Question 3 - Chapter 5 - On the Face of It - Vistas - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 12

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

MR LAMB: You’re a boy who came into the garden. Plenty do. I’m interested in anybody. Anything. There’s nothing God made that doesn’t interest me. Look over there....over beside the far wall. What can you see? 

DERRY: Rubbish.

 MR LAMB: Rubbish ? Look, boy, look....what do you see?

 DERRY: Just....grass and stuff. Weeds. 

MR LAMB: Some call them weeds. If you like, then....a weed garden, that. There’s fruit and there are flowers, and trees and herbs. All sorts. But over there....weeds. I grow weeds there. Why is one green, growing plant called a weed and another ‘flower’? Where’s the difference. It’s all life.... growing. Same as you and me. 

DERRY: We’re not the same.

(On The Face Of It)

Question (i)

What is the main message that Mr Lamb is trying to convey to Derry in the extract?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The main message that Mr Lamb is trying to convey to Derry in the extract is that all life forms are valuable and interesting, and that there is no difference between weeds and flowers, or between him and Derry.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to summarize and interpret Mr Lamb's words and actions in the extract.
• Some evidence that shows that Mr Lamb is trying to convey this message are:
•    He says that he is interested in anybody and anything, and that there is nothing God made that does not interest him , which shows that he values and respects all life forms.
•    He asks Derry to look at his weed garden, and questions why one green plant is called a weed and another a flower, which shows that he challenges the conventional labels and judgments that people make about nature.
•    He says that it is all life, growing, same as him and Derry, which shows that he draws a parallel between plants and humans, and implies that they are equal and connected.

Question (ii)

 How does Derry react to Mr Lamb's words in the extract?

1. He agrees with him
2. He disagrees with him
3. He ignores him
4. He questions him

Answer:

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Answer as written by the student:

(b) He disagrees with him

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to analyze Derry's words and actions in the extract.
• The option that is supported by the extract is B. He disagrees with him.
• Some evidence that shows that Derry reacts to Mr Lamb's words by disagreeing with him are:
•    He says that he sees rubbish, grass and stuff, weeds, which shows that he has a negative and dismissive attitude towards Mr Lamb's garden and his views on nature.
•    He says that they are not the same, which shows that he rejects Mr Lamb's comparison between plants and humans, and between him and Derry.

Question (iii)

Complete the sentence appropriately.

The extract belongs to the genre of _______________.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The extract belongs to the genre of realistic fiction.

Step-by-step explanation:

• The genre of a text is the category or type of literature that it belongs to, based on its form, style, content, and theme.
• To identify the genre of the extract, we need to look for clues that indicate its characteristics and features.
• Some clues that suggest that the extract belongs to the genre of realistic fiction are:
•    The use of dialogue and narration, which are common features of fiction texts.
•    The focus on contemporary issues and problems , such as disability, prejudice, loneliness, etc., which are typical of realistic fiction texts.
•    The portrayal of believable characters and situations, such as Mr Lamb and Derry's conversation in the garden, which create a sense of realism and authenticity.

Question (iv)

Give one reason why the extract can be called an important introduction to the theme.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

One reason why the extract can be called an important introduction to the theme is that it introduces Mr Lamb's philosophy of life and nature, which will influence Derry's transformation later in the story.

Step-by-step explanation:

• The theme of a text is the main idea or message that the author wants to convey through their work.
• To explain why the extract can be called an important introduction to the theme, we need to give an example of how it introduces Mr Lamb's philosophy of life and nature, which will influence Derry's transformation later in the story.
• One example of how the extract does this is:
•    It shows Mr Lamb's philosophy of life and nature through his words: he expresses his interest in anybody and anything; he questions the difference between weeds and flowers; he compares all life forms to himself and Derry.
•    It foreshadows Derry's transformation later in the story through his reaction: he disagrees with Mr Lamb at first; but later he will learn from him and change his outlook on life and nature.🌱

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