Aunt Jennifer’s tigers

4 Marks Questions

Question 1 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers 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.

a) Why is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer is embroidering beautiful images of tigers by using wool.

b) Why does she find it difficult to pull her ivory needle?

Answer : She finds it difficult to pull her ivory needle as she is terrorised and traumatised by the
constraints of her married life.

c) What does ‘wedding band’ stand for?

Answer : The wedding band stands for her marital responsibilities but she feels burdened by them
as she is not able to express herself.

d) Describe the irony in the third line.

Answer : The irony in the third line is that her marriage instead of proving blissful has
overburdened her with responsibilities and her wedding band symbolises her bondage to her
husband and his overpowering nature.

Question 2 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

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

a) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?

Answer : The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as they were being embroidered on the
tapestry of Aunt Jennifer.

b) How are they described here?

Answer : The tigers have been described here as bold and fearless and they move across the screen
with confidence.

c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?

Answer : The tigers are different from Aunt Jennifer as they are shown as symbols of strength,
fearlessness and confidence. Aunt Jennifer has been described as a timid female who is burdened
with marital responsibilities and she is lacking in confidence.

d) What does the word, ‘chivalric’ mean?

Answer : The world ‘chivalric’ means ‘gallant’ or ‘brave’.

Question 3 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

When Aunt is dead, her terrible 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

a) Who is the aunt mentioned here?

Answer : The aunt mentioned here is Aunt Jennifer, the protagonist of Adrienne Rich’s poem ‘Aunt
Jennifer’s Tigers’.

b) Why is she “ringed with ordeals”?

Answer : The ‘ring’ here refers to her wedding band or ring, which has brought with it a host of
family responsibilities. She feels so surrounded (i.e., ringed) by her marital constraints that it seems
like an ordeal to her.

c) What is the difference between her and the tigers?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer is quiet weak and submissive, whereas the tigers are strong, bold and
powerful. She is bound by the constraints of her married life, while the tigers are free to move about
in the green woods.
d) Why has Aunt Jennifer created the tigers so different from her own character?

Answer : The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer are an expression of her desire to free herself from the
constraints of her married life. She wants to be bold and fearless like her tigers.

Question 4 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty

a) Who are ‘They’? Where are ‘They’?

Answer : ‘They’ refers to the tigers that Aunt Jennifer has knit on the panel. They are prancing in the
forest (across a screen).

b) Why are ‘They’ not afraid of men?

Answer : The tigers are not afraid of men because they are gallant and fearless creatures who are
not afraid of anyone.

c) What is the meaning of ‘sleek’?

Answer : The meaning of ‘sleek’ is ‘elegant’.

d) Who is the poet of this poem?

Answer : The name of the poet is Adrienne Rich.

3 Marks Questions (30 – 40 Words)

Question 1 : What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s
Tigers’?

Answer : In the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’, Aunt Jennifer was oppressed by her husband. She
was confined within the four walls of of her husband’s house and was not free to do what she
wished. She was also overburdened by her marital responsibilites.

Question 2 : Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.

Answer : Although Aunt Jennifer tried her best to conquer her fear, she continued to be traumatised
and oppressed by her husband. Her act of embroiding fearless, prancing tigers could only give her a
temporary release to her pent up feelings of liberation.

Question 3 : What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Answer : The weight that lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand is the wedding band, which
symbolises the harsh and difficult experiences of her married life. It is associated with her husband
as he has traumatised her.

Question 4 : Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character?

Answer : In creating animals that are different from her own character, Aunt Jennifer found a means
of living an alternate life that is denied to her, a life that is proud, free and fearless.

Through this difference, the poet suggests Aunt Jennifer’s suppressed desire to become bold and
fearless, and free from oppression.

Question 5 : What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer was probably a victim of oppression at the hands of the patriarchal society.
She was subjugated by her husband and was not free to do what she wished.

Question 6 : How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer’s tigers present a sharp contrast to her. While the Aunt is weak, meek,
submissive and bound by restrictions, the tigers are strong, fearless, confident and free to move
wherever they wish.

Question 7 : How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male dominance?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer expresses her bitterness and anger against male dominance silently through
her art. She creates tigers on her tapestry; animals that are unafraid of men and are symbolic of
bravery, fearlessness and strength.

Question 8 : Why has Aunt Jennifer made ‘prancing proud and unafraid’ tigers?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer lived a fearful and restricted life. She expressed her desire of being free,
unafraid and proud by knitting tigers that were ‘prancing, proud and unafraid’.

Question 9 : What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?

Answer : The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer would live forever. They will keep on prancing proud
and unafraid even after her death.

Question 10 : What kind of married life did Aunt Jennifer lead?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer was confined to live inside her husband’s house and was not free to do what
she wished. She was burdened with her marital responsibilities and led a traumatic married life.

Question 11 : Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?

Answer : Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because for her, the tigers were the
symbols of bravery, fearlessness and strength. Unlike her, they were not afraid of men around them.
Question 12 : How do the words, ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of Aunt
Jennifer’s tigers?

Answer : ‘Denizens’ means that the tigers inhabit a green world where they are free from any
boundations. ‘Chivalric’ means that they are brave and courageous.

Question 13 : What do the symbols , ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem, ‘Aunt
Jennifer’s Tigers’?

Answer : The ‘tigers’ are symbols of bravery and courage and also of Aunt Jennifer’s desire for
freedom. The ‘fingers’ are symbol of fear experienced by Aunt Jennifer and ‘ring’ symbolises an
oppressive and binding responsibility of marriage.

Question 14 : How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal?

Answer : According to the poet, Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are golden-yellow in colour and are prancing
across the screen. They live in a forest and are sleek, chivalric, majestic, elegant and unafraid of
men.

Poets and Pancakes

Question 1.

Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to us as unexplained mystery?

Answer:

The visit of the Englishman raised many queries and doubts in the minds of those who were
working in Gemini Studios. The Englishman’s name was unfamiliar and his credentials too were
unconfirmed. No one could understand his speech so everyone wondered why he had come to a
film studio that made Tamil films for simple people who had no interest in English poetry.

Question 2.

Who was the English visitor to the studios and what was the purpose of his visit?

Answer:

The Englishman who visited the studios was Stephen Spender. He was an English poet and the
editor of a British periodical, ‘The Encounter’. He visited the studio to deliver a speech at the
invitation of Mr. Vasan who was the boss of Gemini Studios. He was unable to establish a rapport
with his dazed audience. No one really understood the purpose of his visit. Even his identity was
discovered by Asokamitran years later, that too by sheer chance.
Question 3.

What was MRA and why it was welcomed at the Gemini Studios?

Answer:

The MRA, the Moral Rearmament Army, was a kind of counter movement to international
communism. They were welcomed at the Gemini Studios due to their political affiliations. The big
boss of the studio, Mr. Vasan literally played into their hands. Also, people at the Gemini Studios
were averse to communism. So the Moral Rearmament Army could not have found a better host in
India than the Gemini Studios, who welcomed them warmly.

Question 4.

How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini
Studios?

Answer:

The English poet’s address was a complete misfit in the midst of the Tamil knowing audience at
Gemini Studios. His speech was incongruous and his accent so indistinct that no one actually
understood a word of what he said. He was talking about the thrills and travails of an English poet
to a dazed audience. Finally, neither the Englishman himself nor his audience understood why they
were going through the entire ordeal.

Question 5.

Why did everybody in the studio think of giving the author some work to do?

Answer:

The author’s job was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in
files. Most people saw him doing this and considered it as useless work as they felt he was doing
next to nothing. So everyone in the studio thought of giving the author some work to do.

Question 6.

Why did the ‘boy’ in the makeup department come to the author? Why was the author praying for
crowd shooting all the time?

Answer:

The ‘boy’ in the makeup department thought that he had a great literary talent and he wanted to
enlighten the author how this talent was being allowed to go waste and that the department was fit
for barbers and perverts. The author was very eager to avoid his epical narrations so he prayed for
crowd-shooting all the time to keep the ‘boy’ busy.

Question 7.
Who was Subbu’s enemy? Why?

Answer:

Subbu’s enemy was the ‘boy’ at the make-up department. All his anger and frustration were
directed against him. The boy was convinced that Subbu was the cause of his woes and miseries.
This ‘boy’ was jealous of Subbu’s rising stars, his success and his intimacy with the boss.

Question 8.

What were the positive qualities of Subbu that the writer admired?

Answer:

The writer admired Subbu as he was a multi¬faceted genius and gave a new direction and .
definition to Gemini Studios. Subbu knew the technicalities and details of film-making and was a
good actor and writer. He was civil, friendly and completely devoted to his boss, Mr. Vasan.

Question 9.

Account for Subbu’s importance in Gemini Studios.

Answer:

Subbu was a multi-faceted genius. He was a poet, a writer and a great actor. He gave a new meaning
and direction not only to Gemini Studios but also to the art of film-making by using all his energy
and creativity to the company’s advantage. Moreover, because of his noble and charitable nature he
was loved by almost everyone.

Question 10.

Why was Subbu considered number two at Gemini Studios?

Answer:

Subbu was a go-getter and made a position for himself in the studios by pushing his way to the
forefront with flattery. Mr. Vasan was the boss at Gemini Studios and Subbu, his right-hand man,
became the number two at Gemini Studios. Subbu used his entire creativity to his boss’s advantage.
He was a multi-faceted genius and if a producer was not satisfied Subbu would come up with
fourteen alternatives. With Subbu around, film-making became a sheer pleasure. Moreover Subbu
gave direction and definition to Gemini Studios during its golden years.

Question 11.

How did the people of Madras and those at Gemini Studios respond to the plays staged by the Moral
Re-Armament Army?
Answer:

The Moral Re-Armament Army presented two plays ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’ in a
very professional manner. The people at Gemini Studios saw the plays over and over again. Though
the message was plain, the costumes and sets were first rate. These plays ran several shows in
Madras and left a great impact on the studios and on Madras in general. For some years almost all
Tamil plays imitated the scenes of sunrise and sunset of ‘Jotham Valley’.

Question 12.

Why was the Moral Re-armament Army welcomed at the Gemini Studios?

Answer:

The Moral Re-armament Army was a kind of counter movement to International Communism. The
big boss of Gemini Studios, Mr. Vasan literally played into their hands. People at the Gemini Studios
had an aversion to communism. So the Moral Re-armament Army could not have found a better
host in India than the Gemini Studios who welcomed them warmly.

Question 13.

Give one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.

Answer:

The MRA staged two plays ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’. These were presented in the
most professional manner. The six hundred strong Gemini family saw these plays numerous times
because of their fabulous sets and costumes. For years the Gemini Studios copied the sets and
costumes in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’. Also for some years almost all Tamil plays had a scene of
sunrise and sunset in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’.

Question 14.

