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.

Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka - Chapter 04 - Woven Words - Elective English - Class XI NCERT

Poem Text

The price seemed reasonable, location
Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived
Off premises. Nothing remained
But self-confession. ‘Madam,’ I warned,
‘I hate a wasted journey—I am African.’
Silence. Silenced transmission of
Pressurised good-breeding. Voice, when it came,
Lipstick coated, long gold-rolled
Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was, foully.
‘HOW DARK ?’... I had not misheard... ‘ARE YOU LIGHT
OR VERY DARK ?’ Button B. Button A. Stench
Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak.
Red booth. Red pillar-box. Red double-tiered
Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed
By ill-mannered silence, surrender
Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification.
Considerate she was, varying the emphasis—
‘ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?’ Revelation came.
‘You mean—like plain or milk chocolate?’
Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light
Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted,
I chose. ‘West African sepia’—and as afterthought,
“down in my passport.” Silence for spectroscopic
Flight of fancy, till truthfulness changed her accent
Hard on the mouthpiece. ‘WHAT’S THAT?’ conceding
‘DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.’ ‘Like brunette.’
‘THAT’S DARK, ISN’T IT?’ ‘Not altogether.
Facially, I am brunette, but madam, you should see
The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet
Are a peroxide blonde. Friction, caused—
Foolishly madam—by sitting down, has turned
My bottom raven black—One moment madam!’—sensing
Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap
About my ears—‘Madam,’ I pleaded, ‘wouldn’t you rather
See for yourself ?’

 

Word Meaning

Notice these expressions in the poem and guess their meaning from the context:

rancid breath	squelching tar
spectroscopic flight of fancy
rearing on the thunderclap	brunette
peroxide blonde	clinical assent
raven black

• rancid breath: Rancid means a matter which is offensive or disagreeable. Thus, the voice in which the lady speaks to the poet is under an immensely nasty or insulting breath.
• squelching tar: The verb squelch means to strike or press with crushing force. Thus, the expression used here is that of a huge amount of compressed tar, the dark coloured product obtained after distillation of coal or wood, expressing the complexion of the poet. 
• spectroscopic flight of fancy: The word spectroscopy originated from the concept of dispersion of visible light into seven different colours. Thus, the word explains the dispersed flow of thoughts of the lady after talking to the erudite poet. Her fancies of a “dark” man gained wings and attained new levels of interpretations when she had to submit to the fact that she knew lesser than the person on the other side of the line.
• rearing on the thunderclap: A thunderclap refers to something resembling the sudden occurrence of a thunder, as in loudness or unexpectedness. 
• brunette: Brunette here refers to dark hair and, often, dark eyes and dark or olive skin.
• peroxide blonde: This expression refers to a harsh or unnaturally bleached palm and sole of feet rather than a natural fair complexion. Peroxide is a chemical which is used as a bleaching agent. 
• clinical assent: The voice of the lady in the poem seemed clinical while assenting to the poet's revelation. It refers to the concerned voice based on a vivid and actual observation of the poet, giving in to the situation after a lot of thought and inspection.
• raven black: Here, raven black is a metaphorical expression to describe the intensity of the colour black. Raven is supposedly a very large, dark complexioned bird of the crow family. This metaphor is usually used to describe dark-skinned people. 

UNDERSTANDING THE POEM

1. State the central issue in the poem.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The central issue dwells around the ironical fact that when a person is in search of shelter, the questions being asked are based on his skin colour and not the usual queries exchanged like that of the rent, the amenities provided and other basic requirements in an apartment. The landlady is shown to have possessed a very shallow racist behaviour in the poem and ironically, the poet is shown to be sorry for something which he was born with. Discrepancies between what appears to be and what really is create a sense of verbal irony that helps the poem display the ridiculousness of racism.
2. There are intervals of silence in the interaction between the landlady and the prospective tenant. What are the reasons for this?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   There are intervals of silence in the interaction between the landlady and the prospective tenant. The main reason behind this was the fact that the landlady felt inferior in the face of the poet and realised her lack of knowledge as compared to the erudite intellect of the poet. The sudden silences are prominent in the poem emphasizing the impact of the African’s race being revealed to the landlady. The ignorance of the landlady is also portrayed with humour on a very subtle level.
3. How is colour highlighted in the poem and why? List all the words in the poem that suggest colour.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The various colours highlighted in the poem exemplify the difference between the landlady and the poet, based on the skin-colour of both. The use of the colour red is magnified to explain the various things which are red in colour like the telephone booth, the double-tiered bus and the pillar-box. It explains the colour of the dark-skinned poet who was not fair-complexioned like the landlady on the other side of the line. The expression 'gold-rolled' shows the elite class to which the 'fair-skinned' people are said to belong.
   
   Various colours which are used in the poem are: Red, Black, Gold, milk chocolate, brunette and blonde.
4. Which are the lines in the poem that impressed you the most and why?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   'West African Sepia' is the phrase which impressed me the most. This phrase seems to be a befitting reply to the ignorant white woman. This phrase in the poem projects humour on a very subtle level where the poet, when asked again and again, about his color, turns to reply like a person with a high level of intellect. Through these words Soyinka tries to emphasise on the fact that it is wrong to judge a person's level of wisdom and knowledge based on his color.
5. You know what ‘hide-and-seek’ is. What would ‘hide-and-speak’ mean?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The expression 'hide-and-speak' here expresses the taboo of the dark-skinned people being inferior to those who claim themselves to be 'fair-skinned' and thus, more learned, sophisticated, civilised and superior.
6. Certain words in the poem are in capital letters — why?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   Certain words in the poem which are in capital letters are: “HOW DARK?', 'ARE YOU LIGHT?', 'OR VERY DARK?', ' OR VERY LIGHT?'
   These words exemplify the purpose of the poem which is to showcase the racist mentality of the fair-skinned. When a landlady talks to a tenant, the only matter of concern should be whether the person is suitable for staying with respect to his behaviour, financial position, etc. and not on his skin colour. These capital letters magnify the fact that it is more important for the landlady to know how dark-skinned the person on the other side of the phone is, rather than how erudite or intellectual or well-behaved he might be.
7. Why do you think that the poet has chosen the title ‘Telephone Conversation’? If you were to suggest another title for the poem, what would it be?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   'Different- are We?' could be another suggestion for the title of the poem.
   However, the poet has chosen a very appropriate title for the poem - 'Telephonic Conversation'. It refers very aptly to the shallow racism being projected by the conversation between the landlady who is 'white' and the poet who is 'dark'. The telephone symbolises the gap between the two ends of the line, the impossibility for both the ends to meet.
8. The power of poetry lies in suggestion and understatement. Discuss this with reference to the poem.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   Understatement means to state or represent less strongly or strikingly than the facts would bear out. Thus, it is a very well known fact that it is very understating to decide one's status or level of knowledge based on his/her color. The play of words between the landlady and the poet clearly proves that a man's color and region has nothing to do with the levels of education he has attained and the power of wisdom he possesses. The questions posed by the landlady became a mockery at her own level of intellect. Thus, the poem very strongly suggests that the question of civilisation does not rest on own's color. Soyinka humorously uses sarcasm as he says 'Shamed/By ill mannered silence" when it is obvious that is the woman who is the ill mannered of the two.

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

Chapter 1 - The Lament by Anton Chekhov

Click Here for Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs) - The Lament by Anton Chekhov - Class 11 - Woven Words - Elective English

1. Comment on the indifference that meets Iona's attempts to share his grief with his fellow human beings?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   Iona the main character in the story is a poor cab driver, who has lost his son and is mourning his death. As a human being he wants to share his grief to his fellow human beings but non of them pay any attention to it. 
   
   
   In the story he first tried to talk to the officer who hired him to go to Viborg Way. The officer is in hurry to reach his destination and doesn't pay any attention when Iona says "My son Barin, died this week". 
   
   
   After the officer, the three young men hired his cab to go to Police Bridge. These young men not only cursed Iona but also made fun of him. They also expressed the least concern when Iona told them about the death of his son and jokingly said "We must all die". The three young men are busy arguing with each other and show no sympathy towards Iona. 
   
   
   Next, Iona tries to talk to a Hall Porter but the hall porter orders him to "move on". 
   
   
   Finally he tries to tell his grief to a half a sleep cab driver at the tavern but this fellow is just interested in drinking some water and falls a sleep soon after without paying any attention to Iona's request to listen to his grief.

2. What impression of the character of Iona do you get from this story?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   When the story opens we find that the cab driver, Iona Potapov, is quite white and looks like a phantom. He is bent doubled literally as well as metaphorically because he is grieving the death of his son. 
   
