Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words:

What is the bond that unites old Mr. Lamb and Derry, the boy? How does the
old man inspire the boy?

OR

Both Bama and Zitkala-Sa are victims of discrimination that is practiced in the

society. What kind of experience did both of them go through?

The story of ‘On the Face of It’follows the tale of young Derry, whose face has been disfugured on one side due to acid burning. He is insecure and feels inferior to others due to this. He separates himself from the outside world and limits interaction to avoid the pitiful looks and snide remarks from people who saw him. He is pessimistic and has lost faith in humanity. He is disheartened by his misfortune and feels as if he is being punished by having this burnt face. He says that even his mom shuns his bad side and kisses him only on the good cheek.

Mr. Lamb on the other hand is an old gentleman with a tin leg. He is warm, welcoming and friendly. I spite of his short-comings, he has a positive outlook on life and is very optimistic. He believes that everyone is his friend. He leaves his garden open to anyone who wants to visit as he is social and enjoys the company of others. He does not mind it when children call him Lamely Lamb, and is always ready to share his wild apples.

When Derry sneaks into Mr. Lamb’s garden, then happen to meet. Mr. Lamb tells him that he is welcome to come and go as he pleases. Mr. Lamb tried to show Derry the positive aspect of all his hardships. He reminds Derry that at least he has all him limbs intact, and good brain and tongue. He still has the chance to do what he pleases in life and succeed. He reminds him about how the Beauty feel in love with the Beast, not for his look, but for his kind heart. He told the boy that beauty is only skin deep, and its only a matter of time before it fades away. He builds up Derry’s confidence in himself and forms a bond of friendship with him based on their similarity as being crippled and disfigured, but difference in their outlook on life. In this way, Mr. Lamb inspires Derry to become more positive.

OR

‘Memories of Childhood’ is the true story of two women, Zitkala Sa, a native American and Bama, a Tamiliam Dalit.

Zitkala Sa was born into a native American family. Racism was rampant across the country and people of color were looked down upon and treated as lower class. When Zitkala Sa joined hostel for school, she noticed how everyone looked at her with suspicion. They looked down upon her and watched her every move like a hawk. The teachers, too, would pointedly watch her and Judewin, her friend. Everyone seemed to hate them and they had a hard time adjusting. The girls didn't know the dressing and mannerisms of the English Americans and as a result they were made fun of. When Zitkala Sa heard that they would be chopping off her tresses, she tried to rebel by hiding as her mother has told her that cutting hair is reserved for the defeated and mourning. However, she was caught, dragged and her hair forcibly cut to suppress her rebellion and teach her what they thought was her rightful place in the society.

Bama was born into a family of untouchables or Dalits. She lived in her little bubble, young and hopeful until one day she saw a worker carrying a packet of food by the strings. On asking her elder brother Annan he told her about the evil or practice of untouchability. He told her how the caste they were born into decided how the society treated them. Oftentimes, Dalits were treated like animals and it was considered that if they touched something, it would become impure.

Both Zitkala Sa and Bama faced discrimination, the former in the name of her race and the latter by her virtue of birth into a lower caste family.