Poem-1

KEEP GOING
- Edgar Albert Guest
Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. The first one has
been answered as a model. (pg 4)

1. a) Keep Going is a classic inspirational poem, claim many critics.

Substantiate.

Ans:- Edgar Albert Guest is very popular as a people's poet. His poem,
Keep Going, is undoubtedly an inspirational poem of immeasurable value.
All through its twenty-four lines of rhymed verse, the poem keeps advising
the reader never to quit. With the help of convincing images and
commendable comparisons, the poem encourages the reader to keep on
the struggle till the goal is attained. It openly admits that life may be a
mixture of more pains and less pleasures. Yet, one must continue with
one's effort, though with intervals of rest, till success greets one with
smiles. The poem emphatically announces that the faint see goals afar and
the weak give up in the middle. It asserts that winners never quit. It is no
surprise that the world welcomes it as a classic inspirational poem.

2. Life is queer with its twists and turns, .... List a few twists as mentioned in
the poem.

Ans:- Sometimes when we think that something that we are doing is going
in the right direction, things can and will go wrong. We might find that
achieving something that we really want, is an uphill task. In some cases,
we may find ourselves low on funds and high in debt. The poem does warn
us that the path to success has many thorns and is therefore not a
cakewalk. It then mentions the above-listed twists and turns.
3. It may be near when it seems afar; What seems afar and why?
Ans:-The poet tells us that we can never tell how close we actually are to
achieving our goals, which may seem afar though it may be near. This is
because the path to success has many thorns, often with its own share of
twists and turns. When we encounter all these, we tend to feel that
whatever we want to achieve is too difficult or too distant a possibility

4. ‘An easy-to-read poem, Keep Going is rich both in its content and form.'
Explain the above statement with examples.

Ans:- ‘ Keep Going’ the highly inspirational and motivating poem by Edgar
Guest has unanimously, been acclaimed as a classic with each word
serving as a capsule of inspiration. The poem can dispel self-doubt and
lack of confidence in anyone instantly. This simple-sounding poem bears
the hallmark of Edgar Guest’s simple and easy-to-understand language, yet
is rich in content and form with its various metaphors, analogies, and
images to drive forth its message for the reader.
 POEM -2
Happiness
- Carl Sandburg

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. The first one has been
answered as a model. (pg 11)

a) Explain the narrator's experience in finding out what happiness is.

Answer: The poem Happiness, by Carl Sandburg, conveys a beautiful message. It is

extracted from his collection, Chicago Poems. The poem is an expression of the
narrator's search for what happiness is and his ultimate realization.

The narrator seeks to know what happiness is. He enquires with many professors but in
vain. Even the top executives are consulted, but to no avail. One Sunday afternoon, he
wanders along a river. He comes across a group of Hungarians, including women and
children. They are spending happy moments under a tree. He at once understands what
happiness is. Happiness is living in the present, feeling.... Happiness is not wealth or
success or fame.

b) Seeing helps one better in understanding than listening to. Justify the statement with
reference to the poem, Happiness.

Answer:- The poem Happiness is about the speaker's quest for the meaning of
happiness. He approaches learned people like professors and also top executives of
large businesses hoping to listen to their views on happiness. They seem to consider
his question irrelevant and think he is being silly. One Sunday afternoon, as the
speaker walks along the Desplaines river, he sees a group of Hungarian men, women,
and children sitting under a tree with a keg of beer and accordion. They are visibly
happy with whatever life offers them. This observation helps the speaker realize that it is
the little things of everyday life that contribute to real happiness.
 English I Year

Poem 3

The Beggar

- Dr. Ammangi Venugopal

-
I) Annotate the following in about 100 words each:

a) Have you sighted anyone

With shadows in his dusky eyes?

Refer to the annotation given in the text book

b) A food giver he is,

With ability to mitigate the sky’s hunger.

Introduction : The given lines are from the poem ‘The Beggar’ by Dr. Ammangi
Venugopal. The poem was translated into English by Elanaaga ( Dr. N.
Surendra).

Context: The poet, in these lines, impresses upon the reader the true identity
of the ‘beggar’ – a farmer and his infinite capacity to mitigate hunger.

