FOUNDATION COURSE IN ENGLISH - II YEAR

COURSE CODE - 1010108

GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
This text book prescribed by the directorate of distance education, Vinayaka Missions University,
Salem as foundation course, English for second year B.A., / B.Sc., / B.Com., / B.B.M., consists of essays
written by renowned authors, poems written by famous poets, a collection of one act plays, fundamental
elements of grammar and composition which will definitely enhance the reading skill, writing skill and
speaking skill of the students, who learn their lessons through distance education mode. This text book is
divided into twelve chapters and questions are given at the end of each chapter, which will be helpful for the
students to learn their lessons easily.

CHAPTER 01 - PROSE
1.0. INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of Julian Huxleys vivid description of gathering called Kumbha Mehla, which
is held at the junction of the sacred rivers, the Ganges and the Jumuna once in twelve years and the cultural
activities in the holy Ganges. James Thurber in his essay University Days described his experiences as a
student of Ohio state university in America.

1.1. A VISIT TO INDIA

Julian Huxley
Every year in January, Hindus of all castes unite for prayer at a gathering called Kumbha Mehla at the
junction of the sacred rivers, the Ganges and the Jumuna. This year was particularly auspicious, being the
last of a twelve-year cycle. We flew to Allahabad, Over the wide sandbanks of the Ganges, flowing sluggish
and grey brow in its restricted bed, and were taken to the Mehla by Colonel Ratan Swami in his jeep.
The site of the sacred festival was like a fairground, the number of worshippers fantastic-our Colonel
estimated it as at least a million. A temporary township had been created to accommodate this multitude, with
tracks traversing clusters of grass huts, tents of canvas, or of blankets, shelters of rags. There were also firstaid marquees and observation towers, as well as a very necessary police station. Along the lanes sat patient
pilgrims wrapped in white clothes, eating, cooking, mostly just squatting. We went through an area of huts
with long bamboo poles tipped with colored pennants portraying device of slippers, baskets, trident-the
various symbols of the sadhus, the professional holy men-round which clustered groups of disciples in search
of learning and second-hand sanctity. And everywhere, as far as the eye could reach, the slowly pulsating
mass of pilgrims wandered in their flowing draperies, ant-like in their multitudinous rambling. They were
like the grains of the sand, turned into human insects.
We threaded our way, first by jeep and then on foot, among the people, scanning their absorbed faces
and seeing that their almost identical garb concealed vast difference; for these people, rich and poor, had
come from all over India, on foot, in trains and planes and private cars. Moved by imponderable but
compelling faith, they come to the rivers purifying waters. They cast aside all but the need to wash away
their sins, and daily, whatever the cold or heat, perform their ritual ablutions. Some nights are especially
propitious because of the conjunction of stars, and in the surprising cold of this season, they stand for hours
in the nocturnal waters. After this immersion, which they do in sari or dhoti, their wet garments are replaced
with the dexterity and modesty of people accustomed to bathing in public. The women they wash the clothes
and hand them on every available guy-rope, spread them on the sand, or merely hold them out to dry in the
breeze.
Long-haired fakirs, clad only in a loin-cloth, smeared all over with ash and white and ochre paint,
shout slogans. Cow murder must stop is one of their favorites. Child fakirs, looking like miniature
Buddhas in meditation, squat immobile for hours, their small bodies blotched with ash, to be rewarded by the
faithful with a few annas. Other fakirs lie on beds of thorns or nails, strewn with flowers dropped on them by
admiring worshippers.
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Some old or sick people come here to die; their ashes are then thrown into the river for added
sanctity. As I wrote before, these rivers are said to carry self-generated viruses which destroy bacteria, and
tests have shown that the noxious effluence produced by the multitude is neutralized after flowing three or
four miles. If would need to be, I thought with a shudder.
Enormous, swaying elephants carrying loads of sadhus timidly tried a pontoon bridge one panicked
and reversed into the packed crowd behind, causing a crush in which a number of pilgrims were killed. Our
Colonel told us how easily such a tragedy could occur in this compacted congregation; how easily, too, anger
could flare between rival processions and how quickly swell to danger point.
We hired a boat and went out on the broad river in the afternoon heat. Even to float on the surface
confers sanctity; the whole expanse was dotted with craft of every kind. Many of the pilgrims were singing,
while others were throwing their garlands into the river, as a symbolic sacrifice of themselves. Evening fell
as we returned, past the frowning bastions of the old fortress dipping straight into the water, with a beautiful
sunset reflected in the oncoming stream. Relative peace had dissented on the vast fairground, a faint cloud of
dust floated over it, and crowds of pilgrims made their way to their tents. The small fakir boy we had
noticed earlier in the day was still squatting like a statue, but now repressing a tired yawn: poor little fellowhe was still earning his keep.
We left Allahabad feeling that in India all things are possible-holiness and squalor, fakirs who are
fakers, religious hostility, and above all confusion and unpredictable violence.
Further down the Ganges lies Benares, holiest of all Hindu cities. With memories of Kiplings Kim in
our minds, we made our way along the Great Trunk Road, still shaded by avenues of British planted mango
trees, here and there replaced by the Indian Forestry Department with young saplings.
This gave us a very good impression, an impression which was confirmed when I later met one of the
chief foresters in Calcutta. The Department had a huge programme for reforesting the barren plains of northwest India, and for planting shade tress in the villages. Luckily this latter aim was reinforced by religious
feelings-the peepul tree was considered sacred, because the Buddha had been converted to saintly life when,
as a young prince, he had rested during a hunt under a to-tree, as the peepul was then called. The tradition
has lingered for over 2,000 years, and it was considered a duty to plant a peepul tree in a village, where it has
the additional function of providing a shady refuge for the discussions of the village elders.
To return to Benares, innumerable sick people come here hoping to be cured by a dip in the holy (but
dirty) Ganges, or if that fails, to wait patiently to die, achieving transcendence by having their corpses burned
on the banks of the sacred river, which will then receive their ashes.
We saw several such burnings-the pyre lit by the mute and impassive next of kin, the slow fire
revealing the blackened corpse to our shocked European eyes. For the Hindu acceptance blunts the horror of
the burning gnat, and they are denied time for long mourning for in this climate the dead must be burnt
immediately. It was all part of the river-side activity-pilgrims taking their ritual baths, beggars, vendors
under large umbrellas, women carrying loads on their draped heads, looking like caryatids in their beautiful
draperies. Laundering goes on all their time-men and women slapping wet clothes on flat stones or beating
them with a stick, then spreading them to dry on sand or step-a pattern of gay colours.
Beggars everywhere-I still recall the tragic creatures, exhibiting bodies eaten away with disease,
pursuing with relentless avidity. And the beautiful gold and silver saris, exquisitely coloured and woven in
startling designs, sold in squalid soaks while beggars nudge for alms.
Aldous went to Indian in 1925, and wrote Jesting Pilate on his travels (which included visits to
Burma, Malaya and North America). He was as bewildered as we were by the fantastic mixture of creeds,
architecture and styles, cultures and languages in this blotting-paper sub-continent, which has absorbed
innumerable invasions, so many races, divinities and cultural influences.
About Hinduism he wrote : Admires of India are unanimous in praising Hindu spirituality. I
cannot agree with them. To my mind, spirituality (ultimately, I suppose, the product of the climate) is the
primal curse of India and the cause of all her misfortunes. It is this preoccupation with spiritual realities,
different from the actual realities of common life, that has kept millions upon millions of men and women
content, through centuries, with a lot unworthy of human beings. A little less spirituality, and the Indians
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would now be free-free from foreign dominion and from the tyranny of their own prejudices and traditions.
There would be less dirt and more food.
The vast number of strange divinities made visible in every kind of form, the caste system, the taboos
and superstitions, the vagaries of the innumerable cults (including the erotic explosion of Tantric Buddhism);
it all adds up to what?. -impenetrable fog for custom, belief and ritual. And I agree with Aldous that it was
the sort of luxury which India least of all could afford. Yet I could not help being moved by this climate of
intense religiosity.
The genious of the Buddha had cut through religious tangles and found a great and liberating answer;
strange that such a magnificent religion should have dwindled in India, and lost its meaning-until one
remembered the power of the Brahmins and the appeal of the complex and legendary polytheism of the
Hindus.
One of the strangest sects is sited at Puri, in Orissa, where the temple of the god Jagannath raises its
imposing complex, closed to all but Hindus. We watched it from the roof of the public library-where
Encounter and the New Statesman were on display to students.
Pilgrims and beggars were thronging the temple entrance and disappearing into the buildings: for
Jagannath is munificent to his devotees and feeds thousands in his vast kitchens, while he himself-or rather
his triune self, for he has a brother and sister-has
atleast 4,000 attendants on the pay-roll. They bathe
him, wash his painted teeth, change and feed him four times a day, and escort him to his summer palace, to
which he is drawn in a grand wooden chariot made new every year, his brother and sister in their own smaller
ones. There is a myth which has penetrated into the English language in the word Jyuggernaut, to denote a
blind power mercilessly sacrificing human lives. This is not based on fact, as even a drop of blood pollutes
the god and his priests. What struck the first travellers was the frenzied eagerness of the pilgrims to be
allowed to pull the gods chariot: some fell and were crushed by its huge, solid wheels.
The nearest we got to see the Lord of the World was in the market-place, where plaques of tin were
on sale, embossed with garishly coloured figures of the god with his brother and sister. We bought some,
impressed by their crude magic. These must be primeval deities, dating back long before the Aryan invasion;
they are represented by grotesque figures, scarcely human, with arms growing out of ears and blind, staring
eyes.
But what matters is that cult is one of the most thriving in India and continues to attract tens of
Thousands of pilgrims, and valuable alms. The famous Kohinur diamond was formally bequeathed to
Jagannath by Rahah Ranjit Singh, but the gift was never actually received.
The primary fact on which Jagannaths popularity depends is that he welcomes all Hindu castes, and
feeds the hungry, whatever their position in Indias status-ridden society. This has a parallel in Christendom,
where until recently society was divided into privileged and unprivileged. It is still true in India, where
civilization is only a crust spread over ancient rites and systems, and amazing crust sprouting scientists and
mathematicians of the first order, lawyers and artists, philosophers and mystics, as well as a rich upper class
of highly cultivated men and women; but is only a crust, covering an ever-increasing mass of poor peasants,
low-caste people and outcasts plunged in ingorance, wretched victims of superstitions.
Konarak was worth all the trouble imaginable. Built in the mid-thirteenth century it was to have been
the largest Hindu temple in the north-east; but the central pyramid, rising to over 200 feet, was so vast that it
began to crack and the building was never entirely finished.
It is dedicated to the sun-god Surya, whose image rises magnificent in green chlorite stone, driving one
of this four chariots, with worshipping attendants at his feet. The wheels of the chariots are 10 feet high, the
stone chiseled like woodwork with infinite detail. All round the vast structure, in richly decorated niches,
there stand statuettes of seriously beautiful couples engaged in love-making-a sculptured text-book of
amorous anatomy. One walks around spellbound by their ballet of passion, by its tenderness and
abandonment. The English guide-book warns that much of this is licentious. To us it was beautiful
expression of physical love, free from prurience and frankly explicit, carved with admirable skill.
Climbing the steep steps to the upper storey, one finds this amorous scene accompanied by dancers in
lovely poses, and on the higher terrace, enormous blossoming figure of female musicians. In the court stand
gigantic figures of war-horses, ready for the god, while a superb elephant holding a struggling man in his
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trunk symbolizes the gods gigantic power. The style of theses fine statues is strangely reminiscent of
Chinese art in the Tang period.
We later visited other erotic temples, notably the famous Khajuraho group, where the act of love is
forcefully expounded with the same lack of reticence, again and again in temple after temple. Perhaps it was
our satiety with this curious style perhaps the sultry heat and the fatigue of having flown there at dawn, but
here we felt rather bored, protesting to our secret selves that this was definitely not an act of worship, no
symbolical union of soul and body, but merely a sophisticated expulsion of primitive fertility rites.
But Konarak remains in our mind as an especially beautiful witness to this exotic and erotic cult.
We travelled on through miles of hilly country, hot and deserted, where it would have been no surprise
to see wild animals prowling. For lunch, we stopped by the enchanted lake Chilkha among green pastures
and shady trees, now a National reserve; then on the Patnaiks constituency, where he as greeted and
garlanded by eager crowds, expectant faces, ebony eyes. A new school is to be built, his gift, now merely a
hole in the ground, which he duly consecrates. Speeches and songs and dances, and then we rise and with
difficulty make our way back to the car, inch by inch through the thick mass of boys and men, their eyes
fixed on us, straining to penetrate our foreignness. At last we are released. Patnaik is silent, obsessed with
this terrible poverty, ignorance-and pathetic trust. He gives all the help he can, but is that the right way? For
centuries these people have relied on rajah, warrior chief, or British sahib, and done next to nothing for
themselves. When will they wake up and assume responsibility?
We were to see this poverty, this apathy, all over India. The impetus given to the nation by
Independence, the promise of great changes, the hope of progress, of freedom from poverty-where are they
now? The giant inertia of the huge sub-continent still blocks their achievement.
We left our fiends, the Patnaiks, and Puri, with great regret-it had been a wonderful fortnight-and in
early March arrived in Madras. Its fine city with many Regency bukding left by the British, wide roads and
pleasant gardens, well-tended cattle, with their horns painted and pointed with copper, and few beggars; an
air of prosperity, and to us, because we saw mostly academic people, the feel of a liberal city in control of its
problems. When I gave my lecture at the University, Dr. Mudalyar, the vice-Chancellor, in white-and-gold
turban, introduced me in a speech both eloquent and learned.
Of our sightseeing, I must just mention our visit to the sacred site of Mahabalipuram on the coast
nearby. Here a whole stony valley has been carved, into miniature temples, religions halls, thatched huts,
life-size, free standing elephants and sacred bulls, and, most extra ordinary of all, a whole cliff called The
Descent of the Sacred Ganges, but really celebrating the multiplicity of creation, a fantastic conglomeration
of life-size elephant ad other mammals, snake, birds and holy men, single sculpture and the strangest
interpretation of Genesis in the world.

1.2. UNIVERSITY DAYS

James Thurber
I passed all the other courses that I took at my University, but I could never pass botany. This was
because all botany students had to spend several hours a week in a laboratory looking through a microscope
at plant cells, and I could never see through a microscope. I never once saw a cell through a microscope.
this used to enrage my instructor. He would wander around the laboratory pleased with the progress all the
students were making in drawing the involved and, so I am told, interesting structure of flower cells, until he
came to me. I would just be standing there. I cant see anything, I would say. He would begin patiently
enough, explaining how anybody can see through a microscope, but he would always end up in a fury,
claiming that I could too see through a microscope but just pretended that I couldnt. It takes a way from the
beauty of flowers anyway, I used to tell him. We are not concerned slowly with what I may call the
mechanics of flars. Well, Id say, I cannot see anything. Try it just once again, hed say, and I would
put my eye to the microscope and see nothing at all except now and again a nebulous milky substance-a
Phenomenon of maladjustment, You were supposed to see a vivid, restless clockwork of sharply defined
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plant cells. I see what looks like a lot of milk, I would tell him. This he claimed was the result of my not
having adjusted the microscope properly, so he would readjust it for me, or rather, or himself. And I would
look again and see milk.
I finally took a deferred pass, as they called it, and waited a year and tried again. (You had to pass one
of the biological sciences or you couldnt graduate.) The professor had come back from vacation brown as a
berry, bright-eyed, and eager to explain cell-structure again to his classes. Well he said to me, cheerily,
when we met in the first laboratory hour of the semester, were going to see cells this time arent we? Yes,
sir, I said. Students to right of me and to left of me and on front of me were seeing cells; whats more, they
were quietly drawing pictures of them in their notebooks. Of course, I didnt see anything.
Well try it, the professor said to me, grimly, with every adjustment of the microscope known to man.
As god is my witness, Ill arrange this glass so that you see cells through it or Ill give up teaching. In
twenty-two years of botany, I-He cut off abruptly for he was beginning to quiver all over, like Lionel
Barrymore, and he genuinely wished to hold on to his temper; his scenes with me had taken a great deal out
of him.
So we tried it with every adjustment of the microscope known to man. With only one of them did I see
anything but blackness or the familiar lacteal opacity, and that I saw, to my pleasure and amazement, a
variegated constellation of flecks, specks, and dots. These I hastily drew. The instructor, nothing my activity,
came back from an adjoining desk, a smile on his lips and his eyebrows high in hope. He looked at my cell
drawing. Whats that? he demanded with a hint of a squeal in his voice. Thats what I saw, I said. You
didnt, you didnt, you didnt he screamed, losing control of his temper instantly, and he bent over and
squinted into the microscope. His head snapped up. Thats your eye!, he shouted. Youve fixed the lens
so that it reflects! Youve drawn your eye!.
Another course that I didnt like, but somehow managed to pass, was economics. I went to that class
straight from the botany class, which didnt help me any in understanding the subject. I used to get them
mixed up. But not as mixed up as another student in my economics class who came there direct from a
physics laboratory. He was a tackle on the football team named Bolenciecwcz. At that time Ohio State
University had one of the best football teams in the country, and Bolenciecwcz was one of its outstanding
stars. In order to be eligible to play it was necessary for him to keep up in his studies, a very difficult matter,
for while he was not dumber than an ox he was not any smarter. Most of his professors were lenient and
helped him along. None gave him more hints, in answering questions, or asked him simpler ones than the
economics professor, a thin, timid man named Bassum. One day when we were on the subject of
transportation and distribution, it came Bolenciecwczs turn to answer a question, Name one means of
transportation, the professor said to him. No light came into the big tackles eyes. Just any means of
transportation, said the professor. Bolenciecwcz sat starting at him. That is, pursued the professor, any
medium, agency, or method of going from one place to another. Bolencicewcz had the look of a man who
is being led into a trap. You may choose among steam, horse drawn, or electrically propelled vehicles, ; said
the instructor. I might suggest the one which we commonly take in making long journeys across land.
There was a profound silence in which everybody stirred uneasily; including Bolenciecwcz and Mr. Bassum.
Mr. Bassum abruptly broke this silence in an amazing manner. Choo-choo-choo, he said, in a low voice,
and turned instantly scarlet. He glanced appealingly around the room. All of us, of course, shared Mr.
Bassums desire that Bolenciecwcz should stay abreast of the class in economics, for the Illinois game, one
of the hardest and most important of the season, was only a week off. Toot, toot, too-tooooooot!, some
student with a deep voice moaned, and well all looked encouragingly at Bolenciecwcz. Somebody else gave
a fine imitation of a locomotive letting off steam. Mr. Bassum himself rounded off the little show. Ding,
dong, ding, dong, he said, hopefully Bolenciecwcz was staring at the floor now, trying to think, his great
brow furrowed, his huge hands rubbing together, his face red.
How did you come to college this year, Mr. Bolenciecwcz asked the professor. Chuffa, chuffa,
chuffa, chuffa.
M father sent me, said the football player.
What on? asked Bassum.
I get an allowance, said the tackle, in a low, husky voice, obviously embarrassed.
No, no said Bassum. Name a means of transportation. What did you ride here on?
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Train, said Bolenciecwcz.

Quite right, said the professor. Now Mr. Nugent, will you tell us-
If I went through anguish in botany and economics-for different reasons-gymnasium work was even
worse. I dont even like to think about it. They wouldnt let you play games or join in the exercises with you
glasses on I couldnt see with mine off. I bumped into professors, horizontal bars, agricultural students, and
swinging iron rings. Not being able to see, I could take it but I couldnt dish it out. Also, in order to pass
gymnasium (and you had to pass it to graduate) you had to learn to swim if you dont know how. I didnt like
swimming pool. I didnt like swimming, and I didnt like the swimming instructor, and after all these years I
still dont. I never swam but I passed my gym work anyway, by having another student give my gymnasium
number (978) and swim across the pool in my place. He was a quiet, amiable blonde youth, number 473 and
he would have seen through a microscope for me if we could have got away with it, but we couldnt get away
with it. Another thing I didnt like about gymnasium work was that they made you strip the day you
registered. It is impossible for me to be happy when I am stripped and being asked a lot of questions. Still, I
did better than a lanky agricultural student who was cross-examined just before I was. They asked each
student what college he was in-that is, whether Arts, Engineering, Commerce, or Agriculture. What college
are you in? the instructor snapped at the youth in front of me. Ohio State University, he said promptly.
It wasnt that agricultural student but it was another a whole lot like him who decided to take up
journalism, possibly on the ground that when farming went to hell he could fall back on newspaper work. He
didnt realize, of course, that would be very much like falling back full-length on a kit of carpenters tools.
Haskins didnt seem cut out for journalism, being too embarrassed to talk to anybody and unable to use a
typewriter, but the editor of the college paper assigned him to the cow barns, the sheep house, the horse
pavilion, and the animal husbandry department generally. This was a genuinely big beat for it took up five
times as much ground and got ten times as great a legislative appropriation as the College of Liberal Arts.
The agricultural student knew animals, but nevertheless his stories were dull and colorlessly written.
He took all afternoon on each of them, on account of having to hunt for each letter on the typewriter.
Once in a while he had to ask somebody to help him hunt. C and L, in particular, were hard letters for him
to find. His editor finally got pretty much annoyed at the farmer-journalist because his pieces were so
uninteresting. See here, Haskins, he snapped at him one day, why is it we never have anything hot from
you on the horse pavilion? Here we have two hundred head of horses on this campus-more than any other
university in the Western Conference except Purdue-and yet you never get any real low-down on them. Now
shoot over to the horse barns and dig up something lively. Haskins shambled out and came back in about an
hour; he said he had something. Well, start it off snappily, said the editor. Something people will read.
Haskins set to work and in couple of hours brought a sheet of typewritten paper to the desk; it was a twohundred word story about some disease that had broken out among the horses. Its opening sentence was
simple but arresting. It read: Who has noticed the sores on the tops of the horses in the animal husbandry
building?
Ohio State was a land grant university and therefore two years of military drill was compulsory. We
drilled with old Springfield rifles and studied the tactics of the Civil War even though the World War was
going on at the time. At 11oclock each morning thousands of freshmen and sophomores used to deploy over
the campus, moodily creeping up on the old chemistry building. It was good training for the kind of warfare
that was waged at Shiloh but it had no connection with what German money behind it, but they didnt dare
say so or they would have been thrown in jail; as German spies. It was a period of muddy thought and
marked, I believe, the decline of higher education in the Middle West.
As a soldier I was never any good at all. Most of the cadets were glumly indifferent soldiers, but I was
no good at all. Once General Little Field, who commandant of the cadet corps, popped up in front of me
during regimental drill and snapped, You are the main trouble with this university! I think he meant that my
type was the main trouble with the university but he may have meant me individually. I was mediocre at drill,
certainly - that is until my senior year. By that time I had drilled longer than anybody aisle in the Weston
Conference having failed at military at the end of each preceding year so that I had to do it all over again. I
was the only senior still in uniform. The uniform which, when new, had made me look like an interurban
railway conductor, now that it had become faded and too tight, made me look like Bert Williams in his
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bellboy act. This had a definitely had effect on my morale. Even so, I had become by sheer practice little
short of wonderful at squad maneuvers.
One day General Littlefield picked our company out of the whole regiment and tried to feet it mixed up
by putting it through one movement after another as fast as we could execute them: squads right, squads left,
squads on right into line, squads right about, squads left front into line etc. In about three minutes one
hundred and nine men were marching in one direction and I was marching away from them at an angle of
forty degrees, all alone. Company, halt! shouted General Littlefield, That man is the only man who has it
right! shouted General Littlefield, That man is the only man who has it right! I was made a corporal for my
achievement.
The next day General Littlefield summoned me to his office. He was swatting flies when I went in. I
was silent and he was silent too, for a long time. I dont think he remembered me or why he hand sent for me,
but he didnt want to admit it. He swatted some mote flies, keeping his eyes on them narrowly before he let
of with the swatter. Button up your coat! he snapped. Looking back on it now I can see that he meant me
although he was looking back on it now I can see that he meant me although he was looking at a fly, but I
just stood there. Another fly cam to rest on a paper in front of the General and began rubbing its hind legs
together. The General lifted the swatter cautiously. I moved restlessly and the fly flew away. You startled
him! barked General Littlefield, looking at me severely. I said I was sorry. That wont help the situation!
snapped the General, with cold military logic. I didnt see what I could do exception offer to chase some
more flies toward his desk but I didnt say anything. He stared out of the window at the faraway figures of
co-eds crossing the campus toward the library. Finally, he told me I could go. So I went. He either didnt
know which cadet I was or else he forgot what he wanted to see me about. It may have been that he wished
to apologize for having called me the main trouble with the university; or may be he had decided to
compliment me on my brilliant drilling of the day before and then at the last minute decided not to. I dont
know. I dont think about it much any more.

1.3. TERMINAL QUESTIONS:

Section - A
1. According Julian Huxley what is Kumbha Mehla?
2. How do the pilgrims look like in the festival of Kumbha Mehla?
3. What is the Slogan of fakirs?
4. Why a peepul is considered sacred?
5. What are the two divisions in the society?
6. Why did James Thurber pass in society?
7. How did James Thurber pass his examination in gymnasium.
8. What did Haskins, the agricultural student write about?
9. How did James Thurber look like in his uniform?
10. What did the General Littlefield look through the window?
Section -B
1. Describe the temporary township in Kumbha Mehla?
2. What are the opinions of Aldous Huxley regarding Hinduism?
3. How does Julian Huxley describe Mahabalipuram?
4. Narrate the experience of James Thurber in botany class.
5. Describe the experience of Bolenciewcz in economics class.
6. Relate the experience of James Thurber in the military drill.
Section - C
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1. Describe Julian Huxleys experience in India.

2. Narrate the experiences of James Thurber as a student of Ohio State University.

CHAPTER 02 PROSE
2.0. INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes Martin Luther Kings relentless fight against inequality in the society. He wants
to put an end to segregation and racial injustice. He also wants to establish a solid rock of brotherhood
among Americans. He wants the Negroes in America to enjoy freedom and equality like in his essay, I have
a dream. In his short story, The story Teller H.H.Munro describes the art of narrating a story to the
children.

2.1. I HAVE A DREAM

Martin Luther King
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the
Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon of light or hope to millions of
negro slaves who had been seared in the flame of withering injustice. It comes as a joyous daybreak to end
the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is
still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.
One hundred years later, the Negro live on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of
material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society
and finds himself an exile in his own hand. So we have come here to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nations capital to cash a cheque. When the architects of our Republic
wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a
promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black
men as well as white men, would be granted the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note in so far as her citizens of colour
are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad cheque;
which has come back marked insufficient funds.
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are
insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this cheque-a
cheque that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no
time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to
make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of
segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial
injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of Gods children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the movement and to underestimate the
determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negros legitimate discontent will not pass until
there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. 1963 is not an end but beginning. Those who hope
that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation
returns to business as usual.
There will be neither rest not tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.
The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice
emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into
the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.
Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We
must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our
9

creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of
meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of
all white people for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to
realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and they have come to realize that their freedom is
inextricably bound to our freedom. This offence we share mounted to storm the battlements of injustice must
be carried forth by a biracial army. We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, When will you be satisfied? We can never be
satisfied as long as the Negro is victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.
We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in
the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negros basic
mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.
We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their
dignity by signs stating For whites only. We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot
vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No we are not satisfied, and will to
be satisfied, until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of excessive trails and tribulation. Some of
you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for
freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You
have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unnamed suffering is
redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi; go back to Alabama; go back to South Carolina; go back to Georgia; go back to
Louisiana; go back to the slums and ghettos of the Northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can,
and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
So I say to you, my friends, that even though we must face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still
have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream that one day this nation will rise up and
live out the true meaning of its creed-we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of former slaveown era will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day, even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice,
sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day lie in a nation where they will not be judged by
the colour of their skin but by content of their character. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips
dropping with the words of interposition and nullification, that one day, right there in Alabama, little black
boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I
have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low,
the rough places shall be made plain and the crooked places shall be made straight and the glory of the Lord
will be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we
will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.
With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail
together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day when
10

all of Gods children will be able to sing with new meaning-my country tis of thee: sweet land of liberty; of
thee I sing; land where my father died, land of the pilgrims pride; from every mountain side, let freedom
ring.
And when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and hamlet, from every
state and city we will be able to speed up that day when all of Gods children-black men and white men,
Jaws and Gentiles Catholics and protestants-will be able to join hands and to sing in the words of the old
Negro spiritual : Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last.

2.2. THE STORY-TELLER

H.H. Muinro (Saki)
It was a hot afternoon, and the railway carriage was correspondingly sultry, and the next stop was at
Templecombe, nearly an hour ahead. The occupants of the carriage were a small girl, and a smaller girl, and
a small boy. An aunt belonging to the children occupied one corner seat, and the further corner seat on the
opposite side was occupied by a bachelor who was a stranger to their party, but the small girls and the small
boy a stranger to their party, but the small girls and the small boy emphatically occupied the compartment.
Both the aunt and the children were conversational in a limited persistent way, reminding one of the
attentions of housefly that refused to be discouraged. Most of the aunts remarks seemed to begin with
Dont and nearly all of the childrens remarks began with Why?. The bachelor said nothing out loud.
Dont, Cyrill, dont, exclaimed the aunt, as the small boy began smacking the cushions of the seat,
producing a cloud of dust at each blow.
Come and look out of the window, she added.
The child moved reluctantly to the window. Why are those sheep being driven out of that field? he
asked.
I expect they are being driven to another field where there is more grass, said the aunt weakly.
But there is lots of grass in that field, protested the boy; theres nothing else but grass there. Aunt,
theres lots of grass in that field.
Perhaps the grass in the other field is better, suggested the aunt fatuously.
Why is it better? came the swift, inevitable question.
Oh look at those cows! exclaimed the aunt, Nearly every field along the line had contained cows or
bullocks, but she spoke as through she were drawing attention to a rarity.
Why is the grass in the other field better? persisted Cyril.
The frown on the bachelors face was depending to a scowl. He was a hard, unsympathetic man, the
aunt decided in her mind. She was utterly unable to com e to any satisfactory decision about the grass in the
other field.
The smaller girl created a diversion by beginning to recite On the Road to Mandalay. She only knew
the first line, but sheet put her limited knowledge to the fullest possible use. She repeated the line over and
over again in a dreamy but resolute and very audible voice; it seemed to the bachelor as though someone had
a bet with her that she could not repeat the line aloud two thousand times without stopping. Whoever it was
who had made the wager was likely to lose his bet.
Come over here and listen to a story, said the aunt when the bachelor had looked twice at her and once
at the communication cord.
The children moved listlessly towards the aunts end of the carriage. Evidently her reputation as a
story-teller did not rank high in their estimation.
In a low, confidential voice, interrupted at frequent intervals by loud, petulant questions from her
listeners, she began an un enterprising and deplorably uninteresting story about a little girl who was good,
and made friends with every one on account of her goodness, and was finally saved from a mad bull by a
number of rescuers who admired her moral character.
11

Wouldnt they have saved her if she hadnt been good? demanded the bigger of the small girls. It was
exactly the question that the bachelor had wanted to ask.
Well yes, admitted the aunt lamely, but I dont think they would have run quite so fast to her help if
they had not liked her so much.
Its the stupidest story Ive ever heard, said the bigger of the small girls, with immense conviction.
I didnt listen after the first bit, it was so stupid, said Cyril.
The smaller girl made no actual comment on the story, but she had long ago recommenced a murmured
repetition of her favorite line.
You dont seem to be a success as a story-teller, said the bachelor suddenly from his corner.
The aunt bristled in instant defence at this unexpected attack.
Its a very difficult thing to tell stories that children can both understand and appreciate, she said
stiffly.
I dont agree with you, said the bachelor.
Perhaps you would like to tell them a story, was the aunts retort.
Tell us a story, demanded the bigger of the small girls.
Once upon a time, began the bachelor, there was a little girl called Bertha, who was extraordinarily
good.
The childrens momentarily-aroused interest began at once to flicker; all stories seemed dreadfully
alike, no matter who told them.
She did all that she was told, she was always truthful, she kept her clothes clean, ate milk puddings as
though they were jam tarts, learned her lessons perfectly, and was polite in her manners.
Was she pretty? asked the bigger of the small girls.
Not as pretty as any of you, said the bachelor, but she was horribly good.
There was a wave of reaction in favour of the story; the word horrible in connection with goodness was
a novelty that commended itself. It seemed to introduce a ring of truth that was absent from the aunts tales
of infant life.
She was so good, continued the bachelor, that she won several medals, for goodness, which she
always wore, pinned on to her dress. There was a medal for obedience, another medal for punctuality, and a
third for good behaviour. They were large metal medals and they clicked against one another as she walked
No other child in the town where she lived had as many as three medals, so everybody knew that she must be
an extra good child.
Horribly good, quoted Cyril.
Everybody talked about her goodness, and the prince of the country got to hear about it, and he said
that as she was so very good she might be allowed once a week to walk in his park, which was just outside
the town. It was a beautiful park, and no children were ever allowed in it, so it was a great honour for Bertha
to be allowed to go there.
Were there any sheep in the park? demanded Cyril.
No, said the bachelor, there were no sheep.
Why werent there any sheep? came the inevitable question arising out of that answer. The aunt
permitted herself a smile, which might almost have been described as grin.
There were no sheep in the park, said the bachelor, because the Princes mother had once had a
dream that her son would either be killed by a sheep or else by a clock falling on him. For that reason the
Prince never kept a sheep in his park or a clock i his palace.
The aunt suppressed a gasp of admiration.
Was the Prince killed by a sheep or by a clock?, asked Cyril.
12

He is still alive, so we cant tell whether the dream will come true, said the bachelor unconcernedly;
anyway, there were no sheep in the park, but there were lots of little pigs running all over the place.
What colour were they?
Black with white faces, white with black spots, black all over, grey with white patches, and some were
white all over.
The story-teller paused to let a full idea of the parks treasures sink into the childrens imaginations;
then he resumed.
Bertha was rather sorry to find that there were no flowers in the park. She had promised her aunts,
with tears in her eyes, that she would not pick any of the kind Princes flowers, and she had meant to keep
her promise, so of course it made her feel silly to find that there were no flowers to pick.
Why werent there any flowers
Because the pigs had eaten them all, said the bachelor promptly. The gardeners had told the Prince
that you couldnt have pigs and flowers, so he decided to have pigs and no flowers.
There was a murmur of approval at the excellence of the Princes decision; so many people would have
decided the other way.
There were lots of other delightful things in the park. There were ponds with gold and blue and green
fish in them, and trees with beautiful parrots that said clever things at a moments notice, and humming birds
that hummed all the popular tunes of the day. Bertha walked up and down and enjoyed herself immensely,
and thought to herself. If I were not so extraordinarily good I should not have been allowed to come into this
beautiful park and enjoy all that there is to be seen init, an d her three medals clinked against one another as
she walked and helped to remind her how very good she really was. Just then an enormous wolf came
prowling into the park to see if it could catch a fat little pig for its supper.
What colour was it, asked the children, amid an immediate quickening of interest.
Mud-colour all over, with a black tongue and pale grey eyes that gleamed with unspeakable ferocity.
The first thing that it saw in the park was Bertha; her pinafore was so spotlessly white and clean that it could
be seen from a great distance Bertha saw the wolf and saw that it was stealing towards her, and she began to
wish that she had never been allowed to come into the park. She ran as hard as she could, and the wolf came
after her with huge leaps and bounds. She managed to reach a shrubbery of myrtle bushes ad she hid herself
i one of the thickest of the bushes. The wolf came sniffing among the branches, its black tongue lolling out
of its mouth and its pale grey eyes glaring with rage. Bertha was terribly frightened, and thought to
herself :If I had not been so extraordinarily good I should have been safe in the town at this moment.
However, the scent of the myrtle was so strong that the wolf could not sniff out where Bertha was hiding,
and the bushes were so thick that he might have hunted about in them for a long time without catching sight
of her. So he thought he might as well go off and catch a little pig instead. Bertha was trembling very much
at having the wolf prowling and sniffing so near her, and as she trembled the medal for obedience clinked
against the medals for good conduct and punctuality. The wolf was just moving away when he heard the
sound of the medals clinking and stopped tom listen; they clinked again in a bush quite near him. He dashed
into the bush, his pale grey eyes gleaming with ferocity and triumph and dragged Bertha out and devoured
her to the last morsel. All that was left of her were her shoes, bits of clothing, and the three medals for
goodness.
Were any of the little pigs killed?
No, they all escaped.
The story began badly, said the smaller of the small girls, but it had a beautiful ending.
It is the most beautiful story that I ever heard, said the bigger of the small girls, with immense
decision.
It is the only beautiful story that I ever heard, said the Cyril.
A dissentient opinion came from the aunt.
A most improper story to tell to young children! You have undermined the effect of years of careful
teaching.
13

At any rate, said the bachelor, collecting his belongings preparatory to leaving the carriage, I kept
them quiet for ten minutes, which was more thank you were able to do.
Unhappy woman! he observed to himself as he walked down the platform of Templecombe station; for
the next six months or so those children will assail her in public with demand for an improper story!

2.3. TERMINAL QUESTIONS:

Section - A
1. How the Negroes were treated in America?
2. What is the legitimate rights of Negroes?
3. How Negroes could get their freedom?
4. According to Martin Luther King what is the duty of Negroes?
5. What is the dream of Martin Luther King?
6. What did the children see while they are traveling in train in H.H. Munros story, The story - Teller?
7. How many children did travel with their Aunt?
8. Write a short note about the story narrated by the Aunt to the children?
9. What is the comment of the bigger of the small girls about their Aunts story?
10. Name the heroine of the story which is narrated by the bachelor.
Section - B
1. According to Martin Luther king how America is a desolate Valley of segregation?
2. What do Negroes fight for in America?
3. What the Negroes have to do to achieve freedom in America?
4. Why does the bachelor say that the Aunt of the children is a poor story teller?
5. How does the bachelor describe Bertha?
6. What does happen to Bertha at the end of the story, The story - teller?
Section - C
1. Describe the dream of Martin Luther King.
2. Narrate the story of the bachelor in the story, the story - Teller.

14

CHAPTER 03 PROSE
3.0. INTRODUCTION
In this chapter Bertrand Russell, a great philosopher Sketches the characteristics of George Bernard
Shaw, a novelist, dramatist and a prophet. Shaw a great genius attacked the Victorian humbug and hypocrisy.
He did not hesitate to point out the vanity of others. He could also defend any idea cleverly and he was at his
best as a controversialist. This chapter also explains Albert Einsteins views on producing modern war
weapons. In olden days people believed that a nations life and culture could be protected by the growth of
armies. But Albert Einstein feels that good will and honesty in seeking a solution to a problem can bring
safety to a nations life and its culture.

3.1. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

Bertrabd Russell
Bernard Shaws long life could be divided into three phases. In the first, which lasted till he was about
forty, he was known to a fairly wide circle as a musical critic, and to a much more restricted circle as a
Fabian controversialist, an admirable novelist and a dangerously witty enemy of humbug. Then came his
second phase, as a writer of comedies. At first he could not get his plays performed, because they were not
exactly like those of Pinero, but at last even theatrical managers realized that they were amusing, and he
achieved a very well-deserved success. He had, I believe, cherished throughout his earlier life the hope that,
when he had acquired an audience as a joker, he would be able effectively to deliver his serious message.
Accordingly, in his third and last phase, he appeared as a prophet demanding equal admiration for St. Joan of
Orleans and St. Joseph of Moscow. I knew him in all three phases, and in his first two I thought him both
delightful and useful. In this third phase, however, I found that my admiration had limits.
I heard of him first in 1890, when I, as a freshman, met another freshman who admired his
Quintessence of Ibsenism, but I did not meet him until 1896 when he took part in an International Socialist
Congress in London. I knew a great many of the German delegates, as I had been studying German Social
Democracy. They regarded Shaw as an incarnation of Satan, because he could not resist the pleasure of
fanning the flames whenever there was a dispute. I, however, derived my view of him from the Webbs, and
admired his Fabian essay in which he set to work to lead British Socialism away from Marx. He was at this
time till shy. Indeed, I think that his wit, like that of many famous humorists, was developed as a defence
against expected hostile ridicule. At this time he was just beginning to write plays, and he came to my flat to
read one of them to a small gathering of friends. He was white and trembling with nervousness, and not at all
the formidable figure that he became later. Shortly afterward, he and I stayed with the Webbs in Mormons
shire while he was learning the technique of the drama. He would write the names of all his characters on
little squares of paper, and, when he was doing a scene, he would put on a chess board in front of him the
names of the characters who were on the stage in that scene.
At this time he and I were involved in a bicycle accident which I feared for a moment might have
brought his career to a premature close. He was only just learning to ride a bicycle and he ran into my
machine with such force that he was hurled through the air and landed on his back twenty feet from the place
of the collision. However, he got up completely unhurt and continued his ride; whereas my bicycle was
smashed, and I had to return by train. It was a very slow train, and at every station Shaw with his bicycle
appeared on the platform, put his head into the carriage and jeered. I suspect that he regarded the whole
incident as proof of the virtues of vegetarianism.
Lunching with Mr. and Mrs. Shaw in Adelphi Terrace was a somewhat curious experience Mrs. Shaw
was a very able manager and used to provide Shaw with such a delicious vegetarian meal that the guests all
regretted their more conventional menu. But he could not resist a somewhat frequent repetition of his favorite
anecdotes. Whenever he came to his uncle who committed suicide by putting his head in a carpetbag and
shutting it, a look of unutterable boredom used to appear on Mrs. Shaws face, and if one were sitting next
her one had to take care not to listen to Shaw. This, however, did not prevent her face from solicitude for
him. I remember a luncheon at which a young and lovely poetess was present in the hopes of reading her
poems to Shaw. As we said good-bye Shaw informed us that she was staying behind for his purpose.
Nevertheless, when we departed we found her on the mat, Mrs. Shaw having maneuvered her there by
methods that I was not privileged to observe. When I learned, not long afterward, that this same lady had cut
15

her throat at Wells because he refused to make love to her, I conceived an even higher respect than before for
Mrs. Shaw.
Wifes solicitude toward Shaw was no sinecure. When they and the Webbs were all nearing eighthly,
they came to see me at my house on the South Downs. The house had a tower from which there was a very
fine view, and all of them climbed the stairs. Shaw was first and Mrs. Shaw last. All the time that he was
climbing, her voice came up from below, calling out, GBS, dont talk while youre going up the stairs! But
her advice was totally ineffective, and his sentences flowed on quite uninterruptedly.
Shaws attack on Victorian humbug and hypocrisy was as beneficent as it was delightful, and for this
the English undoubtedly owe him a debt of gratitude. It was a part of Victorian humbug to Endeavour to
conceal vanity. When I was young, we all made a show of thinking no better of ourselves than of our
neighbors. Shaw found this effort wearisome, and had already given it up when he first burst upon the world.
It used to be the custom among clever people to say that Shaw was not unusually vain, but only unusually
candid. I came to think later on that this was a mistake. Two incidents at which I was present convinced me
of this. The first was a luncheon in London in honor of Berg son, to which Shaw had been invited as an
admirer, along with a number of professional philosophers whose attitude to Berg son was more critical.
Shaw set to work to expound Berg sons philosophy in the style of the preface to Methuselah. In this
version, the philosophy was hardly one to recommend itself to professionals, and Berg son mildly interjected,
Ah, No-o! it is not quite zat! But Shaw was quite unabashed, and replied, Oh, my dear fellow, I
understand your philosophy much better than you do. Berg son clenched his fists and nearly exploded with
rage; but, with a great effort, he controlled himself, and Shaws expository monologue continued.
The second incident was an encounter with the elder Marsaryk, who was in London officially, and
intimated through his secretary that there were certain people whom he would like to see at 10.00 A.M.
before his official duties began. I was one of them, and when I arrived I discovered that the only others were
Shaw and Wells and Swinnerton. The rest of us arrived punctually, but Shaw was late. He marched straight
yp to the Great Man and said; Marsaryk, the foreign policy of Czechoslovokia is all wrong. He
expounded this theme for about ten minutes, and left without waiting to hear Marsaryks reply.
Shaw, like many witty men, considered wit an adequate substitute for wisdom. He could defend any
idea, however silly, so cleverly as to make those who did not accept it look like fools. I met him once at an
Erewhon Dinner in honor of Samuel Butler and I learned with surprise that he accepted as Gospel every
word uttered by that sage, and even theories that were only intended as jokes, as, for example, that the
Odyssey was written by a woman. Butlers influence on Shaw was much greater than most people
realized. It was from him that Shaw acquired his antipathy to Darwin, which afterward made him an admirer
of Berg son. It is a curious fact that the views which Butler adopted in order to have an excuse for
quarreling with Darwin became part of officially enforced orthodoxy in the U.S.S.R.
Shaws contempt for science was indefensible. Like Tolstoy, he couldnt believe in the importance of
anything he didnt know. He was passionate against vivisection. I think the reason was, not any sympathy
for animals, but a disbelief in the scientific knowledge which vivisection is held to provide. He
vegetarianism also, I think, was not due to humanitarian motives, but rather to his ascetic impulses, to which
he gave full expression in the last act of Methuselah.
Shaw was at his best as a controversialist. If there was anything silly or anything insincere about his
opponent, Shaw would seize on it unerringly to the delight of all those who were on his side in the
controversy. At the beginning of the First World War he published his Common Sense about the War.
Although he did not write as a Pacifist, he infuriated most patriotic people by refusing to acquiesce in the
hypocritical high moral tone of the Government and its followers. He was entirely praiseworthy in this sort
of way, until he fell a victim to adulation of the Soviet Government and suddenly lost the power of criticism
and of seeing through humbug if it came from Moscow. Excellent as he was in controversy, he was not
nearly so good when it came to setting forth his own opinions, which were somewhat chaotic until in his last
years he acquiesced in systematic Marxism. Shaw had many qualities which deserve great admiration. He
was completely fearless. He expressed his opinions with equal vigor whether they were popular or
unpopular. He was merciless towards those who deserve no mercy but sometimes, also, to those who did not
deserve to be his victims. In sum, one may say that he did much good and some harm. As an iconoclast he
was admirable, but as an icon rather less so.
16

3.2.ONLY THEN SHALL WE FIND COURAGE

Albert Einstein
Many persons have inquired have inquired concerning a recent message of mine that a new type of
thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move to higher levels.
Often in evolutionary processes a species must adapt to new conditions in order to survive. Today the
atomic bomb has altered profoundly the nature of the world as we know, it a new habitat to which it must
adapt its thinking.
In the light of new knowledge, a world authority and an eventual world state are not just desirable in the
name of brotherhood, they are necessary for survival. In previous ages a nations life and culture could be
protected to some extent by the growth of armies in national competition. Today we must abandon
competition and secure cooperation. This must be the central fact in all our considerations of international
affairs; other wise we face certain disaster. Past thinking and methods did not prevent world wars. Future
thinking must prevent wars.
Modern war, the bomb, and other discoveries present us with revolutionary circumstances. Never
before was it possible for one nation to make war on another without sending armies across borders. Now
with rockets and atomic bombs no centre of population of the earths surface is secure from surprise
destruction in a single attack.
America has a temporary superiority in armament, but it is certain that we have no lasting secret. What
nature tells one group of men, she will tell in time to any group interested and patient enough in asking the
questions. But our temporary superiority gives this nation the tremendous responsibility of leading makings
effort to surmount the crisis.
Being an ingenious people, Americans find it hard to believe that there is no foreseeable defence against
atomic bombs. But this is a basic fact. Scientists do not even know of any field which promises us any hope
of adequate defence. The military minded cling to old methods of thinking and one army department has
been surveying possibilities of going-underground, and in war-time placing factories in places like Mammoth
Cave. Other speak of dispersing our population centers into liner or ribbon cities.
Reasonable men with these new facts to consider refuse to contemplate a future in which our culture
would attempt to survive in ribbons or in underground tombs. Neither is there reassurance in proposals, to
keep a hundred thousand men also along the coasts scanning the sky with radar. There is no radar defence
against the V-2, and should a defence be developed after years of research it is not humanly possible for any
defence to be perfect. Should one rocket with atomic war-head strike Minneapolis, that city would look
almost exactly like Nagasaki. Riffle bullets kill men but atomic bombs kill cities. A tank is a defence against
a bullet, but there is no defence in science against the weapon which can destroy civilization.
Our defence is not in armaments, nor in science, nor in going underground. Our defence is in law and
order.
Henceforth, every nations foreign policy must be judged at every point by one consideration: does it
lead us to a world of law and order or does it lead us back toward anarchy and death? I do not believe that we
can prepare for war and at the same time prepare for a world community. When humanity holds in its hand
the weapon with which it can commit suicide, I believe that to put more power into the gun is to increase the
probability of disaster.
Remembering that our main consideration is to avoid this disaster, let us briefly consider international
relations in the world today, and start with America. The war which began with Germany using weapons of
un-precedence frightfulness against women and children ended with the United States using a supreme
weapon killing thousands at one blow.
Many persons in other countries now look on America with great suspicion, not only for the bomb but
because they fear she will become imperialistic. Before the recent turn in our policy I was sometimes not
quite free from such fears myself.
Others might not fear Americans if they knew us as we know one another, honest and sober and
neighbours. But in other countries they know that a sober nation can become drunk with victory. If
Germany had not won victory in 1870, what tragedy for the human race might have been averted!
17

We are still making bombs and the bombs are making hate and suspicion. We are keeping secrets and
secrets breed distrust. I do not say we should now turn the secret of the bomb loose in the world, but are we
ardently seeking a world in which there will be no need for bombs or secrets, a world in which science and
men will be free?
While we distrust Russias secrecy and she distrusts ours, we walk together to certain doom.
Before the raid on Hiroshima, leading physicists urged the Ward Department not to use the bomb
against defenceless women and children. The war could have been won without it. The decision was made
in consideration of possible future loss of American lives-and now we have to consider possible loss in future
atomic bombings of millions of lives. The American decision may have been fatal error, for men accustom
themselves to thinking a weapon which was used once can be used again.
Had was shown other nations the test explosion at Alamogordo, New Mexico, we could have used it as
an education for new ideas. It would have been an impressive and favourable moment to make considered
proposals for world order to end war. Your renunciation of this weapon as too terrible to use would have
carried great weight in negotiations and made convincing our sincerity in asking other nations for a binding
partnership to develop these newly unleashed powers for good.
The old type of thinking can raise a thousand objections of realism against this simplicity. But such
thought ignores the psychological realities. All men fear atomic war. All men hope for benefits from these
new powers. Between the realities of mans true desires and the realities of mans dangers, what are the
absolute realities of protocol of military protection?
During the way many persons fell out of the habit of doing their own thinking, for many had to do
simply what they were told to do. To-day lack of interest would be a great error, for there is much the
average man can do about this danger.
This nation held a great debate concerning the menace of the Axis, and again today we need a great
chain reaction of awareness and communication. Current proposals should be discussed in the light of the
basic facts, in every newspaper in schools, churches, in town meetings, in private conversations and
neighbour to neighbour. Merely reading about the bomb promotes knowledge in the mind, but only talk
between men promotes feeling in the heart.
Not even scientists completely understood atomic energy for each mans knowledge is incomplete. Few
men have ever seen the bomb. But all men if told a few facts can understand that this bomb and the danger
of war is a very real thing and not something far away, it directly concerns every person in the civilized
world. We cannot leave it to generals, senators and diplomats to work out a solution over a period a
generations. Perhaps five years from now several nations will have made bombs and it will be too late to
avoid disaster.
Ignoring the realities of faith, good will and honesty in seeking solution, we place too much faith in
legalisms, treaties, and mechanisms. We must begin through the U.N. atomic Energy Commission to work
for binding agreement, but Americas decision will not be made over a table in the United Nations. Our
representatives in New York, in Paris, or in Moscow depend ultimately on decisions made in the village
square.
To the village square we must carry the facts of atomic energy. From there must come Americas
voice.
This belief of physicists prompted our formation of the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists, to
make possible a great national campaign for education on these issues. Detailed planning for world security
will be easier when negotiators are assured of public understanding of our dilemmas.
Then our American proposals will be not merely documents about machinery, the dull, dry statements
of a government to other governments, but the embodiment of a message to humanity from a nation of
human beings.
Science has brought forth this dagger, but the real problem is in the minds and hearts of men. We will
not change the hearts or other men by mechanisms, but by changing our hearts and speaking bravely.
We must be generous in giving to the world the knowledge we have of the forces of nature, after
establishing safeguards against abuse.
18

We must be not merely willing but actively eager to submit ourselves to binding authority necessary for
world security.
We must realize we cannot simultaneously plan for war and peace.
When we are clear in heart and mind-only then shall we find courage to surmount the fear which
haunts the world.

3.3. TERMINAL QUESTIONS:

Section - A
1. According to Bertrand Russell what are the three faces of life of George Bernard Shaw?
2. Why did the German delegates consider Shaw as an incarnation of Satan?
3. How did webbs learn the technique of the drama?
4. What was a part of Victorian Humbug?
5. What is the opinion of Shaw about wit?
6. What is the recent message of Albert Einstein to the mankind?
7. What did the military minded people think at the time of war?
8. According to Albert Einstein what must be our defence?
9. According to Albert Einstein what is the result of pulting more power in the gun?
10. Why did many persons look at America with suspicion?
Section - B
1. Write a paragraph on a bicycle accident of Bertrand Russell and George Bernard Shaw.
2. Write about the meeting between Bergson and Shaw in a luncheon in London.
3. Write a short note on the admirable qualities of Bernard Shaw.
4. According to Albert Einstein what is the impact of producing the bomb?
5. What is the impact of producing war weapons in future?
6. What are the advice of Albert Einstein to the modern society?
Section - C
1. Sketch the character of George Bernard Shaw.
2. According to Albert Einstein when shall we find courage.

19

CHAPTER 04 - POETRY
4.0. INTRODUCTION
In this poem, The Day is Done Henry Wadsworth Longfellow depicts how to spend his time after
the day is over. He feels sad at the end of the day. In order to soothe his restless feelings he wants to read the
poems written by a humble poet. At night he wants to listen to music before he sleeps. In the poem, King
Arthurs Farewell Alfred Tennyson explains the ways of god to men.

4.1.

THE DAY IS DONE

The day is done, and the darkness

Falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight.
I see the lights of the village
Gleam through the rain and the mist,
And a feeling of sadness comes oer me
That my soul cannot resist.
A feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain,
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles rain.
Come, read me some poem,
Some simple heartfelt lay,
That shall soothe this restless feeling,
And banish the thoughts of the day.

Not from the grand old masters,

Not from the bards sublime,
whose distant footsteps echo
Through the corridors Time.
For, like strains of martial music,
Their mighty thoughts suggest
Lifes endless toil and endeavor;
And tonight I long to rest.
Read from some humbler poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart
And showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start:
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFLLOW

Who, through long days of labour,

And nights devoid of ease,
Still heard in his soul the music
20

of wonderful melodies.
Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care,
And come like the benediction
That follows prayer.
Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice,
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.
And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And so silently steal away.

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

4.2. KING ARTHURS FAREWELL

Then loudly cried the bold Sir Bedivere,
Ah! my Lord Arthur, wither shall I go?
Where shall I hide my forehead and my eyes?
For now I see the true old times are dead,
When every morning brought a noble chance,
And every chance brought out a noble knight.
Such times have been not since the light that led
The holy Elders with such gift of myrrh.
But now the Round Table is dissolved
Which was an image of the mighty world;
And I, the last, go forth companionless,
And the day darkens around me, and the years,
Among new men, strange faces, other minds.
And slowly Arthur answers from the barge:
The old order changeth, yielding place to the new,
And God fulfills himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.
Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me?
I have lived my life, and that which I have done
21

May He within Himself make pure ! but thou,

If though shouldst never see my face again,
Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world deems of. Wherefore, let the voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.
But now farewell.
ALFRED TENNYSON

4.3. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alfred Tennyson was born in Lincolnshire, England in 1809. His youth was spent with his brothers
who were also poets of some repute. The two-volume edition of his Poems, published in 1842 made him
famous. Upon the death of Words worth, he was made the Poet Laureate in 1850. He died in 1892.
Tennyson is the most representative poet of the Victorian age in the history of English poetry. The
conflict between science and religion, faith and skepticism which were the main issues of the Victorian era
get reflected in the poems of Tennyson. Tennyson is also remembered for the narrative and byrucal qualities
of his poetry.
MORT D ARTHUR (THE PASSING OF ARTHUR), from which the present passage is taken, is an exquisite
narrative poem. It was first published in 1842. Later it was enlarged and included in IDYLLS OF THE KING, a
poem based on Thomas Malorys version of the adventures of King Arthur, a mythical figure.
Arthur was the legendary king of England and was a great hero who fought many battles. He formed
the Round Table consisting of nine noble warriors called the knights. With their assistance, Arthur made
England a peaceful and prosperous country. While no enemy could defeat him, his nephew the treacherous
Modred plotted against Arthurs authority. A civil war broke out and Modred was killed. So were the other
knights except Sir Bedivere, the noblest of knights and the king.
This passage describes Arthurs word of farewell to Bedivere. When the king is mortally wounded
and bleeding, Sir Bedivere is heart-broken at Arthurs condition. Arthur consoles him by explaining the ways
of God to men.

4.4. KEYWORDS
3.

myforehead and eyes: his face

the light: the star in the East which appeared in the sky at Christs Birth.

8.

the holy elders: the Three Wise Men of the East.

myrrh: a kind of incense carried by the three wise men to celebrate Christs nativity.
22

9.

The Round Table: it was presented to Arthur as a wedding gift when he married
queen Guinevere. Arthur held his meetings with his nine nights only at this Round
Table. dissolved: because all knights except Bedivere are dead.

10. which was an image of the mighty world: the round table symbolized absolute
authority.
12. days darken round me: his life is now sad as the king is about to die.
13.
other minds: unsympathetic and unworthy people.
15. the old order... world: these lines are frequently quoted because they offer
Tennysons concept of evolution in a nutshell.
16. fulfills himself: God accomplishes Himself in many ways.
23. More... dreams of: Tennyson emphasizes the need for faith in the grace of the
Almighty.
26. What are men . . goats: men are no better than animals if they do not seek the
mercy of God.
27. That nourish... brain: people who live an entirely material life, without any
Spiritual awareness are like animals.
30, 31 the round . . God: the world is ruled by God and all creatures are his citizens.

4.5. TERMINAL QUESTIONS

Section - A
1. Who is the author of the poem, The Day is Done?
2. What does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow soul not resist after the day is over?
3. What does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow want to do to banish his restless feeling?
4. According to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow what is life?
5. Whose poem does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow want to read?
6. Who is sir Bedivere in the poem, King Arthurs Farewell?

7. Who is king Arthur?

8. What does king Arthur want sir Bedivere to do after his death?
9. Write a note on king Arthurs round table.
10. What does old order give place to ?

Section - B
1. Write a paragraph about the feelings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow after the days is done.
2. How does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow want to spend his night?

Section - C
1. How does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow want to spend his time after the day is done?
23

CHAPTER 05 - POETRY
5.0. INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes Walt Whitmans sad feelings after the death of Abraham Lincoln the president
of America. The poet compares America to a ship and Abraham Lincoln to a captain. The civil war in
America is compared to a storm. The ship overcame the storm but the captain was found dead on the deck.
This chapter also includes Robert Brownings poem, My Last Duchess. This poem is a dramatic
monologue. In a dramatic monologue only one character speaks and others listen to him or her. In this poem
the Duke of Ferrara speaks to the Ambassador of a foreign count whose daughter he seeks as his second wife.

5.1. O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!

O Captian! my captian! our fearful trip os done,
The ship has weatherd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen and dead.
O Captain! My Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up - for you the flag is flung - for you the bugle trills,
For you the boquets and the ribbond wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding
For you the call, the swaying mass, their meager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You have fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchord safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

24

WALT WHITMAN

5.2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Walt Whitman was born in West Hills, Long Island in 1819. Whitman attended public
schools and also learned the printers trade. Until 1861 he busied himself as printer and editor. His LEAVES
OF GRASS appeared in 1855. His Drum-Taps appeared in 1866 inspired by the civil War and the
assassination of Abraham Lincoln. A pioneer of American poetry, Whitman died in 1892.
Whitman was the first American poet to achieve truly international reputation. He attempted
to present his vision and experience in the form of his poems. Whitmans thought contains elements
drawn from many sources, both Eastern and Western. He evolved his own type of free verse for expression,
but was not indifferent to technique. The range of Whitmans subjects is remarkable. Essentially, he accepts
everything - the meanest to the most profound -as fit subject matter for his poetry.
Grief-stricken at the murder of President Abraham Lincoln, Whitman wrote the elegy O
Captain! My Captain! to mourn the death of his hero. The poignant mood of the poem moves one to tears.
Using the imagery of a star-crossed ship, successfully steered to the port by the brave captain who is now
dead and a mourning sailor, the poem refers to the Civil War and the murder of Abraham Lincoln.

5.3. KEYWORDS
1.
2.

4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Captain : Chief commander of a ship; President Lincoln.

fearful trip : dangerous voyage; the frightful Civil War in America (1861-1865).
weatherd : came through successfully; the goal has been achieved.
rack : suffering; danger.
the prize we... won : the goal has been achieved; the country is united.
exulting: rejoicing; celebrating.
keel : the structure of a ship from stern to bow.
bleeding. .red : Lincoln was shot on 14th April 1865 by a Southerner and he died
the Next day.
flung : unfurled
a-crowding : getting crowded with people.
swaying : moving in a restless manner.
dear father : Lincoln was affectionately known as father Abe.
It is some dream.. : he appears to be only asleep and in some dream.
victor ship : the ship that has weathered the storm; the nation that is united.
mournful tread : sad step ; grief-stricken.

5.4. MY LAST DUCHESS

Ferrara
Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder now: Fra Pandolfs hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands .
Fra Pandolf by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, twas not
25

Her husbands presence only, called that spot

Of joy into the Duchess cheek; perhaps
Fra Pondolf chanced to say, Her mantle laps
Over may ladys wrist too much or Paint
Must never hope to reproduce the faint
Half-flush that dies along her throat: such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
A heart - how shall I say? - too soon nade glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whateer
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, twas all one ! My favour at her hreast,
The dropping of the daylight at the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
She rode with round the terrace - all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. She thanked men - good! but thanked
Somehow - I know not how - as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-year-old name
With anybodys gift. Whod stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech - (which I have not ) - to make your will
Quite cllear to such an one, and say, Just this
Or thast in you disgusts me; here you miss,
Or there exceed the mark and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,
-Een then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh, sir she smiled, no doubt
Wheneer I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commmands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Willt please you rise? Well meet
The Company below, then. I repeart,
The count your masters known munificence
26

Is ample warrant that no just pretence

Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughters self as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay, well go
Together down, Sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, though a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

ROBERT BROWNING

5.5. ABOUT THE AUTHERS

Robert Browning was born at Campbell near London in 1812. Although his family was poor, he
attended the London University. He published his first book Pauline at the age of twenty-one The next
volume of poems, Paracelsus appeared in 1835. Though his readers were impressed with his originality, his
popularity did not come of age until Sordello (1840) and Pippa Passes (1841). His other major works
include Men and Women, Dramatic Lyrics, and Dramatiis Personae. He died in Venice, Italy 1889.
Browning was a poet of tremendous energy and his in sight into the human mind was remarkable.
As a poet, his genius was essentially dramatic rather than lyrical or narrative. He perfected the dramatic
monologue form, drawing his protagonists from various sources. Brownings style is often obscure because
his lines are cranned with ideas like a telegraphic message.
MY LAST DUCHESS is a dramatic monologue spoken by the Duke of Ferrara. The widower Duke (the
speaker) is interviewing the ambassador of a foreign Count, whose daughter he seeks as his second bride. As
he talks, he reveals his Wicked and cruel nature. He boasts of his family reputation and collection of
artifacts. He had regarded his first wife also as an object of possession. Infuriated by the warm-hearted
frankness and innocent friendliness of the Duchess, he has got her killed. As the poem progresses he
displays the arrogance and the full ruthlessness of his nature.

5.6. KEYWORDS
3. Pra Pondolf: an imaginary painter invented by Browning.
6. Pictured countenance: the face of the Duchess in the portrait.
11. such a glance: look
12,13 Sir, twas . . .cheek: the smile on the Duchess face.
15. mantle: loose sleeveless dress.
16-18. paint... throat: When the painter praised her beauty, the dutches was immensely pleased. Hence
the smile.
20. spot of joy: smile
21-23. she had.... everywhere: according to the Duke, the Dutches was a simpleton who liked everything
she saw.
27

25-28. the droppings... terrace. She liked whatever she saw and was pleased by even ordinary things like
the sunset, the mule she rode, the fruits given by somebody or the remarks of the painter about her dress.
33-34. My gift ... anybodys gift: the reason for the Dukes anger is given here. The Duchess did not consider
his royal ancestry as anything special. She had treated his gifts in the same way she used to treat the gifts
given by her subjects.
42-44. oh, she . . . smile? : the Duchess smiled at the Duke as she would smile at others without anything
special.
45-46. I gave .... altogether: the Duchess smiles stopped suddenly forever because of his commands. The
Duke cautiously avoids mentioning the nature of his command.
48. munificence: generosity. The Duke cleverly suggests that he is not averse to accepting dowry!
53-55. Notice .. me: As he leads the messenger from the art gallery, the Duke points to the rare sculpture of
Neptune and the sea-horse, cast for him by Claus of Innsbruck, another imaginary character.

5.7. TERMINAL QUESTIONS

SECTION - A
1. What is the theme of Walt Whitmans poem O captain My Captain?
2. Who is compared to a captain of a ship?
3. Which is compared to a ship?
4. What is the prize won by the captain?
5. Why does the captain not answer to the poet?
6. Who is the author of the poem, My Last Duchess?
7. Who is the Listener in the poem, My Last Duchess?
8. Who is the Fra Pandolf in the poem, My Last Duchess?
9. Where does the officious food meet the Last Duchess?
10. Why does the Duke kill the Duchess?

SECTION - B
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is the achievement of dead captain?

How do the people react to the ships arrival?
Why is the Duke Angry with his Last Duchess?
What does the Duke want the Ambassador to convey to a foreign count?

SECTION - C
1. How does Walt Whitman mourn the death Abraham Lincoln in his poem, o captain ! My captain?
2. Sketch the character of the Duke of Ferrara in Robert Brownings poem, My Last Duchess.

5.8. FURTHER READINGS

WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOORYARD BLOOMD

THE GRAMMERIANS FUNERAL

ANDREA DEL SORTO

28

CHAPTER 06 - POETRY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of two poems, Ode to a Nightingale written by John Keats and Lockinvar
written by Walter Scott. John Keats expresses his feelings after listening to the song of a nightingale which
Singest of summer in full-throated ease. Then he compares the happy world of the nightingale with our
world where men sit and hear each other groan. Walter Scott describes how Lochinvar, a brave young man
in Scotland determined to marry Ellen, enters into a hostile camp and carries her away on his horse back.

6.1. ODE TO A NIGHTINGALE

I
My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sence, as though of Hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drainss
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:
Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,
But being too happy in thine happinessThat thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees,
In some melodious plot
Of beechen Green, and shadows numberless,
Singest of summer in full-throated ease.
II
O, for a draught of vintage that hath been
Coold a long age in the deep-delved earth,
Tasting of Flora and the country green,
Dance and Provencal song, and sunburnt mirth!
O for a beaker full of the warm South,
Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrence,
With beaded bubbles winking at the brim,
And purple-stained mouth;
That I might drink, and leave the world unseen,
And with thee fade away into the forest dim:

III
Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget
What thou among the leaves hast never known,
The weariness, the fever, and the fret
Here, where men sit and hear each other groan;
Where palsy shakes a few, sad, last gray hairs
Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin and dies;
Where but to think is to be full of sorrow
And leaden-eyed despairs,
29

Where Beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes,

Or new Love pine at them beyond tomorrow,
IV
Away! away! for I will fly to thee,
Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards,
But on the viewless wings of Poesy,
Though the dull brain perplexes and retards:
Already with thee! tender is the night,
And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne,
` Clusters around by all her starry Fays;
But here there is no light,
Save what from heaven is with the breezes blown
Through verdurous glooms and winding mossy ways.
V
I cannot see what flowers are at my feet,
Nor what soft incense hangs upon the boughs,
But, in embalmed darkness, guess each sweet
Wherewith the seasonable month endows
The grass, the thicket, and the fruit tree wild;
white hawthorn, and pastoral eglantine;
fast fading violets coverd up in leaves;
And mid-Mays eldest child;
The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine,
The murmurous haunt of flies on summer eves.
VI
Darkling I listen; and, for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
Calld him soft names in many a mused rhyme,
To take into the air my quiet breath;
Now more than ever seems it rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain,
While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad
In such an ecstasy!
still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vainTo thy high requiem become a sod.
VII
Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!
No hungry generations tread thee down;
The voice I hear this passing night waw heard
In ancient days by emperor and clown:
Perhaps the self-same song that found a path
Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,
30

She stood in tears amid alien corn;

The same that oft times hath
Charmed magic casements, opening on the foam
Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.
VIII
Forlorn! the very word is like a bell
To toll me back from thee to my sole self!
Adieu! the fancy cannot cheat so well
As she is famed to, deceiving elf.
Adieu! adieu! thy plaintive anthem fades
Past the near meadows, over the still stream,
Up the hill side, and now tis buried deep
In the next valley-glades:
Was it a vision, or a wakingdrream?
Fled is that music: - Do I wake or sleep?
JOHN KEATS

6.2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Keats was born in 1795, the son of a stable keeper. After a poverty-stricken childhood, he went
to St. Thomas Hospital to be apprenticed to a surgeon. His contact with the literary luminaries of the day
like, Shelley, Leigh Hunt and Hazlitt drew him to the world of poetry. His ENDYMION, which appeared in
1818 was severely attacked by the contemporary literary journals. Though already a sick and broken man,
Keats was too much in love with poetry to be undervalued by such hostile criticism. He went on to compose
many more poems like the Odes, probably the finest in English, and HYPERION before he died of
consumption in 1821.
Curiosityand the love of beauty are the integral parts of Keats art. Early in life, Keats suffered
several setbacks in life which coloured his outlook upon life to a large extent. His poetry is pervaded by a
longing to escape from the harsh realities of life into a world of fantasy and bliss. Hence the bitter sweetness
of most of his poems.
ODE TO A NIGHTINGALE is Keats greatest poem and embodies his vision of life. This poem gives
expression to the poets aspiration to flee the life of thought and action for the solace of pure beauty. It also
glorifies the permanence of art as against the temporal nature of human life.

6.3. KEYWORDS
1-2.drowsy numbness. . . my sense: a sleepy feeling of numbness dulls the poets senses.
Hemlock: a plant, in ancient world it was used to produce a poisonous juice.
4. Lethe-wards: in classical mythology Lethe is the river of forgetfulness in Hell.
8. melodious plot: group of trees that echo with the music of the bird.
9. beechen green: the greenery of beech trees.
10. vintage wine: old wine.
31

14. Provencal song: a reference to the ancient ballad singers (troubadours) in Southern France.
15. goblet: wine-glass.
16. Hippocrene: reference to the Fountain of Horse in Greek mythology. This fountain was supposed to
have had the power to inspire those who drank of it.
23. The fever and the fret: the ills of this world.
25. Where palsy. . . hairs: paralysis or extreme weakness that affects mankind in old age.
26. Where youth . . . dies: if old age brings diseases like paralysis, youth is no better. Young people too,
become lean, worn out and die an early death.
32. not charioted . . pards: in classical mytghology, the chariot of Bachus, the god of wine, is drawn by
leopards.
33. poesy: poetry, imagination.
36. The queen Moon. . . fays: the moon is surrounded by stars that are her attendants.
40. Through verdurous. . . ways,: through the leafy branches of trees.
46. pastoral eglantine: a wild flower, famous for its fragrance.
52. The murmurous. .. eve: on summer evenings, bees alight on the Musk- rose to suck
honey.
53. requiem: special prayer for the dead
66. sod: grassland
66. Ruth: the principal character of THE BOOK OF RUTH in the Bible, who becomes a
slave in a far-off country and suffers a lot.
68. magic casements: magic windows found in old fairy tales.
70. forlorn: uncared for, lonely.
80. Do I . . sleep? : the illusion produced by the song of the nightingale has vanished, tossing the poet back
to the reality of this painful world.

6.4. LOCHINVAR
O young lochinvar is come out of the West!
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none;
He rode all unarmd, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like young Lochinvar.
He stayd not for brake, and he stoppd not for stone,
He swam the Eske river where ford there was none;
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate,
The bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For a laggard in love and a dastard in war,
was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.
So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall,
32

Among bridesmen and kinsmen, and brothers, and all:

Then spoke the brides father, his hand on his sword,
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word)
O come ye in peace, or come ye in war,
Or to dance at the bridal, young Lochinvar?
I long wood your daughter, my suit you denied;
Love swells like Solway, but ebbs like its tide,
And now am I come, with this love of mine,
To lead but one measure,drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar.
The bride kissd the goblet: the knight took it up
He quaffd off the wine, and threw down the cup.
She lookd down to blush, and she lookd up to sigh,
With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar,Now tread we a measure! said young Lochinvar.
So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a galliard did grace;
While her mother did fret, and her father did fume,
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume;
And the bride-maidens whisperd , Twere better by far,
To have matchd our fair cousin with young Lochinvar.
One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear,
When they reachd the hall door; and the charger stood near;
So light to croupe the fair lady he swung,
So light to saddle before her he sprung,
She is won! we re gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;
Theyll have fleet steeds that follow, quoth young lochinvar.
There was mounting mong Graems of the Netherby clan;
Forsters, Fenwocks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran:
There eas racing and chasing on Connonbie Lee.
But the lost bride of Netherby neer did they see.
So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,
Have ye eer heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?
WALTER SCOTT

6.5. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sir Walteer Scott was born in Edinburgh in. 1771. He was educated at Royal High School, Edinburgh and
at theUniversity. He spent much of his leisure exploring the Highlands and the Border country. This resulted
in his fascination for the old Scottish legends and Ballads. He tried to reanimate these tales in his novels and
poems. His best known works include the novels like Guy Mannering, The Heart of Midlothian,
33

Kenilworth and poems like THE LADY

He died in 1832.

OF THE

LAST MINSTREL, MARMION and THE LADY

OF THE

LAKE.

In the ballad LOCHINVAR, Scott tells how in olden days brave young men in Scotland possessed the
necessary valour to accomplish extraordinary things. In this case, young Lochinvar, determined to marry
Ellen, appears in a hostile camp in the face of danger.

6.6. KEYWORDS
7. brake: thicket
10. had consented: marry the other man, against her wish. She loved only the brave Lochinvar. gallant:
brave
11 laggard and dastard: weak and cowardly
16. craven: coward
20. spring-tides in the river Solway were believed to be specially powerful.
29. bar: prevent
30. tread we a measure: let us dance.
38. charger: horse.
41. scaur: a steep rock.
43,44.Greames. . .Musgraves: The names of various clans supporting Ellens father, the Lord of Nether by
Hall.

6.7. TERMINAL QUESTIONS

Section - A
1. Who wrote the poem, Ode to a Nightingale?
2. Where does the nightingale sing a song in John Keatss poem, Ode to a Nightingale?
3. How can John Keats leave the world unseen?
4. How does John Keats want to go to the happy world of the Nightingale?
5. When does John Keats want to die?
6. Where does Lochinvar come from?
7. How does Lochinvar come to nether by hall?
8. Why does Lochinvar come to nether by hall?
9. What do bride-maidens say about Lochinvar?
10. What does the bride agree to marry lochinvar?
Section - B
1. What is John Keats immediate reaction on hastening to the listening to the nightingale?
2. How does John Keats describe the tragedy of human life?
3. Write a paragraph on Lochinvars reply to Ellens father.
4. How does Walter Scott describe Lochinvars escape?
Section - C
1. How does John Keats compare the world of nightingale with the world of human beings in his poem,
Ode to a Nightingale?
34

CHAPTER 07 - ONE ACT PLAYS

7.0. INTRODUCTION
Gordon Davids Remember Caesar is a comedy based on Remember the Ides of March Which
reminds us the tragic killing of Julius Caesar on the 15th of March by a group of conspirators like Brutus,
Cassius, Casca etc. In this play Lord Weston is a strict judge. He finds a paper in his pocket with the
inscription Remember Caesar which leads to humorous situations in the play. Anton Chekovs play, The
proposal depicts that the Russian farmers are quarrelsome. They are every sensitive and often change their
opinions.

7.1. REMEMBER CAESAR - GORDON DAVIOT

Scene: A room in the house of Richard, LORD WESTON, on a spring morning in the reign of Charles II,
LORD WESTON is not wealthy, and the room is a combination of study and withdrawing -room. Up
right is the door to the landing, in the rear wall a large casement window looking out to the front of
the house, in the left wall the fireplace and, down, another window through which one can see the
trees in the garden. Up from the fireplace a cupboard in the wall Hanging on the walls and over the
fireplace are family portraits.
LORD WESTON is seated by the fireplace, a table of book and papers beside him. He is engaged in
filling his pipe. And talking.
Down right, where the light from the side window falls across his small writing-table, is seated Mr.
Roger chetwynd, a thin, earnest, absent-minded, and conscientious youth. So conscientious is he that
his mind, even when absent, is absent on his employers business. He has begun by listening to hos
masters lecture, but the lure of his work has been gradually too much for him, and he is now
blissfully copying from one paper on to another while the measured words flow over him, his lips
forming the phrases while he writes .
WESTON: And furthermore (he passes to arrange the tobacco) it is not alone a question of duty; there is
your own success in the world to be considered. It is not your intention to be a secretary all your
life, is it? No. Very well. Diligence, and a respect for detail should be your care. I did not
become Lord Weston by twit dlingmy thumbs and hoping for favours. That, I submit, my good
Roger, is an example to be studied. It is not only unbecoming in you to ask for a half-holiday,
but it is greatly unlike you. I fear ... (He has turned towards his secretary, and discovers his
misplaced diligence. After a pause coldly) can it be, Mr. Chetwynd, that you have not been
listening to my discourse?
ROGER:

( brought to he surface by the cessation of the word music) What, my lord? Oh, no, Yes,
certainly, sir, I am listening.

WESTON: What was I talking of?

ROGER:

Yourself, sir. (Amending) I mean, of your rise to success, my lord. (It is apparent that it is an
oft-heard tale).
WESTON: We are talking of your extraordinary request for a half holiday, when you had one only last
month. On that occasion, if I remember well, your parents came to town and you must need go
gadding. Would you mind if I were to inquire what prompts this new demand for heedless
leisure ?
ROGER:

I thought perhaps if you did not need me this afternoon, my lord, I might personally interview
the clerk of the Awards Committee, and find out why he has not sent that document.

WESTON: (a little taken aback) Oh. Oh, indeed.

35

ROGER:

I lack of it greatly hinders. It holds up my work. you see. And at this most interesting point...
(His glance goes longingly to his desk).

WESTON: That, of course, is a different matter. I see no reason (he looks for a spill for his pipe, first on
the table and then, rising, by the fire) why you should not take a walk to Mr. Clays in the
afternoon if the weather is fine. I am relieved that your thoughts are on sober matters, as befits a
rising young man. Diligence, courage, and attention to detail: these are the three... Where are
the spills? These are what bring a man to success and endow him with dignity... No tapers and
no spills, as usual! (Looking on the table for a scrap of paper and finally feeling in his pocket).
Without an orderly mind no man can hope (Roger has gone back to his work) to excel in any of
the learned professions. (He has found a scarp of paper, rather crushed, in his pocket and
smooths it out, uninterestedly, to make a rough spill). Detail, my good Roger, attention to detail.
That is the beginning of greatness. That is the... (reading automatically and with some difficulty
what is written on the scrap of paper) Remember Caesar, (Repeating, with vague interest)
Remember Caesar. (He turns the paper back and forth, at a loss. And then a new idea occurs
to him, a rather horrible idea. To Roger) What is the date to-day? (As Roger, buried again in his
work, does not answer) Roger ! said, what day of the month is it?
ROGER:

(Hardly Pausing) It is the fifteenth, my lord.

WESTON: The fifteenth ! The fifteenth of March. The Ides of March ! (Looking at the paper again: in a
horrified whisper) Remember Caesar! (Louder). So they want to kill me, do they? They want
to kill me? (Roger comes to the surface, surprised). That is what it is to be a judge over men (all
his Pompousness is dissolving in agitation), an instrument of justice. Sooner or later revenge
lies await in the by-ways. And the jester has been, the more fearless (he waves the paper in the
astonished Rogers face), so much greater will be the hate that pursuesROGER:

What is it, my lord? What is it?

WESTON: My death warrant if I am not careful. What cases have we had lately? The treason affair - I
refused to be bribed ! (The boast gives him a passing comfort). The Piracy-both sides hate me
for that. Or there was that footpadROGER: Is it a threat, the paper? Where did it come from?
WESTON: It was in my pocket. Someone must have... Yes, now I remember. A man brushed against me
yesterday as I was leaving the courts. A small, evil - looking fellow, very sly.
ROGER:

What does it say, the paper?

WESTON: (much too occupied with his own fate to attend to his secretarys curiosity) Just at the door, it
was, and he didnt wait for apology. I remember, well, I can only thank them for the warning.
Go downstairs at once, Roger, and lock and bar all the doors. Lock, bar, and chain them. And
ask my wife to come to me at once. At once. Stop! Are there any stranger in the house?
Workmen or such?
ROGER:

Only Joel the gardener, my lord; he is cleaning the windows on the landing. (He indicates with
his head that Joel is just outside).

WESTON: Send him away at once. Tell him to leave everything and go, and lock the door behind him. And
the windows - see that the windows, too, are closed. (Roger goes with speed. One can hear him
begin his order to Joel before he shuts the door; Joel, his lordship says that you must... and the
whistling which has become audible through the opened door dies away. Weston left alone,
peers cautiousiy from each window, in turn. Then his mind, temporarily relieved, goes to the
36

cupboard and is greatly exercised again. He stares at it fearfully for a moment or two, and then
puts his fear to the rest. He takes a pistol from the drawer of his desk).
WESTON: (facing the cupboard with leveled pistol) Come out ! Come out, I say. (There is silence). Drop
your weapon and come out or I shall shoot you now. (As there is still silence he forces himself
to close in on the cupboard door, and standing to the side pulls it quickly open. It is empty. As
soon as his relief abates he is ashamed. and hastily returns the pistol to its drawer). (Enter,
bright and purposeful, Lady Weston. A charming creature. One knows at a glance that she is an
excellent housewife, but to the last one is never sure how much intelligence and sweet malice
there lies behind her practical simplicity).
LADY WESTON:

(looking back as she comes in) I do wish that Joel wouldnt leave pails of water on the
landing! What is it, Richard? Its baking morning.

WESTON: (going to her and taking her hand in his reassuringly) My dear, dont be alarmedLADY WESTON:

I, m not. But the surest way to make me is to pat my hand and tell me not to be.

WESTON: My dear, your husbands life is in grave danger.

LADY WESTON:
WESTON:

The last time it was in danger you had been eating game pe. What is this time?

(annihilating her flippancy with one broadside) Assassination !

LADY WESTON:

Well well ! You always wanted to be a great man and now you have got your wish!

WESTON: What do you mean ?

LADY WESTON:

They dont assassinate nobodies.

WESTON: (showing her the paper) Read that, and see if you can laugh.
LADY WESTON:

Im not laughing. (Trying to read the writing) What a dreadful scrawl.

WESTON: Yes, the venomous scribbling of an illiterate.

LADY WESTON:

(deciphering): Remember Caesar. Is it a riddle?

WESTON: It is a death warrant. Do you know what day this is?

LADY WESTON:

Thursday.

WESTON: What day of the month?

LADY WESTON:

About the twelfth, I should guess.

WESTON (with meaning): It is the fifteenth. The fifteenth of March.

LADY WESTON:

Lawdamussy! Your good-sisters birthday! And we havent sent her as much as a lily!

WESTON: I have deplored before, Frances, the incurable lightness of your mind. On the fifteenth of March
Caesar was murdered in the Forum.
LADY WESTON:

Yes, of course, I remember. They couldnt stand his airs any longer.
37

WESTON (reproving):

He was a great man.

LADY WESTON (Kindly): Yes, my dear, I am sure he was. (Looking again at the scrap of paper) And is
someone thinking of murdering you?
WESTON: Obviously.
LADY WESTON:
WESTON:

I wonder someone hasnt done it long ago. (before the look of wonder can grow in his
eye) A great many people must hate judges. And you are a strict judge, they say.

It is the law that is strict. I am a judge, my good Frances, not a juggler. I have never twisted
the law to please the mob, and I shall not please them by dying on the day of their choice.

LADY WESTON:

No, of course not. You shall not go out of the house to-day. A nice light dinner and a
glass of -

WESTON : I have sent Roger to close all the doors, and I think it would be wise to close the ground floor
shutters and see that they are not opened for any LADY WESTON:

Is it the French and the Dutch together you are expecting! and this is the morning Mr.
Gammons boy come with the groceries. How am I to -

WESTON: My dear, is a little pepper more to you than your husbands life?
LADY WESTON:

It isnt a little pepper, its a great deal of flour. And you would be the first to complain
if the bread were short, or the gravy thin. (Giving him back the paper) How do you
know the little paper meant for you?

WESTON: Because it was in my pocket. I found it there when I was looking for something to light my
pipe. (with meaning) There were no spills.
LADY WESTON:

No spills. What, again? Richard, you smoke far too much.

WESTON (continuing hastily):

LADY WESTON:

It was slipped into my pocket by a man who brushed against me

yesterday. A dark, lean fellow with an evil face.

I dont think he was very evil.

WESTON: What do you know about it?

LADYWESTON:

WESTON:

It was kind of him to warn you. And wasnt it a mercy that the spills were finished and
that no one had made any more! If there had been even one there you would never
have seen the paper. You would have gone for your noon walk down the Strand and
someone would have struck you like a goose on a spit, and I should have been a
window before dinner-time-

(Sinking into a chair) Stop, Frances, stop! It upsets me to- (Enter Roger, a little out of breath
after his flying tour round the house. Lady Weston exits.)

WESTON: Ah, Roger. Have you seen to it all? Every door barred, every window shut, all workmen out(after a while) I see no reason now why you should not resume your work, Roger.
ROGER:

Oh, my lord, it is beyond my power to work while you are in danger. Is there not something I
could do?

WESTON: (mightily flattered) Nonsense, my good Roger, nonsense! Nothing is going to happen to me.
38

ROGER:

I could perhaps go and warn authorities and so prevent-

Weston (very brave):

ROGER:

No, no, no. Am I spend the rest of my life with a guard at my heels? A pretty figure I
should cut! Go on with your work and ... (his eye has lighted on a package which is
lying on a chair against the right wall. The boxes is oblong - roughly 18 in. by 10 in.
by 4 in. and tied with cord. Sharply) what is this?

That came for you this morning sir.

WESTON: What is it?

ROGER (with the faint beginning of doubt in his voice): I dont know, my lord. A man came with it and
said that it was important that you should have it today.
WESTON: And you didnt seem to be my business, I never do ask about the contents of your lordships ... I
showed your lordship the package when it came, and you said to leave it there.
WESTON (petting with growing uneasiness at the thing): The man who brought it, what did he look like?
Was he small Dark?
ROGER (who obviously had taken no notice):
I think he was smallish, But as to dark-his hat was pulled
over his face, I think - I think he appeared to have a mole on his chin, but I would not...., It may
have been just a WESTON: A mole? (his imagination at work) A mole! Yes, Yes. That man had a mole. The man who
brushed against me. On the right side of his jaw. I can see it as if he were standing here. We
must get rid of this. At once.
ROGER:

Do you think it is some infernal machine, sir? what shall we do with it?

WESTON (indicating the side window): Open the window and I shall throw it as far into the garden as I can.
ROGER: But it may explode, sir, if we throw it.
WESTON: What is certain is that it will explode if we do not! How long has it been lying here?
ROGER:

It came about nine oclock, my lord.

WESTON: What is certain is that it will explode if we do not ! How long has it been lying here?
ROGER:

It came about nine oclock, my lord.

WESTON (in agony): Nearly three hours ago! Open the window, Roger.
ROGER:

No, sir. You open the window. Let me handle the thing. My life is nothing. Yours is of great
value to England.

WESTON: No, Roger, no. You are young. I have had my life. There are still great things for you to do in
the world. You must live, and write my life for posterity. So as I say. I promise you I shall
exercise the greatest care. (As Roger rushes to the window) No. Wait! A better idea. The
gardeners pail. It is still on the landing!
ROGER:

Yes, Yes, of course! (He is out of the room and back in a moment with the wooden pail of water
which still has the wet cleaning rag hung over its edge.)
39

WESTON: Stand back. (He picks up the parcel gingerly.) We do not know what satanic thing may happen.
(He inserts the parcel lengthwise into the pail, at full stretch of his arm, his head averted, his
eyes watching from their extreme corners.) There is not enough water! Not enough to cover it!
ROGER: Ill get some. I shall not be a moment.
WESTON: No, Dont go. The flowers! (He indicates a bowl of daffodils).
ROGER: Of course! (He pulls the daffodils from their setting, throwing them on the desk in his agitation
and pours the water into the pail). Ah! That has done it!
WESTON (dismayed, as he takes in his hand from the package): Now it is going to flat! It must be wet
through, or it is no use.
ROGER:

We must put something heavy on top, to keep it down.

WESTON: Yes, Yes. Get something.

ROGER:

What shall I get?

WESTON: Good God, boy! Have you no ideas once the pen is out of your hand? Anything, anything that is
heavy and that will fit into yarn pail. Book, anything!
ROGER (To whom books are objects of reverence, If not awe):
wont they?

Books, sir? But theyll get very wet,

WESTON: In the name of heaven bring the first six books off the shelf!
ROGER (snatching the books and bringing them): I suppose it cannot be helped. Such beautiful binding
too! (He picks the wet cloth off the edge of the pail, dropping it on the carpet, and plunges the
books into the water, which very naturally overflows at this new incursion).
WESTON

(letting go his hold on the package and sitting back on this wheels with a sigh of relief): Ah!
Well and truly drowned. (He mops his forehead and Roger collapse into the nearest chair).
(Enter Lady Weston, with a tray on which is a glasses of wine and some biscuits).

LADY WESTON (seeing strange occupation): Lawdamussy, Richard! What have you got in the pail?
WESTON: A package that camera this morning. The man who brought it was the same fellow that
knocked against me yesterday and slipped that paper into my pocket. They thought I would
open it, the fools! (He is beginning to feel better). But we have been one too many for them!
LADY WESTON (in wild dismay): But how stupid! You are just making a mess of the beautiful, brand
newWESTON (interrupting her angrily): Frances ! (The thunder of her name quenches her speech). What does
yours beautiful brand-new carpet matter when your husbands life is at stake? You shock me.
LADY WESTON (who has not been going to says carpet): Carpet? (After a pause, mildly) No, of course
not, my dear. I should never dream of weighing your safety against even the finest product of
Asia. Come and sit down and have a glass of wine. (she puts the tray on his desk, gathering up
the scattered daffodils as she does so) You know the doctor disapproves of excitement for you.
WESTON: Perhaps the doctor has never had an infernal machine handed in at his door on a spring
morning.
40

(Lady Weston picks up the cloth from the floor, mops the spilt water, and pauses to look
curiously at the content of the pail as they catch her eye).
ROGER (who has been staring at the pail in absorbed fascination): I am afraid we have made a little mess.
Please let me do that.
LADY WESTON (in mild conversational tones): That looks like Mr. Spencer in the water.
ROGER: Yes, it is. The thing floated, you see. And time was all important. So it was imperative to take
whatever was nearest to weight it down.
LADY WESWTON: I see. (Handing him the wet cloth, and the flowers) Would you be kind enough to take
these down stairs? (She adds the empty flower bowl to his load). One of the maid will
fill that for you.
(Roger goes).
WESTON:

Have the kitchen wenches decided that the door of their domain may at last be bolted?

LADY WESTON:

Oh, they are all very happy. Cook thinks she knows how to make bullets by dropping
hot head into cold water, or something of the sort.

WESTON: My household seem to treat my danger as a sort of rare-show.

LADY WESTON:

No, dear, no. All maids like a little to-do. It makes life important for them.

WESTON: A little to-do! My funeral, I hope will be even more exciting for them. You must have a wake to
please the kitchen-maid.
LADY WESTON: (not listening to him; contemplative, her eyes on the portrait which hangs opposite the
side window) Do you think we had better remove Great-aunt Cicely?
WESTON: In the name of heaven, why?
LADY WESTON:

She is in the direct line of shots coming through that window.

WESTON : And why should any shots come through the window, may I ask?
LADY WESTON (madly objecting to the tone): Anyone sitting in the ilex tree out here would be in aWESTON (on his feet): Frances! What made you think of the ilex tree?
LADY WESTON:

That is where I would shoot you from. I mean, if I were going to shoot you. The leaves
are thick enough to hide anyone sitting there, and yet not enough to obscure their view.

WESTON: Come away from that window.

LADY WESTON (moving to him): No one is going to shoot me.
WESTON (running out of the room, and calling to Roger from the landing):
Roger! Roger!
ROGER (very distant):
My lord?
WESTON: Has the gardener gone away yet?
ROGER:

No, my lord. He is eating his dinner outside the kitchen window.

41

WESTON: Tell him to sit under the ilex tree until I give him leave to move.
ROGER:

The ilex tree? Yes, my lord.

(Weston comes back and goes to the drawer of the table where his pistol is kept.)

LADY WESTON (as he takes out the pistol): Oh, Richard, dear, be careful. That is a very dangerous
weapon.
WESTON (grimly important):

I know it!

LADY WESTON:

It is so rusty that it is liable to do anything. (As her husband proceeds to load the
weapon.) You know that you havent used it for years.

WESTON:

Theres nothing wrong with my pistol but a little dust.

LADY WESTON:

Well, I think it is a poor way to fail an assassin.

WESTON: What is?

LADY WESTON:

Blowing oneself up.

(Enter Roger with the bowl of daffodils)

WESTON (looking round at him as he comes in): Has Joel gone to sit under the tree?
ROGER:

Yes, sir. (Putting down the bowl and making for the side window). At least, I gave him your
message.

WESTON: Keep away from that window ! (As Roger looks astonished) There may be some one in the ilex
tree.
(A loud knocking on the front door downstairs. This is such an unexpected development that all
three are momentarily quite still, at a loss. Roger is the first to recover).
ROGER :

Someone at the front door.

(He moves over to the window in the rear wall, from which one can see the street. He is about
to open the casement so that he may lean out to inspect the knocker when Lord Weston stops
him.)

WESTON

(still at the fireplace) : Dont open that window!

ROGER:

But I cannot see otherwise, my lord, who it is.

WESTON: If you put your head out of that window they may shoot without waiting to ask questions.
LADY WESTON: But, Richard, it may be some perfectly innocent visitor.
(The knocking is repeated)
ROGER:

If I were to stand on a chair... (He brings a chair to the window and stands on it, but he is still
not high enough to look down on whoever waits at the front door.)

WESTON: Well? Well? Can you tell who it is?

ROGER: I am still not high enough, my lord.
LADY WESTON:

Add the footstool, Roger.

(Roger adds the footstool to the chair, and aided by Lady Weston Climbs on the
precarious erection.)
42

LADY WESTON:

Now, can you see anyone?

ROGER (having seen, scrambling down): All is well, my lord. (He throws open the casement, and calls to
someone below) ; In a moment, my good, sir, in a moment ! All is well, my lord. It is only Mr.
Caesar. (As this information is succeeded by a blank pause) Shall Iley him in ?
WESTON: Who did you say?
ROGER:

Mr. Caesar. You remember the man you met on Tuesday at Hampton, my lord. He was to come
to see you this morning about rose trees. You made a note of it.

WESTON : (taking the crumpled piece of paper from his pocket in a dazed way) I made a note?
Remember Caesar. Is that my writing? Yes, it must be, Dear me!
LADY WESTON (kindly) : I shouldnt have agreed it was the venomous scribbling of an illiterate. You had
better go down and let Mr. Caesar in, Roger. Put the pistol away, Richard, dear; your
visitor might misunderstand it. (She speaks cheerfully, as to a child; it is obvious from
her lack of surprise that alarms and excursions created by her husband over trifles are a
normal part of existence for her). And if you take Mr. Spencer out of the water, I shall
send Joel to take away the bucket. Perhaps Mr. Brutus would like some cordial?
WESTON:

Mr. Caesar. (He moves towards the bucket).

LADY WESTON:

Of course. How could anyone forget a name like that? And now, if youll for give me...
Its my busy morning.

WESTON (arresting her as she is going out of the door):

think?
LADY WESTON:

Oh Frances! What was in the parcel, do you

That was your new velvet cloak, dear. I did try to tell you, you know.(Exit).
(The curtain comes down on Lord Weston ruefully taking the first dripping book from
the water).

7.4. ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE PLAY

Gordon Daviot is the pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh (1897 - 1952), a Scottish novelist and
dramatist. She was a physical education instructor by profession. He took to literary career with mystery
stories like The Man in the Queue before talking to dramatic composition. Her most popular play is Richard
of Bordeaux, a historical play dealing with the career of Richard II of England. Other plays of hers include
The Stars Bow Down and The Queen of Scots. She wrote her mystery stories under another pseudonym
(name which is not ones own), Josephine Toy.
Remember Caesar is a comedy based on the oft-quoted phrase Remember the Ides of March which
reminds us of the tragic killing of Julius Caesar on the 15 March by a group of conspirators. *(Lord Weston
has such a high opinion about himself that he brings himself to believe that a paper found in his pocket with
the inscription Remember Caesar is a death - warrant from someone who has been affected because he was
a strict judge). * The dramatist works out the play so nicely that we are on our toes until the climax which
pricks the bubble and revels the humorous end of the play. The events in the play take place roughly during
1660 - 1685.

43

7.5. KEYWORDS
with drawing room : room where members of the house go back if they want to discuss anything without the
knowledge of the guest
conscientious (adj.) : careful to do ones duty properly.
lure (n) : the promised gain (here) love.
blissfully (adv) : working with care and not wasting time.
twiddle (v) : twist with fingers aimlessly (here) waiting for fortune moments
discourse (n) : speech.
amend (v) : change, modify.
oft-heard tale : story often heard.
gad (v) : thin piece of paper for lighting a pipe
endow (v) : give a large sum as donation, (here) bless.
taper (n) : candle.
scrap (n) : small piece.
smooth (v) : make smooth.
agitation (n) : state of being shaken.
pompousness (n) : behaving in a ceremonial way.
treason (n) : disloyalty.
footpad (n) : robber.
brush (v) : push.
sly (adj.) : deceiving cleverly and secretly.
audible (adj.) : that which is heard.
abate (v) : make or become less.
malice (n) : desire to do become less
pail (n) : bucket.
baking morning : morning in which bread baked for the house.
annihilate (v) : destroy completely.
flippancy (n) : speaking lightly about serious matters.
game pie (n) : a delicious food item.
decipher (v) : discover the meaning of.
grave (adj.) : serious.
assassination (n) : murder esp. of an important person
scrawl (v) : writing
venomous (adj.) : poisonous
riddle (n) : difficult or amusing question.
Lawdamussy : an expression of excitement mannerism)
deplore (v) : be angry or sorry.
Forum : Senate of Rome.
Juggler (n) : one who does tricks.
The Frecnh and the Dutch : those who were not in friendly terms with the English.
Mr. Gamn s : a Departmental store for provisions
Strand : a London street.
a goose on a spit : a dead goose (a goose being fried on a girl)
flatter (v) : Praise.
at my heels : chasing me.
infernal (adj.) : dangerous
44

explode (v) : blow up

posterity (n) : future.
gingerly (adv.) : cautiously.
satanic (adj.) : evil.
incursion (n) : sudden quick bursting in
mop (v) : wipe.
reverence (n) : great respect.
awe (n) : feeling of respect mixed with fear.
Mr. Spencer : a book (by Mr. Spencer).
imperative (adj.) : necessary (out of compulsion).
wench (n) : maid.
rare-show (n) : a peep show, a cheap street fair.
to-do (n) : excitement.
wake (n) : merry making (keeping awake all night.)
contemplative (adj.) : thoughtful.
Great aunt Cicely : a family member of Lord Weston.
liable (adj.) : probably going to.
fail (v) : cause to fail in an attempt.
precarious (adj.) : uncertain, dangerous.
blow oneself up : shoot oneself.
casement (n) : window which opens like a door.
momentarily (adj.) : lasting only for short time.
crumpled (adj.) : rolled up and pressed in the hand.
trifle (n) : unimportant thing.
cloak (n) : loose outer garment.
ruefully (adv) : with feelings of pity
lurk (v) : lie hidden.
cordial (n) : medicine for reviving the heart: a warm drink.

7.6. THE PROPOSAL - ANTON CHEKOV

(The drawing-room in CHOOBUKOVs house. CHOOBUKOV and LOMOV; the latter enters wearing
evening dress and white gloves.)
CHOOBUKOV (going to meet him) : My dearest friend, fancy seeing you! Ivan Vassilievich! Im so glad!
(Shakes hands.) Well, this is a real surprise, dear old boy !.... How are you?
LOMOV

: Thank You. And how are you, pray?

CHOOBUKOV : Were getting on reasonably well, my cherub- thanks to your prayers and all that.. Please
do sit down.. You know its too bad of you to forget your neighbours, old fellow. But my dear
friend, why all this formality? Tails, gloves, and all the rest of it! Are you going visiting, or
what, dear boy?
LOMOV

: No, Ive only come to see you, my dear Stepan Stepanovich.

45

CHOOBUKOV : Then why wear tails, dear boy? As though you were making a formal call on New Years
Day!
LOMOV

: The fact is, You see... (Takes his arm). Ive come to ask a favour of you, my dear Stepan
Stepanovich - If Im not causing too much trouble. Ive taken the liberty of seeking your help
more than once in the past, and youve always, so to speak.. But forgive me, Im in such a
state.. Ill take a drink of water, my dear Stepan Stepanovich (Drinks water)

CHOOBUKOV (aside) : Hes come to ask for money! I shant give him any! (To Lomov) Whats the matter,
my dear young fellow?
LOMOV

: You see, my dear Stepanovich... Forgivbve me, Stepan, my dear... I mean Im in such a state of
nerves - as you can see.. In short, youre the only man who can possibly help me, though, of
course, I havent done anything to deserve it, and... and I have no right to count on your
assistance...

CHOOBUKOV : Oh, didnt spin it out, dear boy! Out with it. Well?
LOMOV

: Yes, yes...Ill tell you straight away... The fact is that Ive come to ask for the hand of your
daughter, Natalyia Stepanovna.

CHOOBUKOV (joyfully) : Ivan Vassillievich! My dearest friend! Say it again - I didnt quit hear you!
LOMOV

: I have the honour to ask...

CHOOBUKOV (interrupting him) : My dearest chap!... I am so very glad, and so forth... Yes, indeed- and
all that sort of thing (Embraces and kisses him). Ive wished it for a long time. It always has
been my wish. Im stunned with joy, simply stunned! Oh, with all my heart... Ill go and call
Natasha, and so on....
LOMOV (moved) : My dear Stepan Stepanych, what do you think. shell say? May I count on her
consenting?
CHOOBUKOV : She not consent to it? - and you such a good-looker, too! I bet shes up to her ears in love
with you, and so forth. Ill tell her straight away! (Goes out).
LOMOV (alone) : I am cold.. Im trembling all over as if I were going in for an examination. Natalyia
Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper educated, not bad-looking... what more do I want?
But Im in such a state that Im beginning to have noises in my head. (Drinks water). Yet I
mustnt stay single. In the first place, Im thirty five already- a critical age, so to speak.
Secondly, I must we have an ordered, regular life.. Ive got a heart disease, with continual
palpitations.. I flare up so easily, and Im always getting terribly agitated... Even now my lips
are trembling and my right eyelids twitching...
(Enter NATALYIA)
NATALYIA : Oh, so its you! And Papa said; go along, theres a customer come for the goods. How do you
do, Ivan Vasssilievich?
LOMOV

: How do you do, my dear Natalyia Stepanovna?

NATALYIA : Excuse my wearing this apron and not being properly dressed. Were shelling peas for drying.
Why havent you been to see us for so long? Do sit down...
46

(They sit down).

Will you have some lunch?
LOMOV

: No, thank you, Ive already had lunch.

NATALYIA : Wont you smoke? Here are some matches... Its a magnificent day, but yesterday it rained so
hard that the men did nothing all day. But whats all this? I believe youre wearing tails!. This
is something new! Are you going to a ball or something? By the way, youve changed- youre
better looking!... But really, why are you dressed up like this?
LOMOV (in agitation) : You see, dear Natalyia Stepanovna... The fact is that Ive decided to ask you to ...
listen to me .....Naturally, Youll be surprised, Possibly even angry, but I... (Aside). How
dreadfully cold it is!
NATALYIA : What is it then? (A pause) Well?
LOMOV

: Ill try to be brief. You are aware, of course, my dear Natalyia Stepanovna, that Ive had the
honour of knowing your family a long time- from my very childhood, in fact. My late aunt
and her husband - from whom, as you know, I inherited the estate - always entertained a
profound respect for your father and your late mother. The family of the Lomovs and the
family of the Choobukovs have always been on the friendliest and , one might almost say, on
intimate terms. Besides, as you are aware, my land is in close proximity to yours. Perhaps you
will recollect that my Volovyi meadows lie alongside your birch wood.

NATALYIA : Excuse me, but I must interrupt you there. You say my Volovyi meadows ... But are they
really yours?
LOMOV

: Yes, mine...

NATALYIA : Well, what next! The Volovyi meadows are ours, not yours!
LOMOV

: No, theyre mine, dear Natalyia Stepanovna.

NATALYIA : Thats news to me. How do they come to be yours?

LOMOV

: What do you mean, how? Im speaking of the Volovyi meadows that lie like a wedge between
your birch wood and the Burnt Swamp.

NATALYIA : But yes, of course... Theyre ours.

LOMOV

: No, youre mistaken, my dear Natalyia Stepanovna they are mine.

NATALYIA : Do come to your senses, Ivan Vassilievich! How long have they been yours?
LOMOV

: What do you mean by how long? As long as I can remember - theyve always been ours.

NATALYIA : Well, there you must excuse me for disagreeing

LOMOV

: You can see it in the documents, my dear Natalyia Stepanovna. Its true that the Volovyi
meadows were a matter of dispute at one time, but now everyone knows that theyre mine.
Theres really no need to argue about it. My aunts grandmother handed over those meadows
to your great grandfathers peasants for their use, rent free, for an indefinite period, in return
for their firing her bricks. Your great grandfathers peasants used the meadows rent free for
47

forty years or so and got accustomed to looking upto them as their own... and then when the
settlement was made...
NATALYIA : Grandfather, grandmother, aunt ...I dont understand anything about it! The meadows are
ours, thats all!
LOMOV

: Theyre mine!

NATALYIA : Theyre ours! You can go on trying to prove it for two days, you can put on fifteen dress suits
if you like, but theyre still ours, ours!...
LOMOV

: I dont want the meadows, Natalyia Stepanovna, but its a matter of principle. If you wish, Ill
give them to you as a present.

NATALYIA : But Im the one who could make a present of them to you- because theyre mine! ... All this is
very strange, Ivan Vassilievich, to say the least of it! Till now weve always regarded you as a
good neighbour, a friend of ours. Forgive me, but this isnt neighbourly conduct! To my mind
its almost impertinent, if you want to know...
LOMOV

: You mean to say then that Im a usurper? Ive never stolen other peoples land, Madam, and I
wont allow anyone to accuse me of it... (goes rapidly to the decanter and drinks water.) The
Volovyi meadows are mine!

NATALYIA : Thats not true, theyre ours!

LOMOV

: Theyre mine!

NATALYIA : It is nt true! Ill prove it to you! Ill send my men to mow those meadows today.
LOMOV

: Whats that?

NATALYIA : My men will be working there today!

LOMOV

: Ill kick them out!

NATALYIA: You darent do that!

LOMOV (Clutches at his heart) : The Volovyi meadows are mine! Dont you understand that? Mine!
NATALYIA : Dont shout, Please !
LOMOV

: If it werent for these dreadful agonizing palpitations Madam - if it werent for the throbbing
in my temples, I should speak to you very differently! (shouts). The Volovyi meadows are
mine!

NATALYIA : Ours!
LOMOV

: Mine!

NATALYIA : Ours!
LOMOV : Mine!
(Enter CHOOBUKOV.)
48

CHOOBUKOV : Whats all this? What are you shouting about?

NATALYIA : Papa, please explain to this gentlemen: to whom do the Volovyi meadows belong-to him or to
us?
CHOOBUKOV (to Lomov) : The meadows are ours, dear chap.
LOMOV

: But for give me, Stepan Stepanovich how do they come to be yours? At least you might be
reasonable!

CHOOBUKOV : Pardon me, my dear friend... You forget that it was just because there was a dispute and so
on about these meadows that the peasants didnt pay rent to your grandmother and all the rest
of it... And now every dog knows that theyre ours-Yes, really! You cant have seen the plans!
LOMOV

: But Ill prove to you in court that theyre mine!

CHOOBUKOV : You wont prove it, my dear man.

LOMOV : Yes, I will!
CHOOBUKOV : But why shout, my dear boy? You wont prove anything by shouting!
LOMOV

: No, youre simply taking me for a fool and laughing at me! You call my land yours, and then
you expect me to stay cool and talk to you in the ordinary way. Good neighbours dont behave
in this way. Stepan Stepanovich! Youre not a neighbour, youre a usurper!

CHOOBUKOV : And youre just a malicious, double-faced, mean fellow! Yes, you are!
LOMOV

: My hat.. My heart... Which way do I go? Wheres the door? Oh! I believe Im dying... Ive lost
the use of my leg...
(Walks to the door.)

CHOOBUKOV (calling after him) : I forbid you to set foot in my house again!
NATALYIA : Take it to court! We shall see!
(LOMOV goes out staggering.)
CHOOBUKOV : And this ridiculous freak, this eyesore-Yes, he has the impertinence to come here and
make a proposal and all the rest of it! Would you believe it? A proposal!
NATALYIA : What proposal?
CHOOBUKOV : Yes, just fancy! He came to propose to you.
NATALYIA : To propose? To me? But why didnt you tell me that before?
CHOOBUKOV : Thats why he got himself up in his tailcoat. The sausage! The shrimp!
NATALYIA : To me? A proposal? Oh! (Drops into a chair and moans.) Bring him back! Bring back! Oh,
bring him back!
CHOOBUKOV : Bring whom back?
NATALYIA : Be quick, be quick! I fell faint! Bring him back! (shrieks hysterically.)
49

CHOOBUKOV : What is it? What do you want? (Clutches at his head). What misery! Ill shoot myself! Ill
hang myself! Theyve worn me out!
NATALYIA : Im dying! Bring him back!
CHOOBUKOV : Phew! Directly. Dont howl. (Runs out).
NATALYIA (alone, moans) : What have we done! Bring him back! Bring him back!
CHOOBUKOV (runs in) : Hes coming directly, and all the rest of it. Damnation take him! Ugh! You can
talk to him yourself ; I dont want to, and thats that!
NATALYIA (moans) : Bring him back!
CHOOBUKOV (shouts) : Hes coming, I tell you! Ill cut my throat! Weve abused the man, weve insulted
him, weve kicked him out, and it was all your doing-your doing!
NATALYIA : NO, it was yours!
CHOOBUKOV : So now its my fault! What next!
(Enter LOMOV.)
LOMOV (exhausted) : These dreadful palpitations... My leg feels numb... A shooting pain in my side...
NATALYIA : Forgive us, we were rather hasty, Ivan Vassilievich...I remember now: the Volovyi Meadows
really are yours.
LOMOV

: My hearts going at a terrific rate... The meadows are mine.. Both my eyelids are twitching ...

NATALYIA : Yes, theyre yours, yours...sit down...

(They sit down..)
We were wrong.
LOMOV

: To me, it s a matter of principle... I dont value the land, but I value the principle...

NATALYIA : Thats it, the principle... Lets talk about something else.
LOMOV

: Especially as I have proof. My aunts grandmother gave over to your fathers grandfathers
peasants...

NATALYIA : Enough, enough about that... (Aside) I dont know how to begin... (to him). Will you soon be
going shooting?
LOMOV

: I expect to go grouse shooting after the harvest, dear Natalyia Stepanovna... Oh, did you hear?
Just fancy-what bad luck Ive had! My Tryer-You know him-hes gone lame.

NATALYIA : What a pity! What was the cause of it?

LOMOV : I dont know... (sighs) My best dog, to say nothing of the money! You know, I paid a hundred
and twenty five roubles for him.
NATALYIA : You paid too much, Ivan Vassilievich.
LOMOV

: Well, I think it was very cheap. Hes a marvellous dog!

50

NATALYIA : Papa paid eighty-five roubles for his Flyer, and Flyers is better than your Tryer by far.
LOMOV

: Flyer better than Tryer? Come, come! (Laughs) Flyer better than Tryer!

NATALYIA : Of course hes better!

LOMOV : Excuse me. Natalyia Stepanovna, but you forget that hes got a pug-jaw, and a dog with a pugjaw can never grip properly.
NATALYIA : A pug-jaw? Thats the first Ive heard of it.
LOMOV

: I assure you, his lower jaw is shorter than the upper one.

NATALYIA : Why, did you measure it?

LOMOV

: Yes. Hes all right for coursing of course, but when it comes to gripping, hes hardly good
enough.

NATALYIA : In the first place our Flyer is a pedigree dog - where as your Tryers coat has got such a
mixture of colour that youd never guess what kind he is. Then hes as old and ugly as an old
hack...
LOMOV

: Hes old, but I wouldnt take five of your Flyers for him ... I wouldnt think of it! Tryer is a
real, dog but Flyer..

NATALYIA : Theres some demon of contradiction in you today, Ivan Vasilievich. First you pretend that the
meadows are yours, and now youre saying that Tryer is better than Flyer. I dont like when
people say what they dont really believe. After all, you know perfectly well that Flyer is a
hundred times better than your ... well, your stupid Tryer. So why say the opposite?
LOMOV

: I can see, Natalyia Stepanovna, that youn think Im either blind or a fool. Wont you under
stand that your Flyer has a pug-jaw?

NATALYIA : That isnt true.

LOMOV : He has a pug-jaw.
NATALYIA (shouts) : Its not true!..
LOMOV : What are you shouting for, Madam? Please be silent... My hearts bursting... (shouts). Be
quite!
NATALYIA : I wont be quiet till you admit that Flyer is a hundred times better than your Tryer.
LOMOV

: Hes a hunhdred times worse! Its time he was dead, your Flyer! Oh, my head... my eyes... my
shoulder!..

NATALYIA : As for your idiot Tryer - I dont need to wish him dead; hes half-dead already!
LOMOV (weeping) : Be quiet! My hearts going to burst.
NATALYIA : I wont be quiet!
(Enter CHOOBUKOV)
CHOOBUKOV : Now what is it?
NATALYIA : Papa, tell us frankly, on your honour; which dogs the better-our Flyer or his Tryer?
51

LOMOV

: Stepan Stepanovich, I implore you, tell us just one thing has your Flyer got a pug-jaw, or
hasnt he? Yes or no?

CHOOBUKOV : Well, what if he has? As if it mattered! Anyway, theres no better dog in the whole district,
and all that.
LOMOV

: But my Trayer is better, isnt he? On your honour.

CHOOBUKOV : Dont get excited, my dear boy.. hes old and hes snub-nosed.
LOMOV

: Excuse me, Ive got palpitations....

NATALYIA (mimics him) : Palpitations ... What sort of a sportsman are you? You ought to be lying on the
stove in the kitchen squashing black beetles instead of hunting foxes! Palpitations indeed!
CHOOBUKOV : Yes, honestly, hunting not your line at all! With your palpitations and all that, youd be
better at home than sitting on horseback being jolted about.
LOMOV : What about you- are you a sportsman? You only go out hunting to make up to the Count, and
intrigue against other people... Oh, my heart! Youre an intriguer
CHOOBUKOV : What! I-an intriguer? (Shouts). Be silent
LOMOV

: Intriguer!

CHOOBUKOV : Milksop! puppy!

LOMOV

: You old rat! Hypocrite!

CHOOBUKOV : Hold your tongue, or Ill shoot you with a dirty gun like a partridge! Windbag!
LOMOV

: Everyone knows -oh, my heart! - that your wife used beat you!.. MYy leg ..My head ... flashes
in front of my eyes ... Im going to fall down.. Im falling...

CHOOBUKOV : And your housekeeper has got you under her thumb!
LOMOV : Oh! Oh! Oh!.. MY hearts burst! My shoulder gone.. Wheres my shoulder? Im dying! (drops
into an armchair). A doctor! (faints).
NATALYIA : Hes dead! (Shakes Lomov by the sleeve) Ivan Vassilievich! Ivan Vassilievich! What have we
done! Hes dead! (drops into an armchair) Doctor, doctor! (sobs and laughs hysterically.)
CHOOBUKOV : What now? whats the matter? What do you want?
NATALYIA (moans) : Hes dead!... Dead!
CHOOBUKOV : Whos dead? (Glancing at Lomov). He really is dead! My God! Water! Doctor! (holds a
glass of water to Lomovs lips.) Take a drink!... No, he wont drink... So hes dead and all
that.../ What an unlucky man I am! Why dont I put a bullet through my brain? Why didnt I
cut my throat long ago? What am I waiting for? Give a knife! Give me a gun!
(LOMOV makes a slight movement).
I believe hes coming round... Do have a drink of water! Thats right...
LOMOV : Flashes before my eyes... a sort of mist ... Where am I?
52

CHOOBUKOV : Youd better get married as soon as possible and - go to the devil... She consents. (Joins
their hands). She consents, and all the res t of it. I give you my blessing, and so forth. Only
leave me alone!.

7.7. ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE PLAY

Anton Chekov (1860-1904) was, of modern writers, the dearest to the Russian People. His first story
appeared in a Moscow paper in 1880 when he was a student. At the same time appeared a very strirring and
blood-and-thunder play The High Road, which was suppressed by the censor and only came to light again in
1915.
A doctor of medicine by profession, Chekov was a hard worker and between his patients and his desk
he led a life of ceaseless activity. His first collection of stories which appeared in 1887 brought him success.
He began to write for the stage around 1889. Several plays such as Ivanoff, The bear, Uncle Vanya, The
Seagull appeared one after another.
The Proposal is almost a comedy of manners. Two youngsters get into quarrels almost on anything.
The male member, a hypocondriac feels that his diseases shoot up and that he is dying. Still the quarrel does
not cease. The author is brilliant in making the character of Lomov, the hypochondriac.
7.8. KEYWORDS
fancy (adv.) : here, glad
cherub (n) : friend
tails (n) : tails of a coat (tailcoat)
spin (v) : go round and round.
count on (v) : trust, hope.
papitations (n) : quick beats of heart.
flare up (v) : get angry.
twitch (v) : more quickly
shell (v) : to remove the shell (from peas).
Anherit (V) : receive property as a descendant of a person at his death.
proximity (n) : nearness.
peasants (n) : farmers.
decanter (n) : filter.
mow (v) : cut (grass).
agonize (v) : disturb, worry.
temple (n) : part of the head just above and in front of the ear.
u surper (n) : one who takes someones property by force and illegally.
malicious (adj.) : desiring to do harm to others.
forbid (n) : prohibit, not allow.
freak (n) : peculiar and awkward looking thing.
impertinence (n) : not being polite.
howl (v) : cry like a dog.
gruose (n) : small wild bird.
squash (v) : beat.
black beetles (n) : small insects attracted by light.
intrigue (v) : make a secret plan.
profound (adj.) : deep.
proposal (n) : offer of marriage.
53

CHAPTER 08 - ONE ACT PLAYS

8.0. INTRODUCTION
This Chapter consists of three one act plays, The Miracle Merchant written by saki, The
Stepmother written by Arnold Bennett and The Mahatma written by M.V. Ramasarma. Saki is the pen
name of Hector Hugh Munro. His play, The Miracle Merchant is the dramatized version of the short story,
The Hen . It is known for its subtle humour. Arnold Bennett satirizes the popular novelist in his play, The
stepmother. M.V. Ramasarma presents the newborn independent India with her people and their feelings.

8.1. THE MIRACLE MERCHANT - SAKI

SCENE : Hall -sitting room in Mrs. BEAUWHISTLEs countryhouse. French window right. Doors right
centre and mid centre. Staircase left centre. Door left. Long table centre of stage, towards
footlights, set with breakfast service. Chairs at table. Writing table and chair right of stage. Small
hall table back of stage. Wooden panelling below staircase hung with swords, daggers, etc., in view
of audience, Stand with golf-clubsz, etc. left.
Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE seated at writing table; she has had her breakfast. Enter LOUIS down
Staircase.
LOUIS

: Good morning, Aunt. (He inspects the breakfast dishes.)

MRS. BEAUWHISTLE : Good morning, Louis.

LOUIS

: Where is Miss Martlet? (Helps himself from dish.)

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : She finished her breakfast a moment ago.

LOUIS (sits down) : Im glad were alone; I wanted to ask you - (Enter Sturbridge left with coffee, which he
places on table and withdraws). I wanted to ask you Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : Whether I could lend you twenty pounds I Suppose?
LOUIS

: As a matter of fact I was only going to ask for fifteen. Perhaps twenty would sound better.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : The answer is the same in either case, and its no. I couldnt even lend you five.
You see Ive had no end of extra expenses just lately.
LOUIS

: My dear aunt, please dont give reasons. A charming woman should always be unreason able,
its part of her charm. Just say, Louis, I love you very much, but Im dammed if I lend you
any more money. I should understand perfectly.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : Well, well take it as said. Ive just had a letter from Dora Bittholz to say she is
coming on Thursday.
LOUIS

: This next Thursday ? I say, thats rather awkward, isnt it ?

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : Why awkward ?

LOUIS

: Jane Martlet has only been here six days and she never stays less than a fortnight, even when
shes asked definitely for a week. Youll never get her out of the house by Thursday.
Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : But why should I? She and Dora are good friends, arent they? They used to be.

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LOUIS

: Used to be, yes, that is what makes them such bitter enemies now. Each feels that she has
nursed a viper in her bosom. Nothing fans the flame of human resentment so much as the
discovery that ones bosom has been utilized as a snake-sanatorium.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : But why are they enemies? What have they quarrelled about? Some man I
suppose.
LOUIS

: No. A hen has come between them.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : A hen! What hen?

