Question

Answer any four of the following questions in 30 – 40 words each :
(a) After initial reluctance why did the lawyers tell Gandhiji that they were ready to follow him into jail?
(b) What is Mukesh's attitude towards the family business of making bangles?
(c) How does the poet show the futility of Aunt Jennifer's efforts?
(d) Stephen Spender in his poem, 'An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum' paints a dismal picture of poverty. Comment.
(e) Jackson went through the contents of Rev. McLeery's suitcase. Which object therein puzzled him sorely? What was his comment on that?
(f) How did the servants react when they realized that Dr. Sadao was going to save the life of an enemy?

Answer 1

(a) The lawyers thought that Gandhi is totally a stranger to the peasants, yet he is willing to help them and is even ready to go to jail for them. If they go home leaving Gandhi and the peasants in such a situation, it will be a matter of great shame for them. So they declared to follow him to the jail.

(b) Mukesh was destined to be a bangle maker, but he did not have any inclination towards it. He wanted to be a motor mechanic and even wanted to learn the skills of the same from a garage which was far from his home.

(c) The trembling hands of Aunt Jennifer because of the weight of the 'wedding ring' shows that she still is a victim of male chauvinism. Even her death won't free her from her ordeal as she will still be wearing the ring that symbolizes her failed marriage.

(d) The poet describes the dismal and impoverished world of the slum through the images of the pale and undernourished children. The little homes of these children have been equated with cramped holes. The dilapidated school building and its tarnished walls have limited the vision of the world to the children.

(e) Jackson finds a small semi-inflated rubber ring in Rev. McLeery's suitcase. It was about twelve inches in diameter. The rubber ring sorely puzzled Jackson and he asked McLeery whether he wished to go for a swim.

(f) The servants were not contented with the idea of their master of keeping the enemy and saving his life. They showed their disagreement by refusing to serve the patient. They were worried for their life and also the reputation of the master's family. The quit the job but later returned when the patient was gone.