The Gauhati University 1st Semester Alternative English Solved Question Paper 2023 is an essential resource for students preparing for their exams. This comprehensive material covers the GU BA, BSc and BCom Alternative English Solved Question Paper 2023, ensuring that learners from different streams can benefit equally. By going through the GU 1st Sem. Alternative English Question Paper Solution 2023, students can understand the exam pattern, practice important questions, and improve their writing skills effectively.
2023 - FYUGP
Alternative English
Paper Code: AEC0100402
Full Marks: 30
Time: 1 hr. 30 minute
The figures in the margins indicate full marks for the questions
1. Answer all the questions in a word or a sentence: 1x5=5
a. Name the ancient tree mentioned in Bhatt's poem prescribed for your study.
Answer: The Peepal tree.
b. The palanquin bearers sing gaily. True/False
Answer: True.
c. Name the person referred to as 'her' in Yeats' poem, 'No Second Troy'.
Answer: Maud Gonne.
d. What was Prafulla's greatest ambition?
Answer: To give his voice on the radio.
e. Name the narrator's uncle in the story, 'The Ring'?
Answer: Uncle Con.
2. Answer any five of the following: 2x5=10
a. Where is the speaker, in the poem, "This is a photograph of Me"?
Answer: The speaker is in the lake, drowned, and speaking from under the water.
b. Explain - "With beauty like a tightened bow" ('No Second Troy')
Answer: It means Maud Gonne’s beauty was strong, proud, and full of power, like a bow pulled tight.
c. What is the significance of the title of Yeats' poem, 'No Second Troy"?
Answer: Yeats says Maud Gonne was like Helen of Troy, but Ireland was not another Troy to be destroyed, so there was no "second Troy."
d. Mention any two comparisons used to describe the palanquin in Naidu's poem, "The Palanquin Bearers".
Answer: The palanquin is compared to a flower and a pearl on a string.
e. What was Prafulla's Bhishma Pratigya?
Answer: He promised never to sing again after being insulted for his singing.
f. Why did the radio authorities not invite artists from outside Guwahati?
Answer: Because they wanted to avoid extra cost and allowed only local artists.
g. What did the producer tell Dipak?
Answer: The producer told Dipak that Prafulla would not be allowed to sing but would be given some other role.
h. Where was the narrator's grandmother's farm and why did he like to visit it?
Answer: The farm was in Kerry, and he liked it because he enjoyed staying there during holidays.
i. What were the two things that reminded the narrator of his grandmother in the story, 'The Ring'?
Answer: A jockey’s whip and a fishing rod reminded him of his grandmother.
j. Why was the lost ring precious to the narrator's grandmother?
Answer: Because it was her wedding ring and a memory of her late husband.
3. Answer any three of the following: 5X3=15
a. Write a short note on the symbols used in Bhatt's poem prescribed for your study.
Answer: In Sujata Bhatt’s poem So Many Oaks, different symbols are used to show meaning. The oak tree is a symbol of strength and old tradition. The peepal tree is a symbol of Indian culture and roots. The forest around the house shows history and memory. The woman in the house symbolizes human pain and loss. Through these symbols, the poet connects nature with human life and emotions.
b. Attempt a critical appreciation of the poem, "The Palanquin Bearers".
Answer: The Palanquin Bearers by Sarojini Naidu is a beautiful folk song. It shows how palanquin bearers carry a bride with joy and pride. The poem is full of similes like “flower,” “bird,” “star,” and “pearl,” which describe the bride’s beauty and delicacy. The tone is both happy and sad, because the bride feels joy for a new life and sorrow for leaving her home. The rhythm of the poem is musical and matches the steps of the bearers. The poem presents Indian culture and emotions in a simple but touching way.
c. Give a brief description of Prafulla's audition in your own words.
Answer: In Mahim Bora’s story Audition, Prafulla went to the radio station to give his voice. He was nervous but full of hope. The officials thought he was a singer and asked him to sing. Prafulla was not prepared and his singing sounded funny. The staff and artists laughed at him, which made him feel ashamed. This event hurt him deeply, and it later led him to make his Bhishma Pratigya.
d. Describe the incident that led to Prafulla's Bhishma Pratigya.
Answer: One day, Prafulla was singing while taking a bath. His mother heard him and laughed at his poor singing. This hurt his pride very badly. From that day, he made a strong promise, called Bhishma Pratigya, that he would never sing again in his life. This shows his sensitive nature and his deep pain from being mocked.
e. Write a short note on the character of the narrator's grandmother in the story, "The Ring".
Answer: In Bryan MacMahon’s story The Ring, the grandmother is shown as a strong and hardworking woman. She takes care of her farm after her husband’s death. She is also emotional, as seen when she loses her wedding ring and searches for it with great care. The ring was very precious to her because it reminded her of her late husband. She is strict, practical, but also deeply loving, which makes her a memorable character.
f. Give a brief account of the grandmother's search for her ring in the story, 'The Ring'.
Answer: The grandmother lost her wedding ring while working with hay. She searched for it day and night, going through the hay again and again. She did not rest until she found it. Finally, after many days, she discovered the ring at midnight. She was filled with joy and relief because the ring was not just a piece of gold, but a symbol of her love and memories of her husband.
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