PUC II ENGLISH
LITERATURE KSEAB
This study material is designed
to help students prepare effectively for 2-mark, 3-mark, and 4-mark questions
in the examination.
It is meant to be read and revised in key-points form, making the concepts
easy to understand and remember.
However, when writing answers for 3-mark
and 4-mark questions, students must present the content in well-formed paragraph
style, not in point form.
ROMEO
AND JULIET – WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
1. How does Romeo describe Juliet and her beauty?
“Romeo and Juliet” is taken from Shakespeare’s play
of the same name.
In
this part, Romeo and Juliet talk about their love.
Romeo
is completely attracted to Juliet’s beauty.
He
falls in love with her the moment he sees her.
He
uses many beautiful pictures to describe her.
He
says Juliet teaches the torches how to shine brightly.
It
is Juliet who lights up the place, not the torches.
She
shines in the dark like a rich jewel seen in an Ethiope’s ear.
She
moves among her friends like a white dove among black crows.
She
looks heavenly, like an angel.
She
is too precious for this world.
He
thinks no man truly deserves her.
Romeo
is deeply moved by her beauty and grace.
He
wants to meet her after the dance.
He
wants to touch her hands.
He
wishes that touching her will bless his “rude hands.”
He
says he has never seen such beauty before.
He
confesses he has never loved anyone so deeply.
2. How does Juliet describe Romeo and her love for him?
“Romeo and Juliet” is an extract from Shakespeare’s
famous play.
In
this part, Romeo and Juliet express their deep love.
Juliet
loves Romeo very strongly.
She
waits eagerly for him to come.
Romeo
visits only at night.
He
comes secretly in the dark so nobody sees him.
Juliet
asks the night to come quickly.
Night
brings Romeo along with it.
While
waiting, she begins to describe Romeo and her love.
She
says he is very handsome and charming.
He
shines in the night like new snow on a raven’s back.
She
believes their love will last forever.
She
says that after death, Romeo will become stars in the sky.
His
presence will make heaven look beautiful.
People
who once loved the bright sun will stop praising the sun.
They
will begin to admire Romeo shining as a star.
In
this way, Juliet makes her love for Romeo immortal.
TOO
DEAR – LEO TOLSTOY
1. Describe the tiny kingdom of Monaco.
Monaco
is a very small kingdom.
It
is close to the borders of France and Italy.
It
is located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Its
population is only about 7,000 people.
It
is ruled by a kinglet (a small king).
The
king has his palace, courtiers, ministers, bishop, generals, and an army.
The
army has only sixty men.
The
state collects many taxes—on tobacco, wine, spirits, and also a poll-tax.
Its
main income comes from the gambling house.
People
play roulette there.
Monaco
has complete control (monopoly) over gambling.
2. Why has Monaco monopoly in gambling?
Many
European countries once had gambling houses.
Later,
they banned them one after another.
Only
a few German rulers kept them for some more years.
In
the end, Germany also banned gambling.
This
was because many people lost money, property, and even their lives due to
gambling.
The
people demanded their governments stop it.
So
Germany also banned gambling.
But
in Monaco, no one asked the king to ban it.
So
the king continued this harmful business.
That
is how Monaco got the monopoly in gambling.
3. What is the crime committed in Monaco?
Why did the king change the punishment?
A
man had committed murder.
The
king ordered that he should be executed.
But
Monaco had no guillotine and no executioner.
So
they asked France to lend them the machine and the executioner.
France,
being a republic, asked for 16,000 francs.
This
was too expensive for Monaco.
Then
they asked Italy, ruled by a fellow king.
Italy
asked for 12,000 francs, which was still too much.
The
king and ministers asked their soldiers to kill the criminal.
The
soldiers refused because they were not trained to do executions.
So
the king decided to change the punishment.
The
death sentence was replaced with life imprisonment.
But
Monaco had no proper prison for keeping him forever.
They
appointed a guard to watch him.
The
guard brought food from the palace kitchen.
The
yearly cost was 600 francs—very high for a tiny kingdom.
Finally,
they removed the guard and hoped the criminal would escape.
4. Why was the criminal reluctant to go?
What did he do for livelihood?
The
cost of keeping the criminal was too high (600 francs per year).
So
the king removed the guard, expecting the criminal to leave.
But
the criminal refused to go.
He
said he had no place to live.
His
reputation was damaged by the government.
People
would not accept him anywhere.
He
had lost the habit of working.
He
said the government treated him badly and changed his punishment suddenly.
Now
he had to find his own food and he was tired of it.
He
refused to leave Monaco.
The
king and ministers wanted him gone.
They
finally agreed to give him a pension of 600 francs a year.
The
criminal accepted the offer.
He
took one-third (200 francs) of the money in advance.
He
left the king’s territory.
He
crossed the border, only a quarter-hour by train.
He
bought a piece of land.
He
started market gardening.
He
lived comfortably.
He
visited Monaco once a year.
He
collected his pension.
He
spent 2 or 3 francs on gambling and returned.
He
lived a peaceful and happy life.
1. What are Kahlil Gibran’s views on bringing up children?
“On Children” is a poem written by Kahlil
Gibran.
It
gives wise and meaningful advice on how to raise children.
A
mother comes to the Prophet carrying her baby.
She
asks him for guidance on bringing up children.
The
Prophet begins with a powerful message:
“Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.”
Children
come through their parents, but they do not come from them.
Children
may stay with their parents, but they do not belong to them.
Parents
can give their children love but not their thoughts,
because children think in their own way.
Parents
can shelter their children’s bodies but not their souls,
because their souls live in the future.
Parents
cannot visit that “house of tomorrow,” not even in dreams.
Parents
may try to shape their children, but they cannot make them copies of
themselves,
because life keeps moving forward and never stays in the past.
The
poet gives the image of the bow and the arrow.
Parents
are like bows, and children are like arrows.
Parents
are the firm bows from which the arrows (children) are sent forward.
God
is the Archer.
He
bends the bow so that the arrow flies strong and far.
God
guides parents so that children grow in the right direction.
The
Almighty loves both parents and children equally.
EVERYTHING
I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN THE FOREST – VANDANA SHIVA
1. Vandana Shiva’s early contact with nature
/ The beginning of her ecological journey
Vandana
Shiva’s ecological journey began in the Himalayan forests.
Her
father worked as a forest conservator.
Her
mother became a farmer after the Indo-Pak partition.
She
learnt about nature and ecology from the Himalayan forests and ecosystems.
Her
mother also wrote songs and poems.
These
songs spoke about trees, forests, and India’s forest-based civilizations.
Vandana
Shiva entered the ecology movement through the Chipko Movement in the 1970s.
She
became a volunteer in Chipko.
She
spent her holidays doing pada-yatras.
During
these journeys, they recorded deforestation and the work of forest protectors.
They
spread Chipko’s message.
From
Chipko she learnt about biodiversity and ways of living based on it.
Protecting
biodiversity became her life’s mission.
2. Write a note on the Chipko Movement
The
Chipko Movement was a peaceful protest against massive deforestation in the
Himalayas in the 1970s.
The
peasant women of Garhwal, Himalaya led the defence of the forests.
These
women understood the true value of forests.
The
real value was not timber from cut trees.
It
was springs, streams, cattle fodder, and fuel for cooking.
Logging
caused landslides, floods, and shortages of water, fodder, and fuel.
This
forced women to walk long distances for basic needs.
It
became a great burden for them.
So
the women rose in protest.
They
hugged the trees and told loggers to cut them first before cutting the trees.
3. Bachni Devi’s resistance in Adwani village
A
dramatic event took place in Adwani village of the Himalayas in 1977.
A
village woman named Bachni Devi led a protest against her own husband.
Her
husband worked as a forest contractor.
He
had received a contract to cut a large number of trees.
When
officials came, the women held burning lanterns even in daylight.
They
told the officials that they had come to teach them the real meaning of
forestry.
The
officials argued that trees were meant for profit—rosin and timber.
The
women replied in a chorus song that trees are meant for soil, water, and pure
air.
4. Navadhanya Farm
Vandana
Shiva’s work in the Chipko Movement taught her about biodiversity and
sustainable economies.
She
realised that ignoring biodiversity harms nature.
She
learnt that protecting biodiversity is the key to solving food and nutrition
problems.
So
she started the Navadhanya Movement in 1987.
Its
goal was to save biodiversity and promote organic farming.
For
this purpose, she needed a dedicated farm.
Thus,
the Navadhanya Farm was established in 1994 in the Doon Valley of Uttarakhand.
The
farm trains people to grow crops using seeds saved from farmers’ fields.
They
have preserved 630 types of rice, 150 types of wheat, and hundreds of other
crops.
The
farm promotes biodiversity-intensive farming.
This
method gives more food and nutrition per acre.
She
has helped create more than 100 community seed banks in India.
She
has saved over 3000 varieties of rice.
She
also helps farmers move from chemical-based monocultures to ecological farming
powered by sun and soil.
5. Write a note on the Earth University
Inspired
by Rabindranath Tagore, Vandana Shiva started the Earth University.
Its
purpose is to shift from seeing nature as dead matter to an ecological
worldview.
