Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja. A proclamation was issued to the effect that if anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. The Maharaja vowed he would attend to all other matters only after killing the hundred tigers. Initially the king seemed well set to realise his ambition. Not that he faced no dangers. There were times when the bullet missed its mark, the tiger leapt upon him and he fought the beast with his bare hands.
(The Tiger King)
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Question (i)
Why did the State ban tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja because he wanted to kill a hundred tigers to prove his astrologers wrong and fulfill his destiny.
Step-by-step explanation:
- In this extract, we see that the Maharaja was determined to kill a hundred tigers to prove his astrologers wrong and fulfill his destiny . He believed that if he killed a hundred tigers, he would be safe from any tiger attack and avoid his death. He also made it his priority and vowed to attend to all other matters only after killing the hundred tigers.
- To ensure that he had enough tigers to hunt and kill, he banned tiger hunting by anyone else in his State. He also issued a proclamation that threatened anyone who dared to harm a tiger with confiscation of their wealth and property. This shows how obsessed and ruthless he was with his goal of killing a hundred tigers.🐅
Question (ii)
What does the word "proclamation" mean in the extract?
- A public or official announcement
- A formal or authoritative order
- A statement or declaration of opinion
- A request or demand for action
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
(b) A formal or authoritative order
Step-by-step explanation:
- To answer this question, we need to know what the word "proclamation" means and how it is used in different contexts. The word "proclamation" can have different meanings depending on how it is used. It can mean a public or official announcement, as in "a proclamation of independence". It can mean a formal or authoritative order, as in "a proclamation banning smoking". It can mean a statement or declaration of opinion, as in "a proclamation of faith". Or it can mean a request or demand for action, as in "a proclamation for help".
- In this case, the word " proclamation" is used to mean a formal or authoritative order. The narrator says that a proclamation was issued to the effect that if anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. This means that the Maharaja gave an official order that forbade anyone from harming a tiger in any way, and warned them of the consequences if they did so. This shows that he had absolute power and authority over his State and its people.👑
Question (iii)
What literary device is used by the narrator when he says "so much as a stone" in the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The literary device used by the narrator when he says "so much as a stone" in the extract is hyperbole.
Step-by-step explanation:
- To answer this question, we need to know what a literary device is and what hyperbole means. A literary device is a technique that a writer uses to create a special effect or convey a message in their writing. Hyperbole is a type of literary device that involves exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or humor.
- The narrator uses hyperbole when he says "so much as a stone" in the extract. He does this to emphasize how strict and severe the Maharaja's proclamation was. He says that if anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. This means that even the slightest or smallest act of harming a tiger would result in a harsh punishment. This is an exaggeration, because throwing a stone at a tiger is not a very serious or harmful act, and confiscating someone's wealth and property is a very extreme or disproportionate measure.😲
Question (iv)
How does the narrator show the Maharaja's courage and skill in the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The narrator shows the Maharaja's courage and skill in the extract by using contrast, repetition, and climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
- To answer this question, we need to know what contrast, repetition, and climax mean and how they are used by the narrator. Contrast is when a writer shows the difference between two things or people. Repetition is when a writer repeats a word or phrase for emphasis or effect. Climax is when a writer arranges events or ideas in order of increasing importance or intensity.
- The narrator shows the Maharaja's courage and skill in the extract by using contrast, repetition, and climax. He uses contrast when he compares the Maharaja's initial success and his later dangers . He says that initially the king seemed well set to realize his ambition, but then he adds that not that he faced no dangers. This shows that the Maharaja's task was not easy or simple, but rather risky and challenging.
- He uses repetition when he repeats the word "times" twice in the extract. He says that there were times when the bullet missed its mark, and there were times when the tiger leapt upon him. This shows that the Maharaja had many encounters and battles with tigers, and that he had to face different situations and difficulties.
- He uses climax when he arranges the events in order of increasing importance or intensity. He says that first the bullet missed its mark, then the tiger leapt upon him, and then he fought the beast with his bare hands. This shows that the Maharaja's situation became more and more dangerous and difficult, and that he had to use more and more courage and skill to overcome it.
- By using these techniques, the narrator shows that the Maharaja was a brave and skilled hunter who faced many dangers and difficulties, but always won against them.😎
