Glory at Twilight by Bhabani Bhattacharya - Explanation - Summary - Q&A Solved

Table of Content

• Explanation and Analysis of 'Glory at Twilight'
• Summary of the Story Glory at Twilight
• Understanding the Expressions in the story Glory at Twilight
• UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT(Q&A)
• TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT(Q&A)
• APPRECIATION(short answers)
• APPRECIATION(long answers)
• Multiple Choice Questions on Glory at Twilight

Explanation and Analysis of 'Glory at Twilight'

Glory at Twilight by Bhabani Bhattacharya is a story that revolves around Satyajit, a man who faces a steep fall from wealth to ruin, revealing the fragility of human pride and the struggle to maintain dignity in the face of adversity. The story explores the complexities of human character, highlighting themes such as pride, sacrifice, social expectation, and the pursuit of meaning.

Satyajit was once the managing director of a bank, having risen from a humble position as a clerk. His life had been a tale of success, built upon determination and, ironically, a forged cheque that brought him recognition within the banking world. His sudden rise in fortune, however, was met with an equally rapid collapse when the bank went under, leaving Satyajit with nothing but memories of his once-glorious life. His wife, away in Delhi, was unaware of the extent of his financial ruin, and Satyajit struggled to adapt to his reduced circumstances, rationing luxuries such as cigarettes and travelling in a lower-class train compartment.

The story picks up when Satyajit decides to attend the wedding of Srinath's daughter, Beena, in the village of Shantipur. Srinath, an old acquaintance from the village, relies on Satyajit for support, unaware of his current financial situation. In his days of prosperity, Satyajit had been generous, and Srinath expected him to continue that generosity for Beena’s wedding. Satyajit returns to the village, experiencing a mix of nostalgia and helplessness as he is treated like a hero by the villagers, who are unaware of his downfall. The village’s adulation provides Satyajit with a bittersweet feeling—he knows he no longer has the means to live up to their expectations but craves the sense of worth it provides.

At the wedding, Satyajit is put in a difficult position. Srinath requests a substantial cash contribution to cover a dowry demand that, if unmet, threatens to cancel the marriage. Satyajit, already financially drained, initially tries to contribute a smaller amount but ultimately agrees to mortgage his only remaining possessions—his ancestral house and fishpond—to the moneylender, Harish, to meet Srinath's request. This sacrifice, though it highlights his sense of duty to the community and his desire to uphold the expectations placed upon him, also leaves Satyajit empty, knowing he has given up everything, including his last ties to the past and dreams of providing for his newborn son.

The story portrays Satyajit as a complex character. On the one hand, he demonstrates generosity and an ability to sacrifice for others; on the other hand, he is driven by pride and the fear of losing his dignity in the eyes of the community. His sacrifices are not purely selfless—they are also attempts to hold on to an identity that has already slipped away. The grandeur of his past life contrasts sharply with his present circumstances, making his efforts seem tragic rather than heroic. The "glory" he seeks is one that no longer exists, and his actions reflect a desperate bid to reclaim a sense of significance, even as he loses his last material assets.

Ultimately, Glory at Twilight reflects on the vulnerability of pride and the difficulty of navigating societal expectations, especially when one's fortunes change dramatically. Satyajit's journey is one of internal conflict, a struggle between accepting his new reality and trying to live up to the image of his past success. His sacrifices may seem noble, but they are also rooted in the inability to let go of a self-image shaped by wealth and respect, illustrating the often painful clash between human desires and harsh realities.

Summary of the Story Glory at Twilight

"Glory at Twilight" by Bhabani Bhattacharya is the story of Satyajit, a man who once enjoyed wealth and social standing but has fallen on hard times. Satyajit, travelling to attend a village wedding, reflects on his former success and the current financial ruin that has left him struggling. His life took a drastic turn after the collapse of the bank he managed, and he is burdened with guilt for the people he let down, including his wife and his uncle, Srinath. Satyajit's visit to the village is met with high expectations, as his relatives still believe he is a wealthy man. Throughout the visit, he battles with feelings of being an impostor and struggles to hide his financial difficulties from his family. The story captures Satyajit’s internal conflict as he faces the consequences of his downfall while longing for the days of his past glory.

Understanding the Expressions in the story Glory at Twilight

1. Brusquely: Quickly and abruptly.
2. Queer rhythmic frenzy: An odd, repetitive and intense movement or state of agitation.
3. Flush of prosperity: A period of sudden and abundant wealth.
4. Attuned himself: Adjusted or became accustomed to a situation.
5. Wrenching: Causing sudden and severe emotional pain.
6. Daze of bewilderment: A state of being confused and disoriented.
7. Wide-eyed wonder and eager homage: A look of amazement and admiration.
8. Talking animatedly: Speaking energetically and with enthusiasm.
9. Tremulous deliberation: Careful thought accompanied by nervousness.
10. On terms of a perpetual feud: Being in constant conflict.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT(Q&A)

1. Give reasons for the following:

   • a. Satyajit attending the village wedding:
     Satyajit attended the wedding to escape his struggles and find solace in the familiar environment of his village.
     
     
   • b. Satyajit’s recollection of the forger when he was on the train:
     He remembered the forger because it marked a turning point in his life, from a lowly clerk to a successful banker, contrasting with his present downfall.
     
     
   • c. Srinath and his family members’ eager expectation of Satyajit’s arrival:
     They expected him to continue his financial generosity, unaware of his current financial troubles.
     
     
   • d. Srinath’s disappointment with Satyajit:
     Srinath was disappointed because he expected Satyajit to provide a large sum of money for the wedding dowry, but Satyajit was unable to fulfil this expectation.
     
     
   • e. Satyajit’s feeling that he was an impostor:
     Satyajit felt like an impostor because his relatives still viewed him as a wealthy man, but in reality, he was bankrupt.
     
     
   • f. Satyajit not disclosing his present financial status to his uncle:
     He felt ashamed and did not want to disappoint his uncle, so he chose to keep his financial woes hidden.

