Chapter 10


                                             The Great Stone Face - II


Comprehension Check (Page 132)

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.

1. Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. ______

Answer:1. Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. – True

2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. ______

Answer:2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. – True

3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. ______

Answer:3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. – False

4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. ______

Answer:4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. – True

5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. ______

Answer:5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. – False

6. The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. ______

Answer:6. The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. – True

Working with the text (Page 133)

Answer the following questions.

 1:How was Ernest different from others in the valley?

Answer:Ernest stood apart from the other people in the valley because of his humility, nobility, thoughtfulness, and kind-hearted nature. As he matured, his reputation spread far beyond the valley, attracting college professors and city intellectuals who came to meet him. He received everyone with genuine warmth, spoke openly and sincerely, and led a life dedicated to selfless deeds. His thoughtful presence and the gentle radiance of his face when he addressed others made him distinctly different from the rest of the villagers.


 2:Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face?

Answer: Ernest thought the poet resembled the Great Stone Face because of the beauty and spirit of his work. The poet composed lovely songs and celebrated the Great Stone Face in his writings, which Ernest read with great interest after his daily work. When the poet visited Ernest, his gentle and kind demeanor reminded Ernest of the Stone Face’s graciousness. Observing the poet’s warm and attentive manner, Ernest felt that even the Great Stone Face would have welcomed a stranger in the same way. By the end of their conversation, Ernest was convinced that the poet truly bore a likeness to the Great Stone Face.


3:What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems?

Answer:The poet admitted to Ernest that while his thoughts and poems were lofty and inspired, his life did not reflect them. Talking to someone as wise and kind-hearted as Ernest made him feel the distance between his ideals and his actions. He confessed with sadness and tearful eyes that he had grand dreams but had never managed to turn them into reality. The poet felt unworthy of being likened to the Great Stone Face because his deeds never matched the greatness of his thoughts.

 

 4:What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?

Answer: When the poet accompanied Ernest to a meeting, he listened to Ernest speak to the audience and was struck by the depth, wisdom, and goodness reflected in his words and actions. Ernest lived a life of selfless love and noble deeds. As he spoke, the setting sun cast a golden light, and the Great Stone Face loomed in the distance, its white mists echoing the whiteness of Ernest’s hair. In that moment, Ernest’s expression mirrored the grandeur of the Stone Face, and the poet was so moved that he declared Ernest to be the living embodiment of the Great Stone Face. The audience agreed, marking the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy.


 5:Write ‘Ernest’ or ‘Poet’, against each statement below.

(i) There was a gap between his life and his words.

Answer:Poet

(ii) His words had the power of truth as they agreed with his thoughts.

Answer:Ernest

(iii) His words were as soothing as a heavenly song but only as useful as a vague dream.

Answer:Poet

(iv) His thoughts were worthy.

Answer:Ernest

(v) Whatever he said was the truth itself.

Answer:Ernest

(vi) His poems were noble.

Answer:Poet

(vii) His life was nobler than all the poems.

Answer:Ernest

(viii) He lacked faith in his own thoughts.

Answer:Poet

(ix) His thoughts had power as they agreed with the life he lived.

Answer:Ernest

(x) Greatness lies in truth. Truth is best expressed in one’s actions. He was truthful, therefore he was great.

Answer:Ernest

 6:(i) Who, by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face?

Answer: By general agreement, Ernest was recognized as resembling the Great Stone Face. His wisdom, gentleness, and kindness reflected the same qualities that the Stone Face symbolized.

(ii) Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true? What did he say about it?

Answer:  Ernest himself did not feel that the ancient prophecy was fully realized. Even though the audience acknowledged his likeness to the Great Stone Face, he wished that someday an even wiser and nobler person might appear, truly matching the grandeur of the legendary face.


Working with language (Page 133-135)

 1:Mark the meaning that best fits the word or a phrase in the story.

(i) (sun) going down

(a) becoming smaller


(b) weakening

(c) setting

(ii) brightening

(a) making (it) look bright and cheerful

(b) lending (it) a special glow

(c) causing (it) to appear hopeful

(iii) spacious

(a) lonely and wild

(b) big and wide

(c) special and important

(iv) prophecy

(a) proverb

(b) prediction

(c) rumour

(v) marvellous

(a) wonderful

(b) surprising

(c) shocking

(vi) proclaim

(a) reveal

(b) declare

(c) shout

(vii) cease

(a) happen

(b) stop

(c) remain

(viii) (a night’s) shelter

(a) stay

(b) safety

(c) hospitality

(ix) gazed

(a) wandered about

(b) stared at

(c) thought of

(x) took on (an expression)

(a) challenged

(b) resembled

(c) assumed

Answer:(i) (sun) going down

(c) setting

(ii) brightening

(b) lending (it) a special glow

(iii) spacious

(b) big and wide

(iv) prophecy

(b) prediction

(v) marvellous

(a) wonderful

(vi) proclaim

(b) declare

(vii) cease

(b) stop

(viii) (a night’s) shelter

(a) stay

(ix) gazed

(b) stared at

(x) took on (an expression)

(c) assumed


Answer by Mrinmoee