10std English Question and Answer Karnataka State Board Syllabus
Class 10 2nd Language English Poem Chapter 8
Off to Outer Space Tomorrow Morning
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Comprehension I: “Off to Outer Space Tomorrow Morning
Question 1.
Pick out two phrases from line 1 which suggest the final moments of the launch of the rocket.
Answer:
• “You can start the Count Down”
• “You can take a last look”
Question 2.
With what feelings is the speaker flying out of the earth?
a) despair
b) lack of confidence
c) apprehension
d) doubt about his return to the earth
e) ………………………………………………….
Choose your response from the ones given above or give your own. Say which line or lines in the first stanza support your response.
Answer:
• (d) Doubt about his return to the Earth
• (e) A sense of detachment and isolation
• Supporting lines from stanza 1: “You can cross out my name from the telephone book”
This suggests that the speaker is aware that he may not return and is detaching from life on Earth.
Question 3.
Reason for saying “calendars and clocks” are useless in space (Stanza 2):
Answer:
In space, time is not measured in the usual way. The presence of daylight or darkness is controlled artificially, so the natural concepts of day and night lose significance.
Question 4.
The expression “winter under lock,” means, that in space, a) there is no change of seasons.
b) seasons change frequently.
c) weather is chilly always.
d) weather is very hot always.
Answer:
Meaning of the expression “winter under lock” (Stanza 2):
• (a) There is no change of seasons.
• Since space has no atmosphere or seasonal cycles like Earth, winter and other seasons do not occur in the same way.
Question 5.
The speaker has the feeling that he is imprisoned. What might have been the reason for him to have such a feeling? ( Read lines 9 to 12)
Answer:
The speaker feels isolated because there will be no visitors, no letters, and no communication. The line “In solitary confinement was as complete as any gaol” compares space travel to being in a prison cell, emphasizing loneliness and separation from society.
Question 6.
The speaker says, “Teacups circling round me like the planets round the sun.” Why does it happen only in space and not on the earth?
Answer:
This happens due to microgravity (weightlessness) in space. Unlike on Earth, where gravity pulls objects downward, in space, objects float freely. The tea cups move around the speaker just like planets orbit the sun because there is no force keeping them fixed in place.
Question 7.
Read stanza 5, and identify the indirect comparison (metaphor) in it.
Answer:
Indirect comparison (metaphor) in stanza 5:
• “Tracking through your telescope my upward shooting star”
• Here, the speaker compares himself to a shooting star, symbolizing his journey into space and his rapid departure from Earth.
Question 8.
The speaker in line (19) says” But you needn’t think I’ll give a damn for you.” This is the same as saying
a) I don’t think I will have time to think about you.
b) I don’t think I will have any time to think about you.
Answer:
The correct answer is:
(a) I don’t think I will have time to think about you.
The speaker suggests that once he is in space, he will be too occupied or detached to care about what happens on Earth.
Read and appreciate: “Off to Outer Space Tomorrow Morning
Question 1.
The tone of the poem is one of
a) mourning [ ]
b) jubilation [ ]
c) disappointment [ ]
d) sadness [ ]
e) humour
f) anger
g) protest [ ]
You may think more than one is appropriate. Mark (✔) if you think so, and mark (X) if you do not. Justify your choice in your group.
Answer:
The tone of the poem is:
• (e) Humour (✔) → The poem has a light-hearted and playful tone, as the speaker jokes about floating tea cups and leaving behind daily routines.
• (f) Anger (✔) → There is an undertone of frustration in lines like “you and every soul on earth can go and blow your top,” showing a sense of defiance.
• (g) Protest (✔) → The speaker protests against the limitations of life on Earth, expressing a desire for freedom and solitude in space.
Not appropriate:
• (a) Mourning (✘) → The poem does not express grief or sorrow.
• (b) Jubilation (✘) → While there is excitement, it is not pure joy.
• (c) Disappointment (✘) → The speaker is not expressing regret or letdown.
• (d) Sadness (✘) → Though the poem mentions isolation, the speaker does not seem deeply sad.
Question 2.
Do you think that the repetition of the last line of every stanza is intentional? What might have been the purpose behind it? What does it suggest? Sing it aloud and try to find out the answer.
Answer:
• Yes, the repetition of “For I’m off to Outer Space tomorrow morning” is intentional.
• It emphasizes the finality of the speaker’s departure and reinforces the excitement and determination behind the journey.
• When sung aloud, it gives a rhythmic, almost chant-like quality, making it sound like a farewell anthem.
Question 3.
The poem is not full of figures of speech. Yet the poem has two similes. Pick them.
Answer:
Two similes in the poem:
• “Teacups circling around me like the planets around the Sun.”
• “Tracking through your telescope my upward shooting star.”
Question 4.
Pick some instances of daily routine mentioned in the poem. Do you think the speaker doesn’t want to do these things?
Answer:
Instances of daily routine in the poem:
• “There won’t be any calendar, there won’t be any clock;” (Time-related routines)
• “I’ll doze when I’m sleepy and wake without a knock;” (Sleeping schedule)
• “I’ll be writing no letters; I’ll be posting no mail.” (Communication)
• Does the speaker want to avoid these things? Yes, the poem suggests that the speaker is relieved to escape these daily routines, as he enjoys the idea of freedom in space.
Question 5.
A group of rhyming words has been given to you. Write down the remaining ones. You may practice them with proper pronunciation with the help of your teacher.
Look, hook, book.
Answer:
More rhyming words to complete the set:
• Look, hook, book, took, cook, nook
Question 6.
The rhyme scheme in the poem is a a a b. Do you find any other rhyme scheme in the pattern of the poem? Look at the last line of all the stanzas and find it out.
Answer:
The primary rhyme scheme in the poem is a a a b, where the first three lines of each stanza rhyme, and the last line remains the same.
However, the repetition of “For I’m off to Outer Space tomorrow morning.” in every stanza acts like a refrain, which adds a lyrical effect to the poem.
“Off to Outer Space Tomorrow Morning”
Summary
The poem “Off to Outer Space Tomorrow Morning” by Norman Nicholson is a humorous and thought-provoking reflection on space travel and isolation. The speaker, an astronaut, announces their departure from Earth, emphasizing that they will be completely cut off from human society. They instruct others to remove their name from the telephone book, highlighting the finality of their journey.
In space, the usual concepts of time, such as calendars and clocks, become meaningless, as the astronaut can sleep and wake at will. The environment is vastly different, with weightlessness causing tea cups to float like planets orbiting the Sun. Despite being observed from Earth through telescopes and television, the astronaut expresses indifference towards people left behind, even using a rebellious tone at times.
The poem conveys a sense of freedom and detachment, as the speaker enjoys escaping earthly routines. However, there is also an underlying loneliness, comparing their confinement in space to solitary imprisonment. The poem’s repetitive last line in each stanza reinforces the certainty and finality of their departure.
Overall, the poem blends humour, defiance, and a hint of melancholy, exploring themes of adventure, isolation, and the contrast between human connections and the vast emptiness of space.