religious windbag, and
treats her as a slave. And he realises that his poetic soul has a natural semblance with the
soul of Candida. He shows his love to her, and she responds to him impulsively.
Morell is, of course, an ideal husband and is very much devoted to his wife, but he treats
his wife like a slave unintentionally. Marchbanks finds out that there is no real love
between Morell and Candida though he adores his wife. According to Marchbanks, the
conventional, pig-headed Morell cannot match up with the idealistic, noble Candida. His
view is that if a man really loves his ladylove, he would wish to keep her happy and free
from toiling, although to be idle and useless.
Woman occupies a prominent role to reform society in her own realm. She is a pacifist
and accepts a thoughtful twilight for a better dawn. She is astute in balancing domestic as
well as work proved her as supreme over all the species of the world.
Shaw's Candida, the supposed Shavian Nora, does not leave the house, but stays within,
quite assertively, and disillusions both the contesting male figures of the play. Eugene
leaves Candida with a "secret" in his heart. He feels that the vast world outside has more
demand upon him than the petty domestic "happiness."
English-II | 7

Question 7.
Question 8.
Question 9.
CONTEMPLATIONS
Answer 10.
(a) The author feels that national tendency follows us through all the privacies of life,
dictates our thoughts, and attends us to the grave. To give us a better insight, author
recollects about the work of Sir Thomas Browne, in the earlier part of the Seventeenth
Century, who had already apprehended the staggering fact that geography is a consi-
derable part of orthodoxy and that a man, when born in London, makes a conscientious
protestant, would have made an equally conscientious Hindu if he had first seen daylight
in Benaras. He emphasises on the settled things for us by our place of birth. An
Englishman drinks beer and tastes his liquor in the throat; a Frenchman drinks wine and
tastes it in the front of the mouth. Hence, a single beverage lasts the Frenchman all
afternoon; and the Englishman cannot spend above a very short time in a café, but he
must swallow half a bucket. The Englishman takes a cold tub every morning in his
bedroom; the Frenchman has an occasional hot bath. The Englishman has an unlimited
family and will die in harness; the Frenchman retires upon a competency with three
children at the outside.
(b) The writer feels that our civilisation is old and complicated. He recollects his
interrogations with others, he feels that wisdom has nothing to do with the choice of a
profession. He says that most of them don’t know where they are going and from each
you will receive the same answer : that positively they were all in such a hurry, they had
never found leisure to enquire about nature of their errand. The writer states that there is
one principal reason that the man was trapped. He gives a vivid picture on the
Educations, as practised, is a form of harnessing with friendly intentions. The fellow had
been hardly in trousers before they whipped him into school; hardly done with school
before they smuggled him into an office; it is ten to one they have had him married into
the bargain; and all this before he has had time so much as to imagine that there may be
any other practicable course. In later years he scrutinises and fall upon a train of
reflection, and begin narrowly to scrutinise the reasons that decided his path and his
continued mad activity in that direction. It is too late, after the train has started, to debate
the needfulness of this particular journey: the door is locked, the express goes tearing
overland at sixty miles an hour; he had better taken himself to sleep or the daily paper,
and discourage unavailing thought. So the writer wants everyone to follow the
thoughts. The author says that a choice, is almost more of a negative than a positive. You
embrace one thing but you refuse a thousand. He advises to go with the tide.
(c) The writer apologises that he couldn’t give nay proper guidance in choosing his
profession. He says that wisdom has nothing to do with choice of the profession. He adds
that he has done various interrogations and found that we need to act upon no principles
whatsoever. He advises to follow his thoughts as the civilisation is old and complicated.
Most of the people don’t know what they are doing and where they are going. The author
says that a choice, is almost more of a negative than a positive. You embrace one thing
but you refuse a thousand. He advises to go with the tide.
Answer 11.
It is outrageous to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is
no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an
occupation then, and a most exhausting one.
In the narrator’s opinion, in order to fully experiment the pleasures of idleness, a man
must always be busy. If he is always busy, then the moments of idleness will be sweeter.
The narrator then recalls a moment in his childhood when he had fallen ill. The doctor
who came to consult him advised him to rest for a whole month and upon hearing this,
the narrator began to think about all the wonderful days when he had done nothing.
He soon became miserable until one day when he left the house and went to a nearby
town where he walked around all day and even helped an old man break stones just to
have something to do. Because of this, he reached the conclusion that it is best to idle
when you have something to do. He quotes, “The time when I like best to stand with my
back to the fire, calculating how much I owe, is when my desk is heaped highest with
letters that must be answered by the next post. When I like to dawdle longest over my
dinner is when I have a heavy evening’s work before me. And if, for some urgent reason,
I ought to be up particularly early in the morning, it is then, more than at any other time,
that I love to lie an extra half-hour in bed.”
The narrator says that the bed is a strange thing, where we stretch our tired limbs and
sink away so quietly into the silence and rest. “Our trouble is sore indeed when you turn
away and will not comfort us. How long the dawn seems coming when we cannot sleep!
Those hideous nights when we toss and turn in fever and pain, when we lie, like living
men among the dead, staring out into the dark hours that drift so slowly between us and
the light.”
The pipe becomes the narrator’s favorite way of idling because as he thinks the pipe
makes it look not so bad. The narrator ends his essay by revealing his dream that one day,
it will be acceptable to lie in bed till noon, read two novels in a day and do nothing else.
Answer 12.
Atwood is a Canadian novelist and is one of the most honoured authors of fiction. This
speech was written to an audience of college graduates where she gave her insight on life.
Her purpose in the speech was to explain life using humour, that the students aren’t
prepared for life, but it’s all about the attitude they express which will either make life
great or terrible. She is grateful to her college for teaching her the fact that truth would
make her free but funnily remarks that they failed to warn about the kind of trouble she
would get into by trying to utter. With a naughty humor she argues that the graduating
ceremony should be called as ‘Ejection’ instead of ‘Convocation’. She compares the
university degree to a refrigerator being given and sent to the middle of a jungle where it
is of no use. She expresses her fear and anguish of turning jobless in a world of successful
people. Also, she puts “You may not alter the reality but you can alter your attitude
towards it, paradoxically alters the reality.”
The speaker describes the mental state of novelists and poets as emotional. She says that
the aspiring writers should not be encouraged as she would not prefer a competition. She
does not seem to consider the writers to be among the successful lot. She also mocks that
the Homemakers magazine for the women and ‘Forbes’ or ‘Economist’ for the boys are
widely read by all, than the more important ones. She emphasizes on the uncertainty that
many graduates are about to face and the best thing she could do as a writer was the back
and wrist exercises. She comments that Dickens and Melville might have had the thickest
wrists as they wrote the longest novels, while Emily Dickinson managed lyric poems with
her spindly fingers.
The author uses a cautious and humourous tone wherein she expresses her findings,
feelings, experiences, senses and thoughts.
English-II | 9
The speaker here compares her course study at the university to the tossing and turning
of a boat, which experiences up and downs in a rough weather and not a smooth sailing
one. She breaks into a cold sweat because of the discomfort she feels while brooding over
the idea about her speech to be delivered to her graduating class. She had wanted to
quote Kurt Vonnegut by saying that everything would become unbelievably worse and
would never get better again and on second thought quits the idea as it was an American
style. As a Canadian she prefers to say that the things may be pretty average but can be
tried to be maintained firmly.
The author once again emphasizes on the attitude by stating, “You may not alter the
reality but you can alter your attitude towards it, and this paradoxically alters the
reality.”
ECHOES
Answer 13.
(a) “The Singing Lesson” is the story of Miss Meadows, a thirty-year-old music teacher who
is disturbed by the news of her broken engagement. Her disturbed emotional state does
not allow her to keep her professional life separate from her personal one. The turmoil of
her relationship reaches to her classroom affecting her behaviour and her responses
towards her students. Her wavered thoughts colous her perspective and overpowers her
normal senses. Katherine Mansfield uses symbols in her short story to narrate the
importance of specific events and highlight the deeper meaning beneath it.
The narrative begins on a whirlwind of emotions and sensations only to be dismantled in
the next few lines with no concrete actions. Thus, the words used by Mansfield add
vigour to the story and give out the exact state of mind that Miss Meadows is in. “With
despair – cold, sharp despair…” these words bring out the tension in the atmosphere as
well as the internal conflict and tension within Miss Meadows. The somber mood is
heightened by the use of simile “buried deep in her heart like a wicked knife”, which
reminds us of death. It shows the cold attitude of Miss Meadows and her mental
condition in which she could be driven to do anything; even kill someone.
Mansfield sets the beginning of her story in “cold corridors” that clearly indicates the
coldness within Miss Meadows. Her cold feelings and the emotional turmoil has
imprisoned her into a state of confusion with only bitterness for people she comes into
contact with.
The time of the year when the story is based is autumn; another symbol used to highlight
the coldness. The setting, atmosphere and environment in Mansfield’s story bring out the
psychological happenings in the character.
(b) Katherine Mansfield’s story ‘The Singing Lesson’ is a poetic work of art. The story at the
outright level is about a teacher whose engagement has been broken and the subsequent
upheaval brought about by it. The story that seems so simple is laced with Katherine’s
fine symbols, which readers will have to deduce to understand the layers of issues that
Katherine scathingly attacks in her story. She employs the symbols to highlight the
plaguing issues of the society prevalent in her times.
Mansfield sets the beginning of her story in “cold corridors” that clearly indicates the
coldness within Miss Meadows. Her cold feelings and the emotional turmoil has
imprisoned her into a state of confusion with only bitterness for people who she comes
into contact with. The time of the year when the story is based is autumn; another symbol
used to highlight the coldness that is prevalent within and without.
The noise by the students is stopped only at the arrival of Miss Meadows. She ironically is
a symbol of noise and chaos herself, considering the turbulent times she is going through
in her relationship. She brings an apprehension with her which makes the noise of the
students to die. She beats the baton asking for silence. The baton is a sign of her power,
like a magician’s stick or a magic wand. However, her power is limited to her class as she
has nothing that could silence her own disturbed mind.
Her thoughts are wavering at this point of time and she is unable to concentrate on the
singing lessons. She channelises her lament for the lost relationship through the lament
sung by her students. The lament is an expression of her own lovelorn condition. With
every note, sigh and tension, there is tension mounting in Miss Meadow’s heart. She is
blinded by the situation. Tension is growing and to add to it is the setting of willow trees
in the autumn season symbolizing the death, and sadness. She says: “Make that Drear
sound as if a cold wind were blowing through it. Dre-ar!” She wants to express all her
misery because the hope of living a happy life has been snatched from her.
Mary Beasley, Miss Meadow’s favourite student hands her a “yellow chrysanthemum”.
The giving of yellow chrysanthemum was a ritual but that day she is unthankful and
ignores the gift. The routine of everyday suggests that love for her was a longevity, a
forever thing but the ritual is broken as Miss Meadow’s love is dead from within. Miss
Meadows even considered the idea of leaving school as she was ashamed to face the
world after her abandonment.
The telegram that comes at the end bringing her the news of reconcilement with her lover
brings back her life with it. As she crosses the labyrinth of the corridors, it is almost that
life has eluded death and the music of life wins the battle in the end. Miss Meadows
rushes to the music hall to sing the song of life, happiness because it is spring time again.
Miss Meadows asks the girls to use their imagination as she is beaming with life and
sunshine within her again with the new hope to live.
(c) Miss Meadows, the central character of Mansfield’s story ‘The Singing Lesson’ was
engaged to be married to Basil, five years his junior. Miss Meadows a maid of thirty is a
singing teacher at a girl’s school. The story begins with Miss Meadows reflecting upon
the dreadful news of Basil breaking off his engagement with her. The reason attributed by
him for breaking off this engagement was that he was disgusted with the idea of settling
down. In reality what the readers perceive is that Basil has come to realise that he was not
marrying Miss Meadows out of love and he regretted his hasty decision to marry her.
The impact of Basil’s decision can be felt by Miss Meadows and those surrounding her.
She was despaired and was in a constant state of lament over the loss of this relationship.
She wanted her sense of gloom and despair to be adopted by everyone she encountered.
She wanted her students, the ambience and everyone around her to take part in the
sorrow that she was feeling. Her hope to live and continue on in life had been snatched
with the news of her engagement being broken.
Miss Meadows’ sorrow needs to be perceived in the light of the Victorian times where
every woman’s ultimate goal was to get married off in life to a decent man. She is
suffering from the dilemma of facing the society. At thirty she was marrying Basil, who
was five years younger to her. This was scandal enough for malicious talks and the
sudden breakup convinces her to “leave the school” and avoid the world. Miss Meadows
isn’t courageous enough to handle the situation. Despite no fault of her, she lives in the
continuous dread as society was accustomed to find faults in the woman when a
marriage was called off.
Miss Meadows on receiving the telegram of Basil readily accepts his excuse and
welcomes him with a warm heart. She flies on the “wings of hope, of love, of joy”, giving
no thought as to why Basil would do such a dreadful thing to her. Thus, it reveals how
important marriage was to her. She seems to be in love with the idea of ‘love’ rather than
loving the man himself. She is ready to live with a man who didn’t love her or like her,
she was ready to adjust to any situation to remove the blot of being an unmarried woman
in the society at thirty. She is superficial and emotionally fragile, to have given herself to a
English-II | 11
man who does not love her. She is foolish to judge a man on his appearance and trust him
on his words.
Answer 14.
John Galsworthy, a noted English novelist and playwright mirrors the realities of society
prevalent in his times in his works. Galsworthy was known for writing stories that
evoked the contemporary issues, concentrating on hardships of the common man who
often loses out his ideals and character of excellence to the mad world of money and
shallow minded commodification. Galsworthy very carefully highlighted the decaying
moral value system, dehumanization and suffocation of quality human values in his era.
Machines had not only replaced human hands and their artistic quality but has also led to
the corruption of human minds with petty money mindedness and cheap fashion. The
author portrays the upper British Society and the societal issues that plagues it. His works
are a social commentary devoid of any solutions but he contemplates readers and the
society at large to find solutions to the common problems of everyday life.
Quality is a narrative that draws the account of poor German immigrants— the Gessler
brothers who earn their livelihood by making excellent leather boots. They are dedicated
in creating masterpieces in boots with the wonderful art they possess. Their simplicity
does not allow them to compete and hard sell themselves in the changing times of fashion
and modernization. They remain steadfast about the quality of boots they produce by
working on each one themselves. They mete out the qualitative expectations of their
customers, offering a personal service that many customers fail to understand under the
garb of cheap fashion.
The central theme of the story highlights the hardships faced by true artists, whose hard
work and quality of work is ignored by customers in the love of cheap fashion. Though
the shoes of Gessler brothers lasted terribly but they failed to advertise their work of art
to gain more customers. Their insistence on quality and working on every boot
themselves costed them their customer’s precious time, who refused to wait a fortnight or
two to get hold of boots when they were readily available in other shops.
Galsworthy poses before the readers the persistent conflict that exists between the society
and the artist. While the author admired Mr. Gessler’s detailing and exquisite boots, he
failed to believe in the immense hard work and dedication put in by him to create the
masterpieces that “lasted terribly”. People tend to ignore the diligent craftsmanship and
the time invested in creating the boots that would though not fit the contemporary
fashion but will be a fit that would never be worn out. The artist is never understood by
the society and there always remain a perpetual conflict about it. Mr. Gessler refuses to
bow down before the pressure of the modern society and abides by his own ideals,
refusing to let his art go redundant and allowing cheap fashion to thrive in his shop. He
upholds his integrity at all costs refusing to give himself to the modern advents like
advertising and mechanization of work.
Galsworthy also highlights the conflict between man versus self through Mr. Gessler and
his constant dual with himself to create his “dream boots”. He puts his art before his own
life and “does not allow a soul to touch his boots”, driving himself to slow death through
starvation.
John Galsworthy does not attempt to find answer to any solutions, he only acts as a social
commentator highlighting the varied problem of the society. Galsworthy’s theme is in
sync adding an intrinsic value to the narrative, allowing readers to contemplate issues
that are applicable even till date.
Answer 15.
W. Somerset Maugham is an incredible author known for the parables he creates in his
short stories. His parables have always been a way of dictating moral lessons of life or
life’s greater good that every man possesses. Salvatore written by Maugham is in similar
fashion highlighting that goodness is a remarkable character trait that allows man to
surpass his ordinary troubles to live a life of meaning and satisfaction.
Maugham though hesitant of being able to hold the attention of his readers on a concept
that is about “goodness, just goodness,” that too a quality in an ordinary young man,
nonetheless is convinced by the end that the world is sure to accept a man with the rarest
quality, the most precious and the loveliest one that is the inherent goodness in the man’s
character.
Somerset’s Salvatore is an ordinary fisherman living on a small island of Italy named
Ischia. His childhood is spent in freedom lying on the beach every morning doing next to
nothing. His carefree childhood was definitely laced with responsibility as Salvatore was
the nursemaid of his two younger brothers. This same responsibility of nursing is seen
when he is bathing his children with “delicate care.” Salvatore was not only responsible
in meeting out his duties but was also aware of the responsibility that came in life with
tough decisions. His ordeals though are ordinary, his sense of responsibility is way too
extraordinary. This we came across in his decision of marrying Assunta an ugly woman
he despised. But remaining true to his decision he upholds the decision of his marriage
with the most beautiful manners.
his life. In all situations he remains committed to his goodness, remaining stoic
throughout. Whether it is the first blow of joining the army, leaving his world behind or
the acceptance of his chronic disease that would never allow him to be fit again. In all of
these situations, Salvatore refuses to bow down and goes on to conquer and live a life that
he could have never imagined. Though it was a hard life for him, nonetheless he faces it
with complete grit and determination and the most beautiful manners that he possessed.
Salvatore’s sensitivity touches the heart of the readers and this comes across when he, as
a dejected lover, cries his heart out on his mother’s bosom. He is gentle, sweet and a man
of feelings, yet he never allows his sensitivity to overpower him. Wrought in the worst
situations of life he rises up to all occasions because he had the strength and endurance of
a fisherman. His eyes spoke about his sadness and heavy heart yet he never complained
or bad mouthed in any situation letting down his character. He always had a pleasant
word to say about everyone.
ugly lady but with love and devotion for her that could keep her happy. By adjusting to
spells out the perfect life for him. And at the end all of this is possible for Salvatore due to
his most precious and loveliest quality–goodness. Salvatore, isn’t dynamic but even in his
stoicism he faces life with cheerful acceptance and integrity. Maugham holds Salvatore
up to the reader as an example of pure radiance and goodness and as someone who
should be emulated in dealing with the trials and tribulations of life.
His goodness just goodness inspires the author to draw the portrait of the man and
present it to his readers. Salvatore isn’t afraid of the hard life and this is seen in his
actions. Despite fighting a chronic illness like rheumatism, he never shied away from
working hard to support his family. He worked on the vineyards as well as went for
fishing in the season, he worked from “dawn till the heat drove him to rest and then
again. Salvatore though a very ordinary man rises due to his good manners and that
alone is the moral lesson that the writer aims to provide and admires about the character
of the story.
English-II | 13
REVERIE
Answer 16.
(a) Poems are written with some or the other purposes, like sometimes just for amusement,
sometimes a deeper underlying meaning with an argument. In “Dover Beach”, Matthew
Arnold has made some arguments and disagreements in the whole poem. The major
argument here deals with the notion of challenging the past and its effect on the future.
The poem begins with a solemn upbeat in tone or better say mood, as the poem advances
its tone and mood both get more mundane, grave, and lacking hope. Just opposite to the
first stanza, the second and third stanzas become more pessimistic. The crux of the
argument is based on the idea that happiness is always changing and is a fragile part of
humanity. The present is discussed in the first stanza which starts with an upbeat tone,
but by the end of the poem, the hopeful and positive mood turns sad and negative joining
the harshness of the world. The poet’s disappointment changes with the changing
situations around. Arnold correlates the sea with the pessimistically evolving ideals of
human existence and the arguments throughout this poem. For instance, Arnold writes
“The Sea of Faith was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore …… but now “I only
hear its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar.” The poet is here trying to stress that the
world once used to be faithful and filled with a lot of love in people’s heart, hitherto the
despicable and wretched things of the world seems louder as the waves of the sea
crashing at the sea-shore.
(b) Dover Beach is a multifaceted poem written by Mathew Arnold, an eminent poet of
Victorian Age. This poem is based on the challenges to different kind of philosophy
related to human existence, his religious faith and moral issues. In the poem “Dover
Beach,” often Arnold himself, is thought to be the narrator most of the time, addressing
his wife. But this is contentious throughout the poem. This is a dramatic monologue,
where there can be a single speaker to one or more silent listeners. As given in a dramatic
monologue the narrator is not necessarily the author himself. It can be any young man
addressing his wife or any other. But most critics suggest that the speaker is the poet
himself as the views expressed in the poem matches some of Arnold's own beliefs.
As discussed above the narrator may be the poet or an ordinary narrator. Let’s take it as
the poet himself as given in this question above, the poet uses consecutively first, second,
and third-person narration in the poem. The poem presents the shifting narration by the
poet, which starts from third-person and shifts to second person, when he addresses his
beloved, in Line 6. Then he shifts to first-person narration when he includes his beloved
and the reader as co-observers, as in Line 18. He also uses first-person point of view to
declare that at least one observation is his alone, and not necessarily that of his co-
observers. The poet has opted to use first, second and third person narration to captivate
the reader in an entertaining way.
(c) "Dover Beach" is a poem with a complete portrayal of the society. Through in this poem
Mathew Arnold has tried to make a great representation of the Victorian Period as a
whole, the tone and mood of the then society. It was a time when the sciences and
evolutionary theory were rising with immense pressure on religion, as a threat upon its
existence. Technology was taking away peace and faith both out of life. Through in this
poem, Arnold thought that poetry may replace the importance of religion and rise as a
new spiritual source in the tiring society. The melancholy tone of this poem is wonderful
treat by Mathew Arnold, the poet.
This inspired a lot of writers to take on a melancholy tone in their works. Giving reason
behind Arnold's somber tone, as if he is coming in terms with the way the world works,
feeling depressed and sad. “Dover Beach” is such a perfect portray of the Victorian era
that the poet seems lost and lonely in its situation, unable to mention any other human
being next to him. The poem starts off with a hopeful tone but by the end of the poem, in
its last stanza unveils the harshness of the world and his discontent with the way things
were shifting at this point.
Matthew Arnold was aware of the philosophical changes rising in the western society. He
had experienced the crumbling old establishments – people were losing their faith in God
with the development of science and technology. Arnold has made great effort to carve
out the complete picture of the then world’s goodness and badness both. The first stanza
begins with a candid portrayal of the sea and with the effects of light on it. Though there
is momentary excitement but it concludes that the moonstruck sea induces sadness. A
perfect ray of melancholy flows into the second stanza too. In the third stanza the idea of
religion is introduced into the comparison. The reader can well enjoy the contrast
between the low tide of faith, and the high tide of evolution of science and technology. In
order to fill this vacuum the speaker suggests that only well woven love between
individuals can withstand the negative forces in the world in fourth stanza. This kind of
love can bring meaning to an otherwise confused and confusing world. By the end it can
be summed up that “Dover Beach” is a perfect picture of the Victorian Society, its cause,
sufferings, and its achievements too as well. But yes the work of Arnold has brought
almost all shades of human character in one poem with the help of his changing moods
and tone stanza-wise. So we may conclude that this world is and will always be a mix of
good and bad both, as each support the other to make the world work well.
Answer 17.
“Birches” is a blank verse poem with numerous variations on its prevailing iambic metre.
The title of the poem is “Birches,” but the theme is birch i.e., “swinging” this theme of the
poem has a very deep meaning. By the motion of swinging the poet implies to present the
contrary pulls, the truth and imagination, material and soul earth and the heaven, control
and abandon, flight and return, etc. the earth is below and over it are the tall trees and
above all is the endless sky and the heaven. The swinging of the Birch suggests the
motion between these two poles. As the poet sees bent birch trees, he imagines that they
are bent by boys who have been “swinging” on its branches. Though he knows that they
are bent by ice storms. Yet he prefers to visualize a boy climbing a tree and swinging at its
peak to the ground. It is suggestive again. The upward thrust of the poem indicates
imagination, escape, and transcendence—full of imagery, far away from the bitter truth of
the world. Similarly the downward pull is an enticement towards the material beauty of
the earth. The fascination of climbing trees is an universal truth. As it symbolizes doing
away from the fray, the everyday difficulties of life, mainly when one is “weary of
considerations”.
Now let’s see how the same activity done by a boy and that by a man has different
meaning or symbolism. For a boy climbing a tree is a form of play, an amusement, but the
same act for a man can be an excellent escape from the worries and problems of the
world. Climbing birches can be taken to a push toward the ethereal, and a downward
pull may be an observation of death too. Here the poet controls himself by not putting
much stress on the promise of an afterlife. Rather he rejects the self-delusional extremes,
and emphasizes his attachment to the beauty of the earth. He says, “Earth’s the right
place for love,” however imperfect, though his “face burns” and “one eye is weeping.”
The poet wishes to go high “towards heaven” to the limits of earthly possibility and at the
same time desires deeply to come back, as going too far seems to be a loss. So the birch
tree is the perfect vehicle to connect one with both earth and the heaven, imagination and
the reality. Furthermore, a leap back down to the earth, in the day-to-day difficulties of
life, takes a lot of courage, skill and experience. Here the reader can experience not only a
retreat but afresh trajectory.
English-II | 15
Answer 18.
The poem begins by speaking in the second person. This has dual effect; creating a sense
of acquaintance and kinship between the dolphin and the audience, and secondly it is
forced to speak about their pain and fear they face by the imprisonment given by the
humans. This is highly striking as human leaps into the world of dolphins, disturbing
their life and even their existence. The image of ‘swim’ and ‘dance’ is associated with the
freedom and joy of the dolphins. But this impression is made more symbolic and
suggestive by the fact that the “dolphins world” is the pool wherein they perform and not
the enlarged, endless ocean, which is their actual home. Both pathos and dignity in the
dolphin’s voice holds our impulse, when it speaks of being in its element but 'not free'.
The 'constant flowing guilt' compares an artificially created aquatic habitat having water
pumped through the pool. The poet carves it metaphorically as 'guilt' since the system is
too unnatural and unsustainable in long run.
In the second stanza it seems impossible to provide 'explanations' that might support the
artificial world given by technology driven man. In the 'limits of the pool' the dolphins
find 'no truth' rather a suffocation and a monotony of 'the same space always'. The guilt
of humans in dolphin’s abduction is indicated by the regular presence of 'the man' who is
'above' the pool. The man has reduced the dolphins to a mere performer who jumps
through hoops or after a 'coloured ball'. He has totally curtailed its freedom by its super
status of technology driven mind.
The word 'we' used for a sound of oneness or collectivity, signals for a search for truth
and a consciousness towards selfhood far from being selfish. This clarifies with the
references to the 'other'. The mutual understanding of the dolphins and their concern for
each other is highlighted in third stanza.
'The other knows/and out of love reflects me for myself'.
The above line is a touching insight about the togetherness or oneness of any relationship,
respect for independence and mutuality. The reflexive pronoun 'myself' indicates clearly
the element that the dolphin who narrates in the poem has maintained its integrity only
because of its mutual understanding. The pain of loss of former’s freedom is exaggerated
by the following narrative,
'We see our silver skin flash by like memory/of somewhere else.'
The simile on one hand brings together the dolphins' intimacy by the bodily knowledge
of each other and on the other hand also reminds them of the time when such sights
would be very common and in large numbers too. The dolphin being naturally
extroverted, often travel in shoals of several hundred. Their real world is now referred to
as 'somewhere else'. The oneness or togetherness, familiarity of their species is disturbed
and thoroughly destroyed by man. The dolphins' are separated and confined in limited
pools for performing tricks with a ball only. They 'have to balance till the man has
disappeared'. This is an important detail to be considered as it emphasizes the human's
utter control on the innocent creature through his knowledge of technology.
A wonderful comparison has been done of the sphere called ball to that of the moon
saying that the 'moon has disappeared' as it is a visual association between the spheres
that are the ball and the moon. The last stanza presents a predicament by the dolphins,
which are too miserable and disheartening, which means “The natural regulator of the
tides has been replaced by an unnatural, man-made object”.
The poem closes by reminding the humans of their oppression, control and confinement
over a very helpful and wonderful creature, which may do much more better things than
to perform on the ball and hoop. Once the dolphins had “limitless” possibility but now it
has 'limits' imposed upon, which may become impossible to bear in coming future.
The phrase used here 'we will' draws our attention to the contrast underneath the rapidly
grave going sustainability of the dolphins, for what the dolphins had in past, what they
have at present and what they may expect in the future.
This poem provides us a fresh dimension to visualize our degrading humanity and also a
thought so we would work well to translate ourselves into actual human beings.
❏❏
SOLUTION
SECTION– A

