CBSE Class 12

Here we are providing Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes ?
Answer:
Tigers are the denizens of the world of green. The . tiger is considered very brave and courageous animal. They are not afraid of anyone.

Question 2.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza ? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has become so old that it appears that her fingers are trembling through wool. She has become so weak that she even finds the needle hard to pull. The poet means to say that unending household chores have made aunt very weak.

Question 3.
What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ ?
Answer:
The poet says that Uncle’s wedding band lies very heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand. She has to work endlessly from morning till night and also have to bear Uncle’s tyranny. Aunt Jennifer has to slavishly follow all the orders of uncle.

Question 4.
Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is terrified of endless household chores and Uncle in the third stanza. She thinks that even after her death she will not be free from these household chores.

Question 5.
What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’ ? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by household chores. These chores are no less than ordeals for her be-cause willingly or unwillingly she has to do them. The word ‘ringed’ has been used to convey that Aunt Jennifer is so surrounded by her ordeals that she can never think to come out of them.

Question 6.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character ? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is old and submissive woman. But the tigers she is embroidering on the panel appear to be bold and chivalric. The suggestion given here is that women give birth to men but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 7.
Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Answer:
The poet has used the symbol of tigers in this poem. The tigers represent creative energy of women. The tigers also represent the male-dominant society. The poet wants to say that the women give birth to men, but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 8.
Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer ? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer ?
Answer:
Yes, we do sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. Aunt Jennifer symbolises particular housewife. She has to do all the household chores without any respite. Her husband is very cruel and often tyrannises her. The poet says that perhaps Aunt Jennifer will have to continue with her household chores even after death.

Question 9.
For Aunt Jennifer what do the tigers symbolise ?
Answer:
The tigers symbolise creative energy of women. The tigers also represent the male-dominant society. The poet wants to say that the women give birth to men, but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 10.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has embroidered tigers on a panel. These tigers represent not only women’s creativity but also tyranny of men towards women. It will continue even after the death of Aunt Jennifer. Therefore her tigers will also keep prancing on the panel.

Question 11.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has been tyrannised by her husband all her life. Her husband has become a picture of terror for her. She is in fact venting out all her inner feelings by embroidering tigers on the panel. In the form of tigers she has in fact embroidered the fearful face of her husband.

Question 12.
Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer embroidered tigers on the screen. These tigers are symbol of her husband, whom she is very afraid. She thinks that by embroidering tigers she will get a sort of relief from her fear. But it proves quite futile. The poet says that even after her death, the fear of her husband’s tyranny will keep on haunting Aunt Jennifer.

Question 13.
Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is old and submissive woman. But the tigers she is embroidering on the panel appear to be bold and chivalric. The suggestion given here is that women give birth to men but the same men tyrannise women when they grow up.

Question 14.
What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ ?
Answer:
Ours is a male-dominated society. Aunt Jennifer is a typical housewife. She has to follow her husband’s orders slavishly. Her husband tyrannises her and she has accepted her fate submissively. In fact this poem reflects a true picture of male chauvinism.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
The poet refers to an old woman, Aunt Jennifer. She has embroidered some tigers on a screen. These tigers are jumping across the screen. The poet says that these tigers appear so real as if they were actually the inhabitants of the jungle. Some men are shown beneath the tree. But these tigers are fear¬less. They are not afraid of these men. Aunt Jennifer has become so old that it appears that her fin¬gers are trembling through wool. She has become so weak that she even finds the needle hard to pull.

The poet says that the uncle wedding band lies very heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand. The poet means to say here that Aunt Jennifer has to slavishly follow all the orders of uncle. Aunt Jennifer is terrified of endless household chores and Uncle. She thinks that even after her death she will not be free from these household chores.

Question 2.
Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem the poet narrates the tale of an old woman Aunt Jennifer. She is a typical housewife. She is embroidering tigers on a frame. Aunt Jenni-fer has suffered all her life because of male-dominance. The tigers she is embroidering are in fact symbol of her husband. They can also be seen as a symbol of a woman’s creative energy. The women give birth to men and the same men tyrannise women when they grow up. The poet says that Aunt is crushed due to male chauvinism and it appears she won’t be free from the bondage of her household chores even after her death.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Questions
(a) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers ?
(b) How are they described here ?
(c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer ?
(d) What does the word, ‘chivalric’ mean ?
Answers
(a) Aunt Jennifer has embroidered the tigers on a screen, therefore they are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers.
(b) These tigers are of bright yellow colour; they are in-habitants of the forests.
(c) Aunt Jennifer is a very submissive and timid woman. On the other hand the tigers are shown very brave and full of energy.
(d) It means ‘confident and brave’.

