प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
Class - 12
English Core
Flamingo Prose Chapter-6 POETS AND PANCAKES
QUESTIONS:-
Q1. What does the writer mean by 'the fiery misery' of those
subjected to make-up?
Ans-
The make-up room of Gemini Studios looked like a hair cutting salon. It had
around half a dozen mirrors with incandescent lights at all angles around them.
The artists would feel the heat emanating from these lights. Thus, the writer
uses the term 'fiery misery' to denote the uncomfortable situation of those
subjected to make- up.
Q2. What is the example of national integration that the author
refers to?
Ans-
The make-up division of the Gemini Studios was an example of national
integration. According to its writer, this is so because people from different
regions and religious groups worked together in the same department. The
department was headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. The
other helpers included a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian
Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the local Tamils.
Q3. What work did the 'office boy' do in the Gemini Studios? Why
did he join the studio? Why was he disappointed?
Ans-
The 'office boy' was responsible for the make-up of the people who formed part
of crowd in the films. He used to mix his paint in a giant vessel and slapped
the paint on the faces of the players.He had joined the Gemini Studios years
ago, aspiring to become an actor, or a scriptwriter, or a director, or a
lyricist. He was disappointed with the studio that failed to recognise his
talent. He called it a "department fit only for barbers and
perverts".
Q4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the
Studios?
Ans-
The author used to do a duty in which he cut out the newspaper clippings on a
huge variety of subjects and stored them into a file. Many of these had to be
written out in hand. But the onlookers saw him tearing the newspaper so they
thought that he does nothing.
Q5. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger
on?
Ans-
Office Boy joined the studio years ago in hopes of becoming an actor or
screenwriter, or director, or lyricist. The fact that he ended up none of this
leaves him disappointed. According to him, "the great literary genius was
being let off in the department fit only for barbers and perverts". He
used to direct his anger at the writer, Kothamangalam Subbu.
Q6. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini
Studios?
Ans-
The lawyer wore pants and a tie and sometimes a coat whereas everyone else in
the Story Department wore similar khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and
clumsily tailored white khadi shirt. Thus, the lawyer stood out from others at
Gemini Studios as if he is a dispassionate man who did not take sides.
Moreover, he was a logical man with no emotional attachment whatsoever.
Q7.Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular
political affiliations?
Ans-
The people at Gemini Studios wore Khadi and worshiped Gandhi, but beyond that
they had no particular political interests or conscience. They only had
opinions on communism, which they loathed and looked down on communists. They
considered communists as heartless atheists who are devoid of emotions. They
went about letting loose anarchy in the society.
Q8. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced
by the plays staged by MRA?
Ans-
MRA staged two plays 'Jotham Valley' and 'The Forgotten Factor'. Their high
quality costumes and well made sets earned a lot of admiration. Their sunrise
and sunset scene impressed them so much that all Tamil plays started
reproducing the scene with a bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune
playing on the flute.
Q9. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman
and the people at Gemini Studios?
Ans-
The Englishman's speech was peppered with words like 'freedom' and 'democracy'
and the Gemini family had no political interests, so they were dazed and a
silent audience. Also, the Englishman's accent was difficult to understand,
because of which all communication had failed. He was basically a poet and that
made no sense to the people whose life centered around a film studio.
Q10. Who was the English visitor to the studio?
Ans-
The English visitor to the Gemini Studios was Stephen Spender. He was the
editor of The Encounter, a British Periodical, and a famous English poet,
essayist and novelist of the twentieth century.
Q11. The author has used gentle humour to point out human
foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece
interesting.
Ans-
The instances of humour, used by the author, mark the eccentricities and
idiosyncrasies without making any direct and rude comment on anybody. For
instance, the author portrays the make-up artists and the usage of the pancakes
in an interesting way. Even the caricature of Subbu is hilarious. The way he
tries to help his principal by offering quick solutions to his problems is
quite amusing. The episode of the legal adviser that inadvertently causes the
end of an actress's career is yet another example. The frustration of the
office boy, the superficial praising of Gandhi, hatred of Communism and the
'mystery' surrounding Stephen Spender are some of the instances where the
author has incorporated gentle humour.
Q12. Who was Subbu's principal?
Ans-
The Boss, Mr. S.S. Vasan who was also the founder of Gemini Studios, was
Subbu's principal.
Q13. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his
special abilities.
Ans-
Subbu was a multi-disciplinarian. He could provide solutions to problems, could
remain cheerful all the time and was an actor, a poet and a novelist.
Q14. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by
others?
Ans-
A lawyer used to be a part of the story department at Gemini Studio. Although a
legal adviser should have been involved in legal matters, her views on ending
an actress's career are still naive. Due to this, he was called by the people
as the opposite of the legal advisor.
Q15. Why was the Moral Re-Armament army welcomed at the studio?
Ans-
Frank Buchman's Moral Re-Armament Army was welcomed into the studio mainly
because of their political connections. The people at Gemini Studios were
opposed to communism, and therefore, were ready to host the MRA.Also, the
studio people had hardly any occupation and were suffering from boredom. MRA
came as a welcome change in his monotonous days at the studio.
