1. Where do you think the lion is in the poem?
Ans. The lion is in the cage. It looks like a pet animal and not a ferocious wild animal.
2. What would happen if the lion could break out of its cage?
Ans. People would be really scared to see lion outside of the cage. There would be panic as people will run for their lives.
3. Does the poet think the lion is magnificient? Which lines tell us so?
Ans. Yes, the poet thinks the lion to be magnificient. His tawny shoulders ebb and flow, with swaying flank and lowered mane
A. Answer the following questions in your own words.
1. Where do you think the person is going in this poem?
2. How long will the journey take?
3. What does the wayfarer want at the end of the journey?
4. Why is the person afraid that she or he will miss the 'inn'?
5. Who are the wayfarers 'who have gone before'?
B. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow with reference to context.
But is there for the night a resting-place? A roof for when the slow, dark hours begin, May not the darkness hide it from my face? You cannot miss that inn.
a. What is this resting-place?
Ans: Here resting-place is lodge or inn for travelers to stay over.
b. What are the 'slow, dark hours'?
Ans: Slow, dark hours is the evening and night time.
c. Why is the speaker so sure the journey will be dark?
Ans: The speaker is very sure because it is uphill and takes times to reach the inn top of the hill.
Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak? Of labour you shall find the sum. Will there be beds for me and all who seek? Yea, beds for all who come.
a. Why will the wayfarer be 'travel-sore and weak'?
Ans: The wayfarers would be very tired due to strain from journey to uphill.
b. What kind of comfort can wayfarers expect in this place?
Ans: For the comfort of the wayfarers there are beds to relax. There are enough beds to accommodate many.
c. What does the line 'beds for all who come' tell you about this place?
Ans:
d. Who are 'all who come'?
Ans: C. The words in the poem have a deeper meaning. Match these words with the deeper meaning they suggest. Ans. road death morn all humankind night heaven inn birth wayfarers good work labour the journey of life.
Answer the following questions in your own words
1. Who is the speaker in the poem?
Speaker of the poem is brook. It is telling about its journey from origin to merging into river. Its journey is long, thrilling and with obstacles. The brook's journey is very exciting.
2. From where has the speaker come?
The brook's journey starts from top of a valley where birds like coot and hern visit often. He comes with loud noise and full force.
3. What does the speaker cross on its way?
The brook crosses villages, bridges, farms, lawns, grassy plots and finally joins the brimming river. On the way, it finds flora and fauna, including willow-weed, mallow, trout, forget-me-nots and cresses.
4. What does the speaker mean by ‘For men may come and men may go, but I go on for ever.’
The brook is immortal (never dies). Brook water merges into river. The river water converts into clouds. When it rains on the hills, brook again comes to life. Where as men die after some time.
Homework Q&A
I murmur under the moon and stars In brambly wildernesses; I linger by my shiningly bars; I loiter round my cresses; And out again I curve and flow To join the brimming river, For men may come and men may go, But I go on for ever.
1. What kind of movement is depicted in the above lines.
Ans: Here the brook is mentioning about its journey before merging into the river. The brook makes murmuring sounds in the night. It slows down and lazily passes the thorny uncultivated land and twists around the plants.
2. What does the brook join?
Ans: The brook originates at the top of a valley, falls down the steep slopes, crosses many bridges and fields. It finally merges into the river, where it ends its journey.
3. Do you think brook's life ends after it joins the river? Why?
Ans: No, the brook's life does not end after joning the river. Brook transforms into river. The river water again converts into clouds in the sky. When it rains on the hills, brook again comes back to life. That is the reason author keeps repeating that "men may not exists, but brook goes on forever".
My mother was in charge of three rondavels at
Qunu which, as I remember, were always filled
with the children of my relations. In fact, I
can hardly remember any occasion as a child
when I was alone. In African culture, the sons
and daughters of one's aunts and uncles are
considered brothers and sisters, not cousins.
My mother's sister is my mother and my brother's
child is my son or my daughter.
1. What was the author's mother responsible for?
A. Nelson Mandela's mother was responsible for taking care of 3 houses and families. She was responsible for household chores, taking care of children and their needs.
2. What is the reason that the author was never alone in his childhood?
A. In the village where Nelson Mandela grew up, families used to stay together, eat together and played together. There were so many children of his uncle and aunts, that he never was alone.
3. Describe family relationships in African culture.
A. In African culture, they lived as joint family. Children of brothers and sisters were together. The sons and daughters of one's uncles and aunts are considered brothers and sisters, not cousins. Also, uncle and aunt are called father and mother.
4. Compare relationships in the African culture with that of what you share within your own family.
A. Compared to how Nelson Mandela grew up, it is different in my family. Me and my cousin stay in different houses, but near by. We meet occasionally and have fun going to restaurants together. We meet on birthdays and greet each other.
