UP BOARD SOLUTION FOR CLASS 11 ENGLISH ‘THE LIGHT OF ASIA’ FULL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UP BOARD SOLUTION FOR CLASS 11 ENGLISH 'THE LIGHT OF ASIA' FULL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Long Answer Type Questions
1- What disturbed the calm of Siddartha’s mind even among the pleasures and luxuries of the palace?
Ans: Introduction: King Suddhodana had arranged many pleasures for prince Siddartha. He was afraid that if Siddhartha saw the pain of the world he would become a hermit. But many things disturbed the calm of his mind. He was unhappy even among the pleasures and luxuries of the palace.
Call of the world: While sleeping, Siddartha would hear the call of the world. He would startle up and cry that he was coming. There was pity in his eyes.
Call of the Devas: One day the wind made music in the veena. The Devas were singing their message to Siddartha. They told him that life was like the wind. He was to save the world. His time had come. He should rise now.
Chitra’s story: The maid, Chitra told a story of a wonderful distant land and of a magic horse. Her story reminded him of the wind’s song in the veena.
Conclusion: All these things disturbed the calm of Siddhartha’s mind. He wanted to see the world and the people in it.
2- What does the Prince say about life and the world in the poem ‘The Light of Asia’?
Ans: Introduction: The poem depicts the philosophy of the noble hero and reformer prince Gautam, the founder of Buddhism. He tried to understand the true meaning of human life and find out the solution for sufferings. He felt mental unrest. Some unknown things troubled his mind. Often the calm of his mind was disturbed. In his sleep he would suddenly startle up. He would cry wildly, “Oh world! I hear! I come!” It seemed as if the world was calling him. Embodiment of love and pity: He was very kind and pitiful. He had sympathy for all. When Yashodhara was frightened to see his star the, he would smile to cheer her. He patted with love the sakya boy who had spread flowers before his chariot. When he sees the sick man, he treats him with compassion and kindness.
My story of life: None is immortal here in this world. The suffering humanity is caught in as unending cycle of life and death, pleasure and pain. Happiness would always end in sorrow; youth would always be followed by old age; love would result in detachment and loss and life would inevitably be followed by death.
Conclusion: Siddartha declared, “I would not let one cry whom I could save.”
3- Why did King Suddhodana send words to his people to decorate the city and make it look gay and happy for the Prince’s visit?
Ans: Introduction: King Suddhodana was told that prince Siddartha wanted to go out and see the world. He ordered special preparations for the following reasons:
Not proper to check: The king knew that the Prince was no more a small child. He had a good wife and every pleasure. It was time for him to see other things. Moreover it was not good to check his desire. He might suspect something.
Precaution was necessary: But the king was very cautious. He wanted him to be a great King. If he saw the pain in the world he would become a saint. So the King wanted to keep all painful sights away from him. If the city was decorated the Prince would see beautiful scenes. It was to look happy and gay so that the Prince might think that all life was charming. If he saw sickness, old age or other trouble he would leave the world and become a saint.
4- Describe the seven visions which the King Suddhodana saw.
or Give the interpretation of the seven visions which the King Suddhodhana saw.
Ans: Introduction: ‘The Light of Asia’ is a well-known epic of Sir Edwin Arnold. In it, he has described the immortal and great deeds of prince Siddartha viz. Mahatma Buddha. Once, the King Suddhodana saw seven horrible visions in his dream. They belonged to prince Siddartha.
These seven visions are as follows:—
A flag: First of all, the King saw a flag. It was a broad and splendid flag. A golden sun was shining on it. Suddenly a strong wind tore it. Then it was taken up by a group of shadowy persons. They went towards East.
It meant that old faiths would change and new faiths would take their place.
Ten elephants:- In the second vision, the King saw ten elephants with white tusks. On the foremost elephant, was the Prince. They were marching on the Southern road. It meant that the Prince would get ten great gifts of wisdom and shake the world with them.
A chariot: Then he saw a chariot with dazzling light drawn by four fearful horses. Their breath was smoke and the foam and in their mouths was fire. The Prince was sitting in it. It meant that four horses were four virtues which would help the Prince to get knowledge.
