PLUS ONE ENGLISH - Chapter Summary

A. Analyses of the Lessons: 

      

           1. HIS FIRST FLIGHT 

• It is the story of a young seagull. 

• He was afraid to fly. 

• Lack of confidence and courage made him to stay there. 

• It was a real crisis 

• His family especially mother gave him confidence to fly 

• Every child needs courage and support in his life 

• It is our duty to support every one. 

• This is a good lesson to all parents.

                      2. I WILL FLY 

• ‘I will fly ‘is a speech by Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam 

• Kalam inaugurated a programme called ‘Sasthrayan’ 

• Sasthrayan means the propagation of science. 

• Kalam said that the youth of today need not fear about their future. 

• A boy from a village expressed his wish to become a marine engineer. 

• Kalam valued his question and recited the poem ‘I will fly’ 

• Everyone has ideas and dreams 

• Kalam advised the boy to be unique 

• You should find the ‘Unique You’ 

• Students must work hard until they reach the goal 

 3. QUEST FORA THEORY OF EVERYTHING 

• Stephen Hawking was an ordinary English boy. 

• He was slow in learning to read and write at school. 

• His father wanted him to attend Oxford University. 

• He decided to study mathematics and physics from Oxford university 

• He liked classical music, took part in sports and was famous for his 

wit. 

• He became popular and accepted by his friends 

• Meeting with Jane Wilde was a turning point in his life. 

• She supported him throughout his life 

• He wrote a book to make science understandable to common people. 

• A computer expert sent him a programme called EQUALIZER 

• Hawking was an optimist. 

            4. AND THEN GANDHI CAME 

• And then Gandhi Came’ is a lesson from Nehru’s ‘The discovery of 

India’ 

• Gandhiji stood for truth, love and non-violence (Ahimsa) 

• He was against all social evils like untouchability and child marriage 

• He himself set an example for Abhaya (fearlessness)

• His personality was like a magnet 

• Essence of his teaching was fearlessness and truth 

• Gandhiji was a leader of his people

         5. THE PRICE OF FLOWERS

• The price of flowers is a story written by P.K.Mukopadhyay. 

• Gupta was an Indian living in London. 

• One day he met Maggie in a restaurant/hotel. 

• She was working as a typist 

• She was from a poor family. 

• Her brother Frank is a soldier in India. 

• She heard that India is a land of tigers, snakes and fevers. 

• Maggie requested Gupta, after looking into the ring that Frank was all 

right 

• Gupta received a letter that Maggies mother was not well. 

• Gupta was shocked to learn that Frank had died in the war. 

• Gupta was very sad. 

• Maggie gave him a shilling to buy flowers to place on her brothers’ 

grave in Punjab. 

• He accepted it. 

• It gave her joy beyond all price 

          6. THE TRIP OF LE HORLA 

• This is about a thrilling balloon journey from Belgium to Paris 

• There were five men in the balloon. 

• Captain Jovis was their leader 

• People wondered at the sight of the balloon 

• Animals made noise after seeing the balloon 

• Barometer showed 2350 meters’ height. 

• They enjoyed the view of Paris city 

• They were alone in space with moon. 

• It was a fantastic journey 

• Passengers thanked Captain Jovis for a wonderful experience 

     7. THE SACRED TURTLES OF KADAVU 

• It is about a strange ritual on a Fijian island. 

• Long ago a beautiful princess called Tinaicoboga and her daughter 

Raudalice lived in a lovely village Namuana. 

• One day they went for fishing. 

• Fisherman of Nabukelevu seized the two women. 

• The two women cried for help. 

• Suddenly there was a huge storm.

• They saw that those two women were turned into giant turtles. 

• The fishermen were afraid. 

• They threw the turtles into the sea and ran for their lives 

• Even today, the women from Namuana village dressed in mourning 

sing for their beloved ones. 

• The turtles come up the surface when the Namuana villagers sing the 

song 

  8. DISASTERS AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN INDIA 

• There are two types of disasters. 

• They are Manmade disasters and Natural disasters. 

• Disasters affect both developed and developing countries. 

• Some of the natural disasters are storms, floods, windstorm, earth 

quakes and drought. 

• India faced disasters like Gujarat earthquakes, Mumbai flood, 

Chennai flood, Tsunami and flood in Kerala. 

• Some of the manmade disasters are Bhopal gas tragedy, riots, 

nuclear weapon, attacks, etc. 

• India is highly prone to disasters because of geological formation 

and geographical locations. 

