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This blog on NCERT solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight provides simple and clear answers to the questions, which helps students in understanding the themes of this short story. These solutions will help you with revision and exam preparation. You can also download the free PDF for quick revison.
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NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight
Here are the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight, crafted to enhance understanding of the story’s themes, characters, and cultural nuances for effective revision.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
1. Give reasons for the following:
a. Satyajit attending the village wedding.
Solution: Satyajit attended the village wedding due to his familial ties and social obligations. As a successful man from Calcutta, his presence at his uncle Srinath’s daughter’s wedding was expected, given his status as a prominent figure in the family. His past generosity, such as funding relatives’ needs, created an expectation for him to grace such occasions. Additionally, his visit allowed him to maintain his image as a prosperous and benevolent relative, despite his recent financial downfall, which he kept hidden to preserve his reputation.
b. Satyajit’s recollection of the forgerer when he was on the train.
Solution: On the train, Satyajit recalled the forgerer, Haralal, because his own fall from wealth to poverty mirrored the forgerer’s disgrace. Haralal, a clerk Satyajit once supervised, had forged a signature to secure funds, leading to his ruin. Satyajit, now facing financial ruin himself due to the bank’s collapse, empathized with Haralal’s desperation, reflecting on how circumstances can push even honest men toward moral compromise. This recollection highlighted Satyajit’s guilt and fear of being exposed as a fallen man.
c. Srinath and his family members’ eager expectation of Satyajit’s arrival.
Solution: Srinath and his family eagerly awaited Satyajit’s arrival because of his reputation as a wealthy, influential relative who had previously provided financial support. They viewed him as a benefactor capable of resolving their financial constraints, particularly the dowry needed for the wedding. His past acts of generosity, such as funding education and medical expenses for relatives, fueled their hope that his presence would ensure the wedding’s success, reinforcing their dependence on his perceived prosperity.
d. Srinath’s disappointment with Satyajit.
Solution: Srinath’s disappointment stemmed from Satyajit’s failure to provide the expected financial assistance for the wedding dowry. Unaware of Satyajit’s financial ruin, Srinath anticipated his help, as Satyajit had been a reliable supporter in the past. When Satyajit, struggling with his own poverty, could not meet these expectations and remained silent about his plight, Srinath felt betrayed, interpreting his nephew’s inaction as indifference or unwillingness to help, which strained their relationship.
e. Satyajit’s feeling that he was an impostor.
Solution: Satyajit felt like an impostor because he concealed his financial ruin while allowing his family to believe he was still a prosperous man. His inability to disclose his bankruptcy, coupled with accepting their admiration and expectations, created a facade of success. This internal conflict intensified when he found the money in the train and considered keeping it, knowing it was not his, which deepened his sense of moral compromise and self-deception.
f. Satyajit not disclosing his present financial status to his uncle.
Solution: Satyajit refrained from disclosing his financial status to Srinath to preserve his dignity and avoid shame. Having been revered as a successful figure, admitting his downfall would tarnish his reputation and disappoint his family, who relied on his support. His pride, coupled with the fear of losing their respect and facing pity, compelled him to maintain the illusion of prosperity, despite the emotional toll it took on him.
2. Describe the cycle of events in Satyajit’s life that brought him back to where he began.
Solution: Satyajit’s life followed a cyclical trajectory from modest beginnings to success and back to poverty. Initially, he rose from humble origins to a position of wealth and influence as a bank official in Calcutta, earning respect and supporting his extended family. His prosperity peaked with public admiration and financial generosity. However, the bank’s collapse due to fraudulent practices led to his sudden financial ruin, stripping him of his wealth and status. On the train to his uncle’s village, he found a purse with money, briefly tempting him to reclaim his lost glory by keeping it. Ultimately, his conscience led him to return the money, leaving him penniless again, mirroring his initial state of poverty. This cycle underscores the transient nature of success and the moral challenges accompanying a fall from grace.
Also Read: NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1: The Portrait of a Lady (Free PDF)
TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT
Discuss in pairs:
1. It is difficult to adjust to a fall from glory.
Solution: Satyajit’s fall from a prosperous bank official to a penniless man illustrates the difficulty of adjusting to a loss of status. His struggle to maintain appearances at the wedding, despite his poverty, reflects the emotional toll of losing wealth and respect. The story highlights how societal expectations and personal pride make such a fall challenging, as Satyajit grapples with shame and the temptation to act dishonestly. In pairs, students can discuss how sudden changes in status affect identity and relationships, drawing parallels with real-life examples of individuals facing similar reversals.
2. ‘Failure had a tempo faster than success.’
Solution: The quote reflects how Satyajit’s financial collapse was swift compared to the gradual effort required to achieve success. His rise to wealth took years of hard work, but the bank’s failure erased it almost instantly, leaving him vulnerable. This rapid tempo of failure is evident in his inability to cope with the sudden loss of status and resources. In pairs, students can explore how this contrast applies to other contexts, such as business or personal setbacks, discussing why failure often feels more abrupt and overwhelming than the slow climb to success.
3. Satyajit should have revealed his predicament to his uncle.
Solution: Satyajit’s decision to hide his financial ruin from Srinath preserved his pride but strained their relationship, as Srinath felt let down by his nephew’s apparent indifference. Revealing his predicament could have fostered understanding and strengthened their bond, though it risked pity or loss of respect. The story raises questions about honesty versus pride in family dynamics. In pairs, students can debate whether Satyajit’s silence was justified, considering cultural attitudes toward failure and the importance of transparency in maintaining trust.
4. The author’s comment on crime and punishment.
Solution: The story subtly comments on crime and punishment through Satyajit’s recollection of the forgerer Haralal and his own temptation to keep the found money. Haralal’s forgery led to his ruin, serving as a cautionary tale, while Satyajit’s decision to return the money reflects his moral integrity, avoiding a similar fate. The author suggests that crime, driven by desperation, carries heavy consequences, but choosing honesty despite hardship offers redemption. In pairs, students can discuss how the story explores the psychological and social ramifications of crime and the personal cost of upholding moral values.
APPRECIATION
1. How is Satyajit’s financial crash introduced to the reader?
Solution: Satyajit’s financial crash is introduced subtly through his introspections and the narrative’s gradual revelation of his changed circumstances. Early in the story, his train journey and modest attire hint at a fall from grace, contrasting with his past as a wealthy bank official. His recollection of the bank’s collapse due to fraud, mentioned as he reflects on the forgerer Haralal, explicitly reveals his financial ruin. This understated introduction, woven into his thoughts and interactions, builds suspense and empathy, allowing readers to piece together the extent of his downfall as the story unfolds.
2. Comment on the way in which the story is narrated from Satyajit’s perspective.
Solution: The story is narrated from Satyajit’s first-person perspective, immersing readers in his emotional and psychological turmoil. This perspective vividly captures his pride, shame, and moral dilemmas as he navigates his fall from glory. His introspections, such as recalling Haralal or wrestling with the temptation to keep the found money, reveal his inner conflict and vulnerability. The narrative’s intimate tone, blending past memories with present struggles, creates a poignant contrast between his former success and current poverty, making his journey relatable and emotionally resonant.
3. How has the author used the episode of the bank theft to comment on Satyajit’s success in his career?
Solution: The episode of the bank theft, involving the forgerer Haralal, serves as a mirror to Satyajit’s own career arc. As a bank official, Satyajit’s success was tied to his authority and integrity, exemplified when he reported Haralal’s forgery, leading to the latter’s ruin. However, the bank’s collapse due to widespread fraud ironically undoes Satyajit’s achievements, showing how his success was fragile and tied to an institution vulnerable to corruption. The author uses this episode to highlight the transient nature of professional triumph and the moral complexities that accompany financial systems, drawing parallels between Haralal’s desperation and Satyajit’s own.
4. How do these lines capture the essence of the story:
‘Glory was all overlaid with dark shame. Glory was dead.’
‘… let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory’.
Solution: These lines encapsulate the story’s core themes of fleeting success and the burden of shame. The first line, “Glory was all overlaid with dark shame. Glory was dead,” reflects Satyajit’s realization that his past achievements are tainted by his current poverty and the moral dilemma of hiding it, rendering his former glory meaningless. The second line, “… let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory,” evokes the bittersweet nostalgia and fleeting comfort Satyajit finds in his past status, even as he faces its loss. Together, these lines capture the story’s exploration of pride, loss, and the struggle to reconcile one’s identity with a fall from grace, emphasizing the transient nature of success and the enduring weight of shame.
Download NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight
You can download the free PDF of NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight for effective revision.
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!
| Chapter 1: The Lament Solution |
| Chapter 2: A Pair of Mustachios Solutions |
| Chapter 3: The Rocking-horse Winner Solution |
| Chapter 4: The Adventure of the Three Garridebs Solution |
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