The Night I Met Einstein (Maharashtra State Board (SSC) Notes)

 The Night I Met Einstein

 

About the story:

The story is about Jerome Weidman attending a dinner party at a philanthropist where he was not able to enjoy the pianist playing western classical music. That moment, Einstein meets him and teaches him the greatest lesson of life that we should always be open to learn new things, and to explore new fields. The author since then had been listening to Bach and the western classical music with interest.

 

Summary:

Once, the narrator got invited to a dinner party at a kind person's house. The hostess mentioned there would be a music performance by a pianist. However, the narrator didn't like classical music and felt unhappy about it. Still, he didn't want to be rude by leaving the event, so he stayed for the concert.

During the event, Einstein came up to the narrator and asked if he liked Bach, a famous composer. The narrator said no and explained that he was tone-deaf. But Einstein insisted on spending time with him. He played some songs with lyrics and even asked the narrator to sing a song. After hearing the narrator sing, Einstein said, "You're definitely not someone who can't appreciate music."

Einstein used the example of the process of learning math to explain that it's normal to find something difficult at first. He convinced the narrator that, over time, he might come to enjoy classical music.

When the concert ended, the hostess wondered why Einstein hadn't attended the concert himself. Einstein explained that he was busy helping the narrator discover the beauty of music.

Question – Answer:

1)     Why was the narrator not happy with the concert?

The concert was about a pianist who was about to play Bach, the western classical music. The narrator did not understand anything about western classical music, so he was not happy with the concert.

2)     What did the narrator see when he turned to see his neighbour’s face?

When the narrator was getting bored in the concert, he could hear a gentle but firm voice that asked him if he liked Bach. When the narrator turned to see whose voice it was, he realized that it was a very famous face i.e. Einstein.

3)     What made Einstein surprised about the narrator?

When the narrator mentioned that he did not know anything about Bachand and had not heard Bach’s music, Einstein was surprised

4)     What was the narrator’s memory of Einstein?

The narrator’s memory of Einstein was ‘someone with a shock of untidy white hair and a pipe’.

5)     What is the greatest act towards human being?

According to Einstein, the greatest act towards human being is to open up the frontiers of beauty.

 

Think and Answer:

1)      What do you learn from Einstein’s treatment of the young man?

When Einstein met the narrator and realized that the narrator was not a big fan of classical music. Einstein respected the narrator’s opinion though he himself was a classical music lover. On the other hand, he treated the narrator very politely, and with warmth. He asked the narrator about the music that he liked and played the same on the gramophone. He ensured that the narrator was taught like a child to make him like classical music.

2)      In the second paragraph of the story, the writer declares himself as ‘tone-deaf’? What do you mean by ‘tone-deaf’? Was the writer tone-deaf in reality?

At the beginning of the story, the narrator calls himself as ‘tone-deaf’. The word ‘tone-deaf’ means a person who is not good in music, and he does not like good music. The narrator was not tone-deaf in reality because he liked music which has words.

3)      Do you think that the comparison between music and arithmetic was a good one? In what ways?

Yes. I believe that the comparison between music and arithmetic was a good one. Because the comparison is done to understand the process of learning and loving music and arithmetic because both require a learning process that goes from very easy to complex.

4)      As far as listening is concerned, what difference do you notice between the narrator and Einstein?

Einstein was a good listener. He was a great observer. He would listen to music with keen ears and would appreciate the beauty of music.

However, the narrator liked music but not for the purpose of appreciating it.

5)      What do you understand when Einstein said, “The greatest activity of which a human being is capable is to open up the frontiers of beauty’?

Exploring the unknown field, working on something new it called as the greatest activity a human being is capable of. Be it learning a new skill, or visiting a new place, it always provides us new experience, joy and endless memories.

