For students of Class XII
Minimum Level of Learning (MLL) materials

MINIMUM LEVEL OF LEARNING MATERIALS

Sub : 301  ENGLISH CORE , Class XII

CHAPTERS FROM FLAMINGO

THE LAST LESSON

(Q.1) What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day?

 (Ans)  That particular day, Franz was expected to be prepared with 'participles' as M. Hamel, the French teacher, was going to question the students on this topic in grammar.

Q.2) What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

 (Ans)  Franz noticed a crowd in front of the bulletin board. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry to reach the school. Everything was still. There was no commotion that day and everything was as quiet as on a Sunday morning. Even M. Hamel was not annoyed when Franz walked into the classroom late.

(Q.3) Why were the old men of the village present in the classroom?

 (Ans)  The old men of the village were sitting in the classroom. Franz felt that they too, like him, were sorry for not having gone to school often. It was their way of thanking the teacher for his forty years of faithful service and showing their respect for the country that was no more theirs.

(Q.4) What was Hamel’s reaction when Franz could not answer his question in the class correctly?

(Ans)  Franz was scared of M. Hamel’s reaction when he was unable to answer the question. His heart started beating and he dared not look up. M. Hamel, instead, told Franz that he would not scold him. He blamed all Frenchmen for not knowing how to speak or write their own mother tongue.

           (Q.5) What announcement was made by M. Hamel in the classroom on the last day?

(ans) M Hamel announced that French language would no more be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new German teacher would take up classes the next day onwards.

            (Q.6) How did Franz react to the announcement made by M. Hamel?

            (ans) Franz felt sorry for not learning French language and blamed himself for                       postponing his learning of his mother tongue.

           (Q.7) What did M Hamel say about the French language?

(ans)  M Hamel said that French language was the most logical, clearest and the most beautiful language in the world.

           (Q.8) How was the last class of M Hamel different from the classes of other days?

(ans) On the last day he taught the lesson patiently and students listened attentively and carefully. Franz also could remember the lesson very   well.

LOST SPRING(STORIES OF STOLEN CHILDHOOD ) by Anees Jung

Q1.Where did Saheb’s family migrate from and why?

Ans. Saheb’s family  migrated from Dhaka , Bangladesh in 1971, because their fields and houses were destroyed by many storms.

Q2. What was Saheb’s full name? How was it ironical?

Ans. Saheb’s full name was Saheb-e-Alam. It was ironical because his name meant ‘Lord Of the Universe’  but in reality he was a ragpicker living in a perpetual state of poverty. He was so poor that he could not buy even a pair of shoes to wear.

Q3. Describe the pathetic conditions of the ragpickers of Seemapuri ?

Ans. The ragpickers of Seemapuri lived in mud structures with roofs of tin and tarpaulin and the place lacked all basic requirements like sewage drainage and running water.

Q4. What does garbage symbolize for the children and adults?         

Ans. Garbage for the elders was gold, a means of earning a livelihood or survival and for children it was something wrapped in wonder as they sometimes found ‘a ten rupee note’ or even ‘a silver coin’ in it.

Q5. Mention the hazards of working in glass bangle industries?

Ans. Workers of the bangle industries have to work near furnace in high temperature. They have to weld the pieces of bangles in a dark room so their eyes get used to the dark more than daylight. As a result they become blind before becoming adults.

Q6. What was the plight of Mukesh’s father?

Ans. Mukesh’s father started his career as a labourer  then  a bangle maker. He could not provide  his children with proper education and  roof over their heads. All he could do was to teach them the art of bangle making.

Q7. How are bangles important to Indian women?

Ans. Bangles are a symbol of Suhaag. As soon as a girl gets married she wears bangles all through her married life till death. Without bangles a woman is a symbol of widowhood.

Q8. Why was Saheb not happy working at the tea stall?

Ans. He was not happy working at the tea stall because he lost his freedom. Earlier he was a carefree boy working for himself. Now he was no more master of his own. He had to work under the instructions of the owner of the tea stall.

DEEP WATER   by William Douglas

Q. 1: Why did Douglas have an aversion to water?

Ans: Douglas had an aversion to water because when he was just about four years, he went to a                                      beach in California along with his father. As they were standing in the surf, a huge wave knocked him down and swept over him. This terrified him and since that day he had an aversion to water.

Q.2: What is the misadventure that William Douglas speaks about?