Q16. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the
studios was?
Ans-
Before investing money in participating in a short story contest organised by
an English periodical 'The Encounter', the author did a research on the
magazine. He went to the British Council Library where, while going through an
issue of that periodical, he discovered that its editor was Stephen Spender,
the poet that had once visited the studio.
Q17. What does "The God that Failed" refer to?
Ans-"The
God That Failed" was a compilation of six essays written by six eminent
writers, namely, Andre Gide, Richard Wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler,
Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. In each of the essays, the respective
writers described "their journeys into Communism and their disillusioned
return".
Q18. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English
poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Ans-
The audience at the Gemini studios was not knowledgeable enough to understand
the thrills and travails of an English poet, of which the visitor poet-editor
talked about, in his speech. The studio made films for simple people whose
limited resources did not provide them with an opportunity to develop a taste
in English poetry. The audience failed to understand anything the poet said,
all the more, because of the latter's accent. The poet-editor, in turn, looked
baffled realising the utter inappropriateness of his speech being directed to
such an audience.
Q19. Why is the Englishman's visit referred to as unexplained
mystery?
Ans-
The Englishman's visit to the Gemini Studios is referred to as an unexplained
mystery because no one could decipher his identity, whether he was a poet or an
editor. Besides, when he spoke no one at the studio understood what he intended
to say as his accent was beyond their comprehension.
Q20. How was the lawyer completely out of tune with all others
at the Gemini Studios?
Ans-
The lawyer didn't share anything with others. He looked alone and helpless. All
others members wore a khadi uniform. But the lawyers wore pants, a tie and
sometimes a coat. He was a man of cold logic in a crowd of 'dreamers'.He was a
neutral man in a group of Gandhities.
Q21. What do you understand about the author's literary
inclinations from the account?
Ans-
Though the author had a very tedious and unchallenging job at the studios, his
interest in literature and writing is apparent in his willingness to
participate in the short story contest organised by the British periodical,
'The Encounter'. Moreover, the author appears to be a keen reader visiting
libraries and buying books on wide-ranging topics whenever he could afford
them. Besides, the narrative also establishes the fact that the author was one
of the most knowledgeable persons in Gemini Studios. His idea about how prose
writing was not meant for geniuses but for those with patience and
perseverance, highlight his reflective and deep thoughts on literature and
creative writing.
Q22. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini
Studios?
Ans-
Kothamangalam Subbu succeeded in securing the place closest to The Boss by
means of flattery. He was not brilliant but a rather cheerful person and
exceedingly loyal to The Boss. He offered solutions whenever The Boss was in a
fix. Thus, the other employees considered him No.2 in Gemini Studios.
Q23. Why did the legal adviser lose his job in the Gemini
Studios?
Ans-
The legal adviser worked in the Story Department of the Gemini Studios which
was later closed by the boss. So, in this way, the legal adviser lost his job.
Q24. How was strict hierarchy maintained in the make-up room?
Ans-
Each make-up man was allotted his task according to his designation. The chief
make-up man put make-up on the chief actors and actresses, his senior assistant
attended to the "second" hero and heroine, the junior assistant the
main comedian. The actors who played the crowd were the responsibility of the
office boy.
Q25. Who was Subbu's enemy? Why?
Ans-
Subbu's success and his undisputed position as No. 2 of Gemini Studios made the
office boy his enemy. He firmly believed that Subbu was responsible for all his
woes and miseries. This 'boy' was jealous of Subbu 's rising stars, his success
and his intimacy with the boss.
Q26. Why was the English poet who visited Gemini Studios as
baffled as his audience?
Ans-
The poet was baffled to address an audience that was utterly dazed and silent.
No one understood his accent or the content of his speech. The audience was
baffled as they had no idea why an English poet had been invited to a film
studio that made Tamil films for the simplest sort of people.
Q27. What does the author refer to as Pancake? Name the
actresses who must have used it.
Ans-
Pancake was the brand name of a make-up material. Truckloads of this material
were used by Gemini Studios. Greta Garbo, Miss Gohar and Vyajayantimala might
have used it. But Rati Agnihotri might not have even heard of it.
Q28. Describe the make-up department of the Gemini
Ans-
Studios. How did it prepare the players for a movie? The make-up department of
the Gemini Studios was located in the upstairs of Robert Clive's stables. They
bought and lavishly used truckloads of a make-up material called Pancake. The
make-up room contained large mirrors and bright lights set at various angles.
It looked like a hair-cutting salon. It was a terrible experience for an actor
or actress to undergo the make- up.
The
lights generated intense heat. The members of the make-up department
represented different parts of India. It symbolised national integration.
Ninety-five percent of the shooting of a film during those days was done on the
sets. It demanded that every pore of the actors' faces should be closed. Thus,
they were painted, and looked ugly. A strict hierarchy was maintained. The
chief make-up man made the hero and the heroine ugly. The office boy painted
the crowd players ugly.
Q29. What was Moral Rearmament Army? Describe their visit to the
Gemini Studios.
