SPECIAL NOTES XII

THE LAST LESSON

Theme : Central Idea

Linguistic chauvinism of the proud conquerors and the pain that is inflicted on the people
by taking away the right to study or speak their own language and thus make them aliens
in their own land of birth.
Highlights the efforts of the victors to rush their victims mentally, spiritually , mentally
and emotionally.
Sub theme: -
Attitude of teachers and students to teaching and learning.
The proper equation between student and teacher , his focus attention , helpful
and encouraging attitude and kind treatment can encourage student to learn better.
Importance of ones own language.

M. Hamel
- presents his character with sympathy and respect.
- Has a logical mind and can analysis problems and deduce the reasons.
- Knows the emotional hold of a language over its users.
- Good communicator and explains everything patiently.
- Traditional school master: kept his terrible ruler under his arms., could hear
the tapping of the ruler on the table, students were dreaded of their master.
- Hard task master: always maintained decorum and discipline in the class.
- Order from Berlin: Transformed him, become extra soft and gentle towards
his students, Didn’t scold his students or use his scale. He was in the best of
dress in honour of the last lesson.
- Highly respected by the villagers: worked for 40 years in the same school,
elders came to pay their respect to such a grand teacher.
- Loved France and French people form the core of his heart: French
language……Asked people to guard it among themselves. When he heard the
sound of the trumpet…mounted on the chair…

Linguistic chauvinism:
- Means an aggressive and unreasonable belief that your own language is better
than all others, or excessive or prejudiced support for one’s own language.
- L.C. is having an absurdly extravagant pride in ones own language. Eg.
Germany of Bismarck reflected that pride when it imposed German language
on the dominantly French population of Alsace and Lorraine.

Lali Mathew M.A. M.Ed. Lalimathew @ ymail.com 9810312549

 - Conquerors try to subdue and control of the people of the enslave territory by
enforcing many measures such as use of force to curb dissent and imposing
their won language on them. Eg. Roman’s imposed Latin, Muslim imposed
Arabic and Persian in the counties of Asia.
- Not good to carry pride in one’s language too far. It is good to feel proud of
our own language, culture, and tradition. But we must also respect other
linguistic minorities.

Reaction of Franz and villagers:

Franz:
Came as a shock
Full of regret as he has hardly learnt to write. Lali Mathew
Did not pay any attention to his lesson D.A. 564
Books no longer seemed burden to him. SheeshMhahal Apartment
He would miss his teacher.

Village people :

Sorry they hadn’t gone more to school

Wished to thank their master and show respect for their country by giving their
full attention to the lesson
Old Houser had brought an old primer and his voice trembled with emotion while
spelling out the words on it.

THE LOST SPRING

THEME : CENTRAL IDEA

Writer expresses the national shame: Children condemned to poverty and a life of
exploitation. In this bleak world the author finds stories of resilience and fortitude.

First story unveils the utter destitute of rag pickers of Seemapuri. Rag picking children go
about barefoot and can be seen smudging heaps of garbage.

Second story deals with the unenviable lot of the bangle makers of Firozabad. Bangle
makers are poor, illiterate. They believe fatalistically that they were born that way
because it was their fate.

Writer analysis the grinding poverty and tradition which condemn these children to a life
of exploitation . These children are denied the opportunity of schooling and forced into
labour early in life.

Lali Mathew M.A. M.Ed. Lalimathew @ ymail.com 9810312549

Life of Rag Pickers:

10,000 of them.
Came from Bangladesh in 1971.
Live in structures of mud, roofs of tin and tarpaulin Lali Mathew M.A.M.Ed
Devoid of sewage, drainage… Sheesh Mahal Apartment
30 years got only a ration card…. Shalimar Bagh Delhi
Food is more important than survival
Garbage: gold for them, provide daily bread and roof.

Life of Bangle Maker

They are born in poverty, live in poverty, die in poverty and leave the next generation in
poverty.
For generations working around the furnace welding, soldering glass….
No gain - live with poverty.
Living condition
Poverty and hunger, social customs and tradition, stigma and caste and intrigues of
powerful lobby that thrives.
Money lenders, the middle man, police…. all are ranged against them.
Children – engaged in illegal and hazardous work.
Years of mind numbing toil have killed all initiatives.
Unable to organize themselves…..
Seems to carry the burden that they can’t put down.

“The beauty of glass bangles of Firozabad contrast with the misery of

people who produce them.”

You never see the poor in this town. By day they toil, working cranes and earthmovers,
squirreling deep into the hot sand to lay foundations of chrome. By night they are
banished to bleak labour camps at the outskirts of the city….

All that glitters is not gold. Appearance can be deceptive. The beauty of the glass bangles
contrast with the misery of the people. This paradox is the basis of their lives.

Beauty of bangles:
-Symbolizes suhaag of Indian woman.
-Stands for auspiciousness in marriage.
-colour is fascinating- paddy green….
-Bangles have the colours of rainbow.

Lali Mathew M.A. Med. Lalimathew @ ymail.com 9810312549

Other side presents the pathetic picture
- Employment of 20,000 children
- High temperature
- Illigal
- Live in dark hutments
- Around the flames of flickering oil lamps, sits boys and girls with their father
and mother.
- Eyes are mot adjusted to the dark than the lights out side
- Have not enjoyed even one full meal in their entire life.
- Know nothing except bangles
- Years of mind numbing toil had killed all their dreams and ability
- Can’t even organize themselves into cooperative

DEEP WATER
THEME / CENRTRAL IDEA / TITLE

• Extract from Men and Mountain

• Deals with his personal experience and analysis of it
• Focus on Fear: Experiencing fear of death under water and the effort of the
author to overcome it
• Psychological analysis of fear is presented from a child’s point view and
centers around deep water drowning.
• The overpowering force of water at the California beach stirs an aversion for
water in Douglas.
Mothers warning
Nine feet deep water at the swimming pool appears more than 90
When he conquers, he can dive; swim, in deep waters of Lake Wentworth,
warm lake….

HOW DOES DOUGLAS OVERCOME FEAR

• The fear that developed in the pool stayed on

• Fear ruined his fishing trips, boating…
• Tried to overcome the fear but in vain
• Decided to get an instructor to learn to swim…
• Training went on from Oct. to April
• Put a belt around him and tied a rope to it
• Attached a pulley that ran on an overhead cable.
• Practiced five days a week, an hour every day.
• Each trip, a bit of panic seized him.
• His legs froze
 Lali Mathew M.A. M.Ed. Lalimathew @ ymail.com 9810312549

• Instructor taught him to exhale and inhale under water

• Made him to kick with his legs and make them relax.
• Continued swimming from April to July.
• Went to Lake Wentworth and dived off a dock at Triggs Island, swam 2 miles
across the lake.
• Only once the fear returned, but he learnt to push it aside and swim on.
• Eventually he conquered his childish fear.

ALL WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF

• Roosevelt said, ” all we have to fear is fear itself”

• Words have deeper meaning.
• Only those who have undergone such an experience as faced by Douglas can
appreciate it
• Experience of Douglas at the sea shore…
• Y. M. C.A pool……
• Feelings each time he went down…
• How he tried to overcome his fear…
• Learnt a lesson. “All we have to fear is fear itself”. If we act with courage,
fear is conquered. It is basically fear of death that produces fear. Douglas
realized that once the fear of death is overcome there is peace.
• Rome was not built in a day. Everything takes its own time. Nobody become a
celebrity overnight. They require a sustained and long effort over months and
years. Only determination and perseverance help you in the long run.

THE RAT TRAP

THEME / TITLE / CENTRAL IDEA

• Universal theme: A belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be
awakened through understanding and love.
• Story is set amidst the mines of Sweden, rich in iron ore.
• The story is told in a fairy tale manner.
• The metaphor serves to highlight the human predicament. Material benefits are
traps that most human beings are prone to fall into. Human beings do have
tendency to redeem themselves form dishonest ways as does the peddler at the
end of the story.
• The peddler is tempted by the 30 Kronor - steals the money – afraid of being
caught - moves into a forest - kind sympathetic treatment given by Edla helps
him get himself free from the rattrap of the world.
• Love and understanding can transform even a depraved soul.
• Ending pays tribute to the goodness and humanity exhibited through Miss Edla …
inspire the readers to do noble acts.
METAPHOR OF THE RATTRAP

• The metaphorical description of the world to be a rattrap by the peddler

highlight the human weakness of getting lured by things that apparently look
pleasant but ultimately prove to be troublesome.
• The world entices a person thorough various good things of life such as riches
and joy, shelter and food…… these were just like the baits in the rattrap. Once
someone is tempted by the bait, world closes on him.
• The metaphor used to highlight the human predicament.
• Peddler tempted to steal the money.
• Lost in a big and confusing forest.
• 30 kronor at the window was the bait
• Again the metaphor of the rattrap comes alive when the ironmaster invites him
to his house.
• Metaphor is effectively used when the peddler describes human predicament
to the ironmaster. “All the goods that are offered are nothing but baits to drag
a poor fellow into trouble”.
• Finally the peddler thinks that he would have been caught if he had not been
raised to a captain.

UNEXPECTED REACTIONS:

• Peddler’s character is full of contradictions:

- sells rattrap
- doesn’t mind begging
- resort to petty thievery
- has philosophical attitude towards life … consider the world nothing but a big
trap.
• Old Crofter ‘s instant hospitality – happily welcome the peddler ,supper together
and played majolis
• Stealing of 30 Kronor from the crofter is an act of thanklessness and ingratitude.
• Attitude of the Ironmaster:
- Taking the peddler for an old acquaintance
- Peddler refuse to go with the ironmaster,
- When the ironmaster come to know the reality, threatened to call the police.
• Edla’s invitation to Christmas dinner and the refusal to sent the peddler back.
• Peddler leaves a Christmas present for Edla and 30 Kronor for the old crofter.

SUBTLE HUMOUR
 • Humour is a redeeming features as far as the element of seriousness is concerned
in the story.
• His idea of entire world to be like a rat trap really entertaining.
• In spite of his sad, monotonous life pulled on by begging thievery and pedlary, he
feels pleased at this smartness.
• After denying the hospitality of the ironmaster, he laughs himself when the master
blacksmith urges him to stay on.
• His sleeping with one eye open is not lass laughter provoking
• At the dinner the peddler’s offer to be redressed in his ragas and be off is
humorous enough and again thumping on the table with his fist and describing
the world to be a rattrap are full of humour
• Leaving aside the dignity of a captain , the peddler comparing himself with a rat
is so funny

STORY : SUSPSENSEFUL AND PHILOSOPHISCAL

• The plot has been unraveled in a manner that at once captures the reader’s
attention.
• The episode of crofter and the thief committed by the peddler is full of
immense interest and suspense.
• The fluctuating fortune of the peddler is full of suspense
• The metaphoric description of the world to be a rat trap is purely
philosophical and appeals to logic from every angle. It focuses on the
weakness of the human nature – greed.
• The sea change in the peddler’s thinking and behaviour is not less striking. It
also lays stress on a psychological-philosophical truth that no human being is
born wicked. It is only the circumstances that forces one to be bad. More over
love , compassion and due care being the worst back to the best.
• The story is an eye opener. Dotted with humourous situation, it unveils some
facts that are universally true and ends leaving the reader in highly reflective
form of mind

INDIGO
CHAMPARAN EPISODE: TURNING POINT IN GANDHI’S LIFE

• Champaran - district in Bihar

• Peasants were sharecroppers
• Commercial crops was indigo
 • English compelled them to plant 15% of their holding with indigo and surrender
the entire crops as a rent to the landlords.
• Germany developed synthetic indigo. So natural indigo was no more profitable.
• Decided to free the sharecroppers form 15%
• Peasants have to pay the compensation to the landlord’s for being freed from the
15% agreement.
• Signed a new agreement. Later realized the mistakes and wanted their money
back
• Role of Gandhi:
- Went Bihar.
- Gathered information about the plight of the peasants.
- Asked to quit Champaran , Obeyed the voice of the conscience and decided
to disobey the order.
- Asked to summon the court. Voluntary demonstration of 1000s of poor
against the govt . .
- Gandhi was released
- Appointed a commission of enquiry
- Gandhi was the sole representative
- Landlord agreed to refund the money.
• Struggle started in 1917
• Began not as an act of defiance – grew out of an attempt to make the suffering of
large number of poor peasant less severe.
• Consented on their practical day to day problems.
• Analyses the root cause - Fear and tried to eradicate it
• Voluntary demonstration of the poor peasants against the govt. for putting Gandhi
in trouble was the beginning of the end of their fear of British.
• Gandhi tried to mould a free Indian who could stand on his own feet and make
India free.
• Taught his lawyers friends a lesson on self reliance by opposing the involvement
of C.F. Andrews in their unequal fight . Their cause was just.
• Taught self reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all
bound together.

CHARACTER OF GANDHI

• The chapter – best tribute to Gandhi

• Champion the cause of oppressed people through argument and negotiations.
• Magnetic attraction and great persuasive power
• Could draws people of all classes.
• Rural uplift was his favourite programme.
• Knowledge of legal procedure and respect for law is highlighted.
• Want to give humanitarian and national service in obedience to the higher law of
our being, the voice of conscience.
 • Polite and friendly person
• Ability to read the minds of others.
• Believed in self reliance, just cause and purity of means to achieve India’s
independence.

Lali Mathew M.A. M.Ed. Lalimathew @ ymail.com 9810312549

POETS AND PANCAKES
HUMOUR TO POINT OUT HUMAN FOIBLE
• Uses gentle humour and mild satire to make his account interesting and readable.
• Uses rambling and chatty style , making transitions from one thought to another
and thus preparing us for a gentle tickle as he moves on to the next items.
• Humour used by the narrator is not pungent to caustic. It tickles but doesn’t bite.
1. Brand name of the make up material used by the Gemini studios is Pancake.
2. Make up room was in a building that believed to have Clive’s stable.
3. The fiery misery of those who were subjected to make up.
4. The gang of make up man could turn any decent looking person…..
5. Description of the office boy – He wasn’t a boy; he was in his early forties…
6. The office boy becomes unbearably boring. So the narrator was praying for crowd
shooting all the time.
7. Description of the lawyers – officially known as legal adviser, but everybody
referred to him as the opposite.
8. Gently laughs at the ignorance of the M.R.A. group about animals.
9. Description of the English poet who visited the studios – what is an English poet
doing in studio which makes Tamil film.
10. He was a man who could be inspired when commanded.
11. Only one instances in all human history where a lawyer lost his job, because the
poets were asked to go home.
12. Prose writing can not be true pursuit of genius.
13. The mild satire is also directed at people who are averse to communism and go to
any length to oppose it.

MAKE UP DEPARTMENT

• Situated at the upstairs of a building ---believed to be Clive’s stable.

• Had a look of a hair cutting saloon.
• Had half dozen large mirrors, incandescent lights. It radiated lot of heat.
• Hierarchy was maintained:
- Chief makeup man - Hero and heroine
- Senior assistant - second hero and heroine
- Junior assistant - Main comedian
 - Office boy - Crowed players.
• Presented a picture of National Integration.- First a Bengali, Maharashtrian,
Assisted by Kannadiga form Dharwar, An Andhra, Madras Indian Christian,
Anglo Burmese, and local Tamil boys.
• Used pancakes, lotions, potions to turn any descent looking person into a
monster.
Lali Mathew M.A. M.Ed. Lalimathew @ ymail.com 9810312549
KOTHAMANGALAM SUBBU
• No. two at the Gemini studios
• Officially on the rolls off the story department, he was always with the Boss
• Gave direction and definition to the Gemini Studios
• Man of parts and many sided genius
• With Subbu around film making become so easy and sheer pleasure.
• Right hand man of the Boss.
• Self made man.
• Entered the studio when there were no firmly established companies or studios.
• Faced difficulties and uncertain times.
• Do not have any formal education.
• Being a Brahmin he was exposed to more prosperous people and situations.
• Could be cheerful even after making a flop films.
• Sense of loyalty made him identify with the Boss.
• Turned all his energy and creativity to the advantage of his Boss.
• Tailor made for films.
• His success in film overshadowed and dwarfed his literary achievements.
• Great poet – wrote poems for common people, composed several truly original;
story poem in folk style
• Wrote novels with dozen of neatly drawn characters.
• Amazing actor. Never aspired to the lead role. Performed better than the main
players.
• Had a genuine love for everyone v --- feeding and supporting many people.
• Close to the Boss that sometimes he resembled a sycophant.
• Had enemies – office boys was his biggest enemy, considered Subbu the reason of
all his woes and neglect.

OFFICE BOY
• Wasn’t exactly a boy, he was in his early forties
• Entered the studios to become a star actor, screen writer, director or lyric writer.
• At present – had to do make up for the crowed
• Felt dissatisfied and disillusioned.
 • Considered make up department fit only for the barbers and perverts.
• Frustrated that his liter5ary talent was being allowed to go waste.
• Was a bit of a poet.
• Got good education and had an encouraging opening in films.
• Did not advance an inch form his position as office boy.
• Typical specimen representing the youth turned by glitter and glamour of films,
struggling hard to make a name , then doomed to frustration.
Lali Mathew M.A. M.Ed. Lalimathew @ ymail.com 9810312549

INTERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

• Interview as communicative genre-150 years old.

• Become an important tool for the journalism. We get clear impression of
celebrities through interviews. The interview holds a position of power. However
opinion differs and many celebrities hate being interviewed.
• Highlights some of the positive and negative points of interviews.
• Positive:
- Source of truth and an art.
- Helps us to learn about our contemporaries and form opinions.
- Act like a mirror to reflect the personality of the interviews.
- Supreme serviceable medium of communication.
• Negative:
- As an unwarranted intrusion into their lives.
- Diminishes them
- V.S.Naipaul: some people are wounded by interview and lose a part of
themselves.
- L.Carrol: just a horror of interviewer.
- R. Kippling: as an assault.
- H.G.Weels: the interviewing ordeal.
- Saul Bellow: is like thumbprints on the wind pipe.
-