Vol II English
Vol II English
Literal Comprehension:
This essay is written by Anuradha Chaudhary and she focuses on the consciousness of
environment and need of its conservation. As we are responsible for destroying nature
its conservation is also our responsibility. We should not destroy anything in nature,
they are not only for us; they are the gifts handed over to give or hand over our many
generations. But there is vast destruction of nature in the world but less effort for saving
and conserving nature. We think ecology and politics are closely linked although many
people do not see any link between them. As elections are held to select our
representatives, the representatives, whom we trust best, become ministers. So we
easily think that they make only good decisions always for all but our representatives or
ministers are wrong; they do just opposite; they think only their benefit, chair, party and
vote. Many people think that political leaders are trustworthy so, who trust them cannot
believe that they are irresponsible towards nature.
The decision of phasing out CFCs globally is a rational decision but the writer does not
think they are honest to the decision. They could stop the use of CFCs immediately and
use cheaper and harmless chemicals to substitute CFCs. But their decisions lack
implementation. By allowing people to use CFCs for some more times, we are causing
destruction to ourselves. Here the writer relates the science fiction “War with the Newts”
by Karel Capek. Where the newts are exceptionally clever water animals which could
give men pearls. Men gave them knives to keep themselves safe from sharks. Their
number increased so largely that they even went to the country to live and endangered
the existence of human beings. Like the newts we are destroying our own dwelling and
worsening our environment and air.
Interpretation:
We human being is considered the supreme creature of all the other many creatures in
the world; we think ourselves wise, witty, clever, intelligent, enthusiastic and responsible
creature. But, we are so sane that we destroy our own home and ourselves not only
other creatures. We think only inheritance of the natural things here and do whatever
thing we like. The essay also implies that human cannot make rational decisions.
Neither general people choose rational political leaders as their representatives nor do
the elected representatives make right decisions in time. Moreover, they are not honest
too. They are only worrying about the next election but not about the future of people
and other creatures. They know that CFCs are depleting ozone layer but are not doing
anything to stop the use of this harmful chemical. They make decisions but have no
courage and take no initiation of implementation. Thus, we are spoiling environment by
electing such leaders and they are spoiling the future of mankind.
Critical thinking:
Assimilation:
Reading literary tests is very beneficial. Literature gives not only pleasure or
entertainment but a vast knowledge about different fields. As I read this essay, I got a
lot of information from this essay. I knew about the ozone layer and its usefulness. I also
knew the bad sides of air conditioners and refrigerators. Before this I was careless of
these things; I would not feel anything while using AC and fridge, but now I feel I am
guilty of polluted nature when I use these appliances. I have seen many people
suffering from skin cancer, respiratory problems and other many diseases. This might
have been caused by the ultra violet rays of the sun and the depleted ozone layer. Now
I will try to convince all my relatives and families about these problems.
The poem “Don’t Cut Down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter” is composed by Nepali poet
Bal Krishna Sama. The main theme of the poem is about conservation of nature.
Specially, the poet argues that trees are very important in our lives and they need to be
protected. The poet considers the trees as our dead mother who are silent observers,
but they protect us from natural calamities. The poet personifies the tree. The tree is like
our mother that is around us and takes care of us. When we remember our childhood,
we find that most of the time we play around the tree. It gives us fruits and flowers as if
our mother cares us. Thus, no child is hungry. Their leafy lips kiss us and when they
feel tired, they sigh and weep. They never speak a word. They are able to tolerate and
their pains and grieves are only for our sake. They never complain.
Further, the poet says that in winter the family sits around the fire burnt from the wood,
and sing and talk. In the winter, the trees are covered with white frost that makes them
bow at us. Nevertheless, we are ignorant. We do not understand all the scarifies and
tolerance that the trees endure to sustain our lives. They silently and secretly pass the
cold nights dreaming of our happy and cheerful days we spent during our childhoods
under their guardianship. They also hear us singing the songs they had taught us. They
bless our laugher all the time. They always love us. But, they cannot express their inner
thoughts to us. It does not mean that they are lifeless, ignorant and thoughtless. They
wait for us until winter ends. As soon as spring arrives, they again spread out their arms
and appeal us not to cut off their arms.
Interpretation:
In this pro-environment poem, the poet is trying to be more concerned with the
pressing problems of deforestation and environmental degradation. He repeats the idea
of considering the earth and its plants as respectful and forgiving to us, the selfish
humans who ceaselessly fell down trees for fulfilling their present needs. The poet is
indirectly criticizing the human act of clearing the lands, thus, making the life of our
children and grandchildren insecure. The trees need to be saved for our future in case
the human species may become extinct.
Critical Thinking:
The poem “Don’t Cut Down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter” has contemporary message
to all the generation. Keeping the environment balance is the up most property for the
benefit of human beings. Some of the ideas presented in this poem are not common to
cover all sorts of ecological parts.
○ For instance, those who live in hot place do they find frost on the top of the trees
during winter?
○ How could the poet understand the feeling of the tree?
Assimilation:
After reading this poem, once I felt to think of our dense forest found in Terai belt.
There was “Charkose Jhadi” which was the great economic source of Nepal. Now we
do not find it. if the then government was alerted like the poet Sama even nowadays we
could find that dense forest. Thus, I appeal citizens and the government to conserve the
forest whatever is left for our future generation.
‘To Know A Fly’ is an essay based on scientific experiment written by Vincent Gaston
Dethier.He was (1915 – 1993) ,an American psychologist and entomologist.He was a
pioneer in the study of insect-plant interactions.It has presented the view that every
scientific experiment is to be carried out consciously and carefully because any
experiment carried randomly may not give appropriate and acceptable result. The
experiment always begins with act of faith over reality, cause and effect relationship,
discovery by reason, our senses. It continues with an observation and a question. The
scientist in fact alters the condition, observes a result and draws a conclusion.
