Textbook Solution: Bob Dylan: The Voice of a Generation | Class 7 English Alive PDF Download

A. Tick (✓) the correct sentences and correct the wrong ones.

Q1: Bob Dylan is the first musician to win a Nobel Prize.

Ans:  ✓

Q2: Dylan always has a secret dream of winning a Nobel Prize.

Ans: ✗ (Dylan mentions that the thought of winning a Nobel Prize was so buried deep inside that it was probably unknown even to the dreamer.)

Q3: Bob Dylan has been successful in doing what he set out to achieve.

Ans: ✓

Q4: Dylan felt that it was easier to play for fifty thousand people than fifty people.

Ans: ✗ (Dylan stated that it is harder to play for fifty people than for fifty thousand.)

Q5: Dylan always thought that his songs were literature.

Ans: ✗ (Dylan never really considered whether his songs were literature; the thought never crossed his mind.)

Q6: Bob Dylan had raised his voice against social injustice, war, and racism.

Ans: ✓

Q7: He has also sung religiously inspired songs.

Ans: ✓

Q8: Dylan has always been a conformist.

Ans: ✗ (Dylan has never been a conformist.)

B. Answer these questions briefly.

Q1: Name two authors whose works Dylan had read and absorbed.

Ans: Thomas Mann and Albert Camus.

Q2: Pick out two references from the speech that shows that Dylan was surprised to receive the Nobel Prize.

Ans: Dylan states, "Being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature is something I never could have imagined or seen coming."

He also mentions, "If someone had ever told me that I had the slightest chance of winning the Nobel Prize, I would have to think that I'd have about the same odds as standing on the moon."

Q3: What did Dylan aspire for in his lifetime?

Ans: Dylan aspired for his songs to be heard in places like coffee houses, bars, Carnegie Hall, the London Palladium, and to make records that would be played on the radio.

Q4: What mundane matters did Dylan talk about in his speech?

Ans: Dylan discussed the practical aspects of his work, such as finding the right actors, staging decisions, securing financing, ensuring good seating for patrons, and obtaining a human skull for performances.

Q5: What did Dylan thank the Swedish Academy for?

Ans: Dylan thanked the Swedish Academy for taking the time to consider if his songs could be considered literature and ultimately for providing such a wonderful answer.

Q6: Name two distinct characteristics of his songs.

Ans: His songs are like prose poems with layers of inner meaning.

His songs are instantly recognisable by his distinctive nasal-twang vocals.

Q7: What happened after Dylan's Nobel Prize win was announced?

Ans: Dylan did not respond for two weeks and did not travel to Stockholm for the prize ceremony. Patti Smith accepted the prize and performed on his behalf.

C. Think and answer these questions.

Q1: Why do you think Dylan compared himself to Shakespeare?

Ans: Dylan likely compared himself to Shakespeare to illustrate that both were primarily focused on their creative pursuits without considering the broader implications of their work being literary. Both were absorbed in the practical and creative aspects of their works.

Q2: Dylan said, 'Fifty thousand people have a singular persona, not so with fifty. Each person has an individual, separate identity, a world unto themselves. They can perceive things more clearly.' What do you understand by this statement? Do you agree with the speaker? Why/Why not?

Ans: Dylan’s statement suggests that in smaller audiences, each individual's reaction and perception are more discernible and influential, making performances more intimate and challenging. I agree with this because smaller groups allow for more direct interaction and feedback, which can be more demanding than performing to a large, less personal crowd.

Q3: Barack Obama said, 'Dylan is a little sceptical about the whole enterprise.' Give two instances from the text to justify the statement.

Ans: Dylan's avoidance of rehearsal and reluctance to take a picture with President Obama shows his scepticism towards formalities and the typical celebrity conduct.

Dylan's delayed response to the Nobel Prize announcement and his decision not to attend the ceremony reflect his sceptical attitude towards such formal recognitions.