Vistas

STUDY MATERIAL

VISTAS

THE TIGER KING

BY
KALKI
Synopsis
The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bhadur was called “Tiger King”. He is credited with having spoken when he was just 10 days old. The astrologers predicted that he would be killed by a tiger as he was born in the sign of the bull and the bull and the tiger are enemies. He grew up in the royal palace and enjoyed the privileges of having a British upbringing. He was crowned the king when he was 20. The king came to know of the prediction regarding his death and he killed a tiger to safeguard himself. He told the news to the astrologer and was told that he could kill 99 tigers, but had to be beware of the 100th tiger. From that day tiger hunting was banned in the state by anyone other than the king.
A high-ranking British officer who visited the state was fond of hunting tigers, but was denied permission. The officer wanted a photograph of his to be taken with a dead tiger killed by the Maharaja and this request was also rejected. The Tiger King faced the threat of losing his kingdom to the British. So to please the officer’s wife, 50 diamond rings were sent expecting that she would take 1 or 2. Instead she kept all the rings costing 3 lakh rupees and sent ‘thanks’ to the Maharaja. But his state was secured. In 10 years he killed 70 tigers. Finally tigers disappeared in Pratibandapuram; so he decided to marry a girl from a royal state which had the highest number of tigers to complete his target. Whenever he visited his in-laws he would go on a tiger hunt. So he killed 99 tigers and was anxious to kill the 100th but couldn’t find it.
News about the presence of a tiger near a village proved wrong. Now the Dewan faced the threat of losing his position. So he brought an old tiger from the ‘People’s Park in Madras’ and placed it in the forest and informed the Maharaja. The Maharaja shot the tiger with great care and left the place in triumph. But the tiger had collapsed out of fear and had not been hit by the bullet. So one of the soldiers killed the tiger and brought it in grand procession to Pratibandapuram. It was the 3rd birthday of the Maharaja’s son and he wanted to buy a present from the toyshop. He bought a poorly crafted wooden tiger. While the Maharaja was playing with the prince, a tiny sliver of the wooden tiger pierced his right hand which later on became highly infectious and caused his death. Thus the hundredth tiger takes his final revenge upon the “Tiger King”.

Short Answer Questions (30 – 40 words – 3 marks)
1) What was the miracle that took place in the royal palace?
2) How was the Tiger King brought up?
3) What was the astrologer's prediction when the Tiger King killed the first tiger?
4) What did the high-ranking British officer wish to do? Was his wish fulfilled?
5) Why did the Maharaja’s tiger killing mission come to a sudden still?
6) Why did the Maharaja suddenly decide to marry? On what criteria was the bride chosen?
7) Why did Maharaja order the dewan to double the tax?
8) How did the Tiger King meet his end? What is ironical about his death?
9) How did the 100th tiger take its revenge on the Tiger King?
10) Why was it a celebration time for all the tigers of Pratibandapuram?
Long Answer Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) The Tiger King's obsession with tiger hunt endangered his kingship. Explain. How did he overcome this threat?
2) Describe the events that led to the Tiger King's death.
3) How did the Maharaja kill the hundredth tiger?
4) The title of the Maharaja reflected grandeur but his death was an anticlimax. Justify.
Value Based Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) The tiger king proved that - ‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. Today’s political order presents a similar picture. It is time to realize that authority and power should be used for the benefit of the masses. Write a speech on this theme.
2) The minions of the Tiger King were so scared of him that they obeyed him blindly. How important is to have a good council of ministers to support the government?
3) The fascination for everything English is brought out beautifully in the lesson ‘The Tiger King’ by Kalki. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is given an ‘English’ upbringing. How can love for one’s country be inculcated against all odds?

THE ENEMY

BY

PEARL S. BUCK

Synopsis
The story takes place in the background of the Word War II. Dr. Sadao, a Japanese surgeon discovers a wounded American soldier who was washed ashore on the beach near his house. The man was bleeding profusely and Sadao’s first instinct is to throw the man back into the sea. But the doctor in him refuses to let the man die and his professional ethics dictates that his duty is to save life no matter what his relation to the person. The nature of the wounds reveals that the man is an escaped prisoner of war which adds to the danger.
Hana, his wife, is initially reluctant to help the man because it was dangerous and risky for them to shelter the enemy in the house. But she assists her husband in operating and nursing the enemy soldier back to health despite her fear and dislike. The servants, who are unable to comprehend the logic behind their master giving shelter to an enemy, desert the house.
Though Japan was actively involved in the war and Sadao’s expertise as a surgeon was very much needed in the battlefield, he had not been sent with the troops as the General was in poor health and he trusted only Sadao to treat him. Sadao was very much aware of the General’s dependence on him. Sadao tells him about the enemy soldier but he does not take any action as he is self- absorbed and forgets his promise that he would send his private assassins to kill the enemy and remove his body. Taking advantage of the general’s self-absorption Sadao decides to save the soldier’s life. After the soldier has regained his health, Dr. Sadao helps him to escape from his house to the safety of a neighbouring island form where he could hail down a Korean fishing boat and escape.
Short Answer Questions (30 – 40 words – 3 marks)
1) Why was Dr Sadao not sent with the troops?
The General trusted only him to cure him from his ailment though the reason given was that Sadao was involved in a research that would render a wound completely germfree and hence he has been kept away from serving in the war to complete his research.
2) Do you agree that the servants where right in leaving their master’s house for sheltering the enemy soldier? Why /why not?
3) Why does Hana decide to help the prisoner?
4) What makes Hana conclude that the Japanese treat their prisoners cruelly despite their claims to the contrary?
5) What was the General’s plan to get rid of the prisoner?
6) Why did the General overlook the matter of the enemy soldier?
7) Why did Sadao choose the island as a safe place for sheltering Tom?
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8) What were the instructions given by Sadao to Tom regarding his stay in the island?
9) ‘‘But Sadao searching the spot of black in the twilight sea that night, had his reward’’. What was the reward?
10) Why is Sadao confident that the General is in the palm of his hands?
11) What message does “The Enemy” give?
12) Sadao keeps questioning his attitude towards the enemy throughout the course of the lesson. Why do you think he helped Tom in spite of the danger that was involved?
Long Answer Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) Compare the attitude of Sadao and Hana to that of the servants towards the enemy soldier.
2) How was the plan of the prisoner’s escape carried out in the story?
3) Do you agree with the doctor’s decision to help an enemy soldier? Why / why not?
4) The story deals with the dilemma of being a doctor and a human being. Justify.
5) Why is Sadao confident that the General is in the palm of his hands?
Value Based Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) Despite bias Sadao rises above his prejudices to save a person’s life. Why is it
important for us to become tolerant as a society?
2) Sadao’s servants refused to acknowledge or approve the help he rendered Tom. Hana and Sadao seem to be more willing to risk their safety to reach out to another human being in need. Explain the role that education plays in making us refined and tolerant.
3) Despite his fear and concern for his family, Sadao still stands firm and courageous in helping the prisoner. What part does courage have in helping a person stand by his convictions in times of threat?

SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY?

