Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
What is the role of the young soldier in the victory of the French at Ratisbon?
Solution
In “Incident of the French camp” the speaker describes a boy serving in the army of Napoleon as the army attempts to capture a city known as Ratisbon. As Napoleon stands “On a little mound”, he waits anxiously to know the outcome of the battle. Then a badly wounded young boy rides towards the emperor, jumps down from his horse, reveals that the French have taken the city, and then falls dead at Napoleon’s feet. The boy’s action can be regarded as heroic for a number of reasons.
He serves in the army, even though he is only a boy. He participates in a dangerous battle. Even though he is mortally wounded, he rides his horse at a fast gallop back to the emperor to report that the battle has been won. Even though his wounds are horrible, he behaves with great physical energy.
He calls no attention to his wounds and asks for no help. He raised the French flag in the conquered city. He takes pride in the fact that his wounds are mortal and he dies smiling. Apparently, he feels that he has served his emperor and nation and so he expresses no regrets about his death and he died heroically with a smiling face.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Who had let the enemies in?
How safe was the castle? How was it conquered?
Identify the figure of speech used in the following line.
Our only enemy was gold,
What is the creeper compared to?
How does the poet spend her winter?
What has Wordsworth sanctified in his poem?
Identify the figure of speech used in each of the extract given below and write down the answer in the space given below.
“ A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound
No other tree could live. But gallantly
The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung......”
Identify the figure of speech used in each of the extract given below and write down the answer in the space given below.
“The water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed.”
Explain the following line briefly with reference to the context.
“Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation”.“They have their exits and their entrances;
Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.
“And one man in his time plays many parts”
Read the given line and answer the question that follow.
Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.
- Which stage of life is being referred to here by the poet?
- What are the characteristics of this stage?
- How does the boy go to school?
- Which figure of speech has been employed in the second line?
Read the given line and answer the question that follow.
And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
- Whom does justice refer to?
- Describe his appearance.
- How does he behave with the people around him?
- What does he do to show his wisdom?
Complete the table based on your understanding of the poem.
| Stage | Characteristic |
| crying | |
| judge | |
| soldier | |
| unhappy | |
| second childhood | |
| whining | |
| old man |
What does he think of the people of his kingdom?
Pick out the lines which convey that his quest for travel is unending.
‘As tho’ to breathe were life!’ – From the given line what do you understand of Ulysses’ attitude to life?
How would Telemachus transform the subjects?
Identify the figure of speech employed in the following line.
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Identify the figure of speech employed in the following line.
And drunk delight of battle with my peers;
List the roles and responsibilities Ulysses assigns to his son Telemachus, while he is away.
The poet says
‘Without rich wanting nothing arrives’ but he condemns ‘the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs.’ Analyse the difference and write.
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
..........Free imaginations
Bringing changes into a world resenting change.
- How does free imagination help the world?
- Identify the figure of speech.
Pick out the alliterated words from the poem and write.
And this might stand him for the storms
How according to the poet is it possible for his son to bring changes into a world that resents change?
What was Napoleon’s reaction on hearing the news of victory?
When did the narrator find that the boy was badly wounded?
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
A film the mother eagles eye When her bruised eaglet breathes
- Who is compared to the mother eagle in the above lines?
- Explain the comparison.
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
To see your flag-bird flap his vans Where I, to heart’s desire, Perched him!’
The young soldier matched his emperor in courage and patriotism. Elucidate your answer.
