THE FROG AND THE NIGHTINGALE
- Vikram Seth
Summary
The poet, Vikram Seth, very cleverly gives us a message of the importance of self-confidence
and moral courage in his poem - The 'Frog and the Nightingale'. Once in a bog, a frog sat under
a Sumac tree and croaked all night in a loud and unpleasant voice. The other creatures loathed
his voice but their complaints, insults and brickbats couldn't stop him from croaking stubbornly
and pompously, insensitive to the disturbance he was causing.
Then, one night a nightingale appears at the bog. Her melodious voice captures the admiring
attention of the creatures of the Bingle Bog. Ducks and herons swim towards the Sumac tree to
hear the nightingale serenade. Some lonely creature even weeps hearing her song. When she
stops, there is thunderous applause with the creatures demanding a repeat performance
(encore). The jealous frog disturbed by the intrusion of a challenging rival listens to the
nightingale dumbstruck.
Next night, when the modest bird prepares to sing, the plotting frog interrupts and posing as a
music critic, says that the technique was fine, of course, but it lacks a certain force. Unassuming
and not used to any kind of criticism, she defends herself by saying, "At least its mine".
The heartless frog convinces the nightingale that she was in need of training that only he could
provide. The nightingale, lacking in confidence and extremely gullible agrees and flatters him,
saying that he was Mozart in disguise. The frog capitalized on the nightingale's servile attitude
and said that he would charge a modest fee, which would not harm her.
The nightingale soon became famous and the frog grew richer, earning money from her
concerts. Eminent personalities like the Owl (Earl) of Sandwich and Duck (Duke) of Kent attend
the concerts. The frog sat and watched with mixed feelings of happiness and bitterness. He was
happy because he was earning money, and jealous because the bird was receiving so much
attention.
Meanwhile, the frog makes the nightingale rehearse hard even when it rained and constantly
criticized and abused her, ensuring that she became broken in spirit. Fired and spent, her voice
lost its beauty and the creatures stopped coming to hear her sing. Morose and depressed, she
refused to sing, but the frog goaded her to practice. Scared and unhappy, the nightingale tried,
burst a vein, and died.
The frog, unsympathetic, dismissed her off - calling her 'stupid'. A shrewd judge of character, he
summed her up saying that the nightingale was too nervous and prone to influence, hence
bringing her own downfall. Now, the frog once more sings at night in his bog - unrivalled.
Extra notes (The Frog and the Nightingale)
Important General Questions:
1. Why does the frog persist in singing, though no one in the bog wishes to hear
him?
2. Do you think the nightingale was responsible for her own downfall? Why? Why
not?
3. What does the poet wish to convey in the poem “The Frog and the
Nightingale”?
4. “Artists thrive and flourish due to the admiration of their fans”. Do you think
this statement proves true in case of the Nightingale? Explain.
5. How did the Frog break the nightingale’s spirit and destroy her?
Text book Questions:
1. How does the frog make use of the nightingale’s talent for his own gains?
2. What happened to the nightingale at the end and why? Do you think the end is
justified?
3. In spite of having a melodious voice and being a crowd puller, the nightingale
turns out to be a loser and dies. How far is she responsible for her own downfall?
4. Do you agree with the Frog's inference of the Nightingale's character? Give
reasons for your answer.
5. Bring out the irony in the frog's statement - 'Your song must be your own'.
Answer:
The creature which doesn’t even know anything about music tries to comment on a
bird like nightingale that possesses a melodious voice and always produces original
tunes. Frog’s comments are totally baseless as he tried to put down
Nightingale’s self-esteem and confidence.
Exercise:3 Answer the following questions briefly.
a. How did the creatures of Bingle bog react to the nightingale's singing?
Answer: The creatures of Bingle Bog were fed up and irritated with the loud and
unpleasant voice of the frog. They wanted to beat and insult him but the frog was
too sensitive and he continued singing.
Extra notes (The Frog and the Nightingale)
b. Which are the different ways in which the frog asserts his importance?
Answer: The frog pretended to be a great singer and he also said that he was the
reporter of Bog “Trumpet”. He boasted that he was a music critic and musician like
Mozart and ready to train her.
c. Why is the frog's joy both sweet and bitter?
Answer: Frog was happy to charge money for Nightingale’s song was unhappy at
the popularity of the nightingale in the Bog. Though financially he was happy, he
couldn’t actually relish the nightingale being praised by everyone.
d. Why was the frog angry?
