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NIOS Class 12 English Chapter 11 Night of The Scorpion
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Night of The Scorpion
Chapter: 11
| TEXTUAL QUESTION ANSWER |
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.1
1. What drove the scorpion inside the house?
Ans: Continuous rain drove the scorpion inside the house.
2. The word ‘flash’ means —
(a) A cowardly action.
(b) A quick and sudden action.
(c) A wicked action.
(d) A bright action.
Ans: (b) a quick and sudden action
3. Why does he call the tail ‘diabolic’?
Ans: He call the tail diabolic because it poisons his mother.
4. What is the scorpion’s action after stinging the mother?
(a) It crawls beneath a sack of rice.
(b) It bites the speaker.
(c) It runs away from the house.
(d) It hides in a dark room.
Ans: (a) It crawls beneath a sack of rice.
5. Why did the scorpion risk going out again into the rain?
(a) It wanted to find more prey.
(b) It regretted stinging the mother.
(c) It needed to replenish its poison.
(d) It was seeking shelter from the rain.
Ans: (d) It was seeking shelter from the rain.
6. What does the stanza suggest about the scorpion’s behaviour?
(a) The scorpion is cunning and evil.
(b) The scorpion is a harmless creature.
(c) The scorpion is desperately seeking shelter.
(d) The scorpion is attacking the villagers.
Ans: (c) The scorpion is desperately seeking shelter.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.2
1. How did the peasants arrive at the scene?
Ans: The peasants arrived at the scene “like swarms of flies.”
2. Why do the villagers come together and chant the name of God a hundred times?
(a) To celebrate a religious festival.
(b) To ward off evil and help the mother.
(c) To express their frustration with the scorpion.
(d To honour the scorpion’s bravery.
Ans: (b) To ward off evil and help the mother.
3. How did the peasants use candles and lanterns?
Ans: The peasants used candles and lanterns to illuminate the area and search for the scorpion.
4. What visual effect is created by the candles and lanterns used by the villagers in their search for the scorpion?
(a) They create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
(b) They cast giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls.
(c) They illuminate the room entirely.
(d) They make the room appear smaller.
Ans: (b) They cast giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls.
5. What was the outcome of the peasants’ search for the scorpion?
(a) They found it and captured it.
(b) They gave up and left the scene.
(c) They were disappointed.
(d) They found traces of the scorpion’s presence.
Ans: (c) They were disappointed.
6. Did the peasants successfully find the scorpion?
Ans: No the peasants didn’t find the scorpion.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.3
1. The phrase ‘clicked their tongues’ expresses:
(a) The peasants’ worries about the sting.
(b) The peasants’ sorrow for the mother.
(c) The peasants’ failure to find the scorpion.
(d) The peasant’s anger towards the scorpion.
Ans: (c) The peasants’ failure to find the scorpion.
2. What bodily fluid was affected by the scorpion?
Ans: Blood.
3. In the stanza, what do the villagers hope for regarding the scorpion’s movements?
(a) They hope it will escape and be safe.
(b) They hope it will sting others as well.
(c) They hope it will remain still and not move.
(d) They hope it will reveal its hiding place.
Ans: (c) They hope it will remain still and not move.
4. What did the villagers express regarding the sins of the Mother’s previous birth?
Ans: The villagers expressed the hope that the sins of the speaker’s previous birth would be burned away that night.
5. What was the focus of the wishes regarding the Mother’s next birth?
Ans: To reduce her misfortunes.
6. What is the underlying belief or sentiment expressed by the villagers in their words to the mother?
(a) They wish her suffering to increase.
(b) They hope her pain will lead to a better next life.
(c) They believe she deserves the scorpion’s sting.
(d) They want to punish her for past sins.
Ans: (b) They hope her pain will lead to a better next life.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.4
1. Who are ‘they’ in the above lines?
Ans: They are the peasants.
2. What is the wish expressed regarding the balance of good and evil in the world?
Ans: The wish expressed is that the sum of evil in the unreal world would be diminished by the mother’s pain, thereby balancing it against the sum of good.
3. How do the villagers believe the mother’s pain might affect the balance of good and evil?
Ans: The villagers believe that the mother’s pain might diminish the sum of evil in the world, thus balancing it against the sum of good.
4. According to the villagers, what is the effect of the poison from the scorpion’s sting on the mother?
(a) It intensifies her desires.
