September 17, 2020
September 16, 2020
September 1, 2020
E-content for the lesson The Rattrap Class 12th
The Rattrap
by
Selma Lagerlöf
Q.1. Give the character-sketch of Edla Willmansson.
Ans.1. Edla was kind and good natured. She was not at all pretty but she was modest and quite shy. She had more convincing power than her father and was able to persuade the peddler to accept the invitation. She was pained by the plight of the peddler and continued to treat him well even after the truth about his identity was revealed. Her behaviour reflects maturity and grace as she treated the vagabond compassionately.
Edla Willmansson, came to persuade the peddler to come to their home for Christmas. The ironmaster and her eldest daughter were only two persons in the manor house and they needed someone to give company for Christmas. She had friendly manner and tried to reassure him that he will be allowed to leave them just as freely as he would come with her.
Theme of the lesson
The essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love.
Important quote of the lesson
1. “The whole world about the rattrap seller – the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages – was nothing but a big rattrap.”
2. “He knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare, and of others who were still circling around the bait.”
3. “Remember that a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork, and then you will get caught in the rattrap,”
Conclusion of the lesson The Rattrap
We learn that we can change the world through kindness and compassion; in addition, it teaches us that materialistic things never bring inner joy, only love and respect does.
August 9, 2020
Online Fraud – Are you a victim?
Who tricked me? What happened to my bank account? Where did they get my photo from?
There would be no answer to these questions once you have become a victim of online fraud. So, better to ponder on this.
The hackers and trollers are developing their own virus and software which could endanger the life and leave you begging to ransomware demands.
The alluring photos attract us and games seem challenging and we forget how exposed we become to our information with each click. In fact, we were never educated about this and if we heard of a cybercrime, we thought ourselves smarter than others.
So, be vigilant. Doubt every link which doesn’t begin with https://, do not open unsolicited e-mails, don’t fall prey to monetary offers and unrealistically huge discounts. Also filling seminars and conferences forms can divulge much information about you if the source is unknown. Special precaution is required if your finger print or iris are scanned in the smartphone. Never store your bank and policies details. Free is tempting but it is a trap that can ruin your goodnight sleep. Make conscious and informed decision to be smart.
August 3, 2020
March 20, 2020
February 9, 2020
English Core Study Material on FLAMINGO & VISTAS for Class XII - 2020
English Core Study Material onFLAMINGO & VISTASforClass XII - 2020 |
Important Questions &
Answers
FLAMINGO
Lesson 1 - The Last Lesson By
Alphonse Daudet
Q-1. Write the character of M. Hamel.
Ans-1. M. Hamel was a French teacher who knew his subject well.
a)
Passionate about French
language: - M. Hamel was passionate about the French language. He
considers French, the clearest, the most beautiful and the most logical
language in the world. He feels that language is the key to a person’s sense of
freedom. He advises villagers to hold on to French despite the ban on using the
language.
b)
Proud Frenchman and Sensitive: - M. Hamel is upset and distressed by the victory of
Prussia on France as it had been ordered that German will be taught from next
day in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He was attached to Alsace, school
and the people for over forty years. He blames himself for not being sincere
and taking holiday or going for fishing.
c)
Hard taskmaster: - M. Hamel was very particular about discipline. He
emphasised proper learning and the students were afraid of him.
Q-2. Write the character sketch of Franz.
Ans-2. Franz is a
small boy in the story and a student of M. Hamel.
a)
Sensitive, Conscious and
Innocent: - Franz blames himself for ignoring the classes and now
wonders about the German takeover. He wishes he had prepared for the class
because he doesn’t like being scolded in the class for not learning
Participles.
b)
Loves nature: - Franz enjoys sunshine, bird watching and chasing
butterflies.
c)
Observant: - Franz notices even little details on his way to
school. He is quick to observe the changes in his surroundings and observes M.
Hamel’s efforts to control his emotions in the class.
Q-3. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the
pigeons?” What could this mean?
Ans-3. Alphonse Daudet’s “The Last Lesson” in a very important way raises
the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial
powers and the desire to control the world by influencing their culture and
identities. Prussians had defeated France and now they wanted the people of
Alsace and Lorraine to learn German in place of French.
Franz is shocked on hearing
this from M. Hamel and feels bad because he will no longer be able to use his
language. He compares the use of language by human beings with the cooing of
pigeons. He thinks it is not fair and unkind of Prussians to make them learn a
different language. It is difficult for the people to stop using their mother
tongue and similarly it is impossible for the Prussians to make the pigeons
sing in German. This sentence means that that the people of Alsace and Lorraine
will not stop using French, however hard they try on them.
Q-4. How was M. Hamel’s class different the day Franz went late to
school?
Ans-4. One day, Franz was late in reaching school and he found the scene in
the school was very different that day. M. Hamel’s class was also a different
one. He seemed sympathetic to his students and taught with more patience. The
students were also very attentive and the usual empty back benches were full of
village people with their Primers. They had come out of respect for M. Hamel’s
last class and were feeling sad for having not gone to school. The feelings of
the people were of love for their country and the mother tongue.
Q-5. How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of
the town?
Ans-5. M. Hamel looked very pale and tall when he stood up in his chair. He
was dressed in ceremonial dress. All the students were quiet. The village
people – old Hauser, the former Mayor, the former postmaster and many others
were present in the class. M. Hamel told that French was the most beautiful
language in the world and urged them to guard it among themselves not to forge
it. He ended the lesson by writing “Vive La France” on the blackboard. Lastly,
he just made a gesture with his hand to indicate the dismissal of the school as
he was too sad to speak anything more in the last class.
Q-6. Why is the
order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
or
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked
and surprised the narrator?
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked
and surprised the narrator?
Ans-6. M
Hamel told his students that it was their last French lesson, as an order had
come from Berlin that henceforth only German was to be taught in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement seemed to be a thunderclap to Franz. He
was left in surprise and shock to learn that a new master was going to arrive
the next day and they would learn German instead of their mother tongue.
Q-7. "When
a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if
they had the key to their prison". Comment on the basis of the story
"The last Lesson"?
Ans-7. Political enslavement is a
curse for any nation as it deprives it of its identity. The natives of the
country do not enjoy any kind of freedom, be it physical or mental. The ruling
government or the powerful compels them to abide by the rules justified or
unjustified. At such time it is their language, mother tongue which keeps their
identity alive. It is their language which unites them against the foreigners
who have invaded their motherland. It is also the key to their prison as the
mother tongue binds them together. It constantly reminds them to their
enslavement and brings them together to fight for liberation of their
motherland.
M. Hamel in the chapter "the last lesson" reminds his countrymen
to safeguard their language after they received orders from Berlin banning the
teaching of French in Alsatian school. The natives can liberate themselves only
if they recognize and maintain their identity through their mother tongue.
Q-8. The story
"The last lesson" is all about 'Linguistic Chauvinism'. Comment?
Ans-8. Linguistic Chauvinism means
the strong and unreasonable belief that your own country and language is the
best and important. Man finds himself in the confinements. The story "The
last lesson" is all about linguistic chauvinism. Acquisition of power over
the Alsatians made the Prussians so domineering that they imposed even their
language on them. Their pride in their language was so fixed that they even
forgot to respect the language of the others (People of Alsace).
The rulers wanted to dominate even on the minds and hearts and wanted them
even to think in their language, thereby causing the loss of their too tall
identity, The story thus highlights linguistic chauvinism which is becoming a
major cause of war and political disturbance in the world.
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