English

Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony.

Advertisements
Advertisements

Question

Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony.

Answer in Brief
Advertisements

Solution

A model answer has been provided for students' reference.

It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

The poet has used the tools of humour and irony in the poem. Humour refers to cognitive experiences which provoke laughter in a person. Irony refers to the strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what one expects. Some instances of humour and irony in the poem are:

The decision of the king to hang the chief of the builders for constructing a low arch when his crown struck against it evokes laughter among the readers. It is an example of humour. The way the king got convinced that actually the labourers who constructed the arch were responsible is also humourous. The king wanted to hang the labourers but the labourers were able to defend themselves. This situation is humorous as it evokes laughter among the readers and ironic as the readers find that the labourers are able to shift the responsibility to the architect. Ironically, the architect is able to shift the responsibility to the king himself. The selection of the wisest man who would give the verdict as to who was the real culprit evokes laughter and is, therefore, humorous. The old man ultimately blamed the arch and declared that the arch must be hanged. Ironically, one of the ministers pointed out that the gathering wanted a man to be hanged. As the noose fitted the king's neck, so, he was hanged.

The choice of a successor is humorous as an idiot is consulted in selecting the successor. The idiot chose a melon who became the symbolic head of the state.

shaalaa.com
Reading Skills
  Is there an error in this question or solution?
Chapter 5: The Tale of Melon City - Reading with insight [Page 76]

APPEARS IN

NCERT English Snapshots (Core) Class 11
Chapter 5 The Tale of Melon City
Reading with insight | Q 4 | Page 76

RELATED QUESTIONS

Anne's relationship with her mother was never simple. What created the tension and discord? Why


Attempt the following in 150-200 words.

Why does Anne call herself 'a bundle of contradictions'?


Answer the following in 200-250 words :
Describe Ms. Sullivan's teaching methods?


What has the camera captured?


Tick the statement that is true.

Rajendra Desphande was a historical event.


You will probably agree that this story does not have breathless adventure and exciting action. Then what in your opinion makes it interesting?


Look at the following set of words and mention what is common to them both in form and meaning.

Snuffle

snort

sniffle

snore


What does the phrase 'as if he were on needles' mean? Can you think of another phrase with a similar meaning substituting the word 'needless'?


We 'draw up a deed'. Complete the following phrase with an appropriate word.

________a loan


Comment on the lines that make you visualise the colourful image of the peacock.


The best punishment is ‘forgiveness’. Discuss the sentence in light of the text you have read. You can make use of the following points.

(a) Forgiveness provides an opportunity to change the behaviour.

(b) Forgiveness leads to repentance.

(c) A person may commit a mistake/crime impulsively or under the force of strong emotions.

(d) ________________________

(e) ________________________


Make a list of the preparations made for an assault on Tiger Hill.

Throughout the last week of June 1999, 18 Grenadiers ____________.


Have you heard of birds that fly from one part of the world to another in small or large flocks?
They are called Migratory birds.
Discuss and write down two reasons why they migrate and return.


Behrman was a hard-hearted person.


Join the sentence using appropriate Co-ordinators. (but, or, so, and)

He places his fingers into the master controls. He operates all four arms of the Da Vinci.


Fill in the gap, choosing a word from the bracket to make an appropriate comparison.

(tall / quiet / humble / merry / busy / slippery / fast / sly / slow / big)

as ______ as a lark


Say WHY. . . . . .

Ramanujan found the number 1729 very interesting.


Name any four periods of History of British Drama.


Form groups and hold debates on the following topic. Make bulleted lists of points in favour of the topic (pros) and those against it (cons). (3-6 points each).

Boys cannot cook or do any housework.


Visit a library:

Find more information/stories about scholars of the ancient world - Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya, Varahamihira, Charaka, Nagarjuna, Jeevaka.


The merchant ships brought spices and other treasures from India and other countries to Italy.


Write the following in short:

The story of the three caskets.


Read the following words. Write the words that are combined to make these words.

  • faraway
  • nobleman
  • whoever
  • moneylender 
  • sometimes

Add ten more words to the list on your own. Each of the component words must be meaningful.


Write about what you would like to do if ‘Time’ was your friend.


Gather information about your favourite great historical personality. You may use the internet. You may also gather photographs, pictures, etc. Prepare a collage using the pictures, inspirational quotes, and a brief description of the person’s importance. Hold an exhibition of your collages in the classroom. 


Read the following and observe the use of tenses.

‘Last week I witnessed a strange accident. Let me tell you about it. The signal flashes green. Vehicles start in the opposite direction. They move fast. Suddenly a speeding motorcyclist tries to cut across, from the wrong side. He is about to collide with a loaded truck. He applies the brakes. He falls and slides out with his bike from under the truck. He comes out unscathed on the other side.’

- When an event, which has occurred in the past, is narrated in the Present Tense to create a dramatic effect its Tense is called the ‘Dramatic Present Tense’.

- Now try to relate Jayant’s sci-fi story, in brief, in the dramatic past tense.


Choose the appropriate phrase to insert in the gap, to make the sentence meaningful. Use the appropriate form of the verb.

I ______ just as I was to receive my Report Card. 


Mention the various places that the brook flows past.


The poet uses words to create pictures or 'images' in the reader’s mind. For example, 'And sparkle out among the fern.'
Write down other lines that create images or pictures in your mind. (Any 3)


‘Unke, Munke, Timpetoo,
I wish, my wish is coming true.’

Try to compose two other funny magical chants that have rhyming lines.


Say whether you agree or disagree.

The children showed disinterest even in the bachelor’s story-telling, throughout.


Fill in the blank choosing the appropriate word/idiom from the lesson.

In the examination, I did not know the answer, so I ______.


How do we come to know that Kasim was a generous man? 


Guess the meaning of weary. 


Identify the character or speaker.

What a trouble must I have been to you then!


What game did Anne choose to play?


Tom lay thinking. Presently it occurred to him that he wished he was sick; then he could stay home from school. He examined himself. He found no symptoms or sickness, and he investigated again. This time he felt he had a stomach ache, but it soon grew feeble, and presently died wholly away. He reflected further.

What did he detect?


What should we learn from our teachers?


Read these lines and answer the questions given below.

With lutes in our hands ever-singing we roam,

All men are our kindred, the world is our home.

  1. Who does ‘we’ refer to? What do they have in their hands? What is its name?
  2. How are the men in the world related to the singers?

What was the reaction of the inhabitants?


Read the “Story of Self Sacrifice and Bravery” once again and complete the flow chart.


Read these lines and answer the question given below.

How cheerful he seems to grin

Who does ‘he’ refer to?


The girl was badly hurt.


Who shattered the windows?


Try your own.


What would we do when we are happy or sad?


Write the rhyming word.

face - ______.


Why was the fish floating on top?


Identify the character/speaker.

He bought a new fish tank.


Match the following.

pale
tremble
fainted

Why relationships are more important than wealth?


What was the reason behind Nandhini’s dullness?


Fill in the blank


Every year the children visit the______.


Read the passage carefully and answer the following question.

What is the main idea of the story?


Write the word with same meaning.

tap- ______


What strange things did Alice see?


Read the passage and write a summary of it. Suggest a suitable title for the summary.

A sparrow is a small bird which is found throughout the world. There are many different species of sparrows. Sparrows are only about four to six inches in length. Many people appreciate their beautiful songs. Sparrows prefer to build their nests in low places-usually on the ground clumps of grass low trees and low bushes. In cities, they build their nests in building nooks or holes. They rarely build their nests in high places. They build their nests out of twigs grasses and plant fibers. Their nests are usually small and well-built structures.

Female sparrows lay four to six eggs at a time. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. They hatch within eleven to fourteen days. Both the male and female parents care for the young. Insects are fed to the young after hatching. The large feet of the sparrows are used for scratching seeds. Adult sparrows mainly eat seeds. Sparrows can be found almost everywhere where there are humans. Many people throughout the world enjoy these delightful birds.

The sparrows are some of the few birds that engage in dust bathing. Sparrows will first scratch a hole in the ground with their feet then lie in it and fling dirt or sand over their bodies with flicks of their wings. They will also bathe in water or in dry or melting snow. Water bathing is similar to dust bathing with the sparrow standing in shallow water and flicking water over its back with its wings also ducking its head under the water. Both activities are social with up to a hundred birds participating at once and are followed by preening and sometimes group singing.


Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions.

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that cause harm to the ecosystem. The different kinds of pollution are air pollution, water pollution and land pollution. The release of various gases, finely divided solid particles, or liquid droplets that escape into the atmosphere to disperse and dilute in the environment is called air pollution. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollutants, such as noise pollution, light pollution, and plastic pollution.

Particulate Matter (PM), also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets that get into the air. These particles if inhaled can affect health. The impact of PM 2.5 is particularly high in South Asia. Outdoor pollution is caused by a variety of pollutants like public and private vehicles, waste burning in the open, power production industries and construction and even cigarette smoking in public places.

Presently, air pollution is a major and growing risk factor for ill health in India. Delhi is one of the most air polluted cities in India. The air in the city as well as areas surrounding it has worsened to extremely hazardous levels in the recent years. This year’s pollution level is the worst in four years. Several studies have shown that poor air quality is a cause for many health issues among people with lower respiratory disorders with symptoms like dry cough, breathlessness, wheezing, chest discomfort, serious lung infections and cardio vascular diseases. Some studies throw light on the fact that about 16 per cent of the deaths worldwide in 2015 were due to pollution.

Air Masks are an option to protect oneself outdoor. Air masks can be used while commuting or while one is exposed to a polluted area. Some of these masks also include a layer of Activated carbon to filter the air. They protect us from suspended air particles and particulate matter up to the size of 2.5 microns and above. Their usage is limited to some days and should be disposed off after their prescribed duration of usage. The price for air masks starts from Rs 100 and can go up to Rs 500 and more.

We have to take active measures to control pollution and protect ourselves to lead a healthy and pollution free life.

  1. What is meant by pollution? Mention the different kinds of pollution.
  2. How does Particulate Matter cause air pollution?
  3. Identify three major causes of pollution in air
  4. Name the types of pollution we encounter now.
  5. What sort of health issues do people face due to air pollution?
  6. How can we protect ourselves outdoor from air pollution?
  7. Suggest a suitable title to the passage.
  8. Identify the meaning of the word similar to the one used in the fourth para:
  1. emerging
  2. filtering
  3. floating
  4. falling

How can we identify insecure websites?


Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×