St.

Mary’s ICSE School

Grade XI Literature in English
Advice to Youth
Date: 4th October, 2023
Very short answer questions:

1) Who is the target audience?

Ans. The target audience is the youth.
2) What superstition (common belief) do parents have according to Twain?
Ans. The belief that most parents have is that think that they know better than their children.
3) Why is lying bad according to Twain?
Ans. Lying is bad according to Twain because you will nearly always get caught (especially
if you are not good at lying). Once you are caught in a lie, it will spoil your reputation, you
will always be perceived and judged as a bad and impure person.

4) How is lying a great art according to Twain?

Ans. Lying is a great art because you can manipulate others into believing what you want
them to believe. The art of lying is composed of careful planning, that will last a lifetime.

Short Answer Questions.

1. Why has the author been asked to give advice to the youth?

Ans. The author, Mark Twain, was expected to give a talk suitable for youth, something
didactic, instructive, or something in the nature of good advice. He believed that it is in one's
tender early years that such advice will best take root and be most enduring and most
valuable.

2. What is the advice Mark Twain gives about obeying parents? Why is obeying the
best policy, in Twain’s opinion?
Ans. The advice Mark Twain gives about obeying parents is to always obey them when they
are present. He suggests that this is the best policy in the long run because if you don't, they
will make you obey them. He also humorously suggests that most parents think they know
better than you do, and you can generally benefit more by humouring that belief than you can
by acting on your own better judgment.

3. How does Twain instruct the youth to avoid violence?

Ans. Twain instructs the youth to avoid violence by actually enforcing it upon someone, and
then regretting it and apologizing for acting in such an uncivil way. He concludes his advice
by saying to actually not retaliate impulsively in a violent way – but to wait for the right
opportunity and then give them back in the same measure the hurt they have given them. He
also tells them to leave the violence for the mad men of the world.

4. What are the two different reactions to an offence faced by the youth?

Ans. According to the author, if a person offends a youth and they are in doubt as to whether
it was intentional or not, they should not resort to extreme measures instead they should
watch their chance and repay the offender in the same manner, but if they find that the
offender had not intended any offence, they should come out frankly and confess that they
were in the wrong when they struck, admit their mistake with courage like a man and tell him
they did not wish to offend him. He emphasizes avoiding violence and leaves extreme
measures to those he considers low and unrefined.

5. What are the author's ideas on telling a lie? Is he justified? How?

Ans. The author advises the youth to be very careful about lying as they are nearly sure to get
caught. Once caught, they will lose their good reputation and can never again be in the eyes
of the others good and the pure as they had been before. He believes that the young ought to
be temperate in the use of this great art until practice and experience shall give them that
confidence, elegance and precision which alone can make the accomplishment graceful and
profitable.

6. Which qualities are required to make the student perfect?

Ans. The main qualities required to be a perfect student, according to the author, are patience,
diligence, and painstaking attention to detail. These qualities, in time, will make the student
perfect and they may rely on these as the sure foundation for future eminence. The author
emphasizes that these qualities are necessary for the practice of the "gracious and beautiful
art" of life, lying, which he humorously presents as a necessary skill for navigating life.

7. What does Twain say about lying and its consequences?

Ans. Twain advises to be very careful about lying because you are nearly sure to get caught.
Once caught, you can never again be seen as good and pure as you were before. He suggests
that many young people have permanently harmed themselves through a single clumsy and
poorly executed lie, the result of carelessness born of incomplete training. He humorously
suggests that while some people believe young people should not lie at all, he believes that
young people should be moderate in their use of this "great art" until practice and experience
give them the confidence, elegance, and precision that can make the act of lying graceful and
profitable.

8. "A truth is not hard to kill and that a lie well told is immortal." How?
How does Twain describe a well-told lie?

Ans. Twain describes a well-told lie as immortal, suggesting that a truth is not hard to kill,
and a lie that is well told can live forever.
The author suggests that a well-told lie can outlast the truth. He uses the example of a
monument in Boston dedicated to the man who supposedly discovered anaesthesia, but in
reality, this man stole the discovery from another. Despite this truth, the lie told by the
monument will outlast it for a million years. This suggests that a well-crafted lie can become
immortal, outliving the truth it was meant to hide.

He humorously points out that an awkward, feeble, leaky lie should be avoided as it has no
more real permanence than an average truth. He suggests that a feeble, stupid, preposterous
lie will not live two years unless it is a slander upon somebody. He concludes by encouraging
the practice of this gracious and beautiful art" early in their life.

9. What is Twain's advice about the practice of lying?

Ans. Twain's advice about the practice of lying is presented with a sense of irony and humor.
He suggests that lying is an art that requires practice and experience to be done gracefully and
profitably. He advises the youth to be very careful about lying because they are nearly sure to
get caught. Once caught, they can never again be in the eyes of the good and the pure, what
they were before. He also suggests that a well-told lie is immortal, and that a truth is not hard
to kill. He further states that an awkward, feeble, leaky lie should be avoided as it has no
more real permanence than an average truth. He concludes by advising the youth to begin
their practice of this gracious and beautiful art" early.

10. Why does the author mention the monument in Boston?

Ans. The author mentions the monument in Boston to illustrate the power of a well-told lie.
He uses the example of the monument dedicated to the man who supposedly discovered
anaesthesia, but who, in reality, stole the discovery from someone else. Despite this, the lie of
his discovery has outlasted the monument itself, demonstrating how a lie can become
"immortal" if it's told well enough.

11: What are the author's views on handling firearms?

What story does Twain tell about handling firearms? For what purpose does the author
mention the grandmother's incident?
Ans. The author's views on handling firearms are that they should never be handled
carelessly, especially by the young. Twain tells a story about a young boy who found an old,
rusty gun that hadn't been used for many years and was thought to be unloaded. The boy
pointed the gun at his grandmother, who was terrified and ran away. The boy pulled the
trigger, but fortunately, the gun was indeed unloaded, so no harm was done. This story is
used to illustrate the dangers of carelessly handling firearms, especially those thought to be
unloaded.

12. What does Twain suggest about the danger of unloaded firearms?

Ans. Twain suggests that unloaded firearms are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. He
humorously states that they are the most deadly and unerring things created by man. He
warns that you don't need to aim or even have a rest to hit your target with an unloaded
firearm. He emphasizes that even a youth who can't hit a large target with a powerful gun can
easily hit a relative with an old, supposedly unloaded musket.

13. What is the significance of the story about the boy and his grandmother in Twain's
advice?

Ans. The story about the boy and his grandmother in Twain's advice is significant as it serves
as a satirical cautionary tale about the dangers of carelessness, particularly with firearms:
Twain humorously describes a situation where a boy points an old, supposedly unloaded gun
at his grandmother, causing her great fright. However, the gun was indeed not loaded, and no
harm was done. Twain uses this story to emphasize his point that even unloaded firearms can
be dangerous due to the fear and panic they can cause. He concludes by advising the youth
not to meddle with old unloaded firearms, stating that they are the most deadly and unerring
things ever created by man

14. What is Twain's humorous advice about waking up early?

Ans. Twain's humorous advice about waking up early is to get up with a lark. He suggests
that it gives you a splendid reputation with everybody to know that you get up with the lark.
However, he humorously adds that if you get the right kind of lark and train it right, you can
easily make it get up at half past nine every time, implying that you don't really have to wake
up that early.
It gives one a splendid reputation with everybody to know that he gets up with the lark.
However, he humorously adds that if you get the right kind of lark and train it right, you can
easily make it get up at half past nine every time, implying that you don't really have to wake
up that early.
15. What advice does the author gives about reading? Why?
Ans. Towards the end of the essay, the author advises the young to be careful in their
selection of books. He emphasizes that good books are an invaluable means of improvement
and advises the young to confine themselves to certain types of books, such as Robertson's
Sermons, Baxter's Saint's Rest and The Innocents Abroad.

16. How does Twain conclude his advice to the youth?

Ans. Twain concludes his advice to the youth by encouraging them to treasure up the
instructions he has given and use them as a guide. He suggests that they should build their
character thoughtfully and painstakingly upon these precepts. He ends with a humorous note
saying that once they have built their character, they will be surprised and gratified to see
how nicely and sharply it resembles everybody else's.

17. Is the essay based on advice or a satire? Justify your answer.

Ans. The essay can be seen as both an advice and a satire. While the author does provide
advice to the youth on various topics such as obeying parents, avoiding violence, and being
careful about lying, the manner in which he presents this advice is often satirical. For
example, he suggests hitting someone with a brick if they offend you, and then confessing if
it turns out they didn't mean to offend. This satirical tone is used throughout the essay,
making it both a piece of advice and a satire.

18. Which are the main virtues about which the author advises the young people?

Ans. The main virtues that the author advises the young people about include obedience to
parents, respect for superiors and strangers, avoidance of violence, truthfulness, and careful
handling of firearms. He also advises them to go to bed early and wake up early, to be careful
in their selection of books, and to be patient, diligent, and pay painstaking attention to detail.
He emphasizes the importance of these virtues in building one's character and achieving
future eminence.

19. Which are the habits the author urges the youth to avoid? Why?

Ans. The author urges the youth to avoid lying, violence, and careless handling of firearms.
He advises against lying because once caught, a person can never again be in the eyes of the
good and the pure, what they were before. He advises against violence because in this age of
charity and kindliness, the time has gone by for such things. He advises against careless
handling of firearms because of the sorrow and suffering that have been caused through the
innocent but heedless handling of firearms by the young.

20. Discuss the main literary devices used by the author in this essay. (These devices are
irony, satire, parallelism etc.)
Ans. The author uses several literary devices in this essay. Irony is used when he advises the
youth to always obey their parents when they are present, implying that they need not do so
when their parents are not around. Satire is evident throughout the essay, as the author
humorously critiques various aspects of society and human behavior. For example, he
satirizes the reverence for truth by pointing out how a well-told lie can become immortal.
Parallelism is used in sentences like "Patience, diligence, painstaking attention to detail-these
are requirements; these in time, will make the student perfect, upon these only, may he rely as
the sure foundation for future eminence."
21. The author was asked to say something, "didactic, instructive or something in the
nature of good advice." Do you think the author follows the advice?

Ans: Yes, the author does follow the advice, but in a satirical and humorous way. He
provides advice on various topics such as obeying parents, avoiding violence, and being
careful about lying. However, the manner in which he presents this advice is often satirical
and humorous, which adds a layer of entertainment and thought-provoking commentary to
the didactic and instructive nature of the essay.

22. How does Twain use humour in his advice about obeying parents?

Ans. Twain uses humour in his advice about obeying parents by suggesting that youth should
always obey their parents when they are present. He humorously states that this is the best
policy in the long run because if they don't, their parents will make them. He also adds that
most parents think they know better than their children do, and one can generally gain more
by humouring their belief than by acting on their own better judgment.

23. What is the tone of Twain's essay?

Ans. The tone of Twain's essay is humorous and satirical. He uses irony and exaggeration to
mock conventional wisdom and societal norms, while also providing his own unique
perspective c various topics, His tone is also somewhat didactic, as he is providing advice to
the youth, though in a ironic manner.

24. How does Twain use irony in his advice about lying?

Ans. Twain uses irony in his advice about lying by suggesting that lying is an art that requires
practice and experience. He ironically states that one should be careful about lying because
they are nearly sure to get caught. He also suggests that a well-told lie is immortal, and that a
truth is not hard to kill, which is a reversal of the common wisdom that truth will always
prevail. He further states that a feeble, stupid, preposterous lie will not live two years, except
if it's a slander upon somebody, then it's indestructible.

25. How does Twain use humour in his advice about reading books?

Ans. Twain uses humour in his advice about reading books by suggesting that the young
should confine themselves exclusively to certain types of books for their improvement. He
humorously lists Robertson's Sermons, Baxter's Saint's Rest, and The Innocents Abroad as
examples of the kind of books they should read. The humour lies in the fact that The
Innocents Abroad is one of Twain's own works, known for its satirical and humorous content,
which contrasts with the serious religious works he mentions alongside it.

Long Answer question:

26. How does Mark Twain use satire and humour to convey his advice in "Advice to
Youth"?

Ans. Mark Twain uses satire and humour throughout his essay "Advice to Youth" to convey
his advice in a manner that is engaging and entertaining, while also thought-provoking. He
uses irony and exaggeration to satirize conventional wisdom and societal norms. For instance,
he advises the youth to always obey their parents when they are present, implying that
obedience is not necessary when the parents are not around. He also humorously advises the
youth to hit someone with a brick if they offend them, and then confess if they find out the
offense was not intentional.
Twain's advice about waking up early is also filled with humour. He suggests that one should
get up with the lark, and if they get the night kind of lark, they can train it to get up at half
past nine, which is a satirical take on the common advice to wake up early.

In his advice about lying Twain humorously suggests that the young should be careful about
lying because they are nearly sure to get caught. He also ironically states that a well-told lie is
immortal suggesting that lies can have a lasting impact and can even replace the truth in
people's minds.

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