Question

Answer the following in 30-40 words : (a) Why did the two sisters fight with each other?
(b) Bring out the sum and substance of Shakespeare's sonnet, 'Not Marble, Nor the Gilded
Monuments ?'
(c) How did the frog impress the nightingale when he first met her ?
(d) Why was All leading a cheerless existence ?

Answer 1

(a) Grandfather decided as per his new will, he would leave back all his money and things with the person he would be living with, when he died. This led to another spat between the daughters. Since both of them were very keen to get his money and things, they both wanted that he should stay with them. 

(b)  In this poem, the poet pays tribute to the quality of his verses and also to the intensity of his love for his friend, the Earl of Southampton He would like to immortalize his friendship through his poetry. The poet is confident that his verses will continue to be read for ever. His friend will outlive all other things of the world after being described in the poet's verses. (c)  Value Points : He said that he owned the sumac tree, was a critic of repute and wrote for Bingle Bog.

Detailed Answer :

The frog told the nightingale that he was the owner of that sumac tree and was famous for his 'baritone'
there. He informed her that he wrote for the 'Bog Trumpet' and thus tried to impress the nightingale.

(d)  Value Points : Old and lonely, no happiness, desperately longed for a letter from his daughter. People insulted and
ridiculed him.           

Detailed Answer :

Ali was an old man who lived a life of loneliness. There was no happiness in his life. His only daughter had shifted to Punjab after getting married and he desperately longed for a letter from her end. People at the post office insulted him, ridiculed him but he paid no attention to them. He only wanted a letter from his daughter. It seemed that the only aim of his existence was to get a letter from his daughter which came only after his death. He didn't receive it while he was alive and thus led a cheerless life.