NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Core Chapter 22 Mother's Day

The students should prepare the answer on their own. A model answer is given for their reference.

The narrator seems to be having the traditional outlook but he is not against learning a foreign language. He thinks that learning English language doesn’t affect the tradition and culture of a person unlike the rest of the people in the society think. This is evident by the emphasis on Ranga wearing the sacred thread and doing 'namaskars' to the elders. He appreciates people who do not forget his or her roots even after learning a foreign language.  However, it is clear that he does not believe in the English culture. He wonders how a distinction has been drawn between those who speak English and those who do not.  It is the narrator who is determined to get Ranga married to Ratna though she is not a good match for him. This proves that he is a man who supports the tradition in the society and believes in its culture. At the same time we find him making critical comments on the astrologer saying all the predictions are based more on guesswork and hearsay. In fact, the narrator pokes fun at the superstitious people and asserts the value of rationalism in life.

The students should prepare the answer on their own. A model answer is given for their reference.

The story 'Ranga's Marriage', reflects the traditional system of arranged marriages.These days,the scenario has changed completely.Youngsters do not want to stay dependent on their parents or elders for choosing their life partners. In the story, 'Ranga's Marriage’, we find that the initiative for the wedding of Ranga and Ratna was taken by the narrator.  Now, the boys and girls themselves take the lead and decide themselves who they want to marry. However, there are cases the parents and the society do not support such marriages but the Indian law approves it. Also, marriages at a very young age have been discouraged as people are aware of the fact that certain sense of maturity is required for the marriage.

People of India still believe in astrology even in these modern times. Astrologers work on the principle that position of stars and planets influence human affairs. In fact, nobody can make calculations of the stars and planetsbutastrologers pretend to do so. Most of these predictions are based upon the information supplied earlier by someone. Simple minded people are taken in by such claims and end up paying a hefty sum to the astrologers. Very few astrologers might possess the real knowledge while most of them are dupes who are out to make money. In the story the narrator sets up the local astrologer to give such predictions that would help his plan of getting Ranga married to Ratna. He meets the astrologer beforehand and tutors him in all that he wants him to say.

People like Ranga, who though they have lived in the town and are educated, yet they believe in such superstitions and base their decisions on the conjectures done by such astrologers. The narrator pokes fun at all such gullible people. He makes the reader see the ridiculousness of the situation and hence learn the value of rationalism in life.

British not only brought the industrialisation alone but carried their culture, religion and language also with them when they came to India.  There were many other dynasties like the Mughal, The Delhi Sultanate, etc. ruling India for centuries before the British. However,the British rule has left with us an impact which seems to last for ever. One of the biggest influences of the British reign is the English language. Even after having political freedom from British, it seems that our minds are ruled by them with their language. We look down upon who do not know the English language. It is good that we learn English as it is an international language but we should not consider it as a status symbol. This particular attitude of Indians who consider knowing English as a status symbol is reflected in the story.  The narrator of the story, Shyama, highlights in the story, the false notions of the people that learning English would change a person completely.He confirms that there is no change he can observe in the expression of Ranga. Rangaseems to be following the very traditional way of greeting, saying ‘namaskar’ and other common gestures like bowing down and touching the feet of elders. From these comments of the narrator, we can conclude that he has a positive attitude towards learning English. He must be emphasising his point of view that  learning a foreign language has nothing to do with one’s culture or tradition as Ranga continues to follow the traditional way of greeting in spite of learning English.

Students should prepare the answer on their own. A model answer is given here for their reference.

Dramas are produced with an intention to portray life or characters or to tell a story. The story usually involves conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue and it is typically designed for theatrical performance. Apart from providing entertainment, dramas play a vital role in conveying a social message. Sometimes, they are used to highlight certain issues in the society.Dramas effectively engage the spectators when the characters come alive and equivocally make their point in front of them. The characters can raise questions, highlight the vital issues which may otherwise ignored and forgotten.People heed to what is displayed on the stage and get awareness on various issues. In the drama, ‘Mother’s Day’, J.B. Priestley emphasises the protest of a mother against her exploitation by her children and husband. The familial issues and problems find a good expression through this drama. The author succeeds in raising important issues about female empowerment and the need for love and respect towards family members through the medium of a drama.

i.  Mother's Day, a comical satire strongly condemns the position of women in society. The lady of the house, who does almost all the household chores, is never given her due respect.She receives no wages and no weekends off but works all day long, round the clock. Little do the rest of the people at home realise the hard work she puts in to make it all perfect. They take her for granted and never appreciate her or stop by to drop a word of 'thanks'.Through this play the author tries to highlight the fact that how lonely a woman can feel when all the members of her family leave early morning to work and then return in the evening just to get dinner. The play reminds us that the mistress of the house should be ready to put across her views with determination rather than surrender meekly.  The womenfolk at home, work hard daily turning our houses into homes. The story very clearly states that they have equal right to relax, enjoy their lives and deserve acknowledgement and appreciation.

ii.  The issue is convincingly resolved in the play. The mistress of the house asserts her position very firmly to the family members. The transformation of the personalities is symbolic. The author is portraying the fact that sometimes one has to put one's foot down.  The issues that the story raises are genuine and we must heed them. We see that the major complaint of Mrs. Pearson is that her family does not spend time with her. They pay her no time or attention. She selflessly makes the home and asks nothing in return. Mrs. Fitzgerald, a determined lady who lives in the neighbourhood and a fortune teller, helps Mrs. Pearson by exchanging body with her and deals with Mrs. Pearson's family. She makes the Pearsons understand that Mrs. Pearson is a human after all and that even after working throughout day and night she receives no acknowledgement and appreciation from her family members. It is only when she stops doing the work, George, Doris and Cyril are convinced that how dependent they are actually on Mrs. Pearson. Finally when the three receive such harsh treatment and see Annie sitting back and not doing household chores, they feel helpless and find it all difficult to manage on their own. They realise that their lives are absolutely incomplete without Mrs. Pearson. The resolution of the playis perfect and very well decided. It teaches us the lesson that the lady of the house should be her due share of respect and recognition.