Therefore a man willing to conduct an experiment needs to be careful and conscious
enough in this concern, since the most commonly committed scientific sin is the lack of
proper experimental control.
The text presents one example of carefully carried out experiment and the next the
randomly conducted experiment. Once a gentleman by cutting off flea’s hind legs draws
a conclusion that it hears from the hind legs since it couldn’t jump despite his order and
he had already tried by amputating other parts of it. Similarly the next man concluded
from his experiment that the intoxicating quality lies in glass not in water and even not in
other alcoholic substances like bourbon, rum, scotch, rye, and gin and so on since all
these substances were mixed with water. This kind of confusing correlation with cause
and effect gives rise to fallacy and scientific sin.
Finally, the text presents the extraordinary capacity of fly to test and identify the
sweetness in substance. This is the most fruitful experiment conducted through shrewd
observation. It extends out its proboscis and tastes the food item to ensure either it is
sweet or not. It is too much sensitive. It tastes the food through the proboscis.
Interpretation:
As a piece of scientific writing, the text is trying to present the importance of experiment
and alerts that one must be careful and conscious to carry out the experiment.
Otherwise, it harms more than it helps. Similarly, presenting an experiment on fly
informs the reader that nature has given every creature with own distinct qualities. In
this, it is useless to regard human as superior creature in the world.
Critical Thinking:
The text presents the ideas on scientific experiment and its importance. Naturally, one
must be conscious and careful but in every experiment such excessive consciousness
doesn’t work. Since many scientific discoveries are taking suddenly and in random
experiments. No scientist works being fixed on his invention.Whatever the discoveries
take place, it is sudden and strange.
Assimilation:
As I went through the story, it really impressed me. I used to think that experiment is just
to get the conclusion and they are easy. Everything is there and to experiment is to mix
the things and observe them carefully. But now I know that to perform experiment needs
a lot of care and knowledge. More than that, after reading it, I came to know and accept
the fact that nature has equally empowered its creatures with distinct qualities.
Literal Comprehension:
Once the king of England was quite jealous and suspicious of the prosperity of the
Abbot of Canterbury. So he thought that the abbot might make a conspiracy against his
throne. The king decided to get rid of him. So he called the abbot and asked three
nonsense questions on the condition that he would behead him if he failed to answer
the questions within fifteen days. The questions were: What is the exact price/value of
the king with his crown of gold on his head among the noblemen? How quickly he may
ride the whole world about? What does the king think at the moment? It made him too
sad. He tried his best to find the answer by consulting the professors visiting the
university but couldn’t. Finally, his own shepherd promised him to help him. So one day,
in order to answer the questions raised by the king, the shepherd changed himself as
the abbot and went to the palace. One by one he answered that the value of the king
was twenty nine pence less than the savior, for the second he responded that it takes a
whole day if he rose and ran in the speed of sun that rotates around the earth and for
the last, he responded that the king might be thinking that he was the abbot of
Canterbury but he was wrong because he was a simple shepherd to abbot.. Finally, the
disguised shepherd i.e. the abbot exposed all the truths. The king pardoned them and
Interpretation:
From the moral point of view, the poem is much impressive. Through the poem, the
poet proves that the bookish and formal education is not so much effective and useful to
solve the practical problems. On the one hand, it has a great lesson that people and
their knowledge shouldn’t be judged on the ground of their profession and appearance.
Thus the text has taught a great lesson that makes it clear that much is learnt through
their daily life activities than from the universities. So the so called ignorant ones in
Critical Thinking:
The poem seems to be much humorous and satirical. So far it imparts the idea of
human knowledge and wisdom, it is appropriate but in whatever way the King Abbot
and the Shepherd are presented, they don’t seem believable and convincing. Since the
king fails to recognize the shepherd changed as abbot. Similarly, the shepherd is
presented in such a way that doesn’t fit him to be more than that it mocks the formal
Reading this poem, I am too much impressed with the fact that only the formal
education doesn’t make people capable, rather they may learn many things from the
practical experiences too. Having seen in my village, I come to know that many old
people are capable of doing various things which other educated men don’t know. So
people can learn many things from their practical knowledge and experience.
Literal Comprehension:
Once the writer’s friend while visiting New York bought a painting thinking that it was by
Turner. He got it at cheap price since the seller was also confused about its originality.
With the painting he went to London and sold it at fifty pounds. He was so much happy
that he decided to share the profit with seller of New York. At first, he decided to share
fifty percent of his profit and wrote a letter but having no stamp, he went to his room.
Again at about 3 AM, he thought it quite inappropriate to share the profit but still thought
of sending ten pounds only. His thinking kept on changing and couldn’t sleep well.
Again. he thought of sending five pounds thinking that if he shared, the Goddess would
be angry and he thought it was he who knew the value of the painting. If he had known
it, he wouldn’t have given him at such cheap rate, so it is wrong to send him the profit.
Finally, he decided to send only a pound.Early in the morning, he went outside and
spent all his money in gambling. Finally, he concluded that buying and selling are
straightforward matter. Everyone in this matter tries to get benefit. The buyer once
paying to the goods has no obligation to the dealer.