A wheel:- In this vision, the King saw a wheel. It was made of gold. It was moving fast with a sweet sound. It meant that the wheel of perfect law and Prince will show the perfect law to the world. A drum: In the fifth vision, he saw a huge drum on which the Prince was beating with an iron road. Its sound was like thunder. It meant that like the sound of drum, the Budda’s teaching would spread in every corner of the world.
A tower:- In the sixth vision, there was a huge tower. It was touching the clouds. The prince stood on its top. He was scattering jewels in every direction. It meant that rising of tower was the spread of Buddhism and jewels were his teachings.
Six men:- In the seventh vision, the king heard a noise of lamentation. Six men were weeping and grinding their teeth. They closed their mouths with their hands. They were very sad. It meant that the weeping six men were the men whom the Prince would give knowledge.
Conclusion: Thus these were seven horrible visions seen by the king. The king was very upset and disturbed by them.
5- Sketch the character of Channa. Who is Channa? Discuss his role and importance in the poem.
Ans: Introduction: Channa is a good servant of Prince. During the first visit of prince Siddartha, he goes with him as a charioteer. During the second visit the Prince dresses like a merchant and Channa is in the guise of his clerk. When the Prince asks him to return to the place, he obeys him willingly. A man of worldly knowledge: Channa has got knowledge about the world. Living in a palace the Prince did not know what old age, sickness and death were. He explains these things to the Prince very cleverly. During his visits the Prince asks him what he sees. The Prince was satisfied with Channa’s answers.
His answer: Channa is not only a guide but a philosopher also. He explains death and old age like a philosopher. During first visit the Prince asked, “What is old age?” Channa replied that old age comes to all and makes a man weak and toothless. During his second visit he said that sickness comes to all in many ways. Death is unavoidable and ends of a life. No man is immortal.
His importance: Channa has played very important role in the poem. He is an obedient servant, a philosopher, a companion of the Prince. He conceals nothing from the Prince. He moves the story and is present at every point in the poem. The Prince could not know the reality of the world without Channa’s answers.
6- Sketch the character of prince Siddartha?
Ans: Principal character:- Prince Siddartha is the principal character in the poem ‘The Light of Asia’. He is named Siddartha at the time of his birth. When he attains Enlightenment (Highest knowledge), he is known as the Buddha, or “The Enlightened-one’. Still later his followers called him ‘Sakya muni’. His birth and parentage: Siddartha was the son of king Suddhodana, who ruled in Kapilvastu. His mother was queen Mahamaya. Legends say that many miracles were happened at the time of his birth.
His thoughtful nature: Siddartha was very thoughtful by nature. He would sit for hours lost in deep thoughts. The king tried to divert his attention, but all in vain.
His mental unrest: He felt mental unrest. Some unknown things troubled his mind. Often the calm of his mind was disturbed. In his sleep he would suddenly startle up. He would cry wildly, “Oh world! I hear! I come!” It seemed as if the world was calling him.
Embodiment of love and pity :- He was very kind and pitiful. He had sympathy for all. when Yashodhara was frightened to see his startles, he would smile to cheer her. He patted with love the sakya boy who had spread flowers before his chariot. When he sees the sick man, he treats him with compassion and kindness.
A divine soul:- Siddartha was a divine soul. He was a man of destiny. He was born to show the path of salvation to mankind. He was sent into this world to find deliverance from birth and death. He was destined to be the saviour of mankind.
7- Narrate in short the conversation that took place between the Prince and Channa while the Prince was holding the sick man?
Ans: Fatal disease: When Siddartha saw a sick man he asked Channa why the man sighed and could not speak. Channa replied that some fatal disease had attacked him.
How it came: The Prince asked if others were suffering or could suffer. Channa replied that it comes to everyone in different forms. The Prince asked “Come such ills unobserved?” “Secretly and suddenly,” replied Channa.
Effect on men: The Prince said, “Then all men live in fear?” Channa replied that they did. The Prince asked him if none could say that he would wake up as healthy as he was when he went to sleep. Channa replied, “None.”
