Wind

By Kritija

 Introduction: 

We all know that wind is a natural occurrence. In this poem, the poet talks to the wind. He also describes the power of the wind. The poet says that the power of the wind is destructive.  The poet compares the destructive power of the wind to the adversities of life. He says that the weak people break down, but stronger people emerge out of adversities, stronger.  The poem gives an important message that we should be mentally tough and physically strong in order to survive the hardships of life. A weak person breaks down like a weak building and crumbles. We must make these destructive forces our friends, with our strength and determination. 

Literary devices:  

Rhyme scheme - Rhyme: A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in the final stressed syllables and any following syllables of two or more words.The entire poem is written in free verse. 

There is no rhyme scheme in the poem.

The literary devices used are as follows – 

i. Anaphora - Anaphora is the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines to create a sonic effect.

Lines 2, 3, 4 begin with ‘don’t’. 

Lines 6, 7, 8 begin with ‘you’.

ii. Personification – Personification is referring or representing a thing or abstraction as a person. In this poem, the wind has been personified. When the poet says ‘you are’, he is referring to wind as ‘you’ which means he is treating wind as a person.

 iii. Repetition - Repetition is the simple repeating of a word, within a short space of words to give emphasis. The word 'crumbling’ is repeated many times to lay emphasis. The poet wants to say that the wind crushes everything that is weak. That is why he repeats the word crumbling. 

 iv. Alliteration - Alliteration is the repetition of identical initial consonant sounds in successive or closely associated syllables within a group of words. In this poem, the repetition of a consonant sound in closely placed words. 

‘wind winnows’. 

‘won’t want’

 v. Symbolism - Symbolism is a literary device that uses symbols, be they words, people, marks, locations, or abstract ideas to represent something beyond the literal meaning. Here, 'wind is a symbol. It refers to the challenges in life. The poet is using wind as a symbol for the adversities in our life.

Summary:

The first part of the poem describes the action of the wind. The poet asks the wind to come softly. He requests the wind not to break the shutters of the windows, not to scatter the papers and throw down the books from the shelf. But the wind throws the books and tears the pages. The poet says that the wind makes a mockery of weaklings. The wind brings down frail houses, crumbling doors, rafters, and even weak hearts. It crushes everything that is weak.

The poet advises us to make friends with the wind. In order to be friends with the wind we have to be strong. Only then can we save ourselves from the wind. We have to build strong homes with sturdy doors. Our bodies and hearts must be strong. The world makes fun of weak people and makes friends of strong people. Just as the wind blows out the weak fires but makes the strong fires roar and flourish. Thus, the poem conveys the idea that nobody cares for the weak. Even the wind is on the side of the strong people. We must make ourselves strong to face the challenges in life.

 Questions and Answers

1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?

A. When the wind blows strongly, it destroys everything. It breaks the shutters of windows, scatters the papers, throws the books down from the shelves, and tears the pages. It also brings along rain.

 2. What does the poet say the wind god winnows?

A. The wind God winnows means that nature separates the weak things from the strong ones. Everything that is weak is tossed and blown away by the powerful wind. A winnower separates the grains of wheat from the chaff, similarly, the wind God separates the weak from the strong.

 3. What should we do to make friends with the wind?

A. We must make ourselves strong to face the violent wind. When we are strong, the wind will not harm us, instead, it will become a friend and help us to grow and flourish.

4. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?

A. The last four lines of the poem carry an important message that strong people emerge stronger and victorious in the face of adversities. We must make ourselves strong like a roaring fire that grows and flourishes in the violent wind. We should be strong and brave to face the challenges and flourish.

Wind poem translated into Telugu (to help better understanding)

గాలి 

గాలీ, నెమ్మది గా రా

కిటికీ తలుపులను విరిచేయకు

కాగితాలను చెల్లాచెదురు చేయకు

అరలలోని పుస్తకాలను పడవేయకు

చూడు నువ్వేం చేసావో - వాటన్నింటినీ కింద పడేసావు

పుస్తకాలలోని కాగితాలను చించేసావు

నువ్వు మళ్ళీ వర్షాన్ని తెచ్చావు

దుర్బలులని పరిహసించడం లో నువ్వు మేటివి

బాల హీనమై కూలుతున్న ఇళ్ళు, కూలుతున్న ద్వారాలు, కూలుతున్న వాసాలు

కూలుతున్న మానులు, కూలుతున్న శరీరాలు, రాలిపోతున్న  జీవితాలు,

పగులుతున్న గుండెలు  -

గాలి వీటన్నింటినీ చెరిగేసి పొడి చేసేస్తాడు

వాడు నువ్వు చెప్పినట్లు వినడు

అందుకనే రండి బలమైన ఇళ్ళని కడదాం

తలుపులను గట్టిగా బిగిద్దాం

దేహాన్ని దృఢ పరిచే సాధన చేద్దాం

గుండెని దిటవు గా చేద్దాం

ఇలా చేస్తే గాలి మన నేస్తమౌతాడు

గాలి బలహీన మైన మంటని ఊదేస్తాడు

బలమైన మంటల్ని ఎగ దోస్తాడు

అతనితో స్నేహం మంచిది

ప్రతి దినం అతనిని ప్రశంసిద్దాం 

పరిచయము:

గాలి అనేది ప్రకృతి సిద్ధమైన ఒక శక్తి అని మనందరికీ తెలుసు. ఈ కవితలో కవి గాలితో మాట్లాడుతాడు. కవి ఈ కవిత లో  గాలి గల బలాన్ని, శక్తిని వివరిస్తాడు. గాలి కి గల శక్తి వినాశకరమైనదని చెప్తూ, గాలి యొక్క విధ్వంసక శక్తిని కవి మానవ జీవితంలో ఎదురయ్యే కష్టాలతో పోల్చాడు. జీవితం లో బలహీనులు విచ్ఛిన్నమవుతారని, కానీ బలమైన వ్యక్తులు కష్టాల నుండి బయటపడతారని కవి అంటాడు. జీవితము లో ఎదురయ్యే కష్టాలను, ఒడిదుడుకులను తట్టుకుని నిలబడాలంటే మనం మానసికంగా దృఢం గా, శారీరకంగా బలంగా ఉండాలనే  ముఖ్యమైన సందేశాన్ని ఈ కవిత ఇస్తుంది. దుర్బలుడైన వ్యక్తి బలహీనమైన భవనంలా కూలిపోతాడు. మనకి తటస్థ పడే రక రకాల విధ్వంసక శక్తులను, ఇబ్బందులను మనము దృఢం గా తయారవడం వల్ల ఎదుర్కో గలుగు తాము. బలమైన శక్తులను మనము మన స్నేహితులుగా చేసుకోవాలి.

సారాంశము:

ఈ కవిత యొక్క మొదటి భాగం గాలి చేసే విచ్చిన్నకరమైన పనులను వివరిస్తుంది. గాలీ, నెమ్మది గా రా అని కవి కోరతాడు. గాలిని . కిటికీల షట్టర్లను బద్దలు కొట్టవద్దని, కాగితాలను చెల్లాచెదరు చేయవద్దని, పుస్తకాలను షెల్ఫ్ నుండి పడవేయవద్దని కవి  గాలిని అభ్యర్థిస్తాడు. కానీ గాలి కాగితాలను విసిరిపడేసి, పుస్తకాలలోని పేజీలను చింపేస్తాడు. గాలి బలహీను ల తో పరాచికాలు ఆడతాడు.   గాలి బలహీనమైన ఇళ్ళు, విరిగిపోతున్న తలుపులు, మానులు మరియు బలహీనమైన హృదయాలను ఛిన్నాభిన్నం చేస్తాడు. గాలి దుర్బలమైన ప్రతీ దానినీ పిండి చేసి పారేస్తాడు.

 కవి మనకి గాలితో స్నేహం చేయమని సలహా ఇస్తాడు. గాలితో స్నేహం కావాలంటే మనం బలంగా ఉండాలి. అప్పుడే మనం గాలి నుండి మనల్ని రక్షించుకోగలం. మేము ధృఢమైన తలుపులతో బలమైన గృహాలను నిర్మించాలి. మన శరీరాలు, హృదయాలు బలంగా ఉండాలి. ప్రపంచం బలహీనమైన వ్యక్తులను ఎగతాళి చేస్తుంది మరియు బలమైన వ్యక్తుల స్నేహితులను చేస్తుంది. గాలి బలహీనమైన మంటలను ఆర్పివేస్తుంది. కానీ  బలమైన మంటలు గాలి వల్ల ప్రజ్వలమై వృద్ధి చెందుతాయి.

బలహీనులను ఎవరూ పట్టించుకోరు, వారిని అందరూ అణచి వేస్తారు అనే భావన ను ఈ కవిత తెలియ చెబుతుంది. గాలి కూడా బలమైన వారి పక్షాన ఉంతాడు. జీవితంలో సవాళ్లను ఎదుర్కోవటానికి మనల్ని మనం బలోపేతంగా చేసుకోవాలి.

 ప్రాస (రైమ్ స్కీ మ్)

పదాల చివర ఒకే రకమైన ధ్వని ని కలిగివున్న పదాలను లైన్ చివర ఉపయోగించడం. 

ఈ కవిత లో ప్రాస ఉవయోగించబడలేదు. ఇది వచన కవిత (ఫ్రీ వెర్స్) గా వ్రాయబడింది. 

 ఈ కవిత లో ఉపయోగించబడిన కవితా అలంకారములు:

అనఫోరా:: ఇది ఒక రకమైన శబ్ధా లంకారము. వినసొంపుగా ఉండేలా ఒకేలా వినిపించే పదాలను దగ్గర దగ్గర గా ఉపయోగించే విధానాన్ని అనఫోరా అంటారు. 