• India has long coastline, snow clad peaks, rivers, mountains. 

• Death, damage and destructions are the immediate impacts of 

disasters. 

• Disasters cause damage to life supporting systems. 

• Rehabilitation is an important part of disaster management. 

• The rescue teams will be well equipped with the latest 

technologies. 

         9. THE SERANG OF RANAGANJI

• The Story is written by Dr. A J Cronin. 

• Hasan looked ugly with his short legs and disproportionate head. 

• Miss. Jope-Smith ridiculed him calling comic creature. 

• Some of the crew got infected with small pox. 

• It was the duty of A J Cronin, the doctor of the ship, to control the 

spreading of disease. 

• Hassan voluntarily agreed to take care of the patients. 

• He sponged the patients with permanganate solutions. 

• He gave medicines in time.

• He supported the Doctor in many ways 

• He is a symbol of love, care, affection, sincerity, devotion, dedication 

and responsibility. 

                 10. GOOSEBERRIES

• The story is a satire on man’s search for happiness. 

• Two brothers – Ivan and Nicholai seek to be happy. 

• Ivan becomes veterinary doctor. 

• Nicholai wanted to buy a farm house with a garden of gooseberries. 

• He achieves his dream by sacrificing many things like happiness 

health, joys, food, clothes and other entertainments. 

• In the end, Nicholai is so happy in his own farm house with 

gooseberries. 

• Ivan never cherishes a dream in his life. 

• He is unhappy seeing Nicholai happy. 

• He can't even bear the sight of a happy family. 

• But Nicholai fulfills his life's dream. 

• He follows his goal without any compromises. 

• In the end Ivan feels confused, as what is true happiness, whether to 

chase our dream, sacrificing many things or to live life as it comes... 

         11. GOING OUT FOR A WALK 

• The writer is against walking for the sake of walking. 

• He even doesn’t like a friend’s request to accompany him for a walk. 

• Walking stops brain. 

• If it is with a boring companion it is useless. 

• By walking we waste our time for gossips, reading all inscriptions, 

notices, advertisements and even milestones. 

• Brain stops thinking, it’s just a physical activity. 

• One’s power to instruct and to amuse is lost while he walks for the sake 

of walking. 

              12. THE CYBERSPACE 

Cyber space is a real estate, intellectual, legal and artificial environment

There are differences like park land, shopping malls and red light zones. 

There are areas for information and entertainment. 

It is an unlimited world of virtual real estate. 

It is a voluntary destination. 

There are 3 main areas. 

1. Private emails/ chats

2.information and entertainment 

3.communities 

They make rules instead of following it. 

It should be moderated to avoid unnecessary discussions and 

advertisements. 

It is free from power structures. 

There is no geographical / gender differences. 

 We have freedom to leave it or to love it . 

               13. IS SOCIETY DEAD? 

• New generation gets addicted to i-pods, smart phones, other technical 

devices. 

• These addicts have common traits. 

• They have vacant eyes. 

• They are not social beings. 

• They don’t have connection with outer society. 

• They become isolated. 

• They don't respond to social cues. 

• They miss the sound of nature, cry of a baby, songs of birds. 

• They miss the beauty of outer world. 

• Technology makes them isolated beings. 

• The ear phones disconnect them from outer world. 

           14. THE CONCEPTUAL FRUIT 

• The new technology helps, enables and equips physically challenged 

and mentally retarded people. 

• Greta's father entertains Greta by creating a Greta's street, Greta's 

house with fruits in every room. 

• He decorates her room with things of her choice. 

• Peaches in blue bowls and white curtains. 

• The story proves that technology provides, refreshment, relaxation, 

sense of achievement, confidence, happiness, satisfaction and 

companionship to people like Greta. 

• It is an additional boon to physically/ mentally challenged people.

          B. Review of the Poems 

                           1. IF

• IF is a beautiful poem by Rudyard Kipling. 

• It explains the qualities of a perfect man. 

• A gentleman should have a balanced character. 

• He should believe in himself. 

• He should be patient in waiting. 

• He must not listen to lies. 

• He thinks and acts well. 

• He faces victory and defeat in the same manner. 

• Others may twist his words but he never talks bad about them. 

• He should work hard. 

• He should keep in touch with ordinary people. 

• He also keeps friendship with kingly people. 

• The poet uses figures of speech like metaphor, personification, etc. in the 

poem 

Personification: Triumph and disaster are personified as two imposters. 

Metaphor: Unforgiving minute for the time that waits for no man. 

         2. DEATH THE LEVELLER 

• Death The Leveller is a beautiful poem by James Shirley. 

• It reminds us the mortality of life. 

• The rank, power and position in this life are not permanent. 

• Everybody is equal in front of death 

• The king and the common man face death in the same manner. 

• They go in to the same cold tomb. 

• The soldier and the farmer reap their own fields. 

• But they yield to death.

• The death put an end to life. 

• But the sweet smell of the actions of the just will remain for ever 

• The poem has three stanzas with three couplets. 

• It has a rhyme scheme, ABABCCD. 

• The poet uses many poetic devices.

              3. The Sunrise on the Hills 

• It is a beautiful poem. 

• The poet watches the sunrise. 

• He observes the changes when the sun rises. 

• As the sun rises the veils are lifted. 

• Then the beauty is revealed to the poet. 

• The sun is compared to a warrior. 

• His glory conquers all the earth. 

• The poem is full of visual and auditory images. 

• The nature is a source of inspiration and cure. It is always smart. It can heal the wounds of heart and mind 

• Nothing can dim the smartness of nature. 

          4. THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC 

• The Wreck of the Titanic is a beautiful poem by Benjamin Peck Keith. 

• It is about the greatest tragedy in the sea. 

• The poem exposes some noble acts of courage and heroism. 

• The titanic was called as a poem of iron and steel. 

• Travellers felt proud and safe. 

• But it was struck and destroyed. 

• There were many heroes in the sinking ship. 

• The captain Smith was the first. He was very brave and determined. 

• The crew also proved their courage. 

• The bandsmen continued to play music till their end. 

• The poem celebrates the courage of Smith and his team.

                        5. TO SLEEP 

• To Sleep is a beautiful poem by William Wordsworth. 

• The poet couldn’t sleep. He was so worried. 

• Some images of nature flashed through his mind. 

• The poem presents some finest sights and sounds. 

• He considers sleep as a mistress. 

• It is the mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health. It is the blessed barrier between day and day. 

• The poem is a sonnet. 

           C) Important Characters 

                    1. MAGGIE 

• Maggie is the main character in the story The Price of Flowers. 

• She was an adolescent girl. 

• She sacrificed all her joys of her age. 

• Her clothes revealed her poverty. 

• She loved her family very much. 

• She was so depressed about her brother • who was a soldier in India. 

• But she was positive towards life. 

• She was very practical in life. 

• She was ready to face the challenges of life. 

• She could play violin. 

• She kept her house neat and clean. 

• She struggled to earn one shilling to buy flowers for her brother. 

• She was a symbol of love and innocence.

                2. HASAN, the Serang 

• Hasan is the serang of the ship Ranaganji. 

• He looks squat and ugly. He has short legs and disproportionate head. He is from Punjab. He has no place of his own. He has no family or friends. He never got married. He is a Muslim. 

• He is not interested to earn money. He never expects reward for his work. He helped the doctor in nursing the patients. 

• He is ready to serve them even though it is a contagious disease. He prays for them. 

• He is very truthful and sincere. 

                     3. Dr. A J Cronin 

• Dr. AJ Cronin is the narrator of the story. 

• He plays a very important role in the time of disaster. 

• He treated the patients without fear. He is very kind. 

• He is surprised when he knew about Hasan. 

• He is very brave. 

• He is devoted to his profession. 

• He is a good observer.

                   4. Nicholai lvanich 

• Nicholai is the younger brother of Ivan. He is a government employee. He had a dream. 

• He wanted to buy a farm with a garden, river and with a gooseberry bush. He saved money for that. 

• He sacrificed the happiness of life to achieve his dream. 

• Finally, he bought the farmhouse. 

• He planted gooseberries. 

• He was so happy when he ate the gooseberries from his farm. 

                    5. Ivan Ivanich 

• Ivan is an important character in the story Gooseberries. He is a veterinary surgeon. 

• He told his brother’s story to his friends. 

• He didn’t agree with his brother’s plan. 

• He never had a dream. 

• He is unhappy even to see his happy brother. 

                    6. GRETA 

• Greta is the main character in the story Conceptual Fruit. She is a sixteen-year-old girl. She is differently abled. 

• She is studying in the 5th grade. She is studying in a special school. 

• She has blonde hair and blue eyes. 

• She has the habit of repeating everything she hears. 

• She wants to have each room with bowls of fruits.