   
   He is a poor man, who is struggling to earn his livelihood as a cab driver. He is married, with two children, Kuzma the son and Anissia the daughter. 
   
   
   He is a normal human being and throughout the story he is searching for an emotional outlet to unburden his grief. He is having a very positive and simplistic approach towards life. He does not react violently to the disrespect and curses that his passengers hurl at him.
3. How does the horse serve as a true friend and companion to Iona?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The horse serves as a true friend and companion to Iona. When Iona gets no one to share his grief, the horse comes to his rescue. It not only listens to him but appears to lament the death of Kuzma Ionitch along with Iona.
   
   When Iona realized that no body was listening to him and that he had no body to go to to grieve at his loss, he turned to his horse. He tried to talk to his passengers, the officers, the drunkards and the young cabdriver, about his son; how he fell ill, what did he say before he died. It was about to be a week since the mishap and the Cabby had had no body to talk to so far. Finally, he decided to go to look after his horse. It was unbearably painful to him to picture his son when he was alone. So he tried to keep himself occupied. He offered hay to the little horse as that was all he could as he had no corn as he did not earn much for he had lost his young son, he explained it to the horse. Iona's feelings were too much for him. The driver goes on explaining the whole story of his son to the horse, while the horse listened patiently and breathed over his master's hand like a true mate.
   
   This way the horse acts as a true friend and companion to Iona.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1. Empathy and understanding are going out of modern society. The individual experiences intense alienation from the society around him or her.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   We have entered an era that feeds on globalization. A world that is driven by fast technology. The age old emotions and sentiments are all bygone. There is little time for empathy and understanding. An ordinary human's lifestyle has evolved, changing the ethics of our society. People are busy and work is immense and the pressure that a human undergoes leaves no time for her/him to ponder or wonder. A state that makes a human mechanical and lacking in sensibility, which is overtaken by practicality. The concept of society has altered. The individual is alienated from the society. Human does contribute to the society but not with cultural values but only by technological advancement. The sharing and dependence have evaporated from our culture and we have restricted our zone by not giving way to feelings of joy, sorrow, fear or love any way. Humans have resigned from such emotions and are resolute not to give in to them.
   
2. Behind the public face of the people in various occupations is a whole saga of personal suffering and joy which they wish to share with others.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   Like Iona, every human has a portion of his/her heart unexplored. They guard it stealing it from everyone and yet they long for it to be uncovered; sharing it all with a companion, a friend, a mate. A human, like a diamond has many facets. The face people wear in public is just one of those facets. There is a child inside everyone, a male in every female and a female in every male, unknown, hidden. They keep them locked inside and yet crave to share it with someone. This world of today, where we all are much wiser and practical and much more busy, get little time to spend and share the inner self of ours with someone. The true face behind us all is shielded carefully and it longs to be known, understood. We all hold our souls back yet we wish to share our dark secrets with someone. Our sufferings, our joys, our desires, our hidden self. And in this modern world, few find that true mate with whom they can share their personal joys and sufferings, which they keep locked away in their hearts.

APPRECIATION

1. The story begins with a description of the setting. How does this serve as a fitting prelude to the events described in the story?
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The story of Iona Potapov is one of suffering. The setting described in the beginning sets the mood of the reader, the atmosphere is full of gloom and darkness as it is a day covered with snow. The author has tried to evoke melancholy in the reader's heart through the environment he describes so that the reader is set in tune with the mood of the protagonist. The author describes the positions and appearance of Iona. He appears like a phantom who is lost as if he is not interested in the world any more, unaware of his surroundings and the snow that covered his eyelashes and even on his horse's back. This all sets the mood perfectly for a story that is to uncover the protagonist's loss at which he laments.
   
2. Comment on the graphic detail with which the various passengers who took Iona's cab are described.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The author described the passengers that took Iona's cab defining their character sketch. The first one was the officer. It gives an image of the impatience that the police personnel have. These characters portray the society we live in. How a drunkard might react to someone's grief and how a police officer would be unconcerned about someone's loss. Even the boy in the stable did not pay any heed to Iona's story. No body in the busy world had the time to stop and hear to what the poor old cab driver had to say.
   
