https://t.

me/ICSE_2024_MATERIALS_BACKUP (SELECT TO COPY)

Contact: 9819811174
Shahnaz Jiwanis Group Tuition
1. HAUNTED HOUSES H.W. Longfellow

Points to Remember:

S
1. All houses where men have lived and died are haunted, i.., they are visited by ghosts of people

IM
who have lived there.
2 The ghosts roam freely in their former dwelling, without harming anyone and without making any
sound.
3. Their harmless presence can be felt at the dining table along with the invited guests, though they

EL
remain as silent as the pictures on the wall.
4. The stranger to the house can neither see nor hear them.
5. The ghosts rise from their graves to claim the ownership of the houses they used to live in.
6.
R
Their world is quite delicate like the atmosphere that floats around the human world of reality.
The short human life is maintained by balancing two contradictory instincts-base instincts and
_P
7.
noble instincts.
8. Human worries and fears are shaped by some unknown forces on a remote planet in the universe.
9. The moonlight falling on the sea creates a bridge of light that only spirits can cross and not human
5

beings.
10. The 'phantomns' in the poem are the souls that linger in our memories and therefore, in our homes.
2
0

Stanza wise Explanation

_2

Stanza 1
The speaker begins with a simple but surprising statement that all houses in which men have lived and
died are haunted, i.e., they are visited by the ghosts or spirits of earlier occupants. The poet has
dispelled the conventional image of ghosts by describing them as harmless phantoms' who are busy
SE

with errands and move purposefully around the house as they did when they were living. Further, they
come and go without making any sound.
IC

Stanza
The speaker says that these ghosts are impressions on the air' that cannot be felt (by touch). They can
be present anywhere in the house: at the doorway, on the stairs or along the passage when they come
@

and go. Though they cannot be seen, their presence is felt as a 'sense of something' moving to and fro.

Stanza 3

Their presence can be perceived when they join the guests at the dining table and make the number of
guests more than those invited by the hosts. In fact, the brightly lit hall appears crowded by these
uninvited guests, who remain as silent as the pictures or portraits hung on the wall.

Stanza 4

The speaker then goes on to say that a stranger or guest, sitting with the speaker by the fireplace, is
unable to perceive their presence as the speaker does. The speaker is the one, who can see their form
(i.e. the impression of their presence) and hear their sounds. He believes that the stranger can only see
what is happening in the present but he can see everything clearly from the past to the present. This is
perhaps suggestive of the fact that the stranger is the present occupant of the house.

@ICSE_2024_BOT
https://t.me/ICSE_2024_MATERIALS_BACKUP (SELECT TO COPY)

Stanza 5
We are but temporary 'owners' of houses and lands. We cannot claim the title deeds of a house or a
piece of land permanently. The carlier owners and occupants, who are merged with the dust, stretch
out their dusty hands and assert their claim on the property, which they deem mortmain. In other
words, the earlier occupants dug their way out of their graves that were unattended and neglected to
return to their homes. Although now they cannot be seen or their presence felt, they still lay claim to
their old estate.

Stanza
The world of spirits floats around the human world of 'senses' (or reality) like the air of the
atmosphere envelops the earth. This world (i.e. the spirit world) passes through everything like earthly
mists and dense vapours. It is like the vital breath of delicate air from the other world.

S
7
Stanza

IM
The speaker here talks about human lives. He says that human lives are short and are kept in balance
by maintaining 'opposite attractions and desires. There are two types of instincts-base instincts, that
seek worldly pleasures and enjoyment and noble instincts, that aspire for higher and noble goals and
spiritual aims. Human beings have to learn to deal with these contradictory impulses to achieve

EL
equipoise or balance in life.

