SNAKE 10th std

Answer the following questions briefly:

a) Why does the poet decide to stand and wait till the snake has finished drinking?
What does this tell you about the poet?

The poet decides to stand and wait till the snake has finished drinking because he was second to come over there. The snake was the first comer. Unless the snake was gone, he couldn’t go to the trough.

(b) In stanza 2 and 3, the poet gives a vivid description of the snake by using suggestive expressions. What picture of the snake do you form on the basis of this description?

In the above mentioned stanzas, the picture of the snake emerges very beautiful and clear.The snake is yellow-brown or golden-brown in colour. It weakly trails his soft belly over the edge of the stone trough. It seems tired and thirsty and drank water slowly. Just like a cattle, it raises its head and then drinks some more water. It has a two-forked tongue, which it flickered and mused while drinking.

(c) How does the poet describe the day and the atmosphere when he saw the snake?
It was a very hot day in Sicily, in the summer month of July. The earth was parched and dry and Mount Etna was sending out fumes, which made the day even more hot. But the water trough was under the scented Carob- tree.

(d) What does the poet want to convey by saying that the snake emerges from the 'burning bowels of the earth'?
By this the poet wants to convey that there is intense heat inside the hole of the earth as it is burning.

(e) Do you think the snake was conscious of the poet's presence? How do you know?
No, the snake was not conscious of the poet’s presence. He looked around vaguely but did not notice or even simply it ignored the poet. If he had been conscious, then the snake would not have mused in between drinking water nor would have taken so much time in drinking water. It would have vanished very quickly.

(f) How do we know that the snake's thirst was satiated? Pick out the expressions that convey this.
The snake’s thirst was satiated as it looked dreamily after drinking the water. The expressions used to justify the same are: ‘and flickered his two-forked tongue’, ‘mused a moment’, ‘he drank enough’, ‘and lifted his head dreamily.’

(g) The poet has a dual attitude towards the snake. Why does he experience conflicting emotions on seeing the snake?
The poet is both afraid of the snake and is also fascinated by it. Social education had taught the poet that all snakes are poisonous so they must be struck down, whereas the snake’s dignified manner evokes the poet’s admiration. These dual responses were like two voices that make the poet strike at the snake, much against his wishes.

(h) The poet is filled with horror and protest when the snake prepares to retreat and bury itself in the 'horrid black', 'dreadful' hole. In the light of this statement, bring out the irony of his act of throwing a log at the snake.
The irony of the situation lies in the fact that the poet likes the snake for its beauty and considered it like a king and a guest, yet he hit the snake with a log. Moreover, though he did not want it to go, his act forces the snake to leave immediately.

(i) The poet seems to be full of admiration and respect for the snake. He almost regards him like a majestic God. Pick out at least four expressions from the poem that reflect these emotions.
The expressions are: ‘and flickered his two-forked tongue/ from his lips’, ‘and mused a moment’, ‘But must I confess, I liked him’, ‘How glad I was…’, ‘like a guest in quiet’, ‘I stared with fascination’, ‘Like a king in exile.’

(j) What is the difference between the snake's movement at the beginning of the poem and later when the poet strikes it with a log of wood? You may use relevant vocabulary from the poem to highlight the difference.
The snake’s movement at the beginning is ‘slack’ and relaxed. He takes a lot of time to drink water and sips and enjoys it by licking his lips. After drinking water, he moves as ‘dreamily, as one who is drunk’ and very slowly goes back to the crack in the wall. When the poet throws a log at his tail, he vanishes very quickly, with the speed of lightning, in an undignified manner.

(k) The poet experiences feelings of self-derision, guilt and regret after hitting the snake. Pick out expressions that suggest this. Why does he feel like this?
The expressions are ‘A sort of horror, a sort of protest’, ‘I thought how paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act!’, ‘I despised myself’, ‘to expiate’, ‘A pettiness’.
The poet feels this way because he feel regret and realizes that he shouldn’t have thrown a log to kill the snake.

(l) You have already read Coleridge's poem The Ancient Mariner in which an albatross is killed by the mariner. Why does the poet make an allusion to the albatross?
The Ancient Mariner had also killed the albatross for no reason and here also the snake had proved to be harmless, yet the poet tried to kill it. Later on both the mariner and the poet regret their decision. The Mariner has to make amends by being punished and here also the poet is already thinking of compensating for the crime committed.

(m) 'I have something to expiate'-Explain.
It means that the poet has something to regret for ever. This is that he shouldn’t have thrown a stick to kill the snake.

(n) The poet has also used both repetition and similes in the poem. For example-'must wait, must stand and wait' (repetition) and 'looked at me vaguely as cattle do' (simile). Pick out examples of both and make a list of them in your notebooks.
Give reasons why the poet uses these literary devices.

Repetition:
Hot, hot day;
Earth brown, earth golden;
Was it cowardice, was it perversity, was it humility;
I was afraid, I was most afraid;
And slowly, very slowly, as if thrice a dream.

Simile:
As drinking/ cattle do;
And lifted around like a god;
And slowly, very slowly, as if thrice a dream;
And lifted his head, dreamily, as one who has drunken;
and I, like a second comer;
like a king in exile;
he had come like a guest;
writhed like lightening.

10std JULIUS CAESER

JULIUS CAESER

1)Describe Caesar's encounter with the soothsayer. 

As Caesar passes through the crowd the soothsayer cries out to him, warning him to "beware the ides of March." Caesar dismisses the soothsayer as a dreamer and continues on. Caesar’s encounter with the soothsayer foreshadows his assassination in the senate on March 15, 44 BC.

2) What is most significant about the meeting between Cassius and Brutus?

Cassius presents his best argument to convince Brutus, his close friend and brother-in-law, to conspire with him to assassinate Caesar. Brutus reveals he has concerns about the state of the Republic, but will not commit outright to join with Cassius. 

3) How does Cassius trick Brutus into joining the conspirators?

Cassius fabricates a petition, pretending it is from the angry citizens demanding Caesar's removal, and he throws it in Brutus's window. The welfare of Rome drives Brutus, and Cassius knows Brutus will give the people what they desire.

4) After an ominous dream, Calpurnia begs Caesar to stay away from the senate and, at first, he agrees. What changes his mind? 

Decius, a conspirator whose role it is to guarantee Caesar is in the Capitol that day, favorably interprets Calpurnia's dream and then chides Caesar for yielding to his wife's whims. Decius adds that the senate is planning again to offer Caesar a crown, and Caesar gives in to vanity. He leaves Calpurnia and accompanies Decius to the Capitol.

5) What is the significance of Caesar's dying words, "Ettu, Brutus? Then fall, Caesar!"? 

The conspirators gather around Caesar and he sees his trusted friend Brutus among them. Stunned that Brutus is among his assassins, Caesar cries out, "and you too, Brutus?" This famous line is important because it sets Brutus apart from the other conspirators. There is no doubt that Brutus's self-serving and ambitious accomplices have committed an indefensible act, but with Caesar's final utterance we recognize that the self-sacrificing and noble Brutus has perpetrated the same heinous crime – his motivation is rendered immaterial. For this moment, Brutus the idealist becomes Brutus the murderer. 

6) Who turns the people of Rome against Brutus?

After Brutus addresses the Roman mob, successfully assuring them that Caesar's murder was necessary to preserve their freedoms, Antony delivers his cleverly crafted speech in defense of Caesar. While making sure not to condemn Brutus and the conspirators, he argues that Caesar had no plan to turn Rome into a dictatorship. He reminds the crowd that Caesar was offered a "kingly crown" three times and refused each time.

7) Describe the encounter between Brutus and Caesar's ghost.

Cassius retires for the evening and Brutus calls two of his servants, Claudio and Varro, to stay with him through the night. The servants quickly fall asleep and Brutus starts to read. With the flicker of the candle Brutus's eyes are distracted upward, to see the ghost of Caesar standing beside him. The ghost tells Brutus that they will meet again at Philippi and vanishes.

8) Cassius asks Brutus what he plans to do if they should lose the battle. What is Brutus's response?

