IN TIME OF THE BREAKING OF NATIONS by Thomas Hardy Study Guide and Notes

Top Questions and Answers and Notes about the Poem “In Time of ‘The Breaking of Nations’” By Thomas Hardy:

Top Questions and Answers and Notes about the Poem “In Time of ‘The Breaking of Nations’” By Thomas Hardy:

Question:

What does the time of the Breaking of Nations signify? What will remain undisturbed even in such a time?

Or

Describe the three country pictures given in Hardy’s poem. Is there a comparison between permanence and impermanence?

Answer:

In his poem Thomas Hardy speaks of the time during war among nations. This is the time of destruction and death. But Hardy sings of the glory of the elemental and eternal processes of life during the period of war ravages. This he does through the presentation of three simple country pictures. These pictures represent three different walks of life. An old farmer is slowly and silently breaking the clods with an old horse. War cannot stop them. A thin smoke rises out from the heaps of burning cauch grass. It indicates the continuity of domestic life. The third picture presents a maid and her wight lost in making love.

          In the Bible we read that God says he will break the nations and bring destruction. In this poem Hardy contests this view. He argues that war breaks nations to pieces but elemental processes of life remain undisturbed. Cultivation, domestic life and love making triumph over war’s ravages. The title of the poem is apt. Pessimistic poet is optimistic here.

 

My week with Gandhi by Louis Fischer Study Guide and Questions Answers

My week with Gandhi by Louis Fischer Study Guide and Questions Answers:-

Question:-

Write a description of Gandhi and his habits following the account given by Fischer in “My week with Gandhi’.

Answer:-

Gandhi was 73 when Fischer met him at Sevagram. Still he was stout bodied. He had soft brown complexion. His skin was soft and had a healthy glow. He had round shaped chest, thin waist and long muscular legs. His body did not reveal his age. Only his face betrayed his age. He had a pair of quite gentle eyes. He had no teeth and used dentures only for eating. He had an ever-smiling face.

Gandhi lived a simple life. He put on loin cloth and sandals and lived in a thatched hut. He was very punctual. He was an early riser. He went out on a morning stroll for half an hour. The time of his evening was also fixed. He had extraordinary power of self-control, determination. His love of simplicity, hatred of pretence, his love of man, non-violence. Though he did not have mighty stature like George, Churchill and Roosevelt, he had a wonderful personality that had great impact on everybody.

Question:-

Describe the author’s first meeting with Gandhi.

Answer:-

The author, Louis Fischer, reached Gandhi’s ashram at Sevagram from Wardha. Gandhi received him with outstretched hands at the junction of the village road. At seventy three Gandhi’s health was very good. His waist was thin; his chest was round; and his legs were muscular. By his intimate conduct he made the author felt at home immediately. He told him that the author could have an hour’s talk with him after lunch and walk with him in the evening.

Question:-

What was the author’s impression of the ashram?

Answer:-

During his stay in the ashram, the author was to be looked after by Khursheed Naoroji, the granddaughter of the great Indian leader, Dadabhai Naoroji. She took him to the guest-hut. The hut consisted of two rooms-one bed room and an attached bathroom. The hut was of mud walls and bamboo roof. The floor of the bedroom was earthen, while that of bathroom cemented. In the bathroom where were tubs, pails and pitches of water. It was summer and the temperature was high. At least five or six baths per day were necessary to make oneself comfortable. Running water, electricity, fans, radio or telephone-all these were absent there.