S1_GE_EM.pdf - English Notes (2021-22)

ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) PROSE SECTION Lesson – 1 After Twenty Years –...

ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) PROSE SECTION Lesson – 1 After Twenty Years – O. Henry (1862-1910) Answer the following questions in brief: 1. What actions the policeman on patrol duty was performing? OR Who did the policeman meet in the doorway of a hardware store? The weather was chilly and windy with the feel of rain. It was barely 10 o’clock at night. That area in New York kept early hours. Few people moved in the streets. The policeman on patrol duty presented a fine picture of the guardian of the peace. His impressiveness was habitual and not just for the show. He twirled the club artistically in his hands and kept a watchful eye on the road. He tried doors as he went. Suddenly the policeman found a man leaning in the doorway of a hardware store. As there was no light in that corner, the policeman could not see the man’s face at first. The man said that twenty years ago he had made an appointment to meet an old friend at that very spot. 2. What happened to ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant? OR How did the man explain his presence to the policeman? OR Where had the man worked in the preceding twenty years? The policeman Jimmy Wells was on patrol duty that night. Suddenly he found a man leaning in the doorway of a hardware store. As there was no light in that corner, the policeman could not see the man’s face at first. The man said that twenty years ago he had made an appointment to meet an old friend at that very spot. When the man lit his cigar, the policeman saw a little white scar near his right eyebrow. Twenty years ago, ‘Bid Joe’ Brady’s restaurant stood at the spot where the hardware store was now. The policeman said that the restaurant was torn down five years ago. The man said that twenty years ago he had left New York to make his fortune in the West. He boasted of his great success and said that he had competed with some of the sharpest wits in the West. 3. How did Bob realize that the man who came to meet him was not Jimmy Wells? OR Why did Jimmy send a plain-clothes policeman to arrest Bob? OR What did Jimmy Wells write to ‘Silky’ Bob in his note? After twenty years, Bob came a thousand miles to New York to meet Jimmy Wells. It was 10 o’clock at night and Bob intended to wait half an hour longer for his old friend. Twenty minutes past the appointed time, a tall man in a long overcoat came to Bob and introduced himself as Jimmy Wells. There was no light in that corner so that they could not see each other’s face. Bob remarked that the man was two or three inches taller than Jimmy used to be. Then they moved to a place Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) with electric lights. Now Bob realized that the man was not Jimmy Wells. The man’s nose was much smaller than Jimmy’s. The man addressed his companion as ‘Silky’ Bob and gave him Jimmy’s note. The note said that that Jimmy had come to the spot at the appointed time. But when Bob lit his cigar, he (Jimmy) recognized him as the man wanted by the Chicago police. Jimmy could not arrest Bob himself and therefore, he sent a plain-clothes policeman to do the job. Write a short note: The character of Bob OR The character of Jimmy Wells OR Bob and Jimmy’s meeting after twenty years Bob and Jimmy Wells were raised together in New York. One night they dined at ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant and promised meet at the same spot after twenty years. Bob left New York to make his fortune in the West. Jimmy stayed on in New York and became a policeman. When the story opens, it was the night of Bob and Jimmy’s appointed meeting. The weather was chilly and windy with the feel of rain. Few people moved in the streets. Jimmy was on patrol duty. Suddenly he found a man leaning in the doorway of a hardware store. As there was no light in that corner, he could not see the man’s face at first. The man said that twenty years ago he had made an appointment to meet an old friend at that very spot. So, Jimmy knew it was his friend Bob. Jimmy Wells was an honest policeman. He presented a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. When the man lit his cigar, Jimmy saw a scar near his right eyebrow. He recognized Bob as the man wanted by the Chicago police. But Bob didn’t recognize Jimmy. Bob boasted of his great success and said that he had competed with the sharpest wits in the West. Bob was very rich now. His scarfpin was a large diamond. Small diamonds were set in the lids of his watch. After twenty minutes a tall man in a long overcoat came to Bob and introduced himself as Jimmy. Bob remarked that the man was taller than Jimmy used to be. Then they moved to a place with electric lights. Now Bob realized that the man was not Jimmy Wells. The man gave Bob Jimmy’s note. The note said that that Jimmy had come to the spot at the appointed time and recognized him (Bob) as a man wanted by the Chicago police. Jimmy could not arrest Bob himself and therefore, he sent a plain-clothes policeman to do the job. Points for MCQ’s: 1. The story After Twenty Years is set in New York. 2. At 10 o’clock at night the policeman on patrol duty was Jimmy Wells. 