Unit 07 The Aged Mother English Notes Class 10

Table of Contents

A. Answer the following questions.

What is the theme of “The aged mother”?

Ans: The theme of the story “The aged mother” is that the aged people are wiser and more experienced than the young people because they observe life from very near.

Why did the farmer decide to take his mother to the summit?

The farmer decided to take his mother to the summit to abandon her there for some time. In this way, she will die in isolation.

Why did the son hide his mother in the closet?

The sun hid his mother in a closet beneath the floor of the kitchen so that she may escape the possible death sentence announced by the governor for the aged people.

What does the phrase “with the crown of snow there cometh wisdom” mean?

The phrase “with the crown of snow there cometh wisdom” means that wisdom is achieved with the passage of time.

What is the climax of the story “The aged mother”?

The climax of the story “The aged mother” is that when the farmer discloses the secret of his mother in front of the governor. He listened to him silently and then he ordered to abolish the cruel law of killing all the aged people.

Why did the farmer disclose his secret?

The farmer disclosed his secret in front of the governor because he thought it a safe way for himself. He wanted to inform the governor that the aged people are very important for the state because they have a lot of experience and wisdom.

What are the elements of the story “The aged mother”?

The elements of the story “The aged mother” are characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, and moral lessons. Farmer, Mother, and Governor are the main characters of the story. The setting of the story is the town of Shinano. The importance of aged people is the moral lesson of the story.

What is the setting of the story?

The setting of the story is the town of Shinano, where a small hut was situated at the foot of the mountain. In that hut, the farmer and his mother were living.

Why did the leader issue the proclamation?

The leader issued the proclamation to put all the aged people to death because he thought that old people were dangerous for his despotic rule and strength.

How does the poor youth feel about the proclamation?

The poor youth felt sorrow and distress about the proclamation.

How did the youth carry out the order?

The youth carried out the governor’s order with the help of his old mother. He made a rope of ashes because of his old mother’s suggestion.

B. Choose the correct option.
1.(c) The governor was a cruel man.
2.(c) The mountain was steep & he was to abandon his mother.
3.(d) He was greatly moved by the pains she took to guide him back his home.
4.(b) Wisdom comes with the passage of time.
5.(b) Citizens.

Grammar

Model verbs:
A. Choose the correct answer about the function of the model verbs in the following.
Model verbs: Model verbs are used before ordinary verbs and express meanings such as permission, possibility, certainty, and necessity. Can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, and ought are Model verbs.

(c) To make a semi-formal request
(b) For the prohibition
(a) To convey the idea of an obligation
(b) To express willingness
(c) Expressing lack of necessity
(a) To make a request
(b) To make a prediction
(d) To show habitual activity
(b) For offering someone helps
(b) Requesting for help

B. Choose the most appropriate answer to express the idea specified in parenthesis.

(d) Should
(b) Could you
(a)
(d) Must
(a) Can

Class 10 English Notes The Aged Mother Newly updated

Why did the farmer decide to take his mother on the summit?

The farmer decided to take his mother on the summit because it was the order of the emperor to kill all the old citizens. There was a summit named as ‘Obatsuyama’ meaning the ‘mountain of the abandoning of the aged.’ Therefore, the farmer took his mother to the summit to leave her there to die as per the order of the despotic leader.

Q.2) Why did the son hide his mother in the closet?

Answer:
The son hid his mother in the closet so the soldiers of the leader would not find her as it was against the orders of the leader to have any aged person at home. Being a sympathetic and loving son, he considered the closet a safe place for his mother.

Q.3) What does the phrase “with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom!” mean?

Answer:
The phrase “with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom” means that as the person grows older, he becomes wiser and intelligent. Here ‘the crown of snow’ stands for white/grey hair. With age, people learn from their personal and professional experiences about how to lead life and deal with situations in a much better, appropriate and effective way.

Q.4) What is the theme of “The Aged Mother”?

Answer:
The theme of The Aged Mother is quite heart-touching. This story reflects the concept that whatever the circumstance will be, the mother always has a desire to help her children in any time of need. It is the unquestionable love of a mother that always resides in her heart for her children even if her children won’t pay her back with the same love, generosity, and care.

Q.5) What is the climax of the story “The Aged Mother”?

