Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
This poem is nothing but a criticism of modern life. Justify this statement.
Solution
The poet’s understanding of adult society is extremely negative. The poet distinctly. portrays how people in modem times have become hypocrites and fake emotions to be socially accepted. The phrases of hospitality they use “feel at home” and “come again” are. fake that a third visit would be disallowed by the hosts. In modem times, people don’t value real emotions instead they value positions and possessions. Even while shaking r hands, they try to assess the material worth of a person. People don’t laugh with heart, Their ice-cold block eyes search the person they talk to. Most of them have acquired the skill of wearing a standard, deceitful, artificial smile on all occasions, i.e., “portrait smile”. Thus the poem is nothing but criticism of modem life.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
What do you associate with the title of the poem?
What happens to the poet when he visits someone for the third time?
Pick out the expressions that indicate conflicting ideas.
What does the poet mean when he says ‘good bye’?
Mention the qualities the child in the poem symbolises.
Interpret each of the following expression used in the poem, in one or two line.
shake hands without hearts
Explain the following lines with reference to the context.
Once upon a time, son They used to laugh with their eyes:
Do you think the narrator is heroic? Why?
Explain the following with reference to the context in about 50–60 word each.
They do not ever in their dealings Consider one another’s feelings…
Underline the alliterated word in the following line.
For this most modest physiques…
Underline the alliterated word in the following line.
They do not ever in their dealings…
Would you like to exchange your place with someone else? Why/why not?
Do you go for leisurely walks? If you are a city-dweller, what or who would you expect to see on your way?
If you go to a village, what scenes would you observe?
Answer in a paragraph of about 100−150 words.
Do you think the poet wants to say that man is unhappy because he has lost his link with nature and forgotten how to enjoy nature, or because man is cruel to other men?
When humanity fails to live in harmony with Nature, its effects are felt around the world. Why and how?
People admire some of these animal qualities. What are they? Have you noticed some of them in yourself or in others? Share your views with the class.
Describe Macavity’s appearance.
Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.
Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw…
- Does the poet talk about a real cat?
- Why is he called the Hidden Paw?
Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.
‘It must have been Macavity!’ but he’s a mile away.
- What is Macavity blamed for?
- Where is he?
Identify the literary devices used in the following lines:
- He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake.
- They say he cheats at cards.
What does ‘Everest’ in the title stand for?
In what way is every hillock similar to Everest?
The historical background:
The poem is an extract from William Shakespeare’s play King Richard the Second. The play is based on true events that occurred towards the end of the 14th century.
Richard II was crowned the King of England in the year 1367. He continued to be the British Monarch until 1399, when he was deposed by his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke, who crowned himself King Henry the Fourth in the same year. Shakespeare’s play is a dramatic rendition of the last two years of King Richard II’s life. In this brief span of time, he was ousted from his royal position and sent to prison, where he died in captivity.
The following extract is set in the Coast of Wales. King Richard and some of his followers awaited the arrival of the Welsh army [after facing defeat at the hands of his cousin, Bolingbroke], of about 10000 warriors. But to their shock and surprise, they received the message that the army was not coming to their rescue. His followers tried to boost their King’s courage against the news, only in vain. When Richard came face to face with the reality of his terrible fate, he spoke the following verse, famously known as the “Hollow Crown” speech in theatrical circles. In it, King Richard is reminded of the power of Death that overshadows everything else, including the power of rulers, and renders them as powerless as any commoner at a moment’s notice.
What does the executor mentioned in the poem do?
What hides within the crown and laughs at the king’s grandeur?
Read the poem once again carefully and identify the figure of speech that has been used in each of the following line from the poem:
“Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,…”
Based on your reading of King Richard’s speech, answer the following questions in about 100 - 150 words each. You may add your own ideas if required to present and justify your point of view.
What are the causes for King Richard’s grief?
Based on your reading of King Richard’s speech, answer the following questions in about 100 - 150 words each. You may add your own ideas if required to present and justify your point of view.
Who does the future generations remember easily - the victor or the vanquished? Give reasons. Also, cite relevant references from King Richard’s speech.
