2nd PUC On Children Important Questions and Answers For 2022 Exam with summary
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Khalil Gibran (1883-1931) is a Lebanese-American artist and poet. His poems are considered ‘poetic essays’, as than 25 languages including Kannada. On Children’ is a selection from ‘The Prophet’ which offers a critique of the they do not adhere to the usual versification. The Prophet is his best known work and has been translated into more usual expectations of parents about their children and urges them to introspect.
ABOUT THE POEM
It is a poem that speaks of the role of parents in raising children. This poem serves as an iconoclast, deconstructing the established beliefs and customs that dictate the attitudes of parents towards children.
SUMMARY of On Children 2nd PUC
This poem is extracted from the poet Khalil Gibran work ‘The Prophet’ which is his best known work. Here some women requested the Prophet to tell them about children. The prophet tells them that every parent should not regard his children as his own because they are born because of our desires and passions which we try to see in our children.
Children really are not born to us but borne by us, even if they live with us they are not ours because they have their own desires, passions, likings, love, hobbies, etc. Even if you love your child with your whole heart, you will never be able to express your real thoughts about them-what you expect from them, what you want them to become, how should they treat you and respect you or love you because, just like their parents even children have their own thought, love, desires, passions, like and dislikes. They dream about their future life.
The prophet tells them that they can own and nurture children only physically but they can’t own their children’s thoughts and dreams. The prophet advises the parents to be like their children and not train their children to lead a life like their own, because children are the future citizens of this world and their intelligence will help to build better world. Just as arrows can be shot from a bow, parents are like bows and children are like arrows and they can be launched for a better future.
The prophet compares Almighty to an Archer who sees very distant goals and prompts them to shoot arrows at that goal in a swift and correct direction. The prophet advises the parents to bow before this great archer i.e., the Almighty, with gratefulness and humility because the Almighty blesses and loves the children and their parents equally.
2nd PUC On Children 1-Mark Important Questions and Answers
Q.1. According to the prophet, what may be driven to the children?
Ans. love and affection
Q.2. In On Children’, you may give them your love but not your
(a) dreams
(b) thoughts
(c) Gladnes
Ans thoughts
Q.3.Where, according to the speaker of ‘On Children’, do the souls of children dwell?
Ans. In the house of tomorrow
Q.4. What according to the speaker, can parents not visit in ‘On Children’?
Ans. Mother Earth
Q.5.In ‘On Children’, God loves the arrow that lies as well as the bow that…
Ans.is stable
Q.6.According to the Prophet, what may be given to the children?
Ans .Love
Q.7. What does ‘living arrows’ refer to in ‘On Children’?
Ans. Children
Q.8.And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, “Speak to us of Children.’ And he said: Here he refers
(a) her child
(b) the Prophet
(c) the poet
Ans. (b) the ‘prophet
Q.9. ‘Your children are not your children’ means
(a) they do not belong to their parents only
(b) the children should have their own space
(C) parents should not be possessive of their children
Ans.(c) parents should not be possessive of their children
Q.10. “They come through you, but are not from you means:
(a) though parents give birth to their children, they do not own them
(b) children have independent personalities
(c) parents should be indifferent to their children
Ans. (b) children have independent personalities
Q.11. their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow means:
(a) children belong to the future
(b) parents cannot shape their children’s future
(c) children have a different vision of life
Ans.(a) children belong to the future
Q.12. The bows and living arrows’ refer to
Ans. Parents and children.
Q.13. For even as he loves the arrow that flies, she loves also the bow that is stable’ Discuss the contrast between the underlined words
Ans. The poet (the prophet) implies that ‘flies’ means to move a future. He tells the parents that God loves the children just like their parents and the children move away from thier parents seeking a better future, to persue their dreams But parents having achieved what they wanted, are ‘stable, ie, satisfied with whatever they have gained or earned
Q.14. Who are referred to as ‘bows’ and arrows’ in the poem ‘On Children’?
