Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Approaches to English Book 2 Solutions Short Stories Chapter 2 The Eyes Have It Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
CHSE Odisha 11th Class Alternative English Solutions Short Stories Chapter 2 The Eyes Have It
Section – I
Questions For Discussion:
Question 1.
Can you visualize the dramatic setting when the story begins?
(Note: Imagine that you are standing on the platform of Rohena station. A, train arrives. A blind young man is travelling all alone, seated in a dark corner of an empty compartment A girl gets into the same compartment. An elderly couple comes to see her off leaves after giving her the usual instructions to be observed during the journey. The train leaves the station).
Answer:
The sudden appearance of the girl, her parents giving usual instructions where she should keep her luggage, not to lean out of windows and to avoid speaking to strangers, etc. was really dramatic. Again, a blind man sitting in the dark corner of the railway .compartment and the setting adds to the setting to be more dramatic.
Question 2.
Which lines in the text show that the man was blind?
Answer:
The lines- “As I was totally blind at the time, my eyes sensitive only to light and darkness. I was unable to test what the girl looked like but I know she wore slippers from the way they slapped against her heals” show that the man was blind.
Question 3.
How did the girl respond to the first question of the blind man?
Answer:
The first question of the blind man to the girl was: “Are you going all the way to Dehra ?” and the respond of the girl to this question was: “I didn’t know anyone else was he”. This seems that the girl hadn’t seen the man sitting alone in the compartment.
Question 4.
What does the narrator observe about the people with good eyesight and the people who can not see?
Answer:
The narrator observes that it often happens that people with good eyesight fail to see what is right in front of them. They have too much to take in whereas people who can’t see have to take in only the essentials.
Question 5.
Is the protagonist afraid that his blindness may be discovered by the girl? If so, why?
Answer:
Yes, the protagonist is afraid to test his blindness should be discovered by the girl travelling in the same compartment. It was because he would be able to prevent her from discovering that he was blind.
Question 6.
“Then I had better not get too familiar”. What is the occasion and intention underlying this statement of the narrator? Does it throw any
light on his character?
Answer:
When the girl travelling in the compartment said that her aunt would be waiting for her at Saharanpur, the narrator said this on this occasion with the intention that “aunts are usually formidable creatures.”
Question 7.
How does the man try to hide his blindness from the girl? Do his efforts create a situation of comical and light heartedness?
Answer:
When the girl asked the man to look outside the window to see what it was outside, he tried to hide his blindness from the girl by moving along the berth feeling for the window ledge. His efforts of doing this creates a situation of comical and lightheartedness.
Question 8.
How does bond add colour and beauty to a world of blindness and suffering? Discuss briefly the world of beauty and romance as noticed in the conversation between the travellers.
Answer:
Bond presents a world of beauty and romance in the conversation between the girl and the narrator, “Oh, how lucky you are. I wish I were going to Mussoorie. I love the hills. Especially in October.” breaths a spirit of romance and love. “You have an interesting face” speaks volumes of love “You are a very gallant young man” tells about reciprocal statement of love
Question 9.
What was the thing that fermented the protagonist about the girl?
Answer:
The girl was standing very close to the man when she was to get off the train, She was so close that the perfume from her hair was tantalizing. He wanted to raise his hand an of touch her hair, but she moved away, This fermented the protagonist about the girl.
Composition:
Question 1.
How does the narrator make guesses about the fellow passenger?
Answer:
The narrator of the story “The Eyes Have It” is a blind man who makes guesswork so as to identify the fellow passenger in the train. The man had the compartment to himself alone up to Rohana. Then a girl go into it. There was a couple who saw her off might be her parents. These elderly people were very anxious about her comfort and the woman gave the girl detailed instructions as to where to keep her things, when not to learn out of windows and how to avoid speaking to strangers. They said them goodbye and the train was set to motion. As he was completely blind, at that time his eyes were sensitive only to light and darkness, he was unable to tell what the girl looked like. But he sensed that she had worn sleepers from the way they slapped against her heels. It would take him some time to discover something about her looks and perhaps he never would. But he liked the sound of her voice and even the sound of her slippers. From this, the man guessed that one who was travelling in the same compartment was a girl.
Question 2.
When does he get a surprise and what is it?
Answer:
However, the blind man wondered if he would be able to prevent her from discovering that he was blind provided he kept his seat, it shouldn’t be difficult. The girl said that she was bound for Shaharanpur where her aunt would be waiting for her. The man replied that he had better not get too familiar. He also added that aunts are usually formidable creatures. She also asked him where he was going. And his reply was that he would go to Dehra and then to Mussoorie. She said that Mussoorie is a wonderful place she loved the hills especially in October. He seconded her opinion. He wondered if his words had touched her or whether she thought him to be a romantic fool. Of course, he then made a mistake asking another question to her. He asked, “What is it like outside”? But found nothing strange in the question.
“Had she noticed already that he could not see ?” He thought to himself. But she advised him to look outside and he confirmed about his quarry as to what it was like outside. He moved easily along the berth and felt for the window lodge. The window was open and he faced it, making a pretence of studying the landscape. He heard the roaring sound of engine, the rumble of the wheels and in his mind’s eye, he could see telegraph posts flashing by. He said whether she had noticed that the trees seemed to be moving while they seemed to be standing still. She replied that it is quite usual. She asked whether there were no animals. He said, it confidently because he knew that there were scarcely any animals left in the forests near Dehra. He then turned from the girl and said to the girl, “You have an interesting face”. He knew that few girls can resist flattery. She laughed pleasantly and said, “It’s nice to be told I have an interesting face.” I’m tired of people telling me I have a pretty face”. He replied, c“well, art interesting face can also be pretty.”
The girl became enchanted by the remarks given by the man and said, “You are a very gallant young man, but why are you so serious ?” Her voice seemed to be a mountain stream. The train came to a halt and the girl gathered her things to leave. The girl to him, so close that the perfume from her hair was tantalizing. He wanted to raise my hand and touch her hair but she moved away. In fact, all the above things gave a surprise to the narrator of the story.
Vocabulary:
A. Use the following words first as nouns and then as verbs in sentences of your own.
couple, pull, remark, look, slap, voice, sound, wonder, wish, call.
Answer:
couple :
(N) This couple is very kind and helpful.
(V) His simplicity is coupled with good manners
pull :
(N) He succeeded a mist pushes and pulls.
(V) He pulled the door to enter into the room.
remark:
(N) He always gives good remarks about others.
(V) He always remarks badly
look:
(N) Let us have a look to the patient in the hospital
(V) She looks very beautiful today.
slap:
(N) The master gave a slap to the servant for his fault.
(V) The man slapped his naughty child as he was not going to school
voice:
(N) I like her sweet voice.
(V) We should voice against injustice.
sound:
(N) I can’t read in high-pitched sound.
(V) Empty vessel sounds much.
wonder:
(N) It is a great wonder that a failed student secures first division after hard labour.
(V) He wondered lest f should not come.
wish:
(N) The man had the only wish that his son would be a doctor.
(V) I wish you all success in your life.
call:
(N) He attended a STD call.
(V) I call him for help call
Grammar:
Supply question tags to the following statements.
1. There is no easy way out.
2. He is a clever boy.
3. He usually visited us during summer.
4. He did not remember to take his umbrella.
5. She hardly goes out these days.
6. I am late today.
7. Neither of your brothers answered it properly.
8. The boys made a lot of noise.
9. We have dinner at 8 p.m.
10. Let us have some fun.
11. None of the boys knew it.
12. Everybody can do it.
13. Please pass on the plate.
14. We must not be late today.
15. Be careful when you cross a busy road.
16. Use your common sense.
17. Remember to attend the meeting.
Answer:
1. There is no easy way out, is there?
2. He is a clever boy, isn’t he?
3. He usually visited us during summer, didn’t he?
4. He did not remember to take his umbrella, did he?
5. She hardly goes out these days, does she?
6. I am late today, aren’t I?
7. Neither of your brothers answered it properly, did they?
8. The boys made a lot of noise, didn’t they?
9. We have dinner at.8 p.m., don’t we?
10. Let us have some fun, shall we?
11. None of the boys knew it, did they?
12. Everybody can do it, can’t they?
13. Please pass on the plate, will you?
14. We must not be late today, must we?
15. Be careful when you cross a busy road, will you?
16. Use your common sense, will you?
17. Remember to attend the meeting, will you?
Section – II
Questions For Discussion:
Question 1.
In which line of this section do you get an idea about the young man’s blindness?
Answer:
The line, “can you tell me- did she keep her hair long or short ?” of this section provides an idea about the young man’s blindness.
Question 2.
What was the young man doing when the new traveller entered the compartment? What was the observation of the new traveller on the situation?
Answer:
There was a disturbance in the doorway. He returned to his berth and sat in front of the window staring into the daylight when the new traveller entered the Compartment. He observed that the young man and the girl had a romantic affair.
Question 3.
When does the narrator discover that the girl was also blind?
Answer:
When the narrator asked the new fellow traveller as to whether the girl had kept her hair long or short, the man replied that nothing about the hair but one thing he was sure that she was completely blind. Then he knew that the girl was blind.
Question 4.
What impression do you form about the young man in the story?
Answer:
The young man in the story was a blind man who possessed a romantic heart. He did not wish to expose that he was blind. He thought that the young girl was a beautiful dame with bright eyes.
Question 5.
Do you find the same romantic spirit in this section of the story as in the first section? Or has the tone become serious?
Answer:
Of course, the romantic spirit of the first section was much more rigorous than the romantic spirit what prevail in this section. The tone and temper of these two sections also changes. Here, in this section, the romantic tone becomes serious when the young man discovers that the girl is also blind.
Question 6.
Does Bond present a painful world of blindness and suffering ? Or is it a word of beauty and romance woven around a short meeting between the two blind travellers? Give reasons for your answers.
Answer:
Bond presents a world of beauty and romance women around a short meeting between the two blind travellers. The young man as the narrator of the story expresses his loving and romantic words for the blind girl when he takes for granted to have eyes. The girl in turn, reciprocates him in feeling. Thus, a romantic world spins around the meeting of the two blind souls.
Questions For Composition:
Question 1.
Give an account of the progress of the story from an interesting meeting to a surprise ending.
Answer:
The present story “The Eyes have It” is undoubtedly, the masterpiece of Ruskin Bond, an eminent and outstanding storyteller. The story extracted from Bond’s collection “Delhi is not far” transports us from a world of painful awareness of the misfortune and suffering due to blindness to a world of blindness and romance is evident in the brief conversation between the two blind travellers. However, Bond presents a progress from an interesting meeting to a surprise ending. The section-I of the story tells that the narrator is blind and the section II ensures that the girl is also blind. This shift in situation marks the specialty of the story.
The story starts with the narrator’s travelling on a train to which a girl gets into. She seems to have come with a couple of elderly person who are thought of to be her parents. They give her a set of instructions to follow while travelling on the train. The girl does not know that the man is blind nor does the man know that the girl is so. There broods over a suspense throughout the fellow travellers exchange loving and romantic words in the compartment. The young man says, “You have an interesting face” and she says to the man, “You are a very gajlant young man.” The man wishes to touch her hair when she stands close to him before she gets ready to get down.
However, this situation takes a different turn with the appearance of another man in the same compartment when the narrator asked whether the girl had long or short hair. He replies that he is not sure of her hair but one thing he is sure that she is blind. This marks a change in mode and tone of the story. Moreover, the story shifts from a romantic to that a serious situation. The ending is marked with surprise. It is unexpected, that the girl is also blind. As a matter of fact, Bond’s presentation of the story from an interesting meeting to a surprise ending as superb and fantastic. The way Bond has coordinated section-I with that of section II is really tremendous inspiring; and elevating. On the whole, Bond is at his best in this presentation.
Question 2.
Would you regard “The Eyes Have ‘ It” as an appropriate title to the story? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
In fact, the story “The Eyes Have It”-Is written by Ruskin Bond, a prominent and most popular story teller. The present story is extracted from Bond’s collections of stories “Delhi is not far”. On the whole, Bond is an outstanding master in providing apt and suggestive titles to his stories. It is true that a colourful and attractive signboard automatically drags the attention of the customers to a shop. Similarly, an apt and suggestive title also makes the reader spellbound to read a story, novel and drama. However, Bond realises this naked truth in his heart of hearts. A title should be concise, precise and pinpointed. Just like a good signboard speaks out the contents of a shop at the first sight. Likewise, a title of any work of art should also speak volumes of the ideas contained therein.
However, the whole story and its labyrinth centres round the eyes. The young man’ who happens to be the narrator of the story is designed to be a blind man. A girl enters to the same compartment with whom he exchanges loving and romantic words. They get themselves involved in the talks about nature and natural places. They converse about Mussoorie and other places of natural beauties. The man, however, is not willing to express that he is blind. He maintains this secret until the end of the story. He goes on giving evasive replies to the girl who is not able to get a speak of information as to the former’s blindness. She gets down in her destination where a new fellow traveller gets in and he asked whether the girl has kept long or short hair.
The co-traveller says that he is not aware of her hair, but one thing he has been sure of is her eyes. She is blind. As a matter of fact, the title of the story is apt and suggestive. Because, the story is well concerned with the eyes that the two blind men and the girl did not have. They don’t have eyes and yet they don’t know whether the other possesses any eyes. In this sense the title of the story “The Eyes have It” is exact, appropriate and suitable. On the whole, Bond has well-coordinated the section- I and section-II by making a connection of cemented concrete through this elevating, heart-rendering title.
Question 3.
Write a conversation between the two blind travellers.
Answer:
In fact, Ruskin Bond is a superb and excellent story teller in presenting very practical dialogues in his story, “The Eyes Have It”. The dialogues between the blind travellers are really very realistic, and provocative. They are tinged with a considerable suspense. The blind travellers are not able to know each other to be blind so long as they are in the compartment. Bond has beautifully explicated us from a world of painful awareness of the misfortune and suffering due to blindness to a world of beauty and romance as evident in the brief conversation between the two blind travellers.
The first dialogue is opened by the narrator who asks “Are you going all the way to Dehra ?” The girl has not seen the man sitting in the dark corner. But the most interesting dialogues continue between them when they speak out their romantic words. The girl says,” I wish I were going to Mussoorie. I love the hills. Especially in October.” In the course of their conversation the man says, “You have an interesting face.” This statement fills her with pleasure and she gets inflated and elated. She also reciprocates him telling, “You are a very gallant young man.” These dialogues remind one of love and romance. The two persons only exchange loving and romantic words for each other.
In fact, the exchanges of dialogues in the story makes it entirely dramatic. Actually, dialogues in the story provide a strong sustenance which gives a powerful fillip to the work of art. Dialogues reveal the dare comer of their heart. The story writer is really very realistic on this regard. On the whole, the dramatic style as adopted by Bond here, is extraordinarily marvellous and heart-touching.
Question 4.
Critically examine the atmosphere in the story.
Answer:
Actually, the story “The Eyes Have It” is of course, one of the most typical masterpiece of Ruskin Bond, a popular and outstanding story teller. Bond has been the most beloved of Indian writers whose works have been mostly on Indian life and setting. A graphic picturesque portrait of nature with her varied colours, sights and sounds adds to the poetic beauty and charm of his fictional world. The stories delineate the intimate moments of the life of characters and their psychic responses in a dramatic manner. Like dialogue, the atmosphere is another important ingredient of this story, “The Eyes Have It”. The atmosphere is one of suspense and surprise.
The story extracted from Bond’s collection of “Delhi is not far”, transports the readers from a world of painful awareness of the misfortune and suffering due to blindness to a world of beauty and romance, as evident in the brief conversation between the two blind travellers. But the departure of the girl brings an end to the delightful world of sensuous appreciation. More pathetic is the final revelation about the girl which might be a shock to the romantic inquisitor and might have” razed his romantic mansion to the ground.
Bond very cunningly and evasively maintains the suspense, making the story amusing and comic. In addition to the emotional and psychic contents of the story, it derives its charm from its poetic descriptions of the beautiful Mussoorie and the sonorous effects of the; trains rumble on the rails and more so of the narrator’s exhilarating moments with the girl. What is striking is that the story is not marked by criticism or morbidity on account of the deprivation of sight, but rather celebrates on that account, a strong desire to participate, in the process of life. The elements of irony and pathos make the story a memorable one in spite of its simple plot.
As a matter of fact, the atmosphere of the story is romantic and gay. On the other hand, it bears a lot of suspense from the beginning of the story to the end of it. Both the blind travellers on the train do not know that they are blind each but they .go on hiding from each other about it. On the whole, Bond is an outstanding master in setting the atmosphere of the story in a most attractive manner The young man who is the narrator of the story is a blind man and the girl who gets into the same compartment where he is travelling is also blind and again she comes to exactly the same compartment where the narrator is alone, of course, realistic, but they indicate the superb and fantastic setting of atmosphere of the storyteller. In short, Bond is at his best in setting the story suspensively.
Grammar:
A. Supply question tag to the following:
1. He was driving two too fast.
2. The train has not left.
3. He hardly likes his job.
4. There are some mangoes in my bags.
5. She does not know what I want.
6. None of the girls like the show.
7. A large number of tourists are expected this year.
8. Let us go now.
9. He hardly goes out.
10. There is little milk in the glass.
11. Everybody will attend the meeting,
12. You aren’t afraid of a dog.
13. They can read English.
14. That was my friend on phone.
15. His mother is very proud of him.
16. Switch off the light before going to bed.
17. We must meet him today.
18. You take curd after your meal.
19. Your formula never works well.
20. It is cold today.
21. Mr, Mohanty is our principal.
22. Post the letter.
23. Have a cup of tea.
24. Stop talking.
25. Everyone knew the answer.
26. Few students are present in the class.
27. A little milk is left in the cup.
28. Little milk is left in the cup.
29. He hardly came here last month.
30. She scarcely sings.
31. Don’t laugh loudly.
32. Shut the door.
33. Transfer the salt please.
34. He did it well.
35. She reads well.
B. Supply prepositions to the following blanks:
1. Today he is absent _________ school.
2. A stick abstains him _________wire.
3. He can’t account __________ his mistake.
4. His father was accused __________theft.
5. He is not accustomed __________.
6. They are not acquainted ___________.
7. We were not adapted ___________.
8. He is addicted ___________drugs.
9. We must adhere _____________ some basic principles.
10. I have a great admiration __________ Subash Bose.
11. He is generous and affable ___________ neighbours.
12. His affection _________ children knows no bound.
13. Our principal didn’t approve __________our proposal.
14. He has no-aptitude __________ mathematics.
15. He is ashamed __________ his own misconduct.
16. He atoned __________his own sins.
17. Such a book has no attraction__________me.
18. He was not aware __________ such a danger.
19. He is not averse _________ hard work.
20. Poverty is not a bar __________ success.
21. This cycle belongs __________ Mohan.
22. Be ware ____________ dog.
23. He called _________ me yesterday.
24. He is clever __________ making plans.
25. Kalidasa was contemporary _____________ Vikramaditya.
26. The enquiry committee consists ___________ fifteen members.
27. A man who is connected ____________ his life is a happy man.
28. A woman’s work was never confined ____________ kitchen in the past.
29. The judge is convinced ___________ his attention.
30. The craze __________ pop will not last long.
31. There is no cure A.I.D.S.
32 The demand ___________ low cost car is going up.
33. He is devoted ___________ his work.
34. The Chinese differ ___________ Indians in many ways.
Answer:
A. Question tags are supplied as per the following:
1. Her was driving too fast, wasn’t he?
2. The train has not left, has it?
3. He hardly likes his job, does he?
4. There are some mangoes in my bag, aren’t there?
5. She does not know what I want, does she?
6. None of the girls like the shows, did they?
7. A large number of tourists are expected this year, aren’t they?
8. Let us go now, shall we?
9. He hardly goes out, does he?
10. There is little milk in the glass, is there?
11. Everybody will attend the meeting, weren’t they?
12. You are not afraid of a dog, are you?
13. They can read English, can’t they?
14. That was my friend on phone, wasn’t that?
15. His mother is very proud of him, isn’t she?
16. Switch off the light before going to bed, will you?
17. We must meet him today, must not we?
18. You take curd after your meal, don’t you?
19. Your formula never works well, does it?
20. It is cold today, isn’t it?
21. Mr. Mohanty is our Principal, isn’t he?
22. Post the letter, will you?
23. Have a cup of tea, will you?
24. Stop talking, will you?
25. Everyone knew the answer, didn’t they?
26. Few students are present in the class, are they?
27. A little milk is left in the cup, isn’t it?
28. Little milk is left in the cup, is it?
29. He hardly came here last month, does he?
30. She scarcely sings, does she?
31. Don’t laugh loudly, will you?
32. Shut the door, will you?
33. Transfer the salt please, will you?
34. He did it well, didn’t he?
35. She reads well, doesn’t she?
B. Preposition are supplied to the given blanks.
1. Today he is absent from school.
2. A stoic abstains him from wire.
3. He can’t account for his mistake.
4. His father was accused of theft:
5. He is not accustomed to such surrounding.
6. They are not acquainted with Chinese food.
7. We were not adapted to the life of a desert.
8. He is addicted to drugs.
9. We must adhere to sorpe basicprinciples.
10. I have a great admiration for Subash Bose.
11. He is generous and “affable to neighbours.
12. His affection for children knows no bound.
13. Our Principal didn’t approve of our proposal.
14. He has no aptitude for mathematics.
15. He is ashamed of his own misconduct.
16. He atoned for his own sins.
17. Such a book has no attraction for me.
18. He was not aware of such a danger.
19. He is not averse to hard work.
20. Poverty is not a bar to success.
21. This cycle belongs to Mohan.
22. Beware of dog.
23. He called for me yesterday.
24. He is clever at making plans.
25. Kalidasa was contemporary of Vikramaditya.
26. The Enquiry Committee consists of fifteen members.
27. A man who is connected with his life is a happy man.
28. A woman work was never confined to kitchen in the past.
29. Content always conduces to happiness.
30. The judge is convinced of his attention.
31. The craze for pop will not last long.
32. There is no cure for A.I.D.S.
33. The demand of low cost car is going up.
34. He is devoted with his work.
35. The Chinese differ from Indians in many ways.
Section-I
pre-reading Activity:
Have you ever come in close contact with a blind or listened to him or her? Have you noticed anything special about blind people? You might have noticed that they try to make up for their loss of sight by using their imagination.
Focusing Question:
Here is an interesting story narrated by a blind man who uses his imagination very well. As you read the story, try to find answers to these questions :
(i) How does the narrator make guesses about the fellow passenger
(ii) When does he get a surprise and what is it?
Gist:
paragraph: 1-11
The narrator had a train journey up to Rohana. He was in his train compartment. At that time, a girl got into that compartment. Of course, her parents saw her off outside. The woman gave the girl a vivid instructions about how to travel and how to behave with strangers, The narrator was entirely blind and so he was not capable of saying how the girl looked like. However, he liked her voice and the sound of her slippers. She said that she would be getting off at Saharanpur. Her aunt was awaiting her there. She wanted to know where the narrator was going. So he answered that he was going to Dehra and then to Mussoorie. The girl exclaimed that she loved the hills there in October when the hills are covered with dahlias the sun is delicious. Tourists came in large numbers. The roads were quiet and almost deserted.
Paragraph: 12-30
The girl remained silent. He asked her what it was outside. But she replied him that he should look outside to know it. He asked her again whether she had noticed that the trees seem to be moving while one keeps standing still. She answered that it always happens. He said that she had an interesting face. She replied that it was nice to be called her having an interesting face. He had been fed up with the expression ‘penalty face’. She called him a gallant young man. All of a sudden her station arrived and she got up together her things. The girl said him goodbye and went away. He wished to touch her hair but as soon as he had done that, she disappeared and the perfume, ‘from hair still lingered where she stood.
Analytical outlines:
- The narrator had a train journey up to Rohana.
- He was in his train compartment.
- At that time, a girl got into it.
- Of course, her parents, saw her off outside.
- The woman gave her a vivid instruction about how to travel.
- The woman also told her about how to behave with strangers.
- The narrator was entirely blind.
- So he was not capable of saying about her beauty.
- However, he liked her voice.
- He also liked the sound of her slippers
- She said that she would be getting off at Saharanpur.
- Her aunt was waiting her there.
- She wanted to know where he was going.
- So he answered that he was going to Dehra.
- He also told that he would go to Mussoorie then.
- The girl exclaimed that she loved the hills there in October.
- Because, the hill was covered with dahlias then.
- At that time, the sun is delicious.
- Tourists came there in large numbers.
- Of course, the roads were quiet and deserted.
- Then, the girl remained silent.
- He asked her what ‘it was outside.
- But she replied that he should look outside to know about it.
- He asked her again whether she had noticed that the trees “seem to be moving while one keeps standing still.
- She answered that it always happens.
- He said that she had an interesting face.
- She replied that it was nice to be called her having an interesting face
- He had been fed up with the expression ‘penalty face’.
- She called him a gallant young man.
- Suddenly, her station reached.
- She got up together her things.
- The girl said him goodbye.
- Then she got down and went away.
- He wanted to touch her hair.
- As soon as he had done that, she disappeared.
- Her perfume from hair still lingered where she stood.
Meaning of difficult words:
formidable – avoidable, difficult to deal with.
ledge – a raised edge, sharp edge.
nimble – a heavy rolling noise.
gallant – brave, noble, courageous.
bun – a rounded mass of hair.
plaited – intertwined
tantalize – movement by presenting something., to excite desire but keep it out of reach.
Section- II
Gist
Paragraph-31
There was some disturbance in the doorway. Aman was getting into the compartment. He stammered an apology. Then the door banged. It was shut out again. The narrator returned to his berth. The guard blew his whistle and the train moved. Gradually, the train gathered speed, the wheels took up their songs, the carriage groaned and shook. He found the window and sat in front of it staring into the low light that was darkness for him. So many things were happening outside the window. The man who had entered the compartment broke into his reverie that is a kind of daydream about pleasant things or events. He said standingly that he must be disappointed because he was not nearly as attractive a travelling companion as the one who then left. The narrator replied that she was an interesting girl, continued if he could say whether the girl kept her hair long or short. The new companion replied that he was his eyes not hair. Her eyes were very beautiful, but they were of no use of her. The girl was completely blind.
Analytical outlines:
- There was some disturbance in the doorway.
- A man was getting into the compartment.
- He stammered an apology.
- Then the door banged.
- It was shut out again.
- The narrator returned to his berth.
- The guard blew his whistle.
- Then the train moved.
- Gradually, the train gathered speed.
- The wheels took up their songs.
- The carriage groaned and shook.
- He found the window.
- He sat in front of it.
- He stared into the low light.
- It was nothing but darkness for him.
- So many things were happening outside the window.
- The man already entered into the compartment
- He broke into his reverie.
- Reverie refers to a kind of daydream about pleasant things or events.
- He said something slantingly.
- He must be disappointed.
- Because, he was not nearly an attractive travelling companion.
- The one who left was much more better.
- The narrator replied that she was an ’ interesting girl.
- He also said about her hair whether long or short.
- The new companion replied that he was his eyes not hair.
- Her eyes were very beautiful.
- But they were of no use to her.
- Actually, the girl was completely blind.
Meaning of difficult words:
confusion – disturbance
Stammer – to speak slantingly
apology – excuse, pardon
banged – shut with a loud noise
berth – sleeping place of the train.
grown – to utter a deep moan
shook – trembled, quivered.
reverie – a daydream about pleasant things or events.
slantingly – obliquely, here in a low voice.
companion – friend, partner.