1.

MendingWall
2.AmigoBrot
hers
3.TheHourOfTruth
 Mendi
ngWal
l
-

Robe
-
rt Fr ost( 1874 - 1963)
,i s an Ame ri
can po et well-
known f or his poems t hatar ec oll
oquialins tyl e.His
poemsbe gini n delightand e nd in wisdom.I n 1924,he
receivedhi sf i
r stoff ourPul
-
it
ze rPr i
zesforhisboo kNe w
Hamps hire .He won hi s other Pul i
tzersfor Col l
ect
ed
Poe ms( 1931) ,Fur therRange( 1937)andA Wi tnes sTree
(1943).St o pping by t hewoodson a s
-
nowy eveni ng and
Roadno tTakenar etwoamonghi sfamouspo ems.
-

-
-
-

e
-
 -

-
-

--
-

e n

-
-
-

-
Pr epareanappr eci
ationo fthepo em.“ Me ndingWal l”
“Me nding Wal l”iso ne oft he mo stpo pularpo ems wr it
ten by
Ame ri
ca’smo stbeloved Po et,Ro bertFr ost.Thispo emt el
lsthe
taleo fme ndingandde mo lit
iono far ockwal lwhi c
hs eparatesthe
prope rti
eso ft hepo etand t hato fhisne ighbouri nt hecountry
side.I tmaybet hes we ll
ingo ft hee arth unde rthewal lo rthe
wor kofhunt ers,what everitmaybe ,dur i
ngt heme ndi ngseason
thewal lwillbede mo li
she d.Unl i
kehi sne ighbour,thepo etisnot
soke e ninr epairi
ngt hewal lregularly.Hes eesnoreas onforthe
wal ltobeke ptasthe rear enoc ows .Hes t
ronglybelievesthathis
appl etreeswi llnotge tac rossande atthec ornunde rt hepineof
hisnei ghbour .
Heal sodo esno tbe l
ie vein wal lsf orthes akeo fwalls.Buthi s
neighbours tronglybe lievesint heo ldsayi ng:“ Goodfenc esmake
good ne ighbour s.” Hi s ne ighbour r emai ns unc onvinced and
stressest hene edo ffenc es
.Thes peakerc o nsidershisne i
ghbour
asal ivingexampl eo faSt oneAges avage.
Thewal lr efer
r edi nt hepo emi shi ghlys ymbo l
ic.Actuallywal l
s
ares eparat i
ngo nefrom hi ssur roundingandc onfini
nghi m wi t
hin
ac el
l.Now adaywal lsar emadeno tonlyo ne ar t
hbutal s ointhe
hearto fman.Pe oplear es eparatedands egr egatedint henameo f
cast,c reed,religionandpo l
iticalbar r
iers.I nt hepo em,t hereare
twot ypesofc har act
er s-onei syo ungand pr ogressi
ve,and t he
otheri soldandc onservati
ve .
Ami
goBr
othe
rs
Ami
goBr
other
s
Ami
-
goBr othersisas tor
yo ff
riendshipbyRo
-
- bert
Piri.The pr
-
ot
agonistsoft he st
or y ar
et
-
wo boys
named Ant
-
oni
oCr uzand Fel
-
i
xVar gas.Theyar e
seventeenyearol dboysgr owingupi nManhat tan
- -

int heUni tedStates.Antonioiswhi tewhi l

eFel i
x
-

- -
-

i
-
sanAf ro-Amer i
can.Bothboysdr eam ofbecomi ng
li
ght wei ght boxi ng �
-
c
hampi ons . They t
--
r ain
togethereveryday.
-

-
Onedayt heyl ear nt hattheywi l
lhavet ofaceoff
eachot herandonl yt hewinnerc anr epresenttheir
clubint hec hampi onship.Stil
lthebo ysc onti
nuet o
traint ogetherunt il,oneday,t heyf eelthatthe y
wi l
lnotbeabl et ot rai
nf ort heboutpr operl
yi f
theys e eeach ot her .SoFel
-
i
xde c
idest ol i
vewi th
hisauntunt ilt
-
heyf aceeach ot
-
heri nt hemat ch.
Beforet hemat ch,bot hfriendsf eelune asyabout
-

