2nd PUC English Question and Answer Karnataka State Board Syllabus
2nd PUC English Chapter 7
The Gardener
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The Gardener Comprehension I.
Question 1.
What qualities of the old man impressed the narrator?
Answer:
The narrator was impressed by the old man’s appearance and presence. He was tall, with greyish hair, a long beak-like nose, and strong, muscular arms. His eyes were filled with a mix of strange memories and native intelligence, which added to his intriguing personality.
Question 2.
Is it a significant factor that the old man came to the garden after walking hundreds of miles?
Answer:
Yes, it is significant that the old man had walked hundreds of miles to reach the farm. Despite having once experienced fame and recognition, he now sought a simpler life, indicating a desire for peace and humility after a life of accomplishments.
Question 3.
The owner of the garden became lethargic because
(a) the income of the garden improved dramatically.
(b) he had become dependent upon the gardener.
(c) there was nothing much left for the owner to do.
Answer:
(c) there was nothing much left for the owner to do.
Question 4.
Why did the owner’s wife start worrying about the strange ways of her husband?
Answer:
The owner’s wife became concerned because her husband grew increasingly lazy after the old man arrived. She was uncertain whether the old man’s hard work was beneficial or harmful, as it left the owner with nothing to do. Consequently, he began wasting his time, falling into bad company, and developing harmful habits, which worried her deeply.
Question 5.
When did the old man decide to narrate his story?
Answer:
The old man decided to narrate his story after noticing that the owner had become lazy and neglected his garden. Understanding the owner’s wife’s concerns about her husband’s decline, he chose to share his own experiences with her.
Question 6.
Tamanna considers his rival, Sangoji/Basavaiah, an important possession because?
(a) competition helps in the development of an individual.
(b) Sangoji/Basavaiah leads a more colourful life.
(c) rivalry offers new possibilities of life for him.
Answer:
(c) rivalry offers new possibilities of life for him.
Question 7.
“No, his name was not Sangoji, but Basavaiah,” told the old man because?
(a) he had forgotten the name.
(b) he wanted to keep the identity of his rival a secret.
(c) he was fictionalizing his past.
Answer:
(c) he was fictionalizing his past.
Question 8.
What unique strategy was evolved by Tammanna to annihilate Basaviah?
Answer:
Tamanna thought of a novel method of punishing Basavaiah, which was death. He felt that there was no end to the rivalry if Tammanna continued to improve his popularity and property. So, he stopped composing ballads on Basavaiah stopped singing them and went away. So Basavaiah, not having any reason to take revenge against Tammanna stopped his rivalry. He was morally defeated.
Question 9.
Why does Basavaiah start inviting scholars and musicians to his place?
Answer:
Basavaiah wanted to take revenge against Tammanna as he felt that his house was empty without the books of Tammanna. So, he invited scholars and musicians to his place to praise him that he was not inferior to Tammanna.
Question 10.
What was Basavaiah’s ray of hope in his attempt to outwit Tamanna?
Answer:
When Tammanna fell ill, the news was passed on to Basavaiah. Basavaiah thought that Tammanna would not be able to compose ballads and indirectly he would be a winner. Tammanna’s disease was a happy message to Basavaiah.
Question 11.
Tamanna decides to give up everything and leave the place because
(a) he sees no purpose in living there.
(b) he wants to create an impression that he is dead.
(c) he wants to put an end to the rivalry.
Answer:
(c) he wants to put an end to the rivalry.
Question 12.
Tamanna forgets his songs and ballads because
(a) he finds them futile.
(b) he doesn’t need them anymore.
(c) he avenges himself.
Answer:
(a) he finds them futile.
The Gardener Comprehension II.
Question 1.
How did the owner’s life change after the arrival of the old man?
Answer:
After the arrival of the old man, Tamanna, the owner’s life changed significantly. Tamanna was a diligent worker who took excellent care of the garden, effectively putting an end to the thefts and addressing the workers’ issues. As a result, the workers became more motivated and worked hard alongside Tamanna. Gradually, the owner’s income increased, but this newfound success led him to become lazy.
Question 2.
What advice did the supporters of Tammanna give him for getting his land back?
Answer:
Tammanna’s supporters advised him to take legal action by going to court to reclaim his land. They also suggested that he either enlist the help of the police or hire some ruffians to confront Basavaiah directly.
Question 3.
How did Tammanna react to Basavaiah’s encroachment on his land?