2. Describe the cycle of events in Satyajit’s life that brought him back to where he began: Satyajit started from a humble background and worked his way up to becoming a successful banker. However, his rapid rise to success ended in failure when his bank collapsed, leaving him penniless and forced to return to the simplicity of village life, much like where he began.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT(Q&A)

1. It is difficult to adjust to a fall from glory: This can be discussed by highlighting how Satyajit struggles with his new reality and the expectations that others have of him, despite his financial ruin.
2. ‘Failure had a tempo faster than success’: Failure came suddenly and overwhelmed Satyajit, contrasting with the slower, more deliberate pace of his earlier success.
3. Satyajit should have revealed his predicament to his uncle: Honesty about his situation might have relieved some of Satyajit’s internal conflict and allowed his uncle to understand and support him.
4. The author’s comment on crime and punishment: The forger's story reflects on how Satyajit viewed crime, initially condemning it, but later understanding the desperation behind it, which parallels his own moral struggles.

APPRECIATION

1. How is Satyajit’s financial crash introduced to the reader?:
   It is introduced through Satyajit’s reflections while on the train, as he contemplates his rise to success and the sudden collapse of his bank, which left him financially devastated.
   
   
2. Comment on the way in which the story is narrated from Satyajit’s perspective:
   The story is presented from Satyajit’s internal point of view, allowing readers to empathise with his emotional struggles and see the world through his troubled eyes.
   
   
3. How has the author used the episode of the bank theft to comment on Satyajit’s success in his career?:
   The episode with the forger serves as the pivotal moment when Satyajit’s career took off, underscoring the irony that his success was built upon someone else’s failure.
   
   
4. How do these lines capture the essence of the story?
• ‘Glory was all overlaid with dark shame. Glory was dead.’: This line encapsulates the central theme of the story—how Satyajit’s former glory has been overshadowed by his shame and failure.
• ‘… let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory’.: Satyajit yearns to hold onto the remnants of his past success, even though it has slipped away.

APPRECIATION (Long Answers)

1. How is Satyajit’s financial crash introduced to the reader?

Satyajit’s financial downfall is introduced subtly and effectively through his inner reflections during a train journey. The reader is first made aware of his situation through his musings about the past and the abrupt shift in his fortunes. This technique allows the author to reveal the extent of Satyajit's financial ruin gradually, without an explicit announcement, creating a sense of impending doom. Satyajit recalls the events leading up to his downfall—the collapse of the bank he controlled, the loss of his private assets, and how all his wealth and status vanished almost overnight. The reader learns that Satyajit once lived a life of comfort, with a house, cars, and a sense of pride in his achievements, but the sudden crash left him penniless. The fact that Satyajit is rationing cigarettes and reflecting on selling his diamond ring to support his family further solidifies the depth of his financial despair. His predicament is contrasted with the expectations of those around him, who are still under the illusion that he remains a wealthy man. The crash is not just financial, but emotional, as Satyajit struggles to reconcile his past glory with his present shame.

2. Comment on the way in which the story is narrated from Satyajit’s perspective.

The story is told from a third-person limited point of view, deeply centred on Satyajit's internal experience, which gives the narrative a reflective and introspective tone. By narrating the story from Satyajit’s perspective, the reader is given access to his thoughts, memories, and inner conflicts. This narrative style enables the reader to journey with Satyajit as he grapples with the stark contrast between his past successes and his current financial ruin. His reflections are coloured by regret, guilt, and a desire to cling to the remnants of his former glory, even as he struggles with the reality of his situation. The reader becomes acutely aware of his mental turmoil as he relives moments of his rise to success and confronts the circumstances of his fall. The narrative technique allows the audience to sympathise with Satyajit’s vulnerability, making his experiences more intimate and poignant. His pride, humiliation, and attempts to hide his predicament are portrayed in a way that allows the reader to understand the psychological weight of his situation.

3. How has the author used the episode of the bank theft to comment on Satyajit’s success in his career?

The episode of the bank forgery serves as a symbolic turning point in Satyajit’s life, marking the moment when his rise to success truly began. Satyajit’s swift action in identifying and stopping the forger elevates him from an ordinary clerk to a figure of authority within the banking establishment. This moment, which involves Satyajit catching a forger trying to cash a fraudulent cheque, becomes the foundation of his career success. However, this episode also carries an underlying irony—Satyajit’s path to success was built upon someone else’s failure and desperation. The forger’s plight, driven by the need to save his wife, contrasts sharply with Satyajit’s later downfall, suggesting a cyclical nature to fortune and misfortune. The author uses this episode to highlight that success can sometimes be rooted in another's misfortune, and that Satyajit’s rise was as fragile as the forger’s desperate actions. In the end, Satyajit is left questioning the very foundation of his success, as his once-thriving banking empire collapses, leaving him to experience the failure that others, like the forger, once faced.

4. How do these lines capture the essence of the story?

   • ‘Glory was all overlaid with dark shame. Glory was dead.’

   This line encapsulates the central theme of the story, which revolves around the rise and fall of Satyajit’s fortune and status. Satyajit’s former glory—his wealth, his success, his elevated social position—has been obliterated by his financial ruin, leaving only shame and failure in its wake. His past accomplishments no longer matter because they have been overshadowed by his present downfall. This statement reflects the story’s exploration of how quickly and irreversibly success can be lost and how one's sense of self can be eroded by failure. The line also captures Satyajit’s internal struggle to reconcile his past self with his current state, as he realises that his former glory is now meaningless, replaced by the harsh reality of his situation.

   • ‘… let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory’.

   This line beautifully illustrates Satyajit’s desire to cling to the last remnants of his past success, even though he knows it has slipped away. The “twilight splendour” refers to the fading glow of his previous achievements, which he can no longer claim but still longs to experience, even if only for a short time. It represents his unwillingness to fully confront the reality of his failure and his need to take refuge in the memories of his former glory. The phrase “departed glory” indicates that his success is truly in the past, yet Satyajit allows himself to indulge in the illusion of it for a brief moment, knowing that once he leaves the village, he will be forced to face his harsh new reality. This captures the bittersweet nature of Satyajit’s predicament, where he vacillates between accepting his downfall and yearning for the life he once had.

Multiple Choice Questions on Glory at Twilight

1. What was Satyajit's position before the collapse of the bank?
   a) Clerk
   b) Accountant
   c) Managing Director
   d) Supervisor

2. Why did Satyajit stop smoking?
   a) He wanted to lead a healthier lifestyle.
   b) He couldn't afford the luxury anymore.
   c) His wife asked him to stop.
   d) He ran out of cigarettes.

