Treasure Trove Textbook Solutions: The Little Match Girl | English Class 10 ICSE PDF Download

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Comprehension Passages
Passage 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening— the last evening of
the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and
with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that?
They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the
poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that
rolled by dreadfully fast.
One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an urchin, and off he ran
with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle when he some day or other should have
children himself. So the little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and
blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in
her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a
single farthing. She crept along trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of sorrow, the poor
little thing!
Question 1.
 
Which day of the year was it in the story?
 
Answer:
 
It was terribly cold. It snowed, and it was nearly quite dark. It was New Year’s eve and the night
was freezing cold.
Question 2.
 
Describe the condition of the girl.
 
Answer:
 
The little girl was bare headed and barefoot in the freezing cold as she had lost the slippers she
had worn which belonged to her mother and were too large for her. Her feet were quite red and
blue from cold.
Question 3.
 
What did the girl carry in her pocket?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her
hand.
Question 4.
 
Had she managed to sell any matches?
 
Answer:
 
Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing.
Question 5.
 
Does the author give us a glimpse into the Victorian society?
 
Answer:
 
Yes, we get a glimpse into the society in which parents were cruel enough to make their * small
children work in the freezing cold. Begging was a menace and child abuse was common.
Passage 2
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Comprehension Passages
Passage 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening— the last evening of
the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and
with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that?
They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the
poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that
rolled by dreadfully fast.
One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an urchin, and off he ran
with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle when he some day or other should have
children himself. So the little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and
blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in
her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a
single farthing. She crept along trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of sorrow, the poor
little thing!
Question 1.
 
Which day of the year was it in the story?
 
Answer:
 
It was terribly cold. It snowed, and it was nearly quite dark. It was New Year’s eve and the night
was freezing cold.
Question 2.
 
Describe the condition of the girl.
 
Answer:
 
The little girl was bare headed and barefoot in the freezing cold as she had lost the slippers she
had worn which belonged to her mother and were too large for her. Her feet were quite red and
blue from cold.
Question 3.
 
What did the girl carry in her pocket?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her
hand.
Question 4.
 
Had she managed to sell any matches?
 
Answer:
 
Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing.
Question 5.
 
Does the author give us a glimpse into the Victorian society?
 
Answer:
 
Yes, we get a glimpse into the society in which parents were cruel enough to make their * small
children work in the freezing cold. Begging was a menace and child abuse was common.
Passage 2
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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savoury smell of roast goose, for it was
New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which
projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little
feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and
she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of
money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for
they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes
had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah!
perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it
against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out—“scratch!” how it sputtered as it burnt!
It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a
wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished
brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the
child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove
vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.
Question 1.
 
Where did the girl seek some shelter from the cold?
 
Answer:
 
The girl in order to escape the freezing cold huddled in a corner, between two houses, one of
which projected beyond the other. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep
off the cold.
Question 2.
 
Why could the girl not go home?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even
a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her for earning no money.
Question 3.
 
Describe her home.
 
Answer:
 
Her house was in as poor a condition as her. It was almost as cold at home as on the street
because they had only the roof to cover them. They lacked adequate woollens to keep them warm.
There also the wind howled through the cracks, although the largest holes had been stopped up
with straw and rags.
Question 4.
 
How did she try to keep herself warm?
 
Answer:
 
She thought of lighting her matches to keep herself warm .
Question 5.
 
What did she imagine when she lighted the first match?
 
Answer:
 
When she lighted the first match it seemed to give a warm, bright light, like a little candle. It was
really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with
polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and it seemed so beautifully warm
that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them.
Passage 3
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Comprehension Passages
Passage 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening— the last evening of
the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and
with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that?
They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the
poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that
rolled by dreadfully fast.
One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an urchin, and off he ran
with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle when he some day or other should have
children himself. So the little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and
blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in
her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a
single farthing. She crept along trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of sorrow, the poor
little thing!
Question 1.
 
Which day of the year was it in the story?
 
Answer:
 
It was terribly cold. It snowed, and it was nearly quite dark. It was New Year’s eve and the night
was freezing cold.
Question 2.
 
Describe the condition of the girl.
 
Answer:
 
The little girl was bare headed and barefoot in the freezing cold as she had lost the slippers she
had worn which belonged to her mother and were too large for her. Her feet were quite red and
blue from cold.
Question 3.
 
What did the girl carry in her pocket?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her
hand.
Question 4.
 
Had she managed to sell any matches?
 
Answer:
 
Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing.
Question 5.
 
Does the author give us a glimpse into the Victorian society?
 
Answer:
 
Yes, we get a glimpse into the society in which parents were cruel enough to make their * small
children work in the freezing cold. Begging was a menace and child abuse was common.
Passage 2
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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savoury smell of roast goose, for it was
New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which
projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little
feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and
she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of
money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for
they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes
had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah!
perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it
against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out—“scratch!” how it sputtered as it burnt!
It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a
wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished
brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the
child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove
vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.
Question 1.
 
Where did the girl seek some shelter from the cold?
 
Answer:
 
The girl in order to escape the freezing cold huddled in a corner, between two houses, one of
which projected beyond the other. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep
off the cold.
Question 2.
 
Why could the girl not go home?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even
a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her for earning no money.
Question 3.
 
Describe her home.
 
Answer:
 
Her house was in as poor a condition as her. It was almost as cold at home as on the street
because they had only the roof to cover them. They lacked adequate woollens to keep them warm.
There also the wind howled through the cracks, although the largest holes had been stopped up
with straw and rags.
Question 4.
 
How did she try to keep herself warm?
 
Answer:
 
She thought of lighting her matches to keep herself warm .
Question 5.
 
What did she imagine when she lighted the first match?
 
Answer:
 
When she lighted the first match it seemed to give a warm, bright light, like a little candle. It was
really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with
polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and it seemed so beautifully warm
that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them.
Passage 3
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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas-tree. It
was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door
at the rich merchant’s. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colored
pictures, like those she had seen in the show- windows, looked down upon it all. The little one
stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.
The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then
she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little
girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had
told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
Question 1.
 
What did she see when she lighted another match?
 
Answer:
 
When the girl lighted another match she saw herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas- tree. It
was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door
at the rich merchant’s.
Question 2.
 
Describe the Christmas tree.
 
Answer:
 
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. There were thousands of tapers were burning upon
the green branches, and coloured pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked
down upon it all.
Question 3.
 
What happened when she stretched her hand to touch?
 
Answer:
 
As soon as she stretched her hand to touch the match went out and the tree disappeared.
Question 4.
 
How did the Christmas lights appear when the match went out?
 
Answer:
 
When the match went out the Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the
stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire.
Question 5.
 
Why did the girl think that “Someone is dying” ?
 
Answer:
 
The girl thought that “Someone is dying” because her old grandmother, the only one who had ever
loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
Passage 4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her
old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance. “Grandmother,” cried
the little one, “O take me with you; I know you will go away when the match burns out; you will
vanish like the warm stove, the roast goose, and the large, glorious Christmas-tree.” And she made
haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the
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Comprehension Passages
Passage 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening— the last evening of
the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and
with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that?
They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the
poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that
rolled by dreadfully fast.
One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an urchin, and off he ran
with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle when he some day or other should have
children himself. So the little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and
blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in
her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a
single farthing. She crept along trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of sorrow, the poor
little thing!
Question 1.
 
Which day of the year was it in the story?
 
Answer:
 
It was terribly cold. It snowed, and it was nearly quite dark. It was New Year’s eve and the night
was freezing cold.
Question 2.
 
Describe the condition of the girl.
 
Answer:
 
The little girl was bare headed and barefoot in the freezing cold as she had lost the slippers she
had worn which belonged to her mother and were too large for her. Her feet were quite red and
blue from cold.
Question 3.
 
What did the girl carry in her pocket?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her
hand.
Question 4.
 
Had she managed to sell any matches?
 
Answer:
 
Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing.
Question 5.
 
Does the author give us a glimpse into the Victorian society?
 