(b) It purifies her flesh of desire.
(c) It increases her ambition.
(d) It has no effect on her.
Ans: (b) It purifies her flesh of desire.
5. Where do the villagers sit as they offer their prayers and wishes for the mother’s well-being?
(a) On the roof of the house.
(b) On chairs and benches.
(c) On the floor with the mother in the centre.
(d) In a circle around a fire.
Ans: (c) On the floor with the mother in the centre.
6. What is the prevailing emotion on the faces of the villagers in this stanza?
(a) Fear and anxiety.
(b) Anger and frustration.
(c) Peace and understanding.
(d) Sadness and despair.
Ans: (c) Peace and understanding.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.5
1. What was the atmosphere like with the addition of more candles, lanterns, neighbours, insects, and rain?
Ans: The atmosphere in the stanza becomes more crowded and chaotic with the addition of more candles, lanterns, neighbours, insects, and the ongoing rain.
2. How was the mother’s physical condition described in this stanza?
Ans: The mother is described as “twisted through and through, groaning on a mat,” indicating that she is in significant pain and discomfort due to the scorpion sting.
3. “My father, sceptic, rationalist” What does that mean?
Ans: This suggests that he is a person who relies on logic and reason rather than superstition or faith.
4. What does the father do in an attempt to treat the scorpion’s sting?
(a) He pours water on the wound to cool it down.
(b) He applies a special ointment on the bitten toe.
(c) He uses a traditional method involving fire.
(d) He rushes the mother to the hospital.
Ans: (b) He applies a special ointment on the bitten toe.
5. How does the speaker’s father react to the scorpion’s sting?
(a) He resorts to superstitious rituals and prayers.
(b) He ignores the situation and continues with his work.
(c) He rushes to find medical help immediately
(d) He scolds the mother for allowing the scorpion to sting her.
Ans: (a) He resorts to superstitious rituals and prayers.
6. The poet says that his father, who was a rationalist, tried everything. Why did he do so?
(a) Because the father had changed.
(b) Because the father wanted to do what others were doing.
(c) Because the father was deeply concerned.
(d) Because the father was superstitious.
Ans: (c) Because the father was deeply concerned.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.6
1. What does the speaker mean when they say, “I watched the flame feeding on my mother”?
(a) The mother was being consumed by the scorpion’s venom.
(b) The mother was engulfed in a holy fire.
(c) The mother was undergoing a ritual purification.
(d) The mother was trying to control the scorpion.
Ans: (a) The mother was being consumed by the scorpion’s venom.
2. What was the purpose of the rites and incantation?
Ans: The purpose of the rites and incantation was to try to tame or counteract the poison from the scorpion sting and heal the mother.
3. The speaker mentions that the poison from the scorpion’s sting “lost its sting.” What does this imply?
(a) The scorpion’s venom became less potent.
(b) The mother’s pain intensified.
(c) The scorpion returned to sting again.
(d) The villagers’ efforts were in vain.
Ans: (a) The scorpion’s venom became less potent.
4. How long did it take for the poison to lose its sting?
Ans: 20 hours.
5. What unconventional method did the father attempt to use in treating the scorpion sting?
Ans: In an unconventional and desperate attempt, the father poured a little paraffin
(a) type of fuel) onto the bitten toe and set it on fire by putting a match to it. This unusual method was likely an extreme measure in an attempt to counteract the effects of the scorpion’s venom.
6. Why did the mother feel relieved?
Ans: The mother felt relieved because she believed that by being stung by the scorpion, she had spared her children from a similar fate. Her gratitude reflects her deep love and maternal instinct to protect her family.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.7
1. Rewrite the following sentences using indirect speech:
(i) “I won the competition,” she said.
Ans: She said that she had won the competition.
(ii) “We will visit the museum tomorrow,” they said.
Ans: They said that they would visit the museum the next day.
(iii) “He is studying in the library,” she said.
Ans: She said that he was studying in the library.
(iv) “I have already booked the tickets,” he said.
Ans: He said that he had already booked the tickets.
(v) “They are renovating their house,” he said to me.
Ans: He told me that they were renovating their house.
2. Rewrite the following sentences using direct speech:
(i) He mentioned that he was going to travel to Paris next month.
Ans: He said, “I am going to travel to Paris next month.”
(ii) She informed us that she had bought a new car.
Ans: She said, “I have bought a new car.”
(iii) They told me that they were going to start a new business.
Ans: They said, “We are going to start a new business.”
(iv) He explained that he couldn’t attend the meeting due to illness.
Ans: He said, “I can’t attend the meeting due to illness.”
(v) She confessed that she had forgotten to do her homework.
Ans: She said, “I have forgotten to do my homework.”
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.8
Identify the literary devices used in the following sentences:
1. The bees buzzed around the blooming flowers.
Ans: Onomatopoeia: The word “buzzed” imitates the sound made by bees.
Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘b’ sound in “bees” and “blooming.”
2. The waves crashed against the shore like angry giants.
Ans: Simile: The comparison of waves to “angry giants” using the word “like.”
Personification: The waves are given human qualities of anger.
3. The fireworks exploded with a loud bang.
Ans: Onomatopoeia: The word “bang” imitates the sound of fireworks.
4. Her hair was as black as coal.
Ans: Simile: The comparison of her hair to “coal” using the word “as.”
5. The leaves rustled in the gentle breeze.
Ans: Onomatopoeia: The word “rustled” imitates the sound of leaves moving.
Personification: The leaves are given the action of “rustling,” typically a human action.
6. The cat meowed plaintively at the door.
Ans: Onomatopoeia: The word “meowed” imitates the sound made by a cat.
7. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Ans: Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘p’ sound.
8. The door creaked open slowly.
Ans: Onomatopoeia: The word “creaked” imitates the sound made by a door opening.
9. Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
Ans: Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound.
10. His eyes sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight.
Ans: Simile: The comparison of his eyes to “diamonds” using the word “like.”
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.9
1. Form new words by choosing one word from Group A and one from Group B.
| Group A | Group B |
| First | Footed |
| Four | Year-old |
| Three | Over |
| Before | Stove |
| Bats | Box |
| Pull | Maker |
| Far | Sighted |
| Grand | Cut |
| Night | In-law |
| Gas | Man |
| Trouble | Mother |
| Inter | Class |
| Short | Handed |
| Bread | Hand |
| White | Crumbs |
| Bald | Sighted |
| Brother | Coloured |
| Letter | Headed |
Ans:
| First class | Bald-headed | Four-footed |
| Brother-in-law | Three-year-old | Letter box |
| Gas stove | Beforehand | Trouble maker |
| Right-handed | Inter-class | Batsman |
| Short-sighted | Far-sighted | Breadcrumbs |
| Grandmother | White-coloured | Pullover |
2. Fill up the blanks in the following paragraph with some of the compound words you have formed:
Every evening _______i________ used to sit on the verandah with her sewing machine. She stitched clothes for her grandson Ali. After finishing her work she would feed the sparrows with ___________ii __________The sparrows could come and perch themselves on the _________ iii ___________ Soon all the crumbs were eaten up.Grandmother who was ______iv___________ could not see the sparrows clearly but she knew each sparrow who came and sat in her verandah everyday.
Ans: (i) grandmother (ii) three-year-old (iii) bread crumbs (iv) short-sighted.
| TERMINAL QUESTIONS |
1. Who is the ‘I’ in the poem?
Ans: In this poem the ‘I’ is the poet himself, narrating the events of the night when his mother was stung by a scorpion.
2. What is the central event described in the poem?
Ans: The central event in Nissim Ezekiel’s “Night of the Scorpion” is the stinging of the speaker’s mother by a scorpion on a rainy night.The immediate chaos and reactions of the villagers and the family, who rushed to help her using various traditional and superstitious remedies.
The mother’s endurance and calmness despite the pain, highlighting her selflessness and concern for others even in suffering.
3. How was the night when the event happened?
Ans: The night the scorpion stung the poet’s mother was a rainy night, with ten hours of non-stop rain, and the event was marked by the mother’s intense pain and the influx of superstitious villagers who came to pray and perform remedies, while the poet’s rationalist father tried various methods to save his wife. The night was defined by suffering, faith, and the contrast between folk remedies and a mother’s courageous love for her children.The night’s description helps create a dramatic setting for the central event and emphasizes the helplessness and vulnerability of the mother in that moment.
4. How do the villagers react when they hear about the scorpion sting incident?
Ans: When villagers hear of the scorpion sting incident They rush to the house to help, bringing various traditional remedies to counter the poison.
