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NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller.

NCERT Solutions For Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 will help you to score more marks in your CBSE board Examination.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller

TEXTUAL EXERCISES
(Page 18)

Think About It

Question 1.
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra ? (CBSE)
Or
What was Mahendra’s most valued asset ? (CBSE)
Or
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra ? (CBSE 2017)
Answer:
Iswaran works for Mahendra. He cooks his food and washes his clothes. He packs food for him also. He is a good entertainer. He chats with him. He thus provides him a good entertainment. So he is an asset to him. However, the most valued asset of Mahendra is to entertain by inventing imaginary stories.

Question 2.
How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway ? What effect does he want to create in his listeners ?
Or
How did Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway ? (CBSE)
Answer:
Iswaran describes the uprooted tree with dramatic effects. He raises his hands and eyebrows. He builds up suspense by his description. Then he says that he saw something huge like a bushy beast. It lay spreading across the road. It affects his listeners emotionally. They are easily Affected.

Question 3.
How does he narrate the story of the tusker ? Does it appear to be plausible ?
Answer:
He narrates the story of the tusker with great confidence. First he builds up a sound background for it. With these the story seems convincing. It is because there is some supernatural in the incident.

Question 4.
Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters ?
Answer:
Iswaran is a good narrator. He is also an entertainer like TV. Iswaran builds up suspense slowly. This affects Mahendra. Then he starts taking interest in his stories. This is all like the TV. So Mahendra does not need it.

Question 5.
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night ?
Answer:
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. But on a full moon night, Mahendra sees a cloudy form. It had a bundle. He thinks it the female ghost. She is clutching a foetus. Iswaran has told of it to Mahendra earlier. So he sees it. He then breaks into a cold sweat.

Question 6.
Can you think of some other ending of the story ?
Answer:
The story can end like this : Mahendra now decides to take Iswaran to task. He tells Iswaran that there are no ghosts : What one thinks remains in the subconscious mind for long. When such situations arise, one starts fancying the things. These are of one’s subconscious level. There are no ghosts worth the name.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 11 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 11 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Summary of CBSE Class 10 English poem followed by detailed explanation of the poem along with meanings of difficult words and literary devices used in the poem.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 11 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

TEXTUAL EXERCISES
(Pages 111-112, 115-119 & 121-123)

Question 1.
Look at the picture carefully and answer the questions given below :

1. What can you see in the picture ? Does the man look happy ? Give reasons for your answer.

2. Why does he have the bird hanging around his neck ?

3. Have you heard of the expression—‘having an albatross around your neck’ ? What do you think it means ? Does it mean :

(a) something that you can always be proud of
(b) something that you have to do because you have no choice
(c) something that is with you all the time as a reminder that you have done something wrong ?

4. What is an Albatross ?

Answer:

1. I can see a man in the picture who has put his right hand on his forehead. He seems to be very unhappy and helpless. It may be because of some ‘misdeed’ that he may have done. This could have generated a feeling of guilt and repentance. Now he may be regretting over what he may have done.

2. He has the bird hanging around his neck as a mark of expiation for his ‘misdeed’. Quite possibly, he may have killed this bird unknowingly or through a moral error. Now he may be expiating for being in such a position.

3. I have not heard this expression earlier but now I hear it. I think it means ‘to regret over something which has happened but shouldn’t have happened’. It means (c).

4. An Albatross is a large white sea-bird with long wings. It is common in the Pacific and southern Oceans.

An albatross, by the way, is a large sea-bird with a wing span of about 4 m.

The expression an albatross around your neck is now part of modern-day English, but it was first used by Coleridge in his narrative poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which was written in 1798. We shall read Parts I and II.

Question 2.
Listen carefully as the teacher reads out the first part of the poem to you or makes you listen to a recording of the poem.
Answer:
Students to read the poem.

Question 3.
The teacher will now assign roles and ask you to read the poem aloud to show how the poem has been written in the first person (the parts in quotation marks spoken by the Mariner) and in the third person (where the narrator comments about the events taking place).
Answer:
For Class level activity.

Question 4.
Here are some of the archaic words used in the poem; can you match them with the words used in modem English language that mean the same ? The first one has been done for you as an example :

Answer:

Question 5.
Using the words given above rewrite PART I of the poem in your own words. The first stanza has been done as an example :

It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
‘By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp’st thou me ?

An old sailor stopped one of the three people passing by, who asked: “Old man, with your long grey beard and glittering eye, why are you stopping me ?”

Answer:

The Wedding-Guest said, “The bridegroom’s doors are opened wide and I am the next member of the family.” He further said, “Can’t you hear the noise as the guests have come and the feast has started ?”

The Ancient Mariner held him with his skinny hand and said, “There was a ship.” At this the Wedding-Guest, calling the Ancient Mariner grey-beard mad person, asked him to unhand him. The latter dropped his hand at once.

The Wedding-Guest stood silent as the Ancient Mariner held him spellbound with his glittering eye. He had no choice but to listen to him like a three years’ child under the Mariner’s will-power.

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone as he could do nothing except to hear him speak. The Ancient Mariner with bright eyes started narrating his story.

He said that their ship was cheered and cleared of the harbour. They went below the church, the hill and the lighthouse top.

The sun rose from the left out of the sea and shone brightly. It went down into the sea on the right.

The sun went higher and higher every day and stood over the mast at noon. At this the Wedding-Guest started beating his breast. It was because he heard the loud bassoon being played. And his presence there was urgently required.

The bride had entered the hall. She looked as red as a rose. The happy singers and musicians went before her nodding their heads. The Wedding-Guest wanted very much to be there but couldn’t go.

The Wedding-Guest beat his breast as he couldn’t choose anything except to hear the Ancient Mariner. The Ancient Mariner having bright eyes said, “And now there came a severe and strong storm. It struck the ship like a huge animal striking over the victim with his overspread wings and chased us towards south.”

Note : Students can also write on their own the rest of Part I. You can also take help of paraphrase of each stanza given in section II.

Question 6.
Answer the following by choosing the right option from those given below :

(a) The Ancient Mariner stopped one of the three wedding guests because ……….

1. he wanted to attend the wedding with him
2. he wanted him to sit with him
3. he wanted him to listen to his story
4. he wanted to stop him from going to the wedding.

(b) The Wedding-Guest remarked that he was ‘next of kin’ which means that

1. he was a close relation of the bridegroom
2. he was a close relation of the bride
3. he was next in line to get married
4. he had to stand next to the bridegroom during the wedding.

(c) ‘He cannot choose but hear’ means

1. the Mariner was forced to hear the story of the Wedding-Guest
2. the Wedding-Guest was forced to hear the story of the Mariner
3. the Mariner had the choice of not listening to the story of the Wedding-Guest
4. the Wedding-Guest had the choice of not listening to the story of the Mariner.

(d) ‘The sun came up upon the left, / Out of the sea came he ; ‘This line tells us that the’ ship ………

1. was moving in the northern direction
2. was moving eastwards
3. was moving in the western direction
4. was moving towards the south.

(e) The Wedding-Guest beat his breast because ……..

1. he could hear the sound of the bassoon
2. he was forced to listen to the Mariner’s tale when he wanted to attend the wedding !
3. the sound of the bassoon meant that the bride had arrived and the wedding ceremony was about to begin and he could not attend it
4. the sound of the bassoon announced the arrival of the bride and the start of the wedding ceremony.

(f) The storm blast has been described as being tyrannous because ………

1. it was so fierce that it frightened the sailors
2. it took complete control of the ship
3. the storm was very powerful
4. the sailors were at its mercy.

(g) The sailors felt depressed on reaching the land of mist and snow because ……….

1. there was no sign of any living creature
2. they felt they would die in that cold weather
3. they were surrounded by icebergs and there seemed to be no sign of life
4. everything was grey in colour and they felt very cold.

(h) The sailors were happy to see the Albatross because …………

1. it was the first sign of life and therefore gave them hope that they might survive
2. it split the icebergs around the ship and helped the ship move forward
3. it was a messenger from God and it lifted the fog and mist.
4. it gave them hope of survival by splitting the icebergs.

(i) The two things that happened after the arrival of the albatross were ………

1. the icebergs split and the Albatross became friendly with the sailors
2. the icebergs split and a strong breeze started blowing
3. the ship was pushed out of the land of mist and the ice melted
4. the Albatross started playing with the mariners and ate the food they offered.

(j) ‘It perched for vespers nine’ means ……..

