Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
Lencho had full faith in God. This is shown in some of the following sentences : “God,” he wrote, “if you don't help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.” He wrote 'To God' on the envelope, put the letter inside and, still troubled, went to town. Lencho has full and complete faith in God as he said that God knows everything and helps us in the problems. There few sentences showing this:
1)But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, the help from God was a single hope for Lencho.
2)All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.
3)“God”, he wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year”.
4) He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and, still troubled, went to town.
5) God couldn't have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.
Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the question.
greedy naive stupid ungrateful
selfish comical unquestioning
Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Match the sentences in Column A with the meanings of ‘hope’ in Column B.
A | B |
---|---|
1. Will you get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope so | – a feeling that something good will probably happen |
2. I hope you don’t mind my saying this, but I don’t like the way you are arguing. | – thinking that this would happen (It may or may not have happened.) |
3. This discovery will give new hope to HIV/AIDS sufferers | – stopped believing that this good thing would happen |
4. We were hoping against hope that the judges would not notice our mistakes. | – wanting something to happen (and thinking it quite possible) |
5. I called early in the hope of speaking to her before she went to school. | – showing concern that what you say should not offend or disturb the other person: a way of being polite |
6. Just when everybody had given up hope, the fishermen came back, seven days after the cyclone. | – wishing for something to happen, although this is very unlikely |
What did Lencho hope for?
What made him angry?
There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why?
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
Do you keep a diary? Given below under ‘A’ are some terms we use to describe a written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their descriptions under ‘B’? (You may
look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)
A B
(i) Journal – A book with a separate space or page for each day, in which you write down your and feelings or what has happened on that day
(ii) Diary – A full record of a journey, a period of time, or an event, written every day
(iii) Log – A record of a person’s own life and experiences (usually, a famous person)
(iv) Memoir(s) – A written record of events with times and dates, usually official
Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
What does Mandela thank the international leaders for ?
What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the future of South Africa?
Chubukov says of Natalya: “... as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat...” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer.
What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
Here are some more examples of ‘the’ used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for ‘the’)
(i) Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.
(ii) Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
(iii) History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.
How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
Why does Maddie stand by and not do anything? How is she different from Peggy? (Was Peggy’s friendship important to Maddie? Why? Which lines in the text tell you this?)
What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?