Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 12 Approaches to English Book 2 Solutions Short Stories Chapter 3 The Watchman Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
CHSE Odisha 12th Class Alternative English Solutions Short Stories Chapter 3 The Watchman
Section- I
Questions For Discussion:
Question 1.
How does the story writer present the setting of the story? Does it arouse the thrill and excitement of a detective story?
Answer:
The angler was angling in the tank water. He continued into the dead of night. There was nobody there. All of a sudden, he saw about a hundred yards away. A shadowy figure moving down the narrow stone steps that led to the water’s edge. He thought it might be a ghost. This arouses the thrill and excitement of a detective story.
Question 2.
What does the watchman think about the figure at a distance?
Answer:
The watchman saw a figure at a distance while he was angling in the tank. He thought it to be a ghost. Then he dismissed the idea and from the top step of the tank he observed that it was a woman’s form who stopped over the last step and placed something on it.
Question 3.
“Unmistakable signs – always to be followed by the police and gives some details…” What does this statement of the watchman indicate?
Answer:
Women coming to the tank and committing suicide in its water had caused the police to rush to the scene for actions. This had brought a lot of it reputation to the tank. Keeping this in mind, the watchman had uttered the statement.
Question 4.
What kind of tone do you mark in the words of the watchman in his first encounter with the girl?
Answer:
The watchman told the girl to come? out of the water otherwise she would be caught cold. He hurriedly lighted his lamp and discovered the letter on the step. He formed a notion that she had gone there to commit suicide. He said to himself as to why everyone was going to the same rank. His words mark a notion of suicide of the stranger girl.
Question 5.
Why did the girl want to commit suicide? Was the reason she advanced good enough to warrant such a step?
Answer:
The girl wanted to commit suicide because she was not selected for scholarship for studying medicine. She was going to be given in marriage very soon. This made her commit suicide.
Question 6.
What impression do you get about the girl from her narration? Do her words indicating her self-reliance and strong desire to study and her decision to commit suicide go together?
Answer:
The girl had lost her mother and her father married again. However, the step-mother was co-opearative and careful. She took the girl’s care as a mother. She had a strong desire to study. But she was not chosen for the scholarship to study medicine and she was to be given in marriage very soon. This incident had made her decide to commit suicide. Her words indicating her self-reliance and strong desire to study and her decision to commit suicide go together.
Vocabulary:
A. Derive adverbs from the following:
| splash | temperament |
| except | topic |
| obstinate | tranquil |
| sad | silent |
| possible | stubborn |
| helpless | furious |
| interesting | poor |
| idea | formidable |
| logical | obey |
| surprise | race |
| wonder | pity |
| afford | pliable |
| worry | symmetry |
| comprehend | satire |
| death | sorrow |
| fantastic |
Answer:
Words – Adverbs
splash -splashingly
except- exceptionally
obstinate- obstinately
sad- sadly
possible- possibly
helpless- helplessly
interesting- interestingly
idea- ideally
logical- logically
surprise- surprisingly
wonder- wonderfully
afford- affordably
worry- worryingly
comprehend- comprehensively
death- deadly
fantastic- fantastically
temperament- temperamentally
topic- tropically
tranquil- tranquility
silent- silently
stubborn- stubbornly
furious- furiously
poor- poorly
formidable- formidably
obey- obediently
race- racingly
pity- pitiably
pliable- pliably
symmetry- symmetrically
satire- satirically
sorrow- sorrowfully
B. Make sentences with the following:
| feint | bury |
| horizon | trouble |
| survey | retort |
| obstinate | burden |
| trespass | livelihood |
| dismiss | worry |
| investigate | afford |
| reputation | exclaim |
| gaze | announce |
| bright | breakdown |
| hurriedly | comprehend |
| murmur | hysterically |
Answer:
feint- He looks very faint today.
horizon – The sunset looks beautiful in the western horizon.
survey- The government has started survey of population.
obstinate – This boy is very obstinate.
trespass – Trespassing is a serious offense.
dismiss – He dismissed his proposal of going to Puri.
investigate – The police investigated the case.
reputation – Hari has an ill reputation.
gaze- The girl gazed boldly at my face.
bright – He had a bright chance to pass the exam.
hurriedly- He ran to me hurriedly.
murmur- I enjoy murmurs of the river.
bury- The dead body was buried in the graveyard.
trouble- I can face any trouble.
retort- She strongly retorted to refute her husband’s argument.
burden- Donkey is an animal of burden.
livelihood- She worked hard to earn her livelihood.
worry- He is very worried about his result.
afford- His father could not afford his study expenses.
exclaim- He exclaimed that it was a very terrible sight.
announce – The results was announced in time.
breakdown – The bus came to a breakdown.
comprehend- You should comprehend the topic thoroughly.
hysterically – The woman rushed hysterically to the site to sea the son’s dead body.
C. Write the antonyms of the following:
| alive | interesting |
| alert | poor |
| inlet | obey |
| appear | sad |
| possible |
Answer:
Words – Antonyms
alive – dead
alert – dormant
inlet – outlet
disappear – appear
possible – happy
interesting – disinteresting
poor – rich
obey – discovery
D. Supply synonyms to the following:
| abandon | barbarous |
| abound | bare |
| absurd | base |
| adept | beginning |
| adequate | behaviour |
| admission | belie |
| adversary | beseech |
| adversity | betray |
| affable | bias |
| affection | bizarre |
| affront | blame |
| aggressive | bold |
| awful | fearful |
Answer:
Words – Synonyms
abandon – forsake
abound – increase
absurd – ridiculous
adept – skilled
adequate – sufficient/ enough
admission – entry
adversary – opponent /enemy
adversity – misfortune
affable – gracious
affection – love /inclination
affront – insult
aggressive – attacking
awful – fearful
barbarous – uncivilised
bare – nude
base – mean /worthless
beginning – start
behaviour – conduct/manner
belie – contradict
beseech – pray
betray – mislead
bias – inclination
bizarre – strange
blame – disapprove
bold – valiant /daring
Section – II
Questions For Discussion:
Question 1.
Do you notice a shift of focus in this part of the story?
Answer:
This part of the story marks a shift of focus. The even of the first section tells about the girl’s sorrows and pangs for her not being selected for scholarship to study medicine. Her inclination to committing suicide has been delineated there. But the second section shifts from that even to the village life of the watchman
Question 2.
Give an account of the part life of the watchman.
Answer:
In the distant past, in his little village home an epidermic of cholera laid out of his father, mother and brothers on the same day and he was the sole surviver. He was turned out of his ancestral home through the trickery of his father’s kinsmen and he wandered as an orphan suffering indescribable hunger and privatition.
Question 3.
Everyone has his own miseries. If people tried to kill themselves for each one of them. I don’t know how often they would have to drown”. How does this statement of the watchman affect the girl?”
Answer:
The statement head a great deal of effect on the girl who was in the tank to commit suicide. The watchman made understand the matter saying the everyman has his own sorrow and problems. He said that the girl was very young and did not know what sorrow was. His wife bore his eight children out of whom only one lived. She had only one daughter living with him. This affected the girl and she looked back at him in bewilderment.
Question 4.
What you think was the outcome of the conversation between the watchman and the girt?
Answer:
Nothing came out of the conversation between the watchman and the girl. As the
Taluk going stuck again he advised her to go home, but she declined saying that she had no home to go to. The watchman warned her of not being obstinate. He picked up his lantern and staff and get up. He put her letter where he had found it. He said if she was going to be obstinate she would leave her alone. He went up steps and left.
Question 5.
What did the watchman believe when he saw the letter on the steps next morning? How did he feel thereafter?
Answer:
When the watchman came back to duty next morning he hurried down the stone steps. The letter lay where he had dropped it on the previous night. He believed that the girl had committed suicide. He tore it up and flung it on the water. He blamed himself for leaving her and going away on the suicide in the tank. He could never look at the blue expanse of water gain with an easy mind.
Question 6.
If you believe the watchman’s words he recognised the married young woman as the girl he thought was dead. Why then should she look away from the watchman?
Answer:
Years later, one evening as the stood on the bond and took a final survey before going home, he saw a car draw up on the road below. A man a woman and there children emerged from the car and climbed the bund. The watchman recognised the married young woman as the girl he thought was dead. She looked away from the watchman least she should have been exposed before her husband and children through their conversation.
Question 7.
Whom do you like more – the girl or the watchman? Justify your answer.
Answer:
In fact, the watchman is obviously the person whom anybody can like. He inspires and persuads the girl for going back home and the girl does not leave. He leaves for home and comes back there the next morning. He takes for granted that the girl had committed suicide. He takes for granted that the girl had committed suicide. He blames himself for at least one suicide. Years later, when he sees children. He recognizes her whom he wants to speak to, but she avoids talking to him deliberately. The watchman shows her respect without reciprocity from the women. This speaks volumes of the goodness of the watchman as contrasted with the nature of the girl.
Composition:
Question 1.
Attempt an appreciation of the character of the watchman.
Answer:
The short story “The Watchman” is undoubtedly the most typical masterpiece of R.K. Narayan, an eminent and outstanding. Indian storyteller of the twentieth century. He is really a superb master in depicting the realistic and vivid characters skillfully chosen from the then prevalent Indian society. His characters, mostly belonging to the lower middle class and poorer sections, exhibit an uncanny sense offear, in their actions and behaviour, the fear and uncertainties beaming out of foreign domination and a servile attitude of the people who suffer, sometimes they are the victim of social evil and corrupt order.
Such a typical character is the watchman in this discussing story. However, the story writer R.K. Narayan gives a graphic sketch of the character and personality of the watchman in his story names after this protagonist. The story embodies two characters the watchman and the girl the characters of whom need a close study. The watchman demonstrates a greater understanding of man’s predicament and endurance to encounter boldly the onslaughts of misfortune. Moreover, the watchman has a deep concentration on angling in the tank. All the people who had come for evening had returned to their homes. Not a soul anywhere except that obstinate angle at the northern end who sat with his feet in water, sadly gazing on his rod. He would sit there till midnight with the hope of catching fish. Of course, he has a sense of conscience. He advised the girl and dissuaded her from taking any attempt for committing suicide. She declines to go home as she has not any. He gets irritated and leaves for his own home.
Coming back from home the next morning he discovers the same letter lying on the steps of the tank bund, he presumes that the girl is dead. His conscience bites him and he holds himself responsible for the death of the girl. He thinks if he had not left her alone, she wouldn’t have committed suicide. He speculates that he isat least responsible for one suicide in the tank. Again, we mark that he has a sense of respect years later, one evening as he stood on the bund and took a final survey before going home, he sees a car draw up on the road below. A man, a woman and three children emerged from the car and climb the bund.
When they approach the watchman feels a start at his heart. The figure and face of the woman seems familiar to him. The woman is altered by years, ornaments and dresses, he thinks that he has recognised the face of the woman. He feels excited at the discovery. He has numerous question to ask. He brings together his palms and salutes her respectfully. As a matter of fact, the watchman happens to be pivotal character of the story. He is hold, courageous, helpful, generous and benevolent. The way Narayn depics his protagonist is superb and fantastic. It is inspiring, elevating and heart-enduring.
Question 2.
Sketch the character of the girl in contrast with the character of the girl.
Answer:
In fact the short story “The Watchman” is R.K. Narayan’s super band fantastic creation. He is in fact, an outstanding master in the work of sketching vivid and lively and realistic characters. His characters, mostly belonging to the lower middle class and poorer section, exhibit an uncanny sense of fear and in their actions and behaviour sometimes, they are a victim of social evil and corrupt. Such of a character is the girl in “The Watchman” of R.K. Narayan. However, between the two important characters in the story ‘The Watchman,” the girl is equally essential to the formation of its structure. The girl is ambitious, believe in self-reliance and detests being a liability or living on charity “I won’t like an anybody’s charity” she says.
To the watchman is suggestion of accepting marriage, she hysterically reveals that her cowardly thought of suicide is not in harmony with the bold statement she makes before the watchman. Like most of Narayan’s characters, she being poor suffers from a fear of uncertainty. She looks a strong willpower to arrange money shown in order to pursue her studies. Moreover, the watchman saw the girl in the tank bund while he was angling in the tank water concentratedly late at night, she had kept a letter on the step and was in the water. The watchman lit his lantern and discovered the girl in the tank which had an ill-reputation for committing suicide. The young girl was in tears. He asked her to go home. Sputtering through her sob, she said she had not home to go to.
She lost her mother some years back and her father married again. Her stepmother was also kind and cooperative to her, when the watchman said that her problems would be solved if she got married, she said that she did not want to marry as she wanted to study and become a doctor and earn her livelihood. Till that she had been hoping to get a scholarship which would have helped her. But another to get a scholarship which would have helped her. But another not she was given the scholarship. Her mother was going to settle her in marriage which she did not like. As a matter of fact, from the above sketch it is clear that in spite of her obstinacy, the girl is a lovable and lively character. Such type of situation and happenings are general and common in our society and so Narayan’s exhibition of such is superb and outstanding. On the whole both of the characters are watchman and the girl are inspiring, elevating and thought enduring.
Question 3.
Comment on Narayan’s art of storytelling. With reference to the short story “The Watchman”.
Answer:
In fact, R.K. Narayan is universally acknowledged as an outstanding and superb master in the realm of storytelling. Not only in India, but also in the entire cosmos internationally, he has put a burning stamp to have name and fame which is rarely marked and depicted on the part of his other contemporaries. He is an adept fabricator of stories. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest Indian in English, having to his credit a number of novels, volumes of short stories’- travelogues, retold legends and an autobiography.
“Swamy and Friends”,‘The Bachelor of ‘The English Teacher”, “Mr. Sampath”,‘The Guide” etc. are some of his important Astrologer’s Day and Other Stories”, “LawlyRoad and Other Stories, “Malgudi Days”, “Under the Banyan Tree and Other Stories”, include his best known stories. “My Dateless Diary” is a travelogue and “My Days” is the writer’s autobiography. Having an intimate knowledge of Indian life and society based with orthodoxy and superstition, he becomes Indian’s greatest storyteller, an astute observer of Indian psyche growing through the pre and post independence times. His characters mostly belonging to the lower middle class and poorer section, exhibit an uncanny sense offear in their actions and behaviour, the fear and uncertainty stemming mainly out of foreign dominant and a servile attitude of the people who suffer.
Sometimes they are the victims of social evils and a corrupt order of which his writings are humorous and satiric exposition. Irony at times lapses into cynicism in this writings. Narayan will live forever his beautiful imaginary town ofMalgudi faithfully representing Indian ethos, milie, and sensibility. However, the story extracted from “Malgudi Days” enacts an incident of a late evening on a tank bund which ultimately brings into focus a contrast between two characters a girl and a watchman. The girl is ambitious, believes in self-reliance and detests being a liability or living on charity. “I won’t live on anybody’s charity, she says to the watchman’s suggestion of accepting marriage the historically reacts. “No, no… I don’t want to marry. But a deeper look into her character reveals that he cowardly thought of suicide is not in harmony with the bold statements she makes before the watchman.
Like most of Narayan’s characters she being poor suffers from a fear of uncertainty. She lacks a strong willpower to arrange money somehow in order to pursue her studies. In contrast, the watchman demonstrates a greater underlying of man’s predicament and endurance to encounter boldly the slaughts of misfortune. The story ends with a note of ambiguity and uncertainty as regards the identity of the woman. As a matter of fact, the story with its elements of irony and undertone of cynicism is a typical masterpiece of Narayan’s fictional writing. Judged from all sides this story becomes a perfect embodiment of Narayan’s method of storytelling keeping all his qualities in feet.
Vocabulary:
A. Say what parts of speech to these following words belong to:
| faint | wet |
| western | tears |
| watchman | sudden |
| final | pity |
| obstinate | obey |
| satisfy | her |
| trespass | she |
| cattle | sputter |
| hundred | old |
| prayer | money |
| investigate | spend |
| gruesome | dinner |
| reputation | angrily |
| hurriedly | good |
| same | enough |
| yourself | dark |
| under | livelihood |
| light | far |
Answer:
Words – Parts of Speech
feint – adjective
western – adjective
watchman – noun
final – adjective
obstinate – adjective
satisfy – verb
trespass – verb
cattle – noun
hundred – adjective
prayer – noun
investigate – verb
gruesome – adjective
reputation – noun
hurriedly – adverb
same – adverb
yourself – pronoun
under – preposition
light – noun
wet – noun
tears – adjective
sudden – adjective
pity – noun
obey – noun
her – pronoun
she – pronoun
sputter – verb
old – adjective
money – noun
spend – verb
dinner – noun
angrily – adverb
good – adjective
enough – adjective
dark – noun/ adjective
livelihood – noun
far – adjective
B. Make sentences using the following from the text:
| Western | get up |
| obstinate | trouble |
| trespass | pause |
| investigate | pickup |
| sobbing | flung |
| wavelets | responsible |
| far off | draw up |
| epidemic | familiar |
| survivor | numerous |
| ancestral | resolve |
| trickery | episode |
| privation | excited |
| miseries | alter |
| bewilderment | recognise |
Answer:
Western – We should not follow western culture.
obstinate – The child is very obstinate.
trespass – He trespassed my backyard to pluck flowers.
investigate – The police investigated the matter.
sobbing – I don’t care for her sobbing.
wavelets – The boy threw a stone into the pond and so wavelets appeared in the water.
far off – He has come from a far off place.
epidemic – Cholera is an epidermic
survivor – The boy is the sole survivor of his family after the super cyclone.
ancestral – Nobody wants to part with his ancestral home.
trickery – The boy fell into the trickery of his friend.
privation – The girl has nobody to fall back on. She is in a state of privation.
miseries His life is full of miseries.
bewilderment – When the son misbehaved his father his father was bewilderment
get up – We should get up from bed early, in the morning.
trouble – He is in a great trouble
pause – You should not take much pasues in your speech.
pickup – He picked up a stone and threw it at the dog.
flung – He flung himself back on the sofa.
responsible – I am not responsible for your problem.
drew up – He drew up his car near the house.
familiar – He is a Familiar face here.
numerous – He faced a numerous problem to do his work.
resolve – He resolved to do better in studies.
episode – This episode is very attractive
excited – He got excited to see his enemy.
alter – She altered her mind to marry.
recognise – I can’t recognise my friend as he becomes.
C. The three forms of irregular verbs:
Present – Past – Past participle
abide – abode – abode
arise – arose – arisen
awake – awoke – awaken
be – was – been
bear – bore – borne /bom
beat – beat – beaten
become – became – become
befail – befell – befallen
beget – begot – begotten
begin – began – begun
behold – beheld- beheld
bend – bent – bent
bereave – bereft/bereaved – bereft/bereaved
beseech – besought – besought
bet – betted – betted
bid – bade – bidden
bind – bound – bound
bite – bit- bitten
bleed – bled – bled
blow – blew – blown
break – broke – broken
bring – brought – brought
bread – bred – bred
broadcast – broadcast – broadcast
build – built – built
bum – burnt – burnt
burst – burst – burst
buy – bought – bought
can – could – could
cast – cast – cast
catch – caught – caught
chide – chid – chid
choose – chose -chosen
cleave – cleft /cleaved – cleft /cleaved
cling – clung – clung
clothe – clothed – clothed
come – came – come
cost – cost – cost
creep – crept – crept
crow – crowed – crowed
cut – cut – cut
dare – dared / durst – dared /durst
deal – dealt – dealt
dig – dug – dug
do – did – done
draw – drew – drawn
dream – dreamt – dreamt
drink – drank – drunk
drive – drove – driven
dwel – dwelt – dwelt
eat – ate – eaten
fall – fell – fallen
feed – fed – fed
feel – felt – felt
fight – fought – fought
find – found – found
flee – fled – fled
fling – flung – flung
fly – flew – flown
forbear – forbore – forborn
forbid – forbade – forbidden
forget – forgot – forgotten
forgive – forgave – forgiven
forsake – forshook – forsaken
freeze – froze – frozen
get – got – got
gild – gilt/glided – gilt/glided
gird – girt – girt
give – gave – given
go – went – gone
grind – ground – ground
grow – grew – grown
hang – hung – hung
here – had – had
hear – heard – heard
hew – hewed – hewn
hide – hid – hidden
hit – hit – hit
hold – held – held
hurt – hurt – hurt
keep – kept – kept
kneel – knelt – knelt
know – knew – known
lay – laid – laid
lead – led – led
lean – learnt – learnt
leak – leapt – leapt
learn – learnt – learnt
leave – left – left
lend – lent – lent
let – let – let
lie – lay – lain
light – lit – lit
lose – lost – lost
Section- I
Pre-reading Activity:
Have you ever given thought to why people commit suicide? Give it a thought now and list possible reasons here: What is your view of the people who commit suicide?
Focussing Questions: In this unit you will read a story dealing with a case of attempting suicide. As you read story the focusing questions you will bear in mind are:
(i) Why didn’t the girl want to live?
(ii) It is a justifiable reason for committing suicide?
The Writer:
R.K. Narayan who passed away on 13th May 2001 at the age of 94 is undoubtedly one of the greatest Indian writers in English having to credit a number of novels, volumes of short stories, travelogues, eclogues, retold legends and an autobiography. “Swamy and Friends”‘The Bachelor of Arts”, ‘The English Teacher”. Mr. Sampath, ‘The Guide”, “The Vendor of Sweets”, “Waiting for Mahatma”, “The Man-eater of Malgudi”, “A Tiger of Malgudi: are some of the important novels.
“An Astrologist Day and Other Stories”, “Lawly Road and Other Stories”, include his best known stories “MyDateless Dinner” is a travelogue and‘My Days” is the writer’s autobiography. Having an intimate knowledge of Indian life and society be set with orthodoxy and superstition, he becomes India’s great story teller, an astute observer of Indian psyche growing through the pre as well as post-independence times. His characters, mostly belonging to lower middle class and poorer sections, exhibit an uncanny sense of fear in their actions and behaviour the fear and uncertainty teeming out foreign domination and servile attitude of the people who suffer sometimes they are the victims of social evils and a corrupt order of which his writing are a humours and satiric exposition. Irony at time lapses into cynicism in his writings. Narayan will five for ever for his beautiful imaginary town ofMalgudi faithfully representing Indian ethos, milieu and sensibility.
The Story:
The story extracted from “Malgudi Days” enacts an incident of a late evening on attend bound which ultimately brings into focus a contrast between characters- a girl and a watchman. The girl is ambitious, believes in self-reliance and detests being a liability or living on charity. 1 don’t live on anybody’s charity” she says. To the watchman’s suggestion of accepting marriage she hysterically reacts. “No no … I don’t want to marry. I want to study. “But a deeper look into her character reveals that her cowardly thought of suicides is not in harmony with the bold statements she makes before the watchman like most of Narayan’s characters, she being poor suffers from a fear of uncertainty. She lacks a strong willpower to arrange watchman demonstrates a great understanding of man’s predicament and enduracne to encounter boldly the unslaughts of misfortune. The story ends with a note of ambiguity and uncertainty as regards the identity of the women. With its element of irony understanding of cynicism the story is typical Narayan’s fictional writing.
Gist:
Paragraphs (1-2)
There was still a faint splash of red on the western horizon. The watchman stood on the tank bund and took a final survey. All the people who had come for evening walks had returned to their homes not a soul anywhere – except that obstinate angler, at the northern and who set with his feet in water, sadly gazing on his rod. It was no use bothering about him, he would sit there still midnight, hoping for a catch.
The Taluk office struck nine. The watchman was satisfied that no trespassing cattle had sneaked in though the wire fencing. As he turned to go he saw about a hundred yards away a shadow figure moving down the narrow stone steps that led to the water’s edge. He thought for a second that it might be a ghost. He dismissed the idea and went up to investigate if it was anyone who came to bath at this hour. He observed that it was a woman’s form. She stopped over the 1st step and placed something on it – possibly a letter. She then stopped into knee deep water and stood there; hands pressed together in prayer.
Gist:
Paragraphs (3-6)
He shouted for coming. He raced down the steps and picked up the letter. He hurriedly lit the lamp and the light fell upon the other’s face. It was a young girl’s wet with tears. He told her to be seated. He sat down on the last step between her and the water and placed the lantern on the step, took out a piece of tobacco and put it in his month. She began to sob. He asked why she did not go home. She said that she had no home in the world. The watchman enquired how she grew up without a home. She lost her mother when she was only five. She grew under the i care of her stepmother. He said that he was sixty – five and asked whether her step mother troubled her. She replied in negative she was well looked after. He told her to leave as it was late but she retorted that she had not home to go to. But she went to saying why she should go to become a burden to her again. She never to live on anybody’s charity.
Gist:
Paragraphs (7-9)
He suggested her waiting till her mother was able to find her a husband. She glared at him in the dark. But she did not with to go that either, she wanted to study and became a doctor and earn her livelihood. She never wanted to marry. She often catch mother talking for into the right to her eldest son, worrying about her future and about her marriage. She knew that they could not afford to keep her in college very long because it was very expensive. It cost twenty rupees. The watchman exclaimed “twenty rupees”. Because it was his monthly salary, she thought she would get a scholarship. But it was announced that evening that another not she was entitled to be given scholarship. She broke down as her name was not there. The watchman looked at her in surprise. He understood very little of all the situation. She was unhappy as someone was coming to see her the next day. She said again the she did not wish to many, she wished to study.
Analytical Outlines:
- There was still a faint splash of red on the western horizon.
- The watchman stood on the tank bund.
- He took a final survey.
- The people were in evening walk.
- They all had returned to their homes.
- The obstinate angler was at the northern end.
- He sat with his feet in water.
- He was sadly gazing at his rod.
- It was no use bothering about him.
- He would sit there still midnight.
- He hoped for a catch.
- The Taluk office struck nine.
- The wet man was satisfied.
- No trespassing cattle had sneaked in thought the wire fencing.
- He returned to go.
- He saw a shadowy figure.
- It was moving down the narrow stone steps.
- It led to the water’s edge.
- It was about a hundred yards away.
- He thought for a second.
- It might be a ghost.
- He dismissed the idea.
- He went up to investigate.
- It was anyone who came to bath at this hour.
- He observed that it was a woman’s form.
- She stopped over the last step.
- He placed something on it.
- It was possibly a letter.
- She then stopped into knee deep water.
- She stood there.
- Her hands pressed together in prayer.
- He shouted for coming.
- He raced down the steps.
- He picked up the letter.
- He hurriedly lit the lamp.
- The light fell upon the other’s face.
- It was a young girl’s wet with tears.
- He told her to be seated.
- He sat down on the last step.
- It was between her and the water.
- He placed the lantern on the step.
- He took out a piece of tobacco.
- He put it on his mouth.
- She began to sob.
- He asked why she did not go home.
- She said that she had no home in the world.
- He enquired how she grew up without a home.
- She lost her mother.
- She was at the age of five then.
- She grew under the care of her step mother.
- He said that he was sixty-five.
- He asked whether her stepmother troubled her.
- She replied negatively.
- She was well looked after.
- He told her to leave.
- Because, it was late.
- But she retorted.
- She had no home to go to.
- But she said why she should go to.
- She did not want to be a burden to her again.
- She never liked to live on anybody’s charity
- He suggested her to wait.
- Till her mother was able to find her a husband.
- She glanced at him in the dark.
- But she did not wish to do that either.
- She wanted to study.
- She wanted to become a doctor.
- So that she would earn her livelihood.
- She never wanted to marry.
- She often catch her mother.
- She talked to her eldest son in night.
- She worried about her future.
- She also worried about her marriage.
- She knew that they could not afford to keep her in college very long.
- Because it was very expensive.
- It costs twenty rupees.
- The watchman exclaimed, ‘Twenty rupees”!
- Because, it was his month’s salary.
- She thought she would get a scholarship.
- But it was announced that evening.
- Another one was entitled to get it.
- So she was deprived of it.
- She broke down as her name was not there.
- The watchman looked at her in surprise.
- He understood very little of all the situation.
- She was unhappy.
- Because, someone was coming to see her next day.
- She said again that she did not want to marry.
- She wished to study.
Meaning Of Difficult Words:
splash – small area of bright colour
trespassing – entering unauthorized
gruesome – horrible, ghastly
sputter – to speak indistinctly
hysterical – violently emotional
survey investigation
obstinate – stubborn, opinionated
bothering – brooding over, thinking
trespassing – entering without permission
sneaked in – secretly entered
gruesome – causing fear
gaze – look, discern
hurriedly – in a hurry, quickly
glared at – looked strongly and boldly at
exclaimed – surprised, wondered, astonished
comprehended- understood felly.
Section – II
Gist:
Paragraphs (11 – 12)
The silent night was stabbed by her sobbing and some night birds rustled the water and wavelets bear upon the shore. Seeing her suffer, he found his own sorrows in life came to his mind; how in those far-off times, in his little village, home an epidemic of cholera laid out his father and mother and brothers on the someday and he was the sole surviver. How he was turned out of his ancestral home through the trickery of his father kinsmen and he wandered as an orphan suffering hunger and privation. He said that everyone has his own miseries. If people tried to kill themselves for each one of them, he didn’t know how often they would have to drown. He remembered further incidents and his voice shook with sorrow. He remained silent and sob broke out of him as he said. He prayed to all the gods in the world for a son. His wife bore him eight children. Only one daughter lived, and none of the others saw the eleventh year. The girl looked at him with bewilderment.
Gist:
Paragraphs (13 – 14)
The Taluk gong struck again and he said that she had better get up and go back home. But she replied that she had no home. He felt irritated. He said that she should not be so obstinate and leave the place as soon as possible. The girl said that the watchman did not know her trouble. He picked up his lantern and staff and got up. He put her letter down where he found it. He warned her that she was becoming very obstinate. And he was leaving her there alone. He should not blame. He paused for a moment, looked at her and went up the steps, not a word passed between them again.
Gist:
Paragraph (15)
The moment he came back to duty next morning, he hurried down the stone steps. He picked up the letter and gazed on it, helplessly, wishing that it could tall him about the fete of the girl after he had left her. He tore it up and flung it on water. As he watched the bits float off on ripples, he blamed himself for leaving her and going away on the previous night. He said that he was responsible for at least one suicide in that rank. He could never look at the blue expense of water again with an easy. Even many months later he could not be certain that he remains if a body would not come up all of a sudden.
Gist:
Paragraph (16)
Years, later, one evening as he stood on the bund and took a final survey before going home, he saw a car drew up on the road below. Aman, woman and three children emerged from the care and climbed the bund. When they approached, the watchman felt a start at his heart, the figure and face woman seemed familiar to him. Though the woman was altered by years and ornaments and dress, be brought that he had then recognized the face he had once seen by the lantern light. He felt excited at his discovery. He had numerous questions to ask. He brought together his palms and saluted her respectfully. He expected she would stop and speak to him. But she merely threw at himan indifferent glance and passed on. He stood staring after her for a moment. Baffled, he said to himself that perhaps she was someone else and turned to go home resolving dismiss the whole episode from his mind.
Analytical Outlines:
- The silent night was stabbed by her sobbing.
- Some night birds rustled the water.
- Wavelets beat upon the shore.
- He saw her suffering.
- He found his own sorrows in life.
- It automatically came to his mind.
- It was the happening of that for off off times.
- His home was in a little village.
- An epidermic of cholera laid out his father.
- It also laid out his mother and brothers.
- All it happened on his same day.
- He was the sole survior.
- He was turned out of his ancestral home.
- It happened due to the trickery of his father’s kinsmen.
- He wandered as on orphan.
- He had to undergo suffering hunger and privation.
- He said that everyone has his own miseries.
- But people did not kill themselves for this.
- Rather they struggle for existence.
- He remembered further incidents.
- His voice shook with sorrow.
- He remained silent.
- A sob broke out of him.
- He prayed to all the gods in the world.
- He prayed for a son.
- His wife bore him eight children.
- Only lived one daughter.
- None of the others saw the eleventh year.
- The girl looked at him with bewilderment.
- The talking struck again.
- He said that she had better got up.
- She should go back home.
- But she replied that she had no home.
- He felt irritated.
- He said that she should not be so obstinate.
- He left the place immediately.
- The girls said that the watchman did not know her trouble.
- He picked up his later and got up.
- He put her letter down where he found it.
- He warned her that she was becoming very obstinate.
- He left her there alone.
- He should not be blamed.
- He paused for a moment.
- He looked at her.
- He went up the steps.
- Not a word passed between them again.
- Next morning, he came back to his duty.
- He hurried down the stone steps.
- He picked up the letter and gazed on it.
- He helplessly wished something.
- It could tell him about her fete.
- He tore it up.
- He flung it on water.
- He watched the bits float offon ripples.
- He blamed himself for leaving her.
- He went away in that previous night.
- He said that he was responsible for at least one suicide.
- He could never look at the blue expanse of water again with an easy mind.
- Even many months later, he could not be certain.
- The remains of a body would not come up all of a sudden.
- Years later one evening, he stood on the bund.
- He took a final survey before going home.
- He saw a car draw up on the road below.
- Aman, woman and three children emerged from the car.
- They climbed the bund.
- They approached towards the watchman.
- The face of the woman seemed familiar to him.
- The woman was altered by years ornaments and dress.
- Still then he recognised her face.
- He had once seem that face by the lantern light.
- He felt excited at this discovery.
- He had a lot of questions to ask.
- He saluted her respectfully.
- He expected she would stop and speak to him.
- But she only threw at him an indifferent glance.
- Then she passed on.
- He stood staring after her for a moment.
- He baffled and said that perhaps she was someone else.
- She turned to go home.
- So, she resolved to dismiss whole episode from his mind.
Meaning Of Difficult Words:
rustle – to produce a soft whispering sound (as of dry leaves) by stirring.
wavelets – small waves, ripples.
privation – state of being deprived of something, especially of what is necessary for comfort.
staff – a stick carried in the hand as a support.
sobbing – weeping, lamenting with tears in eyes.
wandered – travelled, roamed, moved about
expanse – a vast stretch of
emerged from – came out of, emanated
numerous – innumerable, a number of
muttered – made indistinct sound
episode – chapter