Maharashtra Board Class 10 English Chapter 3.1 Night of the Scorpion Solutions

Std 10 English Poem Night Of The Scorpion 3.1 Question Answer Maharashtra Board

Class 10 English Chapter 3.1 Question Answer Maharashtra Board

Night Of The Scorpion Poem 10th Std Question Answer

Question 1. Night Of The Scorpion Poem Questions And Answers Question 1. Get into pairs and discuss the following with your partners and complete the table. Many people are superstitious. This means that they have belief for which they have no logical reason. An example of superstition is that - walking under a ladder brings bad luck. In pairs, list any superstitions that you know of.

Superstition	What it implies

Answer:

Superstition	What it implies
(1) Walking under a ladder	Brings bad luck.
(2) Smashing a mirror	Brings seven years of bad luck.
(3) A black cat crossing your path	A bad omen.
(4) Twitching of the eye	Brings bad luck.
(5) Sweeping your house after sunset	Goddess Lakshmi will walk out.
(6) Going near a peepal tree at night	The ghosts will kill you.
(7) Putting a black dot on your child's face	Will ward off the evil eye.

In simple words: Superstitions are beliefs without logical reasons, often involving supernatural explanations for common events or actions, and their implications can range from good luck to bad omens, varying across cultures.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing superstitions, ensure both the belief and its implied consequence are clearly stated to demonstrate full understanding.

 

Question 2. Night Of The Scorpion Questions And Answers Question 2. Brainstorm what you know about Scorpions. Use the points given below.

ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र बिच्छू (Scorpions) के बारे में जानकारी को चार मुख्य श्रेणियों में विभाजित करता है: 'वे कैसे हमला करते हैं', 'वे कहाँ रहते हैं', 'उनकी उपस्थिति' और 'उनके बारे में कोई और जानकारी'। यह जानकारी एक केंद्रीय 'बिच्छू' शब्द से तीर के निशान द्वारा जुड़ी हुई है, जो छात्रों को बिच्छुओं के बारे में विभिन्न पहलुओं को समझने में मदद करती है।
Answer:

Where they live	How they attack
found on all continents except Antarctica; live everywhere except in very cold places; hide under logs, rocks, clutter, trees and sand; also live in burrows.	either crush their prey or inject it with venom; or they attack using their pincers to hold down the prey; then they sting it. If you step on a scorpion it will sting you straight away.
Scorpions
Any more information about them: most people associate them with poisonous stings; however, most of the stings do not present a serious threat and do not even need medical treatment; scorpions have long life-spans; can survive anything-a year without food; they eat anything and glow in the dark.	Their appearance: have 8 legs, a pair of pincers and a narrow, segmented tail ending in a venomous stinger.

In simple words: Scorpions are widespread creatures known for their eight legs, pincers, and a venomous stinger on their segmented tail, attacking prey by crushing or injecting venom, and can survive harsh conditions including long periods without food.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing animals or insects, provide a comprehensive overview covering habitat, physical characteristics, behavior (like attack methods), and unique traits for a complete answer.

 

Night Of The Scorpion Class 10 English Workshop Questions And Answers Maharashtra Board

Question 1. Night Of The Scorpion Question 1. After reading the poem, complete the following. What happens? There are three main parts of the poem. Do you know what they are about? The first one is done for you.

Lines	What is happening?
1-7	The scorpion comes into the home to escape the rain and stings the poet's mother.
8-33
34-48

Answer:

Lines	What is happening
1-7	The scorpion comes into the house to escape the rain and stings the poet's mother. It then braves the rain again. The peasants come when they hear the news and search for the scorpion. They click their tongues to show their disappointment. They say that with every movement the scorpion makes, the poison moves in the victim's blood.
18-33	The villagers sympathize with the mother and offer consolation in various ways. They sit round the floor with the mother in the centre. More neighbours came in to help, with more candles and more lanterns.
34-48	The father is desperate and though he is a rationalist, he tries all sorts of things to cure the mother. He calls a holy man to perform rites and even poured paraffin on the bitten toe and set fire to it. After twenty hours the scorpion loses Its sting. All that the mother says Is that she is thankful to God that the scorpion picked her and spared her children.

