Extra Notes for Class IX-English. I. THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (prose)

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1 Extra Notes for Class IX-English I. THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (prose) Summary: Private Quelch was not an ordinary soldier under training. Even though he was in his initial years of training, Private Quelch had the attitude of one who had a great ambition in life. He wanted to become an officer soon and rise to higher ranks in the army. For this he worked, day and night, read books and revised his army lessons. Even though he knew much more than what a soldier should know, Private Quelch had a weakness; he used to exhibit his knowledge where ever he got a chance. He questioned his instructors, corrected their lecturers and sermonized his fellow soldiers. Once he corrected one of his instructors, Corporal Turnbull, while the latter was giving a lecture on hand grenade and got the most shameful punishment that he could ever get; permanent cook house in-charge. However, that was not the end of the man who knew too much! He was found lecturing the cooks on matters like how to peel potatoes. Q.1.Why was Private Quelch nicknamed Professor"? Ans: Private Quelch was nicknamed "Professor" because of his lanky and stooping structure. He wore horn rimmed glasses through which he frowned. He had the annoying habit of lecturing on any given topic. Q.2.What did the Professor mean by 'intelligent reading'? Ans: According to Professor, intelligent reading meant reading up on a topic before a lecture, and finding out everything about the topic. For instance, he had read up the training manual of the rifle in order to be prepared for the instructor's lessons. Q.3. Describe Corporal Turnbull. Ans: Corporal Turnbull was a young man who was not to be trifled with. One was not to fool around with him. He was a great soldier and was considered a hero by most of the men on his squad. He was a physically and mentally tough man. He judged the character of Private Quelch accurately and assigned him permanent duties at the cookhouse, hoping to be able to curb Quelch's habit of showing off. Q.4.' Private Quelch knew too much.' Give reasons to prove that he was unable to win the admiration of his superior officers or his colleagues in about 100 words. Ans: Everyone felt that Private Quelch knew too much. Initially they respected him for his knowledge. However, everyone soon grew tired of his continual lecturing. The instructors also got irritated when he interrupted the training sessions. The Professor was always trying to outshine his colleagues to win the admiration of his superior officers. When there was a training session on grenades, Private Quelch interrupted the instructor to give his own inputs. When the other Privates were getting trained on the particulars of the rifle, he interrupted the instructor to exhibit his own knowledge of the topic. Q.5. Give a detailed character sketch of Private Quelch. very ambitious- determined to get promotions, had clear ambitions of the medals he wanted to earn very intelligent and hardworking- read up on a topic before attending a training session pompous and proud- always showing off his knowledge and boasting about what he knew annoying- had the irritating habit of lecturing people all the time always wanted to outshine/overshadow his colleagues wanted to please his seniors enthusiastic and tireless about everything, even punishments unabashed- gave lectures and sermons shamelessly and without caring about what people thought of him spoke in a monotonous voice, which often became boring for the listeners intelligent reader- knew what to read, would already read and understand a particular topic before the lecture began was indifferent in his approach-did not learn a lesson even after being deputed permanently to the cookhousecontinued with his lectures Attempt the following questions:. a. How did Private Quelch manage to anger the Corporal? b. Do you think Private Quelch learnt a lesson when he was chosen for cookhouse duties? Give reasons for your answer. c. What were the Professor's ambitions in the army? d. You are the 'Professor'. Write a diary entry after your first day at the cookhouse, describing the events that led to this assignment, also express your thoughts and feelings about the events of the day in about 175 words...

2 II. KEEPING IT FROM HAROLD (prose) Summary: Mr and Mrs Bramble were immensely proud of their ten year old son, Harold. He was a prodigy and an exceptional child by all standards. An intellectual, he won prizes in competitions. He was very classy and so superior that even his parents developed a complex. Harold was a model of excellent behaviour and he respected his parents a lot. Mr Bramble was a professional boxer and had been proud of his fame but ever since Harold was born, he had kept this as a secret. Harold was told that his father was a commercial traveller. Mr Bramble, who had thrived on his feats in the boxing ring, trembled to see his name in print now. Both Mr and Mrs Bramble were secretly a little afraid of their son and did not wish to fall in his esteem. Mr Bramble was already thirty-one years old and he had decided to have his last boxing match and then retire. A week away, Bill Bramble was scheduled to have his last fight, the twenty-round contest with American Murphy at the National Sporting Club, for which he was training at the White Hart down the road. Mrs Bramble sends Harold for a walk but she is surprised to see her husband and her brother, Major Percy Stokes in the doorway. She is shocked to know that Bill has decided not to fight and there is lot of discussion regarding his decision with Percy Stokes. Mrs Bramble makes it clear that this step was unacceptable to her, even if she did not like her husband's profession. Bill Bramble was supposed to win five hundred pounds, and one hundred and twenty, even if he lost. This money was very much needed to cater to Harold's education. The trainer, Jerry Fisher, enters at this juncture and he is also shocked to discover that Bill has decided to back out at the eleventh hour. Jerry begs, pleads, cries and tempts Bill but he is steadfast in his decision because this fight will be covered by all newspapers and Harold will discover this secret. Tempers are running high, and at this critical moment, Harold makes his entry. Mr Jerry Fisher feels cheated, he wants his revenge. So he spills out the entire story to Harold, despite all opposition. Bill feels let down in front of his son and tells him frankly that he was not a man of wrath but just a professional boxer and he is withdrawing from his last match. Harold, who had been watching all, suddenly surprises everyone. He is angry with his parents for hiding this secret but the content of his speech takes everyone's breath away. Harold reveals that he was betting his pocket money on the defeat of Jimmy Murphy and his friends would have been awfully proud of him, had they known that his father was 'Young Porky'. He even requests for a photograph of his father to impress his friends. This talk encourages Jerry Fischer and Bill also goes to complete his training. Harold goes back to playing games with his mother and continues with his affectionate chat Q.1. Do you agree with Harold's parents' decision of hiding from him that his father was a boxer? Why? Why not? Ans: Yes, Harold's parents did the right thing by hiding the truth about his father's profession. They were not sure how he would react when he heard the truth. They did not want him to feel inferior or embarrassed in front of his schoolmates. They feared that his friends, who came from a higher class of society, would make fun of him and would look down upon him. OR Harold's parents' decision to hide the truth from him is not justified. By doing so, they were keeping an important aspect of his life a secret from him. They were living with false ideas which could lead to painful results. They were just being overprotective towards him. Q.2. Why was it necessary to keep Harold's father's profession a secret from him? Ans- Harold used to study in an elite school. He was highly intelligent and had great career prospects. His parents feared that he would feel inferior and embarrassed if he discovered the truth about his father's profession. Q.3. How did Harold come to know that his father was a boxer? Ans- One evening, when Harold returned from his walk, and entered the room unannounced, he found the elders talking about him. At the first opportunity Bill's coach blurted out the truth that his father was the famous boxer 'Young Porky'. Q.4. Why was Mrs. Bramble upset when she came to hear that Bill had decided not to fight? Ans-Although Mrs. Bramble did not like her husband's profession as a boxer, she did not want him to quit because it earned them good money and made it possible for them to educate Harold. If he beat Murphy at the final match, he would win prize money of five hundred pounds.even if he lost, he would still get some money, and this money would be a blessing because it was enough to give Harold a better start in life. Q.5. Who was Jerry Fisher? What did he say to try and convince Bill to change his mind? Ans-Jerry Fisher was Bill s trainer and he had been working hard at White Hart to train Bill for the upcoming boxing match. Jerry tried to tempt Bill with the prize money. He also said that he would tell Harold the truth about Bill's profession. If Bill withdrew, even Jerry s career and reputation as a trainer would suffer. All the hard work they had put in together would be wasted.

