CBSE Class 10 English HOTs Night of the scorpion

Night of the scorpion

Q1.Describe the behaviour of the villagers as depicted in the poem.

Superstitious, traditional, with the peace of understanding on each face

Q2.How is the poem ‘Night of the Scorpion,-a true expression of Indian sensibility?

Traditional villagers, all gathered together for a common good.-symbol of loving motherhood ready to suffer and thank God for sparing her children.

Q3.What is the concept of ‘good and evil’ mentioned in the poem?

The sum of good is balanced against the sum of evil in this unreal, illusory world

Q4.Mothers, even if they go through suffering will never want their children suffer at any cost .Comment on this statement with reference to the mother in the poem ‘Night of the scorpion’?

 After writhing in intense pain for more than fourteen hours the mother thanked God that the scorpion picked on her and spared her children.

Q5.Give a character sketch of the father as seen through the eyes of the narrator of the poem ‘Night of the scorpion’.

Father was a sceptic and rationalist-inspite of his beliefs he tried all kinds of traditional and superstitious methods to cure his wife.

Q6.The reactions of the villagers to a crisis is well brought out in the poem. How would the urbanites have reacted to such a situation?

Perhaps would have done what the father had done. They tried all kinds of methods to cure a loved one.

Q7.What, according to the villagers, might have been the reasons for the scorpion bite?

 Incessant rain must have driven the scorpion from seeking refuge under a sack of rice.

Q8.How do different people you meet in the poem react to the incident of the scorpion bite?

 Villagers- superstitious; Poet-anxious and worried; Father-anxious; Mother-in pain and thankful the scorpion picked on her and spared her children.

Q9.Examine the poetic devices used in the poem.

 Simile –like swarms of flies

Metaphor-…throwing giant scorpion shadows

Q10.Justify the title of the poem ‘Night of the Scorpion

 The sting of the scorpion disturbed the entire household and the villagers. All attention turned to mother to relieve her of suffering from the painful effects of the scorpion sting, all keen to search for the scorpion and ‘paralyze the evil one’to stop the movement of poison in the mother’s blood.

NIGHT OF THE SCORPION

1. A scorpion attacks in self-defence but Man kills for pleasure or power. So do you think it is right to call the scorpion ‘the evil one’? Justify your answer.

2. When in dire need, all logic and reasoning fail. Explain with regard to the actions of the father in ‘Night of the Scorpion’.

3. Though illiterate, the peasants come up with their own explanation for mother’s suffering. What is their line of reasoning?

4. Even in danger a mother’s first thoughts are for the safety of her children. How is this exemplified in ‘Night of the Scorpion’?

5. What role does the weather play in heightening the drama in ‘Night of the Scorpion’?

6. The role of the holy man is of prime importance in solving the problems of the illiterate peasants. Comment with regard to ‘Night of the Scorpion’.