లైనులు  2, 3, 4  ‘don’t’. తో మొదలు అవుతాయి 

లైనులు 6, 7, 8  ‘you’ తో మొదలు అవుతాయి 

 పర్సానిఫికేషన్: పర్సానిఫికేషన్  అనేది ఏదేని ఒక వస్తువును (పదార్ధము) లేదా విషయాన్ని గానీ ఒక వ్యక్తి గా చూపించడం లేదా సంబోధించడం.  ఈ కవితలో 'గాలి' వ్యక్తీకరించబడింది. కవి గాలి ని ఒక వ్యక్తి గా భావించి ఈ కవిత ను వ్రాసాడు. 

రిపిటీషన్: పునరావృతం అనేది ఒక పదాన్ని పదే పదే ఉపయోగించడం. ఒక భావాన్ని గాని, విషయాన్ని గాని మనసుకి హత్తుకు పోయేలా చెప్పడానికి రిపిటీషన్ ను కవులు వాడతారు. ఈ కవిత లో 'crumbling' అనే పదం చాలాసార్లు పునరావృతమవుతుంది. బలహీనమైన ప్రతిదాన్ని గాలి పిండి చేసేస్తుందని చేస్తుందని కవి చెప్పాలనుకుంటున్నాడు. అందుకే అతను ఈ పదాన్ని పదే పదే వాడాడు. 

ఎలిటరేషన్ - ఒకే రకమైన కాన్సోనంట్  (హల్లు) ధ్వని గల పదాలను పదేపదే దగ్గర దగ్గర గా వాడడం.  ఈ కవితలో, దగ్గరగా వున్నపదాలలో w  యొక్క ధ్వని వాడబడింది.

‘wind winnows’.

 ‘won’t want’

సింబాలిజం - సింబాలిజం అనేది వ్యక్తులు, ప్రదేశాలు, విషయాలు  లేదా ఆలోచనలు ను సూచించే పదాలను వాటి అసలైన అర్ధాలకు మించి వేరే అర్ధం లో సంకేతం, గుర్తు లేదా చిహ్నం గా వాడడం.. ఇక్కడ, 'గాలి ఒక చిహ్నం. ఇది జీవితంలో సవాళ్లను సూచిస్తుంది. కవి మన జీవితంలో ఎదురయ్యే కష్టాలకు చిహ్నంగా గాలిని ఉపయోగిస్తున్నాడు. 

Animals - Walt Whitman

 

About the Poet:

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) is a major figure in American poetry. He broke the tradition of rhymed and metrical poetry. He was famous for writing a revolutionary new kind of poetry which was not limited by rhyme or meter. It is called ‘free verse’. The poem ‘animals’ is an extract from ‘Song of Myself’ in his book, ‘Leaves of grass’.

Explanation:

I think I could turn and live with animals, they are

so placid and self-contained,

I stand and look at them long and long.

Meanings:

Placid: calm, peaceful, without worries

Contained: keep up control, to be under control

Literary Devices:

Assonance: use of vowel sound ‘I’ (I, think, I, live, with, animals)

Repetition: use of the word ‘long’

Anaphora: ‘I’ word used at the start of two consecutive lines

 They do not sweat and whine about their condition,

They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins, 

They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,

Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with

the mania of owning things,

Sweat: here it means complaining about something

Meanings:

Whine: cry

Sins: wrongdoing

Demented: mad, disturbed

Literary Devices:

Anaphora: use of repeated words at the beginning of two or more consecutive lines (use of “they do not”)

Metaphor:  sweat and whine refer to the cries and complaints of human beings.

Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that

lived thousands of years ago,

Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.

So they show their relations to me and I accept them,

They bring me tokens of myself, they evince

them plainly in their possession

Meanings:

Kneels: bow down

Evince: show, reveal

Possession: ownership of something

Tokens: here, the qualities

Literary Devices:

Metaphor: The inner qualities of humans are referred to as tokens

I wonder where they get those tokens,

Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop them?

Meanings:

Negligently: Carelessly

Rhyme Scheme:

There is no rhyme scheme followed in the poem. The poem is written as a ‘free verse’.

Textual Questions and Answers:

1. Notice the use of the word ‘turn’ in the first line, “I think I could turn and live with animals…” What is the poet turning from?

The poet wants to turn away from living in the world of human beings. He finds animals more placid and self-contained and therefore, he wants to live with them.

2. Mention three things that humans do and animals don’t?

These are the three things that humans do and animals don’t:

Humans complain and cry about the miseries and sorrows they face.

Humans lie awake in the night thinking about their wrongdoings.

Humans talk about their duties towards God.

3. Do humans kneel to other humans who lived thousands of years ago? Discuss this in groups?

Yes, humans kneel to other humans who lived thousands of years ago. They could be some ancestors, saints or the preachers. Humans follow their dead as per their religion and beliefs. They worship and follow their dead people.

4. What are the ‘tokens’ that the poet says he may have dropped long ago, and which the animals have kept for him? Discuss this in class. (Hint: Whitman belongs to the Romantic tradition that includes Rousseau and Wordsworth, which holds that civilization has made humans false to their own true nature. What could be the basic aspects of our nature as living beings that humans choose to ignore or deny?)

