Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT.

, Class-X 21

SECTION C : LITERATURE
CHAPTER-1
A LETTER TO GOD – By G. L. Fuentes

Revision Notes
Introduction
‘A Letter to God’ is a story of extreme faith in God. A natural calamity leaves Lencho, a hard-working farmer,
in distress. The farmer writes a letter to God asking him to send money. The chapter concludes in a very ironic
situation.

Summary
Lencho was a poor but hardworking farmer. His house was on the top of a hill and that was the only house in the
valley. He hoped for a good crop but his fields needed rain or at least a shower. He waited for the rain and it did
come. One day, it started drizzling. In the beginning, Lencho felt the falling rain drops as ‘new silver coins’ falling
from the sky. But gradually, the rain transformed into a hail storm. The hailstones fell for an hour. It destroyed
his crops completely. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. He thought that his family would go hungry for the
whole year unless they found someone who could help them. Suddenly his heart was filled with hope. He had
firm faith in God. Lencho knew how to read and write. The following Sunday, he wrote a letter to God mentioning
his destroyed crops and asked him for money so that he could sow his field again. Then he put the letter in an
envelope, addressed it to ‘God’ and went to the post office. He affixed a stamp on it and dropped it in the mail-box.
The postman, who took the letter out of the mail-box saw the letter and showed it to the postmaster. Everyone in
the post office had a hearty laugh. But immediately the postmaster realised the man’s predicament and unshakable
faith in God. He decided to help the man. He discussed with his colleagues and all of them decided to part with
some money for an act of charity. They collected money, put it in an envelope and addressed it to Lencho. This letter
contained a single word in the form of a signature: God.
The next Sunday, Lencho went to the post office. The
postmaster handed him the letter. Lencho was not at
Key Words
all surprised on receiving a letter from God. He had 1. Peso: currency of several Latin American
unshakable faith that God would reply in the form of Countries
money and he did receive it. He opened the envelope
2. Amiable: friendly and pleasant
but became angry on counting the money. There
were only seventy pesos in the envelope, whereas he 3. Contentment: satisfaction
had asked for one hundred. He knew God could not
have made a mistake. Immediately, he wrote another letter to God, put it in the mail-box and went out.
The postmaster took out the letter from the mail-box and opened it. Lencho had requested God to send the rest
of the money i.e., thirty pesos as he had received only seventy pesos. Lencho had a feeling that the people at the
post office had cheated him by taking out some money from God’s envelope. So, he wrote that God should not
send money through mail as according to him, the post office employees were a bunch of crooks.

CHAPTER-2
NELSON MANDELA : LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
– By Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Revision Notes
Introduction
The chapter is an extract from Mandela’s autobiography ‘Long Walk to Freedom’. It provides us a glimpse of the
early life of Nelson Mandela, his education, thirty years in prison and the pains he had suffered in his young age.
It also recounts his fight for the freedom of his own people who were tortured by the whites.

Summary
The oath taking ceremony of Nelson Mandela, the first black President of South Africa and his colleagues took place
on 10th May 1994. It was a historic occasion. Dignitaries and representatives of 140 countries came to attend it. The
ceremony took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater, formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. First, Mr. De
Klerk, the 2nd Deputy President and then Thabo Mbeki, the 1st Deputy President were sworn in. Nelson Mandela
took oath as the President. He pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and devote himself to the well-being
of the republic and its people.
22 Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT., Class-X

