CBSE Class 10 English Amanda! Assignment Set 02

Short Answer Type Questions
 

Question. In every alternate stanza, Amanda drifts into fantasy and yearns for more freedom and silence. Justify and elaborate the reason.
Answer: In every alternate stanza, Amanda drifts into fantasy and yearns for more freedom and silence. Amanda does not like restrictions on her freedom. The poem tells us that Amanda’s mind wanders to imaginary scenarios where she is a mermaid, an orphan or Rapunzel. This shows that she craves to be alone so that she will not be bothered by her parents and she also wants the freedom to do whatever she pleases.

Question. Explain why Amanda wants to be an orphan. Refer to the given lines, from the text — I am an orphan, roaming the street. I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet. The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.
Answer: Amanda wants to be an orphan so that she can live without parental interference. She does not like restrictions on her freedom. The poem tells us that Amanda’s mind wanders to imaginary scenarios where she is a mermaid, an orphan or Rapunzel. This shows that she craves to be alone so that she will not be bothered by her parents and she also wants the freedom to do whatever she pleases.

Question. How does the repeated use of the name ‘Amanda’ influence the overall tone of the poem?
Answer: The repetition of the name also adds a sense of familiarity and intimacy to the tone. It suggests a close relationship between the speaker and Amanda, indicating that the instructions and restrictions come from a place of care and concern.

Question. Would you call Amanda a disrespectful child? Provide one reason to justify your opinion.
Answer: Yes, we can call Amanda a disrespectful child. She does not respond to her parent’s repeated instructions. She does not even look towards her mother when she is yelling at her. She is lost in her world of imagination.

Question. What kind of an image does “languid, emerald sea” evoke?
Answer: It evokes the image of a calm and green sea. The word ‘languid’ means ‘relaxed’ which points towards silent water. ‘Emerald’ is a green coloured gemstone that refers to the green colour of seawater.

Question. What does the line “never let down my bright hair” tell us about Amanda?
Answer: It tells us that Amanda does not want anybody to come up and spoil the silence or disturb her in any way. She is fed up with the chaos and constant nagging in her life and wants to live alone.

Question. The reader sympathises with the speaker in the poem. Support this opinion with a reason.
Answer: The speaker, probably her mother, is worried about her posture, skin, and school homework. But, Amanda gives her a deaf ear which makes the reader sympathizes with the speaker.

Question. What do you think is the significance of the exclamation mark in the title of the poem ‘Amanda!’?
Answer: An exclamation mark is used to show sudden happiness, sadness, or anger. This mark is used with the word ‘Amanda’ In the poem to display the anger of the speaker who is not replied to even after repeated calling.

Question. How would you characterise the speaker in the poem ‘Amanda!’? List any two qualities, supporting the reason for your choice, with evidence from the poem.
Answer: The speaker is a perfectionist and a nagging mother. She wants her child to learn social etiquette and present herself in a socially acceptable manner. She stops Amanda from eating chocolates for the fear of pimples. At the same time, she is afraid of how society would react to know that the mother is constantly nagging her child. But, one should know how to strike a balance between maintaining responsibilities and taking good care.

Question. ‘Amanda is alone but not lonely in the world she envisions.’ Justify the statement with reference to anyone image she pictures in her mind.
Answer: She wants to live alone and away from her parent’s do’s and don’ts. She imagines herself as a mermaid who is drifting happily in the sea. She envisions herself enjoying her solitude, whereas a lonely person feels sad and upset. That’s why it is said that she wants to live alone and not lonely.

Question. This is Calvin, a character from a comic strip created by Bill Watterson. Do you think this might be something Amanda would say? Why/ why not? Give reasons.

Answer: Yes, Amanda can say this because the last part of all the stanzas show up that she is selective about her life. She is not denying things but she wants to choose things as per her wish. Like most teenagers, she does not want to receive instructions for her routine work.

Question. Justify the poet's allusion to Rapunzel in ‘Amanda’.
Answer: It is justified as
1. Rapunzel lived with a witch who would constantly keep a check on her and had several rules to be followed.
2. Amanda too, feels caged by the impositions
3. Amanda desires 'peace in isolation like Rapunzel had in her tower; clarifying she will not let her hair down for anyone.

