FLAMINGO -ENGLISH CORE

Chapter 1: The Last Lesson (Alphonse Daudet)

 Summary: Set during the Franco-Prussian War, it portrays the final French lesson taught by
M. Hamel in a small village school. The story reflects themes of patriotism, love for one’s
language, and regret for lost opportunities.

 Tone/Mood: Reflective, emotional, and somber.

 Themes: Loss of culture, importance of education, and nationalism.

 Symbols: The French language symbolizes national identity and pride.

Chapter 2: Lost Spring (Anees Jung)

 Summary: A series of anecdotes highlighting the harsh realities of child labor through
Saheb, a ragpicker, and Mukesh, a bangle maker.

 Tone/Mood: Sympathetic, critical, and hopeful.

 Themes: Poverty, exploitation of children, and loss of childhood.

 Symbols: Bangles (lost innocence) and garbage (hope for a better life).

Chapter 3: Deep Water (William Douglas)

 Summary: A personal account of overcoming a deep-seated fear of water, depicting how

determination and perseverance can triumph over fear.

 Tone/Mood: Inspirational and reflective.

 Themes: Fear, determination, and the triumph of the human spirit.

 Symbols: Water (fear and challenge) and swimming (victory over fear).

The Rattrap (Selma Lagerlöf)

 Summary: A peddler, who believes life is a rattrap, transforms through the kindness of a
woman.

 Tone/Mood: Philosophical and uplifting.

 Themes: Redemption, kindness, and human dignity.

 Symbols: The rattrap (life's temptations) and the Christmas setting (hope and generosity).

Indigo (Louis Fischer)

 Summary: Describes Mahatma Gandhi's struggle for the rights of indigo farmers in
Champaran, showcasing his principles of non-violence and justice.

 Tone/Mood: Inspirational and persuasive.

 Themes: Leadership, justice, and empowerment.

 Symbols: Indigo cultivation (oppression) and Gandhi (change and resistance).

Chapter 6: Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran)

 Summary: A humorous account of the Gemini Studios and the nuances of working in the
Indian film industry.

 Tone/Mood: Satirical, humorous, and nostalgic.

 Themes: Creativity vs. commercialism, and irony in everyday life.

 Symbols: Pancakes (superficiality) and studios (artistic struggles).

The Interview (Christopher Silvester)

 Tone/Mood: Analytical, reflective, and critical.

 Themes: Privacy, media ethics, and human curiosity.

 Symbols: Interviews (a medium of intrusion and revelation).

Going Places (A.R. Barton)

 Summary: Explores teenage fantasies and the gap between aspirations and reality through
Sophie, a dreamer.

 Tone/Mood: Reflective, wistful, and empathetic.

 Themes: Dreams vs. reality, adolescent aspirations, and family dynamics.

 Symbols: Danny Casey (unfulfilled dreams).

Poem Summaries and Analysis

My Mother At Sixty-Six (Kamala Das)

 Summary: The poet reflects on her aging mother and the fear of losing her.

 Tone/Mood: Melancholic and tender.

 Themes: Aging, mortality, and love for parents.

 Symbols: Airport (transitions) and pale face (mortality).

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum (Stephen Spender)

 Summary: Describes the bleak lives of children in a slum classroom and calls for change.

 Tone/Mood: Critical and empathetic.

 Themes: Inequality, education, and hope.

 Symbols: Classroom (oppression) and sky (freedom).

Keeping Quiet (Pablo Neruda)

 Summary: Advocates for introspection, peace, and solidarity through silence.

 Tone/Mood: Contemplative and peaceful.

 Themes: Harmony, self-awareness, and global unity.

  Symbols: Silence (peace) and Earth (regeneration).

A Thing of Beauty (John Keats)

 Summary: Celebrates the eternal beauty of nature as a source of joy and solace.

 Tone/Mood: Romantic and uplifting.

 Themes: Nature’s beauty, joy, and eternal hope.

 Symbols: Nature (permanence and inspiration).

A Roadside Stand (Robert Frost)

 Summary: Critiques modernity and its disregard for rural lives through the lens of a
struggling roadside vendor.

 Tone/Mood: Sympathetic and critical.

 Themes: Inequality, rural neglect, and disillusionment.

 Symbols: Roadside stand (rural struggles) and cars (urban neglect).

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers (Adrienne Rich)

 Summary: A feminist poem contrasting the vibrant tigers with Aunt Jennifer's constrained
life.

 Tone/Mood: Empowering yet somber.

 Themes: Gender roles, oppression, and resistance.

 Symbols: Tigers (freedom) and wedding band (oppression).