3. How did Satyajit initially rise in the bank?
   a) Through a family connection
   b) By detecting a forged cheque
   c) By bribing a senior official
   d) Through a promotion examination

4. What was Satyajit’s reaction when he detected the forged cheque?
   a) He ignored it.
   b) He informed the police.
   c) He showed pity on the forger.
   d) He took pride in his action.

5. What did Satyajit sell to send money for the name-giving ceremony of his child?
   a) His car
   b) His house
   c) His diamond ring
   d) His watch

6. How did the villagers receive Satyajit when he arrived at Shantipur?
   a) With indifference
   b) With contempt
   c) With great reverence
   d) With suspicion

7. Why did Satyajit attend Beena's wedding?
   a) He wanted to show off his wealth.
   b) He wanted to meet Srinath.
   c) He felt obligated, having attended the weddings of Srinath's other daughters.
   d) He wanted to donate a large sum of money.

8. What did Srinath ask Satyajit for during Beena’s wedding?
   a) To give a speech
   b) To give Rs. 2001/- for the dowry
   c) To mortgage his property
   d) To leave the wedding early

9. What did Satyajit think of his ancestral house when he visited it?
   a) It gave him a feeling of security.
   b) It made him feel ashamed.
   c) He found it too small and unimportant.
   d) He planned to sell it.

10. Why did Harish, the moneylender, agree to lend money for Beena's dowry?
    a) Out of respect for Satyajit
    b) He wanted to help the community
    c) He demanded Satyajit's house and fishpond as security
    d) Srinath promised to pay it back

11. What was Satyajit's emotional state during the wedding?
    a) Joyful and relaxed
    b) Nervous and restless
    c) Proud and satisfied
    d) Bitter and resentful

12. What was Satyajit's main motivation for agreeing to mortgage his property?
    a) To maintain his dignity in front of the villagers
    b) To show off his wealth
    c) To punish Harish
    d) To get rid of his house and fishpond

13. Which of the following best describes Beena?
    a) Arrogant and rude
    b) Shy and graceful
    c) Stubborn and headstrong
    d) Talkative and mischievous

14. What is the significance of the title Glory at Twilight?
    a) It suggests the fleeting nature of Satyajit’s past glory.
    b) It refers to the prosperity Satyajit still holds.
    c) It describes the beauty of the village at dusk.
    d) It symbolises a hopeful future for Satyajit.

15. How did Satyajit feel about the villagers’ admiration of him?
    a) He felt overwhelmed and refused their gestures.
    b) He enjoyed it but felt it was undeserved.
    c) He ignored them completely.
    d) He was annoyed by their attention.

16. What lesson does Satyajit learn by the end of the story?
    a) Wealth is the only thing that gives respect.
    b) Community and relationships are not important.
    c) Maintaining dignity is crucial even in difficult times.
    d) He should never have returned to Shantipur.

17. Which character represents the harshness of societal expectations?
    a) Beena
    b) Srinath
    c) Harish, the moneylender
    d) Satyajit

18. Why did Srinath think Satyajit could easily provide Rs. 2001/- for Beena's dowry?
    a) He believed Satyajit was still wealthy.
    b) Satyajit had promised it earlier.
    c) He had already mortgaged his house.
    d) The villagers pressured him.

19. What is ironic about Satyajit's initial rise to success?
    a) It was due to his family's influence.
    b) His success came from detecting a forgery, yet he ended up losing everything.
    c) He never wanted to be promoted.
    d) His wealth did not improve his life.

20. Which theme is most evident in the story?
    a) The pursuit of revenge
    b) The value of family traditions
    c) The tension between pride and sacrifice
    d) The futility of material wealth

Answer Key

1. c) Managing Director
2. b) He couldn't afford the luxury anymore.
3. b) By detecting a forged cheque
4. d) He took pride in his action.
5. c) His diamond ring
6. c) With great reverence
7. c) He felt obligated, having attended the weddings of Srinath's other daughters.
8. b) To give Rs. 2001/- for the dowry
9. a) It gave him a feeling of security.
10. c) He demanded Satyajit's house and fishpond as security
11. b) Nervous and restless
12. a) To maintain his dignity in front of the villagers
13. b) Shy and graceful
14. a) It suggests the fleeting nature of Satyajit’s past glory.
15. b) He enjoyed it but felt it was undeserved.
16. c) Maintaining dignity is crucial even in difficult times.
17. c) Harish, the moneylender
18. a) He believed Satyajit was still wealthy.
19. b) His success came from detecting a forgery, yet he ended up losing everything.
20. c) The tension between pride and sacrifice

Explore the symbolism used in "The Lament" and its significance.

In "The Lament" (also known as "The Misery" or "Agony") by Anton Chekhov, there are several symbols that enhance the story's themes and deepen its meaning. Here are some key symbols and their significance:

1. Iona's Horse: Iona's horse symbolizes both his connection to the outside world and his emotional outlet. The horse serves as a metaphor for Iona's grief and longing for human connection. As he talks to the horse, pouring out his heart and recounting his sorrow, it represents his desperate attempt to find solace and understanding.

2. The Passenger: The passenger who hires Iona's sledge symbolizes the emotional detachment and indifference prevalent in society. Despite Iona's attempts to share his pain, the passenger remains disconnected and unresponsive. This character symbolizes the lack of empathy and human connection that Iona experiences throughout the story.

3. The Storm: The storm that rages throughout the story symbolizes the chaos and turmoil within Iona's heart and mind. It mirrors his inner emotional state, reflecting his grief, anguish, and inner turmoil. The storm intensifies the sense of despair and adds to the overall atmosphere of the story.

4. The Unseen Son: Iona's deceased son, although not physically present in the story, is a powerful symbol. He represents the profound loss that Iona mourns and the void left in his life. The unseen son represents the memory and presence of a loved one who has passed away, adding to the depth of Iona's sorrow.

5. The Miscommunication: The overall miscommunication and inability of Iona to convey his grief and find understanding from others is a significant symbol. It reflects the disconnect and lack of empathy within society, highlighting the isolation and loneliness experienced by individuals who are grieving or suffering.

These symbols collectively contribute to the story's exploration of human suffering, isolation, and the struggle for empathy and connection. They add layers of depth and emotion, allowing readers to engage with the universal themes presented in the narrative. Through the use of symbolism, Chekhov captures the human condition and the complexities of grief and longing for understanding. 

