Tamilnadu State Board Class 10 English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother
The Aged Mother Textual Questions
A. Rearrange the sentences given below in the correct sequence.
1. The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
2. A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain.
3. The governor realized his mistake and abolished the law.
4. Once in Shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to death.
5. Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
6. When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of twigs.
7. Filled with dread, he hid his mother in his home.
8. The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son return.
Answer:
4,2,8,6,1, 7, 5,3
4. Once in Shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to death.
2. A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain.
8. The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son return.
6. When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of twigs.
1. The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
7. Filled with dread, he hid his mother in his home.
5. Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
3. The governor realized his mistake and abolished the law.
B. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
Question 1.
What was the cruel announcement made by the leader?
Answer:
The cruel announcement was to put to death all the aged people.
Question 2.
Why was the farmer filled with sorrow?
Answer:
The farmer was filled with sorrow because he loved his mother very much. So he did not want her to die.
Question 3.
What were the things carried by the farmer to the summit of the mountain?
Answer:
He took a quantity of unwhitened rice. He cooked and dried it. He tied it in a square cloth and swung it in a bundle around his neck. He also took a gourd filled with cool sweet water.
Question 4.
Why did the mother become anxious as they climbed up the mountain?
Answer:
The mother became anxious as they climbed up the mountain because her son did not know the mountains many paths and his return might be one of the dangers.
Question 5.
What did the mother drop along the way?
Answer:
She dropped a pile of twigs along the way.
Question 6.
What was the advice given by his mother for the safe return of her son?
Answer:
She advised her son to look carefully and follow the path which holds the piles of twigs. It will guide him to the familiar path farther down.
Question 7.
Why did the farmer’s burden seem to be light on his way back home?
Answer:
The farmer’s burden seemed to be light on his way back because he was happy to take his mother back to his home.
Question 8.
Where did the farmer hide his mother?
Answer:
The farmer hid his mother in a walled closet beneath the kitchen floor.
Question 9.
How did the farmer make the rope of ashes? On whose suggestion did he do it?
Answer:
Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes. He made this by making a rope of twisted straw and burning it on a windless night.
Question 10.
How did the Governor realize his mistake?
Answer:
The Governor was pleased at the wit of the youth. So he demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom. The farmer related the true story to him. He listened and meditated in silence. He realized his mistake and abolished his cruel law.
C. Answer each of the following in a paragraph of 120 to 150 words.
Question 1.
Narrate the circumstances that led to the abandoning of the aged in Shining.
Answer:
The country Shining was governed by a cruel leader. He was a warrior. But he had a great and cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength. This caused him to send out a cruel announcement. The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people. Those were harsh days and the custom of abandoning old people ’• to die was common. The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender respect. This order filled his heart with sorrow. But no one ever thought twice about it. So with many deep and hopeless sighs, the farmer prepared to give his mother the kindest mode of death. He decided to take her to the summit of the Obatsuyama mountain and leave her there.
Question 2.
Describe the farmer’s painful journey up the mountain.
Answer:
Just at sunset, the farmer took a quantity of unwhitened rice. He cooked and dried it. He tied it in a square cloth, which he swung in a bundle around his neck along with a gourd filled with cool, sweet water. He lifted his helpless old mother to his back and started on his painful journey up the mountain. The road was long and steep. The narrow road was crossed and recrossed by many paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In some place, he lost the path and was confused. But he gave no heed to it. He blindly went upward towards the high bare summit of what is known as Obatsuyama. His mother was anxious, as her son did not know the mountains many paths. His return might be one of the dangers. So she dropped piles of twigs on their path upto the summit of the mountain. Weary and heart sick, the youth gently released his burden and silently prepared a place of comfort as his last duty to the loved one. This was the painful journey of the farmer.
Question 3.
‘The old are wise’. Prove this with reference to the story ‘The Aged Mother’.
Answer:
A cruel ruler of Shining in Japan proclaims an announcement that all old people should be put to death. A poor farmer s heart was filled with sorrow after hearing this, because he loved his mother very much. So he carried her to the top of the mountain with a lot of difficulties, as the path was confusing and dangerous. When he bid farewell to her, she advised him to follow the path where piles of twigs were dropped. It would be easier for him to find his way. Her sons heart broke at this attitude of his mother. He brought her back and hid her in a closet beneath the kitchen floor. His mother proved her wisdom, when the governor demanded a rope of ashes. She gave her son a clever idea to present a rope of ashes. The Governor was glad. He praised her sense of wisdom and abolished his cruel law.
Paragraph Question and Answer – Additional
Question 1.
What is the theme of this story and what are the literary techniques used?
Answer:
The story is about a mother s love. It is something that no one can explain because it is made with deep devotion, sacrifice, understanding and pain. The way that the aged mother made a way, so that she can have an assurance that her son can go home safely is amazing. She knew from the very start that she will be abandoned in the summit of the mountain. But she understood that it was for her own good. The literary technique used in the story of the Aged Mother is realism because the situation in the story had once happened in the history of Japan. It was not by putting to death the aged people, but abandoning them. It views the once history of a certain country and the simplicity of life. The story also contains a lesson and the language used was simple and comprehensive.
D. Identify the character / speaker.
Question 1.
He gave orders for the aged to be put to death.
Answer:
The governor of Shining
Question 2.
He considered the order to be the kindest mode of death.
Answer:
The farmer
Question 3.
She quietly dropped some twigs on the way.
Answer:
The farmer’s old mother
Question 4.
Let not thine eyes be blinded.
Answer:
The farmer’s old mother
Question 5.
Together we will follow the path, together we will die.
Answer:
The farmer
Question 6.
I will think. I will think.
Answer:
The farmer’s old mother
Question 7.
The truth must be told.
Answer:
The farmer
Question 8.
He listened and meditated in silence.
Answer:
The governor of shining
Question 9.
Shining needs more than the strength of the youth.
Answer:
The governor of shining
Question 10.
With the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom.
Answer:
The governor of shining
Character or Speaker – Additional
Question 1.
This caused him to send out a proclamation.
Answer:
The governor
Question 2.
She stretched forth her hand and snapping the twigs from brushes as they passed, and dropped them.
Answer:
The farmer’s mother
Question 3.
“The mountain road is full of dangers”.
Answer:
The farmer’s mother
Question 4.
‘Oh, honorable mother, your kindness breaks by heart!’
Answer:
The poor farmer
Question 5.
His demand was that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.
Answer:
The governor
Question 6.
“Make a rope of twisted straw”.
Answer:
The farmer’s mother
Question 7.
He demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom.
Answer:
The governor
E. Choose the appropriate answer and fill in the blanks.
1. Shining was governed by a ______leader.
(a) strict
(b) kind
(c) cruel
(d) diplomatic.
Answer:
(c) cruel
2. The ________ was the principal food for the poor.
(a) wheat
(b) brown rice
(c) unwhitened rice
(d) millet.
Answer:
(c) unwhitened rice
3. The road was crossed and re-crossed by many path made by the .
(a) hunters and woodcutters
(b) robbers and thieves
(c) vendors and tradesmen
(d) wildlife photographers and trekkers
Answer:
(a) hunters and woodcutters
4. Gathering _____ he made a soft cushion and tenderly lifted his old mother onto it.
(a) dry leaves
(b) fallen pine
(c) broken twigs
(d) flowers
Answer:
(b) fallen pine
5. The governor demanded that his subjects should present him with a _______.
(a) basket of fruits
(b) rope of ashes
(c) flesh of animals
(d) bag of silverwares
Answer:
(b) rope of ashes
MCQ – Additional
Complete the following sentences choosing correct answers from the options.
1. The custom of abandoning old people to die was not _______.
(a) common
(b) illegal
(c) uncommon
(d) bad
Answer:
(c) uncommon
2. The order filled his heart with _______.
(a) happiness
(b) sorrow
(c) gaiety
(d) bliss
Answer:
(b) sorrow
3. The eyes of the old mother were not so .
(a) bright
(b) lucid
(c) shiny
(d) dim
Answer:
(d) dim
4. The path was dotted with tiny piles of twigs.
(a) wide
(b) extensive
(c) narrow
(d) spacious
Answer:
(c) narrow
5. The mother s voice was full of unselfish love.
(a) calming
(b) trembling
(c) steadying
(d) lasting
Answer:
(b) trembling
6. “Let not thine eyes be
(a) inspected
(b) observed
(c) outlooked
(d) blinded
Answer:
(d) blinded
7. The son’s eyes looked back over the path.
(a) surprised
(b) tired
(c) bored
(d) drained
Answer:
(a) surprised
8. “Together we will follow the path of twigs, and together we will
(a) live
(b) survive
(c) die
(d) stay
Answer:
(c) die
9. Once more he shouldered his burden and down the path.
(a) delayed
(b) hastened
(c) slowed
(d) dragged
Answer:
(b) hastened
10. The governor was at the wit of the youth.
(a) disgusted
(b) annoyed
(c) dejected
(d) pleased
Answer:
(d) pleased
The Aged Mother Additional Questions
I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases.