3. This short story revolves around a single important event. Discuss how the narrative is woven around this central fact.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The story has a simple plot and revolves around it. Iona Potapov, an ageing man, a poor Russian cab driver lost his dear son earlier week. A load that he carries, weighing his heart, Iona wishes to speak and share his grief desperately with someone. Thus, on finding no companion or friend to mourn over his grief he tries to share it with every one he comes across. He tries to share it with the passengers that board his sledge only to find how disinterested everyone is in his story. His agony grows and he is thrown into despair. All the while there is one thing that remains constant in the story, the loss Iona suffers and his attempt to overcome it. So, overwhelmed is the old father that he finally decides to go on and talk his heart out to his horse. The horse proves to be a true companion and listens to Iona's story patiently while munching hay.
   
4. The story begins and ends with Iona and his horse. Comment on the significance of this to the plot of the story.
   
   ANSWER:
   
   The story is a satire on how disengaged humans are that one has to find a true companion in an animal. Iona from the beginning of the story is portrayed with his horse. In the beginning, while Iona is struck with his loss and is melancholic, he and his horse stood unmoved. It appeared that they both shared similar grief. Both seemed unaware of their surroundings and of the heavy snow, the horse for being a slave animal and Iona due to his grief. The story narrates how Iona lashes his frustration by brandishing the horse unnecessarily, yet the horse is faithful to his master. Even by the end of the story, Iona is left unheard and his heavy heart knows no one to release his burden to. He finds solace in the company of his horse again. He goes up to him and gives him hay to munch. While he goes on speaking to the silent animal explaining how he lost his young son. He grieved, now that he is old and poor, to make things worse, he will be having trouble earning. The animal, not sure if understood what his master said, remained silent and heard it all peacefully proving its faithfulness to his master.

LANGUAGE WORK:

3. Explain the associations that the colour 'white' has in the story.

ANSWER:

White is the colour of light. However, the irony in the story The Lament is that it reflects the gloom portrayed in the story. In the beginning to show the melancholy of Iona Potapov, the narrator says that he is so white that he looks like a phantom. His horse also appears quiet white. Actually white is the colour of snow. And snow reflects despondency and lethargy of the season of winter and how the whole environment and atmosphere appears to be thrown into utter despair. The evening is setting in and everything seems so white and withered. The street lamps' light is also white, replacing the brighter rays. The whole setting, while laying stress on the white surroundings, project the solitude of the poor cab driver.

Click Here for Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs) - The Lament by Anton Chekhov - Class 11 - Woven Words - Elective English

Additional Questions

1. Explore the symbolism used in "The Lament" and its significance.
2. 
   

Eveline By James Joyce - Elective English Class XII CBSE

Eveline

Summary

Eveline Hill sits at a window in her home and looks out onto the street while fondly recalling her childhood, when she played with other children in a field now developed with new homes. Her thoughts turn to her sometimes abusive father with whom she lives, and to the prospect of freeing herself from her hard life juggling jobs as a shop worker and a nanny to support herself and her father. Eveline faces a difficult dilemma: remain at home like a dutiful daughter, or leave Dublin with her lover, Frank, who is a sailor. He wants her to marry him and live with him in Buenos Aires, and she has already agreed to leave with him in secret. As Eveline recalls, Frank’s courtship of her was pleasant until her father began to voice his disapproval and bicker with Frank. After that, the two lovers met clandestinely.

As Eveline reviews her decision to embark on a new life, she holds in her lap two letters, one to her father and one to her brother Harry. She begins to favor the sunnier memories of her old family life, when her mother was alive and her brother was living at home, and notes that she did promise her mother to dedicate herself to maintaining the home. She reasons that her life at home, cleaning and cooking, is hard but perhaps not the worst option—her father is not always mean, after all. The sound of a street organ then reminds her of her mother’s death, and her thoughts change course. She remembers her mother’s uneventful, sad life, and passionately embraces her decision to escape the same fate by leaving with Frank.

At the docks in Dublin, Eveline waits in a crowd to board the ship with Frank. She appears detached and worried, overwhelmed by the images around her, and prays to God for direction. Her previous declaration of intent seems to have never happened. When the boat whistle blows and Frank pulls on her hand to lead her with him, Eveline resists. She clutches the barrier as Frank is swept into the throng moving toward the ship. He continually shouts “Come!” but Eveline remains fixed to the land, motionless and emotionless.