Stanza 2

Aunt Jennifer’s finger fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

Questions
(a) What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool ?
(b) Why does she find it difficult to pull the ivory needle ?
(c) What does ‘wedding band’ stand for ?
(d) Describe the irony in the third line.
Answers
(a) She is embroidering beautiful tigers with her wool. Aunt Jennifer is finding hard to pull her needle because her hands have become very weak.
(b) Wedding band in these lines stands for the marital duties that every woman has to perform.
(c) They never get any respite and they have to do household chores from early morning till late night.
(d) The wedding is generally considered union of two souls and blessed by God Himself. But ironically in this poem, the wedding is considered as a painful experience of Aunt Jennifer.

Stanza 3

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What was Aunt mastered by ?
(c) What will her terrified hands be ringed with ?
(d) What will happen to tigers after Aunt Jennifer’s death ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and the name of the.poet is Adrienne Rich.
(b) Aunt was mastered by her ordeals.
(c) Her terrified hands will be ringed with ordeals.
(d) The tigers will keep on prancing on the screen even after Aunt Jennifer’s death.

Here we are providing A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain, which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
Answer:
Lines which bring this are :
“The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts; At having the landscape marred with the artless paint; Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong…” Their complaint was that the wrongly made signs had spoiled the natural beauty.

Question 2.
What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Answer:
The plea of roadside stand sellers was the ignorance by the vehicles.They pleaed that nobody stopped there to buy their products.

Question 3.
The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
Answer:
The words/phrases expressing their double standards are :

• pitiful kin
• mercifully gathered
• they won’t have to think for themselves anymore.

Question 4.
What is the ‘Childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it vain?
Answer:
‘Childish longing’ seems through the desire of the poor farmer who sits near the open window all day and prays for the stopping of any car.

Question 5.
Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the throught of the plight of the rural people?
Answer:
The lines about the insufferable pain that the poet feels are :
“Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear the thought of so much Childish longing in vain, the sadness that lurks near the open window there.” “I can’t help owning the great relief it would be to put these people at one stroke out of their pain.”

Question 6.
Where was a little new shed situated ?
Answer:
Out of the little old house in front at the edge of the road, was the place where ‘a little new shed’ was situated.

Question 7.
What is the demand of the roadside stand ?
Answer:
The roadside stand pleaded not for a dole of bread but demands for some of the money, some cash which supports cities from sinking and withering faint.

Question 8.
What attitude does the polished traffic show ?
Answer:
The polished traffic passes with a mind ahead and does of pay little bit attention towards the roadside stands.

Question 9.
What is sold by the roadside stand sellers ?
Answer:
They sell wild berries in wooden quarts and crook necked golden squash with silver warts.

Question 10.
What is the complaint of the poet ?
Answer:
The complaint of the poet is about the city’s money which he also wants to feel in hand and to expand their life’s standard.

Question 11.
What is in the news ?
Answer:
The news is about the settlement of the farmers mercifully near to the theatre and the store where they won’t have to think for themselves any-more.

Question 12.
What is the Childish longing of the poet ?
Answer:
The poet childishly longs for the betterment and growth of those unfortunate people but these desires and expectations would never be fulfilled by the greedy good-doers.

Question 13.
Why those cars are named as ‘selfish’ ?
Answer:
Cars (vehicles) continuously pass through that road but out of those thousand of cars, not a single stop there even to inquire about the prices of the products of the farmers.

Question 14.
Why do the cars stop there occasionally?
Answer:
Cars stop at roadside stand occasionally to ask about the route’s destination or for demanding the fuel (gas) for their vehicles.

Question 15.
How does the poet feel himself helpless?
Answer:
The poet finally concludes that he is totally helpless to remove the pain of the farmers. He can’t put those people out of their pain at one stroke.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
Poet, Robert Frost experienced the pain of the poor formers who established their little shedded stalls to sell various products grown or manufactured by them but the poet observed that out of thousands of the visitors and vehicles, nobody is interested in their offerings. On the other hand, the selfish travellers criticized their presentations and passed throughly proudly.

Poet is hurt by their behaviour and attitude and has a complaint for their survival as they too want to be the part of the flow of economy; presently mainly run by the city dwellers only. They too have the right to live comfortably like their ideals. But they are always used for the self motives of the greedy good-doers. They enforce their benefits over the poor farmers, misguide them and destroy their ancient

culture and way of living by lullying them. They just want to grasp their fields and houses. Poet is tired and finds his expectations failed, too much disappointed by the financial condition and struggle V of the distressed peasants who for whole day sit, pray and wait for the cars to stop at least to inquire or to buy but the self-centred egoistic persons use the empty place to turn their vehicles or sometimes stop to ask about the path or fuel.