BY

JOHN UPDIKE

Synopsis
The chapter discusses the very sensitive issue of parental authority over their children and the right of the parent to make decisions for the children. Jo is a little girl of four years. She is listening to a bed time story being narrated by her father Jack.
The story always had the same basic pattern with an animal facing some problem and seeking the help of the wise owl who advises him to seek the help of the wizard to solve it. That particular day, Jo chooses a skunk. Roger skunk as he is called has a very foul smell and other animals refuse to play with him. So he visits the wizard who changes his foul smell to the smell of roses. Skunk’s mother is unhappy with it and takes him back to the wizard. She hits the wizard with her umbrella and asks him to restore the original smell. She wanted her son to keep his identity of a skunk and wanted his friends to accept him for himself. So the wizard changes him back to smell like a skunk.
After hearing the story, Jo refuses to accept the ending and wants her father to change it. She wants the wizard to hit the mother back. He should allow Roger to keep his smell of roses. But Jack refuses to change the ending. This raises the difficult moral question whether parents possess the right to impose their will on their children. She argues that acceptance from friends is more important than retaining the smell of a skunk and hence Roger should be allowed to make his own choices. Her father finds it difficult to answer her question. The story reveals the worldview of a little child to a difficult moral question and shows her mental or psychological thinking process.
Short Answer Questions (30 – 40 words – 3 marks)
1) What was the basic story line of Jack’s bedtime story?
2) How did the wizard help Roger Skunk?
3) How did Roger Skunk’s Mommy react when he went home smelling of roses?
4) What did the Skunk’s mother do to restore his old smell?
5) What changes do Jack notice in Jo in what he calls as her ‘reality phase’?
6) How does Jo want the story to end and why?
7) What is JO’s objection to Roger’s story?
Jo is unhappy that the Mommy is not at all concerned about Roger’s loneliness and humiliation owing to his bad smell.
8) Do you think Jack was right in refusing to concede to Jo’s wishes? Why / why not?
9) What does Jack wish to convey through the story of Roger skunk?
10) How is Jack’s childhood interspersed with that of Roger skunk’s story?
11) How does Jack assert his authority as a father over his daughter?
12) What is Jack’s attitude towards women in general?
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13) What is the significance of ‘half old tan’ half new ivory’?
Jack feels himself caught up in an ugly middle position between the child in him, who knows what it feels to be lonely and humiliated and his duty as an adult. He is caught between h new and the old world and hence the reference to the furniture as half old tan and half new ivory.
Long Answer Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) What issues does the story raise?
 Should parents impose their views on children
 Jack’s attitude towards women is a reflection of the biased opinion that exists in society
 Should the institution of marriage be treated as a cage
 Should parents take decisions on behalf of their children
 Is it right on the part of parents to ask for unquestioned compliance from children.
2) Justify the title of the story.
 The story raises issues regarding parental prejudices being foisted on children. Parents or elders are not always right whatever they say or do. Their actions are based on their personal experiences
 An adult’s perspective of life is different from that of a child
 The story depicts conflicting views of a child and a parent about the child’s future
 Roger knows his problems, gets a solution, and is happy but his mommy doesn’t understand him or his problems
 She wants Roger to grow like her, be like her, she hits the wizard for changing Roger.
 Jo wanted Roger’s mother to be hit by the wizard as she did bit care for her son’s feelings and hit the wizard for no reason.
 The reader is left with the choice whether to make the wizard hit the mommy or not.
3) Does the story depict martial tension? Give reasons.
Value Based Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) Jack is very influenced by his mother’s upbringing. It is universally acknowledged that ‘mother knows best’. Explain how placing trust in one’s parents will be rewarding.
2) Roger Skunk’s mother finds the smell of roses detestable on her son, implying
that he should accept himself as he is. Adults as well as young people are often victims of misjudging issues, people and circumstances based on appearance. Is our an obsession with our external self not allowing us to appreciate our own true selves? Explain.
3) Jack wishes to help his wife but certain prejudice comes in the way of actually doing so. Analyse how preconceived notions about other people will often come in the way of evolving ourselves into better people.

ON THE FACE OF IT

BY

SUSAN HILL

Synopsis
The play narrates beautifully yet grimly the cheerless world of the physically impaired. Rather than the pain caused by the physical impairment, it is the society’s attitude that adds to the misery of the disabled.
Two physically impaired people, Mr. Lamb with a tin leg and Derry with a burnt face, strike a chord of friendship. Derry is described as a shy young boy who is withdrawn and defiant. One side of his face has been burned with acid and hence is repulsive to appearance. He enters Mr. Lamb’s garden by jumping over the wall to steal crab apples despite the gate being open. Mr. Lamb strikes up a conversation with him and in the course of it the reader is exposed to the numerous insecurities and negativity that are buried in the child.
People tell him various platitudes and inspiring stories to console him, but no one ever bothers to look deeper into the child to see the insecurities within. No one would bother to kiss him except his mother and that too on the other side of his face. Derry cannot reconcile himself to this as the gesture reveals that even his mother cannot tolerate his imperfection. He mentions about a woman telling that only a mother can love such a face.
Mr. Lamb revives the almost dead feelings of Derry towards life. He motivates him to think positive and attempts to change his mind set about people and things. How a man locked himself as he was scared - a picture fell off the wall and he got killed.
Everything appears to be the same but is different. He gives the example of weeds to show that everything has value despite what people tell about them. He tries to convince Derry that once people come to know the human being behind the burned face, the disfigurement would become insignificant. Derry is inspired and promises to come back. Derry’s mother stops him but he is adamant as he realizes that if he does not go now it would be never. When he comes back he sees Lamb lying on the ground. It is ironical that when he takes the first hesitant step toward life, he finds Mr. Lamb dead. In this way the play depicts the heart rendering life of physically disabled people with their loneliness, disappointment and alienation from the society. It also reflects on the need for more compassion and empathy towards the physically challenged.
Short Answer Questions (30 – 40 words – 3 marks)
1) Who is Derry? What is his opinion about himself?
2) Mr. Lamb says to Derry; ‘it’s all relative, beauty and the beast’, what does he mean by that?
3) What is the attitude of Mr. Lamb to the small boy who comes to his garden?
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4) How does Derry interpret his mother’s kissing him on the good side of his face? How does this add to his insecurities?
5) “I’m not afraid. People are afraid of me,” says Derry. How do people react to Derry’s disfigurement?
6) Do you think Mr. Lamb was equally lonely and dejected? Why / Why not?
7) What is the bond that unites old Mr. Lamb and Derry the young boy?
8) How does the old man inspire the small boy?
9) What did Derry’s mothers think of Mr. Lamb?
10) Why did Derry’s mother stop him from returning to Mr. Lamb?
11) Why does Derry return to Mr. Lamb in the end?
Long Answer Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) How does Lamb try to remove the hidden insecurities of Derry?
2) How does Mr. Lamb explain his concept of the world?
3) Comment on the moral value of the play.
4) Compare and contrast the characters of Mr. Lamb and Derry.
5) Comment on the title.
6) How were Derry’s and Mr. Lamb’s views different?
Value Based Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) Mr. Lamb’s character reflects positivity even in very harsh and trying circumstances. What are the qualities that we can learn from him?
2) Derry says “It’s not what you look like; it’s what you are inside.” What are the
qualities this sentence encourages people to have?
3) The lesson basically deals with society’s callous attitude towards the handicapped. How can we help them to get rid of their alienation and live a more productive life?

EVANS TRIES AN O-LEVEL

BY

COLIN DEXTER

Synopsis
James Rodriguez Evans is a kleptomaniac who has been imprisoned thrice and has escaped from the prison each time. Now he is in the prison for the 4th time. EvanS suddenly develops an interest to study German and wished to appear in O-level German Examination. The Governor takes utmost care to see that Evans would not make use of this opportunity to escape from prison. Every care is taken to make Evans prepared for the exam. He was tutored by a German tutor for 6 months. The tutor himself is aware that he has hardly any ‘chance of getting through.’ But Evans gives a twist to the tutor’s observation by saying “I may surprise everybody.” On the day of the exam Jackson and Stephens, the prison officers visit Evans’ cell to take away everything that may help him injure himself or someone else. Evans is asked to remove his hat but he refuses saying that it was lucky charm.
Evans’ cell is bugged so that the Governor could himself listen to each and every conversation in the cell. The invigilator Rev. S. McLeery too is searched and left to complete the task. Stephens keeping guard outside the cell is asked to peep into the cell at regular intervals to ensure that everything is alright. The exam goes on smoothly.
Stephens escorts the invigilator to the main gate. On his return when he looks into the cell, he finds the invigilator (actually Evans) wounded and bleeding profusely and informs the Governor. The latter is to be hospitalized but informs that he is alright and asks them to help him follow Evans who has left clues about his escape plan in the question paper . Thus he escaped the prison. Later the invigilator was not found in the hospital. Hence they went to the residence of Rev. S. McLeery only to find him ‘bound and gagged in his study’. He has been there, since 8.15 a.m. Now everything was clear to the Governor. Evans has escaped the prison the 4th time. But by taking the hint from the question paper the Governor reaches the hotel where Evans was and captures him and comes to know how he had planned his escape. Evans surrenders himself to the Governor. The Governor hands him over to the prison officer in the lobby of the hotel. The moment they are rid of the Governor, the so called prison officer - a friend of Evans - unlocks the handcuffs and asks the driver to move fast and Evans tells him to turn to Newbury. Evans, thus, has the last laugh.
Short Answer Questions (30 – 40 words – 3 marks)
1) What kind of a person was Evans?
2) What is the significance of Evans’ statement, ‘I may surprise everybody”?
3) Evans loves his long hair, yet he clips it short. Why?
4) Why did the Governor instruct Jackson to search McLeery?
5) How does Evans convince Jackson to allow him to wear his cap? What does this reveal about Evans’s character?
6) Why did Evans drape a blanket round his shoulder? What did Stephens think about it?
7) In spite of strict vigilance, how did Evans’ friend manage to get the material for disguise into the cell?
8) What different queries are made by the Secretary of the Examinations Board to the Governor before conducting the examination for Evans and why?
9) Who do you think made a call regarding a correction in the question paper? What did it really want to convey?
10) How did the Governor manage to reach Evans in the hotel?
11) Comment on the ending of the story.
Long Answer Question (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?
Value Based Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) The Governor paid heavily for his lapses in security. If he had weighed the probabilities of Evans’ escape he might have taken sufficient precautions. What qualities do you think will help one guard against such lapses?
2) ‘Evans the break’ was able to hoodwink the jail authorities including the Governor. It clearly shows that necessity is the mother of invention. What qualities are necessary to tackle difficult situations in life?

MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

Synopsis
Part – I - The Cutting of My Long Hair by Zitkala- Sa
The first part deals with the account of Simmons, An American Indian, who fought against the prejudices of the society against American Indians. She writes under the pseudonym Zitkala-Sa and describes her experiences on her first day at the Carlisle Indian School. The customs and rules of the place were strange and new to her. She was forced to wear clothes that were considered undignified in her culture as they were too tight for her and as a native American Indian she was used to wearing loose garments.
At breakfast, she was embarrassed as she did not know the routine of the place. Later on she comes to know that they were planning to cut her hair; she tries to avoid it by hiding under the bed, even though she knew it was futile. In her culture, both men and women had the custom of having long hair. The hair was cut only on two occasions –as a sign of mourning when someone in the community dies and as a sign of cowardice, the hair of prisoners who are caught are shingled. When she is dragged out from under the bed, she puts up a fight, but is soon subdued and is forced to suffer the indignity of her hair being cut.
PART – II – We too are Human Beings by Bama
The second part is an excerpt from the autobiography ‘Karukku’ by Bama, a Tamil Dalit lady. She was in her third grade when she becomes aware of the indignities that the lower caste people face. She happens to see an elderly person from her community degrade himself in front of a higher caste person as he was not supposed to touch the food that he was ordered to fetch for the landlord. She finds this incident funny and later on shares it with her brother. Her brother explains to her that the incident had no humour in it, but was indeed very pathetic. The people from the lower caste were treated as untouchables. She was deeply saddened and decided to study hard to overcome discriminations as advised by her brother as education can be a great leveller and removes all sorts of inequalities among people.
Short Answer Questions (30 – 40 words – 3 marks)
1) What were the indignities that the new girls from American Indian community were subjected to at Carlisle Indian School?
2) On learning that her long hair would be cut the author decided to struggle first. What does this tell us about her?
3) Why does the author rebel against her hair being cut?
4) Why did Zitkala-Sa start crying in the dining hall?
5) ‘Now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder!’ Explain.
6) Why did Bama take longer time to cover the distance to her home that would normally take only ten minutes?
7) What was the incident that made Bama laugh as well as feel so provoked and angry?
8) Bama’s brother’s timely guidance helped her to come out of the stigma of untouchability. Do you agree? Why / why not?
Long Answer Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) When and how did Bama come to know of the discrimination faced by the marginalized people?
2) Both Bama and Zitkala-Sa are victims of discrimination that is practiced in the society. What kind of experience did both of them go through?
3) What are the similarities in the lives of Bama and Zitkal though they belong to different countries?
Value Based Questions (125 – 150 words – 6 marks)
1) What reforms can be advocated in order to avert such cruelty like what Zitkala Sa and Bama experienced?
2) For people like Bama it is necessary to break the shackles that society burdens them with and come out triumphant. What should one possess /acquire to help one live without fear?
3) What values need to be instilled in individuals for the betterment and upliftment of the marginalized communities?