NIOS Class 12 English Chapter 13 Question Answer
INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.1
1. “If you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you…” What does the poet mean by keeping or losing one’s head?
Ans: “Keeping your head” in the poem means maintaining composure and staying calm in the face of chaos or adversity, while “losing one’s head” implies succumbing to panic, confusion, or irrational behaviour.
2. What should you ideally do when others doubt your decision?
Ans: When others doubt your decision, ideally, you should “trust yourself” and have confidence in your choices. However, you should also “make allowance for their doubting too,” which means being open to considering their perspectives and, if necessary, explaining or defending your decisions.
3. Why should we not try to look “too good” nor talk “too wise”?
Ans: The poem advises against looking “too good” or talking “too wise” because it’s a reminder to remain humble and not appear arrogant or self-righteous. It encourages modesty and simplicity in one’s demeanour.
4. How does the poem advise handling waiting and accusations of lying and hatred?
a) Wait impatiently and respond with lies
b) Be patient, avoid lying, and respond to hatred with hatred
c) Ignore waiting, lie when necessary, and respond to hatred with kindness
d) Wait patiently, avoid lying, and don’t give in to hatred
Ans: d) Wait patiently, avoid lying, and don’t give in to hatred
INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.2
1. What is the meaning of the word “Imposter”? Why is it used to describe “Triumph” and “Disaster”?
Ans: The word “impostor” refers to someone or something that deceives or misrepresents itself, often pretending to be something it’s not. In the poem, “Triumph” and “Disaster” are described as “impostors” because they can both be misleading. Triumph can make one overconfident, while disaster can be demoralising. The poet advises treating them both the same, not getting carried away by either extreme.
2. What should we do in the face of failure according to the poet?
Ans: In the face of failure, the poet advises starting again with determination and without complaining about the loss. The key message is to exhibit resilience and the ability to bounce back after setbacks.
3. What does the poet mean when he says “ -and not make Dream your master”?
Ans: When the poet says, “-and not make Dream your master,” he means that one should not let their dreams or ambitions completely control and dictate their life. It’s important to pursue dreams, but not to the extent that they become an obsession or hinder practicality and balance in life.
4. Building things with Worn-out tools means-
a) Using blunt, old tools for construction.
b) Giving your everything despite failing before.
c) Finding a middle way out in the face of conflict.
d) Helplessly trying to fix things which cannot be fixed.
Ans: d) Helplessly trying to fix things which cannot be fixed
INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.3
1. What do the words Heart, Sinew and Nerve mean?
Ans: In the context of the poem, the words “Heart,” “Sinew,” and “Nerve” represent the core elements of a person’s inner strength and determination. They symbolise the physical and emotional fortitude needed to persevere in difficult circumstances.
2. Should we actually risk all our winnings in a game of Pitch-and- Toss, Or is it a metaphor?
Ans: The idea of risking all your winnings in a game of Pitch-and-Toss is a metaphor. It’s not meant to be taken literally but rather symbolises the concept of taking significant risks or chances in life. The poet is encouraging the willingness to risk everything in the pursuit of a goal or in the face of adversity.
3. Why should we never “breathe a word” about our loss?
Ans: We should never “breathe a word” about our loss because the poem emphasises maintaining composure, resilience, and not seeking sympathy or attention for our failures. It encourages a quiet, determined resolve to start again after a loss.
4. Which of the following best describes “Will”?
a) The spirit of never giving up against odds.
b) The optimism kept in times of despair.
c) The rage felt when we feel wronged.
d) The emotion which makes us avoid all danger.
Ans: a) The spirit of never giving up against odds
INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.4
1. In what manner should we talk to the crowd and with Kings?
Ans: The poem suggests that when talking to both crowds and Kings, one should do so in a way that maintains their virtue and common touch. This means treating everyone with respect and not letting social status or power change how you interact with people.
2. How can our friends harm us?
Ans: Friends can harm us by either becoming overly critical, overly dependent, or by exploiting our trust. When they “hurt” us, it typically means that they may let us down or disappoint us in some way.
3. Why should a person not have people who “count with” them too much?
Ans: The poet advises against having people who “count with” us too much because it’s a warning against becoming overly dependent on others or overly influenced by their opinions. Relying too heavily on anyone can compromise one’s independence and decision-making.
4. What is the meaning of “filling” a “minute”
Ans: “Filling a minute” means making the most of each moment by using your time effectively and purposefully. It’s about not wasting time but rather utilising every second to accomplish something worthwhile.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.5
1. Change the following questions into indirect speech:
i. He said to me, “Are you going home?”
Ans: He asked me whether I was going home.
ii. He said, “Did you see my brother yesterday?”
Ans: He asked whether I/he saw his brother the previous day.
iii. He asked me, “Which bus stops here?”
Ans: He asked me which bus stopped there.
iv. My friend said, “What is your brother doing these days?”
Ans: My friend asked what my brother was doing those days.
v. My brother said, “Does Ram know my address?”
Ans: My brother asked whether Ram knew his address.
2. Match the questions in direct speech with the reported speech in Column B.
| Column A | Column B |
| i. What is your name? | a) He asked whether I had a comfortable journey. |
| ii. Where do you live? | b) He asked me how long I would stay here. |
| iii. Could you tell me your date of birth? | c) He asked me what my name is. |
| iv. How long will you stay here? | d) He wondered if I could tell him my date of birth. |
| v. Did you have a comfortable journey? | e) He asked me where I lived. |
Ans: (i) c (ii) e (iii) d (iv) b (v) a
INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.6
Read the poem and identify the literary devices used in this poem.
DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
byDylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Ans:
- Anaphora: repetition of the phrase “Do not go gentle into that good night” at the beginning of several stanzas
- Alliteration: “burn and rave,” “frail deeds,” and “Blind eyes.”
- Assonance: “Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay.”
- Irony: The irony lies in the juxtaposition of the imperative command “do not go gentle” with the inevitability of death. The speaker urges resistance against death, although death is portrayed as an unavoidable and natural part of life.
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
1. What is the significance of trusting oneself while acknowledging others’ doubts?
Ans: The poet emphasises self-trust as well as the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, even if it means understanding that people will not always like or agree with you. The poet further tells us that even if we are lied to, we should not stoop to the level of a liar. Even if we are hated, we must not become hateful and not retaliate in the same form. Finally, we should not appear to be better than we actually are, nor should we talk in a manner that does not reflect who we are; we should stick to our true selves.
2. What is the message about dreams and thoughts in the poem?
Ans: The poet asks us to dream, but to not get so caught up in those dreams that we lose touch with our present reality, and as for thoughts, he asks us to think and actively work towards those thoughts rather than merely making those thoughts our aim.
3. What does the poem say about handling criticism and setbacks?
Ans: Oftentimes, our words can be taken out of context or can be twisted by dishonest, unscrupulous people for their own personal benefit or simply to cause us harm.
There are times when we see all our hard work, our dreams, into which we have invested a lifetime of time and effort, meeting with failure. Learning to pick ourselves up even after the hardest of falls is a courageous and commendable act, which one learns by facing hardships along the way.
4. What does it mean to “risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss” in the poem?
Ans: There are times in life when we have a choice to take risks. Sometimes taking those risks costs us everything we have earned so far. In such situations, we should not spend time lamenting over the losses we have faced, we should prepare ourselves to start again from the very beginning and to spend our energy into getting back on our feet.
5. How does the poem emphasise perseverance and determination?
Ans: At moments of despair, “Will” is a very powerful force. It can make us endure that which we ourselves cannot imagine. If we have the willpower to endure, we can “Hold On” in the direst of times, all our intellect, emotions and our body (Nerve, Heart and Sinew) will serve us even when everything seems to be going against us.
6. What qualities does the poem suggest for interacting with both crowds and influential individuals?
Ans: If we are interacting with people in powerful positions, we should not pretend to be someone we are not to impress or gain favours, and we should not forget our own roots. We should be able to live with both commoners and kings, but not lose the idea of ourselves as individuals.
7. What is the ultimate reward mentioned in the poem, and how is it described?
Ans: The final lines of the poem finally reveal the significance of the “Ifs” we had read so far. Rudyard Kipling concludes by saying the world is ours to take, meaning that we can achieve any goal we set our minds to, and no goal is too high. We can conquer the entire world if we wish. Lastly, the poem ends with the note that if we can fulfil every “if” in the poem, we will evolve from a child to a mature and capable individual.
Additional Study Materials
- NIOS Class 12 English Sample Paper
- Chapter 8: The Necklace
- Chapter 9: Three Questions
- Chapter 10: Of Studies
- Chapter 11: Night of the Scorpion
- Chapter 12: Where the Mind is without Fear
