Read the following extract and answer the questions given below:
Old women once
were continents.
They had deep woods in them,
lakes, mountains, volcanoes even,
even raging gulfs.
When the earth was in heat
they melted, shrank,
leaving only their maps.
You can fold them
and keep them handy:
who knows, they might help you find
your way home.
Question
(1) For what purpose did the old women leave their 'maps' behind them?
(2) How can old people be helpful to us?
(3) Name and explain the figure of speech in the following lines:
Old women once
were continents.
(4) Make a list of geographical expressions from the extract.
Solution
(1) They left their maps in order to keep them handy, to find their way home and to know the way of life.
(2) They are the ocean of knowledge and wisdom. They are the treasures of Experiences. They can help to look after the children, help with the cooking and maybe advise the young ones about the good things of life.
(3) Metaphor: Here old women are implicitly compared to continents.
(4) Geographical Expressions are.
Continents, Volcanoes, Woods, Gulfs, Lakes, Maps, Mountains.