In simple words: The poem details the events following a scorpion stinging the poet's mother, from the initial sting and the villagers' superstitious responses to the father's rational but desperate attempts at a cure, culminating in the mother's selfless relief that her children were spared.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing a poem's structure, identify key events or shifts in narrative across different stanzas or line ranges to understand its progression and central themes.

 

Question 2. Night Of Scorpion Question Answers Question 2. Complete the following tables.

(A)

Background/setting of the poem
Type	Evidence (Quote lines from the poem)
Rural/Urban	................................

Answer:

Background/setting of the poem
Type	Evidence (Quote lines from the poem)
Rural	(1) 'The peasants came like swarms of flies'. (2) 'and buzzed, the name of God a hundred times'. (3) To paralyse the evil one'. (4) 'With candles and with lanterns' (5) 'on'the mud-baked walls' (6) 'His poison moved in Mother's blood, they said.' (7) They sat around on the floor with my mother in the centre' (8) More candles, more lanterns'. (9) groaning on a mat (10) trying every curse and blessing, powder, mixture, herb and hybrid (11) I watched the holy man perform his rites

In simple words: The poem's setting is clearly rural, indicated by imagery such as mud-baked walls, peasants gathering with candles and lanterns, and the reliance on traditional remedies and holy men, suggesting a community deeply connected to its land and superstitious beliefs.

🎯 Exam Tip: To determine the setting, look for specific details in the text that describe the environment, culture, objects, and social interactions, as these provide strong contextual evidence.

 

(B)

Scorpion
Timid	Dangerous
(1) hides ....................	(i) Diabolic ....................
(2) .................... back	(ii) ....................

Answer:

Scorpion
Timid	Dangerous
(1) Hides beneath a sack of rice	(1) Diabolic tail
(2) Is afraid of the people and goes back	(2) The Evil One
	(3) His poison moved in Mother's blood

In simple words: The scorpion is portrayed as both timid, hiding from rain and people, and dangerous, possessing a "diabolic tail" and venom that can inflict suffering, representing a creature of dual nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing character or object traits, identify contrasting descriptions and support them with direct quotes or clear textual references from the poem to show a nuanced understanding.

 

(C)

Imagery
Look at the description of the village peasants. What does the imagery suggest about them?
The Images	What images suggest
They came like swarms of flies.
They buzzed the name of God.
They threw giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls.
They clicked their tongues.

Answer:

Imagery
The images	what the images suggest
1) They came swarms of flies.	(1) They came it very large numbers, a huge crowd of people moving towards the house, like a swarm of flies.
(2) They buzzed the name of God.	(2) They kept repeating the name of God softly and continuously, like the buzzing of bees.
(3) They threw giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls.	(3) The lanterns they carried threw shadows on the walls, which looked like huge scorpion shadows to the frightened villagers.
(4) They clicked their tongues.	(4) They made sorrowful and frightening sounds with their tongues.

In simple words: The imagery of the peasants as a "swarm of flies" buzzing God's name, throwing "giant scorpion shadows," and clicking their tongues suggests a community that is numerous, superstitious, fearful, and vocal in their concern and sympathy.

🎯 Exam Tip: To interpret imagery effectively, consider what sensory details are evoked and what emotions or ideas these details convey about the characters or setting.

 

Question 3. Night Of The Scorpion Questions And Answers Question 3. Choose the correct alternative.

Question 3.1. The child is afraid but admires ....................................
(a) the initiative of the peasants.
(b) his father trying every way to cure.
(c) the bravery of his mother.
Answer: (c) the bravery of his mother
In simple words: The child in the poem admires the mother's bravery, particularly her selfless concern for her children despite her immense pain.

🎯 Exam Tip: For multiple-choice questions, carefully read all options and select the one that is most directly supported by the text's emotional or thematic content.

 

Question 3.2. His father and the villagers panic and hastily suggest ....................................
(a) to take her to the hospital.
(b) ayurvedic treatment.
(c) religious remedies to help.
Answer: (c) religious remedies to help
In simple words: Faced with the crisis, the father and villagers initially resort to traditional and religious remedies, reflecting a blend of rational and superstitious approaches in their community.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the initial reactions of characters in the poem, as these often reveal cultural beliefs or immediate instincts.

