Prasanna

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers A Horse and Two Goats

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers

A Horse and Two Goats Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What do you know about the village named Kritam and point out what the name means ?
Answer:
Kritam was a tiny village in the south of India. Though the village was small and consisted of less than thirty houses, it had a grand name “Kritam” which means “coronet” or “crown”. There was a Big House in the Tamil village which was made of brick and cement. It was gorgeously carved with figures of gods. The other houses were much smaller and were made of bamboo, straw and mud. There were four streets in the village and Muni, the protagonist of the story, lived in the fourth street.

Question 2.
Comment on Muni’s occupation and his domestic situation.
Answer:
Muni is a shepherd who earns his daily bread by grazing goats or sheep. There was a time in his youth when he owned a flock of forty goats and sheep but now his stock has dwindled to two goats only. This change in his economic situation has been caused by famines in the past. The things are so bad now that Muni is under debt and the village shopkeeper refuses to lend him any more. His wife pesters him often to get essential items for the kitchen but he is too poor to get any. He asks his wife to take the drumsticks and sell them in the market place.

Question 3.
Bring out the humour and irony in the conversation between Muni and the shop man.
Answer:
The story “A Horse and Two Goats” by R.K. Narayan is replete with touches of humour. We are amused when Muni’s wife sneers at him by saying “You have only four teeth in your jaw, but your craving is for big things”. She sends Muni to fetch dhall, chilly, curry leaves, mustard, coriander, gingelley oil etc. knowing too well that he has no money in his pocket. The shop man pays no attention to him when he sits on an upturned packing case below the platform of the shop. When he clears his throat and sneezes, the shop man loses his patience and says angrily : “What ails you ? You will fly off that seat into the gutter if you sneeze so hard, young man.” Muni is so much delighted at being addressed as a “young man” that he laughs loudly in order to please the shop man. He is able to win over the shop man as the latter likes his sense of humour to be appreciated. Muni apprises the shop man that he would be able to pay him some money because his daughter will be sending him some money on his fiftieth birthday. Later on, we come to know that Muni and his wife are childless. This is indeed ironic as well as tragic.

Question 4.
How does Muni feel after returning empty-handed from the village-shop ?
Answer:
The visit to the grocery fatigues Muni so much that he flings himself down in a corner after returning home. His wife also chides him : “Fast till the evening, it’ll do you good”. He understands that his wife is shattered with her poverty, though she is good-natured and caring about him. Her temper was undependable in the morning but improved by evening time. He knew that she would go out and work – grind corn in the Big House, sweep and scrub somewhere and earn enough to buy some food for the evening. He wonders what his wife would do if he dies suddenly. They had no children to sustain themselves at his age.

Question 5.
Describe the horse statue situated on the edge of the village. What is the part played by this statue in the story ?
Answer:
There was a huge horse-statue on the edge of the village. The pedestal of this statue was a resting place for Muni. Sitting on this pedestal for the major part of the day, Muni could enjoy the full view of the highway and see the lorries and buses pass through to the kills. It gave him a sense of belonging to a larger world. The horse was nearly life-size and it was moulded out of clay. There was a figure of a warrior beside the horse. This horse-statue plays a significant part in the story as it is unwittingly sold away to an Englishman who doesn’t understand the Tamil language spoken by Muni.

Question 6.
Comment on the communication gap between Muni and the red-faced foreigner bringing out the element of humour in the situation.
Answer:
Muni often sits at the foot of the horse- statue watching his goats and the passing vehicles. A yellow vehicle which looks like both a motor-car and a bus stops in front of him on this particular day. A red-faced foreigner gets down and looks around for help since he has run out of petrol. He approaches Muni and asks him if there is a gas-station (petrol pump) nearby. Suddenly his attention is caught by the horse- statue and he exclaims : “Marvellous”. The red faced man was wearing khaki clothes and this scares Muni because he could be a policeman or a soldier. He has an inner urge to run away but stays on. He curses his age since he can no longer put his limbs into action. Meanwhile, the foreigner comes closer to him and says “Namaste ! How do you do ?” Muni exhausts his English vocabulary saying “Yes, no,” in response. Shifting to Tamil language, he informs the foreigner that he is Muni and those two goats belong to him and nobody can challenge his claim. Failing to understand even a word, the foreigner looks in the direction of the two goats and then lights a cigarette from his silver case. Suddenly he asks Muni : “Do you smoke ?” Muni answers again
with his “Yes, no.” At this the foreigner takes out a cigarette and gives it to Muni who accepts the offer readily and gratefully. We have a touch of genial humour in this awkward meeting between a local and a foreigner.

Question 7.
What do you gather about the red-faced foreigner who meets Muni on the roadside ?
Answer:
The red-faced foreigner is an impressive character in the story “A Horse and Two Goats” written by R.K. Narayan. We come to know that this man has come from New York in America and is staying currently with his wife, Ruth, in a Srinagar hotel. Sick of the hot-summer in Connecticut, he suddenly made a plan to visit India and how he is just “doing the rounds”. After his vehicle breaks down on the way owing to shortage of petrol, he finds Muni to while away some time before he can get help from some other driver. He shows his friendliness to Muni by offering him a cigarette from his silver cigarette case. Since there is a language problem, he cannot understand whatever Muni says about his cattle and other things. He even offers to help Muni in chopping wood if the latter so desires.

Question 8.
Discuss the American tourist as an art- lover.
Answer:
Like all other European tourists, the American man shows his love of art and artifacts. Soon after meeting Muni on the roadside, the American is fascinated by the horse-statue. He has an instant desire to buy this souvenir and put it up in his living-room. From the manner in which Muni is sitting on the pedestal of the horse- statue, he gathers that Muni must be its owner. He tells Muni that he will offer a good price for this great piece of art. We are quite amused when he says :
“I appreciate the article. You don’t have to explain its points.”
In the attitude of a demonstrator the American remarks :
“This is a marvellous combination of yellow and indigo, though faded now … How do people of this country achieve these flaming colours ?”

Question 9.
Comment on “A Horse and Two Goats” as a piece of realism.
Answer:
R.K. Narayan is renowned world-wide for his realism. His portrayal of Malgudi in South India has won him great applause. He is regional yet universal in his appeal. This story is a typical example of his realistic description of characters and situations.
“A Horse and Two Goats” is replete with realistic touches. We can easily visualise the setting, the characters and the situation. The author deftly describes the details of his characters, their actions, gestures and mannerisms. Muni’s conversation with his wife, with the shop man and the American businessman is skilfully delineated. His characters are quite convincing and credible. Though there is a language-barrier between the Tamilian shepherd and the American businessman, their mutual admiration is unmistakable. The Tamilian Muni can speak only two words of English, “Yes, no” while the American can only say “Namaste”. It is this language barrier because of which Muni gets a hundred rupees from the American tourist under the impression that he has sold his goats to that foreigner whereas the American has paid this price for the horse-statue (under the impression that it belongs to Muni). Such a funny mistake proves to be harmless for both the characters. Such mistakes are the stuff of which human life is made.

A Horse and Two Goats Comprehension Passages

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The village consisted of less than thirty houses, only one of them built with brick and cement. Painted a brilliant yellow and blue all over with gorgeous carvings of gods and gargoyles on its balustrade, it was known as the Big House. The other houses, distributed in four streets, were generally of bamboo thatch, straw, mud, and other unspecified material. Muni’s was the last house in the fourth street, beyond which stretched the fields. In his prosperous days Muni had owned a flock of forty sheep and goats and sallied forth every morning driving the flock to the highway a couple of miles away.

(i) What is the name of the village referred to here ? Where is it situated ?
Answer: The name of the village referred to here is Kritam. It is a tiny village, situated far away from the highway at the end of a rough track. ‘Kritam’ in Tamil means ‘crown’.

(ii) Describe the Big House.
Answer: The Big House was built with brick and cement. It was painted in a brilliant yellow and blue colour. There were carvings of gods and gargoyles on several posts.

(iii) What had Muni owned in his days of prosperity ? What did he do every morning ?
Answer: Muni had owned a flock of forty sheep and goats in his days of prosperity. Every morning he went out with his cattle to graze them.

(iv) What did Muni feed his flock with ? When did he come back home ? What did he carry home ?
Answer: Muni fed his flock with foliage. He came back home at sunset. He gathered faggots and dry sticks and carried them home for fuel.

(v) What did Muni’s wife cook for him in the morning ? How did she cook it ?
Answer: Muni’s wife cooked balls of millet flour for him in the morning. She boiled water in a mud pot. Then she threw a handful of millet flour into it, and added salt in it. Then she made balls of millet flour.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
He flung himself down in a comer to recoup from the fatigue of his visit to the shop. His wife said, “You are getting no sauce today, nor anything else. I can’t find anything to give you to eat. Fast till the evening, it’ll do you good. Take the goats and be gone now,” she cried and added, “Don’t come back before the sun is down.”

(i) What fatigue does Muni refer to ?
Answer: Muni had gone to the shop to get rice, dhal, spices, oil and a potato on credit, but the shopman refused to give any item on credit. Rather, he was insulted by the shopman for making lame excuses and telling lies. He was disappointed and sad. He refers to his insult and disappointment as fatigue.

(ii) Why does Muni’s wife tell Muni, “Fast till the evening, it will do you good” ?
Answer: Muni asks his wife to cook drumsticks in a sauce. In order to cook drumsticks, she needs rice, dhal, spices, oil and a potato, but not a single item is there in the kitchen. Muni goes to the shop to get these things on credit. The shopman refuses to give him any item on credit. Rather he insults him. He comes back and tells everything to his wife. So Muni’s wife gets angry and tells him “fast till the evening, it will do you good.”

(iii) Why is Muni’s wife upset and angry ?
Answer: Muni and his wife lead a poor life. They don’t have anything to eat. Muni asks him to cook drumsticks in a sauce. But there is no sauce in the kitchen. Muni goes, to the shop to get the essential items on credit, but the shopman refuses to give him any item on credit. Rather he insults him. He tells everything to his wife. So Muni’s wife gets upset and angry because there is nothing to eat at home. She is upset and angry due to poverty and absence of eatables in the house.

(iv) Why did she ask Muni not to come back home before sunset ?
Answer: Muni went away to graze his goats without eating anything. She asked Muni not to come back home before sunset because she would somehow manage some food for him in the evening.

