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Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus Two English Textbook Answers Unit 2 Chapter 1 Mending Wall Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus Two English Textbook Mending Wall Questions and Answers Unit 2 Chapter 1 (Poem)

♦ Think and Write (Textbook Page No. 39)

Think And Write

Question 1.
Why does the poet say that there is something that doesn’t love, a wall?
Answer:
The poet says that there is something that does not love the wall because nobody sees or hears anybody breaking the wall. But every spring season, the poet finds the wall is broken. So it is obvious that there is something that does not love a wall and wants to see it broken. It is this ‘something’ that makes the ground under the wall swell causing the stones of the wall to fall down on to either side.

Question 2.
Why does the poet meet his neighbour beyond the hill at spring?
Answer:
The poet meets his neighbour beyond the hill at spring so that they can fix one day and walk along the wall to mend it by picking up the fallen stones and fixing them back.

Question 3.
How does the poet and his neighbour mend the gaps in the wall?
Answer:
The poet and his neighbour mend the gaps in the wall by walking along the wall on either side and picking up the fallen stones and placing them back on the wall in an effort to mend it.

Question 4.
Why does the poet argue that there is no need of a wall in between his estate and that of his neighbour?
Answer:
The poet argues that there is no need of a wall in between his estate and that of his neighbour because his area is covered with pine trees and the poet’s area is full of apple trees. The poet’s apple trees will never go to his area to eat the cones of his pines.

Question 5.
How does the neighbour justify the need for waits or fences?
Answer:
The neighbour justifies the need forwalls offences by saying that good fences make good neighbours.

Question 6.
Why does the poet consider the spring season mischievous?
Answer:
The poet considers the spring season mischievous because it is in that season gaps are found in the walls. He thinks that Spring Season makes the frozen ground under the wall expand. Because of this expansion, the wall gets cracks, making the upper stones of the wall fall down on to the sides.

Question 7.
What are the contrasting views presented in the poem?
Answer:
The poet has one view but his neighbour has a different view. The poet thinks there is no need for a fence orwall between neighbours, especially when the author’s area has apple trees and the neighbour’s area has pine trees. There is no way that the apple trees will trespass into the neighbours estate and eat the cones of the pines. But the neighbour thinks that good fences make good neighbours.

Activity I: Paragraph Writing:

Question 1.
Elaborate the idea in the following line in a paragraph:
“Good fences make good neighbours.”
Answer:
Good fences make good neighbours means it is good to have some limits between neighbours so that their relations will remain healthy at all times. If there is unlimited freedom between neighbours, trouble will soon start. Suppose you grow goats in your house. Your neighbour has a vegetable garden. If there is no fence your goats will go and eat up the vegetables of your neighbour. Will he like it?

Suppose your neighbour’s children come and open your fridge and eat up all the good food you have kept there. Will you like it? So there must be some boundaries between-neighbours and only then there will be good relations.

Activity II (Appreciation)

Question 2.
Discuss the following:
Answer:
→ The central idea of the poem:
The central idea of the poem is that nature does not
like separation and that is why it tends to destroy the walls. But for healthy relations walls or fences are necessary. If there are no boundaries between neighbours, their relation will not last long. Good fences make good neighbours.

→ Symbolic significance of wall in the poem:
The ‘wall’ symbolizes the restrictions between neighbours. Even if you love your neighbour dearly, you can’t give him unlimited freedom in your house. Wall symbolizes such boundaries.

→ Poetic devices employed by the poet:
The poet has employed many devices to make his poem effective. The poem has fine rhythm. He has used a fine metaphor in calling the boulders as loaves and balls. He has used a lot of humour: the hunters finding rabbits for their dogs, his command to the stones to stay in place till his back is turned, and calling his neighbour as a stone age man with stones as weapons in his hands.

His logic of his apple trees not going to eat the pine cones in his neighbour’s estate is very funny. He has used a simile when he says that the two neighbours keeping the stones back was like an outdoor game. There is personification when he tells the boulders ‘Stay where you are.’ Here he thinks the boulders to be some kind of mischievous children who would run away the moment their parents’ eyes are off. There is parallelism in the use of ‘Good fences make good neighbours’.

There is excellent imagery in the poem. We see how Spring Season causes the ground to swell and loosen the boulders. We can see the hunters trespassing with their barking dogs. They are trying to shoot rabbits. We can see the apple trees and the fine trees. We can see the neighbours walking on either side of the wall, fixing the fallen stones and the stones falling down as soon as they turn their backs.

→ Language:
Robert Frost has used very simple but vivid language to write his poem. There are not many words which are unknown to us. The sentences are simple and there are no complexities in the construction. Anybody who knows some English can get the meaning clearly. Essentially Frost is a Romantic poet who loved simplicity in language. Although it is a fine poem, it is very close to the structure of prose and so understanding it is very easy. Only a great poet can do such a thing – make a fine poem using simple words.

→ Structure:
The poem has a simple structure. The poem proceeds with the ease of a story told by a master. There are no twists and turns and everything is clear without any mystification or complication. Frost’s structure is always easy pleasing to the eye and pleasing to the mind.

Question 3.
Now, prepare a note of appreciation of the poem ‘Mending Wall’:
Answer:
Frost once said, “A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.” The poem ‘Mending Wall’ proves his theory. He starts his poem in a delightful way saying that there is something that does not like a wall. He does not say what that ‘something’ is. That ‘something’ makes the ground under the wall swell which results in cracks in the wall. Gradually the stones that make the wall fall to either side.

The fallen stones have lost their shapes. Some look like loaves of bread and others look like balls. It will need some spell or magic to keep the stones balanced on the wall even for a short time. The poet has to command the stones to stay in place at least till he and his neighbour have turned their backs on them. He knows very well that they won’t stay there for long.

The gaps in the walls are so big that even two people can pass through them walking side by side. It is funny that nobody ever sees and hears anybody breaking the wall. But every spring time the walls are broken and the people have to repair them. Frost feels there is no need for a wall between him and his neighbour. His neighbour grows pine and he grows apple trees. Will apple tress go and eat the cones of the pine? Why should there be a wall?

A wall was fine if they had cows. Cows could get mixed up. Frost tells his neighbour there is no need fora wall. But the neighbour insists that good fences make good neighbours.

Frost has used many poetic devises to make is poem a fine one. He has used metaphor, simile, personification

II. Read And Reflect

Question 1.
The presence of a wall between orchards ensures good relationship between neighbours. Is K the act of building the wall or acknowledging the neighbour’s request that really establishes the relationship? Do we really need walls? Shouldn’t we dare to go beyond the boundaries?

Mending Wall (Poem) Edumate Questions and Answers

Question 1.
‘Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, That sends a frozen-ground-swell under it And spills the upper boulders in the sun, And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.’

Keeping in view the socio-cultural scenario of our nation write a paragraph elaborating the idea conveyed by Robert Frost in ‘Mending Wall’.
Answer:
ln “Mending Walls”, Robert Frost says that there is something that does not like walls. It makes the frozen ground under the wall expand. Because of this expansion, the wall gets cracks, making the upper stones of the wall fall down to the sides, thus making gaps. Sometimes the gaps are big enough to let even two people pass, walking side by side.

This means there should be no walls between people. But here in India people divide themselves by buildings walls. These walls come in the form of gender, religion, various ‘isms’, castes, position and wealth. These walls are artificially made by us and they should be cracked or even destroyed. As the citizens of the same nation and as children of the same God, we must not build walls and separate people into different compartments. We should be one happy family.

Question 2.
“What I was walling in orwalling out” is a line from ‘Mending Wall’ by Robert Frost. Bring out the contrasting pictures presented in this line. How do these expressions match with the central theme of ‘Mending Wall’?
Answer:
This is a really beautiful line by Frost. When somebody makes a wall, he wants to keep some things inside the wall and he wants to keep some things outside the wall. The things he likes he keeps. inside and the things he does not like he wants to keep outside. Frost starts the poem by saying there is a natural tendency to break walls.

That is why walls break by themselves. But towards the end of the poem, Robert Frost seems to think that walls are a necessary evil. We may not like walls but they are necessary for keeping peace between neighbours. Imagine our neighbour’s goats coming and eating the beautiful plants in our garden. We will definitely riot fike it. Similarly if our dog catches the chicken of the neighbour will he like it? So walls are needed. That is why Frost says “Good fences make good neighbours”.

Question 3.
‘My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines’ In the light of your reading of the poem ‘Mending Wall’, prepare a write- up expressing your views on the above quoted lines.
Answer:
In “Mending Wall”, Robert Frost has beautifully presented two seemingly different ideas. First he says that there is something that does not like walls. It makes the frozen ground under the wall expand. Because of this expansion, the wall gets cracks, making the upper stones of the wall fall down to the sides, thus making gaps. Sometimes the gaps are big enough to let even two people pass, walking side by side. This means there should be no walls between people. But people divide themselves by buildings walls. These walls come in the form of gender, religion, isms, races, position and wealth. These walls are artificially made by people and they should be demolished.

Frost further says that “Good fences make good neighbours”. We may not like walls but they are necessary for keeping peace between neighbours. Imagine our neighbour’s goats coming and eating the beautiful plants in our garden. We will definitely not like it. Similarly if our dog catches the chicken of the neighbour will he like it? So walls are needed. But such walls are not always necessary as in the case of Frost and his neighbour. Frost cultivates apple. His neighbour cultivates pine. There is no possibility of his apple trees getting across and eating his neighbour’s pine cones. Nor do the neighbour’s pines get across to eat the apples of Frost. In such cases, Frost feels, walls are quite unnecessary.

Question 4.
Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair Where they would have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs.
a) How do the hunters damage the walls?
b) Why do they drive the rabbits out?
c) What does the poet do after the hunters leave?
Answer:
a) The hunters sometimes damage the wall in their effort to drive the hiding rabbits out.
b) They drive the rabbits out to please the yelping dogs.
c) The poet repairs the gaps after they leave.

Question 5.
Read the following lines from the poem ‘Mending Wall by Robert Frost and bring out the difference in attitude between the poet and his neighbour.
‘He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.’
He only says, “Good fences make good neighbours”
Answer:
The poet is not at all in favour of having a wall between him and his neighbour. He tries to convince his neighbour by quite logical arguments. He tells him that he is growing apple. His neighbour is growing pines. There is no possibility that his apple trees will go and eat the pine cones of his neighbour. Neither will the pines of the neighbour will come to eat the apples of the poet. So what is the need for a wall, the poet asks. But the neighbour insists on having a wall and he says. “Good fences make good neighbours”. The poet is quite liberal and he wants to be open. But the neighbour is very possessive and he wants to keep his things in his wall. He wants to keep his things in and he wants to keep out the things of others. I think the attitude of the poet is better especially in this context as there is no danger of apple trees attacking pine trees or vice versa.

Question 6.
Bring out symbolic significance of the ‘wall in the poem ‘Mending Wall.
Answer:
Wall in the poem “Mending the Wall” symbolizes the restrictions between neighbours. Even if you love your neighbour dearly, it is necessary to keep some limits. Otherwise your love will turn into hate.

It is true that there is something in nature that dislikes walls. It makes the frozen ground under the wall expand. Because of this expansion, the wall gets cracks, making the upper stones of the wall fall down to the sides, thus making gaps. This process goes on and the entire wall may crumble if it is not mended in time. By making a wall people want to keep some things in and some things out. The question is “Is it good to have a wall between neighbours?”

The answer seems to be yes. We may not like walls but they are necessary for keeping peace between neighbours. Imagine our neighbour’s goats coming and eating the beautiful plants in our garden. We will definitely not like it. Similarly if our dog catches the chicken of the neighbour will he like it? So walls are needed. Thus wall is symbolic of the restrictions or limitations between neighbours. These limitations are necessary to have permanent and healthy relations.

Mending Wall (Poem) About The Author

– Robert Frost

Robert Frost (1874-1963) is an American poet. He is well-known for his poems which are in a colloquial style. His poems begin in delight and end in wisdom. He has received the Pulitzer Prize a number of times. “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowing Evening” and ‘Road Not Taken” are two of his most famous poems. Our Jawaharlal Nehru had these lines inscribed and kept on his table: “The woods are lovely dark and deep, And I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.” These lines are from ‘Stopping the Woods….” by Robert Frost.

Mending Wall (Poem) Summary in English

Lines 1 … 11 (Something we find them there.)
There is something that does not like walls. It makes the frozen ground under the wall expand. Because of this expansion, the wall gets cracks, making the upper stones of the wall fall down on to the sides. Gaps are made as the stones fall off the wall. Sometimes gaps are big enough to let even two people pass, walking side by side. Hunters also encroach through the gaps. I come after them and repair the broken walls. Sometimes the wall is so damaged that even two stones, one on top of the other, are not found. Somehow the hunters would bring into the open the hiding rabbits to make the barking dogs happy. (There is some fun in the statement here. It is actually the dogs that bark and scare the rabbits out of their hiding places. But the poet says the hunters bring out the rabbits by destroying the wall to please their hunting dogs.) No one ever sees or hears anybody making gaps in the wall by making the stones fall down. But in the Spring Season, which is the repair time for walls, the gaps would be found. Nobody knows how these gaps come or who makes them.

Lines 12-20 (I let my neighbour…. with handling them.)
I inform my neighbour, who lives on the side of the hill, about the gaps in the wall. We decide to meet one day and walk along the wall so that once again we can set it up. Then stones have fallen to both sides of the wall. He would pick up the stones fallen on his side and I would pick up that ori my side and set them up again on the wall. The fallen stones have lost their original shape. Some of them look like loaves of bread whereas others look like balls. To balance them on the wall, we need some kind of magic. We command them: “Stay there till we turn our back on you!” (There is also some fun here. They know the stones will not stay on the wall for long. They simply want them to stay there at least till their backs are turned on them.)

