10th Std Anne Gregory

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1. What was not liked by the young men?

Ans. The young men do not love the real person but love the appearances. Everyone wants one should be loved for his actual personality and not by what he looks like. The young man does not like grey or yellow hair and they do not care for inner beauty but loves the physical beauty.

2. The young woman’s hair is yellow coloured. She is ready to change her hair colour to another colour. Why would she want to do so?

Ans. The young woman is ready to do so because she wants someone to love her. Moreover’ she wants that someone should love her for her inner beauty and not for the colour of her hair.

3. What is the central idea of the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’?

Ans. The central theme of the poem is that young men often love appearances and not the real person within. Everyone wants that he or she should be loved for what he or she is from inside. The poet feels that only inner beauty is the true essence of life. The poem states that physical beauty may be important for young men or the human beings.He the almighty loves the human beings irrespective of their colour or physical features.

4. What does the old religious man have to say?

Ans. The old religious man says that he has found a text which proves that only God could love us for ourselves alone and not for physical beauty. He is the only one who truly loves us, as he has created us the way we are.

Q.5. What is the central idea of the poem `For Anne Gregory’?

Ans. The poem conveys the idea that physical beauty may be important for young men or human beings. But God does not love human beings for their physical beauty. In this poem, the poet gives an example of a lover who loves the yellow hair of a young lady but does not like her ramparts. The lady disapproves his love.

Q.6. To whom is the first stanza of the poem addressed? What does the speaker say to her?

Ans. The first stanza of the poem is addressed to a lady named Anne Gregory. She had a great influence on the poet. He had great respect for her. He tells her that although she is a noble lady, yet nobody would love her for herself alone.

Q.7. What makes a young man not to love the woman referred to in the first stanza?

Ans. The woman has beautiful yellow hair. But the outer part of her ears is not attractive. The poet says that never shall man love her only for herself.

Q.8. What does the woman say she can do to make herself more desirable to young men? What does this show?

Ans. The woman says that she would dye her hair brown, black or in carrot colour. This shows that young men give more importance to physical appearance than inner beauty.

Q.9. What does the religious man tell the poet about God’s love for man?

Ans. The religious man has told the poet that he has found a religious text. According to that, God loves a person, not for his or her physical qualities. He loves human beings for their inner qualities.


Q10. Why shall a young person never be thrown into despair?

Ans. Generally, a young man develops some fascination for a beautiful lady. Sometimes the external appearance of the lady affects him deeply. The honey-coloured hair of the lady may lead him to love her without caring for the inherent qualities of her head and heart. It may throw him into despair.

Q11. What are those ‘great honey-coloured ramparts’ at the ears of that young lady? What is the poetic device used here?

Ans. The blonde hair of Anne Gregory is honey-coloured. The long honey-coloured hair falls down in curls covering her ears. The long hair falling on the ears look like the wide walls or ramparts around a fort. The poet uses ‘metaphor’ quite effectively to produce the desired effect.

Q12. Why should a young man never love a young woman for ‘herself alone’?

Ans. A young man is generally attracted by the outward appearances of a young woman. Her beautiful face or her blonde hair may attract him towards her. It is quite possible that a young man may never love a woman for what she actually is. He never loves her for ‘herself alone’.

Q13. What does the lady want to do and why?

Ans. The young lady, Anne Gregory doesn’t like that a young man should love her for her external appearance or for her beautiful yellow hair. External appearances can easily be changed. She can dye her hair black, brown or of carrot’s, the way she likes. She wants that she should be loved not for her yellow hair but for ‘herself-alone’.

Q14. Why doesn’t the young woman like to be loved for her yellow hair? What does she want to prove?

Ans. The young lady has a point to prove. She wants to prove that she can change her external appearance or the colour of her hair easily. She can dye her hair brown, black or of carrot’s colour. But she doesn’t want to be loved for her beautiful long yellow hair. She should be loved for `herself alone’ or for what she actually is.

Q15. What did the old religious man declare? What did he want to prove?