Stanza 8

R
The speaker describes the cause of anxiety and fears in human beings. According to the specaker
_P
mental disturbances, anxieties and fears of human beings are the result of their carthly needs and high
aspirations. These are not the creation of human beings but are shaped by some unknown forces from
a remote planet in the universe.
5

Stanza 9

The speaker says that as the moon comes out of the dark clouds, its light falls on the sea waves and
2

forms a floating bridge of light. Human imagination travels across the planks of this trembling' bridge
0

into a dark and mysterious world. This bridge connects us (humans) to the spirits of our loved ones,
who have gone long ago.
_2

Stanza 10
The speaker says that there is a bridge of light that connects the world of spirits' to the floating bridge
created by the moonlight on the surface of the seas. Only spirits are able to cross this bridge. Our
SE

thoughts, i.e. our memories float on the unsteady floor of this bridge that is above a dark abyss. The
memories of our loved ones keep us connected to them long after they are gone. These memories keep
the living from falling into deep sorrow that is like a dark abyss. The poem thus ends on a comforting
IC

and reassuring note.

SHAH
@

@ICSE_2024_BOT
https://t.me/ICSE_2024_MATERIALS_BACKUP (SELECT TO COPY)

2. The Glove and the Lions Leigh Hunt

Points to Remember:
1. King Francis, along with his courtiers, the Count de Lorge and his lady-love, was watching the
royal sport of a fight between two lions.
2. The lions were ferocious and were fighting and tearing into one another.
3. The King commented that all of them were better off in their seats than in the enclosure.
4. The Count de Lorge's beloved thought of dropping her glove in the arena so that her brave lover
would enter the arena and pick up her glove.
5. By doing so he would prove his love for her and she would become the centre of attraction.
6. She dropped her glove where the lions were fighting and looked at him and smiled.
7. The Count understood her smile, entered the arena, picked up the glove and came out.

S
8. He threw the glove at his lady's face.
King Francis announced that the Count had 'rightly done' as no lover would set a task like that.

IM
9.

Stanza wise Explanation

EL
Stanza 1 (King Francis beasts below)
The poet describes king Francis as a good-hearted fellow. He loved to watch a royal sport - the sport

R
of lion fighting. One day, surrounded by his courtiers and their ladies, he was watching the sport.
Among the nobles present was a couple, Count de Lorge and his beloved. Seeing his very beautiful
_P
and charming lady, the king 'sighed'. Obviously he was envious of the count.
The lions' fight was in progress. The sight was not for the weak-hearted. The whole stadium was filled
with people filled with the sentiments both of love and valour. The king was looking down on the
beasts.
5
2

Stanza 2 (Ramped than there)

This stanza focuses on the lion fight. The ferocious and vicious lions roared with horrible-looking
0

"laughing jaws. They were fighting and tearing into one another. Their blows were strong like the
wind and the wind seemed to move alongside their paws. They rolled over one another, causing a
_2

serious commotion. Their bloody foam carried by the air spread far and wide. King Francis, sitting at
a safe distance, commented that they were better off where they were, away from the danger.

Stanza 3 (De Lorge's love mine)

SE

De Lorge's beloved overheard the king's comment. She was a lively, beautiful young woman. She had
smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always looked the same in beauty and charm. She thought
that her lover was as brave as one should be, and that he would do some wonderful things to prove his
IC

love for her. She saw that the king and the noble couples were all present. The occasion was ripe to
grab attention. She thought of dropping her glove into the pit to prove her beloved's love for her. If he
succeeded, she would become the centre of attraction and glory.
@

Stanza 4 (She dropped like that)

This stanza is important thematically. De Lorge's beloved, to test his love for her. dropped her glove
into the arena where the lions were fighting. She looked at him and smiled. De Lorge understood,
smiled at her, bowed and leapt among the wild lions. He moved so quickly that they could not touch
him at all. Back in his seat, he threw the glove at his lady's face. He left the arena at once. He was not
happy. He thought no Jover would set a dangerous task as that. He knew the lady did not act merely to
test his love of her but also to get attention and indulge her vanity.

@ICSE_2024_BOT
https://t.me/ICSE_2024_MATERIALS_BACKUP (SELECT TO COPY)

3. When Great Trees Fall Maya Angelou

Points to Remember:
1. When big trees fall in a forest, they affect rocks on distant hills as well as big animals like lions
and elephants.
2. When big trees fall, even little creatures curl up in silence, too shocked to be scared.
3. When great people die, the loss affects the hearts of all those whose have been touched by their
greatness in some way or the other.
4. When great people die, those inextricably tied up with their existence, find the world no longer
bright, warm or filled with potential.
5.
UITIC
With the passage of time, after the death of great people, the empty space felt by those souls left

S
behind are eventually filled and healing takes place.

IM
Stanza wise Explanation

EL
Stanza 1 (When great after safety)
The poet begins with an image from the world of nature. When big trees fall, rocks even on distant
hills feel the Impact and tremble. Brave lions squat in fear in tall grass. and elephants walk awkwardly
to seek shelter in a safe place.
R
As the poem advances, we realize that the fall of great trees symbolise the deaths of great persons.
_P
When a great soul departs, the effect is felt for miles around, and people of every sort, significant or
insignificant, feel despair and unsafe in some peculiar way.

Stanza 2 (When great trees fear)

5

The poet here asserts that the fall of big trees have as much effect on small things or animals as on big
2

ones. Small animals are so benumbed that they recoil into total silence. It means that the loss of great
men is felt intensely even by unknown, insignificant persons. They are unable to express their despair.
0

Their senses are benumbed; they do not even feel any fear in this state of inertia and hopelessness.
_2

Stanza 3 (When great souls never taken)

Now the poet directly refers to the deaths of great men. The loss of great souls affect the hearts of all
those who have been touched by their greatness in some way. They feel the air 'light, rare, sterile', that
, it becomes difficult for them even to breathe. For a moment they also face 'hurtful clarity', that is,
SE

they come to understand as to how a valuable soul has been lost. Their memory is suddenly
sharpened. They begin to clearly remember the moments spent with the departed soul. They feel
regretful for the kind words they should have spoken to the dear departed, or for the promised walks
IC

they could not bave with him or her.

@

Stanza 4 (Great souls die cover)

When great souls die, the reality of our being determined and affected by them also take leave of us,
and our souls, dependent upon their nurture, shrink in despair. In other words, the death of those who
have great effect on our life leave us emotionally shattered. Our minds shaped by their intelligence
seem to 'fall away' with their deaths. We feel a mix of anger and despair. We feel as if we had fallen
into the dark caves of silent despair.

Stanza 5 (And when For they existed)

The poet here refers to the fact of time being a great healer:. After the death of a great soul our minds
are restored to peaceful state slowly, and irregularly. Sometimes the pain comes back to haunt us once
again. When we regain our senses our memories speak to us in whispers that they did exist. These
memories give us hope that we could be better, that we could be like those great souls.

@ICSE_2024_BOT
https://t.me/ICSE_2024_MATERIALS_BACKUP (SELECT TO COPY)

A
4. Considerable Speck Robert Frost

Points to Remember:
1. The narrator sees a minute speck on the white sheet of paper on which he is writing something.
2. On close inspection, he finds it is 'a living mite' that is trying to run across the page to save itself
from the narrator.
3. He refrains from killing it not out of 'collectivistic regimenting love' but because of the mite's
intelligence.
4. He allows the mite to lie on the paper until, he hopes, it sleeps.
5. He feels happy to find signs of intelligence in any form on a piece of paper.
ON

S
Stanza wise Explanation

IM
Lines 1-9: The poet observed a tiny speck running on the sheet of paper which he used for writing.
Had the paper not been so white, perhaps, no one would have noticed it. Had it not moved across the
sheet, he also would not have noticed it. He was going to write but held his pen in the air to watch the

EL
mite's further movements.
The poet pondered over the scene. It was not just a speck of dust blown down there by his breath. It

R
was, definitely, a living mite with some intelligence. It had inclinations of its own.
_P
Lines 10-15: The poet observed the mite carefully. It stopped suddenly as if frightened of the pen.
Then, all at once, it came rushing towards the inked part. The ink was not yet completely dry. Then it
stopped again. It might have smelt or tasted the ink and did not like it. Therefore, out of hatred, it
started to fly again. These actions of the mite showed that it had intelligence, the intelligence required
5

to act and react. The poet was impressed. He was dcaling with an intelligent creature, after all.
2

Lines 16-23: The mite was too tiny to have feet. However, it seemed to have them because it ran to
0

escape from danger. It did not want to die. All these showed the power of intelligence the mite
possessed. Fear for life made it fly but it faltered, hesitated and crouched on the sheet of paper. It
_2

crouched desperately awaiting the blow of fate. It seemed it recognized the poet as its master at that
point of time. Therefore, it waited for his action, benevolent or malevolent.