Ans. “bows are the parents and arrows are the children
Q.15. Who is stable like the bow in ‘On Children’?
Ans. Parents.
Q.16. What shouldn’t the parents give their children, according to Khalil Gibran?
Ans. Their thoughts
2nd PUC On Children 4-Mark Important Questions and Answers
Q.1. According to the prophet, what attitude should parents have towards their children?
Or
How should parents raise their children according to the speaker of ‘On Children’?
Or
How should parents take care of their children according to the speaker in ‘On Children’?
Ans. Khalil Gibran’s poem “On Children opens with the line “Your children are not your children”. emphasizing that parents do not own their children and they cannot control the desires and thoughts of the children. The post feels that chuldren should be freely and lovingly allowed to grow into independent individuals. Children toe have their minds and their own thoughts. Parents are the “bows’ and the children are the arrows”. Our Create God uses the stable bow to send the arrows to a certain place. In other words, parents need to be good stable role models for their children. Thus, the poet wants parents to guide ther children through love and not control them or their thoughts
Q.2. Why does the prophet categorically state Your children are not your children?
Or
Discuss with reference to the poem ‘On Children’, the poet’s statement your children are not your children
Ans. Children are gifts from God which the parents get temporarily. In this temporary phase, growing and nurturing them is their responsibility. However, this does not make the kids their property. Parents are just custodians till the children become responsible for themselves before God. Parents are responsible for their children to some extent only and this diminishes over time. Parents have no right to dictate their decisions in their kid’s life nor are the children tools to realize their aspirations. Children belong to the future and they are independent personalities. The poet compares the parents to bows and children to arrows and God, the Archer. God uses bows-parents-to bring children-arrows into the world Parents should be gentle role model and guide the children and not force them into doing something
Q.3. What does the metaphor, bows and arrows signify with regard to parents children relationship
Or
How is the parent-children relationship brought out using the metaphor of bows and arrows in On children’?
Or
Comment on archer imagery as given by Khalil Gibran.
Ans. The poet has given a new perspective to parent-children relationship in his poem On Children’s He philosophically, says that children do not belong to their parents. Parents can only shower their love on their children. They may house their bodies but not their souls. They cannot expect them to think like them. He uses the beautiful archer imagery where in God is said to be the Archer, parents the bow and the children are nothing but arrows. The archer is the one who decides the direction of the arrows. The bow has to be bent if the arrows have to proceed swiftly. So, the parents are mere puppets in the Divine play. But Gibran consoles the parents that the archer loves the steady bow as much as he loves the flying arrows with reference to Khalil Gibran’s ‘On Children’.
Q.4. “Children should be freely and lovingly allowed to grow into their individuality.” Comment on the statement
Ans. Khalil Gibran’s poem ‘on Children’ opens with the line “your children are not your children”, emphasizing that parents do not own their children and they cannot control the desires and thoughts of the children. The poet feels that children should be allowed to freely and lovingly grow into independent individuals. Children have their minds and their own thoughts Parents are the down and the children are the arrows Our Creator God, uses the stable bow to send the arrows to a certain place. Parents are just custodians till the children become responsible for themselves before Cod Parents are responsible for their children to some atenttly and this diminishes over time. Parents have no right to dictate their decisions in their lods, lienee are the children tools to realize their aspirations. Children belong to the future and they are independent personalities In other words children should be allowed to bloom into their own personalities and not be over shadowed by their parents.
Q.5. What should be the attitude of the parents towards their children, according to the prophet in the poem ‘On children?
Ans. The poem begins with the line your children are not your children emphasizing that parents do not own the children and they cannot control the desires and thoughts of the children. The poet stresses that the children are the continuation of life on earth and should be freely and lovingly allowed to grow into their individuality. The parents should love their children without binding them with their own thoughts. Children have their own set of thoughts. It is true that parents protect the children’s physical bodies but they can never bind their souls which live in the house of tomorrow. The parents’ love could make them like their children but should not make their children become like themselves because every child has his own inner personality. Thus, through this poem upon them. Khalil Gibran conveys that children should be given love, care and affection but thoughts should not be imposed.