Class XI - Elective English - Woven Words - Shorty Story - The Luncheon - William Somerset Maugham

Summary

"The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham is a short story about a man who is approached by a woman he once knew, who asks him to take her out for lunch. The woman, who had once impoverished the man, promised to only have a modest meal, but ended up ordering several expensive dishes. Despite the man's concerns about being able to pay the bill, he took her to the expensive restaurant and treated her to lunch. Years later, the man runs into the woman again and sees that she has become extremely overweight, weighing 21 stone. The man, who is not a vengeful person, finds satisfaction in the contrast of their current circumstances, feeling that he has finally had his revenge. The story is characterized by its use of irony, as the actions of the characters often contradict their words and expectations.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Question 1. Although the author was not a vindictive man he was very happy to see the twenty one stone lady who had impoverished him twenty years ago, and says he had finally had his revenge. What makes him says this?

Answer:

Twenty years prior, the author struggled to make ends meet financially. The lady asked him to take her to Foyot's, a pricey restaurant, for lunch. The author believed he could only afford to treat her to a modest meal. The lady assured him that she never ate much for lunch, but ended up ordering several expensive dishes. Despite this, she persisted in claiming she only had one small dish and scolded the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop). This left the author penniless for a whole month. The memory of this incident stayed with him, and when he met the lady again twenty years later, she had become extremely overweight, weighing 21 stone. Despite not being a vengeful person, the author felt that he had finally gotten his revenge.

Question 2. There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions ‘My heart sank, panic seized’ etc. What was the reason for this? Explain.

Answer:

The author was residing in a small flat in Paris and struggled to make ends meet. The lady requested he take her to Foyot's, a lavish restaurant, for lunch. During the meal, she ordered a number of pricey dishes. This caused the writer to become anxious about paying the bill, leading to expressions such as "my heart sank" and "panic seized me".

Question 3. Locate instances of irony in the story.

Answer:

In "The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham, there are several instances of irony:

• The lady promised not to eat much for lunch, but ended up ordering several expensive dishes, which was the opposite of what she promised.

• Despite being unable to afford the bill, the author treated the lady to lunch at an expensive restaurant.

• The lady scolded the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop) even though she had ordered several dishes.

• The author had been impoverished by the lady twenty years prior, but when they met again, he was content with his life while she had become overweight.

• The lady advised the author not to eat too much, but she herself had ordered several dishes and become overweight.

These instances of irony highlight the contrast between the lady's actions and words, as well as the unexpected outcomes of certain events.

Question 4. What are the instances which create humour in “The Luncheon”?

Answer:

"The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham has several instances that create humour:

• The lady's promise to only have a modest meal, but her subsequent ordering of several expensive dishes, is a source of humor due to the contrast between her words and actions.

• The lady scolding the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop), even though she herself had ordered several dishes, is a humorous situation that highlights the irony and contrast between the characters' actions.

• The contrast between the author's worry about paying the bill and the lady's insistent ordering of expensive dishes is also a source of humor.

• The description of the lady's weight gain and the author's satisfaction with their changed circumstances, despite his not being a vindictive person, adds to the humor of the story.

Overall, the humor in the story arises from the contrast between the characters' words and actions, as well as the unexpected outcomes of certain events.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Question 1. People with foibles are often not conscious of them. Discuss in the light of the story.

In "The Luncheon," the lady is a character with a foible and is not conscious of it. Her foible is her tendency to over-indulge in food, as evidenced by her insistent ordering of several expensive dishes despite promising to only have a modest meal. This behavior is not something she is aware of or conscious of, as she scolds the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop) even though she herself had ordered several dishes.

This is a common phenomenon, where people with foibles are often not conscious of them. People's habits and behaviors can be shaped by their experiences, personality, and environment, and they may not realize the impact they have on others or themselves. In this case, the lady's habit of over-indulging in food is not something she is aware of, and she is not consciously trying to be difficult or troublesome.

In conclusion, the story highlights the idea that people with foibles are often not conscious of them and that this can lead to unexpected and humorous situations.

Question 2. Discuss the author’s attempts at keeping up his pretence of friendliness while he was mentally preoccupied with the expense of the luncheon.

Answer:

In "The Luncheon," the author is trying to maintain a pretence of friendliness while he is mentally preoccupied with the expense of the lunch. He is worried about the cost of the meal and is concerned that he will not have enough money to pay the bill. Despite this, he tries to appear friendly and cordial to the lady, who is the one who asked him to take her to lunch.

The author uses expressions such as "my heart sank" and "panic seized me" to show his internal struggle and the tension he feels about the cost of the meal. However, he tries to keep up the pretence of friendliness by making small talk with the lady and acting as if everything is normal. He does this to avoid offending her or making her feel uncomfortable, even though he is worried about the cost of the meal.

In conclusion, the author's attempts at maintaining a pretence of friendliness while being mentally preoccupied with the expense of the lunch highlight the tension between the characters and the internal struggle of the author. Despite his worries, he tries to present himself as friendly and cordial, showing the contrast between his internal thoughts and external demeanor.

APPRECIATION

Question 1. The author is a humorist

a. How does the story reflect his sense of humour?

b. What makes his lady friend remark—‘you are quite a humorist’?

c. Give instances of the author’s ability to laugh at himself.

Answer:

1. "The Luncheon" by Somerset Maugham reflects the author's sense of humor through its use of irony, contrast, and humorous situations. The story is written in a lighthearted and witty tone, which highlights the author's ability to find humor in everyday situations and to present it in an entertaining manner.

The author creates humor in the story by contrasting the words and actions of the characters. For example, the lady promises to only have a modest meal but ends up ordering several expensive dishes, which is a source of humor due to the contrast between her words and actions. The author also uses humor to highlight the ironies of the situation, such as the lady scolding the author for eating too much meat (a single small mutton chop), even though she herself had ordered several dishes.

In addition, the author uses humor to present the tension between the characters and the internal struggle of the author. The contrast between the author's worry about paying the bill and the lady's insistent ordering of expensive dishes is also a source of humor. The description of the lady's weight gain and the author's satisfaction with their changed circumstances, despite his not being a vindictive person, adds to the humor of the story.

Overall, the story reflects the author's sense of humor through its use of irony, contrast, and humorous situations. The author's ability to find humor in everyday situations and present it in an entertaining manner is what makes the story a humorous and enjoyable read.

2. The story revolves around the author's lady friend inviting him to have lunch at the expensive restaurant Foyot. Despite financial limitations, the author agrees to go to the restaurant that is frequently visited by senators. He formulates a plan to order only a few items so that he doesn't overspend for the month. However, the irony arises when the lady friend starts placing one order after another, completely unaware of the author's budget constraints. Eventually, she suggests having a small lunch, to which the author jokingly replies that he would rather skip dinner that night. This humor earns the author a compliment from his lady friend, who remarks, "you are quite a humorist."
   
   

3. The story showcases the author's sense of humor and his ability to laugh at himself. The author recounts the lady's invitation to a pricey restaurant like Foyot, and how he was unable to decline because of his youth. As the lady begins ordering expensive dishes, the author recognizes the irony and laughs at himself for agreeing to the luncheon at Foyot. Throughout the story, the author displays his capacity for self-deprecating humor.

Question 2. How does the first person narrative help in heightening the literary effects of the story?

Answer:

This story is composed in a first person narrative which makes the readers familiar with the mindset of the narrator and his evident anticipation, apprehension and embarrassment of visiting the costly restaurant Foyot at the suggestion of his lady friend. It allows us to go deeper into the confusion and the fear developed by the narrator inside himself. The polite and soft gesture exhibited by the narrator in front of his lady friend explains the sheer embarrassment and monetary dilemma which he was experiencing. It allows the reader to visualise his mind about the anger and sarcasm which he possessed against his lady friend. The variations in the external gentility and inner mental stress helps us to understand his plight which gives rise to irony.

MCQs - The Lament by Anton Chekhov - Class 11 - Woven Words - Elective English

Multiple Choice Questions - The Lament by Anton Chekhov - Class 11 - Woven Words - Elective English CBSE Latest pattern for online test/examination

1. “It is twilight.” in the opening lines of the story. It indicates that:
1. It was morning time
2. It was evening time
3. It was a cloudy afternoon
4. It was a winter forenoon
2. The main character in the story is:
1. Lona Topatov
2. Iona Potapov
3. Iona Povatov
4. Oina Potapov
3. The story is set in ______________ season.
1. Summer
2. Spring
3. Rainy
4. Winter
4. The profession of the main character in the story is:
1. Hack driver
2. Cabdriver
3. Taxidriver
4. Horse driver
5. The entire opening paragraph paints a __________ picture in the story.
1. Gloomy
2. Joyous
3. Colourful
4. Blank
6. The horse (used by the main character) earlier worked in:
1. The armed forces
2. The police
3. Horse racing
4. Farms
7. Fill in the blank: "His little horse is also quite white, and remains motionless; its immobility, its angularity and its straight wooden-looking legs, even close by, give it the appearance of a gingerbread horse worth a_____________."
1. Penny
2. Rouble
3. Kopek
4. Pi
8. While waiting for a fare, Iona and his horse hear the first call:
1. ‘Cabby for Viborg Way!’
2. ‘Cabby, to the Police Bridge!’
3. ‘Cabby, to Central Avenue!’
4. ‘Cabby for Downtown Street!’
9. The first fare call that Iona receives is from___________.
1. An officer
2. A policeman
3. Three young men
4. A passerby
10. Who says, ‘What are you doing, werewolf!’?
1. The humpback
2. A coachman from a private carriage
3. A furious passerby
4. None of the above
11. What is the name of Iona’s son in the story?
1. Bernie
2. Barin
3. Burn
4. Bob
12. Who among the following is Iona’s daughter?
1. Anissia
2. Amelia
3. Adele
4. Maria
13. The three young men wanted Iona to take them to____________.
1. Viborg Way
2. Police Bridge
3. Central Avenue
4. Downtown Street
14. The three young men offered Iona a fare of two____________ for their destination.
1. Griveniks
2. Kopeks
3. Roubles
4. Cents
15. Iona agreed with the fare offered by the three young men because___________________.
1. It was a fair price for the destination.
2. The three young men were very abusive and he feared they might harm him if he refused them.
3. He was very sad and to him, it was all the same as long as they were fares.
4. He thought it better to earn some money instead of sitting idle.
16. Among the three young men there were__________.
1. One lanky, one fat and a humpback
2. Three lanky fellows and a humpback
3. Two short and lean fellows and a humpback
4. Two lanky fellows and a humpback
17. ‘Last night at the Donkmasoves, Vaska and I drank the whole of four bottles of cognac.’ says one of the lanky ones. The other lanky man ____________.
1. Agreed with his statement
2. Got angry and said it was a lie
3. Said that he too enjoyed the drink
4. Became sad as he missed the drink
18. In response to Iona’s talk ‘‘My son… died this week.’ who said that ‘We must all die.’
1. Humpback
2. The officer
3. One of the lanky fellows
4. The hall porter
19. ‘Friend, what sort of time is it?’ Iona asks ____________.
1. Humpback
2. The officer
3. One of the lanky fellows
4. A hall porter
20. Iona tries to share his grief with many people in the story. Which one has the correct order? A: The Officer, B: The Three Young Men, C: A Hall Porter, D: A Young Cabdriver.
1. A B C D
2. D A B C
3. C A B D
4. D C B A
21. How did Iona’s son die?
1. High fever
2. Road accident
3. Tuberculosis
4. Snakebite
22. Why does Iona think that it is better to talk to women?
1. They are patient listeners
2. They are more empathetic than men
3. They are more emotional
4. All of the above
23. Apart from being a cab-horse, what other role does the horse play for Iona?
1. The horse also tills Iona’s farm
2. The horse acts as a good friend and companion to whom Iona finally shares his grief.
3. The horse has no other role
4. The horse gives him warmth on cold winter nights
24. What has been the most painful thing for Iona?
1. His son’s untimely death
2. The fact that he was not able to share his grief with anyone
3. The behaviour of people on the streets who constantly cursed him
4. The three young men who swore and made fun of him

KEY

B	6. D	11. B	16. D	21. B
B	7. C	12. A	17. B	22. A
D	8. A	13. B	18. A	23. D
B	9. A	14. A	19. D	24. B
A	10. D	15. C	20. A	25. B

Class 12 - Elective English - A Wedding in Brownsville by Isaac Bashevis Singer

DETAILED SUMMARY

Issac Bashevis Singer was a Polish – American writer who used to write in Yiddish language. He received a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978.  This story basically points out the void or the emptiness that overpowers the protagonist of the story, that is, Dr.  Solomon Margolin, even after he manages to accomplish his goals and objectives. The story commences with the portrayal of marriage as a burden in the eyes of Dr.  Solomon. Dr. Solomon was basically a Jew who initially used to reside in Poland where his family was killed in the holocaust that was enforced by Hitler.  