Interpretation:
The story presenting the constant changing nature of human mind seems to be full of
humor and satire. Basically thinking with the nature of businessman’s mind it proves
that human mind can never be rigid and fixed. Especially in business their mind keeps
on changing. At another level, it sheds light on human earning since the earning as that
of writer’s friend has no meaning at all in life. The most important thing in the story is
that in business buying and selling are straight forward dealings. It has nothing to do
with human consideration, sympathy and faith. Once goods are sold or bought they
have nothing to do with them since then.
Critical Thinking:
The story offers a great deal of humor and satire. But in many respects, it doesn’t seem
appropriate and convincing. The first is: Does anyone want to share his profit? It is so
much unbelievable. Similarly, the seller of any good knows its quality and the cost. Does
any seller sell his good without knowing it?
Assimilation:
As I went through the story, it reminded me of my own events that I experienced earlier.
Once I had been to my village after a long time from the city. I had taken a beautiful
watch there. Everyone liked it, one of my friends promised to pay Rs 500 for it ,so I gave
it to him. I got Rs 300 as profit, and so I got extremely happy.
Literal Comprehension:
This story is an incomplete list of stories sketched by ‘Anton Chekhov.’ This story deals
with a mental person humors. In the story the narrator compares his life with a little
kitten. The writer of the story has made his uncle and little kitten as the main character
and Parsakova, the maid as a female character. The story begins with training the kitten
to kill the rats as they used to disturb the uncle sometimes by nibbling the top of hat and
sometimes by nibbling the corner of the grammar book. In course of training, the kitten
was unable to catch the mice as it was difficult for it to match with the speed of little
mice. The kitten was under strict environment of rules and regulation of narrator uncles.
Being several times failed in the uncle test and experiment, the uncle threw the little
kitten away. Years passed, the thin frail kitten had turned into a solid and sagacious tom
cat. On the way to his house, one day he saw the same cat which was still fail in its
mission which made uncle realize his wastage of his precious time that he spent on
training it. So does the narrator in the story never learn the Latin English grammar as it
was beyond his interest.
Interpretation :
The central idea of the story is that a creature cannot be trained forcefully. It is against
their will to learn. To learn anything, a person must have keen interest and early
eagerness. In course of time, it automatically get adjusted with the environment and be
practical to their duties and responsibility. No creature can adjust in a strict environment
as in the story too the little kitten was forced to catch the mice, which was beyond its
mental and physical ability. So, as the narrator in the story also couldn’t learn the Latin
grammar as it was beyond his interest.
Critical thinking:
This story reveals the fact that no one can be trained forcefully. It is a good and a
knowledgeable story but I am unsatisfied with some parts of it. Do any cars runs away
when they see a rat in reality? Is keeping a cat only the way to get rid of rat? How can a
teacher not understand the feeling of cat? It is possible to raise such question for the
reader like me.
Assimilation :
Before reading this story I used to think that a person can be trained with good skills,
physically and mentally. But after reading this story I came to know that nobody can go
beyond one’s interest. There are so many such things that creature adopt themselves in
the change of time from the nature. Such things are not to be taught by anyone.
The Clock Tower(Bhupi Sherchan (1936 – 1989))
Literal Comprehension:
The speaker in this poem describes the conduction of an old pensioner. The poem has
compared the old pensioned senior vet with clock tower, Ghantaghar. He is old,
rejected and has distributed all his things to his relatives. All his military equipments are
gone. The old pensioner has jealousy too; so, he has kept two souvenirs of his army
life. They are an old-modeled, large, round pocket watch and the ancient hat. The clock
tower is like a pensioned senior vet who is passing t=long and sand days of the old age.
It has a clock on its neck and a cap like the old vet on its head. It is standing forever on
the bank of Ghantaghar and it is brooding.
Interpretation:
The loneliness of the old man is powerfully presented through the image of the clock
tower symbolically. Like the clock tower which is old, neglected and waiting its end day,
the old man has also the same fate- old, rejected and dejected. The poem has revealed
the bitter reality of the old age. Ranipokhari was built by the king Pratap Malla in 1727
BS in the memory of his son. It was a token of consolation to his wife. Thus, by looking
at the lake the old man remembers his past and is mollifying (lessening) his suffering.
Critical Thinking:
Time is most powerfull thing. It turns a handsome man to an old and ugly person who
has nothing except memories. We all are victims of the time. The poem aptly points out
the power of time. The vet is sitting under the tower, time, which itself is the curse of for
human being. The poem has used the power of imagery in a powerful way. Without
stating the history of Ranipokhari it invites readers to know why the old man is looking at
the Ranipokhari, queen’s lake.
Assimilation:
In our life as well, when we grow older, nobody talks to us. We want to share our
experiences, but nobody would have time to listen us. Thus we lament and curse time
because it is time that changes us to an old and ugly things. We have to wait silently to
death. We cannot stop the passage of time, time is powerful than us. We have nothing
except lamenting on the bygone days. I met an old man in Pashupati area. He reported
all his grief within five minutes to an unknown like me.
Literal Comprehension:
Skepticism is found in everyday life. If we have to buy a used car we examining it even
if we do not have any ideas about the car. If we buy it without examining, we know that
we may have to be sorry for it. In some cases we use skepticism, but in politics and
commercials we do not use it. So we cheated a little. But if we do not use it in the case
of medicine we have we have to bear a great loss.
Interpretation:
If we study the whole history of mankind, we find that they have always accepted some
kind of popular belief system. The reason for this is that all human needs are never
fulfilled. These unfulfilled needs may be satisfied by these beliefs. It is natural for us to
have a desire to take our dead relatives. And we would be happy when we learn that
our spirit does not die and our existence will not come to an end forever.
Critical Thinking:
There are many channels who claim that they can contact with the spirit of a person
long- long ago. But these spirits do not answer any specific questions and they answer
only general and vague (unclear) questions. Their specific answer would have helps us
a lot to know about the society of the past.
Assimilation:
Literal Comprehension:
When the First World War ended, the writer ‘Somerset Maugham ‘ decided to go to
Japan from America by ship. It was very difficult to get a good seat in the ship. But he
managed to get in cabin seat in the ship. His cabin partner , max Kelada , was much
talkative. At first the writer thought that he was a Negro but later he came to know that
he was also an Englishman. However, he hated his chatty nature. He introduced with
everyone in the ship and conducted a lottery action. He said that he had good
knowledge of everything. So they called him ‘mr. know all’. Although alcohol was strictly
prohibited to carry, he uttered writer to have cocktail “mix wine”. Once the writer, Mr.
kelada, Mr and Mrs Ramsays got chanced to have dinner in the same table. Mr.
Ramsays was in the consular service posted at Kobe, Japan. He had spent one year in
alone in japan because his salary was very low. Now he had come to take his wife with
him. Mr. kelada said that he was going to japan to examine pearls. He saw a pearls
chain around mrs Ramsays neck and said that they were original. When Mr. Ramsays
told him to guess the price, he said that they could cost upto 30,000 dollars.but when
Mr. Ramsays said that they were false, he didn’t believe and they had bet of one
hundred dollars. When Mr. Kelada was going to check the pearls, Mrs ramsay looked
nervous. Although the pearls were original , Mr. kelada said that they were false to save
Mrs. Ramsays. The next day when she returned his money, the writer was surprised to
know the reality. He also know that Mr. kelada was really mr. know all. Then he began
Interpretation:
The writer may be trying to show humanity and nature of women. Outer cover can never
represents the inner reality. Although Mr. kelada is hated by all, he is proved to be the
best example of humanity. He became fool and lost money and prestige but he saved
the happy married life of Mr and Mrs Ramsay. This story also shows the duel character
of women.
Critical thinking:
Although this story gives the moral lesson. Some ideas of the writer are not convincing.
After reading this story we can ask some questions. If alcohol was not allowed to carry
how did Mr. kelada offer cocktail to the writer? Did Mr. kelada know everything? Then
Assimilation:
I am very much affected by this story. After reading this story, I know that we can’t judge
people from their appearance. This story also taught me that it is not easy to understand
the character and secrecy of women. Now I won’t believe in women easily.
Literal Comprehension:
This essay by Bertrand Russell providing multiple examples of mistake that people
generally commit in their day to day life. His main idea is to provide suggestions to avoid
the mistakes. We need careful, serious, critical and analytical mind to get rid of these
errors. This essay deals with the ideas of avoiding errors that happen in our daily life
situations. We can remove many foolish opinions by observing the related facts. When
observations are impossible, we have to compare our ideas with those of the others. If
there are evidence and knowledge, there will be no wrong understanding. Visiting
different places and observing societies of the world also helps us to purify your own
opinions. Knowing others idea makes us less dogmatic. If we have one-sided idea
about anything, we will not find out the truth, such situation, we will make our good
points more important. Fear and prejudice of different types create obstacles from
learning the truth or reality. So we should be very careful while doing any work. We
should not take as granted anything without proper observation.
Interpretation:
To do error is in human nature but to do mistake is not excusable. Human make errors
knowingly or having known about that error is not human. This is somewhat punishable
also. We cannot find truth without proper understanding. The essay tries to tell us why
human beings are unable to see the truth. They do not see the matter. They have
illusion that they know everything without knowing it properly. It says that we have some
mistakes generally we do not compare our idea with that of others. We unnecessarily
feel pride and ignore things. Therefore, we commit crimes or errors. This is human but
to do mistake knowingly cannot be human. There are solutions for errors but not the
knowingly committing mistakes.
Critical Thinking:
Russell gives very concrete idea about errors and their solutions. He says how and why
we do errors and how can we correct them. After reading this story I came to know and
have some questions. The essayist has presented a scientific way of thinking. By
comparing and contrasting, we can judge our own ideas. I agree with many things which
the essayist says but there are some questions in my mind. Who can remain without
doing any error? How can one know that it is error and this not? Can we change our
mind not to doing errors? Why people cannot find out the fact easily? How we can
compare such things to those of the others? What are the forms of the truth? How to
know that whose idea is right or wrong? Because of these reasons generally people
commit errors in life.
Assimilation:
Generally, we think right whatever we do. This essay gave me lots of ideas about errors
and their types as well as their remedies (solution). I started to realize my mistakes in
my life as I sometimes used to stubborn and think everything right. I started to honour
other’s ideas. I also came to know why people mistake while making ideas. A wise man
should look at the things from different sides. We should be comparative and
multidimensional perspectives should be used. I came to know that we can do errors in
every work every time but that is only found out after its proper judgment.
Literal Comprehension:
Mr. Newbold, a roomer in a mid western city in the USA, calls his landlady Mrs. Crosby.
He asked her not to let anyone open his room because as long as he lives there it is his
own room. Mrs. Crosby consoles him and he goes out. Then she calls-up her friend and
both of them enter his room out of curiosity. Mr.Newbold also came in, but hides himself
when the ladies came down stairs. Earlier the landlady supposed that he might be a spy
or a criminal or a lunatic or a communist. But now she has seen many beautiful hats in
his room. She holding a women’s large and graceful hat in her hand, then she find her
hat- making roomer quite unusual. His cleanness has also surprised her. After this
event she can not tolerate him and plane to send him out of her house. Mr. Newbold
weeps at his helplessness, when the lady goes in to her kitchen later he recovers and
takes a great hatpin in his hand and calls her with the intention of killing her.
Interpretation:
This play might be trying to tell us that we should try to live a normal life. Mr. Newbold,
being a man, was unusually neat and clean and he would not allow anyone to go into
his room. So the landlady was suspicious of him and went into his room secretly with
her friend. As result she was victimized. It may also be interpreted to mean that jealousy
Critical Thinking:
This play has beautifully presented how curiosity leads to destruction. But are all the
land ladies are as curious as Mrs.crosby and break into the tenant’s room? Are men as
coward as Mr. Newbold? Do they weep when they are helpless? Can such a coward
Assimilation:
When I read this play I came to know many things about human nature. It is human
weakness to have a desire to eat the forbidden apple. When the secrecy is disclosed, it
makes people more terrible. Human beings are never satisfied with their present
situation. The more they know, the more they are upset.
“To His Coy Mistress” is a beautiful love poem composed by Andrew Marvell, an
English poet, tries to woo his coy mistress to participate in the lust game in the prime of
youth and beauty. The poet has a shy beloved and she doesn’t become ready to fulfill
the poet’s desire. So, the poet says that if they had enough time, he would spend
hundreds of years to admire her youth and beauty. He would admire her eyes and
forehead for one hundred years. He would gaze and praise her each breasts for two
hundred years each. He would spend 30,000 years to see and admire the rest parts of
her body and finally, he would touch her heart. He says that she is so much praise-
worthy.
But the poet finds the winged chagrins not always hurrying near. Her youth and beauty
doesn’t always remain the same. One day she will reach her beauty marble grave.
There she’ll not hear the poet’s love song. Worms will try to destroy her long preserved
virginity. No one will embraces her shyness and participate to enjoy like two birds of
love. He also suggests her to swallow all the sweetness of youth being both of them a
ball. He also tells her the bitter reality that the sun also sets after rising.
Interpretation:
The poet may be trying to show the importance of romantic love at the prime of youth
and beauty. He says that life is brief and death is inevitable. Do, he suggests us to fulfill
our desire and enjoy life fully when we are young. He says that if we miss the enjoyment
of youth, our life will be absurd after death. That is why, he also tells her beloved to
Critical thinking:
This poem is beautiful, romantic and appealing. The poet persuades his beloved to
involve into romantic and productive love game. However, some ideas of the poet are
questionable. Should we be so lusty? Why doesn’t the beloved refuse the sex appeal?
Assimilation:
This poem impressed me a lot. After reading this poem, I came to realize that time is
limited and we are headings towards the grave. Also I understood that I have also
Literal Comprehension:
In this story Pranshu Pradhan has presented the bitter reality of Nepalese youths who
come to he town from their villages and the never like to go back to their village. They
dream to go to the foreign country where they think that there is heavenly pleasure and
Krishna a boy come to Kathmandu from his remote village and learned English
language. Then he started to work as a tourist guide to describe the historical places to
the tourists. In the beginning he used to go to his village at the time of Dashain. But
now, he completely forgot his village, Parents and even his wife. He demanded to go to
the foreign country as a foreign girl would marry with him and she would take him to her
country. He thought that his wife was the obstacle for his next marriage. He hoped for
the death of his wife because it would be the freedom for his plan. Unfortunately his wife
died and he got a telegram about the news of his wife’s death. He becomes happy and
though it was his wish fulfillment. Those, a friend come to express his condolence and
he just said “Thank You” for but he couldn’t because of the poor condition of his room.
One evening he suddenly remembered his past and the poor background. He also felt
that an Image of women came into his mind. The image was of his wife dead. He
realized his mistake that he become happy t the death of wife. He read the telegram
Interpretation:
This presents the bitter reality of Nepalese youths who come to town from their villages
and they never like to go back. They dream for the foreign country and though there is
heavenly pleasure there. But in reality there is also struggle. Krishna, the young boy
also dreams to get married with a foreigners and to go to the her country. But at last he
realized his reality and his dream was not fulfillment. It also shows that we should learn
Critical Thinking:
Many people think that their life, would be happy if they get go to in the foreign country.
But Pradhan has exaggerated. Some issues here in his chapter. How could a person
forget his wife completely? How could he be happy at the death of this wife? There is no
any evidence about that bad relationship between Krishna and his wife. Man can dream
Assimilation:
This story taught me the lesson that way the town is over crowded people like to come
to the town but they never like go to back to their villages. It also taught me the lesson
that dream may not be true for all the time. We should learn to live reality. We all have
ambition but over ambition are bad. We should not forget our past, background and
Literal comprehension:
Mr. James Duffy, a middle aged bachelor lives an adventure less life in the beginning.
But adventure comes when he meets Mrs. Emily Sinico by chance. They see each other
at concert and make appointments and finally he visits her regularly at her home. Their
friendship grows. He shares his intellectual life with her. She enjoys the break in her
solitude (loneliness) but one night she makes the mistake of catching of his hand
passionately and pressing it to her cheeks. He leaves her forever. But four years later,
Mr. Duffy reads in the paper of the lady’s death. She has been knocked down by a train
in a state of intoxication (drunkenness). Mr. Duffy’s first reaction is one of hatred at such
feels uneasy and after a fit at self-pity realizes the burden of loneliness.
Interpretation:
This story tells as about loveless. It describes two painful cases: a man who denies (say
“No”) love and a woman vainly search for it. It also tells us about loneliness. Lonely
people fail to communicate with each other. But they realize the value of love and
The writer has presented the extra married love in this story and laughed at the main
character because he refused such love. Living in the conservative Nepali society, we
agree with James Duffy, not with the writer. How can we accept the love between
married woman and a bachelor? How such a moralist did realized his mistake? How
Assimilation:
When I read this story I identified myself with Mrs. Sinico. I do not support her immoral
love if she really wanted it. But I support her desire for friendship. Life is really lonely
and hard to live if there is no one to love. In such a situation, one must have a friend.
