Attempt any one question from Q. 11 (a) or Q. 11 (b) in about 150 words.
Gulliver's Travels
(a) Describe briefly what happened to the Antelope. Where did Gulliver find himself and in what condition when he woke up ?
OR
(a) "Though Lilliputians tied Gulliver with strings, they were hospitable." Justify.
Three Men in a Boat
(b) Describe the adventure that the three friends had when they spent the first night of their journey in the boat.
OR
(b) The novel 'Three Men in a Boat' is a rich tale of adventure narrated in a humorous way. Describe any one episode from the novel which you consider the most funny.
Answers
Gulliver’ s Travels
(a) Value Points: Gulliver - antelope - south seas - hit large rock - Gulliver - swam to shore - fell asleep - woke up unable to move - tied to the ground - hair tied - saw tiny, six inches high creatures with bows and arrows.
Detailed Answer: Gulliver set sail from Bristol on board the ’Antelope’, on 4th May, 1699. But for his bad luck, the ship was caught in a violent storm. It hit a large rock. A great wave hit them, drowning everyone except Gulliver. Pushed by the wind and tide, Gulliver struggled hard to swim to the shore and, in the end, reached Lilliput where he went off to sleep as he was exhausted. Next day, when he woke up he tried to raise himself but he was unable to do so. His hair was tied to the ground in such a way that he couldn’t move his head right or left Through the corner of his eyes he saw tiny, six inches high creatures with bows and arrows. Actually, he had reached the land of little men, the Lilliputians-only fifteen centimetres tall. Gulliver gave out a shout of shock when he looked at them. His shout was so loud for these tiny creatures that they got frightened and jumped back.
OR
(a) Lilliput was an island of tiny
people who were six inches tall. Gulliver was a giant in Lilliput with six feet height. The Lilliputians tied
Gulliver when he was sleeping just to keep themselves safe from any possible attack by the awful
and monsterlike figure (Gulliver). But it does not mean that the Lilliputians were rude and cruel.
They arranged adequate amount of food to Gulliver when he indicated that he was hungry. Scores
of Lilliputians were employed in service of Gulliver. They emptied several baskets full of
meat and other edibles in Gulliver's mouth with the help of ladders, mounted over his side. They
worked hard to appease the appetite of Gulliver. The king of Lilliput arranged dresses that would fit
Gulliver. Many Tailors of Lilliput prepared many dresses for him. They prepared a giant-sized bed
for Gulliver and made arrangement for his stay in an old but big temple. In short, they
sincerely took care of Guliver’s comfort and relief. We can say that though the Lilliputians tied
Gulliver with strings, they were very hospitable. They happily arranged everything what Gulliver needed
in a totally strange island, i.e., Lilliput.
Three Men in a Boat
(b) Value Points: George and the writer plan to camp out-imagine they are pampered by nature - Harris is practical about the night devoid of rest and peace - catch cold - shout at each other
Detailed Answer: The three friends plan to go to Magna Carta Island for camping the first night but do not go. Instead they want supper and sleep. 50, they pull up to the Picnic Point and feel that they would cover up the boat with the canvas. But they find that everything is a mess. For the supper, they boiled the water and made tea and had it in dead silence that lasted for thirty five minutes. They feel that they were quarrelsome and ill tempered before supper. After taking the supper, they loved each other and everybody.While covering the boat with its canvas cover, Harris gets wrapped round and folded over. Then, George gets entangled and rolled up. After half an hour, they get dinner and light their pipes and converse. George asks why can't they always be like this - away from the world with its sins and charms. J. too says it and longs for it. At this, George recollects a funny thing that happened to his father. Thus, they spend the first night of their journey without much trouble.
OR
(b) ‘Three Men in a Boat’ is a rich
source of humour. Rather it is less a travel guide and more a treasure of humour. The narrator’s witty
remarks, the exaggerated actions of his friends, Mont morency’s antics and various
misadventures make this tale a treasure of humour. One incident which seems to be the most humorous is
George’s recounting of his father’s experience at the inn called ’The Pig and Whistle’. George’s
father was travelling with a friend. They both stayed at the inn for the night. They were to
sleep in the same room but in different beds. When they went into their room, the candle went out.
They climbed in the same bed from the opposite sides and did not realize that they were on the
same bed. One of them had his head on the pillow while the other had his feet on it. After
sometime, George’s father told his friend that there was a man in his bed. The friend said that there was a
man in his bed also. Then both decided on what to do with the ’men’ and finally threw down each
other.