Atithi/Guest Past Paper PDF

## Chapter 1: Atithi/Guest - Rabindranath Tagore ### 1. About the Author - Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) - He was an eminent scholar. - His subjects included a playwright, novelist, poet, philosopher, and social reformist. - His father, Dabendranath Tagore,...

## Chapter 1: Atithi/Guest - Rabindranath Tagore ### 1. About the Author - Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) - He was an eminent scholar. - His subjects included a playwright, novelist, poet, philosopher, and social reformist. - His father, Dabendranath Tagore, was a leader of Brahmo Samaj. - Rabindranath’s notable works are Gitanjali, Ghare-Baire, Amar Sonal Bangla, Chitra Gore, Kabuliwala, The Postmaster, The Conclusion, The Broken Nest, and Atithi. - He founded organizations like Visva-Bharati University, Kala Bhavan and Sangit Bhavan. - The British government awarded him Knighthood in 1913, but he gave up the honour after a few years as a protest against the imperialistic policies of the government. - He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913. - He attempted to understand the complexities of the human heart in his stories, novels, and plays. - He is one of the most popular writers of the Bengal Renaissance. ### 2. About the Story - The story "Atithi" is from the collection titled, "Golpoguccho". - The story has been adapted into various art forms including TV shows. - It highlights Tagore’s skill in crafting word paintings. - The story is about Tarapada, a young boy of 15 or 16. - Tarapada has a constant desire to wander and experience new places and people. - He joins different troupes including singers and gymnasts. - He meets Motilal Babu, his wife Annapurna, and daughter Charushashi. - Charushashi is a moody young girl who often teases him and displays mood swings. - Tarapada’s wandering nature creates conflict between Charushashi and Tarapada. - The story explores the complexities of human emotions through jealousy and love. ### 3. Summary - Tarapada seeks a ride from Motilal Babu, who is going to Nandigram. - Motilal Babu and his wife are impressed by Tarapada's helpful nature and invite him into their cabin. - Tarapada was the fourth son of his parents, and his father passed away when he was a child. - His family is very fond of him, but he is constantly tempted to explore the outside world and joins different troupes. - Tarapada travels with the Jatra-troupes, singers, gymnasts, and stallholders. - Tarapada enjoys the sights and scenes they pass by. - He learns many things from different groups. - Motilal Babu reads the Ramayana and Tarapada offers to sing about Luv and Kush. - Tarapada becomes close to Motilal Babu, but his daughter Charushashi becomes jealous. - Charushashi expresses a desire to have Tarapada to herself. - She is a spoiled girl with an unpredictable nature. - Charushashi is jealous of Tarapada’s relationship with her friend Sonamani. - She breaks Tarapada’s flute in a fit of anger. - The story culminates with Tarapada’s mysterious disappearance during his arranged marriage with Charushashi. ### 4. Word-notes and Explanations | Word | Meaning | |---|---| | Moored | Made fast (a boat) by fixing it with a rope to the shore. | | Sage | Judicious, sane, wise | | Gleaming | Shining | | Sculptor | A person who makes objects or figures from stone | | Sleeked | Smoothed | | Sacred | Pious | | Honed | Sharpened, refined | Assertive | Sticking to one’s opinion | | Abandon | Leave| | Appalled | Disgusted, shocked | | Starved | Kept hungry, unfed | | Strayed | Wandered away | | Wicker Baskets | Baskets made of bamboo | | Wary of | Cautious, careful because of fear | | Lured | Tempted, charmed | Entranced | Filled with wonder and delight | | Panchali Singers | Singers who sing folk songs of Bengali and Assamese culture | | Impelled | Urged, forced | | Absconded | Ran away | | Lavish | Luxurious, elaborate | | Detached | Unrelated, indifferent | | Bards | Poets | | Amateur | Working for pleasure, not for money | | Murky | Dark and dirty | | Soaked | Extremely wet | ### 5. Theme(s) - The story emphasizes the importance of practical experience through Tarapada’s journey and learnings from different jatra troupes. - It highlights the idea that excessive love and affection can be a hindrance. - The story also reinforces the theme of happiness and joy. - A balanced mind and a genial attitude are essential for happiness and success in life. ### 6. Title - The title “Atithi” signifies that man is a stranger on this planet Earth. - Tarapada is a guest on this planet Earth because of his continuous wanderlust. - Tarapada appears and disappears suddenly, just like a man leaving this world. ### 7. Message - The story emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and the need to avoid jealousy and possessiveness. - It highlights the importance of accepting people with open minds and not getting caught up in emotional attachments. - Tarapada exemplifies the ideal of being free from emotional ties. ### 8. Characters **Tarapada** - He has a fair complexion, large eyes, a charming smile, a smart body, and a loving nature. - He is constantly seeking new experiences. - He is a fast learner and has the ability to make friends quickly. - He is respectful and treats everyone equally. - He remains indifferent to the world’s affairs. - His wandering nature makes him a unique and interesting character. **Charushashi** - She is the only daughter of Motilal Babu and Annapurna. - She is spoiled, obstinate, and entitled. - She is unpredictable and prone to mood swings. - She expresses jealousy for Tarapada and her friend Sonamani. **Annapurna** - Motilal Babu’s wife. - She is devoted, kind, generous, and caring. - She treats Tarapada kindly as if he was her own son. - She is curious to know about Tarapada’s background. - She is concerned about Tarapada’s well-being and offers to cook for him. - She is aware of Charushashi’s behavior but does not intervene. **Motilal Babu** - The zamindar of Kathaliya. - He is a wealthy merchant who is often away from home. - He is a kind, generous, and compassionate person. - He is easily impressed by people and quickly welcomes Tarapada. ### 9. Text-based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (a) 10. (c) 11. (b) 12. (c) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (b) 16. (a) 17. (c) 18. (d) 19. (c) 20. (a) ### 10. Completion of Sentences with Reasons 1. Motilal Babu was pleased to agree with the new arrangement for Tarapada to take food because he was impressed by Tarapada’s charm and helpful nature. 2. Study was alien to Charu because she was used to being pampered and indulged. 3. Charu did not want Tarapada to learn more than her because she did not want to share her parents' attention with him. 4. Charu did not know how to seek Tarapada’s forgiveness because she was a stubborn and impulsive child. 5. Tarapada was annoyed for being kept locked in the room, but he agreed to take food because he was hungry. 6. Motilal babu placed a ban on English books at his house and outside visits of his daughter because he was concerned about her and wanted to protect her. 7. Tarapada perhaps stayed so long at Charu's village because he liked Charushashi and enjoyed being with her. 8. Tarapada could get to know people with ease because he was open-minded, friendly, and had a great sense of adventure. 9. Charu’s behaviour with her parents became strange because she was jealous of the attention they were giving Tarapada. 10. Despite her efforts to become a good host to Tarapada, Annapurna felt disturbed because she realized Charu was jealous of Tarapada. 11. Tarapada went to Motilal babu because he was hoping to get a ride to Nandigram. 12. The boy Tarapada started helping Motilal in cooking fish because he was helpful and willing to lend a hand. 13. Annapurna asked several questions to Tarapada because she was curious about his background and experiences. 14. Tarapada left his family because he felt a strong desire to explore the outside world. 15. Tarapada could not stay longer with any troupe because he never liked to stay in one place for too long, preferring to move on to new experiences. 16. Motilal liked Tarapada because he was a charming, respectful, and helpful young man. 17. The boy Tarapada thought of going to Mawilgram because he had a fondness for joining different Jatra troupes and experiencing new things. 18. Charushashi did not listen to others because she was a stubborn and impulsive child. 19. Tarapada could adapt to any situation because he was adaptable and outgoing. 20. Sonamati did not visit Charushashi for a while because she was ill. ### 11. Short Answer Questions 1. Tarapada was fair-skinned, had large eyes, a charming smile, and a youthful appearance. He also had a thoughtful demeanor and dressed like a sage. All of these characteristics made him appear wise and respectable, appealing to Motilal Babu. 2. Tarapada offered to help with cooking, prepared his clothing and personal items with care, and conducted himself in a mature and responsible manner. These actions made him seem wiser than his age, impressing Annapurna. 3. Tarapada stands out because of his unique personality and love for traveling. He is not tied to his family or village. He prefers to move on to new experiences, living a nomadic life. His family and villagers lose hope for him because he is not interested in settling down and establishing roots. ### 13. Assignment **(A) Short Answer Questions:** 1. Charushashi behaves jealously toward Sonamani. She is jealous because of Sonamani’s friendship with Tarapada. 2. Motilal Babu encountered Tarapada when he was looking for a ride on his boat to Nandigram. Tarapada asked for a ride to a town on the zamindar’s path. 3. Annapurna is a kind, devoted, and loving wife and mother who is fiercely protective of her daughter. She is quick to shower affection on Tarapada and seems to be blind to Charushashi’s jealousy. **(B) Long Answer Questions:** 1. Charushashi’s behaviour towards Tarapada's attempt to learn English is marked by her fierce jealousy, which she exhibits in disruptive actions. She tries to learn English with Tarapada to assert her control. but then she is angry and frustrated about Tarapada’s behavior. She doesn’t take any responsibility for her actions and throws ink on Tarapada's work, then pretends to be remorseful. Her behavior is inconsistent, making her an interesting and complex character. 2. Tarapada's journey to Charushashi’s village is described by the author as a picturesque passage. There are details about the scenery, the sights, including the sunset, fields, and the sky. Tarapada takes notice of everything around him and is fascinated by the world outside of his village. The journey symbolizes his wandering spirit and his refusal to stop for long.