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Lost Spring by Anees Jung, Class 12 English CBSE (Summary/explanation literary devices, word meaning and extract based question-answer)


 

LOST SPRING

By Anees Jung


Detailed summary, Literary devices, difficult words and their meaning, and question-answer of Lost Spring




INTRODUCTION

The story 'Lost Spring' highlights the pathetic condition of poor children in India. The author has described how thousands of children in India are forced to work in unorganised sectors and lose their childhood at a very early stage of life.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anees Jung is an Indian author and journalist. She is known for her insightful portrayal of Indian society. Her works include "A Flight of Pigeons", “Seven Sisters” and “Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood”. Through her writing, Jung captured the essence of everyday life in India. Anees Jung's works continue to leave a lasting impact. 



 DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR MEANING

                     PART- 1

  • Scrounging- searching for.

  • Amidst- in the middle of.

  • Mutters- to speak in a low voice.

  • Glibly- speak without careful thought and honesty/carelessly

  • Hollow- meaningless/ empty.

  • Abound in -  exist in large number or quantity.

  • Shuffle- shift

  • Perpetual- never ending.

  • Desolation- the state of being empty.

  • Panting- taking short and quick breaths.

  • Periphery- outer area

  • Metaphorically- symbolically/ comparingly.

  • Tarpaulin- waterproof cloth.

  • Tattered- torn

  • Transit- temporary

  • Discarded- rejected


PART- 2

  • Mirage- illusion.

  • Glass-blowing industry- an industry related to making glasses.

  • Furnaces- containers where heat is produced.

  • Dingy- dirty/gloomy.

  • Beam- shine brightly.

  • Stinking- bad smell.

  • Choked- blocked.

  • Hovels- slums.

  • Crumbling- falling.

  • Wobbly- unsteady.

  • Primeval- prehistoric/ancient.

  • Bang- hit.

  • Shack- roughly built hut.

  • Thatched- covered with dry grass.

  • Platters- large plates.

  • Frail- Thin/weak.

  • Impoverished- very poor

  • Destiny- fate.

  • Lineage- ancestry.

  • Mounds- heaps.

  • Unkempt- untidy/dirty.

  • Shanty town- a town that is full of small roughly built huts.

  • Drab-faded.

  • Tongs- an instrument with two moveable arms joined at one end.

  • Sanctity-  being sacred or holy.

  • Draped- covered.

  • Reaped- received as a benefit.

  • Lament- complaint or regret.

  • Mind-numbing- extreme or intense tasks to prevent normal thought.

  • Toil- work.

  • Apathy- showing no concern.

  • Stigma- black spot/ disgrace.

  • Baggage- burden.

  • Hurtling down- moving.




Detailed summary and very short questions and their answers


PART - I


"Why do you do this?" ……….  in the big city where he now lives.


  • The narrator or the author found a lot of ragpicker boys visiting her locality in Delhi and searching for something in the garbage dumps. The garbage dumps were quite precious for them because these were the only source of their livelihood. That's why, the author says that garbage is gold for them

  •  According to the narrator Saheb was living in Dhaka. His house was in the lap of nature. But Saheb did not have any memory of his house in Dhaka. His mother informed him that there were so many storms and floods which swept away their homes and fields. As a result, they came to Delhi.

Q. Name the lesson and its author.

Ans. Lost Spring and Anees Jung.

Q. Where did the narrator encounter Saheb?

Ans. Delhi.

Q. 'Los Spring' is an excerpt from __________

Ans. Lost Spring, Stories of Stolen Childhood.

Q. What is the story about?

Ans. The grinding poverty and traditions which condemn many children to a life of exploitation.

Q." Why do you do this?" Who is the speaker and who is the listener? What does 'this' refer to?

Ans. The narrator and Saheb. This refers to ragpicking.

Q. Which figure of speech has been used in the expression," scrounging for gold/ looking for gold….?

Ans. Hyperbole and metaphor

Q. Why did Saheb's family leave the green fields of Dhaka?

Ans. Due to storms and floods.

Q. Which city has been referred to as 'the big city'?

Ans. Delhi.


"I have nothing else to do" he mutters looking away ……. In every corner of his bleak world.



  • When the author asked Saheb why he used to search in garbage dumps, his reply was- that he did not have any other work to do. Listening to this, the narrator suggested him to go to school. But the next moment she realised that her advice was hollow because he could not go to school as he must work for the survival of himself as well as his family. Saheb however replied that there was no school in his locality. This once again highlights the condition of the deprived section of society.

  • The narrator, then just for fun, said if she opened the school he would come. This made Saheb very happy, and a few days later he came running and asked the narrator if her school was ready.

  • The narrator was a bit embarrassed for making a promise which she did not mean at all. But the next moment she realised that she was not the only one who had made a promise. Every day promises are made which bring some kind of hope in the lives of the poor. But these promises are rarely kept.



Q. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘empty /meaningless’?

Ans. Hollow.

Q. What did the narrator suggest to the boy?

Ans. To go to school.

Q. Which advice has been termed as ‘hollow’?

Ans. To go to school.

Q. Why was the advice hollow?

Ans. Because Saheb has to work for the survival of himself as well as his family.

Q. Why, according to Saheb, was he unable to go to school?

Ans. There was no school in his neighbourhood.

Q. What was the promise made by the narrator?

Ans. Start a School.

Q. Who asked," Is your school ready?" What does it highlight about the speaker?

Ans. Saheb. It highlights his hope.

Q. Why did the narrator feel embarrassed?

Ans. For making the promise she did not mean.

Q. What did the narrator reply when Saheb asked if her school was ready?

Ans. It takes a long time to build a school.

Q. What does the author say about the promises made to the common and poor people?

Ans. Promises are frequently made but rarely kept.


After months of knowing him,  I ask him his name, Saheb-e-Alam …….. to explain away a perpetual state of poverty.


  • The full name of the ragpicker boy is Saheb- e- Alam which means lord of the universe. The irony is that the boy is a ragpicker who struggles for survival. Even in his childhood, he has to work and is deprived of even the basic necessities of life.

  • Like any other ragpicker boy, Saheb also wanders here and there. Just like birds that come out of their nests early in the morning, fly here and there in search of food, and then return by noon. Similarly, the ragpicker boys come out of their houses early in the morning, roam here and there in search of something useful in garbage dumps, and by noon they return.

  • As the narrator was known to the children, she asked one of them why he was not wearing chappals. The reply was that the mother had kept them on the shelf and she did not bring them down. Another child expressed who was going to wear the chappals which were not matching. The third child told her that he wanted to wear chappals because, in his whole life, he had never worn them.

  • According to the narrator, she had travelled far and wide. She had observed both in cities and villages a lot of children walking barefoot. The one explanation given is that it is India's tradition to walk barefoot. However, the narrator is not convinced at all. She thinks such an explanation is nothing but a kind of excuse to conceal the poverty that has been prevailing in our country.


Q. What was the name of the ragpicker boy?

Ans. Saheb-e-Alam.

Q. What is the irony in the name?

Ans. Saheb-e-Alam means lord of the universe. But in this case, the boy is a ragpicker who is so poor that even survival is quite difficult.

Q. The author compares the ragpicker boys to …….

Ans. Early morning birds.

Q. Which literary device has been used in the line, " an army of barefoot boys who appeared like the morning birds….."?

Ans. Simile

Q. What is the one explanation given about walking barefoot?

Ans. It is not the lack of money, but India's tradition.

Q. What does the author think about such an explanation about walking barefoot?

Ans. An excuse to explain away a perpetual state of poverty.


I remember a story a man from Udipi ………. in my neighbourhood remain shoeless.


  • There was a person from Udupi who told a story to the narrator. According to him as a young boy, while going to school, he used to stop near the temple and pray to the goddess for a pair of shoes. When his wish was granted still he offered prayer as he did not want to lose them. But 30 years later when the narrator visited the same town, she found the son of the new priest who was in proper school uniform, wearing school shoes, having a school bag, and sitting on a plastic chair. At this point, the author wants to highlight the fact that the condition of a section of society has improved. The son of a priest can afford shoes. But still, there is a section of the society like the ragpickers who cannot afford shoes or chappals.


Q. What did the boy pray for every morning?

Ans. A pair of shoes.

Q. What did the boy do after getting his wish fulfilled?

Ans. Prayed to the goddess for the safety of his shoes.

Q. What did the narrator notice about the son of the new priest?

Ans. Wearing shoes and socks, having a school bag, and wearing a uniform.

Q. What is the contrast presented here?

Ans. The condition of a section of society has changed but the rag pickers are still the same. Even after 30 years, they can not afford a pair of shoes or chappals.


My acquaintance with the barefoot ragpickers leads me to Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi…….. that get their names on voters' list and enable them to buy grain.


  • The author expresses that she visits Seemapuri to know the condition of the ragpickers. According to the author, Seemapuri is a part of Delhi yet it is far away from Delhi.  It means Delhi, which is the capital of India, provides the best infrastructure, best civic amenities, world-class transportation, education, and medical facilities. But Seemapuri, despite being a part of Delhi, lacks even basic facilities like drinking water, sewage, drainage, etc.

