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

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

MR LAMB: I’ve a hive of bees behind those trees over there. Some hear bees and they say, bees buzz. But when you listen to bees for a long while, they humm....and hum means ‘sing’. I hear them singing, my bees. 

DERRY: But....I like it here. I came in because I liked it....when I looked over the wall. 

MR LAMB: If you’d seen me, you’d not have come in. 

DERRY: No. 

MR LAMB: No. 

DERRY: It’d have been trespassing. 

MR LAMB: Ah. That’s not why. 

DERRY: I don’t like being near people. When they stare....when I see them being afraid of me

(On The Face Of It)

Question (i)

What is the main contrast between Mr Lamb and Derry's views on bees in the extract?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The main contrast between Mr Lamb and Derry's views on bees in the extract is that Mr Lamb sees them as singers, while Derry sees them as buzzers.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to compare and contrast Mr Lamb and Derry's views on bees in the extract, based on their words and actions.
• Some evidence that shows that Mr Lamb sees bees as singers are:
•    He says that he has a hive of bees behind the trees, which shows that he keeps and cares for them.
•    He says that he hears them singing, which shows that he listens to them and appreciates their sound.
•    He says that hum means sing, w hich shows that he interprets their sound as a form of music.
• Some evidence that shows that Derry sees bees as buzzers are:
•    He does not respond to Mr Lamb's comment about the bees, which shows that he is not interested or impressed by them.
•    He says that some people say that bees buzz, which shows that he repeats the common and mundane expression for their sound.
•    He does not ask Mr Lamb any questions about the bees, which shows that he does not want to learn more about them.

Question (ii)

What does Derry mean by "It'd have been trespassing" in the extract?

1. He means that he would have broken the law by entering Mr Lamb's garden
2. He means that he would have disturbed Mr Lamb by being in his presence
3. He means that he would have violated his own privacy by revealing his face
4. He means that he would have crossed a boundary by talking to Mr Lamb

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) He means that he would have broken the law by entering Mr Lamb's garden

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand the context and the meaning of Derry's words in the extract.
• The context of the extract is that Derry has climbed over Mr Lamb's wall and entered his garden. Mr Lamb has invited him to stay and help him with making jelly from crab apples. Derry has a burnt face that makes him insecure and angry.
• The meaning of Derry's words in the extract is that he thinks that he would have committed a crime by entering Mr Lamb's garden without his permission or knowledge . Trespassing is a legal term that means entering someone else's property without their consent or authority.
• Therefore, we can infer that Derry means that he would have broken the law by entering Mr Lamb's garden by "It'd have been trespassing" in the extract.

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 a significant introduction to the theme.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 One reason why the extract can be called a significant introduction to the theme is that it shows how Mr Lamb tries to connect with Derry through his love for nature and life.

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 a significant introduction to the theme, we need to give an example of how it shows how Mr Lamb tries to connect with Derry through his love for nature and life.
• One example of how the extract does this is:
•    It shows how Mr Lamb tries to connect with Derry through his love for nature and life through his words : he talks about his hive of bees and how they sing; he questions the difference between weeds and flowers; he compares all life forms to himself and Derry.
•    It foreshadows how Mr Lamb will influence Derry later in the story through his reaction: Derry does not share Mr Lamb's view of nature and life at first; but later he will learn from him and change his outlook on nature and life.🌼