Man and Battle of Life by Sri Aurobindo Ghose, Grade 12, Optional English

 

Man and Battle of Life by Sri Arubindo (Arubindo Ghose

Exploring the Text

1.     What does the author say about the existence of God?

Arubindo says God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. He says that God is present in every good and evil. Further, he states that God is in peace and panic which makes him the observer of all the movement of the cosmos.

2.     How does the author equate the battle of life with the battle of Kurukshetra?

The author has illustrated life as a constant battle that is equipped with clash and struggle. Whether it is a physical battle or mental battle men cannot be the exception to the war of life. Humans by nature, always want to be supreme over others. He has equated that human life is full of struggle and battle mounting into supreme crises such as Kurukshetra. He further asserts that a period of transition and crisis clashes the forces for huge destruction and reconstruction similar to the Mahabharata.

3.     What does the author say about modern efforts for peace?

The author claims that modern efforts for peace are only the accommodation between conflicting interests which may minimise the recurrence of the worst forms of conflict. Though modern people believe it establishes universal peace, it results in a monstrous mutual massacre; a universal war full of bitterness and hatred.

4.     According to the author, what is the function of a government?

According to the author, the function of a government is to protect the weak and the oppressed for the maintenance of rights and justice in the world.

5.     How does a modern mind understand a man?

A modern mind understands man as a thinker, worker or producer and a fighter all in one.

6.     How did ancient Indian civilization interpret man?

The ancient Indian civilization focused on individual nature, tendency and temperament. It didn’t consider man primarily as a social being but as a social being in process of formation and development for spiritual formation.

7.     How does the author differentiate social beings from spiritual beings?

The author says a social being is full of his social existence at the highest level but a spiritual being is a person who individually proceeds toward their spiritual development and self-perfection.

8.     What does the Gita say about the war?

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that it is important to follow dharma. Therefore, it is the duty of Kshatriya, to fight wars. The Bhagavad Gita believes it is negative not to fight against evil. However, the motive must be defense, or to protect the innocent and not to gain land, power, money or as an act of revenge or anger.

9.     Why is war an outer manifestation of inner struggle?

War is an outer manifestation of inner struggle because all the realization of right or wrong, justice or tyranny and success or struggle, everything begins from our inner self. The inner thought gets practical implications in the war physically.

10.  Why is Kshatriya an embodiment of war?

According to the writer, Kshatriya is an embodiment (personification) of war because Kshatriya is a man who accepts the principle of battle as a warrior to protect right, justice and law. The Kshatriya are only the outward manifestation of the conflict all people have inside them.

11.  According to the author, what are there gunas and how are they different from each other?

According to the author, three Gunas are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is the mode of poise (dignity), knowledge and satisfaction. Rajas is the mode of passion, action and struggling emotion. Similarly, Tamas refers to the modes of ignorance and inertia (inactivity).

12.  Why does a man with tama guna feel complacent (satisfied) within himself?

A man with tama feels complacent within himself as he only seeks to survive or to shelter in an established routine of thought where he feels protected from the battle.

13.  What does the author mean by nirguna?

By the term nirguna, the author refers to an absolute peace and superior existence. Nirguna is the state of mind in which the mind recoils (starts) from the whole problem and is dissatisfied with the solutions given by the threefold mode of nature.

14.  How is Arjuna an embodiment of raja guna?

Raja Guna (Rajas) is the mode of passion, action and struggling emotion. Arjuna is an embodiment of raja guna as he is in bewilderment (confusion) about the reason of war which makes him dejected to fight. However, he advances upon the tamas by a high sattwic ideal eventually.

Expanding the Horizon

1.     What does a man achieve when he wins the battle of his mind?

The essay illustrates how human beings always have to face struggles and battles in every aspect of life. A man, even after mastering over three Gunas, also seeks for absolute peace and superior existence. A man attains the supreme perfection of freedom from activity through renunciation (rejection) when he wins the battle of his mind.

2.     How are three Gunas Tama, Raja and Sattva interrelated with each other?

According to the author, three Gunas are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is the mode of poise (dignity), knowledge and satisfaction. Rajas is the mode of passion, action and struggling emotion. Similarly, Tamas refers to the modes of ignorance and inertia (inactivity). A man can only master over his mind after getting over the Trigunas. A man reaches the timeless, infinite and silent peace after passing the stages of fear and horror of the world (Tamasic), refusal, struggle and grief (Rajasic) and the highest state of superiority and tranquillity (Sattva). Hence, the three Gunas are inseparable to get the ultimate freedom from the physical world.