Answer:
The climax of the story happens when the farmer drops his mother at the summit and is about to leave, his mother tells him to follow the path of twigs that she has placed at intervals so it would be easy for him to go back his home. It is the most touching moment of the story that makes the farmer’s heart melt, then and there he decides to take her old mother with him without giving a second thought to the cruel order of the governor.

Q.6) Why did the farmer disclose his secret?

Answer:
The farmer disclosed his secret because he was forced by the leader to tell him the secret of his wisdom that being such a young fellow how he would be able to obey his order of making a rope of ashes. At that time, the farmer disclosed his secret of his alive old mother who gave him the idea that he followed to make a rope of ashes.

Q.7) What are the elements of the story “The Aged Mother”?

Answer:
The five elements of the story ‘The Aged Mother’ are:
Setting: The story takes place in the town of Shinano at different times of the day.
Characters: The story revolves around three major characters i.e. farmer, his old widow mother, and the despotic leader.
Plot: The events happen in a logical manner throughout the story.
Conflict: The conflict arises with the order of the dictator leader to put to death all the aged people of the town.
Resolution: The problem is resolved by the farmer by hiding his mother in the closet, safe from the evil eyes of the leader’s soldiers.

Q.8) What is the setting of the story?

Answer:
The story takes place in the town of Shinano, a town that is governed by an authoritarian leader. The story does not revolve around any specific time of the day, it varies as the story moves.

Q.9) Why did the leader issue the proclamation?

Answer:
The leader issued the proclamation of taking the lives of all the old citizens of the town because he considered their survival a cause of failing health and strength. That’s why the leader issued a cruel and barbarous proclamation for all to obey.

Q.10) How does the poor youth feel about the proclamation?

Answer:
After hearing the proclamation by the leader, the youth feels very sad and gloomy. The order fills the heart of the young farmer with extreme grief and sorrow.

Q.11) How did the youth carry out the order?

Answer:
Though it was difficult for the loving and caring son of the aged mother to carry out the order of the leader but as he had to obey the orders so it was twilight when the farmer took rice and bottle of water with him and carried his mother on his back. He climbed the steep mountain by carrying the burden of his old mother. He had to leave his aged mother at the mount Obatsuyama where she would die alone.

Vocabulary

Q.1) Use dictionary to:

1) Find the meaning of the following words.
2) Identify the part of speech of the word through abbreviation used.
3) Find guide and entry words for the following words.

Strength Reverence Comfort Frequent
Humble Barbarous Hunter Twig

Words	Meanings
Strength	Power
Reverence	Admiration, Appreciation
Comfort	A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
Frequent	Recurrent, Continual
Humble	Respectful
Barbarous	Cruel, Extremely brutal
Hunter	Huntsman
Twig	Small branch

Words	Parts of Speech
Strength	Noun
Reverence	Noun, Verb
Comfort	Noun, Verb
Frequent	Adjective, Verb
Humble	Adjective, Verb
Barbarous	Adjective
Hunter	Noun
Twig	Noun

Guide Words	Entry Words
Straw	Strength
Retreat	Reverence
Coloured	Comfort
Free	Frequent
Humidity	Humble
Bargain	Barbarous
Humiliate	Hunter
Tutorial	Twig

Writting

Q.1) Write a summary of any other story that you have read about mother.

Answer:
Title: Mother’s True Love
Summary:
Once there lived a couple who had a son. The son grew old so they decided to arrange his wedding. After sometime, the father of the son died so he sent his old mother to old age home. One day when he went there to meet her, he came to know that she had only a few hours left to breathe. He asked her what she wants. She asked him to arrange fans and fridge for the old age home. The son asked her why she want these things when she was about to die? The mother replied that she knew it well that he would not live comfortably here without these things when his children would send him to this old age home. This shows the unconditional love of the mother who did not demand anything and even after bearing her son’s cold and rude attitude she thought about the comfort for her son.

Q.2) Translate the following passage from English to Urdu.

The trembling mother’s voice full of unselfish love delivered her last injunction. “Let not thine eyes be blind, my son.” She said. “The mountain road is full of dangers. Look carefully and follow the path which holds the piles of twigs. They will guide you to the familiar path farther down”. The son surprised and looked back to the path and then to the hands of the poor old lady. They were shrivelled, scratched and soiled. His heart broke within and bowed to the ground crying aloud: “oh, honourable mother, your kindness breaks my heart! I will not leave you. Together we will follow the path of twigs, and together we will die!”

