Maharashtra Board Class 12 English Section 2 Poetry Chapter 2.8 Small Towns and Rivers Solutions

12th Std English Chapter 2.8 Brainstorming Question Answer

Yuvakbharati English Navneet 12th Digest PDF Free Download Maharashtra Board

 

Question (i)
Most of the civilizations have flourished on the banks of the rivers. Discuss the
reasons in the class.
Points:
(a) Availability of water
(b) Fertile soil for agriculture
(c) Fishing ground
(d) Transport

 

Question (ii)
Write down the names of the famous cities that are situated on the banks of the
rivers given below.
Answer:

River	City
Ganga	Varanasi
Yamuna	Mathura
Godavari	Rajahmundry
Varada	Sagara
Krishna	Vijayawada
Tapi	Surat

In simple words: This table lists major Indian rivers and the famous cities located on their banks, demonstrating the historical and geographical connection between urban development and river systems.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the river-city pairs as these are common general knowledge questions in competitive exams.

 

Question (iii)
Write down the names of the rivers on the banks of which following cities have
prospered:
Answer:

City	River
London	Thames
Cairo	Nile
New York	Hudson
Paris	Siene

In simple words: This table shows famous global cities and the rivers they are built alongside, highlighting the universal importance of rivers for human settlement and prosperity.

🎯 Exam Tip: Familiarity with world geography and key river systems is beneficial for a broader understanding of human civilization.

 

Question (iv)
Divide your class into groups and discuss the changes that might have taken place
when the cities grow on the banks of the rivers.
Points: Dwellings are built - Population grows - Fishing flourishes - Outsiders
come to settle - Trading takes place - Prosperity increases - Increased population,
trade, traffic and fishing begin to harm the river system - River system shows
damage - River starts to decay

 

Question (v)
Share your views in the class on the topic 'Conservation of Rivers and
Development of the Cities.'
(Students may list their own points of views.)

(A1)

 

Question 1.
State the importance of Nature in the lives of the people from the North-eastern
part of India as expressed in the poem with reference to:
(a) Flowers
(b) River
(c) Bamboo
(d) East
Answer:
(a) Flowers - Tuberoses are woven into wreaths to be placed on the body of a
departed as a mark of love and respect.
(b) River: The people believe the river has a soul. They respect their rivers and even
revere it as divine as its waters are immortal.
(c) Bamboo: The poet says 'in the cool bamboo'. The colour is a cool green. The
place where the bamboo grows is also cool.
(d) East: The direction of sunrise is very important for the people of Arunachal
Pradesh. They ensure the dead are placed pointing west so that their soul directly
enters the golden house of the sun. They believe that finally souls must attain the
sun's abode in the east.
In simple words: For the people of North-eastern India, nature elements like flowers, rivers, bamboo, and the East (sunrise direction) hold deep cultural, spiritual, and symbolic significance, interwoven with their daily lives and beliefs about life and death.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing a poem, identify specific natural elements and discuss their symbolic or cultural significance as presented by the poet.

(A2)

 

Question (i)
The poet has described her small town in Arunachal Pradesh. Pick out from the
extract, the lines that describe the poet's town.
Answer:
1. 'My hometown lies calmly amidst the trees',
2. 'it is always the same In summer and winter With the dust flying Or the wind
howling down the gorge'
In simple words: The poet's town is depicted as a serene place nestled among trees, experiencing consistent seasonal changes like dusty summers and windy winters.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always quote directly from the text when asked to "pick out lines" to support your answer and earn full marks.

 

Question (ii)
Make a list of natural elements mentioned in the extract.
Answer:
trees, winter, summer, wind, tuberoses, life, land, river, fish, stars
In simple words: The poem vividly portrays various natural elements like trees, seasons, wind, flowers, and celestial bodies, which are integral to the setting and themes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to descriptive language in poetry to identify and list all mentioned natural elements for a complete answer.

 

Question (iii)
'The river has a soul.' Elaborate the concept in your words as the poet has
explained in the extract.
Answer:
When the poet says 'The river has a soul' she personifies the river. The river flows
with great force - ‘like a torrent of grief. The river flowing with great force can be
like a person pouring out grief in a storm of emotion. The river also seems to be
holding its breath, maybe because it is choking with filth. There are no fishes. It is
not clear and sparkling. So the poet says -'I think it holds its breath seeking a land
of fish and stars'.
In simple words: The poet personifies the river by attributing it with a soul and human emotions, suggesting it experiences sadness and struggles, possibly due to pollution, while yearning for its pristine state.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining personification, clearly state what human quality is attributed to the non-human entity and how it is demonstrated in the text.