It was in the fields that I learned how to knock brids out of the sky
with slingshot, to gather wind honey, fruits and edible roots, to
drink warm, sweet milk straight from the udder of a cow, to swim in
the clear, cold streams, and to catch fish with string and sharpened
bits of wire. I learned to stick fight - essential to any rural
African boy - and became skilled in its various techniques.
1. What did the author learn in his childhood?
A. Nelson Mandela lived in a village with near by fields. He learnt how to gather wild honey, fruits and edible roots. He learnt how to dring milk directly from udder of a cow. He also learnt how to catch fish and knock birds using slingshot.
2. What was considered as the essential skill for African boys?
A. Nelson Mandela learnt various things like Of the many things Nelson Mandela learnt during early childhood. One thing that was essential knowledge was stick-fight. He became skilled in various techniques.
3. Do you think the author had a happy childhood in spite of poverty? Give reasons for your answer.
A. Yes, author had happy childhood. He had children around him always and huge open spaces to play. He had fun learning gathering of honey, catch fish and knock birds.
1. Whom did Don Quixote choose as his squire? How did he persuade him to become his squire?
A. Don Quixote chose Sancho Panza as his squire. Sancho Panza was a poor man. Don persuaded Sancho by promising many adventures. He also promised to make him governor of the islands they will conquer together.
2. What arrangements did Don Quixote and his squire make for their adventures?
A. Sancho has brought his donkey with him as he did not own a horse. Sancho brought leather-bottle with full of water and empty saddlebags to receive the things they would win in their contests.
3. Whom did Don Quixote mistake for giants? How did Sancho Panza try to correct his master?
A. Don mistook windmills for giants. He said some of the giants had arms more than six miles long. Sancho tried to correct his master. They are not giants but windmills. Arms are actually sails. But still Don thought they were giants.
4. What was the result of Don Quixote's fight with the 'giants'?
A. Don attacked the nearest windmill, pushing his spear in to the sail. The sail rotated fast and broke the spear into many pieces. It threw Don and Rozinante down.
5. How did he react to his defeat?
A. Don said that in war one's fortune can change easily. He said some magician had turned giants into windmills so that he would not be able to conquer them. But still Don had hope to win.
Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow with reference to context.
"Some knights made their squires wait for many years. I shall not be like that. I may win a kingdom in six days' time. I shall straightaway put you in charge of it."
Don wanted to presuade Sancho to be his squire. Hence, he was assuring him early benefits.
They carried with them leather-bottle full of water and empty saddlebags to keep things they would win.
They encountered huge windmills, which Don mistook as giants.
2. At that moment, the wind rose and the sails of the windmills began to move. "Move your arms as much as you like, you will not stop me!" Don Quixote shouted when he saw this.
Don mistook windmills for giants.
Sancho tried to correct his master.
Don fared very badly. In the encounter his spear was broken and he was thrown on ground.
Revision questions
No, Don is stupid. He cannot make out difference between giants and windmills.
No, Sancho should not have served Don. Serving a fooling master is futile (waste).
Sancho was poor and did not have any other option. Still serving a foolish master is futile and sometimes dangerous.
Yes, Sancho was poor. He did not have a horse, but only donkey. He joined Don with dream of becoming rich.
No, I would not go with Don, as serving fooling master is dangerous. I learnt it from panchatantra tales.
Ans: Achilles was the most intelligent pet and lovable. He learned his name in a very short time. They had to call out once or twice and then wait. Achilles would come slowly walking from anywhere in the garden.
Ans: Achilles liked eating bits of lettuce, dandelions and grapes. But his most favorite are the strawberries. He liked it so much that he would go hysterical just looking at them. Small strawberries he would just gulp quickly. The large strawberries, Achilles would take it to lonely place and eat peacefully. He would return back for more.
Ans: Achilles liked strawberries and human company the most. Anyone came into garden to sit or sun-bathe, Achilles would come through the garden plants. If you were sitting in a chair, he could come close and sleep near the feet.
Ans: If people were lying on a rug for sun-bathing, Achilles would think you were lying on ground to play with it. It would crawl on your body and could even harm with its sharp claws. If you shook him off, it would again come back to crawl on your body.
Ans: One day garden door was open and Achilles went out. He accidentally fell into a disused well and died. Family members mourned the death of Achilles and buried his dead body in the garden below the strawberry plant. Achilles loved strawberries very much.
B. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow with reference to context.
1. He would grab the fruit and holding it firmly in his mouth, he would stumble off at top speed until he reached a safe and secluded spot among the flower-beds. There he would drop the fruit and then eat it at leisure, returning for another one when he had finished.
a. Who is 'he'? Which fruit did he like best?
Ans: He here is Achilles, the tortoise. Achilles liked strawberries the most.
b. What would he do with the smaller fruit?
Ans: If it was smaller fruit, Achilles would eat in one gulp.
c. What would he do when he was given a big strawberry?
Ans: When a big strawberry was given, he would carry it to a safe and lonely place and eat leisurely.
2. He would pause, survey you thoughtfully, and then choose a portion of your anatomy on which to practice mountaineering.
a. Why would Achilles practice mountaineering on human beings?
Ans: Achilles loves company of human beings. He thinks people lied on ground to play with him.
b. What would a person feel as Achilles tried to climb over him?
Ans: Though Achilles feels playful when he climbs a person, the person would feel very uncomfortable and not able to relax.
c. What happened if one shook him off?
Ans: Even if one shook Achilles off, he would again go round the garden and come back to climb. This behavior led to lot of complaining by family members in.
Story summary:
Robin Hood one day sees a cheerful young man dressed in red, singing and playing in the greenwood: it is Alan-a-Dale. The next day, he sees him again, dejected (sad, worried). He sends two of his Merry Men, "Little John" and "Much the Miller's Son", to apprehend (arrest) him.
Robin asks Alan for money; but he explains that he has but little, and that the cause of his sorrow is that his truelove is to be married to an elderly knight. When Alan agrees to serve Robin, the latter springs into action. He turns up at the church as a harper, but refuses to play: firstly, until he has seen the bride and groom; secondly, after he has seen them, because he does not consider the old man and the young girl a suitable match.
He blows his horn: and his Merry Men, now including Alan, appear. The bishop refuses to marry Alan and the girl, because it is the law that consent must be asked three times. Robin puts the bishop's cloak on Little John, who mockingly asks the question seven times and then marries the young couple, Robin giving away the bride in loco parentis (in place of parent). All then - except, presumably, for the old knight and the bishop - repair to the greenwood.
Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that loves mirth for to hear,
And I will you tell of a bold outlaw,
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
All under the green-wood tree,
There was he ware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be.
The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay,
And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.
As Robin Hood next morning stood,
Amongst the leaves so gay,
There did he espy the same young man
Come drooping along the way.
The scarlet he wore the day before,
It was clean cast away;
And every step he fetched a sigh,
"Alack and a well-a-day!"
Then stepped forth brave Little John,
And Much the miller's son,
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When as he see them come.
"Stand off, stand off!" the young man said,
"What is your will with me?"
"You must come before our master straight,
Under yon green-wood tree."
And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin asked him courteously,
"O hast thou any money to spare
For my merry men and me?"
"I have no money," the young man said,
"But five shillings and a ring;
And that I have kept this seven long years,
To have it at my wedding."
"Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she is now from me ta'en,
And chosen to be an old knights delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain."
"What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood,
Come tell me, without any fail"
"By the faith of my body," then said the young man,
"My name it is Alan a Dale."
"What wilt thou give me," said Robin Hood,
"In ready gold or fee,
To help thee to thy true-love again,
And deliver her unto thee?"
"I have no money, then quoth the young man,
No ready gold nor fee,
But I will swear upon a book
Thy true servant for to be.
How many miles is it to thy true-love?
Come tell me without any guile:
"By the faith of my body," then said the young man,
It is but five little mile."
Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
He did neither stint nor lin,
Vntil he came unto the church
Where Allin should keep his wedding.
What dost thou do here? the bishop he said,
I prethee now tell to me:
I am a bold harper, quoth Robin Hood,
And the best in the north countrey.
"welcome, O welcome," the bishop he said,
That musick best pleaseth me;
You shall have no musick, quoth Robin Hood,
Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.
With that came in a wealthy knight,
Which was both grave and old,
And after him a finikin lass,
Did shine like glistering gold.
This is no fit match, quoth bold Robin Hood,
That you do seem to make here;
For since we are come unto the church,
The bride she shall chuse her own dear.
Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two or three;
When four and twenty bowmen bold
Came leaping over the lee.
And when they came into the church-yard,
Marching all on a row,
The first man was Allin a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow.
This is thy true-love, Robin he said,
Young Allin, as I hear say;
And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away.
"That shall not be," the bishop he said,
"For thy word shall not stand;
They shall be three times asked in the church,
As the law is of our land."
Robin Hood pull'd off the bishop's coat,
And put it upon Little John;
"By the faith of my body," then Robin said,
"This cloath doth make thee a man."
When Little John went into the quire,
The people began for to laugh;
He asked them seven times in the church,
Least three times should not be enough.
"Who gives me this maid?" said Little John;
Quoth Robin, "That do I!
And he that doth take her from Allin a Dale
Full dearly he shall her buy."
And thus having ended this merry wedding,
The bride lookt as fresh as a queen,
And so they return'd to the merry green wood,
Amongst the leaves so green.
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