Which example of national integration in Gemini Studios is given in ‘Poets and Pancakes’?

Answer:

The make-up department of the Gemini Studios gave a rare example of national integration. The
department was first headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. He was assisted
by a Kannadiga from Dharwar, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian and an Anglo-Burmese. Then
there were the usual local Tamils. All this gave ample proof of national integration.

Question 15.

Why did Asokamirtan pray for crowd¬shooting all the time?

Answer:
Asokamirtan was wrongly believed to have nothing to do so the office-boy often came to his cubicle
to give an outlet to his frustrations and stress the fact that a great talent was being wasted. The
author was bored with the office boy’s never-ending babble and prayed for crowd-shooting all the
time so that the boy remained busy and did not pester him.

Question 16.

Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at Gemini studios?

Answer:

The author’s job was to sit at his desk and tear up newspapers all day. He used to cut newspaper
clippings on a wide variety of subjects and stored them in files. His job was not directly related to
film making at the studio. So he appeared to be doing nothing at Gemini Studios.

Question 17.

How did the author discover who the English visitor to the Studios was?

Or

How did Asokamitran come to know that the English visitor to the Gemini Studios was Stephen
Spender?

Answer:

Years later, when Asokamitran was out of Gemini Studios he bought a pile of brand new books at a
reduced price from a footpath in front of Madras Mount Road Post Office. In a book ‘The God That
Failed’ six eminent writers had described their journeys into communism. It was in this book that
he came across the name of Stephen Spender and finally discovered the identity of the English
visitor to the Studios.

Question 18.

What made the lawyer lose his job? What does the writer find so funny about the situation?
Answer:

The lawyer was the legal adviser of an assembly of writers of the Gemini Studio’s Story Department.
One day, the Boss terminated the services of the poets and writers as he found their contribution to
the Studio negligible. With the closure of the Story Department the lawyer too lost his job. The
writer found this situation funny because the lawyer lost his job as the poets and writers were told
to go.

Question 19.

Why was the office boy disappointed with his job in the Gemini Studios?

Answer:
The office boy had come to work in the Gemini Studios in the hope of becoming a star or a
renowned screen writer, director or lyricist. But he felt disappointed because in spite of having
crossed the age of forty he had not been able to fulfil any of his dreams.

Question 20.

Kothamangalam Subbu was treated with regard in the Gemini Studios. Why?

Answer:

Kothamangalam Subbu was treated with regard at Gemini Studios. He held the No. 2 position there.
His sense of loyalty made him turn his entire creativity to his Boss’ advantage. Moreover, he had the
ability to inspire when commanded and he made the art of film¬making appear very easy. He was a
most charitable and improvident man.

Question 21.

Why is the Englishman’s visit to the Gemini Studios referred to as an unexplained mystery?

Answer:

The Englishman addressed a dazed and silent audience at Gemini Studios. No one knew who he was
and what he was talking about. His accent also defeated any attempt to understand what he was
saying. The Englishman himself looked equally baffled due to the incongruity of his talk. So his visit
is referred to as an unexplained mystery.

Question 22.

Why did Asokamitran pray for crowd¬shooting all the time?

Answer:

Asokamitran was wrongly believed to have nothing to do so the office-boy often came to his cubicle
to give an outlet to his frustrations and stress the fact that a great talent was being wasted. The
author was bored with the office boy’s never-ending babble and prayed for crowd-shooting all the
time so that the boy remained busy and did not pester him.

2. Answer each of the following questions in about 125-150 words.

Question 23.

Kothamangalam Subbu was a ‘many-sided genius’. Elaborate.

Or

Why is Subbu described as a many-sided genius? Give a reasoned answer.

Answer:
It is through the character of Kothamangalam Subbu, that the author depicts a caricature of the so-
called ‘go-getters’ who are not really talented but manage to create an aura of talent around
themselves. Though officially on the rolls of the Story Department at Gemini Studios, he was always
with the boss. Subbu directs all his energies and creativity to his boss’ advantage. He delves into the
various spheres of film-making successfully giving the impression of being a brilliant story-writer, a
talented actor and a man who is always ready with many solutions for any problem. He makes the
art of film-making appear rather easy for his boss. Thus Subbu with his scheming nature takes
advantage of his boss’ gullibility and passes off himself as a multi-sided genius with multi-faceted
abilities.

Question 24.

Asokamitran has used humour and satire effectively in ‘Poets and Pancakes’. Discuss.

Or

How does humour and satire enliven the account of the events and personalities at Gemini Studios
as portrayed by Asokamitran in ‘Poets and Pancakes’?

Answer:

In the chapter, ‘Poets and Pancakes’, Asokamitran uses a lot of subtle humour and satire to highlight
human foibles. Petty professional differences and inconsequential differences not only keep our
minds occupied but also bring out a subtle humour that is spontaneous without being superfluous.
The characterisation of the office boy, Subbu and the legal advisor, have subtle touches of humour.
Asokamitran’s chatty style changes from one thought to the other rather quickly. For example, he
makes fun of the makeup applied to artists which can change any decent looking person into a
hideous crimson hued monster. Such references invoke laughter. The purpose of the visits of the
Moral Rearmament Army and the English poet also baffles everyone. Satire is also directed towards
people who are against communism and can go to any length to oppose it. The writer’s tone of
ridicule is devoid of the slightest trace of mockery, which is most commendable.

Question 25.

Subbu was ‘tailor-made for films’. How did he use his genius in various activities in the Gemini
Studios?

