Class 10 Literature Reader Chapter 7 Question Answers - Chapter 7 - The Frog and the Nightingale

Read the following extracts and answer the following questions.

(1) And the whole admiring bog
 Stared towards the sumac, rapt
 And when she had ended, clapped
 Ducks had swum and herons waded
 to her as she serenaded

(a) What was the reaction of the nightingale’s song?

Ans : All the residents near the sumac tree clapped, praised and felt ecstatic at the nightingale’s song.

(b) Explain ‘serenaded’ and ‘rapt’.

Ans : ‘Serenaded’ means sang beautifully and ‘rapt’ means totally mesmerised.

(c) How did the nightingale sing and make a difference to the frog’s songs?

Ans : She sang very musically and with great emotion which was very different from the frog’s loud and harsh voice.

(2) ‘‘Not too bad - but far too long
 The technique was fine of course
 But it lacked a certain force’.’

(a) Why is the frog making the above comments?

Ans : The frog wishes to impress the nightingale as if he is an expert and get her to train.

(b) What defects does he point out in the nightingale’s songs ?

Ans : The frog states that her song lacked energy and was too long.

(c) What was the reaction of the nightingale to the above comments ?

Ans : The nightingale was impressed as she was very vulnerable and innocent.

(3) Flushed with confidence and fired
 with both art and adoration
 song and was a huge sensation
 ... And the frog with great precision
 counted heads and charged admission

(a) How had nightingale changed after her success?

Ans : The nightingale became confident and enjoyed her success.

(b) How did the frog make use of this situation?

Ans : The frog arranged concerts for her and minted lot of money.

(c) What do the above lines reflect about the nightingale and the frog’s temperament?

Ans : The nightingale was a true artist who thrived on the adulation of the crowd. The frog was a shrewd businessmen, and was very materialistic.

(4) For six hours, till she was shivering
 and her voice was hoarse and quivering
 Though subdued and sleep deprived
 In the night her throat revived

(a) Why had the nightingale come to this state?

Ans : The nightingale had sung for six hours at a stretch, so she was very tired.

(b) How did she revive?

Ans : At night her throat healed after rest.

(c) What would be the future of this kind of exertion?

Ans : She would succumb to such pressure and exertion and that is what happened.

(5) “And my dear, lay on more trills
 Audiences enjoy such frills
 You must make your public happier
 Give them something sharper, snappier
 We must aim for better billings.”

(a) What are the suggestions given by the frog for improvement?

Ans : The frog wanted more embellishments and fast-paced notes from the nightingale.

(b) Do you believe the frog’s suggestions are justified?

Ans : No, the frog wanted to tire and exploit the nightingale.

(c) What objective is there for the frog in giving the suggestions?

Ans : The frog wanted money and be the undisputed singer of the bog.

(6) At a voice so uninspired
 And the ticket office gross
 Crashed and she grew more morose
 For her ears were now addicted
 to applause quite restricted.

(a) Why did the crowd stop listening to the nightingale?

Ans : The nightingale’s songs became dull, routine and uninspiring due to continuous singing.

(b) How did it affect the nightingale?

Ans : She was depressed because she had become addicted to praise and adulation.

(c) The nightingale is a typical artist. What character-trait of hers is being reflected here?

Ans : She thrives on the adulation and praise of her fans, and had become addicted to it.

(7) Well, poor bird - she should have known.
 That your song must be your own
 That’s why I sing with panache

(a) How does the frog express his sympathy?

Ans : The frog pretends to be sympathetic by saying that the nightingale should have restricted herself to her own style.

(b) What character-traits are reflected by the frog’s comments?

Ans : He is inhuman, manipulative and cruel.

(c) Explain ‘panache’.

Ans : It means ‘elegant style’, grand manner

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. How was the frog in the poem, ‘The Frog and the Nightingale’ responsible for the death of the nightingale?

Ans : The frog was very manipulative and inhuman. He took full advantage of the nightingale’s innocence and vulnerability. He was clever to exploit the nightingale’s weakness for, fame and adoration of the fans. He made her sing in rough weathers, in rain and storm, continuously for hours together. He forced her to pack more energy and sing fast-paced notes. So sheer exertion made the nighingale burst a vein and die.

Q2. “Artists thrive and flourish due to the admiration of their fans.” Do you think this statement proves true in case of the nightingale? Discuss.

Ans : Yes, the nightingale did get addicted to praise and fan-following. It is natural for any artist to look for fame and popularity because they not only thrive on it but also derive inspiration to perform better. The nightingale was no different. She did not enjoy singing when the residents of the bog stopped coming to listen to her concerts.

Q3. Inspite of the frog’s singing the whole night, why did the creatures in the Bingle Bog hate him?
 OR
 How did the Bingle Bog creatures react to frog’s song and the nightingale’s song?

Ans : The creatures of Bingle Bog were very irritated by the loud, brash singing of the frog. The frog was totally insensitive to their discomfort and no amount of threats, beating could stop the frog. The nightingale’s songs were a pleasant relief. She was musical, melodious and never disturbed the creatures of Bingle Bog for no reason.