The Journey by Temsula Ao-Questions-answers

 Lesson 3: The Journey by Temsula Ao

Part A: Very Short answer-type Qs

 Q1. Which place or region has been described in the story?

Ans. A tribal village in the Naga Hills

Q2. Why was the journey so difficult?

Ans. The journey was difficult because Tinula was to reach her boarding school walking on foot and passing through the thick jungle and intricate (difficult) ways of the mountains.

Q3. Do you encounter such difficulties while coming to college?

Ans. No.

Q4. Who is Winnie?

Ans. She was Tinula’s friend.

Q5.What does the story focus on?

Ans. It focuses on Tinula’s physical and emotional journey.

Q6. Who is the main character in the story?

Ans. Tinula

Q6.At what time of the day does the story begin?

Ans. Early in the morning

Q7.At which place did Tinula spend her night in the town of Mariani?

Ans. She spent the night in the loft of a kind shopkeeper.

Q8.How did Tinula wake up early in the morning?

Ans.

Q9.Why was the journey possible only in the wintertime?

Ans. There the water in the streams was not so deep in winter.

Q10. Why did Tinula’s brother ask her to walk faster?

Ans. It was getting dark and there was danger of wild animals after the sunset.

Q11.Where did Tinula keep her favourite dress?

Ans. She kept her favourite dress in a trunk made of tin

Q12. What was Tinula’s brother’s name?

Ans. Temjenba

Q13. What is ‘singaras’?

Ans. It is a snack item like a ‘samosa’ in the North East of India

Q14. Which was the last station nearest to her boarding?

Ans. Farkating

Q15. Who gave Tinula the pair of shoes she was wearing at that time?

Ans. It was given to her by a senior student at her school.

Q16.Where did they eat their midday meal?

Ans. They ate (had) their lunch at the bank of a river.

Q17. In which vehicle do they reach school from the station?

Ans. They reached school in a car (ambassador car).

Q18. Where did the superintendent give shelter to Tinula?

Ans. The superintendent gave her shelter in the infirmary (medical room).

Q19. With whom did Tinula share the bed?

Ans. Tinula shared the bed with Winnie.

Q20. What information did Winnie share with Tinula?

Ans. Winnie told Tinula that her (Tinula’s) boyfriend had a new girlfriend.

Q21. What was the age of Tinula? Or how old was Tinula?

Ans. She was thirteen years old.

Q22. What kind of journey is mentioned by the author at the end of the story?

Ans. The author mentions Tinula’s emotional journey at the end.

 

Part B: Answer the following questions in four or five lines.

Q1. Discuss the relevance of the title of the story ‘The Journey’?

Ans. The title of this story is quite appropriate. The author describes Tinula’s two types of journey. One is taken by her at the physical level. The second is her emotional one. She reaches her boarding school after passing through the difficult ways of the jungle and climbing up and down the mountains. After reaching there, she had to sleep with her friend Winnie. She told her about Hubert, her boyfriend, who had had a new girlfriend. It is then she had a new feeling that takes her on an emotional journey.

 

Q2.How does the story bring out the importance of the efforts of the community in helping an individual?

Ans. The efforts of the community in helping individuals like Tenula are very important. During the journey, she was helped by her brother and the other members of her community in one way or the other. Some women in the group dropped pieces of meat on their leaf plates at mealtime. They catch each other’s hands while crossing the rivers or streams. A kind woman in the group took her shoes to make her comfortable. Once she was lagging behind, then, other members of the group waited for her. A co-passenger gave her seat in the train. At the station, they were given a lift in a car. Such incidents show that community plays a very important role in helping individuals.

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Q3. Assess the brother-sister relationship as described in the story.

Ans. Temjenba and Tenula are brother and sister. Tenula is a girl of thirteen years. Both of them have a strong bonding between them. The text of this lesson shows that they have to undertake two difficult journeys on foot in the terrains of Naga Hills. First, Temjenba brings his sister back to their village from the boarding school. Then, after the summer vacation, he accompanies (goes with) her to her boarding school. During both the journeys, Temjenba shows a lot of concern for his sister. Sometimes, she lags behind and feels tired. Then he encourages her to move fast in order to reach the target before sunset. He helps her cross the streams and the rivers on the way. Temjenba brings some snacks and tea for her at the stoppage of the train. She felt obliged to him at that time.

 

Q6. Describe the train journey of Tenula and her brother.

Ans. Anyhow, Tinula and her brother reached the railway station. They had no time to purchase tickets, so they entered the train without tickets. After some time, a passenger adjusted Tinula on his seat. At a small station, her brother, Tenjenba, went out quickly and bought something for her to eat. It was a samosa-like snack. He also brought some tea also. Tinula felt obliged to her brother. After a tiring journey, the train reached Farkating. It was the nearest station to her boarding school.

 

Q7. Describe the experience of Tenula and her brother from the station to the school.

Ans. After coming out of the railway station of Farkating, now they were to reach School. It was three or four miles away. But it was late at night and darkness was everywhere. He was in confusion about what to do. Even the station master was locking his office. Temjenba was just thinking about it when a man from the dark came near them. He offered them a lift in his car. It was God’s blessing sent to them. They both followed the man up to the car. It was an Ambassador car. Tinula was almost squeezed among other passengers in the car.