 

 

 

CONNECTING THE DOTS

About the Story:

"Connecting the Dots" is a renowned commencement speech delivered by Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., at the 2005 Stanford University Commencement Ceremony. In this speech, Jobs shares three impactful stories with the students. The first story reflects on his university experience and how learning calligraphy unexpectedly influenced the design of Macintosh fonts. The second story delves into his journey of success and failures, highlighting his fresh start with Pixar Animation Studio. The third story is a poignant reflection on his battle with cancer.

About Steve Jobs:

Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., was a visionary entrepreneur and technological innovator. His unwavering commitment to innovation and design excellence led to the creation of iconic products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Macintosh computer. His relentless pursuit of excellence and his ability to disrupt industries with groundbreaking ideas solidify his enduring legacy in the realms of technology and business.

Meaning of the Title "Connecting the Dots":

"Connecting the Dots" was a phrase frequently used by Steve Jobs to convey the notion that life's events and experiences may appear unrelated at the time but can later come together to form a meaningful life path. While we may not always foresee where life will lead us, looking back allows us to recognize how seemingly disparate experiences are interconnected.

Steve Jobs stressed the importance of having faith that these connections would become evident in the future, even when their relevance isn't immediately clear. His message encouraged individuals to trust their unique life journeys, learn from their experiences, and believe that they would contribute to a fulfilling life story.

Questions and Answers:

1) Why did Steve Jobs leave his studies at Reed College, and what new interest did he pursue?

In the first six months at Reed College, Steve Jobs left because he found the classes uninteresting. After dropping out, he enrolled in calligraphy classes, where he learned about Serif and Sans Serif fonts over the next 18 months.

2) Why does Steve Jobs refer to his decision to leave Reed College as "one of the best decisions" he ever made?

Steve Jobs considers his decision to leave Reed College and take up calligraphy classes as one of the best decisions because his knowledge of Serif and Sans Serif fonts later proved instrumental in designing multiple typefaces and proportionally spaced fonts, which were used in his Macintosh computers and subsequently adopted by Windows.

3) What challenges did Steve Jobs face for survival while a student at Reed College?

During his time at Reed College, Steve Jobs lacked a dorm room and often had to sleep on friends' floors. Managing meals was difficult, and he collected and returned empty Coke bottles for 5 cents. Additionally, he walked seven miles to the Hare Krishna Temple every Sunday for a free lunch.

4) What approach to life did Steve Jobs advocate that made a significant difference in his life?

Steve Jobs believed in karma, trusting his instincts, and embracing the journey of life. He maintained an attitude of continuous learning and saw value in every experience. This approach ultimately made a significant difference in his life.

5) Provide some information about the founding of Apple.

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple in a garage when Jobs was just 20 years old. Over the next 10 years, Apple grew into a $2 billion company. However, Jobs was later ousted from the company.

6) Steve Jobs says, "The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again." Why does he say this?

Steve Jobs found that the pressure and expectations associated with success at Apple were burdensome. When he was fired from the company, he had the opportunity to start afresh and view his life with the mindset of a beginner. This allowed him to focus on learning and exploring without the weight of previous success and expectations.

7) What is Pixar?

Pixar is the world's most successful animation studio, which Steve Jobs founded after being fired from Apple. Interestingly, it was at Pixar that he met his future wife.

8) Steve Jobs says, "Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle." Why does he say this?

Steve Jobs emphasizes that despite facing significant setbacks, including his departure from Apple, one should not lose faith. He believes that to achieve greatness, it's essential to have a deep passion for one's work. If you haven't discovered your passion yet, he encourages you to keep searching and never settle for something that doesn't truly fulfill you.

9) "That was the closest I have been to facing death." Why does Steve Jobs say this?

Steve Jobs makes this statement in reference to his battle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004. At that time, his doctors had given him a grim prognosis, advising him to prepare for the worst. However, he did not lose hope and underwent cancer treatment successfully, which led to his recovery. Hence, he reflects on this experience as the closest he came to facing death.

Task:

Read the following and answer the questions given below it:

1)     “Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

 a)     Which decision is Steve Jobs taking about here?

The decision of switching from regular classes he had opted for to the calligraphy classes, Steve is talking about here.

b)     What did he learn when he took ‘this decision’?