Lines 21 -34: (Oh, just to give offence.)
By lifting the stones and placing them on the wall our fingers become rough and painful. Consider it an outdoor game between us, one player standing on one side of the wall and the other standing on the other side. It means nothing more than that. There are also places where we do not actually need a wall. His area is covered with pine trees and my area is full of apple trees. My apple trees will never go to his area to eat the cones of his pines. I tell him that. But then he tells me that it is good fences that make god neighbours. Mischief grows in me and I want to put some better idea into his mind. So I ask him how good fences can make good neighbours. Good fences are okay if we were growing cows to prevent them from getting mixed up. But here we do not rear cows. So what is the need for a fence? Before I built a wall I would try to find out what I was keeping in and what I was keeping out and whom I would offend by making the wall.

Lines 35-45 (Something there is ….make good neighbours.)
It seems there is something that does not like a wall. It wants the wall pulled down. I would say it was elves that wanted the wall to be broken. But I know it is not elves that did it. I wanted him to tell me what it is that did not like the wall. As I contemplate like this I can see him carrying two stones holding them firmly in each hand. To me he looked like an uncivilized man from the Old Stone Age Era, whose weapon was stone. He is moving in the darkness of trees and their shade. He is not yet ready to give up his father’s saying although he has thought about it so well. Once again he repeats that good fences make good neighbours. (Reft also there is great fun. Frost pictures the neighbour with the stones as a Stone Age man using stones as his weapon. He is not ready to become civilized as he still wants to live in the darkness of the Stone Age.)

Mending Wall (Poem) Summary in Malayalam

Mending Wall (Poem) Glossary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus Two English Textbook Answers Unit 2 Heights of Harmony Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus Two English Textbook Heights of Harmony Questions and Answers Unit 2

Little deed of kindness, little words of love, Make our earth an Eden, like the heaven above.

– Julia F. Carney

About The Unit

There are certain qualities and principles that are necessary to maintain the social fabric of human relations. Like the grains of sand on the seashore, each person must learn to coexist with others. That is how we reach the heights to harmony. This unit has a poem, a story and a one-act play.

The activities presented are to ensure smooth reading and to improve the language proficiency. They will also help the learners to improve their skills in literary appreciation. The play helps the learners to get acquainted with plot construction and characterization, and dramatics like acting, stage setting, stage management, etc.

Let’s Begin

“Compassionate people are genius in the art of living, more necessary to the dignity, security, and joy of humanity than the discoverers of knowledge. Large parts of the world are faced with starvation, while others are living in abundance.

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

– Albert Einstein

Compassionate people are geniuses in the art of living. They are more necessary to the dignity, security and joy of people than the discoverers of knowledge. Large parts of the world suffer hunger while others live in luxury.

A human being is a part of the whole we call the universe. He is a part limited in time and space. He experiences in himself, his thoughts and feelings as something different from others. This feeling is a kind of delusion. It imprisons us. It restricts us to our personal desires and to the love for a few persons close to us. Our task must be to free us from this prison. We must widen our circle of compassion to include all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

Question 1.
What are the roles of the following in protecting and ensuring the rights of people?
a) Individuals
b) Political parties
c) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
d) Governments
Answer:
a) Individuals: Individuals feel that their thoughts and feeling are different from others. This feeling is a kind of delusion. It imprisons them. It restricts them to their personal desires and to the love for a few persons dose to them. Their task must be to free themselves from this prison. They must widen their circle of compassion to include all living creatures and the whole nature in its beauty.

b) Political Parties : They should ensure that the rights of everyone are protected. Political parties should not limit themselves to any religion or region. They must work for the common good of all citizens in the country. Unfortunately, in India, there are religious and regional political parties which work forthe welfare of only their members.

c) Non-Governmental Organizations: A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an organization that is neither a part of a government nor an organization for making any profit. They are usually set up by ordinary dtizens. They are commonly funded by governments, foundations, businesses, or private persons. The NGOs must ensure that all the people, even small minorities, get their rights. Sometimes in a democracy there is the danger of the majority trampling on the rights of minorities. NGOs ensure that such things don’t happen.

d) Governments: Government must ensure that that all citizens are given equality before the law. The government may be by a political party or a coalition of parties. But once a government is formed, it should ensure the welfare of all the citizens irrespective of caste, creed, region, religion, or gender.

Question 2.
Imagine that your school has decided to form an organization to extend assistance to the society. In its first meeting, you present your opinions about the functioning of the organization. Suggest a few dos and don ’ts for the benefit of the organization, and for the betterment of the society.
Answer:
Dos:

• All students must be eligible to be members.
• Each member should contribute a certain amount every month.
• With the help of the teachers, find out in which ways students can help people near their school.
• The help can be financial help to the poor, cleaning the place up, making a common place where people can come and spend some time, etc.
• Meet once in a month to evaluate the progress.
• Develop a brotherly attitude.

Don’ts:

• Don’t discriminate against anybody.
• Don’t get involved in any kind of politics.
• Don’t let any religious feelings come into the organization.
• Don’t waste the money on unnecessary things.
• Don’t unnecessarily criticize people.
• Don’t be intolerant.

I. Read And Enjoy

Question 1.
Fraternity and tolerance are the two qualities that help in harmonious living. Do we maintain these qualities in our daily life? What should be our attitude to our neighbours? Should we accept their ideas to maintain good relations with them? Robert Frost gives some suggestions.

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus Two English Textbook Answers Unit 1 Chapter 4 Horegallu Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus Two English Textbook Horegallu Questions and Answers Unit 1 Chapter 4 (Anecdote)

♦ Read and Respond (Textbook Page No. 26)

Question 1.
What is a‘horegallu’? What is its purpose?
Answer:
A horegallu is a stone bench. It helps tired persons to sit down and rest for sometime so that they can regain their energy.

Question 2.
What are the special memories the author associates with ‘horegallu’?
Answer:
The special memories the author associates with ‘horegallu’ are about her grandfather sitting on the horegallu talking with villagers who work in the nearby fields. Her grandfather was a retired school teacher and he would sit on the horegallu under the banyan tree in the village. The tired villagers would come and sit on the stone bench and talk to her grandfather. When she felt tired after playing she would also sit near her grandfather listening to the conversations he was having with the villagers resting there.

Question 3.
How does the grandfather refresh the travellers?
Answer:
The grandfather refreshed the travellers just by listening to them. The villagers would talk of their troubles to him and he would listen. This seemed to refresh them.

Question 4.
Is ‘horegallu’ essential in a journey? Why?
Answer:
‘Horegallu’ is essential in a journey. Any journey involves some distance. Life itself is supposed to be a journey. Every now and then we need to sit down, and refresh ourselves. There is nobody in this world that does not have problems of some sort. A sympathetic listener will help the person with troubles to relieve himself of his burden at least temporarily.

Question 5.
‘Horegallu ’ gives everyone the opportunity to regain their strength. What does the author try to indicate her?
Answer:
It is true that horegallu gives everyone the opportunity to regain their strength. Life is a journey and we all need horegallus every now and then to regain our energy. The author is trying to tell us that we too must be like the horegallu. We may not be in a position to help everybody’ to solve his problems, but at least we can give people a sympathetic hearing and it will help them.