Then President Mandela addressed the guests. He welcomed and thanked them for having come to take possession
with the people of his country for a common victory of justice, peace and human dignity.
After getting political freedom, his government pledged to liberate people from the bondage of poverty, deprivation,
suffering, gender and other discriminations. He wished the sun of freedom to shine on his country forever.
After the ceremony, the display of military force was carried out. Finally, the jets left off smoke trails of different
colours, e.g., black, red, green, blue and golden colour of the new South African flag. In the end, two National
Anthems were sung by the whites and the blacks.
Later on, that day, Mandela reformed history. In the first decade of the 20th Century, a few years after Anglo-Boer
War before his birth, the white skinned patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination
against the dark skinned people of South Africa. It was the birth of Apartheid, the harshest in human creation. Now,
in the last decade of the 20th century, the system has been overturned forever, recognising the rights of all people
irrespective of the colour of their skin or religion.
He remembered the suffering and courage of thousands of patriots who participated in the long struggles but were
not there to witness the fruit of their achievement.
It was a reign of oppression and cruelty that created a deep wound in African people. But deep oppression
produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Yusuf Dadoos. The Chief Luthulis, the Bram Fischers, the
Robert Sobukwes, etc.— men of unparallel courage, wisdom and generosity. Mandela thinks South Africa’s real
wealth is her people who are finer, truer than the purest diamonds.
His comrades taught him what courage meant.
It is not the absence of fear but victory over it. No one is born to hate another on the basis of colour of skin or
religion. If they can learn to hate, then why not learn to love which comes naturally. He believed in the goodness
of man that never dies.
Nelson Mandela was of the opinion that every man has twin obligations, one towards his family and the other
towards his people and his country. In the reign of Apartheid, if one tried to fulfill his duty towards his people, he
was ripped off his family and home.
Mandela said that he was born free. He had the freedom to run in the fields, swim in the stream and ride on a bull.
Boyhood freedom was an illusion. As a student he wanted transitory freedom—freedom to stay out at night, to
read books of his choice. As a young man, he yearned for basic honourable freedoms of achieving his potential,
of earning, of marrying and having a family. When he became a young man and joined the African National
Congress Party, he first wanted freedom only for himself and then for all his people and his country. Both need
to be liberated. The oppressor is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice and narrow mindedness. The oppressor and the
oppressed, both are robbed of their humanity.

Key Words
1. Ampitheatre: a building without a roof, with many rows of seats rising in steps
2. Emancipation: freedom from restriction
3. Discrimination: Being treated differently or unfavourably
3. Spectacular array: An impressive display

CHAPTER-3
TWO STORIES ABOUT FLYING
– By Liam O'Flaherty

Topic-1 (A) His First Flight

Revision Notes
Introduction
This imaginary story conveys the message that one learns by taking courage and not by sitting idle. A young
seagull is fed lovingly by his parents. But when the time comes for him to fly and feed himself, he feels afraid. At
last, his mother hits upon a plan by persuading him with food in her beak. And the seagull finally learns how to
fly.

Summary
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away. When he
wanted to fly, he could not do so. He was afraid of flying. When his brothers and sister flew, he failed to gather
the courage to fly. He was really very sad. His father and mother came to him. They asked him to fly. They even
rebuked him. They threatened if he did not fly, he would die of hunger there. But he could not move.
Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT., Class-X 23
That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then, no one had come near him. He had watched his parents and brothers
and sister flying. His parents had been perfecting his brothers and sister how to dive for fish. They called him to fly.
But he could not.
The sun was rising. It was getting very hot. He felt the heat. He had not eaten for long. He had found a dried piece
of a fish tail. But it was not enough. There was not even a single piece of food anywhere for him. He had gone
forward and backward on the ledge. But he couldn’t fly. He wanted to reach his parents. There was a deep sea
below. The ridge was high.
The seagull closed his eyes standing on one leg. He had the other leg hidden under his wing. He pretended to
sleep. He thought that his parents didn’t take notice of him. However, mother was looking at him. He saw her
tearing at a piece of fish at her feet. He was mad to see the food. He gave out a sound to get it. His mother replied
in a sound and looked at him. She picked a piece of the fish. She flew across to him with it. He leaned out tapping
the rock with his feet. His mother flew across trying to get nearer to him. The seagull had the food within the reach
of his beak. But he could not get at it.
The seagull waited a moment in surprise. He wondered why his mother did not come nearer. He was so mad
with hunger that he dived at the fish. He fell outwards with a scream and downwards into space. His mother had
swooped upwards. As he passed beneath her, he heard the swish of her wings. Then a great fear caught him. His
heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted for a moment. The next moment, he felt his wings spread
outwards. He felt the wind rushing against his breast feathers. It rushed under his stomach and against his wings.
He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring slowly downwards and upwards. He was no longer afraid.
The seagull gave out a joyous scream. He soared higher calling ‘ga, ga, ga’. His mother gave out ‘gaw-col-ah’. His
father flew over him screaming. Then he saw his brothers and sister flying around him. They were roaring and
diving.
Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly. He commended himself to dive and soar. He
was near the sea now, flying straight over it. He saw a vast green sea beneath him. His parents and his brothers
and sister had landed on the green surface of water ahead of him. They were calling him to do the same thing. He
dropped his leg to stand on the green sea. But his legs sank into it. He cried with fear. He tried to rise again flapping
his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger. He could not rise. His feet sank into the green sea. His belly
touched it but he sank no further. He was floating on it. Around him was his family, crying and praising him. It was
offering him scraps of dog-fish.
He had made his first flight.

Key Words
1. Rebuked: To criticise harshly
2. Threatened: Feeling insecured
3. Ledge: A narrow cliff
4. Joyous: Full of joy
5. Scraps: Pieces, fragments

Topic-2 (B) Black Aeroplane

Revision Notes
Introduction
This is a mysterious story. The author was flying his Dakota aeroplane. Suddenly, he was caught in a big cloud
and his compass, radio and other instruments failed. There was not much fuel in his plane. Suddenly he saw a
black aeroplane near him. The pilot in that plane guided him. As a result, he was able to land safely. But he was
greatly surprised when the woman at the control centre told him that there had been no other plane except the
writer’s Dakota in the sky that night.

Summary
The author says that he was flying an aeroplane at 1 o’clock at night. The moon was coming up in the east behind
him. Stars were shining in the clear sky above him. He was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France, back to
England. He was dreaming of his holiday. He was looking forward to being with his family.
He decided to call Paris control. He then radioed to it. He told it that he was on his way to England. Paris control
acknowledged. It advised him to turn twelve degrees west.
He duly turned to that direction. Everything was going well. Paris was about 150 kilometers behind him. Then he
saw the storm clouds. They looked like black mountains in front of him. He knew he could not fly up and over
them.
He decided to go back to Paris. But he also wanted to get home. So, he took the risk and flew into the storm. He
could see nothing outside his aeroplane. Everything was black. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air.
He looked at the compass. It was gone. He tried to contact Paris control. He was lost in the storm.
24 Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT., Class-X

Then in the black clouds, he saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings. He could see it flying next to him
in the storm. He was glad to see another person. He was signaling to follow him. The author thought he was trying
to help him. So, he followed him. He flew for half an hour. He had fuel to last for five or ten minutes. He began to
feel frightened. Then he started to go down.
Suddenly, he was on the runway. He looked for his friend in the black aeroplane. He wanted to thank him. But the
sky was empty. He went into the control tower. He asked the woman sitting there where he was. She looked at him
strangely and then she laughed. She said that there was no other aeroplane except that of his.
The author was wonder struck. He wondered who had helped him to arrive there. He was without a compass or a
radio and without any more fuel in his tanks, who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane, flying in the storm
without lights.

Key Words
1. Twisted: Coiled, wound spirally
2. Compass: an electronic device used to determine the cardinal directions.

CHAPTER-4
FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
– By Anne Frank

Revision Notes
Introduction
This is a story of a young girl named Anne Frank. The story is based on her diary. Anne is a Jewish girl who has
to go into hiding during the World War to avoid the Nazis. She shares her experiences in the story when she is
depressed. The chapter is an excerpt from the ‘Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne Frank.

