Question

Read the given extract and answer the questions.

He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes, The epistemology of loss, how to stand up Knowing what every man must one day know And most know many days, how to stand up. (The Ball Poem)

I. What emotions are most appropriately conveyed by the phrase ‘desperate eyes’ and ‘epistemology of loss’? (1)

1. despair
2. anger
3. frustration
4. confusion
5. helplessness

Select the correct option.

1. i, iii
2. i, iv, v
3. ii, iii, iv
4. iv, v

II. What does the phrase ‘how to stand up’ suggest about the boy’s emotional growth? (2)

III. Which phrase from the extract conveys the poet’s idea that loss is universal? (1)

IV. Fill in the blank with a phrase to suitably complete the sentence. (1)

The loss of his ball symbolises ______ in life.

Answer 1

I. i, iv, v

Explanation:

‘Anger’ and ‘frustration’ are less appropriate because the focus is on emotional confusion, helplessness, and the acceptance of loss, rather than a reaction of resistance or blockage. The boy’s emotional state is about grappling with a deeper understanding of life’s impermanence, rather than lashing out at the loss or the situation.

II. The phrase ‘how to stand up’ suggests that the boy is learning to confront and cope with the emotional impact of loss. It signifies his emotional growth, as he begins to understand that facing grief is an essential part of life. This realisation helps to teach him to recover from hardship and accept the inevitability of loss.

III. ‘Most know’

IV. The loss of his ball symbolises the first encounter with grief in life.