The Chinese Statue Quiz

The Chinese Statue 

ONLINE QUIZ

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12kMIf9au5Zc8j68SB4zbQT2YggDQZM6LMLqmS-2kcG0/edit?usp=sharing

THE DOLPHINS by CAROL ANN DUFFY

 

THE DOLPHINS

By CAROL ANN DUFFY

1.       

World is what you swim in, or dance, it is simple.

we are in our element but we are not free.

outside this world you cannot breathe for long.

The other has my shape, The other's movement

forms my thoughts. And also mine. There is a man

and there are hoops. There is a constant flowing guilt.

Reference to context: These lines have been extracted from “The Dolphins” by Carol Ann Duffy.  It is written from the perspective of dolphins who have been trained to perform for humans and who apparently miss the former freedom of the ocean.

I these lines the poet explains that a dolphin, remembering its previous free life in the ocean, speaks about the experience of being confined with others of its kind where it is expected to perform tricks.

Explanation: The poem starts with the dolphin speaking in the second person, addressing us, the humans. The dolphin goes on to explain its own meaning of the ‘world’, its own expectations about what the world should be like. Given that they reside in water bodies, it explains that the world should be a place where one is allowed to swim I or dance. It is an expression identifiable with joy and happiness without any restrictions. It is that simple for them. The dolphin starts talking in the first person. Understandably it is going to tell us its own story of imprisonment. They are in the water in the aquarium doing what they do best but they are not free. The poetess plays with the words ‘in our element’, a cliché used to explain what one likes to do, to also mean water, a natural element. Water may be all around it. But the dolphin is now restricted to the pool and not the expansive ocean it used to dance around in. The words of the dolphin carry the tone of desolation. It says that outside its aquatic world, it cannot breathe for long. With this line, the poetess introduces an element of mystery. Who does” other” point to? This essentially affects an initial ambiguity. It may point to the person who is making the dolphin perform tricks. He may know the pose (shape) of the dolphin whose movement guides the dolphin’s own movement. It’s like an orchestra where one instrument plays in tandem with others to create a beautiful art piece. Here, ‘other’ may point to the dolphin whose movement not just guides the dolphin’s movement, but also its thoughts. It shows how others are controlling its life, its movements, and its thoughts. Just the way the movement of the other dolphin moulds how it acts, its action decides the course for the other dolphin. The dolphin mentions its tormentor. There is a man who makes the dolphin jump through hoops while it performs. ‘Hoops’ point to the cliché ‘jumping through hoops’ but since the dolphins actually jump through hoops on orders, the cliché is overrun. Once again readers find this ambiguous. What is guilt? Who is feeling the guilt? It’s most possibly the dolphin itself as it can only know its own feelings, not others. The sense of guilt comes from its inability to always perform the way its master wants. It may also feel guilty as it got caught up in the net of the fisherman when it was careless. Or it’s possibly the trainer, as some suggest, as he makes the dolphins do things against their will. That’s an unlikely explanation though, as it goes against the motive of the poem.

2.       

We have found no truth in these waters,

no explanations tremble on our flesh.

We were blessed and now we are not blessed.

After travelling such space for days we began

to translate. It was same space. It is

the same space always and above it is the man.

Reference to the context: These lines have been extracted from ‘The Dolphins’ by Carol Ann Duffy. It is a monologue. It is written from the perspective of dolphins who have been trained to perform for humans and who apparently miss the former freedom of the ocean.

In these lines the monotony of Dolphins’ life is reflected. It also reflects the superiority of men over them and how they are forced to live in confinement.

Explanation: The dolphins usually are very sentient beings. Even their skin is very sensitive to changes around. They have a well-developed sonar system. In spite of all these abilities, the dolphin grieves and mentions it has found no truth in these waters. They don’t find this water good for living, as the ocean is their natural living place. There is nothing so pleasing that could stimulate its skin (flesh)- no explanation which may help them make sense of this new world. The  voice of the dolphin resonates with a depressing tone. It says they were blessed when they were freely roaming in the ocean. But they are not anymore 'blessed' to be restricted in the man-made confine. The dolphins then try to accept their fate. The dolphins who were used to travelling around in the open waters (space)for days have now started to translate. Here, 'translate' points to the fact that the dolphin has to change its mindset to live in the limited water now. The dolphins may be surrounded by water (same space). It is the same space they have desired. It explains that what looks essentially same is so different experiences. 'Above it is the man'  Points to the superiority of man. It is figurative. How the man controls the dolphins. But it is literal when we notice that no matter what these dolphins do, the man, their abductor would constantly watch from above.

