The Wretched Stone Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949)

The Wretched Stone

Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949)

The story explores the unfortunate condition brought by television set in our life metaphorically. Stone found in the island is nothing but TV set people become just like animals (apes) due to TV. Our creativity culture etc will be destroyed due to TV. So we have to eschew TV as far as we can.

b. Write the four levels of meanings to "the wretched Stone"

Literal comprehension: After completing all its preparation a big cargo ship Rita Anne started her Voyage with fine environment. Every present crew were enjoying by reading books andstorytelling, etc. After four weeks they reached to an island which was very strange because there were no fruits in the plants, there was no sign of human life. There was bad smelling air and bitter water falling from mountains. They found a strange stone with shining one side that was giving light from there. They kept the stone in the ship and started their further journey. When crews were free they used to watch it. All sailors forgot their jobs and duties and rarely spoke each other. They always sat in front of the stone. They started to walk like animal, didn't understand the language spoken by the captain. The captain made a secret plan to throw the stone in to the sea. Soon a storm occurred where captain alone was controlling the ship. Other crews were busy in watching TV (Stone). Later the captain changes them by playing music, reading books and telling stories. The ones who could read changed faster than who couldn't later all were rescued by another ship.

Interpretation: This metaphorical story might be telling many things. Here the stone, ape stands for modern non-creative people. According to the writer being crazy to TV, people are careless to their responsibilities and duties. Watching TV is non-productive and uncreative work. There can be other ways to get entertainment like reading, singing, storytelling, etc. We must be dutiful and punctual to get success in our life. Again the story might also try to tell us that we give less focus to our other important works while watching TV. TV itself is the cause of change in our good manners and attitudes. The title "The Wretched Stone" indicates the stone that gives lot of tensions and problems. This means people get more problems than benefits in watching TV. As we are away from the TV, we can be more creative, mannered and real human beings.

Critical Thinking: After reading this story I became so much disagree with the ideas given as the negative aspects of TV in total. Modern science and technological inventions have made our life facilitated and comfortable. Among them TV is one of the most useful tools. As it is given in this story, TV is not really so useless. We can know about the world, new inventions, knowledge, skills and so much ideas using TV. We can see the world in front of TV set. How can any person become ape watching TV? Can we really become careless and duty-free watching TV? Can we reject the number of information and knowledge we get from TV? No doubt, TV itself is not bad if we use it selectively and appropriately. There are many more advantages along with few disadvantages of using TV.

Assimilation: The story influenced me a lot. When we see the misusages of TV in our daily life, we can see similar situation. School children become crazy to non-creative programs. They should be interested about study. Most of housewives normally watch TV and kill their important time without any creative work. No doubt, if we can't use TV properly, we can be meaningless and non-creative like the apes. The metaphorical presentation of TV as a stone made me to be careful in watching TV to find whether it has destroyed me or given creativity.

c. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Television in our life?

Television in short TV, is an audio-visual machine run by electromagnetic waves. It is for both eyes and ear. It has multi-channels. News can be heard and pictures can be seen on its screen. there are both advantages and disadvantage of a TV. If it is over used, it is very bad. On the other hand, there are many advantageous programs given in the TV set. Even in education sector, TV can be used for teaching learning purposes children, youth as well as old persons get full entertainment from TV. Thus, we can say that a TV is a curse to them who misuse it and it is a blessing for them who use it properly. These two aspects are discussed below.

Advantages:

·         Television is very useful since it delivers many programs for our interests.

·         It provides entertainment with music, songs, programs, etc.

·         It is a good friend, baby-sitter house servant etc.

·         It is very useful in education, business and other dally programs.

·         It helps to keep people to be in touch throughout the world and events.

·         It makes people up to date, knowledgeable, etc.

·         it becomes a source of time palling, public awareness, trainings, project field study, etc.

·         It teaches a lot about social, cultural, personal aspects of people.

·         It is used in teaching learning purposes too.

Disadvantages:

·         Both the children and adults are affected badly by false things presented on television.

·         People (Basically young people) can copy foreign fashions and unacceptable activities sooner.

·         TV wastes our creative, productive time and makes us forgetting out duties and responsibilities.

·         It makes people crazy, fashionable and lazy if they misuse it .

