Class 11 NCERT English Book Woven Words Lesson 7 Glory at Twilight Short Stories Questions and Answers
Lesson 7 Glory at Twilight
Understand the text
1. Give reasons for the following
a. Satyajit attending the wedding.
b. Satyajit’s recollection of the forgerer when he was on the train.
c. Srinath and his family member’s eager expectation of Satyajit’s feeling that he was impostor.
f. Satyajit not disclosing his present financial status to his uncle.
Describe the cycle of events in Satyait’s life that brought him back to where he began.
Answer:
1. Give reasons for the following:
a. Satyajit attending the wedding:
Satyajit attended the wedding because it was the marriage of his niece, which was a significant family event. Despite his financial struggles, he felt obligated to attend, driven by family duty and a desire to maintain connections with his family. He also wanted to fulfill his uncle’s expectations of his presence, as family honor and pride were important considerations.
b. Satyajit’s recollection of the forgerer when he was on the train:
While Satyajit was on the train, he recalled the incident of the forgerer because he himself was feeling like an impostor. He was reminded of the deceptive nature of appearances, as the forgerer had once been able to deceive others by creating false financial records. Satyajit, similarly, was concealing his own dire financial condition and felt as though he was living a lie, pretending to be wealthier than he truly was.
c. Srinath and his family members’ eager expectation of Satyajit:
Srinath and his family had high expectations of Satyajit because they believed he was wealthy and successful. They expected him to bring expensive gifts and offer financial help, assuming that his government job had elevated his social and economic status. However, these expectations created a pressure on Satyajit, making him feel like an impostor because he was unable to meet those expectations due to his actual financial situation.
f. Satyajit not disclosing his present financial status to his uncle:
Satyajit did not disclose his current financial troubles to his uncle because he was ashamed and did not want to lower the family’s esteem of him. He feared that revealing his poor financial condition would disappoint his family and destroy the illusion of success that they believed he had achieved. Out of pride and a desire to protect his family’s honor, he chose to keep his struggles hidden.
2. Describe the cycle of events in Satyajit’s life that brought him back to where he began:
Satyajit’s life followed a cycle of rise and fall, marked by his initial success and later financial decline. Early in his life, he had managed to secure a respectable government job, which earned him the admiration of his family and relatives. His financial status and position brought him respect and honor within his family, leading to expectations that he would continue to prosper.
However, over time, Satyajit faced economic difficulties due to bad investments and poor financial decisions. He gradually fell into debt and struggled to maintain the lifestyle that his family expected of him. Despite his declining financial situation, Satyajit continued to project an image of success to his family, attending important events such as his niece’s wedding to keep up appearances.
The culmination of these events brought him back to the point where he began—facing the harsh reality of his financial condition. Although he once enjoyed a position of respect and honor, his economic decline left him feeling like an impostor. Despite his efforts to hide the truth from his family, Satyajit realized that he could no longer sustain the illusion of prosperity, leaving him back at square one, grappling with the consequences of his financial downfall.
Talking about the text
Discuss in pairs
1. It is difficult to adjust to a fall from glory.
2. ‘Failure had a tempo faster than success.’
3. Satyajit should have revealed his predicament to his uncle.
4. The author’s comment on crime and punishment.
Answer:
1. It is difficult to adjust to a fall from glory.
Adjusting to a fall from glory can be extremely challenging because individuals often attach their identity and self-worth to their success. Once someone has experienced admiration, respect, and a higher social standing, losing that status can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and depression. In Satyajit’s case, he had once been seen as a successful man with a good job, but when his financial situation deteriorated, he struggled to reconcile his previous standing with his current reality. His inability to accept the fall caused him to hide his situation from his family, showing just how difficult it is to face and adjust to such changes.
2. ‘Failure had a tempo faster than success.’
This phrase emphasizes that failure often comes rapidly and unexpectedly, whereas success tends to be a gradual process that takes time to build. Success usually requires sustained effort and persistence, but failure can occur in a much shorter span of time, sometimes without warning. In Satyajit’s life, his journey toward success was slow and steady as he worked his way up in a respectable government position. However, when failure came—due to financial mismanagement and bad decisions—it happened much more quickly than his success had, and he was unprepared for the rapid decline.
3. Satyajit should have revealed his predicament to his uncle.
Satyajit’s decision not to reveal his financial troubles to his uncle was driven by pride and fear of disappointing his family. While it’s understandable that he wanted to maintain his family’s respect, revealing the truth might have brought him relief and a way to seek help from those who cared for him. By hiding his situation, Satyajit isolated himself and lived in constant stress, pretending to be someone he wasn’t. If he had been open with his uncle, he may have found support, and the weight of maintaining a false image wouldn’t have burdened him so much.
4. The author’s comment on crime and punishment.
The author seems to suggest that crime is often a product of desperation, rather than innate criminality. In Satyajit’s case, though he didn’t commit a literal crime, he felt like an impostor, similar to how a criminal might feel after committing a crime. He was, in a way, deceiving his family by hiding his true circumstances, and the punishment he faced was internal—guilt, shame, and the burden of maintaining a false identity. The author may be pointing to the idea that sometimes society’s expectations force individuals into dishonest behavior, and the real punishment lies in the emotional and psychological toll it takes on them.
Appreciation
1. How is Satyait’s financial crash introduced to the reader?
2. Comment on the way in which the story is narrated from Satyit’s perspective.
3. How has the author used the episode of the bank theft to comment on Satyait’s success in his career?
4. How do these lines capture the essence of the story:
‘Glory was all overlaid with dark shame. Glory was dead.’ ……’Let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory.’
Answer:
1. How is Satyajit’s financial crash introduced to the reader?
Satyajit’s financial crash is introduced subtly and gradually, creating an underlying tension in the story. The reader learns about his predicament through his thoughts and reflections on his current situation. The crash is not directly announced, but rather revealed through his actions, such as his inability to afford gifts for his niece’s wedding and his constant worry about maintaining appearances. This slow revelation mirrors the way Satyajit himself tries to hide and suppress his financial troubles, making the crash seem even more impactful when fully understood.
2. Comment on the way in which the story is narrated from Satyajit’s perspective.
The story is narrated primarily from Satyajit’s perspective, allowing the reader to experience his internal struggles, thoughts, and emotions firsthand. This personal narrative style helps the reader connect deeply with Satyajit’s feelings of shame, guilt, and fear of being exposed as a failure. Through his perspective, the reader sees how he perceives the expectations of his family and society, and how this pressure leads him to conceal his true financial state. The subjective narration emphasizes the emotional and psychological toll that Satyajit’s financial troubles take on him, making the story more intimate and poignant.
3. How has the author used the episode of the bank theft to comment on Satyajit’s success in his career?
The episode of the bank theft is used as a symbolic contrast to Satyajit’s career. The forgerer’s crime and subsequent downfall highlight the idea of false appearances and deception. Just as the forgerer created a façade of financial success through fraudulent means, Satyajit is also hiding behind a façade of success by concealing his financial problems from his family. The comparison suggests that Satyajit’s career, though initially legitimate, has now reached a point where his success is as fragile and artificial as the forgerer’s counterfeit documents. This parallel underscores the theme of crumbling success and the dishonesty that comes with trying to maintain a false image.
4. How do these lines capture the essence of the story:
‘Glory was all overlaid with dark shame. Glory was dead.’
‘Let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory.’
These lines capture the central theme of the story, which is the fleeting and fragile nature of glory and success. The phrase “Glory was all overlaid with dark shame” reflects Satyajit’s realization that his once-respected position and achievements are now tainted by the shame of his financial failure. His previous glory, which was a source of pride, is now overshadowed by his inability to maintain that success. The line “Glory was dead” conveys the finality of his downfall, as he can no longer hold on to the image of himself as a successful person.
The second line, “Let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory,” reflects the bittersweet experience of holding on to the remnants of past success. The “twilight splendour” symbolizes the fading glory that Satyajit is still clinging to, even though it has already passed. This line emphasizes the emotional struggle of accepting that his success is gone, yet he tries to savor whatever remains of his former prestige. Together, these lines encapsulate the essence of Satyajit’s internal conflict—his inability to fully let go of his past glory and the deep shame he feels as it fades away.
Language work
1. Notice this description
Tall, thin, near, forty, he had sharp features, the hair receding on his temple in wide shiny patches. His mouth, thinlipped, would tighten in response to a line that suggested strength of will but might have only been pride
Look at the padding of adjectives. Notice how physical features are related to mental qualities.
a. Pick out other such descriptions of people from the story.
b. Try writing out a description of a person you have observed closely.
Notice these fragments in para three of the lesson.
a. The banking establishment of which he had attained control.
b. The amazing tempo of it all.
These are not complete sentences but serve to capture the character’s train of thought. Such devices are often used in creative writing.
Answer:
a. Pick out other such descriptions of people from the story.
In the story “Glory at Twilight,” other characters are also described in a way that connects physical appearance with personality traits or emotions. For example:
Srinath:
Described as being eager, waiting for Satyajit’s arrival. His face was lined with years of hardship, reflecting a life of struggle and the hope he places on Satyajit’s success.
Satyajit’s Uncle:
Described as old but still authoritative, showing that while age had taken its toll on his body, his mind and stature remained respected within the family. His appearance reflects his status as a traditional patriarch who still commands respect.
These descriptions are not just physical but hint at deeper emotional and mental characteristics, helping to develop the character in a multidimensional way.
b. Try writing out a description of a person you have observed closely.
Here’s an example of how you might describe someone:
Person Description:
She was in her late twenties, with a soft, round face that gave her an air of youthful innocence, though her eyes spoke of wisdom gained through experience. Her shoulder-length hair, usually kept in a loose bun, had streaks of gray running through it, adding a touch of elegance. She was not tall, but her posture was upright, suggesting a quiet confidence. Her small hands were always in motion, whether holding a book or knitting, indicating a restless energy, though her calm demeanor betrayed no such urgency. There was a warmth in her smile, but it was guarded, as though she kept her thoughts hidden behind it, revealing only what she wanted others to see.
Fragment usage:
In the lesson, the fragments you mentioned are examples of how thoughts can be expressed in an incomplete, yet powerful way. They capture the rapid thought process of the character:
1. “The banking establishment of which he had attained control” – This incomplete sentence gives us a glimpse into Satyajit’s past success, emphasizing his control and position of power, without needing to elaborate further.
2. “The amazing tempo of it all” – This fragment conveys the fast-paced, almost overwhelming nature of the events in Satyajit’s life, without having to explain it in full detail.
In creative writing, such incomplete fragments can mirror how people think or feel in brief moments, adding to the realism and immediacy of a character’s internal monologue.