Question 6.
Bring out the symbolic significance of the word ‘burden’.
Answer:
‘Burden’ symbolically means our troubles and tribulations. There is nobody in the world that has no problems at all. Each problem is a burden. When we share our problem, our burden, with others, it will definitely relieve us.

Question 7.
Comment on the expression, ‘infectious cheerfulness’.
Answer:
Infectious means ‘contagious’, something that spread fast. Like certain diseases, emotions are also infectious in the sense that they spread fast. When you attend a funeral, everyone wears a sad look. But when you attend a wedding, you have a happy look. A smiling person brings smile to your face. A cheerful person makes you also cheerful and this it is infectious.

Question 8.
What does Ratna do during lunch hours?
Answer:
During lunch hours, Ratna would sit with some person in one of the rooms and they would be chatting.

Question 9.
What is Ratna’s simplistic outlook?
Answer:
Her simplistic outlook is God has given her two ears to listen to others. She is not a trained counsellor or an intellectual and she can’t solve people’s problems. They have to do it themselves. She simply listens to the people with sympathy and without any judgment. She believes that when a person in stress finds an outlet for is worries, it relieves him a lot.

Question 10.
The author wishes there were many more of ‘horegallus’ in the world. Comment.
Answer:
A horegallu is a stone bench on which tired people can rest and regain their energy. Such stones are usually under shady trees. Tired travellers unburden themselves, sit, and talk to some sympathetic listener. Life is a journey and we all are travellers. Each one of us carries burdens of various sorts. If there is some patient and sympathetic listener, we can unburden ourselves and feel relieved. The horegallu will not solve your problem but it gives you a temporary relief. The author expects each of us to be a horegallu.

Think And Write

Question 1.
Do you think that the grandfather and Ratna were doing some tremendous social service? Explain.
Answer:
I do think that the grandfather and Ratna were doing tremendous social service. They used to sit down and calmly listen to the problems people have. They listened to people with sympathy and no judgment. By opening theirmind, people feel relieved. The grandfather and Ratna might not have solved people’s problems. But they were simply horegallus giving the people temporary relief from their inner burdens.

Question 2.
Can we relate grandfather and Ratna to a horegallu? Why?
Answer:
We can definitely relate grandfather and Ratna to a horegallu because they helped people in unburdening themselves. A horegallu under a shady tree, sometimes with cool drinking water nearby, lets the people carrying burdens sit for a while and relax, getting back their energy. By talking to the grandfather and Ratna, people also felt relieved, Burdens are lightened when they are shared. In this sense they both are horegallus.

Activity I (Narration)

Question 1.
Ratna in ‘Horegallu’ says, “God has given me two ears to listen to others. I hear them out with sympathy and without any judgment. When a person in trouble or under a lot of strain finds an outlet for his worries, it relieves half of his burden. ”

a) Do you think mere listening can solve a problem? Identify the qualities of a good listener.
Answer
Mere listening can’t solve a problem. The qualities of a god listener include: attention, interest, sympathy, making agreements, giving suggestions and being non- judgmental.

b) Imagine Nomita gets a chance to talk to Ratna. How would she present her worries?
Begin as follows: I am Nomita. Yesterday I had a quarrel with my husband.
Answer
Nomita: I am Nomita. Yesterday I had a quarrel with my husband.
Ratna: What happened, Nomita?
Nomita: He received a letter written to me by my mother. He read and left it in his pocket. After 3 days when I checked his pockets before giving the dirty clothes to the washer¬man I found it there, crumpled and torn. When I asked him why he opened my letter and even refused give it to me later, he rudely told me he would do what he wants.
Ratna: He said that!
Nomita: He did. He further asked me what I could do. I was enraged. I saw a matchbox lying near, lit a match and put it to my sari which caught fire.
Ratna: Goodness! How could you do that?
Nomita: I was mad with anger. I wanted to tell him that l ean also do things.
Ratna: And then?
Nomita: Ajit was shocked and he came running and put out the fire. I could see remorse in his face. I am sure he will not challenge me again in the future.
Ratna: But Nomita, you had gone too far in setting fire to yourself.
Nomita: Well, men sometimes need shock treatments to bring them to their senses!

Activity II: (Language practice)

Question 2.
Read the passage on page 29 and pick out the adjectives and categorize them based on the nature of their description.
Adjectives: large, flat, vertical, stone, fellow, cool, earthen, their, similar, simple, sure
Categories:
Adjectives of Quality: flat, two, vertical, stone, fellow, cool, earthen, simple, sure
Adjective of Quantity: large
Adjective of number: two
Adjective of Comparison: similar
Possessive adjective – their

Now rewrite the passage substituting the adjectives without any change in meaning:
Answer:
It was a big, level stone placed horizontally over a couple of upright ones, thus making a hard bench on which anyone could sit and rest a while, chat with a co-traveler and exchange news of the road. Cold water would be kept in clay pots near the bench and people could quench thejr thirst before starting their journeys again. I am certain the same, easy arrangements can be found in the villages all over the country.

Activity III (Comparison)

Question 3.
In this unit, you have got acquainted with several women characters, both real and fictitious. The following excerpts present their ideas on empowerment.
“I always compare women to match boxes.” Ashapuma Debi
Tm the heat that warms the earth, which else were colder than a stone.” Katherine Tynan
“I don’t think there is a greater sin that betraying someone’s confidence.” Ratna
“For what reason should you open my letters? I told you a thousand times not to.” Nomita to Ajit
“I wish there were some horegallus on the world.” Sudha Murty
It’s time to create a world where women can meet their potential… and the world will reap the benefits.” Christine Lagarde

Now attempt a comparison of these women with regard to their ideas on being empowered.
Answer:
There are six women in the above quotations giving their own views on empowerment. Ashapuma Debi thinks that women have a lot of power but they don’t utilise it properly. She feels women are like matchboxes which people keep in their kitchen, pantry, bedrooms, or even in their pockets. Katherine Tynan is sympathetic and kind. She is the epitome of a good mother, who gives her children unconditional love. SW thinks that only women have the power to give such love and warmth to the family members. Ratna is also sympathetic and she listens to the problems of others.

She never tells the secrets of those who trust her and tell her of their problems. Nomita wants to be independent, but her husband does not allow her to be so. She is severe and resentful of her husband’s behaviour but she can hardly change him. Sudha Murty wants people to be horegallus so that they can share the burden of others. Christine Lagarde wants women to work for meeting their potential. She feels women are denied opportunities in education, jobs and also leadership positions. She is very domineering and she wants women to assert themselves against all kinds of discrimination against them.

Activity IV (Comprehension)

→ Read the advertisement
Reading shapes you.
Kind attention passionate book nerds…
Books which take you to another world help you escape daily
problems. Books are beyond imagination. A good book is always
a reliable companion. Children in their care are always happy.
But today we are getting distracted by the digital world. The
best way to get focused again is to disconnect and read an
excellent book.
Here, you have the wonderland of sparkling letters.
A bookstore that has a spacious and air-conditioned reading
hall is at your service.
Our new bookstore
PEACOCK PLUMES
Come, drink to the lees…

Question 4.
1. Whatisthetheme of the advertisement?
Answer:
The theme is the importance of reading.

2. According to the advertisement, what is the threat faced by readers today?
Answer:
According to the advertisement, the threat faced by readers today is the digital world which takes people away from reading books.

3. What are the advantages of reading:
Answer:
Reading has many advantages: It helps you to reach another world and thus you can escape from your problems. Books are beyond imagination. A book is always a reliable companion. In sorrow and joy, in disease and health books make good companions. Children who read books will be happy.

4. With books, you enjoy more than with a computer. OR
5. Pick out from the advertisement the words, phrases and clauses used for the purpose of description.
Take you to another world, escape daily problems, beyond imagination, reliable companion, happy, distracted by the digital world, wonderland of sparkling letters, spacious and air-conditioned reading hall.

Study the tips about clause, adjective clause, phrase and adjective phrase given on p. 31

Activity V: (Language practice)

Question 5
What makes our speech ornamental, vivid and picturesque?
Have a look at the conventional similes given below:
As black as coal
As good as gold
As loud a thunder
As slow as a snail

a. Are these similes attractive? Why?
Answer:
They are attractive because the pictures we get in those similes are vivid. We easily understand them. Similes are powerful ways of describing things.

b. Can you coin similar similes using appropriate adjectives?
Answer:
Here are some adjectives: as black as hell, as blind as a bat, as bold as brass, as brave as a lion, as busy as a bee, as cheap as dirt, as clean as a whistle, as clear as day, as clumsy as an elephant, as cold as marble, as cold as steel/stone, as cool as a cucumber, as cunning as a fox, as dark as death

c. Given on p. 32 is the brochure of a female film festival. Go through it and fill in the blank spaces appropriately:
Answers:
Hello and Welcome: as fresh as daisies; as gay as a peacock
Films at a Glance: as pure as a lily MITR, My Friend: as sharp as an arrow; as empty as a drum
English Vinglish: as sweet as a candy Makalkku: as heavy as lead; as soothing as a lullaby

Activity VI (Review)

Question 6.
Prepare a review of the films which influenced you the most.
(Hints: theme, screenplay, cast and credit, music, cinematography, etc.)
Answer:

Bhargavinilayam

An enthusiastic and talented novelist (Madhu) comes to stay in a desolate mansion named Bhargavi Nilayam. The novelist and his servant Cheriya Pareekkanni (Adoor Bhasi) experience the presence of a strange entity here. They come to know from the local people that it is a haunted house. The story is that it is haunted by the ghost of the daughter of the previous owner. The novelist and his servant encounter strange happenings here – the gramophone plays on its own, objects move around. The novelist finds some old letters written to Bhargavi (Vijaya Nirmala) by her lover Sasikumar (Prem Nazir). It is believed that the ghost of Bhargavi now haupts this house.

The letters give some indication about their love affair and their tragic deaths. The novelist decides to probe the matter. He starts writing the story of Bhargavi. The information gathered from the local people and the hints in the letters help him in his writing. The story develops. Bhargavi falls in love with her neighbour Sasikumar who is a talented poet and singer. Bharagavi’s father’s nephew, Nanukuttan (P. J. Antony) is also in love with Bhargavi. But Bhargavi hates Nanukuttan who is a bad man. Nanukuttan tries all nasty tricks to separate the lovers. He kills Sasikumar. Bharagavi becomes furious when she comes to know of her lover’s murder. In a scuffle Nanukuttan pushes Bhargavi into a well, killing her. Nanukuttan spreads the news that Bhargavi had committed suicide.

The novelist reads out the story to the ghost who by now has become quite compassionate with him. Nanukuttan overhears the story. He fears that once the story is published the truth behind the death of Bhargavi and Sasikumar will be out. He attacks the novelist and a fight ensues. During the fight both Nanukuttan and the novelist reach the well in which Bharagavi was drowned. While trying to push the novelist into the well, Nanukuttan loses his balance. He falls into the well and is killed, while the novelist escapes. The novelist then prays for the peace of Bhargavi’s soul and the movie ends with the laugh of Bhargavi.

Bhargavinilayam means The House of Bhargavi’. It is a 1964 Malayalam horror-romance film written by Vaikom Muhammed Basheer and directed by A. Vincent. The film stars Prem Nazir, Madhu and Viiava Nirmala in the lead roles. Its story, screenplay and dialogues are written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. It was the directorial debut of noted cinematographer A. Vincent. The film is especially noted for its music by M. S. Baburaj. It was the first horror film in Malayalam and was one of the biggest hit films of all time.

Activity VII (Let’s edit)

Question 7.
Given below is the opening paragraph of a review prepared by a student of Class XII. There are a few errors in it Identify them and refine the paragraph.
Answer:

Gone With The Wind

One of the classic films that define American cinema, Gone with the Wind, is a rare example of a collaboration involving hundreds of talents and the film turned out great. For millions of people, Gone with the Wind, has helped to define the myth and reality of the country’s most tragic period in history – the Civil War and Reconstruction. The popularity oflVIargaret Mitchell’s bestselling novel allowed the filmmaker to be confident of its success. Of course, proper attention to costumes and sets was paid. The film’s visual effects – especially the burning of Atlanta – are indeed effective and memorable.

Gone with the Wind deserves the label epic. It presents enough detail to be a facsimile of reality.

Activity VIII (Project)

Question 8.
Prepare a class magazine including stories, poems, anecdotes, reviews of prose and poems, etc.
OR
Organize a Film Festival on women. Include films with strong women characters and films by women film makers.
Prepare a report on the Film Festival for your school magazine.
Answer:

Our School Film Festival

The School’s Arts Club organized a Film Festival on women. We chose three films with strong women characters and films by women directors. The three films were: Daughters of the Dust, Down in the Delta, and City of Angels. The Festival lasted 3 days, 15-17 January 2015. The Festival was concluded with a ceremony presided overby Revathy, an actor and film maker from South India.

The first film shown was Daughters of Dust, released in 1991. It is the story of a family living in America whose ancestors were brought as slaves from Nigeria. The matriarch of the film summarises the issues presented in the story by saying, “We are two people in one body.” There is the African in them and then there is the Western. It talks of the generational split. The Direction and Screenplay is by Julie March. Music is by John Barnes. Barbara Jones, Alva Rogers, Cora Lee Day, Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor and Bahni Peazant play important roles. It is a good film that vividly portrays both Africa and American life.

The second film shown was Down in the Delta, released in 1998. In this film a family matriarch sends her two grandchildren and her drug-addicted daughter, Loretta, to small Mississippi town to save them from the dangers of the big city Chicago. There Loretta gets work in a chicken joint. There she and her children prosper. The film is directed by Maya Angelou. The main actors are Alfre Woodard, Wesley Snipes and Will Sinclair. It is a good film that tells us that even drug addicts can be reformed and brought back to’ gdod life.

The 3rd film shown was City of Angels, released in 1998. This is the story of Seth, an angel who wanders the Los Angeles area invisible to humans. As persons are about to die, he becomes visible to them and becomes their travelling companion during their trip to the other world. Soon angel falls in love with Maggie, a beautiful heart surgeon. She becomes interested in Seth, but his condition as an angel becomes a barrier than a gift. A choice must be made between celestial duty and earthly love. Although this is an impossible story, it is told in a nice way and thus it becomes an interesting film. The director is Brad Silberling, Music is by Gabriel Yared and the Screenplay is by Dana Stevens. Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan Andre Braugher, Dennis Franz and Colm Feorare in the lead roles.

The Film Festival concluded by a closing ceremony presided over by the famous actor and director Revathy. She said that Indian women are not coming forward to make films because they think film direction is mainly meant for man. In Kerala we have so many famous film directors but they all are men. Not even a single female director with any name. This has to change. There are famous women directors like Meera Nair. She hoped that the new generation in girls will venture into film direction that they can tell the story the way they want. After a Vote of Thanks by the Secretary the Ceremony came to a close.

Liz Job

Secretary, Arts Club

Horegallu Edumate Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Ratna was Sudha Murty’s colleague in the early phase of her career. Now Sudha Murty is a successful business woman. Imagine that Sudha Murty invites Ratna to her office and felicitates her for her selfless services to mankind. How would Sudha Murty introduce her and appreciate herwork? Draft her speech.
Answer:
Dear Friends,
I have great pleasure in introducing Ratna to you. She and I were colleagues a few years ago. I have learned a lot from Ratna and probably that is why I am now able to run this big business. It is from Ratna I learned what a “horegallu” really means. A horegallu is a stone bench. It helps tired persons to sit down and rest for some time so that they can regain their energy. Ratna was a horegallu in the sense she helped tired and miserable people to regain their energy, patiently listening to their problems.
Every day during lunch hour, she would sit with some person in one of the rooms, chatting with him/her.

I often wondered what they talked about. One day I asked her and Ratna told me that they shared their troubles with her. I then asked Ratna how she could help in solving their problems. Did she have an answer for them? She told me she only listened to them. I was young then and I wondered how merely by listening to somebody’s problem, it gets solved. She then told me she was not a’trained counsellor or an intellectual. Nobody can solve your problem. You have to solve it yourself.

Ratna explained things to me further. God has given her two ears to listen. She hears people with sympathy and no judgment. When somebody talks about his worries, it relieves him a lot. Ratna never revealed to others what people told her. This way Ratna helped people to be relieved and to go on with their journey of life. This way she was serving people in her own way.

I thank Ratna for what she did to all and to me.

Let us take a leaf from Ratna and become horegallus in our own way.

Question 2.
“I hear them out with sympathy and without any judgement”, says Ratna in Horegallu.
As part of the World Mental Health Day, the Souhrida Club co-ordinator of your school asks you to prepare a chart on the topic ‘Listen to Others – Broaden your Mind’. Write a paragraph in about 80 words.
Answer:
Listen to Others – Broaden Your Mind ” God has given us two ears but only one mouth. We have two ears so that we can listen more than we speak. There is a difference between listening and hearing. Listening is a voluntary activity but hearing is something that happens automatically. It is like the difference between looking and seeing. By listening to the people’s problem we help them to get some relief. A person feels happy and relieved when he tells his problems to a sympathetic listener. So we should learn to listen sympathetically to people without making judgments. By listening to others we broaden our minds as we learn newthings. By listening we can also be ‘horegallus’ to others. Some people say that only if we listen to others, God will listen to us!

Question 3.
Given above is a pie diagram that tells about the psychological assistance received by students of various age groups in the present-day world. It shows the percentage of students who seek assistance from various groups. Analyse the pie diagram and prepare a write-up.

(Hints: increasing number of counselling centres- students depending more on counsellors and friends – parents do not support)
Answer:
Growing Significance Of Counsellors To Students
Teenage and adolescent students are the ones that need counselling most. Adolescence is considered to be a period of stress and strain and therefore adolescent students need counselling most. The modern students are baffled at the different ideas that are propagated by the various groups in the society. Some of these ideas are quite conflicting. The influx of mobile phones and the wide use of the internet have given the students a lot of choices, both for doing good and also for evil.

There are religious fundamentalist groups and terrorist groups that want to get the youths into their clutches. Students do not know what is right and what is wrong, whom to believe and whom not to believe. They are bombarded with information and they don’t know what to choose and what to reject. Hence comes the necessity to have counselling and counsellors. The pie diagram shows that 35% of the students approach counsellors with their problems. Friends come next in importance with 30%. The role of teachers is only 20% whereas the least in the group is parents with a mere 15%.

Students do not often go to their parents and teachers for counselling because of their sense of shame and fear. They want to appear good boys and girls before their parents and teachers. But the fact is their mind is not at ease because of the problems they face. So, for solutions they approach counsellors and to a lesser extent their friends. When children go to their parents with doubts about sex and sexuality, the usual answer is: “Don’t ask me these things!” or “Don’t you have shame to ask me such things?”

Question 4
Imagine that a film festival was conducted in your school. The following points were jotted down by a journalist fordrafting a report. Prepare the likely report by him.
• Inauguration by Parvathi Menon
• Parvathi: “Films reflect the society”.
• Felicitation speech by Pramod Kumar, Staff Secretary
• Pramod: “Films should inspire and motivate students.”
• Films: ‘A Beautiful Mind’, ‘Dhoni: The Untold Story’, ‘Ottaal’
Answer:
Film Festivalat Don Bosco Hss Thrissur
Thrissur: A one-day film festival was conducted on Friday, 5 June 2017 at the Don Bosco HSS Thrissur.

The Inaugural function began at 9.00 a.m. The welcome speech was done by the Secretary, Arts Club of the School. The Inauguration was by the popular actress Paravathi Menon. Parvathi said that films reflect the society. The film producers, directors, actors and all others connected with the film are members of the society and therefore naturally what they do and say in the film reflect the ideas of the society. Films have a big role to play in shaping the society.

The felicitation speech was done by Mr. Pramod Kumar, the Staff Secretary. He said that such film festivals increase the awareness of the students to the problems in the society. Films are not merely for entertainment but also for education. Seeing things on the screen will have a greater impact on the minds of the students. All good films will have something positive to teach. Films should inspire and motivate students to reach greater heights – to have high dreams and to work hard to realize them. Three films were shown after the inaugural function. The first film shown was “A Beautiful Mind”.

It is a 2001 American biographical drama Film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film was directed by Ron Howard. Then the film ‘‘M.S.Dhoni: The Untold Story” was screened. It is a 2016 Indian biographical sports film written and directed by Neeraj Pandey. It is based on the life of Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It stars Sushant Singh Rajput as Dhoni. It chronicles the life of Dhoni from a young age and the series of life events that finally culminates in his stardom in the realm of cricket. The 3rd film was Ottal. It is a 2015 Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj. It is an adaptation of the short story “Vanka” by the Russian author Anton Chekhov. It tells the story of a young boy and his relationship with his grandfather, his only living relative in the world.

Of the three films, all were impressed by the film on MS Dhoni. The film festival ended at 6.00 p.m.

Question 5.
Imagine that Sudha Murty sends an e-mail to Ratna, thanking her for changing her outlook towards life. Draft the e-mail for Sudha Murty.
Answer:
Ratna@gmail.com
Dearest Ratna,
I want to thank you for all the valuable suggestions and advice you gave me. As a young girl, I did not know much about the importance of listening to others. When I saw you listening to people every day after lunch, I used to wonder why you were wasting yourtime listening to the trouble of others. Do you remember me asking you that question?

And then you told me “We are given two ears to listen.” It was a great answer. You further told me that even by listening to the problems of people you are helping them because they feel relieved by telling what they feel in their mind to some sympathetic listener.

Now I am running a big business and I have seen how helpful your suggestions had been. I too now practise what you taught me – to listen to people without prejudice or judgment. I have found it a good thing, both for me as well as the person to whom I listen.

Thank you, Ratna. Thank you very much.
Please do keep in touch!
Sudha Murty

Question 6.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate similes or adjectives from the brackets.
With technology at our fingertips, it is now as ….. (a) ….. (easy, complex, tough) as abc to scan across the world and explore the unexplored. The boundaries that are as thick as ….. (b) ….. (brick, iron, glass) crumble down to help us experience a unified existence. Now, man is as busy as a ….. (c) ….. (snail, bee, sloth), joyously defeating the conventions and customs of yesteryears. His vision is as ….. (d) ….. (clear, vague, dim) as crystal and his attitude is as stubborn as that of a mule.
Answer:
a) easy, b) brick, c) bee, d) clear

Question 7.
Modern world offers us so many material comforts and we can easily satisfy all our desires. But Sudha Murthy says, ‘If ever now I happen to pass a horegallu in the village, I rememberthem and wish there were many more of them in this world’. What makes her say so? Give reasons. Answer in a paragraph.
Answer:
When Sudha Murthy passes a horegallu in the village she remembers especially two people. One is her grandfather and the other is her colleague Ratna. A horegallu is a stone bench. It helps tired persons to sit down and rest for sometime so that they can regain their energy. Sudha’s grandfather was a retired school teacher. He would spend hours sitting under the banyan tree, on the horegallu there, talking to those resting there. Most of them told him their troubles and pains. He could hardly have done anything to solve their problems. But by patiently listening to them he was relieving them to a great extent. He was a horegallu on which the tired people unburdened their burdens.

Sudha met Ratna when she went to work in Mumbai. Ratna was her colleague. She was a middle aged senior clerk and she always smiled. Every day during lunch hour she would sit with some person in a room and chat with him/her. Sudha often wondered what they talked about. One day she asked Ratna what they discussed. Ratna told her that the persons with whom she talked shared their troubles with her. Sudha then asked Ratna how by listening to one person, she could solve his problems. Ratna said God has given us two years to listen. Even if we can’t solve problems for people, we can help them by listening to them. A troubled person feels relieved when he tells a sympathetic listener about his troubles. Sudha knew Ratna was right. So she wishes there were more horegallus like her grandfather and Ratna. It would make the world a better place to live in.

Question 8.
Imagine that your teacher asks you to narrate a situation in which a person acted as a horegallu or Ratna in your life and helped you to relieve you off your sorrows. How would you narrate that experience?
Answer:
I had a sisterwhom I loved very much. She too loved me deeply. One day as she was going to school in the school bus, the bus collided with a truck and my sisterwas seriously injured. She was rushed to the hospital. She had a serious head injury and a surgery was done. We all prayed for her but the doctors could do nothing to save her. She died a couple of days later. I could not accept her death and my mind was always thinking about her. I was quite depressed and I lost interest even in my studies.

Then a distant relative of mine came to my house. He asked me why I always looked so morose and melancholic. I told him the reason for my sorrow. He asked me to tell him the incident in detail. I told him everything in complete details. He did not ask me any question but he listened to my story very sympathetically. At last he told me, “Son, you are not the only one who has suffered losses in this world. I had three children. They all died in an accident when the car in which they were travelling hit the railing of a bridge and fell into the river.”

I felt my sorrow was much less compared to his.

Question 9.
Childhood is a storehouse of memories and varied experiences. Sudha Murthy recollects her childhood experiences in the anecdote ‘Horegallu’. Write an anecdote on the basis of your own childhood experience.
Answer:
I have many memories of my childhood but one incident stands out. It was a Sunday and I was in the church. A wedding was taking place that day. The bride, obvi’ojjftly from a rich family, was covered with different types of gold ornaments. She had many chains, necklaces, bangles, bracelets and rings. The reception was in the parish hall nearby. After the wedding, in the church, the people began to rush to the parish hall for the reception and the sumptuous meal awaiting them.

The bridegroom, a handsome youth, was holding the hand of his bride and together they were walking towards the hall. Suddenly a poor woman, carrying a pale, sickly child appeared before them. The bride suddenly stopped and looked at the woman. The people around were trying to drive away the woman but the bride told them not to do that. She gave a sign to the poor woman to come closer. Then suddenly she removed one of her golden chains and gave it to the poor woman. To the wonderstruck bridegroom the smiling bride said, “Dear, I can manage with one chain less. Let the poor woman and her child have an enjoyable day today. I’m sure we’llbe more happy.”

I will never forget the smile on the face of the poor woman.

Question 10.
Sudha Murthy is a social activist and a teacher by profession. Imagine that she happens to address a noisy class in one of her sessions. She starts narrating the story of Ratna. How will she narrate it? Prepare the narration for her.
Answer:
Dear students,
As you talk so eagerly and make so much of noise, l am reminded of my young days. Before I became a teacher, I worked for sometime in a business office in Mumbai. In the office there were many workers. One of them was Ratna. a middle-aged senior clerk. She has been working there for 25 years. She had a smiling face. It was a pleasure talking to her.

I used to see her talking with someone everyday during lunchtime. I often wondered what they were talking about. One day I asked Ratna what they discussed. Ratna told me that the persons with whom she talked shared their troubles with her. I then asked Ratna how by listening to one person, she could solve his problems. Ratna said God has given us two years to listen. Even if we can’t solve problems for people, we can help them by listening to them. A troubled person feels relieved when he tells a sympathetic listener about his troubles. I know Ratna was right.

So children, stop talking and start listening. Only by listening, you will know more things. By knowing more things you will be empowered and you can become what you want to become.

