NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo - Prose Chapter 6 - Poets and Pancakes

1. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up ?

Ans. The environment of the make-up room was an uncomfortable one. It had ‘lights’ at all angles around half a dozen large mirrors. The lights were ‘incandescent’, i.e., ‘glowing with heat’. With the mirrors reflecting it, this mix of ‘heat and light’ made the room temperatures uncomfortably high. Thus, the author uses the phrase ‘the fiery misery’ for those subjected to make up.

2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?

Ans.Here, the example that the author refers to, is that of the ‘make-up’ department within Gemini Studio. This department was a real example of national integration as it included staff from different states such as Bengal, Maharashtra, Madras, Andhra Pradesh, Anglo-Burmese and Tamils.

3. What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed ?

Ans. The ‘office boy’ applied make-up for those people who played the role of ‘crowd’. He had joined the studio in the hope of becoming a star actor or a top screen writer. He was disappointed as he ended up being a mere ‘office boy’.

4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios ?

Ans.  Asokamitran, the author’s duty was to cut out newspaper clipping on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. Many of these had to be written out by hand. To others, he appeared to be doing nothing because his work was insignificant as compared to that of the rest of the staff.

5.  Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on ?

Ans.  The office boy was frustrated at not being able to fulfill his dreams. He had shown his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu.

6. Who was Subbu’s principal ?

Ans. The producer was Subbu’s Principal.

7. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.

Ans. . Subbu’s four special abilities are :
(a) Ability to look cheerful all the time.
(b) His sense of loyalty.
(c) Being an amazing actor.
(d) Genuine love for anyone he came across.

8. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by the others ?

Ans. The legal adviser was referred to as the opposite by the others because he was a lawyer who was known as a legal adviser in the story department but his actions did no good to anybody. He also had unwittingly brought the career of a promising young actress to an end.

9. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studio ?

Ans. The lawyer was a man of cold logic in a crowd of dreamers; a neutral man in an assembly of Gandhiites and Khadiites.
For example : While every other member of the Department wore a kind of uniform – khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt – the legal advisor wore pants and a tie, and sometimes a coat that looked like a coat of mail.

10. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations ?

Ans. No. Most of them wore Khadi and worshipped Gandhiji, but beyond that they had not the faintest appreciation for ‘political thought’ of any kind.

11. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios ?

Ans. ‘Communism’ was a term frowned upon by the Gemini Studios. Moral Rearmament army was a kind of counter movement to International Communism. In this context, Moral Rearmament Army was welcome to the Studio.

12. Name one example to show that Gemini studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA?

Ans. All Tamil plays had a scene of ‘sunrise and sunset’ in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’ with a bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune played on the flute as done in the plays staged by the MRA.

13. Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios ?

Ans. Mr. S. S. Vasan was the Boss of Gemini Studio.

14. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?

Ans. The lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini studios is because of the lack of literacy among the majority of the staff who were simple and not so well-informed and their lack of interest in poetry.

15. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery ?

Ans. Ans. The staff of the Studio couldn’t decipher his identity as they knew little about him. At first, they thought he was a poet and later they thought he was an editor. Thus, he was an unknown mystery to them. When he addressed them, the audience was dazed and silent as no one understood what he was talking about, and his accent added to the confusion.

16. Who was the English visitor to the studios ?

Ans. The English visitor was Stephen Spender, an English poet, essayist and a novelist who concentrated on themes of social injustice and class struggle.

17. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?

Ans. A short story writing contest was organised by ‘The Encounter’, a British periodical. To participate in it, the author wanted to find out about the periodical. At the British Council library, he found several copies of it.
On further examining, he found the ‘editor’s name’ the same as that of the poet who had visited the Gemini Studios.

18.  What does ‘The God That Failed’ refer to ?

Ans. ‘The God That Failed’ was a compilation of six essays written by six eminent writers, namely, Andre Gide, Richard Wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler, Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. In each of the essays, the respective writers described ‘‘their journeys into Communism and their disillusioned return’’.