English

Read the Extract Given Below and Answer the Question that Follow. Explain the Line, ‘There Was Nothing to Do About Him.’ - English 2 (Literature in English)

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Question

“If you are rested I would go,” I urged. “Get up and try to walk now.”
“Thank you,” he said and got to his feet, swayed from side to side and then sat down backwards in the dust.
“I was taking care of animals,” he said dully, but no longer to me. “I was only taking care of animals.”
There was nothing to do about him. It was Easter Sunday and the Fascists were advancing toward the Ebro. It was a grey overcast day with a low ceiling so their planes were not up. That and the fact that cats know how to look after themselves was all the good luck that the old man would ever have.

Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.

Explain the line, ‘There was nothing to do about him.’

Short/Brief Note
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Solution

This line expresses the sadness and pity that the soldier feels for the old man as he realises that if the old man sits on the bridge he would surely die. He is loyal to the military system and has to obey orders and do his duty. He can do nothing for the old man and knows that inevitable death is in his fate.

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Chapter 2.02: Old Man at the Bridge - Passage 5

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Evergreen Publication Treasure Trove [English] Class 9 and 10 ICSE
Chapter 2.02 Old Man at the Bridge
Passage 5 | Q 4

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