Extra Question And Answers of An Elementary Classroom in a Slum CBSE CLASS 12 ENGLISH CORE

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1. Tell us about the children of the classroom.

Ans. The children of the classroom were mostly malnourished. The tall girl of the classroom is there with her head weighed-down. She is burdened with family pressures and poverty. Another boy, who is as thin as the paper has got twisted bones. It is being inherited from her father. His eyes are bulged out like that of rats. He has been reciting the gnarled disease sitting in his desk in spite of his lessons. Another sweet and young boy at the back who is unnoticed by others have sparkling eyes with lots of dreams. He is as lively as that of the squirrels and is not interested in staying inside the classroom.

2. Tell us about the condition of the classroom.

Ans. The walls of classroom in the slum are pale and off-white in colour. The various donated items are decorated in the wall. These include a picture of Shakespeare, a picture containing building with domes, world maps and beautiful valleys. These are irrelevant with respect to the present conditions of the children. Shakespeare has nothing to do with them. The maps doesn’t signify their world.

3. What was the ‘paper-seeming boy’ suffering from?

Ans. The ‘paper-seeming boy’ was suffering from twisted bones which he had inherited from his father. He goes on reciting this gnarled disease in spite of his lessons.

4. According to the slum dwellers, which was their map and why?

Ans. According to the slum dwellers, the window is their map and not the world map. The world map symbolises the prosperous elite society. On the other hand, the slum dwellers live in such a place where the environment is dusty and foggy. They live far away from rivers, capes and even stars of words. They are mostly malnourished and poverty-stricken.

5. Describe the environment in which the slum children live?

Ans. The slum is dusty and foggy. It consists of narrow streets and the dark sky. These are far away from rivers and other sources of beauty.

6. What are catacombs?

Ans. Catacombs are the underground graveyards.

7. Why Shakespeare is regarded as wicked?

Ans. Shakespeare is irrelevant to those slum children. It was donated by some people. The schools do not provide quality education to the students. Moreover, Shakespeare’s writings are related to the rich and beautiful world and this tempts them to steal.

8. Why are the windows considered to be their world rather than the maps?

Ans. The world map is indeed a bad example for the slum children. To the slum children, the windows are their world as through the windows they can see the slum and it is thus their map. The world map portrays the world of the rich and prosperous elites. This world is beautiful unlike the slums and therefore tempts them to engage in criminal activities. They reside in their ‘cramped holes’.

9. What is the theme of the poem ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’?

Ans. The poem ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’ by Stephen Spender is based on the theme of social injustice caused due to various social and economical inequalities. This poem portrays the differences between two worlds: one is the world of the rich elites and the other is the world of the economically backward society.

10. What message is being conveyed over here?

Ans. The message that is being conveyed through this poem is that we should forget the differences among us and help those people to uplift their condition. The government should take measures to ensure quality food, education and health.

11. How can the situation of the children be improved?

Ans. According to the poet, the situation of the children can be improved by providing them with quality education. The government should take proper steps to ensure that the slum children are provided with proper educational facilities.

Extra Questions (Long Answer Type)

1. Why are Shakespeare referred to ‘wicked’ and map a ‘bad example’?

Ans. The poem “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum” is written by Stephen Spender. The poem refers Shakespeare to be ‘wicked’. Shakespeare is irrelevant to those slum children. It was donated by some people. The schools do not provide quality education to the students. Moreover, Shakespeare’s writings are related to the rich and beautiful world and this tempts them to steal. In those schools, quality education is not being imparted.

On the other hand, the window is their map and not the world map. The world map symbolises the prosperous elite society. On the other hand, the slum dwellers live in such a place where the environment is dusty and foggy. They live far away from rivers, capes and even stars of words. They are mostly malnourished and poverty-stricken.

2. How irony is being catered in the poem “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum”?

Ans. The poem “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum” by Stephen Spender caters irony in several ways. The poem deals with social injustice and economic inequalities. The children sitting in the classroom are malnourished. The tall girl of the classroom is there with her head weighed-down. She is burdened with family pressures and poverty.

Another boy, who is as thin as paper has got twisted bones. It is being inherited from her father. His eyes are bulged out like that of rats. He has being reciting the gnarled disease sitting in his desk in spite of his lessons. Another sweet and young boy at the back who is unnoticed by others, have sparkling eyes with lots of dreams. He is as lively as that of the squirrels and is not interested in staying inside the classroom.

The classroom is being decorated with several items that are ironical as well. The walls of the classroom are decorated with the pictures of ‘Shakespeare’, ‘building with domes’, ‘world maps’ and beautiful valleys which were being donated by some people. All of these are irrelevant to their present situations. They are malnourished as well as poverty-stricken.

They have nothing to do with those pictures as those symbolises big cities and rich society which is in stark contrast to their situations. To them, Shakespeare is a very bad example and an irrelevant one. Moreover, the world symbolizes the map of the rich elites which is not their map. The picture depicts the scenery of the beautiful Tyrolese valley which again symbolises prosperity and splendour. On the other hand, the slums are dusty with narrow streets. The sky is filled with dust and is dark and foggy. These are far away from rivers and other sources of beauty.

3. Give a description of the children sitting in the classroom.

Ans. The poem “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum” is written by Stephen Spender. The children of the classroom were mostly malnourished. The tall girl of the classroom is there with her head weighed-down. She is burdened with family pressures and poverty. Another boy, who is as thin as paper has got twisted bones. It is being inherited from her father. His eyes are bulged out like that of rats. He has being reciting the gnarled disease sitting in his desk in spite of his lessons. Another sweet and young boy at the back who is unnoticed by others, have sparkling eyes with lots of dreams. He is as lively as that of the squirrels and is not interested in staying inside the classroom.