Answer:

The author portrays Subbu as a man of versatile abilities who could delve into various aspects of
film-making successfully. Subbu had mastered all the arts related to film-making ranging from
story-writing to poetry and characterisation. He was in fact ‘tailor-made’ for film-making. Film-
making seemed rather easy with an expert like Subbu walking around as he understood all the
trivialities and technicalities of film-making. Subbu was the one who gave ‘a new direction and
definition’ to the Gemini Studios during its golden years. Subbu directed his entire energies and
creativity to his boss, Mr. Vasan’s advantage. If his boss was dissatisfied with one scene Subbu
would offer him many alternatives. He understood all the complications of film-making and could
showcase his talent in every artistic arena.

Question 26.

Why and how was the Moral Re-Armament Army welcomed at the Gemini Studios?

Answer:

Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament Army comprising of a group of two hundred people
belonging to twenty nationalities visited Madras in 1952. The MRA was seen to be a counter
movement to international communism and people at the Gemini Studios did not think highly of
communism and communists. But Mr. Vasan, the boss at Gemini Studios was fascinated by the MRA,
so they could not have found a ‘warmer’ host than Gemini Studios in India. The MRA presented two
plays ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’ in the most professional manner. Six hundred
people of the Gemini Studios saw the plays many times. These plays conveyed simple messages but
their sets and costumes were ‘first rate’. They impressed both the Tamil drama community and the
Gemini Studios. The sunrise and sunset scenes of ‘Jotham Valley’ continued to be copied for years to
come.

Question 27.

‘Subbu was a troubleshooter.’ Do you agree with this statement? Give an account of Subbu’s
qualities of head and heart.

Answer:

Subbu was a perfectly selfish go-getter whose obsequiousness brought him close to his boss and
shot him to number two position at Gemini Studios. He was a very conniving person who took
advantage of his boss’ gullibility and portrayed himself as a rather competent and able person.
Though he was undeserving and lacked talent, he always remained cheerful and did not let
anything dampen his spirits. He always had something good to say about everyone. Film-making
appeared easy with an expert like Subbu around. He used all his energy and creativity to his boss’
advantage. Subbu was also a great poet and an amazing actor. He wrote truly original poems for the
masses and as an actor he played secondary roles better than the main actors. His sycophancy to his
boss earned him enemies. Also he angered many such people who considered themselves much
more talented and deserving than him.

Question 28.

What political significance does Gemini Studios’ invitation to Moral Re-Armament army and
Stephen Spender show?

Answer:

The Moral Re-Armament army was a kind of counter movement to Communism and the people at
the Gemini Studios had a natural aversion towards Communists and Communism. They considered
that the aim of Communists was to spread unrest and violence. So by being a ‘warm host’ to the
Moral Re¬Armament army the people at the Gemini Studios actually displayed a counter movement
to the ideas of Communism. By inviting Stephen Spender, once again the purpose of the Gemini
Studios was to highlight how a renowned English poet, who was once attracted to Communism, was
later completely disillusioned by it. This further strengthened their aversion to Communism and
they were able to publicly display this aversion.

A Roadside Stand
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.

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 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 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,

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

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.

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.

Memories of Childhood
Short Answer Type Questions (3 – 4 Marks)

Question 1.

When did Bama first come to know of the social discrimination faced by the people of her
community?

Answer:

Bama was in the third standard and she used to walk from her school to her home. One day she saw
an elderly man carrying a small packet that contained some eatables. He held the packet by its
strings without touching it and extended it to the landlord who opened it and began to eat. She
thought it was something funny but Annan, her elder brother, told her that the man was not being
funny and he was in fact from a low caste because of which he couldn’t touch the food packet.

Question 2.

How did Zitkala-Sa try to prevent the shingling of her hair?

Answer:

Zitkala-Sa disappeared unnoticed and entered a large room with three beds. She crawled under the
beds and cuddled herself in a dark comer. She could not hide there for long and was soon dragged
out. She resisted by kicking and scratching wildly but then she was tied fast in a chair and her long
and heavy hair was shingled.

Question 3.

Why did the landlord’s man ask Bama’s brother, on which street he lived? What was the
significance?

Answer:

The landlord’s man asked Bama’s brother on which street he lived in order to find out his caste.
During those times, when untouchability was prevalent, each caste lived in a particular street and
by enquiring about the street where one lived, helped to determine his caste.

Question 4.

Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?

Answer:
Zitkala-Sa hid herself because she had got to know that the authorities wanted to cut her long hair.
In her community hair of mourners, prisoners of war and cowards were cut and therefore she made
a vain attempt to prevent her hair from being shingled by hiding herself.

Question 5.

What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut?

Answer:

Zitkala-Sa felt rather anguished and indignant when her long hair was cut. She lost her spirit and
felt as helpless as a puppet. She got the feeling of being an animal driven by a herder and
desperately looked for some comfort. With her hair being shingled like a coward’s, she moaned in
anguish. She also felt she had lost her distinct cultural recognition and identity.

Question 6.

What advice did Annan offer Bama?

Answer:

Annan loves his sister Bama dearly and acts as her true guide and philosopher. He told her that
being Dalits they would never be given any dignity or respect. He advised her to study and make
progress to throw away these indignities. He advises to his sister about the indigenous method of
outdoing the upper class by winning laurels in their examinations and thus earning their
admiration.

Question 7.

“I felt like sinking to the floor,” says Zitakala-Sa. When did she feel so and why?