- -

fi
ght
--
i
ngeac hother .Howevert heydec i
det oforget
thei
-
rfr i
ends hipf ora whi
-
leand f-
ighte acho ther
wi t
h-
pas s
ion.
The bo ut at t
ract
s muc
-
h attention among t he
neighbourhood.On the day oft he bouta gr eat
--

crowdt urnsupt owatchthemat ch.Ant oni

obei ng
--
the taller, has morer each o n hi so pponent.
- -

---

Howe ve
-
r both boys f
ight with pas si
ont hrough
threerounds .Attheendofthebo utbothbo ysrun
-
t
-
oe
-
ac
hot herandhug.Theyl eavet heringarmi n
arm withoutwai
--
t
ingf
orther esult
.
-
POSSI BLE QUESTI ONS
1. Char
-
act
er sketch of Ant onio Cruz or Feli
x
-

Vargas
- -

2.Announcementbef oret
hebo xi
ngmat ch

r-
3.‘
i
Ar

ofami
mi
ng’.Wr
nar
i
gobr
t
ef
-

ot
m,t
i
hec
vepo
hers
i
hampi
nt sf
onshadal
orandagai
-
readyl
nstt
ef
tt
heact
he
i
on
-

4.Prepar
-
eanews paperreportofthefight
1. You have wi
e tnes
sed t
he f
ight bet
ween t
he Ami
go
brothersandandhavebeenqui t
ei mpr e
s s
edbyt hewayi t
ended.Prepareawr iteupaboutt hec l
imaxo fthef i
ght
2.Twodaysaf tert hefight,theyr eceiveal etterfrom the
-
secret
aryoftheGo ldenGl oveChampi onshipinformingthat
--

both havebeen selectedf ort het ournament .Pr eparethe

-
let
ter -

3.Moved by t heAmi goBr other’ss t

oryo fintimac yread
fromt henewspaperyouwr i
teal ettertoFelix
andAnt oniocongr
at ul
atingt he m.Pr eparethele t
ter.
u
4.I
Aft
magi
ert
net
hebo
hatyouar
utbet
et
weenAnt
her epo
oni
rt
ero
oandFel
fal
i
ocalTV c
x,yo uwe r
hannel
easke
.
d
toi nterview t hem.Pr epar ea s etoff ive que s
tionsto be
askedt oAnt onioandFe li
xaspar toft heint er
view.

-
5. Af
st
di
udent
ff
er
t
er r
sopi
entvi
eading t
nedt
he s
hatbo
ew.Soyourf
xi
tor
ngi
ri
y ‘
sac
endsde
Ami
rue
ci
go Br
lgame
det oc
others
.Butyo
onduc
’
,c ert
ai
uhavea
tadebat
n

e
on t he t opic‘ Boxi
ng i sa c r
uelgame ar ousing animal
instincts.’Whatwo uld bet hepos siblear gument sofyour
fri
endswhos upportthet opic.Wr it
et hreepoi nts.
“
TheHouro
fTr
uth”
Perci
valWi l
d’splay,“ The HourofTr
-
ut h”isan
int
ense ps ychol
ogical s t
udy on t he c orrupting
inf
luenceofmoneyo npeo pl e.Thi spl
-
ayshowshow
easi
lypeoplef or
gett heirmor alsandval
-
uesbef ore
for
tune.Thet womai nchar ac tersi
nt hispl ayar e
- -

- -

Robe
--
rtBaldwi n,thes ecretaryo fapowe rfulbank
and hi s boss Mr
-
. Jo hn Gr e
sham, t he bank
Presi
dent.Mr .Baldwi nr epr esent
s an ever yday
- - -

- - -

Ame ri
can man who wor ks f ora l i
ving.Buthi s
-

-
-- -

sal
aryisreallyinsuffic
ientt os upporthisf amily
Gresham, who i s c harged wi th t he
mi
-
srepresentat
ionofmoneybegsMr -
.Baldwin,the
onl
-
yonewi t
nessint hiscaset osayt hr
eewor ds“
-
I
don’
--
treme mber”dur inghi se xaminati
ono nt ri
al.
Asar ewar d,heofferedhi m onehundr edthousand
-

--

dol
-
l
ars.Itwasr
-
eal
l yanamaz ingamo untofmoney
att he t
ime o fthe s tor
y.I-
ti sto be noted t
hat
mone ychangese verythinge xceptthemi ndofMr .
-