 

Question (iv)
The poet is convinced with the thought of immortality of water. Pick out the
relevant lines from the extract.
Answer:
'The river has a soul'.
In simple words: The poet's belief in water's immortality is conveyed through the idea that the river, like a living soul, continues its eternal journey.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to extract lines, provide the exact phrasing from the poem to substantiate your interpretation.

 

(v) The poet has used some unconventional expressions. Illustrate them in your
words.

 

Question (a)
'Torrent of grief.
Answer:
The poet describes the river flowing in summer with great speed. Just like
someone becomes emotional in great sadness, the force of the water seems to be
like the outpouring of sorrow of the river.
In simple words: 'Torrent of grief' is a metaphor comparing the powerful, fast-flowing river to an overwhelming flood of sorrow, suggesting deep emotional intensity.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the literal and figurative meanings of metaphorical expressions to fully explain their impact and significance.

 

Question (vi)
The poet has connected the need to preserve Nature with the belief of particular
community and her childhood memories. Write down the measures you would
take to convince the people regarding the need to conserve the Nature.
Answer:
We have to make people at large realize that we are a part of the nature not apart
from the nature. Saving nature is to save ourselves, To bring about this realization I
can address my steps to two sections. The first would be the children. Saving water
would be the first thing to teach children. Story-telling, poems, songs, games,
cartoons and can easily bring the conservation ideas to young minds. I would take
my ideas to schools, parks, malls and try to spread this to the young ones.
The other section is of course the adult public across economic and social levels.
The well- off people must not be careless if they can afford to pay bills they can
waste resources.
I will do everything possible. I will use social media to spread various messages/
mottos.
In simple words: To promote nature conservation, I would target both children through engaging educational methods and adults across all economic levels using social media and awareness campaigns, emphasizing our interdependence with nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practical and multi-faceted approaches, addressing different age groups and societal segments, demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

(A3)

 

Question (i)
Write down the expressions related to 'the seasons' from the extract.
Answer:
1. Summer or winter
2. 'in the summer'
In simple words: The poem mentions "summer or winter" and "in the summer" to refer to the cyclical changes in weather and nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on direct textual evidence to answer questions about specific phrases or themes within the poem.

 

Question (ii)
Match column 'A' with column 'B'.

A	B
1. cool	(a) silence
2. happy	(b) earth
3. dreadful	(c) bamboo
4. dry	(d) pictures

Answer:
1. cool-bamboo
2. happy - pictures
3. dreadful - silence
4. dry-earth
In simple words: The matching pairs connect descriptive adjectives from column A with the nouns they modify or relate to in column B, as depicted in the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand how words create imagery and associations within the poem to correctly match related concepts.

(A4)

 

Question (i)
Read the expression 'a sad wreath of tuberoses'.
'Is the wreath sad?' Explain the figure of speech.
Answer:
The figure of speech is transferred epithet. The sad mourners have placed the
wreath of tuberoses on the dead. The emotion of sadness has been transferred to
the flowers for effect.
In simple words: 'A sad wreath' uses transferred epithet, where the sadness actually belongs to the mourners, but it's attributed to the wreath of tuberoses for poetic emphasis.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify a transferred epithet, look for an adjective that grammatically modifies one noun but logically describes another, often human, emotion or quality.

 

Question (ii)
List and explain the metaphorical expressions from the extract.
Answer:
1. 'torrent of grief'. The river sweeps along with great speed as if it is pouring out
sorrow.
2. 'Wind howling down the gorge'. The wind blowing through the narrow gorges
creates a sound exactly like howling.
3. 'The river has a soul'. The river is spoken of as a living being, a human.
4. 'It holds its breath'. The river may be choking with debris and filth.
In simple words: The poem uses metaphors like 'torrent of grief' for the river's flow and personification such as 'the river has a soul' or 'it holds its breath' to convey deep emotion and highlight environmental concerns.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing metaphors, explain both the literal image and the deeper, abstract meaning it conveys within the context of the poem.

