Attempt any one question from the following in about 150-200 words.
Q.11 Helen was quite bitter to discover that the horse-shoe crab had vanished, but was soon happy that he had returned to the sea. What does this reveal about Helen's character ? Answer in about 100 words.
OR
Helen was quite attached to her father. His death was her 'first great sorrow'. Write about her father in 100 words.
OR
Why did Anne give the title 'Ode to My fountain Pen' to 11 November 1943 ?
OR
Describe the character traits displayed by the members of Annexe during their celebration of
Hanukkah and St. Nicholas Day.
Answers
Helen was a great lover of animals. During her stay at Brewstar, Miss Sullivan attracted her attention towards a great horse shoe crab. She wanted to have him as her pet. So, she seized him by the tail with both hands and carried him home. With the help of Miss Sullivan she put him in a trough to keep him secure. But the next morning she found him missing. Helen was quite bitter and disappointed to discover that horse shoe crab had vanished. But later she felt that it was good, as perhaps he had returned to the sea to which it belonged. She felt that it was wrong on her part to keep the crab away from the sea and was not a wise move to keep it out of water. This shows that Helen was kind and sensitive towards others, even animals. She had a sense of wisdom and felt happy when others were happy.
OR
Helen was greatly attached to her father. He was a loving and doting man. He was the most loving and indulgent man and was devoted to his home. He left them only during the hunting season. Actually, he was a great hunter and a celebrated shot. He loved his dogs and gun next to his family.
Helen's father had an extreme sense of hospitality. He seldom came home without bringing a guest. His special pride was the big garden where he raised watermelons and strawberries, the finest in the country. According to Helen, he was a great story-teller. When Helen acquired language, he used to spell his cleverest anecdotes clumsily into her hand.
Helen loved her father very much and his death was her first great sorrow.Anne's fountain pen was one of her most prized possession which she valued highly. It had a thick nib and had led a long and interesting fountain pen life. The fountain pen packed, in cotton, arrived all the way from Aachen in a red leather case. She liked it the moment she received it, as she felt herself the proud owner of a fountain pen. To her good luck, she was allowed to take the pen to school and even her teachers let her use it in the class. She was provided with a new case for the pen at the age of twelve. She liked the pen so much that she took it with her even to the Annexe. The pen had raced through countless diaries and compositions. But one day, when she swept the floor after rubbing beans she accidentally threw it in the stove and found the remains in the morning. At first she was very sad but later she was happy that at least it was cremated just as she would be one day.
OR
Value Points :
Hanukkah and St. Nicholas Day celebrated with enthusiasm, Anne's father quietly made some arrangements with the help of his employees, each character manages to snatch some moments of hope and happiness, Mr. Van Daan made a menorah out of wood, gifts were exchanged and candles were lighted.
Detailed Answer :
Amongst all the tension and stress, arrived Hanukkah and St. Nicholas Day. These were celebrated with great enthusiasm. Both the festivals fell on the same day. Anne's father quietly made some arrangements with the help of his employees. They all had fun on that day and each character managed to snatch some moments of hope and happiness. Mr. Van Daan made a menorah out of wood. Everyone exchanged gifts. Candles were lighted, but only for ten minutes as the candles were in short supply. To sum up, each and every member participated in the celebration of Hanukkah and St. Nicholas Day in his or her own way.