Section A : Reading Skills Reading Comprehension Chapter - 1 : Unseen Passages

Introduction • Comprehension means to fully understand the text using one’s intellect. A comprehension passage is a text set for testing the reader’s ability to comprehend (understand) the meaning being implied by the text and the theme of that particular passage. You need to fully understand the text by using your intellect. • Questions based on a passage generally appear in a chronological relationship to the passage. Usually the first question has the answer in the earlier paragraphs and so on but if the answers are inferential then the matter might have to be collected from various paragraphs, for this, one should be familiar with the entire passage. Types of Comprehension Passage : 1. Factual Passages : As the name suggests, factual passages give some facts, be it historical or about some achievements attained by somebody. They can also provide instructions. They can be reports or even descriptions of something. 2. Discursive Passages : These kind of passages involve an opinion. They have a logical flow and are argumentative in nature. 3. Literary Passages : These are the extracts from a literary piece. TIPS TO KNOW How to read a passage for comprehension : Following are some guidelines that should be followed while attempting an unfamiliar passage. 1. Read silently. Do not read aloud. 2. Read the entire sentence together to make out the sense or meaning. 3. Read the passage thoroughly to determine the main idea before you look at the questions. 4. Don’t panic about the words you do not understand. 5. Go through the questions carefully and read that part again which contains the answer. 6. Try to make out the meaning of the words you don’t understand in context to the passage. 7. Answer must be relevant and to the point. 8. Write complete sentences as answers. 9. Try to write the answers in your own words and if required they can be copied from the passage. 10. Maintain the order in which the questions appear in the test paper. 11. Thoroughly read the passage first and then the questions. 12. Give a second reading to the passage. This time keep marking the points you feel, can be the answers for the asked questions. 13. While answering the questions, be very specific and write simple and to the point sentences. 14. Write your answers in your own words as much as possible. Do not copy from the passage and write. 15. Do not give information which has not been included in the passage. 16. When asking the vocabulary questions, your answer should be in the same parts of speech as the question.

• Spl. Note : This section contains passages from the previous years’ question papers but the questions are reframed as per the latest CBSE pattern/design. qq 2 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII Chapter - 2 : Note-Making Introduction • Note-making is basically jotting down the important points, for further usage. • After listening to a talk or reading some book or assignment you jot down your thoughts to refresh your mind later. These notes enable you to organize your thoughts. Purpose of Note-Making • To revise lessons before examinations • To write a report or any composition • To plan a speech or any lecture • To convey any message only by giving important details • To make a presentation • To summarise the text that you have read How to make Notes • The first step is to read the chapter or article thoroughly from beginning till the very end. By reading the passage with proper concentration we get answers to the following questions : • What does the passage deal with ? • How is the theme developed ? • The second step is to identify the main points and supporting details in the given text. Try to make your notes condensed and they should be to the point. • Next try to divide the passage according to the common content and supply suitable headings to them. If required, the headings can be further divided into sub headings. • Finally condense the information and organize it in a systematic way. Characteristics of Note-Making 1. Notes are not written in grammatically correct sentences. 2. Notes are much shorter than original text. 3. The main points and the supporting details are distinguished. 4. Many unimportant words, helping words etc., are usually dropped out. 5. Information is condensed by using symbols, abbreviations, shorter words etc. 6. Try not to exceed 5 words in every heading and supporting points. 7. Try to complete the notes within 4 to 5 headings. 8. Notes should be presented in a systematic manner that brings out the structure of the original text. 9. Headings and supporting details are numbered. 10. Finally, the summary is prepared on the bases of the notes prepared. It should not exceed the limit of 80 words. Format 3.2 Heading/Title 3.3 Supporting points 1. Heading 3.4 1.1 4. Heading 1.2 4.1 1.3 Supporting points 4.2 1.4 4.3 Supporting points 2. Heading 4.4 2.1 Key to Abbreviations 2.2 2.3 Supporting points 1. eg. – example 2.4 2. etc. – et cetera 3. Heading 3. & – and 3.1 qq Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 3 Section B : Writing skills Short Compositions (Notices, Advertisements, Posters, Invi- tations and Replies )

Chapter - 1 : Notices Introduction • Notices are short compositions written to convey some information or make a formal announcement about some event like change of name, etc. They are simple and lucid in style. The notices are either posted on the notice board meant for the purpose or given in a newspaper.

Some Useful Tips: • Notice carries 4 marks. • It usually begins with “This is to inform” or “It is hereby informed that”. • The notice should always answer the questions ‘What’, ‘Where’ & ‘When’. • The signing off should have a signature, name and designation of the person incharge. • The word limit of the body should not exceed 50 words. • The word notice along with a proper title and the issuing organisation should be mentioned.

Notices can be categorized under the following heads

1. Meeting : Date, time, Place • Date of issuing the notice should be mentioned. Agenda, Purpose, Objective Chief Presiding person (if any) Additional information Contact Address

2. Events : Name • The name and designation of the person writing the Objective, Occasion notice should be mentioned. He/she should sign it too. Date, Time, Duration, Venue Who can participate Additional information (if any) Contact Address

3. Lost & Found : Name of the article lost or found • It should be written in a box. Date, place & time Specific marks for identification Contents Whom, when, where to contact

4. Tours & Camps : Name of the Club/Association • Write in third person. Also, the language should be Objective formal yet brief, simple and easily comprehended. Name of the destination Duration Occasion Expenditure Additional information (if any) Contact address 4 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII Format : The Format should include : Name of the Institution (Issuing Authority) / On which Notice/Title, Date and Writer’s name with designation : (Issued by CBSE) Name of the the notice is organisation issued Name of the Institution/Organisation that is issuing NOTICE the notice Date What is the notice Heading about This is to inform ...... ‘Notice’ in capital Person Date : writing the notice Time : Venue : For further details contact the undersigned Body The Position/ post of the Sign in charge e.g. Name secretary, (Designation) captain etc.

qq Chapter - 2 : Advertisements

Introduction • An advertisement is a type of public announcement for the promotion of services, goods etc. or for giving information about missing persons, poets etc.

• It is an announcement made through a popular medium that targets a large number of people.

• It can be through print or electronic medium. Newspapers, Magazines, TVs and Radios are usually used for advertising. The content of advertisement is kept brief, words used are limited and the English used is not necessarily grammatically correct. There are two basic types of advertisements in the newspapers or magazines. Classified Advertisement Display/Commercial

1. Classified Advertisements : These are placed by individuals in newspapers or magazines to advertise their services offered or because of the need for goods and services. Classified ads are charged according to the space they occupy, therefore they are written with limited words, conveying the complete message. 2. Display Advertisements : These advertisements are attractive, they convey the complete message and are usually included under the category of posters. Categories of Classified Advertisements 1. Situation Vacant : Title/Heading • Wanted/Required/Situation Vacant • Name of the post • Number of posts • Qualification • Preferences • Salary • To whom and How to apply Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 5

2. To Let : • Type of accommodation • Size • Facilities • Preferences • Contact address & Ph. No. 3. Sale/Purchase of Property or Vehicle : • Available/sale/purchase • Type of accommodation/vehicle • Description of accommodation—size, facilities, location etc., • Description of vehicle–vehicle model, colour, accessories, condition, etc. 4. Tours & Travels : • Destination & Duration • Details of facilities-stay, boarding, food, etc. • Cost and discount • Package if any • Travel Agency : Address and Phone No. Format :

SITUATION VACANT Required : Senior Manager for a reputed MNC in Gurgaon. Candidates must be MBA, 3 years work experience, fluent in English, pleasing personality, open to time shifts. Salary Negotiable. Send latest Resume to [email protected]

qq Chapter - 3 : Designing/Drafting Posters Introduction

• A poster is an informative piece of communication written to make an announcement or appeal, and to spread awareness among the public. It is made visually attractive to enhance its appeal. It is printed attractively to catch public attention. It is eye-catching. Purpose • To announce a cultural show/exhibition etc. • To create awareness among people • To warn against some danger • To advertise some product Layout • It should be eye-catching • Slogans, quotations or jingles should be used • Some attractive sketches or visuals (very few) should be used • Different fonts and shapes should be used Content • The theme or subject should be clear • Arrange content in an appealing manner • Mention relevant contact details • The name of issuing authority must be mentioned 6 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII Format Format of Poster

• Use eye catching slogans •No fixed pattern • Any shape or font size • Broad ideas no details Issued by-XYZ department

qq Chapter - 4 : Invitations

Introduction • Invitations are extended to relatives, friends, acquaintances etc., on auspicious occasions like marriage, birthday, engagement, house-warming party etc. Invitations can be classified under two headings :

Invitations

Formal Invitations Informal Invitations

While formal invitations are sent for the above mentioned occasions, informal invitations are usually hand-written and are sent before these formal invitations to make these occasions more personal, cordial and intimate. Replies are also sent to the invitations. They can be both formal as well as informal in tone. 1. Formal Invitation • Printed card is preferred • Written in third person • Short forms and abbreviations are avoided except for RSVP written at the bottom meaning ‘Reply if you Please’. RSVP is a French word, its full form is ‘Respondez, sil vous plait’. It is written on the extreme left corner of the invitation, along with the sender’s name, address and phone number. • The subject matter is written in the middle with clear details of what, when and where of the function. Some Useful Tips: Each information in the formal invitation should be in a separate line. • Name (s) of the host (s) using the invitation • The expressions usually used are ‘request the pleasure of your company’ OR ‘feel honoured to invite you’ • The reason for the invitation • The time, data and venue of the occasion • In case the VIP is to be invited to grace the occasion or event, (at an official function) mention his/her name and designation/position • It is written in 3rd person in simple present tense Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 7

Basic features of Formal and Informal Invitations : Formal Informal ¯ Written in a box format ¯ Written in a letter form ¯ Written in third person ¯ First person ¯ Name of host ¯ Date, time, venue ¯ Date, time, venue ¯ Occasion/function ¯ Occasion/function ¯ Informal language ¯ Formal language Format Formal Invitation Format : St. Anne’s School Host / Organizer Requests the pleasure of your company on the inauguration of their JUNIOR WING Little Angels Date : 6th August 2013 Time : 9 a.m. onwards Venue : Campus Schedule Hawan 9 a.m. Lunch 2 p.m. Cultural program 4 p.m. RSVP Best Wishes ABC St. Anne’s 98xxxxxxxx Fraternity * Map Overleaf * Formal/Informal Invitation Format : Sender’s Address ...... Date : ...... Dear XYZ ...... Body ...... Date : ...... Time : ...... Venue : ...... Yours truly ABC Reply to an Invitation Formal Refusal : Mr. Ramakrishan is thankful to Mr. Iyer for his kind invitation and would have been delighted to attend his cousin’s wedding but will not be able to attend it due to a recent knee surgery. Acceptance : Mrs. Sharma is thankful to Mrs. & Mr. Kohli for their kind invitation for the inauguration of their new house and has much delight in accepting it.

qq 8 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII Chapter - 5 : Letter Writing

Introduction • Letter-writing is an art. So, it must aim at a certain standard of form and elegance. While writing a letter we must always think of the person to whom we are writing. The subject-matter, no doubt, is important, but we must write it in a way which will make the letter interesting to the person receiving it. A letter written rustically may contain useful information, but it may be lacking in elegance, and violate the norms which requires a good taste. So, one must observe certain standards of form and good taste in the order and structure of one’s letters. This means that there should be no carelessness about it, and it should not suggest discourtesy and indifference to the person addressed. • • We should always remember that letter plays an important role in maintaining our communication and relations with friends and relatives, as well as establishing commercial and other kinds of relations with foreigners. Classification of Letters Letters may be divided into the following classes : 1. Business or Official Letters : For making enquiries, registering complaints, asking for and giving information, placing orders and sending replies. 2. Letter to the Editor : Giving suggestions or opinion on issues of public interest 3. Application for a Job : While forwarding your resume for a job opportunity.

Salutations & Subscriptions : Family & friends — Dear... Yours affectionately/lovingly Or Your loving friend/son etc Strangers — Dear Sir/Madam Yours truly Business Persons/Officials — Sir Yours truly/sincerely Principal/Teachers — Respected Sir/Madam Yours obediently Or Or Sir/Madam Yours faithfully Editors— Sir Yours truly/sincerely

Useful Expressions

Enquiry — I am writing to enquire about Please let us know We’ll be glad if you Complaint — It is a matter of great regret that ...... This is to bring to your notice that ...... This is to complain ...... Request — I would be grateful if ...... Kindly oblige me by ...... For job application — With reference to your advertisement dated X/X/XXXX, I offer myself as a candidate ...... Through some reliable sources, I have come to know that ......

To Conclude :

(i) Looking forward to your reply. (ii) Thanking you in anticipation for a positive reply. (iii) With warm regards Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 9 Format of a Formal Letter : 1. Sender’s address, 2. Date, 3. Receiver’s address, 4. Subject/heading, 5. Salutation, 6. Complimentary close

Sender’s Address ...... Date Receiver’s Address Subject : Underline the Subject Dear Sir, ...... Body ...... Yours Sincerely Signature (NAME) Format for Application for a Job

Resume (to be attached with Job Application RESUME/BIO DATA/CV) Name — ...... Father’s Name — ...... Date of Birth — ...... Educational Qualification — ...... Experience — ...... Marital Status — ...... Corresponding Address — ...... Phone No. — ...... E-mail id — ...... Languages Known — ...... Hobbies — ...... qq Chapter - 6 : Articles, Debate, Speech & Reports Introduction 1. Article : An article is a written work, published in printed/electronic form for the purpose of propagating news, and analysis of results or academics. It is related to one topic, subject or theme. While writing an article students are advised to keep the following points in mind : (i) First of all, concentrate on the given topic and also read intensively the given verbal input. Some new ideas will strike you. Arrange all those ideas in the sequence in which you want them to appear in your piece. (ii) Now start writing your composition. Develop your ideas one by one. (iii) Your composition must be precise, to the point and lucid. Every sentence and idea should be linked to the previous one and lead to the next. (iv) Your write up should be meaningful and compact. There should be no loose end. Don’t exceed the word limit. 10 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

(v) The first sentence should be striking. It should be the essence of the whole composition. Likewise, the last sentence should state your conclusion on the topic. It should leave a permanent impression on the mind of the reader. (vi) Write your composition in simple words. There should be no grammatical, spelling or structural mistake. Rules of syntax and punctuation marks should not be violated. (vii) Your paragraph should follow a clear-cut order and move steadily towards its desired goal. Arrange your ideas into a set pattern in order to give a concrete shape to your paragraph. (viii) In a descriptive or argumentative piece of composition, the style is usually formal. Always write complete sentence, leaving nothing to the guess work. Your language should be graphic, words selective and your approach objective. It is therefore necessary to give emphasis to the main and central points of the topic. The beginning as well as the end should be striking and appealing. (ix) Colloquialism and too formal expressions and slangs should not be used. Format of an Article

Heading —By ABC ...... Introduction ...... Content/Problem/Opinion ......

...... Solution/Conclusion ......

2. Speech : Speech is a formal address delivered to an audience. Before writing a speech, following points should be kept in mind : (i) Give the title at the top. (ii) Begin with “a Good morning to all of you, today I am here to express my views on the topic” ______. (iii) Define the topic, give its causes, effects, the present state and remedial measures. (iv) It should be a coherent piece clearly stating a particular point of view. Divide the speech into 3 to 4 paragraphs. (v) Conclude by giving suggestion for improvement (vi) Always make a rough draft first. 3. Debate : A debate is a formal discussion or an argument on a subject on which people have different opinions. Purpose : To show skills and ability of presenting an argument. Guidelines : (i) Begin with * “Honourable judges and my dear friends, I stand before you to express my views for/against the motion “....” (ii) Total agreement or disagreement with the topic should be expressed forcefully and clearly. (iii) Use argumentative style and logical reasoning. (iv) Back up arguments with relevant information. (v) At the end write, thank you, at the extreme left end. (vi) Always make a rough draft, edit and time it yourself (20 minutes) Use powerful expressions like : * I’d like to argue * In my opinion * May I ask ? etc. * Refer to your opponent’s view/views (vii) Stick to your view point either in favour or against Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 11 Format of Debate / Speech

Salutation : Respected chairperson, honorable judges and all present. Introduction : Views for/against the topic Body : Views, facts, contradiction of opponent’s arguments etc. Conclusion : Clarification stand made. Some Useful Tips: • A debate is also a speech, but with a different way of presenting the content. • All speeches are persuasive in style. The speakers intention is to convert the audience to his/her own way of thinking on the topic. • Remember that your points need to be forceful with examples and data as evidence. Points should not be repeated. • You can use any tense, but follow the same throughout. • You can write in 1st person and use expressions such as “In my opinion”, “I believe” etc. • This is a personal form of writing and hence you should give personal opinions. Report : A report is a systematic and well organized presentation of facts and findings of an event that has already taken place somewhere. It is written for a specific readership and intended to be kept as a record. A good report includes the following : • The records of a sequence of events • Interpretation of the significance of these events or facts. • evaluation of the facts • discussion of the outcomes of a decision or course of action. • conclusions • recommendations A report must always be accurate, concise, clear, comprehensive, well-structured, true and interesting. Format 1. Headline 2. Name of the report writer 3. Place and date of reporting 4. Opening paragraph 5. Account of the event in detail qq Section C : Literature Textbooks and Extended Reading Text Flamingo (Prose)