(v) How did she plan to earn enough to buy foodstuff for the evening meal ?
Answer: She planned to go out and grind com in the Big House, sweep or scrub somewhere, and earn enough to buy foodstuff and keep a dinner ready for him in the evening.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Unleashing the goats from the drumstick tree, Muni started out, driving them ahead and uttering weird cries from time to time in order to urge them on. He passed through the village with his head bowed in thought. He did not want to look at anyone or be accosted’. A couple of cronies lounging in the temple corridor hailed him, but he ignored their call.

(i) What did Muni do to urge the goats to move on ? Why didn’t he want to talk to anybody?
Answer: Muni uttered weird cries from time to time to urge the goats to move on. He was absorbed in his own thoughts and therefore did not want to talk to anybody.

(ii) Why did he ignore his cronies who had known him since his days of affluence ? Describe his days of affluence.
Answer: He ignored his cronies who had known him since his days of affluence because he was now poor and led a miserable life. He had no money to entertain his cronies. During his days of affluence, he had a flock of forty sheep and goats.

(iii) How does wealth lie in sheep ?
Answer: During his days of affluence, Muni had a flock of sheep. Fleece on the sheep is used to make woollen clothes. So wealth lies in the fleece of the sheep.

(iv) Where did Muni lead his goats to ? What did he do there ?
Answer: Muni led his goats to a grassy spot near the horse statue on the edge of the village. He sat on the statue’s pedestal while the goats grazed nearby.

(v) How did Muni lose his several cattle ? What is he left with now ?
Answer: Years of drought, a great famine and an epidemic ruined Muni’s several cattle. At present he is left with two goats.

4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The horse was nearly life-size, moulded out of clay, baked, burnt, and brightly coloured, and reared its head proudly, prancing its forelegs in the air and flourishing its tail in a loop; beside the horse stood a warrior with scythe – like mustachios, bulging eyes, and aquiline nose. The horse itself was said to have been as white as a dhobi-washed sheet, and had on its back a cover of pure brocade of red and black lace, matching the multi coloured sash around the waist of the warrior. But none in the village remembered the splendour as no one noticed its existence.

(i) What advantage did Muni have of sitting on the pedestal of the statue ?
Answer: Muni had the advantage of watching the highway and seeing the lorries and buses pass through the hills and it gave him a sense of belonging to a larger world.

(ii) Describe the statue of the horse.
Answer: The statue of the horse was nearly life-size. It was moulded out of clay, baked, burnt and brightly coloured. Beside the horse stood a warrior with scythe-like moustachios, bulging eyes and acquiline nose.

(iii) What did the image makers believe in ?
Answer: The image makers believed in indicating a man of strength by bulging out his eyes and sharpening his moustache tips, by decorating the man’s chest with beads.

(iv) What was the splendour of the horse ? Why did the people in the village not recognize it ?
Answer: The horse was as white as a dhobi-washed sheet and had had on its back a cover of pure brocade of red and black lace, matching the multi-coloured sash around the waist of the warrior. This was the splendour of the horse.
The people of the village never noticed the splendour of the statue and so never recognized it.

(v) How did the young village lads damage the things near the statue ?
Answer: The young village lads gashed tree trunks with knives and tried to topple off milestones and inscribed lewd designs on the walls.

5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“I am sure you know when this horse was made,” said the red man and smiled ingratiatingly.
Muni reacted to the relaxed atmosphere by smiling himself, and pleaded, “Please go away, sir, I know nothing. I promise we will hold him for you if we see any bad character around, and we will bury him up to his neck in a coconut pit if he tries to escape; but our village has always had a clean record. Must definitely be the other village.”

(i) What case does Muni refer to ? Why is he afraid to confront the American businessman ?
Answer: Muni refers to the case of murder that had taken place. He tells the American businessman that he knows nothing of the case. But the murderer would not be able to escape the law. He swears by God and says that he knows nothing about the murder.
He is afraid to confront the American businessman because he thought the American businessman to be either a policeman or a soldier.

(ii) Why did the foreigner nod his head to whatever Muni said about the murder ? What question does the foreigner ask Muni ?
Answer: Muni spoke in Tamil which the foreigner did not understand. So he nodded his head whatever Muni said about the murder.
The foreigner asks Muni if he knew when this horse was made.

(iii) What promise did Muni make to the foreigner with regard to the murder ? What did he tell him about his village ?
Answer: Muni promised the foreigner that if they found the murderer, they would hold him for him. They would bury him up to his neck in a coconut pit if he tried to escape. He told him that their village had clean record. The murderer must be from some other village.

(iv) Why are Muni and the American businessman unintelligible to each other ? What did Muni do to get out of this awkward situation ?
Answer: Muni, a south Indian Tamilian, speaks Tamil whereas the American businessman speaks English. They don’t understand each other’s language, and so they are unintelligible to each other.
Muni felt confused and tried to get away from this place. He said that he must go home and also turned to go. But the other man seized his shoulder.

(v) What difficulties did the American face while working in the Empire State Building last August ?
Answer: In the summer of last August, he was working in short sleeves in his office on the fortieth floor of the Empire State Building. There was a power failure that day. And he was stuck there for four hours because neither the elevator nor the air conditioning plant worked.

6. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The old man now understood the reference to the horse, thought for a second, and said in his own language, “I was an urchin this high when I heard my grandfather explain this horse and warrior, and my grandfather himself was this high when he heard his grandfather, whose grandfather. …”
The other man interrupted him. “I don’t want to seem to have stopped here for nothing. I will offer you a good price for this,” he said, indicating the horse.

(i) How did Muni understand that the foreigner was making reference to the horse ?
Answer: The foreigner spoke English and tried to make Muni understand that he was referring to the horse, but Muni did not understand because he did not know English. So the foreigner almost pinioned Muni’s back to the statue and asked, “Isn’t this statue yours ? Why don’t you sell it to me ?” Muni now understood that he was making reference to the horse.

(ii) How did the American businessman conclude that Muni was the owner of the statue of the horse ?
Answer: The American businessman guessed that Muni was the owner of the statue of the horse by the way he sat on the pedestal of the statue of the horse.

(iii) How did Muni understand that the foreigner was talking about the horse ?
Answer: Muni followed the man’s eyes and pointed fingers towards the statue and then dimly understood that the foreigner was talking about the horse.

(iv) Why did Muni begin to talk about the horse enthusiastically ?
Answer: Muni felt relieved that the theme of the mutilated body had been abandoned. So, he began to talk about the horse enthusiastically.

(v) Why did the foreigner listen to the foreigner with fascination when he did not understand Muni’s language ?
Answer: Muni spoke Tamil in a stimulating manner and the foreigner listened to the sound of the language with fascination. He loved the sound of the language so much that he said, “Your language sounds wonderful.”

7. Answer the following questions with reference to R.K. Narayan’s short story entitled ‘A Horse and Two Goats’ :
The foreigner followed his look and decided that it would be a sound policy to show an interest in the old man’s pets. He went up casually to them and stroked their backs with every show of courteous attention. Now the truth dawned on Muni. His dream of a lifetime was about to be realised.

(i) What did Muni often dream of ?
Answer: Although Muni was extremely poor he often dreamt of big things. He had a craving of chew drumstick out of sauce.

(ii) How was the foreigner dressed ? Why did Muni feel the urge to run when he first laid eyes on him ? What stopped him from doing so ?
Answer: The foreigner was dressed in Khaki clothes. Evidently he looked like a policeman or a solider. Seeing the man dressed in Khaki, Muni mistook him for a policeman. He had an urge to run away. He feared lest the policeman should arrest him. His old age stopped him from running away.

(iii) Muni assumed that a recent incident had brought this visitor to his village. Give details of this incident.
Answer: A man had been murdered and his dead body was found mutilated and thrown under tamarind tree at the border between Kritam and Kuppam. This incident had take place a few weeks before.

(iv) What was the visitor actually interested in ? What did he offer Muni soon after they met ? Why did the offer surprise Muni ?
Answer: The visitor was actually interested in the statue of the horse. He offered Muni a cigrette. The offer surprised him because he had never been offered anything so respectfully.

(v) Which part of the story do you find most amusing ? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The visitor was actually interested in the statue of the horse. He offered Muni a cigarette. The offer surprised him because he had never been offered anything so respectfully.

A Horse and Two Goats Assignment

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
While he was brooding on this pleasant vision, the foreigner utilized the pause to say, “I assure you that this will have the best home in the U.S.A. I’ll push away the bookcase, you know I love books and am a member of five book clubs, and the choice and bonus volumes mount up to a pile really in our living room, as high as this horse itself.”

(i) How did the foreigner praise the horse ?
(ii) What did Muni say about the horse ?
(iii) What assurance did the foreigner give to Muni with regard to the horse ? What will he do to accommodate the horse in his house ?
(iv) What does Muni say about the pundit’s discourse in the temple about the horse ?
(v) What reply did the foreigner give to Muni when he was telling him about the pundit’s view about the horse ?

2. (a) What are Muni’s apprehensions about the American ? How does he react when the latter gives him his business card ?
(b) What do you know about the everyday life of Muni and his wife ? What impression do you form about them ?
(c) The story ‘A Horse and Two Goats’ reflects a clash between Indian culture and
American culture. Discuss with reference to the story.

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers Class 10 & 9 English

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

1. The Heart of a Tree
2. The Cold Within
3. The Bangle Sellers
4. After Blenheim
5. Television
6. Daffodils
7. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
8. The Patriot
9. Abou Ben Adhem
10. Nine Gold Medals

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

1. Chief Seattle’s Speech
2. Old Man at the Bridge
3. A Horse and Two Goats
4. Hearts and Hands
5. A Face in the Dark
6. An Angel in Disguise
7. The Little Match Girl
8. The Blue Bead
9. My Greatest Olympic Prize
10. All Summer in a Day

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

1. Chief Seattle’s Speech
2. Old Man at the Bridge
3. A Horse and Two Goats
4. Hearts and Hands
5. A Face in the Dark
6. An Angel in Disguise
7. The Little Match Girl
8. The Blue Bead
9. My Greatest Olympic Prize
10. All Summer in a Day

Treasure Trove Short Stories Summary

1. Chief Seattle’s Speech Summary
2. Old Man at the Bridge Summary
3. A Horse and Two Goats Summary
4. Hearts and Hands Summary
5. A Face in the Dark Summary
6. An Angel in Disguise Summary
7. The Little Match Girl Summary
8. The Blue Bead Summary
9. My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary
10. All Summer in a Day Summary

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

1. The Heart of a Tree
2. The Cold Within
3. The Bangle Sellers
4. After Blenheim
5. Television
6. Daffodils
7. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
8. The Patriot
9. Abou Ben Adhem
10. Nine Gold Medals

Treasure Trove Poems Summary

1. The Heart of a Tree Summary
2. The Cold Within Summary
3. The Bangle Sellers Summary
4. After Blenheim Summary
5. Television Summary
6. Daffodils Summary
7. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary
8. The Patriot Summary
9. Abou Ben Adhem Summary
10. Nine Gold Medals Summary

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers Old Man at the Bridge

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers

Old Man at the Bridge Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is your impression of the old man who was sitting at the bridge ?
Answer:
The old man is the protagonist of the story which is written in the background of the Spanish Civil War. A soldier finds him sitting alone and is curious to know about him. From the conversation between the old man and soldier we come to know that the old man is seventy-six years old. Wearing steel-rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes, he was sitting by the side of the road. He was too tired to go any farther. He had come from San Carlos because of a war which is going on. He was a little sad to leave his town and a few pets behind him.

Question 2.
What do we learn about the old man’s concern about his pets ?
Answer:
The old man has been living in San Carlos without any family. Being deserted by his family, he lives in the company of two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons. The artillery entered his home-town and the Captain told him to leave the place at the earliest. Therefore, the old man had to follow the command though he was reluctant to leave his goats, cat and pigeons to their fate. He was worried about the goats and pigeons and didn’t know what would happen to them. So far as the cat was concerned he was least worried since “a cat can look out for itself.” Here, we have an indirect criticism of warfare. Not only human beings but also animals and birds suffer during the war.

Question 3.
Bring out the main thematic concerns of the writer in the story “The Old Man at the Bridge.”
Answer:
Hemingway’s famous short story “The Old Man at the Bridge” is an anti-war story. It deals with the themes of resignation, depression and impending death during the war. A war affects not only human beings but also animals and birds. The terrific sound of bombings and explosions is too much for all living beings. This idea is brought out through the description of an old man of 76 sitting all by himself at a bridge during the Spanish Civil War. He has come all the way from his home-town, San Carlos, and is relaxing at the bridge. Inspite of a threat to his life, he is unwilling to go any farther. A young soldier who has come there to assess the enemy position asks the old man to walk on and catch a truck to reach Barcelona. But the old man expresses his inability to walk due to fatigue. The young soldier feels pity for the old man but has no means to help him. “There was nothing to do about him.” The old man has left ,behind two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons. Though he knows that a cat can fend for itself, the others (i.e., the goats and pigeons) are only at the mercy of God.

Question 4.
How has Hemingway painted the scene at the bridge where the old man was sitting ?
Answer: Hemingway has provided a picturesque scene of the bridge and the movement of the army across the river. It was a pontoon bridge (i.e., a temporary bridge made of flat-bottomed boats, floating objects etc.) A long caravan of carts, trucks, men, women and children were crossing it. The mule-drawn carts were staggering up the steep bank from the bridge with some difficulty. The peasants were also struggling up in the ankle-deep dust. But the old man, the protagonist of this story, sat still without making any signs of willingness to move. He was obviously too tired to go any farther.

Question 5.
“I am without politics”. Explain the implications of this remark made by the old man.
Answer:
During the conversation with the old man, the young soldier asks : “What politics have you ?” In reply, the old man says that he is without politics. His simple reply has far-reaching implications. It implies that a common man is interested neither in politics nor in war. It is the politicians who wage a war and it is the common man who suffers the most in a war. Not only human beings, but also animals and birds suffer in a war. There is a large-scale destruction on both sides. The old man is wise and doesn’t take anybody’s side in the war that is going on. The message of the old man is that one should be above politics for the sake of human well-being.

Question 6.
What is your impression of the narrator of the story ?
Answer:
The narrator of the story is a dutiful soldier during the Spanish Civil War. He is at the bridge to assess the position of the Fascist army on the other side of the river. While doing this duty, his attention is caught by an old man who sits alone on the road-side and who doesn’t seem to be interested in crossing the bridge. Out of his curiosity, he engages himself in a conversation with the old man. All the questions put by him to the old man speak of his sincerity towards the lonely passenger. He wants to know about his where-abouts, his family, his politics etc. He asks about his pets and when the old man tells about his goats and pigeons, the soldier tries to relieve his tension. He asks the old man whether he had left the dove-cage unlocked when the old man replies in the affirmative, the soldier points out : “Then they’ll fly”. It eases some tension from the old man’s mind, though he is still worried about the goats. The soldier is happy to think that the old man is safe for the time being because it was a gray overcast day in which the planes can’t fly easily. The old man is a kind of fatherly-figure for the soldier and he hjes his best to ease out the situation for him. Thus, we have a realistic portrait of the old man as well as the soldier in this wonderful short-story.

Question 7.
Explain why the narrator of the story takes so much time to converse with the old man. Use details from the story in support of your answer.
Answer:
The narrator is a soldier who is doing his field duty during the Spanish Civil War. He notices an old man sitting by the side of the road who seems to be too tired to go any farther. But the soldier’s present business is to cross the bridge, explore the bridgehead on the other side and find out to what point the enemy has advanced. Therefore, he leaves the old man there and moves ahead to finish the task in hand. Having done his duty, he returns over the bridge and notices the old man sitting at the same place. Now, the soldier has ample time to have a hearty chat with the old man. Therefore, he engages him in long conversation to assess his condition. Side by side, he is listening to some signal which would indicate “that ever-mysterious event called contact”.

Question 8.
What statements from the story suggest that the old man is about to give up on life ? Quote specific statements to support your answer.
Answer:
The old man, who is the protagonist of the story, is quite exhausted. He is seventy-six years old and it shows that he doesn’t have much physical strength left in him. He has walked twelve kilometers from the town of San Carlos which is his native town. Now he has left the town because of the coming battle. A captain has asked him to move on for safety. However, the old man has almost resigned himself to his fate. A few statements support this :
“… the old man sat there without moving. He was too tired to go any farther”.
When the soldier suggests that he can go towards Barcelona, the old man says :
“I know no one in that direction, but thank you very much…”.
He seems to be more worried about his two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons. The soldier also knows that he cannot help the old man in any way :
“There was nothing to do about him.”

Question 9.
How does Hemingway show that war disrupts the lives of ordinary people ? Is this portrayal realistic ? Explain why you think so.
Answer:
Hemingway, the great American novelist, is known for his realism. He had himself experienced the agony and horror of war. His first-hand experience as an ambulance-driver in the first world-war gives an authentic touch to his descriptions. All his stories and novels depict the senselessness of war which is a crime against humanity. The present story also brings out the fact that not only the human beings but also animals and birds suffer terribly from the ruthlessness of war. The old man in the story is . indeed a symbol of the countless civilian victims of war who are “without politics”. He perhaps doesn’t know why the war is being fought and yet he is made to suffer. The agony of leaving his home along with his pets is too grim to be described in words. Displaced, disoriented and alone, he is faced with the inevitability of death. Even the soldier who converses with him sympathetically knows that “There was nothing to do about him.” Just as the old man has to leave behind his pet animals and birds, the soldier has also to leave the old man behind (to meet his fate). This is the tragedy of war.

Question 10.
Explain why the narrator takes so much time to converse with the old man. Use details from the story to support your answer.
Answer:
During the Spanish Civil War an old man sat exhausted by the side of a road near a pontoon bridge that crossed the river. The solider who was on duty there engaged himself in conversation with the old man. During the conversation he came to know that the old – man was worried about his animals that he had left behind. The old man told the soldier that he had the charge of two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons. The soldier was concerned about the old man’s safety. He took time in conversing with the old man, hoping to change the mind of the old man. He felt that the old man was totally disillusioned. The soldier asked the old man to walk up the road and catch a ride on a truck of Barcelona. But the old man refused to do this. Finally the soldier felt that there was no hope for him. He could not remove the old man’s concern about the safety of his animals. The soldier is aware of the impending death of the old man but he can’t do anything.

Question 11.
What statements from the story suggest that the old man is about to give up on life ? Quote specific statements to back your answer.
Answer:
From the conversation between the soldier and the old man we come to know that the old man is extremely depressed. He is about to give up on life: He is seventy six and he has walked 12 kilometres to reach the pontoon bridge. Now he is totally exhausted. To the queries of the soldier, he gives very brief replies. He tells the soldier that he was the last man to leave the town of San Carlos. He was taking care of animals, his pets and he had no desire to leave them to save his own life. The soldier tells him that that is not a good place to stop. He advises him to take lift in the truck and go to Barcelona. The old man says, “I know no one in that direction.”
Referring to the old man’s pets the soldier says “Why they’ll probably come through it all right.”
The old man only says this “You think so ?” In extreme depression the old man says,” …
It’s better not to think about the others.” When the soldier says, “If you have rested I would go,” the old man simply says ‘Thank you’. He shows no desire to move from the place though he gets up slowly. All this shows he is extremely frustrated and disheartened.

Question 12.
How does Hemingway show that war disrupts the lives of ordinary people ? Is this portrayal realistic ? Explain why you think so.
Answer:
War impacts everyone. It spreads panic, anxiety and scare of death all around. Everyone becomes aware of the impending death. Confusion and chaos prevail everywhere. It may cause depression to some of the people. In this story ‘Old Man at the Bridge’, the old man suffers from depression during the Spanish Civil War. This is reflected in the conversation between a soldier and the old man who had to leave his hometown during the Spanish Civil War. He is worried about the fate of his animals that he had left behind. The old man tells the soldier that he has no family but is concerned about the fate of his animals. War has also impacted the soldier as he is worried about the safety of the old man. But the old man is worried about the safety of his animals. The soldier tells the old man to get up and catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona to save his life. But the old man who is 76 and has walked 12 kilometers to reach the bridge tells the soldier that he is too tired to walk. He remains obsessed with the thought of his animals’ safety. The soldier assures him that his animals would be fine and that he should not think about them. But the old man is unable to get rid of the thought of his animals’ safety. This gives him depression. It is the result of war. War has shattered his confidence and he lives in fear, panic and anxiety.

