English
Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary EducationHSC Science Class 12

Read the given line and answer the question that follow in a line or two. Our gates were strong, our walls were thick, So smooth and high, no man could win. How safe was the castle? - English

Advertisements
Advertisements

Question

Read the given line and answer the question that follow in a line or two.

Our gates were strong, our walls were thick,

So smooth and high, no man could win.

  1. How safe was the castle?
  2. What was the firm belief of the soldiers?
Short/Brief Note
Advertisements

Solution

  1. The castle had high and smooth walls. No enemy could think of climbing it as soldiers were ready to shoot the enemy at sight. The moat was deadly and deep.
  2. The soldiers had the firm belief that their castle was invincible. They felt safe and secure behind the castle.
shaalaa.com
Poem (Class 12th)
  Is there an error in this question or solution?
Chapter 1.2: The Castle - Exercise [Page 22]

APPEARS IN

Samacheer Kalvi English Class 12 TN Board
Chapter 1.2 The Castle
Exercise | Q 4. b) | Page 22

RELATED QUESTIONS

Have you ever visited a fort or a castle?


Did the soldiers fight with the enemies face to face?


Who was the real enemy?


Identify the figure of speech used in the following line.

How can this shameful tale be told?


Fill in the blanks choosing the words from the box given and complete the summary of the poem.

The casuarina tree is tall and strong, with a creeper winding around it like a (1) ______. The tree stands like a (2) ______with a colourful scarf of flowers. Birds surround the garden and the sweet song of the birds is heard. The poet is delighted to see the casuarina tree through her (3) ______. She sees a grey monkey sitting like a (4) ______on top of the tree, the cows grazing, and the water lilies (5) ______in the pond. The poet feels that the tree is dear to her not for its (6) ______appearance but for the (7) ______memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her. She strongly believes that (8) ______communicates with human beings. The poet could communicate with the tree even when she was in a far-off land as she could hear the tree (9) ______her absence. The poet (10) ______the tree’s memory to her loved ones, who are not alive. She immortalizes the tree through her poem like the poet Wordsworth who (11) ______the yew tree of Borrowdale in verse. She expresses her wish that the tree should be remembered out of love and not just because it cannot be (12) ______.

python statue nature casement
nostalgic lamenting impressive forgotten
giant consecrates springing sanctified

How does the poet spend her winter?


Why is the casuarina tree dear to poet’s heart?


Identify the figure of speech used in each of the extract given below and write down the answer in the space given below. 

“ A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound

No other tree could live. But gallantly

The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung......”


What is the world compared to?


“And they have their exits and their entrances” - What do the words ‘exits’ and ‘entrances’ mean?


What is the first stage of a human’s life?


Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.

“and all the men and women merely players”


Read the given line and answer the question that follow.

And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

  1. Whom does justice refer to?
  2. Describe his appearance.
  3. How does he behave with the people around him?
  4. What does he do to show his wisdom?

Shakespeare has skilfully brought out the parallels between the life of man and actors on stage. Elaborate this statement with reference to the poem.


Identify the figure of speech employed in the following line.

For always roaming with a hungry heart


Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.

That ever with a frolic welcome took

The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed

  1. What do ‘thunder’ and ‘sunshine’ refer to?
  2. What do we infer about the attitude of the sailors?

Explain with reference to the context the following line.

....you and I are old;

Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;


Explain with reference to the context the following line.

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.


Fill in the blanks choosing the words from the box given and complete the summary of the poem.

Lines 1-25

The poet Carl Sandburg gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly (1)______ in directing a son who is at the threshold of his (2) ______.

Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard(3) ______and withstand life’s (4)______ and sudden betrayals. (5)______is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful if we are gentle, and take life as it comes. At times(6)______ overtakes harshness. The growth of a (7)______can split a rock. One should have a (8) ______and strong will to achieve. Greed for(9)______has left men dead before they really die. Good men also have fallen prey in quest for (10) ______money. Time for (11)______is not a waste. When you seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a(12)______for not knowing, at the same time learn from your (13) ______and never (14)______it.

deep desire manhood gentleness mistakes easy
leisure fool life money repeat
tender-flower rock challenges wisdom  

Lines 26-44

Do (15)______often, and do not hesitate to accept your shortcomings, avoid(16) ______to protect self against other people. Solitude helps to be (17)______and(18) ______ are taken in silent rooms. Instead of being one among many, be (19)______, if that is your nature. The son may need lazy days to find his (20)______abilities, to seek what he is born for. He will then know how free imaginations bring (21)______to the world, which (22)______ change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and (23)______to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov, and Michael Faraday.

changes introspect inherent work resents
white lies creative final decisions different  

What has twisted good men into thwarted worms?


What are the poet’s thoughts on ‘being different’?


The poet says

‘Without rich wanting nothing arrives’ but he condemns ‘the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs.’ Analyse the difference and write.


Pick out the alliterated words from the poem and write.

And this might stand him for the storms


Who came galloping on a horse to Napoleon?


Why did Napoleon’s eyes become soft as a mother eagle’s eyes?


Literary Devices

Mark the rhyme scheme of the poem. The rhyme scheme for the first stanza is as follows.

With neck out-thrust, you fancy how, a
Legs wide, arms locked behind, b
As if to balance the prone brow a
Oppressive with its mind. b

Explain the following line with reference to the context.

Then off there flung in smiling joy, And held himself erect


Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×