XII STD – ENGLISH – PROSE PARAGRAPH
1 TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA – SUMMARY
When the narrator entered the hospital he saw those boys talking to a girl who was a patient in the hospital. He tried to find out from the nurse about the girl in the hospital and the boys. Later, the nurse told him that Lucia was the sister of those two boys and was suffering from tuberculosis. She also mentioned that a bomb destroyed their home during the war. And even their father, a widower, was killed during the early part of the war. When he died, his three children were left to starve. She told the narrator that the boys became a part of the resistance movement. Once the war was over, Lucia got afflicted with tuberculosis and the boys had to admit her to the hospital. So, they had been trying their best to make the payments regularly to the hospital. The narrator waited outside the room. He did not say anything to the boys on their way back in order to give the impression that he did not know about their secret.
A) Write a character sketch of Nicola and Jacopo. Title Two Gentlemen of Verona – Author A.J. Cronin Theme Selfless sacrifice of sibilings The two ‘Gentlemen’ of Verona are the boys by name Nicola and Jacopo. Nicola, aged 13, was the elder brother of Jacopo aged 12. Both the siblings were very sincere and self-sacrificing. They were prepared to do anything for helping their sister Lucia to recover from tuberculosis. They lived a hard life and did all sorts of odd jobs. Right from shining shoes, selling fruit, distributing newspapers, to working as tourist guides and running their errands, they still looked contented and maintained their self-respect. They did not have the intention of talking about their family problem and wanted to keep it a secret. During the war period, they started hating the Germans and also joined the resistance movement for their country’s freedom.
B) What message is conveyed through the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’? Title Two Gentlemen of Verona Author A.J. Cronin Theme Selfless sacrifice of sibilings A. J. Cronin wrote this memoir after visiting Verona. The title of the short story is inspired by a popular Shakespeare’s play. Nevertheless, the main idea of the author is to underline the virtues that make a man a real man. The story captures the sentiment that true humanity is not about letting go, and it is about courage and determination. The two young gentlemen of Verona face their difficulties head on without a single complaint. When the author tried to tell them they were working too much, they simply said they had no complaint. Their love and emotional strength are truly commendable. The boys’ maturity and sense of responsibility are also praiseworthy. The author says that in both the boyish faces there was a seriousness which was far beyond their age. These boys display exemplary courage amidst extreme poverty and devastation. The author manages to find real inspiration from their lives.
PROSE-2 A Nice Cup of Tea George Orwell- SUMMARY
The first impressions from reading George Orwell’s essay “A Nice Cup of Tea” include Orwell explaining the proper ways of handling the essences of drinking tea. The speaker guides the reader through instructions on how to prepare and drink tea and then talks about many of the faults people are currently making when drinking their tea. The title of the essay directly refers to the essay’s content as well as the idiom which means that something suits someone nicely such as the elegant way Orwell describes tea in general. The central meaning within this essay relates to the method of making the perfect cup of tea. He is of the opinion that many cookery books leave some important points about preparing tea. Preparing tea is important because tea has come to stay in our culture.
According to him there are eleven points to follow to prepare a nice cup of tea. First of all one should select Indian or Ceylonese tea. China tea does not have the stimulation and one does not feel good after drinking China tea. Secondly, tea should be made in teapot in small quantities. Tea should not be made in a big vessel. The teapot should be made of china or earthenware. Thirdly the pot should be warmed beforehand keeping it on the hob. Fourthly, to make strong tea we should take six heaped teaspoons of tea. Fifthly, the tea should be put straight into the pot without using strainers or muslin bags. Sixthly, the teapot should be taken to the kettle and not the other way about. The water should be actually boiling at the time when tea is dropped inside. Seventhly, after making the tea, one should stir it or give the pot a good shake. Afterwards tea leaves can be allowed to settle. Eighthly, one should use a breakfast cup to drink tea. The cylindrical type of cup will keep the heat longer. Ninthly cream should be removed from the milk before using it for tea. Tenthly, one should pour the tea into the cup first. But some people pour milk first. If the milk is added second one could regulate the amount of milk. Lastly tea should be drunk without sugar.
a) Summarise George Orwell’s distinctive ideas in “A Nice Cup of Tea”. The first impressions from reading George Orwell’s essay “A Nice Cup of Tea” include Orwell explaining the correct ways of handling the essences of drinking tea. The central meaning within this essay relates to the methods of creating a perfect cup of tea. According to him there are eleven points to follow to prepare a nice cup of tea. First of all one should select Indian or Ceylonese tea. Secondly, tea should be made in teapot in small quantities. The teapot should be made of china or earthenware. Thirdly the pot should be warmed beforehand keeping it on the hob. Fourthly, to make strong tea we should take six heaped teaspoons of tea. Fifthly, the tea should be put straight into the pot without using strainers or muslin bags. Sixthly, the teapot should be taken to the kettle and not the other way about. Seventhly, after making the tea, one should stir it or give the pot a good shake. Afterwards tea leaves can be allowed to settle. Eighthly, one should use a breakfast cup to drink tea. The cylindrical type of cup will keep the heat longer. Ninthly cream should be removed from the milk before using it for tea. Tenthly, one should pour the tea into the cup first and milk second. If the milk is added second, one could regulate the amount of milk. Lastly tea should be drunk without sugar.
b) What are the points mentioned by George Orwell to prepare a nice cup of tea? Title A Nice Cup of Tea Author George Orwell Theme Perfect preparation of Tea with all essences The first impressions from reading George Orwell’s essay “A Nice Cup of Tea” include Orwell explaining the correct ways of handling the essences of drinking tea. According to him there are eleven points to follow to prepare a nice cup of tea. First of all one should select Indian or Ceylonese tea. Secondly, tea should be made in teapot in small quantities. The teapot should be made of China or earthenware. Thirdly the pot should be warmed beforehand keeping it on the hob. Fourthly, to make strong tea we should take six heaped teaspoons of tea. Fifthly, the tea should be put straight into the pot without using strainers or muslin bags. Sixthly, the teapot should be taken to the kettle and not the other way about. The water should be actually boiling at the time tea is dropped inside. Seventhly, after making the tea, one should stir it or give the pot a good shake. Afterwards tea leaves can be allowed to settle. Eighthly, one should use the cylindrical type of cup which will keep the heat longer. Ninthly cream should be removed from the milk before using it for tea. Tenthly, one should pour the tea into the cup first. But some people pour milk first. If the milk is added second, one could regulate the amount of milk. Lastly, tea should be drunk without sugar.
PROSE – 3 IN CELEBRATION OF BEING ALIVE – SUMMARY
Dr. Christiaan Barnard, a South African surgeon, who created history by performing the first heart transplant surgery, designed artificial heart valves and wrote extensively on the subject. In this essay Dr. Barnard ruminates on why people suffer. One day after a meal Dr. Barnard and his wife were crossing the road. A car hit him and knocked him into his wife. She was thrown into the other lane and was hit by a car from the opposite direction. Barnard suffered from eleven broken ribs and a perforated lung. His wife had a fractured shoulder. As he recuperated in the hospital, Barnard reflected on what his father would have said. “Suffering is God’s testing, refining, purifying, and ennobling us.” Barnard did not see anything noble about a patient in pain and anguish, or a child wailing in the ward. One day his father showed him a half-eaten biscuit. It was the last one his brother had before he died with a congenital heart problem. He found the sufferings of children pathetic. Children implicitly trust doctors and nurses believing that they can help them. Even if they can’t help them, they accept their fate. Several years earlier, one day Dr. Barnard had witnessed what he called a “Grand Prix”. Two boys, a driver, and a mechanic drove the hospital’s breakfast trolley. The blind mechanic provided the motor power, and the driver steered with one arm. The other patients joined in the fun and frolic, till the plates were scattered. The mechanic was a seven year old boy. His mother flung a lantern at his drunken father. The lantern missed its mark and broke on the boy’s head, resulting in the third degree burns, and loss of eyesight. At that time of Grand Prix, he was a sight to look at. He had been earlier operated upon by Dr. Barnard for a hole in his heart. He was in hospital now, for a malignant tumour of the bone. His shoulder and arm had been amputated. There was little hope of his recovery. Dr. Barnard learnt an important lesson about life from these boys. “The business of living is the celebration of being alive”. Dr. Barnard realized that it is not what you have lost that is important, but what you have been left with. Light can’t be appreciated without knowing darkness, nor can warmth, without knowing cold.
a. Give an account of the medical problems for which the two boys were hospitalized. Title In Celebration of Being Alive Author Dr. Christiaan Barnard Theme Light can’t be appreciated without knowing darkness Dr. Christiaan Barnard, a South African surgeon, designed artificial heart valves, and wrote extensively on the subject. In this essay Dr. Barnard ruminates on why people suffer. One day Dr. Barnard had witnessed what he called a “Grand Prix”. Two boys – a driver and a mechanic drove the hospital’s breakfast trolley. The blind mechanic provided the motor power, and the driver steered with one arm. The other patients joined the fun and frolic till the plates were scattered. The mechanic was a seven year old boy. His mother flung a lantern at his drunken father. The lantern missed its mark and broke on the boy’s head, resulting in the third degree burns, and loss of eyesight. At that time of Grand Prix, he was a sight to look at. The driver had only one arm. He had been earlier operated upon by Dr. Barnard for a hole in his heart. He was in hospital now, for a malignant tumour of the bone. His shoulder and arm had been amputated. There was little hope of his recovery.
b) What does Dr. Barnard want to convey in the lesson ‘In Celebration of Being Alive’? Title In Celebration of Being Alive Author Dr. Christiaan Barnard Theme Light can’t be appreciated without knowing darkness Dr. Christiaan Barnard, a South African surgeon, designed artificial heart valves, and wrote extensively on the subject. In this essay Dr. Barnard ruminates on why people suffer. One day Dr. Barnard and his wife met with an accident. As he recuperated in the hospital, Bamard reflected on what his father would have said. “Suffering is God’s testing, refining, purifying, and ennobling us. “Barnard did not see anything noble about a patient in pain and anguish, or a child wailing in the ward. He found the suffering of children pathetic. Children implicitly trust doctors and nurses believing that they can help them. Even if the doctors can’t help them, they accept their fate. One day Dr. Barnard saw two boys prank. The two boys drove the hospital’s breakfast trolley. The blind mechanic provided the motor power, and the driver steered with one arm. The other patients joined in the fun and frolic, till the plates were scattered. The mechanic was a seven year old blind boy. The driver had been earlier operated upon by Dr. Barnard for a hole in his heart. He was in the hospital then, for a malignant tumour of the bone. His shoulder and arm had been amputated. There was little hope of his recovery. Dr. Barnard learnt an important lesson about life from these boys. “The business of living, is the celebration of being alive”. Dr. Barnard wants to convey that it is not what you have lost that is important, but what you have been left with. Light can’t be appreciated without knowing darkness, nor can warmth, without knowing cold.
PROSE – 4. The Summit – Edmund Hillary
The well-organized expedition was launched in the spring of 1953. After a pair of climbers failed to reach the top on May 27, Hillary and Tenzing set out for it early on May 29. By late morning they were standing on the summit. Hillary and Tenzing conquered Everest summit. At 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, became the first explorers to reach the summit of Mount Everest, which at 29,035 feet above sea level is the highest point on the earth. Hillary and Tenzing drank lemon juice and got ready for the journey. They tested the oxygen cylinders. Hillary’s boots were frozen with cold. He kept them over the fire to soften them. They put on three pairs of gloves on their hands and windproof over their body. At 6.30 they moved out of the tent with their oxygen cylinders on them. Tenzing paved steps towards the ridge and they reached the top of the ridge which was about 28000 feet. The snow was soft over the ridge and it made their route dangerous. After several hundred feet they came to a hollow. There they found two oxygen cylinders which had been left by Evens and Bourdillon on their previous attempt. Hillary was happy to find that the cylinders had hundreds of liters of oxygen which they could use for the downward journey. They continued their journey though the snow was little dangerous. With some difficulties they reached firmer snow higher up. They cut steps on the last steep slopes and walked on with their spike shoes to the South Peak. It was then 9 a.m. They cut a seat for themselves and removed the oxygen cylinder which was exhausted. Now they had light weight of 20 lb. The snow was firm and they could cut it with their ice axe. It gave hope to them. They could make a step large enough to keep their over-sized High Altitude boots. At this time they were comfortable with the rope around them. Now they moved one by one. Tenzing was managing the rope around them and Hillary was cutting the steps. In many places they had difficulty to move because of the overhanging ice. To their east side there was a large cornice and a crack was between the cornice and the rock. Tenzing was holding Hillary with the rope and Hillary entered the crack and lifted his body off the ground. Using the power of his whole body Hillary moved backward up the crack. He moved slowly but steadily. Tenzing was leaving the rope and Hillary was moving inch by inch to reach the top of the rock. Then slowly he came out of the crack and reached a wide ledge. Now he felt that nothing would stop him from reaching the top. He stood on the ledge and signaled Tenzing to come up. Tenzing somehow came through the crack and reached the ledge. The ridge seemed to be never ending. They had to cut hump after hump to move forward. Their original enthusiasm gave place to grim struggle. They saw a narrow snow ridge going up to the top. They made few more beating of the ice axe and they reached the top. They felt relieved from the troublesome journey. They shook hands and embraced each other. It was 11.30 A. M. They saw some unclimbed peaks like Makalu, Kanchenjunga and some more peaks in Nepal. After ten minutes Hillary changed his oxygen set. Tenzing made a small hole and placed some small articles like a bar of chocolate, a packet of biscuits and a handful of lollies. They were meant to be gifts to gods. Colonel Hunt, who was the head of the expedition, had given a crucifix to Hillary to take it to the top. He too made a small hole and kept the crucifix in the hole. After a few minutes they moved down. They could not waste their time because oxygen was running out. Finally they reached the South Peak. They moved to the reserve cylinders on the ridge. They carried the extra cylinders and reached their tent at 2 p.m. Then they started descending to the South Col. George Lowe and Wilfrid Noyce met them with hot soup and emergency oxygen. They had much work to do there but it was not too much for them. They went to their tent with delight and entered their sleeping bags.
A) Describe the feelings of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing as they reached the top of the Summit. Title The Summit Author Edmund Hillary
Theme Adventures are always full of thrills and frills. The well-organized expedition was launched in the spring of 1953, After a pair of climbers failed to reach the top on May 27, Hillary and Tenzing set out for it early on May 29. By late morning they were standing on the summit. The ridge seemed to be never ending. They had to cut hump after hump to move forward. Their original enthusiasm gave place to some great struggle. They saw a narrow snow ridge going up to the top. They made few more beating of the ice axe and they reached the top. They felt relieved from the troublesome journey. They shook hands and embraced each other. It was 11.30 They saw some unclimbed peaks like Makalu, Kanchenjunga and some more peaks in Nepal.
B) How did Edmund Hillary and Tenzing achieve their goal of reaching Mt. Everest? Title The Summit Author Edmund Hillary
Theme Adventures are always full of thrills and frills The well-organized expedition was launched in the spring of 1953, After a pair of climbers failed to reach the top on May 27, Hillary and Tenzing set out for it early on May 29. By late morning they were standing on the summit. They drank lemon juice and got ready to leave their camp with the oxygen cylinders. Following a ridge they reached a bump at 28000 feet. They continued their path on the ridge leading to the 400 feet to the southern summit. They had to cross many overhanging ice cornices. Then they came to a crack and Hillary entered the crack. With difficulty he moved in the crack and came out. Then he signaled Tenzing to come through it and he too did it. With a few more steps they reached the top at 11.30 am. on May 29. 1953
PROSE – 5 The Status of Tamil as a Classical Language – George L Hart – SUMMARY
In his letter to Professor Maraimalai, Mr. George I. Hart, a linguistic anthropologist, writes about the position of Tamil as a classical language. He categorically affirms that by any benchmark one may adopt, Tamil is one of the greatest classical literatures and traditions of the world. He gives the reasons one by one to strengthen his statement. First, Tamil is of ample ancientness. It predates the literature of other modern Indian languages by more than a thousand years. The Tholkkapiyam, its oldest work, dates back to about 200 BCE. The greatest works of ancient Tamil, the Sangam anthologies and the Pattupattu date to the first two centuries of the current era. Second, Tamil possesses the only literary tradition native to India. Its literatures bloomed in all its fragrance before the influence of Sanskrit in the South turned to be strong. It boasts of its own poetic theory, its own grammatical tradition and universe literature. Third, in terms of quality, Tamil literature can stand beside the great literature of Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Persian and Arabic. The nicety and solidity of its works, their varied scope and universal appeal qualify Tamil as one of the greatest classical traditions. The Tirukkural can be cited as an example, supporting this barometer. Finally Tamil is one of the primary independent sources of modem Indian culture and tradition. The great sacred works of Tamil Hinduism have lent fundamental support to the development of modern Hinduism. Tamil has it own works as holy as the Vedas. They are recited along with vedic mantras in the Vaishnava temple in South India. Classical Tamil is the source language of Tamil and Malayalam. Tamil is the most conservative of the Dravidian Languages. It is the criterion for understanding the nature and development of Dravidian. Hence to deny that Tamil as a classical language is to deny a vital part of the glory and richness of Indian culture.
a) How does the author justify the statement that Tamil is a classical language? Title The Status of Tamil as a Classical Language Author George L Hart Theme The glories of Tamil, a classical language First, Tamil is of ample ancientness. It predates the literatures of other modern Indian languages. One of the evidences is the Tolkappiyam that dates back to about 200 BCE. Second, Tamil is the only literary tradition native of India without any influence from any other Indian languages including Sanskrit. Tamil has its own poetic theory, its own grammatical tradition, its own aesthetics and rich and vast intellectual tradition. Thirdly, the nicety, solidity of its works, their varied scope and their universality qualify Tamil to stand as one of the greatest classical literatures of the world. Finally, Tamil is one of the primary independent sources of modern Indian culture and tradition. The great sacred works of Tamil Hinduism begin with the Sangam Anthologies that has lent fundamental support to the development of modem Hinduism. Thus, the author justifies the statement that Tamil is a classical language, satisfying all the benchmark.
b) Tirukkural is a fine example of an outstanding quality of classical Tamil Literature. Substantiate. Title The Status of Tamil as a Classical Language Author George L Hart Theme The glories of Tamil, a classical language Tirukkural is one of the world’s greatest works on ethics. It is one of a great number of major and extremely varied works that comprise the Tamil classical tradition. It was written 2000 years ago. It consists of 1330 couplets dealing with what is right and what is wrong in life. It is also known as Muppal. It has not left any facet of human existence unexplored. It has a universal appeal. So it is a fine example of understanding the quality of classical Tamil Literature.
PROSE 6. On the Rule of the Road – A.G. Gardiner – Summary
Alfred George Gardiner is one of the most delightful essayists of the modern times. In this essay “On the Rule of the Road” he points out what constitutes true liberty. A stout old lady was walking down in the middle of a street in Petrograd causing great confusion in the traffic. When this was pointed out, the old lady replied that she has the liberty to walk where she likes to roam. But the old lady doesn’t now that if liberty entitles the pedestrian to walk down the middle of the road, it also entitles the cab driver to drive on the pavement. The end of such liberty would be a universal chaos. The author points out that this kind of individual liberty would become a social anarchy. The rule of the road means that in order to preserve the liberties of all, the liberties of everybody must be curtailed”. When the policeman put out his hand at Piccadilly circus street, we must not think that our liberty has been violated. If we are reasonable persons we will reflect that he didn’t interfere and hence result would be that we would never cross the Piccadilly circus street at all. We have submitted to a curtailment of private liberty in order that we may enjoy a social order, which makes our liberty a reality.
The author points out that liberty is not a personal affair, but it is a social contract. It is an accommodation of interests. He lists out some examples like wearing a gown and walking down the street, having long hair, walking with bare foot, dyeing one’s hair or waxing, going to bed early and getting up late. We have a whole kingdom in which we rule alone. But when we step out of that kingdom, our personal liberty becomes qualified by other’s liberty. If one practices a trombone from midnight until three in the morning, no one would ask that, but if we intend to play it in the street, the neighbours will remind us that our liberty to blow the trombone interferes with their liberty to sleep in quiet. The author concludes the essay by saying that we have to preserve both the individual liberty and social liberty. It is in the small matter of conduct in the observance of the rule of the road, that we pass judgement upon ourselves and declare that we are civilized or uncivilized. These little habits of commonplace intercourse make up the great sum of life and sweeten or make bitter the journey
a) What do you infer from Gardiner’s essay ‘On the rule of the Road’? Title On the Rule of the Road Author A.G. Gardiner Theme Freedom is a social contract In the lesson ‘On the Rule of the Road’, Gardiner emphasises that liberty is not a personal matter but a social contract. According to him, the rule of the road means that the liberties of everybody must be curtailed for the liberties of all to be preserved. If everybody gets in everybody else’s way, nobody will get anywhere. Individual liberty would become social anarchy. In matters which do not touch others’ liberty we can be as free as we like. We can choose to go down the road in a dressing gown. We can go to bed late or get up early. We need nobody’s permission in these matters. It is personal liberty. We can practice our trombone in our house without disturbing our neighbours. But if we do it in the street, the neighbours will raise objections. They will argue that our liberty to blow trombone must not interfere with their liberty to sleep in quiet. So we must accommodate our liberty to the liberties of others.
b) Where is the border between personal liberty and public liberty? Illustrate from the text. Title On the Rule of the Road Author A.G. Gardiner Theme Freedom is a social contract In matters which do not breach the public liberty, we may be as free as we like. We need not seek anybody’s permission when the choice of our liberty does not disturb or offend others. We must remember that my right to swing my fist ends, where your nose begins’. We might like to practise on the trombone from midnight till three in the morning. But if I do it in my bedroom, my family will raise objections. If I desire to scale the height of Mount Everest, I can please myself. If I play on the musical instrument in the street, my neighbours have every right to object to my liberty. Because my liberty to blow the musical instrument is not supposed to interfere with their liberty to sleep calmly. So we must consider the feelings of those around us. Our personal liberty is restricted and restrained where the public liberty is disregarded. So we have to accommodate our personal liberty to the liberties of others.
DOWNLOAD PDF – Click Here