NCERT Solutions Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter -6 Poets and Pancakes
Poets and Pancakes
Think As you Read
Page No: 57
1. Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
blew over give a long, angry speech o CC Ocusaalion
was struck dumb: render speechless, as by surprise or shock
catapulted into: to shoot forth or launch
a coat of mail: an armoured coat made of chain mail, interlinked rings, or overlapping metal plates
played into their hands: to act or behave so as to give an advantage to an opponent).
the favourite haunt: a frequently visited place
heard a bell ringing: stirring an often indistinct memory
Page No 59
Think As you Read
1. What does the writer mean by 'the fiery misery of those subjected to make-up?
Answer
The heal produced by the highly in the make up nyebroughilatul a lel oldscono lo lhe acons in
The make up room. Hence the wriler Telers lu lhis pam and lrouble as 'liery misery'.
2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
Answer
The make-up division of the Gemini Studios was an example of national integration. According to the
auber, this is so because people from differentices and religious groups worked legelher in the
same department. The departmenl was headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashlikan.
The other helpers included a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-
Burmese and the local Tamils.
3. What work did the office boy' do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?
Answer
The office boy applies make-up on the players who played the crowd. On the days of crowd shooting,
he would mix his paint in a big vessel and apply it quickly and noisily on the faces of the players. He
had joined the studios with the hope of becoming a star actor or a screen writer, director or lyrics
writer. He was disappointed because he failed and remained only a 'boy
4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
Answer
The author's duty was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in
files. Many of these had to be written out in hand. The onlookers noticed him merely tearing up
newspapers. Hence to them he seemed to be doing next to nothing.
Page No: 61
1. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
Answer
The office boy was frustrated because despite getting a good opening, he remained only an office boy.
He had had a good formal education and would write poetry also. But his great literary talent was being
allowed to go waste. He showed his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios.
2. Who was Subbu's principal?
Answer
Mr.S.S Vasan, the founder of the Gemini Studios, was Subbu's principal.
3. Subbu is described as a many-sicled genius. List four of his special abilities
Answer
Tour Special abilities of Subbu
i) Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times.
(ii) His sense of loyalty made him turn his entire creativity to his principals advantage: Film-making
was quite easy with Subbu around
(i) He was literary inclined too-a poct and novelist. He was an amazing actor.
(iv) He had a charitable and loving nature.
4. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
Answer
The lawyer was in the Story Department. Ile was officially known as the legal adviser. I lowever, his
actions did nobody any good. He had unwittingly brought to an end the career of a promising young
actress. Hence he was referred to as the opposite by others.
5. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
Answer
The lawyer's dress that he wore made him stand out from the others. He wore a pant, a tie and
sometimes a coat also Others put an a khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and clumsily tailored white
khadi shirt, which looked like everyone's uniform.
Page No: 64
1. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
Answer
Most of the people at Gemini Studios were followers of Gandhiji and wore khadi. Beyond khadi and
wearing of khadi they did not have any particular political affiliations. However, they were all against
communism.
2. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
Answer
The Moral Rearmament Army was a kind of counter movement to international communism
The Big Bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played into their hands. So the Moral Rearmament
Army was welcomed at the Gemini Studios
3. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
Answer
The plays staged by the MRA greatly influenced Madras and Tamil drama community. For some
years almost all Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset in the manner of Jotham Valley' with a
bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune played on the flute.
4. Who was the Boss of Gemini Studios?
Answer
Mr.S.S Vasan was the Boss of Gemini Studios.
5. Whal caused the lack of communication belween the Englistunari and the people al Gemini
Studios?
Answer
Most of the 600 odd people at Gemini Studios were Tamil speakers. The Englishman was addressing
them in his own language English. He had a peculiar accent. Hence, there was a lack of
communication between the Englishman and the people at who could not follow what he was saying.
6. Why is the Englishman's visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
Answer
The Englishman's visit to the Gemini Studios is referred to as an unexplained mystery because no one
could decipher his identity, whether he was a poet or an editor. Besides, when he spoke no one at the
studio understood what he intended to say as his accent was beyond their comprehension
Page No: 65
1. Who was the English visitor to the studius?
Answer
The English visitor to the Gemini Studios was Stephen Spender. He was the editor of The Encounter,
a British Periodical, and a famous English poet, essayist and novelist of the twentieth century
2. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
Answer
Before investing money in participating in a short story contest organised by an English periodical The
Encounter, the author did a research on the magazine. He went to the British Council Library where,
while going through an issue of that periodical, he discovered that its editor was Stephen Spender, the
poet that had once visited the studio.
3. What does The God that Failed' refer to?
Answer
'The God That Failed' was a compilation of six essays written by six eminent writers, namely, Andre
Gide, Richard Wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler, Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. In each of
the essays, thc respective writers described their journcys into Communism and their disillusioned
return
Page No: 66
Understanding the Text
1. The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
Answer
The instances of humour, used by the author, mark the eccentricities and idiosyncrasies without
making any direct and rude comment on anybody. For instance, the author portrays the make-up
artists and the usage of the pancakes in an interesting way. Even the caricature of Subbu is hilarious.
The way he tries to help his principal hy offering quick solutions to his problems is quite amusing The
episocle of the legal adviser that inadvertently causes the end of an actress's career is yet another
example. The frustration of the office boy, the superficial praising of Gandhi, hatred of Communism
and the mystery' surrounding Stephen Spender are some of the instances where the authar has
incorporated gentle humour.
2. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
Answer
Kolhanangalam Subbu succeeded in securing the place closest lu The Boss by means of Nallery. He
was not brilliant but a rather cheerful person and exceedingly loyal to The Boss. I le offered solutions
whenever The Boss was in a fix. Thus, the other employees considered him No.2 in Gemini Studios.
3. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Answer
The English poel was addressing the Tamil audience al Gernini Sludios in English with a typical
provincial accent He was talking about the thrills and travails of an Fnglish poet to a dared and silent
audicnce. This was the incongruity becausc his audience could not understand hm at all.
4 What do you understand about the author's literary inclinations from the account?
Answer
The writer was a prose-wnter. Ile wanted to send a short story for the short story contest organised by
a British periodical by the name 'The Encounter'.
Talking about the Text
Discuss in small groups taking off from points in the text.
1. Film production today has come a long way from the early days of the Gemini Studios.
2. Poetry and films
3. I lumour and criticism.
Answer
1. Film production is more technical nowadays. While earlier only five per cent of the shooting was
done buldoors, nowadays oululour stooling is no more limited lo such a neyligible percentage. The
cameras and other equipments are more arivanced a lowing for more varied and accurate
prescntation
The quality of make-up has improved many folds from the days of the Gemini Sludius where only
pancake was used the people involved in various departments are experts in their specialised work,
bc it the circctor, producer, scriptwriter, lyricist or the actors. The overall quality of the films is more
striking and lively
2. In India poctry and films are intricately linked. Thc pcoplc at Gemini Studios, all claimed to have the
talents of a poet. The main reason behind it was their monotonous and leisurely life at the studios.
I lowever these people were not knowledgeable or educated enough to be ports Unlike poetry, films
can be enjoyed by people with little resources who cannot afford to cultivate taste for poctry and
literature.
3. The story is intcrspcrs cd with instances dipped in subtic humour. Ihc humorous instances,
however, make interesting and relevant comments on the behaviour of general people. A humorous
story has more readers, a humorous film more viewers This is because they provide entertainment
and a respite from the tecious existence. Cnticism by means of humour is more effective, hence
writers and film makers often use humorous elements in their works and make sarcastic comments
and cricism
