Tamilnadu State Board New Syllabus Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Pdf Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Tamilnadu Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

10th English Guide Supplementary The Aged Mother Textbook Questions and Answers

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.

Answers:

  1. 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.
  3. The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son return.
  4. When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of twigs.
  5. The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
  6. Filled with dread, he hid his mother in his home.
  7. Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
  8. 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.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 2.
Why was the farmer filled with sorrow?
Answer:
The farmer was filled with sorrow because he loved his aged mother very much. 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.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 4.
Why did the mother become anxious as they climbed up the mountain?
Answer:
The mother became anxious because her son did not know the mountain’s 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:
The mother advised her son to look carefully and follow the path which holds the piles of twigs which will guide him to the familiar path farther down.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

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.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

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 realized his mistake when he listened to the farmer’s story and meditated in silence. He 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.

(OR)

Title: The Aged Mother
Author: Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
Character: The farmer, his mother, and the governor
Theme: “Haste makes waste”

Shining was ruled by a cruel ruler. He was a warrior. He was a coward shrinking from anything’ suggestive of failing health and strength. This caused him to make a cruel announcement.

The province was given strict orders to put to death all aged people. The poor farmer loved his aged mother and respected her. This order made him very sad. But none thought twice about it. So the farmer prepared to give his mother the kindest mode of death. He took her to the bare summit called Obat-suyama, the mountain of ‘abandoning of the aged’.

(OR)

  1. A cruel leader ruled ‘Shining’
  2. He was a warrior
  3. He made a cruel announcement to kill all aged people
  4. The poor farmer loved his aged mother very much
  5. This order made him very sad
  6. So, the farmer prepared the kindest mode of death for his mother
  7. He took his mother to the summit of Obatsuyama
  8. It was the mountain of abandoning of the aged

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 2.
Describe the farmer’s painful journey up the mountain.
Answer:
Introduction:
In this paragraph we are going to see about the painful journey of the farmer who loved his mother very much, up to the mountain.

Farmer’s thoughts:
Shining was ruled by a cruel leader. He ordered the entire province that the old must be killed. The farmer wanted his mother to die at the summit of Obatsuyama.

Painful journey:
At sunset, the farmer carried his mother and took some unwhitened rice. He also took a gourd filled with cool sweet water. The road was long and steep. The path was crossed and recrossed by many wood cutters and farmers.

In some place, he lost the path and got confused. But he didn’t mind it. He went blindly upwards. His mother was anxious about her son’s safety return. So she dropped some piles of twigs on their path. Weary and heart sick he gently released his burden. He made a comfortable place for her mother.

Conclusion:
Thus the farmer, with sorrow hearted left her mother in the mountains of Obatsuyama. Thus, he ended the painful journey up the mountain.

(OR)

Title: The Aged mother
Author: Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
Character: The farmer, his mother
Theme: “Blood is thicker than water”

At sunset, the farmer took some cooked and dried unwhitened rice. He tied it in a cloth and swung it in a bundle around his neck with a gourd of cool sweet water. He took his helpless mother on his back and started his journey up the mountain. The narrow path was crossed.

His mother was anxious that her son did not know many mountain paths. She dropped piles of twigs on their path to help her son return home safely. Weary and heart sick he released his burden. He also prepared a place of comfort as his last duty to her mother. Thus he ended his painful journey up the mountain.

(OR)

  1. At sunset the farmer took some cooked and dried unwhitened rice.
  2. He tied it in a cloth and swung around his neck
  3. He took a gourd with cool sweet water.
  4. He lifted his helpless mother to his back and started his journey.
  5. The long narrow road was crossed by many paths.
  6. Tired and heart sick, he put down his burden
  7. He silently prepared a place of comfort to her mother
  8. Thus he ended his painful journey

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

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 son’s 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.

(OR)

Title: The Aged Mother
Author: Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
Character: The farmer, his mother and the governor.
Theme: “The old are always wise”

Shining was ruled by a cruel leader. He announced that all old people must be put to death. A poor farmer became sad after this announcement, because he loved his mother very much. So he took his mother on his back to the summit. It was very difficult as the path was long, narrow, steep and confusing.

It was crossed and recrossed by many paths. He brought his mother back and hid her in a closet beneath the kitchen floor. The governor demanded for a rope of ashes. The mother gave him clever idea to make it. Her son presented it to the governor. He was amazed. He praised the old mother for her wisdom. Thus he abolished his cruel law against the aged people.