Lines 24-29: The poet asserts that he does not have holier than - thou attitude. He does not feel all
-
SE

encompassing, indiscriminate love for every living being which the modern world seems to possess.
as
He let the mite live it had caused him no harm. He decided not to kill it and let it lie on the sheet of
paper hoping that it would sleep peacefully.
IC

Lines 30-32 : Since the poet hada mind of his own and had the power to recognise intelligence in any
living thing, he felt happy to let the mite live. As a thinking human being, he showed respect to an
@

insignificant mite in possession of ability of mind. Thus, the thinking ability gave the mite a lease for
life

@ICSE_2024_BOT
https://t.me/ICSE_2024_MATERIALS_BACKUP (SELECT TO COPY)

5. THE POWER OF MUSIC Sukumar Ray

Points to Remember:
1. When the summer comes, people hear the irritable, loud singing of Bhisma Lochan Sharma.
2. His loud discordant singing can be heard from Delhi to Burma (Myanmar).
3. He sings as if he has bet his life on it.
4. On hearing him sing, people run in panic, get trampled or fall sick. They plead with him to stop
singing but nothing stops him.
5. Animals, birds, plants and even mighty mansions get affected by his singing.
6.
UITI
A wise male goat comes and chases him and hits him hard and thus, Bhisma's singing stops and

S
the world gets the golden gift of silence.'

IM
Stanza wise Explanation
Lines 1 to 8

EL
The poet describes how every summer, he, along with other people around him, have to endure the
loud and discordant singing of Bhisma Lochan Sharma. He says that Bhisma sings so loudly and
harshly that his voice echoes on the hills and in the plains all the way from Delhi to Burma. He keeps
R
on singing as if he has staked his life on it and is hell-bent on it, whatever may happen. The people get
_P
confused by his continuous cacophony but they know he does not have bad intentions. Sometimes
people, on hearing his harsh singing, run in panic and get trampled, whereas some others become pale
and sick. Some old people plead with him that they have grown old and cannot take his singing
anymore, so he should stop singing immediately. Even the animals have to suffer due to Bhisma
5

Lochan's continuous, irritable singing. The bullock-carts are overturned and horses refuse to move and
stand along the road. But unfazed by everything going on around him, Bhisma Lochan continues with
2

his harsh singing. The whole situation here seems to be exaggerated to get the effect of slapstick
0

comedy.
_2

Lines 9 to 16
The poet continues to describe the effect of Bhisma Lochan's singing on animals, plants, and even the
birds in the sky. He says that the animals are pitiful, i.e., S the horses cry out in pain, stare and raise
their feet in the air and look quite upset, the moment they hear Bhisma Lochan's singing. Even the
SE

fishes, troubled by Bhisma Lochan's singing dive deep down from the surface of the lake in search of
silence. And the trees collapse with the sound that can be heard a mile away. His harsh, loud sound
reaches the sky and on hearing that the birds lose control over their wings and turn upside down.
IC

Again the humán beings request the eccentric Bhisma Lochan to stop singing for if he does not do so,
they feel they would die. But Bhisma's voice continues to soar higher and higher despite continuous
pleading by the people. Even the sky weeps and the mighty buildings collapse due to the loud,
@

unpleasant singing of Bhisma Lochan.

Lines 17 to 20
The poet says that now a change happens as a wise goat appears on the scene Bending its head he
attacks the singer with its horns and its loud noise (bellowing equals the singer's. That puts to an end
Bhisma Lochan's musical spree and give the world the 'golden gift of silence.'

@ICSE_2024_BOT