1. the ship stopped sailing at nine o’clock everyday
2. the Albatross would appear at a fixed time everyday
3. the Albatross would sit on the sail or the mast everyday
4. the Albatross was a holy creature

(k) ‘God save thee, Ancient Mariner, / From the fiends that plague thee thus!—Why look’st thou so ? means ……..

1. the Mariner wanted to know why the Wedding-Guest was looking so tormented
2. the Wedding-Guest wanted to know why the Mariner was looking so tormented
3. the Wedding-Guest wanted to know whether some creatures were troubling the Ancient Mariner
4. the Ancient Mariner wanted to know whether something was troubling the Wedding-Guest.

Answer:

(a) → 3. he wanted him to listen to his story
(b) → 1. he was a close relation of the bridegroom
(c) → 2. the Wedding-Guest was forced to hear the story of the Mariner
(d) → 4. was moving towards the south
(e) → 3. the sound of the bassoon meant that the bride had arrived and the wedding ceremony was about to begin and he could not attend it.
(f) → 2. it took complete control of the ship
(g) → 3. they were surrounded by icebergs and there seemed to be no sign of life
(h) → 1. it was the first sign of life and therefore gave them hope that they might survive
(i) → 2. the icebergs split and a strong breeze started blowing
(j) → 3. the Albatross would appear at a fixed time everyday
(k) → 2. the Wedding-Guest wanted to know why the Mariner was looking so tormented.

Question 7.
Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) How did the Ancient Mariner stop the Wedding-Guest ?

(b) Was the Wedding-Guest happy to be stopped ? Give reasons for your answer. (V. Imp.)

(c) Describe the Ancient Mariner. (V. Imp.)

(d) How does the Mariner describe the movement of the ship as it sails away from the land ? (V. Imp.)

(e) What kind of weather did the sailors enjoy at the beginning of their journey ? How has it been expressed in the poem ? (V. Imp.)

(f) How did the sailors reach the land of mist and snow ?

(g) How does the mariner express the fact that the ship was completely surrounded by icebergs ? (V. Imp.)

(h)How do we know that the Albatross was not afraid of the humans ? Why did the sailors hail it in God’s name ?

(i) What was the terrible deed done by the Mariner ?. Why do you think he did it ? (V. Imp.)

Answer:

(a) The Ancient Mariner stopped the Wedding-Guest by his glittering eye and strange appearance. He also caught his hand and looked at him with his bright eyes. These had a kind of magical spell on the Wedding-Guest and he stopped at once.

(b) The Wedding-Guest was not at all happy to stop. He told the Ancient Mariner to let him go as he was the next relation of the bridegroom. His presence was a must at the wedding. Secondly, the guests had come and the feast had started. But when the Ancient Mariner looked at him with his glittering eyes, the Wedding-Guest had no choice but to hear him.

(c) The Ancient Mariner looked very strange and uncommon with his long grey beard and glittering eyes. He had skinny hands, and exotic dress. This made him appear ‘strange and eerie’. The effect of his personality had a kind of magical spell on the Wedding-Guest. He could do nothing except obey the Mariner.

(d) The Mariner describes the movement of the ship thus : the ship was cheered off the harbour merrily. It steered below the church, hill and the lighthouse. After some time, the ship was overpowered by the strong storm. It sailed as if it was being chased by a powerful enemy. Its masts stooped low and the prow dipped.

(e) The sailors enjoyed fair weather in the beginning of their journey : It is not expressly described but can be inferred in ‘Merrily did we drop/below the kirk ….’ The sun shone bright and set into the sea on the right. The weather changed when there came a sea storm. This took over the ship. Then the weather began to get worse and worse.

(f) The sailors reached the land of mist and snow led by the sea storm. It was so tyrannous that it took over the ship and forced it reach the land of mist and snow.

(g) The Mariner describes this fact by stating that the ice came mast high floating by. The ice looked green and was everywhere around the ship. He further states that the ice was everywhere. This ice cracked, growled, roared and howled.

(h) The Albatross was not afraid of the humans as it ate the food that was given to it by them. It came to the ship daily at 9 pm for ‘food and play.’ ‘Food and play’ shows that it was not afraid of them.

The sailors hailed it in God’s name because it was the only living thing over there. The place seemed to have been deserted. The Albatross seemed to be the representative of God over there. It seemed that no other being could survive there.

(i) The terrible thing that the Mariner had done was the killing of the Albatross without any reason. The Mariner did it without any valid reason or any provocation. It seems some instinct in him made him kill it.

Question 8.
There are a number of literary devices used in the poem. Some of them have been listed below. Choose the right ones and write them down in the table as shown in the example. In each of the cases explain what they mean.

simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, hyperbole, repetition,

Answer:

2. alliteration ; repetition of sounds symbolising merriness of the sailors going on the sea journey.
3. personification ; the sun is invested with super human power.
4. simile ; the beauty of the bride is reinforced with it.
5. personification ; symbolising the manly ferocity of the storm-blast investing it with tyranny and brutality.
6. simile ; picturising the efforts of the victim to escape the enemy and the power of the enemy.
7. alliteration ; to create music and its sweetness.

Question 9.
In groups of four discuss what you think happens next in the poem. Share your views with the rest of the class.
Answer:
Activity at classroom level. One group discussion is given below :

A : I think the Ancient Mariner and the sailors are now trapped in this land of ice. They will soon die there.

B : I disagree with it as you can’t predict anything. But even if you predict, it is quite possible that some Godly help may reach them.

C : It may be that they themselves do something to help themselves. It may be that the weather changes soon and the ship steers clear of this land.

D : It may also be possible that some Polar Spirit may be avenging them for having killed the innocent Albatross in the beginning. Quite possibly, they repent over it. Due to this the spirit relents and they save themselves from further troubles.

A : I beg to disagree with it as I don’t believe in spirits or supernatural occurrences.

B : I disagree with A. There are all the things though we have hardly any knowledge about them. Shakespeare wrote his plays around 400 years back. He describes ghosts and spirits in them. It means they existed then also. Or people believed in them. Even today they are a part of our folklore.

D : I think the Ancient Mariner does something after suffering a lot which amounts to his expiation. Later, the Polar Spirit relents and forgives him. However, he is left t narrating his tale of woe when the supernatural soft of guilt gets heavy on him. And it lessens when he relates his story. When he does so, his guilt gets washed off to some extent.

C : I find it hard to believe but it seems a little bit convincing.

D : I think it is all about this chain of thought.

Question 10.
The teacher will now read out the second part of the poem or assign parts to you and ask you to read the poem to the class.
Answer:
For students to read on their own.

Question 11.
Answer the following questions briefly :

(a) In which direction did the ship start moving ? How can you say ?

(b) Why does the Mariner say that ‘no sweet bird did follow’ ?

(c) How did the other Mariners behave towards the Ancient Mariner at first ? How many times did they change their mind about the Ancient Mariner ? What does this tell us about their character ? (V. Imp.)

(d) How did the sailing conditions change after the ship had moved out of the land of mist and snow ? What or who did the Mariners blame for this change ? (V. Imp.)

(e) What is indicated by the line ‘The bloody sun, at noon,/Right up above the mast did stand,/No bigger than the moon’ ?

(f) How does the Mariner describe the fact that they were completely motionless in the middle of the sea ? (V. Imp.)

(g) What is the irony in the ninth stanza ? Explain it in your own words.

(h) What is the narrator trying to convey through the description of the situation in the tenth and eleventh stanza ?

(i) What or who did the Mariners feel was responsible for their suffering ? (V. Imp.)

(j) Describe the condition of the Mariners as expressed in the thirteenth stanza.

(k) Why did the Mariners hang the Albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner ? (CBSE 2012) (V. Imp.)

Answer:

(a) The ship moved to the south after the sea storm enveloped it. It took over the ship like a fierce enemy who chases its victim. This is clear from the directions the sun set. In the beginning when the ship sailed, the sun came from the left and set on their right.

Now the sun rose from the right and set in the left direction of the ship. It is clear in the stanza starting with ‘The Sun now rose … into the sea’.

(b) The Mariner says this with utter sadness after the Albatross has been killed by him. Secondly, the place is all ice and snow. There is hardly any possibility of any living being there in such an inclement weather.

(c) At first the sailors criticized the Mariner for killing the Albatross that made the breeze blow. When the sun rose gloriously after some time, the mariners said that the killing of the Albatross was right. It was good, they said, because the bird had brought fog and mist. The sailors thus behaved differently with the Mariner.

But they changed their minds two times. This shows that they had shallow and fickle minds and didn’t have integrity or sense of propriety.