(Holocaust here refers to the extermination of Jews by German Nazis in the rule of Hitler. This means that Jews were killed on a large scale by the Nazis under the supervision of Hitler). Dr.  Solomon ultimately escaped to America along with the other Jews who survived the holocaust. In America, Dr. Solomon had been appointed as the board member of a Jewish scholastic society and co-editor of an academic Jewish quarterly. However, the brutal treatment that was imposed on his family in Poland had an adverse impact on the mind of Dr.  Solomon, he seemed to have lost his faith in humanity and the fear of death often used to haunt him.  Also, Dr.  Solomon often used to keep thinking about his past memories, his first love, Raizel, who was a beautiful Jewish girl and the daughter of a Jewish watch – maker, Melekh. He also recalled that Raizel got married to someone else which disheartened him at that time but she and her entire family was later killed by Nazis. This thought further used to intensify his depressive tendencies.  Dr.  Solomon’s wife, Gretl, was also a German, but she was anti - Nazis. Dr.  Solomon used to treat rabbis, refugees and Jewish writers without charging any money from them and he also used to provide medicines and hospital beds to them in case of necessity. Dr.  Solomon and Gretl used to live a life of simplicity and modesty. Gretl used to manage all the household chores herself without ever thinking of appointing a maid or helper. Sometimes, Dr.  Solomon used to ponder about the transformation of his wife from a German blonde to a Jewish home – maker. Even after originally being a German, Gretl had begun to embrace Jewish culture and befriend Jewish women. This was primarily because one of Gretl’s brothers was killed by the Nazis, merely because he was a communist and he opposed the idea of exterminating (killing on a large scale ) the Jews. The story further begins to unfold. A Jewish wedding was about to happen in a town, that is, Brownsville and Dr.  Solomon had been invited to attend that wedding ceremony. The wedding ceremony was of Sylvia, daughter of Abraham Mekheles, an acquaintance of Dr.  Solomon. Abraham Mekheles was a Senciminer, that is, he too belonged to Sencimin (a small town in Poland) just like Dr.  Solomon. However, Dr.  Solomon was hesitant in attending that wedding ceremony because he was making attempts to distance himself from the Jewish community. This is because Dr.  Solomon had begun to feel that the Jews did not maintain the trueness of their culture after they had gone to America. Dr.  Solomon used to feel that the Jews were breaking their cultural legacy, for instance, Jewish men had started consuming alcohol in excess. This drove Dr.  Solomon away from his own community. Gretl noticed her husband’s aloofness from his own community. But since Dr.  Solomon occupied a prominent position in Jewish community, he finally decided to attend the wedding ceremony in Brownsville. He hired a taxi to reach Brownsville. Suddenly, the taxi in which Dr.  Solomon was going to Brownsville, stopped abruptly and Dr.  Solomon witnessed that an accident had taken place on that road. A man was being taken on a stretcher and Dr.  Solomon apparently seemed to recognize that person. Nevertheless, the driver again started driving the taxi and finally, Dr.  Solomon reached the wedding destination, that is, Brownsville. Upon reaching there, he discovered that the wedding venue was full of mirth and festivity, ladies were dancing around and people were getting drunk.  He came across Zissel, a person from his hometown, who narrated the old stories that described the brutal way in which the Jews were killed by the Nazis.  He described that the Jews were compelled (forced ) by the Nazis to dig their own graves and then those Jews were shot and buried in the graves that were dug by themselves. Many Jews were starved to death, burnt alive and many were transported to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland which had over 40 extermination camps. Each camp was filled with poisonous gases in order to kill the Jews mercilessly. 

Dr.  Solomon felt suffocated when he recalled the animalistic ways in which the members of his community were killed and suddenly, he saw the face of a lady amidst the chaos of people. When he tried to get closer to that lady in order to recall who she was, that lady turned out to be his long – lost love, Raizel. He 

went ahead to confront Raizel and shockingly discovered that it was not a dream rather Raizel was really there at the wedding venue. The old romance between Dr.  Solomon and Raizel rekindled. Dr.  Solomon held the hand of Raizel and took her away from the crowd of people. Dr.  Solomon’s act of taking Raizel away from the crowd of people metaphorically depicts that Dr.  Solomon did not want to lose Raizel amidst the chaos of life all over again. A thought came to Dr.  Solomon that he was still single according to Jewish Law as he got married to Gretl in a civil ceremony.  Therefore, he took Raizel in a secluded place and expressed his desire to get married to her. He needed only a penny (currency ) in order to get married to her.  However, when he searched for his wallet in his breast pocket, he was surprised to discover that he had lost it. Moreover, suddenly it occurred to him that Raizel seemed much younger than the way she should have looked. Dr.  Solomon started feeling devoid of life, he was not able to feel the weight of his body and his body seemed to be deflated as if his body did not exist. This made Dr.  Solomon wonder whether the accident and the body laid on the stretcher that he witnessed on his way to Brownsville (on Eastern Parkway ) was his own accident and his own body. Dr.  Solomon was perplexed and wondered whether he was really alive or it was only his soul that was floating on Earth in order to seek his long – lost love. He also wondered whether Raizel was real or she was just a figment of imagination. The story ends on the note of this ambiguity and finally, Abraham Mekheles led his daughter, Sylvia, down the aisle for her wedding ceremony. 

VARIOUS THEMES

1. Impact Of Holocaust On The Psyche of The Survivors: One of the important themes of this short story is that the holocaust survivors often go through a psychological breakdown and are likely to live in a state of despair throughout their lives because the brutal memories of their past continue to haunt them forever.  For instance, in this story, the central character, that is, Dr.  Solomon was never able to recover from his sorrowful memories in which his family and his beloved, Raizel got slaughtered at the hands of the Nazis under the dictatorship of Hitler.