Question. ‘The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet’ Why does Amanda say so?
Answer: Amanda says that 'the silence is golden, the freedom is sweet' because she wants to lead a life without any restrictions. She likes silence because she wants to roam freely and undisturbed in a calm green sea like a mermaid. Again, she likes freedom in life like an orphan to escape the nagging of her parents and have the liberty to roam freely on the streets.

Question. (I am an orphan, roaming the street ....) Who is ‘I’? Is she an orphan? Why does she say so?
Answer: ‘I’ here refers to Amanda. No, she is not an orphan. She imagines to be an orphan as she feels her freedom is curtailed in her present position. By imagining herself as an orphan she can do whatever she wants to do.

Question. What picture of Amanda do you form from the poem ‘Amanda’?
Answer: Amanda is a little school going girl. She is constantly nagged by her parent. It is probably the mother who keeps commenting and giving suggestions to Amanda. She keeps asking Amanda to do or not to do certain things. But poor Amanda longs to be free and live life in her own way.

Question. What is Amanda asked to do or not to do?
Answer: Amanda is asked not to bite her nails, not to hunch her shoulders and not to eat chocolate. She is asked to sit up straight, to finish her homework, to tidy her room and to clean her shoes. In fact, she is constantly asked to do this or not to do that.
 

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Amanda from the poem ‘Amanda!’ is a teenager like Anne Frank and lives in her fantasy world whereas Anne is a chatter box. What conversation will Anne Frank have with Amanda about different perspectives of life ? Write your answer in about 120 words.
Answer: In a conversation between Anne Frank and Amanda, Anne, the chatterbox, would likely share her experiences of living in hiding during the Holocaust. She would emphasize the importance of facing reality and finding strength in adversity. On the other hand, Amanda, living in her fantasy world, might express her desire to escape from harsh realities. Anne would encourage Amanda to find courage in confronting life’s challenges, while Amanda might enlighten Anne about the power of imagination as a coping mechanism. Their conversation would highlight the contrast between facing reality and seeking solace in fantasy, illustrating the different perspectives people adopt to navigate life’s complexities.

Question. You have been asked to present an evaluation of the approaches of the mothers of both, the baby seagull and Amanda, towards helping their children. Write this presentation draft including your insights, in about 120 words, comparing the approaches of both parents.
You may begin this way:
One acknowledges that both parents, Amanda’s mother and the baby seagull’s mother both....however, ...
Answer: One acknowledges that both parents, Amanda’s mother and the baby seagull’s mother both were quite harsh on their children. While they were attentive of their children’s flaws and scope of improvements, their methods of correcting them were a bit strict. The seagull’s mother was determined to make his child take his first flight. So much so she let him starved in order to achieve the goal.
On the other hand, Amanda’s mother was slightly harsher than the baby seagull’s mother as she continuously corrected her daughter’s flaws and nagged at her for the same throughout the day. Instead of understanding her daughter’s emotions and her abilities, she bickered at her for everything. However, the intention of both the mothers were just to help their children with their lives and bring the best out of them.
Even though both mothers have good intentions and want to better their children’s lives, their methods, in part, may be misguided or ineffective. The seagull’s mother could benefit from being more sensitive to her child’s emotions, while Amanda’s mother could benefit from focusing on her daughter’s strengths and building her self-esteem.

Question. Look at the given image of a book cover. If the author, Jason Kotecki were to ask a grown-up Amanda to help with his book by writing one of the 8 secrets based on her experiences, what might she share? Elaborate based on your understanding of the poem.

Answer: Amanda would say that she had gone through a distressing childhood. In the words of Amanda- “My mother always expected perfect behaviour from me. I never denied completing my daily tasks but my mother wanted me to perform everything as per her will and time. My mom never understood that I wanted to enjoy my life in solitude. I wanted to enjoy making patterns in the sand but she was worried about people and society. I did not like to keep everything well tucked and inside the cupboards. Why I was not allowed to keep my things handy in my room? Why was my mum always tense about my homework? I was so fed up with all these repeated naggings that I wanted to live alone as an orphan. I thought even the orphans would have been living a better life than me. I wanted to enjoy that phase of my life but I was not allowed and now my childhood has passed. sadly, I will never be able to enjoy that childhood fun for the rest of my life.

Question. Read the quote given below carefully. Based on your understanding of the poem, explain how and why this quote can be applied to the poem.

