G's Help Desk for English Core - XI: September 2012

Saturday, 29 September 2012

Pre-reading Task: NOTE MAKING: Albert Einstein at School

Albert Einstein born 14 March 1879 was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the General Theory of Relativity, affecting a revolution in Physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of Modern Physics and the most influential physicist of the 20th century.

Best known for his mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc² (which has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation"), he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect", which was pivotal in establishing the Quantum Theory.

His father was Hermann Einstein, a salesman and engineer. His mother was Pauline Einstein (née Koch). In 1880, the family moved to Munich, where his father and his uncle founded a company that manufactured electrical equipment based on direct current. The Einsteins were non-observant Jews. Albert attended a Catholic elementary school from the age of five for three years.

Later, at the age of eight, Einstein was transferred to the Luitpold Gymnasium where he received advanced primary and secondary school education. As he grew up, Einstein built models and mechanical devices for fun and began to show a talent for mathematics. In 1894, his father's company failed. In search of business, the Einstein family moved to Italy, first to Milan and then, a few months later, to Pavia. When the family moved to Pavia, Einstein stayed in Munich to finish his studies at the Luitpold Gymnasium. His father intended for him to pursue electrical engineering, but Einstein clashed with authorities and resented the school's regimen and teaching method. He later wrote that the spirit of learning and creative thought were lost in strict rote learning. At the end of December 1894, he travelled to Italy to join his family in Pavia, convincing the school to let him go by using a doctor's note. He had spent seven years at this school by then.

In late summer 1895, at the age of sixteen, Einstein sat the entrance examinations for the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich and failed to reach the required standard in several subjects. However, he obtained exceptional grades in physics and mathematics. He then attended the Aargau Cantonal School in Aarau, Switzerland, in 1895-96 to complete his secondary schooling. In January 1896, with his father's approval, he renounced his citizenship in the German Kingdom to avoid military service. At the age of only seventeen, he enrolled in the four-year mathematics and physics teaching diploma program at the ETH Zurich.

Einstein's future wife, Mileva Marić, also enrolled at the Polytechnic that same year, the only woman among the six students in the mathematics and physics section of the teaching diploma course. Over the next few years, Einstein and Marić's friendship developed into romance, and they read books together on extra-curricular physics in which Einstein was taking an increasing interest. In 1900, Einstein was awarded the Zurich Polytechnic teaching diploma, but Marić failed the examination with a poor grade in the mathematics component, theory of functions. There have been claims that Marić collaborated with Einstein on his celebrated 1905 papers, but historians of physics who have studied the issue find no evidence that she made any substantial contributions.

He was visiting the United States when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, and did not go back to Germany, where he had been a professor at the Berlin Academy of Sciences. He settled in the U.S., becoming a citizen in 1940. On the eve of World War II, he helped alert President Franklin D. Roosevelt that Germany might be developing an atomic weapon, and recommended that the U.S. begin similar research; this eventually led to what would become the Manhattan Project. Einstein was affiliated with the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, until his death on April 18, 1955.

Einstein published more than 300 scientific papers along with over 150 non-scientific works. His great intelligence and originality have made the word "Einstein" synonymous with genius.

In your language notebooks, make notes on the above passage using a suitable heading, sub topics with significant details and recognizable abbreviations. Then summarise the notes into a paragraph of about 80 words.

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Vocabulary Revision (April - August)

TEST YOURSELF:

Adroit Addiction Amble Ambit Ambience Impunity

Buoyant Brevity Cache Cadence Dissipate Diabolical Quisling

Quid Pro Quo Embroil Eerie Facetious Garrulous

1. The speech had a poignant message despite its ___________.

2. The _____________ was to be hanged at dawn in the public courthouse as an example for anyone who might wish harm to the nation.

3. The _____________ of the song enhanced the beauty of the lyrics.

4. The ___________ of CCE includes both scholastic and co-scholastic activities.

5. Raghu felt strangely ____________ after the final paper of his board exams.

6. The weather was perfect for an ____________ in the park with friends.

7. The ___________ face of the monster in the movie was unforgettable.

8. I was unable to resolve the equation till I understood the ___________________ behind it.

9. When Ravi entered the haunted house, the _____________ silence made his shiver with nervousness.

10. That women are only suitable for domestic chores, is a _____________ long disproved.

11. Prayasi is an ____________ dancer, a passionate singer and a dedicated student.

12. Unfortunately, the interest in the book seemed to ______________ almost immediately after a scathing review was published in Times Today.