Summary
A thirteen-year old school girl, Anne Frank was under some depression and despair. She thought of the saying,
“Paper has more patience than people.” Then she started writing a diary but she was in need of a real friend and
who could be more than a diary.
The writer explains that no one believed that the girl was alone in the world because she was actually not alone.
She had her loving parents, a sister and thirty other people. She had a decent family except her one true friend.
With friends one can have a good time. We can talk of ordinary things everyday but we won’t get closer. Even we
cannot confide in one another. Since the written facts cannot be changed, Anne started writing the diary. That was
her everlasting friend. She called that friend ‘Kitty’.
Anne wrote that her father was the most adorable person. At the age of thirty six, he got married to Anne’s mother,
Edith. In 1926, her sister Margot was born. Then she was born on 12th June, 1929. They lived in Germany. In
1933, her father emigrated to Holland. She along with Margot, went to Aachen to stay with their grandmother. By
December, both the sisters went to Holland. There, she started studying at the Montessori Nursery School. When
she was in sixth class, Mrs. Kuperus was her headmistress. At the end of the year, there was a farewell function. The
separation from head mistress was full of tears.
Anne loved her grandmother very much. Her grandmother fell ill in the summer of 1941. She had an operation
but she died in January, 1942. Her death was all the more troublesome. At Anne’s birthday celebrations, a separate
candle was lit for the grandmother. In her diary, Anne wrote that all the four members were doing well. She was
much dedicated to her diary. This event was written by Anne on 20th June, 1942 on Saturday.
In her diary, Anne made a mention of her school-experience. The complete class was nervous about their going to
the next form. Some of the students had made bets and staked all their savings. Regarding her, they were declaring
‘Pass’ but Anne was not sure of maths. All had been telling one another not to lose heart.
There were nine teachers. Mr. Keesing taught Maths. He remained annoyed with Anne because of her talkative
nature. So, he had given her some extra work, to write an essay on the title ‘A Chatter Box‘.
After the homework, Anne started thinking on the essay. An idea flashed in her mind. She wrote “Talking
is a student’s trait and I would do my best to control it. But I won’t be able to cure this habit since my
mother is also talkative. So, moving from the inherited trait cannot be done.” On reading her arguments,
Mr. Keesing had a good laugh.
Then the teacher gave her another essay, ‘An Incorrigible Chatter Box‘. It was a sort of punishment for Anne for
talking in class. Anne wrote it and handed it in. For two whole lessons, nothing went wrong. But in the third lesson,
Mr. Keesing, again, was annoyed with her and gave her an essay to write on ‘Quack Quack Quack, said Mistress
Chatterbox’. At this topic, the whole class roared. Anne too laughed. Though Anne tried for this essay but her friend
Sanne became ready to help her. In a way the teacher was playing a joke on her but in other words it was a joke on
him. So, Anne wrote this essay like a poem. Anne read the poem in the class. It stated, “There was a mother duck
and a father Swan with three ducklings. The ducklings were beaten to death by their father since they quacked
Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT., Class-X 25
too much“. It was Anne’s good luck that the teacher took it in the right way. He read the poem, gave his own
comments. After that Anne was allowed to talk and no extra work was given. Since then, Mr. Keesing too started
making jokes.

Key Words
1. Listless: With no energy or interest
2. Confide: To tell personal things privately to a person one trusts.
3. Quaking in its boots: Shaking with fear and nervousness.

CHAPTER-5
GLIMPSES OF INDIA
– Lucio Rodrigues

Topic-1 A Baker from Goa

Revision Notes
Introduction
‘A Baker from Goa’ is a pen portrait of a traditional Goan village baker who still has an important place in his
society. The narrator is travelling down the memory lane thinking about the loaves of bread, a baker delivered at
his home, in his childhood, every morning.

Summary
Goa is very much influenced by the Portuguese. Their traditional work can be still seen there. The Portuguese are
famous for preparing loaves of bread.
The writer talks about his childhood days in Goa when the baker used to visit their home as their friend. He
used to visit the house twice a day. In the morning, his jingling sound of the bamboo woke them from sleep.
They all ran to meet him. The loaves were purchased by the man-servant of the house. The villagers were much
fond of the sweet bread known as ‘bol’. The marriage gifts were meaningless without it. So, the bakers’ furnace
in the village was the most essential thing. The lady of the house prepared sandwiches on the occasion of her
daughter’s engagement. In those days, the bread sellers wore a particular dress known as ‘Kabai’. It was a single
piece long frock up to the knees. Even today, they can be seen wearing a half pant that reaches just below the
knees. People usually comment that he is dressed like a ‘pader’. Baking was a profitable profession in the olden
days. The baker and his family never starved and they looked happy and prosperous.

Key Words
1. Bol: Sweet bread
2. Starved: extremely hungry

Topic-2 Coorg
– Lokesh Abrol

Revision Notes
Introduction
‘Coorg’ is a coffee producing area in Karnataka State of India. It is situated midway between Mysore and the
coastal town of Mangalore. This land is famous for its rainforests and spices. The writer seems to be fascinated
by the beauty of the place and says that it must have come from the Kingdom of God. It is the smallest district of
Karnataka.

Summary
Coorg is a heavenly place which lies midway between Mysore and Mangalore. It is the smallest district in
Karnataka and has evergreen forests, spices and coffee plantations. The best season is between September and
March when the weather is perfect for a visit to Coorg.
26 Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT., Class-X

The people are of Greek or Arabic descent. It is rumoured that a part of Alexander’s army drifted here and
found it impossible to return. They married among the locals, so their traditions and rites may be different from
other Indians. Some people say that Coorgis are of Arabic descent as many people wear a long black coat with
embroidered waist belt which is similar to the kuffia worn by the Arabs.
The people of Coorg are known for their hospitality and recount many tales of bravery. General Cariappa, the
first Army Chief was a Coorgi. The Kodavus are the only people in India to carry firearms without a license.
A variety of wildlife like the Mahseer– a large fresh water fish, kingfishers, squirrels, langurs and elephants can
be seen here.
Coorg is also well-known for high energy adventures like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock-climbing, etc.
The Brahmagiri hills give the climbers an awe-inspiring view of Coorg. A walk across the rope bridge leads to the
sixty-four acre island of Nisargadhama.
Bylakuppe in Coorg, is India’s largest settlement of Buddhist monks. These Buddhist monks can be seen here
dressed in red, ochre and yellow robes.

Topic-3 Tea from Assam – Arup Kumar Datta

Revision Notes
Introduction
This is a very short description of Assam, a North-Eastern State in India. This state is famous for its tea plantations.
In this extract Pranjol, a youngster from Assam is Rajvir’s classmate at a school in Delhi. Pranjol’s father is a
manager of a tea-garden in upper Assam and Pranjol has invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer
vacation.

Summary
‘Tea from Assam’ is an interesting story about tea, its history and significance. Two boys Rajvir and Pranjol are
travelling to Assam. Rajvir tells Pranjol that over 8,00,000,000 cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the
world.
The train passes through green hills with a sea of tea bushes as far as can be seen. Rajvir is very excited but
Pranjol, who has been brought up on a plantation, does not share his excitement. Rajvir then tells him about the
various legends—Indian and Chinese—behind tea. He tells him how a Chinese emperor by chance discovered
tea, back in 2700 BC. Another story was about how ten tea plants grew out of eyelids of Bodhidharma, a Buddhist
ascetic.
These words ‘Chai’ and ‘Chini’ are Chinese words. It was only in the sixteenth century that tea came to Europe.
By now, they had reached Marian junction where they got down and set off for Dhekiabari Tea Estate. On both
sides of the road, there were tea bushes with women plucking tea leaves. Pranjol’s father told Rajvir that he
would tell them many more things about tea plantations.