 

Question (iii)
'The river has a soul.'
'Life and death.'
These are the two expressions that are repeated in the poem; but both of them
indicate different figures of speech. Find out and discuss.
Answer:
(a) 'Life and death'
In the first usage it is used as antithesis, to emphasise the beginning and end.
In the second instance it is irony to indicate that neither life nor death is
permanent. Ironically the rituals are permanent.
(b) 'The river has a soul'
In the first instance it is used to personify the river. Several human-like qualities are
attributed to the river,
= it cuts through the land
= it is cascading in grief
= it holds its breath
= it seeks a land
In simple words: 'Life and death' functions as both antithesis (emphasizing beginning and end) and irony (highlighting impermanence), while 'The river has a soul' is a personification, attributing human qualities like emotion and struggle to the river.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze repeated phrases for their evolving meaning and different figures of speech used in various contexts within a text.

 

Question (iv)
Find out the beauty of the free verse reflected in this poem.
Answer:
"Small Towns and Rivers' is written in free- verse. Since there are irregular lengths
of lines and no rhyme, the reading of the poem is almost like a story-telling. Each
stanza has a different number of lines and there is no order for mixing up the short
and long lines.
The poem is not confined by an obvious rhythm so we feel there is a kind of
freedom.We are free to imagine the widespread setting of the North-eastern
terrain of mountains and rivers, mists, golden sunlight and the town by the river.
In simple words: The poem's free verse structure, characterized by irregular line lengths and lack of rhyme, creates a narrative, story-telling feel, allowing readers freedom to visualize the North-eastern landscape it describes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Discuss the impact of poetic form (like free verse) on the poem's theme, tone, and reader experience in your analysis.

(A5)

 

Question (i)
Prepare the arguments for group discussion on the topic
'A balanced progress never harms the Nature'.
For:

• Growth should be planned to take place in stages
• Planning vital for the growth
• Sustainability must be ensured
• Pros and cons of the damage to environment must be weighed
• Short-term gains in progress must not harm long-term eco-factors

Against:

• Growth must not be halted for issues of environment
• Costs will go up due to delays
• Delays in progress will slow down economy and employment
• Slowdown in economy will cause public to protest
• Sacrifices have to be made - one can't have the cake and eat it too.

 

Question (ii)
Compose 4 to 6 lines on 'Gift of the Seasons'.
Answer:
Gift of the Seasons
Each season brings a sweetly wrapt gift;
We can gift her back : no water pollution in
the season of the Sun.
No air pollution when
The rains come down.
And no degradation the rest of the year!
In simple words: The poem highlights that while each season offers its unique beauty, humans should reciprocate by preventing pollution and degradation of nature year-round.

🎯 Exam Tip: Creative writing tasks like composing short poems require imaginative expression while staying true to the given theme.

 

Question (iii)
Write an appreciation of the poem 'Small Towns and Rivers'. Use the points given
below:

• About the poem/poet/title
• Theme
• Poetic devices, language, style
• Special features - tone and type
• Values, message
• Your opinion about the poem

Answer:
The poem 'Small Towns and Rivers' written by Mamang Dai is a beautiful word-
picture. It is also a lament of the poet about her beautiful native land of Arunachal
Pradesh.
This theme shows in the way she begins the poem that small towns remind her of
death. It is shocking. She implies the town is unchanging in all weathers, but
development comes along and changes everything. There is irony in that the cycle
of life and death shows that life is not permanent, but the rituals are permanent.
She uses metaphor that the rivers are not only alive like us humans, but actually
immortal. She personifies the river by way the river 'holds its breath' because it is
choking. It is flowing in search of a place where it will flow clean and clear. The
poet uses metaphor of the water-cycle to illustrate the river has a soul and its
waters are immortal.
The poet builds a climax with 'shrine of happy' childhood memories. This becomes
growing up -'grow with anxiety'. Then she speaks of how the dead are placed
pointing west so the soul can ascend directly into the sun's golden home in the
east. This tells us about the traditions of her region.
The poem is in free verse and seems to be in easy language, but we can
understand the full depth of meaning only after reading it more than once. The
poem is a lament about the destruction of nature for development. We all will feel
the sorrow of the poet when we read about how nature's beauty is damaged for
man's greed called 'progress'.
In simple words: 'Small Towns and Rivers' by Mamang Dai is a poignant free verse poem that mourns the loss of nature's beauty due to development, personifying the river as a living entity facing destruction, while weaving in cultural traditions and childhood memories.

🎯 Exam Tip: A comprehensive appreciation covers the poem's content, form, poetic devices, and the message conveyed, supported by examples.

