Bihar Board Class 12th English (Rainbow Part 2 Poetry) Chapter 5 An Epitaph) Solutions

B. 1.1. Read the following sentences and write ‘T” for true and ‘F” for false statements:

(a) The poet expresses his sad feeling for a lady.

Answer: T

(b) The lady belonged to the North Country.

Answer: F

(c) The poet considers her the most beautiful lady.

Answer: T

(d) ‘Beauty’ remains forever if we take proper care for it

Answer: F

(e) There are other persons who also know the lady.

Answer: F

(f) The poet feels that after his death nobody will remember her.

Answer: T

B.1.2. Answer the Questions briefly :

Question 1.
Where does the lady lie?

Answer: The lady lies buried in a grave, which is marked by an epitaph (a tombstone inscription). She rests there in the memory of those who loved her.

Question 2.
How does she look to the poet?

Answer: To the poet, she appears to be the most beautiful woman who was ever born in the West Country. Her beauty, in his eyes, was unmatched.

Question 3.
Was she a kind and considerate lady?

Answer: The poem does not directly describe her as kind or considerate. Instead, it highlights her light-hearted and perhaps carefree nature, suggested by the phrase "Light of step and heart."

Question 4.
What does the poet think about ‘beauty’?

Answer: The poet believes that beauty is temporary and fleeting. No matter how rare or exceptional it is, beauty eventually fades away and vanishes with time.

Question 5.
What does the poet mean when he says. ‘And when I crumble.’

Answer: The phrase "when I crumble" is a metaphor for the poet's own death. He means that when he dies and turns to dust, there will be no one left to remember or cherish the memory of this beautiful lady from the West Country.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
‘Ambiguity’ is a poetic device that is used to suggest more than one meaning and attitude. Comment on the ‘ambiguity’ in the use of the word ‘light’ in the second line of the poem?

Answer: The word "light" in the line "Light of step and heart was she" is ambiguous. Its primary meaning suggests she was graceful and nimble in her movement ("light of step"). However, "light of heart" can have two interpretations. It could mean she was cheerful, happy, and free from sorrow. On a more ironic and deeper level, it might imply she was fickle, not deeply attached, or emotionally lightweight. This ambiguity adds complexity to her character as perceived by the grieving poet.

Question 2.
What according to the poet, are the two qualities of ‘beauty’? Discuss with your own comments.

Answer: According to the poet, the two defining qualities of beauty are its rarity and its transience. First, true and exceptional beauty is a rare gift, not found in everyone. Second, and more importantly, beauty is temporary; it "vanishes" and "passes" with time, unable to withstand the inevitable decay of life. This reflects a philosophical view that worldly attractions, no matter how dazzling, are ultimately impermanent.

Question 3.
What will happen when the poet dies?

Answer: When the poet dies, he fears that all memory of the beautiful lady will be lost forever. He sees himself as the sole keeper of her memory. With his death, the final link to her existence and her beauty will be broken, and she will be completely forgotten by the world.

Question 4.
Write a note on the philosophical meaning of the poem.

Answer: The poem "An Epitaph" carries profound philosophical meanings about human existence. It emphasizes the mortality of all life—both the beautiful lady and the poet himself are destined to die. It highlights the transient nature of physical beauty and worldly charms, which are bound to fade and vanish. Furthermore, it touches upon the human desire to be remembered (lust for life beyond death) and the poignant truth that even the most cherished memories are often lost with the passage of time and the death of those who hold them.

Question 5.
What makes you feel that the poem is ‘ironical’ in meaning?

Answer: The poem feels ironic because of the stark contrast between the lady's described vitality and her current state. She was "Light of step and heart," full of life and movement, but now she lies motionless and silent in a grave. There's also irony in the poet's deep love and admiration for her beauty, a force so powerful yet utterly powerless against death. The very epitaph meant to remember her becomes a symbol of the oblivion he fears, creating a sad irony.

Question 6.
Write a summary of the poem “An Epitaph”. [B.M. 2009 A]
Or, Write a short note on the poem, ‘An Epitaph”. [B.M. 2009 A]

Answer: In the poem "An Epitaph," Walter de la Mare reflects on the grave of a beautiful lady from the West Country. He describes her as the most beautiful and graceful woman he ever saw. However, the poem quickly shifts to a meditation on the temporary nature of beauty and life. The poet states that no matter how rare, beauty always fades and dies. The poem ends on a melancholic note as the poet worries that after his own death, no one will be left to remember this lady, and she will be forgotten forever. Thus, the poem deals with themes of mortality, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the fear of being forgotten.