3. Jimmy Wells was ‘a guardian of the peace’. 4. There used to be ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant at the spot where the hardware store stands now. 5. The policeman saw a little white scar near the man’s right eyebrow. 6. Bob left New York to make his fortune in the West. 7. Twenty years ago, when they parted Bob was eighteen and Jimmy twenty. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) 8. Bob’s scarfpin was a large diamond. 9. Bob and Jimmy lost track of each other after a year or two. 10. Bob came a thousand miles to meet his old friend. 11. Small diamonds were set in the lids of Bob’s handsome watch. 12. Bob intended to wait half an hour more for Jimmy. 13. The man who came to meet Bob was two or three inches taller than Jimmy used to be. 14. The man addressed Bob as ‘Silky’ Bob. 15. Bob was arrested because he was wanted in Chicago. Lesson – 2 The Magic Beard – R K Narayan (1906-2001) Answer the following questions in brief: 1. What had the wise old man told the Talkative Man? OR Why did the Talkative Man start massaging his scalp and face with coconut oil? OR What did the Talkative Man look like when he went to Madras? The Talkative Man is the narrator in the story. He was an unemployed young man. He failed miserably in everything he tried to do to earn money. A wise old man asked him not to shave or cut his hair till he found some means of earning money. The Talkative Man started massaging his scalp and face with coconut oil. His hair now touched his shoulders. His beard and moustache covered his face. The Talkative Man had an imposing appearance. He looked like a mystic when he went to Madras. 2. Why did the narrator give money to the old woman? OR Why did the old woman come back to the narrator? The narrator went to Madras in search of work. He moved around the city looking for a job but didn’t get any. One afternoon an old woman begged for a coin from the narrator. Now he had only three pies left in his purse. His heart was heavy and his feet sore. The narrator got angry and cursed the old beggar woman. She commented whether the narrator would have behaved rudely if his mother had asked for money. The memory of his dead mother touched his heart and the narrator gave the old woman his last three pies. In a quarter of an hour, she came back to him with a great joy. She said that the narrator’s hand was lucky because a lot of people gave her money. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) 3. What ‘business’ did the narrator start? OR What did the narrator tell his wife about his ‘business’ in Madras? The beggars in Madras learnt by experience that the narrator had a lucky hand. Every day they took a coin from his hand and got a good amount of money from begging. Of course, the narrator’s team of beggars paid him a commission. At one point of time, he earned as much as ninety rupees a month in form of commission. When he sent the first money order to his wife, she wrote to ask the narrator what business he was doing in the city. In his reply, the narrator said that he helped people make money and was paid commission for the services. 4. Why did the narrator shave and got his hair cut? OR How did the narrator’s ‘friends’ react to his haircut and clean shave? OR What happened to the old woman when she went out to beg with the coin that the narrator gave her after removing his beard? The narrator’s long hair and beard some how proved lucky for him and his team of beggars in Madras. Every day the beggars took a coin from his hand and got a good amount of money from begging. Of course, they paid him a commission for his services. Now the narrator felt that since he had already started earning, there was no need for beard or long hair. He got himself clean shaved. He no more looked like a mystic. He couldn’t easily recognize himself in the mirror. His beggar friends treated him as an impostor. The narrator’s luck was gone with his magic beard. He gave the old woman a coin but she got nothing after twenty minutes of begging. All other beggars had the same experience. Write a short note: The title The Magic Beard The Talkative Man is the narrator in the story. He was an unemployed young man. He failed miserably in everything he tried to do to earn money. A wise old man asked him not to shave or cut his hair till he found some means of earning money. His hair now touched his shoulders. His beard and moustache covered his face. The Talkative Man had an imposing appearance. He looked like a mystic when he went to Madras in search of work. The narrator’s long hair and beard some how proved lucky for him and his team of beggars in Madras. Every day the beggars took a coin from the narrator’s hand and got a good amount of money from begging. Of course, they paid him a commission for his services. At one point of time, he earned as much as ninety rupees a month. Now the narrator felt that since he had already started earning, there was no need for beard or long hair. He got himself clean shaved. He no more looked like a mystic. He couldn’t easily recognize himself in the mirror. His beggar friends treated him as an impostor. The narrator’s luck was gone with his magic beard. He gave the old woman a coin but she got nothing after Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) twenty minutes of begging. All other beggars had the same experience. The title The Magic Beard is appropriate. Points for MCQ’s: 1. The Talkative Man is the narrator in the story The Magic Beard. 