Important Short Questions and answers of MJC 10 Bankura University English Hons ,MJC 10 suggestion 2026

 

Indian Writing in English (Core)

Course Code: A/ENG/502/MJC-10 | Semester: 5

Important 2-Mark Questions & Answers

Unit I: The Novel

R.K. Narayan: The Man-Eater of Malgudi

Q1. Who is the narrator of "The Man-Eater of Malgudi"? Ans: The novel is narrated by Nataraj, a mild-mannered owner of a small printing press in the fictional town of Malgudi.

Q2. Who is Vasu and what is his profession? Ans: Vasu is the antagonist of the novel, a bully and a taxidermist by profession who forcefully occupies the attic of Nataraj’s press.

Q3. What is the significance of the "Blue Curtain" in the printing press? Ans: The blue curtain separates Nataraj's printing machinery from his front parlor, symbolizing the divide between his work life and his social life where he entertains friends.

Q4. How does Vasu die in the novel? Ans: Vasu dies by his own hand; while trying to swat a mosquito on his forehead, he strikes himself with his immense strength, killing himself instantly.

Q5. Who is Rangi? Ans: Rangi is a temple dancer and a woman of "loose morals" in Malgudi who becomes an informant for Nataraj regarding Vasu's plans.

Q6. What mythical creature is Vasu compared to? Ans: Vasu is compared to a "Rakshasa" (demon), specifically Bhasmasura, who possesses immense power but eventually destroys himself.

Q7. Who is Kumar in the novel? Ans: Kumar is the temple elephant whom Vasu plans to shoot and kill during the festival procession.

Q8. Who is Sastri? Ans: Sastri is Nataraj’s loyal employee/compositor who often serves as the voice of reason and traditional wisdom in the story.

Q9. Why does Vasu move into Nataraj's attic? Ans: Vasu initially asks to stay for a few days but forcefully occupies the attic permanently without paying rent, turning it into his workshop.

Q10. What is the central theme of "The Man-Eater of Malgudi"? Ans: The central theme is the conflict between good and evil (dharma vs. adharma), showing that evil contains the seeds of its own destruction.

Anita Desai: Fire on the Mountain

Q1. Who is the protagonist of "Fire on the Mountain"? Ans: The protagonist is Nanda Kaul, an elderly widow living in self-imposed exile in Kasauli.

Q2. What is the name of Nanda Kaul’s house? Ans: Her house is named "Carignano," a desolate and quiet place in the hills of Kasauli.

Q3. Who is Raka? Ans: Raka is Nanda Kaul’s great-granddaughter, a sickly and reclusive child who comes to stay with her.

Q4. How does Raka differ from other children? Ans: Unlike normal children who seek play and attention, Raka loves solitude, ignores her grandmother, and explores the wild hills alone.

Q5. Who is Ila Das? Ans: Ila Das is Nanda Kaul’s childhood friend, a poverty-stricken social worker with a shrill voice who visits Carignano.

Q6. What happens to Ila Das at the end of the novel? Ans: Ila Das is brutally raped and murdered by Preet Singh (whose daughter she tried to save from child marriage) on her way home.

Q7. What lie does Nanda Kaul tell Raka about her past? Ans: She invents stories about her father having a zoo and being an explorer to impress Raka, hiding the reality of her unhappy marriage.

Q8. What does Raka do at the very end of the novel? Ans: Raka sets the forest on fire, proclaiming to her grandmother, "Look, Nani, I have set the forest on fire."

Q9. What does the "Fire" symbolize in the novel? Ans: The fire symbolizes destruction and purification, burning away the lies and the artificial silence of Nanda Kaul's life.

Q10. Why does Nanda Kaul want to live alone? Ans: After a lifetime of fulfilling duties as a Vice-Chancellor’s wife and mother, she is exhausted and desires "stillness" and freedom from human contact.

Unit II: Poetry

H.L.V. Derozio: Freedom to the Slave & The Orphan Girl

Q1. What is the central theme of "Freedom to the Slave"? Ans: The poem celebrates the joy of liberty and the restoration of human dignity when a slave is set free.

