KEY CHARACTERS
1. Old Woman: A persistent and determined elderly woman trying to make a living.
2. The Speaker: A passerby who interacts with the old woman.
MAJOR THEMES
1. Poverty and Survival: The plight of the old woman reflects poverty and the desperation to earn a living.
2. Human Apathy: The speaker’s initial indifference to the old woman symbolizes societal neglect of marginalized individuals.
3. Empathy and Reflection: The speaker’s realization of the woman’s struggle brings a deeper understanding of her situation.
4. Decay and Transformation: The physical and metaphorical cracks signify decay in society and humanity.
KEY CONCEPTS
1. The contrast between material wealth and human dignity.
2. Transformation of the speaker’s attitude.
3. The persistence of the marginalized.
4. Symbolism of physical cracks as societal decay.
IMAGERIES AND METAPHORS
1. Bullet holes in her eyes: Represent the old woman’s suffering and hardship.
2. Cracks around her eyes: Symbolize the deep scars of her struggle and societal neglect.
3. Hills crack, temples crack, sky falls: Reflect the speaker’s epiphany about societal indifference and decay.
4. Reduced to small change: Highlights the speaker’s diminished self-worth in light of the woman’s resilience.
5. Shatterproof crone: Illustrates the old woman’s indomitable spirit.
II. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each. (2 Marks Questions)
1. Who is the old woman in the poem?
Answer: A persistent elderly woman trying to earn a living. 2. What does the old woman offer to do?
Answer: Take the passerby to the horseshoe shrine.
3. What does the old woman expect for her service? Answer: A fifty paise coin.
4. What is the horseshoe shrine?
Answer: A sacred site linked to the legend of Khandoba. 5. How does the speaker initially react to the old woman? Answer: He is irritated and wants to end the interaction.
6. What are the old woman’s eyes compared to?
7. What symbolizes the old woman’s determination?
Answer: Her persistence and firm grip on the speaker’s shirt.
8. What does “so much small change” signify in the poem?
Answer: The speaker’s feeling of insignificance.
9. What is the tone of the poem?
Answer: Reflective and critical.
10. What cracks in the poem symbolize societal decay?
Answer: Cracks in the hills, temples, and the sky.
11. Why does the old woman persist in tagging along with the speaker?
Answer: She is determined to earn a fifty paise coin, as it is her means of survival.
12. What does the phrase “shatterproof crone” imply?
Answer: It implies the old woman’s resilience despite her harsh life.
13. How does the speaker’s perception of the old woman change?
Answer: He initially sees her as a nuisance but later realizes her struggle and dignity.
14. Why does the speaker look at the sky after hearing the old woman’s words? Answer: He is deeply moved and reflects on her plight and societal neglect.
15. What does the comparison of her eyes to bullet holes signify?
Answer: It signifies her life filled with pain and suffering.
16. Why does the poet describe the hills and temples as cracking?
Answer: To symbolize the crumbling values of society.
17. What does the old woman’s persistence teach the speaker?
Answer: It teaches him about strength and survival in adversity.
18. How does the poem critique society?
Answer: It highlights societal neglect and apathy toward marginalized individuals.
19. What does the old woman’s grip on the shirt signify?
Answer: Her determination and refusal to give up.
20. Why is the old woman described as a burr?
Answer: To indicate her tenacity and inability to be ignored.
21. How does the poet use imagery to depict the old woman’s hardships?
Answer: The poet uses metaphors like “bullet holes” and “cracks” to show her pain and resilience, while the description of the hills and temples reflects societal decay.
22. How does the poem highlight the dignity of marginalized individuals?
Answer: Through the old woman’s persistence and strength, it shows how she maintains her dignity despite her struggles.
23. What lesson does the speaker learn from the old woman?
Answer: The speaker learns to empathize with the resilience and plight of the marginalized.
24. How is the phrase “reduced to small change” significant?
Answer: It reflects the speaker’s realization of his own insignificance compared to the old woman’s strength.
III. Answer the following questions in about 60 words each. (3 Marks Questions)
1: Who is the main character in the poem “An Old Woman”?