2. Surrealism: Surrealism in literature basically refers to the presentation of a story in such a way that it starts resembling a dream. In this story, Issac has used ambiguity in order to present a fantastical possibility of the reunion of Dr. Solomon and his long – lost love, Raizel. He presented this possibility by creating two conditions in the minds of his readers : either Dr. Solomon died in the car accident at Eastern Park and his wandering soul reunited with the wandering soul of his beloved, Raizel OR Dr. Solomon was in a state of hallucination which made him imagine his reunion with Raizel amidst the chaos of life. Both these conditions are unrealistic, dream – like and fantastical and therefore, these conditions give a touch of surrealism to the story.
   
   

3. The Unbreakable Chains of A Void That Can Never Be Filled: Issac has depicted the fact that there are some voids in the lives of human beings that can never be filled by anything or anyone. In this story, Dr. Solomon led a life hollowness and emptiness because of the loss of his family and his beloved during a holocaust. This made him miserable with the passage of time and he was never able to restore himself to a life of genuine bliss even after becoming a successful doctor and occupying a prominent position in the Jewish society. All his professional accomplishments and all the ranks that he achieved in the Jewish community ultimately proved worthless because they did not help him in getting rid of his deep – seated depression and his insurmountable (something that cannot be overcome) void.
   
   

4. The Submergence or The Loss Of True Identity in a Foreign Place: Finally, Issac has pointed out to the fact that people often tend to lose their true identities when they migrate to a foreign place. For instance, in this story, Dr. Solomon drove himself away from his own Jewish community because Jews adapted themselves to the culture of America and developed habits like drinking and dancing in order to celebrate their happiness. These habits were condemned in Judaism and the inability of the Jewish community to retain the principles of their religion represent the loss of their true identity.

 

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

QUESTION 1. What do you understand of Dr. Margolin’s past? How does it affect his present life?

ANSWER: Dr. Margolin’s past was a mixture of recognition and grief. As a child, he was declared a prodigy. Everyone thought he would grow up to be a genius. But he also faced hardships. His entire family had been tortured, burned and gassed. He had lost his one true love, Raizel. All this shaped Dr. Margolin’s present state of mind. He had grown aloof from the Senciminers after the loss of his family. He suffered from hypochondria ad fear of death. The death of his family and his love in the reign of Hitler made him lose faith in humanity. However, on the other hand, he had a good career. He was a success in his profession. He had an office in West End Avenue and wealthy patients. He was highly respected by his colleagues and everyone else.

QUESTION 2. What was Dr. Margolin’s attitude towards his profession?

ANSWER: Dr. Margolin has always been loyal towards his profession. He had never broken the Hippocratic Oath and had always been honourable with his patients. He was an enormous success in his field and is highly respected. Although he has wealthy patients, he treated rabbis, refugees and Jewish writers without any charge, and even supplied them with medicines and a hospital bed, if necessary. However, Hitler’s reign and the brutal death of his family and his community made him despise the matrons who came to him for petty ills while millions faced horrible deaths.

QUESTION 3. What is Dr. Margolin’s view of the kind of life the American Jewish community leads?

ANSWER: The kind of life the American Jewish community led was not appreciated by Dr. Margolin. According to him, Jewish laws and customs were completely distorted. Those who had no regard for Jewishness wore skullcaps. He even found their celebrations irritating, the Anglicised Yiddish, the Yiddishised English, the ear-splitting music and unruly dances. He was ashamed whenever he took his wife to a wedding or a Bar Mitzvah.

QUESTION 4. What were the personality traits that endeared Dr. Margolin to others in his community?

ANSWER: Dr. Margolin was a self-taught man, a son of a poor teacher of Talmud. As a child, he was declared as a prodigy, reciting long passages of the bible and studying Talmud and commentaries on his own. He even taught himself geometry and algebra. At the age of seventeen, he attempted a translation. He was referred to as great and illustrious. As a doctor he was always available to other community members, was very social and involved himself in other community activities to promote Yiddish language and Jewish culture. This endeared Dr. Margolin to others in his community.

QUESTION 5. Why do you think Dr. Margolin had the curious experience at the wedding hall?

ANSWER: Dr. Margolin experience at the wedding hall was a result of his death. The write has tried to showcase the Jewish sentiments through the metaphysical experience of Dr. Margolin. He met with an accident on the way to the wedding. His curious and mysterious encounter with Raizel could probably be explained through his past. Raizel was his one true love who he never had a chance to marry. She was given away to someone else and was later shot by the Nazis.

QUESTION 6. Was the encounter with Raizel an illusion or was the carousing at the wedding-hall illusory? Was Dr. Margolin the victim of the accident and was his astral body hovering in the world of twilight?

ANSWER: The carousing at the wedding-hall was illusionary. Raizel herself has been dead for long and her encounter with Dr. Margolin was because of his own death. He was the victim of the accident and his astral body was hovering in the world of twilight. Both were missing a physical dimension, and in fact, were spirits.

APPRECIATION

QUESTION 1. Surrealism was an artistic and literary movement in France between the two World Wars. Its basic idea is that the automatic, illogical and uncontrolled associations of the mind represent a higher reality than the world of practical life and ordinary literature. Do you think this story could be loosely classified as surrealistic? What elements in this story would support the idea?

ANSWER: Yes, this story could be loosely classified as surrealistic. The ending is an element of such surrealism. Dr. Margolin is in absence of a physical dimension and yet the story shows him to be participating in the wedding, dancing, drinking, chatting with guests, etc. His encounter with Raizel, his one true love who was shot by Nazis also stands out to explain surrealism.

QUESTION 2: Comment on the technique used by the author to convey the gruesome realities of the war and its devastating effect on the psyche of human beings through an intense personal experience.

ANSWER: The author uses banter at the wedding and the conversation between the guests to portray the realities of the war. At the wedding party, people are shown to be conversing with each other and with Dr. Margolin about the deaths of their family and the destruction of their community. Through this, the author used an unusual and an uncommon way of showcasing the realities of the war in the story.

STOP AND THINK QUESTIONS

Q1. Who were the Senciminers?

ANSWER: Senciminers were the native Jewish inhabitants of the town Sencimin. They were however forced to leave the town because it was destroyed by the Germans. Many Senciminers were tortured, burned and gassed, however, few survived and escaped to America from the camps.

Q2. Why did Dr. Margolin not particularly want his wife to accompany him to the wedding?

ANSWER: Dr. Margolin didn’t want his wife to accompany him to the wedding because he was ashamed of the mess that the American Judaism was. Every time he took his wife to a wedding or a Bar Mitzvah, he had to make apologies to her. However, this time he was relieved of it.

Q3. What is the Hippocratic oath?

ANSWER: The Hippocratic Oath is an oath usually taken by doctors to swear their loyalty to their profession. The protagonist, being a doctor himself, says that he has never broken the oath and that he has always been honourable towards his patients.

Q4. What topic does the merry banter the wedding invariably lead to?

ANSWER: The merry banter at the wedding invariably lead to the mentioning of the deaths of the Senciminers. Every conversation eventually led to that and occasionally, the protagonist found himself being asked about his own family and their death.

Q5. Who was the woman that Dr Margolin suddenly encountered at the wedding?

ANSWER: The woman that Dr Margolin encountered was his one great love, Raizel, the daughter of Melekh the watchman. He, however, had no luck with her and couldn’t marry her. The last time Dr Margolin heard of her was that she married someone else and was later shot by the Nazis.

Q6. What were the events that led to his confused state of mind?

ANSWER: Dr Margolin started to realize that something is wrong when he noticed that his wallet was missing but wasn’t sure how he could have lost it. He also couldn’t understand the fact that Raizel looked too young and he thought that maybe she was her daughter, trying to mock him.

Elective English - Woven Words - L02 - A Pair Of Mustachios by Mulk Raj Anand

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. What do you understand of the natures of Ramanand and Azam Khan from the episode described?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   
   Ramanand, the grocer and the money lender, is quiet cunning and possess a servile nature that is fit for his business of selling groceries and money lending. He never gets angry but prevails on his customers like Azam Khan with cleverness and by provoking the so called pride. It is also evident that Ramanand regards his customers as always right at least in principle. So he always keeps his business first and pride secondary.
   
   
   Azam Khan on the other hand is a victim of so called pride. He is still lost in the past glory of his forefathers. He is arrogant, full of anger and short sighted. He is ready to sell all his property for the sake of keeping Ramanand's mustaches down, which was suitable to his(Ramanand) class. Obviously Azam Khan is living in his past. He is impractical, short tempered and doesn't know what is good or bad for him.
2. Identify instances in the story that show the business acumen of Ramanand.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   
   Ramanand is a good businessman. His business acumen is evident from the fact that he readily agrees to lower his mustache on Azam Khan'request. But he lowers only one tip of his mustache just to cleverly provoke Khan to bring in more of his property for mortgage. Unlike Khan he never gets angry and keeps his business interests above all his priorities.
   
   
3. Both Ramand and Azam Khan seem to have very fixed views. How does Ramanand score over Azam Khan towards the end of the story?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   

   Ramanand and Azam Khan have a fixed view regarding themselves and each other. They are part of the social milieu that believes in the categorization of people on the basis of their mustaches. Ramanand belonged to goat class while Khan sahib belonged to tiger class mustache. They are both in harmony with the fact that they should not trespass into each other's boundaries.
   
   

   Ramanand scores over Azam Khan at the end of the story by turning up the tip of his goat mustache so that it looked like a tiger mustache. This enrages Azam Khan and he is tricked into selling all his property to Ramanand.
   
   

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1. The episode has been narrated in a light vein. What social mores does the author seem to ridicule?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   
   The author has mocked the society and its people who live in false pride of their community or lineage. How a fool who knows not of the practical matters and just to feed their image they go ahead auctioning their actual possessions. And such people are fooled by the smarter ones like Ramanand who bend but do not break. They alter their values according to the need of the situation but do not compromise entirely on their pride. They are the cunning ones who take advantage of fools who are stuffed with their worn out social status and forsake the present to protect the past. The author has ridiculed such people who weave their fall with their insensibilities.
   
   
2. What do you think are the reasons for the references made to the English people and the British monarchy?
   
   ANSWER:
   

   
   

   Indian society, unfortunately, is the one that takes pride in the language and culture of their rulers and not in their own rich and vibrant history. The nabobs and babus that were in British Raj are still looked up and are respected. Though the truth is that these are the people that ensured English Queen's authority on our land. The reference in the story of Mulk Raj Anand makes it clear. He cites an example of how the nabobs and generals in English army are to wear the prestigious lion mustache, which is worn by resplendent rajas and maharajas  of our land. This makes clear how we Indians take pride in being slaves of Britishers.
   
   
3. What do you think is the message that the author seems to convey through the story?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   
   The author has tried to make a point that how people living by age old impractical values weave their own fall and create unnecessary disturbance in the society. One should evolve as the time advances and the society grows. Sticking to false pride is not what will bring prosperity to one. One must be cautious and keep a wide eye to see if one is taking advantage of their virtues.

APPRECIATION

1. Comment on the way in which the theme of the story has been introduced.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   
   The theme of the story-mustachios has been introduced in a scientific but light manner. In the beginning, it seems that it might be an essay on how Indians take pride on their style of mustaches. It is only later the reader realizes the significance of the introduction. The author wisely served the reader with the detail description of the object around which the whole story will revolve. How men rise and fall by altering and sticking to their status symbols, such as mustachios.
   
   
2. How does the insertion of dialogue in the story contribute to its interest?
   
   ANSWER:
   

   
   

   Inclusion of dialogues in a story enables the writer to express things in their actual perspective. It allows him to include words and expressions which a writer normally would not write on his own. For example when Azam Khan gets angry he says to Ramanand: "You know what I mean, seed of a donkey!" or & "I tell you, turn that tip down" or "I shall wring your neck."

LANGUAGE WORK

1. Nouveau riche and bourgeoise are French words. Collect from newspapers, magazines and other sources some more French words or expressions that are commonly used in English.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   Following are few popular French words frequently used in English:
   - Salade
   - Soupe
   - Omelette
   - Restaurant
   - Depot
   - Genre
   - Voyeur
   - Souvenir
   - Bouquet
   - Boutique
   - Entrepreneur
   
2. Locate expressions in the text which reflect the Indian idiom, for example, the pride of the generations of his ancestors.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   Here are a few Indian idioms reflected in the text.
   
   Seed of a donkey,
   To become a mere worm,
   Oily lentil-eaters
   
3. We ‘draw up a deed’. Complete the following phrases with appropriate words 

a. To give one’s word
b. Carry out one’s will
c. To make ends meet
d. To owe a loan
e. Give a deaf ear to