Anger of farmers is natural, they reply and ask’ irritatingly for the common sense of the proudy persons. Poet realizes that no miracle can be seen and he is unable to console the poverty-stricken farmers and it’s impossible to extricate the villagers out of their pain at one stroke. He realizes, when finds himself sensible, that his call is futile, to help them and no one is ready to help them.

Question 2.
Have you ever stopped at a roadside stand ? What have you observed ?
Answer:
Yes, I’ve stopped at a roadside stand on a highway twice or thrice and found that the villagers have too much expectations from us, who pass from those roads. They work hard for whole day and whole family members of them sit there to sell fresh vegetables, fruits, juices and other products.

Very few of us actually purchase something but only use them for general queries like asking about road map, gas or petrol for our vehicles or many a times to use that broad empty space to turn our vehicles. I also observed that those farmers are pitiful and facing very miserable condition and fighting for their existence and survival.

Those merciful poor farmers should be helped and treated like the human beings and dwellers of cities. They should not be cheated and used for the introversion purposes. They also contribute to the growth and economy of the country as they grow crops for whole mankind.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,
It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Questions

(a) Why was the new shed put up by the villagers ?
(b) Why the word ‘pathetically1 was used ?
(c) What would not be fair and why ?
(d) How cash supports the cities ?
Answers
(a) The new shed was put up by the villagers to earn some money by selling their products.
(b) Word ‘pathetically’ was used to show the miserable and pitiful condition of the farmers.
(c) To say for a ‘dole of bread’ would not be fair because those farmers have their self-respect and they do not need begging.
(d) Cash escapes the cities from sinking and withering faint.

Stanza 2

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong
Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

Questions
(a) What does ‘the polished traffic’ mean ?
(b) How the landscape was marred ?
(c) What was sold there at roadside stands ?
(d) What is meant by ‘out of sorts’ ?
Answers
(a) The polished traffic means the glossy, dexterous and proudy traffic.
(b) The landscape was marred with the artless paint of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong.
(c) Wild berries in wooden quarts and crook-necked golden squash with silver warts are sold there.
(d) ‘Out of sorts’ means complaining, bad-tempered or unhappy.

Stanza 3

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,
Why keep your money (his crossly) and go along.
The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid :
Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand,
And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

Questions
(a) How are the city dwellers proved to be mean ?
(b) Where have they made their roadside stands ?
(c) Why do the farmers need some city money to feel in hand ?
(d) What is the promise of the ruling party ?
Answers
(a) City dwellers have enough money but they go along without spending it.
(b) ‘They have made their roadside stands far from the city.
(c) The farmers need some city money to feel in hand to make their being expand and to live life like their ideals/heroes.
(d) The party in power promises to give them a comfortable and luxury life without worry and economic problem.

Stanza 4

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves any more,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

Questions
(a) What is in the news?
(b) What, according to the greedy good-doers, is the benefit of the farmers?
(c) ‘Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits’, explain.
(d) How their sleeping would be destroyed?
Answers
(a) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin are to be brought out and gathered mercifully, these farmers would be settled in the villages near the theatre and the store.
(b) The farmers won’t have to think for themselves any-more.
(c) Aborie mentioned line means : Capturing the lives of the farmers by enforcing their own benefits; using them for purposes.
(d) By teaching them how to sleep, their ancient way of sleeping would be destroyed.

Stanza 5

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear
The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,
Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.
And one did stop, but only to plow up grass
In using the yard to back and turn around;
And another to ask the way to where it was bound;
And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas
They couldn’t (this crossly); thy had none, didn’t it seel

Questions
(a) What can be hardly borne by the poet?
(b) What do they wait for?
(c) How cars are selfish?
(d) What is the reply of the farmers at last?
Answers
(a) The poet can hardly bear the thought of so much childish longing in vain: expectations that would never be fulfilled.
(b) They (farmers) wait for the squeal Of brakes, the sound of a stopping car; actually they wait for the real customers.
(c) Cars are said to be selfish because nobody stops there to buy anything but to inquire only or to plow up the grass by turning their heavy vehicles.
(d) The farmers angrily reply that they have nothing as per their demand, do they not see whatever they are selling.

Stanza 6

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,
The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
And then next day as I come back into the sane,
I wondor how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Questions
(a) What is not found in country money?
(b) Who complains and why?
(c) How poet finds himself helpless?
(d) Why was poet wondeored?
Answers
(a) The requisite lift of spirit is never found in country money, at the country scale of gain.
(b) The voice (villagers) of the country complains because no relief is given to them from the government or greedy good-doers.
(c) The poet finds himself helpless as he is unable to put those people out of their pain at one stroke.
(d) The poet was wondeored because he was expecting them to come to him and put him gently out of his pain.