Brutus says that, since he finds the act of suicide cowardly ,So he will have little choice but to be patient and yield to whatever fate dictates. He adds that he will never return to Rome as a prisoner. That Brutus nevertheless dies by his own hand at the end of the play adds to his tragedy.

9) How does Cassius die?

Cassius knows that he too will soon be captured by Antony and Octavius, and will certainly be dragged through the streets of Rome in chains. He orders Pindarus to hold his sword while he impales his chest on the blade.

10) Explain the significance of Antony's final speech, beginning with the line, "This was the noblest Roman of them all".

Antony's speech serves to restore Brutus to the position of tragic hero. Antony can see in Brutus the morality he does not himself possess - the capability to act selflessly for the common good. Brutus's pride and political naivety have led to his destruction, but his ideals are etched into the memory of his enemies.

Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) How do the heavens 'blaze forth' the death of Julius Caesar?

Answer

Calpurnia sees ill-omens that predict the death of Caesar beforehand. The heavens predict the death princes and great kings. She saw a lioness giving birth on the streets, fierce warriors fighting a bloody fight and blood falling on the Capitol, ghosts shrieking and squealing in the streets, the dead coming out of the grave. All these were unnatural happenings and indicated bad omen. Thus heavens “blaze forth” the death of Julius Caesar. All this signalled that someone as powerful as Caesar was bound to suffer.

(b) What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?

Answer

Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar of an ill-omen that she has seen her nightmares, which does mean a grave danger to Caesar’s life. She tries to convince Caesar not to go out as she fears he nightmares might turn true and Caesar might face danger for his life.

(c) Why does Calpurnia say Caesar's 'wisdom is consumed in confidence'? What does she mean?

Answer

Calpurnia says that Caesar's 'wisdom is consumed in confidence' because Caesar decides to go to the Senate ignoring all the signs which foretell him about danger. Calpurnia felt that Caesar had become overconfident and because of this he couldn’t understand there was a threat to his life. Julius doesn’t act wise and declines the idea of staying back because if he did so, he would be considered a coward.

(d) What does Calpurnia dream about Caesar? How does Decius Brutus interpret the dream?

Answer

Calpurnia dreamt that Caesar’s statue spouted blood from a hundred places and many Roman people came and washed their hands in it. Decius Brutus interprets it as a lucky and fortunate dream. He says that Rome and Romans will get a new life. Great man shall gather around Caesar and stain their handkerchief in his blood. Distinguished men will get honour at his hands and everything relating to him will be held in utmost reverence.

(e) What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol?

Answer

Decius Brutus, being a flatterer, interprets Calpurnia's dream as fair and fortunate one. Caesar's statue spouting blood from hundred places signifies his influence and reverence for him. He further says that the Senate has concluded to crown him. In case Caesar doest no go to the Senate House that day, they may change their mind and he may miss such a golden opportunity to be the Roman king.

(f) Why is Decius more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar?

Answer

Decius Brutus is a great flatterer. He is more successful in persuading Caesar than Calpurnia because his argument appeals to Caesar’s pride. While Calpurnia wishes that Caesar stay at home after seeing horrible dreams, Decius Brutus interprets the dreams lucky and fortunate. According to him, they signify Caesar’s power and influence. He gives Caesar’s ego a boost. Caesar is totally carried away by his words and decides to go to the Capitol.

(g) What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators? How does Caesar respond to it?

Answer

The conspirators want that Caesar should call Publius Cimber home as he had banished him. They request him to review his earlier decision. However, Caesar is in no mood to relent. He tells the conspirators that he is firm like a Pole Star. His heart will not be softened by bowing and stooping activities and if Mettellus Cimber continues such activities, he would turn him away like a street dog.

(h) Who says "Ettu Brute"? When are these words spoken? Why?

Answer

Caesar utters these words which mean, “You too, Brutus”. These are uttered when Brutus stabs Caesar and Caesar is too hurt to see that even his dear and trusted friend Brutus could resort to such treachery.

(i) In the moments following Caesar's death what do the conspirators proclaim to justify Caesar's death?

Answer

After Caesar’s death, the conspirators claim that with Caesar’s death tyranny has ended in Rome. They shout slogans like ‘Peace, Liberty, Freedom and Enfranchisement’. They say that although Caesar was a great man, he had become too ambitious.

(j) Seeing the body of Caesar, Antony is overcome by grief. What does he say about Caesar?

Answer

Antony is overwhelmed with grief on seeing Caesar's dead body. He exclaims that inspite of Caesars' conquests, glories, triumphs and spoils, he lies so "low". He offers to be killed and lie by Caesar's side whom he calls the choice and master spirits of this age and "most noble".

(k) Whom does Antony call 'the choice and master spirits of this age"? Why?

Answer

Antony calls the conspirators “the choice and master spirits of this age”. He says this because they had just killed the leader of the Roman Empire.

(l) How do Brutus and Cassius respond to Antony's speech?

Answer

After listening to Antony's speech, Brutus assures him that even though the deed seems bloody, their intentions were worthy. Their pity for the common people of Rome overrode their pity for Caesar. Cassius offers Antony new position in the government.

(m) Why does Cassius object to allowing Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral? How does Brutus overcome this objection?

Answer

Cassius does not think it would be proper Antony should speak at Caesar’s funeral as his speech may change the mind of the audience. But Brutus tells that Antony would only speak with their consent and he will speak first and his speech will enumerate reasons for Caesar’s death.

(n) What are the conditions imposed by the conspirators before allowing Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral?

Answer

The conditions imposed on Mark Antony were that in his funeral speech he would not blame the conspirators, but speak all good things about Caesar. He had to speak from the same pulpit as Brutus and tell the people that he did so by the conspirators’ permission.

(o) When he is left alone with the body of Caesar what does Anthony call Brutus and the others?

Answer

Antony curses the murderers and he seeks forgiveness for being polite to them. He calls them ‘butchers’ who killed the noblest of men.

(p) What prediction does Antony make regarding the future events in Rome?

Answer

Antony prophesies that Italy will be ravaged with civil war, violence and extreme bloodshed will leave the earth full of dead bodies. Goddess of revenge will descend on earth with Caesar’s spirit and the stench of dead bodies will fill the earth.

(q) What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar?

Answer

Brutus tells that he killed Caesar because he had become ambitious and wanted to be the king of Rome. He killed Caesar for the betterment of Rome. He was also ready to lay down his life for his country. He honoured Caesar as long as he was heroic but when he became ambitious he killed him.

(r) Who says, "Let him be Caesar"? What light does this throw on the speaker?

Answer

The third citizen says "Let him be Caesar" after Brutus has finished his speech justifying Caesar’s killing. Brutus in his speech proclaims that the public can kill him if he too becomes ambitious like Caesar. He has the same dagger for himself and he is willing to lay down his life for his country. The citizens are fully satisfied. They praise Brutus and show their sympathy for the act.

(s) Why is Antony's speech more effective?

Answer

Antony’s speech is more effective because it is genuine and full of emotions and feelings for Caesar. He very cleverly tells the crowd that Caesar was not ambitious rather he had refused the crown thrice. He enhanced the glory of Rome with his victories. He left 75 drachmas in his will to be given to every Roman. He left his gardens and property for the common use of the people. He tries to gain the sympathy of the people by showing Caesar’s wounded body. The mob is filled with anger after Antony’s speech and they rush to kill the conspirators.

(t) At the end of the scene what is the fate of Brutus and Cassius?

Answer

After Antony’s speech, the mob is filled with anger. The armies of Octavius Caesar and Antony clash with those of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi and Sardis. Brutus and Cassius are defeated and both commit suicide.

10th std VIRTUALLY TRUE

VIRTUALLY TRUE

1. According to the newspaper, what had happened to Sebastian Shultz?

Sebastian Shultz was badly injured in a car accident. His condition was described by doctors as critical but stable. In spite of doctors’ efforts Sebastian could not regain consciousness. He went into coma.