Explanation: The poet highlights the ability of the farmer, after introducing
him in the preceding line and edifies him as one with an infinite capacity to
mitigate even the hunger of the sky. This does elevate the farmer to a powerful
status.

c) His stomach is full of infinite void

Introduction : The given lines are from the poem ‘The Beggar’ by Dr. Ammangi
Venugopal. The poem was translated into English by Elanaaga ( Dr. N.
Surendra).

Context: The line presents an ironic picture of the plight of the farmer who is
capable of mitigating even the hunger of the sky, yet is unable to find a morsel
of food for himself!
Explanation: The farmer is presented as “a food-giver, with the ability to
mitigate the sky’s hunger”, yet, is too impoverished to satisfy his own hunger
and therefore his stomach remains empty, almost always. The poet presents a
picture of irony with this line.

d) Have you seen a beggar…

Introduction : The given lines are from the poem ‘The Beggar’ by Dr. Ammangi
Venugopal. The poem was translated into English by Elanaaga ( Dr. N.
Surendra).

Context: The poet concludes the poem with these lines, which present a
pitiable picture of today’s farmer.

Explanation: After listing out the abilities of the farmer as a food-giver, the
poet presents a contrasting image of the farmer as a “beggar at our threshold”
in a pathetic condition despite his powerful capacity as a food giver to whom we
owe every hot meal, as the poet reminds us.

II) Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:

a) Refer to the answer in the text book

b) How does the poem, ‘The Beggar’ describe the farmer’s pathetic physical
condition?

Answer : The poem ‘The Beggar’ describes the pathetic physical condition of
the farmer in this way: their eyes are dark with shadows that speak of their
struggles and sufferings. Their backs are hunched or bent with burden. Their
hands are soiled and badly cut and bruised and their feet bleeding. Clearly,
this gives us a pitiable picture of the farmer.
c) List the abilities a farmer is endowed with, according to the poem.

Answer : The poem highlights the abilities of the farmer by describing him as a
food giver with the ability to mitigate even the sky’s hunger. The seeds he sows
sprout as if they were his hands.

d) The poet addresses the reader as ‘you’ and talks about the farmer as “my
farmer”. Explain the significance in a paragraph.

Answer : The poet addresses the reader in the vocative case in the poem,
namely as ‘you’ and ‘brother’, with an intention to connect with the reader, so
as to give us a feeling that he is communicating with us readers directly and
thus, expressing his views or feelings about the plight of the farmers to a ‘live’
audience. He refers to the farmer possessively, i.e., as my farmer; again with an
intention of connecting with the farmer and also expressing his support for
them. He is shown as one who champions the cause of the farmer in the state.
 Prose-1
Father, Dear Father
- Raj Kinger

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. The first one has
been answered as a model.

a) What does the boy think of his grandparents in his letter?

Ans:- Rahul is very much happy with his grandparents who enjoy life. He
says that his grandfather had a carefree and beautiful childhood. His
grandfather recollects how he enjoyed in the mango and guava gardens;
the picnics with mouth- watering food items and playing marbles and gilli
danda on the river banks. Rahul says that to his grandfather studies were
secondary and living and experiencing was the major subject. He asks his
father very innocently whether his grandfather is lying. Rahul's grandmother
is semi-literate. But Rahul says that she is happy with her kitchen work,
gardening and reading the Bhagavad Geeta and other holy books.

b) Write a paragraph on the present day education system as described

in Rahul’s letter.

Ans:- In Rahul's letter, we observe that the present-day education system

lays stress on securing marks and ranks. That is why Rahul mention in the
beginning that his first rank slipped to second. In his opinion, it provides
neither the time nor the facilities for reaction. What the biology teacher said
to Rahul tells us that theoretical learning is emphasized. Road learning is
the norm and most students do not understand the subject nor do they see
any long-term purpose in learning. Rahul also says that imagination and
creativity are not encouraged because the system is rigid and so narrows
down the learner’s ability to think logically and answer for themselves.
c). What is the attitude of the teachers towards learners as illustrated in
Father,dear Father?