2. The narrator massaged his scalp and face with coconut oil. 3. The Talkative Man went to Madras in search of work. 4. With his beard and long hair, the narrator looked like a mystic. 5. The narrator had only three pies left in his purse before he started his ‘business’. 6. The old beggar woman reminded the narrator of his dead mother when he behaved rudely with her. 7. The narrator had not given his mother money to buy a small aluminium vessel that cost only a few annas. 8. The narrator found a secluded place behind the High Court to transact business with his team of beggars. 9. With the help of the old woman, the narrator selected about ten beggars to do business with. 10. At one point of time, the narrator earned ninety rupees a month by way of commission from the beggars. 11. The narrator sent the first money order for fifty rupees to his wife. 12. The narrator sent the second money order for two hundred rupees to his wife. 13. The narrator got clean shaved because he thought his vow had been fulfilled. 14. The narrator’s team of beggars treated him as an impostor without his beard and long hair. 15. The narrator couldn’t collect even a pie from the beggars after he got clean shaved. Lesson - 3 Valiant Vicky - Flora Annie Steel (1847-1929) 1. Who was Vicky? What was unusual about his appearance? OR Why did people laugh at Valiant Vicky? OR How did Vicky kill the mosquito? What did he think about it? Victor Prince was a weaver. With his big head, thin legs and small body size, his appearance was ridiculous. His neighbours called him - Little Vicky the Weaver. But Vicky loved to talk for hours of bravery. He waited for opportunities to perform heroic acts. People laughed at ‘the valiant weaver’ for his boasting. One day Vicky was working on his loom. He threw the shuttle from his right hand and it came back into his left hand. The shuttle accidentally squashed a mosquito that had been sitting on Vicky’s left hand. He thought that killing a mosquito was easy and so was throwing a shuttle but doing both of the actions at one time was a different thing. He was no more satisfied with being known as Little Vicky. He wanted to be called Victor or Victor Prince. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) 2. Why did Vicky decide to leave the town? OR Why did Vicky’s wife make the bread so sweet? Little Vicky the Weaver became excited when he killed a mosquito with a shuttle. He was no more satisfied with being known as Little Vicky. He said that ‘Victor Prince’ was a name worthy of his merits. His neighbours laughed at his whim. Vicky was very angry when some people called him ‘Prince Victor’ in a mocking tone. His wife was a handsome young woman. When she came to know about Vicky’s new fancy, she asked him not to make a fool of himself. Victor Prince’s pride was hurt and he beat her most mercilessly. He decided to leave the town because his merits were not recognized there. He ordered his wife to prepare some bread for the journey. She was a revengeful woman. She put poison in the bread and to hide the flavour of the poison, she made the bread so sweet and also added all sorts of tasty spices in it. 3. How was the elephant finally defeated? As Victor Prince journeyed, he reached a city that was menaced by a dreadful elephant. The warriors who had been sent to kill the beast never returned. When Little Vicky proposed to slay the beast single-handed, the King thought that the man was mad but allowed him to try his luck. As the elephant charged at him, Vicky lost courage and ran as fast as he could. He dropped his bundle, shuttle and bread on the ground. The elephant smelt the spices in the poisoned bread and gobbled it up instantly. The elephant soon overtook Vicky and incidentally the poison took effect the moment Vicky tried to get past through the legs of the enormous creature. The monster (elephant) fell dead and Valiant Vicky sat in triumph on its head. However, he told people that he gave the beast a little push and it fell down. The King made Vicky the Commander-in-Chief of the army. 4. How did the savage tiger die? OR What did Vicky want in return for defeating the savage tiger? Valiant Vicky was now the Commander-in-Chief of the King’s army. When a savage tiger ravaged the country, the city-folk wanted him to destroy it. But Vicky first made the King promise his daughter in marriage as a reward for the service. When the tiger charged at him, Valiant Vicky jumped up and settled on a branch of the nearest tree like a monkey. Following his example, the army ran back to the city in fear. Seven days passed with both the tiger and Vicky remaining in their positions. The sleeping tiger jumped with a roar when Vicky finally tried to slip past it. Vicky shrieked with fear and swung on the branch trying to keep his legs out of reach of the tiger’s mouth. Meanwhile, the dagger fell from his sheath into the tiger’s wide- open mouth and it died. Vicky cut off its head and went to the King in triumph. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) 5. What did the King promise Valiant Vicky to fight the invading army? OR How did Vicky react when the King ordered him to destroy the invading army? OR How did the invading army destroy itself? OR What did everyone say when Valiant Vicky died? A neighbouring prince came with a huge army against the King and encamped outside the city. With all his boasting, Valiant Vicky was not a fool. The King promised him half of the kingdom as a reward to fight the enemy. But Vicky thought that the kingdom was of no use without a head on one’s shoulders. He decided not to fight the war and be a hero. Valiant Vicky and his wife tried to slip through the enemy’s camp in the dark of the night. However, when an insect flew into Vicky’s face, he got frightened and asked his wife to run back. She dropped the golden dishes she was carrying. The soldiers of the invading army thought that they were attacked and fought each other because they could not distinguish friend from foe in the dark. Next morning not one of them was alive. Valiant Vicky got half of the kingdom as a reward. He ruled with great dignity. He never fought himself and lived in peace. When Valiant Vicky died, everyone said he was the greatest hero the world had ever seen. Write a short note: The title Valiant Vicky OR the theme of Valiant Vicky Victor Prince was a weaver. With his big head, thin legs and small body size, his appearance was ridiculous. His neighbours called him - Little Vicky the Weaver. But Vicky loved to talk for hours of bravery. He waited for opportunities to perform heroic acts. People laughed at ‘the valiant weaver’ for his boasting. One day while Vicky was working on his loom, the shuttle accidentally squashed a mosquito that had been sitting on his left hand. He thought that killing a mosquito with a shuttle was a great feat. He wanted to be called Victor or Victor Prince. His wife didn’t like Vicky’s whims and fancies. She asked him not to make a fool of himself. Victor Prince decided to leave the town because his merits were not recognized there. As Victor Prince journeyed, he reached a city that was menaced by a dreadful elephant. Vicky proposed to slay the elephant single-handed. The King allowed him to try his luck. The elephant died because it had gobbled up the poisoned bread that Vicky’s wife had prepared for him. The King made Vicky the Commander-in-Chief of his army. Later Vicky saved people from a savage tiger. By a lucky chance, Vicky’s dagger fell into the tiger’s wide-open mouth and it died. Vicky’s reward was his marriage with the King’s daughter. When a neighbouring prince came with a huge army, the King offered Vicky half of his kingdom to fight the enemy. Vicky tried to run away with his wife in the dark of the night. Again, by a lucky chance, the soldiers of the invading army killed each other. Valiant Vicky got half of the kingdom as a reward. He ruled with great dignity. He never fought himself and lived in peace. When Valiant Vicky died, everyone said he was the greatest hero the world had ever seen. The title Valiant Vicky is appropriate. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) Points for MCQ’s: 1. Victor Prince was a weaver. 2. Victor Prince’s appearance was ridiculous. 3. Victor Prince’s neighbours called him Little Vicky. 4. While operating his loom, Little Vicky killed a mosquito with a shuttle. 5. Vicky’s wife was tired of his whims and fancies. 6. Vicky’s wife was a handsome young woman but she was wicked and revengeful. 7. As Vicky journeyed, he reached a city which was menaced by a dreadful elephant. 8. The elephant died because it had gobbled up the poisoned bread. 9. The King made Valiant Vicky the Commander-in-Chief of his army. 10. The city-folk wanted Valiant Vicky to kill the savage tiger. 11. On the seventh day, Vicky tried to slip past the sleeping tiger. 12. The tiger died because Vicky’s dagger fell into its mouth. 13. A neighbouring prince invaded the King’s kingdom. 14. The King promised Valiant Vicky half of the kingdom to fight the invading army. 15. A cockchafer flew into Vicky’s face as he was trying to slip through the enemy camp at night. POETRY SECTION Poem – 1 The Village School Master - Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) Answer the following questions in brief: 1. Where did the village school master teach his school? OR What did the school master’s ‘morning face’ convey to his students? OR “Well had the boding tremblers learn’d to trace/ The day’s disasters in his morning’s face.” Explain the meaning of these lines from the poem The Village School Master. OR Why did the school master’s students laugh at all of his jokes? The master ran a little school at his home in the village. But there must have been many students in the school because the poet calls it a “noisy mansion.” The poet says that he knew the master well. The master was really a kind man although he was severe and stern to look at. He was a strict disciplinarian. The students were terrified of him. They had learned to predict the day’s troubles from the master’s morning face. But the master also possessed a sense of humour. He had a good number of jokes. Students laughed at all of his jokes though it was only a fake laughter. Perhaps they didn’t want to risk displeasing the master. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) 2. What did the people of the village think about the school master? OR “That one small head could carry all he knew,” Explain the meaning of the line with reference to the poem The Village School Master. Oliver Goldsmith presents a humorous but sympathetic study of the village school master's character. The villagers respected the school master for his knowledge and his skills. He could read, write, count and measure. Even when he lost the point the master could argue with the parson. The parson also recognized the master’s debating skills. The master’s only flaw was that he loved learning too much. The people of the village wondered how one small head could carry so much knowledge as the master possessed. Write a short note: The village school master In The Village School Master, Oliver Goldsmith presents a humorous but sympathetic study of the village school master's character. The master ran a little school at his home in the village. But there must have been many students in the school because the poet calls it a “noisy mansion.” The poet says that he knew the master well. The master was really a kind man although he was severe and stern to look at. He was a strict disciplinarian. The students were terrified of him. They had learned to predict the day’s troubles from the master’s morning face. The master also possessed a sense of humour. He had a good number of jokes. Students laughed at all of his jokes though it was only a fake laughter. Perhaps they didn’t want to risk displeasing the master. The villagers respected the school master for his knowledge and his skills. He could read, write, count and measure. Even when he lost the point the master could argue with the parson. The parson also recognized the master’s debating skills. The master’s only flaw was that he loved learning too much. The people of the village wondered how one small head could carry so much knowledge as the master possessed. Points for MCQs: 1. The village school is referred to as a ‘noisy mansion’. 2. The village school master was stern to look at. 3. ‘Truant’ means a student who remains absent from the school without permission. 4. The students predicted the day’s disasters from the master’s morning face. 5. The master was kind though he appeared severe. 6. The master knew many jokes. 7. Students’ laughter at the master’s jokes was fake. 8. The master’s only flaw was his excessive love of learning. 9. The school master could argue with the parson. 10. The villagers respected the master for his knowledge. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) Poem – 2 O Captain! My Captain! - Walt Whitman (1819-1892) Answer the following questions in brief: 1. Who is addressed as “captain” in the poem by Walt Whitman? OR What metaphors are used in the poem O Captain! My Captain! Walt Whitman’s O Captain! My Captain! captures the sense of tragedy that grips the nation following President Lincoln’s assassination. On the surface, the poem is about a captain who dies just as the ship has reached the end of a stormy and dangerous voyage. The anchored ship is safe and sound but the captain is dead. Written in 1865, the elegy allegorically mourns the death of President Lincoln. The captain represents Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), who was assassinated just as the Civil War (1861-1865) ended. The ‘fearful trip’ refers to the Civil War that threatened the division of the nation. The ‘ship’ is the United States of America, now out of war and in a state of uneasy peace. The ‘prize’ is the unity that Lincoln maintained between the Southern and the Northern States. 2. Why are people exulting at beginning of the poem O Captain! My Captain!? OR What does the narrator urge the “captain” to do in the third stanza? OR Why does the poet address the “captain” as ‘dear father’? OR “The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage close and done’. Explain the meaning of these lines from O Captain! My Captain! Captain! My Captain! captures the sense of tragedy that grips the nation following President Lincoln’s assassination. On the surface, the poem is about a captain who dies just as the ship has reached the end of a stormy and dangerous voyage. The masses are eager to cheer the captain and celebrate his successful voyage (victory in the Civil War). They are as yet unaware of the death of their beloved leader. They are waiting exultantly on the shores for the captain. The poet repeatedly asks the captain to rise up and accept the warm welcome of the people. The poet addresses Lincoln as ‘dear father’ because he kept the nation united like a family. The anchored ship is safe and sound but the captain is dead. The poet is grief-stricken as he paces next to the captain’s body. People too will very soon mourn the captain’s death like the poet. Write a short note: The theme of O Captain! My Captain! Walt Whitman’s O Captain! My Captain! captures the sense of tragedy that grips the nation following President Lincoln’s assassination. On the surface, the poem is about a captain who dies just as the ship has reached the end of a stormy and dangerous voyage. Written in 1865, the elegy allegorically mourns the death of President Lincoln. The captain represents Abraham Lincoln (1809- Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) 1865), who was assassinated just as the Civil War (1861-1865) ended. The ‘fearful trip’ refers to the Civil War that threatened the division