ENGLISH

A THING OF BEAUTY

John Keats

A thing of beauty is a source of permanent/everlasting/eternal joy not only temporary/momentary pleasure.Its loveliness increases as each time we see it on the screen of our mind,our imagination adds to its beauty.It will never pass into nothingness as we shall always fondly cherish its memories.

A thing of beauty is like  a bower (shaded place under trees) which relaxes & refreshes us in the journey of life.The other gifts of a beautiful thing are sound sleep,sweet dreams,regular breathing which add to our health by nourishing us from inside.

Therefore with every passing day we are preparing a flowery band or collecting beautiful things which have the power to bind us closely to the earth motivating us to live in this world inspite of sadness & hopelessness,lack of goodness & nobility in human nature,unpleasant experiences and other problems of life out of which man searches a way for himself.

It is beauty in one form or the other which removes the cloud of sorrow from our sad self.Most of these are objects of nature like the sun,the moon,trees,flowers & the green fields in which they grow ,rivers with crystal clear water that create a cooling covert which provides coolness in the hot season,the musk roses blooming in the middle of the forest adding to the beauty of mass of fern plants growing there.

After enumerating living objects of beauty the poet goes on to talk about the grandeur of the dooms which means that death can also be beautiful,grand & impressive as that of mighty(powerful) kings & warriors who died a noble death by sacrificing their life for greater good.

All these objects of beauty taken together are an endless fountain/source of nectar of joy & inspiration coming to us from the edge of the heaven.They are a gift of God to mankind.

AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN A SLUM

Stephen Spender

This poem talks about the children sitting in an elementary (primary) school classroom in a slum.The faces of these children are far removed from gusty waves-pale,lacking in joy & energy with rough,untidy hair like rootless weeds.The poet goes on to enumerate the children –the tall girl with her head weighed down as she might be ill,tired or facing some other problem due to poverty;a boy as thin as paper with fear & hunger in his eyes like that of a rat;a stunted boy(whose growth has stopped) with deformed body & twisted bones who has been called unlucky heir  as he has inherited the disease from his father and when he recites his lesson from the desk,there is so much pain in his voice that he seems to be talking about his disease.One young & sweet boy sitting at the back of the class is different from others as he doesn’t seem to be suffering from any problem with his eyes lost in a dream.

The walls of the classroom are yellowish in colour indicating dull,sick & repulsive atmosphere in the classroom maintained with the donations given by the people.The walls of the classroom are decorated with Shakespeare’s portrait,Pictures of bright blue cloudless morning sky,Domed buildings in the cities symbolic of civilisation/development,Tyrolese valley full of bell shaped flowers,Open handed map which seems to have given the gift of the world to the world.These  pictures are in total contrast with the life of slum children as their world is limited to slums visible through the windows of the classroom where their future seems dull, dark & hopeless without any beauty & brightness.They live in narrow streets with lead grey dull sky far away from the beauty of nature.

Shakespeare has been called wicked & map a bad example indicating that the decoration of the classroom is not appropriate with the images of bright & beautiful life giving rise to hopes,dreams & desires tempting them to steal or adopt wrong methods in order to fulfil the same.These children spend their life struggling for survival in cramped holes i.e, small rooms  from early morning till late at night.They live on a slag(garbage) heap i.e, dirty surroundings with their bones peeping through the skin (thin children) and wearing spectacles of steel/ metal with mended glass lens like a bottle broken into pieces when it falls on a stone.All their life is spent in slums so their maps should be covered with the slums as big as the doom.

It is the duty of educational authorities like inspector etc. to ensure that the world map becomes their window and they get a chance to see and experience the world shown in the map.The windows of the slum which limit their world like tombs should be broken open and children brought out of this dark, depressing, hopeless world otherwise one day they would rise in protest and break /destroy the town.The children should be taken to green fields ,the beautiful world of nature,allowed to run & play freely on golden sand under blue sky and given a chance to learn from pages of nature as well as books .History belongs to the people who are educated and only they can transform the world.

AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers is a feminist poem written by Adrienne Riche.As the poem opens aunt is shown embroidering/making  tigers with wool on a panel/tapestry/screen/thick cloth.They are yellowish brown in colour like precious stone of topaz.These denizens (residents) of forest(a world of green) are shown to be prancing(jumping) from one end of the screen to the other.They seem to be fearless of the men standing under the tree and walk in a stylish(sleek), brave (chivalric) & confident (surefooted) manner.These tigers symbolise confidence, courage, freedom & fearlessness enjoyed only by the male members in society.

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers/hands are trembling (shaking) & she finds it difficult even to pull the needle as she remains nervous & terrified even in the absence of uncle.The massive weight of the wedding band refers to the burden of male authority & power experienced by her in marriage with a cruel & dominating husband.The ring around her finger is also symbolic of restrictions of married life a woman experiences.The making of tigers by aunt shows her secret desire for a life of freedom & confidence.Even after her death,her oppressors-the society & her husband will remain indifferent without any regret.

This poem is a mystified tragedy as we do not get to know her exact problems.If tigers symbolise the oppressor,aunt Jennifer symbolises the oppressed.

