SECTION IV – MODEL ANSWERS
Questions 20–25 — 6 Scores Each (5 × 6 = 30)
.20. Prepare a write-up on ‘Mother Love’ based on the poem Any Woman.
Mother Love
Katherine Tynan's poem Any Woman is a beautiful celebration of motherhood and unconditional maternal love. The poet presents the mother as the central force that holds a family together.
The mother compares herself to the pillars of the house that support the roof and to the keystone of an arch that prevents the structure from collapsing. These images suggest that a family depends greatly on the mother's love and care. She is also the fire upon the hearth, providing warmth, comfort and security to her children.
The mother is the light of the children's sun, making their world bright and happy. She is also the wall that protects them from danger. Like a protective wall, she shields her children from the hardships of the outside world.
She describes herself as the twist that holds the children together in a sacred ring. Her love creates a strong bond among the members of the family and prevents the children from going astray.
Towards the end of the poem, the mother prays to God not to take her away until her children are grown up. She is even ready to sacrifice her life for their safety. Thus, Any Woman presents motherly love as selfless, protective, unifying and sacrificial.
.21. Sketch the character of Nomita in Matchbox.
Nomita – A Woman of Hidden Fire
Nomita is the central character of Ashapurna Debi's Matchbox. Through her, the author portrays the suppressed anger, self-respect and hidden strength of women living in a patriarchal society.
Nomita belongs to a poor family but is married into a comparatively wealthy joint family. Her husband, Ajit, does not respect her privacy. He secretly opens and reads the letters sent to her by her mother. Nomita strongly resents this behaviour because she considers it an insult to her dignity.
Nomita is sensitive and self-respecting. When she discovers that Ajit has opened another letter from her mother, she confronts him. Ajit tries to humiliate her by referring contemptuously to her mother's requests for financial help. His words deeply wound Nomita.
She is also bold and rebellious. Unable to tolerate Ajit's arrogance, she lights a match and holds it to her own sari, dramatically demonstrating the intensity of her anger. The incident reveals the hidden fire within her.
At the same time, Nomita is trapped by social circumstances. She cannot openly reveal all her problems to the other women of the household and tries to hide the real reason behind the burnt sari.
Nomita therefore represents countless women who appear quiet and submissive but possess tremendous inner strength. Like a matchbox, she contains a hidden fire that can flare up when her dignity and self-respect are violated.
.22. Prepare an essay on the theme of friendship portrayed in Amigo Brothers.
Friendship in Amigo Brothers
Piri Thomas's Amigo Brothers presents a memorable picture of true friendship that survives even intense competition. The story centres on Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas, two seventeen-year-old boys who have grown up together and share a passion for boxing.
Antonio and Felix are almost like brothers. They train together, dream together and hope to become successful boxers. Their friendship faces its greatest test when they learn that they must fight each other to decide who will represent the Boys' Club in the Golden Gloves Championship Tournament.
Both boys want to win. They therefore decide that once they enter the ring, they will fight as though they were strangers. Before the match, they even train separately so that their friendship will not interfere with their preparation.
During the bout, Antonio and Felix fight fiercely. Neither gives the other any special consideration. Their determination shows their commitment to the sport. As the fight progresses, competition becomes intense, and both try their best to win.
But when the final bell rings, their friendship immediately overcomes their rivalry. They embrace each other in the ring and walk away arm in arm even before the winner is announced.
The ending conveys the central message of the story: winning a competition is less important than preserving a genuine human relationship. Antonio and Felix prove that true friends can compete sincerely without allowing rivalry to destroy their affection. Thus, Amigo Brothers is a celebration of friendship, sportsmanship, loyalty and mutual respect.
.23. Prepare a blurb on the short story Matchbox.
MATCHBOX
Ashapurna Debi
How long can a spark remain hidden inside a matchbox?
Nomita appears to lead an ordinary married life. But beneath her silence burns the fire of hurt, humiliation and wounded self-respect.
When her husband Ajit repeatedly violates her privacy by secretly opening the letters sent by her mother, Nomita can no longer remain silent. A seemingly ordinary domestic quarrel suddenly reveals the explosive power hidden within a woman who has been taken for granted.
Through the powerful metaphor of a matchbox, Ashapurna Debi explores the position of women in a patriarchal household and exposes the injustice, humiliation and emotional conflicts they often endure.
Matchbox is a compelling story of women's dignity, suppressed anger, resistance and inner strength.
Read this powerful story and discover the fire hidden behind silence.
.24. Prepare a short essay on the 3Ls of Empowerment propounded by Christine Lagarde.
The 3Ls of Empowerment
In The 3Ls of Empowerment, Christine Lagarde presents three essential factors for women's empowerment — Learning, Labour and Leadership. She argues that empowering women is important not only for women themselves but also for the progress of society and the economy.
The first L is Learning. Education is the foundation on which meaningful change is built. Learning enables women to overcome discrimination, develop their abilities and make informed choices. Education gives women confidence and opens the door to greater opportunities.
The second L is Labour. Women should have opportunities to participate fully in the world of work. Employment gives women economic independence and allows them to contribute to economic development. Barriers that prevent women from entering or progressing in the labour market should therefore be removed.
The third L is Leadership. Women should have the confidence and opportunity to become leaders and participate in decision-making. Leadership enables women to challenge established limitations and contribute their ideas and abilities to society.
Lagarde also stresses the need to remove legal, economic and social obstacles that restrict women's progress. Women should be encouraged to “dare the difference” and bring their distinctive talents and perspectives into public life.
Thus, Learning provides knowledge, Labour gives economic strength, and Leadership provides the power to influence change. Together, these three Ls can help women achieve their full potential and contribute to a more equal and prosperous world.
.25. Attempt a critical appreciation of the poem Any Woman.
Critical Appreciation of Any Woman
Any Woman by Katherine Tynan is a touching poem celebrating the love, sacrifice and indispensable role of a mother in the family. The poem presents motherhood as the force that protects, supports and unites the entire household.
The central theme is selfless maternal love. The speaker describes herself through a series of powerful images. She is the “pillars of the house” and the “keystone of the arch,” suggesting that the stability of the family depends upon her. Without her, the family structure may collapse.
She is also the “fire upon the hearth”, symbolising warmth and comfort, and the “light of their good sun”, suggesting happiness and guidance. The image of the mother as a wall emphasises her protective role. She guards her children against dangers and difficulties.
Another striking image is the “twist that holds together / The children in its sacred ring.” It presents the mother as the binding force that keeps her children united through love.
The poem uses several literary devices effectively. Metaphors dominate the poem as the mother is compared to pillars, keystone, fire, light and wall. The poem also contains visual imagery, symbolism and rhyme, which enhance its emotional appeal.
The final prayer gives the poem greater emotional depth. The mother asks God not to take her away until her children are grown because she fears that they may suffer without her protection. This reveals the sacrificial and unconditional nature of maternal love.
Thus, Any Woman is a moving tribute to motherhood. Through simple language and powerful domestic images, Katherine Tynan presents the mother as the foundation, protector, source of warmth and unifying force of the family.