Analysis

Eveline’s story illustrates the pitfalls of holding onto the past when facing the future. Hers is the first portrait of a female in Dubliners, and it reflects the conflicting pull many women in early twentieth-century Dublin felt between a domestic life rooted in the past and the possibility of a new married life abroad. One moment, Eveline feels happy to leave her hard life, yet at the next moment she worries about fulfilling promises to her dead mother. She grasps the letters she’s written to her father and brother, revealing her inability to let go of those family relationships, despite her father’s cruelty and her brother’s absence. She clings to the older and more pleasant memories and imagines what other people want her to do or will do for her. She sees Frank as a rescuer, saving her from her domestic situation. Eveline suspends herself between the call of home and the past and the call of new experiences and the future, unable to make a decision.

The threat of repeating her mother’s life spurs Eveline’s epiphany that she must leave with Frank and embark on a new phase in her life, but this realization is short-lived. She hears a street organ, and when she remembers the street organ that played on the night before her mother’s death, Eveline resolves not to repeat her mother’s life of “commonplace sacrifices closing in final craziness,” but she does exactly that. Like the young boys of “An Encounter” and “Araby,” she desires escape, but her reliance on routine and repetition overrides such impulses. On the docks with Frank, away from the familiarity of home, Eveline seeks guidance in the routine habit of prayer. Her action is the first sign that she in fact hasn’t made a decision, but instead remains fixed in a circle of indecision. She will keep her lips moving in the safe practice of repetitive prayer rather than join her love on a new and different path. Though Eveline fears that Frank will drown her in their new life, her reliance on everyday rituals is what causes Eveline to freeze and not follow Frank onto the ship.

Eveline’s paralysis within an orbit of repetition leaves her a “helpless animal,” stripped of human will and emotion. The story does not suggest that Eveline placidly returns home and continues her life, but shows her transformation into an automaton that lacks expression. Eveline, the story suggests, will hover in mindless repetition, on her own, in Dublin. On the docks with Frank, the possibility of living a fully realized life left her.

Questions and Answers

Stop and Think (Page 15)

Q1. Why did Eveline review all the familiar objects at home?

ANSWER:

Eveline reviews the familiar objects at home to reflect on her past, feel attached to her family, and confront the weight of her responsibilities. The objects symbolise comfort and stability, making her question her decision to leave and prioritise the known over the uncertain. Ultimately, this contributes to her choice to stay.

Q2. Where was Eveline planning to go?

ANSWER:

Eveline is planning to go to Buenos Aires with Frank, a sailor she has become infatuated with. Frank promises to marry her and provide a new life in Argentina.

Stop and Think (Page 17)

Q1. Who was Frank? Why did Eveline’s father quarrel with him?

ANSWER:

Frank is Eveline's love interest and a sailor. Eveline's father quarrels with him because he disapproves of their relationship and opposes Eveline leaving with Frank.

Q2. What significance does Eveline find in the organplayer’s appearance on the day she had decided to

leave?

ANSWER:

In "Eveline" by James Joyce, the appearance of the organ player on the day Eveline had decided to leave holds significance for her. The organ player symbolises the ties to her past and her duty towards her family. When Eveline sees the organ player, she is reminded of her deceased mother, who used to sing with the organ player at the church. This evokes a sense of nostalgia and reinforces her connection to her family and the familiarity of her current life.

The organ player's presence on the day Eveline plans to leave acts as a reminder of the sacrifices she has made for her family and the obligations she feels towards them. It reinforces her sense of duty and the emotional pull she experiences towards her home and her responsibilities.

Understanding the Text

Q1. Name the two characters in this story whom Eveline liked and loved, and two she did not. What were the reasons for her feelings towards them?

ANSWER:

In "Eveline," the two characters Eveline liked and loved are Frank and her mother. Frank represents adventure and escape from her mundane life, while Eveline's mother symbolizes warmth and security. On the other hand, Eveline had negative feelings towards her abusive father and felt burdened by her responsibility towards her brother Harry. These characters influence Eveline's decisions and internal conflicts in the story.

Q2. Describe the conflict of emotions felt by Eveline on the day she had decided to elope with Frank.

ANSWER:

On the day Eveline decided to elope with Frank in "Eveline," she finds herself torn by a conflict of emotions. On one hand, she yearns for freedom and adventure, seeking to escape her oppressive life in Dublin. Frank represents a chance for a new beginning, a break from the monotony and hardships she faces. The prospect of a better life with him in Buenos Aires entices her with excitement and the allure of the unknown.

