Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English Night of the Scorpion Important Question Answers from Kumarbharti Book
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- Scorpion Textbook Questions
- Scorpion Extra Questions
- Vocabulary Based MCQs
- Night of the Scorpion Summary, Explanation, Theme | Maharashtra Board Class 10
Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English Kumarbharti Poem Night of the Scorpion Textbook Questions
- Get into pairs and discuss the following with your partners and complete the table.
Many people are superstitious. This means that they have belief for which they
have no logical reason.
An example of superstition is that – walking under a ladder brings bad luck.
In pairs, list any superstitions that you know of.
| Superstition | What it implies |
| (1) Smashing a mirror
(2) A black cat crossing your path (3) (4) (5) |
Brings seven years of bad luck. |
Answer-
| Superstition | What it implies |
| (1) Smashing a mirror | Brings seven years of bad luck. |
| (2) A black cat crossing the path | Brings bad luck |
| (3) Keeping footwear upside down | Fights at home |
| (4) Going to a peepal tree after the Sun has set | Ghost attack |
| (5) Cutting the nails after sunset. | Brings bad luck |
- Brainstorm what you know about Scorpions. Use the points given below.
Answer-
Q. What forced the scorpion to take shelter in the poet’s house?
Ans. The heavy rain forced the scorpion to seek shelter inside the poet’s house, in a sack of rice.
Q. What does the phrase ‘to paralyse the evil’ mean in stanza 3?
Ans. The villagers believe the scorpion is an evil creature and their prayers aim to stop the negative effects of the scorpion bite that is to paralyse its ill effects.
Q. Who are ‘they’ in stanza 4?
Ans. “They” refers to the villagers who came to the poet’s house after his mother was stung by a scorpion.
Q. Who does the word ‘him’ refer to in line no.3?
Ans. “Him” in line 3 refers to the scorpion.
Q. Why does the poem begin with the poet’s remembering the night?
Ans. The poet begins the poem by remembering the night because as a child on that night along with a crisis, he had experienced the culture and superstition of the villagers, his father’s determination as a rationalist and his mother’s love.
Q. When did the Mother find relief?
Ans. The mother finds relief after twenty hours when the effects of poison starts to fade. She finds relief in knowing that her children were unharmed.
- After reading the poem, complete the following. What happens? There are three main parts of the poem. Do you know what they are about? The first one is done for you.
| Lines | What is happening? |
| 1-7 | The scorpion comes into the home to escape the rain and stings the poet’s mother. |
| 8-33 | ……………………………………………………………………………… |
| 34-48 | ……………………………………………………………………………… |
| Lines | What is happening? |
| 1-7 | The scorpion comes into the home to escape the rain and stings the poet’s mother. |
| 8-33 | The villagers come to help the poet’s mother. They chant prayers for her and also begin a search for the scorpion to chase it away. |
| 34-48 | Though the poet’s father is a rationalist, he tries all sorts of things to cure the mother of her pain and suffering. He calls a holy man to perform rituals and even poured paraffin on the bitten toe and burnt it. After twenty hours the effects of poison begin to subside. All that the mother says is that she is thankful to God that the scorpion picked her and spared her children. |
- Complete the following tables.
(A)
| Background/setting of the poem | |
| Type | Evidence
(Quote lines from the poem) |
| Rural/Urban | …………………………….. |
Answer-
| Background/setting of the poem | |
| Type | Evidence
(Quote lines from the poem) |
| Rural | (1) The peasants came like swarms of flies
(2) and buzzed, the name of God a hundred times. (3) To paralyse the evil one (4) With candles and with lanterns (5) on the mud-baked walls (6) His poison moved in Mother’s blood, they said. (7) They sat around on the floor with my mother in the centre’ (8) More candles, more lanterns’. (9) groaning on a mat (10) trying every curse and blessing, powder, mixture, herb and hybrid (11) I watched the holy man perform his rites |
(B)
| Scorpion | |
| Many images of the scorpion contrast in the opening lines of the poem. Find examples of each and add them to the columns below. | |
| Timid | Dangerous |
| (1) hides ……………
(2) …………….. back |
(i) Diabolic ……………………
(ii) ……………… |
Answer-
| Scorpion | |
| Many images of the scorpion contrast in the opening lines of the poem. Find examples of each and add them to the columns below. | |
| Timid | Dangerous |
| (1) Hides beneath a sack of rice | (i) Diabolic tail |
| (2) Is afraid of the people and goes back | (ii) The Evil One |
| (iii) His poison moved in Mother’s blood | |
(C)
| Imagery | |
| Look at the description of the village peasants.
