This extract is about the March sisters. Each of them has their individual distinctive qualities.

This extract
shows how they plan to give a surprise to their mother.

The four sisters think that their mother must have a new pair of slippers as the ones that she has are quite
worn out. Meg decides to give her a nice pair of gloves, Jo a pair of army shoes. Beth some handkerchiefs
all nicely hemmed. And Amy a bottle of her favourite cologne. The sisters then start practicing for the
play to be staged on Christmas night. The play is written by Jo, who has rare talent for writing and acting.
Just as they end the rehearsal in a burst laughter, their mother enters and tells them that she has a letter
from their father who is serving as a chaplain in the army. The letter is full of fatherly feelings for the
daughters, and the four sisters are deeply moved when the letter is read out. The day ends with all the
girls singing with their mother before they go to bed.

A. Read these sentences and answer the question that follows:

1.’you ‘re a regular Shakespeare’

a. Who said these words and to whom?

Beth said these words to jo.

b. What does ‘regular Shakespeare’ mean?

A ‘regular Shakespeare ‘means one who is creative and talented like the dramatist to write original plays
stories or poems.

a. Do you think the speaker is paying a compliment to the listener?

Yes, the speaker is paying a compliment to the listener by comparing her to one of the greatest
dramatists in English Literature.

B. Answer the following questions:

a. What did Mr. March’s letter say?

Mr. March’s letter was a cheerful, hopeful letter which was full of lively description of camp life marches
and military news. It overflowed with feelings of fatherly love and longing for his daughters at home and
contained his hope that they would do their duty faithfully so that he would be even fonder of his little
women.

b. Who was the eldest of the March sister’s? Describe her appearance.

The eldest of March Sisters was Margaret. She was very pretty, with large eyes, plenty of soft brown hair
and white hands of which she was rather proud. she was sixteen year of age.

c. Who was called ‘Little Miss Tranquility’? How did the name suit her?
Beth was called Little Miss Tranquility and the name suited her very well because she had a peaceful
expression on her face ,a shy and a timid manner .she lived in a happy world of her own, venturing out
to meet only the few whom she trusted and loved.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

When the day’s routine comes to a pause, the speaker’s three daughters look forward spending time with
him. The speaker can hear the patter of his daughter’s feet as they descend on him to take him by surprise.
He describes his three daughters by calling with their nick name grave Alice, laughing Allegra and golden
-haired Edith who comes down the stairs to invade him in his study. They are all around him, and he
describes how he will hold fast in his fortress and will never let them to leave. He will keep them
enclosed safely in his heart till the end of the time.

A. Answer the following Questions:

1.What is the ‘Children’s Hour’?

TheChildren’sHour is the time between the dark and daylight, when the night is just about to set in
and the day’s work comes to an end.

2.Who invades the poet’s castle?

The poet’s three daughters Alice, Allegra and Edith invade his castle.

3.How do the invaders enter the castle?

The intruders rush from the stairway,raid suddenly from the hall and enter throughthree doors that
have been left unguarded

4.Where does the poet wish to keep the intruders forever?

The poet wishes to keep the intruders forever in the dungeon in the round-tower of his heart.

B. Read these lines and answer the question:

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,

Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all!

a.Who are the blue -eyed banditti referred to here?

The blue-eyed banditti referred to here are the poet’s three daughters Alice, Allegra, andEdith.

b.How have they scaled the wall?

They had scaled the wall by coming in through three doors left unguarded.

c.What does the speaker wish to convey through the last two lines of the extract?
The poet wishes to convey that he is aware of all the tricks employed by his daughters to come to
him and he is quite prepared to welcome them in his castle.