Priyanshu

Cold Wave Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Write down a Summary of Cold Wave.
Answer:
K.A. Abbas was among those few Indian writers who were deeply influenced by Marxism. A versatile person who wrote stories for several successful films, he reveals in his writings a touching concern for the poor, their simple and honest way of living, and the exploitation they are continuously subjected to.

The present story is about an idealistic young man of an affluent family who is disowned by his father for his love for Radha, a dancing girl Nirmal, the handsome protagonist of the story, is a poet who little cared for the worldly prospects. He never knew that his father would not permit him to marry Radha, the beautiful dancing girl of the town. When the father threatened to disown him, Nirmal immediately left his palatial house.

He came to the house of Radha with the fervent hope that she would be as devoted to him as he was to her — he tHoiiglit the two could get some job which would help them live independently. But Radha’s reactions were quite different — She refused to have anything to do with a young man who had been disinherited by his rich father.

The story explores Nirmal’s mind and maps his wonderings in search of help and success from his friends. With the small amount that he had in the pockets of his Kurta he came to Delhi and approached a number of his friends. But none was kind enough to lend him some money with which he could pass off his days in peace.

Shivering in the cold wave he wanders from street to street till he reaches Connaught Place in the night. A blind beggar accosts him for help. As Nirmal tries to cover his shivering body with an old newspaper his eyes turn to the news of cold wave that is sweeping Delhi currently.

Already he is feeling frozen, the newspaper only adds to his anxieties. In the meantime, he notices a woman who asks for a match box. The woman also notices the young man in silk Kurta and immediately guesses that he is a victim of circumstances. She to come closer.’Together, she argues, they could fight the cold wave.

K.A. Abbas has cold wave as a metaphor for the suffering inflicted by the rich over the poor. The rich have their own social code, they will not stand deviation from it. A man can allow his son to be intimate with a dancer, but he won’t permit him to marry her. Thus a way of exploitation is established and continues for ever. The young man’s rebellion is used as a wave of change.

Question 2.
Sketch the character of Baldeo alias Nirmal Meeruti.
Answer:
Baldeo is the protagonist of the story Cold Wave. He is a handsome young man, properly educated and is a poet. But he seems to be a romantic and an idealist who does not understand the ways of the world. He is sincere in his beliefs and actions. He is in love with a beautiful dancer, Radha.

When he announces his intention to marry her his wealthy father threatens to disown him. Paying no heed to the consequences that could follow this. Baldeo alias Nirmal Meeruti leaves his house and proceeds to Radha’s house.

Nirmal had expected a little sympathy from Radha, also a reiteration of her pledge to be with him in all circumstances. But the young lady has greater common sense to attach herself with this penniless man. She coolly refuses to do anything with him. This is the most shocking realization for Nirmal — for the first time he comes to understand that even love in this world is not without material concerns.

Nirmal has not fully broken yet. He has belief in his friends who, he thinks, may help him tide over the crisis. With a little money that he had in the pockets of his Kurta he comes to Delhi. He tries several of his rich friends but without success. On knowing that Nirmal stands disowned by his father, they all turn distant and cool.

Swallowing all this indifference, Nirmal decides to spend the night in Connaught Place – As he tries to cover his body with a sheet of newspaper, he catches the sight of a report of the cold wave sweeping Delhi and the suburbs in the current season.

Already Nirmal is suffering, the report only adds to him mental agitation as well as to his feeling of cold. The way  Nirmal accepts the invitation of the destitute woman shows that he is free from all prejudice. He seems to believe the woman’s words. Without a care for his future he accepts her invitation with the belief that he can now face all inclement weather with strength.

Nirmal thus is a young man of radical ideas, sincere and warm, who is not ready to make any compromise with the exploiting elders of the society. It is this display of guts, this integrity that makes Nirmal’s character so appealing.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

 

A Trick Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Write down a Summary of A Trick.
Answer:
A Trick is a short story written by Prof. R.K. Sinha, the eminent English teacher of Patna University. In this story he writes about a trick played upon a young man by his friend and its impact on him as well as the narator himself. Like the writer, the narrator is a student of English literature. He and his friend, Mr. Varma, have appeared at an examination. There are a very few very brilliant students in the class, including these two. So the atmosphere is very competitive.

One day the narrator congratulates Mr. Varma, saying that he has topped in the examination. The latter is incredulous; but the same thing is repeated in such enthusiastic tones by some friends of the narrator that Mr. Varma is convinced of the truth. However, to as certain the truth he visits, along with his friend, Kamla, to Prof. Chatterjee’s house. The cryptic laughter of the professor is sufficient to make Mr. Varma understand that a trick has been played.

Naturally, Mr. Varma is very angry with the narrator. He sent the ward servant with a ship of paper to the narrator, asking him to return a few books that he had lent him. Now the narrator felt a little guilty for ruffling the sentiments of Mr. Varma. As he was trying to locate the books Mr. Varma himself entered the hostel room and asked forgiveness. Both the friends reqlized that the matter was being taken beyond its natural limit. The narrator renamed his self-control and went together with Mr. Varma to the mess.

Afterward the narrator continued to be haunted by an acute feeling of guilt which was increased when he saw dreams in which the Almighty sat in judgement over his misdeed and pronounced that he would have to be punished. So afraid did the narrator become that he thought that he might fail in the examination. But the result was different from the fear of the dreams — the narrator, in fact, topped.

The story has been written with mastery of detail. The carelessness of the young people, their competitiveness, and their jealousy have been admirably portrayed by Dr. Sinha. But more significant is the psychological treatment of the narrator, his acute feeling of guilt, and the magnanimity of Mr. Varma.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

Teaching of English in India Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Write down a Summary of teaching of English in India.
Answer:
Prof. Amamath Jha, the celebrated teacher of English, was a great educationist whose services were accordingly used by the government of India. He served as teacher in and Vice-Chancellor of Allahabad University and also as chair man of Bihar Public Service Commission. The cause of English was dear to his and in his own way created institutions and teachers devoted to the proper teaching of English language and literature in India.

In the present essay he touches upon some fundamental draw backs which the teaching of English suffers in Indian Schools and Colleges. Saddy, the circumstances have not completely altered. It is high time the message of the essay in understood by those who are in charge of die teaching of English in different states of India.

First of all, Prof. Jha speaks of the unqualified teachers being appointed in Primary Schools to teach English. The result is that the teaching is unsatisfactory and slipshod. During his most impressionable years the child receives bad nutrition.

He learns incorrect pronunciation which leads to defective spelling — loin or lion, claver for clever — defects which become so much a part of his equipment that they are never eradicated. Prof Jha suggests therefore that only properly trained teachers should be appointed.

Secondly at high school stage there is hardly a normal boy for whom there is a proper selection of textbooks. The books should be selected as good literature, as passports into the realises of gold, and not, as frequently they are, as forcing normal down young throats, or as teaching natural science.

At the university stage the student should familiarise himself with the best books, not necessarily the most famous one. He should familiarise himself so that the works could become parts of his daily and hourly throught.

Prof. Jha’s analysis and suggestions are relevant. Since English is becoming more and more important, it is essential that proper attention be paid to its proper teaching at school and college level.

Question 2.
What is Babu English ? Find out the reasons that give birth to Babu English.
Answer:
Babu English generally refers to the formal and pedantic English written by Indian clerks in different offices. Though the language is grammatically correct it lacks clarity and vitality which is the life of language. Babu English is virtually a dull copy of what the clerks have leamt at their school.

The faults of Babu English are due to bad nutrition that children receive at the hands of underqualified teachers at the primary school stage. They learn incorrect pronunciation that leads to bad spelling loin for lion, claver for clever etc.

Question 3.
What should be the role of a teacher of English at the university stage ?
Answer:
The duty of a teacher at the university stage is to educate, to develop die young man’s tastes and correct them, to guide him to never aliveness of delight and inspiration, and to teach him the higher qualities of style, the intellectual and emotional analysis, the thoughtful explanation 6f what had hitherto been only a vague like or dislike.

Prof. Jha gives the example of Sir Walter Raleigh who read aloud to his classes his favourite prose and poetical passages from the various periods of literature.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

Marriage is a Private Affair Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Write down a summary of Marriage Is A Private Affair.
Answer:
Chinua Achebe is the most influential African writer who has presented in his novels and short stories an authetic account of the African society, especially the conflict between tradition and modernity. In this short story also we have this very theme presented in a poignant manner.

Nnaemeka and Neve, belonging to two different tribes, meet in Lagos and decide to marry. But as Nnaemeka knows that his father, Okeke, would not agree to this he postpones communication of this fact to him by post or direct means. When he arives at home for a short vocation Okeke tells him that they have selected Ugoye, the eldest daughter of their neighbour, as his wife.

But very firmly does Nnaemeka refuse to marry the girl chosen by his parents. This shocks Okeke; and in a fit of anger he stops speaking to him. When Nnaemeka’s intention of marrying a girl from other tribe is known to other villagers they are mortified and express great sympathy for Okeke.

They even suggest that the local medicine man should be consulted and Nnaemeka be given some herbal drugs to cure him of this mental derangement. But Okeke, in spite of being rigid about parental authority, is free from these superstitions.

Back in Lagos Nnaemeka marries Nene and the estrangement between the father and the son is complete. To Nnaemeka’s request for spending some part of his vacation Okeke gives a very harsh reply. It would be unfair to say that Okeke endured this separation from his son without a mental conflict. He suffered inwardly, but he could not bring himself to accept the unconventional marriage.

After a few years Okeke receives a letter from Nene. She had written that Ins two guardians wanted to be with him and she had found it impossible to let them know of the old man’s opposition. Okeke reads the letter and an unusual Suiiening results which was further supported by the sudden rains. His mind Ganges and he spends the night, full of remorse and regret over his undue harshness.

The story makes a very honest study of the hold of social authority jn image in African society. In spite of being true Christians and adapting in selves to modem ways of living and education, there are still old people like Okeke who prefer to be cheated by old norms. That the problem has a human angle is nicely revealed in the letter of Nene and the subsequent sentimental reaction of Okeke.

Question 2.
Find instances of conflict between tradition and modernism ii the story.
Answer:
The dialogue between Okeke and Nnaemeka is full of the conflict between tradition and modernism. Nnaemeka tells his father that he cannot marry Ugoye as he does not love her; his father says that it was not expected at all of him. Then Nnaemeka has to admit that he is already, engaged to Nene, a girl who teaches in a Christain girl’s school. Okeke is not persuaded nor does he believe that a Christian woman should teach.

He quetes St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in which he had had said that women should keep silence. It is clear that Okeke continues to believe in values and practices that were observed by his society. He thinks that they are so sacrosant that they cannot be changed. It is a pity that he quotes the Bible to support his ‘ arguments.

The second instance can be seen in Okeke’s rigid stance after Nnaemeka’s marriage. That he does not allow his son and daughter-in-law to call on him is an indication of the hold of tradition on him.

Question 3.
What made Nanaemcka’s father change his attitude to hi; daughter-in-law ?
Answer:
Neke, the wife of Nnaemeka, bore the ill-will of her father in law almost ungrudgingly. She had reconciled himself her to the fact that the two of them, the husband and the wife, were not to go to the native village.

But when her two sons wanted to meet their grand father she wrote a moving letter to the old man. Okeke’s heart was instantly softened by the feelings of his grandsons.