The rhyme scheme of the poem is aabb.

DEEP WATER

1.Douglas’ decision to learn swimming

   1.1 When ten eleven yrs old

   1.2 Choice between YMCA pool & Yakima river

   1.3 Finally chose YMCA pool bcoz river was dangerous with many drowning incidents

   1.4 YMCA pool was safe-only 2-3 feet deep at shallow end & 9 feet at deep end with gradual drop

   1.5 Had to overcome his pride as ashamed to show his thin legs

   1.6 Paddled with water wings,tried to learn by copying other boys

2.Aversion(strong dislike) of water due to childhood incident

   2.1 Went with father to California beach at the age of 3 or 4 yrs

   2.2 Was standing holding his father tightly but waves knocked him down & went over him

   2.3 Couldn’t breathe & full of fear

   2.4 From then on terror of water in heart when he was in it

3.The Misadventure

   3.1 One day went to pool when no one was there

   3.2 Sat down by the side of pool to wait for others afraid of going in alone

   3.3 A large strong boy came & started joking

   3.4 Next moment picked him up & threw him into the deep end of the pool

   3.5 Near death experience

4.Plan to come out

    4.1 Frightened while going down but mind was still working

    4.2 Planned to make a big jump upwards as soon as his feet hit the bottom of pool

    4.3 Hoped to immediately come to the surface,lie flat on it & paddle to the edge of the pool

5.First journey downwards

    5.1 Seemed a long way down,9 feet like 90

    5.2 Couldn’t breathe,lungs ready to burst

6.First journey upwards

   6.1 Jumped upwards with all his strength

   6.2 Came up slowly

   6.3 On opening his eyes saw only yellowish water all around

   6.4 Tried to grab a rope or some support but only water came in his hands

   6.5 Was suffocating

   6.6 Tried to shout but no sound came out

   6.7 Eyes & nose came out of water but not mouth

7.Second journey downwards

   7.1 Again started going downwards

   7.2 Legs became paralysed & rigid

   7.3 Lungs ached,breathless

   7.4 Head throbbed(pain),felt dizzy(everything spinning around him)

   7.5 Terror seized him,terror which can’t be controlled,can’t be understood by someone who hasn’t

          Experienced it

8.Second journey upwards

    8.1 Jumped with all his strength but it made no difference

    8.2 Still surrounded by water

    8.3 Looked for ropes etc,something to come out but got nothing

    8.4 Terror took a deeper hold of him like electricity,trembling

    8.5 Arms & legs wouldn’t move

     8.6 Tried to call for mother,for help but nothing happened

     8.7 Eyes & nose came out of water & again started going down

9.Third journey downwards

    9.1 Stopped making all effort & relaxed

    9.2 Legs became lifeless & a blackness came over his brain

    9.3 Felt quiet & peaceful without any fear

    9.4 Felt sleepy & floating in space as if in tender arms of mother

    9.5 Became unconscious(crossed to oblivion & curtain of life fell)

10.Immediate effect of misadventure

     10.1 Weak & trembling when walked home after several hours

     10.2 Shook & cried when he lay on his bed

     10.3 Couldn’t eat that night

     10.4 Haunting fear of water in his heart for many days

     10.5 Even a little exertion upset him with legs shaking & felt sick in his stomach

11.Long term effect of misadventure

     11.1 Started fearing & avoiding water

     11.2 Whenever went near any water body,the same terror would come back

             11.2.1 Legs would become paralysed

             11.2.2 Icy horror would grab his heart

      11.3 Became a handicap,couldn’t enjoy boating,fishing & swimming with his friends

12.Efforts to overcome fear

    12.1 Hired an instructor to learn swimming in October

    12.2 Went to a pool & practised 5 days a week,an hour each day

    12.3 Taught swimming in three steps,built a swimmer piece by piece

            12.3.1 Instructor put a belt around him, a rope attached to the belt went through a pulley on

                         An overhead cable,instructor held the other end of the rope & moved him back &

                         Forth over the pool sometimes relaxing his hold making him go under water ; it took

                         Him three months to overcome terror

              12.3.2 Taught him to put face under water & exhale & inhale with nose outside,practised

                           Breathing exercises hundreds of times

               12.3.3 Held him at the side of the pool & asked him to kick water with his legs,gradually

                           Could command his legs

       12.4 Douglas swam across the pool in April & instructor was finished

13.Further efforts to eliminate terror,Douglas was not finished

      13.1 Fear of terror returning when alone in pool

      13.2 Went to Lake Wentworth in July,swam two miles across from Triggs Island to Stamp Act

               Island,once terror came back but challenged his fear making fun of it & it went away

       13.3 Went to Warm Lake ,swam across to the other shore & back,shouted with joy,this time

                Didn’t feel any terror,had overcome it

14.Deep meaning of the experience

     14.1 Death is peaceful,there’s terror only in the fear of death

     14.2 Roosevelt had said “All we have to fear is the fear itself”

     14.3 Had Faced near death experience & terror generated by it so the will to live grew in intensity

     14.4 Finally free from fear.

INDIGO

1.Raj Kumar Shukla

  1.1 Poor & thin farmer from Champaran

  1.2 Met Gandhi ji at annual conference of Congress at Lucknow in 1916

        1.2.1 Had come to complain about injustice of landlord system in Bihar

        1.2.2 Wanted Gandhi to come with him to Champaran

   1.3 Resolute/Tenacious/Strongly determined

         1.3.1 Gandhi ji couldn’t  accompany him due to appointment in Kanpur & other parts of India

         1.3.2 Accompanied Gandhi everywhere even following him to his ashram in Ahmedabad

         1.3.3 When Gandhi agreed,reached Calcutta before time to take Gandhi ji with him

2.Places visited on the way to Champaran

   2.1 Patna-Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s house

         2.1.1 Received by servants since Dr Prasad was out of station

         2.1.1 Taken to be an untouchable farmer since accompanying Shukla ,Gandhi not allowed to

                    Draw water from the well,made to stay on the grounds

    2.2 Muzaffarpur-to get complete information about conditions in Champaran

          2.2.1 J B Kripalani of Arts College received him at midnight with large no. Of students

          2.2.2 An extraordinary thing for Prof.Malkani,a govt. School teacher to keep Gandhi in his

                    House as Indians in small cities were afraid of supporting home rule

          2.2.3 Sharecroppers from Champaran came to see their champion

          2.2.4 Lawyers called to brief Gandhiji about cases ,scolded by Gandhi for taking large fee from

                    Poor sharecroppers

          2.2.5 Concluded that real solution of problems of farmers not going to courts but freedom

                    From fear

 3.Sharecropping arrangement in Champaran & changes

    3.1 Indian tenant farmers worked on the land of British landlords

    3.2 Forced to plant indigo on 15% of their land

    3.3 Gave entire indigo harvest as rent

    3.4 Synthetic indigo developed in Germany causing fall in price of natural indigo

    3.5 Landlords offered to release  sharecroppers from arrangement in exchange of compensation

    3.6 Illiterate farmers got to know about artificial indigo later & felt cheated

    3.7 Demanded their money back resulting in conflict between farmers & landlords

4.Gandhi ji’s arrival in Champaran at this moment of crisis

    4.1 First visited Secretary of British Landlord’s Association-refused to cooperate saying

         Couldn’t give any information to an outsider

    4.2 Next met British Official Commissioner of Tirhut Division-he tried to frighten Gandhi &

          Advised him to leave Tirhut

    4.3 Made headquarters in Motihari

5.Court case against Gandhi ji due to civil disobedience

    5.1 Gandhi on his way to nearby village where a farmer ill treated

    5.2 Police Superintendent’s messenger came with orders to return to Motihari

          5.2.1 Obeyed by Gandhi ji

     5.3 On reaching home served with notice to quit(leave) Champaran

           5.3.1Gandhi signed & received the order but wrote he would disobey the order

     5.4 Gandhi received summons(order) to appear in the court

     5.5 Preparations for court case

           5.5.1 Telegram to Rajendra Prasad to come with powerful lawyer friends

           5.5.2 Sent instructions to ashram

           5.5.3 Sent a full report to Viceroy

     5.6  Scene outside court room

           5.6.1 Spontaneous demonstration outside court by large no.of peasants to support Gandhi ji

           5.6.2 Beginning of freedom from the fear of the British

           5.6.3 Made British realise their power could be challenged by Indians

   

    5.7 Proceedings inside court

          5.7.1 Gandhi pleaded guilty & asked for punishment due

          5.7.2Gandhi talked about Conflict of duties-not to set bad example by breaking law vs service

