Section D:PROSE

TWOGENTLEMEN OFVERONA
TER

CHAP -A.J.Cronin

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time = 3 Hrs
The students will be able to: Maximum Questions =37
1. Understand and appreciate the story

2. Understand the message/ theme.

3. Understand the importance of determination and hard work.

Revision Notes Scan to know town and so on. The narrator became eager to know
more about why these children worked so hard. He even realised
Introduction this topic. that despite their hard work, they never spent any
money on themselves.
"Two Gentlemen of Verona'by A. J.
Their clothes were dirty and they usually ate black
Cronin, is an emotional story set in
Two Gentlemen bread and figs. He teased them by asking them if they
Verona,Italy. The story conveys the of Verona had plans to emigrate to America.To this,they replied in
message - where there is a will, there negative saying that they had other plans. Then Jacopo
is a way. The two gentlemen' in the
requested the narrator to help them reach Poleta, 30km
story are two little boys aged thirteen and twelve, who
from Verona.The narrator agreed and took them there
work really hard to pay the medical expenses of their
the next afternoon. In Poleta, they drew up at a large
sister suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. villa and rushed inside. He later came to know that
was a hospital where their sister, Lucia, was under
Summary it

treatment for tuberculosis of the spine. He asked the

Two Gerntlemenof Verona'is a beautiful and touching nurse about Lucia. She told the narrator that a bomb
story of two smallboys who worked really hard in the had destroyed their family and that these boys grew
city of Verona. One day, the narrator met these boys hating the Germans. After the war was over, there was
in Verona.They were selling wild strawberries. When peace all around. But not in the lives of these children,
asked about their age and name, they told him that as was at this moment that they discovered that
it

Nicola, the elder was 13 whereas Jacopo, the younger, Lucia was suffering from the deadly disease. But after
was 12. Next day, the narrator found them doing 'brisk getting treatment, she was recovering. He was further
business in shoe-shining. When the narrator asked informed that her brothers made the payments every
them the reason for changing their business, they told week for her continued treatment. The narrator was
him that they did many things. For the next few days, touched by the devotion of the two boys. He could see
the narrator found them shining shoes, selling fruits, a ray of hope for human society. Then all three of them
hawking newspapers, conducting tourists round the came back to Verona.
PTER MRS. PACKLETIDE'S TIGER
CHA -Saki

LEARNING OBJECTIVES StudyPlan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to: Maximum Questions = 33
1.Understand that show off can lead to many costly consequences.

2. Understand that excessive competitiveness,jealousy and vanity leads us nowhere.

Revision Notes know

Scan to
more about
this topic. arrived when the killing was to be done. Mrs. Packletide,
Introduction
along with a paid companion, Miss Mebbin, crouched
Mrs. Packletide's Tiger i s written by on a platform constructed specially for this purpose
Saki who was considereda master of on a tree. A goat was fastened as bait for the tiger and
Mrs. Packletide's
short story. This story is a satire on everyone started waiting for the tiger. They had to wait
Tiger
the high-class people who go up to for sometime and then they heard the footsteps of the
any extent to gain popularity. In this tiger. Mrs. Packletide fired a shot using her rifle and the
story, Mrs. Packletide is one such character, who wants tiger was dead.Everyone rejoiced over the killing, when
to kill a tiger just to let dowWn Loona Bimberton. they came down from the tree. Miss Mebbin drew Mrs.
Packletide's attention towards the bullet wound on the
Summary goat and not the tiger. Actually, the bullet from the rifle
Mrs. Packletide, the main character of the story, is
had hit the goat which died instantly whereas, the tiger
jealous of Loona Bimberton,who talked of nothing else being an old one, just succumbed to heart-failure at the
but her recent travel in an aeroplane by an Algerian mere sound of a bullet. Anyhow, Mrs. Packletide was
aviator. Mrs. Packletide became jealous and decided at
everywhere on the pages of the weekly newspapers
and she sent the tiger-claw brooch to Loona Bimberton
that moment to kill a tiger and gift a tiger-claw brooch
also. As for Miss Mebbin, she never forgot about the
to Loona on her next birthday. For this, she even offered
one thousand rupees to the villagers to arrange the bullet-injuryon the goat due to which Mrs. Packletide
had do something so that she didn't give her away.
to
shooting of a tiger, without much risk or exertion. The
She had to buy a weekend cottage for her near Darking
villagers were excited at the prospectof one thousand
in which LouisaMebbin lived happily.
rupees and were ready to help her. The great night
PTER

CHA
3 THE LETTER
-Dhumketu

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to: Maximum Questions = 35
1.Understand that show off can lead to many costly consequences.

2. Understand that excessive competitiveness,jealousy and vanity leads us nowhere.

Revision Notes Scan to know

more about
Introduction this topic.
office, he told one of the clerks to do him a favour by
forwarding Miriam'sletter to his grave.He offered him
"The Letter' is an emotional and five gold guineas for this. There were tears in his eyes.

touching story depicting the love of a He was never seen after that and then nobody bothered
father for his daughter. The story The Letter by to enquireabout him.
Dhumaketu
imparts the message that one must Part 1 Time passed.One day, the postmasterhad a problem.
pay respect to the feelings of others His daughter, who lived in another town, fell ill. He
as well and should not make fun of others.
anxiously waited for news of her but there was none.
It was at this moment that he was reminded of Ali
Summary Scan to know
and his anxiety of gettingfrom his daughter.
a letter
more about
The Letter' by Dhumaketu is
written this topic.
This realization made him repentant of his rude
truly
behavior towards Ali. Meanwhile there was a letter
the storyof an old coachman whose
addressed to Ali. He decided to hand over the letter to
daughter Miriam, married a soldier
and went to live with him. Ali missed Ali himself at 4 o'clock.
her and gave up hunting after he The Letter by That night the postmaster could not sleep. At five, he
Dhumaketu
realized the pain of separation. Five Part 2 heard a soft knock at the door.He opened the door only
years passed, but he kept on waiting to find Ali standing there. The postmasterhanded him
for Miriam's letter. He went to the nearby post-office the letter. Ali immediately disappeared.
daily, in the hope of getting a letter from her. But no Just then, Lakshni Das, the clerk who had taken the
letter ever came for him. Rather the clerks and other
guineas from Ali, came there and saw the postmaster
officials made fun of him. They would call out his name talking to someone. He was astonished to hear Ali's
in mischief and when Ali would go to the window, they name and so informed the postmaster that Ali had
would laugh at him. Ali used to feel bad about all this.
died three months ago. The postmaster could not
The postman started taking him to be a mad man. But believe this. That evening, both of them went to visit
Ali,not botheringabout all this, returned every day to coachman Ali's grave and placed the letter there. Now,
the post-office just to hear a word from his daughter or the postmaster realised the value of human feelings
about her well-being. and emotions in terms of letters and envelopes.Now,
Towards the end of his life, his ill-health prevented they were not mere postcards but much more than
him from visiting the post-ofice daily. He couldn't what anyone could realize.
breathe properly. So,one day,when he visited the post
 SHADY PLOT
A
*******.
-Elsie Brown
CHAPTER
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan
Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to:
Maximum Questions =54
1. Understand the plot and character of the story.

2. Learn words related to ghosts and ghost stories.

3. Enjoy and appreciate the story and the use of language.

Revision Notes Scan to know specialist in Whenever he had decided to

this genre.
more about write a ghost story, had appeared
surprisingly the plot
this topic.
Introduction from nowhere. The writer sat down to pen the story,
though no idea occurred to him. In fact, his mind was
The title 'A Shady Plot is most wandering towards his wife's shopping trips and other
appropriate because most of the
unghostly things. The writer loudly said, "This writing
situations and characters remain Shady Plot by
and to his
A
Elsie Brown business is delightful,isn't it?" surprise a voice
unclear and foggy. At first the writer at the other end of the room
The writersaid, "Yes it is."
is plagued by doubts regarding the plot of the story. He was surprised to see a figure taking shape gradually. It
tries really hard and it appears that he is chasing the was a woman, tall and angular, with enormous fishy
shadows in search of a ghost story. The appearance of spectacles.
eyes, wearing
the ghost is open to interpretation. Is it there, or is it not She cameand stood before the writer. The writer wished
there? There is doubt regarding the existence of Helen,
to know why that woman had come. She gave a very
she is spooky and gives rise to apprehensions. The surprising answer that the writer had only called her to
existence of Helen is questionable no one else will believe
help him in writing a story. Moreover she said that the
it, as is beyond the realm of reality. Moreover, doubts
it
ghosts were going on strike, so the writer should stop
are cast over John's character,his honesty is questioned,
bothering her for another plot. She further elaborated
his relationship with Helen is hidden, concealed and he that all the other stories that had been a hit had come
alone knows it. The appearance of Helen upsets John's
from her only.
of
life. His wife and cook threaten to quit and shadows
o
divorce loom large over his relationship with his wife.
The ghost explained that she had been a writer in her
earlier birth but now she had collected other ghosts
The plot for a new story remained unclear' for a long
like her and set up a Writer's Inspiration Bureau'.
time. It is only in the end, that John can visualise an
Now they extended their help to a writer who had no
excellent plot in its perfection. Moreover, the ghost and
ideas. The writer disagreed with the ghost's views for
apparitions are always believed to remain concealed,
he had never seen her before so how could she have
relegated to shady and dark areas. The appearance
of Helen from darkness and her retreat to darkness inspired him. She explained that she had sat on the

highlights the relevance of the itle.

writer's shoulder and had given him the plots. But now
they were all fed up at being pulled out of their beds
What exactly is a OuiJA BOARD?: It is pronounced as
at all times and had decided to go on strike. The ghost
wee-ja, wee-je. It is known as spirit board or a talking
wanted the writer to call all his friends and stop using
board. It is a flat board marked with letters, numbers
the Ouija board.
and other symbols supposedly used to communicate
with spirits. It uses a movable indicator to indicate the
The conversation of the writer and the ghostly figure

was interrupted by the arrival of the writer's wife who

spirits' message by spelling on the board. It is it out
was surprised to see her husband sitting in the dark
a very popular game among some sections because
and talking loudly to himself. However, she was going
it gives an imaginary thrill of communicating with
gaga over a recent purchase she had made.
spirits.
At the writer's query, she revealed that she had bought
Summary a Ouija board in order to help the writer to write his

stories. She said that she wanted to make story-writing

The writer, Mr. Hallock, was told by his employer Mr.
easy for the writer from now onwards. The writer tried
Jenkins to write a ghost story. He told Mr Hallock
his best to dissuade his wife from keeping the Ouija
to write a very horrifying story with supernatural
board but she refused to listen. The writer thought that
elements because the public liked those kind of he would reason with his wife later.
stories. The writer agreed to this proposal for no one
Next day the writer set out for his office where he
else printed his stuff. was surprised how he could He
have written the earlier ghost stories for he was not a
worked as an accountant for a lumber company. He
could not give up his job and take to full-time story
Prose 125

writing due to financial problems. On reaching back that hiswife was leaving him for good and that her
home he was told by his cook to get ready and come lawyer would communicate with him. The writer was
down as his wife had invited some guests. When he shocked and surprised at this development. Meanwhile
came down eventually, he was surprised to see that Helen, the ghost,reappeared and told the writer that
their parlour was full of women belonging to his wife's she had been sent to ensure that his wife was going to
Book Club.They were sitting in two' and between two get rid of that Ouija board. The writer was very angry
friends there was a Ouija board.Immediately his wife and he retorted that the ghost had made the writer
appeared and she wanted the writer to be the partner lose his wife,his home and his happiness.The writer's
of Miss Hinkle,who was without any other friend. wife Lavinia entered and told the writer that she was

Miss Hinkle took the writer's fingers and started moving out. The writer was trying to shield and cover
moving them on the Ouija board. Surprisingly the Helen, when his wife remarked that he was behaving
words spelt on the board wereTRAITOR.' Miss Hinkle very strangely. The Cook barged in and announced
wanted the board to clarify as to who was the traitor. that she was not going to serve in a place where there
The Ouija board spelled out that it was Mr Hallock. were Ouija boards and activities relating to curses and
On enquiring what was the identity of the speaker, the charms.
board revealed that it was someone with the name of Lavinia was in no mood to be pacified. She sprang
Helen. quicklyto see who was standingbehind her husband.
This fact created a furore in the entire room and the Helen did not disappearthis time and boldly announced
to Lavinia that she indeed was Helen. Lavinia felt
ladiesalong with the writers wife gathered around
the writer and looked at him accusingly. All the Ouija very miserable at having created such a ruckus and at
boards signalled towards the writer. The writer could having accused her husband of infidelity. The writer
not answer.He fled the scene and went to sleep. Next felt inspired and realised that he had indeed hit upon
morning, he noticed a slip of paper with the message an excellent plot for a ghost story.
 PATOL BABU, FILM STAR
Ray
CHAPTER
-Satyajit

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to:
Maximum Questions =40
1. Understand that Even a very small job done with perfection and dedication can bring
if
intense satisfaction to the man who performs
it.
2. Talent triumphs over materialistic gains.

3. Personal satisfaction in any work is more important than monetary rewards.

Revision Notes Scan to know

more about
that it was a speaking role and he had to play an absent
Introduction thistopic.
minded pedestrian. Patol Babu was extremely happy
Through the lesson, Patol Babu, and confided to his wife that he was aware that it wasn't
the writer depicts the dreams and a big but one rose from small roles only and this
role,

aspirations of the small timers and Patol Babu, Film might prove to be the beginning of a great career. His
the apathy of film-makers for whom Star wife expressed her reservations but Patol Babuwas in
making films is a business. Patol no mood to listen. Next morning, Patol Babu reported
Babu, a talented and emotional artist, who is an artist at on time at Faraday Building. He saw a big crowd with
heart and full of dramatic skills, was asked to perform instruments and cameras being shifted here and there.
a role 52 years. Quite excited, he rehearsed the
after He was instructed by Naresh Dutt to wait for his turn.
single word (oh) he was asked to speak. Everybody Patol Babu was quite nervous since he hadno idea about

praised his performance but he did not wait there to his dialogues and he didn't want to make a spectacle of
collect his remuneration. Naresh Dutt asked for him himself in front of the lead actors. In the meantime, the
but next minute all that was forgotten and the camera shooting of the mnovie started and one scene was shot.
started rolling for another shot. Patol Babu couldn't wait any longer. He went to Naresh
Dutt and asked for his dialogues. On glancing at the
Summary paper, Patol Babu was really depressed, he was since
required to speak just one word 'Oh!' Patol Babu was
This story depicts the dreams and aspirations of the
supposed to act like an absent-nninded pedestrian and
small timers and the apathy of film people for whom
collide with the lead actor, Chanchal Kumar, utter Oh
making films is a business. Patol Babu was a middle
and resume walking. He was instructed to go and wait
aged man of about fifty years with a bald head. His
on one side. Patol Babu felt humiliated and let down.
neighbour. Nishikanto Ghosh informed him that his
He felt that the entire Sunday was lost in the false
brother-in-law Naresh Dutt, a film producer, was
looking around for an actor for a scene in a film, with anticipation of a good role.

looks like that of Patol Babu. Patol Babu was so excited memory stirred his mind. He remembered
A faint his

to hear this news that in his excitement, he made the mentor,Gogon Pakrashi's advice that as an artist, one
wrong purchases in the vegetable market. Patol Babu must make the most of one's opportunity, whatever
it
remembered fondly that he always had a great passion might This thought drove away his depression and
be.
for the stage and in his youth he had acted in many he started rehearsing all kinds of exclamations 'Ohs'
Jatras. Indeed there was a time when people bought that could be given at different occasions.
tickets especially to see him. Finally Patol Babu was called after an hour. Patol
It was in the year 1934, when he lived in Kanchrapara Babu suggested to the director that the scene would

and worked as a clerk Hudson and Kimberley. He

with look more realistic, if the collision took place, while
had thought of floating own theatrical club but he
his he had his eyes on the newspaper. A newspaper was
lost his job. Ever since Patol Babu had to struggle a lot immediately arranged. The director suggested that

to make a living. He worked in a Bengali film, worked a moustache on Patol Babu would really look more
as an insurance salesman but nothing lasted. interesting. A moustache was stuck on his face. During

He paid regular visits to various offices for jobs but the shot, Patol Babu packed in his best effort mixing

nothing worked. He still remembered some of the 25 parts of anguish and 25 parts of surprise, in a single

dialogues of the plays he had acted in. A new offer to "Oh!"Everyone around praised Patol Babu's acting

work in films sparked his interest. Naresh Dutt duly skills and he went back satisfied near the paan shop.

arrived and told Patol Babu to report at Faraday House, Patol Babu was tremendously pleased and felt that his

next morning. On enquiry, Naresh Dutt told Patol Babu acting skills were not blurred even after so many years.
Prose 133)

But now he felt dejected because there was no one who But could twenty rupees measure against the intense
had appreciated his dedication. For the film-people it satisfaction of doing a job perfectly ? Ten minutes later
was a moment's work and the next minute they had Naresh Dutt was surprised to find Patol Babu missing,
promptly forgotten about it. He knew he would be without collecting his remuneration.Next minute, all
paid, it would be a very small amount and he did need that was forgottenand the camera started rolling for

money very badly. another shot.

TER

P VIRTUALLYTRUE
*******.
CHA -Paul Stewart

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to:
Maximum Questions =39
1. The need to identify what is genuine or what virtually real.
is
2. Understand and appreciate the story.

Revision Notes
Then one day, the printer showed a message telling
Introduction Scan to know
more about him that the helicopter was a better choice, and to try

Virtually True is a story based on thistopic. playing "WarZone", Sebastian had also promised in the
the virtual world which takes its letter that he would not trouble him again if this did not
reader to a world of technological work out.
advancement. It tells in that there
He jumped right into the game. He found himself in
are two advanced intelligence on the Virtually True some kind of a city scarred by battle wounds. He knew
earth, which he justifies through his that he had to save Sebastian. They ran together to an
story. abandoned jeep which they found amidst the rubble.
They went towards a helicopter as a tank chased them.
Summary As soon as it came to their view, Sebastian stopped the
car. The jeep went into a spin and Michael leapt into
The story starts with a boy named Michael who reads
an article in the newspaper about a "Miracle Recovery." the helicopter. Sebastian did not enter the helicopter at

this point. Michael waited and yelled at him to come

A boy, whose condition was critical but stable, had
recovered from coma. Michael recollected that the into helicopter but Sebastian did not move. Moments
later, the tank collided with the jeep and Sebastian was
boy who was mentioned in the newspaper was in fact
thrown into the helicopter. They flew into clouds and
Sebastian Shultz whom
he had met weeks ago while
the game saving him. When he removed
ended, his
playing. This all started at the Computer Fair, when
visor he know that he had got the High Score.
came to
Michael's father who was nutty about computers,
The narrator wanted now to cross-check the facts. He
bought him a new computer pre-loaded with games.
surfed the net for some details. He found out what he
When he played the game Wild West, he became a
was looking for. Apparently at the time of the accident,
Sheriff and was challenged by "Black eyed Jed" to a
duel. He then met a Second Sheriff whom he was asked
Sebastian was using his to play one of the
laptop
psycho-drive games that the narrator had bought.
to go with. Unfortunately, the Second Sheriff was shot
The narrator realised that Sebastian's memory had
by the villains and the game ended. Later on, he got a
been stored on disk because the computer had saved
printout which read "I 'm Sebastian Shultz. Try playing
Sebastian's memory,when Sebastian had banged his
Dragon Quest".
head in the accident. But how did it end up in the
In Dragon Quest his task was to save Princess Aurora narrator's computer ?
This was also solved later because
from the wicked dragon and collect the wicked the narrator came to know that when Sebastian had
Creature's treasure along the way. He had the help of been in the hospital, someone had stolen the games
the second knight who was revealed to be Sebastian. and sold them and up buying
the narrator had ended
Later on in the game, Sebastian was killed. The game them. was a message from Sebastian that said,
There
ended with the printer displaying a message asking "DEAR MICHAEL, THANK YOU. IM NOT SURE
him not to give up and to try playing "Jailbreak" HOW IT HAPPENED. BUT YOU SAVED MY LIFE.
LET'S MEET UP SOON,CHEERS. SEB. PL. KEEP THE
In Jailbreak, his mission was to escape with the prisoner,
GAMES. YOUVE EARNED THEM".
and he knew that was Sebastian again. They broke
it
out of and ran to the roof as the doors shut behind
jail, This was a real and direct message from Sebastian.

them. The helicopter arrived as they reached the roof. It was clear that by reliving the accident, something

They got into the helicopter. As they took off, Sebastian wonderful had happened. But then again, what can
someone say about miracles. And what is true or what
fell off the helicopter and the game ended. Later on, he
is virtually true - no one can say with finality. The
played the game many times but the printout did not
come. narrator had undergone an experience that had proved
to be virtually true.
A
POETRY

THE FROG ANDTHE NIGHTINGALE

-Vikran Seth

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to:
Maximum Questions = 45
1. Read and comprehend the poem.

2. Analyse and identify the theme.

3. Comprehend the structure of the poem.

4. Understand the importance of self-confidence.

Revision Notes Scan to know of the tree and said that he wasknown for his splendid
more about baritone. The nightingale inquired about her song. As
Introduction this topic. a critic, he replied that it was not too bad but was far

too long. The technique was fine but the song lacked
"The Frog and the Nightingale by
certain force. The nightingale was flattered that such a
a well - known poet Vikram Seth is
reputed critic had discussed her art.
an interesting fable which focuses
Frog and the Being jealous, the frog took the nightingale into
on the cunningness of the so-called The
musicians and critics. It shows the Nightingale confidence and made an evil plan to get rid of her. He
became her trainer and made her sing excessively for
fact that how some people kill the
creativity of others in the name of rules and conventions. long hours. He started pointing out her mistakes and
In this poem, two contrasting characters-The Frog and drawbacks. The nightingale received a huge response.
the Nightingale, are beautifully portrayed. The frog Animals from miles gathered around to listen to her

behavior sweet song, and the cunning frog took an admission

represents the domineering and boastful
fee from them.
of such people and the nightingale is a tender, meek
and nervous bird who obeys the Frog's commands The strain of training and singing was too much for
innocently. Nightingale, the timid bird is so much that delicate and innocent bird. She grew sad and pale
impressed by the frog that she starts taking training and miserable. The frog scolded her as she could not

from him. In order to exploit the nightingale, the frog sing sweetly any more. The nightingale had to bear his
overexerts her to death and succeeds in his tricks of scolding and exploitation. She lost the beauty of her
getting rid of his rival. voice. The other creatures stopped coming to hear her
singing at the concerts arranged by the wicked frog.
Quick Review The frog was very angry at the failure of the nightingale.
He asked her to puff her lungs to follow the fashion
"The Frog and the Nightingale is a story in verse.
of the stage. The nightingale puffed up, that made her
It describes how a frog exploits a nightingale to earn
vein burst and she died.
money.This fable shows how the bad training given
by the frog causes the death of the nightingale. The The frog described her as a foolish creature. She was
moral is that one should have confidence in oneself and nervous, tense and prone to influence. The frog was
believe in one's own talent. victorious and sang unrivalled in the Bingle Bog.

Once upon a time, a frog croaked in the Bingle Bog.

Explanation of the Poem
a
Other creatures hated his voice but they had no choice.

The loud and unpleasant noise of the frog continued 1. Once upon a time a frog
from the sumac tree. He croaked there from dusk to
Croaked away in Bingle Bog
dawn. Neither stones, prayers, nor insults, or complaints
Every night from dusk to dawn
could stop him from his strong determination. He was He croaked awn and awn and awn.
determined to express his elation through his song.
One moonlit night, a nightingale, perched upon the Other creatures loathed his voice,
sumac tree started, singing. Other creatures in the bog But, alas, they had no choice.
clapped and admired her melodious sweet song. Being And the cass cacophony
surprised at the sweet melody of the nightingale, the Blared out from the sumac tree
frog feared that he would not be heard any more. As
the nightingale sang beautifully, ducks swam to her, Atwhose foot the from each night
toads, toddlers and teals were delighted and called the Minstrelled on till morning night.

song 'divine'. But the frog was not happy. Explanation: Once upon a time there was a frog who
Next night as the nightingale was ready to sing, the lived in Bingle Bog. He had a hoarse voice but he
frog interrupted and introduced himself as the owner Croaked away in the bog the whole night from dusk to
146 Oswaal CBSE Question Bank, ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE, Class-X

dawn. He
was under the false impression of having a All the creatures of the bog requested her to sing the
good voice, so he croaked continuously. Other creatures song once more. The nightingale was not used to such
of the bog disliked his voice, however they had no other kind of appreciation. She was excited and sang her song
option but to listen to his voice. So, the frog's loud and continuously dawn.

till
unpleasant voice blared out from the sumac tree under Poetic Devices :
the foot of which the frog sang till morning light. Alliteration :Stared towards the Sumac rapt
Poetic Devices : 4. Next night when the Nightingale
Alliteration : Croaked away in Bingle Bog Shookher head and twitched her tail,
Every night from dusk to dawn Closed an eye and fluffed a wing
And the crass cacophony And had cleared her throat to sing
Minstrelled on till morning night She was startled bya croak.
Repetition :awn and awn and awn "Sorry - was that you who spoke? "
2. Neither stones nor prayers nor sticks She enquired when the frog
Insults or complaints or bricks Hopped towards her from the bog.
Stilled the frog's determination "Yes," the frog replied. "You see,
To display his heart's elation. I'm the frog who owns this tree.
But one night a nightingale In this bog I've long beenknown
In the moonlight cold and pale For my splendid baritone
Perched upon the sumac tree And. wield my pen
of course, I

Casting forth her melody. forBog trumpet now and then

Dumbstruck sat the gaping frog. Explanation: The next night when the nightingale got
Explanation: The creatures of the bog tried every trick ready to sing a song, she was startled by a croaking
to make the frog stop singing. They pelted stones voice. It was the frog who had become jealous of her
at him, they requested him, they hit him with sticks, by now because of the reaction of the creatures of the
bricks, they insulted him but nothing could deter the Bingle Bog. He felt threatened and so had decided to
frog from singing. talk tothe nightingale. She enquired of the frog if it was
But one night, a nightingale came to that Bingle Bog, he who had spoken just then and the frog confirmed

it
it perched on the sumac tree and started singing a by saying that he was the owner of that sumac tree and
melodious song. Everyone in the Bingle Bog was was very popular in that bog because of his deep voice.
surprised to hear such a sweet song. The frog was so He further said that he also wrote for the 'Bog Trumpet'
amazed that he sat with his mouth open. quite often.

Poetic Devices: Poetic Devices:

Alliteration :Neither stones nor prayers nor sticks Alliteration :Next night when the nightingale
twitched her tail
But one night a nightingale
3. And the whole admiring bog 5. Didyou ..... did you like my song?
Stared towards the sumac, rapt "Nottoo bad - but far too long.
And,when she had ended, clapped, The technique was fine of course,
Ducks had swum and herons waded But it lacked a certain force.

To her as she serenaded "Oh!"the nightingale confessed.

And a solitary loon Greatly flattered and impressed

Wept, beneath the summer moon. That a critic of such note

Toads and teals and tiddlers, captured Had discussed her art and throat:
By her voice, cheered on, enraptured: "I don't think the song's divine.
"Bravo!" "Toodivine!" "Encore!" But - oh, well-at least it's mine.

So the nightingale once more, Explanation: The nightingale was impressed by the
Quite unused introduction of the frog and she asked him if he had liked
to such applause,
her song. The frog said that the technique of her singing
Sang till dawn without a pause.
was fine but the song was too long and it lacked force.
Explanation: All the creatures of the bog listened
The nightingale felt disappointed that a talented critic
admiringly to the song and looked towards the sumac
like the frog had not liked her song. But on the other
tree from where the sound was conming. When the
hand she was happy also that the frog had discussed
nightingale finished singing her song, they all clapped.
her art of singing. So, she tried to convince him by
Ducks swum to that place and the herons walked
saying that at least her song was original and she had
through water only to listen to the beautiful song of the
not copied anyone.
nightingale.The loon,a large waterbird, was so impressed Poetic Devices :
by the beauty of the song that he started weeping. Other
creatures like toads, tiddlers, teals etc. also felt as they Repetition: Did you
did you like my song
if
were captivated by her voice and appreciated her song. Not too bad but far too long
Poetry 147

6. That's not much to boast about could not sing in that weather. But the frog turned

Said the heartless frog. "Without a deaf ear to it and started giving training to her. He
convinced her that he would also sing with her. The
Proper training such as I
nightingale could not make out the vile plans of the
-And few others - can supply.
frog and kept on practicing for six long hours. After
You'll remain a mere beginner. singing for such a long time, she started shivering. She
But with me you'll be a winner". was sleep-deprived also because she used to practice

"Dearest frog" , the nightingale during the day and gave her presentation at night. But

Breathed: "This is a fairy tale by the night, her throat was a bit better and she gave
her presentation.
And you're Mozart in disguise
Poetic Devices :
Come to earth before my eyes".
Alliteration :Just put on your scarf and sash
"Will charge a modest fee.

Ohl...But it won't hurt, you'll see"

Though subdued and sleep deprived
9. And the sumac tree was bowed,
Explanation: The frog snubbed her by saying that

her song was not so good that she could boast about With a breathless, titled crowd:
He
further added that she needed some kind of Owl of Sandwich, Duck of Kent,
it.
training which could only be provided by the frog. The Mallard and Milady Trent,
nightingale fell into his trap and requested him to teach
Martin Cardinal Mephisto,
her the art of singing. She felt that it was Mozart who
had conme in the disguise of the frog to teach The
her. And the Coot of Monte Cristo,
frog agreed to train her but he informed her that he Ladies with tiaras glittering

would charge a modest fees from her. In the interval sat twittering
Poetic Devices : And the frog observed them glitter

Alliteration :But with me you will be a winner With a joy both sweet and bitter.

7. Now the nightingale inspired Explanation: Many creatures came to listen to the sweet
With both art and adoration and melodious song They were
of the nightingale.
So many in number that even the sumac tree bowed
Sang - and was a huge sensation.
Animals for miles around under their weight. Many titled people like the Owl
of Sandwich, the Duck of Kent etc. were among the
Flocked towards the magic sound, audience. Many of the ladies of the royal crowd had
And the frog with great precision
come wearing their tiaras and twittered to each other in
Counted heads and charged admission the interval.

Explanation: The nightingale got inspired and gained The frog was observing all that and felt bitter that they
confidence. She sang with great adoration and was did not like his singing but on the other hand, he was
an instant hit. Her voice was so melodious that many happy also because he had charged admission fees
animals came from far and near towards that sumac tree from so many animals and had raised a good amount.
only to listen to the song of the nightingale. The frog Poetic Devices:
was very greedy. He thought of an idea and charged Alliteration :Mallard and Milady Trent
admission fee from all the animals after counting them
Martin Cardinal Mephishto
with accuracy.
And the Coot of Monte Cristo
Poetic Devices :
10. Every day the frog who'd sold her
Alliteration: Now the nightingale inspired Songs for silver tried to scold her:
Sangand was a huge sensation "You must practice even longer
8. Though next morning it was raining Till your voice, like mine grows stronger.

In the second song last night

He began her vocal training.
"But I can't sing in this weather". You got nervous in mid-flight.
And,my dear, lay on more trills:
"Come my dear - we'l sing together. Audiences enjoy such frills.
Just put on your scarf and sash, You must make your public happier:
Koo-oh-ah! ko-ash! ko-ash!"
Give them something sharper, snappier.
So the frog and nightingale We must aim for better billings
Journeyed up and down the scale You still owe me sixty shillings."
For six hours, till she was shivering Explanation: The frog trained the nightingale and
scolded her also for not singing properly. He sometimes
and her voice was hoarse and quivering.
subdued her by saying that she had got nervous while
Though subdued and sleep deprived,
singing the song the previous night. He commanded
In the night her throat revived.
her to practice singing her voice grew as strong
till
Explanation: The frog started the vocal training of the as the voice of the frog. The nightingale was very
nightingale from the next day. The nightingale showed innocent and could not follow the hypocrisy of the
some resistance as it was raining and told him that she
frog. She kept on practising the way the frog guided
 148) Oswaal CBSE Question Bank, ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE,Class-X

her.He told her to lay stress on musical notes as it was Use your wits and follow fashion.
important to keep her audience happy and that she Puffyour lungs outwith your passion."
must giveher audiencesomethingsharperso that they Trembling,terrified to fail,

kept coming to the sumac tree to listen to her song. He Blind with tears, the nightingale
further informed her that they should aim for better Heard him out in silence, tried,
performance to get more money as the nightingale still Puffed up, burst a vein, and died.
owed sixty shillings to the frog Said the frog: "I tried to teach her,
Poetic Devices :
But she was a stupid creature./
Alliteration :Song for silver tried to scold her
Fartoo nervous,far too tense.
In the second song
Fartoo prone to influence.
Give them something sharpersnappier
Well,poor bird-she shouldhave known
We must aim for better billings
11. Day-by-day the nightingale
That your song must be your own.
That's why I sing with panache:
Grew more sorrowfuland pale.
Night on night her tired song "Koo-oh-ah!ko-ash! ko-ash!"
Zipped and trilled and bounced along, And foghorn of the frog
the
Till the birds and beasts grew tired Blared unrialled through the bog,
At avoice so uninspired Explanation: The frog gotannoyed when the audience
And the ticket office gross Crashed. He called the nightingale a 'brainless bird'

Crashed,and she grew more morose and told her to puff her lurngs out with passion in
For her ears were now addicted order to sing more melodiously. The innocentbird got

To applausequite unrestricted, frightened. Her eyes filled with tears. She followed the

And to sing into the night instructions of the frog and puffed her lungs out. With
the result, that her vein burst and she died.
Allalonegave no delight.
The frogwas not nmoved a little bit. He only said that
Explanation: The nightingale grew sad and weak with
the nightingale was a stupid creature who remained
the passage of time. She got no time for rest and had
nervousand tense all the time whereas,he was trying
to work harder under the pressure of the deceitful
to train her how to sing melodiously.
frog. Gradually, and animalsgot tired of her
the birds
She should have known that a singer must have
monotonous singing and stopped coming to that
they
originality in his song.After saying this, he went away
place. The frog had his heart's will. This was what he
from that place. He didn't feel bad at the death of the
wanted. On the other hand, the nightingale became
nightingale. Rather, he became the unrivalled king of
upset and depressed as she had grown addicted to
the bog once again which he what had alwayswanted.
singing in front of a large crowd. She was addicted to
Poetic Devices:
appreciation as well. Now, she had to sing all alone as
nobody came to listen to her song. Alliteration :
Brainless Bird

Poetic Devices : Trembling terrified to fail

Itried to teach her

:Till the birds and beasts grew
Alliteration tired
She grew more morose Foghorn of the frog

Repetition :Day-by-day Repetition :Far too nervous, far too tense

night on night
Kooh-oh-ah ko-ash ! !
ko-ash !

12. Now the frog puffed up with rage Rhyme Scheme of the Poem :
aa bb (in the whole poem)
"Brainless bird - you're on the stage
 NOT MARBLE, NOR THE GILDED
MONUMENTS
CHAPTER
-William Shakespeare

****.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan
Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to: Maximum Questions =29
1. Read and appreciate the poetry.

2. Understand that poetry eternal and will immortalize the subject of the poem.
is
3. Allthe monuments, memorials, and statues made by the great rulers are subject to decay.

Revision Notes Scan to know Poetic Devices :

more about Alliteration :Not marble, nor the gilded
Introduction thistopic. shall shine

William Shakespeare wrote 154 2. When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
sonnets. Not Marble, Nor the Gilded And broils root out the work of masonry,
Monuments' is one of them. this
Not Marble, nor
Nor Mars his sword nor war's quick fire shall burn
poem, the poet has used poetic the Gilded

means to create aesthetic effects. Monuments The living record of your memory.
Explanation: The poet further tells his friend that war,
Summary which is destructive and devastating, will destroy and
overturn all the statues which have been erected by
In this poem,Shakespeare tries to convey the message
that nothing in this world can outlive his poetic verses,
men. The fighting, disturbances, etc. during the war
willuproot done by masons, but neither Mars,
the work
be it marble or the monuments, that are covered with
the God of War nor the quick moving fire of war will be
gold. The monuments wear away with the passage
able to destroy the work of the poet i.e. the poem which
of time but his poetry written for his friend, will live
he has written to immortalise his friend. It will be the
longer than the stone monument which has been left
uncared for. Next he has contrasted his verses with the written memory of his friend's life which will continue
even after his death.
ravages of time on monuments. The fighting, wars all

overturn the monuments. They get demolished forever Poetic Devices :

and everybody forgets about them after sometime. Alliteration: When wasteful war
But neither Mars, the God of War, nor fire can erase
Allusion: Mars, the God war
of
the written memory of his friend's life. It will continue
3. 'Gainst death and all oblivious enmity
even after his death. The future generations will also

admire him and he will live in the hearts of people ill Shall you pace forth, your praise shall still find room,

the doomsday, ie, the day of the last judgement. Even in the eyes of all posterity

That wear this world out to the ending doom.

Explanation of the Poem
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
1. Not marble, nor the gilded monuments You live in this, and dwell in lover's eyes.
of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme; Explanation: The memory of the poet's friend will
But you shall shine more bright in these contents forever be there in the minds of people even after his

Than unswept stone, besmear' d with sluttish time. death. The future generations will admire his friend

Explanation:The poem begins with the poet, William after reading this poem. They will remember him
till
Shakespeare, telling his friend that the princess, kings doomsday. He will live in the minds of the people
till
and rich men get their statues erected so that people the last day of the judgement.
should remember them even after their death. But the Poetic Devices:
name of the poet's friend will shine more brightly in the Alliteration :That wear this world
contents of this poem than the stone monuments which
Rhyme Scheme of the Poem:
are left uncared for, and fade away with the passage of
time. Stanza 1:ab ab

The poet has compared time to a slut in these lines Stanza 2:ab ab

because time, like a slut, is never faithful to anyone. It

Stanza 3:ab ab

keeps on changing and is never the same for a person. Stanza 4: ab ab aa

TER

0ZYMANDIAS
-Percy Bysshe
CHAP
Shelley

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to:
Maximum Questions =35
1. Understand that nothing permanent, even greatest of men, empires, their legacies fated to
is
decay into oblivion.

2. Analyse the character of Ozymandias, citing specific details in the text.

3. ldentify and describe the major theme in the poem.

Revision Notes Scan to know "My name is Ozymandias,am the king of kings. If

I
more about anyone wishes know how great am, then let himn
to

I
Introduction thistopic. surpass any of my works." Around the decaying ruin
of the statue, nothing remains, only the lone' and level
B. Shelley was the son of a rich sands' which stretch out around it, far away.
P.
Squire. He was sent to Oxford.
Shelley came under the influence of Ozymandias Explanation of the Poem
revolutionary ideas of the English 1. met a traveller from an antique land
I

philosopher William Godwin whose daughter, Mary Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Godwin,he ultimately married. Stand in the desert.
The poet uses a shattered statue to highlight the The poet met a traveller who had come from an ancient
ephemeral nature of fame, popularity and power. land. He told the poet he saw two huge legs made
that
The great king's proud, boast ( king of kings, look of stone standing in the desert. They were trunkless.
on my work, ye mighty and despair) has been Poetic Devices
:
ironically disproved. Ozymandias' works and might Alliteration
have crumbled and disappeared, his civilization has
two vast and trunkless
disappeared, all has been razed to the ground by the
2. Near them, on the sand,
impersonal, and indiscriminate destructive power of
Half sunk, a shattered vi sage lies, shose frown
history. The ruined statue is merely a monument of
one man's 'hubris' and a powerful statement about And wrinkled lip,and sneer of cold command,
the insignificance of human beings to the passage of Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
The traveller saw a broken face near the stave which
time. Ozymandias is first and foremost a metaphor
was half sunk in the sand. There were expressions of
for the ephemeral nature of political power. So, this
frown and sneer on the face of the statue looking at
becomes Shelley's most dominant sonnet with political

overtones,. Ozymandias not only symbolises political those facial expression, one could easily guess that the

power but the statue is a metaphor for the pride and sculptor was perfect in his art of sculpture. He praised
"hubris' of all mankind. It is worth noting that all that the sculptor saying that he had read/understood the

remains of Ozymandias, a work of art and a group emotions of the king very well. That's why he could
carve them on statue's face.
of words. As Shakespeare has stated in his sonnet,
Poetic Devices
:
this demonstrates the fact that art and language long
outlive the other legacies of power. Alliteration
Cold command
Summary
The speaker recalls having met a traveller from an
3. Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
Thehand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
ancient land who told him a story about the ruins of a
The expression of frown and sneer could be seen on the
statue in the desert of his native country. The traveller

said that two vast legs of stone stand without a body

face of the statue though it was half broken. The sculptor
and near this, a massive crumbling and broken stone
had made fun of the passion that had flourished in the

head lies, which is half sunk in the sand. The statue heart of the king, by carving those expressions on the
statue's face.
has a bitter and cruel expression of 'sneer and cold
Poetic Devices:
command' and this indicates that the sculptor had
Alliteration
understood the passions of his subject really well. It was
obvious that the statue was of a man who sneered with Survive Stamped -

contempt for those who were weaker than himself, yet 4. And on the pedestal these words appear:
fed his people because of something in his heart. On "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
the pedestal of the statue these words are inscribed, Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Poetry 157

There were some words inscribed on the pedestal of There is nothing else beside that statue which is in
the statue which indicated the boastful and arrogant ruined condition. One can seeunlimited stretch of sand
nature of the king. The kind had got those words all that huge, damaged statue as if making fun of the
inscribed on the pedestalwhich meant that his name king's boastful nature.
was Ozymandias. He called himself the king of kings. Poetic devices:
Then he addressed other mighty and powerful kings Alliteration
and people to look upon his works and power and feel (a) boundless and bare
disappointedathis strength and power.
(b) lane and level
5. Nothing beside remains, Round the decay
(c) Sands Stretch
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch for away.
TER

P THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER

*******.
CHA
-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to: Maximum Questions =62
1. Understand and appreciate the poetry.

2. Understand the dangers of acting without regard for the consequences.

3. Understand that a thoughtless bad act can have lasting repercussions

Revision Notes Scan to know were able to steer the ship. The favorable south wind
more about began to blow. The bird followed them. It came at the
Introduction thistopic. Mariners' call for food and play every day. One day the
Ancient Mariner shot the Albatross with his crossbow
'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
without any provocation.
is one of the best known classical
Part-II :The weather was still fine. The south wind
poems written in English, containing The Rime of
was still favorable. But no bird followed the ship. The
the Ancient
some very beautiful and very
Mariner Mariner repented his misdeed of killing the bird. His
memorable lines. The poet Samuel
companions him for killing the bird that had
blamed
Taylor Coleridge has written this poem in the form of
made the breeze blow. The sun rose upon the right out of
a ballad, it tells a story and incudes archaic words the sea and went down into the left. The other Mariners
i.e.,
and spellings. The poem is a skilful mixture of the
said that he had done the right thing for killing the bird
natural and the supernatural. It is a psychological study
that brought the mist and fog. Then the breeze stopped
of the Mariner, how he tries to pray but couldn't, how
he feels the horror of the curse and suffers acute mental
blowing. made them sad. It was intensely hot.
This
The sun They were stuck and could not
looked bloody.
agony.
move. The ship was stranded. There was no water to
The poem highlights the Christian concept of sin, drink, the sailors fell silent. They held the old Mariner
punishment and redemption through the story of
responsible for their suffering. Their tongues were dry
the old Mariner: The Mariner, on his voyage happens for want of water. They snatched the cross from the old
to kill an Albatross causing suffering to himself and
Mariner's neck and hung the dead albatross around his
other Mariners. The dead Albatross round his neck is
neck which was a constant reminder of his guilt.
a continual reminder of his guilt and the narration of
Message: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is an
his story to the wedding guest gives some mental relief
exploration of evil, both that of men and of nature, and
which is perhaps redemption.
of salvation. The poem is full of Christian symbolism,
which a departure from the romantic poetry.
Summary is also

The slaughtered Albatross, emerging spirits from

Part-I : An elderly Mariner with grey beard and a beneath the murky water, slimy creatures of the sea, all
glittering eye stopped one of the three persons going are images of sin and evil, and its consequences. The
to attend a wedding feast. The wedding guest told the whole poem is on the Christian concept of sin, its
based
Mariner that he was a close relative of the bridegroom punishment and redemption. The Albatross can be seen
and everything was ready for the feast. But transfixed as a symbol of God's favour, bringing good results. The
by the 'glittering eye' of the Mariner, he had to sit on a mariner, mortal and fallible, succumbs to his paranoia
stone to listen to the sailor. and fear, when he kills the innocent creature, thereby
He started When they started their
narrating the story. tainting himself with sin and losing connection with
voyage, they were given a warm send-off. All went well God and all things good. Coleridge uses dramatically
for some days. Then weather was clear and they sailed mystical elements to express the consequences of the
south for many days. The weather changed. A violent mariner's colossal mistake. By destroying one of God's
storm arose and drove the ship southward very fast. Creatures, the mariner is exposed to the darker aspects
The mast stooped forward and the fore-part of the ship of the world.

also dipped a little into the sea. There were both mist Defying God leads to worse results. The crew hanged
and snow. became extremely cold. Green icebergs
It the dead albatross around the Mariner's neck. The
came floating, There was ice all around them. Mariner is symbolic of a Christ-like figure and the
There came an Albatross--a huge sea bird. The sailors cross-like Albatross, a symbol of sin, is borne only by the
welcomed it as the bird of good omen and offered Mariner. Though the crew also suffer, but punishment
it
food. As it flew round the ship, the ice split. They is borne only by the Mariner. In the end, the Mariner is
Poetry 163)

truly remorseful and is able to pray to God. Ashe prays, Simile -like a three years child.

he is filled with God's grace and Albatross, a symbol of 5. The Wedding-Guest sat ona stone:
sin, falls from him. The moral of the poem is sublime, He cannot choose but hear;
"he prayeth well, who loveth well." And thus spake on that ancient man,
So Coleridge's fascination with natural evil and salvation
The bright-eyed Mariner.
is clear in the poem. The slimy and ghastly creatures are The wedding guest set on a stone. He had no choice
fantastical, but they are a direct result of a very realistic
or option but to listen to the story of the mariner. The
moral failing on the part of the Mariner connecting ancient mariner continued narrating his story.
between the dark and mystical with ordinary, mundane Poetic Device:
life.
beautiful
Coleridge, like the other romantics, sees the
and compelling in both the good and bad sides
Aliteration-Sat an Stone.
6. "Theship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
of nature, and wants the reader to accept them, rather
than succumb to fear as the Mariner did. Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill,

Explanation of the Poem Below the lighthouse top.

Part I
The ship was cheered and was given clearance from

it
1. It is an ancient Mariner, the harbour as well. The sailors dropped the sails

And he stoppeth one of three. happily and the ship moved past the church, hilland

'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, light house top.
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? Poetic Device:

An old mariner stopped one of the three guests who Alliteration -Merrily did we drop
were going to attend a wedding. The wedding guest Repetition -Below the kirk,belowthe hill
got annoyed and asked the ancient mariner, who had
7. The sun came up upon the left,
a grey beard and glittering eye, the reason for stopping Out of the sea came he!
him in that manner.
And he shone bright, and on the right
Poetic Devices : Went down into the sea.
Alliteration -grey beard and glittering eye. The sun rose from the left. It seemed as if it had came
2. The bridegroom's doors are opened wide, out of the sea. The sun shine brightly during the day
And Iam next of kin; and then set on the right side.
The guests are met, the feast is set: Poetic Device :
May'sthearthe merry din. Personification -(a)Out of the sea came he
The wedding guest told the ancient mariner that he (b)And he shine bright
was a close relative of the bridegroom. The guests had 8.Higher and higher every day,
arrived and the doors of the bridegroom's house had Till mast at noon
over the
opened wide. The feast had been laid and the mariner The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,
could hear the happy sounds from that house. For he heard the loud bassoon.
3. He holds him with his skinny hand, The sun rose higher and higher every day it reached
till
"There was a ship," quoth he. over the most the tallest pole in a ship. At this moment
"Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!' the wedding guest started beating his breast because
Eftsoons his hand dropt he. he had again heard the loud sound of bassoon conming
The mariner held the hand of the wedding guest as from the house where the wedding had to take place.
if
he had not listened to anything that the guest had said He wanted to go and attend the wedding.
and started narrating a story that there was a ship. The Poetic Device:
wedding guest got annoyed and told the mariner to Repetition- Higher and Higher every day.
leave his hand. The ancient mariner quickly took away Alliteration - (a)......h. ere beat his breast.
his hand.
(b) For he heard the land bassoon.
Poetic Device
:
9. The bride hath paced into the hall,
his hand dropt he.
Red as a rose is she;
Alliteration – He holds him with his skinny hand. Nodding their heads before her goes
4. He holds him with his glittering eye
The merry minstrelsty.
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
By this time, the bride had entered the hall. She was
And listens like a three years' child, very pretty and looked like a beautiful red rose. She
The Mariner hath his will. was entering the hall after the singers and musicians
Then the ancient mariner held him captive with his who were nodding their heads to the music.
shinning eyes. He hypnotised him. The wedding Simile -Red as a rose.
guest could not say anything and started listening to Alliteration –Red as a rose.
the story like a three year old child. The mariner wish
merry minstrelsy.
was fulfilled as he wanted the wedding guest to pay
10. The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast,
attention to his story.
Yet he cannot choose but hear;
Alliteration - Stood still, (i) holds him, (iii)hath his
(i)
will And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.
164 Oswaal CBSE Question Bank, ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE, Class-X

The wedding guest had no option but to listen to the As it had been a Christian soul,
story of the ancient mariner. He beat his breast in We hailed it in God's name..
despair whereas the bright eyes mariner kept on telling Suddenly, an albatross came there from amidst the fog.
his story. The sailor welcomed it in God's name and treated it like

Alliteration- He beat his breast. a Christian soul.

11. Andnow the storm-blast came, and he 17. It ate the food it ne'er had eat,

Was tyrannous and strong: And round and round it flew.

He struck with his o'ertaking wings,
The ice did split with a thunder-fit;
And chased us south along.
The helmsman steered us through!
Then there came a violent storm. It was tyrannous and
The albatross ate the food which the sailors gave him.
strong. It struck the ship with its overtaking wings as a
He had never eaten that food before and flew round
bird of prey catches its prey using its powerful wings.
the ship suddenly, one day the ice split into pieces with
The storm chased the ship towards the South.
a thundering sound. The helmsman found the way to
Personification –....The Storm blast came and he.
steerthe ship and they all cause out of the land of mist
Metaphor -He struck with his overtaking wings.
and snow.
12. With sloping masts and dipping prow,
As who pursued" with yell and blow Repetition- And round and round it flew.

Still treads the shadow of his foe, 18. And a good south wind sprung up behind;

And forward bends his head, The Albatross did follow,

The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast, And every day, for food or play,
And southward aye we fled. Came to the mariner's hello!
The front part of the ship i.e. the bow dipped in water With that, a soft, gentle south wind started slaving.

and masts bent slightly. The ship moved as if it was The albatross continued following the ship. He came
being chased by an enemy. It bent his head forward near the ship everyday when the mariners called him
and drove fast forwards the South amidst the roaring whether it was for food or the playing.
sound of the storm. 19. In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
13. And now there came both mist and snow, It perched for vespers nine,
And it grew wondrous cold: Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
And ice, mast-high, came floating by, Glimmered the white moonshine."
As green as emerald The albatross came near the ship everyday whether

it
They reach a land where it was very cold. They were
was misty or a cloudy day. He used to sit on the mast
surrounded by mist and snow. They saw iceberg
at a fixed time every day which was the hour of the
floatingtowards them. The icebergs were as high as the
church service. The moon show all through the night
most and looked as green as emerald. through the fog smoke.
Simile: As green as emerald
Alliteration –In mist or cloud,on mast or shroud.
14. And through the drifts the snowy clifts 20.'God save thee, ancient Mariner,
Did send a dismal sheen:
From the fiends that plague" thee thus!
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken
The ice was all between.
Why look'st thou so?'-"With my crossbow
shot the Albatross."
I
They could see a dull and dismal shine through the
floating pieces of ice and snowy cliff. But no man or The wedding guest noticed that the facial expressions

beast could be seen there. There was only ice all around of the ancient mariner had charged. He prayed to God
them. to save him from the evil spirits that were troubling
him. Then he asked ancient mariner the reason for he
-Did
it
Alliteration Send a dismal sheen.
and he replied that he took his cross-bow and shot the
Repetition -Nor Shapes of Men nor. albatross dead.
15. The icewas here, the ice was there, Part II

The ice was all around:

21. The sun nowupon the right:
rose
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Out of the sea came he,
Like noises in a swound!
Still hid in mist, and on the left
There was ice and only ice all around when it cracked
Went down into the sea..
the sound seemed brutal and gave the impression that
The sun now rose from the left and seemed to came out
one ice animal had came alive and was attacking the
from the sea but it was still hidden in the mist and set
ship.
into the west.
Repetition -The ice was here, the ice was there.

Onomatopoeia - It cracked and growled and roared

Personification –Out of the sea came he.
and hawled. 22. And the good south wind still blew behind,

Simile –Like noises in a swound. But no sweet bird did follow,

16. At length did cross an Albatross, Nor any day for food or play
Through the fog it came; Came to the mariners' hollo!
Poetry 165)

The good South wind was still blanking bank there was 27. All in a hot and copper sky,
a change. No Sweet bird i.e.albatross was following the The bloody sun, at noon,
ship. The mariners called the bird for food or to play but
Right up above the mast did stand,
no bird came.
No bigger than the moon.
Alliteration -(a)The south wind still blew behind.
The sky appeared like heated copper and the sun also
(b) .... ...still blew behind. looked red as blood at noon. It stood just above the
(c)nor any day for food or play. most and didn't appear bigger than the moon.
23.And I had done a hellish thing, 28. Day after day, day after day,

And it would work' em woe: We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

For all averred, I had killed the bird
As idle as a painted ship
That made the breeze to blow. Upon a painted ocean.
Many days passed and they were stuck as the ship
Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,

That made the breeze to blow!

could not move without the wind. Their ship looked
like painted ship on a painted ocean. It didn't give the
The ancient mariner admitted that he had done an
appearance of a real ship.
evil thing which would bring sorrow and grief to all of
Repetition- Day after day, day after day
them. Everyone on his part to kill the
felt that it was bad
Simile – As idle as a painted ship.
bird which had made the good sound wind to blow.
29. Water, water, every where,
Aliteration - (a).. would work' em woe
And all the boards did shrink;
(b) That made the breeze to blow.
Water, water, every where,
24. Nor dim nor red, like God's own head,
Nor any drop to drink.
The glorious sun uprist: There was water all around and the wooden plants of
Then all averred, I had killed the bird
the ship started developing cracks in them. There was
That brought the fog and mist. water all around but they didn't have a single drop
"Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, of water which they could drink as the sea-water was
That bring the fog and mist. saline and not fit for drinking.
The ancient mariner continued his story by saying that Repetition -Water Water every where
the glorious sun rose and it was neither dim nor red.
–Nor any
It
Alliteration drop to drink
looked like the halo around God's own head. Looking
Irony- Water, waterevery where nor any drop to drink.
at the weather conditions, all the mariners were happy.
They changed their mind and told the ancient mariner
30. The very deep did rot: O Christ!
that was right to kill a bird which had brought fog That ever this should be!
it
and mist with Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs
it.
Simile -Like God's own head.
Upon the slimy sea.
25. The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The deepest part of the ocean started rotting. They had
The furrow followed free; never thought that such kind of situation would arise.

We were the first that ever burst Slimy creatures could be seen rolling on the sea which
Into that silent sea. had turned slimy.

A good wind started blowing. There was white foam Alliteration -(a)The very deep did rot

all around were following the ship freely.

the furrows (b) Upon the slimy sea.
And then they reached the silent sea. They were the 31. About, about, in reel and rout
first ones to the reach
it.
The death-fires danced at night;
Alliteration -(a)The fair breeze blow. The water, like a witch's oils,

(b) The white foam flew Burnt green, and blue, and white.
(c)The furrow followed free The mariners could see death fires dancing in circular
(d) Into that silent sea. motion, over the ship. The sea water took the colour of

26. Down dropped the breeze, the sails dropped down, witch's oils i.e. green, blue and white.

Twas sad as sad could be; Alliteration - (a)....i.n reel and rout.

And we did speak only to break (b) The death fires danced at night.
The silence of the sea!
(c) Burnt green and blue and white.
The breeze stopped blowing. With the result the sails Simile -Like a witch's oils.

also dropped down. The sailors were very sad. They 32. And some in dreams assured were
didn't speak to each other: If ever they did speak, it was
Ofthe Spirit that plagued us so;
only to break the silence of the sea.
Nine fathom deep he had followed us
Alliteration -(a) Down dropt the breeze
From the land of mist and snow.
(b) the sails dropt down'
Some mariners were quite sure that they had seen
(c)The silence of the sea. a spirit which was trembling them and had followed
Repetition -T was sad as sad could be. them from the land of mist and snow.
166 OswaalCBSE Question Bank, ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE, Class-X

33. And every tongue,through utter drought, 34.Ah! well-a-day! what evil looks
Was withered at the root; Had from old and young!
I

We could not speak, no more than if Insteadof the cross, the Albatross
We had been choked with soot. About my neck was hung.
All the marinerswhether they were young or old were
The mariners were parched. Their tongue felt
looking at him an evil manner:. They flat that the
in
completely dry at the root and they could not speak.
They felt as if they were choked with soot. ancientmariner was responsible for their sufferings in
the silent sea. So they took off the holy cross from his
Alliteration –Was withered at the root.
neck and hung the head albatross about his neck as a
reminder of his guilt and sin.
 SNAKE
*******.
-D.H. Lawrence
CHAPTER
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan
Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to: Maximum Questions =39
1. Read and appreciate poetry.

2. Understand that all snakes are not harmful.

3. Humans have a notion that snakes are dangerous and try to them as soon as they spot one but this not true.
kill
is
Revision Notes Scan to know After drinking water to its satisfaction, the snake raised
more about his head, looked around and proceeded to curve round
Introduction this topic. and move away from the water trough. As he put his

head into the hole to retreat into the earth, the poet
This poem 'Snake' by D.H. Lawrence
was filled with a protest against the idea of the snake
gives rise to both horror and
withdrawing into his hole. The poet put down his
Snake
fascination the sight of a snake.
at
pitcher,picked up a log and hurled it at the snake. The
The poenm presents a conflict between snake twisted violently and vanished into the hole.
civilized social education and natural human instincts.
The poet instantly felt sorry for this act and cursed the
D.H. Lawrence developed a personal philosophy that
voice that had urged him to kill the snake. felt much He
instincts are superior to the reasoning of the mind. like the Ancient Mariner who had killed the Albatross
He was essentially a moralist, who believed that man
for no reason. He wished that the snake would come
was becoming divorced from his natural feelings. He
back. He regretted having missed the opportunity of
points out in the poem how our feelings of affections
knowing one of the lords of life. was guilt-ridden He
are crushed by society and we are misled to the path and felt that he had to atone for the measure of his
of ignorance, cruelty and barbarity. But we have no
action of throwing a log at the snake.
right to deprive others of the right to live. Mexican
mythology and the Bible treat snakes as evil. So, the Explanation of the Poem
poem represents the poet's desire to free himself from
sinful behaviour. The poem arouses sympathy for 1. A snake came to my water-trough
all creations of God and respects their right to exist, On a hot, hot day, and l in pyjamas for the heat,
on a symbolic level the snake could also represent To drink there.
the conflicts in our mind. There is a constant debate
In the deep, strange-scented shade of the great dark
between what man wants and what society wants. So, carob-tree
the poem represents the instability of man's mind but
the fact that it is our instinctive behaviour
I came down the steps with my pitcher
champions
And must wait, must stand and wait, fort here he was
that generally prompts us to do good.
at the trough before me.
Summary A snake came to the water trough of the poet to drink
D. H. Lawrence is well-known as a novelist, critic, poet, water. was a
It hot day. The poet was also thirsty and

story-writer and painter. He composed this poem in he came down the steps with his pitcher to take water

1923 and gives the details when he was confronted by a from the water trough. The trough was in shade of a
snake in Sicily. The poem is written in free verse and is great Carob tree. The poet thought that he must stand
and wait as the snake had arrived there first.
unrhymed.

A snake visited the poet's water-trough on a hot Repetition -(a) On a hot, hot day
afternoon to quench his thirst. The poet had also gone (b) must, wait,must stand and wait.
there to fill water in a pitcher. He waited for the snake (c)must wait, must stand and wait.
since he had come at the trough prior to the poet.
Transferred Strange Scented
epithet
The snake sipped water into his long body. As he was shade of the dark carob tree.
drinking water, the poet was reminded of his education
2. He reached down from a fissure in the earth-wall in
and social conventions which said that the golden
the gloom
brown poisonous snake must be killed.
And trailed his yellow-brown slackness soft-bellied
However, the poet instinctively liked the snake, treated

him like a guest and did not kill him. The voice of
down,over the edge of
the stone trough
education inside the poet told him that it was the fear

of the snake that made him refrain from killing him. And rested his throat upon the stone bottom,
 Oswaal CBSE Question Bank, ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE, Class-X

And where the water had dripped 6. But must I confesshow I liked him,
from the tap, In a small clearness, How glad I was he had come like a guest in quiet, to

He sipped with his straight mouth, drink at my water-trough

Softly drank through his straight And depart peaceful, pacified, and thankless,

gums, into his slack long body, Into the burning bowels of this earth?

silently. The poet confessed that he liked the snake and was
The snake had come out from a crack in the wall. He glad that he had come like a guest to drink water at his

dragged his brown soft-belly over the edge of

yellow water-trough and would depart peacefully after getting
the stone tough and rested his throat upon it. Then satisfied, into the burning bottom of the earth.

he started sipping water fronn the place where it had Simile-........ like a guest in quiet.

collected in a small clearness. He used his straight Alliteration -(a)And depart peaceful, pacified.

mouth and straight gums to sip water slently into his (b) Into the burning bowels of the earth.
slack long body.
7. Was it cowardice, that I dared not kill him? Was it
Alliteration -(a) He sipped with his straight mouth. perversity, that longed to alk to

I
(b) Softly drank through his straight. him? Was it humility, to feel so honoured?
3. Someonewas before me at my water-trough, I felt so honoured.
And I, like a second comer, waiting. And yet those voices:
The poet stood waiting for the snake to finish sipping If you were not afraid, you would kill him!
water as he was the second comer and the snake had
The poet dared not kill the snake so he asked himself if
arrived first at the water trough.
it was cowardice on his part or he was being illogical in
Simile -And I, like a second comer waiting. not killing the snake. He further asked himself whether
4. He lifted his head from his drinking, as cattle do, itwas humility to feel so honoured to have the snake as
And looked at me
vaguely, as drinking cattle do, a guest. And still the inner voice were telling him that

And flickered his two-forked tongue he should killthe snake if he was not afraid.
from his lips, and mused a moment, 8. And truly I was afraid, I was most afraid, But even so,
And stooped and drank a little more, honoured still more
Being earth-brown, earth-golden That he should seek my hospitality

from the burning bowels of the earth From out the dark door of the secret earth.

Onthe day of Sicilian July, with Etna smoking. He drank enough

The snake lifted his head from his drinking in the same And lifted his head, dreamily, as one who has drunken,
manner as cattle do and looked vaguely at the poet. And flickered his tongue like a forked night on the air,
Then he moved his two forked tongue from his lips so black,
and thought for some time. After that the drank some Seeming to lick his lips,
more water. The poet noticed that the snake was earth And looked around like a god, unseeing, into the air,
brown or earth golden in colour and had come out the And slowly turned his head,
burning bottom of the earth to drink water as it was a
And slowly, very slowly, as if thrice a dream,
very hot day of July in Sicily and Etna had erupted and
Proceeded to draw his slow length curving round
was smoking.
Simile (a)as
And climb again the broken bank of my wall-face.
cattle do.
The poet admitted that he was afraid but even then
(b) as drinking cattle do.
he felt honoured that the snake had come to seek his
Aliteration -(a)And flickered his two forked hospitality and had came out from the dark door of the
(b) his two forked tongue. earth.

(c) and mused a moment. The snake drank enough water and lifted his head like

(d) . burning bowels of the earth.

a drunken man. Then he flickered his tongue as if to

5. The voice of my education said to me lick his lips. He looked around like a God unseeing as if
he was not concerned by the presence of anyone. Then
He must be killed,
For in Sicily the black, black snakes are innocent, the
very slowly he turned his head and moved to draw his
long body and climbed the broken bank of the wall-face
gold are venomous.
again.
And voices in me said, If you were a man
You would take a stick and break him now,and finish Alliteration -(a)Lick his lips.

him off. (b) broken bankof my wall face.

The voice of education told the poet that the snake (c)The dark door of the secret earth.

must be killed because people in Sicily believe that Simile -(a) around like a god
black snakes are innocent but the golden snakes are Repetition - And slowly, very slowly.
poisonous and dangerous. So they must be killed. 9. And as he put his head into that dreadful hole
The inner voice of the poet said if he was brave and And as he slowly drew up,snake-easing his shoulders,
courageous as a man, he should take a stick and finish and entered farther,
off the snake first then.
A sort of horror, a sort of protest against his
Repetition –The black, black snakes... withdrawing into that horrid black hole.
Poetry 177

Deliberatelygoing into the blackness, and slowly 11. And immediately I regretted it.

drawing himself after, Ithought how paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act!
Overcame me now his back was turned. despised myself and the voices of
I my accursed
The moment the snake put his head into the mysterious human education.
hole and tried to go to the other side of the wall, he And Ithought of the albatross
eased his shoulders and entered farther into the hole.
And I wished he would come back,my snake.
The poet had a mixed feeling of horror and protest.
The snake had gone into the hole but the poet regretted
He didn't like the snake going into the darkness.The his act of hitting the snake. He felt
was a mean and
it
snakes back was turned and he was drawing his long
unkind act on his part. He was overcome with a sense
body slowly into that hole. of guilt. He felt much like the ancient mariner who had
Repetition - A Sort of horror, a sort of protest.
killed albatross without any pre thought. He wished
10. I looked round, I put down my pitcher, that his snake would come back.He accused the voices

I picked up a clumsy log of human education which had prompted him to hit

And threw it at thewater-trough with a clatter. the snake.

I think it did not hit him, 12. For he seemed to me again like a king,
But suddenly that part of him that was left behind Like a king in exile, uncrowned in the underworld,
convulsed in undignifiedhaste. Now due to be crowned again.
Writhed like lightning, and was gone And so, Imissed my chance with one of the lords
Into the black hole, the earth-lipped fissure in the Of life.
wall-front, And I have something to expiate
At which, in the intense still noon, I stared with A pettiness.
fascination.
He thinks of the snake as king in exile who has to be
The poet put dam he was carrying
the pitcher that crowned again as he was still uncrowned in the dark
looked all around picked up a long and hurled it at the world of the earth. But after hitting him, the snake had
snake.He thought that it had not hit the snake.But he gone and the poet had missed his chance to enjoy the
noticed that there was a change in the movement of
company of one lords of life. He regretted and felt that
the snake.His body twisted like lightning and moved he must make amends for that sinful act of his.
hastily into the black hole. It was noon time. The poet Simile -(a) Like a king.
stared at this with fascination.
(b) Like a king in exile.
Simile-Writhed like lightning.
A
DRAMA

THE DEAR DEPARTED

Stanley Houghton

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan

Maximum Time =3 Hrs
The students will be able to:
Maximum Questions =40
1. Understand how greed ruins relationships.

2. Old parents are not a burden. They deserve love and respect.

3. Appreciate drama.

Revision Notes Scan to know asked for the reason. Then Mrs. Jordan informed him
more about that Mrs. Slater was perhaps deceiving everybody by
Introduction thistopic. trying to steal the clock and the bureau before anybody
arrived. Grandfather got angry. He told them that he
"The Dear Departed' is written by
William Stanley Houghton who had decided to change his will. He further added that
The
he would give away everything to somebody who
was a famous English dramatist. Dear
Departed by cared him and not his daughters who considered
for
The drama satirize the degradation
of moral values in the British Stanley him to be a burden. The sisters were unable to digest
Houghton
middle-class. The dialogues of the this. They apologised but grandfather didn't listen to

drama clearly depict the dramatists' them. Then he told them about his plans, that he was
remarkable gift for dialogues. going to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks, the keeper of
Ring-O-Bells' and alter his will in her name. He invited
Summary them to attend his marriage on Monday, twelve o'clock
at St. Philip's Church and left the house.
"The Dear Departed' is dedicated to the old people who
are neglected due to the increasing materialism of their Theme
families. Abel Merry weather an old man who
is had

two daughters, Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan. One day, The Dear Departed' brings out the materialistic attitude

Mrs. Slater 'found him dead'. She informed Mrs. Jordan of children. It focuses on the greed of children who are
more interested in inheriting a lion share from their
and her husband Ben and began waiting for them.
Meanwhile, she discussed with her husband what to parents property than for their welfare. They show no
do about a clock and the bureau -a writing desk with
feelings towards their elders who, in turn, feel cut off

from life. Children behave in an irresponsible manner

drawers, which she always liked and wanted to possess.
and do not have any respect for their parents. They
Suddenly, an idea mind and she decided to
struck her
have become self centred but one must realise that
bring the clock and the bureau down to her room before greed is never satiated. It is love which teaches you to
the arrival of Mrs. Jordan. Henry did not approve of
and makes
it
give you selfless.
but later helped in getting the bureau down. It was at
the moment of shifting that the Jordans arrived. But Major Characters
they never realized whathad happened. All of thenm sat
Abel Merry Weather Grandfather
to have tea. They discussed the obituary announcement
in the papers and premium payment. The
insurance Mrs. Slater Daughters of Abel Merry
little daughter of the Slaters Victoria -
put them in a Weather

doubt when she said that she saw grandfather going to Mrs. Jordan Daughters of Abel Merry
Ring-O-Bells' instead of the insurance office. She was Weather
told by her mother to bring the keys so that they could
Henry Slater Sons-in-law of Abel
find the premium receipt in the drawers. Victoria went
Merry Weather
up reluctantly but the next moment she was back when
she saw grandfather rising from his bed. She informed Ben Jordan
everyone downstairs. By the time they came out of Victoria Slater Daughter of Henry
their shock, grandfather came down. told them that He and Amelia Slater. She
he had a headache and so was a bit dazed. It was here is ten year old and
during the discussion that he noticed that his clock and quite attached to her
bureau were in Henry's room. He became annoyed and grandfather.
 JULIUSCAESAR
*******.
-Willian Shakespeare
CHAPTER
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Study Plan
Maximum Time=3Hrs
The students will be able to:
Maximum Questions=82
1. ldentify and discuss examples of fate, fortune,and the supernatural in the play.

2. Understand notions of democracy vs. tyranny.

3. ldentify the primary conflicts and themes in Julius Caesar.

4. Become familiar with the historical events depicted in Julius Caesar.

Scan to know Calpurnia requests Caesar not to go out of the house

Revision Notes
more about today. But Caesar tries to console her that the troubles
thistopic.
Introduction will disappear as they see Caesar's face. His wife is still

adamant. She argues as she has been scared by what she

William Shakespeare, one of the has seen in the dream. A lioness has delivered a baby in
greatest English dranmatists, is known the streets. Graves have opened up and thrown their
for his plays like Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar
dead bodies out. Terrible warriors have been fighting in
Othello, As You Like Twelfth
the sky. Blood has upon the Capitol. Horses have
It,
fallen
Night, The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar etc. His neighed and dead men have been heard groaning.
plays are written in verses.
At these words, Caesar only remarks that cowards
Julius Caesar is a historical play :The play a Roman die many times before their death, but the brave die
tragedy by Shakespeare was probably written and
only once. Caesar is firm like a pole star. Meanwhile,
performed in 1599. It begins with the events the
Decius Brutus comes to fetch Caesar to the Senate.
year 44BC. Caesar, already erndowed with dictatorship, Caesar refused to go out but Decius wants to know
had returned to Rome from a successful campaign in the reason. Caesar tells him about Calpurnia's dream.
Spain, and when there were fears that he could allow Decius cleverly twists the interpretation of this dream
himself to be a crowned king. Jealous of Caesar's
to his advantage and calls it auspicious. He says that
growing powerand afraid that he may one day become Romans bathing their hand is Caesar's blood can be
a dictator, Cassius instigates a conspiracy to murder
the sign of prosperity. Thus, his blood shall turn out to
Caesar. He realises that to gain legitimacy in the eyes
be a thing of great respect. Being impressed by Decius'
of Romans, he must win over the noble Brutus to his
interpretation Caesar decides to go to the Senate
side, for Brutus is the most trusted and respected man House. Cassius has personal grudge against Caesar and
in Rome. Brutus, the idealist, joins the conspiracy organises the conspiracy against Caesar. Cassius begins
feeling everyone is driven by motives as honourable to flatter Brutus with the intention of having his moral
own.Ironically
as his Caesar is murdered at the foot of
support for the conspiracy since Decius is the dearest
Pompeys statue. Caesar's friend Antony then stirred
friend of Caesar. Cassius cleverly puts into his mind
the people to fury against the conspirators by a skilful the fear that Rome is in danger of losing its freedom
speech at Caesar's funeral. Motivated by Antony's as a Republic. At the Senate House, the conspirators
speech they mourn the death of Caesar and decided to present to him a petition on behalf of Cimber who has
bury Caesar's body in the sacred place. People rise to been banished by Caesar. When Caesar turns down
burn the traitors's houses.
their request, they stab him and kill him. Seeing Brutus,
Caesar is shocked and says, "Et-tu-Brute".
Summary
The conspirators shout, Liberty, freedom and
The Romans are preparing to welcome Julius Caesar, enfranchisement'. But Mark Antony is extremely
who is returning home after achieving a victory over shocked to see Caesar stabbed. He asks the conspirators
the followers of Pompey. The people are rejoicing and to kill hinm as well, but Brutus says that they can't kill
are in holiday mood.The Tribunes do not feel that the him as they have killed Caesar in the larger interest of
people should feel happy. They are opposed to Caesar Rome. Mark Antony senses the situation at once and
whom they consider to be a dictator. begins to flatter them. He proposes for peace and begs
The scene takes place at Caesar's house. Caesar is to be pardoned by Caesar's dead body in doing so.
scheduled to go to the Senate where he is going He seeks permission from Brutus to produce Caesar's
to be crowned. Caesar says that there has been a body at the market place and perform the last rites later.

great commotion in the earth and in the sky tonight. Brutus consents but Cassius asks Brutus not to oblige
Calpurnia, Caesar's wife has cried thrice in her sleep. him. Brutus gives permission only after he justifies

She has dreamt that Caesar has been murdered. Caesar's murder.
192 Oswaal CBSE Question Bank, ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE, Class-X

Brutus goes to the pulpit to explain the murder. tells He into joining the conspiracy against Caesar. At heart, it
the crowd that Caesar has been put to death because of is Brutus' idealism that causes his ultimate downfall.

his ambition to become the king of Rome.After Brutus Antony recognises this fact when addressing Brutus'
finishes his address, Antony is given an opportunity dead bodythe conclusion of the play, saying "This
at

to speak. Antony, being one of the followers of Caesar was the noblest Roman of them all"
exposes the claim of the conspirators. incites the He (d)Identities, both Public and Private :In Julius Caesar,
mob to mutiny. He also shows them Caesar's will in
the audience is able to see both the private and public
which Caesar has generously gifted money to every sides of and Brutus. Caesar is a powerful
Caesar
Roman citizen. The people rise up in revolt against the confident man who leads great armies and effectively
conspirators, burn their houses, Cassius and Brutus are rules the Roman Empire, yet he is not without his
defeated in a battle. Both commit suicide.
weakness. He is highly superstitious, suffers from
epilepsy, and ultimately proves to be human when
Theme of The Play
murdered by his closest friend. Similarly, Brutus is
(a)Heroes vs. Villains : Caesar and Brutus both are strong and refuses to show weakness when in public,

perceived to be heroes and villains in Julius Caesar. whether it be while speaking to the plebeians or

At the opening of the play, Caesar is hailed for his leading an army into battle. However, see through we
his intimate conversations with his wife Portia and
conquests and is admired for his apparent humility
upon refusing the crown. However, once murdered, with Cassius, that Brutus is often unsure and greatly

Caesar is painted (by Brutus et al) aspower hungry

a
pained. Specifically, after fleeing Rome,Brutus learns
that his wife has committed suicide, and is heartbroken
leader with the intentions of enslaving all of Rome.
Brutus' speech, which follows Caesar's death, when discussing it with Cassius. However, as soon as

successfully manipulates the plebeian perspective. soldiers enter his tent, he pretends to not know of her
By the end of his speech, the crowd is hailing Brutus death, and when told of it he does not react with great
emotion.
for killing Caesar, whom they now perceive as a great
villain. But, the crowd is easily swayed once again (e)Ambition and Conflict :Caesar is a great, and an
when Antony speaks. Following Brutus remarks, ambitious man.His ambition is what worries Brutus,
Antonygives Caesar's eulogy, manipulating the crowd and ultimately leads to Brutus joining the conspiracy
with stories of Caesar's kindness, and sharing the to murder Caesar. Cassius is also a very ambitious man,
details of Caesar's will, which leaves money to every and because he is so jealous of Caesar's power, wishes
Roman. At the end of Antony's speech, the crowd is to kill him to gain more power for himself. Ultimately,
once again supportive of Caesar, mourns his death, and the ambition of these two men leads to their downfalls

seeks to kill Brutus, Cassius, and the other murderers. and to virtual anarchy in the streets of Rome. Great
The swaying opinions of the plebeians, and the great ambition leads to great conflict.

differences in opinion that the play presents leave the ()Power of Speech: Speech plays a very important role in
audience to determine who, if anyone, is the hero of the plot developmernts of Julius Caesar. The plebeians
the play, and who,if anyone, is the villain. are easily swayed into greatly opposing viewpoints
(b)Omens :The seriousness with which the Romans through Brutus' and Antony's speeches. Antony's
looked towards onmens is evident throughout Julius great manipulation of the crowd causes anarchy in the
Caesar; however ominous warnings and negative streets of Rome and creates the support for a mission to
omens are often overlooked or misinterpreted. For avenge Caesar's death. In addition, Brutus is hesitant
example, Caesar (ignores the soothsayer's warning at first to join the conspiracy against Caesar but after
to "beware the ides of March"), ignores Calpurnia's speaking with the highly manipulative Cassius, Brutus
detailed dream of his death, and ignores the negative is more convinced. Then, after receiving an anonymous
omen of the sacrificial animal who has no heart. After
letter(actuallywritten by Cassius) that decries the rule
ignoring these omens, Caesar dies. In addition, after the of Caesar, Brutus is convinced he must take action and
festival of Lupercalia, Casca sees many strange omens, agrees to join Cassius' murderous plot.
such as a man with a burning hand, a lion roaming
on the streets, and an owl screeching during the day Major Characters
time. Cicero, with whom Casca confers regarding these
Julius Caesar Emperor of Rome;assassinated by
matters, explains that people will interpret omens as Cassius, Marcus Brutus and many
they see fit, inventing their own explanations. True to
others who were jealous of him.
form, Casca interprets these strange omens as warnings Caesar's wife. She had advised
Calpurnia
of Caesar's wish to rule all of Rome with an iron hand,
Caesar not to go out on 15h
and to destroy the Republic. March. Caesar failed to listen her.
(c)Idealism :Brutus wishes for an ideal world. He is Marcus Brutus - Caesar's best friend. He later

happily married, lives in a beautiful home, and is joined the conspirators and
successful according to all measures of Roman living. stabbed Caesar.
However, Brutus wishes for perfection in his life, Cassius The villain. He was jealous of
and although he loves Caesar, Brutus fears Caesar is Caesar. He poisoned Brutus mind
too power hungry, and might possibly destroy the and convinced him that Caesar
Repüblic. Cassius understands Brutus idealism and would become a disaster for

takes advantage of it in order to manipulate Brutus Rome.

Drama 193

• Mark Antony A loyal friend of Caesar. He had fear of death. Everyone knows that one day he has to
no involvenment in Caesar's die and that no one can escape from death yet he is still

assassination. He turned the mob afraid of death.

against Cassius and Brutus. 7. "Shall Caesar send a lie? Have Iin conquests stretched
Conspirators Cassius, Brutus, Casca, Cinna,
mine arm so far to tell the grey beards the truth?"
Trebonius, Metellus, Publius,

Decius Brutus andmany others. When Decius Brutus came to call Caesar, Calpurnia told

him that Caesar was not feeling

well so as to stop Caesar
Important Quotes [Explanation] from going to the Senate House. But Caesar found it

1. Et tu Brute?
cowardly to tell a lie to the old senators. He found it
cowardly because he was a warrior who defeated any
Brutus was one of Caesar's best loved friends. Caesar
one he attacked and one whom no mighty king could
had always placed his trust in Brutus than in any defeat.

one else. But the sight of this very Brutus among the
8. "Mostmighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Lest I

conspirators was more than a shock for Caesar. 'Et tu

be laughed at when I tell them so."
Brute' reveals a betrayed friend's helpless situation

demanding an explanation for his friend's turning Decius Brutus didn't know why Caesar was not coming
to the Senate House. As his mission was to take Caesar
against him for whatever reasons.
out of his house at any cost, he demanded a reason for
2. "And you have come in happy time."
hisnot coming so that he could manipulate it for his
On the day when the Senate had planned to crown oWn end.
JuliusCaesar as the emperor of Rome, Calpurnia,
9. "From you great Rome shall suck reviving blood and
Caesar's wife stopped him from going out of home
that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics
due to her personal fears resulting from her dreams.
and cognizance."
Unwillingly thinking of sending Mark Antony to send
this message to the Senate,Caesar was cheered by the Decius Brutus misinterpreted Calpurnia's dream in
unexpected coming of Marcus Brutus and therefore such a way that the tactful man removed all fears from
exclaimed that he had come at the right time. the Caesar's mind. He said that the blood that came

3. "I never stood on Ceremonies." from Caesar signified the new spirit and life that Rome
would get Caesar became the new emperor. He also
if
Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, had bad dreams which
said that Caesar's fame would reach the whole world
foretold her that something was amiss for Caesar and
and great men of the world would love to keep the
she wanted Caesar to stay at home.She told that she
had never believed in superstitions as the others had, objects used by Caesar in honour of his memory.
yet was forced to believe the warnings in the dreams 10."That every like is not the same, O Caesar,the heart of
she had. Brutus yearns to think upon."

4. "When beggars die there are no comets seen; the Brutus and Caesar were great friends and Caesar was
heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princess." not aware of the fact that his friend had turned against
him and joined the conspirators to kill him. Brutus
When ordinary people die there will be no change in
wants Caesar to understand that one cannot judge a
the sky but when great people die there will be a lot
of turmoil and commotion in the sky. Comets may fall, person's mind from his appearance.
storms nay blow and thunder and lightning will fill the 11. "These couching and lowly courtesies might fire the
sky. blood of ordinary men, and turn pre-ordinance and
first decree into law of children."
5. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the
valiant never tastes death but once." Metallus Cimber was showing all kinds of respect to

Due to the fear of death the cowards experience a lot Caesar by bending and crying for the release of his
of death during their lifetinme while the really brave brother Publius Cimber who had been banished by
people die only once. Caesar. Caesar wants Metellus to understand that he

6. "Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems was not like the other men about decision making. Their

tome most strange that men should fear seeing that decisions keep on changing in tune with situations

death, a necessary end will come when it will come." whereas Caesar's decisions cannot be changed for the
sake of their dear and near ones because they do not
have heard about many wonders in the world but do
I I

know how important the rules are for nation.

not consider any of them more amazing than people's