3 Q.6. How did Harold react when the truth of his father's profession was out? Ans- Harold was upset with his parents that they had kept the truth from him. He had been secretly following boxing and had even put bets on the game. He felt that he could have flaunted his father s reputation as the famous Young Porky. His friends would have treated him differently and would not have called him names, if they had known that he was the son of the famous boxer. Attempt the following questions in brief paragraphs: a. Give a detailed character sketch of Bill Bramble. b. Give a detailed character sketch of Harold Bramble. c. Why did Jerry Fisher give out the truth to Harold? d. Mrs Bramble was a family oriented woman. Comment. III.SONG OF THE RAIN (poem) Summary:'Song of the Rain' is a beautiful poem appealing to the sensitive hearts touched by the heavenly beauty of the rains. The poet, Kahlil Gibran composed this poem as a eulogy in praise of rain and its affection for earth. The poem is written in the first person, and rain itself is the speaker. Rain has held a mirror to its identity and activity in the poem. Rains look like 'silver threads' while falling on earth. It is a divine gift from the gods to nature. Nature accepts this gift as a blessing to nourish and nurture her 'fields and valleys'. Rains are as beautiful as pearls. Rain drops shine with the white gleams of the pearls in the 'crown of Ishtar', goddess of fertility and love in the Babylonian Pantheon. Rains come down with showers of pleasure and joy for everyone and everything. It makes the hills laugh, the flowers rejoice and all things feel elated. Rain is a wand of magic with a transforming touch. Rain, a messenger of mercy in the poet's speak, connects the field with the cloud high in the sky. It fills in the void between the sky and the earth. Raindrops quench the thirst of the earth and cure the blisters caused by the heat of simmering summer. The heavenly blessing works as a panacea to many problems. The deafening voice of thunder announces the arrival of rains on earth, just like a king's arrival is heralded by the beating of drums. The rainbow sprinkling a handful of seven different colours across the blue surface of the sky after the clouds disappear declares the departure of rains from earth. Rain springs up from the deep of seas and oceans. It s soars to great heights with the breeze and then, comes back to its source. Thus, rain runs round in a cyclic process. Out of its caring attitude towards earth, this natural phenomenon comes down to nourish, refresh and rejuvenate flowers and trees in a million ways. The verity is that not everyone can percept the soothing feel, affectionate nature and caring attitude of the rain. The song of the rain does not warm every heart. Only the sensitive hearts can understand the emotions of the rain and be touched by its presence. Q.1. How is rain a messenger of mercy? Ans- Rain is a messenger of mercy because it quenches the thirst of the dry fields. It helps flowers to bloom and valleys to flourish. It helps the clouds by making them lighter when they are heavy with rain water. Q.2. How do you think the rain cures the ailment of the clouds? Ans- The clouds suffer from an ailment as they are heavy and laden with water. They get cured when the rain comes down and relieves them from their swollen condition. Q.3. "I am like earthly life "Why does the poet call rain as earthly life? Ans- Just like everything on earth is born and dies, so does the rain. It is referred to as earthly life because it has beginning and comes to an end too. Just as life is created by the combination of the five elements, rain is also a creation of these five elements. Just as, after death, the human body merges into these elements, and the soul goes to heaven, similarly when rain falls and the water rises back into the sky when it evaporates. Q.4.In what way is rain s coming to the earth both a sorrow and a pleasure? Ans- Rain s coming down to the earth is a pleasure because it gives life and nourishes everything on the earth. It helps flowers bloom and fields to flourish. It is sorrowful that the raindrops have to leave the beautiful memories of the sky and have to come down to the earth. Q.5.Notice the imagery built around 'sigh of the sea', 'laughter of the field' and 'tears of heaven'. Explain the three expressions in context of rain. Ans- The poet has used vivid imagery throughout the poem to express the moods and nature of the Rain. When the poet calls the Rain sigh of the sea, there is a relief expressed in the lines. The sea is relieved and sighs that now that it has rained there will be fresh water brought to it by the rivers that run down the hills and mountains. The poet calls the Rain a laughter of the field because when it rains the fields are nourished and it is a sign that there will be fertility. So, it brings greenery and prosperity and raises the productivity. So, the fields are happy and they laugh and make merry. The Rain is also called tears of heaven as when those silver threads pour down from the sky s tomb, it feels as if the heaven is crying, and those drops are delivered to the nature on the Earth by the hands of God.

4 Q.6. Draw a parallel between the rain and a song. Ans- Just as a song comes from the heart, the rain comes from the heaven. A song, like the rain, is inspired from the various aspects of Nature. Both the rain and a song provide happiness and spiritual and emotional satisfaction. A song satisfies the thirst of the soul, while rain satisfies the thirst of the fields. Poetic devices used in the poem: A. Personification- A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities. NOTE: This device has been used throughout the poem, as the rain has been personified. When I cry the hills laugh I touch gently at the windows I am the sigh of the seas; the laughter of the field B. Metaphor-A figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something in common. I am dotted silver threads I am beautiful pearls plucked from the crown of Ishtar Wings of death My announcement is a welcome song C. Simile- A stated comparison (usually formed with like or as ) between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common. I am like earthly life D. Alliteration- The repetition of an initial consonant sound. I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven I am beautiful pearls plucked from I am a messenger of mercy E. Allusion- A brief, usually indirect reference to a person, place, or event --real or fictional, from history or mythology. I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the crown of Ishtar (here, reference is made to Ishtar who belonged to mythology) F. Enjambment- In poetry, it means the moving over from one line to another, without a terminating punctuation mark. I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven By the gods. I emerge from the heart of the sea Soar with the breeze. G. Imagery- Imagery is a means to use language to represent objects, actions and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses. The hills laugh I am dotted silver thread I am beautiful pearls I am the sigh of the seas I touch gently at the windows H. Exaggeration/ Hyperbole- I descend and embrace the flowers and The trees in a million little ways I. Anaphora:- In poetry, the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect is called anaphora. When I cry the hills laugh; When I humble myself the flowers rejoice; When I bow, all things are elated.

5 An example of the rhyme scheme- There is no specific rhyme scheme followed in the poem. Attempt the following questions in brief paragraphs: a. How is the falling of rain like a welcome song? b. In the poem Song of the Rain, how does rain help in establishing a bond between the field and the cloud? c. How is the arrival and the departure of rain announced? d. Write an autobiography of rain..

Reference material for SA2 (Literature)

Reference material for SA2 (Literature) THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (prose) Summary: Private Quelch was not an ordinary soldier under training. Even though he was in his initial years of training, Private