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English Literature

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LINE / STANZA / SCENE WISE ANALYSIS OFPOEMS, STORIES & DRAMA

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ICSE-IX

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ICSE – IX ENGLISHTRIED TRUSTED UNPARALLELED..

2 TIWARI TUTORIALS*ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEARANALYSIS

Here, we attempt a crucial analysis of Where the Mind iswithout Fear by Rabindranath Tagore. Where the Mind is withoutFear consists of eleven lines and somewhat resembles the style of asonnet. In a sonnet, the first eight lines usually present an idea, areargumentative, put a proposal or a problem. If we look at the firsteight lines of Where the Mind is without Fear, we find that the linesare a form of a prayer and it does present an idea. The first few lineshave the repetition of the word ‘where’ which denotes a particularplace but it not revealed then and there. We get to know about theplace in the last line of the poem. The place is described as a place fullof positive qualities, such as, fearlessness, knowledge, unity, truth,reason, perfection etc. in the last line the poet reveals the place as‘that heaven of freedom’ and asks God to allow his country to reachthere.FORM:

The verse form of the poem is free verse, having no metricalpatterns or rhymes. He was credited for having discovered this newform of composing poems, called prose poems.

ALLITERATION in Where the Mind is Without Fear:Tagore has used alliteration in his poem, Where the Mind in

without Fear. Alliteration is the repeated use of the same consonantsound at the beginning of each word in a line of verse. Here, in thispoem, the examples of alliteration are as follows,-

‘head held high’, ‘where the world’, ‘dreary desert sand of deadhabit’ and ‘where words.’METAPHOR:

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is

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ICSE – IX ENGLISHapplied to an object or action that does not literally denote in order toimply a resemblance. In simpler words, comparing two words but notclearly stating. Examples of metaphor in the poem,-

‘clear stream of reason’ and ‘dreary desert sand of dead habit’.PERSONIFICATION:

“a tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection” is anexample of fine personification in the poem. Personification refers toattribution of human qualities to inanimate ideas. Here the ‘tirelessstriving’ has been personified like a human being stretching his armsto reach his goal through perfection.STYLE:

Where The Mind Is Without Fear was included in the volumecalled ‘Naibedya’, the original poem bears the title ‘Prarthana’ meaningprayer. The poem is a prayer to God. The poem is a form of a prayer tothe universal father-figure, presumably God. Tagore prays to the father-figure for a country where the people should be free from fears, whereknowledge would be free to all individuals and the people from allreligions should be united. He wants India to awake in such a heavenlystate.Portrayal of the British Rule:

Through the poem, the poet has revealed subtlety the miserablecondition of India during the British Rule. The state of India can beunderstood by the opposites of the phrases used in the poem. Followingfew are the examples of the phrases used,-

* Mind without fear implies a mind full of fear* Head held high implies head bowed down (no dignity)* Perfection implies imperfection* Truth implies lies

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*Knowledge for free implies restricted knowledgeThe above opposites implies the state of the country under the

British Rule and therefore the poet’s earnest prayer to the Lord toreverse the current condition of the state.

FREEDOM expressed in Where the Mind is Without FearWhere the Mind is without Fear was written when India was

under the British Rule. Tagore wanted his motherland to attain freedomfrom all levels- religious, political, moral and intellectual. Thefollowing are the kind of freedom Tagore insisted upon.

*Freedom from oppression* Freedom of thought and expression*Freedom to acquire knowledge*Freedom to speak truth*Freedom of mind*Freedom to attain perfectionThe title of the poem is very significant and appropriate to

convey the expressions and thoughts in the poem. Hope you’ll sharethis analysis of Where the Mind is Without Fear by RabindranathTagore.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ1. What hapens when the mind is without fear? Is ‘fearless’ societya just society? Why?

When the mind is without fear, one can truely enjoy one’sfreedom. According to Rabindranath Tagore, the first essentialprerequisite for people to enjoy their freedom is a fearless state.

Yes, a ‘fearless’ society is a just society as only if nation is bultwhere people have nothing to fear, then the people will be able to



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHfully appreciate their freedom.Q2. What are narrow domestic walls? What are the results ofconstructing narrow domestic walls?

The poet uses the phrase “narrow domestic walls” to suggestthe community divisions based on caste, creed, religious bigotry,gender, etc. It is called ‘narrow’ as it is a result of narrow-mindednessof people. The result of constructing such ‘narrow domestic walls’ ismore oppression and suppression by the advantageous people on theless advantageous.Q3. What is broken up in fragments and how?

The world, that is the humanity is broken up in fragments bythe ‘narrow domestic walls’ such as gender discrimination, casteistoppression, communal hatred and violence and terrorist attackshappening all around us.Q4. Do you think that we still live in a world which is broken up infragments by narrow domestic walls? Why do you think so?

Yes, we still live in a world broken up in fragments by ‘narrowdomestic walls” as we still have casteist oppression, genderdiscrimination and violence and communal harred and riots, andterrorist attacks happening all around us.Q5. What is the truth that the poet is referring to? Who is the poet?What is his claim to fame?

The poet is referring to man’s conscience when he talks abouttruth.

Rabindranath Tagore is the poet.Rabindranath Tagore is a poet, novelist, dramatist, short story

writer, essayist, painter, lyricist and musician. He composed about2,230 songs, did numerous paintings, wrote eight novels (The Home

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and the World, Gora, Four Chapters) and four novellas, many volumesof short stories, non-fictional essays, and many plays. He won NobelPrize for ‘Gitanjali’.Q6. What do you understand by ‘clear stream of reason”? Whatis reason?

The phrase “clear stream of reason” signifies pure reason.Reason is being rational and not tied by superstition and

unreasonable traditions.Q7. What is the “dead habit” according to the poet? What shouldhappen to dead habits? Why or why not?

By the phrase “dead habits”, Rabindranath Tagore refers to oldcustoms.

The poet is of the view that the dead habits should not bindpeople’s mind. People should think and act rationally and not blindlyfollow old customs.

If people do not have rational mind and merely follow oldcustoms then it would be determental for the nation as the nation wouldnot progress.Q8. How does dead habits obstruct the realization of freedom?

Dead habits or old customs make a nation as arid as desert andmake man slave to irrational beliefs and thoughts which according tothe poet obstructs true realization of India’s freedom.Q9. Who is ‘thee’? What significance does ‘thee’ has in the worksof the poet?

Rabindranath Tagore refers to God by saying ‘thee’.Tagore being a spiritual person and mystic poet tries to locate

the ultimate truth in God and therefore in his works God and spiritualityhas a special significance.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHQ10. What does the poet mean by “ever widening thought andaction”?

Rabindranath Tagore thinks that one should always try toprogress, develop and upgrade oneself with one’s thoughts and actioinswhich are being referred to as ‘ever-widening”. If one thinks and actsaccordingly then one is always thinking of developing, that is‘widening’ and yearning for more.Q11. What is “Heaven of freedom” according to the poet?

“Heaven of Freedom” is freedom in its ideal state when peopleare fearless and rational to think and do whatever they feel like, whenpeople can live with self-respect and pursue knowledge according totheir wish.Q12. Is the dream of the poet realized? Is so, how? It not, why not?

No, the poet’s dream is not realized as well have not got thekind of freedom that Rabidranath Tagore envisioned in the poem. Itis true that we have achieved freedom; but we still live in a societywhere various manmade discriminations are dividing the society,where ‘fear’ grips our mind still, where violence is still prevalent invarious aspects of social and cultural life, where everyone is not ina situation to pursue knowlede as they want to and where we arestill victims of old customs.

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THE INCHCAPE ROCKANALYSIS

STYLE:The Inchcape Rock is written in the form of a ballad interwoven

with a number of poetical devices to convey a moral lesson- ‘As yousow, so shall you reap.’

A ballad is a long, narrative poem that tells a story. The InchcapeRock tells the story of a wicked pirate who cuts off the bell on theInchcape Rock, which was put there by an abbot. He did so out ofselfish motive and envy. In the end his own ship crashes against theRock and is drowned in the sea. The moral of the poem goes like thisthat ‘he who digs a pit for others, falls into it.’ Thus the ballad hasadventure, heroism, jealousy and a moral.RHYMING SCHEME:

A ballad is traditionally sung by a wandering musician. Here,each stanza of the first line rhymes with the second and the third withthe fourth. An example is given below:

“The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seenA darker speck on the ocean green;Sir Ralph the Rover, walk’d his deckAnd he fix’d his eye on the darker speck.”

ALLITERATION:Alliteration is the close repetition of the consonant sounds at

the beginning of words to facilitate narration. Examples of alliterationin the poem are,-

a. The ship was as still as she could beb. Without either sign or sound of their shock

PERSONIFICATION:



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHPersonification is a figure of speech in which inanimate objects

or abstract ideas are given human attributes or feelings. An exampleof Personification in the poem is:

“The Ship was as still as she could beHer sails from heaven received no motion,Her keel was steady in the ocean.”

METAPHOR:A metaphor is that figure of speech where comparison of two

different things are implied but not clearly stated. Example of metaphorin the poem is given below,-

“A sound as if with the Inchcape BellThe Devil below was ringing his knell.”

DESCRIPTIVE TECHNIQUES:The poet has used descriptive and narrative techniques to

enhance the effect of the poem. The poem, The Inchcape Rock,provides a fine verbal image of the calm atmosphere of the sea. Thenthe Inchcape Rock is introduced, the old Abott’s plan of putting abell. This way the ballad glides from one incident to another verysmoothly, providing a vividly picture into the readers minds.

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Example of Visual images in the poem:1. The sun in heaven was shining gay.2. The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock.Examples of Sound images in the poem:1. And over the waves its warning rung.2. The sea birds screamed as they wheeled round,And there was joyance in their sound.

DIDACTIC POEM:The poem, The Inchcape Rock, teaches a moral lesson- As you

sow, so shall you reap. A poem with a moral theme is called a didacticpoem. The poem proves the principle that crime gets its ownpunishment. The Rover, cuts off the bell to peeve the good Abbot andthe other helpless sailors but in the end he falls into his own laid trap.Remorse and regrets later overtake him but it was too late already.

“Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair,He cursed himself in despair”

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ1. Who had placed the Inchcape Bell on the Rock? Why did he dothat? What can you conclude from this action about his character?

The abbot of Aberbrothok placed the Inchcape Bell on the Rock.He did it so that no ship hits the rock and perishes.From this action, one can conclude that the Abbot of Aberbrothok

was a kind man who thought about others (altruistic) and did things tohelp others.Q2. How did the Inchcape Bell work? What was the outcome of itsoperation?

The Inchcape Bell was placed on the rock in such a manner that



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHit would float and swing over the waves whenever there is a storm.

The bell would thus provide a warning to the mariners that thereis the Inchcape Rock and would help them in locating it so that theship does not hit the rock and perish.Q3. What is meant by “The buoy of the Inchcape Bell”? Why did itlook like a darker speck? What does the ocean green suggest to you?

The phrase “The buoy of the Inchcape Bell” means “theanchored float” (showing navigable) above the Inchcape Rock wherethe bell was placed.

It looked like “a darker speck” amidst the wide sea; it was likea darker patch.

The term “the ocean green” suggests the wide ocean whichseems to be green in colour.Q4. Who was Sir Ralph the Rover? After seeing the buoy of the bell,what thought, in regard to the bell, entered his mind?

Sir Ralph the Rover as the term ‘rover’ suggests is a sea pirate.After seeing the buoy of the bell, Sir Ralph the Rover thinks of

cutting of the bell of the Inchcape Rock so that it drowns and thesailors would not anymore bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok.Q5. What type of character was the Rover? Compare his characterto that of the Abbot.

The Rover is a jealous and villainous man.Whereas the Rover is jealous of the Abbot of Aberbrothok (who

is altruistic and thinks about others’ good) as mariners bless him forplacing the bell on Inchcape Rock, Sir Ralph the Rover is villainousand selfish as he plans to cut off the bell.Q6. When and why did the mariners bless the Abbot? What lessondo you learn from the life of Abbot? What are your feelings for him?

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Whenever the mariners reached near the Inchcape Rock, theycould hear the warning bell from the Inchcape Rock which the Abbothad placed and they would bless the Abbot.

From the life of the Abbot we can learn that we should alwaysthink of doing good to others. One feels that he is a great man andthinks about others.Q7. What bell is referred to in the extract? Who is indicated bythe word ‘next’? Why won’t the next who comes bless the Abbot ofAberbrothok?

The bell tht the Abbot of the Aberbrothok placed on the InchcapeRock is referred to in the extract.

The word “next” refers to the mariners who reach the Inchcapebell after Sir Ralph the Rover placed the bell there.

The “next’ who comes to the Inchcape Rock will not bless theAbbot of berbrothok as the bell won’t be there anymore to remind ofthe altruistic deed of the Abbot.Q8. After the incident referred to in the extract, where does Ralphgo? Why? What degree of success does he have in his mission?

After cutting off the bell, Ralph went off to faraway places onthe sea.

He went away to plunder and grow rich.He was successful in his mission of plundering and amassed great

wealth, but to be drowned when he again reached the Inchcape Rock.Q9. Where does Ralph finally wish to go? What does he suddenlysee in the sky? What is the condition of the weather that day?

Ralph finally wishes to go to Scotland’s shore.He sees that the sky is covered with a thick haze and he cannot

see the sun anymore. It is so dark that no one was able to see anything.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHQ10. Where does he wish to go? What kind of weather does heface? How is Sir Ralph optimistic about the weather?

Ralph wishes to go to Scotland’s shore.The weather is grim as it is dark with thick haze.Ralph is optimistic that soon the moon will rise and provide some

light on the sea.Q11. What does one sailor complain and say? What does thesecond sailor say? What does the speech of the second sailorindicate? What emotion is aroused in the second sailor?

One of the sailors complained that he could not hear anythingbecause the breakers were making a deafening sound.

The second sailor said that he could not tell where they wereand wished he could hear the Inchcape Bell.

The speech of the second sailor indicates that Sir Ralph theRover was wrong in cutting off the bell.

The emotion of Ralph being wrong and villainous is aroused inthe second sailor’s mind.Q12. Why could not the sailor hear anything? What would they haveliked to hear? Where did they drift? What happened to them then?

The sailor could not hear anything as the breakers were makinga deafening sound.

They would have liked to hear the Inchcape Bell.They drifted towards the Inchcape Rock.They were hit against the Inchcape Rock and drowned.

Q13. Do you like the way the poem ends? Give two reasons to justifyyour answer.

Yes, one likes the way the poem ends as (i) the Rover waspunished by his evil act and (ii) the providence did justice.

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Q14. Why does Sir Ralph tear his hair? What despair is referred toin the extract?

Sir Ralph tore his hair as he is about to be drowned with hisship for his own evil act of cutting of the bell.

The despair is that he, being jealous, cuts off the bell and hisship is now hit against the rock to be drowned.Q15. What makes the ship sink? Why does Sir Ralph curse himself?

The ship sinks as it has hit the Inchcape Rock.He curses himself as he has cut off the bell from the Inchcape

Rock which warned mariners about the rock.Q16. To what does Sir Ralph compare the sound of the bell? Why?

Sir Ralph compares the sound of the bell with the Devil ringingthe death knell.

He does so as he knows that with the drowning ship he is aboutto be drowned.Q17. What was the cause of his ‘dying fear’? What good purpose didthe Inchcape Bell serve? For what purpose is the Bell in the extractnow referred to by the poet?

His “dying fear” is that his ship is about to sink and he is goingto die.

The Inchcape Bell served the function of warning the marinersof the dangerous rock.

The bell in the extract refers to the bell that the Devil rings atone’s death.Q18. Explain the meaning and significance of the “dreadful sound”.Earlier the Rover had cut off the Bell. What was the comment whenhe did that? In what way was his comment after cutting the bell aprophecy of his own doom?



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHThe dreadful sound is the sound of the devil ringing one’s death

knell.Earlier when the Rover cut off the bell he said that the next who

would come to the Inchcape Rock would not bless the Abbot ofAberbrothok anymore.

It was a prophecy of his own doom as when he himself wasdrifted to the Inchcape Rock, there was no bell to warn him about therock and thus his ship hit against the rock and sank.Q19. What are your feelings at the end of the poem? What do youlearn from the poem?

At the end of the poem the readers’ feelings were that one whodigs a pit for others, falls into it himself. One learns that when oneintends to harm others by doing a wrong deed one becomes a victimof the deed himself.

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IN THE BAZAARS OF HYDERABADANALYSIS

Sarojini Naidu is a poet of Indian thought and culture and herpoems described Indian flora and fauna, Indian customs and traditions,festivals, men and women, places legends of kings and queens etc. Inher poem, In The Bazaars of Hyderabad, she has sketched the imageof a typical Indian bazaar in Hyderabad. Please go through the summaryof in the bazaars of Hyderabad if you haven’t!STYLE:

The general style of the poem is in the form of question andanswers. Each stanza begins with a question and ends with an answer.The poet enquires the sellers and vendors of the bazaar about whatthey are selling which brings out the grandeur of the traditional Indianbazaars. It also adds a special charm to the lyrics of the poem.

The poet has used vibrant rhymes to describe the magnificenceof the bazaars and the products sold.

It also adds life to her descriptions. Examples of the rhymingwords are, ‘brocade-jade’; ‘rice-spice-dice’; ring-wing-king’; ‘red-bed-dead’ and many more.LYRICAL POEM:

Lyrical poetry is a form of poetry that expresses personal andemotional feelings of the poet. In The Bazaars of Hyderabad is a lyricalpoem. It celebrates the life depicted in the bazaars of Hyderabad, theoccupation of the common folk, their joys and sorrows of everydaylife.IMAGERY:

The poet has touched upon all the five senses of the humanbody to describe the splendor of the Indian traditional bazaar.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHVisual imagery is depicted by the use of vibrant colors- silver,

crimson, purple, amber, blue, azure, red and white.Olfactory senses are stimulated by the use of the fragrances-

sandalwood, henna and the smell of flowers.Auditory imagery is created through the music played by the

sitar, the sarangi and the drums. Also the chanting of the magical spellsby the magicians produces an auditory image in the minds of thereaders.

Gustatory imagery that is the sense of taste is created throughthe portrayal of the fruits like lemons, pomegranates and plums, stapleIndian food lentils and rice.

Finally, the tactile imagery which is the sense of touch producedby the bells made for the pigeons.POETICAL DEVICES:

Simile: A simile is a figure of speech in which two dissimilarobjects are compared and the comparison is made clear by the use ofterms like ‘like’, ‘such as’ and so on. Here, in In The Bazaars ofHyderabad, ‘frail as a dragon-fly’s wing’ is a fine example of simile.The bells of made for the feet of the pigeons are compared with thedelicate wings of a dragon-fly.

Repetition: Sarojini Naidu has repeatedly asked questions inevery stanza about the different kinds of goods sold in the bazaar.

What do you sell, o ye merchants?What do you weigh, o ye vendors?

THEMES:Folk theme is one of the dominant themes in Sarojini Naidu’s

poetry. In The Bazaars of Hyderabad deals with one such theme, theloveliness and vibrancy of a traditional Indian bazaar in the city of

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Hyderabad.The poet has vividly described the bazaar with vendors selling

different kind of wares. Sarojini Naidu visits the stalls given bymerchants, maidens, pedlars, goldsmiths, fruit sellers, musicians andflower girls. She questions them about what they are selling aboutwhat they are selling and who in turn politely answer.

Through the poem, we see the bazaar witnesses both sorrowsand joys of life. They witness happy moments such as wedding whenthe bazaar is crowded with people buying garlands, jewelry etc andalso during the festive occasions like Holi, Diwali, Eid etc.

The bazaars also witness occasions of sadness like death whenkings and soldiers die and the flower girls are seen weaving sheets ofwhite flowers to be used for the dead people’s grave.Another theme in the poem is the Swadeshi Movement. Though thistheme is not explicitly mentioned in the poem but it can be deducedfrom the time period when the poem was composed. As we allknow, Sarojini Naidu was a freedom fighter and she actively tookpart in the freedom movement and was an ardent follower ofGandhiji and his ideals. . During this time, publication of Indiannewspapers was banned so she might have thought the best way tospread the message to people was through her poems. In this poem,she is asking the people of India to boycott the foreign goods andbuy products from the typical Indian markets which she hasbeautifully depicted in her poem In The Bazaars of Hyderabad.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ1. What is the poet describing? Why?

Sarojini Naidu is describing a bazaar of Hyderabad.Being a poet and a national freedom fighter, Sarojini Naidu not

only thought about fighting against the colonial British, but at the same



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHtime tried to champion Indian culture and traditions to regain the self-respect of Indians which was lost due to colonial rule. By championingIndian bazaar, the poet is trying to present the rich colourful bazaar ofIndia.Q2. What are displayed richly? Why are they called ‘richly”?

In the bazaar of Hyderabad, the merchants have richly displayedexpensive products such as turbans of chrimson and silver, tunics ofpurple brocade, mirrors with panels of amber, daggers with handlesof jade.

The merchants are rich men and what they are selling is also forthe rich as the common people cannot afford to buy these products.Therefore the poet uses the term ‘richly”.Q3. What aspect of Indian society is reflected by what the merchantsare selling?

The poet, Sarojini Naidu, is pointing out India to be a land ofthe rich where people like to possess luxurious and expensive products.If the British try to portray India as a poor, impoverished country thenthat is a false image. It has a culture of its own, a rich culture, whichcan be easily made out by the things that the merchants sell in themarket.Q4. Why do the maiden grind sandalwood, henna and spice? Whataspect of the Indian society is presented through these items?

The maidens grind sandalwood, henna and spice to be sold inthe market.

Grinding of spices, sandalwood, henna by women shows thatin India women also take part in the activities of the market.Q5. What does the words “chessman and ivory dice” suggest?

The words ‘chessman and ivory dice” suggest the Indianfascination for games, especially board games, chess and dice.

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Q6. What purpose does the poet serve by portraying thesepeople?

In this stanza, the Indian bazaar is shown to be a place whereessential commodities like ‘saffron, rice, lentils” are sold. Thecommoners come to market to buy these. Grinding of spices,sandalwood and henna by woman shows that in India women alsotake part in the activities of the market. The Indian fascination forgames, especially board games, chess and dice, is also evident fromthe passage.Q7. Who are ‘pedlars”? What do they do in market?

Pedlars are people who travel about selling wares.Pedlars sells pieces of chess, ivory dice and other such wares

in the market.Q8. Who are goldsmiths? Are goldsmiths of any special significancein the poem?

Goldsmiths are workmen who make gold jewelry.The golden jewelry that the goldsmiths are making shows the

kind of richness Indian culture represents, as luxury items like bellsare made for the feet of the pigeons, etc. which shows that Indians areluxurious in their living and not merely a poor nation as the Westwould like to believe.Q9. What picture does the poet portray through the images in thepassage?

The poet, Sarojini Naidu, wants to portray the rich culture ofIndia. Therefore, she shows how in the Indian markets goldsmiths arebusy not only making common jewelry but also luxurious delicateitems like bells for the feet of the pigeons, coverings for cases forkings, etc.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHQ10. By the list of things that goldsmiths are making, what doyou have to say about the Indian Culture?

The goldsmiths are busy making wristlets and anklets and rings,bells for the feet of blue pigeons, girdles of gold for the dancers,scabbards of gold for the king. By the list of things that Sarojini Naidupresents, we can easily guess that the poet wanted to present the richand luxurious culture of India. The luxury of the Indians can beperceived from the fact that the rich make golden coverings, casesand bands. The height of luxury is presented by the poet when bellsare shown to be made for the feet of the pigeons. The bells are as frailas the wing of a dragon fly, which points out the craftsmanship of thegoldsmiths.Q11. What is Citron? What does the poet try to achieve by mentioningdifferent fruits?

Citron is a large fruit which is similar to lemons.Through different things that are being sold in the Indian bazaar,

the poet, Sarojini Naidu wanted to appeal to all the five senses of thereaders. The colourful fruits and their smell appeal to the readers andshow how colourful the Indian market is.Q12. Why are the musicians playing the instruments in themarketplace?

Musicians also play their music in the marketplace as Indianmarket or bazaar is not only a place for buying and selling; but also ameeting place for people having multifarious interests. The music inthe market makes the place a charming one.Q13. What is the need of the magician in the marketplace? Does theexistence of magicians serve any special purpose in the poem?

Apparently there is no need of a magician in a marketplace, butmagicians in the marketplace provide a particular charm to the market

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which according to the poet is not just a place for commercialtransactions and for buying and selling everyday items and luxurystuff, but also a place for people having differennt interests to meet.

The magician serve the purpose of showing how Indianmarket is a charming place which has a beauty and fascination ofits own.Q14. What is “aeons”?

“Aeons” may meen(i) a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme

Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe; or(ii) an immeasurably long period of timeSarojini Naidu used the word here to suggest how the magicians

cast their charming spells for long period of time.Q15. Comment on the poet’s intention in the passage.

Sarojini Naidu’s intention in the passage is to create a pictureof Indian bazaar which is unique for its beauty and charm and notmerely a place of buying and selling and business transactions. Itis also a place for various other purposes, such as entertainment.The musician’s melody and the magicians spell provide for bazaara charm of its own, which is a typical feature of an Indian bazaar.People from different backgrounds, with divergent interests gatherthere for different purposes and the gathering has a charm of itsown.Q16. What does the phrase “tassels of azure and red” mean?

The phrase “tassels of azure and red” means “braids or edgingsof blue/sapphire and red colour.”Q17. What does the phrase “the sleep of the dead” mean?

The phrase “the sleep of the dead” means the perpetual sleep



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHthat the dead people enter into.Q18. What image does the poet try to point out in the abovepassage?

The image presented in the above passage is that of the beautyof the bazaar which is similar to that of assorted flowers available inthe market; but is also significant in terms of its diverse colours whichsignify the diversity of Indian culture.Q19. Comment on the colours in the passage? Is it a picture ofbeauty to the eye?

Different colours – red, sapphire, blue, white etc are presentedin the poem through the colours of flowers. It is truly a colourfulimage of an Indian Bazaar being presented by the poet as its diversecolours would represented the diversity of the Indian culture.

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SMALL PAIN IN MY CHESTANALYSIS

Small Pain in My Chest by Michael Mack was read over to5000 people, at the funeral of the first Blackhawk helicopter pilot, whowas shot down in Iraq. It is also read at the Vietnam Veterans meetings.The poem shows the pain suffered by the soldiers in a war. It alsoportrays the human spirits in times of war and crisis.STYLE:BALLAD:

Small Pain in My Chest is written in a form of ballad. A ballad isa short story in verse originally meant to be sung. It is a long narrativepoem that tells a story. It comprises of small stanzas and has a refrain.It provides the poem a musical quality. The poetical devices used inthis ballad are as follows,-Narration:

In this poem, Small Pain in My Chest, the poet has told theagony of a dying soldier on the battlefield. The poem does not describehis action but the consequences of a war and the effects on the livesof the soldiers. The poem has beautifully described the thoughts goingin the mind of a dying soldier. The soldier is shown to be smiling inorder to hide his pain.Rhyming Scheme:

The poem is consists of nine stanzas of four lines each with therhyming scheme aabb. The first lines rhyme with the second and thethird rhymes with the fourth. This pattern is designed to show thereader the flow of emotions in a poem.Refrain:

A refrain is a phrase, verse or group of verses repeated atintervals throughout the poem, especially at the end of each stanza.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISH‘Small pain in my chest’ is repeated with little variations throughoutthe poem. It has been used to focus on the pain and suffering that thesoldier is going through.Alliteration:

Alliteration is the close repetition of the consonant sounds atthe beginning of words to facilitate narration. The examples ofalliteration in the poem Small Pain in My Chest, are,

*myself more lucky*see the sun is shining*smiled a smile*seems silly*what would my wife

SYMBOLIC POEM:Small Pain in My Chest is a symbolic poem. Symbolism refers

to the use of symbols to represent ideas or facts. A small pain in thesoldier’s chest is a big conscience of humanity. The soldier asks for asip of water which symbolizes that he is asking for some understandingand concern for the human being who is suffering for no fault o his.The soldier looks around for some help but he finds nothing other thancraters in the earth, symbolizing the relics of destruction. He has beenfighting for day and night without cause. He is fatigued and then goesfor his eternal rest.

As the soldier is approaching death the sun for him is becomingdim and everything around him becomes darker. The darknesssymbolizes his death that is slowly entering his life.

At the end of the poem, when the narrator holds the soldiernear to him, their wounds get pressed. The narrator has the largerwound. The larger wound symbolizes the greater guilt on the part ofhumanity at not being able to give up wars.

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Background of the Poem:Small Pain in My Chest is based on the Vietnam War, a

prolonged struggle which began in 1955 and ended in 1975. The warstarted as an insurgency in South Vietnam sponsored by the NorthVietnamese government. It resulted in direct military intervention inthe South Vietnam by North Vietnam.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ1. What does “scores of figures” mean? What image comes toyour mind when you come across the phrase “scores of figures”?

The phrase “scores of figures” refers to the dead bodies ofsoldiers.

The image of battle field where many people have wasted theirlives comes to mind with the phrase “scores of figures”.Q2. Who is asking for help and why? To whom is he asking forhelp? What help could the person provide? Was it enough?

The soldier boy is asking for help as he is in immense pain.He is asking for help to the narrator of the peom.The soldier boy asked for some water.The help that the narrator provided to the wounded soldier boy

was not enough, as he could not save the wounded soldier from hisdeath.Q3. What is the importance of “a small pain in my chest”?

The phrase “a small pain in my chest” is significant as it is thepain caused by the bullet that has wounded the soldier in his chest andwould be the reason of his death. The pain is not small, but it connotesthe ‘smallness’ or ‘puniness’ of vision of those people who perpetratewar.Q4. What stain is being referred to in the poem? Is it merely astain?



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHThe blood stain from the wound of the soldier in his chest caused

by being hit by a bullet is referred to in the poem.It is not merely a stain; but a symbol of bloodshed that warfare

is all about and the pain and suffering the soldiers go through.Q5. What does “Asian dirt” suggest? Is it of any specialsignificance in the poem? Can one use other phrases instead of“Asian dirt”? Why?

The phrase “Asian dirt” refers to the Vietnam War as MichaelMack was a Vietnam War veteran.

Yes, instead of the word “Asian” we can use any other wordwhich refers to any war. We can do so as the peom is universal andtalks about the state and suffering of soldiers which is true of everywar throughout the world.Q6. Why does he consider himself luckier? Is he really lucky?Who are the rest? What happened to them?

The soldier boy considers himself luckier as all the other soldiersof his troop are dead, whereas he has just survived with a pain in hischest.

No, he is not lucky at all. He is not lucky as he eventuallysuccumbs to death because of the bullet that has hit his chest.

The rest are the other soldiers of his troop, his companions.The rest of the soldiers are hit by bullets and are dead.

Q7. Why was he looking for aid? What aid was he asking for?He was looking for aid as he was unable to move because of

the pain caused by the bullet that has hit him in his chest.Q8. What are ‘deep craters”? How are they created? What isthe importance of the craters is the context of the poem?

“Deep craters” are depressions on the ground.These depressions, as described in the poem, are created by the

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bomb shelling.The significance of the craters is that it shows the horror of

warfare and the waste it is. The deep craters symbolically also suggesthow warfare is a big depression for humanity at large.Q9. What made him sit down at last? For how long was he sitting?Could he stand upon his own? Why or why not?

The pain in his chest and fatigue made him sit down.He was sitting throughout the night.He could not stand up on his own as he has a pain in his chest

for being hit by a bullet.Q10. What would his wife think? Is it sinificant in any way?

The soldier boy thinks what his wife would think when she seesthat he is too weak to stand alone. Traditionally soldiers are known fortheir bravery, tolerance of pain and heroism - but all these are constructswhich seem only good in books - not in reality. In reality, war is allgory. Therefore what the wife thinks is no way significant.Q11. What would his mother opine? What image does the poemwant to evoke through this passage?

The mother of the soldier would not have imagined that her sonwould sit like this with a pain in his chest.

The poet wants to evoke the notion of how people still haveheroic notions about war.Q12. Comment on the poet’s intention of humanizing soldiers inthe war front. What purpose does it serve?

The poet Michael Mack humanizes soldiers as they are alsohuman beings and suffer pain in warfront as against the heroic notionswhich are usually portrayed about war. This kind of portrayal servesthe purpose of portraying the reality about war.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHQ13. Comment on the sentence “I’ll get a little rest ......”

The sentence “I’ll get a little rest......” suggest reality of war.War is a grim and gory affair and all the notions of heroism associatedwith war is nothing but sham. The sentence suggests the pain of thesoldier who is willing to rest.Q14. Who cannot recall? What he cannot reacall? Why?

The narrator of the poem cannot recall what happenedimmediately after the soldier boy died.

He cannot do so as he is dumbfounded by suffering andconsequent death of the soldier boy.Q15. What wound does the speaker have?

Whereas the soldier boy was wounded by a bullet in his chest,the narrator was moved by the suffering and death of the soldier boy.It shows how war is an inhuman activity and a meaningless waste.The suffering and the inhuman aspect of war wounded the narratorand it was a big blow to his “heart”; that is, his human self.Q16. How are the wounds pressed?

As the soldier boy died, the narrator pulled the soldier to himself,and the narrator could feel that their wounds were pressed againsteach other - the narrator’s would in the heart and the soldier’s pain inhis chest.Q17. Critically comment on the last line of the passage.

The last line of the passage is significant it is exactly the oppositeto what is portrayed in the poem. Whereas the poem represents theinhuman aspect of humanity at large when they get into wars; the lastline shows how the narrator feels compassionate for the dying soldier.The death of the soldier is a blow to humanity and to the heart of thenarrator.

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THE PROFESSORANALYSIS

The Professor is noted for its expression of the Indian attitude.Indians are proud of their proficiency in English but they are neverbothered about the fact that their Indian English is far from the NativeEnglish.STYLE AND FORM:

The Professor is both a conversational poem as well as a satiricalpoem. The Professor is in a conversational form, it is about aconversation between two people, a professor and his former student.The professor is the narrator in this poem and he talks about himself,his family and children. The poem is in free verse style without havingany regular metrical form. This form helps the poet to freely describethe thoughts and feelings of a retired professor. He speaks about hissons and daughters, his health, changing times and changing values,talks that are typical of a middle aged man. Thus, we can say the poetNissim Ezekiel has used a informal style to convey the thoughts ofthe old man.

A satire is a way of criticizing a person, an idea or anything else.In a satire, the human follies are attacked by using humour, irony andexaggeration. The Professor is a satirical poem where the professor isthe object of satire and is ridiculed by the poet. Through the characterof the professor, Ezekiel has satirized the educated class, living in thecities. Like an old father-figure, the professor speaks about his elevengrandchildren and then boasts about the material wealth of his sons.Moreover, the poem is a blow to the Indians who use English language,making mistakes of syntax, grammar, tense etc but still they would speakin English(they find it prestigious) rather than in their mother tongue.

Use of Hyperbole: Hyperbole means exaggerating something.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHEzekiel has shown that Indians have the habit of exaggerating foremphasis. The use of hyperbole is quite apparent in the professor’sspeech. The examples are listed below-

*Our progress is progressing.*Everything is happening with leaps and bounds.*This year I am sixty nine*You were so thin, like stick.Use of Irony: The narrator being a professor should have a well

command not only over the subject he teaches but also the languagehe uses. But the poem is full of grammatical errors. He talks like aboastful father, as he speaks of his sons-

“By God’s grace, all my childrenAre well settled in lifeOne is Sales Manager,One is Bank Manager,Both have cars.”

THEME:Urban Thinking Pattern:The Professor revolves around the typical urban mentality of

people in India. The speaker here is a professor whose academicexcellence is far above from that of a common man. Instead of havinga broad thinking, the professor has a narrow, stereotyped thinking.His views are confined to his family, children and their materialachievements in life. He talks about his daughters who are happilymarried and about his two sons who are sales and bank managersrespectively. Like a typical urban mentality, he thinks women shouldbe happily married and confined to their homes only.

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The poet has ridiculed the typical Indian mentality whichmeasures a person’s success based on monetary gains. Ezekiel hasintertwined satire, irony, humor with Indianism, urbanity and academicexcellence to draw the picture of a bereaved professor who meets oneof his former students.

This satirical poem can be aptly termed as a monologue, as theprofessor speaks and the listener does not say a word. It caricaturesthe Geography professor, Mr.Sheth, as he converses in English withone of his former students. A professor is the one who teaches, andshould be in proper command of the medium he utilizes. Therefore, itis indeed ironical.

Far from pertaining to any academic subject, the Professorshowcases his family achievements. He is indeed boastful as he poseshis sons as social trophies to be displayed, as he asserts:

Are well settled in life. One is Sales Manager, One is Bank Manager, Both have carsHe states that though he is healthy, he is retired. Therefore he

projects retirement (generally) not as personal choice but somethingborn of compulsion. He shows himself to be an exception. The poetalso mocks the Indian tradition of having rhyming names for their kids.‘Sarala and Tarala,’ he says, are married. He puts this forth with an airof satisfaction. In Indian society, the end-point for girls is (considered)to get married. Boys, on the other hand, are meant to have (or ratherproject) high-paying jobs. Thus both the sexes are victims of society.The poet yet again jibes at Indian English when he says:

You won’t believe but I have eleven grandchildren. How many issues you have? Three?



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHHe makes a string of mistakes in grammar and usage as he

states: Other also doing well, though not so well. Every family must have black sheep.Though he advocates family planning, he does not seem to adopt

it. Indians are also obsessed with the use of the present continuoustense instead of simple present tense:

We are keeping up. Our progress is progressing. Old values are going, new values are coming. Everything is happening with leaps and bounds. I am going out rarely, now and thenHis choice of words is quite humorous. It appears to be a direct

translation of the native language, with the same structure and tone.At the same time the poem is stuffed with cliches and insipidity. Thetone is serious, though subject is trivial as with the mock-heroic style.Indian English does have its stock usages as the speaker earlier asks:“No issues?” Their conversation does not even verge on academictopics. Though the poet utilizes a number of figures of speech, thelanguage is ineffectual, ungrammatical and unidiomatic.

The professor that he professes to be neither proves to be agood one academically, nor a morally supportive one, as he isincorrigibly egocentric, obsessed with his own matters. The tendencyof Indians to exaggerate (or use hyperbole) idiomatically for emphasisis also apparent:

-Now you are man of weight and consequence. -Everything is happening with leaps and bounds. -Our progress is progressing. -This year I am sixty-nine.” -You were so thin, like stick.

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He resorts to the Indian mania of comparing people to objects:You were so thin, like stick, Now you are man of weight and consequence. That is good joke.And of course, it is a good joke. Indians resort to vulgarisms

unknowingly in their endeavor to sound sophisticated:If you are coming again this side by chance, Visit please my humble residence also.

I am living just on opposite house’s backsideQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. Why does the speaker start with the phrase “Remember me?”Is it a usual way of beginning a speech? What was his profession?

The speaker, professor Sheeth, starts with the phrase “Rememberme” as he has met one of his erstwhile students whom he hasrecognized and he wants the student to recognize him.

No, it is not an usual way of beginning a speech in Englishlanguage; but in many Indian languages people talk in this manner.Professor Sheth is speaking as an average Indian speaks English whenhe/she thinks in his/her mother tongue, but translates is literally intoEnglish.

The speaker was a Professor of Geography who hassuperannuated.Q2. What do you learn about the speaker from the sentence “Now Iam retired, though my health is good.”?

Superannuation is a phase of one’s life when one gets over withthe boring everyday routine work of the office to enjoy the bliss of theold age. But like most Indians, the speaker, Professor Sheth is not



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHhappy with his retirement and therefore though he says that he is stillin good health after retirement, what he means is that he could havecarried on working.Q3. What does the speaker mean when he says that his childrenare well settled in life? Descrie the speaker’s notion of being “well-settled”?

The speaker, Professor Sheth, means that his children arematerialistically successful in life.

Professor Sheth, like most Indians, especially the middle classIndians, believe that being well-settled in life means one has a goodjob which gives him enough salary to own a house (or a flat), a smallcar, to run a family (probably with two children). Professor Seth, whilementioning his two sons who are well-settled, reiterates the samenotion.Q4. Is there gender discrimination in the way the speaker describesabout his children’s settling down in life?

Yes, Professor Sheth is biased towards his sons as he wantedthem to be materialistically successful while for his daughters, Saralaand Tarala, being sell-settled means that they are married to nice men.Professor Sheth’s mentality is very typical of the Indian society, wherethe end point of girls is to get married to men who earn well.Q5. What is the speaker talking about? What does the speaker meanwhen he says “Other also doing well, though not so well”?

The speaker, Professor Sheth, is talking about his children andtheir success in life which he measures in terms of their materialisticaccomplishments.

He says that his sons who are Sales Manager and Bank Managerand who own cars are well-settled; but there is a son who hasn’t doneso well in life in materialistic terms and therefore he terms him as a

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“black sheep”.Q6. What does the term ‘black sheep’ mean here? Who are blacksheep? Why?

The idiom “black sheep” is used to describe an odd or disreputablemember of a group, especially within a family.

The son of Professor Sheth who hasn’t done very well in life interms of materialistic prospects is being termed as “black sheep”.

He is being termed so as in a family where two brothers aresales manager and bank manager; he could not achieve any moneyearning post like these.Q7. Is there something awkward about the use of language in thesentences? If so, give examples.

Yes, the language of the extract seems awkward as ProfessorSeth is thinking in his mother tongue and directly translating to English,thus providig English language an Indian role. Moreover, it also showshis fascination for using idioms such as “black sheep”.Q8. What purpose does the poet serve by using such language?

By using this kind of English, the poet serve multiple purposes- (i) mocking an Indian professor for his English (ii) bring out theflavor of Indian English (iii) making a path for distinctiveness ofIndian English.Q9. Who are Sarla and Tarla? What are their significance in thepoem?

Sarla and Tarla are two daughters of Professor Sheth. Professorsheth says that they are married to nice boys, from which we canfigure out Professor’s mentality towards women, that their onlyobjective in life should be to get married to well settled men. Theirnames also suggest Indian fascination for rhyming names for siblings.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHQ10. What does the word “issues” mean? What opinion do youform about the speaker when he used the word ‘issues’?

The word “issues” is used in the poem to mean the number ofsons and daughters a person has. The way Professor Sheth speaksabout “issues’ suggest that he tries to gauge life in terms of how onehas fared financially and how many sons and daughters one has.Q11. What is the speaker’s opinion about family planning? What isthe humorous element in the speaker’s notioin on the subject?

Professor Sheth says that he is not against family planning; butthe way he boasts about his children and eleven grand children showsthat he does not believe in family planning in practice. It is thehumorous element.Q12. Comment on the idioms “leaps and bounds” and “now and then”?

Indians when they speak English, they have the habit of usingidioms as they think it is erudite to do so. Thus professor Sheth usesthe idiom “leaps and bounds” to mean “in fast pace” and “Now andthen” is used to mean “seldom”.Q13. “Old values are going new values are coming”. Do you agreewith this statement? Give reasons.

Yes, in every society during all times, this is the law of naturethat the old get replaced by the newer ones. This is a sign of progress.As people interact with other cultures, they adopt certain things fromother culture and progress by modifying certain values of the presentculture.Q14. What does “sound habit” signify? Who has sound habits? Whatis its consequence according to the speaker?

“Sound habit” signifies “good habits”. Professor Sheth hadsound habits during his youth because of which he thinks he is stillleading a healthy life even after superannuation.

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Q15. Comment on “you were so thin, like stick.” Who is referredhere? Give his introduction.

The erstwhile student of Professor Sheth, now the silent listenerin the poem, is referred. He was a student of the professor and isnow a successful person as he holds a significant place in societyand therefore he is being referred to as a “man of consequence.” Inhis student-life he was very thin; but now he has become a heavyman.Q16. What is a good joke? Is it really a joke? Did you enjoy the joke?

The use of phrase “man of weight and consequence” is beingreferred to by Professor Sheth as a good joke. It is a silly joke.

Not really, as the way Professor Sheth speaks English, we aremade to look down upon him.Q17. Who is “you” in these lines? What opinion do you form aboutthe person from the peom?

“You” in these liens is the erstwhle student of Professor Sheth,the silent listener in the peom.

It can be assumed that the silent listener of the poem is a manwho has achieved much in life and is a successful man. His silencesuggests that even if he is bored by Professor Sheth’s non-sense, yethe prefers to remain a quiet intent listener out of respect for a teacher.Q18. Comment on the last line?

The last line of the peom sounds funny as it is a direct translationof an expression in Indian language into English.Q19. What do you think about the speaker’s use of language?

The speaker’s English is funny as (a) it is sometimes a directtranslation of Indian language. (b) stock phrases and idioms are used.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHINDIA’S HEROES

Q. Do you agree with the author that the people who fought againstthe terrorists and helped the innocent and the injured on 26th November2008 in Mumbai are true heroes of India? Give a reasoned answer.

Yes, the people who fought against the terrorists and helped theinnocent and the injured on 26th November 2008 in Mumbai are trueheroes of India. One should remember that a true hero is the one whocan rise to the occasion and deliver his/her best for the mankind withouthesitating about his or her own life or about the lives of his/her nearand dear ones. Heroism is not in accepting any injustice and in thecourage to fight it. It is not about achieving extraordinary things; butto act extraordinarily in the difficult and hard times. It is being able tostand up to the moment of crisis and help others fight the crisis. All thepeople who fought against the terrorists on 26th November 2008 inMumbai, all the people who helped the injured and saved people’slives are heroic as they stood against terror boldly by reacting to theadverse situation. They did not think about themselves, about theirpersonal security, about the safety of their near and dear ones, but theyfelt that at the hour of crisis it was their human duty to fight theterrorists, they protect the innocent and so save the wounded, to takethe injured to the hospital. Whether Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, aNational Security Guard Commando, or Vishnu Dattaram Zende, arailway announcer is in the CST Platform of Mumbai or KarambirSingh Kang the General Manager of the Taj Hotel, Mumbai, or theAnti-Terrorism squad Chief Hemant Karkare or DIG Asok Kamte andVijay Salaskar or Mohammed Taufeeq Sheikh (Chottu Chaiwala) ayoung boy who ran tea stall outside CST staton - all of them showedtheir courage to fight against the terrorists - some by attacking theterrorists, some by saving and protecting the innocent people, someby helping the injured reach the hospitals. They are the true heroes ofIndia as they did not do anything for name and fame, but did what they

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throught to be their human duty. They are the ones who make Indiaproud as a nation. They are the ones who can be the role models forthe youth of India.