Answer:

Zitkala-Sa felt like sinking to the floor when the blanket she had donned over her immodest-
looking dress was stripped from her shoulders. She felt uncomfortable in her tight-fitting clothes
and because she was ill at ease.

Question 8.

What did Judewin tell Zitkala-Sa? How did she react to it?

Answer:

Judewin, who knew a few words of English, told Zitkala-Sa that she had overheard the pale¬faced
woman saying that Zitkala-Sa’s long hair would be cut. Judewin advises her to submit and resign to
her fate but Zitkala-Sa disagrees with her and decides to resist and stand-up against it.

Question 9.
How long would it take Bama to walk home from her school and why? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)

Answer:

It took Bama half an hour to one hour to walk home from her school, although it was possible to
cover the distance in ten minutes. This was because on the way many attractions slowed her down.
These included fun, games, entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets, the shops and the
bazaar.

Question 10.

When did Bama first come to know of the social discrimination faced by the people of her
community?

Answer:

Bama was in the third standard and she used to walk from her school to her home. One day she saw
an elderly man carrying a small packet that contained some eatables. He held the packet by its
strings without touching it and extended it to the landlord who opened it and began to eat. She
thought it was something funny but Annan, her elder brother, told her that the man was not being
funny and he was in fact from a low caste because of which he couldn’t touch the food packet.

Question 11.

How could Bama rise above indignities?

Answer:

Bama’s brother advised her to concentrate on her studies and outshine everybody in the
examinations in order to rise above indignities. So Bama followed her brother’s advice religiously
and earned the respect of members of the higher class by standing first in her class.

Question 12.

What made Bama return home invariably late from school?

Answer:

Bama took thirty minutes to an hour to reach home as she would watch all the fun and games that
were taking place on the road. She would also stop and look at the shops and the bazaars and even
see the performance of the snake charmers and the monkeys.

Question 13.

What were the articles in the stalls and shops that fascinated Bama on her way back from school?
Answer:

On her way back from school Bama would be extremely fascinated by various articles available in
the stalls and shops. These included the dried fish stall, the stall selling fried snacks, the stall of the
hunter gypsy selling needles, clay beads and instruments for cleaning ears. Everyday she would see
people selling payasam, halwa, boiled tamarind seeds, iced lollies, etc.

Question 14.

What sort of shows or entertainment attracted Bama?

Answer:

Bama was attracted by the shows that people from various political parties would put up on a stage.
These included a street play, or a puppet show, or a “no magic, no miracle” stunt performance. All
these happened from time to time.

Question 15.

Which activities of the people would Bama watch keenly in the bazaar?

Answer:

Bama watched the way each waiter would cool the coffee in the coffee clubs in the bazaar. She
would watch the way some people sat in front of the shops chopping up onion, their eyes turned
elsewhere so that they would not smart. At times she would watch people from various political
parties put up a street play or a puppet show.

Question 16.

Which words of her brother made a deep impression on Bama? (Delhi 2014)

Answer:

Bama’s brother told her that because they were born into a lower community, they were never
given any honour, dignity or respect. But if they studied and made progress they could get rid of
these indignities. His words made a deep impression on Bama.

Question 17.

Why was Zitkala-Sa in tears on the first day in the land of apples?

Answer:

Zitkala-Sa was in tears on the first day in the land of apples because she was in a new environment.
She received a cultural shock because of the unknown language. The strict regime of eating by
formula, squeaking shoes and the news about cutting her hair were also unknown to her.

Question 18.

What is common between Zitkala-Sa and Bama?

Zitkala-Sa and Bama have a lot in common as far as their suffering is concerned. They both
belonged to marginalised communities. Zitkala-Sa was a victim of cultural invasion where her own
cultural identity was being threatened and Bama was a victim of untouchability that is a form of
struggle for class.

Question 19.

Why did Zitkala-Sa resist the shingling of her hair?

Answer:

Zitkala-Sa hid herself because she had got to know that the authorities wanted to cut her long hair.
In her community hair of mourners, prisoners of war and cowards were cut and therefore she made
a vain attempt to prevent her hair from being shingled by hiding herself.

Question 20.

Why did Bama reach home late after school?

Answer:

It took Bama half an hour to one hour to walk home from her school, although it was possible to
cover the distance in ten minutes. This was because on the way many attractions slowed her down.
These included fun games, entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets, the shops and the
bazaar.

Question 21.

At the dining table why did Zitkala-Sa begin to cry when others started eating?

Answer:

As Zitkala-sa glanced at the long chain of tables, she caught the eyes of a pale face woman upon her.
She wondered why she was being so keenly watched by the strange woman. She was not used to
eating by formula. When the third bell tapped and the others started eating, she felt out of place and
began crying instead.

Question 22.

How did Zitkala-Sa’s first day in the land of apples begin?

Answer:

Zitkala-Sa’s first day in the land of apples was a bitter-cold one. The snow covered the ground and
the trees were bare. A large bell rang for breakfast, its loud metallic sound crashing into their
sensitive ears. The annoying clatter of shoes and the constant clash of harsh noises gave her no
peace.
Question 23.

According to Zitkala-Sa what does ‘eating by formula’ mean?

Answer:

According to Zitkala-Sa ‘eating by formula’ meant following an eating-decorum in the dining room.
At the sound of the first bell the pupils drew a chair from under the table. All were seated when the
second bell was sounded and when the third bell was tapped everyone started eating with forks
and knives.

Question 24.

