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Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 11 The Light of Other Days
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The Light of Other Days
Chapter: 11
POETRY |
COMPREHENSION |
I. Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. In which stage of life is the poet at present?
Ans: The post is the last stage of life at present i.e., the old age.
2. To what does the poet compare his friends?
Ans: The poet compares their friends to leaves falling in wintry weather.
3. Pick out one ‘fond’ memory of the poet.
Ans: One ‘fond’ memory of the poet is his recollection of boyhood days. The speaker remembers the joyful moments of the past, filled with laughter, tears, and the energy and liveliness of youth. These memories bring him a sense of momentary bliss and nostalgia.
4. Pick out one ‘sad’ memory of the poet.
Ans: One ‘sad’ memory of the poet is Death of friends.
5. What does the word ‘slumber’ mean in the poem?
Ans: The word ‘slumber’ in the poem refers to sleep.
II. Answer these questions in a few words.
1. What does the poet remember before falling asleep?
Ans: Before falling asleep, the poet remembers the joyful days of his boyhood, filled with laughter, energy, and fond memories. However, these memories soon turn bitter as he is overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness, realizing that those days, friends, and shared moments are now lost to the past.
2. Why does the poet feel like ‘one who treads alone’?
Ans: The poet feels like “one who treads alone” because they have seen their friends and loved ones pass away. This leaves them with a deep sense of loneliness, as they remain behind while those dear to them have departed.
3. Why is the poet sad?
Ans: The poet feels sad and lonely as he recalls fond memories and the people from his past who are no longer with him.
4. What is meant by the expression ‘ere slumber’s chain has bound me’ in the poem?
Ans: The expression ‘ere slumber’s chain has bound me’ means when the poet tries to fall asleep, he is interested by his fond memories of the past which turns bitter with the realisation of the loss and pain of the past. He Can’t get a sound sleep because old memories hover in his mind and his sleep is disturbed by his dream like memories.
5. Why are ‘the cheerful hearts’ now broken?
Ans: ‘The cheerful hearts’ broken refers to the fond memories of the past that are long gone. thus are now “broken”.
III. Answer these questions briefly.
1. What does the poet mourn over in the second stanza of the poem?
Ans: When the ‘fond memories’ the gives the poet momentary bliss are replaced by an overwhelming sense of loneliness, his fond memories turn bitter. The moment when the realisation dawns on the poet that his boyhood days, his friends and the words of love that he had shared and spent with those departed are now all a thing of the past. The ‘fond memories’ then, at once become sad. Thus, the poet mourns over his dead friends and his dearest ones who are very far away from him. He feels as though he is all alone in a banquet hall which is now deserted after all the mirth and the merry making.
2. Explain ‘I have seen around me fall like leaves in wintry weather’.
Ans: “I have seen around me fall like leaves in wintry winter” refers to the death of the poet’s friends. The poet compares his friends to leaves falling in the winter season, symbolizing how they have passed away one by one. He recalls how they were once closely connected, but now many are gone, just like the leaves that wither and fall in the cold. As the poet drifts into sleep, he goes down memory lane, recalling days long gone. At first, these memories bring joy—the laughter, energy, and liveliness of his boyhood days. However, these fond memories soon turn sorrowful, as he is overcome by a deep sense of loneliness. The realization dawns that those joyful moments, his childhood friends, and the words of love once shared are now part of a distant past.
3. Describe the banquet hall.
Ans: The banquet hall usually symbolizes a place of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, in this poem, the banquet hall is described as being empty, dark, and abandoned.The absence of lights and flowers creates a gloomy and desolate atmosphere.his is used to show how life can become lonely and bleak when we reach the end and lose our friends.As we grow older, the poem suggests, the vibrant gatherings of the past may fade, leaving behind solitude and silence. The deserted banquet hall becomes a powerful symbol of the loneliness that can accompany the end of life, when joy and connection seem to disappear.
IV. Answer these questions in detail.
1. How has the poet portrayed the theme of friendship in the poem?
Ans: In his poem “The Light of Other Days,” Thomas Moore depicts the theme of friendship by reflecting on the past and recalling “fond” memories of past friendships. The poet remembers the moments they shared, the loving words spoken, and the happiness they brought. However, the poet also acknowledges that these friendships don’t last forever, comparing them to leaves falling in winter.This imagery highlights how friendships can fade or come to an end over time. The poet’s feelings of grief and loneliness reflect the pain of losing close bonds, whether through death or distance.Through these reflections, the poem gently reminds us to cherish and appreciate our friendships while they last, for their presence is precious and often fleeting.
2. In your own words describe the emotions of the poet as reflected in the poem.
Ans: The emotions of the poet, as reflected in the poem, are a mix of nostalgia, sadness, and loneliness.The poet feels a deep longing as he reminisces about the past, especially the days of his childhood.There is a wistful tone as they remember the words of love and the cheerful hearts of their loved ones that have now faded or been broken. His reflections are filled with grief, particularly when he thinks of the friends who have passed away. A sense of solitude weighs heavily on him, symbolized by the haunting image of walking alone through a deserted banquet hall. The poem powerfully conveys the poet’s yearning for days gone by and the cherished people who once played meaningful roles in his life.

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