Answer 1.
(a) (i) Caliban is urging Stephano and Trinculo not to be distracted with all the shiny attire
Prospero had put on their way. He wants them to hurry before Prospero sends the
spirits to torture them.
(ii) Caliban tells Stephano to not be attracted by the garments as they are a trap. But
Stephano orders him to keep silent and calls him a monster. Trinculo also calls him a
monster and orders him to remove the clothes from the lime. But when Caliban
denies, Stephano scolds him disdainfully and also threatens him to banish him out of
his kingdom when he becomes the king of the island.
(iii) Prospero sends upon them spirit shaped as dogs and hounds to hunt them. He casts
his fury on them for trying to kill him and usurp the island.
(iv) In addition, to driving them away, Prospero sets goblins to make their bones ache,
muscles sore and bruise them so that they have spots more than a leopard.
(v) Prospero promises freedom to Ariel. He says that soon all the duties will be done and
Ariel will have freedom, but before that he has to obey Prospero a little bit longer.
(vi) i. Pard - leopard
ii. Labours - Prospero's endeavours in meting out justice to his adversaries
(b) (i) The 'strange thing' Alonso is talking about is Caliban and they are outside of
Prospero's cell.
(ii) Prospero's immediate response is that Caliban is as ugly as one can be and so are his
manners.
(iii) Prospero thrives on showing of power and authority and he does that just by
ordering Caliban to take Stephano and Trinculo and get the place cleaned up. He is
right in punishing them as they had conspired against his life.
(iv) Caliban refers to Stephano as the 'drunkard' and he realises that boosting Stephano's
vanity and seeking his help to kill Prospero was a foolish idea and that had backfired.
(v) Being the master of Stephano and Trinculo, Alonso and Sebastian order them to
return the clothes or whatever they have stolen. They treat them as servants as usual
and try in vain to remedy the situation.
(vi) i. Companions - Stephano and Trinculo
ii. Trim it - clean up the cell well
(c) (i) Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban are all wet as they have just got out of the filthy
swamp in which they had been dancing in their drunkenness. They are near
Prospero's cell.
(ii) They are addressing Caliban as 'monster' and in this scene Stephano and Trinculo
seem to be more of a monster than Caliban.
(iii) Caliban has his eyes set on the goal that is to get rid of Prospero and he is the only
person who understands its entirety and the disaster if he fails.
(iv) Trinculo is worried about how he smells when there are greater things at stake. He
appears to be a shallow and a mean person.
(v) The possibility of Stephano being a good lord is scarce and Caliban's trust seems to
be placed on the wrong person, who is not more than a fool.
(vi) i. Blind mole - Prospero

ii. Foot fall - foot steps
Answer 2.
(a) (i) Marchbanks who is generally eloquent about the concept of love, finds himself
unable to express his love. In this scene he collapses on the seat mournfully and
becomes timid which presents the irony as he is able to talk about love but is unable
to tell it out loud.
(ii) Wicked people stay powerful because they are not swayed by the feelings and doubts
of true love and for them it is alright to demand for love as it does not really have any
effect upon them. It is easier for them to trade it around as a commodity.
(iii) Marchbanks loathes those who have no love because they are made bold by the fact
that they can pretend to show love and demand love without any qualms. They are
shameless in expressing and asking for love. He is just not able to digest the fact that
he is struggling to let his love known.
(iv) Marchbanks goes on speaking about love and how both of them are in the same
situation, that he almost makes her hot and bothered and she starts reacting to
whatever Marchbanks is talking and her reactions make him understand that
Proserpine is in love.
(v) The disadvantage of being timid is that one does not get the courage to express the
love to the person concerned. Emotions such as these are bottled and require a lot of
courage to be expressed.
(vi) Marchbanks feels totally lost as he is unable to express his love and has to suppress it
and finds a kindred spirit in Proserpine who is also in love but powerless to tell it.
His anguish is halved by sharing similar situation.
(b) (i) Marchbanks is perceptive of Morell's true personality and wonders how anyone
could love Morell who is so besotted with his own-self and his own ideas. This is the
reason that he finds amazing that anyone could fall in love with Morell.
(ii) Proserpine is shocked that Marchbanks could find out her love for Morell and
secondly, it was not appropriate for a man to ask a lady such questions.
(iii) Marchbanks flouted the customs of the day by discussing matters of the heart to a
lady, then quizzing her about who the person was and to top it all, questions how
anyone can love such a person at all. He has flouted enough rules for the day.
(iv) Proserpine finds Morell quite an impressive person inspite of his vanity as he appeals
to her just as he appeals to all the women with his talk and she also reaches out
beyond her social standing showing that she recognises the need to be progressive in
life.
(v) Morell is a person who believes in following certain rules laid by nature and religion,
quite oblivious that it is people with hearts and mind he has to deal with. He is sure
of his ideologies and that as a person he does the best and surely misses out on the
human element.
(vi) According to Marchbanks, Morell is a 'windbag' and to a large extent we can see that
he is full of ideas and principles, very self-satisfied and in bliss amidst ignorance of
what is transpiring in people's mind, whether in his parish, lectures or at home. This
can be a difficult quality to fall in love with. And for this reason, Candida loves more
as a mother does a child, negating her own needs.
(c) (i) Marchbanks is bursting out with thoughts on unexpressed love and to him
Proserpine is just another person in the conversation and there she was thinking that
English-II | 3
he was flattering her; so he asks her to shush, for there are greater things to be
spoken.
(ii) Marchbanks is for a perfect world where one can tell out his love aloud and not be
inhibited by shyness. He finds shyness as a pronounced hindrance in the life of those
who are shackled by it.
(iii) Marchbanks finds pets and their world simple enough where they can ask for love
and they receive it unconditionally. Marchbanks wishes if the same could be possible
for men and women.
(iv) It is commonly believed that ghosts just do not move around appearing to people
unless they are called for, summoned or conjured. Similarly, Marchbanks states that
love is like a ghost; we should call or ask for it, or remain without love.
(v) Shyness can be a hindrance in finding love, because people with shyness are often
diffident, nervous, or fearful of expressing their love. This nature of a person makes
them loose courage and never tell their love.
(vi) Marchbanks is deep down in melancholic spirit and he sits down on the chair
burying his face in his hands and mourns the tragedy that is shyness. This shows that
Marchbanks’ despair is real.
SECTION– B
Answer 3.
(a) Apart from the minor characters, such as the master and the boatswain, we are
introduced to Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian and Gonzalo, with Ferdinand being present
there among others. The scene also gives a hint to illusions and deceptions that are about
to occur and the characters introduced will give a peek to the narrative.
Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio and Gonzalo give the backdrop of the play and the beginning
of the denouement of all things that transpired with the characters introduced and the
ones who will follow.
The characters on the boat are divided into nobles, such as Antonio and Gonzalo, and
servants or professionals, such as the Boatswain. The mortal danger of the storm upsets
the usual balance between these two groups, and the boatswain, attempting to save the
ship, comes into direct conflict with the hapless nobles, who despite their helplessness,
are extremely irritated at being rudely spoken to by a commoner.
Apart from these skirmishes between the men, we get to know the 'nobles' do reveal their
nature of being dominating and at the same time clueless as to what their future will be
like after the storm. They are worried about their status and how the master and the
boatswain treat them. The storm does not deter them from being who they are. Gonzalo
tries to make things lighter but Antonio and Sebastian are impatient and angry, willing to
get rid of those who are trying to save their lives. They are thankless and like 'nobles' they
are of no practical help at such a situation.
Their characters influence the story line because the play is all about them and the deeds
they have done earlier.
(b) Stephano, the drunken butler and Trinculo, the court jester are only for comic relief in the
play. The presence of Caliban with Stephano and Trinculo allows Shakespeare to use the
murder sub-plot to reinforce the conspirative world of the play, and emphasize the
significant theme of the master-servant relationship.
Nonetheless, these characters are not especially funny in themselves; the humour comes
more from what they do than what they say. An example of this is the “gabardine scene”.
Shakespeare removes any superfluousness about them in Act 3, Scene 3, in which he links
them into the main plot by creating their desire to overthrow Prospero and rule the
island. This idea in itself is amusing, as it is apparent from the beginning that the drunken
trio of Trinculo, Stephano and Caliban do not have the least chance against Prospero and
his Art.
(c) Prospero has almost succeeded in bringing all his adversaries to their knees. Alonso is the
only person who apologizes for his wrongdoing and when he does so, Prospero stops
him from doing so. Prospero’s purpose in staging the storm and the incidents thereafter,
everything that he had desired has happened and he is now a contented and pleased
man. He does not want to mar the special occasion that has culminated after all the
struggle.
Alonso is ecstatic at the discovery. Meanwhile, the sight of more human beings impress
Miranda. Alonso embraces his son and daughter-in-law to be and begs Miranda’s
forgiveness for the treacheries of twelve years ago. Prospero silences Alonso’s apologies,
insisting that the reconciliation is complete. The reconciliation brings about joy and hope
for new beginnings.
Answer 4.
The Tempest is Shakespeare’s last glitzy and shortest play. It is difficult to categorize this
play as it has elements of romance, tragedy and comedy. The tragic elements arise from
the usurpation of the play’s protagonist Prospero and his daughter, the vengeance of
Prospero and the plotting of murder interlaced quite neatly into the play. Romantic
elements come from the love shared between Miranda and Ferdinand. Scenes of comedy
between Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo add a comic element to the play.
It has many elements of comedy, while retaining the qualities of tragedy and romance.
The Tempest has three different stories going on at once.
Ariel also does his part in making the story light hearted. Ariel is a spirit who is an asset
of Prospero. He is many a times seen messing with Caliban. When Trinculo finds Caliban,
Caliban thinks that he is being tormented by Ariel. Ariel is eventually released by
Prospero at the end of the play.
Shakespeare’s play is a comedy, and even a romance. The two lovers in this story,
Miranda and Ferdinand, often throughout the story make jokes about being in love.
This story acts in some ways like a romance. Ferdinand, falls in love with the beautiful
lady Miranda. Prospero, wanting to test Ferdinand’s love, makes him do work as a trial to
marry Miranda. Even though Miranda insists on getting Ferdinand to take a break, even
to the point of asking to do the work for him, Ferdinand refuses to stop his vigorous
work. Prospero, finally allows Ferdinand to marry Miranda.
At the end of the story, when the wrong doers are forgiven. Ferdinand and Miranda are
seen playing a casual game of chess. After this they are officially united in marriage.
Where then is the dark tragedy? First of all, let’s look at Caliban. Caliban, a half human
half monster that was born on the island. His mother, the witch Sycorax, was exiled to the
island. She died when Caliban was young, leaving him to fend for himself. A few years
later comes Prospero to the island. He “rescues” Ariel from a tree and makes him his
slave. Prospero takes over the island, enslaving all of the inhabitants, including Caliban.
Caliban, filled with bitterness, wants to pay retribution to Prospero by killing him.
The tempest holds the comic, tragic and romantic elements in making it an interesting
and intriguing play.
Answer 5.
(a) Reverend James Mavor Morell, is a Christian Socialist clergyman of the Church of
England, an active member of the Guild of St. Matthew and the Christian Social Union."
He is forty years old, good looking, well mannered, and has a "sound unaffected voice...
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with the clean athletic articulation of a practiced orator...." His effect on his audiences,
especially the women who make up the vast majority, is spellbinding.
Morell lives for the praise and adoration of his oratory produces, and for the perceived
love, admiration and respect his calling invokes in his wife. He understands nothing of
his real effect on people and, at least until the second act, would reject any suggestion that
his path is not absolutely correct and totally righteous.
This is where we find that Morell's nature becomes endearing. He is earnest in his talks
and sincerely strives to make the world a better place. And when Marchbanks bursts his
bubble of self-assurance he is broken and staggers to the beginning to wonder if there
was a grain of truth in what Marchbanks has revealed.
Morell is absolutely convinced of his own correctness and righteousness, and cannot hear
unless beaten over the head. Candida makes Eugene's sentence. ‘She chooses her
husband’ but not before making it clear to Morell as to why she is choosing him. She tells
that he is the weaker of the two, the recipient of 'Prossy's complaint, and the master of the
house because she has made him so and all of which is true. All would have been
devastating in the end, but for an arrogant man like Morell, who is unlikely to hear or
listen, misses out on what has happened all along. He would be glad that he has won
over Marchbanks and got Candida back again. In truth, she never left. Morell is too blind
to see that.
(b) Eugene Marchbanks, an eighteen-year-old poet, the nephew of an earl. Having left
Oxford, he is found sleeping outdoors by Morell, who brings him home. Marchbanks
proceeds to fall in love with Morell’s lovely wife, Candida. Marchbanks has the genuine
poet’s insight into human motivations. He is sure that his own weakness and
insufficiency will prove desirable to a woman so purely feminine as Candida. But that
does not happen as Candida loves all just like a mother would have loved all her
children. Marchbanks is initially happy to be just in the presence of Candida and talk
about poetry and include her in his poetic descriptions. He is appalled at her cleaning the
lamps and offers to help. Soon, he realises that he needs to express his love, and he tells it
to Morell which triggers off a chain reaction leading to her choosing Morell. He gets to a
place where he finds that there are larger things out in the world and he continue to be a
poet.
Burgess can be called the practical man and not so scrupulous in matters of running a
business. He has not visited his daughter for three years, and here he is as 'moddle
hemployer' and comes in peace and goodwill to meet his daughter and son-in-law. He
finds Morell foolish with his ideas. With Marchbanks he wants to impress him because he
is from nobility. He is a true sample of the business man of the time.
(c) Morell recognizes that Candida holds Marchbanks in high regards, and not him.
Candida’s outlook on both men is thoroughly expressed in her speech, for she tells
Morell, “He is always right. He understands you; he understands me; he understands
Prossy; and you, darling, you understand nothing.” Her words, which hurt Morell,
clearly show her esteem and affection for Marchbanks. As Marchbanks, turns to be
daring, tells Morell that he is no match for Candida, and he himself would be a suitable
person to be her husband.
First Morell does not take this seriously; but then he starts worrying, because of the
assertion of Marchbanks. Morell, at last, lets Candida to choose between them. Morell,
unable to stand his intolerable jealousy and the insistence of Marchbanks to give up
Candida, asks her to choose her mate between them.
In the auction scene, Morell offers his strength for her defense, his honesty for her surety,
his ability and industry for her livelihood, and his authority and position for her dignity.
Marchbanks offers his weakness, his desolation, and his heart’s need.
Morell is all satisfied with his offer and he goes on to be his own-self the moment
Candida chooses him. He seems to handle his fear well as he gets complacent the moment
the threat is gone.
Answer 6.
Most working class women in Victorian England had no choice but to work in order to
support their families. They worked either in factories, or in domestic service for richer
households or in family businesses. Many women also carried out home-based work such
as finishing garments and shoes for factories, laundry, or preparation of snacks to sell in
the market or streets. This was in addition to their unpaid work at home which included
cooking, cleaning, child care and often keeping small animals and growing vegetables
and fruit to help feed their families.
The shift from working at home to working in factories in the early 18th century brought
with it a new system of working. Factory and mine owners sought to control and
discipline their workforce through a system of long working hours, fines and low wages.
A typical wage for male workers was about 15 shillings (75p) a week, but women and
children were paid much less, with women earning seven shillings (35p) and children
three shillings (15p). For this reason, employers favored to employ women and children.
Many men were sacked when they reached adulthood; then they had to be supported by
their wives and children.
During the Victorian period men and women’s roles became more sharply defined than
at any time in history. As the 19th century progressed men increasingly commuted to
their place of work – the factory, shop or office. Wives, daughters and sisters were left at
home all day to oversee the domestic duties that were increasingly carried out by
servants.
Women did, though, require a new kind of education to prepare them for this role of
‘Angel in the House’. Rather than attracting a husband through their domestic abilities,
middle-class girls were coached in what were known as ‘accomplishments’.
We can clearly see that these were the conditions Shaw portrayed in Candida, and he
elicited it through art and intellectual reasoning and we are left with greater
understanding of the times, where women experiences and rights were changing.
Question 7.
Question 8.
Question 9.
CONTEMPLATIONS
Answer 10.
(a) Rabindranath Tagore on his visit to Milan addresses a gathering of elite, intellectual
Italians and this essay ‘The Voice of Humanity’ is a transcript of his lecture. Tagore
explains the term ‘jagrata devata’ as the Divinity which is fully awake according to the
Indian language. He says that Indians believe that only when one’s consciousness is
illumined with love only then does God act through one’s spirit. The shrine of the
wakeful Divinity is there, only where the atmosphere of faith and devotion has been
created, by the meeting of generations of true worshippers. Thus he justifies the religious
life and pilgrimages of Indians, who are attracted to places, where the Divine spirit is
active and awake. Tagore says that likewise he too is on a pilgrimage to Italy, to explore
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the place where the landscape bristles with its Divine creativity and love, and he was
there to discover the Divine hand that had enriched Italy.
(b) Shantiniketan was founded by Tagore, with the aim of helping education go beyond the
confines of the classroom, which later grew into the Visvabharati University in Bengal,
India. Tagore developed a curriculum that was a unique blend of art, human values and
cultural interchange, for the creative minds. In this essay, the author, also a known poet,
explains his longing to visit Europe , to see the human spirit in full blaze of its power and
beauty as the purpose of his voyage of pilgrimage, leaving for the moment his own work
at Shantiniketan and the children, he loved dearly. He had envisioned an education that
was deeply rooted in one’s immediate surroundings but connected to the cultures of the
wider world. At the time of his speech, in Milan, the author claims that he has left this pet
project back in India, to experience the electrifying energy and creativity in Europe.
(c) On the author’s maiden visit to Europe, when he and his brother landed on the moonlit
shores of Brindisi in Italy, the breathtaking beauty of the land manifested in the blue
waters of the ocean, the bewitching landscape, swept Tagore off his feet. This memory of
Europe was strongly implanted in the author’s then young mind. So while he was in the
midst of the unique experiment with education, attending to the pet project of
Shantiniketan, he seemed to hear a distant call, a summon from the land where human
endeavor and spirit had reached its pinnacle. The call reminded him that all humans are
born pilgrims, “pilgrims of this green earth.” The voice questioned Tagore if he had been
to the shrine, where divinity reveals itself in the thoughts, dreams and deeds of man. This
awakened Tagore’s spirit to seek Divinity in Europe, to know the full meaning of his birth
as a human being in this world. Tagore claims that this was the reason that made him
visit Europe again.
Answer 11.
R. L. Stevenson in his essay “On the Choice of Profession” lists out the advices at one of
the most momentous period of time in a young man’s life. When the youth chooses a
profession and with diffidence highly pleasing at his age, he would be glad, of some
guidance in the choice. In an old and complicated civilization like ours, where practical
persons boast of a kind of practical philosophy superior to all others, the youth would
naturally expect to find all questions about his profession systematically answered.
The author explains the principles usually followed by the wise in the like wise critical
junctures, with an examination of his own recollections. He also confesses that he had
interrogated others in lieu of finding out these principles. Finally he arrives at a con-
clusion which he fears might even disappoint the young man, a painful revelation, is not
to act upon any principles as wisdom has nothing to do with the choice of a profession.
The author mentions about the Socratic Operation, which is to get inside of these
flourishes and discover what they think and perform. The author narrates his experience
with a banker, who breaks away from him to attend to his banking business. The author
conceives that the man was trapped in the name of education and duty. The author warns
the young man that it might be too late, after the journey of life had started to debate the
needfulness of this particular journey, in which the train door is locked and the express
goes tearing overland at sixty miles an hour, that he would not be in a position to get out
or retreat back.
The author finds that the juggling only began with school time, even the domineering
friends and counsellors had been trapped and he compares them with the tamed
elephants to walk in the marked path. The author compares the life of a banker with that
of painter and arrives at a conclusion that the amount of pleasure derived by both is the
same and more than the banker, the painter seems to enjoy well by having his fortnight’s
holiday and doing what delights him.
The author advises the young man to choose a profession of his liking, to follow his own
preference. He suggests that the youth swim across his life of tide, which would take him
somewhere, if he is not able to choose a career on his own. Thus Stevenson convinces the
youth to follow his heart, make his own decision and choice about his own future.
Answer 12.
Arthur Helps in his ‘On the Art of Living with Others’ beautifully lays down the rules
and conditions to lead a happy and peaceful life. He describes that there are two great
classes of promoters of social happiness; one is cheerful people, and the other being
reserved or reticent people. The latter are more beneficial to the society than the former,
as they are non-conductors of all the heat and animosities around them. To have peace in
a house or family or in any social circle, the members of it must be careful of passing on
no hasty and uncharitable speeches, especially with an idea of playing mischief. The
reticent people are very good ones as they avoid making irrelevant speeches, having
stock subjects of disputation and unnecessary criticism towards others.
The author notes that it is indeed very difficult to apply great principles to daily life. To
make relationships harmonious, he indicates certain dos and don’ts to be applied to, in
real life. If people are to live happily, they must not fancy. Sometimes men do not expect
the outer world to agree with them in all points, but are vexed at not being able to drive
their own tastes and opinions into those they live with. Diversities distress them. They do
not see that there are many forms of virtue and wisdom.
It is very difficult for people living together to follow certain rules such as not to interfere
unreasonably with others, not to ridicule their tastes, not to question other’s resolves, not
to indulge in perpetual comment on their proceedings and not hold too much value to
logic. The author says that there is no time for reasoning and logic and nothing that is
worth them. He gives an example of two lawyers or two politicians can go on contending,
and there is no end of one-sided reasoning on any subject, such contention may not be the
best mode for arriving at the truth. Certainly it might not be the way to arrive at good
temper.
The author finalizes by saying that criticism is one of the provoking form, which does not
give the mind a soothing effect, which is difficult to overcome. To let familiarity swallow
up all courtesy as a habit which hinders the application of great principles to daily life.
ECHOES
Answer 13.
(a) The ‘Sound Machine’ by Roald Dahl explores the obsession of Klausner with sound. He
invents a sound machine in order to allow humans to hear the high pitched voices
otherwise inaudible to the human ear. According to him there is a whole world of sound
that humans cannot hear due to the high frequency of notes emitted. There is a whole
gamut of exciting music, with subtle harmonies and grinding discords missed out by
humans due to their sheer incapacity of hearing these sounds. Klausner is eager to tap on
the unheard powerful music produced with its sound machine that would enable people
to hear these unheard sounds that would ideally drive them mad if they were to hear it
with their ears.
Klausner decides to take this machine to the park for experiment and prove it to others
with concrete evidence that what he harped about was in fact true. Klausner takes the
machine to the park at six in the morning with a view to hear the sound emanated by the
tree that he was going to axe. The first blow that he aims at the beech tree, Klausner
believes he heard a ‘harsh, noteless, enormous noise, a growling, low-pitched, screaming
sound…loudest at the moment when the axe struck, fading gradually fainter and fainter
until it was gone.’
Klausner believes that he heard the voice and calls his friend, the doctor to validate his
experiment. However, on his second attempt to axe the tree, Klausner hits the roots of the
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tree making the sixty feet long branch fall off which destroys the sound machine into
pieces.
(b) Klausner during his experiment with the sound machine in the park at the wee hours is
convinced that he had a breakthrough with his invention. He heard a loud shriek from
the tree which sounded like “a harsh, noteless, enormous noise, a growling, low-pitched,
screaming sound.” Klausner though convinced himself about the success of his machine,
he wanted to apprise his friend the doctor to validate the same that he had heard.
Therefore, he calls him up hurriedly to be a part of this experiment and hear the same
shrieking sound from the tree as he had heard when the tree was axed.
The doctor receives the phone immediately as he was attuned to people calling him at
any hour for his help. He is amazed at Klaunser’s obsession for the sound machine and
his belief in experiment. However, his tone at that hour in the morning sounded like a
desperate cry for help, almost as if it was an emergency case. The doctor came
immediately because he saw a friend in Klausner. However, unbelievable did the
experiment sound, the doctor was curious to know more on this matter.
The doctor and Klausner shared a friendship that went beyond his professional realm. He
is a loyalist stands by his friend throughout despite being convinced of his invention or
the theory. His concern for Klausner is palpable in his conversation with him. He cares
for him and makes those extra efforts to enquire about his health even when there is no
need. He also tries his level best to avoid the truth of the sound he heard to ensure
Klausner is not disappointed, but fails.
The doctor is a curious soul, inquisitive about the many things that Klausner does. He is
keen to know about Klausner’s invention and theory behind it, but he does not agree to
the whims and fancies of Klausner’s brain and instead relies on his own experience. He is
a sceptic and does not believe the theory and story provided by Klausner, but he is a
sympathetic friend who understands Klausner’s situation and to heal him of his bad
notions agrees to stitch the wounded tree. The Doctor is a nervous soul, but a true and
loyal friend, a characteristic that wins him the hearts of Dahl’s readers. Their relationship
is more of friendship rather than a doctor and a patient and that is why the two remain
etched in the mind of the readers for a long time.
(c) Klausner during his experiment of the sound machine in the park about his theory on
sound axes the beech tree to hear the sound emanated by it. In the first blow he aims at
the beech tree, Klausner believes that he heard a ‘harsh, noteless, enormous noise, a
growling, low-pitched, screaming sound loudest at the moment when the axe struck,
fading gradually fainter and fainter until it was gone.’
Klausner wants to prove his theory to his friend, the doctor and calls him to the park.
However, on his second attempt to axe the tree, Klausner hits the roots of the tree making
the sixty feet long branch fall off, which breaks the sound machine into pieces.
Klausner is obsessed with the idea of inaudible sound to that extent that his sense of
sanity has overpowered his senses. He refuses to acknowledge any possibility of his
theory being wrong. Thus, his friend succumbs under his hysteria and bandages the tree
as he wishes. This clearly shows that there is a complete possibility that Klausner may
build this sound machine again to experiment and prove his theory once again.
Answer 14.
V.S. Naipaul writes short stories that portray characters whom he had encountered in his
childhood. He writes about them through an affection and sarcasm that displays his non-
sentimental approach in the post-colonial era. His works have been thoroughly
appreciated for the clarity of style as well as themes that are unmistakably highlighted
with a clear intention and strong approach. His short story B. Wordsworth is a narrative
about a young boy and his friendship with the poet B. Wordsworth. Naipaul allows his
readers to embark on a journey with the narrator to enjoy the beauty of life and also get
acquainted with life’s bitter truths and harsh realities through an unusual friendship at
the core.
The boy befriended the poet during one of his visits to his yard, hoping to watch the bees
and admire the unhindered beauty in nature. He is fascinated with the poet’s ideas and
so are the readers. It’s whimsical, yet sweet and appealing. The boy finds in the poet an
eye for beauty that he had never seen in anyone before. He was intrigued and curious,
and this led to the beginning of their friendship, wanting to know more and more about
the poet and his ideologies.
The poet compels the boy to look for a poet within him, the readers too, embark on a
journey to look for the hidden poet within them, forming an inexplicable bond with him.
This is an unusual friendship that allows the boy to mature and perceive life through the
eyes of beauty. While the poet nudges him to look for beauty, his experiences and the
thought provoking nature of the boy gravitates into a finer understanding of the ways of
the real world.
Naipaul juxtaposes the beauty that the poet wants the boy to look for with the tragedy of
his own life, which allows the boy to learn from. B. Wordsworth’s failure to sell his poetry
even at the cost of four cents. It is tragic that the world refuses to appreciate poetry and
considers poets to be worthless, writing absurd things. People fail to see through the deep
meaning of a poet’s words and feel the enlightening experience by reading it. The poet
talks about writing the “greatest poem in the world” by writing only good lines even if
that meant writing one line in a month. The boy is awed by the poet’s dedication towards
his work, despite his commercial failure. The boy sees in the poet a great wordsmith and
understands his soul searching deep thoughts. The little boy's appreciation makes the
poet see hope and this is why he reveals a line of his greatest poem, "The past is deep."
However, he is soon disillusioned and realizes that the world does not appreciate deep
thoughts. B. Wordsworth himself acknowledges his mistake of spending his entire life
writing the greatest poem in the world and living a dream that was never going to be a
reality.
The poet could see the brimming talent of a poet within the little boy. He saw his early
life in the little boy. The fire and curiosity to understand little things in life was explicitly
visible in the boy. The reflection of a poet in making, who would have to invariably face
the same trials and rejections as a poet, hurt the poet to no end. To save the little boy from
the misery and tragedy of the real world where there are no buyers and appreciators of
poet's words, where poets are considered to be worthless churning out nonsensical
content for the sake of appreciating beauty. People fail to see through the deep meaning
of a poet’s words and feel the enlightening experience by reading it. Thus, to save the boy
from the fate that he met in his life as a poet, he negates his own story at the end, making
a mockery out of his own existence.
The poet never cared about the money and this tragedy is spelt out on the poet’s
deathbed when B. Wordsworth himself acknowledges his mistake of living a dream that
was never going to be a reality. The poet cares for the boy and wishes to make the boy
grasp the reality of life and he certainly manages to do that as he leaves behind his legacy
of words and ideals in the mind of the boy. An existence that would never be wiped out
easily.
Answer 15.
In the tragic tale of survival narrated by Jack London in ‘To Build a Fire’, the reason
behind the man’s death cannot just be attributed to the hostility of nature. The situation
needs to be probed and evaluated and then the reasons need to be ascertained. On the
superficial level, the primary reason for the man's death is the cold and the lack of fire.
However, the real reason that leads to his untimely death is his pride, his overconfidence
and lack of understanding of the forces of nature.
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The man before beginning his trail is aware of the perils of travelling in the country.
Before setting on his journey in the Yukon trail, he met an old man at the Sulphur Creek
who advised him against travelling alone in sub-freezing temperatures of Yukon. The
man failed to imagine the difficulties of survival in such a terrain and laughed off the
suggestions, being sure about his bravery and quick common sense. He believes he is
cautious and is extremely confident of finishing his journey on time. The man walks
vigilantly avoiding the pools of water under the snow, however he breaks through the ice
at a place where there were “no signs” of danger, wetting his feet till his knees. When his
hands and toes became numb to the extent that he found it difficult to light a fire, he
recalled the old man’s counsel and confessed, “That man from Sulphur Creek had spoken
the truth when telling how cold it sometimes got in this country.” The harshness of the
conditions made him accept that “one must not be too sure of things.”
The man was quick to adapt himself to situations and ready to fight the atrocities of
nature. He was well versed with the precautions and dangers of travelling in such a
terrain, yet he was not far-sighted to heed to them. He is reminded of the old man’s
advice that “no man should travel alone in that country after 50 below zero,” when he
failed to light a fire for his survival. The wet clothes and the cold added to his misery,
making him lose the sensations in his hands and feet.
The cold was setting in and he lost the feeling in his feet while his fingers had grown
completely numb. However, he was convinced of his efforts and was sure he would soon
be able to dry up his socks and mittens. He confidently finished what he had to do and
was just about to remove his mittens and socks when the fire was snubbed by the snow
falling from the pine trees. The man faltered and it was his own mistake. He had to begin
again to light a fire but he no more had the same energy and confidence. He seemed to
have guessed that his mistake had invited his death and minimized his chances of
survival.
The man was determined to save his life and with all his efforts lighted all the seventy
matches of the pack. Fire was lighted but in the process he burnt his hands. He endured
the pain, but his efforts were thwarted when a wet plant fell on the fire and scattered it
everywhere. His last hope of survival was the dog, whom he decided to kill and bury his
hands inside his warm body. But unfortunately his hands did not have the sensations and
the energy to hold a knife and kill the dog. The man was thus forced to run to keep his
body warm but when he could no longer run, he decided to face his death with dignity.
The man despite the folly of his pride and overconfidence was a brave man who stood
against the tides of nature and fought valiantly until he accepted death in a calm and
dignified manner. London with clear examples indicate that man should not be a prey to
his pride and overconfidence and lose on something as precious as life. The man in his
journey remembers the old man’s advice six times. In spite of being aware of each and
every precaution he succumbs to his death. This was inevitable because his quick sense,
and agility had no comparison against the forces of nature and the experience and
wisdom of the old man.
REVERIE
Answer 16.
(a) The poem begins with “Will you walk into my parlour?” uttered by the spider to the fly,
it has become a dictum, often used to indicate a false offer of friendship or help that is in
fact a trap. The story begins with two characters – a spider and a fly, both presenting two
different personalities. One is a cunning spider who ensnares a beautiful and innocent fly
by its different tricks of seduction and flattery. The poem has only two characters the
spider and the fly. They are both very easily traceable about their personality and
intentions not having many layers. Though the spider represents evil and the fly
represents innocence. The story is narrated by someone else then the two characters
pitched against each other. The narrator is totally unbiased for both the characters simply
describing the story as it goes. As it has been seen that both characters have contradictory
personality so they are pitched against each other by the clash of their features. As the
spider is mean, cunning, cruel and sycophant in nature just opposite to him is the fly
generous, simple, kind and frank. Though the fly is having all the good qualities, it’s
these humaneness which gets it into the trap of scrimpy spider. As it trusts the flattery
words of the spider to be the truth. And at the same time though the spider is a negative
character with all sorts of bad features but his confidence to try again and again to trap
the fly, finally made him victorious to trap the fly as his prey. The story beneath the poem
is quite interesting and equally appealing to people especially kids to not trust on
strangers or flattery words as they may be a trap too.
(b) “The spider and the fly” is one of the classic poems of Mary Howitt with the opening
lines “Will you walk into my parlor?” by the bootlicking spider to the fly. But the fly
knowing the fact that if she enters there she would be doomed so she replies,
“to ask me is in vain, for who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”
Similarly we can witness throughout the poem the conflict of vices and virtues in each
stanza. In the first stanza, the spider makes its best attempt to entice the fly into its parlor
with promises of a lot of amazing things to enjoy. Here in this stanza the spider uses
simple flattery words to snare the fly. In reply to this vice the fly using its virtue against
the spider refuses in simple and straightforward words saying that it will never visit, its
parlour as it knows whoever goes inside it doesn’t come back out of it. In the second
stanza, the spider applies a different vice by offering the fly a soft and comfortable bed to
sleep. Here again one can see the conflict of vices and virtues as the fly too answers with
an apt virtue to the spider’s vice by ignoring it politely, that she’ll visit some other time.
Finally the spider tries its best vice— of appreciating its beauty and this time the virtue of
the fly falls flat and hence it succumbs to the Spider’s charms and is eaten up by the
spider finally.
(c) The spider tries all its vices starting from the flattery words to charm her and finally it
started appreciating the fly’s beauty to the extent of seduction to which the fly falls in the
trap of the spider :
● The spider at first attempt lures the fly by promising wonderful things to see, to
which the fly refuses. So this vice of the spider goes in vain. Then the spider tries to
provoke the fly’s emotion by offering it a comfortable soft bed. As the fly would have
been weary from its day long flying so high. But this vice of emotional provocation
too falls flat. Lastly the vice which makes the spider win over the fly is its ability to
seductively appreciate the beauty of the fly with extravagance. As all its vices failed to
get the desired result but when the spider appreciates the gauzy wings and dazzling
eyes of the fly, it finds itself unable to resist and gets trapped in his web. The fly after
hearing such a brilliant compliment of its beauty gets nearer and nearer to the spider
as if the spider has won her heart and faith both or she wished to hear some more
appreciation of her beauty. And while expecting so about her own beauty she forgot
to be careful hence fall prey to the seductive vice of spider. In the last stanza the poet
concludes by :
“lesson from this tale”: don’t let yourself be tricked by sweet, flattering words.
Answer 17.
Hardy has written this poem in the backdrop of the effect of industrialization of the
Victorian age. So the tone in the beginning of the poem is of sadness and mundane. After
describing the grieving over the vanishing peace and social humanity he changes the tone
from sadness to that of hope and enlightenment. It is evident by the uppercase ‘Hope’
written by Hardy, as he is trying to make the impression of hope than just the literal
English-II | 13
meaning. The appearance of a bird is metaphorically very noteworthy as it signifies