2. 'Dad's nutty about computers.' What evidence is there to support this statement?
The narrator’s father was most crazy for computer for he bought a lot of such things at the Computer Fair. He bought a Pentium Processor, a Ram, 1.2 GB hard disk and 16 speed CD ROMs, with speakers, printer, modem and a scanner.

3. In what way did the second game seem very real?
The second was DRAGON QUEST. The narrator felt that he was really walking in the Dragon’s castle where they were being pursued by the dragon; the narrator felt it was like a real chase and even felt the dragon’s hot breath on his face.

4. The last game has tanks, jeeps, helicopters, guns and headings would you put this and the other games under?
Warzone can be categorized under simulation games. Wildwest is a strategy game. Dragonquest is a fantasy role-playing game and Jailbreak is an action game.

5. What was Michael's theory about how Sebastian had entered the games?
According to Michael, Sebastian was probably playing those games when he banged his head in the accident. The computer had saved his memory into its own. Michael bought a lot of games at the fair. Some of them were the stolen ones of Sebastian. When Michael was playing those games, the computer was trying to retrieve Sebastian’s memory.

Reference To Context

Read these lines from the story, then answer the questions.

'That was my idea' said Sebastian excitedly.' If only it would go a big faster’.
1.Where was Sebastian when he spoke these words?

Sebastian was on the roof with the narrator and was waiting for the helicopter.

2. What was his idea, and what was he referring to?

Sebastian was referring to be rescued by a helicopter from the jail, before the guards catch up on him.

3. Was the idea a good one, and did it eventually succeed? How?

Yes, of course, it was a good idea to catch a helicopter. However, the helicopter was slow in landing. The jail guards and dogs caught up with Sebastian. The dogs hurled at Sebastian. To escape the dogs, Sebastian stepped backwards and slipped and fell on the concrete below. Eventually, Sebastian was able to board the helicopter and was rescued. Thus, Michael succeeded in saving and bringing Sebastian back to life.

 Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) Why did the news of the 'miracle recovery' shock Michael?

The news article mentioned that a fourteen-year-old boy called Sebastian Shultz, who had gone into a coma following the accident, had miraculously recovered. Michael was shocked to read this. When he saw the picture of Sebastian, he realised that he was the same person whom he had met in the virtual world and was trying to rescue him. Michael couldn’t understand that how he could meet Sebastian if he was in coma.

(b) Michael's meeting with Sebastian Shultz had been a chance meeting. Where had it taken place and how?

Michael’s chance meeting with Sebastian had taken place in the virtual world. He had met Sebastian for the first time in a game called Wildwest. He was playing the Sheriff. There was an altercation with Black-eyed Jed and he was going to meet him out of the saloon. Before he could go, he saw another Sheriff, very different from the other computer images. Later he discovered it had been Sebastian Shultz.

(c) What kind of computers fascinated Michael and his dad? Why?

Michael and his dad had recently bought a Pentium 150 MHz processor, with 256 of RAM, a 1.2 GB hard disk drive and 16 speed CD ROM, complete with speakers, printer, modem and scanner. This computer could do anything: paint, play music, create displays and even make rubbish homework look fantastic.

(d) Describe the first place where Michael was virtually transported.

The first place Michael was transported was the time period between the American Civil war and end of the 19th century. (mid 1830’s-1920). Geographically, it was west America. Michael was playing a game called Wildwest where he was a Sheriff caught in a gun fight in a saloon.

(e) What help did Sebastian Shultz ask Michael for? How did he convey this message?

Sebastian Shultz was in the virtual world when his accident took place. As a result he got stuck there. He encountered Michael in this virtual world. He wanted Michael to rescue him. He sent a message to Michael, which appeared on his printer.

(f) Why did Michael fail in rescuing Sebastian Shultz the first time?

Michael had followed Sebastian through the chase and they ended up in the saloon. Then Sebastian dived out and both were sitting on the horseback, chased by men on horseback. Sebastian told Michael to keep his head down but he himself was shot by a bullet and slumped back near him. Before Michael could do anything the game got over.

(g) The second attempt to rescue Sebastian Shultz too was disastrous. Give reasons.

