Treasure Trove Textbook Solutions: Poem: After Blenheim | English Class 10 ICSE PDF Download

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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1 and 2
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. An elderly farmer named Kaspar sits in front of his cottage
watching his grandchildren, Wilhelmine and Peterkin, at play. Peterkin is rolling an object he found
near a stream. He takes it to Kaspar and asks what it is.
Question 2.
 
Who was playing on the grass near Kasper?
 
Answer:
 
His grandchild Wilhelmine was playing on the grass nearby.
Question 3.
 
What was Peterkin doing?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was playing beside a small stream.
Question 4.
 
What did Peterkin find?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin found an object that was large,smooth and round.
Question 5.
 
Who was Peterkin?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was Old Kasper’s grandson and Wilhelmine’s brother.
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1 and 2
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. An elderly farmer named Kaspar sits in front of his cottage
watching his grandchildren, Wilhelmine and Peterkin, at play. Peterkin is rolling an object he found
near a stream. He takes it to Kaspar and asks what it is.
Question 2.
 
Who was playing on the grass near Kasper?
 
Answer:
 
His grandchild Wilhelmine was playing on the grass nearby.
Question 3.
 
What was Peterkin doing?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was playing beside a small stream.
Question 4.
 
What did Peterkin find?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin found an object that was large,smooth and round.
Question 5.
 
Who was Peterkin?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was Old Kasper’s grandson and Wilhelmine’s brother.
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Stanza 3 and 4
 
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. The old man, who has found many such objects while
ploughing the fields, replies that it is the skull of a soldier who died in the Battle of Blenheim. He
tells them that lie found many such skulls as a large number of soldiers had died in the war which
was a great victory.
Question 2.
 
What did Old Kasper do when Peterkin came to him with the object?
 
Answer:
 
When Peterkin came to him with the object, old Kasper shook his head and sighed.
Question 3.
 
What did Kasper say?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper said that it seemed to be a skull of some soldier who had died in the great victory of the
Battle of Blenheim.
Question 4.
 
What words show that there were many such skulls to be found there?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper comments that:
‘I find them in the garden,
 
For there’s many here about;” For many thousand men,” said he,
 
“Were slain in that great victory” which shows that many people had died in the battle.
Question 5.
 
What does the tone of Kasper’s words suggest?
 
Answer:
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1 and 2
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. An elderly farmer named Kaspar sits in front of his cottage
watching his grandchildren, Wilhelmine and Peterkin, at play. Peterkin is rolling an object he found
near a stream. He takes it to Kaspar and asks what it is.
Question 2.
 
Who was playing on the grass near Kasper?
 
Answer:
 
His grandchild Wilhelmine was playing on the grass nearby.
Question 3.
 
What was Peterkin doing?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was playing beside a small stream.
Question 4.
 
What did Peterkin find?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin found an object that was large,smooth and round.
Question 5.
 
Who was Peterkin?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was Old Kasper’s grandson and Wilhelmine’s brother.
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Stanza 3 and 4
 
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. The old man, who has found many such objects while
ploughing the fields, replies that it is the skull of a soldier who died in the Battle of Blenheim. He
tells them that lie found many such skulls as a large number of soldiers had died in the war which
was a great victory.
Question 2.
 
What did Old Kasper do when Peterkin came to him with the object?
 
Answer:
 
When Peterkin came to him with the object, old Kasper shook his head and sighed.
Question 3.
 
What did Kasper say?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper said that it seemed to be a skull of some soldier who had died in the great victory of the
Battle of Blenheim.
Question 4.
 
What words show that there were many such skulls to be found there?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper comments that:
‘I find them in the garden,
 
For there’s many here about;” For many thousand men,” said he,
 
“Were slain in that great victory” which shows that many people had died in the battle.
Question 5.
 
What does the tone of Kasper’s words suggest?
 
Answer:
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It is evident from Kasper’s answer that he was not upset about the death of thousands in the battle,
rather the only thing that concerned him was that it was a great victory.
Question 6.
 
Why does the poet use a skull?
 
Answer:
 
Southey uses a skull, as it is the most unique part of the human body. This makes you recognise
that the skull was once part of a human body that was ruthlessly killed, and again emphasises the
pointlessness of war.
Stanza 5 and 6
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. Their curiosity aroused, the children ask him about the battle
and why it was fought. The English routed the French, he says, in what later generations would call
a great and famous victory. However, Kaspar is at a loss to explain the cause of the battle but he is
complacent and says that everyone said that it was a great victory and that is all that mattered to
him.
Question 2.
 