LOUIS

: It was a bronze leghorn or some such exotic breed, and Dora sold it to Jane at a rather exotic
price. They both go in for poultry breeding you know.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : If Jane agreed to give the price I dont see what there was to quarrel aboutLOUIS

: Well, you see, the bird turned out to be an abstainer from the egg habit, and Im told that the
letters which passed between the two women were a revelation as to how much abuse could be
get on to a sheet of notepaper.

Mrs : BEAUWHISTLE : How ridiculous! Couldnt some of their friends compose the quarrel?
LOUIS

: It would have been rather like composing the storm music of a Wagner opera. Jane was willing
to take back some of her most libelous remarks if Dora would take back the hen.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : And wouldnt she?

LOUIS

: Not she. She said that would be owning herself in the wrong and you know that Dora would
never, under any circumstances, own herself in the wrong. She would as soon think of owning
slum property in White chapel as do that.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : It will be a most awkward situation, having them both under my roof at the same
time. Do you suppose they wont speak to one another?
LOUIS

: On the contrary, the difficulty will be to get them to leave off. Their descriptions of each
others conduct and character have hitherto been governed by the fact that only four ounces of
plain speaking can be sent through the post for a penny.
Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : What is to be done? I cant put Dora off, Ive already postponed her visit once and
nothing short of a miracle would make Jane leave before her self-allotted fortnight is over.
LOUIS

: I dont mind trying to supply a miracle at short notice- miracles are rather in my line.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : My dear Louis, youll be clever if you get Jane out of this house before Thursday
LOUIS

: I shall not only be clever, I shall be rich; in sheer gratitude you will say to me, Louis, I love
you more than ever, and here are the twenty pounds we were speaking about.
(Enter JANE door centre.)

JANE

: Good morning, Louis.

LOUIS (rising) : Good morning, Jane.

JANE

: Go on with your breakfast; Ive had mine but Ill just have a cup of coffee to keep you
company. (Helps herself). Is there any toast left?
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LOUIS

: Sturbridge is brining some. Here it comes (Sturbridge enters left with toast rack. Jane seats
herself and is helped to toast; she takes three pieces.)

JANE

: Isnt there any butter?

STURRIDGE : Your sleeve is in the butter, miss.

JANE
: Oh, yes.
(Helps herself generously. Exit Sturbridge left.)
Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : Jane dear, I see the Mackenzie - Hubbard wedding is on Thursday next. St. Peters
Eaton Square, such a pretty church for weddings. I suppose youll be wanting to run away
from us to attend it. You were always such friends with Louisa Hubbard, it would hardly do for
you not to turn up.
JANE

: Oh, Im not going to bother to go all that way for a silly wedding, much as I like Louisa; I shall
go and stay with her for several weeks after shes come back from her honeymoon. (Louis
grins across at his aunt). I dont see any honey!

LOUIS

: Your other sleeves in the honey.

JANE

: Bother, so it is. (Helps herself liberally).

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE (rising) : Well, I must leave you and go and do some gardening. Ring for anything
you want, Jane.
JANE
: Thank you, Im all right.
(Exit Mrs. Beau whistle by French window right.)
LOUIS (pushing back his chair) : Do you mind my smoking?
JANE (still eating heartily) : Not at all. (Enter Sturbridge with tray, left, as if to clear away breakfast things.
Places tray on side table, back centre, and is about to retire). Oh, I say, can I have some more
hot milk? This is nearly cold.
(Sturbridge takes jug and exit left. Louis looks fixedly after him. Seats himself near Jane and stares solemnly
at the floor).
LOUIS

: Servants are a bit of a nuisance.

JANE

: Servants a nuisance! I should think they are! The trouble I have in getting suited you would
hardly believe. But I dont see what you have to complain of - your aunt is so wonderfully
lucky in her servants. Sturbridge for instance - hes been with her for years and Im sure hes a
jewel as butlers go.

LOUIS

: Thats just the trouble. Its when servants have been with you for years that they become a
really serious nuisance. The other sort, the here today-and-gone-tomorrow lot, dont matteryouve simply got to replace them. Its the stayers and the jewels that are the real worry.

JANE

: But if they give satisfaction -

LOUIS

: That doesnt prevent them from giving trouble. As it happens. I was particularly thinking of
Sturridge when I made the remark about servants being a nuisance.

JANE

: The excellent Sturridge a nuisance! I cant believe it.

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LOUIS

: I know he is excellent and my aunt simply couldnt get along without him. But his very
excellence has had an effect on him.

JANE

: What effect ?

LOUIS (solemnly) : Have you ever considered what it must be like to go on unceasingly doing the correct
thing in the correct manner in the same surroundings for the greater part of a lifetime? To
know and ordain and superintend exactly what silver and glass and table linen shall be used
and set out on what occasions, to have panty and cellar and plate-cupboard under a minutely
devised and undeviating administration to be noiseless, impalpable, omnipresent infallible?
JANE (with conviction) : I should go mad.
LOUIS
: Exactly. Mad.
(Enter Sturridge left with milk jug which he places on table and exit left).
JANE

: But - Sturridge hasnt gone mad.

LOUIS

: On must points hes thoroughly sane and reliable, but at times he is subject to the most
obstinate delusions.

JANE

: Delusions - what sort of delusions ? (She helps herself to more coffee.)

LOUIS

: Unfortunately they usually centre round someone staying in the house; that is where the
awkwardness comes in. For in stance, he took it into his head that Matilda Sheringham, who
was here last summer, was Prophet Elijah.

JANE

: The Prophet Elijah! The man who was fed by ravens?

LOUIS

: Yes, it was the ravens that particularly impressed Sturridges imagination. He was rather
offended, it seems, at the idea that Matilda should have her private catering arrangements and
he declined to compete with the birds in any way; he wouldnt allowed any tea to be sent up to
her in the morning and when he waited at table he passed her over altogether in handing round
the dishes. Poor Matilda could scarcely get anything to eat.

JANE

: How horrible! How very horrible! Whatever did you do?

LOUIS

: It was judged best for her to cut her visit short (with emphasis.) In a case of that kind it was the
only thing to be done.

JANE

: I should not have done that. (Cuts herself some bread and butters it.) I should have humoured
him in some way. I should have said the ravens were molting. I certainly shouldnt have gone
away.

LOUIS

: Its not always wise to humour people when they get these ideas into their heads. Theres no
knowing to what lengths they might go.

JANE

: You dont mean to say Sturridge might be dangerous?

LOUIS

: One can never be certain. Now and then he gets some idea about a guest which might take an
unfortunate turn. That is what is worrying me at the present moment.

JANE (excitedly) : Why, has he taken some fancy about me?

LOUIS (Who has taken a putter out do the stand, left, and is polishing it with an oil rag) : He has.
57

JANE (excitedly) : Why, has he taken some fancy about me?

LOUIS (who has taken a putter out of the tend, left, and so polishing it with an oil rag) : He has.
JANE

: No really? Who on earth does he think I am?

LOUIS

: Queen Anne.

JANE

: Queen Anne! What an idea! But anyhow theres nothing dangerous about her; shes such a
colourless personality. No one could feel very strongly about queen Anne.

LOUIS (sternly) : What does posterity chiefly say about her?

JANE

: The only thing I can remember about her is the saying Queen Annes dead.

LOUIS

: Exactly, Dead.

JANE

: Do you mean that he takes me for the ghost of Queen Anne?

LOUIS

: Ghost? Dear no. Who ever heard of a ghost that came down to breakfast and ate kidneys and
honey with a healthy appetite? No, its the fact of you being so very much alive and flourishing
that perplexes bad irritates him.

JANE (anxiously) : Irritates him?

LOUIS

: Yes, All his life he has been accustomed to look on Queen Anne as the personification of
everything that is dead and done with, as dead as Queen Anne You know, and now he has to
fill your glass at lunch and dinner and listen to your accounts of the gay time you had at the
Dublin Horse Show, and naturally he feels that there is something scandalously wrong
somewhere.

JANE (with increased anxiety) : But he wouldnt be down-right hostile to me on that account, would he?
Not violent?
LOUIS (carelessly) : I didnt get really alarmed about it till last night, when he was bringing in the coffee. I
caught him scowling at you with a very threatening look and muttering things about you.
JANE

: What things?

LOUIS

: That you ought ton be dead long ago and that someone should see to it, and that if no one else
did, he would. (Cheerfully) Thats why I mentioned the matter to you.

JANE

: This is awful! Your aunt must be told about it at once.

LOUIS

: My aunt mustnt hear a word about it. It would upset her dreadfully. She relies on Sturridge for
everything.

JANE

: But he might kill me at any moment!

LOUIS

: Not at any moment: hes busy with the silver all the afternoon.

JANE

: What a frightful situation to be in, with a mad butler dangling over ones head.

LOUIS

: Of course its only a temporary madness; perhaps if you were to cut your visit short and come
to us some time later in the year he might have forgotten all about Queen Anne.
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JANE

: Nothing would induce me to cut short my visit. You must keep a sharp look out on Sturridge
and be ready to intervene if he gets violent. Probably we are both exaggerating things a bit.
(Rising). I must go and write som e letters in the morning - room. Mind, keep an eye on the
man. (Exit door right centre.)

LOUIS (Savagely) : Quell type!

(Enter Mrs. Beau whistle by French Window right).
Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : Cant find my gardening gloves anywhere. I suppose they are where I left them;
its a way my things have (Rummages in drawer of table back centre). They are. (Produces
gloves from drawer.) And how is your miracle doing, Louis?
LOUIS

: Rotten! Ive invented all sorts of excellent reasons for stimulating the migration instinct in that
woman, but you might as well try to drive away an attack of indigestion by talking to it.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : Poor Louis! Im afraid Janes staying powers are superior to any amount of
hustling that you can bring to bear. (Enter Sturridge left; he begins clearing breakfast things). I
could have told you from the first that you were engaged on a wild goose chase.
LOUIS

: Chase! You cant chase a thing that refuses to budge. One of the first conditions of the chase is
that the thing you are chasing should run away.

Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE (laughing) : Thats condition that Jane will never fulfill.
(Exit through window right. Louis continues cleaning gold club, then suddenly stops and looks reflectively at
sturridge who is busy with the breakfast things.)
LOUIS

: Where is Miss Mart let?

STURRIDGE : In the morning-room, I believe, sir, writing letters.

LOUIS

: You see that old basket-hilted sword on the wall?

STURRIDGE : Yes, sir. This big one? (Points to sword).

LOUIS

: Miss Martlet wants to copy the inscription on its blade. I wish you would take it to her; my
hands are all over oil.

STURRIDGE : Yes, sir. (Turns to wall where sword is hanging).

LOUIS

: Take it without the sheath, it will be less trouble. (Sturridge draws the blade, which is broad
and bright, and exit by door centre. Louis stands back under shadow of staircase. Enter Jane
door right centre, at full run, screams : Louis! Louis! Where are you? and rushes up stairs at
top speed. Enter Sturridge door right centre sword in hand. Louis steps forward.)

STURRIDGE : Miss Martlet slipped out of the room, sir, as I came in; I dont think she saw me coming.
Seemed in a bit of a hurry.
LOUIS

: Perhaps she has a train to catch. Never mind, you can put the sword back. Ill copy out the
inscription for her myself later.

(Sturridge returns sword to its place. Louis continues cleaning putter. Sturridge carries breakfast tray out by
door left. Enter page, running full speed down stairs).
59

PAGE
: The time-table! Miss Martlet wants to look up a train.
(Louis dashes do drawer of small table centre; he and Page hunt through contents, throwing gloves, etc. on
to floor.)
LOUIS

: Here it is (Page seizes book, starts to run upstairs. Louis grabs him by tip of jacket, pulls him
back, opens book, searches frantically). Here you are. Leaves eleven fifty-five, arrives
Charring Cross two twenty. (Page dashes upstairs with time-table. Louis flies to speaking tube
in wall, left, whistles down it ). Is that you. Tompkins? The car as quick as you can, to catch
the eleven fifty-five. Never mind you livery, just as you are.

(Shuts off tube. Page dashes down stairs.)

PAGE
: Miss Martlets golf - clubs!
(Louis dashes for them in stand, and gives them to boy.)
LOUIS

: Here, this Tamo-shanter is hers-and this motor veil. (Gives them to boy.)

PAGE
: She said there was a novel of hers down here.
(Louis goes to writing table where are six books on shelf and gives them all to Page.)
LOUIS

: Here, take the lot. Fly! (He pushes the Page vigorously up first steps of staircase. Exit Page.
The sound of books dropping can be heard as he goes. Louis dashes round room to see if
anything m,ore belonging to Jane remains. Looks at his watch, compares it with small clock on
writing table. Goes to speaking tube.) Hullo, is Tomkins there? What? Oh, all right. (Shuts off
tube. Goes top ntable where coffee pot still remains and pours out cup of coffee, drinks it.
Looks again at watch.)

STURRIDGE (enters left) : The carve has come round, sir.

LOUIS

: Good, Ill go and tell Miss Martlet. Will you find my aunt, shes somewhere in the garden, and
tell her that Miss Martlet had to leave in a hurry to catch the eleven fifty-five; called away
urgently and couldnt stop to say good-bye. Matter of life and death.

STURRIDGE : Yes, sir.

(Excit Sturridge door left. Louis exit up staircase. Enter Mrs. Beauwhistle by window right. She has a letter
in her hand. She looks in at door right centre, returns and calls : Louis -Louis! Sound of a motor heard,
Louis rushes in by door left.)
LOUIS (excitedly) : How much did you say youd lend me if I got rid of Jane Martlet ?
Mrs. BEAUWHISTLE : We neednt get rid of her. Dora has just written to say she cant come this month.
(Louis collapses into chair).

8.2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE PLAY

Saki is the pen-name of Hector hugh Munro (1870 - 1916) who is known for his short stories and
dramas. Munro was born in Burma, educated in England, and served the Burmese Police Force for several
years. Dissatisfied with the work, he went back to Europe and settled as a journalist. He worked for the West
minister Gazette, The morning Post. He was killed in 1916 during the First World war.
His short stories are a proof of his genial wits abd superior imagination Reginald (1904), Reginald in
Russia (1910), The Chronicles of Clovis (1911) and Beats and Superbeats (1914) are his short story
collections. His only well-known novel is The Unbearable Bassignton (1912).
60

The Miracle Merchant is the dramatized verion of the short story The Hen. This play is vivid example
of Sakis character creation and subtle humour.

8.3. KEYWORDS
viper (n) : a poisonous snake (nursing a viper = developing enmity).
resentment (n) : showing anger about.
sanatorium (n) : place where animals are looked after.
Leghorn (n) : a fine breed of domestic fowl.
exotic : unusual.
abstain from the egg habit : not laying eggs.
Wagner Opera : Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813 - 1833), German musician and poet exerted a powerful
influence ion German music and literature by combining music and poetry. Until then music was the only
aim of opera.
libellous (adj.) : intended for spoiling ones character and reputation.
White chapel : a part of London, full of slums.
four ounces of plain speaking through the post : the amount of abusing each other is four ounces, which is
the maximum weight permitted by the penny-post (similar to Indian postal envelop).
miracles are in my line : I am specialised in miracles (reference to the title).
Elon Square : another part of London.
grin (v) : smile exposing the teeth.
stayer (n) : one who stays.
unceasingly (adv.) : without stopping.
ordain (v) : arrange. superintend (v) : supervise.
pantry (n) : store room for cups, plates, spoons, etc.
cellar (n) : room where wine is stored.
impalpable (adj.) : that which cannot be touched.
omnipresent (adj.) : present everywhere.
infallible (adj.): incapable of faults.
obstinate (adj.) : not willing to give up
delusion (n) : belief in something which does not exist.
Elijah : a Her brew prophet. His story, according to the Old Testament is as follows: When he was
condemned to starve and die, he was miraculously fed by ravens (birds). Then he revived the dead son of the
widow of Zarepath with Gods grace. Later he was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire.
self-allotted fortnight : a fortnight (2weeks) allotted by herself
same (adj.) : not mad.
personification (n) : speaking of quality as if it were a person.
raven (n) : a large very black bird.
molt (v) : lose the feathers.
putter (n) : a golf club.
rag (n) : piece of cloth.
Queen Anne : Queen of England (1702 - 1714). The phrase Queen Anne is dead is used when a person
relates some stale news.
posterity (n) : people in the future.
appetite (n) : hunger.
perplex (v) : puzzle, confuse.
irritate (v) : make angry.
61

scandalously (adv.) : berry badly.

hostile (adj.) : very badly.
scowl (v) : look with anger.
mutter (v) : speak noiselessly.
dangling over ones head : part of the saying The Sword of Damocles is dangling over our head which
means there is a great danger likely to fall on us anytime.
induce (v) : tempt.
exaggerate (v) : saying that something is greater than it is.
quel type : a queer type (French).
you might as well .. to it : The meaning is that is would be easy to talk to the indigestion and drive it away
than to talk to Jane band drive her away. i.e., it seems impossible to drive her away.
inscription (n) : something which is carved on the surface of the blade.
sheath (n) : cover of the sword.
hustle (v) : shake or push rashly.
rummage (v) : search thoroughly.
wild goose- chase : search for something not worthy of hard search.
(A wild goose is hard to catch, and if caught is not worth it.)
upset (v) : trouble.
budge (v) : move.
page (n) : a servant.
speaking tube : is a device fitted on the wall through which one can speak to the people in the other room.
charring cross : a station in London.
livery (n) : uniform (of the driver).
Tam-o Shanter : a woolen cap with broad circular flat top. The phrases originates from the cap worn by the
hero of Burns poem Tam o Shanter.
veli (n) : covering.

8.4. THE STEPMOTHER - ARNOLD BENNETT

SCENE : Mrs. PROUTS study: luxuriously furnished; large table in centre, upon which are a new novel,
press-cuttings, and the usual literary compositions. CHRISTINE is seated at the large table,
ready for work, and awaiting the arrival of Mrs. PROUT. To pass the time she picks up the novel,
the leaves of which are not cut, and glances at a page here and there. Enter Mrs. PROUT,
hurried and preoccupied; the famous novelist is attired in a plain morning gown, which in the
perfection of its cut displays the beauty of her figure. She nods absently to CHRISTINE, and sits
down in an armchair away from the table.)
CHRISTINE : Good morning, Mrs. Prout. Im afraid you are still sleeping badly.
Mrs. PROUT : Do I look it, girl?
CHRISTINE : You dont specially look it, Mrs. Prout. But I observe.
Mrs. PROUT : And what are your observations about me?
CHRISTINE (while writing) : Well, this is twice in three weeks that youve been here five minutes late in
the morning.
Mrs. PROUT : Is that all? You dont think my stuffs falling off?
CHRISTINE : Oh, no, Mrs. Prout ! I Know its not falling off. Shall we begin, Mrs. Prout?
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Mrs. PROUT (disinclined) : Yes, I suppose so.(Clearing her throat).By the way, anything special in the
press-cuttings?
CHRISTINE : Nothing very special.(Fingering the pile of press cutting) The Morning Call says, genius in
every line.
Mrs. PROUT (blase) : Hum!
CHRISTINE : The Daily Reporter:Cora Prout may be talented-we should hesitate to deny it-but she is one
of several of our leading novelists who should send themselves to a Board School in order to
learn grammar.
Mrs. PROUT : Grammar again! They must keep a grammar in the office! Personally I think its frightfully
bad form to talk about grammar to a lady. But they never had any taste at the reporter. Dont
read me any more. Let us Commence work.
CHRISTINE : Which will you do, Mrs. Prout? (Consulting a diary of engagements). Theres the short story
for the Illustrated Monthly, six thousand, promised for next Saturday. Theres the article on
Womens Diversions for the British Review-they wrote for that yesterday. Theres the serial
that begins in the Sunday Daily Sentinel in September-youve only done half the first
installment of that. And of course theres Heart Ache.
Mrs. PROUT : I think Ill go on with heart ache. I feel it coming. Ill do the short story of the Illustrated
tomorrow. Where had I got to?
CHRISTINE (choosing the correct notebook, reads) : The inanimate form of the patient lay like marble on
the marble slab on the operating table, The sponge, Nurse, said the doctor, where is it?
Thats where youd got to.
Mrs. PROUT : Yes, I remember. New line, Isabel gazed at him imperturbably. New line. Quote marks. I
Fear, Doctor, she remarked, that in a moment of forgetfulness you have seen it upon our
poor patient. New line. Quote marks. Damn! said the doctor ,so I have, Rather good, that,
christineeh?
(CHRISTINE writes in short hand.)
CHRISTINE : On, Mrs. Prout, I think its beautiful. So staccoto and crisp. By the way, I forgot to tell you
that theres a leader in the Daily Snail on that frightful anonymous attack in the Forum
against your medical accuracy.
(Looking at Mrs. Prout, who is silent, but shows signs of agitation).
You remember - Medicine in Fiction. the Snail backs up the Forum for all its worth... Mrs.
Prout, you are ill. I was sure you were. What can I get for you?
MRS. PROUT (weakly wiping her eyes) : Nonsense, Christine. I am a little unstrung, that is all. I want
nothing.
CHRISTINE (firmly) : But it isnt all due to an abnormal imagination. Youve never been quite cheerful
since you turned Mr. Adrian out.
Mrs. PROUT : You forget yourself, Christine.
CHRISTINE : I forget nothing, Mrs. Prout, myself least of all Mr. Adrian is your dead husbands son, and
you turned him out of your house, and now youre sorry.

63

Mrs. PROUT : Christine, you know perfectly well that I requested him to go because he would insist on
making love to you, which interfered with our work. You should never have permitted his
advances.
CHRISTINE : I didnt permit them. I tolerated them. I hadnt been secretary to a lady novelist with a
stepson before, and I wasnt quiet sure what was included in the duties. I always like to give
satisfaction.
Mrs. PROUT : You do give satisfaction. Let that end the discussion.
CHRISTINE : (pouting, turning to her notebook, reads). Damn! said the doctor, So I have.(Pause).
Mrs. PROUT : Christine, did you find out who was the author of that article on Medicine in Fiction?
CHRISTINE : Is that whats bothering you, Mrs. Prout? Of course it was a nasty attack, but it is very unlike
you to trouble about critics.
Mrs. PROUT : It has hurt me more than I can say. That was why I asked you to make a few discreet
inquiries.
CHRISTINE : I did ask at my club.
Mrs. PROUT : And what did they think there?
Christine

: They laughed at me, and said every one knew you had written it yourself just to keep the
silly season alive, July being a sickly month for reputations.

Mrs. PROUT : What did you say to that?

CHRISTINE : I said they were foolsMrs. PROUT : A little abrupt, perhaps, but effective.
CHRISTINE : Not to see that the grammar was different from ours.
Mrs. PROUT : Oh! that was what you said, was it?
CHRISTNE : It was, and it settled them.
Mrs. PROUT (assuming a confidential air): Christine, I believe I know who wrote that article.
CHRISTINE : Who?
Mrs. PROUT : Dr. Gardner.
(Bursts into tears).
CHRISTINE (soothing her) : But he lives on the floor below in the very flat underneath this.
Mrs. PROUT (choking back her sobs) : Yes. It is too dreadful.
CHRISTINE : But he comes here nearly every evening.
Mrs. PROUT (sharply) : Who told you that?
CHRISTINE : Now, Mrs. Prout, let me implore you to be calm. The butler told me. I didnt ask him though.
Shall we continue?
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Mrs. PROUT : Christine, do you think it was Dr. Gardner? I would give worlds to know.
CHRISTINE (coldly analytic) : Do you mean that you would give worlds to know that it was Dr. Gardner,
or that it wasnt Dr. Gardner? Or would give worlds merely to know the authors name --no
matter who he might be?
Mrs. PROUT (sighing) : You are dreadfully unsympathetic this morning.
CHRISTINE : I am placed, nothing else. Unlike your previous secretary, who when you dictated the
pathetic chapters, had wept so freely into her notebook that she couldnt transcribe her stuff,
besides permanently injuring her eyesight. Since you ask my opinion as to Dr. Gardner being
the author of this attack on you, I say that he isnt. Apart from the facts that he lives on the
floor below, and that he is, so the butler says, a constant visitor in the evenings, there is the
additional fact -- a fact which I have several times observed for myself without the assistance
of the butler -- that he likes you.
Mrs. PROUT : You have noticed that. It is true. But the question is : Does he like like sufficiently not to
attack my work in the public press? That is the point.
CHRISTINE : You mean to infer, Mrs. Prout, that the author of the article might, like you, while as a doctor
he despised you?
Mrs. PROUT (whimpering again) : That is my suspicion.
CHRISTINE : But Dr. Gardner does more than like you. He adores you.
Mrs. PROUT : He adores my talent, my genius, my fame, my weath; but does he adore me? I am not an
ordinary woman, and it is no use pretending that I am. I must think of these things
CHRISTINE : Neither is Dr. Gardner an ordinary doctor. His researches into toxicology -Mrs. PROUT : His researches are nothing to me. I wish he wasnt a doctor at all.
CHRISTINE : Even doctors have their place in the world, Mrs. Prout.
Mrs. PROUT : They should not meddle with fiction, poking their noses-CHRISTINE : But if fiction meddle with them? You know fiction is really very meddlesome. It pokes its
nose with great industry.
Mrs. PROUT (pulling herself together) : Christine, you have never understood me. Let us continue.
CHRISTINE (with an offended air, turning once more to her notebook) : Damn! said the doctor, So I
have.
Mrs. PROUT (coughing) : New line, A smile flashed across the lips of Isabel as she took up a glittering
knife -- (Gives a great sob). Oh, Christine! Im sure Dr. Gardner wrote it.
CHRISTINE (taking card by the extreme corner, pursuing it with disdain, and then dropping it on the floor)
: We never see interviewers in the morning.
ADRIAN

: Then I will call this afternoon.

CHRISTINE : You must write for an appointment.

ADRIAN

: Oh! Ill take my chances, thanks.

65

CHRISTINE : We never give them; it is our rule. What do you wish to interview us about? If its the new
novel, we are absolutely mum. Accept that from me.
ADRIAN

: It isnt the new novel. The Snail wishes to know whether Mrs. Prout feels inclined to make
any statement in reply to that article, Medicine in Fiction, in the Forum.

CHRSITINE : Oh, Adrian, do you know anything about that article?

ADRIAN

: Rather! I know all about it.

CHRISTINE : You treasure! You invaluable darling! I will marry you to-morrow morning by special
licenseADRIAN

: Recollect, it is a Snail reporter whom you are addressing. Suppose I were print that!

CHRISTINE : Just so. You are prudence itself, while , I for the moment, happen to be a little- a little
abnormal. I saved a mans life this morning, and it is apt to upset ones nerves. It is a dreadful
thing to do- to save a mans life. And the consequences will be simply frightful for me.
[Buries her face in her hands]
ADRIAN : Christine (taking her hands), What are you raving about? You are not yourself.
[Enter Mrs. Prout, excitedly.]
Mrs. PROUT (as she enters) : Christine, that appalling butler has actually left the house... (Observing group)
Heavens!
CHRISTINE (quietly disengaging herself) : You seem a little better, Mrs. Prout. A person to interview you
from the Daily snail (pointing to Adrian).
Mrs. PROUT : Adrian!
ADRIAN

: Yes, Mamma.

Mrs. PROUT (opening her lips to speak and then closing them) : Sit down.
ADRIAN

: Certainly, Mamma. (Sits).

MRS. PROUT : How dare you come here?

ADRIAN

: I dont know how, Mamma.

(Picks up his card from the floor and hands it to her: then resumes his seat.)
Mrs. PROUT (glancing at card) : Pah!
CHRISTINE : Thats just what I told the person, Mrs. Prout.
(Mrs. Prout burns her up with a glance.)
Mrs. PROUT : You have, then, abandoned your medical studies, for which I had paid all the fees?
ADRIAN

: Yes, Mamma, You see, I was obliged to earn something at once. So I took to journalism. I am
getting on quite nicely. The editor of the Snail says that I may review your next book.

Mrs. PROUT : Unnatural stepan, to review in cold blood the novel of your own stepmother! But this
morning I am getting used to misfortunes.
66

ADRIAN

: It cuts me to the heart to hear you refer to any action of mine as a misfortune for you.
Perhaps you would prefer that I should at once relieve you of my presence?

Mrs. PROUT : Decidedly, yes-that is, if Christine thinks she can do without the fifth act of that caress which
I interrupted.
CHRSITINE : The curtain was already falling, madam.
Mrs. PROUT : Very well. (To Adrian) Good day.
ADRIAN

: As a stepan I retire. As the special of the Daily Snail I must insist on remaining. A Special
of the Daily Snail is incapable of being snubbed. He knows what he wants, and he gets it, or
he ceases to be a special of the Daily Snail.

Mrs. PROUT : I esteem the Press. I never refuse its demands. A great artist belongs of the world. What is it
you want, Mr. Snail?
ADRIAN
: I want to know whether you care to say anything in reply to that article on Medicine in
Fiction in the Forum.
Mrs. PROUT (sinking back in despair) : That article again! (sitting up) Tell me -- do you know the author?
ADRIAN

: I do.

Mrs. PROUT : His name!

ADRIAN

: He is a friend of mine.

Mrs. PROUT : His name!

ADRIAN

: I am informed that is writing it he was actuated by the highest motives. His desire was not
only to make a little money, but to revenge himself against a person who has deeply injured
him. He didnt know much about medicine, being only a student, all probably the larger part
of his arguments could not be sustained, but he knew enough to make as how, and he made it.

Mrs. PROUT : His name! I insist.

ADRIAN

: Adrian Spout or Prout -- I have a poor memory..

Mrs. PROUT : Is it possible?

CHRISTINE : Monster!
ADRIAN
: Need I defend myself, Mamma? Consider what you had done to me. You had devastated my
young heart, which was just unfolding to its first passion.
Mrs. PROUT : Adrian, did you really write it?
ADRIAN

: Why, of course, You seem rather pleased than otherwise, Mamma.

Mrs. PROUT (after cogitating) : Ah! You didnt write it, really, You are just boasting. It is plot, a Plot!
ADRIAN

: I can prove that I wrote it, since you impung my veracity.

MRS. PROUT : How can you prove it?

ADRIAN

: By Producing the cheque which I received from the Forum this very morning.
67

Mrs. PROUT : Produce it, and I will forgive all.