3.     What do you mean by Sannyasa? Is it the solution of all the battles?

Sannyasa is a form of self-discipline, is marked by the renunciation (rejection) of material desires and prejudices, represented by a state of disinterest and detachment from material life, and has the purpose of spending one's life in peaceful, spiritual pursuits.In my opinion, if we can detach from the ego, greed and lust there is no need of abandoning family and society; or becoming a Sannyasi. Becoming a Sannyasi doesn’t guaranty our higher state of mind, rather a man with a higher level of spirituality can lead his life peacefully even in material pursuits. For me, Sannyasa is not the solution to all the battles but our mindset is.

4.     How does Aurobindo glorify the Gita and the lord?

In the essay, Sri Aurobindo has appreciated the teaching of Gita and God. It has glorified Gita concerning human beings and the battle of life. Gita says that human life is full of battles and nobody can run away from it. Further, it says that supreme power has created human beings in separate ways. The Gita accepts God as the creator, preserver and destroyer and thus God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.

5.     Why do you think there is always conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness?

According to Gita, the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness is a necessity in nature to create an ideal society. In my opinion, a major reason for the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness lies in the greed of human beings to persue the materialistic gain. Whenever the deeds of people are led by selfishness and power-gain then the righteous people have to offend it to preserve the value of goodness and virtues. An unrighteous path of people creates a negative effect on the whole civilization which eventually lead to the end of the world. Hence, the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness occur to protect the truth and spiritual value for a peaceful life.

6.     Was the battle of Kurukshetra a just war? Explain.

I think the battle of Kurukshetra was a just war for many reasons. Lord Krishna reincarnated on earth to remove evil, destroy evil souls and restore peace and Dharma (Virtue). He also wanted to give a message to the world that “Those who are on the path of truth and dharma will achieve victory”. He also said he wouldn’t hesitate or even flicker to do anything to save dharma (virtue). So, he may even resort to deception or trickery if there is no other choice to win over the evil souls. Lord Krishna clearly states in the Mahabharata that sinning for Dharma is not a sin at all. The battle was the last resort to protect righteousness from unrighteousness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sir Rozer Assizes by Richard Steele, grade 12, Optional English.

Sir Roger Assizes by Richard Steele

Exercises

B. Exploring the text.

1. What does the author say about the general character of a man?

The author says a man's first care should be to avoid the blames of his own heart and the second should be to escape the criticisms of the world. He highlights the need for greater satisfaction to a man. He further claims that a man is surer of his conduct when the verdict which he passes upon his behaviour is confirmed by the opinion of all that know him.

2. How does the author describe Sir Roger's character?

In the essay, Sir Roger has been characterized vividly by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele. Sir Roger is presented in these essays as kind, generous, lovable and sometimes as a peculiar person. But in the hand of Joseph Addison, Sir Roger's character is conveyed ironically. For that reason, he sometimes seems odd. Although he is gentle and mild and lovable to people, he has some oddness too. And all these things are defined superbly in the essay.

3. What was Sir Roger's opinion about the yeoman?

According to Sir Roger, the yeoman is an honest man. He is qualified to kill a hare or a pheasant who knocks down his dinner with his gun twice or thrice a week. Sir Roger thinks that he would be a good neighbour if he did not destroy so many partridges. In the eyes of Sir Roger, yeoman is a very sensible man.

4. What was Tom Touchy like?

Tom Touchy was the selfish neighbour of Sir Roger. At every meeting of the court, he sues someone for thieving on his land. Touchy is disliked for his littleness, suffers the fury of the countryside when he sues Will Wimble for taking hazel sticks from his hedge.

5. What did Sir Roger speak about the case between Will Wimble and Tom Touchy?

He diplomatically said, "Much could be said on both sides" when Will wimble and Tom Touchy wanted his verdict on the fishing habit of Will Wimble.

6. How would Sir Roger act on the circuit bench?

Sir Roger surprisingly got up to speak though he had nothing special to talk about.

7. According to the narrator, what made their travel of that day pleasant?

According to the writer, several adventures with the Knight's behaviour in them gave him the pleasure to him which made him that day.

 C. Expanding the Horizon.

1. Sketch the character of Sir Roger.

Sir Roger de Coverly is the first member of the Spectator’s Club. He is a gentleman of fifty-six of Worcestershire, a non-metropolitan country of England with a very strong family history. His great grandfather was the inventor of the famous country-dance which is called after him. He was a baronet (a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order, with the status of a commoner but able to use the prefix ‘Sir’). All the people who know the county are familiar with his abilities and qualities. Though a gentleman, he is very singular in his behaviour towards others. The singularities of his behaviour result from his good sense and good nature. He behaves oddly only when he is sure that people around him are in the wrong. He is often in contradiction to other people but his contradiction does not create a home to any enemy because of his gentleness.

