12th Standard Supplementary Reader Textbook - Vistas. Lesson No. 8: Memories Of Childhood 1. The Cutting Of My Long Hair - Zitkala-sa Glo...
12th Standard Supplementary Reader Textbook - Vistas.
Lesson No. 8: Memories Of Childhood
1. The Cutting Of My Long Hair - Zitkala-sa
Glossary, Summary, Questions and Answers.
Glossary -
1. Belfry - Part of Bell Power.
2. Bedlam - a scene of uproar and confusion.
3. Clinging - to hold tightly.
4. Shingled hair - small hair.
5. Moccasins - shoes.
6. Immodetly - not modern.
7. Shuddering - shake hard.
8. Scratching -
9. Braids -
10. Gnaw off - to bite with teeth.
11. Indignities - bad treatment.
Summary -
2. We Too are Human Beings - Bama.
1. Dawdle - to stroll.
2. Oddities - something unusual.
3. Huntergypsy - nomadic or wild man.
4. Lemur - Monkey.
5. Harangue - to speak loudly.
6. Tether - to tie an animal.
7. Savoury - salty taste.
8. Lollies - toffee, toffy, lollipop.
9. Vadai - a dish, green banana vegetable.
10. Infuriated - to annoy, or irritate somebody.
11. Cupping - to make something round.
12. Indignities - awkward situation.
13. Frenzy - a great emotional stage.
Summary -
Reading with Insight -
1. The accounts you read above are based on two distant cultures. What is the commonality of the theme found in both of them?
Ans - Both the stories of, Memories Of Childhood are based on different cultures. Still, there exists a common theme of injustice, exploitation, oppression, discrimination, and torture by so-called superior to inferior.
In the first story, Zitkala brings out severe prejudices and humiliation over a native American woman by the European staff of her boarding school. Zitkala narrated her own experience in her boarding school how they were driven like animals, how they were forced to eat by a formula, like animals treated in the circus by the ringmaster, and how she was forced to cut down her beautiful and long hair against her own will and wish, and that emotional wound on her soul, and the body remained forever in her life.
In the second story, the writer, Bama, narrated her own experience about the social evil of untouchability, how disgusting it was the experience to be born into a lower class, and how badly the upper-class people treated them. But she turned into a scholar student and stood first in the class after the encouragement and guidance from his big brother, Annan.
2. It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed even by children?
Ans - No, It is not true and I don't agree that children do not notice any form of discrimination or oppression, perhaps children are fast learners and observe the society around them more carefully than adults. If they are taught and nurtured with good inputs and moral values of life, they will definitely rebel against the wrong practices that are available in society sooner or later.
Here, the second story is a good example of the rebellion of a writer when she was a child, because after getting the guidance of her brother, she decided to work hard in school, and showed her hidden potential, it was indeed a sort of rebellion.
3. Bama's experience is that of a victim of the caste system. What kind of discrimination does Zitkala's experience depict? What are their responses to their respective situations?
Ans - Zitkala's bitter experience was against racial prejudices, as she belonged to native America, so the boarding rules and regulations were different for them, she was forced to eat by formulae, lost her long hair which was her pride, the blanket, and the shoes despite of her resistance with her might. Bama was touched and moved by the fact that how low-caste people like her were treated inhumanly by upper-class people.
But the worth noting fact is that both the protagonist didn't give up on the situation, but firmly decided to come out of it with their strong will to stand against the evil practices of society. Zitkala tried to bring out positive changes with the help of her work and Bama studied hard and stood first in her class.
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