(d) Now the ship went to the north direction as the sun rose from the right. The good south wind still blew behind. The breeze that blew was fair with white foam flowing on the watery surface of the sea. The ship left the furrow free behind it. There was complete silence. But soon the breeze got very hot.

The mariners changed their statement and blamed the killing of the Albatross by the Mariner for this change.

(e) By this line there is a clear cut indication that some ominous thing was going to happen. The weather was becoming very inhospitable and very unbearable due to heat. So anything could happen that could endanger the lives of the sailors.

(f) The Mariner describes this fact by using the metaphor of the painted ship on a painted ocean. As the painting can’t move, so were the sailors and the Mariner.

(g) The irony in the 9th stanza is very clear. There was water and water everywhere. Yet there was no water to drink. Secondly, even though there was water everywhere the boards shrank due to intense heat.

(h) In the tenth and eleventh stanzas the narrator is trying to convey a natural scene of the sea. Secondly, he is trying to convey the supernatural aspect of nature almost ironically. The sea was rotting, yet the slimy things were crawling with legs on the slimy sea (stanza 10). This is to convey the supernatural occurrence. In stanza 11, death-fires danced at night like a witch’s oils burning green, blue and white. This, again, amounts to supernatural aspect.

(i) The mariners felt that the Ancient Mariner was solely responsible for their suffering.

(j) The condition of the mariners was simply pathetic. Their tongues were withered at the roots and parched fully. Due to that they couldn’t speak. They felt as if their throats had been choked with soot. They were acutely suffering.

(k) The mariners hung the dead Albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner out of a sense of revenge. They considered him solely responsible for their bad plight. Due to that they punished him by hanging it around his neck.

Question 12.
Like part one, the second part also has a number of literary devices. List them out in the same way as you had done in question number seven and explain them.
Answer:

Question 13.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem ?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ is abcb. However, in stanzas of six lines, it is either aba bcb, a aa bcb or ababcb. Students can know it by putting ABC etc to the last syllable of each line in a stanza. For example, in stanza of (‘The Sun came up upon the left… sea’) we put a after ‘left’ in the first line. In the second line we put b after ‘he’ because left’ ends with /t/sound and ‘he’ ends with /ee/. In the third line, we put c after ‘right’. It is because ‘left’ and ‘right’ don’t have similar sounds. However, they have /t/ sound at the end. In the fourth line we put b after ‘sea’ because ‘he’ and ‘sea’ are pronounced similar. Thus the rhyme scheme of this stanza would be : a b c b. Students can themselves find out the rhyme scheme of different stanzas in this poem and in others as well.

Question 14.
Find examples of the use of interesting sounds from the poem and explain their effect on the reader.

Answer:

Note : Students on their own can find out more such uses and feel the effects in their minds created by them.

Question 15.
The poem is full of strange, uncanny or supernatural elements. Discuss how these elements appear in the poem. You should consider :

— the strange weather ;
— the albatross as a bird of “good omen”
— the spirit from “the land of mist and snow”
— the strange slimy creatures seen in the sea
— the ocean appearing to rot
— the death fires and sea water being referred to as witch’s oils

Now write a paragraph about the supernatural elements in the poem and how they add to the events that take place in the poem.

Answer:

The poem has supernatural elements in plenty. First of all, there is the strange kind of the subject matter. And then the appearance of the Ancient Mariner stopping the r Wedding-Guest. His skinny hands, grey beard and glittering eyes describe him as a soul tormented still by some supernatural power.

The sudden change in weather also reinforces this idea. When the ship commences its journey it is the fine weather. But the storm-blast takes it to the south pole. There it faces the strange and weird kind of weather. The mast high ice and ice-bergs giving out a strange destructive sound cause dread in our hearts. The Albatross’s appearance before | the mariners is a God-send. It is a bird of‘good omen’ as it clears the way for them from the land of miseries. However, the mariner kills it making its protective Polar Spirit angry. The Mariner must suffer and he suffers as other mariners also suffer. Their suffering due to cold and next due to heat is simply heart-rending. They have water all around them but they can’t quench their thirst.

Their sufferings are simply unnatural but reinforcing a belief in the supernatural agency. The rotting water of the sea with death fires burns and gives out different colours. It is equally terrifying and fearful to see it. This reminds one of witches performing an evil ritual (as in Shakespeare’s Macbeth).

All these things create a supernatural effect on the readers.

Question 16.
Every ship is supposed to have a log book, which is filled in every day by the captain. If he dies, the next senior officer fills it in (usually the First Mate). Decide on appropriate dates (the mariner’s tale was supposed to be thought of as already very old when the poem was published : it should be no later than about 1700 AD; other clues to the date are the light-house and the mariner’s crossbow). If you wish you can make the log look old by staining the pages, by your handwriting and spelling. Write a series of entriesfor the log for the important events that take place in the ship as recorded in the poem. The first one has been done as an example.

1701 AD
Today we left the shore at 3.30 p.m. under glorious sailing conditions. We have 230 men on board. We are sailing with cargo towards Portugal. The journey is expected to take 90 days. We are well stocked with food and water to last us 250 days in case of any emergency. Hopefully we will not face any untoward i happenings. God be with us !

You could also do this as an oral activity, recording the entries on audio tape and using voice effects and other sound effects if you can.

Answer:

Mainly classroom activity. We are giving two log book entries. Students can write a few more on their own taking hints from these.

1701 AD
Today after around 15 days when we started sailing, the weather has become very rough and most inhospitable. A sea storm has come over us with great fury. It is tyrannous and strong. It is affecting the ship like it is going to take full control over it. It is pursuing like a powerful enemy chasing another. That’s why, the ship’s prow is dipping and its masts have slopped. It seems it is going to tear the ship apart . taking it towards south. This all is causing us a great worry.

1701 AD
After 3 days when the wild and violent sea storm ‘attacked the ship, we have somehow managed to keep it floating. But another horrible situation has cropped up. The ship is now in a land having ice all round and nothing else. The ice is mast-high. It comes floating and is looking green as emerald. The ice drifts and snowy clifts, that is, icebergs send out a dismal brightness. There is no living being worth the mention all around. I dread thinking what horrible place it is ! The mariners have not lost hope, though they are greatly terrified.

Question 17.
Performing the poem
Answer:
Mainly meant for performing various dramatic events at classroom level.

Question 18.
The poem has seven parts to it.
Answer:
Students to proceed as per the directions given above.

Question 19.
In your groups discuss the following :
(i) Why did the Ancient Mariner stop the particular Wedding-Guest to listen to his tale ?
(ii) Why did he have to tell his tale to someone ?
(iii) What is the poet trying to convey through this poem ?
Answer:
Classroom activity. Students may take some help in their discussion from the ideas given below :

(i) The Ancient Mariner stopped the particular Wedding-Guest to listen to his tale as he felt that the Wedding-Guest would listen to him. Secondly, the fit of narrating his story was on him. It was all supernatural. It seemed that if he didn’t relate his story of repentance and guilt, he won’t feel any relief.

(ii) He had to tell his tale of guilt and suffering to someone. This curse of the Polar Spirit protecting the Albatross was on him. Since he had appreciated the slimy creatures, he had indirectly shown his love for God’s creatures. His love for these creatures had softened the heart of the Polar Spirit. Thereby he had earned a kind of reprieve from his guilt and sin of killing the innocent Albatross.

But he could get this relief only when he had narrated his story when the fit was on him. And he had to relate his story at once to anyone.

(iii) The poet is trying to convey the idea that God loves all his creatures whether they are big or small, beautiful or ugly. No one has the right to kill any animal. The Mariner has killed the Albatross without any cause. In that he has broken the dictates of God. So he must suffer. So he suffers. This is that he will be free from the tormenting fit only after narrating his story of sea journey. And he does it.

So the message is loud and clear. We must love all creatures irrespective of their class, category, appearance etc.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 11 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 11 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Nor the Gilded Monuments, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 10 Ozymandias are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 10 Ozymandias.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 10 now available with Pdf. Download NCERT Solutions for Class 10th English Literature Chapter 10 Ozymandias.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 10 Ozymandias

TEXTUAL EXERCISES
(Page 106)

Question 1.
Look at the picture given below :

While on a sight-seeing tour to an old and mysterious country far away from home, you saw this statue. Discuss with your partner what this picture tells you about the people, the place and the ruler.

Note down your ideas in the web-chart.

Answer:

Meant for discussion in groups. The following information shall help the students in this discussion :

(a) symbolising lifelessness, death, nature’s destructive capacity etc.
(b) disfigured, is destroyed and disfigured by the cruel hands of nature and time
(c) cruel, pitiless, ruthless, hateful, cold-blooded and inhuman.
(d) could have lived in sheer fear, terror and ruthlessness of the king who knew no human values like pity, compassion, sympathy etc.

