Amanda! CBSE Class 10 English: Summary and IMPORTANT BOARD QUESTIONS
Amanda! CBSE Class 10 English: Summary and IMPORTANT BOARD QUESTIONS
Amanda! is a poem about a young girl who is constantly instructed, corrected, and nagged by her parent (likely her mother). To escape the reality of these instructions, Amanda retreats into a world of vivid daydreams where she is free and alone.
Summary of the Poem
The poem alternates between the mother’s harsh instructions and Amanda’s silent daydreams (written in parentheses). The mother tells Amanda to sit up straight, finish her homework, and clean her room. Amanda, however, imagines herself as a mermaid drifting in a peaceful sea, an orphan roaming the streets in silence, and Rapunzel living alone in a high tower.
The poem ends with the mother scolding Amanda for being "moody" and "sulking," fearing that people will think she has nagged her child—the ultimate irony since the nagging is exactly what caused Amanda’s withdrawal.
Short Answer Questions .
1. Why are the stanzas 2, 4, and 6 given in parentheses?
ANS:The parentheses indicate that these stanzas are Amanda’s internal thoughts or daydreams. They represent her private world, which is a direct contrast to the loud, nagging world of her mother in the other stanzas.
2. What does Amanda imagine doing as a mermaid?
ANS:As a mermaid, Amanda imagines herself alone in a blissful, emerald sea. She wants to drift "languidly" (slowly and relaxedly) through the soft waves, away from any rules or voices.
3. Why does Amanda want to be an orphan?
ANS:Amanda doesn't literally want to lose her parents; she wants the freedom and silence that she associates with being an orphan. She wants to walk the streets and make patterns in the soft dust with her bare feet without being told to wear shoes or clean her room.
4. What does the "silence is golden, the freedom is sweet" mean?
ANS:This line shows how much Amanda values being left alone. To her, silence is as precious as gold because her world is constantly filled with her mother’s voice. Freedom is "sweet" because she is currently restricted by a long list of "don’ts."
5. Why is Amanda forbidden to eat chocolate?
ANS:Her mother forbids it because Amanda has acne. This shows that the mother is very concerned with Amanda’s external appearance and physical "perfection," adding to the pressure Amanda feels.
6. How does Amanda compare herself to Rapunzel?
ANS:Amanda wants to live in a high tower where life is "tranquil and rare." Unlike the original Rapunzel, Amanda says she will "never let down her bright hair," because she doesn't want anyone (like a prince or her mother) to climb up and disturb her peace.
7. What is the mother's concern at the end of the poem?
ANS:The mother is worried about her own reputation. She tells Amanda to stop sulking because she is afraid that people will think she "nagged" Amanda. She is more concerned with how things look to the public than with Amanda’s actual mental state.
8. Identify the poetic device: "I am an orphan, roaming the street."
ANS:This is a Metaphor. Amanda is not an orphan, but she compares her desire for total independence and lack of supervision to the life of an orphan.
9. What kind of a girl is Amanda?
ANS:Amanda is a sensitive, imaginative girl who feels suffocated by constant control. She isn't rebellious in an aggressive way; instead, she uses her imagination as a psychological "shield" to protect her peace of mind.
10. What message does the poem convey to parents?
ANS:The poem suggests that over-parenting and constant nagging can lead to a child’s emotional withdrawal. It emphasizes the need for a balance between discipline and giving a child space to grow and imagine.
Long Answer Questions.
1. Discuss the theme of "Confinement vs. Freedom" in the poem Amanda.
ANS:The poem is a tug-of-war between the social expectations of a parent and the personal freedom of a child. The parent represents confinement—rules about posture, cleaning, and acne. Amanda represents the yearning for freedom. Every time she is nagged, she travels further away in her mind—from the sea to the street to a high tower. This shows that the more a child is confined, the more they will seek escape, often leading to a lack of communication between parent and child.
2. How does Robin Klein use "Daydreaming" as a coping mechanism in this poem?
ANS:For Amanda, daydreaming is a survival tool. She cannot talk back to her mother (as that would lead to more nagging), so she "shuts off" her hearing and enters a world where she is in control. As a mermaid or Rapunzel, she is the hero of her own story. This coping mechanism highlights a tragic reality: Amanda is physically present but mentally miles away, showing the deep emotional gap created by excessive criticism.
3. Write a character sketch of Amanda’s mother based on the poem.
ANS:Amanda’s mother is depicted as a typical authoritative figure who is obsessed with rules and social image. She is meticulous about small details like "finishing homework" or "cleaning shoes." However, she is emotionally blind to her daughter's unhappiness. Her focus on "not sulking" at the end shows she values "social perfection" over "emotional connection." She thinks she is being a good parent by providing discipline, but she is actually pushing her daughter into a shell.
4. Why does Amanda wish to be things that are "solitary" (Mermaid, Orphan, Rapunzel)?
ANS:All three of Amanda’s fantasies involve being completely alone. This is a direct reaction to being constantly watched and judged. The mermaid is in a "sole" sea; the orphan is alone on the street; Rapunzel is in a tower where no one can reach her. This suggests that Amanda’s home environment is so intrusive that her idea of "heaven" is a place where no one can speak to her.
5. "An over-instructed child loses their individuality." Elaborate with reference to the poem.
ANS:The poem illustrates how constant instructions can kill a child's natural spirit. Amanda is told how to sit, how to eat, and how to behave until she becomes "moody." She stops engaging with the real world because the real world has become a source of stress. When a child's every action is monitored, they stop acting out of their own will and start acting out of fear or apathy, eventually losing their unique personality to a world of silent daydreams.
Practice MCQs
1. Who is the poet of 'Amanda!'?
A. Robert Frost
B. Robin Klein
C. Carolyn Wells
D. Walt Whitman
Answer: B
2. What does the mother ask Amanda to do with her homework?
A. Start it
B. Finish it
C. Throw it
D. Forget it
Answer: B
3. What is the sea described as in Amanda's daydream?
A. Blue and angry
B. Red and hot
C. Emerald and languid
D. Grey and cold
Answer: C
4. Amanda wants to be Rapunzel to live in a:
A. Palace
B. Forest
C. Tower
D. Cave
Answer: C
5. What is the mother's fear at the end of the poem?
A. Amanda will fail her exams
B. Amanda will fall sick
C. People will think she nagged Amanda
D. Amanda will run away
Answer: C
6. What is the meaning of the word 'languid' in the poem?
A. Fast and energetic
B. Relaxed and peaceful
C. Angry and loud
D. Dirty and crowded
Answer: B
7. Why does Amanda say she will "never let down her bright hair"?
A. Because her hair is too short
B. Because she wants to stay alone and not be "rescued" or disturbed
C. Because she is afraid of heights
D. Because she doesn't like the Prince
Answer: B
8. What does Amanda imagine she is doing on the street?
A. Running a race
B. Buying chocolates
C. Patterning soft dust with her bare feet
D. Cleaning the pavement
Answer: C
9. Which of these words best describes the tone of the parent's stanzas?
A. Encouraging
B. Indifferent
C. Authoritative and Nagging
D. Humorous
Answer: C
10. What does the use of "Emerald Sea" and "Golden Silence" suggest?
A. Amanda is very wealthy
B. Amanda values the beauty and peace of her imagination over reality
C. The sea is actually made of jewels
D. Amanda wants to go on a vacation
Answer: B
YOU MAY LIKE:
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR BOARD EXAMINATION CBSE ENGLISH CLASS 10
Comments
Post a Comment