Ans-
Frank Buchman's Moral Rearmament Army visited the Gemini Studios in 1952. It
was a drama company. In reality, it was a counter movement to international
communism. It had two-hundred players and was called an international circus.
The players belonged to twenty different nationalities.
They
presented two plays in the most professional manner. The plays represented
simple homilies and the costumes and sets were superb. Their play, Jotham
Valley" impressed the Tamil theatre. They imitated the sunrise and sunset
scenes in their manner for years. The scenes were played on a bare stage with a
white background and a tune played on the flute. Though the MRA was
anti-communist and the anti-communist feeling existed at the Studios, the
coming of the MRA had no impact on the attitude of the bosses; their
enterprises went on as usual.
Q30. Write a brief note on what you have learnt about Subbu's
Character?
Ans-
Subbu, Kothamangalam Subbu was a Brahmin by caste and placed at no. 2 position
at the Gemini Studios. He always remained cheerful and satisfied. Though he was
very generous to all people of the Gemini Studios as well as all the relatives
and acquaintances, yet he too was having his woes. People disliked him because
of his closeness to the boss. He was very loyal to his boss.
At
Gemini Studios, he had the solution of all problems at one place. He seemed to
be indulged in every important affair of the company. He also had the artistic
talent as he was a poet and novelist also. He used to write in a simple way for
common mass as he composed several folk dictions and deftly created characters
for novel. He was an amazing actor though never acted for a lead role but got
more praise than the main character. He was a tailor-made actor with
unmatchable capacities.
Q31. How did Kothamangalam Subbu give a new 'direction and
definition' to the Gemini Studios during its golden years? Highlight those
virtues and qualities in him that made him a 'many - sided genius'.
Ans-
Kothamangalam Subbu was the No.2 at Gemini Studios in its golden years. He was
a 'many sided genius'. He served his 'Boss' and organisation with dignity and
distinction. Subbu was a self-made man. He entered the Studios in uncertain and
difficult times. His sense of loyalty made him identify with his Principal or
the' Boss'. Film-making became so easy with an expert like Subbu. Subbu gave' a
new direction and definition' to the Gemini Studios.
Kothamangalam
Subbu was a charitable and cheerful personality. He was a good poet. He wrote
his poetry for the masses. He was an amazing actor. He never aspired for the
lead roles but always performed better than the main players. He had a genuine
love for everyone. The 'office-boy 'considered Subbu his natural enemy. He
would wish the most horrible things for him.
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Who is the author of Poets and Pancakes?
(a) Asokamitran
(b)
Charu Nivedita
(c)
Jayakanthan
(d)
Balakumaran
2. When was Gemini studio set up?
(a)
1920
(b)
1930
(c)
1910
(d) 1940
3. What was the brand name of the make up material that Gemini
studio bought?
(a) Pancake
(b)
Mancake
(c)
Fancake
(d)
latin cake
4. What was Asokamitran's job in the studio?
(a)
to arrange pancakes
(b)
to arrange make up kits
(c)
to serve water
(d) cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects
and store them in files.
5. What has been the make up room compared to?
(a)
make up company
(b)
a Parlour
(c)
a jewellery shop
(d) hair-cutting salon
6. What was MRA?
(a)
British Army
(b) The Moral Rearmament Army- a counter movement to
International Communism
(c)
a wing of Indian Army
(d)
A drama company
7. Why did everybody in the studio think of giving some work to
the author?
(a) because of the idle appearance of his work
(b)
because he was an office boy
(c)
because he was a helper
(d)
none
8. Who was Subbu's enemy?
(a)
no one
(b)
the author
(c)
actors
(d) The boy in the makeup room
9.
In this lesson, what is the purpose of humor and satire used by the author?
(a)
to highlight human abilities
(b)
to show capabilities
(c)
to show varied capacities
(d) to show and highlight human infancies and flaws
10. What does the expression ' fiery misery' mean?
(a)
the glow of lights
(b)
the bright lights
(c)
the bright colorful dresses of heroines
(d) discomfort to the actors in the makeup room
11. Who was the founder of Gemini studio?
(a) Mr. S.S Vasan
(b)
English man
(c)
a Tamil boy
(d)
a director
12. Why does the author feel that the makeup department was an
example of national integration?
(a)
Because their first show was based on National Integration
(b)
Because most of their shows were based on Na tional Integration
(c) Because people from all communities worked there
(d)
Because they were hardcore Gandhians.
13. What does he bring to the notice of readers through this
write up?
(a)
movies and different roles
(b)
heroines and their tantrums
(c)
heroines and make up
(d) Independent India and its infancy
14. How does the author come to know that English author was
Stephen Spender?
(a)
From a painting
(b)
From the newspaper
(c)
from a television show
(d) from a book- The God that failed
15. Why was MRA invited to Gemini Studios?
(a)
To show their play
(b) Because of political affiliations
(c)
Because of political influence
(d) None
JCERT/JAC Hindi Elective प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
Index
Flamingo | |
Poetry Section | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
Prose Section | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | |
Vistas | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | |
