Old Man At The Bridge | Story 3 | Questions, and Answers |
English | Class 9th | Short Stories |Tulip Series | jandkncert | Free NCERT Solutions |
Story
3 – Old Man At The Bridge | Tulip Series | Questions, and Answers |
(Ernest
Miller Hemingway)
Ernest Miller Hemingway
(1899-1961), an American novelist and short-story writer. Hemingway’s writings
and his personal life exerted a profound influence on American writers of his
time. Many of his works are regarded as classics of American literature, and
some have been made into motion pictures. His important works include The Sun Also
Rises (1926) A Farewell to Arms (1929), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), The Old
Man and the Sea (1952). In 1954 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. After
graduating from high school in 1917, he became a reporter for the Kansas City
Star, but he left his job within a few months to serve as a volunteer ambulance
driver in Italy during World War I (1914-1918). He later shifted to the Italian
infantry and was severely wounded. After the war, he served as a correspondent
for the Toronto Star and then settled in Paris. In World War II (1939-1945) he
again was a correspondent and later a reporter for the United States First Army;
although he was not a soldier, he participated in several battles.   [ Table of Contents ]
Thinking about the Text
Q1. Why were the old man’s clothes dusty? Why did he not
cross the bridge?
Ans. The old man was seventy-six years old and he had come twelve kilometers through a
dusty road so his clothes were dusty. As he had traveled a long distance, he
was tired and was not able to go farther therefore he could not cross the
bridge.
Q2. Why did the old man leave San Carlos? Why did the old
man wants to go to Barcelona?
Ans. The old man left San Carlos because of artillery that the captain told him. The old
man wanted to go to Barcelona because the trucks were heading towards that
place. He was very tired and could not go further so there was one alternative
that was to go by trucks that were going to Barcelona.
Q3. ‘Oh,’ I said, not quite understanding…... ‘What was
it about the old man’s statement, ‘I was taking care of animals’, what was it
that the narrator did not understand?
Ans.
The narrator was not able to understand what animals the old man was taking
care of because he did not look like a shepherd nor a herder although he had
dusty clothes and grey dusty face.
Q4. Where did the narrator expect the approaching battle
to take place?
Ans. The
narrator expected the approaching battle to take place somewhere near the bridge
where the old man was sitting.
Q5. ‘It’s better not to think about the others.’ What
does the old man mean by ‘the others’? Why does he say so?
Ans.
By ‘the others’, the old man means to say to think of the goats because he knew
the cats can look out of itself and the birds can fly as he has left the cage
open but the goats cannot save themselves.
Q6. Did the old man look upon his animals as his family?
What made him worry about them? What did the old man fear would harm his
animals?
Ans.
Yes, the old man looked upon his animals as his family. He was worried about
them because he had no family other than these animals and he had to leave them
so that to move himself to a safer place. He was feared that artillery fire
would harm them and they would be killed because of his absence there.
Q7. The old man was a victim of the war, but he had no
wish to play a part in it. How do you come to know of this from the story?
Ans.
The old man was the victim of war because he had to leave his home and his
family. He only talked about animals. He had nothing to do with the war because
he had no politics. He did not bother who wins or loses. He only cared about
his pet animals.
Q8. Wars have an adverse, effect on our lives. How does
the story brings out this truth?
Ans.
Since the arrival of human beings on the earth, wars have been a part of life.
It has been adversely affecting the lives of living beings for centuries. Wars
bring miseries, poverty, droughts, deaths, and destruction, and nothing else
that is good for a happy life. From the story, we saw how the old man has to
leave his animals which were a part of his family and his native village because
of this dreadful war. He has to walk miles by foot although he was too old to
go any farther, but, the war had left no alternative for him. We have read in
the story how carts, trucks, and other vehicles along with people were hurrying
in leaving their homes. So, this story has brought out the whole truth about
the destruction of wars and its adverse effect on our lives.
Make sentences using the following words and expressions.
Language Work
Artillery, Coup, Check-post, Out-post, Bridgehead, Come
through, Stagger, Hurry, To take care of, Blankly
Ans.
Artillery: Due to artillery on the border
many people have to leave their homes to move to a safer place.
Coup: He was overthrown in an army coup.
Check-post: A check-post was placed on the entrance of the country so that to check the people coming from other
countries.
Out-post: The whole valley has been
established as a military outpost for decades.
Bridgehead: The established a bridgehead
on the entrance before the infiltration of rebels.
Come through: The old man came through the
captain about the artillery.
Stagger: It staggers me to see how much the money they have spent on this project.
Hurry: There is no need to hurry in this
matter.
To take care of: Don’t worry, the government
will take care of your belongings.
Blankly: He looked at me blankly and went
on his way.
Writing Work
Q1. Imagine yourself with a gold coin in your belly. How would you talk to the doctor? Hemingway’s story involves dialogue most prominently. On the pattern of the story construct your dialogue with the doctor.
Ans.
Patient: (holding
belly with hand): Doctor, I unknowingly swallowed a gold coin,
which is in my belly now.
Doctor:
Don’t worry, everything will be ok. Go and get an x-ray of your belly.
(Patient goes away for x-ray and comes after a while)
Patient:
Here is an x-ray copy with a report.
Doctor: Good.
(observing the x-ray sheet). Nothing to worry. The coin is slowly moving
to the intestine.
Patient:
Is there any kind of danger of injury. Please, tell me, how it will be removed.
Doctor: No,
there is not any kind of danger. Take these two tablets at bedtime. Take care
of the coin in the morning when you go to the toilet.
Patient:
Thank you very much, Doctor.
Discussion
Q1. Have you ever gone through a warlike situation? How did you feel? Make groups and exchange your feelings about it.
Ans. Assignment
for students. Do it yourself. The clue is; the current situation in JK.
Q2. Peace had her victories no less renowned than war?
Discuss the idea with your teacher and your group mates.
Ans. Assignment
for students. Do it yourself. The clue is; the current situation in JK.
Suggested Reading
The Old Man and the Sea by Hemmingway
Men at War: The Best War Stories of All Time
by Hemingway
A Father-To-Be, Looking for Mr. Green, and
The Gonzaga Manuscripts by Saul Bellow
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