Bihar Board Class 9 English Book Solutions Poem 6 Self Introduction
A. Work in small groups and answer the questions orally:
Question 1.
How many members are there in your family?
Answer:
There are five members in my family.
Question 2.
How many among them are female?
Answer:
Two of them are female.
Question 3.
Do you love your mother?
Answer:
Yes, I love my mother very much.
Question 4.
Do you respect her?
Answer:
Yes, I respect her deeply.
Question 5.
How does your father treat your mother?
Answer:
My father treats my mother with love, respect, and equality.
B. Answer the following questions very briefly:
Question 1.
Why does the woman call herself ordinary?
Answer:
The woman calls herself ordinary because her creativity is limited to household work.
Question 2.
To what is an ordinary woman’s creativity confined?
Answer:
An ordinary woman’s creativity is confined to home and children, arranging carpets and curios, labelling books, and tying shoelaces.
Question 3.
Why does the sensitivity of the ordinary woman suffer blows?
Answer:
Her sensitivity suffers because she is unable to express her feelings openly.
Question 4.
How long has the woman been living with her husband?
Answer:
The woman has been living with her husband for a decade.
Question 5.
Why is the woman unable to express her anguish?
Answer:
She is unable to express her anguish because she has become emotionally hardened like a tortoiseshell.
Question 6.
What is the tag which is attached to an ordinary woman?
Answer:
The tag of home and children is attached to an ordinary woman.
Question 7.
With what jobs has the woman been associated?
Answer:
She has been associated with household duties and the upbringing of her children.
Question 8.
How might the woman be made extraordinary?
Answer:
The woman might be made extraordinary by expressing her suppressed emotions, even if it costs her some painful tears.
Question 9.
How does the woman visualise in this connection?
Answer:
She visualises her tears breaking through her silence and giving her the courage to change.
C.1. Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Who is the speaker of the poem? How does she introduce herself?
Answer:
The speaker of the poem is a woman. She introduces herself as an ordinary woman whose creativity is restricted to domestic responsibilities. Her life revolves around home, children, decorating rooms, labelling books, and tying shoelaces.
Question 2.
The second stanza depicts great mental suffering and physical pain of a woman. Elaborate.
Answer:
The second stanza highlights the silent suffering of the woman over many years. She has endured emotional pain for a decade without complaint. Her sensitivity has hardened like a tortoiseshell, trapping her soul inside. Though her soul longs to express itself, she remains silent due to social and emotional constraints.
Question 3.
Do you think that the ‘ordinary woman’ of the first stanza becomes rebellious in the last stanza? Which line(s) indicates it? Explain.
Answer:
Yes, the ordinary woman becomes rebellious in the last stanza. Earlier, she accepts her limitations, but later she desires to break free from them. The lines that indicate this change are:
“To be made extraordinary perhaps
At the cost of a few sad dry tears
That might dare to crack through!”
These lines show her readiness to challenge her confinement and express her true self.
Question 4.
Write a summary of the poem in your own words.
Answer:
The poem presents the inner life of a woman who is confined to domestic duties and denied self-expression. Though she performs her responsibilities silently, she suffers emotionally. Over time, her suppressed feelings harden her sensitivity. However, in the end, she desires to break free from her ordinary life and become extraordinary by expressing her pain and individuality.
Question 5.
The poem depicts the plight of the housewives in general. Do you agree?
Answer:
Yes, I agree. The poem reflects the condition of many housewives who work tirelessly for their families but remain unnoticed and emotionally suppressed. They sacrifice their personal desires and creativity while silently enduring mental pain, which represents a common reality in society.
Question 6.
Comment on the Juxtaposition of carpets and curio in the poem.
Answer:
Carpets and curios symbolise household decoration and material arrangement. Their juxtaposition reflects the limited creative space allowed to women, where their talents are confined to beautifying homes rather than expressing their individuality or ambitions.
C.2. Group Discussion
Question 1.
Gender discrimination has been taking place since time immemorial.
Answer:
Gender discrimination has existed since ancient times. Women have often been denied equal rights, education, and opportunities. Despite progress, many women still face inequality from birth through adulthood. True development of society is impossible without ensuring equality, dignity, and opportunities for women.
Question 2.
How far will the reservation for women in different walks of life help elevate their status in society? Give arguments.
Answer:
Reservation for women helps improve their social, economic, and political status. It provides opportunities for education, employment, and leadership. However, along with reservation, proper education and skill development are essential so that women can realise their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Comprehension Based Questions with Answers
1.
Answers:
The name of the poem is Self-Introduction, and the poet is Neerada Suresh.
The speaker ‘I’ is a woman.
She is confined to her home and children.
The word is “Juxtaposing.”
2.
Answers:
She suffers silently.
Her sensitivity hardens due to prolonged emotional pain.
Her soul wants to break free from confinement.
The word is “Decade.”
3.
Answers:
Ordinariness is the tag attached to her.
She wants to become extraordinary and free from confinement.
She is bound by domestic responsibilities.
She sheds dry tears as a symbol of her suppressed pain and desire for change.