On the other hand, Eveline feels a strong sense of duty and responsibility towards her family. As the eldest sibling, she shoulders the burden of caring for her father and younger siblings, particularly her dependent brother Harry. The weight of these obligations anchors her to her home and fuels a fear of abandoning her familial duties. Eveline grapples with the conflicting desires of personal freedom and the ties that bind her to her family, resulting in a state of inner turmoil and indecision.

This conflict of emotions creates a significant internal struggle for Eveline as she weighs the potential rewards of a new life against the perceived risks and the fear of leaving behind the known. Ultimately, it shapes her decision-making process and influences the outcome of the story.

Q3. Why do you think Eveline let go of the opportunity to escape?

ANSWER:

Eveline's decision to let go of the opportunity to escape in "Eveline" is influenced by a combination of factors. Firstly, her strong sense of duty and responsibility towards her family plays a significant role. Eveline feels a deep obligation to care for her father and siblings, and the fear of abandoning them holds her back from pursuing her own desires for freedom and a new life.

Secondly, Eveline is plagued by the fear of the unknown. The prospect of leaving behind the familiar and venturing into an unfamiliar world in Buenos Aires fills her with anxiety and uncertainty. The fear of potential hardships, the unfamiliarity of a new environment, and the doubts about the unknown future contribute to her decision to stay, clinging to the perceived safety and stability of her current circumstances.

These factors, including her sense of duty and fear of the unknown, create internal conflicts and psychological paralysis, ultimately leading Eveline to let go of the opportunity to escape and choose the familiar but constricting life she knows.

Q4. What are the signs of Eveline’s indecision that we see as the hour of her departure with Frank neared?

Long Answer:

As the hour of Eveline's departure with Frank neared in "Eveline," there are several signs that indicate her indecision and internal conflict:

Physical Symptoms: Eveline experiences physical symptoms of her indecision. Her heart is described as "beating quickly and quietly" and later as "fluttering" and "palpitating." These physical sensations reflect her inner turmoil and the conflicting emotions she is grappling with.

Hesitation and Delay: Eveline shows signs of hesitation and delay when it comes to leaving. She repeatedly questions whether she has made the right decision, going back and forth in her mind. She feels a sense of being pulled in different directions, torn between the desire for freedom and the fear of the unknown.

Reviewing Familiar Objects: As the hour of departure approaches, Eveline reviews familiar objects in her home. This act of contemplation indicates her reluctance to let go of the familiar and the ties she has with her family. She becomes emotionally attached to the memories associated with these objects, causing her to question her decision and the potential loss she might experience.

Overwhelming Memories: Eveline is flooded with memories, particularly memories of her deceased mother and her childhood. These memories evoke strong emotions and create a sense of nostalgia, making it even harder for Eveline to leave behind the known and venture into the uncertain.

These signs of indecision and internal conflict highlight Eveline's struggle as she faces the imminent departure with Frank. Her wavering emotions and hesitation ultimately contribute to her final decision not to leave, underscoring the depth of her internal turmoil.

Short Answer:

As the hour of departure with Frank approached in "Eveline," signs of Eveline's indecision became evident. She experienced physical symptoms such as a racing heart and hesitation. She hesitated and questioned her decision, reviewing familiar objects and being overwhelmed by memories. These signs of internal conflict ultimately led to her final decision not to leave.

Talking about the Text

1. Deciding between filial duty and the right to personal happiness is problematic. Discuss.

In "Eveline," the conflict between filial duty and the pursuit of personal happiness serves as a central theme. Eveline grapples with the societal expectations and familial responsibilities that bind her to Dublin, while also yearning for personal freedom and the chance to create a better life for herself.

On one hand, Eveline feels a strong sense of duty towards her family, especially her father and younger siblings. She believes it is her responsibility to care for them and fears abandoning them in their difficult circumstances. The weight of these obligations, coupled with societal norms and expectations, creates a powerful force that pulls her towards staying.

On the other hand, Eveline desires personal happiness and longs for a life free from the constraints and hardships she faces in Dublin. Frank represents a path to that happiness, promising adventure and a fresh start in Buenos Aires. However, embracing this opportunity means leaving behind her family and the life she has always known, which triggers feelings of guilt and conflict.

The story presents the problematic nature of this decision. Eveline is torn between her duty to her family and her right to pursue her own happiness. It highlights the tension between personal desires and societal expectations, between fulfilling one's own dreams and fulfilling the expectations placed upon an individual within a family and community.

Ultimately, Eveline's choice to prioritize her filial duty over her personal happiness reflects the societal pressures and limited options faced by women in early 20th-century Dublin. The story portrays the sacrifices individuals, particularly women, sometimes have to make due to societal constraints and the difficulty of reconciling personal aspirations with familial obligations.

2. Share with your partner any instance of your personal experience where you, or somebody you know, had to make a difficult choice.

One instance where someone had to make a difficult choice is found in the story "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank R. Stockton. In the story, a young man is put on trial and brought before a king who uses a unique form of justice. Behind two identical doors in an arena, there is either a beautiful woman (whom the young man loves) or a fierce tiger. The young man must choose one of the doors, and his fate will be determined by what lies behind it.

The difficult choice arises when the young man's lover, a princess, knows the secret of which door hides the tiger and which holds the lady. She is torn between her love for the young man and her jealousy, as he may end up with another woman if he chooses the door concealing the lady. The story leaves the ending ambiguous, leaving the choice up to the reader's interpretation.

The difficult choice faced by the princess exemplifies the internal conflict between love and jealousy. She must decide whether to guide her lover towards potential death by choosing the door with the tiger or towards a potential life with another woman by indicating the door with the lady. The story explores the complexities of decision-making and the moral dilemmas faced when emotions collide with the responsibility to make life-altering choices.

Appreciation

1. The description in this story has symbolic touches. What do you think the ‘window’, the ‘gathering dusk’, the ‘dusty cretonne and its odour’ symbolise?

ANSWER:

In "Eveline," the descriptions of the window, the gathering dusk, and the dusty cretonne with its odour carry symbolic significance, representing different aspects of Eveline's life and the choices she faces:

1. The Window: The window in the story symbolizes opportunity and escape. It represents the possibility of a new life, freedom from the constraints of her current circumstances, and a way to break free from the oppressive environment she finds herself in. The window serves as a portal to a different world and represents the chance for Eveline to embark on a new journey.

2. The Gathering Dusk: The reference to the gathering dusk signifies a sense of transition, uncertainty, and the fleeting nature of time. Dusk is a liminal period between day and night, symbolizing the critical moment Eveline finds herself in—standing at the threshold of a life-altering decision. It reflects the fleeting nature of the opportunity before her and the urgency of her choice.

3. The Dusty Cretonne and Its Odor: The dusty cretonne with its odour represents the stagnation and decay of Eveline's current life. It signifies the mundane and suffocating aspects of her existence in Dublin, emphasizing the dreariness, dustiness, and lack of freshness in her surroundings. The odour may symbolize the musty and stifling atmosphere that pervades her home, representing the weight of her past and the inertia that keeps her from embracing change.

These symbolic touches in the story help convey the themes of escape, decision-making, and the juxtaposition of freedom and confinement. They provide deeper layers of meaning to Eveline's internal struggles and the choices she must confront.

2. Note how the narrative proceeds through the consciousness of Eveline.

ANSWER:

The narrative in "Eveline" proceeds through the consciousness of Eveline, employing a stream-of-consciousness technique that allows readers to delve into her thoughts, perceptions, and emotions. This narrative style provides insights into Eveline's inner world, her internal conflicts, and the complexities of her decision-making process.

The story unfolds from Eveline's perspective, offering a glimpse into her mind as she contemplates her circumstances and the choices before her. It delves into her memories, desires, fears, and doubts, allowing readers to intimately experience her thought process and the shifting nature of her emotions.

Throughout the story, readers are immersed in Eveline's stream of consciousness, which often involves fragmented thoughts, associations, and vivid sensory impressions. The narrative weaves seamlessly between present experiences, recollections of the past, and anticipations of the future, mirroring the non-linear nature of human thought.

By adopting Eveline's consciousness as the narrative guide, James Joyce provides readers with a deeper understanding of her internal struggles, her motivations, and the factors that shape her decision. This narrative technique creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy, enabling readers to empathize with Eveline's dilemmas and engage with the complexities of her character.

3. In the last section of the story, notice these expressions

(i) A bell clanged upon her heart.

(ii) AlI the seas of the world tumbled upon her heart.

(iii) Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy.

(iv) She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal.

What are the emotions that these images evoke? 