The word tokens according to the poet is the good qualities in human beings. The poet feels that good qualities do not exist in human beings in the present day. The poet feels that humans have lost these tokens (desirable qualities like innocence, contentment, compassion, and so on) for the sake of materialistic things.

 

Animals

 Introduction:

God created humans and animals. God gave human beings a high position in his creation. Walt Whitman, the great American poet, believes animals are better than humans. The poet appreciates some qualities in animals which humans lack. He analyses animals and humans in his poem ‘Animals’.

Summary:

Walt Whitman is very fond of the company of animals. The poet desires to live among animals because according to him animals are calm and self-sufficient. They do not whine and weep about their condition. They are always satisfied. They do not worry about their duty towards God. Animals always express their true feelings such as love and respect for human beings. Animals spend a life of satisfaction and peace. They do not possess an obsession of owning things. They do not bow to other animals. They do not respect another animal of their kind which died long ago. All animals have equal respect and equal happiness.

Whereas humans are crazy about material things. Humans lie awake at night worrying about the mistakes they made. They cry for the sins that they have committed. They are afraid of God and bother about their duties towards God. Humans are never satisfied with what they have. They are never happy. The poet says that humans don’t have those qualities that animals possess such as signs of love, quietness, kindness, selflessness, honesty, patience, sympathy, etc. These qualities are absolutely essential for a happy life.

Animals do not possess any kind of falsehood. The poet is attracted by their good qualities. He feels that he had left all these good qualities long ago carelessly.  He wants to get these qualities again.  So, he desires to turn away from living with other humans and live in the company of animals.  

Theme:

In the poem ‘Animals’, the poet Walt Whitman admires the animals for being better than human beings. He praises them also for possessing all such qualities that humans lack or have forgotten.

Footprints without Feet

 

Introduction:

“Footprints without Feet’ is written by H.G. Wells. It is a story about a scientist who finds a rare drug to become invisible. How does he use his discovery? For the benefit of society or for the benefit of himself?

About the author:

Herbert George Wells, also known as H.G. Wells, was a renowned British author who is famous for his science fiction works such as ‘The Time Machine’ and ‘The War of the Worlds’. H. G. Wells is aptly called the father of science fiction. He was born on September 21, 1866, and died on August 13, 1946.  

Summary:

The story takes off when the two boys come across fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet in the middle of London. These footprints belonged to a scientist who had just discovered how to make the human body transparent. The scientist called Griffin had carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. He swallowed some rare drugs and became completely invisible. Though he was a brilliant scientist, Griffin did not follow the law. He had escaped after setting his landlord’s house on fire. Thus he became a homeless wanderer, without clothes, without money, and quite invisible - until he happened to step in some mud, and left footprints as he walked.

It was mid-winter in London, the air was bitterly cold and Griffin could not do without clothes. So, he decided to slip into a big London store for warmth. As soon as the doors were shut Griffin found enough clothing and food for himself without having to spend any money. But the next morning, he did not wake up before the arrival of the assistants. When he saw them, he panicked and began to run. The only way for Griffin to escape was by taking off his clothes. So, once more he found himself invisible but naked in the cold January air.

After this, he decided to get into a theatrical company to find clothes and also something that would hide the empty space above his shoulders. This was because when he was clothed, he looked like a headless man. He went to Drury Lane, the center of the theatre world. At a shop, he went upstairs and came out wearing bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, false nose, big bushy side-whiskers, and a large hat. And to escape without being seen, he attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him of all the money.

Because of the unsympathetic weather and the crowd of London, Griffins went to the village of Iping. There, he booked two rooms at a local inn. Although Mrs. Hall, the landlord’s wife, tried to be friendly with Griffin, he expressed no desire to talk. Griffin paid Mrs. Hall in advance with his stolen money. But, this did not last long and Griffin had to admit that he had no more ready cash. But, he pretended that he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment.

One morning, a clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study. They heard money being taken from the desk. The clergyman decided to confront the thief but, much to his surprise, the room was empty. Both of them searched thoroughly but they couldn’t see anybody.

Later, that morning, Mr and Mrs Hall, the landlords were much surprised to see Griffin’s door wide open. Most of the time, it was shut and locked. They took this opportunity to see what was going on. They saw that the clothes and bandages that the scientist always wore were lying about the room. Just then, Mrs. Hall felt a sniff close to her ear. The hat on the bedpost dashed into her face. Even the bedroom chair sprung up and struck her. The chair pushed them both out of the room and locked the door after them. Mrs. Hall was not aware that this was the handiwork of Griffin himself. She was totally convinced that the room and her furniture were haunted by spirits.

Along with this trouble supposedly caused by witchcraft, the news of the burglary at the clergyman’s home also spread. The strange scientist was suspected of being involved in this because he suddenly produced cash. The village constable was secretly sent for. Mrs. Hall confronted the scientist. The scientist being quick-tempered threw off the bandages, whiskers, spectacles, and the nose, to show her who was he.