·         Poor people can't have TV since it is expensive to buy and to mend it.

·         TV gives false advertisements that cheat the common people.

·         The imaginative and creative potentiality of children and youths are damages badly.

·         The more programs are broadcast, the more people are affected by them.

·         Less people can select what is good and what is not while using TV.

Even then we can't reject all positive uses and implication of TV.

A sound of thunder Ray Bradbury

A sound of thunder

Ray Bradbury, USA (1920)

The writer depicts that people are selfish and due to their activities, future world is in danger people have made so many impossible things possible and solved tremendous mysteries. Time machine takes to the past to safari. So science is boon it we misuse it.

b. write the four levels of meanings of the story “A Sound of thousands.”

Literal Comprehension: the hunting  Sufari started with hunter Eckles, a rich businessman, Travis, guide and other two persons. The Safari was for hunting a huge dinosaur Tyrannosaurus Rex. They were in a Time Machine that would give them the information of prehistoric past, present and future. The Time Safari INC had managed that hunting with its rules and system. When they were in Time Machines Travis told others about the ecosystem. He told if rat is killed eventually it would destroy fox, lion to civilization. Eventually, they saw the Tyrannosaurus ray that frightened Eckels much. He became too much nervous. It was very huge, ten tons heavy. Eckels was discouraged, not able to kill it. When the animal breathed there was a thunder. When the guide allowed Eckels to kill but went out of the track. Travis and next guide guide killed the animal that made a sight like the fall of mountain. Travis warned Eckels not obeying rules and his order. When coming to the present state from the past in time machine Eckels found great change took place. When they returned to time safari office, nothing was changed except alphabets in the signboards of the office. Instead of Keithm, Deutscher was the president of America. Eckels found a dead butterfly on the bottom of his boot that made such change in course of time. Eckels requested the guide, travels to bring him back to past so he would repair the damage of butterfly. Travis said that was impossible. At the end there was shot of Travis but who was shot with the sound of thunder was not clear. The story ends “there was a sound of thunder.”

Interpretation: this story “A Sound of Thunder” is an example of science fiction. This story might be trying to focus on the destruction of ecosystem and environmental mechanism due to carelessness of human actions. The use of time machine and its misuse points out the man’s inability to handle the advanced technology. People are with various technologies yet they are not able to make proper handling of them. Next interpretation of the story might be a critique to modern society and the nature of human beings. In the name of humanity rich people are ready to extinct rare species (animal). And to earn money people are ready to destroy ecosystem and animal’s world. We can also interpret to “A Sound of Thunder” as blast and destruction of environmental system. Again, the “butterfly effect” may be another interdependent meaning of the story. This means a destruction of a butterfly may create earth shaking effect long with the ecosystem and balance. Chaos Theory has interpreted this way. In ecosystem the extinct of a mouse may starve a fox that makes to starve vulture and insects that will bring problem to care men and human race and a civilization ultimately. This essence of environmental closeness is presented in the story.

Critical thinking: this story gives a message about human existence, ecology and animal world. Human selfishness and carelessness have become main causes of destruction of nature all people are fully money-minded and ready to-do anything for money and ready to destroy any species for the fun with the money. Still, we can be disagreed with some points. Is it possible disagreed to travel into past and future being in present? If it is possible to see about future, wouldn’t it be very fruitful to take preventions of so many problems to arrive? But, the destruction of eco-system, butterfly-effects and human carelessness are very much remarkable points mentioned here.

Assimilation: as I was reading this story, I felt as if I was watching a thrilling film. I also became very much puzzled how the people in safari could go in past and future. What time machine really was. As the quality of science fiction I got some beneficial points. I knew that our little mistake in the destruction of any creative like a butterfly may lead to have violent destruction eventually. It touched me a lot looking people who shot rare animals for fun and Safari Company was ready to do what rich people wanted to have because they could earn the money. The money-minded and stonehearted modern people made me feel very sad.

c. Summarize the story “A Sound of Thunder” in a paragraph.        

