Chapter 3
Non-Fiction
1-Mark Questions with Direct Answers
Question: What was Prafulla’s greatest ambition? [GU 2023]
Answer: Prafulla aspired to become a well-known radio singer and perform on All India Radio.
Question: Which historical monastery is the primary destination in Verrier Elwin’s travel narrative Pilgrimage to Tawang?
Answer: The main destination is the historic Tawang Monastery (Galden Namgey Lhatse), a 17th-century monastery in Arunachal Pradesh.
Question: The palanquin bearers sing gaily. (True / False)[GU 2023]
Answer: True.
Question: Where did the narrator pick up the ‘jockey’s crop’ in the story, The Ring? [GU 2024]
Answer: The narrator found the jockey’s crop in the stable or tack-room corridor of his grandmother’s farm.
Question: Name the person referred to as ‘her’ in Yeats’ poem, ‘No Second Troy’.[GU 2023]
Answer: The person referred to as ‘her’ is Maud Gonne.
Question: According to William Hazlitt in On Going a Journey, what is the ideal condition for embarking on a journey?
Answer: Hazlitt believes that travelling alone is ideal because it allows a person to enjoy complete freedom, solitude, and independence.
Question: What does the figure of the witch symbolize in the poem, So Many Oaks?[GU 2024]
Answer: The witch represents intuitive feminine wisdom, neglected historical knowledge, and a profound connection with nature.
Question: What was the Hindi song that Prafulla intended to sing in Audition?[GU 2024]
Answer: Prafulla intended to sing a classical-based Hindi film bhajan or ghazal that he had carefully practised for the All India Radio audition.
Question: Name the ancient tree mentioned in Sujata Bhatt’s poem prescribed for your study. [GU 2023]
Answer: The ancient tree mentioned in the poem is the Oak tree, in So Many Oaks.
Question: What does the word ‘gaily’ suggest about the palanquin bearers’ attitude?[GU 2024]
Answer: The word ‘gaily’ conveys their happiness, light-heartedness, and ceremonial pride while carrying the bride.
Question: In Mahesh Dattani’s play Tara, what medical procedure forms the central ethical conflict?
Answer: The central ethical conflict concerns the surgical separation of the conjoined twins, Tara and Chandan, during which the shared third leg was unfairly assigned to the male child.
Question: Where was the narrator’s grandmother’s farm located in the story, The Ring?[GU 2024]
Answer: The grandmother’s farm was situated in the rural countryside near Ballycarron.
Question: In which verse collection is the poem, This Is a Photograph of Me included?[GU 2024]
Answer: The poem is included in Margaret Atwood’s poetry collection The Circle Game (1964/1966).
Question: What is the core intellectual thesis of Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Decolonising the Mind?
Answer: Ngũgĩ argues that language is a carrier of culture and identity, and therefore true African decolonization requires the preservation and use of indigenous African languages.
Question: Name the narrator’s uncle in the story, ‘The Ring’.[GU 2023]
Answer: The narrator’s uncle is Uncle Con.
Short Questions (50-Word Answers) :
Question: Where is the speaker in the poem, This Is a Photograph of Me?[GU 2023]
Answer: The speaker is situated beneath the surface of the lake shown in the photograph. Her hidden position creates a contrast between the visible landscape and the reality concealed beneath it, suggesting an unseen and forgotten identity.
Question: Explain the phrase: “With beauty like a tightened bow” (No Second Troy).[GU 2023]
Answer: Yeats compares Maud Gonne’s beauty to a tightly stretched bow. The image suggests that her beauty is intense, powerful, and full of tension. It also reflects her strong and determined personality.
Question: What is the significance of the title of Yeats’ poem, No Second Troy?[GU 2023]
Answer: The title compares Maud Gonne with Helen of Troy, whose beauty was associated with the destruction of Troy. Yeats suggests that Gonne possessed a similarly powerful and heroic nature, but modern Dublin was not a place like ancient Troy where such a personality could find an appropriate stage.
Question: Mention any two comparisons used to describe the palanquin in Naidu’s poem, The Palanquin Bearers.[GU 2023]
Answer: The palanquin is compared to a flower swaying in the wind and to a bird gliding over the foam of a stream. These comparisons emphasize its graceful, gentle, and light movement.
Question: What was Prafulla’s Bhishma Pratigya in the story Audition?[GU 2023]
Answer: Prafulla’s Bhishma Pratigya was his firm decision never to sing again. His humiliating experience at the radio audition deeply disappointed him and made him give up his ambition as a singer.
