Important Note :
1. These are just sample answers provided to help students understand how to answer questions of this nature. Students are encouraged to refer to these questions and write their own answers.
2. Remember that from Drama Section ( 4.2. , 4.3(A) , 4.3(B)) you are asked two questions each ( of 50 words carrying 02+02= 04 marks). History of Drama ( 4.1) is objective based.
Answer the given in about 50 words.
1. The Sergeant’s actions at the end surprise the audience. Justify.
Ans. Throughout the play , the Sergeant who is a loyal officer of the British rule , talks about how he considers it his duty to arrest the escaped prisoner. When he finds out that the man he has been speaking to is the escaped prisoner himself, he is very angry at having been tricked and even blocks the prisoner's way to stop him from escaping. This leads the audience to believe that the Sergeant will arrest the prisoner. However, in a sudden twist of events, the Sergeant allows the prisoner to escape by not informing his comrades , who appear on the scene, about the man hiding behind the barrel. This unexpected behaviour of the Sergeant leaves the audience surprised.
2. Explain the theme of “The Rising of the moon.
Ans. The theme of the Rising of the moon revolves around patriotism ( love for the country and the risk taken for the country), unity among people of the country and conflict between duty and patriotism. The play focuses on achieving unity through songs and folklore. This sense of unity is seen when the Sergeant, a British soldier, is duty-bound to capture the Prisoner, an Irish rebel. However, as they interact, the Sergeant begins to question his duty and feels a sense of unity with the Prisoner, who is fighting for his country's freedom. The conflict between duty and patriotism is explored when the Sergeant's duty as a soldier conflicts with his growing sense of patriotism and understanding the need for the Irish freedom. The theme of patriotism dominates the play as we witness the Prisoner's/the man’s love for his country and willingness to fight for its freedom which is such a powerful example of patriotism that it ends up inspiring the Sergeant to re-examine his own loyalties and shift it towards the end !
3. The title ‘’ The Rising of the Moon’’ has a symbolic meaning. Explain it keeping mind the setting of the play.
Ans. Lady Gregory's "The Rising of the Moon" takes it's title from a popular Irish rebel song of the same name. The song was a call to the Irish people to rise up against oppression. Hence the song compares the rising of the people to the rising of the moon. It denotes how light (freedom for Irish People) will shine upon and darkness ( Oppression will end) will go away. By giving this name to her play , Lady Gregory hopes for the freedom of Ireland from British rule.
The title symbolizes the emergence of a new era for the Irish people,. It represents a beacon of light in the darkness, offering hope to the Irish people who have been oppressed by British rule. The rebels, like the Prisoner, are fighting for a better future, and the rising moon signifies that a brighter tomorrow is possible. The moon's ascent also symbolizes the Irish people's desire for freedom from British rule and breaking free from the shackles of oppression.
4. Comment on the given dialogue. “Her gown sure was stained with gore”
Ans. The dialogue "Her gown sure was stained with gore" creates a powerful and unsettling image.
It creates a vivid and ominous image. It conveys violence and bloodshed, evoking a strong visual response. The line foreshadows a darker event or tragedy, adding tension and suspense. It humanizes the victim, sparking curiosity and encouraging engagement with the story.
In the context of Granuaile's story, the dialogue "Her gown sure was stained with gore" suggests that Granuaile has been involved in a violent confrontation, possibly a battle with her English captors.
The image of her gown stained with gore implies that Granuaile has fought bravely, perhaps even been wounded, but remains unbroken and defiant. The dialogue highlights her courage and strength in the face of adversity, underscoring her legendary status as a pirate queen and a symbol of Irish resistance.
5. ‘A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream’’ is one of the best examples of Shakespeare’s comedy of errors. Explain.
Ans. Comedy of errors refers to a series of ridiculous events that are result of either mistaken identities or the mistakes made by foolish people and William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's dream is a perfect example of it. In act 3 , scene 2 , when Puck mistakenly pours the love potion on Lysander taking him as Demetrius, it is a comedy of error as it creates trouble for all four humans in the woods that are - Lysander , Demetrius , Hermia and Helena. The second comedy of errors is the Queen of Fairies Titania falling in love with an ass , Bottom because Puck transforms Bottom's head into that of an ass and it's really funny to see Titania fall for an ass-headed human as she was under the influence of love potion which is applied on her eyes by Oberon - the King of fairies to teach her a lesson. All this confusion where Titania falls in love with an ass , the workmen being scared after witnessing Bottom with a donkey head , Helena's assumption that both Demetrius and Lysander are trying to mock her and Hermia's accusation that Helena stole Lysander are a result of the comedy of errors that are caused due to Oberon and Puck's mischief.
6. Explain the following dialogues :
(i) “My mistress with monster is in love.”
Ans : The quote "My mistress with monster is in love" is spoken by Puck to Oberon in act 3 , scene 2 of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" , informing him that Titania, the Fairy Queen, has fallen deeply in love with Bottom, a weaver who has been transformed into a donkey (the "monster") by Puck's magic.
This absurd situation has arisen due to the magical potion obtained by Oberon from the flower "Love-in-Idleness". The potion, when applied to Titania's eyes, causes her to fall in love with the first creature she sees, which happens to be the transformed Bottom.
As a result, Titania becomes infatuated with Bottom, showering him with affection and attention, completely unaware of his true identity. Puck's report to Oberon highlights the hilarious and chaotic consequences of the magic potion's effect.
(ii) “Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game.”
Ans. The dialogue "Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game" is spoken by Hermia to Helena, in response to Helena's accusation that Hermia is a "puppet" , implying that Hermia is artificial or fake.
Hermia takes offense to this and responds by suggesting that Helena is actually mocking her short stature, implying that Helena is comparing their physical appearances and finding Hermia lacking.
In essence, Hermia is saying that Helena's comment about being a "puppet" is actually a veiled/hidden insult about Hermia's height or physical appearance, and that Helena is trying to assert her own superiority over Hermia.
This exchange highlights the tension and rivalry between Hermia and Helena, as well as their deep-seated insecurities and competitiveness with each other.
6. Explain the mischievous character of Puck as painted by Shakespeare in Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Ans. Puck, also called Robin Goodfellow, is a playful and mischievous fairy in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. He enjoys causing trouble and playing tricks on humans. He follows Oberon’s orders but often makes mistakes, like putting the love potion on the wrong person’s eyes ( He puts it in eyes of Lysander instead of Demetrius!). Instead of fixing problems immediately, he enjoys watching the confusion. Puck also transforms Bottom’s head into that of a donkey because he finds bottom quite irritating. Despite his mischief, he is not evil—he only wants to have fun. In the end, he helps resolve the chaos.
7. There were some reasons why Theseus was initially against but later gave consent to the marriage of Hermia with Lysander. Explain.
Ans. At first, Theseus supports Egeus, Hermia’s father, who wants her to marry Demetrius. He follows the law of Athens, which says that a daughter must obey her father’s wishes or face death or a life in a convent. However, after Lysander and Hermia escape into the forest, things change. With Puck’s magic, Demetrius falls in love with Helena, leaving Lysander free to marry Hermia. Seeing this, Theseus allows their marriage, as it no longer goes against Egeus’ wishes. He chooses to be kind and lets love win, showing his fairness as a ruler.
8. Write the character sketch of Dr. Stockmann.
Ans. 9. Character Sketch of Dr. Stockmann
Dr. Stockmann is the main character in An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen. He is an honest and brave doctor who discovers that the town’s water ( the municipal baths) is contaminated with a deadly disease. He believes in truth and wants to warn people to protect their health. However, the town’s leaders and even his own brother ( Peter Stockman who is the mayor and also the chairman of the municipal baths) oppose him because fixing the problem would be costly. Dr. Stockmann refuses to stay silent, even when people call him an enemy and threaten him and his family. He is strong-willed, passionate, and willing to fight for what is right, even if he must stand alone.
9. Explain the theme of “An Enemy of the People”
Ans.The main theme of An Enemy of the People is truth versus society. Dr. Stockmann finds out that the town’s water is polluted, but people reject the truth because they fear economic loss. The play shows how society often silences those who speak against popular beliefs. It also explores the power of the majority and how they can turn against an honest person. Another important theme is personal integrity—Dr. Stockmann chooses truth over popularity, showing that standing up for what is right can be difficult but necessary.
