Poets and Pancakes Important Questions Class 12 English

Poets and Pancakes Important Questions CBSE Class 12 English

Answer each of the following questions in about 30-40 words

Question 1. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to us as unexplained mystery? (2002 Delhi)

Ans. When the English visitor arrived at Gemini Studios, it left many of the studio’s workers feeling puzzled and uncertain. His name was new to them, and they couldn’t verify his qualifications. His language was unfamiliar to everyone, so they wondered why he had come to a studio that made Tamil movies for a humble audience with no interest in English poems.

Question 2. Who was the English visitor to the studios and what was the purpose of his visit? (2004 Delhi; 2011 Comptt. Delhi)

Ans. The person from England who came to the studio was named Stephen Spender. He was an English poet and also managed a British magazine called ‘The Encounter.’ Mr. Vasan, who was in charge of Gemini Studios, invited him to give a speech. However, he couldn’t connect with the people in the audience, and they didn’t really get why he was there. In fact, Asokamitran only found out who he was years later, completely by accident.

Question 3. What was MRA and why it was welcomed at the Gemini Studios? (2005 Delhi)

Ans. The MRA, which stands for the Moral Rearmament Army, served as a response to international communism. They found a friendly reception at Gemini Studios because of their political beliefs. The head of the studio, Mr. Vasan, was supportive of their cause. Moreover, the people at Gemini Studios were against communism. Therefore, the Moral Rearmament Army couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming host in India than Gemini Studios, where they were warmly embraced.

Question 4. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios? (2006 Delhi)

Ans. The English poet speech seemed out of place at Gemini Studios, where everyone spoke Tamil. His words didn’t match the setting, and his accent was so hard to understand that no one could grasp what he was saying. He talked about the ups and downs of being an English poet to a confused audience. In the end, neither the Englishman nor the audience knew why they had to listen to it all.

Question 5. Why did everybody in the studio think of giving the author some work to do? (2008 Delhi)

Ans. The author had the task of collecting newspaper articles on different topics and organizing them in folders. Many people observed this and thought it was a pointless task, as they believed he was hardly doing anything. As a result, everyone in the studio wanted to assign some meaningful work to the author.

Question 6. Why did the ‘boy’ in the makeup department come to the author? Why was the author praying for crowd shooting all the time? (2008 Outside Delhi)

Ans. The boy in the makeup department believed they had a special skill for writing and wanted to tell the author about it. They thought the department was better suited for barbers and inappropriate people. The author didn’t want to hear the boy long stories, so they wished for a lot of people to be around to keep the boy occupied.

Question 7. Who was Subbu’s enemy? Why? (2008 Delhi)

Ans. Subbu had a problem with someone in the makeup department. He was really mad at this boy and felt very frustrated. The person, who we’ll call “the boy,” thought that Subbu was the reason for all his problems and unhappiness. This “boy” was envious of Subbu because he was doing well at work, getting promotions, and had a good relationship with the boss

Question 8. Why was Subbu considered number two at Gemini Studios? (2009 Outside Delhi; 2012 Comptt. Delhi)

Ans. Subbu was an ambitious individual who carved out a prominent role for himself in the studios through compliments and hard work. Mr. Vasan served as the head of Gemini Studios, and Subbu, his trusted assistant, held the second most important position there. Subbu channeled his creativity to benefit his boss, often providing a variety of solutions when producers were dissatisfied. With Subbu’s involvement, the process of filmmaking became immensely enjoyable. Additionally, Subbu played a vital role in shaping the identity and success of Gemini Studios during its prosperous era.

Poets And Pancakes Important Questions And Answers in about 125-150 words

Question 23. Kothamangalam Subbu was a ‘many-sided genius’. Elaborate. (2000 Delhi)

Or

Why is Subbu described as a many-sided genius? Give a reasoned answer. (2013 Comptt. Outside Delhi)

Ans. The author portrays a character named Kothamangalam Subbu as someone who pretends to be very talented but actually isn’t. Subbu works in the Story Department at Gemini Studios but spends most of his time with his boss. He puts all his effort into making his boss look good. Subbu acts like he is a great storyteller, a skilled actor, and a problem solver in filmmaking, even though he’s not really that talented. He makes filmmaking seem easy for his boss. So, Subbu takes advantage of his boss trust and presents himself as a versatile genius with many skills.

Question 24. Asokamitran has used humour and satire effectively in ‘Poets and Pancakes’. Discuss. (2001 Delhi)

Or

How does humour and satire enliven the account of the events and personalities at Gemini Studios as portrayed by Asokamitran in ‘Poets and Pancakes’? (2013 Outside Delhi)

Ans. In the chapter called ‘Poets and Pancakes,’ Asokamitran cleverly uses humor and satire to point out human flaws. He pokes fun at small professional disputes and unimportant disagreements that occupy our minds, but his humor is subtle and not overdone. The way he describes the office boy, Subbu, and the legal advisor is funny in a subtle way. Asokamitran quickly switches from one topic to another, like making fun of the heavy makeup artists wear that can turn anyone into a strange-looking red monster. These references make us laugh.

The visits of the Moral Rearmament Army and the English poet puzzle everyone in the story, and Asokamitran satirizes people who strongly oppose communism. What’s impressive is that the writer’s tone is mocking without being mean-spirited, which is praiseworthy.

Question 25. Why and how was the Moral Re-Armament Army welcomed at the Gemini Studios? (2008 Outside Delhi)

Ans. In 1952, a group of around 200 individuals from 20 different countries, led by Frank Buchman and known as the Moral Re-Armament Army (MRA), visited Madras. This MRA group was seen as a response to international communism, which was not well-regarded at Gemini Studios. However, Mr. Vasan, the head of Gemini Studios, was intrigued by the MRA, making Gemini Studios a welcoming host in India for them.

During their visit, the MRA presented two plays, “Jotham Valley” and “The Forgotten Factor,” with great professionalism. These plays had straightforward messages but were impressively staged, with top-notch sets and costumes. They left a strong impression on both the local Tamil drama community and the staff at Gemini Studios.

Notably, the scenes depicting sunrise and sunset in “Jotham Valley” were so well-done that they served as inspiration for similar scenes in other productions for years to come.

More Resources for Class 12

• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology
• NCERT Syllabus for Class 12
• NCERT Books
• NCERT Books for Class 12

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main theme of Poets and Pancakes?

The story main idea is about how people in early 20th century India treated each other differently based on their social class. It shows how some people thought they were better than others just because of their caste, like Subbu.

What is the satire in Poets and Pancakes?

In the chapter, Poets and Pancakes, Asokamitran uses a lot of subtle humour and satire to highlight human foibles. Petty professional differences and inconsequential differences not only keep our minds occupied but also bring out a subtle humour that is spontaneous without being superfluous.

What is the critical analysis of Poets and Pancakes?

Poets and Pancakes carries a subtle sense of humor that is satirical. The author uses it to highlight human weaknesses. This humor is most evident when the author describes the people in the make-up room. He mentions that the make-up room is located in a building that used to be Robert Clives stables.

What is the character sketch of the author in Poets and Pancakes?

In the chapter titled Poets and Pancakes, Spender comes across as a quiet and self-reflective person who is dedicated to his craft. He seems a bit distant from the other poets in the group, but hes also very thoughtful and likes to think deeply.