Do you think the characters in the story were speaking to each other in English? If not, in which language were they speaking? (you can get clues from the names of the persons and the non-English words used in the story.)

Should girls be aware of their rights and assert them? Should girls and boys have the same rights, duties and privileges? What are some of the ways in which society treats them differently? When we speak of ‘Human rights’, do we differentiate between girl’s rights and boy’s rights?

Bholi’s teacher helped her overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. How do you think you can contribute towards changing the social attitudes illustrated in this story ?

Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?

Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage. What does this tell about her?

How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?

Why does the marriage not take place?

Why does the marriage not take place?

Why do Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal?

Read and Find Out. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home

Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?

For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?

Why is Bholi's father worried about her ?

Does this poem have a rhyme scheme? Poetry that does not have and obvious rhythm or rhyme is called ‘free verse’.

You know that a metaphor compares two things by transferring a feature of one thing to the other (See Unit 1). (i) Find metaphors for the following words and complete the table below. Also try to say how they are alike. The first is done for you.

(i) What does Sandburg think the fog is like? (ii)How does the fog come? (iii)What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to? (iv) Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat? Find three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat.

Thinking about Language.This text is written in an old-fashioned style, for it reports an incident more than two millennia old. Look for the following words and phrases in the text, and try to rephrase them in more current language, based on how you understand them. give thee medicine for thy child Pray tell me Kisa repaired to the Buddha there was no house but someone had died in it kinsmen Mark!

Thinking about the Text. How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief ’?

Thinking about the Text. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?

Thinking about the Text. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand?

Thinking about the Text. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?

Thinking about the Text. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?