Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. No other miracle marked his childhood days apart from the event already described. The boy drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an Englishman, saw nothing but English films — exactly as the crown princes of all the other Indian states did. When he came of age at twenty, the State, which had been with the Court of Wards until then, came into his hands
(The Tiger King)
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Question (i)
What was the only miracle that marked the childhood days of the crown prince?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The only miracle that marked the childhood days of the crown prince was that he spoke to the astrologers when he was just ten days old.
Step-by-step explanation:
- To answer this question, we need to recall the previous extract and the event that the narrator refers to. In the previous extract, we learned that the crown prince was born under a star that made him a great warrior and hunter of tigers, but also destined him to die by a tiger. He also spoke to the astrologers who predicted his fate when he was just ten days old. He asked them to tell him how he would die and challenged their predictions.
- In this extract, the narrator says that no other miracle marked his childhood days apart from the event already described. T his means that the only miraculous thing that happened to him as a child was that he spoke to the astrologers when he was just ten days old. This was a very unusual and extraordinary event that showed his intelligence and courage.🌟
Question (ii)
What does the phrase "came of age" mean in the extract?
- Became an adult
- Became a king
- Became a warrior
- Became a hunter
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
(a) Became an adult
Step-by-step explanation:
- To answer this question, we need to know what the phrase "came of age" means and how it is used in different contexts. The phrase "came of age" can have different meanings depending on how it is used. It can mean reaching a certain age or stage of development when one is legally or socially recognized as an adult. It can also mean reaching a level of maturity or achievement in one's life or career.
- In this case, the phrase "came of age" is used to mean reaching a certain age when one is legally recognized as an adult. The narrator says that when he came of age at twenty, the State came into his hands. This means that when he turned twenty years old, he became eligible to rule his State and take charge of its affairs. He was no longer under the supervision or control of the Court of Wards, which was a British institution that managed the estates and affairs of minor princes in India.👑
Question (iii)
What literary device is used by the narrator when he repeats the word "English" four times in the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The literary device used by the narrator when he repeats the word "English" four times in the extract is anaphora.
Step-by-step explanation:
- To answer this question, we need to know what a literary device is and what anaphora means. A literary device is a technique that a writer uses to create a special effect or convey a message in their writing. Anaphora is a type of literary device that involves repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses.
- The narrator uses anaphora when he repeats the word "English" four times in the extract. He does this to emphasize how much the crown prince was influenced by British culture and education. He says that he drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an Englishman, and saw nothing but English films . This shows that he had little exposure or connection to his own culture or language.🇬🇧
Question (iv)
How does the narrator show the influence of British culture on the crown prince in the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The narrator shows the influence of British culture on the crown prince in the extract by using contrast, irony, and sarcasm.
Step-by-step explanation:
- To answer this question, we need to know what contrast, irony, and sarcasm mean and how they are used by the narrator. Contrast is when a writer shows the difference between two things or people. Irony is when something is said or done that is opposite or different from what is expected or intended. Sarcasm is when something is said or done that mocks or ridicules someone or something.
- The narrator shows the influence of British culture on the crown prince by using contrast, irony, and sarcasm. He uses contrast when he compares the crown prince's upbringing and education with those of the other Indian princes. He says that he did exactly as the crown princes of all the other Indian states did. This shows that he was not unique or special, but rather followed a common pattern of being influenced by British culture and education.
- He uses irony when he says that the crown prince drank the milk of an English cow. This is ironic because cows are considered sacred in Hindu culture, which was the crown prince's own culture. But he drank the milk of a foreign cow, which showed his disregard or ignorance of his own culture.
- He uses sarcasm when he says that the crown prince saw nothing but English films. This is sarcastic because it suggests that he had no interest or curiosity in anything else besides English films. He missed out on the richness and diversity of his own culture and history.😒
