UNIT 8: Human Rights : Jamaican Fragment, Once upon a Time (Poem), What Is My Name? brief summary and study material

UNIT 8: Human Rights :   Jamaican Fragment, Once upon a Time (Poem), What Is My Name? brief summary and notes.

 

Human Rights

 A. Jamaican Fragment.
B. Once upon a Time (Poem).
C. What Is My Name?

8.HUMAN RIGHTS

"It is the period of great awakening for the human society. Particularly the twentieth century stands testimony to so many changes in the world in the field of science and technology and a series of social, cultural revolutions. The two world wars that threw the world into a chaos, the Bolshevik Revolution and the upsurge in the industrial society, the spirit of freedom that bid adieu to colonial empire gave the world a new direction. It is the century that sent man to the moon. Amidst this, … there was a strong demand for the protection human beings against all kinds of exploitation and oppression. The learners of this century need to internalize the spirit of human rights to uphold humanity. The three texts are really touching and apt to the theme."

Part-A: Jamaican Fragment

The writer of this story is A L Hendricks is a Jamaican writer. The word fragment means ‘a piece’. It can also be understood that it is a small piece of example taken to represent the whole Jamaican society. The two boys-one brown and the other white- puzzle the writer who was on his usual walk. The incident that he saw makes him worried as the two boys appear to represent the oppressing and the oppressed races. But the same two boys  surprise the writer next day with their role reversal. The writer had a sigh of relief as he concluded that this is not what he thought to be . The end of the story is quite fascinating.

Part-B: Once upon a Time

This is a poem the African poet Gabriel Okara. The poet ridicules the hypocrisy practiced by the people of the present times. The poem is a biting criticism on the society for not being truthful in their words and deeds. Reading this poem, every one feels that hypocrisy is dominant in every society. It gives a new dimension to the reader that there is some repentance in the society for being so insincere. The reader, finally is left with a hope that somewhere, someday there is an end to this. The language used is simple but imagery is very effective.

Part-C: What is my Name?

The place of translation in literature plays a catalyst role. It helps in spreading the ideas and emotions from one language to the other. But the success of translated works largely depends on how effective the translation is. Translation is not just translating language but translating the idea, translating the concept without taking the life out of it. The story writer, P Satyavathi is a feminist. The present story is about a woman who forgot her name. This is an unlikely incident but is a symbol of how the woman loses her identity, especially after marriage. Everyone knows her as Mrs … This story portrays beautifully the frantic efforts of a woman to establish her own identity.

Glossary

• Be flanked by (v) : to have something on one or both sides
• Sturdy (adj) : strong and healthy
• Hazel (adj) : reddish/greenish brown
• Imperiously (adv) : haughtily
• Shuffled (v) : to walk by dragging (one's feet) slowly along
• Bidding (n) : ordering
• At one's beck and call : (idiom) be ready to do what someone asks
• Stride (v) : to walk with long steps
• Abjectly (adv) : completely without pride
• Impute (v) : claim that someone has done something unjustly
• Cock-tail (n) : a drink usually made from a mixture of one or more alcoholic drinks.
• Conform (v) : to be and thinking the same way as most other people in a group or Society; normally acceptable
• Portrait (n) : a painting, drawing or photograph of a person especially of the head and shoulders.
• Good - riddance (n) : a feeling of relief when an unwanted person leaves
• Muting (adj) : changing all the time; expressionless / not expressed in speech
• fangs (n) : long, sharp teeth of some animals like snakes and dogs.
• Swab (v) : clean
• Dexterous (adj) : skillful
• Sumptuous (adj) : luxurious, splendid
• Mopping (v) : cleaning / washing
• Perturb (v) : bother / disturb / trouble
• Immerse (v) : absorb oneself in something
• Giggling (v) : laughing nervously
• Frantically (adv) : worriedly / anxiously
• Maternity home (n): house of one's parents
• Parch (v) : dehydrate
• Incognito (adv) : having a concealed identity
• Fish (v) : search

Idioms and Phrases

• At some one’s beck and call (idiom) : be ready to do what someone asks
• Up and down (phrase) : in two directions

Synonyms

• Coarse : crude, impure, rough, unpurified
• Elegant : polished, refined, graceful
• Zeal : ardour, cordially, devotion, eagerness
• Wail : bemoan, deplore, lament, mourn, cry, weep

Antonyms

• Tender x hard, strong
• Zeal x apathy

UNIT 7: Nation and Diversity : My Childhood, A Plea for India (Poem), Unity in Diversity in India brief summary and study material.

UNIT 7: Nation and Diversity :  My Childhood, A Plea for India (Poem), Unity in Diversity in India brief summary and notes.

Nation and Diversity :

A. My Childhood
B. A Plea for India (Poem)
C. Unity in Diversity in India

 

7.NATION & DIVERSITY

"India is a land of diversity. The diversity is so much that many people across the world wonder how this land is able to remain intact till now. Even the British, as a matter of strategy, expressed doubts about the unity of the nation if given independence. After independence, there have been difficult times. But the nation withstood. We have the national song ’Jana gana mana ….’ referring to Punjab, Sindh, Gujarath, Maratha, Dravida, Utkala, Vanga…. As regions these are different. The learners will only be able to appreciate the richness and plurality of culture. This geographical diversity, along with linguistic and religious diversities can be appreciated if they are provided with appealing reading material in support of the nation and the greatness of its diversity."

Part-A: My Childhood

It is an excerpt from A P J Abdul Kalaam’s ‘Wings of Fire’. In this book, the former president of the nation narrates his childhood to the readers. His experiences with Hindu-Muslim interaction and his memories with his friend Ramanatha Sastry are really impressive. The war time memories of the writer and the description of Rameswaram of his childhood make everyone nostalgic. We feel like going back to the days of childhood or we tend to chew the cud of our childhood.

Part-B: A Plea for India

The poet portrays contemporary India with all its negative elements such as riots, terrorism, exploitation, corruption, etc. which make every one of us bend our head down out of shame. This is not the India we want. The poet appeals to the people to leave prejudices and become emotionally united. He exhorts the people of India not to be misguided by the forces that work with vested interests. The structure of the poem is a free verse. Yet, it is emotionally charged.

Part-C: Unity in Diversity of India

It is an essay about the heritage of India. It is basically an expository essay. The essay presents to us the different dance and art forms found in India. The essayist throws light on how Indian sages and their practices were able to influence the attitudes of people of the other countries. The essay finally exhorts us to hold fast to our rich heritage and values cherished by people of this ancient land.

Glossary

• Erstwhile ( adj) : former
• Undistinguished (adj) : not very interesting, successful or attractive
• Ancestral (n) : the race of people that you come from
• Austere (adj) : simple and plain
• Orthodox (adj) : following closely the traditional beliefs and practices of a religion
• Summon (v) : to order somebody to come to you
• Conviction (n) : the act of finding somebody guilty of crime
• Segregation (n) : the policy / act of separating people
• Conservative (adj) : opposed to great/sudden social change
• Ritual (n) : a series of actions, specially as a part of religious ceremony
• Perturb (v) : to make worried/ anxious
• Confront (v) : to deal with a problem/ situation
• Optimism (n) : a feeling that good thing will happen
• Plight (n) : a difficult or sad situation
• Bicker (n) : argue about things that are not important
• Pious (adj) : showing a deep respect for God and religion
• Din (n) : a loud / unpleasant noise that lasts for a long time
• Incite (v) : encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour)
• Ethnic (adj) : connected with / belonging to a nation, race or people that shares a cultural tradition
• Myriad ( n) : an extremely large number of
• babel (n) : the sound of many voices talking at time
• Penetrate (v) : go into / through
• Discern (v) : to know / recognize or understand
• Convention (n) : the way in which most people do
• Blend (v) : to mix two or more substances together
• Dialects (n) : the form of a language that is spoken in one area
  sages (n) : wise people
• seers (n) : people who claims that they can see what is going to happen in the future
• Piety (n) : showing a deep respect for ( esp: for god / religion)
• Penance (n) : an act that you give yourself to do
• Contemplation (n) : the act of thinking deeply about
• Generous : noble, magnanimous, liberal, kind
• Sacred : consecrated, divine, holy, venerable
• Convey : bear, bring, carry, transmit
• Rigid : firm, hard, inflexible, stiff, unyielding
• Rebel : mutiny, resist, revolt, strike
• Bicker : dispute, jangle, quarrel, spar
• Accompany : attend, convoy, escort, follow

