Lesson 10.

On Umbrella Morals

A' short Answer Type Questions (2.1. How do people who pick things belonging to others satisfy their
conscience?

Ans. People who pick things belonging to others satisfy their conscience by expressing an apology to
themselves that they hadnt done it deliberately but by mistake. Sometimes, they say Ah! I was going
just to return it. I dont know how did it happen. Such people if not caught wont bother to feel sorry.
They dont say a word of apology. They are umbrella conscience.

Q2. What has the author to say about morals concerning books?

Ans. The author has a strong feeling for those who pick up others things. They do it deliberately in order
to satisfy their conscience. They dont feel shy if they are caught. They just say, It was a surprise how did
it happen?" The author has the same feeling for those who take away books from library and never
bother to getrun them. He advises us never to trust even our dearest friend. He has instances of even
religious people who don't return books.

Q3. Why does the author say that picking of other peoples hat is unpardonable?

Ans. The author in this essay presents his views about those who pick others things. They can take
anything. They take umbrellas, books and many other things. They don't spare even hats which
symbolises ones prestige. They do it deliberately except in some rare cases when it happens accidently
or unknowingly. The author finds it unpardonable. It is beyond the borderland of conscience where
dishonesty dissembles.

Q.4. What does the author mean by 'play hide and seek with our own conscience? .

Ans. The author is very much annoyed with the people's habit of picking up others things. Usually they
do it deliberately. They know that they are picking up a better thing and leaving their own inferior thing.
They dont feel shy. They dont bother to return it back even if the owner 5 name is written there. If
caught they will simply say Ah! I dont know how did it happen? They show their ignorance but they
feel happy. In this way. they play hide and seek with their own conscience.

Q.5. He is one of those people who have what I may call an umbrella conscience.

Ans. Through this line the author wants to expose the so-called civilised people who not only defame
society but also lose their morals. They are also tempted to get a good thing in exchange. So, they do it.
It is

umbrella conscience.

B. Long Answer Type Questions Q.1. What does the author say about umbrella conscience? Mention
some of its chief characteristics.

(M.P. 2012)

Ans. This essay is a satire on the modern culture where people have lost their morals. They do wrong but
dont accept it. They do wrong knowingly. They dont care for others trouble. The author gives many
examples. He says that such people take your umbrellas made of silk and leave their own cotton
umbrellas in exchange. They take your books and never return. They are not only ordinary people but
some religious and high profile people also do it. They also dont feel shy. They do it only to appease
their conscience. Sometimes, they may feel sorry and say to you that they were just going to return it but
that is not the fact. They only play hide and seek With their own conscience.

(2.2. It is not enough to be found out by others; we refuse to be found out by ourselves. Discuss.

Ans. 0n Umbrella Morals is a satire on the moral degradation of modern people. The author through a
very common phenomena tries to capture a real view of our society. In life we lose our things, no doubt.
However, for the author losing an umbrella leads to pull his thoughts and emotions towards serious
things like Inorals and conscience. He feels unhappy that many people forget to return books taken from
others or a lilzu'ax'y. They dont hesitate from picking other people's hats as well. Here the point to think
is that they are not found out by others. They also dont feel shy or fear from their own conscience. The
inner self is dead and they mm in be found out by their own self.

Cont'd

B. Short Answer Type Questions . Q.1. What has time stolen from the poet?

Ans. In this poem, the poet makes a complain blaming Time that it has stolen the prime part of his life,
The twenty-three years of his life passed away so hastily that the poet failed to mature himself. His
career could

not be perfect. Although his appearance is now mature, he still requires time for the maturity of his
career. (2.2. What deceives the truth? (MP. 2009)

Ans. Here, the poet refers that now he is mature in age: His appearance can deceive one about his
maturity which is still unripe. Time did not give him an opportunity to attain the ripeness of his poetic
talent. He has lost his career. His appearance is deceiving. .

Q3. How does the poet console himself? '

Ans. The poet here feels sorry for he could not make his career properly. His talent is still unripe. Time
has stolen the twenty-three years of his life without notice. It has deceived him. However, the poet
consoles himself with the plea that whatever he has achieved was the wish of God. God gives anything
to anyone without any reservation. '

Q.4. What passes by in a hurry in the poets life?

Ans. Here, thepoet feels himself at a great loss. He thinks that he has lost the twenty-three years of his
life without any concrete achievement. It has passed so hastily that he could not notice the bud or
blossom. Now, he has attained maturity of age but he still needs time for attaining the maturity in his
career.
C. Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Briefly describe Miltons feelings on his having arrived at the age of twenty-three. (MP. 2011)

Ans. On His Having Arrived at the age of Twenty-three is poets reflections on his late maturing. He has
attained the age of twenty-three. He takes it as a loss of his life. He feels that it has approached in such a
manner that he could not notice it. The prime of his life is lost. He couldnt mind his career. He couldnt
achieve the height of the poetic talent. He feels being cheated or deceived by the time which has taken
away his ripening period without notice. The poet is not at all happy but one thing gives him relief is that
it was the will of God.

Q.2. Critically analyse the poem.

Ans. The poem On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three is a devotional sonnet written in an
autobiographical tone. It contains Miltons reflections of late maturing. The dominating passion of his life
is to justify the ways of God to man and write in praise of God. Here, he blames Time for stealing away
his youth

Without repairing his poetic talent. He uses the sonnet form of poetry to produce a personal utterance
that combines dignity of tone, flexibility of movement and mastery of structure.

(23. Analyse the poem as a Petrarchan Sonnet. , _

Ans. Sonnet is a short poem of fourteen lines expressing a single thought or emotion at a time. It owes
its pofpularisation to the 14th century Italian poet Francsco Petrarch who used this poetic form to
express his love or his idealised lady love, Laura. John Milton uses the original Italian (Petrarchan) form
to express his devotion to God or sublime feelings. In this form the poem is divided into two parts-the
octave (a stanza of eight lines) and the sestet (a stanza of six lines). The first part makes a statement or
puts up a question While the second part illustrates or serves the answer to it. On Being Arrived at the
Age of Twentythree is a devotional sonnet in Petrarchan form. It is a striking example of the Renaissance
ethos and ReformatiOn zeal. It is an assertion of faith and a Wish to be guided by the divine will.
Lesson 14. Albert-Einstein at School

A. Very Short Answer Type Questions . (2.1. Why was Einstein not interested in learning history? . . . k.
Ans. Einstein was not interested in learning history for he thought one can look up historical facts m a
boo ..

Q1. Why did the teacher ask Einstein to explain his theory of education?

Anslhe mdleraskedEmsteintoeqalainhistheoryofedumtioninordertoridiculehim

Q3. What does the author mean when he says Mr. Braun's eyes were cold and cruel?

Ans. The author means to say that Mr. Braun was sarcastic in his behaviour.

Q4. The author says Most days were bad for Einstein. Why does he say so?

Ans. Einstein never liked schools, most days were bad for him.

Q5. Where did Albert find a room to reside?

Ans. Einstein had got a room to reside in one of the poorest quarters of Munich.

0.6. What does Albert mean by civilised human beings? ' l

Ans. By Civilized human beings Albert means the people who were not much educated but at east knew
the manners to live.

MKH""

a. Short Answer Tyre Questions 0.1. White going through the conversation between Albert and his
history teacher, what sort of a

pchO does Einstein appear to on?

Ans. Einstein was not at a satisfied with the school education in Germany. It was completely outdated
and roductive. The History teacher considered that education was nothing more than learning dates and
vearS events. For Einstein, education meant ideas. He didnt see any point in learning dates. One could
look up the dates in books according to him.

Einstein had all aversion for school. It is reflected in all his action. He shows it by not closing the door in
the Head tegcher'S room even after his instruction. Einstein was a rebel but always controlled his
emotion.

0.2. How does a tight administrative system usually check students from exploring new horizons?

Ans. It is quite true that the school often curbs individual talents. Most of the time it is unproductive and
outdated. Education must brin out the best from within. Education received within the four walls may
not be the real education. Actually, it 5 been seen that schools interfere with the free growth and
development of children. They don't provide proper atmosphere for their proper growth. Too many
restrictions and dead formalities kill the natural growth in children. Too much of discipline also proves
quite unproductive. It kills the creative instinct in children.

What children need is freedom. Without freedom no physical or mental growth is possible. Drive and
dynamism mustn't be curbed. School education should not be heavy, dull and cumbersome.
Entertainment and education should go together. Education is not just facts, figures and dates. Ideas
must dominate our dilation. Only then our schools will produce geniuses like Einstein.

(2.3. Mr. Braun asked Einstein to stay for an extra period. What does the extra period refer to? Why is it
called so?

Ans. Einstein was very much indifferent in his class. When the History teacheer. Braun asked him a
question about the date related to Prussian war Einstein flatly replied that he didn't know. For Einstein
remembering the date of history was not so important. It irritated the History teacher. He wanted to
know some more views of Einstein about school and education. It was just to ridicule Einstein. When
Einstein began telling him about his views the teacher got more irritated and asked him to stop for it
needed some extra classes to listen to Einsteins views and he called Einstein a disgrace to school. He
suggested him to leave the school. He

called so because school follows a pattern. It is not a place for the foolish talks as that of Einstein.