Definitions [3]
a) Read the second stanza again, in which Wordsworth compares the solitary
reaper's song with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo. On the basis of
your reading (and your imagination), copy and complete the table below. (Work
in groups of four, then have a brief class discussion.
| Place | Heard by | Impact on listener | |
| Solitary Reaper | Scottish Highlands | the poet | holds him spellbound |
| Nightingale | |||
| Cuckoo |
b) Why do you think Wordsworth has chosen the song of the nightingale and the
cuckoo, for comparison with the solitary reaper's song?
c) As you read the second stanza, what images come to your mind? Be ready to
describe them in your own words, to the rest of the class. (Be imaginative
enough and go beyond what the poet has written.)
(a)
| Place | Heard by | Impact on listener | |
| Solitary Reaper | Scottish Highlands | the poet | holds him spellbound |
| Nightingale | Arabian Sands | weary travellers | feel refreshed |
| Cuckoo | Hebrides | islanders | thrilled |
(b) The nightingale and the cuckoo are the two birds which are famous for their sweet and melodious songs. So, it is quite natural that Wordsworth compares the sweet song of the solitary reaper to these birds.
(c)
- The first picture that comes to my mind is the desert of Arabia. The scorching sun is burning everything. Poor travellers are tired and thirsty. They are making their camels run for some shady haunts. At last, they find a shady place with water. They lie down to have some rest. Suddenly, a melodious voice captures their hearts. The nightingale’s song refreshes the tired travellers. They are up again for their onward journey.
- The Hebrides are wrapped in silence. A ship anchors there. A sweet voice breaks the silence of the seas. It is the melodious voice of the cuckoo. The song thrills all the seamen. The whole mountain region resounds with the song.
Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.
smearing
Smearing: Coat or mark carelessly with grease or oil.
Before the game, Rakesh smeared his body with oil.
Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.
comical
Comical: Funny
Mr. Bean is one of the most famous comical characters on television
Important Questions [52]
- In the Masque in Act IV of the play The Tempest, how does Ceres know that Juno is coming?
- What does Cares say to bless the young couple?
- In Act V, Scene I of the play The Tempest, Alonso says, "Irreparable is the loss." What is the irreparable loss being referred to here?
- What does Prospero intend to do with his book before his interaction with Alonso in Act V of the play, The Tempest?
- Where did B. Wordsworth live in the short story, B. Wordsworth?
- In the short story, To Build a Fire, which "wild idea" came into the Man's head when all seemed lost?
- In the short story, The Story of an Hour, what according to the doctor did Mrs. Mallard die of?
- In the poem, Dover Beach, where is the "eternal note of sadness" heard?
- In the poem, Birches, how are the crystal shells shed?
- In the poem, We are the Music Makers, what are the 'sea -breakers'?
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: In Act III, Scene II of the play The Tempest, Stephano and Trinculo are angry with Caliban as they struggle out of the filthy pool because .
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: In Act V of the play The Tempest, Prospero greets Gonzalo first because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: At the end of Act III, Scene III of the play The Tempest, Gonzalo urges the other Lords to follow the "three men of sin" because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: In Act III, Scene II of the play, The Tempest, Stephano threatens to tie Trinculo to the next tree because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: In the short story, The Sound Machine, Dr. Scott thought Klausner was ill when Klausner rang up the doctor because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: Towards the end of the story B. Wordsworth, the poet told the boy to never visit him because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason:In the short story, To Build a Fire, the fire built by the man under the tree was extinguished because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: In the poem, The Darkling Thrush, the poet thinks the bird had some awareness which the poet did not because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: In the poem, Dover Beach, the poet wants his beloved to be "true" to him because ______.
- Complete the following sentence by providing a reason: Towards the end of the poem Birches, the poet expresses a wish to return to Earth because ______.
- Referring closely, to Act III Scene III, relate the stern warning of Ariel to the "three men of sin". What impact does his warning have on the three sinners?
- With close reference to Act V, describe how Prospero has used the spirits of "hills, brooks, groves" to give shape to his magical acts. What does he finally decide to do with his magical powers?
- With close reference to Act V, examine how Shakespeare presents the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation at the end of the play.
- Magic is used to manipulate, intimidate and amaze the various characters in the play. Give your views on this statement by referring to any two examples from the Acts studied.
- Referring closely to the short story, The Singing Lesson, show how the Headmistress’ summons to Miss Meadows eventually brings the latter out from cold despair to a realm of hope, love and joy.
- Referring closely to the short story, The Sound Machine, give specific instances to show how Klausner was obsessed with sound.
- With close reference to the short story, To Build a Fire, discuss how the Man's lack of imagination led to his paralysing death while the dog's primitive instincts helped him to survive.
- Do you think that friendship is not a matter of age but of emotional connect? Give your views with close reference to V.S. Naipaul's short story B. Wordsworth.
- Referring closely to the poem, Dover Beach, show how the poet correlates the gradual receding of the "Sea of Faith" with the gradual loss of human faith in religion.
- Referring closely to the poem, The Darkling Thrush, examine the poet's encounter with the aged thrush as a passage from amazement to introspection.
- Referring closely to the poem, Birches, discuss what differentiates the swinging of birches in the poet's adulthood from that in his childhood.
- How does the poem, Crossing the Bar, portray the poet's deep affirmation and faith in God?
- Antonio: (Aside to Sebastian) Let it be tonight; For now they are oppress'd with travail, they Will not nor cannot use such vigilanceAs when they are fresh.
- What role does Ariel play in Act IV of the play, The Tempest?
- Caliban: No noise, and enterDo that good mischief which may make this islandThine own forever, and 1, thy Caliban,For aye thy foot-licker. In the above lines taken from Act IV Scene i of the play,
- How does Prospero ask to be to be released from his “bands” in the Epilogue of the play, The Tempest?
- “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills."Which one of the following explains why the short story, The Story of an Hour ends with the phrase
- In the short story, Fritz, what had happened to Fritz according to Jayanta?
- In the short story, Quality, what causes the death of the younger Gessler brother?
- “So was I once myself a swinger of birches." What mood of the poet is captured in the above lines taken from the poem, Birches?
- What is the central idea of the poem, John Brown?
- What is the phrase 'The Century's corpse outleant' in the poem, The Darkling Thrush, a metaphor for?
- In Act V, Scene I of the play, The Tempest, Ariel reminds Prospero that it was the sixth hour because ______.
- At the end of the Masque in Act IV, Scene i of the play, The Tempest, Ferdinand feels that Prospero's behaviour is unusual because ______.
- In Act III Scene ii of the play, The Tempest, upon hearing the music of Ariel, Stephanis says that the island will prove to be a “brave kingdom” to him because ______.
- In Act V Scene i of the play, The Tempest, the Boatswain does not remember how he arrived at Prospero’s cell because ______.
- In the short story, B. Wordsworth, when the narrator’s mother refuses to buy B. Wordsworth's poem, B. Wordsworth remarks 'It is the poet's tragedy' because ______.
- In the short story, The Story of an Hour, it is Josephine who breaks the tragic news of Brently Mallard’s death to Mrs Mallard because ______.
- In the short story, Fritz, Jayanto was told by his uncle to address the doll as Fritz because ______.
- In the poem, John Brown, John Brown drops his medals into his mother's hands because ______.
- In the poem, The Darkling Thrush, the poet uses the words “evensong" and “carolling” to describe the thrush's song because ______.
- In the poem “Birches,” the poet observes that the birches are bent because ______.