Chapter - 1 : The Last Lesson —Alphonse Daudet Introduction ‘The Last Lesson’ is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian war (1870 - 71) in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismark. Prussia, then, consisted of what now are the nations of Germany, Poland and parts of Austria. In this story, the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands. This story also shows the effect of this incident on the normal life in the schools. It also highlights the pain that was inflicted upon the people of a territory by the conquerors, who took away the rights of the people to study or speak their own language. Summary As Franz started very late for his school that morning, he was in great fear, especially because his teacher Mr. Hamel had said that he would put up questions on participles and Franz did not know anything about it. For a moment, he thought to run away and spend a day out. It was a warm and bright day. Birds were twittering outside and soldiers 12 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

were practicing. All these things were more attractive than the rules of participles, but anyhow, he forced himself to move hurriedly to the school. When he was passing the town hall, there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last two years, all the bad news like the lost battles and the orders of the commanding officers, had been coming from that notice-board. He thought “what could be the matter then ?” without stopping. The blacksmith, who had read the bulletin, told Franz not to hurry. There was plenty of time. But Franz did not slow down. He thought that the blacksmith was poking fun at him. Franz wanted to reach his desk unnoticed. He hoped that there would be noise and commotion as usual. He depended on this noise and bustle to reach his desk unnoticed. But, he was surprised. Instead, he found the school quiet. Students were sitting quietly in their seats. Mr. Hamel was not rapping his ruler on the table. He was moving up and down with his ruler under his arm. He too looked grave and quiet. There was no chance for Franz to enter the room unseen. He had to open the door and enter before everybody. Unexpectedly, Mr. Hamel did not rebuke him. Instead, he spoke kindly to him and told him to go to his desk. When Franz had settled down, he looked at Mr. Hamel. There was another surprise for him. Mr. Hamel had put on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and his embroidered black silk cap. He used to put on these clothes only on special occasions. But it was no special day. Franz could not understand why Mr. Hamel had put on those Sunday clothes. There was still another surprise in store for Franz. There were village people on the back benches that had always been empty. The former Mayor, the former Post Master, the old Hauser with his triangular cap and some other village people occupied those back benches. Mr. Hamel climbed up his chair and spoke to his pupils in a gentle and serious tone. He told them that an order had come from Berlin. French would not be taught any more. Instead, German was going to be taught and the new teacher was expected to arrive the very next day. They were going to have their last lesson in French that day. Now, he knew, what order was there on the bulletin board, and why the blacksmith had told him not to hurry. He could also see why Mr. Hamel had put on his best clothes. Mr. Hamel’s words struck Franz like a thunderbolt. He was lost in thoughts. He had hardly learnt to read and write, he felt that he would have to stop forever. He was sorry to have wasted his time. He had always been enjoying himself outdoors. He had hated his books. He had dreaded Mr. Hamel and his iron ruler. But his attitude suddenly changed. He felt that his books were good companions. He did not mind Mr. Hamel’s ruler and rebukes. Now, he also understood why the people of the village were there. They were also sorry that they had not been to school for much time. Now, they had come to thank the teacher for his faithful service. Mr. Hamel asked Franz to tell the rule for the participle. Franz wished he could tell the rule. But he failed miserably. Mr. Hamel did not scold Franz. He said Franz was not the only person to blame. The people of Alsace had never been interested in learning. The people always put it off till the next day. Franz’s parents wanted Franz to earn some money instead of going to school. Mr. Hamel said they were strange Frenchmen who could not write or read their own language. He blamed himself also. He said sometimes he closed the school when he wanted to go fishing. Mr. Hamel, then, praised his mother tongue. He said that French is the most beautiful, most logical and clearest language in the world. He exhorted the people to stick to it. He assured them that if they held fast to their language, they would be able to get rid of the Prussian rulers. Their language was the key to their freedom from slavery. It was Mr. Hamel’s last day at school. But he had the courage and devotion to do his teaching work as usual. He taught grammar. He gave writing exercises. He asked little children to trace their fishhooks. Franz listened to his lesson attentively. He felt Hamel had explained the lesson so clearly which he had never done before. It appeared to him that on that last day, he wanted to give his pupils all that he had. The church clock struck twelve. It was the time for the school to close. Mr. Hamel wanted to say something, but he was overwhelmed with emotions. He wrote Vive La France on the blackboard and with a wave of his hand, dismissed the school. qq Chapter - 2 : Lost Spring (Stories of Stolen Childhood) —Anees Jung Introduction This story is written by a famous short-story writer Anees Jung. She was born in Rourkela and spent her childhood and adolescence in Hyderabad. She received her education in Hyderabad and in the United States of America. She began her career as a writer in India. She has been an editor and columnist for major newspapers in India and abroad, and has authored many books. The following is an excerpt from her book titled ‘Lost Spring, Stories of Stolen Childhood’. Here she writes about the utter poverty and traditions which force these children to a life of exploitation. Anees Jung highlights the utter destitution of ragpickers of Seemapuri, and the bangle makers of Firozabad. They can be seen searching in heaps of garbage to find a rupee note or a coin or something that they can sell. They have no school to go, no work to do. They are neglected by society as well as by their parents. For most of us they do not seem to exist. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 13

The ragpickers’ families in Seemapuri came from Bangladesh because their fields were washed away and they were forced to starve. The other part of the story deals with the unenviable lot of the poor bangle makers of Firozabad. They have been traditional bangle makers. They are poor, illiterate and fatalists. They cannot alter their lot. They find themselves caught in the web of middlemen and moneylenders who are supported by law enforcing authorities and they live in filth and squalor. About 2000 children help their parents in bangle making. Though this type of child labour is illegal, yet it goes on. One of the children, Mukesh wants to give up his work. He dreams to be a motor mechanic. But he will have to cross a few hurdles before he can realise his dream. Summary : The author came across a boy, Saheb every morning. She always found him searching for something in a heap of garbage. When he was asked why he did it, he replied, “I have nothing else to do.” She told him to go to the school but there was no school in his neighbourhood. She told him that she was going to start a school. Saheb was happy. He would go to her school. But she did not intend to start a school. Saheb’s full name was Saheb-e-Alam. It means the ‘Lord of the Universe’. But the poor boy wandered on roads along with other barefooted poor boys like him. The author talked to the other companions of Saheb. One of the barefooted boys said his mother would not bring his chappals down from the shelf. One of them was wearing shoes though they did not match. Another boy who never had footwear, wished he had a pair of shoes. Many children walk barefoot. Some people argue that lack of money is not the reason. It is a tradition to walk barefoot, but the author does not agree with them. She asserts that perpetual state of poverty is the real cause. Some children are lucky. Their prayers to get shoes have been granted. But the rag-pickers remain barefoot. The ragpickers live in Seemapuri. So the author went there. Seemapuri is very close to Delhi but there is a world of difference between the two. Like all other families of rag-pickers, Saheb’s family came from Bangladesh in 1971. They came there because their homes and fields were destroyed by Hoods. They had nothing to live on. About 10,000 rag-pickers live in Seemapuri. They live in mud structures with roofs of tin and tarpaulin. They lack all civic amenities like sewage and running water. Living in Seemapuri enables them to cast their votes. They move about and pitch their tents wherever they can find food. Rag-picking is their sole means of earning a livelihood. Saheb used to stand outside a club. He watched two young men playing tennis. Tennis fascinated him. He wished to play tennis. Someone gave him a pair of discarded tennis shoes. Half of his dream came true. Of course, playing tennis was out of his reach. Saheb got a job at a tea stall. He was paid 800 rupees a month and all meals. Still he was not happy. He lost his carefree look and his freedom. He was no longer his own master. The author visited Firozabad. Firozabad is famous for its bangle making industry. Almost every other family in Firozabad is engaged in making glass bangles for women all over India. Glass bangles are a symbol of bliss for a woman’s married life. She came across a boy named Mukesh. His family too was engaged in making bangles. Mukesh took her to his house. They went through stinking lanes choked with garbage. Families of bangle makers lived there. Their houses had crumbling walls and wobbly doors. They entered Mukesh’s house which was like any other house in the lane. A frail young woman was cooking meals on a firewood stove. Her eyes were filled with smoke. She greeted the author with a smile. She was the wife of Mukesh’s elder brother. She was respected as the daughter in-law of the family. Mukesh’s father also came in. The daughter in law covered her face with her veil as the custom demanded. Mukesh’s father was old and weak. He had lost his eyes working on furnaces at polishing bangles. He had worked hard all his life. But he could not afford to send his two sons to school. He could only teach them the art of making bangles. He had built the house but could not repair it. Mukesh’s grandmother expressed her belief in destiny. She said that on account of their karam (deeds) they were born in the bangle- makers’ caste. It was their destiny to suffer and no man could change what was ordained by fate. In fact, her belief was shared by all. Another woman told the author that despite hard work, they had never had a full meal in their whole life. The author could see bangles everywhere. She saw boys and girls sitting with parents before flickering oil lamps. They welded pieces of coloured glass that she had learnt. Their eyes got used to dark and they lost their eyesight before they were adults. At home, families worked hard all day before furnaces with high temperatures. All the operations of bangle making cause blindness. Generation after generation, families of bangle makers have been engaged in making bangles. They live in poverty, they work hard, and die in poverty. Nothing has changed with the passage of time. They find themselves in the clutches of middlemen and moneylenders. The police and the administration do not help them. If they try to pull out of the vicious circle, they are in trouble. The police beats them and puts them in jail. qq 14 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Chapter - 3 : Deep Water —William Douglas Introduction William Douglas (1898-1980) was born in Maine, Minnesota. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Economics, he spent two years teaching high school in Yakima. He was an adviser and friend to President Roosevelt. Douglas was a leading advocate of individual rights. He retired in 1975 with a term lasting thirty-six years and remained for a time the longest period-serving justice in the history of the court. “Deep Water” has been taken from his book “Men and Mountains”. It was his personal experience. It reveals how as a young boy, William Douglas nearly drowned in a swimming pool. In this extract, he talks about his fear of water and thereafter, how he finally overcame it. Summary : Douglas was about four years old. He visited a beach with his father. They stood in the surf. A powerful wave swept him and knocked him down. He was terrified. He avoided water since then. When Douglas was about eleven years old, he had a desire to learn swimming. The Yakima River was treacherous. Quite a few people had drowned in it. His mother advised him never to try to swim in it. But the YMCA pool was safe. It was only two to three feet deep at its shallow end. The other end was about nine feet deep. But the drop was gradual. Douglas decided to learn swimming there. He bought a pair of water wings and went to the pool. He paddled with water wings. He imitated others. One day he was sitting all alone on the edge of the pool, a well-built young man came there. He looked at skinny Douglas and out of mirth, picked him up and tossed him into the deepest part of the pool. Douglas hit the water surface in a sitting position and began to sink to the bottom slowly. Douglas was terrified, but he could think of a plan to save himself. He decided to spring from the bottom of the pool as soon as his toes touched it. He hoped he would pop like a cork to the surface. Then, he would lie flat and paddle to the edge of the pool. As soon as his toes touched the tiled floor of the pool, Douglas bounced with all his strength. But he did not rise quickly. He came up slowly. He opened his eyes. He could see only water. He grew panicky. He was suffocating. He tried to shout but there was no sound. Finally, his eyes and nose came out of the water. He beat his arms. He tried to raise his legs. But they hung like dead weights. He felt something was pulling him downward again. Once again, he moved downward. He had spent all his energy. His lungs ached and his head throbbed. He was getting dizzy. But fortunately he could remember his strategy. Once again he sprang from the bottom of the pool. He was paralysed, stiff and rigid. But when he jumped, he could see only water around him. Then, suddenly he reached the surface. His eyes and nose came out of water. But he began to go down once again. Once again, he began to drift downward. He could make no effort. He was relaxed. There was no fear. There was no panic. It was all quiet and peaceful. He felt as if he were floating in space. He was unconscious. When Douglas regained his consciousness, he realised that he had been saved. He was lying on his stomach. He was vomiting. He heard voices. Someone said he had nearly died. The young man who had thrown him into the pool said that he had done it out of fun. After sometime, Douglas went home. He was weak and trembling. The dreadful experience haunted him again and again. A few years later he went to the waters of the Cascades. He wished to wade into them. The terror seized him again. His legs were paralysed. Whenever and wherever he went fishing, canoeing, bathing and swimming, he was seized with terror. The joy of living was lost. Finally, Douglas decided to get an instructor to help him overcome his fear of water. The instructor helped him bit by bit, piece by piece. First, he put a belt round Douglas and attached the belt with a rope. He held the end of the rope as they moved up and down the pool. He made Douglas put his face under water and exhale. He held Douglas on the side of the pool and made him kick with legs. He was with Douglas for about six months. When he felt that Douglas was able to swim alone, he left. Though Douglas was able to swim the length of the pool up and down, he was not sure that the old fear had left him completely. He, however, was able to overcome it if it reappeared. Then, he went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire. He dived off a dock at Triggs Island. He swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. He used all the strokes he knew. Only once, the terror returned. But Douglas was able to overcome it at once. He still wanted to test himself. So Douglas went to Warm Lake. There, he swam across the other shore and back. Terror did not reappear. Douglas gave out a cry of victory. His terror of water and his conquest of it, gave him an insight into the meaning of life and death. He had experienced the fear of death as well as the sensation of dying. He felt there is peace in death. So he lived more intensely. He enjoyed life. qq Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 15

Chapter - 4 : The Rattrap —Selma Lagerlof Introduction The Rattrap is written by a Swedish writer Selma Lagerlof. The story is interesting. It reads like a fairy tale. There are interestingincidents and dialogues. The rattrap seller is a homeless tramp. He stays for a night in the cottage of a crofter. The lonely crofter entertains him like a guest and trusted friend. He tells him everything. But in the morning the peddler comes back, smashes a window pane, and steals the crofter’s money. Later there is a turn in his fortune. The ironmaster mistakes him for an old comrade. The peddler is the ironmaster’s guest for about two days. But he, once again, leaves to pursue his usual profession of selling rattrap, theft and begging. There is a twist at the end of the story. The ironmaster mistook him for his old comrade Captain von Stahle. There is a philosophical angle too in the story. The lonely tramp is a philosopher too. Not only does he make rattraps to sell, he thinks that the world too is a rattrap. As rats are lured by pork and cheese to enter the trap, so are men lured by lands, food, shelter, clothing etc. These are baits. Those who touch them are trapped. He knew a few persons who were already trapped and others who were trying to bite the bait and get trapped. Summary : A rattrap peddler went around selling small rattraps. His clothes were in rags. His cheeks were hollow. He had the looks of a starved man. He made wiretaps. Sometimes, he resorted to begging and a little stealing to survive. The world had never been kind to him. He had no home, no shelter. The peddler led a lonely life and was given to meditation. One day while he was thinking about his rattraps, an idea struck him. He thought that the world itself was a rattrap. As pork and cheese serve as baits to trap rats, the world offered land, clothes, foods, joys and riches to trap people. As soon as anybody touched them, the trap closed on them. He was amused to think of some people who were already trapped and some others who were trying to reach the bait. It was a cold evening in December. He saw a grey cottage on the roadside. He knocked at the door and asked for a night’s shelter. The owner of the cottage was a lonely old crofter. He wanted someone to talk to. He welcomed the peddler. He gave the peddler hot porridge to eat and tobacco to smoke. Then, they played cards. The crofter was generous as well as trustful. He told the peddler that he had a cow and that he sold her milk and cream. He also told him that he received thirty kroner as payment the previous month. Then, he took down a pouch and showed him the money. Then he put the money back in the pouch and hung it on a nail in the window frame. Next morning, the peddler left. The crofter locked his cottage and went away. The peddler came back to the cottage. He had been tempted to steal the money that hung like a bait in the window frame. He smashed the pane and stole the money. Now he thought that it was not safe to walk along the public highway. So he went into the woods. There he walked and walked but could not get out. He moved in circles. He was tired. He looked upon the forest as a rattrap in which he was caught. He thought his end was near. He laid down to die. After a while he heard the regular thumping of a hammer’s strokes. He knew the sound was coming from some iron mill. He stood up and walked in the direction of the sound. He opened the gate of the works and went into the forge. The blacksmith and his apprentice were there waiting for pig iron to be ready to be put on the anvil. It was the Ramsjo Ironworks. The blacksmith hardly took any notice of his presence. It was not unusual for a vagabond to come in for shelter and warmth. The owner of the work was very particular about the quality of the iron he produced. On one of his visits he came into the forge, he looked intently at the peddler’s face. He felt sure that the peddler was one of his old regimental comrades Captain von Stahle, who had fallen on evil days. He invited the peddler to come home with him for Christmas. But the peddler was alarmed. He refused and the ironmaster went home. The ironmaster sent his daughter Edla to persuade the peddler to come home. She came in a carriage with a large fur coat. She could see that the peddler was unwilling to accept the invitation because he was afraid. Perhaps she thought, he had stolen something or had escaped from jail. She spoke gently to him. She assured him that he would be free to leave when he pleased. They wanted his company only over Christmas Eve. The peddler felt confidence in her. He agreed to go with her. On the way, he was sorry to have stolen the crofter’s money that had put him in a trap. The ironmaster was happy to have his old regimental comrade under his roof. He planned to feed him well, and give him some respectable work. The servant cut the peddler’s hair and bathed him. The peddler appeared wearing one of ironmaster’s fine suits. But when the ironmaster looked at him in the daylight, he felt he had made a mistake. The peddler was not Captain von Stahle. He thought that the man had deceived him. He even thought of handing him over to the sheriff. The peddler said that he had not pretended to be what he was not. He had not been willing to go to the iron- master’s house. Even then, he was willing to put on his rags and leave. He also told iron master that the world was a rattrap and he too might be tempted by a big bait and caught in the trap. The iron master told him to leave at once. Edla did not like her father’s asking the poor peddler to leave. She thought it was unfair to turn away the man whom they had invited. She wanted to have the joy of entertaining a homeless wanderer on Christmas. She stopped the peddler and her father gave in. 16 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Edla served food to the peddler. In evening during Christmas party, he was given Christmas presents which he thankfully received. Edla told him that her father’s coat that the peddler was wearing was also a Christmas present. She assured him that he would be welcomed again if he liked to spend the next Christmas Eve with them. Next morning, the ironmaster and his daughter went to Church. There they learned that the peddler was a thief. He had robbed the crofter. The ironmaster was sure that the peddler must have made away with their silver. Edla was dejected. But when they reached home, they learned that the peddler had left. But he had taken away nothing. On the other hand, he had left a Christmas present for Edla. Edla opened the present. It was a tiny rattrap. Edla was happy to see that the peddler had left the crofter’s money behind. There was a letter also. It was addressed to Edla. He had thanked her for her kindness. He wanted to do a good turn to her, so he had left the crofter’s money and had requested her to return it to the crofter. He said he was brought up as a real captain. That was why he could come out of the rattrap in which he had been caught. He had signed the letter as Captain von Stahle. qq