‘A Safari set up with a team of five persons where Mr. Travis was safari guide for others. The others hunters were Eckels, Esperance, billings and Kramer. They started their safari for the shooting of a dangerous animal ‘A Tyrannosaurus Rex’, the tyrant lizard. They were in a time machine. There was a advertisement (sign) that if someone found new animal, the office would provide chance to shoot it. The one who disobeyed guide’s instruction would face penalty of 10,000$. There was no guarantee for hunter being injured or dead since they were going to perform the most dangerous hunting /shooting of animal. Travis informed others about the dinosaurs with two brains. Travis pointed million years back history and events. They were inside the time machine that protected them touching the earth. Travis told that there was close link among living creatures. While killing a mouse that starved a fox that affected to a lion to a caveman to the entire civilization. Travis informed others that like a butterfly effect a mouse could make an earthquake. In the morning wind when they were going further with careful guidance of travels, they found the Tyrannosaurus Rex of ten tons that could cover one hundred yards in six seconds. It was really gigantic beast with red points on its chest that scared them all. A windstorm came from its mouth while breathing. They shot it very carefully and courageously that Tyrannosaurus Rex fell and lay still stopping the thunder around. They wiped the blood form Helmets and changed dresses. The half dead beast was killed by huge fallen tree again. After shooting they came back to time machine.

Eckels was nervous and wakened by the event and went going out of path. When they arrived in the office room, they found change in the letters of the sign painted on the office wall. Eckels was surprised looking the dead butterfly on his boot that made great effect on him. He was tensed and he wanted to make dead butterfly alive that was impossible. He heard a sound of thunder at last when travels raised his rifle Travis.

d. “A Sound of Thunder” is a story about a critique of modern society. Justify.

“A Sound of Thunder” a science fiction that has given a clear picture of extinction of animals and environment. Human beings are so much fun oriented that they are ready to finish rate animals and plants. They never think what will be the future result of their actions. This too much selfish ego of getting fun is the cause of destruction. Again, some institutions or people are so much crazy for money that they are ready to do any work for earning money. All the countries are on competition making weapons and other machine[M1] s. Their minds are fully covered by power and money. Their careless activities have put the world at the risk and may cause serious result anytime. Modern people are so much selfish and heartless. They are weak minded and thrill-seekers.

This story is a true example of a critique to the modern society. It is a bitter criticism to modern people and their narrow, selfish nature of enjoying in the destruction of environment. They are not careful at all what they are doing now. A minor act ion may gave serious effect in a long run of ecosystem is also presented as a butterfly effect on this basis this story shows a criticism what people think and do and how much they are serious about their actions. Due to atomic bombs and other arms the world is at great risk. The whole world construction can be tuned into ashes within a minute or a single click of buttons. Modern people are so much careless that they don’t use logic and would be results of their present actions. They are hardly thinking that this world is their home place and damage in any part of environment may damage their home itself. This type of critical modern society and selfish, heartless, greedy and careless people are presented in this suggestive story.

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Shep's Hobby James Herriot

Shep's Hobby

James Herriot, UK

The writer says that there's an extra ordinary similarity between humans dogs in the sense that they enjoy making jokes fun-loving etc. Furthermore we shouldn't snatch anybody's or animals' "sparkle of life"

b. write four levels of meanings to the text "Shep's Hobby"

Literal comprehension: the writer was a veterinary surgeon. Once he had to go to Mr. Baile's farm to check his sick cow, Rose. The cow had some stomach problem regarding indigestion. Bailes had a big and fearful dog-named Shep. The dog was kept behind the high wall on the side of passage. The writer gave different medicine to Rose yet the cow was not recovered. As the writer was returning home along the passage of high wall all of a sudden a loud bark of Shep exploded into his ear. That frightened him a lot. Next morning, went to make inquiry about the condition of Rose. He found that Rose was more serious. While he was going to see the cow there was strong blow waaah! that made the writer staggered. The writer gave the treatment to the cow. The following afternoon he was going to find the condition of Rose. He became happy finding the cow in improved condition. When he reached there  Mr. Baile told him that the cow was cured by the postman, Jim Oakey not by the writer. Being angry the writer was returning along the passage. Shep frightened him as if he felt his heart would stop. The writer became much angry with the dog and threatened pulling it near him by the claim. He warned it showing his fist near its nose after a month when the writer had been to Baile's farm, he saw the dog inactive and didn't bark at him. the writer felt very sorry in snatching (killing) the barking hobby of harmless Shep. Sooner the dog frightened to a tinker in front of him. That made the writer satisfied that Shep had barking hobby by them.

