Question

Answer any four of the following in 30 – 40 words each:
(a) How did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool affect Douglas?
(b) What hospitality did the peddler receive from the crofter?
(c) Aunt Jennifer;s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
(d) What does Stephen Spender want to be done for the children of the school in a slum?
(e) What kind of life was enjoyed by crown prince Jung Bahadur till he reached the age of twenty?
(f) Where, when and how did Dr. Sadao meet Hana?

Answer 1

(a) The experience created a terrible fear in the heart of Douglas for a long time. This made Douglas all the more afraid of water. The very sight of water made him ill. Douglas decided against playing any water sports.

 

(b) Unlike the indifferent attitude of the others towards him, the peddler was whole heartedly welcomed by the crofter in his cottage. The crofter at once put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper. He gave him a roll of tobacco for his pipe. He also played the game of cards with him.

 

(c) The trembling hands of Aunt Jennifer because of the weight of the 'wedding ring' shows that she still is a victim of male chauvinism. Even her death won't free her from her ordeal as she will still be wearing the ring that symbolizes her failed marriage.

 

(d) The poet wants the children to be taken out from the slums they are living in and venture into the outside world. He wants them to be taken where they not only get the opportunity to study from books and to play in the open field. The poet wants freedom for the slum children from the present confines.

 

(e) The British dominance and its effect on the Indian royalty is evident in the upbringing of the crown prince Jung Bahadur. He was brought up by an English nanny, drank the milk of an English cow, taught English by an Englishman and saw nothing but English films.

 

(f) Dr. Sadao met Hana in America at the house of a professor where some foreign students were living. He liked her but waited to fall in love with her until he was sure she was a pure Japanese.