Question 2.
Write a letter to your friend about the sight you saw and your impression of it. (V. Imp.)
Answer:

18 C.T. Nagar
Chennai
30 September, 20 –

My dear Rishi

I hope you’re feeling well. In this letter I am writing about a strange sight. I saw this sight while returning from my long walk in Jaisalmer.

I was amazed to see two vast and trunkless legs of stone standing on a pedestal in the desert. Near them there lay a broken human face. The human face had expressions of arrogance, frown and sneer of cold command. From these expressions and the fine carving I, at once, understood everything. The sculptor who carved this statue was really an intelligent artist. He had truly understood these expressions and had carved them in stone. His mocking these and the heart which nurtured these were clearly visible in the expressions of the statue.

I was extremely taken aback to see the pedestal which had the writing : ‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings. Look at my works and despair’. Truly, the message was loud and clear. All around that statue the boundless sands stretched far away.

The message was that one’s emotions or a king’s power are the food of Time and Nature. Ozymandias had understood it but it was too late. Now his destiny or the destiny of even the mightiest were symbolised by the broken statue and the sands.

Yours faithfully

Question 3.
Answer the following questions by ticking the correct options.

(a) The poem is set in _________

1. the wilderness
2. an ancient land
3. a pulace
4. a desert.

(b) The expression on the fiwe of the statue is one of _________

1. admiration
2. anger
3. despair
4. contempt.

(c) This poem throws light on the _________ nature of OzymandLas.

1. cruel
2. arrogant
3. boastful
4. aggressive.

(d) The sculptor was able to understand Ozymandias’ _________

1. words
2. expression
3. feelings
4. ambition.

(e) The tone of the poem is _________

1. mocking
2. nostalgic
3. gloomy
4. gloating.

Answer:

(a) → (iv) a desert
(b) → (iv) contempt
(c) → (ii) arrogant
(d) → (iii) feelings
(e) → (i) mocking.

Question 4.
Answer the following questions briefly :

(a) “The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed.” Whose hand and heart has the poet referred to in this line ?

(b) “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings Why does Ozymandias refer to himself as King of Kings ? What quality of the king is revealed through this statement ? (V. Imp.)

(c) “Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair !” Who is Ozymandias referring to when . he speaks of ye Mighty ? Why should they despair ?

(d) Bring out the irony in the poem. (CBSE 2016)

(e) ‘Nothing beside remains’. What does the narrator mean when he says these words ?

(f) What is your impression of Ozymandias as a king ? (CBSE 2016)
Or
What kind of a king was ‘Ozymandias’ ? (CBSE 2016)

(g) What message is conveyed through this poem ?
Or
What message does the poem, ‘Ozymandias’ convey ? (CBSE 2015)

Answer:

(a) The poet has referred to the hand of the sculptor and the heart of the king Ozymandias.

(b) Ozymandias refers to himself as the King of Kings out of sneer, arrogance, haughtiness and contempt for other Kings. It is so as he heads them all in these qualities. This line also shows that Ozymandias had also understood the uselessness of these things but at a later stage.

(c) He is referring to the mighty Kings. They should despair at seeing the end of his haughtiness, contempt, pride, arrogance and cruelty through the statue.

(d) The irony in the poem is that it shows the arrogance, haughtiness, contempt and cruelty of Ozymandias but what is the result? The broken statue and the vastness of the sands symbolise the uselessness of these emotions.

(e) The narrator means that there is no other thing of the king who once was mighty, powerful, ruthless and cruel.

(f) My impression about Ozymandias is that he was a ruthless King. He was stupid also and lacked wisdom, farsightedness and humility when he was young. But these also refer to his having seen the truth of life in his later stage of life, together with his self-realisation.

(g) The message conveyed through the poem is the futility of these traits of arrogance, sneer and cruelty. It also shows all the powerfulness of Time and Nature. These I traits meet an end as it comes to this arrogant King.

Question 5.
Identify and rewrite the lines from the poem spoken by the narrator, the traveller and Ozymandias :
The Narrator : __________
The Traveller : __________
Ozymandias : __________

Answer:

The Narrator : I met a traveller from an antique land who said :
Nothing beside remains …… far away
The Traveller : “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone ……
And on the pedestal these words appear :
Ozymandias : “My name is Ozymandias …… despair !”

Question 6.
Shelley’s sonnet follows the traditional structure of the fourteen-line Italian sonnet, featuring an opening octave, or set of eight lines, that presents a conflict or dilemma, followed by a sestet, or set of six lines, that offers some resolution or commentary upon the proposition introduced in the octave. Read the poem carefully and complete the following table on the structure of the poem.

Answer:

Question 7.
Complete the table listing the poetic devices used by Shelley in Ozymandias.

Answer:

Question 8.
Imagine that Ozymandias comes back to life and as he sees the condition of his statue, realisation dawns on him and he pens his thoughts in a diary. As Ozymandias, make this diary entry in about 150 words. You could begin like this : I thought I was the mightiest of all but… (Imp.)

Answer:

Friday, 27th September, 20 – 9 pm

I thought I was the mightiest of all but I was greatly mistaken in my belief. While I ruled my kingdom I proved to be the most cruel, arrogant, pitiless and ruthless king. No one dared to look up or into my eyes. I knew it very well that ruling the common people is not easy. They don’t understand the language of love, pity and compassion. It is the politics of barbarism and ruthlessness of the ruler that keeps the people subdued. I also thought that I would rule forever.

But soon I found that I was utterly in the wrong. No one is immortal. The most powerful are Time and Nature who are the most ruthless rulers of human beings and all. To give my message I had got installed my own statue with this message of the futility of arrogance and cold command written on its pedestal. When I saw the condition of my own statue I realized this basic truth of life. What remains of my statue are, my two legs. My own head lies in sand with these expressions of arrogance, haughtiness, sneer of cold command. The broken statue and vast sands convey that Nature and Time are the mightiest.

Ozymandias

Question 9.
‘Ozymandias’ and ‘Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments’ are on Time. Compare the two sonnets in terms of the way in which Time is treated by the poets. Write your answer in about 150 words.

Answer:

‘Ozymandias’ and ‘Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments’ have Time at their centre. This element is unseen in these poems, yet it controls both of them. In fact, the themes of these two poems conjoin. Basically, the common theme is that Time is all powerful. With the passage of time all living things and things of art start degenerating. Ozymandias’s statue is now in a bad shape. Its two trunkless legs stand and the trunk and face lie broken. Obviously, Time has claimed them.

In ‘Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments’, princes or kings get the monuments constructed in their memories. Wars, Time, Nature spoil them and these monuments and statues are destroyed by all powerful Time. However, as contrasted to them the poet’s beloved lives ‘in the eyes of posterity’.

Thus, in both the sonnets, Time is shown as the most powerful element. Ozymandias thought himself the most powerful, yet he, too, felt he was not so against Time. The poet, thus, uses Time as the most powerful.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 10 Ozymandias help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 10 Ozymandias, Nor the Gilded Monuments, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 14 Julius Caesar are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 14 Julius Caesar.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 14 Julius Caesar

TEXTUAL EXERCISES
(Pages 157 & 185)

Question 1.
Consult a dictionary and find out the difference between

(a) killing
(b) murder
(c) assassination.

Answer:

(а) ‘killing’ means : to cause the death of somebody or something
(b) ‘murder’ means : unlawful killing of a human being intentionally
(c) ‘assassination’ means : killing an important or famous person for money or for political reasons.

Question 2.
Popular and powerful leaders have been assassinated in the past and in recent times. Can you name some of them ?
• ……………………………………………………………………………..
Answer:

Question 3.
Discuss in groups the reasons why the leaders you named in (2) were assassinated. Is assassination the end to a problem ?

Have a group discussion on the topic in the context of past/present day political assassinations.

Introduction :
JULIUS CAESAR is the story of a man’s personal dilemma over moral action, set against
…………………………………………………………………………………
Answer:
Meant for classroom activity. A sample discussion is given below :

A : It is really very sad that great leaders and statesmen have fallen to the bullets of the assassins here and there.

B : They have been most powerful, popular statesmen and politicians of their times. They are Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, etc.

C : What amazes me is what for they should be or have been killed !

D : It’s not difficult to know. I personally feel that political rivalry, vested interests, narrow-minded ideology and some political decisions have caused their assassina¬tions.

A : D is right in saying so. Let me elaborate here. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated for abolishing slavery. Rajiv Gandhi was bombed to death because he, as Prime Minister, had sent Indian troops to Sri Lanka ….

B : It is not necessary to debate over the reasons behind these assassinations. But the fact is that there is always good and evil. Without good, evil can’t be isolated and vice-versa. Political interests of the vested few are behind such heinous crimes ….

D : I beg to interrupt here. Let me know what had the great son of India, Mahatma Gandhi done to be assassinated ?

B : It’s not difficult to imagine. Again it is political expediency. Don’t think there was no evil in the golden period when Lord Rama ruled. Even then there were such persons in the form of Ravana. In fact, dualism is the order of nature, good-evil, day-night and life too.

A : As long as people are there, good people and evil people will be there. Such great leaders shall be born and their assassinators shall also be there. What are at the centre of assassinations are, I think, narrow-mindedness, parochial thinking, materialism, terrorism and sycophancy and orthodox ideology.

C : I agree with this.

Question 4.
The play Julius Caesar can be performed on the stage. The first step would be a reading of the play as a whole class. Your teacher will then have an audition and assign you roles. Later the play can be put up on the stage.

Given below are some suggestions and sites which may be visited for instructions regarding set-design, costumes and direction.

Answer:

Classroom activity.

Question 5.
Answer the following questions by ticking the correct options.

1. When Caesar says “Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night” he sounds …………

(a) worried
(b) angry
(c) joyous
(d) frightened.

2. Caesar’s reference to the senators as ‘graybeards’ shows his …………

(a) confidence
(b) cowardice
(c) arrogance
(d) ambition.

3. Decius Brutus changes Caesar’s mind about going to the Senate by appealing to his …………

(a) ambition
(b) vanity
(c) greed
(d) generosity.

4. The offer that Cassius makes to Antony after Caesar’s assassination is that …………

(a) the conspirators would like to be friends with him
(b) he may take Caesar’s body to the pulpit and speak to the crowd praising Caesar for his achievements
(c) his recommendations will be as strong as that of the conspirators while distributing the powers and benefits to friends
(d) he may join the conspiracy against Caesar

5. Cassius tries to stop Brutus from letting Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral as he …………

(а) knows the Roman mob loves Caesar and Antony
(b) knows Brutus is not a good orator
(c) knows they should not have killed Caesar
(d) knows Antony is a good orator who can sway the mob.

6. What prophecy does Antony make over Caesar’s dead body ?

(a) Romans will see Caesar’s ghost roaming on the streets
(b) Rome will experience fierce civil war in which many people will die
(c) Rome will be ruled by Ate
(d) Roman women will smile at the death of Caesar.

7. After listening to Brutus’ speech, the Third Citizen says ‘Let him be Caesar’. This clearly shows he …………

(a) has not understood Brutus’ reason for killing Caesar
(b) loved Caesar more than he loves Brutus
(c) loves Brutus more than he loved Caesar
(d) thinks Brutus killed Caesar to assume power.

8. When Antony calls the conspirators ‘honourable men’ his tone is …………

(a) admiring
(b) flattering
(c) angry
(d) mocking

9. Antony’s reference to Caesar’s conquest of the Nervii is to …………

(а) remind the mob of Caesar’s greatness as a warrior
(b) make the mob feel afraid of being attacked by the war-like race
(c) make the crowd weep for Caesar who died at war
(d) stop and collect his emotions as he is feeling very upset.

10. Antony’s remark Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt! shows him to be …………

(a) a ruthless manipulator
(b) an honourable man
(c) a loyal friend
(d) a tactful man

Answer:

1. → (a) worried
2. → (c) arrogance
3. → (a) ambition
4. → (c) his recommendations will be as strong as that of the conspirators while distributing the powers and benefits to friends.
5. → (d) knows Antony is a good orator who can sway the mob.
6. → (d) Roman women will smile at the death of Caesar
7. → (c) loves Brutus more than he loved Caesar
8. → (d) mocking
9. → (a) remind the mob of Caesar’s greatness as a warrior
10. → (d) a tactful man

Question 6.
Answer the following questions briefly :

(a) How do the heavens ‘blaze forth’ the death of Julius Caesar ?

(b) What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of ? (V. Imp.)

(c) Why does Calpurnia say ‘Caesar’s wisdom is consumed in confidence’ ? What does she mean ? (CBSE 2016)

(d) What does Calpurnia dream about Caesar ? How does Decius Brutus interpret the dream ? (V. Imp.)

(e) What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol ?

(f) Why is Decius more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar ?

(g) What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators ? How does Caesar respond to it ?

(h) Who says “Et tu Brute” ? When are these words spoken ? Why ? (V. Imp.)

(i) In the moments following Caesar’s death what do the conspirators proclaim to justify Caesar’s death ?

(j) Seeing the body of Caesar, Antony is overcome by grief What does he say about Caesar ?

(k) Whom does Antony call “the choice and master spirits of this age” ? Why ?

(l) How do Brutus and Cassius respond to Antony’s speech ? (V. Imp.)

(m) Why does Cassius object to allowing Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral ? How does Brutus overcome this objection ?

(n) What are the conditions imposed by the conspirators before allowing Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral ?

(o) When he is left alone with the body of Caesar what does Antony call Brutus and the others ?

(p) What prediction does Antony make regarding the future events in Rome ? (V. Imp.)

(q) What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar ? (V. Imp.)
Or
How does Brutus justify Caesar’s assassination ? (CBSE 2015)

(r) Who says, “Let him be Caesar” ? What light does this throw on the speaker ?

(s) Why is Antony’s speech more effective ?

(t) At the end of the scene what is the fate of Brutus and Cassius ?

Answer:

(a) It is generally believed that when kings or princes die, a bright star plucks from the sky. It shoots and falls later. It leaves a blazing light behind it. So when Caesar was murdered, a star blazed forth in the sky.

(b) Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar that what she has seen in her dream means a danger to his life. So he must not go to the senate-house. He, in fact, must not leave home. Caesar doesn’t listen to her fear and is murdered.

(c) Calpurnia means by this that Caesar’s wisdom takes the form of confidence. Due to that he confuses wisdom with confidence. This over-confidence becomes the cause of his murder.

(d) Calpurnia dreamt that Caesar’s statue had a hundred spouts. Pure blood ran from them. Many strong Romans came smiling. They bathed their hands into it. She meant this as an ill-omen. So she feared for Caesar’s life and asked Caesar not to go to the senate-house that day.

But Brutus interpreted the dream differently. He said that the Romans’ bathing their hands meant that Caesar’s blood was his ‘spirit or influence’. It would be treated as a great thing. It shall serve as colours added to a coat of arms. Also it would be treated an object of reverence, mementos and a badge of service.

(e) First Brutus convinces Caesar that his blood will be used as a great thing of reverence by the Romans. They will revere it as souvenirs, coats of arm, etc. Secondly, if Caesar doesn’t go, the senators’ mind may change and they may not offer him the crown.

(f) Decius Brutus is more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar. It is because he is his most trusted friend and a fellow Roman warrior. However, he has joined the conspirators. He has very good oratorical qualities. This is accepted by Caesar when he says that he has well expounded Calpurnia’s dream.

(g) The petition is of Metellus Cimber whose brother has been banished from Rome under law by Caesar. The conspirators want that Caesar should compromise his political right and authority. He should repeal the order of the banishment of Cimber’s brother. This will mean lowering of Caesar’s image as a great Roman. But Caesar doesn’t agree to repeal the order. He is fixed like the northern star and firm in his decisions.

(h) Caesar says these words “Et tu, Brute” (‘Even you, Brutus’) to Brutus who also stabs him with other conspirators. Critics say that Caesar was greatly shocked. He died due to the shock of Brutus’ stabbing. It was because Brutus was very close to his heart. Brutus could not be expected by Caesar to fall so low as to stab him. So Caesar was shocked due to Brutus’s ‘ingratitude’ as is given by many literary critics.

(i) The conspirators proclaim to justify that Caesar had become very ambitious to be a danger to Rome as a country. He had started becoming more and more powerful. In that case he was likely to harm the country for his ambitions. Brutus says that they killed Caesar for the love of Rome. If they had not killed him he would have made all the country a slave and all the countrymen as bondsmen.

(j) He says about Caesar many things of praise. He recollects his conquests, glories, triumphs and spoils. He calls him ‘mighty’ and wonders how ‘low’ he lies in his death. He calls him so great that he has shrunk to a little piece of ground. He calls him a ‘bleeding piece of earth’. He is ‘the ruins of the noblest man’.

(k) Antony calls the conspirators as ‘the choice and master spirits of this age’ with a taunt. He says so deliberately. He flatters them here as the situation demands. He sees that opposing them here would be murderous. So very cleverly he ‘flatters’ them here to outwit them later.

(l) Brutus says that Antony should not think that they are pitiless. He has a pitiful heart. They shall not kill him. But they shall receive him with ‘all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence’. Cassius says that Antony shall have a say in the disposing of new honours. In other words, they have no ill-will against Antony. They shall welcome him as a brave Roman warrior.

(m) Cassius objects to allowing Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral. He feels that people may be moved against them by his speech. They may turn against them. Cassius’s fears come out true when Antony moves the mob against them. The mob ia now after the blood of the conspirators.

(n) The conditions are : Brutus shall be the first to speak. He shall show the reason of Caesar’s death. Second, whatever Antony speaks, he shall speak with their permission.

(o) When Antony is left alone with the body of Caesar he calls Brutus and others as ‘butchers’. He curses them ‘that shed this costly blood’.

(p) He predicts that a curse shall fall upon men. ‘Domestic fury and civil strife’ shall rage. Blood and destruction shall be common. Mothers shall smile (due to madness) when their infants shall be killed before their own eyes. All pity shall be choked. The Greek goddess of revenge shall rage in the streets with the spirit of Caesar taking revenge. Dead men will cry for burial due to this most foul deed of Caesar’s murder.

(q) Brutus gives various reasons for murdering Caesar. First of all, he says that Caesar was ambitious. He would have made everyone as his bondsman if he had lived. He loved Caesar, no doubt, but he loved Rome more. So Brutus states that they killed Caesar more for the sake of Rome and not for any personal reasons.

(r) The third citizen symbolizing the common Roman people says this line about Brutus. This line speaks much about the speaker, ie, the citizen. He offers a great respect to Brutus. He wants that Brutus should be made the king of Rome as Caesar was to be made.

(s) Antony’s speech is more effective because he appeals to the basic sentiments of the common people, ie, the mob. He very cleverly directs his speech towards Caesar’s greatness as a human being. He, in that way, arouses their basic instinct of revenge I against the conspirators. He does so by stating from his Will that Caesar has left his everything to them. And the conspirators call him ‘ambitious !’ This is really strange, he says.

(t) At the end of the scene, death, destruction, murder, fire etc, are meant for Brutus and Cassius. Antony has roused the mob against the conspirators. The Roman people run mad with fire to search and kill them. They even burn the houses of the conspirators.

Question 7.
Julius Caesar and Antony reveal something about their character in their words and actions. We also learn about them from what other people say. Can you pick out the words that describe them from the box given below ? Also, pick out lines from the play to illustrate your choice.

Answer:

Question 8.
In the play ‘Julius Caesar’, we meet the Roman mob. We find that as Brutus and Antony speak, the mob displays certain qualities and characteristics.

Given below are some characteristics of the mob. Complete the table by quoting the lines wherein these are revealed.

Answer:

Question 9.
Antony employs a number of devices to produce the desired effect on the mob. These devices maybe described as rhetorical devices. He first speaks in such a manner that it seems to the mob that he is in full agreement with Brutus about Caesar. Then step by step he moves away from Brutus’ position, depicting Brutus as a villain and Caesar as a wronged man. Copy and complete the following table by showing how Antony builds the argument in Caesar’s favour.

Answer:

Question 10.
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow :

1. Caesar : Cowards die many times before their deaths ;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear ;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.

(a) Whom is Caesar speaking to ? Why does he say these words ?
(b) What fears has the listener expressed ?
(c) What is the basis for the fears expressed ?

2. But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar ;
I found it in his closet, ’tis his Will:
Let but the commons hear this testament—
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds

(a) Who speaks these words ? Where is the speaker at this moment ?
(b) What are the contents of Caesar’s Will that he is referring to ?
(c) Why does the speaker read Caesar’s Will to the citizens ?
(d) What is the reaction of the listeners to the reading of the Will ?

Answer:

1. (a) Caesar is speaking to his wife Calpurnia. He says these words because Calpurnia has seen a horrible dream indicating Caesar’s death. So she requests him not to go to the senate-house and remain in the house.

(b) The listener Calpurnia has expressed her fear that her dream means danger to the life of Caesar. It indicates that Caesar may be killed or may die. This is the fear expressed.

(c) The basis is that Calpurnia has seen a horrible dream. In it she has seen the statue of Caesar having a hundred spouts. Pure blood ran out of them and Romans dipped their hands in it. These were ominous occurrences suggesting very bad times.

2. (a) Antony speaks these words to the mob. He is at the Capitol at this moment.

(b) The contents of Caesar’s Will are that he has given his everything to the people of Rome. These are his money, gardens and orchards.

(c) The speaker reads Caesar’s Will to prove that Caesar was not ambitious. So he shouldn’t have been murdered. On the other hand, he was a victim to their ill-will and jealousy of the conspirators.

(d) The listeners get agitated and violent. They now are after the bodies of the conspirators who have murdered Caesar in cold blood.

Question 11.
ACTIVITY

Stage a press conference that takes place shortly after Caesar’s death. The “reporters” should have their questions written down ahead of time to ask the students who play the roles of Brutus, Antony, and Cassius. These questions should focus on the key events in the play, as well as the characters’ intentions.

Answer:

This ‘Activity’ is basically to be stage-managed at the class level with the help and guidance of teachers. To facilitate it, we are giving below some ‘questions’ to be asked by the ‘reporters’.

Questions to be asked :

A. To Brutus

1. What precisely made you, being very close to Julius Caesar, kill him ?
2. You have a very popular image as the noblest of all Romans among the Roman public. What made you stoop down to the level of a murderer ?
3. How did you react when Caesar being stabbed called out ‘Et tu, Brute’ ?
4. Didn’t you feel bad in Joining the conspirators as they Symbolished ?

B. To Antony

1. You were moved undoubtedly by Caesar’s death but why did you join the conspirators ?
2. Did you plan beforehand to turn the tables against the conspirators ? If so, how did you do so ?
3. Did you know that you’d succeed in your plan to turn the mob against the conspirators ?
4. Why did you call Brutus as ‘the noblest of all the Romans’ even though you knew that he was not ?
5. You can be charged for inciting the Roman people against the state after Caesar’s death. What do you have to say about it ?

C. To Cassius

1. You are said to be the main conspirator. What precisely incited you to bear a grudge against Caesar that led to his assassination ?
2. How did you plan your conspiracy to murder Caesar and why ?
3. What forced you to make Brutus join the conspiracy even though you knew that he couldn’t be a party to your evil designs against Julius Caesar ?
4. You told Brutus not to allow Antony to deliver a funeral speech to the Roman people. But why didn’t you force him not to permit Antony to do so ?
5. You as the head of the conspirators have been successful in murdering Julius Caesar. Do you have any remorse or regrets ? What are your future plans now ?

Question 12.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY :

Given below are some questions based on reading of the play ‘Julius Caesar’. These questions are not for testing in the Exam. These are for a deeper understanding of the play and the characters.

(a) Why was the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar hatched ?
(b) Was Caesar really ambitious ? Find evidence from the play to support your answer.
(c) What was Cassius’ motive for murdering Julius Caesar ?
(d) Why was it essential for the conspirators to include Brutus in the conspiracy ?
(e) What were the mistakes made by Brutus that led to the failure of the conspiracy ?
(f) Comment on Caesar’s friendship with Antony.
(g) Write a brief character sketch of Antony.
(h) What is the role of Julius Caesar’s ghost in the play, Julius Caesar ?
(i) Why does Antony call Brutus ‘the noblest Roman of them all’ ?
(j) How do Brutus and Cassius meet their end ?

Answer:

(a) The conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar was hatched by Cassius, Casca and others. The main reason behind it was ill-will, jealousy and hatred for Caesar. They didn’t like Caesar to become an emperor and assume more powers to himself. They were, thus, personally against Caesar. Brutus was cleverly made to join them. It was due to legitimize their intent to assassinate Caesar on political and national grounds.

(b) Caesar was not ambitious at all. If he was, why he should have bequeathed his everything in his Will and money for all the Romans. Secondly, when Antony offered him crown, he refused to take it as Antony says before the Roman people.

(c) Cassius’ motive for murdering Julius Caesar was pure ill-will, jealousy and hatred for Caesar as a popular king. He was an ambitious person by himself and wanted to be equal to Caesar.

(d) It was essential for the conspirators to give a stamp of legitimacy to their cause of murdering Caesar. Brutus was a man of noble ideas. Also he was very close to Caesar. His joining them was meant to show that they were right to kill Caesar as Brutus’s name stood for righteousness and fairness.

(e) Brutus allowed Antony to give Caesar a suitable funeral after giving a speech to the people at the Capitol. Second, his utter simplicity and belief in Antony. Third, his leaving him alone with Caesar’s dead body and the mob. Fourth, his not heeding Cassius’ fears in allowing Antony to speak to the people.

(f) Caesar was very close both to Marcus Brutus and Antony. Antony’s sincerity, devotion and closeness to Caesar is seen in what Antony does to Caesar after his death. He calls him ‘bleeding piece of earth’ and praises him for his ‘conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils’ etc. This speaks of his intense and personal loss in Caesar’s death. It is also clear in his turning the tables on the conspirators in a very subtle and flawless manner.

(g) Antony is a noble personality. He has all the human virtues of love, sympathy, sincerity, integrity, solidarity, devotion etc. He has got these good qualities. He doesn’t hesitate to take the maximum use in accordance with them. He is clever and shrewd. He knows how to manoeuvre the situations to his advantage. In this way, he is practical and pragmatic. (In the later part, he is in league with Octavius Caesar. He fights a war with the conspirators and saves the situation.) In that way, he avenges rightly the death of his friend and political mentor, Julius Caesar.

(h) The role of Julius Caesar’s ghost in the play assumes significance in the end. It appears before Brutus and Cassius in the battlefield when the armies of Octavius Caesar and Brutus’ are fighting. Both Brutus and Cassius get very much frustrated. They finally commit suicide.

(i) Antony calls Brutus ‘the noblest of them all’ because he doesn’t suffer from jealousy, grudge, ill-will, hatred, etc, as Cassius and Casca suffer from. He has been made to join the conspirators through crafty means. But he has got a very popular image in the Roman public. It is due to his nobility and justice-loving nature.

(j) Both Brutus and Cassius commit suicide due to the utter disillusionment in the battlefield. They are visited by the ghost of Julius Caesar.

Question 13.
A reporter covers the event of the assassination of Julius Caesar in the senate giving graphic details and a catchy headline. Write the newspaper report in about 200 words.
Answer:

Rome’s Sun Sets in Caesar’s Death

Rome : 20 B.C.—Today around 11 am, Rome’s Sun has set for ever in Caesar’s assassination by his own friends and faithfuls. It has been learnt from reliable sources that Caesar’s wife Calpurnia saw some uncommon and supernatural sort of dreams that night before Caesar was to become the crowned king. She dreamt of seeing blood drizzle upon the Capitol, shrieking of ghosts in the streets, yawning of graves, and : littering of a lioness in the streets. She begged of Caesar not to go to Senate that day as she feared for his life. But he went and was instantly stabbed to death by Brutus, Cassius and Casca. It is said that the most horrible death shock came to him from Marcus Brutus. He relied much on Brutus who was his closest friend. He had a great faith in him also. When he stabbed, Caesar cried, “Et tu, Brute”, that is, “even you, Brutus”. It is evident that Caesar may have been dead more from a psychological shock than the stabbing.

No one from Rome shall arise like Caesar and shine in the political firmament like a meteor. Caesar was an able general and a great conqueror who brought name and fame to Rome. He was to be crowned king after he had defeated the sons of Pompey. Surprisingly, he never craved for the throne. He declined the crown when Antony offered it to him. He was not ‘ambitious’ as he had been branded. If he had been, how come he would have given everything of his to the Roman people as Antony later read out his Will and testament ? Whatever may be the case, Rome has become an orphan in his death. Centuries will go when another Caesar shall be born again in Rome.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 14 Julius Caesar help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 14 Julius Caesar, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 13 The Dear Departed are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 13 The Dear Departed.

The Dear Departed Summary of CBSE Class 10 English poem followed by detailed explanation of the poem along with meanings of difficult words and literary devices used in the poem.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 13 The Dear Departed

TEXTUAL EXERCISES
(Pages 135, 154)

Question 1.
Read an excerpt from the diary of a man of 72 years :
As I sit here alone and waiting
……………………………………………

• What do you think is he feeling ?
• What situation do you think leads to people feeling so ?
• Can such people be helped ? How ?

Answer:

• I think that the man is feeling quite lonely and aloof. He wants to talk to the people and smile at them. He wants to socialise with the people to fight his loneliness. But no one looks at him. For those he gazes at, he is nothing.
• The situation that leads to people feeling so is clear. It is the passive and indifferent attitude of the members of his family and his relations. His own men and members of his family have turned away from him. So he is left alone to manage on his own in old age when he needs them the most.
• Such people can be helped through some understanding or fellow-feeling. The police or social welfare organisations can help them. Then people like Mother Teresa, can bring in a sense of positivism in their life. Home for the Aged etc, can help them greatly.

Question 2.
Read the news story given below.

Discuss in groups :

(a) What are the reasons for the old people being “abused, harassed and abandoned” in India ?
(b) What are the problems faced by the old people as a result ?

Answer:

(a) There are many reasons behind the old people being abused, harassed and abandoned. These are : importance of money more than human values among the young, increasing selfishness, growing materialism, breaking family system, lack of employment, economic hardships, increasing consciousness of celebrating one’s own life, youth leaving for other cities for jobs, generation gap, existential problems like urban poverty, lack of space for living, infighting among family members.

(b) These problems are : loneliness, neglect, absence of communication among their own, lack of sympathy, no medical help, growing independence on others, absence of interacting with others at social level, not sharing of grief etc.

Question 3.
The play ‘The Dear Departed’ can be performed on the stage. The first step would be a dramatized reading of the play as a whole class activity. Later, your teacher will assign you roles which you will play after an audition. Later the play can be put up on stage.
Answer:
Classroom activity under the guidance of class teacher.

Question 4.
Given below are the main incidents in the play. They are in a jumbled order. Arrange them in the sequence in which they occur in the play.

1. Victoria is asked to fetch the bunch of keys to the bureau to look for the insurance receipt.
2. Mrs. Slater instructs Victoria to put her white frock on with a black sash.
3. Mrs. Slater discovers that grandfather is ‘dead’.
4. The Slaters fetch the bureau and the clock from upstairs.
5. The family sits down to have tea.
6. Henry wears the new slippers of grandfather’s.
7. Grandfather comes to know how his daughters were in a hurry to divide his things between them.
8. Grandfather announces his intention to change his will and to marry Mrs. Shorrocks.
9. Grandfather comes down and is surprised to find the Jordans.
10. They discuss the obituary announcement in the papers and the insurance premium payment.
11. The Jordans arrive and learn the details of grandfather’s ‘demise’ from the Slaters.

Answer:
The sequential order will be :
3, 2, 1, 4, 6, 11, 5, 10, 9, 7, 8.

Question 5.
Answer the following questions briefly.

1. How does Mrs. Slater plan to outshine the Jordans ? What does it reveal about her character ? (CBSE 2014)

2. Why does Mrs. Slater decide to shift the bureau from grandfather’s room before the arrival of the Jordans ? How does Henry react to the suggestion ? (V. Imp.)

3. What is the reason for the Jordans taking a long time to get to the house of the Slaters ? What does it show about the two sisters’ attitude towards each other ?

4. What does Mrs. Jordan describe as ‘a fatal mistake’ ? What is the irony in the comment she makes on Mrs. Slater’s defense ? (V. Imp.)

5. Ben appreciates grandfather saying ‘its’ a good thing he did’. Later he calls him a ‘drunken old beggar’. Why does he change his opinion about grandfather ? (V. Imp.)

6. What change does grandfather make in his new will ? What effect does it have on his daughters ?
Or
Why did grandfather change his will ? Did it please his daughters ? (CBSE 2015)

7. What are the three things that grandfather plans to do on Monday next ? (V. Imp.)
Or
What are the three things that the grandfather planned to do on Monday ? (CBSE 2015)

Answer:

1. Mrs. Slater plans to outshine the Jordans in wearing mourning dress. This attitude reveals that she is an inconsiderate and unscrupulous woman. For her, human relationships and being a daughter carry no meaning.

2. Mrs. Slater decides to shift the bureau from grandfather’s room as she has had an eye on it. She wants to grab it before the arrivals of the Jordans. Otherwise, it will be subject to being divided. Henry doesn’t like it. He advises her to arrange it with Elizabeth when she comes.

