Two gentlemen of Verona - A.J.Cronin : Questions and answer| CBSE CLASS-X NCERT QUESTIONS

Q) Why didn't Luigi the driver approve of the two boys?

Answer: The driver didn't approve the narrator's decision to buy wild strawberries from the two boys because they were untidy and poorly dressed. Moreover they would get better strawberries in the city of Verona.

Q) Why were the narrator and his companion impressed by the two boys?

Answer: The narrator and his companion were impressed by the earnest appeal in the dark eyes of Nicola and Jacopo.

Q) Why was the author surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo working as shoe-shine boys?

Answer: The author was surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo working as shoe-shine boys, the previous day when he met them he thought they were fruit sellers.

Q) How were the boys useful to the author?

Answer: Nicola and Jacopo were extremely useful to the author. They were ready to buy him a pack of American cigarettes,book seats for the opera or find him the name of a good restaurant. They also helped the author as a tourist guide.

Q) Why were the boys in the square at night? What character traits are manifested?

Answer: Nicola and Jacopo were in that deserted square at night because they were waiting to sell the unsold newspaper to the passengers returning from Padua.
   The characters traits exhibited through this act are that the boys were diligent, determined and honest.

Q) What do you learn from "We are not complaining Sir"?

Answer: The two brothers Nicola and Jacopo were sincerely and honestly working hard to earn sufficient money for the medical expenses of their ailing sister, Lucia who was suffering from tuberculosis of spine. Since they were determined and diligent,they did not expect sympathy or help from anyone. They had no grievance about their I'll fate. So the boys replied rather humbly.

Q) Why didn't the boys disclose their problems?

Answer: The brothers, Nicola and Jacopo did not expect sympathy or help from anybody. They were brave enough to struggle against all odds, in order to fulfil their purpose of accumulating money for their sister Lucia's medical expenses. They proved to be quite matured and so they were evasive their plans.

Q) Justify the  title ' Two gentlemen of Verona' .

Answer: The two brothers Nicola and Jacopo braved the obstacles of life with utmost sincerity, diligence and honesty. They were rather precocious. These are true qualities of a gentleman. So the title is justified.

The Seven ages of Man- William Shakespeare: Guide notes and answers| C.U. COMPULSORY ENGLISH

Q1) Briefly describe the stages of a man's life as Shakespeare says it in his poem "The Seven ages of a man".

Answer:- The poem  "The Seven ages of a man" by Shakespeare talks about growing up and growing old of a human. The poet talks alot about the various series of changes that occurs physically as well as mentally as a man grows old . The poet metaphorically states that the life is like a stage where men are fated to play many roles in his life. Shakespeare describes the stages of a man's life with a touch of satire and cynicism, along with the depiction of each of them with great economy of words.
             The first stage of life is that of an infant. Here, the infant weeps, cries and pukes as are the characteristics of this stage. He is helpless and totally dependent. The second stage as Shakespeare describes it , is the school going age. The school boy sulks as he don't want to go to school. He trudges unwillingly like a snail, although he has a bright face. In the third stage, he plays the role of a lover who heaves deep sighs in absence of his beloved. Energy , enthusiasm,rashness and patriotism finds their way into the soldier which is the fourth stage.  A soldier can sacrifice even his life for short-lived reputation. Then comes the judge in the fifth stage which is perhaps the best of all. Here, the man is prosperous,well-fed, fierce-eyed , stern and impressive. He is full of wise sayings and examples from contemporary life to prove his point. But in the sixth stage, man becomes weak and thin. He looks funny with slippers, loose clothes, spectacles on nose and pouch on sides. His clothes of youth now become loose for his shrunk shanks and thin  body. In last stage of life- second childishness, mental dementia and death: he loses his status and becomes a non-entity. He becomes dependent on others like a child and is in need of constant support before finally dying. Thus with senile the life of man end and so happens his exit.

Q2) What message does Shakespeare's 'The Seven Ages of Man' convey?

Answer:-. The evergreen literary figure, William Shakespeare in his poem 'The Seven Ages of Man' , which is spoken by melancholic Jacque in the comedy  'As You like it' , has expressed the underlying sublime truth of life which is that life like a river always flows towards its end i.e. the death which is the final stage. Life of a Man is always about growing; growing from an infant to a child, child to lover, then a soldier to a justice and then growing old to finally senile and death. There is nothing permanent in a man's life. On one hand the poem seems to talk about changes that body and mind undergoes when a person grows. With the change in their age the priorities even change. From a child being concerned about fun and lesson then love and then finally money and security. But on the other hand the poet takes it to another level, the poem talks about the inevitability of change. In this world of mortal everything changes while change being the only thing constant and death being the ultimate change. Shakespeare's mentioning 'mere oblivion' in the ending line gives some sort of finality to his ideas , showing that although we are living still we'll have to die. Thus all achievement in this physical world would evade, as nothing can transcend time; taking life seriously can help us achieve success in a lifetime and make the best of life but whatever we bag all ends with death as the curtain of life falls.