1. Long, long ago, there lived (i)______ of the mountain a (ii) ______ and his aged,(iii)_______ . They owned a bit of land which (iv) _______ them with food, and they were humble (v) ______.
(a) peaceful and happy
(b) widowed mother
(c) supplied
(d) at the foot
(e) poor farmer
Answer:
(i) (d) at the foot
(ii) (e) poor farmer
(iii) (b) widowed mother
(iv) (c) supplied
(v) (a) peaceful and happy
The country (i)______ was governed by a (ii) ________who thought (iii) _______, had a great and cowardly (iv)______ from anything suggestive of failing (v)______ and strength.
(a) warrior
(b) shrinking
(c) shining
(d) health
(e) despotic leader
Answer:
(i) (c) shining
(ii) (e) despotic leader
(iii) (a) warrior
(iv) (b) shrinking
(v) (d) health
3. The poor farmer loved his (i) with tender (ii)_____ and the order filled his (iii)_____ But no one ever thought twice about obeying (iv)_______ of the (v) ______.
(a) reverence
(b) the mandate
(c) governor
(d) aged mother
(e) heart with sorrow
Answer:
(i) (d) aged mother
(ii) (a) reverence
(iii) (e) heart with sorrow
(iv) (b) the mandate
(v) (c) governor
4. The eyes of the old matter were not (i) _______ but that they noted the reckless hastening from one (ii) ______, and her loving heart (iii) ______ . Her son did not know the mountain’s (iv) _____and his return might be (v)______ .
(a) path to another
(b) so dim
(c) many paths
(d) one of dangers
(e)grew anxious
Answer:
(i) (b) so dim
(ii) (a) path to another
(iii) (e)grew anxious
(iv) (c) many paths
(v) (d) one of dangers
II Match the following.
1.
e
Answer:
i. – (d)
ii. – (c)
iii. – (e)
iv. – (b)
v. – (a)
2.
Answer:
i. – (c)
ii. – (e)
iii. – (d)
iv. – (b)
v. – (a)
III. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. The country Shining was governed by a despotic leader who though a warrior, had a great and cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength. This caused him to send out a cruel proclamation. The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people. Those were barbarous days, and the custom of abandoning old people to die was not uncommon. The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence, and the order filled his heart with sorrow. But no one ever thought twice about obeying the mandate of the governor, so with many deep and hopeless sighs, the youth prepared for what at that time was considered the kindest mode of death.
(a) By whom was the country Shining governed?
Answer:
It was governed by a despotic leader.
(b) What did the governor proclaim?
Answer:
He proclaimed that all the aged people should be put to death.
(c) Was this custom common in those barbarous days?
Answer:
Yes, the custom was common in those days.
(d) How did the poor farmer love his mother?
Answer:
The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence.
(e) What filled him with sorrow?
Answer:
The order filled him with sorrow.
2. Just at sundown, when his day’s work was ended, he took a quantity of unwhitened rice which was the principal food for the poor, and he cooked, dried it, and tied it in a square cloth, which he swung in a bundle around his neck along with a gourd filled with cool, sweet water.
Then he lifted his helpless old mother to his back and started on his painful journey up the mountain. The road was long and steep; the narrow road was crossed and re-crossed by many paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In some place, they lost and confuse, but he gave no heed. One path or another, it mattered not. On he went, climbing blindly upward — ever upward towards the high bare summit of what is known as Obatsuyama, the mountain of the “abandoning of the aged”.
(a) When did he start his journey to the mountain?
Answer:
He started his journey at sunset,
(b) What did he carry for his mother?
Answer:
He carried some cooked unwhitened rice and some cool sweet water.
(c) How was the road on his journey?
Answer:
The road was long and steep.
(d) Who made many paths on the narrow road?
Answer:
The hunters and the woodcutters made many paths.
(e) What was the name of the mountain?
Answer:
It was named as Obatsuyama.
3. Once more he shouldered his burden (how light it seemed now) and hastened down the path, through the shadows and the moonlight, to the little hut in the valley. Beneath the kitchen floor was a walled closet for food, which was covered and hidden from view. There the son hid his mother, supplying her with everything she needed, continually watching and fearing she would be discovered. Time passed, and he was beginning to feel safe when again the governor sent forth heralds bearing an unreasonable order, seemingly as a boast of his power. His demand was that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.
(a) Where was the walled closet?
Answer:
The walled closet was beneath the kitchen floor.