13. The only reason Tarif Siddiqui escaped prison, was due to diplomatic _______________.

14. It is best not to ______________ oneself in political fanaticism.

15. Not only was the food excellent, the restaurant was also famous for its innovative _____________.

16. When I was offered the unexpected raise, my intuition told me there would be a _____________ involved.

17. Ria’s ___________ persona often gets her into trouble with teachers who entertain her ______________ remarks only to the extent where they do not interrupt the classroom decorum.

18. ______________ to drugs has social, physical, cultural, emotional and economic ramifications.

19. Ma’am Nandita always has a ___________ of chocolates which she uses to reward the best volunteers.

20. It is a well-known fact that a cork would be ________________ in a glass of water.

Ambiguous Abstruse Burlesque Disseminate Derogatory

Draught Drought Improvise Impinge Exuberant Opportunist

Benevolent Luminous Gluttony Rectitude Imposter

Oedipus Complex Hobson’s Choice Purple Passage Providence

21. Diya enjoyed reading the bestseller, ‘Diana Speaks’ but felt that the elaborate descriptions of the queen’s wardrobe were __________________________.

22. The ____________ on Shakespearean plays performed during Teachers’ Day was a resounding success.

23. The passage was _________________ due to the use of archaic English and had the children puzzled for a long time.

24. When Ms. Al Smith mistook him as the owner of the villa, the _______________ Gaston, quickly adopted to the situation and made an easy profit.

25. Bharat gave Yash the _________________ to either sell him the house with the furniture or not to expect the sale at all.

26. Shruti’s reply was ________________ and left her friends wondering if she would actually turn up for the party.

27. The internet can be an effective means to _________________ information across borders.

28. The ____________________ is named after the mythical Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother.

29. Mrs. Khurana wrapped the shawl closer against the ____________ coming into the room from the open window.

30. Sometimes, excess rainfall can be as much a problem as a __________.

31. The students were given five minutes to _____________ and perform brief skits on the topics given.

32. Loud noise can _______________ on the eardrum, causing temporary hearing damage.

33. The _________________ students cheered as they left for community service, with _____________ eyes awash with the spirit of benevolence.

34. Prashant’s ________________ is worthy of emulation by his peers.

35. The survivors called it divine ______________ when only the temple and mosque survived the cyclone.

36. Raman’s ____________ was so famous that even his close friends hesitated from inviting him for a treat.

37. Ironically, it was the ______________ who turned out to be kinder than the original owner of the mansion.

Childhood - Post reading task: Read and enjoy!

The Rainbow

My heart leaps up when I behold   
A rainbow in the sky:   
So was it when my life began;   
So is it now I am a man;   
So be it when I shall grow old, 
Or let me die!   
The Child is father of the Man;   
I could wish my days to be   
Bound each to each by natural piety.

                                        - William Wordsworth

Childhood - Markus Natten - Reading and Analysis

About the poet:

It's unfortunate that the library as well the internet do not carry enough information about this poet or even his picture. All we know is that he was Norwegian and this poem is a translation. Nevertheless, each work reveals a little something about its creator. Let us challenge ourselves to discover Natten's presence in his musings.

CHILDHOOD

When did my childhood go?

Was it the day I ceased to be eleven.

Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,

Could not be found in Geography,

And therefore could not be,

Was that the day!

When did my childhood go?

Was it the time I realised that adults were not

All they seemed to be,

They talked of love and preached of love,

But did not act so lovingly,

Was that the day!

When did my childhood go?

Was it when I found my mind was really mine,

To use whichever way I choose,

Producing thoughts that were not those of other people

But my own and mine alone

Was that the day!

Where did my childhood go?

It went to some forgotten place,

That is hidden in an infant’s face,

That’s all I know.

- Markus Natten

Theme:

In this poem, the poet, Markus Natten wonders when and where he lost his childhood. In this quest to find the moment he grew up, Markus highlights the innocence and faith he lost even as he gained rational individuality.

Adolescence is usually a confusing time for a child who is unable to immediately come to terms with the physical, hormonal and psychological changes in his or her personality. He no longer feels like a child but is not quite ready to call himself an adult either.

In the poem, 'The Rainbow', William Wordsworth claims, 'Child is the father of man'. Markus seems to be echoing this thought as he underscores how in our childhood innocence lay our ability to appreciate the simpler aspects of life and thus, the child can teach the adult how to appreciate things the latter often takes for granted.

