Two Gentlemen of Verona Book Back Answers Class 12 English Guide Chapter 1 Tamil Nadu Solutions
Tamil Nadu State Board New Syllabus Samacheer Kalvi 12th English Guide Pdf Prose Chapter 1 Two Gentlemen of Verona Text Book Back Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.
12th Standard English 1st Lesson Two Gentlemen of Verona Questions and Answers
1. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each based on your understanding of the story.
a) Who did the narrator meet at the outskirts of Verona?
The narrator met two small boys, namely Nicola and Jacop, at the outskirts of Verona.
b) Why did the driver not approve of the narrator buying fruits from the boys?
The driver was disgusted at the boys’ shabby appearance. So, he did not approve of the narrator buying fruits from the boys.
c) The boys did not spend much on clothes and food. Why?
The boys preferred to save money for their sister’s treatment expenses. So, they did not spend much on clothes and food.
d) Were the boys saving money to go to the States? How do you know?
No, the boys were not saving money to go to the States. They told the narrator that they had some other plans.
e) Why did the author avoid going to Lucia’s room?
The author did not want to interfere into the boys’ happy family party. So, he avoided going to Lucia’s room.
f) What was Lucia suffering from?
Lucia was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.
g) What made the boys join the resistance movement against the Germans?
Their hate towards Germans made the boys join the resistance movement against the Germans.
h) What made the boys work so hard?
They were badly in need of money for their sister’s treatment. That made the boys work so hard.
i) Why didn’t the boys disclose their problem to the author?
The boys didn’t disclose their problem to the narrator because they did not want anybody's
sympathy or charity. They accepted their responsibility to save their sister from the disease.
2. Answer the following questions in three or four sentences each.
a) Describe the appearance of Nicola and Jacopo.
Nicola put on a worn jersey and cut-off khaki pants. Jacopo wore a shortened army tunic gathered in loose folds about his skinny frame. They had brown skins, tangled hair and dark earnest eyes.
b) What were the various jobs undertaken by the little boys?
Selling fruits, shining shoes, hawking newspapers, conducting tourists round the town and running errands were the various jobs undertaken by the little boys.
c) How did the narrator help the boys on Sunday?
The narrator offered to help the boys before leaving the town. Jacopo asked the narrator to drop them at Poleta by his car. Poleta was a countryside where their sister was under treatment. The author himself took them there in his car.
d) Who took the author to the cubicle?
A pleasant-looking woman dressed in white uniform took the author to the cubicle. She was a trained nurse. She wore steel-rimmed spectacles.
e) Describe the girl with whom the boys were talking in the cubicle.
The girl with whom the boys were talking to in the cubicle was their sister, Lucia. She was about 20 years old suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. She was propped up on pillows, wearing a pretty lace jacket. Her eyes were soft and tender. She resembled her brothers.
f) Recount the untold sufferings undergone by the siblings after they were rendered homeless.
After the siblings were rendered homeless, they suffered from starvation. They were exposed to the cold winter. They stayed in a sort of shelter amidst the rubble. Their sister was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They did odd jobs to save money for her treatment.
g) The narrator did not utter a word and preferred to keep the secret to himself. Why? Substantiate the statement with reference to the story.
The narrator admired their devotion, honesty and integrity. He understood that the boys did not want anybody's sympathy and charity. He did not want to interfere in their family affairs. So, he did not utter a word and preferred to keep the secret to himself.
3. Answer the following in a paragraph of 100–150 words each.
a) What was the driving force that made the boys do various jobs?
‘Misfortunes never come single’ is a Dutch proverb. This was very much true in the life of Nicola and Jacopo. Their father, a widower had been killed in the war. Shortly afterward, a bomb destroyed their house. After the siblings were rendered homeless, they suffered from starvation. They were exposed to the cold winter. They stayed in a sort of shelter amidst the rubble. Their sister was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They did odd jobs to save money. Every week, they had to pay the money for her treatment. It made the boys work so hard. Selling fruits, shining shoes, hawking newspapers, conducting tourists round the town and running errands were the various jobs undertaken by the little boys. To sum up, the driving force that made the boys do various jobs was the uncertainty after the war and the suffering of Lucia from the disease.
b) How was the family affected by the war?
‘When war begins the devil makes hell bigger’ is a Spanish proverb. Nicola and Jacopo were small boys. Their father, a widower had been killed in the war. Shortly afterward, a bomb destroyed their house. After the siblings were rendered homeless, they suffered from starvation. They were exposed to the cold winter. They stayed in a sort of shelter amidst the rubble. Their sister was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They did odd jobs to save money. Every week, they had to pay the money for her treatment. It made the boys work so hard. Selling fruits, shining shoes, hawking newspapers, conducting tourists round the town and running errands were the various jobs undertaken by the little boys. Thus, the family was severely affected by the war.
c) Write a character sketch of Nicola and Jacopo. (PTA-4)
Nicola was a matured responsible boy of 13. Jacopo was a lively boy of 12. Both of them were childish enough and in many ways quite artless. Nicola was steady and engaging. Both the boys wore seriousness in their faces far beyond their years. Nicola and Jacopo were useful to the narrator in many ways. They could be relied upon to satisfy their needs. The narrator was impressed by their willingness to work. Indeed, the war had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life. Their positive attitude gave promise of a greater hope for human society.
d) What message is conveyed through the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’?
‘Two gentlemen of Verona’ depicts love, devotion, sacrifice, sincerity and maturity. The boys in the story, Nicola and Jacopo exhibit these human values. Nicola was a matured responsible boy of 13. Jacopo was a lively boy of 12. Both of them were childish enough and in many ways quite artless. Nicola was steady and engaging. Both the boys wore seriousness in their faces far beyond their age. Nicola and Jacopo were helpful to the narrator in many ways. They could be relied upon to satisfy their needs. The narrator was impressed by their willingness to work. Indeed, the war had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life. Their positive attitude gave promise of a greater hope for human society. The message conveyed through the story is that one should face one’s problems with a positive outlook and immovable courage.
e) Justify the title of the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’. (MDL-19, PTA-2)
Indeed Nicola and Jacopo were the two gentlemen of Verona. Nicola was a matured responsible boy of 13. Jacopo was a lively boy of 12. Both of them were childish enough and in many ways quite artless. Nicola was steady and engaging. Both the boys wore seriousness in their faces far beyond their years. Nicola and Jacopo were useful to the narrator in many ways. They could be relied upon to satisfy their needs. The narrator was impressed by their willingness to work. They manifested honesty in their work and integrity in their family affairs. The narrator admired their honesty and integrity. He understood that the boys did not want anybody's sympathy and charity. Indeed, the war had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life. Their positive attitude gave promise of a greater hope for human society.
f) Adversity brings out the best as well as the worst in people. Elucidate this statement with
reference to the story.
A.J.Cronin in ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ portrays death, loss, destruction and the sufferings of the siblings, Nicola and Jacopo. Another part of the story depicts love, devotion, sacrifice, sincerity and maturity. The boys in the story, Nicola and Jacopo exhibit these human values. Death of their father and destruction of their house ruined their future. They did not lose hope when they learnt that their sister was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. Their grit and determination to earn through honest work took them to the pedestal of glory. They did odd jobs to save money. They manifested honesty in their work and integrity in their family affairs. The narrator admired their honesty and integrity. Indeed, adversity brought the worst at first but their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life. Their positive attitude gave promise of a greater hope for human society.
g) Which character do you like the most in the story and why?
I like the narrator of this story very much. He was very generous, kind and a helpful person. Even after his driver’s warning, he wanted to buy fruits from the boys to help them. He admired their honesty and sincerity at work. He also dropped the boys at the hospital where their sister had been admitted. He did not reveal that he knew about their family crisis. He respected the boys’ intention of keeping their secret. Their devotion touched him deeply. He found that the war did not break their spirit. Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life, gave promise of a greater hope for human society. The narrator’s empathy and helping tendency were manifested through his words and deeds.
(OR)
I like the two boys, Nicola and Jacopo, the real heroes of this story. Nicola was a matured responsible boy of 13. Jacopo was a lively boy of 12. Both of them were childish enough and in many ways quite artless. Nicola was steady and engaging. Both the boys wore seriousness in their faces far beyond their years. Nicola and Jacopo were useful to the narrator in many ways. They could be relied upon to satisfy their needs. The narrator was impressed by their willingness to work. Indeed, the war had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life. Their positive attitude gave promise of a greater hope for human society.
Vocabulary
a) Read the following words taken from the story. Give two synonyms and one antonym for each of these words. Use a dictionary, if required.
| Word | Synonyms | Antonym | |
|---|---|---|---|
| cautious | careful | alert | reckless |
| disapprove | express dislike | object to | approve |
| brisk | swift | fast | sloppy |
| engaging | charming | agreeable | repulsive |
| humble | meek | submissive | proud |
| eager | anxious | impatient | apathetic |
| resistance | opposition | hostility | acceptance |
| persuade | convince | induce | dissuade |
| scarce | scant | insufficient | plentiful |
| nobility | virtue | goodness | dishonour |
 |
| wallet | valet | hoard | horde |
|---|---|---|---|
| fairy | faerie | desert | dessert |
| medal | meddle | night | knight |
| wait | weight | sweet | suite |
| yoke | yolk | plain | plane |
| grown | groan | might | mite |
| earn | erne/urn | quite | quiet |
| frequently | satisfaction | willingness |
| comfortable | resemblance | nobility |