Sebastian chopped the princess’s long plaits and tied them together to form a rope and managed to flee from the tower. He and Michael headed towards the dungeons. However, the dragon followed them. As they were going down the steps, the dragon appeared and caught Sebastian. Michael tried to kill the dragon but he had already taken Sebastian. Thus, the second attempt to save Sebastian failed as well.

(h) Narrate the accident that injured Sebastian Shultz.

It happened in WARZONE, where both Sebastian and Michael were trying to escape a city which was exploding with machine-guns and bombs. They jumped into a jeep and Michael managed to get into a helicopter but Sebastian couldn't get out of the jeep. The jeep had clashed with a tank and Sebastian landed on the ground injured.

(i) How had Sebastian Shultz entered the games?

At the time of the accident, Sebastian was using his computer to play one of the psycho-drive games. He was plugged on to the computer when his head banged in the accident. The computer had saved his memory in its own. Thus, Sebastian had entered the games but could not come out of it.

(j) How was Sebastian Shultz's memory stored on Michael's disk? Did Michael discover that?

When Sebastian had met with an accident, the computer had saved his memory as its own. Michael discovered later that the games disk had got stolen in the hospital and he had ended up buying those computer games.

4. Sebastian Shultz had a close brush with death. After he recovers, he returns to school and narrates his experience to his classmates. As Sebastian Shultz, narrate your experience.

Hi friends, great to see you all. I had almost lost hope to meet you all again ever. Six weeks ago, I was on my way out of town with some friends for a weekend. I had my laptop with me. It was a four-hour journey to our destination. So, to engage myself, I logged on to one of my psycho-drive games. After an hour of driving on the highway, the car suddenly screeched to a halt. Since we were driving at a great speed, the driver lost control of the car and car somersaulted before falling into a ditch. As the car fell into the ditch, my head hit against the roof of the car and everything blacked out. I don’t remember what happened to me after that. I was told that I had slipped into coma and only a miracle had brought me back. Another miraculous
thing happened to me. At the time of the accident, I was in the midst of a game. Although, I entered it I couldn't come out of it. Somebody stole my lot of games while I was in the hospital. Some of those were bought by a person called Michael, who rescued me and got me out. So, indirectly he is my Saviour. I am planning to meet him soon. It is great to be back friends! I have had a harrowing time, VIRTUALLY!!

10th std THE RIME OF ANCIENT MARINER

THE RIME OF ANCIENT MARINER

Answer the following questions briefly

(a) How did the ancient mariner stop the wedding guest?

Answer

The ancient mariner held the wedding guest with his skinny hand, and forced him into listening to him, capturing his attention with his glittering eyes. His gaze was so strong and intense, that even though the wedding guest did not want to listen to the story, he was forced to, much against his will.

(b) Was the wedding guest happy to be stopped? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer

No, the wedding guest was not happy because he was forcibly detained by the ancient mariner whereas he being a close relative of the bridegroom, was expected to reach there well in time. The guests had already arrived there. The feast was set. The loud sound of bassoon could be heard.

(c) Describe the ancient mariner.

Answer

The ancient mariner looks like a lunatic with his grey long beard with glittering eyes, His hands were rough and skinny and he had a mesmerizing gaze. The mariner was badly ridden with a sense of guilt and remorse after the wanton act of killing the Albatross. He is cursed to be haunted indefinitely by his dead shipmates, and to be compelled to tell the tale of his downfall at random times.

(d) How does the mariner describe the movement of the ship as it sails away from the land?

Answer

The mariner described the movement of the ship as it sailed away from the land in a very animated and interesting way. His description was so realistic that the wedding guest was mesmerized. As the ship moved southward, the weather was pleasant. But soon the weather started changing for the worst. First, a storm broke. It later turned to mist and snow, due to which their ship was stuck in ice.

(e) What kind of weather did the sailors enjoy at the beginning of their journey? How has it been expressed in the poem?

Answer

The weather was pleasant and sunny at the beginning of the journey.

The sun came as if appearing from the innards of the sea. The sun was bright day after day during the initial phase of the journey.

(f) How did the sailors reach the land of mist and snow?

Answer

The sailor started their journey happily. But after a very short spell of smooth journey a very turbulent and violent sea-storm rose. The storm was so powerful that it completely overtook the ship and drove the ship to the extreme South. In this way, the sailors reached the land of mist and snow.

(g) How does the mariner express the fact that the ship was completely surrounded by icebergs?

Answer

The words “the ice was here, the ice was there, the ice was all around,” gives us the picture of the ship surrounded, or rather, caught completely by the icebergs.

(h) How do we know that the albatross was not afraid of the humans? Why did the sailors hail it in God’s name?

Answer

Albatross didn't fear humans because it followed the mariners day and night and ate and played with them as well. The sailors hailed it in God’s name because it was a messenger from God which lifted the fog and mist.

(i) What was the terrible deed done by the Mariner? Why do you think he did it?

Answer

The terrible deed done by the Mariner was that he shot the albatross. I think he did it because he considered its presence to be a bad omen.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

(a) In which direction did the ship start moving? How can you say?

Answer

The ship started moving northwards. This can be said because the line in the poem says: “the sun now rose upon the right.”

(b) Why does the mariner say that 'no sweet bird did follow'?

Answer

The mariner says that no sweet bird did follow with reference to the albatross which followed them a few days back, and now is dead.

(c) How did the other mariners behave towards the Ancient Mariner at first? How many times did they change their mind about the Ancient Mariner? What does this tell us about their character?

Answer

The other mariners rebuked him at first to have killed the albatross. However, they changed their mind immediately after that to praise the ancient mariner who killed the bird which brought in fog and mist. This shows how confused the mariners were, to set up a fixed notion about the ancient sailor.

(d) How did the sailing conditions change after the ship had moved out of the land of mist and snow? What or who did the mariners blame for this change?

Answer

The sailing condition changed for the worst after the ship had moved out of the land of mist and snow. Their ship was stuck in the silent sea. The breeze dropped down, making the sails drop down as well. The ship came to a standstill. The mariners blamed the ancient mariner for this change because he had killed the albatross which brought the breeze.

(e) What is indicated by the line 'The bloody sun, at noon,/Right up above the mast did stand,/No bigger than the moon'?

Answer

This line indicates the excessive heat of the sun, which shone above the mast at noon. The word
‘bloody’ shows how unwelcome the sun was.

(f) How does the mariner describe the fact that they were completely motionless in the middle of the sea?

Answer

The stanza “Day after day, day after day,/We stuck, nor breath nor motion,/As idle as a painted ship/Upon a painted ocean,” portrays a still picture of the sea and the ship.

(g) What is the irony in the ninth stanza? Explain it in your own words.

Answer

The ship was surrounded by the water on all sides. The sailors were in the middle of so much water but they did not have single drop of water to drink. The water of the ocean is salty, and thus inappropriate for the sailors to quench their thirst.

(h) What is the narrator trying to convey through the description of the situation in the tenth and eleventh stanza?

Answer

In these stanzas, the narrator tries to convey the standstill description of the ocean and the ship. Everything rot because of the motionless sea. Animals from deep within the ocean had come out of their places and crawled in the slimy sea.
At night, the 'death-fires' seemed to dance near them. The narrator refers to the sea water as the witch's oil. Just like a witch's oil has many shades and keeps boiling, the sea water also had 'green, blue and white' colours. However, this was due to the different coloured creatures crawling in the sea.

(i) What or who did the mariners feel was responsible for their suffering?

Answer

The mariners feel the absence of the albatross is the reason for their suffering. Thus, they blame the ancient mariner for killing the albatross.

(j) Describe the condition of the mariners as expressed in the thirteenth stanza.

Answer

The mariners were feeling thirsty but they didn't have water to quench their thirst. Their tongue had become completely dry at the root. They couldn't speak because they felt if their throats were chocked with soot.

(k) Why did the mariners hang the albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner?

Answer

The mariners hung the albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner as a cursed reminder, so that the thought could plague him for the rest of his life.