Half a Day by Naguib Mahfouz, summary for class 11 opt English

 

Half a Day

Naguib Mahfouz

Naguib Mahfouz is an Egyptian writer. He began writing when he was seventeen. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1998. He has written more than 30 novels, more than hundred short stories, and more than two hundred article. Most of his writings were based on the culture and Nationality of Egypt. He uses elaborative, figurative and descriptive language. The story ‘Half a Day’ was published in his book 'The false Dawn'. In this storyhe describes going off to school as a young boy, spending the days in a school and leaving as an old man at the end of his life.

In the beginning part of the story, the narrator is presented as a schoolboybut later he is an old man. The narrator is getting ready for his school. He is walking along his father clutching (holding tightly) his hand. His clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform and the red tarboosh (cap). He is delighted because of his new dress. He looks at his mother who is standing at the window and looking at them. They walked along a street lined with gardens; on  both side were extensive fields planted with crops, prickly pears, henna trees, and a few date palms. The boy asks, "Why school?" and promised that he won't do any bad at home to annoy his father. Father laughs and says that he is not going to punish him. School is not punishment. It is the factory that makes useful men out of boys. It makes a mature man like father and brother. They reached to the gate of a school. The boys and girls are going through the gate and father tells him to go in with them. The boy doesn't want to go to school and hold his hand tightly. His father promised that he would be at the gate when the school time is over.

He enters to the school and sees many new faces of boys and girls. He is strange to them. One boy comes and asks him who hasbrought him. The boy answers that his father has brought him. But that boy simply says that his father was died. The narrator doesn't know what to say. The gate is closed and the bell rings. The teacher makesthe line of students. There are three high building surrounding. In each floor there are balcony roofed in wood.

One woman comes and starts: here you can get you mother and father like people, here and there everything is enjoyable and beneficial and religions. She tells them to dry up their tears. First time in his life he haslearnt variety of things, he makes some boy and girl friends. He participates in different kinds of games: swings, the vaulting horse, ball games. Then goes to a music room and chants some song. He starts to learn language and numbers. He sees a globe and knows about the creator of the earth. They eat delicious food, take a little nap, and wake up to go on with friendship and love, play and learn.

In the school the boy doesn't find everything smooth and sweet as he has expected. Sometime they start to fight and quarrel with their friends while the lady sometimes smile or sometimes scold even more frequently would resort to physical punishment.  In addition, the time for changing one's mind is over and gone there is no question of every returning to the paradise of home. At long last, the chime rings to declare the end of the workday, and the schoolchildren race to the entryways to leave the school.

The storyteller bids farewell to his companions. He gets out of the gate expecting his father waiting at the gate. However his father is not waiting for him. In the wake of sticking around for quite a while, the storyteller chooses to walk home without anyone else. After he has taken a few steps, a middle-aged man passes by, and he realizes at once that he knows him. The mancomes toward him, smiling, and shaking his hand asks it is long since they have visited, how he is. The narrator says that he is fine. But the man says that he is not fine these days and goes in his way.

The narrator stands by the road and observes it very closely. He takes few steps and he search the street lined with garden but doesn't find. It has disappeared due to modernization. He doesn't find the fields, which border the road. There are tallbuildings standing beside the road. At various point stand conjurers (magician) showing off their tricks and making snakes appear from his basket. There is an announcement of the opening circus. A line of trucks carryingcentralsecuritytroops, a fire engine sirens, battle between taxi driver and his passenger. The narrator is shocked to the rapidchangeduring 'half a day' between early morning and sunset. He feels the time is very short in his life. During this short period of time there are many changes in his life. He searches his home among the crowd. He has to cross Abu Khoda to reach to his house but the moving vehicles don't give him chance to cross the road.

He is still standing on the road but can't cross the road. Subsequent to standing quite a while, the storyteller is helpedto cross the road by a little boy who works at the ironing shop on the corner of the street. When the boy holds out his hand and addresses him as Grandpa and then the storyteller understands that he has now become old. He realized that a half-day at school was his entire life, which passed quickly.