  • The people, who are living in Seemapuri, are squatters settled here illegally. There are around 10,000 ragpickers living there but no basic facilities are provided to them like sewage, drainage,  running water, etc. They have lived here for 30 years without any identity or permit. But they have been provided ration cards because of which they get some grain as well as their names appear on the voters’ list. Actually, here the author has criticized the way they are used as vote banks.


Q. What does 'periphery' mean?

Ans. edge/ outskirts/verge/borderline

Q. What does 'metaphorically' mean?

Ans. Comparingly.

Q. Who are these ragpickers?

Ans. Squatters from Bangladesh.

Q. What does 'squatter' mean?

Ans. Someone who occupies unused land without having a legal right.

Q. What sort of structures do the ragpickers live in?

Ans. Structures of mud with roofs of tin and tarpaulin.

Q. The relationship between Delhi and Seemapuri is like……

Ans. Centre and margin


Food is more important for survival……………. But for a child, it is even more.


  • The narrator interviews a few women who are in tattered saris or tattered clothes. They remark that food is more important than identity. According to them, at least they are not sleeping with an empty stomach in Delhi. On the other hand, their fields did not give any grain. The people living here are not least worried about their nationality.

  • The author expresses that the condition of the ragpickers is miserable. They are living in houses having mud walls and roofs of tin or tarpaulin. The only source of their livelihood is garbage. For them, garbage is as precious as gold. These people pitch their tents wherever they find an empty land and that becomes their transit homes.

  • Due to poverty, even the children have to work for survival. That's why the author has used the expression " partners in survival". With the passage of time, ragpicking has become an art. "Garbage is gold" because it provides them with food and shelter.


Q. What, according to the women, is more important?

Ans. Food

Q. Why did they leave the green fields of Dhaka?

Ans. For food and shelter/ Due to political disturbance/floods and storms swept away everything.

Q. What does it reveal about Indian politics?

Ans. The migrants are used as vote banks.

Q. “Through the years, it has got the proportion of fine art.” Which literary device has been used in this expression?

Ans. Hyperbole

Q. What has acquired the proportion of fine art?

Ans. Ragpicking

Q. How do the children become partners in survival?

Ans.By working

Q. What does ‘transit’ mean?

Ans. Temporary


 I sometimes find a rupee, even a ten rupee note…. it is a means of survival.


  • The author says that garbage has two meanings. For children, it is something wrapped in wonder, because sometimes they find a one rupee note, sometimes a 10 rupee note. When they find a coin they continue to search thinking some more coins may be hidden in the garbage dumps. On the other hand, for adults, it is the means of survival.

Q.  What do adults think about garbage?

Ans.  Means of survival.

Q.  What do the children think about garbage?

Ans.  Something wrapped in wonder.

Q. What do the children do after finding a coin in garbage dumps?

Ans. When they find a coin or note they get excited and continue to search in the heap of garbage for a long time with the hope of getting some more.

Q. What does the phrase 'lighting up' imply here?

Ans. Bright and excited


One winter morning I see Saheb ----------------------- But the game he is watching so intently is out of his reach.

 

  • It is a winter morning. The narrator finds Saheb standing near the fenced gate of the tennis club and watching the game of tennis being played by the two young men. He informs the narrator that he likes the game. He also reveals that whenever no one is in the club, the gatekeeper allows him to enter and enjoy swings. He is so happy explaining all this. It shows these poor children have the same desire; they have the same emotions like other children. They also want to play; they also want to study; they also want to enjoy their lives. The circumstances do not allow them to get all these things. The same morning the narrator also finds Saheb wearing tennis shoes which appear to be absurd on his discoloured shirt and shorts. But he is not least worried because it is just like the fulfilment of his dream.

  • The shoes are rejected by some rich boy and therefore, given to Saheb. But all these do not worry him as wearing shoes is no less than the fulfilment of a  dream.


Q. What was Saheb doing one winter morning?

Ans. He was standing near the fenced gate of the tennis club and watching the game of tennis being played.

Q. Which game did Saheb like to play?

Ans. Tennis

Q. Is it possible for Saheb to fulfil his dream of playing tennis?

Ans. Least probability

Q. How did Saheb get entry to the club?

Ans. The gatekeeper allowed him to enter the club and enjoy the swings.

Q. How did Saheb get the tennis shoes?

Ans. Donated by a rich boy as there was a hole in one of the shoes.

Q. What seemed to be absurd?

Ans. Saheb's discoloured shirt and shorts over the tennis shoes.

Q. Why did the author think that Saheb's dream to play tennis could not be fulfilled?

Ans. He was a poor ragpicker and could not afford to play a game like tennis.


This morning, Saheb is on his way to the milk booth. ……….. Saheb is no longer his own master!


  • One morning the narrator finds Saheb having a steel canister in his hand, and going towards the milk booth. He informs the narrator that he has got a job at a tea stall and that he is being paid 800 rupees per month plus three meals. When the narrator asks him if he is happy, she observes his face does not show the carefree look. Earlier Saheb used to carry a heavy plastic bag, but still, the author says that the steel canister is heavier than the plastic bag because now he loses his freedom. Now he cannot do anything according to his wishes.  He loses his childhood.


Q. Where did Saheb get the job?

Ans. At a tea stall.

Q. How much was Saheb being paid?

Ans. Rs 800/- per month as well as three meals a day.

Q. Why does the author say," The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag" ….?

Ans. Because he lost his freedom.

Q. What does steel canister symbolise?

Ans. Slavery/ servility.



PART - II





Mukesh insists on being his own master. ………. those 20000 children out of the hot furnaces………

  • Just in contrast to Saheb, Mukesh wants to be his own master because he has a desire to be a motor mechanic and own a garage. The author expresses that his dream appears like a mirage, an illusion.

  • According to the author, Firozabad is famous for bangles. It is the centre of India's glass-blowing industry. Here every second family is engaged in bangle making. Almost 20000 children work in this industry.

  • The author criticises the government as well as authorities for not creating awareness among the people and also for not enforcing the law which prohibits child labour. That's why, she says if the law is enforced properly,  20000 children can be taken out of the glass bangle industry.


Q. What is Firozabad known for?

Ans. The centre for the glass-blowing industry/ famous for its bangles.

Q. Why are the children working in the glass bangle industry?

Ans. Due to poverty.

Q. Who is responsible for the plight of the children?

Ans. Government and the authorities.

Q. Why does the author compare Mukesh's dream to a mirage?

Ans. The author thinks he might not be able to fulfil his dream.

Q. Which literary device has been used in the expression," His dream looms like a mirage"?

Ans. Simile


We walk down stinking lanes choked with garbage ………. humans and animals coexisting in a primaeval state.


  • In Firozabad people work in dark and dirty rooms where there is little source of light and air, but the temperature is very high. The high temperature affects their eyes so much that many even lose their eyesight in their childhood.

  • According to the narrator, when she visits the area where the bangle makers live, she finds the narrow lanes giving a foul smell because of the garbage dumps. The drains are totally choked. The houses are like hovels. Even the walls of the houses appear to be crumbling, and the doors are wobbly. Men and animals live together as they were living in ancient times.


Q. Describe the working conditions of the bangle makers.

Ans. They work in dark and dingy cells with little source of light and air.

Q. How does high temperature affect the bangle makers?

Ans. It affects their eyes and many lose their eyesight.

Q. In what condition are the bangle makers living?

Ans. Inhuman condition. Narrow streets are full of garbage dumps giving a foul smell.

Q. What are hovels?

Ans. Small homes which are dirty and in bad condition.

Q. What kind of houses do the banglemakers live in?

Ans. Small houses with crumbling walls and wobbly doors.


He stops at the door of one such house, bangs a wobbly iron door………. Already in charge of three men - her husband, Mukesh and their father.


  • Mukesh stops in front of the door of a house and bangs it open. The narrator finds that the house is no better than a hut. It is like a half-built shack. One part of the house has a thatched roof.

  • When the narrator enters the house she hears a sizzling sound as spinach is being cooked and finds some chopped vegetables in a large platter. There is a young but frail (weak) woman who is busy cooking. Her eyes are full of smoke. She is the wife of Mukesh's elder brother. She is still young but she has the respect of a 'bahu' and she has to do all the household work.

 


Q. How does the narrator find  Mukesh's house?

Ans. Like a shack. One-half of the house has a thatched roof.

Q. Who is the frail woman?

Ans. Mukesh's elder brother's wife.

Q. Which social evil has been pointed out?

Ans. Early marriage

Q. Who is in charge of the three men?

Ans. Mukesh's sister-in-law

Q. How does Mukesh's sister-in-law look?

Ans. Frail

Q. What does “frail” mean?

Ans. weak


When the older man enters, she gently withdraws behind the broken wall and brings her veil ………… what he knows --- the art of making bangles.


  • The author has highlighted a custom which is prevailing in poor localities as well as rural areas. The custom is that of veiling the face by a daughter-in-law in front of an elder male-in-law.

  • Mukesh's father worked first as a tailor and then as a banglemaker. But still, he did not have enough to educate his children. He has only taught them the art of making bangles.


Q. Which custom has been highlighted?

Ans. The custom of veiling in front of an elder male-in-law.

Q. Why does Mukesh's sister-in-law withdraw behind the broken wall?

Ans. Due to the demands of the custom.

Q. Who refers to " impoverished bangle maker"?

Ans. Mukesh's father.

Q. What was Mukesh's father doing prior to making bangles?

Ans. Tailoring.

Q. What has Mukesh's father failed to do?

Ans. Renovate the house and educate his children.

Q. What has Mukesh's father managed to teach his children?

Ans. The art of making bangles.


"It is his karam, his destiny," says Mukesh's grandmother, who has watched her own husband………… Born in the caste of bangle makers.


  • "It is his karam, his destiny,"...... These words are spoken by Mukesh's grandmother who appears to have surrendered to the situation. "It is his karam" means it is the fate of Mukesh to be a bangle maker because all of them were born in the caste of bangle makers. She thinks that it is a God-given lineage and it can never be broken. In other words, it is God's wish that they should remain poverty-stricken and do nothing except make bangles. Mukesh's grandmother has seen her husband going blind while working in the glass bangle industry. 


Q. What is his 'karam'?

Ans. To be a bangle maker.

Q. What has Mukesh's grandmother watched?

Ans. Her husband who went blind with the dust from polishing the glass of bangles.

Q. What is God-given lineage?

Ans. Born in the caste of bangle makers.

Q. How is the attitude of Mukesh's grandmother towards life?

Ans. Hopelessness


Spiral of bangles - Sunny gold, paddy green, royal blue……… losing their eyesight before they become adults.


  • The people of Firozabad have seen nothing except bangles. One can find nothing but bangles everywhere, in the room, in the yard, on the push carts, pull carts etc.

  • All the people including the children work in front of the flickering light. So their eyes become more adjusted to darkness than to light, and as a result, many lose their eyesight before they become adults.


Q. What does shanty town mean?

Ans. Town of huts.

Q. Why do many lose their eyesight?

Ans. Due to the dust from polishing the glass of bangles, the darkness of the room and the high temperature.

Q. What is the hazard of working in the glass bangle industry?

Ans. Loss of eyesight.


Savita, a young girl in a drab pink dress………. she will then become a bride.



  • Savita is a small girl, but she has expertise in making bangles. Her hands work as mechanically as the tongs of a machine. 

  • The author explains how sacred and auspicious bangles are i.e. the symbol of suhaag and it is considered to be auspicious to wear bangles on the occasion of marriage.

  • Savita, possibly, does not know about the sanctity of bangles. She will know herself when her head is covered with red cloth and hands are dyed red with henna, and when she wears bangles. It means when she becomes a bride, only then she will know the sanctity of bangles.


Q. Who is Savita?

Ans. A Young girl.

Q. Savita has become an expert in……….

Ans. Making bangles

Q. What do the bangles symbolise?

Ans. An Indian woman's suhag.

Q. Which literary device has been used in the expression "….her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine."?

Ans. Simile

Q. When will Savita know the sanctity of bangles?

Ans. When she becomes a bride.


Like the old woman who became one many years ago. …………. All I have done is make a house for the family to live in.


  • According to the author, Mukesh's mother still has bangles on her wrist, but she has lost the brightness of her eyes. She says in her entire life she has not enjoyed even one full meal.

  • Mukesh's father expresses before the narrator that he knows nothing except bangles. Moreover, somewhat in a proud manner, tells that all he has done is - got a house constructed. When the narrator hears him she starts thinking if many have even failed to do it.


Q. How does Mukesh's mother react to the whole situation?

Ans. She expresses that she has not enjoyed even one full meal.

Q. What does Mukesh's father say in a somewhat proud manner?

Ans. He has got a house built.

Q. What does the expression "she still has bangles on her wrist, but no light in her eyes mean"?

Ans. Though she is married, her eyes are devoid of happiness


The cry of not having money to do anything except carry on the business of making bangles,....... Years of mind-numbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to dream.


  • In every bangle maker's home, there is one regret that they do not have money, and therefore, they cannot change their profession. Whatever the previous generation lamented, the same lament is there in the present generation. The author has called bangle-making mind-numbing toil as for years the bangle makers have been engaged in this work, and therefore,  they have lost the power to take initiative and even the ability to dream.

  • The poor bangle makers have been trapped by the middlemen. This trap is as dangerous as the vicious circle because there is no way out from there.


Q. What is the cry that rings in every home of Firozabad?

Ans. Not having money and inability to do anything except carry on the business of making bangles.

Q. What do the young men echo?

Ans. The lament of their elders for not having enough money to do anything except making bangles.

Q. What "does mind-numbing toil refer to"?

Ans. Bangle making

Q. What has killed all initiative and the ability to dream?

Ans. Mind-numbing toil.


"Why not organise yourself into a cooperative?" ………. They talk endlessly in a spiral that moves from poverty to apathy to greed and to injustice.


  • The bangle makers of Firozabad cannot even organise themselves into a cooperative because there is a fear that if they do so, they may be arrested by the police, beaten up and put behind bars on false charges. These poor people do not have leaders who can guide and lead them.

  •  The author thinks that the bangle makers have become tired, and exhausted from their work. When they start talking about injustice, poverty, greed and apathy, there is no end.


Q. Why are the bangle makers unable to organise themselves into a cooperative?

Ans. For fear of being arrested by the police, beaten up and put behind bars on false charges.

Q. Who has trapped the bangle makers into the vicious circle?

Ans. The middlemen and sahukars.

Q. What do the bangle makers talk endlessly about?

Ans. Poverty, injustice, apathy and greed of the officials and the middlemen.

Q. Why are the bangle makers unable to rise?

Ans. Lack of any leadership as well as exploitation by the middle man, sahukars, bureaucrats etc.


Listening to them, I see two distinct worlds - one of the family, caught in a web of poverty ………. To do anything else would mean to dare. And daring is not part of his growing up.


  • The narrator imagines two distinct worlds,  which are entirely different from one another. One is the world of the bangle makers where there is poverty, where there is misery. Another is the world of the middlemen, policemen,  politicians, and bureaucrats who have been exploiting them.

  • According to the author, the burden of poverty and suffering continues. One generation transfers all these to another generation and another carries on the same and again puts on to the next generation and that has been going on and on and on. Further, the author says they cannot do anything else except making bangles because doing anything else means taking a risk, and the poor can not take a risk at all.


Q. What are the two distinct worlds that the author talks about?

Ans. One is the world of the bangle makers and the other that of middlemen, sahukars, bureaucrats, politicians etc.

Q. How do the children react when the baggage is imposed on them?

Ans. They accept as naturally as their fathers and forefathers did.

Q. Which baggage has been referred to here?

Ans. Poverty and carrying on the ancestral profession of bangle-making.

Q. Why can they not dare?

Ans. To do anything apart from making bangles.


When I sense a flash of it in Mukesh I am cheered …………………………. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.

  • According to the author, she feels happy when she finds a flash in Mukesh to do something else. She is happy when she comes to know that Mukesh has a dream to be a motor mechanic.

  • Mukesh shows his determination when he tells he will walk a few miles to reach the garage and learn how to drive a car. But he does not have a dream of flying aeroplanes. When the narrator asks if he has a wish to fly an aeroplane, he is a bit embarrassed.


Q. Why does Mukesh suddenly become silent when the narrator asks him if he has a dream of flying a plane?

Ans. He cannot even think about flying planes as he belongs to a poor family of banglemakers.

Q. What does 'murmur' mean?

Ans. Mutter/ whisper

Q. What makes the author cheerful?

Ans. When Mukesh expresses his desire to become a motor mechanic.


Also Read:

Class 12 English CBSE
Literature

Flamingo Prose

                                      

Deep Water                                                                          
 Indigo                        
Poets And Pancakes                          
The Interview                                                                              


Flamingo Poetry

My Mother At Sixty Six .

Keeping Quiet 

Vistas


Writing Portion





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Invitations & their Replies for 12 CBSE (Format and solved examples of Formal Invitations, Informal Invitations, Formal Reply & Informal Reply)

  INVITATIONS & THEIR REPLIES Formal Invitations For family function For official function Q. On behalf of Mrs & Mr Sharma, draft an invitation card to be sent on the occasion of their wedding anniversary. Mr. & Mrs. Sharma  seek your gracious presence on the auspicious occasion of their WEDDING ANNIVERSARY on Monday, January 28, 2024 at 7:30 pm at Hotel Park International (Parliament Street, New Delhi) Programmes Cake Ceremony: 7:45 pm Cultural Programme: 8:15 pm Dinner: 9:15 pm RSVP Arun Neha 9999432165 On behalf of the principal and the staff of DAV Public School, sector-14, Faridabad. Write a formal invitation to be sent on the occasion of the Annual Day Celebration of the school. The Principal & The Staff DAV Public School (Sector-14, Faridabad)  Seek your gracious presence on the auspicious occasion of  ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATION On Sunday, January 27, 2024 at 4:30 pm in the school premises Mr Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of Haryana has conse...

The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet, class 12 English CBSE ( Summary, explanation, question-answer, word meaning and literary devices)

  THE LAST LESSON By Alphonse Daudet (13 May 1840 - 16 December 1897) Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) was a French writer known for his realistic and often autobiographical works. He started his career as a journalist before publishing his first collection of short stories, "Lettres de mon moulin" (Letters from My Windmill), which became a critical and popular success. His other notable works include "Tartarin de Tarascon," a humorous novel, and "Le Petit Chose," a semi-autobiographical novel about his childhood. Daudet also wrote plays and poetry and was a member of the Académie Goncourt. Despite suffering from syphilis and losing his hearing later in life, he continued to write until he died in 1897. INTRODUCTION “The Last Lesson” by Alphonse Daudet is about linguistic chauvinism. At the same time, the lesson highlights the ill effects of procrastination and the fact that we realise the importance of anything when it is not with us. The story is set in the 1...

My Mother At Sixty Six By Kamala Das for Class 12 English CBSE (Summary, poetic devices, word meaning and stanza based question-answer)

  MY MOTHER AT SIXTY By Kamala Das (31 March 1934 - 31 May 2009) DETAILED SUMMARY, EXPLANATION, EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS, AND THEIR ANSWER, WORD MEANINGS, AND POETIC DEVICES USED IN “MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX”. About the poet Kamala Das, also known as Madhavikutty, was an Indian poet and writer. She was born in 1934 in Kerala. Her poetry mainly deals with the intricacies of human relationships. She wrote both in English and Malayalam, her native language. Her works include "The Descendants," "Summer in Calcutta," and "My Story," an autobiography.  The poem "My Mother at Sixty Six"  highlights ageing problems. Here the experience is personal but the theme is universal.  Poetic Devices used. SIMILE. Her face ashen like that of a corpse. The poetess has expressed that her mother's face lacks energy and vitality. Her face is pale and greyish. Wan, pale as a late winter's moon. The words pale and wan indicate lifelessness.       2. REPETITION Smi...

Poets And Pancakes for Class 12 English (Flamingo), CBSE (Summary, word meaning, literary devices and extract based question-answer)

POETS AND PANCAKES By Asokamitran Detailed summary, extract-based questions with their answer, vocabulary, and very short questions and their answer About the author Asokamitran, born Thiagarajan in 1931 in Secunderabad, was a renowned Tamil writer. He continued to rule the literary world for almost six decades. He started his career in Chennai's film industry, which deeply influenced his writings. Ashokamitran's works deal with ordinary people’s struggles and aspirations. His acclaimed novel "Thanneer" (Water) highlights the impact of urbanisation. He is also known for his short stories, essays, and autobiographical works. He got many awards including the Sahitya Akademi Award. This literary giant passed away in 2017. INTRODUCTION The story Poets and Pancakas is an excerpt from the book “My Years With Boss”.This story is about a well-known film production company called Gemini Studios. It started in 1940 in Chennai and was famous in the early days of Indian cinema. S...

The Third Level by Jack Finney for class 12 English, CBSE (Summary, literary devices, vocabulary and extract based question-answer)

  THE THIRD LEVEL By Jack Finney (2 October 1911-14 November 1995)   SUMMARY, DETAILED EXPLANATION, EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWER, SHORT QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWER AND WORD-MEANING  OF THE THIRD LEVEL About the author Jack Finney was an American author who wrote science fiction and thrillers. He gained popularity with the publication of his novel "The Body Snatchers," In his writings, Finney has explored themes like time travel, alternate realities, and mysterious happenings. His stories are full of suspense, making readers eager to turn the next page. Finney's imaginative storytelling continues to draw the attention of readers worldwide. INTRODUCTION   The story "The Third Level" by Jack Finney is about time travel. Here we find the fantasy world which has been connected with the real world. The main character in the story is Charley who wants to escape from the real world because of tension, worry, fear of war, and the feeling of insecurity. Theref...

