English Literature Important Question and Answers
English Literature: Important Question and Answers
I have transcribed the questions and answers from the provided images. Where text was blurred, I have reconstructed it based on context.
1. The Address
- Q: The Address is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
Ans: The story of The Address is about the effects of war on human beings. It brings pain, loss, and suffering. The narrator visits an address where her mother’s belongings were kept during the war. The memories of her mother make her emotional. She looks at her mother’s belongings but cannot bring herself to take them home. The story shows that war destroys not only lives but also memories and relationships. - Q: “Have you come back?” said the woman. What does this indicate?
Ans: The statement indicates that the woman knew the narrator earlier. When the narrator returns after the war, she visits the house where her mother’s belongings were kept. The woman recognizes her, showing the connection between the narrator and the woman’s family during the war.
2. The Portrait of a Lady
- Q: Character sketch of Uncle Khush?
Ans: Khushwant Singh’s uncle was a tall, strong man with black hair. He was a man of great strength and temper, considered a very strict and impressive person. - Q: What were the hallmarks of the Grandmother’s love?
Ans: The grandmother’s love was sincere and unconditional. She cared deeply for the narrator, helped him with his studies, accompanied him to school, and looked after him lovingly. - Q: Why did the horse often mock the narrator?
Ans: The horse was not actually mocking the narrator; the narrator felt it was laughing due to his own unusual behavior, reflecting his imagination and innocence. - Q: How was the grandmother’s Bible famous?
Ans: The grandmother’s Bible was very important to her. She read it every day, kept it carefully, and spent much time praying and reading religious passages from it. - Q: Who was Khushwant and why was he considered crazy?
Ans: Khushwant was the narrator’s grandson. He was considered unusual because he behaved differently and often imagined strange things, which made him appear crazy to others.
3. The Laburnum Top
- Q: Write the central idea of the poem.
Ans: The poem describes the Laburnum tree in September. It is silent until a goldfinch arrives with her young ones, bringing life and movement. When the bird flies away, the tree becomes silent again, highlighting the contrast between silence and activity in nature. - Q: What happens to the Laburnum tree after the bird flies away?
Ans: After the goldfinch leaves, the tree becomes silent and still again, returning to its earlier quiet state. - Q: What is the machine that stirs in the poem?
Ans: The poet compares the goldfinch’s arrival and the movement of her young ones to a machine that suddenly starts working. - Q: How does the poet compare the goldfinch to the bird?
Ans: The poet describes the goldfinch as a sleek, alert, machine-like engine that brings life to the silent tree. - Q: How does the Laburnum tree appear in September?
Ans: In September, the tree is silent, still, and deserted, with yellow leaves and fallen seeds.
4. The Portrait of a Lady – Grandmother
- Q: Narrate the author’s grandmother when she was young and pretty.
Ans: She was young and pretty when married. Though she looked old to the narrator, she had been beautiful in her youth and was always a religious and caring woman. - Q: Explain about the author’s grandmother.
Ans: She was a religious, loving woman who wore white clothes, carried a rosary, and spent her time praying and reading scriptures. - Q: The narrator and his grandmother were close friends. Explain.
Ans: They were close in the village; she woke him, prepared him for school, and helped him with his studies. - Q: What had not changed over the years?
Ans: Her appearance remained largely the same; her face stayed wrinkled and peaceful, and she remained simple and religious. - Q: Explain “laboured pace of loss”.
Ans: This refers to the slow, painful process of losing someone dear, which is difficult to accept.
5. Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
- Q: Who was Tutankhamun?
Ans: He was the last heir of a powerful royal family that ruled Egypt for centuries. He became king at a young age and is famous for his tomb’s treasures. - Q: Who discovered Tut’s tomb and in which year?
Ans: British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered it in 1922. - Q: What evidence suggested that the Tut’s mummy contained a shroud?
Ans: The mummy was covered with a shroud and surrounded by objects of great historical value, providing evidence of his condition after death. - Q: What was the name of this boat and what was its dimension?
Ans: It was a large royal boat used for burial arrangements, built on a grand scale. - Q: Why did the narrator visit these two countries?
Ans: To learn about their history, culture, ancient civilization, and historical remains. - Q: What was the narrator’s dream?
Ans: To travel the world, understand different cultures, and discover the history and beauty of various places.
