Tamilnadu State Board New Syllabus Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Pdf Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator Text Book Back Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Tamilnadu Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Solutions Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

11th English Guide Confessions of a Born Spectator Text Book Back Questions and Answers

1. Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions in a sentence or two:

Question a.
Why does the poet feel glad that he does not play any game?
Answer:
The poet feels glad that he was not a player but only a spectator. He is glad because of the risk of injuring himself and others is more if he becomes a player.

Question b.
Do you think the narrator is heroic? Why?
Answer:
No, just watching the heroic deeds of enthusiastic athletes is not considered heroic.

Question c.
The poet is satisfied just watching the heroic deeds of others. What could be the reason?
Answer:
The poet is very sensitive. He derives vicarious pleasure on seeing the play of all the players. He is not after glory, medals, and not interested in inflicting injury on any opponent. So, he is happy staying out of all rough games.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

Question d.
The poet does not wish to exchange position with the runners. Why?
Answer:
The athletes never care for the feelings of others when they play enthusiastically. So the poet does not wish to exchange position with them.

Question e.
Are the athletes conscious of the feelings of others? Why do you say so?
Answer:
No, the athletes are zealous in their endeavour to win. In the process, they go to the extent of maiming fellow players. The player’s focus is mostly on winning and he is naturally not conscious of the feelings of others.

Question f.
Why would the referee ask whether there was a doctor in the stands? What stands is he referring to?
Answer:
The referee would ask for a doctor when any athlete cracks his wrist or got injured in any way. Stands here refer to the stadium or boxing ring.

Question g.
Why does the poet prefer to buy tickets worth their weight in radium? Bring out the significance of the metal referred to here?
Answer:
Radium is more expensive than diamonds. It is a rare metal discovered by Madam Curie. The poet was ready to buy tickets as expensive as radium just to stay as a spectator.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

2. Read the poem again and complete the summary using the words given in the box: (Text Book Page No. 54)

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator 1
In the poem Confessions of a Born Spectator, Ogden Nash talks about how people choose different sports in their lives or decide to become athletes. While admiring the talents of athletes and sportsmen, the poet (i)_________ that he is glad that he is neither a sportsman nor an athlete. Children have different (ii) _________ and wish to play various games. Each child has in mind something in particular, but the narrator is (iii) _________ he is not one of the players. Though the narrator (iv) _________ the talents of all athletes, he derives satisfaction from watching them but does not wish to (v) _______ places with them. He also sometimes regrets that (vi) _______ athletes play rough games without caring for the feelings of their sporting rivals. He feels that good sense and caution win over ego. The narrator wholeheartedly offers (vii) _______ the modest (viii) ___________ of athletes. Ultimately the narrator is (ix) _______ that he himself is not an athlete.
Answers:
(i) Confesses
(ii) Aims
(iii) Glad
(iv) Admires
(v) Exchange
(vi) Zealous
(vii) Thanksgiving
(viii) Physiques
(ix) Satisfied

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

3. Read the poem and answer the following in a short paragraph of 8 – 10 sentences each: (Text Book Page No. 55)

Question a./b.
How does the poet establish the victory of common sense over ego?/ The poet does not wish to exchange places with athletes. How does she justify his view?
Answer:
The poet readily considers himself as a Born Spectator. He admires the talents of the athletes who are skillful in varied sports. That is running ninety yards, knocking the champion to the floor, taking hold of the horse to make it win, etc. He satisfies his love for sports by watching the heroic deeds of sportspersons.

His ego gets slightly disturbed while watching such heroic deeds which induces him to act as an athlete. Thus arise a struggle between his ego and common sense. But when he sees athletes playing, so rough injuring others and never bothers about the opponents’ feeling his common sense has its victory.

Question c.
According to the poet, what contributes most to the injuries sustained by the athletes?
Answer:
According to the poet, the athletes perform heroic deeds and risk their lives to the maximum to attain success. They have to overcome many hurdles before they taste success. Apart from this, they get hurt physically too in many ways. So the poet feels that there is nothing wrong to buy tickets worth their radium.

As they are very active like radium let them be given a huge sum of money like that for radium. Being a spectator and realizing the hard effort of the athlete the poet readily feels that he can share everything with them. It is in this way one can contribute to the injuries sustained by the athletes.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

4. Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow in a sentence or two:

a. With all my heart I do admire
Athletes who sweat for fun or hire

Question i.
Whom does the poet admire?
Answer:
The poet admires the athletes.

Question ii.
For what reasons do the athletes sweat?
Answer:
The athletes sweat either for fun or for monetary benefits.

b. Well, ego it might be pleased enough
But zealous athletes play so rough

Question i.
What pleases the ego?
Answer:
The daring spirit of the athletes pleases the ego.

Question ii.
Why are athletes often rough during play?
Answer:
They are rough as they play enthusiastically towards their victory.

c. When officialdom demands
Is there a doctor in the stands?

Question i.
Why are doctors called from stands by the sponsors?
Answer:
Doctors are called from stands when players get injured.

Question ii.
Why does the poet make such an observation?
Answer:
The poet himself is present as a spectator there in the stadium. He is not willing to exchange places with the athletes.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

C. When snaps the knee and cracks the wrist:

Question i.
Identify and explain the use of the literary device in this line.
Answer:
The literary device used here is onomatopoeia. It imitates the natural sound of a thing. Here the snapping sound of the knee and the cracking sound of the wrist is explained.

Additional Appreciation questions:

1. “One infant grows up and becomes a Jockey
Another plays basketball or hockey,”
This one the prize ring hates to enter
That one becomes a tackle or center
I am just glad as I glad can be.

Question a.
What does ‘Jockey’ refer to?
Answer:
Jockey refers to horse riding.

Question b.
Who is playing the game?
Answer:
The infant is playing the game.

Question c.
Who is glad?
Answer:
The spectator is glad.

Question d.
Why is he glad?
Answer:
He is glad because he needn’t compete in the field.

Question e.
Whom does ‘they refer’ to?
Answer:
They refer to athletes.

Question f.
What is the figure of speech used in the 5th line?
Answer:
Simile.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

2. Now A runs ninety yards to score
B knocks the champion to the floor
Cracking vertebrae and spines
Lashes his steed across the line:

Question a.
Why does ‘A’ run ninety yards?
Answer:
‘A’ runs ninety yards to win the match.

Question b.
Why does ‘B’ knock ‘A’?
Answer:
‘B’ disturbs ‘A’ because he doesn’t want A’ to win.

Question c.
Why does ‘B’ lash across the line?
Answer:
‘B’ lashes across the line to get victory over A.

Question d.
Who cracks whose vertebrae and spines?
Answer:
‘B’ cracks ‘A’s vertebrates and spines.

3. When swollen eye meets gnarled fist
When snaps the knee and cracks the wrist
When officialdom demands,
Is there a doctor in the stands?

Question a.
Why are the eyes swollen?
Answer:
The opponent is fierce enough to inflict injury on the other’s eye in the boxing event.

Question b.
What encounters the gnarled fist?
Answer:
The athletes swollen eyes encounter the gnarled fist during the contest.

4. “And reassure me a new
That you are not me and I am not you”

Question a.
Why does the poet repeat the line?
Answer:
He repeats the line again to stress the fact that each and every individual is unique.

Question b.
Whom does he assure?
Answer:
He assures himself.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

Poetic lines-(Figures of Speech):

Poetic lines Figure of speech
1. I am just glad can be Simile
2. “When swollen eyes meet gnarled fist Personification
When snaps the knee and cracks the wrist Onomatopoeia
When officialdom demands” Anaphora
3. My limp and bashful spirit feeds on other people’s heroic deeds. Personification
4. My soul in true thanksgiving speaks for this modest of physiques.
5. I am glad that when my struggle begins to twist prudence and ego, prudence wins
6. Well, ego it might be pleased enough
7. Now ‘A’ runs ninety yards to score

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

5A. Explain the following with reference to the context in about 50 – 60 words each:

i. I am just glad as glad can be.
That I am not them, that they are not me ………

Reference:
These lines are taken from Poem – “Confessions of a Born Spectator”, Poet – “Ogden Nash”.
Context:
The poet says these words when he feels happy of not being an athlete.
Explanation:
The poet talks about how people choose different sports in their lives or decide to become athletes. While admiring the talents of athletes and sportsmen he confesses that he is happy that he is not a sportsman.

ii. They do not ever in their dealings
Consider one another’s feelings

Reference:
These lines are taken from Poem – “Confessions of a Born Spectator”, Poet – “Ogden Nash”.
Context:
Here the poet speaks about the behaviour of the athletes while playing.
Explanation:
The athletes used to play rough games when they play enthusiastically. In this regard, they never care for the feelings of their sporting rivals. The poet regrets this behaviour of the athletes.

iii. Athletes, I’ll drink to you,
Or eat with you,
Or anything except competing with you

Reference:
These lines are taken from Poem – “Confessions of a Born Spectator”, Poet – “Ogden Nash”.
Context:
Here the poet expresses his view of not competing with sportspersons in any way.
Explanation:
The poet is very clear of the view that he is a Born Spectator and not a sports person. He is ready to share everything with the athletes like spending gala time, dining together with them, etc. but is not ready to compete with them in their sports activities.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

5B. Read the poem and complete the table with suitable rhyming words:

Question 1.
Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator 2
Answer:

Enter Center
Jockey Hockey
Admire Hire
pomp Romp

Question 2.
Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator 3
Answer:

Feeds Deeds
Score Floor
Please These
First Wrist
Demands Stands
Radium Stadium

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

5C. Underline the alliterated words in the following lines: 

Question i.
For this most modest physiques…
Answer:
For this most modest physiques…

Question ii.
They do not ever in their dealings…
Answer:
They do not ever in their dealings…

5D. Find out the rhyme scheme of the given stanza:

Question 1.
One infant grows up and becomes a jockey
Another plays basketball or hockey
This one the prize ring hates to enter
That one becomes a tackle or center…
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is aa, bb.

Listening Activity:

Question 1.
Tejaswini Sawant is an Indian _______.
a) shooter
b) boxer
c) cricketer
Answer:
a) shooter

Question 2.
She represented India at the 9th South Asian Sports Federation Games in _______.
a) 2001
b) 2002
c) 2004
Answer:
c) 2004

Question 3.
In 2006, she won a Gold medal in the _______.
a) Commonwealth Games
b) Olympic Games
c) Asian Games
Answer:
a) Commonwealth Games

Question 4.
She became a world champion in the 50m Rifle Prone game held in _______.
a) Germany
b) Russia
c) India
Answer:
a) Germany

Question 5.
Tejaswini was the first Indian woman shooter to win a _______ medal at the World Championship in the 50m
rifle prone game.
a) gold
b) silver
c) bronze
Answer:
a) Gold

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

7. Paragraph:

In the poem “Confessions of a Born Spectator” the poet talks about how people choose to opt for different sports in their lives or decide to become athletes. At the same time, he confesses that he is glad that he is neither a sports person nor an athlete. He admires the talents of all athletes and derives great satisfaction watching them. This is understood from the lines

My limp and bashful spirit feeds
on other people’s heroic deeds.

Being a Born Spectator he does not wish to exchange places with the athletes at any cost. He doesn’t like to get injured in any way. Moreover, he regrets over the fact that Zealous athletes play rough games without even caring for each other’s feelings. The poet conveys this idea through the lines

They do not ever in their dealings
Consider one another’s feelings.

He feels that good sense and caution win over ego. He offers thanksgiving the modest physiques of athletes as they risk their lives to a great extend like snapping their knees and cracking their wrist etc. This shows that the athletes take a lot of trials to achieve the desired results. The poet is always ready to share a drink or a meal with the athletes. In fact, he is ready to do anything except competing with them. Ultimately the poet is satisfied that he himself is not an athlete which is clearly proved from the lines

And reassure me a new
That you are not me and I’m not you.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

கவிஞரைப் பற்றி:

Frederic Ogden Nash என்பவர் ஒரு அமேரிக்க கவிஞர். இவர் 500ற்கும் மேற்பட்ட நகைச்சுவை கவிதைகளை இதுவரை எழுதியுள்ளார். இவரது கவிதைகளில், கதைகளில் பயன்படுத்திய எதுகை அமைப்பு முறை இவரை மிகச்சிறந்த நகைச்சுவை கவிஞராக அமேரிக்காவில் அடையாளம் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளார். இவரின் நினைவாக அமேரிக்காவில் தபால்தலை வெளியிடப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

கவிதையைப் பற்றி:

எந்த ஒரு போட்டியாக இருந்தாலும் அதில் இருவேறு செய்திகள் அடங்கி இருக்கும். ஒன்று விளையாட்டு வீரர், மற்றொன்று பார்வையாளர். வீரர் விளையாட்டில் கலந்து தன் திறமையை வெளிகாட்டுவார் பார்வையாளர் அதை வேடிக்கை பார்ப்பார். வீரர் காயப்பட்டு, எழும்புகள் உடைக்கப்பட்டு, வீரத்தை வெளிகாட்டுகிறார்.