Ans: When Douglas was sitting by the side of YMCA swimming pool alone, a big bully aged about eighteen years picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the pool. Douglas nearly drowned in this misadventure.

Q.3: Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?

Ans: Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water as it followed him everywhere. It ruined his fishing trips, deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.

Q.4: How did Douglas’ instructor ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas?

Ans: The instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas piece by piece. For three months, he held him high on a rope attached to his belt. He went back and forth across the pool. The instructor taught him to put his face under water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale and strengthened his feet by kicking on the side of the pole. After seven months, the instructor told him to swim the length of the pool.

Q.5: How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered his terror of water?

Ans: Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock and swam two miles across the lake. Some doubts still remained. Then he went to Warm Lake and swam across to the other shore and back successfully thus ensuring that he conquered the old terror of water.

Q.6: What deep meaning did the conquering of fear have for Douglas? What lesson did he learnt?

Ans: Douglas felt that only those who have known stark terror and conquered it can appreciate it. He realized that in death, there is peace and there is terror only in the fear of death. He learnt the lesson that one must fight one’s fears and should never give up.

THE RATTRAP    BY – SELMA LAGERLOF

          Q1. Why does the peddler decide to avoid the highway after stealing the money           from the crofter’s house?

Answer: The peddler was wise enough to realize that the theft of the money would soon be discovered and there would be a search for him and the police would first try the highway. Therefore he decided to go through the woods.

          Q2. What was the peddler’s impression about the world?

Ans: The peddler thought that the whole world with all its richness was like a rattrap. The way a rat is tempted by a piece of cheese or pork set as a bait in the rattrap, a man is also tempted by different temptations like money etc. to touch and get trapped in the rattrap of the world.

          Q3. What does the ironmaster mistake the rattrap seller for?

Ans: The ironmaster mistakes the rattrap seller  as one of his old regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle.

          Q4. What special gift does the rattrap seller receive on Christmas?

Ans: On Christmas the rattrap seller receives as Christmas gift the suit which was given to him for wearing the day before.

           Q5. How much money did the peddler steal from the crofter’s house?

           Ans: The peddler stole thirty kronor.

           Q6. When exactly did the rattrap seller realize that he himself had entered the                rattrap seller of the world?

Ans: After stealing the money from the crofter’s house, the rattrap seller went through the jungle and by evening he lost his way inside the dense confusing jungle. In that point he realized that he had himself entered the rattrap of the world as he had allowed himself to be tempted by the thirty kronor.

           Q7. How did the crofter earn the thirty kronors?

Ans: The crofter had earned as much money as thirty kronor by selling the creamery obtained from the milk of the good cow which he owned.

           Q8. How did the rattrap seller spend the day of Christmas Eve in the                              ironmaster’s house?

Ans: The rattrap seller passed the whole day of Christmas Eve doing nothing but sleeping and eating.

           Q9. What did the packet which the peddler had left behind for Edla as his                      Christmas gift for her contain?

           Ans: The packet contained a small rattrap and three ten kronor notes and also a                    letter.

           Q10. What did The  Rattrap seller write in his letter to Edla?

Ans: He wrote that he did not want to embarrass her on that Christmas season. He requested her to hand over the money to the crofter and he also wrote that he was saved by her from the rattrap of the world by the treatment of a captain which she gave to him.

INDIGO by Louis Fischer

1 Who is Rajkumar Shukla?  What efforts did he make to take Gandhiji to Champaran?

Ans : Rajkumar Shukla was a poor, illiterate sharecropper from Champaran.  He wanted to take Gandhiji to Champaran to sort out the , Rajkumar Shukla was resolute and followed him to Lucknow, Cawnpore, Ahmedbad and Calcutta.  Impressed by his tenacity and story finally Gandhiji agreed to go with him.

2 What was the 15% agreement?

Ans : The Indians were only tenants of the British landlords in Champaran.  The landlords compelled them to plant 15% of their land with indigo compulsorily and surrender the entire harvest as rent.

3 Why did Gandhiji scold the lawyers?

Ans : Gandhiji scolded the lawyers for taking high fees from the Indian sharecroppers.  Besides, he felt that going to the law courts was of no use as the real relief for them was to be free from the fear of the British.

4 Describe the social reforms introduced by Gandhiji in Champaran villages.

Ans : Gandhiji noticed that the villages were very backward and that hygienic conditions were miserable.  So he opened primary schools and engage a doctor.  He worked hard towards social and economic reforms and enlisted the services of many volunteers including his wife and son.

