English Class 12
Flamingo - Poems (Literature)

Read the given extract and answer the questions

Extract:

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass, 

(A Roadside Stand)

A Roadside stand - Extract based questions (3) - Teachoo.png

Question (i)

What is the mood of the extract?

  •    A) Joyful and optimistic
  •   B) Gloomy and hopeless
  •    C) Curious and adventurous
  •     D) Calm and peaceful

Answer:

   Answer written by student:

(B) Gloomy and hopeless

   Step-by-step explanation:

  •    To answer this question, we need to identify the mood of the extract.
  • Mood is the feeling or atmosphere that a writer or speaker creates for the reader or listener. Mood can be determined by looking at the choice of words, punctuation, imagery, figurative language, etc.
  •    In this extract, the poet creates a mood of gloom and hopelessness by using words and phrases that express sadness, despair, and frustration. For example, the poet uses words such as hardly bear, childish longing in vain, sadness that lurks, almost open prayer, selfish cars, etc., to create a mood of gloom and hopelessness. These words and phrases show how the roadside stand owners are unhappy and disappointed with their situation, and how they have little or no hope of changing it.😞

Question (ii)

 What is the imagery used in line 4 of the extract?

  •    (A) Visual imagery
  •    (B) Auditory imagery
  •    (C) Olfactory imagery
  •    (D) Tactile imagery

Answer:

   Answer written by student:

(A) Visual imagery

   Step-by-step explanation:

  •    To answer this question, we need to identify the imagery used in line 4 of the extract.
  • Imagery is the use of descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Imagery can be used to create vivid pictures in the reader's or listener's mind, and to evoke emotions and sensations.
  •    In this extract, the poet uses visual imagery in line 4, which reads "That waits all day in almost open prayer". Visual imagery is the use of descriptive language that appeals to the sense of sight . Here, the poet uses visual imagery to create a picture of how the roadside stand owners wait near the open window with their hands clasped together in a gesture of prayer. This visual imagery shows how desperate and hopeful they are for a customer to stop by and buy their products.🙏

Question (iii)

What is the alliteration used in line 5 of the extract?

  •    A) The repetition of the sound of b
  •    B) The repetition of the sound of s
  •    C) The repetition of the sound of w
  •    D) The repetition of the sound of p

   Answer written by student:

(B) The repetition of the sound of s

   Step-by-step explanation:

  •    To answer this question, we need to identify the alliteration used in line 5 of the extract. Alliteration is a figure of speech that involves the repetition of the same or similar sounds at the beginning of words that are close together. Alliteration can be used to create rhythm, emphasis, or mood in a poem.
  •    In this extract, the poet uses alliteration in line 5, which reads "For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car". Here, the poet repeats the sound of s at the beginning of several words: squeal, brakes, sound, stopping . This alliteration creates a hissing or screeching sound that mimics the noise of a car braking. This alliteration also creates a sense of anticipation and excitement for the roadside stand owners who hope that a car will stop at their stand.🚗

Question (iv)

What is the paradox used in line 6 of the extract?

  •     A) The contrast between childish and vain
  •     B) The contrast between open and prayer
  •     C) The contrast between selfish and cars
  •     D) The contrast between thousand and pass

Answer:

   Answer written by student:

(C) The contrast between selfish and cars

   Step-by-step explanation:

  •    To answer this question, we need to identify the paradox used in line 6 of the extract.
  • A paradox is a figure of speech that involves a statement or situation that seems contradictory or absurd, but actually reveals a deeper truth or meaning. A paradox can be used to challenge or provoke the reader or listener to think differently or critically about something.
  •    In this extract, the poet uses a paradox in line 6, which reads "Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass". Here, the poet contrasts two words that seem incompatible: selfish and cars. Selfish is an adjective that describes a person who cares only about themselves and not about others. Cars are inanimate objects that cannot have feelings or motives.
  • However, by using this paradox, the poet implies that the cars represent the city people who drive them, and that they are selfish because they ignore or disregard the roadside stand owners and their needs. This paradox also shows how the poet personifies the cars as greedy good-doers or beneficent beasts of prey in other parts of the poem.🚙

Question (v)

 What is the theme of the extract?

  •    A) The conflict between nature and civilization
  •    B) The exploitation of the poor by the rich
  •     C) The loss of tradition and culture
  •     D) All of the above

Answer:

   Answer written by student:

(D) All of the above

   Step-by-step explanation:

  •     To answer this question, we need to identify the theme of the extract.
  • Theme is the main idea or message that a writer or speaker wants to convey through their work. Theme can be expressed as a word, a phrase, or a sentence.
  •    In this extract, the poet conveys multiple themes that are related to each other. The  theme is the conflict between nature and civilization, which is shown by how the rural people live close to nature and wait for customers near an open window, while the city people speed by in their cars and pollute and destroy their landscape.  

Question (vi)

What is the point of view of the speaker in the extract?

  •     A) First person singular
  •    B) First person plural
  •    C) Second person singular
  •    D) Third person omniscient

Answer:

   Answer written by student:

(A) First person singular

   Step-by-step explanation:

  •    To answer this question, we need to identify the point of view of the speaker in the extract.
  • Point of view is the perspective or angle from which a story or poem is told. Point of view can be determined by looking at the pronouns and verbs that the speaker or narrator uses.
  •     In this extract, the speaker uses the first person singular point of view, which means that he or she tells the story or poem from his or her own perspective, using pronouns such as I, me, my, etc. For example, in line 1, the speaker says "Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear". This shows that the speaker is expressing his or her own feelings and thoughts about the situation of the roadside stand owners. The speaker also uses verbs such as feel, think, wonder, etc., to show his or her personal involvement and opinion.👤
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CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo