Answer any one of the following questions in 120 – 150 words:
(a) ‘‘Things that matter. Things nobody else has ever said. Things I want to think about.’’ What are the ‘things’ that Derry is referring to? How did Derry’s chance meeting with Mr. Lamb prove meaningful for him?
(b) ‘The Enemy’ portrays the victory of humanity in a moment of crisis. Illustrate this fact through the actions taken by Dr. Sadao for the enemy soldier.
(c) How does the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’ bear testimony to the fact that the frustrations faced by adults and their personal experiences often intrude upon their interaction with their children? Elaborate.
Answers
c) Besides sounding like a typical bedtime story for kids, the story, ' Should Wizard Hit Mommy, also holds a strong message about parents enforcing their children's decisions.
- Roger Skunk was a meek and quiet boy who smelled very bad, and he had no friends at all. When he got an option to magically switch his bad odour to the smell of roses, his mom prefers how he previously smelled, and asks the wizard to restore it.
- Obedient Roger meekly follows the judgment of his mother, but if he had begun smelling better it would have been a better situation for him.
- Finally his friends get used to his scent, but the more important lesson is that sometimes having complete authority over them, without taking their desires or enjoyment into consideration, is not acceptable.
- Parents certainly have the right to choose between right and wrong for their kids, but that doesn't mean forcing their own whims and desires on the kids for no good.
Answer:
(a) The things Derry is referring to are the words of truth and reality that Mr. Lamb conveys to him whenever he is in conversation with him. Together, they can speak their hearts out about all the things they have had to face, even from their own families, because of their physical disability. Derry’s chance of meeting with Mr. Lamb proved helpful to him because he feels inspired by the old man’s insights on how to lead a life even after being physically impaired and living amidst either mockery or pity. The positive attitude Mr. Lamb has towards his life inspires Derry to not shut himself out but actually enjoy life like everyone else.
(b) ‘The Enemy’ portrays the victory of humanity over any war in a tense situation. Dr. Sadao, a doctor by profession, was stuck in a dilemma when he had the moral duty of saving a wounded soldier on one hand and the duty of a patriot to refrain from helping the enemy at his knees. What wins eventually is neither the doctor’s duty nor a patriot’s, but only humanity. It is because of compassion and care that Mr. Sadao tends to the enemy soldier just like he would have done to anyone else.