1st PUC English Question and Answer Karnataka State Board Syllabus
1st PUC English Chapter 13
Do Not Ask of Me, My Love
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Do not Ask of Me, My Love Comprehension I.
Question 1:
When does the speaker come to realize that his earlier thoughts about love were not true?
Answer:
The speaker becomes aware that love is merely an illusion when he observes the world around him and realizes that there are other sorrows beyond love.
Question 2:
‘That’s the way I imagined it to be’ suggests:
(a) The speaker’s understanding of love is simplistic.
(b) The speaker’s awareness of the realities of life.
(c) The speaker’s perception of love was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Answer:
(b) The speaker’s awareness of the realities of life.
Question 3:
‘For there are other sorrows in the world than love.’ Here, ‘sorrows’ refers to:
(a) The suffering caused by love.
(b) The hardships brought about by poverty and lack of resources.
(c) The pain arising from envy and jealousy.
Answer:
(b) The hardships brought about by poverty and lack of resources.
Question 4:
‘You are beautiful still, my love.’ In this line, the speaker conveys:
(a) His loyalty and commitment to his love.
(b) His inability to give the same level of undivided attention as before.
(c) His concerns with other matters in life taking precedence over love.
Answer:
(a) His loyalty and commitment to his love.
Do not Ask of Me, My Love Comprehension II.
Question 1:
What does the line ‘those dark and brutal curses of countless centuries’ suggest?
Answer:
The phrase ‘those dark and brutal curses of countless centuries’ refers to the long history of colonial rule that lasted for over four centuries. During this period, people struggled to meet their basic needs and were unable to express love for others because of the overwhelming burden they bore. The colonizers showed no mercy, even towards women and children, and killed many innocent people.
Mass starvation plagued the land as there wasn’t enough food for survival. The oppressive authority of the colonial rulers led to the deaths of countless individuals, whose bodies piled up like mountains. Diseases spread rampantly, with festering wounds symbolizing the suffering endured by the people.
Question 2:
What harsh realities of life have drawn the speaker’s attention much more than the beauty of his beloved?
Answer:
The speaker became more concerned with the harsh realities of life than with his beloved’s beauty. His people lived under the oppressive rule of powerful colonial forces, enduring immense suffering. Dead bodies were a common sight, even in marketplaces, and these grim realities gave rise to widespread diseases. Witnessing such pain and sorrow among his native people deeply impacted the speaker, compelling him to shift his focus from personal love to the struggles of his community.
Question 3:
What transformation in the perception of love do you see in the poem?
Answer:
In the poem, love undergoes a significant transformation. Initially, love brought brightness, youthfulness, and a sense of eternal spring to the speaker’s life, overshadowing other sorrows. At that time, he was unaware of the suffering of his people. However, as he grew more conscious of the social and political issues surrounding him, his love evolved. It became a driving force, channelling his energy into addressing the struggles of his nation. His loyalty to the cause of his people turned him into a selfless hero, deeply concerned with alleviating their pain.
Do not Ask of Me, My Love Comprehension III.
Question 1:
At the end of the poem, we feel, ‘the speaker does not love his beloved less, but the suffering humanity more.’ Do you agree?
Answer:
Yes, the statement, ‘the speaker does not love his beloved less, but the suffering humanity more,’ holds true. In the latter part of the poem, the speaker’s perspective shifts from personal love to a broader concern for societal issues.
He becomes deeply affected by the plight of his country, which was struggling under oppression and lacked freedom. Witnessing the suffering of the people, who were brutally mistreated and killed by foreign rulers, compels the speaker to focus on the injustices they faced. He criticizes the barbaric actions of the colonizers and advocates for change, demonstrating his growing compassion for humanity.
Question 2:
Many critics have suggested that in this poem, ‘the beloved’ symbolizes not just a lover but the speaker’s country and sense of nationalism. With this interpretation, does the poem read differently?
Answer:
Yes, with this interpretation, the poem takes on a deeper meaning. The speaker’s love extends beyond personal affection to symbolize his devotion to his country. His patriotism is a central theme, as he expresses deep concern for his people, who endured immense suffering under foreign rule.
Instead of focusing on personal emotions, the speaker shifts his attention to the greater sorrows of the world, emphasizing the struggles of his nation. He emerges as someone who resonates with the collective pain of his people and seeks to bring freedom and prosperity to his country. This interpretation highlights the speaker’s transformation into a socially aware individual driven by a sense of duty and nationalism.
Do not Ask of Me, My Love Additional Question and Answer:
Question 1:
What kind of life did the speaker live in the past?
Answer:
In the past, the speaker lived a life full of brightness, youthfulness, and beauty. During that time, the sorrow of love outweighed all other concerns, and his entire focus was on his beloved, disregarding everything else.
Question 2:
What does the poet consider to be vain?
Answer:
According to the poet, everything else seemed meaningless except for the beauty of his beloved’s eyes, which he valued above all.
Question 3:
Why does the poet feel helpless?
Answer:
The poet feels helpless because he has come to realize that there are greater sorrows and joys in the world beyond love, which now demand his attention.
Question 4:
“You’re beautiful still, my love.” This line indicates that he:
(a) Still deeply cares for his beloved.
(b) Prioritizes his love for his country.
(c) Is more focused on the greater sorrows of the world than love.
Answer:
(c) Is more focused on the greater sorrows of the world than love.
Summary of *Do Not Ask of Me, My Love* by Faiz Ahmed Faiz*
Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry reflects his remarkable ability to view life in its entirety. Love, often celebrated as a beautiful and transcendent emotion, is explored by many poets. However, Faiz approaches it from a different perspective, showing that love cannot exist in isolation from the world’s harsh realities.
In this poem, the poet reminisces about a past love, a time when life was youthful, vibrant, and full of promise. He recalls the intensity of his affection, where the sorrow of love seemed like the greatest pain. His beloved’s eyes were mesmerizing, yet, in the larger scheme of life, they appeared to be insignificant. When she was with him, he felt as though he owned the entire world, though he realized that this was merely an illusion.
The poet’s perspective shifts as he reflects on the suffering caused by war, where countless lives were lost, blood flowed freely, and festering wounds symbolized humanity’s despair. He comes to understand that the world carries sorrows far greater than personal love, such as oppression, injustice, and the struggles of the masses.
The poem also hints at the joy found in political activism and solidarity, suggesting these as broader and deeper expressions of love. Despite this realization, the repeated use of “my love” in the final lines reveals the poet’s lingering attachment to his former happiness. Ultimately, the poem conveys the burden of embracing responsibility and the inner conflict of leaving behind personal joy to confront the harsh realities of life.