The Last Lesson PDF - Summary XII AFK & AAK

THE LAST LESSON by Alphonse Daudet Characters & Places 1. Franz: A school student. 2. M Hamel: A teacher of French language 3. Class: Consists of some students and some elderly people of the village. 4. Watcher: a blacksmith 5. Old Hauser: An elderly villager 6. Sister of M Hamel 7. School: An Elementary School in District Alsace in France The narrator of the story is a young school-going boy named Franz. That morning, he was scared, as he was late for school. Also, as their teacher M. Hamel had announced the previous day that he would test them on the topic of ‘Participles’ and Franz did not know anything at all, he was more scared of being scolded. Franz had another option in his mind – to miss school and enjoy the day out in the warm and bright weather. He describes the scene – there were birds chirping on the trees and the noise of the Prussian soldiers doing the drill behind sawmill could also be heard. The scene outside was more attractive than the school but Franz controlled the temptation and chose to attend school. Bulletin-board: a notice board for putting up the latest news and communication As Franz walked past the town hall, he noticed a huge crowd at the notice board. The war with Prussia had begun two and a half years ago and since then all the bad news like losing the war, occupation of Alsace and Lorraine by the enemy i.e. Prussia, etc had been communicated to the people through this bulletin board. Franz kept on walking towards the school and thought in his mind that what news could have been put up at the board now. Apprentice: trainee As he walked hurriedly towards the school, the blacksmith who was also reading the news and had come along with his trainee called out to Franz from Page 1 of 57 behind and said that he needn’t go in such a hurry as there was plenty of time for him to reach school. Franz thought that the blacksmith was making fun of him as he was already late for school. When Franz reached the garden outside the school, he was out of breath as he had walked very fast. a great bustle: a lot of noise created by many people in unison: at the same time rapping: striking Franz describes the usual scene at the school in the mornings – a lot of noise created by the moving of desks, children repeating their lessons and teachers striking the tables with the rulers could be heard. counted on: depended upon commotion: noise and confusion That day was unusual as there was no such sound coming out of the school and it seemed that the school was closed as it used to be on a Sunday morning. Franz had planned that he would take cover under the commotion and reach the class without being noticed but that did not seem possible. Franz peeped inside his class and saw his classmates seated and M. Hamel, their teacher walking in the class with the ruler made of iron placed under his arm. Franz feared a beating. Blushed: face turned red in colour due to shame Franz was ashamed of being late and feared a scolding as he had to enter the classroom in front of everyone. Franz found it strange as M. Hamel did not say anything and on the contrary, politely asked him to get to his seat, as the class was about to begin without him. Franz hurried to his seat. After some time when he overcame the scare and became comfortable, he noticed that their teacher had worn his best embroidered that day. The teacher normally wore it on occasions like inspection and prize distribution days. Franz wondered if that day was a normal day, then what could be the reason for M. Hamel to wear his special dress. Solemn: serious Franz felt that the atmosphere in the school was unusual and serious. To add Page 2 of 57 to it, the last benches of the classroom were occupied by the senior village men – Hauser, who was wearing his three-cornered hat, the retired mayor, postmaster, etc. Primer: basic reader of any language Thumbed: torn and damaged They looked sad. Hauser had brought his reader which was old and torn. He had opened it, kept it on his knees and had placed his spectacles on it. Grave: serious Franz was confused and could not figure out what was happening that day. Just then M. Hamel told them that it was their last lesson in French as the Prussians in Berlin had ordered that French language would no longer be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and that German language be taught instead. The German teacher would arrive the next day and as this was the last lesson in French, he wanted them to pay attention. Thunderclap: used in comparison to refer to something startling or unexpected Wretches: here, it refers to an unfortunate happening Franz was shocked to know that he could not learn French any longer and now he knew the latest news that had been put up at the bulletin board of the town hall. Saar: a river which passes through France Franz regretted for not being serious towards studies and for wasting his time in hunting bird’s eggs and playing in the Saar river. Nuisance: problem, burden couldn’t give up: cannot leave Till now Franz considered his books to be an unwanted burden but suddenly, he starts considering them to be his best friends whom he could never leave. The writer wants to show the change in Franz’s attitude towards study after hearing the news that he could not learn French any longer. Cranky: strange, short – tempered The news that their teacher M Hamel was leaving also had a similar impact on him. Franz did not want him to go away. He no longer thought the teacher to be short – tempered and strict. Sunday clothes: the best dress that a person has. Page 3 of 57 Now Franz knew that M Hamel was wearing his best dress in honour of this last lesson. He also realized that the village men had come to pay respect and thank M Hamel for his service of forty years in that school. The village men had come to the class as they were also repenting for not have studied well in their childhood. They had come to thank their teacher for his forty years of service as a teacher of French. Also, they wanted to show respect to their country and were sad as their mother tongue – French would no longer be taught to them. The teacher calls out to Franz as it his turn to recite the topic of participles. Dreadful: frightening As the news had impacted Franz, he was eager to study and so, he was desperate to show his eagerness. He wanted to be able to recite the topic in one go and without any mistake and please his teacher. His desperation is reflected in his willingness to give away all that he had in return for reciting the lesson well. Mixed up: confused As Franz did not know the lesson, he got confused and stood quietly. His heart was beating fast as he was ashamed of himself and did not have the courage to face his teacher. Where we’ve come out: result M. Hamel said to Franz that he would not scold him as now he had realized his mistake. Everyday Franz told himself that he would study the next day and now the opportunity to study had ended and he knew nothing. Pretend: show to reproach: blame M Hamel says that all the people of Alsace were to be blamed as no one was serious towards learning. He tells the class that the enemies (Prussians) would laugh at them and say that they only show to be Frenchmen as they can neither speak nor write their own language. He says that Franz should not feel guilty as everyone is at fault. M. Hamel says that Franz’s parents were not interested in getting him educated. They wanted him to work at a farm or a mill and earn some money. He says that as a teacher, he was also not interested in teaching them. He would send them to his home to water the plants. Sometimes, he would Page 4 of 57 declare a holiday and go for fishing. M. Hamel praises their mother tongue – French language as being the most beautiful, clearest and most logical language in the world. He tells the class to guard their language as it is the only way to free oneself from the prison of slavery. If a person knows his mother tongue well, no one can enslave him. Knowing the mother tongue well as a language is a tool to fight domination. At one stroke: at once, in one go. The teacher took a lesson in grammar. That day Franz was surprised that he understood the lesson with ease. He felt that he had been attentive, and that M. Hamel explained the lesson with a lot of patience. Franz felt that the teacher wanted to give them all the knowledge he had before leaving. After Grammar, they had a lesson in writing. M. Hamel gave the class new notebooks with “France, Alsace, France, Alsace” beautifully written on them. Franz felt that here was an air of patriotism in the class. The notebooks were like flags of France that were floating all around. The entire class was busy writing and the only sound that could be heard was that of the pen writing on the paper. Beetles: a large sized insect not even the littlest ones: refers to the pigeons who worked right on tracing their fish-hooks: scratching with their claws. Once some mosquitoes flew into the class, but no one panicked as everyone was busy writing. The writer considers the pigeons sitting on the roof of the class to be students as well and says that even the pigeons were busy scratching the roof with their claws and it seemed that they were also busy writing the task of French language. Cooed: the sound made by the pigeons The ‘coo’ sounds of the pigeons could be heard in the class and Franz wondered that would the Prussians force the pigeons also to change their language and coo in German. The writer wants to say that language comes naturally to a being and it cannot be forced upon anyone – be it the pigeons or the French men. Gazing: looking intently fix in his mind: store or keep forever Page 5 of 57 In between writing, Franz looked at M. Hamel who sat still and stared at the different things in the classroom in succession as if he wanted to memorize the appearance of everything before leaving. Worn smooth: had worn out and became smooth due to overuse twined: twisted M. Hamel had been teaching at that same place for the last forty years. The only changes were that the desks in the classroom had worn out due to use over the years; the walnut trees in the garden outside had grown taller, the hopvine on the outer wall of the school building had climbed up to the roof. Franz feels that the teacher must be heartbroken to be sent away from a place where he had spent forty years of his life. The noises of his sister packing and moving their luggage could be heard from the room upstairs as they had to leave the next day. M. Hamel remained composed and heard the lesson from the entire class. After the writing task, there was a lesson of history followed by phonetics where they recited the sounds of alphabets. Franz referred to the class as "babies" because although they were grown up, they were reciting the lesson of phonetics which is usually done by younger children. So, he calls himself and his class to be ‘babies’. Hauser had put on his spectacles and holding the primer in both his hands, recited the letters with the class. He was crying, his voice trembled as he spoke. Franz had mixed feelings – he found it funny to see how an old man like Hauser was crying and trembling and on the other hand, he also felt emotional like Hauser did. Franz could never forget this last lesson. Angelus: prayer song in the church, the start is marked by the ringing of the bell. Just then the clock at the church struck twelve and the prayer song begun. At the same moment the sound of the trumpets played by the Prussian soldiers who were returning from the drill was heard. M. Hamel’s face became dull and colourless as the time had come for the class to get over. He stood straight and motionless and Franz says that he had never appeared to be so tall. Trumpets: a musical instrument. Pale: used to describe a person's face or skin if it has less colour than Page 6 of 57 usual Choked: became unable to speak due to strong emotions M. Hamel began to speak but could not continue as he was overpowered by his emotions. He took a piece of chalk and wrote the words “Vive La France” meaning ‘Long Live France’ on the blackboard as large as he could. Gesture: a signal Then he stopped writing, bent towards the wall and without speaking anything signaled the class to leave as the class was over. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning, I saw my mother, beside me; The poetess explains that once when she visited her parent’s house in Cochin. It was a Friday when she was driving back to the airport, her mother was sitting beside her at the back of the car. The poet looked at her mother. Beside: alongside Literary Devices: Assonance: Here we see the use of vowel sound that is ‘o’. (To Cochin last Friday morning) doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realised with pain Doze: nap Ashen: pale Corpse: dead body She saw that her mother was sleeping and her mouth was open. She further explains that the colour of her mother’s face was like that of ash. (This means that there was some smoky appearance on her face). She looked like a dead body. Literary Devices: Assonance: Use of vowel sound ‘o’,’a’, ‘e’ (doze, open mouthed, her face ashen Page 7 of 57 like that of a corpse) Simile: The colour of the mother’s face has been compared to that of a corpse - ashen. use of ‘like’ (her face ashen like that of a corpse) that she was as old as she looked but soon put that thought away, and looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes, The poetess realized that her mother had grown old. She felt pain for her. But soon she tried to get rid of this sad thought by diverting her thoughts towards the trees outside. The young trees although stationary seemed to be running very fast as though they were sprinting. She also saw children running out of their houses, into the playground. All these things were full of life and energy, contrary to her mother who sat next to her. Literary Devices: Consonance: use of the sound ‘s’ and ‘t’ imagery: when the poet say trees sprinting, merry children spilling Repetition: Repeated use of ‘looked’ but after the airport’s security check, standing a few yards away, I looked again at her, wan, pale Wan: dim, weak Pale: dull, colourless The poet continues that when she reached the airport, she finished with the security check and stood a few yards away from her mother. She noticed her mother’s ageing face which looked so dull, weak and pale. as a late winter’s moon and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear, but all I said was, see you soon, Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile...... Literary Devices: Repetition: use of ‘smile’ Rhyme scheme - The poem does not follow any rhyme or rhythm. It has been Page 8 of 57 written in free verse. Simile: Mother’s face is compared to the late winter’s moon - both are dull and lifeless. Use of ‘as’ (as a late winter’s moon). The poet compares her mother to a late winter’s moon as the moon in winters is not shiny and even her mother’s face had also lost her youth and shine. As her mother was getting older and weak.The poet feels the fear of separation just as she used to feel during her childhood. As a child, she could not bear the pain of separating from her mother. But now as her mother has grown old and is about to die, the poet feels that may be this is the last time that she is seeing her mother. She tries to hide her fear. She then says that she would soon see her mother again. She says so because she doesn’t want to lose her mother. Summary One last Friday morning, the poetess was driving from her parents’ home to the Cochin airport. Her mother was sitting beside her in the car. She suddenly had a look at her mother. She found that her mother was dozing with her open mouth. Her face was as pale as that of a corpse. The poet painfully realized that her mother is not going to live long. This painful thought haunted her. But soon she tried to put it off by looking out of the car window. She saw the young trees running past them. She looked at the merry children coming out of their homes. As she saw life and vitality in the outside world, the painful thought passed away from her mind. After reaching the airport, she went through the security check. Her mother was standing outside a few yards away. After the security check, she looked at her mother again. Her face was pale white like a late winter’s moon. She spoke no word to her mother. All that she said was, “See you soon, Amma” and bade goodbye to her mother with a hope to see her again. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Page 9 of 57 The Third Level by Jack Finney The story begins in a mock serious manner. Everyone knows that there are only two levels at Grand Central Station in New York. But Charley, a 31 year old guy asserts that there are three and he had been on the third level. One night Charley, an ordinary guy worked late at the office. He was in a hurry to reach home. So he decided to take the subway from grand Central Station. He turned into Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue and went down the steps to the first level where one could take trains like the twentieth century. Then he walked down the second level where trains left for suburban areas. Then he ducked into an arched doorway heading for the subway and got lost. He had lost his way a couple of times earlier too while taking the subway. Once, he entered the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel while the other time he emerged at an office building that was three blocks away. But this time when he loses his way, something unique happens. He visits the third level. Charley keeps walking in the quiet corridor, angling left and slanting downward, till he reaches an architecturally old station that is completely different from the two familiar levels. The antiquated small room with fewer ticket counters and train gates, a wooden information booth, flickering open flame gas lights and brass spittoons remind him of the architecture of the 1800s. He also finds that people are dressed in outmoded outfits. He notices that the date on the newspaper ‘The World’ is printed June 11, 1894. He turns towards the ticket windows and wants to buy two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois. Since he had no old style currency, he could not buy tickets and came back home. He had always wanted to travel to Galesburg with his wife, Louisa. In his mind, it is a wonderful town, with big old frame houses, huge lawns, and tremendous trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets. It is a place with long and pleasant summer evenings where people sat out on their lawns, smoked cigars and talked quietly. So, the next day during lunch, he exchanges three hundred dollars for old style bills amounting to some two hundred only. The loss doesn’t bother him much as he believes that in Galesburg everything will be cheaper and that he can manage even with a Page 10 of 57 small amount. But, he could never again find the corridor leading to the third level. His wife Louisa is worried after knowing all this and asks him not to look for the third level any further. Suddenly Charley realizes that his psychiatrist friend, Sam Weiner with whom he shared his experience, is nowhere to be found, so he and his wife keep looking for him in the weekends. One day while fussing with his stamp collection, Charley comes across a letter that was not there earlier. It bears the postmark on a faded six-cent stamp with a picture of the President Garfield. The envelope was sent on July18, 1894 to Charley’s grandfather in Galesburg and is addressed to Charley. The letter reads that Sam has reached Galesburg and is enjoying his life there. He also invites Charley and Louisa to Galesburg. When Charley goes to the stamp and coin store, he found out that Sam had bought eight hundred dollars’ worth of old currency bills to establish his business of hay feed and grain in Galesburg. The letter was written by Sam Weiner, who was Charley’s psychiatrist. This story brings us to the conclusion that people find it hard to make peace with unpleasant things they come across in life. It brings out a common man’s craving for peace and security. Like any common man, Charlie too appreciates the so-called ‘pleasures’ of everyday life. He wants to stay in the past because 1894 is much more peaceful, secure and serene. The world in 1894 hasn’t seen the repercussions of war. The insecurities that come with war, terror, and disease had gotten the better of common folks like Charlie who wants a transient relief from the harsh realities of life. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… THE TIGER KING INTRODUCTION The story ‘The Tiger King’ is a satire on the pride and stubbornness of those in power. The writer takes us to the days of autocratic and eccentric kings. These kings lived under the thumb rule of British, hence they fear them. Most of the time the rulers were not interested in serving the people and working for the welfare of the public; instead they spent their time in foolish pursuits. Page 11 of 57 They flouted all laws and bent them to suit their selfish interests. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tried to belie what was written in his fate. The chief astrologer had predicted that the cause of his death would be a tiger. The King tried his best to belie the prediction. His campaign of tiger-hunting was very successful. All his strategies and wise plans worked till he killed 99 tigers. But the hundredth tiger eluded him till his death. SUMMARY The Maharaja Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur was called “Tiger King”. When he was just 10 day old, he asked intelligent questions to the astrologers and was told that he would be killed by a tiger. He uttered “Let tigers beware!” No other miracle took place, the child grew like any other Royal child drinking white cow’s milk. He was taught by an English tutor and looked after by an English nanny. He watched English films. When he was 20, he was crowned as king. It was then the prediction of his death by the tiger reached the Maharaja’s ear and he in turn to safe guard himself killed a tiger and being thrilled he told the astrologer who replied that he can kill 99 tigers but should be careful with the 100th. He pledged that all other affairs of the state would be attended after killing the hundred tigers. Then he started killing tigers. None except Maharaja was allowed to hunt tigers. A high-ranking British officer visited the state that was fond of hunting tigers and his wish was declined. The officer requested for getting a photograph with a tiger killed by Maharaja and this request was rejected. So to please the officer’s wife, he sent 50 diamond rings expecting that she would take one or two, instead she kept all the rings costing 3 lakh rupees and sent ‘thanks’ to the Maharaja. But his state was secured. In 10 years, he killed 70 tiger and didn’t find any in Pratibandapuram so he decided to marry a girl from royal state which had more tigers to complete his target. Whenever he visited his in-laws, he killed 5-6 tigers. So he killed 99 tigers and was feverishly anxious to kill the 100th but couldn’t find. News about the presence of a tiger near a village roved disappointing. He asked his Dewan to find the tiger otherwise face his anger. Now the Dewan was afraid of losing his job so he visited ‘People’s Park in Madras’ and brought an old tiger and placed it in the forest and informed the Maharaja. The Maharaja took great care and shot the tiger and left the place with great Page 12 of 57 triumph. The bullet did not hit the tiger but out of fear the tiger had collapsed. Now the staff killed the tiger and brought it in grand procession. It was the third birthday of the Maharaja’s son and he wanted to buy a present from the toyshop. He bought a wooden tiger which was poorly carved. While the Maharaja was playing with the prince, a tiny sliver of the wooden tiger pierced his right hand which later on caused his death. Thus the hundredth tiger takes his final revenge upon the “Tiger King”. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… THE LOST SPRING ANEES JUNG CHARACTERS Saheb – e – Alam : A Rag Picker Mukesh : Son of a Bangle Maker INTRODUCTION The story “Lost Spring” describes the pitiable condition of poor children who have been forced to miss the joy of childhood due to the socio-economic condition that prevails in this man-made world. These children are denied the opportunity of schooling and forced into labour early in life. Anees Jung gives voice to eliminate child labour by educating the children and to enforce the laws against child labour by the government strictly. The call is to end child exploitation and let the children enjoy the days of the spring that bring joy under their feet. I – SOMETIMES I FIND A RUPEE IN THE GARBAGE. The first part tells the writer’s impressions about the life of the poor rag pickers. The rag pickers have migrated from Dhaka and found a settlement in Seemapuri. Their fields and homes have been swept away by storm. They had come to the big city to find a living. They are poor. The writer watches Saheb every morning scrounging for “gold” in her neighbourhood. Garbage is a means of survival for the elders and for the children it is something wrapped in wonder. The children come across a coin or two from it. These people have desires and ambitions but they do not know the way to achieve them. There are quite a Page 13 of 57 few things that are unreachable to them, namely shoes, tennis and the like. Later, Saheb joins a tea stall where he could earn 800 rupees and all the meals. The job has taken away his freedom. II – I WANT TO DRIVE A CAR. The second part deals with the life of Mukesh, who belongs to the family of bangle-makers. Firozabad is known for its glass blowing industry. Nearly 20,000 children are engaged in this business and the law that forbids child labour is not known here. The living condition and the working environment is a woeful tale. Life is dingy cells and working close to hot furnaces make these children blind when they step into the adulthood. Weighed down by the debt, they can neither think nor find a way to come out of this trap. The politicians, middlemen, policemen and bureaucrats will all obstruct their way of progress. The women in the household consider it as their fate and just follow the tradition. Mukesh is different from the rest of the folk there. He dreams to become a motor mechanic. The garage is far away from his house but he shall walk. ….……………………………………………………………………………………………………… DEEP WATER William O Douglas INTRODUCTION In this story, Douglas talks about his fear of water and how he finally overcomes it with strong will power, courage, hard work and firm determination. Once he took courage, the fear vanished. That shows most of our fears are baseless. Fear creates dangers where there is none. The writer’s experiences further confirm the proverbial truth, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” SUMMARY The story, “Deep Water” tells us how the writer overcame his fear of water and learned swimming with sheer determination and will power. He had developed a terror of water since childhood. When he was three or four years old, the writer had gone to California with his father. One day on the beach, the waves knocked the child down and swept over him. Page 14 of 57 The child was terrified but the father who knew, there was no harm, laughed. The experience bred a permanent fear of water in the child’s sub-conscious mind. Still another incident, more serious, increased his terror. The writer was trying to learn swimming in the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool in Yakima. One day while he was waiting for other boys, a big boy suddenly played a dangerous prank and pushed him into the water. The writer was terribly frightened. He went down nine feet into the water. When he reached the bottom, he jumped upward with all his strength. He came up but very slowly. He tried to catch hold of something like a rope but grasped only at water. He tried to shout but no sound came out. He went down again. His lungs ached, head throbbed and he grew dizzy. He felt paralyzed with fear. All his limbs were paralyzed. Only the movement of his heart told him that he was alive. Again he tried to jump up. But this time his limbs would not move at all. He looked for ropes, ladders and water wings but all in vain. Then he went down again, the third time. This time all efforts and fear ceased. He was moving towards peaceful death. The writer was in peace. When he came to consciousness, he found himself lying on the side of the pool with the other boys nearby. The terror that he had experienced in the pool never left him. It haunted him for years and years to come. It spoilt many of his expeditions of canoeing, swimming and fishing. It spoilt his pleasures in Maine Lakes, New Hampshire, Deschutes, Columbia and Bumping Lake etc. But the writer was determined to conquer his terror. He took help of a swimming instructor to learn swimming. The instructor taught him various actions necessary in swimming part by part. He put his face under water and exhaled and inhaled raising it above water. He practiced it for several weeks. He had to kick with his legs a few weeks on the side of the pool. At last he combined all these actions and made the writer swim. He learned swimming but the terror continued. So deep goes our childhood experiences! So fearful is the fear of fear! Whenever he was in water the terror returned. Hence forward the writer tried to terrorize terror itself. He tried to face the new challenge. When terror came, Page 15 of 57 he confronted it by asking it sarcastically as to what it can really do to him? He plunged into the water as if to defy the fear. Once he took courage the terror vanquished. He faced the challenge deliberately in various places like the Warm Lake. He conquered it at last. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………… KEEPING QUIET -Pablo Neruda Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. The poet begins with counting twelve urging everyone to be still. He chose ‘twelve` for several reasons. ‘Twelve’ hints at the twelve hours of a day which rules our life. ‘Twelve` refers to twelve zodiac signs believed to be the controlling forces of our lives. ‘Twelve` refers to twelve months of a year and if we believe numerology it’s the digit of peace and prosperity. ‘Twelve` even may be aimed for a preparation for all to be ready to plunge into the state of silence. Poetic devices We will = Alliteration (line 1 and 2) Count................still – Antithesis For once on the face of the earth, let's not speak in any language; Let's stop for one second , And not move our arms so much The poet here urges everyone to break the barriers of language and unite with one invisible tune i.e. silence. With the word ‘earth` the poet hints at all the humans living devoid the identity of country creed and caste. Though language is the identity of a country or race, he affirms that humans are more important and the identity of being a human of earth is broader realization. Poetic devices Once on – Alliteration It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines; we would all be together Page 16 of 57 in a sudden strangeness. We are always on move. We are all busy in accomplishing our work and go on rushing in our lives. The poet even urged to stop engines (referring industrial works causing harms to environment). The poet urges us to stop our personal activities and stop engines and unite in one tune i.e. silence. The poet declares silence as exotic because this silence will make us blissful, strange and will bring complete equilibrium. Poetic devices Without.................without – Repetition We would – Alliteration. Sudden strangeness – Alliteration Fisherman in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt would look at his hurt hands. If we be still, we shall be able to introspect the mistakes and wrongs done. Here fishermen are the representatives of all kinds of tyrants and killers. The poet wants, them to cease their work and realise their mistakes. The salt gatherer is explained as the representative of poor and lower section of the society. They go up to any level to earn their livelihood and often hurt themselves irreparably. Poetic Devices Cold sea – symbolised as polar region His hurt hands – Alliteration Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, victories with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing. The poet here condemns the people with green wars (biological weapon or creators of pollution) and wars with fire (Atomic war). They become victorious but with no survivors left. The poet mocks at the victory of those people who get victory over destruction. Page 17 of 57 The poet asks them to leave the path of destruction and join the group of silence. He urges them to put on white (symbolising – purity and serenity) clothes. And walk with others doing nothing (meaning - anything negative and doing self introspection) Poetic devices: Wars with – Alliteration Wars with – Repetition Clean clothes – Alliteration What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death. The poet here warns us that his message of silence should not be confused with total inactivity or inertia. He further clears that his message does not have any affinity with death even. His message is aimed at the way of living. He wants us to stop a while and feel the calmness so that a positive introspection is done. If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death. Perhaps the earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive. We human beings are single minded. We are always busy in achieving our goals, completing personal responsibilities. And we never stop a while to evaluate ourselves and understand ourselves. We never understand that we shall never be able to come out of these desires and achievements. If we could stop a while from these using we would have understood the real purpose of our lives and ourselves. Rather we go on with the fear of death calculation how much of our dreams and wishes will be achieved. Page 18 of 57 Poetic devices We were – Alliteration Now I'll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go.” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 In conclusion the poet taught us through the example of earth which at one season may look as if dead but comes back with life in another season. Likewise our life will also bear certain meaning when we walk on the right path i.e. introspecting in silence. In the last two lines the poet leaves us to introspect as if he himself has gone through the same. Poetic device dead ……alive – Antitheses. ….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. THE RATRAP Selma LegarLöf THEME The story conveys a universal message that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through love, respect, kindness and understanding. It highlights the human predicament. Material benefits are the traps that most human beings are prone to fall into. Human beings do have a tendency to redeem themselves from dishonest ways as does the peddler at the end of the story. CHARACTERS A peddlar with rattraps. An Oldman: A crofter Master Smith in the Ramsjo Iron Mill in Sweden Helpers in the Mill: blacksmiths Iron mill owner Edla Willmansson – daughter of the Iron Mill owner. Page 19 of 57 SUMMARY A rattrap peddler went around selling small rattraps. His clothes were in rags. His cheeks were hollow. He had the look of a starved man. He made wire traps. He begged the material from stores and big farms. Sometimes he resorted to begging and a little stealing to survive. The world had never been kind to him. He had no home, no shelter. The peddler led a lonely life. One day while he was thinking about his rattraps, an idea struck him. He thought that the world itself was a rattrap. As soon as anybody touched it, the trap closed on them. He was amused to think of some people who were already trapped, and some others who were trying to reach the bait in the trap. It was a cold evening in December. He reached a cottage on the roadside. He knocked at the door and asked for a night’s shelter. The owner of the cottage was a lonely old crofter. He wanted someone to talk to. He welcomed the peddler. He gave the peddler hot porridge to eat, and tobacco to smoke. Then they played cards (Mjolis). The crofter was generous as well as trustful. He told the peddler that he had a cow and sold her milk to a creamery. He also told him that he received thirty kronors as payment the previous month. Then he took down a pouch and showed him the money. Then he put the money back in the pouch and hung it on a nail in the window frame. Next morning the peddler left. The crofter locked his cottage, and went away. The peddler came back to the cottage. He had been tempted to steal the money that hung like a bait in the window frame. He smashed the pane and stole the money. Now he thought it was not safe to walk along the public highway. So he went into the woods. There he walked and walked but could not get out. He moved in circles. He was tired. He looked upon the forest as a rattrap in which he was caught. He thought his end was near. He lay down to die. After a while he heard regular thumping of a hammer’s strokes. He knew the sound was coming from Ramsjo Ironworks. He stood up and walked in the direction of the sound. He opened the gate of the ironworks and went into the forge. The owner came on his nightly rounds and noticed the ragged wretch near the furnace. The ironmaster looked intently at the peddler’s face. He felt sure that the peddler was one of his old regimental comrades, Captain von Page 20 of 57 Stahle who had fallen on evil days. He invited the peddler to go home with him for Christmas. But the peddler was alarmed. He thought it was risky for him to accept the offer. He firmly declined it. The ironmaster went home. The ironmaster sent his daughter Edla to persuade the peddler to come home. She spoke gently to him. The peddler felt confidence in her and agreed to go with her. On the way he was sorry to have stolen the crofter’s money that had put him in a trap. The ironmaster was happy to have his old regimental comrade under his roof. He planned to feed him well and give him some respectable work. The servant cut the peddler’s hair, shaved him and bathed him. The peddler appeared wearing one of the ironmaster’s fine suits. But when the ironmaster looked at him in daylight, he felt that he had made a mistake. The peddler was not captain von Stahle. He thought that the man had deceived him. He even thought of handing him to the sheriff. The peddler said that he had not pretended to be what he was not. He had not been willing to go to the ironmaster’s house. Even then he was willing to put on his rags and leave. He also told the ironmaster that the world was a rattrap, and he himself might one day be tempted by big bait and get caught in the trap. The ironmaster told him to leave at once. Edla did not like her father’s asking the poor peddler to leave. She thought it was unfair to turn away the man whom they had invited. She wanted to have the joy of entertaining a homeless wanderer on Christmas Eve. She stopped the peddler and her father agreed to it. Edla served food to the peddler. He was given Christmas presents which he thankfully received. Edla told him that her father’s suit that the peddler was wearing was also a Christmas present. She assured him that he would be welcomed again if he liked to spend the next Christmas Eve with them. ….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH Tishani Doshi Introduction Journey to the End of the Earth’ is a travelogue. The narrator gives an account Page 21 of 57 of her journey to Antarctica under the programme ‘Students on Ice’ led by Geoff Green in the Russian vessel ‘Academic Shokalsky’. Under this programme, high school students are taken to the ends of the world and provided inspiring educational opportunities which will help them to encourage in developing a new understanding and respect for our planet. Summary The author started her journey in a Russian research vessel, ‘Academic Shokalsky’ bound for Antarctica. Her journey began 13.09 degrees north of the Equator in Madras. She travelled over 100 hours in combination of car, aeroplane and ship before she set foot on the Antarctic continent. The purpose of the visit was to know more about Antarctica. The author stayed there for two weeks. It is a place which stores 90 per cent of the Earth’s total ice volumes. It has no trees, billboards or buildings. The visual scene ranges from the microscopic to the mighty. Days go on and on in 24-hour austral summer light. Silence pervades everywhere. It is broken only by an avalanche or calving ice-sheet. Avalanche: A mass of snow, ice and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside. Calving: of an iceberg or glacier) split and shed (a smaller mass of ice). She wondered how there could have been a time when India & Antarctica were part of the same landmass. Geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind. Six hundred & fifty million years ago, a giant southern supercontinent -Gondwana - did exist. It was centred roughly around present-day Antarctica. The climate was much warmer then. There were a variety of flora and fauna. Humans had not arrived on the global scene yet. Gondwana thrived for 500 million years. Then came the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of mammals began. At that time, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today. Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. The most hotly contested debate of our time is whether West Antarctica Ice sheets will melt entirely or not. If we want to study the earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go as it holds half-million- Page 22 of 57 year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. Antarctica has a simple eco-system and lacks of biodiversity. It is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Scientists warn that a further depletion of the ozone layer will affect the lives of the sea-animals and birds of the region. It will also affect the global carbon cycle. The burning of fossil fuels has polluted the atmosphere. It has created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world. It is increasing the global temperature which is visible at Antarctica when we see ice bergs melting away. It shows how minor changes in the atmosphere can cause huge effect. If the global temperature keeps on increasing, the human race may be in peril. The author gives us an example of phytoplankton to show how small changes in the atmosphere can be threatening. The microscopic phytoplanktons are single celled plants. They nourish the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. They use the sun’s energy to assimilate carbon and supply oxygen. Any further depletion in the ozone layer may affect this functioning and indirectly affect the lives of all marine animals. When the author returned, she was still wondering about the beauty of balance in play on our planet. Walk on the Ocean was the most thrilling experience of the visit. All the 52 persons on board put on breathable waterproof clothing and sun-glasses. They climbed down the gangplank and walked on the ocean. They were walking on a meter-thick ice-pack. Under the ice pack there was 180 meters of living, breathing, salt water. Seals were enjoying themselves in the sun on ice. The narrator was wondering about the beauty of the place. He wished it would become a warm place again as it used to be millions of years ago. If it happens, the results can be catastrophic. ….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. A THING OF BEAUTY John Keats Background of the poem Based on Greek mythology about a shepherd named Endymion, his quest for Page 23 of 57 his love Diana and how in his quest, he falls in love with an Earthly maiden, who later turns out to be Diana herself. A thing of beauty is a joy forever Its loveliness increases, it will never Pass into nothingness; but will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. Bower: A shady place under the tree The poet says that beauty stays forever. It never fades away. Rather, it increases with the passing time. The perception of the poet regarding beauty is that it never goes off with the passing time, rather it beautifies more and more. For the poet, beauty is like a beautiful shady tree under whose shade all the creatures can sleep peacefully and enjoy good health. Literary devices: Rhyme scheme: aabbc (forever, never, keep, sleep, breathing) Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (Sleep-Sweet) Metaphor: bower Quiet (calmness of the bower is compared to the calming effect of a beautiful thing) Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth, Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days, Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits. Morrow: The following day Wreathing: surround, encircle Despondence: depressed Gloomy: sad The poet says that every day, it is the beauty which fills us with the spirit to live. It is the beauty which builds the desire in us to live though there are sad moments and cruel people around us. So here the poet wants to say that Page 24 of 57 without beauty the earth will be full of cruel people, sad and gloomy moments. It is the beauty which is created by god which helps us to remove the sadness from our hearts. Literary devices: Anaphora: Use of same word in two consecutive lines (of noble natures- Of all the unhealthy) Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘b’ in Band Bind, ‘n’ in Noble nature, ‘s’ in some shape). Metaphor: wreathing a flowery band (the beautiful things of our life bind us to the earth) Imagery: creating a sensory effect of beautiful things lined up in a string ( A flowery band to bind us) Inversion: normal order of words is reversed ( Are we wreathing a flowery band) Such the sun, the moon, Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; and such are daffodils With the green world they live in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make ‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake Boon: blessing Rills: a small stream Brake: a process to slow down Here the poet describes the beautiful things which are present on earth. These are the sun, moon, trees, flowers (daffodils) and the rivers. Poet says that all these things are like a blessing bestowed on all the creatures by earth. He further describes that the trees provide us with their shade, flowers with their beauty and rivers with their coolness during the hot summers. All of these are the beauties of nature which are like a boon for us. Literary devices: Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘s’ in Sprouting Shady, Simple sheep, ‘c’ in cooling covert) Imagery: Trees giving shade (sprouting shady boon), growing process of daffodils (daffodils with the green world they live in), Clean river streams Page 25 of 57 (Clear rills) Antithesis: opposite words placed together (old and young) Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms; And such too is the grandeur of the dooms We have imagined for the mighty dead; All lovely tales that we have heard or read; An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink Grandeur: high rank or socially important Mighty: enormous Immortal: never dying Brink: edge The poet further carries on with the description of the more beautiful things present on earth such as the beautiful musk roses which have such a nice fragrance. Then he describes the tales of the mighty warriors who laid their lives for their countries or for humanity. He says that these beautiful things are the gifts from god for all of us. They are like nectar given by god to us and these are those beauties which are immortal and give us a reason to live on this earth despite having so many sorrows in our life. Literary devices: Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘h’ in have heard) Metaphor: Immortal drinks (beautiful objects of nature are forever like a never-ending portion of a drink) Rhyme: Rhyme scheme is used in every stanza of the poem (forever; never, keep; sleep, dead; read etc.) Imagery: Bushes full of musk roses (sprinkling of fair musk rose blooms), books describing valor of fighters (grandeur-..mighty dead), god providing us with best things (pouring from the heaven’s brink) New words Bower- a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants. Morrow -the following day Wreathing- covering or to encircle. Spite - desire to offend or annoy someone. Page 26 of 57 Despondence- disheartened, hopeless. Noble- of superior quality, having high moral principles Pall -a cloud, here, a dark cloud of gloom and sadness. Sprouting - to develop suddenly in large numbers. Shady boon - a shade which is helpful to someone. Rills -streams of running water. Covert - not openly known or displayed. Grandeur - so as to impress. Dooms - last day of existence. Immortal - living forever. Heaven's brink - the door of God's home. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem. The Sun The Moon Shady trees Beautiful daffodil flowers Streams of water Dense green bushes of forest ferns where fragrant musk roses grow Tales of heroic men who sacrifice their lives List the things that cause suffering and pain. Desire to offend others Hopelessness Lack of noble men Bad health Unhappiness Gloom Darkness. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… INDIGO Louis Fischer CHARACTERS Raj Kumar Shukla: A sharecropper Charles Freer Andrews: A follower of Gandhi Kasturba: Wife of Gandhi Devdas : Youngest son of Gandhi SUMMARY This story describes Gandhi’s struggle for the poor peasants of Champaran. In those days most of arable land in the Champaran district was divided into Page 27 of 57 large estate owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was Indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15% of their Indigo and surrender the entire Indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long term contract. The British didn't need the Indigo crop any more when Germany had developed synthetic Indigo. Just to release the peasants from the 15% agreement they demanded compensation. Some illiterate peasants agreed but the others refused. One of the sharecroppers named Raj Kumar Shukla met Gandhi in this regard and compelled him to visit Champaran because of the long term injustice of landlords. Then the two of them boarded a train for the city of Patna in Bihar. From there Shukla led him to the house of a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad. Mahatma Gandhi's humble and simple attire made the servants mistook him as another poor peasant. He surveyed before taking any vital step in order to get those peasants justice. It was the time when British government punished those who in any condition gave shelter to national leaders or protesters. Gandhi's arrival and the nature of his mission spread like a wildfire. Many lawyers and peasant groups came in large numbers to support him. The lawyers accepted the fact that their charges were high and for a poor peasant it will be irksome. Gandhi rebuked them for collecting big fee from the sharecroppers. He stressed on counseling as this would give the peasants enough confidence to fight their fear. He managed to get justice after a yearlong battle for the peasants. He also made arrangements for the education, health, and hygiene for the families of the poor peasants. He gave them the lesson of self-reliance. MAIN POINTS  Raj Kumar Shukla, a poor sharecropper wished to meet Gandhi to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Champaran.  Shukla followed Gandhi everywhere and begged him to fix a date to come to his district.  Gandhi was much impressed and fixed a schedule.  Gandhi and Shukla reached Patna to meet Dr. Rajendra Prasad but he was out of town. Page 28 of 57  Then decided to go to Muzzafarpur first to get detailed information about Champaran sharecroppers.  Sent telegram to J B Kriplani and stayed in Prof. Malkani’s home - a government servant.  Indians afraid to show sympathy to the supporters of home rule.  The news of Gandhi’s arrival spread- sharecroppers gathered in large number to meet their champion.  Gandhi chided the Muzzafarpur lawyers for taking high fee from poor sharecroppers.  Champaran district was divided into estate owned by English people, Indians were only tenant farmers.  Landlords compelled tenants to plant 15% of their land with indigo and surrender their entire harvest as rent.  In the meantime Germany had developed synthetic indigo –British landlords freed the Indian farmers from the 15% arrangement but asked them to pay compensation.  Many signed, some resisted, engaged lawyers, landlords hired thugs.  Gandhi reached Champaran- visited the secretary of the British landlord association to get the facts but denied as he was an outsider.  Gandhi went to the British Official Commissioner who asked him to leave Trihut.  Gandhi disobeyed, went to Motihari the capital of Champaran where a vast multitude greeted him, continued his investigations.  Visited maltreated villagers - stopped by the police superintendent but disobeyed the order.  Motihari black with peasants - spontaneous demonstrations - Gandhi released without bail - Civil Disobedience triumphed.  Gandhi agreed to 25% refund by the landowners, it symbolized the surrender of the prestige.  Gandhi worked hard towards social economic reforms.  Gandhi taught a lesson of self-reliance. ….……………………………………………………………………………………………………… THE ENEMY Pearl S Buck Page 29 of 57 CHARACTERS Dr. Sadao Hoki: A Japanese doctor. Hana: His wife, Japanese. Sadao’s father: A true, die-hard Japanese, blindly patriot. The old General: Japan’s army General; Sadao’s patient. Tom: An American soldier who got ashore near Sadao’s house following a serious injury Yumi: Sadao’s maid, in charge of the babies. Gardener: Sadao’s gardener, an old man, in service since Sadao’s father’s time. The cook: Sadao’s cook, an old man, in service since Sadao’s father’s time. An officer. SUMMARY Sadao was a Japanese surgeon. He studied in America and returned with Hana, a Japanese girl whom he met there, and married her in Japan and settled down comfortably. While most of the doctors were sent to serve the Japanese army in the World War II, Sadao was allowed to stay home because he was wanted by the old General who was dying. But one night into his uneventful life came an American Navy-man, shot, wounded and dying. Though unwilling to help his enemy, Sadao took the young soldier into his house and provided him with medical aid. He was in danger from that moment. Soon his servants left him. Dr. Sadao saw that the soldier was getting well and absolutely alright. Once his patient was no more in need of him, the doctor turned out to be his assassin, conspiring to kill him in his sleep. He informed the General about the American and the General promised he would send his private men to kill the American. Sadao awaited the American’s death every morning but to his gloom the man was still alive, healthier and posing danger to him. At this point Sadao becomes the real man in him: a true human being who realizes the essential worth of human life and universal brotherhood. He thinks beyond countries and continents and races and wars. He finds no reason to believe that the American is his enemy. Sadao rescues the American. ……….………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Page 30 of 57 POETS AND PANCAKES by Asokamitran Introduction In the lesson ‘Poet and Pancakes’, the author recounts his years spent at the Gemini studios. Gemini Studios was set up in the year 1940 in Chennai. For nearly thirty years from 1940, the Gemini Studios of Madras was the most influential film-producing organization of India and S.S. Vasan, the brilliant multi-faceted entrepreneur was its founder and owner. The Gemini emblem of two small boys with bugles was true to Vasan’s slogan for the Studios, ‘when the bugles blow, there is a great show, ’Gemini films entertained millions all over India and abroad. The studios of film production has never confined its activities within the four walls of the studios but it also gives a fine glimpse of outside world as well. My Years with Boss is one of the most unusual books to be written about the entertainment world and clearly indicates the enormous impact of the movies on virtually every aspect of life in India. Summary Gemini Studios had been one of the most influential film-producing organization of India for nearly thirty years from 1940. It was situated in the present day Chennai and owned by S.S Vasan. Over 600 staff worked in this organization. Gemini Studios made movies for Tamil Nadu and other southern Indian states. Pancake was the makeup material used by the Gemini Studios. A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-up department. The chief make-up man attended to the chief actors and actresses, his senior assistant the second hero and heroine, the junior assistant, the main comedian and so forth. The players who played the crowd were the responsibility of the office boy. Office Boy was a grown up man in the Makeup Department of the Gemini Studios. He was in charge of the crowd makeup. He applied pancake on their faces with the help of a dipped paint brush. Though his job was quite an easy one, the office boy considered him to be a greatly skilled artist. Asokamitran was one of the staff whose job was to collect information such as news events from newspapers, magazines and paste them in files. Most people Page 31 of 57 thought that he was doing next to nothing. Kothamangalam Subbu was another clerk. He was the No. 2 at the Studios. He was a man of amazing genius. He was able to direct the directors. He suggested dozens of ways to shoot a certain scene when the director failed to find one. He acted better than the heroes. He wrote incredible poems. He had a genuine love for anyone he came across. His house was a permanent residence for dozens of near and far relations and acquaintances He had the ability to look cheerful at all times. Despite having all these qualities he had enemies everywhere because he was very much close to the boss, Vasan. The legal advisor worked in the Story Department. He was a lawyer and provided legal advices to the writers yet he was known as the illegal advisor. The following incident is one reason that gave him that name. Once a shooting was under progress. The heroine, a highly emotional girl, got angry with the director and producer. While the whole set stood stunned at this, the legal advisor recorded her voice without her permission and made her listen to the playback, thus resulting the end of a rising actress. Gemini Studios had some great poets like Harindranath Chatopadhyaya and a few others. Most of the insignificant poets considered so great of themselves. They had no great talent, no great creativity, no political views, yet they assumed the airs of the greatest poets, wasting Vasan’s money and time. They believed Gandhiji to be the last word of politics and had developed an aversion to Communism. Communism was a new political order that was spreading throughout the world, especially in Asian countries. Communism preached equality of people and abolition of poverty and class divisions while it discouraged private ownership. But Communism won a negative impression due the Capitalist countries such as America. Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament Army with a team of about two hundred actors and actresses visited Madras in 1952. Gemini Studio proved a warm host. Someone called the group an international circus. They weren’t very good on the trapeze. Their acquaintance with animals was only at the dinner table. They presented two plays—‘Jotham Page 32 of 57 Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’ in a most professional manner. These plays ran several shows in Madras Along with the other citizens of the city, the Gemini family of six hundred saw the plays over and over again. After some years the author learnt that the MRA was a kind of counter movement to international communism. Big bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played into their hands. A few months later, Gemini Studios welcomed another visitor. Some said he was a poet from England. Others said that he was not a poet, but an editor. Anyway, he came in the afternoon to the studio and gave his speech. His lecture was about Communism on one side and about his struggles to establish as a poet on the other. Whatever he spoke was great, hot, exciting and inspiring, but of what use, his accent was such terrible one that none of the Gemini staff could clearly understand what he had spoken. They felt ashamed for not being able to understand the poet and wished not to meet him again. His visit remained a mystery. Once ‘The Hindu’ published an announcement about a short story contest to be organised by a British periodical named ‘The Encounter’. The author wanted to get an idea of the periodical before he spent a huge sum in postage sending a manuscript to England. He went to the British Council Library. He found there many issues of ‘The Encounter’. He read the editor’s name. It was Stephen Spender—the poet who had visited the Gemini Studios. Years later, the author was out of Gemini Studios. He had much time but not much money. He saw a pile of brand new books on the footpath in front of the Madras Mount Road Post office. Each book was for fifty paise. Actually, they were the copies of the same book—an elegant paperback of American Origin. It was called ‘The God that Failed’. It contained six essays by six eminent men of letters. They described their journeys into communism and their disillusioned return. Stephen Spender was one of them. The same poet who had visited the studio. It cleared the mystery of Spender’s visit to the studios. ….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. A ROADSIDE STAND by Robert Frost Page 33 of 57 Lines 1-6 The little old house was out with a little new shed In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped, A roadside stand that too pathetically pled… Meaning Out with – Extended Traffic – Vehicles Sped – Passed in great haste and speed Roadside stand – a little shed that sells cheap essentials for the passersby It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread But for some of the city money, the cash, whose flow supports The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint… Meaning Dole: Piece, City money: Big amount of money The occupants of the little old house have extended the shed in front, around the edge of the road where traffic passes by. Though it would be unfair to state that the shack-owners wanted a charity of bread, but nevertheless they seemed to implore the passers-by to stop and buy something from the shack. These deprived people long for the feel of the currency, the circulation of which flourishes the city folks. Lines 7-15 The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead Or, if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts At having the landscape marred with the artless paint Of signs with S turned wrong and N turned wrong… Offered for sale are wild berries in wooden quarts Or crook necked golden squash with silver warts, Or beauty rest in a mountain scene… You have the money, but if you want to be mean Why, keep your money (this angrily) and go along. Page 34 of 57 But unfortunately, the refined traffic whizzed past, unmindful of the shack. Or, if by chance, any stopped, it would be with a feeling of reproach at this blot on the picturesque landscape. They are very perturbed to see the unimpressive and toppled up signboards. The shack offered for sale wild berries in a wooden quart (quarter of a gallon). The unqualitative local produce is highlighted with the usage of words like "crook-necked", "squash with silver warts". The place also offered a blissful stay in the lap of nature for the ones who had money. Angry at the callous attitude of the so-called ‘polished traffic‘, the poet commands them to move ahead oblivious of the road-side stand. Lines 16-22 The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid: Here, far from the city we make our roadside stand And ask for some city money to feel in hand To try it will (not) make our being expand… And give us the life of the moving pictures’ promise That the party in power is said to be keeping from us. Meaning Feel in hand: The poor people do not want promises. They want the promises fulfilled. Feel money in hand is different from having money between the giver and the taker Being: Life Expand: Improve The poet’s concern is not about the blemish on the landscape but regarding the unvented sorrow of the shed-owners. Expressing the view point of these people, the poet converts their ardent desire to handle some city money, which may perhaps alleviate their sufferings as sometimes promised in movies. The political party in power actually deprive them of a prosperous life. Lines 23-31 It is in the news that all these pitiful kin Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in To live in villages, next to the theater and the store, Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore… Page 35 of 57 While greedy good doers, beneficent beasts of prey, Swarm over their lives, enforcing benefits That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits… And (by) teaching them how to sleep, they sleep all day, Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way… The poet quotes the news which highlights the evacuation and relocation of the poor villagers to the vicinity of the theaters and the shops. Tall promises have been made to take good care of them. Outraged at the negligent attitude of the civic authorities, government and even social service agencies, the poet addresses them as “greedy good-doers” apparently benefactors but actually “beasts of prey” who exploit the innocent village folk by giving them a short term sense of security, the villagers are not being helped but harmed. They pay a heavy price by losing their land. These developers, civic authorities, with a calculative strategy "soothe" (silence) and befool the unalloyed heart and minds of these villagers. By ensuring them a better life and hence good sleep, they actually sleep peacefully themselves and destroy their slumber with anxiety. In the ancient way, people used to work during day and sleep in night which has been reversed here where they are not able to sleep at night because they haven’t worked in the day. Lines 32-43 Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear The thought of so much childish longing in vain, The sadness that lurks near the open window there, That waits all day in almost open prayer… For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are… And one did stop, but only to plow up grass In using the yard to back and turn around; And another to ask the way to where it was bound; And another to ask, “could you sell a gallon of gas?” The poet is distressed to note the interminable wait on the part of the shed owners for their prospective buyers, he calls it almost a "childish longing in vain". The shop window is blanketed with an ambience of sadness that surrounds expectancy. It seems these people yearn for the sound of the car brakes near the shack. Page 36 of 57 One of the “selfish cars" that pass by the shed has perhaps halted to enquire the “farmer’s price" while the other just wanted to use the backyard to turn. It’s indeed a satire that one of the occupants of the car stops at the shed to get a gallon of gas. It highlights a sense of alienation that exists between the rural and urban life. Unaware of the villagers’ plights and engrossed with the pleasure of the material world, these people are unable to gauge the glaring difference in city and rural life. Lines 43-52 They couldn’t (this crossly), they had none, didn’t it see? No, in country, money, the country scale of gain, The requisite lift of sprint, has never been found.. Or, so, the voice of the country seems to complain. I can’t help owning the great relief it would be To put these people at one stroke out of their pain… Meaning They – The villagers Crossly – Angrily They had none – They had no gas to sell Didn’t it see – Haven’t you seen? The voice of the country – Cry of the poor villagers I can’t help owning the great relief it would be – I keep on feeling an unreal relief of the villagers At one stroke – Instantly Requisite lift of spirit – The most important thing to make one feel confident and safe (money) The poet regrets that the yardstick of gain vested in money, isn’t found in the country-side at all. Money he feels elevates spirits and the lack of it dampens the villagers’ perspective towards life. They tend to express their grievance about a life bereft of money. At this point of time, the poet is overwhelmed with emotions and contemplates their pain at one go by changing their lives. But a later logical thought and a poised state of mind tells him the futility of this rash act. It might compel him to seek purgation of pain from others for his thoughtless decision. ….