(b) Was it covered and hidden from view?
Answer:
Yes, it was covered and hidden from view.
(c) Where did he hide his mother?
Answer:
He hid his mother in the walled closet beneath the kitchen – floor.
(d) What was that feared him?
Answer:
He feared that his mother would be discovered.
(e) What did the governor demand for?
Answer:
He demanded that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.
IV. Mind map
1.
Answer:
(i) pleased
(ii) demanded
(iii) must be told
(iv) meditated in silence
(v) strength of youth
2.
Answer:
(i) blinded
(ii) full of dangers
(iii) familiar path
(iv) looked back
(v) cried aloud
3.
Answer:
(i) so dim
(ii) reckless hastening
(iii) return
(iv) snapping the twigs
(v) climbed
The Aged Mother By Matsuo Basho
Matsuo Basho was a 17th century Japanese poet, considered to be Jfce, gate’s*, master V\\& ‘WavVxx’ – a. ‘staoft focm .
In Japan, many of his poems are seen on monuments and traditional sites. Basho was introduced to poetry at a young age and he quickly became well-known throughout Japan. He was a teacher at first. Later, he travelled throughout the country to gain inspiration for his writing. He died at the age of 50 on 28th November 1694.
The Aged Mother Main Characters:
The Governor – The country Shining Cruel leader Cruel proclamation Demanded rope of ashes
Poor farmer – loved his mother Heart with sorrow Climbed the mountain
Aged mother – dropped piles of twigs
Obatsuyama – Abandoning of the aged High bare summit
The Aged Mother Key Points
- This story is a folktale from Japan.
- The Country Shining was governed by a cruel leader.
- The governor proclaimed an order that all the aged people should be put to death/;
- The order filled a poor farmer with great sorrow, as he loved his mother so much.
- He decided to give his mother a kind mode of death.
- So he took his mother to the summit of Obatsuyama and planned to leave her there.
- The loving mother dropped some twigs on the path to serve as a guide on the way back.
- When the son bid farewell to her, she advised to be careful of the dangerous mountain path.
- She told him to follow the piles of twigs for his way back.
- Hearing this, her son’s heart, melted and he cried loudly.
- He changed his decision. He did not want to leave her at the mountain.
- He took his mother back and hid her in his house.
- Time passed. The governor now demanded that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.
- Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
- The governor pleased with his knowledge, asked him how he got this wisdom.
- When the farmer stated the truth, die governor realized his mistake and abolished the cruel law.
The Aged Mother Summary
The story of the aged mother is a folk-tale from Japan. The governor proclaimed a law ordering that all the aged people should be put to death. The order filled the heart of the poor farmer with great sorrow because he loved his mother so much. Instead of putting his mother to death in the hand of a cruel law, he decided to give his mother a kind mode of death. He took his mother to the bare summit of Obatsuyama and planned to leave her there. On their way to the mountain, the heart of the loving mother grew anxious. It was because she knew that her son would have a hard time finding his way back. He was not familiar with the mountain paths.
So, she snapped the twigs of the bushes on their way and dropped them silently on the path to serve as a guide on the way back for her son. When the son reached the summit, he bid her farewell. She advised her son to follow the path of twigs to find his way back home. This attitude of his mother broke his heart and he cried loudly. He took her back home saying that together they can follow the path of twigs and together they can die. He hid his mother on a walled closet beneath the kitchen.
Time passed. One day, the governor again demanded the people of the valley to present him with a rope of ashes. His mother gave him a clever idea to the despaired farmer. She told him to make a rope of twisted straw and burn it on a windless night. The cruel ruler was pleased with what he had witnessed and asked the farmer where he had obtained that wisdom. The farmer stated all the truth to him. The governor listened and meditated in silence. He decided to abolish the cruel law and realised the importance of the elders to shape the
society. He said “with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom”.
The Aged Mother Glossary
abandon (v) – desert, give up completely
abolished – put an end to
barbarous (adj.) – extremely brutal or mercilessly harsh
blaze – flame
boast – talk with excessive pride
despotic (adj.) – tyrannical, cruel
distress – sorrow
dread – fear.
drifted – to be carried along by the currents of air or water
gravely (adv.) – seriously
hastened – hurried
heralds – forerunners
injunction (n) – an order restraining someone from performing an act
mandate (n) – an official order
proclamation (n) – announcement
province – district
reverence (n) – deep respect
shouldered – carried
shriveled (adj.) – wrinkled and contracted due to old age or due to strain
summit (n) – the topmost point of a hill or mountain