Q2. Who is the "Orphan Girl" in Derozio's poem? Ans: She is a young, defenseless girl left alone in a cruel world without parents, facing a bleak future.

Q3. How does nature react to the slave's freedom? Ans: The winds welcome him, and the earth seems to smile, suggesting that nature supports human liberty.

Q4. What does the "chain" symbolize in "Freedom to the Slave"? Ans: The chain symbolizes oppression, degradation, and the physical and mental binding of the human spirit.

Q5. Why does the poet ask for pity for the Orphan Girl? Ans: Because she is young, beautiful, and friendless, and society is likely to exploit her vulnerability.

Q6. What feeling does the slave experience upon becoming free? Ans: He feels a "pulse beat high" and blood running free, signifying the return of his pride and humanity.

Q7. What movement did H.L.V. Derozio lead? Ans: He led the "Young Bengal" movement, inspiring youth with ideas of liberty and rational thinking.

Q8. What is the tone of "The Orphan Girl"? Ans: The tone is sympathetic, melancholic, and critical of a society that ignores the helpless.

Q9. In "Freedom to the Slave," who does the poet say feels the nobility of freedom? Ans: The patriot who fights for his country and the slave who gains his liberty both feel the same noble emotion.

Q10. What literary device is used in "The winds were roaring... to welcome him"? Ans: Personification, as the winds are given human qualities of welcoming the free man.

Kamala Das: My Grandmother's House & The Anamalai Hills

Q1. What is the mood of "My Grandmother’s House"? Ans: The mood is nostalgic, sorrowful, and filled with a longing for the lost innocence and security of childhood.

Q2. Why does the poet say the house "withdrew into silence"? Ans: The house became silent and lifeless after the death of the grandmother, symbolizing the end of love and warmth.

Q3. What does the imagery of "snakes moving among books" suggest? Ans: It suggests desolation, neglect, and the terrifying change that has come over the safe haven of her childhood.

Q4. Who is the "beggar" in "My Grandmother's House"? Ans: The poet (Kamala Das) compares herself to a beggar, knocking at strangers' doors seeking a fraction of the love she once received.

Q5. What is the central theme of "The Anamalai Hills"? Ans: The poem deals with the poet's connection to the landscape, memory, and the pain of personal history embedded in the hills.

Q6. Why did the poet's blood turn "cold like the moon"? Ans: It signifies her fear and the chilling realization of her loneliness after leaving her grandmother's protective care.

Q7. What style of poetry is Kamala Das known for? Ans: She is known for "Confessional Poetry," which openly discusses personal experiences, trauma, and female sexuality.

Q8. How does the poet contrast her past and present? Ans: The past is associated with unconditional love and safety, while the present is marked by a desperate, humiliating search for love.

Q9. What does the "blind window" signify? Ans: It signifies the loss of vision, light, and life in the house, reinforcing the theme of abandonment.

Q10. What emotions are evoked by "The Anamalai Hills"? Ans: Emotions of solitude, a deep bond with nature, and the haunting presence of past memories.

Nissim Ezekiel: Soap & Enterprise

Q1. What type of poem is "Soap"? Ans: "Soap" is a satirical poem written in "Indian English" that humorously depicts a consumer's interaction with a shopkeeper.

Q2. What is the central metaphor in "Enterprise"? Ans: The journey of the pilgrims in the poem is a metaphor for the journey of life, full of initial enthusiasm, struggles, and disillusionment.

Q3. Why is the customer angry in "Soap"? Ans: The customer is angry because the shopkeeper sold him a defective soap but refuses to replace it or apologize.

Q4. What is the final realization in "Enterprise"? Ans: The poet realizes that "Home is where we have to gather grace," meaning fulfillment is found within, not in distant places.

Q5. How does the shopkeeper react in "Soap"? Ans: The shopkeeper is indifferent and dismissive, claiming "Soap is soap," which frustrates the narrator.

Q6. What happens to the group in "Enterprise" as they travel? Ans: The group disintegrates; they argue, some leave, they lose their way, and their initial enthusiasm turns into exhaustion.

Q7. What literary style does "Soap" parody? Ans: It parodies the common errors and sentence structures found in typical Indian English usage.

Q8. What does the "desert patch" in "Enterprise" symbolize? Ans: It symbolizes the hardships, dry phases, and loss of vision that occur during any long endeavor.

Q9. What is the tone of the narrator in "Enterprise" by the end? Ans: The tone is weary and disillusioned, realizing the journey was perhaps unnecessary.

Q10. Why is "Soap" considered a "Very Indian Poem"? Ans: Because it captures the specific cultural nuances, mannerisms, and language of the Indian middle class.

Unit III: Short Stories

Mulk Raj Anand: Two Lady Rams

Q1. Who is Lalla Jhinda Ram? Ans: He is a wealthy contractor and government official who has been knighted (given the title "Sir") by the British government.

Q2. Who are the "Two Lady Rams"? Ans: They are Sukhi and Sakhi, the two wives of Lalla Jhinda Ram.

Q3. What is the main conflict in the story? Ans: The conflict arises when Lalla Jhinda Ram receives an invitation to a Garden Party for himself and "Lady Ram," leading to a fight between his two wives over who will attend.

Q4. How is the conflict resolved? Ans: Lalla Jhinda Ram decides to take both wives to the party, altering the car so they can both sit, thus defying the singular "Lady Ram" protocol.

Q5. What does the story satirize? Ans: It satirizes the British colonial administration's ignorance of Indian customs (like polygamy) and the Indian elite's obsession with titles.

Q6. How are the two wives described? Ans: Sukhi is the elder, traditional wife (50s), while Sakhi is the younger, more modern wife (30s); both are fiercely jealous of each other.

Q7. Why did Lalla Jhinda Ram marry twice? Ans: He married Sakhi because his first wife, Sukhi, could not bear him a son/heir.

Q8. What literary tone does Mulk Raj Anand use? Ans: He uses a humorous and ironic tone to highlight the absurdity of the situation.

Q9. How does the Governor react to seeing two Lady Rams? Ans: The Governor and his wife are initially surprised but eventually amused and accept the situation diplomatically.

Q10. What does the "Knighthood" represent to Jhinda Ram? Ans: It represents the ultimate validation of his success and loyalty to the British Raj, boosting his ego.

Khushwant Singh: A Bride For The Sahib

Q1. Who is the protagonist of "A Bride for the Sahib"? Ans: The protagonist is Santosh Sen, nicknamed "Sunny," an Indian man who considers himself a westernized "Sahib."

Q2. Why is the marriage in the story mismatched? Ans: It is mismatched because Sunny is Westernized and obsessed with hygiene/etiquette, while his wife is a simple, traditional Indian village girl.

Q3. What does Sunny dislike about his wife? Ans: He dislikes her lack of sophistication, her eating habits (eating with hands), and her traditional Indian ways.

Q4. How does the story end? Ans: The story ends tragically with the wife's death (suicide), highlighting the fatal consequences of the cultural gap.

Q5. What is the theme of "A Bride for the Sahib"? Ans: The main theme is the conflict between Westernized Indians (Brown Sahibs) and traditional Indian culture.

Q6. Why did Sunny agree to the marriage? Ans: He agreed largely due to pressure from his mother and perhaps for the dowry, despite his personal preferences.

Q7. What does Sunny do on his wedding night? Ans: He is repulsed by his wife and spends the night avoiding intimacy, focusing on his discomfort.

Q8. What particular obsession does Sunny have? Ans: He is obsessed with Western toilets and cleanliness, viewing Indian habits as "dirty."

Q9. How does this story compare to "Karma"? Ans: Like "Karma" (Sir Mohan Lal), it deals with an anglicized Indian protagonist who despises his own culture and wife, leading to tragedy.

Q10. What does the ending signify about Sunny's life? Ans: It signifies that his superficial adherence to Western values has left him emotionally hollow and destructive to those around him.

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