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Online Education for The Bangle Sellers Poem Summary by Sarojini Naidu

The Bangle Sellers Summary by Sarojini Naidu About the Poet

Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949), commonly known as Nightingale of India, was a poet and politician. She was the first Indian woman to become the President of Indian National Congress, and also the governor of an Indian state. In 1905, her first coliection of poems, named The Golden Threshold was published. Her poems were admired by many prominent Indian politicians.

Subsequently, other widely acclaimed collections including The Bird of Time, The Broken Wing and The Sceptred Flute were published during her life-time. The Feather of the Dawn, her collection of poems, was edited and published posthumously in 1961.

The Bangle Sellers Summary About the Poem

The poem Bangle Sellers was first published in 1912 by Sarojini Naidu in her collection of poems called The Bird of Time’. Naidu’s poetry is best known for her use of imagery and contemporary Indian themes. Among her other poems, this poem stands out as a social message that not only discusses the lives of Indian women but also the lives of bangle sellers.

Although the poem focuses extensively on the stages in the life of women, yet it portrays the lives of the bangle sellers as well. Not once is the poverty or the hardship of their vocation is mentioned in the poem and the “shining loads” denotes the heaviness of the bangles.

The bangle seller employs a joyful voice which makes us forget that their livelihoods depend on the sale of these bangles. The women in their lives are all portrayed as happy., probably because the happiness of the bangle seller relies upon the happiness of these women.

The Bangle Sellers Summary of the Poem

The poem is about a group of bangle sellers who are on their way to the temple fair to sell their bangles. One of them is the narrator of this poem. The bangle sellers take their bangles to the temple fair to sell them. The bangles are termed as “lustrous tokens of radiant lives” which symbolize love and happiness in people’s lives particularly the daughters and wives who become happy to possess them.

The poet says that some of the bangles are made for the unmarried women that are silver and blue in colour. The bangles made for the brides glow like corn fields radiating in the morning and like her marriage flame, ricli like her heart’s desires. The bangles are tinkling, tender and clear with ‘luminous’ colours like the bride’s laughter and tears. Some bangles are made for the elderly women who have journeyed a great deal in their life.

These bangles are purple in colour flecked with gold and grey colours suitable for the middle-aged women who have served their household well, cradled their sons and have worshipped the Gods with their husbands beside them.

The Bangle Sellers Summary Critical Analysis

The poem is divided into four stanzas, each comprising six lines. Each stanza consists of three couplets and has the rhyming pattern- abahab.Bangle sellers take their load of bangles to the temple fair to sell them. The bangles are termed as “lustrous tokens of radiant lives” which mean that they are symbols of love in people’s lives. The bangles are made for happy daughters arid happy wives.

The poet says that some of the bangles are made for the unmarried women and they are of silver and blue in colour. The other bangles made for the bride glows like the fields of corn during morning and some glow like the bride’s marriage flame rich in colour like her heart’s desires. The bangles are tinkling with ‘luminous’ colours like the bride’s laughter or tears. Some bangles are made for the elderly women who have journeyed through half of their life.

These bangles are of purple and grey colours with gold fleckers. These women have served their household well, cradled their sons and have worshipped the household gods with their husbands beside them.

Shining loads, delicate, bright, rainbow-tinted circles of light and lustrous tokens of radiant lives are a few other ways of referring to bangles. People usually buy bangles on temple fairs and such are occasions of happiness. Both the rich and poor buy these bangles and gift them to their wives and daughters. Some of these bangles are perfectly suiting for young girls. They are silver and blue in colour as “the mountain mist”.

Some are flushed red like buds dreaming of their blooming on the tranquil banks of woodland streams. Some have the light like clear glow of the glorious leaves that are just recently born. The bangles mentioned above possess purity and tranquillity in common.

The poem brilliantly and soulfully explores the imagery associated with bangles and the implications for women’s roles in a traditionalist Indian social setting. The speaker makes strong connections between the bangles and their role in providing “happy daughters and happy wives.” The subsequent stanzas describe lush and natural imagery, the beauty of the bangles and their precious values.

Some of these descriptions invoke the passion of “marriage’s fire” and, in the last stanza: help to bring to light the socially accepted role of women in this setting. The purple and grey bangles, flecked with gold colour symbolize a woman who “serves her household in fruitful pride, and worships the gods at her husband’s side.” The grey colour indicates the maturity that comes with age. It is not very clear in the poem if the bangle seller is a man or a woman, and perhaps, some level of meaning might change if one plays with the gender of the speaker.

The Bangle Sellers Summary Word-Meanings

1. rainbow tinted – rainbow coloured
2. lustrous – shining
3. tokens – symbols; meet suitable
4. tranquil brow – calm and quiet bank of a river, lake, pond, etc.;
5. limpid – clear
6. hue – colour
7. luminous – glowing
8. cherished – care tenderly
9. blest – blessed; gold flecked
10. grey – sprinkling of gold colour over grey colour
11. cradled- brought up.

 

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Online Education Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 in English

Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 Introduction to the Chapter

Reach for the Top Part II is about the world-renowned tennis player, Maria Sharapova’s rise to the top in the world of tennis. The secret behind her phenomenal success lies in the harsh struggle and the immense sacrifice made by her and her parents. Bom in Siberia, Russia, in 1987, Maria Sharapova led a charge of Russian players who came to achieve great success in the women’s game. Her humble background and her temporary loneliness made her mentally tough and more determined. This mental strength, coupled with her competitive nature, hard work and sacrifice won her the number one position in the world in women’s tennis. Maria has also brought her own brand of glamour to tennis by designing her own unique tennis outfits.

Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 in English

Reach for the Top (Part II) briefly narrates the life and career of Maria Sharapova, one of the world’s best-known tennis stars. Behind her ready smile, disarming manner and glamorous attire lies the hard work and sacrifice that enabled Maria Sharapova to achieve the world number one position in women’s tennis on 22 August 2005. Poised beyond her years, the Siberian bom teenager took just four years as a professional to reach the pinnacle. However, the rapid ascent in a fiercely competitive world began nine years before with a level of sacrifice few children would be prepared to endure. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when her father,

Yuri, brought her to the US to be trained in tennis. Her mother Yelena could not accompany her due to visa restrictions. In the US she missed her mother badly; her father, too, was working as much as he could to pary for her tennis-training, so, she couldn’t see him either. But she knew that the sacrifice was an inevitable price to pay for her big aspirations.

Apart from the pangs of separation from the mother, the child also suffered harassment from her inconsiderate fellow trainees, who were older in age. At the training academy, Maria would go to bed at 8 pm as she was very young. Her fellow trainees, who were older, would return at 11 pm and wake her up and make her tidy the room. Instead of letting this upset her, Maria drew mental strength and determination from this bullying. This mental toughness gradually became a trait of her personality that helped her both as a person and as a sportswoman.

If proved to be instrumental in helping her to reach the zenith of glory in the world of tennis. She bagged the women’s singles crown at Wimbledon in 2004 and became the number one tennis player in the world. However, Maria is not sentimental about her journey and the sacrifices she has had to make to achieve her goal. She says, “I am very, very competitive. I work hard at what I do. It’s my job.”

Hard work, dedication and mental courage paved the way for Sharapova’s rapid rise to success.

Imbued with patriotic sentiments, she feels proud to be a Russian. Though grateful to the US for bringing out the best in her, she would like to represent her own country Russia at the Olympics.

Although Maria is fond of fashion, singing and dancing, she focuses all her attention on tennis. She considers tennis as both a business and a sport, which has poured riches in her life. However, her main aim is to shine as a tennis player. It is this aspiration that constantly governs her mind and motivates her for ceaseless efforts.

Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 Title

Reach for the Top is a very appropriate title for this account of Maria Sharapova’s journey, when at the age of nine, she came from the frozen plains of Siberia to USA with her father to train in tennis to achieving the world number one position in women’s tennis.

The ‘top’ symbolizes the highest point reached by Maria Sharapova. She reached this ‘top’ by the dint of her earnest efforts and diligent work. Thus, the title is apt in that it salutes the courage and strong will-power of this young tennis star who overcame all hardships and obstructions to reach the top.

Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 Theme

This biographical account focuses on the achievements of the tennis player, Maria Sharapova who earned the title of the world number one in woman’s tennis in 2005. The author reveals the heavy price Maria Sharapova had to pay for reaching the top—hard labour, rigorous training, and sacrifice. She had to face separation from her mother and stay in completely unfamiliar and hostile surroundings for years. She also faced humiliation but never let it affect negatively. She had to undergo mental torture and bullying by other players too, but she did not let any of these problems deter her. on her path to success. She took these problems as challenges and with her mental toughness and competitive nature, she succeeded in achieving her goal.

Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 Message

Maria Sharapova’s success story imparts the message that sacrifice, diligence, hard work and dedication do not go unrewarded. Dreams can be realized only if one works earnestly, putting one’s heart and soul in translating them into reality. Nothing can obstruct those who stick to their path with an unwavering devotion.

Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 Character

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, who achieved world number one position in women’s tennis is admired as much for her game as for her attractive smile and glamorous attire.

From early childhood, Maria was calmer and more composed than other children of her age. She had immense will-power and tenacity that gave her the strength to make sacrifices few people can make—separation from her mother, living alone in a hostile atmosphere in a hostel where she was bullied by senior players, gruelling training schedules and only occasional meetings with her father. She put up patiently with the torment and humiliation perpetrated on her by her fellow trainees. Thus, very early in her life, she learned that excellence comes at a price.

Maria herself claims that she is highly competitive and has always been motivated by her desire to excel. She has always toiled hard to achieve her goals. Her achievements in the world of tennis and her earnings from it are well- earned and most-deserved.

Maria is also a true patriot. Although she has spent many years in the U.S., she takes immense pride in her Russian identity and retains her Russian citizenship, although she remains indebted to the country of adoption for its contribution to her life and career. She wishes to play for Russia in the Olympics if she gets an opportunity.

Maria is as successful a businesswoman as she is as a sportsperson. She has skilfully handled her endorsements and is a fashionista who has a love for sophisticated evening gowns. She loves pancakes and chocolate spread with fizzy orange drinks.

Thus, former number World Champion, Maria Sharapova is an inspiration for everyone, especially sportswomen.

Reach for the Top Summary Part 2 Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Briefly describe Maria Sharapova.
Answer:
Maria Sharapova, the famous woman tennis player, won the women’s singles at Wimbledon in 2004 and attained the world number one position in women’s tennis in 2005. Though Russian by birth, she got tennis training in United States of America. She loves singing, dancing, reading novels and is very hardworking and dedicated.

Question 2.
How is Maria’s personality a mix of contrasts?
Answer:
The maturity, balanced mind and inner strength of Maria does not appear to be in accordance with her glamorous dress or her charming manner and ready smile. There seems to be some mismatch between her sophisticated outer appearance and her balanced inner-self.

Question 3.
Maria possesses some contradictory characteristics. What are they?
Answer:
Maria appears to be highly fashionable as far as her appearance is considered, but she possesses a charming nature that proves her to be friendly and simple. She appears to be sophisticated and yet warm and approachable. Her love for junk foods like pancakes with chocolate spread and orange drinks appears at odds with her fondness for evening gowns.

Question 4.
Explain: “all this happened in almost no time”.
Answer:
The phrase “all this happened in almost no time” means that Maria’s rose to the top in the world of tennis was very quickly and within a very short span of four years as a professional player she became the world number one in her chosen sport.

Question 5.
What does Maria declare to be her ‘mantra for success’?
Answer:
Maria works really hard to fulfill her dreams. She does not shy away from making any sacrifice. She does not allow herself to be emotional and sentimental. She is very competitive and works hard to be the best in whatever she does. She is driven by her hunger to succeed and the dream of becoming the world number one in women’s tennis. This is her mantra for success.

Question 6.
How was Maria different from other children?
Answer:
Maria was calmer and more composed, more confident and tolerant than the other children of her age. She also had inner strength that enabled her to make sacrifices – staying away from her mother, getting bullied by senior players in the hostel – that few children could think of making. Unlike most children, she did not buckle under hardships and adverse circumstances, but toiled hard to achieve success.

Question 7.
Why was Maria brought to Florida in the USA by her father? Why didn’t her mother go with her? How did Maria respond to this separation?
Answer:
Maria was brought to Florida, USA, by her father, Yuri, to get trained as a professional tennis player and reach great heights of success and stardom in this sport. Her mother, Yelena, did not go with her because of visa restrictions. This two-year separation was very painful for the young girl. But Maria endured this sacrifice to pursue her dreams.

Question 8.
How does Maria describe her journey from Siberia to United States?
Answer:
Maria was just nine years old when she had to leave her home, mother and her country to go to the United States. She had to make many sacrifices in a foreign land where she did not even speak the language. She was bullied by senior players and had to face a lot of humiliation and insults. But she did not give in. Her competitive nature and hard work helped her become the world number one in women’s tennis.

Question 9.
What important lesson did Maria learn during the first two years of her stay in the USA, away from her mother?
Answer:
During her first two years in USA, when she was living away from her mother Maria learnt that excellence comes at a price. Since she wished to reach the top in the field of tennis, she would have to make sacrifices and struggle hard. She endured the heart-wrenching separation from her mother for two years to attain her goal. Moreover, she also learnt how to put up patiently with adverse circumstances.

Question 10.
Maria’s father accompanied her to USA but why could he also not see her during her stay there?
Answer:
Maria’s father, Yuri, had brought his nine-year-old daughter to the USA to get her trained in tennis. U Unfortunately, he too could not see her frequently as he had to work very hard to earn to pay for her training.

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Online Education for Hearts and Hands Story Summary by O. Henry

Hearts and Hands Summary by O. Henry About the Author

O. Henry was an American writer whose actual name was William Sydney Porter. His short stories are known for wit, wordplay, humor and twisted endings. He was born on 11th September, 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina. His father, Algernon Sidney Porter, was a medical doctor. When he was only three years old, his mother died and his grandmother and aunt raised him. He left the school at the age of 15 and did many jobs.

In 1896 he was accused of embezzlement. He was sentenced for five years in jail. While in prison, he began writing short stories and his first published story was Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking in 1899. He used a pseudonym, Olivier Henry, only to hide his identity as he did not want his readers to know that he was in jail. His twelve stories were published when he was in prison.

He was released from jail only in three years because of his good behavior. He moved to New York City in 1902 and wrote a story a week for the New York World. His first collection of stories was Cabbages and Kings and the next collection was The Four Million. His success brought excessive pressure and he suffered from alcohol addiction. He died of cirrhosis of the liver on 5th June, 1910 in New York.

Hearts and Hands Summary of the story

“Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry is a short story which describes the encounter of two acquaintances, Miss Fairchild and Mr. Easton. The story is set on a train to Denver. A very pretty young woman named, Miss Fairchild is sitting in one coach. Mean while two men enter the coach who are handcuffed to one another.

Miss Fairchild greets one of them who she must know well and when she finds him bound at the wrist by shining bracelet to his companion, her smile changes to that of bewilderment. The glum faced man with the Easton senses his embarrassment and gives an explanation, he tells that Easton is a marshal and he is taking him to Leavenworth prison. Its seven years for counterfeiting.

With the advancement of conversation, Mr. Easton tells that he prefers to become marshal in West rather than life in Washington. The young woman finds it fascinating but continues to look upon the glittering handcuffs. To comfort her, the other man tells her that the marshals handcuff themselves to the prisoners to prevent them from escaping. After this, the glum faced man wishes to smoke and both leaves for the smoker and the pretty woman bids goodbye to Mr. Easton.After they are gone, one of the two passengers sitting nearby remarks on Easton’s looks that he seems too young to be marshal. He then exclaims that Mr. Easton is the counterfeit by saying that,” Did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”

Theme

Looking at the title of the story one must have the opinion that the theme will display heart, means the selfless kindness. But the theme is that, ‘sometimes looks can be deceiving’. One must not jump to the conclusion randomly. Another theme is that of compassion showed by the ruffled Marshal who had sympathetic consciousness for Easton. The irony at the end of the story makes it more interesting.

The setting of the story is in a train to Denver. A glum faced man introduces Mr. Easton as the marshal to ease the pretty woman’s doubt on seeing him handcuffed. She is relieved to know that he is not a prisoner. He speaks on his behalf on reaching Leavenworth prison, which displays his kindness. He also saves Easton from getting humiliated in front of the pretty lady. He does not care for his own prestige.

There is a blast of irony here. Mr. Easton who is handsome and good looking is criminal whereas glum-faced, rough looking, heavily built man is Marshal. That’s why when the real Marshal tells the lady that he is the criminal and is being taken to prison by Mr. Easton who is the Marshal, she quickly believes. She doesn’t notice that Easton’s right hand is handcuffed.

The twist appears in the end when the two co-passengers remark that Easton is the counterfeit and the other man is the true marshal and. This situation is not at all expected by the readers and it deepens the mystery. Therefore it is suggested that often jumping to quick conclusions results in ignoring the truth.

Hearts and Hands Summary Characters

Miss Fairchild

She is a pretty young woman with a lovely smile and remarkable dressing sense. She seems to be a smart and elegant woman with a fascination for travelling. Her travelling experience is obvious from all the luxurious comforts she is surrounded by. Her hands are covered with gloves. Her voice is sweet and there is a tender pink colour on her cheeks when she smiles.

But at the same time she possesses the quality of arrogance which is obvious when she asks Mr. Easton to be given the opportunity to speak: first. She seems to be interested in handsome Mr. Easton that’s why she starts conversation with him. She is astonished to see him handcuffed with another rough looking man. Rather she is horrified. But she is so much attracted towards him that there is no place of doubt in her mind.

When she is told that Mr. Easton is the Marshal and the other ruffled man is the convict, she feels relieved. It shows her innocence that she believes in whatever the glum faced man tells her. She assumes Mr. Easton to be the hero when she says, “And so now you are one of these dashing Western heroes”. On his being talking about his butterfly days, she thinks that he is talking about his free days. She also shows her interest in West when she comes to know that he

is settled in West. She is more socialite than emotional. When her father was ill, she didn’t go to see him, rather she preferred to remain in Denver. Mr. Easton He is handsome with a bold, honest face. It misleads the readers and they think that he is a real Marshal. He knows Miss Fairchild since he was in Washington. When he enters the coach, he hears a familiar voice of Miss Fairchild, initially he feels embarrassed as he is handcuffed but soon he rouses and shakes off his embarrassment and clasps her fingers with his left hand and speaks to her with a smile on his face.

Easton is clever enough to manipulate things. As soon as he sees the expression of horror on her face, he immediately changes his expression. He tells the young woman that he has discarded the Washington life to become a Marshal in West. But being guilty he becomes more and more conscious with the advancement of conversation with Miss Fairchild.

He knows that it won’t be possible for him to carry on their relationship further as she is more a social animal and materialistic than a realistic person. He ironically replies her that his butterfly days are over which means that he will be put in prison later and not be free whereas Miss Fairchild thinks that he is talking in general. He is sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in Leavenworth prison for counterfeiting. He is handcuffed by his right hand. This is another irony that he is handsome and charming but a criminal.

Marshal

He is ruffled, glum faced person who is heavily built and roughly dressed. But he is compassionate and kind hearted. He is hand cuffed by his left hand with the criminal which is another example of irony. He pretends to be the prisoner in order to save Mr. Easton from embarrassment in front of Miss. Fairchild. He has a good judgmental quality of human behavior. He is witty to sense the embarrassment felt by Mr. Easton and so delivers an explanation on his behalf.

He tells Miss Fairchild that all the Marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away when she continues to stare at the handcuffs. He does not want to humiliate Easton in front of an old friend and even doesn’t care for his own reputation. At one point when the conversation between Mr. Easton and Miss. Fairchild is going on, he remains quiet and listens to them calmly and at a situation when he thinks that Easton might not reveal the truth mistakenly, he takes an excuse and goes along with him in the smoker room. This shows his humbleness and large heartedness.

Hearts and Hands Summary Word-Meanings

1. influx – arrival of large number of people
2. elegant – graceful and stylish
3. countenance – facial expression
4. ruffled – upset
5. aisle – a passage between rows of seats
6. tingeing – slight coloring
7. proclaimed – announced something publically
8. accustomed – used to
9. embarrassment – awkard feeling
10. clasped – grasp something tightly
11. bewildered – puzzled or confused
12. vague – not clearly explained
13. forestalled – prevent by taking action first
14. veiled glances – indirect looks
15. pen – enclosure, prison
16. counterfeiting – forging
17. petition – an appeal or request specially a written one
18. sidled – advance in a timid way.

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Online Education for Abou Ben Adhem Poem Summary by Leigh Hunt

Abou Ben Adhem Summary by Leigh Hunt About the Poet

James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784-1859), popularly known as Leigh Hunt, was an English poet, essayist, journalist, editor, writer and critic, who remained a prominent figure of the Romantic Movement in England. He was the editor of influential journals like ‘The Reflector’, and ‘The Indicator’, at a time when periodicals were culturally quite effective and on the roll. He wrote poetry in varied forms that embodied satires, epistles, narrative poems, short lyrics, odes, sonnets and poetic dramas. His works were noted for their intense and expressive descriptions along with rhythmic and soulful qualities.

He was an enthusiast of nature and surroundings, a master of temperament, which reflected in many of his works that infuse a feeling of vivaciousness and joy. As a boy, Hunt was an admirer of Thomas Grey and William Collins and tried imitating them in many ways. Since he had difficulties in speech, which was cured later, he could not make it to the university. He made a mark in the English literature with the publication of Story of Rimini in 1816.

The themes of most of his poems were patriotism, love for nature and friendship. He translated poems of many foreign languages including French, Roman, Greek and Italian. He inspired poets like Walter Savage Landor, Charles Dickens and Charles Lamb and introduced many poets like Alfred Tennyson, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats and Robert Browning.

His know-how of Italian and French versification is palpable from his two best known poems, Jenny Kiss’d Me and Abou Ben Adhem. Two of his remarkable play productions are A Legend of Florence and Lovers’ Amazements, while The Story of Rimini and Abou Ben Adhem are regarded as his major poems.

Abou Ben Adhem Summary About the Poem

“Abou Ben Adhem” is a poem written by Leigh Hunt, one of the 19th century English poets. The poem was first published in 1838, as one of the pieces in a three-volume entitled The Book of Gems: the Poets and Artists of Great Britain, edited by Samuel Carter Hall. Based on a story in a French book, Bibliotheque Orientale, by Barthelemy d’Herbelot de Molainville (1625 – 1695), the poem tells a little story about the importance of loving one’s fellow human beings.

The story is based on the life of Abou Ben Adhem, a Muslim Sufi mystic from Persia who was venerated as a saint after his death (circa AD 777). Much like the famous Roman Catholic ascetic, Saint Francis of Assisi, Ibrahim Ibn Adham or Abou Ben Adhem gave up a life of luxury in exchange for a simple life, devoted to his fellow man and to God.

Abou Ben Adhem Summary of the Poem

The poem “Abou Ben Adhem” depicts the heavenly feelings of Abou Adhem, a strong believer in God who believes that not only loving God, but also loving people who believe in God is great.

The poem describes an event in the life of Adhem as when one night, he woke up from his deep peaceful sleep and saw a beautiful angel, in the moonlight (that lit his room), writing something in a golden book. He looked at the angel with wonder. The peaceful ambience of the room encouraged him to question the angel, “what writest thou?” i.e., what was he writing.

The angel raised its head and with sweetness answered Adhem that it was writing the names of all those who loved God. On hearing this, Abou enquired about his name in the list. But the angel’s reply was negative which made Abou a little sad but still he cheerfully requested the angel to write his name in the list of people who loved God’s fellowmen.

The angel wrote something in the book and disappeared. The next night the angel appeared again with a great bright light that roused Adhem from his sleep. It showed Adhem the names of those people whom God has blessed and to great surprise, Abou’s name was at the top of the list.

Abou Ben Adhem Summary Critical Analysis

The poem ‘Abou Ben Adhem’ is rooted in a purely spiritual context, reflecting some of the fundamental human values and ideals cherished by any religious system. It consists of 18 lines including 9 rhymed couplets. It is interesting to note that the poetic device of rhymed couplet had been earlier used by Augustan poets, particularly Alexander Pope about a century.

However, the form of poetic expression called blank verse had become so popular in Hunt’s time that none of his best-known contemporaries preferred to use rhymed couplets. Hunt might have felt that this form of poetic expression would communicate the ideas of love, peace and happiness around which this poem revolves, more intelligibly and with greater ease.

The poem talks about the religious escapades of a man known as “Adhem”. He sees an angel one night in his room but he remains unruffled. He refused to be scared since he had firm belief in God. For him, seeing an angel is a happy thing. He is rather interested in knowing what the angel is writing down. He gets the information that the angel is drafting a list of people who love God.

He therefore strives to know whether his name is also included. He gets the information that his name is not in the list but also refuses to be sad or dejected because of that. He goes on to request the angel to write his name in the list of people who love God’s fellowmen. Later one night, the angel comes back with a list that has Adhem’s name at the very top.

In all, Abou Ben Adhem is simply a narrative poem. It tells the story of the man Adhem and his encounter with an angel. The poem sends a message about the power of love, faith and prayer. It shows how some people pray to God. Some pray to love God while others pray in love with their fellowmen. In any case, the love of fellowmen attracts God’s blessing.

In this poem, the poet uses the language of the poem to convey the idea that loving your fellow man is the way one loves the Lord and is what allows an individual to become truly alive. He uses the simile “a lily in bloom” to convey flowering of the human spirit that occurs when men look beyond themselves. The poem’s message explains- the best way to love God is to love others, which brings God’s blessing. The “book of gold” symbolizes the richness a man encounters when he loves the Lord, a richness of spirit that transcends this life.

Abou Ben Adhem Summary Word-Meanings

1. increase – multiply or grow in number
2. bloom – mature stage of flower; blossoming
3. exceeding – a large quantity of something, more than what is commonly perceived
4. bold – courageous; fearless
5. presence – reference to the angel;
6. heerly – gladly; delightfully; cheerfully
7. vanished – disappeared
8. wakening light – bright light that aroused Adhem from sleep
9. blest – blessed.

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Online Education for A Face in the Dark Story Summary by Ruskin Bond

A Face in the Dark Summary by Ruskin Bond About the Author

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He was born on 19th May, 1934 in Kasauli, Punjab States Agency British India. His father was in Royal Air Force from 1939 till 1944. Bond spent his childhood in Jamnagar, Gujarat and Shimla. When he was ten years old, he went to live with his grandmother in Dehradun.

He did his schooling from Bishop Cotton School in Shimla from where he graduated in 1950 after winning several writing competitions in the school. At the age of 16 in 1961, he wrote one of his short stories, Untouchables. After his high school education, he went to his aunt’s house in UK in 1951 for two years.

In London he started writing his first novel The Room on the Roof. It was the story of an orphaned Anglo-Indian boy named Rusty. It won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. He moved to London and worked in a photo studio while searching for a publisher. When it was published, he returned back to Bombay and settled in Dehradun. He sustained himself financially by writing short stories and poems for newspapers and magazines.

A Face in the Dark Summary of the story

A Face in the Dark is a short story by Ruskin Bond. Setting of the story is a dark windy night when an Anglo-Indian teacher, Mr. Oliver who dared to walk through the pine forest for a short cut after spending an evening in Shimla Bazaar. On his way back, he saw a boy sitting alone on a rock. He was weeping with his face in his hands and his head was hung down. Oliver stopped there and asked him the reason for being alone at that time and why he was crying.

The boy didn’t answer his question and continued sobbing. Out of curiosity, Olive again asked him what was troubling him. Then the boy lifted his face and the light from Oliver’s torch fell on the boy’s face. Oliver was shocked to see that there were no eyes, ears, nose or mouth. It was a smooth head with a school cap on it.

Horrified, Mr. Oliver ran blindly when he bumped into a watchman who was standing in the middle of the path with a lantern swinging in his hand. Watchman asked him the reason why he was running. Oliver told him about the boy who had no face. The watchman raised his lantern up and asked Oliver if the boy had the face like him. He too had.the same featureless face. Suddenly wind blew and put out the lamp.

A Face in the Dark Summary Theme

Ruskin Bond’s stories are full of ghost, witches, monsters, etc. which are as lively as the human beings. That’s why his works are popular among adults as well as children; the stories are intended to create an eerie. It is one of the Bond’s famous stories. It is supernatural and too short but complete in itself. There are only three characters which include Mr. Oliver, an Anglo-Indian teacher, a boy and a watchman. But the main character is Mr. Oliver who is a bold and brave man but he is also caught by the fancy and imagines the cap lying on the rock as the faceless boy.

Then he again imagines a watchman without face like the boy. There is an element of fear, suspense, horror, thrill, mystery and surprise which is used skillfully by Bond. It displays the picturesque image of the hills at the evening which removes the loneliness of a person. The story ends with suspense to what might have happened to Mr. Oliver and leaves the reader in confusion.

A Face in the Dark Summary Characters

Mr. Oliver

Mr. Oliver was a stern and strict Anglo-Indian teacher in a school situated three miles away from Shimla. He was a bachelor and stayed alone in the school premises. He never got nervous; moreover he was not an imaginative person, it is clear from the fact that he used to take unusual and lonely paths. He didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits. On the other side, he was a concerned human being too who could not ignore the sight when he saw the boy weeping; he showed his soft side and kindness and asked him the reason for being alone at such an isolated place. But all the bravery went into oblivion when he saw that faceless boy.

He was gripped with fear. It might be imagination of his mind. The very mentally balanced teacher lost his physical balance. He was so shocked that to avoid the scene he rushed very fast that he bumped into a watchman and the climax occurred when the watchman showed his face that was the same featureless face.The story ends without a clear ending. The readers are left thinking what might have happened to Mr. Oliver. They are free to give wings to their imagination and come out with different conclusions.

A Face in the Dark Summary Word-Meanings

1. outskirts – parts of the town away from the city
2. strolled – leisure walk
3. eerie – mysterious, frightening
4. miscreant – wrong doer
5. convulsively – violent movement
6. distinctly – Clearly
7. racked – subject to suffering
8. sobbing – crying with uneven drawing of breath
9. scrambled – moved hastily or awkwardly
10. stumbled up – loose balance
11. gasping – breathing fast with open mouth.

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Online Education for The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 7 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 7 Summary

The subplot of Jessica’s elopement is over and we are brought back to the main plot. The scene takes place in Belmont. There are colour and brightness, pomp and show. This is the first of the famous casket scenes. The Prince of Morocco, after his visit to the temple, is ready to choose the casket.

As he goes about his choice, the audience comes to know about the details of the caskets. The first casket is of Gold with the inscription, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire 1.The second one made of Silver, says ‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves’ and the third one made of lead has the inscription who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath’.

The prince rejects the lead one thinking that no one will hazard for anything for the base metal; moreover, how can lead contain the portrait of such a worthy lady! He meditates over the Silver. By his birth, fortune and grace and love he deserves Portia. But finally he settles for the gold as silver is of much less value than gold. All the world desire Portia. Men from all corners of the world have come seeking for her hand.

When he opens it, he finds it to his utter consternation a skeleton with a scroll reading, ‘All that glitters is not gold.’ The prince is upset with his failure. He bids farewell to Portia and to his dreams. Portia feels relieved and hopes that all, like the Prince, should make such errors.

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 7 Summary Word Meanings

1. as blunt – as dull as the lead
2. withal – with the casket
3. golden – noble
4. aught – anything
5. with an even hand – impartially
6. graces – natural virtues
7. breeding – upbringing
8. shrine – a holy place
9. mortal breathing saint – Portia is the holy person whom pilgrims have come to kiss
10. Hyrcanian deserts – a province in ancient Persian Empire
11. thoroughfares – main roads
12. watery kingdom – ocean
13. foreign spirits – suitors from abroad
14. brook – a stream
15. damnation – base thought
16. gross – coarse
17. rib – enfold
18. cerecloth – waxed cloth
19. obscure – dark
20. immur’d – locked up
21. insculp’d – engraved
22. thrive as I may – whatever the result may be
23. a carrion death – skeleton
24. empty eye – hollow eye
25. scroll – a roll of paper
26. frost – disappointment
27. tedious – formal
28. complexion – personality.

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 7 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Prince of Morocco :
The first, of gold, who this inscription bears ;
‘Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire’.
The second, silver, which this promise carries :
‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves’.
This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt:
‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath’
How shall I know if I do choose the right?

Question 1.
Where is the Prince of Morocco? What has brought him there?
Answer:
Prince of Morocco is in a room in Portia’s house. He has come to try his luck with the lottery of caskets, to win Portia’s hand.

Question 2.
What is the motto carved on the golden casket? What does it contain?
Answer:
The motto carved on the golden casket is that the man who opens it will get what many men desire. It contains an empty human skull holding a roll of paper, stating that, whoever happens to be guided by the glitter of things is invariably deceived.

Question 3.
What is the motto borne by the silver casket? What does it contain?
Answer:
The motto borne by the silver casket is that the suitor who opens it will get what he deserves. It contains the portrait of a blinking idiot presenting a scroll in which, its written that, those who do not think carefully before taking any step in any matter will always be befouled.

Question 4.
What is the motto borne by the lead casket? What does it contain?
Answer:
The motto borne by the lead casket is that the suitor who chooses it, will have to sacrifice whatever he has. It contains the portrait of fair Portia, and a roll of paper on which it is written that, whosoever has chosen it should be ready to risk everything he has, for the sake of love.

Question 5.
What are the views of the different suitors who are concerned with the casket incident? What do you think after views and remarks?
Answer:
The Prince of Morocco looks upon the selection by caskets as a matter of ‘chance’. The Prince of Arrogan looks upon the selection of caskets as a matter of fortune. Even Bassanio, the successful suitor says, ‘But let me to my fortune and the caskets’. The remarks and views of various persons who are concerned with the casket incident would lead us to think that destiny is all powerful and she guides all human actions. Portia rightly remarks, ‘when they choose, they have the wisdom by their wit to lose’.

2. Prince of Morocco :
This casket threatens. Men that hazard all
Do it in hope of fair advantages :
A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross;
I’ll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead.
What says the silver with her virgin hue?

Question 1.
Where is the character now? Who else are with him? What is this scene popularly known as? What is its importance?
Answer:
The character is in a room in Portia’s house. Portia and her trains are there. This scene is the first of the popular casket scenes. In this scene, The Prince of Morocco tries to choose the right casket but fails to do so.

Question 2.
Why does the speaker say, ‘This casket threatens’? Why doesn’t he choose this casket?
Answer:
The casket inscription is in the form of a threat. He rejects it because it says, ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ This means, the one who chooses the lead casket should be ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of love.

Question 3.
Explain the meaning of ‘shows of dross’ and silver with her virgin hue’? Which of the three is the right casket to choose?
Answer:
‘Shows of dross’ means worthless shows and the silver casket is pure white. The one with Portia’s portrait is the right one.

Question 4.
What does the silver casket say? Why doesn’t Morocco choose this one?
Answer:
The silver casket says, ‘who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves1. He doesn’t choose this one as he feels that he deserves much more because of his breeding, reputation, noble birth and his love for her. By settling for the less noble silver, he may be distrusting his own merits and that is a weakness. He deserves the lady as his worth is equal to hers.

Question 5.
What is the inscription on the golden casket? Why does the speaker choose this one?
Answer:
The inscription on the golden casket is ‘who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire1. He feels that Portia is desired by many men, as they have come to win her hand from all the corners of the world. The Persian desert and vast ocean are unable to prevent men from coming to Portia’s place to have a glimpse of her.

Lead is too base to contain the picture of such a worthy lady and silver is many times inferior to Gold and the lady is pure gold. This makes Morocco choose the Gold casket.

3. Prince of Morocco :
Why, that’s the lady :
I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,
In graces, and in qualities of breeding;
But more than these, in love I do deserve.
What if I stray’d no further, but chose here ?
Let’s see once more this saying grav’d in gold :
‘Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire’.
Why, that’s the lady : all the world desires her;
From the four corners of the earth they come,
To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint:
The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds
Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now
For princes to come view fair Portia :
The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head.
Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
To stop the foreign spirits, but they come,
As o’er a brook, to see fair Portia.

Question 1.
Who is the fair lady? What’s the condition to win her hand in marriage? Who has made this condition? Why?
Answer:
The fair lady is Portia, the beautiful and rich lady of Belmont. The condition is that the suitors should choose the right casket from the three displayed. The casket that contains Portia’s portrait, is the right one and whoever chooses that, will win her hand. Portia’s father, before his death had willed that his daughter’s husband should be the one who chooses the right casket with his daughter’s portrait. He was a wise man and wanted Portia to get the right husband who would love her for herself and not for her money. He was ensuring that a wise and prudent person who would understand the cryptic comments on the casket would ultimately win her hand.

Question 2.
Why does the speaker say ‘all the world desires her’?
Answer:
Many princes and nobilities from various corners of the world are travelling through deserts and oceans to meet this fair lady. It’s like a pilgrimage to kiss the holy saint within Belmont. According to Prince Morocco the whole world is desirous of having her.

Question 3.
Explain the meaning of ‘The Hyrcanian deserts to come view fair Portia’
Answer:
Morocco says that the dry deserts of Hyrcania and the immense wilderness of Arabia have become like main roads. The dangerous areas do not deter the gallant men who travel through them as though they are streets, used every day by common men.

Question 4.
What is the watery kingdom? What does it do in the face of heaven? Why is this expression used here?
Answer:
The watery kingdom is the ocean. Its high waves spit on heaven. This expression is used here to show that the gallant men who come to Portia don’t even care for the high waves.

Question 5.
What is meant by ‘foreign spirits’? How do they treat the watery kingdom?
Answer:
Foreign spirits refer to the gentlemen from abroad who are coming eagerly to meet Portia. They treat the ocean as though it is a stream.

4. Morocco :
They have in England
A coin that bears the figure of an angel
Stamp’d in gold, but that’s insculp’d upon;
But here an angel in a golden bed
Lies all within. Deliver me the key :
Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

Question 1.
Why does Morocco say these words?
Answer:
Morocco has decided to choose the golden casket. He is sure that a portrait of Portia must be in the golden casket as a gem like her cannot be set in any other metal than gold. He remembers that there was a coin in England stamped in gold with the figure of an angel. In the same way, Portia’s portrait will be found inside the golden casket.

Question 2.
Bring out the meaning of, ‘that’s insculped upon’ and ‘angel in a golden bed’
Answer:
‘Insculped upon’ means engraved upon; ‘an angel in golden bed’ is the portrait of Portia inside the casket.

Question 3.
Why should the key be delivered? Explain the meaning of ‘thrive I as I may’.
Answer:
The key should be given to open the golden casket. Morocco has decided to open the golden casket and the rest; he is leaving fate to decide.

Question 4.
What does he find in the Golden casket?
Answer:
In the golden casket, Morocco finds a skull with hollow sockets. The scroll along with it chides him by saying that ‘All that glitters is not gold’. Many a man has given his life seeing its outward glitter, but one should remember that gold cover tombs have worms inside, eating of the dead body inside them. If he had been as wise as he was brave, he would have not have been deceived by the glitter of gold.

Question 5.
How does this scene end?
Answer:
The scene ends with the Prince of Morocco feeling disappointed. He leave Portia by biding her a simple farewell. He is too sad to speak a more formal speech. As he goes out with his train accompanied by the sound of trumpets, Portia says that he is a gentle fellow but she is glad to get rid of him. She hopes that all suitors like he, should make a similar wrong choice as he has done.

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Online Education for The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary

The trial scene of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is the most famous and powerful scene of the play in the whole of English dramas. This is the scene where Shylock is to take his forfeiture from Antonio. Antonio’s friends and even the Duke beg him to have mercy; Shylock says he will not grant mercy for the simple reason that he hates Antonio. He says Christians do what they wish with their slaves because they have bought them, and so it is with Antonio.

Bassanio offers Shylock six thousand ducats, double the actual amount, but Shylock refuses saying that even if he were offered six times the amount, he would still want the pound of flesh’.Nerissa, dressed as the lawyer’s clerk enters the court and gives a letter to the Duke, which states that since he is unwell he is sending Balthazar, a learned lawyer, to prosecute the case instead of him.

Portia then enters the scene dressed as a lawyer. Portia makes the very famous speech on mercy here. She makes a very moving appeal to Shylock, but he only wants his bond, he only wants justice. After examining the bond Portia declares authenticity of the bond and permits Shylock to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio. As Shylock is about to do so Portia orders him to keep a surgeon at hand, but Shylock refuses because the bond stipulates no such safeguard.

As Shylock is ready to cut into Antonio, Portia reminds him that the bond stipulates only a pound of flesh and not even a single drop of blood. Shylock is stunned and he is now ready to take three times the amount and let Antonio go. Portia refuses and tells Shylock that he will get either his bond or nothing, On the other hand, in cutting the pound of flesh if even one drop of Antonio’s blood spills, then all his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state of Venice, for harming a Venetian citizen. Portia then tells him that as per the law of Venice he is conspiring to kill a Venetian, therefore now his life depends on the mercy of the duke.

The same law now demands him to give half of his property to the person against whom he has conspired, i.e. Antonio, and the remaining half would be confiscated by the state of Venice. The duke shows mercy by sparing Shylock’s life and reduces his penalty to a fine rather than taking half of his property.

The other half, which was to go to Antonio, was kept in a trust to be given to Lorenzo and Jessica, after Shylock’s death. Shylock is also asked to convert to Christianity, and give everything in writing. Shylock feels completely defeated and leaves the court under the pretext of feeling sick.

Now, as a token of gratitude, Bassanio offers some money to the lawyer, which he (Portia) refuses. Portia demands for the ring that Bassanio is wearing but he refuses, calling the ring a trifle, saying that he wouldn’t like to dishonor the lawyer by giving him such a lowly gift. Instead, he offers to find him the most expensive gift in Venice. Portia is disheartened at Bassanio not giving her the ring and leaves.

Antonio requests Bassanio to give the ring to the lawyer, which Bassanio does; thus parting with the ring, which Portia had given him saying that if he would ever part with that ring, it would be the end of their love. For the sake of his friend Antonio, Bassanio gives the ring to the lawyer. Then they all (Bassanio, Gratiano, Antonio) make plans to leave for Belmont.

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Word Meanings

1. stony adversary – stone hearted rival
2. inhuman wretch – a person without feelings
3. Dram – a very small amount
4. qualify – reduce
5. stands obdurate – remains hard-hearted
6. arm’d – prepared
7. fashion of thy malice – mood of your cruelty
8. exact’st – insist on having
9. moiety of the principal – a part of the original sum
10. pluck commiseration of – take out pity from
11. brassy bosoms – hearts as hard as brass
12. train’d to offices of tender courtesy – taught to behave with gentleness
13. possess’d – informed
14. sabbath – the seventh day of the Jewish week which was the holiest day carrion – rotten
15. humour – mood, ban’d poisoned
16. a gaping pig – a roasted pig’s head with the mouth open
17. loathes – hates
18. abide – tolerate
19. lodg’d – deep-rooted
20. a loosing suit – a legal case where one must lose money
21. current – course
22. main flood – ocean tide
23. bate – reduce
24. use question with – ask
25. ewe – mother sheep
26. bleat – cry painfully
27. fretten – blown
28. beseech – beg
29. abject and in slavish parts – for lowiy and servile tasks
30. viands – food
31. meetest – fittest
32. whet – sharpen
33. inexorable – relentless
34. currish – like a cur
35. fell – cruel
36. unhallow’d – unsanctified
37. dam – mother
38. ravenous – hungry
39. rail – rebuke, offend’st – trouble
40. importunity – earnest request
41. impediment – hindrance
42. impugn you – accuse you
43. strain’d – forced,
44. place beneath – earth
45. ecomes – suits
46. temporal – worldly,
47. seasons – moderates
48. mitigate – reduce
49. bears down- overcomes.
50. wrest – twist
51. lay perjury upon – break a pledge
52. exposition – understanding of the case
53. hath full relation – entirely supports
54. still her use – usually her custom
55. lingering – slow passing
56. penance – suffering
57. commend – convey my compliments
58. entreat – request,
59. stock of barabas – a Jew
60. trifle – wasting time over trivialities
61. tarry – wait
62. no jot – not even a small quantity
63. upright – honest
64. urgest – demand
65. soft – wait
66. substance – weight, division – fraction
67. scruple – a weight unit
68. question – to argue,
69. value of a cord – price of a rope
70. state’s charge – expense of the state.

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Duke :
I am sorry for thee : thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.

Question 1.
Who is ‘thee’ in the first line? Where are they and why?
Answer:
The ‘thee’ in the first line refers to Antonio. They are right now in the court for the case between Antonio and Shylock. Antonio has forfeited the bond so Shylock is liable to take a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

Question 2.
Who is being spoken about? Why is this person being described in such a manner?
Answer:
The duke is talking about Shylock, the Jewish moneylender. As Shylock is an unfeeling and ruthless Jew and his hatred for Antonio is so strong that he has forgotten humanity, and in spite of the duke begging for mercy for Antonio he is not ready to give up his bond. His heart is filled with hatred with no place for mercy.

Question 3.
Who is the ‘adversary’ referred to here? What does the Duke mean by ‘stony adversary’ and ‘in human wretch’?
Ans.
The adversary referred to here is Shylock. By ‘stony adversary’ and ‘inhuman wretch’ the Duke means that Shylock is stone hearted and he does not possess the feelings of humanity.

Question 4.
Who are the other people present? Who enters the scene next? What are his demands and why?
Answer:
The other people present are Bassanio, Gratiano, Salerio and the officers of the court. Shylock enters the scene next. He only wants his bond and nothing else. He was offered twice the amount due, but he only wants a pound of Antonio’s flesh. His hatred for Antonio is so deep that nothing else can satisfy him but his life.

Question 5.
Whose arrival is awaited? Does this person turn up? Why?
Answer:
The duke is awaiting the arrival of a learned doctor, Bellario, from Padua whom he has called to determine the case. Since Doctor Bellario is unable to come he sends a letter stating that he is sending a learned lawyer in his place. Therefore instead of Bellario comes the learned lawyer.

Question 6.
Give details of the person who comes. How does this person change the present situation?
Answer:
The person who comes in place of Bellario is actually, Portia dressed as a lawyer. With her wit and intelligence, she turns the tables against Shylock. Antonio wins the case and he also gets half of Shylock’s property. As per the bond, Shylock can have a pound of flesh, nothing less and nothing more and while cutting this pound of flesh he has to make sure that he doesn’t shed even a single drop of blood. This, of course was not possible, therefore, Shylock has to accept what the state of Venice decides.

2. Antonio :
I am a tainted wether of the jlock,
Meetestjor death : the weakest kind offruit
Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me.

Question 1.
Under what circumstances does this dialogue take place?
Answer:
This dialogue takes place when Shylock’s case against Antonio seems to be going against Antonio. The Duke’s personal appeal to Shylock has produced no effect on Shylock; and Bassanio’s pleading with Shylock has also failed to serve any purpose.

Question 2.
The listener has been given a task by the speaker. What is it? Why does he say that?
Answer:
Antonio asks Bassanio to write his epitaph because that would be the most suitable task for him as he is his best friend and no one can understand him better than Bassanio.

Question 3.
Why is Antonio willing to die?
Answer:
Antonio thinks himself to be a useless man now when he was bankrupt, and has completely lost his flourishing business. He compares himself to a sheep, which gets infected with some disease, and his continued presence in the flock of sheep can prove to be dangerous to the other sheep as well. It would be better if the infected sheep dies. In the same way, Antonio would like to die instead of continuing to live and cause endless anxiety to his friends like Bassanio.

Question 4.
What feelings does this piece of dialogue arouse in your heart?
Answer:
This piece of dialogue provokes sympathy for Antonio and respect for Bassanio. A deep pity has been aroused at the fate, which Antonio is on the edge of meeting; and we certainly admire Bassanio for his sincerity towards his friend who is in profound dilemma.

Question 5.
Who enters the scene next? What news does this person bring?
Answer:
Nerissa, dressed as the lawyer’s clerk, enters the scene next. Nerissa has come with a letter from Bellario, a renowned Doctor of law. The letter states that since Bellario is unwell he is sending a learned lawyer by the name of Balthazar to handle the case.

3. Portia :
Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound offlesh : if thou tak’st more,
Or less, than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

Question 1.
Who are the two people in conversation? The speaker lays down a condition, what is it?
Answer:
The two people in the conversation are Portia, dressed as the lawyer and Shylock, the Jewish moneylender. As per the bond, Shylock can take only a pound of flesh. It does not permit him to take a single drop of blood. He must weigh a pound of flesh, accurately, without shedding even a ‘jot’ of blood.

Question 2.
Another person, present here, applauds the speaker for his judgment. Who is this person? Why does he react in this manner?
Answer:
Gratiano, a friend of Bassanio and Antonio, also present in the court, is very happy when Portia comes out with this condition. When Portia allows Shylock to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body, nearest to his heart, Shylock is very happy and calls Portia a great judge, Daniel. But now seeing that the tables have turned against Shylock, he applauds and makes fun of Shylock and ridicules him.

Question 3.
What would be the penalty if the law is broken? Give details.
Answer:
If Shylock sheds a single drop of blood while taking his pound of flesh, as per the bond, then all his property would be confiscated, and he would have to face a death sentence. His life would be at the mercy of the Duke.

Finally, the duke spares Shylock’s life and half his property goes to the state of Venice and the other half, which was to go to Antonio, is given to Lorenzo and Jessica, on Antonio’s request. Shylock is made to sign a deed in which half his property is bequeathed to his daughter and son-in-law. Also, Shylock has to turn into a Christian. Therefore, he is left completely defeated and drained.

Question 4.
The tables have turned. How? Who is responsible for it?
Answer:
Portia’s wit and intelligence turn the tables against Shylock. Antonio has lost all hope and is sure that the Jew will take his revenge and Antonio will have to pay the penalty of breaking the bond with his life. Shylock is all ready to take his pound of flesh when he is stopped by Portia, stating that Shylock can only have a pound of flesh and without shedding a single drop of blood.

Shylock has no choice but to let go of his dearest enemy. In fact, he not only has to forget about getting his principal but also loses all his property and has to face the humiliation of turning into a Christian. All this happend because of Portia.

Question 5.
Characterize the speaker.
Answer:
The speaker, Portia, is a woman of substance. Her beauty matches her intelligence, clearly defying the phrase, ‘beauty without brains’. She is quick¬witted, beautiful and intelligent and comes as an antidote to Shylock’s malice. However, in the beginning of the play, we do not see her potential because she is engrossed in her father’s will. But here also we realize that she is an obedient daughter. She is fun-loving as we can see in the ‘ring episode’, but here also she is sensible enough to stop the fun before it goes too far.

4. Portia :
You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake;
And (for your love) I’ll take this ring from you.
Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more,
And you in love shall not deny me this.

Question 1.
Who is pressing whom and why?
Answer:
Portia, in the garb of a lawyer, yields to the offer made by Bassanio, her husband. He insists that the lawyer (Portia) must accept a token of remem¬brance from them for saving his dearest friend Antonio, from the clutches of the unfeeling Jew, Shylock. Bassanio feels indebted to the lawyer, wants to show his gratitude, and thus makes this offer.

Question 2.
Whose gloves does the speaker wear and whose ring is demanded? What is the intention behind this?
Answer:
Portia, the speaker of the above lines agrees to wear Antonio’s gloves as a token of his remembrance and demands Bassanio’s ring, which has been gifted to him by his wife, Portia, which he had sworn never to part with. Portia, knowing that Bassanio cannot part with this ring, still demands for it just to have a little fun. Though towards the end of the play she reveals her real identity but plays around with Bassanio just to add to the humor of the play. It’s all for fun.

Question 3.
Who draws back his hand? Why is he so reluctant to part with the ring?
Answer:
Bassanio, Portia’s husband, draws back his hand, as he, under no circumstances, can part with this ring because when Portia had given this ring to him she had put down a condition that if ever Bassanio parts with this ring it would mean an end of their love and relationship.

Question 4.
Why is the speaker adamant to have the ring? What offer is made by the owner of the ring? How does he justify himself?
Answer:
Portia insists on having this very ring because she claims that she has a fancy for it and wouldn’t accept anything else. Actually, she is playing around with Bassanio, her husband, which of course, he is not aware of. Bassanio tries to convince Portia by saying that this ring is too trivial and that he would find the most expensive ring in Venice for the lawyer. Finally, Bassanio comes out with the truth that since this ring was a gift from his wife he couldn’t part with it. Also while giving it to him, she had made him vow that he should never sell, give or lose this ring. Therefore, he must be excused for this.

Question 5.
How does the scene ends?
Answer:
The scene ends with Portia succeeding in getting the ring from Bassanio on Antonio’s request. Antonio tells Bassanio that he should give more importance to his friend’s love and the lawyer’s ‘deserving’s’ than to his wife’s commandments. Finally, Gratiano runs behind Portia to give her the ring and invite her to dinner. Bassanio and Antonio finally make plans to leave for Belmont the next day.

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Online Education for His First Flight Summary in English by Liam O’Flaherty

His First Flight by Liam O’Flaherty About the Author

Author Name	Liam O’Flaherty
Born	28 August 1896, Inishmore, Ireland
Died	7 September 1984, Dublin, Ireland
Spouse	Margaret Barrington (m. 1926–1932)
Movies	The Informer, Uptight, The Puritan, Last Desire, Jacqueline

His First Flight Summary in English

‘His First Flight’ written by Liam O’ Flaherty is a story of a young seagull who is afraid of flying. A family of seagulls lived on a ledge. A young seagull is left alone as he is afraid to fly and is one among the slow learners. All that this young seagull needed was motivation. By way of punishment, his family left him alone on the ledge and flew away. They upbraided him, taunted him for cowardice and even threatened to let him starve. He remained hungry for twenty-four hours and was unable to shed off his fright of flight. He cried begging his mother to bring him some food.

She picked up a piece of fish in her beak and flew across him and stood just in front of him. The piece of fish in her beak was almost within the reach of his beak. The young seagull was mad with hunger. He dived at the fish. The next moment he found himself falling outwards and downwards into space. Instinctively, he spread his wings and flapped them. He soared upwards and all his fear is gone. It was a joyous moment for his family. He forgot that he was ever afraid of flying.

His First Flight Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
For how long had the seagull been alone?
Answer:
The seagull had been alone for twenty-four hours.

Question 2.
Why did the seagull not go with the rest of his family?
Answer:
The seagull did not go with the rest of his family because he was afraid to fly.

Question 3.
(i) What were the ways the seagull had thought of to join his family?
(ii) Did he try any one of them?
Answer:
(i) The seagull thought of joining his family without having to fly. He ran from one end of the ledge to the other. The ledge ended in a steep fall in precipice. He thought of walking upto them but there was a deep chasm between him and them.
(ii) No, he didn’t try anyone of them.

Question 4.
Did the seagull think the sea was like a land? Pick out the words from the text that suggest this.
Answer:
Yes, the seagull thought the sea was like a land. He landed on the sea. When his legs sank into it, he screamed with fear and tried to rise again flapping his wings. This clearly indicates that he thought the sea was like a land.

Question 5.
(i) When did the seagull’s flight begin?
(ii) Where did it end?
Answer:
(i) His flight began when he was falling outwards and downwards into space. His wings spread outwards. Now, he was not falling headlong. He was moving gradually downwards and outwards.
(ii) His flight ended floating on the sea.

Question 6.
When did the seagull get over his fear of the water?
Answer:
The seagull thought the sea was like a land. When he landed on the sea, his feet sank into it. He was seized with fear. He was too tired to rise again. His belly touched the water and he sank no further. Now, he was floating on the sea. He had got over his fear of the water.

Question 7.
Do you sympathise with the seagull? Give reasons.
Answer:
Flying is a natural instinct of birds. But the young seagull develops a fright of flight. We sympathise with him because he has to suffer a lot before he gets over his fear of flying. He has to bear the taunts of his family. He has to go without food for twenty-four hours.

Question 8.
How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food for him?
Answer:
The seagull was very hungry. When he saw his mother bringing food for him, he was greatly excited. He expressed his excitement by uttering a joyful scream. He leaned out eagerly. He tapped the rock with his feet. He tried to get nearer to her as she flew across. ‘

Question 9.
How did the young seagull’s parents teach him the art of flying?
Answer:
Birds have a natural instinct to fly. However, some birds, like the young seagull in the story are afraid to fly. Then their parents teach them how to fly. The seagull’s parents fly about with their children curveting and banking and soaring and diving and thus, perfecting them in the art of flying.

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Online Education for My Greatest Olympic Prize Story Summary by Jesse Owens

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary by Jesse Owens About the Author

James Cleveland or Jesse Owens was born on 12th September, 1913 in Oakville Alabama, IJ.S. He was the youngest of the ten children born to Henry Cleveland Owens and Marry Emma. He was called as J.C. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Ohio for better opportunities and when his new teacher asked his name, he replied J.C. which she understood as Jesse due to his Southern accent.

From then only he was known as Jesse. He took different jobs when he was young. At that time he realized his passion for running. He attributed his success to his junior high track coach at Fairmount Junior High School.He is recognized as the greatest and the most famous athlete in track and field history who won four time Ofympic gold medals in 1936 games, 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and 4 x 100 meter relay in Berlin.

He was a sprinter and a long jump specialist. He set another three world records and tying another in less than an hour at the 1935 Big Ten Track meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan and nobody has ever been able to equal this record. He is counted as the most successful athlete who crushed the Hitler’s myth of ‘Aryan supremacy’. He was not called to shake hands with the President at White House due to his race. He was ranked as the sixth greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary of the Story

Jesse Owens, the son of a sharecropper has written this story to share his Olympic experience and the friendship he won. He has achieved what no other Olympian before him had accomplished. It was the time when the patriotic feeling was at its top in Germany. Hitler was of the view that the Nazis were the highest race among others. He denied accepting that any ‘Black’ could ever win the race or be successful.

This had a great impact on Jesse Owens who was an African-American athlete. Initially, he didn’t bother about all this as he had faith in his abilities but when he saw Luz Long, he was surprised by his performance. He expressed his determination to win the medal and prove to the world who was superior and who was not. He referred to the anger he showed against Germans which resulted in faults in trials.-He failed twice in the qualifying jumps. Luz Long appeared on the scene and asked him the reason which bothered him.

Luz Long spoke to Jesse in encouraging words and advised him to mark a line few inches behind the board and take off from there. Owens felt relaxed and confident. Luz Long knew that if Owens won, it would mar his chances of winning the gold medal but he took the risk and continue to urge him. This made Owens to win the medal and set a stunning record and he has been remembered as the best athlete in Olympic history. But Owens feels that his friendship with Luz Long was greater than that of all the medals he won. The friendship ended only when Luz Long was killed in World War II.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary Theme

“My Greatest Olympic Prize” deals with the friendship of Owens and Luz Long.
Another important thing that has been emphasized is that one should not loose temper or display anger even at the time of adversity. To remain cool and calm is the greatest key to success. Anger only leads to failure and this happened with Jesse Owens also when he committed fowls.

Apart from this one must give ears to opponents also which Owens did. He was least bothered about German’s hostile feelings towards him and listened to Luz Long’s advice. Yes frustration did raise its head high when Owens failed twice in the qualifying jumps but soon it was overcome after talking to Luz Long.

The anti-rivalry feelfngs also found space in the essay when Luz Long became the first person from the opponent team to congratulate Jesse on his historic win. Also determination, dedication and devotion are must to achieve something. Jesse’s mind was occupied with only one thought and that was winning the gold medal.It also deals with Hitler’s Aryan Superiority theory which was prevailing high at that time when Hitler was in power.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary Characters

Jesse Owens

Jesse Cleveland Owens was a black American athlete and four time Olympic gold medalist in 1936 games. He possessed such qualities which are incomparable. He had that heroic quality which pushed him to go to Berlin and won the Gold Medal beating the so called Nazi (Master) race in their country in the same stadium in which Hitler was present and was in power that time. He showed Hitler that he was not inferior. He utilized his capability to the fullest and became an inspirational force all. He possessed emotions as well as physical strength both at the same time.