 

 

 And now we are no longer blessed, for the world

will not deepen to dream in. The other knows

and out of love reflects me for myself

We see our silver skin flash by like memory.

of somewhere else. There is a coloured ball

we have to balance till the man has disappeared

Reference to the context: These lines have been extracted from ‘The Dolphins’ by Carol Ann Duffy. It is a monologue. It is written from the perspective of dolphins who have been trained to perform for humans and who apparently miss the former freedom of the ocean.

In the above, lines mutual understanding between the dolphins and how they define themselves in terms of each other is stressed. Their touching insight into a relationship signals a sense of otherness, respect for independence, and mutuality.

Explanation:  The third stanza reiterates the monotony and the problems of the dolphins. But, then it gives voice to the collective of dolphins with 'we'. They seem to interact and start to feel for each other. They wish to collectively deal with the situation and try to adapt to it while depending on each other. It teaches the rice lesson of compassion, togetherness, and friendship. They find a way to help out each other while caught in this tough world. The dolphin says that they are now accepting the fact that they are no longer with luck. The world (pool) is not going to deepen into an ocean all of a sudden- a place where they used to dream of their happy, free life. There is a wonderful understanding of empathy between these dolphins, something we readers must learn from. The dolphin says that the other dolphin knows its feelings. Despite being in the miserable situation itself, the other dolphin reflects the dolphin for who it is. This is because of the love for each other. It teaches us, the readers the importance of mutual understanding and the strength it gives us in times of adversity, he dolphin is too sad with this new life. Even when it sees a silver skin flash by it simply reminds itself of free, huge ocean (somewhere else). Here, 'silver skin' means dolphins swimming around in the tank. The simile paints a visual description of how dolphins are aware of their existence in a collective, their shoal. Not just that, it shows how astutely aware dolphins are of their bodily knowledge. The dolphin simply remembers that they need to balance a coloured ball until their master goes away. This is like one teaches a dog to fetch the ball thrown towards. It indicates how commanding and controlling humans are on them.

The moon has disappeared. We circle well-worn grooves

of water on a single note. Music of loss forever

from the other's heart which turns my own to stone.

There is a plastic toy. There is no hope. We sink

to the limits of this pool until the whistle blows.

There is a man and our mind knows we will die here.

Reference to the context: These lines have been extracted from ‘The Dolphins’ by Carol Ann Duffy. It is a monologue. It is written from the perspective of dolphins who have been trained to perform for humans and who apparently miss the former freedom of the ocean.

In these lines, the dolphin's predicament is bleak and hopeless. Their monotonous life is also portrayed. The concluding lines are reminders of oppression, control, and confinement.

Explanation: The fourth stanza is an embodiment of utmost desolation, confinement, and control. When in the ocean, it used to follow or circle around the reflection of the moon. That moon is no more with them. It can no more circle the moon. Now all the dolphin can do is a circle around the movement of the water (grooves of water) which induces a sense of music, which plays on a single note. Duffy uses 'grooves' to find a similarity in the water bubbles and the moon. It intensifies when the dolphin hears the 'music of loss' in its companion's voice (other's heart) When it hears its companion mourning the loss on a continual basis, it feels the loss of freedom and joy. This makes it saddened, turns its heart to stone. A plastic toy is there in the tank possibly for the dolphins to play with. This artificial toy cannot provide the joy of playing around in the free ocean. But there is no hope- no hope to go back to their home. The dolphin says they sink to the limit or the boundaries of the pool until the trainer blows his whistle, signaling them to come up and perform the tricks. Another connotation can relate to the fact that these dolphins have given in to their fate and have sunk to their lowest hope- the hope that someone would come and blow the whistle with a piece of good news for them, Yet, they know for sure there is a man. And, that they will die there. They cannot leave the place even if they want to 'our mind' points to the collective of the dolphins and their collective intelligence to understand what is going on around them- a sense of belonging in an otherwise nonsense world. 

(a) In what sense is the poem ‘The Dolphins a protest against man’s attitude towards animals in general? Quote from the text to substantiate your answer.

Answer : Man’s attitude towards animals is generally indifferent and cruel. In his sense of superiority he has been using, imprisoning, hurting and even killing animals for his needs, greed and entertainment. He forgets that animals too deserve to be treated with compassion and loving care.

The poem ‘The Dolphins’ by Carol Ann Duffy underlines this human attitude towards dolphins, representative of all animals in their miserable condition. It gives voice to one of the two imprisoned dolphins in a water pool in a water park where it is used for dolphin shows for the entertainment of the visitors.