 

Question 3.3. The poet seems to see the villagers as impractical and almost irritating which suggests that ....................................
(a) the poet is critical of caste
(b) the poet is critical of religion
(c) the poet is critical of tradition.
Answer: (c) the poet is critical of tradition
In simple words: The poet's portrayal suggests a critique of the traditional, superstitious methods of the villagers, finding them ineffective and perhaps frustrating in a crisis requiring practical action.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze the poet's tone and descriptive language towards certain characters or customs to infer their underlying critical perspective.

 

Question 3.4. This is a .................................... poem as it tells a story.
(a) reflective
(b) imaginative
(c) narrative
Answer: (c) narrative
In simple words: The poem is narrative because it recounts a specific event-the scorpion sting and its aftermath-telling a clear story with a beginning, middle, and end.

🎯 Exam Tip: Poems that describe events, characters, and a sequence of actions are typically classified as narrative poems.

 

Question 3.5. Using the first person gives the feeling that it is told from ....................................
(a) personal experience
(b) public experience
(c) private experience
Answer: (a) personal experience
In simple words: The use of "I" in the poem creates an intimate and immediate tone, giving the reader the sense that the events are being recounted directly from the poet's own lived experience.

🎯 Exam Tip: First-person narration ("I", "my") always implies a personal perspective and direct involvement of the speaker in the events described.

 

Question 3.6. 'The scorpion picked on me. And spared my children' depicts ....................................
(a) mother's bravery
(b) mother's endurance
(c) selfless and unconditional love of mother.
Answer: (c) selfless and unconditional love of a mother
In simple words: This line powerfully illustrates the mother's profound selfless love, as her ultimate concern is for her children's safety, even while she endures intense pain.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing character dialogue or thoughts, identify statements that prioritize the well-being of others over oneself to highlight qualities like selflessness or unconditional love.

 

Question 3.7. The poem does not have a rhyme scheme, which means the poem is a perfect example of a ....................................
(a) Ballad
(b) Sonnet
(c) Free verse
Answer: (c) free verse
In simple words: Since the poem lacks a consistent rhyme scheme or regular meter, it is written in free verse, allowing for a more natural and conversational flow.

🎯 Exam Tip: Free verse is characterized by its lack of a consistent meter or rhyme scheme, providing flexibility in poetic expression.

 

Question 3.8. The poem is titled 'Night of the Scorpion', for, the major part of the poem, ....................................
(a) the mother remains triumphant at the end.
(b) the scorpion is the victor.
(c) the father succeeds in curing the mother.
Answer: (b) the scorpion is the victor
In simple words: The title emphasizes the scorpion's impact as it initiates the entire ordeal and its poison dominates the narrative for a significant duration, making it a powerful, though short-lived, force.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider what element or event drives the central conflict and occupies the most narrative attention when analyzing the significance of a title.

 

Question 3.9. The peasants chant the name of God to ....................................
(a) nullify the stinging experience
(b) praise God.
(c) appease God.
Answer: (a) nullify the stinging experience
In simple words: The peasants chant God's name as a superstitious act, believing it will counteract the venom's effects and alleviate the mother's pain.

🎯 Exam Tip: Interpret the actions of characters within their cultural context, especially when religious or traditional practices are involved, to understand their intended purpose.

 

Question 3.10. The click of tongues reflects their .................................... to the predicament.
(a) individual response
(b) collective response
(c) group response
Answer: (b) collective response
In simple words: The collective "click of tongues" by the peasants indicates a shared, unified reaction of concern, sympathy, and perhaps superstition, rather than isolated individual responses.

🎯 Exam Tip: Actions performed by a group, especially synchronized ones, often signify a collective sentiment or shared cultural reaction.

 

Question 4. Night Of The Scorpion Questions Question 4. From the poem provide evidence for the following :

Stages	Evidence (lines from the poem)
(a) the attempts by the peasants to help alleviate the mother's pain.
(b) the action of these same peasants to kill the scorpion
(c) the reaction of the rational father.
(d) the various superstitions versus the 'scientific'
(e) evil versus good.

Answer:

Stages	Evidence (lines from the extract)
(a) the attempts by the peasants to help alleviate the mother's pain.	(1) 'The peasants came like swarms of flies' (2) 'and buzzed the name of God a hundred times to paralyse the Evil One.' (3) 'With candles and with lanterns'
(b) the action of these same peasants to kill the scorpion.	(1) 'they searched for him' (2) 'they clicked their tongues'
(c) evil versus good	'and buzzed the name of God a hundred times to paralyse the Evil One.'

In simple words: The peasants attempt to alleviate the pain through collective chanting and searching, symbolizing their superstitious efforts, while their search for the scorpion represents their desire to eliminate the source of 'evil' and their collective frustration at its escape.

🎯 Exam Tip: When providing textual evidence, ensure the quotes directly support the claim being made and are clearly identified with their context if possible.

 

Question 5. Night Of Scorpion Question Answers Question 5. Read the poem and complete the table showing the qualities of the father and mother giving sufficient evidences from the poem.

Qualities
Father	Mother

Answer:

Qualities
Father	Mother
sceptic, rationalist, loving, desperate	patient, long-suffering, brave, self-sacrificing, selfless
Lines as evidence: My father, sceptic, rationalist, Trying every curse and blessing, Powder, mixture, herb and hybrid. He even poured a little paraffin Upon the bitten toe and put a match to it. I watched the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with an incantation.	Lines as evidence: My mother twisted through and through, groaning on a mat. My mother only said Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children.

In simple words: The father is portrayed as a rationalist who, despite his skepticism, desperately tries various cures, including unscientific ones, driven by love; the mother, in contrast, shows immense patience and selflessness, enduring extreme pain but finding solace that her children were spared.

🎯 Exam Tip: To effectively analyze character traits, identify key actions, thoughts, and words attributed to each character and provide direct textual evidence to support your interpretations.

 

Question 6. Night Of The Scorpion Question Answers Question 6. (A) Match the Figures of Speech with the correct definition.

Figure	Definition
(1) Metaphor	(a) The use of the same sound at the beginning of words
(2) Alliteration	(b) An implied comparison.
(3) Onomatopoeia	(c) A comparison between two different things, especially a phrase, containing the words 'like' or 'as'
(4) Simile	(d) A word which resembles the sound it represents.

Answer:

Figure	Definition
(1) Metaphor	(b) An implied comparison.
(2) Alliteration	(a) The use of the same sound at the beginning of words
(3) Onomatopoeia	(d) A word which resembles the sound it represents.
(4) Simile	(c) A comparison between two different things, especially a phrase, containing the words 'like' or 'as'

In simple words: This exercise matches poetic devices with their definitions: Metaphor is an implied comparison, Alliteration uses repeating initial sounds, Onomatopoeia mimics sounds, and Simile compares using 'like' or 'as'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorizing definitions of common figures of speech is crucial for correctly identifying them in texts and understanding their literary function.

 

Question 6. (B) Find examples from the poem that contain :
Similie: ....................................
Metaphor : ....................................
Onomatopoeia : ....................................
Answer: Similie: A comparison between two different things, especially a phrase, containing the words 'like' or 'as'
Metaphor: An implied comparison.
Onomatopoeia: A word which resembles the sound it represents.
In simple words: This question asks for examples of specific poetic devices (Simile, Metaphor, Onomatopoeia) from the poem, which would involve identifying phrases that fit their respective definitions.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for examples of poetic devices, provide direct quotes from the text and clearly explain how each quote illustrates the specific device.

 

Question 7. Expand the flow chart in writing a paragraph in your own words.

ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह प्रवाह चार्ट बिच्छू के डंक के बाद माँ की प्रतिक्रिया और अंतिम परिणाम को दर्शाता है। यह 'माँ' से शुरू होता है, फिर 'पीड़ा', 'विष से लड़ना', 'बोलने में असमर्थ, लेकिन कराहना', 'ईश्वर का धन्यवाद' और अंत में 'बच गई' के क्रम में आगे बढ़ता है, जो माँ की सहनशीलता और आत्म-बलिदान को उजागर करता है।
Answer: The poet's mother is bitten by a scorpion and is in great agony. She fights the venom of the scorpion with the help of her husband and the villagers. She is unable to say anything, but only groans in pain. Finally, the poison is tamed after twenty hours. In the end, the mother thanks God that she has survived the ordeal, and that the scorpion had picked on her and spared her children.
In simple words: The flowchart illustrates the mother's journey from being stung and experiencing agony, battling the venom while groaning, to eventually surviving and expressing gratitude that her children were spared.

🎯 Exam Tip: When expanding a flowchart into a paragraph, ensure a logical and continuous narrative flow, connecting each step of the chart with descriptive language.

 

Question 8. The poet has used various kinds of imagery to create an image which appeal to our senses. Pick out various kinds of imagery and complete the table.

Visual imagery appealing to eyes	Tactile imagery (sense of touch)	Sound imagery	Internal sensations, feelings and emotions
(1) Scropion crawling beneath a sack of rice	(1) ....................	(1) buzzed the name of God	(1) fear

Answer:

Visual imagery appealing to eyas	Tactile imagery (Sense of touch)	Sound imagery	Internal sensations, feelings and emotions
(1) Scorpion crawling beneath a sack of rice	(1) I watched the flame feeding on my mother	(1) buzzed the name of God	(1) fear
(2) With Candles and lanterns throwing giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls.	(2) Father pouring paraffin on the toe	(2) They clicked their tongues	(2) pain

In simple words: The poem employs diverse imagery: visual with crawling scorpions and shadows, tactile with flame and paraffin on the skin, sound with buzzing and clicking tongues, and internal sensations of fear and pain, to create a vivid sensory experience for the reader.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify different types of imagery, consider which of the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) each descriptive phrase appeals to.

 

Question 9. Write an appreciation of the poem in a paragraph format.
Answer: Point Format (for understanding)
The title of the poem : Night of the Scorpion'
The poet: Nissirn Ezekiel
Rhyme scheme : written In free verse without any rhyme scheme or metre
Figures of speech : Onomatopoeia, Metaphor, Alliteration, Simile, Antithesis, etc.
Theme/Central idea: The poet depicts the selflessness and unconditional love of a mother who stung by a scorpion.
In simple words: The poem "Night of the Scorpion" by Nissim Ezekiel is a free verse narrative, rich in figures of speech like onomatopoeia and simile, portraying a mother's selfless and unconditional love despite facing a painful scorpion sting.

🎯 Exam Tip: When appreciating a poem, cover key aspects such as title, poet, structure (rhyme, meter), poetic devices, and central themes to provide a comprehensive analysis.

Question 10. Project

Prepare a Presentation (on paper or on a PC) as a piece of reference to other students. Make use of the following points.
(1) Title page
(2) Introduction of the poet
(3) The Complete poem (All 48 lines)
(4) Learning objectives
(5) Style of writing
(6) Scorpion lines (1-7)
(7) The peasants
(8) The poet's father
(10) The poet's mother
(11) Vocabulary
(12) Credits (positive aspects)
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह आरेख 'नाइट ऑफ द स्कॉर्पियन' कविता के लिए एक प्रोजेक्ट रिपोर्ट के प्रमुख घटकों को दर्शाता है। इसमें कविता के वर्णनात्मक पहलुओं (जैसे कथात्मक शैली, अनियमित पंक्तियाँ, तुकबंदी का अभाव) और प्रयुक्त साहित्यिक उपकरणों (जैसे उपमा, रूपक, अनुप्रास) को समझाया गया है। यह छात्रों को कविता का एक संरचित अध्ययन प्रस्तुत करने के लिए आवश्यक विभिन्न बिंदुओं की रूपरेखा तैयार करता है।
In simple words: This question asks students to prepare a project presentation about the poem "Night of the Scorpion" using a given list of points, covering aspects from the title page to poetic devices.

🎯 Exam Tip: For project-based questions, organization and clarity of presentation are key. Ensure all listed points are covered thoroughly with relevant details from the poem to score maximum marks.

Question 11. Complete the following: (The answers are given directly and underlined.)