change, freedom, hope and above all a faith of a better point of view in coming future.
The poem ends on a slightly philosophical tone where Hardy anticipates the impact of the
thrush’s song.
Leaning against a coppice gate, Hardy ponders over the barrenness of his surroundings
and his own mortal soul too. He portrays a brilliant comparison of the frost that has fallen
not only on the greeneries but also has frozen the ideals and principles of his human
nature. He has shown amazing creativity in crafting the gloom around, when he say that
the weakening eye of the day has not only darkened the perspectives of the land ahead,
but has also faded the glow of the human soul. The life which once used to be the
symphonies of joyfulness and gaiety now seems to be a broken harp with the wrong
notes.
This dullness is relieved a bit by the passing wind, though that too seems to carry nothing
more than the news of death. The grave, mundane and highly industrialized society’s
sorry state of affairs is described with deeper feelings from within the heart of the poet.
All the humane feelings are vanishing which has taken people too far away from God
and closer to the hollow show and pomp of life at the cost of his spirit and faith. But the
waning humane quality of surprise, hope and spirituality appears in the form of a frail,
gaunt, sick and old thrush. Hardy is struck by the strong will power of the thrush to sing
a song despite its poor physical conditions and gloomy surroundings. The song of the old
thrush has brought a vibe of hope in the bleak and gloomy countryside. During the
bleakest of moments the song of the thrush brings out the core values of humanity.
Hardy has used the imagery of bird perfectly to introduce positivity.
The tone of the poem revolves around the idea of religious spirit, hope and faith with a
comparison to the feeble, gaunt and small thrush to the stagnant and distressed society.
Hardy concludes by expressing that no matter how deeper the sorrow or pain may be, a
slightest connectivity or surrender to the divine spirituality will help one lift his morals. It
may bring back afresh new life to the dull and faithless life. This faith can and will for
sure help humanity to recover its lost happiness, joy and spirituality. Pursuit for divine
spirituality allows one to discover one’s own selves.
Answer 18.
The poem, "The Gift Of India" by Sarojini Naidu, arouses a sense of pride and
lamentations over the sacrifices of the martyrs of the Indian soil. This poem has an
undercurrent of anti-war theme but the main theme is of patriotism. This poem refers to
the world war, in which Indian soldiers had to fight for the requirements and wishes of
the ruling government of the British rule. The poem portrays before us a picture of the
uncountable sacrifices the Indian soldier made during the struggles of accomplishing an
ethnic, cultural and political autonomy brought by the British Era. The poet speaks aloud
and freely to the colonisers on behalf of the entire nation and especially on behalf of those
parents, families who lost their breadwinners, who lost their single son, who was the sole
support to them and their survival. This poem is loaded with the pain and the atrocities
and hard- heartedness of the colonisers on India and its natives. This painful and detailed
description of atrocities in the name of war by the ruling Britishers has made the issue of
anti-war theme move underneath the fervour of patriotism.
Though the poem cannot be considered as an anti-war poem basically, still it brings
before us the uselessness of war. The fervour of patriotism over shadows the anti-war
element of this poem. And this evokes a sense of belongingness towards our nation,
where the poet finely describes minute details of the irreparable loss of a huge number of
people by the cold-blooded killings of the Indian soldiers who were “bound by duty” to
fight against so many nations with whom India had nothing to do with.
The poetess makes a mention of the various wars—the Persian, Egyptian and France,
where the Indian soldiers went to fight at the wish of the Britishers, for their sake. She
compared the lives of the dead as if the pearls scattered in abandon on the sea-shore. This
poem also highlights how the Britishers took Indian soldiers, merely a number to be used
for thin completely benefits.
She further makes enough effort to begin the laying stone of building our nation by our
sincere gratitude to those martyrs who fought in different nations and laid their lives or if
ever survived both were of anonymity. In the final lines of the poem the poet promises
those lost brave sons of India that their sacrifices can never be forgotten. Their names will
be engraved with an ineradicable ink made out of their own blood, which will keep on
inspiring generations to come, perennially by the stories of their courage and selfless
sacrifices.
❏❏
SOLUTION
SECTION– A