Chapter - 5 : Indigo —Louis Fischer Introduction Louis Fischer was an admirer of Gandhiji. He met Gandhiji several times and wrote his biography, ‘The Life of Mahatma Gandhiji’. This lesson ‘Indigo’ is taken from that book. Gandhiji considered Champaran a turning point in his life. Probably, it was the turning point in the history of India. Gandhiji visited Champaran in 1917. The British government was well-trenched in India at that time. Indian masses had a deep-rooted fear of the British. An illiterate man Rajkumar, was greatly perturbed by the injustice meted out to Indian peasants by the British landlords. The cause of the problem was indigo and the greed of the landlords. The British landlords owned large estates in Champaran. In those days, harvesting indigo was very profitable. The British landlords, through a long-term agreement, forced Indian tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire product to the landlord as rent. Harvesting indigo was an unpleasant job. But things changed. Germany developed synthetic indigo. Naturally the prices of indigo were sure to plummet. Harvesting indigo was no longer profitable. So the landlords offered to release the peasants of the irksome job of harvesting indigo. They demanded compensation for it. Illiterate peasants who did not know the real motive of the British landlords, gladly agreed to this. Some others resisted. But soon the peasants learnt about the synthetic indigo. Then, those who had paid compensation demanded their money back. The landlords hired thugs to calm them down. The peasants engaged lawyers. At this point, Gandhiji visited Champaran. He felt it was no use going to courts. He wanted to free the peasants from the fear of the British. Gandhiji campaigned their cause and finally succeeded. He remained firm, fearless and dedicated. Summary : The annual convention of the Indian National Congress was held in Lucknow in December 1916. A poor illiterate peasant came there to complain against the injustice meted out to the peasants in Champaran. He met Gandhiji. Gandhiji had never heard of Champaran. He had many engagements. So he did not give any assurance to Shukla. But Shukla was resolute. He followed Gandhiji wherever he went. At last, Gandhiji fixed a date. He told Shukla to meet him in Calcutta on a particular date. In Calcutta, Gandhiji found Shukla waiting for him. Both of them went to Patna by train. Shukla led Gandhiji to the house of a lawyer, Rajendra Prasad. (He became the first President of India). The lawyer was out of town. But the servants knew Shukla. He had been there several times to request the lawyer to help the indigo sharecroppers. They let them stay on the grounds as they mistook Gandhiji for another peasant and untouchable. They did not allow them to draw water from the well lest the entire water in the well should become polluted. Gandhiji decided to break his journey to camp at Muzaffarpur, because he wanted to gather more information that Shukla had been unable to provide. He sent a telegram to Professor J.B. Kripalani whom he had met at Shantiniketan. Kriplani came to the station with his students to receive Gandhiji. At Muzaffarpur, Gandhiji stayed in the house of Mr. Malkani, a government school teacher. In those days, Indians were afraid to harbour men like Gandhiji who were advocates of home rule, but Malkani had courage. The news of Gandhiji’s arrival in Muzaffarpur and his mission spread quickly. Sharecroppers came to Muzaffarpur to see him. The lawyers also called on him. They briefed him about their cases. Gandhiji chided the lawyers for collecting heavy fees from poor peasants. Then, he told them it was no use to go to courts. He thought the most important thing was to free the peasants from the fear of their British landlords. British landlords held large estates in Champaran. Indians worked as sharecroppers on their land. By a long term agreement, the sharecroppers were compelled to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo produced to the landlords as rent. Harvesting indigo was an irksome business for the peasants. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 17

Recently, the landlords had heard that Germany had developed synthetic indigo. British landlords knew that the prices of indigo would fall and planting indigo was no longer profitable. They offered to release the sharecroppers from their obligation to harvest indigo. But the Britishers demanded compensation. Many peasants agreed. But others resisted. Soon the peasants learnt about the synthetic indigo. Those who had paid compensation demanded their money back. A dispute arose between the landlords and the sharecroppers. The landlords hired thugs. The sharecroppers engaged lawyers. Gandhiji wanted to get the facts. He visited the secretary of the British landlords association. But the secretary refused to give any information saying that Gandhiji was an outsider. Gandhiji told him that he was not an outsider. Then, Gandhiji called on the commissioner of Tirhut division. He was rude to Gandhiji. He told Gandhiji to leave Tirhut immediately. But Gandhiji did not leave. Motihari was the capital of Tirhut. Gandhiji made it his headquarters. He started his investigations. A peasant was maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhiji decided to go and find the facts. But the police stopped him. He was served with a notice to leave Champaran. Gandhiji wrote back that he would not obey the notice. Consequently, Gandhiji was summoned to appear in a court. Gandhiji sent a report to the Viceroy. The peasants learnt that the Mahatma who wanted to help them, was in trouble with the authorities. Thousands of peasants gathered around the court building. This spontaneous show of their courage baffled the British authorities. They felt powerless. Gandhiji helped them to regulate the trial. In the court Gandhiji pleaded guilty. He asked for penalty. He read out a statement. He said he was faced with conflict of duties, he respected the lawful authority. He was not a law-breaker. But he could not disregard the voice of his conscience to do humanitarian and national service. The judge said he would take several days to deliver the judgement. But he let Gandhiji go free. Gandhiji asked his lawyer friends what they would do if he went to jail. They replied they would go home. Gandhiji asked again what would happen to the poor peasants. Then, the lawyers felt ashamed. Gandhiji, who was a stranger, was willing to go to jail for their sake. The lawyers claimed to have been serving the peasants. Going home would mean shameful betrayal. They told Gandhiji that they too would follow him to jail. Gandhiji was pleased. He declared that the battle of Champaran was won. He, then, divided the group into two pairs and put down the order in which each pair would court arrest. But the Lieutenant Governor of the province decided to drop the case against Gandhiji. This was the victory of civil disobedience. Gandhiji and lawyers now proceeded to conduct an enquiry. They recorded the statements of thousands of peasants. In the meantime, the Lieutenant Governor summoned Gandhiji. After long interviews, the Lt. Governor constituted an official commission of enquiry to go through the indigo peasants’ complaints. The commission comprised officials, landlords and Gandhiji as the sole representative of the sharecroppers. The commission collected crushing evidence against the British landlords. The landlords were nervous. They agreed in principle to refund the peasants’ money that they had extorted illegally. Gandhiji demanded 50% of it. But the landlords offered only 25%. Gandhiji agreed to it. He had won a moral victory. Gandhiji explained that the amount of money was not important. By agreeing to refund the peasants’ money, the landlords had lost their prestige. They were no longer dreaded. The peasants learnt that they had rights and there were people to defend their rights. The landlords abandoned their estates which went back to the peasants. This was the end of indigo sharecropping in Champaran. Gandhiji was not satisfied by just winning the indigo battle. During his stay in Champaran, he saw that the people of Champaran were socially and culturally backward. He decided to remove their backwardness. Gandhiji decided to open primary schools. He appealed to teachers, two of his young disciples, their wives and several other volunteers. Gandhiji’s wife Kasturba taught personal hygiene and community cleanliness. Gandhiji had come to Champaran casually at the entreaty of Shukla. He expected that his visit would last a few days. But he had to stay there for seven months continuously. He kept a distant watch on the Ashram. He called for regular financial accounts. He even wrote to them that it was time to fill in the old latrine trenches and dig new ones. Charles Freer Andrews was a devoted follower of Gandhiji. He came to Champaran. Gandhiji’s lawyer friends wanted Charles to stay on to help them. But Gandhiji opposed the idea. He said they should not seek an Englishman’s help in their fight. They must fight their battle themselves. For Gandhiji, self-reliance, India’s independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together. qq

Chapter - 6 : Going Places —A.R. Barton Introduction It is not unusual for teenagers to dream. They aspire to reach the sky. They feel that they can do the impossible. At this period of their lives, they usually look upon someone as their role model. They worship them as heroes. Sophie is a teenager. She is in school. She belongs to a lower middle-class family. She is a dreamer. She wishes to have the finest boutique in the city. She has no money and no means. Her friend and classmate Jansie is a practical 18 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII girl. She is aware of the realities of life. She advises her not to indulge in fantasies. Having a boutique needs a lot of money. Sophie hopes to be a manager and save money to have a boutique. She is an incorrigible dreamer. She even dreams of becoming an actress or a fashion designer. Danny Casey, a young football player is Sophie’s hero. She is always thinking of him. She begins to believe that she had actually met him. Danny Casey is the cause of her hopes and disappointments. Summary : Sophie and Jansie are classmates and friends. After a few months, they will be out of school. Sophie is a day- dreamer. She tells Jansie that after school, she will have a boutique. Jansie tells her that she will need a lot of money to have a boutique. But Sophie is not discouraged. She says that she will be a manager and then she will save money. She hopes to be a fashion designer or an actress too. Jansie becomes sad. She knows they have no other option but to work in a biscuit factory. At home, Sophie declares that when she earns some money she will have a boutique. Her father, who was back from the day’s work, while eating a shepherds’ pie retorted that he will thank her if she could buy a decent house for the family. Her younger brother Derek also scoffs at her impractical idea. He remarks that she thinks money grows on trees. Her mother who is bent over the sink, could only sigh. Sophie feels uncomfortable and leaves the room. She goes to her elder brother Geoff with whom she can comfortably share her secrets. Danny Casey is a young football player. He is Irish and plays for the United. He is her hero. She thinks of him all the time. She tells Geoff that she had chance meeting with Danny Casey in the arcade. She asked Casey to give her an autograph. But neither of them had a pen and paper. Geoff tells their father about her meeting with Casey. He calls them her wild stories. Sophie asserts that it is true. Her father tells her that if she talks like that she would be in trouble. He observes that Danny is a promising player but he is too young. They should take care of him lest he should go astray. Sophie likes her brother Geoff. He is an apprentice mechanic. He travels to work everyday. She imagines that it is a fascinating world which Geoff visits. She has already begun to imagine riding behind Geoff into that world. She is confident the world will receive her with open arms. She tells Geoff that Danny Casey has asked her to meet him again next week. Geoff can hardly believe her. He thinks that Sophie is too young and Danny must be having a lot of girls. But Sophie says that Danny has told her that he has no girlfriend. Geoff thinks it is the most unlikely thing. Danny could not have told her all about this. Sophie makes Geoff promise that he will not tell their father about the date. One day Sophie comes across Jansie. Geoff has told Jansie’s brother that Sophie has had a meeting with Danny Casey. Jansie is curious to know all about it. Sophie is alarmed. She suspects that Geoff has told Jansie’s brother about the date too. But soon she discovers that Jansie knows nothing about the date. Then, Sophie tells her about her meeting Danny Casey and why she could not get his autograph. But she tells Jansie to keep it a secret because she does not wish the neighbours to come to her house and ask about all this. She is scared of her father, she tells Jansie that if her father learns about it, he will murder her. Jansie promises to keep the secret. Sophie, her father and brothers go to watch the United. There, Danny Casey scores the second goal. It was a wonderful hattrick. Sophie is proud of her hero. Her father is also happy and goes to the pub to celebrate. Sophie decides to meet Danny Casey. After dark, she goes along the canal to a quiet and secluded place. It was an ideal place for the meeting. There is a wooden bench under a tree. She sits on it to wait for Danny to come. She imagines he is coming out of the shadows. She is excited. But he does not come. Time passes and she begins to lose hope. At last she is disappointed. She feels he will not come. She thinks now she will not be able to tell Geoff that he was wrong. Geoff had doubted if Danny would come at all. Slowly and disheartened, she walks to the arcade. There she imagines meeting him once again. She asks for an autograph. Once again they discover that they don’t have a pen and paper. Then Casey disappears and Sophie stands there as if enchanted by the meeting. Once again she pictures him as she saw him at the United, scoring a goal and the audience cheering wildly. qq Poetry

Chapter - 1 : My Mother at Sixty-Six —Kamala Das Introduction In this poem, the poetess is commenting on the relationship between a mother and a daughter when they cannot afford to be together for long. The poetess is going to catch the plane at Cochin. Her old mother, pale and sick is also accompanying her to the airport. The mother looks colourless like a dead body. She is unlikely to live for long. The poetess doubts if she will be able to meet her again. She looks out of the car and finds young trees racing past. She also notices happy children running out of their houses. They stand for a healthy and hopeful life. The old mother is nearing her end. The poetess becomes shaky. But she tries to cheer up the old woman. With a smiling face, she promises to see her mother again. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 19 Summary : The poetess was on her way back to Cochin, the previous Friday morning to catch a flight. Her mother was seated beside her in the car. The old woman started feeling drowsy. She had her mouth open. Her face looked pale and ash-coloured as that of a dead body. The poetess became panicky. She thought that her mother would not live long. She was deeply pained. She tried to overcome her fear. She looked out of the window. The young trees appeared to be running back at full speed. She also saw cheerful children coming out of their homes. They were in sharp contrast to her own aged mother. They reached the airport and passed through the formal security check. From the distance of a few yards the poetess looked at her mother again. The mother was weak and pale like the moon in a late winter night. The sight of her revived the narrator’s old childhood fear of being away from her mother. There was no hope of improvement in her condition. But before bidding her farewell, the poetess just smiled and expressed hope to see her again. 1. Driving from ...... though away. While driving to Cochin from her parent’s home, the poetess’ mother accompanied her in the car to see her off. She sat beside the poetess. At one moment when the poetess turned and looked at her mother, she noticed that her mother was dozing and her mouth was open. Her face had turned ashen i.e., it seemed as if it had lost the vitality of life and her face looked like that of a corpse (dead body). The poetess was frightened as the reality seized her that her mother had grown old. She was not ready to accept it as old age is followed by death. So she tried to put the thought away. Simile → Ashen like that of a corpse. 2...... and ...... Smile ...... She started looking out in order to take away the frightening thought from her mind. She noticed the trees sprinting in contrast to her mother who looked lifeless while sitting beside her. She also noticed children coming out of their home happily. The happy children are the representatives of youth and power. Probably they were reminding her of the time when the poetess was a child and her mother was young. Then they reached the airport. After the security check at the airport, she again looked at her mother who was standing a few yards away. She again felt that old familiar ache of losing her mother who looked like a late winter’s moon which loses its beauty in the fog. She felt that her mother had also lost her youth, vitality and had become inactive. She had a childhood fear of permanent separation from her mother. But she did not show it to her mother. She kept on smiling and smiling and said ‘see you soon, Amma. These were the words of reassurance that they would meet again and she smiled in an attempt to hid her feelings. Imagery → Trees sprinting Simile → As a late winter’s moon Alliteration → See you Soon Repetition → Smile and smile qq Chapter - 2 : An Elementary School Class-room a Slim —Stephen Spender Introduction Stephen Spender was a poet who visited the Gemini Studios in Bombay. He had left his learning and felt deeply for the poor and the downtrodden. He was not against progress and prosperity, but he wanted that the poor and the downtrodden should have equal opportunities to share the benefits. In this poem, he wants to draw the attention of the society and the government to the dismal conditions under which those children live and study. There is a map that shows beautiful cities, ships and love all around. But these children are deprived of these. He wants that children should be given education in a conducive atmosphere. Summary : Stephen Spender visited an elementary school in a slum. The classroom was dim. The paint on the walls was faded. Children were sick and undernourished. 20 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

A child’s growth was stunted. His bones were twisted. A boy looked dreamy. He was thinking of a squirrel’s game. A girl sat with her head weighed down in despair. On the wall, there was a portrait of Shakespeare and a map of the world. The map showed beautiful cities under a cloudless sky at dawn. There were ships and love. It had symbols of modern progress and liberal attitude. But by contrast, the lives of the children were dark and dismal. Their future was written in a fog. The poet thinks that the map and Shakespeare had no significance for the children who lived in houses just like graves. He pleads that these windows should be broken and the children should be moved to the bright daylight. They should experience the sun, the sky and the sea. They should be educated. They should have equal opportunities like others. 1. Far far ...... other than this. The poem begins with a description of the children sitting in a school classroom which is located in a slum. The poet has compared these children to rootless weeds as they are not given any importance by any member of the society. They are unwanted like the rootless weeds or useless plants. Their faces are pale and untidy, hair falls all over their faces. Then the poet describes a few children sitting in the classroom, there is a tall girl who sits with her head down due to poverty or some affliction. She seems to be in a depressed state. There is a boy who is very thin and has eyes which bulge out like that of a rat. His physical appearance clearly depicts that he is undernourished and his eyes seem to be always in search of food like a rat. There is one more boy who is unlucky as he had inherited a gnarled bone disease from his father. His physical growth is stunted and he recited his lesson from his desk as he can’t stand. Another boy is seated at the back of that dull and dim room, there is a sweet boy who is not paying any attention to the class. Rather he is day-dreaming about the outside world where a squirrel is playing in the hollow of a free. It is in contrast to his own life. He also wants to go out and play like a squirrel but cannot do so. Simile → Like rootless weeds 2. On sour cream ...... stars of words. The poet then proceeds to give a detailed description of the classroom which has sour cream walls. They are dirty and yellow and are unpleasant to look at. There is a picture of Shakespeare’s head on the wall. Apart from this, a cloudless sky at dawn, the domes of buildings, the beautiful scene of the Tyrolese valley with its beautiful flowers and bells are all painted on the walls. But these things have no meaning for the slum children. The names of people who have given donations for the school have also been displayed on the sour cream walls. Open handed maps have also been drawn on the walls of the classroom but they are of no use as their area has not been shown in it. This map does not have their world in it. Their world is foggy, dull and bleak. There is no ray of hope in it. Their life has no future and they live a life of uncertainty. They are doomed to live in narrow streets, with a dull, leaden sky. Rivers, capes and stars are natural beauties but for these children, they represent a world which has no meaning for them. Metaphor → Future’s painted with a fog 3. Surely Shakespeare ...... as big as doom. Shakespeare’s head on the map on the walls of a classroom of a slum is wicked because they can’t imagine any other world except their own. The pictures of ships and sun are a bad example for these children because they tempt them to run away from their dark world to the world of adventure which is represented by the ships and the world of the rich. Their houses have been compared to narrow holes where their future is foggy and like an endless night. The slum children are emaciated as their bones seem to be peeping through their skins. They wear steel spectacles which have mended glass. The poet is comparing the mended glass to the small pieces of broken glass on stones as the world of the slum children is also broken due to their unfulfilled desires. They are supposed to use the discarded things of the rich. The slums are not marked on the maps but it should be done. The slums should be spotted and drawn on the maps so that the slum children should feel one with the others and realise that their slums can also be located on the maps. Alliteration → Spectacles of steel Space are foggy slum From Fog to endless night like bottle bits on stones Simile → like bottle bits on stones Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 21

