प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
Class - 12
English Elective
7. Time And Time Again - A.K. Ramanujan
Q1. What did you think the poem was about when you read the
first few lines?
Ans-
As we read the first few lines of the poem, we thought the poem is about clock
towers. We perceived it was about clock towers' giving varied time to various
people. It seemed to be about the clocktowers inability to tell the exact time.
We thought the poem deals with the nature of clock towers. Ramanujan compares
the world with the well managed cities. With the passage of time, every single
hour of clock represents the changes in the city. And one day all the changes
will end up and time will start again with a new world different from the
changed one.
Q2.
From which line does the import of the title strike the reader?
Ans-
From the last stanza of the poem "through the knocked out clockwork, after
riot, a peace-march time bomb, or a precise act of nature in a light of
lightning" the reader will be able to strike the title of the poem i.e.
"Time and Time again" as this line shows that after so much time with
quarrels, conflicts, and communal disharmony there will be peace in nature
again. Thus this shows that good times will always come after a bad time.
Q3. What makes for the differences between the timekeeping of
the various clocks? What is the implicit comparison?
Ans-
These differences are created by variations in the metallurgy of gong, setting
of frequency and variation in wavelength, thickness and moulding of the shaking
hand. These variations have been implicitly compared with the various wrong
interpretations of religion. Various religious authorities interpret religion
in their own ways and thus misguide people.
Q4. Why is the act of nature described as 'precise'?
Ans-
The act of nature in the poem is described as precise or accurate because after
every certain interval of time nature tries to neutralise every condition with
precision. As in the poem first, we had seen about honouring someone's desire
and then long lasting quarrels between the Hindu, Muslims, and Christians. All
these things are solved up with time by nature as in the end nature shows the
meaning of the title of poem "Time and Time Again".
Q5. Which of the following reflects the poet's attitude towards
communal disharmony
(i) Critical condemnation
(ii) Helpless acceptance
(iii) Wistful lament
Ans-
The first one Critical condemnation reflects the nature of the poet towards
communal disharmony as in the poem, the poet has criticised the quarrels and
seasonal alliance between different religions through his lines. He also said
that all these disputes will end up silently and cut off by change of minds and
thoughts and no one will get anything from these.
Q6. Is the poet's attitude a representation of how the average
Indian feels both towards human violence and nature's fury?
Ans-
Yes, the poet's attitude is a representation of how the average Indian feels
both towards human violence and nature's fury. It is a general perception that
communal riots take place due to wrong understanding of religion. This is also
a common thought that natural calamities are nature's own way of balancing
itself.
Q7. Discuss the title of the poem.
Ans-
The title of the poem, 'Time and Time Again' is very appropriate. The world has
suffered time and time. again clashes and conflicts due to religious
differences. These differences have been created by the various interpretations
of religion given by the so-called custodians to suit their selfish motives.
Q8. How would you interpret the terms "donor's whim"?
Ans-
It means a misinterpretation of religion made by the religious authorities.
They are donors of instructions in religious affairs including ethics,
etiquettes etc. They preach the people in their own way as per their own
understanding. They generate differences in the minds of the masses and disturb
the peace of the nation.
Q9. What does the line "perennial feuds and seasonal
alliance" allude to?
Ans-
The term "perennial feuds" refers to the conflicts and riots between
two religious communities that keep on happening continuously. The term
"seasonal alliance" refers to the occasional temporary truce between
the warring communities brought about by some sensible voices within the
communities or by some unavoidable circumstances.
Q10. What is the central idea of the poem? How is it developed?
Ans-
The poet talks about people's blind faith in religious authorities. He
expresses his views through the example of clocktowers. People take the time
told by clocktowers to be exact. But due to the differences in their
manufacturing or the ways of gongs being beaten, they always tell different
times. In the same way, people who preach religion do this job as per their own
understanding of religion. They preach what they understand. Thus they all
preach religion in different lights. This confuses and misguides people. So
clocktowers are a symbol of confusing religious preachings.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Who has composed the poem, 'Time and Time Again'?
a.
Amrita Pritam
b. A.K. Ramanujan
c.
Kamala Das
d.
Jayant Mahapatra
2. When was A.K. Ramanujan born?
a. 1929
b.1939
c.
1949
d.
1959
3. When did A.K. Ramanujan passed away?
a.
1963
b.
1973
c.
1983
d. 1993
4. What is A.K. Ramanujan best known for?
a. For his translations of ancient Tamil poetry into modern
English
b.
For his translations of ancient Bengali poetry into modern English
c.
For his translations of ancient Marathi poetry into modern English
d.
None of the above
5. What was A.K. Ramanujan?
a.
Poet
b.
Professor
c. Both A and B
d.
None of the above
6. At which university was A.K. Ramanujan teaching at the time
of his death?
a. University of Chicago
b.
University of Oxford
c.
University of Cambridge
d.
None of the above
7. What does the poet ask the readers to listen to?
a.
Bells
b. Clocktowers
c.
Horn
d.
None of the above
8. "Or listen to the clocktowers of any old well-
managed........." Fill in the blank.
a.
Village
b.
Town
c. City
d.
Country
9. Which city clocktowers does the poet ask the readers to
listen to?
a. Old city
b.
New City
c.
Both A and B
d.
None of the above
10. "Beating their gongs round the clock, each slightly off
the others' time, ........... or...........
a.
Lighter or denser
b. Deeper or lighter
c.
Lower or higher
d.
Higher or lower
11. Which metal is mentioned in the poem?
a. Bronze
b.
Iron
c.
Steel
d.
Copper
12. Which country is mentioned in the poem?
a.
America
b.
England
c.
Canada
d. Switzerland
13. Which community(ies) is/are talked about in the poem?
a.
Hindu
b.
Christian
c.
Muslim
d. All of the above
14. How is the sky described in the poem?
a.
Beautiful
b.
Blue
c. Zigzag
d.
Cloudy
15. Find the odd one out (the word which is not used) in the
poem.
a.
Riot
b.
Bomb
c.
Nature
d. God
JCERT/JAC English Elective प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
English Elective Contents
Short Stories | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
Poetry | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | |
Non-Fiction | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
Drama | |
1. | |
2. | |
Novel | |
1. | |
2. | |
