Monday 5 October 2015

A FIGHTER'S LINES: A QUICK REVISION



Exercise 1
 Read the interpretation below and identify which stanza it belongs to.
No
Interpretation
Stanza
1.
The persona is now confined to his wheelchair
2
2
He can’t do much because he can’t control people and they way they think.
2
3
He was a soldier before and fought for his country’s independence.
1
4
The persona sees that the people are destroying themselves by engulfing into the world of lies and dishonesty.
2
5
The persona is now old and weak.
1
6
What happens around him really disturbs him.
2
7
The persona wants the young people to stand up and speak out their opinions.
3
8
The persona says that we need to be united and fight for the sake of our nation’s harmony
3
9
The persona is only able to sit on his wheelchair and monologues.
2



Exercise 2 - Themes
Tick the relevant themes for this poem.

No
Theme

No
Theme

1
Patriotism
/
4
Appreciation of nature

2
Environment

5
Courage
/
3
Sacrifice for independence
/
6
Life and death
/



Exercise 3
Read the questions and choose the best answers.

1.       The persona is a patriotic person because he has helped to
A.      Develop his country
B.       Plan his country progress
C.      Fight for his country
D.      Restructure his country

2.       The ‘forced sacrifices / that know no name or life’ would refer to the effort of soldiers who
A.      Have died for the country
B.       Have won the world war
C.      Were captured
D.      Were freed

3.       The persona is wheelchair bound because he has lost his
A.      Sight
B.       Hearing
C.      Ability to feel
D.      Ability to use his limbs

4.       What disturbs the persona now?
A.      The education in this country
B.       The political situation in his country
C.      The economic situation in his country
D.      The spread of diseases


A Fighter's Lines

MODEL QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTED ANSWERS
1. Who is the persona in the poem?
An ex-army/ a former army/a retired army/ an ex-soldier/a former soldier/a retired soldier/ an ex-fighter/a former fighter/ a retired fighter
2. What does the word ‘history’ in line 4 refer to?
The fight for independence
3. What kind of tone do you sense from the first two stanzas? 
Frustration
4. Why does the persona feel helpless? 
He is old, weak, has lost all his strength, crippled and wheel-chair bound
5. Describe what the poet means by the last two lines in stanza 2.
After years of independence, the persona sees that the people are trying to destroy themselves by engulfing into the world full of lies/deceits.
6. What does the phrase “a wall” refers to?
In order to fight for our freedom, first we have to be united, ‘erect a wall of people’ regardless of our races or religions and fight for the sake of our nation’s harmony
7. Who is referred to by the pronoun “you” in the last line?
The young generation/the present generation/the young people/the present youths/the youths of today/the heirs of our country
8. What message is the poet trying to spread? Explain.
He  urges the  new generation to speak out their opinions and fight for their freedom and justice.
9. Based on the poem, who do you think the persona is?
 An ex-army/ a former army/a retired army/ an ex-soldier/a former soldier/a retired soldier/ an ex-fighter/a former fighter/ a retired fighter
10. Why do you think the persona says that he has lost all his strength?
The persona once had become a soldier and he had suffered a lot to free the country from invaders. During that time, they fought with all of their will and as the consequences now he is wheelchair bound due to the loss of energy and he is now old enough to only be able to sit on the wheelchair while monologues
11. What do you think happened to those who fought for independence?
There were many sufferings and some of them died in the fight for independence.
12. Who is the persona addressing in stanza 3 and 4? Why do you think he does this?
The persona is addressing the young generation. He urges  the new generation to speak out their opinions and fight for their freedom and justice.
13. What is the persona contribution to his country?
He fought for the country’s independence.
14. Why does the persona say he can “see and cannot do much”?
He is old, weak, has lost all his strength, crippled and wheel-chair bound
15. What does the phrase “a wall of people” represent?
 In order to fight for our freedom, first we have to be united, ‘erect a wall of people’ regardless of our races or religions and fight for the sake of our nation’s harmony
16. What does the persona mean when he says “I have no more voice”? Why does he say it?
He is old, weak, has lost all his strength, crippled and wheel-chair bound.
17. Why is the persona in a wheelchair?
He fought for independence before and now he  is old, weak, has lost all his strength, crippled and wheel-chair bound.
18. What did the present or younger generation inherit from their forefathers?
The spirit to fight for freedom and justice.
19. Who do you refer to in the last line of stanza 4?
The young generation/the present generation/the young people/the present youths/the youths of today/the heirs of our country
20. State two things that the present or young generation must do in order to defend the country threats.
1. Be united
2.  Be patriotic
21. State two ways to show your appreciation to those who sacrifices for your country independence.
1. Join in the Armed Forces Day celebration
2. Write appreciation cards/poems
22. Do you think you must defend  your country from threats? Suggest two ways that the present   youths  must do in order to defend the country from threats.
We must defend our country from threats. Firstly, we must be united and remained united. Secondly, we must have  patriotic feelings as this creates positive implications in the future.
23. Do you think it is important for us to show our appreciation to those fought for  the country independence? Suggest  two ways to appreciate them.
It is important for us to show our appreciation to those who fought for the country independence. Firstly, we can celebrate them in the Armed Forces Day celebration. Secondly, the government can present them with military awards.
24. Do you think bribery is destroying our country? Suggest two ways to curb bribery.
Yes, I do. Firstly, we can hold a campaign to stop bribery. Secondly, we can put up posters, banners and flyers on the harmful effects of bribery.
25. Corruption destroys the nation. Do you agree with this statement ?Suggest two ways to stop  corruption.
Yes, I agree with this statement. Firstly, we can hold a campaign on the harmful effects of corruption. Secondly, we educate the present generation on good ethical behaviour
26. Which phrase indicates that the persona is helpless?
from the wheelchair of the rest of my days
27. What is the persona worried about?
After years of independence, the persona sees that the people are trying to destroy themselves by engulfing into the world full of lies/deceits.
28. Who does the persona ask to ‘wake up’?
The young generation/the present generation/the young people/the present youths/the youths of today/the heirs of our country
29. What appeal does the persona make? Why do you think he makes that appeal?
 He urges the new generation to speak out their opinions and fight for their freedom. He wants us to be united, regardless of our races or religions and fight for the sake of our nation’s harmony.
30. In stanza 1, how does the persona describe himself?
He describes himself as old and weak
31. Which line in the poem suggests that the persona is too weary to fight?
I, body and energy crushed
32. What does the persona mean by ‘the net of deceit spread everywhere disturb me?
The persona sees that the people are trying to destroy themselves by engulfing into the world full of lies/deceits.
33. Do you agree that these times are too big a challenge for the persona? Why do you say so?
Yes, I agree. He says that there is nothing much he can do as he cannot control people’s mind as how he once did holding guns to destroy invaders. This is shown in the Stanza 2.
34. Do you think protecting your country independence  is important? How would you protect your country independence?
Yes. I would  fight for justice and freedom and lies, corruption and dishonesty.
35. Do you love your country? How would you tell other people that you love your country?
Yes. The people must be united and fight for justice and freedom.

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