Why did Zitkala-Sa hide herself?

Answer:

Zitkala-Sa hid herself because she had got to know that the authorities wanted to cut her long hair.
In her community hair of mourners, prisoners of war and cowards were cut and therefore she made
a vain attempt to prevent her hair from being shingled by hiding herself.

Question 25.

Why was Bama always late while returning from school?

Answer:

It took Bama half an hour to one hour to walk home from her school, although it was possible to
cover the distance in ten minutes. This was because on the way many attractions slowed her down.
These included fun games, entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets, the shops and the
bazaar.

Question 26.

What did Bama’s brother want her to do? Why?

Answer:

Annan loves his sister Bama dearly and acts as her true guide and philosopher. He told her that
being Dalits they would never be given any dignity or respect. He advised her to study and make
progress to throw away these indignities. He advises his sister about the indigenous method of
outdoing the upper class by winning laurels in their examinations and thus earning their
admiration.

Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 Marks)

Question 27.
What kind of discrimination did Bama and Zitkala experience? How did they respond to their
respective situations?

Answer:

Bama and Zitkala belonged to marginalised communities. Zitkala was an American Indian woman
who was ill-treated by the whites who adopted force and oppression to compel the natives to shed
their age old customs and traditions. The worst indignity she suffered was the cutting of her long
hair. Her long and beautiful hair were cut after she was dragged out. She cried and resisted by
kicking and scratching wildly as she was tied fast in a chair but still she did not submit. No one came
to help her or to console her. Bama, who belonged to a Dalit community was a victim of the caste
system. She was upset by the inhuman attitude of the people belonging to the ‘higher’ caste towards
the ‘lower’ caste. She had experienced the evils of untouchability when she was studying in the
third standard.

Both these women fought and struggled against exploitation and oppression. Zitkala does not
submit but struggles when her hair is being shingled. She fights till she is overpowered. Bama fights
against the evils of untouchability in her own way. She works hard and stands first in her class.
People then come to her of their own accord.

Question 28.

What are the similarities in the lives of Bama and Zitkala though they belong to different cultures?

Answer:

Bama and Zitkala belonged to marginalised communities. Zitkala was an American Indian woman
who was ill-treated by the whites who adopted force and oppression to compel the natives to shed
their age old customs and traditions. The worst indignity she suffered was the cutting of her long
hair. Her long and beautiful hair were cut after she was dragged out. She cried and resisted by
kicking and scratching wildly as she was tied fast in a chair but still she did not submit. No one came
to help her or to console her. Bama, who belonged to a Dalit community was a victim of the caste
system. She was upset by the inhuman attitude of the people belonging to the ‘higher’ caste towards
the ‘lower’ caste. She had experienced the evils of untouchability when she was studying in the
third standard.

Both these women fought and struggled against exploitation and oppression. Zitkala does not
submit but struggles when her hair is being shingled. She fights till she is overpowered. Bama fights
against the evils of untouchability in her own way. She works hard and stands first in her class.
People then come to her of their own accord. The similarity between their lives is the struggle and
fight against racial and social discrimination. They did not accept this exploitation and injustice
meekly but fought against it.

Question 29.

Describe how Zitkala-Sa tried in vain to save her hair from being cut. Why did she want to save her
hair?
Answer:

Zitkala-Sa’s friend Judewin warned her that her hair was going to be cut. Judewin knew a few
English words and had overheard the ‘paleface woman’ talking about cutting the native Indian girl’s
long hair. This news shocked Zitkala. Her friend told her to accept her fate but she was not ready to
submit and decided to fight against this oppression. She disappeared unnoticed and went into a
room where she crawled and hid under a bed, cuddling herself in a dark comer. But she was caught
and dragged out. She then resisted by kicking and scratching wildly as she was carried down and
tied fast to a chair. As they gnawed at her long hair, she kept shaking her head. No one came to her
aid. Zitkala was desperate to save her hair because among her people short hair was kept by
mourners and shingled hair was a sign of cowardice. So she did not want her long hair to be cut.

Question 30.

What activities did Bama witness on her way back home from school? (Comptt. All India 2014)

Answer:

On her way back home from school Bama would take thirty minutes to cover a ten minute distance.
This was because she would witness various activities on her way back home. The performing
monkey, the snake charmer, the cyclist who had not got off his bike for three days. She also watched
the Pongal offerings being cooked in front of the Maariyaata temple. At times people from various
political parties would arrive, put up a stage and harangue the public through their mikes. She
would watch a street play, or a puppet show or a magic stunt performance. All these would happen
from time to time. But almost certainly there would be some entertainment or other going on, that
would delay Bama.

Question 31.

How did the scene she saw in the market place change Bama’s life?

Answer:

Bama usually reaches home late from school. She walks along leisurely watching and enjoying the
sights on her way home. One day on her way back, she saw the harvest being threshed. The
landlord stood watching the work being done. It was then that Bama saw one of the elders coming
down the street holding a packet by a string. The packet contained vadais for the landlord. At first
Bama thought that the elder man was being funny. But later her brother told her that the elder man
was of a low caste so he was not allowed to touch the vadais brought for the landlord. This scene
infuriated Bama and brought about a ‘ change in her life wherein she decided to study well, make a
position for herself in life and rebel against caste inequalities.

Question 32.

