Section-A (Very Short Answer Type Questions)
- Name the author of the essay Rural Manners.
- Answer: Richard Steele.
- What was the Gaiety land in the story Engine Trouble?
- Answer: Gaiety land was a fairground in R.K. Narayan’s story “Engine Trouble” where the protagonist wins a road engine as a prize, leading to a series of unfortunate events.
- Who was the doyen of the Spectator club?
- Answer: Sir Roger de Coverley.
- Who is Nancy?
- Answer: Nancy is a character in Charles Dickens’s novel “Oliver Twist.” She is a compassionate but tragic figure, who is a member of Fagin’s gang and ultimately sacrifices her life trying to protect Oliver.
- Who wrote Marriage is a Private Affair?
- Answer: Chinua Achebe.
- Give the names of the husband and wife in the story ‘The Castaway’.
- Answer: The husband and wife in “The Castaway” by Rabindranath Tagore are Mr. and Mrs. John Black.
Section-B (Short Answer Questions)
- Draw a character sketch of Bill Sikes.
- Answer: Bill Sikes is one of the most brutal and violent characters in Charles Dickens’s novel “Oliver Twist.” Sikes is a professional thief and a cruel, aggressive man who has a vicious temper. He is deeply feared by other characters and displays little to no compassion. His relationship with Nancy is marked by abuse and manipulation, culminating in his murdering her in a fit of rage. Sikes’s eventual death, hanging himself accidentally while trying to escape a mob, highlights his tragic yet deserved end, serving as a moral lesson about the consequences of a life of crime and violence.
- Throw light on Rosemary’s encounter with Miss Smith.
- Answer: In Katherine Mansfield’s story “A Cup of Tea,” Rosemary Fell, a wealthy and somewhat superficial woman, encounters Miss Smith, a poor, hungry girl on the street. Moved by a moment of philanthropic impulse, Rosemary invites Miss Smith to her home, offering her food, tea, and comfort. However, Rosemary’s motives are more about self-satisfaction and vanity than genuine compassion. When her husband, Philip, comments on Miss Smith’s beauty, Rosemary becomes insecure and jealous, leading her to quickly send the girl away with some money. The encounter reveals Rosemary’s shallow nature and her inability to truly empathize with Miss Smith’s plight.
- How did Shahid make peace with the approaching Death?
- Answer: Agha Shahid Ali, in his poignant writings and particularly in his poems, faces the approach of death with a profound sense of acceptance and grace. He reflects on his memories, culture, and relationships, finding solace in the beauty of poetry and the connections he has built over his life. His work often explores themes of loss, love, and the inevitability of death, yet he approaches these subjects with a sense of peace and reverence. Shahid’s ability to find comfort in his art and the love of those around him illustrates his dignified acceptance of mortality.
- How did O. Henry surprise us at the end of the story ‘The Gift of the Magi’?
- Answer: O. Henry’s story “The Gift of the Magi” is famous for its ironic and heartwarming twist ending. The story follows a young married couple, Della and Jim, who are financially struggling but deeply in love. Each decides to sacrifice their most prized possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other. Della sells her long, beautiful hair to buy a platinum fob chain for Jim’s prized watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy a set of combs for Della’s hair. The twist comes when they exchange gifts and realize their sacrifices have rendered the gifts useless but have also demonstrated their deep love and willingness to give up their most valuable possessions for each other. This twist emphasizes the true spirit of giving and love.
- Describe the character of Mathilde.
- Answer: Mathilde Loisel is the central character in Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace.” She is portrayed as a beautiful but discontented woman who longs for a life of luxury and sophistication far beyond her means. Mathilde is dissatisfied with her modest life as the wife of a humble clerk and dreams of wealth, opulence, and social status. Her vanity and materialism lead to her downfall when she borrows a seemingly expensive necklace for a high-society event, only to lose it. In a desperate attempt to replace it, she and her husband go into severe debt, only to discover years later that the original necklace was a fake and worth only a fraction of what they spent. Mathilde’s character illustrates the dangers of vanity and the pursuit of superficial wealth, highlighting the theme of appearance versus reality.
Section-C (Long Answer Questions)
- How does Steele present his character as representation of society?
- Answer: Richard Steele, in his periodical essays, particularly those published in “The Spectator,” uses characters like Sir Roger de Coverley to represent various aspects of 18th-century English society. Sir Roger is depicted as a kind, though somewhat eccentric, country gentleman who embodies traditional values and manners. Through Sir Roger and other characters, Steele explores themes such as morality, social norms, and human behavior. The characters serve as satirical and reflective tools, offering insights into the virtues and vices of the society of Steele’s time. By presenting Sir Roger’s interactions and perspectives, Steele critiques social practices and highlights the importance of good sense, benevolence, and humility. This character-driven approach allows Steele to engage readers with moral and social commentary in an accessible and entertaining manner.
- What are the reflections of Joseph while bringing in serious humour in the Westminster Abbey?
- Answer: In “Westminster Abbey,” Joseph Addison masterfully blends serious reflections with humor to convey his observations about life, death, and human vanity. As Addison tours the Abbey, he contemplates the monuments and epitaphs of the famous individuals buried there. He muses on the transient nature of fame and the inevitable reality of death, using wit to highlight the contrasts between the lofty inscriptions and the common human experiences of those memorialized. Addison’s humor is gentle and reflective, often poking fun at the pretensions and follies of people who seek to immortalize themselves through grandiose tombs. This combination of humor and serious reflection allows Addison to engage readers in a contemplation of mortality and the true value of a life well-lived, beyond the superficial trappings of fame and status.
- Narrate how the road engine proved a bundle of misfortune for the talkative man.
- Answer: In R.K. Narayan’s story “Engine Trouble,” the talkative man wins a road engine as a prize at a fair in Malgudi. Initially excited, he soon realizes the engine is too large and cumbersome to move or use effectively. This prize quickly turns into a burden as he struggles to find a way to transport it home and store it. The engine becomes a source of financial strain and logistical challenges, as moving it requires significant resources and effort. The protagonist’s attempts to get rid of the engine lead to a series of comic misadventures, highlighting the irony and absurdity of his situation. The engine, meant to be a symbol of luck and success, instead brings misfortune and stress, illustrating the story’s theme of unintended consequences and the complexities of seemingly simple solutions.
- Write the summary of Oliver Twist in your own words.
- Answer: “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens is a novel that follows the life of an orphan named Oliver. Born in a workhouse and raised in harsh conditions, Oliver endures cruelty and neglect. He escapes to London, where he falls in with a gang of juvenile thieves led by the cunning Fagin. Despite being surrounded by crime, Oliver maintains his innate goodness and innocence. After several dangerous encounters, including being kidnapped and forced into robbery, Oliver is eventually taken in by the kind-hearted Mr. Brownlow. Throughout the novel, Oliver’s true heritage is revealed, and he finds a loving family. The story exposes the grim realities of child labor and the underworld of crime, while highlighting themes of perseverance, morality, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