Interpretation: this story “Shape’s hobby” may be trying to tell us that it is not only human beings who enjoy their hobbies; it is in animals in same way. Animal may have own types of enjoyment doing some activities like scaring other making loud bark here. Indirectly the story is also trying to say that it is humans who want to be superior to others and wants to control others unique characters. It is animal right to enjoy doing any types of activities. This story is advocating about animal rights and effect of human actions upon animals life. There are similarities between animals and humans in terms of wishes, hobbies, likes, dislikes etc. so, human being should always be careful not to hurt animal’s unique personality. It is a duty of every human being to save “Shackle of life”   that is a unique personality in everyone animal.

Critical thinking: it is not questionable about the concept of hobbies and unique personality of every animal. It is also selfish nature of human that always tries to dominate animals that will affect negatively. Still there are some unacceptable points. How is it possible to cure the cow that couldn’t be cured by animal doctor? How can a seriously in cow make fast walk? Can a dog understand human waring? Do animals enjoy similar like humans?  Still, the story has raised the ideas about how to save unique quality of animal that is acceptable to everyone.

Assimilation: before reading this story I used to think that animals are animals. They don’t have any similarities with human beings. I would think they don’t think and don’t have any special qualities as such. But after reading this story I knew that animals do have ‘unique personality' like of humans. They can easily be hurt from misdeeds of humans. I knew how to take care if any animal after reading this story

C. In the story “Shep’s hobby “the writer points out some extra ordinary similarity between humans and animals. Human must not hurt the unique personality of animals and their ‘sparkle’ of life. Do you agree with the writer?

The story  “Shep’s  hobby” is giving a clear picture of animals hobby and way of fun. Shep is a big dog with a fun of scaring other barking loudly. But when the writer threatened it showing his fist, it stopped barking at the writer. That made the writer feel sad. But when Shep barked harshly to tinker the writer felt  happy because he hadn’t completely destroyed its fun of barking.

The main crux of the story shows that animals do have hobbies and ways of making fun. For that humans should be careful while behaving to animals. We must take care of animals like to the children by their parents. There must be love, care and affection to animals form human beings.

I also agree with the ideas of the writer about animal hobby and way of fun. I like to love and have affection towards all animals. Like to my brother and sister I also love to animal kike dog, cat, rabbit, etc. I never like to hurt the sparkle of any animals and unique personality of them. Because like us animals have desires, hobbies, ways of fun and joke etc. this must be understood by humans before behaving with animals anyway.

                               

A 1996 Commencement Speech Salman Rushdie

A 1996 Commencement Speech

Salman Rushdie, India (1947-)

Salman Rushdie was condemned to death by the former Iranian  Spiritual Leader. Ayatollah Ruhallahkhoment on Feb. 14^th 1989 after publishing the Satanic Verses. He says students shouldn't bow down their heads, be slaves of the authorities rather they should challenge even good and guided by their own better nature.

b. Write four levels of meanings to " A 1996 Commencement Speech"

Literal Comprehension:  "A 1996 Commencement Speech" is graduation speechgiven by a famous Indian born writer, Salman Rushdie to the students of Bard College, New York in 1996. He was given honorary degree by Bard College on that occasion. While giving speech Rushdie remembers of his graduation day, 1968 from Cambridge University. A few night before of his graduation some unknown persons threw bucketful gravy-onion in his room. Salman was accused for this fault and punished. Again, when he had gone to graduation program with brown shoes he was rejected asking to wear black shoes. At the nick hour of ceremony he had to return for black shoes. In the ceremony also he had to kneel down to ask for degree in Latin language with Vice-chancellor. He did as authority ordered him. When he was giving this speech he repented saying that he shouldn’t have paid up, should not have changed the shoes and should not have knelt down. Doing compromise, he did crime accepting injustice and domination. Rushdie said due to his three years hard work and parents’ investment he was qualified to get B.A. degree not freely given by university. Taking education is right of students not any body is favor.

