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Question
Get into pairs and discuss the following with your partners and complete the table.
Many people are superstitious. This means that they have a belief for which they have no logical reason.
An example of superstition is that - walking under a ladder brings bad luck. In pairs, list any superstitions that you know of.
| Superstition | What it implies |
| (1) Smashing a mirror | Brings seven years of bad luck. |
| (2) | |
| (3) | |
| (4) | |
| (5) |
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Solution
| Superstation |
What it implies |
|
(1) Walking under a ladder |
1. Brings bad luck. |
|
(2) Smashing a mirror |
2. Brings seven years of bad luck. |
|
(3) A black cat crossing your path |
3. A bad omen. |
|
(4) Twitching of the eye |
4. Brings bad luck. |
|
(5) Sweeping your house after sunset |
5. Goddess Lakshmi will walk out. |
|
(6) Going near a peepal tree at night |
6. The ghosts will kill you. |
|
(7) Putting a black dot on your child's face |
7. Will ward off the evil eye. |
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Brainstorm what you know about Scorpions. Use the points given below.

After reading the poem, complete the following. What happens? There are three main parts of the poem. Do you know what they are about? The first one is done for you.
| Lines | What is happening? |
| 1-7 | The scorpion comes into the home to escape the rain and stings the poet’s mother. |
| 8-33 | |
| 34-48 |
Complete the following table.
| Scorpion | |
| Many images of the scorpion contrast in the opening lines of the poem. Find examples of each and add them to the columns below. | |
| Timid | Dangerous |
|
(1) hides _________ (2) ___________ back |
(i) Diabolic ____________ (ii) ____________ |
Choose the correct alternative.
His father and the villagers panic and hastily suggest _____________.
Choose the correct alternative.
The poet seems to see the villagers as impractical and almost irritating which suggests that ________________.
Choose the correct alternative.
The peasants chant the name of God to _______________.
Choose the correct alternative.
The click of tongues reflects their __________ to the predicament.
From the poem provide evidence for the following:
| Stages | Evidence (lines from the poem) |
| (a) the attempts by the peasants to help alleviate the mother’s pain. | |
| (b) the action of these same peasants to kill the scorpion | |
| (c) the reaction of the rational father. | |
| (d) the various superstitions versus the ‘scientific’ | |
| (e) evil versus good. |
Prepare a Presentation (on paper or on a PC) as a piece of reference to other students. Make use of the following points.

Read the following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the given points in a paragraph format:
|
Night of the Scorpion I remember the night my mother |
Points:
- The title and the poet of the poem
- Rhyme scheme
- Figures of speech
- Central Idea/Theme
