Class 11 NCERT English Book Woven Words Lesson 1 The Lament Short Stories Questions and Answer.
Lesson 1 The Lament
Understanding the text
1. Comment on the indifference that meets Iona’s attempts to share his grief with his fellow human beings.
2. What impression of the character of Iona do you get from this story?
3. How does the horse serve as a true friend and companion to lona?
Answers:
1. How did he suffer? Iona, the protagonist, suffered greatly from the loss of his son. His grief was overwhelming, and he struggled to find someone to share his feelings with. Despite his attempts to talk to passengers, no one showed him genuine sympathy, leaving him feeling isolated and alone in his pain.
2. What did he say before his son died? Iona’s son didn’t say anything specific in the story before he died. However, Iona mentions that his son was in the hospital for three days before passing away. He also laments that his son was a good cab driver, wishing that he had lived.
3. How did his son die? Iona’s son died from a high fever. He was in the hospital for three days before succumbing to the illness. Iona, in his grief, reflects on the randomness of death, feeling that it should have come for him instead of his son.
Talking about the text
Discuss the following in pairs
1. Empathy and understanding of the setting. How does this serve as a fitting prelude to the events describe in the story?
2. Comment on the graphic details with which the various passengers who took Iona’s cab are described.
3. The short story revolves around a single important event. Discuss how the narrative is woven around this central fact.
4. The story begins and ends with Iona and his horse. Comment on the significance of this to the plot of the story.
Answers:
1. Empathy and Understanding of the Setting
- The setting plays a crucial role in creating an atmosphere that evokes empathy in the reader. The cold, wintry environment, coupled with Iona’s isolation as a cab driver, highlights his loneliness and the harsh realities of life. The bleakness of the setting sets the tone for the emotional weight of the story, which deals with grief, alienation, and human indifference.
- This setting serves as a prelude to the central event—where Iona, having lost his son, tries desperately to share his grief but finds no one willing to listen. The cold environment parallels the cold, indifferent responses of the passengers, reinforcing the theme of isolation.
2. Graphic Details of the Passengers
- The various passengers who ride in Iona’s cab are described in vivid detail, highlighting their personalities and preoccupations. They serve as contrasting characters to Iona, emphasizing the theme of indifference.
- The officer, the young man, and the others are depicted as engrossed in their own concerns, too busy or disinterested to notice Iona’s pain. The details show how each person is caught up in their world, oblivious to the suffering around them, which deepens the story’s emotional impact.
3. Single Important Event
- The story revolves around the death of Iona’s son, and this grief is the central event around which the narrative is built. The entire plot focuses on Iona’s quest to find someone to share his sorrow with.
- The narrative shows how, despite interacting with different people throughout the night, Iona is met with apathy, which intensifies the central fact—his profound sense of loss and isolation. The climax of the story is not in a grand revelation but in Iona’s realization that his only companion in grief is his horse.
4. Iona and His Horse
- The story both begins and ends with Iona and his horse, symbolizing the bond between Iona and his only companion. This framing device emphasizes the theme of loneliness and the idea that, in the end, it is not human connection but an animal’s silent presence that offers Iona some solace.
- The horse represents the only being that “listens” to Iona, showing the contrast between human and animal empathy. This cyclical structure reinforces the idea that Iona’s grief remains unacknowledged by the world, but at least his horse provides a form of silent companionship. The horse, like Iona, is a figure of endurance in a world that continues moving, indifferent to individual suffering.
Application
1. The story begins with a description of the setting. How does this serve as a fitting prelude to the events described in the story?
2. Comment on the graphic details with which the various passengers who took Iona’s cab are described.
3. This short story revolves around a single important event. Discuss how the narrative is woven around this central fact.
4. The story begins and ends with Iona and his horse. Comment on the significance of this to the plot of the story.
Answers:
1. The Setting as a Prelude to the Events in the Story:
- The story begins with a detailed description of the cold, bleak winter setting, creating an atmosphere of isolation and harshness. This serves as a prelude to the events in the story by reflecting Iona’s emotional state—his grief over the loss of his son and his isolation from others. The cold, indifferent world around Iona mirrors the emotional coldness he experiences from the people he interacts with. The setting reinforces the story’s theme of alienation and prepares the reader for the emotional journey Iona undergoes, trying to find someone who will listen to his sorrow.
2. Graphic Details of the Passengers:
- The passengers who take Iona’s cab are described with vivid, graphic details that reveal their personalities and emotional distance from Iona. Each passenger is preoccupied with their own concerns—whether it’s the officer focused on his duties, the young man in a rush, or the others lost in their conversations. These descriptions serve to contrast with Iona’s emotional turmoil and highlight the indifference of the world around him. The detailed portrayal of each passenger emphasizes their lack of empathy, which deepens the reader’s understanding of Iona’s loneliness and the apathy of those around him.
3. The Narrative Woven Around a Single Important Event:
- The entire short story revolves around the death of Iona’s son, which is the central event driving the narrative. Iona’s need to express his grief is the main focus, and the story follows his interactions with various passengers in an attempt to find someone who will listen. Each part of the narrative, from his encounters with the indifferent passengers to his eventual conversation with his horse, is connected to this single event—his son’s death. The narrative structure shows how this event affects Iona’s emotional state and the responses (or lack thereof) from those around him, creating a poignant portrayal of grief and isolation.
4. The Significance of Iona and His Horse:
- The story begins and ends with Iona and his horse, framing the narrative with a focus on their relationship. This serves as a symbolic element of the plot, as the horse is the only creature that offers Iona any semblance of companionship. The horse’s silent presence at the beginning reflects Iona’s quiet suffering, while at the end, it becomes the only one who “listens” to Iona as he shares his grief. The cyclical nature of the story, starting and ending with Iona and his horse, reinforces the theme of loneliness and the idea that in a world full of people, the only comfort Iona finds is with his horse, emphasizing the emotional disconnect between Iona and the human world.
Language Work
1. Look at the following set of words and mention what is common to them both in form and meaning.
snuffle
snort
sniffle
snore
2. Look at the words given in the box below.
snigger
wriggle
sneak
squeak
squawk
titter
pant
chuckle
giggle
jeer
chortle
guffaw
sigh
sidle
boo
shriek
scramble
croak
strangle
plod
gasp
Now classify them according to their closeness in meaning to the words given below.
| A | B | C | D | E |
| snigger | wriggle | squeak | jeer | sigh |
3. Explain the associations that the colour ‘white’ has in the story.
4. What does the phrase ‘as if he were on needles’ mean? Can you think of author phrase with a similar meaning substituting the word ‘needles?
Answers:
1. Commonality in the Words (Form and Meaning):
- Words: snuffle, snort, sniffle, snore
- Common Form: These words are onomatopoeic, meaning they imitate the sounds associated with them.
- Common Meaning: They all refer to sounds produced by the nose or mouth, mostly related to breathing or nasal activities. These actions are often connected to emotions like frustration, sickness, or sleep.
2. Classification of Words by Meaning:
- A – Snigger:
- titter, chuckle, giggle, chortle, guffaw
- All of these refer to different forms of laughter, ranging from small laughs (snigger, titter, chuckle) to more boisterous ones (guffaw).
- B – Wriggle:
- scramble, sidle, plod, sneak
- These words all involve movements. Wriggle and scramble suggest quick, writhing movement, while sidle and sneak imply stealth, and plod refers to slow, heavy movement.
- C – Squeak:
- shriek, squawk, croak
- These words refer to high-pitched or harsh sounds, often made by people or animals. Squeak and squawk are typically sharper, while croak is rougher or deeper.
- D – Jeer:
- boo, jeer
- These words are associated with negative expressions or mocking someone, often in a public or vocal manner.
- E – Sigh:
- gasp, pant, sigh
- These words describe various forms of breathing or respiratory sounds, often connected to emotions such as relief (sigh), surprise or fear (gasp), or exertion (pant).
3. Associations of the Colour ‘White’ in the Story:
- The colour white in the story is associated with coldness, death, and lifelessness. It reflects the snow-covered, wintry setting, creating an atmosphere of desolation and isolation. Additionally, it symbolizes Iona’s grief, as the whiteness of the snow parallels his emotional numbness and the cold, indifferent reactions of those around him. The recurring imagery of white highlights the theme of loneliness and emotional coldness in the story.
4. Meaning of the Phrase ‘As if He Were on Needles’:
- The phrase “as if he were on needles” means to be in a state of nervousness, discomfort, or anxiety, as though one is in physical discomfort. It suggests a sense of unease or agitation.
- A similar phrase could be: “as if he were on pins and needles,” or “as if he were walking on eggshells,” both conveying the same idea of feeling tense or anxious.