\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Additional Questions:<\/span><\/p>\nAnswer the following:<\/p>\n Question 1. \nWhat does the poet compare herself to? \nAnswer: \nShe compares herself to the grass.<\/p>\n Question 2. \nHow does the grass try to fulfill itself? \nAnswer: \nIt unfurls underfoot.<\/p>\n Question 3. \nWhat happens to the grass when it tries to raise its head? \nAnswer: \nThe lawn mower flattens it again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Question 4. \nWho is compared to the lawn mower? \nAnswer: \nMan, who suppresses women, is compared to the lawn mower.<\/p>\n Question 5. \nWhat does not die with either the grass or with the woman? \nAnswer: \nThe desire to manifest life does not die with either of them.<\/p>\n Question 6. \nWho are grafted to the earth? \nAnswer: \nThose who cannot bear the defeat of their courage are grafted to the earth.<\/p>\n Question 7. \nWhy is the grass compared to a woman? \nAnswer: \nThe grass, being on the ground, is trampled upon by people walking over it all the time. Similarly, men push women down all the time without letting them make their decisions freely or act independently.<\/p>\n Question 8. \nWhat is the lawn mower obsessed with? \nAnswer: \nThe lawn mower is obsessed with flattening the grass into velvet. As soon as it raises its head, the lawn mower mows it down.<\/p>\n Question 9. \nHow is the lawn mower comparable with man? \nAnswer: \nThe lawn mower is comparable with man because as soon as a woman tries to be independent and tries to reveal herself (through her opinions and thoughts), man puts her down. It is like the lawn mower which flattens the grass as soon as it raises its head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Question 10. \nHow are the earth and woman similar? \nAnswer: \nThe earth and woman have a strong desire to manifest life. They represent the spirit of life. Nothing stops them from holding on to life against all odds.<\/p>\n Question 11. \nWho is grafted to the earth? \nAnswer: \nThose who cannot see themselves defeated or who cannot overcome the abuse are grafted to the earth. They need support, like the straw.<\/p>\n Question 12. \nIn what ways is the woman’s position comparable to that of the grass? \nAnswer: \nThe poem presents the feelings of a woman in a male ‘ dominated society. It shows the way women are treated through an interesting metaphor. The woman identifies herself with the grass. For, the grass is trampled upon by people walking over it all the time. By mowing it from time to time, the grass is tamed and cut. Similarly, a woman is not free to act or to take decisions independently.<\/p>\n Her freedom to do anything is curbed. Man, like the lawn mower which pulls down the grass, keeps pulling the woman down. The grass is soaked by water, scorched by the sun, and pushed down by the lawn mower, all trying to annihilate it. So, the woman’s position in a male-dominated society is comparable to that of the grass.<\/p>\n Question 13. \nHow does the speaker in the poem equate herself with the earth? \nAnswer: \nWomen, as well as the earth, have a strong survival instinct. They do not get totally destroyed under any severe conditions. Nature has gifted them with the power to resist all odds and survive even in the worst conditions. Their desire to manifest life does not die. However much men may struggle to put her down, she springs back to life. Under the worst possible conditions too, the earth strives hard to put out a shoot from a dried plant. Therefore, the woman here equates herself with the earth.<\/p>\n Explain the following with reference to the context:<\/span><\/p>\nQuestion 1. \n“It has to unfurl underfoot to fulfill itself’. \nAnswer: \nThis line is taken from the poem, ‘The Grass is Really Like Me’ by Kishwar Naheed, a well known poet of Pakistan. \nIn the line above, the speaker in the poem compares her position to that of the grass. She does not have the freedom to think and express. She has to play a subservient role to man. She is oppressed by him. She cannot take decisions because men keep pushing her down all the time.<\/p>\n Similarly with the grass; it cannot grow freely. The moment it grows, the lawn mower is ready to flatten it, as do the people who trample over it. So, the grass, being soft and giving way, slowly opens out or unfurls under the trampling foot. It does not raise its head. A woman too cannot show that she is capable. She is expressive only in hiding.<\/p>\n Question 2. \nBut neither the earth’s nor woman’s desire to manifest life dies. \nAnswer: \nThe line above is taken from the poem, ‘The Grass is Really Like Me’. The poem is written by Kishwar Naheed, a well-known poet of Pakistan.<\/p>\n In these lines, the poet compares herself with earth. At the smallest opportunity and under the least congenial conditions, the earth brings forth life. The desire to manifest life cannot be curbed or killed. A woman too, like the earth, is full of spirit. Her energy is used for creating life. So, it is not easy to suppress a woman. Her desire to manifest life springs forth.<\/p>\n Multiple Choice Questions:<\/span><\/p>\nQuestion 1. \nThe poet compares her life to \nA) the life of another woman \nB) the life of a lawn mower \nC) the life of a blade of grass \nD) None of the above. \nAnswer: \nC) the life of a blade of grass<\/p>\n Question 2. \n‘It has to unfurl underfoot to fulfil itself means it has to \nA) wilt down and die \nB) prove its existence \nC) get trodden by people \nD) dry up and become straw. \nAnswer: \nB) prove its existence<\/p>\n Question 3. \n“The grass is also like me”. The word ‘me’ refers to \nA) the poet only \nB) people in general \nC) women in general \nD) one particular woman. \nAnswer: \nC) women in general<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Question 4. \nThe lawn mower in the case of the poet is \nA) man \nB) a woman \nC) the people \nD) the government. \nAnswer: \nA) man<\/p>\n Question 5. \n‘How you strive and endeavour to a level woman down too’. means men push down women whenever the women \nA) assert themselves \nB) show what they are \nC) show what they can do \nD) All of the above. \nAnswer: \nD) All of the above.<\/p>\n Question 6. \n‘The lawn mower obsessed with flattening it into velvet’ The figure of speech employed here is \nA) Simile \nB) Metaphor \nC) Personification \nD) Oxymoron. \nAnswer: \nC) Personification<\/p>\n Question 7. \nWomen are oppressed constantly and hence their desire to manifest themselves \nA) dies forever \nB) never dies \nC) never tries to show itself \nD) accepts defeat. \nAnswer: \nB) never dies<\/p>\n Question 8. \nThe women who are like straw \nA) accept defeat and never grow \nB) are stuck down at the bottom \nC) are united with the earth \nD) All of the above. \nAnswer: \nD) All of the above.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Appreciation:<\/span><\/p>\nA1. Read the poem silently and choose words from the bubble that describe the mood of the poet. Give reasons for your answer. \n \nAnswer:<\/p>\n |