-
Baldwin.
->
It’
ss urpr i
singt os eet hatevenhi sf amilyc hanges
from beingvi rtuousandr espectabl e.Theyc ompel
-

- - --
himt os ayj ustt hoset hreewor ds .Hegoesabove
-

the tempt ation and admi t sco urageo uslyt hathe

-
-

-
-

canno tac c
eptt hebr ibe.
- -

De spitethepr essure,Bal dwi nhol dsf irm.I tishis

-

integrity and f ir
mne ss br ings Mar shall,t he
-

- - -
-

pres i
dento fThi r
dNat ionalBankt ohi sho useand
- -

- -

heof fersBal dwin aj ob in hi sf irm.Het

-
ellsthe
-

fami l
yt hatGr esham hi mselfwass o-
i
mpr essedby
-

Bal dwin’s pr i
nc i
plest hathe c onfe ss
ed hi s guil
t
-

--
w it
ho
- -
utgo ing t ot ri
al.On hear ing t hi
sBal dwin
shedsaf
-
ew dr opsoft earsofhappi ne ss.
POSSI BLE QUESTI ONS
u
1.Thet ruthaboutGr esham' sbanki smadepubl i
c
thenextdayi nthec ourt.Pr epareal iveTV r epo r
t
onthes t
o rythatwillbet elecast.
-

2.Pr epareanedi tori

alt obepubl ishe dinal eadi ng
~
dail
yo n t he topi
c‘ Cor rupti
o n-the c urset hat
curtailsthede vel
opmentofournat ion.’
3.Thel iteraryclub o fyours c
ho oli ss tagi
ngt he
m
pl
cl
ay‘ TheHouro
ubyouar eas
fTr
kedt
ut
ogi
h.’Ast
veani
hes
ntr
ecr
oduc
et
t
ar
or
yo
ys
ft
peec
he
h
onthepl ay.Pr epareit.
4.I nt heplay‘ TheHo uro fTrut h’RobertBal dwin
e
rejectsthehuges um ofhundr edt housanddol l
ars
offeredt ohimf ortel
lingj ustt hreewo rds"Ido n'
t
reme mbe r.
"Doyouagr eewi thhi m?Expr
--
essyour
viewsi napar agraph.
~
--

5.Hone styi sthebes tpo licy'

.I nt helighto fthe
play ‘ The Hour o f Truth,’wr it
et he c haract
er
sketc hofRober
-
tBaldwi n
6.Rober tBal dwi nre cei
ves an e mailofapo l
ogy
~
from Mr .Gr esham forof f
eringhi m bribe.Draftthe
emai l.
 GRAMMAR

Nasaer Farudders
- * Grammar
Nachu sit
-

* Students
 MODEL 2023

Edit the following passage :

There is people who is daring enough to go for any extent to
pursue there dreams. (4 Marks)

is people – are people

is daring – are daring
go for – go to
there dreams – their dreams
 5000+ phrasal verbs MODEL 2023

Use the appropriate phrasal verbs to fill in the blanks : 4 marks

(break out, run out, called off, keep up)

called
off
a) A friend of mine has ----------- her wedding.
~ up
keep
b) Your website has helped me a lot to -------- the good work.
e
break out
-
c) Don’t smoke in the forest. Fires -------- easily at this time of the
year. ran
out
~
d) I am afraid; we have ----- of apple juice.Will an orange juice
do?
PHRASAL VERBS
-
●
pass away: die
--
●
do without: to not have (something) : to live, work, etc.
~
●
look forward to :to expect (something) with pleasure
~
●
call off: cancel
~
●
make up: to invent a story, etc., especially in order to trick or
entertain someone
~
●
carry away: to become so excited about something that you do not
control what you say or do
~
●
break out: if something bad such as a war or disease breaks out, it
starts
~
●
run out: to use up or finish a supply of something
e
●
put up with: to tolerate
-
●
keep up: continue to do something
PRACTICE QUESTIONS Textbook
Page No 87
break out
1.Don't smoke in the forest. Fires …………... easily at this time of the year.
look forward
2. I …………... seeing my friends again.
ran out
3. I'm afraid; we have …………...of apple juice. Will an orange juice do?
keep up
4. Your website has helped me a lot to …………... the good work.
called offher wedding.
5. A friend of mine has …………...
up with
6. His mother can't ………… his terrible behaviour anymore.
put
made up
7. As an excuse for being late, she …………... a whole story.
carried awayby his enthusiasm.
8. I got …………...
do without my mobile. I always keep it with me.
9. I just cannot …………...
passed away last week.
10. She was very sad because her father …………...
 ANNUAL 2022

of
to for

in

7. of
8. to
9. for
10. in
 ANNUAL 2022
emarks

singular ⑲
wes
-

Singular
-

writes
verb
-

sings
singular reads
gular now
-

Sin
plural verb
plural hours
+

Sing
write
reads
I singular

plural VI v2

is, am, are was ,

wave

has, have had

did
do does
Will would
shall should
can coul
may might
 ANNUAL 2022

●
Mrs. Higgins said that she wanted a book of stamps and a
money order for two punds eleven shillings and five pence.
●
The assistant gave her a book of stamps and requested her to fill
in that form for the money order.
 X:why we you -
crying? > Direct b
failed in examination Spez
Y: I my
E -
-

t want wooly
+ linking
ros men's wary word A
that past
statement- verb are

if (whether
Yes/Noc= ↳one Zha
wit c
same
=

questt
imperative - to +V,
(singulars
Why her was crying,
X asked Y his examination.
had failed
-
in
that her
y replied x
Direct speach indirect sparch

VI Va
~ n

is, ams, ave

-
was, ware -

has, have had

do, does did
would
Will
would
S
shall
could
(a)

vo had + V3

was/were fing had been

ting
 ANNUAL 2022

in *
●
You should brush your teeth twice a day.
●
You had better wash your mouth after eating food.
 MODEL 2022

+ VI
You’d better listen to him in the beginning itself.
+ VI
Why don’t you -
give him some more time to enjoy?
~2
subjectswould
V,
0 If I were you, I-
would stop working there.
+ to+Y
I would advise you to quit this job at the earliest.
 If clause main clause

If you study well you will pass.

-

VI will + VI
would VI
Va would have +V3
had + V3
 MODEL 2022

~
~
 MODEL 2022

-
Yes/No

-> statement

●
Mrs. Smith asked Mr. Brown whether/if he could really manage a
turkey for Christmas.
●
Mr. Brown replied affirmatively/positively and added that he
could spare one.
 X:why we you -
crying? > Direct b
failed in examination Spez
Y: I my
E -
-

t want wooly
+ linking
ros men's wary word A
that past
statement- verb are

if (whether
Yes/Noc= ↳one Zha
wit c
same
=

questt
imperative - to +V,
(singulars
Why her was crying,
X asked Y his examination.
had failed
-
in
that her
y replied x
Direct speach indirect sparch

VI Va
~ n

is, ams, ave

-
was, ware -

has, have had

do, does did
would
Will
would
S
shall
could
(a)

vo had + V3

was/were fing had been

ting
 MODEL 2022

VI-was +V3
-

1977.
movement was started by us in

Belt
a) Green
major incidents of
reported two

↳The five
men

forest file.
 a car.
Arjun dove

by Arjun
⑭
A car driver

voice
will

the verb form ofpassive

always
be V3
 MODEL 2022

●
‘The Green Belt Movement was started in 1977 by us’.
●
‘The firemen reported two major incidents of forest fire’.
 ACTIVE VOICE ACTIVE VOICE

write/ writes is/ are written

is/ am/ are writing
-
is being written
has/ have written has/ have + been + written

wrote⑫ 00was/ were written -

was/ were writng was/ were being written

had written had been written

will write will be written

will have written will have + been + written
 Active passive

letter letter is written by Arjun

Arjin writes a
a

Arjun is writing
a letter A letter is being written "

written's
has been
has written A letter
Arjun
written by Kisum

wrote a letter A letter was

Arjun
A letter was being written
letter
Arjun was writing a

letter had been"

written a A
Arjun had
letter
will be written
A letter
Arjun will write
 MODEL 2022

1) It
was 1983.

