question_answer

"Dear Children, don't read these novels, dont even touch them. Your life will be ruined, you will suffer disease and ailments......no. You must become mothers. You must lead happy lives. This is divine purpose. You who were born to fulfil this sublime goal should ruin your life by going crazy after despicable novels?"

Read the passage and answer the following questions:

 

(a) What is the source of this passage?

(b) What is the attitude of the writer regarding novels?

(c) What methods is he using to dissuade the children from reading novels?

(d) What role does he visualise for girls?

(e) Why were novels popular among women?

(f) Why were men not in favour of women read novels?

 

Answer:

(a) A Tamil essay published in 1927.

(b) From the passage it is clear that the writer considers novels as despicable which must be shunned at all cost. This reflects the attitude and fear of the writer.

(c) To dissuade the children he scares the children with dire consequences of reading books. He tries to inculcate fear in the mind of children by telling that their life will be rained and they will fall ill.

(d) According to the writer the best role for girls is to become mothers. This is divine purpose.

(e) Novels were popular because it allowed for a new concept of womanhood. Love stories and others showed women who could choose or refuse their partners and could to a certain extent have control over their lives.

Stories were also written about women achievers who through their actions changed the world of both men and women.

(f) Men were not in favor of women reading novels because they feared women would become more assertive, confident and not be easily dominated. Moreover they feared that their households would be neglected.