Answer: The nightingale’s songs became very dull, listless and monotonous due to
exertion and stress. The crowds dwindled and stopped attending nightingale’s
performances. Frog was not able to make the expected money and he was angry.
e. How did the frog become the unrivalled king of the bog again?
Answer: The frog humiliated and insulted the nightingale. He made her practice
continuously in the rain and thunder. He instructed her to sing to sing at very high
notes. So out of sheer fatigue and stress, Nightingale’s voice burst out and she died.
So the bog had to tolerate the frog’s singing once again.
Reference to Context:
1. And the whole admiring bog
Stared towards the sumac, rapt,
And, when she had ended, clapped,
Ducks had swum and herons waded
To her as she serenaded
a. What was the reaction of the nightingale’s song?
b. Explain ‘serenaded’ and ‘rapt’
c. How did the nightingale sing and make a difference to the frog’s songs?.
Extra notes
2. “Not too bad – but far too long.
The technique was fine of course,
But it lacked a certain force”.
a. Why is the frog making above comments?
b. What defects does he point out in the nightingale’s songs?
c. What was the reaction of the nightingale to the above comments?
3. For six hours, till she was shivering
and her voice was hoarse and quivering.
Though subdued and sleep deprived,
In the night her throat revived
a. Why had the nightingale come to this state?
b. How did she revive?
c. What would be the future of this kind of exertion?
4. Well, poor bird – she should have known
That your song must be your own.
That's why I sing with panache
a. How does the frog express his sympathy?
b. What character traits are reflected by the frog’s comments?
c. Explain – ‘panache’
Give explanation for the following expressions:
1. Croaked in the Bingle Bog.
2. He croaked awn and awn and awn.
3. And the crass cacophony.
4. To display his heart’s elation.
5. Stared toward the Sumac, rapt
6. For my splendid baritone
7. The technique was fine of course.
8. Journeyed up and down the scale
9. ‘We must aim for better billings
You still owe me sixty shillings’
10. ‘Use your wits and follow fashion
Puff your lungs out with passion’Ms Kalyani T. Extra notes for Gr: 10 ENGLISH (The Frog and the
Nightingale)| 5
Literary Devices used in the poem:
METAPHORS:
SYMBOLS:
for their own benefits.
y talented artists who fail to achieve
fame due to their innocence.
ALLITERATION:
Glossary
1. blared - to make a loud unpleasant noise
2. sumac - a tree of the cashew family grown in the temperate zone
3. minstrel - a musician or a singer in the Middle Ages
4. elation - feeling a great happiness and excitement
5. rapt - so interested in something that you are not aware of anything else
6. serenade - gentle music to his lover by a man standing under her window
7. loon – an American bird that eats fish and has a cry like a laugh
8. enraptured - in a state of deep pleasure
9. encore - (here) once more! repeat
10.applause - the noise made by a group of people clapping their hands and sometimes shouting to
show their approval
11. twitched - pulled up with a sudden movement
12. fluffed - to do something badly/to fail at something
13. splendid - excellent
14. baritone - a man's singing voice with a certain type of rangeMs Kalyani T. Extra notes for Gr: 10
ENGLISH (The Frog and the Nightingale)| 6
15. wield - to have and use power/authority
16. confessed – admitted / agreed
17. flattered - felt happy at false praise
18. impressed - deeply influenced
19. to boast about - to speak high of
20. Mozart - a classical Austrian musician & composer of century
21. in disguise - in a concealed form
22. adoration - a feeling of great love or worship
23. precision - carefully and accurately
24. charged admission - allowed to come in at a fee
25. subdued - (here) tired
26. sleep deprived - kept away from sleep (feeling lethargic)
27. titled crowd - throngs of people with titles
28. tiaras - pieces of jewellery, studded with precious stones.
29. glitter - shine
30. twittering - a series of short high sounds that birds make
31. trills - repeated short high sounds (like a bird)
32. zipped - moved quickly
33. uninspired - rude and unpleasant behaviour as at a ticket-window
34. morose - sad
35. addicted - habitual of
36. follow fashion - to go after current trend
37. with panache - with a confident and elegant way to impress others
38. foghorn - (originally) an instrument that makes a loud noise to warn ships of a danger. (here)
croaking or unmusical.
