Inter 2nd Year Annotations

All in One Annotations 

Prose 1 Of Studies

Context: These lines are taken from the essay Of Studies written by  Francis Bacon, a renowned English essayist. The eaasy explains the advantages of studying.

  Explanation : Reading books brings joy, boosts communication skills, and enhances judgment. It nurtures one's natural talents. Smart people shun reading, while simple folks enjoy it, and wise individuals read to improve. Various types of books exist, from formal reading materials to those requiring thorough digestion. Reading makes a person complete. Bacon highlights specific benefits for each subject: history for wisdom, poetry for wit, and mathematics for concentration. Just as physical exercise improves the body, studies help cure mental weaknesses.

General Relevance: Bacon’s style is aphoristic. They are filled with sensible ideas. The division of the three kinds shows the wit of Bacon. Real life situations are shown in the essay. Thus the language of the essay is appreciated.

Prose 2 The Secret of Work

Context : These lines are taken from the essay The Secret of Work written by Swami Vivekananda, a wise thinker. He emphasized  the value of hard work in the essay.

Explanation: Swami Vivekananda believed that  everyone should work diligently because our actions shape our character. Good people naturally do good deeds, overcoming bad tendencies. Vivekananda compared life to a short journey, citing the Bhagavad-Gita. He urged us to work as masters, not slaves, with love. Selfless work, done without expecting anything, leads to perfection and is a form of worship. By living without attachment and practicing mercy and selflessness, we build strong character.

General Relevance : It is a known thing that continuous work yields good results. Work with love, work without selfishness shall bring a change in the society. Vivekananda hopes “Work is Worship”.

Prose 3 JC Bose

Context: These lines are taken from the  essay "J.C. Bose" from the book "Testing Pilate"written by Aldous Huxley. The book  discusses the Bose Institute in Calcutta and the experiments witnessed there.

Explanation : Similar to Michael Faraday's simple tools for discovering electricity, the Institute employs small items like clockwork, needles, and filaments to study plant growth. Huxley visited the Bose Institute and observed the instruments in action. Bose himself demonstrated their use, displaying plant growth on smoked glass sheets. Experiments included electric shocks, feeding, transplantation, and even applying chloroform to a plant, revealing its struggles. Bose showed that plants, like humans, can suffer, emphasizing the need for humans to care for plants with affection.

General Relevance: The Institute of J.C Bose is a lively example, to show that plants also develop or perish just like the animals when they are put to trouble. They enjoy the happiness and suffer the fatal experiences.

Prose 4 In Celebration of Being Alive

Context: These lines are taken from the essay In Celebration of Being Alive written by  Dr. Barnard, a writer and doctor from South Africa. He wrote books like "One Life" and "The Donor." 

Explanation: In his essay "In Celebration of Being Alive," Dr. Barnard shared a personal event. He and his wife got hit by cars while crossing the road, and they ended up in the hospital. This made him mad at God, but he remembered his dad saying that tough times test us. Thinking of his brother's early death and kids needing doctors, he remembered something special. Two boys with disabilities ran a breakfast cart, one blind, the other with a heart problem. They didn't let their problems bother them. This taught Barnard that life should be celebrated, even when it's hard. Suffering, he learned, has a purpose, and he accepted his fate.

General Relevance : The business of living is the Celebration of Being Alive. Light can not be appreciated without knowing darkness, nor can warmth be, without experiencing coldness. What you have lost is not important but what is left with you is important. 

Prose 5 Learning From The West

These lines tajen from the lesson Learning From the West , a speech delivered by N.R. Narayana Murthy when he received the Lal Bahadur Shastri Award for the year 2001.  

Explanation : This essay talks about his thoughts on Indian and Western thinking. From the West, Murthy wants us to learn community thinking, where they put society first. They value public good and don't have much corruption. In India, corruption is a problem. Westerners tackle society's issues promptly, while we often take a long time to finish projects. They take responsibility for their work, and dignity of labour is important. They respect professionalism based on skills, not just positions. In India, sometimes friends aren't criticized even when they're not good at something. Murthy hopes for a country built on commitment and values.

General Relevance: Narayana Murthy feels that personal interests should not come in the way, one gives respect to the merits. This will add to the character of an individual. To get the principles succeeded, we must leave our privileges. The effort shall be respectful and we get the real benefit.

Poem 1 On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three

Context : These lines are taken from the poem “On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty Three”. It was written by the epic poet John Milton. It is about his dissatisfaction towards God. Later he reconcil.

Explanation:   In this poem, he talks about feeling unhappy with himself at the age of twenty-three. He's not satisfied with how he's grown as a man and in his writing. The first eight lines of the poem describe a problem, and the next six lines offer a solution. He believes that everything we get in life is from God, and we should be content with it. Time goes by quickly, like a thief, so we should accept what we have. Milton accepts God's will and praises Him. He believes we should all accept God's grace, whether we are important or not.

General Relevance: Every body in this world has to obey God and his plans. Though there is dissatisfaction in the beginning in course of time the individual will satisfy himself with the blessings of God.

Poem 2 The Tables Turned

Context: These lines are extracted from the poem “The Tables Turned” written by William Wordsworth. These lines suggest how the poet creates interest in the study of nature.

Explanation: In this poem, he asks his friend to change his attitude. He advises his friend to give up reading books and go to nature for study. He used simple words in his poems, like talking about the sun, green fields, and birds. He told his friend to stop reading books and go outside to learn from nature. Nature, he believed, is a great teacher because it has lots of knowledge. Even a priest, who teaches about important things, can't teach as much as nature can. Nature gives us health and happiness. We can learn about science and art just by watching nature. There's no need to dissect or take things apart. Love for nature is enough to learn its wonderful secrets.

General relevance : All the knowledge, including that, which belongs to science and art, is available in the study of nature. So one should not hesitate to go in for the study of nature.

Poem 3  Builders 

Context: These lines are taken from the poem “The Builders”. written by H.W. Longfellow. Here people are compared to builders. The life is the structure and time controls it.

Explanation:  The poet wants us to realize that we are like builders of our own lives. Time tells the story of our life. What we do today shapes our future. If we have problems, we should fix them over time. We must work hard, be honest, and do the right things to reach success. Every day is like a brick in the building of our life. We should have good values, so our life is pleasing to God. Weaknesses make a weak foundation, so we should have a broad perspective. With time and strong character, we can build a great life that reaches high like the sky.

General Relevance : Life’s merits like beauty, tranquility and peace should be observed. minutely. The poet expects perfect quality in one’s life.

Poem 4 Any Woman 

Context: These lines are extracted from the poem “Any Woman” written by Katharine Tynan. She was British writer. She produced a number of novels and poems. These lines describe the place of a mother in a family.

Explanation: The poem talks about a woman as a mother and protector in a home. It shows how much she loves her children and takes care of them. She gives up many things for them, and her love holds the family together, like the sun's warmth. She feeds her children well and keeps them safe at home. She's like a knot that keeps everyone close. A mother also keeps the house clean, decorates it, and makes the beds for her children. In simple words, the poem celebrates the love and care of a mother in a home.

General Relevance: These lines tell us that the mother has a pivotal place in the family. She is the backbone to take care of the children and help them to flourish.

Poem 5 A Challenge To Fate

Context: These lines are taken from the poem “A Challenge to Fate” written by Sarojini , Naidu. It is about the courageous behaviour of the writer. It is a challenge against Fate.

Explanation:  In the poem "A Challenge to Fate," she talks about fate. She feels fate challenges her, but she disagrees. She finds joy in beautiful scenery, mountains, blue skies, and history. Lovely valleys and birds in spring make her happy. Fate tries to control all this, but it can't. Even during sad times, she explores places. Love, joy, and peace are stronger than fate. So, in the end, fate doesn't win, and the writer triumphs.

General Relevance: It is known that, inspite of all the efforts of Fate,’ the writer wins the battle. The brave heart is led to victory.