For Elkana Extract Questions | English Class 11

Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 1

Reading Set

Extract 1

Passage

The warm April evening tempts us to the breezes sauntering across the lawn. We drag our chairs down the stone steps and plant them there. Unevenly, to sit or rather sprawl in silence till the words begin to come.

The evening described in the poem is in the month of __________.

April

The speakers 'drag' their chairs and __________ them on the lawn.

plant

How does the poet personify the breezes in this extract?

ByteNotes

Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 2

Reading Set

Extract 2

Passage

My wife, as is her way, surveys the scene, comments on a broken window-pane. Suggests a thing or two that every husband in the neighbourhood knows exactly how to do except of course the man she loves who happened to be me.

The wife notices a __________ which needs repair.

broken window-pane

The speaker identifies himself as the man his wife __________.

loves

What does 'as is her way' imply about the wife's character?

The phrase 'as is her way' implies that the wife is consistently practical and observant. It suggests that noticing domestic flaws and suggesting improvements is a recurring habit for her, highlighting her role as the person responsible for the house's upkeep and management.

Explain the tone of the speaker when he mentions 'every husband in the neighbourhood.'

The tone is humorous and slightly ironic. The speaker is teasingly relaying his wife's indirect criticism. By comparing him to other husbands, she highlights his perceived lack of handiness, which the speaker accepts with a sense of lighthearted, self-deprecating amusement.

What irony is present in the last two lines of this extract?

The irony lies in the contrast between 'love' and 'criticism.' While she loves him, she also sees him as the only person unable to do simple tasks. This reflects the reality of marriage, where love coexists with an awareness of each other's flaws.

ByteNotes

Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 3

Reading Set

Extract 3

Passage

He stands before us, his small legs well apart, crescent-moon-like chin uplifted eyes hard and cold to speak his truth in masterly determination: Mummy, I want my dinner, now.

The son's chin is described as being __________.

crescent-moon-like

The child speaks with '__________ determination'.

masterly

How does the son's physical posture reflect his intent?

The son’s posture, with legs 'well apart' and chin 'uplifted,' shows his firmness and lack of fear. He is not asking for dinner; he is demanding it. His physical stance mirrors his mental resolve to get what he wants immediately.

What is the 'truth' that the child is speaking?

The 'truth' refers to the child's honest and basic physical sensation of hunger. Unlike adults who might mask their feelings or wait for the right time, the child speaks his immediate, biological truth without any filter or social hesitation.

Why does the poet use the word 'masterly' for a seven-year-old?

The word 'masterly' is used ironically to show how a small child can exert complete control over a situation. By using a word usually reserved for experts, the poet emphasizes the power and effectiveness of the child's simple, direct demand on his parents.

ByteNotes

Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 4

Reading Set

Extract 4

Passage

The limerick is a small five line poem, expressing a single thought. It is usually funny with a punch or joke in the last line. In fact, the limerick is to poetry what slapstick is to comedy. The rhyme scheme is 'a abba'...

A limerick is a poem that consists of __________ lines.

five

The rhyme scheme of a limerick is __________.

a abba

Explain the comparison between a limerick and slapstick comedy.

The text compares a limerick to slapstick comedy because both prioritize immediate humor and physical or verbal jokes over subtle meaning. Just as slapstick uses broad, obvious actions to make people laugh, the limerick uses a simple, bouncy structure to deliver a joke.

Where is the 'punch' or joke usually located in a limerick?

The 'punch' or joke is typically located in the last line of the limerick. This structure builds up a thought or a short story in the first four lines and then uses the final rhyming line to provide a funny or surprising conclusion.

What does the phrase 'expressing a single thought' imply about this form?

It implies that the limerick is brief and focused. It does not explore complex or multiple ideas but centers on one specific, usually funny, situation or concept. This focus ensures that the poem is punchy, effective, and easy for the reader to understand.

ByteNotes

Chapter sections

Chapter for-elkana: For Elkana | Extract Questions

Extract 1

The evening described in the poem is in the month of __________.

The speakers 'drag' their chairs and __________ them on the lawn.

How does the poet personify the breezes in this extract?

What does the word 'sprawl' suggest about the characters' state of mind?

What is the significance of waiting 'till the words begin to come'?

Extract 2

The wife notices a __________ which needs repair.

The speaker identifies himself as the man his wife __________.

What does 'as is her way' imply about the wife's character?

Explain the tone of the speaker when he mentions 'every husband in the neighbourhood.'

What irony is present in the last two lines of this extract?

Extract 3

The son's chin is described as being __________.

The child speaks with '__________ determination'.

How does the son's physical posture reflect his intent?

What is the 'truth' that the child is speaking?

Why does the poet use the word 'masterly' for a seven-year-old?

Extract 4

A limerick is a poem that consists of __________ lines.

The rhyme scheme of a limerick is __________.

Explain the comparison between a limerick and slapstick comedy.

Where is the 'punch' or joke usually located in a limerick?

What does the phrase 'expressing a single thought' imply about this form?