NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Elective Chapter 34 For Elkana

When the mother says that dinner will be served in five minutes, the boy refuses to wait. He gives the logic of not being hungry after five minutes. The father is impressed with the logic of the son. Though apparently silly the son learns to defend his position giving reasons. Both the father and the mother start laughing and go to serve him dinner.

An undertone is an implied meaning that usually points towards the underlying theme of a work. mostly writers do not express directly their attitude or theme; rather, they do it by using images or symbols. This statement explains the feeling of understanding between the husband and wife. They care for their child and feel the importance of discipline. The thought of their child becoming undisciplined makes their disagreements. They agree among themselves, though silently to the fact that their son should be disciplined. They are able to read each other’s minds. This is because of the rapport they share as a couple. However, there is no agreement as to who would do it. But

The author and his family decide to drag their chairs outside and sit in their chairs, in silence. The wife breaks this silence by commenting on a broken windowpane. She suggests few things to her husband, assuming that he doesn't know what he is supposed to do. The husband doesn't want to contradict her as he understands the futility of arguing. They both accept each other’s faults. Even though she nags him, and he ignores her at times but they both love each other immensely.

The son, who is playing about in the garden, goes up to his parents, and demands his dinner with "masterly determination". At this point, both the author and his wife, thinks - their son must be disciplined. The wife raises her finger and tells him firmly that he will have to wait another 5 minutes. The young boy's logic is that he won't be hungry in 5 minutes. The father feels that such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway. Even the mother laughs in delight! Her wonderful laughter holds the family together and all of them rise to go back into the house.

The couple in the poem are discussing on several issues. They have different opinions on them. They love their son and fulfil all his demands. But when they realise that their child is making an untimely demand, they both feel that ‘Children must be Disciplined. This is the ultimate expression that runs into their minds. To give importance to this thought the poet has capitalized all the words in the given sentence. The poet stresses the fact that the husband and wife agree on the fact that parents should discipline their children.

Nissim Ezekiel beautifully captures the daily common pattern of communication in an Indian family in the poem.

The author and his family, in the warm April evening, decide to sit outside in their chairs, in silence. The wife breaks this silence by pointing on a broken windowpane. She suggests a thing or two to her husband. The husband doesn't contradict her and understands the futility of arguing. Even though she nags him, and he ignores her at times but they both love each other immensely.

The son is playing about in the garden. He goes up to his parents and demands his dinner with "authoritative determination". At this point, the author and his wife, thought- their son must be disciplined. The wife raises her finger and tells him firmly that he will have to wait another 5 minutes. The son’s logic is that he won't be hungry in 5 minutes. This argument appeals to the father and he feels that such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway. Even the mother laughs in delight! Her wonderful laughter keeps the family together and all of them rise to go back into the house.

Juxtaposition is a literary device wherein the author places a person, concept, place, idea or theme parallel to another.

The purpose of juxtaposing two directly or indirectly related entities close together in literature is to highlight the contrast between the two and compare them.

In the poem the poet contrasts the characters of the husband and wife using this technique.

The wife is somewhat nagging. She suggests many things to her husband as if he does not know how to do things.

on the contrary the husband is very rational and cool. He does not want to quarrel with his wife. He knows the psychology of his wife and treats her as if she is always right.

The pedestrian in the poem is their son. He is very cheerful and lively. In the poem, he contributes to the idyllic setting of the poem. The father and mother adore their child. Thus, the juxtaposition of their loving son adds to the idyllic mood of the poem.

The poetic effect is achieved through understatement and asides.

An understatement is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.

The wife surveys the scene comments on a broken windowpane and suggests some things to her husband very seriously, but he does not take her seriously.

The son come running and demands, 'Mummy, I want my dinner, now.' His father and mother do not respond. At last the mother says she will serve the dinner in five minutes. The son replies he will no more be hungry in five minutes.

An aside is a short comment or speech that a character delivers directly to the audience, or to himself, while other actors on the stage appear not to hear. Only the audience knows that the character has said something to them.

When the wife suggests something to her husband seriously, he agrees just to avoid dispute. However, he tells the audience that she suggests silly thing that every husband knows exactly how to do.

When the son demands immediately and declares in five minutes, he will be hungry no more, the father says to himself 'Such a logician deserves his dinner straightaway.

These comments are not heard by other characters but known only to the audience.