Class 12 English Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes

Class 12 English Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes Question Answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters Assam Board Class 12 English Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes and select needs one.

Class 12 English Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes

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Also, you can read the SCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per SCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of SCERT All Subject Solutions. Here we have given Assam Board Class 12 English Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes Solutions for All Subjects, You can practice these here.

Poets and Pancakes

Lesson – 6

PROSE

Page No – 59 

1. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected ‘make-up’?

Ans: The heat produced by the lights in the make-up room brought about a lot of discomfort to the actors in the make-up room. Hence the writer refers to this pain and trouble as ‘fiery misery. The make-up room had the look of a hair-cutting salon with lights at all angles around half a dozen large mirrors. They were all incandescent lights, so you can imagine the fiery misery of those subjected to make-up.

2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to? 

Ans: The make-up division of Gemini Studios was an example of national integration. According to the author, this is so because people from different regions and religious groups worked together in the same department. The department was headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. The other helpers included a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese, and the local Tamils.

3. What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?

Ans: The ‘office boy’ applied makeup on the players who played to the crowd. On the days of crowd shooting, he would mix his paint in a big vessel and apply it quickly and noisily on the faces of the players.

He had joined the Gemini Studios years ago, aspiring to become an actor, a scriptwriter, a director, or a lyricist. He was disappointed with the studio that failed to recognize his talent. He called it a “department fit only for barbers and perverts”.

4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios? 

Ans: The author’s duty was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. Many of these had to be written out by hand. The onlookers noticed him merely learning up newspapers. Hence to them he seemed to be doing next to nothing.

Page No – 61

1. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on? 

Ans: Though the office boy worked for a long time at the studio, he did not get any opportunity. The office boy had joined the studio years ago in the hope of becoming an actor or a screenwriter, a director, or a lyricist. Thus he was frustrated. He had a good formal education and would write poetry also But his literary talent was being allowed to go waste. He used to direct his anger at the author even though it was meant for Kothamangalam Subbu.

2. Who was Subbus principal? 

Ans: Mr. S.S Vasam, the founder of Gemini studio was Subbu’s principal.

3. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities. 

Ans: The four special abilities of Subbu are-

(i) Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times.

(ii) His sense of loyalty made him turn his entire. creativity to his principal’s advantage: Film-making was quite easy with Subbu around.

(iii) He was literary inclined too-a poet and novelist. He was an amazing actor.

(iv) He had a charitable and loving nature.

4. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?

Ans: A lawyer was once a member of the story department at Gemini Studios. Although his role as a legal adviser was to handle legal matters, his cautious yet foolish idea ultimately brought an end to an actress’s career. Due to this, he was referred to as the opposite of a legal advisor, by the people.

5. What made the lawyer stand out from the other at Gemini Studios?

Ans: The lawyer’s attire set him apart from the rest. He wore pants, a tie, and occasionally a coat, while others dressed in khadi dhotis paired with slightly oversized, loosely stitched white khadi shirts, which almost resembled a uniform for everyone.

Page No – 64 

1. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations? 

Ans: The people at Gemini Studios did not hold strong political affiliations. While they were influenced by the prevailing political sentiments of the time, this influence was mostly limited to wearing khadi and admiring Gandhian philosophy. They were opposed to the idea of ‘Communism,’ though their understanding of the concept was largely mistaken.

2. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios? 

Ans: The Moral Rearmament Army was a kind of counter movement to international communism The Big Bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played into their hands. So the Moral Rearmament Army was welcomed at the Gemini Studios.

3. Name one example to show that Gemini studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA. 

Ans: The MRA’s productions left a lasting impression on the Madras and Tamil drama communities. For several years, almost every Tamil play incorporated a sunrise and sunset scene inspired by Jotham Valley, featuring a minimalistic stage, a plain white backdrop, and the soothing melody of a flute.

4. Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios?

Ans: Mr. S.S. Vasan was The Boss of Gemini Studios.

5. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios? 

Ans: The majority of the 600 or so people at Gemini Studios spoke Tamil. The Englishman was addressing them in his own language-English.He spoke with an unusual accent. Hence, there was a lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at who could not follow what he was saying.

6. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as an unexplained mystery?

Ans: The Englishman’s visit to the Gemini Studios is referred to as an unexplained mystery Because no one could figure out whether the Englishman was a poet or an editor, his visit to the Gemini Studios is referred to as an unexplained enigma. Besides, when he spoke no one at the studio understood what he intended to say as his accent was beyond their comprehension.

Page No – 65

1. Who was the English visitor to the studios?

Ans: The English visitor to the Gemini Studios was Stephen Spender.

2. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?

Ans: Before spending money to enter a short story contest organized by the English periodical The Encounter, the author decided to research the magazine. He visited the British Council Library, and while browsing through an issue, he discovered that its editor was none other than Stephen Spender, the poet who had once visited Gemini Studios.

3. What does The God that Failed refer to?

Ans: God That Failed was a compilation of six essays written by six eminent writers namely Andre Gide Richard Wright Ignazio Silone Arthur Koestler Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. In each of the essays the respective writers described “their journeys into Communism and their disillusioned return”.

1. The author has used gentle humour to point our human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting. 

Ans: The instances of humour, used by the author, mark the eccentricities and idiosyncrasies without making any direct and rude comment on anybody. For instance, the author portrays the make-up artists and the usage of the pancakes in an interesting way. Even the caricature of Subbu is hilarious. The way he tries to help his principal by offering quick solutions to his problems is quite amusing. The episode of the legal adviser that inadvertently causes the end of an actress’s career is yet another example. The frustration of the office boy, the superficial praising of Gandhi, hatred of Communism and the ‘mystery’ surrounding Stephen Spender are some of the instances where the author has incorporated gentle humour.

2. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios? 

Ans: Kothamangalam Subbu managed to secure a position closest to The Boss through flattery. Though not exceptionally brilliant, he was a cheerful person and deeply loyal to The Boss. He always came up with solutions whenever The Boss faced a dilemma. As a result, the other employees regarded him as the second most influential person at Gemini Studios.

3. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios? 

Ans: With a distinct provincial accent, the English poet addressed the Tamil-speaking audience at Gemini Studios. He spoke about the joys and struggles of being an English poet, but his words fell on a confused and silent crowd. It was an unusual scene, as most of his listeners had no clue what he was trying to convey.

4. What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from the account? 

Ans: The author, primarily a prose writer, planned to submit a short story to a periodical called The Encounter for a short story contest.

Discuss in small groups taking off from points in the text.

1. Film-production today has come a long way from the early days of the Gemini Studios.

Ans: Film production has become significantly more technical today. In the past, only about five percent of shooting took place outdoors, but now, outdoor shoots are no longer restricted to such a small percentage. With advancements in cameras and other equipment, filmmakers can achieve more diverse and precise presentations.

Make-up quality has also improved drastically compared to the days of Gemini Studios when only pancake makeup was used. Professionals in various departments, including directors, producers, scriptwriters, lyricists, and actors, are now experts in their respective fields. As a result, the overall quality of films is more vibrant and visually striking.

2. Poetry and films. 

Ans: Poetry and movies are inextricably intertwined in India. All of the employees at Gemini Studios claimed to have poetic abilities. Their repetitive and easygoing life at the studios was the main cause. These individuals, on the other hand, lacked the necessary knowledge and education to be poets. Films, unlike poetry, can be enjoyed by persons who do not have the financial means to nurture a passion for poetry or literature.

3. Humour and criticism.

Ans: The narrative is peppered with instances of subtle humour. The amusing incidents, on the other hand, make intriguing and pertinent observations about people’s behaviour in general. A hilarious tale will attract more readers, and a humorous film will attract more viewers. This is because they provide amusement and a break from the monotony of life. Hilarious criticism is more effective, hence writers and filmmakers frequently include humorous components in their work as well as scathing comments and criticism.

Dev Kirtonia

Hi, I’m Dev Kirtonia, Founder & CEO of Dev Library. A website that provides all SCERT, NCERT 3 to 12, and BA, B.com, B.Sc, and Computer Science with Post Graduate Notes & Suggestions, Novel, eBooks, Biography, Quotes, Study Materials, and more.