9th English, UNIT 9 PROSE
AN ASTROLOGER’S DAY
Glossary
obscure : difficult to understand
mystic : spiritual
prophetic : predictive
paraphernalia : belongings
mutter : incoherent/ incomprehensible speech
gratified : thankful
Comprehension :
C1. Get into pairs / groups and discuss the answers to the following questions :

1. What articles did the astrologer carry?
   Answer: The articles which the astrologer carry are a bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowry shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing.
2. What were the different names given by the nuts vendor for his business?
   Answer: the different names given by the nuts vendor for his business are, “Bombay Ice Cream”, “Delhi Almond,” and “Raja’s Delicacy,”.
3. What kind of life would the astrologer have in his own village?
   Answer: The Astrologer had left his village without any previous thought or plan. If he had continued there, he would have carried on the work of his forefathers – namely, tilling the land, living, marrying, and ripening in his cornfield and ancestral home.
4. How much did the astrologer charge for his new clients?
   Answer: The Astrologer charge three paise per question for his new clients.
5. Why did the astrologer remain silent for at least ten minutes, initially?
   Answer: The astrologer remain silent for at least ten minutes because this silence of ten minutes, which provided him enough stuff for a dozen answers and advices.
6. What was the signal for the astrologer to bundle up?
   Answer: When the nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home Then it was a signal for the astrologer to bundle up too, since it left him in darkness except for a little shaft of green light.
7. How much did the astrologer demand from his new client to answer his question?
   Answer: The astrologer demand eight Annas from his new client to answer his question.
8. What did the astrologer ask Guru Nayak to do?
   Answer: The astrologer ask Guru Nayak to take the next train and be gone to his village which was two day’s journey due north of there.
   C2. Working in pairs, discuss the answers to the following questions and write them in your notebook.
9. Why did the astrologer have no light of his own for his business?
   Answer: The astrologer had no light of his own for his business because half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute. The dim lighting also helped create an atmosphere of mystery and enchantment, which made the astrologer’s predictions seem more credible. The lack of proper lighting also concealed the astrologer’s true identity and the fact that he wasn’t genuinely knowledgeable about astrology.
10. Why did the astrologer close his business when the nuts vendor blew out his flare?
    Answer: The astrologer closes his business when the nuts vendor blew out his flare, because the astrologer relied on the light from the flare above heap of groundnut for conducting his business. When the groundnut vendor blew out the flare, the astrologer was left in darkness and he could not continue his astrology.
11. How efficient was the astrologer in his business?
    Answer: The astrologer was efficient in his business because he was a good listener and had a keen understanding of human nature. The Astrologer never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for at least ten minutes, which provided him enough stuff for a dozen answers and advices. He had a working analysis of mankind’s troubles: marriage, money and the tangles of humanity. Long practice had sharpened his perception. The astrologer would make general statements that would be true for most people. The astrologer would use his understanding of human nature and his keen observation skills to make predictions.
12. “When shall I get him?”
    a) Who was this question asked to?
    Answer: This question was asked to the Astrologer.
    b) Whom does “I” refer to?
    Answer: ‘I’ referred to the Stranger.
    c) Why does the speaker want to get him?
    Answer: The speaker, known as Guru Nayak, wants to “get him” because he is seeking revenge on a man from his past who he believes tried to kill him because he wants to confront the astrologer and potentially exact revenge for the attempted murder, believing that the astrologer is the same man he is searching for.
13. “You look worried. What is wrong?”
    a) Who is the speaker?
    Answer: The wife of an Astrologer is the speaker.
    b) Whom does “you” refer to?
    Answer: ‘You’ referred to the Astrologer.
    c) Why was he worried?
    Answer: The Astrologer worried because he tried to kill the stranger named Guru Nayak a long back ago. Guru Nayak came there to take revenge for his unknown enemy. In his youth Astrologer stabbed his last client Guru nayak and ran away from his village and settled as astrologer in this town. But Guru nayak not recognized the Astrologer. But he still worried about meet him again.
    C3. Working in pairs, discuss the answers to the following questions and write them in your notebook.
14. Why did the astrologer run away from his village?
    Answer: In his youth Astrologer stabbed his last client Guru nayak and pushed him into the well and ran away from his village. He had feared being accused of murder. While under the influence of alcohol, he stabbed and pushed a man into a well. Fearing arrest, he ran away to avoid being caught and punished. He settled in Malgudi and married a girl there and decided to never return to his village.
15. In the story, do you think the astrologer should be punished for his crime?
    Answer: Yes, I think the astrologer should be punished for his crime, because, all persons are equal before the law of our country.
16. Describe how the astrologer felt at the end of the story?
    Answer: The Astrologer felt guilty about the attempted murder and believed he had killed Nayak. The astrologer used his skills as an astrologer to deceive Nayak and convince him to return home. The astrologer told Nayak that the man who tried to kill him had died, and that he would live to be a hundred if he returned home. The astrologer was able to avoid a dangerous situation by using his skill and intelligence.
17. Describe the role of fate and chance in the story.
    Answer: The astrologer was able to avoid a dangerous situation by fate and a chance and also his skill and intelligence. Fate allows the astrologer to remain unrecognized, enabling him to deceive Nayak into believing his attacker is dead. Fate plays a main role in the story. A villager turns into an astrologer because of his fate. Again, it is fate that brings the enemies face- to-face. Once again Astrologer succeeded to escape from the Guru nayak. Astrologer had used his skill and sends him back to his village.
18. Does the story make you think that all astrologers are false? Write about it.
    Answer: No, All astrologers are not false. In this story, the Astrologer is forced to leave his ancestral home and travel several hundred miles away with no plan and no money. But there are many astrologers in our society who have brilliant knowledge and skills about astrology.
19. How has R.K. Narayan portrayed the attractive appearance of the astrologer?
    Answer: .K. Narayan portrayed the appearance of the astrologer to make him attractive to the readers. R.K. Narayan says that astrologer’s forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position – placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers which streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban round his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the town hall park. The Astrologer never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for at least ten minutes, which provided him enough stuff for a dozen answers and advices.
    C4. Read the following sentences from the story and arrange them in the sequential order as they appear in the story.
20. Take the next train and go home. 6
21. The astrologer pressed his invitation. 4
22. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. 2
23. The astrologer got a glimpse of his face by the matchlight. 5
24. The place was lit up by shop lights. 1
25. The child has been asking for sweets for so many days. 7
26. The nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home. 3
    Answer:
27. The place was lit up by shop lights.
28. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.
29. The nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home.
30. The astrologer pressed his invitation.
31. The astrologer got a glimpse of his face by the matchlight.
32. Take the next train and go home.
33. The child has been asking for sweets for so many days.
    LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES:
    Vocabulary
    V1. Word formation
    Make new words by adding the ending given in the box to the root words. Fill in the table with the new words. You may have to add/drop a letter from the root word to make a new word. Put a cross(x) where the ending and the root word do not match.
    ed ing er ly ful less
34. Help Helped Helping Helper X Helpful Helpless
35. End Ended Ending Ender X X endless
36. Hope Hoped Hoping X X Hopeful Hopeless
37. Enjoy Enjoyed Enjoying Enjoyer X X X
38. Shape Shaped Shaping Shaper Shapely X Shapeless
39. Smile Smiled Smiling X X X X
40. Run X Running Runner X X Runless
    V2. Fill in the blanks with suitable letters to arrive at the given meaning. Refer to the dictionary for the words.
    a) ………… sent = gift
    b) ………… sent = hate
    c) ………… sent = agreement
    d) ………… sent = approval
    a) Present
    b) resent
    c) assent
    d) consent
    V3. You know homophones are words that sound similar but have different spellings and meanings. Here are a few words:
    peace – piece lone – loan
    hour – our died – dyed
    fore – four raze – raise
    bear – bare break – brake
    pair – pear role – roll
    Work in pairs. With the help of a dictionary find out the meaning of the above words and use them in sentences of your own.
