English Notes Latest Questions

  1. ‘A Gorilla in the Guest Room’ written by Gerald Durrell in 1962 is about the relation between a gorilla named N’pongo and his caretaker Mr. Durrell. Only one problem is, he doesn’t have that much money on him at the moment. His wife tells him he was mad to accept the proposal in the first place sincRead more

    ‘A Gorilla in the Guest Room’ written by Gerald Durrell in 1962 is about the relation between a gorilla named N’pongo and his caretaker Mr. Durrell.

    Only one problem is, he doesn’t have that much money on him at the moment. His wife tells him he was mad to accept the proposal in the first place since he doesn’t have money and that gorilla may turn out to be a chimpanzee. But Mr. Durrell tells her that he’ll ask all the rich men to contribute for this to which his wife laughs saying no one will pay for it. Mr. Durrell rings one of his colleagues and asks him to send him a list of the richest men of that island. In about 30 minutes that colleague gives him a list.

    He rings up the first person who happens to accept the proposal and agrees to pay for a small portion. By lunchtime, he has collected two hundred pounds. The next person on the list is Major Domo. The name isn’t familiar to him so he doesn’t know what his reaction would be. But he’s shocked when the man agrees to pay thousand pounds for the gorilla.The main topic is of course their relationship but it has other parts as well; the way he has described the relationship of Nandy and N’pongo will make you roll on the floor laughing. It’s just adorable. At times he has also shown the kind of harsh treatment animals have to go through at human hands through Nandy’s character.

    See less
  1. N’pongo and Nandy were two gorillas brought to the Durrell home from Africa by Gerald Durrell. They were different from each other in many ways. N’pongo was a large and strong gorilla that was very protective of Nandy, a much smaller and timid gorilla. N’pongo was very brave and confident, while NanRead more

    N’pongo and Nandy were two gorillas brought to the Durrell home from Africa by Gerald Durrell. They were different from each other in many ways. N’pongo was a large and strong gorilla that was very protective of Nandy, a much smaller and timid gorilla. N’pongo was very brave and confident, while Nandy was shy and timid.

    The two gorillas had a very close relationship. N’pongo seemed to be the dominant one and was very protective of Nandy, often taking care of her and making sure she was safe. Nandy also seemed to look to N’pongo for protection and comfort, often taking solace in his arms. N’pongo was also very gentle with Nandy, often carrying her around and playing games with her. They seemed to have a strong bond, and N’pongo showed great affection for Nandy.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Nathu: Nathu is the protagonist of the story. He is a sweeper by profession. He works in the Pipalnagar bank. Sitaram: Sitaram is the son of a washerman. He plays a significant role in the story. Seth Govind Ram: He is the owner of the Pipalnagar bank. Mrs. Srivastava, Mrs. Bhushan, Mr. Bhushan, KamRead more

    • Nathu: Nathu is the protagonist of the story. He is a sweeper by profession. He works in the Pipalnagar bank.
    • Sitaram: Sitaram is the son of a washerman. He plays a significant role in the story.
    • Seth Govind Ram: He is the owner of the Pipalnagar bank.
    • Mrs. Srivastava, Mrs. Bhushan, Mr. Bhushan, Kamal Inshore, Deep Chand, Old Ganpat: All of them are the villagers of Pipalnagar.

    Summary of The Boy Who Broke the Bank

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The whole story is ironic because the boy for whom a bank collapses has no idea about why such a thing happens. He doesn’t even have a bank account. Though the collapsing of the bank may seem the best idea to the readers as this acts as a revenge to the bank’s ignorance towards Nathu’s struggle, itRead more

    The whole story is ironic because the boy for whom a bank collapses has no idea about why such a thing happens. He doesn’t even have a bank account. Though the collapsing of the bank may seem the best idea to the readers as this acts as a revenge to the bank’s ignorance towards Nathu’s struggle, it throws him in a more despicable condition. As the bank collapses, he loses his stable job and doesn’t even get his dues. His future remains the same as he belongs to the lower class background.

    Summary of The Boy Who Broke the Bank

    See less
  1. Introduction The Iliad is the story of Ilium or Troy, a rich trading city in Asia Minor near the narrow sea that leads from the Aegean to the Black Sea. This chapter narrates the scene of war between the Trojans and Greeks and how the victorious party ingeniously defeats their enemy.  A War for LoveRead more

    Introduction

    The Iliad is the story of Ilium or Troy, a rich trading city in Asia Minor near the narrow sea that leads from the Aegean to the Black Sea. This chapter narrates the scene of war between the Trojans and Greeks and how the victorious party ingeniously defeats their enemy. 

    A War for Love

    The Trojans were a smart community that had fortified their city by building a strong wall around it. Troy was well situated, both for commerce and agriculture. The Greeks waged a war with the Trojans to retaliate for the elopement of Paris and Helen. Paris was the Trojan prince, and Helen was the Greek Queen and wife of King Menelaus. Paris had brought her to Troy. The Greeks sailed to Troy and laid siege to the city. The Trojans, too, fought hard and the siege continued for ten long years. 

    There were daily conflicts between the two parties. On one hand, the Greeks were unable to capture the city, and on the other hand, the Trojans could not compel them to sail away. Great heroes from both sides were martyred. Hector, the defendant of Troy was alas assassinated by Achilles. Achilles, on the other hand, was murdered later by a poisoned arrow that pierced his heel, which was the only portion of his body that could be harmed. Later, Paris was assassinated, too, by a poisoned arrow. The Trojans were fed up with being cooped up in their city, while the Greeks yearned to return home. However, the fighting continued.

    Finally, Troy was captured, not by force, but by deception. Odysseus, ever clever, devised a strategy to achieve triumph. He planned to build a wooden horse, big enough to hide his strongest soldiers in it. They would burn their tents and pretend to sail to Greece. Then, they would return and attack while the Trojans slept. The wise Odysseus’ suggestion was followed by the Greek leaders. So a proficient engineer built a massive wooden horse, and the greatest heroes, Menelaus, Odysseus himself, and others entered in it, the architect himself being the last to enter, as he knew the secret of opening and closing the door. Only one man was left behind to persuade the Trojans to drag the horse into their city.

    A Pernicious Present

    The next day, the Trojans were beyond delighted to see the tents burned and shore deserted. They cried with joy and opened the city gates wide and free. As the people wandered on the free shore, they noticed the huge horse left behind. The crowd gathered around in astonishment and began to observe the masterpiece. They noticed a Greek with his hands tied together lying under it. On questioning the terrified man, after much persuasion and threatening, he revealed that the Greeks had built the horse as an offering to the God of the sea. He further elaborated that they wanted to sacrifice him too, but he escaped. 

    The man lied that the horse was built huge because it was too big to fit through their gate and the Greeks did not want the Trojans to take it into their city and steal the good luck. The Trojans oblivious to the Greek’s lethal plan and, too excited brought the horse into their city. Although their priest advised them not to, the Trojans still broke a part of their wall and brought the horse in. The Trojans feasted and rejoiced all day. After all of their revelry, they retired to their beds. However, that happy day was quickly followed by a night of terror and tragedy. 

    The Greek fleet that had anchored on a nearby island soon sailed back. The ship, which was Agamemnon’s, bore a red light high on its mast. This was the signal that the lone Greek left behind needed to alert the warriors in the horse. The side of the horse opened, the Greeks climbed out and opened the gates. The whole Greek army entered the sleeping city and without further ado set fire to houses and towers and palaces, and began to burn and kill. The sight of leaping flames and the screams of crying women overwhelmed Troy. 

    Many of the Trojans were killed before they could put on their armour. The Trojans battled valiantly, but it was all in vain. King Priam was killed along with his gallant sons and Hector’s family was taken as slaves. Their fate contrasted with Helen’s who was forgiven by Menelaus, as it was Aphrodite, a Greek goddess who deviated Helen from her family. Nothing remained of the strong, wealthy city that had resisted attack for ten years when daybreak came.

    Conclusion

    The story is an excellent example of a conniving victory but then again, is not everything fair in love and war? 

