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प्रश्न
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'.
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उत्तर
- When the nightingale said that her song was her own, the frog remarked that she should , not boast about that and gave lessons to improve her.
- Later when she died, frog hypocritically stole her statement and told the audience that he taught her to be original in her song.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
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.
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.)
| Character | Extract | Personality traits |
| Nightingale | Sorry - was that you who spoke? | Polite, Timorous |
| Frog |
Yes,… you see, I'm the frog who owns this tree In this bog I've long been known For my splendid baritone. |
|
| Nightingale | Did you…did you like my song? | |
| Frog | Not too bad - but far too long The technique was fine, of course, But it lacked a certain force. | |
| Frog | Without proper training such as I And a few others can supply You'll remain a mere beginner, But with me you'll be a winner. | |
| Nightingale | But I can't sing in this weather | |
| Nightingale | …This is a fairy tale - And you're Mozart in disguise Come to earth before my eyes. | |
| Frog | Come, my dear - we'll sing together. | |
| Frog | We must aim for better billing You still owe me sixty shillings. |
|
| Frog | Brainless bird - you're on the stage Use your wits and follow fashion. Puff your lungs out with your passion. | |
| Frog | …I tried to teach her, But she was a stupid creature. |
| Dismissive Nervous Timid Presumptuous Superior Fawning Shy Polite Meek Possessive Dominating Mercenery |
The animals’ reaction to the nightingale’s song caused the frog to ______.
Identify the reason why the nightingale accepted the frog’s tutelage.
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?
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?
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.

Even though both, the frog from Vikram Seth’s poem, The Frog and the Nightingale and Abel's children from the play, The Dear Departed, display greed, there are differences. Elaborate, in about 150 words, how the greed of the frog and that of Abel's children differ in motivation, actions, relationship, and consequences.
