Night of the Scorpion
A. Answer in one or two words
1. Who was stung by the scorpion?
Ans: The poet’s mother
2. What kind of a night was it?
Ans: Rainy night
3. Who came like swarms of flies?
Ans: Peasants
4. Who is the ‘Evil One’ in the poem?
Ans: Scorpion
5. What will purify the flesh and soul of the mother?
Ans: Scorpion’s poison
B. Answer in a few words each
1. What led the scorpion to crawl beneath the sack of rice?
Ans: Continuous heavy rain forced it to take shelter.
2. Which line in the poem suggests the mother’s suffering?
Ans: “My mother twisted through and through, groaning on a mat.”
3. Which word/phrase suggests the scorpion represents evil?
Ans: “Evil One” / “diabolic tail”
4. What does ‘sun-baked walls’ suggest?
Ans: Dry, rural house conditions
5. What caused giant scorpion shadows on the walls?
Ans: Lanterns and candles brought by villagers
C. Answer briefly in your own words
1. What is the role of superstition in the poem?
Ans: Superstition plays a major role as villagers depend on prayers, rituals, and beliefs instead of proper medical treatment. Their actions show ignorance but also concern for the mother.
2. What does the mother’s reaction suggest about her character?
Ans: It shows her selfless and loving nature. Even in pain, she thanks God that her children were safe.
3. What are the themes of the poem?
Ans: Superstition vs rationality, suffering, motherly love, and rural life.
4. Describe the use of language and imagery.
Ans: The poet uses simple language and vivid imagery like shadows, lanterns, and movements to create a realistic village scene.
5. How do religious and cultural references contribute to the poem?
Ans: They highlight traditional beliefs and show the contrast between faith and practical reasoning.
D. Answer in detail
1. What is the central theme of the poem? How does it develop?
Ans: The central theme of the poem is the conflict between superstition and rational thinking. The villagers rely on prayers, rituals, and beliefs to cure the mother, showing blind faith. In contrast, the poet’s father uses scientific methods, representing rationality.
Despite all efforts, nothing works immediately, and the mother suffers for hours. In the end, her reaction highlights another theme—motherly love. She expresses gratitude that her children are safe, showing selflessness. Thus, the poem develops themes of superstition, suffering, rationality, and unconditional love.
2. Comment on the poem’s use of literary devices.
Ans: The poem uses several literary devices effectively:
Simile: “like swarms of flies” (describes villagers)
Metaphor: Scorpion as evil
Imagery: Shadows, lanterns, and movements create vivid scenes
Alliteration: Repetition of sounds adds rhythm
These devices make the poem more expressive and realistic.
3. How does the poem show solidarity among village folk?
Ans: The poem shows strong unity among villagers. As soon as the mother is stung, people gather with candles and lanterns. They pray, offer advice, and stay with her throughout the night.
Although their methods are based on superstition, their intention is to help. Their presence and concern reflect a deep sense of community and support, which is a key feature of rural life.