Quote the lines that show the children were curious about the battle and its outcome?
 
Answer:
 
The lines that show the curiosity of the children are:
“Now tell us what ’twas all about,”
 
Young Peterkin, he cries;
 
And little Wilhelmine looks up
 
With wonder-waiting eyes;
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1 and 2
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. An elderly farmer named Kaspar sits in front of his cottage
watching his grandchildren, Wilhelmine and Peterkin, at play. Peterkin is rolling an object he found
near a stream. He takes it to Kaspar and asks what it is.
Question 2.
 
Who was playing on the grass near Kasper?
 
Answer:
 
His grandchild Wilhelmine was playing on the grass nearby.
Question 3.
 
What was Peterkin doing?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was playing beside a small stream.
Question 4.
 
What did Peterkin find?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin found an object that was large,smooth and round.
Question 5.
 
Who was Peterkin?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was Old Kasper’s grandson and Wilhelmine’s brother.
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Stanza 3 and 4
 
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. The old man, who has found many such objects while
ploughing the fields, replies that it is the skull of a soldier who died in the Battle of Blenheim. He
tells them that lie found many such skulls as a large number of soldiers had died in the war which
was a great victory.
Question 2.
 
What did Old Kasper do when Peterkin came to him with the object?
 
Answer:
 
When Peterkin came to him with the object, old Kasper shook his head and sighed.
Question 3.
 
What did Kasper say?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper said that it seemed to be a skull of some soldier who had died in the great victory of the
Battle of Blenheim.
Question 4.
 
What words show that there were many such skulls to be found there?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper comments that:
‘I find them in the garden,
 
For there’s many here about;” For many thousand men,” said he,
 
“Were slain in that great victory” which shows that many people had died in the battle.
Question 5.
 
What does the tone of Kasper’s words suggest?
 
Answer:
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It is evident from Kasper’s answer that he was not upset about the death of thousands in the battle,
rather the only thing that concerned him was that it was a great victory.
Question 6.
 
Why does the poet use a skull?
 
Answer:
 
Southey uses a skull, as it is the most unique part of the human body. This makes you recognise
that the skull was once part of a human body that was ruthlessly killed, and again emphasises the
pointlessness of war.
Stanza 5 and 6
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. Their curiosity aroused, the children ask him about the battle
and why it was fought. The English routed the French, he says, in what later generations would call
a great and famous victory. However, Kaspar is at a loss to explain the cause of the battle but he is
complacent and says that everyone said that it was a great victory and that is all that mattered to
him.
Question 2.
 
Quote the lines that show the children were curious about the battle and its outcome?
 
Answer:
 
The lines that show the curiosity of the children are:
“Now tell us what ’twas all about,”
 
Young Peterkin, he cries;
 
And little Wilhelmine looks up
 
With wonder-waiting eyes;
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Question 3.
 
Did the children wonder about the reason for the war?
 
Answer:
 
The children asked Kasper as to why was the battle fought. They asked:
“Now tell us all about the war,
 
And what they fought each other for.”
Question 4.
 
Name the two opposing sides. Who won?
 
Answer:
 
The battle was fought between the English and French. The French were defeated.
Question 5.
 
Why does Kasper repeat the line ‘twas a great victory?
 
Answer:
 
Old Kasper continuously repeats this sentence as this is all he knows about the war. Although it is
constantly mentioned that it was a great victory this is not what the poem is saying. Southey is
using this phrase to emphasise the exact opposite, that it wasn’t a great victory.
Stanza 7 and 8
 
 
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession.He does know that thousands died in it—not only soldiers but
also townspeople, including children. In fact, the fields were littered with corpses. But such terrible
consequences are part of war, he says. They do not negate the glory of the victory.
Question 2.
 
What happened to Kaspar’s family in the war?
 
Answer:
 
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1 and 2
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. An elderly farmer named Kaspar sits in front of his cottage
watching his grandchildren, Wilhelmine and Peterkin, at play. Peterkin is rolling an object he found
near a stream. He takes it to Kaspar and asks what it is.
Question 2.
 
Who was playing on the grass near Kasper?
 
Answer:
 
His grandchild Wilhelmine was playing on the grass nearby.
Question 3.
 
What was Peterkin doing?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was playing beside a small stream.
Question 4.
 
What did Peterkin find?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin found an object that was large,smooth and round.
Question 5.
 
Who was Peterkin?
 
Answer:
 
Peterkin was Old Kasper’s grandson and Wilhelmine’s brother.
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Stanza 3 and 4
 
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. The old man, who has found many such objects while
ploughing the fields, replies that it is the skull of a soldier who died in the Battle of Blenheim. He
tells them that lie found many such skulls as a large number of soldiers had died in the war which
was a great victory.
Question 2.
 
What did Old Kasper do when Peterkin came to him with the object?
 
Answer:
 
When Peterkin came to him with the object, old Kasper shook his head and sighed.
Question 3.
 
What did Kasper say?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper said that it seemed to be a skull of some soldier who had died in the great victory of the
Battle of Blenheim.
Question 4.
 
What words show that there were many such skulls to be found there?
 
Answer:
 
Kasper comments that:
‘I find them in the garden,
 
For there’s many here about;” For many thousand men,” said he,
 
“Were slain in that great victory” which shows that many people had died in the battle.
Question 5.
 
What does the tone of Kasper’s words suggest?
 
Answer:
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It is evident from Kasper’s answer that he was not upset about the death of thousands in the battle,
rather the only thing that concerned him was that it was a great victory.
Question 6.
 
Why does the poet use a skull?
 
Answer:
 
Southey uses a skull, as it is the most unique part of the human body. This makes you recognise
that the skull was once part of a human body that was ruthlessly killed, and again emphasises the
pointlessness of war.
Stanza 5 and 6
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession. Their curiosity aroused, the children ask him about the battle
and why it was fought. The English routed the French, he says, in what later generations would call
a great and famous victory. However, Kaspar is at a loss to explain the cause of the battle but he is
complacent and says that everyone said that it was a great victory and that is all that mattered to
him.
Question 2.
 
Quote the lines that show the children were curious about the battle and its outcome?
 
Answer:
 
The lines that show the curiosity of the children are:
“Now tell us what ’twas all about,”
 
Young Peterkin, he cries;
 
And little Wilhelmine looks up
 
With wonder-waiting eyes;
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Downloaded from https://www.ncertbooksolutions.com/
https://www.ncertbooksolutions.com
Question 3.
 
Did the children wonder about the reason for the war?
 
Answer:
 
The children asked Kasper as to why was the battle fought. They asked:
“Now tell us all about the war,
 
And what they fought each other for.”
Question 4.
 
Name the two opposing sides. Who won?
 
Answer:
 
The battle was fought between the English and French. The French were defeated.
Question 5.
 
Why does Kasper repeat the line ‘twas a great victory?
 
Answer:
 
Old Kasper continuously repeats this sentence as this is all he knows about the war. Although it is
constantly mentioned that it was a great victory this is not what the poem is saying. Southey is
using this phrase to emphasise the exact opposite, that it wasn’t a great victory.
Stanza 7 and 8
 
 
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to context.
 
Answer:
 
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘After Blenheim’ which is an antiwar poem in the form
of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on the most famous battle in
the War of the Spanish Succession.He does know that thousands died in it—not only soldiers but
also townspeople, including children. In fact, the fields were littered with corpses. But such terrible
consequences are part of war, he says. They do not negate the glory of the victory.
Question 2.
 
What happened to Kaspar’s family in the war?
 
Answer:
 
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In the war ,Kaspar’s house was burnt down and his father had to flee alongwith his wife and
children.
Question 3.
 
What does Kasper’s attitude signify?
 
Answer:
 
Old Kaspar unquestioningly accepts the loss of innocent women and children in the Battle of
Blenheim as one of the prices of the glorious victory. His complacent attitude is not unlike that of
modern politicians who dismiss the deaths of innocent civilians in arenas of war by referring to
them with the impersonal phrase “collateral damage.”
Question 4.
 
Explain the lines:
“With fire and sword the country round
 
Was wasted far and wide,’
Answer:
 
Old Kaspar tells his grandchildren that due to the war the entire countryside was ravaged. Many
people were killed by the sword and their houses burnt to the ground.
Question 5.
 
Kaspar describes the horrors of war but how can his attitude be described?
 
Answer:
 
Kaspar can describe what the war was like at Blenheim, but he cannot explain why the belligerents
went to war. Nor does he seem curious about the causes. All that matters to him is that Austria and
England won a glorious victory. He seems complacent and uncaring about the inhumanities of war
,all that he is concerned with is that it was a great victory for his country.
Stanza 9, 10, and 11
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