                    Of nation & humanity,chose latter

           5.7.3 Disobeyed order not to disrespect law but to obey higher law-voice of conscience

           5.7.4 Asked to take bail for 2hr recess,Gandhi refused,still released without bail

           5.7.5 Judgement postponed for several days & later case dropped under orders of Lt.Governor

                    - 1^st victory of civil disobedience

     5.8 Declaration by Gandhi ji-“ The Battle of Champaran is Won”

           5.8.1 Gandhi ji asked Rajendra Prasad & other lawyers about their course of action in case

                     He was sentenced to prison

           5.8.2 Replied they would go home

           5.8.3 Gandhi asked who would fight against injustice to sharecroppers

           5.8.4 Agreed to court arrest or follow Gandhi in jail after being inspired by him

6.Official Commission of Enquiry into sharecropper’s situation

    6.1 Gandhi,only representative of peasants

    6.2 Lot  of evidence against landlords

    6.3 Agreed to refund peasants’ money

    6.4 Gandhi ji demanded 50% refund

    6.5 Landlords offered 25% thinking Gandhi ji would refuse & matter will remain unsolved

    6.6 Gandhi ji immediately accepted thus breaking the deadlock

    6.7 For landlords not only loss of money but also loss of prestige(respect)

    6.8 Peasants learnt they have rights & defenders ,learnt courage

    6.9 Within a few years British landlords left land which came back to peasants & indigo

          Sharecropping disappeared

7.Cultural & Social backwardness

   7.1 Gandhi ji’s appeal for teachers

         7.1.1 Mahadev Desai,Narhari Parikh,2 young followers with their wives came forward

         7.1.2 Devdas,Gandhi’s youngest son & Mrs Gandhi also came

         7.1.3 Primary schools opened in six villages

         7.1.4 Mrs. Gandhi taught personal hygiene & community cleanliness

   7.2 Miserable health conditions

         7.2.1 Gandhi ji got a doctor to serve for 6 months

         7.2.2 Three medicines-castor oil,quinine for malaria & ointment for skin problems

8.Long distance management of ashram during Champaran stay

    8.1 Regular instructions by mail

    8.2 Asked for financial accounts

9.Champaran Episode –turning point in Gandhi’s life

    9.1 Declared British couldn’t order him about in is own country

    9.2 Decided to fight for departure of British from India

10.Lesson in self reliance for lawyers

     10.1 Gandhi’s lawyer friends wanted Charles Freer Andrews to stay in Champaran & help

     10.2 Andrews willing but Gandhi opposed

             10.2.1 Gandhi said taking support of an Englishman in this fight shows weakness of their

                           Heart

             10.2.2 Fighting for a just cause so must depend on themselves to win the battle

     

         

   LOST SPRING

Sometimes I find a rupee in the garbage

1.Saheb’s work & background

    1.1 Ragpicker in garbage dumps of writer’s neighbourhood

    1.2 Migration from Dhaka

          1.2.1 Fields & homes destroyed by storms

          1.2.2 Came to big city in India looking for livelihood

2. Writer’s  promise

    2.1 Asks Saheb jokingly if he would come in case she starts a school

    2.2 Saheb says yes & after some days enquires from her about that school

    2.3 Writer feels ashamed for making a promise she didn’t mean

    2.4 Realises many people (the rich & politicians) make such promises to the poor but never fulfil

           Them

3.Irony in Saheb’s name

    3.1 Full name Saheb e Alam meaning ‘lord of the universe’

    3.2 Dependent on garbage for livelihood

4.Barefoot people in India

     4.1 Observed by writer during her travels

     4.2 Explanation given

            4.2.1 Not lack of money but tradition to stay barefoot

            4.2.2 Acc. To writer only an excuse to explain away permanent poverty

       4.3 Prayer of priest’s son

             4.3.1 Prayer to goddess for a pair of shoes

             4.3.2 Once he  got shoes,prayed to never let him lose them

             4.3.3 Prayer granted bcoz 30yrs later when writer visited Udipi,she saw the new priest’s son

                        Wearing proper school shoes

5.Seemapuri

    5.1 A place on Delhi border

    5.2 Miles away from it because no facilities,poor infrastructure

    5.3 Migrants from Bangladesh who came in 1971 live there

    5.4 Mud houses with tin & tarpaulin roofs,no sewage,drainage or running water

    5.5 10,000 ragpickers

    5.6 Food more important than identity

6.Survival & Garbage

    6.1 Survival means ragpicking

    6.2 Children-partners in survival

          6.2.1Start ragpicking from an early age to support parents

          6.2.2 Parents can’t provide facilities like education or even fulfil basic needs

    6.3 Garbage-meaning for grown ups

           6.3.1 Gold

           6.3.2Daily bread,a roof over their head

           6.3.3 A means of survival

    6.4 Garbage –meaning for children

           6.4.1 Source of wonder

           6.4.2 Symbolises their hopes

           6.4.3 Satisfies curiosity

7.Saheb gets shoes-a dream come true

    7.1They are tennis shoes & tennis is his favourite game

    7.2 Rejected shoes of a rich boy with a hole in one of them but not bothered bcoz he has never

          Had shoes

8.Saheb-no longer his own master

    8.1 Started working in a tea stall

    8.2 Gets Rs.800 & all meals

  8.3Lost carefee look

  8.4 Steel canister heavier than plastic bag

  8.5 Now an employee,has to take employer’s orders

I Want to Drive a Car

1.Mukesh’s dream

    1.1 To become his own master

    1.2 Wants to be a motor mechanic

    1.3 Writer compares his dream to a mirage(not realistic)

2.Firozabad

    2.1 Famous for glass bangles

    2.2 Centre of India’s glass blowing industry

    2.3 Almost all families working for generations

    2.4 Working conditions

           2.4.1 Children work illegally in glass furnaces with high temperature,in dark cells without

                     Proper air & light

           2.4.2 20,000 children work

           2.4.3 End up losing eyesight due to darkness & dust from polishing bangles

    2.5 Living Conditions

           2.5.1 Stinking lanes blocked with garbage

           2.5.2 Houses unfit to live with no windows,wobbly doors &  walls falling to pieces

           2.5.3 Animals & human beings living together

3 Mukesh’s  family

   3.1 Brother’s wife

        3.1.1 Thin & young woman

        3.1.2 Takes care of 3 male members in family

 

