SBOA SCHOOL (CBSE), MADURAI
LESSON-2: LOST SPRING
Summary
“Lost Spring” describes the terrible condition of poor children. These children are those who didn’t get to enjoy
childhood because of the prevailing socio-economic condition in this world. This is something that one can see all
over the world. These children don’t have the opportunity for schooling. Moreover, there is a lot of pressure on
these children to enter into labour early in life. These unfortunate children are forced into labour. This certainly
denies them education as well as the opportunity to have enjoyment. The author Anees Jung raises voice to elim-
inate child labour. Jung does so by raising awareness regarding child education and strict law enforcement against
child labour. The call is to put an end to the exploitation of children. This way the children will be able to enjoy the
days of the spring and have fun.
The first part tells the author’s impressions regarding the life of poor rag pickers. The rag pickers have come from
Dhaka. Furthermore, the settlement of the rag pickers is in the area of Seemapuri. Destruction has come in their
fields and homes due to the storms. They had come to the big city in the hope of finding living there. However, the
reality was, in fact, painful for them and they had to face many hardships. They are certainly poor and lack various
resources.
The writer watches Saheb every morning as he scrounges for “gold” in the neighbourhood. The means of survival
for these rag pickers is the garbage. Furthermore, for the children, it is a wondrous thing. The children are able to
find a coin or two from it. These people have ambitions and desires. The problem is that they do not know the way
to make them possible. There are quite a few things that they are unable to reach. Later Saheb joins a tea stall
where there is a possibility for him to earn 800 Rupees and all the meals. However, this job has deprived him of
his freedom. As such their condition is pretty hopeless and full of misery.
The second part explores the life of Mukesh. Mukesh is a boy who belongs to the family of Bangle-makers. Firoza-
bad is famous for its amazing glass-blowing industry. There is an engagement of nearly 20,000 children in this
particular business. Furthermore, no one over there understands or respects the law that forbids child labour.
Moreover, the living condition, as well as the working environment, are both horrendous.
These children live in dreary cells. Also, they work close to hot furnaces. This is certainly very dangerous as it
makes these children blind when they enter adulthood. Furthermore, these children have to deal with the pressure
of debt. Moreover, they are unable to think of a solution to solve this problem. There is no way for these children to
come out of this trap.
The policemen, bureaucrats, middlemen, and politicians will all hinder their way of progress. The women in the
household consider it to be their destiny or fate. As a result of such thinking, they just follow the established tradi-
tion. There is something different about Mukesh. He is not like the rest of the folk there. This is because Mukesh
has big dreams. He has a desire to become a motor mechanic in future. The garage is far away from where he
lives but he has the determination to walk.
‘Lost Spring’ gives us an analysis of the impoverished condition faced by many children that condemn them to a
life of pain, oppression, and lack of education.
Extract Based Questions
1. “It takes longer to build a school,” I say, embarrassed at having made a promise that was not meant. But
promises like mine abound in every comer of his bleak world. ........ Over the months, I have come to recognise
each of them.
Questions :
(a) Why was the narrator embarrassed ?
(b) What was the meaning of the name of Saheb ?
(c) Why with his friends, Saheb roams the streets ?
(d) Name the chapter and the writer.
Answers :
(a) The narrator was embarrassed because she couldn’t fulfil her promise to start a school.
(b) Saheb’s name meant ‘Lord of the universe’.
(c) With his friends, Saheb roams the streets for ragpicking to scrounge for silver coin or
some wonderful unexpected things.
(d) ‘Lost Spring’ is the chapter written by ‘Anees Jung
2. Food is more important for survival than an identity. “If at the end of the day we can feed our
families .......Wherever they find food, they pitch their tents that become transit homes.
Questions :
(a) ‘Food is more important for survival than an identity’. Explain.
(b) Who said, “If at the end gave us no grain”?
(c) What did the writer ask to a group of women ?
(d) What are ‘transit homes’ ?
Answers:
(a) Food is more important for survival than an identity as for living a life, a person needs food continuously.
Identity or any other thing is secondary, more important is food.
(b) A group of women in tattered saris said the aforesaid statement when the narrator asked them about their
migration from Dhaka.
(c) The writer asked to group of women why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers.
(d) ‘Transit Homes’ are the homes which are not permanently constructed or settled, they are movable and
mostly made with light materials as cloth, bamboos or dried grass.
3. Mukesh’s family is among them. None of them know that it is illigal for children like him to work in the glass
furnaces ....... all those 20,000 children out of the hot furnaces where they slog their daylight hours, often loosing
the brightness of their eyes.
Questions :
(a) What is illegal for children according to the writer ?
(b) Where do those children work ?
(c) What do you understand by ‘they slog their daylight hours’ ?
(d) What is the big loss they face working there?
Answers:
(a) According to the writer, it is illegal for children to work in the glass furnaces with high temperature, in dingy
cells without air and light.
(b) Those children work in the glass furnaces with high temperature, in dingy cells without air and light.
(c) ‘They slog their daylight hours’ means that the children, during the day time, work very hard sitting there and
waste their precious time which should be occupied in studies and various creative activities.
(d) The big loss they (Children) face working there is the losing of brightness of their eyes.
4. “It is his Karam, his destiny”, says Mukesh’s grand-mother, ...... they have seen nothing but bangles in the
house, in the yard, in every other house, in every other yard, every street in Firozabad.
Questions :
(a) “It is his Karam, his destiny.” Explain.
(b) What does it mean : “Can a god-given lineage ever be broken ?”
(c) What happened to Mukesh’s grandfather ?
(d) What is the scene of Firozabad as per the above given description ?
Answers :
(a) “It means that to work in bangle industries is their fate since birth and they have accepted it as natural.
(b) It means that the descendency which they have got from their ancestors can never be changed.
(c) Mukesh’s grandfather had gone blind with the dust from polishing the glass of bangles.
(d) In Firozabad in every house, in every yard, in every other house, in every other yard, in even every street—
only the bangles and glass products are found and seen everywhere.
POEM-2 : KEEPING QUIET
Summary
The poem “Keeping Quiet” discusses peace, humanity, and brotherhood. This poem is by the author Pablo
Neruda. The poem is explosive as well as quiet at the same time. Neruda speaks of a world of wisdom in a calm
fashion. Neruda believes that staunch activism is not the best way to get into the heart and minds of the masses.
Consequently, the author speaks with much serenity. Furthermore, this serenity creates an aftermath of thought
ripples in the minds of the reader. The poet wants the readers to take time out of their busy lives for retrospection
and introspection. The poem is symbolic of stopping all activities and understanding the purpose of the world.
Keeping Quiet appeals to the heart of the readers in contrast to the intellect. Through this poem, Neruda aims to
get his readers thinking and pondering as opposed to intellectual stimulation.
This poem emphasizes the importance of self-introspection and silence. Furthermore, these two can transform the
life of an individual. Moreover, they can also transform the face of the earth. The poet says that self-introspection
and silence do not take much time to look within. Any individual can do it and examine oneself. This is easy and
takes only as long as it will take someone to count to twelve. During this time of introspection (self-examination), it
is important for the individual to keep quiet. The individual must say nothing at all. Without silence and keeping
quiet, self-introspection will not work. Silently introspecting will give the individual a strange feeling of unity and to-
getherness with all others.
In the beginning, it will certainly feel a little strange. However, eventually, it has the power to bring us all together.
This silence will be free from the annoying sounds of engines. Furthermore, this silence will also be free from the
people rushing to get their work done. The author feels contentment while imagining the change that will take
place in those moments. The men who have to deal with the pain while collecting salt will get a little relief. Even
the people who desire war and destruction will put on clean clothes and an opportunity to walk among their broth-
ers. They will get to experience a life that is free of enmity and hatred. There will be a halt to their destructive and
dangerous activities. Peace and tranquillity will prevail everywhere once such harmful activities come to a stop,
even if it is for a short time.
The poet clarifies that his wish should not mean “total inactivity”. The poet only desires to interrupt the violent,
cruel, and sad activities taking place all over the world for a few moments and let individuals introspect their ac-
tions. In fact, there is a connection to what he says with life rather than death. Activity is the very essence of life
whereas inactivity is symbolic of death. However, for a new, improved, and useful activity, a little stillness is quite
important.
The poet makes use of the image of the earth to explain how life exists in things that seem dormant. In winter, the
earth becomes very silent and it seems to be dead. The Earth becomes lively again in spring. Furthermore, in
spring, the addition of fresh new beauties and colours takes place. In a similar fashion, man can resume his activit-
ies in a better manner after a little silence and quietness.
Thus, the poem tells us about the big impact of silence and self-introspection in making this world a better place.
Textbook question and answers
Q1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans: It is generally observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry. Vi-
olence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and ensure peace.
Q2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans: No, he doesn’t advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that ‘stillness’ should not
be confused with “total inactivity or equated to it. Total inactivity brings death. But Neruda has ‘no truck with
death’. His stillness means halting of harmful and hostile human activities.
Q3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is
always threatening himself with death because of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.
Q4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent still-
ness?
Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The poet invokes the earth as a
living symbol to prove his point. The earth never attains total inactivity. Nature remains at work all the time
even under apparent stillness. It keeps earth alive. This idea is beautifully illustrated by the following lines: “as
when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.”
EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS:
1. Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)Why does the poet ask us to count to twelve?
There are only twelve signs on the clock to measure hours. Therefore, the poet asks us to count till the clock
measures these horns.
(c)Why does the poet ask us to keep still?
Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind. Hence, it is better to be quiet and still.
(d) Find words from the passage which mean (ii) say number (iii) quiet and motionless.
(i) count (ii) still
2. For once on the face of the Earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second, and not
move our arms so much.
(a)‘Let’s not speak in any language’, says the poet. Why?
The people of the world have been indulging in wars and bloodsheds on minor excuses. If they keep quiet,
they may not indulge in reasoning, disputes and quarrels. So, let them keep quiet and not speak in any lan-
guage. This will ensure peace and prosperity.
(b)What should we not do for a second?
We should cease all activities for a second. Man has used his arms only to kill and destroy others. Therefore,
let them not move their arms so much as to harm others.
(c) What do you understand by ‘the face of the Earth?
The expression “the face of the Earth’ refers to the various countries on the surface of the earth.
[Link] would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden
strangeness.
(a)What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
There will be peace all around if there is no rush or the sound of the running of engines and machines.
(b)What sort of moment will it be?
It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment.
(c)How would all of us feel at that moment?
All of us will enjoy the unusualness and sudden strangeness of that moment.
4. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt would look at his hurt
hands.
(a)What do fishermen usually do in the cold sea?
Fishermen usually catch fish, particularly whales, in the cold seas.
(b)What does the poet ask fishermen not to do?
The poet asks fishermen not to hurt or injure the whales in the seas.
(c)What has happened to the man gathering salt?
The man gathering salt has injured his hands.
(d) What should the man gathering salt do?
He must take care of his hurt hands.
VISTAS
CHAPTER-1: THE THIRD LEVEL
Summary
Third Level is a story about a 31-year-old man name, Charlie. Besides, this is a psychological story that refers to
the subway at the grand central railway station which takes passengers to Galesburg. In addition, this subway be-
comes the interconnection between the narrator’s harsh reality and fantasy. Moreover, the third level was a way of
escape for Charley. As life in the modern world is full of uncertainties worries and stress, it takes Charley to a dif -
ferent world that his friend also calls, “a walking dream wish fulfilment.” Further, the story is about Charley’s tend-
ency to escape from the world. Most importantly, the third level starts because of Sam’s letter written on 18th July
1984. This story shows the connection between time and space.
In New York, the Grand Central Station has two levels. Nonetheless, Charley a 31-year-old city resident talks that
there exists a third level. Also, he claims that he has been there. To talk about this problem he visits a psychiatrist
friend. He calls it a “walking-dream wish fulfilment” and explains Charley’s psychology by saying that “the modern
world is full of fear, insecurity, war, and worry and everybody wants to escape to some “temporary refuge from
reality.” As for him, hobbies like stamp collection is an indicator of this escape.
At times the Grand Central Station seems like a maze to Charley. While taking the subway earlier he had lost his
way a couple of times. One time he entered the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel. While the other time he appeared at
an office building that was three blocks away. However, this time he loses his way and something unique occurs.
Charley visits the third level!
In the silent hallway, Charley keeps walking, turning left, and sloping downward, until he touches an architecturally
old station, which is totally different from the two familiar levels. Moreover, this old small room with fewer ticket
counters and train gates, a wooden information booth, wavering open flame gas lights and brass spittoons. All this
remind him of the architecture of the 1800s. Further, he sees people in outdated outfits. When he noticed the date
in the newspaper ‘The World’ he sees 11 June 1894. When he tries to buy two tickets, he realizes that he needs
old currency.
He always wanted to travel to Galesburg with his wife, Louisa. Back in his head, it is “a wonderful town still, with
big old frame houses, huge lawns, and tremendous trees….” The place has pleasant and long summer dusks and
where people have ample of time. Hence, the next day during lunch, he exchanges three hundred dollars for old
currency amounting to some two hundred only. In addition, the amount doesn’t bother him as he believes that
everything there will be cheaper. However, he could never again find the corridor that leads him to the third level.
When her wife came to know about this she asks him to stop looking. Unexpectedly, his friend Sam Weiner also
disappear and his wife keeps on looking for him for in the weekends. Moreover, Sam was the one whom Charley
shares his idea about Galesburg.
Charley inherited the hobby of stamp collection from his grandfather. And someday while looking at the stamp col-
lection, Charley finds a letter that was earlier not there. Also, it has the postmark on a faded six-cent stamp with a
picture of President Garfield. Further, the envelop read as 18 July 1894 to Charley’s grandfather in Galesburg and
it addresses Charley.
In the letter, Sam tells Charley that he has reached Galesburg and he invites Charley and Louisa there. After going
to stamp and coin shop he gets to know that Sam exchange eight hundred dollars for old currency bills to establish
his business in Galesburg. Besides, Sam was none other than Charley’s psychiatrist!
Through the third level, the writer wants to escape from the modern world to peaceful and quite old times.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
Q1 What did Charley find at the Grand Central Station?
Ans. At the third level, Charley saw the people wearing old-fashioned dress, an old locomotive, newspaper
dated June 11, 1894, brass spittoons, flickering gas same lights and many other things related to that era.
Q2 “I’ve taken the obvious step.” Explain.
Ans Nobody believed in Charley’s statement about the existence of The Third Level. His wife was alarmed
and brought him to the psychiatrist. Charley himself needed to meet the psychiatrist. It was an ‘obvious step’.
Q3 What was Charley’s vision about Galesburg town?
Ans. Charley thought that Galesburg was still a wonderful town. In that century in 1894, people used to sit in
their lawns, having sufficient time to talk to each other, smoking cigars and women waving palm leaf fans on
very long summer evenings. Overall, it was a peaceful and friendly place.
Q4 Why did Charley return from the third level?
Ans. With the wings of imagination Charley returned to collect enough money to buy two tickets to Galesburg
town for himself and his wife Louisa. The clerk did not accept the currency which Charley had so he went back
to get the old currency.
Q5 When and how did Charley find the letter of Sam?
Ans. One night while fussing with his stamp collection, Charley found, among his oldest first-day covers, the
letter of Sam with a six cent stamp mailed to his Granddad. It had been in his collection.
Q6 What did the ticket clerk say to Charley?
Ans. The ticket-clerk scolded Charley that that was not the real currency which he was having. Additionally, he
warned Charley that if he was trying to skin him, he would not go very far. He would be prisoned.
Q7 “But now we are both looking.” What does this refer to? Explain.
Ans. Every weekend, both Charley as he and his wife have started to search for the third level because they
had the proof that Charley’s friend Sam had disappeared.
Q8 What does the third level refer to?
Ans. The third level refers to the subway of the Grand Central Station in New York. Though this Third level was
not present there physically, Charley claimed it to be present there.
Q9 Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Ans. Yes. The third level was a medium of escape for Charley because he might be unhappy and fearful from
worldly worries. He explained that he meant the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the
rest of it and he just wanted to escape from that. Perhaps Charley was not able to handle the stress.
Long Answer Questions:
Q1 Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Ans. Actually, Grand Central Station did not have a third level. Charley stated that while travelling back to his
house, he just made an imaginary trip to the third level in order to escape the unsettling reality of this planet.
He would frequently explore relocating to Galesburg, which had already been established in 1894 and was
thought to be a peaceful community at the time.
He himself had aspirations of going there and pictured himself living in that era. Whenever he got back to his
regular life, he couldn’t stop thinking about that realm. In this way, we can claim that the third level was un-
questionably a medium of escapement for Charley because his friend Sam’s disappearance forced him to be-
lieve in it and subsequently, he and his wife Louisa both started to search the third level. Even though it was
just in his head, it made him feel better.
Q2 Why did Charley again want to go to the third level? OR
How did ‘The World’ help Charley to confirm his doubts regarding the existence of a third level?
Ans. Since Galesburg had been in Charley’s thoughts since the beginning as a peaceful place, he had found
and noticed a significant difference once he had visited the third level in his imaginations. However, when
Charley arrived at the ticket window, he discovered that he was unable to purchase tickets or complete any
transactions due to the lack of currency of those days. Once he realised it, he went back to the actual world to
get some old-fashioned money from the exchange before going back to the third floor and Galesburg to settle
down. He originally intended to get two tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife since he was certain that
there, people lived carefree lives with plenty of time for one another. With the money he had with him, he could
easily subsist there because everything was so inexpensive. Thus, even though the third level didn’t actually
exist—it was just in Charley’s head—he wanted to go back there for his escape and satisfaction.
EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS:
A. “The Presidents of the New York Central . ……………a waking dream wish fulfilment.”
1. Name the chapter. Ans The Third Level
2. Name the author of this chapter. Ans. Jack Finney
3. Who is ‘l’ in the above extract? Ans. Charley
4. “There are only two” What is two in this statement? Ans. Levels
B. “I’ve been in and out of Grand Central hundreds of times, ……………. Grand Central has been an exit, a
way of into…. escape maybe that’s how I got into the tunnel.”
1. What does the word ‘Bumping’ mean? Ans. Collide with force
2. What does the narrator mean by ‘Grand Central has been an exit”?
Ans. People want to escape through Grand Central station
3. Which literary device has been used in ‘Grand Central Station growing like a tree’. Ans. Simile
4. Why does only Charley get lost at the third level? Ans. B. Because he is an escapist
C.” For just a moment I thought I was back on the second level…… Then I saw why; they were open-flame
gaslights.”
1. What is an eyeshade? Ans. Visor
2. What is ‘flickering’?
A. Move back and forth rapidly B. Shine unsteadily C. Flash intermittently D. All of these
3. What is Charley talking about? Ans. The third level
4. Where did Charley want to go? Ans. Galesburg
D. “A woman walked in through the train gate; she wore a dress with leg. … I’ve found that front page since, in
the Public Library files, and it was printed June 11, 1894.”
1. What is a locomotive?
A. Engine B. Loco C. Rail road D. All of these
2. What does the speaker mean by stack of papers? Ans. Pile of papers
3. What was ‘The World’? Ans. Newspaper
4. Where had Charley travelled to? Ans. Past