 

Question (iv)
Write a dialogue between two friends on 'Importance of the rivers'
Answer:
Priya: Jai, it goes without saying that fresh, clean water is essential for humans and
nature to survive. Rivers are precious sources of fresh drinking water for people
across the world. And when rivers are so badly polluted by industry or by poor
water management practices, it can be a case of life-or-death. This unfortunately
happens across the world.
Jai: Yes Priya. Freshwater habitats account for some of the richest biodiversity in
the world, and rivers are a vital, vibrant ecosystem for many species. Only those
who live by the river know about this wealth of nature. Those who live far away
and damaging the system with the poisons are not aware.
Priya: People depend on rivers for their way of life and their livelihoods. From
fishing to agriculture, the way our waterways are managed has a direct impact on
people's lives. There are millions of people who follow their ancestors' way of living
and earning a livelihood. But modern technology has wrecked the very source of
these.
Jai: Rivers are absolutely vital: for fresh drinking water, for people's livelihoods and
for nature. Unfortunately, they're still threatened. We must commit to recovering
freshwater biodiversity, restoring natural river flows and cleaning up polluted water
for people and nature to thrive.
Priya: Yes Jai. I agree. It is the crying need of the day.
In simple words: This dialogue between Priya and Jai emphasizes the critical importance of rivers as sources of freshwater, biodiversity, and livelihoods, while also highlighting the urgent need for their conservation due to widespread pollution and degradation.

🎯 Exam Tip: In a dialogue, ensure each speaker's points contribute to the topic, show a progression of ideas, and reflect a natural conversation flow.

(A6)

 

Question (i)
Collect information about rivers in Maharashtra.

 

Question (ii)
Further reading:
'The River Poems' - Mamang Dai
'The World Is Too Much With Us' - William Wordsworth

Yuvakbharati English 12th Digest Chapter 2.8 Small Towns And Rivers Additional Important Questions And Answers

 

Read The Extract And Complete The Activities Given Below:

Global Understanding:

 

Question 1.
Describe the river in the 3rd stanza.
Answer:
The river flows with great force -'like a torrent'-. The river has life and soul. It
breathes. But it seems as if the river is holding its breath. It seems to be in search
of fishes which will live in it and stars which will be reflected in its waters.
In simple words: In the third stanza, the river is portrayed as a powerful entity with a soul, struggling to breathe due to pollution and longing for a clean environment where fish and stars can reflect in its waters.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to describe a specific stanza, focus solely on the details and imagery presented within that particular section of the poem.

 

Question 2.
What is meant by immortality?
Answer:
Immortality means the ability to live forever, without death.
In simple words: Immortality refers to the state of eternal life, free from the cycle of birth and death.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define key terms clearly and concisely, as understanding vocabulary is crucial for literary analysis.

 

Question 3.
Give reasons-The dead are placed pointing to the west.
Answer:
The people of Arunachal Pradesh believe that it will be possible for the soul of the
departed person enter 'the house of the sun'. They hope the soul will be able to
'walk into the golden east'. So they place the dead (with feet) pointing to the west.
In simple words: In Arunachal Pradesh, the dead are placed facing west as per a belief that this orientation allows their souls to journey towards the 'house of the sun' in the east and achieve their final spiritual abode.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining cultural practices, clearly state the belief system or tradition behind the action to provide full context.

 

Question 4.
The poet has described her small town in Arunachal Pradesh. Pick out from the
extract the lines that describe the poet's town.
Answer:
1. The town has 'A shrine of happy pictures' to mark the days of childhood.
2. Small towns grow with anxiety for the future.
3. Like her town, 'small towns' are 'by the river'.
4. Make a list of natural elements mentioned in the extract.
In simple words: The poet's town is described as a place with cherished childhood memories, growing with apprehension for the future, and situated by a river, with the instruction to list natural elements being part of the answer structure.

🎯 Exam Tip: Ensure that all parts of a multi-faceted question are addressed, even if some instructions seem misplaced, by carefully mapping the provided answer components.

 Question 5.
Make a list of natural elements mentioned in the extract.
Answer:
River, Earth, Mountaintops, Sun, Sunlight, Bamboo
In simple words: The poem incorporates various natural elements such as rivers, earth, mountains, the sun, and bamboo, which contribute to its scenic description and thematic depth.

🎯 Exam Tip: List all relevant natural elements directly from the text to provide a complete and accurate answer.

 

Question 6.
The poet is convinced with the thought of immortality of water. Pick out the
relevant lines from the extract.
Answer:
1. The river has a soul.
2. from the first drop of rain to dry earth
3. mist on the mountaintops
4. the immortality of water.
In simple words: The poet conveys water's immortality through phrases describing the river having a soul, the continuous journey of water from rain to earth and mountains, and explicitly mentioning "the immortality of water."

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for "relevant lines," provide phrases or clauses that directly support the idea mentioned in the question.

Interpretation/Inference/Analysis:

 

Question 1.
The land of fish and stars.
Answer:
The poet says she thinks the river is holding its breath. One has to hold one's
breath when he/she is unable to breathe or does not want to breathe. The river
may be choking with garbage and is not able to breathe. The river may be stinking
and may not be able to breathe.
As the river is so filthy there are no fish. It is dirty; the water is not sparkling in the
day and cannot reflect the stars at night. So the river is in search of a land where
there it can flow clean, it will have fish and where its clear water will sparkle in the
sun and glitter with stars at night.
In simple words: The phrase "land of fish and stars" represents the river's yearning for its pristine state, free from pollution, where it can breathe freely, support aquatic life, and reflect the beauty of the night sky.

🎯 Exam Tip: Interpret figurative language by connecting it to the literal context and underlying themes, such as environmental degradation in this case.

 

Question 2.
The river has a soul.' Elaborate the concept in your words as the poet has
explained in the extract.
Answer:
The poet states the river has a soul. The soul is deathless. The water that flows in
the river came from the drops of rain. The water evaporated, rose as mist to the
mountaintops. Then it formed clouds and poured down as rain to the dry earth
and flowed again. Thus the river goes on, immortal, deathless.
In simple words: The poet explains the river's soul as its immortal essence, emphasizing the eternal cycle of water - from rain to evaporation, clouds, and back to earth - portraying the river's ceaseless existence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Link the abstract concept (soul) to concrete natural processes (water cycle) as explained by the poet to show a complete understanding.

 

Question 3.
The poet has used some unconventional expressions. Illustrate them in your words.
Illustrate them in your words. Shrine of happy pictures
Answer:
There is a shrine probably in the town which has pictures inside. The pictures may
be those of the happy moments experienced by the people in the town. Those
memories are so sacred that it is a shrine to them. They protect and guard it
because they have only sad and grim things happening at present.
In simple words: "Shrine of happy pictures" metaphorically refers to cherished memories of joyful past moments, which are preserved and revered like a sacred shrine, especially amidst current sadness.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze how unconventional expressions create deeper meaning by comparing their literal and figurative interpretations within the poem's context.

Personal Response:

 

Question 1.
Rivers are our lifeline. They are an extremely important part of the eco-system and
even considered sacred. Many major rivers and smaller ones have been misused
and almost destroyed. Write down how we can restore our rivers to their original
state.
Answer:
The condition of rivers worldwide is horrific. Everything from industrial chemical-
waste to garbage is being thrown into rivers. Melted snow or the rainwater from
springs come down from hills and mountains as sweet water for our survival.
Polluting this is a crime against humanity.
Strict laws should be made and enforced to stop industrial activity near rivers.
Wastes from industry, city, town or village must not reach the river. Only channels
of rainwater must be allowed to reach the river. Awareness should be created for
maintaining cleanliness along the banks.
In the olden days lakes, water bodies were considered precious and were guarded,
Houses had wells. But people have lost the respect for water sources. Rivers are
treated as sewage channels. Fines and punishments must be imposed and security
put in for safeguarding our beautiful rivers.
In simple words: Restoring rivers requires strict enforcement against industrial pollution, channeling only rainwater into rivers, raising public awareness, and imposing fines and security measures to protect these vital water sources.

🎯 Exam Tip: Personal response questions require you to present well-reasoned solutions or opinions, often drawing on both textual understanding and real-world knowledge.

Poetic Creativity:

 

Question 1.
Compose 4 to 6 lines on 'River'.
Answer:
The River is our Mother
Like a mother the river soothes us.
When dying of thirst she revives us.
When tired and dirty she cleans us.
When growing our grain she waters the green.
Why! Oh why can't we keep her clean!
In simple words: This poem highlights the river's nurturing role as a mother figure, providing water, cleansing, and sustaining agriculture, while questioning why humans fail to keep it clean.

🎯 Exam Tip: For creative composition, focus on vivid imagery, consistent metaphor, and a clear message within the specified line count.

12th Std English Questions And Answers:

• Song of the Open Road Class 12 Questions And Answers
• Indian Weavers Class 12 Questions And Answers
• The Inchcape Rock Class 12 Questions And Answers
• Have you Earned Your Tomorrow Class 12 Questions And Answers
• Father Returning Home Class 12 Questions And Answers
• Money Class 12 Questions And Answers
• She Walks in Beauty Class 12 Questions And Answers
• Small Towns and Rivers Class 12 Questions And Answers

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