Three man in a boat About the Author Jerome Klapka Jerome (1859-1927), an English humourist, was born in Walsall, Straffordshire on May 2, 1859.

Jerome was the fourth child of his parents, Jerome Clapp and Marguerite Jones. He had two sisters, Paulina and Blandina, and a brother Milton. The family was under a financial ruin due to ill investments in local mining industry. He had to quit his studies and take up a job at the London and North Western Railway.

In 1888, he married Geogiana Elizabeth Henriatta Stanley Marris. They went for the honeymoon on the Thames ‘in a little boat’. This has been a major influence on the novel, ‘Three Men in a Boat’. In the novel, his wife was replaced by his real life friends, George Wingrave and Carl Hentschel. The book turned out to be an immense success in 1889. It was succeeded by a sequel, ‘Three Men on the Bummel’.

In 1927, Jerome suffered a paralytic stroke and a cerebral hemorrhage. He died on June 14 at Northampton Hospital. A museum at Walsall is dedicated to his life and works.

‘Three Men in a Boat’ by Jerome K. Jerome  is a fictional account of a river trip taken by three friends Harris, George, J, the narrator and Montmorency, the dog. Published in 1889, the book is a humorous account of the boating experiences on the Thames from Kingston to Oxford.

The narrator J is based on the writer Jerome himself. His friends George and Harris are based on his real life friends – George Wingrave and Carl Hentschel respectively. Montmorency is a fictional character that represents “the inner consciousness of an Englishman that contains an element of a dog.”

The story is a tapestry of anecdotes on topics including weather forecasts, learning musical instruments, towing the boat to punting, sailing and other river activities. While going through different places, the narrator gives a historical background of those places.

The book was initially meant to be a travel guide. However, the amusing incidents and light-hearted jokes make the book a comic novel. It is the humorous elements of the book that keeps the reader consistently involved in the reading of the travel accoun

Bird's Eye-view of the Story The story begins with the three friends, George, Harris, J, the narrator, and Montomorency, J’s dog spending an evening in J’s room discussing their illnesses. They find out that the reason for their suffering is ‘overwork’. They decide to go on a boating holiday, in spite of J’s disinclination towards it.

They go on board the following Saturday. George is supposed to go for work that morning; so, J and Harris reach Kingston by train. At waterloo station, they bribe a train driver to take the train to Kingston, from where they board their boat and begin their journey. They meet George at Weybridge.

The story goes on with the incidents that include anecdotes told by three of them. The landmarks, historical significance of which are described, are Hampton Court Palace, Monkey Islands, Magna Carta island and Marlow. The anecdotes include stories about weather forecasts, difficulties related to playing bagpipes, towing a boat, steam launches, punting, sailing fishing etc. The outcomes of river pastimes, which are a result of inexperience, are described in a humourous manner. 

On reaching Oxford, they experience bad weather and rain. The three consider it to be wise to board a train from Pangbourne. “Three Men well out of the Boat” was a remark made by Harris at the end as he think they did the right thing by chucking the boat when it was supposed to be.

 

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read (English)Close

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Question 5(a):

What made Triveni a popular writer?

Answer

Triveni (1928 − 1963), originally Anasuya Shankar, was a popular Kannada writer. She was known for the subjects she chose to write on, her writing style or narrative, easy to understand, made her popular among masses. Her writings targeted complex psychological problems faced by ordinary people. An author of distinction, she was loved and fondly read by people even forty years after her death.

Question 5(b):

Why did the grandmother depend on her granddaughter to know the story?

Answer Discussion Share

Avva could not read or write. Therefore, every Wednesday the granddaughter used to read out the next episode of Kashi Yatre to her, which used to appear in the Kannada

weekly Karmaveera. Avva never went to school because in her time people didn’t consider education essential for girls. Also, she got married at an early age and got occupied by responsibilities. However, she always regretted never going to school.

Pick out two sentences which state that the grandmother was desperate to know what happened in the story.

Answer Discussion Share

Two sentences in the story that show the desperation of the grandmother to know what happened in Kashi Yatre are given below.

1. “Every Wednesday, the magazine would come and I would read the next episode of this story to her. During that time, she would forget all her work and listen with the greatest concentration.”