Here we are providing A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
List Hie things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Answer:
The sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear rills, the mid forest brake, musk roses and the mighty dead are some of the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Question 2.
List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression among human beings. There is lack of noble nature. But without the beautiful things, our lives on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 3.
What does the line, ‘Therefore, are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?
Answer:
There is so much disappointment and sadness on this earth. There is lack of noble souls. But we are still living on this earth. The poet says that our existence on the earth is possible only due to some things of beauty.

Question 4.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
Answer:
On this earth, man’s life is full of depression and disappointment. There is general lack of truly noble people. The shroud of disappointment is spread over human souls. But a thing of beauty makes human beings love life in spite of trouble and sufferings.

Question 5.
Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’ ?
Answer:
‘Mighty dead’ are those people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of general good of mankind. Now they are lying in their graves. The poet says that on the day of judgement, they will be rewarded by God Himself for their noble deeds. It is this grandeur or dignity that is associated with ’mighty dead’.

Question 6.
Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us ?
Answer:
As the title of the poem suggests that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. The poet says that a thing of beauty leaves a lasting impression on our minds. It never passes into nothingness. Whenever we are sad or disappointed, it is a thing of beauty that gives us some sort of joy.

Question 7.
What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth ?
Answer:
The poet says that there are a number of things that make the earth beautiful. These things are like a fountain of immortal drink which is pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

Question 8.
Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.
Answer:
The things of beauty that add joy to our life are the sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear rills, the mid forest brake, musk roses and the mighty dead.

Question 9.
Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression among human beings. There is lack of noble nature. But for the beautiful things, our lives on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 10.
Which objects of nature does Keats mention as a thing of beauty ?
Answer:
The things of nature that Keats mentions as things of beauty are the sun, the moon, trees, simple sheep, flowers like daffodils, clear rills and musk roses.

Question 11.
What does a thing of beauty do for us ?
Answer:
It is only because of things of beauty that we are able to live on this earth. Otherwise there is so much grief on this earth that it would have become impossible without things of beauty.

Question 12.
How do beautiful things help us to live life ?
Answer:
The poet says that there is so much pain and suffering on this earth. There is air of general disappointment. The poet says it is only because of things of beauty that we can live on this earth. Otherwise the life on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 13.
What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal ?
Answer:
Keats considers all things of beauty,an endless fountain of immortality. The poet says that there is so much despondence and grief on this earth that but without a thing of beauty our stay on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 14.
According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits ? How is it removed?
Answer:
Keats says that there is general grief on this earth. Man’s life is full of disappointment and sadness. It appears as if a shroud of disappointment is spread over our dark spirits. It is only some or the other things of beauty that removes this pall of despondence.

Question 15.
How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty ?
Answer:
The ‘mighty dead’ are those people who lay their lives for the betterment of mankind. We read their stories and it gives us immense joy. The poet says that these mighty dead be rewarded by God Himself on the day of judgement.

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of this poem.
Answer:
The poet says that it is some thing of beauty that provides joy forever. Then poet lists some things that are source of beauty. He says the sun, the moon, beautiful flowers, young trees and simple sheep are all things of beauty. The poet says that there is so much grief on this earth that the life would become impossible without any thing of beauty. It is something or the other thing of beauty that binds us to the earth.

Then the poet describes about the mighty dead of this earth. These people have laid down their lives for the sake of mankind. The poet says that they will get their due reward on the day of judgement. The poet compares the things of beauty with a fountain pouring out immortal drink from the brink of heaven.

Question 2.
Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem, the poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. He compares a thing of beauty with a bower, where we can enjoy sweet sleep. Then the poet mentions many things of beauty. He says that there is so much grief and sadness on this earth that we can sustain our life only because of the things of beauty.

He compares the things of beauty with ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink’. In this way the poet underlines the fact that we should preserve and take care of the things of beauty. They are joy not for ourselves but also for our coming generations.

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness: but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Questions
(a) Whose loveliness will keep on increasing ?
(b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it is immortal’.
(c) What is a bower ?
(d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives ?
Answers
(a) The loveliness of things of beauty will keep on increasing.
(b) The phrase that says it is immortal is … never passes into nothingness.
(c) It is a quiet and shady place.
(d) We need all these things so that we can enjoy the things of beauty.

Stanza 2

Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is the flowery band that binds us to the earth ?
(c) What does the poet mean by ‘spite of despondence’ ?
(d) What message is conveyed through these lines ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty and its poet is John Keats.
(b) The flowery band here means things of beauty. It is only because of the things of beauty that we can continue to live on this earth.
(c) It means a lot of disappointment and sadness on the
earth.
(d) The message conveyed through these lines is that it is only because of things of beauty that we are able to live on this earth. Otherwise there is so much grief on this earth that it would have become impossible without things of beauty.