4. Unless governor ...... is the sun. The poet further moves on saying that these miserable conditions of the slum will continue unless some governor, inspector or visitor visits this place and tries to improve the conditions of the classroom in a slum. The windows of the classroom symbolise the environment of the slums which blocks the progress of the slum children. They should not be bound to live in these places which are like catacombs. Let these children go out and face the world. Let them see the green fields which are a sign of prosperity. Let them lead a life of freedom represented by golden sands. Give them the opportunity to express themselves freely because only those people make and create history who fight for a cause and are able to overcome their surroundings. The slum children should also be given an opportunity of being memorable. Simile → lives like catacombs Repetition → Break or break open till they break the town qq

Chapter - 3 : Keeping Quiet —Pablo Neruda Introduction Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) is the pen name of Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto who was born in a town of Parral in Chile. Neruda’s poems are full of easily understood images which make them no less beautiful. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in the year 1971. In this poem he talks about a strange striking theme. It is basically an anti-war poem. The poet is deeply concerned about violence, cruelty to animals and the plight of the manual workers. Here the poet offers a very simple solution to many of our problems. The solution is self introspection and creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings. Summary The poet invites people all over to come together and suspend their activities till he counts to twelve. He wants us all to keep quiet and do nothing. It would be a rare moment in the history of mankind. Fishermen will not harm whales. There will be no preparation for war, there will be no harm to the environment. But the poet makes one thing clear. He wants us to suspend activities and not to stop them forever, because life is meant for action and progress, inactivity means death. He does not want death. But he hopes the moments of introspection will help us to move in the right direction only if we stop to think. 1. Now we ...... arms so much. The poet, Pablo Neruda, asks each one of us to count till twelve and then not do anything whether it is talking or moving. He wants everyone to keep quiet and not move at all. In this moment of silence, he wants that we should not speak in any language and not move even our arms. It is in fact, at the number twelve when both the hands of the clock unite. So he wants us also to unite like the two hands of the clock. Alliteration → stop for one second Pun (word having dual meaning in the same line) → not move our arms so much (a) part of body (b) weapons used for destruction 2. It would ...... sudden strangeness The moment when everyone would be quiet would be an exciting and thrilling moment. There will be no rushing of everyday work, no sound of machines polluting the environment. It will be a moment when everyone would be together but in a strange kind of way. Repetition → without rush, without engines Alliteration → in a sudden strangeness 22 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

3. Fishermen in ...... hurt hands The fishermen would also stop for sometime and not kill whales. Fishermen, in these lines, represent the tyrants or killers who do not think about others and carry on with their act of killing. They will also stop and introspect the selfish acts that they are doing. The salt-gatherers would also stop gathering salt and would get time for introspection which they never get in the rat-race of earning their livelihood. In this strange moment, everyone will stop doing the kind of work that they are doing and realise their mistakes, when they get time to introspect. The man gathering salt represents the lower section of society who are ready to descend to any level in order to earn their living and often end up hurting themselves. Alliteration → would look at his hurt hands 4. Those who ...... doing nothing The poet is now referring to the creators of pollution – those who prepare green war, chemical wars – wars with gas and nuclear wars – wars with fire. He wants them also to stop and think over what harm they are doing. They should stop their brutal work and think positive. These wars would bring only destruction and there would be no survivors to enjoy their victory. They should clean their soul of negativity and join hands with other fellow beings. They would also leave the path of destruction for that one moment when everyone would remain quite. Repetition → wars with gas, wars with fire Alliteration → would put, on clean clothes 5. What I want ...... ourselves with death. The poet then moves on to say that he doesn’t want that keeping quite should be taken as total inactivity because we will not be inactive. We will be inactive physically but we will be active mentally as we’ll be introspective. Some people might associate it with death but it should not be done because we might appear to be inactive physically but we must ponder over our actions and try to evaluate and understand ourselves. We are always busy in achieving our goals and seek to move ahead with the fear of death, thinking how much of our dreams have been fulfilled. But we must stop all this and think over what we have gained in life. 6. Perhaps the ...... and I will go. We must try to learn something from the Earth. In the winter season, the Earth seems to be still and quiet, but something goes on beneath its surface where seeds are lying hidden. They come up in spring and teach us to do our work quietly. Introspecting can be done easily while keeping quiet. It will also help us in regaining our lost vitality and energise us to do our work. The poet finally starts counting up to twelve and tells others to keep quiet. qq

Chapter - 4 : A Thing of Beauty —John keats Introduction ‘A Thing of Beauty’ is a poem written by John Keats. John Keats was born in London in 1795. His parents died when he was only fifteen. He became an apprentice to a surgeon. But he was interested in poetry. ‘A Thing of Beauty’ is an excerpt from his longer poem ‘Endymion’. According to the poet, a thing of beauty is a source of joy forever. The sun, the moon, trees, musk roses and daffodils are all objects of beauty. In addition to these objects of nature, man also produces objects of beauty. Art, poetry, stories, mythology etc., are all sources of eternal joy for us. Summary : Beautiful things are eternal sources of joy. Their beauty can never vanish, nor can it ever diminish. It makes a permanent place in our mind and is a source of health and peace. The world has sufferings and noble people are few. But on account of things of beauty, we weave flowery bands to tie ourselves with this earth. Things of beauty remove the curtain of darkness and gloom from our spirits. The Moon, the Sun, the clear streams and the thickets in the green forests sprinkled with musk roses, are all objects of beauty. The grand mythological stories, epics and ballads about the deeds and doom of our heroes are all sources of eternal joy. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 23

1. A thing ...... quiet breathing. The poet, John Keats, was a nature-lover who loved beauty in any form. He expresses his love for beautiful objects by saying that they are a source of eternal joy and pleasure. Their beauty keeps on increasing with the passage of time and it doesn’t fade away. Rather its memory is imprinted in our mind and keeps us cool and quiet which then leads to a sound sleep full of sweet dreams. This sound sleep brings mental peace and keeps us healthy too. 2. Therefore on every ...... our dark spirits. Every morning, we wreathe a garland i.e., a flowery band which keeps us attached and connected to earth. Human beings face many disappointments in their life due to the scarcity of noble human beings or by following the unhealthy path of negative thoughts. Still there comes a ray of hope when we look at the same beautiful object as it takes away the covering of negativity from one’s mind and fills it with optimism. This helps us shed sadness from our minds. Alliteration → of noble natures 3. Such the sun ...... musk rose blooms. The bountiful nature is full of beautiful objects like the sun, the moon, trees whether old or young which provide shade to everyone, the daffodils which bloom in the forests, the clear streams which provide cooling effect in the area where they are found against the hot season and make everyone feel comfortable. The mid forest ferns and musk roses also have the same effect on us and give us mental peace and calmness. Alliteration → ...... themselves a cooling covert make 4. And such ...... the heaven’s brink. John Keats now describes the literary beauty, the beauty which is found in the tales of the mighty and powerful people who are no more in this world now. The stories of their bravery, which we have heard or read, inspire us to be brave and courageous like those people. All the beautiful things have been compared to the immortal drink which is being poured to us straight from the heaven. Hyperbole → An endless fountain of immortal drink qq

Chapter - 5 : Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers —Adrienne Rich Introduction The poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ depicts the picture of a woman who suffers greatly at the hands of her husband. She shows her feelings by creating tigers on a woollen strip of cloth. She carries the heavy weight of the wedding ring which has also put metal bands on her movements. She has gone through the trials and torture of marriage. She naturally adopts tigers as her ideal. A tiger is a symbol of strength, self-confidence and freedom. Aunt creates such tigers who are unafraid of men. Her own fingers are too weak to pull the needle through the wool. Her terrified hands bear the marks of her marriage ring and the cheeks pressed by Uncle will not change even in her grave. The tigers by contrast will continue to enjoy boundless freedom in the forest. Summary : Aunt Jennifer is creating animals that are so different from her own character. She is perhaps working on a panel or a strip of woollen cloth. With an ivory needle, she is making the figure of tigers, moving freely in the forest. They have bright yellow coat with stripes. They are fearless of the men standing under a tree. They are proud of their freedom and physical strength. Aunt Jennifer is weak, therefore, her feeble fingers fail to pull even the light needle. She is creating mighty tigers on a panel but her own married life has been an utter failure. Uncle has, perhaps, been much too severe and insensitive to her feelings. The tiger symbolises what she has missed in her married life. Someday, Aunt Jennifer will quit this world. She would be lowered into the grave. Her weak and terrified hand will still have the circular ‘marks’ of her suffering. She will remain a slave in her grave. The tigers, however, created by her will go on playing merrily forever, proud and fearless. 24 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

1. Aunt Jennifer’s ...... chivalric certainty. ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ addresses the constraints of married life that a woman experiences. They highlight the patriarchal attitude of the society. Aunt Jennifer too is the victim of such society. She has an unhappy married life as she’s dominated by her husband. She embroiders jumping tigers on a panel to give vent to her pent up emotions. The tigers are golden in colour. They are not afraid of the men sitting under the tree as they themselves are a symbol of bravery, courage and fearlessness. They are shown to be moving about with great confidence which Aunt Jennifer herself lacks. 2. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers ...... Jennifer’s hands. She is so terrified of her husband that her fingers tremble when she pulls out the needle through wool which is very light. It symbolises her physical as well as emotional weakness. The wedding ring which she is wearing seems heavy to her as she finds it difficult to go ahead as her married life has taken away her freedom from her. Alliteration → ...... fingers fluttering 3. When Aunt ...... and unafraid. Aunt Jennifer is so dominated that even death would not be able to free her from the terror of her husband. Her hands would still be ringed by the ordeals of her married life. On the other hand, the tigers which she has embroidered will keep on prancing showing the contrast between art and human beings. It tells us that art is immortal and always survives death. Alliteration → ...... fingers fluttering qq (Vistas) Supplementary Reader

Chapter - 1 : The Tiger King —Kalki Introduction As soon as the Tiger King was born, astrologers foretold that one day, he would have to eventually die. The chief astrologer predicted that the death of the Tiger King would come from a tiger. He must be particularly careful with the hundredth tiger. At the age of twenty, the Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt. His tiger hunt was highly successful and he was able to kill ninety-nine tigers. There remained just one more tiger to complete his tally of hundred. On the third birthday of his son, he brought a wooden tiger for his son. While playing with that tiny little wooden tiger, one of the slivers pierced his right hand. Infection flared up in his hand and he died after an unsuccessful operation. In this way, the hundredth tiger took its final revenge from the Tiger King. Summary : 1. The Tiger King The Tiger King is born. Astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger King would have to eventually die. He would grow up to become the hero of heroes and the champion of the champions. But the child born under that star would, one day, have to meet his death. 2. Ten-day Child Speaks A great miracle took place. The ten-day-old Jilani Jung Bahadur spoke very clearly. He told them that all those who were born, would have to die one day. There was nothing new in that. There would be some sense if anyone could tell him the manner of his death. Everyone stood stunned. An infant, born just ten days ago, was talking in such a manner. The chief astrologer told the prince that he was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger were enemies. Therefore, his death would come from a tiger. 3. The Maharaja Starts Out on a Tiger Hunt There were innumerable forests in the Pratibandapuram State. They had tigers in them. The Maharaja was overjoyed when he killed his first tiger. He sent for the state astrologer and showed him the dead beast. He told the Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 25

Maharaja that he would have to kill ninety-nine more. He must be very careful with the hundredth tiger. The king asked what if the hundredth tiger were also killed. The astrologer declared that he would tear up all his books on astrology and set fire to them. Then, the king would have no trouble. 4. Kills Seventy Tigers in Ten Years The state banned tiger hunting by all except the Maharaja. If anyone dared to disobey, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. The king did face some problems. Sometimes the bullet missed its mark. Once, a tiger jumped upon him and he fought the beast with his bare hands. Once a high ranking British officer wished to hunt tigers in Pratibandapuram. But he was refused permission. He could hunt other animals except tigers. The Maharaja stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself. He managed to retain his kingdom by offering a bribe of 50 gold rings worth three lakh rupees to his wife. The Maharaja’s tiger hunt continued to be highly successful. He was able to kill seventy tigers within ten years. 5. Marries a Girl from a State with Large Number of Tigers The king’s mission of killing tigers came to a halt. The tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. The king decided to marry into the royal family of a state with a large tiger population. The Dewan found out the right girl. Maharaja Jung Bahadur killed five or six tigers each time he visited his father-in-law. In this way, he was able to kill 99 tigers. 6. Hunt for the Hundredth Tiger There remained just one tiger to reach his tally of a hundred. If he could kill just one more tiger, the Maharaja would have no fears left. He could give up tiger hunting altogether. He had to be very careful with that last tiger. But the hundredth tiger was found nowhere. The Maharaja became very sad. The Dewan realised that if the Maharaja didn’t find the tiger soon, the results could be quite dangerous. A tiger was brought from the People’s Park in Chennai. It was brought straight to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting. The Maharaja took a careful aim and the tiger fell in a heap. The Maharaja became elated at killing the hundredth tiger. After he left, the hunters had a closer look at the tiger. The tiger was not dead. They decided that the Maharaja must not know that he had missed the target. So one of the hunters killed the tiger. 7. The Hundredth Tiger Takes its Revenge upon the King A few days later, the third birthday of the Maharaja’s son was celebrated. The Maharaja brought a wooden tiger from a shop as a special gift on his birthday. On that day father and son played with the wooden toy-tiger. Its surface was rough. One of those needle-like slivers pierced the Maharaja’s right hand. The next day, infection flared up in his hand. In four days, it developed into a suppurating sore. Three surgeons performed an operation. “The operation was unsuccessful”. The Maharaja was dead. In this manner, the hundredth tiger took its final revenge on the Tiger King. qq

Chapter - 2 : The Enemy —Pearl S. Buck Introduction It is the time of the World War II. Japan is at war with America. An American prisoner of war gets washed away to the doorstep of a Japanese, Dr. Sadao. The choice is very hard for Dr. Sadao and his wife. Should they hand him over to the police or save him from dying ? Being a doctor, Sadao gives top priority to save the life of a dying man. Not only does he save him but also helps him in escaping to freedom. Summary : 1. Sadao’s Education—His Father’s Main Concern Dr. Sadao Hoki’s house was built on the Japanese coast. His father never joked or played with him. Sadao knew that his education was his father’s chief concern. For this reason, he had sent him to America at twenty-two to learn surgery and medicine. He had come back at thirty and before his father died, he had seen Sadao become a famous surgeon and scientist. 2. Sadao Married Hana Sadao had met Hana in America but didn’t fall in love with her until he was sure she was Japanese. His father would never have accepted her unless she had been ‘pure in her race’. Sadao met her at an American Professor’s house. They came home to Japan. Their marriage had been arranged in the old Japanese way. They were perfectly happy and had two children. 3. Wounded American Soldier Tom Found Crawling Sadao and Hana found something coming out of the mist. A man seemed to be on his hands and knees crawling. Then, they saw him fall on his face and lie there. He was wounded and lay motionless on the sand. He was a white man. On the right side of his lower back, Sadao saw that a gun wound had reopened. He was bleeding. He packed the wound with the sea moss. The man cried but didn’t awaken. They read the faint letters on his cap : “U.S. Navy”. The American was a prisoner of war. 26 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

4. Sheltered a White Man If they sheltered the white man in their house, they would be arrested. But if they turned him over as a prisoner, he would certainly die. The couple was in a fix. All Americans were their enemies. If he were healthy, they could hand him over to the police. But he was wounded. He would die unless he was operated upon. At any rate, something was to be done with him. The servants were frightened at what their master had just told them. They thought that their master should not heal the wound of that white man. Even Yumi refused to wash the white man and returned to her work. Hana herself washed Tom’s breast and face with steaming hot water carefully. 5. Tom was Operated on Sadao asked Hana to help him to turn the man. She obeyed. She was asked to give the anaesthetic if needed. The bullet was still there. He had lost much blood. Hana couldn’t bear the sight and ran out of the room. She had never seen an operation. Sadao went on with his work. But she came with a bottle and some cotton in her hand. Then, with a very clean and precise incision, the bullet was taken out. The man quivered but was still unconscious. He only muttered a few words in English. Dr. Sadao declared that the man would live in spite of all. 6. The Young man Woke up Terrified The young man woke up. He was very weak. His blue eyes were terrified when he saw where he was. Hana consoled him not to be afraid. She comforted him that he would soon be strong. On the third day, Dr. Sadao examined the wound. Tom asked what they were going to do with him. He looked barely seventeen. For a moment, Sadao didn’t answer. Tom was a prisoner of war and should have been handed over to the police. 7. Servants Grew Ruthless The servants felt that they could not stay if Sadao hid that white man anymore in the house. People would think that they liked Americans. The servants grew more watchful daily. Sadao wanted the prisoner to get up on his feet. He should practise it everyday till he gained strength. The man thanked the doctor for having saved his life. The doctor cautioned him not to thank him so early. The last stitches had been pulled out. The young man would be all right within a fortnight. On the seventh day, the servants left all together. Hana was terrified but maintained her pride as a mistress. She paid them off and thanked them for all they had done for her. 8. The Old General The old General was sick. He knew that Sadao was indispensable to him. He didn’t want Sadao to be arrested. What would happen if Sadao were condemned to death and the next day he himself had to have his operation ? He didn’t trust other surgeons. The General hit upon a plan. It would be best if the American could be quietly killed. He had his own private assassins. He could send two of them to his house at night. Sadao agreed that it would be very natural. 9. Sadao Saved Tom but wondered Why ? Sadao thought over the General’s plan. The whole thing could go out of his hands. He didn’t tell anything to Hana. The next morning, he went to the guest room. He thought of putting his boat on the shore that night with food and extra clothing in it. The American might be able to row to that little island not far from the coast. Nobody lived on that island. He gave all necessary instructions to Tom. If his food ran out before he caught a Korean boat, he could signal him two flashes. The young American shook Sadao’s hand warmly and walked into the darkness of the garden. Sadao informed the General that the young man had escaped. The General had promised Sadao to get him killed. But due to his own illness, he forgot to respect his promise. Sadao got his reward. He didn’t receive any signal. No one was on the island. The prisoner had gone safely. Sadao remembered that he had great difficulty in finding a place to live in America because he was Japanese. The Americans were full of prejudice. White people were repulsive. It was a relief to be openly at war with them at last. Then, he remembered the ‘haggard face of the prisoner—white and repulsive’. “Strange”, he thought, “I wonder why I could not kill him ?” qq Chapter - 3 : Should Wizard Hit Mommy ? —John Updike Introduction In ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy ?’ John Updike presents the worldview of a little child. Jo warmly responds to her father’s story-telling. But she can’t excuse Roger Skunk’s mother for making poor little Roger smell bad again. Her hero must smell like roses and must not stink at any cost. So she wants her father to make a little change in the story. She wants him to tell a different story in which the wizard takes a magic wand and hits Roger Skunk’s mommy. Summary : 1. A Two-Year Old Custom of Story Telling Jack used to tell stories to his daughter Jo in the evenings and for Saturday naps. Every story was a product of his head. This custom began when she was two. Each new story was a slight variation of the basic tale. Every story had a small creature usually named Roger. It could be Roger Fish, Roger Squirrel or Roger Chipmunk. In every story Roger went to the wise owl and the owl would send Roger to the wizard. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 27