People were horrified to see a headless man standing before them. Mr. Jaffers, the constable was also surprised to find that he had to arrest a man without a head. Nonetheless, he decided to arrest him. But, Griffins was a smart man. As the policeman tried to get hold of him, Griffin threw off one garment after another. Some people tried to help the policeman to arrest Griffin. But they were hit by blows that seemed to come from nowhere. In the end, Mr. Jaffers was knocked unconscious as he made a last attempt to hold on to the unseen scientist. Ultimately no one could catch hold of Griffin. He simply fled.

Meanings:

imprints: a mark or outline made by pressing something on to a softer substance

barefooted: wearing nothing on the feet

gazed: look at something or someone for a long time

remarkable: unusual or special

fascinated: extremely attracted

fainter: not very clear

bewildered: confused and uncertain

rare: an event, situation, or condition that does not occur very often

Lawless: someone who is not obedient to the laws

eject: force someone to leave a particular place

revenge: the action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands

bitterly: an extreme or particularly harsh degree

panicked: taken over by a sudden overwhelming fear

callously: unkind and cruel, behaviour or feeling

side-whiskers: facial hair that grows on the side of a man’s face in front of the ears

solitude: the situation of being alone

eccentric: strange and unusual behaviour

irritable: someone who gets annoyed very easily

grasped: quickly take something and hold it firmly

flung: to throw

poker: a metal rod with a handle, used for prodding and stirring an open fire

post: one of the four corner poles that support a bed

foremost: the most important or the best

slam: shut loudly and forcefully

hysterics: uncontrolled behaviour or crying, usually caused by extreme fear or sadness

moaned: a long, low sound of pain, suffering

magistrate: a person who acts as a judge in a law court that deals with crimes that are less serious

warrant: a document issued by a legal or government official authorizing the police to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some other action relating to the administration of justice

Character Sketch:

Griffin, the scientist is the lead character in the story ‘Footprints without Feet’. Though he had many great qualities, they are overshadowed by the many flaws in his character. Griffin was a man who had no conscience, was callous towards other people, and simply self-centered. He committed one brutal act after another, not because they were necessary for his survival, but simply because he enjoyed doing them. The way he looted the owner of a small costume shop spoke volumes about his inhumanity. He even terrorized the clergyman, Mr. Hall, his wife, and the police constable. All in all, Griffin was an eccentric scientist who had discovered a rare drug that could make him invisible. Griffin became invisible not for the welfare of the society but to satisfy his own ego and carry out satanic deeds.

Question and Answers

1. How did the invisible man first become visible?

The invisible man first became visible when he accidentally stepped into some mud and his footprints started becoming visible to two boys. The boys followed him until his footprints fainted and became invisible again. Thus, the invisible man got rid of them. He spent a night at a large London store where he wore some clothes and slept on a pile of quilts. The next morning, when he was still sleeping, the store assistants arrived and saw him. Then he was actually seen for the first time.

2. Why was he wandering the streets?

Griffin had burned down the house of his landlord who had tried to throw him out of the house. He was a lawless person. To save himself from being caught he removed all his clothes so that he could not be seen and thus, became a homeless wanderer. He did not have any money or clothing left with him.

3. Why does Mrs. Hall find the scientist eccentric?

Griffin had a weird appearance. He came to the village of Iping during the winter season. It was not common for anyone to visit Iping in winter. Though Mrs. Hall tried to be friendly with him he was rude to her. He told her that he didn’t want to be disturbed and the reason for his visit to the village of Iping was solitude. These were some of the reasons due to which Mrs. Hall considered him to be an eccentric scientist.

4. What curious episode occurs in the study?

The clergyman and his wife were awakened early one morning by noises in their study room. When the clergyman went to the study with a metal rod and looked around he could not find anyone. He even looked under the desk, behind the curtain and up the chimney but no one was seen. The strangest part was that even though nobody was there the desk was opened and money was missing from the drawer.

5. What other extraordinary things happen at the inn?

The landlord and his wife were surprised to see the doors of Griffin’s room open. They looked inside and found that nobody was inside the room and decided to investigate. They found it strange that the room’s door was open as they were kept shut always. Mrs. Hall heard a sniff and soon she was hit by Griffin’s hat on the face. Then the chair in the room charged towards Mrs. Hall and hit her.

As they both turned in terror, the chair pushed both of them out of the room and the door was slammed and suddenly a locking sound was heard. Mrs. Hall was scared and felt that the furniture was haunted by spirits and it was the stranger’s work. The nearby people started talking that some witchcraft was involved in the work.

I Think I Could Turn and Live with Animals

 

Poem Appreciation

1. Match the lines from the poem to what they suggest

Phrases/Lines from the poem	Suggested meaning
I stand and look at them long and long.	They are content with their life.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,	Animals don’t worry about their condition.
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,	They are not obsessed with material possessions.
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,	The poet is fascinated by them.
….demented with the mania of owning things,	Animals don’t worry about the mistakes they make.

 Answers:

Phrases/Lines from the poem	Suggested meaning
I stand and look at them long and long.	The poet is fascinated by them.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,	Animals don’t worry about their condition.
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,	Animals don’t worry about the mistakes they make.
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,	They are content with their life.
….demented with the mania of owning things,	They are not obsessed with material possessions.

 2. Answer the following questions.

a. What is the poet’s desire?

The poet wants to live with animals.

b. What are the qualities that endear animals to him?

Animals are placid and self-contained. They do not complain about their condition and they do not worry about the mistakes they make. They are not afraid of God. Every animal is happy and satisfied. They are all equal and they do not want to gather material things. These are the qualities of the animals that endear to the poet.

c. What vices in human beings does the poet notice?

Humans are easily worried and depend on others. They are not content with what they have and they are afraid of the sins they commit. They fear God and bow before fellow humans. They want to possess material things. No one is happy. These are the vices poet noticed in human beings.

d. How do the animals react to the poet?

Animals show their true feelings to the poet. They reveal their relations to him just as they relate.

e. What are the ‘tokens’ that the poet says he may have dropped long ago, and which animals have kept for themselves?

The ‘tokens’ that the poet refers in the poem are good qualities such as simplicity, innocence, and contentment.

f. What is the theme of the poem?

The poet, Walt Whitman wants human beings to have good qualities such as simplicity, innocence, and contentment. He says that animals have kept these qualities whereas humans have forgotten the good qualities.

g. What is the tone of the poet?

In this poem. the poet wants to live with animals as they have good qualities. His tone is regretful and longing.

A Truly Beautiful Mind - Questions and Answers

Thinking about the Text (Page 50)

Question 1.

Here are some headings for paragraphs in the text. Write the number(s) of the paragraph(s) for each title against the heading. The first one is done for you.

i. Einstein’s equation         [   9  ]

ii. Einstein meets his future wife [     ]

iii. The making of a violinist         [     ]

iv. Mileva and Einstein’s mother [     ]

v. A letter that launched the arms race [     ]

vi. A desk drawer full of ideas [     ]

vii. Marriage and divorce         [     ]

Answers: 

i. Einstein’s equation         [   9  ]

ii. Einstein meets his future wife [   7  ]

iii. The making of a violinist         [   3  ]

iv. Mileva and Einstein’s mother [  10 ]

v. A letter that launched the arms race [   15]

vi. A desk drawer full of ideas [  8   ]

vii. Marriage and divorce         [   11]

Question 2.

Who had these opinions about Einstein?

1. He was boring.

2. He was stupid and would never succeed in life.

3. He was a freak.

Answer:

1. His playmates.

2. His headmaster.

3. His mother.

Question 3.

Explain what the reasons for the following are:

1. Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good.

2. Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich.

3. Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally.

4. What do these tell you about Einstein?

Answers:

1. Einstein left the school in Munich because he did not like the discipline of the school. He hated the school’s regimentation and often clashed with teachers.

2. Albert’s parents moved to Milan and left their son with relatives. After prolonged discussion, Einstein got his wish to continue his education in German-speaking Switzerland. Actually, it was more liberal than Munich.

3. Einstein saw in Mileva Maric an ally against the “Philistines” - the people in his family and at the university with whom he was constantly at odds. He found that she was a “clever creature”. He wanted to mix science with tenderness.

4. We can say that Einstein liked freedom as he didn’t like the discipline of the school. He was capable of fulfilling his desires as he could convince his family and continue his education in German-speaking Switzerland. He had specific views on his life as he chose Mileva Maric, a Serbian girl who was elder to him, as his would-be wife. 

Question 4.

What did Einstein call his desk drawer at the patent office? Why?

Answer:

Einstein called his desk drawer at the patent office the “bureau of theoretical physics” because he kept all his writings of his theories in it. Einstein was actually developing his own ideas in secret and his drawer had all the evidence which could reveal the secret.

Question 5.

Why did Einstein write a letter to Franklin Roosevelt?

Answer:

With the emergence of Nazis in Germany, Einstein emigrated to the United States. It was known that the Nazis had the ability to develop and make an atomic bomb. Einstein was aware of its destructive power. A bomb could damage a large area. So he warned Franklin D. Roosevelt in his letter.

Question 6.

How did Einstein react to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Answer:

The atomic bomb devastated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was deeply shaken by the extent of the destruction and wrote a public missive to the United Nations. 

Question 7.

Why does the world remember Einstein as a ‘world citizen’?

Answer:

The world remembers Einstein as a ‘world citizen’ because he believed in universal peace. When there was the rat race for becoming atomic power, he was worried about the aftermath of the bomb. He was really a world citizen who was concerned with humanity. 

Question 8.

Here are some facts from Einstein’s life. Arrange them in chronological order.

[ ] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.

[ ] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

[ ] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb.

[ ] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.

[ ] Einstein’s family moves to Milan.

[ ] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.

[ ] Einstein joins a University in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.

[ ] Einstein dies.

[ ] He provides a new interpretation of gravity.

[ ] Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.

[ ] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.

[ ] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.

Answers:

[1] Einstein is bom in the German city of Ulm.

[2] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.

[3] Einstein’s family moves to Milan.

[4] Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.

[5] Einstein joins a University in Zurich where he meets Mileva.

[6] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.

[7] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.

[8] He provides a new interpretation of gravitation.

[9] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

[10] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.

[11] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb.

[12] Einstein dies.

Thinking about language (Page 51)

Question 1.

Here are some sentences from the story.

Choose the word from the brackets which can be substituted for the italicized words in the sentences.

1. A few years later, the marriage faltered, (failed, broke, became weak)

2. Einstein was constantly at odds with people at the university, (on bad terms, in disagreement, unhappy)

3. The newspapers proclaimed his work as “a scientific revolution”, (declared, praised, showed)

4. Einstein got ever more involved in politics, agitating for an end to the arms buildup. (campaigning, fighting, supporting)

5. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled that he left the school for good. (permanently, for his benefit, for a short time)

6. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar, (in a state of commotion, full of criticism, in a desperate state)

7. Science wasn’t the only thing that appealed to the dashing young man with the walrus mustache, (interested, challenged, worried)

Answers:

1. failed

2. in disagreement

3. declared

4. campaigning

5. permanently

6. in a state of commotion

7. interested.

Question 2.

1. ……………. the firefighters finally put out the fire. (They worked round the clock.)

2. She watched the sunset above the mountain, ……………. (She noticed the colours blending softly into one another.)

3. The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, ……………. (While it neighed continually.)

4. ……………. ,I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras. (I had taken the wrong train.)

5. ……………., I was desperate to get to the bathroom. (I had not bathed for two days)

6. The stone steps, ……………. needed to be replaced. (They were worn down).

7. The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans, ……………. (They asked him to send them his photograph.)

Answers:

1. Working round the clock the firefighters finally put out the fire.

2. She watched the sunset above the mountain, noticing the colours blending softly into one another.

3. The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, neighing continually.

4. Having taken the wrong train I found myself in Bangalore instead of Benaras.

5. Having not bathed for two days I was desperate to get to the bathroom.

6. The stone steps being worn down needed to be replaced.

7. The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans asking him to send them his photograph.

Writing newspaper reports (Page 53)

Write a newspaper report. Here are some notes which you could use to write a report.

21 August 2005—original handwritten manuscript of Albert Einstein unearthed— by student Rowdy Boeynik in the Univer¬sity of Netherlands—Boeynik researching papers—papers belonging to an old friend of Einstein—fingerprints of Einstein on these papers—16 page document dated 1924—Einstein’s work on this last theory—behavior of atoms at low temperature—now known as the Bose-Einstein condensation—the manuscript to be kept at Leyden University where Einstein got the Nobel Prize.

Question 1.

Write a report which has four paragraphs, one each on:

• what was unearthed?

• who unearthed it and when.

• what the document contained.

• where it will be kept.

Answer:

21 August 2005. Student Unearths Einstein Manuscript. An original handwritten Albert Einstein manuscript has been unearthed at the University of Netherlands.

A student named Rowdy Boeynik, who was researching the papers belonging to an old companion of Einstein had found a 16-page document dated 1924. The document had Einstein’s fingerprints on it. 

It contained Einstein’s work on his last theory about the behavior of atoms at low temperatures. The theory is known as ‘Bose-Einstein Condensation’ nowadays. 

The manuscript will be kept at Leyden University where Einstein got the Nobel Prize.

Elephants Raid the Kitchen

 

Reading 1

1. Based on your reading of the text, select the best option for each of the following.

a. ‘She stopped feeding, and rumbled gently.’ Tuskless ‘rumbled’

i. to signal other elephants to come.

ii. to scare humans away.

iii. to shake the bananas loose.

iv. to show reluctance to move out.

b. ‘Each elephant grabbed a last trunk full and started backing or turning away, reluctantly abandoning the banquet.’ The elephants left ‘reluctantly’ because

i. they were scared of the sound of the engine

ii. they wanted to look for more food jin the collapsed kitchen.

iii. there was no food in the forest.

iv. they had had their fill and it was difficult to move.

Answers:

1. a. i. to signal other elephants to come

1. b. ii.they wanted to look for more food in the collapsed kitchen.

2. Answer the following questions.

a. Who was Tuskless? How was she drawn to the camp?

Tuskless was a female elephant. She was drawn to the camp because of the smell of food items. She got the smell of bananas and she was very fond of bananas.

b. How did Tuskless developed a taste for bananas?

Once Tuskless was given overripe, almost fermented bananas at the camp’s feeding place. She ate them with great relish. From then onwards Tuskless developed a taste for bananas.

c. How did the elephants enter the kitchen?

Tuskless wrenched out the main sisal pole of the tent with her trunk. The other elephants pulled the other poles and the wire. Tuskless made a hole in the wall of the kitchen. She pushed the wall with her head. The kitchen collapsed. Thus the elephants entered the kitchen.

d. Getting the food out of the tent was not easy for Tuskless. Explain.

