Karma

KARMA  BY  KHUSHWANT  SINGH

1. Who was the writer of the prose Karma?

* Khushwant Singh is the writer of the prose Karma.

2. Where was this published and when?

* This prose was published in 1989 in “The Collected Stories”.

3. Who was Mohan Lal?

* Mohan Lal, the main character of the story ‘Karma’, was a middle-aged, arrogant man who always followed the British culture.

4. What was the name of Lady Lal?

* The name of Lady Lal was Lachmi.

5. Where was Mohan Lal found for the first time in the story?

* Mohan Lal was found for the first time in the first-class waiting room of railway compartment.

6. How was the mirror in the waiting room?

* The mirror in the waiting room was partly broken and the red oxide at its back had come off at several places.

7. For what was Saville Row famous?

* Saville Row, a shopping street in Central London, was famous for making suits.

8. What is “eau de cologne”?

* “Eau de cologne” is a perfume produced in Cologne, Germany.

9. Which college did Mohan Lal’s tie belong to?

* Mohan Lal’s tie belonged to Balliol college, a college under Oxford University.

10. “Koi hai!”—Who said this and to whom and why?

* Mohan Lal said this to the bearer for a peg of hard drinks.

11. What was Mohan Lal doing in the waiting room?

* In the waiting room Mohan Lal was examining the mirror and then he looked at himself at the mirror.

12. Where was Lachmi sitting?

* Lachmi was sitting outside the first-class waiting room on a steel trunk.

13. What was Lachmi doing outside the waiting room?

* Outside the waiting room sitting on a steel trunk, Lachmi was chewing betel leaf and fanning herself with a newspaper.

14. Describe Lachmi and her dress?

* Lachmi was short, fat, native woman and in the middle forties. She wore a dirty white sari with a red border and had several ornaments on her body.

15. Whom was Lachmi talking with?

*Lachmi was talking with a bearer whom Mohan Lal called for.

16. What is zenana?

* Zenana is middle-class train compartment only reserved for ladies.

17. Where did Lachmi stop while following the coolie and why?

* While following the coolie, Lachmi stopped on the way by a hawker’s stall to replenish her silver betel leaf case.

18. What did Lachmi eat before the train’s arrival?

* Before the train’s arrival, Lachmi ate a bundle of cramped chapattis and mango pickles.

19. “I am with my master, brother.”—Who said this? Who was the ‘brother’? Who was the ‘master’?

*Lachmi said this. Here ‘brother’ referred to the collie. Here ‘master’ referred to Mohan Lal.

20. What was Mohan Lal’s profession?

* Mohan Lal was a vizier and a barrister by profession.

21. Where did Lachmi and Mohan Lal live?

* Lachmi lived in the upper storey and Mohan Lal lived on the ground floor.

22. Why did Lachmi’s relative not come to her husband’s house?

* Lachmi’s relative did not come to her husband’s house because her husband Mohan Lal did not like her poor illiterate relatives hanging around a bungalow.

23. In which compartment did Lachmi travel and why?

* Lachmi travelled in the inter class zenana compartment as she was a native woman and she did not know upper classes’ culture.

24. Why did Lachmi thank God?

*Lachmi thanked God for giving her the favour of finishing her meal.

25. “Lachmi chatted away merrily”—Who did Lachmi chat away with and what was the reason behind her merriment?

* Lachmi chatted away merrily with coolie. She was happy to chat as she got none to speak in her house.

26. How much rupees did Lachmi give to the coolie?

* Lachmi gave the coolie a two-anna bit.

27. Where did Lachmi use to put her rupees?

* Lachmi used to put her rupees in the knot in her sari.

28. How did Lachmi prepare her two betel leaves? Where did she sit in the compartment?

* Lachmi prepared two betel leaves charged with a red and white paste, minced betel nuts and cardamoms.

29. “You are a bit of alright, old chap”—Who is referred to as ‘old chap’?

* Here ‘old chap’ refers to Sir Mohan Lal.

30. What was Mohan Lal doing when the train arrived?

* When the train arrived, Mohan Lal was drinking scotch and was relaxing.

31. What is meant by “tickety-boo”?

* “Tickety-boo” means “in good order”.

32. What was Mohan Lal fond of?

* Mohan Lal was fond of conversation on any matter like books, politics etc.

33. “I have finished with it”—What does ‘it’ refer?

* Here ‘it’ refers to “The Times”.

34. What for did Mohan Lal become dismayed after entering the compartment?

* After entering the compartment Mohan Lal became dismayed to see no Englishmen there.

35. What were the soldiers carrying on their back?

* The soldiers were carrying on their back their haversacks.

36. Give the names of two English soldiers.

* The names of two English soldiers were Jim and Bill.

37. How was the five years of abroad of Mohan Lal?

* The five years of abroad of Mohan Lal was crowed and glorious and far worthy than his time in India.

38. By which name did the soldiers call the Mohan Lal?

* Soldiers called Mohan Lal a nigger.

39. What was soldier’s point of view to get Mohan Lal out of the compartment?

* Soldiers got Mohan Lal out as according to them, the compartment was reserved only for the army men.

40. In which compartment were the soldiers entitled to travel?

* The soldiers were entitled in the second class compartment to travel.

41. What is meant by “toodle-oo!”?

* “Toodle-oo!” means “see you later”.

42. How did the soldiers throw Mohan Lal from compartment?

* The soldiers threw Mohan Lal from the compartment by arm and flung him out of the train. He reeled backwards, tripped on his beddings and landed of the suitcase

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 Daybreak

·         Give the substance of the poem, "Daybreak".

Ans:     At dawn, a wind rises from the sea and asks the mists to make room for its movement. It greets the ships and urges the mariners to sail in the wake of the day. Then it rushes to a distant land and impels all to wake up. One by one, the wind visits the forest, the farms, the fields of corn, the belfry tower and the churchyard. It urges the forest to hang out its leaves. Then it touches the folded wings of the wood-bird and urges it to sing. After that, the wind rushes over to the farms and asks the chanticleer to crow and announce the beginning of a new day. Then it whispers to the fields of corn to bow down to greet the morning. It also urges the belfry tower to ring the morning bell. But it sighs for the dead at the churchyard and asks them to lie quietly.

·         Write a note on the significance of the title of the poem, "Daybreak".

Ans:     In the concluding part of “The bells of Sans” Blas, Longfellow writes:

                        Out of the shadow of night

                        The world rolls into light;

                        It is daybreak everywhere.

            This prophetic vision of daybreak is the main theme of the poem, "Daybreak". The night is dark. Out of the darkness of the night, emerges the day. The light of the morning sun brings new hope and refreshes all. The wind is the harbinger of new hope to the world. It wakes up the living world represented by the mariners, the wood-bird and the chanticleer. It urges the belfry tower to ring its bells to announce the beginning of the day. But the wind sighs for the dead and tells them to enjoy eternal sleep. The title of the poem highlights the hour when the wind urges all, except the dead, to wake up with new hope and action. So the title is appropriate.

·          Give the central idea of the poem, "Daybreak".

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", Longfellow wants to see a world throbbing with life and action. He gives the wind the human ability to speak and personifies it. The wind performs the function of an alarm clock here. It announces the beginning of a new day. The dark night is gone. So the wind brings new hope to the living world. It urges all to wake up in action to perform the duties of their earthly existence. It impels the living world to follow the natural course of day and night. But it asks the dead to lie quietly in eternal sleep as they have already completed their earthly duties. Thus, through this wind, Mother Nature touches all corners with the message of a new day.

 

·         How does Longfellow personify the wind in the poem; "Daybreak"?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", Longfellow images the wind to be a messenger of Nature. He personifies the wind and gives it the human ability to speak and communicate verbally. Emerging from the sea, it moves and speaks to all it meets. In the sea, it encounters the mists and the mariners. It asks the mists to make room for its movement. It urges the mariners to sail on. On distant land, it impels the forest to hang out its leaves, the birds to sing, the chanticleer to crow, the corn to bow and greet the morning, and the belfry tower to ring its bell to proclaim the hour. But when it blows across the churchyard, its sighs for the dead and asks them to lie quietly. As human beings, the wind uses different language and tone to wake up different objects of Nature. Thus, the poet personifies the wind.

·         What role does the wind play in the poem, "Daybreak"?

Ans:     In the poem "Daybreak", the wind is the messenger of nature. It can move freely. It can speak like a human being. At dawn, t6he wind rises from the sea and there it meets the mists and the mariners of the ship. It asks the mists to make room for its movement and urges the mariners to sail on at daybreak. Then it rushes to a distant land, crying to all living beings to be awake. There it impels the forest to hang out its leaves, the wood-bird to sing, the chanticleer to crow, the corn to bow and greet the morning, and the belfry tower to ring its bell and proclaim the hour. Actually, the wind performs the function of an alarm clock. It announces the beginning of a new day. The dark night is gone. So it brings new hope to the living world. It urges all to wake up in action to perform the duties of their earthly existence. It impels the living world to follow the natural course of day and night.

·         “It crossed the churchyard with a sigh…”

Who crossed the churchyard? What did the wind say while crossing the churchyard? Why did it say so?

Ans:     The wind crossed the churchyard in the poem, "Daybreak".

            The wind sighed for the dead buried in the cemetery.

            In the poem, "Daybreak", the wind, while crossing the churchyard, sighed for the dead and asked them to lie in eternal sleep.

            It was not yet time for the dead to wake up. They should lie in eternal sleep in the calmness of grave. It also refers to the belief that the dead buried in the churchyard will rise at the end of time.

 

 Othello

1.            What did Brabantio hope for his daughter's marriage?

Or, What did Brabantio expect?

Ø  Brabantio hoped (expected) that as a Venetian lady, his daughter would marry a man of senatorial rank.

2.            Who brought the charge against Othello in the court?

Ø  Brabantio brought the charge against Othello in the court.

3.            What was the accusation against Othello?

Ø  The accusation was that he had married Desdemona by his spells and witchcraft.

4.            Why did Brabantio accuse Othello?

Ø  Brabantio accused Othello of marrying his daughter privately by spells and witchcraft, and without his consent.

5.            Who was the chief judge of the court?

Ø  The Duke was the chief judge of the court.

6.            Why did Desdemona love Othello?

Ø  Desdemona loved Othello for his bravery and his noble qualities.

7.            How was the statement of Othello confirmed?

Ø  The statement of Othello was confirmed by the evidence of Desdemona.

8.            Why was the State of Venice in immediate the help of Othello?

Ø  The State of Venice was in immediate help of Othello to defend Cyprus against the Turks.

9.            When did the Turkish fleet sail for the island of Cyprus?

Ø  When Othello was accused of marrying Desdemona without his father's consent, the Turkish fleet sailed for Cyprus.

10.            Which country ruled over Cyprus then?

Ø  Venice ruled over Cyprus then.

11.            Why did the Duke set Othello free?

Ø  The Duke released Othello because Brabantio's daughter confirmed Othello's statement.

12.            When did Othello undertake the charge of wars in Cyprus?

Ø  He undertook the charge of wars in Cyprus when he was released from the charge brought against him.

13.            What news did Othello hear when he landed in Cyprus?

Ø  Othello heard that a violent storm had dispersed the Turkish fleet.

14.            What did Othello do when he knew Cyprus was secure from any attack?

Ø  He made a sort of holiday there for feasting and merry-making.

15.            What did Othello direct Cassio during the party?

Ø  Othello directed Cassio to keep the soldiers from excess in drinking.

16.            What did the logo do during the party?

Ø  logo enticed Cassio to drink and enjoy the party to his heart's content.

Jimmy Valentine    ---- O. Henry

1.   1.  Describe the contents of Jimmy’s suitcase. Why do you think he gazes fondly at them?

Ans:    In Jimmy Valentine, we find Jimmy as a skilled safecracker. He has a unique set of tools for burglary in his suitcase. It is a complete set made of tempered steel. There are drills of latest design, punches, braces and bits, clamps, and augers, with two or three novelties by Jimmy himself.

            Jimmy opens his suitcase and gazes fondly at his suitcase of tools fondly. It is the finest set of tools of burglary in the East. Some of the tools are invented by Jimmy himself and therefore he takes pride in them. He spends nine hundred dollars to build them. They are made at a place where they make such things for this profession. Moreover, they are Jimmy’s pet tools. So, he gazes fondly at them.

2.  2.   Describe the elements of irony in Jimmy Valentine.

Ans:    O. Henry is a master in using irony. The irony is prevalent all through his story Jimmy Valentine. Jimmy is released from the prison. The warden advised him to live straight but he has no intention to live straight. He comes to Elmore to rob Elmore Bank but an unexpected turn is taken place in his life. He falls in love with the Banker’s daughter and he is reformed. Mr. Ralph D Spencer, the phoenix, arises from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes. He becomes an accepted member of the Elmore society. He writes his friend that he would only live the life of honesty. He would not another crooked thing for the whole world. Then another unexpected thing takes place. Agatha gets locked in the vault and Jimmy has to do another crooked deed to save her. Ralph D Spencer passes away and Jimmy Valentine takes its place. Ironically, Ben Price is moved by the greatness of Jimmy and leaves him.

3. 3.    What did Jimmy write in his letter to his old friend? What made him write the letter?

And:    Jimmy wrote a letter to his old friend in St. Louis. He wrote to him to come at Sullivan’s place to give him his unique collection of burglary tools. He had left his old business a year ago and opened a nice shoe-store. He decided only to live straight. So, would not touch another man’s money. He also decided to go West after his marriage with Annabel by selling out everything, because there would not be so much danger. He wrote that his ladylove was like an angel. She believed him and therefore he would not do another crooked thing for the whole world.

4. 4.   Write a note on the surprising ending of the story Jimmy Valentine.

Ans:    O. Henry is famous for ending surprisingly in many of his stories as he himself believes that life is a surprise itself. His story Jimmy Valentine tells that the tale of safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine. Jimmy is freed from prison. He starts his old business and goes to Elmore to rob Elmore Bank. But he falls in love with the Banker’s beautiful daughter and decided to live straight life by leaving his criminal career. Ben Price, the famous detective arrive there to inspect Jimmy’s activity. Jimmy and Annabel with Annabel’s family go to the bank for inspecting a new vault. Annabel’s niece accidently gets locked into the airtight vault and Jimmy has to open the vault to save her. The end of the story appears as a surprise. Jimmy Valentine surrenders but Ben Price does not recognize him. He turns and walks away.

5. 5.    Give a brief account of the character of Jimmy Valentine ?

Ans:    Jimmy Valentine is the protagonist/hero of O. Henry’s story “Jimmy Valentine”. Jimmy is a charming and handsome rogue, a skilled safe-cracker. He has a taste for food society. He was in jail for cracking safes but having many friends outside, he is released from the jail. Out of jail, he is back in business. After a series of bank robberies, he goes to Elmore to rob the Elmore Bank.But when he meets Annabel, he becomes another man. He begins an honest life, save Agatha from dying, surrender himself and proves himself a reformed man. He is no longer the same person. He is a new, reformed Jimmy Valentine.