2. “Later, she could repeat the entire text by heart. My grandmother too never went to Kashi, and she identified herself with the novel's protagonist. So more than anybody else she was the one most interested in knowing what happened next in the story and used to insist that I read the serial out to her.” Question 5(d):

Could the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read? How?

Answer Discussion Share

The grandmother was resolute to learn to read and write and asked her granddaughter to teach her Kannada alphabet. She wanted to be independent, to be able to read a novel on her own and decided the Saraswati Pooja day during Dassara as the deadline for this. She was a keen student and regular with her homework. Even the little child was astonished to see the doggedness in her grandmother. Finally, on the day of Saraswati Pooja she got the novel Kashi Yatre as a prize from her granddaughter, for accomplishing her mission, and she thanked her little teacher by touching her feet as she was gratified.

Question 5(e):

Which of the following traits would be relevant to the character of the narrator's grandmother?

(i) determined

(ii) selfish

(iii) emotional

(iv) mean

Give reasons for your choice.

Answer Discussion Share

(i) determined

Give reasons for your choice.

The grandmother was indomitable and sincere to learn the Kannada alphabet. She set Saraswati Pooja as the deadline to accomplish her resolution. “Avva was a wonderful student” as the narrator tells in the story. She not just used to do her homework with all her sincerity but even used to read, repeat, write and recite. She was determined to be independent and wanted to be literate. She always regretted not being educated and thus with the help of her granddaughter she learnt to read and write Kannada alphabet and even received the novel Kashi Yatre as a reward from her granddaughter.

Question 9:

You are the grandmother. How did you feel when your grandaughter gave you the novel 'Kashi Yatre'? Write your feelings in your diary.

Answer Discussion Share

Any answer supported with an argument or explanation would solve the purpose. However, a sample solution has been provided for students' reference.

It is strongly recommended that students prepare the solution on their own.

09th Nov'11 Today, I am very elated by my present situation. It is a turning point in my life. I have, at last, learnt the Kannada alphabet. My joy knows no bounds. I am overwhelmed by the unexpected action of my granddaughter. I was choked with emotions when she gifted me a copy of Kashi Yatre-something I always wanted to read on my own. What touches me deeply is not the gift but her love for me. I will never be able to return the favour offered by my teacher who showed immense patience and maturity and helped bring about this new day in my life when I can enjoy reading a book on my own.

Question-10-ans A model answer has been provided for students' reference.

It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

Swami: No silly. He gets ninety marks out of one hundred.

Grandmother: Good. But you must also try and get marks like him. You know, Swami, your grandfather used to frighten the examiners with his answers sometimes. When he answered a question, he did it in a tenth of the time that others took to do it. And then, his answers would be so powerful that his teachers would give him two hundred marks sometimes.

Swami: Oh, enough, Granny! You go on bothering about old unnecessary stories. Won't you listen to Rajam?

Grandmother: Yes dear yes.

Swami: Granny, when Rajam was a small boy, he killed a tiger.

Rajam's father was camping in a forest. He had his son with him. Two tigers came upon them suddenly, one knocking down the father from behind. The other began chasing Rajam, who took shelter behind a bush and shot it dead with his gun.

Granny, are you asleep?

A dog named duke

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Question 5(a):

In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. Explain.

Answer

In 1953, Charles (Chuck) Hooper was a favoured young man. He had all that a man could aspire for. He was “a hard−charging zone sales manager for a chemical company”. A six-feet-one, who had played on the university football team, was now all settled with his little blonde wife, Marcy. His “big genuine grin” flashed his competitive nature and “everything was going for him”.

Question 5(b):

They said that they would create a desk job for Hooper at headquarters.

(i) Who are 'they'?

(ii) Why did they decide to do this?

Answer Discussion Share

(i) The above sentence has been extracted from the story and “they” is referred to the personnel from Hooper’s office that visited him in the hospital.

(ii) Hooper was hospitalised after he had subdural haemorrhage as he met with an accident. After the first critical month had passed, in the fifth week, few men from his company came to visit and told him to take a year off, after seeing his condition. They said they would create a desk job for Hooper at the company’s headquarters.

They told Charles to take a year off and decided to assign him a desk job as his body’s left portion was paralysed.

Question 5(c):

Duke was an extraordinary dog. What special qualities did he exhibit to justify this? Discuss.

Answer Discussion Share

A model answer has been provided for students' reference. However, any other point of view supported by an argument or an explanation would also solve the purpose.

It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

Duke was a rough playing Doberman Pinscher. When Chuck met with the accident and was brought back home Duke also was brought back from the kennel. When the dog saw his master “he was a 23-killo missile of joy”. He jumped on Chuck above the belt in excitement. Chuck couldn’t balance, so fought to maintain it. That was it, Duke knew what had happened. From then on he never did the same. He took a post beside his master’s bed and never jumped on him again. He sensed the delicate condition of his master and later he was the main agent in the improvement of Chuck’s condition.

From the story, it seems that Duke knew what had happened to Hooper, he would come up and poke Chuck’s left arm and try to lift it up. One evening while the dog was cajoling his master Hooper casually hooked leash in Duke’s collar with his good hand and that

charged the dog. The first time, it was just couple of steps till the wheel chair. However, Duke was dogged to make Chuck walk. They were a team now. Hooper’s neighbourhood people say that the Dog knew what his responsibility was. They had a tremendous coordination. The dog would “pull his leash taut then stand and wait. The man would drag himself abreast of the dog and then the dog would surge out to the end of the leash and wait again”.

Gradually Hooper became totally dependent on Duke and didn’t need physiotherapy further. It was Duke alone who could do what he did. The only thing that the narrator says he was unsure of was whether Duke knew what he was doing, but then the narrator says that he believed that Duke knew.

Question 5(d):

What problems did Chuck present when he returned to the company headquarters?

Answer Discussion Share

On January 4, Chuck visited the local branch. This had been one of the district offices under his jurisdiction as zone manager. The staff was amazed to see him return, Charles Hooper told Gordon Doule, the manager, to bring him all the updates of the time Hooper had stayed away. He started working one hour every day; he chose the empty desk in the ware house. Hooper’s move presented problems in the company’s headquarters. Chuck was fighting hard to come back, so nobody could tell him that he couldn’t handle the job. Beside it was a job of sales, what good can a salesperson do, “who cannot move around, and can work only one hour a day?” However, Hooper had the target set in his mind, March 1, a full day’s work. It was Duke who would pull Chuck all the way till the office and then bring him back home as well. All said that the dog knew his responsibility “to get Chuck back on his feet”. After thirteen months of meditation, Charles Hooper was promoted to Regional Manager covering more than four states.

Question 5(e):

Why do you think Charles Hooper's appointment as Assistant National Sales Manager is considered to be a tribute to Duke?

Answer Discussion Share

A model answer has been provided for students' reference. However, any other point of view supported by an argument or an explanation would also solve the purpose.

It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

Duke was not an ordinary pet; he was a Doberman with exceptional intelligence. The finesse with which he understood the delicate condition of Chuck is commendable. It was not physiotherapy and not any other drug or exercise that made Chuck walk, but Duke and Duke alone!

After the accident when Duke was brought back on Chuck’s return to home, the dog took just one incident to realise the ailment of his master. The dog just needed to be hooked once causally and Duke with his leash and the dog became resolute to make his master stand on his feet. It was Duke who made Charles Hooper reach the office despite all odds and took the responsibility to take Charles Hooper to the office and also bring him back home.

It was not just Chuck’s meditation but Duke’s too that after thirteen months Hooper was promoted to Regional Manager covering more than four states. People of their new neighbourhood, they moved into, didn’t know the story of Chuck and Duke. “All they knew was that their new neighbour walked like a struggling mechanical giant and that he was always pulled by a rampageous dog that acted as if he owned the man.”

After some time when Chuck was promoted to Assistant National Sales Manager, the words drafted by the headquarters of the chemical company said, “... therefore, to advance our objectives step by step, Charles Hooper is appointed Assistant National Sales Manager”, as all knew that without Duke it would not have been possible for Chuck to make such quick improvement and tribute Hooper’s promotion to Duke.

Question -9Pointers have been provided for students' reference.

It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

- However easy it might sound to cope up with a loss, only the person undergoing the mental trauma can feel the pain; - Affects personal, social and mental stability; - When you love someone or something that is very precious to you, the grief is intense; - It can be quite unsettling and frightening to cope up with a loss or a crisis or a life-changing event; - Talking to a very close friend or a spouse might help to a great deal; - Counselling and healthy advice on coping with a mishap might help; - Isolation is never a solution to heal grief. Face the loss; - Let your pain come out in all the possible forms; - Distract yourself with things you like to do and people you like to talk to; - Allow time to heal.

The Brook (English) Question 7(a):

How does the brook ‘sparkle’?

Answer

The brook sparkles because of the sun’s rays which shine on its water. The sudden emergence or rush of the brook is shown to be in a sparkling motion.

Question 7(l):

What is the ‘refrain’ in the poem? What effect does it create?

Answer

In the referred poem, the refrain is:

‘For men may come and men may go

But I go on for ever.’

A refrain is a phrase, verse, or group of verses repeated at intervals throughout a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza. In this poem, it gives a chant-like quality to the tone the poet is writing in.

Question 7(k):

‘I make the netted sunbeam dance.’ What does ‘the netted sunbeam’ mean? How does it dance?

Answer

The ‘netted sunbeams’ is a reference to the crisscrossing rays of the sun.

The sunbeams falling on the brook are reflected in various directions, giving the impression that they are dancing.

Question 7(j):

The poem has many examples of alliteration. List five examples.

Answer

The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables is known as alliteration.

Five examples of alliteration in the poem are:

‘Sudden sally’

‘Field and fallow’

‘Willow-weed’

‘Golden gravel’

‘Slip, slide’

Question 7(i):

What does the poet want to convey by using the words ‘steal’ and ‘slide’?

Answer

By using the words ‘steal’ and ‘slide’, the poet wants to convey the silent and almost undetectable movement of the stream.

Question 7(h):

Name the different things that can be found floating in the brook.

Answer

The different things that can be found floating in the river are pumice, flowers, wood chips, foamy flakes, bark of trees, twigs and leaves.

Question 7(g):

‘I wind about, and in and out.' What kind of a picture does this line create in your mind?

Answer

‘I wind about, and in and out’ creates a picture of a labyrinth in the mind of the readers. The flow of the brook has been mentioned to resemble that of a maze.

Question 7(f):

With many a curve my banks I fret’- What does the poet mean by this statement?

Answer

‘With many a curve my banks I fret’ is a reference to the erosion of the bank by the curvaceous movement of the river.

Question 7(e):

Why has the word ‘chatter’ been repeated in the poem?

Answer

The word ‘chatter’ has been repeated in the poem because it represents the sound frequently made by the flowing brook. It seems that the brook talks about its journey that it has travelled throughout in a lively mood.

Question 7(d):

Where does it finally meet the river?

Answer

The brook, after crossing ridges, villages, towns and bridges, finally reaches Philip’s farm to join the river.

Question 7(c):

How many hills and bridges does it pass during is journey?

Answer

The brook passes thirty hills and fifty bridges during its journey.

uestion 7(b):

‘Bicker’ means ‘to quarrel’. Why does the poet use this word here?

Answer

‘Bicker’ means a noisy discussion or an argument. The poet uses the word ‘bicker’ to describe the noisy flow of the brook as it flows through the valley. This here talks about the flow of the course of the brook with a gentle repetitive noise.

Question 8(d):

Explain the last two lines of the stanza.

Answer

The last two lines very well explains the central theme of the poem, that is, the fact that human life is mortal while the beauty of nature remains eternal. The brook says in these lines that human lives come to an end and another generation begins. However, the flow

of the brook is continuous and goes on forever. The immortality and permanence of the brook has been compared and contrasted with human life, which is mortal and finishes after a certain span of time.

Question 8(c):

Why has the poet used the word ‘brimming’? What kind of a picture does it create?

Answer

Brimming here means to be abundantly filled with water, to the point of overflow. The poet has used ‘brimming’ to indicate the amount of water in the river which the brook joins finally.

It creates a picture of immense volume and abundance.

How does it ‘chatter’?

Answer

The noise made by the quick flow of the brook is what makes it ‘chatter’. While the river wanders in a wild and natural course, it makes a natural swirling, chattering noise.

uestion 8(a):

Who does ‘I’ refer to in the given lines?

Answer

‘I’ refers to the brook in the given lines where the brook describes its journey through various towns, villages, ridges, bridges and hills to join the river.

Question 9:

Identity the rhyme scheme of the poem.

Answer

A rhyme scheme defines a definite pattern of rhyme between lines of a poem or a song. The rhyme scheme of this poem is a b, a b… which is known as alternate rhyme scheme. For instance,

I come from haunts of coot and hern; a

I make a sudden sally b

And sparkle out among the fern, a

To bicker down a valley. b

Question 10:

The poem is full of images that come alive through skilful use of words. List out any two images that appeal to you the most, quoting the lines from the poem.

Answer

This question is to be answered on the basis of your own understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own.

Question 11:

The brook appears to be a symbol for life. Pick out examples of parallelism between life and the brook.

Answer

The brook appears to be a symbol for life, which becomes the central theme of the poem. Various instances that can be seen in the poem which draw parallel between brook and life, such as:

When the brook comes out from the mountains, its movement is very noisy and quick and it is in full vigor. It is in a hurry to reach its destination, that is, the river. Similarly, man, in his youth, is very energetic, lively, enthusiastic and full of vigor.

When the brook comes closer to the river, its movement becomes slow and smooth, which can be compared to man in his old age, who becomes very calm, gentle, soft and lethargic.

In the early phase of the brook’s life, it has a very fast motion and it overcomes all the obstacles, stones and pebbles in its way. This nature of the brook can be compared to man in his youth when he is enthusiastic and is ready to face all the challenges that come in his way.

During the course of the brook’s journey, it takes a lot of things along with it like blossoms, silt, gravel and fish. In the same way, man even meets, accompanies and moves forward in life with the people he meets, in the journey of his life.

The only difference between the two can be drawn by the fact that the brook is eternal and has a continuous flow while the human life ends by the arrival of death.

Write a letter to the secretary of the municipal committee of your town requesting him to provide a children’s park in your town. Your town is thickly populated but the town has no proper park for children. You are Rajat of 55, New Mandi, Ambala.

55, New Mandi,

Ambala

April 10, 2010

The Secretary,

Municipal Committee,

Ambala

Subject: Request for setting up a children’s park

Respected Sir,

May I draw your kind attention towards the need for a children’s park in our town. Our town is thickly populated and has many modern facilities too. However, it is very sad that there is no children’s park in our town, because of which children do not have a common place to play. It is not safe for children to play on streets or in narrow by-lanes. The constant movement of people and traffic makes it extremely difficult for them to play outside their houses. I am sure you understand that parks are an essential part of the development of any town or city.

I, therefore, request you to take this mater seriously and provide a children’s park as soon as possible. This effort on the part of your team would be much appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours truly,

Rajat

 

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper criticizing reckless and rash driving. You are Meenu Juneja, a resident of C 501, Sector 21 C, Karnal, Haryana.

C 501,

Sector 21 C,

Karnal,

Haryana

15 January, 2010

The Editor,

The Tribune,

Chandigarh

Subject: Need to curb reckless and rash driving

Dear Sir,

Let me draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the rising instances of reckless and rash driving in the city. This nuisance has reached such a level that it has become extremely difficult for people to walk on roads without the fear of being hit by vehicles. Drivers, especially youngsters, have no respect for traffic rules and do not care for the safety of others on the road. It is no surprise that the cases of road accidents are on the rise. Stricter traffic rules should be put in place so that the offenders do not go scot free and law & order is restored on the roads.

I request the authorities to kindly look into the matter and put this nuisance to rest.

Yours truly,

Meenu Juneja

 

You are Rakesh, living at 15, Sector-15, Panchkula. Write a letter to your friend Kapil who has recently recovered from a prolonged illness.

15, Sector-15,

Panchkula,

Haryana

15 April, 2010

Dear Kapil,

I was much-shocked to learn about your illness from your father. Your dad was telling me that he was beginning to get seriously worried when your fever did not subside even after three weeks. I am relieved to know that you have fully recovered now. Accept my heartiest congratulations on your recovery. However, you must continue taking care of your health because your body is still very weak. Don’t exert yourself too much and work only according to your capacity. I know that you do not like sitting idle. Nonetheless, take as much rest as you can so that when your body regains strength, you can ready to give your best to everything. Pay my regards to your mother and father.

With best wishes,

Rakesh