The cactus by O Henry Summary English 12......

 

The cactus

O Henry

Oliver Henry was born in 1862 and died in 1910 in United States. When he was three his mother was died and he was raised up by his grandmother and his aunt. He left his school at the age of 15 and searched for job. He was accused of embezzlement (act of falsely getting property of other) and remains in jail for five years. He published 12 stories by changing his name for not letting his readers know he was in jail. His stories are very popular, which has twist in the ending. His story 'The Cactus' is also impressive story having twist in the end. The story depicts a symbolic meaning of a cactus. Main character 'Trysdale' is impressed with a greatness, tenderness, and beauty of a girl. He proposes her but she doesn't answer him. But there was a tag in a cactus having its Spanish name. When he translatesand he finds her response that she loves him.

Trysdale is young bachelor who lives in a bachelor apartments. He is standing by the table and observes a green looking  plant in a red earthen jar. On the table stood a singular-looking green plant in a red earthen jar. The plant was one of the species of cacti, which is very attractive, it has long tentacular (flexible) leaves that perpetually (constantly) swayed with the slightest breeze with a peculiar beckoning motion. Trysdale's friend, the brother of the bride, stood at a sideboard complaining at being allowed to drink alone. Both men were in evening dress. He removes gloves from his hand.

He remembered last few hours before when a beautiful lady got married with a man. The scene moved around his eyes. There was the scent of the flowers that had been bankedin odorous masses about the church. He recalled hearing the low-pitched hum of a thousand well-bred voices, the rustle of crisp garments and, most insistently recurring, the words of the minister irrevocably.

Trysdale was not willing to see all the scene where his beloved was going to get married and he was being witness of her wedding. As she had slowly moved up the aisle (a middle part of a church) toward the altar he had felt an unworthy, sullen (ill-tempered) exultation (victory) that had served to support him. He had told himself that she was not happy and looking pale because of other man than the man to whom she was about to give herself. He glades to her because she gave a glance to him. But even that poor consolation had been wrenched (violently move in a turn) from him. For, when he saw that swift, limpid, upward look that she gave the man when he took her hand, he knew himself to be forgotten. Once that same look had been raised to him, and he had understood its meaning. Indeed, his conceit had crumbled; its last prop was gone. Why had it ended thus? There had been no quarrel between them, nothing. In this way Trysdale surprises to her decision. Why did she didn't like to marry with him. What weakness did he have?

 As Trysdale grimly wrenched apart the seam of his last glove, the crowning instance of his fatuous and tardily mourned egoism came vividly back to him. He used to think himself as a superior man. He didn't find any weakness in him. The scene was the night when he had asked her to come up on his pedestal with him and share his greatness. He could not, now, for the pain of it, allow his mind to dwell upon the memory of her convincing beauty that night--the careless wave of her hair, the tenderness and virginal charm of her looks and words. He had found everything was perfect on her. During their conversation she had said, " Captain Carruthers tells me that your can speak the Spanish language like a native." Trysdale used to speak some phrases of Spanish to his friends. He can't deny that he doesn't know Spanish language in front of her. He wanted to be superior as knowing many languages in front of his girlfriend. 

            How she fluttered like a snared bird when he laid his mightiness at her feet! They were in deep love and have not decided when to get married. He could have sworn, and he could swear now, that unmistakable consent (state of in love before marriage) was in her eyes, but, coyly, she would give him no direct answer. He was waiting her responses for marriage. He was confident that she would answer next day. The next day he waited, impatient, in his rooms for the word. But, he never got any response from her. At noon her groom came to the door and left the strange cactus in the red earthen jar. There was no note, no message, merely a tag upon the plant bearing a botanical name. He waited until night, but her answer did not come. His large pride and hurt vanity kept him from seeking her. Two evenings later they met at a dinner. Their greetings were conventional, but she looked at him, breathless, wondering, eager. He was courteous, adamant, waiting her explanation. With womanly swiftness she took her cue from his manner, and turned to snow and ice.

            One friend has come to his room and tells about cactus. And there was a tag with its botanical name in Spanish language. It was written 'Ventomarme'. This word means in English, 'come and take me'. Trysdale didn't understand that she had answered him to come and take her in Spanish. He couldn't do anything she got married to another man. He got cactus in his room, which gives only prickly pain in his life.

Essay on tourism in Nepal

 

What are the famous tourist spots in Nepal? How the government should plan for the development of tourism? Write an essay about 250 words.

Tourism is an effective and profitable business of the world. People travel from one place to another place for many purpose such as for travelling, trekking, hiking, study, having entertainment, to spend leisure or vacation or to know the different culture and religion of the world. Nepal is the best destination for the tourist.

In Nepal Tourism Board of Nepal is established in 2016 B.S. tourism is growing as a bigger industry in Nepal. Nepal is very beautiful country in the world. It is rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage and historical monuments. The highest peak of the world is located in Nepal. God Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini Nepal. The birth place of god Sidharth Buddha is in Nepal. It has many tourist spots such as Himalayan rivers, glaciers, large lakes, green valleys, waterfalls, national park and many more. There are many caste, culture and languages. You can find the climate of the world. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold. Most of the tourist of the world could enjoy the natural beauty and as well as natural river and natural lifestyle of the people.

The government of Nepal is planning to develop the tourist spot each year. Hugh amount of budget is investing on the development of the infrastructure for the development of the tourism. In Nepal we have to focus on domestic as well as the foreign tourists. The government is in the process of repairing and restructuring the old monuments, temples, and buildings which were broken at the time of earth quake. It is planning widening the roads, building hotels and restaurant privately. Internal airports are under construction for the better facilities for the tourists.

We have to work for extend the staying time of tourist in Nepal. When a tourist stays in our country he learns many things and advertises our country in his country. They stay in the hotel and spend some money and buy some things. It helps to collect foreign currency in our country.

In conclusion tourism is a growing industry of our country from which we can collect foreign currency. In this industry many people directly or indirectly get job and earn money. Therefore to develop the nation the government should plan for the development of the tourism. There are many religious and naturally valuable things which we need to advertise. That helps to increase the follow of tourists.

 

 

Importance of education.

 Education is defined as the light of life, and valuable knowledge of living. It is defined as life itself not the preparation for the life or it is also the cultivation of life. Education makes a man social, civilized, progressive, friendly and wise. It provides knowledge and skill for our live. Without the education human are like only mammal animal. Education teaches to live happily in the time of difficulty and scarcities. The world of the day is the day of information and technology so education makes a person fit and adjustable in the ongoing changing society.

Many people know the importance but they can't try to deserve it. They compare it with the income and profit but that is wrong. Education explores our inner heart and makes us able to deal with the critical things of our life. To show the importance of education a Chinese philosopher has said, " if you plan for a year plant rice, if you plan for ten years plant trees and if you are planning for a hundred year educate the children. So education is that kind of investment of the nation which takes long time to provide profit.

Education begins from the home of a child. People can learn many things from formal class and informal classes. But learning from home and informal situation is not enough. They have to join the school for academic knowledge which is very useful for their life. But in our country there are many children outside the school environment. The government should plan further to participate them in the main stem of the country.

In conclusion, education is a weapon to acculturate a person in society and live happily. Furthermore, education is the strength and backbone of the country which help to develop the nation sustainably. No one should be missed from the chance of education. It is not only important for a particular person but also necessary for the sustainable development of the country

A Devoted Son by Anita Desai , class 12 com English Summary

 

A devoted son

Anita Desai

Anita Desai, original name Anita Mazumdar, (b. 1937- ) is an Indian novelist, short story writer and the writer of children’s books. As a biracial child born to a German mother and Indian father, Desai was exposed to German, Hindi and English language from her childhood. After completing her B. A. from University of Delhi, Desai began to publish her stories and novels. She has many short stories and popular novels. She received Shahitya Academy Award for her novel Fire on the Mountain. Her novel In Custody was adapted into a film in 1993. ‘The Devoted Son’ is extracted from her collection of stories, The Complete Short Stories.