     3.2 Father

            3.2.1 First worked as a tailor,then bangle maker

            3.2.2 Failed to repair house or send children to school

            3.2.3 Only succeeded in teaching the art of bangle making to his children

    3.3 Mukesh’s grandmother

            3.3.1 Considers Mukesh’s birth in family of bangle makers as his karam,his destiny,God given

                       Lineage that can’t be broken

4.Savita & her family

    4.1 Savita making/welding bangles  mechanically

    4.2 Would realise their symbolic meaning of suhaag,auspiciousness in marriage when she herself

           Gets married

    4.3 Savita’s grandmother has gone blind and never had a full meal in her life

    4.4 Savita’s grandmother has managed to make a house for himself – bigger achievement as

          Compared to others

5.Ferozabad’s  youth

    5.1 Have lost ability to dream & take decisions due to years of mind numbing hard work

    5.2 Afraid of organising themselves into a cooperative

           5.2.1 Police will beat them & put into jail on some false charge

    5.3 No leader with vision & enthusiasm

    5.4 Talk about poverty,disinterest,greed & injustice

6.Two distinct worlds

    6.1 First-family caught in the web of poverty with stigma of caste

    6.2 Caught in vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen,policemen, politicians etc.

           6.2.1 Have put a baggage on the child (compulsion of following family trade of bangle making)

                     Which he can’t put down

7. Mukesh’s rare courage

     7.1 Writer happy to see a flash of it in Mukesh

     7.2 Determined to become motor mechanic

           7.2.1 Ready to walk long distance to garage

  

 

                                                                 ON THE FACE OF IT

1.Derry’s entry into Mr.Lamb’s Garden

    1.1 Shocked when Mr.Lamb calls out to him telling him to mind the apples lest he should fall

          1.1.1Had entered climbing over the wall thinking no one was there

     1.2 Tries to leave at once

     1.3 Mr. Lamb stops him trying to make him feel comfortable

     1.4 Derry thinks people are afraid of his ugly & terrible face

     1.5 When Mr.Lamb starts talking about his apples,Derry feels that he has changed the topic

           Bcoz he is afraid of his face

      1.6 Derry also expresses his dislike to be in the company of people

2. Handicap-the common factor between Mr.Lamb & Derry

     2.1 Derry has scarred face-half face burnt with acid

     2.2 Mr.Lamb is lame with a tin leg-real leg got blown off in an explosion in a war

3.Difference between the two/ Impressive qualities of old man

    3.1 Age

          3.1.1 Mr.Lamb-an old man

          3.1.2 Derry-young boy of 14

    3.2 Positive attitude/Love of life of Mr.Lamb

          3.2.1 Shows his weed garden,no difference between weeds & flowers,all part of life/nature

                   (accepts both good & bad in life without judging)

          3.2.2 People say bees buzz(irritating noise) but he says bees hum(sing)

          3.2.3 Doesn’t like to put curtains on windows,shutting things in shutting things out

                    Likes light & darkness,hear the wind

     3.3 Friendly/social nature of Mr.Lamb

           3.3.1 Says he has hundreds of friends

           3.3.2 Gate is always open,people come & sit,kids come for toffees & apples

           3.3.3 Doesnt mind children calling him Lamey Lamb

    3.4 Independent

           3.4.1 Inspite of being handicapped lives alone in his house & does all the work

           3.4.2 Plucks apples from the trees,makes jelly; keeps bees,makes toffee with honey

4.People’s /Society’s insensitivity towards the handicapped

    4.1 Once Derry was standing on the bus stop,two women passed by,one said to the other it was

           A terrible face which only a mother could love

     4.2 When Derry returned home from hospital after his acid accident,someone said he would have

             Been better off with other acid burnt people like himself

5.Family’s attitude towards Derek

    5.1 Pitying attitude

          5.1.1 Overhears family expressing worry over what would he ever do in life,get on in the world

                    With his burnt face when they are dead & gone

          5.1.2 Shatters his confidence

   5.2 No true bonding or love

          5.2.1 Doesn’t like being kissed by his mother as she kisses him only on the other side (unburnt)

                    Of the face & that too as a duty not out of love

6.Mr.Lamb’s lessons to Derry-Short meaningful interaction

   6.1 Derry may have got only half a face but the world has got a full face (world is full of joy &

          beauty ) which he can enjoy

   6.2 Remember only positive things & forget negatives like that woman’s remark

   6.3 We can’t go through life being scared(afraid) & can’t change our destiny,whatever has to

         Happen will happen at its time

         6.3.1 Story of a man who was afraid of living(may be run over by bus,catch germs from

                   Someone’s breath,struck by lightning,kicked by a donkey etc.),afraid of loving( may love

                   A girl & she ‘d leave him),afraid of being laughed at(may slip on a banana skin & fall &

                   People would laugh); locked himself in a room & got into his bed ;den a picture fell on his

                  Head & killed him.