Answer: The main character is an old woman who approaches the speaker. She asks him for a fifty paise coin to take him to the horseshoe shrine. Despite him having already seen the shrine, she grabs onto him and insists on going there with him, showing her determination.
2: What does the old woman want from the speaker?
Answer: The old woman wants a fifty paise coin from the speaker. She believes that having this coin will allow her to take him to the horseshoe shrine. Her desire to go there signifies her hopefulness despite her old age and wretched appearance, reflecting her longing for connection.
3: How does the old woman hold on to the speaker?
Answer: The old woman grabs the speaker’s sleeve tightly and then grips his shirt as they walk together. She doesn’t let go, demonstrating her persistence and need for companionship. This physical hold represents her desire to connect with the speaker, making it difficult for him to escape her presence.
4: What does the speaker think about the old woman initially?
Answer: At first, the speaker finds the old woman bothersome and wants to end the situation. He feels frustrated, comparing her to other old women who cling to him. He sees the encounter as a farce and wishes she would let go, showing his initial lack of empathy for her.
5: What does the old woman say to the speaker that makes him pause?
Answer: The old woman says, “What else can an old woman do on hills as wretched as these?” This statement makes the speaker pause and reflect on her life. It highlights her loneliness and struggle, making him reconsider his attitude toward her and revealing the deeper meaning behind her request.
6: How does the speaker describe the old woman’s eyes?
Answer: The speaker describes the old woman’s eyes as “bullet holes,” suggesting they look empty and damaged. This description conveys her suffering and the hardships she has faced in life. It creates a vivid image in the reader’s mind, making the old woman seem fragile and emotionally wounded.
7: What happens when the speaker really looks at the old woman?
Answer: When the speaker truly looks at the old woman, he notices cracks around her eyes that seem to spread beyond her skin. As he observes, he imagines that the cracks
extend to the hills, temples, and even the sky, connecting her suffering to the environment around her.
8: Why does the old woman insist on having the coin?
Answer: The old woman insists on having the fifty paise coin because she believes it will help her take the speaker to the horseshoe shrine. This reflects her desperation and hope to connect with someone, showing that even small acts of kindness can mean a lot to those who are lonely.
9: What effect does the old woman’s presence have on the speaker?
Answer: The old woman’s presence makes the speaker feel uncomfortable and frustrated at first. However, as he listens to her, he starts to reflect deeply on her life and struggles. He begins to sense a connection to her pain, leading him to reconsider his initial thoughts and feelings about her.
10: How do the hills and temples relate to the old woman in the poem?
Answer: The hills and temples parallel the old woman’s state, as both appear cracked and wretched. This imagery suggests that her suffering is shared with her surroundings, emphasizing themes of decay and hardship. It highlights the idea that everything in life can be connected through shared experiences of struggle.
11: What does the speaker mean by “clear through the bullet holes she has for her eyes”?
Answer: The phrase “bullet holes she has for her eyes” means that the old woman’s eyes look empty and damaged, reflecting her difficult life. It suggests that she has witnessed many hardships, and her gaze conveys sadness and weariness, making the reader think about her experiences and emotions.
12: Why might the speaker choose to look at the sky instead of the old woman? Answer: The speaker looks at the sky instead of at the old woman as a way to escape the uncomfortable situation. It symbolizes his reluctance to confront the harsh reality
of her life, as looking away allows him to avoid feeling empathy for her and the struggles she faces.
13: How can the imagery of cracks in the poem relate to life?
Answer: The imagery of cracks symbolizes how life is filled with imperfections and struggles. Just like the old woman and the cracked surroundings, everyone faces challenges. This reminds us to show kindness to others, as we all have our struggles. It also teaches us that healing can come from understanding and support.
(FROM QUESTION BANK)
I. Answer the following in a word, a phrase, or a sentence each:
1. In the poem “An Old Woman’, ‘You’ refers to:
Answer: b. any pilgrim whom the old woman meets.
2. What does the old woman offer to do?
Answer: She offers to take the speaker to the horseshoe shrine.
3. Where does the old woman want to take the speaker?
Answer: To the horseshoe shrine in Jejuri.
4. The old woman is.
Answer: b. a person with self-respect.
5. The old woman represents.
Answer: a. inhuman social negligence.
6. What does the old woman demand for her service?
Answer: A fifty paise coin.
7. The old woman sticks to the speaker like a.
Answer: burr.
8. The old woman’s eyes are compared to.
Answer: bullet holes.
9. What does the phrase ‘bullet holes’ stand for?
Answer: The old woman’s pain and suffering etched into her eyes.
10. ‘You want to end the farce.’ Here, “farce” stands for:
Answer: c. the old woman pestering the speaker.
11. Who is referred to as a ‘shatterproof crone’ in the poem?
Answer: The old woman.
12. Name the shrine mentioned in the poem.
Answer: The horseshoe shrine.
IV. Answer the following questions in about 100 words each (4 Marks)
1. How is the plight of the old woman depicted in the poem?
Answer: The old woman in the poem symbolizes the marginalized and neglected sections of society. She clings to the speaker, asking for a mere fifty paise coin, reflecting her struggle for survival. Her eyes, compared to “bullet holes,” show the deep scars of suffering and the harshness of her life. Despite her age and frailty, she persistently tries to earn through honest means, highlighting her dignity. The speaker initially views her as a nuisance but later understands her misery, which is a reflection of societal apathy towards the elderly and poor.
2. How does the speaker’s attitude undergo a change?
Answer: The speaker initially feels irritated and dismissive of the old woman, seeing her as a bothersome figure clinging to him for a coin. He tries to end the interaction, viewing it as a farce. However, her question, “What else can an old woman do on hills as wretched as these?” forces him to reflect on her plight. He begins to see her suffering and resilience, symbolized by her “bullet holes” and cracks. By the end, his scorn changes to respect, recognizing her as a “shatterproof crone,” representing indomitable spirit amid societal neglect.
3. “The old woman dwarfs the self-esteem of the speaker and makes him feel that he is nothing more than a small change in her hand.” Comment.
Answer: The poem portrays a transformation in the speaker’s perception of self- worth. Initially dismissive of the old woman, the speaker feels superior. However, her persistence and resilience force him to confront his indifference and arrogance. Her plight makes him realize the depth of societal neglect and the privilege he takes for granted. The metaphor of being reduced to “small change” in her hand signifies the humbling of his ego, as he recognizes her strength in the face of adversity and his own insignificance in comparison.
4. The speaker’s perception of the old woman changes from ‘burr’ to a ‘shatterproof crone’ in the poem “An Old Woman.” Elaborate.
Answer: Initially, the speaker finds the old woman’s persistence annoying, describing her as a “burr” that clings to him. This reflects his irritation and condescension toward her. However, as the interaction unfolds, the old woman’s resilience and dignity become evident. Her question about what else she can do on the wretched hills forces him to empathize with her situation. By the end, he sees her as a “shatterproof crone,” a symbol of strength and endurance. This shift highlights his journey from apathy to respect, mirroring society’s potential for recognizing the dignity of marginalized individuals.
5. ‘The miserable plight of the old woman is a comment on the merciless society.’ Examine.
Answer: The poem critiques society’s neglect of the elderly and marginalized. The old woman represents those left to fend for themselves in poverty, despite their age and vulnerability. Her persistence and dignity contrast sharply with societal indifference, embodied in the speaker’s initial dismissiveness. The imagery of cracks in the hills, temples, and sky reflects the larger decay of societal values, emphasizing the lack of empathy for the underprivileged. Through the old woman’s plight, the poem urges readers to confront their own indifference and recognize the humanity in those often overlooked.
6. Why does the speaker’s scorn change to respect for the old woman towards the end of the poem?
Answer: The speaker’s scorn transforms into respect as he begins to understand the old woman’s plight. Her persistence and honest effort to earn reflect her dignity and resilience, which starkly contrasts with his earlier condescension. Her rhetorical question about her helplessness on the wretched hills serves as a moment of reflection for the speaker, forcing him to see the deeper societal neglect she represents. This realization humbles him, and he comes to admire her as a “shatterproof crone,” symbolizing an unyielding spirit in the face of adversity.