(a) What do you understand by ‘Psalteries of Summer’? (b) What is the significance of the use of dashes in these lines ?

Question

Choose of the following extracts and answer the questions that follow.

(1) Far Psalteries of Summer –

Enamoring the Ear

They never yet did satisfy –

Remotest – when most fair

(a) What do you understand by ‘Psalteries of Summer’?

(b) What is the significance of the use of dashes in these lines ?

(2) ‘She tried to weigh each side of the question.’

(a) What was Eveline’* dilemma?

(b) Why was she reluctant to leave her home?

(3) Manjula: Intellectuals whom I respected, writers who were gurus to me, friends who I thought would pat me on my back and share my delight—they are all suddenly breathing ****.

(a) Why are Manjula’* friends and colleagues upset with her?

(b) What explanation does she give for this so called betrayal

Answer 1

(1) (a) Music of summer. "Psalteries" sounds so close to "psalm" and "psalter" (a book of psalms). There is a connotation of spiritual/religious presence.

(b) To indicate interruption or abrupt shift in thought. As a parenthetical device for emphasis. To keep a note of uncertainty.

(2) (a) Her dilemma was whether it was wise to run away with a fellow and leave her home.

(b) It was a hard life but the home gave her food and shelter. What would the people say when they found out.

1. (a) She had written in Kannada all her life but now had suddenly started writing in English.

(b) She doesn’t regard it as a betrayal since it was not a conscious choice to write in English. She herself was surprised that her thoughts poured out in English.