THE PRAYING HANDS
WORD MEANING
Pg. 33
1. tiny - small
2. household -
belonging to house
3. labouring -
working
4. etching - art
5. financed -
support with money
6. considerable -
good amount
7. goldsmith - a
person who makes or sells article of gold
8. chore - small or
odd job
9. seemingly -
apparently, looks like, in appearance but not in reality
10. pact - agreement,
contract
11. sensation -
emotional, that can affect
12. commissioned
works - paid work
Pg. 34
13. rose - got up
14. ambition - dream,
goal
15. pursue - study
16. expectation -
desire
17. streaming down -
falling
18. pale - dull
19. sobbed - cried
20. glanced - looked
21. smashed -
wounded, injured
22. arthritis -
disease
23. parchment -
sheet, paper
24. delicate -
precious, important
25. engravings -
carving, chiseling
26. reproduction -
creation, making
27. familiar - known
28. homage - respect,
tribute
29. merely - almost,
clearly
30. stretched -
extended
31. tribute -
respect, homage
32. triumphant –
successful, victorious
33. the odds and
great – it is likely
34. abused – ill-treated, threatened, injured
A. CHOOSE THE RIGHT OPTION
1.
The pact between two brothers was that
a. both
would work in the mines.
b. one
would study in the Academy and the other would work in the mines to pay the
fees of the Academy. ✔️
c. both
would study in the Academy.
d. both
would enjoy life at home.
2. The Durer family held a
feast when Albrecht returned because
a. he
had done very well in the mines.
b. he
had done very well in the Academy and was a well-known artist. ✔️
c. he
had quit the Academy.
d. they
were very rich and enjoyed holding feasts.
3.
Albrecht raised a toast to his
a.
father for supporting him in the Academy.
b.
uncle who left him money in his will.
c.
mother for encouraging him.
d.
brother for working in the mines to support his studies in the Academy. ✔️
B. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
1.
Who cried when the toast was raised? What did he/ she say?
Albert
cried when the toast was raised. He said that he could not go to Nuremberg. It
was too late for him. His hands were smashed while working in the mines.
2.
What kind of art pieces did Albrecht create?
Albrecht
Durer created his masterpieces, portraits, pen and silver point sketches,
watercolours, charcoals, woodcuts and copper engravings. They hang in every
great museum.
C. READ THE SENTENCES AND ANSWER THE QUSETION THAT FOLLOWS.
He called his powerful
drawing simply ‘Hands’, but the entire world almost immediately opened their
hearts to this great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love ‘The Praying
Hands’.
1.
What was the subject of drawing?
The subject
was Albert, his brother’s abused hands with palms together and think fingers
stretched skyward.
2.
Why did the artist call it ‘Hands’?
The
artist called it ‘Hands’ because it was the painting of the hands.
3.
Explain the phrase, ‘opened their hearts’.
Albrecht
had drawn his brother Albert’s hands which suffered all the injuries so that
Albrecht could become famous and successful in his life. The memory behind this
painting was painstaking. Therefore people opened their hearts to recognise
this sacrifice of his brother Albert.
D. THINK ANS ANSWER.
1.
What do you think of the decision taken by the two brothers?
Give reasons.
The
decision was a deal between the two brothers to be decided by a toss in
which the winner would go to the Academy and the loser would go to mines to
support the other. They had dream to pursue their talent for art, but they were
very poor and their father would not be able to support them, hence they chose
this option.
2.
Why has this story been titled The Praying hands?
Albrecht,
to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, drew his abused hands
with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. It was simply named as
‘Hands’ but people renamed his tribute of love, ‘The Praying Hands’. I do not
think there could be any other title as meaningful as this. So it is named ‘The
Praying Hands’.
3.
What impression do you form about the two brothers and their
relationship?
The two
brothers are the real example of love, sacrifice and determination. Despite
their poor condition they come out with an amazing solution to pursue their
dream. No complain is made from Albert, the one who goes to dangerous mines and
sacrifices four year smashing his own hands. On the other hand, Albercht, even though
a successful painter, never forgets the painstaking sacrifice his brother made.
E. DISCUSS IN CLASS.
There is more happiness in
sacrificing for others than in greedily accumulating for oneself. Express your
views on this statement.
Yes,
the above statement is true. The best example of this could be our own parents
who make lots of sacrifices and forgets about it when they see us happy and
comfortable. A greedy person can never be happy but suffers every time for not
having something. A greedy becomes desperate to have them. Whereas generous
people are so happy because they give, they help and they support. They make
everyone around happy, so everyone likes such person. Therefore the sacrifice
made, comes back as blessings and happiness.
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