1. Giving a bribe is an evil practice. How did the Tiger King bribe the British officer to save his kingdom? How do you view this act of his?
A British officer had come to visit Pratibandapuram and wanted to go for tiger hunting but the Maharaja did not permit him. He didn’t permit him even to be photographed with a dead tiger so as to stop other officers from getting attracted. There was a fear of a disastrous reaction from this British officer due to the refusal. He could lose his kingdom. So in order to save his kingdom the Maharaja sent expensive diamond rings to his wife as a bribe. It cost him three lakh rupees. This shows that the king was, in fact, scared of the British official though he pretended to be very powerful. He was whimsical and selfish.
2. How did the Tiger King achieve his target of killing a hundred tigers?
In order to achieve his target of killing a hundred tigers, the king issued a proclamation that anyone who dared to fling even a stone at a tiger would lose his wealth and property. The tiger hunt was banned in his state. He started killing the tigers and killed seventy tigers in ten years. By this time, the tiger became extinct in his state. Then he married a girl of a royal family whose kingdom had a large tiger population. He killed all the tigers in his father-in-law’s state. He had killed ninety-nine tigers. Finding the hundredth tiger was a big problem. But his Dewan brought an old tiger from People’s Park, Madras, and placed it in the forest. The Maharaja shot at this tiger and fulfilled his mission of killing hundred tigers.
3. Justify the title of the story ‘Tiger King’.
The story ‘The Tiger King’ revolves around the king of Pratibandapuram who is given this title due to his obsession with the tiger hunt. From the beginning, it is evident when the royal infant utters the first few words, “Let tigers beware.” It was predicted by the astrologers that a tiger would be the cause of his death. When the royal prince is made the king at the age of twenty, he decides to kill hundred tigers to prove this prediction wrong. All state work was put away. A marriage of the Tiger King was arranged, so that more tigers could be found. The entire story is a narrative of the stupid and inhuman mission of the Maharaja who in order to prevent his death, killed a hundred innocent animals. But, ironically, he died thanks to a tiger though it was a wooden one.
4. The story ‘Tiger King’ gives a strong message to preserve wildlife. It is the callous attitude of those in power to plunder natural resources which has led to the miserable condition of Mother Earth. Write an article on the topic : Preservation of Nature—Need of the hour.
There is no doubt nature is the essence of our existence on the earth. It is nature which nourishes us and relieves us from the miseries of life. The beautiful flowers, tall green trees, water streams, valleys, birds, insects, animals—all these are part of nature. Nature is the perfect example of balance. But we human beings have no regard for it. With our relentless measures we are destroying nature which has resulted in a lot of catastrophies — earthquakes, floods, famine, etc. all due to the prevailing imbalance in nature. The cause of this imbalance is the careless attitude and ruthless destruction of flora and fauna by human beings. It is high time we understood the importance of preservation of nature for the sustenance of humans on the earth.
5. What conflicting ideas arise in Dr. Sadao’s mind after he has brought the wounded American soldier home? How is the conflict resolved?
When Dr. Sadao brought the wounded American soldier home, he was wondering whether what he was doing was right. The conflict was between his duty as a doctor and as a loyal citizen. As a doctor, it was his professional duty to help and save a dying man. But as a patriot and a loyal citizen of his country, he was supposed to hand over this man to the police as he was a POW, an enemy. The moment Dr. Sadao felt his wound and found that the man needed to be operated upon immediately, he forgot about everything else and his humanitarian virtues as a doctor made him operate upon the man and save his life.
6. How did Dr. Sadao help the American POW to escape? What humanitarian values do you find in his act?
Dr. Sadao gave the American prisoner of war a boat, a flashlight, food and water. He told him to go to a nearby unguarded island. He should stay there till a Korean boat passed by and then escape taking refuge in it. He dressed him in Japanese clothes and wrapped a black cloth on his head. He asked him to signal him two flashes at the same instant the sun drops over the horizon. He asked him to signal him once if he was all right till the time he escaped in Korean boat. He helped the American soldier to escape and save his life. This act of Dr. Sadao was an act of humanism and compassion. As a doctor he had saved the life of a man without of any prejudice. Dr. Sadao had displayed himself as a man, full of compassion and humanity by this act.
