CBSE solutions for इंग्लिश लिटरेचर रीडर कक्षा १० chapter Unit 7 P. 7 - The Frog and The Nightingale [Latest edition]

MarkMarkListed below are some character traits of people. A few of these are positive qualities, while others are not. Tick mark the ones you feel are desirable qualities in a person.

Have you come across people who are not what they seem to be - like someone who is extremely friendly and helpful yet you are not very comfortable with him / her as you feel it is a put-on? Have a class discussion about such people and why you feel as you do.

Before you read the poem complete the word - web with the words that we associate with a Frog and a Nightingale

Read Vikram Seth’s poem: The Frog and the Nightingale.

The following is a summary of the poem but it is jumbled up. Write out the events in their correct order to form a continuous paragraph.
(a) As a result, her voice lost its beauty, and the other creatures stopped coming to hear her sing.
(b) Soon the nightingale became famous, and creatures from miles around came to hear her sing.
(c) All the creatures in the bog cheered and clapped at her beautiful song.
(d) He offered to train the nightingale, so that she could sing even more beautifully.
(e) So the frog could sing unrivalled in the bog once more.
(f) The next night the frog introduced himself.
(g) The frog charged an admission fee, and earned a lot of money from these concerts.
(h) A frog croaked all night in a bog, in an unpleasant voice.
(i) But the frog made the nightingale rehearse continuously in the rain.
(j) One night a nightingale began to sing in a melodious voice.
(k) Finally, the nightingale burst a vein and died.

Now that you have read the poem, add more personality traits to the word-web of the frog and the nightingale as depicted in the poem. Then complete the given table. (Some of the words in the box below may help you. You may also use the words given in Q. 1.)

Divide yourselves into groups of four or five and brainstorm on any one of the given situations in order to create an imaginary dialogue or a comic strip. Keep in mind the characters and situations while doing so. Representatives from each group could then present the dialogues / read them to the class.

The frog’s ultimate aim was to ______.

The animals’ reaction to the nightingale’s song caused the frog to ______.

Identify the reason why the nightingale accepted the frog’s tutelage.

Read the stanza given below and complete the sentences by selecting the appropriate option.

i. The nightingale was sorrowful and pale because she ______.

1. had been practicing in the rain
2. had been performing all night
3. was losing confidence in herself
4. was falling ill

ii. Why was the audience tired of the song nightingale’s song?

1. They had heard it many times
2. It had become mechanical
3. She looked tired
4. She had added trill to her song

iii. She no longer enjoyed singing alone as she ______.

1. wanted to sing only for titled crowd
2. was now used to the appreciation she got
3. was by herself, without the frog
4. had become proud of herself

Support the view that the creatures of Bingle bog liked the nightingale’s singing.

Which are the different ways in which the frog asserts his importance?

Answer the following question briefly.

Why is the frog's joy both sweet and bitter?

What was the frog’s ulterior motive in making the nightingale add fills and trills to her songs?

Contradict the fact that the nightingale did not deserve the frog’s wrath.

Discuss the following question and write the answer in your note-books.

Bring out the irony in the frog's statement - 'Your song must be your own'.

What was the purpose of the poet to end the poem in this manner? Can you suggest a different ending?

Discuss the following question and write the answer in your note-books.

Do you think the nightingale is 'brainless'? Give reasons for your answer.

Discuss the following question and write the answer in your note-books.

Inspite of having a melodious voice and being a crowd puller, the nightingale turns out to be a loser and dies. How far is she responsible for her own downfall?

Discuss the following question and write the answer in your note-books.

Do you agree with the Frog's inference of the Nightingale's character? Give reasons for your answer.

The Frog and the Nightingale is a spoof on the present society. Study the Mind Map given below. Divide yourselves into groups, select a box and discuss the statement given. Then present your views to the class.

Topics for CLASS DISCUSSION

a. How a person tries to put down another when that person is succeeding in his or her life.

b. Our self-image is often based on what others make us believe we are. A poor selfimage can do irreparable damage to us. Do you agree with this statement?
Elaborate with suitable reasons and examples.

The nightingale has scaled the heights of success. But now the audience is dwindling, the frog is unhappy and reprimands her all the time. She is mentally and physically exhausted and fears failure. As the nightingale, write a diary entry highlighting her fears and analyzing the reasons for her failure.

Write an obituary for the nightingale. You may begin like this: May the kind soul……… (or you may make use of your own beginning)

Listen to your teacher recite the poem The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt and compare the Fly to Vikram Seth's Nightingale.