ADRIAN (with a sign to Christine that he entirely fails to comprehend the situation) : I fly. It is in my
humble attic, round the corner. Back in two minutes.
(Exit ADRIAN.)
Mrs. PROUT : Christine, did he really write it?
CHRISTINE : Can you doubt his word? Was it for lying that you ejected the poor youth from this
residence?
Mrs. PROUT : Ah! if he did! (Smiles). Of course Dr. Gardner has not called?
CHRISTINE : Yes, he was in about twenty minutes ago.
Mrs. PROUT (agonized) : Did you give him my note?
CHRISTINE : No.
Mrs. PROUT : Thank heaven!
CHRISTINE : I had not copied it out, so I read it to him
Mrs. PROUT : You read it to him?
CHRISTINE : Yes, that seed the obvious thing to do.
Mrs. PROUT (in black despair) : All is over. (Sinks back.)
(Enter Dr. Gardnerhastily)
GARDNER (excited) : I was looking out of the window of my flat when I saw Adrain tear along the street. I
said to myself, A man, even a reporter, only runs like that when a doctor is required, and
urgently required. Some one is ill, perhaps my darling Cora. So I flew upstairs.
Mrs. PROUT (with a shriek) : Dr. Gardner.
GARDNER : You are indeed ill, my beloved. (Approaching her) What is the matter?
Mrs. PROUT (waving him off) : It is nothing, Doctor. Could you get me some salts? I have mislaid mine.
(Sighs)
GARDNER : Salts! In an instant. (Exit Dr. Gardner.)
Mrs. PROUT : Christine, you said you read my note to Dr. Gardner.
CHRISTINE : Yes, Mrs. Prout.
Mrs. PROUT : He seems positively overjoyed. What were the precise terms I used? Read me the note.
CHRSITINE : Yes, Mrs. Prout. (Reads demurely) The answer to your question is Yes with a capital N.
Mrs. PROUT : Yes with a capital N?
CHRSITINE (calmly) : I mean with a capital Y.
68

(Christine and Mrs. Prout look steadily at each other. Then they both smile.)
(Enter Dr. Gardner)
GARDNER (handing the salts) : You are sure you are not ill?
Mrs. PROUT (Smiling at him radiantly) : I am convinced of it. Chreistine, will you kindly reach me down
the dictionary from that shelf?
(While Chrsitines back is turned Dr. Gardner gives, and Mrs. Prout returns, a passionate kiss.)
CHRISTINE (handing dictionary) : Here it is, Mrs. Prout.
Mrs. PROUT (after consulting it) : Here it is, Mrs. Prout.
Mrs. PROUT (after consulting it) : I thought I could not mistaken. Christine , You have rendered me a
service (regarding her affectionately) - a service for which I shall not forget to express my
gratitude; but I am obliged to dismiss you instantly from my service.
CHRISTINE : Dismiss me, madam?
GARDNER : Cora, can you be so cruel?
Mrs. PROUT : Alas! Yes! She has sinned the secretarial sin which is beyond forgiveness. She has miss pelt.
GARDNER

: Impossible!

Mrs. PROUT : It is too true.

GARDNER

: Tell me the sad details.

Mrs. PROUT : She has been guilty of spelling No with a Y.

GARDNER : Dear me! And a word of one syllable, too! Miss Fever sham, I should not have thought it of
you.
[Enter ADRIAN]
ADRIAN (as he hands a cheque for MRs. Prouts inspection) : Here again, Doctor?
GARDNER : Yes, and to stay.
Mrs. PROUT : Adrian, the Doctor and I are engaged to be married. And talking of marriage, you observe
that girl there in the corner? Take her and marry her at the earliest convenient moment. She
is no longer my secretary.
ADRIAN

: What! You consent?

Mrs. PROUT : I consent.

ADRIAN

: And you pardon my article?

Mrs. PROUT : No, my dear Adrian, I ignore it, Here, take your ill-gotten gains. (Returning cheque). They
will bring you no good, And since they will bring you no good, I have decided to allow you
the sum of five hundred pounds a year. You must have something.
ADRIAN

: Stepmother!
69

CHRISTINE (advancing to take Mrs. Prouts hand) : Stepmother-in-law!

8.5.ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE PLAY

Arnold Bennett (Enoch Arnold Bennett) (1867-1931) was educated in London University. Agfter
workiong for four years, from 1889 to 1893, in a London Solicitors office, he joined the staff of a paper
called Woman as assitant editor and became editor in 1896. He wrote stories, novels and plays. His best
novels are The Old Wives Tale (1908) and the Clayhanger Series and Receyman Steps. His best plays are
Milestones (Written in collaboration with Edward Knoblock) (1912), The great adventure (1913) and what
the Public wants (1909). He is better-known as a novelist than a play writer. His plots are always ingenious
and his character-drawing is lively and mildly satirical.
In the Stepmother he satirizes the popular novelist.

8.6. KEYWORDS
display (V) : show
absently (adv.) : absent -mindedly
finger (v) : touch and move with fingers.
imperturbably (adv.) Calmly
staccato (adj./adv.) : musical (hers)
crisp (adj./adv.) : dry (here, brief and apt)
leader (n) : Part of a newspaper where opinion of the editor is expressed.
anonymous (adj.) : nameless.
unstrung (adv.) : not easily excited.
pout (v) : Push out the lips as sign of being displeased.
discreet )adj.) : careful and showing good judgment.
sickly (adj.) : not having strong health.
despise (v) : look down on as low.
adore (v) : love very much.
toxicology (n) : busy oneself with the concerns of others
poke ones nose : interfere.
hysterical (adv.) : being in a state in which ones feelings cant be controlled.
posture (n) : position of the body.
totter (v) : Walk unsteadily.
indisposed (adj.) : not well.
fdrail (adj.) : weak
idyll (n) : shoprt poem (here, a delightful match).
trifle (n) : unimportant insignificant, thing.
avalanche (n) : sudden slip of a mass of snow (here, hurry).
defy (v) : show no fear or respect for.
audacious (adj.) : very daring.
disdain (adj.) : feeling of disrespect for.
impugn (v) : question with there idea of proving untrue.
veracity (n) : truthfulness.
attic (n) : living room
70

eject (v) : throw out with force.

tear along : run very fast.
mislay (v ) : put in a wrong place and be unable to find.
ill-gotten : got throught bad ways.
placid (adj.) : calm.

8.7. THE MAHATMA - M.V. RAMA SARMA

SCENE 1 : January 20, 1948. Evening 4-30. The Scene takes palce in Delhi. The disciples of the MAHATMA
are assembled in the open space near Birlas house. Men and woman have come in large
numbers to have darshan of GANDHIJI and to listen to him.
In one corner four young men get busy. NATHURAM GODSE is one of them. They are engaged
in a serious talk. They are full of religious fervour. Their looks indicate firm resolution. Like the
four knights murdering Thomas Beckett under a misguided idea of riding the king and his
kingdom of an unruly archbishop, these four young men have a crusadin g spirit for saving India
from Gandhijis influence. They present and reflect the views of a section of the people who have
resented Gandhijis conciliatory methods to bring about unity between the Hindus and the
Moslems. The talk mostly in whispers.
FIRST YOUTH : Brother, Hinduism is in danger. The Hindus in Pakistan have no peace, no security, Their
lives are at stake.
NATHURAM : Yes, it is true. But our leaders do not realize this. They are blind to facts.
SECOND YOUTH : Not exactly so. They know what is happening, but they believe or at least pretend to
believe in a Hindu-Moslem unity.
NATHURAM : (Contemptuously) Unity! Its impossible. The East and the West may come together one day
but not the Hindus and Moslems.
FIRST YOUTH : Yes, I agree. Our differences are irreconcilable. India is for the Hindus, and we should try
to revive our culture and traditions.
NATHURAM : But as long as this old man lives it is not possible to achieve our goal. What about the recent
fast? Whom has it benefited -- The Hindus or the Moslems?
THIRD YOUTH : The Moslems, of course.
NATHURAM : When the old man makes an appeal, the Hindus follow, the Moslems do not. So we are the
losers and the sufferers.
FIRST YOUTH : We cant tolerate this state of affairs. We must establish a Hindu Raj.
NATHURAM : But we must first get rid of this old man. He is a stumbling block in the way of our progress.
We will mix with audience and wait for an opportunity to shoot him. You go ahead and talk to
him.
FIRST YOUTH : Yes, I will.
(The four young men disperse, distributing themselves among the assembled gathering. A passage is made to
allow Gandhiji to go to the platform where from he generally speaks. The Mahatma nears the platform and
addresses the congregation.

71

THE MAHATMA : Brothers and sisters, we must try to forget our differences of caste, creed and religion.
We must live like members of a large family.
FIRST YOUTH (Coming to the front) : How is it possible? When a man hates me how can I love him?
When a man gives me a blow how can I tolerate that?
THE MAHATMA (Smiling) : Yes, you can. If you repay your foe in the same coin, you are not giving him
an opportunity to repent for his mistake. Man becomes ennobled only through penitence and
through an awareness of his wrong doing. Goodness lies in doping good against evil.
FIRST YOUTH (with emotion) : Ridiculous!
THE MAHATMA : We should show kindness to all to foes as well as friends. If your friends betray you it
only shows their weakness. If your foes ill-treat you they will repent ultimately. We should love
our enemies and pray even for those who persecute us.
FIRST YOUTH : But why should I suffer? When I have the strength and courage to attack you why should I
be a coward?
THE MAHATMA : Courage and heroism do not lie in brutally assaulting and murdering people. On the
other has heroism lies in tolerance and magnanimity .. One who can forgive his foes is indeed a
hero. In fact truth and non-violence are as old as the hills.
(Applause from the audience)
FIRST YOUH : I know all this, but it is cowardice to allow your foe to kill you when you can as well resist
him by force.
THE MAHATMA : Violence should not be met by violence. Violence is nothing but brute force. Any
victory won through bloodshed, we all know, is only transitory. But by non-violent methods you
appeal to the hearts of the people so that a tangible effect is left on them.
FIRST YOUTH : But how can you resist an aggressor by purely non-violent methods?
THE MAHATMA : By appealing to his heart, by showing him that he has within him human instincts, not
merely brute force.
FIRST YOUTH : Supposing he is stubborn, and he has no heart.
THE MAHATMA : Every human being has sympathy for his fellow beings. But sometimes, motivated by
gree ambition and fanaticism, one may kill ones own brethren. Even he will reallise his folly
one day or other.
FIRST YOUTH : What do you think of the partition of India?
THE MAHATMA : I was never in favour of a divided India. But now that the division is made, the Hindus
and the Moslems should live together amicably.
FIRST YOUTH : That is simply a dream.
THE MAHATMA : But we must prove our friendship and sincerity even towards our foes. Mind you, the
Moslems are not our foes. So all the more reason why we should be friendly with them. Love
begets love.
(Applause from the audience)

72

FIRST YOUTH : I dont think it is possible. As human beings we have our own loves and hates. We cant
help it.
THE MAHATMA : But you must realize that India belongs to all, to the Hindus, the Moslems, the Sikhs,
the Christians and various other sects who have made India their home. This is greater India.
FIRST YOUTH (vehemently) : India is only for the Hindus.
THE MAHATMA : That shows only your weakness. You must control, your emotions and think reasonably.
If the younger brother is rude to you, in what way are you better if you also behave in the same
way? I tell you, and I repeat it, the Hindus and the Moslems should get to know each other
properly. There will come a day when the Hindus and the Moslems will forget all their
differences and sit for a glorious banquet as brothers and friends. That is my dream of a greater
India, of a golden age when men and women will be motivated by principles of equity and
justice.
(The whole congregation is moved by the Mahatamas words. They are thrilled, and in unison they say
Mahatmas words. They are thrillled, and in unison they say Mahatma Ki jai. As though mocking this
sentimental ovation for Gandhiji a few yards away a time bomb bursts with frightening fury. A column of
smoke rises. There is confusion all over the place. Gandhiji asks the congregation to be calm. The prayer
meeting continues. One of the four young men responsible for the explosion of the bomb is caught by the
police. The other three move fast and run away).
The audience is full of grateful prayers for the miraculous escape of Gandhiji. But the MAHATMA is serene
and unperturbed.
THE MAHATMA ( Smiling) : Do no hate or condemn the man who has thrown the bomb. We have no right
to punish a person whom we consider wicked. If my people do not want me to live I am
prepared to die. I am not afraid of death. I surrender myself to the will of God. I have no will of
my own. I am in the hands of God. I have faced many a storm with faith in god. He knows full
well when to call me back for I will not outlive my usefulness to the nation. But my request to all
of you, Hindus, Sikhs, and Moslems, is that we live as friends and brothers. We may live
separately but we are the leaves of the same tree.
(A silent prayer is offered by the assembly and initially they all feel numbed and later get exhilarated by the
sudden turn of events--from an attempted murder to a providential escape. THE MAHATMA gets ready to
leave the place. His admirers and disciples flock to him).
MANOHAR : The miraculous escape of Gandhiji this evening only shows that God wants him to do some
more good work in this world.
LALITHA : His survival after the fast is itself a great manifestation of the Divine Providence that Gandhiji
is meant for a greater and nobler end.
THE MAHATMA (listening to them and slowly commenting) : Yes, I think I should take my philosophy of
non-violence to other countries.
LALITHA : Yes, Bapuji, you should go to Pakistan.
THE MAHATMA : Even though I am still not physically fit I would like to walk across the country and go
on a pilgrimage, on a mission of peace and love to bind the two countries, India and Pakistan,
together.
MANOHAR : That will be wonderful. Gods work has yet to be done by you, or elsse, He wouldnt have
saved you from the fast or from the bomb explosion today.
THE MAHATMA (half tempted) : I also think like that. I shall visit Pakistan on 2nd February. Lalitha, you
go ahead and make arrangements for my visit of Pakistan.
73

The Mahatmas face is full of animated glow. (He pauses for minute and then he adds cautiously.)
THE MAHATMA : God may have other designs for me. Gods ways are mysterious and inscrutable.
SCENE II : January 30, 1948. Evening 4-30. Gandhiji has not yet come for the prayer meetings. Men and
women of all ages are congregated there. They are waiting for the MAHATMA. They visualize
the vast Panorama of the Freedom movement with all its dynamic spirit. Like the Chorus in a
Greek play they come in groups and talk of the great deeds of the MAHATMA.
SHANKAR (Leading the first group) : We are indebted to the Mahatma for his tremendous sacrifice. He is
the father of the nation, the liberator, the light of India. To him we owe everything. Long live
Gandhiji!
MUKHERJI (Leading the second group) : The Mahatma is a saint among politicians. He brings ethics to
politics and everything he does is full of moral sensitiveness. He is full of the spirit of
forgiveness. We have in him the Budda and the Christ. Long live Gandhiji!
HARI LAL (Leader of the third group) : The Mahatma is the Karma yogi doing Nishkama Karma,
disinterested work. His humanism his abundant love for the Harijans, for the oppressed and the
depressed, make him the worlds first socialist. Long live the Mahatma!
PAUL SUNDARAM : Gandhiji is the worlds most Christ-like person. The Sermon on the Mount is
practiced by him most scrupulously much to the amazement of Christians professing Chrishtian
faith.
AHMEDE ALI : The Moslem cause is espoused by the Mahatma. He is always fair to them. He is a living
example of tolerance. In him we find the essence of all religions, the best in all faiths.
SARALA ( leading the women) : Mahatma, the emancipator of women, Long live the Mahatma! He has
given to Indian women the pride of place in the Freedom movement. He has liberated the
women from the rigid customs and shackles of society. But who knows what is in store for him.
The Hindu - Moslem riots have torn the country to pieces. Fanatics on both sides do not like his
plea for unity.
(From another corner some lone voices come questioning the validity of these statements.
GOPAL : How can you say that Gandhiji has done much for India? All that he has done is mostly negative.
The Hindu dharma is completely ruined by him. We have lost faith in everything that has been
sacred to us.
SHANKAR : Thats not true. On the other hand Gandhiji is responsible for establishing an integrated India.
The three movements he has led have been accepted all over the country. If the first movement
of 1920, the boycott of British goods, had stirred the intellectuals and the upper classes, the Salt
Satyagraha movement of 1930-31 was of the masses.
MUKHERJI : The third movement, Quit India of 1942, was a potential threat to the British. Even though it
has not come up to the expectations of Gandhiji, for it has taken a violent turn, it has served its
purpose in telling the British in unequivocal terms that the time has come for them to pack up
and go.
GOPAL : All that may be true, but...
MUKHERJI : Not may be true, but it is true.
GOPAL : All right, you have your own way. But what is the use of creating an India that is devoid of Hindu
dharma? And India that has no moral fibre is no India, according to me.

74

SHANKAR : Thats true. The whole trouble with us is that we worship everything blindly. So we idolize
Gandhiji.
HARI LAL : Nothing wrong in worshipping Gandhiji for he is a saint, one who has renounced worldly
pleasures.
SARKAR (Laughing) : Dont make me laugh. Gandhi is in the thick of wordly entanglements. Even his
much boosted Brahmacharya is of the wordly type.
MUKHERJI : Yes, wordly entanglements, not for any gain for himself, but for the country. Gandhiji has
effaced himself. He has no personal ambition. He belongs to the country, he is with the masses.
As regards his experiments in Brahmacharya it is not uncommon among Hindu saints to expose
themselves to such fiery tests for achieving perfection. He identifies him with the poor man, and
gladly chooses to live with the Harijans in their homes.
SARKAR (sarcastically) : But he has capitalists also to support him.
MUKHERJI : Thats a different thing. He loves all, the rich and the poor. But he needs nothing for himself.
That is why while attending the conference in London he has been averse to pomp and show.
Gandhiji has conquered his ego, his five senses. His fasts are monumental examples of his
supreme will power. Or else how could this man of straw, as his opponents used to call him,
survive and baffle the medical experts in every fast that he undertook?
SARKAR : That is past history. Now he cannot do all those called miracles. His time is up.
SHANKAR : It does not matter, for martyrs do not die like ordinary persons. They die for others. If Gandhiji
has to pay for all our cussedness and spite, he will gladly do so. Even if some criticize him he is
unruffled, for a mountain remains a mountain even though the waves come and dash against it.
SARALA : Gandhiji has a prophetic vision and it looks as though he is anticipating his death. With him,
now-a-days, readiness is all, for what does it matter to a saint like him if millions adore and a
few indulge in vilification of him?
GOPAL : Whatever you may say, we are not convinced about Gandhijis contribution to India.
SARALA : Dont be sarcastic.
SHANKAR : We only pray that India may have the wise counsel of Gandhiji for some more years.
GOPAL : Perhaps a dream, or a wishful thinking. But reality is totally different, for he will be more a
hindrance than a help to the country.
MUKHERJI : May God bless him. May Gandhiji serve the country for years and years.
(The assembled see the MAHATMA coming, his hands resting on the shoulders of his walking
sticks, his nieces. The air is rent with shouts of Gandhi Ki jai. Gandhiji is little late that
evening and he is annoyed with his nieces for not keeping time. He tells them that they are his
watches and he does not like going late for a meeting. GANDHIJI reaches the prayer ground,
keeps his palms together and greets the crowd. NATHURAM, a young man in his thirties,
dressed in khaki clothes, rushes forward furiously. He pushes on e of the nieces away from the
MAHATMA and makes obei sance to GANDHIJI saying, Namaste GANDHIJI. He takes his
pistol from his pocket and passes it between his palms. Then he pulls the trigger three times and
shoots Gandhiji in the chest. GANDHIJI with his hands still clasped in greeting moves to the
platform and sinks to the ground uttering the name of God.
75

THE MAHATMA : (In a feeble tone): He Ram! O God!

(A few minutes later a voice is heard on the air)
THE VOICE : The Sun has set. The light that has illuminated the whole world has gone. History repeats
itself. Christs are born and reborn only to be murdered by their own people who fail to
understand the significance of their philosophies. Gandhiji is born ahead of his times. The tenets
of his creed may sound utopian, not because there is anything wrong with them, but because it is
difficult for men with limited vision and bigoted views to transcend their limitations. Gandhijis
teaching will be understood only when mankind has had its fill of war, violence and slaughter.

8.8. ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE PLAY

Professor Rama Sarma, a well-known Miltonist is recipient of the State award for meritorious service
as a teacher of literature. He is a honorary member of the Milton Society of America.
A creative writer, Professor Sarma wrote several plays between 1942 and 1979, most of which are
available in print. He is known for his novels and critical works also.
The Mahatma shows that the author has been influenced by Shaw and Eliot, especially their great
works Saint Joan and Murder in the Cathedral respectively.
The play presents the newborn Independent India in a microcosm with her citizens and their feelings.
The simple and vivid presentation stands a witness to the authors creativity and also his love for the Father
of India.

8.9. KEYWORDS
disciple (n): follower.
fervour(n): intense feeling.
resolution(n): decision
misguided (adj)wrongly guided.
unruly: wicked
archbishop: the Head Priest in a province
crusading (adj.): fighting
reflect: represent.
resent: be unhappy about.
conciliatory (adj.): showing good will.
whisper (n): speaking in such a way that others cannot hear the speaker.
at stake: indanger of being lost.
contemptuously (adv.): angrily.
irreconcilable (adj.): not to be compromised.
revive(v): bring back to life.
appeal (n): reques.
tolerate(v): suffer a thing that one does not like.
creed: system of religious belief.
foe(n): enemy.
repent(v): feel sorry for.
penitence(n): feeling sorry for.
ridiculous(adj.) foolish, silly.
betray(v): be disloyal
persecute(v): treat cruelly.
coward(n): one who lacks courage.
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assault (v): attack.

magnanimity(n): generousness.
transitory(adj.): temporary.
tangible(adj.): concrete, real.
aggressor(n): one who fights with others esp. if provoked.
fanaticism(n): too strong a faith to understand reason.
stubborn (adj.): fixed in purpose or opinion.
amicably (adv.): harmoniously
beget (v): give birth to
banquet(n) feast.
serene (adj.): not affected.
brethren (n): brothers.
wishful thinking (n): a strong wish.
furiously (adv.): in great anger.
capitalist(n): one who controls large amounts of money.
abundant (adj.): in large measure.
outlive (v): live longer than (required time.)
exhilarate (v): have joyful feelings.
survival (n): living longer than.
manifestation(n): showing
pilgrimage (n): journey to a holy place.
animated(adj.): given life to.
inscrutable (adj.): not able to be understood.
liberatir (n): one who frees the downtrodden.
espouse(v): decide to support.
emancipator(n): one who makes free (slaves).
shackle (n): strict convention.
stir (v): move.
unequivocal (adj.): not of doubtful meaning.
entanglement (n): being tied with others.
brahmacharya (n): promise to live a bachelors life
efface (v): cause to forget.
monumental (adj.): very large.
baffle (v): surprise
unruffled (adj.): not shaken.
prophetic (adj.) : able to predict future.
sarcastic(adj.): of bitter words meant to hurt others.
utopian (adj.): perfect but imaginary and impossible.
sarcastically (adv.): mockingly.

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CHAPTER 09 GRAMMER
9.0. INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with basic grammar such as relative clauses, conditional sentences, model
auxiliaries and reported speech. Each item of grammar is explained with examples and exercises are given.

9.1 RELATIVE CLAUSES

Defining and Non - Defining Clauses

I.

Defining clauses are relative clauses which restrict the noun or pronoun to which they refer
to a particular type or example.

Example:
People who do such things are fools.
Girls who study regularly are smart
(in this case the relative clauses restricts people to a particular group only).
II.

Non-defining clauses simply tell us more about the clauses, nouns and pronouns to which
they refer.

Example:
1.

John, who is a typist, came home yesterday

2.

The man, who has a computer centre, met me yesterday.

3.

Raja, who is a photographer, works in London.

Note:
A non-defining clause must be enclosed within commas as it is really parenthetical.
III. In a non-defining clause the relative pronoun cannot be omitted.

Example:
Mr. Smith, who is in the army, is my uncle.
IV.

In a defining clause the relative pronoun is regularly omitted except when it is the

subject of a verb.

Example:
The boy you met yesterday is a singer
V.

In a defining clause the preposition governing the relative pronoun is placed at the

end of the clause.

Example:
This is the man I spoke to you about
VI. The pronouns which, who, whose, whom are found in both defining and non-defining clauses. The
pronoun that is only found in defining clauses.

9.2. TERMINAL QUESTIONS:

Identify the defining and non-defining clauses in these sentences.

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1.

The foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, who accompanied Mr. Sinha on his visit, had a
separate meeting with Trubnikov.

2.

Srinath, who is in the U.K, could not be contacted for confirmation of report

3.

The team which returns to a short camp is to leave for Germany soon

4.

The sport which can be called a gentle mans game is chess.

5.

The Australians, who won the world cup, lost to the West Indies yesterday.

6.

The parties whose combined strength constitutes more than two-thirds of the total strength
Of Parliament do actively support womens reservation.

7.

The former union minister Shanta kumar, who hails from Himachal Pradesh, could get
back into the government.

8.

The members who were taken into custody by Pakistani Government were released
yesterday

9.

Those who were involved in the blast cases are taken into Police custody

10.

These farmers, who took to inland fish forming, are also an unhappy lot

11.

Japanese cyclist Haruko, who was practicing for a mountain biking event, was killed in a
crash.

12. Banking and auto-ancillary stocks, which have been on the rise, closed lower towards
of the week.

the fag end

13. The brochure which contains the terms and conditions may be obtained from the Kolkata
Corporation.

Municipal

14.
15.

Is this the face that snatches sleeps away from many fans lives?
All men, who know how to lead their lives in this world, are acknowledged masters of
wisdom.

9.3. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Conditional sentences are classified into three types
I. Cause and effect
Example:
a.If you want to win your finances heart, wear this navaratna necklace.
b.If you learn yoga, you will improve your health.

II. Hypothetical but possible

Example:
a.If I were the shop keeper I would introduce more concession.

III. Hypothetical but impossible

Example:
a.If it had not been for the fact that you encouraged us we should have failed.
Sometimes the second and the third conditions are indicated by a change in the word order - were I and had It
1.Were I the shop keeper, I would introduce more concession

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2.Had it not been for the fact that you encouraged us we should have failed

9.4. TERMINAL QUESTIONS:

I.

Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verb given in brackets.
1.

It winter comes ____________________ (can) spring be for behind?

2.

If you _________________ (happen) to be Sir. J.C. Bose it would be very simple.

3.

If he _________________ (go) to the Bose Institute he may be forced to give up a

vegetable diet.

4.

If you had asked me to support you I __________________(support) you.

5.

If you offered her a sugar mouse she ________________ (shout) with joy.

6.

If you __________________ (be) lucky you might find a three penny.

7.

If I were you I _____________________ (accept) the post

8.

I should have visited the library if I _________________ (have) time.

II.

Choose the correct alternative from the following :

1.

If it rains
a) he will carry an umbrella
b) he would carry an umbrella
c) he would have carried an umbrella

2.

If I have time
a) I shall meet my friend
b) I should meet my friend
c) I should have met my friend.

3.

What would you do

a) if you miss the train
b) if you missed the train
c) if you would have missed the train

4.

Had I known she was a doctor

a) I will approach her
b) I would approach her
c) I would have approached her

5.

I would give them more books

If I _________________ (have) more

6.

If there were many opportunities

We ________________ (use) them

7.

If she were a millionaire she _________________ (help) the poor

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8.

If you had not been very busy I _______________ (take) you with me.

9.

If you were cautious, you _____________________ (not do) that mistake.

10.

If you work hard you __________________ (succeed)

III.

Complete the following with any one of the conditional clauses.

1.

Had I seen it _____________________

2.

If I go there ______________________

3.

Were she a minister she ___________________

4.

If you press the wrong button __________________

5.

If she had taken her exams ___________________

6.

The match will not be played if ________________

7.

If he is not well ___________________

8.

If I eat butter ___________________

9.

If water freezes _________________

10. If you meet her ____________________

9.4. MODAL AUXILIARIES:

Modal auxiliaries are never used alone. A principle verb is either present or implied. Modal
auxiliaries are:
Shall, Should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought, need, dare.
a.

Shall:

I. In the first person (I, we) shall is used to indicate the simple future.
Examples:
1. I shall send him the letter
2. We shall have a party tomorrow.
II. Shall in the second person (you) and third person (he, she, it) indicates a
command, promise threat or determination.
Examples:
1. You shall go at once (command)
2. She shall be promoted (Promise)
3. He shall be dismissed from service (threat)
4. You shall obey me (Determination)
III. In the interrogative sentences shall is usually used only in the first person (I,
We)
Examples:
1. Shall I buy a car?
2. Shall we visit the exhibition?
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b. Will
I. In the interrogative sentences for second person (you) and third person (he, she, it) will is
generally used.
1. Will you come with me to Delhi?
2. Will he play for our team?
3. Will they advertise the post?
a.

Should:

b. Should is the past tense of shall and it is used in indirect speech.

Examples:
1. Direct: He said, The thief shall be punished.
Indirect: He said that the thief should be punished
2. Direct: The captain said, Players shall meet in the play ground
Indirect: The captain said that the players should meet in the play ground.
c. Should expresses duty or obligation in all the three persons:
1. I should not be disloyal to him
2. We should have helped him.
3. You should tell the truth.
4. He should pay the fees in time
5. They should have paid the fine
d.

Should is used in conditional clauses expressing possibilities, supposition, etc.

Examples:
1. If she should come, ask her to wait.
2. Should it rain, there will be no match to day.
e. Should is used in main clauses which are preceded or followed by a clause expressing unreal
conditions.
Examples:
1. If I were you, I should accept the invitation.
2. Were I a king, I should be happy.
f. Should expresses less possibility than shall
Examples:
1. I shall be happy to meet the Director
2. I shall be happy to meet the Director.
g. Should is the only auxiliary which may de used after lest.
Examples:
1. Walk carefully lest you should fall down.
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2. Drive slowly lest you should meet with an accident.

h. Should is used to make a polite statement.
Examples:
1. I should like to thank him.
2. I should like to mention some of his achievements.
i. Should is used to express possibility or likelihood
Examples:
1. I should be able to meet him.
2. You should be able to finish this work in time.

j. Would
i.

Would is the past tense of will and it is used in indirect speech.

1. Direct speech: The Headmaster said, the school will be closed on Sunday
Indirect speech: The Headmaster said that the school would be closed on Sunday.
ii.

Would expresses willingness or determination

Examples:
1. The Doctor said he would treat the patients (willingness)
2. He would have her own way (determination)
iii.

Would expresses customary action in the past

Examples:
1. After midday meals he would sleep for a while
2. The old lady would sit in a corner and take rest most of the time.
3. Crows would come and pick up crumbs from the streets.
iv.

Would and Would like to express a wish.

Examples:
1. He would know what his duty is.
2. He would like to know what his duty is.
v.

Would expresses choice or preference.

Examples:
1. She would rather die than marry him.
2. She would rather read the story than see that picture.
vi.

Would is used for making polite questions:

Examples:
1. Would you like a cup of tea?
2. Would you mind in reading this poem?
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vii.

Would is used in the main clause when preceded or followed by a subordinate clause
expressing an improbable condition.

Examples:
1. If I were a king, I would help the poor people.
2. If I were a fish, I would swim in the sea.
k. Can:
i.

Can expresses ability.

Examples:
1. He can lift this table
2. Can you speak in English?
ii.

Can is used in the sense of may to give permission,

Examples:
1. Can I help you?
2. Can I do the work for you?
l. Could
i.

Could is the past tense of can and it is used to indicate ability that existed in the past.

Examples:
1. While I was young, I could run fast.
2. Why couldnt you attend the function last week?
ii.

Could is used as past tense in indirect speech.