They attempt to perform rituals, such as sprinkling holy water, chanting mantras, and making incantations, believing that the sting was caused by evil forces or divine punishment.
Their reaction reflects a mix of care, anxiety, and cultural superstition, showing how rural communities respond to misfortune with both practical and ritualistic measures.
The poet highlights this to contrast the villagers’ superstitious fear with the mother’s calm endurance, emphasizing her strength and selflessness.
5. How did the peasants react when they couldn’t find the scorpion?
Ans: This meant that the scorpion had gone away, but its sting was still working inside the mother’s body. The peasants then turned to chanting prayers, clicking their tongues, and making superstitious remarks, believing that each movement of the scorpion’s tail would intensify the pain and that their prayers might counter it.When the peasants couldn’t find the scorpion after a thorough search with candles and lanterns, they reacted by expressing their disappointment and clicking their tongues in frustration.
6. How does the poem explore the theme of superstition?
Ans: The poem “The Night of the Scorpion” by Nissim Ezekiel explores superstition through the villagers’ collective response to the scorpion sting, where they prioritize ancient rituals, prayers, and magical remedies over rational medical treatment. Peasants’ belief in sin and suffering, They say the mother’s pain will burn away her past sins, purify her spirit, and reduce the misfortunes of her next birth.Belief in the scorpion’s movements, The villagers chant that every movement of the scorpion’s tail will increase the mother’s pain.Faith in prayers and rituals, Since they cannot catch the scorpion, they light candles, click their tongues, and chant to protect the mother, relying on religious ritual instead of practical remedies.The poem highlights the dominance of superstition over rational thinking in the face of crisis. The peasants mean well, but their actions are shaped more by blind belief than by effective help.
7. How does the poem depict the unity and support of the community in the face of adversity?
Ans: Poems can depict community unity and support against adversity by portraying shared resilience, the communal act of offering aid, collective hope, and the strengthening of bonds through shared experiences and traditions.As soon as the news spreads, “The peasants came like swarms of flies.” This simile shows how quickly and in large numbers they gathered, leaving aside their own work to stand by the suffering family.Though poor and powerless, they carried candles and lanterns, searching every corner for the scorpion.Even when the scorpion could not be found, they stayed and prayed together, chanting for the well-being of the mother.The villagers believed that by sharing prayers and words, they were sharing the burden of pain with the family. Their presence gave comfort, even if their methods lacked scientific basis.
8. What cultural and religious beliefs are reflected in the villagers’ actions and prayers?
Ans: Villagers’ actions and prayers reflect deep cultural and religious beliefs, often including animism, the worship of village deities, a belief in evil spirits and the need for rituals to ward them off, a strong connection between religion and agriculture, and the importance of communal worship and blessings for community well-being.Their words show a deep belief in karma and rebirth: they say her pain will cleanse her sins, purify her spirit, and lessen the troubles of her next life. To them, suffering is not meaningless but part of a divine balance where misfortune carries spiritual value.They gather with candles and lanterns, chanting God’s name and praying for relief. This reflects the cultural belief in communal prayer as a source of protection and healing.
9. What was the mother’s reaction to the scorpion’s sting?
Ans: After enduring the pain of the scorpion’s sting for twenty hours, the mother’s primary reaction was gratitude to God for sparing her children from the sting. Despite her own suffering, her focus remained on the safety of her children, demonstrating a selfless love and a desire to take the pain upon herself rather than them.Her reaction reveals her selflessness and maternal instinct. Instead of complaining about her own agony or blaming fate, she is grateful that the scorpion’s poison did not harm her children. This quiet endurance reflects the depth of a mother’s love, contrasting with the noisy, superstitious responses of the community around her.
10. What is the overall mood or atmosphere created by the poem?
Ans: The poem begins on a dark, stormy night, creating a gloomy and ominous atmosphere. The scorpion’s sting heightens the tension, and the arrival of the villagers adds chaos and unease, with their candles, chanting, and superstitions filling the house with nervous energy. Their fear of evil forces and belief in karma deepen the sense of dread, making the scene heavy with suspense. The father’s desperate but futile attempts with powders, herbs, and paraffin, and the mother’s silent endurance, intensify the feeling of anxiety and uncertainty. Finally, when the mother speaks and thanks God that the scorpion spared her children, the mood softens into one of quiet relief, humility, and maternal love.
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