Answer: “All grown-ups were once children but only a few of them remember it”. Poem Amanda wants to give the same message to all the parents. There is a wide gap between the behaviour of adults and children. Parents set limitations on children’s thoughts and behaviour. They want their children to behave in a socially acceptable manner rather than what gives pleasure to the child. Adults want to decide children’s clothes, toys, professions and even life partners. In this race of social show off they forget that every child has his own likes and dislikes and he or she should be left free to live his life. No doubt, adults want to instil good values into their children but not at the cost of children’s happiness. They should know how to strike a balance between maintaining responsibilities and taking good care. They must examine their narrow mindedness and see the world through their child’s eyes.

Question. What advice might “chatterbox” Anne (Frank) have for the quietly imaginative Amanda? Present this as a conversation between the two. You may begin this way:
Anne : Gosh! You do run off into some strange worlds, don’t you?
Amanda : (nods) Well…
Answer:
Anne : Gosh! You do run off into some strange worlds, don’t you?
Amanda : (nods) Well, change places with me to understand my plight. I am always surrounded by instructions that I don’t want to follow anymore.
Anne Frank : Adults do not feel like children. Why don’t you share your thoughts with your true friend?
Amanda : I don’t have a true friend. Have you got one?
Anne Frank : Yes, Kitty, my diary, is my best friend. I share my personal talks with her and feel light-headed.
Amanda : But, I don’t know how to write a diary. Will you help me, Anne?
Anne Frank : Of course, it will give me pleasure.
 

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you, Amanda!
(I am Rapunzel, I have not a care;
life in a tower is tranquil and rare;)

Question. What is the central idea of the poem as reflected in the lines above? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: The central idea of the poem is the conflict between parental authority and the desire for independence experienced by the speaker, Amanda. The repeated instructions of her mother highlight the mundane concerns and pressures that Amanda faces.

Question. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. “Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you, Amanda!” tells us that the mother’s attitude is _____.
(a) loving
(b) relaxed
(c) authoritative
(d) thoughtful
Answer: (c) authoritative

Question. Identify any one poetic device used in the above extract.
Answer: Repetition.

Question. For wat reason does Amanda imagine herself to be Rapunzel?
Answer: Amanda imagines herself as Rapunzel to express her longing for freedom and escape from the constraints and authority imposed upon her, similar to Rapunzel’s situation in the tower.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
I thought I told you to clean your shoes, Amanda!
(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden; the freedom is sweet.)
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda! (Amanda!)

Question. Which of the following best describes the symbolic meaning of the soft dust and hushed, bare feet in Amanda’s orphan daydream?
(a) A sense of isolation and loneliness
(b) Freedom and independence
(c) Poverty and hardship
(d) Conformity and obedience
Answer: (b) Freedom and independence

Question. What does the contrast between the speaker’s commands and Amanda’s daydream suggest about her imaginative escape? (Answer in 30-40 words)
Answer: The stark contrast between the speaker’s commands and Amanda’s daydreams suggests that amanda uses her imagination as a form of escape from the demands and pressures placed upon her.

Question. Complete the sentence appropriately:
The lack of the special use of parentheses would have resulted in _____.
Answer: in a loss of the distinct separation between Amanda’s inner thoughts and the external demands of the speaker.

Question. How does the line, “I thought I told you to clean your shoes, Amanda!” help us infer that Amanda’s actions are being closely monitored and directed?
Answer: The use of “I thought” suggests a reminder/ frustration on the part of the speaker, supporting the idea that Amanda’s behaviour is under close scrutiny. (This implies a relationship where Amanda is expected to adhere to specific instructions and fulfill assigned tasks, reinforcing a sense of external control and authority over her actions.)

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
There is a languid, emerald Sea
where the sole inhabitant is me -
a mermaid, drifting blissfully.

Question. The colour of the sea is
(a) blue
(b) yellow
(c) red
(d) None of the options
Answer: (d) None of the options

Question. Identify the poetic device used in the lines 2 and 3 of the extract.
Answer: Metaphor

Question. Why is the extract given in paranthesis?
Answer: The extract is given in paranthesis as they are the thoughts of the child (Amanda) in between the instruction she is being given by her mother.

Question. What does Amanda want to be a mermaid? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: Amanda is an escapist. She imagines herself to be a mermaid and wants to live on an island where she is the only inhabitant. She loves freedom and wants to drift, blissfully like a mermaid on that lonely island.