Chapter 2.3 The Inchcape Rock Solutions

(A4)

(A5)

Question (i)
Write the appreciation of this poem based on the points given below :

Answer:
The Poem “The Inchcape Rock’ is about a real stretch of treacherous rocks near the Scottish coast. I Robert Southey wrote prose and other poems too. But this poem is well-liked. The title gives the clue that the rock is a part of an interesting story.

The theme is about an Abbot and a pirate. The Abbot is concerned for his fellow humans and helps to save sailors. He put the Inchcape Bell on a buoy to warn ships day and night of the terrible Inchcape Rock, during storms. [According to records, warning bell was placed.]

But the Rover in a fit of madness, on a spring day, cut the bell just to trouble the Abbot. Many months later, when the pirate was sailing towards Scotland, the weather was different. As the frightened sailors were caught in the dark stormy sea the pirate realised he had not troubled the Abbot but brought ruin for himself and his sailors.

The poem is a ballad. The story is told in stanzas of four lines, with aabb rhyme. The story is told in easy language. The poet uses many Old English words like ‘blest’, ‘Quoth’, and ‘canst’. The poet begins with spring, a metaphor for the pleasant mood, with a calm sea, still air and the ship in quiet waters. Repetition emphasizes the gladness in the heart.

The mood changes from mischief to wickedness. When the mist blocks the sun, metaphor makes the story gloomy, suspenseful. The nightfall is the metaphor for the dark situation for the ship, its sailors. They finally meet a violent end. There is alliteration which adds to the beauty of the poem.

The poem is a didactic one with a clear message – “When we try to trouble others, trouble first comes to the doer.” The story has a moral and is useful even in these times.

Question (ii)
Compose 4 to 6 lines on ‘Sea’ :
Answer:
Sea
I meet the sky far away, brothers of the same colour.
I mirror his white woolly sheep and birds.
I pull and push; deep down or sometimes upwards
In my cool-world, small and big creatures, softly slither.

(A6)

Question (i)
Expand the ideas on your own on the following topics:
(a) Pride goes before a fall.
(b) Time and tide wait for none.
(c) Man proposes, God disposes.
(d) Look before you leap.

Question (a)
Pride goes before a fall.
Answer:
There is a saying in Sanskrit that translates as “Knowledge brings humility.” The opposite would be that only an ignorant person would be proud or arrogant. A person becomes overconfident about himself or what he has. He starts thinking lowly of others. Only a harsh experience makes him see his stupidity.

There is a story about the God of riches who was drunk on his wealth. He invited all the other gods to a grand feast so that his wealth would be seen by them. He also invited Shiva and Parvati. They gently told him they would not be able to come, They said their son Ganesha would come instead. The host welcomed his guests.

Ganesha also arrived. The guests seated in a dazzling hall ate their fill of the lavish food. They praised the food, the hospitality and took leave impressed by the grandeur of everything there. But Ganesha was still being served. The host was stunned to see the servants running frantically to serve at the little boy’s speed of eating. The cooks were preparing more food. The puzzled King saw to it that Ganesha was served what he wanted.

Then word came from the kitchen that supplies were needed. Soon the supplies in adjacent villages were empty. Ganesha in anger chased the King till he ran to Shiva’s abode. Ganesha complained he was not fed. The King realized his foolishness trying jto impress the Lord and Mother with his riches. He went humbled, not able to feed one child.

Hence how much ever one possesses one must not think lowly of others. The right kind of knowledge makes a person more and more humble. Like the tree full of fruits bends lower and lower.

Question (ii)
The poem begins with:
‘Without either sign or sound of their shock, The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock.’
It ends with:
On the basis of these lines explain the change in mood of the poem.
Answer:
At the beginning of the poem the season is spring, the weather is mild and the sea-waters are calm. The waves pour softly over the Inchcape Bell. The Heavy Bell on a buoy would ring due to strong waves only in stormy weather.

When the Rover cut the Bell it was spring season. The mood was happy, light-hearted. He was up to mischief in a rash, jolly mood on a lovely spring day. He wanted to only trouble the Abbot.

After undoing the Abbot’s good work the Rover went away on his criminal voyages. But when he was returning the sea was stormy. Wild winds threw the ship off course. The mood is of confusion and fear because a thick fog covered them from the sun. The mood is of suspense, the sailors are lost.

By nightfall they did not still know where they were. They are really and metaphorically in the dark. They could hear the waves crashing yet they did not know which land was near. There is fear. There was no wild wind but the rough sea was pulling their ship along. They desperately wanted some clue to help them to know their location. The ship shattered onto the rocks as the Rover yelled and cursed. The dramatic end is violent and filled with despair.

(A7)

Question (i)
Read the tree diagrams and information given on pages 109-110 of the textbook and find out more information about opportunities in ‘on and off the shore’ the Indian Navy.

Question (ii)
Required qualifications and various fields/opportunities for women to join in the Navy.

Question (iii)
Colleges that provide education in oceanography-
National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
National Institute of Oceanography, Mumbai
MBA (Logistic Shipping Management), IIKM Business School, Calicut, Kerala
Indira Gandhi College of Distance Education IGCDE, Tamil Nadu

Yuvakbharati English 12th Digest Chapter 2.3 The Inchcape Rock Additional Important Questions and Answers

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

Global Understanding:

Inference/Interpretation/Analysis:

The last line is the hint of what is to happen later. ‘He steers his course for Scotland’s shore.’ The rover set the course ‘for Scotland’s shores’. This is significant because the treacherous Inchcape Rock was on the Scottish shores. So we get an idea that something may happen there.

Personal Response:

My family is aware of this and we help in small ways. I help the elderly lady to take a walk on the street and my brother helps the gentleman. I also help the young mother to mind the small children if she has to go out shopping. I sometimes run errands for them too.

Poetic Devices:

Examples of Sound imagery from the extract:

1. And over the waves its warning rung. The line describes the loud warning sounded by the Inchcape Bell in a storm,
2. ‘And there was joyance in their sound.’ These lines show an air of joy in that scene. Even the birds seemed to be flying round and round – like a wheel – ‘wheel’d round’, ‘joyance in their sound’.

Examples of Sound imagery from the extract:
1. And over the waves its warning rung. The line describes the loud warning sounded by the Inchcape Bell in a storm.
2. ‘The sea-birds scream’d as they wheel’d round
And there was joyance in their sound.’
These lines show an air of joy in that scene. Even the birds seemed to be happy as their calls seemed like they were screaming in joy, ‘joyance in their sound’.

Poetic Creativity:

I don’t know where he hides everyday He flashes in my eyes, in some words I say
To elders, family, friends. I am surprised
By my own words, my actions, only later I cried.

I think of the harsh remark
The careless action I threw
I vow not to repeat anymore
As I begin this day new.

Writing Skills:

Question (a)
Time and tide wait for none Points:
There is a time for doing each thing

Question (b)
Man proposes, God disposes

Points:

Question (c)
Look before you leap Points: