B.A. English Part-II, Semester III Language and Literature – I: GO3-GE-OE-301 [GE/OE]

 

B.A. English Part-II, Semester III

(2025–26, 26-27 & 2027-28)

Language and Literature – I: GO3-GE-OE-301

[GE/OE

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Syllabus

               Unit I Language: Writing Skills                                                                       

1. Note Making

2. Summary Writing

    Unit II Literature: Stories                                                                        

1. A Devoted Son: Anita Desai

2. The Nightingale and the Rose: Oscar Wilde

  

Unit 1: Language: Writing Skills

1. Note Making

Definition and Meaning

Note making is the process of recording important information from a passage, lecture, discussion, or book in a short, systematic, and organized way. It is not copying, but rather condensing the material. The purpose of note making is to help a learner capture the essence of the material in such a way that it can be remembered and revised easily at a later stage.

When students make notes, they do not write everything. Instead, they select the main ideas, important keywords, and supporting points, and arrange them in a logical and hierarchical order. Notes also make use of abbreviations, symbols, and numbering to save time and space.

For example, if a teacher explains a 10-page chapter in class, it is not possible to write down everything. But through note making, a student can prepare a one-page summary of all the key points. Later, while revising for exams, these notes act as a memory tool.

Characteristics of Good Notes

1. Brevity (shortness): Notes must be short, clear, and to the point. Instead of long sentences, only keywords and main ideas should be written. For example, instead of writing “The government is planning to increase the budget of education next year,” a note may simply say: Govt. → ↑ Edu. budget (next yr).
2. Clarity: Notes must be written in such a way that they are understandable even after weeks or months. Students should be able to recall the entire idea just by reading their notes.
3. Logical Order: Notes should follow the same sequence as the original text. This avoids confusion and maintains the natural flow of ideas.
4. Headings and Subheadings: Notes should be properly divided into main headings, subheadings, and points. This gives structure and makes revision easier.
5. Use of Abbreviations and Symbols: Commonly used abbreviations like edu. (education), dev. (development), govt. (government), and symbols like “&” (and), “→” (leads to), “↑” (increase), “↓” (decrease) help in saving time.
6. Key Ideas Only: Notes must focus only on the main points. Extra examples, quotations, or decorative words should be avoided.
7. Self-Explanatory: Even without the original passage, a student should be able to understand the meaning of the notes clearly.

Steps in Note Making

1. Reading the passage: First, the passage or lecture must be read/listened to carefully to understand its meaning.
2. Identifying important ideas: The student should pick out only the main points and ignore unnecessary details.
3. Organizing ideas: These ideas should then be arranged into headings, subheadings, and points.
4. Using abbreviations and symbols: To save time, the student must shorten words wherever possible.
5. Reviewing notes: Finally, the notes must be checked to ensure that they are complete, accurate, and easy to understand.

Example of Note Making

Original Passage:

Water is the most precious natural resource on Earth. Every living being depends on water for survival. However, due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, the demand for water is rising rapidly. Unfortunately, fresh water is limited, and only 3% of the Earth’s water is drinkable. Pollution of rivers and groundwater has made the situation worse. Therefore, it is important to conserve water through rainwater harvesting, recycling, and awareness programs. If we fail to act, the world will face severe water scarcity in the near future.

Notes

1. Water → Precious Natural Resource
• Essential: Survival of living beings
• Freshwater only 3%
2. Growing Demand
• ↑ Population
• Urbanization
• Industrialization
3. Problems
• Pollution of rivers & groundwater
• Limited supply
4. Solutions
• Rainwater harvesting
• Recycling water
• Awareness programs
5. Warning
• If ignored → severe scarcity in future

2. Summary Writing

Definition and Meaning

A summary is a shortened version of a longer text that gives only the essential points in a clear, simple, and concise manner. Unlike notes, which are written in keywords or phrases, a summary is written in complete sentences and a continuous paragraph.

The aim of summary writing is to capture the core meaning of a passage without unnecessary details, examples, or repetitions. A good summary is usually about one-third of the original passage.

Characteristics of a Good Summary

1. Brevity: A summary must be shorter than the original text.
2. Completeness: Even though short, it should cover all the important points.
3. Clarity: The language should be simple and easy to understand.
4. Own Words: A summary should be written in the student’s own words, not copied directly.
5. Logical Flow: The ideas must be arranged in a proper order so that the meaning is not disturbed.
6. Objectivity: No personal opinions, comments, or extra details should be added.

Steps in Summary Writing

1. Reading carefully: The passage must be read thoroughly at least two or three times.
2. Finding main points: The important ideas should be underlined. Examples, figures, or repeated ideas should be left out.
3. Drafting: A rough summary must be prepared by joining the main ideas in short sentences.
4. Final writing: The final summary must be written in continuous sentences and in the student’s own words.

Example:

Original Passage:

Discipline is the backbone of success in every walk of life. In schools and colleges, discipline ensures a smooth learning environment. In the army, discipline maintains unity and strength. Even in society, discipline prevents chaos and disorder. Lack of discipline leads to failures, conflicts, and unhappiness. Therefore, discipline is not a restriction but a way to achieve freedom, order, and progress. A disciplined person can achieve his goals and contribute positively to society.

Summary:
Discipline is essential in all areas of life as it ensures order, unity, and progress. In education, the army, and society, it maintains harmony and prevents failures or conflicts. Far from being a restriction, discipline is a tool that helps individuals achieve goals and contribute positively to society.

Difference between Note Making and Summary Writing

Aspect	Note Making	Summary Writing
Form	Keywords, points, headings	Complete sentences, continuous paragraph
Length	Very short	Longer than notes but shorter than passage
Symbols/ Abbreviations	Used frequently	Rarely used
Purpose	Quick memory aid, revision tool	Understanding and presenting the main idea

 

MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

1. Note making is mainly useful because it helps in:
a) Decorating the content                   b) Remembering and revising quickly
c) Writing long essays                         d) Avoiding reading books
Answer: b) Remembering and revising quickly

 

2. Which of the following is not a feature of note making?
a) Shortness                                         b) Use of headings and sub-headings
c) Use of diagrams and symbols         d) Copying sentences as they are
Answer: d) Copying sentences as they are

 

3. A good summary should be:
a) Long and descriptive                      b) Clear, concise, and accurate
c) Written with difficult vocabulary   d) Copied from the original text
Answer: b) Clear, concise, and accurate

 

4. The main difference between a summary and note making is that:
a) Notes are long, summaries are short          

b) Notes are brief points, summaries are connected sentences
c) Notes are copied, summaries are original
d) Notes are written in paragraphs, summaries in points
Answer: b) Notes are brief points, summaries are connected sentences

 

5. Which symbol is often used in note making to save time?
a) @ (at)                                  b) → (arrow)
c) = (equal to)                          d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

 

6. The ideal length of a summary is usually:
a) As long as the original                    b) One-third of the original text
c) Double the original text                  d) Ten times shorter than the original
Answer: b) One-third of the original text

 

7. In note making, the process of shortening long sentences into brief forms is called:
a) Summarizing                                   b) Compression
c) Expansion                                       d) Illustration
Answer: b) Compression

 

8. A good note-making system uses:
a) Abbreviations and symbols                         b) Paragraphs and long sentences
c) Complex grammar                                       d) Exact reproduction of the text
Answer: a) Abbreviations and symbols

 

9. The purpose of summary writing is to:
a) Add personal opinion to the text                b) Criticize the writer
c) Capture the main ideas in fewer words      d) Avoid reading the original text
Answer: c) Capture the main ideas in fewer words

 

10. Which of the following is an example of abbreviation in note making?
a) b/w for between                              b) govt. for government
c) info. for information                       d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

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Short Answer Questions

 

Q1. Define note making and explain its importance in learning.
Answer:
Note making is the process of recording the most important points from a given text in a short, systematic, and organized form. It helps students to save time, understand the main ideas, and recall information quickly during revision. For example, while studying a chapter on the environment, instead of writing full paragraphs, a student can make short notes like:

• Pollution: air, water, noise
• Causes: industries, vehicles, plastics
• Solutions: recycling, awareness, green energy

This makes revision faster and clearer.

 

Q2. What are the essential features of good note making?
Answer:
The essential features of good note making include:

1. Brevity: Only the main ideas should be noted, without unnecessary detail.
2. Clarity: Notes should be easily understandable later.
3. Logical order: Ideas should be arranged under headings and subheadings.
4. Use of symbols/abbreviations: Saves time and space.
5. Relevance: Only important information should be included.
   Example: For “Digital Education,” notes can be —

• Online classes: Zoom, Google Meet
• Benefits: flexibility, accessibility
• Challenges: network issues, distractions

 

Q3. Explain the steps involved in note making with an example.
Answer:
The main steps are:

1. Read the text carefully to understand it.
2. Identify main ideas and supporting details.
3. Organize points under headings and subheadings.
4. Use symbols/abbreviations where needed.
5. Write notes systematically.

Example: Passage on “Health and Exercise.”

Notes:

• Exercise → good for body & mind
• Benefits → stamina ↑, stress ↓, immunity ↑
• Types → yoga, running, gym

 

Q4. Define summary writing and state its main features.
Answer:
A summary is a brief statement of the main ideas of a passage in one’s own words. It must be one-third of the original length and exclude examples, illustrations, and unnecessary details.
Features of summary writing:

• Brevity: Short and precise.
• Completeness: Covers all important points.
• Clarity: Easy to read and understand.
• Objectivity: No personal opinion.

For example, if the passage is about “Online Shopping,” the summary could be:
“Online shopping is convenient as it saves time and provides a variety of products, but it faces challenges like delivery delays and lack of personal touch.”

 

Q5. Differentiate between note making and summary writing.
Answer:

• Form: Notes are written in points, while a summary is written in sentences.
• Length: Notes are very short and fragmented; summaries are longer and continuous.
• Purpose: Notes help for quick revision; summaries provide a clear gist of the passage.
• Style: Notes use abbreviations and symbols; summaries use simple language.

Example:
Text: “Mobile phones are used for communication, internet, banking, shopping, and entertainment.”

• Notes: Mobile phones → comm., net, banking, shop., ent.
• Summary: Mobile phones are widely used for communication, internet services, banking, shopping, and entertainment.

 

Q6. What are the benefits of summary writing for students?
Answer:
Summary writing helps students to:

1. Develop comprehension skills by focusing on the main ideas.
2. Improve writing skills through practice in brevity and clarity.
3. Save time during revision as long texts are condensed.
4. Improve memory by rewriting information in their own words.
   For instance, a student summarizing a history lesson can revise it in 5 minutes instead of rereading 10 pages.

 

Q7. Write a short note on the use of abbreviations and symbols in note making. Give examples.
Answer:
Abbreviations and symbols make note making quicker and shorter. They help save time during lectures or while reading. Common examples include:

• govt. = government
• edu. = education
• ↑ = increase
• ↓ = decrease
• → = leads to / causes

Example:
Topic: “Pollution”

Notes:

• Causes → indust., vehicles, plastics
• Effects → health probs., climate change
• Solutions → awareness, recycle, clean tech

 

Q8. Why is practice important in both note making and summary writing?
Answer:
Practice helps students to:

1. Identify the main points quickly.
2. Write in their own words without copying.
3. Use appropriate abbreviations and logical structure.
4. Gain speed and confidence during exams and professional tasks.
   Just like mathematics improves through practice, note making and summary writing become natural skills through regular exercises on articles, textbooks, or news reports.

 

 

Unit II Literature: Stories

 

1. A Devoted Son: Anita Desai

Anita Desai Life and Works

Life

• Birth: Anita Desai was born on 24 June 1937 in Mussoorie, India.
• Parentage: Her father was a Bengali businessman and her mother was German. This mixed background gave her exposure to both Indian and European cultures.
• Education: She studied English Literature at Miranda House, University of Delhi, graduating with honors in 1957.
• Career: Anita Desai worked as a teacher and later as a professor of Creative Writing at well-known institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.
• Family: She is the mother of Kiran Desai, who won the Man Booker Prize in 2006.
• Recognition: She has been shortlisted three times for the Booker Prize and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She has also received the Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Bhushan for her contribution to literature.

Works

Anita Desai is known for exploring family relationships, inner conflicts, cultural tensions, women’s experiences, and the struggles of middle-class life in India.

Major Novels:

1. Cry, the Peacock (1963) – Her first novel, focused on psychological conflict and marital breakdown.
2. Voices in the City (1965) – A novel about modern urban life in Calcutta.
3. Bye-Bye Blackbird (1971) – About Indian immigrants in England.
4. Where Shall We Go This Summer? (1975) – Explores alienation of women.
5. Fire on the Mountain (1977) – Won the Sahitya Akademi Award; set in the Himalayas.
6. Clear Light of Day (1980) – A family saga set in Old Delhi.
7. In Custody (1984) – Shortlisted for the Booker Prize; about a Hindi professor interviewing an Urdu poet.
8. Journey to Ithaca (1995) – Explores spiritual quests in India.
9. The Zigzag Way (2004) – A story of outsiders in Mexico.

Short Story Collections:

• Games at Twilight (1978) – Includes stories about children and family life.
• Diamond Dust (2000) – Stories about everyday lives and struggles.

Children’s Books:

• The Village by the Sea (1982) – Won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize; tells the story of a poor rural family.

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A Devoted Son: Characters

1. Rakesh – The central character; a brilliant doctor, obedient son, and caring father who is devoted to his family but becomes over-controlling in his father’s old age.
2. Varma (Father) – Rakesh’s father; a poor kerosene depot worker who is proud of his son’s success but later feels suffocated by Rakesh’s strict medical care.
3. Mrs. Varma (Mother) – Rakesh’s mother; a traditional woman who is delighted by her son’s success and choice of a simple bride, but later dies, leaving Varma lonely.
4. Rakesh’s Wife – A plump, uneducated village girl chosen by his mother; she quietly adjusts into the family and supports Rakesh.
5. Rakesh’s Children – Especially the grandchildren who love their grandfather (Varma) and are sometimes bribed by him to bring sweets.
6. Neighbor Bhatia – Varma’s old friend and neighbor; he listens to Varma’s complaints about Rakesh’s strictness and sympathizes with him.

A Devoted Son: Summary

Anita Desai’s short story A Devoted Son is a touching and ironic tale that explores the bond between parents and children, the expectations of family life, and the clash between love, duty, and individuality.

Early Success of Rakesh

The story begins with great celebration. Rakesh, the son of Varma, a poor kerosene depot worker, tops the country in his medical examination. This achievement fills the small, modest household with pride and joy. Relatives, neighbors, and well-wishers crowd their home to congratulate the family. Everyone admires Rakesh not only for his academic success but also for his humility—his first act after reading the results is to bow down and touch his father’s feet. People remark that such filial devotion is rare among sons in modern times.

Rakesh continues his studies, writes a brilliant thesis, wins a scholarship, and goes to the USA. There he excels in his profession, wins respect from his American colleagues, and achieves fame. Unlike the fears of his mother, he does not marry a foreigner. Instead, he returns to India, bows at his father’s feet again, and agrees to marry a simple, plump, uneducated girl from his mother’s village. This gesture pleases his mother greatly, as the daughter-in-law blends smoothly into the household.

Rakesh’s Career and Family Life

Rakesh quickly rises to become the director of the city hospital before opening his own clinic. His success brings not only fame but also wealth, and he becomes known as the best and richest doctor in town. Despite his professional commitments, Rakesh remains dutiful towards his parents. When his mother falls sick, he tends to her till her last breath, pressing her feet during her final moments. Neighbors, even those who were jealous, admit that Rakesh is a truly devoted son—obedient, respectful, and loving.

Decline of the Father

After retirement, old age begins to take its toll on Varma. He loses his wife, grows feeble, and frequently suffers from ailments, both real and imagined. He develops a habit of pretending to be on the verge of death, only to sit up suddenly and spit betel juice, much to the annoyance of the family. Yet, Rakesh continues to treat him with patience and care. He brings him tea every morning in his favorite brass tumbler, reads the newspaper aloud, and arranges his bedding in the garden so he can enjoy the fresh air.

However, Rakesh’s role as a doctor soon overshadows his role as a son. Concerned about his father’s health, he starts regulating his diet. He forbids rich and oily foods, sweets, and fried items, allowing only boiled vegetables, bread, and light meals. To Rakesh, this is medical care; but to Varma, it feels like cruelty. He cannot believe that his own son—whom he raised and sacrificed for—denies him the food he loves in his old age.

Conflict Between Love and Duty

Varma grows bitter and resentful. He tries to bribe his grandchildren to buy him jalebis, but is caught, scolded, and humiliated. He complains to his old neighbor, Bhatia, that his son weighs his food and denies him even simple pleasures like fried fish or butter. For Varma, Rakesh’s medical discipline feels like tyranny disguised as devotion. The neighbors, once full of admiration, now begin to see Rakesh’s efficiency as cold-heartedness.

Rakesh continues to provide medicines, tonics, and strict routines for his father, even when Varma begs to be left alone. The old man feels trapped—forced to live a long, medicine-filled life against his wishes. He cries out that God is calling him but his family will not let him go. His pleas for natural death and dignity fall on deaf ears.

Climax and Ending

In a moment of final rebellion, Varma refuses to take another tonic. He angrily knocks the bottle from Rakesh’s hand, spilling the syrup on his son’s white trousers. Surrounded by commotion, Varma collapses back on his pillows, groaning that God is calling him and that he should be allowed to die. The story ends with this bitter irony: despite Rakesh’s devotion and love, his father feels suffocated and denied of the little joys of life.

MCQs

1. Who is the central character of the story A Devoted Son?
a) Varma                     b) Rakesh
c) Bhatia                      d) Rakesh’s wife
Answer: b) Rakesh

2. What was Varma’s occupation before retirement?
a) A doctor                                          b) A school teacher
c) A kerosene depot worker                d) A shopkeeper
Answer: c) A kerosene depot worker

3. What did Rakesh do immediately after hearing about his exam results?
a) Hugged his mother                                     b) Ran to his friends
c) Touched his father’s feet                            d) Went to the temple
Answer: c) Touched his father’s feet

4. Where did Rakesh go after completing his thesis?
a) England                               b) USA
c) Canada                                d) Australia
Answer: b) USA

5. Whom did Rakesh marry?
a) An American doctor                                   b) His classmate from medical college
c) A simple, plump, uneducated village girl   d) His cousin
Answer: c) A simple, plump, uneducated village girl

6. How did Rakesh treat his mother during her illness?
a) He ignored her                    b) He left her with a nurse
c) He tended to her until her last breath                     d) He sent her to the hospital alone
Answer: c) He tended to her until her last breath

7. Why did Varma grow resentful towards Rakesh in old age?
a) Rakesh did not visit him
b) Rakesh restricted his diet and denied him fried food and sweets
c) Rakesh moved abroad permanently
d) Rakesh scolded his children
Answer: b) Rakesh restricted his diet and denied him fried food and sweets

8. What did Varma often try to bribe his grandchildren for?
a) Toys                                    b) Jalebis and sweets
c) Newspapers                         d) Medicines
Answer: b) Jalebis and sweets

9. Who was Varma’s neighbor and old friend who listened to his complaints?
a) Sharma                                b) Bhatia
c) Verma                                 d) Singh
Answer: b) Bhatia

10. How does the story A Devoted Son end?
a) Rakesh’s father blesses him
b) Rakesh’s father leaves home
c) Varma refuses medicine, knocks down the bottle, and groans that God is calling him
d) Rakesh becomes ill himself
Answer: c) Varma refuses medicine, knocks down the bottle, and groans that God is calling him

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe how Rakesh makes his parents proud in the early part of the story.

Answer:
Rakesh brings pride and joy to his parents by topping the country in his medical examination. His achievement is celebrated by neighbors, relatives, and friends who visit the modest household. Instead of showing arrogance, Rakesh humbly bows down and touches his father’s feet, which is seen as a rare gesture of respect. Later, he wins a scholarship, writes an excellent thesis, and goes to the USA where he earns fame and respect as a doctor. He further makes his parents proud by returning home, bowing to his father again, and marrying a simple village girl chosen by his mother. His success, humility, and obedience establish him as the ideal son in the eyes of his family and society.

 

 

Q2. How does Anita Desai present Rakesh as a devoted son?

Answer:
Anita Desai presents Rakesh as a devoted son through his actions and choices. He honors his father by touching his feet after his exam results, studies hard, and earns great success abroad. He obeys his mother’s wishes by marrying a village girl instead of a foreigner, thereby respecting family traditions. When his mother falls ill, he tends to her until her last breath, pressing her feet and showing emotional care. He also looks after his aging father by bringing him tea every morning, reading newspapers aloud, and arranging his bedding outside for fresh air. His sense of duty, love, and obedience make him appear as the very model of a devoted son, even though later his strict medical discipline causes tension.

Q3. Why does conflict arise between Rakesh and his father, Varma?

Answer:
Conflict arises between Rakesh and Varma because of differing perspectives on care and happiness. Rakesh, as a doctor, restricts his father’s diet by forbidding sweets, fried foods, and oily dishes, allowing only boiled vegetables and light meals. He believes this is essential for his father’s health. However, Varma feels deprived of small pleasures in his old age and sees his son’s strictness as cruelty rather than devotion. He becomes resentful, complains to neighbors, and even tries to bribe his grandchildren for jalebis. Thus, Rakesh’s medical concern clashes with his father’s emotional and personal desires, creating a tragic conflict between love and freedom.

Q4. What role does irony play in the story A Devoted Son?

Answer:
Irony is central to the story. In the beginning, Rakesh is admired as an ideal son for his devotion, humility, and obedience. However, the same devotion later appears cruel to his father. Rakesh’s strict diet control and medical discipline are meant to prolong his father’s life, but Varma sees them as a denial of happiness and dignity in old age. The title itself is ironic—while Rakesh is devoted, his father feels suffocated and longs for freedom, even death. The irony lies in the fact that love and care, instead of bringing comfort, create bitterness and resentment. This irony highlights the complexities of family duty and personal desires.

Q5. How does the story highlight the challenges of old age?

Answer:
The story highlights old age as a period of physical weakness, loneliness, and loss of control. After retirement and the death of his wife, Varma feels isolated and dependent on his son. His ailments, both real and imagined, make him vulnerable. Though Rakesh provides care, Varma feels that his personal wishes are ignored—he is denied the food he loves and forced to follow a strict medical routine. His complaints, bribes to grandchildren, and bitter outbursts show his frustration with aging. Ultimately, he longs for death, saying that God is calling him. Through Varma’s condition, Anita Desai presents old age as a stage full of emotional struggles, dependence, and the desire for dignity.

Essay Type Questions

Q1. Discuss the theme of devotion and irony in Anita Desai’s A Devoted Son.

Answer:
Anita Desai’s A Devoted Son is a story that beautifully yet painfully explores the theme of filial devotion while presenting a sharp irony about family duty. At first, the story appears to be a celebration of a son’s obedience and success. Rakesh, the central character, brings joy and pride to his parents by topping the medical examinations in the country. The neighborhood admires him not only for his brilliance but also for his humility when he touches his father’s feet after hearing the results. Later, he earns fame abroad in the USA but returns to India to serve his people and, most importantly, to fulfill his parents’ wishes by marrying a simple village girl chosen by his mother. To society, Rakesh becomes the model of an ideal Indian son—obedient, respectful, and devoted.

However, the story soon takes a turn, introducing irony in this devotion. Rakesh’s devotion, while genuine, takes the form of strict control over his father’s life in his old age. As a doctor, he decides what his father should eat and how he should live. Varma is denied fried foods, sweets, and oily dishes, which he craves in his last years. While Rakesh views this as love and medical care, his father sees it as cruelty. Ironically, the very devotion that once made Rakesh an ideal son now becomes the cause of conflict, resentment, and bitterness.

The irony reaches its peak when Varma, feeling suffocated by his son’s discipline, cries out that God is calling him and refuses medicine altogether. In the eyes of the world, Rakesh is still a devoted son, but in his father’s eyes, he has turned into a tyrant who deprives him of joy and dignity. Thus, Anita Desai uses irony to raise a deeper question: what is true devotion? Is it blind obedience to duty, or is it the ability to respect the wishes and happiness of our loved ones?

In conclusion, the theme of devotion in the story is not simple or one-dimensional. It is filled with irony, showing that love, when mixed with control, can sometimes hurt the very people it is meant to protect.

 

Q2. Examine the relationship between Rakesh and Varma in the story. How does it change over time?

Answer:
The relationship between Rakesh and his father, Varma, is central to Anita Desai’s A Devoted Son, and it evolves dramatically throughout the story. At the beginning, their relationship is built on pride, affection, and admiration. Varma, a poor kerosene depot worker, is filled with immense pride when his son tops the medical examinations in the entire country. He feels blessed to have such a talented child. Rakesh further deepens his father’s pride by showing humility and respect—he bows to his father’s feet after hearing the results and later accepts his mother’s choice of a plump, uneducated bride from their village instead of marrying a foreigner. For Varma, this is proof that his son is not only successful but also deeply devoted to family traditions.

Over time, however, the relationship undergoes strain, especially after the death of Rakesh’s mother. Varma, now old and weak, depends heavily on his son. Rakesh continues to care for him—bringing him morning tea in his favorite brass tumbler, arranging his bedding in the garden, and reading aloud the newspaper. Yet, the warmth of their relationship begins to cool when Rakesh takes his role as a doctor too seriously. He forbids his father from eating rich and oily food, jalebis, and fried fish. To Rakesh, these restrictions are a form of medical devotion; to Varma, they are a denial of the small joys that make old age bearable.

This difference of perception leads to bitterness. Varma, once proud of his son, begins to complain that his son is cruel and unfeeling. He bribes his grandchildren to bring him sweets and pours out his frustrations to his old neighbor, Bhatia. The conflict reaches a climax when Varma angrily refuses to take his medicine and declares that God is calling him. What began as a relationship full of pride and love ends with feelings of resentment and rebellion.

Thus, the relationship between Rakesh and Varma moves from admiration to conflict, from love to disappointment. Desai shows how even the deepest bonds of parent and child can be strained when devotion becomes rigid and fails to respect personal dignity.

Q3. How does Anita Desai explore the struggles of old age through Varma’s character?

Answer:
Anita Desai’s A Devoted Son is not only a story of filial devotion but also a sensitive portrayal of the struggles of old age. Through the character of Varma, Rakesh’s father, Desai brings out the loneliness, helplessness, and frustration that many old people experience.

Varma begins as a proud father, deeply satisfied with his son’s academic success and professional achievements. But after retirement and the death of his wife, his life changes drastically. He feels lonely, dependent, and increasingly weak. Though his son takes good care of him, bringing tea, arranging his bedding, and providing medicines, Varma feels stripped of independence. Old age makes him vulnerable not only physically but also emotionally.

One of the greatest struggles for Varma is the loss of small pleasures. His son, acting as a strict doctor, denies him fried food, sweets, and oily dishes, insisting on boiled vegetables and a restricted diet. For an old man who has little left to enjoy, this denial feels unbearable. He resents his son’s control and feels humiliated when caught bribing his grandchildren for jalebis. To him, his son’s medical devotion feels like tyranny, forcing him to live longer but without joy or dignity.

Varma’s complaints to his neighbor Bhatia and his repeated cries that “God is calling me” reveal the psychological pain of old age—the longing for peace, the frustration of dependence, and the desire to die with dignity. His refusal to take medicine at the end of the story symbolizes his rebellion against forced care and his final wish for freedom.

Through Varma, Anita Desai highlights that old age is not just about physical decline but also about emotional struggles: the need for respect, independence, and small joys in life. The story becomes a powerful reminder that caring for the elderly must also mean respecting their wishes, not just prolonging their lives.

 

2. The Nightingale and the Rose: Oscar Wilde

Life and Works of Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)

Life

• Oscar Wilde was born on 16 October 1854 in Dublin, Ireland.
• His father, Sir William Wilde, was a famous doctor, and his mother, Lady Jane Wilde, was a poet and a supporter of Irish freedom.
• Wilde studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and later at Oxford University, England, where he became known for his sharp wit, charm, and love of art and beauty.
• He became a leader of the Aesthetic Movement, which believed in “Art for Art’s sake” (art should be admired for beauty, not only for moral lessons).
• In London, he became famous as a playwright, poet, essayist, and storyteller.
• Wilde was also known for his colourful personality, stylish dress, and witty conversation.
• In 1895, he was imprisoned for two years because of his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas. This ruined his career.
• After prison, he lived in poverty in France and died in Paris on 30 November 1900, at the young age of 46.

Works

1. Poetry
• Poems (1881) – his first collection.
• The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898) – written after his prison experience.
2. Prose & Stories
• The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) – his only novel, about a man who stays young while his portrait grows old and ugly.
• The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888) – children’s stories with moral lessons.
• The Canterville Ghost (1887) – a humorous ghost story.
3. Plays (famous for wit and satire on Victorian society)
• Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892)
• A Woman of No Importance (1893)
• An Ideal Husband (1895)
• The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) – his most famous play, still performed today.

 

Character List

1. The Student – A young scholar who wants a red rose to win the love of the professor’s daughter but later rejects love as foolish when she refuses him.
2. The Nightingale – A small bird that believes in true, selfless love and sacrifices her life to create a red rose for the student.
3. The Professor’s Daughter – A proud and materialistic young woman who rejects the student’s red rose in favor of expensive jewels.
4. The Red Rose Tree – A tree in the student’s garden that tells the Nightingale a red rose can only be created through her sacrifice.
5. The White Rose Tree – A tree that grows only white roses and cannot help the Nightingale.
6. The Yellow Rose Tree – A tree that produces only yellow roses and is unable to provide the red rose the student needs.
7. The Oak Tree – A tree that gives the Nightingale shelter and listens to her last song before her sacrifice.

 

Summary: The Nightingale and the Rose

 

Oscar Wilde’s short story The Nightingale and the Rose is a touching tale about love, sacrifice, beauty, and the harsh reality of human selfishness.

 

1. Beginning: The Student’s Sorrow

The story opens with a young student crying in his garden. He is heartbroken because the professor’s daughter has promised to dance with him at the Prince’s ball only if he brings her a red rose. But there are no red roses in his garden.

The student feels miserable. He has studied all the books of philosophy and wisdom, yet his knowledge seems useless because he cannot find a simple red rose. He believes that without the rose, he will not get love, and his heart will break.

 

2. The Nightingale Overhears Him

From her nest in the oak tree, a Nightingale hears the student’s sorrow. She has always sung about love, and now she feels she has found a true lover. She calls him a real romantic because he values love more than anything else. For her, love is more precious than jewels or gold.

Other creatures in the garden—like a butterfly—laugh at the student for crying over a rose. But the Nightingale understands that love has deep meaning, and she begins to think about how she can help him.

 

3. The Search for the Red Rose

The Nightingale flies around the garden in search of a red rose. She first asks the white rose tree, but it can only give white roses. Then she goes to the yellow rose tree, but it can only give yellow roses. Finally, she visits the red rose tree beneath the student’s window.

The red rose tree sadly explains that it has no flowers this year because of the cold winter and storms. However, there is one way to create a red rose:

• The Nightingale must sing all night long with her breast pressed against a thorn.
• Her heart’s blood must flow into the tree and stain the rose red.
• This means the Nightingale must sacrifice her life for the rose.

 

 

4. The Nightingale’s Decision

The Nightingale realizes that this sacrifice will cost her life. Yet, she decides to give it, because she believes love is greater than life itself. She says, “Love is better than life, and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?”

She flies back to the oak tree and sings one last song for it. Then, at midnight, she presses her breast against the thorn of the red rose tree and begins to sing.

 

5. The Nightingale’s Sacrifice

The Nightingale sings throughout the night under the moonlight:

• She sings of love’s birth in the heart of a boy and a girl.
• Slowly, as her blood enters the tree, a rose begins to bloom—first pale, then pink, then crimson red.
• The more she sings, the deeper the thorn pierces her heart.
• Finally, as dawn arrives, the rose is complete—a perfect, beautiful red rose.