2. Comment on the style of Addison's prose.

Addison is one of the greatest prose stylists in English literary history. He was the pioneer of a style that was very simple, lucid, natural, moderate, free from extravagant expression, and called ‘middle style’.

 The most striking feature of Addison’s style is clearness and lucidity (reasoning) of expression. There is no complexity in his expression. Even, his long sentences are not difficult to understand. Humor is another key feature of his writing.

Addison showed a perfect English prose style to a large extent and freed it from extravagances and excesses of eighteenth century writers, and brought in it clearness, lucidity and exactness.

3. Which two humorous instances you like most in the essay and why?

I personally liked two instances which made me laugh while reading essay. The first instance is when Sir Roger said 'much could be said on both sides' while Will Wimbol and Tom Touchy had a discussion about fishing in the river. Another instance which I felt humorous was the painting of Sir Roger which was posted at the entrance of the inn which was owned by his former servant. The instance becomes more hilarious when Sir Roger tried to change the appearance but it became more similar to him.

4. After reading the essay, how would you say that Sir Roger belongs to English noble family?

Sir Roger de Coverly is the first member of the Spectator’s Club. He is a gentle man of fifty six of Worcestershire, a non-metropolitan country of England with very strong family history. His great grandfather was the inventor of the famous country-dance which is called after him. He was a baronet (a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order, with the status of a commoner but able to use the prefix ‘Sir’). All the people who know the county are familiar with his abilities and qualities. He behaves in an odd manner only when he is sure that people around him are in the wrong. He is often in contradiction to other people but his contradiction does not create home to any enemy because of his gentleness. All these traits shows him as a person who belongs to English noble family.

 

  

This is a Story, Optional English, Grade 12, Nepal.

 This is a Story by Jeannette C. Armstrong (Prepared by Pratap Pandey, Gorkha)

Expanding the Horizon

1.     How does the author bring contrast between Western people and native people?

The author has shown the difference between Western and native people in terms of their way of life and motive. She has mentioned that the Western people had everything swallow which refers to their dominance upon the native people after colonization. In the name of development, the Westerners had imposed their modern lifestyle which could destroy the native culture and history of the Okanagan people. On the other hand, native people have shown their opposition to the intruders to save their glorious history and culture in the story.

2.     How does the author criticize the western perspective of development?

In the story, the author has criticized that the Western people always destroy the aboriginal culture and lifestyle of people. Though the colonizers act like developing the country and making them civilized, they have a hidden motive to take control over the natural assets of the aboriginal people. Eventually, the swallow people oppress and destroy the true identity of the native people.

3.     Do you think the author is worried about the loss of native culture and identity? Give reasons.

The writer has shown a vivid intention to protect the native culture and identity through the character of Kyoti in the story. Kyoti is the symbol of protest against the colonization who is ready to break the dams made by the Western people. The symbol of breaking the dam illustrates the struggle of native people to preserve their aboriginal identity. The author being an Okanagan woman, is worried about the loss of her aboriginal status and identity after the colonization of the Swallow people.

4.     How are the white men trying to control the natural flow of the river?

The white men are trying to control the natural flow of the river by constructing dams across the Okanagan River. The control of the flow of the river symbolizes the control over the Okanagan people and their natural lifestyle. The white people after the colonization broke the aboriginal status of the Okanagan tribe and established their own culture and way of life. In conclusion, the white people not only controlled the flow of the river but also the flow of the Okanagan people.

5.     How does the story talk about the resistance of man's atrocity against the natural world?

The whole story centers on the resistance of the Okanagan people against the undesirable disturbance in their culture and true identity. The fear of the Salmon Chief and other people of the tribe shows the fear that may occur if they try to oppose the Swallows. However, Kyoti led the people against the intruders to protect their true history and identity. Finally, the people of the Okanagan tribe gathered together to break the dam which is the main barrier to them. The author has successfully created resistance against the white people and their oppression through the characters in the story.

6.     Comment on the language of the story.

Jeannette C. Armstrong gets straight to the point about her foundations as a writer. She writes being influenced by her original language, the language of her people. She makes the aboriginal connection with Okanagan tribe and culture. The process of being shaped by language and land seems fundamental to Armstrong’s writing style.