Unit - 4

SUPPLEMENTARY READER

Birth
I. Short Answers:

1. Who was Joe.Morgan? Why had he been waiting for Dr Andrew Manson?

Joe Morgan was a driller in Blaenelly, a mining town. He was a big, strong and heavy middle-
aged person. Joe and his wife Susan, who had been married nearly twenty years, were expecting
their first child. Joe was waiting for the doctor to help Susan in the delivery of the child.

2. Bring out the theme of the story ‘Birth'.

The story ‘Birth’ expresses the idea that a selfless deed done to save somebody is the most
satisfying thing in the world. Such a deed provides immense joy to the doer. Dr. Andrew who
saves the mother and her child forgets all his personal problems. The right call of duty is sure to
influence his whole future with a missionary deal.

3. What did Andrew notice when he entered Morgan’s house?

Andrew reached the house of Joe Morgan, at twelve. He found inside a narrow stair leading up
to a small bed room. The room was poorly furnished. It was lit by oil lamp. Andrew found Mrs.
Morgan’s mother waiting beside the patient. Mrs. Morgan's mother was a tall, grey haired
woman of nearly 70. An elderly mid- wife was also present there.

4. “Don’t fret, mother, I’ll not run away”. Why do you think Andrew say so?

Mrs Morgan’s mother offered to make a cup of tea for the doctor. The experienced woman had
realized that there must be a period of waiting. She was afraid that the doctor would leave^ the
case saying that he would return later.

5. What did Andrew think as he sat by the kitchen fire?

Andrew was thinking about Bramwell, Edward page and Denny who were unhappy because
their marriages were failures. His own encounter with his beloved, Christine made him conclude
that a marriage could only end in troubles. In fact, his thoughts at that time were confused and
muddled.

6. Why did a shiver of horror pass over Andrew?

Andrew had struggled for more than an hour to help Mrs Susan Morgan in the safe delivery of
her first child. At last, the child was born, but it was lifeless. As Andrew gazed at the still form of
the baby, a shiver of horror passed over him.

7. How did Andrew save the mother?

 Andrew smashed a glassed ampule and injected the medicine into the pulseless body of Susan
Morgan. Then he tried to revive her heart. When he found that her heart had strengthened he
turned towards the lifeless child.

8. In what state did Andrew find the newborn child? What did he conclude?

Andrew found the baby amongst wet newspapers under the bed. Its limp warm body was white
and soft. Its head lolled on the thin neck. The limbs seemed boneless. The whiteness over the
body meant suffocation caused by the lack of oxygen.

9. “ I have done something; oh, God! I l've done Something real at last”. Why does Andrew say
this? What does it mean?

These are the words of Andrew spoken after his long ordeal in giving life to a new born lifeless
child. Andrew spoken after his long ordeal in giving life to a new born lifeless child. Andrew
feels a rare sense of satisfaction at what he has done – a real, selfless act of giving life.
Everything else in this world seems to him pretty and falls in the face of such a noble deed.

II. Long Answers:

1. There lies a great difference between text book medicine and the world practising physician.
Discuss

There is always a great difference between theory and practice. The practising doctors often find
themselves to be quick and innovative. In the story ‘Birth’ Dr. Andrew also employs a special
method of respiration. He takes two basins one of hot water and the other of cold water. He dips
the newly born lifeless child into the icy water and then into the steaming bath, turn by turn. The
result is not apparent. The child comes to life when the doctor presses its chess with his hands for
some minutes. After having done the ‘real’ deed, he was a rare sense of fulfilment. Thus, it is
true that practising doctors often use methods which find no mention in text books. Life itself a
great teacher and a big laboratory.

2. How was Dr. Andrew able to put life into a lifeless, newly born child?

Susan Morgan was expecting her first child. Dr.Andrew had to give her the chloroform for the
delivery. The new born child was lifeless and the mother was in a desperate condition. The
doctor attended to the mother first, gave her an injection and worked to restore her. When she
was out of danger, he turned towards the child. He started an unusual method of respiration like a
crazy Juggler, he plunged the child alternatively into the cold and hot water. Then Andrew
rubbed the child with a rough towel. He used his hands to press the child’s chest frantically for
sometime. A miracle happened at last. The tiny chest gave a short heave, followed by heaves. A
bubble of mucus came from one tiny nostril, then came the child's cry. Andrew succeeded in
giving life to lifeless child at last.

3. Justify the title of the story " Birth”.

The title of the story ‘Birth’ is quite apt. The whole story focuses on the birth of a baby and its
consequences for all those connected with it. For the Morgans, the birth of their baby after 20
years of their marriage, is significant event. Both the Father and mother are eager to have a child
after a long wait. The birth of the baby becomes a challenge and an ordeal for Dr. Andrew.
When the Doctor notices the pathetic conditions of the mother and the nearly lifeless body of the
child, he is really disappointed. But he does not loose hope. First he saves the mother and then
turns to save the child. His efforts result in the miraculous survival of the child. The two ladies -
the mid wife and Mrs. Morgan's mother become happy. The midwife reacts with joyful sobs.
Mrs. Morgan’s mother shows her gratitude to God by her silent prayers. When the doctor leaves,
he feels that he had done something real at last. He rightly thinks that the night of this birth is
going to influence his whole future in Blaenelly. Thus, the title ‘Birth’ is really appropriate for
this story.

UNIT – 5

PROSE

SILK ROAD

Give reasons for the following statements.

1. The article has been titled 'Silk Road.'

The title of the article has been named on the historic silk road or routes. The network connected
the AfroEurasian landmass. It established trade of Chinese silk, spices, teas and porcelain, Indian
textiles, precious stones and pepper, and the Roman Empire's gold, silver, fine glassware, wine,
carpets and jewels. The road was named Silk Road largely because of the silk trade with China.
In the chapter the author travels to Mount Kailash, exploring the Himalayan belt in Tibet. Since
the author explored this region, the chapter is titled as Silk Road.

2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China's imperial courts.

Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China's imperial courts as hunting dogs. They were brought
along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet. They were huge black dogs used as
watchdogs. They explode into action like bullets. They are furious and fearless.

3. The author's experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.

Hor was a grim, miserable place. The dust and rocks were scattered everywhere in abundance;
there was little vegetation. The place seemed unfortunate and dejected, though it sat on the shore
of the Lake Manasarovar. The author was flabbergasted to realise the contrast in his experience
to that of the earlier read accounts. A Japanese monk, Ekai Kawaguchi, who had arrived there in
1990, was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. The hallowed waters had
a similar effect on Sven Hedin, a Swede who was not prone to sentimental outbursts. However,
for the author, when he reached Hor, first he had to get two punctures mended. The only
relaxation was the tea served by a Chinese youth in the only cafe in the town, which was
constructed from badly painted concrete and had three broken windows. The good view of the
lake through one of them helped to compensate however.

4. The author was disappointed with Darchen.

The author was disappointed with Darchen. The high altitude was giving him health problems.
He had a bad cold and was not able to sleep at night. Since he was one of the early arrivals there
weren't any pilgrims coming to the place. The place was dusty, partially derelict and punctuated
by heaps of rubble and refuse.

5. The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all.

The author was disappointed with Darchen. He also complained of bad health. Tsetan had left
for Lhasa. He was feeling rather lonely with no pilgrims around. It was then he met Norbu, a
Tibetan who too wanted to visit Kailash. They would be a good team as both of them were
academicians who had escaped from the library. The author started thinking positively and it
gave him some delight and a new enthusiasm.

Long Answer:

1. The narrator on his way to Mount Kailash came across a lot of topographic variation.
Comment.

The narrator and his companions took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route
that would take them southwest, almost directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing
several fairly high mountain passes. From the gently rising and failing hills of Ravu, the short cut
took them across vast open plains with nothing in them except a few gazelles that were grazing
in the arid pastures. Further ahead, the plains became more stony than grassy, and there a great
herd of wild ass came into view. Still ahead hills became steeper where solitary drokbas were
tending their flocks. This led them to the snow-capped mountains and then to the valley where
the river was wide and by and large clogged with ice. At a height of 5,51 5 metres, piles of
stones marked the landscape. Next was the plateau which was covered with salty desert area and
salty lakes that were remnants of the Tethys Ocean. Hor was next in line. It was a wretched place
with no vegetation just dust and rocks, liberally scattered with years of accumulated refuse.

POEM

FATHER TO SON
I. Extract:

1."I don’t understand this child………………..

was when small".

a)Who is the speaker here?

The father is the speaker here.

b)Who is the stranger in the house?

The stranger is the father.

c)What does the speaker long for?

The speaker longs for rapprochement with his son.

d) In what mood is the speaker?

He is in reflective mood.

2. "Yet have I killed the seed I spend………..

…….yet he loves I cannot share”.

a)Who is I here?

I here is the father.

b)What is the regret of the speaker?

The speakers’ regret is that both he and son behave like strangers.

3. “The seed | spent or sown it where……..

land is his and none of mine”?

a) what is the poetic device used?

Metaphor.

b) What does the expression "my design" here refers to?

It refers to the father's liking.

4."Silence surround us ………..shaping from

sorrow a news love”.

a)What does “Silence surrounds us" denote ?

It denotes emotional gap in their relationship.

b) what does “him prodigal” remind us of?

It reminds us of a parable.

c) what does the father desire ?

The father desires to forgive his son.

d) Which poetic device is used in the first line.

Alliteration is used in this extract

5. “Father and son we both must live....... something to forgive"

a)what is the father's problem?

The father's problem is that he fails to understand his son’s feelings.

b)How does the father feel at his son's altitude

He feels angry at his son's attitude.

c) Which poetic device is used in this line.

“We each put out an empty hand”.

Metaphor is used

II. Short Answers:

1.Does the poem talk of an exclusively personal experience or is it fairly universal?

The fathers experience in the poem is fairly universal The rift between the father and the son is
now a common experience. We call it a "generation gap’. The Father who belongs to a different
generation fails to understand and appreciate his son's values and ways of life that belong to
different times. Similarly, the son resents his father's efforts to impose his values on him. So both
become strangers living under the same roof, though at times both want to come together again
in the spirit of mutual love and trust.

2. What does the Father want?

The father wants to bridge the gap between him and his son. He wants to have a rapport with
him. He is ready to forgive his son if he returns to him and relents. He wants to share his love
and beliefs. He does not want that both of them should live like strangers under the same roof.

3.What is the irony of the situation?

The father recognises the fact that though his son has grown up as per his desires and directions,
even then he does not understand his son’s emotions.

4.What does the poet mean by ‘silence surrounds us'?

The father feels helpless as he has no dialogue with his son. They don’t understand each other
and they are living like strangers to each other in spite of their living under the same roof for
years. Their outlook and temperament are so different that they remain separated from each
other. They have a communication gap along with the generation, which causes the silence.
5. How is the father's helplessness brought out in the poem?

The father's helplessness is brought out quite clearly in this poem. He has brought up his son in
the way he wanted, but he is unable to understand his emotions.Though they have been living
under the same roof for many years together, yet they are strangers to each other.

III. Long Answers:

1. We speak like strangers, there is no sigh of understanding in the Air: Keeping in view these
words of a helpless and desperate Father, write a diary entry about the ideal Father-Son
relationship.

