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

a. How did Edla persuade her father to let the pedlar stay in their home till Christmas?

b. How did Mahatma Gandhi uplift the peasants of Champaran?

c. The poet is talking about in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ by Pablo Neruda, why is it 'exotic'?

d. In the poem Aunt Jennifer's Tigers, what is the contrast between the reality of Aunt's life and her imagination?

e. 'From that day onwards it was celebration time for all tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram'. Bring out the irony in this statement.

f. Why did Jack begun find the story telling ritual a chore?

(a) Edla thought it wrong to chase away the pedlar whom she had invited to their house for Christmas cheer. She was filled with pity and felt sympathetic towards the pedlar. Edla was troubled to see the plight of the pedlar because the pedlar had nowhere else to go without the fear of being chased away. Edla wished that the pedlar stayed back for Christmas in their house and spend a day of peace without being driven away. She had looked forward to enjoying Christmas with the pedlar.

(b) The indigo farmers at Champaran, a north western village in Bihar were being exploited over the years. The exploitative plantation system by the Europeans forced the farmers who were sharecroppers to grow indigo instead of food crops. The indigo plantation was of little use to the farmers and destroyed the soil’s productivity. Gandhiji understood the farmer’s plight, supported them and represented them in the Champaran Movement.

(c) The poet uses the word ‘exotic’ to express the unique and special moment created by keeping quiet. By keeping quiet, time for introspection is earned. Also, a link is established amongst the people that act as a medium of communication. There will be an exotic atmosphere with no sound or no rush but only quiet introspection.

(d) In the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ tigers have been described as fearless beings that are brave, confident, strong and happy. They proudly form a part of the lively forest. They are fierce yet independent. Contrarily, Aunt Jennifer’s life is chosen and decided by others. She is burdened with responsibilities and the symbol of marriage on her finger reminds her of her captivity in the patriarchal system. Her pursue of art is disturbed by the wedding band which the poet represents metaphorically. She yearns for freedom and power. Through creating animals Aunt Jennifer lives her imaginative and liberated life.

(e) The Tiger king in order to challenge the astrologer’s prediction had forbid hunting of tigers in Pratibandapuram. Only he could hunt tigers and nobody else. This was done to make sure he got hundred tigers to kill. This strange dictate made the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram rejoice. The tigers regaled at the thought of coming across fewer hunters except the king. Ironically, the tigers were destined to die at the Tiger king’s bullet shot.

(f) The story telling routine almost became a ritual for Jack and he found it mundane and like a chore. To frame bed time story for Jo daily became monotonous for Jack. He felt he was running out of fresh ideas.