Ans:-In his letter, Rahul writes that in the present system of education,
teachers focus on imparting only theoretical information to students. Road
learning is encouraged. There seems to be no correlation between what is
found in books and what happens in real life. Students are not encouraged
to think, imagine and be original. A lot of cramming of information is done
rather than actually understanding the concept and applying them to solve
real-world problems.

d) What is the significance of the postscript to the text in Father Dear

Father?

Ans:- In his letter to his father, Rahul writes a postscript in which he says
that his father will not see his anguished plea. From what he says in the
postscript, it is apparent that Rahul is disappointed with the present system
of education. As an intelligent and innovative student whose thinking and
cognitive abilities are excellent, he writes this long letter to throw light on
the loopholes in the present-day education system. The postscript also
aims at drawing the attention of parents and educators to the unnecessary
stress caused to students and also to modify the system to suit the needs
and interests of students.
 Prose 2
The Green Champion-Thimmakka
Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. The first one has
been answered as model.

a) All great things have humble, small beginning. Justify the statement
based on the life and work of Thimmakka.
Ans:- Thimakka was born poor. She was not educated. She worked as a
coolie. Her married life wasn’t happy because she could not become a
mother till she was forty. Her husband was very cooperative. The couple
Thimakka and Chikkaya started planting trees in their village in a stretch of
4 km. They planted 10 banyan saplings in the first year and increased the
number year after year. Now, there are around 400 banyan trees in the
area. They not only planted them but tended them to maturity. Apart from
banyan trees, she planted over 8000 other trees in over 80 years.
Thimakka received many awards including the Padmasri. Thus Thimakka
started her life and work in a humble manner, got name through her
tree-planting mission.

b) Why did Thimmakka and her husband decide to plant trees?

Describe how hard they to succeed in their mission.
Ans:- Thimakka and her husband Chikkaya, were both labourers with no
formal education. Even after many years into their marriage, the couple
could not beget children. At the age of 40, Thimakka wanted to end her life
as she could not conceive. However, the couple instead came up with the
idea of planting saplings and nurturing them as their own children. Thence,
what started off as a solution to a personal crises, soon became their life’s
mission. They started planting banyan trees along a stretch of 4 km on a
highway. They tended to the plants like their own children, not only planting
them but also fencing, watering and guarding them. To date, there have
been more than 8000 trees grown by the couple.
 c) Who is taking the nobal mission of Thimmakka forward and how?
Ans:- Thimakka’s noble mission of preserving the environment is being
taken forward by her foster son, Sri B N Umesh. He has been planting and
tending to trees along roads in schools, public places and also on
mountains and hilltops. All the more significantly, he is successfully running
the PRITHVI BACHAO movement, besides running his own nursery where
he distributes plants to farmers who are interested in growing plants.

d) Why was Thimmakka called Saalumarada?

Ans:- Thimakka’s outstanding work of planting trees has earned her the
name Saalumarada ( meaning ‘rows of trees’ in kannada) Thimakka. It is
for her altruism in this regard that she has even received many awards and
citations , which include the prestigious Padmasri award by the Indian
Government in 2019. To date there have been 8000 odd trees planted by
her and her husband.
English I Year
Prose 4
The First Four Minutes
Roger Bannister
I. Annotate the following in about 100 words each:
a) No one tried to persuade me…
Refer to the annotation given in the textbook on page 58. Follow
the format used here.

b) A voice shouting “Relax” penetrated into me above the noise of

the crowd.
Introduction: This line is taken from ‘The First Four Minutes’
written by Roger Bannister who was a medical professional and
an athlete.
Context: At the start of the race, when Bannister was still
worrying about the pace, the coach Stampfl said the given line.
Explanation: At one and a half laps, Bannister was worrying
whether he could make it to the finish line in record time. That
was when he heard a voice shouting “Relax”, which fell into his
ears strongly despite the noise of the Oxford crowd.
Unconsciously, Bannister obeyed, though at that time he didn’t
realize that it was Stampfl’s voice. It encouraged him and helped
him to such an extent that his mind seemed almost detached
from his body and he felt no strain.

c) The physical overdraft came only from greater will power.

Introduction: This line is taken from ‘The First Four Minutes’
written by Roger Bannister who was a medical professional and
an athlete.
Context: Bannister had only the last fifty yards to cover, and had
exhausted all his energy by then. It is in this context that he says
the given line.
Explanation: Bannister was running the race with mixed
feelings. When he turned down the last bend with only fifty yards
to go, his body had no energy left. At this crucial time, his
determination overpowered him and he got the physical overdraft
to cover the remaining distance. His mental strength and will
power propelled him towards victory.

d) No words could be invented for such supreme happiness,

eclipsing all other feelings.
Introduction: This line is taken from ‘The First Four Minutes’
written by Roger Bannister who was a medical professional and
an athlete.
 Context: Bannister was elated on winning the race and being
relieved of the burden of athletic ambition that he had been
carrying for many years.
Explanation: Bannister was in a state of absolute euphoria on
winning the race. All other feelings like pain and strain were
eclipsed by his joy in that historic moment. He wished he could
prolong those moments of success. Words could not express his
supreme happiness.

II. Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:

a) How did Roger Bannister feel in the first lap of the race?
Refer to the answer in the textbook on Page 59.

b) Why did Dr Bannister feel that the moment of the lifetime had
come?
Answer: Dr Bannister’s effort was barely perceptible till three-
quarters of a mile. Chataway was in the lead and Bannister knew
he had to run the last lap in 59 seconds. That was when he ran
past Chataway. Bannister had a moment of joy and anguish,
when his mind took over. It raced ahead of his body and pushed
him forward. As he experienced this, he felt that the moment of
his lifetime which he had eagerly been awaiting, had arrived. To
him, the world seemed to stand still, or did not exist. The only
reality was the next two hundred yards of the track.

c) What gave Dr Bannister strength in the final spurt?

Answer: As Dr Bannister ran the last lap, he realized that it was
his chance to do it supremely well. He drove on, inspired and
impelled by a combination of fear and pride. The air he breathed
filled him with the spirit of the track where he had run his first
race. The noise in his ears was that of the cheering Oxford crowd
whose hope and encouragement gave him greater strength. This
enabled him to turn the last bend and brace himself for the last
fifty yards.

d) Describe the feelings of Dr Bannister after the race was over.

Answer: When the race was over, Dr Bannister collapsed, almost
unconscious. As the results were announced, Bannister grabbed
Brasher and Chataway and ran round the track in a burst of
spontaneous joy. The thrill of winning was so great that all his
pain was forgotten and he wanted to prolong those precious
moments of victory. He felt gloriously free of the burden of athletic
ambition that he had been carrying for years. Bannister could not
describe his happiness in words and it eclipsed all other feelings.
He felt bewildered and overwhelmed at his historic achievement.
English I Year
Story 1
Playing the Game
Arthur Mee
I. Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:
a) Write a paragraph on how Alan…
Refer to the answer in the textbook on Page 80.

b) Narrate the feelings of Alan as he was not able to reach the

ground on time after meeting the old man on his way.
Answer: The old man whom Alan met on his way to the cricket
match asked Alan to see him home. Alan was conflicted as he did
not want to abandon the helpless old man, nor did he want to be
late for his match. The old man stumbled over a loose paving
stone and fell heavily on the ground. He then requested Alan not
to leave him. Alan reassured him that he would stay there until
help arrived. Then as the minutes almost seemed like hours, Alan
started staring anxiously up and down the road, wondering
whether he would be able to reach the school on time after
ensuring that someone took charge of the old man.

c) Helping the old is as good as playing the game. Elucidate with

reference to the story.
Answer: Alan stayed back to help the old man and missed his
chance to play in the cricket match. But at the end of the story,
Alan’s father was pleased with his son’s kind gesture towards the
old man. He knew that Alan had made the right choice even
though it was a difficult one for the young schoolboy. Alan was
not able to participate in the cricket match, but his father knew
he had played the game of life and won the gratitude and
appreciation of those around him. Alan’s father rewarded Alan
with the bicycle he had promised to buy for him. From this story,
we learn that showing concern for those in need, especially the
old, is as rewarding as playing the game.
English I Year
Story 2
The Five Boons of Life
Mark Twain

I. Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:

a) The young man feels that the five boons…

Refer to the answer in the textbook on Page 89.

b) Every time the youth chooses a gift, the fairy expresses her
dissatisfaction with her gestures. Comment.
Answer: The fairy in the story represents a supernatural being
who understands the consequences of poor choices. At first,
when she offers the five gifts to the young man, she asks him to
be very cautious and choose wisely. He chooses Pleasure first and
is soon disappointed. When he chooses Love, the fairy’s eyes are
filled with tears as it is not the right choice, but the man does not
realise it. Next, when the man chooses Fame, the fairy sighs and
goes away as she knows the man will soon be miserable and put
to shame. Still, the man doesn’t notice her reaction. Later, he
chooses Riches, but he is left unhappy and poor in no time. When
he finally realises that Pleasure, Love, Fame and Riches are
temporary disguises for Pain, Grief, Shame and Poverty, he is
weary and longs for rest. The fairy agrees with him but she is
unable to give him the gift of Death. Instead, he has to suffer in
his old age.

c) “The years have taught you wisdom… surely it must be so,”

remarks the fairy. Is she right? Explain.
Answer: From the five boons the fairy offered, the man chose
Pleasure first. It left him disappointed after a while. The second
gift he chose was Love. But after a few years, it left him unhappy
and desolate and he cursed Love. When the fairy came to him a
third time, she expected him to have turned wiser and learnt his
lesson after the bitter experiences he had had with Pleasure and
Love. She told him again to choose wisely as only one gift was
worthy from the three that were left. But the fairy was not right
in assuming that he had grown wiser with the passing of time.
The man once again made the wrong choice by choosing Fame.

d) What are the thoughts in the mind of the youth when he chooses
wealth? What is the result?
Answer: The man chooses Wealth after being disappointed with
the earlier gifts of Pleasure, Love and Fame. He describes wealth
as power. He decides to squander it and lead a lavish life. He
intends to make his enemies burn with envy. He declares that he
will enjoy all luxuries, all joys, all enchantments of the spirit and
all comforts for the body. He even feels that he will buy respect
with his wealth. The man also regrets not choosing wealth earlier
and enjoying every advantage money can buy. However, in three
short years, he loses his wealth and ends up a gaunt, hollow-eyed
poverty-stricken man, clothed in rags. He curses all the gifts he
had chosen as mockeries and gilded lies.
English I Year

Story 3

The Short Sighted Brothers

I) Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:

a) Is the title, “The Short-sighted Brothers” apt to the story? Explain.

Refer to the answer in the textbook

b) How did the three brothers try to outsmart one another?

Each of the three brothers intended to outsmart one another. When they heard
that the local monastery was putting up a tablet above its doorway inscribed a
saying, each planned to prove that his vision was better than that of his other
brothers in their greed to gain control over the family’s finances. So, they
secretly and separately enquired with the monk there as to what was inscribed
on the tablet the previous night itself so they could later pretend to one another
that they could clearly read all that was present on the tablet.

c) Were the three brothers successful in executing their tricks? Support your
answer.

Despite each knowing that he was short-sighted, all the three brothers were
greedy and dishonest by nature. Each only cared about his one-upmanship
over his other brothers. So, they all secretly and separately enquired with the
monk as to what was inscribed on the tablet to be put up at the local
monastery each thinking that he could fool his other brothers into believing
that his eyesight was better than theirs. But in the end, it turned out that all
the three fooled not only one another but also themselves, as on the next day
after each pretended that he could read and notice all that was inscribed on
the tablet, they were told that the tablet hadn’t even been put up yet!
d) Does the story “ The Short-sighted Brothers” support the wise saying,
‘Honesty is the best policy’? Discuss.

Yes, indeed, the story ‘The Short Sighted Brothers’ does support the saying. All
the three brothers knew that they were short sighted, yet they couldn’t control
their greed for money, in this case, the chance to handle the family finances.
So, they resorted to dishonesty with one another. Each brother tried to pretend
that his eyesight was better than that of the other brothers due to which he
was eligible to control the family money. Each of them stealthily went in
advance to enquire from the monk as to what the inscription and other details
on the tablet were. But while each of them pretended to read or notice what
was on the tablet, none of them realized that the tablet hadn’t even been put
up yet. Thus, their dishonesty let them fool themselves, not only one another.