5 How did Gandhiji teach his followers a lesson in self-reliance?

Ans : There was a suggestion to utilize the services of the English pacifist, a devoted follower of the Mahatma, Mr Charles Freer Andrews in fighting the Britishers.  But Gandhiji strongly opposed the idea and advised them to stand on their own legs and not get the help of an Englishman.  In this way he taught them a lesson in self-reliance.

GOING PLACES     by   A.R BARTON

           Q1. How are Sophie and Jansie different from each other?

          Ans : Sophie is an escapist whereas Jansie is realistic. Sophie lives in fantasy and                 day dreaming while Jansie is sensible and practical.    

          Q2. What does Sophie want to become?

          Ans. Sophie dreams of becoming an actress, a manager,a Boutique owner or a                     fashion designer.

          Q3. How does Jansie discourage Sophie from her ambition?

Ans : Jansie discourages Sophie by saying that for starting anything new they needed money and experience. She reminded her that both of them were ear marked for biscuit factory.  

           Q4. How does the father react to Sophie’s claim of meeting Danny Casey?

           Ans : According to Sophie’s father it was another of her wild stories and very soon                she was going to invite a lot of trouble.  

           Q5. What was Sophie’s complaint against her brother?

Ans : Sophie thought that her brother was reserved and did not tell her anything about his city life and the attractive people he met there. 

           Q6. Why is Sophie jealous of her brother?

           Ans : Sophie  doubted that  her brother was enjoying a wonderful life and he never                revealed it to her. His silence increased her doubt.   .

POETRY SECTION (FLAMINGO)

MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX  by Kamala Das

(Q.1) but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,

all I did was smile and smile and smile…’

a)    Why did the poet say ‘see you soon, Amma’?

b)    Why did the poet smile and smile?

c)     ‘Smile and smile and smile’ is a poetic device. Identify it.

d) Amma is the fond way of addressing someone. Who is being addressed here?

(Ans) 

(a) The poet says this to reassure her mother that she would see her soon. After the pain, there is a mood of acceptance of reality.

(b) The poet tries to put up a brave front in order to hide her true feelings of pain at seeing the old and weak mother.

(c) It is repetition and is used to emphasize the tone of acceptance of the poet and the brave front she puts up.

(d) The poet’s mother. She addresses her as ‘Amma’ and reassures her that she would meet her again.

(Q.2) Driving from my parent’s

    home to Cochin last Friday

    morning, I saw my mother,

    beside me,

    doze, open mouthed, her face

    ashen like that

    of a corpse and realized with pain

    that she was as old as she looked and

    thought away…

a) Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?

b) What did the poet notice about her mother?

c) Why did her mother’s face look like that of a corpse?

d) Find words from the passage which mean

i) Sleep lightly

ii) Dead body

(Ans) 

(a) The poet was driving to the airport in Cochin. Her mother was sittingbesides her.

(b) The poet noticed that her mother was looking old, pale and weak. She had dozed off.

(c) She was old, pale and ashen. Since she had dozed off, with mouth open the poet felt she looked like a corpse in that condition.

(d) i) Dozed; ii) Corpse

(Q.3)  ….and

    looked but soon

    put that thought away, and

    looked out at young

    trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

    out of their homes

a) What did the poet realize? How did she feel?

b) What did she do then?

c) What did she see outside?

d) Find words from the passage which mean

i) Running fast

ii) Happy

(a) The poet realized that her mother too, was lost in some distant thoughts. It pained her to see that.

(b) She started looking out in order to divert her own attention to something else.

(c) She saw young trees moving fast as if they were sprinting and also saw young children happily running out of their homes to play.

(d) i) Sprinting; ii) Merry

(Q.4) ….but after the airport’s

    security check, standing a few yards

    away, I looked again at her, wan,

    pale

    as a late winter’s moon

a)    Name the poem and the poet.

b)    What did the poet do after the security check?

c)     Why did the poet compare her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon?

Find words from the extract which mean the same as

i) Colourless

ii) Faded yellowish

(Ans)  (a) The poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty six’ and the poet is ‘Kamala Das’.

(b) The poet stood a few yards away and looked at her mother’s face again

(c) The poet’s mother is old, frail and very pale like the moon in late winter. Hence, the comparison.

