UNIT : 3. HUMAN RELATIONS , THE JOURNEY, ANOTHER WOMEN , A NEVER NEVER NEST. SUMMARY AND STUDY MATERIAL

UNIT : 3.  HUMAN RELATIONS ,  THE JOURNEY,  ANOTHER WOMEN , A NEVER NEVER NEST. BRIEF SUMMARY AND NOTES.

 

3.HUMAN RELATIONS 

 

"‘Child is the father of man’-This is a well known quotation from Shakespeare’s works. The child grows into an adult. The adult finally becomes old. As this happens, there is an attitudinal change in the individual. The children have some dreams about their future. The adults have some priorities like getting a good job, living in comfortable house, etc. But none of these physical comforts gives us the feeling that warm relation with people living around us gives. Nowadays, the elderly people have feeling that they not wanted by anybody. In this  background, “Old age homes” are mushrooming which tell us that human relations have been pushed to the back burner. The globalized world has encroached this space among people and they feel that they are separated from their friends and kin psychogically. Many stories, novels, poems have been written on this subject. The present reading includes the following."

Part-A: The Journey

The story ‘A Journey’ creates a silent ambience which mostly psychological in nature. The reader feels that each individual( the father and the son) is talking to himself. Their behavior brings out so much that is not expressed orally; but their actions suggest what would be the thoughts of the father and his son. The father is confident and son is diffident and feels that his education had made him so.At the end of the story, The son and the father start traveling in two opposite directions symbolizing their ways of life.

Part-B: Another Woman

It is poem ‘Another Woman’ picturising the plight of the traditional Indian woman. The ill treatments meted out to her, the treatment given by her in-laws after the marriage is universal phenomenon. The poem picturizes all these things quite naturally.

Part-C: The Never- Never- Nest

‘The Never- Never- Nest’ is a one act play on the vicious circle of installments. This play shows how a family of average income group might fall prey to consumerism. The characters and their attributes are found everywhere in the society.

Glossary

• Lethargy (n) : the state of not having any energy or enthusiasm for doing things
  Creeps (v) : develops very slowly
• Dilly-dallying (v): taking a long time to do something, go somewhere or make a decision
• Shun (v) : to avoid something or somebody
• Dissuade (v) : to convince somebody not to do something
• Plight (n) : a difficult and sad situation
• guilt (n) : the unhappy feelings caused by knowing that you have done something wrong
• Self-consciousness (n): feelings of nervousness about what other people think of you
• Contentment (n) : a feeling of happiness or satisfaction
• Weary (adj) : very tired
• methi (n) : fenugreek
• White radish (n) : white and round or finger-shaped vegetable
• Extravagance (n) : spending more than necessary in an uncontrolled way
• Villa (n) : small house standing in its own garden
• cosy(adj.) : warm and comfortable
• Shriek (n) : a high loud cry
• Exclaim (v) : speak with strong feelings
• Thin gummy (n) : a word used in spoken English, when the name of an object has been forgotten
• Tartar (n) : an irritable, hard to cope with person
• Phew (interj.) : expression of tiredness, shock or relief

Phrases and Phrasal Verbs

• Leave behind (phr.v) : not to take someone with you when you go somewhere
• See off (phr.v.) : to go to an airport, station, etc. to say goodbye to someone
• Catch up (phr.v.) : to come from behind and reach someone in front of you by going faster
• Bare feet (n.phrase) : the feet without chappals or shoes
• Pebble-strewn road (n.phrase) : the road over which pebbles are scattered
• The Never-Never Nest (idiom) : a house that can never become one’s own.
• of course (phr) : used to introduce an idea or action as being obvious or to be expected
• As a matter of fact (idiom): actually / in fact
• Come to (phr.v) : reach in total / amount to
• Good heavens! (phr) : a phrase used to express surprise
• Note of hand (phr) : a promissory note
• See to (phr.v) : accompany to some place
• Pay off (phr.v) : pay completely
• Good money (phr) : valuable money
• Black out (phr. v.) : ends with lights off

Synonyms

• Shun : avoid, elude, eschew, escape, evade
• Extravagant : excessive, prodigal, lavish
• Absurd : silly, foolish, ridiculous

Antonyms

• Guilty x innocent
• Recede x advance, proceed
• Extravagant x thrifty, frugal
• Absurd x rationale, sane