#35 Class 12 My mother at sixty six-- Explanation of remaining part of the poem 15/04/2020

Hello students,

Here is the second part of the poem  'My mother at sixty six' by Kamla Das.

but after the airport's security check, standing a few yards away--- The poet 'Kamla Das' had reached at the airport. She was going to enter into the security check area.

I looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter's moon and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood's fear------ The poet gave again a look at the mother's face because finally she was going to enter into the security check area. The mother was looking colourless, pale like late winter's moon. The mother's face had been compared by late winter's moon. As a late winter's moon is the symbol of the departure of winter in the same way, her mother's old face is the symbol of her approaching death. A late winter's moon is pale and colourless in the same way her mother's face is also colourless and pale.She started to feel that familiar childhood pain---the pain of losing her mother.

but all I said was, see you soon, Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile.....------ She was being very emotional while parting from her. She could not say much but smiled and smiled. That smile might be the symbol of her helplessness. It also might be the symbol of her hope that evrything would be good.


         Poetic Device used

Simile-- The mother's face has been compared with a late winter's moon.

#34 Class--9 The Fun They Had (15/04/2020)

Hello dear students

On the basis of your reading of the lesson'The Fun They Had', answer following questions--

1. What things about the book did Margie find strange?
2. What do you think a telebook is?
3. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?
4. Adverbs are those words which add 'ly' in the verb and make a difference in the meaning.

      Do the exercise No.2 given at the page No.11. Tomorrow we shall discuss the answer of this particular question.

#33 Class-9 The Fun They had (13/04/2020)

Hello students,

Read the pages 7,8 and 9 of the lesson 'The Fun They Had'. On the basis of your reading, answer the following questions in short--

Q.1 Which part of the mechanical teacher's teaching did Margie hate?
      (Hints-- Home work, test paper, calculation of marks)

Q.2 What fault did the county inspector find in the mechanical teacher?
        (Hints-- geography sector, quick gearing)

Q.3 How had the county inspector repaired the mechanical teacher?
       (Hints-- slowing the gears of geography sector up to an average ten year level)

Q.4 Why was Margie disappointed after the county inspector departed?
       (Hints-- Hoped the county inspector would take the mechanical teacher away for one month, she hated the teacher)

Q.5 How was the old school in the book different from Margie's school?
       (Hints-- Teacher (Living and robotic), school building (Margie had school in her home), Studied together (Margie studied alone)

Q.6 When did Margie and Tommy not have schools?

Q.7 Why did Margie's mother switch on the mechanical teacher everyday at fix time for fix hours?
        (Hints-- Little girls learnt better if they learnt at regular hours)

Q.8 What benefits of the old schools did Margie find?
        (Hints-- enjoyed together, learnt together, helped each other because they learnt the same thing)

#32 Class 12 My mother at sixty six by Kamla Das (Flamingo) 13/04/2020

Hello dear students
      Today we are going to discuss the poem 'My mother at sixty six'. The poem is composed by Kamala Das. You need to read the introduction to the poet first.If you do not have the text of the poem with you, please download from here by clicking the link

http://www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lefl111.pdf

Paraphrasing of the poem----

Driving from my parent's home to Cochin last Friday morning------ The poet, Kamala Das was going to Cochin from her parent's home. It all happened on the last Friday morning.

I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse--- Kamala Das looked closely at her mother who was sitting near her. She was sleepy. She was breathing open-mouthed because of her old age and blocked nose. Her face was ashen, it was colourless.Her face was looking like a corpse (dead body).

and realised with pain that she was as old as she looked---- Looking at the face of her mother, she realised with pain that her mother had really become very very old. Old age is the indication of coming death. So she became sad.

but soon put that thought away, and looked out at young trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes---     To come out of the sadness she diverted her attention towards the young trees outside which appeared running behind. Trees appeared running behind because she was travelling in her car. Whenever we travel in a vehicle, outside things appear as if they are running behind. She also looked at the happy children coming out of their homes for playing. Young trees here are the symbol of young age which travels fast and leaves old age behind. 

This part of the poem has following poetic devices---
1. Simile--- Her face ashen like that of a corpse (The mother's face has been compared with a dead body's face.)

2. Symbolism-- Young trees are the symbol of young age.


    The Remaining part of the poem, we shall complete in the next class.

#31 Class 12 The Last Lesson-- Language activities and value based questions (9/4/2020)

Q.1 Find the words/phrases from the chapter 'The Last Lesson' which mean---

      (i) In great fear of (P.N.2)
      (ii) Rebuking(P.N.2)
      (iii) Practising(P.N.2)
      (iv) One who is trying to learn a new work(P.N.3)
      (v) In group(P.N.3)
      (vi) Fear(P.N.3)
     (vii) Burden/Obstacle(P.N.4)
     (viii) Worried    (P.N.5)
     (ix) Body expression (P.N.8)
     (x) Weak (P.N.8)

Q.2 What message do you infer from the chapter 'The Last Lesson'?
Q.3 Suppose you are Sumit Somani, the head boy of Kendriya Vidyalaya Chittorgarh. The school is going to organise a workshop for students on the tips of personal hygiene. Write a short notice to inform students about that.
Q.4 How was M.Hamel attached to the school?
Q.5 The session of the last lesson was the session of guilt and remorse for everybody. Elaborate the statement with reference to the chapter 'The Last Lesson'.

#30 The Fun They Had-- (Class-9) 08/04/2020

Hello dear students,

The time of unprecedented crisis has kept us away from each other. This is the time to stay at home in order to be safe.

I am going to begin the first lesson of 'Beehive' that is 'The Fun They Had'. You may not have books with you. Therefore I am giving you the link of the lesson. You can click and download the lesson first.

http://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/iebe101.pdf

Now read page No. 5and 6 and answer the questions in short. Treat this as an unseen passage activity. If you find anything difficult to understand, just drop your query in the comment box--

Q.1 When did Margie write about that night in her diary?

Q.2 What did she write in her diary?

Q.3 What did the grandfather tell about the old book?

Q.4 How was the old book different from the E-book?

Q.5 How old were Margie and Tommy?

Q.6 Where had Tommy found the book?

Q.7 What was the book all about?

Q.8 Why had the mother called the county inspector?

Q.9 What kind of a person the county inspector was?

Q.10 Find the words from the passage which mean--
         (i)  Enough (P.No.6)
         (ii) Very bad (P.No.6)

#29 Class 12 The Last Lesson --Summary and important Questions -- (Part-2) 08/04/2020

Summary of Page No. 5,7,8   First go through these pages and then read the summary.

Please write your doubts in the comment box.

When Franz came to know that it was going to be his teacher's last lesson, he was shocked and dumbstruck. He knew very well that he did not know anything about his language. He was regretting for not paying proper attention to his study. He understood why so many villagers had come there. They were sitting in his class to thank him for his faithful service of 40 years.

The teacher asked him about the rules of participles but he could not tell. The teacher did not rebuke him. He blamed everybody. He blamed the people for putting off the things till the next day. He blamed the parents for sending their children to work for money in place of study. He blamed himself also for allowing children to go for holiday whenever they wanted.

According to him, it was a matter of embarrassment for French people that they did not know their own language. He said that language is the key to prison.As long as one holds his language, he has a key to prison. He took his classes. He was looking very confident. Franz also thought that he understood everything.

At the end of the class he wanted to say many things but his throat was choked because of emotions. He concluded the class by saying 'Vive La France' that means victory to France.

Most Important Questions  


Q.1 Why had the villagers gathered in the class of M.Hamel on the day of the last lesson?

Q.2 How did the teacher react when Franz could not tell the grammar rules?

Q.3 What did M. Hamel think of French language?

Q.4 How did M. Hamel conclude the lesson?

Q.5 How had M.Hamel prepared for his last lesson?

Q.6 How did Franz's feelings about M.Hamel and school change?