POEM SECTION .

Question No. 4 – Summary 1

Incident of French Camp

Introduction of the Poet

The poem The Incident of French Camp is composed by great English poet Robert browning. The browning was extremely religious and because of his religious opinions, he was excluded from university or public school. He was educated at home under a private tutor, and spends his modest time in gathering the best literature in English, French, Latin and Greek.

Introduction of the Poem

This is subjective poem; the incident reported in this dramatic poem happened in 1809. The poem for all its weaknesses is fast moving and exciting, the poem consisting of 35 lines of regular rhythm.
Summary

In this poem, Browning paints the picture of an incident of the French Camp, in dramatic version. He describes the heroic action of a wounded soldier, who’s heroic devotion to duty and his pride in it and inspiring and worthy of admiration. The poet has given a poetic amount of incidence that took place during the attack of French army on German City Ratisbon.
During the attack of French army on Ratisbon, Napoleon was much worried about the result. Germans were defending Ratisbon with great determination and coverage. Napoleon’s future plan depends upon the result. Napoleon was not able to conquer Germany and neighboring states. He was standing on mound near the battlefield watching the war.
All of sudden a rider appeared from the closed smoke and dust. Full galloping he approached near the mound where Napoleon was standing. As the came closer Napoleon notice that he was a young boy seriously wounded and not far from his death. As he came near he jumped of the horse and gave happy news of victory. He exclaimed with joy that French had conquered the Ratisbon and he himself has hoisted the flag of France on German city with a little touch of pride in lie tone he informed Napoleon that he has played an important role in the victory at the risk of his life. Actually he expected some words of appreciation from his Emperor.
“A work of real merit wants favour at last.”
- A.B. Alcott
Napoleon was very much delighted by the news of victory. He reflected an expression of joy just for a moment but he quickly connected his feeling. In fact he had noticed showing concern he asked the young boy about his injuries.
The formula question was misunderstood by the young soldier. He thought that the Emperor had utterly ignored his remarkable courage.
“A killing tongue but a quite sword.”
- Shakespeare
The young soldier had done a great job for his homeland and hand almost bride down his life for the victory of France. Napoleon’s question deeply hurt his self respect. He announced:
“I am killed sire.”
After saying these words he fell before his master and died with a grateful smile on his face. He was proud that he had done his duty for his homeland at the cost of his life.
Lucy Gray

Introduction of the Poet

William Word Worth was born in 1770 at Cockermouth in Lake District. He was educated at Hawkshed Grammar School and then at St. John’s College, Cambridge. His early poems reflect his love for natural beauty, which he expressed in a unique and artificial style. Some of William’s poems are Lyrical Ballads, Poems in Two Volumes and An Evening Walk. William Words Worth is also known for his achievements as a critic.
Introduction of the Poem

Poem entitled Lucy Gray was written in 1799 and published in the second edition of “Lyrical Ballads.” It tells us the story of a simple tragedy in a cold bleak countryside. The poem has a steady and regular rhythm as a longer lines rhyme together as well as the shorter lines rhyme with each other. The language of the ballad is plain and simple.
Summary

Lucy Gray was a beautiful little girl who lived in a wild moor with her parents. Their house was located in the countryside far away from the cities. Nobody neighbored their house and Lucy lived without having any friends and playmates.
In Western countryside, it is said that if the moon is clearly seen during daylight, a storm appears in that area. One-day Lucy’s mother went town for shopping in the noon. After a while, he father realized that the moon can be seen and predicted a storm in few hours. He quickly told Lucy to take a lantern and go to the town to help her mother. Lucy obeyed her father and was on her way to the city.
Unfortunately, the storm appeared as soon as Lucy left for the town. It started to snow thickly that made it difficult for Lucy to see through. As she was wandering in the snowy atmosphere, she fell in a crevice and died. Her mother somehow returned home at night.
When the little girl did not come back, her parents went out in the snowy mountains shouting for their daughter, but they never found Lucy. On their way home, they found footprints on a wooden bridge in the middle. They concluded that perhaps Lucy Gray fell down and had died.
When we go through the hills, a solitary song is heard in the wind, which echoes in the mountains. Some people think that she died that day while some say she lives as a part of nature.
Abou Ben Adhem

Introduction of the Poet

James Henry Leigh Hunt was born in 1784. He was a religious man educated at Christ Hospital. He then became the editor and writer of a newspaper called The Examiner. His early poems are The Story of Remini and Endymion. The earliest poems he wrote were published when he was in school. In English Literature, Leigh Hunt is known for his achievements as an editor, a critic and an essayist and not so much as a poet.

