6.
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions
by ticking the correct choice.
(a) The message of the poem is that the life of a brook is ___________.
(i) temporary
(ii) short-lived
(iii) eternal
(v) momentary
Answer
(iii) eternal
(b) The poet draws a parallelism between the journey of the brook with ___________.
(i) the life of a man
(ii) the death of man
(iii) the difficulties in a man's life
(iv) the endless talking of human beings
Answer
(i) the life of a man
(c) The poem is narrated in the first person by the brook. This figure of speech is
________.
(i) Personification
(ii) Metaphor
(iii) Simile
(iv) Transferred epithet
Answer
(i) Personification
(d) In the poem, below mentioned lines:
"And here and there a lusty trout ,
And here and there a grayling"
suggest that _____________.
(i) the brook is a source of life
(ii) people enjoy the brook
(iii) fishes survive because of water
(iv) the brook witnesses all kinds of scenes
Answer
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(i) the brook is a source of life
Page No: 62
7. Answer the following questions.
(a) How does the brook ‘sparkle’?
Answer
The brook sparkles because of the sun’s rays which shine on its water. The sudden
emergence or rush of the brook is shown to be in a sparkling motion.
(b) ‘Bicker’ means ‘to quarrel’. Why does the poet use this word here?
Answer
‘Bicker’ means a noisy discussion or an argument. The poet uses the word ‘bicker’ to
describe the noisy flow of the brook as it flows through the valley as it sounds like
quarrel.
(c) How many hills and bridges does it pass during is journey?
Answer
The brook passes thirty hills and fifty bridges during its journey.
(d) Where does it finally meet the river?
Answer
The brook finally meets the river near Phillip’s farm.
(e) Why has the word ‘chatter’ been repeated in the poem?
Answer
The word ‘chatter’ has been repeated in the poem because it represents the sound
frequently made by the flowing brook. It seems that the brook talks about its journey that
it has travelled throughout in a lively mood.
(f) With many a curve my banks I fret’- What does the poet mean by this statement?
Answer
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The brook becomes tired occasionally as it has to curve and move round and round, again
and again.
(g) ‘I wind about, and in and out.' What kind of a picture does this line create in your
mind?
Answer
The brook does not flow in a straight line but veers and twists itself along its way. It
creates a picture of flowing waters of the brook resembling a maze or whirlpool.
(h) Name the different things that can be found floating in the brook.
Answer
The different things that can be found floating in the river are pumice, flowers, wood
chips, foamy flakes, bark of trees, twigs and leaves.
(i) What does the poet want to convey by using the words ‘steal’ and ‘slide’?
Answer
By using the words ‘steal’ and ‘slide’, the poet refers to smooth and noiseless movement
of the brook.
(j) The poem has many examples of alliteration. List five examples.
Answer
Five examples of alliteration in the poem are:
‘Sudden sally’
‘Field and fallow’
‘Willow-weed’
‘Golden gravel’
‘Slip, slide’
(k) ‘I make the netted sunbeam dance.’ What does ‘the netted sunbeam’ mean? How does
it dance?
Answer
The sunrays filtering through the leaves and bushes make a net-like pattern on shallow
water-pools. They are reflected on the surface of water and appear to be dancing as the
water flows.
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(l) What is the ‘refrain’ in the poem? What effect does it create?
Answer
In the referred poem, the refrain is:
‘For men may come and men may go
But I go on for ever.’
The repetition of the refrain emphasises the transitory nature of man and the eternal
nature of the brook.
8. Read the given lines and answer the questions
I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.
(a) Who does ‘I’ refer to in the given lines?
(b) How does it 'chatter'?
(c) Why has the poet used the word 'brimming'? What kind of a picture does it create?
(d) Explain the last two lines of the stanza.
Answer
(a) ‘I’ refers to the brook in the given lines.
(b) The brook chatters by flowing over the pebbles making a lot of meaningless noise.
(c) ‘Brimming’ means full to the brim or top. It creates an impression on our mind of the
picture of a big river in flood.
(d) These lines tell us that men have a short span of life; man is mortal and human life is
transient. The life of the brook, however, is continuous and will never end. Nature is
immortal and can outlive man. That is why the brook says it will go on forever. The
immortal nature of the brook is contrasted with the fleeting nature of man's life.
9. Identity the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Answer
The rhyme scheme is ab ab cd cd .....
10. The poem is full of images that come alive through skilful use of words. List out
any two images that appeal to you the most, quoting the lines from the poem.
Answer
4
The first vivid image created by the poet is that
of the brook flowing through hills and valleys, under the
bridges and by the villages.
By thirty hills I hurry down
Or slip between the ridges
By twenty thorpes, a little town,
And half a hundred bridges.
The second striking image is that of serpent. Like flow of the brook, with flowers and fish
floating on it. This image is most appealing because it is apt, colourful and poetic.
11. The brook appears to be a symbol for life. Pick out examples of parallelism
between life and the brook.
Answer
The brook appears to be a symbol for life, which becomes the central theme of the poem.
Various instances that can be seen in the poem which draw parallel between brook and
life.
The brook is a small stream that is born in somemountain. It grows bigger and stronger in
the course of its
journey. It makes so many types of sounds as it flows through the pebbles. Its movements
are also varied. It slips and slides; it steals and winds its curves and flows. It chatters and
babbles, it makes musical as well as harsh sounds. The brook’s birth and growth,
chattering and babbling are very much similar to the activities of a human being. The
brook represents life in general. Both have an origin, a middle stage and an end. Both
struggle against various adversities, odds and keep moving towards their goal. Above all,
the brook represents life. Men may come and men may go, but life goes on forever. The
same rule applies in the case of the brook. It keeps flowing eternally, like life.
Study material of The Brook
4. Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play using the
clues given in the box below. Remember that there are more clues than required.
Sell, buying, house, enthusiastic, comes, 200 thousand francs, taking, favour, get, sleeps,
money, 300 thousand francs, unhappy, his in-laws, walks in, strikes, keep
Juliette, the owner of a villa wants to _________ it as she is in need of __________.
Moreover, she is not in _________ of the house. Jeanne and Gaston, a couple visit her
5
with the aim of __________ the Villa. While Jeanne is ___________ about buying,
Gaston detests the idea as he does not want his __________ in that house. Also, he finds
the asking price of ___________ to be expensive. When Jeanne and Juliette go around
the house, another customer __________ and starts talking to Gaston _______ him to be
Juliette’s husband. Gaston _________ a deal with the customer by which he is able to
give ___________ to the owner and __________ one thousand francs for himself.
Answer
Juliette, the owner of a villa wants to sell it as she is in need of money. Moreover, she is
not in favour of the house. Jeanne and Gaston, a couple visit her with the aim of buying
the Villa. While Jeanne is enthusiastic about buying, Gaston detests the idea as he does
not want his in-laws in that house. Also, he finds the asking price of house to be
expensive. When Jeanne and Juliette go around the house, another customer walks-in and
starts talking to Gaston taking him to be Juliette’s husband. Gaston strikes a deal with
the customer by which he is able to give 200 thousand francs to the owner and keep one
thousand francs for himself.
5. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) Why does Jeanne want to buy a villa?
Answer
Jeanne wants to buy the villa so that her parents can stay in it as well as spend a holiday
with her husband at the villa.
(b) Why is Gaston not interested in buying the villa in the beginning?
Answer
Gaston is not fond of his wife’s family. He believes that her parents would occupy the
villa for quite some time and her sister would also visit there. He believes that buying the
villa is a bad investment and has no desire to buy it.
(c) Mrs. Al Smith makes many statements about the French. Pick out any two and explain
them.
Answer
Mrs. Al Smith makes the following statements about the French:
(i) “You French have a very cute way of doing business”.
(ii) “Frenchmen usually have to consult about ten people before they get a move on”.
Mrs Al Smith believes that French are not very business-minded and they don’t go into
any details. Moreover she also believes that the French are fickle- minded and they
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cannot make their own decisions.
(d) Juliette says “... now I have only one thought that is to get the wretched place off my
hands. I would sacrifice it at any price.” Does she stick to her words? Why/Why not?
Answer
Juliette did not stick to her words because she quotes a hefty price of two hundred and
fifty thousand francs for the villa and she finally sells it for two hundred thousand francs.
Her greed for wealth leads to change in the course of actions.
(e) Who is better in business -Juliette or Gaston? Why?
Answer
Gaston is better than Juliette in business. He managed to make a hundred thousand francs
on a property he never owned. He sold the villa that belonged to Juliette to a Mrs. Al
Smith and also acquired a picture by an artist named Corot in the deal.
(f) Do you like/dislike Gaston? Give your reasons.
Answer
Yes, I like Gaston. He is an intelligent person and also very clear in thinking. He is a
shrewd businessman that know how to make good profit. In the part, He pretends to be
the husband of the owner and manages to swindle the rather smart Mrs. Al Smith. He
takes advantage of the situation and-makes a hundred thousand francs. He is a diplomat
who manages to keep everyone happy at the end Juliette, Mrs. Al Smith and his wife
Jeanne.
Page No: 109
6. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow by choosing the
correct
options.
A. But the sign has been hanging on the gate for over a month now and I am beginning to
be afraid that the day I bought it was when I was the real fool.
(a) Why is Juliette disappointed?
(i) She is unable to get a role of cook in the films.
(ii) Her maid is leaving as she has got a role in the films.
(iii) She is unable to find a suitable buyer for her villa.
(iv) Gaston is offering a very low price for the villa.
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Answer
(iii) She is unable to find a suitable buyer for her villa.
(b) Why does she call herself a fool?
(i) She has decided to sell her villa.
(ii) There are no buyers for the villa.
(iii) She had bought the villa for more than it was worth.
(iv) The villa was too close to the film studios.
Answer
(iii) She had bought the villa for more than it was worth.
B. ‘But your parents would take possession of it, every year from the beginning of spring
until the end of September. What’s more they would bring the whole tribe of your sister’s
children with them.’
(a) What does Gaston mean by ‘take possession’?
(i) Her parents would stay with them for a long time.
(ii) Jeanne’s sister has many children.
(iii) Gaston does not like children.
(iv) Juliette’s sister’s children are badly behaved.
Answer
(i) Her parents would stay with them for a long time.
C. ‘While you were upstairs, I have been thinking a lot about your Papa and Mamma.’
(a) What is the discrepancy between what Gaston said earlier and what he says now?
(i) Earlier he did not want Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he is showing
concern for them.
(ii) Earlier he wanted Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he does not want them
to come over.
(iii) Earlier he wanted to buy a house for them but now he wants them to come and stay
in their villa.
(iv) Earlier he stayed in Jeanne’s parents’ villa but now he wants them to stay with him
and Jeanne.
Answer
(i) Earlier he did not want Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he is showing
concern for them.
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(b) What does the above statement reveal about Gaston’s character?
(i) He is selfish.
(ii) He is an opportunist.
(iii) He is a caring person.
(iv) He is a hypocrite.
Answer
(ii) He is an opportunist.
Page No: 110
7. Select words from the box to describe the characters in the play as revealed by the
following lines. You may take the words from the box given on the next page.
Quality
Lines from the Play Speaker
revealed
One hundred thousand francs if necessary and that’s only
a.
twice what it cost me.
If you don’t want the house, tell me so at once and we’ll
b.
say no more about it.
No! I am very fond of your family, but not quite so fond as
c.
that.
d. Quite so. I have, but you haven’t.
I have never cared such a damned little about anybody’s
e.
opinion.
On the principle of people who like children and haven’t
f.
any can always go and live near a school.
The garden is not very large, but you see, it is surrounded
g.
by other gardens.
I will be philanthropic and let you have it for two hundred
h.
thousand.
I have been thinking a lot about you. Papa and Mamma.
i
You see, I am really unselfish.
Cunning, clever, witty, smart, innocent, humorous, haughty, overbearing, critical,
domineering , disapproving, materialistic, dishonest, practical, greedy, cruel, boastful.
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Answer
Quality
Lines from the Play Speaker
revealed
One hundred thousand francs if necessary and that’s
a. Juliette Greedy
only twice what it cost me.
If you don’t want the house, tell me so at once and we’ll
b. Jeanne Haughty
say no more about it.
No! I am very fond of your family, but not quite so fond
c. Gaston Disapproving
as that.
d. Quite so. I have, but you haven’t. Gaston Domineering
I have never cared such a damned little about
e. Gaston Haughty
anybody’s opinion.
On the principle of people who like children and
f. Gaston Witty
haven’t any can always go and live near a school.
The garden is not very large, but you see, it is
g. Juliette Smart
surrounded by other gardens.
I will be philanthropic and let you have it for two
h. Juliette Boastful
hundred thousand.
I have been thinking a lot about you. Papa and Mamma.
i Gaston Clever
You see, I am really unselfish.
Study Material of Villa for Sale
10