    See less
  1. Rani pour the curry into the cobra hole due to her fear. The curry was eaten by the cobra and fell in love with Rani. The curry has the magical root which has the power of falling in love with anyone.

    Rani pour the curry into the cobra hole due to her fear. The curry was eaten by the cobra and fell in love with Rani. The curry has the magical root which has the power of falling in love with anyone.

    See less
  1. On a snowy afternoon, Jo decided to go out and dig paths in the snow for Beth to walk in when the sun came out. The garden separates The Marches’ house which is an old and brown looking rather exposed and damaged that has lost its summer charm from Mr. Laurance’s luxurious mansion that yet seemed aRead more

    On a snowy afternoon, Jo decided to go out and dig paths in the snow for Beth to walk in when the sun came out. The garden separates The Marches’ house which is an old and brown looking rather exposed and damaged that has lost its summer charm from Mr. Laurance’s luxurious mansion that yet seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house with an old gentleman, his grandson and lots of servants as no children would be seen playing in their lawn nor any glimpse of warm smiling faces.

    Jo had long wanted to be friends with the Laurance boy only if she knew how to. For a long time, Jo had not seen Laurie and thought he must have gone away, when one day she spotted a brown face at an upper window, looking down into their garden, where Beth and Amy were snow-balling one another.

     Jo felt pity for the young boy and decides to throw a snowball on his window to grab his attention. Laurie admitted that he’s been sick with a cold, and he invited Jo to come over. While Jo went back to her house to inform her mother, Laurie on the other hand was super excited to have company for the first time and rushed to get ready and make his place tidy as Jo called him “a little gentleman “even when the place was spotless already.

     Jo arrives with an armful of offerings for Laurie that is love from her mother, blanc-mange (a type of custard) from Meg and Beth’s kittens as she thought they would be comforting. The kittens were just what he was missing which made him forget his shyness and became friends at once.

    Jo uncovered Meg’s blanc-mange which was surrounded by green leaves and scarlet flowers from Amy’s pet geranium for Laurie to have while having tea which would help him recover his sore throat. Laurie liked Jo’s company and wanted to talk to her more about her sisters which amusingly he already knew their names as he would often peep through their window to see them enjoy with each other as he did not have a mother or siblings. 

    Jo saw the loneliness and hunger for love and happiness in his eyes, she knew how rich she was in that matter and gladly shared it with Laurie and assured him that they would never draw the curtains and offered him to come over instead of peeping through his window as they will all make sure to keep him entertained with their company.

    Laurie’s Grandpa would allow him to go over to their place only if Jo’s mother asked him to, he is a kind old man who lives among his books, remains unbothered by the outside world, and lets Laurie do pretty much everything he wants to but is scared to let Laurie be bothered by strangers. Mrs. Brooke who is Laurie’s tutor doesn’t stay at his house which leaves him with no option but to spend time by himself.

    Jo feels bad for Laurie which makes him turn red but he is not offended by being accused of being shy as Jo had so much goodwill in her that he couldn’t get angry at her. Laurie changes the subject by asking if she liked her school and wanted to ask another but stopped as it wasn’t good manners to ask too many questions about people’s business.

    Seeing Laurie’s decency, she didn’t mind laughing about her Aunt March so she gave him a lively description of the fussy old lady, her fat dog, the parrot that talked Spanish, and the library where she enjoyed. Laurie loved the conversation and laughed so hard that even the servants peeped to see what the matter was. 

    Jo found that the love for books is one common interest that they both have and Laurie has read even more than her. He took her to his grandpa’s library which she admired and gave her a tour of the house. Jo pretended that she was not afraid of anything but deep down Laurie’s grandpa can be an exception as when he arrived, she admitted that she might be “a little bit afraid of him”. 

    Laurie went away when Jo diverted herself in her way and when the door opened which she didn’t notice, without turning said decidedly “I’m sure now that I shouldn’t be afraid of him, for he’s got kind eyes, though his mouth is grim, and he looks as if he had a tremendous will of his own. He isn’t as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.” Turns out that it was Laurie’s grandpa standing behind her. Jo’s heart began to beat uncomfortably fast yet she managed to please the old gentleman with her conversation.

    See less