What were Zitkala-Sa’s experiences on her first day in the land of apples? (Comptt. All India 2015)

Answer:
The first day in the land of apples was bitterly cold and as the bell rang for breakfast, there was an
annoying clatter of shoes which gave Zitkala-Sa no peace. Though her spirit tore itself in struggling
for its freedom, it was of no use. Zitkala-Sa was placed in a line with the Indian girls and marched
into the dining room. All the girls were rather immodestly dressed in tightly fitting clothes. As
Zitkala-Sa sat down she observed that she was being keenly watched by a strange palefaced
woman. Later her friend Judewin gave her a terrible warning that this palefaced woman was talking
about cutting their long, heavy hair. Zitkala-Sa crept into a room and crawled under a bed and
huddled herself in the dark corner. But women and girls entered the room and dragged her out. She
resisted by kicking and scratching wildly. Inspite of her resistance she was carried downstairs, tied
fast in a chair and her long hair was shingled.

Question 33.

Untouchability is not only a crime, it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight against
it?

Answer:

There is no denying the fact that untouchability is not only a crime but it is also inhuman. Bama,
who belonged to a marginalised community was a victim of the caste system. As a little girl,
studying in the third class, she had seen, felt and been humiliated by its effect. So the spark of
hostility towards this social evil had been ignited in her heart from a very early age. Upset over the
inhuman attitude of the people of the so-called higher caste towards the lower caste, she decided to
fight against this evil in her own way. Bama’s brother advised her to study and make progress to
throw away indig¬nities. She took the advice of her elder brother seriously, studied diligently and
stood first in her class thereby compelling people to respect and befriend her.

Question 34.

In India, the so-called lower castes have been treated cruelly for a long time. Who advised Bama to
fight against this prejudice, when and how?

Answer:

There is no denying the fact that untouchability is not only a crime but it is also inhuman. Bama,
who belonged to a marginalised community was a victim of the caste system. As a little girl,
studying in the third class, she had seen, felt and been humiliated by its effect. So the spark of
hostility towards this social evil had been ignited in her heart from a very early age. Upset over the
inhuman attitude of the people of the so-called higher caste towards the lower caste, she decided to
fight against this evil in her own way. Bama’s brother advised her to study and make progress to
throw away indignities. She took the advice of her elder brother seriously, studied diligently and
stood first in her class thereby compelling people to respect and befriend her.

The Interview
1. Answer each of the following questions in about 30-40 words:

Question 1.

Why did Umberto Eco prefer himself to be called an academician than a novelist?

Answer:

Despite achieving fame as a novelist, Eco preferred to associate himself with the academic
community because his non-fictional work occupied him for the first fifty years of his life. He wrote
his first novel at the age of around fifty. He identified himself more with the academic community
and resorts to writing fiction only when he’was not pursuing some scholarly work.

Question 2.

Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?

Or

What are the views of writers like V.S. Naipaul and Lewis Carroll on interviews?

Answer:

Celebrities like V.S. Naipaul, Rudyard Kipling, Lewis Carroll and H.G. Wells have expressed their
strong despise for interviews. They consider interviews immoral -‘an assault’ because they feel
interviews leave a rather disparaging effect on their personalities and are an encroachment on their
privacy.

Question 3.

What was unique and distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?

Or

What do you learn about Umberto Eco’s distinctive style in his doctoral dissertation?

Answer:

Umberto Eco’s academic writing style is personal, informal and playful. He fills his research stories
with all the trials and errors so that even his research work has the uniqueness . of creative writing
and reading. It is not only informative but also interesting.

Question 4.

State the reason for the huge success of the novel, “The Name of the Rose”.

Answer:

There is no one reason for the huge success of the novel “The Name of the Rose’. Umberto Eco
himself calls its success a mystery. It is possible that this detective story that delved into
metaphysics, theology and medieval history, interested the readers because the time in which it
was written was most appropriate, neither a decade earlier nor a decade later.

Question 5.

“The Name of the Rose” deals with medieval history. Was it responsible for the novel’s success?

Answer:

The success of the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ did not depend on merely one factor. Many other
novels dealt with medieval history but did not achieve much success. Its success is more attributed
to the timing of its publication, its narrative style and detective yarn and also the fact that it delves
into metaphysics and theology along with medieval history.

Question 6.

What did the publisher think of ‘The Name of the Rose’?

Answer:

The American publisher of ‘The Name of the Rose’ loved and liked the novel but did not expect to
sell more than 3,000 copies. No one goes to a cathedral or studies Latin in America so it was really
difficult to sell such a novel there. But the publisher was proved wrong as two to three million
copies of the novel were sold in America.

Question 7.

What drawbacks of interviews have been pointed out by Lewis Carrol?

Answer:

Lewis Carrol considers interviews as an ‘unwarranted intrusion’ that is immoral and an offence
against his person. He shunned interviews for fear of being projected as larger than life. His
vehement refusal for interviews

enabled him to keep his fans as well as interviews at an arm’s length.

Question 8.

Why do most celebrity writers hate to be interviewed?

Answer:

Most of the celebrity writers shun interviews as they feel that interviews leave a disparaging effect
on their personalities. They consider them as an encroachment on their privacy. Writers like V.S.
Naipaul feel they are being wounded by interviews and thus losing a part of themselves.

Question 9.

How did Lewis Carroll react to the interviews?

What was Lewis Carroll’s attitude towards being interviewed?

Answer:

Lewis Carrol shunned interviews for the fear of being projected as larger than life. He vehemently
refused to give interviews and kept his fans, acquaintances and interviewers at an arm’s length.
This give him a great sense of satisfaction.

2. Answer each of the following questions in about 125-150 words.

Question 10.