His decision of opting from calligraphy classes made him learn a lot many things. He learnt how to design Sans and Sans Serif fonts, and how to create proportionally spaced fonts.

 

c)     How does ‘this decision’ help him?

His decision to opt for calligraphy classes made him design new fonts, and he designed those fonts for his newly launched computer Macintosh. Later, those fonts were copied by Windows.

 

 

 

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (CLASS 9 AND CLASS 10) CBSE, ICSE, SSC

 All the World’s A Stage

William Shakespeare

 

About the poet: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English playwright (the one who wrote plays and dramas) and poet. He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets (A sonnet is a poem of 14 lines). He is considered as the greatest dramatist in the English language.

 

About the poem:

This poem is a monologue from William Shakespeare’s comedy play ‘As You Like It’. These lines are spoken by the character the melancholy Jacques. A monologue is a long speech by an actor which he performs in a drama or a play.

 

Central Theme of the poem:

The central theme of Shakespeare's "All the World's a Stage" speech, which is part of the play "As You Like It," is the idea that human life can be compared to a theatrical performance. The central theme revolves around the concept of the human journey, the passage of time, and the universal experiences that people go through as they progress from birth to death. It tells us that life is filled with joy and sorrow, and each stage of life has its unique challenges and moments.

 

The World is a Stage:

The world is compared to a stage, suggesting that life is a theatrical performance. Every person is compared to an actor or actress in this stage of life. People have beginnings (births) and endings (deaths) in this grand drama. Throughout a person's life, they play various roles. Life is divided into seven distinct stages or phases.

 

 Checking Understanding:

1)    What are the seven stages of life mentioned by Shakespeare in ‘All the World’s A Stage’?

Answer: The following are the seven stages of life mentioned by Shakespeare:

1.     Infant

2. School boy

3.     Lover

4.     Soldier

5.     Justice

6.     Old age

7.     End of a person’s life

 

2)    What does Shakespeare want to show us by saying that ‘the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms?

Answer: The infant is always mewling (crying) and puking in the nurse’s arms means it is dependent on others for every need.

 

3)    What are the phrases used for showing disinterest of the school boy while going to school?

Answer: The following phrases are used to show the disinterest of the school boy in going to school:

Ø  He is whining (crying).

Ø  He is creeping like a snail (moving very slowly).

Ø  He is unwilling to go to school.

 

4)    Why do you think that the school boy is not interested in going to school?

Answer: Till the school boy was a child, he was safe in the care of his parents at home. For everything, he was dependent on his parents and caretakers. However, when he is expected to go to school, he is expected to become independent which is a new thing for him. The school is an unfamiliar place for him, and he is not comfortable to explore an unfamiliar place.

 

5)    What are the characteristic features of the third stage i.e. of a lover?

Answer: The lover’s stage is the stage of adolescence. In this stage, there are intense emotions of love and passion. One spends a lot of time thinking about his / her close ones. The lover spends time writing sad songs and praising his beloved’s eyebrows. In short, in this stage, the person’s centre of attention is his love.

 

6)    Following are the phrases used to describe the fourth stage i.e. soldier. What do the following phrases mean:

a)     Full of strange oath: He is a growing up man who wants to ensure people take him seriously. His promises are new and strange for the people around him.

b)    Bearded like pard: He is quick like a leopard.

c)     Jealous in honour: He is bothered about his honour and reputation.

d)    Sudden and quick in quarrel: He is foul-mouthed and always ready for a fight and an argument.

e)     Seeking the bubble reputation even in cannon’s mouth: He does many things to make himself look better even if he is doing everything pointless. Honour and pride are more important to him than his life.

 

7)     What does the ‘justice’ stage stand for? How does a man behave in the ‘justice’ stage?

Answer: The ‘justice’ stage stands for adulthood. This is the phase of life when a man is working hard and is getting settled in his life. His stressed lifestyle can be seen through his eyes and round belly. There is always maturity in his talks. He talks about morals and his experiences. He presents himself as elegant.