Q.6. Why does the archer want his arrows to fly swift and far in ‘On Children?
Ans. In the poem “On Children’, Khalil Gibran introduces the metaphor in which God is the Archer parents are the bows and children are the arrows The Archer wants His living arrows to reach the target. He decides the target for His arrows by using the parents as bows to shoot the arrows. If parents give their love and not their thoughts, the living arrows will reach the target as per the Divine plan. God, the Supreme Power, uses parents as vehicle to bring children to this earth. Children have their own thoughts and souls. Therefore, parents cannot possess them as puppets.
Q.7. How does Khalil Gibran describe the role of the parents in the lives of their children in the poem On Children”?
Ans. Khalil Gibran’s poem ‘On Children’ opens with the line your children are not your children, emphasizing that parents do not own their children and they cannot control the desires and thoughts of the children, the poet feels that children should be allowed to freely and lovingly grow into independent individuals. Children too have their minds and their own thoughts. Parents are the bows and the children are the arrows. Our Creator God uses the stable bow to send the arrows to a certain place. In other words, parents need to be good stable role models for their children. Thus, the poet emphasises that parents should guide their children through love and not control them or their thoughts.
Q.8. How does the poet Khalil Gibran highlight the responsibility of parents in the poem ‘On Children”?
Ans. In the poem ‘On Children’, the poet says that the parents should not be possessive about their children. He points out that God is their Creator and the parents are the instruments who continue creation on the earth. The poet asks the parents to give the children their love and affection but not their thoughts. They should be allowed freely and lovingly to grow into individual. Children belong to the future and they are independent personalities. The poet compares the parents to bows and children to arrows and God, the Archer God uses bows-parents to bring children arrows into the world Parents should be gentle role models and guide the children and not force them into doing something.
2nd PUC On Children 6-Mark Important Questions and Answers
Q.1. Your children are not your children.’ How does the poet illustrate this truth in the poem “On Children”
Ans. The poem ‘On Children’ offers a critique of the usual expectations of parents about their children and urges them to introspect. ‘Your children are not your children’, ‘they are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself’, “they come through you but not from you.” Children are born with their own personalities and thoughts. Though parents can shelter their bodies, they cannot bind their souls as the thread of each soul is in God’s hand. Though children are, in a sense, a reproduction of their parents, they do not truly belong to them. Love is all about letting go. Thus, parents should not control the desires of their children. Children must have the freedom to think and act for themselves and to grow. parents, we can love our children but we should not try to make our child like us as he/she has his/her own inner personality given by God. They have simply been entrusted to their care. They are a gift from life but one that they must give back to life They must grow up and go away and that is as it should be. God, the Archer has cherished a gift to the parents, the archer that are to be cherished by them but they have no authority over them. Children are arrows’ bent by the archer. They set out on their own to chart their own course in life. The Archer loves the both, i.e. stable bow and flying arrows equally.
Q.2. The poem ‘On Children’ does not focus merely on the lives of children but also talks about the responsibility of parents. Explain.
Ans. It is true that children inherit the genes of their parents and in a way, they are a reproduction of their parents. Yet they are separate individuals with their own unique minds and personalities. Moreover, each person is influenced by the era in which they are born-Life’s long ing “for the future, parents are the bows” that send the “arrows” of their children into the future. Each is beloved by God who is their Creator. Parents must respect this order of creation for it is done in love. As parents, we should give children the freedom to chart their own path Parents must love their children, but not bind them with their own thoughts for the thread of each soul is in God’s hand. For true love is Divine and selfless and believes in letting to. The poet has made an image of archer The person who shoots the arrow wants it to go in a certain direction but he cannot really do so, unless he holds the bow steady so that the arrow may go the way he wants. So basically parents need to be good role models Parents have to be selfless in their love and have to bend like the bow in order that the child may shoot forth into the world. Children have their own personality given by God and they must have a proper and stable upbringing with the right value system so that they can distinguish right from wrong. They should be encouraged to have a fine sense of discrimination and, once, that is done the children must be set free to think and act for themselves for children are very important as members of the future of the world.
