Important Questions Chapter 2.3 “The Twins” Class 10 English Maharashtra Board

Important Question For All Chapters – English Class 10

Short Questions

1. Who are the main characters in the poem?

• The speaker and his identical twin brother, John.

2. Why were the twins often confused with each other?

• They looked identical in every physical aspect.

3. Who mixed up the twins’ names?

• The nurse mixed up their names during a bath.

4. What name did the speaker get?

• The speaker got his brother John’s name.

5. What happened to the speaker at school?

• He was punished for mistakes committed by his twin brother.

6. What question did the speaker ask others?

• He asked how he could prove his own identity.

7. What was the impact of the resemblance on the speaker’s personal life?

• His intended bride mistakenly married his twin brother.

8. How did the speaker describe his life?

• As a series of absurd and mistaken events caused by their resemblance.

9. What happened when the speaker died?

• The neighbors mistakenly buried his brother John.

10. What is the theme of the poem?

• The humorous consequences of mistaken identity due to identical twins.

11. What type of humor is used in the poem?

• Exaggeration and irony are used for humor.

12. Who is the poet of the poem?

• Henry Sambrooke Leigh.

13. How does the poem end?

• With the ultimate irony of the speaker being mistaken for his brother after death.

14. What figure of speech is predominantly used in the poem?

• Hyperbole, to emphasize the absurdity of situations.

15. What was the speaker’s final thought?

• He humorously accepted the lifelong confusion caused by his twin.

Long Questions

1. What caused the lifelong identity confusion between the twins?

• The nurse accidentally swapped the names of the twins during a bath, resulting in a mix-up that lasted their entire lives. The speaker was named John, and John was named after the speaker. This confusion became the source of numerous misunderstandings and humorous incidents.

2. How did the twins’ resemblance affect their family and friends?

• The identical appearance of the twins puzzled even their closest relatives and friends. No one could tell them apart, which led to constant mix-ups in daily life. This confusion added to the humor and chaos described in the poem.

3. What difficulties did the speaker face at school?

• At school, the speaker was frequently punished for mistakes committed by his twin brother John. Teachers assumed the two were the same person and unfairly held the speaker accountable. This misunderstanding made his school life challenging and frustrating.

4. How did the speaker’s resemblance to his twin affect his romantic life?

• The speaker’s identical appearance with his twin caused a major mix-up in his personal life. His intended bride, unable to differentiate between the two, mistakenly married his brother. This situation brought emotional turmoil and was a significant turning point in his life.

5. What ironic event happened after the speaker’s death?

• Even in death, the confusion between the twins persisted. When the speaker passed away, the neighbors mistakenly buried his brother John. This final mix-up humorously highlights the lifelong identity crisis they faced.

6. How does the poet use humor to narrate the story?

• The poet uses exaggeration, irony, and hyperbole to highlight the absurdity of the twins’ situations. Each event, from their naming mix-up to the burial mistake, is humorously overstated. This creates a lighthearted yet thought-provoking narrative about identity confusion.

7. What question did the speaker ask repeatedly, and why?

• The speaker frequently asked others how he could prove his identity, given the constant mix-ups. This rhetorical question reflects his frustration and the absurdity of his situation, as no one could provide a solution.

8. How does the poem end, and what does it signify?

• The poem ends with the ultimate irony of the speaker being mistaken for his brother after death. This signifies that the identity confusion was a constant in their lives, even extending beyond life. It humorously emphasizes the theme of mistaken identity.

9. What is the central theme of the poem?

• The poem humorously explores the theme of mistaken identity and its consequences. It highlights how identical appearances can lead to confusion, misunderstandings, and chaos. The poet uses humor and exaggeration to make this theme relatable and entertaining.

10. What lessons can be learned from the poem?

• The poem teaches the importance of individuality and how external appearances can sometimes overshadow true identity. It also humorously cautions against taking things at face value. Despite the humor, it subtly highlights the challenges of living with constant misidentification.