    6.4 Derry has got arms,legs,eyes,ears,tongue & brain,he can do whatever he wants in life

          (instils confidence)

    6.5 Not to hate anyone bcoz hatred burns from inside & does a lot of harm

    6.6 Watch,think & listen to understand life

    6.7 Take risks,decisions & responsibility for his actions ,think for himself & not let others decide

         What’s best for him

7.Changes in Derry/ transformation after meeting Mr.Lamb

     7.1 Earlier negative bitter but laughs for the first time on hearing the story of man who was afraid

           Of everything

     7.2 Earlier kept saying “I don’t like.... but then starts talking in positive terms “I like to hear rain...”

     7.3 Offers to help Mr Lamb in plucking apples

     7.4 When Mr.Lamb challenges Derry saying that once he  gets back home,it’s not other people

           But he won’t let himself come back ,Derry rises to the challenge by replying that he can run &

           He would come back(improves confidence,helps in overcoming complexes)

    7.5 Earlier obsessed(thinks too much) with his face but now when his mother tries to make him

         Feel sorry/self pity for his face ,bluntly tells her what he thinks,feels,wants in life is more

         Important than his looks or face

    7.6 Overcomes all hurdles to return to Mr.Lamb symbolic of overcoming his fears & complexes,

          Now he can do anything in life  

   7.7 Empowered to live life fully( “I want the world......”),curious to discover simple joys of life

8.Irony

    8.1 Mr.Lamb says to himself people say they would come back but they never do(he cheers up

          Derry & says that he has lots of friends but he is actually lonely)

    8.2 Prophetic Remark-Derry said before leaving garden that if he fell & broke his neck no one

          Would know,also that no one comes there & Mr.Lamb actually falls from tree & dies

9.Ending of play

    9.1 Tragic note due to Mr.Lamb’s death

  9.2 Sense of hope with positive change in Derry shown by his return

SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY

1.Storytelling Custom

    1.1 Jack,the father told stories to his daughter Jo

    1.2 Started when Jo was 2yrs old

    1.3 Had been telling stories for 2yrs with Jo now 4yrs old

    1.4 Imaginary stories created out of his head

    1.5 Now running out of ideas (not a creative storyteller)

    1.6 Each story –same basic story with slight changes

          1.6.1 Main character- a small creature named Roger

          1.6.2 Roger had some problem

          1.6.3 Went with problem to wise old owl

                        1.6.4 Owl sent him to wizard(magician)

          1.6.5 Wizard solved the problem with a magic spell

          1.6.6 Demanded more money than Roger had but also told the place where extra pennies

                    Could be found

          1.6.7 Roger played with other animals,went home to mother,train brought daddy home,

                    Family had dinner

    1.7 Storytelling becoming ineffective

           1.7.1 Jo didn’t fall asleep in Saturday naps anymore

           1.7.2 Jo no longer a little girl (the bumps made by her feet under covers halfway down

                     The bed)

2.Story of Roger Skunk within the story of Jack & Jo

     2.1 Told one Saturday afternoon

     2.2 Roger Skunk’s problem-smelled very bad

     2.3 Other animals not ready to play with him

     2.4 Made fun of him by calling him ‘Roger Stinky Skunk’

            2.4.1 Jack remembered certain humiliations(insults) from his childhood

                2.4.2 Autobiographical element also, the writer John Updike suffered from skin problem

                        (psoriasis)  & speech problem(stammering) and children made fun of him

3.Changes in Jo’s response to story in last two years

    3.1 Makes guesses in advance as story is more or less known to her

          3.1.1 Asks if Roger Skunk won’t go to the owl

          3.1.2 Again Jo guesses in advance that owl will send Roger to wizard

                2.5.

      3.2 A  new/ reality phase-Jo had started asking questions –a proof of her

              Developing mind

             3.2.1 Jo asks if magic spells are real

             3.2.2 Some days back when Jack had told her spiders eat bugs Jo confirmed it from her

                        Mother.When her mother told her God was in the sky,she confirmed it from the

                        Father

4. Dramatic Effects in the story

     4.1 As Jack knocked on window sill to create effect of Roger knocking on wizard’s door 

            Jo’s tall body clenched with thrill

     4.2 Jack’s favourite effect-old wizard’s voice by squeezing his nose & speaking as if

             Suffering from interval rheumy (cold,runny eyes & nose)

      4.3 At one point Jo’s legs switched tensely which shows her interest & excitement also making

             Jack feel proud of his story telling ability

5. Ending of Roger’s Story & changes from normal story

     5.1 Wizard changes Roger Skunk’s bad smell to that of roses with a magic spell

     5.2 Jack gets angry when Jo loses interest in the story thinking it to be over

           5.2.1 He didn’t like women to take anything for granted(to be sure of something not realising

                     Its value),he wanted them to be fearful giving importance to his each & every word

      5.3 Decides to totally change the ending of the story

      5.4 Roger Skunk’s mother found his new rose smell very bad & angry with wizard

      5.5 Took him back to the wizard,hit him with an umbrella making him restore his old bad smell

      5.6 Mother happy because he now smells like her baby skunk & she loves him that way

      5.7 Other animals also started playing with him as they became used to it & didn’t mind it

6 Jo’s objection to the ending of the story

     6.1 Wants wizard to hit the mommy & refuse to change the smell

     6.2 Afraid that if he smells bad other animals would refuse to play with him

7.Jack’s refusal to change the ending

    7.1 When Jo calls mommy stupid Jack says with emphasis mother was not stupid as if he was

           Defending his own mother

           7.1.1 Autobiographical element-John Updike’s mother gave him moral support &

                    Encouragement during difficult childhood so respected his mother very much

    8.Jack caught in Ugly Middle Position

     8.1 Between his wife & daughter

     8.2 Failed to satisfy his daughter with his story or put her to sleep

     8.3 Wife (Clare) also angry as that day story took too long & he failed to timely join & help his

            Pregnant wife in painting woodwork

9.Moral issues raised by the story

    9.1 Should parents always decide what is best for their children & should children always obey

         Unquestioningly(Jack deciding the ending of the story & mother deciding the smell of skunk)

   9.2 What is natural can’t be disgraceful & we should accept ourselves the way nature has made us

    

               

THE  LAST LESSON

1.Franz’s fear & temptation

   1.1 Afraid of being scolded by the teacher

         1.1.1 Late for school

         1.1.2 Hadn’t learnt participles which his teacher(M.Hamel) was going to ask that day

   1.2 Temptation to run away & spend the day out of doors

          1.2.1 Warm & bright day with birds chirping & soldiers drilling

          1.2.1 Overcame temptation & went to school

2.Bulletin Board at Town Hall & scene there

    2.1 Relevance of Bulletin Board

           2.1.1 Source of all bad news-lost battles etc. From last two years ever since war started

    2.2 Blacksmith’s Remark

           2.2.1 Told  Franz not to hurry, plenty of time to reach  school

           2.2.2 Franz thought he was making fun of him

           2.2.3 Understands later that he had read the order from Berlin to replace teaching of French

                      with German 

3.Scene at school

     3.1 Usual Scene-busy & noisy activity when school began

            3.1.1 Opening & Closing of desks

            3.1.2 Lessons repeated together loudly

            3.1.3 Teacher’s ruler hitting the table

     3.2 Scene that day

             3.2.1 Silent & still like Sunday morning

             3.2.2 Classmates already in their places

             3.2.3 M.Hamel walking up & down with ruler under his arm

4.Other Changes

     4.1 M.Hamel didn’t scold Franz for coming late

     4.2 Teacher dressed in special clothes-beautiful green coat,frilled shirt,black silk cap all

            Embroidered

      4.3Normally vacant backbenches occupied by villagers

5. M.Hamel’s announcement & effect

     5.1 Going to be his last lesson

     5.2 Order from Berlin to teach German in place of French in the schools of Alsace & Lorraine

     5.3 Words came like thunderclap

     5.4 Franz’s reaction

           5.4.1 Felt sorry for not learning his lessons in time,now won’t get another chance to learn

                     Own language

            5.4.2 Books which earlier seemed too heavy,a nuisance,now old friends he didn’t want to give

                      Up

            5.4.3 Forgot everything about strictness & bad temper of M.Hamel

6.Tribute of villagers by attending the last lesson

     6.1 Felt sorry for not giving more importance to education

     6.2 Thankful to teacher for 40yrs. Of faithful service

     6.3 Showing respect to country which was no longer theirs

7.Franz’s wish & failure

     7.1 Wanted to recite complete rule of participle loud & clear without making any mistake

     7.2 Got confused right at the start & stood there holding on to his desk,his heart beating & not

           Daring to look up

8.Problem with Alsace & people responsible

     8.1People in habit of postponing learning

     8.2 Responsibility of parents

           8.2.1 Preferred to send children to work in farms or mills for a little extra money

     8.3 Teacher’s  Responsibility

            8.3.1 Sent children to water flowers at the time of studies

            8.3.2 Declared holiday in school when in mood to go for fishing

9.M.Hamel’s opinion of French language

    9.1 Most beautiful,the clearest & the most logical language in the world

    9.2 Must guard & remember their language

           9.2.1 Key to their prison

10.The Last Lesson

      10.1 Grammar lesson

               10.1.1Understood very well & seemed easy

               10.1.2 Children never listened so carefully

               10.1.3 Teacher never explained everything with so much patience

      10.2 Writing lesson

      10.3 History lesson

11.Thoughts & Emotions

       11.1 On hearing pigeons cooing, Franz wondered if they would make them also sing in German

       11.2 M.Hamel gazing at all things one by one in classroom as if wanted to remember everything

       11.3 Old Hauser crying while reading primer, all wanted to laugh & cry at tragic yet funny sight

12.M.Hamel’s  Patriotism & Courage

       12.1 Stood in his chair looking very proud & strong

       12.2 Couldn’t speak,choked with emotion

       12.3 Wrote ‘Vive la France’ in large letters on blackboard with all his might

             

         

                                                                  THE RATTRAP

1.Rattrap maker-Vagabond & Peddler

    1.1 Made & sold rattraps by going from place to place

    1.2 Also a beggar & a small time thief

    1.3 Miserable condition-Wore rags,poor health & hunger shining in his eyes

    1.4 Sad & monotonous(dull) life-walked on roads lost in his thoughts

2.An interesting idea

    2.1 Naturally thinking of his rattraps, being a rattrap maker & seller

     2.2 Struck by idea of whole world being a rattrap with all nice things like money joys,shelter &

            Food,clothes etc. As baits to tempt people

     2.3 As soon as anyone touched bait,the rattrap closed in on him & everything came to an end

     2.4 Gave him unexpected joy to think unpleasantly of people he knew as caught in the trap or

           Circling around the bait

3.Shelter at old man/crofter’s house

    3.1 Asked for shelter for the night at a roadside cottage

    3.2 Unexpectedly got a warm welcome

    3.3 The old man without wife or child was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness

    3.4 Gave him supper,the porridge he made & large piece of tobacco to smoke

    3.5 Played mjolis,a game of cards with his guest

    3.6 Also shared his secret with him-earned thirty kronors by selling his cow’s milk

    3.7 Not only told but also took out three ten kronor notes from a pouch hanging on window frame

         & showed them to him when saw signs of disbelief on his guest’s face

4.Peddler himself caught in the rattrap

     4.1 Next morning both crofter & peddler left home

     4.2 Half an hour later peddler returned, smashed a window pane,took out money & went away

     4.3 Happy at first but later dared not continue walking on the road for the fear of being caught

     4.4 Started walking in the forest & lost way in the big & confusing forest

    4.5 Found himself caught in the rattrap of forest tempted by the bait of 30 kronors

5.Lucky escape & shelter

    5.1 On cold dark December evening,tired & desperate(lost hope) lay down on the ground

    5.2 Heard sounds of hammer from an iron mill & started walking in that direction

    5.3 Reached Ramsjo Ironworks,an iron mill & given shelter by Mastersmith & his helper

6.Ironmaster’s midnight visit & case of mistaken identity

    6.1 Owner of Ramsjo Iron mill

    6.2 His greatest ambition to send best quality iron to the market

    6.3 Personally supervised the work & came there on his nightly round of inspection

    6.4 Went near the sleeping vagabond & removed hat from his face

    6.5 Mistook him for Nils Olof/Captain Von Stahle,his  old regimental comrade

    6.6 Peddler also didn’t undeceive the ironmaster in the hope of getting some money from

          Ironmaster as he thought him to be his old acquaintance

     6.7 Invited him to come home with him for Christmas

     6.8 Peddler refused as not comfortable with the idea of going to manor house,it was like walking

           Into lion’s den

7.Edla Willmansson’s visit & invitation

     7.1 Sent by her father to persuade his old acquaintance to come home

     7.2 Her invitation accepted by the peddler-reasons

            7.2.1 Had taken the trouble of coming herself personally at midnight with a gift of fur coat

            7.2.2 Assured him that he would be free to leave after Christmas

            7.2.3 Peddler felt confidendce in her due to her kind & friendly manner

8.Edla’s impression of the peddler

    8.1 On her visit to the forge when she saw fear on his face she felt either the man had stolen

           Something or escaped from the jail

    8.2 Told her father that there’s nothing about him to show that he had once been an educated

           Man

9.Realisation of mistake by the ironmaster

    9.1 Saw his guest well groomed in broad daylight next morning

          9.1.1 Valet had bathed him,cut his hair & shaved him,clean & well dressed

    9.2 Realised he had mistaken him for an old acquaintance in the dim light of furnace

    9.3 Displeased & angry

    9.4 Stranger defended himself by saying he never said that he was his acquaintance,didn’t want to

           Come to his house & offered to put on his old clothes & leave

    9.5 Ironmaster threatened to take him to sheriff but dropped the idea after listening to peddler’s

           Philosophy of the world being a rattrap which he liked but asked him to get out

10.Edla’s reasons for stopping the stranger

      10.1 Couldn’t  suddenly give up the idea of making things homelike & Christmassy for a poor

               Hungry person

      10.2 Wanted him to enjoy at least one day of rest & peace in the whole year

      10.3 Not right on their part to drive away a human being they had invited for Christmas

11.Christmas eve at Ramsjo

       11.1 Slept quietly & safely without any disturbance

       11.2 Ate good Christmas food

       11.3 Edla asked him to keep her father’s suit he was wearing as Christmas present

       11.4 Told him he would be welcome if he wanted to spend  next Christmas eve in a place

                Where he could rest in peace without any harm coming to him

12.Christmas present

       12.1 Ironmaster & his daughter went to the church in morning

       12.2 Edla sad & disappointed on learning at church that peddler was a thief

       12.3 Father afraid stranger may have left taking away valuables

       12.4 Surprised to learn on return that he had left behind a Christmas present for Edla

                12.4.1 A small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes

                12.4.2 A  letter in bad handwriting

13.Coming out of Rattrap

      13.1 Asked her to return the money to the crofter

      13.2 Didn’t want to embarrass her as she had been so kind to him

      13.3 She had treated him like a captain even after knowing his reality

      13.4 So felt compelled to behave like a gentleman & signed himself as Captain

      13.5 Her kindness gave him the power to clear himself & come out of the world’s rattrap