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
night in the loft of a kind shop-keeper.
Q8.How did Tinula wake up early in the morning?
Ans.
Q9.Why was the journey possible only in winter
time?
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 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. To 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 of the group dropped pieces of meat in her leaf plate at
mealtime.. They catch each other’s hands while crossing the rivers or streams.
A kind woman of 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 a 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.
Video 1
Ends
Q3. Assess the brother-sister relationship as
described in the story.
Ans. Temjenba
and Tenula are siblings. 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 has 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 she reached 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.
Video 2
Ends
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 in 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 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 some time, a passenger offered Tinula to adjust with him on his seat. At 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 school's main gate.
Video 3
Ends
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 girlfriend. 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 though 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 individual
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 in her leaf plate 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 of 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 a meal 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).
Video 4 Ends
