Important Questions Chapter 25 English Rainbow Part 2 Class 12 Bihar Board बिहार बोर्ड

Important Questions For All Chapters – English Class 12

A Far Cry from Africa

Short Questions with Answers

1. Who is the poet of A Far Cry from Africa?

• The poet of A Far Cry from Africa is Derek Walcott.

2. What does the wind do to Africa in the poem?

• The wind ruffles the “tawny pelt” of Africa, symbolizing disturbance and unrest.

3. What are the Kikuyu compared to in the poem?

• The Kikuyu are compared to flies, showing their overwhelming presence in the bloodshed.

4. Who feeds on the dead bodies in the poem?

• Only worms, referred to as the “colonel of carrion,” feed on the dead bodies.

5. What does the poet say about compassion for the dead?

• The poet says compassion is wasted on the “separate dead,” indicating the dehumanization of victims.

6. What justifies colonial violence in the poem?

• Statistics and scholarly arguments are used to justify colonial violence.

7. What does the poet call the cries of ibises?

• The cries of ibises are described as timeless, having existed since “civilization’s dawn.”

8. How does the poet describe human wars?

• The poet describes human wars as brutal and driven by the same primal instincts as beasts.

9. What is the “white peace” in the poem?

• The “white peace” refers to the false sense of peace achieved through death and oppression.

10. What does the poet call the fight between “the gorilla” and “the superman”?

• The poet calls it a dirty cause, reflecting the futility of violent struggles.

11. What does the poet mean by being “poisoned with the blood of both”?

• The poet means he is torn between his African heritage and his love for the English language.

12. What choice does the poet struggle with?

• The poet struggles between staying loyal to Africa or embracing English culture.

13. What does the poet say about colonial officers?

• The poet curses the “drunken officer of British rule,” criticizing their oppressive actions.

14. How does the poet describe his emotional conflict?

• The poet feels divided “to the vein,” highlighting his deep internal struggle.

15. What question does the poet ask at the end of the poem?

• The poet asks how he can turn away from Africa and still live.

Medium Questions with Answers

1. What is the central theme of A Far Cry from Africa?

• The central theme is the poet’s conflict between his African heritage and his English upbringing. It explores colonial violence, cultural identity, and racial discrimination. The poem questions how one can reconcile such divided loyalties.

2. How does the poem portray the impact of colonialism?

• The poem portrays colonialism as a source of violence and dehumanization. It highlights the justifications given for atrocities and the emotional toll on those caught between cultures. The poet critiques both the oppressors and the oppressed.

3. Why does the poet compare human wars to beastly violence?

• The poet compares human wars to beastly violence to show that humans, despite their claims to divinity, are driven by primal instincts. Human wars are no less savage than animal fights, but they are masked by justifications.

4. What is the significance of the poet’s divided identity?

• The poet’s divided identity symbolizes the broader conflict of colonized individuals torn between their native culture and colonial influences. This division creates a deep emotional struggle and a sense of betrayal toward both cultures.

5. How does the poet describe the colonial policy in the poem?

• The poet describes colonial policy as being justified by statistics and scholars, showing its calculated cruelty. This dehumanizes victims and reduces their suffering to mere numbers and intellectual arguments.

6. What does the poet mean by “betray them both, or give back what they give”?

• The poet feels trapped between betraying his African roots or rejecting the English language he loves. Both choices feel impossible, reflecting his internal turmoil and cultural displacement.

7. What role does nature play in the poem?

• Nature in the poem reflects both beauty and brutality, symbolizing Africa’s landscape and the violence occurring within it. The imagery of the veldt, ibises, and beasts mirrors the chaos and conflict of human actions.

8. What is the poet’s tone in A Far Cry from Africa?

• The poet’s tone is conflicted, mournful, and critical. He mourns the violence in Africa, critiques colonial justifications, and expresses his anguish over his divided identity.

Long Questions with Answers

1. How does A Far Cry from Africa talk about violence?

• The poem talks about violence through images of blood, fighting, and death. It shows how people fight like animals, but humans pretend their wars are more important. The poet criticizes this violence as senseless and harmful for everyone. He shows how it destroys both people and their humanity.

2. What does the poet mean by “upright man seeks his divinity by inflicting pain”?

• The poet means that humans try to act godlike by causing pain and suffering. Unlike animals, humans hurt others and justify it with reasons like power or morals. This makes their actions crueler. The poet questions if causing pain makes humans truly great or good.

3. How does the poet criticize colonial rule in the poem?

• The poet says colonial rulers use numbers and arguments to excuse their violence. They treat people as less important, like numbers or tools. The poet shows how this attitude is cold and wrong. He contrasts these excuses with the real pain and death caused by colonial actions.

4. Why does the poet feel divided about his identity?

• The poet feels divided because he is connected to both Africa and Britain. He loves the English language but dislikes British colonial cruelty. He feels like he doesn’t fully belong to either culture. This makes him feel guilty and confused about where he stands.

5. What message does the poet give at the end of the poem?

• At the end, the poet says he cannot leave Africa, even with all its problems. He struggles to balance his love for Africa and his dislike for its violence. The poem shows how hard it is to handle divided loyalties. It leaves readers thinking about the pain of cultural conflict.