Class 12 English Previous Year: Short Questions with Answers - Poets and Pancakes

Q.1. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up?
Ans. The make-up room had several incandescent lights. They gave out intense heat. Those who were subjected to make-up had to endure that scorching heat miserably.

Q.2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
Ans. The author refers to the make-up department as the symbol of national integration. People from various parts of India worked together there.

Q.3. What work did the office boy do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the Studios? Why was he disappointed?
Ans. Whenever there was a crowd shooting in the Gemini Studios, the office boy mixed paint and slapped it on the crowd players. He had joined the Gemini Studios many years ago. He hoped he would become a star actor or top screen writer, director or lyrics writer. But he remained an office boy. He was disappointed because he felt his talent was going in waste.

Q.4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the Studios?
Ans. The duty of the writer was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects. He appeared to be doing nothing except tearing newspapers.

Q.5. Why was the office boy frustrated? What did he show his anger on?
Ans. The office boy felt that he had a great talent but he was made to rot in a department that was fit only for barbers and perverts. He blamed Kothamangalam Subbu who was No. 2 in the Studios, for his neglect and disgrace.

Q.6. Who was Subbu’s principal?
Ans. The Boss, Mr. Vasan, was Subbu’s principal.

Q.7. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Ans. Subbu’s four specialties were:
(i) Subbu was tailor-made for films. He was always ready with a solution to every problem.
(ii) Subbu was a poet who was capable of writing complex and higher form of poetry.
(iii) Subbu was a fine novelist.
(iv) He could stay cheerful even in the face of failure.

Q.8. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by the others?
Ans. The legal adviser never helped anybody to solve a legal problem. He created legal problems for others. For example, he ruined the career of a talented actress by his action. When she heard her recorded voice, she felt she had committed a crime.

Q.9. What made the lawyer stand out from others at Gemini Studios?
Ans. The lawyer was a member of story department. All members wore khadi dhoti and long khadi shirt. But the lawyer wore trousers, shirt and tie. Sometimes, he wore a coat too. This approach made him look different from others.

Q.10. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
Ans. No, the people at Gemini Studios had no particular political affiliations. They wore khadi and worshipped Gandhiji but beyond that they had no affiliations to any political thought.

Q.11. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
Ans. They were welcomed at the Studios because they presented two plays in the most professional manner. Their costumes and sets were greatly appreciated and imitated at the Studios for years.

Q.12. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
Ans. The Studios were particularly influenced by the sunset and sunrise scenes presented by MRA in their play Jotham Valley. The scenes were presented on a bare stage with a white background and a tune played on the flute. These scenes were imitated at the Studios.

Q.13. Who was the Boss of the Gemini Studios?
Ans. Mr. Vasan was the boss of the Gemini Studios.

Q.13. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
Ans. People at the Studios did not know what the Englishman was talking about. Besides, his peculiar accent made it absolutely impossible to understand him.

Q.15. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
Ans. Nobody could understand the purpose of English poet’s visit to a film studio. They made Tamil films for the simplest sort of people who could not be expected to cultivate a taste for English poetry. So, the visit remained an unexplained mystery.

Q.16. Who was the English visitor to the Studios?
Ans. Stephen Spender, an English poet and editor of The Encounter, was the visitor in the Studios.

Q.17. How did the author discover, who the English visitor to the Studios was?
Ans. The author wanted to send an entry into a contest organised by The Encounter. He wanted to get an idea about the periodical. He went to the British Council Library. There he found copies of The Encounter. He discovered the name of the editor. He recalled it as the Englishman who had visited the Gemini Studios.

Q.18. What does The God That failed referred to?
Ans. The God That Failed is a collection of six essays by six different writers. They all describe their journeys into communism and their disillusioned return.

Q.19. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
Ans. Kothamangalam Subbu was a very talented person. The Boss sought his opinion whenever he was faced with a problem. Subbu was very close to the Boss and was usually seen with him. So, he was considered No. 2 in the Gemini Studios.

 Q.20. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Ans. The Studios made Tamil films for simple people who had nothing to do with English poetry. It could not be expected that the Englishman’s visit and his speech could cultivate interest in English poetry in them. So, the author could not see any logic in Englishman’s addressing the audience at Gemini Studios.