of the nation. The ship is the United States of America, now out of war and in a state of uneasy peace. The prize is the unity that Lincoln maintained between the Southern and the Northern States. The anchored ship is safe and sound but the captain is dead. The masses are eager to cheer the captain and celebrate his successful voyage (victory in the Civil War). They are as yet unaware of the death of their beloved leader. They are waiting exultantly on the shores for the captain. Even the poet cannot believe the tragic death of the captain. The captain does not respond to the poet’s repeated calls. The poet is grief-stricken as he paces next to the captain’s body. Americans cheer for the victorious end of the Civil War and grieve for the assassination of their dear leader. Walt Whitman expresses these feelings through a series of metaphors in the poem. The poet addresses Lincoln as ‘dear father’ because he kept the nation united like a family. Points for MCQs: 1. Walt Whitman’s O Captain! My Captain! is an elegy. 2. Walt Whitman allegorically mourns the assassination of President Lincoln. 3. The ‘captain’ represents President Abraham Lincoln. 4. The ‘fearful trip’ means the Civil War that threatened the division of the United States of America. 5. The ‘ship’ is the United States of America. 6. The ‘prize’ is the unity of the United States of America that Lincoln maintained. 7. People are waiting on the shores for the captain. 8. The captain does not answer to the poet’s repeated calls. 9. The poet addresses the ‘captain’ as ‘dear father’. 10. The captain’s lips are ‘pale and still’. Poem – 3 Middle Age - Kamla Das (1934-2009) Answer the following questions in brief: 1. What change comes over children when their parents reach the middle age? OR Why does the poet compare children to pupae in Middle Age? OR How does the poet deal with the change that comes over her son? The poem Middle Age by Kamla Das is a reflection on her middle age. When parents reach the middle age, children grow into adults. They no more remain friends but become critics. Their faces are stern and their severeness is reflected in their speech. When children grow up, like pupae from their cocoons, they don’t need parents. The tables are turned and the parents need Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram  ENGLISH GUETA – NOTES – By Dr. Alkesh Patel UGBA/BCom/BSc Sem – 1 General English (New Course) 2021-22 Text: Glimpses of Infinity (For English Medium) them now. The narrator is a middle-aged mother. She serves tea and presses clothes for her son. When she is alone, she touches the son’s books and things and weeps a little secretly. 2. What are some fond memories of her son that the poet remembers? OR What does the son say to the mother ‘in disgust’? OR Explain the meaning of the lines “you have lived in a dream world all your life./ It’s time to wake up, Mother…”. The narrator is a middle-aged mother. Her son is free like pupae from the cocoon. He does not need her anymore. She recalls the fond memories of her son’s childhood. She reflects on the affectionate child-parent bonding which characterized their childlike, make-believe games and activities once upon a time. The son is impatient with such doting reflections and has no time for them. In disgust, he asks his mother to wake up and get out of her dream world. The son bluntly points out to the mother that she is no longer young now. Write a short note: The mother’s reflections on the Middle Age The narrator is a middle-aged mother in the poem Middle Age. She reflects on her middle age. When parents reach the middle age, children grow into adults. They no more remain friends but became critics. Their faces are stern and their severeness is reflected in their speech. When children grow up, like pupae from their cocoons, they don’t need parents. The tables are turned and the parents need them now. The mother serves tea and presses clothes for her son. When she is alone, she touches the son’s books and things and weeps a little secretly. The mother recalls the fond memories of her son’s childhood. She reflects on the affectionate child-parent bonding which characterized their childlike, make-believe games and activities once upon a time. The son is impatient with such doting reflections and has no time for them. In disgust, he asks his mother to wake up and get out of her dream world. The son bluntly points out to the mother that she is no longer young now. Points for MCQs: 1. Kamla Das has written the poem Middle Age. 2. The narrator is a middle-aged mother in Middle Age. 3. When children grow up, they are no longer friends but become critics. 4. Adult children’s severeness is reflected in their speech. 5. As pupae grow, they emerge from their cocoons. 6. Children don’t need parents when they grow up. 7. The mother serves tea and presses clothes for her son. 8. When alone, the mother touches her son’s books. 9. The son feels disgust for his mother’s reflections on his childhood. 10. The son says that the mother has lived in a dream world. Website: www.englishgueta.in e-mail: [email protected] Watch out our English GUETA YouTube Channel for academic videos Free Android (Play Store) and iOS (iPhone) Mobile Application on App Store Latest updates on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram