The Roadside Stand by Robert Frost and The Last Lesson

July 16/2020
 आत्मनिर्भर भारत, मजबूत भारत।
केवल आवश्यक होने पर ही घर से बाहर निकलेंं।


"Stay at Home, Stay Healthy" 
Defeat Corona" 


LESSONS PRESCRIBED WITH THE 

NAME OF AUTHORS(updated 15/April)

PROSE SECTION - FLAMINGO-20 marks

1. THE LAST LESSON              - Alfonse Daudet

2. THE LOST SPRING               -  Anees Jung

3. THE DEEP WATER               -William Douglas

4. THE RATTRAP                      - Selma Lagerlof

5. INDIGO                                  -   Louis Fischer

6. POETS AND PANCAKES    -  Asokamitran

7. THE  INTERVIEW                -  Christopher Silvester

8. GOING PLACES                    -  A.R. Barton

POETRY SECTION- 11 marks

1. MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX                                           -Kamla Dass

2. AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM 
     IN A SLUM                                                                           - Stephen Spender

3. KEEPING QUITE                                                                - Pablo Neruda

4. A THING OF BEAUTY                                                      -John Keats

5. A ROADSIDE STAND                                                         -Robert Frost

6AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS                                               - Adrienne Rich

VISTAS Supplementary Reader -14marks

1. THE THIRD LEVEL
2. THE TIGER KING
3. JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH
4. THE ENEMY
5. SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY?
6. ON THE FACE OF IT
7. EVANS TRIES AN O' LEVEL
8. MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

Grammar- 10 marks
Notice/Ads/Posters- 6 marks
Letter/Application- 5 marks
Report/Paragraph-5 marks
Unseen passage for comprehension-4 marks
Unseen passage for note making-5 marks

In a nutshell-
 Flamingo- 31 marks
Vistas- 14 marks
Writing skills- 25 marks
Applied grammar- 10 marks.

Students are advised to prepare keeping in mind the plan of the examination.
                         

CHAPTERWISE SHORT NOTES

                             THE LAST LESSON by (Alfonse Daudet)

SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

The Last Lesson is written in the background of the Franco-Prussian war in which Prussian forces annexed two districts of France- Alsace and Lorrain and the German Language was imposed in these districts.The narrator of the story is a little boy named Franz. One day he was late for school. He was expected to be prepared with the rules for participles. But he did not know a word about them. He feared that his teacher M.Hamel would scold him. On his way to school, many scenes tempted him to stay away from school. But he had the power to resist them. He passed hurriedly. On reaching school, he saw many unusual things there. There were no sounds of rapping of the teachers' ruler; lessons being repeated in unison; opening and closing of desks. It looked like a Sunday morning. Franz had thought that he would take his seat without being noticed. But he saw that his teacher was already in the class. He was wearing a new dress. He asked Franz to take his seat. On back benches, Franz saw the village headman, the postmaster and many other prominent people from the village. He was surprised to see them there. He could not understand what the matter was. Then M.Hamel started speaking in a gentle but solemn voice. He said that it was the last lesson in French that he would give them. From the next day, they will be taught only German. Franz felt very sorry for not learning the lesson in French. His books that seemed a nuisance and a burden earlier, were his friends now. His feelings about M.Hamel also changed. He forgot all about his ruler and his cranky nature. M.Hamel gave an extended lecture on the importance of mother tongue. He became very emotional. Emotions choked him. He could not speak. He only wrote on the blackboard" Vive La France!" Then he stopped and leaned against the wall. Without a word, he made a gesture to the students with his hand to permit them to go as the school was over. Thus the lesson brings out the importance of freedom and one's mother tongue, negligence of students towards their studies and even teachers carelessness towards imparting education.

Q.1 What was Franz expected to be prepared with on that day?

Ans. Franz was a little boy. He was expected to be prepared with rules for participles on that day. But did not know a word about them. He feared that his English teacher would scold him. 

Q.2  Why was Franz afraid of going to school on that day? or Why was Franz unwilling to go to school on that day? or What was Franz's fear on that day?

Ans. Franz was a little boy. He was expected to be prepared with rules for participles on that day. But he did not know a word about them. He feared that his teacher would scold him. Moreover, he was late also. So he was afraid of going to school.