JOURNEY BY NIGHT

Q. Describe in detail Sher Singh’s courageous journey through theforest in your own words.

Sher Singh began his courageous journey in the evening - firstthe had to cross the village, then the jungle started - scrub at first,rough grass dotted with thorn trees, and then with sal. As he was goingthrough the jungle, an unknown jungle sense made him hesitate betweenone step and the next, and there was a cobra sunning itself on the pathin the last of the daylight. As Sher Singh slowlymoved away, the cobratoo swayed back. As night fell, he quickened his steps through theforest as fear was gripping his mind and the weight of his brother wastoo much for him. As he came near the river bed, he was sure that hecould go no further without rest. As he put Kunwar on the ground, heheard the jostle and squaeal of elephants. As he saw the herd ofelephants, Sher Singh was frightened, but he could do nothing. WithKunwar to carry, he could neither climb nor run. If he shouted, it wouldbring the catastrophe upon them. But soon the herd disappeared. Hepicked up Kunwar with great difficulty and stepped into the shallowriver. The water was colder than usual, as snow-water was alreadycoming down. As he swashed up on to the shore, he noticed fresh footprints of a tiger, but with great courage, he moved forward. Aroundmidnight, the second river was ahead of him. The river was full assnow had melted and the kutcha bridge, that he hoped to find, was notthere. It was submerged. There was great current of the water, andunderneath boulders moved, as if the river was grinding its teeth. SherSingh gathered some grass and plaited it into a rope. He tied the ropefound his brother and himself so they would keep together. Then he



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHentered the water just above the bridge. The river seized them and hecould not move, but then he began to move forward holding on to thisand that. With great struggle he carried on keeping his brother’s headabove water, fighting a mortal struggle. At last he succeeded in crossingthe river with great difficulty with bruises everywhere on his body.Then he came to the road. Next they were in a bullock cart then atruck. At last they were at the hospital.

HUNGER

Q. Critically comment on the interview of Kasim by Rizwan. Doyou think Rizwan’s situation is any different from Kasim’s?

The interview of Kasim by Rizwan is significant as it portraysthe state of poor Indians and how they live in poverty without thebasic needs. The interview points out how people like Kasim becauseof poverty are forced to leave their village and come to town to dopetty jobs, like rag selling as Kasim does, and lives on the streets ofthe towns and cities so that their families can barely survive.

Through the interview we come to know about the poverty ladenfamily of Kasim and how Kasim earns five hundred rupees a month tosupport his family in village. His father was a labourer and hisgrandfather used to work in somebody else’s house. Nasira Sharmaportrays how for generations, Kasim’s family has been living in abjectpoverty and has found no way out. Kasim wants his five year old sonto join his profession. When Rizwan tells him if he wants to take abank loan, he says that he is already in debt. And when Rizwan sayshim that the government can help, he merely says that last time whenhe went to a political procession, he had to sleep hungry that night.Kasim has understood the fact that he is already in debt. And whenRizwan says him that the government can help, he merely says thatlast time when he went to a political procession, he had to sleep hungrythat night. Kasim has understood the fact that the rhetoric of the

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politicians is no good and that there is no way he or his people cancome out of their poverty-laden existence. Therefore he thinks thathard work is the only way by which he can earn enough to meet hisbasic reqirement of food. The generatons of oppression have madehim a staunch non-believer in all the government policies for the poorand the destitute as he knows that the poor will never reap benefitfrom them. Therefore instead of wasting his time giving interview toRizwan, he goes to sell the old clothes to the labourers near the ditch.

Rizwan’s situation is no different at his father is dead, his motheris ill, his brothers have dropped out of school because of financialcrisis and he is now forced to take up a job as an amateur journalist.He is offered the job on the conditon that he will bring interviews offive people in the next five days and then the employers will decidewhether he is apt for the job. On his first day in the crowded marketplace, he catches hold of a rag seller and tries to interview him, withvery little success. Rizwan is famished and exhausted at the end of theday, he is worried about the next day, but he has hope that the futureholds something brighter for him.

MY LOST DOLLAR

Q. Relate briefly the efforts made by the author to recover the loaneddollar. Why do you think he was unsuccessful?

The author’s (Stephen Leacock) friend, Major Todd, was on hisway to Bermuda, and needed a dollar in change to pay his taxi. Theauthor, who was seeing him off, lent him the dollar. However, thethought that Todd had borrowed the dollar, remained with the authorand he expected Todd to return it. In fact, he actually made severalattempts to get back the dollar, but failed. The author made thefollowing attempts to get back his dollar-

(a) Met him at the platfom when Todd was on his way back



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHfrom Bermuda

(b) Suggested that they take a taxi to the club to remind himthat he has paid him taxi earlier

(c) Asked him in the club what currency it was it Bermudaand whether it was of the same value as dollar.

(d) Asked him if he kept accounts of his trip.

(e) Asked him if he felt settled down after the trip.

But none of these attempts were successful as when one friendlends a small amount to another, he or she usually does not rememberthat as it is too little an amount.

GOD LIVES IN THE PANCH

Q. “The Panch rises above worldly relatiois when he sits as ajudge”. Sow how this has been illustrated in the story “God Lives inthe Panch”.

Premchand’s short story “God Lives in the Panch” is writtenwhen the colonial British were ruling India. Premchand, through thestory is criticizing the judicial system of the British saying that Indiansalready have a rural judicial system (Panchayat) where impartialenquiry and judgements are already prevalent. When one is placed asa Panch or as the head of the Panch, he forgets about his earthly tiesand give judgment only accordiing to the norms of morality, legalityand ethics. Panchayat is a system of administration of the rural Indiawhere the elected or selected representatives of the village takedecisions for the development and day to day running of the village.Even while there are disputes in the villages, the villagers approachthe Panchayat for immediate remedial measures. Both Jumman andAlagu went to the Panchayat with their problems/disputes, both ofthem also served as the head-panch. When they were head-panch they

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decided in favour of the right/the righteous/the good as at that moment,while one is the head-panch doing justice, one is like a God deliveringjudgments with impartiality. Thus Premchand tries to show throughthe short story how both the frieds did not let any relathionship matterto them when they sat as the head-panch. The role of Panchayat is todeliver justice and one needs to be god-like in delivering justice.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHMerchant of Venice

The play has in the background the hatred that existed betweenthe Jews and the christians. In the play the main component of thehatred relates to the fact that Christians were forbidden by Church tolend money for profit (interest). Jews, on the other hand. did not haveany such restrictions and money lending was one of their main activities.Jews, in general, during medieval period. were presented as wickedand comic character and the Elizabethans took them as cruel, dogs.Shakespeare’s characterization of Jews seems to be little bit different.Shylock (the Jew), In the play, has been shown carrying the hatred forChristians, but his role is, to a little externt, away from the bloodthirsty,mindless avenger and a move towards the humanization of thepersecuted Jews.

The play also highlights the great friendship between Antonioand Bassanio; the three love angles between Bassanio and Portia;that between Jessica and Lorenzo and that between Nerissa andGratiano. (Nerissa is the maid of Portia. whereas Jessica is the Daughterof the money lender Shylock.) The negative role of Shylock is furtherhighlighted when his own daughter also desserts him for her loveLorenzo, a Christian.

The story of the play takes place in Venice (Italy). In earliertimes it was considered a place of power and wealth, when themerchant ships of different countries of the; world thronged its ports.The other place mentioned in the play, Belmont is the imaginary creationof shakespeare.

Act-I Scene - IThe play opens wilh the merchant Antonio in a strange melancholy

or sadness, which is not explained in the play. He is in a street inVenice along with his two friends Salarino and Salanio, The friends tryto explain the reason for his sad state, though Antonio himself does notget convinced, Later two more of his friends, Gratiano and Lorenzoalso come along with Bassanio. Gratiano also tries to give his own

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explanation for Antonio’s sadness and is little bit sarcastic in hiscomments. Antonio takes the comments lightly. and when they go away.starts a serious discussion with Bassanio, inquiring about his trip tomeet Portia.

The very first scene of the play makes us understand how friendlyand close Bassanio and Antonio are to each other.

Salarino’s cxplanation for Antonio’s sadness- Antonio is sadbecause he (being a rich shipping merchant) is concerned about (thesafety) of his ships which are presently in the ocean (coming to Venice),

Salanio’s cxplanation for Antonio’s sadness- He says that if he(Salanio) had such business abroad (in the ocean), as Antonio has hismind would definitely have remained concerned with such business.Indirectly he meant to say that it was not surprising if Antonio was sadpresently.

Salanio himself would have remained -• plucking grass in order to find the direction of the wind:• he would be looking at the maps to find out the ports, harbours

and the roads (directions) through which the ships would move:• anything, which could make him fear misfortune to his venture,

would have made him sad.He meant to say that something similar was happening with

Antonio presently,Salarinos examples to explain his fears, if he happened to be in

place of Antonio - Salarino explains that: If he happened to blow wind in order to cool his broth, it

would remind him of the harm (or destruction) that great wind woulddo to his ships at sea, and this thought, in turn, would make him sufferfrom ague (a fever).

He would not prefer to see the sandy hour-glass because thesand of the hour glass would remind him of the shallow water and theflat plateau of the ocean surface where his ship would get stuck and



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHwould turn down, bringing the top portion lower than the sides to touchthe sand of the sea.

• wealthy Andrew - refers to a ship with goods• ribs - the side of the ship• kiss - touch; burial the sand bed

If he happens to go to a church and see its stony structure. itwould remind him of the dangerous rocks. which, if they touch thesides of his ships, would break the ship and would scatter the cargo ofspices on the sea-water and would also cover the waves with the silkfrom the ship.

Salarino added that such misfortune would mean that one momenthe was rich and the next moment he was worth nothing Anybody whothinks all these would also think thai such thing may actually happenand this thought would definitely make the person (Antonio presently)sad.

Janus - Roman God of doors and gates. Also the protector ofstate in the time of war, He is always depicted with two heads, lookingin the opposite directions,

Nestor - Old king of Pylos (ancient Greece), famous for hiswisdom and long age. A person, who was considered serious and grave.

Gratiano’s explanation for Antonio’s sadness - Antonio remainstoo much worried about worldly matters. He adds that a person loseshis happiness if he tries to get it by showing too much concern aboutworldly matters

Gratiano’s sarcastic comments about Antonio’s sad state -He said that they were people who try to cover their facesintentionally with stillness (seriousness) so that others would thinkof them as persons of wisdom gravity and profound conceit (greatpride). Such people also make others think that whatever they sayshould be taken as God’s voice and when they speak, no one elseshould speak. He became more sarcastic by adding that such people-remain wise till the time they do not open their mouths. The moment

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they open their mouths, the listener would call them fools and thusget cursed. (In Bible, calling ones brother a fool was like gettingcursed) He gave a parting advice to Antonio by saying that heshould not try to catch this opinion of being wise by remaining(intentionally) in a sad state.

• melancholy bait - using sadness as a bait• gudgeon - an ordinary fish, which gets caught very easily

Act-I Scene - IIThe scene introduces Portia, who is in her home in Belmont.

Her father is dead and has left behind huge fortune for her and thishas created great problems for her. Suitors from around the world arecoming to win her. The other great problem that she faces is that, inhis will, her father had set a condition that who so ever chooses theright casket from the three, (the three caskets are mae of gold, silverand lead; one of the three contains the portrait of Portia, the rightcasket is the casket containing the portrait of Portia), will marry Portia.Portia did not have any other option but to marry that person, even ifshe did not like him or failed to love him.

In the scene, Portia is discussing her problems with her attendant,Nerrisa. Nerrisa speaks in favour of Portia’s father and explains thatPortia’s father was a virtuous person and all virtuous persons get goodinspirations at the time of their death; meanjng that Portia need notworry about her suitors, as a person who rightly, loved Portia, wouldbe the person, who will choose the right casket.

Already six suitors have come to win Portia and it seems thatPortia has already met them, Nerrisa wants to know what Portia feelsabout the six suitors.

Portia gives her own explanation but adds that she would bevery happy if all of them returned home saving Portia from marryingone of them. To Portia’s luck, all six decide not to take part in thelottery in order to win Portia. They said that they would like to win andmarry Portia, but not by lottery. Portia is relieved and happy, but then



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHthe message comes that the Prince of Morocco is now coming for thesame purpose.

The scene is also making the readers understand that Portia andBassanio have met earlier, probably once, and Portia [and even Nerrisa]carry a good opinion of Bassanio.

The way Portia describes the various suitors, gives the image ofPortia, She has great charm, intelligence, wit, imagination andknowledge.

Different suitors and their description (and Portia’s comment onthem) as given by Portia :-

• Neapolitan prince- The Prince of Naples (a place in Italy) - heis just like a horse (colt); he does nothing but talk about his horse; hethinks that it is one of his great qualities that he can fix the shoe-horseto his horse, himself; Portia feared that his mother was not faithful andhad a wrong relationship with a blacksmith.

• County Palatine- The Count from Palatinate (a place inGermany) - the only thing that he does is to frown; he seems to be aperson who probably does not care whether Portia chooses him ornot; even when he hears merry tales he does not smile; since he is sofull of sadness in his youth , when he grows old he will be like aphilosopher who always weeps; Portia would prefer marrying a skull(a skull with a bone in its mouth) than any of the two suitors. Sheprayed to God to protect her from these two suitors.

• Monsieur Le Bon- The Lord from France - Since God hasmade him a man for that reason only he can be called a man (he doesnot have any manly qualities). Portia says that it is a sin to mock atsomebody, but she cannot help mocking at the French Lord; he talksabout a horse more than the Prince of Naples; he frowns more thanthe Count of Palatinate: he is not a proper man as he has the badqualities of every man; even if a throstle (the bird - thrush, a smallBritish bird) sings, he starts jumping and dancing: he does fencing withhis own shadow. If Portia marries him, it would he like marrying twenty

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husbands. She adds that if the Lord hates her, she would still forgivehim, but if he loves her greatly. she would not be able to return hislove.

• Falconbridge - The young Baron of England - Portia did notsay anything to him; this is because the English man did not understandLatin, French or Italian; Portia on the other hand did not know Englishwell; though the English man was a proper man, but Portia would notlove to marry a person with whom she would have to converse in signlanguage: he was very oddly dressed - his doubllet was from Italy, hishose was from France. and his hat was from Germany and he showedbehaviour of many countries. (Remember the Pun here – ‘suit’ meansthat he was not suited for Portia; the second meaning was that he wasnot properly dressed.)

• Englishman’s neighbour. The Lord from Scotland - He haslove for his neighbour (an English man); he received one blow fromhim; he promised that he would repay him [return the blow] when heis in a position to do this; a Frenchman had given a sealed guarantee tohelp. (Here Shakespeare has made a sarcastic comment on the troublesbetween Scotland and England in general, when France gave an opensupport to Scotland, that in case of an English attack, they wouldhelp Scotland.) ,

• The young German – the nephew of Duke of Saxon - sheliked him very badly in the morning when he was not drunk; in theafternoon he was worse as he used to be drunk then; when he was athis best, he was miserable man and when he was at his worst, he washardly better than a beast; even if the worst thing happens (that is theGerman happens to choose the right casket, and becomes eligible tomarry Portia), Portia would manage to avoid marrying him.• good council the cripple - good advice is like a lame person whichmoves slowly• Sibylla - Sibyl- a traditional old woman of ancient Rome, whom Apollohad promised that she would live as many years as there were



ICSE MADE EASY

ICSE – IX ENGLISHgrains of sand in a handful; here it means a very old lady.• Diana - Goddess of moon and hunting. She symbolizes virtue, chastityand virginity.• Marquis -:- Is an Italian noble title.• Montferrat - Is the name of a place in Italy in around fifteenth century.

Act-I Scene - IIIThe present scene again shifts to Venice, but the more significant

aspect of the scene is the introduction of Shylock, the rich Jew moneylender. When Antonio told Bassanio to arrange for the money (whichBassanio required for his trip to visit Portia), from the money marketof Venice in his name, Shakespeare has made Bassanio come in contactwith Shylock, in spite of all the hatred that Christians and Jews had foreach other.

The scene makes it clear to what extent Antonio and Shylockhate each other. Shylock clearly mentions the injustices Antonio hasheaped upon him. In the present play the major aspect of the hatredrelates to the system in which Christians lend money without charginginterest where as the Jews lend money on interest. Shylock plays hisrole better by adjusting his mood as per the situation.When Antonioshows his anger, Shylock does not react and probably, follows his ownstatement that sufferance is the characteristic of the Jews. Finally it isShylock who shows his shrewd mind by adding a condition in ‘merrysport’, Antonio, probably being very sure of his ability to repay theloan, overlooks the hidden danger, though Bassanio is not very happy.

The way Antonio used to insult Shylocks-• Antonio used to abuse Shylock at Rialto about his money

business and the interest he charged on his money that he lent.• He called Shylock a misbeliever.• He called him a cut throat dog.• Spit upon Shylock’s gabardine (his robe).• Emptied is rheum upon Shylock’s beard.

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• Kicked Shylock as one kicks a dog which tries to enter thehouse.

The kindness that Shylock showed and the condition that heputs as ‘merry sport’ -

When Antonio told Shylock angrily that he need not lend moneyas a friend, Shylock showed his cool shrewd mind by remaining calmand even telling Antonio that he would give him money without chargingany interest. But in ‘merry sport’ would add a condition that if Antoniofails to repay the fixed amount at the fixed date and fixed place, Shylockwould, as penalty, extract a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’sbody that Shylock pleases.

The reference of Jacob -Abraham is considered as the patriarch from whom all Jews

trace their decent. Isaac is the son of Abraham and father of Jacoband Esau (his twin but elder brother). Jacob was the third in the lineof heirs to family estates. The first one being Abraham and the secondIsaac. Jacob should not have been the third heir as Esau was elderto Jacob. But Jacob’s mother played a trick to have Jacob as Isaac’sheir.

Jacob had gone to serve for a time under his uncle Laban. Anagreement was made between Jacob and Laban that Jacob shouldreceive for his services the lambs which were born with spots andstripes. During the breeding season Jacob placed wooden rods in sucha position that the shadows of the rods fell on the sheep. By this meansJacob is said to have influenced the sheep so much that almost all thelambs were born spotted or striped, and thus became the property ofJacob.

Shylock gave this example to explain that even the holy booksstate that one should get some profit for one’s work. Therefore charginginterest on the money that he lent was not wrong.

Why shylock refuses to dine with Antonio -Antonio being a Christian, eats pork, whereas Shylock being a



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHJew does not eat pork as the Jews consider Pigs as dirty. This refersto the story from the Bible where it is mentioned that once there wasa mad man who was possessed by devils. He had pleaded Jesus tofree him of the devils. Jesus had ordered the devils to leave the man.There happened to be a herd of pigs feeding by the hillside nearby.The evil spirits begged that they should be send into the pigs. So Jesusgave them the permission and the spirits entered the pigs. For thisreason pigs are considered as dirty by the Jews.

Reference of tax-collector -‘Publican’ word is used for tax-collector. Even in bible the

reference of tax-collector has been used in a derogatory manner.Publican is a natural term of contempt for the Jews. In order tocurse Antonio, Shylock addresses him as a fawning [servile] tax-collector.

Act-II Scene - IThe scene starts with the arrival of the Prince of Morocco,

another suitor coming to win Portia, We understand that Pieria doesnot want to marry the Prince who is of ‘dark skin’. But the tragic thingis that her father had put such a condition that if the prince chooses theright casket, Portia would not have the choice to refuse to marry him.

The different things, the prince of Morocco says in defence ofhimself:-

It can be assumed at the beginning of the scene itself that theprince, who is from a country in Africa, a person with a very darkcomplexion, will not prove to be a person for whom Portia will developa feeling of love or any sort of liking. The price seems to be aware ofit and on his own starts giving an explanation that he should not bedisliked merely for his dark skin.

The things he says to defend his dark complexion-• his dark complexion is because he is more exposed to sun [his

country being the ‘neighbour’ of the sun],

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• if a person very fair, is brought from a country from the northernpart of the world, a cold country, where the sun (Phoebus) fails to meltthe icicles and a cut is made on the skin, then his blood will not proveto be less redder than the other person. Meaning that the prince hasmore feelings of love than the fairer person,

• his dark appearance frightens the bravest person,• the most beautiful ladies of his country have loved him for his

dark complexion,• he would not like to change his complexion: the only reason he

would do it. is to seek her love and to attract her attention.The things he says in praise of himself -• with the help of his sword he has killed the king and the prince

of Persia.• he has won three battles against the Sultan of Turkey• he can out stare the boldest man on the earth.• he is braver than the most daring man on earth• he can take away the young sucking cubs from the mother

bear• he can mock [challenge] the lion who is roaring in search of

his prey.Act-II Scene - II

The scene introduces the comic character of the play, Launcelot.He is presently working as a servant to Shylock. The conversationbetween himself and his father makes the readers understand that hehas decided to leave the work at Shylock’s house and wants to workfor Bassanio.

The dialogue which takes place between the father and the sonis not serious in nature and does not carry much serious meaning.Thehumour consists in ridiculous mistakes and wrong uses of words whichLauncelot introduces in his speeches. Shylock’s image of a miserly



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHand cruel person is furthered by Launcelot’s hatred of him.

The scene can be divided into three parts. In the first partLauncelot debates with himself whether he should leave Shylock’swork and take up the service of Bassanio. In the second part,Shakespeare has brought Bassanio together with Launcelot andBassanio readily agrees to take Launcelot into his service. The thirdpart of the scene shows Gratiano requesting Bassanio to take him toBelmont, where he assures that he would behave in proper manner.

Act-II Scene - IIIThis scene introduces Jessica, the daughter of Shylock. A struggle

is going on in her heart between her loyalty to her father and her lovefor Lorenzo, a Christian whom she intendes to marry. The eagernesswith which she wants to leave her father’s house, adds to Shylock’simage of a mean person. She gives a message to Launcelot to bedelivered to Lorenzo.

Act-II Scene - IVThis scene devolops the subject of Jessica running away with

Lorenzo. Lornezo receives the letter of Jessica and is happy to knowthat Jessica has finally made her plan to run away with him.

Act-II Scene - VIThis scene tells us of the development of Jessica with Lorenzo.

Jessica does this, carrying all the gold, jewels and the ducats of herfather. Gratiano and Salarino, wearing masks, are waiting for Lorenzoin front of Shylock’s house for Lorenzo. He is late. Lorenzo and othersfinally do not participate in the masque celebration as Antonio tellsthem that the wind is favourable and Bassanio has to move by ship toBelmont.

Act-II Scene - VIIThis is the first of the three scenes, where a separate suitor will

be coming to choose the right casket. Prince of’Morocco is coming inthe scene and deliberates over the three caskets and ends up choosing

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the wrong casket.Shakespeare has made the prince speak –• separately about lead, silver and gold caskets;• the reson why the prince chooses the gold caskets and• what truth is revealed in the caskets.The prince proves to be materialistic man.How the Prince of Moracco tries to find out the right casket –• the inscription on the gold casket- ‘Who chooseth shall gain

what many men desire’.• the inscription on the silver casket - ‘Who cooseth me shall get

as much as he deserves’• the inscription on the lead casket - ‘Who chooseth me must

give and hazard all he hath’• after reading the inscriptions, he asked Portia how he would

know the right casket, she explained that the right casket contains herpicture.

• The prince started with the lead casket. He thinks whyanybody would give and risk everything for lead. A golden mind wouldnot stoop to get something worthless [like lead]. He decides not tochoose lead casket. For silver casket, he thought that since it saidthat one would get as much as one deserved, one should evaluateoneself impartially. But one’s right evaluation may not be sufficientenough to get the lady [Portia]. But the Prince thought that he shouldnot be afraid of thinking what he actually deserved - it was definitelyPortia.

• He said that he deserved Portia–because of his noble birth,– becuusc of his great fortune– because of his natural qualities [graces]– because of his breeding [upbringing]



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ICSE – IX ENGLISH– because of his love for Portia• But before he almost decides for Silver casket, he moves to

see the golden casket. The casket says that one may get what manymen desire. He thinks that everybody desires for Portia as suitors arecoming from all parts of the earth.

• He finally thinks of deciding and says that it would be damnationto think of so base a metal as lead; and silver was ten times undervaluedto gold. A gem, as rich as Portia, cannot be set in silver. So it has to beGolden casket only. He finally chooss the golden casket.

The poem written on the scroll -One has often heard that all that glitters is not gold Many people

have given their lives just to see the gold which covers the casket.Gold plated tombs also have worms inside them. If you had been aswise as you are bold, as sound [experienced) in judgement as you arestrong in body; then youwould not have been given the answer that iswritten on the scroll. You are bid farewell as your effort has failed.

Act-II Scene - VIIIThe two important developments or this scene are –– Shylock discovers• that his daughter Jessica has run away with a Christian• she has also stolen all the jewels, gold and ducats from his

house.This increases his hatred for Christians and his desire to take

revenge. The scene also starts giving indications that all may not be well

with Antonio, as rumours that he may have lost his ship starts comingup.

As Bassanio had set sail the very night Jessica had run away,Shylock suspects that Jessica and Loreze must be on the ship. Shylockgets into a confused state of outrage and uncontrollabel passion.

In their conversation Salanio and Salarino bring out the great

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love Antonio has for his friend Bassanio.

Act-II Scene - IXIn this scene the second suitor, the prince of Arragon is coming

to choose the right casket in order to win Portia. Fortunately for Portia,this prince also chooses the wrong casket. He chooses the silver casket.

The conditions repeated by the prince :-• he will not be disclosing to anyone which casket he chose• if thefails to choose the right casket, never in his life he will

woo a lady for marriage• if he fails to choose the right casket, straight away he will

leave the place and go away.How the prince tries to choose the right casket :• for the lead casket he say the following :-

by ‘many men’, the prince meant the foolish masses.such people, choose those things which look good outwardlysuch people do not learn more than what their sight can

make them understand; they do not look inside or look for the innermeaning,

they are like the martlet, which builds nest on the outerwall, which is exposed to the nature, where disaster can be forced andwhich is on the path of danger.

the prince thought that he would not go with what thecommon people desire.

he does not want to go along with the common people andrank himself among the ignorant and foolish.

• for the silver casket, which said that one shall get as much asone deserves, the prince thought that it was quite right.

the prince thought that a person cannot cheat fate by tryingto be honourable without having own merit.



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ICSE – IX ENGLISHone should got pretend to have the dignity that one does not

deserveif only estates degrees, and offices were not obtained in a

dishonest manner and real honour was obtained through merit onlyif this was done, many who stand bare-head [without

honour] would have actually stood with their head covered [with honour]and many who are giving command today, would have been

commanded [obeyed orders] by others.how many low peasantry [people without merit, not really

noble] would then have been separated (gleaned) from the presentnoble group.

conversely, how many noble people would then have beenseparated from the group which presently lies in rain, and given freshhonour.

In this manner he rejects the lead and the gold casket, and finallychoose the silver casket.

What is written on the scroll found inside the silver casket-• The silver casket was refined in the fire seven times• a correct judgement that does not go wrong is also tested

seven times• there are many people who believe in what is not [illusion];

such people get only illusion of happiness.• there are foolish people, whose foolishness is covered just

because they themselves are covered with white [silvery’ hair and thiswas the case with this casket..

• no matter whom you will take as your wife, you will remain afoolish person.

• so go away, your chance is over.

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revision material for eng lit icse class 10

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