The
university teaches Earth Democracy.
Earth
Democracy means freedom for all species on Earth.
It
treats humans as members of the Earth family.
It
also respects and protects the rights of all species.
Earth
Democracy shifts thinking from human-centered to nature-centered.
It
says all living beings have equal rights to food and water.
The
Earth University is located at Navadhanya, a biodiversity farm where learners
work with living seeds, soil, and the web of life.
Learners
include farmers, school children, and people from many countries.
Two
popular courses there are:
“Gandhi and Globalization” and “A-Z of Organic Farming and Agro-Ecology.”
6. Give Tagore’s ideas as expressed in “Tapovan”
“Tapovan”
is an essay written by Rabindranath Tagore.
He
says that Indian culture is unique.
This
is because India finds its renewal in the forest, not in the city.
The
best ideas were born when people lived in harmony with the forest.
The
forest includes trees, rivers, and lakes.
The
calm of the forest helped the intellectual growth of humans.
Forest
culture shaped Indian society.
Indian
culture has been enriched by diverse forest life.
Therefore,
the principle of unity in diversity and democratic pluralism became central to
Indian civilization.
The
forest is also the source of beauty, joy, art, harmony, and perfection — not
just knowledge and freedom.
A
SUNNY MORNING – SERAFÍN AND JOAQUÍN ÁLVAREZ QUINTERO
1. Write a note on Doña Laura and Don Gonzalo – two regular visitors to
the park.
Doña Laura
Doña Laura and Don Gonzalo are two elderly regular visitors to the park.
Laura is a graceful, white-haired old lady of about seventy.
She looks refined and has bright, lively eyes.
Her manner shows that her mind is still sharp despite her age.
She enters the park leaning on her maid Petra’s arm.
She carries a parasol, which she also uses as a walking stick.
She always sits on the same bench.
She spends her time feeding breadcrumbs to the pigeons.
She can recognize each pigeon while feeding them.
That day she felt happy because the morning was pleasant and her seat was free.
Don Gonzalo
Don Gonzalo and Doña Laura are elderly and regular visitors to the park.
Don Gonzalo is an old man of about seventy.
He is gouty, impatient, and walks with difficulty.
He leans on Juanito’s arm and drags his feet as he walks.
He brings books to the park to read.
He too occupies a particular bench every day.
But that day, three priests had taken his bench.
There was no other seat left, so he had to share Laura’s bench.
They meet as strangers but slowly discover they were once lovers.
2. What are the fictitious stories narrated by Laura and Gonzalo?
Gonzalo’s
usual bench was taken by three priests.
So he had to sit on Laura’s bench.
On his way, he frightened the pigeons Laura was feeding.
Their conversation began unpleasantly.
Slowly, they realise they were once lovers.
But both hide their real identities because they are no longer young and
charming.
Each tells a false story about a “friend” to cover the truth.
Gonzalo’s
Story
Gonzalo says he had a cousin named Gonzalo.
This cousin loved Laura Llorente, called the “Silver Maiden.”
Her family opposed their love and chose a rich merchant for her.
One night, the cousin waited under Laura’s window to hear her sing.
The merchant arrived suddenly, and a fight broke out.
By sunrise, the merchant lay seriously wounded.
Afraid of punishment, Gonzalo ran away from the place.
He hid with his cousin (who was actually himself).
Later he went to Seville and then moved to Madrid.
He wrote many letters to Laura, but she never answered.
Her family had seized all the letters.
Upset, Gonzalo joined the army.
He went to Africa and died in the battlefield.
At his last moment, he held the Spanish flag and whispered “Laura.”
Laura’s Story
Laura says she had a friend named Laura Llorente.
She loved a brave horseman named Gonzalo deeply.
Her family opposed their love and wanted her to marry a merchant.
There was a serious fight between the merchant and Gonzalo.
After the fight, Gonzalo disappeared.
Laura waited for him for years, but no news came.
One day she sat by the seashore at sunset.
Lost in thoughts of Gonzalo, she didn’t see a big wave.
The wave swallowed her up.
Only the names—Laura and Gonzalo—written on the sand remained for long.
3. Humour in the conversation between Laura and Gonzalo.
Laura
entered the park with Petra and found her bench empty.
She sat down and began feeding the pigeons.
Gonzalo came with Juanito, couldn’t find his bench, and scared away the
pigeons.
Forced to sit near Laura, he annoyed her.
She scolded him for driving the birds away.
When he said the park was public, she asked why he scolded the priests for
using his bench.
She called him an ill-tempered man.
She remarked that old people become fussy and irritated.
She happily said he had lost his bench.
