Literature Focus/ ‫اهم وزاريات ا ألدب‬

The Swing / ‫االرجوحة‬

1. Sattar came to his friend’s house to give …………
* A message to his friend's family and tries to tell them that his friend died in the battle.
2. Mohammed Khudhair is ……… OR Who is Mohammed Khudhair?
* He is an Iraqi writer.
3. Discuss how the visitor in “The Swing” tried to convey his message to the little child?
OR How did Sattar try to convey his message to Haleema?
* He tries to convince Haleema that her father is like smoke and she can see him only
when she closes her eyes.
4. Sattar and Haleema ate ………………………
* a loaf of bread.
6. In 1967 ………………………………………
* Arab countries were at war with Israel.
7. The visitor described the child’s father as ……………………* Smoke.
8. What does the story of “The Swing” stress on?
* It stresses that war destroys everything. It leads to nothing but death and destruction.
9. The two main characters in “The Swing” are …………… and ……………
* Sattar and Haleema.
10. Mohammed Khudhair’s short stories are translated into…………. and …….……
* English, French and Russian.
11. Mohammed Khudhair’s best works include …………… and ……………
* The Black Kingdom and Basriata.
12. Where was Mohammed Khudhair born?
* In Basra.
13. What does the story of “The Swing” tell about?
* It tell us about a solider "Sattar", who has just returned from the hell of war carrying
a message for the family of his friend, Ali, who was killed in a battle, leaving his mother,
wife and daughter, Haleema
14. “The Swing” is considered as (a. tragic / b. comedic) story.
15. “The Swing” is a sincere invitation to sustain …………
* Family life.
16. What moral lesson does the writer give in the swing?
* The war destroys everything; it leads to nothing but death, deprivation and destruction.
It is an invitation to sustain family life, to make childhood secure and love one another.
17. The visitor found it (easy / difficult) to convey the death of his friend.
18. When did Mohammed Khudhair write “The Swing”?
* After the summer 1967 war against israel.
19. Mohammed Khudhair’s short stories appeared in ………
* The Iraqi Writer Magazine in 1962.
20. When did Mohammed Khudhair achieve fame?
* After publishing his two short stories "The Swing" and "Melodies on the String of
Rabaaba" in Beirut Arts magazine.
21. Why did Sattar come to his friend’s house?
* To give them a message and to tell them that his friend died in the battle.
22. What does Mohammed Khudhair think of war?
* It destroys everything; it leads to nothing but death, deprivation and destruction.
23. Was Mohammed Khudhair fully aware of the conditions of the story-writing?
* Yes, he was.

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 The Canary / ‫الكناري‬
1. How does the story of “The Canary” end?
* It ends sadly when the canary died.
2. Where did the woman in “The Canary” use to hang the canary cage?
* On a big nail to the right of the front door.
3. In “The Canary”, the woman was happy to have the canary because ……...
* He was a perfect company.
4. The nail to the right of the front door brought back the sweet memories of the bird to the woman.
(True / False)
5. What did the woman in “The Canary” suffer from?
* She suffers from loneliness.
6. Why does Katherine Mansfield remain famous?
* She remains famous for her collections of poems and short stories.
7. Could the woman in “The Canary” have another bird?
* No, she couldn't.
8. The woman forgot ……….…… when the canary came into her life.
* Her loneliness. /The evening star.
9. In “The Canary” what where the people carried away by?
* They were carried away by the wonderful singing of the canary.
10. What did the canary do to attract the attention of his owner?
* He hopped from one perch to another and tapped against the bars.
11. How did the woman describe her heart after the death of the canary?
* She described it as hollow.
12. In the Canary, the woman couldn’t take the nail out because she wanted to ………………
* Feel that the canary is not forgotten.
13. The Canary was written by (a. Mohammed Khudhair / b. Katherine Mansfield).
14. Was the canary perfect company to the woman? Yes, he was.
15. People have the idea that birds are heartless and cold little creatures. (T / F)
16. Why did the woman’s heart felt hollow?
* Because the canary died.
17. She bought the Canary from Chinaman.
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