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• on high cloud (idiom) : having strong feelings of happiness or satisfaction
• end up (phr.v) : finish / come to an end

Antonyms

• Ancestor x descendant
• Orthodox x heterodox
• Optimism x pessimism
• Generosity x stinginess
• Sacred x unholy, profane, secular
• Rigid x flexible
• Synthesis x analysis

UNIT 6 : Bio-Diversity : Environment , Or will the Dreamer Wake? (Poem), A Tale of Three Villages SUMMARY AND STUDY MATERIAL

UNIT 6 : Bio-Diversity : Environment , Or will the Dreamer Wake? (Poem),  A Tale of Three Villages brief summary and notes.

Bio-Diversity 

A. Environment
B. Or will the Dreamer Wake? (Poem)
C. A Tale of Three Villages

 

6.BIO-DIVERSITY

 

"The theme is more relevant than ever in the wake of sweeping changes taking place in different spheres across the world. The process of development has assumed a new dimension in the recent times. It has been a direct attack on the biodiversity and large scale exploitation of resources for private profits. This problem is likely to aggravate further making life on the planet miserable. There is every need to think about today and tomorrow. This becomes the rationale for including the present texts for reading. The learners will certainly become aware of their role in preserving the pristine nature of the environment as they read and reflect on the passages in this unit."

Part-A: Environment

It is an interview by Japan’s NHK Radio with Wangari Maathai, a well-known  environmentalist and a Nobel Prize winner from Africa. She started the Green Belt Movement and also fought for equal rights for women in Africa.

Part-B: Or will the Dreamer Wake?

The very title of the poem is interesting. It is a question arousing interest in the minds of the readers. It clearly depicts how certain species of animals are about to disappear. The dreamer , perhaps, here is the man; the destruction is caused in four directions. It seems that man is still dreaming about something. The animals like tigress, white bear, songthrush and whale are disappearing very fast. But the question is whether the dreamer or the man would wake up in the right time, is an open ended question.

Part-C: A Tale of Three Villages

It tells us the stories of three villages that are vulnerable to pollution with dangerous chemicals and radioactive dust. It presents a clear picture of many hundreds of villages which are in the same plight as the three villages depicted here.

Glossary

• Green Belt Movement (n) : a movement to protect environment
• Fodder (n) : food for farm animals
• Forested (adj) : forested areas are covered in forests (place where trees are densely grown)
• Pristine (adj) : extremely fresh or clean
• Indigenous (adj) : native
• Biological diversity (n) : the variety of plants and animals in a particular place
• Exotic species (n) : unusual plants
• Plaintive (adj) : sounds sad
• Snuffles (n) : to breathe noisily through your nose
• Gleaming (adj) : to shine softly
• Glaciers (n) : a large mass of ice which moves slowly down a mountain valley
• Warbles (v) : to sing with a high continuous but quickly changing sound
• Birth fills (n) : the process of giving birth to a baby
• Solemn (adj) : very serious and not happy
• Out stretched (v) : stretched out to full length
• Apron (n) : piece of clothing that covers the front part of your clothes and is tied around your waist.
• Radioactive dust (n) : the dust that comes out of radioactive reaction

Phrasal Verbs

• Trailed off (phr. Verb) : it (voice) becomes gradually quieter and then stops
• Trailed off ( phr v) : became gradually quieter and stopped
• Broke down (phr v) : lost control of feelings and started crying
• Go about ( ph.r v) : tackle
• Fight over (phr. v) : argue about something

Synonyms

• Profound : deep, fathomless

Antonyms

• Exotic x indigenous
• Ominous x auspicious
• Barren x fertile

UNIT 5 : Social Issues A. The Storeyd House (Part - I) , The Storeyd House (Part - II) , Abandoned (Poem) brief summary and study material.

UNIT 5 : Social Issues A. The Storeyd House (Part - I)
, The Storeyd House (Part - II) , Abandoned (Poem) brief summary and study notes.

 

5. Social Issues

 A. The Storeyd House (Part - I)
B. The Storeyd House (Part - II)
C. Abandoned (Poem)

 

5.SOCIAL ISSUES

"Even after 65 years of independence India is not totally free from barriers such as caste, religion, region, etc. as evidenced by the unhappy incidents that are constantly being reported in the media. People who are socially and economically unprivileged are denied of their freedom by those who enjoy all privileges of living in a free country. We hear about child labour, dowry deaths, female infanticides, and the like incidents almost every day. We have to reflect whether this is the India that we want, what our great poet Tagore envisaged when he wrote, Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake Students in class 10 should have a critical perspective on different social issues and should be able to take up leadership roles to bring about the awakening of India."

Part-A & B: The Storeyed House I & II

The story is presented in two parts with the prevalence of untouchability in India. Bayaji’s story of building a storeyed house for their family gives a clear picture of inhuman practice of untouchability. Bayaji first wants to build a storeyed house. But to avoid notice of people like Patil, who are the land lords, he builds a concealed storeyed house. On the day of house warming, a celebration is organized in Bayaji’s new house. Suddenly the house catches fire. Bayaji is caught in the fire and burnt severely. He breathes his last. After his burial, his sons start building a new house. This time it is not concealed storeyed house, a real storeyed house. The humility and wisdom exhibited by Bayaji is typical of a mature person from an oppressed group. The awakening that finally comes in his sons shows them their timely purpose of building their real storeyed house. It is not just the question of building a house. It is the question of assertion and it is an urge to seek and make others acknowledge their identity.

Part-C: Abandoned

‘ Abandoned’ is a poem written by Dr. Suraya Nasim. It is about a baby abandoned in a garbage bin. The poem has no fixed pattern. It is like a natural flow. Her poems are simple and easy to read and understand. The poet succeeds in describing the young child, the surroundings of the garbage bin, how insects, cat and rats cause chaos that ends the life of the abandoned infant.

Glossary

• Momentum (n) : impetus gained by movement.
• Reluctantly (adv) : unwillingly
• Truant child (n) : a child (a student) who stays away from school without Leave or permission
• Lurch (n) : sudden movement
• Helter -skelter (adv): in disorderly haste
• Heaved (v) : uttered (a sigh)
• Grunted (v) : made a low, rough sound (expressing disagreement, boredom or irritation)
• Dockyard (n) : place where ships are built and repaired
• Sturdy (adj) : strong and solid; vigorous
• Mahar (n) : a Dalit community in Maharastra (their main occupations are wall mending, sweeping or agricultural labour)
• Sundry (adj) : various; several
  Nonplussed : so confused that one does not know what to say or do.
• Hostility (n) : enmity; ill will
  Mumbled (v) : said indistinctly
• Pleasantries (n) : jocular or humorous remarks
• Scampered (v) : ran quickly
• Trenches (n) : ditches dug in the ground
• Ventured (v) : took the risk of
• Faltered (v) : spoke in hesitating manner
• Ruffians (n) : violent, cruel men
• Troupes (n) : companies of actors or singers
• Engrossed (adj):gave all attention to something absorbed
• Thug (n) : violent criminal
• Seasoned (adj) : having a lot of experience of doing something
• Ambience (n) : environment; atmosphere
• Swayed (v) : moved
• Refuge (n) : shelter or protection
• Frantic (adj) : wildly excited with pain or anxiety
• Agony (n) : great pain or suffering
• Collapsed (v) : fell down
• Calamity (n) : great and serious misfortune or disaster
• Dampened (v) : made sad or dull
• Abandoned (v) : left something or somebody forever.
• Irradiating (v) : sending rays of light upon; light up
• Shriek (n) : short, loud high cry
• Hysteria (n): uncontrolled excitement
• Eerie (adj) :  causing a feeling of mystery and fear.
• Destiny (n) :power believed to control events
• crap (n) : solid waste
• Cyanosed (adj) : a deep greenish blue coloured
• Gnawing (v) : biting steadily at something

Idioms, Phrases and Phrasal Verbs

• Come up (phr.v) : reach a particular point / approach / draw near
• goddammit (phr) : an expression used to show that one is angry or annoyed
• Get down (phr.v) : descend / come down / move down / go down
• Put... together (phr.v): assemble / bring together / used unitedly
• Initial momentum (phr): basic movement
• With ease (phr) : easily / without much effort
• Hang around (phr. v): stay in a place
• Day and night (phr.): all the time
• Sound health (phr) : having the impression of keeping good health
• Humble salutations (phr): a polite expression of greeting people
• Knock down (phr. v): hit and injure someone
• Spring on (phr.v) : throw / jump / make one responsible / blame
• Set foot (idiom) : enter some place
• Fund amount (phr): the total amount of money that has been saved
• At leisure (idm) : at one’s convenience / when somebody is free (not busy)
• Mock sympathy (phr) : insincere or pretending feeling of sharing other’s emotions
• Idle curiosity (phr) : wanting to know something for no specific reason
• Gave out (phr.v) : made (a sound)
• Had been married off (v.phr): got married
• Looked after (phr.v) : took care / managed
• Lifetime’s earnings (phr) : money saved in life
• Ran one’s (his) eyes (idiom) : looked quickly at the whole of something
• Wear out (phr.v) : become damaged
• Eat by turns (phr) : eat one after another (There is no sufficient space or room in the house to sit all at one time so they eat one after another)
• Cry from the rooftops (idiom) : public announcement
• Untouchable creature (phr) : a person who cannot be touched/ a person considered to be the lowest social group
• Lose your (one’s) head (idiom) : not to have control of your emotions
• Set aside (phr.v) : save something for a particular purpose/ save
• Turn one’s (your) head (idiom) : cause to become proud or arrogant
• Breath last (idiom) : die
• Go in for (phr.v) : have an interest in / like / make a choice / choose something
• Shot (shoot) out (phr.v) : went (go) out
• Looked forward (phr. v) : expected/ hoped
• At the sight of (phr) : on seeing
• Betel leaves (phr) : leaves offered in ceremonies in Hindu culture (tamalapaakulu)
• Untouchable worm (phr) : an untouchable person who is not liked (here– Bayaji was called untouchable worm)
• Swollen head (phr) : a person who thinks that he is more important than he really is
• Gathered momentum (phr) : gained speed and force/ increased level
• Dropped off (phr.v) : fell asleep
• In full swing (idiom) :moving quickly forward/ at the peak of the activity
• Rose up (phr.v) : increased
• Rent (rend) the air (idiom) : sound piercingly/ disturb sharply with loud noise
• Took place (idiom) : occurred/ happened
• Caught (catch) fire (idiom) : ignited (ignite)
• Put out (phr.v) : extinguish/ stop burning
  Trapped creature (phr) : Here the ‘creature’ was Bayaji. He was caught (trapped) in fire.
• Came down (phr.v) : fell down
• Gulped down (phr.v) : controlled emotions by swallowing hard
• Calmed down (phr.v) : stopped being angry or emotionally excited
• Sobbing.... heart out (phr) : crying / weeping a lot
• Pained at heart (phr) : The feelings of sadness touched their hearts.
• Rest in peace (idiom) :an expression used to wish eternal peace and rest to someone who has died

Synonyms

• Nonplus :  astonish, bewilder, confound, wonder, confuse
• Persist : continue, endure, last, remain, persevere
• Swindle : cheat, con, cozen, deceive, defraud, dupe, embezzle
• Agony : anguish, distress, pain, pangs
• Calamity : adversity, catastrophe, disaster, distress
• Aspiration : aim, ambition, craving, longing
• Wail : bemoan, deplore, lament, mourn, cry, weep
• Abandon : abdicate, abjure, leave, relinquish
• Chaos : anarchy, confusion, disorder, confusion
• Filthy : dirty, nasty, defiled, foul

Antonyms

• Reluctant x ready, willing
• Obstinate x obedient, yielding