7. Dr. Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. How could he honour both the values?
Dr. Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. He honoured both the values excellently. As a surgeon, his duty was to save the life of a man irrespective of caste, colour or creed. For a doctor, his patient is beyond any prejudice. When Dr. Sadao saw the white man, he realised that the man would die if he was not immediately operated upon. So he took the man to his house and treated him and saved his life. That was his duty as a dedicated surgeon. Dr. Sadao was a loyal citizen of Japan and a true patriot. So when he went to the General, he told him everything and sought his help. Dr. Sadao had no pity for the white man and considered him his enemy. The General assured to send his assassins but forgot. So at the end, Dr. Sadao had to help the prisoner of war to escape from there.
8. Good human values are far above any other value system. How did Dr. Sadao succeed as a doctor as well as a patriot?
Dr Sadao was an intelligent and a committed doctor, very adept in surgical skills and was an efficient scientist too. The story ‘The Enemy’ portrays Dr Sadao as true to his profession as it was his primary duty to help a wounded person without caring for his identity. When torn between loyalty towards his country and his duty as a doctor to save life, he chose humanity over patriotism. At the same time, he was not shown as lacking national loyalty. After saving the American soldier, he wrote a report about the whole matter but did not send it to the police chief, instead he disclosed everything boldly to the General. These are the instances in the story that project Dr Sadao’s humanitarian considerations, his surgical expertise and patriotism. He showed that good human values are far above any other value system.
9. Dr. Sadao used his skills as a doctor not only to keep the prisoner alive but also to safeguard himself. Discuss.
Dr. Sadao was an expert surgeon. He saved the life of the enemy by operating upon him. But he was in danger of being caught as a traitor for sheltering an enemy. Very intelligently, he used his skills as a doctor to protect himself. He knew very well that the General relied on him for his health and would never let him suffer any harm. So he told the General everything and got an assurance from him to get rid off the white man. But when the General forgot to do so, Dr. Sadao helped the white man to escape. Knowing that General would never take any action against him he told him that the man had escaped. It was only due to his professional skills as a doctor that he could save himself.
10. Why was Roger Skunk’s mommy angry with him? What did she finally tell him?
Roger Skunk, on the advice of the wise owl, went to the wizard to get rid of his bad smell. The wizard gave him a new smell, i.e. of roses. He was very happy. Due to the good smell, all the creatures of the woodland became his friends and allowed him to play with them. But when he reached home in the evening, his mother was angry to find him smelling of roses. She didn’t want Roger Skunk to lose his true nature. She scolded him and asked him to immediately have his original smell restored. She finally took him to the wizard and hit him on his head as a punishment and asked him to restore Roger Skunk’s original smell.
11. Discuss the significance of the title ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy?’
The title of the story is in the form of a question and raises moral and ethical issues. Jack told a story to little Jo in which mommy hit the wizard for daring to change the natural feature of her child. But Jo found it to be cruel on the part of mommy. The story depicts a conflict of viewpoints between adults and children. Jo believes in a happy ending so she wanted her father to tell another story in which the wizard would hit Mommy. But her protest is a challenge to parental authority. Jack wondered whether or not he would bend before Jo’s emotional blackmail. The story is left at this crucial moment and the writer leaves it to the reader to interpret it in the light of his or her own experiences and beliefs.
12. What part of story did Jack himself enjoy the most? Why?
Jack enjoyed most the part of the story in which the wizard was present. He was proud of his ability to enact the part of the wizard through his voice modulation and facial expressions. He did it by scrunching up his face and whinning through his eyes, which felt for the interval rheumy. He liked to enact an old man. This kind of improvisation in the storytelling captured Jo. Moreover, Jack himself felt satisfied and happy to tell the story using all his wits and talent.
13. How does Jack interweave his own childhood in the story of Stinky Skunk?
Jack told his daughter Jo a story in which the protagonist Roger Skunk is humiliated and rejected by the peer group because of his bad smell. While narrating the story, Jack felt this to be part of his own childhood experience. He remembered the humiliation and ridicule that he had faced in his childhood. He told Jo that all the other creatures refused to play with or befriend Roger and ran away because of his bad smell. He was left alone to cry. This must have been his own childhood experience when he might have been rejected and mocked by peers and cried alone as everyone would have left him.
14. During childhood and adolescence, peer pressure plays a very important role in our lives. Write a speech on the topic ‘Effect of Peer Pressure on Children’.
Effect of Peer Pressure on Children Good Morning dear friends, childhood is supposed to be the most tender time of life. A child is like clay with no preconceptions. Its world is small. It includes its parents and friends. But as Wordsworth said “The child is father of the Man”, so even this small child is conscious of his image, acceptance and appreciation. At this young age, it is very difficult for a child to accept ridicule and rejection because he is not mature enough to handle harsh realities of life. As a result, the action and reaction of its friends becomes most important to him. It’s not that the peer effect is always negative. Many a time, a child learns new constructive things and habits in a very natural way while dealing with its friends. It learns social manners and the significance of caring and sharing. But if the peer group is not right, then the pressure of peer group might mislead it. It can start imitating bad habits like telling lies, abusing, stealing, etc. Even if the child knows whatever the others are doing is wrong, it is compelled to do the same out of peer pressure. Thus, peer pressure can be very effective if it consists of children who have good habits. But if the peer group is not up to the mark, then this may lead to disastrous effects.
15. Conflict between the viewpoints of children and parents is a very common feature. Many a time parents find it difficult to handle children. Write an article on the growing conflicts between the ideologies of the parents and children with reference to the story ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy?’
Conflict between Parents and Children The conflict between parents and children is an age-old phenomenon. Some call it a generation gap, while others dub it as conflict of ideas. In fact, they both seem to be right on their part. Parents, being adults, want to be caring and cautious about their children. As an adult, it is their duty to imbibe traditions in them. Their concern for the future of their children makes them to supervise them. But, on the other hand, children have their own viewpoint. For them their individuality and standing in their own society is of utmost importance. Like Jo in the story ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy?’ they find it cruel on the part of their parents to make them an object of ridicule by the peer group. But, on the other hand, parents are also right in their thinking, like Roger Skunk’s mommy, who did not want her son to lose his originality and identity. She wants to teach Skunk that we should not change for others; the world should accept us as what we are. Thus, the conflict between the ideologies of parents and that of children is an ongoing process.
16. How does Mr. Lamb’s brief association with Derry affect the latter? Or How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in his life?
Derry was a fourteen years old boy who had his one side of face burnt due to the spilling of acid. He was dejected. People pitied him. He was pained due to the horror, disgust and the pity show for him by the alienated people. As a result, he had become bitter. He had withdrawn himself from people and had developed a pessimistic attitude to life. When he met Mr. Lamb and spent some time in his company, his entire perspective changed. Mr. Lamb was a person, full of life. He told Derry to embrace life fully and not to be bothered about what people said about him. He advised him to keep his ears shut to what was unpleasant to hear but not to shut himself in. He inspired Derry by keeping himself busy in spite of his tin-leg and by being open and cheerful. Mr. Lamb’s advice proved to be a great motivation for Derry and he came out from his shell of isolation. Thus it proved to be a turning point in his life.