‘A Devoted Son’ is a realistic story set in a middle-class Indian family in an Indian village. The story shows how parents cherish their ambition towards their children and how a son should fulfill his duty towards the parents.   

Summary

This story is based on the middle class family of Varmaji in India. Rakesh is a devoted son of Varmaji who has got top score in medical sector. His name is published at the top of magazine. He directly goes to his father and touches his feet to get congratulation and blessing. This news spreads into his village and everybody comes to congratulate him. His father gets happy and his relatives come to thank Rakesh and his father to express their best wishes on his success. They said, "Mubarak Varmaji" your son has brought you glory.  Varmaji is proud of his devoted son because at first he come to his father and touched his feet. They bring different types of flowers, gifts and sweets. The house and garden is filled with the sound, and colors of the festival. There are garlands and halwa party and fills with clothes or gifts for Rakesh. There is not any child in this shabby little colony who shines as Rakesh.

Rakesh writes a thesis for his M.D. which helps him to take scholarship in U.S.A. medical college. Mr. Varmaji teaches his family to tell U.S.A. instead of 'America'. He believes that USA is more prestigious than 'America'. Rakesh starts his study in most prestigious college in America and starts to earn small amount. After the completion of his course he returns in his small yellow house. The place where his parents are living is not town, it is a shabby colony. At the end of the road the rubbish van tipped out their stinking contents for pigs to nose in and rag-pickers to build their shacks on, all steaming and smoking just outside the neat wire fences and well-tended gardens. Rakesh do the first thing in house to escape from the embrace of his sisters and brothers and bows down and touches his father's feet. His father works in a Kerosene dealer's depot.

Rakesh didn't married in America which his mother has feared that he might marry in America as other Indian boys do. Instead he gets ready to marry a girl from his village which his mother wishes. She is not so much attractive, plumy and uneducated girl. As she enter the house she gets able to manage all the household activities as other girls do although she is old fashioned, seemingly too lazy and placid(calm). She gave birth to a child.

Rakesh starts to work in city hospital, quickly rises to the top of administrative organization and becomes diractor of the hospital. Then, he starts his own clinic. Once he takes his parents to show new clinic in his magnificent sky-blue Ambassador car. His name and fame is increased and starts to earn much. He is known as a best and richest doctor in the town. His father has retired from his post at the kerosene dealer's depot at which he has worked for forty years. His mother was so lucky who gets a son to have a treatment, Rakesh presses his mother's feet at last movement but gets unsuccessful to save her life.

Rakesh is not only a devouted son but also a obedient son to his parent, joyful partner for his wife and friendly and sociable person to his friends. He is a man of calm nature and   good virtue, fine doctor and trained surgeon.

Because of retired life and death of his wife, Rakesh's father gets ill. Rakesh tries his best but can't find its treatment which is a kind of new disease. There is a big birthday party of the youngest son.  The celebration is suddenly hushed (stopped) when daughter in law found that the old man is in serious condition. His legs are stretched on his string bed and he has no pulse in his hand. She finds a gob of red spittle on the hem of her sari she becomes angry and leaves to care him. But his son Rakesh takes care of his father.

Rakesh provides morning tea to his father in his favourite tea brass tumbler where all family prefers to drink in china cup. He seats at the edge of his bed and reads newspaper for his father. He requests his father to come out of the room and take fresh air but father doesn't like to do this things.  On summer nights he manages him to take rest onto the lawn under the star for a whole night.

