The Narrative Voice Here are two other sentences from the story. Can you say whose point of view the italicised words express?
1. But on Wednesday, Peggy and Maddie, who sat down in front with other children who got good marks and who didn’t track in a whole lot of mud, did notice that Wanda wasn’t there.
2. Wanda Petronski. Most of the children in room thirteen didn’t have names like that. They had names easy to say, like Thomas, Smith or Allen.
1. The italicised words expresses the point of view of Peggy and Maddie.
2. These italicised words expresses the point of view of other children of Wandas’ class excluding Peggy and Maddie.
How does Wanda feel about the dresses game? Why does she say that she has a hundred dresses?
Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why?
Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda? Is she also like Wanda, or is she different?
Who won the drawing contest? What had the winner drawn?
Why didn’t Maddie ask Peggie to stop teasing Wanda? What was she afraid of?
Who did Maddie think would win the drawing contest? Why?
How is Wanda seen as different by the other girls? How do they treat her? you know?
Did Wanda have a hundred dresses? Why do you think she said she did?
What does Miss Mason think of Wanda’s drawings? What do the children think of them? How do you know?
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
What did Lencho hope for?
When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
Do you keep a diary? Given below under ‘A’ are some terms we use to describe a written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their descriptions under ‘B’? (You may
look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)
A B
(i) Journal – A book with a separate space or page for each day, in which you write down your and feelings or what has happened on that day
(ii) Diary – A full record of a journey, a period of time, or an event, written every day
(iii) Log – A record of a person’s own life and experiences (usually, a famous person)
(iv) Memoir(s) – A written record of events with times and dates, usually official
What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument ?
How was Mij to be transported to England?
Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
What did the postmaster do then?
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
What did Lencho hope for?
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration ? What did it signify the triumph of?
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?