CBSE solutions for English Literature Reader Class 12 chapter 2 - Survivors [Latest edition]

The present century has witnessed several wars and conflicts that erupted in different parts of the world.

Discuss in pairs:

What led to so many wars?

The present century has witnessed several wars and conflicts that erupted in different parts of the world.

Discuss in pairs:

War causes much suffering. Who are the victims? In what ways do they suffer?

Complete the summary of the poem:

The men who went out into the battlefield and survived the war will ______. The shock and strain may have caused ______. Soon, they will ______ to go out again. These men who fought at the battlefield though old now are learning ______ and live life once again. The trauma of the battle, their ______ nights, memories of the friends who ______ will soon be forgotten. Their dreams that drip with murder today will also be a part of the ______ past. The wounds will heal and they will be ______ of the glorious war though it ______ pride yet, it is sad that the men who went out to battle ______ and glad, return to their motherland looking like children with eyes that ______, broken and ______.

“No doubt they’ll soon get well. 
Of course they’re longing to go out again.”

1. Who is being referred to in these lines?
2. Who is the speaker?
   1. a fellow soldier
   2. a non - combatant

“Men who went out to battle, grim and glad;
children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.”

1. What contrasting picture of soldiers is given in the last two lines?
2. Bring out the significance of the following phrases from the poem.
   1. 'grim and glad'
   2. 'eyes that hate you’

Do you know that one of the symptoms of combat fatigue or ‘neurasthenia’ is a stammer and a failure to string sentences together coherently? The poem portrays the grim untold reality of war. Is it a truthful one? Give reasons.

What does the poet mean by “haunted nights’ cowed subjection ..... dreams that drip with murder”?

The combatants went into war as men, ‘grim and glad’ and returned as children, ‘broken and mad’. Explain why?

Why do people go to war? Has war ever served any purpose? Substantiate your point of view by giving examples from world events.

You have been asked to speak on the plight of survivors in war. In the light of the above poem and your own perception, write your speech in about 100-120 words.

Use the following hints:

• the contradictory attitudes to war
• the effects of war
• the tragedy of war
• loss of lives
• disillusionment
• destruction
• death of the you

Discuss the following in groups of three or four, with reference to the poem ‘Survivors’.

1. Why do people go to war?
2. Has a war ever served any purpose? Substantiate your point of view.