2. Story of Roger Skunk Today’s story was about Roger Skunk. It was a new animal. They must talk about it at the nursery school. Jack had got a new hero. He started the story : “Once upon a time, in the deep dark woods, there was a tiny little creature by the name of Roger Skunk. He smelled very bad. He smelled so bad that the other little creatures would not play with him. They would run away. Roger Skunk would stand there all alone. Two little round tears would fall from his eyes. Little Jo could already guess what would be the storyline next. She asked “Won’t he see the owl” ? Jack continued. There lived a big wise owl in the tiptop of a tree. Roger Skunk told him his pathetic tale. The wise owl advised him to go to the wizard. 3. Roger Skunk Meets the Wizard At last, Roger Skunk came to a little white house after crossing the dark woods and the swamp. A little old man came out. He had a long white beard and a pointed blue hat. Roger Skunk told the wizard how all the little animals ran away from him. He smelled very bad. The wizard asked Roger not to get very close to him. Inside the house, all magic things were jumbled together in a big dusty heap. The wizard demanded seven pennies. Roger had only four. He started crying. The wizard sent him to a magic well where Roger found three pennies. He took them back to the wizard. The wizard was happy and made him smell like roses. All other little animals gathered around him. Now, he smelled so good. They played games and laughed all afternoon. 4. Roger Skunk’s Mommy doesn’t like the Change Roger Skunk’s mommy asked him what that ‘awful smell’ was. Roger replied that he himself smelled like roses. The wizard made him smell like that. She told Roger that they were going right back to “that very awful wizard”. But Roger cried that he smelled so bad earlier that all other little animals ran away. The mother said that she didn’t care for that. Roger Skunk would smell the way a little Skunk should smell. They went to the wizard and he made him smell very bad again. 5. Jo wants the Story Changed a Little Jo didn’t like the end of the story. Poor little Roger Skunk was made to smell bad again. She wanted her father to make a little change in the story. She wanted her father Jack to tell her that the wizard took “that magic wand and hit that mommy.” She insisted on making that change in the story. qq

Chapter - 4 : On The Face of it —Susan Hill Introduction This is a play featuring an old man Mr. Lamb and a small boy named Derry. Derry suffers from a complex. When one side of his face gets burnt, he always remains withdrawn and defiant. He doesn’t like to be near people as he can’t stand their uncharitable looks and remarks. Mr. Lamb himself has a tin leg but has a very positive attitude towards life and people. He shows the right way of judging men, matters and life to young Derry. Summary : 1. Derry Enters Lamb’s Garden Derry walks slowly and cautiously through the long grass. He enters Lamb’s garden. Mr. Lamb speaks to him when he is close at hand. Derry is startled. He is apologetic. He didn’t know if there was anybody there. Mr. Lamb tries to make Derry comfortable. Mr. Lamb says that he can pick up crab apples. Derry need not go away on Mr. Lamb’s account. Mr. Lamb doesn’t mind who comes in the garden. The gate is always open. Derry did not need to climb over the wall of the garden. Derry says he didn’t come there for stealing apples. Mr. Lamb assures him that he can stay there. 2. Derry’s Burnt Face Derry says that people are afraid of him. They look at his face and find it terrible and ugly. Even when, he himself sees his face in the mirror, he is afraid of himself. Mr. Lamb says that he will get the ladder and a stick and pull down crab apples. He makes jelly from them. Derry doesn’t want Mr. Lamb to change the subject. He wants to talk about himself. Mr. Lamb thinks that perhaps Derry’s face got burnt in a fire. Derry corrects him. Derry says he got acid all down on that side of his face and burnt it all way. The acid ate up his face. 3. Lamb Has a Tin Leg Mr. Lamb is old. Derry is young. Derry has got a burnt face. Lamb has got a tin leg. Similarly, one green plant is called a weed and another flower. All are life. Mr. Lamb lost his leg. Some kids call him “Lamey Lamb”. A tin leg and a burnt face are not the only things to be taken notice of or to be stared at. There are so many other things like crab apples, weeds and sunflowers. They deserve our attention and Mr. Lamb enjoys life and people as much as he can. 4. Derry Suffers from a Complex Derry says that people have told him many fairy stories to console him. They say that it is not important what you look like. People tell these comforting lies only to console him. But Derry knows that he will not change. He will stay as a ‘monstrous beast’. No one will kiss him ever. Only his mother and she too kisses him on the other side of his 28 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII face. He doesn’t care if nobody ever kissed him. Mr. Lamb asks Derry if he doesn’t care to be kissed by pretty girls. Girls with long hair and large eyes. Will he not like to be kissed by the people he loves ? Derry replies that no one will ever kiss and love him. He is grieved that he won’t ever look different. Even when he grows as old as Mr. Lamb, he will look the same. He will still only have “half a face”. Mr. Lamb replies that Derry may have a ‘half face’ but the world has got a ‘whole face’. He should look at it. 5. Derry Indulges in Self-pity Derry is obsessed with what people say and comment. People remind Derry that there are people even worse than him. He might be blind, dumb or may be mad by birth. Sometimes people can be very cruel. A woman looked at him. She said to another woman. “Look at that, that’s a terrible thing”. She told her that only a mother could love such a face. Mr. Lamb advises Derry to keep his ears shut. Derry says that he doesn’t like being close to people. He can’t stand people staring at him and passing cruel comments about him. 6. Mr. Lamb Shows the Way Mr. Lamb reminds Derry that he can’t lock himself up in a room and never leave it. Then, he narrates to him the story of a man who was afraid of everything in the world. So he went into his room, locked the door and stayed there. A picture fell off the wall on to his head and killed him. Mr. Lamb says that he enjoys life as it comes. He sits in the sun and reads books. He is not fond of curtains. Mr. Lamb motivates Derry. Derry has got two arms, two legs, eyes and ears. He has got a tongue and also a brain. He can get on the way he wants like all others. And if he chooses, he can “get on better than all the rest”. Derry asks “How ?” Mr. Lamb replies that Derry can live the same way as he himself does. For him everybody is welcome. The gate is always open. Derry says that there are some people whom he hates. Mr. Lamb says that hatred is more harmful than a bottle of acid. Derry gets up and prepares to go. He says he will come back. Mr. Lamb says that generally people say so but never come back. 7. Derry Comes Back but Mr. Lamb Dies Derry comes home. His mother warns him not to go back there. Derry assures her that she need not fear. Only an old man with a tin leg lives there. He has a huge house and a garden. He is Mr. Lamb. He says things nobody else has ever said. Derry runs to Mr. Lamb’s garden. He opens the garden gate. He cries that he has come back. Suddenly, there is a crash. The ladder falls back, Mr. Lamb also falls down with it. He dies. Derry begins to weep. He goes on crying “Lamey-Lamb ! I did .... come back”. qq

Chapter - 5 : Evans Tries an O-Level —Colin Dexter Introduction In ‘Evans Tries An O-Level’, author Colin Dexter describes how Evans proves that all attempts of the prison officers like Jackson and Stephens and good-for-a-giggle Governor failed to stop him from escaping. All precautions have been made to see that O-level German examination, in prison arranged for Evans, doesn’t provide him with any means of escape. But in spite of all this, it is Evans who had the last laugh. Summary : 1. Secretary, Examinations Board, Receives a call from Oxford Prison It was early March. The Secretary of the Examination Board receives a call from the Oxford Prison. A chap called Evans started night classes in O-Level German last September. He is very keen to get some sort of academic qualification. The Governor enquires about the procedure. The Secretary asks him not to worry about it. He will be sending him all the forms and other necessary things. He enquires about Evans. The Governor assures him that there is no record of violence against Evans. It is decided to examine him in his prison cell. One of the persons from St. Mary Mag is arranged to invigilate. 2. ‘Evans the Break’ The prison officers call him ‘Evans the Break’. He had escaped from prison three times. At 8:30 in the morning Evans had two visitors. Jackson was the senior prison officer of D Wing. He and Evans had already become ‘warm enemies’. Stephens was a burly-surly officer. Evans’ face is unshaven. He wears a dirty red and white bobble hat upon his head. They make sure that his razor and nail-scissors are taken away. He is given half an hour to smarten himself. 3. Reverend Stuart McLeery Comes to Invigilate McLeery carries a brown suitcase. It contains all the necessary papers, including a sealed question paper envelope. The two hour examination is scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. Stephens brings two small square tables and two hard chairs and places them opposite to each other. They are taking no chances with Evans. Stuart McLeery is greeted by Jackson at D Wing in the prison. It will be very difficult for Evans to make another break. He is sitting in a locked cell and all the prison officers are on alert. The invigilator’s duty is to ensure that the strictest silence is observed. The Governor is worried about McLeery. If he has brought something, even a Jack-knife, Evans can hold him hostage with such a weapon. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 29

4. Examination Begins The examinee and the invigilator have already been introduced by Stephens. McLeery asks Evans to write the name on the paper, his Index Number etc. At 9:40 a.m. the Assistant Secretary speaks to the Governor. They had forgotten to place a correction slip in the examination package. Jackson fears whether the phone call is fake or is it some signal. But everything seems to be all right. Evans sits staring straight in front of him holding his pen between his lips. And opposite him sits McLeery. At 10:50 a.m. Evans wants a blanket round his shoulders. He is feeling cold. At 10:51 a.m. Stephens was surprised to see a grey blanket draped around Evans’ shoulders. Stephens wonders if Evans is not planning in the blanket. At 11:20 a.m. McLeery informs Evans that only five minutes are remaining. At 11:22 a.m. Governor wants to speak to Stephens. He wants him to accompany McLeery to the main gates. At 11:25 a.m. McLeery announces “Stop writing, please. Stephens walks with McLeery to the main gates. Two abnormalities can be noticed here. McLeery’s Scots accent seems broader than ever. His long black overcoat is reaching almost to his knees. 5. Stephens Wants to Take Just One Last Look at Evans Stephens wants to take just one last look at Evans. He makes his way to Evans’ cell. He opens the peep-hole once more. “Oh, no, Christ, No”. Stephens cries. In Evans’ chair a man is lying. His blanket is slipping from his shoulders. His tufted hair is awash with red blood. The man is McLeery. Stephens shouts loudly for Jackson. McLeery gives a long moan and tries to speak. He asks them to get the police. He knows where Evans has gone. Almost immediately sirens start sounding. And within a minute McLeery, with Jackson and Stephens supporting him on either side, is greeted by the Governor. McLeery shows him a photocopied sheet cleverly super-imposed over the last page of the question paper. The Governor reads. “... Don’t hit him too hard—remember, he’s a minister! And don’t overdo the Scots accent when ....” McLeery cries “Elsfield Way”. Evans has gone there. The Governor is furious. He asks who took Evans to the main gates. Stephens says that he acted as he was directed. The Governor is angry again. He calls Stephens ‘a blithering idiot’. It was not he who rang them at 11:20 a.m. He also tells Jackson that his “skull’s empty”. It was Jackson who had spent two hours in Evans’ cell and reported that there was nothing hidden there. And yet Evans managed to conceal a false beard, a pair of spectacles and also a sort of weapon with which he had given McLeery such a terrible blow. The Governor read the last line of the paper left by Evans in German “ ... make your way to ... to Neugraben”. 6. Hunt for Evans The Governor lights a cigarette. It had been a “beautifully laid plan.” He had left that question paper behind. Perhaps he was careless to leave that clue. He is sure that ‘Mr. clever-clever Evans’ will be back inside his cell again. Then information comes that McLeery has spotted Evans driving off along the Elsfield Way. The Governor asks Carter if he has managed to get McLeery to hospital properly. He is told that McLeery is in the Radcliffe hospital. A few minutes later, the Governor rings the hospital. The reply comes that no one named McLeery is there. The ambulance was sent to Elsfield to pick him up but he vanished. A quarter of an hour later, they find S. McLeery, securely bound and gagged in his study in Broad Street. He had been there since 8:15 a.m. And by that time everyone in the prison knows what has happened. It had not been Evans, impersonating McLeery, who had walked out, it had been Evans, impersonating McLeery who had stayed in. 7. Where Did Evans Go ? Evans walks up to the reception desk of the Golden Lion Hotel. He had to do a long and tricky operation. He was lucky that Jackson didn’t take his hat off. Sticking a beard was one of the worst things. Evans now collects his key. He asks for an early morning call at 6:45 a.m. He, himself, whistles softly to him. He thanks God that everything has gone “beautifully smoothly.” He unlocks his bedroom door and, then, stands frozen at the spot. Sitting on the bed is the last man in the world that Evans had expected. He was the Governor. 8. Evans Surrenders Evans is visibly shaken. For several minutes, there is utter silence. He is beaten at his own game. He tells that the correction slip killed two little birds with a single stone. It gave the name of hotel for Evans and the exact time the exam started. Then, Evans asks how the Governor could locate the hotel in which he was staying. The clue came from the paper itself. Evans wrote Index Number 313; Centre Number 271. The six figure reference 313/271 landed him there. The Governor stands up. He asks Evans to tell him how he got all that blood to pour over his head. Evans replies that it was ‘pig’s blood’ from the slaughter house. But to stop it from clotting one has to mix actual blood and a chemical. In the end, the Governor asks how he could manage to plan all this business. Evans replies that he has many friends. The German teacher is one of them. A silent prison officer handcuffs the recaptured Evans. He does not resist. Two men clambered into the back seat of the prison van. The Governor says farewell to him like a good old friend. 9. Evans Has the Last Laugh The prison van turns right on to the Oxford road. The silent prison officer unlocks Evans’ handcuffs. He asks the driver to ‘move on’ to Newbury. “It won’t take them long to find out—”. Thus, Evans moves on to freedom proving that the Governor was a fool and only “good-for-a-giggle”. The man who removes his handcuffs is Evans’ own man. qq 30 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Chapter - 6 : Memories of Childhood —Zitkala-Sa and Bama Introduction This unit presents autobiographical accounts of the lives of two women writers. Both of them belong to marginalised communities. Both the women look back on their childhood. The first account is by an American Indian women born in the late Nineteenth Century; The second is by a contemporary Tamil Dalit writer. In ‘The Cutting of My Long Hair’ Zitkala Sa describes how mercilessly her long and beautiful hair was forcefully cut. She was dragged out. She cried and resisted by kicking and scratching wildly. She was tied fast in a chair but didn’t submit. No one came for help and not a soul consoled her. In ‘‘We Too Are Human Beings’’ Bama describes how Indian society is ridden with the evil of untouchability. ‘Bama’ herself experienced it. She is upset by the inhuman attitude and treatment of the people belonging to the ‘higher’ castes towards the people of the ‘lower’ castes. Summary : I. The Cutting of my Long Hair—Zitkala-Sa 1. First Day in the Land of Apples The first day in the land of apples was a bitter-cold one. The ground was covered with snow; The trees were bare. The sound of the bell and the clatter of shoes were annoying to sensitive ears. People murmured in an unknown tongue. The narrator’s soul had lost her peace and freedom. But all was useless. 2. Indian Girls in Shingled Hair A pale-faced woman came up after them. The girls were marching into the dining room. These were Indian girls in stiff shoes and closely clinging dresses. The boys entered through the opposite door. She was feeling very uncomfortable. A small bell rang. She pulled her chair and sat on it. But she noticed that all others were standing. She felt confused. The second bell was sounded. All were seated at last. She caught the eyes of a pale face woman upon her. She was keenly watched by the strange woman. The third bell was sounded. Everyone picked up their knife and fork and began eating. 3. Her Friend gives her a Terrible Warning Late in the morning, the narrator’s friend Judewin gave her a terrible warning. She had overheard the pale- face woman talk. They were talking about cutting their long, heavy hair. Among her people, short hair was worn by mourners. Shingled hair was worn by cowards. Judewin decided to submit but the narrator rebelled. She decided not to submit but to struggle. 4. Her Long Hair Shingled She disappeared. She came in a large room with three white beds in it. She crawled under the bed and hid herself. She heard the footsteps nearby. The steps were quickened. The voices grew louder. They looked under the bed. She was dragged out. She was carried down the stairs and tied-fast to a chair. She faced extreme indignities. Her long hair was shingled like that of a coward ! No one came to comfort her. Now, she was only one of the many little animals driven by a herder. II. We too are human beings — Bama 1. Walking Home From School The narrator was in the third class. She hadn’t yet heard people speak openly of untouchability. But she had already seen, felt, experienced and been humiliated by what it was. The distance from her school to home could be covered in ten minutes. But she took from between half an hour to an hour to reach there. She watched all the fun and games that were going on. She saw performing monkeys. She saw the snake charmer displaying his snakes. The other attractions were : The Maariyaatta temple; The Pongal celebrations; The statue of Gandhiji and the sweet and snack stalls. She could go on and on. Everything stopped her and attracted her attention. 2. Entertainments and Performances Political parties would arrive. They cried through their mikes. Then, there might be a street play or a puppet show or a stunt performance. Some or the other entertainment was always going on. There were the coffee clubs in the bazaar. She would see people chopping onions or almonds blown down by the wind. All these sights stopped her from going home. Then, she would see people selling vegetables, fruits and sweets. 3. Food Packet held not by Hands but by its String One day the narrator saw that a threshing floor had been set up near her street. The landlord sat there watching the proceedings. Then, an elder of their street came along from the bazaar. He was carrying a small packet. It contained something like vadai or green banana bhaji. He came along holding out the packet by its string without touching it. The elder went straight to the landlord. He bowed low and extended the packet towards him. The landlord opened it and began to eat. She went home and told the story in all its comic detail. She fell about with laughter but Annan (elder brother) was not amused. He told her that the man was not being funny. He was from a low caste. He couldn’t touch the food packet. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 31

