List of practice Questions

Why did the author leave Vienna never to return again?
Bama’s experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does Zitkala-Sa’s experience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?
Did the author believe in the prophetic ability of Frau Frieda?
Dreams and clairvoyance are as much an element of the poetic vision as religious superstition.
It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed even by children?
The story hinges on a gold ring shaped like a serpent with emerald eyes. Comment on the responses that this image evokes in the reader.
The two accounts that you read above are based in two distant cultures. What is the commonality of theme found in both of them?
What is the best tribute that posterity has bestowed on Shakespeare?
Why did he think that Frau Frieda’s dreams were a stratagem for surviving?
Examples from other poems from this period:
• How neatly doe we give one onely name
• To parents issue and the sunnes bright starre!
How does Milton describe Shakespeare as the source of inspiration for all succeeding generations of poets?
Notice the adjectives in phrases such as ‘infant loves’ and ‘brave clearnesse’. What is the meaning of these adjectives?
(i) in isolation
(ii) as part of these phrases
Notice the spelling of the following words
houres                  shadowes                   Sunne   noone                  clearnesse                  behinde 

The ‘e’ that was used in Donne’s period got dropped from English orthography later. Pick out the other words in the poem that have this peculiar feature.
Take note also that the apostrophe is not used for indicating the possessive form: loves philosophy
What are the things associated with the temporal and what are associated with the eternal?
What does the ‘weak witness of thy name’ refer to?
What guides human souls towards divinity? Who is the final winner in the race against Time?
Why does Milton feel it is not necessary to put up a monument in stone for Shakespeare?
Why has the poet pitted the flight of Time against the ‘lazy leaden-stepping hours’ and ‘the heavy Plummets pace’?
Comment on the use of the image of the shadows for the idea that the poet wants to convey
In which section of the play does Mr. Lamb display signs of loneliness and disappointment? What are the ways in which Mr. Lamb tries to overcome these feelings?
Instead of ‘A Lecture Upon Love’ the poet calls the poem ‘A Lecture Upon the Shadow’. What is the effect that this has on our reading of the poem?
Love is described as light. What makes the poet talk about shadows?
The poet seems to be addressing his beloved in the poem. What is the message he wishes to convey to her?
Do you think all this will change Derry’s attitude towards Mr. Lamb?