1. Questions 1-4. Read the following lines from the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and answer the questions that follow.
‘Mavrone, mavrone! The man has died
While I slept in the chair’.
He roused his horse out of its sleep
And rode with little care.
He rode now as he never rode,
By rocky lane and fen;
The sick man’s wife opened the door,
‘Father you come again!’
1. Who is the ‘I’ referred to?
2. Why does he ride with ‘little care’?
3. Pick out an instance of visual image from the poem.
4. What had happened while the father slept in the chair?
Answers:
1. Father Gilligan
2. He wanted to reach the man’s house as quickly as possible.
3. He rode now as he never rode
By rocky lane and fen
4. God felt pity for Father Gilligan and send an angel to the sickman’s house in the place of Father Gilligan.
2. The young man is brought back to life by the timely intervention of the doctor, the sergeant and the landlady. They could not believe that the young man tried to commit suicide for a paltry sum. Later the doctor and the sergeant had a conversation about it. Write the likely conversation.
Doctor : What a foolish boy is he? Spoil life for a tiny amount! I can’t believe.
Sergeant : I too. From his words I understand that his companionship spoiled him.
Doctor : Exactly. Anyway he is almost OK now.
Sergeant : For my part I will not report this incident.
Doctor : Thank you very much for your kindness. The landlady is very generous. We have to take care of him for some more days.
Sergeant : We have to win him with love.
Doctor : Yes.
3. There are some errors in the following passage. The errors are underlined. Edit them.
A.J. Cronin was (a) travel from America to London. On the ship he met Mr. John (b) whom was a solicitor in London. Cronin (c) saves young John’s life 25 years ago. John had stolen some money from his office. Terrified of prosecution he had (d) himself shut up in his room and attempted suicide.
Answers:
a) travelling
b) who
c) had saved
d) shut himself
4. Read the following conversation and complete the sentences choosing the suitable answer from the options given.
Sergeant : How much money did you steal?
Young lad : I took seven pounds and ten shillings.
i. The Sergeant asked the young lad _______
a. how much money had he steal.
b. how much money did he steal.
c. how much money he had stolen.
d. how much money had he stolen.
ii. The young lad replied that ___________
a. he took seven pounds and ten shillings
b. I took seven pounds and ten shillings.
c. he had taken seven pounds and ten shillings.
d. he has taken seven pounds and ten shillings.
Answers:
i. c. how much money he had stolen.
ii. c. he had taken seven pounds and ten shillings.
5. Mr. John was honoured by the United States Department of justice for his dedicated service of over fifteen years in rehabilitating juvenile delinquents. The report appeared in the newspaper next day. Write the likely news report.
Washington, DC
15 September 2020
Humanitarian Service
Acknowledged
Mr. John S, a British citizen, was honoured by the US Department of Justice for his in valuable service in rehabilitating juvenile delinquents in the country. Hundreds of maladjusted youths were saved by his service.
The president bestowed on him the medal of honour and praised his services.
Mr. John thanked the president and the country for acknowledging his services.
6. Mr. John’s life underwent a complete change after he was rescued from his suicide attempt. Prepare a narrative describing the incidents in Mr. John’s life.
(Hints: an orphan - looked after by his uncle - a victim of bad company - steals money from office shelf - tries to return the money - fails - suicide attempt - the landlady, the sergeant and the doctor help - becomes a charity worker)
Answer: The narrator is describing the incident. When he saw Mr. John then, the latter was almost dead as the result of a suicide attempt. The narrator, being a doctor, saved his life. Mr. John had stolen a small sum of money from the office he had been working. The narrator gave him the money and asked him to put it back in the office. This incident touched the heart of Mr. John. He was transformed into a new individual. He is now a lawyer. Moreover he is now in the service of saving the adolescents who are victims of bad living conditions. He is now leading a beautiful life, rendering very valuable service to humanity. So the narrator says that the money that he spent for saving the young man was the best investment he had ever made.
7. Citing instances from the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made,’ prepare a write-up on the topic ‘The True Virtues - Kindness and Compassion.’