17. What benefits did Derry reap from his association with Mr. Lamb?
Derry was a fourteen years old boy whose face was partly burnt due to spilling of acid. As a result, he became conscious of his ugly face. He found that people either ridiculed him or pitied him. He developed a negative attitude to life. He became frustrated. But when he met Mr. Lamb, he got inspiration from him to live life as it came. Derry was encouraged by Mr. Lamb to look at the world and to take interest in things around him. He found truth, sense and inspiration in Mr. Lamb’s words. He learnt from Mr. Lamb to handle his handicap and loneliness. In fact, it was Mr. Lamb who brought Derry back to life. Derry learnt the way to live life fully by dealing with his deformity in an appropriate manner.
18. How do Mr. Lamb and Derry differ in their thoughts, traits and attitude to life?
Or
Both Derry and Mr. Lamb suffer from handicaps, yet their attitude to life is totally different. Discuss.
Ans : Mr. Lamb and Derry both are handicapped. Mr. Lamb has lost his leg in a bomb explosion and Derry has a deformed face due to spilling of acid. They differ in their thoughts, traits and attitude to life. Derry is not able to cope with his disfigured face and people’s uncharitable remarks. As a result, he keeps himself withdrawn and isolated from the world and has a very negative attitude to life. Derry keeps to himself and is extremely sensitive. He can’t stand people staring at him. On the other hand, Mr. Lamb is not much affected by his handicap. He enjoys reading books, tending plants and flowers. He has a positive attitude to life and accepts everything as it comes. He is open-minded and welcomes people. He is not affected when children call him ‘Lamey Lamb’. Thus, both Derry and Mr. Lamb are in contrast to each other. Finally Mr. Lamb was able to inspire Derry and change his attitude to life.
19. Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is the responsibility of society to understand and support people with infirmities so that they do not suffer from a sense of alienation. As a responsible citizen, write in 120–150 words what you would do to bring about a change in the lives of such people.
Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is only due to the insensitive attitude of the society that they feel alienated and lonely. Derry, a boy of fourteen years, always gets either pitied or have uncharitable remarks made against by others and Mr. Lamb seeks to get some company. In fact, as educated members of society, we need to come forward to make these people realise that they are also wanted and are significant for us. We have to change our attitude to such people and realise that just one deformity cannot affect the other talents and capabilities of a person. Actually, these people are very sensitive and feel dejected. We have to give them love and comfort and show our faith in them by providing them with equal opportunities and responsibilities.
20. What purpose did the question paper and the correction slip serve? How did they help both the criminal and the Governor?
The correction slip served two purposes in the escape of Evans. Firstly, it confirmed the name of the hotel where Evans had to stay after his escape and, secondly, it confirmed the time when the paper started. The slip also helped the Governor to find out the exact location of Evans. As the Governor could understand German, so after reading it, he realised that Evans was in Newbury. So he cracked the code through Index no. 313 and the centre no. 271 written on the paper. This gave the Governor the information that 313/271 was the pin code for the middle of Chipping Norton where he reached to arrest Evans at Golden Lion hotel.
21. How was Evans able to devise a foolproof plan for his escape from prison as well as procure items for his disguise in spite of severe instruction and strict observation?
As part of his plan to escape the prison, Evans expressed his desire to learn German and passing O-level examination. The prison authority after consulting the board, allowed a tutor to come into the cell and give him tuition in German. In fact, the tutor was part of his team arranging his escape. Evans was to appear for examinations. The test would be given in the prison cell and a priest was arranged as an invigilator. At the end of the test, Evans impersonated as the invigilator McLeery and remained inside the cell, pretending to be injured while the other escaped. In fact, it was the invigilator who had come wearing two coats, two collars, two pairs of spectacles and two false beard and the pig blood in a rubber tube. As a result, in spite of strict vigil by the prison authorities, he was able to escape from the prison.
22. How did the negligence of the prison officers prove to be a boon for Evans?
The prison officers prove to be a pack of “good-for-a-giggle’ officers who were no match to the clever Evans. First, negligence on their part was not to verify the identity of the German teacher. They could not even identify McLeery, the imposter, who came to the cell right under the nose of the prison authorities. Jackson’s casual attitude towards the hat of Evans was another blunder. He showed his negligence in not even searching McLeery throughly, otherwise his false beard and two collars and gowns could have been identified. Moreover, nobody tried to establish the identity of the wounded man and the Governor himself facilitated his escape by sending him out with Carter. Finally, the biggest negligence was not to verify the authenticity of prison officers with whom he sent Evans after he was captured. All this proved to be a boon for Evans to escape.
23. What precautions were taken by the prison officers for the smooth conduct of examination?
Evans was called ‘Evans the Break’, so all possible precautions were taken by the prison officers for the smooth conduct of the examination. His razor, nail-scissors and nail-file were all taken away. His cell was bugged at the time of examination. The Governor himself was in direct touch with the prison house and the officers. After McLeery entered the cell for the examination, Evans’ cell was locked. The Governor had a fear that Evans might overpower the invigilator. He instructed Jackson to have a physical check-up. There was a tight security in the jail and everything was put on high alert. Thus, the prison officers took all possible precautions for the smooth conduct of examination.
24. What role is played by McLeery, in contributing to the success of Evans’ escape plan?
McLeery plays the most significant role in Evans’ escape. He impersonates Reverend McLeery and reaches the prison. He has great acting skills and is so confident and intelligent that the jail authorities do not suspect him. It is his smartness to wear two beards, two collars and two gowns which helps Evans to escape. Throughout, McLeery sits like a parson, giving specific instructions like index no, centre no, etc. He is smart enough to answer Jackson regarding the rubber tube. It is not only once but even at the end, it is his friend who appeared as a driver of the prison van to steer Evans to freedom from H.M. Prison. Thus it was McLeery who was instrumental in the success of Evans’ escape plan.
25. What lapses on the part of police and prison authorities helped Evans to escape from prison?
The prison officers prove to be a pack of “good-for-a-giggle’ officers who were no match to the clever Evans. First negligence on their part was not to verify the identity of the German teacher. They could not even identify McLeery, the imposter, who came to the cell right under the nose of the prison authorities. Jackson’s casual attitude towards the bobble hat of Evans was another blunder. He showed his negligence in not even searching McLeery thoroughly otherwise his false beard and two collars and gowns could have been identified. Moreover, nobody tried to establish the identity of the wounded man and the governor himself facilitated his escape by sending him out with Carter. Finally, the biggest negligence was not to verify the authenticity of prison officers with whom he sent Evans after he was captured. All this proved to be a boon for Evans to escape.
26. Untouchability is not only a crime, it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight against it?
‘We Too are Human Beings’ raises the issue of social discrimination. Bama learns the stigma of social untouchability that the lower caste people were a victim of at a very early stage in her life. She witnessed an elderly man walking in a street holding out a packet by its string, without touching it. At that time, she found the incident very funny, but later learnt that the upper caste people did not touch anything given by the untouchable community to which she and her brother belonged. She was furious at the treatment meted out by the upper caste people and felt hurt. Bama’s elder brother Annan advised her that if she studied and made progress, she would be able to throw away these indignities. To overcome all these issues, she needed to stay ahead in her studies. She studied hard and stood first in her class and later through her writings she was able to fight the injustice.
27. “We too are human beings,” highlights high caste-low caste discrimination in society. How do low caste people suffer on account of this? What advice is given to Bama to overcome this problem?
‘We too are human beings’ highlights the prevailing discrimination in the society in the name of high caste and low caste. In her childhood, Bama realised that she belonged to the lower caste and was considered ‘untouchable’. She found that the people of her community were exploited and humiliated. She felt sad, let down and angry and hated the exploitation. She believed it to be a curse against society. She wanted to protest against this system. Her brother advised her that it was only through education, they could gain respect. He advised her to work hard and learn. Bama obeyed her brother, studied hard with great determination and topped the class. As a result, many people tried to befriend her.
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