Ans. The poet heard an old religious man declare one truth the previous night. He quoted a text to prove his point. He wanted to prove that only God can love a woman for ‘herself alone’ without caring for her beautiful exterior or yellow hair. Human beings can’t resist external temptations or appearances.

Q16. What is the difference between God’s attitude towards a young woman and the attitude of humans towards her?

Ans. God goes beyond external appearances. God loves a woman for ‘herself alone’. He pays no attention to her beautiful looks or yellow hair. On the other hand, humans can’t go beyond outward appearances and beautiful yellow hair.

Q17. What is the theme or the central idea of the poem?

Ans. In ‘For Anne Gregory’ W.B. Yeats gives a definite message. Human beings can’t go beyond external appearances. Their love is just skin-deep. A young woman like Anne Gregory may be liked and loved not for what she actually is but for the colour of her hair. Only godliness in man can penetrate and go beyond these physical appearances and see the inner beauty and nobility of the soul.

Q18. What are the honey-coloured ramparts?

Ans. The ramparts are the honey-coloured or golden hair of the young woman hanging down her ears for a kind of defensive wall for her rosy cheeks, red lips and starry eyes.

Q19. How will the hair-dye help Anne?

Ans. The hair-dye will help Anne in changing the colour of her hair from yellow to brown or black or carrot. Thus she would prove that a young lover loves her for herself alone and not for her honey coloured hair.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. Do we love people because we like their appearances or we are fascinated by their physical appearances? How does Anne Gregory want to be loved?

Ans. This is the world of pomp and show. Things and people are often liked and loved not because of their merit but because of their external appearances. Anne Gregory’s honey-coloured yellowish hair look like the ramparts of a fort when they fall on her ears. There are many who love Anne Gregory only for her yellow hair. However, Anne doesn’t like to be liked and loved this way. After all, how does the colour matter? She can dye her hair the way she likes. She can dye them brown, black, of carrot’s colour or the way she likes. If her lover likes only for her beautiful hair, she won’t accept him. She should be loved for `herself alone’. But this world doesn’t go by her wish. Only God can love a person for what he is. Human beings will go on being tempted by beautiful yellow hair.

Q2. Appearances may be deceptive. People are not objects,they should be valued for being themselves. What lesson does the poet want to give to the readers through this poem?

Ans. Truly stated that people are not objects and appearances may be deceptive. A person should be liked and loved for being himself or ‘herself. Outwardly appearances do tempt and dazzle us. There may be many persons who would love to see Anne’s beautiful hair falling over her ears like the ramparts of a fort. Many would love Anne Gregory for her beautiful yellow hair. It would be difficult to find a real lover who loves Anne for `herself alone’. What is so great about yellow hair? Anne ridicules the idea of being loved for her yellow hair. She can dye her hair the way she likes — brown, black, carrot or yellow. But the irony of this world is that people will go on being tempted and dazzled by glamour, show and outwardly appearances. Only God can love a person for ‘himself or herself’ alone.

10th Std Bholi

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1.” God cannot be everywhere, so he created Mothers”. Do you think Bholi’s mother complies with this statement? Give reasons supporting your answer.                           

Ans. Bholi’s mother does not comply with this statement at all for certain reasons like ,Bholi’s mother never took care of her , neither in childhood nor in young age,She was not concerned even about her studies or clothing.
 She did not bother about Bholi’s groom. Whether he was an aged person, limping or a greedy one, whether he will honour her daughter or keep her as a slave in his house,she has never shown concern towards her for any thing.

2. Describe Bholi’s feelings when her teacher assured to make her the most learned in her village.

Ans. Bholi was sent to school because the Tehsildar compelled Ramlal to send one of his daughters to school, so that it may prove a role model for other girls. She was a slow learner and stammered while speaking and all the children in the school made fun of her. But her teacher encouraged her and made all efforts to make her the most learned in her village. She was impressed by her soft and soothing voice. She felt comfortable and stopped stammering. Now she was full of confidence and learned all the syllabus taught by her teacher.

3. Give two points to demonstrate that Bholi’s wedding was a grand one. 

Ans. Bholi’s marriage was fixed with Bishamber who had a big shop, his own house and several thousand in the bank. It was a grand marriage. A brass-band playing a popular tune from an Indian film headed the procession. Secondly, the bridegroom was riding on a decorated horse. He came there with a big party of friends and relatives which looked like a procession.

4. What two actions did Bholi take to stop her marriage to Bishamber?

Ans. Bholi’s marriage was going to take place with Bishamber who himself was forty-five or fifty years old. He also limped and had two children from his first wife. Even then he demanded 5000 rupees as dowry. Bholi stopped the marriage by throwing away the garland in the fire. She threw away the veil and asked her father to take back the money and refused to marry Bishamber.

5. How did Bholi console her father in the end?

Ans. Bholi consoled her father that even if she did not get married, she would take care of her parents in their old age. She also tells them that she would teach in the same school and earn her livelihood from where she had learnt so much .

6. Draw a conclusion as to why Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece.

Ans. Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece, when she realized how her soothing words, education, and motivation gave confidence to Bholi to face the world and transformed her from a girl who was unsure about herself and a backward child, to a bold and confident girl.

Q7. Why was Sulekha called Bholi, the simpleton?

Ans.` Sulekha’ means a woman who writes with a beautiful handwriting . Ironically, Bholi of the story was considered to be a backward child. She was called a ‘simpleton’ or a witless girl. She fell off her cot in early childhood, and a part of her brain was damaged. All the girls of Ramlal except Bholi were good looking and healthy. Bholi couldn’t speak properly and stammered. Her pock-marks made her far from being pretty. Everyone mocked and made fun of such a stammering simpleton.

8. What did the Tehsildar suggest to Ramlal?

Ans. The Tehsildar had come to the village to open the first elementary school for girls. He told Ramlal that as a revenue official he is the representative of the government in the village, and so should set an example for the villagers by sending his daughters to school.

9. Why was Sulekha nicknamed Bholi and why did Sulekha start stammering?

Ans. When Sulekha was ten months old, she fell down from the cot on her head. Some part of her brain was damaged. That was why she remained a backward child and came to be called as Bholi, the simpleton.
 Sulekha could not speak until she was five. When at last she learnt to speak she started stammering because other children often made fun of her and mimicked her.

10. Everyone’s first day at school is generally filled with fun, joy and happiness. How was Bholi’s first day at school?

Ans. The teacher gave her a book having colourful pictures of animals. With every picture was a word in big black letters. The teacher told her that she would be able to read that book in a month. Then she would give her a bigger book. She liked the book very much. Thus she enjoyed her first day in school.

11. How was Bholi different from the other children at home?

Ans. When Bholi was 10 months old, she fell from a cot. This damaged a part of her brain and affected her intelligence. She became a slow learner, a retarded child. So, she was called Bholi’, a simpleton. When she was two years old, she had an attack of smallpox that left pockmarks on her face and she looked ugly. Rest of her brothers and sisters were normal.

12. What idea do you form of Ramlal’s personality?

Ans. Ramlal was the revenue officer of the village. He was a prosperous farmer and had seven children. He was orthodox. He did not believe in the ideology of sending girls to school as it would be difficult to find a good match for them. He wanted to get rid of Bholi as she was ugly and not intelligent.

Q13. Describe two accidents that had disfigured Bholi and made her a backward child.

Ans. At birth, Bholi was very fair and pretty. When she was two years old, she had an attack of smallpox. Her entire body was permanently disfigured with deep pock-marks. When she was just ten months old, she fell off her cot. Perhaps a part of her brain was damaged. It made her a backward child. She learnt to speak at the age of five and stammered while speaking.

Q14.Was Ramlal happy to send Bholi to school? If not, why did he send her there?

Ans.No girl in the family had ever gone to school. Bholi’s mother believed if they sent their daughters to school, then no one would marry them. But an unexpected thing happened. The Tehsildar who inaugurated the first girl school in the village asked Ramlal to set an example before the villagers. He must send his daughters to school. Ramlal couldn’t afford to disobey the Tehsildar. So, Bholi was sent to school.

Q15. Why was Bholi frightened to go to school?

Ans. No girl in the family had ever gone to school. The next day, when Ramlal held her hand to take her to school, Bholi was frightened. She did not know what school was. She thought that perhaps her parents were punishing her away from the house by sending her to school. So, she cried in terror and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip.

Q16. What preparations were made to send Bholi to school? When did she begin to think that school was a better place than her home?

Ans. Ramlal asked his wife to arrange some decent clothes for Bholi. He didn’t want the teachers and other school girls to make any bad image of the family. Therefore, Bholi was lucky to get a clean dress that didn’t fit Champa. Bholi was bathed. Oil was rubbed into her dry and damaged hair. Only then Bholi began to think that she was going to a better place than to her home.

Q17.How was Bholi’s first day at the school? Did she enjoy it?

Ans. Ramlal handed over Bholi to the headmistress. She asked Bholi to sit down in a corner in one of the classes. Bholi was glad to find so many girls of her age in the class. She hoped to make one of them her friend. She couldn’t understand what the teacher was saying. She liked the pictures of birds and animals on the wall. The teacher asked her name but Bholi couldn’t pronounce it in spite of many efforts. The kind and friendly teacher encouraged her and Bholi could pronounce her name, “Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi”. The teacher patted her on her success. Bholi felt comforted and relieved.


Q18. How did the teacher help Bholi to pronounce her name full and clearly?

Ans. The teacher asked Bholi to tell her name. She could stammer “Bh-Bho-Bho” only. She began to cry, and tears rolled down her eyes. Girls still laughed at her. But the teacher comforted her. Her voice was very soothing. She made another effort but failed. The teacher encouraged her. And Bholi made the last effort and spoke, Bh — Bh — Bho — Bholi.” She was relieved as if it was a great achievement. The teacher patted her on her success.

Q19. “In time you will be more learned than anyone else in the village,” said the teacher to Bholi. What was the basis of reposting such confidence in a girl who even couldn’t pronounce her name properly?

Ans. Bholi stammered and couldn’t even pronounce her full name to the teacher. The teacher succeeded and made her speak: “Bh! Bh — Bho — Bholi.” She asked her to come to school every day. The teacher gave her a picture book and hoped that she would finish it within a month. In time, she would be more learned than anyone else in the village. Then, no one would ever be able to laugh at her.

Q20. When and why did Bholi feel that her heart was throbbing with new hope and a new life?

Ans. Bholi had achieved what she could have never even dreamed. With the encouragement and help of her teacher she could pronounce her name: “Bh —Bho — Bholi” and say: “Ye — Ye-Yes.” Then the teacher gave her a picture book. She was sure that Bholi would finish it within a week. In time she would be more learned than anyone in the village. Then, nobody would ever dare to laugh at her. Bholi felt her heart throbbing with new hope and new life.


Q21. Was Ramlal happy with Bishamber’s proposal? What was the opinion of Bholi’s mother about this unequal match?

Ans. Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks nor intelligence. The proposal of Bishamber for her marriage was a pleasant surprise for him. His wife gave acceptance to this unequal match. She felt that Bholi was lucky to have such a rich bridegroom. He had a big grocery  shop, his own house and several thousand rupees in the bank. Moreover, he was not asking for dowry,initially.

Q22. Was Bishamber Nath a suitable bridegroom for Bholi? Give your opinion.

Ans.No, Bishamber was not at all a suitable match for Bholi. No doubt, he was rich, had a big shop, a house of his own and thousands of rupees in the bank. But he was mean, greedy and a worthless man. When he came to know of the pock-marks on Bholi’s face, he demanded a dowry of 5000 rupees to marry her. Even the turban of Ramlal at his feet couldn’t melt his heart. Bholi did the right thing to reject him.


Q23. Why didn’t Bholi at first oppose the proposal of the unequal match? Why did she agree to it?

Ans. Bholi knew that she was just a burden for her parents. They thought her worthless and couldn’t even dream of a good marriage proposal for her. When she realised that her parents were happy to find such a rich and prosperous bridegroom for her, she bowed to their wish. She didn’t oppose it to keep the honour of the family intact. she agreed to many a man who was of the age of her father and had grown up children from his first wife.

Q25. What preparations had Bishamber made on the wedding day? What was the reaction of Bholi’s parents and elder sisters regarding the celebrations?

Ans. The bridegroom, Bishamber, was a well-to-do grocer. He was happy and excited about the wedding day. He had come with a large party of friends and relatives with him for the wedding. A brass-band headed the procession. It was playing a popular tune of a film. Ramlal was over-joyed to see such pomp and splendour. Bholi’s elder sisters were envious of her luck.

Q26. What happened when Bishamber took a quick glance at his bride’s face?

Ans. The auspicious moment had come. The bridegroom lifted the garland of yellow marigolds. A woman slipped back the silken veil from the bride’s face. Bishamber took a quick glance. The garland remained poised in his hand. He shouted that the bride had pockmarks on her face. If he was to marry her, her father must give him five thousand rupees.


Q27. How did Ramlal react to Bishamber’s demand of 5000 rupees to marry Bholi?

Ans. Bishamber clearly declared that if he married Bholi, her father would give him 5000 rupees. Ramlal went and placed his turban at Bishamber’s feet. He begged him not to humiliate him in that manner. He was ready to give 2000 rupees. Bishamber didn’t budge. Ramlal went inside and came back with the money and placed the bundle of notes at Bishamber’s feet.


Q28. Why did Bholi throw the wedding garland into the fire?

Ans. Earlier, Bholi couldn’t oppose the proposal as she wanted to save the honour of the family. But now enough was enough. Bishamber had no regard and respect for her parents. He was ready to marry her for 5000 rupees. When he moved forward to garland her, she threw the wedding garland away into the force. She declared that she would not have such a mean, greedy and cowardly person as her husband.

Q29. How did Bholi react to the remarks of an old woman who called her “a shameless girl” and “a harmless dumb cow?”

Ans. When Bholi refused to accept a mean, greedy and cowardly man as her husband, everybody was stunned. An old woman called her “a shameless girl.” She had thought her “a harmless dumb cow.” Bholi turned violently on the old woman. She told that everybody had thought her a dumb cow and so they wanted to hand her over to such a heartless creature. She reminded that the ‘dumb cow’ had got a tongue now and she could speak out to defend herself.

Q30. How did Ramlal react after the ceremony ended with the departure of the bridegroom alone?


Ans. Ramlal stood silently rooted to the ground. His head bowed with the weight of grief and sorrow. He turned to Bholi and asked what would happen to her now. No one would ever marry her. He asked, “What shall we do with you?”

Q31. A grieved father asked Bholi: “But what about you? No one will ever marry you now,” What was Bholi’s reply to his grieved father?

Ans. When her grieved father showed her anxiety about her still unmarried daughter, Bholi replied calmly and steadily. He asked her father not to worry about her. She assured that she would serve him and her mother in their old age. And she also told that she would teach in the same school where she had learnt so much.

Q32. How did the teacher react to Bholi’s wish expressed in the end?

Ans. The teacher had all along stood there in a corner. She had been watching the whole drama. She also heard Bholi saying that she would teach in the same school where she had learnt so much. Bholi turned to the teacher for affirmation. The teacher replied, “Yes, Bholi, of course’. She felt as if her mission had been completed.

10th Std Bholi

Bholi

What's the theme of the Story, ' Bholi'?

Bholi is the story of a village girl who was discriminated as she had pock-marks on her face, stammered and was considered to be a simpleton. Bholi suffered an attack of smallpox when she was just two years old. She damaged a part of her brain when she fell off from the cot ,when she was 10making nths old. Education transformed ‘a dumb cow’ into a fearless and courageous girl. First, she agreed to many an unequal match, Bishamber, just to maintain the honour of the family. Her father, Ramlal, put even his turban at the feet of the greedy bridegroom. He accepted to many a girl with pock-marks only after getting 5000 rupees as dowry. Bholi showed the courage of throwing away the ceremonial garland into the fire. She refused to have a mean, greedy and contemptible coward like Bishamber Nath as her husband.

Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. Ramlal was overjoyed to see such pomp and splendour. He had never dreamt that his fourth daughter would have such a grand wedding. Bholi’s elder sisters who had come for the occasion were envious of her luck.

(a) Whose marriage is referred to here?

(b) What had Ramlal never expected?

(c) Why were Bholi’s elder sisters envious of her luck?

(d) How was the marriage procession of Bholi?

Ans. (a) Bholi’s marriage is referred to here.

(b) Ramlal had never expected such pomp, splendour and a grand wedding.

(c) Her elder sisters were envious of her grand wedding.

(d) The marriage procession came with great pomp and show. Everyone expected marriage to be grand.

2. Bishamber raised the garland to place it around the bride’s neck; but before he could do so, Bholi’s hand struck out like a streak of lightning and the garland was flung into the fire. She got up and threw away the veil.

(a) What did Bholi do?

(b) Why did she do it?

(c) Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match?

(d) Later, she rejected the marriage. What does this tell us about her?

Ans. (a) Bholi suddenly stood up and threw away the garland into the fire.

(b) Because she did not agree to the condition of Bishamber of five thousand rupees.

(c) This was because; she never wanted to add to the worries of her parents by her refusal.

(d) Her behaviours reflected that she was no longer a timid, tame, dumb-driven cow but a bold, confident and self-respecting girl.

3. “What’s the matter with you, you fool?” shouted Ramlal. “I am only taking you to school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent clothes today, or else what will the teacher and the other school girls think of us when they see her?”

(a) Who is speaking and to whom?

(b) What did he want his wife to do?

(c) Why was Bholi scared to go to school?

(d) What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?

Ans. (a) Ramlal is speaking to Bholi.

(b) He wanted his wife to get Bholi ready for the school.

(c) Bholi did not know what a school was like. Actually, she had no idea of a school.

(d) When, she was given a bath, decent clothes to wear, her hair was oiled and combed, she thought so.

4.”When the school bell rang, all the girls scurried out of the classroom, but Bholi dared not leave her corner. Her head still lowered, she kept on sobbing.”

(a) Why didn’t Bholi dare to come out of her classroom?

(b) How many children did Ramlal have?

(c) Why was Bholi sobbing?

(d) Why do you think she finds her teacher different from the people at home?

Ans. (a) Bholi did not dare to come out of her classroom because it was her first day in school. Also, she had a complex that other girls would laugh at her for stammering.

(b) Ramlal have Seven children.

(c) She had an inferiority complex as other girls were laughing at her for stammering.

(d) The soft, sweet, soothing voice, sympathetic and encouraging behaviour of her teacher made him much different from the people heat home.


5. That was why she remained a backward child and came to he was known as Bholi, the simpleton.

(a) Who is being described here?

(b) Why did she remain a ‘backward’ child?

(c) Who was Bholi?

(d) What was the real name of Bholi?

Ans. (a)  Sulekha or Bholi is being described here.

(b) When she was ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head, which had perhaps damaged some part of her brain.

(c) Bholi was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal.

(d) The real name of Bholi is Sulekha.

6. Left alone, the poor girl looked about her with fear-laden There were several rooms, and in each room girls like her squatted on mats, reading from books or writing on slates.

(a) Which place is described here?

(b) Who is the ‘poor girl’?

(c) Why does the girl look around with fear-laden eyes?

(d) What was Bholi’s reaction when her father asked her to come with him to school?

Ans. (a) The school to which Bholi is taken to by her father is described here.

(b) Sulekha ,that is Bholi is the `poor girl’.

(c) She looked so because it was the first time she was being taken to a place away from home.

(d) She was afraid. She had no idea of a school.