Answer: Kindness and compassion are really two true virtues. When we read the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ written by Dr. A.J. Cronin, we will realize the fact further. One of the characters in the story Mr. John had led a loose life in his youthful days. He was an orphan and his uncle found a job for him in the town. Soon he forgot his state and started running after pleasures of life beyond his means. To make money he gambled and even stole some amount from his office. Having lost everything, being disappointed and anguished and afraid of a possible prosecution for the theft, he finally resorted to a suicide attempt. The timely intervention and help of three kind-hearted people- the landlady of the lodge where he stayed, a police sergeant and Dr. Cronin - brought him back to a fresh life. He determined to change his life and made a fresh start. He submitted the rest of his life for charity work. The timely act of kindness and compassion of the three good people saved a young man and in return he lived for others serving the society with all the virtues of his mind.
8. Mr. John in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ was addicted to gambling and lost all his wealth. The doctor helped him to return to his life (when he tried to commit suicide). Imagine that he noted his feelings in his diary. Prepare the diary entry of Mr. John.
8, August 2018
It was a terrible experience....! At that moment of despair, I tried to embrace death. Hope came in the form of a sergeant and the doctor. They saved my life. The landlady also helped me. I will never follow my dark and evil life. Just like the doctor, the sergeant and the landlady I will also try to change the lives of others.
9. Mr. John in ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ feels grateful to the doctor for saving his life. He had given him a second chance in life. He writes a letter to the doctor thanking him for all that the doctor had done for him. Write the likely letter.
Answer:
John S
House No. 27
St. Thomas Bay
Geneva
Dear doctor,
I am very much thankful to you for saving my life. Even after so many years I cannot forget what you had done. That was a terrible experience. At that moment of despair, I tried to embrace death. Hope came in the form of a sergeant and you. The landlady also helped me. I have already given up my dark and evil life. When I look back, I realise that I was on the verge of death. You were the real God who appeared before me in human form at that time. You were the one who wished the most to see me successful in life. Thank God for sending such a good man like you to save me. Just like you, the sergeant and the landlady, I am also trying to change the lives of others.
With love,
John.
10. Mr. John in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ is victim of loose society of the streets. Prepare a brief character sketch of Mr. John.
Mr. John
Mr. John was in his 40s. He was short in build. He had fair complexion. His eyes were clear blue. He had no hair just behind his forehead. His dark suit, sober tie and rimless glasses showed that he was serious-minded and of a reserved disposition. Twenty-five years before, the narrator, being a doctor, saved Mr. John’s life from a suicide attempt. Mr. John was then a young person living an indisciplined life. He was on the brim of ruin. Mr. John had stolen a small sum of money from the office he had been working. The narrator gave him the money and asked him to put it back in the office. This incident touched the heart of Mr. John. He transformed into a new individual. He got education and became a lawyer. Moreover he was now in the service of saving boys and girls who were victims of bad living conditions.
11. Complete the word pyramid suitably.
12. Read the passage from ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ and answer the questions that follow:
On the second day, out from New York, while making the round of the promenade deck, I suddenly became aware that one of the passengers was watching me closely, following me with his gaze every time I passed. I wanted to rest, to avoid the tedium of casual and importunate ship-board contacts. I gave no sign of having noticed the man. Yet there was nothing importunate about him. On the contrary, he seemed affected by a troubled, rather touching diffidence. He was in his early 40s, rather short in build, with a fair complexion and clear blue eyes. His thin hair had begun to recede from his forehead. His dark suit, sober tie and rimless spectacles gave evidence of a serious and reserved disposition. At this point the bugle sounded for dinner, and I went below.
a. Who is the ‘I’ referred to in this passage?
b. Where does the incident take place?
c. Pick out a word from the passage that means ‘boredom’.
d. Why did the narrator wish to take rest?
Answer:
a. A. J. Cronin/author/narrator
b. On the deck of a ship
c. tedium
d. To avoid the tedium of casual and importunate ship-board contacts.
13. The story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ tells us, how bad habits and bad companions destroy the life of an individual. Prepare a speech on the topic ‘Good friends build good character.’
Answer: Dear friends,
‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’ If our friends are good, our life will change and they can lead us to build a good character. But if our friend is a bad one, he/she can lead us to a dark and evil life. It will be an indisciplined life.
In this fast moving life, attachments and care towards others are decreasing day by day. But it is very clear that friends can make a person’s life worthy or worthless. They can support us in our problems or can guide us properly if we are in trouble. But like everything in this world, friendship also has a negative side - a chance to mislead a person leading him to troubles. Because it is a fact that, in every man’s life, there is a period when they are deeply influenced by friends, either positively or negatively. But that influence has the power to make one’s life a success or a failure. It is clearly described in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made.’ It is his bad friendship that leads him near to death. At the same time, the care and concern that others gave him, helped him to recover.
So, friends, Let’s be very careful and serious while we select our friends. Let’s hope all of us will have a bright future.
Thank you.
14. Prepare a profile of W.B. Yeats using the hints given below. Use appropriate linkers, wherever necessary.
Birth : June 13, 1865, Sandymount, Republic of Ireland
Spouse : Georgiana Hyde Lees
Renowned as : Poet, dramatist, senator, founder of Abbey Theatre
Major works : Celtic Twilight, The Tower, A Vision
Key traits : Symbolism, allusive imagery
Awards : Nobel Prize in Literature, December, 1923
Death : January 28, 1939
Answer: W. B. Yeats
William Butler Yeats was born on June 13, 1865 in Sandymount, Republic of Ireland. His wife was Georgiana Hyde Lees. Yeats was a renowned poet and dramatist. He was also famous as a senator and the founder of the Abbey Theatre. His major works are ‘Celtic Twilight’, ‘The Tower’, ‘A Vision’ etc. Symbolism and allusive imagery are the main characteristics of his writing style. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in December 1923. Yeats passed away on January 28, 1939.
15. Read the following lines from the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and write an appreciation focusing on the theme, imagery and other poetic devices.
‘And is the poor man dead?’ he cried
‘He died an hour ago.’
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.
‘When you were gone, he turned and died,
As merry as a bird.’
The old priest Peter Gilligan
He knelt him at that word.
‘He Who hath made the night of stars
For souls who tire and bleed,
Sent one of this great angels down,
To help me in my need.
‘He Who is wrapped in purple robes,
With planets in His care
Had pity on the least of things
Asleep upon a chair.’
Answer: These lines are part of the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ which is a perfect ballad by W.B. Yeats in every sense. This poem tells the story of an old priest, Father Gilligan. Half of his people in the parish were either in sick-bed or already dead due to an epidemic. Day and night Father Gilligan was in service of them and he was very tired and weak. He could not attend one sick-man’s last moments, as he fell asleep in his chair. Realizing that he had failed to do his duty, the next morning in great grief Father Gilligan rode on his horse to the man’s house. When he reached there, his wife told the priest that her husband had already died and she asked him why he came again. From her question Father Gilligan understood that in his absence God had sent an angel to perform his duties. He knelt and cried in repentance and thanked God for His mercy.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is abcb. The images of a powerful but merciful God and a pious priest can be visualized from these lines. Repeating the line ‘The old priest Peter Gilligan’ and the words ‘priest’ and ‘Peter’, the poetic devices ‘refrain’ and ‘alliteration’ are used respectively. The line ‘As merry as a bird’ is an example of ‘simile’. The theme of the poem is made up of God’s mercy and the priest’s pity and piety.
16. Read the following passage and fill in the blanks choosing the correct phrasal verbs from the box.
[put up with, came across, put forward, turned away, put across]
While Doctor Cronin was walking on the deck he..........(a)...... a young man. The man wanted to .......(b)..... something to Cronin. Usually the doctor doesn’t ......(c)......... ship-board contacts. So he deliberately .....(d)...... from the young man.
Answer:
a) came across b) put across
c) put up with d) turned away
17. Read the following lines from the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and prepare a note of appreciation.
‘Mavrone, mavrone! The man has died
While I slept in the chair’;
He roused his horse out of its sleep
And rode with little care.
He rode now as he never rode,
By rocky lane and fen;
The sick man’s wife opened the door,
‘Father! you come again!’
‘And is the poor man dead?’ he cried
‘He died an hour ago.’
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.
Answer: The celebrated ballad ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ was written by the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats. In this poem we can see a priest named Gilligan who was tired of continuous service night and day. The poet narrates an incident that saved father Gilligan from damnation.
Father Gilligan, an old priest, who was sad because all his parishioners were under the threat of an epidemic. One evening a man came to the priest and informed that his friend was dying. Father told him that he would visit him soon. But he fell asleep. Next morning father woke from his sleep. He rode to the dead man’s house. Repentance came to father for not performing his duty. The dead man’s wife told him that her husband died as merry as a bird after the father had gone. On hearing that, father Gilligan understood that God had sent one of his angels to perform his duty and saved him from damnation. Father knelt and prayed to God for being kind and merciful to him.
The ballad is rich in various sensuous images. The figures of speech used by the poet are excellent. A series of rhyming words enrich the poem. The poem follows the rhyme scheme abcb.
This is absolutely a fabulous ballad. It is an eye - opener for those who do not believe in God. The wonderful tune of the ballad makes reading interesting.
8, August 2018
It was a terrible experience....! At that moment of despair, I tried to embrace death. Hope came in the form of a sergeant and the doctor. They saved my life. The landlady also helped me. I will never follow my dark and evil life. Just like the doctor, the sergeant and the landlady I will also try to change the lives of others.
9. Mr. John in ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ feels grateful to the doctor for saving his life. He had given him a second chance in life. He writes a letter to the doctor thanking him for all that the doctor had done for him. Write the likely letter.
Answer:
John S
House No. 27
St. Thomas Bay
Geneva
Dear doctor,
I am very much thankful to you for saving my life. Even after so many years I cannot forget what you had done. That was a terrible experience. At that moment of despair, I tried to embrace death. Hope came in the form of a sergeant and you. The landlady also helped me. I have already given up my dark and evil life. When I look back, I realise that I was on the verge of death. You were the real God who appeared before me in human form at that time. You were the one who wished the most to see me successful in life. Thank God for sending such a good man like you to save me. Just like you, the sergeant and the landlady, I am also trying to change the lives of others.
With love,
John.
10. Mr. John in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ is victim of loose society of the streets. Prepare a brief character sketch of Mr. John.
Mr. John
Mr. John was in his 40s. He was short in build. He had fair complexion. His eyes were clear blue. He had no hair just behind his forehead. His dark suit, sober tie and rimless glasses showed that he was serious-minded and of a reserved disposition. Twenty-five years before, the narrator, being a doctor, saved Mr. John’s life from a suicide attempt. Mr. John was then a young person living an indisciplined life. He was on the brim of ruin. Mr. John had stolen a small sum of money from the office he had been working. The narrator gave him the money and asked him to put it back in the office. This incident touched the heart of Mr. John. He transformed into a new individual. He got education and became a lawyer. Moreover he was now in the service of saving boys and girls who were victims of bad living conditions.
11. Complete the word pyramid suitably.
Mother
___________
________________
The loving mother of my classmate
_____________________________________
Answer:
Mother
Loving mother
The loving mother
The loving mother of my classmate
The loving mother of my classmate whom I like most
12. Read the passage from ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ and answer the questions that follow:
On the second day, out from New York, while making the round of the promenade deck, I suddenly became aware that one of the passengers was watching me closely, following me with his gaze every time I passed. I wanted to rest, to avoid the tedium of casual and importunate ship-board contacts. I gave no sign of having noticed the man. Yet there was nothing importunate about him. On the contrary, he seemed affected by a troubled, rather touching diffidence. He was in his early 40s, rather short in build, with a fair complexion and clear blue eyes. His thin hair had begun to recede from his forehead. His dark suit, sober tie and rimless spectacles gave evidence of a serious and reserved disposition. At this point the bugle sounded for dinner, and I went below.
a. Who is the ‘I’ referred to in this passage?
b. Where does the incident take place?
c. Pick out a word from the passage that means ‘boredom’.
d. Why did the narrator wish to take rest?
Answer:
a. A. J. Cronin/author/narrator
b. On the deck of a ship
c. tedium
d. To avoid the tedium of casual and importunate ship-board contacts.
13. The story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ tells us, how bad habits and bad companions destroy the life of an individual. Prepare a speech on the topic ‘Good friends build good character.’
Answer: Dear friends,
‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’ If our friends are good, our life will change and they can lead us to build a good character. But if our friend is a bad one, he/she can lead us to a dark and evil life. It will be an indisciplined life.
In this fast moving life, attachments and care towards others are decreasing day by day. But it is very clear that friends can make a person’s life worthy or worthless. They can support us in our problems or can guide us properly if we are in trouble. But like everything in this world, friendship also has a negative side - a chance to mislead a person leading him to troubles. Because it is a fact that, in every man’s life, there is a period when they are deeply influenced by friends, either positively or negatively. But that influence has the power to make one’s life a success or a failure. It is clearly described in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made.’ It is his bad friendship that leads him near to death. At the same time, the care and concern that others gave him, helped him to recover.
So, friends, Let’s be very careful and serious while we select our friends. Let’s hope all of us will have a bright future.
Thank you.
14. Prepare a profile of W.B. Yeats using the hints given below. Use appropriate linkers, wherever necessary.
Birth : June 13, 1865, Sandymount, Republic of Ireland
Spouse : Georgiana Hyde Lees
Renowned as : Poet, dramatist, senator, founder of Abbey Theatre
Major works : Celtic Twilight, The Tower, A Vision
Key traits : Symbolism, allusive imagery
Awards : Nobel Prize in Literature, December, 1923
Death : January 28, 1939
Answer: W. B. Yeats
William Butler Yeats was born on June 13, 1865 in Sandymount, Republic of Ireland. His wife was Georgiana Hyde Lees. Yeats was a renowned poet and dramatist. He was also famous as a senator and the founder of the Abbey Theatre. His major works are ‘Celtic Twilight’, ‘The Tower’, ‘A Vision’ etc. Symbolism and allusive imagery are the main characteristics of his writing style. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in December 1923. Yeats passed away on January 28, 1939.
15. Read the following lines from the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and write an appreciation focusing on the theme, imagery and other poetic devices.
‘And is the poor man dead?’ he cried
‘He died an hour ago.’
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.
‘When you were gone, he turned and died,
As merry as a bird.’
The old priest Peter Gilligan
He knelt him at that word.
‘He Who hath made the night of stars
For souls who tire and bleed,
Sent one of this great angels down,
To help me in my need.
‘He Who is wrapped in purple robes,
With planets in His care
Had pity on the least of things
Asleep upon a chair.’
Answer: These lines are part of the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ which is a perfect ballad by W.B. Yeats in every sense. This poem tells the story of an old priest, Father Gilligan. Half of his people in the parish were either in sick-bed or already dead due to an epidemic. Day and night Father Gilligan was in service of them and he was very tired and weak. He could not attend one sick-man’s last moments, as he fell asleep in his chair. Realizing that he had failed to do his duty, the next morning in great grief Father Gilligan rode on his horse to the man’s house. When he reached there, his wife told the priest that her husband had already died and she asked him why he came again. From her question Father Gilligan understood that in his absence God had sent an angel to perform his duties. He knelt and cried in repentance and thanked God for His mercy.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is abcb. The images of a powerful but merciful God and a pious priest can be visualized from these lines. Repeating the line ‘The old priest Peter Gilligan’ and the words ‘priest’ and ‘Peter’, the poetic devices ‘refrain’ and ‘alliteration’ are used respectively. The line ‘As merry as a bird’ is an example of ‘simile’. The theme of the poem is made up of God’s mercy and the priest’s pity and piety.
16. Read the following passage and fill in the blanks choosing the correct phrasal verbs from the box.
[put up with, came across, put forward, turned away, put across]
While Doctor Cronin was walking on the deck he..........(a)...... a young man. The man wanted to .......(b)..... something to Cronin. Usually the doctor doesn’t ......(c)......... ship-board contacts. So he deliberately .....(d)...... from the young man.
Answer:
a) came across b) put across
c) put up with d) turned away
17. Read the following lines from the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and prepare a note of appreciation.
‘Mavrone, mavrone! The man has died
While I slept in the chair’;
He roused his horse out of its sleep
And rode with little care.
He rode now as he never rode,
By rocky lane and fen;
The sick man’s wife opened the door,
‘Father! you come again!’
‘And is the poor man dead?’ he cried
‘He died an hour ago.’
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.
Answer: The celebrated ballad ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ was written by the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats. In this poem we can see a priest named Gilligan who was tired of continuous service night and day. The poet narrates an incident that saved father Gilligan from damnation.
Father Gilligan, an old priest, who was sad because all his parishioners were under the threat of an epidemic. One evening a man came to the priest and informed that his friend was dying. Father told him that he would visit him soon. But he fell asleep. Next morning father woke from his sleep. He rode to the dead man’s house. Repentance came to father for not performing his duty. The dead man’s wife told him that her husband died as merry as a bird after the father had gone. On hearing that, father Gilligan understood that God had sent one of his angels to perform his duty and saved him from damnation. Father knelt and prayed to God for being kind and merciful to him.
The ballad is rich in various sensuous images. The figures of speech used by the poet are excellent. A series of rhyming words enrich the poem. The poem follows the rhyme scheme abcb.
This is absolutely a fabulous ballad. It is an eye - opener for those who do not believe in God. The wonderful tune of the ballad makes reading interesting.
This very helped to thankyou for this..... And this is a good one 😊😊😊 Iam Gayathry pradeep
ReplyDeleteVery helpful.Thanks a lot for giving me this��
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