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प्रश्न
How safe was the castle? How was it conquered?
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उत्तर
The castle was fortified by a deep moat very difficult for an enemy to cross. They had a stockpile of arms. Their captain was brave and the soldiers loyal. They had a huge stock of foodgrains to last any siege of the castle. Allies were ready to pitch in at a short notice. From the turret wall, soldiers were ready to shoot down the enemy at sight. Not a single enemy was spotted all through the summer. The soldiers were relaxed and spent time gazing at the mowers in the distant fields. But the castle’s wicket gate was guarded by an aged greedy gatekeeper. The warder collected gold from the enemy and let the enemies in. Their enemy was gold against which they had no weapon. Their castle fell to the greed of an aged warder.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
Have you ever visited a fort or a castle?
Why does the narrator say that the enemy was no threat at all?
Did the soldiers fight with the enemies face to face?
Why were the secret galleries bare?
What was the ‘shameful act’?
Why did the narrator feel helpless?
How can this shameful tale be told?
Underline the alliterated word in the following line.
A little wicked wicket gate.
What is the creeper compared to?
How does the creeper appear on the tree?
Describe the garden during the night.
Discuss with your partner the different stages in the growth of man from a new born to an adult

Describe the second stage of life as depicted by Shakespeare.
Why is the last stage called second childhood?
Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.
“and all the men and women merely players”
Shakespeare has skilfully brought out the parallels between the life of man and actors on stage. Elaborate this statement with reference to the poem.
‘Ulysses is not happy to perform his duties as a king.’ Why?
What does he think of the people of his kingdom?
What has Ulysses gained from his travel experiences?
‘As tho’ to breathe were life!’ – From the given line what do you understand of Ulysses’ attitude to life?
Why did Ulysses want to hand over the kingdom to his son?
In what ways were Ulysses and his mariners alike?
Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.
… I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and
know not me.
- What does Ulysses do?
- Did he enjoy what he was doing? Give reasons.
Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
- How is every hour important to Ulysses?
- What does the term ‘Little remains’ convey?
Explain with reference to the context the following line.
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
Tell him time as a stuff can be wasted.
Tell him to be a fool every so often
- Why does the poet suggest that time can be wasted?
- Identify the figure of speech in the above line.
Explain how the poet guides his son who is at the threshold of manhood, to face the challenges of life.
Literary Devices
Mark the rhyme scheme of the poem. The rhyme scheme for the first stanza is as follows.
| With neck out-thrust, you fancy how, | a |
| Legs wide, arms locked behind, | b |
| As if to balance the prone brow | a |
| Oppressive with its mind. | b |
