CBSE solutions for English Literature Reader Class 12 chapter 2 - A Devoted Son [Latest edition]

In a conservative society, what qualities would you associate with a son or daughter? Discuss with your partner.

Is there a difference between what a family expects from a son and daughter? Share your ideas with the class.

What does this idiom mean?

Blood is thicker than water

What does this idiom mean?

Chip of the old block

What does this idiom mean?

At your mother’s knee

What does this idiom mean?

At death’s door

What does this idiom mean?

Alive and kicking

Why were the members of the Varmaji household in a celebratory mood?

Why was Rakesh’s achievement a glorious one for his family?

Why was his family happy about their son’s return from the US?

How did Rakesh’s talents benefit his father?

Why did Rakesh’s achievements lose their shine in due time?

Why did Varmaji bribe his grandchildren? How did Rakesh react to his behaviour?

What was Varmaji’s complaint to Bhatia?

What events led to Varmaji’s wishing to be left alone?

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

1. What is the ‘result’ referred to?
2. Other than his son’s achievement, what else is the speaker proud of?
3. Identify the traditional values conveyed here.

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

1. Rakesh lived up to his mother’s expectation. How?
2. What had she feared?
3. Rakesh was a truly ‘devoted’ son. Why?

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

1. What caused Mr. Varma to react in this manner?
2. Is Rakesh responsible for it? Give a reason.
3. Which of the options given below best describes Mr. Varma’s state of mind in the given extract.
   1. helpless
   2. spiteful
   3. angry
   4. frustrated

Match the words with the meaning

The son’s personality and character underwent a sea change. What were the changes in Rakesh as observed by Varma.

A sense of bonhomie is seen among the villagers. Describe two incidents that reflect this.

Though Rakesh was a well established doctor and busy running his own clinic, how does he show his filial devotion?

Veena is a dutiful daughter-in-law. Do you agree/disagree? Justify.

What impression do you get about Rakesh’s life? Illustrate with suitable textual references.

As Veena, Rakesh’s wife, write a letter to your sister expressing how bad you feel that your husband’s concern for his father is being misconstrued as being heartless.

How does the story reflect the Indian cultural values of respect for parents, in-laws and close knit communities. Give your views in about 150-200 words.

Do you sympathise with Rakesh for what he gets in the end for his devotion? Justify your views in about 150-200 words.

Rakesh is acting more like a doctor than a son, and that ruins the quality of his father's last days. Do you think he is justified in doing so? Express your views in about 150-200 words.

A static character in a story does not change during the development of the plot while a dynamic character does. How are Varma and Rakesh examples of these? Substantiate with examples.

Do you think Varma and of Bhatia are a contrast to each other? Give reasons.

Anitha Desai’s writing style is embellished by the wonderful phrases that she has used to convey the character’s, feelings and to make the descriptions vivid. Substantiate this observation.

Read the following sentence from the story focussing on the italicised phrases.

‘The whole day long visitors streamed into the small yellow house.’

Read the following sentence from the story focussing on the italicised phrases.

‘All in a multicoloured whirl of pride.’

Read the following sentence from the story focussing on the italicised phrases.

‘When it is merely a peevish whim.’

Read the following sentence from the story focussing on the italicised phrases.

‘The old man could just see her smirk sliding merrily.’

Read the following sentence from the story focussing on the italicised phrases.

‘His authority was only tyranny in disguise.’

1. ‘The whole day long visitors streamed into the small yellow house.’
2. ‘All in a multicoloured whirl of pride.’
3. ‘When it is merely a peevish whim.’
4. ‘The old man could just see her smirk sliding merrily.’
5. ‘His authority was only tyranny in disguise.’

Read the following situations and match the above phrases with the situations.

1. Anvita received a string of awards for her innovation in Science. She was flooded with congratulatory messages. She was swimming in a ______.
2. The party workers came to greet their leader on his birthday. They ______ the party office from 5 am in the morning.
3. Mr. Rao lost the argument to his wife. His teenaged son observed his father getting into the car sheepishly. As he got into the car he saw him ______.
4. Sanjay often threw tantrums and cried for everything. His patient mother could never make out whether it was genuine or if it was ______.
5. Rohit was a Class 12 student studying in Delhi. As his parents worked abroad, Rohit's uncle was his local guardian. He laid down many restrictions on Rohit, out of sheer concern. Rohit felt it was ______.

Pick out four more expressions from the text that enhance the description of people or events, as in given the examples in ‘4. 2. d’.

Role Play: As the village head you meet Varma who has become senile. Tell him about Rakesh’s sacrifice and how he should cooperate with his son and not criticise him.

In today’s world, parents like Varma struggle a lot to educate their children. The latter, after their education, become successful professionals who leave their parents and go abroad or to the cities seeking greener pastures. Finally, the parents in their old age, are sent to old age homes where they are taken care of quite well. The basic health care is provided but they are emotionally parched. What can be done to avoid this pathetic situation?