Attempt any one question from Q. 11 (a) or Q. 11 (b) in about 150 words.
Gulliver's Travels
(a) In the island of Lilliput, Gulliver was at the top because of his huge size but in Brobdingnag he had to undergo many sufferings because of his short stature. Explain.
OR
(a) Give a brief character sketch of Lemuel Gulliver ?
Three Men in a Boat
(b) Any work requires concentration and confidence. Prove this with reference to the story of Uncle Podger.
OR
(b) Give the character sketch of George in about 150 words.
Answers
Gulliver's Travels
(a) When Gulliver reached Brobdingnag, he was captured by a giant and was handed over to another giant who seemed to be his master. He was a farmer who took Gulliver to his home. The farmer’s nine year old daughter liked Gulliver very much. She played with him like a toy but also took care of him like a nurse. The greedy farmer used Gulliver as a living puppet and earned money by displaying his shows in the public. Gulliver suffered of extreme workload due to the greed of farmer. Once, farmer's son lifted him up, he could have dropped him but fortunately was saved. But the farmer’s daughter whom he called Glumdalclitch took care of him and saved him many times from many dangers. Gulliver was sold to the queen of Brobdingnag by the farmer. The queen became so fond of Gulliver that she could not even dine without him. He became centre of attraction in the royal palace. This led to be disastrous for him as the dwarf of the palace become jealous of him because he lost his position due to Gulliver who was much smaller than the dwarf. The dwarf used to pass comments on Gulliver for his physical structure. He played many evil tricks on Gulliver to harm him physically. But everytime, Glumdalclitch saved him. He was attacked by giant animals like rat, dog and monkey of Brobdingnag but he was fortunate everyh'me. Thus, Gulliver’ s life in Brobdingnag was always in danger but he, somehow, survived with the help of the queen, Glumdalclitch and others who were kind and generous to him. His experiences were sweet as well bitter in Brobdingnag.OR (a) Lemuel Gulliver is the hero and narrator of ’Gulliver’s Travels’. He is intelligent and well educated. But at many times, he is simple and can easily be deceived. He is a great adventurer He visits strange lands and meets different people. Gulliver is not coward. He undergoes horrible experiences in his voyages. At one time, a giant nearly swallows him. Sea pirates make him a prisoner. He is shot in the face by the Lilliputians with poison arrows. Throughout the voyages, his basic character remains great. He never does anything wrong which we may call immoral Gulliver has no aspirations. But he seems to be charmed by sea voyages. In the last voyage, he is charmed by the Houyhnhnms and wants to live in their land. Gulliver is a simple-hearted person. He is held captive several times in his voyages. He tries to escape on his own but fails. His intelligence is practical rather than imaginative. Gulliver is gullible as his name suggests. He, however, is not as great as other travellers like Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey.
Three Men in a Boat
(b) Detailed Answer : Uncle Podger was ready to take burden of everything on himself but used to make a mess of as simple a job as hanging a picture. There was a picture standing in the dining-room, waiting to be put up. He reassured everyone that he would do it Then he sent the girl out to buy of nails, and then one of the boys after her to tell her what size to get. He sends other members of the family to bring a hammer, ladder, chair, lamp, rule, pencil, etc. He again sent the girl for a bit of picture cord. He finally lifted the picture but dropped it. In an attempt to save the picture, he cut himself . Then he sat on his coat and told the family members to find the coat to get his handkerchief. When he was at work, the others would stand round in a semi-circle, ready to help. While trying to hang it, he lost the nail and the hammer also. Then, he lost sight of the mark he had made on the wall for the nail while trying to put the nail he smashed his thumb and dropped the hammer, with a yell, somebody’s toes Finally, he made a new hole and about midnight, the picture was up and still a little crooked. Hence, we can say, that is the character who put his burdens on the back of others. His presence created great commotion in the house. This episode of picture hanging displays how he calls everybody for help in a petty job; then breaks glass, hurls himself, tears off plaster of the wall and finally blames others for his mistakes.
OR
(b) George, like Harris and Jerome, too, has his sufferings. His work is hard as he has to overstrain himself. Like them he, too, wants a break to regain his energy. George is sensible as well as wise. He favours for managing a light boat. He is logical also in his opinions. But he, too, has many common traits of character like those of Harris and Jerome. For instance, he is not a very good packer. He packs with Harris and mismanages everything. He walks over the butter and packs pies at the bottom. George is not hardworking as compared to Jerome. He is clever in taking advantages of others. This is seen in the towing incident. He buys a banjo, though he doesn’t know how to play on it. Later, he tries to practice and play on it. But he is restrained by the police.This leaves him frustrated and depressed. George needs sympathy of the world but it is not for him. He wishes to lead a peaceful life.