Stanza 3

Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is meant by ‘o’er darkened ways’ ?
(c) What does some shape of beauty do ?
(d) What idea is conveyed by these lines ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.
(b) The o’er darkened ways’ means the mysterious things that human beings fail to understand.
(c) It removes the shroud of sadness from our spirit.
(d) The poet means to say that only the things of beauty make our life possible on this earth.

Stanza 4

And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What have we imagined for the mighty dead ?
(c) Who are these mighty dead ?
(d) What lovely tales does the poet talk of ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.
(b) We have imagined that mighty dead would get due reward of their deeds on the day of judgement.
(c) These mighty deads are those persons who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of mankind.
(d) The poet talks of the tales of the bravery of the mighty dead.

Here we are providing Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve ?
Answer:
Counting upto twelve and keeping still gives us time to introspect ourselves. In this way, we can recuperate our energy and restart our activities with fresh energy and zeal.

Question 2.
Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death ?
Answer:
No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity and death. He only wants us to keep quiet for a few seconds and suspend all our activities for a few seconds. In this way we can introspect our¬selves and restart our activities with fresh energy and zeal.

Question 3.
What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer:
When people don’t introspect themselves they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises. The poet wants that people should overcome this sadness by introspecting themselves.

Question 4.
What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness ?
Answer:
In this poem, the poet uses the symbol of the earth to say that there can be life under apparent stillness. He says that the earth appears to be dead in the winter season. But when the spring season comes it becomes alive with all its new plants. It never takes rest.

Question 5.
How would keeping quiet affect the life in and around the sea ?
Answer:
It will affect the life in and around the sea in two ways. The fishermen will stop fishing for some time. It will help the number of the fish to recuperate. The man gathering salt will get some time to see his hurt hands get healed.

Question 6.
‘Life is what at is about;How is keeping quiet related to life ?
Answer:
Keeping quiet is related to life not death. The poet says that by keeping quiet we get some time to introspect ourselves. Keeping quiet helps us to recuperate our energy. In this way we can start our activities with fresh zeal and energy.

Question 7.
Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet ?
Answer:
When we keep quiet for some time and suspend all our activities for some time, we feel a sort of strangeness. The reason is that we are always surrounded by the noise of machines, etc. When there is no sound, we feel a sort of strangeness.

Question 8.
How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment ?
Answer:
Keeping quiet helps us to stop wars. In this way it helps to prevent destruction of environment due to wars. Also, it prevents deforestation. In this way, we can say that keeping quiet is the only way to prevent our environment from all types of pollution.

Question 9.
What does the poet want us to tell ?
Answer:
The poet wants us to tell that by keeping quiet and remaining still for few moments, we will be able to do our work in a more effective way. We can analyse our past actions and not repeat our past, mistakes.

Question 10.
What does the poet mean by saying ‘victory with no survivors’ ?
Answer:
According to the poet the wars cause a lot of destruction. A lot of people die from both the sides. Therefore, no one can claim that their side has won, since the so called victor also has to face a lot of causalities.

Question 11.
What are the different types of wars mentioned in the poem ?
Or
What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars?
Answer:
The poet says that there are green wars. He means t to say that the people who destroy forests also wage a war against their own coming generations. There are wars with fire, chemical weapons and poisonous gases. The wars bring so much destruction that no side could be called victorious. The poet wants that all these wars should be stopped. These wars bring nothing but destruction.

Question 12.
How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ?
Answer:
We think that earth is dead as it remains still. But many changes are taking place under the surface of the earth. A seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life springs from it.

Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
The poet wants everyone to count up to twelve in their mind. He wants every one of us to be calm and still. The poet wants that one should not talk in any language. He means to say that every person of the world should be quiet for few seconds. There would not be any rush. There would not be the jarring sounds of machines. The poet wants that the fishermen should not hunt whales in the sea. He also wants that the persons who gather salt should suspend their activities for a few seconds.

The poet says that the people who destroy forests also wage a war against their own coming generations. There are wars with fire, chemical weapons and poisonous gases. The was bring so much destruction that no side could be called victorious. The poet knows that the soldiers have to follow the orders. He implores them to leave the army and instead of uniforms wear clean clothes. They should walk with their civilian brothers and suspend their all war-related activities and walk idly under the shade.

The poet wants that we should not be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their tasks. But he says that by keeping quiet for a few seconds, they can understand the true purpose of life. The poet wants that we should not be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their tasks. The poet says that by keeping quiet for a few seconds they can understand the true purpose of life. The poet says that the earth can provide us all type of guidance.

He says that it appears dead and lifeless in winter. But when the summer season comes everything again comes to life. Similarly, after taking a short pause we can restart our activities in a new way. Therefore, the poet asks the people to take a pause, count to twelve and walks out of the scene.