Confined in the limited space of water pool in a water park the speaker-dolphin expresses its sense of loss of freedom vividly. We are moved by the way it seems to ask what for it has been removed from its natural habitat. We begin to share its feelings, though we can never exactly know the anguish of an entrapped or encaged animal. The dolphin in the poem, representing all dolphins in its position, makes it clear that they long for freedom:

World is what you swim in, or dance, it is simple.

We are in our element but we are not free.

The dolphin, in a hopeless mood, mentions of man in spite. It knows that dolphins like it have bleak future. They are at man’s mercy. They will continue to move in their limited space and entertain the human visitors, and one day they will die:

There is a plastic toy. There is no hope. We sink to the limits of this pool until the whistle blows. There is a man and our mind knows we will die here.

(b) What tells you that the dolphins in the winter park are unhappy?

Answer : In the very opening stanza of the poem we learn that dolphins – probably two in number in the pool – are quite unhappy. They are unhappy due to several factors. First of all, they are isolated from their ilk. They can no longer enjoy the company of other dolphins as they used to do. Secondly, the dolphins have been dislocated. They have been removed from their natural habitat, the sea, to the confined space of a pool. This forced isolation and dislocation are enough to make them sad and unhappy. The loss of freedom weighs heavily on their hearts. They are totally helpless and desolate. In their cramped world they fail to decipher why they have been confined there. There is a boring, limited space to move about. There is no music except that of the whistle blown by the their trainer or upkeeper. The dolphins are hopeless and know they have only bleak future before them.

There is a man and our mind knows we will die here.                                                                                                                                         

(c) Is there any message which Carol Ann Duffy wants to convey through her poem ‘The Dolphins’? Discuss.

Answer : ‘The Dolphins’ is a modern poem. It only aims at recording the feelings of the entrapped dolphins in a pool in a water park to stage ‘dolphin shows’ for the entertainment of visitors. Like any other modern poet, it does not convey any message explicitly. If there is any message, it is for us to derive.

We are implicitly exhorted to give up our apathetic attitude towards animals in general. We should not imprison animals in zoos, aquariums, and theme parks. We should allow animals to enjoy their freedom in their natural environs. The feelings assigned to the captive dolphin in the water park evoke pathos.

There is no hope. We sink 

to the limits of this pool until the whistle blows.

There is a man and our mind knows we will die here.

(d) The Dolphins’ by Carol Ann Duffy conveys the idea forcefully, though implicitly, that isolation and dislocation cause painful nostalgia. Discuss with close reference to the text.

Answer : Those who are forcibly isolated and dislocated suffer a lot. When they are alone they recall the pleasant days which they used to enjoy in the company of their dear ones. The persons who have to migrate within or outside their homeland are aware of the painful nostalgia that haunts them day and night. They feel helpless and hopeless and begin to wait for their deaths.                                                                                                                                                    The Dolphins’ by Duffy conveys the feelings of nostalgia felt by the dolphins imprisoned in a water pool for the entertainment of visitors. They have been forcibly taken away from their natural habitat, the sea. The forced isolation makes them sad and unhappy. The loss of freedom weighs heavy on the isolated dolphins . The state of isolation in a cramped space makes them nostalgic. The image of the expansive ocean, where they once lived, flashes across their mind and makes them restless:

And now we are no longer blessed, for the

world will not deepen to dream in. The other

knows and out of love reflects me for myself.

We see our silver skin flash by like memory of

somewhere else.

The new cramped artificial world is puzzling to the dolphins who are generally intelligent .It is known that the dolphins receive a lot of information through their skin. They also have a largely developed sonar. Despite their intelligence, they make no sense of the world in which they have been put. They find it totally artificial. Here the moon of their natural habitat has been replaced with a ‘coloured ball’. There is no freedom here. There is a boring, limited space to travel. There is no music except that of the whistle blowing-something that is not pleasing. The plight of the dolphins is revealed by their awareness of their dark future:                                                                                         

There is a man and our mind knows we will die here.

In short, ‘The Dolphins’ pinpoints the psychological effects of isolation and dislocation. The dolphin here gives a voice to the feelings of all isolated and dislocated creatures. The poet wants to make us aware of it, as we know only of human isolation and dislocation. We need to be reminded of the pain and anguish of those animals who are trapped and isolated for various reasons.

THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER -II

 THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER -II

1. What happened when Quicksilver asked a second time for more milk?

Ans. When Quicksilver asked a second time for more milk Baucis tilted the pitcher in such a way that she poured milk into the bowl. She did not expect any milk to flow out for she knew that the pitcher was empty. But to her utter disbelief, a large quantity of milk flowed out from the pitcher and filled the bowl to the brim.

2. What do you think Baucis whispered to Philomon?

Ans. Baucis was occupied by wonders to see the miracles. She whispered perhaps, that the strangers were not ordinary human beings and they had supernatural powers with which they had plenty of milk from an empty pitcher. It seemed that she also asked her husband if he could solve the mystery anyway.

3. How did he try to test the truth of her statement? What was the result?

Ans. Philomen was curious to know the truth. Then he tried to test the truth of his wife's statement. In doing so he picked up the pitcher as the guests asked for more milk. He was captivated by surprise when he found that a white fountain was gushing out from the bottom of the pitcher.

As a result, he also came to know the miracle a fact.

4. How did the elder traveler bless the pitcher?

Ans. The elder guest wished that their pitcher might never be empty for kind Baucis and her husband anymore for the needy wayfarer.

5. What happened to the village next morning?

Ans. The next morning the village ceased to exist. It had gone. In place of that lovely village, there was a broad blue lake full to the brim with water.

6. What became of the selfish people of the village?

Ans. The selfish people of the village were all transformed into fish. They had the lives of human beings but they did not understand the value of human life. So they were changed into fish.

7. How were Philemon and Baucis rewarded?

Ans. Good couple Philemon and Baucis did a good job which was the job of an actual human being. So they were rewarded by the divine guests. They granted their favour promising to the couple with respect to their desire that they might live together so long they were alive and died together after that. They blessed that the pitcher of the couple would never be empty. The strange travelers transformed the couple's into a marble palace.

Words and Phrases

1. Which words in the story mean the following.

(a) making a sound as of bubbles

(b) flowing out suddenly and plentifully

(c) completely puzzled

(d) person who travels especially on foot

(e) changed in form or outward appearance

Ans. (a) bubbling

(b) gushing out

(c) bewildered 

(d) wayfarer

(e) transformed

2. Use the following in sentences of your own.

filled to the brim

out of the common

curious

took-up their residence

Ans. 1. During the rainy season this river is filled to the brim with rain water.

2. The way in which they were murdered was out of the common.

3. He was curious to know how the accident had taken place.

4. The men took-up their residence in the new house built on the hillock.

Additional questions

1. What was the favour that Philamon and Baucis agreed to ask of the elder traveler? What does it tell about their character? What favour would you have asked in their place?

Ans. Philemon and Baucis agreed to ask the favour, " Let us live together, while we live, and leave the world at the same time when we die."

It tells that the couple love each other very much.

I would have asked of him the favour to forgive the wicked neighbours  and make them good.

2. Use the following in sentence of your own.

(a) the remotest idea

(b) an abundant quantity

(c) could not but think

(d) have most at heart

(e) in its stead

(d) have most at heart

(e) in its stead

(f) all at once

(g) token of

Ans. (a) He has not even the remotest idea about leprosy.

(b) There is an abundant quantity of natural gas stored in this area.

(c) He was so furious that I could not but think of him as a lunatic person.

(d) The desire that they have most at heart is to defeat the enemy.

(e) In its stead there is a glass of water there.

(f) While we were going through the forest all at once a big tree broke down before us.

(g) He sent me a ring as a token of love.

3. Write the noun forms of:

(a) retire

(b) transform

(c) speak

(d) bless

(e) poor

Ans. (a) retirement

(b) transformation

(c) speech

(d) blessing

(e) poverty

4. What happened when Quicksilver asked for a little more milk?

Ans. When Quicksilver asked for a little more milk  Baucis made such a gesture as if she was pouring milk into Quicksilver's bowl. She did not have the remotest idea that any milk would flow out. To her surprise an abundant quantity of milk fell bubbling into the bowl. It immediately filled to the brim and even overflowed upon the table.

5. Which expression suggested that Baucis doubted some thing unnatural?

Ans. She could not but think that there was something rather out of the common in all that had been going on.

6. What did the stranger reply when Philemon asked who they were?

Ans. The elder stranger replied that they were their guests and their friends.

7. What did Philemon wish their neighbour to do?/

Ans. Philemon wished that if their neighbour in the village only had known the great blessed thing it was to show hospitability to strangers and if they would have tied up all their dogs and never allowed their children to fling another stone.