Examples:
1. Direct speech: He said, I can secure first mark
Indirect speech: He said that he could secure first mark.
2. Direct speech: She said, I can sing a song
Indirect speech: She said that she could sing a song
iii.

Could is used to express possibility or uncertainty.

Examples:
1. She could do it, if she tried hard. (possibility)
2. If my father were here, he would have helped us. (uncertainty)
iv.

Could is used to ask polite questions

Examples:
1. Could you help me?
2. Could you please take me to the Education Minister.
m. May:
May is used to express permission.
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Examples:
1. May I come in, please?
2. May I do this work now?
iii.

May is also used to express possibility.

Examples:
1. She may agree with you
2. He may be elected president of India.
iv.

May is used in subordinate clauses that express purpose.

Examples:
1. Run fast that you may win the first prize.
2. Obey the elders that you prosper in life.
n. Might
i. Might is the past tense of may, and it is used in indirect speech
Examples:
1. Direct speech: He said, I may complete the work soon?
Indirect speech: He said that he might complete the work soon.
2. Direct speech: The old man said, I may have done so
Indirect speech: The old man said that he might have done so.
ii. Might is used to express more doubtful possibility
Examples:
1. I might pass the examination
2. The patient might recover.
iii. Might is used when some one wants to be polite during a discussion.
Examples:
1. If I might disturb you for a moment sir can you explain the new project of the company.
2. If I might say a suggestion, could we go for a tour.
(I). Must
1.

Must expresses compulsion or strong obligation or duty. It is a stronger word than

should

Examples:
1. He must feel sorry for his mistake.
2. We must help the poor people
ii. Must expresses necessity
Examples:
1. We must get up early and do our work
85

2. We must have a strong army to defend our country.

iii. Must expresses probability or likelihood.
Examples:
1. She must be mad to do this work
2. The work must have been done by him
v.

Must signifies strong determination

Examples:
1. I must go to Delhi in this summer
2. He must complete the work within a week.
J. Ought
i. Ought is followed by the auxiliary to. Ought is not forceful as must but it is stronger than
should. It expresses duty, necessity, fitness, moral obligation etc.,
Examples:
1. The mother ought to help her child (Duty)
2. We ought to buy some fruits (Necessity)
3. He ought to be ashamed of himself (fitness)
4. We ought to help the poor people (moral obligation)
K. Need
i. Need as a modal verb. Remains unchanged whatever the person or number of the subject.
Examples:
1. He need not tell it to me
2. She need not walk a long distance
ii. Need is used with hardly
Examples:
1. I need hardly say that I am thankful
2. We need hardly tell you of your promise to help us.
iii. Need can be used with only
Examples:
1. He need only sign this application and I shall do the rest.
2. You need only come with me and I shall help you.
v.

Need is usually in question without not

Examples:
1. Need he wait any longer?
2. Need she come again?
vi.

When referring to past time, need is followed by the perfect infinitive

86

Examples:
1. She need not have lost her temper.
2. We need not have waited for his arrival.
L. Dare
Dare is commonly used with not. It is only occasionally used in positive statements. It remains
unchanged what ever the person or number of subject
Examples:
1. He dare not come here
2. He dare not oppose his leader
3. dare he say it to his master
4. How dare he do such an action

9.5. TERMINAL QUESTIONS FOR MODAL VERBS:

a. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with suitable modal auxiliaries.
1. Pay your tax in time lest you -------- be fined
2. -------- I send an application
3. -------- she be allowed to write the examination.
4. If I were you I ------- do it.
5. -------- you mind opening the window.
6. -------- I have a word with you.
7. Study hard that you ------ get a first class.
b. Correct the following sentences.
1. I think it will rain today
2. Will I buy a computer?
3. Shall you be able to visit us next week?
4. I should have done that if I was you.
5. If I was the president of India, I would help the poor people.
6. He needs not have done so.
7. He dares not speak against his master.

9.4. REPORTED SPEECH:

We can report what a person says in two ways. One way of reporting is to actually quote the words of a
person and the other way is to report the words of a person without quoting his exact words. The former one
is called direct speech and the later one is called indirect speech or reported speech.
Examples:
1. David said, I want to become an engineer (Direct speech)
87

2. David said that he wanted to become an engineer. (Indirect speech or reported speech)
The following changes are made in indirect speech:
1. The comma after said and the quotation marks are removed.
2. The conjunction that is put in between the principal clause and the subordinate clause.
3. There is a change of pronoun.
4. The main verb is changed according to the rule of the sequence of tenses.
5. If the reporting verb is in past tense (said) the following changes are made in indirect
speech.
6. Present tenses in direct speech are changed into corresponding past tenses in indirect
speech.
Examples:
Direct speech

Indirect speech

Is, am

was

Are

were

Has, have

had

Can

could

May

might

Shall

should

Will

would

Simple present tense is changed into the simple past tense.

Direct: The girl said, I like sweets
Indirect: The girl said the she liked sweets

The present continuous is changed into past continuous

Direct: He said, I am buying a car
Indirect: He said that she was buying a car.

The present perfect is changed into the past perfect.

Direct: He said, I have done the work
Indirect: He said that he had done the work

The present perfect continuous becomes the past perfect continuous

Direct: He said, I have been writing for the three hours
Indirect: He said that had been writing for the three hours

88

The simple past in the direct sometimes remains unchanged in the indirect and sometimes it is
changed into the past perfect.
Direct: He said, I bought a pen
Indirect: He said that he had bought a pen
Direct: He said, I had a dream last week
Indirect: He said that he had a dream last week.

The past continuous in the direct becomes the past perfect continuous.
Direct: He said, George was swimming in the river
Indirect: He said that George had been swimming in the river

Pronouns and possessive adjectives of the first and second persons in the direct are changed
into the third person in the indirect.
Direct: He said, I shall meet you tomorrow
Indirect: He said that he would meet him the next day.
Direct: The teacher said to the students, If you work hard you will pass
Indirect: The teacher told to the students that if they worked hard they would pass.

If the person addressed reports the speech himself, them the second person is changed into
the first person.
Direct speech: He said to me, you alone can do the work
Indirect speech: He told me that I alone could do the work.
The nominative of address in the direct becomes the person spoken to in the indirect.
Direct: Alex said, mother, I am hungry
Indirect: Alex told his mother that he was hungry
Direct: He said, Reeta, I am going to the office
Indirect: He told Reeta that he was going to the office
Certain words expressing nearness are changed into words expressing distance.
This becomes that

today becomes that day

These become those

tomorrow becomes the next day

Now becomes then

yesterday becomes the previous day

Here becomes there

last night becomes the night before

Or the previous night

Hither becomes thither

ago becomes before

Thus becomes so

hence becomes thence

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Examples:
Direct: He said to George, you come with me today
Indirect: He told George that he might come with him that day.
Direct: He said, there was a big tree here last year
Indirect: He said that there was a big tree there the previous year.
Interrogative sentences
While changing an interrogative sentence into indirect speech the introductory verb is changed into asked
inquired, demanded.
Direct: He said, How many students has class?
Indirect: He enquired how many students the class had.
The question mark is dropped in the indirect speech and the order of the last two words is inverted.
The questions beginning with interrogative words like, how, why, where, what, who, which, when etc., Can
be changed into the indirect in this manner.
Another class of questions is beginning with have, has, will, may, do, did, is are, etc. The answer to
these questions must be either yes or no while reporting such questions the reporting verb has to be followed
by, whether or if .
Direct: The teacher said, Have you solved the problem
Indirect: The teacher sail asked if I had solved the problem.
Imperative sentences (commanded request)
Sentences which contain an order, request warning order, request, advice are in the imperative mood.
In the reported speech the introductory word said may replaced by the words like, asked, ordered,
commanded, requested, implored, advised and warned etc. The verb in direct speech is be changed into the
infinitive (beginning with to) in indirect speech.
Examples
Direct speech: Keep quiet said the father to his son
Indirect speech: The father asked his son to keep quiet.
Direct speech: Call the first witness said the king.
Indirect speech: The king ordered them to call the first witness.
Direct speech: Please take me to the office said the visitor
Indirect speech: The visitor requested them to take him to the office
Direct speech: He said, please let me do the work
Indirect speech: He requested them to let him to do the work
Exclamation and wishes (exclamatory form)
In reporting exclamatory and wishes reporting verb has to be changed into some verb
expressing exclamation or wish like exclaimed, declared, cried out, wished prayed etc. Interjections and
exclamations in the direct speech like oh, alas, hurrah etc, and the exclamation mark are omitted in the
indirect. The phrases like with delight, with regret, with sorrow etc, are often added to bring out the intensity
of feeling.
Direct speech: He said, what an idiot Gopal is!
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Indirect speech: He exclaimed that Gopal was a big idiot.

Direct speech: She said, God may save the king
Indirect speech: She prayed that God might save the king
Direct speech: He said, Alas! The old man died that very night
Indirect speech: He exclaimed with sorrow that the old man died that very night.
EXCERCISES:
Change the following into indirect speech.
1. The man said, I like to work hard
2. He said, I am walking now
3. Sita said, I have read this poem.
4. He said, I have been walking for two hours
5. They said, We bought a big house
6. He said, Ramesh was jumping into a lake
7. He said, I shall help me tomorrow
8. She said to me, You alone can help him
9. George said, Father I am happy
10. He said, Where can I get my certificate?
11. She said, What is your problem?
12. Will you help me? He said
13. Would you like to attend the camp? Said the officer.
14. Dont walk in the middle of the road said the teacher
15. May God bless you! said the lady
16. They said, How big the ocean is !
17. Alas! What shall I do ? cried lucy I have lost my purse in the bus.

91

CHAPTER 10 - TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES

10.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of transformation of sentences such as active voice, and passive voice, affirmative
sentence, Negative sentence, Interrogative sentence, Degrees of comparison, Simple sentence, compound
sentence and complex sentences. It also deals with a, b, r, clauses and correction of sentences basing on
subject and verb concord, tenses, articles, prepositions and question tags.
10.1 ACTIVE VOICE, AND PASSIVE VOICE
Transformation from the Active form to the Passive is done when there is a shift of emphasis from the subject to
the object. When we change active into passive voice the subject of a given sentences will become object. There is a
change of pronoun. There is no change tense. Use the word By in passive voice.

Exercise to the learners are as follows:

Active:

S
1.

Kodak Camera Promises Vibrant Photo Quality Prints

S

2.

IO

DO

Panasonic gives you the ultimate cinematic experience.

Passive:
1.

Vibrant Photo quality prints are promised by Kodak camera

2.

The ultimate cinematic experience is given to you by Panasonic.

Transformation of a sentence from Active to Passive has to take into account the tense and the number of the
verb and object respectively. The procedure is illustrated below
1.When the statement begins with an imperative

Example:
V

1.Discover your home

V

2.Adore the sparkle of diamonds

V

3.Light up this Diwali with a sparkle on your wrist

To change the above samples into passive, the statement has to be in the frame, Let + object + be + past
participle of the main verb

Example:
1.Let your home be discovered
2.Let the sparkle of diamonds be adored
3.Let this Diwali be lit up with a sparkle on your wrist.
Change the following into Passive from:
1. Feel the power

2. Grab your Pepsi blue

3. Keep it cool

4. Enjoy the cool of the season.

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2.

Sentences which take the negative form such as

1. We dont call it a tile
and
2.She doesnt answer my letter, can be changed into

Passive as
1.It is not called a tile by us
2.My letter is not answered by her
Dont in the active is replaced by is not in the passive.
3.

Interrogative sentences
1.Does your soap actually deliver the feeling of (being) soft, silky and moistured?,
can be transformed into
Is the felling of being soft, silky and moistured delivered actually by your soap?
2.Similarly, who broke this? (Active) is changed into By whom was this broken
(Passive)

4.

Exclamatory sentences
1.How quickly it washes the clothes (Active) is transformed into
How quickly the clothes are washed by it!

5.

Sentences with two objects can be transformed into two ways

Example:
IO

DO

Kovai kondattam gives you extra excitement

6.

a.

You are given extra excitement by Kovai kondattam

b.

Extra excitement is given to you by Kovai Kondattam

In the case of Impersonal Subjects

Example:
They say that I am soft spoken (active)
Ans : It is said that I am soft spoken. (Passive)
The impersonal they is omitted in the passive voice and is substituted by It is said.
7.

Sentences with Special Prepositions are transformed in the following manner :

1.

Archanas success shocks Manisha (Active)

2.

Manisha is shocked at Archanas success (Passive)

Certain transitive verbs are used with prepositions other than by in the passive form.

8.
It is to be noted that certain intransitive verb form transitive Collocations with suitable prepositions and there by make Passive transformation possible.

Example:
a.Light up your desire.
b.She looks at me.

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Key a. Let your desire be lit up

b.I am looked at by her
Other types of transformation are form

10.2. TERMINAL QUESTIONS:

Change The Active Form Into Passive Form
1.

Police feared the worst

2.

She set her sights on Capital Hill

3.

God made man; styles defines him

4.

We talk of possibilities

5.

We dont build an image; we earn a reputation

6.

Colgate fights tooth decay longer

7.

More dentists use Colgate Total

8.

NIIT presents Swift Jyoti for women

9.

Lakme reduces fine lines and wrinkles

10.

Womans Era empowers women

II. IMPERATIVE
1.

Dont miss your copy of womans Era

2.

Keep a humour journal

3.

Celebrate the festive season with diamond jewellery from the House of Alapatt.

4.

Count the number of beads.

5.

Help the helping hand.

6.

Discover new ways of using a computer

7.

Take a different route

III. NEGATIVE
1.

Indian team doesnt lack talent

2.

You couldnt lose anything

3.

Democracy doesnt lead to higher economic growth automatically

4.

Click doesnt bother others

5.

Winners dont do different things; they do things differently

IV. INTERROGATIVE
1.

When will woman get another offer?

2.

Did you ever suspect its worth?

3.

Do you show that you care?

4.

Is this the way you buy cables?

5.

Have you noticed lately that some bikes look snazzier?

6.

Will you allow us to take over?

7.

Do you know any mobile phones service centre?

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EXCLAMATORY
1.

How brightly Asmi diamond jewellary reflects your inner fire!

2.

How wisely he insists on the right stabilizer!

3.

How happpily he chooses the Bajaj way of life!

SENTENCE WITH TWO OBJECTS

1.

Bajaj brings you great success.

2.

Their cars help women to choose their equals

3.

Bajaj water - heater gives you a hot and refreshing shower

4.

Sri Krishna offers you divine sweets with divine taste

5.

The new Oriion shows you a wide range of personal computers.

SENTENCES WITH IMPERSONAL SUBJECTS

1.

They say that now the safest place to keep Sachins autograph is your garage

2.

They say that Hero Honda is the world No.1 two-wheeler company.

3.

They say that Digital, PC Party is in town

4.

They say that The Hindu speaks on specific facts.

5.

They say that cigarette smoking is injurious to health.

SENTENCES WITH SPECIAL PREPOSITIONS

1.

Archanas taste pleases me

2.

Dermi cool pricply heat powder delights me

3.

The success of Pretty Petals astonishes me

4.

The new style in Riding surprises me

5.

The leather that weathers satisfies me

TRANSITIVE COLLOCATIONS
1.

Switch off the Bajaj CFL

2.

We shall depend on MRF Zapper tyres

3.

We must insist on the feel of Lakme

4.

She dreams of cotton green revolution

10.3. AFFIRMATIVE, NAGATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

Positive to negative without change of meaning
Example:
1. Think big and Ride tall, can be transformed
Into negative as
1.Dom not think small and Do not ride short

II.

Negative to Positive

Example:
1.It is not a difficult task and
2.He was never unkind, can be transformed into

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It is an easy task and He was always kind.

III. An exclamatory sentence into an assertive sentence:

1.What a fine cooker!
and
2.How elegant the face is ! can be transformed into
1.

It is a very fine cooker

and

2.The face is very elegant

A Rhetorical Question into an Assertive Sentence:

1.Who does no wish to wear these slippers?
and
2.Why should you be reluctant to buy this?
Can be transformed into
1.Every one wishes to wear these slippers
and
2.You should not be reluctant to buy this.
5.

Gear up for future

10.5. DEGREES OF COMPARISON

Another kind of transformation is the interchanging of the DEGREES OF COMPARISON. When two things are
compared, only the positive and the comparative degrees are possible. The superlative degree is possible when three or
more things enter the comparison. The subjects of comparison may be
1.

Persons or things (Subjects)

2.

Action or states (Predicates)

Example :
1.

Pepsi is cooler than the coolest (Comparative)

No other soft drink is as cool as Pepsi (Positive)
Pepsi is the coolest soft drink (Superlative)

2.

Sun flame is one of the finest gas stoves (Superlative)

Very few gas stoves are as fine as sun flame (Positive)
Sun flame is finer than most other gas stoves (Comparative)

Negative
Example:

1.

Horlicks is not more nutritious than complan

Complan is at least as nutritious as Horlicks

Comparison of Adverbs:
Example:

1.

She walks faster than her mother

Her mother does not walk as fast as she does

I. Change the following into other Degrees of Comparison as instructed:

1.

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Cold - Gold is the coolest refrigerator.

(into comparative and Positive)
2.

AVR is the most attractive silver shop

(into comparative and Positive)

3.

All - out is better than Good Night (into Positive)

4.

Feeling good is as important as looking good (into comparative)

5.

Amway is one of the worlds most respected names in direct selling

(into comparative and Positive)

10.6. TERMINAL QUESTIONS FOR DEGREES OF COMPARISON

Change the following sentences into the other degrees of comparison
1.

Godrej Pentacool is one of the best refrigerators

2.

Sachin is worlds best batsman

3.

The Shivsena is the oldest ally of the BJP

4.

The most unique of opportunity in job oriented intensive training is offered by UMS

5.

Ooty is cooler than Kodaikanal

6.

HBO is the best TV Channel enjoyed by watchers of Hollywood movies.

7.

Airtel offers the best cellular service

8.

Shivanath Singh was one of the greatest long distance runners.

9.

Viswanath Anand was adjudged the worlds best chess player.

10.

Australias Brett Lee is the best bowler in the ODIs ratings

11.

Tajmahal is one of the greatest wonders of the world

12.

Belgian Tennis players are the most modest, the most stubborn and the most
tenacious.

13.

MRF is Indias largest Tyre Company.

14.

Colgate is the best toothpaste

10.7. SIMPLE, COMPLEX AND COMPOUND

Conjunctions join words or sentences. Conjunctions are classified according to the kind of sentences which they
join. There are two kinds of sentences, simple and complex. A simple sentence contains no subordinate clause.

Example:
1.

The commander was killed

2.

The town was taken.

If we join the two sentences with the co -ordinate conjunction and, we have a sentence containing one subject
and a double predicate; but the sentence is not complex as its parts are co-ordinate. Similarly, certain sentences may
contain Multiple Subjects and Multiple Objects, but they are not complex.
A complex sentence is one which contains two clauses, one of which is dependent on the other.

Example:
1.

He told me that the enemies had escaped.

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2.

He who won the match was honoured.

3.

They gave us a contribution because they approved of the object.

In the above examples, the words which are underlined are not independent sentences. They occupy the place of
a noun, an adjective or an adverb in relation to the rest of the sentence of which they form a part. Therefore, they are
called subordinate clauses. A subordinate clause can be identified as an adjective clause, a Noun clause or an Adverb
clause by discovering its relation to the main clause. But the same expression may be employed in different ways in
different circumstances.

Example:
1.

The place where the battle was fought is unknown.

2.

Where the battle was fought is unknown.

3.

They live where the battle was fought.

The first sentence is Adjectival limiting place, in like manner one might say, The exact
place is unknown.
The second sentence is a
unknown or It is unknown.

Noun clause in like manner one might say, The fact is

The third sentence is Adverbial, modifying the verb live just as an adverb will
modify it in the sentence, They live there

certainly

Once the distinction between Simple and Complex sentences is thoroughly mastered, one can determine
what kind of Subordinate clause it is that any complex sentence contains and the analysis of sentence will of course
become an easy undertaking.

The Co-ordinating conjunctions are:

And, but, or, nor, not only ---------- but also,
either ----------- or, neither ----------- not, still, only,
yet, both ------------ and, whether ------------ or,
just as ---------------- so
Example:
1.

He worked hard, but he did not pass

2.

It was raining, so we could not go.

3.

Both she and I were there.

4.

He is very poor, yet (still) he is happy.

5.

He not only liked me, but also loved me.

6.

They can either come to class or get out

7.

Let us study or sleep

8.

We bought a car and went out

9.
The ideas of the ancients, whether correct or incorrect, were based on very different
from those of today.
10.

We did not study anything nor write.

11.

She is neither good nor bad

12.

They toil not neither do they take any effort.

13.

I would have got first rank, only I was sick

Note : A list of subordinating Conjunctions:

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methods

- after, although, as, as far as, as if, as long as, as soon as, as though, because, before, if, considering (that), in
order that, since, so that, than, unless until, when, whenever, while etc.,........
A complex sentence can be converted into a simple sentence by the reduction of its subordinate clauses to
phrases or single words. A simple sentence on the other hand may be transformed into a complex sentence by
expanding phrases or single words into clauses. A compound sentence which is made up of two or more co-ordinate
clauses can also be converted into simple or complex sentences by the use of suitable subordinating conjunctions or by
the use of appropriate prepositions.

Example:
1.

A good shirt is like strong character when it stands the test of time (complex)
a.
A good shirt, standing the test of time, is like strong character (Simple)
b.A good shirt is like strong character, and it stands the test of time (Compound)

2.

a.If you cook rice, it will elongate (complex)

b.Rice when cooked will elongate (Simple)
c.Cook rice and it will elongate (Compound)

Next we move on to transformation in terms of three types of clause:

I. The noun clause:

Transformation of sentences containing a noun clause is carried out in the following manner.

Example:
a.How he escaped is a mystery (Complex)
b.His escape is a mystery (Simple)
c.He escaped and it is a mystery (Compound)
2.

a.Fusion cooking is a style that takes the best elements of various dishes to
create a new dish (Complex)
b.Fusion cooking is a style and it takes the best elements of various dishes to
create a new dish (Compound)
c.The style of Fusion cooking is to take the best elements of various dishes to
create a new dish (Simple)

3. It is expected that the P.M. will arrive shortly (Complex)

a.The P.M. is expected to arrive shortly. (Simple)
b.The P.M. will arrive shortly and it is expected so (Compound)

II. The Adjectival Clause

The adjectival clause is placed immediately after the noun it qualifies.

Example:
a.The boy whom you wanted to see has gone. (Complex)
b.You wanted to see the boy but he has gone. (Compound)
c.The boy wanted to be seen by you has gone. (Simple)

III. The Adverbial Clause

The adverb clause of time is introduced after as soon as, no sooner than, as, when, while, after, before, since
etc and it is contracted into phrases in one of the following patterns.
1.Preposition + N + Gerund or Participial phrase.
E.g.

before he slept - before his sleeping (Gerund)

When he heard the news - on hearing the news (Participle)

2.The conjunction while + participle or participial phrase.

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E.g.

While I was singing - While singing

3.The participial phrase or absolute phrase.

E.g.

After he had said that he left - having said that he left

Example II:
1. As soon as he came in, he started selecting the beautiful bangles (Complex)
a.Immediately on coming, he started selecting the exquisite bangles (Simple)
b.He came in and started selecting the exquisite bangles (Compound)
Adverb Clause of Concession is introduced by the conjunctions though, although, even though, whatever,
however etc.
1.

Though he has many faults hes truly a great man (Complex)

2.

In spite of his many faults, he is truly a great man. (Simple)

3.

He has many faults but he is truly a great man. (Compound)

Adverb Clause of purpose is introduced by the conjunctions that, so that, in order that etc,

Example:
1.

I took a taxi so that I might reach the station on time (Complex)

a.I took a taxi in order to reach the station on time (Simple)
b.I took a taxi and so I reached the station on time. (Compound)

2.

Replace your sagging coir mattress because you cant replace your back (Complex)
a.You cant replace your back, yet you can replace your sagging coir mattress
(Complex)
b.Replacing your sagging coir mattress is easier than replacing your back
(Simple)

The Adverb Clause of Condition is usually introduced by if, if only, on condition that, unless, whether or not etc.,
Example :
1. The lessons of yesterday are worthless unless they are applied to tomorrow (Complex)
a.Apply the lessons of yesterday to tomorrow and they become worthy (compound)
b.The lessons of yesterday when applied to tomorrow become worthy (Simple)

a, b, r clauses:
Before moving on to transformations, the learner is advised to note that sentences are composed of clause / clauses
which contain finite verbs.
There are three types of clauses, namely independent (a/) dependent (b/) and reference (r/) clauses. Of the
three, the reference clauses which is signified by words like however, yes, no, of course etc, modifies the whole
sentence.

Example:
1.

b
a
When I was born, my brother brought me lots of stuffed toys

2.

a
At the age of one, she got me a walker

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3.

a
At three, she brought me VISH book

4.

r
a
a
Of course, now I am thirty, she still gets me VISH Books

5.

r
b
Yes, If you want the right perception with right inspiration,
a
you cant do without VISH Books.

10.7. TERMINAL QUESTIONS FOR on a, b, r clauses

1.

The story which I want to tell you happened long, long ago.

2.

At last, however, it came to his ears.

3.

When he had done this, however, and was about to sit down, one of the twenty-five

stone angels began to speak.

4.

So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice board.

5.

The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children and the trees forgot to
blossom.

6.

So he crept downstairs and opened the front door softly and went out into the garden.

7.

It was not the sort of prize one could carry home at short notice.

8.

I went up and down the town offering it for sale to all and sundry.

9.

He licked white - hot iron rods, chewed and swallowed sharp nails, stopped his heart

beat and buried himself underground.

10.

No, it is all a matter of intelligent reading.

11.

That, of course, is a North American Harvard Trainer.

12.

He came to a big store house where a tea-taster was examining cases of tea which had just

arrived from Ceylon.

13.

He soon came across one who knew all about him.

14.

It is a great place, isnt it?

15.

Of course, I know what it is.

16.

Three - fourths of the surface of our planet is covered by the sea, which both separates
and invites the various races of mankind.

17.

We know that animals live at a depth of three miles and more, and we wonder how this can
be.

18.

However, many of those animals contain some gases as well.

19.

Its body is torn to shreds as it bursts.

20.

Bergs have been reported that were thirty miles long.

21.

When in search of food he swims with his mouth open.

22.

Some deep - sea fishes have rows of light sports and as they swim they resemble lighted

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streamers or railway trains at night.

23.

One animal that divides its time between the water and the shore is the seal.

24.

However, it was the fish of the sea that just led ran to sail the ocean.

25.

It was, he wrote, the one romantic incident in his life.

26.

Anyway, by nine oclock or so they were in one of Hardys rooms.

27.

This, say Ramanujans Indian biographers was a very agreeable. surprise to all concerned.

28.

In fact, Hardy was obliged to teach him some formal mathematics as though Ramanujan

had been a scholarship candidate at Winchester.

29.

As I approached it, saw the barrier coming down slowly.

30.

My brother came home for lunch and returned to work soon after.

31.

There were, we are told, no confectioners.

32.

As in the world of sport, however, what was once done for utilitarian ends is now done for
pleasure.

33.

There is, I admit, something peculiarly obnoxious about a boy who eats sweets in company

and never offers one to a friend.

34.

But, when I had mounted to the top of a tram, I could not help opening the box.

35.

Still, I had my good moment.

36.

Why I should even do it, I do not know.

37.

It remains, however, a gigantic absurdity.

38.

I dislike and despise the town I am in.

39.

I know that when I write I feel I am addressing a company of very pleasant and sensible
persons.

40.

No, they are dreary people who do not know how to pass an evening.

41.

You dislike me, do you?

42.

Very well I hate the lot of you.

43.

Alas why did I promise?

44.

To err is human, to refuse is divine.

45.

Where woman are honoured, there the gods are pleased.

46.

Many a woman is attracted by the by wealth of him who seeks her.

47.

No, let not his mother weep for the loss of her son.

48.

Therefore, let who is wise purify his own conduct.

49.

The smile passed away and again the face became stern and sad

50.

Let us not spoil that and spoil him by too much adulation and praise.

10.8. TERMINAL QUESTIONS FOR on a, b, r clauses

1.

And writing a book was the last thing he ever thought he would do.

2.

The novel marked the beginning of a new kind of thriller-writing in India.

102

3.

Whatever you do, do it in style.

4.

According to a recent study, a bacteria - killing enzyme can detect and destroy anthrax.

5.

As with the environment, no island is immune form the problems of terrorism.

6.

You are losing time as you read this.

7.

Still cameras clicked and video cameras focused on her as she spoke about her acting
career.

8.

Devotees who had come to the temple recognized the chief guest.

9.

The eight-member central team, which set off to districts for inspecting the worst drought
hit areas, would present its report to the Deputy Prime Minister.

10.

The matter had become serious and we do not need confrontation, but want to resolve the
issue.
11. She thanked the Chief Minister for reposing faith in her and appointing her as the first

woman Chief Secretary.

12.

And to move ahead, you need someone you can trust.

13.

It is highly deplorable that the private medical colleges have brought about severe
deterioration in medical education.

14.

Similarly it is incorrect to say that the actors success was due to his wife.

15.

It is a recession when your neighbour loses his job but it is a depression when you lose
your own.

16.

Nowadays, its only politicians who manage to escape scot-free!

17.

Sir, it is really amazing to note that know your English Column completes twenty years.

18.

Can we reform higher education?

19.

Speak out on issues that vex us.

20.

That last hole did get me, Woods said

21.

Yes, Im hot at him.

22.

What he really wanted was his first tournament.

23.

This is how it is in this big city, my dear.

24.

Do you want to look like this on your wedding day?

25.

Is there any way I could avoid going to him?

26.

Now, Im all for female education

27.

Well, obviously any girl would want her husband to be more qualified.

28.

Of course, I can see the beauty of it.

29.

The fact is that while we talk equality, many of us are so indoctrinated.

30.

No, it certainly doesnt.

31.

Often, negligence increases the security of the pain.

32.

Yet, every time an eligible suitor sees her, she is rejected

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33.

Only, do it in a friendly manner.

34.

If you notice any signs that suggest a psychological problem, seek help.

35.

Interestingly, Dr. Mohan points out that information that was considered secret.

36.

Crucially, couples need to learn to listen to each other, to minimize fights about money.

37.

Dont talk about money when you are angry.

38.

Surely, you took up cudgels with dad on her behalf?

39.

Thanks, but I have got to rush.

40.

Ah, here it is, captain. Very good, I must tell you.

41.

Never mind, she cut in.

42.

It is a styling wax which lends the hair a good shine.

43.

Slice the meat into small pieces and keep aside.

44.

First, I make the flower and then, I colour it with imported paint.

45.

However, one should consume nothing for an hour thereafter.

46.

If you want to think cool, lime-green is the colour for you.

47.

A womans body is a divinely sculpted masterpiece and remains a beautiful enigma to most
of us.

48.

While honesty is a golden virtue, dishonesty is an alluring reality and the temptation to lie
is very great.

49. So long as board examination remain a bug bear they are, education will continue to be a
breaking experience for school children.
50.

Yes! I would like to subscribe to New Woman.

51.

Finally, when they were to leave, he said, I would like to meet you more often, angel.

52.

It is only recently that we have begun valuing the need and significance of vocational

back-

guidance services in shaping the childs future and have accepted it as an integral part of
the school system too.
53.

Somehow, I was young and impressionable and thought these matters would sort out.

54.

Oh god ! Help me, she pleaded.

55.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us raise a toast to the new president.

56.

Yes son, she replied unconvincingly.

57.

As years passed, my conscience commanded that I give her, her rightful share.

58.

Movie is the magazine that shapes opinions.

59. Enjoy these before sun-down because after that the sega dancers will regale you with their
dance.
60.

Dont worry, beta, I am fine, she said slowly.

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earthy

folk

10.9. CORRECTION OF SENTENCES

A good learner is one who takes care of grammatical and semantic accuracy while communicating his ideas
since a change in the from of a word may bring about a chane not only in meaning but also in the grammaticality of the
utterance. Hence care should be taken to rule out common errors in speech and in writing. The following exercises are
intended to ensure accurate learning to go in hand with the fluency of speech.

Exercise - I
Correct the following sentences:
1.

Exhibition remains most awaited show everywhere

2.

Knitting helps intellectual development of children

3.

Good enough is not enough, Only best will do.

4.

I met my sisters - in - laws

5.

I demanded explanation from the students

6.

The years went.

7.

I agree to you.

8.

She is as her father, but more lovable

9.

He was now a superintendent of police.

10.

I needed co-operation of my friends.

11.

Her eyes made me to believe that I was right

12.

I count myself the most fortunate women

13.

She is pleased with world.

14.

The easiest way to reduce weight by burning calories are chewing gum for an hour.

15.

People living in hot climates eat lot of spicy food.

16.

Spices make food taste better.

17.

In India, more than 80% of Indian recipes was prepared with onions.

18.

Mention the objectives in Management Accounting

19.

State the limitations in Ratio analysis

20.

What is meant Master budget?

21.

What are the causes of material price variance?

22.

Prepare a production budget in the year 2004.

23.

The cost data in a factory are as follows.

24.

What is profit when sales is for 500 units?

25.

List the main tools.

26.

Explain the various tools in financial analysis

27.

Find current assets

28.

The following is the details of a trader

29.

Each unit cost are Rs. 10

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30.

A manufacturing concern which has adopted standard costing furnish

the relevant information.

31.

It is in excess with opening stock

32.

A piece of land has been sold for the year 2003

33.

It is payable at March and June every year.

34.

I am thinking of Ram as a good boy

35.

We learned a lot up to now

36.

Shiva gave up to try to pass the test

37.

I wanted to learn key-board, so l took up it.

38.

They got on the automobile

39.

As for me, you need to see a doctor

40.

One of the girls go to the market

41.

I am used to getting up early, but now I sleep late.

42.

Many interesting things was going on here

43.

Keep quite and listen

44.

He used smoke

45.

His idea makes the sense

46.

Neither Sita nor Chitra were present in the class.

47.

They asked that why they shall be punished

48.

He gives us such troubles which we cannot endure them.

49.

Her hand is so injured that unless the finger us amputated

50.

She has not seen them, long since

51.

She is a girl whom I know is trust worthy

52.

I am fond for wooden furniture

53.

They seldom or ever make a mistake

54.

They gave me a cheque for nine hundred fifty.

55.

She is not a dancer nor a singer

56.

God has bestowed me with unusual gifts

57.

She is suffering from fever since Wednesday

58.

Either Ravi or Sankar have done this mistake

59.

Neither of them have succeeded

60.

This pair of spectacles were manufactured only last month.

61.

Many a student will revolt if they are made to labour for a long time

62.

She had scarcely left the room than the teacher arrived.

63.

They asked me that how much I wanted

64.

I have no objection for forwarding your application

65.

He prefers golf than tennis

106

66.

Neither the driver nor the passengers was hurt.

67.

Getting it first rather than getting it right is the criteria of most of us.

68.

T.V. new have an appetizer effect.

69.

Some people hold media responsible for riots

70.

Whether or not they collect the funds are secondary.

71.

The Hindustan Times show sensitivity about he people who were burnt alive.

72.

If the Press Institute makes it clear to the editors then there would be a positive

73.

The town had changed above recognition

74.

The ship sank beyond the waves.

75.

He was besides himself with joy when heard he passed the exam.

76.

Her room is on this passage.

77.

She was forced to resign from the post

78.

He was unable to agree with her proposal

79.

English are fond of cricket

80.

Even children of three or four years of age go to the school.

81.

They were sent to the prison for being drunk on the streets

82.

The teacher congratulated the students for their success.

83.

He is good in painting

84.

Those seats are reserved for you and myself

85.

My uncle has been sock for a whole year

10.10. TERMINAL QUESTIONS ON CORRECTION OF SENTENSES :

1.

The term begins from June 16th

2.

They are called with different names

3.

If you are good at your job nothing could stop you from achieving what you want

4.

I gave him a chair to sit

5.

Bible corresponds with Christmas

6.

He suggested me this

7.

No sooner I had spoken than he left

8.

Before long there was no one there

9.

I must revenge my sister

10.

Romulus found Rome

11.

I won him in the race

12.

He denied to come home

13.

Shut the light

14.

My leg has been operated

15.

He loosed a pen

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response

16.

He called me as a fool.

17.

She wanted to know where is the book

18.

He lived there for a day

19.

He got down from his bicycle

20.

I have ordered for a new book

21.

He made a lecture

22.

I have lost my furniture

23.

I left with my luggage

24.

He provided the blinds with food

25.

Scouts wear half pants

26.

The boy was wearing a new dress

27.

He took insult at this

28.

He had a large number of money

29.

He is a tall gentlemen

30.

He is my cousin brother

31.

We had a good play of cricket

32.

Students should wear white pants.

33.

I am learning a new poetry

34.

We have received no information

35.

Please put your sign here

36.

I saw two females

37.

One of my servant lives here

38.

The back side of the house faces the temple

39.

Each of these boys play games

40.

I have hurt a foot finger

41.

One should not waste his time.

42.

Here is my cup; please fill

43.

He enjoyed during the holidays

44.

I and he are brothers

45.

The master tested the boy if he could read English

46.

He is wiser than me

47.

Who did it? myself

48.

These all mangoes are ripe

49.

He is in class ninth

50.

Shakespeare is greater than any other poets

51.

He came a 2nd time

108

52.

None of us have seen him

53.

I shall see the brakes whether they work well

54.

He is more better than I

55.

Every one is frightened when they see a tiger

56.

The population of India is greater than Australia

57.

An idle man should do some or other work

58.

Open your book at sixty page

59.

In our library the number of books is less

60.

He is becoming strong

61.

Of the two suggestions this is the best

62.

There is a best teacher in that class

63.

He had leave of four days.

64.

We have never seen a so good boy

65.

I remain your lovely friend

66.

He got nearly cent percent marks

67.

I mean London in U.S.A

68.

He found hundred rupees

69.

I have an urgent business

70.

Man is a member of the society

71.

What a fun?

72.

Much effort bring their reward

73.

Each and every person wore a hat

74.

He does not care for money

75.

When I went there I found that the lion was disappeared.

76.

He said that he saw him last year

77.

He got angry before I said a word

78.

I left playing

79.

He had to leave his rights

80.

If I did this I shall be wrong

81.

Leave the horses reins

82.

I asked my servant to bring water

83.

They cut Charles Is head

84.

My foot pains

85.

My tooth is paining

86.

I take my food

87.

He knows to swim

109

88.

We should not cut jokes in class

89.

He cut his pencil

90.

Later on he knew his mistake

91.

He took out his shoes

92.

I have disposed off my tricycle

93.

I stood second in my class

94.

I filled water in the bucket

95.

You can avail of this

96.

Never I have seen such a light

97.

No sooner I had spoken than he left

98.

I want to know as to why I have been detained

99. The place was full of seneries

100.
Supposing if he fails what will he do?

110

CHAPTER 11 COMPOSITION EXPANSION OF IDEAS

11.0. INTRODUCTION
This chapter explains the method of paraphrasing a poem, dialogue writing and report writing with
examples. If the learners practice them sincerely, they can easily understand a poem, write a dialogue and
report.

11.1. PARAPHRASING
When we paraphrase, we restate someone elses ideas in our own words. It enables one to simplify ideas which
are complicated and unfamiliar. The following are the guidelines when you wish to paraphrase.
1.

Read the poem carefully before you begin.

2.

Understand the main idea of the poem.

3.

Look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary.

4.

Determine the tone of the poem.

5.

Find out the attitude of the writer towards the subject of the poem.

6.

Identify whether the poet is speaking or a character in the poem.

7.

Paraphrase the poem in your own words.

8.

Shorten long sentences or stanzas.

9.

Use your own, familiar vocabulary.

10.

Follow the same order of events or ideas that is used un each stanza.

11. Make sure whether the ideas in your paraphrase of the poem match the ideas that are
the poem.
12.

If the title of the poem is not given, give an appropriate title to the paraphrase

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE THOSE WINTER SUNDAYS

- BY ROBBERT HAYDEN
Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blue back cold
then with craked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fire blaze. No one ever thanked him.
Id wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking
when the rooms were warm, hed call
And slowly I would rise and dress
fearing the chronic angers of that house,

111

expressed in

Speaking indifferently to him

who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well
What did I know, what did I know
of loves austere and lonely offices?
Paraphrase of the Poem :
The speaker in the poem talks about his father. Each day, his father would rise early in the morning, while the
house was still cold, to build a fire. The fathers hand got cracked and were aching on account of his hard work. But he
was not thanked for the selfless work that he did for the well being of his son.
On these cold mornings, the speaker would awake to the sounds made by this father while he felled wood. As
soon as the house had warmed, his father would ask him to come downstairs. The speaker would slowly get dressed.
Though the house could be sufficiently warmed, relations between the father and son remained cold and
uncordial. The son failed to acknowledge and express thanks to his father who had built the fires and polished his
shoes. When days pass by, he realizes and regrets for being unaware of the love, affection, and paternal responsibility,
that motivated his fathers daily routine.

Note to the Teacher:

To emphasize that the specific language used by the poet is important to the overall effect of the poem, make
one student present a reading of the poem, and have another learner read aloud the sample paraphrase.
After the readings, discuss with the learner the contrast between the poem and the paraphrase. Make the students
locate specific word choices, such as blue back (to describe the cold), that contribute to the mood and meaning of the
poem but that are necessarily absent from the paraphrase.
The ability to paraphrase depends on the capacity to comprehend the global as well as the specific meaning of
the poem, which is sequenced into various stanzas.

11.2. TERMINAL QUESTIONS ON PARAPHRASING THE POEMS

i.
The rose is a rose
And was always a rose
But the theory now goes
Taht the apples a rose
And the pear is, and sos
The plum. I suppose
The dear only knows
What will next prove a roseBut were always a rose
ii.
In this triple-baked continent

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Women dont etch angry eyebrows

on mud walls.
Patiently they sit
like empty pitchers
on the mouth of the village well
Pleating hope in each braid
of their missippi-long hair
looking deep into the waters mirror

for the moisture in their eyes.

With zodiac doodlings on the, sands
they guard their mens return
till even the shadows
roll up their contours
and are gone
beyond the hills.
Exercise - 2
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
Exercise - 3
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to e\weary bands
Of travelers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands;
A voice so thrilling neer was heard
In springtime from the Cuckoo bird.

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Breaking the silence of the seas

Among the farthest Hebrides

Exercise - 4
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean-roll;
Ten Thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain;
Man marks the earth with ruin-his control
Stops with the shore;- upon the watery plain
The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth remain
A shadow of mans ravage; save his own,
When, for a moment, like a drop of rain,
He sinks into thy depths with bubbling groanWithout a grave-unknelld, uncoffind and unknown
Exercise - 5
I remember, I remember
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping a in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon
Nor brought too long a day;
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away.
I remember, I remember
The roses, red and white,
The violets, and the lily-cupsThose flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birth-day,The tree is living yet!...
I remember, I remember
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But nowt is little joy
To know Im farther off from Heaven

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Than When I was a boy.

Exercise - 6
How happy is he born and taught,
That servant not anothers will?
Whose armour is his honest thought
And simple truth his utmost skill?
Whose passions not his masters are,
Whose soul is still prepard for death,
Untid into the world by care
of publick fame, or private breath.
Exercise - 7
I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears,
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
And it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And ijto my garden stole,
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
Exercise - 8
My mother, black, prolific earth,
green leaf, a festival of white flowers,
with every burn, the earthier; with every pang
more fruit and petal.
Spending all youth in a tatter of sarees,
She died, she did;
Whats the age of a hag bent double?
A wild bear
bearing a litter of little ones,

115

she reared a husband, saved coins

in knots of cloth; like a hurt bitch
She snarled, grumbled and fought.
A wild bear has no need of your Gita
My mother lived
for sick and grain, labour and babies;
for rafter overhead rice, bread, a blanker;
to walk upright among equals.
Living in mud and soil, and
for leaving as she did, as if
leaving home for the fields,
cool, in the middle of small talk.
Exercise - 9
Upon Ben Jonson
Here lies Jonson with the rest
of the poets : but the best.
Reader, wouldst thou more have known?
Ask his story, not this stone.
That will speak that this cant tell
of his glory. So farewell.
- Robert Herrick

Exercise - 10
The Ganga flows swollen with hymns
Lepers huddle along the causeways
like stunned shrubs
black with frost-burns.
A thing dwarf, smeared blue with ash,
spiked with beard,
forested with matted hair,
cavorts ape-like. Overhead the monkeys gibber.
Crisp from their river-bath, woman
drop coins in coconut-shells
but no avarice flickers
in the eyes of the palsied
in the faces of the blind
The river is a voice
in this desert of human lives.

116

- Keki Daruwalla
Exercise - 11
What is the Iron Rule?
The rule of savage men;
if evil is done unto you,
Evil do thou again,
This is the Iron Rule.
What is the silver rule?
The rule of wordly men;
If good your neighbour does to you,
Do good to him again,
This is the Silver Rule.
What is the Golden Rule?
The rule of righteous men;
If evil is done unto you,
Return thou good again,
This is the Golden Rule
Exercise - 12
For want odf a nail, the show was lost;
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of a horse, the rider was lost;
For want of a rider, the battle was lost;
And all for want of a horse shoe nail.
- James Reeves
Exercise - 13
The moon coems every night to peep
Through the window where I lie;
But I pretend to be asleep;
And watch the moon go slowly by,
And she never makes a sound!
She stands and stares! And then she goes
To the house thats next to me,
Stealing by on tippy - toes;
To peep at folk asleep may be
And she never makes a sound!
- James Stephens
Exercise - 14
I Wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high Oer vales and hills,

117

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils,
Besides the lake, l beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And terrible on the milky way
They stretch in never - ending line
Along the margin of the bay.
Ten thousand saw I at a glance
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
.......................................
For off, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon the inward eye
Which is the bliss pof solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils
- William Words Worth
Exercise - 15
Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year
.......................................
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost
Exercise - 16
Today upon a bus
I saw a lovely girl with golden hair
To me she seemed so gay
And I wished I were so fair
When suddenly she rose to leave
I saw had no legs, she bore a crutch
And as she passed, she wore a smile.
Oh God forgive me when I whine

118

I have two legs, and the world is mine.

11.3. DIALOGUE WRITING

The dialogue is a form of conversation between persons. Short response like ok, yes, no, etc., may serve the
purpose. It is mostly informal and does not require for regular formal responses. A dialogue should be relevant to the
situation and theme and should give a complete idea. The following are some of the important requirements of a
dialogue.
1.

A dialogue involves a situation, the persons involved in the dialogue and the theme of

2.

The response should be related to the theme.

3.

Irrelevant details and formal structures should be avoided.

4.

The responses to the questions should be short. Even one word responses may be used.

5.

The expressions should be natural

6.

Words of greetings like hello may be freely used.

the dialogue.

The following is a model:

Dialogue between two persons at a railway station
A

Excuse me. When is Jayanthi Janatha expected?

At 9 O clock

Oh ! I am here very early. Do you have any books to spare?

Sorry! I don have any. Why dont you buy some from the book stall?

I am not in the habit of buying books.

Do you mean to say that you only borrow books?

Of course

Dont mistake me. I dont want to be a lender of books.

:
Dont bother. Here comes another train. I think I can take this train to reach
my place.

Bye

Bye

11.4. TERMINAL QUESTIONS ON DIALOGUE WRITING

1.

Write a dialogue between two friends on cancellation of free bus pass to students.

2.

Write a dialogue between a cashier and a customer

3.

Attempt a dialogue between a teacher and a pupil on the reopening of the school after

vacation.
4.

Write a dialogue between a carpenter and a housekeeper.

5.

Writing a dialogue between two travellers in a train.

119

summer

6.

Write a dialogue between a mother and a daughter on what dress to wear for a party.

7.

Write a dialogue between two friends on professional courses.

8.

Write a dialogue between two parting friends on their future plans.

9.

Write a dialogue between a doctor and a patient.

10.

Write a dialogue between a sales girl and a customer

11.5. REPORT WRITING

A report is a form of communication in which some information is conveyed, usually in writing to some one
who wants it. The form of the report should enable the receiver of the report to draw information from it quickly and
easily. The report must have the following qualities :
a. Clarity
b. Conciseness
c. Orderly presentation
d. Neat arrangement
A model report is presented below.
Report by a specialist on the disadvantages of cloud seeding proposed by the government.
Cloud seeding and its disadvantages
Submitted to the Editor of a newspaper, The Hindu :
By
G. Gautam
Senior Scientist,
Institute of Environmental studies,
Delhi.
Date : June, 6th, 2003.
A detailed study carried out of the disadvantages of cloud seeding shows the futility of the attempt since rain
inviting clouds are scarce. Moreover, instead of rain fall on a desired region, it may lead to rain falling on an
unwarranted region or on sea. The study cautions the failure of such artificial methods adopted to cause rainfall.

11.6. TERMINAL QUESTIONS ON REPORT WRITING

1.
As a newspaper correspondent send a report to the editor on the erratic power
in the town where you are based.
2.

Write a report to the Commissioner of Police regarding the triple murder that
rocked the town a few days ago.

120

cuts

3.
Write a report based on your interview with the captain of a visiting cricket team
success in a match.

after

its

4.

Prepare a report as the students chairman on the activities of the N.S.S. unit of

your college.

5.

Write a report after your study of the possibilities of starting a mobile post office.

6.
As a secretary of the Citizens Council prepare a report on the basic amentias
people of your locality.

required by

7.

As a secretary of the Dramatic Association prepare a report on the college day

celebrations.

8.

As a worker of a voluntary organization write a report on the cradle baby system

9.
As a leader of a trade union write a report on an accident that happened while
building.
10. Write a report on the constant thefts taking place in your locality.

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repairing

CHAPTER 12 - GUIDE LINES FOR ESSAY WRITING

12.0. INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses the method of note making which is useful for the learners to take notes of the
speech of a person and the lecture in the class room. If also gives guidelines to write general essays and
expansion of ideas which will enhance the writing skill of the learners.

12.1. NOTE - MAKING

Making good notes is an important and useful study skill. It is a tool for remembering what is studied. It helps
students retain the information so that they can make use of it later. For instance, they can use their notes to study for a
test or just to review the information they have learned. In short, good notes are just like a trail, which students can
joyfully follow to revisit what they have already learned, read or heard.

Notes are of two types: Outlines and Summaries:

An Outline is a short hand description made while studying or listening to a lecture. A Summary is a
condensed recapitulation of the main ideas.

Guidelines to from notes:

1.

Sort out main ideas and major details found in the given passage.

2.

List each main idea, and underline it.

3.

Place major details below the main idea and number them.

4.

Jot down supporting details under each major detail.

I. Finding the main idea:

The main idea of a passage is the most important point the writer is making. Sometimes the main idea is stated
in one or two sentences or it may be implied. You have to figure out for yourself the central idea that ties all the other
ideas together. Therefore you may have to
a.Skim the passage (i.e., reading for main points or important ideas).
b.

Identify the general topic (i.e., what is the passage about).

c.Identify what the passage says about the topic. (i.e., what is the message of the
passage as a whole?)
d.

State the meaning of the passage in your own words.

e.Review the passage (i.e., if you have correctly identified the main idea all the
other ideas will support it.)
II Finding relationships among details:
After finding out the main idea, you need to look at how the details are rafted to the main idea and to each other.
III To identify specific details, one has to answer :
a.Questions such as who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why? and How?.
b.
One has to distinguish between fact and opinion - i.e. what information can
be proved true or false? What statements express a personal belief or attitude?
c.Identify similarities and differences - How are the details similar to or different
from each other?
d. Understand cause and effect - Do earlier events affect later ones?

122

e.Identify an order of organization - Whether the details are arranged in chronological

order, Spatial order, Order of importance, or some other pattern or order?
IV
a.Use headings and related subheadings which usually contain key ideas.
b. Use abbreviations and write the material in your own words.
c. Make a first draft (rough draft) in which you can write, revise and rearrange
your ideas as often as you want.
d. Make the final version
SAMPLE:
In the story Rikki - tikki - tavi, by Rudyard Kipling, a young English boy living in India rescues a young
mongoose from drowning . Later in the story, the grateful, brave mongoose saves the lives of the boy and his parents
by killing two cobras that plan to kill the humans.
Scientists who became interested in the mongoose proved that, just as Kipling said, mongooses could kill
poisonous snakes. The mongoose is a small animal, similar to a ferret, that makes its home in Africa and some parts of
Asia. Cobras and other poisonous snakes are only part of the mongooses strange daily menu. Mongooses also feed on
rodents, including wasps. A mongoose will even eat a scorpion.
Many people think that mongooses are immune to the poisonous venom of a snake. Others believe that
mongooses know from where to find a plant to eat that will help a snakes venom from being harmful. But a mongoose
only succeeds in killing a poisonous snake because it is faster than the snake. When a mongoose attacks a snake, it
bites through the snakes spine right behind its head. The mongoose then holds on to the snakes head until the snake
has completely stopped struggling.
In the past, people brought mongooses to Hawaii and the West Indies, Hoping that they would kill some of the
rats and snakes on th9se islands. Instead, the mongooses hunted are birds that were easier to catch and kill than rodents
and reptiles. Because of the mongooses unpredictable eating habits, they are allowed in the United States only for zoos
and scientific research.

MONGOOSES
I. Rikki - tikki - tavi
1. Story written by Rudyard Kipling
2. Boy in India saves mongoose from drawing
3. Mongoose kills two cobras - protects boy and family
4. Story made people interestd in mongooses.
II. Characteristics of mongooses
1. Small and ferret - like
2. Live in Africa & Asia
3. Eat snakes, rodents, insects, wasps, scorpions
III. Mongooses and Snakes
1. Mongooses not immune to snake venom
2. Dont seek out special plant to counter venom
3. Mongooses advantage is quickness

123

4. Mongoose bites through snaks spine behind its head, holds on until snake dies.
5. Mongooses brought to Hawaii and West Indies to eat poisonous snakes-ate rare
birds instead (hence not allowed in U.S. except for research and zoos).
(Courtesy to James L. Kinneavy and .....)

Exercise - I
An estimated 15 lakh people have illegally occupied 7,000 sq km of Assams forest cover-roughly 26 per cent of
the states geographical area. In February this year, the apex court ordered Assam Chief Secretary Pranab Bora (and his
counterparts in eight other states) to clear encroached areas, particularly those in hilly terrains, national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries, and submit action plans. On March 15, on behalf of the state Government, Bora submitted an
affidavit promising to take steps to evict the squatters. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has set September 30
as the deadline for completion of the eviction process in Assam.

Exercise - II
The Assam Government has given the go-ahead to forest thorities to initiate the eviction process in a systematic
manner. The process began on May 7 in the vicinity of Gumwahati. Over the next few days, hundreds of illegal
settlers-supported by political parties like the Asom Gana Parished, the Left and the Nationalist Congress Party-clashed
with the police and the paramilitary forces. So far, the forest authorities have restored 12,000 hectares of reserved
forest land and another 5,000 hectares in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Kaziranga and Manas Natio0nal Parks
are among those areas where the eviction process is under way.

Exercise - III
Nani Dadhar is sleepy village on the edge of the Rann of Kutch that separates India and Pakistan. Its people eke
out a living by rearing cattle. In Gujarats forbidding out back, life is tough. But the spirit of the people is tougher. This
inner strength was evident when Gujarat was ravaged by the earthquake in January 2001. All structures in Nani Dadhar
and adjoining villages were completely destroyed. With their homes reduced to rubble, the villagers were forced to
live in makeshift dwellings. And yet, amidst the widespread destruction and encircling gloom, hope refused to die.

Exercise - IV
Our laws also specify that all food items have to be clearly labelled and that information about the producer,
ingredients used, the expiry date, etc, have to be comprehensively given on the label, Most foreign items, however, are
not labelled properly and the information given is incomplete and inadequate. This makes it almost impossible for
consumers to ask questions, to get answers to queries or to make complaints. Sometimes the label is in a foreign
language and this worsens the problem.
Indian laws on packaged food items are comprehensive and good, and our standards are higher than
international standards in many respects. But the if so many imported food items do not conform to Indian standards
and laws, why are they allowed into India? The answer is that they come in because India has liberalized economy and
is opening up globally.

Exercise - V
Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) has launched Nihar Naturals, hair oil combining the benefits of coconut oil and
methi (fenugreek) available in 3 floral variants, namely, rose, jasmine and hibiscus.

124

Coconut oil contains glyceryl fatty acids, which naturally nourish your hair. Coconut oil also acts as a natural
conditioner, making hair smooth and easy to comb. The oil of methi is rich in nourishment and is believed to be a dogood for hair. It is cool on ones head and works as a natural conditioner for dull, lifeless hair. Hibiscus, on the other
hand, gives a healthy shine to ones hair.
The fragrance of rose and jasmine offers a soothing property and acts on the emotional or psychological state of
mind. They both seem to enhance the positive state of the mind.
Nihar Naturals is available in 100 ml, 200 ml and 400 ml packs at an affordable price ranging from Rs 17.25 for
a 100 ml to Rs 32.50 for a 200 ml pack. There is a special trial pack, which has been introduced at Rs 9 for a 50 ml
pack.

Exercise - VI
Whirlpool market leader in washing machines, has launched Magic Dry, a 100% dryer in the Indian market.
Magic Dry offers a drying solution to discerning consumers looking for hassle-free drying of their clothes in a short
time. It does away with the physical strain of putting out clothes to dry on a clothes-line. And with the mental strain of
hoping that clothes will dry in time.
It is especially useful in cities where a availability of space to dry clothes is limited. And also does away with
dependence on the weather. The other great benefit of the dryer is that it prevents fading of clothes caused by
prolonged exposure to the sun. Hot air is used to dry the clothes, as they are tumbled in the machine. This also ensures
that clothes come out really soft.
To ensure reduced wrinkling, it has an air cycle option in which cool air is blown into the drum in the last 10
minutes.
This stylish dryer is imported from Whirlpool Brazil. It comes with a 2-year warranty and is backed by the
strong sales and service network of Whirlpool in India. Maximum retail price of Magic Dry is Rs. 20,750.

Exercise - VII
People in the South are much more organized when it comes to the planning and execution of schedules. The
sense of dedication towards work is also at a better level in the South.
While punctuality is by and large well maintained in the South, it is the first casualty in Bollywood. Even if you
land up early there, you may have to wait for long hours for the arrival of others. It is never the case in the South.

Exercise VIII
Besides reading, a young man ought to write, if he has the capacity and the leisure. If you wish to
remember a thing well, put it into writing, even if you burn the paper immediately after you have done; for the eye
greatly assists the mind. Memory consists of a concentration of ideas; the place, the time and other circumstances lead
to the recollection of facts; and no circumstance more effectually than stating the facts upon paper. A journal should be
kept by every young man. Put down something against everyday in the year even if it be merely a description of the
weather. You will not have done this for one year without finding the benefit of it. It disburdens the mind of many
things to be recollected. It is amusing and useful and ought not to be neglected. How often it happens that we cannot
make a statement of facts, sometimes very interesting to ourselves and to our friends, for want of a record of the places
where we were and of the things that occurred on such a day! As a thing of mere curiosity it has some value, and may
frequently prove of very great utility. It demands not more than a minute is most agreeably and advantageously
employed. It tends to produce regularity in the conduct of affairs.

12.2. GENERAL ESSAY

Essay writing involves development of a given topic with suitable references to events and characters in real /
imaginary situations. An essay should be divided into three segments such as the introduction, the body and the
conclusion.

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The introductory paragraph should introduce the topic sentences that the writer is to develop. Care should be
taken at the outset to catch the attention and captivate the interest of the readers.
The body of the essay should develop the key idea into meaningful sentence which involve apt comparisons and
contrasts.
The concluding paragraph should sum up the preceding ideas that have gone into the making of the essay with
adequate justification.
Essay writing in general requires the skill of continuous, comprehensive writing and of cohesion and synthesis
of appropriate facts and ideas in lucid, simple style.

12.3. TERMINAL QUESTIONS ON GENERAL ESSAY WRITING

1.

Self - pity is self - defeating

2.

Dont let the past drag you down

3.

Be a doer, not worrier

4.

Competitions and the need to win

5.

The aim of an athlete

6.

On reducing the requirement of paper in our lives

7.

We look before and after and pine for what is not

8.

All the paths of glory lead but to the grave

9.

Sweet are the uses of adversity

10.

The art of living

11.

Healthy homes

12.

Charity begins at home

13.

The quality of mercy

14.

Living beyond the means

15.

Habits of thrift

16.

On a bird trail

17.

Green retreat

18.

Good earth

19.

Quest for peace

20.

Staying away

21.

Terrorism

22.

On self - financing educational centres

23.

Tips for a stress - free life

24.

The message of conservation

25.

Cauvery water

26.

Privatization

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27.

Mid - day meal programme

28.

Poverty - the nations enemy

29.

Atrocities on Dalits

30.

Pakistans claims on Jammu and Kashmir

31.

Tele - medicine concept

32.

GDP growth

33.

Against misappropriation of public money

34.

Digital revolution

35.

Training programme for building sportsmen.

12.4. TERMINAL QUESTIONS:

1.

Might is right

2.

A stitch in time saves nine

3.

Well begun is half done

4.

Better alone, than in bad company

5.

Necessity is the mother of invention

6.

As you sow so you reap

7.

Sports as creators of good will

8.

Science and arts

9.

Feats of magician

10.

Voyage on sea

11.

Character is destiny

12.

Building castles in the air

13.

The effects of a haunting melody

14.

All covet all lose

15.

Little drops of water make a mighty ocean.

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