Answer:
 
Yes, we get a glimpse into the society in which parents were cruel enough to make their * small
children work in the freezing cold. Begging was a menace and child abuse was common.
Passage 2
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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savoury smell of roast goose, for it was
New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which
projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little
feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and
she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of
money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for
they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes
had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah!
perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it
against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out—“scratch!” how it sputtered as it burnt!
It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a
wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished
brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the
child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove
vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.
Question 1.
 
Where did the girl seek some shelter from the cold?
 
Answer:
 
The girl in order to escape the freezing cold huddled in a corner, between two houses, one of
which projected beyond the other. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep
off the cold.
Question 2.
 
Why could the girl not go home?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even
a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her for earning no money.
Question 3.
 
Describe her home.
 
Answer:
 
Her house was in as poor a condition as her. It was almost as cold at home as on the street
because they had only the roof to cover them. They lacked adequate woollens to keep them warm.
There also the wind howled through the cracks, although the largest holes had been stopped up
with straw and rags.
Question 4.
 
How did she try to keep herself warm?
 
Answer:
 
She thought of lighting her matches to keep herself warm .
Question 5.
 
What did she imagine when she lighted the first match?
 
Answer:
 
When she lighted the first match it seemed to give a warm, bright light, like a little candle. It was
really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with
polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and it seemed so beautifully warm
that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them.
Passage 3
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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas-tree. It
was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door
at the rich merchant’s. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colored
pictures, like those she had seen in the show- windows, looked down upon it all. The little one
stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.
The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then
she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little
girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had
told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
Question 1.
 
What did she see when she lighted another match?
 
Answer:
 
When the girl lighted another match she saw herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas- tree. It
was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door
at the rich merchant’s.
Question 2.
 
Describe the Christmas tree.
 
Answer:
 
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. There were thousands of tapers were burning upon
the green branches, and coloured pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked
down upon it all.
Question 3.
 
What happened when she stretched her hand to touch?
 
Answer:
 
As soon as she stretched her hand to touch the match went out and the tree disappeared.
Question 4.
 
How did the Christmas lights appear when the match went out?
 
Answer:
 
When the match went out the Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the
stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire.
Question 5.
 
Why did the girl think that “Someone is dying” ?
 
Answer:
 
The girl thought that “Someone is dying” because her old grandmother, the only one who had ever
loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
Passage 4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her
old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance. “Grandmother,” cried
the little one, “O take me with you; I know you will go away when the match burns out; you will
vanish like the warm stove, the roast goose, and the large, glorious Christmas-tree.” And she made
haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the
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matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon-day, and her grandmother had never
appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in
brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they
were with God.
In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth, leaning
against the wall; she had been frozen to death on the last evening of the year; and the New-year’s
sun rose and shone upon a little corpse! The child still sat, in the stiffness of death, holding the
matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt. “She tried to warm herself,” said some. No
one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her
grandmother, on New-year’s day.
Question 1.
 
What happened when she lighted another match?
 
Answer:
 
When she lighted another match the light shone round her and in the brightness stood her old
grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance.
Question 2.
 
What did the girl say to her grandmother? Why?
 
Answer:
 
The girl pleaded with her grandmother to take her along with her because she was the only one in
the world who loved her.
Question 3.
 
Why did the girl make haste to light the whole bundle of matches?
 
Answer:
 
The girl made haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother
there. And the matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon day, and her
grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and
they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor
hunger nor pain, for they were with God.
Question 4.
 
What happened to the little girl? What did the people think?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl died and the people saw that one bundle of matches was burnt. They said she had
tried to warm herself.
Question 5.
 
Why was there a smile on the girl’s lips? Did the people understand?
 
Answer:
 
The girl had a smile on her face when she died because she was relinquishing a world of pain and
suffering and was reunited with the person she loved the most, her grandmother and God.No one
imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her
grandmother, on New-year’s day. They had no idea about the beautiful pictures she had seen.
Assignment
Question 1.
 
The author shows death as a relief from a harsh life. Justify with reference to the story.
 
Answer:
 
In the snowy streets of the city a pitiable young girl is selling matches on New Years Eve in a
desperate attempt to appease her father’s violent anger. Alone with her matches and their
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Comprehension Passages
Passage 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening— the last evening of
the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and
with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that?
They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the
poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that
rolled by dreadfully fast.
One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an urchin, and off he ran
with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle when he some day or other should have
children himself. So the little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and
blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in
her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a
single farthing. She crept along trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of sorrow, the poor
little thing!
Question 1.
 
Which day of the year was it in the story?
 
Answer:
 
It was terribly cold. It snowed, and it was nearly quite dark. It was New Year’s eve and the night
was freezing cold.
Question 2.
 
Describe the condition of the girl.
 
Answer:
 
The little girl was bare headed and barefoot in the freezing cold as she had lost the slippers she
had worn which belonged to her mother and were too large for her. Her feet were quite red and
blue from cold.
Question 3.
 
What did the girl carry in her pocket?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her
hand.
Question 4.
 
Had she managed to sell any matches?
 
Answer:
 
Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing.
Question 5.
 
Does the author give us a glimpse into the Victorian society?
 
Answer:
 
Yes, we get a glimpse into the society in which parents were cruel enough to make their * small
children work in the freezing cold. Begging was a menace and child abuse was common.
Passage 2
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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savoury smell of roast goose, for it was
New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which
projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little
feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and
she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of
money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for
they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes
had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah!
perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it
against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out—“scratch!” how it sputtered as it burnt!
It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a
wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished
brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the
child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove
vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.
Question 1.
 
Where did the girl seek some shelter from the cold?
 
Answer:
 
The girl in order to escape the freezing cold huddled in a corner, between two houses, one of
which projected beyond the other. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep
off the cold.
Question 2.
 
Why could the girl not go home?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even
a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her for earning no money.
Question 3.
 
Describe her home.
 
Answer:
 
Her house was in as poor a condition as her. It was almost as cold at home as on the street
because they had only the roof to cover them. They lacked adequate woollens to keep them warm.
There also the wind howled through the cracks, although the largest holes had been stopped up
with straw and rags.
Question 4.
 
How did she try to keep herself warm?
 
Answer:
 
She thought of lighting her matches to keep herself warm .
Question 5.
 
What did she imagine when she lighted the first match?
 
Answer:
 
When she lighted the first match it seemed to give a warm, bright light, like a little candle. It was
really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with
polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and it seemed so beautifully warm
that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them.
Passage 3
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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas-tree. It
was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door
at the rich merchant’s. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colored
pictures, like those she had seen in the show- windows, looked down upon it all. The little one
stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.
The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then
she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little
girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had
told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
Question 1.
 
What did she see when she lighted another match?
 
Answer:
 
When the girl lighted another match she saw herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas- tree. It
was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door
at the rich merchant’s.
Question 2.
 
Describe the Christmas tree.
 
Answer:
 
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. There were thousands of tapers were burning upon
the green branches, and coloured pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked
down upon it all.
Question 3.
 
What happened when she stretched her hand to touch?
 
Answer:
 
As soon as she stretched her hand to touch the match went out and the tree disappeared.
Question 4.
 
How did the Christmas lights appear when the match went out?
 
Answer:
 
When the match went out the Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the
stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire.
Question 5.
 
Why did the girl think that “Someone is dying” ?
 
Answer:
 
The girl thought that “Someone is dying” because her old grandmother, the only one who had ever
loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
Passage 4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her
old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance. “Grandmother,” cried
the little one, “O take me with you; I know you will go away when the match burns out; you will
vanish like the warm stove, the roast goose, and the large, glorious Christmas-tree.” And she made
haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the
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matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon-day, and her grandmother had never
appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in
brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they
were with God.
In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth, leaning
against the wall; she had been frozen to death on the last evening of the year; and the New-year’s
sun rose and shone upon a little corpse! The child still sat, in the stiffness of death, holding the
matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt. “She tried to warm herself,” said some. No
one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her
grandmother, on New-year’s day.
Question 1.
 
What happened when she lighted another match?
 
Answer:
 
When she lighted another match the light shone round her and in the brightness stood her old
grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance.
Question 2.
 
What did the girl say to her grandmother? Why?
 
Answer:
 
The girl pleaded with her grandmother to take her along with her because she was the only one in
the world who loved her.
Question 3.
 
Why did the girl make haste to light the whole bundle of matches?
 
Answer:
 
The girl made haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother
there. And the matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon day, and her
grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and
they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor
hunger nor pain, for they were with God.
Question 4.
 
What happened to the little girl? What did the people think?
 
Answer:
 
The little girl died and the people saw that one bundle of matches was burnt. They said she had
tried to warm herself.
Question 5.
 
Why was there a smile on the girl’s lips? Did the people understand?
 
Answer:
 
The girl had a smile on her face when she died because she was relinquishing a world of pain and
suffering and was reunited with the person she loved the most, her grandmother and God.No one
imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her
grandmother, on New-year’s day. They had no idea about the beautiful pictures she had seen.
Assignment
Question 1.
 
The author shows death as a relief from a harsh life. Justify with reference to the story.
 
Answer:
 
In the snowy streets of the city a pitiable young girl is selling matches on New Years Eve in a
desperate attempt to appease her father’s violent anger. Alone with her matches and their
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accompanying visions the girl passes on and is found later the next day, dead and with a smile
playing across her face. The plot of The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian
Anderson is meant to inspire a charity of tears for this young girl and her untimely death. However
not in all instances should such a death be so unfortunate In the little match girls case death would
not be the worst of all evils but an alleviation to mortals who are worn out with sufferings. Thus
death can come as a relief to those whose toils and cares overcome the will to live and when a
better life can only be satisfied by fate. Firstly, for some, peace and comfort can only be obtained in
death. The little match girl seeks such comfort in the streets but obviously finds none in the bitter
bleak night. Once she is quite numb with cold, she thinks that a little match would be a comfort. So
light here represents the comfort of heat. For example when she does light the match it blazes into
a clear warm flame, which transforms with a little help from her imagination into a warm friendly
fire. When the match goes out the stove vanishes and she is left again to suffer the icy night. So
peace and contentment cannot always be found in this life but the one after death. Therefore death
need not be viewed as the ultimate evil as for many it can be a release into a better life.
Question 2.
 
Anderson through the story a Little Match Girl gives an idea about the Victorian society of his
times?
 
Answer:
 
Andersen portrays in this tale not only a realistic and crude view of society in Victorian times, but
also a deep criticism of social class differentiation. During those times, children were not regarded
the same way people regard them nowadays. Instead, they were viewed as ‘miniature adults’ and
were usually used for cheap labour.
Andersen takes advantage of these strong social differences to leave a moral teaching at the end
of his tale, this consists of the idea that children should be considered as creative people, able to
transcend difficult situations through the power of imagination.
The girl, suffering from the cold and the ignorance of the people around her and maybe as a result
of these, is still capable of imagining certain things that would make her feel better about her
situation- huge Christmas trees, a table full of Christmas food and her grandmother’s loving face.
Andersen describes the social stratification of Victorian times in just a few sentences. During this
historical period, while the ‘middle class’ emerged and took over an important percentage of work
places, the ‘under class’ grew resentful of both aristocracy and middle class, remaining
unemployed and living in poverty. Although Andersen does not explain the girl’s background, he
denotes social differentiation by opposing the extremes. The reader understands that the girl and
her family stand on the less fortunate side, and it also gives him/her an idea of their social
impediments. Nevertheless, it can only be assumed that the story is set during Victorian times,
mainly because Andersen lived during this period.
Question 3.
 
The Little Match Girl can be viewed as a work of opposites. Justify.
 
Answer:
 
Little Match Girl can be viewed as a work of opposites can be analysed as a work of opposites.
Andersen plays with the interaction between violence and love, poverty and wealth, struggle and
redemption, life and death. These constant relationships are displayed in such a manner that
keeps us entertained during the reading process, and we are later left with a moral learning.
The author talks about segregation, religious faith and human relationships.Instead of getting love
and care from her father, the girl only got blows for not selling matches. The girl sees only her old
grandmother as the only loving relationship and views her, ‘bright and radiant, so mild, and with
such an expression of love.’
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