English note ~ Study Material

UNIT TWO: ANCIENT TALES

Yudhishthira’s Wisdom

Source: The Mahabharata

The story “Yudhishthira’s Wisdom” is adapted from Mahabharata. The story is about the importance of obedience, patience, truth, righteousness and courage in the life to achieve the goal successfully.

Long ago, five Pandava brothers were following a deer in the forest. It was scorching sun. The deer vanished somewhere in the dense forest. They were tired and thirsty, and were far from their hut. Due to thirst, Yudhishthira sent Sahadeva in the search of water. Sahadeva went to search water. After a short walk, he reached to a beautiful pond. He wanted to drink water to fulfill his thirst so he bowed the head towards the water. At the meantime, a strange sound warned him not to drink water before answering the questions. He disobeyed the sound, drank water that caused to lie unconscious at the edge of the pond. When Sahadeva didn’t return back for long time, Yudhishthira sent Nakula. He too didn’t return back. Then Yudhishthira sent Arjuna and Bheema respectively. They too didn’t return back because the same situation occurred as it was for Sahadeva for all. At last, Yudhishthira went himself in search of brothers and water. After a short walk, he reached to the same pond where his brothers were lying unconscious at the edge of the pond. When he saw his brother’s miserable condition, he started crying. He appealed the devil spirit to let him die with his brothers. He was thirsty so he tried to drink water bowing the head towards the pond. At the meantime, a strange sound warned him not to drink the water before answering the questions introducing himself as Yaksha. Then being patient, Yudhishthira requested Yaksha to ask the questions. Then Yaksha asked:

 What makes the sunshine?

Yudhishthira replied, “The power of the god.”

 What is man’s surest weapon against the danger? Yudhishthira replied, “Courage.”

 What gives more to man then even the earth does?

Yudhishthira replied, “A mother gives birth, feeds and sustains us.”

 When does a man become loved by his fellows? Yudhishthira replied, “When he gives up the pride.”

 What is that which makes a man happy when he has lost it? Yudhishthira replied, “Anger.”

 What can a man give up and immediately become rich? Yudhishthira replied, “Desire.”

With the answers of Yudhishthira, Yaksha became well-pleased and asked Yudhishthira to choose one of his brothers whom he would like to revive. Yudhishthira claiming the truth and righteousness are a man’s only weapon and protection. So he requested Yaksha to revive Nakula because he didn’t want to end the chain of his step-mother, Madri, as he was alive from the side of Kunti. Yaksha became happy with the wiseness of Yudhishthira and revived all the brothers and told them to go to Matsya Himal assuring them to help in the problems.

Hence, the story is about the importance of obedience, patience, courage, truth and righteousness to lead the life towards success.

Four levels of the story Yudhishthira’s Wisdom:

1. Literal Comprehension

The story “Yudhishthira’s Wisdom” is adapted from Mahabharata. Long ago, five Pandava brothers were following a deer in the forest. It was scorching sun. the deer vanished somewhere in the dense forest. They were tired and thirsty, and were far from their hut. Due to the thirst, Yudhishthira sent Sahadeva in search of water. Sahadeva went to search water. After a short walk, he reached to a beautiful pond. He wanted to drink water to fulfill his thirst so he bowed the head towards the water. At the meantime, a strange sound warned him not to drink water before answering the questions. He disobeyed the sound, drank water that caused him to lie unconscious at the edge of the pond. When Sahadeva didn’t return back for a long time, Yudhishthira sent Nakula. He too didn’t return back. Ten Yudhishthira sent Arjuna and Bheema respectively. They too didn’t return back because the same situation occurred as it was for Sahadeva for all. At last, Yudhishthira went himself in search of brothers and water. After a short walk, he reached to the same pond where his brothers were lying unconscious at the edge of the pond. When he saw his brother’s miserable condition, he started crying. He appealed the devil spirit to let him die with his brothers. He was thirsty so he tried to drink water bowing the head towards the pond. At the mean time, a strange sound warned him not to drink the water before answering the questions introducing himself as Yaksha. Then being patient, Yudhishthira requested Yaksha to ask the questions. Then Yaksha asked:

 What makes the sunshine?

Yudhishthira replied, “The power of the god.”

 What is man’s surest weapon against the danger? Yudhishthira replied, “Courage.”

 What gives more to man then even the earth does?

Yudhishthira replied, “A mother gives birth, feeds and sustains us.”

 When does a man become loved by his fellows? Yudhishthira replied, “When he gives up the pride.”

 What is that which makes a man happy when he has lost it? Yudhishthira replied, “Anger.”

 What can a man give up and immediately become rich? Yudhishthira replied, “Desire.”

2. Interpretation

The story is about the importance of obedience, patience, truth, righteousness and courage in the life to achieve the goals successfully.

3. Critical thinking

The story is about the importance of obedience and patience. But some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, it is said that a strange sound warned five Pandava brothers not to drink water in the middle of the forest. Can we believe this? When answering the questions of Yaksha, Yudhishthira said due to the power of the god, the sun shines. Does the god really exist? Yudhishthira said desire should be given up to be rich. Doesn’t the development stop if we give up desire? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this story, I really understood the importance of patience for the successful life. The story taught me that anger and pride are the enemies of the human beings. Truth and righteousness are the fundamental components of our life. It is my perceived idea from the story.

The Brave Little Parrot

Source: Buddhist legend

The story “The brave little parrot” is adapted from Buddhist legend. The story is about the importance of selfless help that is even rewarded by the God. “Selfless help to be helped” is the central idea of the story.

Once long ago, Buddha was born as a little parrot. He had an interesting life in the forest. One day, due to lightening flash and thunder crash, the forest started to flame. The wild animals became terrified and started wondering here and there in search of safe place. When the parrot saw the miserable condition of the animals, he flew to the river, dipped, returned back over the fire and flapped the wings to drop the drops of water in order to put out the fire and save the life of the animals. But the drops of water vanished into the flame with a sound hissssss. But the parrot didn’t stop his work. His eyes were red and wings were burnt due to the hot smoke. At the mean time, a group of Gods was going somewhere through the same jungle. They saw the work of the parrot and started laughing teasing the absurd work. One of the Gods, in the form of a golden eagle, came to the parrot and advised him to stop the work. But the parrot replied that he needed help but not advice which made the God feel ashamed. He became emotional and started crying. The tears from the eyes of the God started flowing like the heavy rain or the stream. That swept away the fire from the forest. Then the forest got new life, animals were saved and the bird was decorated with different colors of feathers like red, green, yellow and became a handsome bird. The animals that were saved from the fire cheered up for the selfless work of the parrot.

Hence, the story tries to give the moral lesson that everyone should be involved in the selfless help that always helps to get helped.

Four levels of the story The Brave Little Parrot:

1. Literal Comprehension

The story “The Brave Little Parrot” is adapted from Buddhist Legend. Once long ago, Buddha was born as a little parrot. He had an interesting life in the forest. One day, due to lightening flash and thunder crash, the forest started to flame. The wild animals became terrified and started wondering here and there in search of safe place. When the parrot saw the miserable condition of the animals, he flew to the river, dipped, returned back over the fire and flapped the wings to drop the drops of water in order to put out the fire and save the life of the animals. But the drops of water vanished into the flame with a sound hissssss. But the parrot didn’t stop his work. His eyes were red and wings were burnt due to the hot smoke. At the mean time, a group of Gods was going somewhere through the same jungle. They saw the work of the parrot and started laughing teasing the absurd work. One of the Gods, in the form of a golden eagle, came to the parrot and advised him to stop the work. But the parrot replied that he needed help but not advice which made the God feel ashamed. He became emotional and started crying. The tears from the eyes of the God started flowing like the heavy rain or the stream. That swept away the fire from the forest. Then the forest got new life, animals were saved and the bird was decorated with different colors of feathers like red, green, yellow and became a handsome bird. The animals that were saved from the fire cheered up for the selfless work of the parrot.

2. Interpretation

The story is about the importance of selfless help that is even rewarded by the God. “Selfless help to be helped” is the central idea of the story.

3. Critical Thinking

The story is about the importance of selfless help to get helped but some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, it is said that the parrot tried to put out the fire bringing the drops of water on the wings. Does a bird do so? It is also said that the tears from the God flowed like the stream and put out the fire of the forest. Isn’t it fanciful idea? Does the God really exist? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading the story, what I understood is we should always try to be involved in the selfless work that brings necessary happiness and success. The story reminded me an incident of few years ago. Our village was about to be caught by the fire. It was a sunny day. We were trying to put out the fire with the bucketful water but it was almost impossible. At the mean time, the rain drizzled mixing up with the rays of the sun. Then, the fire was put out.

If Not Higher

I.L.Peretz, Poland (1852-1915)

The story “If Not Higher” is based on Jews religion, written by I.L.Peretz. The story is about the importance of help for the helpless people instead of wondering in search of temples for the spiritualism. “We have to be involved in the help of helpless people instead of visiting temples for the religious gain” is the central idea of the story.

Every Friday morning, at the time of Penitential prayer, the Rabbi would vanish. The followers wanted to know where their master would go. So one of the followers, Litvak went to the room of Rabbi and hid under the bed. At night Litvak could feel the groaning.

The following day, early in the morning, the Rabbi woke up and set his journey towards the forest in the peasantry dress. On the way, Rabbi collected the firewood and ultimately reached to a hut of an old Jewish widow. There the Rabbi recited the third portion of

Penitential prayers. As the Rabbi put the wood into the oven, he recited first portion, as he kindled the fire and the wood burnt brightly, he recited second and when the fire was set, he recited the third portion of Penitential prayer and then he shut the stove. Litvak, who saw all these activities of Rabbi, became the follower/disciple.

Hence, the story is about the importance of involving in the help of helpless people instead of wandering in search of temples for the religious pursuit.\

Four levels of the story “If Not Higher”:

1. Literal Comprehension

The story “If Not Higher” is based on Jews religion, written by I.L. Peretz. Every Friday morning, at the time of Penitential prayer, the Rabbi would vanish. The followers wanted to know where their master would go. So one of the followers, Litvak went to the room of Rabbi and hid under the bed. At night Litvak could feel the groaning. The following day, early in the morning, the Rabbi woke up and set is journey towards the forest in the peasantry dress. On the way, Rabbi collected the firewood and ultimately reached to a hut of an old Jewish widow. There the Rabbi recited the third portion of Penitential prayers. As the Rabbi put the wood into the oven, he recited first portion, as he kindled the fire and the wood burnt brightly, he recited second and when the fire was set, he recited the third portion of Penitential prayer and then he shut the stove. Litvak, who saw all these activities of Rabbi, became the follower/disciple.

2. Interpretation

The story is about the importance of help for the helpless people instead of wondering in search of temples for the spiritualism. “We have to be involved in the help of helpless people instead of visiting temples for the religious gain” is the central idea of the story.

4. Assimilation

After reading this story, I remembered the poem “Yatri” by Nepalese great poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota in which the poet mocks those people who believe on visiting the temples and worshipping there for religious pursuit being indifference on the sentiment of human beings. The story taught me the moral lesson that “It is far better to be faithful on the human help being conscious on that the God lies within ourselves and helps the helpless people.”

UNIT THREE: EDUCATION

Why Go To University?

Moti Nissani, USA (1947- )

The essay “Why Go To University?” is written by an American writer, Moti Nissani. In the essay, the writer is trying to show the importance of university education. The central idea of the essay is “University education enlightens the mind, makes critical, creative and inquisitive, makes people aware on the importance of good health, helps us to be conscious on the basic fundamental rights of life like life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, makes practical, helps to handle the situation rationally, makes people democratic etc.”

In the beginning of the essay, the writer is talking about the disadvantages of going university for the acquisition of knowledge. He says that we may already be responsible for our job, family and going university creates additional stress. We may wish to spend our leisure time relaxing but we have to be busy on doing homework. We sometime have to pay for our education and living expenses that we have to pay later. Moreover, in the time of going university, we could be working and earning money. Our papers are compared, evaluated and graded. It is not sure that knowledge always brings greater happiness. To some extinct ignorance is bliss. University education encourages for social evils like environmental degradation, materialistic value system and political transition. But the writer in the essay has given tremendous advantages. The writer has stated ten excellent advantages. They are:

1. University education ensures better job and income opportunities that helps for our prosperous life. For an educated person the doors of an opportunity are always opened that helps for name, fame and existential life.

2. University education helps for the practical application of knowledge. An educated person can handle the situation logically, rationally and practically being conscious on the negative sides of the problems than an illiterate person.

3. University education helps people to be conscious on the importance of good health. An educated person is more likely to have more appreciation for the hazards of smoking, overweight, lack of exercises or stress.

4. University education makes people conscious on the importance of physical exercise for physical, mental and emotional well-being. A sound mind in a sound body is focused on in the university education.

5. University education helps for the exchange of cultural values as university is the place where the people come from across the world having different cultural backgrounds.

6. University education makes people inquisitive. Scientific discovery, innovation, inventiveness, reasoning, rationality are increased while getting the university education.

7. Going to university expands our social horizons, as we meet new people; make new friends, share new experiences that help for satisfying our needs for companionship, personal growth and friendship.

8. Education increases our personal freedom. University education teaches us the true meaning of the life and helps us for an existential life.

9. University education provides the knowledge about the universe like geographical condition, species, biosphere, human mind, world economies etc.

10. The last advantage according to the writer is university education makes people democratic. An educated person knows the norms and values of democracy being conscious citizen and fulfilling duties and responsibilities.

Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter

Balakrishna Sama, Nepal (1902-1981)

The poem “Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter” is written by a Nepalese literary figure known as The Father of Nepali Drama, Balakrishna Sama. Through the poem, the poet is trying to give moral lesson that we shouldn’t cut down the trees because the trees are the source of imagination, freshness, and reincarnation means simply the nature. The poet, in the poem, tries to give us the moral lesson that it is our duty and responsibility to protect and conserve the trees because trees are the source of survival.

In the poem, the poet says the woodcutter not to cut down the trees because they protect us from sun and rain, give fruits and flowers, help for the refreshment, give warmth, bring newness in our life like season, spring, taught us to sing, give shelter etc. If we cut they don’t speak to us but weep and we can see ooze sap. The trees bring dream for the morning for the beginning of our life. In the winter season, we gather inside the house and take warmth from the fire. The trees stretch their arms for our convenience but we cut it.

Hence, the poem teaches us to protect the trees and conserve the nature that helps for flourishing the life and the civilization.

“Surely You Are Joking, Mr. Feynman!”

Richard P. Feynman, USA (1918-1988) With Ralph Leighton

The essay “Surely You Are Joking, Mr. Feynman!” is an autobiographical essay. In the essay, the writer is trying to show the importance of curiosity for the academic achievement. We shouldn’t limit our academic strivings only in a subject in the way of experiencing the world. “Different subject matter should be given emphasis for academic excellence” is the main idea of the essay. “Errors are the ways of improvement” is the suggested idea of the essay.

Feynman completed his under graduation from MIT University in physics and admitted in Princeton for his further education. In the college welcome program. In which he was participated, Mrs. Eisenhart asked him if he would prefer cream or lemon in the tea? In response he told that he would prefer both Mrs. Eisenhart laughed and told him, “Surely you‘re joking, Mr. Feynman” on his social error. He was unfamiliar in Princeton because the gowns hadn’t been washed since three years. Likewise, he saw Cyclotron which was kept in the underground made by the college students and was kept in disorder. He studied or took classes of biology and did research on ‘a phase’ and discovered double mutation process which made him popular among biology students so he was invited to give a lecture for biology in Harvard University.

Hence, the essay deals with the importance of curiosity not limiting the focus on in only a subject for excellent academic achievements.

A 1996 Commencement Speech

Salman Rushdie, India (1947-)

“A 1996 Commencement Speech” is the speech delivered by an Indian writer, Salman Rushdie on the auspicious occasion of Commencement day of Bard University, USA, in 1996, where he was invited as the chief guest. The speech is about the importance of standing on own leg to ensure freedom, dignity and sovereign life. The message of the text is “We should not bow our head in front of any authority to get an unalienable right on the name of power and post. We must be adventurous, demanding, inquisitive, defiant and creative being governed by self-nature defying the God because civilization is run due to male and female but not by the God.” “To get the fundamental rights we should not bow our head in front of any authority” is the central idea of the essay.

Rushdie, in the beginning of the speech is talking about his own experience of Cambridge University from where he was graduated in 1968. According to him, the days in the beginning were interesting but on the course of the completion of graduation, he was suffered by all the means. Before a few nights of his graduation day, someone had spilled up a bucketful of a thick brown gravy-and-onion sauce that destroyed the interior decoration, books and clothes. He wasn’t responsible for the crime but the college administration blamed him instead of investigating the incident and compelled him to pay the compensation of the destruction. He went to the ceremony wearing brown shoes and was sent out of the parade of his gowned and properly black-shod contemporaries and had to change his shoes. Fortunately, he was able to attend the program after changing his shoes. If he wasn’t able, he would have to wait for a year. At the time of getting certificate, vice-chancellor called him and ordered to kneel down the legs and raise his hands up and spoke few words in Latin that he couldn’t understand. It means Rushdie faced injustice, exploitation, intolerance, hostility (dislike) though it was his fundamental rights to get the certificate after the completion of the graduation. He had to surrender with the college administration to get his unalienable right. So in the speech, he encouraged Bard students not to bow the head to get the fundamental rights that hindrance for intellectual solidarity.

Rushdie, in the speech has used the Greek word “Hubris” which means the sin of defying the God. He encouraged the Bard students to defy their Gods as he believes on “defiance is an inventible and essential aspect of what we call freedom”. Rushdie from this statement meant we have to be guided with our self- nature defying the Gods those human beings have based expressed their humanity. He says that it was men and women who had made the world in spite of their Gods. So we should behave ourselves and know our place. It is that we must be guided by our natures though it can’t be true, arrogant, venal, corrupt or selfish; but in our best selves and will be joyous, adventurous, loving, inquisitive, demanding, creative, competitive and defiant. At last, Rushdie suggested Bard students not to bow their heads know their place, defy the God being guided with their better natures to be an existential, free, and dignified and to spend the sovereign life.

UNIT THREE: EDUCATION

Why Go To University?

Moti Nissani, USA (1947- )

5. University education helps for the exchange of cultural values as university is the place where the people come from across the world having different cultural backgrounds.

6. University education makes people inquisitive. Scientific discovery, innovation, inventiveness, reasoning, rationality are increased while getting the university education.

8. Education increases our personal freedom. University education teaches us the true meaning of the life and helps us for an existential life.

9. University education provides the knowledge about the universe like geographical condition, species, biosphere, human mind, world economies etc.

Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter

Balakrishna Sama, Nepal (1902-1981)

Hence, the poem teaches us to protect the trees and conserve the nature that helps for flourishing the life and the civilization.

“Surely You Are Joking, Mr. Feynman!”

Richard P. Feynman, USA (1918-1988) With Ralph Leighton

Hence, the essay deals with the importance of curiosity not limiting the focus on in only a subject for excellent academic achievements.

A 1996 Commencement Speech

Salman Rushdie, India (1947-)

UNIT FOUR: ACTION AND CONSEQUENCES

The Parrot in the Cage

Lekhanath Paudyal (1885-1966)

The poem “The Parrot in the Cage” is written by a Nepalese poet, Lekhanath Paudyal. In the poem, the poet is trying to show the nature of human life that longs for freedom, justice, happiness and contentment. The poem is a satire on the then existing political situation i.e. Rana rule, that deprived people from freedom, independency and happy life. The Parrot in the Cage is compared with the life of the people in Rana rule. Through the description of the plight of the parrot, the speaker compares the sorrowful description of human life without justice and freedom. The poem is centered on the theme of human nature to live free life, silent disagreement against cruel injustice and domination, and eastern spiritual thoughts. The poem contains the overwhelming impression of desires, wishes, interests, wants and sorrows, lamentation and appeal of the caged parrot from past to the present.

The speaker is disappointed with the harsh reality of human life. Away from family, home, relatives, friends and natural freedom, humans are forced to live the tragic life as the parrot in the cage. The indifferences of human beings to the animals’ plight and the human mentality of getting entertainment imprisoning the animals are bitterly criticized in the poem. As the romantic poet, Paudyal expresses his deep respect to the natural world.

Through the medium of the parrot, voices of political, social, religions, spiritual and habitual life style and situation of human beings have been shown in the poem.

A Sound of Thunder

Ray Bradbury USA (1920-2012)

Question: Defend the statement: “To really understand Bradbury’s story, we must know something about the disciplines of psychology, history, biology, physics, and the butterfly effect — to mention a few.”

The story ‘A Sound of Thunder” is written by an American writer, Ray Bradbury. In the story, the writer is trying to show the phenomena of modem society where minor errors in biosphere can cause the devastating effect in the future world, civilization, history and the whole ecosystem. The destruction of the nature changes the world and it has negative effect in the ecology. The story tries to reflect the present environmental damage and effects on the nature, i.e. extinction of natural species.

To understand the writer’s story, we must know something about the disciplines of psychology, biology, history, physics, and butterfly effect. In order to understand the nature of human beings, we must have the general knowledge of psychology, or to understand the story, we must have knowledge about the psychology. History is a story that consists of past, present and future, and there is a significant effect of past to the present and the future as well. So that it is necessary to understand the history. For example: hunting dinosaurs requires knowledge of history of the origins of the species. Similarly, biology is the scientific study of life and structure of plants and animals. The information of animals and insects, or natural species can be found in the story.

Physics is the scientific study of forces in relation to time. Time safari, sounds of thunder, path, firing, light, darkness etc. can be found and understood, if we have knowledge of physics. In the same way, in order to understand the butterfly effect, we must have the knowledge of ecology and ecosystem. So we should understand the interrelationship between nature and the species of it having knowledge on psychology, history, biology, physics, and the butterfly effect.

No Smoke from the Chimneys

Siddhicharan Shrestha (1912-1992)

The poem “No Smoke from the Chimneys” is written by a Nepalese poet, Siddhicharan Shrestha. The poem is about the actions of the modem people and the consequences of their actions in the life. The poem focuses that modem people do not have time even to eat due to their hectic schedule. They have broken ideas in the brain. They don’t have time to spend with their families. They can cancel their meals and it’s something while walking. They do all the things i.e. struggle for their survival. The poem can be interpreted as a political poem that describes the time when the Nepalese people were struggling to root out an archival system and to establish the democracy for insuring fundamental rights like liberty and happiness, justice, equality, and unity among the people.

Four levels of the poem No Smoke from the Chimneys:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “No Smoke from the Chimneys” is written by a Nepalese poet, Siddhicharan Shretha. This is a political poem that describes the time when the Nepalese people were struggling for democracy and against autocratic Rana rule. The poet raises the issues that people at the time of struggle were ready even to sacrifice the life. Ignoring the personal life, canceling the meal, people were standing for freedom, justice and the rights. So the poem shows the struggle of the people for ensuring justice and freedom rooting out autocratic Rana rule.

2. Interpretation

In the poem, the poet is talking about autocratic Rana rule that was against the rights of the people. The speaker, in the poem, makes a bitter criticism of autocratic rules of Ranas. The poet included the voices of the people to establish justice, liberty, equality and human rights.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem is about the struggle of the people against the autocratic Rana rule. The demonstration was made for liberty and justice. These people who sacrificed their life for positive change in the society are beatified in the poem.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of freedom and the rule of law in the nation for equality and justice. I remembered those martyrs who sacrificed their life to exist the fundamental rights and facilities of the people.

UNIT FIVE: TELEVISION

The Wretched Stone

Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949-)

The story “The Wretched Stone” is written by an American writer, Chris Van Allsburg. This is symbolic story in which the writer is talking about the disadvantages of the television. The title “The Wretched Stone” symbolizes the television. The story tries to show the negative sides of the television i.e. it kills the creativity, makes idle, irresponsible, violent etc. The writer with an incident of voyage tries to relate the story with disadvantages of the television.

The article is about a voyage from 8th May to 12th July. The name of the ship was Rita Anne. In the beginning of the voyage, the crew members were in the good condition. They use to read the books, tell the stories, share the views to each other and were conscious, helpful, harmonious etc. On the process of voyage, they reached to an island where they saw a glowing stone that symbolizes the television, which they brought into the ship. Then they started watching it being unconscious. Once the ship was in the trouble due to the storm and the captain was expecting help from the crew members but they were inside the room locking the door and were indifference even on their own life. They were stricken by fever. They turned into an ape which means their creativity, duty, and responsibilities were forgotten. Later, the captain played a violin and was able to turn their unconscious state of mind into consciousness. At last, the captain thinks of burning the ship in order to destroy the glowing stone or television that destroyed the creativity of the crew.

Hence, this is a symbolic story because wretched stone and glowing stone meant television and the crew turned into an ape symbolically meant it destroyed creativity, potentiality, imagination and innovativeness of the people.

TV Can be a Good Parent

Ariel Gore, USA (1970-)

The article “TV Can be a Good Parent” is written by an American writer, Ariel Gore. This article is about the advantages of television and television is compared with the good parents. “Television helps children to be creative, curious, and potential and plays the role of the parents” is the central idea of the article. The television programs are very useful for the children as the programs are related to education, entertainment, discovery, invention etc. The parents get an opportunity to do the household works and part time jobs and can earn money in the time when children are busy watching television. The programs like PBS suggested that television helps the parents to bring up their children and plays the role to transform the children from house to the society developing at appropriate social emotional and cognitive skills (internal skills).

UNIT SIX: CROSSCULTURAL BRIDGES

Marriage is a Private Affair

Chinua Achebe, Nigeria (193 0-2013)

The story “Marriage is a Private Affair” is written by the Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe. The story is about the Nigerian cultural belief on marriage that is based on arranged marriage. The story focuses on that marriage is a private affair so there should not be any kind of obstacles by the parents on the name of tribe, caste, culture, religion, economic status, regional variation.

In the story, there are three main characters i.e. Okeke, the father of Nnaemeka who spent whole life in the Ibo tribe who believes on modern progressive ideas and Nene, a Christian girl and a teacher who is in love with Nnaemeka. Nnaemeka is in Lagos city, a young man, who is originally from a remote Ibo village and is engaged to marry with Nene, a non-Ibo teacher. In the Ibo culture, marriage is usually arranged within the tribal group by a family elder. But Nnaemeka’s decision to get married with Nene from the different tribe is unheard of, shocking and distressing. Okeke forbids a love marriage to an outsider and requested Nnaemeka to get married with a local girl. But he got married with Nene challenging the culture and his father that made Okeke angry and their relationship was totally detached for years. Many years later, Nene wrote a letter to Okeke that his two grandsons wished to see him. At last, the heart of Okeke melted and he thought that he shouldn’t be such a rude person for his grandsons. So he requested them to come to the house as soon as they can.

Hence, the story is about the contradiction between modem thought and traditional superstitions belief and the victory if rationality over the tradition. The conflict of the story is caused due to generation gap that caused misunderstanding between Okeke and Nnaemeka in the story though the conflict is resolved.

Then and Now: Finding My Voice

Elaine H. Kim, Korea (1961-)

The essay “Then and Now: Finding My Voice” is written by a Korean writer, Elaine H. Kim. This is an autobiographical essay in which the writer has expressed her personal feelings, faith, hope, and experiences while bringing up in USA. The essay shows the problems to be faced in bio-cultural situation, in which one has to face lingual, cultural, religious and regional problems along with an existential crisis. The essay is about the problems, sufferings and difficulties to be experienced while spending the life in the foreign country being an outsider.

The writer, in the essay, expresses her views on the difficulties she faces in USA. While bringing up in USA, she had to speak Korean inside the house and English outside. It means she faced cultural and lingual problems. In the school, her American friends called her ‘Chink’ or ‘Jap’ thinking that Korea was the province of China or Japan. It means she felt as if she lost her national identity. She wanted to be a real citizen of USA and sustain her life as a real American citizen. So once she participated on the cheerleader competition in school to prove that she was the real citizen of USA.

In the essay, she is talking about 1950’s Korean War which was the real cause to be migrated to USA. It was destructive. Many Koreans were killed and compelled to leave their homeland and go to America. She used to believe on her Saju (birth horoscope) to hope of her success and used to visit fortune-teller and once she was told that her goal and achievement of future had been shaped in between twelve to seventeen years. She studied US false belief on race and determined to educate people against racism and sexism.

Hence, the essay is about the problems faced by the writer in USA and the American false belief on so-called white superiority that let the people from other countries feel prejudiced and discriminated losing their identity.

UNIT SEVEN: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Arranging a Marriage in India

Serena Nanda, USA (1909-1959)

The article “Arranging a Marriage in India” is written by an American writer, Serena Nanda. The essay is about the socio-cultural belief of India in terms of marriage. This is an autobiographical writing in which Serene Nanda tries to explore her experience of the cultural belief of India in the case of marriage contrasting with the belief of America.

American society believed on the love marriage so, she found the arrange marriage oppressive because she used to think about the importance of romantic love for a happy marriage. She became curious to know if Indian young people who were at the age of marriage prefer love or arrange. She met a girl, Sita, who was a college graduate with a degree in political science. She asked her which marriage she would prefer. She replied arrange. Nanda thought that how would a person spend a life with a stranger. But Sita her arrange marriage is arranged by family members, parents and relatives so there is less possibility of deception. That convinced her. Nanda found the marriage in India a long lengthy process fulfilling all the cultural norms and values along with the taboos. Later, Serena Nanda was able to arrange a marriage between her friend’s son and a girl though she was unable to participate in the marriage ceremony held in Bombay.

Hence, the article is about the Indian cultural belief in terms of marriage that is based on arranged marriage.

Life is Sweet at Kumansenu

Abioseh Nicol, Sierra Leone (1924-1994)

The story “Life is Sweet at Kumansenu” is written by Abioseh Nicol. The story is about the power of love to the children by the mother and to the mother by the children. The story can be interpreted as love, faith, compassion and influence between parents and children. In the story, the supernatural incident is used to show the power of love and relationship between parents and children.

Kumansenu, a small village of Africa, is a beautiful place. All the incident of the story occurred in that village. Bola, a widow, lived with Asi, her granddaughter. Actually, Bola gave birth to seven children but all of them died untimely. Mr. Meji lived for many years and was able to become a government official. Mr. Meji and Mrs. Meji used to live far from the house. Unfortunately, Mr. Meji also died. According to Mrs. Meji, he died while trying to call a messenger. He was about to call the messenger from the window at that time the window pane fell on his neck and it almost cut the neck off. But, the most surprising incident in the story is that, Mr. Meji came on Friday to meet his mother and left the house on Sunday and had brought the things for his daughter. The villagers gathered on the house of Bola and concluded that the claim of Bola is the influence of love to her children. Musa, a magician, told that if Bola had destroyed the bones of her children, he wouldn’t have come to visit her. But Bola was happy of getting an opportunity to talk with her child.

Hence, the story is about the power of love between parents and children.

UNIT EIGHT: THE HUMAN CONDITION

The Lunatic

Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Nepal (1909-1959)

The poem “The Lunatic” is written by the Nepalese great poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota. The poet through the poem tries to show the evil works of his contemporary world. The Lunatic is his own translation into English from his Nepali poem ‘Paga!’ In the poem, the persona wearing the mask of a lunatic, tries to give a memorable expression of his own deepest personal feelings and events of his life along with a clinically accurate observation of the hollowness of the so- called intellectual aspirants and leaders of the time and maybe of anytime.

The persona, in the poem, is a mad because he is different from an ordinary people in the sense that he visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the objects whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone, and understands the language of the bird. He says that in his calculation one minus one is always one. He is different from other people because he experiences the things that the majority if the people don’t believe so he is mad but in fact ordinary people don’t have creativity and imagination.

He hates the rich but praises the poor because rich people have ambitious plans so they aren’t spiritual but material. They are always unhappy. Likewise, he hates the prostitutes because they are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they are corrupted and selfish and don’t have humanity. At last, he had shown his dissatisfaction and thinks to punish them. Anyway, Devkota tries to show bad aspects of the society through the poem.

Four levels of the poem The Lunatic:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “The Lunatic” is written by the Nepalese great poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota. The persona, in the poem, is a mad because he is different from an ordinary people in the sense that he visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the objects whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone, and understands the language of the birds. He says that in his calculation one minus one is always one. He is different from other people because he experiences the things that the majority if the people don’t believe so he is mad but in fact ordinary people don’t have creativity and imagination. He hates the rich but praises the poor because rich people have ambitious plans so they aren’t spiritual but material. They are always unhappy. Likewise, he hates the prostitutes because they are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they are dead in their existence. He hates political leaders because they are corrupted and selfish and don’t have humanity.

2. Interpretation

The poet through the poem tries to show the evil works of his contemporary world. The Lunatic is his own translation into English from his Nepali poem ‘Paga!’ In the poem, the persona wearing mask of a lunatic, tries to give a memorable expression of his own deepest personal feelings and events of his life along with a clinically accurate observation of the hollowness of the so-called intellectual aspirants and leaders of the time and maybe of anytime. He had shown his dissatisfaction and thinks to punish them. Anyway, Devkota tries to show bad aspects of the society through the poem.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem tries to show the bad aspects of the society and the hollowness of the so called intellectual aspirants and leaders of the time and maybe anytime. But some of the ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the poem, it is said that the persona visualizes the sound, hears the visible, tastes the fragrance, touches the objects whose existence the world denies, sees a flower in the stone and understands the language of the birds. Is it really possible? Doesn’t it prove that the poet is really mad? Etc.

How Sane Are We?

Anuradha Chaudhary Bangladesh (1947-)

The essay “How Sane Are We?” is written by Bangladeshi writer, Anuradha Chaudhary. The essay is about the importance of ecological balance and the nature of human beings who are completely unaware on the importance of environmental conservation. The essay tries to show the irrational activities of human beings on the name of modern science and technology and materialism that are curses for natural world. Human beings are being selfish, corrupted, and vile, educated and indifference on the importance of ecology. The essay shows human irrationality and irresponsibility for the future generation. The writer says that we are selfish, corrupted, and vile and we don’t care of others. “We are completely unaware about the importance of nature, so we are destroying the nature means ourselves” is the central idea of the essay.

We are being unaware about the importance of the nature. Our ancestors preserved it but we are deceitful offering of our ancestors. The writer says that many of us may think that political leaders are far-sighted but they don’t pay any attention to save the environment. Nature was clear and unspoiled in the past, but it is being degraded. On the name of modem science and technology, we have made various thing but we don’t care about its effect. The writer has given the example of CFCS gas. We invented the freeze but the gas that is used in it causes the green- house effect and reduces the potential quality of ozone layer that means the harmful rays aren’t filtered. Due to the harmful rays, various diseases have become the cause of death. The CFCS gas that was introduced in 1930 and in 1974, it was known that the gas is major cause of the destination of ozone layer but no any attention was paid. Later in 2006, the gas was banned. The writer says that though the negative consequences of our activities are very near we are not able to pay the attention on it.

The writer says that we are being selfish and have lost conscience. We have done everything for the personal benefits not for the welfare of the earth, so the writer urges that we should be aware about our activities and should take the rational decision for the prosperous future.

Gala

Shreedhar Lohani, Nepal (1944-)

The poem “Gala” is written by a Nepalese popular literary figure, Shreedhar Lohani. The title “Gaia” symbolizes the Earth or the biosphere. The poem is about the greatness, patience and endurance of the earth. Gaia, who forgives each and every bad activities of her children like a mother does for her children. So, the poem can be compared with the mother or the earth and the mother are synonymous.

The searing wind among withered palms, the destructive rain, and the sea with its frothy mouth, the heavy mountain peak, the mildew, turbulence and hunger are all around but she doesn’t do anything, but she stares and bears, when the mushroom covers her chest. She endures, remains silence and forgives the bad activities of human beings.

Hence, the poem is about the grandeur of the earth and its grace for the entire human beings to survive.

UNIT NINE: NATURAL SCIENCE

The Making of a Scientist

VS. Ramachandran, India (1951-)

The essay “The Making of a Scientist” is written by an Indian writer, V.S. Ramachandran. This is an autobiographical essay in which the writer is trying to give his views on the ways to be a successful scientist. According to him, good environment, complete freedom, support from the significant people, good economic condition, influence, inquisitiveness are necessary to be a scientist.

i) The writer says that to be a scientist, one should be curious but general curiosity doesn’t work. According to the writer, there must be three types of curiosity i.e. obsessive, passionate and pathological.

ii) The writer defines the science as the love affair with nature which is the source of inspiration and imagination.

iii) In fact, to be scientist there must be the support of family members and the teachers, as the writer was helped. His mother brought him the sea-shells to make his study easier and his father brought microscope. In the school, he was helped by the teachers as they allowed him to take chemicals at home for experiments.

iv) He says to be a scientist; there must be good environment and complete freedom.

v) To be a scientist one must have sound economic condition.

The writer thinks that past was more advanced than the present in terms of new inventions. He has admired the Victorian era where many new inventions were invented. In the present time, people want to be a scientist to be popular. However, the writer has accepted some of the twentieth century inventions like DNA and the inventions of technology like fMR and PET which help to study the brain. Finally, he has described why he selected the field of neurology. He further says that he chose the field of neurology because he could study the human nature and the mood and could get more fun and to investigate neural mechanism underlying human mental function.

Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Test

Carl G. Hempel, Germany (1905-1997)

The essay “Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Test” is written by a German writer, Carl G. Hempel. In the essay, the writer is trying to show the importance of sensitiveness according to the profession. “No one is perfect but should be involved in the work being responsible to avoid the potential negative effects of the work. Doctors also can make the mistakes but sensitiveness is necessary according to the profession” is the central idea of the essay.

Hempel, in the essay, has shown the medical investigation of a physician Seinmeiweis who was curious to know the death of women due to child death fever in Vienna, General Hospital. He divided the hospital into two divisions and conducted the experience in First Maternity Division to find the death rate of the women. In the beginning, he reduced the medical students to minimize the crowd. He provided the training for the health workers but his reports went in vain. When he saw his friend Kolletchka’s death due to a minor injury, he realized that the real cause of child death fever was doctors’ carelessness who looks after the patients without washing hands properly. In fact, medical students would involve in post mortem but without washing hands they go to look after other patients so, he ordered the doctors to wash their hands properly that decreased the death rate of First Maternity Division and came to 1.27% while in the Second, there was 1.33%. He also asserts the cause of child death fever is the decaying living organism but no only the cause of washing hands properly.

Hence, the essay emphasizes the importance of sensitiveness according to the profession to deal with the problems.

UNIT TEN: HUMOR AND SATIRE

King John and the Abbot of Canterbury

Anonymous, England (before 1695)

“King John and the Abbot of Canterbury” is a poetic prose written by an English poet but unfortunately the poet is anonymous. The poem is about the importance of using knowledge practically. “Practical knowledge is better than the bookish knowledge” is the central idea of the poem. For example, the Abbot, an educated person, visited Oxford and Cambridge Universities but couldn’t find the answer but a simple shepherd answered the questions of the king using his practical knowledge.

King John, who 11 led over England, did great wrong and maintained little right. But the Abbot of the Canterbury was able to maintain his high renowned (popularity). So, King was jealous to the Abbot of the Canterbury. Abbot had kept hundreds of housekeepers in his house and his popularity was increasing day by day. King wanted to kill the priest to increase his own popularity. So, the King called the Abbot in the palace and asked three nonsense questions, “What is the King ‘s value?”, “How fast can he travel the whole world?” and “What is he thinking now?” The King warned the Abbot that if he was unable to answer the questions in the given time, he would be beheaded. To find the answers’ of the questions, the Abbot visited the Oxford and Cambridge Universities and met the learned men but no one could answer the questions, which made him hopeless. When he was returning back to home, he met a shepherd who asked him about the cause of sadness whom the Abbot told the reality. Then the shepherd assured the Abbot that he would answer the questions going in the disguise form of the Abbot. The shepherd went to the palace and answered the questions: “His value was 29 pence because Christ was measured 30.”, “If he travelled with the rise of the sun to the setting sun, he could travel the whole world within 24 hours.” and “The king was thinking that he was the real Abbot of Canterbury but was actually a poor shepherd.” respectively. The King was satisfied with the answers of the shepherd and proposed him to be the real Abbot of the Canterbury but the shepherd rejected the proposal of the King that he was an uneducated person and couldn’t handle the responsibility. Hence, the poem is about the importance of practical knowledge to overcome from the problems in the life.

Third Thoughts

E. V. Lucas, England (1868-1938)

The story “Third Thoughts” is written by an English writer, E.V. Lucas. This story is trying to state that business is a kind of gambling having both possibilities of winning and losing. The story shows that “The relationship between customer and seller is never good though they try to maintain harmonious relationship laughing each other because the seller tries to sell the things as expensive as s/he can and the customer tries to buy the things as cheap as s/he can” is the main idea of the story. This story was told to the writer by his friend who was always failure in his business. In order to be popular in the locality, the writer’s friend used to buy the thing in expensive price and sell in cheaper price than he bought. So, he wasn’t able to sustain his business. According to the writer’s friend, he visited a curiosity shop once and bought a painting thinking that it was painted by a well-known English painter, Turner. If it was the original one, it would cost much more price than he bought. Fortunately, it was the original that he sold to one of his customer and got forty-nine pounds and ten shillings profit. Then, he became happy with the profit.

After the profit, he came to his house and slept. But suddenly awoke at 3:30 and started thinking about profit sharing. But later, he thought he shouldn’t be idealist. He changed his ideas of sharing half profit and came to ten, later five pounds. At last in the morning, he thought that five pounds were also enough and he thought that if he spent that money, the Goddess of the wealth would be angry. Ultimately, he decided to share only one pound and kept into an envelope. Then, he went to the club for breakfast where he joined a group who were playing a kind of game called ‘Bridge’. He lost the entire money even one pound that was separated to give to the shopkeeper. At last, he concluded that “Business is a straight forward matter between dealer and customer and there’s no sense of profit sharing.”

The Clock Tower

Bhupi Sherchan (1936-1989)

The poem “The Clock Tower” is written by a Nepalese poet, Bhupi Sherchan. In the poem, the poet captures the image of a retired pensioner who passes his days without worry and anxiety. The description of the clock tower and characterization of senior pensioner seems to merge into the fabric of the poem. The poem realistically shows the images of an old veteran.

The pensioner is not happy with the present state of life and is compelled to pass his long sad days of old age. His military clothes have been gone, some are torn and some are eaten by rats, and some distributed to the relatives. By using simile, the poet compares the life of an aged retired person with the clock tower. The words like gnawed by rats, old, gone, hanging, sad days of old age etc. express the poet’ s sympathy and these words denote the slow arrival of c1ath. Both clock tower and senior veteran is the victim of time. They are degrading due to the pace of the time.

Hence, the poem is about the change that can be seen with the change in

time.

Four levels of the poem The Clock Tower:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “The Clock Tower” is written by a Nepalese poet, Bhupi Sherchan. The pensioner is not happy with the present state of life and is compelled to pass his long sad days of old age. His military clothes have been gone, some are torn and some are eaten by rats, and some distributed to the relatives. By using simile, the poet compares the life of an aged retired person with the clock tower. The words like gnawed by rats, old, gone, hanging, sad days of old age etc. express the poet’s sympathy and these words denote the slow arrival of death. Both clock tower and senior veteran is the victim of time. They are degrading due to the pace of the time.

2. Interpretation

In the poem, the poet captures the image of a retired pensioner who passes his days without worry and anxiety. The description of the clock tower and characterization of senior pensioner seems to merge into the fabric of the poem. The poem realistically shows the images of an old veteran.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem is about the importance of time that changes everything. Time is ever powerful and no one can defeat it but some of the ideas in the poem don’t seem convincing. In the poem, it is said that the clothes of the veteran are eaten by rats. Can’t a retired person manage his belongings? Doesn’t the poem overvalue the time as we all know that time doesn’t wait? Anyway, the poem is a symbolic poem that tries to justify the power of time.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I really understood the power of time that wait for no one. What I equally understood is after birth, time leads us to death. I believe that our life is considered by time. So, "everything should be done in time wisely” is my perceived idea from the poem.

UNIT ELEVEN: CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING

The Stub Book

Pedro Antonio de Alarcon, Spain (1833-1891)

The story "The Stub Book" is written by Spanish writer, Pedro Antonio de Alarcon. The story is about using the creativity to solve the problems in life. "To claim anything we must have the sufficient convincing proof not to be justified as wrong" is the central idea of the story.

Uncle Buscabeatas had grown up forty big pumpkins, who was a gardener at Rota. He used to love the pumpkins as a father loves the daughter. He was planning to sell the pumpkins tomorrow morning in Cadiz. When he went to garden next morning, he found all his pumpkins stolen. He didn't lose the hope and went to Cadiz with an expectation of getting all his pumpkins. When he reached to the Cadiz, he found all the pumpkins in a vegetable shop. At first, he blamed the shopkeeper as a thief but later he came to know that the pumpkins were stolen and sold by Mr. Fulano. As a proof, Uncle Buscabeatas had the stub-book of all the pumpkins. The inspector, the crowd of the people, and policemen were also agreed with the proof of Buscabeatas, the Mr. Fulano returned fifteen duros to the shopkeeper and the shopkeeper gave the amount of pumpkins to an old man. Then Uncle Buscabeatas returned back to the house with the money whereas Mr. Fulano was taken to the prison.

Hence, the story is about importance of using logic and creativity to solve the problem in life.

Mr. Know-All

W. Somerset Maugham, England (1874-1965)

The story, "Mr. Know-All" is written by an English writer, W. Somerset Maugham. In the story, the writer shows two important issues: racial feeling i.e. the writer's reluctance to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada, a Negro and next is the nature of women's in the absence of their husbands' i.e. Mr. Kelada said, "If I have a pretty little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe."

The writer was going to Yokohama, Japan from San Francisco, USA. It was a journey of fourteen days. The writer had to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada but he didn't want. Mr. Kelada was frank and became familiar with everyone in the ship. He put his logic on different pictures and politics. Though the writer didn't like him, Mr. Kelada served the drink. Because of his logic on different issues in a pragmatic and logical way, his nickname was kept 'Mr. Know-All'. One day Mr. Kelada was sharing table with Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay who were returning back to Kobe from New York. Mrs. Ramsay was pretty woman with pleasant manner. She was left in New York for a year in the absence of her husband. One evening when they were having dinner, they started talking about pearls. Mr. Kelada told Mr. Ramsay that he knew everything about pearls. They bet on the chain that had been owned by Mrs. Ramsay. Mr. Kelada told that the chain costs fifteen to thirty thousand dollar but Mr. Ramsay was told by his wife that the chain was bought in eighteen dollars and was a duplicate. Mr. Kelada observed it minutely and found that it wasn't a duplicate. Mr. Ramsay was deceived by his wife. While discussing about the chain, Mr. Kelada found Mrs. Ramsay restless, nervous and scared. Then, Mr. Kelada knowingly lost the bet and paid hundred dollars to Mr. Ramsay because he didn't want to destroy the conjugal life of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay. Next morning Mr. Kelada found an envelope where hundred dollars was kept. Mr. Ramsay was cheated by Mrs. Ramsay that can clearly be experienced as Mr. Kelada said, "If I have a pretty little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe."

Hence, the story raises the issues of racial feeling and the nature of the women. The title of the story is justified in the sense that Mr. Kelada who is known as Mr. Know-All not only knows about the issue of the world around him but also the psychology of Mrs. Ramsay.

Four levels of the story Mr. Know-All:

1. Literal Comprehension

The story "Mr. Know-All" is written by an English writer, W. Somerset Maugham. The writer was going to Yokohama, Japan from Francisco, USA. It was a journey of fourteen days. The writer had to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada but he didn't want. Mr. Kelada was frank and became familiar with everyone in the ship. He put his logic on different pictures and politics. Though the writer didn't like him, Mr. Kelada served the drink. Because of his logic on different issues in a pragmatic and logical way, his nickname was kept 'Mr. Know-All'. One day Mr. Kelada was sharing table with Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay who were returning back to Kobe from New York. Mrs. Ramsay was pretty woman with pleasant manner. She was left in New York for a year in the absence of her husband. One evening when they were having dinner, they started talking about pearls. Mr. Kelada told Mr. Ramsay that he knew everything about pearls. They bet on the chain that had been owned by Mrs. Ramsay. Mr. Kelada told that the chain costs fifteen to thirty thousand dollar but Mr. Ramsay was told by his wife that the chain was bought in eighteen dollars and was a duplicate. Mr. Kelada observed it minutely and found that it wasn't a duplicate. Mr. Ramsay was deceived by his wife. While discussing about the chain, Mr. Kelada found Mrs. Ramsay restless, nervous and scared. Then, Mr. Kelada knowingly lost the bet and paid hundred dollars to Mr. Ramsay because he didn't want to destroy the conjugal life of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay. Next morning Mr. Kelada found an envelope where hundred dollars was kept. Mr. Ramsay was cheated by Mrs. Ramsay that can clearly be experienced as Mr. Kelada said, "If I have a pretty little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe."

2. Interpretation

In the story, the writer shows two important issues: racial feeling i.e. the writer's reluctance to share the cabin with Mr. Kelada, a Negro and next is the nature of the women's in the absence of their husbands' i.e. Mr. Kelada said, "If I have a pretty little wife, I shouldn’t let her spent a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe."

3. Critical Thinking

The story raises the issues of racial feeling and the nature of the women. But some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, Mr. Kelada knows not only the issue of world around him but also the psychology of Mrs. Ramsay, while Mr. Ramsay is unknown about his own wife's psychology. Can a person in a first meet understand the psychology of another person? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this story, I really understood the importance of keeping knowledge about each and every little thing we go by on our day to day life. It not only makes us updated but helps in the actions or steps we take in process of our problem solution or leading our steps to success.

Keep Errors at Bay

Bertrad Russell, England (1872-1970)

The essay "Keeping Errors at Bay" is written by an English writer, Bertrad Russell. In the essay, the writer has given various ideas to keep the errors at bay in our life. According to the writer, the following are the ways to avoid errors in our life:

i. The writer says that we don't know anything easily. We should go in depth to know exactly and we can reach in conclusion. To understand the thing exactly, it is necessary to have close observation and great attention.

ii. If we become unable to pay attention and close observation, we have to compare our ideas, logics and reasons with our opponents.

iii. To avoid our dogmatism, we need to be conscious on the opinions held in social circles different from your own. We should travel different places and read the opponents newspaper.

iv. Imaginary opponents should be made and should compare our ideas with that, if we don't have the opponents.

v. We shouldn't praise ourselves and should avoid our self-estimation. We should accept the existence of other people and should respect them.

vi. Fear is the main source of wrong ideas. E.g. Fear of pain, death, dark etc. In frightening situation, mind can't be used properly and wrong ideas emerge in the mind. Because of the fear, human beings are being conservative and superstitious. To overcome from the fear is the beginning of the wisdom.

What Is Intelligence, Anyway?

Isaac Asimov, USA (1920-1992)

The essay "What Is Intelligence, Anyway?" is written by an American writer, Isaac Asimov. In the essay, the writer is trying to broaden the concept of intelligence going beyond the traditional definition of it. The traditional definition intelligence is 'the ability which can secure the highest marks in an aptitude or IQ test'.

The writer, Asimov, used to be boosted on his intelligence because he was able to secure 160 against 100 of his competitors in an aptitude test that was held among the soldiers. In many other aptitude tests, he was able to secure the top score, so that he used to show a kind of proud on his ability. The writer had a hardware mechanic who had the habit of making pranks, who once asked the

writer a question, "How would a blind man ask the scissors from the shop?" In response, the writer started making his fingers into the scissoring motion. What actually he forgot is the blind man can speak. In such situation, the writer felt uneasy.

Hence, the essay is about the multiple types of intelligence that the human being possesses. The story can be interpreted as the criticism on the traditional way of definition of intelligence that is based on only the ability to secure highest score in IQ test which is fixed and permanent that couldn't include the multiple and emotional intelligence of human beings.

UNIT TWELVE: LOVE

To His Coy Mistress

Andrew Marvell, England (1621-1678)

The poem "To His Coy Mistress" is written by an English metaphysical poet, Andrew Marvell. In the poem, the poet is trying to show power of the time in our life that change everything and waits for no one. "Time, beauty and youth wait for no one" is the message of the poem. "Beauty and youth are transfigured due to time" is the central idea of the poem. Time waits for no one; so that everything should be done in time is the moral lesson of the poem.

The poem is divided into three parts. In the first part, the poet is talking about the impression and influences his beloved. He says that if time and world enough, her coyness would be no crime. They would sit down and think which way to walk and pass the long love's day. His love would grow like the empires and he would love her before the flood. He would spend thousands of years to describe her beauty i.e. a hundred years to praise the eyes, two hundred years to worship each breast and thirty thousand years to the rest parts. On the last age, the poet would show her heart. As she deserves the higher level beauty, he doesn’t love her at the lower rate. In the second part of the poem, the poet shows the importance and the power of time i.e. winged chariot that waits for no one. One day the time will turn her into an old lady and her beauty shall no more be found. Then she’ll die and will be buried where there would be no one to embrace her. Her long preserved virginity will be turned to dust and his lust into ashes. So in the last part, the poet suggests her to roll the sweetness and the strength into one ball, playing the sporting game of sexual intercourse while the youthful hue sits on her skin like morning dew. The poet says that though it isn’t possible to make our own sun, we can make him run carrying out the life activities according to the pace of it.

Hence, the poem is about the importance of time that changes everything and we should do every activity in time.

Four levels of the poem To His Coy Mistress:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “To His Coy Mistress” is written by an English metaphysical poet, Andrew Marvell. The poem is divided into three parts. In the first part, the poet is talking about the impression and influence of his beloved. He says that if time and world enough, her coyness would be no crime. They would sit down and think which way to walk and pass the long love’s day. His love would grow like the empires and he would love her before the flood. He would spend thousands of years to describe her beauty i.e. a hundred years to praise the eyes, two hundred years to worship each breast and thirty thousand years to the rest parts. On the last age, the poet would show her heart. As she deserves the higher level beauty, he doesn’t love her at the lower rate. In the second part of the poem, the poet shows the importance and the power of time i.e. winged chariot that waits for no one. One day the time will turn her into an old lady and her beauty shall no more be found. Then she’ll die and will be buried where there would be no one to embrace her. Her long preserved virginity will be turned to dust and his lust into ashes. So in the last part, the poet suggests her to roll the sweetness and the strength into one ball, playing the sporting game of sexual intercourse while the youthful hue sits on her skin like morning dew. The poet says that though it isn’t possible to make our own sun, we can make him run carrying out the life activities according to the pace of it.

2. Interpretation

In the poem, the poet is trying to show the power of the time in our life that change everything and waits for no one. “Time, beauty and youth wait for no one” is the message of the poem. “Beauty and youth are transfigured due to the time” is the central idea of the poem. Time waits for no one; so that everything should be done in time is the moral lesson of the poem.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem is about the power of time that changes everything and waits for no one but some of the ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the poem, the poet says that if the time was not limited, he would spend thousands of years to describe her beauty like hundreds of years for eyes, two hundreds of years for each breast and other thirty thousand years for the rest. Isn’t it fanciful idea? He says that the worms destroy her virginity after death. Isn’t it manipulative language to involve in sexual intercourse? Is the love only lust? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of time and its power in our life. I’m determined to be conscious on the role of the time and to carry out the life activities according to the pace of the time.

The Telegram on the Table

Parashu Pradhan, Nepal (1943- )

The story “The Telegram on the Table” is written by a Nepalese writer, Parashu Pradhan. The story is about the importance of family life and birth place that ensure happiness. The story tries to show the imaginary dream of Nepalese youths who want to elope in the foreign country thinking that it is easy to earn a lot of money there which is an illusion.

The story is based on the imaginary dream of some of the Nepalese youths of foreign countries. Krishna, the character of the story, represents the Nepalese youths. He is from a village. He is in Kathmandu and is working as a tourist guide. While leaving the house, he was dreaming that in Kathmandu he would be a tourist guide, would be able to persuade the foreign girl, would fallow her and would reach USA and earn a lot of money. As he was dreaming, he is in Kathmandu, is a tourist guide, and is trying to persuade a foreign girl. He is totally detached from his family life, birthplace, village, relatives, and society and is only dreaming about USA. In Kathmandu, he has a busy schedule. He goes to his office early in the morning and has to deal with the strangers smiling as if he knows them and returns back to his room in a tired mood. One day he gets a letter where it was written that “Your wife died yesterday.” Instead of being shocked, he became happy thinking that he is released from the burden of his wife. In response of the sympathy expressed by his friends, he just smiles. One day, he returns to his room at late evening in an exhausted mood and starts remembering the village, family life, and relatives and reads a letter that was on the table and gets information of his wife’s death again. Then he confesses his cruelty and realizes his illusionary dream arid cries like a child tearing the letter into different pieces with an aggression on his delusion.

Hence, the story is trying to show the fanciful dream of Nepalese youths who wants to be vested on the foreign strand on the name of pelf.

Four levels of the story The Telegram on the Table:

1. Literal Comprehension

The story “The Telegram on the Table” is written by a Nepalese writer, Parashu Pradhan. The story is based on the imaginary dream of some of the Nepalese youths of foreign countries. Krishna, the character of the story, represents the Nepalese youths. He is from a village. He is in Kathmandu and is working as a tourist guide. While leaving the house, he was dreaming, that in Kathmandu he would be a tourist guide, would be able to persuade the foreign girl, would follow her and would reach USA and earn a lot of money. As he was dreaming, he is in Kathmandu, is a tourist guide, and is trying to persuade a foreign girl. He is totally detached from his family life, birthplace, village, relatives, and society and is only dreaming about USA. In Kathmandu, he has a busy schedule. He goes to his office early in the morning and has to deal with the strangers smiling as if he knows them and returns back to his room in a tired mood. One day he gets a letter where it was written that “Your wife died yesterday.” Instead of being shocked, he became happy thinking that he is released from the burden of his wife. In response of the sympathy expressed by his friends, he just smiles. One day, he returns to his room at late evening in an exhausted mood and starts remembering the village, family life, and relatives and reads a letter that was on the table and gets information of his wife’s death again. Then he confesses his cruelty and realizes his illusionary dream and cries like a child tearing the letter into different pieces with an aggression on his delusion.

2. Interpretation

The story is about the importance of family life and birth place that ensure happiness. The story tries to show the imaginary dream of Nepalese youths who want to elope in the foreign country thinking that it is easy to earn a lot of money there which is an illusion.

3. Critical Thinking

The story is about the imaginary dream of Nepalese youths of foreign countries with an expectation of earning money. But some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, it is said that Krishna was totally detached from the family life and became even happy on the death of his own wife. Can a person forget the family life? Does a person become happy on the death of his own wife? Doesn’t the story mock the Nepalese youths? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this story, I really understood the importance of family life and birth place that ensure happiness. I’m determined not to be vested on the foreign strand on the name of pelf.

Piano

David Herbert Lawrence, England (1885-193 0,)

The poem “Piano” is written by an English poet, David Herbert Lawrence. This is a nostalgic poem in which the poet has recalled his childhood days and experiences that was glamorous and were spent with his mother. In the poem, the poet has shown the magic of music which fascinates us and the poem can be interpreted as the love, compassion and the influence of the mother to the poet who was the source of love and inspiration.

A woman is playing a piano at the evening in order to attract the persona of the poem, the poet. The tune of the piano forced him to go to the past childhood days that were spent with his mother. The poet felt that the tune played by the woman of without having any charm and mastery could feel the tune fascinating played by his mother on the Sunday evenings, winter outside, in the cozy parlor smiling onto the poet. So now the poet feels it’s indulged into the flood of remembrance of those old childish days and weeps like a child for the past.

Hence, the poem is about the magic of music that fascinates us.

Four levels of the poem Piano:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “Piano” is written by an English poet, David Herbert Lawrence. A woman is playing a piano at the evening in order to attract the persona of the poem, the poet. The tune of the piano forced him to go to the past childhood days that were spent with his mother. The poet felt that the tune played by the woman of without having any charm and mastery could feel the tune fascinating played by his mother on the Sunday evenings, winter outside, in the cozy parlor smiling onto the poet. So now the poet feels it’s indulged into the flood of remembrance of those old childish days and weeps like a child for the past.

2. Interpretation

This is a nostalgic poem in which the poet has recalled his childhood days and experiences that was glamorous and were spent with his mother. In the poem, the poet has shown the magic of music which fascinates us and the poem can be interpreted as the love, compassion and the influence of the mother to the poet who was the source of love and inspiration.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem is about the power of music that fascinates us but some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the poem, it is said that the poet was not attracted by the tune of piano played by a woman. Can we believe that the poet weeps like a child for the past? Does a man weep like a child? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I remembered my childhood days that were spent with my grandmother. She used to sing the song in a melodious time that still compels me to return back to the childhood days that were glamorous and fascinating. Remembering the past, I wish to return back to my childhood days. The poem impressed me that music plays vital role to remember, to be fresh, for the reincarnation of thoughts as it has magical power to touch the sentiment of us.

UNIT THIRTEEN: LIFE AND DEATH

The Great Answer

Fultun Oursler, USA (1893-1952)

The story “The Great Answer” is written by an American writer, Fultun Oursler. The story is about the importance of struggle to overcome from the problems regarding the life. The alternative name of the life is the struggle. So that we have to struggle until the last drop of energy is prevailed inside the body. “Struggle is the great answer of the riddles of life” is the central idea of the story.

The story is based on the incident during the Second World War. A group of people were lodged who were Zeus refugees who wanted to cross the Spanish border. But it was the difficult journey of miles far. There was a young woman having a daughter. It was rumor outside that Gestapo, the secret agent of Nazi and the Nazi soldiers were following them. If they found the refugees, they would be burnt alive. So the woman having a daughter was praying with the God for the help. At the mean time a strange man appeared from the underground and introduced himself as a guide who would lead the group of refugees up to the Spanish border. Then they started their journey. On the way an aged man, middle aged men, women and young joined the group. The three aged men carried the child turn wise. But after a distance they couldn’t move anymore and started to groan. They requested the leader to leave them there to die but the leader encouraged them to struggle the journey until the last drop of energy is prevailed in the body and they tried to do so. The following morning they were able to cross the Spanish border with the new strength, life and were ready to face a new world of freedom.

Hence, the story is about the importance of the struggle to overpower the riddles of the life.

Four levels of the story The Great Answer:

1. Literal Comprehension

The story “The Great Answer” is written by an American writer, Fultun Oursler. The story is based on the incident during the Second World War. A group of people were lodged who were Zeus refugees who wanted to cross the Spanish border. But it was the difficult journey of miles far. There was a young woman having a daughter. It was rumor outside that Gestapo, the secret agent of Nazi and the Nazi soldiers were following them. If they found the refugees, they would be burnt alive. So the woman having a daughter was praying with the God for the help. At the mean time a strange man appeared from the underground and introduced himself as a guide who would lead the group of refugees up to the Spanish border. Then they started their journey. On the way an aged man, middle aged men, women and young joined the group. The three aged men carried the child turn wise. But after a distance they couldn’t move anymore and started to groan. They requested the leader to leave them there to die but the leader encouraged them to struggle the journey until the last drop of energy is prevailed in the body and they tried to do so. The following morning they were able to cross the Spanish border with the new strength, life and were ready to face a new world of freedom.

2. Interpretation

The story is about the importance of struggle to overcome from the problems regarding the life. The alternative name of the life is the struggle. So that we have to struggle until the last drop of energy is prevailed inside the body. “Struggle is the great answer of the riddles of life” is the central idea of the story.

3. Critical Thinking

The story is about the importance of struggle to overpower the riddles of the life. In the story, the writer explains that a man came from the underground for their help. But can we believe the presence of a man from the underground? In the story, the aged old man already told that he can’t move further anymore. Then how can an aged and helpless man continue the journey due to the encouragement? How can they travel hundreds of miles in one night? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this story, I understand that the struggle is a belt why to overpower the riddles of the life. This story reminds me of an incident that occurred one afternoon during a sunny day. A building was on fire and all of us were walking hard to put of the fire but it was such a sunny day that I couldn’t believe it would rain. It was like a miracle, raining in a sunny day as a help from the God to put off the fire as a blessing for our hand work.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost USA (1874-1963)

The poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is written by an American poet, Robert Frost. In the poem, the poet is talking about the life’s journey. The life’s journey in which we entrusted with responsibilities and duties, we have to fulfill. “Nature has various things to fascinate us and is the source of reincarnation but we shouldn’t forget the duties and responsibilities of our life” is the central idea of the poem.

The persona, in the poem, is stopped by the wood on the snowy evening and things that he knows the owner of the woods. The persona is a horse rider. He is stopped in the jungle without farmhouse near so he thinks his horse must think the strangeness. The horse shakes his harness bell to ask if there is some mistake. The poet feels the sweep of the easy wind and downy flake. The poet finds the wood lovely, dark and deep and wishes to enjoy the nature but he remembers his promises of his life to continue the journey until he reaches to the destination i.e. death and he says ‘and miles to go before I sleep’.

Four levels of the poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is written by an American poet, Robert Frost. The persona of the poem is the poet himself and is a horse rider. The persona is stopped by woods on a snowy evening. He thinks that he knows the owner of the woods. Though his house is in the village, the persona thinks that his little horse must think strange because they are stopped without farm house near between the woods and frozen lake in the dark evening. The horse shakes his harness bell to ask if there is some mistake. Along with the bell of the horse, the person feels the sweep of the easy wind and downy flake. The persona finds the woods lovely dark and deep and wishes to enjoy the nature but he remembers his promises of reaching to the destination. While starting his journey he says ‘Miles to go before I sleep’.

2. Interpretation

The poem is about the importance of fulfilling the duties and responsibilities in the journey of the life. “Nature has various things to influence us but we should be responsible and dutiful while spending the life” is central idea of the poem.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem is about the life and journey that is attached with the nature in which we shouldn’t forget our duties and responsibilities but some of the ideas in the poem didn’t seem convincing. In the poem, the persona says that the horse shakes his bell to ask the cause of stopping in the forest. Does the horse do so? The poet (persona) uses the words lovely, deep and dark to show the fascination of the nature. Doesn’t the word ‘dark’ contradict with the words ‘lovely’ and ‘deep’? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of nature that fascinates us and is the source of survival. The poem taught me the moral lesson that we should not forget our duties and responsibilities of our life until we reach to the destination.

A Tale

Bishweshwar Pd. Koirala, Nepal (1914-1982)

The story “A Tale” is written by a Nepalese politician and literary figure, Bishweshwar Pd. Koirala. In the story, the writer is trying to show the importance of family life that ensures happiness, satisfaction and ecstasy. “Sexual desire is a biological need that can never be repressed” is the message of the story. “Family is not the block and hindrance for supreme knowledge and satisfaction” is central idea of the story.

This is the story of long ago, when human beings were in competition with the God. Whenever there was the conflict between Gods and Devils, the Gods didn’t hesitate to take the help of human beings but when the human beings tried to achieve the supreme knowledge and godhood transcending their soul through their deep penance, the Gods used to be worried and destroyed the penance using the nymphs of the heaven. While spending the life in the cities and villages, a man realized that supreme knowledge and godhood are blocked by social obligations, the love of family and friends. Then he went to the dense forest abandoning (learning) the physical world pleasure. He fasted for many days, sat around the fire in the summer season, plunged (dive) into icy cold water in the winter and couldn’t even feel the nest of termites that was built supporting his legs. He began to feel thousands of suns inside him and seat of heaven shook. Anyway, the hermit was in deep penance. Due to the penance, he was about to achieve the godhood. At that time the seats of heaven started trembling that made the King of Gods, Indra worried. So, he called the most beautiful nymph and sent her to the hermitage with the responsibility of destroying the penance. Then she came to hermitage, stepped towards the river, and started bathing in the naked spell binding posture. At that moment, the eyes of the hermit opened involuntarily, then they fell in love, got married, returned back to the village, gave birth to two baby boys and started spending simple domestic life helping the villagers but the villagers didn’t forgive them. They saw the nymph as an evil seductress who caused the downfall of the saint. But the sage never ceased to experience the ecstasy and bliss, as he was in the meditative trance.

Four Levels of the story A Tale:

1. Literal Comprehension

The story “A Tale” is written by a Nepalese politician and literary figure, Bishweshwar Pd. Koirala. This is the story of long ago, when human beings were in competition with the God. Whenever there was the conflict between Gods and Devils, the Gods didn’t hesitate to take the help of human beings but when the human beings tried to achieve the supreme knowledge and godhood transcending their soul through their deep penance, the Gods used to be worried and destroyed the penance using the nymphs of the heaven. While pending the life in the cities and villages, a man realized that supreme knowledge and godhood are blocked by social obligations, the love of family and friends. Then he went to the dense forest abandoning (learning) the physical world pleasure. He fasted for many days, sat around the fire in the summer season, plunged (dive) into icy cold water in the winter and couldn’t even feel the nest of termites that was built supporting his legs. He began to feel thousands of suns inside him and seat of heaven shook. Anyway, the hermit was in deep penance. Due to the penance, he was about to achieve the godhood. At that time the seats of heaven started trembling that made the King of Gods, Indra worried. So, he called the most beautiful nymph and sent her to the hermitage with the responsibility of destroying the penance. Then she came to hermitage, stepped towards the river, and started bathing in the naked spell binding posture. At that moment, the eyes of the hermit opened involuntarily, then they fell in love, got married, returned back to the village, gave birth to two baby boys and started spending simple domestic life helping the villagers but the villagers didn’t forgive them. They saw the nymph as an evil seductress who caused the downfall of the saint. But the sage never ceased to experience the ecstasy and bliss, as he was in the meditative trance.

2. Interpretation

In the story, the writer is trying to show the importance of family life that ensures happiness, satisfaction and ecstasy. “Sexual desire is a biological need that can never be repressed” is the message of the story. “Family is not the block and hindrance for supreme knowledge and satisfaction” is central idea of the story.

3. Critical Thinking

This story is about the importance of the family life. Sexual desire is a biological need that can never be repressed. But some of the ideas in the story are not convincing. In the story, a man fasted for many days. Can a man fast for many days? Does the God exist? Is it possible for a man to sit in the middle surrounded by fire in the summer season and plunge into the icy cold water in the winter season? How can a nymph marry a man and live in a society? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this story, I really understood the importance of family life. Family life is not a source of frustration. I also understood that the sexual desire is a biological need which can’t be repressed.

Ethics

Linda Pastan, USA (1932-)

The poem “Ethics” is written by an American poetess, Linda Pastan. This is an autobiographical nostalgic poem in which Pastan has recalled her childhood memories while she was the student in the school. “The importance of understanding the level of the students while teaching to make the teaching learning process programmatic and fruitful, unnecessary questions should not be asked going beyond the level of students” is the central idea of the poem. In the poem, the poet has given the justice for both life and art. Though life is perishable and the art never dies. In the poem, the poet is talking about the ethics class when she was in the school. Many years ago, the poet’s teacher would ask question “If there were fire in a museum which would you save, a Rembrandt painting (art) or an old woman (life) who hasn’t many years left anymore?” In response, they would choose once the art and the next life, being half-heartedly. Once, feeling clever, Linda replied why not let the woman decide herself? In response, the teacher would report she was trying to escape from the burden of responsibilities. Now Linda is standing in front of the real museum and thinks woman, painting and season are almost one and are beyond saving by children.

Four Levels of the poem Ethics:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “Ethics” is written by an American poetess, Linda Pastan. In the poem, the poet is talking about the ethics class when she was in the school. Many years ago, the poet’s teacher would ask question “If there were fire in a museum which would you save, a Rembrandt painting (art) or an old woman (life) who hasn’t many years left anymore?” In response, they would choose once the art and the next life, being half-heartedly. Once, feeling clever, Linda replied why not let the woman decide herself? In response, the teacher would report she was trying to escape from the burden of responsibilities. Now, Linda is standing in front of the real museum and thinks woman, painting and season are almost one and are beyond saving by children.

2. Interpretation

This is an autobiographical nostalgic poem in which Pastan has recalled her childhood memories while she was the student in the school. “The importance of understanding the level of the students while teaching to make the teaching learning process programmatic and fruitful, unnecessary questions should not be asked going beyond the level of students” is the central idea of the poem. In the poem, the poet has given the justice for both life and art. Though life is perishable and the art never dies.

3. Critical Thinking

This poem is about the importance of understanding the level of the students for the practical learning but some ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the poem, it is said that the teacher in the ethics class used to ask the question that was beyond the capacity of the students. Does a good teacher do so? In the poem, the poet says that life, art and season are almost one. Is it possible? How can we compare life with art? Are a piece of art and a human being of equal value? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of life and art and both are almost same. I also remembered an incident that was occurred in my life. While I was in Grade 5, our Math teacher used to talk and ask the question regarding politics and force us to answer the questions. Now, as a teacher, I realized that our teacher’s teaching method was beyond the level of us.

Where the Mind Is Without Fear

Rabindranath Tagore, India (1861-1941)

The poem “Where the Mind Is without Fear” is written by an Indian remarkable poet, Rabindranath Tagore. In the poem, the poet has shown his deep patriotic feelings towards his motherland. The poet imagines an ideal state having freedom of knowledge, unity among people, truth, the perfection of the works, the respect for the modem belief, ever widening thoughts and actions that ensures freedom, equality, harmony, co-operation, prosperity, justice, dignity, recognition and helps for the freedom of heaven. The poet finds his country people devastating into the traditional belief so that the poet is praying with the God to awake his country people and give the strength to believe modem progressive thoughts.

Four Levels of the poem Where the Mind Is without Fear:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “Where the Mind Is without Fear” is written by an Indian remarkable poet, Rabindranath Tagore. In the poem, the poet wants to make his motherland the freedom of heaven, praying with the God that he wishes to have the mind without fear, the freedom of knowledge, unity among people, truth, and perfection of the work, modem progressive belief, ever widening thoughts and actions in his nation.

2. Interpretation

The poet, in the poem, is showing patriotic feelings towards his motherland, wishing and praying of dignity, recognition, existence, justice, unity, truth, equality and freedom to make his nation prosperous and peaceful.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem is about patriotic feelings towards the motherland to ensure an existential and dignified life but some of the ideas in the poem are not convincing. In the poem, the poet is praying with the God to make his nation like the heaven.

Does the God exist? Is there heaven? The poet says everyone should speak the truth. Is it possible? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I really understood the importance of motherland which is the symbol of dignity and identity. I’m determined to be respectful towards my motherland for an existential life.

New Year

Parijat, Nepal (1934-1993)

The poem “New Year” is written by a well-known Nepalese female writer, Parijat. In the poem, the poet sings the glory of the natural world and expresses her disgust towards the routine human life. “Life without changes is no progress” is the central idea of the poem. The poet wants to come out from the routine life for the freedom and ecstasy. However, the poet seems disappointed living in the same abode. So, the poet wants to run out away from the real world and try to form an imaginary world which is optimism.

The poet sees the wind that chases March away, sun that clambers up the hills, nightingales flit to and fro, the buds of the bottlebrush that let her presume a new day has arrived. But when she sees the mason wasps return to the old nests gathering the old dreams, she thinks the thinking and perception had not got the new nest though the entire nature afresh. We find the poet is disappointed with her life because her unfulfilled desires and ambitions are not addressed by the New Year.

Hence, the poem is about the changes in the nature with the arrival of the New Year but the consistent misery of human beings that is indulged in the scheduled life.

Four Levels of the poem New Year:

1. Literal Comprehension

The poem “New Year” is written by a well known Nepalese female writer, Parijat. The poet sees the wind that chases March away, sun that clambers up the hills, nightingales flit to and fro, the buds of the bottlebrush that let her presume a new day has arrived. But ‘when she sees the mason wasps return to the old nests gathering the old dreams, she thinks the thinking and perception had not got the new nest though the entire nature afresh. We find the poet is disappointed with her life because her unfulfilled desires and ambitions are not addressed by the New Year.

2. Interpretation

In the poem, the poet sings the glory of the natural world and expresses her disgust towards the routine human life. “Life without changes is no progress” is the central idea of the poem. The poet wants to come out from the routine life for the freedom and ecstasy. However, the poet seems disappointed living in the same abode. So, the poet wants to run out away from the real world and try to form an imaginary world which is optimism.

3. Critical Thinking

The poem is about the changes in the natural surrounding with the arrival of the New Year and her dissatisfaction on same schedule of human beings but some of the ideas in the poem are not convincing. The poet says that her life wasn’t changed though natural surrounding was fresh. Doesn’t the idea contrast as we are dependent on the nature? She says that the mason wasps returned lazily to the old nests. Does it mean that we have to build the new house every year? Is it possible to forget the dreams of the past with the arrival of New Year? Etc.

4. Assimilation

After reading this poem, I really understood that the New Year brings the changes in the natural surroundings but human beings should try to catch the dream of the past in the same scheduled life. The poem taught me that the New Year brought the changes in the nature though the life of the poet wasn’t much wonderful and was covered with physical, mental and psychological turmoil.

About Prajjwal pokharel

"Push yourself no one else is going to do it for you".

English note

About Prajjwal pokharel

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