But the Nightingale lies dead in the grass, her heart pierced by the thorn. She has given her life for love.

 

6. The Student’s Reaction

In the morning, the student sees the red rose beneath his window. He is overjoyed and plucks it, calling it the most beautiful rose he has ever seen. He rushes to the professor’s house and offers it to the professor’s daughter.

But the girl rejects it. She says the rose does not match her dress and that she has received expensive jewels from the Prince’s nephew. She prefers the jewels because they are costly and fashionable.

 

7. The End: The Harsh Reality

The student is angry and disappointed. He throws the rose into the gutter, where it is crushed by a cart. He declares that love is foolish and useless, and that logic and philosophy are more practical. He returns to his books, leaving behind the sacrifice of the Nightingale unnoticed and wasted.

 

Themes of the Story

1. Sacrifice in Love: The Nightingale gives her life for love, but her sacrifice is ignored.
2. True vs. False Love: The Nightingale’s idea of love is pure and selfless. The student’s love is shallow, and the professor’s daughter’s love is selfish and materialistic.
3. Materialism vs. Romance: The girl prefers jewels over a rose, showing how society values wealth over genuine emotions.
4. The Tragedy of Misunderstanding: The student never understands the Nightingale’s sacrifice. He goes back to books, missing the true meaning of love.
5. Irony: The bird dies for love, but the student dismisses love as useless in the end.

 

 

Conclusion

The Nightingale and the Rose is a powerful story that mixes beauty, tragedy, and irony. The Nightingale represents true devotion and the spiritual side of love, while the student and the girl represent selfishness and practicality. Wilde shows that human beings often fail to recognize true sacrifice and that real love is rare and misunderstood.

 

MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

Q.1. What condition does the Professor’s daughter give to the Student for dancing with him?
a) He must give her a red rose            b) He must write her a poem
c) He must buy her jewels                   d) He must play the violin
Answer: a) He must give her a red rose

Q.2. Why is the Student sad at the beginning of the story?
a) He failed his exam                          b) He cannot find a red rose
c) He is leaving the university d) His parents are angry
Answer: b) He cannot find a red rose

Q.3. Who hears the Student crying in the garden?
a) The Oak Tree                      b) The Nightingale
c) The Professor’s Daughter   d) The Red Rose Tree
Answer: b) The Nightingale

Q.4. What does the Nightingale believe about love?
a) It is foolish                          b) It is better than life itself
c) It is only about wealth        d) It is like a fairy tale
Answer: b) It is better than life itself

Q.5. What must the Nightingale do to create the red rose?
a) Bring water for the tree      b) Sing all night while pierced by a thorn
c) Find jewels for the girl        d) Fly to another garden
Answer: b) Sing all night while pierced by a thorn

Q.6. How does the red rose finally turn red?
a) From the blood of the Nightingale             b) From magic
c) From the sun’s heat                                     d) From the student’s tears
Answer: a) From the blood of the Nightingale

Q.7. What does the Professor’s daughter choose over the red rose?
a) A poem                               b) A jewel from the Prince’s nephew
c) A book of philosophy                     d) A golden crown
Answer: b) A jewel from the Prince’s nephew

Q.8. What does the Student do with the red rose after rejection?
a) He keeps it safely in his book                     b) He throws it into the gutter
c) He gives it to another girl                           d) He plants it in the soil
Answer: b) He throws it into the gutter

Q.9. What lesson does the Student take at the end of the story?
a) Love is eternal                                 b) Love is foolish and useless
c) Love always wins                           d) Love is stronger than wealth
Answer: b) Love is foolish and useless

Q.10. Which tree gives shelter to the Nightingale before her sacrifice?
a) The Yellow Rose Tree                    b) The Oak Tree
c) The White Rose Tree                      d) The Red Rose Tree
Answer: b) The Oak Tree

 

Short Answer Questions

 

Q.1. Why does the Student feel his wisdom and knowledge are useless in the beginning of the story?

Answer:
At the start of the story, the Student is deeply upset because he cannot find a red rose in his garden. He needs this rose to attend the Prince’s ball with the Professor’s daughter, who has promised to dance with him only if he brings her one. Although the Student is well-educated and has studied philosophy and all kinds of books, he realises that his knowledge cannot help him in this situation.

His learning may give him wisdom and logical reasoning, but it cannot create a rose or win him love. This makes him feel that wisdom without love is meaningless. Wilde highlights the limits of human knowledge here—while education is powerful, it cannot fulfil emotional needs. The Student’s sadness shows that the heart and the mind are two different things, and no amount of bookish knowledge can replace the happiness of love.

 

Q.2. How does the Nightingale view the Student’s love differently from the other creatures in the garden?

Answer:
When the Student cries for a red rose, many creatures in the garden make fun of him. The butterfly laughs at him, and even the lizard and the daisy show no sympathy. They think he is foolish to cry over such a small thing. But the Nightingale sees him differently. She has always sung about love, and when she hears the Student, she feels that at last she has found someone who values love truly.

To her, the Student is not silly but noble, because he puts love above jewels and wealth. She admires his passion and calls him a “true lover.” Unlike the other creatures, the Nightingale understands the depth of human emotion. Her perspective shows the difference between shallow thinking and true devotion. This is why she later decides to sacrifice her life for him—because she believes love is worth dying for.

 

Q.3. Describe the process by which the Nightingale creates the red rose.