“The aged people deserve our care”

(OR)

  1. Shining was ruled by a cruel leader
  2. He announced to put all the aged to death
  3. A poor farmer became sad as he loved his mother very much
  4. He took his mother to the summit
  5. The path was long, steep and narrow
  6. It was very difficult for him to carry his mother
  7. He left her there and bade farewell to her mother
  8. He brought his mother back home and hid her in a closet
  9. The governor demanded a rope of ashes
  10. The farmer’s mother gave a clever idea to make it
  11. The governor was amazed seeing it
  12. He praised the old mother for her wisdom
  13. The governor abolished the cruel law against the aged people.

D. Identify the character/speaker.

Question 1.
He gave orders for the aged to be put to death.
Answer:
governor

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 2.
He considered the order to be the kindest mode of death.
Answer:
farmer

Question 3.
She quietly dropped some twigs on the way.
Answer:
the aged mother

Question 4.
Let not thine eyes be blinded.
Answer:
the aged mother

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 5.
Together we will follow the path together we will die.
Answer:
farmer

Question 6.
I will think. I will think.
Answer:
the aged mother

Question 7.
The truth must be told.
Answer:
farmer

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 8.
He listened and meditated in silence.
Answer:
governor

Question 9.
Shining needs more than the strength of the youth.
Answer:
governor

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 10.
With the crown of snow there cometh wisdom.
Answer:
governor

E. Choose the appropriate answer and fill in the blanks.

Question 1.
Shining was governed by a ………………… leader.
(a) strict
(b) kind
(c) cruel
(d) diplomatic.
Answer:
(c) cruel

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 2.
The ………………. was the principal food for the poor.
(a) wheat
(b) brown rice
(c) unwhitened rice
(d) millet
Answer:
(c) unwhitened rice

Question 3.
The road was crossed and re-crossed by many paths 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

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 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

Question 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

Rearrange the following sentence in coherent order.

Exercise: 1

1. (a) Strict order were given to put to death all aged people
2. (b) The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence
3. (c) The order filled his heart with sorrow
4. (d) He had a cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength
5. (e) The country shining was governed by a despotic leader
Answer:
1. (e) The country shining was governed by a despotic leader
2. (d) He had a cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength
3. (a) Strict order were given to put to death all aged people
4. (b) The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence
5. (c) The order filled his heart with sorrow

Exercise: 2

1. (a) The Governor said, “I should have forgotten the well-known saying – with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom”.
2. (b) The aged mother’s son called the people and made a rope of ashes, as his mother said.
3. (c) With deep bows he related his story.
4. (d) He demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom.
5. (e) The governor was pleased at the wit of the youth.
Answer:
1. (b) The aged mother’s son called the people and made a rope of ashes, as his mother said.
2. (e) The governor was pleased at the wit of the youth.
3. (d) He demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom.
4. (c) With deep bows he related his story.
5. (a) The Governor said, “I should have forgotten the well-known saying – with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom”.

Exercise: 3

1. (a) She gave an idea – “make a rope of twisted straw”
2. (b) Again the governor sent forth herald bearing an unreasonable order.
3. (c) An stretch it upon flat stone and burn it on a windless night.
4. (d) The son whispered the news to his hidden mother.
5. (e) He demanded his subject to present him with a rope of ashes.
Answer:
1. (b) Again the governor sent forth herald bearing an unreasonable order.
2. (e) He demanded his subject to present him with a rope of ashes.
3. (d) The son whispered the news to his hidden mother.
4. (a) She gave an idea – “make a rope of twisted straw”
5. (c) An stretch it upon a flat stone and burn it on a windless night.

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.

Question 1.
Who governed Shining?
Answer:
A despotic leader governed Shining.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 2.
What was the cowardly act of the governor?
Answer:
The cowardly act of the governor was to shrink from anything.

Question 3.
What proclamation did the governor send out?
Answer:
The governor sent out a proclamation to put to death all the aged people.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 4.
How did the poor farmer treat his mother?
Answer:
The poor farmer loved his mother with tender reverence.

Question 5.
Did the people obey the governor’s order?
Answer:
Yes. The people obeyed the governor’s order.

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 recrossed by many paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In someplace, 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”.

Question 1.
When did he start his journey to the mountain?
Answer:
He started his journey at sunset.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 2.
What did he carry for his mother?
Answer:
He carried some cooked unwhitened rice and some cool sweet water.

Question 3.
How was the road on his journey?
Answer:
The road was long and steep.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother

Question 4.
Who made many paths on the narrow road?
Answer:
The hunters and the woodcutters made many paths.

Question 5.
What was the name of the mountain?
Answer:
It was named Obatsuyama.

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