Class 11WBCHSE English Semester 2 Poetry Textual Questions solutions


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Poem: Still I Rise — Maya Angelou

A. Answer the following briefly:

1. “You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”
👉 The phrase “like dust, I’ll rise” suggests the speaker’s indestructible spirit and unbreakable resilience. Just as dust cannot be permanently crushed or destroyed, the speaker too will always rise again despite oppression and humiliation. It symbolizes hope, persistence, and dignity.

(2 marks)

2. “Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?”
👉 Through these lines, the speaker challenges the listener’s jealousy and discomfort caused by her confidence and pride. She questions why her boldness, joy, and self-assurance make others feel threatened or inferior. It conveys a tone of defiance and self-assertion.

(2 marks)

B. Answer in detail:

1. Explain the significance of the repetition of the phrase “I rise” in the poem. How does it contribute to the overall theme of resilience and defiance?
👉 The repeated phrase “I rise” acts as the central refrain and emphasizes the speaker’s unbreakable strength and determination. Each repetition reinforces her victory over prejudice, hatred, and injustice.
It conveys that no matter how many times society tries to push her down through racism, sexism, or oppression, she will always rise with courage, pride, and self-respect.
The repetition becomes a powerful rhythm of resistance, celebrating the human spirit’s ability to overcome pain and emerge stronger. It ultimately embodies resilience, hope, and self-empowerment.

(6 marks)

2. Analyze the use of imagery in the lines:
“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”

👉 In these lines, Maya Angelou uses violent imagery—“shoot,” “cut,” “kill”—to show the emotional and psychological attacks the speaker faces. These images symbolize verbal abuse, hatred, and discrimination directed toward her.
However, the comparison “like air, I’ll rise” transforms the tone: air is free, light, and uncontainable, showing that the speaker’s spirit cannot be defeated or suppressed.
This striking contrast between violence and freedom enhances the poem’s message of empowerment and self-liberation, celebrating her ability to transcend cruelty with grace and strength.

(6 marks)

🌟 Poem: My Last Duchess — Robert Browning

A. Answer the following briefly:

1. What according to the speaker used to bring the ‘spot of joy’ on the Duchess’s cheek?
👉 According to the Duke, the ‘spot of joy’ appeared on the Duchess’s cheek whenever she was pleased or complimented by others, such as when someone praised her beauty, her courtesy, or the gift of a bough of cherries from another man. This suggests her innocent friendliness, which the Duke misinterpreted as flirtation.

(2 marks)

2. “Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity” — what does the piece of ‘rarity’ symbolically suggest?
👉 The ‘rarity’ refers to a bronze statue of Neptune taming a sea-horse, symbolizing the Duke’s desire for control and dominance. Just as Neptune controls the sea-horse, the Duke wanted to control and ‘tame’ his Duchess’s free spirit. It reflects his possessive and authoritarian nature.

(2 marks)

B. Answer in detail:

1. “Your master’s known munificence / Is ample warrant that no just pretence…”

  • The person being spoken to is the envoy (messenger) of another nobleman who has come to negotiate the Duke’s next marriage.
  • The master’s munificence (generosity) is a guarantee that the Duke’s dowry expectations will be fulfilled.
  • According to the Duke, the envoy’s principal object is to finalize the marriage alliance between the Duke and his master’s daughter. The Duke indirectly stresses his concern for wealth and social status, revealing his materialistic and proud temperament.

(6 marks: 2+2+2)

2. “This grew; I gave commands; and all smiles stopped together.” — What character of the Duke is revealed here?
👉 This line reveals the Duke’s cold, cruel, and tyrannical nature. His pride and jealousy grew to such an extent that he ordered the Duchess’s death or confinement because she was too kind and warm toward others.
It exposes his authoritarian personality, his obsession with control, and his lack of empathy. He values power and reputation more than love or human life.
The calm tone with which he mentions her death shows his moral corruption and arrogance, making him a classic example of a Renaissance tyrant and a possessive husband.

(6 marks)

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