HSC Science Class 11 - Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education Question Bank Solutions for English

What do you associate with the title of the poem?

What is the relationship between the narrator and the listener?

What happens to the poet when he visits someone for the third time?

Pick out the expressions that indicate conflicting ideas.

How does the poet compare his face with dresses?

What does the poet mean when he says ‘good bye’?

What pleasantries does the poet use to fake cordiality?

What does he desire to unlearn and relearn?

How is the poet’s laugh reflected in the mirror?

What does the poet long for?

Mention the qualities the child in the poem symbolises.

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

The poet Okara in this narrative monologue painfully condemns the (a)______ displayed by adults, both in their words and actions. Here, a father laments to his son about the negative changes that creep into the attitude and behaviour of humans, when they grow into (b)______. He says that people used to be (c)______ when they laugh and the honesty would be reflected in their eyes. But, people of modern times laugh (d)______. Their handshakes used to be warm and happy conveying a sense of togetherness, but nowadays the handshakes have become a mere (e)______. He warns his son that people are not trust-worthy and have become so selfish that they are concerned only about their own (f)______benefits. People utter words of welcome and exchange (g)______, but those words come only from the tip of their tongues and not from the depth of their hearts. Humans have learnt the art of changing their (h)______ expressions according to situations merely to ensure social acceptance. They wear(i)______ and exhibit multiple faces. The narrator admits that he has also changed into a hypocrite. However, he tells his son that though he (j)______ his expressions, he does all these against his will. He says he wants to become a (k)______ again and laugh genuinely. He wants to (l)______ the unreal things and (m)______how to laugh as he had done once upon a time. When he laughs before the (n)______, he sees no expression. His teeth are bare like that of the (o)______of a snake. So, he asks his son to show him how to laugh the way he used to laugh when he was a kid like him.

Interpret each of the following expression used in the poem, in one or two line.

laugh with their eyes

Interpret each of the following expression used in the poem, in one or two line.

shake hands without hearts

Interpret each of the following expression used in the poem, in one or two line.

like a fixed portrait smile

Interpret each of the following expression used in the poem, in one or two line.

hands search my empty pockets

Interpret each of the following expression used in the poem, in one or two line.

to unlearn all these muting things

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

‘But now they only laugh with their teeth, While their ice-block-cold eyes…’

1. Who are ‘they’?
2. Explain: ice-block-cold eyes
3. Identify the figure of speech used here.

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

‘Most of all, I want to relearn How to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror Shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!’

1. Why does the poet want to relearn how to laugh?
2. Whom does the poet want to relearn from?
3. Mention the figure of speech used here.

Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

Once upon a time, son They used to laugh with their eyes: