This document summarizes a presentation given by Kartikeya Maheshwari, a 10th grade student. The presentation was about short stories they had read in English class. It provided details on 7 different short stories, including authors and brief summaries. It focused most on describing the story "Two Gentlemen of Verona" in depth, sharing a summary of the plot and characters. The presentation showed Kartikeya discussing the stories to help with an exam, and expressed gratitude to his teacher and parents for their support.

1. PRESENTATION BY =
KARTIKEYA MAHESHWARI
CLASS = 10
Presentation to =
Mr. Pankaj somani sir
7/1/2013 1

3. I 'am the student of class 10 th . My name is Katikeya Maheshwari . I‟ ‟am happy
because I get the chance to make the presentation of English . Our English teacher name is
Mr. PankajSomani sir . He was a great teacher of English . I give thank to him that
he give the presentation of English . This presentation is veryimportant in FA=1
This mark will added in FA=1 . This will be add 40% in our Examinations„ .
I „am grateful to my parents ,teacher for helping me in this project .
Now I startmy presentation.
7/1/2013 3

4. SR.No CHAPTER AUTHOR
1
Two Gentlemen of Verona A.J.Cronin
2
Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger Saki
3
The Letter Dhumaketu
4
The Frog & The Nightingale Vikram Seth
5
Mirror Sylvia Plath
6
Not Marble , Nor The Gilded Monuments William shakespeare
7
The Dear Departed Stanley Houghton7/1/2013 4

5. 7/1/2013 5
About The Author
A.J.Cronin(1896-1974)was a doctor by training. He practiced medicine in Wales & in
London .It was while recovering from a breakdown in health that he wrote is first novel
Hatter‟s castle . It was a huge success . Cronin gave up practicing medicine & took to
writing as career . He wrote a number of novel & short stories among is best known novels are
the Citadel, TheKeyOf Kingdom & The Spanish Gardener . Some of his novels
has been made into successful film. The title of the story is that one of the early plays
of Shakespeare . The story recount the hard life chosen by to young boy so that they
could pay for the treatment of their sister afflicted with tuberculosis . The boys
sacrifice ,their sincerity & devotion to the cause & the maturity they display in their
action gives a new hope for humanity.

6. In this chapter “ Two Gentlemen Of Verona “ The narrator was driving through
the foothills of alps with his friends . Two small boys stopped them just outside the city
of Verona . The boys wanted to sell wild strawberries to them their driver Luigi cautioned
the narrator and his friends not to buy fruit from these filthy , poor, dirty children . He said
they could get better fruit in Verona .Two boys were wearing shabby clothes from discarded
army clothes. One of them was wearing a old jersey & khaki plants which had been cut off
to resize them . The other boys wore an ill fitting old army tunic which had been he
shortened . The colour of their skin was brown and their hair were uncombed & mixed up .
Their eye were dark coloured , thoughtful & sincere. The narrator & his friend found the
boys interesting & strangely facing . Narrator & his friends found out about them . They
were brothers . The elder one Nicola was 13 year old & younger one Jacopo was shorter
& 12 year old . The narrator & his friend bought the largest fruit basket from the boys
& left for the town of Verona .7/1/2013 6

7. Next morning when the narrator and his friends went out of their hotel room to the
public square, ; they saw the same boys shining shoes to earn some money near the fountain.
They were busy as there were many costumers. After some time the boys did not have too
much customers ; the narrator and his friend went up to the boys the boys smiled at them.
The narrator said to them that they had thought they picked fruit & sold it to earn
their livelihood . Nicola told the narrator that they did many thing to make living .
He said they even took tourist around they town to show them places of tourist
interest . They showed Juliet's tomb & other places of tourist‟s attraction . Nicola
looked at the narrator & his friend wishing to get some work . The narrator agreed
happily & asked the boys to take around the town . The narrator & his friends
went around with Nicola & Jacopo . The narrator found the mannerism & behaviour
of the two boys interesting . They were innocent children . Jacopo was full of life
& Nicola always had a charming smile . Yet their eyes were sober showing maturity of
a much older age . The two boys came in handy whenever the narrator & his friends
need them the entire week . Nicola & Jacopo ran errands like telling them the names of
good restaurant , getting pack of American cigarettes or getting seats for the opera
7/1/2013 7

8. . The boys could be trusted whenever there was any need of any kind . Their readiness to
work was very appealing . Even in this hot summer weather they continued to shine shoes
, sell fruits , sell newspaper , took tourist around & did all odd jobs eagerly without
paying attention to the heat . One night the narrator & his friends found the boys
sitting under the street light . It was sitting with a bundle of newspaper near his feet .
Jacopo was sleeping with his head over Nicola's shoulder. The narrator asked Nicola
the reason for him to be so late at night . Nicola told him that they were waiting to sell
all their reaming newspapers to people in the last bus which come in from Padua.
The narrator noticed they were not feeling bad or grumbling about it . The narrator went
to fountain to have his shoes shined the next morning. He told Nicola that he had noticed
the two brothers working so much that they must be making a lot of money .They were
not using this money on clothes & used very little money on food .They were eating small
portion of inexpensive food like black bread & figs. The narrator wonder what they did
with their money
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10. Nicola had not expected anyone to notice or comment about their personal matter . This
also made him feel embarrassed & turn pale as he did not want to share his problems
with anyone . The narrator wandered if he was saving the money to move to America .
Nicola s told him that it would make them happy to go to state but presently they had
some other so he was uncomfortable telling the gentlemen what he wanted to with his
money . She he just said it was some scheme . The narrator informed Nicola that he
could do anything for the boys . Nicola did not wish to ask for any favour but Jacopo told
him that the two brothers went to the countryside to a place called Poleta every Sunday
. It was 30 kilometre for the town & they haired bicycle to go there . Jacopo asked
him could send them there by his car .
The narrator had already asked his driver
Luigi to take a holiday on Sunday so he assured the boys that he would driver them
there himself . Nicola started at his brother with irritation as he did not like fevers. He
just told the narrator that they would not like to burden him but the narrator told him it
was not burden or problem for him . 7/1/2013 10

11. 7/1/2013 11
Nicola agreed unwilling . They drove to the village the next afternoon . The village was
suited high on the hillside . The narrator thought the boys would be going to some
ordinary locality but Jacopo asked him to stop in friends of a huge red - roof mansion
with high stone wall around it . The to boys went in living the narrator shocked . The
boys told him they would not take more than an hours & suggested he could have coffee in
the village while he waited . The narrator was very curious so he followed the boys . He
ran the door bell of the mansion firmly . A woman open the door . She was wearing
spectacle & white uniform of a nurse . The narrator inquired about the two boys he had
dropped their . The nurse seemed to know them buy name as she said happily that she
would take the narrator to Nicola & Jacopo . This mansion was a hospital . The nurse
guided the narrator through the lobby to a small room & showed him through a glass
partition where the two boys were sitting by the bed side of girls . The girl was about 20
year old . She seemed weak & was sitting up with the support of pillow listing to the
boys . She was wearing a beautiful jacket made of lace . Anyone who looked at the three
of them could see close similarity in their look & could easily said she was the sister . On a
table by her side there was a flowers vase with wild flower , fruit dish & some books .

12. The nurse asked the narrator to go inside because Lucia will be pleased to see the visitor
.Narrator refused & moved away because he did not wish to interrupt & disturb the
family union . The narrator pleaded with the nurse to tell him all she knew about
them when he stopped by the stairs .
The nurse willing told the narrator that Lucia was
their sister & the only family to the boys to the boys . The boys lived with their father
who was a popular singer . Lucia was training to take to singing as a career and they
were all used to a shelter , protected & wealthy lifestyle . In the beginning of the war
their father was killed . After some time a bomb fell on their home & it was demolished .
The three children become homeless . Now they were exposed to the extreme condition of
poverty , hunger & homelessness in cold winters . They managed to built a shack in the
debris & ruins with their own hand & survived in such odd condition for months . The
German ruled the city for three years . The boys began to dislike the German intensely
. When people secretly began uniting to campaign against the German these boys joined
them immediately . The boys returned to their sister after the war was over & there was
peace once again . They found out that she was affected with tuberculosis of the spine .12

14. 7/1/2013 14
The boys did not back off or break down . They took their sister to the hospital &
convinced them to keep her there for treatment . She was under treatment for last twelve
months & showed good recovery . They beloved that she would be fully cured & able to
walk & dance once again . After the war there was a shortage of food & prices had gone
up so the hospital had to charge a fee if they had to provide services . She said Lucia „s
brother made their payment every week regularly . She knew there was shortage of work
in Verona but had never asked the boys how they managed to earn . She did not know
what they did for a living but was sure that they did their work well . Narrator agreed
that the boys did their best . The narrator waited outside till the boys came out . None
of them spoke on the way . The narrator knew they did wish to disclose their personal
problems . He kept quiet because he did not want them to think that he has been
following them to interfere in their personal matter . Since they were satisfied at
safeguarding their committed , sincerity & love for the family . Their unselfish sacrifice
gave a new meaning and elevation to humanity . Human society is founded on high
values and such children were an assurance to uphold the values in society .

15. 7/1/2013 15
 Read the following extracts and choose the correct option. 1. “Won’t you
go in?” “Lucia will be pleased to see you.”
 (i) Identify the speaker.
 (a) The author
 (b) Nicola
 (c) Jacopo
 (d) the Nurse
 (ii) Lucia is supposed to be :
 (a) the sister of the boys
 (b) aunt of the boys
 (c) narrator’s friend
 (d) the driver’s niece
 (iii) Lucia would have welcomed the author because :
 (a) she knew him well
 (b) she was bed-ridden and would have loved stranger’s
visit
 (c) he had helped her brothers (d) she was friendly by
nature
 Answers : (i) (d) (ii) (a) (iii) (c)

16.  2. “For months they had barely kept themselves alive.”
 (i) This means that :
 (a) they had no desire to live
 (b) they were weak-willed
 (c) they had great difficulties during the war
 (d) they were lazy
 (ii) The boys had kept alive by :
 (a) eating a lot
 (b) begging for work
 (c) building a house out of the rubble
 (d) taking people for sightseeing
 (iii) The above reflects on the qualities of boys like :
 (a) diligence
 (b) perseverance
 (c) compassion
 (d) determination
 Answers : (i) (c) (ii) (c) (iii) (b)
7/1/2013 16

17.  3. They had always known a comfortable and cultured life. (i) Identify
‘they’ :
 (a) the narrator and his friend
 (b) Nicola and Jacopo
 (c) some tourists
 (d) the guide at Juliet’s tomb
 (ii) By ‘comfortable life’ means :
 (a) inherited money
 (b) lot of salary
 (c) parents were reasonably well-off
 (d) parents were musicians
 (iii) The effect of this upbringing was :
 (a) boys had a tough time
 (b) they couldn’t survive
 (c) they had to face more struggle
 (d) their determination increased
 Answers : (i) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d)
7/1/2013 17

18.  4. “I knew they would prefer to feel that they had safely kept their secret.”
 (i) The writer had the above feeling because :
 (a) the boys behaved strangely
 (b) they did not take the writer inside to meet their sister
 (c) they sent him to the village
 (d) they refused to say anything
 (ii) The above behaviour reflected upon the boys’
 (a) cleverness
 (b) reticence
 (c) maturity
 (d) introvert nature
 (iii) The writer kept quiet because he wanted to :
 (a) keep their friendship
 (b) ignore them
 (c) be indifferent
 (d) retain their dignity
 Answers : (i) (d) (ii) (c) (iii) (d)
7/1/2013 18

19.  5. “May be you’d like to go to the ‘cafe’ in the village for a drink”.
 (i) The boys said this because :
 (a) they wanted to avoid the writer
 (b) they wanted to cheat him
 (c) they were cracking a joke
 (d) they were not bothered
 (ii) The above reflects upon the boys’ character attributes like :
 (a) ignorant
 (b) uncivilised
 (c) tactful
 (d) rude
 (iii) The writer also listened to the boys because
 (a) he was not interested
 (b) he wanted to keep their secret
 (c) he did not wish to hurt them
 (d) he had no other option
 Answers : (i) (a) (ii) (c) (iii) (c)
7/1/2013 19

20.  Read the following extracts and answer the questions. 1.
“Nicola, the way you and Jacopo work, you must earn quite a
bit. You spend nothing on clothes. You eat little enough ... .’’
(a) Who said the above lines?
 Ans : These lines are spoken by the narrator.
 (b) Why did the speaker get the feeling that the boys were
not spending any money?
 Ans : The boys were always seen wearing torn clothes and
they seemed to hardly eat anything except black bread and
fig.
 (c) What do the above lines reflect about the two boys?
 Ans : The boys were of sacrificing nature and they cared very
deeply for their sister. Her well-being was their sole concern.
7/1/2013 20

21.  2. I had already told Luigi he might take the day off. However
I answered, “I’ll drive you out myself.”
 (a) Who was Luigi?
Ans : He was the driver of the narrator.
(b) Why did the speaker offer to drive himself?
Ans : Luigi had been granted a holiday and the narrator did not
wish to recall him and as a last gesture of good will he offered
to drive himself.
 (c) Where did the boys wish to go?
 Ans : The boys wished to go to Poleta, 30 km away, to look up
their sister.
7/1/2013 21

22.  3. When the war was over and we had peace
at last, they come back to their beloved
sister.
 And they found her ....
 (a) Identify ‘they’.
 Ans : ‘They’ refers to the brothers – Nicola
and Jacopo.
 (b) Who is the beloved sister?
 Ans : Lucia is the boys’ sister who had not
been keeping well. 7/1/2013 22

23.  About the author
 Saki, (1870-1916), whose real name was
Hector Hugh Munro, was a British
writer, whose witty stories satirized the society
and culture of his day. He was considered a
master of the short story.
7/1/2013 23

24.  Mrs Packletide was an English lady who was overcome with a strong
desire to shoot a tiger. Basically she was not adventurous or brave but she
was smitten with jealousy when her friend, Loona Bimberton, had
recently been carried in an aeroplane by an Algerian pilot. Mrs
Packletide wanted to outshine her and longed to prove that she was no less.
Her ultimate desire was to obtain a tiger- skin and display it on the wall of
her house. If she succeeded in killing a tiger, her photograph would appear
in the press and she would host a party in Curzon Street in Loona
Bimberton‟s honour, but the talk would be of her hunting expedition. She
also planned to present a tiger- claw brooch on Loona's next birthday.7/1/2013 24

25. Circumstances proved to be favourable .An old and weak tiger was
visiting a neighbouring village in search of food. Mrs Packletide
offered to pay one thousand rupees to anyone who would help her in
shooting a tiger. The villagers got very tempted as one thousand
rupees was a lot of money in those days. They made all the efforts to
confine the tiger within the village. Children were posted day and
night on the outskirts of the local jungle to drive the tiger back to the
village. Cheaper kind of goats were scattered here and there, to keep
the tiger there. Mothers were told not to sing lullabys to their children
loudly, lest the tiger‟s sleep should be disturbed. The only anxiety
was lest the tiger should die of old age before the day of hunting.7/1/2013 25

26. On the fateful night, Mrs Packletide came along with a
paid companion Miss Mebbin. A platform had al- ready
been constructed in a comfortable and conveniently placed tree
by the villagers. Both the ladies sat on the platform. A
goat with a loud bleat was tied at proper distance from the
tiger. Meanwhile the tiger appeared on the scene and slowly
walked towards the goat. Mrs Packletide fired a shot with
her rifle. The tiger fell down to one side. The excited villagers
celebrated by beating drums and singing. Mrs Packletide
was also too happy. 7/1/2013 26

27. Miss Mebbin was very clever and alert. She drew
Mrs Packletide attention to the fact that the bullet had
actually hit the goat and the tiger had died due to heart
attack, caused by the loud report of the rifle. Miss
Mebbin pointed out that the tiger bore no wound. Mrs
Packletide was disappointed but she consoled herself with
the thought that she possessed the tiger-skin. The
villagers agreed to keep the secret for they were happy to
receive the money 7/1/2013 27

28. Mrs. Packletide wasn‟t insecure about Miss Mebbin
for she was a paid companion. Mrs Packletide‟s picture
appeared in two weeklies. Loona refused to attend the
lunch-party but coldly accepted the tiger-claw brooch.
Miss Mebbin was very money-minded and cunning.
She thought of exploiting this weak point of Mrs
Packletide.
7/1/2013 28

29. She blackmailed Mrs Packletide by saying
what would happen if Loona learnt that Mrs
Packletide had shot the goat and not the tiger.
Shrewd and clever, Miss Mebbin hinted that
she wanted money to buy a weekend cottage near
Dorking.
7/1/2013 29

30.  To keep her mouth shut, Mrs Packletide was
forced to pay for that cottage. Miss Mebbin
named the cottage, “The Wild Beasts.” Since
then Mrs Packletide never indulged in big game
shooting. She confided to her friends that
“incidental expenses were too heavy for such kind of
hunting”.
7/1/2013 30

31.  deviation: change
 aviator : pilot l
 procured : obtained
 heavy harvest : large number
 l counter: oppose arranged in her mind : planned
 swayed : dominated
 antecedents : family background : past history
 infirmities : weakness
 confine : restrict
 l game killing : killing of other animals for food
 stimulated : increased, encouraged urgency 7/1/2013 31

32.  curtail : disturb, cut short
 venerable : respectable
 herd- robber : meant for someone who eats the animals of the herd, i.e. the tiger
 crouched: a sitting position
 persistent : continuous
 sighted rifle : a rifle with a clear aim
 morbid : unhealthy, unnatural
 an atom : a bit
 irrespective : without bothering
 denomination : face value of c
7/1/2013 32

33.  2. Read the lines and guess the answers to the questions
given below.
 (a) Why did Mrs Packletide want to kill a tiger?
 Ans : It was her desire to outdo her friend that drove her to
kill a
 (b) What does it tell you about her?
 Ans : She was publicity-crazy and jealous of her friend. tiger.
(c) What is the tone of the story-writer?
Ans : It is a tone of mockery, as if Mrs Packletide is an object of
ridicule.
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34. . Sometimes writers highlight certain negative aspects in society or
human beings by making fun of it. This is called satire. In your
groups discuss whether you would classify this story as a satire?
Ans : This story highlights the vanity of two women who can go
to any foolish extremes. The writer pokes fun at socialites like Mrs
Packletide and Loona who are largely governed by passions like
„jealousy‟. They are far removed from normal human beings and
their world comprises of parties, media attention and meaningless
adventures. Their ultimate ambition in life is to outdo and outshine
others.
7/1/2013 34

35.  They are far removed from the basic problems of life that other
people face. These women have character-traits that don‟t, in any
way, do them justice. Mrs Packletide has never seen struggle or
dearth of money or comfort so she behaves like a social butterfly
without any substance. Thousands of rupees are wasted for a tiger
hunt. The people who surround them also exploit them like Miss
Mebbin and the villagers. The writer clearly states that Mrs
Packletide hands were used to holding generally a game of cards.
Mrs Packletide birthday is celebrated not for fun or enjoyment but
to humiliate and demean others.
7/1/2013 35

36. Birthday presents like tiger-claw brooch is to hurt Mrs.
Loona. Despite being bitter enemies and having extreme
hatred for each other, both Loona and Mrs Packletide
pretend to be part of the same friends circle. The writer
satirises the frivolous attitude of these vain women who exploit
friendship, throw parties and celebrate birthdays to humiliate
others. Their activities are not for the welfare of the society but
only to fulfil their eccentricities and whims.
7/1/2013 36

37.  Saki openly laughs at the hollow values of
women who become targets of ridicule and
mockery. The writer also creates characters like
Miss Mebbin who have no sense of loyalty for the
employer and resort to blackmail for their
optimum benefit. So Saki has a dig at the
superficiality of the luxurious section of society who
appear to be a drag for the society in general.7/1/2013 37

38. . How does the writer create humour in this story?
Ans : The writer uses various techniques to create loads of humour
and laughter throughout the story. The plot, situations, characters
and versatile use of language has packed bundles of laughs, one after
another. The bare idea of tiger hunting on the part of a rich socialite,
just to outshine another, is quite funny. Mrs Packletide‟s strategy to
humiliate Loona, at the luncheon party with the tiger in the
background is full of humour. The selection of tiger who has a royal
past and the steps taken by the villagers are quite entertaining.
7/1/2013 38

39.  The behaviour of the tiger when he sights the goat, or the killing of
goat instead of tiger, add to the reader‟s interest. Miss Mebbin, the
paid companion, exploits the entire situation to her credit and proves
to be the smartest. Saki scores in characterisation of Mrs Packletide
and Loona who are vain to the extreme and their concept of
adventure and media attention is funny. Miss Mebbin‟s money-
mindedness, greed and the way she safeguards money at all costs is
very interesting. All the three female characters are epitomes of
vanity and pretension. Even the villagers, in their innocence,
connive to keep the funny secret.
7/1/2013 39

40.  . Do you think the writer is trying to make fun of the main characters in the story i.e., Mrs
Packletide, Miss Mebbin and Loona Bimberton? Narrate the instances from the story that
point to this fact.
 Ans :Through the characters like Mrs. Packletide and Loona Bimberton, the writer wants
to highlight the vanity of two women who can go to any foolish extremes. He pokes fun at them
who are largely governed by passions like jealousy. They are far removed from normal human
beings and their world comprises of parties, media attention and meaningless adventures. They
unnecessarily waste thousands of rupees just to outshine each other. Despite being bitter enemies
and having extreme hatred for each other, both Loona and Mrs. Packletide pretend to be the
part of the same friends circle. Their activities are not for the welfare of the society but only to fulfil
their eccentricities and whims. The writer has created another character like Miss Mebbin who
has no sense of loyalty for her employer and resorts to blackmail Mrs. Packletide for her
optimum benefit. After threatening Mrs. Packletide that she would tell Loona that she had
shot at goat and not the tiger and the latter‟s death was caused by a heart attack, she was able to
procure a week-end cottage from her. All the three characters are the epitome of vanity and
pretentions.
7/1/2013 40

41.  Mrs. Packletide develops extreme jealousy for Loona Bimberton. She gives vent
to her feelings by writing a dairy entry. As Mrs. Packletide, write the diary
entry.
 Ans :Dear Diary, Today I am feeling extremely jealous for Loona
Bimberton who had recently been carried in an aeroplane by an Algerian pilot.
I have been belittled by her adventure. I am no less than her in any way, be it
money, life style or fame. I could not bear to see her photographs in the newspapers.
So, I have decided to outshine her by hunting a tiger and possessing its skin. I will
invite photographers of all the leading magazines to click my photographs with the
tiger. I have also planned to throw a party pretending to honour Loona for her
adventure but most of the talk would revolve round my bravery of killing a tiger.
This would make Loona squirm with embarrassment. To humiliate her more, I
would even present a tiger-claw brooch to Loona on her birthday. What do you
say??? Isn‟t it a brilliant idea? Packletide.
7/1/2013 41

42. 7/1/2013 42
 . You are Mrs Packletide. You are indebted to the villagers who never let you down at any
juncture whereas your companion Miss Mebbin, on whom you relied heavily, stabbed you in the
back. Write a letter to a friend regarding the faith and betrayal you faced from the people around
you, giving vent to your inner feelings.
 Ans : Oxford Street ABC City 10 July, 2011 Dear Alice, I could not write to you
since there were so many preoccupations that needed to be sorted out in my personal life. If you
remember, I had mentioned that I was planning to shoot a tiger. The tiger was shot and all
the villagers helped me in every way. Some lay in ambush for my protection, others tried their
best to stop the tiger from going to the neighbouring village. They even arranged for a goat and
gave all kind of support, when it was discovered that I had shot the goat instead of the tiger. But
my paid companion, Louisa who was supposed to be loyal, threatened to divulge this secret to my
arch rival Loona. Out of compulsion, I had to honour her by gifting her a very expensive
cottage as blackmail. Imagine my state of mind when people on whom you depend stab you in

43.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 Dhumaketu (1892-1965) was the pen name of Gaurishankar
Govardhandas Josh, a prolific writer, who is considered one of the pioneers
of the Gujarati short story. He published twenty-four collections of short
stories, as well as thirty-two novels on historical and social subjects, and plays
and travelogues. His writing is characterized by a poetic style, romanticism
and powerful depiction of human emotions. 7/1/2013 43

44. Coachman Ali is very old and sick and has been
regularly visiting the post office for the last five years.
Unfavourable weather and failing health don‟t deter
him. He religiously visits the post office every day in the
hope of receiving a letter from his daughter Miriam, his
only child, who had got married to a soldier and left
him. 7/1/2013 44

45.  Getting a letter from Miriam becomes the most
important mission for him and every day Ali is
the first one to arrive and the last one to leave, but
no letter ever comes for him. Everyday he goes
back dejected and empty-handed. Everyone at the
post office considers him mad and derives pleasure
in tormenting him.
7/1/2013 45

46. Coachman Ali had been a famous
shikari and a crackshot in his yester-years.
When Miriam left him and did not
respond, he realised the pain of suffering
and separation. So he gave up hunting
altogether.
7/1/2013 46

47. One day Ali is in very bad physical
condition and reaches the post office with great
effort. This makes him impatient and an
argument takes place with the postmaster.
The postmaster has his own preoccupations, he
becomes irritated and calls Ali „a pest‟. Ali is
humiliated, crestfallen but not bereft of hope.
7/1/2013 47

48. While leaving, Ali gives five guineas
to Laxmi Das, the clerk, and extracts a
promise from him that he will deliver
Miriam‟s letter to his grave. Ali‟s
prediction proves true and he is not seen
for some time.
7/1/2013 48

49. By a strange quirk of fate, the postmaster finds
himself in a similar situation. His daughter is ill
in another town and he has no information of her
condition. He is eagerly waiting for his daughter‟s
letter, when he chances upon Miriam‟s letter for
her father. Since the postman is also suffering the
pain of separation, he understands the value of a
child‟s letter for the father. 7/1/2013 49

50. Next morning he delivers the letter personally to Ali.
He is later shocked to discover that Ali has been dead for
the past three months. Laxmi Das, the clerk, recounts
his last meeting with Ali and their suspicions are
further confirmed to see Miriam‟s letter lying near the
door. To compensate for their bad treatment, both the
postmaster and Laxmi Das visit Ali‟s grave and
place the letter on it.
7/1/2013 50

51. This proves to be a very traumatic experience for
the postmaster. He realises that letters are not just
envelopes and postcards, but they have great
human worth. The newly awakened father‟s
heart curses him for
maltreating Ali. His only fate is now to wait
for his daughter‟s letter and spend another night in
restless anxiety. 7/1/2013 51

52.  Tattered : torn
 Plodded : walking with difficulty
 Staff : stick l Squatted : sat down
 Scrub : bush
 Bereft : without
 Serenity : calmness
 Boundless : limitless
 Glimmer : shine
 Relic : object survived in its primitive form
7/1/2013 52

53.  Brimming : full of
 Recital : narration
 Worth : value
 Reproaching : blaming
 Remorse : regret
Precincts : space within a boundary
 Lunacy : madness
 Crackshot : skilled in shooting.
7/1/2013 53

54.  4. Answer the following questions by ticking the correct
options :
 (a) Ali’s walking to the post office daily even in biting cold
weather shows his ___________.
 (i) courage
 (ii) optimism
 (iii) foolishness
 (iv) strength of will
7/1/2013 54

55.  (b) The post office is referred to as Ali’s “place of pilgrimage”
as he __________.
 (i) visited it daily
 (ii) came there to pray for a letter from his daughter
 (iii) went there with faith and hope
 (iv) believed God would bless him if he went
 (c) The postmaster’s rudeness to Ali reveals his
____________________.
 (i) lack of empathy
 (ii) preoccupation with his work
 (iii) preconceived notions
 (iv) insensitivity
7/1/2013 55

56.  (d) Ali did not come to the post office for several days as
____________________.
 (i) he had given up hope
 (ii) he was upset by the postmaster’s rebuke
 (iii) he was unwell and not able to walk to the Post Office
 (iv) he was busy hunting
 (e) “Tortured by doubt and remorse, he sat down in the glow
of the charcoal sigri to wait.” The postmaster was waiting for
_________________.
 (i) a letter from Miriam
 (ii) a letter from his own daughter
 (iii) a letter from Ali
 (iv) Ali to deliver Miriam’s letter to him.
 Answers : (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (ii) .
 (d) (ii) (e) (ii) . 7/1/2013 56

57.  5. Answer the following questions briefly.
 (a) Who was Ali? Where did he go daily?
 Ans. Ali had been a skilled shikari, renowned for his
expertise in shooting. He had given up that profession and
now he was old and sick. Daily he made his trek to the post
office to enquire for a letter, which he was expecting from his
daughter Miriam, who had got married and gone away.
 (b) Ali displays qualities of love and patience. “Give evidence
from the story to support the statement.”
 Ans. Ali’s love for his daughter is unparalleled. He gave up
hunting when he became a father and amidst bitter weather
and sickness went to post-office daily to enquire about his
daughter. He displays great patience for the touching taunts
of the employees there, and even when he is on the verge of
death, he instructs one clerk to keep Miriam’s letter on his
grave. His patience is limitless, so is his love for his daughter.7/1/2013
57

58.  (c) How do you know Ali was a familiar face at the
post office?
 Ans. Ali had become a fixture at the post-office.
All the clerks and the postmaster got used to him
and called him a mad man. For the last five years
he had been coming daily to the post office
without fail.
 (d) Why did Ali give up hunting?
 Ans. His only daughter Miriam got married and
left him. Ali then understood the real meaning of
love and separation. So he gave up hunting.
7/1/2013 58

59.  (e) What impression do you form of the postmaster after reading
the story ‘The Letter’?
 Ans. The postmaster was also emotional and compassionate. He
truly needed some situation to bring out his human qualities.
When he was worried for his daughter, he realised Ali’s misery.
Basically he was charitable and kind, he regretted his behaviour
and went with Laxmi Das to lay Miriam’s letter on Ali’s grave. He
understood the human worth of letters.
 (f) The postmaster says to Ali, “What a pest you are brother.” Do
you agree? Give reason.
 Ans. The postmaster got irritated with Ali’s perservance and
tenacity. Mindlessly he called Ali a pest. He was unjustified
because till then he had not been exposed to any separation of a
child from his parents. He appeared to be cruel and inhuman. As
he hadn’t undergone the emotional pangs of a grieving father so
he failed to gauge Ali’s misery
7/1/2013 59

60.  (g) Ali came out very slowly … eyes filled with helplessness. Why
were Ali’s eyes filled with helplessness? What had exhausted was
patience but not his worth?
 Ans. Ali had waited endlessly for his daughter’s letter, he felt
helpless. The employees at the post-office made fun of him but he
couldn’t resist the temptation of seeing Miriam’s letter. When he
was insulted by the post master, who called him a ‘pest’, Ali’s
patience was exhausted but his unflagging hope told him that a
letter would surely arrive.
 (h) ‘Tortured by doubt and remorse, he sat down in the glow of
the charcoal sigri to wait.’ Who is tortured by doubt and remorse?
Why? What is he waiting for?
 Ans. The postmaster’s heart is beating with anxiety to hear from
his own daughter. The newly-awakened father’s heart was blaming
him for having failed to understand Ali’s anxiety. He was tortured
by doubt and remorse. For the first time he had understood what
a father feels without hearing any news from his daughter. His
heart was brimming with sympathy for Ali because his emotional
condition was similar to that of Ali.
7/1/2013 60

61.  1. What is the theme of the lesson ‘The letter’ written by
Dhumaketu?
 Ans : Love is the foundation of the entire universe and the
desire to love and be loved is intrinsic in the nature of Man.
The relationship of a parent and child forms the core-centre
of the universe and no other relationship can equal it in
intensity. Grief and separation from a child becomes very
poignant and unbearable for a father and eternal wait for a
child’s letter can prove to be real torture. Coachman Ali is a
symbol of endless patience, perseverance and his unshaken
faith in Miriam’s letter doesn’t end with his death. Moreover,
a grieving father can only understand the trauma and
suffering of another father. Pain and suffering bring people
together even. In the last five years he never received any
letter. So the post office people regarded him to be a mad
man. Moreover, Ali appeared to be lost in his own world,
without being bothered by any sarcastic remark or being
deterred by unfavourabe weather. 7/1/2013 61

62.  2. “Ali’s wait for his daughter’s letter extends beyond his grave.”
Bring out the truth of this statement by referring to the lesson
‘The Letter.’
 Ans : A parent’s entire life revolves around his child. A father is
totally oblivious of his discomfort of suffering in looking after his
child. A child forms the core- centre of its parents’ universe. Pain
of separation from a child is intolerable for a father. Coachman
Ali’s life had changed dramatically after his daughter Miriam left
him, after getting married to a soldier. Ali was desperate to know
of her welfare but for five long years he never received a reply.
Sickness, ridicule, sarcasm, nothing seemed to affect him. Ali
relentlessly visited the post office before dawn and came back only
after night. His diehard optimism and unshaking faith in Miriam’s
letter remained steadfast. The death of his physical body couldn’t
stop this eternal quest. He promptly appears to receive Miriam’s
letter, at the stroke of five. An unearthly light and tears on his face,
made the postmaster shrink back in fear and amazement. Ali
ceased to exist in his physical body but the yearnings of his
indomitable spirit is satisfied. His infinite patience wins in the
end, even though he is dead.
7/1/2013 62

63. 7/1/2013 63
About the author
Seth was born on 20 June 1952 in a Punjabi family to Leila and Prem Seth in
Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Seth spent part of his youth in London and returned to his homeland in 1957. He
received primary education at Welham Boys' School and then moved to The Doon
School. While at Doon, Seth was the editor-in-chief of The Doon School
Weekly.[1] After graduating from The Doon School in India, Seth went to Tonbridge
School, England to complete his A-levels,[2][3][4] where he developed an interest in
poetry and learned Chinese. After leaving Oxford, Seth moved to California to work
on a graduate degree in economics at Stanford University. He then went on to
study creative writing at Stanford and classical Chinese poetry at Nanjing
University in China.
Having lived in London for many years, Seth now maintains residences
near Salisbury, England, where he is a participant in local literary and cultural
events, having bought and renovated the house of the Anglican poet George
Herbert in 1996,[5] and in Delhi, where he lives with his parents and keeps his
extensive library and papers.

64. In a bog, which was called Bingle Bog, there lived a frog,
who was crazy about his singing and incessantly sang from
the evening to the morning light. All the creatures living in
the bog found his songs to be most unpleasant and they tried to
beat and insult him, but the frog was very insensitive and
boastful. The frog kept singing with extreme passion because
this was his way of expressing his heart-felt elation.7/1/2013 64

65. 7/1/2013 65

66. One day the creatures of the bog were
pleasantly surprised to hear a very melodious
and soothing song sung by a nightingale.
The frog was shocked and felt jealous. He
wanted to be the undisputed singer of the bog.
The nightingale‟s song created a sensation
and all the creatures praised it tremendously.7/1/2013 66

67. The frog was very cunning and he
introduced himself as the owner of the
tree, on which the nightingale sang.
He also boasted that he was a music
critic, who wrote for „Bog
Trumpet‟. 7/1/2013 67

68. The nightingale was impressed that a musician
like Mozart was taking interest in her. When
the frog offered to train her for a modest fee, the
nightingale felt that her dream had come true.
The exploitation of the nightingale began. The
frog would organise musical concerts and mint
money. He would make the nightingale practise
even in adverse weather. 7/1/2013 68

69. 7/1/2013 69

70.  He instructed her to sing passionately and with
full force, since that was what the public wanted.
Initially a number of creatures flocked to listen to
her, but later the crowd dwindled because the
nightingale‟s songs became routine, lustreless and
her voice was tired. The frog would scold and
humiliate her for no reason. One day, out of sheer
stress and fatigue, the nightingale‟s vein burst and
she died. 7/1/2013 70

71. The frog called the nightingale
„stupid‟, „nervous‟ and „without
originality‟. His ego was satisfied
and he again became the „unrivalled
singer‟ of the bog.
7/1/2013 71

72. 7/1/2013 72

73.  dusk : late evenings
blared : loud & irritable sound
 stilled : reduced
 dumbstruck : as if under a spell
 waded : came through water
7/1/2013 73

74.  twitched :moved, shook
 wield : use
 Mozart : a great musician from Austria
 twittering : talking with great excitement
 mid-flight : In the middle of changing notes
frills : embellished musical compositions
 precision : accuracy
 bounced : just went on
 addicted : used to, become habitual
 prone : used to 7/1/2013 74

75.  . “We must aim for better billings You still owe me sixty
shillings”.........
 Explanation ... The frog’s greed is insatiable. He coaxes the
nightingale to sing more passionately, so that more creatures
come to hear her and he can mint more money. Moreover, he
exploits her further by charging her for giving music training.
 Which are the different ways is which the frog asserts his
importance ?
 Ans. The frog pretended to be a great singer and he also said
that he was the reporter of Bog ‘Trumpet’. He boasted that he
was a music critic and a musician like Mozart and was ready
to train her.
7/1/2013 75

76.  Why was the frog angry ?
 Ans. The nightingale’s songs became dull, listless and routine due
to exertion and stress. The crowds dwindled and stopped coming
for the nightingale’s songs. He was not making money so he was
very unhappy.
 Why does the frog persist in singing though no one in the bog
wishes to hear him?
 Ans. The frog is too conceited and has an exaggerated opinion of
himself as a singer. He thinks that his voice is a ‘splendid baritone’.
He wishes to remain the unrivalled singer of the bog. The frog is
loud and most unmusical. All the creatures of the bog tried all the
tricks
 to drive him away. But the frog is too thick-skinned and continues
to sing his ‘crass cacophony’ from the sumac tree. The frog was so
passionate about his singing that he would sing incessantly from
evening till morning light. This was his way of expressing his
heart-felt joy, he claimed. The frog is a hypocrite, who only lives
for himself. He is least concerned for the discomfort he is causing
to others.
7/1/2013 76

77.  3. What does the poet wish to convey in the poem ‘The Frog and the
Nightingale’?
 Ans. This is an allegorical poem by Vikram Seth and reveals a deeper
meaning beneath the emotional story line. The frog is a living symbol of
cunning and conniving
 people, while the nightingale represents innocence and vulnerability to
the extreme. Artists like the frog are shams without substance and thrive
on the misfortune of others. They are loathed, hated and have little
worth themselves, so they derive sadistic pleasure in tormenting and
exploiting others. Naturally talented singers are sometimes not worldly-
wise, so they fall prey to scheming ‘touts’. The poet ridicules such music
organisers who mint money by cheating and exploiting others. There is a
hint of satire evident, when the poet talks about money making people,
who make false promises and destroy natural talent. The poet also
highlights the significance of public adulation in the life of an artist like
the nightingale. She is innocent to praise and admiration but gradually,
she also becomes addicted to it. So it can be said that even modest
artists wish to perform before power-packed audience and the jingle of
cash-counters gives them an emotional high. The poet concludes that
success is a game like tug- of-war, in which the clever survive and the
innocent and vulnerable succumb to bitter defeat.7/1/2013 77

78.  About The Author

 Sylvia Plath (October 27, 1932 - February 11, 1963) was an American poet, novelist
and short story writer. Born in Massachusetts, she received acclaim as a professional poet
and writer. She married fellow poet Ted Hughes in 1956 and they lived together first in
the United States and then England, having two children together: Frieda and
Nicholas. Following a long struggle with depression and a marital separation, Plath
committed suicide in 1963. Plath is credited with advancing the genre of confessional poetry
and is best known for her two collections The Colossus and Other Poems and Ariel.
In 1982, she became the first poet to win a Pulitzer Prize posthumously for The
Collected Poems. She also authored The Bell Jar, a semi-autobiographical novel
published shortly before her death.
7/1/2013 78

79. This poem is written in free verse and does not depend on
any rhythm to convey the message. It is a poem
describing a woman‟s struggle against the falsity of lies
and the truthful harshness of her own image from the
perspective of an unsympathetic mirror. „I‟ in the poem
represents the mirror as Sylvia Plath is trying to see
the mirror‟s view of herself. 7/1/2013 79

80. The poem is written in the style of a monologue.
Sylvia Plath was suffering from severe
depression and she had very little compassion for
herself. This poem shows how she is really scared
of the truth the mirror is reflecting. Unlike other
people, the mirror is free from any preoccupations or
prejudices. Unlike human beings, it is free from
any likes and dislikes and reflects only the truth.7/1/2013 80

81. It is omniscient like the God, and sees
everywhere. The mirror has God-like powers
over the woman. The mirror constantly gazes at
the wall opposite to it and the wall has pink spots
of age, or discoloration on it. The view in the
mirror is interrupted by the „to and fro‟ movements
of the woman. This refers to the passing of time
and the young girl ageing into an old woman.7/1/2013 81

82. The image of the sea and water is a foreboding
motif in many poems of Syliva Plath. In this
poem also the mirror is compared to a lake. The
mirror is able to „swallow‟ like a lake and the lake
gives a seemingly crystal clear image like a mirror.
The lake can also refer to the creatures, who exist in
the lake because time flies too soon
7/1/2013 82

83. The mirror of the lake unemotionally observes
how the woman is shaken by its reflection. Not
everyone is ready to accept the reality depicted by
the mirror, so people prefer to live in a world of
illusions, in the dim light of candles or moonlight,
which hides their flaws. The mirror is
unsympathetic, it is unmindful of the tension of
people and continues to reflect their true selves.7/1/2013 83

84. The mirror is supposed to be cruel but the woman
cannot do without it. Repeated viewing of the
mirror and seeing her own reflection leads to self-
loathing as Sylvia Plath sees less and less of the
young girl and more of the old woman. The old
woman reflected in the mirror is reminded of her
past youth and she feels herself trapped in the cruel
jaws of time like a fish. 7/1/2013 84

85.  In the last lines the poetess has incorporated mythology
into her poem. „Drowned‟ apparently refers to the
Greek prince Narcissus who was very handsome. He
kept gazing at his reflection in the lake for so long that
he drowned. So the poem is about a woman who is torn
between the true picture of herself and the distorted image
that others see of her. She wants to escape from the
reality of harsh ugliness that time inflicts upon her.
7/1/2013 85

86. 7/1/2013 86
 preconceptions : pre-conceived notions or ideas
 swallow : absorb
 unmisted : not affected
 meditate : contemplate
 speckles : some blemishes or spots
 flickers : hazy
 agitation : to be angry or upset

87.  How does the mirror usually pass its time? What disturbs
the mirror’s contemplation of the opposite wall?
 Ans : The Mirror keeps gazing at the wall opposite to it. This
view is sometimes interrupted by the ‘to’ and ‘fro’ movements
of the woman.
 Why does the mirror appear to be a lake in the second
stanza? What aspect of the mirror do you think is being
referred to here?
 Ans : The mirror and lake are similar. The lake also gives a
crystal clear image like a mirror. Just as the mirror does not
hide deformities, similarly the lake also projects a true
reflection, without hiding any flaws.
 7/1/2013 87

88.  What is the woman searching for in the depths of the lake?
 Ans : The woman explores the depths of time, goes to the
depth of her past and regrets the loss of her youth.
 How does the narrator convey the fact that the woman
looking at her reflection in the lake is deeply distressed?
 Ans : The woman bending over the lake is not happy to see
her reflection which is full of flaws. The lake presents a true
picture of the woman. So to give mental solace, she turns to
dim light and candles, who present a better picture. The
narrator wishes to convey that the woman turns to
distractions to avoid the essential reality.
7/1/2013 88

89.  What makes the woman start crying?
 Ans : The mirror is unsympathetic. It reveals the ugly reality.
So the only reaction of the woman is tears and agitation over
the loss of youth. The mirror reinforces the fact that one
must accept the reality now or ever.
 What do you think the ‘terrible fish’ in the last line
symbolises?
 Ans : The poet compares herself to a fish to point out that
just as a fish depends on water, she depends on mirror. The
poet used ‘fish’ to depict a creature that lives in the lake and
cannot escape from it.
7/1/2013 89

90.  What do you think the ‘terrible fish’ in the last line
symbolises?
 Ans : The poet compares herself to a fish to point out that
just as a fish depends on water, she depends on mirror. The
poet used ‘fish’ to depict a creature that lives in the lake and
cannot escape from it.
 What makes the woman start crying?
 Ans : The mirror is unsympathetic. It reveals the ugly reality.
So the only reaction of the woman is tears and agitation over
the loss of youth. The mirror reinforces the fact that one
must accept the reality now or ever.
7/1/2013 90

91.  How does the narrator convey the fact that the woman
looking at her reflection in the lake is deeply distressed?
Ans : The woman bending over the lake is not happy to see
her reflection which is full of flaws. The lake presents a true
picture of the woman. So to give mental solace, she turns to
dim light and candles, who present a better picture. The
narrator wishes to convey that the women turns to
distractions to avoid the essential reality.
 Why does the mirror appear to be a lake in the second
stanza? What aspect of the mirror do you think is being
referred to here?
 Ans : The mirror and lake are similar. The lake also gives a
crystal clear image like a mirror. Just as the mirror does not
hide deformities, similarly the lake also projects a true
reflection, without hiding any flaws. 7/1/2013 91

92.  What lesson does the poem ‘Mirror’ teach us? Discuss.
 Ans. This poem is an emotional expression of human
suffering due to the process of ageing. Beauty, youth are just
transitory and it is very difficult for women to accept it.
Illusions, lies and falsehood are adopted to run away from the
ugly reality. Most of us are too judgemental and we are
prejudiced by our likes and dislikes. We need to see things in
the right perspective. We must accept that real beauty is not
just physical and we should try to transcend these physical
barriers. Beauty of the soul is permanent and we should
never allow ourselves to be obsessed by our physical looks,
otherwise we will also become ‘trapped’ in the physicality of
this world. Then there is no salvation for us
7/1/2013 92

93.  About The Author
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born in Stratford-
upon-Avon. He is considered by many to be the greatest
dramatist of all time. He wrote 154 sonnets, two long
narrative poems and about three dozen plays. Shakespeare
used poetic and dramatic means to create unified aesthetic effects.
In verse he perfected the dramatic blank verse.7/1/2013 93

94.  Sonnet 55 builds up on Horace‟s theme of poetry outlasting physical monuments to
the dead. In Horace‟s poetry, the poet is himself immortalised by his poetry but in
this sonnet, Shakespeare seeks to build a figurative monument to his beloved, the fair
lord. The fair lord is not described or revealed is any way in this sonnet. Instead, the
sonnet just addresses the idea of immortality through verse. The ravages of time is a
recurrent theme in the sonnets of Shakespeare. So sonnet 55 is one of the most famous
works of Shakespeare and a notable deviation from other sonnets in which he appears
insecure about his relationships and his self-worth. Here we find an impassioned burst
of confidence as the poet claims to have the power to keep his friend‟s memory alive
evermore. 7/1/2013 94

95.  1 – 4 lines – (Not marble ...................... Sluttish time)
 The first stanza talks about how time will not destroy the poem, though it will
destroy the world‟s most magnificent structures. He wishes to say that poetry is
stronger than these structures. At the very beginning, the poet says that whether it is
marble or gold plated monuments of princes, all will get destroyed but the
magnificence of his poetry will live. The subject of poetry will remain bright and
will shine forever in comparison to a neglected stone monument which is spoilt with
Time. Time is compared to a slut who loses her glow and beauty with time.
Shakespeare compares Time unfavourably to a female subject.
7/1/2013 95

96.  5 – 8 lines – (when wasteful ...................... memory)
 These lines begin with a new idea. Shakespeare has so far spoken of two
destructive forces : time and war. He is here describing war destroying stone
structures, which relates back to the „marble‟ and „gilded monuments‟ in line
1, that likewise do not last. The poet says that when destructive wars will
take place, they will destroy statues also and due to its tumult all the work of
the masons will be destroyed. Even the Sword of Mars, God of war, or
the destructive fires of war will be able to destroy your memory. The poet is
basically saying that even wars will not destroy the written memories of
your life for they will survive even after deadly wars.
7/1/2013 96

97. Lines 9 – 14 – (Gainst death ......................
Lover‟s eyes)
This stanza does not talk about survival, but of human
appreciation. The poet continues to praise his
subject. There is still a suggestion of survival, but
survival of human appreciation and not of the verse
itself. Doom refers to the Judgement day, suggesting
that this poetic record of his subject will survive and be
praised to the end of time. 7/1/2013 97

98.  Slight deviation of the metre in the words
„„Even in‟‟ creates emphasis for this permanency.
The poet is saying that death and enmity destroys
everything but poetry written on the subject will
survive, will move ahead, find place and will be
immortalised for all generations to come.
Everything else will be judged on the Judgement
Day. 7/1/2013 98

99. The ending couplet is a summary of the survival
theme. The couplet not only summarises the rest
of the sonnet, but also seems to contradict itself.
„„Judgement‟‟ goes with the talk of the judgement
day in the last stanza, but implies that the subject
is alive and will be judged on that day, but „
dwelling in lover‟s eyes‟‟ suggest that the subject is
love itself. 7/1/2013 99

100. 7/1/2013 100
Thus Shakespeare seems to consider the
subject so lovely that he is a personification of
love, which could be conquered and to which
no poetry can do justice. So the theme of the
sonnet is that the subject will be honoured
forever in the verses, though the verses are
unworthy of them.

101.  outlive : live afterwards
 rhyme : poetry
 overturn : destroy
 room : place, space
 dwell : live
7/1/2013 101

102.  Why do you think the rich and the powerful people get
monuments and statues erected in their memory?
 Or
 What, according to the poet, do the rich and
 powerful long for?
 Ans. The rich and the powerful people erect monuments to
not only show their wealth and power but as living reminders
of those people. They want the future generations to know
and remember them. They are extremely vain people.
7/1/2013 102

103.  Describe how the monuments and statues brave the ravages
of time?
 Ans. Whether the monuments are gold-plated or otherwise,
all the monuments crumble with time or they are destroyed
by war. Climatic reasons, manual desperation or otherwise all
crumble and break with time.
 Why does the poet refer to Time as being sluttish?
 Ans. A slut loses her charm and beauty with time. Similarly
time also changes fast as the charms of a prostitute. Time
keeps changing, so does the beauty of such an inferior
female.
7/1/2013 103

104.  The poet says that neither forces of nature nor wars can
destroy his poetry. In fact, even godly powers of Mars will not
have a devastating effect on his rhyme. What quality of the
poet is revealed through these lines?
 Ans. The poet believes that his subject will be honoured
forever in his verses and they will never face extinction or
destruction by the powers of nature and time. The poet’s
extreme optimism and deep faith in the power of love is
revealed in these lines.
 Describe how the monuments and statues brave the ravages
of time?
 Ans. Whether the monuments are gold-plated or otherwise,
all the monuments crumble with time or they are destroyed
by war. Climatic reasons, manual desperation or otherwise all
crumble and break with time. 7/1/2013 104

105.  What is the theme of sonnet 55?
 Ans. Shakespeare believes that love is eternal and everlasting. It
cannot be destroyed or controlled by materialistic things that are
made to stand forever, but in the end all are doomed to
destruction like the gilded monuments. Not even the sword of
Mars or wars can destroy love, Shakespeare’s true idea of love is
that love will exist till the end of time. Since there is no end to love
it will exist forever. This sonnet shares this theme with other
sonnets which oppose the power of verse to death and Time’s cruel
knife and promise immortality to the beloved. The concluding
couplet seems to curiously satisfy the curiosity as to who is being
referred to. It is enough that it lives in ‘the lover’s eyes for all the
mysteries will be comprehended on the last day of judgement.
What distinguishes Shakespeare from others is that he values the
identity of the beloved, he recognises that the beloved has his own
personal immortality, that is no way dependent upon his poetry.
So the poet’s verse will continue strongly even in the face of death
and dispassionate enmity. It will always live in poetry and in the
eyes of the lovers who will read this. So the theme is love and the
power of love that outlives all.
7/1/2013 105

106.  You were extremely impressed to read the poem, 'Not Marble, Nor the Gilded
Monuments'. Write a letter to a friend telling her about the poem and your new
found interest in poetry. Sign yourself as Amit / Amita of 39, D-Block, Model
Town, Delhi.
 Ans : Dear Mamta,
 Surprised to see one more letter in succession! Yes, but I could not resist myself
from telling you something about my new-found love. Do not guess it wrong–It
is poetry. Mamta, you know I never liked to read poetry, as you do, although you
always asked me to do so. It was only yesterday that I met a friend of mine who
is a diehard fan of Shakespeare's poetry. There I got a chance to read
 Shakespeare's poem, 'Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments.' At first it just
went over my head but when my friend explained the poem and the theme i.e.
love, in her own words, I was totally engrossed. The way the poet has
eternalised love, stating that it is beyond all barriers, all other things are
doomed, but love will stand the test of time, is simply marvellous. I couldn't
restrain myself and read the poem on my own. You will be surprised to know
that I immediately went to her library and borrowed poetry books from her to
read. I kept on reading the books till late at night. I am eagerly waiting for the
day when you will come to my place and we both will sit together and read the
poems from different poets. My regards to everyone at your end.
 Waiting eagerly
 Your friend,
 Amita
7/1/2013 106

107.  What is the poet’s message in sonnet 55?
 Ans : The poet wishes to communicate that Love is beyond all
barriers, whether materialistic or physical. All the other
things are doomed for destruction but love will stand the test
of time. Since there is no end to love, it will exist forever.
Time’s cruel knife cuts everything, changes all relations but
not love. So the poet’s love for his friend will continue
strongly even in the face of death and dispassionate enmity. It
will live forever in the eyes of the lovers. So the theme is love
and the power of love that outlives all
7/1/2013 107

108.  ABOUT THE AOUTHER
7/1/2013 108
(William) Stanley Houghton (22 February 1881–10 December 1913) was an
English playwright. He was a prominent member, together with Allan
Monkhouseand Harold Brighouse, of a group known as the Manchester
School of dramatists. His best known play is Hindle Wakes.
Early life[edit]
Stanley Houghton was born at 1 Amy Villas, Doveston Road, Ashton-upon-
Mersey, Sale, which was then in Cheshire, the only son of John Hartley
Houghton, a cotton merchant, and Lucy Mary née Darbyshire.[1] In 1896,
the family moved to 2 Athol Road, Alexandra Park, Manchester, some two
miles from the city centre.[2] Houghton was educated at Bowdon College
and at Manchester Grammar School. On leaving school in 1897, he started
working full-time in his father's office and continued to do this until 1912.
During this time he was an amateur actor and writer. In 1905–06 he was
an unpaid drama critic for the Manchester City News and between 1905
and 1913 he contributed articles, theatrical notices and literary reviews to
the Manchester Guardian. He also wrote a number of unpublished plays.[1]

109.  A true test of people is how they behave towards the elderly. With modernisation,
reverence of the elderly seems to have suffered a grievous blow. All happiness to the
elderly is parsimoniously measured out. Too often the elderly suffer death by
invisibility long before their physical demise. The daughters in „Dear Departed‟
are very materialistic and like beasts of prey, they are only ready to pounce on the
money and belongings of their father. Keeping father at home has become a tiresome
burden. Looking towards the elderly has become a matter of comfort and financial
aid rather than for inspiration and emotional strength. For a civilised society a new
culture of giving needs to be ushered and one must give to the elderly without any
selfish motive. We must remember that the difference between a helping hand and
an outstretched palm is only a twist of the wrist. 7/1/2013 109

110. The play „The Dear Departed‟ presents an
interesting situation that has tragically become common
place in the world of today. The scene of the play is set
in the sitting- room of a small house in a lower middle-
class district of a provincial town. The setting of the
play reveals that the tea-table has been laid.
7/1/2013 110

111.  Mrs Slater, a plump and active lady is in
mourning and she is getting ready to receive some
guests. She beckons to her daughter Victoria,
who is ten year old, and instructs her to change
into something sober. It is revealed that
Victoria‟s grandfather has passed away and the
Slater family is getting ready to receive Aunt
Elizabeth and Uncle Ben.
7/1/2013 111

112.  Victoria expresses surprise at this news
because her aunt and uncle had not paid
them a visit for years. Mrs Slater
reveals that they were coming over to
talk about grandfather‟s affairs, on
hearing of his death. In the meanwhile
Mr Slater enters. He is a heavy man
who stoops he is also in mourning dress.7/1/2013 112

113. Henry Slater is sceptical whether Elizabeth will come, for
the last time when Mrs Slater and Elizabeth had
quarrelled, she had vowed never to pay a visit again to their
house. Mrs Slater gives Henry new slippers of her father.
She also plans to take away the new bureau of the
grandfather and shift it to their room, before Elizabeth and
Ben arrive. Both the husband and wife, lock the front door
and shift the bureau down and put their old chest of drawers
there.
7/1/2013 113

114. Victoria wants to know why they were stealing
grandfather‟s things but her mother tells her to remain
quiet. Grandpa‟s new clock is also taken away.
Meanwhile
there is loud knocking at the door and the Slater's take
plenty of time to look normal. Mrs Jordan and Ben
pretend to be emotional at the death of Mr Abel
Merryweather. Both the ladies compare their
mourning dresses, criticising the other‟s outfit.7/1/2013 114

115. Mrs Jordan is surprised to discover that no doctor
had been summoned to check on her father. Mrs
Slater insists in a stubborn manner that she had
been keen on Mr Pringle and if he was out of
station, they couldn‟t be offensive and call someone
else. Mrs Slater reveals that her father had been
happy in the morning and he had apparently
gone to pay the premium of his insurance policy.7/1/2013 115

116. He was generally going to “Ring-O-Bells‟ frequently
and the night before he had come drunk and had gone to bed
without having dinner. Mrs Jordan and Ben prefer to
have tea before going and looking up father. All four of them
start discussing about the obituary and the kind of
announcement in the newspapers to be inserted. Mrs Jordan
wants a long poem but Mrs Slater protests by saying that it
will cost a lot. Meanwhile Mrs Jordan reveals that her
father had willed his gold watch to her son Jimmy. Mrs
Slater feels very offended and refuses to believe it.7/1/2013 116

117.  Victoria says that grandfather had not gone in the
morning to pay his premium but had instead gone over
to „The Ring of Bells,‟ the public house, managed by
John Shamrock's widow. Everyone starts blaming the
old man for not paying his premium. Victoria is
instructed to go over to grandpa‟s room to get the receipt of
the premium. Mrs Jordan is surprised to note a new
bureau and she wishes to know the details, because she
doubts Mrs Slater‟s version. 7/1/2013 117

118. Victoria enters, looking dazed. She gives the shocking news that
ää ää ä By Stanley Houghton
1 THE DEAR DEPARTED
D – 120 New Wave Communicative English – X
Grandpa was stirring and moving. After some time Mr Abel
Merryweather enters and is surprised to see his other daughter and
son-in-law, Mr and Mrs Jordan. He reveals that he was well and
just had a slight headache he notices Henry wearing his new
slippers and takes them. Abeles wishes to know, why all were in
mourning dresses. 7/1/2013 118

119. Mrs Jordan makes up some story to
pacify him. Abel Merryweather enjoys
tea and has a generous slice of the apple-
pie. He grumbles and scolds Mrs
Slater for taking away his bureau. Mrs
Jordan gets agitated and accuses her sister
of robbing her father 7/1/2013 119

120.  The husbands also join their wives in
hurling accusations at each other Abel
discovers about his death. He addresses his
daughters directly and declares that he was
going to change his will and all the money
will go to the one, in whose house he dies.
Both the daughters fight with each other to7/1/2013 120

121. Abel is amused and watches all the fun.
At last he makes his announcement which
shocks everyone. On Monday, he would go
to the lawyer and alter his will, then he
would go to the insurance office and pay his
premium. After that he would go to the
church and get married to Mrs Shorrock.7/1/2013 121

122. 7/1/2013 122
Everyone is shocked. Abel reveals that he
had at last found someone who was happy to
keep him. He exits with an invitation of his
marriage. He also thanks Mrs Slater for
shifting the Bureau down-stairs for now it
will be easy to cart it away to “Ring-O-
Bells.‟

123.  5. Answer the following questions briefly.
 (a) How does Mrs Slater plan to outshine the Jordan's? What
does it reveal about her character?
 Ans. Mrs Slater has managed to procure a black dress for
mourning, though it is not complete. She believes that her
mourning outfit would still be better than Mrs Jordan’s, who
might not have managed to arrange it also. Her obsession for
a mourning dress reveals that she is a frivolous and
pretentious woman who is not distressed at the death of her
father and is bothered more about worldly pretensions.
7/1/2013 123

124.  (b) Why does Mrs Slater decide to shift the bureau from
grandfather’s room before the arrival of the Jordans? How
does Henry react to the situation?
 Ans. Mrs Slater wishes to steal the bureau and shift it in her
room and replace it by her old chest of drawers. The bureau
was new so now with her father’s death, she wishes to possess
it before her sister comes and Henry is not that greedy and
suggests that his wife must-discuss it with her sister before
taking it away. Later he gets persuaded by his dominating
wife.
7/1/2013 124

125.  (c) What is the reason for the Jordan's taking a long time to
get to the house of the Slater’s? What does it show about the
attitude of the two sisters towards each other?
 Ans. Mrs Jordan took a lot of time to reach the home of the
Slater’s because she wanted to get a complete new mourning
dress before coming. Both the sisters are not
 grief-stricken at the death of their father but are trying to out
shine each other in wearing their best mourning dresses. For
the sisters grief is to be depicted through mourning- dress
and not through the feelings in one’s heart.
7/1/2013 125

126.  (d) What does Mrs Jordan describe as ‘a fatal mistake’? What
is the irony on the comment she makes on Mrs Slater’s
defence?
 Ans. Mrs. Jordan believes that not sending for the doctor at
her father’s death was a ‘fatal mistake’. Mrs Slater clarifies
immediately that since it was Mr Pringle who had always
attended on her father, it would be against professional
etiquette to call someone else. Mr Pringle was out of town so
they didn’t call anyone else.
7/1/2013 126

127.  (e) Ben appreciates grandfather saying “it’s a good thing he
did”. Later he calls him a ‘drunken old beggar’. Why does he
change his opinion about grandfather?
 Ans. Ben appreciates the grandfather for paying the premium
of his insurance policy. When he hears that grandfather had
not gone that day to pay the premium, he changes his stand
and calls him a ‘drunken old beggar’ since the grandfather
had gone to ‘Ring-O-Bells.’
7/1/2013 127

128.  (f) What change does the grandfather make in his new will?
What effect will it have on his daughters?
 Ans. The grandfather decides that he will change his will. He
decides to leave all the things to whomsoever he’s living with
when he dies. The daughters get agitated and consider it
unfair. Both of them compete with each other to keep
grandfather with them. None of them wanted to be deprived
of their share.
7/1/2013 128

129.  You are a neighbour of Mrs Slater on Upper Corn bank Street. You have
witnessed the indifferent and insensitive manner in which Mrs Slater
looks after her father and how the poor father contrives ways to stay out
of the house. Write a letter to a friend expressing your grave concern at
the way in which the elderly people are neglected.
 Ans : Post Carter Road,
 Mumbai
 30 March, 2010
 Dear Alana,
 With a heavy heart, I am writing this letter as I fear for our advancing
age. The Slater's are our neighbours and Mrs. Slater treats her father so
badly, that I fear how our old age will fare. The old father is very
sporting, friendly and happy-go-lucky and still treated badly. He is not
the demanding type, but still Mrs. Slater is always cribbing about
keeping him. Mr Abel, that is his name, hardly stays at home and goes
about to visit people even when he is sick and should be tended. His
granddaughter Victoria is the only one who cares for him but a child
cannot have her way. Mrs Slater is always trying to take away Mr Abel’s
things, one way or the other. These days he appears to be looking better
because I have heard in the neighbourhood, that he is apparently seeing
some old widow Mrs. Shorrock. At least there is some light in his life,
some flicker of hope. God save us from such children. I hope we do not
face any such problems. Do write to me. 7/1/2013 129

130.  Your sister,
 Agatha.
 2. Discuss the character-sketch of Mrs Jordan and Mrs Slater
as opposed to the characters of their husbands.
 Ans : Mrs Slater is clever, manipulative and mean, much like
her sister Mrs. Jordan. Their aim in life is to do nothing for
their father and derive maximum benefit. If Amelia takes
away her father’s slippers, bureau and clock, Elizabeth wants
to take away her father’s watch. Both the
 ladies spare no thought for their father and worry about
outdoing each other in wearing mourning dresses. For them
the death of their father is like a drama that needs to be
staged with best outfits. Both the husbands are henpecked
and they go according to their wives. Henry knows that his
wife is an opportunist but he assists her in carrying the
bureau down. The husbands have no individualities except to
pamper the whims of their wives. 7/1/2013 130