Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Miss Meadows’ need for societal acceptance makes her overlook Basil’s insensitivity and shortcomings. Discuss with reference to the short story. The Singing Lesson is about 200-250 words.
Solution
In Katherine Mansfield's short story "The Singing Lesson," Miss Meadows, a music teacher dealing with the emotional pain of a broken engagement, demonstrates how the need for societal acceptance can cause someone to ignore substantial personal failures and relational defects. This issue is sensitively handled through her connection with Basil, her fiancé, who initially sends her a letter cancelling their engagement, citing financial insecurity. This letter drives Miss Meadows into a deep state of depression, which has a significant impact on her interactions with her students and outlook on life.
Despite Basil's obvious contempt for her sentiments and the suddenness of his decision, Miss Meadows' reaction demonstrates her sensitivity and need on this connection for social standing and personal affirmation. An unmarried woman, particularly a teacher, was frequently considered with pity and disgust. Miss Meadows' work adds another degree of complexity because her emotional stability is supposed to remain consistent despite personal difficulties.
Later in the novel, Basil sends a telegram withdrawing the morning message and briefly resuming their engagement. This fast transition from despair to a veneer of joy prevents any meaningful settlement of the underlying concerns. Miss Meadows soon forgets her prior anguish and accepts the reconciliation without addressing the emotional harm Basil's actions caused. Her fast return to planning and looking forward to their wedding reveals that her need for societal acceptance and the fear of being alone override her awareness of Basil's insensitivity and the possible instability of their future marriage.
This behaviour serves as a poignant critique of society expectations and the personal sacrifices required to adapt to them, which are frequently at the expense of genuine happiness and emotional well-being. Miss Meadows' willingness to overlook Basil's flaws exemplifies the complicated interplay between society conventions and personal fulfilment.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Can we say that the poet has succeeded in conveying his point? How?
Comment on the feminine elements in Naidu’s poetry.
Who is the we referred to in the first line?
In “Caged Bird,” what does the line “and his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream” mean?
Do you think the title of the poem is justified? How?
What thoughts are uppermost in the soldier’s mind as he talks with the old man?
She laid the table after she had finished the cooking. (Begin: When…)
Re-write the following sentence according to the instructions are given. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence.
Has Alia written to you?
(Begin: Have you……….)
Give reasons for the following.
Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
-
Remove
-
slackers
-
muck
-
kept in
-
got carried away
-
cut
-
sadist
-
shrivelled up
Explain the following phrase
Turned to dust
Use it in a sentence of your own.
In groups of four discuss some more ‘whatifs’ that you experience in your day to day life and list them out.
(i) ______________________________
(ii) ______________________________
(iii) _____________________________
(iv) _____________________________
(v) _____________________________
(vi) ____________________________
(vii) ___________________________
(viii) ___________________________
And now write a poem of five or six lines with the ‘whatifs’ that you have listed.
Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentence.
In a farmers’ market, we find _______________.
List the reactions of the agricultural officer to the author’s inquiry about Kasbai rice seeds. One is done for you.
(a) He had not heard of Kasbai.
(b) ___________________________
(c) ___________________________
Imagine your younger sister is not paying attention to her studies and is seen wasting time playing games on her cell-phone. Suggest some ways that will help her to concentrate on her studies and overcome her bad habit.
Read about the space mission of Sunita Williams. Imagine you are going to interview her. Frame 10 to 12 interview relevant questions regarding-
- her early life, training
- education
- her actual flight into space
- future plans
- her message to viewers.
Write a news report on the ‘Environment Day’ celebrated in your school.
Do the singers have hopes and dreams? If not, why?
Tortoises and Turtles are not the same. Read the facts given below. List the similarities and differences between them.
| Tortoise | Turtle |
| reptile family | reptile family |
| land animal | sea animal |
| has a long life | lives for many years |
| uses tiny feet to walk | use flippers to swim |
| eats grass, weeds and flowers | eats insects and bugs |
| Similarities | Differences |
Read the acrostic poem on ‘Friend’. Write an acrostic poem like this on ‘Tree’.
| Friend | Tree |
|
Friends always love each other |
T |
|
Respect each Other |
R |
|
Interact with each other |
E |
|
Enjoy playing with each Other |
E |
|
Never hurt your friends |
|
|
Do everything together |
Work in groups and write a paragraph on “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Application form annual day participation.
Use the option to fill in the blank.
My toys ______broken.
In the sentence below the capital letter, comma, full stop and question mark are missing. Put these in the correct place.
on monday i will go to school
How did the author react on seeing his photograph?
Write slogan to create awareness of the following topic using the tips given above.
- Junk food
- Labour Day
- Save Water
- Yoga
- Blood Donation
Write letter to your father asking permission to go on a educational tour.
Why according to Maya Angelou, does the caged bird sing?
You must have seen and liked a play (in any language) on the stage. Write down the following details about it.
- Name of the play
- Important Characters
- Its main theme
- Whether it was a Comedy/Tragedy /Social Theme or any other
- Why you liked it
- The message of the play
- Any other information about the play
Imagine someone has invited your family to a program, and you were the only person at home when the invitation was given orally.
Write a note (4–5 lines) to pass on the message to the other people in your family. Or, write an imaginary conversation in which you pass on the message to your parents.
