Answer any four of the following questions in 30 – 40 words each:

(a) How are Aunt Jennifer and the tigers created by her different from each other in their attitudes?

(b) What qualities turned the diffident Douglas into a good swimmer?

(c) Why did Edla decide to entertain the peddler against the wishes of her father?

(d) Why did Derry refuse to believe what his mother said against Mr. Lamb?

(e) What facts influenced the authorities to allow Evans to appear in O-level German?

(f) What light does Zitkala-Sa’s resistance to the shingling of her hair throw on her character?

(a) Aunt Jennifer is a woman who has been leading a life of suppression for long. All her life she has just been following the rules laid down by her husband, obeying him meekly no matter whether she was happy about it or not. It seems her character is terrified of her oppressive husband. This is in great contrast the tigers she creates, which are symbolic of freedom, courage and fearlessness. They are ‘prancing’ and pace in ‘sleek chivalric certainty’. While Aunt Jennifer is symbolic of weakness, the tigers stand for strength and prowess.

(b) Douglas’ bravery and strong determination helped him overcome his fear of deep waters and turn into a good swimmer. Despite having multiple scarring experiences with pools, he chose to take swimming up as a challenge and undertake rigorous training. It was only because of his strong will that he was able to defeat his fears of drowning and turn into an accomplished swimmer.

(c) Despite knowing the truth that the peddler was not some ship captain as her father, the ironmaster, had assumed him to be, Edla decided to entertain him. She did so because her heart went out to the peddler, who she believed must have had nowhere to go and rest or feel like home. She felt that the man must have seen a lot. It was their duty to not drive away someone who they welcomed at first. It was also a humane duty to help such a homeless man.

(d) Derry refused to believe what his mother said against Mr. Lamb because he felt that the old man’s loneliness was somewhat similar to his own. He says that the old man has a tin leg and lived in a huge house without curtains. He wishes to go there and talk to the old man about things that actually matter and things that are well beyond his looks and face. Despite all the things his mother claims to have heard about the old man, he is willing to go visit him and have a talk.

(e) When Evans applied for appearing in the O-Level German examinations, he knew fairly well that he would not be discouraged from studying and would definitely be given the chance. The authorities, including the Secretary of the Examination Board, simply asked for cursory details about Evans and whether he had any record of violence, which the prison authorities confirmed he didn’t. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Stephens visited Evans on the day of the examination to ensure that he didn’t have any weapons with him. These facts and checks made them give him a green signal for the examination.

(f) Zitkala-Sa resisted the shingling of her hair because she had heard from her mother that only the unskilled warriors, who were defeated and captured by the enemy, had their hair shingled. It was customary in their community to associate short hair with mourners and shingled hair with the cowards. Zitkala-Sa’s resistance to the shingling of her hair throws light on her innocence and her belief in the practices of her community. Also, her stubbornness because she believes she is neither a loser nor a mourner and therefore cannot allow her hair to be shingled.