(d) i) Pale; ii) Wan

(Q.5) Why does the poet smile and what does she say while bidding goodbye to her mother?

 (Ans)  The poet smiles in order to put up a brave front so that her mother may not observe her pained and frightened look. She smiles in order to reassure her mother and says that she would soon see her again.

(Q.6) What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?

(Ans) The emotional pain and ache that the poet feels is due to the realization that her mother has gone old and has become frail and pale like a corpse. She fears that her mother would die soon.

(Q.7) Why are the young trees described as sprinting?

(Ans)  The young trees are personified in the poem. They seem to be running in the opposite direction when seen through the window of the moving car. The movement is juxtaposed with the expression on the mother’s face i.e. ashen like a corpse.

(Q.8) Why has the poet bought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?

(Ans)  The poet highlights the helplessness and frailty of old age with the help of contrasts. The mother dozes off mouth open, whereas the children spilling out of their homes signify movement and energy, which the old people are bereft off.

(Q.9) Why has the mother been compared to ‘late winter’s moon’?

 (Ans)  The mother has been compared to the late winter’s moon which is dull and shrouded. It symbolizes the ebbing of life. The moon brings to the poets mind night or the approaching end of life.

(Q.10) What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

(Ans)  The parting words ‘see you soon Amma’ are used by the poet to reassure the mother and to infuse optimism in the poet herself. Kamala Das accepts the reality yet keeps up the façade of smiling in order to put up a brave front. It requires a lot of effort and hence the poet has used the poetic device of repetition.

(Q.11) What childhood fears do you think the poet is referring to in the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty Six’?

(Ans)  The poet refers to the fears of a child has of losing a parent or getting lost somewhere and thus getting separated from them. The poet felt this kind of fear while looking at her mother’s aged and pale face. She was afraid that she might never see her again.

An Elementary School classroom in a Slum by Stephen Spender

1.How has the poet described the colour of the wall and why?

The colour-pale and creamy- not maintained well.

2.The poet presents two kinds of worlds. What are they?

That of the poor and the rich

3.Where does the poet see hope and relief?

When the children are allowed to come out of poor surroundings and exposed to the bright world

5.What does the poet mean by  ‘ let their tongue run naked into books?

Freedom of expression and a broad outlook on life.

6.Explain ‘open handed map, awarding the world its world’?

The children, be given opportunities to explore the world and reap its benefits

7. What is the theme of the poem?

Social injustice and class inequality

8] Who is the poet talking about in the poem? What is their condition?

About the slum children-poor, miserable,

9] What does the poet want for the children of the elementary school slum?

Wants  them to venture into the world of green fields.

10] Who can create history and what makes them do it?

            Educated and enlightened people with their power and strength.

Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda

Extracts:

1.            It would be an exotic moment

Without rush, without engines,

We would all be together

In a sudden strangeness.

(a)          Name the poem and the poem.                                                           1
Ans: The poem is Keeping Quiet and the poet is Pablo Neruda

(b)          What does the poet propose to do ?                                                   1
Ans : The poet proposes to count to twelve and wants everyone to keep still.

(c)          What will be an “exotic moment”? How?                                             1
Ans : It will be a moment of complete silence without rush and worry. It will be heavenly, blissful.

(d)          What does the poet want to achieve by this stillness?                        1
Ans : The poet wants to create a moment of quiet introspection by making everyone quiet and calm.

2.            What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity

Life is what it is about
I want no truck with death.

(a)          What does ‘total inactivity’ imply?                                                       1
Ans : Total inactivity refers to death. ( the freezing of all activities including the function of the brain.)

(b)          What does he comment on life?                                                         1
Ans : Life is an ongoing process. It should not be associated with death.

(c)          Explain : “I want no truck with death”                                                 2
Ans : The poet wants us not to ruminate over death. He wants life to continue as it is. But for a while, he asks us to be still for introspection, not forever.

 SA Questions : (1 or 2 marks each)

1.            Why does the poet want to count upto twelve?

Ans : The poet wants to count upto twelve to bring everyone in a position of self-introspection or meditation. All distractions and digressions are washed away and man is in a moment of bliss.

2.            What is fisherman symbolic of?
Ans : Fisherman is symbolic of man’s merciless exploitation of nature for personal interest.

3.            What does the earth teach us ?
Ans : The earth teaches us how life can emerge from the remains of death. Thus, introspection can enable us to a life of peace and prosperity.

4.            What are the various wars mentioned by the poet? What is the result of these wars?
Ans : The poet mentions green wars, wars with gases, wars with fire etc. The result of any type of war is death and destruction.

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5.            Explain “You keep quiet and I go”.
Ans : The poet wants us to keep quiet and experience the blissful moment. In the meantime, he will go and pass the message to other people.

A Thing of Beauty by John Keats

1.            Answer the following questions in one sentence. (1Mark)

            a)            Name the poet & the poem?

            Ans. John Keats. “A Thing of Beauty.”

            b) What is the poet’s reason to say that a thing of beauty is a joy forever?

      Ans  .A thing of beauty is a permanent source of happiness and it’s loveliness goes on increasing and it   never passes into nothingness.

      c) What do you understand by’ a bower’?

             Ans A bower is  a pleasant place in the shade under a tree.

d)            Why do we weave a flowery wreath every day?

      Ans  We  weave a flowery wreath every day.  to bind us to the beauties of the earth.

      e) Explain “In spite of all.”

Ans.In spite of all refers to all the evils, all the negative thoughts obstructing our way to success, and the  sense of hopelessness that darken our ways. In spite of all these we find joy in the beautiful things of nature

f) Explain “the grandeur of the dooms”

Ans .The grandeur of the doom refers to the honour that our mighty dead, who had great achievements while alive would get, on the Doomsday (the Final Judgment Day)

      g) Why does Keats associate ‘grandeur’ with “ the mighty dead”?

Ans. The mighty dead were powerful during their lifetime due to their great achievements. So they will attain grandeur on Doomsday

      h)List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem?

Some of the things of beauty mentioned in the poem are the sun, the moon, trees old, and young, the beautiful daffodils and  the clear rills.

      i) Mention the image used by the poet to describe the beautiful bounty of the           earth?.

      Ans.” An endless fountain of immortal drink”

            j)What do you mean by “clear rills”&”covert”

      Ans .They refer to small streams &rivers; shelter of thickets   

            k) Explain” Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink”

            Ans Beauty is a gift of God which has been showered upon us from the heavens                   above. This beauty is everlasting and is a source of happiness for human beings

            2.Answer the following questions in two sentences (2Marks).

a)            Mention the images of beauty that the poet refers to?

Ans.  The poet sees beauty in the sun, the moon, the trees, the innocence of the sheep, the blossoming of daffodils, the old &young trees, the rivers& the streams, mass of ferns, blooming musk-roses and in every aspect of this green world we live in.

      b) What are the pains &sufferings of life that the poet refers to in the poem?

AnsThe  pain, hopelessness, malice &disappointment caused due to the lack of noble qualities, the hostile &inhuman attitude that makes our days gloomy and darkens our ways with despair and sadness.

      c) What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles &sufferings?

Ans .Life on earth is full of sufferings and pain, but the In between phases of happiness, which beautify life, make human beings love life. The natural beauty motivates us to love life in the midst of life’s hardships.

 d)    What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?

Ans .In this journey of life man faces  lots of troubles.  His miserable life spreads a pall of despondence over his dark spirits.   It is a thing of beauty that removes it.

AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS  by ANDRIENNE RICH

1.            Describe Aunt Jennifer’s tiger.

Ans : Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers  are bright yellowish, chivalric, fearless confident inhabitants of  forest.  They are gallant, honourable, and brave too.

2.            Why are Aunt Jennifer’s fingers  fluttering?

Ans : They are fluttering  due to the fear that  she is creating a tiger against the male folk/ She was too old to pull the needle to make the embroidery properly.

3.            Why is the Uncle’s wedding  band referred as ‘heavy’?

Ans : It is because  Aunt Jennifer’s marriage  has brought lot of control, hardships , lack of freedom  which have made her life unbearable.

4.            Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

            “ When Aunt  is dead, her terrified hands will lie

           Still ringed with ordeals she has mastered by.”

           a) Which  is the ring referred to here? (1)

           Ans :  The ring referred to here is the wedding band  of a Aunt Jennifer.

           b) What is the ideas the poet wants to communicate in the above lines? (2)

           Ans : She wants to communicate  the fate of Aunt Jennifer that even death cannot                free her from the constraints/ responsibilities of married life in a male dominant                      society.

           c) What do ‘ordeals ’ stand for here? (1)

 Ans :  They stand for the constraints a woman faces in her married life