4. The Incident makes her Angry When she heard it, she felt terribly sad. It was disgusting. She felt so much provoked and angry that she wanted to touch those vadais herself straightway. She wondered why poor people showed respect and bowed before such cruel persons. The rich forget that others are also human beings. 5. Education Gives Dignity and Respect Annan told the narrator that they were born in a community of “low caste” people. They were never given any honour or dignity or respect. If they study and make progress, they can throw away these indignities. If they are learned, then people will come to them of their own accord. The words Annan spoke to her that day made a very deep impression on her. She studied hard and stood first in her class. Many people became her friends. qq Novel/Extended Reading Text

Chapter - 1 : The Invisible Man —Herbert George Wells About the Author Early Life and Education : Herbert George Wells was a prolific English writer in his own day and is remembered today as an innovative writer in the new genre of science fiction. Born in 1866, he came from a poor background which was unusual for a writer at that time. He won a scholarship to study science at the university. With a first- class degree in biology, he briefly became a teacher. He, then, lived on a small income from journalism and short stories, until his literary career took off with his first science fiction novel, The Time Machine, in 1895. Wells wrote with tremendous energy throughout his life, producing many science fiction stories, short stories, sociological and political books, autobiographical novels and histories. He became very successful as a writer, perhaps because his work was both popular and intellectual and he lived in some style. Career : Contemporary political and social issues underlie the plots of Wells’s stories. The War of the Worlds (1898) and The Time Machine (1895) were attacks on the self-satisfaction of society rather than being a genuine attempt to predict the future. The Invisible Man (1897) marked a move towards more realistic subject matter. Although the idea of the Invisible Man is obviously a fantasy, the reader meets him through the eyes of the ordinary villagers rather than the aliens of his earlier books. Wells often reaches pessimistic conclusions in his work, as in this story, but he said that he was neither a pessimist nor an optimist, more an observer. Chapterwise Summary 1. The Strange Man’s Arrival One winter’s day, a strange figure arrives at the inn in the small village of Iping. Mrs Hall, the landlady, is pleased to have a winter guest and makes sure that he has everything that he needs. However, when the visitor takes off his hat and coat, she is shocked. His head is completely covered in bandages. As he never shows his face, she thinks that he must have been badly injured in some terrible accident, but despite her efforts to engage him in a conversation, he never offers any explanation for his strange appearance and stays alone in his room most of the time. He simply tells the landlady that he is expecting some boxes to be delivered. 2. Mr. Teddy Henfrey’s First Impression Now we’re introduced to Teddy Henfrey. He’s a villager and a clock jobber, which might sound awesome, but it just means that he fixes clocks. At any rate, Henfrey makes his way to the Coach and Horses that afternoon. Mrs. Hall wants Henfrey to fix a clock in the stranger’s room. They enter his room without knocking which is a bad idea whether your guest is a mad scientist or not. For a moment, Mrs. Hall thinks the stranger has a giant mouth, but he covers his face again. The stranger tells Mrs. Hall that he would like to be left alone. He tells her that he is an “experimental investigator” – which means a scientist – and he’s got some research that could be messed up by people entering whenever they want. He also tells her that, he was in an accident and his eyes are sensitive. That is why he’s always covered and wearing his dark glasses. Mrs. Hall leaves Henfrey to fix the clock. Henfrey takes a long time with the clock on purpose, so that he can see more of the stranger. The stranger catches him wasting time, and tells him to finish up and get out. Henfrey wonders what the man’s secret is – maybe he’s wanted by the police ? On his way through the village, Henfrey runs into Mr. Hall and tells him, “You got a rum run up home!”. Translation: “there’s a weird guy staying at your place.”This gets Mr. Hall a little suspicious. But he’s also a little drunk (that’s his hobby), so his wife tells him to mind his own business. Although the truth is that Mrs. Hall is also a little suspicious of the stranger herself. 3. The Thousand and One Bottles The stranger’s luggage arrives at the inn. Numerous crates fill the delivery man cart, some of them containing bottles packaged in straw. Fearenside, the cartman, owns a dog that starts to growl when the stranger comes down the steps to help with the boxes. The dog jumps for the stranger’s hand but misses and sinks his teeth in a pant leg. The dog tears open the trouser leg where upon the stranger goes quickly back into the inn and to his room. 32 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Concerned about the possibility of injury, Mr. Hall goes to the stranger’s room. He gets a glimpse of what seems like a white mottled face before he is shoved by an unseen force back through the door. The stranger soon re-appears at the door with his trousers changed and gives orders for the rest of his luggage. The stranger unpacks six crates of bottles, which he arranges across the window sill and the entire available table and at the shelf space in the inn’s parlor-a space he seems to have commanded for himself. Mrs. Hall enters later to tend to his needs and catches a quick glimpse of him without his glasses. His eyes seem to be hollow; he quickly puts his glasses on. She starts to complain about the straw on the floor, but he tells her to put it on the bill and to knock before entering his room. She points out that he could lock his door if he doesn’t want to be bothered, this is advice that he takes. He then, works behind the locked door all afternoon. At one point, Mrs. Hall hears him raving about not being able to “go on.” She hears a sound like a bottle being broken. Later, she takes tea to him and notes the broken glass and a stain on the floor. He again tells her to “put it on the bill.” Meanwhile, Fearenside talks in the beer shop of Iping Hangar. Fearenside says that the stranger is a “black man,” an assumption derived from the absence of “pink flesh” when the trouser leg was ripped open. When reminded of the pink nose, Fearenside claims that the man must, therefore, be a “piebald,” or a part white, part black creature. 4. Mr. Cuss Interviews The Stranger The weeks and months go by and the visitor spends most of each day working in his room. He only goes out in the evenings, with his clothes wrapped around him up to the eyes. The people of the village begin to gossip about him and wonder why he refuses to show himself. His identity becomes a topic of speculation in the town. Mrs. Hall defends him, repeating his own words that he is an “experimental investigator.” The view of the town is that he is a criminal trying to escape justice. Mr. Gould, the probationary assistant imagines that the man must be an “anarchist” who is preparing explosives. Another group of people believe that he is a piebald and could make a lot of money if he chose to show himself at the fairs. All of them agree, however, that due to his habits of secrecy, they dislike him. The young men begin to mock his bearing; a song called “Bogey Man” becomes popular and children follow at a distance calling out “Bogey Man.” The curiosity of a general practitioner named Cuss is aroused and he contrives for an interview. During the interview, the stranger accidentally removes his hand from his pocket. Cuss is able to see down the empty sleeve to the elbow. Cuss questions him about “moving an empty sleeve.” The stranger laughs, then extends the empty sleeve towards Cuss’s face and pinches his nose. Cuss leaves in terror and tells his story to Bunting, the vicar. 5. The Burglary at the Vicarage A burglary takes place at the vicarage. Mrs. Bunting, the vicar’s wife, wakes up at the sound of bare feet walking through her house. She wakes her husband and the two watch and listen as a candle is lit and papers are rustled in the study. The vicar and his wife go to investigate. They hear the jangling sound of coins and the sound of a man sneezing but when they search with a lamp, they can’t find anybody. Their money disappears but they are unable to locate or see the intruder. 6. The Furniture that went Mad Next day when the Halls wake up early in the morning, in order to take care of some private business having something to do with their wine cellar, they pass by the guest’s room. Mr. Hall notices that the door is ajar. A few minutes later, he sees that the bolts on the front door of the house are unlocked although he remembers shutting them on the previous night. The guest is not in his room, but his clothes, shoes, and even his hat are scattered about. As the Halls investigate, the bed-clothes suddenly gather themselves into a bundle and toss themselves over the bottom rail. Then, a chair flies towards Mrs. Hall. The legs of the chair are brought to rest against her back, propelling her out of the room. The door slams and is locked behind them. The Halls decide that the stranger is a spirit. They send for Sandy Wadgers, the blacksmith who is also supposed to be an exorcist. Wadgers is joined by Huxter, and together they ponder the likelihood of witchcraft and contemplate the propriety of breaking through the door in order to examine the situation more closely. However, before they can carry out any such action, the door opens and the stranger emerges, wrapped and bundled as usual. He distracts them long enough to enter the parlor and slam the door against them. When Mr. Hall raps on the door and demands an explanation, the stranger tells him to “go to the devil” and “shut the door after you.” 7. The Unveiling of the Stranger The local people are now very suspicious of the stranger. He remains in his room but Mrs. Hall does not bring him any food. He still has not paid his bill and she tells him that she and the whole village want to understand what is going on. For his answer, the stranger removes all his head wrappings, including his nose and moustache. He thus, looks like a person with a missing head. At the sound of screams, a crowd of people runs towards the inn. “Eye-witnesses” suddenly babble hysterical stories of the man attacking the servant girl, and brandishing a knife. Bobby Jaffers, the village constable, appears with a warrant. The stranger slaps Jaffers with his glove but then says he will surrender. He will not accept handcuffs, however. As the constable, Halls and others watch, the man removes the rest of his clothes, becoming invisible before them. He tells them that he is invisible. Jaffers wants to take him in for questioning on suspicion of robbing the Bunting home. A scuffle ensues and the stranger, now known as the “Invisible Man,” escapes. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 33

8. In Transit Gibbins, an amateur environmentalist is resting out on the downs. He hears someone coughing, sneezing and swearing. Petrified and confused, Gibbins gets up and runs home. 9. Mr. Thomas Marvel Marvel is a homeless person (tramp) and an eccentric bachelor. He likes to be comfortable and do things in an easy, relaxed manner. He has come across a pair of boots in a ditch. He has tried them on and found them to be too big, and is occupied in contemplating the boots. Suddenly, he hears a voice nearby. Marvel carries on with the conversation and talks about boots with the voice for several minutes before turning to see his visitor and finding no one there. First, Marvel tells himself that he has had too much to drink, then that his imagination has played some sort of trick on him. The Invisible Man begins throwing things at Marvel to convince him that he is not just imagining the presence. Eventually, the Invisible Man convinces Marvel that he is real and is in need of a partner who will first give him food, water and shelter. He delivers an unfinished threat of what he will do if Marvel betrays him. 10. Mr. Marvel’s Visit to Iping At first, the village people of Iping panicked after the Invisible Man showed himself, or, uh, didn’t show himself. But after a while, the people relaxed and went back to celebrate the festival of White Monday. As the narrator notes, “Great and strange ideas transcending experience often have less effect upon men and women than smaller, more tangible considerations”. Soon, though, another stranger comes to Iping. Stranger to the villagers, at least: we can recognize him as Marvel, thanks to his shabby high hat. This new guy acts suspiciously around the Coach and Horses. He stops at the foot of the steps leading to the Coach and Horses and seems to undergo a great struggle before finally entering. A few minutes later, he re-emerges, apparently having had a drink, and walks as if he were trying to act nonchalant. Soon he disappears into the yard and re-emerges with a bundle wrapped in a table cloth. Huxter thinks some robbery has taken place and tries to follow the guy, yelling “Thief!”. But, before he can catch the man, something trips Huxter and knocks him out. 11. In the “Coach and Horses” The narrator backtracks to explain what happened inside the Coach and Horses. Mr. Cuss and Mr. Bunting were in the parlor going through the belongings of the Invisible Man. Three large books labeled “Diary” are written in a cipher or in a code they do not understand. Suddenly, the inn door opens and Mr. Marvel enters. They disregard him and begin studying the books again when an unseen force grabs each one of them by the neck and begins pounding their heads on the table between questions about what they are doing with his things. The Invisible Man demands his belongings, saying he wants his books and some clothes. 12. The Invisible Man Loses his Temper The story of the Invisible Man begins to spread through the countryside by word-of-mouth and in the newspapers. From the bar, Teddy Henfrey and Mr. Hall hear some weird goings on in the room where the Invisible Man was staying.They start to investigate but Mrs. Hall interrupts them, thinking that Mr. Hall and Henfrey are just spying on Cuss and Bunting for fun. At that moment, Huxter yells out about a thief and goes running off after the man in the shabby high hat. The people in the inn come out to see what Huxter is yelling about. They see Marvel running off and (for some reason) think that he’s the Invisible Man. They all go running after Marvel, but just like Huxter, they all get tripped. At this point, Cuss comes out of the stranger’s room in the inn, revealing that the Invisible Man stole his and Bunting’s clothes. Bunting is actually trying to cover himself with a newspaper. Once again, the Invisible Man starts beating people up and breaking things: “his temper, at no time very good, seems to have gone completely at some chance blow, and forthwith, he set to smiting and overthrowing for the mere satisfaction of hurting”. Everyone else, including Marvel, runs away. Naturally, the Invisible Man breaks every window at the inn, cuts the telegraph cable and does some other damage just for fun. 13. Mr. Marvel Discusses his Resignation Mr. Marvel, propelled by the unrelenting shoulder grip and vocal threats of the Invisible Man, arrives at Bramblehurst. Marvel tries to reason his way out of the situation but to no avail. The Invisible Man needs a normal person to carry his books and is determined to make use of the fat, red-faced little man. 14. At Port Stowe Marvel arrives in Port Stowe and is seen resting on a bench outside of town. He has the books with him, but the bundle of clothing has been abandoned in the woods. The next day, in Port Stowe, Marvel nervously waits on a bench, and ends up chatting with an elderly mariner (that is a sailor). (This is the 1890s, so we’re not sure how old “elderly” is.) The sailor thinks he hears coins jingling in Marvel’s pockets, though Marvel is clearly a moneyless tramp. The old man tells Marvel all about this amazing Invisible Man that he read about in the newspaper beside him. Citing the paper, the mariner brings up the topic of an Invisible Man. According to the newspaper, the man afflicted injuries on the constable at Iping. Certain evidence indicates that he took the road to Port Stowe. The mariner ponders over the strange things such a man might be able to do-trespass, rob or even slip through a cordon of policeman. 34 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Marvel begins to confide in the mariner, saying he knows some things about this Invisible Man. Suddenly, Marvel is interrupted by an attack of some kind of pain. He says it is a toothache, then goes on to say that the Invisible Man is a hoax. Marvel begins to move off, walking sideways with violent forward jerks. Later the mariner hears another fantastic story-that of money floating along a wall in a butterfly fashion. The story is true, however. All about the neighborhood, money has been making off by the handful and depositing itself in the pockets of Mr. Marvel. 15. The Man who was Running Dr. Kemp is in his study overlooking the town of Burdock. Kemp’s study is full of scientific materials and he’s looking out the window. Kemp sees a man, with a shabby high hat, running down into the town. Kemp thinks this might just be another fool who is afraid of the Invisible Man. Kemp, of course, is too scientific to believe in an Invisible Man. The doctor notices that the man is running “heavy” as if his pockets are “full of lead.” Kemp’s reaction is one of contempt but the people on the street who see him approaching react a bit differently. The running man is Marvel; his expression is one of terror. At a short distance behind him, people hear the sound of panting and a sound like hurrying bare feet. Soon cries of “The Invisible Man is coming” are heard in the streets along with the slamming of doors as people bolt into their houses. 16. In the “Jolly Cricketers” In the town of Burdock, at a pub called The Jolly Cricketers, a bunch of people are chatting. Suddenly, Marvel bursts in to the pub, yelling for people to save him from the Invisible Man. The Invisible Man is definitely there, because someone is breaking the windows. The bartender hides Marvel in a backroom and an American with a gun gets ready to shoot the Invisible Man when he arrives at the front door. The Invisible Man, suddenly sneaks, goes in through the back door. He begins to attack Marvel but the other men in the pub rescue him in time. The guy with the gun fires it carefully and is sure that he hit the Invisible Man. He tells everyone to go and feel for his invisible body. 17. Dr. Kemp’s Visitor Doctor Kemp, while working in his study, hears the shots fired in the Cricketers. He opens his window and watches the crowd at the bottom of the hill for a few minutes, then returns to his writing desk. A few minutes later, he hears his doorbell ring but his housekeeper says it was only a “runway ring”. The doctor is at his work until 2 AM when he decides to go downstairs for a drink. On the way, he notices a spot of drying blood on his linoleum floor. Then, he finds more blood on the doorknob of his own bedroom. In his room, his bedspread is smeared with blood, his sheets are torn, and the bed clothes are depressed as if someone has been sitting there. The Invisible Man introduces himself to Kemp. He is Griffin from University College. He explains that he made himself invisible but is wounded and desperately in need of shelter, clothes and food. Kemp loans him a dressing gown along with some drawers, socks and slippers. Griffin eats everything that Kemp can rustle up and finally asks for a cigar. He promises to tell Kemp the story of his bizarre situation but insists that he must sleep first as he has had no sleep in nearly three days. 18. The Invisible Man Sleeps After Griffin makes sure that the bedroom is secure and after Kemp promises not to turn him in, Griffin goes to sleep. Kemp can’t sleep right now. For one thing he’s worried briefly about is his sanity and whether was that really an invisible Griffin ? And for another thing that whether Griffin had taken over his bedroom ? Kemp retires to his dining room to speculate upon the strange events. There, he sees the day’s newspaper which he had ignored earlier. He reads it eagerly but assigns the more terrifying elements of the stories to “fabrication.” In the morning, he sends his housekeeper for all available papers and reads those as well. The papers contain stories of the previous evening’s events at the Cricketers along with a rather badly written account of Marvel’s experience. Marvel doesn’t tell how he came upon the money in his pockets nor does he mention the location of the three books. Kemp becomes alarmed at the possibilities of what Griffin could do and writes a note to Colonel Adye at Port Burdock. 19. Certain First Principles Kemp tells Griffin that he wants to help but first, he needs to know his story. Griffin explains how he became invisible. He had been a medical student but had dropped medicine and taken up physics. He discovered a formula of pigments that lowered the refractive index of a substance, allowing light to pass through it rather than being reflected or refracted. After experimenting with pigments for three years, he came upon the secret whereby animal tissues could be rendered transparent. He was continuously trying to hide his work from another professor. He was finally brought to a halt in his experimenting by a lack of funds, a problem which he solved by robbing his own father and because the money did not belong to his father, his father shot himself. 20. At the House in Great Portland Street Griffin explains how he had found lodging in a boarding house on Great Portland Street. After his father’s funeral, he went to his apartment to continue with his experiments. He successfully made a piece of cloth disappear. Then, he tried his process on a stray cat. The experiment was not entirely successful as the animal’s eyes and claws never completely disappeared. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 35

Later the next day, he had a minor altercation with the landlord who brought reports of Griffin tormenting a cat in the night. The landlord wanted to know what Griffin was doing in the room and what all the paraphernalia was for. The two argued and Griffin shoved the landlord out of the room. Griffin knew he would have to act quickly, so he made arrangements to have his belongings stored. Then, he drank some of his own potion. In the evening, the landlord returned with an ejection notice, but was too terrified at the stone white face of Griffin to serve it. In spite of extreme illness and pain, Griffin finished his treatment and watched himself gradually disappear. In the morning, the landlord, his stepsons and the elderly neighbour lady who had complained about the cat entered Griffin’s apartment and were astonished to see no one. A day later, afraid, lest his equipment should reveal too much information, Griffin smashes the items and sets fire to the house, believing that he has covered his tracks with impunity. He begins to imagine all sorts of “wild and wonderful” things that, he will be able to do under the cover of invisibility. 21. In Oxford Street This chapter continues to explain Griffin’s experiences with invisibility. He soon discovered that being invisible had as many drawbacks as advantages. People ran into him and stepped on him. He had to be continually on guard in reference to the movements and positions of others in order to avoid accidental contact. To make matters worse, although people could not see him, dogs could detect him with their keen sense of smell. As he had to remain naked, he was soon uncomfortable. Also, he could not eat, as food was visible until it was fully assimilated into his system. At one point, he had to run up the steps of a house in order to avoid a unit of the marching Salvation Army band. While he waited, two youngsters spotted the prints of his bare feet in the mud. Soon a crowd of people had gathered to look at the “ghost prints.” He leapt over the railing and ran through a bunch of back roads to avoid the press. Fortunately, for him, his escape at that time was aided with the distraction created by the conflagration engulfing his former dwelling. 22. In the Emporium Griffin continues his story. With a January snowstorm blowing into London, Griffin needed to find a place to stay. He couldn’t get into a house, so he decided to do the next best thing, go shopping. Griffin explains his first attempts to get clothing and render his situation more tolerable. He had gone into the Omniums, a large department store where one could buy everything from groceries to clothing. He made his way to an area of bedsteads and mattresses, hoping that, once, the store closed for the night, he would be able to sleep on the mattresses and steal some clothes with which to mask his condition. In the night, he procured a complete set of clothes for himself, helped himself to food in the refreshment department, and then slept in a pile of down quilts. He failed to awaken before the morning crew had entered, and was unable to escape as long as they could see him. Thus, he was forced to shed the clothing and run naked back out into the cold. 23. In Drury Lane Griffin’s story continues. With each passing day his risk was increasing. He had no clothes or shelter and dared not to eat. Also, he soon realized that walking through the streets of London was going to result in the accumulation of dirt on his skin- which would make him visible He made his way into a costume shop, hoping to make way with some clothes and dark glasses after the proprietor had gone to bed. In the shopkeeper’s room, he had to stand and watch the man eat his breakfast. Furthermore, the man had exceptionally acute hearing and nearly discovered Griffin several times. When evening came, he was finally able to explore the house and found a pile of old clothes. In his excitement, he forgot about the noise he was making and was nearly caught when the shopkeeper investigated the noise. Unable to see the source but after becoming positive that someone was in the house, the proprietor went about locking all the doors in the house and pocketing the keys. In desperation, Griffin struck the old man on the head, then gagged and tied him with a sheet. Then, he put together a costume of old clothes, stole all the money he could find and went out into the street. Believing his troubles were over, Griffin went into a restaurant and ordered a meal but soon realized he couldn’t eat it without exposing his invisible face. He ordered the lunch and left, telling the proprietor that he would be back in ten minutes. Griffin went to “another place” (which happens to be the Coach & Horses Inn) and demanded a private room, explaining that he was “badly disfigured.” Thus, he had set himself up at Iping, hoping to find a way to reverse the process of invisibility. Here, he was finally discovered. 24. The Plan that Failed Kemp sees some people coming up the hill to his house. So he tries to keep Griffin talking. Griffin says he had planned to go someplace warm, like South America where he wouldn’t have to wear clothes (at least not during the warm season). But since he met Kemp, he has changed his plans. Griffin now realizes, how little one person can do, on his own. Invisibility is especially useful for killing people, so Griffin plans to establish a new Reign of Terror (24.28) – with Kemp’s help, of course. First, though, he needs to get his books back from Marvel who is locked up inside the jail for his own safety. 36 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Suddenly, Griffin hears some people sneaking up to the house and he realizes that Kemp has betrayed him. Sad and angry, Griffin takes off his clothes. Kemp tries to capture Griffin with the help of the three men, including Colonel Adye, the police captain who got Kemp’s letter in Chapter 18. Griffin pushes past them (with as much violence as he can) and escapes. 25. The Hunting of the Invisible Man Kemp explains to Adye that they have to take measures against Griffin because he is insane, a person of “pure selfishness” (25.2). They have some advantages, though. For one thing, they know that Griffin wants to get to Marvel and his stolen books. Also, Griffin basically told Kemp his life story, so they have all that information. Kemp knows that they can keep him unstable by making sure he doesn’t get a moment to eat or sleep and of course, he knows that they can use dogs against Griffin. Kemp even suggests that they put powdered glass on the roads, but Adye objects that “It’s unsportsmanlike” (25.17]. Kemp counters that Griffin is inhuman, that “he has cut himself off from his kind. His blood be upon his own head” (25.18]. 26. The Wicksteed Murder After Griffin runs out of Kemp’s house, the narrator (and everyone else) loses track of him for a day “No one knows where he went nor what he did” (26.1). The narrator also has a brief moment of sympathy for Griffin. After all, Griffin was betrayed by a friend. But no one else is going to be nice to Griffin, everyone else seems to be hunting him out with guns and dogs. To make things worse, Kemp spreads the news that people need to keep the Invisible Man from eating or sleeping. Unfortunately, that doesn’t keep Griffin from killing an old man named Wicksteed. Since no one was there but Griffin and Wicksteed, we guess, we’ll never know what happened, only that Wicksteed was beaten to death with an iron rod. Although there were no witnesses, some men around there heard a voice “wailing and laughing, sobbing and groaning” (26.11). The narrator thinks that may be Griffin was upset after killing Wicksteed. Griffin has trouble finding shelter. All the houses are locked and everyone is on guard against him. What’s worse is that everyone seems to know the secrets that he told to Kemp. Sometime in that day, Griffin found the time to rest and eat, since the next day he was “himself again, active, powerful, angry, and malignant, prepared for his last great struggle against the world” (26.12). 27. The Siege of Kemp’s House Griffin writes a letter to Kemp telling him that he is taking charge: “Port Burdock is no longer under the Queen, tell your Colonel of Police, and the rest of them, it is under me “the Terror” This is day one, of year one of the new epoch “the Epoch of the Invisible Man”. I am Invisible Man the First” (27.2). The letter also says that Griffin will kill Kemp that day. What’s even better is that Griffin sent that letter without a stamp, so Kemp had to pay for it upon delivery. Kemp has his housekeeper lock up all the windows and gets his revolver ready. He writes a note for Adye, saying that Kemp will act as a bait to catch Griffin. A knock at the door turns out to be Adye with news that Kemp’s housekeeper-who was carrying notes for the police-had been attacked and the notes had been taken from her. Griffin makes his presence known by smashing windows in Kemp’s house. During the battle that follows, Adye is shot. Griffin gets inside the house and tries to tell the police to “stand away” as he is after only Kemp. He swings an axe at them, but one of them manages to strike him with an iron poker. By this time, Kemp has followed his housekeeper through a window and is nowhere to be found. 28. The Hunter Hunted Till now, Kemp’s neighbour, Heelas, didn’t believe in the Invisible Man. But when he wakes up from a nap and sees that Kemp’s house has been broken into and that Kemp is running towards him, Heelas does the only sensible thing; he locks himself inside his house and refuses to help his neighbour. From Heelas’s point-of-view, we see Kemp run through the garden followed closely by the Invisible Man. Kemp continues running towards Burdock. It sounds something like a nightmare; the road is long and empty and no one in the nearby houses will help him. Still, when Kemp arrives in Burdock, he finds a couple of workmen (navvies) on the road. When he yells about the Invisible Man, everyone nearby tries to find and hit the Invisible Man with shovels and all. When the Invisible Man grabs Kemp, the navvies knock the Invisible Man down. The narrator notes that the next scene might have looked like a game of rugby, but it was actually a big fight between the crowd and the Invisible Man. The Invisible Man loses. “There was, I am afraid, some savage kicking. Then suddenly, a wild scream of ‘Mercy! Mercy!’ that died down swiftly to a sound like choking” (28.17). Kemp tries to get people off of Griffin but the Invisible Man is already not breathing and possibly dead. Everyone crowds around to see what happened, and slowly, the Invisible Man starts to become visible (but still naked). Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 37

29. The Epilogue In the epilogue, we meet a man who owns an inn/bar in Port Stowe called “The Invisible Man.” It turns out that the bar owner is Marvel. After the Invisible Man was killed, they couldn’t prove whose money Marvel had, so Marvel got to keep it. He also got some money for doing a one man show to tell everyone about his experience with the Invisible Man. Apparently, Kemp has been looking for Griffin’s books but Marvel tells people that he doesn’t have them. Lies! In fact, Marvel does have the books, and he looks at them sometime, though he can’t figure out what Griffin wrote. Marvel thinks sometimes about what he would do if he were invisible. The book ends with the idea that those scientific notes hold “the subtle secret of invisibility and a dozen other strange secrets” (Epilogue.11]. qq

Chapter - 2 : Silas Marner —George Eliot About the Author Early Life : Mary Ann was the third child of Robert Evans (1773-1849) and Christiana Evans (Nee Pearson) (1788- 1836), the daughter of a local farmer. She was one of the most broadly cultivated women of the century and the foremost English intellectual to practice the craft of fiction. She was born in surroundings that gave no hint of her future brilliance. Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) was born at South Farm, Arbury, in Warwickshire, in England, on November 22, 1819. Her mother, Christiana Evans was of yeoman stock and was exceedingly aware of her social superiority over her husband. The birth of Mary Ann had seriously impaired her mother’s health and the child was never her favourite. So Mary Ann modelled herself after her father. As a small child, she enjoyed travelling with him in his gig and listening to his conversations with people of business. As readers of the novels of George Eliot are well aware, Mary Ann listened well and remembered nearly all that she heard. She deliberately chose a male name as her pseudonym given the fact that, in the Victorian Period, women authors were expected to write romantic novels and stories. A man’s name gave her the assurance that her writing would be taken seriously. Education : The young Evans was obviously intelligent and an insatiable reader. She was not considered physically beautiful and thus, not thought to have much chance of marriage and but because of her intelligence, her father invested in an education not often afforded for women. After the age of sixteen, Eliot had little formal education. Thanks to her father’s important role on the estate, she was allowed access to the library of Arbury Hall, which greatly aided her self-education and increased the breadth of her learning. Her classical education left its mark; Christopher Stray has observed that “George Eliot’s novels draw heavily on Greek literature (only one of her books can be printed correctly without the use of a Greek typeface), and her themes are often influenced by Greek tragedy”. Her frequent visits to the estate also allowed her to contrast the wealth in which the local landowner lived with the lives of the often much poorer people on the estate, and hence different lives lived in parallel would reappear in many of her works. The other important early influence in her life was religion. She was brought up within a Low Church Anglican family but at that time the Midlands was an area with a growing number of religious dissenters. Her Maturity : Soon after her father’s death, Marian, then thirty-two years old, met John Chapman, the editor of the Westminster Review, a noted intellectual. He invited her to become an assistant editor of a periodical. She accepted the offer and took up residence in London. In London, she soon gained the friendship of some of the leading intellectual personages and writers of the time, such as Herbert Spencer, Tennyson, Dickens, Harriet Martineau, Thackeray and Darwin. Among them was one George Henry Lewes. He was a versatile magazine writer. He was noteworthy even in this eminent group for his personal charm and brilliance of conversation. The friendship between this intellectually daring and worldly man and the intellectually gifted but demure Mary Ann Evans (Marian) grew into love. In fact, their relationship was the primary factor in their lives thereafter. Major Literary Works The most significant literary achievement of George Eliot is her series of novels, beginning in 1858 with the publication of Scenes of Clerical Life and ending with Daniel Deronda (1876). The novels may be considered in three periods : The novels of the first period, Scenes from Clerical Life (1858), Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860) and Silas Marner (1861), are set in that midland region of England which was her own home during her childhood and youth. The novels deal with aspects of life and the types of characters whose prototypes she had, in some known instances at least, directly encountered in her own life. The novel of the second period, Romola (1863), marks a departure in scene. It is set in Florence during the Italian Renaissance. Here, as in the earlier novels (though less successfully than before), there is the serious and painstaking 38 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII analysis of human character, in this novel of Tito Melemma. A second novel of this period, Felix Holt (1866) returns to the Warwickshire scenes which had been so rich as a source in her earlier period. However, this novel is uneven and awkward. Like Romola, it is less successful than the works of the first period. Of her novels of the third period, Middlemarch (1872) is, by some, considered to be her best novel. It is certainly the most complex and ambitious in terms of theme and characterisation. The last, Daniel Deronda (1876), a tract or thesis novel, concerned with the sympathetic presentation of an English Jew, is generally considered unsuccessful because of its unreal characters and artificial situations. George Eliot also published some narrative verses, The Spanish Gypsy (1868) and The Legend of Jubal (1874). Both are considerably less memorable than her novels. She also published a collection of essays, Impressions of Theophrastus Such (1879). It was her very last published work. Chapterwise Summary Chapter 1 The novel talks about the time when it was a common sight to see men bent under heavy bags in country areas. In those days even the great ladies, clothed in silk and thread lace, with their toy spinning-wheels of polished oak, could be seen. There were weavers from distant places. There was a general distrust towards them because they were not ‘born and bred in a visible manner’. That is, no one knew where these wandering men had their homes or their origin. Silas Marner was one such weaver who lived near Raveloe. The village boys were scared of his pale face and protruding eyes. The adults did not like him either, because there were rumours about him that he had some strange powers such as curing folks’ rheumatism by invoking the devil and that could save one the cost of the doctor. In fact, Jem Rodney once saw him standing as stiff as a dead man only to recover and walk away after sometime. Silas had also cured Sally Oates when she was sick. So people considered it best to be in his good books. Silas came to Raveloe fifteen years earlier from a city in the North Lantern Yard. In these fifteen years of stay at Raveloe, he had never invited any guests to his house, neither had he made any efforts to befriend other villagers nor attempted to court any of the town’s women. Silas had been a faithful member of a religious sect in Lantern Yard. His initial fits of unconsciousness were seen as an indication of special grace. He had a very close friend, William Dane; They were so close that they were called David and Jonathan. This friendship did not cool down even after Silas’ engagement to a young serving woman, Sarah. However, William did think that his fit was a visitation of Satan and Silas was pained by this. One night Silas stayed up to watch over the senior deacon of Lantern Yard, who was sick. Waiting for William to come in to relieve him at the end of his shift, Silas suddenly realized that it was nearly dawn, the deacon had stopped breathing and William had never arrived. Silas wondered if he had fallen asleep on his watch. However, later that morning William and the other Church members accused Silas of stealing the church’s money from the deacon’s room. A search was carried out to find out the lost bag of money and Silas’ pocket knife was found in the bureau where the money had been stored, and the empty bag was later found in Silas’ dwelling. It was then Silas remembered, the time he had last used the knife-it was to cut a strap for William. But he said nothing. Silas expected God to clear him of the crime but when the church members drew lots to see whether Silas told the truth, he was found guilty. He was so disappointed and disillusioned that he declared that there was no just God. He accused William of the theft, but to no avail. Sarah broke their engagement just as he had expected. She married William Dane a month later and Silas left Lantern Yard forever. Chapter 2 After Silas left Lantern Yard, he settled down in the village of Raveloe. This place was completely opposite to Lantern Yard. It was a land of plenty, without any austerities and seriousness of devout churchgoers in Lantern Yard. The fertile soil and climate made farm life much easier in Raveloe than in the barren north and the villagers were consequently more easy going. William Dane’s betrayal left Silas in a state of shock. He, therefore, sought solace in his loom where he worked day and night. He continued in the same fashion when he settled in Raveloe. The table-linen that he finished for Mrs. Osgood earned him five gold guineas. For the first time, he was able to keep the full portion of his earnings for himself, no longer having to share them with an employer or the church. Thus, a new and powerful force entered his life. In his initial days at Raveloe, he did get opportunities to meet new people and make friends with them. Around this time, Silas noticed that the cobbler’s wife, Sally Oates, was suffering from the symptoms of heart disease and dropsy–a condition of abnormal swelling in the body. Sally reminded Silas of his mother who died of similar causes. He offered Sally a herbal preparation of foxglove that his mother used to ease the pain of the disease. The treatment worked for Sally so people came to a conclusion that Silas must be an occult (supernatural practices and techniques) healer and they began to go to him for healing. Mothers started to bring their sick children to his house to be cured and men with rheumatism offered Silas silver to cure them. Too honest to play along, Silas refused their requests. Hence, they thought he did not want to help them and started to blame him for accidents and misfortunes that befell them. Having wanted only to help Sally Oates, Silas now found himself further isolated from his neighbours. In the midst of isolation, Silas did retain a tiny amount of affection. He had a brown earthenware pot in which he used to keep water. He was very affectionate towards it. But, one day, while returning from the well, he stumbled on a stile and dropped his pot. It broke into three pieces. He gathered the fragments and put them together in place. Thus, he restored the pot in its usual place as a memorial. He lived this way for fifteen years in Raveloe, until a sudden change altered his life one Christmas. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 39

Chapter 3 Squire Cass was acknowledged as the greatest man in Raveloe, the closest thing the village had, to a lord. The Cass family came from an important and a very wealthy and noble lineage. Godfrey and Dunstan were two of the four sons of the Squire. Dunstan was a sneering and unpleasant young man with a taste for gambling and drinking. The elder son, Godfrey, was handsome and good-natured. While Dunstan was considered the mischievous one, Godfrey was seen to be following in his brother’s footsteps of late. There was no lost love between the brothers. However, they realized that they needed each other for their own selfish motives. Dunstan hinted at Godfrey’s dark secret—his marriage to “a drunken woman”, Molly Farren, without the knowledge of his father. Godfrey was now in love with Nancy Lammeter, but could not marry her, or even express his feelings to her. Moreover, he seemed to be in a financial crisis, having borrowed money from his father’s tenant. Dunstan used this information as a leverage to blackmail Godfrey into doing him favours. He convinced Godfrey to sell his prized horse, Wildfire, to settle the debt and even succeeded in doing it. Godfrey pondered upon his situation at the end of the chapter—”The yoke a man creates for himself by wrong-doing will breed hate in the kindliest nature……..” it seemed that this good-humored, affectionate-hearted young man was fast becoming a bitter man. Chapter 4 Dunstan sets off the next morning to sell his brother’s horse, Wildfire. Passing by Silas’ cottage, Dunstan remembered the rumours about Silas’ hoard of gold and contemplated the prospect of suggesting Godfrey to persuade Silas to lend them money from the gold that he had been hoarding over the years. Dunstan (Dunsey) meets some acquaintances who are hunting for a horse. After some negotiation, he arranges Wildfire’s sale. But Dunsey decides not to deliver the horse right away and instead decides to win some money by participating in a hunt with dogs. He enjoyed the prospect of jumping fences to show off the horse. However, Dunsey met with a tragedy while doing it. While jumping a fence, Wildfire was pierced with a hedge-stake and died immediately. There was nothing left for Dunstan but to walk home. He passed by Silas’ house and thought of persuading the old weaver to loan him some of his gold. He reached Silas’ cottage and saw a light through the window. He then, decided to introduce himself. But to his surprise, the door was unlocked and there was no one inside. He entered to find himself greeted by a warm fire. He looked around for Marner’s gold since he knew that weavers hoard their money. He removed some sandy bricks only to discover bags of Silas’ gold. He picked them and walked out into the darkness. Chapter 5 Silas returned after a while to his cottage, thinking nothing of the unlocked door because he had never been robbed before. He was looking forward to the roast pork, a gift from a customer, which he had left cooking while he was running an errand. He sat down before his fire, noticing nothing out of the ordinary. He found everything in its place. The roast meat wasn’t ready yet, so he decided to take out his gold. He checked under the bricks but it was not there. He was shocked and horrified to find it gone. He searched his cottage again and again, desperately hoping that he might have kept it somewhere else for the night. After searching a lot, he realized that it was gone. He initially, considered the hand of some supernatural power that had come to ruin him for the second time. He began to work at his loom when the thought of robbery came to his mind. Nothing had happened to his treasure in the past fifteen years. He mentally ran through a list of his neighbours and the name of Jem Rodney as the thief came to his mind. Silas decided to declare his loss to the important people of the town, Squire Cass being one of them and try to get his gold back. He decided to set out for the Rainbow, the village inn and tavern, to find some of the authorities. But none of them were there that night since they were attending Mrs. Osgood’s birthday dance. Chapter 6 The common people at Raveloe had gathered at the Rainbow, the rich and the powerful were enjoying themselves at Mrs. Osgood’s birthday party. Mr. Snell, the landlord, was good at starting conversations. Conversation began with an aimless argument about a cow which had been chopped by a butcher a day before. Just before Silas appeared, the conversation lapsed back into an argument, this time about the existence of a ghost who allegedly haunted a local stable. The chapter introduces a host of characters, namely Mr. Snell, Mr. Macey, the farrier, the butcher and many others. Chapter 7 Silas suddenly entered at the middle of the tavern and told the people, who gathered there, about the robbery at his house. This was the first time that some of those gathered, had seen Silas in public and they remained sceptic about his story. The landlord told Jem Rodney, who was sitting near Silas, to seize him, as he was delirious. Hearing the name, Silas turned to Rodney and pleaded with him to give his money back, telling him that he would give him a guinea and would not press charges. Rodney, hearing this, reacted angrily, saying that he was innocent. The tavern-goers made Silas take off his coat and made him sit down in a chair by the fire. Everyone, then, calmed down and Silas told the story of the robbery. The villagers became more sympathetic and believed Silas’ story, largely because he appeared to be so crushed and pathetic. The landlord, defending Jem Rodney, said that he had been in the tavern all evening. Silas then apologized to Rodney and Mr. Dowlas, the farrier, asked how much money was lost. Silas told him the exact figure, which was more than 270 pounds. Mr. Dowlas suggested that 270 pounds could be carried out easily and he offered to visit Silas’ residence to search for evidence. They reflected upon the situation as a group and decided to appoint someone as a deputy constable in the place of the sick constable. After a heated argument as to who will become the deputy-clerk, it was decided that Mr. Snell and Mr. Dowlas would go with Silas to investigate the crime. 40 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Chapter 8 Godfrey returned home from the dance in high spirits but found out that his brother had not yet returned home. But that did not upset him as he was distracted by the thoughts of Nancy Lammeter. Next morning, everyone was discussing the robbery, and Godfrey and other residents of the village visited Silas’ cottage to gather evidence and gossip. Mr. Snell discovered a tinder-box not very far from Silas’ cottage and the needle of suspicion shifted to a peddler who had visited Raveloe a month before and had mentioned that he was carrying a tinder-box. The talk among the town’s people turned to determining the peddler’s appearance, recalling his “evil looks” and trying to determine whether or not he wore earrings. However, Silas said that he remembered the peddler’s visit but never invited him inside his cottage. Godfrey began to lose his peace of mind at his brother’s continued absence. Unable to wait anymore, he began riding towards Batherley. He feared that Dunstan had sold off his horse and fled with the money. He met Bryce on the way who told him that Wildfire had been found dead. Seeing an alternative and hoping to free himself from Dunsey’s threats of blackmail, Godfrey decided to tell his father not only about the rent money but about his secret marriage as well. However, he couldn’t muster up enough courage to speak to his father and decided to let it remain the way it was. Chapter 9 The chapter begins with a detailed description of Squire Cass. He was very proud of his family lineage and was deeply concerned about its integrity. Next morning, Godfrey was having his breakfast when he found himself going and telling his father about Wildfire and about how he had given the rent money to Dunstan. The Squire informed him that he was sending Winthrop to Fowler for the money. At this, Godfrey admitted to having taken the money from the latter. He had however given it to Dunstan. The Squire became angry at this and demanded to see his younger son to find out what he needed the money for. On being told that he hadn’t returned, the Squire asked Godfrey to tell him not to come back. Godfrey insisted to Squire that he had always been willing to help him with the management of his estate but the Squire changed the subject and began asking about his intentions of marrying Nancy Lammeter. He wanted to know if his son had proposed to her and offered to talk to her father. Godfrey requested him to let the things be and that he would do the required things himself. Chapter 10 Weeks passed with no new evidence about the robbery and no sign of Dunstan (Dunsey) being there. No one connected Dunsey’s disappearance with the theft, however, and the peddler remained the primary suspect though some still insist that there were some supernatural forces involved. Silas had become even more confused and felt more desolate. He spent his day bent over in a chair, with his hands holding his head. The loom was there, the work was happening but he felt that there was no prospect in his life. He ignored the idea of going to church in spite of Mr. Macey’s and Dolly Winthrop’s coaxing. He still didn’t believe in religion. And so he found himself all alone on Christmas Day. Chapter 11 The chapter begins with a description of Nancy Lammeter. She was beautiful and had a very prime character. She was unhappy that Godfrey was leading her on. Not knowing about his secret marriage, his behaviour confused her. The chapter talks about the merrymaking at the New Year’s party at the Red House. Nancy’s sister Priscilla arrived and complained about how Nancy always insisted they wear matching gowns. Priscilla insisted that she had no desire to marry. Nancy said that she didn’t want to marry either, Priscilla pooh-poohs her. When they went down the parlour, Nancy sat between Godfrey and the rector, Mr. Crackenthorp. She had thoughts that she could be the mistress of the Red House herself. She blushed at these thoughts. Then there are descriptions of ladies dressing up for the party, the gossip they exchange with each other. Dance followed dinner and Godfrey danced with Nancy. Chapter 12 On the New Year’s Eve, Godfrey was happy in Nancy’s company. Unknown to him, his wife, Molly was on her way to Raveloe with her child. She planned to give a surprise to the Cass family. Molly had been walking since morning and, as evening fell, she began to tire in the snow and cold. To comfort herself, she took a draft of opium, as she was addicted to it. The drug made her drowsy and after a while, she passed out by the side of the road, still holding the child. As Molly’s arms relaxed, the little girl woke up and saw a light moving. Thinking it was a living thing, she tried to catch the light but failed. She followed it to its source, which was the fire in Silas Marner’s nearby cottage. The child toddled through the open door, sat down on the hearth and soon fell asleep, content in the warmth of the fire. Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII [ 41

Silas had one of his fits and was unaware of the child entering his house. When he came around, he found her sleeping in front of the fire. Presently, the child opened her eyes and began to cry. Silas warmed up some porridge and fed her tenderly. Then, he went out to see where the child had come from and stumbled upon the frozen body of the mother. Chapter 13 Back at the Red House, the men danced and Godfrey stood to the side of the parlour to admire Nancy. Godfrey suddenly noticed Silas Marner entering and carrying Godfrey’s child, and shocked, he walked over with Mr. Lammeter and Mr. Crackenthorp to discover what had brought Silas there. The Squire angrily questioned Silas, asking him why he had intruded. Silas said he was looking for the doctor because he had found a woman, apparently dead, lying near his door. Knowing that it is Molly, Godfrey was terrified that perhaps she was not in fact dead. There was some suggestion that Silas should leave the child at the Red House. But Silas refused to do so saying that he had become attached to the baby in a short time. He said, “I can’t part with it, I can’t let it go”. The search party accompanied Silas and the child back to his cottage. The doctor pronounced the woman dead after examining her. Godfrey who had accompanied the search party, went to see the woman to ensure that she was his wife. Godfrey saw Silas holding the child and asked him if he intended to take the child to parish. Silas replied that he wanted to keep the child, since both he and she were alone and without his gold, he had nothing else to live for. He implied a connection between his lost money, “gone, I don’t know where” and the baby, “come from I don’t know where”. Godfrey gave Silas money to buy clothes for the little girl and then hurried to catch up with Mr. Kimble. He returned happily in the knowledge that now he could propose to Nancy. What was more ? He wouldn’t have to father his daughter as Silas had made it absolutely clear that he would keep her with him. Godfrey promised to himself that he would ensure she was taken care of. Chapter 14 Silas began a new life with the child. Some found it odd to see a tramp raise a little child but nobody prevented him from doing so. Dolly Winthrop became a willing assistant to Silas for the upbringing of the child and eventually became her godmother. She convinced Silas for the christening of the child. It was done and the child got a name-Eppie. Silas had found another obsession after his gold-Eppie and her welfare. She, in turn, just adored him and warmed “him into joy because she had joy”. He also began to attend the church in Raveloe, a thing that he hadn’t done since Lantern Yard. Chapter 15 Godfrey kept a distant eye on Eppie. He gave her the occasional presents but was careful not to show too strong an interest. He did not feel particularly guilty about failing to claim her because he was confident that she was being taken care of. Dunstan was given up as gone forever; even the town people didn’t seem to miss him. Godfrey could now breathe a sigh of relief and anticipate a life of bliss with Nancy and their future children. But he resolved not to ignore Eppie and her well-being simply because “That was a father’s duty”. Chapter 16 The action resumes sixteen years later-the exact time when Eppie first came into Silas’ life. Life had changed for everyone. Godfrey got married to Nancy and they now lived in the Red House, and though they had aged well, they no longer looked young. Squire Cass had died, but his inheritance was divided after his death and Godfrey did not inherit the title of Squire. Silas Marner’s eyes had a more focussed look than they did before but otherwise he looked quite old as a man of fifty-five. Silas and Eppie walked out of the church and Aaron Winthrop approached them. He expressed his willingness to help them build their garden. Silas’ cottage had also changed considerably. There was more furniture, thanks to the Godfrey’s generosity. There were many pets too. Silas had, finally, been able to come to terms with his past. He shared the story of his life in Lantern Yard with Dolly. Mr. Macey even claimed that Silas’ good deed of adopting Eppie would bring back the stolen gold someday. Silas even told Eppie that he was not her father and told her how she came to him upon her mother’s death. But Eppie was not troubled by this story as she thought that Silas was a better father than any other in Raveloe. But she asked about her mother eagerly for whatever little Silas had known about her. Sitting down with Silas, Eppie told him that Aaron Winthrop had spoken of marrying her. Silas concealed his sadness at this news. Eppie added that Aaron had offered Silas, a place to live in their household if they get married. Eppie said she was reluctant, as she did not want her life to change at all, but Silas told her that she would eventually need someone younger than him to take care of her. Silas suggested that they would speak to Dolly, who is Eppie’s godmother, about the matter. 42 ] Oswaal CBSE Section-wise Notes & Summary, ENGLISH CORE, Class-XII

Chapter 17 The chapter describes the point of view of Nancy Cass. Even though everything was spick and span in the Red House and the Sundays were meant for filial pursuits, Nancy didn’t seem to be at peace with herself. She was happy and grateful to be Godfrey’s wife. However, Godfrey was not content with his personal life as the lack of a child ate him up from within. They had one daughter but she died at birth. Godfrey had suggested adoption, but Nancy refused it completely. It was Eppie that Godfrey wanted to adopt but Nancy did not agree on bringing up a child that wasn’t theirs. Nancy wondered whether she was right to resist Godfrey’s suggestion that they should adopt. On the other hand, Godfrey thought that this could be the only way to make up for his earlier mistakes. Chapter 18 Godfrey returned from his Sunday afternoon walk, trembling, and told Nancy to sit down. Shocked Godfrey told Nancy about Dunstan’s death. He told her that the skeleton of his brother Dunstan, had been found in the newly drained stone-pit behind Silas’ cottage. The body had been there for sixteen years and it was clear that Dunstan was the one who had robbed Silas. Dunstan fell into the pit as he made his escape and the money had been found with his remains. Nancy sympathized with Godfrey on this fact that his brother had robbed the weaver. After this, Godfrey discovered that all hidden things eventually come to light. So he confessed about his first wife and their daughter- Eppie. Nancy was overwhelmed by the revelation and yet didn’t seem bitter about it. She chided her husband for not having told her earlier for they could have gone and got the child home. She admitted that she would have willingly adopted Eppie as her own. She urged him to do his duty and acknowledge her as his daughter. They decided to visit Silas that night and take up the matter with him. Chapter 19 Silas and Eppie talked about the discovery of Dunstan’s body and the money he had stolen from the former. Just then Godfrey and Nancy Cass came to meet them. Godfrey told Silas that he wants to make up to Silas not only for what Dunstan did but also for another debt he owed to the weaver. Godfrey told Silas that the money was not enough for him to live on without continuing to work. Silas, however, argued that though it might seem like a very small amount to a gentleman, but it was more money than many other working people had. Godfrey said Eppie did not look like she was born for a working life and that she would do better living in a place like his home. Silas became uneasy at this. Even Eppie declined this offer of Godfrey. He revealed the truth to both, Eppie and Silas that he was Eppie’s father and hence, had a claim on her. He chided Silas for standing in the way of his beloved daughter’s future prospects. Silas understood the reasoning and left the decision to the girl. Eppie’s mind was made up. She said that under no circumstances she would leave Silas, because he was the only father she had ever known. Godfrey left the cottage without as much as a polite goodbye. Nancy tried her best to make amends for her husband’s behaviour and wished both of them well. Chapter 20 Godfrey and Nancy returned home empty-handed and realized that Eppie’s decision was final. Godfrey resigned himself to simply help Eppie from a distance and decided that it was best to keep it a secret. Nancy and Godfrey guessed that Eppie would marry Aaron. Nancy approved of the young man and Godfrey wistfully commented on how beautiful had Eppie grown to be. He mentioned that Eppie began to dislike him when he confessed that he was her father; He accepted that as his punishment for having lacked in his duty as a father. Godfrey told Nancy that he was grateful for having had an opportunity to marry her and promised to be satisfied with what they had. Chapter 21 Next day morning Silas told Eppie that he wanted to visit his old home in Lantern Yard. He wished to know if Mr. Paston, the minister, was able to find the real thief. He was also keen to know more about the drawing of the lots. After a few days journey, the father and the daughter found the old manufacturing town much changed and they walked through it looking for the old chapel. The town was frightening and alien to them, with high buildings and narrow, dirty alleys. They finally reached the spot where the chapel used to be, and it was gone, having been replaced by a large factory. No one in the area knew what had happened to the former residents of Lantern Yard. Silas realized that Raveloe was his only home now and upon his return, he told Dolly that he would never know the answers to his questions. Dolly responded that it did not matter if his questions remained unanswered because that did not change the fact that he was happy now. And yet, he still believed in that power that was looking over him. Silas also agreed with Dolly and said he did not mind because he had Eppie and that gave him faith. qq