CBSE XI & XII

The Laburnum Tree 

Important Short Answer Type Questions:

1. How is the tree transformed during the bird’s visit?

Ans:

After the goldfinch arrives on the tree, the silent and still Laburnum tree suddenly starts trembling and moving. The whole tree comes to life as the chicks of the goldfinch make a lot of noise as they chitter and trill on seeing their mother.

2. What is the significance of ‘yellow’ in the poem?

Ans:

The flowers of the Laburnum tree and its leaves (in autumn) both are yellow in colour. Apart from this, the goldfinch’s feathers are also yellow in colour. The poem highlights the high security that the mother bird (goldfinch) ensures for her babies and the colour yellow helps in camouflaging the babies. Hence they escape being noticed by any predator.

Ranga's Marriage (Class-XI Snapshots)

INTRODUCTION

Ranga's Marriage is an interesting story of how a person manipulates to get a young boy married to an eleven year old girl in a village. The story dates back to the early days of British rule when English was not used in a big way. Rangappa, the son of a village accountant, is sent to Bangalore to study. His homecoming after six months makes a big event. The curious villagers gather outside Ranga’s house to see how much the boy had changed. The narrator discusses the issue of marriage with Ranga. He is piqued to hear his ideas about marriage. He resolves to get the boy married to a very young and immature eleven year old girl Ratna. He seeks the support of Shastri's astrology to bring Ratna around. Ranga forgets his idealism and settles down happily. The story depicts the life in Indian villages in the past when child marriage was a common practice.

Story of Ranga

The story Ranga's Marriage is narrated by Shyama, a concerned inhabitant of Hosahalli which is located in the state of Mysore (before independence). Shyama is enamored with the place, its beauty and its people.

He loves the mango trees, the village pond and the creeper looking over it. He finds it unfortunate that both the English rulers and his own people have grown oblivious to the heart-fulfilling environment of Hosahalli, a place that finds no place on any cartographic constructions or geographical maps.

He says that the doctor in the village has travelled to many places around the country and even the world and still considers the village to be uniquely special.

The village speaks Kannada even though much has changed with the introduction of English in the casual conversations of the people.

Many people like conversing in the foreign language or incorporating English words in Kannada which Shyama finds disgraceful and disheartening.

Return of the City Boy 

It all started when the village got its first English speaker, the leading male of the story, Rangappa or Ranga. His father is the village accountant who sent him to study in Bangalore.

On his return, the entire village turned up at his house to see how the city had transformed one of their own.

To everyone’s surprise, not much had altered. Ranga was still the same person with the same appearance, clothes, manners and etiquettes as highlighted by his sacred thread (janewara) which is a sign of probity of his caste.

Although many people were disappointed by that, Shyama admired Ranga’s determination to stick to his own customs.

Friendly Advice

Ranga often visits Shyama’s place and Shyama is always delighted to have a chat with him so much so that Shyama encourages him to get married and start a happy married life.

However, Ranga is not sure about marrying at such a young age. He does not want to marry a young woman who does not understand his words or is not mature enough to make intelligent decisions.

He wants to marry somebody he admires and feels that arranged marriages do not provide the room to develop such admiration.

Shyama feels appalled that such a mild- mannered and courteous boy should remain untouched by the beauty and happiness of a sacred relationship like marriage. So, he decides to find Ranga a wife.

Shyama soon finds the right girl. Her name is Ratna and she is Rama Rao's relative. She is young, well behaved and beautiful. She can play the harmonium and is a great singer.

She was brought up in a big city but now lives with her uncle after the death of her parents. He instinctively thinks she will be perfect for Ranga.

Rendezvous at Shyama’s Place

Shyama hatches a plot to introduce Ratna and Ranga to each other. He talks to Rama Rao’s wife and incites her to let Ratna come to his house. It is Friday and Ratna is happy to visit Shyama.

When she arrives, Shyama pleads her to sing for him. Meanwhile, Shyama calls for Ranga to visit him as well. When he reaches the threshold of the house, he is enchanted by the melodious voice and singing of Ratna.

He is intrigued and peeps inside to find out. As soon as Ranga’s body breaks the light coming through the door, Ratna gets spooked and reaches for the corner.

She feels shy. Ranga also feels coy but keeps on staring at Ratna. This makes Ratna nervous and she dashes into another room.

Ranga is truly smitten and inquires about the girl. Shyama delights in Ranga’s anxiety and sufferance and knows he has developed a strong liking for her. As a result, he tells him that the girl is already married.

Ranga becomes crestfallen. All his desires for Ratna come crashing down in his Chest. However, his disappointment reassures Shyama that Ratna is perfect for him.

The Holy Alliance

Shyama schemes with Shastri (an astrologer). He dictates to him what to say in order to make Ranga realize his hidden love for Ratna. Now, he visits the dejected young man and seeing his dispirited look enquires about his situation.

Shyama advises him to visit a doctor but Ranga says that he is fine. He then asks Ranga to accompany him to an astrologer. Now everything goes as per the script. The astrologer sticks to the script and tells Ranga that the cause of all his worries is a woman.

He predicts that Ranga will eventually marry a woman whose name refers to a thing found in oceans, like a pearl (English word for Ratna). He also wishes for their marriage to be happy and successful.

Conclusion

The plan goes ahead without a hitch and the next scene describes Ranga’s visit to Shyama’s house some years later. He has a son named Shyama.

It is like Ranga’s and Ratna's way of thanking Shyama’s matchmaking ability. It was also an English way to show admiration to someone by naming a child after them.

Nonetheless, it was only due to the narrator’s insight and intellect that they got married. Adding to the glad tidings, the couple is also expecting another child (eight months due).

The story ends with Shyama visiting their place for the young Shyama’s third birthday. He plants a peck on the child’s cheeks and places a ring on his finger as a totem of good fortune and security from evil.