ANSWER:

The expressions in the last section of "Eveline" evoke a range of intense emotions, providing insight into Eveline's state of mind and the turmoil she experiences. Let's examine the emotions these images evoke:

(i) "A bell clanged upon her heart": This image suggests a sudden, jarring impact that reverberates through Eveline. It conveys a sense of shock, a realization that something significant is happening or about to happen. The clanging bell upon her heart evokes fear, anticipation, and a heightened awareness of the weight of her decision.

(ii) "All the seas of the world tumbled upon her heart": This expression amplifies the magnitude of Eveline's emotional turmoil. The imagery of the seas tumbling upon her heart conveys overwhelming emotions, such as intense anxiety, a feeling of being submerged or drowned by her conflicting emotions, and the weight of the world's troubles pressing down upon her.

(iii) "Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy": This image suggests a desperate and frantic grip. Eveline's hands clutching the iron symbolize her desperation to hold on to something familiar and secure. It reflects her heightened state of agitation as if she is desperately searching for stability and grounding amidst the chaos of her emotions.

(iv) "She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal": This image portrays Eveline's surrender and vulnerability. Her white face and passive demeanour reflect resignation and a sense of powerlessness. The comparison to a helpless animal evokes a mix of emotions, including fear, dependency, and a sense of being trapped or cornered.

Overall, these images evoke emotions such as fear, anticipation, overwhelm, desperation, resignation, and vulnerability. They contribute to the intense atmosphere and the inner turmoil Eveline experiences as she confronts the weight of her decision and its potential consequences.

4. Do you think the author indicates his judgement of Eveline in the story?

ANSWER:

In "Eveline," James Joyce presents Eveline's inner struggles and conflicting emotions without explicitly indicating his judgment of her. The narrative allows readers to delve into Eveline's consciousness, providing a glimpse into her thoughts, memories, and desires. Through this intimate perspective, Joyce invites readers to empathize with Eveline's complex situation and the difficult choices she faces.

By presenting Eveline's internal conflicts and her eventual decision to stay, Joyce sheds light on the societal and familial pressures that can limit an individual's agency and ability to pursue personal happiness. The story examines the themes of duty, fear, paralysis, and the struggles faced by women in early 20th-century Dublin.

Overall, James Joyce's approach in "Eveline" allows readers to form their own interpretations and judgments of Eveline's character and choices. It encourages contemplation and empathy rather than imposing a definitive authorial judgment.

Language Work

A. Grammar: Parallelism 

Task

Underline the parts that are parallel in the following sentences

• She had consented to go away, to leave her home.
• Strange that it should come that very night to remind her of the promise to her mother, her promise to keep the home together as long as she could. 
• She prayed to God to direct her, to show her what was her duty.
• Frank would take her in his arms, fold her in his arms.
• Her time was running out but she continued to sit by the window, leaning her head against the window curtain, inhaling the odour of dusty cretonne.
• Not long before, when she had been laid up for a day, he had read her out a ghost story and made toast for her at the fire.

ANSWER:

• She had consented to go away, to leave her home.
• Strange that it should come that very night to remind her of the promise to her mother, her promise to keep the home together as long as she could.
• She prayed to God to direct her, to show her what was her duty.
• Frank would take her in his arms, [fold her in his arms].
• Her time was running out but she continued to sit by the window, leaning her head against the window curtain, inhaling the odour of dusty cretonne.
• Not long before, when she had been laid up for a day, he had read her out a ghost story and made toast for her at the fire.

B. Pronunciation

TASK
Mark the stressed syllables in the following words chosen from the lesson. Consult the dictionary or ask the teacher if necessary.

1. photograph 
2. escape 
3. changes
4. threaten 
5. excitement 
6. farewell
7. illumined 
8. sailor 
9. sacrifice
10. invariable

 ANSWER:

1. Photograph: PHO-to-graph (stress on the second syllable)
2. Escape: es-CAPE (stress on the second syllable)
3. Changes: CHAN-ges (stress on the first syllable)
4. Threaten: THREAten (stress on the second syllable)
5. Excitement: ex-CITE-ment (stress on the second syllable)
6. Farewell: fare-WELL (stress on the second syllable)
7. Illumined: iL-LU-mined (stress on the second syllable)
8. Sailor: SAIL-or (stress on the first syllable)
9. Sacrifice: SAC-ri-fice (stress on the first syllable)
10. Invariable: in-VAR-i-able (stress on the second syllable)

Suggested Reading 

Read Online for free: Dubliners by James Joyce