ஆனால் பார்வையாளர் வெளியில் நின்று வேடிக்கை பார்த்து இரசிக்கிறார். இந்த கவிதையில் விளையாட்டு வீரர்களை வேடிக்கை பார்த்து இரசிக்கும் கவிஞர் அதை நகைச்சுவையாக பேசுகிறார்.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

Confessions of a Born Spectator summary in Tamil

ஒரு குழந்தை வளர்ந்து ஒரு குதிரை வீரனாக (Jockey) மாறுகிறது.
மற்றொன்று கூடைப்பந்து அல்லது ஹாக்கி விளையாடுகிறது.
இது குத்துச் சண்டை வளையத்தில் (Prize Ring) நுழைய மறுக்கிறது.
அது பந்தைய வீரனாக அல்லது நடுவராகிறது.
மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருப்பதால் நான் மகிழ்ச்சியடைகிறேன்.
நான் அவர்களும் இல்லை, அவர்கள் அனைவரும் நான் இல்லை.
என் முழு உள்ளத்தோடு நான் மகிழ்கிறேன் (பாராட்டுகிறேன்)

வேடிக்கை அல்லது ஊதியத்திற்கு வியர்வை சிந்தும் வீரர்களை நான் மதிக்கிறேன்,
அவர்கள் களத்தில் பகட்டான (gaudy pomp) ஆடை அணிந்து கொள்கிறார்கள்.
கரடுமுரடாக, ஆர்வமாக விளையாடும் போது
ஒரவரக்கொருவர் காயம் உண்டாக்கி கொள்கிறார்கள்.
எனது குறைகளும் ஞானமும் எனது ஆற்றலை மற்ற வீரர்களின்
வீர செயல்களால் ஊக்கமளிக்கப்படுகிறது.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

இப்போது A தொண்ணூறு தெலைதூரம் வெற்றிபெற ஓடுகிறார்
B வெற்றியாளரை தரையில் தள்ளிவிடுகிறார்.
அவனது முதுகையும் முதுகெலும்புகளையும் உடைத்துக்கொண்டு
பாதை (line) முழுவதும் தனது குதிரையை சவுக்கால் அடித்து (Steed) வசைப்படுகிறான் (lashes)
நீங்கள் என் விடா முயற்சி ஏதேனும்
ஒரு இலக்கை அடைய வைக்கும் என நினைப்பீர்கள்
ஆம் நன்றாக விடாமுயற்சி போதுமானமதாக இருக்கலாம்.

ஆனால் ஆர்வமுள்ள விளையாட்டு வீரர்கள் மிகவும் கடினமானவர்கள்
அவர்கள் எப்போதும் உணர்ச்சிகளில் வெல்பவர்கள் அல்ல
ஒருவரின் உணர்வுகளினால் வெல்கிறார்கள்.
எனக்கு துன்பம் வரும்போதெல்லாம்
என்னுடைய புத்திசாலித்தனம், விவேகம் வெற்றி பெறுகிறது.

வீங்கிய கண்கள் கரடுமுரடான முட்டியை சந்திக்கும் போது,
என்னை வெற்றியடையச் செய்வதை என்னி மகிழ்கிறேன்
முழங்கால்கள் மற்றும் மணிக்கட்டுகள் விரிசல் ஏற்படம் போது, நடுவர் கேட்கிறார்
அங்கே மருத்துவர் இருக்கிறாரா? என்று
என் ஆண்மா எளிமையான, உண்மையான நன்றிகளை சாதாரண உடலமைப்பிற்காக சொல்கிறது.

Samacheer Kalvi 11th English Guide Poem 2 Confessions of a Born Spectator

தடகள வீரர்களே நான் உங்களுடன் குடிக்கிறேன்
அல்லது உங்களுடன் சாப்பிடுகிறேன்
உங்களுடன் போட்டியிடும் எதையும் தவிர
அரங்கில் உங்கள் குதுகளத்தை (gambol) பார்க்க வேண்டும்
என்பதற்காக ரேடியம் மதிப்புள்ள டிக்கட்டை வாங்குகிறேன்.

இழந்துவிட்ட நம்பிக்கையை புதிதாக மறுபடியும் உறுதி செய்கிறேன்
நான் நீங்கள் இல்லை,
நீங்கள் நான் இல்லை, எனக்கு நானே உறுதி செய்து கொள்கிறேன்.

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