November 21, 2023

9: 30 P.M

I am highly moved by the father's helplessness brought out in the poem ‘Father to son'. I can
visualise the son's plight too. He can't be happy either. This kind of relationship is Pathetic - the
two persons living like strangers under one roof. I know one or two families in which father and
son are not on speaking terms. I think the problem arises when both the parties lack emotional
attachment and loose mutual affection and trust. A father should treat his son like a friend
especially when he is grow-up. He should try to understand his problems and try to solve them in
a friendly way. He should let him take his own decisions. Similarly, a son should try to respect
his father’s feelings. He should listen to him patiently. He must share his interests with him and
seek his guidance. He should not react angrily in haste. If both behave in mature manner there
can be no problem. They will enjoy a good relationship for years.

SUPPLEMENTARY

The Tale of Melon city

- Vikram Seth
I Short Answers:

1. What do the words "Just and placid? imply?

The words just and placid mean fair and mild. The king in the ballad is described as just and
placid. But in fact he is neither just nor placid. His sense of justice is absurd. He is ready to hang
any innocent person who often loses his cool even though he tries to remain calm and quiet.

2. What did the King proclaim and why?

He proclaimed that an arch over a thoroughfare should he constructed. He wanted to improve
the character of the spectators.

3. What mishap happened and why? How did the King react?
 When the king rode through arch, his crown tumbled down. The arch was built very low and
King was very tall. The king lost his cool and said it was disgrace. He commanded that the chief
of the builders should be hanged.

4. How did various person involved in the construction of the arch tried to exonerate themselves
by passing on blame to the others?
The chief of builders said that it was a fault of workmen. When the workmen were to be hanged,
they said the masons were responsible for the fault. The masons passed on the blame to the
architect. The architect in turn blamed the King himself for making amendments to his plans.

5. Who was put on the throne? why?

The ministers decided that the next man to pass the city gate would be asked to name the new
king. The man who passed the city gate was an idiot who loved only melons.To every question,
he used to say, 'a melon'. So, when he was asked as to who should be the king he said, ‘a melon’.
The ministers crowned a melon. Then they led the melon to the throne and set it down
respectfully. The whole incident is humorous.

6. How did the king lose his life?

When the King saw that the assembled people were clamouring for a hanging, he ordered that
any man who fitted the noose should be hanged. The noose was very high. The only man who
fitted it was the king himself because he was tall enough to reach it. Thus he was hanged.

7. What is the message of the poem?

The People are not bothered as to who is their king. They do not care even if the melon is their
king. They want no government interference in the growth of social and political institutions.
What they long for is the implementation of the theory ‘laissez faire’.

II. Long Answer:

1. How according to you, can peace and liberty be maintained in a state?
Various people advocate various means of maintaining peace and liberty in a state. Some
are in favour of dictatorship while others favour democracy. I think the best course lies in good
governance. Whatever is well-administered is most fruitful for the citizens as well as the rulers.
It ensures peace and liberty to the common man. A strong state, in itself, is safe against any
external threat. Dedicated rulers, enlightened citizens and proper law enforcing agencies can
establish peace and harmony in the state. Narrow considerations based on region, religion, caste
etc. should be discouraged because these are potent threat to internal security as they fuel
dissensions among the people. Free expression of opinions must be allowed but respect for law
and order be observed. People should be conscious of their privileges and rights as well as duties
and responsibilities. This is the only way to maintain peace and liberty.

2. What impression would you form of a state where the king was just and placid?
The State where the king was just and placid seems to be a backward region full of
ignorant fools and ruled by a whimsical king. The king considers himself to be the custodian of
people and gets an arch erected for their spiritual upliftment. The king’s word is a command and
unwritten law. The whole process of changing judgement on the appeals of the victims appears
as a mock-trial. The Ministers and Councillors seem to be selfish. They advise the king to serve
their own ends, though they appear to flatter the king and seem dedicated to the state. The
common people are uneducated and ignorant fools. They need mental as well as spiritual
upliftment. They are fun loving. In their quest for fun, they can cross all limits. If deprived of
fun, the unruly mob can rebel against the crown. They do not bother whether the king is a man or
a melon. They want their personal freedom, free business and peaceful lives.