When he returned again, she said even a carriage wouldn’t raise more dust than
he did.
Gonzalo greeted her politely, but she asked why he came again.
She said he should have asked her permission to sit on her bench.
Annoyed, Gonzalo called her a foolish old woman.
He said she should be at home knitting or counting beads.
He cleaned his shoes with his handkerchief; Laura mocked him asking if it was a
shoe brush.
She said she had a neighbour’s right to question him.
He tried to ignore her by reading a book.
She teased him, asking if he would use a telescope too.
When he doubted her eyesight, she read from his book, actually reciting from
memory.
Gonzalo bragged about a wild boar’s head; Laura talked about a tiger skin.
She cut his statements with sharp remarks.
Their constant quarrels created humour throughout.
4. Describe Laura Llorente and her love affair with Gallant Gonzalo.
When
Gonzalo mentioned Valencia, Laura was shocked—it was familiar to her.
She had spent many seasons near Valencia, in a villa named Maricela.
The villa stood near the sea, among orange and lemon trees.
A beautiful woman, Laura Llorente, lived there.
She was known as the “Silver Maiden.”
Her Beauty
Gonzalo described her as ideal and perfect.
She was fair like a lily.
She had jet-black hair and shining black eyes.
She had a very sweet expression.
Her presence was full of charm.
Her figure was perfect; she looked like a dream of beauty.
The Love Affair
Laura had great beauty but also bad fortune.
She had a sad love affair with gallant Gonzalo.
Every morning she stood at her window.
Gonzalo rode past on horseback down the rose path under her window.
He tossed a bouquet to her balcony, and she caught it.
In the afternoon, when he returned, she tossed the bouquet back.
They loved each other deeply and wanted to marry.
But her family opposed it and wanted her to marry a rich merchant.
One night there was a serious fight between Gonzalo and the merchant.
Gonzalo disappeared after the fight.
Thus, their beautiful romance came to a sad end.
WHEN
YOU ARE OLD – W. B. YEATS
How does the speaker address a young lady in her old age?
“When You Are Old” is a poem by W. B. Yeats.
The poet speaks to his beloved who refused his love.
The poem shows themes of love, loss, regret, fading beauty, and the lasting
nature of true love.
The poet talks directly to his lady love.
He tells her to take the book of poems he wrote for her.
She should read it when she grows old, grey, and full of sleep.
In her old age, she will sit by the fireside, nodding her head.
At that advanced age, she must read the book.
When she reads it, she will recall her youthful beauty.
Her eyes once had a gentle look and deep shadows.
Many admirers loved her beauty.
They loved her “moments of glad grace.”
Their love depended on her physical charm.
Some admirers were true, some were false.
But only one man loved her “pilgrim soul.”
That man is the poet himself.
He loved her always, without change.
The “sorrows of her changing face”—her fading beauty—never touched his love.
The false admirers left when her beauty faded.
Their love “paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid its face amid a crowd of stars” – meaning it vanished.
But the poet’s true love remained firm despite all changes.
The poet urges that in old age she must remember his true love.
He hopes she will feel regret for not accepting his love when she was young.
THE
GARDENER – P. LANKESH
1. How did the owner’s lifestyle change after the arrival of the old
man?
One
day an old man arrived at the owner’s farm.
He had walked hundreds of miles to reach there.
He was a tall man with grey hair, a sharp nose, and strong muscular arms.
His eyes carried strange memories and natural intelligence.
In one hand he held a spade, and a newspaper was tucked under the other arm.
He was a labourer, overseer, and thinker – all in one.
The owner of the plantation needed exactly this kind of person.
After a short talk, the old man stayed on.
Changes in
the plantation
The old man became extremely helpful.
He had deep knowledge of agriculture.
He understood the problems of the workers.
Small thefts in the garden stopped completely.
The income from the garden rose sharply.
The plantation grew in size.
Their farm, once only ten acres, expanded unbelievably.
But there was also a clear change in the owner’s lifestyle.
He became lazy and avoided hard work.
His wealth and social standing increased.
He gained many friends in the village and nearby town.
His life became full of colourful activities.
He developed several bad habits.
The owner’s wife found all these changes strange.
She could not decide if the old man’s arrival was a blessing or a curse.
2. Write a note on the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah.
Tammanna
and Basavaiah were bitter rivals.
Tammanna had ten acres of wet land, a fine house, and many followers.
He was peaceful and content in the beginning.
Then came his rival, Basavaiah.
If Tammanna bought four acres of land, Basavaiah bought ten.
If Tammanna invited ten friends, Basavaiah invited fifteen.
At first, it looked like harmless competition.
But slowly, it turned serious.
There was no more land left in the village to purchase.
One day Tammanna’s land reached 1000 acres.
Basavaiah had only 800 acres.
Basavaiah could not buy more land.
He asked Tammanna to sell some of his extra land.
Tammanna refused.
Instead, he wanted to buy all of Basavaiah’s land.
Basavaiah became furious.
He occupied Tammanna’s additional land.
Tammanna could not bear this act.
His followers suggested three ways to recover it:
File a court case
Go to the police
Take it by force
But Tammanna rejected all these ways.
He planned a new method to defeat Basavaiah completely.
3. How does the rivalry move from visible to invisible domain?
OR
How did Basavaiah
try to defeat Tammanna?
Tammanna
was tired of Basavaiah and wanted to defeat him totally.
He decided to compose songs and ballads.
He expressed all his experiences in them.
Basavaiah had no answer to this; he lacked such talent.
He tried hard, but failed.
He improved his farm work, but even that could not compete.
Tammanna’s fame spread everywhere.
His songs described their rivalry.
They exposed Basavaiah’s cruelty and meanness.
Critics studied and translated Tammanna’s songs.
He was praised as the best poet.
Basavaiah watched helplessly.
He shrank in shame.
He occupied more and more of Tammanna’s land.
But Tammanna stayed calm and unmoved.
Art had become Tammanna’s world.
Basavaiah burned with anger.
He filled his house with costly wealth.
He covered himself with gold, diamonds, and precious stones.
Still, his house looked dull.
He hired people to praise him.
He invited poets, scholars, and musicians to his home.
Yet his house remained dull and lifeless.
Tammanna proved that true talent and wisdom cannot be bought with money.
TO
THE FOOT FROM ITS CHILD – PABLO NERUDA
“To the Foot from Its Child” is a poem by Pablo
Neruda.
In
this poem, the poet speaks about complex human life.
He uses the foot as a metaphor to explain life and reality.
At birth, the child’s foot is full of dreams.
It wishes to become a butterfly or an apple.
Slowly, it begins to realise its limitations.
Stones, pieces of glass, and rough earth tell the foot that life’s journey is
not smooth.
As it grows, the foot is imprisoned in a shoe.
In the darkness of the shoe, the foot understands its fate.
Its dreams vanish gradually.
Days roll on.
The child’s foot loses its soft, petal-like shape and becomes hard.
It takes the shape of triangular, eyeless reptiles.
As time passes, it becomes callused.
The volcanoes of death begin to appear.
Yet, the foot’s journey never stops.
It continues walking to many places—fields, mines, markets, ministries—moving
up and down, backward and forward.
This continues until the man stops walking (dies).
At death, in the darkness of the tomb, the foot finally looks back.
It remembers the dreams it had at birth.
It consoles itself, hoping to fulfil those dreams in the next life.
Thus, the journey of the foot is the journey of man.
I BELIEVE THAT BOOKS WILL NEVER DISAPPEAR
1. Borges’ Mother – Doña Leonor
Borges’
mother was Doña Leonor.
She was an extraordinary, intelligent, and gracious person.
She was a noble lady and had no enemies.
She was always kind to Borges.
Borges felt a little guilty about her.
He felt he could not give her the happiness she deserved.
He could not show her proper care and concern during her lifetime.
He took her for granted,
as all children take their parents for granted—
like the sun, moon, or seasons.
2. What is Blindness to Borges?
Blindness,
to Borges, is a way of life.
It is not entirely unhappy.
For a writer or creative person, everything in life is a resource.
All experiences are given to us with a purpose.
They help the artist feel more intensely.
Humiliations, misfortunes, disagreements, and embarrassments—
all become the raw material or clay for creativity.
With this clay, the artist shapes the art within him.
Blindness was replaced by other strengths in his life.
It strengthened his inner eye (imagination).
So he accepts blindness as his duty.
He still buys books and pretends to be a normal reader.
3. What is Poetry According to Borges?
Poetry
is intimate and essential.
It cannot be defined without oversimplifying it.
Some things in life cannot be explained in words—
like the colour yellow,
the feeling of love,
or the occurrences of nature.
Poetry is an aesthetic act.
It happens when the poet writes it and when the reader reads it.
Poetry is different from a poem.
A poem is just a series of symbols (words).
But poetry is a magical and mysterious event.
If the reader does not feel the poetic experience,
then the poet has failed.
4. How is the Language of Poetry?
OR How should words be chosen in poetry?
The
language of poetry is unique.
Precise words are important in poetry.
These words evoke the emotion in the reader.
Borges quotes a line from Emily Dickinson:
“This quiet dust was gentlemen and ladies.”
The idea of using the word ‘dust’ for human beings is simple.
But the phrase “gentlemen and ladies” adds magic and poetic beauty,
which the words “men and women” would fail to achieve.
5. Borges’ Ideas on Metaphors
According
to Borges, true metaphors have existed forever.
We only express them in different ways.
He reduces all essential metaphors to five or six:
Time and river (motion)
Life and dreams (hope)
Death and sleep (stillness)
Stars and eyes (glow)
Flowers and women (beauty)
These essential metaphors are found in all literatures.
Other metaphors are whimsical.
The poet’s task is to discover metaphors,
even if they already exist.
6. Borges’ Views on Books
OR Why does Borges say books will never
disappear?
Borges
believes that books will never disappear.
Of all human inventions, the book is the most amazing.
Other inventions are extensions of our body:
Telephone → extension of voice
Telescope/microscope → extension of sight
Sword/plough → extension of arms
Only books are the extension of imagination and memory.
Books are the great memory of all centuries.
Their function is irreplaceable.
If books disappear,
history will disappear,
and finally mankind will disappear.
Therefore, books will never disappear.
HEAVEN,
IF YOU ARE NOT HERE ON EARTH - KUVEMPU
“Heaven
If You Are Not Here on Earth” is a poem by Kuvempu.
In this poem, the poet explains his idea of heaven.
He says that heaven is not somewhere far away;
it exists here on the earth itself.
We human beings are the real gods and nymphs.
If we cannot become gods,
then there can be no gods or nymphs anywhere.
The earth is filled with heavenly scenes and places.
These include:
the roaring stream running swiftly,
the rolling surf at the shore of the waves,
the soft sunlight on fresh green gardens,
the warm sun,
the beauty of ripened harvests,
the calm moonlight.
All these are truly heavenly experiences.
They fill the poet’s heart with joy and delight.
The poet brings all these beauties of nature together.
He adds his sweet song and thus creates heaven on earth.
JAPAN AND BRAZIL THROUGH A TRAVELLER’S EYE -GEORGE MIKES
1. JAPANESE MANNERS
a) Respect for Privacy
The
Japanese are extremely well-mannered people.
They respect others’ privacy and expect others to respect theirs too.
This is mainly because Japan is a small and crowded island.
There is no space even for booths for public phones.
People often discuss:
their private love quarrels,
secret business matters,
in public places.
b) Mania for Bowing
The
Japanese have a strong habit of bowing.
Everyone keeps bowing to everyone—it is universal.
Their bowing is:
graceful,
done with serious ceremony,
yet simple and casual.
It is unique and cannot be copied—no one bows like the Japanese.
It is as natural to them as handshakes or kisses in the West.
Bowing is strange, formal, and eastern.
It is catching—when you watch Japanese bow, you also begin to bow.
There is a strict order in bowing:
who bows first,
how low to bow,
and how long to bow—
all show rank, age, and social level.
Everyone bows inside the family.
Even babies in carriers bow when the mother bows.
Train conductors bow before starting their duty.
Even animals bow—a deer bowed to the writer in Nara.
Shops hire bowing girls to welcome customers.
But the same polite men turn wild when a bus arrives—they push each other
roughly to get in.
c) Eating Soup
The
Japanese make a special slurping sound while drinking soup.
This sound shows enjoyment.
If you don’t make the sound, they call you impolite.
But if you do make the sound, they still call you impolite,
because the exact sound—like their bowing—cannot be copied.
2. BRAZILIANS
Brazilians
love leisure and are never in a rush.
Whether one reaches early or late, nobody bothers.
They admire beauty.
They decorate even their pavements.
In Copacabana, the pavements are beautifully filled with mosaic designs.
Brazilians love driving.
Cars are costly because of high import taxes,
yet almost everyone owns a car.
They drive at very great speed.
Drivers often chase pedestrians, waiting for them to step down from the
pavement.
Pedestrians run for safety, but finally escape—
and both sides part with smiles.
There is even a race among drivers,
and they break traffic rules twenty times every hour.
Still, they finish it all smiling.
Brazil has terrible traffic,
and crossing the roads is very difficult.
THE
VOTER -CHINUA ACHEBE
1. Rufus Okeke – A Note
Rufus
Okeke (known as Roof) was a young man from Umuofia.
He went to Port Harcourt to work as a cycle repairer’s apprentice.
After working there for two years, he returned to his village.
He was not an ordinary villager; his city experience made life simple for him.
Villagers believed he had returned to help them in their troubles, so they
trusted him.
Umuofia already had a leader, Marcus Ibe, the Minister for Culture.
Roof joined Marcus’s service and became his trusted right-hand man.
He was a skilled campaigner who understood voters’ minds.
Roof told Marcus that voters had changed since the earlier election.
He advised Marcus to bring money to distribute before elections.
Roof bargained strongly with voters and took wine, drinks, and expensive robes
from Marcus.
He even won a land dispute using Marcus’s authority.
Though he looked loyal, Roof was not faithful.
He accepted money from the opposition party as well.
Yet he pretended to support Marcus on the election day.
He was clever and cunning like a real politician.
2. Marcus Ibe – A Note
Marcus
Ibe was an influential figure of Umuofia.
He was once a mission school teacher, but not a very successful one.
He had a quarrel with a lady teacher (whom he later married).
He was about to be dismissed, so he resigned to escape shame.
Politics was new in the region, and he joined to test his luck.
He was elected as a member of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP).
His election symbol was a motorcar.
He became the Minister for Culture.
He was an ordinary man earlier, but once elected, his life changed.
He became wealthy and gathered great riches.
He bought two long cars and built a huge house named Umuofia Mansion.
The mansion had water and electricity though the whole village lacked both.
He gave a grand feast at the opening of his mansion.
He won several honours and titles.
But he did very little for the people who voted for him.
He always enjoyed full majority and was sure of a big victory again.
He hired a highlife band for celebrations even before election day.
But now there was slight dissatisfaction among voters.
3. Roof’s Whispering Campaign
At
the opening of Umuofia Mansion, Marcus hosted a grand feast.
People realised they had undervalued the power of the ballot paper.
They decided to demand more in the coming election.
Marcus was ready; he drew five months’ salary in advance.
He converted hundreds of pounds into shillings.
He prepared campaign boys with small jute bags filled with money.
By day, Marcus gave speeches; by night, his boys carried out whispering campaigns.
Roof was the most trusted campaigner.
One night they visited Ogbuefi Ezenwa, a respected titled man.
Roof praised Marcus as the “son of their village” and assured benefits.
He promised pipe-borne water for the entire village.
Then he placed two shillings before each elder.
Elders agreed Marcus was their pride and that they would vote for him.
But they said the amount was too small.
Earlier, Marcus was ordinary, so they did not demand money.
Now he was rich, so they expected much more.
Roof was annoyed but added two more shillings, saying no more was possible.
He said they could vote for the opposition if unhappy.
The elders accepted the offer and promised to vote for Marcus.
4. Roof’s Meeting with the POP Leader
As
election day neared, everything seemed smooth.
Suddenly Roof received an unexpected visit from the POP (opposition) leader.
They knew each other, but the visit was surprising.
The man quietly placed five pounds before Roof and said, “We want your vote.”
Roof was shocked and anxious.
He stepped outside, shut the door, and returned—buying time to think.
His eyes were fixed on the money; he was tempted.
The opposition leader promised secrecy: they wanted votes, not talk.
Roof finally agreed and took the money.
They brought the Iyi of Mbanta, a sacred object, for Roof to swear on.
Roof hesitated but convinced himself that one vote wouldn’t harm Marcus.
He swore and promised to vote for Maduka, the POP candidate.
The opposition needed only a few extra votes this time.
5. The Great Day – The Day of Election
It
was the great day that comes once in five years.
A day when people used their power.
Posters were pasted on walls, trees, and poles—many half torn.
They read: “Vote for PAP!”, “Vote for POP!”
Marcus Ibe did everything in a grand manner.
He hired a highlife band from Umuru and kept it at a distance.
Villagers danced happily.
Marcus sat proudly in his large green car, smiling and waving.
One educated villager congratulated Marcus early; others copied saying
“Corngrass.”
Roof and his campaign boys gave last-minute advice and made jokes.
Roof was worried inside but hid it with excitement.
He often looked at Marcus, afraid Marcus might doubt him.
Marcus was very careful about every single vote.
He asked his campaign boys to vote when the crowd became small.
The entire scene was festive but full of tension.
6. Roof’s Dilemma
Roof’s
guilt troubled him.
He had taken money from the opposition.
Outwardly he worked sincerely for Marcus, but inwardly he was scared.
When his turn came to vote, he felt uneasy.
Inside the booth he saw the symbols:
Car (PAP)
Head (POP)
He picked the ballot paper and stood confused between greed and duty.
He thought of returning the five pounds but disliked losing the money.
The oath on the sacred Iyi worried him deeply.
Suddenly he got an idea:
He tore the ballot paper into two pieces.
He dropped one half in Marcus’s box (PAP)
and the other half in Maduka’s box (POP).
It was the only way—his vote became invalid.
He kept his oath to the Iyi and also stayed loyal to Marcus.
WHERE
THERE IS A WHEEL – P. SAINATH
1. Write a note on the cycle movement of Pudukottai.
Pudukottai –
The Cycle Revolution
Pudukottai is a rural district in Tamil Nadu.
A huge cycle movement began here.
Thousands of rural women learnt cycling in just eighteen months.
Reasons for
its Success
There were genuine and strong reasons for its great success.
The movement got full support from the new District Collector Sheela Rani
Chunkath.
She not only started the cycling program but also encouraged and promoted it.
She directed banks to give easy loans to women to buy bicycles.
Women readily accepted the simple cycle.
They wanted to challenge their backwardness and restrictions.
They wished to break male-made barriers and show their resistance.
Cycling gave them an escape from their narrow routine.
It gave them movement, confidence, and freedom.
Benefits of
the Cycle
The cycle became a sign of freedom, confidence, and mobility.
It gave courage, strength, and independence to rural women.
They no longer had to wait for buses, vehicles, or depend on men.
It saved a great amount of time and energy.
It provided huge joy and pleasure.
They could spend more quality time with their families.
It helped them bring water and carry pots across long distances.
They could carry small children along on the cycle.
It helped carry vegetables and farm produce to the market.
They could bring groceries and household items easily.
They performed many tasks without difficulty.
Cycling increased their income and widened their market access.
Truly, the cycle became a divine gift for the women of Pudukottai.
Who
Benefited?
Cycling helped women of all professions and backgrounds.
Many neo-cyclists were neo-literates.
No rural woman between 15–50 years was left out of the movement.
The beneficiaries included:
Agricultural labourers, Quarry workers, Gem cutters, Village health nurses, Balawadi
teachers, Anganwadi workers, School teachers, Mid-day meal workers,Gram sevikas
2. Describe how the literacy movement and
the cycle movement helped each other.
The
literacy movement called “Arivoli Iyakkam” (Light of Knowledge Movement) had
been active in Pudukottai for years.
But it was not very effective earlier.
When the new D.C., Sheela Rani Chunkath, arrived, she studied the situation
carefully.
She understood that women’s lack of mobility was the main reason for the slow
progress of literacy classes.
She trained all literacy volunteers in cycling so they could reach distant
villages easily.
Banks were encouraged to give loans to women to buy bicycles.
Not just activists, but thousands of rural women became eager to learn cycling.
Neo-cyclists soon turned into neo-literates as well.
Literacy gave them dignity and social respect.
Education empowered them to ignore rude remarks and face criticism boldly.
Thus, cycling supported literacy, and literacy strengthened the cycle movement.
Both movements helped each other and achieved great success.
With the D.C.’s support, rural women moved ahead bravely and confidently.
WATER – CHALLAPALLI SWAROOPA RANI
About the Poem
“Water”
is a strong and emotional poem written by Challapalli Swaroopa Rani.
The poet shows the suffering of Dalits (Panchamas) through the symbol of water.
Being a Dalit herself, she expresses their long history of pain and humiliation.
Key Points
Exploitation Through Water
Panchamas
struggled even for basic needs like water.
Wells and ponds were kept only for upper castes.
A Panchama girl waited the whole day at the well with her empty pot.
When a shudra poured water, he either sprinkled it from above or touched her,
causing insult.
She stayed quiet and helpless just to get some water.
Dalits often faced day-long thirst for a single glass of water.
Their weekly bath felt like a “grand celebration,” while upper castes bathed
comfortably twice a day.
Suffering and Struggle
Dalits
walked long distances with heavy pots on their heads.
Generations shed tears, and blood flowed—for the sake of water.
Still, water was denied to them though it was their basic right.
For them, water is not simply H₂O — it stands for revolt and change.
A glass of water reminds them of their painful struggles:
Karamchedu: Suvarthamma’s anger against Kamma landlords and the violence that
followed.
Mahad Struggle: The fight for Dalit rights to use Chadarlake water.
Mallapalle: The shocking incident of a village burnt completely.
Water as Witness
Water
has silently watched centuries of injustice.
It has been a cause of conflict not just between village and wada, but even
between states.
General Truths About Water
Water
gives life but can also destroy.
When denied to the thirsty, it becomes a tool of oppression.
When angry, it causes destruction through floods, cyclones, and tsunamis.
Modern-Day Exploitation
Today,
water has created a new form of conflict.
Stored quietly in a Bisleri bottle, it shows class difference.
It has become a global market product.
In the past, water was used to exploit people—
Is water exploiting us even today?
The poem ends with this serious question.
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