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Class 11th English Half Yearly Syllabus Covered in One Shot 🔥

Commerce Wallah by PW・101 minutes read

Anshika Chaturvedi leads a revision session covering chapters from books "Hornbill" and "Snapshot," including descriptions of Khushwant Singh's grandmother. The relationship between Khushwant Singh and his grandmother evolves over time, reflecting changes in their bond and experiences.

Insights

Khushwant Singh's relationship with his grandmother evolves from a close bond in childhood to a strained connection as he grows older, impacted by societal changes and language barriers.
Shirley Tolson's reflection on her mother's laughter and cherished memories highlights the lasting impact of past experiences and the emotional depth of familial relationships.
Gordon Cook's family's survival saga during a sea voyage underscores the resilience and determination required to overcome challenges, emphasizing the importance of unity and perseverance in adversity.
The discovery of Tut's mummified body and the elaborate process of revealing it from the coffin shed light on the historical significance of archaeological findings and the meticulous efforts involved in preserving ancient artifacts.

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Recent questions

What is the relationship between Khushwant Singh and his grandmother?
Their bond weakens over time due to changing circumstances.
What is the significance of the photograph in "Give a Photograph" by Shirley Tolson?
It symbolizes cherished memories and the passage of time.
What challenges did Gordon Cook and his family face during their sea voyage?
They encountered rough weather and a massive wave causing injuries.
What is the story of Aram and Murad in the 11th century?
Aram dreams of horse riding, and Murad surprises him with a stolen horse.
What is the significance of the Hanukkah candle holder in "Mrs. Dowling"?
It symbolizes the protagonist's Jewish heritage and cultural identity.

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Summary

00:00

"Khushwant Singh's Evolving Relationship with Grandmother"

Anshika Chaturvedi welcomes students for a revision session on various chapters from books like "Hornbill" and "Snapshot."
The chapters covered include "A Portrait of the Lady" by Khushwant Singh, "Give a Photograph" by Shirley Tolson, and others.
Khushwant Singh describes his grandmother as old, with a bent figure, gray hair, and a wrinkled face.
The relationship between Khushwant Singh and his grandmother evolves over time, from childhood to adulthood.
Khushwant Singh's grandfather is depicted as a Punjabi man with many grandchildren.
His grandmother is described as wearing spotless white attire and counting rosary beads.
In the early days, Khushwant Singh and his grandmother shared a close bond, with her preparing him for school.
When Khushwant Singh's parents move to the city, his relationship with his grandmother changes as they shift to the city.
The bond between Khushwant Singh and his grandmother weakens as he starts attending an English medium school.
Despite the language barrier, his grandmother continues to ask him about his day and what he has learned.

15:28

Grandmother's strict beliefs shape family dynamics.

Children are not taught about God or Scripture in English school, which angers the grandmother.
The grandmother disapproves of singing being taught in school, believing it is not a suitable activity for good people.
The grandmother believes playing music is not appropriate and that children should be taught scriptures instead.
The grandmother explains the meaning of "Hollis and Baggers" as vulgar people.
The author decides to go abroad for further studies after university, and the grandmother remains calm and unemotional about it.
The grandmother spends her days reciting prayers, feeding sparrows, and avoiding talking to anyone.
After five years, the author returns home, and the grandmother is unchanged, hugging him without saying a word.
The grandmother's happiest day is when the author returns, and she spends the day singing and playing the drum.
The grandmother falls ill with a mild fever after singing too much, believing her end is near despite the doctor's reassurance.
The grandmother spends her last hours reciting prayers and dies peacefully, with sparrows gathering around her body.

29:10

"Transient Nature, Persevering Humans: A Reflection"

Shirley Dolson's mother is seen in a picture from when she was 12 years old, alongside her two cousins and her cousin's daughter.
The group went paddling on a beach holiday, with paddling meaning walking in shallow water.
Nature is described as transient, while humans are depicted as transient emotionally or physically, with feet being a temporary aspect.
The poet reflects on how people change over the years, contrasting the permanence of nature with the transience of human life.
Shirley Tolson's mother laughs at a photograph of herself from 20-30 years ago, reminiscing about her favorite beach holiday memories.
Shirley Tolson cherishes her mother's laughter as a favorite memory, unable to relive those moments.
Shirley Tolson's mother passed away 12 years ago, the same age she was in the photograph, leaving Shirley grieving and unable to express her sorrow.
Gordon Cook and his wife embark on a sea voyage around the world, preparing for 16 years and setting sail in July 1976.
The family faces rough weather, celebrates Christmas on the ship, and encounters a massive wave that causes injuries and damage to the ship.
Despite challenges with water entering the ship, the crew works to pump it out, with the narrator focusing on saving the ship and his family's safety.

45:11

Survival Saga: Ship's Crew Battles Storm

The author recalls having a spur and connects an electric pump to drain water from a ship all night long to prevent flooding.
The author's calls for help, known as mayday calls, go unanswered due to being in a remote location.
Suzanne sustains injuries, including a black eye and a deep cut, but avoids worrying her father by not disclosing them.
After 15 hours of continuous pumping, the water levels are under control, but leaks persist below the waterline.
The ship, in bad shape, heads towards the nearest island, Le Amsterdam, with damaged supporting engines.
After 36 hours of pumping, only a few centimeters of water remain in the boat, and the storm zip is hoisted.
The weather worsens, but the author's son, Jonathan, expresses fearlessness in the face of death as long as they are together.
The struggle continues as the crew works to protect the ship's weak starboard side.
The narrator and his wife share a moment of reflection, and the crew hopes to reach an island by 5 PM.
The crew eventually reaches Amsterdam Island with the help of its inhabitants, ending the saga of their survival.

01:01:09

Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb and Mummy

The images of the Gods were given away and the temples were closed.
A mysterious ruler succeeded the previous ruler but died soon after.
Another mysterious ruler, known as TT, took the throne and ruled for an unspecified number of years.
Na Kha Moon then sat on the throne and ruled for years after worshipping the God in the old way.
Tut's mummified body was discovered with a lot of gold and valuable items.
Carter discovered Tut's tomb, which was rock-cut and 26 feet underground.
Tut's first coffin contained a garland of olives, lotus petals, and cornflowers.
The final coffin was difficult to move due to being cemented to the bottom of a solid gold coffin.
Carter had to cut Tut's mummy into pieces to remove it from the coffin.
Tut's body was x-rayed in 1968, revealing missing breast bone and front ribs.

01:31:43

Honest Armenian boys return stolen horse

Aram and Murad, two poor Armenian boys, are known for their honesty since the 11th century.
Aram dreams of horse riding, a strong desire since childhood.
Murad surprises Aram with a beautiful white horse, which Aram initially believes is a dream.
Murad had actually stolen the horse a month ago and had been riding it every morning.
Aram and Murad hide the horse in a deserted vineyard after it throws Aram off.
John Byro, the actual owner of the horse, visits Aram's house looking for his missing horse.
Aram asks Murad not to return the horse, wanting to learn horse riding.
Murad convinces Byro that the horse isn't his, and they return it to the vineyard.
Byro eventually finds the horse and is unsure due to Aram and Murad's reputation for honesty.
Aram and Murad return the horse to Byro's vineyard, making Byro happy and impressed with the horse's improved temperament.

01:45:48

Family Secrets Unveiled: The Protagonist's Journey

Mrs. Darling thought everyone in the Protagonist Family was dead and asked if anyone else had come with her because Mrs. Darling felt these people were his brother.
Mrs. Dowling refuses to let the Protégé inside her home and tells her to come back later.
The Protégé recognizes her mother's green cardigan on Mrs. Darling.
Mrs. Darling decides to go back to the train station and meets her mother.
Mrs. Dowling's intentions were to keep the expensive items if all Jewish people in India were to die.
The Protégé decides to return to Marga Main to retrieve her belongings.
Mrs. Dalling's daughter answers the door when the Protégé rings the bell.
The Protégé notices the old Hanukkah candle holder in Mrs. Dorling's house that had never been used.
When she reaches the living room, the Protégé is horrified to see all her mother's things arranged tastelessly.
Mrs. Pearson tells Mrs. Fit Zara that her family doesn't value her and advises her to take a stand as the woman of the house.

02:00:00

Family Drama: Tea, Rummy, and Body-Switching

Mrs. Pearson's husband, George Pearson, is shocked to find her day drinking and becomes annoyed when she refuses to make tea for him.
Mrs. Pearson mocks George for getting upset over not receiving tea, leading to an argument between them.
Mrs. Pearson reveals that George is called by derogatory names at the club, implying he is not respected there.
Misfit Gerald, a family member, enters the scene and advises Mrs. Pearson to focus on family matters rather than interfering in club issues.
Mrs. Pearson suggests playing rummy with the family to improve the situation, leading to a sense of relief among the family members.
Mrs. Fit Gerald attempts to switch bodies with Mrs. Pearson using body soap, promising to bring everyone back to their original bodies.
Mrs. Fit Gerald emphasizes the importance of dominance and respect in their relationship, urging Mrs. Pearson to maintain control.
Mrs. Fit Gerald encourages Mrs. Pearson to focus on literature and writing skills, providing tips on improving comprehension and answering questions effectively.

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