Question: Why did the radio authorities not invite artists from outside Guwahati? [GU 2023]
Answer: The radio authorities avoided inviting artists from outside Guwahati mainly because of financial and administrative difficulties. Their policy of depending on local artists also created difficulties for talented performers from distant places.
Question: What is the effect of water on the light in This Is a Photograph of Me?[GU 2024]
Answer: The water makes the light appear blurred and distorted. This effect contributes to the unclear appearance of the photograph and helps conceal the speaker beneath the surface of the lake.
Question: State the reason why human beings are called blind and deaf in the poem So Many Oaks. [GU 2024]
Answer: Human beings are called blind and deaf because they have become disconnected from nature. They are unable to recognize the presence, wisdom, and subtle messages of the natural world.
Question: How did the grandmother feel after finding her ring in the short story The Ring?[GU 2024]
Answer: The grandmother felt relieved and happy after recovering her lost ring. Since the ring had strong emotional and sentimental value for her, its return brought her great satisfaction.
Question: What is the colour worn by the speaker in the poem So Many Oaks, and why does she wear it? [GU 2024]
Answer: The speaker wears green. The colour connects her with the natural surroundings and symbolizes her closeness to the forest, nature, and the ancient wisdom represented by the trees.
Question: How does Sarojini Naidu use simile and metaphor in Palanquin Bearers? Provide one example of each. [GU 2024]
Answer: Naidu uses simile to compare the bride’s movement with natural and delicate things. For example, she compares the bride to a flower moving in the wind. The poem also uses metaphorical expressions to present the bride as something delicate and precious, emphasizing her beauty and tenderness.
Question: Where was the first child of Uncle Con and Aunt Annie at the time of the story’s narration in The Ring? [GU 2024]
Answer: The first child of Uncle Con and Aunt Annie had died in infancy before the events of the story. The memory of the child remained connected with the family’s past and contributed to the emotional atmosphere of the narrative.
Question: How does Dipak plan to help his friend Prafulla in the story Audition?[GU 2024]
Answer: Dipak plans to help Prafulla by using his connection with the All India Radio authorities to arrange an opportunity for him. He supports and encourages Prafulla in his attempt to achieve his dream of becoming a radio singer.
Question: What does William Hazlitt mean by “intellectual liberty” in On Going a Journey?
Answer: By “intellectual liberty,” Hazlitt means the freedom to think and reflect without social restrictions or the need to engage in conversation. Travelling alone allows a person to enjoy independent thoughts and experience nature freely.
Question: How does Ngugi wa Thiong’o describe the “cultural bomb” of colonial education in The Language of African Literature?
Answer: Ngũgĩ describes the “cultural bomb” as a colonial strategy that destroys people’s confidence in their own language, culture, history, and identity. It makes the colonized regard their own heritage as inferior while accepting the language and culture of the colonizers as superior.
Analytical Long Questions (200-Word Answers)
Question: Discuss the poet’s feelings of admiration and frustration as they appear in Yeats’ No Second Troy. [GU 2024]
Answer: In No Second Troy, W.B. Yeats expresses a complex mixture of admiration, love, disappointment, and frustration towards Maud Gonne. Although her political activities cause him personal and emotional pain, he greatly admires her beauty, courage, determination, and extraordinary personality.
Yeats presents Maud Gonne as a woman of remarkable strength and character. Her beauty is compared to a “tightened bow,” suggesting intensity, power, and tension. Her mind is portrayed as independent, stern, and uncompromising. At the same time, Yeats is troubled by the revolutionary unrest associated with her activities. He feels that her passionate nature has brought suffering and political disturbance.
However, the poet does not simply blame her. He gradually begins to understand her character as something heroic and inevitable. His comparison of Maud Gonne with Helen of Troy elevates her to the level of a tragic historical figure. Yeats suggests that her greatness and destructive energy cannot be separated from her nature and circumstances. Modern Dublin, unlike ancient Troy, is too ordinary to provide a suitable stage for such a powerful personality. Thus, the poem combines personal frustration with deep admiration and presents Maud Gonne as both a source of pain and a figure of heroic greatness.
Question: Comment on the significance of the title Audition. [GU 2024]
Answer: The title Audition is significant because it refers to Prafulla’s attempt to demonstrate his singing talent before the All India Radio authorities. For him, the audition represents an important opportunity to gain recognition and realize his long-cherished dream of becoming a successful radio singer.