Introduction of the Poem

Abou Ben Adhem is a poem with a religious concept. The poet has conveyed the ideas of happiness, peace and love through easy and flowing rhymed couplets.
“Love is in your heart which is given by God, so give it to others.”
- John Keats
The poem consists of 2 stanzas, which are composed of 11 lines. It also has some archaic words.

Summary

Abou Ben Adhem was a religious person. One night when he was sleeping peacefully in his room, a sparkling light woke him up.
He found out that this bright light was due to the presence of an angel who was writing something in a golden book. Being a pious man, Abou was not afraid of the Angel and the silence in the room made him more courageous. He asked the angel what he was writing in the book. The reply Abou heard was that he was writing the names of all those people who love God. About asked the angel curiously if his name was in the list. The angel replied was negative. He then politely requested the angel to write his name as those people who love God’s fellow men. The angle wrote and disappeared.
The other night, it came again with a still glistening light and displayed the names of people whom God had blessed. Abou Ben Adhem saw that his name was on the top of the list and it led all the rest.

Moral

This poem conducts the idea that we should love humanity and care for people.
“To get love from God, love the board.”
- Williams Wordsworth
The Toys

Introduction of the Poet

The Toys in one of the beautiful poems composed by Conventry Patmore. Conventry Patmore was born in London in 1823. He had a religious bend of mind deeply associated with the everyday happenings of life. His publications are The Angel in the House and The Unknown Eros and Other Odes. Patmore died in 1896.

Introduction of the Poem

The poem conveys the idea of mercy of God through an incident in the Poet’s house. The verses of this poem are different from other poems. The lines are uneven and are rhymed in an irregular manner.

Summary

One night, the poet scolded his son for disobeying orders and talking in loud voice. The child went quietly to his bedroom with a gloomy heart. After some time, the poet realized that he had made a mistake, as his son was lonely and his mother had died. No one was there to cheer him up.
The poet, went into his son’s bedroom thinking that his child must be weeping and trying to sleep. But when he entered the room, he saw the boy calmly sleeping in bed. The poet noticed marks of tears on his cheeks. He also saw some toys neatly arranged on a table besides his son, which were kept to comfort the sad heart. The sight of the room was very uncomfortable for the poet. He felt sorry for his attitude and learnt the importance of toys for the child.
The poet was inspired by the whole incident. He kissed his son and cleared the tears in his eyes. He understood that God loves his fellowmen more than a father loves his son. Then why should not God forgive the people who commit mistakes. He also realized that as the toys were of no importance to him, this world has no worth before God. We only console our hearts by the beauty of this world. This thought gave the poet a New Hope. He prayed all night with the feeling that God is merciful and would forgive him.

Moral

We should forgive the mistakes of people and live with a friendly atmosphere. God is merciful on us and he forgives those people who forgive the mistakes of human beings.
“Let me be a little kindness, let me be a little blinder to the faults of those around me.”
- Edgar A. Guest
The Character of a Happy life

Introduction of the Poet

The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wotton has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man.

Introduction of the Poem

We find Wotton’s poem is a sharp sense of contrast between the uneasy life of the ambitious man and the contented life of man satisfied to live an obscure life of peaceful virtue. Sir Henry Wotton wrote from experience; for he was a distinguished servant of the crown who had seen for himself the rise and fall of ambitious men. The poem consisting of six stanzas of regular couplet rhymed.
“Nature is the peace not the Land.”
- John Keats
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Summary

A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He does not act according to other people’s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity and truth.
Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for death. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say about him publicly or privately.
This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery gives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path.
A happy man’s life is free from numerous when he is sad he retires in his comfort of clear conscience. He hasn’t got a high position. Therefore people don’t flatter him or nick him at his down fall. A happy man prays to God regularly. In this prayer he does not ask for rocks but he asks God to be gracious and merciful on him. His favourite positive is good book or friend. A man who is truly happy is free from slavery of his desires. He isn’t ambitious. He does not expect too much therefore his hopes aren’t shattered. He doesn’t fear a downfall. This man hasn’t got lands or wealth and yet he has everything. He has got the greatest wealth of contentment and happiness.

Conclusion

The poet described the characteristics of a noble and happy man, who is honest, simple, not slave of his desires. He follows the rules of goodness, which will lead him to the right path.
The Abbot of Canterbury

Introduction

The poem The Abbot of Canterbury, included in our book, is a ballad. Ballads have crude language because fine writing would not be suitable for the telling of this straightforward and amusing folk story. King John ruled England from 1199 to 1219, was a very unpleasant man and a thoroughly bad kind.

Structure of Poem

The Abbot of Canterbury is a ballad of unknown poet telling an ancient story consisting of 100 lines of regular rhythm.

Summary

There was a king of England whose name was King John. He ruled England very cruelly and he always did the wrong thing. Once he came to know that there was an Abbot of Canterbury who was leading life better than the king. He had one hundred servants and each one there wore fifty gold chains and velvet coat. They where always ready to serve the Abbot. For very minor things they used to go to the city of London.
This way of leading life angered the king and his sent for the Abbot to explain his position before the king. The Abbot said to him that he was spending the money so luxuriously because he had inherited a lot of money from his fore fathers. The king disbelieved him and charged him to be a traitor.
The king said to Abbot that his life and properties would be confiscated by the government if he could not answer his three questions. There was given three weeks time to answer those questions.
· The first question was what his worth and value was when he was having such a precious crown on his head.
· The second question was how soon he could make the journey of the whole world.
· The third question was that he was thinking at that time when he was talking to the Abbot of Canterbury.
After listening three questions the Abbot was very much confuse. He confessed that he had no mind to answer those difficult questions. He went to many universities but no one was able to answer him.
Then the shepherd of the Abbot offered him that he would imposter the Abbot prodded he was given the relevant dress of the Abbot.
In reply to the first question he said that his value was twenty-nine pence. In response to the second question he said if he rose with the sun and rode with the same he would complete the journey of the world in 24 hours. In response to the third question he said that he thinking that he was talking to the Abbot by he was not the Abbot but the shepherd. The king was very happy, he rewarded him and pardoned the Abbot

PROSS SECTION.

Birkenhead Drill

Question No. 3 - Summary 1

Introduction

Birkenhead Drill is a story of extravagant deed of heroism and shvarism shown by the soldiers of British 963Army. The Birkenhead Drill was a troop ship, which come across with sudden accident which has brought a dramatic change in the life of soldiers.
Birkenhead Drill means Women and Children First is the order followed on all ships that are in danger. Birkenhead Drill means today to stand be still facing certain death so that the weaker ones may have a chance of life.
“Some people born great
Some people have greatness
Some people achieve greatness
We should make our lifes sublime”
Summary
Birkenhead Drill was a military ship. In February 1851, it was going to South Africa with troops and their families. There were a total of six hundred and thirty people on board out of which one hundred and seventy were women and children. The rest were inexperienced military men and officers.
At 2 a.m. on 25th February, when this ship was near Cape Town, it strokes a massive rock that was not shown on any of the maps. This sudden jerk broke the ship into two pieces. The front half soon sank but the hind half stayed afloat. Most of the people manage to reach the rear part.
There were only 3 lifeboats left undamaged with a capacity of 60 persons per boat. Only 180 people could be saved in this way. The others would draw because the damaged military ship could not float much longer. This situation should have caused a panic on the ship.
Unlike other happenings, there was no panic or confusion in the boat. The trained soldiers managed complete discipline and were successful in transferring some women and children into the lifeboats. The captain and soldiers stood line by line as if they were on their daily drill. Every one was loyal to his duty and himself. A commander set an example by giving his life for two young soldiers. When the commander was hanging on to some piece of wood, he saw two young soldiers struggling in the water. He allowed them to hold on wreckage. But the commander realized that the wreckage could not bear the weight of the three persons so he let go his hold and went into the water for ever.
Due to complete management of discipline, 194 people were saved but 436 men drowned forever in the deep waters.
Moral
The undiminished order of the soldiers presented in the article reflects the quality of sacrifice and devotion in mankind. We should stand till facing certain fate so that the weak ones may have a chance to live. This has been known as Birkenhead Drill since then.
“Duty, That which sternly impels us in the direction of profit, along the line of desire.”
- Ambrose Bierce
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The Hostile Witness

Question No. 3 - Summary 2

Introduction

The Hostile Witness is a detective story by D.Y. Morgan. In this story he depicts the character of a person who was not satisfied with the performance of the state Police, but he changed his views when witnesses the performance of the police in arresting a dangerous murderer at large.

Summary

Norman Charlton is a robber and a murderer. He lives as a servant in White Hart Hotel. This hotel is in Kirby, a small Yorkshire town about 32 kilometers south of Darlington. He robbed the weekly wages of two people at New Castle, who were going to their factory carrying thousands of pounds. While committing the robbery, he faces protest from the two persons. In reply he shoots them. One of them, named John Edward Robson, gets killed while the other becomes seriously wounded. Charlton escapes in a stolen sports car from the place of robbery.
After reaching a safe place, he leaves the car and asks for a lift at about a hundred yards from that point. Fortunately, he gets a lift from Mr. Earnest King who was on his way to White Hart Hotel. When they reach the hotel, Charlton transfers the stolen bag from Mr. King’s car into the hotel and places it behind the reception desk. He also puts King’s luggage in a room and gets dressed in his white jacket. He leaves the weapon of murder under the mattress.
Mr. King sits in the lounge and orders for cold drink. While enjoying cold drink, Mr. Abott and two other guests, Mr. Cartor and Johnson enter the room. They exchange greetings and then Mr. King gets informed about the robbery and the murder. Mr. Cartor also tells about the checking of his car by the police.
While they were talking about the robbery, three persons, Detective-Sergeant Manning and Police Constable Stevens and Edwards, enter the hotel. They told the people about the security and said that their duty was to check all the hotels in the North of England. Detective-Sergeant Manning asks for the keys of the rooms so that he could check the luggage of the guests. Everyone gives them the keys except Mr. King, who thinks that this action was unrespectable. But after some discussion he also gives the keys. the detective then go up to check the rooms. When they return, one of them holds a pistol in his hand, which had been fired recently. He tells that this pistol was laid under the mattress in Mr. King’s room. He suspects Mr. King for the murder.
Charlton takes advantages of this situation and gives the description of the murderer – medium height and build, fresh complexion, dark hair, moustache, horn-rimmed glasses, Grey suit and Grey hat. This description exactly suited the dressing of Mr. King, which made him more mistrustful and every body stares at him. Charlton also gives the bag of money having massive locks from behind the reception desk and says that this bag was carried by Mr. King.
Suddenly, Manning turns at Charlton and orders the constable to arrest him. He suspected him of the spirit gum and fake moustaches that were left on his upper lip. The lift which he had taken from Mr. King made him more suspicious. He also asks him of horn-rimmed glasses and receives the answer in positive. Manning then arrests him and tells the people how Charlton had committed the crime.
He hid the pistol under the mattress in Mr. King’s room while he as keeping the luggage and threw away his fake moustache soon after killing the person. He had then taken lift from Mr. King at a bus stop near Great North Road and gotten away safely from the police. This entire work carried out by the police really impressed Mr. King and the killer was caught.

My Bank Account


Introduction

My Bank Account is written by Stephen Leacock. He is one of the most popular mockers and article writer. His witty articles are the best example of sardonic Mockery. The most of his stories like Brown Eyes, Freedom Cost, Behind the Table are written in first person style.
“Confidence with fear lead to mockery.”
- Stephen
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Summary

Our author had a particular kind of fear about banks. Every time he entered a bank, to do business, he felt awfully frightened. The author was afraid of banks but he had to go to a bank, as he received a raise in his salary.
As he entered the bank his fear overlook him. In this panic, the author made number of stupid mistakes. He entered the bank and demanded to see the manager alone.
The author was taken to a private room. The manager was convinced that the author was millionaire who wished to deposit millions of dollars. But the manager was very upset, when he learn that the author wanted to deposit, fifty six dollars and that he would deposit fifty dollars every month.
Quite obviously the manager was irritated and directed him to the accountant, so that his account could be opened, which was duly done. After having deposited fifty-six dollars. The author wanted to withdraw six dollars for his current use. In his nervousness, the author made a blunder. Instead of writing a cheque for six dollars he had written fifty-six dollars. The accountant looked at him in astonishment and asked if he wanted to withdraw all his money. The author realized his mistake, but wanted to cover up his stupidness. So he replied he wanted to draw all his money.
Author was feeling miserable and he want to rush out of the bank sooner than he received his money, he rushed out of the bank as he did so, a loud burst of laughter went up, to the roof of the bank.

The Wolves of Cernogratz

Introduction

This is an interesting story about supernatural forces and strange happenings written by Saki H.H. Munro. The author is well known for his tales of mystery and magical powers. The story is about an old castle and its owners, the Cernogratz family who had to sell off their family castle, when their fortune turned against them. Thus, they abondoned their ancestral family castle. As time went by, the castle was purchased by Gruebel family.

Summary

One of the last days of December, the Baroness, the new owner of the Cernogratz Castle, was engaged in a friendly conversation with her guests. She was telling them about a strange legend attached to the castle. She said that whenever someone died in the castle, all the wild beasts and wolves would appear from nowhere and start howling all night long.
But she quickly brushed this legend aside by saying that, it is only a gimmick to enhance the value of castle. She also said that she did not believe in the legend as she had proof that nothing of the sort ever happened. When her old mother-in-law died in the castle, nothing of the sort happened and no wolves appeared. According to her it was utter rubbish and that there was no truth in the legend. That the people had merely invented a story so as to give cheap publicity to the place.
On hearing this account, Amalie von Cernogratz, an old governess employed in the house, remarked:
“The story is not as you have told it. It is not when any one dies in the castle, that the howling is heard. It is only heard, when a member of the Cernogratz family, dies in his family castle that the wolves appear in their thousands and start howling.”
The Governess strongly protested and insisted that the legend was quite true. She knew the family legend very well, as she was the last of the great Cernogratz family. The old Governess repeated the actual legend in a note of defiance, almost in contempt. She made it quite clear that no howling was heard if a stranger died in the castle. But if a cernogratz died in his family castle, not only did the wolves would howl in chorus, but also a large tree would crash in the park as the soul of the dying one left its body.
Naturally the company showed its disbelief. They thought that the old lady is pretending to be an important person. She knows that she will be soon past work and she wants to appeal to our sympathies. That the old Amalie is making a false claim to be a Cernogratz.
When the old Governess left the room, the Baroness and her guests were convinces that, she is an ordinary woman and had some how learnt the Cernogratz legend from the peasants living in the vicinity.
Later on, some mysterious happenings proved every word of the old governess. It so happened that the old governess fell ill and confined herself to her small, cheerless room. Just then the company heard the howling of wolves. Moved by some impulse, the Baroness went to the Governess’s room. To her horror, she found, all the windows opendespite the biting cold, while the old lady was lying on the couch terribly sick. The Baroness rushed forward to shut the windows. But the Governess forbade her in a very stern manner. She asked the Baroness to leave and let the windows be open, as she wanted to hear the “Death Music” of her family. The Baroness announced to her guests that the old governess was dying. While the guests were talking, they heard a loud noise of a tree splitting and then crashing down, with a loud thud. At that moment, the governess breathed her last.
The news of Amalie-von-Cernogratz’s death and her affiliation to the Cernogratz family was confirmed in the newspaper, the following day. Amalie, the valued fried of the Baron and Baroness Gruebel had passed away in her old family castle

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