He belonged to a humble background but nothing proved to be a barrier in his dreams and he pursued his dreams till they were fulfilled. Nothing could shake his spirit. It encouraged others too. He displayed his best at every place wherever he got opportunity. He was emotionally attached to Luz Long who made him stronger at the time when he needed it the most. He was not worried about the hostile feelings among the Germans. He was too determined to his commitments. Setting three world records and tying a fourth in only forty five minutes was not an easy task but Jesse did it. He was vested with the natural quality of leadership also.

Luz Long

Luz Long was a German and had been trained in Nazi youth school, though he did not believe in Nazism. He was brought with the hope to win the medal for Germany. He had the true spirit of sportsmanship. That’s why when he saw Owens in trouble and worried, he extended his hand to help him. Instead of seeing him as a rival, he was friendly with Owens. He proved to be Owens’ true guide; he respected him and considered him as his equal.

Although he also had pressure on himself, yet he helped Jesse in coming out of distress. He already knew that Owens was a record holder and he did not feel shy even for a moment for not helping him. When Owens went to his room on the night of trials to thank him, he welcomed him warmly and spent two hours with him. Nor he adopted any foul means to win the medal. He was a good human being.

He took himself just as a participant and winning was only a matter of chance and efforts. Even after losing the game, he did not develop any rivalry towards Jesse. Rather he congratulated Jesse with a firm handshake in front of Hitler when Jesse won the gold medal. He showed exuberant courage to befriend Jesse in front of his leader.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary Word-Meanings

1. sophomore – high school student
2. startled – shocked
3. disgustedly – unpleasantly
4. chiseled – well cut face
5. ebb – flow away
6. epitome – a perfect example.

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Online Education for Evans Tries An O-Level Summary in English by Colin Dexter

Evans Tries An O-Level by Colin Dexter About the Author

Colin Dexter (29 September 1930 – 21 March 2017) is a British crime writer who is known for ‘Inspector Endeavour Morse’ who appears in detective novels authored by him. These novels written between 1975 and 1999 were adopted as a television series from 1987 to 2000. Dexter has received many awards and accolades, including two Silver Draggers, two ‘Gold Draggers’ and a ‘Cartier Diamond Dragger’ for lifetime achievement in 1997. He was conferred with the 1996 Macavity Award for his story ‘Evans Tries an O-level’. In the year 2000, he was appointed an ‘Officer of the Order of British Empire’ for his services to literature.

Author Name	Colin Dexter
Born	29 September 1930, Stamford, United Kingdom
Died	21 March 2017, Oxford, United Kingdom
Spouse	Dorothy Cooper (m. 1956–2017)
Movies and TV shows	Inspector Lewis, Endeavour, Inspector Morse, Inspector Morse: Service of All the Dead
Nationality	British

Evans Tries An O-Level Introduction to the Chapter

The story, “Evans Tries An 0-Level”, written by Colin Dexter is an interesting story depicting how a prisoner called James Evans befools all the officers of the prison to escape under a well-laid out plan. Despite the best efforts of the prison authorities, Evans is able to escape. In this battle of wits between him and the prison authorities, he has the last laugh.

Evans Tries An O-Level Theme

This story talks about a criminal Evans who is known as a prison-breaker. The prison officials make huge efforts to keep Evans in prison, but he eventually escapes successfully. Though he outwits the officials, they marvel at his ingenuity and wisdom.

Evans Tries An O-Level Summary in English

Evans is a prison-breaker who is used to having the last laugh. After breaking out of prison thrice, he is in prison for the fourth time. He decides to break away and is again successful. He did so by desiring to have some sort of academic qualification while serving his imprisonment. For this, he wanted to take the O-level examination in German. A German teacher would come to teach him for ten months in the prison. After that, the examination is arranged in his cell itself. A person called McLeery is called to invigilate for the exam. The Governor himself supervises all security arrangements lest the prisoner might escape during the exam. Two prison officers were deputed to keep an eye on him. The person left with all the papers after the exam got over.

However, later it was discovered that Evans had escaped in the guise of the parson. Evans had badly wounded the parson behind the prison cell. The parson tells that he knew where Evans might be found. At once, he was sent in a police van to catch the prisoner. Since the parson was bleeding profusely, he was taken to a hospital on the way. Later, it was found that no wounded parson had ever come to the hospital. Now, it was known and realised that Evans had not escaped in the guise of the parson McLeery. He had stayed in and befooled the entire prison staff.

The blood flowing from his head had not been his own blood. It was rather pig’s blood that McLeery had cleverly managed to bring in. Similarly, McLeery was not the parson. The real parson McLeery was tied by some men in his room since morning. Towards the end of the story, the Governor got hold of Evans in a hotel room. Handcuffed, Evans was sent away with a prison officer in the prison van.

Once again, Evans got the better of the Governor. Both the prison officer and the prison van had been part of the plan mastered by Evans’ friends. Evans had been able to escape from prison three times earlier also. Once again, he became a free bird. Due to this reason, the prison officers used to call him ‘Evans the Break’.

Evans Tries An O-Level Main Characters in the Chapter

Evans

He is a pleasant young man. He has not done any violence. He is good at imitation and had been part of Christmas concerts. He is a kleptomaniac. He is called a prison-breaker, since he had escaped prison thrice with the help of his couple of friends. He is sharp-witted.

The Governor

An officer of average intelligence but over-confident. Poor judge of character.

Jackson

Senior prison officer. Kind-hearted man. Not an intelligent person and is gullible. Poor judge of character. Takes delight in ordering people around.

Stephens

New recruit. Takes orders without thinking.

Reverend Me Leery

Supposed to supervise Evans German O-Level Exam.

Evans Tries An O-Level Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
How did McLeery explain the semi-inflated rubber ring in his suitcase? How was the ring ultimately used?
Answer:
McLeery carried a brown suitcase with him into the examination room which consisted of all. that he would need for his examination duties. However, when asked to explain what the semi-inflated rubber ring was for, he told the authorities that he suffered from Haemorrhoids and therefore, needed the ring to sit on as he was not comfortable sitting for long period.

Question 2.
Who do you think has outwitted the other—Evans or the Governor? How?
Answer:
Undoubtedly, Evans outwitted the Governor in the end. The Governor after decoding the numbers given in the question paper was able to recapture Evans, but the latter was again able to give a slip to the prison officials.

Question 3.
What clues did the answer sheet of Evans provide to the Governor?
Answer:
The clues left on the question paper were actually part of a well-laid outplan. It was meant to mislead the police and kind of mock at them. The clue pointed out that Evans had hit McLeery though it was Evans who was impersonating McLeery. This also made the police look for Evans in Newburry, when he was in fact at Hotel Golden Lion in Chipping Norton.

Question 4.
How did the Governor react to the two phone calls he received in quick succession?
Answer:
The Governor reacted sharply but in a positive way. He was informed by the secretary for modern languages that there was a correction slip to be informed to the candidate. He allows and the correction is explained to Evans. He does not doubt anything.

Question 5.
Who was Carter? What did the Governor ask him to do?
Answer:
Carter was the detective superintendent. The Governor told him to take McLeery along with him. He took McLeery with him to look for the absconder. The Governor then asked who had seen Evans out at the prison gate. Mr Stephen told him that it was he who had taken him out.

Question 6.
What were the contents of the small brown suitcase that McLeery carried?
Answer:
The contents of the small brown suitcase that McLeery carried were a sealed question paper envelope, a yellow invigilation form, a special ‘authentication’ card from the Examination Board, a paper knife, a Bible, a copy of ‘The Church Times’ and a small semi-inflated rubber ring.

Question 7.
What did the Detective Superintendent inform the Governor about Evans?
Answer:
McLeery had spotted Evans drive off along Elsfield Way. They had got the number of the car and had given chase immediately. But they had lost track and assumed that Evans must have come back into the city.

Question 8.
Who do you think made the call to announce a correction in the question paper? What was its purpose?
Answer:
One of Evans’ accomplices would have called impersonating as the Assistant Secretary from the examination board. The real purpose was to include information about the escape plan.

Question 9.
What could the Governor have done to securely bring Evans back to the prison from the ‘Golden Lion’?
Answer:
The Governor could have brought the police force with him. Another thing that he could have done was to travel in the van that was taking Evans back to the prison. He should have also checked the credentials of the officials escorting him to the prison.

Question 10.
How does Evans escape from the jail?
Answer:
Evans decided to appear for O-level Examination in German. For the same, the Governor sought permission from the Board. McLeery the parson from St. Mary Mags came to invigilate. In reality, he was an accomplice of Evans and had imprisoned the real parson. In the cell, the two exchange places. This was made possible because Evans had covered himself in a blanket. At the end of the exam, Evans walks out a free man disguised as the parson.