Report Writing 12 English CBSE , How To Write A Report, Format, Solved Examples of Writing Reports For Shool Magazine And Reports For Newspaper

  How to Write a Report Writing a report may appear difficult, but once you know how to write it, you will not face problems. It ought to be accurate and comprise all necessary details. Whether you are writing about an event, a project, an accident, a happening, or an experience, here’s an easy-to-follow guide to help you. Reports are put in two categories Reports for school magazine Reports for newspaper How to Write a Report for a School Magazine Format for a School Magazine Report Headline Reporter’s name Designation/Class&Section 1. Title of the Report The title should be simple and clear. It must tell the reader what the report is about. It should be precise and must contain complete information. Example: Report on the School Science Fair 2024 2. Introduction It is necessary to state the purpose of the report in the introduction. The report's purpose, the date and location of the incident or occurrence, and the people involved should all be included. Example :  On Aug...

A Thing Of Beauty By John Keats for class 12 English CBSE (Detailed summary, poetic devices, vocabulary and stanza based question-answer)

    A  THING OF BEAUTY By John Keats (31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821) DETAILED SUMMARY, EXPLANATION, EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS, AND THEIR ANSWER, VERY SHORT QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWER, WORD MEANINGS AND POETIC DEVICES USED IN “A THING OF BEAUTY”. "A Thing of Beauty" revolves around the idea that beauty can uplift and provide solace amid life's trials and tribulations. Keats suggests that beauty can be a source of joy and inspiration even in a world filled with suffering and sorrow. He considers beauty eternal and divine. About the poet John Keats, a famous English poet of the Romantic Age,  lived in the early 19th century. His writing often explores the themes of beauty, love, and nature. Even though he died young at just 25, his poetry has left a lasting impact on literature, making him one of the most beloved poets in English literature. DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR MEANING Bower - A shady place under the tree Morrow - morning Wreathing - weaving/ encircling/ arrang...

"Going Places" by A R Barton for class 12 English (Flamingo) CBSE (Explanation, Summary, Word-Meaning and Question-Answer)

  GOING PLACES By A R Barton Summary, Explanation, vocabulary, and very short questions and their answer INTRODUCTION In the story "Going Places," A.R. Barton delves into the theme of teenage fantasy and hero worship through the character of Sophie. She is an adolescent from a lower middle-class society. Sophie is always involved in daydreaming. She is also in the habit of cooking up new stories. Her friends and family try to take her out of her daydreams, but she never stops creating castles in the air. Thus, the author has emphasised the goals and aspirations of teenagers as well as the suffering associated with unrealised dreams. ABOUT THE AUTHOR A.R. Barton is the author of the book "Going Places,". He is known for his engaging and relatable storytelling. His work has made a mark in literature with its focus on everyday experiences and human connections. Barton’s writing often explores themes of adventure, personal growth, and the pursuit of one's aspiration...

Journey To The End Of The Earth by Tishani Doshi for class 12 English(Vistas) CBSE (Summary, literary devices, vocabulary and extract based question-answer)

  JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH By Tishani Doshi SUMMARY, DETAILED EXPLANATION, DIFFICULT WORDS, AND THEIR MEANING, AND VERY SHORT QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWER (JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH) INTRODUCTION “Journey to the End of the Earth”  by Tishani Doshi describes her journey to Antarctica. The lesson explores themes of isolation, self-discovery, and the beauty of the natural world. Here we learn a lot about climate change and how it's affecting us and other living things. It suggests us to start doing things to make the Earth a better place to live. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tishani Doshi is an Indian writer, poet, and dancer. Her literary works include poetry, novels, and essays. Tishani often explores themes like identity, love, and the human condition in her work.  DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR MEANING USED IN "THE JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH" Amalgamated - joined together Thrive- grow/ flourish Cordilleran folds- an extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges Precambr...

A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost, 12 English CBSE (Summary, poetic devices, vocabulary and stanza based question-answer)

   A ROADSIDE STAND BY Robert Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) DETAILED SUMMARY, POETIC DEVICES, DIFFICULT WORDS, AND THEIR MEANING, AND VERY SHORT QUESTION-ANSWER OF A ROADSIDE STAND INTRODUCTION The poem “A Roadside Stand” is about the rural-urban divide. The poet has presented the grim picture of the rural folk. According to the poet, rustics are the victims of injustice and apathy. DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS  Sped- move fast  Pathetically- very bad condition  Pled- requested  Dole of bread- bread given in alms or charity Withering- drying Marred- destroyed Quart- a unit of volume/measuring unit Wart- outer covering Crossly: angrily Kin- One’s family and relations Beast of Prey- a wild animal killing another animal Beneficent- generous/kind Soothe- relieve Longing- desire In vain- without success or a result Lurk- to wait somewhere secretly Marred- Spoilt Plow: cut/turn up Requisite- required Sane- sensible POETIC DEVICES USED IN THE POE...