3. The reason behind this is that the Jordans don’t have mourning dresses for the occasion. They have ordered theirs. They don’t fancy to buy ready-made dresses. This shows that they give more importance to showmanship than the real thing. The real thing is that they must be ideal relatives and not mean ones.

4. Mrs. Jordan describes Mrs. Slater’s not going to another doctor than Dr. Pringle about father is ‘a fatal mistake’. The irony is that they want their father ‘dead’. But here it shows Mrs. Jordan’s concern for father’s life.

5. Ben like his wife is a mean and unscrupulous person. His eyes are on grabbing as many things of the father as is possible. He changes his opinion about grandfather due to his selfishness and meanness.

6. Grandfather makes a change in his Will that he won’t give a penny to either of his daughters. He will marry next Monday and liv6 happily. He does so as his daughters do not care hu him. His daughters get shocked to know this. They are unable to speak as his decision of marrying is a slap on them as daughters.

7. The three things are : one, he will go to the lawyer and change his Will. Two, he will pay his insurance premium. Three, he will get married.

Question 6.
Answer the following in detail :

1. Bring out the irony in the title of the play.
Or
Bring out the irony of the title, ‘The Dear Departed’. (CBSE 2014)

2. How does the spat between his daughters lead to grandfather discovering the truth ? (V. Imp.)

3. Compare and contrast Henry’s character with that of his wife. Support your answer with evidence from the play. (V. Imp.)

Answer:

1. The irony in ‘The Dear Departed’ is clearly seen. On the surface value, it means the dearest member of the family has been dead. So all must lament and grieve. But at a deeper level, they don’t lament or grieve. They are more concerned about grabbing father’s things. They also fight over these greedily and selfishly even when he’s not dead.

2. Abel comes to senses and sees his daughter Elizabeth and Mr. Ben Jordan in mourning. He asks what has brought them there. Abel sees Mrs. Slater whispering. Then he finds Henry wearing his slippers. Mrs. Slater asks him if he had promised Jimmy his gold watch. He sees his bureau shifted downstairs. Finally, he sees his daughters quarrelling. When Mrs. Jordan says ‘After you were dead, I say’ he realizes the truth. This is confirmed when both the daughters talk about grabbing his things. Now Abel discovers the whole truth.

3. Mrs. Slater can be called a greedy, selfish, mean and crafty woman. She doesn’t bother about family values or the sweet relationship between a father and his daughter. Her eyes are to pinch as many things of father as possible. She has already grabbed his bureau, clock and slippers. Thus she is mean and unscrupulous. She is impolite, blunt, greedy, insensitive and what not. She doesn’t value moral and familial values but material things. Thus she is like her sister Mrs. Jordan as far as greed is considered.

On the other hand, her husband doesn’t have these qualities. But he is a weak- natured person. He is afraid of his wife and dares not displease her. If she speaks a bit hard, he surrenders. For instance, he calls her shifting father’s bureau undesirable. But when she talks in a harsh tone, he surrenders. He can be called his wife’s shadow. He is, thus, a weak and non-assertive person. He can be called a hen-pecked husband.

Question 7.
Bring out the traits in Mrs. Slater’s personality quoting evidence from the play.

Answer:

(a) Her grabbing the bureau and clock of father before the arrival of her sister Elizabeth, asking Henry to wear father’s slippers.

(b) Her rebuking Victoria not to gallivant in the street; asking her to close the door if her aunt Elizabeth and uncle come; her dominating attitude towards her husband Henry, etc.

(c) Her bluntness/straight talking to her sister and father like : “Don’t be so silly, Elizabeth” when they are talking about Dr. Pringle. Second, when Victoria says that perhaps grandpa didn’t go to pay his insurance premium Mrs. Slater snubs her saying ‘He went out”. Finally, her bluntness in her asking Victoria to change her dress and not gallivant.

(d) Impoliteness of Mrs. Slater is seen in her talks like : “What do you mean by that Henry Slater ?” when Henry refers to greediness in the family.

Second example : Mrs. Slater : Henry, why shouldn’t we bring that bureau down here now ? We could do it before they come.

Henry (stupefied) : I wouldn’t care to.
Mrs. Slater : Don’t look so daft. Why not ?

(e) Her insensitiveness is seen in :
1. Victoria: That’s grandpa’s clock.
Mrs. Slater: Chut ! Bc quit! It’s ours now.

2. Mrs. Jordan: I’ll tell you what’s been going on in this house. Father, nothing short of robbery.
Mrs. Slater: Be quiet. Elizabeth.

Note : Students themselves can find out more such examples. Mrs. Slater’s talks border on greediness, impoliteness, bluntness and insensitivity taken together.

Question 8.
Answer the following with reference to the context.

1. “Are we pinching it before Aunt Elizabeth comes ?”

(a) What does ‘it’ refer to here ?
(b) How does Vicky conclude that her parents are ‘pinching it’ ?
(c) Mention the two reasons that Mrs. Slater gives for her action.
(d) What does it reveal about the difference between the attitude of the elders and that of Vicky ?

2. “7 don’t call that delicate, stepping into a dead man’s shoes in such haste.”

(a) Who makes this comment ?
(b) What prompts the speaker to say this ?
(c) Bring out the significance of this statement.

3. “Now, Amelia, you mustn’t give way. We’ve all got to die some time or other. It might have been worse.”

(a) Who is the speaker of these lines ?
(b) What prompts the speaker to say these words ?
(c) What does he mean when he says ‘It might have been worse’ ?
(d) What does it reveal about the speaker’s character ?

Answer:

1.
(a) ‘It’ here refers to the shifting of the bureau by Mrs. Slater.

(b) Victoria (Vicky) concludes it from her mother’s lie that her grandpa gave it to her that morning. But she says that that morning he was drunk. At this Mrs. Slater rebukes her saying that she mustn’t ever say he was drunk.

(c) One, she says her grandpa gave it to her. Second, she had had always a fancy for that.

(d) It reveals the difference that Victoria (Vicky) speaks the truth but the elders tell lies.

2.
(a) Abel (grandpa) makes this comment.

(b) Abel sees that Henry has worn his slippers which he should not. This prompts him to say these words.

(c) The significance is that Abel is conscious of the fact that his things are slowly being grabbed by his daughters.

3.
(a) Ben Jordan speaks these lines.

(b) Mrs. Slater informs Mr. Jordan and his sister Elizabeth (Mrs. Jordan) that father, 72, is now dead. This prompts Ben Jordan (to) say this.

(c) By this he means to say that father died. It is alright as every one has to die sooner or later. But his death could have been due to the worst things. The way he died was not much troublesome.

(d) The speaker’s character seen in this comment here seems normal and mature.

Question 9.
Writing

Victoria Slater is truly attached to her Grandpa. As she sees the elders in her family quarrel over the inheritance, she is bewildered and upset by their attitude. As Victoria write a diary entry outlining the incident and your feelings. (150 words)

Answer:

Wednesday, 24th April, 20 – 9 pm

I can’t forget this day when I found my mom and dad grabbing dear grandpa’s bureau, clock and slippers. I was greatly shocked to hear mom saying that grandpa was dead. However, I saw that he was drunk this morning. Soon my aunt Elizabeth and uncle Ben came and were in mourning dress. All of them started arguing hotly over grandpa. My mom told my aunt that he was as merry as a sandboy in the morning. After taking tea they started talking over dividing his things like gold watch, slippers, clock etc. I felt it very bad that grandpa was not yet dead. But he was made to be ‘dead’ and they started fighting over his things ! It was most inhuman and unbecoming of them to treat grandpa so badly.

I was overjoyed when I saw grandpa still alive. When I expressed my happiness, my mom snubbed me. Things finally came out when my aunt told grandpa that my mom and dad had been robbing him. Grandpa didn’t take long to understand that for his daughters his death and his things were more important than his life. He took no time to frustrate their evil designs by saying that he was marrying again next Monday. I shall miss my dearest grandpa. But I would go to him whenever I like.

Victoria

Question 10.
Speaking

Grandfather says, “It seems to me that neither of you has any cause to feel proud about the way you’ve treated me.” While it is true that the daughters disregard modesty, decency and filial obligation, grandfather cannot be fully justified in practically disowning his family. Besides, Victoria loves him and he seems to have spared no thought for her feelings.

Divide yourselves into groups of four or five and discuss the statement: Grandfather is not entirely right in moving away from his daughters.

After the discussion, a representative from each group will present the views of her/his group to the class in about 3 minutes.

Answer:

Mainly for discussion in groups at class level.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 13 The Dear Departed help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Literature Chapter 13 The Dear Departed, Nor the Gilded Monuments, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.