Question 2.
Write the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem, the poet tells us about the value of quiet introspection. He wants us to keep quiet for twelve seconds and stop every movement of the body. He implores the fishermen not to harm the whales. He also wants the man gathering salt to stop his activities for a few minutes, since he has hurt his hands. The poet says that wars are useless.

These wars leave no survivors. However the poet doesn’t advocate total inactivity. He says that something that appears to be dead now later proves to be alive. Total inactivity is death, the poet just wants us to suspend our activities for a few seconds.

Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
And not move our arms so much.

Questions
(a) What is the significance of the number ‘twelve’ ?
(b) Which two activities does the poet want us to stop ?
(c) What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not speak in any language’ ?
(d) Describe the pun on the word ‘arms’.
Answers
(a) There are twelve hours on the face of the clock and also there are twelve months in a year. The poet also
refers to the number twelve. He wants us to suspend our activities for twelve seconds.
(b) The poet wants us to stop talking and moving our arms.
(c) The poet wants us to give a universal message. He wants that all the people of the world irrespective of their nationality should suspend their activities for a few seconds. Not to use any organ to communicate.
(d) The poet has used the word arms for two purposes. He wants us to keep still for a few seconds and not move our arms. The second meaning of the word arms is weapons. The poet wants us to stop the use of arms against anyone.

Stanza 2

It would be an eicotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales.
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Which moment has been referred to here and how it will be significant ?
(c) How would we feel during that moment ?
(d) What does the poet want from the fishermen ? Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) The moment of quiet introspection has been referred here. It is significant in the sense that it brings all of us together and we have a feeling of oneness.
(c) We would feel all together and have a feeling of sudden strangeness.
(d) The poet wants that the fishermen should not kill whales for sometime.

Stanza 3

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers –
in the shade, doing nothing.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What does the poet mean by green wars ?
(c) What types of wars does the poet mention ?
(d) What does the poet want from the lovers of the war ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) It means the war against the environment or defores-tation.
(c) The poet mentions green wars, wars with gas and wars with fire.
(d) He wants them to wear clean clothes and walk lei-surely with their brothers.

Stanza 4

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What should not be confused with total inactivity ?
(c) What does the poet mean by …. I want no truck with death ?
(d) What is the gist of this stanza ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) Keeping quiet and remaining still should not be con-fused with total inactivity.
(c) The poet wants to say that stillness and quietness is not death. He wants to restart his activities again after introspection of a few seconds.
(d) In this stanza the poet says that quietness is not death. Rather it helps us to restart our activities in a fresh way.

Stanza 5

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

Questions
(a) Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines ?
(b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing1 for once ?
(c) What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem ?
(d) How can a huge silence do good to us ?
Answers
(a) ‘We’ in this stanza refers to the human beings who are self-centred and who only think about themselves.
(b) By doing nothing for once, we can have ample time to introspect ourselves and analyse our actions.
(c) When people don’t introspect themselves, they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises.
(d) Huge silence helps in analysing ourselves. In this way, we can introspect ourselves.

Stanza 6

Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

Questions
(a) What does the earth teach us ?
(b) Why does the poet count up to twelve ?
(c) What will keeping quiet help us achieve ?
(d) How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ?
Answers
(a) The earth teaches us that there is life in what we think that is dead.
(b) The poet wants to introspect by counting twelve.
(c) Keeping quiet help us to recuperate our energy. In this way, we can start our activities with fresh zeal and energy.
(d) We think that the earth is dead as it remains still But many changes are kept taking under the surface of the earth. A seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life springs from it. The earth always seems in motion.

Here we are providing An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What do you think is the colour of ‘sour cream’? Why do you think the poet has used this expression to describe the classroom walls ?
Answer:
The poet says that the colour of the walls is of‘sour cream’. The poet wants to convey the idea that the children living in the slum has no happiness in their life. It has become sour and the cream colour represents paleness. The children have no vitality in their lives, thus they have become pale due to malnutrition.

Question 2.
The walls of the classroom are decorated with the pictures of ‘Shakespeare’, ‘buildings with domes’, ‘world maps’ and beautiful valleys. How do these contrast with the world of these children ?
Answer:
The world of the children living in slum is totally different from the pictures of Shakespeare, maps beautiful valleys and big buildings. Their world is confined to the slum in which they are living. The open joyful world is accessible to them.

Question 3.
What does the poet want for the children of the slums ? How can their lives be made to change ?
Answer:
The poet wants that the children should be taken out of their slums. Their living conditions should be changed. The poet wants that the children should be shown green fields; they should be allowed to live a free and carefree life. Without any worry, they can concentrate well on their studies.

