Q11 of 12 Page 1

Option – B - The Story of My Life

Helen has been criticized for using the last chapter as a list of all the people who made a difference in her life. Do you think it is an appropriate conclusion to her autobiography? Comment on the basis of your reading of the novel.


OR


Helen’s feelings towards the Bible move from, “Somehow it failed to interest me” to, “I love it as I love no other book”. Comment on this change in Helen’s attitude towards Bible and how does it take place?

Helen has been criticized for using the last chapter as a list of all the people who made a difference in her life. Since it is the autobiography, she used all those descriptions. She was making a realistic narration to the story of her life. She uses the letter of correspondence with all the people to give it a realistic touch.


Since all the descriptions mentioned were private, so it may sound unethical to the readers to present such personal touch. But, these days it has become a means of communication and people today are using such formal touch to make it more interesting. This autobiography is written once in the lifetime. So, what I feel is it is not wrong to include such personal touch as it had created an impact in the life in some way or the other.


OR


Helen started reading Bible even though she couldn’t understand. But there came a time when she could understand. Later she realized that she was deaf to such beautiful harmonies around. She also remembered that on one Sunday morning she had nothing to do and how she insisted her cousin to narrate a story from the Bible. Then she herself started spelling in her hands the story of Joseph and his brothers.


But it doesn’t capture her interest for no reason. The language and the repetition in the story made it imaginary and she fell asleep. For her, the stories of Greeks were full of charm, and of the Bible were devoid of interest. This continues till the time she met few Greeks in Boston and she later found that they had an enthusiasm for those stories.


She really wonders how to talk about that glories that she discovered in the Bible. Further, a few years later, she realized that this is the book that is beyond comparison which gave her a sense of joy and happiness that no other books gave her.


This is how Helen’s feelings towards the Bible move from, “Somehow it failed to interest me” to, “I love it as I love no other book”


More from this chapter

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8

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

I think I could turn and live with the animals,


They are so placid and self-contained;


I stand and look at them long and long.


They do not sweat and whine about their condition;


a) What does the poet mean by ‘turn’?


b) Why does the poet want to live with animals?


c) What are the poet’s feelings for human beings?


OR


Suddenly she was startled by a voice. "Listen, child," said the voice, "you shouldn't stand like that. Sit down.” Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his attention.


a) Why did Valli stand up?


b) Why was Valli annoyed by the elderly man?


c) What is the meaning of the word ‘concerned’?

 9

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each.

(a) What is the legend about tea’s quality to banish sleep?


(b) Why was Kisa sad? What did Gautama Buddha tell her?


(c) Why did Matilda not like to visit her friend Mme Forestier’s house?


(d) What impression did the lawyer form of New Mullion on his first visit?

 10

Attempt the following questions in about 80-100 words.

Having pets is not just a pastime it is a big responsibility. Comment with reference to the story “Mijbil, the Otter”, bringing out the values one needs to have to keep animals as pets.


OR


Chekov has used humor and exaggeration in his play to comment on marriage and courtship in his times. Illustrate with examples from the lesson “The Proposal”. Also mention the values you think any healthy relationship requires.

 11

Option – A - The Diary of Anne Frank 10 Marks

The conflict in the novel “The Diary of Anne Frank” is both external as well as internal. Comment and illustrate with example from the text.


OR


I’ve reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. Fourteen year old Anne Frank makes this statement. Based on your reading of the novel Discuss what does it say about her state of mind and her life?