Literal Comprehension:
Gurov saw Anna at Yalta, a seaside town. Both of them had arrived there for their
holiday. Anna’s husband was expected to join her there. But when he did not come
Gurov went to her hotel and made love with her. Anna was sorry for what she had done.
Then, Gurov consoled and both of them spent the day together, dining, lunching, and
visiting places. When Anna got a letter from her husband, she went back home. But she
told Gurov that she would never visit him. Gurov also went home in Moscow, but he did
could not forget Anna. He met her at the theater and she promised to come to Moscow.
After this, she would see him in Moscow once in every two or three months. Although
they were growing older, they felt that they loved each other more and more. But they
were forced to live separately. They were planning to live in the same city and see each
Interpretation:
This story might be trying to tell us that true love beginning when people become more
experienced and when they have cross the barrier of lust (passion). It may also be
interpreted to mean that human beings are puppets in the hand of fate. We do not know
whom we love and whom we marry. Anyway, this story stands as a remarkable proof of
Critical Thinking:
This story has beautifully presented the unlawful love of two married persons. Both of
them do not love their spouses. But plan to live in the same city seeing each other
openly. Will their plan be successful? Will their spouses accept their love? Should they
not be punished for their unlawful love? These are some of the question which arias in
Assimilation:
After reading this story I realize how important love is in human life. It is the only shelter
for human beings. Wealth and education do not makes one’s life complete if there is no
Literal Comprehension:
The poem “No Smoke from the Chimneys” is written by famous Nepali poet
Siddhicharan Shrestha (1912 – 1992) and translated by Michael Hutt into English. In
this poem the poet has expressed a freedom fighter as the speaker. The speaker tells
that he is busy wiping up blood from a broken head so that Death not to call him. The
people who are engaging in the protest against the monopolized political entity are
seriously injured, but they are not afraid. The people are not caring to food for freedom
and justice; they have no time for cooking. Therefore, nothing including the Lady’s
(Death’s) calling can stop the speaker’s advancing feet or distract him from taking part
in the protest.
Interpretation:
The speaker of this poem may be trying to express that freedom is more important than
food or fear of death. Therefore, people do not get diverted or stop when they once
have come out of their house to the streets. This poem is all about politics which
describes a time when the Nepalese people were fighting for democracy against the
Rana regime.
Critical Thinking:
While appreciating the speaker’s idea in poem, I did not like the name ‘Lady’ used for
death. In our society, the word ‘leady’ means nice and sincere women who deserve
respect and value. But the speaker of the poem has shown Death as a beautiful lady.
This isn’t quite matching. The title of the poem has unable to reflect the real mood of the
speaker.
Assimilation:
Now I know how the Nepalese people fought against the autocratic rule for the freedom.
The death could not discourage them from establishing democracy in the country.
Literal Comprehension:
Although young, the poet is very unhappy. There is no sign of happiness. There is only
pain. His corn field is full of weeds. He can hope unsuccessfully for better future. But
there is no sign of better life after waiting for such a long time. Although he is alive he
feels that his life has ended. People have heard his story, but nobody has spoken on his
behalf. As a young man he could live so many more years, but because of his execution
he has loosed everything in life. He is uncared and ignored. Death has followed him
from the womb and life has become merely a shade although he has everything
Interpretation:
This poem expresses the feeling of a healthy person who is going to be executed
young. The poet is living the remaining moment of life strongly. The oncoming death
has made him observe his whole life. He evaluates what life has given him. As his
Critical Thinking:
This poem has three stanzas. It is an elegy. It express controlled feeling. It is so well
expressed and natural and so skillfully composed that it is regarded as the little
masterpiece in literature. The music of the line is serious but not saddening. The
seriousness is emphasized by the repetition of the rhymed refrain as though the poet
were expecting the slow tolling of the bell announcing his heath.
Assimilation:
When I read this poem I identified myself with the poet. I felt vaguely what a young man
feels when he is sure to die. I realized that all my connecting with the world would be cut
Literal Comprehension:
One day the young athlete won the race sponsored by competing municipalities. After
his victory he was given a public procession and praised throughout the town. The
whole town proudly watched all this. Next year the young athlete is being carried
through the town once again, not for a victory, but for a memorial, along the same route,
but this time in a coffin. The home that the athlete is taken to today is his grave. The
athlete is praised for his timely death. The athlete is praise because he will know only
victory. He will never know how temporary fame is, nor will he feel the pain of fame
fading away. The young man will never know the pain of not winning in the same race
the next year, and he is always be remembered as a hero by the living. The death hero
can never see his record beaten. He is lucky not to be among those who live longer
than their achievements. He should be proud of his winning which he will take to the
grave with him. He will always be remembered for his success in life which was signified
Interpretation:
This poem might be trying to tell us that fame is more short-lived than the life itself. So
one should try one’s best to maintain be honour. It may also be interpreted to mean that
Critical Thinking:
The speaker has praise the athlete because he died when his name is at the top. But I
disagree with the speaker. I think that life is meant to be lived, not no die just for the
sake of honour. But, if the speaker is consoling the athlete to accept the sure death I
Assimilation:
By reading this poem I realized how certain death is. One has to die whether one is
young or old, whether one is famous or notorious. But it is better to die young than to
Literal Comprehension:
In a French village near the Spanish border, a lot of refugees had gathered. They all
wanted to cross the border and sail safely to the USA. If they were cut by the Gestapo,
the secret German police, they would be either impression or murdered. Among the
refugees were a young mother and her 4 years old daughter. They all met at the foot of
the mountain. A guide was leading them all. On the way the weakest old man said that
he was tired and unable to climb further, but he asked them to leave him there to die.
However the guide insists that the old man should keep on climbing with the child on his
shoulder until he died. After this two more old man said the same thing, and they also
had to carry the child. After they all had crossed the border safely the three old man felt
stronger a, freer and livelier than others
Interpretation:
This story might be trying to tell us that life is full of struggle and that those who worked
harder even at the critical moment are sure to get success. It may also be interpreted to
mean that success welcomes those who are never tired of hard labor.
Critical Thinking:
This short story has beautifully presented the great answer for the riddle of life. Norman
people worded hard but that work harder untiringly enjoy the fruit of hard work better. If
we read this story literally we may disagree with the writer. We wonder how the weakest
and oldest man can carry the child, when he himself is unable to word. But there are
many moment in our life when even young people like as feel like the three old men.
The only solution to our problem at such a moment is to do like the old man .
Assimilation:
This story brought a great change in my life. Now my philosophy of life has become to
work untiringly. There is no limitation of age for a hard worker. If hard work tries to
discourage as , we should do even harder work.
Literal Comprehension:
Once upon time, a man went in to the jungle and started penance to win supreme
knowledge and godhood. He conquered his flesh and mind and achieve a state of
unending meditative delight. Indra, the king of gods was afraid that the sage might
seized his throne through penance. Then he sent a beautiful nymph to destroyed the
sage’s penance. The attractor posture of he nymph in the river made the sage open his
eyes involuntarily. Then both of them married and led a domestic life. They help the
needy people in the village. But the villagers were suspicious of him and they always
blamed the woman for his downfall, but the sage had the same inner peace even when
he was leading the domestic life.
Interpretation:
This story might be trying to tell us that after you get supreme knowledge, it is not
necessary for you to live in the jungle, and that you will enjoy the same happiness
everywhere. It may also be interpreted to mean that to an enlightened person the joy
derive from any source is similar.
Critical Thinking:
For modern people this story is unacceptable from many point of view. Are god there in
the heaven? Are god so envious (jealous) of human beings? Are god so helpless that
they really need the help of ordinary human beings?
Assimilation:
This story reminded me the story of Vishwamitra and Menaka a nymph, had destroyed
the penance of the sage Vishwamitra and they had become the parents of Sakuntala. It
also convince me how powerful sexual passion is. It never dies. I have understood my
own passion better and tried to use it correctly.
Literal Comprehension:
This poem composed by Robert Frost, presents the scene of the speaker’s returning
home at dusk in his own house sleigh. He stops to enjoy the peace and solitude of the
occasion. The snow is falling softly. The woods are attractive. There is no other human
to break the silence. But the horse finds no reason for stopping. It is growing dark.
There is no house in sight and miles stretch before them. Reflecting on his horse’s
impatience, the speaker agrees that he should move on to keep the commitments he
In this poem, the poet feels the sense of death and life. Dark, evening, solitary place,
far from village or society give the sense of death. The poem tells us that we should do
our work and journey to go death. The poem tells us that we should do our work and
journey to go miles. Similarly, the poem also imparts us that although beauty and peace
of the world and our personal burdens may interrupt us from fulfilling our duty, we
should move on to fulfill our promises and responsibilities to humanity before we die. In
man should walk through the dark and nothingness, but he/she should not be attracted
towards temptation.
Critical Thinking:
This poem is a symbolic poem. Here the forest, snow etc symbolize the hardship of life.
And, the horse sleep means he has many responsibilities and duties in life to do before
he dies. This poem is very beautiful one. We can notice the rhyming pattern to mark its
beauty. Every third line of each stanza rhymes with other three lines of the following
stanzas. In the last stanza, the third line has the same rhyming pattern, which suggests
that there will be no new stanza, It shows that simple words make a beautiful poem. It
as a symbolic poem compares our life with the events of that evening. Like in our life
there are problems, hardship but we are compelled to go ahead without stopping. Here
the owner is the god because all things on the earth are created by god and he is the
owner of these things but he is unseen and far from here. We have many things to
Assimilation:
Generally, life and death poems by romantic poets are definitely interesting and
beautifully composed. The analogy between life and the worldly things is very much
lifelike. The poem reminds us that our life is very short but we have to do many things
before our death. This world of god is very beautiful and we can enjoy a lot because he
does nothing us; he has left for us. Like him, I also get a lot of inspiration from this
poem. When I feel sad and unable to do anything I read this poem. This poem gives me
a lesson of human life and responsibility. It makes us aware about our life and its length
as well as our duties to be done before death. Like the poet, I am very much conscious
Literal Comprehension:
This poem is composed by Parijat. Here, when the speaker sees the mind that chases
March away and the sum which climbs up the hill, she realizes the arrival of the New
Year. She can pre-assume that a New Year day has arrived by seeing the nightingale
New Year comes, we expect some new thing but the poet again describes the same old
thing. She sees the mason wasps returning lazily to their same old nests, which is in the
dark and dirty ceiling of her house. The arrival of New Year should have brought new
thing but the mind is busy in same old dreams. Seeing this, she feels to paint the nature
afresh.
Interpretation:
The poem brings reversal in expectation of the readers. The poem consists of 12 lives.
The first six lines describe the changes brought by the arrival of New Year. Then the
seventh line begins the contrast but the poem does not include any contrast rather it
describes the same old workings. The last two lines show the poet’s desire to rebel
against nature.