Question 11.
Most of our historical monuments and structures like horegallus are damaged by tourists and locals with drawings and other graffitti. With the consent of your teacher you decide to give awareness to students on the necessity of preserving them, in the school assembly. What would you say? Draft an awareness speech to be made in the school assembly.
Answer:
My dear students,
Today I am going to talk to you about the necessity to preserve historical monuments and structures like horegullus. We hear a lot about building new things and making statues of great men and women. But we hardly hear of the importance of preserving our historical monuments and other ancient structures. Tourists and locals have the habit of writing things on such monuments. Sometimes they even break away small pieces to carry as mementoes of their visits to such monuments. This is.very bad as they disfigure them and spoil them.

Monuments cultivate pride of our past and heritage making us unique in the world. Paris is known for the Eiffel tower, London forthe Big Ben, China forthe Great Wall, Egypt forthe Pyramids and India for its Taj Mahal. If people go on disfiguring them, they lose their value. Historical monuments are great attractors of tourists. Everyone likes to experience the “spirit” of the place, which is most often represented through the monuments. Tourists can provide locals with jobs and extra income.

Historical monuments and structures like horegallus are environmental friendly. They add charm to our place without in any way harming the environment. So let us take a firm decision not to litter any monument or historical structure with graffiti or such unwanted things. Let us preserve them for posterity.

Thank you all!

Question 12.
Imagine that while going on a tour to a famous historical place some of your classmates try to write their names and comments on the walls. You decide to dissuade them from that activity. What advice would you give them? Write three sentences using the expressions. ‘You had better…, Why don’t you …, If I were you ’
Answer:
You had better write what you want to write in the visitors’diary.

Why don’t you think this place as a national treasure and by writing your names and other things you are spoiling the beauty of this place?

If I were you, I would not write or draw on these walls.

Question 13.
After studying the anecdote ‘Horegallu’you realize that your parents and grandparents are a treasure house of knowledge. You start a bloggers’ group named ‘Unacknowledged Legacy’ to appreciate their contributions and to popularize their knowledge. What would be your blog entry to mark the beginning of the group?
Answer:
Unacknowledged Legacy
6 June 2017
We all know the old adage “Old is Gold”. How many of us are really prepared to acknowledge that our parents and grandparents were a treasure house of knowledge and wisdom? Knowledge and wisdom come from experience. Many things are learned from experience and not merely from books. Our parents and grandparents have been imparting us their wisdom not only through their words but also their deeds. We are starting this Bloggers’ Group titled Unacknowledged Legacy to pay tribute to our older generations. Today we are what we are just because of our parents and grandparents.

They are the one who brought us up, taught us to dream high and work hard to achieve our dreams. Often, as young and inexperienced people, we may have resented their interference in our lives. We may have then thought that they are autocrats who want to keep us under their tight control. If they hadn’t exercised their authority and restrained us, many of us would have been abject failures. Thanks to their wisdom, we are today somebody and we should e ver remain grateful to them.

This blog invites members to contribute their stories of how they were assisted by their parents and grandparents to reach their present position. Make your contributions short and sweet. Brevity, they say, is the soul of wit.

Lilly Jacob

Question 14.
You got inspired by the anecdote of ‘Horegallu’ and decide to visit an old age home. You are enthusiastic to know more about the old customs and traditions of our forefathers .You seek information regarding that from the inmates of the old age home. How would you seek information from them? Write three sentences using the expressions I would like to know…, Do you
mind telling me about…, Can I ask you …..
Answer:
I would like to know how you happened to come to this Old Age Home.
Do you mind telling me about your family members and what they do.
Can I ask you to describe to me how marriages took place in your young days?

Horegallu About The Author

– Sudha Murty

Sudha Murty was born in 1950. She is an M.Tech in Computer Science and teaches Computer Science. She writes a lot both in English and Kannada. ‘Horegallu’ is taken from The Old Man and His God: Discovering the Spirit of India.

Horegallu Summary in English

Page 26: Hot summer days remind me of my childhood in a small village. There was a large banyan tree right in the middle of the village. During holidays I spent many hours playing under it. The tree was like a big umbrella. It gave much needed shade and comfort. Travellers spent some time sitting under it, taking some rest, before they continued their journey. To make them comfortable there was a ‘horegallu’ under the tree. ‘Horegallu’ means ‘a stone that can bear weight’.

It was a large flat stone placed horizontally overtwo vertical stones. It was a stone bench. People could sit on it, chat with a fellow traveller and exchange news of the road. Cool water was kept in earthen pots and travellers could drink the water. I am sure such simple arrangements are found all over the country.

The horegallu in our village brings special memories for me because it is connected with my grandfather. He was a retired school teacher. He would spend hours sitting under the banyan tree, talking to those resting there. When I got tired of playing I would sit next to him listening to their conversations and observing the people.

Page 27: Most of the villagers were taking a break from their work in the nearby fields. They had to walk long distances each day. They had to carry heavy burdens on their heads. Tired by the heat, they would drink the cold water, wash their faces and chat with my grandfather. They often talked about their lives and worries.

One man would say, “Masterji, this summer has been so hot. I have never seen such a dry weather.” Another would say, “Masterji, it is getting difficult for me to carry heavy loads on my head. Thank God for this horegallu. I want my son to help me but he simply wants to go to the city.” My grandfather listened to their talk and they felt refreshed. They would soon go away with their burdens. The horegallu was an important feature in their lives and I wondered why they blessed it so often.

It was just a stone bench. Then my grandfather told me that a horegallu is essential in any journey. We all carry burdens in our different ways. Once in a while we need to stop, put down that burden and rest. Only then we will be refreshed to carry the load again. The horegallu helps the people to regain their strength.

Later in life I happened to see something that reminded me of that horegallu. I was working in Mumbai. One of my colleagues was Ratna. She was a senior clerk, middle-aged and always smiling. She had been working in the company for nearly 25 years, after her graduation. She continued working with a cheerful face.

Every day during lunch hour, she would sit with some person in one of the rooms, chatting with him/her. I often wondered what they talked about. One day I asked what they discussed during the lunch hour. Ratna told me that they shared their troubles with her.

Page 28: I asked her how she could help in solving their problems. Did she have an answer for them? She told me she only listened to them. I was young and I wondered how merely by listening to somebody’s problem, it gets solved. She then told me that she was not a trained counsellor or an intellectual. Nobody can solve your problem. You have to solve it yourself. I then wondered what the point was of listening to somebody’s problem if no help can be given.

Ratna answered me patiently. She told me that God had given her two ears to listen to others. She hears people with sympathy and no judgment. When somebody talks about his worries, it relieves him a lot. I then wanted to know if she ever told other the secrets she heard. Ratna told me that not even in her dreams she would do that. Revealing somebody’s secret is the worst kind of betrayal. People told her of their worries because they were certain that she would never tell others about them. They relieve themselves by talking about their burdens and they continue with their life’s journey.

Ratna’s words reminded me of my grandfather sitting on the bench stone listening to people. Neither my grandfather nor Ratna were rich. But in their small ways they were doing great social service. No one thought of acknowledging their work or giving them any rewards. But they continue doing their service and it gives them joy. Whenever I pass by a horegallu anywhere, I think of my grandfather and Ratna. I wish there were more such ‘bench stones’ in this world.

Horegallu Summary in Malayalam

Horegallu Glossary