Advertisements
Advertisements
प्रश्न
After considering the matter, and talking it over with his wife, farmer Jones said that he would take John, and do well by him, now that his mother was out of the way; and Mrs. Ellis, who had been looking out for a bound girl, concluded that it would be charitable in her to make choice of Katy, even though she was too young to be of much use for several years.
“I could do much better, I know,” said Mrs. Ellis; “but as no one seems inclined to take her, I must act from a sense of duty expect to have trouble with the child; for she’s an undisciplined thing—used to having her own way.”
But no one said “I’ll take Maggie.” Pitying glances were cast on her wan and wasted form and thoughts were troubled on her account. Mothers brought cast-off garments and, removing her soiled and ragged clothes, dressed her in clean attire. The sad eyes and patient face of the little one touched many hearts, and even knocked at them for entrance. But none opened to take her in. Who wanted a bed-ridden child?
“Take her to the poorhouse,” said a rough man, of whom the question “What’s to be done with Maggie?” was asked. “Nobody’s going to be bothered with her.”
“The poorhouse is a sad place for a sick and helpless child,” answered one.
“For your child or mine,” said the other, lightly speaking; “but for tis brat it will prove a blessed change, she will be kept clean, have healthy food, and be doctored, which is more than can be said of her past condition.”
Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.
What solution did the rough man suggest for Maggie? Why would the poorhouse be a good place for Maggie?
Advertisements
उत्तर
The rough man suggested that Maggie be taken to a poorhouse which was meant for destitute and orphans like Maggie who had no one to take care of them. It was felt that it would be the best place for her because she would be kept clean, have healthy food, and be doctored, which was more than could be said of her past condition or her life with her alcoholic mother.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
Irony is when we say one thing but mean another, usually the opposite of what we say. When someone makes a mistake and you say, Oh! That was clever!” that is irony. You’re saying ‘clever’ to mean ‘not clever’.
Expressions we often use in an ironic fashion are:
• Oh, wasn’t that clever!/Oh that was clever!
• You have been a great help, I must say!
• You’ve got yourself into a lovely mess, haven’t you?
• Oh, very funny!/How funny!
We use a slightly different tone of voice when we use these words ironically.
Read the play carefully and find the words and expressions Gerrard uses in an ironic way.
Then say what these expressions really mean. Two examples have been given below.
Write down three such expressions along with what they really mean.
| What the author says | What he means |
| Why, this is a surprise, Mr – er – |
He pretends that the intruder is a social visitor whom he is welcoming. In this way he hides his fear. |
| At last a sympathetic audience! | He pretends that the intruder wants to listen to him, whereas actually the intruder wants to find out information for his own use. |
Answer the following question.
“There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul”. What brought about the change in Soapy?
Discuss the following topic in groups.
Retell an episode in the story which is a good example of irony in a situation.
Answer the following question.
Who helped Golu on the bank of the river?
What made Ray think the visitor was not really a shopper?
What must have been called as the ‘drinking straws’ by the poet?
Talk to your partner and say whether the following statement is true or false.
Camels store water in their humps.
How did Rasheed lose all his money at the Lucky shop?
What does this passage say about the speaker?
Which of the following is NOT an effect of Bhishma Lochan Sharma’s powerful singing in Sukumar Ray’s poem 'The Power of Music’?