39. unrivalled - having none to match
11-TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
- A.J.Cronin
Summary
The author and his companion had been driving near the city of Verona, when they were stopped by
twosmall boys who were shabbily dressed, selling strawberries. The author’s driver cautioned the author
against purchasing the fruits. The boys were very skinny but their eyes were sincere and attracted
attention. The author took an instant liking for these boys and ended up buying their biggest basket of
strawberries.Next morning, the author noticed those two boys polishing people’s shoes. The boys
smiled and told theauthor that they performed many other kinds of jobs, like escorting tourists around
the city. Impressed,the author had the boys immediately. Due to close interaction, the author
discovered that the boys werevery friendly and innocent. Beneath their cheerful smiles, however, he
could discern seriousness, a hint ofsadness that defied their age. The author didn’t regret his decision
since the boys proved to beresourceful. The author found their eagerness to do work really remarkable.
The author was struck bytheir desperation to do more and more work, but he was surprised to know
that they still wore tornclothes and hardly ate anything.
The author’s trip was coming to an end. Before leaving, he asked if he could do something for them.
Nikola, the elder one refused, but the younger one requested the author to drive them to Poleta, 30 kms
away, next day. As a last gesture of goodwill, he volunteered to drive the boys himself.
The following afternoon, they all drove to the tiny village, near a hill. The author was surprised to halt
beside a villa. Before he could question, the boys leapt out and asked the author to pick them up from
the same place, after an hour. The author couldn’t restrain his curiosity. He went in and was greeted by
a nurse, and through a glass partition, the author saw that the boys were seated beside a hospital bed,
with a girl aged 20, who appeared to be their sister. The author refused to be ushered inside, as he
didn’t wish to interrupt a happy family reunion. On being asked, the nurse told the author that the
children’s father had been killed in a war, and a bomb had destroyed their house and rendered them
homeless. Since theGermans ruled the city for many years, the children had to undergo a lot of
suffering, and their sister,Lucia, who wanted to be a singer, couldn’t bear the cold and starvation, and
contracted tuberculosis ofthe spine. The boys brought Lucia there, and every week, they brought
enough money for her treatment.The author was rejoined by the boys and they drove back to the city.
The boys remained tight-lipped, andthe author also decided to remain quiet, because he respected their
privacy. The author left, filled withadmiration, at the courage and relentless effort of two young boys
who remained determined despite thesetbacks of the war.
Important General Questions:
1. Nicola said to the narrator, “waiting for the last bus from Padua. We shall sell all
our newspapers, when it comes in”. Why were the boys waiting for the last bus?
2. Why does the narrator make an offer for help to the two boys? What does itentail?
3. Why did the two boys survive only on black bread and figs, despite making a decent earning?
4. What scene does the narrator see through the glass partition?
5. The nurse said regarding the two boys, “I don’t know what they do, I don’t ask.
Work is scarce in Verona.” What does this remark reflect upon the speaker?
Text book Questions:
1. Appearances are deceptive. Discuss with reference to the two boys.
Answer: At the surface level, the boys appeared to be friendly, fun-loving and childish. But, gradually the
author discovered that they were too mature to keep their private griefs safe. Moreover, they never
showed their suffering in any way. Behind their smiles, there was a hint of sadness that could be seen
once in a while.
2. Do you think the boys looked after Lucia willingly? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The ultimate mission of the boys’ life centered on the welfare of their sister Lucia. Day and
night, they slogged and starved only to provide for medical expenses for Lucia. This couldn’t have been
done without their will and desire.
3. How does the story 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' promise hope for society?
Answer: Both Nicola and Jacopo show selflessness and reflect great dignity in their behaviour. They are
deeply devoted to save their sister. In their earnest endeavour they become role models, epitomes of
sacrifice who can enlighten the path for rest of the humanity to follow.
Answer the following questions briefly.
a. "We do many things, sir," Nicola answered seriously. He glanced at us hopefully.
Answer: The author was surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo polishing shoes instead of selling wild
berries. Nicola said that, they do many other jobs like working as tourist guides, because he wanted the
author to engage him as a guide to earn more money.
b. He coloured deeply under his sunburn then grew pale.
Answer: The author is taken aback to see both the boys working so hard, but still wearing torn clothes
and hardly ate anything. When he asked Nicola, what he did with so much money, he couldn’t reveal the
fact that the money was for his ailing sister. So, his face bore an embarrassed look.
c. He smiled uncomfortably. "Just plans, sir," he answered in a low voice.
Answer: When Nicola didn’t wish to answer that they were saving the money for their ailing sister, he
just smiled uncomfortably and did not wish to comment any further.
d. Yet in both these boyish faces there was a seriousness which was far beyond their years.
Answer: Both Nicola and Jacopo appeared to be friendly, innocent, and carried out each job with great
fun and zest. Yet, there was a hint of lingering sadness in their eyes which is generally not seen in a boy
of their age group.
Brief Synopsis of the Story
This story is about the indomitable courage and perseverance of two young boys, whom the destruction
and ravages of war has not been able to crush. Their adversity becomes their strength and they are
spurred on to take up extraordinary loads of work to fend for their ailing sister.
Reference to Context:
1. “Nicola, the way you and Jacopo work, you must earn quite a bit. You spend nothing on clothes. You
eat little enough…”
a. Who said the above lines?
b. Why did the speaker get the feeling that the boys were not spending any money?
c. What do these lines reflect about the two boys?
2. When the war was over and we had peace at last, they came back to their beloved sister. And they
found her…
a. Identify ‘they’.
b. Which war is the speaker talking about?
c. In what condition did they find their sister?
3. “They couldn’t do it better”, I agreed.
a. Who is ‘I’ and who are ‘they’?
b. What great thing had the above mentioned people done?
c. Do you think the speaker is earnest in his saying?
WRITING EXERCISES:
1. As the narrator, write an article on the lesson of love, faith and trust that you have learnt from the
two young boys of Verona.
Answer:
IT DOESN’T TAKE YEARS TO GAIN MATURITY
Tragedies and adversities either bring out the best, or the worst, among people. They prove to be
great testing times which end up in glory or disaster. The bitter and indomitable struggle of Nicola
and Jacopo, amidst the ravages of war, takes on epic proportions. The two young boys depict great
maturity, wisdom and faith in the invincibility of human spirit. The die-hard nature of two boys
changes the nature of people around them, with their vibrant spark of humanity.
The two boys not only create a home to survive from the rubble, but pitch in their best efforts to
sustain their sister Lucia. Their intrinsic vitality encourages them to take up any work that is
available i.e. shining shoes, selling newspapers and fruits or escorting the tourists for sightseeing.
************************************************************************************
1. An inspirational and touching story of Jacopo and Nicola, two brothers aged 12 and
13 who do odd jobs and live a hard life in the city of Verona, Italy.
2. A J Cronin uses the title of William Shakespeare’s famous play, ‘The Two Gentlemen
of Verona’ in an ironic manner
3. His portrayal of these modern “gentlemen” of Verona re-defines the concept of what it
means to be a gentleman
4. The two brothers wage a daily fight against extreme poverty, and deprivation, to
sustain and treat their elder sister Lucia who is suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.
5. Cronin shows us that one may polish boots or sell newspapers, but it is the
magnanimity of the heart, and the nobleness of purpose, that actually determines
whether one is a true “gentleman”.
6. Written in the first person it presents a humanist point of view where; the strength and
nobility of the human spirit, the effervescence and innocence of youth are symbolised
through the characters of Nicola and Jacopo.
7. Unperturbed by the ragged nature of their appearance; impressed by their sincerity
and willingness to work hard, the man engages the two boys to run errands for him.
8. Once, he chances upon them at night, sitting on a pavement, waiting to board a bus
to sell the last lot of their newspapers.
9. Seeing their distraught appearance he offers his help, and the younger one asks him
if they could be dropped to a village in the countryside.
10. On visiting the village he witnesses a poignant scene between the two brothers and
their ailing sister Lucia.
11. He is amazed by their unfazed childish faith in themselves and their hope of
securing a happy future for their family.
SETTING :
1. Verona, Italy
2. Poleta – 30 KMs from Verona where Lucia’s hospital is situated.
TITLE:
1. Nicola and Jacopo are children of 13 & 12 years of age respectively.
2. They have gentlemen-like qualities.
3. They consider no work to be menial.
4. They do all sorts of odd jobs to meet the expenses of their sister’s treatment.
5. They do all jobs with great sense of integrity.
6. It is the magnanimity of heart and the nobleness of purpose that actually determines
whether one is a true “gentleman”.
7. Title matches one of Shakespeare’s early plays which makes this story sounds all the
more important.