What made the American publisher think that the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ won’t sell in
America? What actually happened? What was the secret of its success?

Or

What is the reason for the huge success of the novel “The Name of the Rose” according to Umberto
Eco?

Answer:

The American publisher believed that people like trash whereas ‘The Name of the Rose’ delved into
metaphysics, theology and medieval history and people do not like these difficult reading
experiences. Through his novel, which sold between 10 to 15 million copies, Umberto Eco reached
only a small percentage of readers. But, according to him, it is those kind of readers who do not
want easy experiences, or at least, do not always want this. Umberto Eco cannot categorically state
the reason for the huge success of the novel, ‘The Name of the Rose’. He himself refers to its success
as a mystery. He feels this detective story that delved into metaphysics, theology and medieval
history interested the readers as it was written at the most appropriate time. Had it been written a
decade earlier or later, it would not have been so successful. The way the book stormed the literary
world, once it was out, surprised everyone. Even though it contained somewhat heavy reading, the
book attracted a mass audience and Eco became famous as a novelist, rather than an academic
scholar the world over.

Question 11.

What do you think about Umberto Eco? Does he like being interviewed? Give reasons in support of
your answer from the text ‘The Interview’.

Answer:

Unlike various other celebrities who express a strong dislike for interviews and consider it an
encroachment upon their privacy, Umberto Eco seems to kind of enjoy giving interviews
considering the spirited manner in which he answers the questions put forth to him by the
interviewer, Mukund Padmanabhan. Eco readily and truthfully answers all the questions in the
most humble and sincere manner, delving into details, thus revealing the fact that he actually does
not mind sharing his experiences with others. At no point does he display any kind of haste to wind
up the interview. In fact, he explicitly answers all the questions that Padmanabhan asks him giving
the interviewer a feeling of warmth and being welcome.

Question 12.

Why did Umberto Eco start writing novels and when? What does Eco say about the huge success of
his novel, ‘The Name of the Rose’ in spite of it being a difficult and very serious novel?

Answer:

Umberto Eco was essentially an academician who pursued his scholarly pursuits through academic
writings. He wrote about forty non¬fictions and as he himself says, ‘he became a novelist by
accident’. That was the reason he started writing novels at the age of almost fifty. Eco considers
himself ‘a university professor who writes novels (only) on Sundays’. He is not even very sure about
any one single reason for the huge success of his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’. He feels perhaps the
timing of the novel’s publication was the most important factor of its success. The fact that at one
level it appears to be a detective yarn but also delves into metaphysics, theology and medieval
history also adds to its appeal. Though the novel is quite a heavy reading experience, it attracted a
mass audience and made Eco popular more as a novelist rather than an academic scholar.

Question 13.

What impression do you form about Umberto Eco as a scholar and writer on the basis of ‘The
Interview’?

Or

What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?

Answer:

Umberto Eco’s style is narrative, written in the manner of a story. This is in contrast to a regular
academic style which is invariably depersonalised, dry and boring. His scholarly work has a certain
playful and personal quality to it. He pursued his philosophical interests through his academic work
and novels. He also wrote books for children on non-violence and peace.

Umberto Eco, a professor at the University of Bologna, in Italy, is an authority on Semeiotics, the
study of signs. He is also a well known novelist. His scholarly works include academic texts, essays,
childrens’ books and newspaper articles. He pursues his philosophical interests through his
academic writings and novels. In spite of having reached the zeniths of intellectuality, Eco is a
humble and modest scholar. He brushes aside compliments and never boasts about his
achievements. He is keen to share his experiences with others and shares the secret of
accomplishing so much work by revealing the facts that he makes use of time- gaps between
different pieces of work. Eco follows an informal and playful style of writing with a narrative aspect.
Even his research work has a quality of creative writing and makes informative as well as
interesting reading.

Question 14.

Eco’s academic work has certain playful and personal quality about it. Comment.

Answer:

Eco presents his arguments very logically and with a subtle wit and playfulness to it. He himself
says that he started writing novels by accident. He essentially considers himself a university
professor who wrote novels on Sunday. This non-fictional writing is a marked departive from the
regular depersonalised style which is often dry and boring. Even his research work has the quality
of creative writing and makes not only information but also interesting reading. In his doctoral
dissertation, Eco tells the story of his research including his trials and errors. His: essays too always
have a narrative aspect.

Question 15.

Umberto Eco is an academic as well as a famous novelist. Comment.

Answer:

Despite getting famous as a novelist, Umberto Eco always associated himself with the academic
community. He has written only five novels as compared to the forty scholarly works of non-fiction.
He considers himself as a university professor who writes novels on Sundays. When he presented
his first Doctoral dissertation in Italy, one of the professors was impressed by the way he told the
story of his research, including his trials and errors. His essays always have a narrative aspect. He
started writing novels quite late, at the age of 50, by accident to satisfy his taste for narration.

Question 16.

Why do some celebrity writers not like being interviewed?

Answer:

Some celebrities see themselves as victims, and despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion
into their lives. They feel that it somehow diminishes them, just as in some primitive cultures it is
believed that ‘if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing that person’s
soul’. V.S. Naipaul feels that ‘some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves’.
Lewis Carroll says that he has ‘just a horror for the interviewer’ and he never consented to be
interviewed. Rudyard Kipling expressed an even more condemnatory attitude towards the
interviewer. His wife reports her husband as saying that he considered an interview as a crime and
immoral and thus it merits punishment.