Question 2 - Chapter 6 - Memories of Childhood - Vistas - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 12

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

But this eating by formula was not the hardest trial in that first day. Late in the morning, my friend Judewin gave me a terrible warning. Judewin knew a few words of English; and she had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting our long, heavy hair. Our mothers had taught us that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among our people, short hair was worn by mourners, and shingled hair by cowards! We discussed our fate some moments, and when Judewin said, “We have to submit, because they are strong,” I rebelled

(Memories of childhood)

Question (i)

What is the main problem that the narrator faces in the extract?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 The main problem that the narrator faces in the extract is that she is forced to cut her long hair, which is a symbol of her cultural identity and pride.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to identify and explain the problem that the narrator faces in the extract, based on her words and actions.
• Some evidence that shows that the narrator faces this problem are:
•    She says that she was eating by formula, which shows that she was following a strict and unfamiliar routine at the boarding school.
•    She says that Judewin gave her a terrible warning, which shows that she was about to face something worse than eating by formula.
•    She says that the paleface woman talked about cutting their long, heavy hair , which shows that she was going to lose her natural and traditional hairstyle.
•    She says that their mothers had taught them that only unskilled warriors, mourners, and cowards had their hair shingled , which shows that she valued her hair as a sign of her skill, joy, and courage.
•    She says that she rebelled when Judewin said that they had to submit, which shows that she resisted and opposed this problem.

Question (ii)

Why did Judewin say "We have to submit, because they are strong" in the extract?

1. Because she was afraid of being punished
2. Because she was loyal to the paleface woman
3. Because she was indifferent to her hair
4. Because she was realistic about their situation

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(d) Because she was realistic about their situation

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to look for evidence in the extract that supports one of the given options.
• The option that is supported by the extract is D. Because she was realistic about their situation.
• Some evidence that shows that Judewin said this because she was realistic about their situation are:
•    She knew a few words of English, which shows that she was aware and informed of what was going on around her.
•    She had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting their hair , which shows that she knew what was going to happen to them and why.
•    She gave a terrible warning to the narrator , which shows that she wanted to prepare her for the inevitable and unpleasant outcome.

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 memoir.

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 memoir are:
•    The use of firstperson narration, which is a common feature of memoir texts.
•    The focus on personal experiences and memories , such as being taken to a boarding school and losing her cultural identity, which are typical of memoir texts.
•    The portrayal of historical events and contexts, such as the assimilation of Native American children in white schools, which create a sense of authenticity and relevance.

Question (iv)

 Give one reason why the extract can be called a moving introduction to the theme.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 One reason why the extract can be called a moving introduction to the theme is that it uses emotional language and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation.

Step-by-step explanation:

• Moving means arousing strong feelings of sympathy or sadness in someone.
• 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 moving introduction to the theme, we need to give an example of how it uses emotional language and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation.
• One example of how the extract does this is:
•    It uses emotional language and imagery such as "terrible warning", "cutting our long, heavy hair", "unskilled warriors", "captured", "shingled", "mourners", "cowards", etc., which appeal to the feelings of fear, anger, shame, and sorrow.
•    It conveys the narrator's feelings and situation such as being forced to change her appearance and identity against her will; being humiliated and dishonored by losing her hair; being oppressed and powerless by being in a boarding school; being rebellious and courageous by resisting submission.😢