The car reached the school gate. They came out of it and in this way they reached the school gate.

Q8. Write a note at the beginning of the story ‘The Journey.

Ans. Tinula, a thirteen-year-old girl lives in a tribal village surrounded by jungles and hills in Nagaland. The day dawned when she has to return to her boarding school, situated at a far-off place after two months’ vacation. She wakes up suddenly due to the squealing of a piglet. She has to travel on foot today through thick jungle and intricate ways of the mountains to reach her boarding school.

It was still dark when she woke up. She was alert because it was the day when she was to reach her school after two months’ winter break.

She still remembered the minute detail of her previous journey when she had come up to her village by traversing the plains of Assam to her village in the Naga Hills.

Q9. Describe Tenula’s experience at the school boarding.

Ans. After reaching the school gate, Tinula and Temjenba moved towards the Superintendent’s bungalow. A lady opened the door. First, she seemed annoyed at being awakened at such an odd hour of the night. But when she saw them shivering, she told Temjenba to go back home.

The superintendent took the girl to the school infirmary (medical room). It was temporarily being used for the students who reached school late at night after their holidays. Tinula had to share the bed in which her friend, Winnie was sleeping. Before creeping into the warmth of the bed, she washed her feet as best as she could. She enjoyed the warmth of the soft bed.

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Part C: Long Answer-type Questions

Q1. With reference to the story ‘The Journey’, write about the natural beauty of the North-East. (In about ten to fifteen lines)

Or  What is special about the landscape portrayed in the story?

Ans. The writer gives a very minute (microscopic) detail of the landscape in this story. Tinula’s village is situated in Naga Hills. These hills are full of green trees and bushes. The way to reach anywhere is full of difficulties. Wild animals also live in dense forests. There are rivers and streams that have to be crossed. There are no bridges on them. It is very difficult to cross these rivers during the rainy season. The water in these rivers is reduced only in winter. Life in these hills is very tough. So, the people have to live from hand to mouth only.

Q2. Describe Tinula’s journey from her boarding school to her village.

Ans. After eating rice and curry in the morning, Tinula along with her brother and some other members of the group set out on their journey forming a line.

The way was rough and full of dangers. After traversing (walking with difficulty), she felt tired. But her brother was encouraging her to move faster and faster. The other members had reached the halfway mark on the bank of Disoi River.

As Tinula and her brother reached there, they started eating food. Some women dropped pieces of meat on the girl’s leaf plate to make her feel happy. Having eaten food, they resumed their journey. They entered a river. Her brother and a man held her up by putting their hands under her armpits and carried her safely to the river bank.

The road became steep soon after crossing the river. The girl was unable to walk further. She sat down on a stone step and started crying. She sat down on a stone step and started crying. The others had gone far and they didn’t notice it. But, her brother was with her feeling worried. He tried to soothe her pointing to the sun that was moving westward and told her once again about the dangers of the jungle.

The girl remembered now as to how she struggled over every step. The sun had almost set when they reached the village.

Q3. Describe the journey of Tinula and her brother from the village to her boarding school.

 

 Ans. After having a morning meal, Tinula and her brother, Temjenba, began their journey to reach the place where they could board a bus or a train to reach the town. It was a downward journey almost steep (straight).

Both of them were to reach their target Mariani by four in the afternoon. They ate their midday meal on the bank of the river. It was almost dry. Tinula was helped by her brother and the woman cross the river.

 Now, they had reached the plain. The girl felt thirsty because the direct rays of the sun were falling on her face. But she had to keep pace with others. Sometimes she had to run to join them under the fear of some wild animal. They reached the railway station almost at the sunset of the winter evening. They hurriedly boarded the train. They did not get seats. After sometime, a passenger offered Tinula to adjust with him on his seat. On a station, her brother brought some snacks and tea for her. At last, the train reached Farkating. It was the last station that was also nearest to her boarding school. It was nearly midnight when they came out of the station.

Now they were to walk on foot to cover the distance of three or four miles to reach the boarding school. But a kind person offered them a lift in his ambassador car and then he left them near the main gate of the school.

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Q4. Describe Tinula’s emotional journey mentioned at the end of the story.

Ans.  In this story, Tinula undergoes two types of journeys. Her first journey was at the physical level and the second one was at her mental level. After completing her first journey, Tinula had to experience a sudden change in her emotions. It was an emotion she had never experienced before. She had to share her friend Winnie’s bed to pass the night.                                      

 First Winnie told her about Herbert, whom she liked. She told Tinula that he had a new girl friend. It was Winnie’s willing attempt to hurt her. That made her feel disturbed and hurt. But to save her face, she had giggled at that time. After, many years, she recalls the incident but she did not know if she had laughed or cried at that time.

But Winnie’s attempt of mentioning Herbert’s girlfriend really brought about a change in her mind. She had a strange realisation that she had never had. It was the emotion that had overtaken her and was forcing her to look at the warm body lying next to her in a different way.

She wished to leave the bed and go somewhere else. But it was not possible as it was too late and the superintendent had gone to her room. Besides, she had also no reason to explain to her why she wanted to sleep elsewhere. So, she just turned her back and pretended to sleep through her body continued to shake for a long time.

Q5.How does the story bring out the importance of the efforts of the community in helping an individual?

Ans. In this story, we come to know how the efforts of the community in helping individuals like Tinula are important. She had to undertake two journeys on foot along with her brother and a few members of her community through the thick jungle and all the difficulties of the intricate (complicated/very difficult) way.

 During the journey, she was helped by her brother and the other members of her community in one way or the other. We know how some women of the group dropped pieces of meat on their leaf plates at mealtime. A kind shopkeeper gave them shelter to sleep in the loft of his shop. While crossing the streams and rivers on the way, Tinula was helped by them. They catch each other’s hands while crossing the rivers or streams.

 

At one time, Tinula was facing a problem in walking while picking up her shoes in one hand. Then a kind woman from the group took her shoes to make her comfortable. Once she was lagging behind, then, other members of the group waited for her. A co-passenger gave her seat on the train. At the station, they were given a lift in a car. Such incidents show that community plays a very important role in helping individuals.

 

Q6. How do people of the hill community prepare for the journey?

Ans.  The people of the hill community form a group if a journey to somewhere is undertaken. Tinula’s brother also formed a group of his community members to help Tinula reach her boarding school. They make some necessary arrangements before starting on a journey.

Every member of the group has to take a basket at his or her back. It has salt, dry fish, some bottles of hair oil, and even kerosene oil for the lamps. The author also tells us that it was a custom to bring some rice and some other required material by each member of the group to prepare meals during the journey. A big pot for preparing food is also to be carried by one of the members of the group. Each one would contribute one cup full of rice each time they prepare a meal.

Firewood is also collected for cooking meals before the start of the journey. After having the morning meal, they start their journey in a single file (line).

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Before Breakfast-Questions-Answers

 Before Breakfast: Qs & Ans.

A.      Long Answer-type Qs (Word limit About 300 words)

Q1. Describe how far has O’Neil succeeded in delineating the tension in marriage through the monologue of Mrs. Rowland?

Ans. O’Neil has very successfully delineated tension in a marriage through the monologue of Mrs. Rowland. This theme of the play achieves universal appeal because, in this modern world, this type of tension is generally found in married couples. The sources of the tension are several, like unemployment, extra marital relationship and even ego-clash in married life.

Here in this one act play, there is only one character, Mrs. Rowland. She keeps on speaking while preparing breakfast and even when she is having it. She seems to be frustrated from her married life. She also utters as to why she should suffers. She taunts her husband by calling him a good-for-nothing fellow and a half man. She says that it is because of her they are not dying of hunger. She does sewing to earn some money. We also find that she feels concerned for her husband when she hears some groan. She thinks that he has made a cut while shaving his face.

There are several reasons for Mrs. Rowland’s anger and frustration. Her husband is jobless. She thinks that he does not go in search of job. He wastes his time with his useless friends in writing useless poems and short stories. He is a drunkard and is in the habit of pawning the valuables of the house. Recently, he has pawned a watch. There is nothing in the house now to know about time. Another thing that irritates Mrs. Rowland most is that he meets girls and makes them fools. Recently she has come to know about Helen, who seems to be pregnant. Her husband’s silence makes Mrs. Rowland angrier and she keeps on venting out her bitterness in her speeches. Her words are too much pungent and piercing to her sensitive husband. She fails to understand the predicament of a jobless husband. If she had problems with him, she could have made a choice of taking divorce from him. But she did not do so but drove him to take a drastic step of committing suicide. He may be intolerable for her, but he did not utter a word during the whole monologue. The readers feel his presence by some sounds coming from the bedroom as we hear groans and the sound of falling chair, etc.

Thus we may conclude that the writer has very successfully brought about the deep tension that is found in married life these days.

Q2. Justify the title of the one-act play “Before Breakfast’.

Ans. The title of the one-act play ‘Before Breakfast’ is quite appropriate. There is only one active character in this one-act play, that does no action but speaks about the person whose presence is felt. This character, who can be called the protagonist, is Mrs. Rowland. Her monologue centres on her husband. Mrs. Alfred.

It is morning time and Mrs. Rowland is about to prepare breakfast for herself and, of course, for her husband also. Her monologue ends up with her last expression of concern ‘Alfred’ and that is before her husband’s breakfast. The motif (idea) of breakfast recurs (is repeated) in Mrs. Rowland’s monologue several times.

She tells him tauntingly that there is not much material present in the kitchen for preparing breakfast. She says, ‘All we got this morning is bread and butter and coffee;…’ She has old stale bread. After preparing it, she slams the loaf of  bread on the table.’  She utter: ‘The bread's stale. I hope you'll like it. You don't deserve any better,…’

Then she tells him that the coffee will be ready in a minute and she will not wait for him to come there.

After that she sips her coffee and keeps on speaking her sarcastic words about her husband. who is supposed to be sleeping in his bed room.

She seems to be frustrated from her own married life. She also utters as to why she should suffers. She taunts her husband by calling him a good-for-nothing fellow and even a half man. She says that it is because of her they are not dying of hunger. She does sewing job to earn some money. We also find that she feels concerned for her husband when she hears some groans. She thinks that he has made a cut while shaving his face.

There are several reasons for Mrs. Rowland’s anger and frustration. Her husband is jobless. She thinks that he does not go in search of job. He wastes his time with his useless friends in writing useless poems and short stories. He is a drunkard and is in the habit of pawning the valuables of the house. Recently, he has pawned a watch. There is nothing in the house now to know about time. Another thing that irritates Mrs. Rowland most is that he meets girls and makes them fools. Recently she has come to know about Helen, who seems to be pregnant. Her husband’s silence makes Mrs. Rowland angrier and she keeps on venting out her bitterness in her speeches. Her words are too much pungent and piercing to her sensitive husband.

At last she hears a sound of something falling in Mr. Alfred’s bedroom. She runs to the door feeling much worried and calls pathetically ‘Alfred’.

Her monologue ends up with a sting in the tail. The audience or the readers is left to guess what would have happened.

Thus the whole monologue of Mrs. Rowland belongs to before breakfast time. Thus the title of this one-act play is quite appropriate.

Q3. Discuss ‘Before Breakfast as a dramatic monologue.

Ans. Of course, the one-act play ‘Before Breakfast’ is a dramatic monologue. It is a monologue because all the speeches in the play are delivered by only one character named Mrs. Rowland. This monologue becomes dramatic when the readers/audience feels the presence of another character in the background. Such a character mostly remains silent and shapes the tone and manner of the speaker’s speech. It further brings out the thoughts and feelings of the speaker to the readers/audience. They make their point of view not only towards the speaker but also about the character that is silent.

We come to know a lot about Mrs. Rowland’s character through her speeches. She speaks a lot of sharp and hard words to make her husband involve in a quarrel. But her husband’s response is almost zero. Only one or two painful groans are heard. But the lady keeps on speaking non-stop until he takes the drastic step of committing suicide. There may be other reasons for the suicide. But here, we have to blame Mrs. Rowland for forcing her husband to kill himself. So we believe that Mrs. Rowland is not at all reasonable towards tackling her husband. Her words are too much pungent and piercing to her sensitive husband. She fails to understand the predicament of a jobless husband. If she had problems with him, she could have made a choice of taking divorce from him. But she did not do so but drove him to take a drastic step of committing suicide. He may be intolerable for her, but he did not utter a word during the whole monologue. He may have faults that were intolerable for her. He is jobless, drunkard and is in the habit of pawning the valuables of the house. Recently, he has pawned a watch. There is nothing in the house now to know about time. Another thing that irritates Mrs. Rowland most is that he meets girls and makes them fools. Recently she has come to know about Helen, who seems to be pregnant. But Mrs. Rowland’s apathetic attitude towards her husband cannot be condoned (forgiven/exempted). Thus ‘Before Brekafast’ is a dramatic monologue and it reminds us of Robert Browning’s several dramatic monologues also.

B.      Short Answer-type Questions in 100 words each:

Q1. What do you learn about the family background of the Rowland’s from the play ‘Before Breakfast’?

Ans. In this play, there is only one character and she is Mrs. Rowland. The presence of her husband is felt only through her monologue. She keeps on speaking till the play ends a sad note. She speaks about her husband more than she tells us about his or her own family. We just come to know from Mrs. Rowland’s monologue that her husband’s father was a millionaire. But he was under big debt when he died. Her husband was a Harvard graduate. She also speaks about her family’s humble background. She says that her father was just a grocer. But he was an honest person, who never cheated anyone.

Q2.Why does Mrs. Rowland not want to leave her house and go back to her parents?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland vents out (expresses) her bitterness towards her husband in her monologue. It does not mean that she does not have any love or concern for her husband. She had made her own choice to marry a millionaire’s only son, Mr. Rowland. She was happy until she came to know that he did nothing but drink a lot and waste his time with his useless friends. In fact, she thinks of her family’s respect. She does not want to bring a bad name to her family and, of course’ to herself also by abandoning her husband. She does not want to prove that her marriage was an utter failure. These may be the reasons in her mind for not leaving her house and go back to her parents.

Q3. Comment on Mrs. Rowland’s attitude towards her husband.

Ans. Mrs. Rowland’s attitude towards her husband is not so good. She keeps on venting out her bitterness in her speeches. Her words are too much pungent and piercing to her sensitive husband. She fails to understand the predicament of a jobless husband. If she had problems with him, she had a choice of taking divorce from him. But she does not do so but drives him to take a drastic step of committing suicide. He may be intolerable to her, but he did not utter a word during the whole monologue. The readers feel his presence by some sounds coming from the bedroom as we hear groans and the sound of falling chair, etc. Her attitude is apathetic (unsympathetic) to her husband.

Q4. Why does Mrs. Rowland shrieks and come running out of the bedroom at the end of the play?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland shrieks and comes running out of the bedroom at the end of the play. This does not happen all of a sudden. It is Mrs. Rowland’s bitter remarks about her husband that lead to the tragic end of the play. Her husband is jobless. He is a drunkard, who pawns the valuables of the house. She thinks that he does not go in search of job. He only wastes his time by sitting with his idle friends. She also blames him for befooling girls like Helen, who is pregnant now. She talks about his family tauntingly. Her bitter words seem to drive Mr. Alfred to take a drastic step of committing suicide. She realises this when she hears a sound of something fallen to the floor in her husband’s bedroom. It makes her run shrieking out of the bedroom.

Q5. How do you think that Mrs. Rowland’s dreams are shattered according to her?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland says that she married Mr. Alfred by her own choice. He was said to be the only son of a millionaire. Her husband was also a Howard graduate. He was a poet and short story writer. After her marriage, Mrs. Rowland’s dreams were shattered. She came to know that her husband was a wine addict and jobless too. According to her, he does not go in search of job. Instead, he wastes his time with his idle friends. He writes worthless poems and short-stories that no one is going to buy. In addition, he meets girls and befools them. His latest victim is Helen. She also tells us that his father was under a lot of debt. It is she who is keeping the household go on somehow. Thus her dreams of a rich and luxurious life are shattered.

Q6. Describe the tragic end of the play ‘Before Breakfast’.

Ans. The play ‘Before Breakfast’ ends up at a very tragic note that even Mrs. Rowland had never expected.

We know that she keeps on speaking in the whole play. But at times, she stops to listen to her husband’s responses. But those are only some sounds. Towards the end of the play, she hears the sound of something dripping on the floor. After that she hears as if a chair has overturned. It was soon followed by a thudding sound.  It alarmed her. She rushed to look into the room. What she saw inside made her frantic. She ran outside the house crying loudly. Here the play ends. The reader/audience is left to imagine that Mr. Alfred must have committed suicide. Thus the play ends at a very tragic note.

 

C.      Answer the following questions in two or three sentences:

Q1.What does Mrs. Rowland do to fend for her family?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland’s husband is jobless. So in this case, she has to run her family. She does sewing job to earn some money to make food and fulfils necessary requirements of the house.

Q2.Why does Mrs. Rowland feel that nobody will give her husband a job?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland feels that no one will give her husband a job because he usually did not shave his face. He remained in bed for most of time. He did not look decent. So his wife assumed that no one will give him a job.

Q3. In what way, according to Mrs. Rowland, is her father different from her father-in-law?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland says that her father was quite different from her father-in-law. Her father ran a grocery shop. He was not so rich but he was an honest. Her father-in-law was said to be a millionaire. But he was under a huge (very big) debt.

Q4. What does Mrs. Rowland find in her husband’s pocket?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland was suspicious of her husband. She knew that her husband meets several girls and befools them with his poetic words. So she searched her husband’s pockets and found a letter. It was written by Helen, his recent victim.

Q5. (a) Who is Helen? (b) What makes Mrs. Rowland think that she may be an artist or a poet?

Ans. Helen is a girl who is supposed to be in love with Mr. Alfred. Mrs. Rowland found a letter from her husband’s vest coat. She read it and guessed from its style of writing and subject matter that she might be an artist or a poet.

Q6. What did Alfred do with the money that he got by pawning his watch?

Ans. In Mrs. Rowland’s opinion, Mr. Alfred was jobless drunkard and he passed his time with his idle friends. He even befooled girls. For these he required money to spend. So he used to pawn things of his house. Recently he has pawned a watch.

Q7. Why is Mrs. Rowland frustrated?

Ans. Mrs. Rowland had her own dreams and aspirations. She must have thought of a rich and luxurious life because she had married rich father’s son. But soon her dreams were shattered. Her father-in-law died in a huge debt. Mr. Alfred did nothing but waste his time in idle pursuits. He was a drunkard. He used to pawn things to spend money on wine and other bad habits. All these things were the causes of Mrs. Rowland’s frustration.

D.     Answer the following questions in one word/phrase or a sentence:

Q1.What does Mrs. Rowland do to fend for her family?

Ans. She does sewing job to earn some money to fend her family.

Q2.Why does Mrs. Rowland feel that nobody will give her husband a job?

Ans. Her husband is lazy and does not shave his face.

Q3.In what way, according to to Mrs. Rowland, is her father different from her father-in-lay?

Ans. Her father is not so rich and he is honest.

Q4. What does Mrs. Rowland find in her husband’s pocket?

Ans. She found a letter written by a girl, Helen.

Q5. (a) Who is Helen? (b) What makes Mrs. Rowland think that she may be an artist or a poet?

Ans. (a) Helen is Mr. Alfred’s a new girl friend. (b) Mrs. Rowland thought as such from the letter’s style and language.

Q6. What did Alfred do with the money that he got by pawning his watch?

Ans. He spent it on wine, etc.

Q7. Why is Mrs. Rowland frustrated?

ANs. Her husband turned out to be a jobless drunkard.

 

Motivational Quotes on Education-Life and Education- #3

The Swan Song-Svietlovidoff-One Act Play-B.A. Semester 4

                         Questions & Answers on ‘The Swan Song’

A.   Answer in one word or in a phrase or a sentence:

Q1. What was the last solo performance enacted by Svietlovidoff before leaving the stage?

Ans. He recited very touching lines from Shakespeare’s Othello.

Q2.Why does Svietlovidoff feel dismayed?

Ans. HE feels dismayed because he is alone and in old age.

Q3.What was Nikita Ivanich’s occupation?

Ans. He is a prompter.

Q4. How does the protagonist describe the prime days of his life?

Ans. He calls them glorious days when his audience appreciated him a lot.

Q5. What was the condition that the woman who Svietlovdoff loved put on their marriage?

Ans. She told the actor to quit the stage if he would like to marry her.

Q6. How long has Svietlovidoff been an actor?

Ans.. He has been an actor for forty-five years.

Q7. How does Svietlovidoff realise that old age is no more a burden?

Ans. In the end, he realises that old age is not a burden if the person is a genius and has talent

Q8.How did the audience bid farewell to the actor?

Ans.. The audience bid the actor farewell by calling his name sixteen times and giving him garlands.

B.   Answer the following questions in about 30 words each:

Q1. What was the last solo performance enacted by Svietlovidoff before leaving the stage?

Ans. Svietlovidoff was once a great artist of the stage. But later on, he started playing the role of a joker. Before leaving the stage after 45 years of his acting, he recites a few lines from Othello, a famous play written by William Shakespeare. It was his solo performance.

Q2. Why does Svietlovidoff feel dismayed?

Ans. Svietlovidoff has lost his faith in the audience. He also feels that his worship of art was an illusion. He comes to know the bitter reality that the audience loves only the performances of the artist. But they never bother to know about his personal life. At the age of sixty-eight years, he feels dismayed due to all this. He feels alone and dejected at the callous attitude of the audience.

Q3.What was Nikita Ivanich’s occupation?

Ans. Nikita Ivanich does the job of a prompter on stage. He is also an old man like Svietlovidoff. He has no place to live and no one to look after him. He passes his nights in the dressing room of the theater.

Q4. How does the protagonist describe the prime days of his life?

Ans. Svietlovidoff tells Nikita that he was a great actor in the prime time of his life. People applauded (praised) him for his acting on the stage. He also tells him that he was a very handsome, bold, and enthusiastic young man. He had also served in the army and the artillery.

Q5. What was the condition that the lady Svietlovidoff loved put in front of him?

Ans. Svietlovidoff was a handsome, daring, and eager young man. A rich lady loved him. When he requested her to marry him, she put a condition on him. She told him to quit the stage for that. She also told him that she could love an actor but never marry him.

Q6. How long has Svietlovidoff been an actor on stage?

Ans. Svietlovidoff has been an actor on stage for forty-five years. But now, he is of sixty-eight years. In his youth, he was a great actor. After the rejection from the woman he loved, he started playing as a baffoon in his frustration.

Q7. How does Svietlovidoff realise that old age is no more a burden?

Ans. Towards the end of the play, Nikita encourages Svietlovidoff by telling him that he is a genius. He is capable of performing powerful roles at that time also. Svietlovidoff feels encouraged and recites several lines from Shakespeare’s King Lear and Othello. Then he realises that old age is no burden or hurdle if a man is a genius and has a talent.

Q8. How did the audience bid farewell to the actor?

Ans. Svietlovidoff narrates to Nikita that the audience was mad in joy. They called his name sixteen times. They had also brought garlands for him. Thus they applauded his last performance with great enthusiasm.

 

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:

Q1. How does Svietlovidoff prove to Nikita that his histrionic talents have not been exhausted?

Ans. Svietlovidoff is an old actor of sixty-eight years. He acted on stage for forty-five years. After giving his last performance, he drinks and falls asleep in the dressing room of the theatre. On waking up, he finds himself alone. His loneliness and the influence of wine make him remember his past. All this makes him feel sad. He thinks that his energy is lost due to old age. He is alone. No one is there to care for him.

Then Nikita meets him. He reassures him that he is still a powerful actor. He is a genius. This makes Svietlovidoff feel rejuvenated. He performs a few lines from King Lear and then Othello with full energy and talent. He feels that old age is no hurdle if a man is a genius and has talent. Thus he proves to Nikita that his histrionic (very emotional, energetic but not sincere) talent is not exhausted.

Q2. Comment on the use of dramatic irony in ‘The Swan Song’.

Ans. In this play ‘The Swan Song’ we may say that dramatic irony has been used by the dramatist. Svietlovidoff thinks that all is over and he is in old age. He cannot perform as he used to perform at a young age. He is in despair. He feels lonely because he has no one in his house. He also feels that his audience did not love him in reality. They only loved his acting.

 Even the woman he loved was not ready to marry him if he did not quit acting. All these remembrances made him disappointed. But he does not know that he has another audience that would always remember him. These are the readers. This is the use of dramatic irony in this play.

Q3. ‘Language and rendition of dialogues in an actor’s performance on the stage are pivotal.’ Explain the statement in the context of ‘The Swan Song’.

Ans. It is true that language and rendition in an actor’s performance on the stage are pivotal. The first requirement for the success of a play is the language of the dialogues. The second requirement is the performance or the rendition of the dialogues. Both the requirements combine together to appeal to the ears and minds of the audience. Then the play is sure to achieve success. In this play, Svietlovidoff proves this by reciting a few lines from King Lear and Othello. When Nikita recites a few lines of the role of a joker, he does not appreciate him. He realises that he can still perform powerful roles. His old age is not a hurdle in his acting. A man needs only talent and enthusiasm for his performance.

Q4. What does Svietlovidoff remember about the lady he loved?

Ans. Svietlovidoff tells Nikita that a woman fell in love with him when he first appeared on the stage in his youth. She loved him for his acting. She was beautiful, graceful, young, innocent, pure, and radiant like summer dawn. He remembers the day when she stood just in front of him. She had never seemed as lovely to him as she did then.

She spoke to him with her beautiful eyes. He tells Nikita Ivanich that he shall never forget her tender, soft and deep eyes even in the grave.

Feeling enraptured with her beauty, he fell to his knees in front of her and begged for accepting his proposal for marriage.

But she put on the condition that he must give up the stage if he wants to marry her. She told him that she could love an actor but cannot marry him.

Q5.What is the similarity between Svietlovidoff and King Lear?

Ans.

C.    Answer in about 300 words each:

Q1. Discuss the appropriateness of the title ‘The Swan Song’.

Ans. The title of the play ‘The Swan Song’ is based on popular belief. It is believed that a swan sings a beautiful song before it dies. Here in this play, Svietlovidoff’s last performance on the stage becomes his swan song because it is his last performance. It is his beautiful performance like a swan song. He tells Nikita that the audience called his name sixteen times. They were mad in enthusiasm and joy. They had also brought garlands for him. But after the performance, he entered the dressing room, drank wine, and fell asleep there. When he woke up, he was alone there in the dark pit on the night. All the theatre crew including the audience had left for their home. No one woke him up to take him to his house.

Now he laments the apathy he received from his own fellows. Then he lands down into his memory lane and remembers how the audience was selfish. They loved his performances but not him. His own worship of art was an illusion. The lady whom he loved refused him to marry. She wanted him to quit the stage. He also realises the limitation of age. Nikita becomes a medium for him to vent out his frustration. He could not make a family because he had an obsession with acting. But at the fag end of his life, he becomes a victim of loneliness and alienation. He weeps and cries in front of Nikita. But Nikita encourages him by saying that he is a genius and has the power to perform well. Then he performs a few lines from Shakespeare’s play, first from King Lear and then from Othello. At last, he concludes that old age is no hurdle if a man is a genius and has a talent.

Thus his last performance and his reminiscences become Svietlovidoff’s swan song. Thus the title is quite appropriate.

The Envoy-Bhasa-Questions-Answers-English for B.A. Semester 4

 Questions and Answers on ‘The Envoy’

Ex.2 (Very Short Answers)

(A)                Answer the following questions in 20-30 words each:

Q1. Who convenes the meeting of princes?

Ans. Duryodhana convenes the meeting of princes. He does so to decide who would be the commander of his army. He knows that there is a possibility of a war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.

Q2. What is the purpose of the meeting?

Ans. See Ans. 1

Q3.Where is the grandfather seated?
Ans. As we know, Duryodhana has convened a meeting. All the elders and the ‘Gurus’ were seated in their due places. The grandfather was also seated in his due place. It was a lion throne.

Q4. Who is the envoy and what is the purpose of his visit?

Ans. The envoy is Lord Krishna. The purpose of his visit is to make a peaceful solution to the conflict between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. He wanted to maintain peace, not provoke war.

Q5. How does Duryodhana plan to receive the envoy?

Ans. We know that Duryodhna’s mind is full of evil. So he plans to insult Lord Krishna by telling the princes not to stand in honour of Krishna. Rather he makes himself busy watching the portrait in which Draupadi is being insulted in the court.

Q6. How does Duryodhana busy himself during the entrance of the envoy?

Ans. Duryodhana wanted to insult Krishna. So he does not stand to welcome and honour him. Rather he makes himself busy watching the portrait in which Draupadi is being insulted by them.

Q7. Why are Duryodhna’s warriors confused at the entrance of Krishna?

Ans. Duryodhana's warriors were confused. They all respected Krishna. Now they were unable to decide if they should stand up to honour Krishna or not. But Duryodhana wanted them to be seated.

Q8.What is Duryodhna’s response to Pnadvas’ plea for the division on inheritance?

Ans. Duryodhana's response to Pandvas’ plea was negative. He rejected Lord Krishna’s peace pact. He was not ready to give them even a small bit of the land from his kingdom.

Q9. What do the Pandava brothers seek from the Kuru clan?

Ans. The Pandavas brothers seek their rightful division from the kingdom that was under Duryodhana. They wanted to have their due share from it.

Q10. Why does Duryodhna call Krishna a cowherd?

Ans. Krishna was brought up by the ‘gwalas’, the people who keep cows. Krishna also loved cows and used to take the cowherd with his friends for grazing them. So Duryodhana called him a cowherd to make fun of him.

B. Answer the following in one word/phrase or in a sentence.

Q1. Who convenes the meeting of princes?

Ans. Duryodhana convenes the meeting.

Q2. What is the purpose of the meeting?

Ans. To decide who would be the commander of the Kaurva armies is the purpose of the meeting.

Q3.Where is the grandfather seated?

Ans. On a lion's throne
Q4. Who is the envoy and what is the purpose of his visit?

Ans. Lord Krishna is the envoy and his purpose is to make peace between the brothers.

Q5. How does Duryodhana plan to receive the envoy?

Ans. By not giving honor and a warm welcome to the envoy

Q6. How does Duryodhan busy himself during the entrance of the envoy?

Ans. He keeps himself busy watching the picture in which Draupadi is being insulted by the Kauravas.

Q7. Why are Duryodhna’s warriors confused at the entrance of Krishna?

Ans. They did not want to disrespect Krishna and also not disobey Duryodhana at the same time.

Q8.What is Duryodhna’s response to Pnadvas’ plea for the division on inheritance?

Ans. He rejected their peace pact.

Q9. What do the Pandava brothers seek from the Kuru clan?

Ans. They want their due share from the kingdom.

Q10. Why does Duryodhna call Krishna a cowherd?

Ans. He calls him a cowherd just to make fun of him.

Textual Qs & Ans (100 words)

Q1. Krishna’s visit as an envoy stands for peace and reconciliation between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Discuss.

Ans. Krishna’s visit was a last-ditch effort to bring peace and reconciliation between the Pandavas and the Kurus. Krishna knew that the war between both the parties would bring death and destruction. So he went to meet Duryodhana with a peace proposal. He tried to convince him that the Pandavas must be given their due share from the kingdom. It is their right. But Duryodhana was not ready for the Pandavas even a small bit of the land from his kingdom. Lord Krishna even told him that the fight between them would destroy the Kauravas completely. But Duryodhana's reasoning power was blunt due to his pride. So he did not pay any heed to Krishna’s peace proposal.

Q2. Why does Dhritrashtra apologise to Krishna?

Ans. Same as above Q1/Ans1

Q3. Sum up the Pandavas ' annoyance as described by Krishna.

Ans. Krishna conveyed Pandvas's annoyance to Duryodhana. Lord Krishna did not want that there should be a war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. He told Duryodhana that the Pandavas had already suffered a lot due to him. They had suffered in exile for thirteen years. They were denied their rightful share of the kingdom. But Duryodhana was adamant about not giving them a small piece of land from his kingdom. At this, Krishna warned him of the dire consequences if the war took place between the two sides of the brothers. He told Duryodhana in plain words that the Pandavas would totally destroy the Kauravas. But, Duryodhana in his vain pride did not accept Krishna’s peace proposal.

Q4. Who is referred to as the ‘lotus-eyed-lord’? Why is he angry?

Ans. Krishna has been called the ‘lotus-eyed-lord’. We know that he has come to Duryodhna’s court with a peace proposal. But it was rejected by Duryodhana. Lord Krishna knows that the rejection means the total destruction of the Kauravas. Duryodhana not only rejects Krishna’s peace proposal but also insults him. When Krishna entered the court, Duryodhana had already made a plan to insult him. First, he did not stand up to honor him. He remained busy watching a portrait of Draupadi in which she has been shown as being insulted by the Kauravas. An effort was being made to disrobe her. All these made Krishna angry at Duryodhana. He was about to use the Sudarshana Chakra. At the right moment, Dhritrashtra, Duryodhana's father, apologised to Krishna on behalf of his son. That pacified Krishna.

III Answer in about 300 words

Q1. “The theme of the play is to attempt reconciliation between the Pandavas and the Kurus and not to provoke war. How far do you agree with this statement? Or  What is the theme of the play ‘The envoy’?

Ans. We agree with the statement that the theme of the play is an attempt to strike reconciliation between the Pandavas and the Kurus. We know that Duryodhana did not want to give the Pandavas their due share from the kingdom. Not only this, the Pandavas had to suffer a lot due to him. Duryodhana defeated Pandavas by deceit in dice. Then they insulted Draupadi and tried to disrobe her in his court. The Pandavas had to go into exile for thirteen years. When they returned after the exile, they demanded their share from the kingdom. But Duryodhana was still adamant not to give the Pandavas their due share. At this, the Pandavas decided to take their share after defeating the Kauravas in a fight. But Yudhishtra and Krishna were not in favour of any fight. Lord Krishna knew that war would destroy the Kaurvas completely. So Yudhishtra made Lord Krishna his envoy and sent him to meet Duryodhana to avoid war.

He made a plan not to stand up to welcome Krishna into his court. He ordered all about this. When Krishna entered the court, he did not stand up and remained busy looking at a painting in which Draupadi was being humiliated (insulted) in the court.

Krishana advised Duryodhana to give Pandvas share of his kingdom. He also told him about the serious consequences (bad results) of the fight between them. But Duryodhana was not ready to make a compromise with his brothers, Pandavas. Rather he was under the effect of his false pride. Lord Krishna grew very angry. He decided to kill him and his army by using Sudarshan Chakra. But Dritrashtra, Duryodhna’s father apologized to Lord Krishna and requested him to pacify. After that Krishna left the court.

Thus we see that the theme of this play is to avert war not to provoke it.