Questions

Q.1 What does the opening paragraph of ‘Chief Seattle’s Speech’ imply? OR What do
you understand by,” Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people
for centuries untold”.

Q.2 Which offer was Chief Seattle talking about here? Was it generous to him? Why?

Q.3 Why did Chief Seattle blame his own man for losing their ancestral land?

Q.4 How did Chief Seattle prove that White’s God was different from theirs?

Q.5 Who was Mr. Oliver? What was his usual leisure activity?

Q.6 What was called ‘ Eton of the East’? Why?

Q.7 What kind of weather was there on the night when Oliver was returning to his
school ? How does it add to the setting of the story?

Q.8 What did Oliver encounter while coming back to school one night ? What did he
do after that?

Q.9 What kind of man was Oliver as described earlier by the author? How did he
prove himself opposite of this description?

Q.10 What strange revelation took place when the boy finally looked up at Oliver?
How did Mr. Oliver react to it?
ANSWERS
Q. What does the opening paragraph of ‘Chief Seattle’s Speech’
imply? OR What do you understand by,” Yonder sky that has wept
tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold”.

Ans. The opening paragraph is the letter written by Chief Seattle as a reply to
the President of Washington. Here he is referring to the offer made by Big Chief
at Washington for buying their land. According to him, the time was fair then
but in future problems might arise and whatever appeared changeless and
eternal might change but his words were like stars which would never change.
The great Chief at Washington could rely upon him as he could upon the return
of the sun or the seasons. The Big Chief at Washington sent them greetings and
goodwill. Chief appreciated this as he had no requirement for their friendship in
return.

Q. Which offer was Chief Seattle talking about here? Was it generous to
him? Why?

Ans. Chief Seattle was talking about the offer made by George Washington to
buy their Native land. He said that American Chief wished to buy their land but
was willing to allow them to live comfortably. It appeared generous to him as
the Red Indians no longer had the rights to be respected. And the offer might be
wise as they were no longer in need of an extensive country.

Q. Why did Chief Seattle blame his own man for losing their ancestral
land?

Ans. Chief Seattle had been very much fair in presenting his views for the
whites or his own men. He did not exclude his tribe from being responsible for
the loss of their ancestral land. The youth as he said was impulsive. They
indulged in revengeful acts and war had resulted in loss of their lives. They were
responsible for the untimely decay of their people.

Q. How did Chief Seattle prove that White’s God was different from
theirs?

Ans. Seattle felt that the God of different races was also different. White’s God
loved His people only and hated Seattle’s tribe. He folded His strong protecting
arms lovingly about the paleface and led them by the hand as a father led an
infant son. Their God made his people wax stronger every day. But he had
forsaken His Red children.
5) Mr. Oliver was an Anglo-Indian teacher. He was a bachelor and he
usually strolled into the town to the Shimla Bazaar in the evening,
about three miles away from school and returned after dark through a
short cut from the pine forests.
6) The school in which Mr. Oliver taught was called the 'Eton of the
East'. From before Kipling's time, the school had been run on English
public school lines; and the boys, most of them from wealthy Indian
families, wore blazers, caps and ties.Here a comparison has been made
between Eton College, one of England's most elite public schools,
founded by Henry VI in 1440 and the school in Shimla in which Mr.
Oliver was teaching.
7) According to the spirit of the story the author has created an eerie
atmosphere in the story. It was night time and a strong wind was
blowing. The pine trees were making mysterious sad sounds,
indicating that something evil was likely to happen. The batteries of
Oliver's torch were running down, creating an atmosphere of fear
and suspense.

8) On his way back to school, Oliver saw a boy sitting alone on a

rock, with his head hung down and holding his face in his hands.
Boys were not supposed to be out in the dark, therefore Mr. Oliver
stopped to inquire.

9) Oliver was not a nervous or imaginative man. He had never

believed in anything like a ghost or supernatural power but at the
end he seemed to be in the grip of an unknown fear and ran for
safety.
10) As a teacher having concern for children, Oliver asked the boy why
he was there at night and why he was crying. The boy did not answer.
Oliver asked him again and the boy looked up. As the light from
Oliver's torch fell on the boy's face, he was horrified to see that the
boy's face was featureless, without eyes, ears, nose or mouth.