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… THE INTERVIEW Christopher Silvester Page 37 of 57 Introduction The writer reveals the basic facts and importance of an interview as he himself was a reporter for private eye for ten years and during his career, he interviewed a lot of celebrities and found both negative and positive opinions about an interview. He experienced that most of the celebrities found interview an unnecessary intrusion in their lives. But the writer opines that interviewing is very important and reliable source of information. Summary Part – I In this chapter, the writer talks about the pros and cons of the interview. It is an important part of journalism. Several thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years. Today, every literate person might have read an interview of a famous person at some point in their lives. Some people consider ‘interview’ a reliable source of truth whereas most of the celebrities see it as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives. V.S. Naipaul feels that some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves. Lewis Carroll, the creator of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ never consented to be interviewed. Rudyard Kipling had a condemnatory attitude towards the interviewer. His wife ‘Caroline’ writes in her diary for 14 October, 1892 that their day was wrecked by two reporters from Boston. Even they considered interview as a crime and assault. Some of them feel that it diminishes them. Saul Bellow, though consented to be interviewed on several occasions, once described interviews as being like thumbprints on his windpipe. Despite all these drawbacks, the interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication. We get most vivid impressions of our contemporaries through interviews. Part – II It is an extract of an interview of Umberto Eco, taken by ‘Mukund Padmanabhan’ Umberto Eco was a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy. He had an expertise on Semiotics (the study of signs), literary ﬁctions, academic texts, newspaper articles and many others. Page 38 of 57 Mukund interviewed about Umberto’s versatility of managing too many things. Umberto revealed the mystery and answered that he had discovered the way to use the empty spaces in his life. He could use every single moment of his time. He had perfected the art of writing in a narrative style but applied it at about the age of fifty. Accidently he became a novelist after moving from an essayist. He was more interested in academics rather than the novels, so always considered himself as an academician and devoted only Sundays for writing novels. Mukund also questioned about the serious theme of his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ that was widely appreciated and more than 10 million copies of this novel were sold all over the world. It contained a detective surface but delved into theology, metaphysics and medieval history. He had no point of amazement about the category of the readers. He was never sure about its remarkable success. He assumed its huge success as a mystery which couldn’t be unfolded. ….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ON THE FACE OF IT Susan Hill CHARACTERS Mr. Lamb: an Old man with a tin leg, lonely, craved for company and acceptance, jovial, optimistic, lover of nature, social, outgoing, tolerant, helpful, sensitive, independent, didn’t mind children calling him Lamey Lamb or picking the Crab apples. Derry: a boy of 14 with a burnt face, looks ugly, loner, pessimistic, suffered from severe negative complexes, anger and frustration, withdrawn and introverted, low confidence, indulged in self-pity, suspicious of the intent of others. Derry’s Mother. INTRODUCTION The play depicts a unique bond between a fourteen year old boy Derry and an old man Mr. Lamb. Both of them are physically impaired. Derry’s one side of the face is burnt with acid whereas Mr. Lamb has got a tin leg because his real Page 39 of 57 leg was blown off in war. Derry is withdrawn and he does not like being near people. He feels odd when they stare and when he sees them being afraid of him. Mr. Lamb tells him that being secluded is not a solution to his problem. Mr. Lamb makes Derry aware of the reality of life and encourages him in every way how he can cope with his impairment in the best possible manner. Thus Mr. Lamb strikes up a friendship with Derry. Derry is keen to help him though his mother persuades him not to go back to his garden. Derry goes there but finds the old man fallen on the ground dead. SUMMARY This play deals with the problem of the disabled people and depicts that merely the encouraging words may change our tensed feelings. It is for us to see and understand life in every organism. It does not matter what we look like but it matters how we can uplift a disabled man. It is not the actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment that trouble a disabled man but the behaviour of the people around him. People discard him as a useless limb and refuse to accept him in the mainstream of life. So he feels alienated from the society and wants to live in seclusion. In a way Derry suffers from inferiority complex. Mr. Lamb motivates him to think positively about life, people and things. It is a fine day and Mr. Lamb is in his garden. He is an old man with a tin leg. He leads a lonely life and is always ready to accept any visitor who comes in his garden. One day Derry, a young boy of fourteen sneaks into Mr. Lamb’s garden. He has a burnt face with acid so he looks very ugly. He has become defiant and withdrawn due to his disfigured face. He does not want to face the world with his ugly and disfigured face. Derry climbs over the wall and cautiously walks through the long grass. He is quite close to Lamb. He is sacred when Lamb speaks to him. Lamb asks him to tread carefully because the long grass is littered with wild apples dropped by wind. Derry is utterly confused as he has come there considering the place empty. Having been detected by Lamb, Derry panicks and wants to go. Lamb asks him not to leave as he does not mind anybody’s coming into his garden. He keeps the gate always open. He advises to enter through the gate rather than by climbing over the garden wall. Lamb tells that all who come to his garden, are welcome. But Derry says that he has not come to steal but he wants only to come into Page 40 of 57 garden. He rather tells Derry not to afraid of anything but Derry points out that the people are afraid of him because of his ugly and disfigured face. Derry adds that he is afraid of himself when he sees his face in the mirror. Lamb tries to console him. He asks him to face the harsh realities of life bravely. He tries to divert the views of Derry from his burnt face to the fruits in the garden, but Derry keeps on talking about his ugly face. Lamb tries to make him understand that it is the inner beauty of a person that matters, not his outer beauty. Derry does not agree with it. He tells lamb that it is important to be handsome from outside also. He says that even his mother kisses him on the other side of his face. He says that he has to spend whole of his life with his half face. Mr. Lamb points out that there is no difference between a flower plant and a weed since both are living and growing plants. Derry remarks that Mr. Lamb can put on trousers and cover up his tin-leg. Then Mr. Lamb reminds Derry of a fairy tale of Beauty and The Beast in which the princess kisses the Beast who in turn changes into a handsome prince. This makes Derry understand that ugliness is only skin deep. A man is not what he looks like but what he really is. Handsome is that handsome does. This story is to inspire Derry and he should not care for his burnt face. But Derry tells that people stare at his face and they are afraid of him. Derry tells Lamb that women talk of his ugly face. They say that none will kiss except his mother. Mr. Lamb tells him that he must have heard so many other things also. The best thing is to keep his ears shut and need not pay attention to such talks. Mr. Lamb talks about the bees in his garden. Some people like their buzzing while others hate. But Lamb calls it a sweet music. It is only the difference of attitude. Derry tells that people stare at his face so he avoids them. But Mr. Lamb tells that keeping alone is not a fine thing. He tells a story about a man who was always afraid of being run over or getting infected or meeting with some accident. So he locked himself in a room. There a picture fell on his head and killed him. Derry says that his family often talks about him downstairs when he is not there. They are worried to think what is going to happen to him when they are gone and how he will get on in this world. Mr. Lamb does not agree with him. Lamb encourages him that he has got two arms, legs, eyes, ears, a tongue and a Page 41 of 57 brain. He can achieve whatever he likes. He can be better than others. He tells Derry that he has got a full body. He can do anything like other people or may do better than others. He asks Lamb several questions to know more about him. Mr. Lamb says that he sits in the sun and reads the books. He likes the windows open to hear the wind. Lambs tells that he has a lot of friends everywhere. Everybody who comes in his garden is his friend. Derry wonders how a person can be his friend about whom he knows nothing. Derry says that there are some people he hates. But Lamb remarks that hatred would do him more harm than any bottle of acid. Acid only burns our face or so but hatred can burn us away inside. Lamb asks him to be a friend. Derry asks how they can be friends only in one meeting. But Lamb tells him that he can come there at any time even if he is out. Derry thinks to help him. He tells Lamb that with one leg he can fall off a ladder and die. Derry offers to help him but he wants to inform his mother where he is since she will be worried. Lamb doubts if he would come back. Derry assures him to return but Lamb says to himself that people never come back though they say that they will come back. Derry goes back to his house and tells everything to his mother. Derry says that he wants to go there, sit and listen to things and look. Nobody else has ever said the things the old man has said. His mother stops him from going to the old man’s house. She tells that she has heard strange stories about the old man. She urges him not to go there again. Derry insists that he must go there otherwise he will never go anywhere in this world. In spite of his mother’s strong resistance, Derry slams the door and runs away to help Lamb in collecting crab apples. In the meantime Mr. Lamb climbs on the ladder for the apples. The ladder falls back and Mr. Lamb is killed. Derry opens the gate and says excitedly that he has come back. Suddenly he catches sight of Mr. Lamb. He runs through the long grass and says, “I came back Lamey-Lamb. I did come back.” But there is no response. Derry kneels by him and weeps and realizes that he has lost his only friend in this world. MAIN POINTS Page 42 of 57  Derry was a teenager, highly pessimistic and withdrawn from the mainstream society.  He developed this attitude after one side of his face was disfigured by acid. He avoided company of others and remained lonely lest he be noticed by other people.  He believed that no one loved him and his mother loved him because she was supposed to.  Once he heard two women commenting about his monstrous appearance. They said only a mother could love a face like his.  On another day Derry heard his parents conversing that he would not survive after their death because he was deformed.  The shock he received from these words was big.  On another occasion Derry heard his relatives saying that in their opinion a deformed boy like Derry could accommodate himself with other deformed boys and girls. Derry had his ears always open for such comments and used to respond to them in his silent way.  He concluded that the world altogether didn’t need a boy like him.  One day Derry accidently met a man called Mr. Lamb.  Mr. Lamb was an old man with a lame leg. After he became lame, Mr. Lamb began to develop a positive attitude with his deformity  He worked hard to defeat this impairment and learnt to walk and climb ladders. He was happy to be alive and ignored his lameness.  He made everyone his friend and had a house with no curtains and open doors. He welcomed anyone who came to him.  While Mr. Lamb took his impairment as a challenge and tried to overcome it, Derry believed that he was unwanted and lost. His pain was physical and mental. Being a child he was not as strong as Mr. Lamb about suffering.  He couldn’t take the sneering and sympathizing world as taken by Mr. Lamb. Mr. Lamb was able to sit smart and unaffected as long as he wore trousers and sat but Derry had no way to hide his face.  After meeting Mr. Lamb Derry realized how foolish he had been to believe his parents. Page 43 of 57  For him Lamb was a man who opened the doors of his closed world in an hour’s time the same of which were shut on him by his parents and therefore believed that his company with Lamb would make him a perfect person.  