To this softening was added the influence of the sudden rains. The rains brought a healing touch Okeke realised that it was a mistake on his part to be so harsh towards the family of his son. His attitude therefore changed.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions Poetry Section

Question 1.
What similarities does the poet draw between two human beings ?
Answer:
The ppt discovers that the physical constitution of two human beings is the same. The two are made of same kind of atoms. This is actually a scientific idea — the basic physical constituents of two persons are the same. The differences are superficial and of no material value. Once this similarity is clearly perceived there will be no scope of difference.

All external barriers will breakdown and the oneness of mankind will prevail. But Walt Whitman uses this scientific idea merely in the beginning; when he suggests the identity of assumptions of two persons he speaks actually of a spiritual foundation of all life. It is this single spirit that exists in all and is responsible for all consciousness and activity.

Question 2.
Explain the line: ‘Hoping to cease not till death.’
Answer:
In spite of his spiritual training wait Whitman is aware of his mortality, the fate which no man can escape. And so very cautiously he adds that he would continue to believe in himself and to sing till he dies. That is, only death can bring an end to his song. So long as he is alive he would go on singing this song of oneness.

Question 3.
Why does Walt Whitman not want to bother himself with creeds and schools ?
Answer:
In the modem world the numerous creeds and systems of thought have only divided mankind. The poet who is convinced of the essential unity of the universe has no respect for creeds and schools. He rejects them.

Question 4.
Do you think that the title of the poem is appropriate ? Give reasons.
Answer:
The title of the poem is quite appropriate since it records the feelings not of Rupert Brooke as an individual, but as a responsible soldier of the British Army. What he speaks of by way of his love for England is a common feeling of every soldier for his country. A soldier is not fighting an enemy he is all the tune fighting for his country which he dearly loves. The title expresses this deep feeling of a soldier who is indebted to his country for all that it has given him.

Question 5.
Discuss the main ideas contained in the octave of the poem.
Answer:
In the octave of the sonnet Rupert Brooke speaks of a foreign soil being tranformed into England in the event of his death in the war. He advances a peculiar argument in favour of this — when he dies his mortal remains will mingle with the foreign soil, thus England will come up there in that small comer because the poet is nothing but a true representation of his nation. It is a strange but a true idea. A man is nothing but a complete product of a nation, its ideals, traditions and values. What is strange that the poet thinks that even in death he would continue to represent England.

Question 6.
What is a Sonnet ? Mention the rhyme-scheme of the poem.
Answer:
A Sonnet is the name for a lyric stanza form consisting of fourteen lines. The petrarchan Sonnet, of which the present poem is an example, is divided into Octave (first eight times) and sestet (remaining six lines). The Octave usually asks a question, poses a problem, states a difficulty or conveys a mood. The sestet answers the question, resolues the problem or difficulty or condudes the mood. The rhyme-scheme of the poem is ab ab cd cd and abc abc.

Question 7.
What is the central idea of the peom ?
Answer:
The poem expresses a serene and untroubled mood that attends upon a rich autumnal day with its lengthened twilight and glowing sunset. The poet discovers a nourishing principle in the beauty in nature which links man and nature in a productive work—what nature gives man transforms it to more useful by labour and skill. Consequently, in autumn there is a rich fusion of scenery and music that induces tranquillity.

Question 8.
Pick out the images related to different aspects of nature. Write a note on the use of images in the poem.
Answer:
The important images used in the poem are — the maturing Sun, the moss’d cottage trees, sweet kernel, flowers, budding, warm days, winnowing weed, barred clouds, hilly bourn, light wind. These images demonstrate Keats’s gift of observation of the countryside scene. It is only , in the countryside that the pristine beauty of nature is fully revealed.

Question 9.
What does the poet say about the music of autumn ?
Answer:
The music of autumn is composed of the wailing sound of gnats, the beating of lambs, the singing of crickets and the whistling of robins.

Question 10.
The speaker was fascinated by the snake. Do you think the time mentioned and the place it belonged to has anything to do with fascination ?
Answer:
It was night and too hot. There was a tree infront of his house. He was sleeping but when he felt thirsty he came down with the silent step. The tree was a Southern European tree with dark brown fruit. The snake lived in it. Since it was hot the snake came in the house to drink water in a container which was used by the animal.

It was thirsty. It came out from a small hole of the earth because there was a gap. It seemed feeling of being sad and without hope. It didn’t harm. To see this thought came in mind that it was the guest and a God. So, it came here. In this way the snake fascinated to me.

Question 11.
What does he mean by ‘the voice of my education ?’
Answer:
By ‘the voice of my education’ he means a bad magic spell to be protected from the snake. He thinks it did not hit him but suddenly that part of him that was left behind caused a sudden shaking moment, shows undignified haste. The snake was at a gap. It didn’t harm the poet that he hit him but the poet became afraid to see the black and piosonous snake. So he accused human education.

Question 12.
The snake seemed like a king in exile. What are the qualities that makes the snake so majestic ?
Answer:
The poet D. H. Lawrence a good novelist has seen the snake to his courtyard where he use to feed animal. That snake came there to drink water. It came from a carbtree. It seemed like a king in exile. The qualities that make the snake so majestic are peaceful, black; innocent, pacified and thankless.

Question 13.
What is the sin committed by the speaker that he wanted to expiate ?
Answer:
It was a black snake. It was cobra. Cobra is regarded as the king of snake. Secondly, the snake wanted to drink water. It was not in mood to bite anybody. So, the speaker committed the sin to kill the innocent snake.

Question 14.
What type of love or relation do you find between the grandmother and the speaker ?
Answer:
There existed a great bond between the speaker and the grandmother. The old lady loved the speaker greatly. The details are lacking; but it can be felt t the lady paid every attention to the needs of the speaker, denying her nothing. This is a basic characteristic of the relationship of love.

In love there is neither denial nor rejection. There is absolute trust on both sides. Especially the speaker remembers the house where everything was to her taste. She remembers the books which she did not fully understand but which intensified her interest in life.

Question 15.
What changes have taken place since the speaker’s grandmother died?
Answer:
Great changes have occurred in the house where the grandmother lived and in the pattern of the life of the speaker. The house is now silent, bereft of activity and of the inmates.

The windows are like the eyes of a blind person in which these in no light – they are merely a useless organ reduced to ugliness. The house is dark that is, the human activity that serves as the light of the house is wanting.

More painful changes have occurred in the life of the speaker. She feels completely lonely and finds no love anywhere. The great source of love has died and she is left forlorn in an alien world.

Question 16.
Write down a critical appreciation of Macavity-The Mystery Cat
Answer:
T.S. Eliot, the well-known modem poet, gave profound expression to the boredom and despair of the modem man, his tensions and anxieties in free verse. But in some poems, he wrote also about trivial subjects and made delightful use of nursery rhyme.

Macavity — The Mystery Cat, written in a mock-heroic form, is a portrait of a cat. To distinguish him the poet has portrayed him as a master criminal who commits every crime with finesse but is not found at the scene of crime and whose identity cannot be established as even the Scotland Yard has no record of his footprints. The human dimension of Macavity’s physical activities and gestures makes the poem very much enjoyable.

Physically, Macavity is a wretch with a long and thin body, uncombed whiskers, dusty skin and brows lined with thought. But he is an acrobat and he can levitate like a Yogi. He specialised in robbery, in forcing open jewellery shops, larders and even government houses.

He seems to be interested very much in secret files and documents. Whenever an important treaty or file is found missing from the foreign office the crime is attributed to Macavity, but the cunning cat could be seen at least a mile away from the spot, engaged in the innocent act of licking his thumbs or in serious mathematical calculations.

In absence of proof, it is impossible therefore to lay hands on Macavity. The poet remembers some other notorious cats like Mungojerrie and Griddlebone. But Macavity tops them all in wickedness and cunning. He is therefore honoured for his superiority of the title — Napoleon of Crime.

What in fact T.S. Eliot has tried to suggest is that cats can have a distinguished personality. Although every cat enters stealthily into a kitchen and drinks milk or misplaces household articles a few acquire notoriety in a neighborhood for their unique ways and manners.

Macavity is one such cat who caused immense mischief by taking away many valuable things, even important documents. But he has never been caught nor he has left any clue on the basis of which the crime could be traced to him. All these could be the traits of a very shrewd criminal who plans every act very thoughtfully and manages to escape so fast that the police forces are rendered helpless.

Question 17.
Discuss the poet’s impression of Macavity, the mystery cat. Why does he call it mysterious ?
Answer:
The poet seems to have observed Macavity for a very long time. He is impressed by the peculiar constitution of the cat — he is long and thin, his skin is dusty, his whiskers are uncombed. In the very appearance he resembles persons who are mentally active but very shabby in physical upkeep.

The poet thinks Macavity is mysterious because the cat has never been arrested or punished for the crimes attributed to him. Even the Scotland Yard is helpless in framing this cat for any specific crime.

Question 18.
Make a list of crimes Macavity is capable of:
Answer:
Macavity is found to have committed the following crimes —

• He cheats at cards.
• He has looted larders.
• He has forcibly opened many jewellery boxes.
• He has drunk milk from several houses.
• He has broken glass panels of a green house.
• He has broken frames which are put up for climbing plants.
• He has stolen away historic treaties.
• He has stolen away valuable diplomatic documents from the foreign office.

Question 19.
‘Macavity is never there’. Elaborate.
Answer:
Generally, investigations of a crime are carried out in the area of the crime. But after Macavity has done the act, that is, if he has stolen away some document or has consumed milk or has broken some valuable thing he is never found around the spot.

He may be spotted at least a mile away from the spot – and then his face or posture does not betray any criminal act; he is rather quite relaxed or lost in some mathematical calculation.

Question 20.
What images from Nature are used in the poem ?
Answer:
The images from Nature are – yesternight, the sun, wings.

Question 21.
What arguments does the poet give at the time of parting with his beloved ?
Answer:
In the main the speaker tells his beloved that since they enjoyed complete oneness one person’s death has not altered their existence at all. Secondly, he says that in death he enjoys complete immunity from time-it has no power over him, the sun has virtually stopped for him. And thirdly, he says that he is still lying by her side in such a posture that there is no further separation between them.

Question 22.
Describe the frightening scene of the cremation ground that had a deep impact on the mind of the poet.
Answer:
In this poem Keki Daruwalla describes a cremation ground by the side of a river. A number of people would express their horror on having a, look at such a site where dead bodies are consigned to flames at all hours.

As a child the poet used to take a walk along such a cremation ground. I And he used to notice how fire consumed every part, every limb of the dead bodies.

But sometimes the child noticed half-burnt bones left behind. He also; felt that after a time the powers, of the fire were exhausted, and everything turned to a cool grey ash. Nevertheless, the very feeling that man has to come ultimately to this end gave birth to incoherent ideas of mortality, of the meaninglessness of life. In this way death posed a frightening experience for the poet.

Question 23.
What is the significane of the religious identity of the speaker ?
Answer:
At one point the speaker asserts : A Zoroastrian I. It has multiple meanings. At one level it means that religious identity begins to influence the character and temperament of persons from early childhood.

The thought that he was a Zoroastrian come to the speaker when he, as a child, used to take a stroll along, the burning ghat. He is thus familiar with the cardinal principle of Zoroastrian faith-the perpetual struggle between light and darkness. And as a true Zoroastrian, he feels that he has to be on the side of the light.

The reference to the Tower of Silence where the Parsis dispose of their dead further reinforces the Zoroastrian identity of the speaker. As a child he – may have been only half-aware of his religion but after he has grown up he has to abide by the articles of his faith. In this latter reference the spirit of rebellion of the speaker is very much evident He is, in his own words, quite broken but very much rebellious.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

Show your acquaintance with the Poem Adlestrop

Question 1.
Show your acquaintance with the poem Adlestrop.
Answer:
There are tourist destinations all over the world that are known for their scenic beauty. But even a remote place, rather our own locality, may have spots of great beauty. The poet notices such a spot when his train stopped at Adlestrop and he saw a cluster of English flowers and experienced a moment of sheer enjoyment. The poem, in a way, reminds us of The Daffodils of Wordsworth. Adlestrop, though not so famous, is loaded with the same meaning.

The poem’s progress is very natural. In course of his journey in June by an express train the poet alights on the platform of Adlestrop. He is the only one to do so. He takes look at the place and is rewarded by a sight of willows, herbs, as tretch of grassland. He could also hear the cry of haycocks. When he looked upwards he could see white clouds, the sky taking a white hue on account of them.

The poem is fusion of realistic detail and aesthetic taste. Everything is ordinary, but the stopping of the train is perhaps to give him a moment of a life time experience such as Wordsworth and Robert Frost had.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

 

Critical Appreciation of The Poem Everyone Sang

Question 1.
Write a critical appreciation of Everyone sang.
Answer:
In this poem Siegfried Sassoon, who himself joined First world war and wrote various volumes of lyrics and satires against war and war activities, records the general feeling of joy when on 11 November, 1918, the war came to I an end and armistice was declared.

The poem expresses the joy that everyone, particularly the soldiers in the battle field, felt when the news of armistice came. The poet himself experienced a happiness that could be compared to the bliss of the caged birds who suddenly . had been liberated and set flying wildly on their wings across the white orchards and dark green fields. The cage of the war had imprisoned this birds-the soldiers-and now they had been freed. Their happiness, indeed, is great and spreading over a large canvas.

‘Prisoned birds’ in this stanza is a very powerful simile. Birds have everywhere been treated as symbols of freedom. But circumstances are sometimes very pressing for them as well. On being trapped by hunters and later on being put into cages birds lose their freedom.

This loss is felt in every gesture of theirs, in their circumscribed movement and their voice. The soldiers were in the same predicament, that is, they were prisoners of circumstance, forgetting their natural gentleness and engaged in making war. The declaration of armistice restored their natural selves and mentally they were in a state of flight, free, unencumbered flight.

In the second stanza the poet moves from delight to beauty and notes that there is a certain upliftment in this music and an artistic beauty set on it, like the setting sun which pours its golden splendour all around. Now the poet tells us that his joy is deeper than the joy felt by birds. It is a silent joy, and it is a joy more permanent than those of birds.

The poem is a unique recollection of powerful emotions. It is mainly about restoration of peace that has made everyone sing out in rejoicing. Though short, it has an ordered Structure and the very sound of words brings out the poet’s feelings.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

Critical Appreciation of The Poem The Daffodils

Question 1.
Show your appreciation of The Daffodils.
Answer:
A flower necessarily captures our attention by its colour, symmetry and fragrance. And when there is a cluster of flowers we are bound to be overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling of ecsatasy. Wordsworth shares such a marvelous moment with us.

As was his habit he was wandering alone somewhere in Lake District when he came by a rare sight — thousands of daffodils dancing under the impact of breeze by the side of a pond. Daffodils are ordinary small yellow flowers; but their being in such abundance and in such a festive mood made a deep impression on Wordsworth’s consciousness.

The memory of these daffodils became a means of restoring the poet’s cheerfulness and energy. The poem is an exploration of the meaning of Nature. It has a bounty to offer to careful eyes and mind; things are not so apart and separate as they seem, they are integral to our consciousness and being.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

Show your acquaintance with the Poem The Daffodils

Question 1.
Show your acquaintance with the poem “The Daffodils.”
Answer:
Wordsworth has been called the greatest poet of Nature. This does not mean that his poetry is only about trees, forests, hills valleys. This great Romantic poet has a comprehensive philsophic vision. This vision includes the hole cosmos of which man and nature are but parts. Thus Wordsworth is more a poet of man than of nature. In any case, he does not see man apart from Nature.

Real knowledge and wisdom are born out of man’s communion with nature. Thus Wordsworth is always the hero of his poem. He explores meaning in man’s life and finds it only in man’s communion with nature. This poet even reaches god-head through nature. Nature is as much a scripture (MuPta ti*0 of God as is the Bible.

True, in The Daffodils the poet gives the picture of nature in a few of its aspects. At the centre are the golden daffodils dancing and tossing their heads along the edge of the Grasmere lake. There is the gentle wind that gives them motion to dance. The waves in the water of the lake are also dancing.

Then there are the clouds high up over the valley and the hills. Then there is the comparison of the unending line of daffodils with the unending line of the milkyway made up of twinkling stars. Then at the focal point is the poet himself with a deep concern :

I agzed and gazed but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought.

That is exploring a meaning in Nature. Wordsworth of course finds it. In the school of nature he learns geat truths and wisdom. He developes a philosophic mind that can see beyond the present and even beyond the terrestrial existence. Thus when he is lonely and depressed and the present is shorn of all meaning, the past comes to his rescue.

The experience Of the past come into the present and the poet is saved from depression and lineliness. The sights of the past as of the daffodils flash on his inner eyes.

And then my heart with pleasure fills.
And dances with the daffodils.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions

Critical Appreciation of The Poem If

Question 1.
Write a critical appreciation of IF.
Answer:
Rudyard Kipling is known as an imperialist writer. But is some of his writing he reveals lover for Indian people and landscape.

He wrote a few didactic poems also. If is a didactic poem-in the form of an address of a father to his son. The father is an experienced person and he wishes to impart such basic lessons that may help his son in leading a blameless life. The emphasis of the father is on the importance of integrity and the fulfillment of one’s chosen mission in the face of all difficulties.

He starts by saying that the purity of thought and action is the key of success. Everything must be done on a rational basis, taking into account the practical value of a thing. It is good to have personal goals, but they should be harmonized with social values. After all man’s standing is social-he cannot disregard society though he may work for eradication of social evils.

Kipling has a very realistic view of the world. The world is not a pleasant place nor are the people always simple and good. There may be obstruction to one’s plans form others. To overcome these one needs strong conviction and a determination to face every challenge.

In the end, Kipling lets the father elaborate upon the value of circumspection and goodness. Only by right efforts one can contribute to the making of a better world.

Critical Appreciation of The Poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Question 1.
Write a critical appreciation of Lake Isle Of funisfrcc,
Answer:
A very pleasing characteristic of Yeats’s poetry is the expression of spiritual urges in an utterly simple form. Known in the beginning for his poems on love and passion that had a personal backgroud, he turned to various kinds of spiritual practices out of which he wrote deeply moving poems.

Lake Isle Of Innisfree is a popular Lyric in which he gives expression of his desire to move to Innisfree, an island near Ireland, entirely free from worldly distractions. It has such beautiful surroundings that help mind stay away from worldly thoughts. In fact, Nature is not an external source of spiritual happiness. It is part of a cosmic order that induces mind to control pleasures of senses and turn to such ideas and thoughts that sustain purity and selflessness.

Yeats draws up a very evocative picture of Innisfree. It is a place where ‘ bees are humming, where peace comes in drops and where there is gentle light even at midnight. All these details are extraordinary and are supposed to create a picture of beauty marked with spiritual grace. Although Yeats uses slightly long lines he has retained simplicity of diction. It is all in consonance with the lofty theme.

Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions