Question

Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each :                

(a) Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?

(b) Sophie was dreaming of so many things in her life. What were they?

(c) Why are the youngsters described as springing? (My Mother at Sixty-six)

(d) In the hot season, how do man and beast get comfort? (A Thing of Beauty)

(e) How did the Maharaja deal with a high ranking British officer who wanted to shoot a tiger?

(f) Having got rid of his stink, what problem did Roger Skunk face?

Answer 1

(a) M. Hamel did not punish Franz even though he was late because it was the former’s last day at school before the new master came the following day. It was the last French lesson that he would be giving them, so he had become very sad and sentimental about it.

(b) Sophie dreamt of opening a boutique or becoming an actress or a fashion designer. She thought that she would be offered the position of a manager and that she would work there till the time she saves enough money for her boutique.

(c) While driving to the airport, in an effort to distract herself from the thoughts of her ageing mother, the poet looks at the young trees ‘sprinting’. The trees seem to be running past the moving car. The sprinting of the trees symbolises the rapidly passing years of human’s life from childhood to old age. This image, which shows activity and strength, is contrasted with that of her old and weak mother who seems dormant, sleeping in the car. The ‘young’ trees represent life in contrast to her mother’s approaching death.

(d) A man and the beast can get comfort in the hot season by looking out for beauty in nature, which surrounds us. According to the poet, anything which is beautiful, is a constant source of joy.

(e) The British Officer told the Maharaja that he wanted to hunt tigers in his kingdom but the Maharaja refused to give permission. The Maharaja himself wanted to kill hundred tigers so he had to refuse to give permission to the British Officer. Instead he told the officer that if he wanted to hunt boars, rats or even mosquitoes, there will be no problem. But hunting tigers could never be allowed.

(f) The next problem that Roger Skunk faced was that his mother became really very angry at him. Roger Skunk's mommy was angry because her son did not smell like a skunk anymore. He smelled of roses and the wizard had changed him just so that others would not make fun of him again. Roger Skunk's mommy did not want her son to change for others. Her anger is justified because one should revel in their individuality and not be ashamed of it. She decided to speak to the wizard and change him back to his old self with his familiar smell.