The title also carries an ironic meaning. Instead of becoming a stepping stone to success, the audition turns into an experience of disappointment and humiliation. The indifferent behaviour of the authorities makes Prafulla feel that his talent, preparation, and dedication have been ignored.
The audition therefore becomes more than a simple test of musical ability. It symbolizes the conflict between genuine artistic aspiration and an insensitive bureaucratic system. The experience deeply affects Prafulla and ultimately leads him to take his Bhishma Pratigya that he will never sing again. Thus, the title reflects both the central incident of the story and its larger themes of artistic frustration, disappointment, and disillusionment.
Question: Assess the significance of different colours referred to in Sujata Bhatt’s So Many Oaks. [GU 2024]
Answer: In Sujata Bhatt’s So Many Oaks, colour imagery plays an important role in creating the visual richness and symbolic depth of the natural world. The colours associated with the trees, forest, and surrounding landscape emphasize the vitality, beauty, and mystery of nature.
Green is especially important because it is associated with trees, vegetation, growth, and life. It also reflects the speaker’s close relationship with the natural environment. The different shades and changing colours suggest the variety and continuous transformation of nature.
Colour imagery is also connected with the figure of the witch, who represents ancient knowledge, intuition, and a deep understanding of the natural world. Through these images, Bhatt contrasts the richness of nature with the limited vision of modern human beings, who are described as “blind and deaf” to its messages.
Thus, the use of colour is not merely decorative. It strengthens the ecological and symbolic significance of the poem and highlights the importance of maintaining a close spiritual relationship with nature.
Question: How do the palanquin bearers convey a sense of collective responsibility and rhythmic harmony in Sarojini Naidu’s Palanquin Bearers? [GU 2024]
Answer: In Sarojini Naidu’s Palanquin Bearers, the sense of collective responsibility is created through the coordinated efforts of the bearers as they carry the bride. They move together carefully and harmoniously so that the palanquin remains steady and the bride’s journey is comfortable. Their united effort reflects their sense of duty and responsibility.
Rhythm is equally important in creating an atmosphere of harmony. The musical flow of the poem imitates the regular and gentle movement of the bearers. Their cheerful song transforms physical labour into a graceful and joyful activity.
Naidu also uses beautiful comparisons from nature to emphasize the smoothness of their movement. The palanquin is presented as moving like a flower in the wind and like a bird over the foam of a stream. These images suggest delicacy, softness, and lightness.
Therefore, the bearers are not presented merely as labourers. They become active participants in an important social ceremony. Their synchronized movement, cheerful singing, and careful handling of the bride create a strong impression of unity, responsibility, and rhythmic harmony.
Question: State your views on the image of the speaker’s fragmented self in Margaret Atwood’s This Is a Photograph of Me. [GU 2024]
Answer: In This Is a Photograph of Me, Margaret Atwood presents the speaker as a hidden and fragmented presence within an apparently ordinary photograph. At first, the photograph seems to show only a blurred landscape containing natural features and a small house. The human subject is not immediately visible.
The poem later reveals that the speaker is beneath the surface of the lake shown in the photograph. This revelation changes the reader’s understanding of the entire picture. Her submerged presence represents an identity that is hidden from ordinary observation and difficult to recognize.
The blurred effect of the water and light further contributes to the idea of a fragmented self. The speaker exists within the photograph but cannot be easily seen. The reader is therefore required to look beyond the obvious surface and discover the concealed person.
Through this image, Atwood explores invisibility, isolation, and the difficulty of representing personal identity. The fragmented speaker challenges the viewer to reconsider what is visible and what remains hidden. Thus, the poem becomes a powerful reflection on identity and the recovery of an overlooked voice.
Question: Comment on the grandmother’s strength, composure, and traditional values as depicted in the short story The Ring. [GU 2024]
Answer: In The Ring, the grandmother is presented as a strong, dignified, and emotionally composed woman. Her strength is expressed not through dramatic actions but through her ability to face difficulties calmly and continue performing her responsibilities. She represents the stability and traditional values of her family.
When her precious gold ring is lost, she does not lose her self-control. Her search for the ring reveals her patience, determination, and emotional attachment to the family heirloom. The ring has value for her not simply because it is made of gold, but because it is connected with family memories, relationships, and the past.
The grandmother also reflects traditional rural values such as family loyalty, responsibility, dignity, and emotional restraint. Even while dealing with personal memories and losses, she maintains her composure and continues with her everyday life.
When the ring is finally recovered, her happiness is quiet and sincere. Her character therefore represents inner strength, traditional dignity, and the importance of family memories. Through the grandmother, the story shows how emotional stability and cherished traditions can provide strength during difficult situations.
Question: Examine William Hazlitt’s philosophy of solitary travel and intellectual freedom in his essay On Going a Journey.
Answer: In On Going a Journey, William Hazlitt strongly supports the idea of travelling alone. According to him, solitude is essential for enjoying the freedom and pleasure of a journey. A solitary traveller is free from social obligations, conversation, and the expectations of companions.
Hazlitt believes that travelling with others can interfere with one’s personal thoughts and impressions. When a person travels alone, they can observe nature freely and respond to their surroundings according to their own feelings. Solitude gives the mind an opportunity to reflect, imagine, and escape from the pressures of everyday life.
The journey also provides a temporary separation from familiar surroundings and social responsibilities. Simple places such as wayside inns become attractive because they offer peace and freedom from ordinary routines. The traveller can enjoy the landscape without having to explain or share every thought with another person.
Thus, Hazlitt’s philosophy of travel is closely connected with intellectual liberty. For him, travelling alone is not merely physical movement from one place to another; it is a means of achieving mental independence, self-reflection, and renewed appreciation of nature.
Question: Critically evaluate Verrier Elwin’s ethnographic and humanistic perspective in Pilgrimage to Tawang.
Answer: In Pilgrimage to Tawang, Verrier Elwin presents his journey to Tawang through a combination of observation, cultural interest, and human sympathy. His account reflects his close attention to the life, traditions, and environment of the people of the region.
Elwin approaches the tribal communities with respect and tries to understand their way of life on its own terms. He appreciates their cultural traditions, artistic skills, social relationships, and adaptation to the difficult mountain environment. His observations therefore go beyond a simple description of the geographical region.
The journey to Tawang Monastery also gives the narrative a spiritual dimension. Elwin describes the monastery and its surroundings with a sense of curiosity and reverence. The idea of a “pilgrimage” suggests that the journey is not merely an administrative or physical expedition but also an experience of cultural and spiritual discovery.
His humanistic perspective is particularly visible in his concern for indigenous communities and their cultural heritage. He emphasizes the importance of respecting their traditions while considering development. Thus, Pilgrimage to Tawang combines ethnographic observation with sympathy, cultural appreciation, and respect for indigenous life.
Question: Analyze Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s argument regarding the role of European languages in perpetuating mental colonization in The Language of African Literature.
Answer: In The Language of African Literature, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o argues that language plays a central role in maintaining colonial influence. According to him, political independence alone cannot completely free a people if their language, culture, and way of thinking remain controlled by colonial systems.
Ngũgĩ explains that language is not merely a means of communication. It also carries a community’s history, traditions, values, and cultural identity. When colonial education gives greater importance to European languages and discourages indigenous African languages, children become separated from their own cultural background.
This process creates what Ngũgĩ calls a “cultural bomb.” It makes colonized people lose confidence in their own language and heritage while considering European culture and literature superior. In this way, colonial influence continues psychologically even after political colonialism has ended.
Ngũgĩ therefore advocates the use of indigenous African languages in African literature. He believes that writing in native languages can restore cultural confidence and reconnect writers and readers with their own communities. Thus, language becomes both an instrument of colonial domination and a powerful means of cultural resistance and decolonization.
Question: Discuss the exploration of gender discrimination, family complicity, and bioethics in Mahesh Dattani’s play Tara.
Answer: Mahesh Dattani’s Tara explores gender discrimination by showing how patriarchal attitudes can influence even family decisions and medical treatment. The play centres on the conjoined twins, Tara and Chandan, whose lives are deeply affected by an unjust decision regarding their separation.
The crucial medical decision favours Chandan, the male child, even though the shared third leg was more suitable for Tara. The decision reflects the family’s preference for the boy and reveals how social prejudice can enter the medical sphere. As a result, neither child receives a truly fair outcome, and Tara suffers serious physical consequences.
Dattani also emphasizes family complicity. Bharati, Tara’s mother, becomes involved in the decision under the influence of patriarchal expectations and later experiences deep guilt. Chandan also carries a lasting sense of responsibility because he benefited from the unfair treatment of his sister.
The play therefore raises important bioethical questions about medical responsibility, fairness, gender equality, and the rights of patients. By connecting a family tragedy with social prejudice, Dattani shows that discrimination is not limited to public institutions but can also exist within intimate family relationships.
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