10th English
Unit 4 Supplementary
The Aged Mother
Tamilnadu Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 4 The
Aged Mother
10th English Guide Supplementary The Aged Mother Textbook Questions and
Answers
A. Rearrange the sentences given below in the correct sequence.
The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain.
The governor realized his mistake and abolished the law.
Once in Shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to
death.
Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of
twigs.
Filled with dread, he hid his mother in his home.
The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son
return.
Answers:
Once in Shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to
death.
A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain.
The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son
return.
When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of
twigs.
The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
Filled with dread, he hid his mother in his home.
Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
The governor realized his mistake and abolished the law.
B. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
1. What was the cruel announcement made by the leader?
Answer:
The cruel announcement was to put all the aged people to death.
2. Why was the farmer filled with sorrow?
Answer:
The farmer was filled with sorrow because he loved his aged mother very much.
He did not want her to die.
3. What were the things carried by the farmer to the summit of the
mountain?
Answer:
He took a quantity of cooked and dried unwhitened rice. He also took a gourd
filled with cool sweet water.
4. Why did the mother become anxious as they climbed up the mountain?
Answer:
The mother became anxious because her son did not know the mountain’s many
paths and his return might be one of the dangers.
5. What did the mother drop along the way?
Answer:
The mother dropped a pile of twigs along the way.
6. What was the advice given by his mother for the safe return of her
son?
Answer:
The mother advised her son to look carefully and follow the path which holds
the piles of twigs which will guide him to the familiar path farther down.
7. Why did the farmer’s burden seem to be light on his way back home?
Answer:
The farmer was happy to take his mother back home. So his burden seemed to be
light on his way back.
8. Where did the farmer hide his mother?
Answer:
The farmer hid his mother in a walled closet beneath the kitchen floor.
9. How did the farmer make the rope of ashes? On whose suggestion did he do
it?
Answer:
The farmer made a rope of ashes on the clever idea of his mother. He made a
rope of twisted straw and burnt it on a windless night.
10. How did the Governor realize his mistake?
Answer:
The governor realized his mistake when he listened to the farmer’s story and
meditated in silence. He abolished his cruel law.
C. Answer each of the following in a paragraph of 120 to 150 words.
1. Narrate the circumstances that led to the abandoning of the aged in
Shining.
Answer:
Introduction:
The story “The Aged Mother” was written by Matsuo Basho. This story tells
about the love and affection of a son and his mother.
Cruel Decision:
Shining was ruled by a cruel leader. The entire province was given strict
order to kill all aged people in the country. The custom of abandoning old
people to die was not uncommon.
Farmer’s Idea:
The poor farmer loved his mother. The order filled his heart with sorrow. He
thought twice about it. So, he wanted his mother to be in the high bare summit
of Obatsuyama the mountain of the “abandoning aged”.
Wise old mother:
The farmer left his mother in the summit. The mother picked up some pine twigs
and left it over the way for her son’s safe return. The cruel leader asked the
farmer to prepare a rope of ashes to dismiss the order. The old mother gave an
idea, with that the farmer produced a rope of ashes.
Conclusion:
This shows that the old people are wise and experienced. Thus, the emperor
realised his mistake and abolished the cruel law.
(OR)
Title: The Aged Mother
Author: Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
Character: The farmer, his mother, and the governor
Theme: “Haste makes waste”
Shining was ruled by a cruel ruler. He was a warrior. He was a coward
shrinking from anything’ suggestive of failing health and strength. This
caused him to make a cruel announcement.
The province was given strict orders to put to death all aged people. The poor
farmer loved his aged mother and respected her. This order made him very sad.
But none thought twice about it. So the farmer prepared to give his mother the
kindest mode of death. He took her to the bare summit called Obat-suyama, the
mountain of ‘abandoning of the aged’.
(OR)
A cruel leader ruled ‘Shining’
He was a warrior
He made a cruel announcement to kill all aged people
The poor farmer loved his aged mother very much
This order made him very sad
So, the farmer prepared the kindest mode of death for his mother
He took his mother to the summit of Obatsuyama
It was the mountain of abandoning of the aged
2. Describe the farmer’s painful journey up the mountain.
Answer:
Introduction:
In this paragraph we are going to see about the painful journey of the farmer
who loved his mother very much, up to the mountain.
Farmer’s thoughts:
Shining was ruled by a cruel leader. He ordered the entire province that the
old must be killed. The farmer wanted his mother to die at the summit of
Obatsuyama.
Painful journey:
At sunset, the farmer carried his mother and took some unwhitened rice. He
also took a gourd filled with cool sweet water. The road was long and steep.
The path was crossed and recrossed by many wood cutters and farmers.
In some place, he lost the path and got confused. But he didn’t mind it. He
went blindly upwards. His mother was anxious about her son’s safety return. So
she dropped some piles of twigs on their path. Weary and heart sick he gently
released his burden. He made a comfortable place for her mother.
Conclusion:
Thus the farmer, with sorrow hearted left her mother in the mountains of
Obatsuyama. Thus, he ended the painful journey up the mountain.
(OR)
Title: The Aged mother
Author: Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
Character: The farmer, his mother
Theme: “Blood is thicker than water”
At sunset, the farmer took some cooked and dried unwhitened rice. He tied it
in a cloth and swung it in a bundle around his neck with a gourd of cool sweet
water. He took his helpless mother on his back and started his journey up the
mountain. The narrow path was crossed.
His mother was anxious that her son did not know many mountain paths. She
dropped piles of twigs on their path to help her son return home safely. Weary
and heart sick he released his burden. He also prepared a place of comfort as
his last duty to her mother. Thus he ended his painful journey up the
mountain.
(OR)
At sunset the farmer took some cooked and dried unwhitened rice.
He tied it in a cloth and swung around his neck
He took a gourd with cool sweet water.
He lifted his helpless mother to his back and started his journey.
The long narrow road was crossed by many paths.
Tired and heart sick, he put down his burden
He silently prepared a place of comfort to her mother
Thus he ended his painful journey
3. ‘The old are wise’. Prove this with reference to the story ‘The Aged
Mother.
Answer:
Introduction:
A cruel leader ruled the province of Shining. He made an announcement that the
aged of the province should be put to death. In this paragraph we are going to
prove that the old are wise.
The old are wise:
A poor farmer loved his mother. He took his mother to the top of the mountain
with difficulties. The paths were narrow and confusing. When, he bid farewell
to her, she advised him to follow the path. She had dropped piles of twigs on
the path. This could help him find his way fclearly. He brought her mother
back and hide her in the wall beside the kitchen floor.
Idea of the mother:
The governor demanded for a rope of ashes. The mother gave him a clever idea
to make it. He presented it to the governor. He was amazed. The governor
praised the old mother for her wisdom.
Conclusion:
He admired of the old mother and abolished his cruel law against the aged
people. Thus, we are observed that the “Old are wise” through this story.
(OR)
Title: The Aged Mother
Author: Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
Character: The farmer, his mother and the governor.
Theme: “The old are always wise”
Shining was ruled by a cruel leader. He announced that all old people must be
put to death. A poor farmer became sad after this announcement, because he
loved his mother very much. So he took his mother on his back to the summit.
It was very difficult as the path was long, narrow, steep and confusing.
It was crossed and recrossed by many paths. He brought his mother back and hid
her in a closet beneath the kitchen floor. The governor demanded for a rope of
ashes. The mother gave him clever idea to make it. Her son presented it to the
governor. He was amazed. He praised the old mother for her wisdom. Thus he
abolished his cruel law against the aged people.
“The aged people deserve our care”
(OR)
Shining was ruled by a cruel leader
He announced to put all the aged to death
A poor farmer became sad as he loved his mother very much
He took his mother to the summit
The path was long, steep and narrow
It was very difficult for him to carry his mother
He left her there and bade farewell to her mother
He brought his mother back home and hid her in a closet
The governor demanded a rope of ashes
The farmer’s mother gave a clever idea to make it
The governor was amazed seeing it
He praised the old mother for her wisdom
The governor abolished the cruel law against the aged people.
D. Identify the character/speaker.
1. He gave orders for the aged to be put to death.
Answer:
governor
2. He considered the order to be the kindest mode of death.
Answer:
farmer
3. She quietly dropped some twigs on the way.
Answer:
the aged mother
4. Let not thine eyes be blinded.
Answer:
the aged mother
5. Together we will follow the path , together we will die.
Answer:
farmer
6. I will think. I will think.
Answer:
the aged mother
7. The truth must be told.
Answer:
farmer
8. He listened and meditated in silence.
Answer:
governor
9. Shining needs more than the strength of the youth.
Answer:
governor
10. With the crown of snow there cometh wisdom.
Answer:
governor
E. Choose the appropriate answer and fill in the blanks.
1. Shining was governed by a ………………… leader.
(a) strict
(b) kind
(c) cruel
(d) diplomatic.
Answer:
(c) cruel
2. The ………………. was the principal food for the poor.
(a) wheat
(b) brown rice
(c) unwhitened rice
(d) millet
Answer:
(c) unwhitened rice
3. The road was crossed and re-crossed by many path made by the …………………
(a) hunters and woodcutters
(b) robbers and thieves
(c) vendors and tradesmen
(d) wildlife photographers and trekkers
Answer:
(a) hunters and woodcutters
4. Gathering …………………. he made a soft cushion and tenderly lifted his old
mother onto it.
(a) dry leaves
(b) fallen pine
(c) broken twigs
(d) flowers
Answer:
(b) fallen pine
5. The governor demanded that his subjects should present him with a
…………………..
(a) basket of fruits
(b) rope of ashes
(c) flesh of animals
(d) bag of silverwares
Answer:
(b) rope of ashes
Rearrange the following sentence in coherent order.
Exercise: 1
1. (a) Strict order were given to put to death all aged people
2. (b) The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence
3. (c) The order filled his heart with sorrow
4. (d) He had a cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health
and strength
5. (e) The country shining was governed by a despotic leader
Answer:
1. (e) The country shining was governed by a despotic leader
2. (d) He had a cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health
and strength
3. (a) Strict order were given to put to death all aged people
4. (b) The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence
5. (c) The order filled his heart with sorrow
Exercise: 2
1. (a) The Governor said, “I should have forgotten the well-known saying –
with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom”.
2. (b) The aged mother’s son called the people and made a rope of ashes, as
his mother said.
3. (c) With deep bows he related his story.
4. (d) He demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom.
5. (e) The governor was pleased at the wit of the youth.
Answer:
1. (b) The aged mother’s son called the people and made a rope of ashes, as
his mother said.
2. (e) The governor was pleased at the wit of the youth.
3. (d) He demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom.
4. (c) With deep bows he related his story.
5. (a) The Governor said, “I should have forgotten the well-known saying –
with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom”.
Exercise: 3
1. (a) She gave an idea – “make a rope of twisted straw”
2. (b) Again the governor sent forth herald bearing an unreasonable order.
3. (c) An stretch it upon flat stone and burn it on a windless night.
4. (d) The son whispered the news to his hidden mother.
5. (e) He demanded his subject to present him with a rope of ashes.
Answer:
1. (b) Again the governor sent forth herald bearing an unreasonable order.
2. (e) He demanded his subject to present him with a rope of ashes.
3. (d) The son whispered the news to his hidden mother.
4. (a) She gave an idea – “make a rope of twisted straw”
5. (c) An stretch it upon flat stone and burn it on a windless night.
Read the passage given beiow and answer the questions that follow.
1. The country Shining was governed by a despotic leader who though a warrior,
had a great and cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health
and strength. This caused him to send out a cruel proclamation. The entire
province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people.
Those were barbarous days, and the custom of abandoning old people to die was
not uncommon. The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence, and
the order filled his heart his heart with sorrow. But no one ever throught
twice about obeying the mandate of the governor, so with many deep and
hopeless sighs, the youth prepared for what at that time was considered the
kindest mode of death.
Question 1.
Who governed Shining?
Answer:
A despotic leader governed Shining.
Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother
Question 2.
What was the cowardly act of the governor?
Answer:
The cowardly act of the governor was to shrink from anything.
Question 3.
What proclamation did the governor sent out?
Answer:
The governor sent out a proclamation to put to death all the aged people.
Question 4.
How did the poor farmer treat his mother?
Answer:
The poor farmer loved his mother with tender reverence.
Question 5.
Did the people obey the governor’s order?
Answer:
Yes. The people obeyed the governor’s order.
2. Just at sundown, when his day’s work was ended, he took a quantity of
unwhitened rice which was the principal food for the poor, and he cooked,
dried it, and tied it in a square cloth, which he swung in a bundle around his
neck along with a gourd filled with cool, sweet water. Then he lifted his
helpless old mother to his back and started on his painful journey up the
mountain.
The road was long and steep; the narrow road was crossed and recrossed by many
paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In some place, they lost and
confuse, but he gave no heed. One path or another, it mattered not. On he
went, climbing blindly upward ever upward towards the high bare summit of what
is known as Obatsuyama, the mountain of the “abandoning of the aged”.
Question 1.
When did he start his journey to the mountain?
Answer:
He started his journey at sunset.
Question 2.
What did he carry for his mother?
Answer:
He carried some cooked unwhitened rice and some cool sweet water.
Question 3.
How was the road on his journey?
Answer:
The road was long and steep.
10th English Guide Supplementary Chapter 4 The Aged Mother
Question 4.
Who made many paths ont he narrow road?
Answer:
The hunters and the wood cutters made many paths.
Question 5.
What was the name of the mountain?
Answer:
It was named as Obatsuyama.
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