At the end Derry goes back to his house where his mother cross questioned him. She had instructed him not to step out of the house.  Derry tried to convince his mother that Mr. Lamb was an extremely good man but she was not ready to listen.  Ignoring his mother’s thoughtless restrictions, Derry left his home and ran to Mr. Lamb’s garden.  On reaching, Derry found a motionless Mr. Lamb fallen from the ladder. He had fallen while pulling the crab apples down from the tree. ….……………………………………………………………………………………………………… GOING PLACES A.R Barton Introduction The story revolves around a teenage girl Sophie, her family and friends. She is a daydreamer, who is always lost in her dreams of becoming rich and sophisticated though in reality she is a worker at biscuit factory. The story suddenly twists up when Sophie makes a wild imagination of meeting Danny Casey, a famous footballer. She also makes a story in front of her brother that Casey will come to meet her on a fixed day as per a promise he made to her. SUMMARY Sophie and Jansie are two teenagers who are coming back from school. They both work in a biscuit factory. Sophie is lost in her imaginations of owning a boutique shop and becoming famous like Mary Quaint, a fashion designer. Jansie tells her not to dream big as it requires lots of money which they don’t have.To this she replies that she will become an actress, earn a lot and then own a boutique. Jansie being a realistic person does not support her thoughts. On reaching Page 44 of 57 home Sophie feels choked in that small house which is full of the stove’s steam and looks untidy because of the dirty dishes. Her father is eating and her mother is busy in the kitchen. She goes to meet her elder brother Geoff, who is a trainee mechanic & is busy repairing some motorcycle part. Geoff talks very less about his personal life which made her imagine of his personal life which she considers very interesting and wants to be part of it. She shares a secret with him that she met Danny Casey the famous footballer in a boutique. Her brother and her father do not believe her. But she tries to make them believe this. She also tells her brother about her date with Casey. Her brother does not believe her but gives her a chance to believe her story. On Saturday Sophie and her family go to watch a football match as all of them are great fans of football. Their favorite team wins due to a goal made by Casey. All of them feel so overjoyed. When Sophie returns home with her little brother Derek, Jansie questions her about the reality behind her meeting with Danny Casey. Sophie gets angry with her brother because of letting her secret out but tries to handle the situation and succeeds. She then visits a secret place near a canal to meet her hero Casey who doesn’t show up. She knows that it was just her imagination but she was so lost in his love that she doesn’t want to come out of this. In the end she returns back to her home with sadness in her heart. But when she comes across the Royce’s boutique, she again finds herself lost in her hero’s dreams. She says that she can also be an actress as it would earn her a lot of money. She also wants to run a side business of boutique as she thinks that actresses don’t work full time. When they reach home, Sophie enters into her house and turns the door. Jansie is left alone in the rain. Sophie is still murmuring the same sentence that if she will get money, she will buy a boutique. Someone in the house teases her that if she ever has money, she should buy a good house for her family. Sophie’s father was eating a shepherd’s pie. His face was unclean with dirt and sweat. Her younger brother Derek, said to his father that Sophie thought that Page 45 of 57 money grew on trees. He also felt that she was not realistic. Her mother who was busy with her work took a deep breath. Sophie noticed her working in the kitchen. Her mother had stooping shoulders that were bent forward. She had tied an apron on her back which was bent and not in the right shape. Maybe she looked so because of the heavy burden of work on her. It was turning dark and the house was full of steam and the kitchen was messed up with litter. Sophie felt uncomfortable so she went up to her brother Geoff. Geoff was in the next room, sitting with bent knees, on the carpet. He was repairing some part of his motorcycle. He was a trainee mechanic who had left his school three years ago. He had to travel long distances in search of work. Sophie was sometimes doubtful about her brother as he didn’t speak much about his life. Therefore, she always imagined about the way of life her brother led. She was so jealous of his silence because she wanted to know about the places that he used to visit. She thought that they could be some distant places of the city or may be some countryside. All these thoughts were so captivating because they were far away from her reach. Sophie imagined about her brother’s personal life. She thought that her brother never spoke about his life but maybe he knew some non native people who were very interesting. Though she knew that her brother didn’t have many friends, still she felt that it was possible that he might have some special friends. So, sometimes she wished she could become close to her brother so that he would take her out with him. She knew that her father would never allow her to do so. Even her brother considered her not big enough to go outside. But she was growing impatient and wanted to go outside as she believed that she would be comfortable there just like in her own city. So, she imagined herself riding with Geoff, he wearing a shiny black jacket and she wearing a beautiful yellow dress with a stole flying behind her as they would ride his motorcycle. She dreamt that people stood up to welcome her by clapping when she rode with her brother. Her brother looked annoyed at the oily part of the motorcycle that he was handling. He was trying to make it work but all his attempts were wasted. Page 46 of 57 Sophie said that she met Danny Casey, a famous football player. Her brother suddenly looked at her and asked her where she met him. She said that she was in a gallery when she saw him. He didn’t believe her and asked if she told this to their father. She did not approve of her brother’s question as she wanted to say that he must know that he is the one with whom she shared her secrets. So, she began her story that she was at Royce’s boutique and was looking for some dresses when somebody came and stood behind her. She turned and found him to be Danny Casey. While both brother and sister were in their conversation, their father entered the room. He looked clean and shiny as he had taken a bath. He switched on his television and sat on his chair after shifting Derek’s shoe from his chair to the sofa. As he sat in his chair, Geoff told him that Sophie had met Danny Casey. On hearing this he turned towards Sophie. He looked at her scornfully because he couldn’t believe her. Geoff clarified it to be true. The father then told them that he once knew a man who had known Tom Finney a long time ago. Tom Finney was a legendary footballer. He took his name with great respect. Geoff agreed their father had told this earlier. They were discussing football players. Father said that he thought that one day Casey might become as good as Finney. Someone among Geoff and Sophie replied that Casey was better as he was very talented, but their father did not agree. He said that he was very young and as there were so many diversions for a young footballer, he might work hard. Geoff did not agree and said that he was with the best team and the best player too. Meanwhile Sophie told them that Casey was going to buy a new shop. Her father looked at her angrily and asked her as to from where did she get to know this. He doubted it to be one of her imagination. Her brother interupted and said that she met him. Her father warned her that such things could lead her to trouble. She then tried to justify herself by saying that Geoff knew this and trusted her. Her father replied that he did not believe her although he wanted to. Geoff’s room was full of pictures of footballers. There was a picture of Casey also who has been described as a young Irish man with exceptional qualities. Page 47 of 57 Sophie told her brother another secret of her but on a condition that he would not tell this to their dad. His brother did not want to believe her but listened to her because of her undue stress. She then told him that when she met him, it was she who started the conversation by asking him whether he was Danny Casey. She also asked for an autograph for little Derek but as both of them didn’t have any pen or paper, he promised to give it in their next meeting. Her brother did not believe this as he was doubtful of what she was saying. So, he picked up his jacket and left. Sophie wondered if her brother did not care about his looks much though he should be doing so because he was tall and handsome. On Saturday Sophie, her father and two brothers went to see the football match of their favorite team- United. It was a regular thing for them because they were all huge fans of football. Sophie, Derek and her father stayed near the goal and Geoff went up higher with his friends to see the match. Team United won the match with a score of 2 and nil. The second goal was made by Casey and he did it with such perfection. Everyone was happy, Sophie was so happy that she glowed and Geoff was so excited. Sophie’s father went to the pub after the match and so she brought her brother Derek back home. Derek told his mother that this time Ireland would win the world cup. Sophie was inquired by Jansie as to what was she telling everywhere. Sophie surprisingly asked her the reason for asking her this question. She then told her that her brother Geoff told Jansie’s Brother, Frank that Sophie had met Danny Casey. Sophie got angry because she had never thought that her brother would disclose her secret. She was worried because Jansie had the habit of sharing secrets with the whole neighborhood which she didn’t want to happen. Sophie got angry with Geoff’s behavior. Sophie explained to Jansie that this was her secret and she didn’t want to share it because then people would line up outside their house and ask about this. Her dad would kill her on this. Page 48 of 57 Jansie got surprised to hear this, she said that she thought that her father would be happy to hear this. But Sophie told her that it was not so and the continuous noise of the neighbours could disturb her mother too. She realized that Jansie was not aware of each and everything so she felt happy that her brother did keep some part as a secret. She then told her that she had met him and asked for an autograph but couldn’t get it because of lack of pen and paper. She even tells Jansie that her dad did not believe her. Jansie promised her to keep her secret. After it was dark, Sophie went through a sheltered path along a waterway. It was far away from the noisy city. She used to play here as a child. She sat on a wooden bench which was under a long elm tree. According to her it was the perfect place for lovers to meet. She sat there and started waiting for Casey. She got lost in her imagination of Casey coming to meet her. After a while she realized that he was not coming and it was just her imagination. Many thoughts came to Sophie’s mind. She waited for Danny to come but he didn’t come to meet her. She felt a deep pain inside her. She thought that people didn’t believe her story. If Danny came, she could tell them that she was not lying.

The Last Lesson PDF - Summary XII AFK & AAK

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