The refrain:

The refrain of any poem is/are line (s) that repeat at regular intervals throughout the poem. The refrain often carries the central message of the poem. The two lines which do so in this poem are:

When did my childhood go?....

Was that the day!

The first line (which is a question) identifies the central theme of the poem, that is, the attempt to identify when exactly the poet lost his childhood.

The second line begins with a question word but ends with an exclamation. Hence, it is no more a mere question. Rhetorical in nature, this line brings out the poet's sense of realisation.

Stanza - wise interpretation:

Stanza 1:

The poet wonders when he lost his childhood. He muses that perhaps it was the day he realised that the concepts of Heaven and Hell, he had been taught of since his youngest years, had no standing in the light of the day. Geography textbooks did not give the location of any such place. Education made the poet question his faith and look at the world much more rationally. The poet realises that he might have lost his childhood when he gained this rational outlook.

Stanza 2:

In the second stanza, the poet recalls the time when he realised that the adults around him did not practise what they preached. They told the poet to be loving and caring, however, they were themselves argumentative, violent and discourteous. Their behaviour was a far cry from the love they sermonised about and advocated so reverently to the child.

Thus, the child lost his faith in the adults around him, whom he had so far, trusted without question. Their latent hypocrisy became evident to the growing child. Perhaps, says Natten, that broken trust was one of the major steps towards adulthood.

Notice, that this is perhaps, the longest line of the poem. Markus Natten is a genius at putting punctuation to use. The length of this line and the difficulty to recite it in one go, indicates that this is perhaps the biggest loss the child has suffered.

Stanza 3:

As he grew up, the poet realised that his mind was unique, could form its own opinions and could take its own decisions. He gained a sense of individuality which set him free from the prejudiced opinions of others around him. His own experiences shaped his thoughts now and he realised that this might have been the time he lost his childhood innocence completely.

Stanza 4:

In the final stanza, the poet changes his question. From wondering at what point in time, he had lost his childhood, the poet now wonders where it went.

The last three lines may be interpreted in two ways.

The poet claims that his childhood is nothing more than a long lost memory. He recalls his infancy and believes that his true childhood resides there, in that infant's face, and that innocence cannot resurface in this lifetime.
The poet believes that his childhood has become nothing more than a memory for him but has become the reality of some other infant. Innocence is a cyclical process where lost from one person, it travels to another, finding residence there. Thus, till date, adults can easily recall and seem to almost relive their own childhood, through an infant in their lives.

Question Bank:

Short answer questions –

Q.1.Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:_

When did my childhood go?

Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,

Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,

Could not be found in Geography,

And therefore could not be,

Was that the day!

(a) What questions rises in the poet’s mind?

(b) Which two occassions come to his mind as an answer?

Q.2.Read the lines below and answer the questions that follow:-

When did my childhood go?

Was it the time I realised that adults were not

all they seemed to be,

(a) What is the name of the poem? Who has written it?

(b) What realisation comes to the child regarding adults?

Q.3.Read the lines given below and answer the following questions:-

They talked of love and preached of love,

But did not act so lovingly,

Was that the day?

(a) Name the poem and the poet?

(b) Who are they?

(d) Complete the question raised in the last line

Q.4.Read the lines given below and answer the following questions:-

When did my childhood go?

Was it when I found my mind was really mine,

To use whichever may I choose,

Producing thoughts that were not those of other people

But my own, and mine alone

Was that the day!

(a) What do words ‘my mind was really mine’ mean?

(b) What kind of feeling is generated in the mind of the poet in lines 3,4,5?

Q.5.Read the lines given below and answer the following questions:-

Where did my childhood go?

It went to some forgotten place,

That’s hidden in an infant’s face,

That’s all I know.

(a) Name the poem and the poet?

(b) What is ‘it’ mentioned in line2?

Q.6. What conclusion did the poet come to about Hell and Heaven?

Q.6. What did the poet notice about his mind? How important was this discovery?

Q.7. Where can the poet find his childhood? Is it lost irrevocably?

Q.8. What did the child observe in the behaviour of adults? How was his observation relevant to question that rose in his mind?

Q.9. What is the poet trying yo discover in the poem ‘Childhood’?What significant occasions has he mentioned?

Q.10.Of all the occasions mentioned in the poem,which do you think really shows that the poet is no longer a child?
Give reasons for your answer?