we live – we lived
a A orphanage – an orphanage
orphanage how looked – how the orphanage looked
 ANNUAL 2021

down
turn
-

Set uR
- -

--
 ANNUAL 2021

come – comes
on rural Kenya – in rural Kenya
been cleared – being cleared
Who destroyed – which destroyed
 ANNUAL 2021

dot tell-tell ->

Yes/No question
=>

statement-
--- -

=>

* re
eyeman" a
●
Sudha Murthy asked/enquired Ratna whether she ever told others
the secrets she heard.
●
Ratna replied that she considered that to be the worst kind of
cheating.
 ANNUAL 2021

●
Ajit, I think you should apologise before Nomita.
⑪
●
Why don’t you be more polite and loving to your wife?
⑭
●
If I were you I would have never read a letter addressed to
somebody else.
●
Why can’t you change this bad habit?
 MODEL 2021

a. from
b. by
c. of
d. to
 MODEL 2021
object
Sub -
v2
-
God to listen to others
were given by

vat
*
Two ears have been given was AVs
to me to listen by God.
 MODEL 2021

on her mind – in her mind

think – thinking
to sent – to send
few rupees – a few rupees
 MODEL 2021

~would Yes/No
⑧
=>

statement
=>

●
Martha asked Baldwin whether the depositors would lose much.
●
Baldwin replied that they wouldn’t lose a cent.
 ANNUAL 2020

v6-
he had
--
and said that
to stop the man

brought the parcel-

+V
was
subject v2-object
- -
was mobilized by Wangari Mathaiis
ANNUAL 2020
 ANNUAL 2020

.....

for
with
across

⑮
a. for
b. with
c. across
 ANNUAL 2020

(3 Marks)

approach – approaches
go into – go through
to sent – to send
=_@°⑦
then giving – then given
 MODEL 2020

-
O O

would short
soldier
The boy said in reply that a
a
with gun ifhe was hit
wast Vs
subjectobject vs->

O motor car
a small pedal
The boy was given

by his parents.
 MODEL 2020

to
contrary
but

in place of
 MODEL 2020

that enable- that enables

raise - rise
are - is
 ERI, Model Escams Live
Unit I =

I
Unit
=Today

unit 1=ER 2
ERS today morning)
=
unit
morning)
ER 3 Ctoday
unit =
Goday
Granusat=

Revision ER
Express
-
Thank you
-
 THE 3Ls OF
EMPOWERMENT
-Christine Lagarde
Previous Year
Questions.
 March 2020
(8 Marks)
Question:29
Marks: 8
Christine Lagarde says, “It’stime to create a world where all woman can
meet their potential without impediment or prejudice and the world will
reap the benefits.” Preoare an essay on the topic ‘Woman empowerment
and Development are intertwined.”
(Hints: represent half the world’s population- percapita income affected-
sensitive to needs- peace loving- good at decision making- consensus
building)
 March 2019
(8 Marks)
Question:20
Marks: 8
Given below is a poster displayed at the Assembly Hall in connection
with the International Women’s Day celebrations conducted by the
Souhrida Club of your school. As the convenor of the programme, you
are asked to give a detailed talk on EMPOWERING
WOMEN_CHALLENGES AHEAD’. Prepare the likely speech taking
hints from the poster.
 SAY 2018
(8 Marks)
Question:14
Marks: 6
Draft a speech to be delivered in the school assembly on the topic
‘Educated women lead the nation to progress and prosperity’, based on
your reading of the speech ‘The 3L’s of Empowerment’.
 March 2017
(2 Marks)
Question: 5-6
Marks: 2
Read the passage and answer the questions:
“It is time to create a world where all women can meet their potential
without impediment or prejudice, and the world will reap the benfits. The
three Ls will help us get there”.

a. What are the ‘Three L’s referred to?

b. What does “impediment” mean?
●
Emancipation and empowerment of women is of prime importance
in every society. In our country, we have achieved partial success,
but we still have a long way to go.
●
Economic role of women is the most important challenge.
●
As a consequence, many countries lag in the per capita income.
●
Women are not responsible for this serious problem.
●
They can contribute, but they are blocked from contributing their
true potential.
●
They are denied equal opportunity.
●
We can solve this problem with 3 Ls.
●
The '3Ls' of women empowerment are Learning, Labour and
Leadership.
● Learning is the most important one.
➢
It is the foundation of all changes.
➢
It empowers women to tap out their inborn talents.
➢
It helps women to break the shackles of exclusion
●
Labour
➢
Women face many challenges in the workplace.
➢
Low-paying, low-status and low-security are some of them.
➢
We should uphold the basic norms of 'equal pay for equal work'.
➢
Economic independence empowers women.
● Leadership
➢
Women can be good leaders.
➢
They can make proper decisions based on inclusion and
compassion.
➢
Women should be ready to take risks and to dare the
difference.


The entire world can reap the benefit of women
empowerment.
Any Woman
-Katharine Tynan
 I am the pillars of the house;
The keystone of the arch am I.
Take me away, and roof and wall
Would fall to ruin me utterly.

keystone: central part of a system or policy (!ല#$് )

 I am the fire upon the hearth,
I am the light of the good sun,
I am the heat that warms the earth,
Which else were colder than a stone.

hearth: the floor and surround of a fireplace

(!"രി%&ോട് )
 At me the children warm their hands;
I am their light of love alive.
Without me cold the hearthstone stands,
Nor could the precious children thrive.

thrive (v): flourish or develop (അഭി*+ി,-.ക)

 I am the twist that holds together
The children in its sacred ring,
Their knot of love, from whose close tether
No lost child goes a-wandering.

twist (n): knot

tether (n): rope
 I am the house from floor to roof,
I deck the walls, the board I spread;
I spin the curtains, warp and woof,
And shake the down to be their bed.

warp: the lengthwise threads on a loom (ഊട്)

woof: the crosswise threads on a loom (പാവ്)

down (n): soft feathers of a bird

 I am their wall against all danger,
Their door against the wind and snow,
Thou whom a woman laid in a manger,
Take me not till the children grow!

thou (pronoun): you

manger (n): !"#$ൊ&ി
 Critical
Appreciation
‘Any Woman’ is a thought-provoking poem written by Katharine
Tynan. It presents the all-embracing power of a woman to hold a
family together. The speaker of the poem is a woman. She
speaks the pivotal role played by women in families. It also deals
with the different tasks and roles that a woman plays at home.
Woman forms the pillars of the family. She is the key-stone of
the arch. If she is removed, the family will surely collapse. She is
the roof and walls. She protects the children from all dangers.
She is the door which protects the children from wind and snow.
Like the sun which warms the earth, she is the fire upon the
hearth and the light of the children’s love. The children warm
their hands at her. Without her warmth, the home would be
colder than a stone, and the children cannot grow. She is the sacred
ring that holds the house together. No child can wander away from
the magical knot of her love. She is the whole house from floor to
roof. She is like a mother bird that spreads its soft feather to be their
bed. In the last two lines she prays to ‘the one who was laid in the
manger by a woman’ to give her life till her children have grown up.
This is an allusion to Jesus Christ who was born in a manger.
Steady rhythm makes the poem perfect. It is simple in form
composing of six ‘four-line stanzas’. Even an ordinary reader can
understand the idea presented. Except in the first stanza the rhyme
scheme is abab. ‘Metaphor’ is the dominant figure of speech
used in this poem. Examples are: ‘I am the pillars of the
house’, ‘I am the fire upon the hearth’, etc. Another
prominent figure of speech used is ‘alliteration’. Examples are;
‘light of love alive’, ‘twist that holds together’, and ‘warp and
woof’.These figures of speech make the poem extremely
beautiful.
The poet wants the reader to realize that woman who protects the
family must be protected against all discrimination in the society.
As a whole the poem is an excellent work.
Previous Year
Questions.
March 2022
March 2022
SAY 2022
March 2021
March 2021
 Review

●
'Matchbox' is a short story written by the famous
Bengali writer Ashapurna Debi. She compares
women to matchboxes. Matchboxes contain
enough gun powder to make a hundred Lankas
burn. But like women they sit around meekly in
the kitchen, doing nothing.
●
Ajit and Nomita live in a joint family in
which there are 26 members. Nomita
finds a twisted and crumpled letter from
her husband's pocket. It was written by
her mother and was addressed to her.
●
It was evident from the post mark that
the letter had come at least 3 days ago.
Ajit must have opened and read it. She
felt humiliated.
●
The letter had nothing special other than
 the usual miseries and complaints from her mother.
She needed some money.
●
Nomita now suspects that Ajit has the habit of
opening and reading her letters before passing it to
her. Nomita shouted at her husband and asked him
why he had hidden the letter.
●
Ajit claimed that there was nothing wrong in
reading his wife's letters. Both of them quarrelled
with each other. Ajit insulted her by telling that she
was of low birth. Nomita was suddenly humiliated
and frustrated.
●
She grabbed a match box, lighted it and set fire to
her sari.
●
Ajit promptly put out the fire. But he could see the
fire of anger on her face.
●
Suddenly she heard the sound of Rini, her niece.
She reminded Nomita that the washer-man was
waiting for her, for a long time.
●
Nomita picked up the dirty clothes and started
sorting them. She went downstairs and tried to
have a natural look on her face.
●
The eldest sister- in law noticed the burned sari
of Nomita and asked her how it had happened.
●
She replied that it had happened while lifting a hot pot of
water, off the stove. Then she started peeling potatoes,
pretending that nothing had happened.
●
In front of the society Ajit was a generous man and Nomita
was a queen.
●
The author compares women to matchboxes, They have
the potential within them to burn many things. But they
never try to burn away the mask of men's high
mindedness and large-heartedness. They don't burn even
their own colourful shells. Man knows that this is a
weakness of woman. So she is treated carelessly by man.
Character Sketch of
Nomita
 NOMITA
●
The character Nomita appears in the story 'Matchbox', written by
Ashapurna Debi.
●
She is the daughter of a poor widow. She is married to Ajit, a
member of a rich joint family, in which there are 26 members.
●
She is strong minded and has self respect.
●
When Nomita finds a crumpled letter in Ajit's pocket, she feels
humiliated. She bursts with anger.
●
She also feels that he is vulgar when she learns that her husband
has opened and read her letter without giving it to her.
●
She wants her privacy to be respected.
●
She feels ashamed that her mother is always begging for money. She
believes that it is an insult to her and it will affect her dignity in the
family. But she secretly helps her mother. Her kind-heartedness is
displayed here.
●
When her husband used wounding words , she frightens him by setting
herself on fire.
●
She is a simple woman with a turbulent character. That may be the reason
for her sudden impulsive behaviour.
Very soon she leaves all her anger and pretends to be happy by smiling in
front of the family members.
Previous Year
Questions.
Do you think that the character in Ashapurna Debi's
story 'Matchbox' acts impulsively without thinking
about the consequences? Or is she a brave woman
who questions her husband's selfish ways? Prepare a
character-sketch of Nomita.

-March 2016 (Q 14)

-March 2022 (Q 22)
The story 'Matchbox' begins like this: "I
always compare women to matchboxes".
What qualities of a woman are highlighted by
Ashapurna Debi in this comparison? Attempt
the answer in a paragraph.

-SAY 2018 (Q 9)
Sample Answer
The author Ashapurna Debi has compared women to
matchboxes, because both contain enough gun powder to make
a hundred Lankas burn. Both sit in the kitchen, not being aware
of their power. Women are meek and innocent, but if they
understand their potentialities, they can work wonders. They
can burn the masks of men, but they don't do so as they are not
conscious of their potential. In this story, when Nomita comes
to know that her mother's letter was not given to her, she bursts
out. But she never tries to burn the mask of Ajit before the
society, because he is a man of generosity and large
heartedness.
"Stop it! What a common vulgar man you
are!" Nomita tells. Do you agree with
Nomita's statement? Write down your
impressions on the character of Ajit, based on
your reading of the story 'Matchbox'.

-SAY 2019 (Q 8)
-March 2021 (Q 21)
Sample Answer

I agree with Nomita's statement. We live in an age in

which man and woman share equal status. Ajit has no
right to open the letter addressed to his wife. After reading
the letter, he kept it in his pocket for two or three days.
This was not the first time that he does so. Very often he
doesn't even give the letter to her. This is not a good habit.
He may have even a doubt that her previous lovers were
writing those letters. This is really a vulgar feature of
Ajit's character. Even after learning many times that the
letters were from her mother, he doesn't stop opening
them. This is something detestable.
In the story 'Matchbox', Nomita's mother
keeps on writing letters to her, complaining
about her hardships and misfortunes. What is
your view of the character of Nomita's
mother? Answer in a paragraph.

-March 2021 (Q 13)

Sample Answer

CHARACTER OF NOMITA'S MOTHER Nomita's mother

appears in the story 'Matchbox', written by Ashapurna Debi.
She has only one child named Nomita. She managed to find a
high class suitor for her daughter. After Nomita's marriage,
mother kept on writing letters to her, complaining about her
hardships and misfortunes. In the letters she asked for money
from Nomita, for her daily needs. Although Nomita did not like
to give money, she did not tell her mother about it. Mother was
also unaware of Nomita's dislike. She was such a miserable
character that in each letter, she had to ask her daughter for
money, and give a reason why she wanted the money.
Nomita is infuriated by the behaviour of Ajit.
She feels pity for her mother and herself. She
writes a letter to her mother revealing the real
nature of Ajit. Prepare the letter. (6 Marks)

-March 2022 (Q 26)

Sample Answer

Kolkata
20 June 1940

Dear Mom,
How are you? I know that you are in pathetic condition. I am
infuriated by the behaviour of Ajit. I feel pity for you and myself. Ajit
doesn't consider me as equal. Though he has no right to open the
letters addressed to me, he opens them. After reading them he doesn't
even care to give them to me. This is really a vulgar and ugly habit.
He may have even a doubt that my previous lovers are writing those
letters. Even after learning many times that the letters were from you,
he doesn't stop opening them. This is something detestable. You might have
expected that he is a man of generosity and large heartedness and I am a queen
in my husband's family. You also might have expected that I would help you
financially to overcome your poverty and misfortunes. It is my duty to do so.
But he does not realize it. He estimates you merely as a lady who always seeks
money from him. He has only contempt for you. He called me a dung-picker's
daughter. He tells that you only write letters demanding money.
We have no way to escape from it. I shall help you when I get chances. Please
pray to god so that Ajit may change his mind.
With love
Sd/
Nomita
HOREGALLU
In a nutshell

●
'Horegallu' is a motivational story written by Sudha Murty, a famous
Indian writer. It tells us of the importance of taking rest in the middle
of our journey or sharing our problems with others.
●
It is also a short and simple anecdote which shows Sudha Murty's
nostalgia.
●
The author wants to emphasise that good listeners have a great role in
creating healthy minds.
●
Hot summer days remind the author of her childhood days in a little
village: There was a huge banyan tree in the middle of the village. Like
an umbrella, it provided shade for everyone.
●
Under the banyan tree there was a horegallu. Horegallu literally means
'a stone that can bear weight'.
●
It was a large flat stone placed over two vertical ones. Travellers or
villagers could keep their weight on it, sit on it, have chats, exchange
news and drink cool water from earthen pots kept nearby.
●
'The horegallu' in their village held special memories for the author. It
was inseparably related to her grandfather, who was a retired school
teacher.
●
He used to spend hours near the horegallu and chat with the travellers
who took rest under the banyan tree.
●
When the author was tired of playing, she would sit next to Grandfather
and listen to his talk.
●
When the author was tired of playing, she would sit next to Grandfather
and listen to his talk.
●
Grandfather once told that a horegallu was an important feature in
their lives and was essential in any journey. Every once in a while the
travellers needed to stop, put down the burden and rest. Then only
they would be refreshed to take the load again.
●
Later the author went to work in Mumbai. Ratna, a colleague there
reminded her of the horegallu.
●
Shè was a cheerful woman who shared the troubles of her coworkers and
spread relief to everyone's life.
●
During lunch break she used to sit with any of the workers and listen to
their problems.
●
She knew that she could not solve all their problems, but she just listened
to them. According to Ratna, a person can be relieved from the burdens
of life when the person finds an outlet for those sorrows.
●
She added that God had given her two ears so that she could listen to
them with sympathy and without passing any judgment.
●
People could open their minds before her and find relief. She never
disclosed anything that was shared by her co-workers.
●
Soon after sharing their problems with her, they would gather the
strength to move on their journey.
●
According to the author, both her grandfather and Ratna were doing the
same thing. Without charging money, both of them were engaged in
social services.
●
They acted as horegallus for others. They were helping others to unload
their burdens without taking any reward. Both of them wère good
listeners, and they created healthy minds.