Answer:
When Basavaiah attacked Tammanna and encroached upon his land, Tammanna responded by expressing his frustrations and bitter experiences through ballads. He began to compose and sing these songs, denouncing Basavaiah and highlighting his wrongful actions.
Question 4.
How did Basavaiah try to overcome his humiliation?
Answer:
To overcome his humiliation, Basavaiah became greedy and focused on accumulating wealth. He built a lavish mansion, hired people to praise him, and adorned himself with ornaments and precious stones as status symbols, trying to elevate his social standing.
The Gardener Comprehension III.
Question 1.
The rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah keeps moving from the visible domain to the invisible. Comment.
Answer:
At first, Tammanna and Basavaiah competed for tangible possessions like ornaments, jewels, and land. However, their rivalry evolved into deep psychological hatred when Tammanna began composing ballads that criticized Basavaiah, shifting the conflict from a visible struggle for material wealth to an invisible battle of animosity and emotional strife.
Question 2.
How does Tammanna adopt a counter-strategy to challenge the material wealth of Basavaiah?
Answer:
Tammanna devised a counter-strategy by shifting his focus away from accumulating material wealth. Instead, he began composing and singing ballads, recognizing that this artistic expression was something Basavaiah could not compete with, despite his material riches.
Question 3.
A manipulator like Tammanna turns reflective towards the end of his life. What does this tell us about human nature?
Answer:
Human nature often desires what it lacks. Initially, Tammanna sought material gains, but after losing them, he turned towards spirituality. This reflects the lesson that humans must confront and navigate challenges. Healthy competition is fair and acceptable; without it, life can become monotonous and unfulfilling, leading to a sense of stagnation.
Question 4.
How does the reference to Russia and America provide another dimension to the story?
Answer:
The reference to Russia and America suggests that when one conflict ends, new tensions often arise elsewhere. Just as Russia sought new wars after halting its aggression towards America, humans also struggle with boredom and silence, driving them to seek competition and conflict. This reflects a fundamental aspect of human nature: the perpetual desire for engagement and rivalry.
Question 5.
Observe how the story employs multiple narratives. How does this technique unveil the mystery of human relationships?
Answer:
Change is a universal constant that humans must accept to survive. If they fail to adapt to their circumstances, they risk being left behind. This concept aligns with Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. Therefore, understanding the multiple narratives in the story reveals how individuals navigate their relationships, highlighting the necessity of adaptation in the complex web of human connections.
The Gardener Additional Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Tamanna’s arrival makes the owner’s wife be
(a) free
(b) panic
(c) confused
Answer:
(c) confused
Question 2.
The Garden owner’s wife was worried because?
(a) old man was always working in the garden
(b) old man lessens the burden of the owner
(c) owner became lazy
Answer:
(c) owner became lazy
Question 3.
Where did the narrator meet Thammanna?
Answer:
Chennarayapatna
Question 4.
Tamanna’s rival is
(a) Basavaiah
(b) Owner
(c) Owner’s wife
Answer:
(a) Basavaiah
The Gardener Summary
The lesson “The Gardener” is by P. Lankesh. It tells the story of an old man the author met in Chennarayapatna, who had travelled from far away to work in the garden. He was knowledgeable in agriculture and skilled in managing workers. As the old man improved the garden, the owner began to feel relaxed and became lazy. The garden’s profits increased, and petty thefts diminished. However, the owner started neglecting the garden and fell into bad habits, which worried his wife, leaving her uncertain about the old man’s presence.
Understanding her concerns, the old man recounted a story about two rivals in a village, Tamanna and Basavaiah. Tamanna owned 1,000 acres, while Basavaiah had 800 acres. Jealous of Tamanna’s success, Basavaiah attacked and forcibly took 200 acres from him. Initially, Tamanna sought to reclaim his land through various legal and forceful means, but all his efforts were in vain.
Frustrated, Tamanna began composing ballads that highlighted Basavaiah’s misdeeds, gaining fame in surrounding villages. Unable to tolerate this, Basavaiah resorted to paying people to praise him, but it was futile. Eventually, Tamanna recognized the pointlessness of the rivalry, stopped writing ballads, and considered death as a final solution to end their conflict.
He left the village, and without meaningful competition, Basavaiah became bored and eventually faded away. Tamanna, too, forgot his songs and became insignificant. The old man then revealed that he was none other than Tamanna and urged the owner’s wife to let go of the story. The overarching message of the tale is that individuals must adapt to their circumstances; otherwise, they risk not surviving in the world.