A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY

Q1. What special diet did Mrs. Pumphrey give to build Tricki up?

Q2. Why did Dr. Herriot try to sound severe when he gave strict
instructions to Mrs. Pumphrey about Tricki?

Q3. How did Mrs. Pumphrey react when she heard from the doctor
that Tricki needed to be hospitalised for a fortnight?

Q4. Write a character-sketch of Mrs. Pumphrey.

Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was a very wealthy lady. She was very loving to
her dog Tricki. She pampered overfed him. She gave him much nutritious
food. Tricki was very greedy. He never refuses food. This made him hugely
fat and lazy. Mrs. Pumphrey was much worried about him. She thought that
he was suffering from malnutrition and she gave him more food for energy.
She almost swooned Herriot told her that Tricki must be hospitalized for a
fortnight. She thought that Tricki would pine and die if he did not see his
mistress even for a single balance and was very grateful to Herriot for his
services to Tricki.

Q5. Mrs. Pumphrey says, “This is ‘A Triumph of Surgery’. Why did

she say so? Did she know what ‘, Ticki’s ailment was?

Answer: Tricki was seriously ill. He refused food. He had bouts of vomiting.
Mrs. Pumphrey was very much worried about him. She called Dr. Herriot who
was a vet surgeon. Dr. Herriot knew about Tricki’s disease. He took the dog
to his surgery. He gave Tricki no food for two days. He gave him a lot of
exercises. When Mrs. Pumphrey went to Dr. Herriot’s surgery to take Tricki
back she found him totally transformed. He had been very lazy and flabby.
But now he had been transformed into a lithe and hard-muscled animal. All
this made him say, “This is ‘A Triumph of Surgery’. No, Mrs. Pumphrey did
not know about Tricki’s ailment. She also did not know how he was cured.

DUST OF SNOW

Question1.
What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood?
How has the poet’s mood changed?
Answer:
The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles or flakes of snow. The sudden
shower in the form of the dust of snow changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s
mood changed from sad to happy. He felt refreshed and wanted to enjoy the
rest of the day.
What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’
initially? What images are used by the poet to bring about the
effect? Comment. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. Initially, the poet is in a sad mood and he is regretful. The mention of
the crow and the hemlock tree indicate gloom and sadness. Later, his mood
becomes hopeful which shows the transformative power of nature.

Q1. The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references
in literature. How is this different in this poem?
Ans. In literature, crows and hemlock trees are often associated with
negative or dark elements, such as death, decay, and danger. However, in
the poem "Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost, the use of these elements is
different.
Instead of representing negative or dark elements, the crow and hemlock
tree in the poem serves as a contrast to the transformative power of nature.
The dust of snow that falls on the poet serves as a positive and hopeful
image, and it is only through the contrast with the darkness of the crow and
hemlock that this transformation is made more pronounced.

Q2. The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify.

Ans. The poem "Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost does have some elements
that evoke a sense of black and white. Here are some reasons why:
Contrast: The poem contains contrasting images of darkness and light, with
the "crow" and "hemlock tree" representing darkness, and the "dust of snow"
representing light. This creates a visual contrast that can be associated with
black and white.
Symbolism: The crow and the hemlock tree can be seen as symbolic of
negative or dark elements, while the dust of snow can be seen as symbolic
of positive or light elements. This reinforces the sense of black-and-white
imagery in the poem.
Tone: The poem has a melancholic tone at the beginning, which can be
associated with dark or black imagery. However, this tone shifts to a more
hopeful and positive tone by the end of the poem, which can be associated
with light or white imagery.
Q3. What does dust of snow mean?

Answer: The dust of snow is snowflakes or small and soft particles of snow
that settles down on the various objects on the earth during the snowfall. 10.
What is a hemlock tree? Answer: A hemlock tree is a poisonous tree with
white flowers. It stands for sorrow. The dust of snow had covered this tree.
FIRE AND ICE

1. What is ‘fire’ a symbol of?

Answer: ‘Fire is a symbol of lust and endless desires.
2. What is ‘Ice’ a symbol of?
Answer: ‘Ice is a symbol of hatred.

3. What will fire do to the world?

Answer: Fire will consume the world to an end.

4. What will the world end in?

Answer: The world will end in the fire as well as ice.

5. Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
Answer: The poet holds with those who favour fire because the lust for
material things is increasing quickly.

6. Why do some people say that the world will end in ice?
Answer: They say so because hatred among people is increasing fast.

7. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: Robert Frost.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can
Fire and Ice contribute to it?

Answer: Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy the world.
According to the poet, `fire’ represents ‘desire’ and `ice’ represents `hatred’.
Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly, ‘hatred’
fills life with poison.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The poet equates fire with `desire’ and ice with ‘hatred’. Both of
these are growing with enormous speed. If we don’t check them from
growing, the world will perish. So we must restrain our desires and love our
fellow-beings.

3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been
mentioned in the poem? Which idea does the poet support more?

Answer: The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in ice.
Though the poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he seems to
favour the idea of the destruction of the world in a fire a little more than in
ice.
4. What does ‘fire’ and ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion
regarding the world?

Or
According to the poet, what does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ represent? Do you
agree with him?

Answer: According to the poet, ‘fire’ represents desire and ‘ice’ represents
hatred. I do agree with the poet. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf
one’s whole life. Similarly ‘hatred’ fills the whole life with poison. It makes
one hard-hearted and cruel.

5. What do people think about the ending of the world? What does
the poet think?

Answer: Some people think that someday the world will end in fire. On the
other hand. some people say. that it will end in ice. The poet has tasted both
the fire and the ice. He thinks that the world will end in fire. Here fire stands
for the tire of desire.

6. How will the world end twice?

Answer: The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Here fire
stands for the heat of desire and ice stands for hatred He thinks that our
violent desires will end the world. If it survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

8. Will this world come to an end? What does the poet say in this
regard?

Answer: Everything that has a beginning or origin, does have an end. It is

an eternal law of nature. The existing world will come to an end, someday.
The poet believed many people believe that either ‘fire’ or ‘ice’ will be the
cause of the end of the world.

9. What do people think about the end of the world? Who does the
poet side with and why?

Answer: People are divided over the cause of the end of this world. Some
people think that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions, desires and fury
will destroy this world. Others believe that ‘ice’ symbolised by cold
reasoning, indifference and hatred will be the cause of destruction. The poet
sides with those who believe that ‘fire’ or unbridled passions and desires will
result in the destruction of the world.
10. Why does the poet say, ‘I’ve tasted of desire/I hold with those
who favour fire?

Answer: The poet is familiar with the fire of passions and desires in love. He
knows it quite well that are uncontrolled desires, passions and fury lead to
our destruction. Similarly, he sides with those people who believe that ‘fire’
symbolised by unbridled passions and desires with be the real cause of the
end of the world.

11. What will be the cause of the end of the world if it has to perish
twice?

Answer: This world is not eternal. Its end is certain. The poet sides with
those people who think that ‘fire’ will cause the end of the existing world. But
if this world has to perish twice the ‘ice’ is as strong to bring the end of the
world as ‘fire’ is. Icy reasoning devoid of human love and sympathy and
hatred is sufficient to bring an end of this world.

12. How does the poet ‘know enough of hate’? Where will this ‘hate’
lead to?

Answer: ‘Icy’ or cold reasoning can lead to rigidity, indifference and

insensitiveness. This can take away all warmth of human feelings, love and
sympathy. The result can be disastrous. ‘Hatred’ born out of cold and ‘Icy’
reasoning can lead to the destruction of the world.

13. How will ‘ice’ be as ‘great’ and ‘suffice’ for causing the end of
this existing world? Do you agree with the poet?

Answer: There is no need for ‘fire’ to destroy the world. Even ‘ice’ is
sufficient and ‘strong’ enough to cause the destruction of this world. If this
world has to ‘perish twice’, then there is no need for fire to destroy it twice.
‘Ice’ is as ‘strong’ and ‘great’ a cause that can cause the end of this world.

What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The metaphors of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are used very effectively to convey
a definite message to the readers. ‘Fire’ here stands for our unbridled,
uncontrolled and unchecked passions, desires, lust and fury. Such passions
are disastrous for human beings. Similarly cold reasoning devoid of all
human warmth, love, sympathy will bring insensitivity, cruelty and rigidity.
This hatred will lead to the end of this world.