CHAPTER-6
MIJBIL, THE OTTER
– By Gavin Maxwell

Revision Notes
Introduction
Gavin Maxwell lives in a cottage in Camusfearna, in the west Highlands in Scotland. He is fond of keeping pets.
After the death of his pet dog, Jennie, he was too sad to think of a dog again. The author is in Basra city of Iraq.
On a visit there, he expresses his wish to domesticate an otter. He takes this otter to England where he has flat of
his own. He had some interesting experiences during his air journey from Basra to Paris and London.

Summary
The story begins with the author travelling to Basra along with his friend. During their journey, the author
expresses his desire to domesticate an otter because after he had lost his pet dog, life had become lonely for him.
His friend suggested that he should get one from the Marshes along the river Tigris in Iraq. When they reached the
destination, they found that only the friend's mail had arrived. After a few days, the friend left while the narrator
was still waiting to receive his mail. Upon receiving it, he went to his room only to find an otter (brought to him in
a sack) accompanied by two Arabs with a note. It was a gift from his friend. The narrator named the otter, Mijbil
or shortly, Mij. It took some time for Mij to open up and get acquainted with his surroundings. He was covered in
Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT., Class-X 27
mud to an extent that it took almost a month of cleaning and washing to reveal his actual colour. Mij loved playing
with water so much so that he even learnt to open the tap on his own. He believed that each drop of water should
be squished and splashed till the bowl had been emptied. Everything was going on smoothly in Basra, but now it
was time to fly back to London. British Airlines did not allow animals, so he had to book another flight that allowed
Mij with a condition that he had to be carried in a box. The narrator put him in a box an hour before the flight so
that Mij could get accustomed to it and then left for a quick meal. When he retuned, he found that the box was still
but Mij had created a mess by destroying the inner lining. As a result, blood was dripping out of the holes. Scared
as he was, he hurried. They were far away from the airport and there were only ten minutes left for the flight to
take off. He cleaned it all, hurried in a cab and managed to reach just in time. He explained the series of events to a
very kind and generous air hostess who advised him to keep the box in his lap. Gaven developed deep admiration
for the air hostess as she was very kind to him.
As soon as he opened the box, the otter leapt out and disappeared there by creating a chaos. Passengers were
frightened. A lady climbed up a chair and in an attempt, to get hold of Mij, the author got himself covered in curry.
The air hostess offered help and brought him back to Gaven and finally, they reached London. Mij was fond of
playing with ping-pong balls and marbles. He even developed a game with the author’s damaged suitcase. It could
keep him engrossed for a long period of time. Narrator took him for walks while taking the lead and played with
him. People of London, being unfamiliar with otters, had wild guesses about what Mij was. Some thought it to be
a baby seal, squirrel or even a hippo. The most shocking reaction came when a labourer digging the hole asked the
author, “What is that supposed to be?”

Key Words
1. Squished: to squeeze
2. Domesticate: to adapt to live with humans

CHAPTER-7
MADAM RIDES THE BUS
– By Vallikkannen

Revision Notes

Introduction
This is a sensitive story of an eight-year old girl, Valli’s first bus journey into the world outside her village. At a
very tender age, she tries to understand the mystery of life and death in her own terms.

Summary
‘Madam Rides The Bus’ is the story of a young girl who travels for the first time outside her village by a bus.
Valliammai, Valli for short, was an eight-year-old girl who wanted to know a number of things. She had no one to
play with. A bus ran between her village and the nearest town and Valli longed to travel by that bus.
Listening to people who had travelled by the bus, she gathered a little details about the trip. She decided to gather
enough money to travel by it. When she had the required money, she went on the bus.
The conductor was surprised to see a young girl, travelling by herself but jokingly called her ‘Madam’ and offered
her the front seat. Valli observed everything very carefully e.g., the trees that seemed to be running towards them,
a cow that suddenly moved in front of the bus and so on.
When they reached the town, Valli gaped at everything in amazement—the big shops and so on. The conductor
asked her to get down and have a look at the sights but Valli refused. She said that she had come only for the bus
ride. The conductor offered to buy a cold drink for her but she refused.
On the journey back, Valli saw a young cow dead by the roadside. The conductor told Valli that it was the same cow
that they had seen earlier. Valli felt sad. The memory of the cow haunted her. When they reached the village, the
conductor told her to come again, but to remember to bring the fare. When Valli reached home, she found an aunty
with her mother. Her mother asked her where she had been. Valli did not replied but only smiled secretively.

Key Words
1. Longed: Have a strong desire or wish
2. Haunted: Tormented
3. Secretively: Hiding feelings, thoughts or action from others
28 Oswaal CBSE Chapterwise & Topicwise Revision Notes, ENGLISH LANG. & LIT., Class-X

CHAPTER-8
THE SERMON AT BENARES
– By Betty Renshaw

Revision Notes
Introduction
‘The Sermon at Benares’ is a chapter written by Betty Renshaw. The chapter covers the journey of Gautam
Buddha from princehood to his saintly life. After seeing the suffering of the world, he decided to give up all
worldly pleasures and sought enlightenment. He finally attained salvation under a tree at Bodhgaya.
Summary
Gautam Buddha (563 B.C. to 483 B.C.) was a prince. His parents had named him Siddhartha Gautama. He had been
shielded from the sufferings of the world. At the age of twenty five, he saw a sick man, an aged man and a dead
man. He also saw an ascetic begging for alms. Unable to understand that, he went in search of spiritual knowledge.
After wandering for seven years, he sat under a Peepal tree and vowed that he would stay there until he got
enlightenment. He got that after a week and named the tree as ‘Tree of Wisdom’. He himself came to be known as
Buddha.
He gave his first sermon at Benares. This sermon contained ten important points. These points were conveyed
through the story about Kisa Gautami whose only son had died. She went to people asking medicine for him. At
last, a man told her to go to Buddha, the Sakyamuni.
Buddha told her that he would cure her son if she brought some mustard seeds from a house where no death has
taken place. Kisa went from house to house, but was unable to find one where no death had been seen.
She finally realised that death was common to all and no one could avoid dying. No one can save their relatives.
People weep over their dead ones. It is only the wise who do not grieve as they have accepted the truth.
If a person weeps, his sufferings only become greater. Those who do not grieve have peace of mind and will
overcome sorrow.
Key Words
1. Enlightenment: To give knowledge or understanding
2. Salvation: Process of being saved.
3. Grieve: To cause sorrow or distress to

CHAPTER-9
THE PROPOSAL
– By Anton Chekhov

Revision Notes
Introduction
‘The Proposal’ (originally titled ‘A Marriage Proposal’) is a one-act play, a farce by Anton Chekhov. The play
highlights the tendency of wealthy families seeking ties with other wealthy families to increase their estates by
encouraging marriages that make good economic sense.
Summary
This play is about how wealthy families seek to tie up with one another through marriages in order to increase
their property and wealth. Lomov is a rich bachelor who wishes to marry Natalya, the daughter of Chubukov who
himself is a rich man. The play deals with how all the three characters are very quarrelsome. They quarrel over
trivial issues and call each other names. Lomov is not really in love with Natalya but wants to marry her as he feels
she is a good house-keeper, beautiful and well educated. He feels that it is the time he should settle down. Natalya,
who doesn’t know he has come to propose her, feels that he has come to claim Oxen Meadows as his own. This
results in a quarrel with her father Chubukov joining in. After much mud-slinging, when Natalya comes to know
that he has come to propose her, she becomes willing to marry him. The proposal is made and accepted, with the
knowledge that quarrels will take place in life and important things should not be side-lined because of this.

Key Words
1. Quarrelsome: Argumentative
2. Trivial: Of little importance, ignorable