English Literature Made Easy for Students

1. The Third Level Writer: Jack Finney Story in a nutshell: The story moves in the modern times and the period of 1890 or something. The main character in the story is Charley, a man of 31 years. He often travels to his place of working through the subway (passageway) of Grand Central Station. Here, there are only two levels from where the trains leave for different destinations. The time tables and railway officials mention only these two levels. But one day, Charley discovers a third level, which is quite different from the other two levels. Here people have dressed themselves in the manner used by the people in 1890s. Tickets are bought in the old currency of that period. The modern currency is not valid there. The engines of the trains are the old locomotives of that old time. One can travel from here to anywhere in the United States. Charley wants to buy two tickets for Galesberg from here. But Charley did not have the old currency of the 1980s with him. The booking...

3. A Tiger in the Zoo by LESLIE NORRIS (for Class X) Stanza 1 He stalks in his vivid stripes The few steps of his cage, On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage. Line-to-line Explanation: The tiger in the zoo walks in the limited space provided to it in the cage. It takes a few steps. There are stripes on its body which are quite prominent (noticeable). Its paws are soft like velvet.  No noise is produced when it walks on its ‘pads of velvet’. The tiger is silent but in rage (anger). Stanza 2. He should be lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass Near the water hole Where plump deer pass. Word-meanings: plump, lurking Explanation: Now the poet suggests that the cage is not the proper place for the tiger. It is not its natural habitat. The tiger in the cage is a victim of human cruelty. Usually tigers are found sitting under some bushes or long grass near a stream or water hole. As soon as they see their prey like deer coming t...

Questions & Answers for Class XII, Book: Vistas Lesson: The Tiger King by Kalki (A) Short Answer-type Questions & Answers 1.Why did the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram decide to kill tigers or   What led the king to start hunting and killing of one hundred tigers? Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram decided to kill tigers to save his life. The king would be safe if he killed one hundred tigers.   It was the prophecy made by the state astrologer. 2.How did the king acquire the title ‘tiger’ to his name? Ans. The king had to kill one hundred tigers to avert (avoid) the danger to his life. Sometimes he had to fight with tigers without any weapon. But he was unable to kill the hundredth tiger. Since he killed so many tigers, he was called the ‘tiger’ king. ( Second Ans.: The title ‘Tiger King’ did not come all of a sudden to his name. There is a story behind it. He was a man of indomitable (great) courage. He killed ninety- nine tigers. He was not afraid o...

Book: First Flight: Lesson 2. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela              A.   Very Short Answer-type Questions (In Single Sentences) 1.   Mandela became the first black President of a new nation. 2.   Zenani was the daughter of Nelson Mandela. 3. 100,000 South African men, women and children of all races sang and danced with joy. 4.    The inauguration ceremony took place on 10 th May, 1994. 5. Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president. 6. The formation of a democratic government in South Africa has been called a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity. 7. Nelson Mandela takes the pledge to remove bondage of poverty, hunger and all kinds of discrimination. 8.    The smoke that trailed in the sky by Impala jets symbolised the new South African flag. 9. The old system in South Africa was based on hatred. 10.   ...