Question 4.
What does Stephen Spender want for the children of the school in a slum ?
Answer:
The poet wants that the children should be shown green fields; they should be allowed to live a free and carefree life. Without any worry, they can concentrate well on their studies. The poet says only those people create history who are carefree.

Question 5.
How is ‘Shakespeare wicked and the map a bad example’ for the children of the school in a slum ?
Answer:
The poet says that it will be useless to talk about Shakespeare to the children in the classroom. He even says that Shakespeare is wicked. The big map with all its places, ships and so on tempts the children to steal. These children have to spend their lives in small homes. The poet means to say that for the children their world is only the slums not the big maps.

Question 6.
Which words/phrases in the poem ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’ show that the slum children are suffering from acute malnutrition ?
Answer:
There are many words and phrases in the poem that show the slum children are suffering from malnutrition. These words and phrases are hair torn round their pallor’, ‘tall girl with her weighed-down’ head, ‘the paper seeming boy’ and ‘the stunted heir of twisted bones’.

Question 7.
How does the poet describe the classroom walls ?
Answer:
The poet explains the classroom in detail. He says that the walls of the classroom have cream colour. They smell like sour cream. They are decorated with many pictures, maps of the world and the pictures of Shakespeare.

Question 8.
Whom does the poet appeal to change the life of the children for better ?
Answer:
The poet appeals to the governor, inspector and the visitors to do something for the poor children. The poet wants that the children should be shown green fields; they should be allowed to live a free and carefree life. Without any worry they can concentrate well on their studies. The poet says only those people create history who are carefree.

Question 9.
How does the poet describe the walls of the classroom wall ?
Answer:
The poet says that the walls of the classroom are cream. They smell like sour cream. There is a bust of Shakespeare in the classroom. There are pictures of big church and Tyrolese valley having bell-shaped flowers. There is an open-handed map, which shows all the places of the world.

Question 10.
Why does the Stephen Spender say that the pictures and maps in the elementary school classroom are not meaningful ?
Answer:
The poet says that there is a bust of Shakespeare in the classroom. There are pictures of a big church and the Tyrolese valley having bell-shaped flowers. There is an open-handed map, which shows all the places of the world. But ironically for the children living in the slum their world is not that map but only the scene that can be seen outside the window of their classroom. Therefore, the pictures and maps on the wall are meaningless.

Question 11.
How does the world depicted on the classroom walls differ from the world of the slum children ?
Answer:
There are many pictures and maps on the walls of the classroom walls. They present a very rosy picture of the world. But ironically the lives of the children living in the slum are very gloomy. They live a very miserable life.

Question 12.
What message does Stephen Spender convey through the poem ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’ ?
Answer:
The message conveyed in this poem is that the children living in the slum should be given better facilities. They should be taken out of their slums. Only then they can become useful citizens.

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
The poet describes some children sitting in an elementary school. This school is situated in a slum. The children sitting here present a very miserable view. Their hair are like weeds and scattered on their pale face. Then the poet describes a tall girl. She is sitting with her head bent. There is a small and thin looking boy. His eyes are like that of a rat’s eyes. Then there is an another boy who has disease of swollen and twisted bones and joints. He has got his disease from his father.

The poet notices a young and sweet boy sitting at the back of the class. He is perhaps dreaming about the squirrel’s game. He is perhaps dreaming of having such tree-room for him¬self also. The poet says that the walls of the classroom are cream. They smell like sour cream. There is a bust of Shakespeare in the classroom. There are pictures of big church and the Tyrolese valley having bell-shaped flowers. There is an open-handed map, which shows all the places of the world. But ironically for the children living in the slum their world is not that map but only the scene that can be seen outside the window of their classroom.

The poet says that it will be useless to talk about Shakespeare to the children in the classroom. He even says that Shakespeare is wicked. The big map with all its places, ships and so on tempts the children to steal. These children have to spend their lives in small homes. Their lives are nothing but an endless night. The children have grown so weak that their bones could be seen from their skin. Many of these wear spectacles, and these spectacles have mended glass.

The poet appeals to the governor, inspector and the visitors to do something for the poor children. The poet wants that the children should be shown green fields; they should be allowed to live a free and carefree life. Without any worry they can concentrate well on their studies. The poet says only those people create history who are carefree.

Question 2.
Write the central idea of the poem in detail.
Answer:
This poem is about the children who are living in a slum. They are mostly suffering from malnutrition. In their classroom, there are many beautiful pictures. There is an open handed map and the bust of . Shakespeare. The poet wants that these children should be taken out of their slum and they should be shown green fields and be allowed to run freely. Therefore, he appeals to the officials to do some thing for the children.

The poet says that only those people can create history who can enjoy anything under the sun. Therefore, the poet wants that these children should also be provided proper facilities so that they can grow into useful citizens.