The end: Then the Prince asked Channa if all sickness make man weak and old. Channa replied if men lived long enough it did. The Prince asked Channa what happened if men could not bear this pain or bore it and grew older. Channa replied that they die. “All must die.”
8- What was the effect of the hermit’s prediction about the future of the Prince of the King of Kapilvastu?
Ans: A hermit named Asita who lived in the mountains not far away, came down to the palace. He prophesied the future greatness of the child.
He predicted: “This Prince, if he remains in the palace after his youth, will become a great king to rule the Four Seas. But if he forsakes the worldly life to embrace a religious life, he will become a Buddha and the world’s Saviour.
Effect on the king: At first, the king was pleased because of the prophecy, but later became troubled at the thought of the possibility of his only son leaving the palace to become a homeless recluse. The king was increasingly worried as he recalled the hermit’s prophecy. He tried in every possible way to divert his mind to other directions. He arranged Siddartha’s marriage with a beautiful princess Yashodhara at the age of nineteen.
9- Describe the scene when the Prince saw a procession of the dead body and its cremation.
Ans: The funeral procession: In the end the Prince saw a dead man. Some people were lamenting. They were going quickly towards the river. The first person had an earthen bowl with lighted coals in it. Behind him were the relatives of the dead man. Their heads were shaved. They were not dressed in the normal manner. They were crying, “O Rama, Rama, hear! Call upon Rama, brothers.” Behind them was a bier made with bamboo poles.
The dead man: The dead man lay on the bier. His feet were towards the front. Red and yellow dust had been sprinkled on him. At the cross-roads they turned the bier. Now his head was towards the front.
Cremation: They took the dead man to the pile of wood near the river. They laid him on the pile and built up the fuel. Then they set flame to the four corners. The whole body was burnt to ashes.
10- Why did the sight of the old, the sick and the dead man move the Prince so deeply?
Ans: On seeing the old man: During his first visit the Prince saw an old man. This made the Prince thoughtful. He sat throughout the night without sleep. His chief thought was how love can be saved from time that destroys everything.
On seeing the sick man: During his second visit the Prince first saw a sick man. Channa told him that disease comes to all in different shapes at its own time. He now felt how uncertain life is.
On seeing the dead man: He saw the dead man and his cremation. All was burnt to ashes. This moved him very deeply. Channa told him that this is the fate of every man, and man has to face it again and again. Siddartha’s eyes were full of tears. He looked with pity from the earth to the sky. He now saw clearly what life is. But he felt certain that there must be help.
11- “It is enough, my eyes have seen enough!” Who says this and why?
Ans: The speaker: Prince Siddartha said these words. When prince Siddhartha saw the end of the life of man, he said this.
First sight: When the Prince was living in comfort in the palace he wanted to see the world. He saw the old man. This disappointed him, but he wanted to see more.
Last two sights: He again went out. This time he saw the sick man groaning in great pain. He saw the fear of life. He wanted to know about the end of life. He saw the dead man. He saw how he was burnt to ashes. He knew about the whole life of man.
His decision: The world had called him. He had seen the sufferings of the world. He had seen that he was like all men. Men cry upon their gods for help. But they are not helped. The gods may be so feeble that they are helpless. He exclaims that it is not becoming of God if he leaves his work miserable. His path in life had changed. He would save man. He had begun to think what help there could be for man. So he said that nothing more remained to see.
12- What was the effect of Chitra’s story on the mind of the Prince?
Ans: Chitra, the maid servant of prince Siddhartha told him a story of a wonderful distant land and of a magic horse. Her, story r eminded him of the winds song in the veena. He asked if there was a land where the great sun rolled into the waves. The Prince was surprised that who hailed the sun’s rays first were the children of the morning. His heart panted to see the peoples of the evening. He had an ache in his heart which could not be wiped off by his wife Yashodhara kisses. He asked Chitra to bring that swift horse and place his palace on its back so that he might see the spread of the earth. He wished, if that horse was not available, than bring the wings of a vulture to fly to the tops of the Himalayas that he might see things which he had never seen.
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