Answer:
The red rose is created through a process of great pain and sacrifice. When the Nightingale approaches the red rose tree, it tells her that the only way to produce a flower is if she sings all night with her breast pressed against a thorn. Her heart’s blood must flow into the rose, staining it red. The Nightingale agrees to this, even though it means giving up her life.

That night, she begins to sing under the moonlight, pressing herself against the thorn. As she sings of love—its joys, its birth, and its sorrows—her blood seeps into the rose tree. At first, the rose is pale, then pink, and finally, as dawn arrives, it turns a deep crimson red. The more passionately she sings, the deeper the thorn pierces her heart. Finally, the rose is complete, but the Nightingale dies on the grass, her heart broken. This process symbolises the idea that true beauty and true love often require sacrifice. Wilde uses this act to show the contrast between the bird’s pure devotion and human selfishness.

 

Q.4. Why does the Professor’s daughter reject the red rose?

Answer:
When the Student offers the red rose to the Professor’s daughter, he expects her to be delighted. He believes she will appreciate the beauty of the rose and understand the love it represents. But to his shock, she refuses it. She says the rose does not match her dress, and more importantly, she has received jewels from the Prince’s nephew, which she values more than a simple flower. Her rejection shows her materialistic and shallow nature. She prefers wealth and status over genuine love. For her, a rose is worthless compared to costly gifts. This also reflects the theme of materialism in the story—how people often fail to value true feelings and instead chase after money and luxury. The Professor’s daughter’s rejection not only breaks the Student’s heart but also makes the Nightingale’s great sacrifice seem wasted.

 

Q.5. What is the irony at the end of the story?

Answer:
The irony at the end of the story is very striking. The Nightingale sacrifices her life to create a perfect red rose, believing she is helping true love to bloom. She considers love higher than life itself. However, the Student’s love turns out to be shallow, and the Professor’s daughter’s love is selfish and materialistic.

When the girl rejects the rose, the Student becomes angry. Instead of appreciating the meaning behind the rose, he throws it away into the gutter, where it is crushed by a cartwheel. He then decides that love is foolish and a waste of time and returns to his books of philosophy.

The irony lies in the contrast: the bird gives her life for love, but the humans fail to understand or respect it. The Student, whom the Nightingale thought was a true lover, abandons love so easily. Wilde uses this irony to show the tragedy of misunderstanding true devotion and the emptiness of human selfishness.

 

Essay Type Questions

Q.1. Discuss the theme of love and sacrifice in The Nightingale and the Rose.

Answer:
The central theme of Oscar Wilde’s story is the contrast between true love, selfless sacrifice, and human selfishness.

The Nightingale represents true love. She believes that love is more important than life itself. When she sees the Student crying for a red rose, she decides to help him, even though it will cost her life. She presses her breast against a thorn and sings all night, giving her blood to create a red rose. Her sacrifice is pure, noble, and selfless.

In contrast, the Student’s love is shallow. At first, he speaks of love in grand words, but his feelings depend only on whether he can get the Professor’s daughter to dance with him. When the girl rejects him, he quickly loses faith in love and calls it foolish. This shows that his love is not deep or real.

The Professor’s daughter symbolises materialism and selfishness. She rejects the beautiful rose, which cost the Nightingale her life, because it does not match her dress and because she values the jewels given by the Prince’s nephew more.

Thus, the story highlights the tragedy of love: the Nightingale sacrifices everything for love, but the humans fail to understand its value. The message is clear—true love requires sacrifice, but not everyone is capable of recognising or honouring it.

Q.2. Write a character sketch of the Nightingale. How is she different from the Student?

Answer:
The Nightingale is the most important character in the story. She symbolises the spiritual and selfless side of love.

She is sensitive and compassionate. Unlike other creatures in the garden, who laugh at the Student’s tears, she understands his pain. She calls him a “true lover” and believes his feelings are genuine. This shows her ability to see beauty in human emotions.

Her character shines through her sacrifice. When the red rose tree tells her that a flower can be created only with her blood, she agrees without hesitation. She sings passionately all night, even as the thorn pierces her heart. She chooses death because she values love more than life.

The Nightingale is completely opposite to the Student. She believes in love with her whole heart, while the Student only talks about love in a shallow way. He values books and philosophy more than emotions. When the Professor’s daughter rejects him, he abandons love immediately and calls it useless.

Thus, the Nightingale represents ideal, pure, and eternal love, while the Student represents the practical but shallow attitude of humans. Wilde uses this contrast to show how rare true love is in the world.

Q.3. Explain the irony in the ending of the story. What message does Oscar Wilde give us through this irony?

Answer:
The ending of The Nightingale and the Rose is highly ironic. Irony means a difference between what is expected and what actually happens.

Throughout the story, the Nightingale believes she is helping a true lover. She sacrifices her life to create the most beautiful red rose, expecting that it will bring the Student happiness and love. The reader, too, expects the Student’s wish to come true.

However, the result is completely different. The Professor’s daughter rejects the rose, saying it does not match her dress and that jewels are more valuable. The Student, instead of realising the worth of the Nightingale’s sacrifice, throws the rose away and dismisses love as foolish.

The irony lies in the fact that the bird gives everything for love, but humans fail to value it. The Student, whom the Nightingale admired, proves unworthy of her sacrifice.

Through this irony, Oscar Wilde sends a powerful message:

• True love is rare and often misunderstood.
• Human beings are more concerned with wealth, fashion, and material things than with genuine feelings.
• Sacrifice and devotion may go unnoticed in a selfish world.

Thus, the tragic irony at the end makes the story memorable and thought-provoking.