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For  Comprehension

Stanza 1

Far far from gusty waves these children’s faces.
Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor :
The tall girl with her weighed-down head.

Questions
(a) Who are these children ?
(b) Which figure of speech has been used in the first two lines ?
(c) Why is the tall girl’s head weighed-down ?
(d) What does the word ‘pallor’ mean ?
Answers
(a) These children are very poor children who live in a slum and sitting in a school classroom of the slum.
(b) The figure of speech used in the first two lines ‘simile’ A. like rootless weeds.
(c) The tall girl appears to be very sad with the condition of life. She might have many responsibilities. Therefore, her head is weighed-down.
(d) The word ‘pallor’ means the pale faces of the children due to malnutrition.

Stanza 2

At back of the dim class
One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,
Of squirrel’s game, in tree room, other than this.

Questions
(a) Why is the class dim ?
(b) How is the young child different from others ?
(c) What is he doing ?
(d) What is a tree room ?
Answers
(a) The class is dim because no one takes care of its paint as a result it has become dark and dingy. Possibly, the poet here also wants to indicate the poor class of society and their dark and dim future.
(b) All the other children look gloomy. But the young child is quite different from them. He is full of bright dreams of his future.
(c) He is possibly dreaming about the squirrel’s game in the tree room.
(d) A tree room is a type of hole in the trunk of a tree where the little animals or birds make their homes.

Stanza 3

On sour cream walls, donations.  Shakespeare’s head,
Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities.
Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed map
Awarding the world its world.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and its poet.
(b) What is meant by ‘sour cream walls’ ?
(c) What donations are displayed on the walls ?
(d) Why does the poet call the map ‘open-handed’ ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘An Elementary School Class¬room in a Slum’ and the name of the poet is Stephen Spender.
(b) Sour cream walls mean damp and faded walls of the classroom that give foul smell.
(c) There are many things donated by people are displayed
on the walls. They include pictures, map and Shakespeare’s bust. .
(d) The map has been called ‘open-handed’ because all the places of the world are shown in it and it is big.

Stanza 4

And yet, for these
Children, these windows, not this map, their world,
Where all their future’s painted with a fog,
A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky Far far from rivers,
capes, and stars of words.

Questions
(a) Who are the children referred to here ?
(b) Which is their world ?
(c) How is their life different from that of other children ?
(d) Why is the future of these children ‘painted with a fog ?
Answers
(a) The children referred to here are the children living in the slum.
(b) Their world is confined to the slum in which they are living.
(c) The other children of well-to-do families have all basic facilities of life. They are free to go anywhere. But the children living in the slum are confined to their little dark world.
(d) The future of these children is very dark. Therefore the poet calls it ‘painted with a fog’.

Stanza 5

With ships and sun and love tempting them to steal
For lives that slyly turn in their cramped holes
From fog to endless night ?

Questions
(a) Who are ‘them’ referred to in the first line ?
(b) What tempts them ?
(c) What does the poet say about ‘their’ lives ?
(d) What do you understand ‘from fog to endless night’ ?
Answers
(a) The word ‘them’ in these lines referred to the children living in the slum.
(b) The beautiful places shown in the map tempt them.
(c) The poet says that ‘their’ lives are like a life of a mouse. The children are compelled to live in very small rooms as the mice live in holes.
(d) This phrase means that the children living in the slum have a very miserable existence. They have to suffer a lot from dawn till night and would never overcome.

Stanza 6

On their slag heap, these children Wear skins peeped through by bones and spectacles of steel
With mended glass, like bottle bits on stones.
All of their time and space are foggy slum.
So blot their maps with slums as big as doom.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Which two images are used to describe these slums ?
(c) What sort of life do these children lead ?
(d) Which figure of speech is used in the last line ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘An Elementary School Class¬room in a Slum’. The name of the poet is Stephen Spender.
(b) The sickly bodies of the children has been compared to a slag heap. Their mended spectacles have been compared to the bottle bits on stones.
(c) These children live a very poor and miserable life.
(d) The poetic device simile is used in the last line – slums as big as doom.

Stanza 7

Unless, governor, inspector, visitor,
This map becomes their window and these windows
That shut upon their lives like catacombs,
Break O break open till they break the town.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
Ob) What does the poet want from the governor, inspector and visitors ?
(c) What are ‘these windows’ which the poet talks of ?
(d) ‘That shut upon their lives like catacombs’. Which figure of speech has been used in this line ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’ and the name of the poet is Stephen Spender.
(b) The poet wants that they should come and do something for the betterment of the children living in a slum.
(c) They are the classroom windows from where the children can see the narrow street of their slum.
(d) The figure of speech used here is simile