 

8)    Sixth stage is of ‘old age’. How is life in this stage?

Answer: The old age is a sign of physical weakness. It is the phase when a man’s pant is loose to his waist due to weakened body. His eye sight is weak now, that is why he is using spectacles. His muscles are weaker and they hang around his arms and legs. He spends time in remembering his youthful days. His legs are weaker which cannot walk or travel. His voice is tired as it has whistles and trebles. This phase marks the weakening body and senses.

9)    Why is the last stage ‘the death’ or ‘the end’ called as ‘second childishness’?

Answer: During the last stage or ‘the death stage’, a man loses all his senses. He cannot see properly, cannot taste food, he doesn’t have teeth to bite his food. For everything around him, he is completely dependent on others. He is not able to understand the world around him. All these are the same characteristics of an infant or a child. That’s why the last stage is called as ‘the second childishness’.

 

Poetic Devices and Figures of Speech:

Figure of speech	Line
Metaphor	The entire poem
Imagery (It creates visual image on reader’s mind)	Whining school, with his satchel and shining morning face, creeping like snail Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel
Simile	Creeping like snail Sighing like furnace Bearded like pard
Alliteration	Shrunk shank
Repetition	Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything

 

Reading Comprehension Practice:

Task: Read the following lines and answer the questions given below them:

And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lined,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut

Full of modern saw and wise instances

Questions:

a)     What stage of life is mentioned here in the lines?

b)    Why is this stage called ‘justice’?

c)     What is the meaning of ‘saw’?

d)    Why the poet says that the justice is full of modern saw and wise instances?

 

 

 

Active and Passive Voice - Worksheet 1

 Active and Passive Voice: Worksheet (Checking Prior Knowledge)

What is a ‘subject’?

A subject is a person or a group of people or the main topic of the sentence who performs an action. It is also called as ‘do-er’ of the action.

For example:

·        Om visits a Church. (Subject: Om)

·        Radha and Raina passed the examination. (Subject: Radha and Raina)

·        Students filled the forms. (Subject: Students)

 

What is an ‘object’?

An object is a word on which the action is performed.

For example:

·        Rahul meets a friend. (Object: a friend)

·        Mother is cooking dinner. (Object: dinner)

·        Suhasini has been solving Maths problems. (Object: Math problems)

 

What is an ‘active voice’ sentence?

An active voice sentence is a sentence where ‘subject’ is given importance by placing it at the beginning of the sentence.

For example:

·        Shaam is playing cricket.

·        Rupa was repairing a mobile phone.

 

What is a ‘passive voice’ sentence?

An active voice sentence is a sentence where ‘object’ is given importance by placing it at the beginning of the sentence.

For example:

·        Cricket is being played by Shaam.

·        A mobile was being repaired by Rupa.

 

Main Verb and Helping Verbs:

A main verb is a word that shows action. For example: Run, Dance, Swim, Sit, Come, Go, etc.

A helping verb is a word that doesn’t show an action but shows a state

For example: am, is, are, was, were, will, shall, have, has, had, do, does, did, etc.

Identify subjects and objects from the following sentences:

Sentence	Subject	Object
Pravin broke the glass.
Students disturbed the class very often.
The sweeper cleans the floor every day.
The police inspector wore a helmet during rally.
The teacher took the students' attendance.
A doctor is operating a patient.
They are producing generic medicines in every country.

 

Identify the helping verb and the main verb from the following sentences:

Sentence	Helping Verb	Main Verb
Sudha Murthy has written many novels.
Narendra Modi is working as the Prime Minister of India.
Snehal and Sudha are toiling in the field.
They will be distributing books to the poor students.
Rahul has been completing his homework.
The housekeeping staff had cleaned the room.

 

Download Active and Passive Voice Worksheet 1 here. 

