Toni Morrison
‘Once Upon a Time’, a speech by Toni Morrison wonderfully exhibits how the proper usage of langauge could bring about changes and big revolution in the world and more so the immediate surrounding. This speech makes the point that language should be living and vibrant. Naratives have not only been entertaining but also one of the principal ways of
absorbtion of knowledge. There are anecdotes which bring out the theme through the most simple form of expression and language. The given speech is a fine example of this.
Objective Question
1. The old woman was :
(a) foolish
(b) wise
(c) shy
(d) bold
Answer ⇒ B
2. The young people asked the old woman a question whose answer could only be given by one who could :
(a) hear
(b) smell
(c) read
(d) see
Answer ⇒ D
3. The old woman was ……… enough to know she could not help the young people.
(a) stupid
(b) intelligent
(c) strong
(d) suspicious
Answer ⇒ B
4. The sadness of the slaves made them sit with their…………. bent.
(a) wrists
(b) shoulders
(c) spoons
(d) legs
Answer ⇒ B
5. Every one of the slaves knew that the next stop will be their :
(a) first
(b) second
(c) fourth
(d) last
Answer ⇒ D
6. Who is the author of this article ‘Once Upon a Time ?
(a) Aung San Suu Kyi
(b) R.C. Hutchinson
(c) Toni Morrison
(d) Rohitan Mistri
Answer ⇒ C
7. Who is the first black woman to receive Nobel Prize?
(a) Aung San Suu Kyi
(b) Toni Morrison
(c) Amrita Pritam
(d) None of these
Answer ⇒ B
8. When did Toni Morrison receive the Nobel Prize ?
(a) A.D. 1990
(b) A.D. 1992
(c) A.D. 1993
(d) A.D. 1994
Answer ⇒ C
9. Which of the following awards was also given to Toni Morrison ?
(a) Booker Award
(b) Remon Magssessay
(c) Politzer
(d) None of these
Answer ⇒ C
10. Which of the following is the recent novel of Toni Morrison?
(a) Merchant
(b) Paradise
(c) Apartheid
(d) None of these
Answer ⇒ B
11. How was the old woman ?
(a) Blind
(b) Wise
c) Softly Spoked
(d) A.S.U
Answer ⇒ D
12. What is the position of old woman in her neighbourhood ?
(a) Hatred
(b) Respected as Rural Prophet
(c) As quarreling woman
(d) None of these
Answer ⇒ B
13. Why did the young people visit the old woman ?
(a) To say her to leave her house
(b) To disprove her clairvoyance
(c) To approve her clairvoyance
(d) None of these
Answer ⇒ B
14. What disability did the woman have ?
(a) Fatness
(b) Unable to move
(c) Blindness
(d) Could not talk
Answer ⇒ C
15. Did she know about their motive ?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Confused
(d) None of these
Answer ⇒ B
Subjective Question
1. How was the old woman ?
Ans. The old woman was blind but wise.
2. Is this folk lore prevalent in one culture or many ?
Ans. This folk lore is prevalent in many cultures.
3. Who is the father of that old woman?
Ans. The father of the old woman is a slave, black American.
4. Where does the old woman live?
Ans. The old woman lives alone in a small house outside of town.
5. What does the old woman know about those people?
Ans. The old woman knows that they have come to prove her a fraud.
6. For what are the young visitors reprimanded ?
Ans. For parading their power and her helplessness, the young visitors are reprimanded.
7. What is the better, Town life or Country life ?
Ans. It is my view that country life is the home of pleasure. There we do not get any anxiety. We do not face any limitations, Nearness to nature can give us healthy, wealthy and all pleasures.
8. How was the old woman ? Write in short about the wisdom of the old woman.
Or, How is her reputation for wisdom ?
Ans. The old woman was blind but wise. The woman was reputed for wisdom without peer and without question. She was both the low and its transgression among her people.
9. What is her position in the neighbourhood ?
Ans. She is highly respected in the neighbourhood. Among her people, she is regarded as a rural prophet. She is both the law and its transgression. Nobody questions her wisdom and predictions.
10. Why did some young people visit her ?
Ans. One day some young people visit her because they want to prove that she is a fraud who cheats people. They believe that she does not really have the power of seeing in the mind the events of the future.
11. What does the old woman know about the young people who visit her ?
Ans. The old woman cannot see her visitors because she is blind. She does not know their colour, gender or homeland. She does not know what is in their hands. She only knows that they want to mock her.
12. Who is the old woman in ‘Once Upon a Time”? Where does she live? How is her reputation for wisdom ?
Ans. In the speech ‘Once Upon a Time’, the old woman is the daughter of a black American. She is blind but wise. She lives alone in a small house outside of town. Her reputation for wisdom is unique and unquestioned.
13. Why are young visitors reprimanded by the old woman ?
Ans. The young visitors are reprimanded by the old woman because they misuse their power to ridicule her. They are told that they are responsible not only of mockery but also for the sacrifice of the innocent bird to achieve their aim.
14. What does ‘bird’ and woman’ signify to the speaker in ‘Once Upon a Time ?
Ans.’ In the speech ‘Once Upon a Time’, ‘bird’ and ‘woman’ are used as symbols by the speaker, Toni Morrison. The bird’ in the hand of one of the young visitors signifies ‘language’. The ‘woman’, who is famous for her wisdom, signifies a ‘practised writer’.
15. Enumerate the traits of the old woman.
Ans. The old woman was blind but wise. She was the daughter of a black American. She lived alone in a small house outside of town. She was famous for her wisdom. Among her people she was
highly respected as a rural prophet. When she was visited by some young people, she showed her wisdom.
16. What does the old woman know about the young people in ‘Once Upon a Time’?
Ans. The old woman cannot see her visitors because she is blind. She does not know their colour, gender or homeland, She does not know what is in their hands. She only knows that they want to mock her.
17. Do you think that language is crucial to a writ Give any three reasons.
Ans. Language is crucial to a writer because it enables him to communicate. He can express his thoughts, ideas and feelings through language. The proper usage of language can enable him to bring about changes and revolution in the world. It can entertain and instruct the readers. It can enable them to see without pictures.
18. Quote a few lines from the text which highlights the plight of woman and depressed classes ?
Ans. In the piece ‘Once Upon a Time’, Tony Morrison has depicted the miserable condition of the women and poor people of America. The following lines highlight the plight of woman and the depressed classes:
“The woman is the daughter of slaves, black American, and lives alone in a small house outside of town.”
“I am old, female, black, blind.”