Critical thinking:
The poem teaches a lesson that life without changes has no value. All the routine works
are meaningless if there is no change. The poet enjoys the arrival of New Year; but,
soon she remembers all her works does not guarantee the changes and freshness in
life.
Assimilation:
I find the speaker pessimistic towards life. We should have determination. If there is no
change after our work and determination, we should understand that our work is not
sufficient to bring changes in life. We should take lesson from our part.
Literal Comprehension:
Tom Benecke did not go to the cinema with his wife. Because he wanted to prepare a
report for his boss to read at the weekend. This report was a path to reach the top in his
organization some time in the distant future. when he open the door for his wife to go, a
rush of wind drifted the yellow sheet of paper and it slipped out of the window on the
ledge of the eleventh story of the building in New York. This sheet was necessary to
prepare the report and it contented the material he had collected by spending two
month. Without thinking seriously, he opened the window forcefully and came out on the
narrow ledge. To get the paper he moved sideways along the ledge by holding onto the
projected bricks. When he bent down to pick up the paper, he saw the whole city bellow
and he almost fainted and fall down. After he picked it up he came back to the window
unknowingly. The window was closed and he could not open it. He asked for help, but
nobody cared. He could not wait for his wife to return. He had risked his life for a sheet
of paper. Finally he broke the window and came in. as he was going to his wife, the
Interpretation:
This story might be trying to tell us that ambition is the root of many troubles in life. If
people were satisfied with what they got in their life, they would be very-very happy. It
may also be interpreted to mean that happy family life is better than the roll of life.
Critical Thinking:
This story has clearly expressed the near-death experience of a person. But the
behavior of Tom is exaggerated. how can a person walk on the ledge of the eleventh
story? How sane is he? Does ambition make man so mad that he risks his life for such
an unimportant thing?
Assimilation:
By reading this story I came to know how dangerous ambition is. Although we may not
behave like Tom we ignore many risky moment in life. When we are in danger, we
realize our foolishness. But the moment we are out of danger,. We forget the risk. This
Literal Comprehension:
Elisabeth Kublor – Rose work with the dying people in the mid 60 ‘s. Before that time
the topic to death was banded. Now death has become a fashionable subject. Through
her best selling book ” on death and dying” she has alert a new way of handling dying.
She has suggested that the people should die in their own homes rather than in a
strange hospital. After working with the dying people for a long time, she has pointed
out five psychological stages people usually experience when they know that they are
going to die soon. These stages are denial, anger or rage, bargaining, depression and
acceptance. These reaction are not limited to dying but can take place with any change
or lost.
Interpretation:
The dying person denies or says “No” when he first knows that he is going to die. The
denial makes it easy for him to bear the force of death. At the unconscious level, a
person never believes that he will die. From their refusal he begins to hope. Kublor
Rose suggest that we should take about death with the patient and arrange to complete
Critical Thinking:
This passage has clearly expressed how the topic death has become a fashionable
subject. But The Behavior of dying person is at the unconscious level. This stages or
Assimilation:
When a patient stop denying, he begins to be angry. He is angry seeing other healthy
people. When his anger becomes less, he starts to bargaining with god. He wants to
become good if he is given some more time to live. After he has accepted his death
partially, he becomes depressed. He feels sorry for the past mistakes or incomplete
tasks. He want to passed time in isolation. Finally he accept death peacefully and he is
not worried about making his life longer. He settles everything. His own diseases also
does not worry him. He enjoy the present moment without thinking of the future. He
Literal Comprehension:
When the speaker lost her husband, someone suggest that she should go through the
five stage of grief. First of them was denial. She denied his absence and gave him the
toast and the paper at the breakfast table. But he hide behind the paper. Then she was
angry. Therefore she burned to the toast and took the paper from his hand forcefully
and start to read it herself. The third stage was bargaining. What could she exchange
for him? What would she gain if she remain silent after quarreling? Before she decided
she was depressed (sad). Their relation was poor and weak. Then she hope for
improvement but it was useless. Afterward she accepted his loss but she realize that
the matter did not end there. It start again because in conjugal life this kind of grief is a
repetitive.
Interpretation:
This poem might be trying to tell us that the relation between the husband and the wife
is always changing. They can not always live happily compromising with the reality. In
Critical Thinking:
Linda Pastan has clearly expressed the bitter experience of a married woman when her
relation with her husband becomes bad. This poem is in the form of prose. It sound like
drama. The speaker is addressing her husband and pouring her emotions. The poet has
When I read this poem I came to know more about the life of the married couple. They
have almost similar experiences everywhere in the world. This poem also reminded me
Literal Comprehension:
The poet imagines the perfect heaven. There people feel no fear and they are equally
respected and they can walk raising their heads. There people can get knowledge freely
without any disturbances. The world there is no divided into smaller countries by any
kind on narrow border line. People there will speak the truth and work untiringly until
they get perfection. There superstition and tradition do not block the region and people
always come to the logical conclusion. In such a world of freedom the poet wants god to
Interpretation:
This poem might be trying to tell us the value of reason, knowledge, freedom,
universality and honesty. The poet may be trying to create some kind of utopia, that is ,
an ideal and perfect place where everyone lives in harmony and everything is for the
best.
Critical Thinking:
This is a prose poem. It is read like a conversation. The poet is talking to the almighty
father. It may sound idealistic but it is the poet who can imagine a better world. This king
Assimilation:
This poem has thought be to live a fearless life. It has also inspired me to live a better
life. It has made me forget my present unhappy condition and imagine a utopian world.