(1) The scorpion was forced to take shelter in the poet's house to escape the heavy rain.
(2) In line no. 3, the word 'him' refers to the scorpion.
(3) To 'paralyse the Evil One' in stanza 3 means to stop the activity of the devil, the scorpion.
(4) 'They' in stanza 4 refers to the peasants had come to help.
Answer:
(1) escape the heavy rain.
(2) the scorpion.
(3) to stop the activity of the devil, the scorpion.
(4) the peasants had come to help.
In simple words: This question tests understanding of specific details and references within the poem, focusing on the scorpion's motive, pronoun references, and the meaning of a key phrase.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to context and specific lines in the poem when answering fill-in-the-blanks or direct reference questions. Accuracy in identifying the subject or meaning is crucial.

Question 12. Explain why the poem begins with the poet remembering the night.

Answer: The poem begins with the poet remembering the night because the whole incident that is narrated in the poem was very memorable and took place in the night. It created a strong impression on the poet.
In simple words: The poem starts with the poet recalling the night because the scorpion stinging incident was a very impactful and unforgettable event that happened during that time.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining the poet's choices, link them to the emotional impact or thematic significance of the event being described. This shows a deeper understanding of the poem's narrative.

Question 13. Write the reactions of the people when they knew that the mother was stung by a scorpion.

Answer: When the people knew that the poet's mother was stung by a scorpion:
(i) The peasants came in swarms to help.
(ii) They buzzed the name of God a hundred times.
(iii) They searched for the scorpion with candles and lanterns.
(iv) They clicked their tongues because he was not found.
In simple words: Upon hearing about the mother's sting, the villagers gathered in large numbers, prayed loudly, actively searched for the scorpion, and expressed disappointment when they couldn't find it.

🎯 Exam Tip: For descriptive questions, list reactions clearly and concisely, using bullet points or numbered lists if appropriate, to ensure all aspects of the response are easily identifiable and assessed.

Question 14. Pick out an example of Simile from the extract.

Answer: The peasants came like swarms of flies. The peasants are compared directly to swarms of flies, with the use of the word 'like'.
In simple words: A simile is a comparison using "like" or "as," and in the poem, the peasants gathering are compared to "swarms of flies."

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify a simile, look for direct comparisons between two different things, explicitly using the words "like" or "as."

Question 15. Pick out an example of Metaphor from the extract.

Answer: to paralyse the Evil One'. The scorpion is Implicitly compared to the devil.
In simple words: A metaphor is an indirect comparison, and here, the scorpion is called "the Evil One," implying it is the devil without directly using "like" or "as."

🎯 Exam Tip: Metaphors create an implied comparison by stating one thing IS another, without using 'like' or 'as'. Look for instances where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Question 16. Pick out examples of Onomatopoeia from the extract.

Answer:
(1) 'and buzzed the name of God'
The word 'buzzed' indicates sound.
(2) 'They clicked their tongues.'
The word 'clicked' indicates sound.
In simple words: Onomatopoeia uses words that imitate the sounds they describe; examples from the poem include "buzzed" for the sound of prayers and "clicked" for the sound of tongues.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying onomatopoeia, focus on words that phonetically mimic the sound they represent. Always explain how the word imitates the sound.

Question 17. Pick out examples of Alliteration from the extract.

Answer:
(1) Parting with his poison-flash
Repetition of the sound of the letter 'p'.
(2) of diabolic tail in the dark room
Repetition of the sound of the letter 'd'.
(3) throwing giant scorpion shadows.
Repetition of the sound of the letter 's'.
In simple words: Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in consecutive words; examples from the poem include "poison-flash" (p), "diabolic... dark" (d), and "scorpion shadows" (s).

🎯 Exam Tip: For alliteration, ensure the repeated sound is at the beginning of words and is a consonant sound. Clearly state the repeated letter or sound.

Question 18. Pick out an example of Antithesis from the extract:

Answer: 'they searched for him: he was not found' Words having opposite or contradictory meanings are used in the same line.
In simple words: Antithesis involves placing contrasting ideas or words side-by-side in a sentence, as seen in "searched" and "not found" within the same context.

🎯 Exam Tip: Antithesis highlights a contrast. Look for phrases or clauses where opposite ideas are presented in close proximity to create a striking effect.

Question 19. Write down the rhyming words from the stanzas for the following:

(i) fight
(ii) clash
Answer:
(i) fight-night
(ii) clash-flash.
In simple words: This question asks to find words that rhyme with "fight" and "clash" within the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying rhyming words, focus on the similarity in the ending sounds of words, not just their spelling.

Question 20. Complete the following: The peasants consoled the mother, saying:

(1) the poison will burn away
(2) her suffering will decrease
(3) the evil in this world will be
(4) the poison will purify her
Answer:
(1) the sins of her previous birth
(2) the misfortunes of her next birth
(3) diminished by her pain.
(4) flesh of desire and her spirit of ambition.
In simple words: The peasants offered comfort by suggesting the poison's pain would cleanse her past sins, lessen future misfortunes, reduce the world's evil, and purify her desires and ambition.

🎯 Exam Tip: For completion questions, ensure your answers accurately reflect the beliefs or statements made by the characters in the poem, rather than personal interpretations.

Question 21. (a) Pick out examples of Alliteration from the extract:

Answer:
(1) 'May he sit still, they said'.
Repetition of the sound of the letter 's'.
(2) 'May the poison purify your flesh'
Repetition of the sound of the letter 'p'.
In simple words: This part asks for instances of alliteration, which is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, like 'sit still' (s) and 'poison purify' (p).

🎯 Exam Tip: Always specify the exact words and the letter/sound being repeated when quoting examples of alliteration to demonstrate clear understanding.

Question 21. (b) Pick out an example of Antithesis from the extract:

Answer: 'May the sum of all evil balanced in this unreal world against the sum of good' Words having opposite meanings are placed close for contrast.
In simple words: This question asks for an example of antithesis, where opposing ideas like 'evil' and 'good' are contrasted within the same phrase.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying antithesis, look for a phrase or sentence where two contrasting ideas are presented together for emphasis. The contrast should be clear and deliberate.

Question 21. (c) Pick out an example of Repetition from the extract:

Answer: 'More candles, more lanterns, more. neighbours' Repetition of the word 'more' for emphasis.
In simple words: This part asks for an example of repetition, which is the repeated use of a word or phrase, such as "more" for emphasis on increasing numbers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Repetition is easy to spot; just quote the repeated word or phrase and briefly explain its effect, usually for emphasis or rhythm.

Question 22. Complete the following: (The answers are given directly and underlined.)

(1) The mother found relief after twenty hours.
(2) All through the ordeal, the poet's mother twisted and groaned in pain.
Answer:
(1) after twenty hours.
(2) twisted and groaned in pain.
In simple words: This question requires completing sentences about the mother's relief and suffering during the scorpion sting ordeal based on details from the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: Ensure that the completed phrases flow logically and accurately reflect the events described in the poem, paying attention to specific timeframes or actions mentioned.

Question 23. (1) Pick out an example of Onomatopoeia from the extract.

Answer: 'groaning on a mat' The word 'groaning' indicates sound.
In simple words: An example of onomatopoeia is "groaning," as it's a word that mimics the sound of pain it describes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember, onomatopoeic words imitate sounds. Always provide the word and explain what sound it represents.

Question 24. Pick out examples of Alliteration from the extract.

Answer:
(1) 'powder, mixture, herb and hybrid'
Repetition of the sound of the letter 'h'.
(2) 'He even poured a little paraffin'
Repetition of the sound of the letter 'p'.
(3) 'I watched the flame feeding on my mother'
Repetition of the sound of the letter 'f'.
In simple words: Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds; examples include "herb and hybrid" (h), "poured... paraffin" (p), and "flame feeding" (f).

🎯 Exam Tip: When providing examples of alliteration, highlight the repeated initial consonant sound and the words where it occurs to ensure full credit.

Question 25. Pick out an example of Antithesis from the extract:

Answer: 'trying every curse and blessing' Words having opposite meanings are placed close for contrast.
In simple words: An example of antithesis is "curse and blessing," which places two opposite ideas together for contrast.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify antithesis, look for pairs of words or ideas that are directly opposite or contrasting, used within the same phrase or sentence.

Question 26. Pick out an example of Personification from the extract:

Answer: 'I watched the flame feeding on my mother' The flame is given the human quality of feeding.
In simple words: Personification gives human qualities to inanimate objects, and here, the "flame" is described as "feeding," a human action.

🎯 Exam Tip: For personification, pinpoint the non-human object and the human action or quality attributed to it, clearly explaining the connection.