41. Peace – quiet, freedom for disturbance. He wanted to take rest with peace.
    Piece – part of anything. She cuts the fruits into several pieces.
42. Lone – alone, single. He is lone in his family, because all are died in accident.
    Loan – credit. He took loan from the bank.
43. Hour – Unit of time. The function started one hour late today.
    Our – Belongs to us. We have to do our duty promptly.
44. Died – expired, dead. He died in his 76th age.
    Dyed – coloured. She was always dyeing her hair.
45. Fore – front. The actress have beautiful forehands.
    Four – Ramesh has four daughters.
46. Raze – demolish. The government razes those unofficial buildings.
    Raise – lift, go upward. We could not raise the heavy things.
47. Bear – tolerate, Some persons have much capacity to bear the difficulties.
    Bare – uncovered, naked, exposed. The artist paints the bare picture.
48. Break – gap, pause in work. After continuous work, there should be a break.
    Brake – apparatus for checking motion of wheel. Cows are crossed the road, driver suddenly apply the brake.
49. Pair – set of two. Sharath purchased a pair of shoes.
    Pear – name of a fruit. Pear fruit is good for health.
50. Role – actor’s part. Negative role done by the hero in this film.
    Roll – thing rolled, register – There are rolled bundle of papers in the printing press.
    V4. Match the meanings with the following phrases and use them in sentences of your own.
    PHRASES MEANINGS
    Answer:
    a) on account of iv.owing to
    b) to bear with iii.to put up with
    c) in the midst of vi.in the middle of
    d) to be accustomed to v.to get used to
    e) to take a new turn i. to begin a new course
    f) bereft of ii. deprived of
    Grammar and Usage
    Reported speech:
    Look at the following sentences and observe the changes from direct to reported speech.
51. Mohan said, “I was late yesterday”. (Direct Speech)
    Mohan said that he had been late (Reported Speech)
    the day before.
52. Mohan said, “I am late today”. (Direct Speech)
    Mohan said that he was late that day. (Reported Speech)
    G1. Now complete the following sentences:
    DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
53. He said, “I live in New York.” He said that .. .. .. in
    New York.
    Answer: He said that he lived in New York.
54. She said: “I’m going to go She said that.. .. ..going to shopping.” go shopping.
    Answer: She said that she Ws going to go shopping.
55. He said, “I’ll see you later.” He said .. .. ..
    Answer: He said that he would see him later.
56. Anu said, “I went to a Anu said that she .. .. .. movie last night. movie last night.”
    Answer: Anu said that she had gone for a movie the previous night.
57. James asked “Do you want James asked if I wanted to go to come out tonight?” out that night.
    Answer: James asked if I wanted to go out that night.
    G3. Error corrections
    I. Punctuate the following sentences:
58. Rashmi said yamuna you are late today
    Answer: Rashmi said, “Yamuna, you are late today”.
59. What a beautiful garden it is
    Answer: What a beautiful garden it is!
60. People enjoyed the cricket match didn’t they
    Answer: People enjoyed the cricket match, didn’t they?
61. Unless he improves his bowling he cannot be selected for the match
    Answer: Unless he improves his bowling, he cannot be selected for the match
    II. Spot the errors in the following sentences and re write them
    correctly.
62. They are going to Himalayas.
    They are going to the Himalayas
63. Raju prefers idly than chapati.
    Raju prefers idly to chapati
64. One of the boy looks sad.
    One of the boys looks sad.
65. Mathematics are my favourite subject.
    Mathematics is my favourite subject.
66. A bunch of keys were found in my room.
    A bunch of keys was found in my room.
67. My neighbour is a honest man.
    My neighbour is an honest man.
68. Rafi wanted an one rupee.
    Rafi wanted a rupee.
69. Kiran’s brother is a M.L.A.
    Kiran’s brother is an M.L.A.
70. Our school bought a lot of furnitures.
    Our school bought a lot of furniture.
71. I met an European.
    I met a European.
    About the Author
    R. K. Narayan (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001), (shortened form for Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami) is an Indian author whose works of fiction include a series of books about people and their interactions in an imagined town called Malgudi. He is credited with bringing Indian literature in English to the rest of the world, and is regarded as one of India’s greatest novelists.
    Narayan’s works also include The Financial Expert, hailed as one of the most original works of 1951. His The Guide won the Sahitya Akademi Award.
    In a writing career that spanned over sixty years, Narayan received many awards and honours. These include the AC Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.

