Poem – 2

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

In this post, we have given the Important Questions of Poem 2 “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum”. It is the 2nd chapter of Class 12th English .

Board	CBSE Board, UP Board, JAC Board, HBSE Board, UBSE Board, PSEB Board, RBSE Board
Textbook	NCERT
Class	Class 12
Subject	English Flamingo
Chapter no.	Poem 2
Chapter Name	An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum
Category	Class 12 English Important Questions
Medium	English

Poem 2 An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

Qes 1 ‘At the back of the dim class …’ Why is the classroom dim ?

Ans: It is dim as it is poorly lit and in a miserable condition.

Qes 2. What is the theme of the poem?

Ans: The poem focuses on the theme of social injustice and inequalities. The poet presents it by talking of the two different worlds – the rich and the civilized and the world of the poor and the deprived.

Qes 3 What does the poet tries to depict in the poem?

Ans: The poet tries to depict the pathetic and miserable picture of the elementary classroom in a slum. It is poorly lit and needs repair. The children attending it are in a pitiable and miserable condition.

Qes 4 Do these children have dreams?

Ans: Yes, some of them do have dreams. A sweet young boy is sitting at the back of the dim classroom dreaming of a squirrel’s game.

Qes 5 What has been said about their future?

Ans: Their future is painted with fog. Their future is not clear.There is no one to guide them.

Qes 6 Why is the map a bad example?

Ans: The children have never gone out of the slum. Their life is in the slum. Therefore, the map on the wall of the classroom is a bad example since they cannot understand it.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Qes 1 What is the message that Stephen Spender wants to give through the poem. An Elementary School Classroom In a Slum’?

Ans- In ‘An Elementary School Classroom In a Slum’ the poet Stephen Spender deals with the themes of social injustice and class inequalities. There are two different worlds. The world of so called ‘civilized’ men has nothing to do with the children living in slums. Nor have the art, culture and literature any relevance to them. They live in dark, narrow cramped, holes and lanes. Unless the wide gap between the two worlds is abridged there can’t be any real progress or development. The barriers that bind them will have to be made mentally and physically free to lead happy lives.

Qes 2 Write in brief the summary of the poem.

Answer: The poet describes some children sitting in an elementary school in a slum. The children sitting here present a very miserable view. Their hair are like weeds and scattered on their pale face. A tall girl is sitting with her head bent. There is a small and thin looking boy. His eyes are like that of a rat’s eyes. Then there is an another boy who has disease of swollen and twisted bones and joints. He has got his disease from his father. The poet notices a young and sweet boy sitting at the back of the class. He is perhaps dreaming about the squirrel’s game in a tree-room for him¬self also. The poet says that the walls of the classroom are cream. They smell like sour cream. There is a bust of Shakespeare in the classroom. There are pictures of big church and the Tyrolese valley having bell-shaped flowers. There is an open-handed map, which shows all the places of the world. But ironically for the children living in the slum their world is not that map but only the scene that can be seen outside the window of their classroom. He says that Shakespeare is wicked for the children. The big map with all its places, ships and so on tempts the children to steal. These children have to spend their lives in small homes. Their lives are nothing but an endless night. The children have grown so weak that their bones could be seen from their skin. Many of these wear spectacles, and these spectacles have mended glass. The poet appeals to the governor, inspector and the visitors to do something for the poor children.The children should be shown green fields; they should be allowed to live a free and carefree life. Without any worry they can concentrate well on their studies. The poet says only those people create history who are carefree.

We hope that class 12 English (Flamingo) Poem 2 An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Important Questions helped you. If you have any queries about class 12 English (Flamingo) Poem 2 An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Important Questions or about any other notes of class 12 English, so you can comment below. We will reach you as soon as possible…