Question

Read the following extracts and answer the questions.

No use to say 'O there are other balls An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down All his young days into the harbour where his ball went. I would not intrude on him, A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now He senses first responsibility In a world of possessions. People will take Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy And no one buys a ball back. Money is external He is learning...

1. Which of the following best describes the speaker's attitude towards the boy's reaction to losing his ball?  (1)
   1. indifferent as the ball is inexpensive
   2. sympathetic, understanding the depth of the boy's loss
   3. mocking, finding the boy's reaction exaggerated and unnecessary.
   4. panicked, sharing the boy's distress over the lost ball.
2. Comment on the use of metaphor in the above extract.  (1)
3. Explain the phrase 'all his young days into the harbour' with reference to the extract.  (1)
4. Briefly state in about 40 words the boy's journey from 'shaking grief' to 'he is learning' in the above extract.  (2)

Answer 1

1. sympathetic, understanding the depth of the boy's loss
   Explanation: The speaker recognizes the extent of the boy's sorrow and sympathizes with his response to losing his ball. Express your sorrow for the boy's loss.
2. The passage employs metaphor with the words "All his young days into the harbour." The harbour represents the boy's prior experiences and memories, which are metaphorically lost with the ball.
3. The phrase "all his young days into the harbour" implies that the water absorbs or consumes the boy's childhood memories and experiences. Losing the ball has a significant emotional and psychological impact on the boy.
4. The boy's progression from "shaking grief" to "he is learning" depicts his emotional distress to acceptance of duties and obstacles in the world. The loss of the ball teaches the protagonist about the fleeting nature of life and the need to accept inevitable losses.