The soldier thinks that the old man is sure to be killed once the Fascists advance to the bridge across the Ebro. In this way war makes the soldier aware of the old man’s impending death. He tells the old man to leave the bridge and save his life but he does not look beyond the safety of his animals. The soldier feels pity for the old man – and says that nothing can be done about him and that his death seems certain.
Thus, portrayal of war and its effects is highly realistic. War disrupts the life of not only civilians and soldiers but also of animals and birds. Thinking about his animals the oldman says, “But what will they do under the artillery when I was told to leave because of the artillery.” This means that they are sure to die.

Old Man at the Bridge Comprehension Passages

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. There was a pontoon bridge across the river and carts, trucks, and men, women and children were crossing it. The mule-drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge with soldiers helping push against the. spokes of the wheels. The trucks ground up and away heading out of it all and the peasants plodded along in the ankle deep dust. But the old man sat there without moving. He was too tired to go any farther.

(i) Who sat by the side of the road ? Where had he come from ?
Answer: An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. He had come from San Carlos.

(ii) Why did the old man not move from his place ?
Answer: He was so tired that he could not move from his place. Moreover he was a fatalist and did not care about his safety.

(iii) What was the duty of the narrator of the story ?
Answer: His duty was to cross the bridge and find out how far the enemy had advanced.

(iv) What did the narrator find when he returned over the bridge ?
Answer: The narrator found that there were not so many carts now and very few people on foot, but the old man was still there.

(v) Which place did the old man belong to ? Why did he leave his place and his animals ?
Answer: The old man belonged to San Carlos. He left his place and his animals because a captain told him to do so because of the artillery fire.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
That was his native town and so it gave him pleasure to mention it and he smiled.
“I was taking care of animals,” he explained.
“Oh,” I said, not quite understanding. “Yes,” he said, “I stayed, you see, taking care of animals. I was the last one to leave the town of San Carlos.”
He did not look like a shepherd nor a herdsman and I looked at his black dusty clothes and his gray dusty face and his steel rimmed spectacles and said, “What animals were they ?”
“Various animals,” he said, and shook his head. “I had to leave them.”

(i) What was the old man’s native town ? What was his occupation ?
Answer: The name of the old man’s native town was San Carlos. He took care of his animals.

(ii) Comment on the old man’s appearance.
Answer: The old man did not look like a shepherd or a herdsman. He was an old man with a gray dusty face. He wore black dusty clothes and rimmed spectacles on his face.

(iii) Why did the old man leave his hometown ? Why did he leave it reluctantly ?
Answer: The old man left his hometown during the Spanish Civil War. He left his hometown because a captain had told him to leave the town and his animals because of the artillery fire. He left it reluctantly because he did not want to leave his animals behind. He was worried about the safety of his animals. He had to leave it because a captain had advised him to do so.

(iv) What ahimals did the old man take care of ? Why was he worried about them now ?
Answer: He took care of two goats and a cat, four pairs of pigeons, and several other animals. During the war, he was worried about the safety of his animals.

(v) What did the soldier ask the old man to do to save himself ? How did the old man react to his suggestion ?
Answer: The soldier asked the old man to walk up the road and catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona to save himself. The old man told the soldier that he was an old man of 76 and had walked 12 kilometers and was too tired to go any farther.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
I was watching the bridge and the African looking country of the Ebro Delta and wondering how long now it would be before we would see the enemy, and listening all the while for the first noises that would signal that ever mysterious event called contact, and the old man still sat there.
“What animals were they?” I asked.
“There were three animals altogether,” he explained. “There were two goats and a cat and then there were four pairs of pigeons.”
“And you had to leave them ?” I asked.

(i) Who is ‘I’ in the above extract ? What duty does ‘I’ perform ?
Answer: ‘I’ is the soldier in the above extract. The soldier who is posted at the bridge has to cross the bridge to find out how far the enemy had advanced. This is the duty that he has to perform as a soldier.

(ii) What animals did the old man leave behind in his hometown ? Why ?
Answer: The old man left behind two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons. During the Spanish Civil War, a captain told him to leave the town and his animals because of the artillery fire.

(iii) Describe the scene at the bridge where the soldier was performing his duty.
Answer: It was a pontoon bridge across the river. Carts, trucks, men, women and children were crossing it. The mule-drawn carts staggered up the steep bank from the bridge. The peasants plodded along in the ankle deep dust. The old man sat there without moving.

(iv) How old was the old man ? How did he reach the bridge ? Why did he not go farther ?
Answer: The old man was 76. He walked 12 kilometers in order to reach the bridge. He did not go farther because he was too tired to go ahead.

(v) Why did the old man thank the soldier ?
Answer: The soldier had asked the old man to catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona and save his life from the enemies. So the old man thanked the soldier for the concern he showed for his safety.

4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“I am without politics,” he said. ”I am seventy-six years old. I have come twelve kilometers now and I think now I can go no further.”
“This is not a good place to stop,” I said. “If you can make it, there are trucks up the road where it forks for Tortosa.”

(i) Why cannot the old man walk further ? Why does he refuse to do so ?
Answer: The old man is 76 and has walked 12 kilometers to reach the bridge. He is too tired to walk any further. When the soldier tells him to catch a ride on a truck and leave this place to save his life from the enemies, he refuses to do so because of fatigue. Moreover he is worried about his animals’ safety whom he had left behind in his hometown.

(ii) How old is the man without politics ? How does his old age affect him ?
Answer: The man without politics is 76 years old. His old age affects him physically. He gets so tired after walking twelve kilometers from his hometown to the bridge that he cannot walk any farther.

(iii) Why does the narrator tell the old man that it is not a good place to stop ?
Answer: The narrator tells the old man that it is not a safe place to stay there because the enemy planes can hit this place any time. There is a danger to his life.

(iv) Why does the narrator ask the old man to leave that place ? Where does he want him to go ?
Answer: The narrator asks the old man to leave that place because there is a danger to his life. The enemy planes can hit that place any time. He wants him to catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona and save his life.

(v) Why does the old man thank the narrator ?
Answer: The narrator had asked the old man to catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona and save his life. He thanks him for showing his concern for his safety.

5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
He looked at me very blankly and tiredly, then said, having to share his worry with some one, “The cat will be all right, I am sure. There is no need to be unquiet about the cat. But the others. Now what do you think about the other ?”
“Why they’ll probably come through it all right.”
“You think so ?”
“Why not,” I said, watching the far bank where now there were no carts.
“But what will they do under the artillery when I was told to leave because of the artillery ?”
“Did you leave the dove cage unlocked ?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then they’ll fly.”
“Yes, certainly they’ll fly. But the others. It’s better not to think about the others,” he said.

(i) What does the old man worry about ? Why ?
Answer: The old man is worried about the fate of his animals that he had left behind in his hometown during the war. He is worried about them because they could be killed by the artillery fire in the war.

(ii) How does the narrator try to console the old man ? Does it affect the old man in a positive way ?
Answer: The narrator tries to console the old man by saying that nothing will happen to his animals. He tells him that the pigeons will fly and save themselves. When the old man expresses his concern about the other animals, the narrator tells him not to think about the others.
It does not affect the old man positively because he is obsessed with the thought of animals’ safety. Moreover the old man is worried about the goats because they cannot fly and save themselves.

(iii) Why was the old man asked to leave his hometoum ? Why was he the last to leave ?
Answer: The old man was asked to leave his hometown during the war because there was a danger to his life. He was asked to leave his hometown and his animals because of artillery fire. He was the last to leave because he was reluctant to leave his animals behind. He was worried about the safety of his animals and therefore did not want to leave his hometown. But a captain asked him to leave the town and his animals because of the artillery fire.

(iv) Why is the old man not worried about the pigeons ? Why is he less worried about the cats ?
Answer: The old man is not worried about the pigeons because they can fly and save themselves. He is less worried about the cats because they can look after themselves.

(v) Why does the old man express his worry about his two goats ?
Answer: He expresses his worry about his two goats because the goats cannot fly and save themselves.

6. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“If you are rested I would go,” I urged.
“Get up and try to walk now.”
“Thank you,” he said and got to his feet, swayed from side to side and then sat down backwards in the dust.
“I was taking care of animals,” he said dully, but no longer to me, “I was only taking care of animals.”

(i) What did the narrator urge the old man ? Did he accept his advice ?
Answer: The narrator urged the old man to catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona and leave that place to save his life. He asked him to do so because there was a danger to his life. The enemy planes could hit that place any time. No, he did not accept his advice. He told ‘ him that he was too tired to walk any farther.

(ii) Why did the old man thank the narrator ?
Answer: The narrator had asked the old man to catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona and save his life from the enemies. He thanked him for showing his concern about his life.

(iii) Why did the old man sit down again in the dust ? What light does his action throw on his character ?
Answer: The old man had walked 12 kilometers to reach the bridge. He was too tired to walk any farther. He tried to walk but could not do so due to fatigue. So he sat down again in the dust. His action shows that he is a fatalist who has resigned himself to fate.

(iv) What does the narrator think of the old man at the end of the story ?
Answer: The narrator thinks that since the old man cannot get rid of the thought of his animals’ safety, nothing can be done about him. Thus he feels pity for him.

(iii) Why did the old man feel dull and sad ?
Answer: The old man was obsessed with the thought of his animals’ safety. He was scared of the impending death of his animals. He was worried more about his animals’ safety than his own safety. This thought makes him dull and sad.

Old Man at the Bridge Assignment

Question 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
There was nothing to do about him. It was Easter Sunday and the Fascists were advancing toward the Ebro. It was a gray overcast day with a low ceiling so their planes were not up. That and the fact that cats know how to look after themselves was all the good luck that old man would ever have.
(i) Explain the line “There was nothing to do about him.”
(ii) Why could the planes of the Fascists not fly ? How would it affect the fate of the old man ?
(iii) Why does the old man say that the cats can look after themselves ? Why is he more worried about the goats ?
(iv) Why did the old man not leave the place even when he was advised to do so by the narrator ?
(v) What does the narrator think about the old man’s fate ? Why does he take pity on him.

Question 2. (a) What do the birds and animals mentioned in the story symbolize ?
(b) How does war disturb the life of the common people ? Discuss with reference to the story ‘The Old Mam at the Bridge’.
(c) How does the conversation between the old man and the soldier reflect the anti¬war views of the writer ?

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers Chief Seattle’s Speech

Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers

Chief Seattle’s Speech Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is the main difference between the Red Man and the White Man ?
Answer:
According to the speaker, the Red Man is at a disadvantage owing to reduced numbers. The White people are like the grass that covers vast pastures. The tribal people are small in numbers. They resemble the scattered trees in a wind-swept plain. Secondly, the White man doesn’t need the friendship of the Red Man. He wields great power and authority. He appears to be just towards the tribals, even generous to a great extent. There was a time when the tribal people covered the whole land just as the waves cover the sea. But all that is a sad memory now.

Question 2.
What were the hostilities between the white people and the local tribals ? What is the speaker’s attitude to these hostilities ?
Answer:
The speaker recollects the time when there were fights and hostilities between the white invaders and the local tribals. The white people were pushing the local tribals westwards. He wishes that the hostilities may never return. They have everything to lose and nothing to gain against the white people. The younger people among the tribals may think of taking revenge against their white rulers but it would be a fruitless misadventure. The old tribal people are wise and would never like to resume the hostilities against the Whites. He hopes that their good father in Washington (i.e., the White ruler) would protect them and his brave warriors would prove to be a great wall of defence against their traditional enemies who used to frighten their women, children and the old men.

Question 3.
How does Chief Seattle strike a note of reconciliation towards the white people ? Give examples from the text.
Answer:
Chief Seattle delivered a speech at Washington in 1854. In his impressive speech, he pursues the path of accommodation of white settlers in the U.S. State of Washington. He puts forward forceful arguments in favour of ecological responsibility and respect of native Americans and their rights. He is opposed to hostilities between his tribal people (the Red children) and the white people because they lead to revenge, hatred, enmity and death. Therefore, he opts for peace and reconciliation. In the past, there were hostilities between the local tribals and the white invaders. He does not wish for the resumption of those hostilities. He expresses a hope that their good father in Washington would protect them and his brave warriors would prove to be a great wall of strength against their ancient enemies. His brave warriors would not allow the Haidas and Tsimshians (their enemies) to frighten their women, children and old men.

Question 4.
Elaborate the remark : “God loves your people and hates mine !”
Answer:
This remark forms a part of Chief Seattle’s speech. It brings out an element of self¬pity and anger in the mind of the speaker. He clearly says “Your God is not our God.” According to him, God (i.e., the Christian God) folds his arms protectingly about the pale-face i.e., the white people and leads them by the hand just as a father leads a child. But it is a pity that he has forsaken his Red children i.e., the native people of America. These natives look like orphans who can look nowhere for help. How can they feel on brotherly terms with the white people who are making more and more progress.

Question 5.
“Day and night cannot dwell together”. Comment.
Answer:
Chief Seattle believes that the Red people are poles apart from the white people. It is difficult to presume that they can put up with each other without any conflict. Taking an example from the world of nature, he says that the day and night cannot dwell together. The rays of the sun chase away the darkness of the night. Similarly, the Red Man has ever fled the approach of the white man as the morning mist disappears before the morning sun. However, Chief Seattle is ready for some kind of peaceful coexistence inspite of the apparent differences.

Question 6.
What is the speaker’s mood when he says : “The Indian’s night promises to be dark” ?
Answer:
Chief Seattle is rather depressed at the present scenario. His mind is clouded by dark thoughts. In a desperate voice he says : “Not a single star of hope hovers above the horizon.” The Red Indians originally occupied the whole land of America. But after the discovery of America by Columbus, the European nations began to occupy more and more of the land and the Red people had to move away farther and farther for their security. Now the situation is dismal for the native tribals. The speaker says in a melancholy manner that nobody knows where the natives will pass the remnant of their days. Of course, they will not be many. Sad-voiced winds are already moaning in the distance. These are the winds of change. Grim Fate is hounding out the Red Man. The Red Man is more like a doe which has been wounded by the hunter. The speaker is apprehensive about the future. It is possible that the original natives of this land will be completely wiped out by the invading forces and nobody will be left behind to mourn over the graves of the dead. But then the speaker checks himself and asks : “But why should I mourn at the untimely fate of my people ?” He consoles himself by philosophising that nothing is permanent in this world. Tribe follows tribe and nation follows nation. It is the law of nature.

Question 7.
On what condition does the speaker accept the proposition of the white man ?
Answer:
The proposition made by the good father in Washington is that if the tribals follow their white leaders, they will be given total protection. The brave warriors of the white people will prove to be a strong wall of defence and their wonderful ships of war will protect the harbours against the enemies.
However, the Red Man puts forward a condition to accept this proposal. The condition is that they will not be denied access to the tombs of their ancestors, friends and children. Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of the local tribals. Therefore, the white man should not exile them in their own land.

Question 8.
What are the salient aspects of Chief Seattle’s character which come out in his speech ?
Answer:
Chief Seattle is a well-known figure among the tribal people. He is a powerful orator and when he addresses an audience, his voice is loud and clear. His speech shows his qualities as a man and as a leader of his people. His speech is brilliant, argumentative and logical. He is not rash or short-tempered. He advocates peace and stability. He knows that anger will lead to more blood-shed and destruction. He is quite wise, profound and philosophical. Though his mood changes during the speech, yet he does not forget his main line of argument. Here and there he speaks like a poet who makes use of apt similes and metaphors to drive home his point.

Question 9.
How does Chief Seattle conclude his speech ?
Answer:
Chief Seattle fondly remembers the members of his tribe who lived in this dear land in the yesteryears. There were fond mothers, happy maidens and dear children who are now living in their graves. The speaker envisions a time in the distant future when the last Red Man shall have perished and the memory of his tribe will have turned into a myth among the White Men. It is then that these shores will be filled up again with the invisible dead of his tribe. When the coming generations of the white people will think themselves alone in the field, the store, the shop or anywhere else, they will find the returning hosts who once inhabited these places. The speaker firmly says : “The White Man will never be alone”. He believes that in all the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude. His only wish is that the White ruler is just and kind to his people. For him, death is meaningless. As he puts it : “There is no death, only a change of worlds”.
Thus the speech of Chief Seattle comes straight from his heart and goes right to the hearts of the audience.

Chief Seattle’s Speech Comprehension Passages

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Youth is impulsive. When our young men grow angry at some real or imaginary wrong, and disfigure their faces with black paint, it denotes that their hearts are black, and that they are often cruel and relentless, and our old men and old women are unable to restrain them. Thus it has ever been. Thus it was when the white man began to push our forefathers ever westward. But let us hope that the hostilities between us may never return. We would have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

(i) When do the young men grow angry ?
Answer: The young men grow angry when they perceive some real or imaginary wrong done to them.

(ii) How do the young men react when they are angry ?
Answer: They often become cruel and relentless and even their old men and old women are unable to restrain them.

(iii) What was the situation when the tribal young men became angry and cruel ?
Answer: When the white men began to push the tribal young men’s forefathers westward, they became angry and cruel.

(iv) What does the speaker hope for ?
Answer: The speaker hopes that the hostilities that existed between the tribal people and the white people earlier do not return again.

(v) Why does the speaker want an end to hostilities between the tribal people and the white people ?
Answer: The speaker wants an end to hostilities because he thinks that they (the tribal people) would lose everything and gain nothing.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The white man’s God cannot love our people or He would protect them. They seem to be orphans who can look nowhere for help. How then can we be brothers ? How can your God become our God and renew our prosperity and awaken in us dreams of returning greatness ? If we have a common Heavenly Father He must be partial, for He came to His paleface children. We never saw Him. He gave you laws but had no word for His red children whose teeming multitudes once filled this vast continent as stars fill the firmament. No; we are two distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies. There is little in common between us.

(i) Why do the Red Children regard themselves as orphans ?
Answer: The Red Children feel that the God of white people loves his own people and hates the Red Children (tribal people). He has abandoned them and does not protect them. Thus they regard themselves as orphans who can look nowhere for help.

(ii) Why can’t the Red Children and the white children become brothers ?
Answer: The Red Children and the White Children cannot become brothers because they are two distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies. There is little common between them.

(iii) What did the white man’s God give them ?
Answer: The white man’s God showered his love on his people and gave protection to them. He gave them laws which brought them prosperity and greatness.

(iv) What did the white man’s God deprive the Red Children of ?
Answer: The white man’s God deprived the Red children of his love and protection. He did not make laws for them which could bring them prosperity and greatness.

(v) Why is there little in common between the Red children and the white children ?
Answer: There is little in common between the Red children and the white children because they belong to two distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
To us the ashes of our ancestors are sacred and their resting place is hallowed ground. You wander far from the graves of your ancestors and seemingly without regret. Your religion was written upon tablets of stone by the iron finger of your God so that you could not forget. The Red Man could never comprehend or remember it. Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors – the dreams of our old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people.

(i) How do the tribal people regard the ashes of their ancestors ?
Answer: The tribal people regard the ashes of their ancestors as sacred and their resting place as a hallowed ground.

(ii) How do the white people feel about their dead ancestors ?
Answer: The white people are indifferent to their ancestors and they keep themselves away from the graves of their ancestors. They neglect them and pay no respect to them.

(iii) Where was the religion of the white people written ? Why were their dead people soon forgotten ?
Answer: The religion of the white people was written upon the tablets of stone. Their dead people ceased to love them and the land of their nativity. So they were soon forgotten.

(iv) Comment on the religion of the tribal people.
Answer: The religion of the tribal people is the traditions of their ancestors. It constituted the dreams of their old men and was written on the hearts of their people.

(v) What do the dead tribal people not forget? What do they still love ?
Answer: They do not forget their beautiful world. They still love its grassy valleys, musical rivers, magnificient mountains and lakes.

4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Your dead cease to love you and the land of their nativity as soon as they pass the portals of the tomb and wander away beyond the stars. They are soon forgotten and never return. Our dead never forget this beautiful world that gave them being. They still love its verdant valleys, its murmuring rivers, its magnificent mountains, sequestered vales and verdant lined lakes and bays, and ever yearn in tender fond affection over the lonely hearted living, and often return from the happy hunting ground to visit, guide, console, and comfort them.

(i) When do the dead white people cease to love their childred ?
Answer: The dead white people cease to love their children as soon as they pass the portals of the tomb and wander away beyond stars.

(ii) What is the attitude of the white people towards their dead ancestors ?
Answer: The white people are indifferent to their dead ancestors and they keep themselves away from the graves of their ancestors. They neglect them and pay no respect to them. Their approach is casual towards their dead ancestors.

(iii) What did the dead tribal people give the living tribal people ? What did they love in this world ?
Answer: The dead tribal people gave the living tribal people their being. They loved the grassy valleys, the musical rivers, the magnificient mountains and lakes in this world.

(iv) How does the speaker react to the new proposition sent by the White Man ?
Answer: The speaker reacts favourably to the proposition sent by the White Man. He thinks that his people will accept it because it seems to be fair and reasonable.

(v) How will the tribal people live after they accept the proposition ? What does the speaker think about the words of the Great White Chief ?
Answer: After accepting the proposition sent by the White Man, the trial people will live in peace. The speaker thinks that the words of the Great White Chief are the words of nature speaking to his people out of darkness.

5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
A few more moons, a few more winters, and not one of the descendants of the mighty hosts that once moved over this broad land or lived in happy homes, protected by the Great Spirit, will remain to mourn over the graves of a people once more powerful and hopeful than yours. But why should I mourn at the untimely fate of my people? Tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, like the waves of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless. Your time of decay may be distant, but it will surely come, for even the White Man whose God walked and talked with him as friend to friend, cannot be exempt from the common destiny.

(i) What does the speaker expect from the father in Washington ?
Answer: The speaker expects that the father in Washington would protect his tribal people and his brave warriors would prove to be a great wall of strength against their ancient enemies.

(ii) How does the speaker differentiate his tribal people from the white people ?
Answer: The speaker says that the tribal people and white people are two distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies. There is little in common between the two. Moreover, the religion of the white people is different from that of the tribal people. The attitude of the white people towards their dead ancestors is different from that of the tribal people.

(iii) How does the speaker realize that he should not mourn at the untimely fate of his people ?
Answer: The speaker thinks that death is inevitable.
When he observes that tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, he realizes that he should not mourn at the untimely fate of his people because it is the order of nature.

(iv) Where was the white man’s religion written ? Why ?
Answer: The white man’s religion was written upon tablets of stone by the iron fingers of their God. It was written there so that he would not forget it.

(v) What comment does the speaker make about the destiny of the white people ?
Answer: The speaker remarks that the white people cannot escape decay for a long time. It is their ultimate destiny. Even the White Man whose God walked and talked with him as friend to friend, cannot be exempt from the common decay.

6. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
We will ponder your proposition and when we decide we will let you know. But should we accept it, I here and now make this condition that we will not be denied the privilege without molestation of visiting at any time the tombs of our ancestors, friends and children. Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished. Even the rocks, which seem to be dumb and dead as they swelter in the sun along the silent shore, thrill with memories of stirring events connected with the lives of my people, and the very dust upon which you now stand responds more lovingly to their footsteps than yours, because it is rich with the blood’ of our ancestors, and our bare feet are .conscious of the sympathetic touch.

(i) What is the condition that the speaker puts forward before taking the decision on the white man’s proposition ? Why is he hopeful in accepting the proposition ?
Answer: The condition is that the tribal people will have full freedom to visit the tombs of their ancestors, friends and children at any time. He is hopeful because the proposition seems to be fair and reasonable.

(ii) How is every part of the soil sacred to his tribal people ?
Answer: Every part of the soil is sacred to his tribal people because it is associated with some past sad or happy event. It is sacred to them because it thrills them with memories of stirring events connected with the lives of his people.

(iii) What has made every hillside, every valley, every plain and grave sacred ?
Answer: The association of some past sad or happy event of life has made every hillside, every valley, every plain and grave sacred to the tribal people.

(iv) What do the rocks thrill with ? How does the dust respond ?
Answer: The rocks thrill with the memories of stirring events connected with the lives of the tribal people. The dust responds lovingly to the footsteps of the tribal people.

(v) Why does the dust upon which the white people stand now respond more lovingly to the footsteps of the tribal people than those of the white people ?
Answer: The dust upon which the white people stand now respond more lovingly to the footsteps of the tribal people than those of the white people because it is rich with the blood of the ancestors of the tribal people and the bare feet of the tribal people are conscious of the sympathetic touch.

Chief Seattle’s Speech Assignment

Question 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
And when the last Red Man shall have perished, and the memory of my tribe shall have become a myth among the White Men, these shores will swarm with the invisible dead of my tribe, and when your children’s children think themselves alone in the field, the store, the shop, upon the highway, or in the silence of the pathless woods, they will not be alone. In all the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude. At night when the streets of your cities and villages are silent and you think them deserted, they will throng with the returning hosts that once filled them and still love this beautiful land. The White Man will never be alone.
(i) When will the shores swarm with the invisible dead of the speaker’s tribe ? Why ?
(ii) Why will the children’s children of the white men not feel alone in the field, the store, the shop, etc. ?
(iii) Comment on the speaker’s line : “In all the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude.”
(iv) What will the deserted streets be thronged with ? Why ?
(v) What does the speaker say about death? Explain.

Question 2.
(a) What does the Chief Seattle say to prove that ‘Youth is impulsive’ ?
(b) What condition does the Chief lay down before conveying his decision on the proposition ? Why does he lay down this condition ?
(c) What do you think, is the message, conveyed by the writer in ‘Chief Seattle’s Speech’ ?

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers Nine Gold Medals

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers

Nine Gold Medals Comprehension Passages

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The athletes had come from so many countries
To run for the gold, and the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months in training
All building up to the games.

(i) What event is referred to here by the poet ?
Answer: The poet refers to a ‘Special Olympics’ meant for differently abled persons.

(ii) What kind of athletes were they ?
Answer: They were differently abled athletes and had come to participate in various sports events.

(iii) What was their aim ?
Answer: Their aim was to win a medal, gold, silver or bronze.

(iv) How had they prepared themselves for the special event ?
Answer: They knew that the competition had to be tough. So they put in a lot of their time in preparation and training.

(v) Who won the race in the end, as described later in the poem ?
Answer: Nine young differently abled athletes participated in a hundred-metre race. All the nine won the race. Each one was awarded a gold medal. All were rewarded for a rare act of empathy.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
All round the field spectators were gathered
Cheering on all the young women and men
Then the final event of the day was approaching
The last race about to begin.

(i) What sports event is referred to earlier in the context ?
Answer: A hundred-metre race.

(ii) How was the event a special one ?
Answer: The hundred-metre race was the special event because it was the final event of the day. The spectators sitting all around the field were as enthusiastic and excited as the participants were. They cheered up the young athletes in every way.

(iii) In what mood were the spectators ?
Answer: The spectators were in a jubilant mood. They sat all around the field and were as enthusiastic and excited as the participants were. They cheered up the young athletes.

(iv) Which event was about to begin ?
Answer: A hundred-metre race was about to begin.

(v) How did the last event turn out to be special ?
Answer: Nine young athletes participated in the hundred-metre race. All of them ran as fast as they could. However, one contestant who was weaker, could not run. His legs gave in and he fell on the track. The remaining eight contestants stopped and looked back at their fallen companion. Instead of moving ahead, they turned and came back to the fallen athlete. They lifted him to his feet. This gesture of theirs was indeed praiseworthy. They all walked hand-in-hand to the finishing line. This made the event special. The poet remarks that the words on the banner ‘Special Olympics’ turned out to be true.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The loudspeakers called out the names of the runners
The one hundred metres the race to be run
And nine young athletes stood there determined
And poised for the sound of the gun.

(i) What do you understand by ‘The Special Olympics’ ?
Answer: ‘The Special Olympics’ was meant for differently abled persons. The athletes from different countries came to participate in various sports events. They participated in the events to win a medal, gold, silver or bronze.

(ii) What kind of athletes came to take part in it ?
Answer: The differently abled athletes came to take part in ‘The Special Olympics’.

(iii) Which race was the last event of the day ?
Answer: A hundred-metre race was the last event of the day.

(iv) Who stood on the starting line ? In what state of mind were they ?
Answer: Nine young athletes stood on the starting line. They were determined to win a medal.

(v) What stopped the race after it had taken off?
Answer: When the race started, all the nine contestants ran as fast as they could. However, one contestant who was weaker could not run. His legs gave in and he fell on the track. The remaining eight contestants stopped and looked back at their fallen companion. They turned round and came back to the fallen athlete. So the race stopped.

4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The signal was given, the pistol exploded And so did the runners on hearing the sound
But the youngest among them stumbled and staggered
And he fell on his knees to the ground.

(i) Which sports event was to start ?
Answer: A hundred-metre race was to start.

(ii) How was it started ?
Answer: Nine young athletes stood on the starting line. They were waiting for the pistol shot as a starting signal. When the signal was given, and the pistol shot was heard, the participants moved fast. Thus the race started.

(iii) What happened to one of the athletes ?
Answer: Nine young athletes participated in the hundred-metre race. One of the contestants who was weaker could not run. His legs gave in and he fell on the track.

(iv) What was the reaction of the other contestants in the race ?
Answer: Nine contestants participated in the hundred-metre race. One of the contestants who was weaker could not run. He fell on the track. The remaining eight contestants stopped and looked back at their fallen companion. They were expected not to stop but to continue the race. But they all turned round and came back to the fallen athlete. They showed their empathy for the fallen athlete.

(v) Why did they come to the help of the fallen athlete ?
Answer: They came back to the fallen athlete and lifted him to his feet. They showed their empathy for the fallen athlete. This gesture of theirs was indeed praiseworthy. It was a rare act of sportsmanship.

5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling the story
Now it’s a strange one, but here’s what occurred.

(i) Who is ‘he’ referred to here ?
Answer: ‘He’ here is referred to one of the nine contestants who participated in the hundred-metre race. He could not run and fell on the track. He was distressed and gave out a cry in frustration because his hard work had come to nothing. His dream was shattered.

(ii) What made him cry out ?
Answer: Nine young athletes participated in the hundred-metre race. He was one of them. He could not run. His legs gave in and he fell on the track. He was distressed as his dream to win a medal was shattered. So he gave out a cry in frustration.

(iii) What strange thing happened ?
Answer: Nine young athletes participated in the hundred-metre race. One of the contestants who was weaker could not run. His legs gave in and he fell on the track. The remaining eight contestants stopped and looked back at their fallen companion. They were expected not to stop but to continue the race. But a strange thing happened. They all turned round and came back to the fallen athlete. They lifted him to his feet.

(iv) Why did the eight contestants give up their competitive spirit ?
Answer: When one of the nine contestants in the hundred-metre race fell on the track, the other eight contestants stopped and looked back at their fallen companion. They were expected not to stop but to continue the race. But they all turned round and came back to the fallen athlete. They lifted him to his feet. They showed empathy for the fallen athlete and gave up their competitive spirit. This gesture of theirs reflected a rare act of true sportsmanship.

(v) Why were all participants in the race awarded with gold medals ?
Answer: Nine young athletes participated in the hundred-metre race. They ran as fast as they could. However, one contestant who was weaker could not run. His legs gave in and he fell on the track. The remaining eight contestants stopped and looked back at their fallen companion. They were expected to continue the race, but they all turned round and came back to the fallen athlete. They lifted him to his feet. They all walked hand-in-hand to the finishing line. The race turned into a ‘walk’. The race ended and all were thus rewarded for a rare act of empathy and true sportsmanship.

6. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And the banner above and nine smiling faces
Said more than these words ever will
Said more than these words ever will.

(i) Which race is referred to here ?
Answer: The race referred to here is one hundred- metre race in a ‘Special Olympics’.

(ii) How did the participants reach the finish line ? Why did they not compete against one another ?
Answer: One of the participants fell on the track. The other participants came to his help. They all together walked to the finishing line. They did not compete against one another out of empathy for the fallen.

(iii) What was the banner about ?
Answer: The banner was about ‘The Special Olympics’ meant for the differently abled persons.

(iv) In what sense did the words on the banner turn significant ?
Answer: The words on the banner turned to be significant. ‘The Special Olympics’ became really special when each participant was declared to be the winner and awarded a gold medal.

(v) What is the message of the poem ?
Answer: The poem’s message is that we should be helpful and cooperative in life. We should be able to understand the feelings of another person from his point of view, and be ready to mitigate his pain and sorrow.

Nine Gold Medals Assignment

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they turned round and came back to help him
And lifted the lad to his feet.

(i) What happened earlier in the context ?
(ii) What made the eight athletes stop the race ?
(iii) What was their surprise move ?
(iv) What human value is displayed by their action ?
(v) What rhyming words are used in this passage ? In what way are they significant ?

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Then all nine runners joined hands and continued
The one hundred metres reduced to a walk
And the banner above that said “Special Olympics”
Could not have been nearer the mark.

(i) Which sports event was in progress ?
(ii) What made the athletes stop the race ?
(iii) What was quite surprising to the spectators ?
(iv) How did the race come to an end ?
(v) What is the theme of the poem ? How is it conveyed ?

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers Abou Ben Adhem

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers

Abou Ben Adhem Comprehension Passages

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold

(i) What kind of person was Abou Ben Adhem ?
Answer: Abou Ben Adhem was a noble, selfless and virtuous person. He always thought . of the good of others. He was a peace-loving and brave person as he did no wrong.

(ii) Explain : ‘may his tribe increase!’
Answer: The narrator wishes that the number of persons like Abou Ben Adhem should increase because he was a noble, selfless and virtuous person. He always thought of the good of others.

(iii) What did Abou discover in his room ?
Answer: One night Abou was having a peaceful sleep. He woke up and discovered an angel in the moonlight in his room. The angel looked as beautiful as a lily in bloom. He was writing something in a golden book.

(iv) Which poetic device is used in the fourth line here ? What is its significance in the context ?
Answer: Simile. The poet wants to convey that the angel looked as beautiful as a lily in bloom. It signifies that the angel looked as calm and gentle as a lily in bloom.

(v) How did Abou react on knowing that his name was not among those who love God ? Was he depressed or disappointed ?
Answer: One night Abou discovered an angel in the moonlight in his room. He looked beautiful and calm. Abou asked him what he was writing. The angel looked up and said that he was writing the names of those persons who love God. Abou asked him if his name was in the list. The angel said that it was not. Abou seemed to be a bit shocked but he was not depressed or disappointed.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
“What writest thou?”-The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”

(i) In whose presence did Abou become bold ? What made him bold ?
Answer: One night Abou discovered an angel in the moonlight in his room. In the presence of an angel in his room he became bold and took courage and asked him what he was writing. He was a noble, selfless and virtuous person. He was a peace- loving person. He became bold because he never did any wrong and so was not afraid of the heavenly presence in his room.

(ii) What did he want to know ?
Answer: He wanted to know from the angel what he was writing in his golden book.

(iii) Describe the angel. How did he look like ?
Answer: The angel appeared in Abou’s room at night. He was calm and had a soothing look. He was carrying a golden book in his hand. He looked as beautiful as a lily in bloom.

(iv) What was he writing in his book of gold ?
Answer: He was writing the names of those persons in his book of gold who love God.

(v) What made Abou pray to the angel to include his name among those who love their fellow men ?
Answer: Abou asked the angel what he was writing in his golden book. The angel told him that he was writing the names of those persons who love God. Abou asked him if his name was in his list. The angel said that it was not. Abou was a bit shocked. Since his name was not in that list, he prayed to the angel to include his name among those who love their fellow men.

3. Read the extract given below and answer
the questions that follow :
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

(i) What had the angel told Abou earlier in the context ?
Answer: The angel had told Abou that his name did not figure in the list of those who love God.

(ii) What request was made by Abou ? Was it accepted ?
Answer: Abou’s request to the angel was to include his name among those who love their fellow men. Yes, his request was accepted.

(iii) What did the angel show to Abou the next night ?
Answer: The angel showed Abou the next night the list of those who are blessed by God.

(iv) What came as a great surprise ?
Answer: It was a great surprise that Abou’s name topped the list of those blessed and loved by God.

(v) What does the poet want to convey through this poem ?
Answer: The poet wants to convey that we must love mankind if we want to receive God’s love and blessings. God loves those who serve humanity selflessly.

Abou Ben Adhem Assignment

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”

(i) What did Abou find the angel doing in his room one night ?
(ii) What was the angel writing ?
(iii) Did the angel’s answer depress Abou ? How did he conduct himself ?
(iv) What request did Abou make to the angel ?
(v) What surprises Abou the next night ? What message has the poet conveyed to all of us ?

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers The Patriot

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers

The Patriot Comprehension Passages

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
It was roses, roses, all the way,
With myrtle mixed in my path like mad :
The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway,
The church-spires flamed, such flags they had,
A year ago on this very day.

(i) Who is the speaker here ? Where is he, and in what condition ?
Answer: The speaker here is the patriot. At present he is in a very bad condition. He has been arrested and is being led to the scaffold to be hanged for his misdeeds. He is passing through some street in a town.

(ii) What happened a year ago ?
Answer: Just a year ago the patriot had been welcomed on his return. He was hailed as a hero for his glorious victory.

(iii) How was he welcomed ?
Answer: Roses and myrtles were strewn over the path to be trodden by the patriot. Roses, being the symbols of love, reveal the people’s love for their hero. People crowded over the roof-tops to have a glimpse of the patriot. The church bells were rung in his honour.

(iv) What brought about the change in his life ?
Answer: People misunderstood him. He was arrested for his misdeeds. He was fated to be hanged. This misunderstanding on the part of the people brought about the sad change in his life.

(v) ‘The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway’. Explain.
Answer: The town was cramped with houses, as was common in Victorian times. When the crowds of people climbed over the house-roofs they seemed to be shaken and swayed. People thronged there to have a better view of their hero.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The air broke into a mist with bells,
The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries.
Had I said, “Good folk, mere noise repels –
But give me your sun from yonder skies !”
They had answered, “And afterward, what else ?”

(i) Who is reminded of his past ? Why ?
Answer: The patriot. The patriot has been arrested and is being led to the gallows for his misdeeds. As he is being led, he recalls how just a year ago, he was hero- worshipped by the same people who are now treating him like a villain.

(ii) What happened a year ago ?
Answer: A year ago, the patriot was worshipped like a hero. He was accorded a warm welcome on his return after a glorious victory. His path was strewn with flowers. The church-towers were decorated with victory-flags. Huge crowds were there to welcome him.

(iii) What ‘bells’ are being referred to here ? Why were they rung ?
Answer: A year ago, the patriot was worshipped when he came back after his grand victory. His path was strewn with fragrant roses. The church-towers were decorated with victory-flags. The whole atmosphere resounded with the sound of church-bells rung in his honour. The church-bells were rung to honour the patriot and to celebrate his glorious victory.

(iv) What tells you that the speaker was swayed by the enthusiasm of his admirers ? What proves him wrong ?
Answer: The speaker was welcomed a year ago when he came back after his grand victory. His path was strewn with flowers. The people were mad in their zeal and enthusiasm. The church-towers blazed with victory-flags. All this shows that he was swayed by enthusiasm. But just after a year he has fallen on evil days. The same people who admired him have become his enemies. He has been arrested and is being led to the gallows. He recalls how he did his best to serve the people. People have proved to be fickle-minded. The fickle-mindedness of the people has proved him wrong.

(v) Why is the patriot punished ? What makes him sad ?
Answer: The patriot is punished for some misdeeds done by him during the year. It is sad and ironic that they have completely forgotten his good deeds. It makes him sad to recollect that these very people who worshipped him like a hero a year ago have turned against him. They have forgotten all he had done for them. He feels sad about the fickle-mindedness of the people.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun
To give it my loving friends to keep !
Nought man could do, have I left undone :
And you see my harvest, what I reap
This very day, now a year is run.

(i) Why was the patriot welcomed as a hero ? How was he welcomed ?
Answer: The patriot was welcomed because he had won a grand victory. He did whatever he could do for his countrymen. And he did his best. He was welcomed like a hero. His path was strewn with fragrant roses. The church-towers blazed with victory- flags. The whole atmosphere resounded with the sound of church-bells, rung in honour of the patriot. The crowd surged with joy.

(ii) In what mood is the speaker now ? Where is he at present ?
Answer: The speaker is in a very sad mood. He is dejected to see that the people have forgotten all that he had done for them. At present, he is being led to the gallows to be executed in public.

(iii) What tells you that the patriot was over- ambitious ? What was the result ?
Answer: The patriot was overambitious as he says that he tried to do the impossible for the pleasure of his admirers. He did whatever he could do for his countrymen and he did his best. But the result was dismal. He was arrested and being led to the gallows to be executed in public. He feels sad that the people have forgotten all that he had done for them.

(iv) What do you mean by ‘harvest’ ? What had the speaker reaped ?
Answer: Here it means reward. The speaker tried to do the impossible for the pleasure of his admirers. He did whatever he could do for his countrymen and he did his best. But what reward had he got ? He was arrested for some misdeeds and was being led to the gallows to be executed in pubic. He felt sad that people had forgotten all that he had done for them.

(v) Where is he being led to ? What thought makes him reconcile with his fate ?
Answer: He is being led to the gallows to be executed in public for some misdeeds that he had committed. He reconciles himself with his fate by thinking that if he has not been rewarded by the people, he is certain to be rewarded by God in heaven. He feels safe in the bosom of God.

4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
There’s nobody on the house-tops now—
Just a palsied few at the windows set,
For the best of the sight is, all allow,
At the Shambles’ Gate — or, better yet,
By the very scaffold’s foot, I trow.

(i) What has made most of the people leave the town ?
Answer: People have left the town and gone to the Shambles’ Gate or quite near the scaffold in order to have a better view of the patriot’s execution. Only a few paralysed persons are sitting at the windows.

(ii) Who is being led to gallows ? What has he done ?
Answer: The patriot who was hero-worshipped a year ago is being led to the gallows to be executed in public. He has done some misdeeds for which he is being led to the gallows.

(iii) Why do the people try to be at the Shambles’ Gate or near the scaffold ? What do you mean by the Shambles’ Gate ?
Answer: The people try to be at the Shambles’ Gate or quite near the scaffold in order to have a better view of the patriot’s execution. It means the gate that leads to the place of execution.

(iv) Explain the line : ‘Just a palsied few at the windows set’.
Answer: Most of the people have gone to the Shambles’ Gate or quite near the scaffold in order to have a better view of the patriot’s execution. Only the paralysed persons are sitting at the windows because they are unable to walk upto the place of execution.

(v) The poet here brings out a sharp contrast between the past and the present of the patriot. How ?
Answer: The poet brings out a sharp contrast between the past and the present by saying that people thronged to have a glimpse of the patriot a year ago, but now nobody is there on the house-tops. Most of them have gone to the Shambles’ Gate or quite near the scaffold in order to have a better view of the patriot’s execution. Only a few paralysed persons are sitting at the windows.

5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
I go in the rain, and, more than needs,
A rope cuts both my wrists behind;
And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds,
For they fling, whoever has a mind,
Stones at me for my year’s misdeeds.

(i) Who is the speaker here ? Where is he at the present ?
Answer: The patriot is the speaker here. At present he is being led to the gallows to be executed in public.

(ii) What tells you that he is being treated very harshly ?
Answer: He is being led to the gallows. A long rope has been used to tie his hands tightly on the back. The rope is so tight that it cuts both his hands. His forehead is bleeding. It is due to the stones hurled at him by some callous and cruel fellows. All this shows that he is being treated very harshly.

(iii) Why have some people hurled stones at him ?
Answer: Some people have hurled stones at him to show their resentment for the so-called misdeeds done by him during the year.

(iv) How had the same people treated him a year ago ?
Answer: The same people had welcomed him a year ago when he came back after his grand victory. His path was stream with fragrant roses. The church-towers blazed with victory-flags. The whole atmosphere resounded with the sound of the church- bells rung in his honour. The crowd surged with joy and thronged to have a glimpse of his face. They worshipped him as a hero.

(v) What do you think of the crowd mentality ?
Answer: The poem illustrates the fickle-mindedness of the crowd. The crowd welcomed the patriot a year ago. They worshipped him as a hero when he came back after his grand victory. His path was strewn with fragrant roses. They were mad in their zeal and enthusiasm. The church-bells were rung in his honour. But just after a year he has been arrested for some misdeeds and is being led to the gallows. The same people who thronged to have a glimpse of his face a year ago have now gone to the Shambles’ Gate or quite near the scaffold to have a better view of his execution. The same people have proved to be fickle-minded.

The Patriot Assignment

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Thus I entered, and thus I go!
In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.
Paid by the world, what dost thou owe “Me?” – God might question; now instead,
‘Tis God shall repay : I am safer so.

(i) Explain : ‘Thus I entered, and thus I go !’
(ii) What would have happened if the patriot had died in excess of joy at his tumultuous welcome after his grand victory ?
(iii) What thought makes him feel ‘safer’ ?
(iv) ‘I am safer so’. What irony is involved here ?
(v) Is the patriot’s optimism unrealistic ? What do you think about it ?

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
I go in the rain, and, more than needs,
A rope cuts both my wrists behind;
And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds,
For they fling, whoever has a mind,
Stones at me for my year’s misdeeds.

(i) What treatment is meted out to the patriot by the people after a year ?
(ii) Explain the line :
‘And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds’.
(iii) Why has the speaker fallen on evil days ?
(iv) How was the speaker treated by the people a year ago ?
(v) Where is he being led to ? How does he console himself ?

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Comprehension Passages

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

(i) How does the poet describe the world of nature ?
Answer: The poet describes the natural beauty of the sunset. The free bird (suggestive of a white American) leaps on the back of the wind, that is, he flies and sways with the wind in the evening against the orange sky. He has the right to claim the sky. As he flies, he dips his wings downstream.

(ii) What is the symbolic significance of the sun, sky and wind here ?
Answer: The sun, the sky and the wind symbolically represent freedom, free space and power respectively.

(iii) Describe the image of the bird as presented in this stanza.
Answer: The poet describes the free bird which leaps on the back of the wind, that is, he flies and sways with the wind in the evening against the orange sky. As he flies, he dips his wings downstream. The description creates the image of the free bird.

(iv) What is the free bird metaphor for ?
Answer: The free bird is a metaphor for the white American. The white American, like the free bird, enjoys all the freedom, privileges, luxuries and leisure.

(v) How does the caged bird behave and why ?
Answer: The caged bird can hardly move in his narrow cage and see through his ‘bars of rage’. He is in anger but is helpless. He only opens his mouth to sing, as no one can stop him from doing so. Thus the caged bird cannot have a glimpse of the sky. He behaves in this way because his wings are clipped and his feet are tied.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

(i) What does the free bird ‘claim’, and why ?
Answer: The free bird that leaps on the back of the wind, flies and sways with the wind in the evening against the orange sky. He claims the sky as he flies and dips his wings downstream.

(ii) How does the encaged bird behave ?
Answer: The encaged bird feels miserable in the cage. He can hardly move in his narrow cage and see through his ‘bars of rage’. He is very angry but is helpless. He only opens his mouth to sing as no one can stop him from doing so. Thus the caged bird cannot have a glimpse of the sky.

(iii) Is his state of captivity natural ? Why / Why not ?
Answer: No. The caged bird is a metaphor of African-American who does not have the same liberty and equality as the white American has. The African-American faces racial discrimination in America. He is denied basic rights. There are several restrictions on him in the society. Thus his state of captivity is not natural. He is forced to live in captivity.

(iv) What do ‘bars of rage’ stand for ?
Answer: The caged bird is kept in a cage which is made of metal or wooden bars. These bars prevent his free movement. When he is denied free movement, he gets angry. (Here it stands for restrictions and discriminations). The caged bird can hardly move in his narrow cage and see through the ‘bars of rage’. So he is angry but helpless.

(v) What does the encaged bird sing about ?
Answer: The encaged bird sings about freedom. His voice is heard far and wide as he sings of freedom. His song contains his longing for freedom and equality. The poet means to say that the black Americans long for freedom and equality. They oppose restrictions imposed on them. They hate suppression.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

(i) How does the poet reveal the plight of the encaged bird ?
Answer: The encaged bird is afraid of many unknown things. His condition is miserable. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied. He can hardly move in his cage and see through the bars of rage. He is angry but helpless. Though he is afraid, he gives expression to his dream of freedom. His voice is heard far and wide as he sings of freedom.

(ii) What is the encaged bird fearful of ?
Answer: The encaged bird is fearful of many unknown things. But this fear does not prevent him from giving expression to his dream of freedom.

(iii) ‘His tune is heard on the distant hill’. Explain.
Answer: Though the encaged bird is afraid of many unknown fears, he does not stop from giving expression to his dream of freedom. His voice is heard far and wide as he sings of freedom.
Here the poet wants to convey that the voice of the oppressed people, their longings and aspirations cannot be suppressed. No fear can stifle his voice; rather his voice is now heard in distant countries.

(iv) What do you mean by ‘fearful trill of things unknown’ ?
Answer: The encaged bird is fearful of many unknown things, but still he gives expression to his dream of freedom. The poet means to say that the African- American (the encaged bird) leads a fearful life because he is a victim of oppression, exploitation, racism, inequality and discrimination. Though fearful, he continues to give expression to his dream of freedom.

(v) What idea do you get about the African- American from this stanza ?
Answer: We find that the voice of the oppressed people, their longings and aspirations cannot be suppressed. No fear can stifle this voice; rather this voice is now heard in distant countries. Though he is fearful of many unknown fears, he continues to give expression to his dream of freedom and equality.

4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

(i) How is the free bird described earlier in the context ?
Answer: The free bird is shown to be freely floating on the back of the wind and enjoying everything. He feels as if he were the owner of the whole sky.

(ii) In what way is the encaged bird different from the free bird ?
Answer: Unlike the free bird who has freedom to dream and be happy, the encaged bird lives on the grave of his dreams, that is, his dreams are dead.

(iii) Explain : ‘But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams.’
Answer: The encaged bird cannot have any freedom. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied. He is different from the free bird who has no restrictions on his movement.

(iv) What does the encaged bird sing about ?
Answer: The encaged bird sings about freedom and equality.

(v) What does the poet actually want to convey through the use of her metaphorical birds ?
Answer: The poet wants to convey that the suppressed and oppressed, especially the black Americans, do not enjoy equal rights and opportunities of growth in any field. They face many discriminations and hardships in life.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Assignment

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own.
(i) Which Tors of rage’ put restrictions on the movements of the encaged bird ?
(ii) What is the significance of the phrase ‘another breeze’ here ?
(iii) What do ‘trade winds’ and ‘fat worms’ symbolise ?
(iv) Why does ‘he names the sky his own’ ?
(v) How does the poet use the contrast between the two birds to reveal racism in American society ?