Answer 1.
(a) (i) As Prospero parades the 'varlets' Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban before Alonso,
Sebastian and Antonio, Sebastian asks what are these creatures and can they be
bought. They are in front of Prospero's cell.
(ii) Antonio says that the one who looks like a fish is surely marketable. He is
particularly talking about Caliban.
(iii) The moment Sebastian and Antonio see Caliban, the immediate thought that comes
to them is Caliban is marketable, showing that they are both money minded.
(iv) Misshapen knave, Demi-devil, and bastard are the adjectives used to describe
Caliban in this scene.
(v) Caliban has been caught in his plot along with Stephano and Trinculo. He feels that
he will now be tortured to death.
(vi) i. Badges - Name tags
ii. Demi-devil - Caliban
(b) (i) Prospero is surrendering to his magical powers, the power he exercised over the
others; he is retiring and is now left with just his personal strength. He is in front of
his cell.
(ii) Prospero has accomplished his desire to impart justice, and he is willing to relinquish
his power of magic and be a regular person, but he has not lost his strength for he has
become stronger by transcending his own inadequacies.
(iii) Prospero who is assured that all the wrongs have been righted, his dukedom
restored, the deceiver pardoned, his daughter will be married and his retirement can
be spent anywhere in peace.
(iv) Prospero finally becomes human by forgiving and setting all things right by all
involved and he rises above pettiness and is willing to be a part of new beginnings.
(v) Prospero is also another human being and if the wrongs of the deceivers are forgiven
then Prospero's wrongs can be forgiven too, for he at least seeks forgiveness.
(vi) i. Faint - less strength
ii. O’erthrown - give away practicing magic
(c) (i) The scene renders the expression of love between two young people. They are being
eloquent in expressing their love and are before Prospero's cell.
(ii) Ferdinand is wordy as usual and proposes Miranda for marriage. He also adds that
his desire to do so is as one desiring freedom from bondage.
(iii) Prospero's true desire is to bring the two people together and so that they might fall
in love with one another and they might have a future in Naples.
(iv) Miranda puts her desire with great humility to be his wife but if that is rejected she is
willing to be his servant if the need be.
(v) Miranda is a person, a human being; this is enough to state that she is not a 'prize' to
be won. But in history we have seen that women have been considered a prize to be
won.
(vi) i. Boded - outcome
ii. Fellow - companion

Answer 2.
(a) (i) Marchbanks is tormented seeing that Candida is messing her hands with paraffin oil
while cleaning lamps but Morell is not bothered about it at all. He is disturbed by the
fact that how can any husband allow his wife's hands to get dirty.
(ii) The men in the scene are hypocritical as no one cleans the lamps instead of Candida
as all are busy being comfortable or making comments about it. None of them would
have done that chore everyday if it was demanded of them.
(iii) Morell's weakness is that he preaches about the virtue of everyone lending hand to
do the household chores, while he himself had not done anything while Candida was
on a trip, so much so, that she had to come back in between her trip to check on
things and trim the lamps. His love for his wife is all words as Marchbanks states.
(iv) Burgess is glad that he has found company in Marchbanks, who has the mind to talk
back to Morell and put him down with wordy arguments.
(v) All the men in the scene are busy talking about chores that everyone needs to do, but
no one actually does the job at hand. Morell preaches about it and Marchbanks
mocks Morell; but the woman, Candida does her chores without any help and does
not seem to expect it either.
(vi) In spite of all the men talking, there would be no change in the everyday schedule of
Candida. As we see here she had to come home in between her trip to get the house
in order, if that is the case there seems to be no cancellation of her chores.
(b) (i) Candida is disappointed that Morell could doubt her love for him and she says that it
is her love that is keeping her in the relationship and not his high talks on morality
which are deceptive than her 'goodness' and 'purity.'
(ii) Morell with all his talk is not sure about the love he shares with Candida; he goes
verbose questioning her goodness. Morell is blind to her true intentions.
(iii) Candida realizes that with Morell doubting her, she might as well give away all the
'goodness and purity' or rather herself to Marchbanks.
(iv) Candida is sure of her love for Morell and she asks him to put his trust in her love for
him as there is no need for him to doubt anything.
(v) Candida reveals her weariness in listening to his high and mighty talks which are
mere phrases as no one actually listens to it and that he is cheating himself and others
and she too had enough listened to him.
(vi) Morell is so caught with his own importance and effect of his speeches that he does
not realise that people come to listen to his talks as mere entertainment and not as
thoughts to be followed. He cheats himself above all for he does not see anything
beyond his own-self.
(c) (i) Candida forgives Morell's reaction to how she treats Marchbanks and the scene tells
us that she loves Morell when she give a kiss to console him. It almost seems like a
mother comforting a child, but she seems to like him.
(ii) Morell is always so caught up with himself that he is unable to understand what
Candida is trying to tell him about him and Marchbanks.
(iii) For a person who earlier said that everyone loves Candida and that she is kind to all,
is now racked with jealousy and feels insecure that Candida might love Marchbanks.
He misconstrues Candida's love for Marchbanks.
(iv) Morell feels betrayed by Candida's kiss because he still believes that Candida might
have chosen Marchbanks over him.
(v) Candida is oblivious to the inner turmoil going on in Morell's mind for her, she just
told the truth. So she is unsure of what is going on in Morell’s mind.
English-II | 3
(vi) Candida loves all and her love is frank and pure that is beyond the comprehension of
men who seek her love, especially Morell, who misunderstands everything at this
juncture for he sees what he wants to see and not who she really is.
SECTION– B
Answer 3.
(a) Prospero has a well-made plan in his mind to mete out justice for the sins for Alonso,
Sebastian and Antonio.
Gonzalo is weary, and Alonso has given up hope that his son might still be alive.
Antonio, hearing this news, utters to Sebastian, reminding him of their plan. Antonio says
they will murder Alonso tonight when everyone else sleeps.
Strange music begins to play, and Prospero enters, invisible. Before the eyes of the king
and shipwrecked lords, a magical banquet is laid by friendly spirits who invite the king
and company to eat. All wonder at the strange sight for a while, thinking they could now
believe anything. Before they can dig in to their meal, Ariel appears in the shape of a
harpy and the food disappears. The Harpy stuns the men, and declares that three men of
sin are at the table. The Harpy says Destiny has caused the sea to put them on this
uninhabited land because they are men unfit to live. He vanishes, and the procession of
spirits enters again and removes the banquet table. Prospero, still invisible, applauds the
work of his spirit and announces with satisfaction that his enemies are now in his control.
He leaves them in their distracted state and goes to visit Ferdinand and his daughter.
Prospero’s decision to use Ariel as an illusory instrument of “fate” is designed to govern
the thinking of the nobles at the table by imposing his own ideas of justice and right
action upon their minds. Whether or not Prospero’s case is really just—as it may well
be—his use of Ariel in this scene is done purely to further his persuasion and control. He
knows that a supernatural creature claiming to represent nature will make a greater
impression in advancing his argument than he himself could hope to.
(b) Prospero's breaking of the magic staff and destroying of the magic books symbolizes
giving up of his magic. The magic staff, the books, and the robe are representative of his
magical powers and his higher status over other people. By giving up the items, he is
giving up his magic and his ability to have things go his way, as we see him do earlier in
the play. For example, he creates the tempest so that he can fix the wrongs done to him
long before, he puzzles the nobles, and he keeps Caliban and Ariel under his control. The
reader also finds him "giving up" these powers for a brief period of time when he talks to
Miranda, as he puts down his staff and books, as well as taking of his magical robe. The
act of destroying these things is his way of showing that he is giving up his magic and
letting fate do its thing by not interfering with it.
Prospero is an ageing magician who renounces his powers and at the same time
relinquishing his daughter to a new life of which he might not be a part. By destroying
these things, Prospero takes away his ability to control everything. He stops being
somewhat of a supernatural figure, and chooses to become normal, or more human.
(c) Caliban is partly supernatural, but possesses no greater powers than those of ordinary
mortals and can only do services of a menial of savage race. Though his father is the devil
the only thing he inherits is deformity. This deformity marks him for life. There has
always been a dispute between Caliban and Prospero, with Caliban always trying to gain
his freedom. Even though Caliban has a human shape and half human parentage, he
supposedly had a soul and unlike Caliban, Ariel has none.
A strange fish! Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish painted, not a holiday
fool there but would give a piece of silver. There would this monster make a man. Any strange
beast there makes a man. When they will not give a do it to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out
ten to see a dead Indian.
The moment Trinculo lays eyes on Caliban, the only thought that comes to his mind is
that Caliban is a strange fish and he can be marketed as an exhibition piece which would
fetch money and much more Caliban would.
In spite of what everyone who sees Caliban as 'marketable' he cannot be considered
marketable as he is a living being though half-human and half-beast. He deserves a better
chance to live well in his own island.
Answer 4.
Family feuds have constantly been in vogue all through ages and this fact has been beaten
thoroughly in literature too. Shakespeare too uses the family feud as the background for
the famous play Romeo and Juliet.
But Shakespeare was also a master of displaying the bitter feuds that go within the
confines of the family itself. In King Lear, the title character causes some sort of a rift
between his daughters when he declares he’ll bestow the largest inheritance on the one
who loves him the most. And in, Hamlet, the prince of Denmark is little put out to
discover that his uncle has killed his father in order to marry his mother.
Families have always laid rule and conditions but that never deterred the children from
falling in love. There is determination amongst the lovers and is very much present
between Ferdinand and Miranda.
Miranda is a unique and exquisite creation of the poet's magic. She is his ideal maiden,
brought up from babyhood in an ideal way — the child of nature, with no other training
than she received from a wise and loving father.
Ferdinand is the son of the King of Naples. During the storm, he is separated from the
rest of the king's party. Once ashore, he meets Miranda and falls in love with her. Like
Miranda, Ferdinand is honest and kind, a loving son, who will make a loving husband to
Miranda. He easily comforts Prospero that he will respect Miranda's chastity and not
violate the trust he has been given. Ferdinand also respects and loves his father. He
makes a commitment to marry Miranda while thinking that his father is dead. When he
finds that his father is alive, Ferdinand immediately recognizes his father's authority and
informs his father of his obligation to Miranda. Ferdinand is an honourable match for
Miranda, sharing many of the same qualities that his innocent bride displays.
There is no present feud in the play, actually the feud is far less in intensity than in other
plays of Shakespeare. Prospero orchestrates the meeting of Ferdinand and Miranda and
like any father of the bride runs tests to see the determination between the lovers and is
glad to bless their union.
Answer 5.
(a) There are hardly two women characters in the play, Candida the heroine, who is
contrasted with another lady character Proserpine Garnett. These two characters are
contrasted in such a manner that one can be regarded closer to idealism and the other
closer to realism in life. Proserpine's character is blurred from her clearly defined position
as a typist secretary at Morell's home.
Proserpine is a woman of thirty, is brisk, dressed neatly in cheap clothes, civil in her
manner and affectionate. She concentrates all her efforts on making Morell happy by
using her excellent secretarial abilities and her willingness to share the household chores.
She longs for love but Morell does not see that, and not with any other secretaries before
her, who had liked him. Prossy is hard working and smarter than what can be said of the
men in the play. She recognises that Lexy imitates Morell and speaks all his words and
has nothing of his own to say. Prossy hopes to find in a leeway in getting closer with
Morell and helps out in the household chores to gain attention from Morell. Candida is
aware of this feeling of love in Proserpine towards Morell but Morell does not recognise
English-II | 5
it. Proserpine is jealous when Morell praises Candida every other moment and wishes
that he would admire her too. She continues to stay with the Morell household even with
the less pay she gets, she hopes to rise higher in her social standing at least by means of
being associated with the Morell family.
(b) The children are absent in the play, but we witness men who behave more like children
than anything else. When we look at the play, we find references being made of how
Candida takes care of Morell and Morell sets her as the primary care giver and is even
willing to allow Lexy to be taken care of by Candida.
It does not really matter that there are no children present, as Morell and Marchbanks
behave like children and of course, Candida mothers them. Her love for Morell is more
like that of a mother to a child than a wife to a husband. She is loving and very patient
with Morell and his false understanding of all things that matter and his vanity in
believing that he is a wonderful provider and does his role as a husband well. With
Marchbanks she evokes the love of a shy teenager, but in her heart treats him like a child,
who is whimsical and poetic about the same.
Above all she seems to have the common feelings and thoughts that demarcate every
role, for she loves all the same and treats them well to keep herself well. She makes her
choice to lift the weaker of the two men, just as a mother who favours a weak child in a
family.
(c) Candida is a character who is loved by all and is well in the household of Morell, even
there were assumptions on the part of Morell. Candida holds the family together and
being a pleasant person everyone who meets her loves her. When Marchbanks enters the
scene he becomes the perceptive poet who loves Candida for who she really is,
understands and also see through Proserpine, about her love for Morell. He understands
Morell for who he is, a person who is full of platitudes, unable to understand people as
they are. This nature in Morell precipitates to a scene where Marchbanks questions every
notion he assumed was true and that everyone loved him for that; including Marchbanks
declaration of love for Candida. In their altercations they end up goading themselves to
ask Candida to choose between the two of them.
Candida’s decision is that, in spite of being an idealist, she cannot overcome the
traditional economic morality of the society. Though being romantic, she is not influenced
by illusions. Candida, in order to bring up her children well, needs economical help from
man. Her insight enables her to evaluate the two men, and she identifies that it is her
husband who can provide a more secured home and sustenance for her and her children.
Answer 6.
Eugene Marchbanks plays the role that puts Morell's marriage in perspective.
Marchbanks understands everything, the quality that does draws Candida towards him.
But when the time comes to choose she views by the moral standard and her choice is not
based on her heart. The thought process of Morell is contrasted with Marchbanks'
thoughts and expressions.
Morell thinks linearly; when his marriage is threatened he considers nothing but the
threat itself; if he had put the threat in perspective of his happy marriage, he would
realize that the danger never existed. As rivals for Candida’s affections, Morell and
Marchbanks feel the only option in settling the matter is for Candida to choose between
the two men.
Marchbanks is concerned with Candida appreciating him, and knowing he understands
her; he cannot understand how the object of his desire can love a windbag like Morell.
Marchbanks accepts the knowledge that what he thinks to be his undying love for
Candida is actually passing infatuation and comes to the conclusion that he must remain
a lonely poet. He concludes that domesticity, security, and love are inferior ends
compared with the sublime and lonely renunciation of the artist.
With great condescension, Marchbanks focuses on how Morell’s marriage is structured;

his opinion of their domestic situation unnerves Morell.
Marchbanks’ prediction to Morell that Candida him forces the clergyman to re-evaluate
himself, his wife, and their marriage.
The longer Marchbanks remains in Morell’s existing internal situation, the more he comes
to realize that he wants no part of it. This ultimately leads to his exit, relieving the
pressure he has put on their relationship.
Marchbanks will always have a fond memory of the first woman he fell in love with;
Morell will never forget the young man who poked holes in his complacency; and so
forth.
Eugene's role is to bring her to the realization that he is not the 'weakest' after all his
vulnerable appearance belies a confidence in his own talents highlighting her husband's
lack of them.
A different notion about the ideal woman is presented by Eugene Marchbanks, Candida‘s
young admirer who stands for Romanticism.
Marchbanks presents himself as the extreme Romantic aesthetic against Morell‘s rigid
Victorian conventions established by religious and social institutions.
Question 7.
Question 8.
Question 9.
CONTEMPLATIONS
Answer 10.
(a) Dr. Johnson’s anecdote is if people wish to live well together, they must not hold too
much of logic, and suppose that everything is to be settled by sufficient reason. He saw
this clearly with regard to married people. The author justifies that if you would be loved
as a companion, avoid unnecessary criticism upon those with whom you live. The
number of people who have taken out judge’s patents for themselves is very large in any
society. Now it would be hard for a man to live with another who was always criticising
his actions, even if it were kind and just criticism. It would be like living between the
glasses of a microscope. But these self-elected judges, like their prototypes, are very apt to
have the persons they judge brought before them in the guise of culprits.
He also states that one of the most provoking forms of the criticism above alluded to is
that which may be called criticism over the shoulder. He affirms not to let familiarity
swallow up all courtesy. Many of us have a habit of saying to those with whom we live
such things as we say about strangers behind their backs. There is no place, however,
where real politeness is of more value than where we mostly think it would be
superfluous. He insists that one may speak truth, or rather speak out more plainly, to
their associates, but not less courteously, than they do to strangers.
(b) Arthur Helps in his ‘On the Art of Living with Others’ beautifully lays down the rules
and conditions to lead a happy and peaceful life. He describes that there are two great
classes of promoters of social happiness; one is cheerful people, and the other being
reserved or reticent people. The latter are more beneficial to the society than the former,
as they are non-conductors of all the heats and animosities around them. To have peace in
English-II | 7
a house or family or in any social circle, the members of it must be careful of passing on
hasty and uncharitable speeches, especially with an idea of playing mischief. The reticent
people are very good ones as they avoid, making irrelevant speeches, having stock
subjects of disputation and unnecessary criticism towards others.
(c) The author notes that it is indeed very difficult to apply great principles to daily life. To
make relationships harmonious, he indicates certain do’s and don’ts to be applied to, in
real life. If people are to live happily, they must not fancy. Sometimes men do not expect
the outer world to agree with them in all points, but are vexed at not being able to drive
their own tastes and opinions into those they live with. Diversities distress them. They do
not see that there are many forms of virtue and wisdom.
It is very difficult for people living together to follow certain rules such as not to interfere
unreasonably with others, not to ridicule their tastes, not to question other’s resolves, not
to indulge in perpetual comment on their proceedings and not hold too much value to
logic. The author says that there is no time for reasoning and logic and nothing that is
worth them. He gives an example of two lawyers or two politicians can go on contending,
and there is no end of one-sided reasoning on any subject, such contention may not be the
best mode for arriving at the truth. Certainly it might not be the way to arrive at good
temper.
The author finalizes by saying that criticism is one of the most provoking form, which
does not give the mind a soothing effect, which is difficult to overcome. To let familiarity
swallow up all courtesy. It is also a habit which hinders the application of great principles
to daily life.
Answer 11.
The speaker, “On the Decay of the Art of Lying” says how everyone has told a lie at some
point in their lifetime. He eulogized the timeless tradition of telling a lie for various
benefits such as recreation, escaping a punishment, solace, or just feeling good. He
maintained that this practice has been in vogue from the beginning of civilization. He also
says that the noble art of lying is so much corrupted in recent times.
The speaker begged his listeners not to take offence for being identified as people who
lied on occasions. In his view, lying was a noble art, and not to be ashamed about it.
He emphasizes that lying should be used for positive purposes rather than lying to hurt
others. The wise thing for us is to diligently train ourselves to lie with a good object, and
not an evil one; to lie for others advantage, and not our own; to lie healingly, charitably,
humanely, not cruelly, hurtfully, maliciously; to lie gracefully and graciously, not
awkwardly and clumsily; to lie firmly, frankly, squarely, with head erect, not haltingly,
tortuously, with pusillanimous mien, as being ashamed of our high calling.
The speaker states that the noble art of lying should be taught in schools, and through
newspapers. The author also expresses his view on silent lie. The deception which one
conveys by simply keeping still and concealing the truth. The author says that courteous
lying is a sweet and loving art, and should be cultivated. He affirms that habitual truth-
teller does not exist or never existed. Lying is a necessity of our circumstances. The author
is implying a comparison between polite, or courteous, lying and an edifice, or a building
structure.
Overall, he explains that if one has good intentions towards the other person when they
lie, it is considered acceptable, because in the end-lying is inevitable.
Answer 12.
When Lamb told the children that he courted their mother ‘the fair Alice W—n’ for seven
years. He also tried to clarify to the children how he faced problems due to her ‘coyness’
and ‘denial’. At this point, he noticed the strong similarity between the appearance of his
wife and that of Alice. He feels as if his wife was communicating with him through Alice.
Finally, he woke up and found himself in his armchair where he had fallen asleep. He
states that James Elia was no more there and everything that has been mentioned in the
essay so far was being described by Elia.
The response of children makes the essay dramatic and explains the effect of the essay on
their mind. On one hand their actions make their characteristic features clear. For
instance, Alice seemed to feel discomfort when the grandmother’s ability to learn things
by heart was mentioned. This shows that she was a typical child who won’t like to
mention the qualities of others that she found lacking in herself. When Lamb told them
that he preferred to see things at mansion rather than eating fruits, John put the grapes
back. This shows his innocence as well as his ability to control his senses.
The essay does not end before an unexpected turn is given to the events. The way it is
mentioned that all the description through the essay was based merely on a dream adds
to a suspense element to the essay and also makes it open-ended. The ending makes the
essay even more psychological than as mentioned by the narrator’s feelings and the
response of the children had made it.
The surprise ending also points towards the inability of Lamb to get his love responded
positively by Alice. The children that have been so close to him in his dream represent the
‘dream’ or aspirations that he had while trying to woo his beloved.
The relationships of the narrator with the grandmother and his brother have been
described very clearly. This description has served to clarify his characteristic features
and develop the theme of family relationships as well as the theme of loss and to make
the essay dramatic.
ECHOES
Answer 13.
(a) Salvatore had a simple life. Born into a family of fishermen, he was destined to follow
them in their footsteps. However, life for Salvatore isn’t simple as he embarks on a
journey to hold onto his goodness in all the adversaries of life.
He was conscripted in the naval army of the country. It was an obligation that he could
not escape before he settled down. Salvatore is sad to leave his home and life behind but
nonetheless takes the prospects of his new life in his stride, awaiting his return to Marina,
his fiancée.
Salvatore in the course of his army routine reaches China, where he was afflicted by a
debilitating disease, and had to be admitted to a hospital in the distant country. Salvatore
had contacted a virulent strain of rheumatism, and was advised to avoid heavy manual
work for the rest of his life. The disease is a blow to Salvatore that brings manifold
changes in life. Salvatore the pragmatic and optimistic man, refuses to brood on his
misfortunes of ill health and instead considers this disease to be a harbinger of relief from
the duties of the army. He is home-sick and love-sick young man and yearns to go back to
his native land. The prospect of meeting his love and starting a new life with her had
made him ecstatic to the point of ignoring the chronic illness he had contacted.
However, Salvatore’s happiness was short-lived. Upon returning, he realizes the impact
that rheumatism would bring to his life. Salvatore’s fiancée refuses to accept him as he
was crippled and could not work hard enough to earn a living. She stands by her family’s
unanimous decision to marry someone else who would be fit enough to be the bread
earner of the family.
Salvatore is heartbroken and weeps in his ‘mother’s bosom’ but he isn’t bitter and holds
no grudges against Marina for not marrying him. He moves on in his life and marries
Assunta, a woman older to him and ‘ugly’ but who gives him the happiness of
domesticity.
(b) Salvatore marries a young woman named Assunta. Though she was ugly, older than him,
yet he agrees to marry her because he realizes that she loved him. Having suffered the
English-II | 9
pangs of heartbreak himself, he doesn’t wish Assunta the same. Moreover, his mother
informs him of the money that she would bring along with her after the marriage that
could comfortably ease their life.
After marriage, Salvatore gives himself completely to the domestic ways of life. From the
money brought in marriage by Assunta, they buy a fishing boat and rent a vineyard.
They lived in a tiny white-washed cottage at the middle of the vineyard. Assunta was a
good woman who took care of her husband well. Salvatore lived the life of a hard
working fisherman, he went for fishing and sold the catch to earn his livelihood. On days
he could not go fishing he worked in the vineyard from dawn to dusk, with a short break
in the afternoon.
Salvatore wasn’t completely free from his chronic illness. Rheumatism often returned to
harangue him making it very hard for him to work. He would then indolently lie on the
beach, smoking cigarettes and gazing at the sea. Assunta had borne him two sons and he
was a doting father to them, spending quality time with them on the beach.
Salvatore’s relationship with Assunta developed after marriage. He might have not loved
her but he definitely began to respect her for the care and love she provided to him.
(c) Salvatore by Maugham is written in the style of a parable, which aims to dictate a very
important lesson of life. Maugham though hesitant of being able to hold the attention of
his readers on a concept that is about “goodness, just goodness,” nonetheless is convinced
by the end that the world is sure to accept a man with the rarest quality, the most
precious and the loveliest one that is the inherent goodness in the man’s character just as
he did.
The reader is initially kept baffled by Maugham’s narrating technique which describes
the very ordinary life and circumstances of an Italian fisherman. There is nothing distinct
to be intrigued, yet the reader is hooked by the portrait of a common man who faces
situations and a series of disappointments just like any ordinary man.
his life. He remains committed to his goodness, remaining stoic throughout. Whether it is
the first blow of joining the army, leaving his world behind or the acceptance of his
chronic disease that would never allow him to be fit again. In all of these situations,
Salvatore refuses to bow down and goes on to conquer and live a life that he could have
never imagined. Though it was a hard life for him, nonetheless he faces it with complete
grit and determination and the most beautiful manners that he possessed.
ugly lady but with love and devotion for him that could keep him happy. By adjusting to
spells out the perfect life for him. And at the end of this all of this is possible for Salvatore
due to his most precious and loveliest quality—goodness. Salvatore, isn’t dynamic but
even in his stoicism he faces life with cheerful acceptance and integrity. Maugham holds
Salvatore up to the reader as an example of pure radiance and goodness and as someone
who should be emulated in dealing with the trials and tribulations of life.
Answer 14.
Writing in the twentieth century, Katherine Mansfield’s works brought about an
innovative style in themes and narration as she experimented with the modernist
movement. Her works concentrate on the originality of the events experienced, however
trifle they may seem; they narrate themes that are significant and throws light on the
society of those times. “The Singing Lesson” gives an apt inside into the female
consciousness of the time and the relationship shared between men and women. Her
writing style is a blend of the use of interior monologues and symbols to showcase the
story and its themes.
With the very first line of the story Mansfield introduces the theme of despair. “With
despair—cold, sharp despair—buried deep in her heart like a wicked knife.” The above
line sets the tone of the story and clearly indicates what could be expected in the next
course of the story. Miss Meadows, a thirty-year-old music teacher is disturbed by the
news of her broken engagement conveyed to her by her fiancé in a letter. Upon reading
the letter, she is in a state of constant turmoil, internally as well as externally. Her
disturbed emotional state does not allow her to keep her professional life separate from
her personal one. The turmoil of her relationship reaches her classroom affecting her
behavior and her responses towards her students. Her wavered thoughts colours her
perspective and overpowers her normal senses.
Mansfield highlights the despair that is looming large in the story through the description
of the school’s “cold corridors” which highlights the character’s inner state in those
moments. Her conversation with the head mistress also reveals further the state of
despairing affairs in her life which are “rather sharp”. There looms a tension in the
atmosphere as well as within Miss Meadows. The somber mood is heightened by the use
of simile “buried deep in her heart like a wicked knife”, which reminds us of death. It
shows the cold attitude of Miss Meadows and her mental condition in which she could be
driven to do anything; even kill someone. Her cold feelings and the emotional turmoil
has imprisoned her into a state of confusion with only bitterness for people who she
comes into contact with. The time of the year when the story is based is autumn; a season
bearing the forbearance of the coldness that is prevalent within and without. The setting,
atmosphere and environment in Mansfield’s story bring out the theme of despair
effectively.
She even forces her state of despair on her students by selecting a lament to be sung in the
class. She channelizes her lament for the lost relationship through the lament sung by her
students. She constantly goes back in her memory to the letter written by her fiancé. She
feels betrayed, almost feeling “bleeding to death, pierced to the heart”. The red colour of
the blood represents the love as well as the rage Miss Meadows feels when her pride is
injured.
Katherine in the short story that explores the theme of appearance. Miss Meadows puts
up an appearance of the unaffected, ready to carry on with her every day’s duties. But her
heart and mind betrays her. She is so deeply tormented by the duality in her feelings and
appearance that she subconsciously reveals her true self very easily. The lament she
selects is an expression of her own lovelorn condition. With every note and sigh, there is
tension mounting in Miss Meadow’s heart which blinds her rationality. She desires to
express it out because the hope of living a happy life has been snatched from her, yet she
follows the norms of the society and does not betray her emotions publicly.
Miss Meadows is constantly worried about her image, she fears her reputation and
therefore decides that she would have to leave the school, too. She could never face the
Science Mistress or the girls after everyone got to know about it. She would have to
disappear.’ This line clearly spells Miss Meadows concern for her appearance in front of
others. She fears she will be ridiculed and laughed upon as an old maiden who has
passed the marriageable age. Thus, to escape the torture of being ridiculed she decides to
quit her job.
Mansfield through her story is also exploring the theme of desperation in women to find
a suitable groom for marriage. It was as if marriage was a societal norm, a compulsion to
be followed to appear respectable in the eyes of the society. Miss Meadows says ‘Love me
as little as you like’, this shows she doesn’t care for Basil’s love, “‘she knew that he didn’t
English-II | 11
love her”, but her perception of remaining single until thirty was what she cared all about
and was desperate to change.
The telegram that comes at the end bringing her the news of reconcilement with her lover
brings back her life with it. As she crosses the labyrinth of the corridors, it is almost that
life has eluded death and the music of life wins the battle in the end. Miss Meadows
rushes to the music hall to sing the song of life, happiness because it is spring time again.
She asks the girls to sound warm, joyful, eager’ because she has been presented with the
new ray of hope and sunshine in her life. Miss meadows perspective from despair moves
on to happiness. The theme of happiness hinted in the story is shallow. The happiness
isn’t triggered by meaningful emotions or deep realizations but it is triggered by as a
menial act of Basil to accept Miss Meadows back in her life.
Answer 15.
Sir Alexander’s meeting with a Chinese artist during one of his sojourns brings the plot
together and drives the story to its culmination. Indeed, the tradition plays the triggering
role for the plot to role in the direction and gain momentum. Sir Alexander travelled on
the horseback to the local villages to interact with the local people and know more about
their culture and traditions. Sir Alexander was always accompanied by a Mandarin who
would act as an interpreter and a guide during these journeys.
On one of the village trips, Sir Alexander happened to cross the village of Ha Li Chua
where he chanced to meet an experienced craftsman at his workshop. His love for art
made him stay back and admire the little figurines of “miniature emperors and classic
figures” that the man had created. They interacted and discovered their similar love for
Ming art. The craftsman was humbled by his praise and knowledge for the Ming dynasty
and decided to show him an exquisite piece of the Ming art that he had bequeathed as an
heir. Sir Alexander was wonder struck to find the ivory figurine of the Emperor Kung
made by the great artist Pen Q. He beheld the beauty in front of his eyes, drinking in the
intricate details of the craftsmanship carried out to create a masterpiece. The beauty and
charm of this exquisite piece made Sir Alexander speak the most undiplomatic words of
his career. He professed his desire to own the figurine of Emperor Kung.
The Chinese follow their traditions rigorously and Sir Alexander’s utterance is a reminder
to the craftsman to display his hospitality to a distinguished guest of his stature, who
stopped by to admire his work. “If an honored guest requests something the giver will
grow in the eyes of his fellow men by parting with it.” This tradition was kept intact as
the craftsman parted with his heirloom and handed it over to Sir Alexander. The
subsequent action that follows in the story is all in sync with this line. Sir Alexander is
ashamed of making such a request. Overridden by guilt the Mandarin guides the
diplomat to repay the kind man’s return in the same calendar year.
The story moves forward with the tradition creating an upheaval in the lives, and rolling
the next set of actions of the other characters. Had the Chinese statue not been parted
with according to the tradition, Sir Alexander would have never helped a Chinese man
live his dream of retiring in his village. The tradition drives the plot in a way revealing
the finer qualities of the characters that get appreciated in the light of the Chinese
tradition.
The figurine was a treasure trove as in the years to come admired by the English at the
behest of the acquiescence of Sir Alexander and his sons. The truth of the statue too
revealed in the light of the same tradition. If the statue would have remained with the old
man, the truth of it being fake would have never come out. The statue travels ashore and
is put in for auction. It is however, revealed that the figurines was an exact replica and
not an original. It’s the base that had seemed to be a misfit, turns out be a finest piece of
art.
REVERIE
Answer 16.
(a) Each poem of Robert Frost exhibits a different aspect of his poetic writing style—some are
long narrative whereas some are more like a short story than to be a poem and some
others deal with his sharp sense of satire and fictional genius. These entire poems,
however, have a common focus with a sentimental touch of day-to-day activity, the rural
England, and unveiling the real struggles of real people. In “Birches,” Frost’s use of the
childhood game of swinging on birches is drawing the reader to the nostalgia of
childhood.
While writing this poem, Frost seems to be highly influenced by his childhood memories
of swinging on the birches, which used to be a popular game for children in rural
England during those days. Though it is related to nostalgic memories of childhood, but
Frost highlights here a repentance that he cannot enjoy the swinging on birches as it
doesn’t provide him peace of mind. Because he is an adult, who has a lot of
responsibilities to fulfill so he cannot leave them behind and swing towards heaven by
swinging, like a boy. The narrator is unable to enjoy even the view of a boy swinging on
the birches, he is so much under pressure of his stressed life and loads of responsibilities.
The use of birches and swinging is quite symbolic as it suggests a common man’s wish to
escape the materialistic world and reach up to the heights of imagination. This conflict
between desire and responsibility is also expressed in “The Sound of Trees,” too is highly
suggestive when the narrator finds a need to escape the “roots” of responsibility in the
persistent swaying of the trees outside his house.
There is a brilliant use of blank verse with an emphasis on the “sound of sense” which too
makes the nostalgia clearer in the following lines :
“Soon the sun’s warmth makes them shed crystal shells
Shattering and avalanching on the snow crust —
Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away…”
(b) The poem clearly carves out the subtle difference between childhood problems, and the
everlasting adult responsibilities. As it is easy to do away from the childhood problems,
but one cannot escape the responsibility of adulthood. The poet expresses that as a child,
it is easier to conquer all the problems, and life appears under one’s own control. But for
an adult it is not that easy. A simple swinging can bring a lot of smiles and rejoice on
child’s face but the same activity may not even get space in the daily life of an adult, as he
is loaded with a stressful life full of responsibilities. Here the poet is simply asserting that
the problems of childhood are so minor that they are easy to handle. The second stanza
symbolizes that children are fearless, that they can make their way to the height of their
problems and bring them down, without a care at all. Frost highlights the narrator’s
regret that he can no longer find this peace of mind from swinging on birches. Because he
is an adult, he is unable to leave his responsibilities behind and climb towards heaven
until he can start fresh on the earth.
As described above, the poet has presents the complex issues of adulthood in contrast to
that of childhood. He has used several literary devices and writing style to make it more
suggestive. The metaphors of cobwebs and twigs symbolizes the hard times in life which
makes life quite dull stereotype and stressful at times. The poet is in a fix at this point of
life, unable to decide what to do and where to go. He often misses the sweet little
innocent joys of childhood and its similar problems which used to be sorted out easily. It
is at such a point of life which has a lot of hardships Frost longs to go back to his
childhood when life was so simple and rejoicing.
It can be summed up that “Birches” is a poem which makes its words lively by injecting
deepest nostalgic feelings of childhood in many people’s mind. Frost has used metaphors
English-II | 13
so beautifully that a complex journey of the theme of this poem seems filled with the
imagery of nature all around. As the poem is written in iambic pentameter it makes a
smooth flow of the topic taken up. “Birches” fundamentally describes the struggles and
the responsibilities of adulthood. So an adult longs to go back to his childhood’s simple
activities which were as joyous and relieving as stress free.
(c) Yes, absolutely the poet’s wish to escape to the heaven by swinging on the birches from
the routine adult life is purely temporary. As the poet and the narrator of this poem is a
well-developed personality with a cool minded view towards life. He is very much clear
about the realities of life, which may be bitter, but are true. These realities do have
problems for man, often creates monotony, a stereotypic life. But these problems and
issues are the essence of life, or better say in the terms of the poet in this poem, these
issues are one’s responsibility, from which one can’t run away, he should complete it. It is
so the poet says that the swinging of a boy is quite different from that of a man. A boy can
swing in and do away with all his problems. But a man cannot do so, as he is stressed and
coiled badly in the responsibilities of life. So he may escape but only temporarily. One
more reason is that he likes the Earth planet which is full of beautiful things scattered
around. He would like to move away from Earth and again come back here.
But at the same time the daily functions and problems of life which makes it mundane
and stressful must be given a break. It is here the poet decides to swing to the heaven by
the Birches, just for a change, not permanently. As this Earth is a beautiful place to own.
He wants to be rejuvenated and come back on Earth to enjoy the happiness over her and
also to fulfill his responsibilities which he beholds as an adult on this earth. The poet
wishes to escape as a boy climbing towards heaven, but he at the same time wants to
return back to the Earth too. It creates a wonderful world of freedom full of imagination,
which is appealing and relieving from the stress full life of adult but the narrator doesn’t
want to run away from the “Truth” that is his responsibilities on the Earth to be
completed by him. So he desires for a temporary escape only.
Answer 17.
‘We are the Music Makers’ is written with the theme of the transformative power of all
forms of art and the greatness of the artists. Along with the praise for artists and their art
this poem emphasizes their role in the world. As the whole world and the objects here are
subject to destruction with the passing time, its only the artists and their great work of art
which are immortal. Their works not only entertain people, rather educate them, inspire
them and often at times bring major changes in the society. Such contributions of artist
make their presence vital and let them survive longer than a civilization. We have seen
several ages of social changes, be it Elizabethan or Victorian, all have passed only the
remaining thing is the art and the names of the artists who contributed during those
periods are still being studied. An artist is immortal –as he creates art which becomes
immortal making its creator immortal too. An artist creates music that calms our psyche,
paintings that soothes our sight, sculptures that surprise us with joy, stories which please
and entertain us. Not only that they leave a landmark behind them by their creation of art
for the generations to come and get inspired for doing such or some more better work to
enrich the cultural heritage of the living society.
The phrase ‘world losers and world forsakers’ highlights the difficulty of an artist in
sustaining a life on art alone. Arthur O’Shaughnessy, the poet expresses that to be an
artist it requires sacrifice, an artist has to undergo a lot of difficulties in order to be a
perfect artist. The poet defends the artists against the common view that artists are
escapists. The artists wander by the lone sea and oceans, but it is not for escaping rather
in order to find inspiration. It is necessary to be at length of human strife to visualize the
beauty lying in human nature. Artists create divinity through their creations. Such
creations are immortal and goes on making the artist live longer than any long going
civilization. An artist challenges the realm of society. This suffices the artist’s powerful
role of being the ‘movers and shakers’ of the society through their art.
We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o’erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world’s worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth.
In the third stanza, O’Shaughnessy acclaims once again the power of artist. He refers to
the city of Babel and Nineveh. The artists have inspired people to build ‘the world’s
greatest cities’ by their inspiring creations. It is the artists who embellished the glory of
several empires with their magnificent masterpieces either in sculpture or in writing. In
the final stanza, the poet concludes that it’s the ability of the artist to create and recreate a
mythology, no one else can omit his creation. This is the power of the artist. Time will
pass and with it will pass away huge monuments, great empires and inspiring people but
the artist and his work will keep on growing as every time a new artist would be coming
up with a new kind of work of art. So art and artists are immortal.
Answer 18.
‘The Spider and the Fly’ is a famous poem by Mary Howitt is full of entertainment and a
very important message for all of us, especially kids, who easily get trapped in the false
promises and flattery words of the strangers.
Before we get into dealing with the moral of the poem, we need to describe its theme.
'The Spider and the Fly' is a bit funny and a bit serious tale. Humor is used in this poem
like a bitter medicine with a blend of serious warning. The poem presents before the
readers, a spider's successful attempts in ensnaring an innocent fly as its prey. As the
spider tried his best to attract and seduce the fly, he won over her. Similarly if the fly too
would have kept an eye on the changing tactics of the spider it won’t have fallen prey to
it.
The moral of this poem is that people should avoid bootlicking people around them, who
prey on their vanity. As in this poem the spider in the first stanza inveigle the fly to come
into its parlour, but the fly refuses. Then he offers her a comfortable bed for relaxing after
a daylong high fly, still the fly resists it wisely by saying that she may visit some other
time. Finally she falls prey to the seductive flattery words about the beauty of her eyes
and wings. Inspired by her vanity, she enters the spider’s parlour to look into the mirror,
her amazing beauty, she succumbs to death by the spider. The poet warns people to be
aware of such people who flatter others only with the intention to deceive them.
This poem can help us improve some personality flaws like the weakness to succumb to
flattery and false praise. Before falling prey to such traps we need to be cautious against
such flattery or seduction, as these play foul on our ego and we easily get trapped in
problems or often in horrible situations. As the fly trusted the superficial praise by the
spider and got destroyed. It sets a living example for the reader to improve the
personality flaw of not giving in to the tempting words, adulteration or false praise by
strangers, or sometimes even by known ones too.
❏❏

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SOLUTION

MODEL SPECIMEN PAPER–3

THE TEMPEST —Shakespeare

"A freckled whelp, hag-born — not honoured with a human shape."

whole natural world in comparison or in presence of men. Though it's a small

MODEL SPECIMEN PAPER–6

THE TEMPEST —Shakespeare

In simple words, he does not want to be dead now.

MODEL SPECIMEN PAPER–9

THE TEMPEST —Shakespeare

THINGS FALL APART —Chinua Achebe

MODEL SPECIMEN PAPER–12

THE TEMPEST —Shakespeare

(vi) i. Blind mole - Prospero

meaning. The appearance of a bird is metaphorically very noteworthy as it signifies

MODEL SPECIMEN PAPER–15

THE TEMPEST —Shakespeare

CANDIDA —George Bernard Shaw

With great condescension, Marchbanks focuses on how Morell’s marriage is structured;

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