9th Standard English POEM 10
PHOTOGRAPH

Glossary
paddling: moving like rowing
transient: momentary ; not lasting for long.
wry: distorted.
Comprehension:
C1. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two each:

1. How many people are there in the photograph?
   Answer: There are three people in the photograph.
2. How is the poet related to the people in the photograph?
   Answer: The mother and the two cousins of the poet named Betty and Dolly are in the photograph. Thus the poet related to the people in the photograph.
3. Who was taking the snapshot?
   Answer: Uncle was taking the snapshot.
4. Is the mother described in the photo alive?
   Answer: No. She is not alive.
5. Which aspect of the mother does the poet like very much?
   Answer: The poet likes the sweet and smiling face of mother very much which was captured in the photograph.

C2. Discuss the answers for the following questions with your partner and then write down in your notebook.
1) Why does the writer say
“And of this circumstance
There is nothing to say at all
Its silence silences”?
Answer: The poet knows that her mother’s death is a fact and she can’t do anything about it. The poet has nothing to say about her mother’s death and the emptiness left after her death shatters the poet. This expression from the poem ‘The Photograph’ by Shirley Toulson means the truth and mystery of the poet’s mother’s death fills him with sadness. The constant pain she experiences on account of her loss makes her silent. She is unable to solve the mystery about death. She can’t do anything about it. Whenever she remembers her mother, she just becomes silent with the pain that followed after her mother’s death. Its silence silences.” The poet’s mother has now been dead for nearly as long as the girl in the photograph. The poet is at a loss for words to express her feelings about her mother’s death. It’s a solemn moment, and its silence has rendered her speechless.

2) Does the poet notice any change in the mother after the poet was born? What do you think could have made the change in the mother’s face?
Answer: Yes. The poet notices the change in the mother’s face after the poet was born. She adores her “sweet” face and observes how it changes as she grows older. She recalls every detail of her life, including her laughter when she looked at the photograph. This could have been the outcome of sorrowful incidents or hardships in life. Age and ill health also might have made the mother lose the sweetness of her face and smile. The poet is looking at her mother’s photograph which is indeed an old one. With it she can see how her mother looked when she was a little girl of twelve. It might have been windy at that time as their hair was flying on their faces when the uncle took the photograph. All the three smile through their flying hair. Looking at the photograph, the poet says that her mother had a sweet face, but it was a time before the poet was born.

3) Why are the feet described as “transient feet”?
Answer: The feet described as “transient feet” to symbolize the temporary nature of human life. The phrase is a metaphor that compares the permanence of the sea to the fleeting presence of humans. The word “transient” means something that is short-lived or temporary. The poet uses “feet” to symbolize humans. The poet suggests that the sea remains the same while humans grow old and die. Transient means something which is temporary or short-lived. Here, when the author says terribly transient feet, she refers to the ever-changing imprints of the feet left on the sea sand. The sea never appears to change but human life is transient. The poet suggests that human existence is transitory, but the sea seems never to change.

C3. Answer the following questions on your own.

1. What is the mood of the poet?
   Answer: In the poem “A Photograph,” the poet’s mood is predominantly sad and nostalgic as she looks at an old picture of her mother, reflecting on the passage of time and the loss of her mother who is now deceased, causing a deep sense of grief and longing.
2. Which line in the poem does you like the most? Why?
   Answer: I like the lines “A sweet face, My mother’s, that was before I was born, And the sea, which appears to have changed less”.
   Here poet explains the changing mind of every human being. The poet notices the change in the mother’s face after the poet was born. She adores her “sweet” face and observes how it changes as she grows older. She recalls every detail of her life, including her laughter when she looked at the photograph. This could have been the outcome of sorrowful incidents or hardships in life. Age and ill health also might have made the mother lose the sweetness of her face and smile. The poet is looking at her mother’s photograph which is indeed an old one.
3. Is there any change in the life of the poet’s mother over the years? What kind of a person, you think she was? Describe the mother in the poem do in your own words.
   Answer: Yes, there has been a lot of change in the life of the poet’s mother over the years. As a child, the poet’s mother was a carefree and friendly person. She had a smiling and sweet face in the photograph when she posed for it, holding the hands of her. She changed after the birth of poet. The poet’s mother had posed for the photograph with her cousins when she was young and was not yet bogged down by the responsibilities and hardships of life. In old age, along with inevitable physical changes, they also experience a change in their mental make-up because of the challenges in life.
   How many people are there in the photograph? How is the poet related to the people in the photograph? Who was taking the snapshot? Is the mother described in the photo alive? Which aspect of the mother does the poet like very much? Why does the writer say “And of this circumstance There is nothing to say at all Its silence silences”? Does the poet notice any change in the mother after the poet was born? What do you think could have made the change in the mother’s face? Why are the feet described as “transient feet”? 1. What is the mood of the poet? 2. Which line in the poem does you like the most? Why? 3. Is there any change in the life of the poet’s mother over the years? What kind of a person, you think she was? Describe the mother in the poem do in your own words.