What does the imagery suggest about them? |
|
| The Images | What images suggest |
| They came like swarms of flies. | |
| They buzzed the name of God. | |
| They threw giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls. | |
| They clicked their tongues | |
Answer-
| Imagery | |
| Look at the description of the village peasants.
What does the imagery suggest about them? |
|
| The Images | What images suggest |
| They came like swarms of flies. | They came in very large numbers, a huge crowd of people moving towards the house, like a swarm of flies. |
| They buzzed the name of God. | They kept chanting prayers in the name of God softly and continuously, like the buzzing of bees. |
| They threw giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls. | The lanterns they carried cast shadows on the walls, which looked like huge scorpion shadows to the frightened villagers. |
| They clicked their tongues | They made sorrowful and frightening sounds with their tongues. |
- Choose the correct alternative.
- The child is afraid but admires ………………………………
(a) the initiative of the peasants.
(b) his father trying every way to cure.
(c) the bravery of his mother.
Ans. (b) his father trying every way to cure.
- His father and the villagers panic and hastily suggest .………………………………
(a) to take her to the hospital.
(b) ayurvedic treatment.
(c) religious remedies to help.
Ans. (c) religious remedies to help.
- The poet seems to see the villagers as impractical and almost irritating which suggests that ………………………………
(a) the poet is critical of caste
(b) the poet is critical of religion
(c) the poet is critical of tradition.
Ans. (c) the poet is critical of tradition.
- This is a …………………poem as it tells a story.
(a) reflective
(b) imaginative
(c) narrative
Ans. (c) narrative
- Using the first person gives the feeling that it is told from ………………………………
(a) personal experience
(b) public experience
(c) private experience
Ans. (a) personal experience
- ‘The scorpion picked on me. And spared my children’ depicts ………………………………
(a) mother’s bravery
(b) mother’s endurance
(c) selfless and unconditional love of mother.
Ans. (c) selfless and unconditional love of mother.
- The poem does not have a rhyme scheme, which means the poem is a perfect
example of a ………………………………
(a) Ballad
(b) Sonnet
(c) Free verse
Ans. (c) Free verse
- The poem is titled ‘Night of the Scorpion’, for, the major part of the poem, ………………………………
(a) the mother remains triumphant at the end.
(b) the scorpion is the victor.
(c) the father succeeds in curing the mother.
Ans. (b) the scorpion is the victor.
- The peasants chant the name of God to ………………………………
(a) nullify the stinging experience
(b) praise God.
(c) appease God.
Ans. (a) nullify the stinging experience
- The click of tongues reflects their ……………………………… to the predicament.
(a) individual response
(b) collective response
(c) group response
Ans. (b) collective response
- From the poem provide evidence for the following :
| Stages | Evidence (lines from the poem) |
| (a) the attempts by the peasants to help alleviate the mother’s pain. | |
| (b) the action of these same peasants to kill the scorpion | |
| (c) the reaction of the rational father. | |
| (d) the various superstitions versus the ‘scientific’. | |
| (e) evil versus good. |
Answer-
| Stages | Evidence (lines from the poem) |
| (a) the attempts by the peasants to help alleviate the mother’s pain. | (1) The peasants came like swarms of flies’
‘and buzzed the name of God a hundred times to paralyse the Evil One.’ |
| (b) the action of these same peasants to kill the scorpion | With candles and with lanterns
throwing giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls they searched for him: |
| (c) the reaction of the rational father. | My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing, powder, mixture, herb and hybrid. He even poured a little paraffin upon the bitten toe and put a match to it. |
| (d) the various superstitions versus the ‘scientific’. | May the sins of your previous birth
be burned away tonight |
| (e) evil versus good. | May the sum of all evil
balanced in this unreal world against the sum of good |
- Read the poem and complete the table showing the qualities of the father and mother giving sufficient evidences from the poem.
| Qualities | |
| Father | Mother |
Answer-
| Qualities | |
| Father | Mother |
|
|
- (A) Match the Figures of Speech with the correct definition.
| Poetic Devices | |
| Figure | Definition |
| (1) Metaphor | (a) The use of the same sound at the beginning of words |
| (2) Alliteration | (b) An implied comparison. |
| (3) Onomatopoeia | (c) A comparison between two different things, especially a phrase, containing the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ |
| (4) Simile | (d) A word which resembles the sound it represents. |
Answer-
| Poetic Devices | |
| Figure | Definition |
| (1) Metaphor | (b) An implied comparison. |
| (2) Alliteration | (a) The use of the same sound at the beginning of words |
| (3) Onomatopoeia | (d) A word which resembles the sound it represents. |
| (4) Simile | (c) A comparison between two different things, especially a phrase, containing the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ |
(B) Find examples from the poem that contain :
Similie: ………………………………………………………………………….
Metaphor: ………………………………………………………………………….
Onomatopoeia: ………………………………………………………………………….
Answer-
- Similie: The peasants came like swarms of flies
- Metaphor: to paralyse the Evil One.
- Onomatopoeia: buzzed the name of God
- Expand the flow-chart in writing a paragraph in your own words.
Answer-
The poem opens with a stark image: “My mother was stung by a scorpion.” Enduring the excruciating pain of the scorpion’s venom, the mother held on for twenty hours. Though unable to speak, her body valiantly fought the poison with the support of her husband and the villagers. Finally, the venom subsided, and the mother, filled with immense relief, thanked God not just for her own survival, but for the scorpion to have spared her children.
- The poet has used various kinds of imagery to create an image which appeal to our senses. Pick out various kinds of imagery and complete the table.
| Visual imagery
appealing to eyes |
Tactile imagery (sense of touch) | Sound imagery | Internal sensations, feelings and emotions |
| (1) Scorpion crawling beneath a sack of rice | (1) …………………
………………………. ………………………. |
(1) buzzed the name of God | (1) fear |
| (2) …………………
………………………. ………………………. |
(2) Father pouring paraffin on the toe | (2) …………………
………………………. ………………………. |
(2) …………………
………………………. ………………………. |
Answer-
| Visual imagery
appealing to eyes |
Tactile imagery (sense of touch) | Sound imagery | Internal sensations, feelings and emotions |
| (1) Scorpion crawling beneath a sack of rice | (1) I watched the flame feeding on my mother | (1) buzzed the name of God | (1) fear |
| (2) With Candles and lanterns throwing giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls. | (2) Father pouring paraffin on the toe | (2)They clicked their tongues | (2) pain |
- Write an appreciation of the poem in a paragraph format.
(Refer to page no. 5.)
Answer-
“Night of the Scorpion” by Nissim Ezekiel is a poem that depicts a harrowing night when the speaker’s mother is stung by a scorpion. The poem doesn’t have a strict rhyme scheme. My favorite line is “Thank God the scorpion picked on me / And spared my children,” as it captures the mother’s selfless love in a simple yet profound way.
The central theme of the poem revolves around love and sacrifice, particularly a mother’s love for her children. It also explores the clash between faith and superstition, with the villagers’ rituals contrasting with the father’s rational approach. Ezekiel employs vivid imagery (“flash of diabolic tail in the dark room”) and metaphors (“the Evil One”) to create a tense atmosphere. The poem is written in clear, concise language, and the anxious yet hopeful tone reflects the family’s struggle. While the literal meaning is clear, the poem also implies a broader message about the fight against suffering and the enduring power of love.