C. 3. Composition

Write a paragraph in about 100 words on the following:

(a) A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Answer: The saying "A thing of beauty is a joy forever" holds profound truth. True beauty, whether found in nature like a majestic mountain or a blooming flower, or in human creations like great art or music, has a timeless quality. It provides lasting happiness and inspiration. Its value does not diminish with time; instead, it continues to uplift the human spirit, offering solace and delight across generations. Such beauty becomes a permanent source of joy in our memory and culture, enriching our lives long after our first encounter with it.

(b) All that glitters is not gold.

Answer: The proverb "All that glitters is not gold" warns us against judging things solely by their outward appearance. Just because something looks attractive, shiny, or promising on the surface does not mean it is genuine, valuable, or good on the inside. Many things—like fake jewelry, dishonest people, or tempting shortcuts—can have a dazzling exterior that hides a worthless or harmful reality. It teaches us the importance of looking beyond superficial charm to discern true worth, character, and integrity through careful observation and judgment.

D. Word Study D. 1. Dictionary Use

Ex. 1. Correct the spelling of the following words: beautyful, vanises, crumbul, rimember, ladie
Answer: beautiful, vanishes, crumble, remember, lady.

D. 2. Word-formation

Read the following line carefully:

| think she was the most beautiful lady Mark that ‘beautiful’ is derived from ‘beauty’ by adding suffix ‘ful’ to it Write 10 words that end in ‘ful’.
Answer: wonderful, careful, helpful, peaceful, joyful, powerful, faithful, graceful, harmful, hopeful.

D.3. Word-meaning

Ex. 1. Fill in the blanks with the antonyms of the following words given in the box: beautiful, light, ever, vanish, rare, remember

(i) The stars suddenly appeared from behind the cloud.
(ii) As the room was dark I could not see anything.
(iii) They created an ugly scene when they fought together.
(iv) A crow is a common bird in India.
(v) We can never forget the valuable sacrifice of the leaders of the freedom struggle movement.

E. Grammar

Ex. 1. Fill in the blanks with ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ to complete the sentences:

(i) Most of the students today want to work in the U.S.A.
(ii) There is a red rose on the plant, the rose has become quite attractive.
(iii) There are very few students in the university, who want to pursue research work.
(iv) An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
(v) I have met an M.L.A. today.

***

1. Read the following extract of the poem and answer the questions that follow: [Board Model, 2009A]

Here lies a most beautiful lady,
Light of step and heart was she;
I think she was the most beautiful lady
That ever was in the West Country.

Questions.
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) To whom the poet says, “is lying here?”
(c) What does, ‘Light of step and heart” mean?
(d) How is she to look at?
(e) What is the poet’s view about her appearance?

Answer:
(a) The poem is "An Epitaph" and the poet is Walter de la Mare.
(b) The poet says that a beautiful lady is lying here in her grave.
(c) It means she was graceful in her movements ("light of step") and cheerful or carefree in her disposition ("light of heart").
(d) She is the most beautiful lady to look at, according to the poet.
(e) The poet's view is that she was exceptionally beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful woman ever born in the West Country.

2. Read the following extract of the poem and answer the questions that follow:

But beauty vanishes; beauty passes,
However, rare-rare it be;
And when I crumble, who will remember.
This lady of the West Country?

Questions.
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What does the poet think about beauty?
(c) What does the poet mean, by saying, ‘However rare-rare it be?”
(d) The poet says, “And when I crumble”, What does he want to say?
(e) For whom the poet expresses his concern, when he says, ‘who will remember.”

Answer:
(a) The poem is "An Epitaph" by Walter de la Mare.
(b) The poet thinks that beauty is temporary and must eventually fade away and die.
(c) He means that even if beauty is extraordinarily rare and unique, its fate remains the same—it cannot last forever.
(d) He is referring to his own death. "Crumble" is a metaphor for his body turning to dust after he dies.
(e) The poet expresses concern for the beautiful lady from the West Country. He fears she will be forgotten after he is gone.