Q3. What scenes and sights resisted Franz going to school? OR What made Franz put off going to school and how did he overcome his feelings?

Ans. Franz saw many scenes and sights on his way to school. He saw the birds chirping in the woods. He saw the Prussian soldiers drilling for war. These sights resisted him going to school. But soon he overcame his feelings.

Q4. Why was a crowd of people assembled on the notice board in the town hall? OR Why were people gathered in the town hall? What was there on the notice board?

Ans. When Franz passed by the notice board in the town hall, he saw a crowd of people there. But he did not stop there. He knew that all bad news of lost battle came there. He hurriedly passed by. On reaching school, he learned that two districts, Lorrain and Alsace, of France were occupied by German forces and Franch language was abolished from the schools of these districts. Thus he realized the content on the notice board.

Q5. What changes did Franz notice in the school on that day? OR What made Franz think that it was like a Sunday morning?

Ans. When Franz reached school he saw that there was a huge silence in the school. There were

no sounds of rapping of the teachers' ruler; lessons being repeated in unison; opening and closing of desks. It looked like a Sunday morning.

Q6. Why were village people were sitting on the last benches? OR What did Franz saw on the last benches in his class?

Ans. Franz was all out of his breath when he reached school. He jumped on his bench and looked back. He saw many people from village sitting on the last benches. There were the village headman, the postmaster, and the old Hauser sitting on last benches. They all had come there to say farewell to Mr. M.Hamel and thank him for his forty years of long service in the school.

Q7. M.Hamel was wearing a new dress on that day. Why? OR Describe M.Hamel's dress.

Ans. M.Hamel was a French teacher. He was wearing a frilled shirt, a green coat, and a black silk cap. He used to put on such dress on the annual day or inspection day only. But today, it was his farewell day.

Q8. Describe M.Hamel's last lesson to the class. OR What did M.Hamel say about French language and the French people?

Ans. M.Hamel was a dedicated teacher. He explained in detail the importance of one's mother tongue. He said that  French was the most beautiful, most logical and the most scientific language of the world. He said that the mother tongue was key to one's freedom.

Q9. Who was M. Hamel? What do you know about him?
Ans. M.Hamel was a French teacher in Franz's school. He was a dedicated teacher. He was hard working. He was very strict. He always kept a ruler in his hands. That is why the students were afraid of him. But he loved his students. He was a patriot also. He loved The French language that was his mother tongue. He was very emotional also. He becomes very emotional when he learned that teaching of French was banned in schools of Alsace and Lorrain because these districts had been annexed by German soldiers. His speech on the importance of his mother tongue shows that he was a great patriot. 

Q10 How did Franz's feelings about M.Hamel and school change?
Ans. Franz came to know that it was the last lesson in French that M.Hamel would give him. From the next day, they will be taught only German. He felt very sorry for not learning the lesson in French. His books that seemed a nuisance and a burden earlier, were his friends now. His feelings about M.Hamel also changed. He forgot all about his ruler and his cranky nature.

Q11.Franz thinks"Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons. What could this mean?
Ans This statement shows Frenchmen's reaction to the imposition of learning German, the language of the conquerer. Teaching the pigeons to sing in German indicates how far the Germans would go to impose their language.

Q12'' What a thunderclap these words were to me!" Which were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator?
Ans.M.Hamel said in a solemn voice that it was his last lesson in French. From tomorrow, only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorrain. The new master would come tomorrow. M.Hamel's these words were a thunderclap for Franz.

Q13 What tempted Franz to stay away from school?
Ans. On his way to school, Franz saw that the Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of the sawmill. The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods. These things were more tempting than the rules for participles. 

Q14. How did M.Hamel behave as the last lesson came to an end?
Ans- As the last lesson came to an end, M.Hamel stood up in his chair. He looked very pale and tall. He wanted to say some parting words but emotions choked him. Then he wrote on the blackboard-" Vive La France!" Then he stopped and leaned against the wall. Without a word, he made a gesture to the students with his hand to permit them to go as the school was over.

Q15. "Ah! How well I remember it, that last lesson!" says the narrator. Which scenes does he remember more vividly than the others?
Ans. The narrator remembers the scene of old Hauser spelling the letters from the primer with the babies. He too was crying. His voice trembled with emotions. It was so funny to hear him that all of them wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

Q16. What happened as the church clock struck twelve?

Ans When the church clock struck twelve, the Angelus  began. Mr. M.Hemal stood  from his chair and began to say," My friends, I....I....." but emotions choked him. Then he wrote on the blackboard in large letters, "Vive La France!  He leaned against the wall and made a gesture to the students with his hands to permit them to go as the school was over.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS


What do you think is the theme of the story "The Last Lesson"? What is the reason behind its universal appeal?

Ans The theme of the story "The Last Lesson" is linguistic chauvinism of the conquerer and pain inflicted on the loser. Normally when a people are enslaved, the rights of using their own language are taken away from them and the language of the conquerer is imposed. The very right idea is explained through this lesson. The story also explains the attitude of students and teachers towards learning and teaching. They are not serious about their lessons but when the time has passed away, they have nothing but repent. Franz was not serious about his studies nor his teacher M.Hamel was.They realized its importance only when their District was occupied by the German forces and their language was banned in Alsace and Lorraine. The lesson raises many issues which have universal appeal.

Other important Questions

1. What do you mean by Angelus?

And. It means afternoon prayer.

2. How do you know that M.Hamel was a nationalist?
Ans. M.Hamel was a nationalist and a patriot also. The manner he expresses the importance of mother tongue shows that he was great nationalist.

3.Who according to M.Hamel is responsible for poor learning of students?

Ans. M.Hamel believes that the students,parents and teachers are collectively responsible for poor learning of the students.

Q4.Who was Watcher ? What did he say to Franz?
Ans. Watcher was a blacksmith. He saw Franz running to school. He commented,"  Don't go fast blab, you have a plenty of time to reach your school."

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घर पर रहेंं, स्वस्थ रहें।

A Roadside Stand By Robert Frost

About the Poet: Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. A popular and often-quoted poet, Frost was honored frequently during his lifetime, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.
“A Road Not Taken”, “Mending Wall”, “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”, “Birches” are some of his most famous poems.

SUMMARY OF THE POEM
   ( Analysis by Baljit Singh)

A  Roadside Stand

It is a beautiful poem written by Robert Frost. It contrasts the life of the poor with the life of the rich . A poor man has built a small shop at the roadside in hope to earn some money. He has wild berries and golden squash for sale. He hopes the passing cars to stop there and purchase his goods. Thousands of cars passes by but only a few stop there .  One of them complains of spoiling the landscape with unartful paintings. One of them enquire about the gasoline. Another one uses his yard in turning back . This attitude of the rich offends (आहत करता है) the owner of the roadside stand. 
 The poet is moved (पिंघलना)to see the condition of the poor man who is deceived (छला जाता है) continuously by politicians or greedy good-doers. They promise him to live a life  which is shown in movies.  They show him big dreams. They purchase his land in low rates . They make them live near big showrooms in big cities. Thus they steal his sleep of nights and sleep themselves during the day. The poet wants to end all the sorrows and sufferings of the  poor people in one big stroke.

(Explained in very easy language)

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OR
       A ROADSIDE STAND
     ( For brilliant students)

Robert Frost contrasts the lives of the poor with that of the rich in this poem, “A Roadside Stand.” The poor people had constructed a roadside stand to sell their goodies and earn a living but the rich do not even bother to take a look at it.
: The poem starts with the description of the stand. A small farmer has put up the stand outside his house along a highway hoping that the passing cars would buy his goodies. He is trying to earn some money not by begging but by selling some useful items.

 Unfortunately, no passer-by stops their cars and buys goods from him. Moreover, even if someone stares at the direction of the stand only to criticize the badly painted North-South signs without even once noticing the wild berries and squash for sale.

: The farmer tells the rich to keep their money if they are meant to be so cruel and mean. He is not hurt that they do not notice the stand but he is hurt at the way he is treated and ignored. He wishes for some city life and money which he has seen in movies and other media but the political parties are denying him all these things of comfort.

The poet refers to some good doers also who promise the poor to take away all their woes and worries.They relocate them to such places where they can experience the cinema and the store. However, Frost says that these benefactors are selfish as they help these pitiful kins for their own advantage. These benefactors make the villagers completely dependent on them thus robbing them of their ability to think for themselves or be independent. During the ancient times, these villagers used to work day and night. This process has been changed by these greedy good doers who manipulate these innocent villagers and ask them not to use their own ideas. These villagers are now troubled and unable to sleep at night because they haven’t worked in the morning.

In the end, Robert Frost talks about his own personal feelings. He is intolerable towards the farmer’s battered hopes. The windows of the farmer’s house just ache to hear the sound of a car stopping to make some purchase. However, they are always disappointed as the cars stop either to inquire about the place or about the gas stations.

 Robert Frost feels that these villagers should be put out of pain and hardships of existence. According to the poet, these country people have not yet found progress which is evidently visible through their lifestyle. He wonders for some solution by which the farmers can be freed from such painful existence

TEXTUAL AND OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. Where and how was the roadside stand built and why? Or

What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?   ( Important)

Ans. A small farmer has put up the stand outside his house along a highway hoping that the passing cars would buy his goods. He is trying to earn some money not by begging but by selling some useful items.

 Or

Ans-: A roadside stand was built by a poor farmer  out side his house along a highway. It was built there to earn some money by selling his wild berries and golden squash.

Q2.What is' the childish longing 'that the poet refers to? Why is it vain?   (👈

Ans. The poor farmer keeps waiting all day for some car to stop at his stall and buy wild berries and golden squash put up for sale. But his longing proves vain because no one comes to buy his things.

Q3.Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?

Ans. The poet says,

 'Sometimes, I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day long in almost open prayer.'

Q4. Why did no one stop to buy things at the roadside stand?👈

Ans. The rich people had money in their pockets but they thought it unbecoming to stop at such a place and shop there. That is why they did not buy things from the roadside stand.

Q5 What was in the news? What did the greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey actually do?👈

Ans. It was in the news that all holdings of the poor farmers would be purchased by the ruling party and they were settled near the cinema and the stores. They were assured that they would not have to worry about themselves.But the reality was different. These so-called good -doers betray the poor farmers with their false promises. They take away the peace and the sleep of the poor people. The poet calls them beasts of prey.

Q6. Why does Robert Frost sympathize with the rural poor? or
The poet feels empathy for the poor. Elucidate.( Important)

Ans. The poet sees that the poor farmer keeps waiting for some car to stop near his stall to buy some goodies that he has put for sale. Thousands of cars pass by his stand but none of them stops there to buy anything. If anyone stops there, it asks the way to its destination or asks for gasoline or to complain that the farmer has spoiled the mountain scenery. This attitude of the rich men to the farmer offends the poet and he feels empathy for the poor.

Q7. What does the poet say about the 'greedy good-doers' and beneficent beasts of prey?   (V.I.P.)

Ans The poet calls the foxy politicians as; greedy good-doers; and 'beneficent beasts of prey'. They pretend to be very generous and good-hearted. They make false promises to the poor. The poet calls them greedy good-doers and beneficent beasts of prey because they fool the poor and rob them of their peace and sleep of the night.

Examination Type Questions and Answers

Bring out the theme of the poem,"A Roadside Stand".( Very Important)

A Roadside Stand brings out the theme of social injustice, class discrimination and indifference of the rich to the poor.This poem has a universal theme.The poor people lead a life of poverty, misery and deprivation whereas the rich people live a life of plenty, prosperity and affluence. They are so arrogant that they pay no heed to the affliction of the poor. The sentiments of the poor have been genuinely expressed through this poem.

The poet sees that the poor farmer keeps waiting for some car to stop near his stall to buy some goodies that he has put for sale. Thousands of cars pass by his stand but none of them stops there to buy anything. If anyone stops there, it asks the way to its destination or asks for gasoline or to complain that the farmer has spoiled the mountain scenery. This attitude of the rich men to the farmer offends the poet and he feels empathy for the poor.

COMPREHENSION

Stanza1

The little old house was out with a little new shed

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some country money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Q1. Where was this little old house?

Ans It was at the edge of the road.

Q2. Who had put it and why?

Ans The poor farmer had put it to earn some money by selling his goodies.

Q3. What do you mean by the phrase' the flower of cities'?

Ans The phrase 'the flower of cities' is an example of transferred epithet. It means the rich people of cities.

Q4. Give the example of personification from this stanza.

Ans. 'A Roadside stand that too pathetically pled'. In fact, it was not the roadside stand that was pleading rather the man sitting on the roadside stand was pleading.

Q5. Where is the money flowing?

Ans. Money is flowing towards cities.

Q6. Which phrase suggests that the stand was constructed on the highway?

Ans 'Where the traffic sped'

Stanza 2

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

Q1.What did the polished traffic pass by?

Ans.The polished traffic passed by a roadside stand.

Q2 How did one who looked 'aside for a moment' feel?

Ans He felt irritated at having spoiled(marred) the beautiful mountain scene WITH ARTLESS PAINT
Q3.What did the artless paint do to the landscape?

Ans It spoiled its beauty.
Q4. What was offered for sale there?
Ans 1.Wild berries 2. Golden Squash 3. The scenery of the mountain landscape
Q5. Explain: ' Polished traffic passed with a mind ahead'
Ans. Polished traffic is a beautiful example of transferred epithet. It explains the city dwellers' attitude to the poor farmer. They do not even look at the goodies put for sale. 
Q6. What does; ' Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong' suggest?
Ans It suggests the artless paint.

Stanza3

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,

Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand,

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

Q1 Who is the speaker of these lines?
Ans. The owner of the Roadside Stand is the speaker of these lines.
Q2 What is the attitude of the rich towards buying things from the roadside stand?
Ans The rich men think it mean and unbecoming to buy things from small stalls.
Q3. What does the owner of the stall say to the rich men who come to his stand and buy nothing?
Ans. The owner of the stall is irritated and ask the rich men to keep money in pocket and go along.
Q4. What is 'trusting sorrow'?
Ans It is the sorrow of the trust that has been broken. The poor farmer had put up the stand on the highway in hope to earn some money by selling his goodies to the rich men passing by his stand. But his hope is not fulfilled.
Q5. What does the ruling party do for the poor men?
Ans The ruling party keeps away the poor farmers from luxurious life.
Q6. Select the word/phrase from the stanza that is an example of a metaphor.
Ans. 'Trusting Sorrow'
Q7. What offends the poor man the most?
Ans The poor farmer is not as much offended at the complaint of spoiling the beauty as at the trusting sorrow that is unsaid.
Q8 What literary device has been used in this stanza/
Ans Dramatic monologue.

Stanza 4

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits

That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

Q1.What was in the news?
Ans. It was in the news that all holdings of the poor farmers would be purchased by the ruling party and they were settled near the cinema and the stores. They were assured that they would not have to worry about themselves.
Q2.What was the intention of the greedy good-doers?
Ans The intended to exploit the poor people.
Q3. Who are' greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,'?
Ans The shrewd (foxy) politicians.
Q4. Explain the phrase' to soothe them out of their wits'.
Ans. It means the rich men fool the poor men without letting them come to know of it.
Q5.How are these pitiful kins to be bought out?
Ans.By paying for their small holdings.
Q6. Where will the poor be settled mercifully?
Ans.They will be settled next to cinemas and departmental stores in cities.
Q7. Who swarm over the poor peasants?
Ans. The greedy good-doers and beneficent beasts of prey.
Q8. Why are benefits enforced on the poor?
Ans. To soothe them out of their wits.
Q9. What is the effect of the teachings of the selfish rich?
Ans. 1. The rich sleep peacefully all day.
          2. The poor are deprived of their sleep at night.
Q10. Choose the example of alliteration from this stanza.
Ans Greedy good-doers and beneficent beasts of prey.

Stanza5

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass

In using the yard to back and turn around;

And another to ask the way to where it was bound;

Q1 What can the poet not bear?
Ans The poet cannot bear the thought of childish longing.
Q2. What is childish longing?
Ans The poor farmer keeps waiting all day for some car to stop near his stand and buy some goodies. But his hopes are betrayed as none of them stop there to buy.
Q3.What sadness lurks near the open window?
Ans It is the sadness on the face of the poor man. The poor man is sad because his goodies remain unpurchased.
Q4. Quote examples of personification from this stanza.
Ans. 1.Sadness that lurks near the open window. 2.Selfish car.
Q5. Of all the thousand selfish cars, just one stops there. What for that one stops there?
Ans It stops only to turn around using the yard. In this process, it plows out the grass grown in the yard.
Q6. What do these lines show about the attitude of the rich city dwellers?
Ans These line show that the rich city people are:
         1. Heartless 2. Self-centred 3. Indifferent to the poor and selfish.

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass

In using the yard to back and turn around;

And another to ask the way to where it was bound;

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas

They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?

Stanza6

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,

I can’t help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

And then next day as I come back to sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Q 1. What is the complaint of the voice of the country?
Ans It is the complaint that people don't buy goods from their stand.
Q2. What should be a great relief to the poor?
Ans It should be a great relief if they are put at one stroke out of their pain.
Q3.What does the poet ask for himself?
Ans The poet feels offended at the plight of the poor. He will be obliged if someone comes and relieve him of his pains he feels at the plight of the poor.
Q4. Explain: ' lift of spirit' using in your sentence.
Ans It means happiness. When my son won the gold medal in shooting, my heart felt a lift of spirit.
Q5. What is the state of the poor people?
Ans They are very poor
Q6 How does the poet feel at their condition?  Chooose the right option 1. Excited 2, Overjoyed 3.Pained 4Shocked
Ans. Pained.

                               AUNT JENNIFER' S TIGERS (Adrienne Rich)

ABOUT THE POET

• Adrienne Cecile Rich (1929 – 2012)
• American poet, essayist and feminist.
• One of the most widely read and influenced poets of the second half of the 20th century.
• She talks about a woman’s experiences in her married life.
• She has tried to explore the inner feelings of a woman who is living under the dominance of men.

FIRST STANZA
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Answer the questions-:

Q1. What does Aunt Jennifer compare her tigers to and why?

Ans-: she compares her tigers to a bright topaz because her tigers are yellow and they are shining like the topaz( पुखराज).

Q2. Describe the pace of the tigers?

Ans-: The tigers pace elegantly.

Q3. Where are the tigers prancing?

Ans-: They are prancing on a screen. 

Q4.- Where do tigers live? Why are they fearless?

Ans- The tigers live in green forests. They have been recreated on the screen. So they are fearless. 

Q5. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer has created tigers?

Aunt Jennifer has created tigers to express her desire of freedom.

Q6-: Choose the word from the passage which means the same as 1-jump. 2 heroic or gentleman like. 3 Smooth

Ans- 1 prance. 2 chivalric 3 sleek.

Q7-: Where do tigers live?

Ans-: They live in forests.

Q8. What poetic device has been used in the phrase " bright topaz"?

Ans- Metaphor

Q9-: What do tigers symbolise?

Ans-: The tigers symbolise freedom, fearless spirit and chivalry.   

EXPLANATION

• The poet is talking about a lady whom she addresses as aunt, Jennifer.
• She is embroidering a piece of cloth. It could be a table cloth or a wall hanging.
• The pattern shows tigers who are moving and jumping around all over the fabric.
• They are bright yellow in colour like the colour of the topaz stone (use of metaphor).
• The dense green forest background is their home.
• They are the proud and fearless citizens of the forest.
• Here is a contrast between Aunt Jennifer and her tigers. The tigers are fearless but this lady, who is embroidering them is not so.
• The tigers look elegant, shining and full of the gentleman’s grace.

SECOND STANZA
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

Read the stanza and answer the questions-:

Q1. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer's fingers are fluttering ? 

Ans-:  Aunt Jennifer is weak and timid. She is under dominance of her husband. That's why her finger are fluttering.

Or

Her hands are fluttering for fear of her husband.

Q2. What does' massive weight of Uncle's wedding band' indicate?

Ans- It indicates the burden of her responsibilities as a wife. Or

It indicates the obligations of married life.

Q3. Where was Uncle's wedding band put?

Ans-: It was put on Aunt Jennifer's hands.

Q4  Pick out the word from the stanza which means 'trembling'?

Ans-: fluttering

EXPLANATION

• The lady’s fingers are trembling with the fear of her husband.
• She is pursuing her hobby in her free time but probably, she is still afraid of her husband who could scold her.
• Her fingers are so tired of working endlessly all her life
• The needle is also heavy for her to pull out of the cloth.
• The words ‘uncle’s wedding band’ as the band was bought by her husband, it is his till today.
• The lady is dependent on her husband.
• She is still burdened by the weight of the ring. ‘weight’ means the encirclement or trapping that has fallen upon her by getting married to him, she has been burdened by the obligations of married life, has become the man’s property.
• She has been living a demanding life due to which she has worn out in her old age.

THIRD STANZA
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

Q1. Name the poem and the poet of this stanza?

Ans- Name of the poem is 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' and the poet is Adrienne Rich.

Q2. Why are Aunt's hands terrified(  भयभीत)?

Ans-: Her hands are terrified because her husband dominates her. 

Q3:- What is meant by 'ordeals'?

Ans-: Ordeal means fire test. Here it refers to the household work done by Aunt Jennifer. 

Q4:- Why are hands ringed? 

Ans-: Her hands are ringed because she has to do household work daily.

Q5-: What was Aunt Jennifer mastered by? चाची जैनिफर किस काम में निपुण थी?

And :-She was mastered by her ordeals.

Q6-: What are Aunt's hands ringed with?

चाची के हाथों पर कैसे निशान हैं?

Ans-: Her hands are ringed with ordeals.

Q7- What will happen to the tigers after her death?

Ans-:- The tigers will go on prancing on the panel.

Q8:- What do tigers symbolise? टाईगर किस बात के प्रतीक हैं?

Ans-: Tigers symbolise chivalry (वीरता) and elegance (शान).

Q9- How do tigers look?

Ans-: The tigers look proud and unafraid.

Q10 -: Who has recreated the tigers on the panel?

Ans-: Aunt Jennifer ----

EXPLANATION

• Her wish to live a free, fearless life is indicated by her choice of design – tigers.
• It shows her innermost desire of being strong, fearless which has been overpowered by her husband.
• Probably, her ordeal will end upon her death.
• Her frightened, shaking fingers will be put to rest.
• But still, even after death, the ring shall remain on her hand, i.e. her husband’s rule over her is not yet over!
• After her death, her desire of freedom and fearlessness shall remain alive in these tigers which she has embroidered.

New words
Prance :  walk or move around with high springy steps.
Topaz : a bright yellow coloured stone.
Denizens :  here, an animal that lives or is found in a particular place.
Sleek : elegant.
Chivalric : being courteous esp. to women, an act of a gentleman.
Ordeals: extremely severe tests or experiences.
Prancing : to move around proudly.
Fluttering : to move in quick, irregular motions as if being agitated.

Question and Answers

How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes? 
The word ‘denizens’ means that they are proud of their home, they feel safe there and have a feeling of belonging attached to it.
The word ‘chivalric’ shows that they have a majestic and worthy position like knights.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull? 
Her hands are fluttering probably because she is scared of her husband who could come anytime and scold her for sitting idle and wasting her time doing embroidery. She finds the needle so hard to pull because her fingers are tired of working endlessly all through her life.
What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’? 
‘Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ suggest symbolically, that the bindings and obligations of her marriage are so much that they have put a lot of burden and stress on her.
Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza? 
She is terrified of her husband.
What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem? 
The ‘ordeals’ are

• Obeying her husband’s orders.
• Fear of men.
• Giving in to his dominance and fulfilling his commands.

‘Ringed’ indicates entrapment. As the ring encircles the finger, similarly, her husband has encircled her              in his clutches. Her body and soul are both trapped, struggling for freedom and fearlessness.

Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference?

• I think that aunt Jennifer’s intense desire for freedom and fearlessness came out through her creativity.
• This is the time when she is with herself, and then, her innermost feelings are expressed, here her medium of expression is the embroidery.
• Through this difference it is shown that the lady is not what she is. Her circumstances have made her so but even she has a desire to live life with respect and pride.

Interpret the symbols found in this poem.

• ‘denizens of a world of green’ means inhabitants of the forest.
• ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ means the burden of marital obligations.
• ‘Sits heavily upon Aunt’ means has laid a lot of stress on her.
• ‘ringed with ordeals’ means to get entrapped in hardships and sufferings.

Do you sympathize with Aunt Jennifer. What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
Yes, I sympathize with Aunt Jennifer. The speaker is also sympathetic towards her and hates dominating men.