CLASS 10 NCERT CBSE ENGLISH THE HACK DRIVER NOTES

 THE HACK DRIVER

About the story:

The story is about the narrator - a junior assistant clerk - who is sent to a village New Mullion to serve summon to Oliver Lutkins who is a witness in a law case and has ignored all the previous summons. In New Mullion, the narrator meets Bill - the hack driver - who helps him in finding Oliver, but in vain. In the end, the narrator realizes that it was Bill who was Oliver Luatkins.

Summary:

Part 1: The narrator and his job

The narrator is a law graduate but is working as a junior assistant clerk in a law firm where his only job is to go and serve notices and summons to criminals in the shadowy corners of the city. He is beaten up by people for doing such things. He is so fed up that he thinks of leaving the job and going to his village where he would actually work as a lawyer.

Part 2: Visiting New Mullion and meeting Bill, the Hack Driver

Once, he is given the task of serving summon to Oliver Lutkins in countryside, New Mullion. He is happy to have this break from the regular shadowy city corners, but his expectations for country side fail when he sees the muddy, raw roads. However, he meets Bill, the hack driver who decides to help him in finding Oliver Lutkins.

Part 3: Search for Oliver Lutkins

In Oliver Lutkin's search, Bill takes the narrator to different places. He takes him to Fritz, then to Gustaff, then to Gray's barber shop, then Wade's Hill to enjoy the lunch, then to Oliver's mother. But everywhere they inquire, Oliver is not to be found.

Part 4: Contemplation of Life Philosophies

While relishing the lunch on Wade's hill watching the meadows and woods, Bill talks a lot about people in New Mullion, and the narrator is impressed by him and by the life of the people in New Mullion so much, that he feels that staying in a country side like this is better than struggling in cities. He feels that the life in New Mullion is honest and happy. He discovers a new way of life.

Part 5: Bill is Lutkins

The other day, the narrator is sent with a companion who knew Oliver and to his surprise, the narrator realizes that Bill, the hack driver, was Lutkins. When he serves Lutkins summon, Lutkins and his mother has the decency to invite the narrator for a coffee.

Characterization:

The Narrator:

The narrator is a newly graduated lawyer, who wants to work as a lawyer, but he is given the post of Junior Assistant Clerk. Instead of working in the office (that is what clerks are supposed to do) he has to work like a private detective, going on searching for criminals in the shadowy corners of the city to serve summons. On some occasions, big men beat him. He feels like running away to his native village, where, at least, he would get to practice law. His happiness finds no bound when he is given the task to go to countryside to serve summon to Oliver Lutkins.

The narrator, an inexperienced person is not smart in his words and actions, and there he falls prey to the smartness of an experienced person like Bill, who takes him for a ride, in real and metaphorically as well. Bill, who is the actual Oliver Lutkins, fools him throughout the day.  However, he is impressed by the knowledge, simplicity and warmth of Bill.

Bill aka Oliver Lutkins:

Bill, who is the hack driver, is actually Oliver Lutkins. He is an old man who has experienced life and men like no other man in the village. He is good with his words and practicality. At a first glance, he realizes the innocence of the narrator. While searching Oliver in different shops, Bill is smart enough to tell narrator to stay outside and let himself handle the situation, so that the people would come to know that he is fooling the narrator. Bill know about people, about the lives more than anyone else. He talks a lot of his neighbours and entertains the narrator. He is decent enough to offer the narrator a cup of coffee.

QUESTION - ANSWERS:

1)   'I even considered fleeing to my hometown'. Why does the narrator say so?

2)   How does the narrator describe the hack driver?

3)   What different places does Bill take the narrator to? What are people's reactions when they are asked about Oliver Lutkins?

4)   'On that day, I came to know New Mullion better than I did the city.' What makes the narrator say so?

5)   How has Bill created the image of Lutkin's mother? What was the narrator's actual experience of her?

6)   The narrator was impressed with Bill. Make a list of sentences or instances that support this statement.

7)   Did Bill aka Lutkins enjoy playing prank on the narrator? Why or why not?

8)   How must the narrator have felt when he realized that Lutkins was the one who pranked on him?