Q.3. In this poem, ‘parents’ could stand as a metaphor for :
(a) the older naration
(b) leaders
(c) religious heads
(d) teachers
Having considered the above options, offer different readings of the poem.
Ans. Parents could be taken as a metaphor for all the above options for whether it is the older generation, leaders, religious heads or teachers; all strive to make children conform to accept societal norms and conventions. Parents are the means by which children come into the world but they have their own aptitudes, thoughts and wishes. Each child is unique and none of us resemble the other. God and nature are so brilliant that even one finger print does not resemble another, so where is the question of life or life paths. Children can be given love but not our thoughts. We, in our different roles, can offer opinions and advice but they should have free will. Otherwise, it is not a healthy trend for they are our future and the future cannot be stagnant with the past. Children need to learn from history, from the mistakes of the previous generation but they must not carry the baggage and burden of the past. It is human nature to strive for progress and perfection with each passing generation. If it were not so, mankind would still have been in the dark ages. We would not have made such progress. The future holds the prospect of a brighter and better morrow and this is not possible if we keep focusing on the past because, then, we will be distorting the present. Parents have to be the bow and stretch the limits of their thinking in order for the children to move ahead beyond what they (parents) have achieved. The respect that any adult gets, should be because the next generation feeis we deserve it due to our thoughts which have become the foundation for their character. When we look at them, we should feel that children have exceeded and we should aspire to become like them, for it means that parenting has been good. As adults, we should not impose our own ideologies on them or try to indoctrinate them into our way of life.
Q.4. In the light of the poem, think of different levels of freedom children must have in shaping their lives.
Ans. Children should be allowed the freedom to make their own future. The love and affection of parents should not deter the children to leave them and go out to seek their own destiny. Mother should not control their child’s destiny When children are not allowed to exhibit their creativity, the progress of a nation suffers. As children live in the future, it is better left to them to seek their own destiny. If a child wants to be a soldier when he grows up, you must allow him to be a soldier and not force him to be a doctor, he may not be interested in the profession. His creativity and productivity will decrease. Then, it will not be of any use to the society. We should nurture our children’s dreams of their future and help them to achieve it. They will be thankful to us and respect us more as parents.
Q.5. The poem does not focus merely on the lives of children, but also talks about the responsibility of parents. Do you agree?
Ans. Yes, I agree that the poem does not focus merely the lives of the children but also talks about the responsibility of the parents. A lump of clay can be shaped into any shape i.e., they can be shaped into a pot, a cup or a beautiful idol. In this way, the children can be compared to lump of clay, it is the responsibility of the parents to shape the lives of their children according to the talents and dreams of their children. They should be taught good values and it is the responsibility of the parents to make their children good citizens of the country. So that the world will become a better place to live in.
Q.6. Khalil Gibran guides parents to become successful role models to their children-Discuss.
Ans. In his poem ‘On Children’, Khalil Gibran tells that parents should allow their children to blossom into independent individuals. Generally, parents are too possessive about their children. The poet feels that this may curb their freedom of thinking. They should be left free to nurture their own dreams and desires. The parents should understand and support them in their work. Then, they should let God take care of them because he is the original Creator of mankind. If children are pampered too much, they would be spoiled by parents themselves. The future of a child is not in the hands of parents but in the hands of the child himself. When a child is left free, he makes his own choices and decisions. If he works accordingly, he would create wonders. If parents force them to follow their own choices, the children may lag behind and there is a chance of failure. They should leave them free because it’s their life. When the children are left free, they think in a creative manner that helps our nations and there may be a chance to invent new things for the world. So parents should understand the children’s interest and encourage them accordingly. This helps the children a lot in achieving their goals and to be a successful person.
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