The food was stored at the other side of the kitchen. Tuskless had to push the kitchen wall with her head. The kitchen collapsed. Tuskless had to get food from the collapsed ktchen knocking down cupboards and breaking open the trunks. So, getting the food out of the tent was not easy for Tuskless.

e. What was ‘near ecstasy’ for the raiders?

The elephants found their favorite food all at one place in the kitchen. They enjoyed fruits, vegetables, bread, cookies and crackers. That was like a feast for them. The feast was ‘near ecstasy’ for the raiders.

f. What did the narrator first do on her arrival at the camp?

As soon as the narrator realized that the kitchen was raided by the elephants, she tried to chase them away. Once the elephants went away, the narrator went to the kitchen and found that the cooking gas was leaking out of the cylinder. She switched off the regulator and controlled the gas leakage, averting a fire accident.

g. Why did the narrator blame herself for the mess?

The narrator had gone out for eating without storing the food properly. The cook was on leave and so the food was not takes care of. The narrator blamed herself for the mess as she should have taken precautions to avoid the raid.

Reading 2

1. Camping in the forest is not without hazards. Bring this out with reference to the story.

There is a danger of animal attacks on the camps in the forest. Animals, especially elephants move in herds and raid the camps. They are attracted by the smell of food. Hence, camping in the forest is not without hazards like fire accidents.

2. What should have warned the narrator about the elephants’ intentions?

The narrator and her friends observed that Tuskless moving in the direction of the camp kitchen earlier on the same evening. They should have guessed the intentions of the elephants.

3. How does the author feel about the elephants - compassion or disgust? Give reasons.

The author felt compassion about the elephants. Though she was angry with the elephants for raiding the kitchen, she did not want the elephants to get hurt or injured.

4. What part of the narration did you like most? Why?

I like the part which describes about the elephants’ entry into the kitchen. They used their intelligence and removed the fencing and pushed down the kitchen wall. They could get their favorite food from the collapsed kitchen. This shows the teamwork of the elephants.

5. Which of these traits best describe Tuskless? Give reasons?

intelligent - greedy - fearless - caring - opportunistic - risk-taker -  patient - observant

You may write any one of the following:

Intelligent: I think this trait describes Tuskless the best. It is because she knows how to find the food and how to lead her herd towards the food.

Greedy: I think this trait describes Tuskless the best. It is because she didn’t stop eating even after she ate her favourite food, bananas. She went on to break open the trunks and pulled down cup boards for other food items like bread, cockies and crackers.

Fearless: I think this trait describes Tuskless the best. It is because she was not afraid of humans. Fearlessly she led her herd towards the kitchen.

Caring: I think this trait describes Tuskless the best. It is because she had taken her herd and let all other elephants enjoy the feast.

Opportunistc: I think this trait describes Tuskless the best. It is because Tuskless took the opportunity to raid the kitchen when there were no humans around.

Risk-taker: I can say that Tuskless is a risk-taker as she led her herd to the kitchen. She took the risk of damaging the fence and collapsing the kitchen.

Patient: I think this trait describes Tuskless the best. It is because Tuskless waited patiently till all the humans were gone from the camp to raid kitchen.

Observant: This trait suits Tuskless the best. She observed the surroundings and got the smell of food in the kitchen. She waited till all the humans were gone from the kitchen and raided the kitchen.

6. As Tuskless, write a page in your diary describing the feast.

Date     

Day

Time

Dear Diary,

Today, I am very lucky. I got the smell of ripened bananas from the camp kitchen while roaming nearby. I am very happy to know that the food I liked most is very near to me.

I waited for the opportunity to find a way to eat the food. The humans how are at the camp went away. I gave a signal to the other elephants in the herd that now we can go to kitchen and enjoy the food.

We went near the kitchen. There was a fence. We removed the fence with our trunks. We pushed the wall of the kitchen and the kitchen collapsed.

From the rubble, we ate the fruits and vegetables. We broke open the trunks and cupboards to steal food like bread, cookies and crackers. It was a great feast for us.

Sadly, the woman and her friends came and chased us away. We had to return to our places in the forest.

What a wonderful day I had!

Good night diary.

Vocabulary

Study the words in italics in the following sentences. Then, from the options given below, choose the words that could best replace them.

1. Tuskless, Teddy and the others began feeding around the periphery of the camp, apparently minding their own business and concentrating on eating.

    a. deceptively    b. obviously          c. consequently                d. disbelievingly

2. Tuskless liked the smell immediately, plucked one off the stalk, popped it in her mouth and savoured the sweet taste.

    a. admired          b. relished           c. smelled            d. liked

3. There was a tearing noise as the pole was wrenched away.

    a. picked              b. slid                c. blown               d. jerked

4. The tin trunk was lifted up and turned upside down and stepped on a bit a kicked about if necessary, until it disgorged its contents.

    a. finished           b. devoured                       c. retained          d. emptied

5. I can still close my eyes and vividly see that disastrous scene as I drove around the corner into the camp…

    a. horrifying            b. unsuccessful                 c. ruinous            d. unlucky

Answers:

1. a. deceptively

2. b. relished

3. d. jerked

4. d. emptied

5. a. horrifying