Contents
Paragraph Answer Questions (Section – A, Q.No. 5, Marks: 4)
Question 1.
The young man feels that the five boons are not gifts, but merely lendings. Justify his opinion with reference to his experiences?
Answer:
Mark Twain is the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. The world celebrates him as an eminent humourist and a great writer. The present story, “The Five Boons of Life” present his pessimistic view of life. In the story, a fairy offers a young man a boon.
The fairy asks him to choose from “Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasures and Death”. She warns him that only one of those five boons is really precious. The youth chooses ‘pleasures’ first. He very soon realises that each pleasure is followed by pain. Next he chooses ‘Love’ that ends him in grief. ‘Fame’ leads him into ‘envy and pity’. ‘Wealth’ throws him into poverty. So, he rightly feels that they are not boons but mere lendings.
Question 2.
Every time the youth chooses a gift, the fairy expresses her dissatisfaction with her gestures. Comment?
Answer:
Mark Twain’s story, “The Five Boons of Life” offers us a valuable lesson. It highlights the need to choose right. The fairy in the story advises the youth to select a boon. She tells him that of the five boons “Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasures and Death” only one is precious.
But, each time the youth makes a wrong choice. The fairy expresses her displeasure. Once, her eyes are filled with tears. Yet again, she sighs deeply. At another time, she asks him to use his wisdom. But the youth repeats the same mistake. The fairy here represents an opportunity. Opportunities knock our doors often. It is our responsibility to use that chance aptly. Here, the youth’s failure presents a lesson to us.
Question 3.
“The years have taught you wisdom . surely it must be so”, remarked the fairy. Is she right ? Explain?
Answer:
The short story “The Five Boons of Life” is a bundle of boons in learning. Mark Twain shows us how difficult it is to select from among options. The story also exposes the deceptive nature of appearances. The fairy presents to the youth her five boons. They are : “Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasures and Death”.
She asks him to be careful in his selection. She adds that only one of them is valuable. The youth falters and chooses ‘Pleasures’. He regrets his choice. Then he opts for ‘Love’. He feels sad about his wrong decision. Then, the fairy says that years must have taught him wisdom. Yes, experience is the best teacher. But the youth stays a bad learner. So, he hasn’t picked up any wisdom.
Question 4.
What are the thoughts in the mind of the youth when he chooses wealth? What is the result ?
Answer:
“The Five Boons of Life”, by Mark Twain, presents a philosophical approach to life. It shows us how foolish we are in our priorities at times. The youth stands for man’s follies. He gets a chance, from a fairy to choose from ‘Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasures and Death’. He is led by false appearances.
The fairy’s warning fails to correct him. He chooses ‘Pleasures’ first. He soon realises how painful those pleasures are! He than opts for ‘Love’. He understands how grief follows love. Then, he goes for Fame. Again, it proves to be a wrong choice. Then he thinks ‘Wealth’ will make him happy. He plans to spend, shine, and feed his hungry heart with his mockers envy. He thinks he can buy everything the earth can offer. He is wrong, once again.
The Five Booms of Life Summary in English
Samuel Langhorne Clemens is popularly known by his pen name Mark Twain. He was an American writer, humonist and lecturer. He is rightly called the father of American literature. His short story ‘The Five Boons of Life’ is a parable with his characteristic twist at the end.
The theme of the story is the deceiving nature of human life. This is enhanced through the motifs of Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasure and Death. These five metaphorical gifts are actualley five human experiences which are more or less universal. The story conveys the pessimistic message of the writer that there is nothing pure in life. Every good thing one experiences is showed its reverse. According to him, Death is the only eternal truth which becomes a gift when one transcends the fear of death.
In the story a fairy comes to a youth and grants him permission to choose one of her five gifts. Pleasure, Love, Fame, Wealth and Death. The fairy also warns him that only one of these gifts is truly valuable. So, he should choose wisely. First, he chooses pleasure. But soon he comes to realize this gift is transcient and often followed by pain. Afterwords, he chooses love.
But when the fairy returns he is about to bury a loved one and has corne to realize that love also brings grief with it. His third choice is fame. Yet once gain is disappointed. He only gets to enjoy fame for a brief time, before he becomes the target of enjoy and calumny. On having chosen wealth later to deride his detractors, he becomes a pauper Finally, he seeks for death realizing that he has nothing in life to love for. But the fairy has already given her gift of death to a child leaving the man in a miserable state. Thus the man endsup seeing what he thought are great gifts are actually mere lendings.
The fairy offers many warnings to the man about choosing wisely and has the expressions of disapproval when the man chooses incorrectly. But he focuses on himself and not on the advice from the gift giver. Selfishness, desire to get ahead be the best, have the best are still issues facing man even today.
Meanings and Explanations
fairy (n) / feari / (ఫెఅరి ) (disyllabic ) = a creature with magic powers: మంత్రశక్తులు కల ఒక, परी
wary (adj) /weəri/ (వెఅరి) (disyllabic) = careful; cautious : చాలా జాగ్రత్తగా, चौकस
consider (v) /kǝnsıdə(r)/ (కన్ సీడ(ర్)) (trisyllabic) = think about carefully : జాగ్రత్తగా ఆలోచించు, विचार करना
sought (v-past tense of ‘seek’) /so:t/ (సోట్) (monosyllabic) = looked for; wanted; కోరుకొనెను, इच्छा
delight (n) /dılart/ (డిలైట్) (disyllabic) = joy; a feeling of great pleasure: అమిత ఆనందము
vain (adj) /vein/ (వెఇన్) (monosyllabic) useless : నిరుపయోగమైన , व्यर्थ
mock (v) /mok/ (మొక్) (monosyllabic) = laugh at : హేళనచేయు, हंसी उड़ाना, अपहास करना
precious (adj) /prefas/ (ప్రెషన్ ) (disyllabic) = rare and worth a lot; valuable : అత్యంత విలువైన, అరుదైన, उपयोगी, मूल्यवान
coffin (n) /kofm/ (కోఫిన్) (disyllabic) = a box in which a dead body is placed: శవపేటిక, ताबूत
commune (v) /kamju:n/ (కొమ్యూన్) (disyllabic) = converse; talk : సంభాషించు; మాట్లాడు, सम्भाषण करना
desolation (n) /desəleisrən/ (డెసలెఇషన్) (polysyllabic-4 syllables) = destruction of inhabitants : మరణము; అంతము, कथम
treacherous (adj) /tretfǝrǝs/ (ట్రెచరస్) (trisyllabic) = deceitful: మోసపోటిత, विश्वासघाती
curse (v) /k3:s/ (క(ర్)స్) (monosyllabic) = to place a bane: శపించు, अभिशाप देना
reflect (v) /riflekt/ (రిప్లెక్ ట్) (disyllabic) = think carefully and deeply, జాగ్రత్తగా, లోతుగా ఆలోచించు , चिंतन करना
sigh (v) /sar/ (monosyllabic) breathe in an audible way to express disappointment : నిట్టూర్పు విడుచు, आह
solitary (adj) /splətri/ (సోలాట్రి) (trisyllabic) = alone; single :ఒంటరిగా, ఏకాంతంగా, अकेला
fading (v+ing = adj) /feidin/(ఫెఇడింగ్) (disyllabic) = disappearing slowly; నెమ్మదిగా అంతరించి పోతున్న; మసకబారిపోతున్న; పాలిపోతున్న
envy (n) /envi/ (ఎన్వి) (disyllabic) = the feeling of wanting to be in the same situation; jealousy : అసూయ; ఈర్ష్య, ईर्ष्याल
detraction (n) /dıtræktsən/ (డిట్ర్యాక్షన్ ) (trisyllabic) = taking away from: పక్కదారి పట్టించడం; మరోవైపు దృష్టి మరల్చడం
calumny (n) /kæləmni/ (క్యాలమ్మి) (trisyllabic) = lies that harm one’s reputation: ఎదుటి వారి ఖ్యాతిని చెడగొట్టే అబద్దములు, निन्दा करना
persecution (n) /p:(r)sıkju:sən/ (ప(ర్)సిక్యూషన్) (polysyllabic-4 syllables) someone physically or morally : భౌతికంగా, లేదా నైతికంగా అంతం చేయటము
derision (n) /dırızən/ (డిరిజన్) (trisyllabic) = laughter as a token of insult : అవమానకర; హేళనభరిత నవ్వు
funeral (n) /fju:nərəl/ (ఫ్యునరల్) (trisyllabic) = a ceremony to bury or cremate a dead person : అంత్యక్రియలు, अंत्येष्टि, शव यात्रा
renown (n) /rınaʊn/ (రినౌన్ ) (disyllabic) = fame and popularity : పేరు ప్రఖ్యాతలు, यश
contempt (n) /kǝntempt/ (కన్ టెమ్ ట్) (disyllabic) = hatred, ద్వేషము, अपमान
compassion (n) /kəmpæsən/ (కమ్ ఫ్యాషన్) (trisyllabic) = kindness and pity for the suffering: దయ; సానుభూతి, सहानुभूति
decay (n) /dıker/ (డికెఇ) (disyllabic) = destruction : నాశనం; అంతరించడము, हास होना
despair (v) /dispeɔ(r)/ (డిస్పెఅ(ర్)) (disyllabic) = give up; to be hopeless : చేతులెత్తివేయుట ప్రయత్నం ఆపుట; నిరాశలో మునిగిపోవుట
squander (v) /skwondə(r)/ (స్క్వన్ డ(ర్) (disyllabic) = spend carelessly: విచ్చలవిడిగా ఖర్చుపెట్టు, अपव्याय करना
dazzle (v) /dæzl/ (డ్యాజ్ ల్) (disyllabic) = shine brightly in an impressive way: ఆకట్టుకునేలా, यकार्याध करना
despiser (n) /dıspaızə(r)/ (డిస్పెజ(ర్) ) (trisyllabic) = one who criticizes and hates : విమర్శించి, ద్వేషించే వ్యక్తి
enchantment (n) /intsa:ntmǝnt/ (ఇన్ చాన్ ట్ మన్ ట్) (trisyllabic) = attraction; charm: ఆకర్షణ, అందము, आकर्षण
contentment (n) /kǝntentmǝnt/ (కన్ టెమ్ మన్ ట్) (trisyllabic) = satisfaction: సంతృప్తి , तृप्ति
deference (n) /defǝrǝns/ (డెఫరన్ స్ ) (trisyllabic) = respecting others’ views : ఇతరుల అభిప్రాయాలను గౌరవించటం
pinchbeck (adj) /pintsbek/ (పించ్ బెక్) (disyllabic) = spurious; artificial: నిజంకాని; కృత్రిమ
trivial (adj) /trivial/ (ట్రివి అల్ ) (trisyllabic) = ordinary; ignorable : అతి సాధారణమైన ; పట్టించుకోనవసరం లేని
furnish (v) /f3:(r)nıs/ (ఫ(ర్)నిష్) (disyllabic) = supply; give: అందించు
garret (n) /gærǝt/ (గ్యారట్) (disyllabic) = a dark, dirty and narrow room : ఇరుకుగా, మురికిగా, చీకటిగా ఉన్న గది
gaunt (adj) /gɔ:nt/ (గోన్ ట్) (monosyllabic) = very weak; old : చాలా నీరసంగా ఉన్న; ముసలి
wan (adj) /won/ (వోన్) (monosyllabic) = very tired; pale : బాగా అలిసిపోయిన; పాలిపోయిన
hollow-eyed (adj) /with eyes sunk : బాగా పీక్కుపోయిన కన్నులతో ఉన్న
gnaw (v) /nɔ:/ (వో) (monosyllabic) = bite : కొరుకుట
crust (n) /krast/ (క్రస్ట్ ) (monosyllabic) = harder part of bread: బాగా గట్టిగా ఉన్న బ్రెడ్ భాగము
mumble (v) /mɅmbǝl/ (మమ్ బల్) (disyllabic) = chew gently with lips closed: పెదవులు మూసుకొని నెమ్మదిగా నములు
gilded (adj) /gıldıd/ (గిల్డడ్) (disyllabic) = false : నిజముకాని; పై పూత పూసిన
wanton (adj) /wntən/ (వోన్ టన్) (disyllabic) = unruly : అదుపు చేయ వీలుకాని