UNIT 3C
CRACKING IMPACT
THE BASHFUL EARTHQUAKE, Oliver Herford
WORD MENAING
1.
rumbled – continuous and deep sound
2.
mumbled – speak soft and not clear
3.
bumped – hit with force
4.
tumbled – fall quickly
5.
groaned – cry with pain
6.
sped – past participle of speed
7.
staggered – shocked, walk with
difficulty
8.
quiver – shaking, tremble
9.
grumbling – talking to oneself
irritated
C.2 From the Text
Have you ever felt earthquake? What are the things you noticed
during the earthquake?
DO BY
SELF
What do you think the Earthquake wanted to say to the Dormouse?
The
Earthquake felt sorry for his action and requested Dormouse not to get angry
with him. He further perhaps wanted to say that he would try to be gentle, calm,
peaceful and careful from the next time.
Ex. C.4 (Page: 87)
Out of the city
along the road
He staggered, as
under a heavy load,
Growing more weary
with every league,
Till almost ready
faint with fatigue.
He came at last to
a country lane
Bordering upon field
of grain;
And just at the
spot where he paused to rest,
In a clump of
wheat, hung a Dormouse next.
a. Where did the Earthquake meet the
Dormouse?
iii.
a country lane next to a field of grain
b. Which of the following places did the
Earthquake NOT pass by during his journey?
ii.
a river
c. Which of these sentences can be
inferred based on the information provided in the extract?
Sentence 1: The Earthquake moved as if it was carrying a
huge load.
Sentence 2: The Earthquake moved at
a tremendous pace.
Sentence 3: The Earthquake was very
weary by the end of the journey.
Sentence 4: The Dormouse was pleased
to see the Earthquake.
Sentence 5: The Earthquake decided
to take rest near the Dormouse’s nest.
ii.
Sentences 1, 3 and 5
d. Choose the option that describes how
the Earthquake felt when he reached the Dormouse’s nest.
iii.
tired and weary
e. And just at the spot where he paused
to rest… What does the word spot mean here?
ii.
a particular place
Ex. C.5 Choose the correct option. (Page: 88)
a. Which of the following means the sae as
the expression not looking before I tread?
i.
not playing attention to where I am going
b. Read the alternate titles that have
been given for the poem The Bashful Earchquake. Based on your
understanding of the poem, if you think a title is unsuitable, put a cross (X);
else put a tick (√).
i.
The Earthquake and the Dormouse (√)
ii. Why
Dormice Love Earthquakes (X)
iii. The
Poor Earthquake (√)
iv. The
Joys of Earthquakes (X)
c. When we say that someone is bashful,
we mean he or she is
iv.
Shy and easily embarrassed.
d. What is the rhyme scheme of the first
stanza The Earthquake rumbled… Houses and palaces all in a lump?
i. AAABACCC
C.6 Answer these questions briefly.
a. Describe the destruction cause by the Earthquake.
Which feeling would you likely experience if you are in the middle
of violent earthquake? Would you be scared and nervous? Do you get the same
feeling when you read this poem about the Earthquake? If not, what is the
reason for the difference?
The
Earthquake destroyed whatever came in its path. It rumbled, mumbled and tumbled
everything, crashing and smashing down houses, places, cities and roads.
If I were
in the middle of a violent earthquake, I would feel scared and terrified. Yes,
I would feel scared and nervous.
No, I do
not get the same feeling when I read this poem about Earthquake.
I found
the poem funny with a sense of sarcasm. The aftermath of earthquake, it feels embarrassed
and sorry. He even apologises to the Dormouse for destructive action.
b. The Earthquake has been described as bashful. Do you agree
with this description? Find evidence from the poem to support your answer.
Bashful
refers to feeling shy or timid. Here are some lines from the poem expressing
his thoughts after destroying everything:
"What
under the sun
Have I
gone and done?
I never
before was so mortified!"
Then away
he fled,
And
groaned as he sped:
"This
comes of not looking before I tread."
His voice
was feeble and by now had become so fatigue that he staggered and grew weary.
c. Do you find the poem humorous? Why/Why not? Give examples from
the poem to support your answer.
I do not
find the poem humorous. An earthquake is devastating all around it, making them
the victims. The first verse of the poem itself reveals his unthoughtful
destructive nature. Then, he reflects upon his action:
“Oh, what
a crash!
Oh, what
a smash!”
And feels
sorry for being so rash. As the reader reaches towards the end Earthquakes is
found apologetic for its action.
“He even
forgot the rules of grammar:
All he
could do was to feebly stammer;
"I'm
sorry, but I'm afraid it's me
Please
don't be angry. I'll try to be”.
C.7 Answer the following questions in
detail.
a. Use the information given in the poem and make a character sketch
of the Dormouse. How, in your opinion, is the personality of the Dormouse
different from the personality of the Earthquake?
The Dormouse
seemed to be an angry creature. He was quite particular about his timings. He
was annoyed as the quivering of the nest disturbed his sleep. The Earthquake
was timid in comparison to the Dormouse. It was embarrassed and frightened. It
became weak by the time it reached the Dormouse's nest. It apologised to the
Dormouse for waking it up immediately.
b. Imagine that Earthquake had been able to complete the
conversation with the Dormouse. Use your imagination and write a dialogue.
DO BY SELF
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