Answer:
Translation:

ماں نے کانپتی ہوئ آواز میں آخری حکم امتناع جاری کیا وہ آواز جو بے غرض محبت سے بھری تھی۔ “اپنی آنکھیں اندھی نہ ہونے دینا، میرے بیٹے،” وہ بولی۔ “پہاڑ کا راستہ خطروں سے بھرا ہے۔ دھیان سے دیکھنا اور اس راستے کی پیروی کرنا جہاں شاخوں کے ڈھیر لگے ہو۔ وہ نیچے پہنچنے میں جانے پہچانے راستہ پر تمہاری راہنمائ کریں گے۔” بیٹا حیرت ذدہ ہوا اور اس نے پیچھے راستے پر دیکھا اور پھر بوڑھی خاتون کے ہاتھوں کو۔ وہ جھریاں پڑے، خراش ذدہ اور خراب ہاتھ تھے۔ اس کا دل اس کے اندر ٹوٹا اور زمین پر جھکا اور بلند آواز میں رونے لگا:”اوہ! میری معزز ماں، آپ کی رحمدلی نے میرا دل توڑ دیا! میں آپ کو نہیں چھوڑونگا۔ ہم دونوں مل کر شاخوں کے راستہ کی پیروی کرینگے، اور ایک ساتھ دونوں مریں گے!”

Q.3) Analyze the last paragraph in the text to identify the theme/general subject, key idea/central thought (a statement about the general subject), and supporting details.

Answer:
The last paragraph gives a moral lesson to the readers that we should not forget our elders especially our parents as they are wiser than us, they have gained wisdom through their life experiences. If we ignore them or their advice, then we would be in loss. Therefore, we should give respect and pay heed to whatever our elders/parents say or advise us in any time of need or under any circumstances.

Q.4) Discuss respect of elders/parents with reference to today’s youth. Write a paragraph of at least 100 words.

Answer:
Time is never static, it keeps on changing and with it, we can witness the change in ethics, values, norms, and attitudes of the people and societies. Today’s youth is showing less respect towards their elders, this is something we are prone to hear from almost everyone.

There are various reasons for this. The first and foremost one is the lenient and friendly attitude of the parents. Secondly, parents usually are so busy in their lives and work that they do not have time to spend with their children to tell them the values and moral ethics. It is due to the lenient and casual attitude of the parents that turn the present youth into someone who shows disrespect to their elders/parents.

Q.5) Write down the summary of the lesson ‘The Aged Mother.’

Answer:
In this lesson, we have learned about the unconditional love of our mothers. Once there lived a farmer with his old mother in Shinano town that was ruled by a cruel leader. One day, the leader gave orders to clean the town with the presence of old people as he considered them the sign of failing health and strength. Though people were reluctant to carry out his orders but they had to follow. The farmer loved his mother to a great extent but as he had to follow the order so at twilight he carried his old mother on his back and climbed the steep mountain to reach the summit Obatsuyama where old people were sent to die alone.

When he was carrying his mother, his kind mother knew that his son had to come back and it might be possible that he would forget the path so she plucked the small twigs of the trees and dropped them in the form of piles at various intervals. When the son was about to leave, the aged mother asked him to follow the path of twigs so he would reach down safely without forgetting the route. This made the son sad and amazed so he decided to take his mother back and then he kept her in the closet so she would remain safe there. He provided her everything over there.

Once again, the governor gave the order that he wanted a rope of ashes from the residents of the town. Everyone was perturbed over it. The farmer told it to his old mother. She gave him the advice to make a rope of twisted straw and stretch it over the row of flat stones and then burn it. When he did that in front of the crowd, everyone was astonished to see the rope of ashes. The governor was quite surprised after witnessing it so he asked the farmer from where did he get such an act of wisdom.

At that moment, the farmer disclosed the secret of his alive old mother that she had asked him to perform the act like that. It made the governor ashamed of his order and then he said that we have forgotten the famous proverb, “with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom” and later he lifted his order of taking the lives of the poor aged people.