Rakesh is very serious to the diet of his father. He is gratifying his father but there is a conflict in selection of food. One day when the father is really sick and orders his daughter-in-law to prepare Soojie halwa. He eats this dish with a saucerful of cream. At the same time his son arrives. He becomes angry to his father and as a doctor he warns his father not to eat such things which doesn't suit him. he offer him to eat only little rice and milk. Sick father the sound and words of his son which are not very soft for him. He opens his eyes and looks at his son with disbelief that darkened quickly to reproach. His father says that these foods don't harm him. But Rakesh turns his back to his father and work in the shelf where medicines are kept.

The old man prefers to have roasted and fried food, sweets and Halawa but now his son is providing him dry bread, boiled lentils boiled vegetable and chicken and fish which are also boiled. The old man said his son that oily food doesn't harm him which his wife used to give him. if he ask for other food his son comes to the door and gaze at him sadly and says, " No papa we must be careful to your health, and we can't risk another illness".

Once, Varma calls his grandson and gives him fifty Paisa to buy some sweets for him. Mr. Varma says to him to go to the shop and buy fifty Paisa for jalebis (Sweets) and rest spend on his wish.  When Rakesh knows all these things, he shouted at his father and said, “Now papa, are you trying to turn my little son into a liar?” He also said to Varma, "The sweets of the bazaar were unhygienic. It causes cholera, typhoid, and gastroenteritis. I daily see these types of cases in my clinic. I don’t want to see my family on such risks?”

Old Bhatai is a neighbour who lives next to his door Varma. He watches that old Bhatai bathes in the tiled bathroom indoors and insists on carrying out his brass mug and towel in all seasons. Bhatai gets all those things that Varma expects, but he doesn’t get them from his son. One day, Varma and Bhatai are talking about their illness to each other. On the conservation, Bhatai tells Varma that he has at least a doctor (child) who takes care of his health. Varma cries after listening to it, he expresses his all pain in front of Bhatai. He says that his son not even gives him enough food to eat. His son weighs the foods, not more than two hundred grams of cereal a day. When he asks for fried, spicy, and oily food, he shouts at him with a cracked voice and never allowed to eat them. He has brought him up, given him an education which made him a great doctor but this is the way he treats him.

Rakesh didn’t give too much food to his father, only a miserable diet on which Varma found himself slipping, weakening, and soon becoming a genuinely sick man. Rakesh provides him different types of pills- pills to regulate his bowel movements, pills to bring down his blood pressure, pills to deal with his arthritis, and, eventually, pills to keep his heart beating. Pills and medicine has become a part of his diet. From time to time, Rakesh brings his father for a stomach pump and enema, which makes him frightened and helpless. Varma hated all these things but when Varma complains to it, Rakesh would simply open another bottle of pills and force him to take one.

Varma did not like to eat only medicines. He wants to die. He cries in genuine pain. The quantities of vitamins and tonics gave him a kind of strength to live like a dead man only. It is as though straining (cause to be tense) at a rope, trying to break it, and it would not break, it was still strong.

One day when Rakesh went to his father after coming from the clinic. He gave Varma a new tonic to make him feel better. But Varma denied to accept this tonic with his hand and the bottle falls on to ground, breaks into pieces and stains on the white trouser of Rakesh. Rakesh doesn't speak any word to his father. But Varma wish to die. He didn’t want to take more medicine. He stretches his body sink down in his back, closes his eyes and looks at ceiling and groans, " God is calling me _ now let me go". The old man dies.

Glossary

wunderkind (n.) : a person who achieves great success when relatively young

sweetmeat (n.): a small piece of sweet food, made of or covered in sugar

encomiums (n.): a piece of writing that praises someone or something highly

desolate (adj.): feeling or showing great unhappiness or loneliness

delicacy (n.): fine food item

frugal (adj.): simple and plain and costing little

gastroenteritis (n.): a disease triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system

supplant (v.): replace

hypocritical (adj.): characterized by behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel

Ambassador (n.): an automobile manufactured by Hindustan Motors of India, in production from 1958

hubbub (n.): a loud confusing noise

prophet (n.): a person regarded as an inspired teacher