I appreciate this poem because it portrays a relatable experience with raw emotion. The focus on the mother’s suffering and her ultimate relief creates a strong emotional connection for the reader. The poem doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities but ultimately celebrates the power of love that transcends pain.
Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English Kumarbharti Poem Night of the Scorpion Extra Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
- What is the speaker’s memory in the first line?
a) A fun night spent with his mother
b) A night of heavy rain
c) The night his mother was stung by a scorpion
d) A celebration with villagers
- Why did the scorpion crawl beneath the sack of rice?
a) It was looking for food
b) It was trying to escape the rain
c) It was planning an attack
d) It was attracted to the smell of the rice
- What simile is used to describe the villagers’ arrival?
a) Like a gentle breeze
b) Like swarms of flies
c) Like a comforting hug
d) Like a silent whisper
- What is the “Evil One” referred to in the poem?
a) The rain
b) The speaker’s father
c) The scorpion
d) A disease
- What did the villagers NOT do while searching for the scorpion?
a) They chanted prayers.
b) They lit candles and lanterns.
c) They used poison to kill the scorpion.
d) They searched the walls for shadows.
- What did the villagers believe about the mother’s suffering?
a) It was a punishment for a recent mistake.
b) It was caused by sins from a past life.
c) It was a test of her strength.
d) It was a sign of good luck.
- What is the main purpose of the villagers’ chants?
a) To scare away the scorpion
b) To nullify the scorpion’s poison
c) To celebrate the mother’s recovery
d) To honor the rain god
- What literary device is used in the line “May the poison purify your flesh”?
a) Simile
b) Alliteration
c) Personification
d) Onomatopoeia
- What is the mood of the poem?
a) Joyful and carefree
b) Anxious and tense
c) Peaceful and serene
d) Humorous and lighthearted
- What is the main theme of the poem?
a) The importance of material possessions
b) The dangers of living in nature
c) The power of love and sacrifice
d) The benefits of village life
Answer-
- c) The night his mother was stung by a scorpion
- b) It was trying to escape the rain
- b) Like swarms of flies
- c) The scorpion
- c) They used poison to kill the scorpion.
- b) It was caused by sins from a past life.
- b) To nullify the scorpion’s poison
- b) Alliteration
- b) Anxious and tense
- c) The power of love and sacrifice
Vocabulary Based MCQs
Choose the synonym that best replaces the underlined word (Questions 1 to 5).
- My mother twisted through and through, groaning on a mat.
(a) Shouting
(b) Whispering
(c) Mournful sound
(d) Laughing
- Parting with his poison – flash of diabolic tail in the dark room…
(a) gentle
(b) angelic
(c) devilish
(d) tiny
- Buzzed the name of God a hundred times
to paralyse the Evil One.
(a) Energize
(b) Uplift
(c) Deactivate
(d) Praise
- May your suffering decrease
the misfortunes of your next birth.
(a) Blessings
(b) Happiness
(c) Bad luck
(d) Prosperity
- My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing.
(a) Believer
(b) Dreamer
(c) Traditionalist
(d) Person with logic
- Crawl beneath a sack of rice.
(a) above
(b) on top of
(c) under
(d) beside
Choose the antonym of the underlined word (Questions 7 to 9).
- Good becomes diminished by your pain.
(a) increases
(b) strengthens
(c) lessens
(d) balances
- May the poison purify your flesh.
(a) strengthen
(b) contaminate
(c) elevate
(d) reveal
- My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing.
(a) Believer
(b) Agnostic
(c) Confused
(d) Annoyed
- Choose an option that resonates with the action given in the line.
They clicked their tongues.
(a) snapped
(b) whistled
(c) shouted
(d) murmured
Answer-
- (c) Mournful sound
- (c) devilish
- (c) Deactivate
- (c) Bad luck
- (d) Person with logic
- (c) under
- (a) increases
- (b) contaminate
- (a) Believer
- (a) snapped