Rushdie pointed out the Irani leader declared his death notice but he was saved by Bard College. Taking about any supreme authority and power, Rushdie said even god has done many crimes and cruelties. God has not created the world and human beings rather people have created Him. Because of people’s belief and mercy there is the existence of god. Arachne, Prometheus had challenged the misdeeds of goods. There could be money-god, etc. If god do crimes over humans why to respect them. Being radical Rushdie encouraged students that we must be guides by our personal will or personal nature. If possible, we should follow our better natures than bad ones.

Interpretation: This speech given by one of the renowned scholars of the world might be advocating the call for freedom of expression. It points out that everyone should be guided by her personal nature-possible by better nature. By any condition one shouldn’t bow down and follow others domination and order. As Salman Rushdie accepted the order for dead rules he repented for that later. It might be questioning about the existence of god and His power. God Himself has done a lot of crimes because of our faith but not the god has created us. Freedom and right can’t be achieved by mercy, begging and bow down rather by snatching. It also encourages to all to fight against any unfair authority injustice and domination. Obedience and tolerance can’t be the way to freedom rather defiance (protest) and revolt are inevitable.

Critical Thinking: This essay as a speech has given a full credit for action done in accordance to human nature. It has opened up the eyes of people/public to evaluate everything reasonably. Compromise to any domination is a crime. This philosophy for personal rights and freedom is ok. Still some disagreeable points can be raised here. Can we always  go against all types of system? Can defiance always become constructive tool to freedom? Are all traditions worthless? What can we say to patience and non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi regarding protest? Are not there other Gods besides Greeks Gods? But the messages of revolt against injustices can’t be discarded fully.

Assimilation: After going through his speech I got shocked Sooner I went 10 years back in my school days. When I was studying in class five I had to face a bitter criticism of my class teacher. Any of the boys of our class had written pornographic (rough) sentences on the wall of the classroom. When the teacher came into classroom, the accusation came over me because other boys were clever. I was innocent then, so I couldn’t defend t all. Now I regret myself about it. I wish I should have defended against it at the right moment. I should have told directly the teacher about my non-involvement in that work. I should have fought against the injustice that I had to fought accept them.

c. According to Salman Rushdie “defiance is an inevitable and essential aspect for freedom and right”. Do you agree with him? Why and how?

When a person get chances to work in accordance with his/ her personal choice it is called freedom. Freedom, in other words, means the condition of not being controlled by anyone in doing something. It is not only for action, it can be about thinking and any topics. According to Salman Rushdie, if we want freedom and rights we have to defend it. We have to protest and fight against any types of injustices and dominations. Tolerating the injustices and being obedient to someone is crime itself. Again, actual freedom and personal rights can be gained by protest not by begging and request.

The meaning of ‘defiance’ given by Rushdie is applicable in all walks of our life. In education, in social life or family relation and others. Everywhere protest and voice against injustices must be raised anyhow. Again, we should not connect the meaning of defiance with the present contexts of Nepal. There is always ‘Chakka Jam’ and ‘Bandh’-like activities giving tensions to common people, it is too bed. What I agree with Salman Rushdie’s idea is that we shouldn’t accept and compromise the crime by any cost. But in the name of protest we should not even by forgetting, do such activities what hamper others. There innocent and over loyal people should get some lesson from this speech about what to do to get freedom and rights.

The Good Example Vicente Riva Palacio, Mexico

The Good Example

Vicente Riva Palacio, Mexico

(Translated by Moti Nissani from Spanish)

This essay discourages the memory- based education like don Lucas is doing. we must have technical and practical kind of education otherwise we also become just like "A Perico" So our education must be dynamic, creative and life supportive.

b. Write the four levels of meaning of "The Good Example".

Literal Comprehension: This short but a suggestive story "The Good Example" has been translated onto English from Spanish by the versatile writer, Moti Nissani. There was a small village in Mexico with roofs of red tiles, Plam leaves and among big-big trees. In that village there was a school run by Don Lucas Forcida. He was dedicated for his school  doing all duties well like a martyr. The teaching style of the school was repetition and rotting or drill of syllables, words and math's tables. The whole day duty of Lucas was monotonous but he had one friend 'a parrot' to fresh him after the school. Lucas used to do regular interaction with the parrot put in the cage at level of school. School children named it "a Perico". The bird could communicate and tell children voices and school's teachings. As the children were taught using traditional method students would learn by heart. Even Perico could do as the school children. One day when the school was going on Perico escaped form the cage and flew away to neighboring forest. By time almost everybody forgot about the Perico but Lucas hardly forget the bird. One day he went to find the bird in the neighboring village riding on the horse. He was in the afternoon heat inside the big forest. He heard a chirping sounds of birds.

Later, he found, the sound was familiar to him. He heard same syllables, words drills taught in the school. To his great surprise Don Lucas encountered with a  group of parrots led by Perico. Perico informed Lucas that he had also made school in that forest as Lucas in the village without control and any restriction but with complete freedom in learning.

Interpretation: The story might  be focusing on the idea of negative impact of rote learning system. Rote learning is just monotonous that never makes any ne creative at all. This learning is similar to parrot learning. It also might be trying to say that everyone likes to have better learning and happiness in natural environment. Restriction and controlled environment's learning never becomes creative. It also raises the issue that 'every bird can be happy in its nest or in its flock' It is education that makes one very conscious and free from any restriction, Here the Parrot has escaped away from the cage and opened a school like in. Mexican village but in free or natural environment of learning. It is with the help of awareness got from education. So good example is a good example of memory based education.

Critical Thinking: We see the Perico has become a teacher in the forest by the last Part of the story. So far we have ideas that parrot can copy some words and terms from human beings but: How can a parrot do a complete conversation with Don Lucas? How can parrot open a school in the forest? How can a parrot tell with Don Lucas that it has school? Beside symbolic meaning the nature of Perico seems to be questionable. 

Assimilation: After reading this story I learnt that if teaching is done systematically, even birds can learn and do well then: Why not the human being> But the rotting teaching learning strategy of Don Lucas' school reminds me about my primary level teaching learning classroom situation. When teacher used to pronounce the words like "Good morning" we would say 'Good morning' "Go there Hari" so more and so forth. Even at college there are not creative teaching and learning activities. Notes, guess so papers are roted by the student and vomit in the exam hall in three-four hours without any creativity.

c. Compare Nepali education today to Mexican education in the 19^th century. Does Nepali education promote memorization or understanding?

or

Defend the statement " The Good Example" can be viewed as a satire on the roting (memory-based) education)

It is obviously taken that the story "The Good Example" can be viewed as a satire on the memory-based education. The educational system of Southern Mexico has been satirized in this story. The teaching was roting and memorization without any creativity. What the teacher says or teaches the students rote one by one. The students are not requested to go through the texts and read much for extra knowledge. The learning is assumed to be finished if one can memories what was taught to him/her. There is no care whether it is applied in the practical life or not. The creative, constructive, logical and imaginative state of minds of children memory-based learning system enables even a parrot to open a school and teach similarly.

In Mexican Lucas' school there is no use of creativity and self-education beside roting. In most of the private schools as well as in the governmental school of Nepal the plight of education is similar. To defend this rotting, monotonous and non-creative learning system Richard Wright studies a lot without any formal teaching but became a Pandit in overall aspects. The 19^th century Mexican education system and the current education of Nepal are totally matched.

While comparing the education of Mexico and Nepal in most of school same non-creative and roting educational pedagogy are adopted. The teacher is called the best teacher who makes his student able to say words by words what is taught or given  in the book . The traditional monotonous teaching system of Don Lucas Forcida was also not productive. The applicable, creative and practical aspects of the learners are always sidelined both in 19^th century Mexican and Nepali education systems or institutions. In short, this story " The Good Example" has become the best example for mocking bad education system of Mexico in particular and of Nepal like countries in general

Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman Richard P. Feynman

Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman

Richard P.  Feynman, USA (1918-1988)

For the productive knowledge and education, we need right person, right place and right time as well. On the other hand, we must have practical kind of education, interdisciplinary, too. We must learn how to behave with the people and society merely bookish knowledge is not always helpful in one’s life.

b. Write the summary of the Essay “ Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman”

The narrator, Richard Feynman completed his undergraduate from MIT (Massachusetts institutes of Technology). Though he wanted to continue his graduation from MIT, Professor Salter advised him to go other college to know how was the rest of the world. So he joined to Princeton. He was not formal in manner but Princeton was full of formality.

On the first day he went to Princeton, the dean Eisenhart invited all the students to a tea party. Feynman didn’t know about how to talk with others, how to have food and where to sit. When Mrs. Eisenhart asked him whether he liked lemon or cream in his tea he replied both. Then all students laughed because he did a social error.

The narrator talks about night academic gowns to dinner. He also saw a Cyclotron where machine was in separate room and other connections from the other rooms in MIT College. But three was at Princeton, all Cyclotron was in a single room. He remembered MIT and Professor Salter whose advice made the narrator to learn rest of the world. At Princeton, Feynman attended in talks and seminars with philosophers. Sometimes there was debate about electron or essential objects. Similarly, the narrator Feynman joint the label of biologists and asked different questions. He found neither of the students nor teachers  were clear about the essence of subject-matter. Feynman took part in physics classes as well.

Feynman involved in studying about DNA spiral, phase course and learnt many lab techniques. He spent a long time in the experimentation without productive result. He did much more boring work related to RNA, DNA and formation of protein in body which was same in all creatures. With Feynman’s multi-disciplinary knowledge he was asked to give lectures at Harvard University too. Though he invested his long time and energy in biology and others sectors his inner interest was in physics. So, he liked to go back to the physics. Though he built up his confidence and knowledge in many sectors, he couldn’t be away from physics, the real subject of his interest.

c. Write the four levels in interacting with the texts "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman".

Literal Comprehension: After passing his under-graduation from MIT, the narrator Mr. Feynman was suggested to go to other collage by Professor Salter. Then Feynman went to Princeton College where everything was fully formal. On the first day Dean Mrs. Eisenhart gave new student tea party. Feynman was not mannered and formal person who answered to have both cream and lemon teas. She told Feynman was joking about it because it was taken as a social error. After that he went to cyclotron where everything was left open to do.  He started to take part in philosophical discussion and sometimes in biologists group as well as Physics 'classes. He spent a lot of time in biology and works because despite of his hard work he couldn't discover any new thing. Though he knew and did a lot about the biology and others subjects his actual interest was in the Physics. He expects he would go back to physics sooner.

Interpretation: This suggestive essay might be trying to tell about the thirst of knowledge and progress in one's life. How education be gained and what can be the best technique about it is given here. Memorization and subject of inner interest are opposite things, the former is not productive one. it also advocates about the significance of interdisciplinary subject study. It also tells that varieties can be colorful for life no doubt one can be Pandit inn particular sector. Education is the only key that helps to learn about manner, culture and knowledge in the multiple subjects. Only necessary  things is the passion of learning in any one.

Critical Thinking: This essay is very tough to understand for the students of education, humanities like faculties because the scientific terms and subjects used here are very much hard to grasp. The crux of the essay is easier but the presentation and language is not so. One must be multi-disciplinarian to understand it because there is talk about Biology, Physics, Philosophy and what not. But the passion of the writer for study and progress even in the back of tools and resources is very much lessonful.

Assimilation: Though the presentation and content of the essay is difficult, it taught me a lot. it taught me to be dynamic according to different situations and societies. Professor Salter's Suggestion to go to rest of the world means to try to understand multiple subjects and sectors of life. I used to be limited to only course of study and books but now I have made myself try to be jack of all and master of none. Nothing can be done to be in limited boundary on in specific area.

d. How do you feel about the strange title of Feynman's essay? Do you think it captures the point Feynman is trying to make about life and education?

"Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman" is suggestive essay about the value of education. But this advice of value of education is presented in different way. Like the title of the essay it seems to be joking to us. Yet, the essay is not such light  rather a serious subject matter hides behind. After completion of his undergraduate from MIT the writer had gone to Princeton for his graduation. Princeton was place of formality but the writer has not formality in manners and language. He became a matter of joke in front of Dean of the collage and all the students when he chose both tea-lemon and cream. At that occasion the Dean Mrs. Eisenhart used the statement "Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman" Though surfacely this statement seems to be light at core it has brought the concept of life education and career. As the writer had not learned formality and processed to learn at Princeton. At the beginning phase he was so light and informal but by the end of the essay Feynman has been presented to be an expert, experienced and having knowledge of multidisciplinary and with good manners. The selection of both of the teas also indicates that the writer wants to have tastes and knowledge of all sectors. He never took it serious who laughed at him and for what subject they did but his target was learning by doing and even by making errors.

As we analyze the title of this essay, it is fitted to the essay in the sense that it has captured the pace of writer's concept of education and life. No doubt he participated in Philosophical classes, Biological classes, Physics and what not. In my opinion we can deduce that to be perfect and pundit in any sector, one must begin with practice and good interest no doubt many mistakes can be committed in the process of learning something. From the crux of the essay and its title there seems to be interrelated meaning.

Why Go to University? Moti Nissani,

Why Go to University?

Moti Nissani, USA (1947-)

This essay is about the deferent of University education. The writer says education is extremely valuable because it makes us different from other creatures. Getting a university degree not only helps us to get a job and promotion but also reforms our character and morality. It’s only through education an individual knows the real meaning of life.

b. Apply the four levels of meaning to “Why Go TO University?”

Literal comprehension: This suggestive essay “Why Go to university?” has been written by a versatile American writer, Moti Nissani. Though there are few disadvantage of going to university education there are many more advantage of it. There is high change to get job for the educated one. In job, promotion and qualification university education becomes backbone. Secondly, we can solve various personal, social as well as national problems if we are educated and awarded. The education of good health and healthy life can be achieved form this educational system. Again, educated persons can hardly be cheated by other rather they can easily remove the social evils and superstitions. The educated persons have good prestige and respect in the society since they are the pillars of national development. Mental horizon is widened as that thinking, attitudes, characters are also become hospitable and cultured ones. Social horizon is enlarged with the help of university education. Again, internal satisfaction and self-understanding is possible by this education. Getting education of university is a good mental exercise. The world and its multiple aspects, ecology, human life and environment, political, cultural changes are possible to know with the help of university education. There are ample advantages in acquiring university education in our life.

Interpretation: Some of us are taking university education without knowing its true purpose but for formality. Some of people have not taken this education being unknown about the multiple advantages of acquiring it. Real education for life and our career is got from university education. Our interest must be positive and we must have earnest desire to get this education so that we can make our future bright. This essay might be trying to tell that civilized and cultured life can be attained with the help of university education. We educated and uneducated people must change our attitude towards university education. Because only truly award and educated person can understand what life really is?

Critical Thinking: We can’t deny the ideas given as the advantageous point in gaining university education. Besides, we can raise some disagreeable points against the writer. Are educated people really respected in this money minded society? Are there really chances for opportunities and jobs for educated people? Can all level people gain university education? Can find the ideals of education in Nepali universities? Has not the politic spoiled actual ethics of university education? Can only knowledge give/ sustain our life?

Assimilation: After reading this essay I widened my mental horizon as said by the writer. There is no good political system or true democratic system in Nepal. Most of our leaders are not getting university education so democracy has not been developed gradually. Again, I knew that besides getting job, there are many more advantages in getting university education. True political system can be established with the help of university education and true utilization of it.

c. What are the advantages and disadvantages in going for university education according to Moti Nassani?

Disadvantages:

-          University education is not suitable to everybody because of its expensiveness.

-          Engaging in university education kills our time for earning money and financial development.

-          Such education brings forth unnecessary tension and mental burden to our mind.

-          Being indifference to university education is a way of being satisfied: the more we know serious our life becomes.

-          Sometimes such education becomes lingering of time than productivity.

Advantages:

-          University education is used to have higher social standard, prosperous life, highly improved income and quality of life.

-          Higher education is a guardian to avoid a number of socio-cultural, economical problems by extending multi-faced ideas so that educated person rarely be cheated rather become master in everything.

-          Since education and health are interrelated ideas so education helps the people to have healthy life.

-          Educational sectors and institutions are all mental fields so better education leads us to have better mind and better thinking.

-          Education makes a person self-dependent or self-sufficient so that educated or knowledge people are able supposed to be the ideal and reputed persons in any society.

-          Having interest is way to progress. So, interest in learning new thing is ever encouraged by higher education by nourishing the varieties of books.

-          Being social creature human gets widen the social horizon with the help of higher education.

-          Again, education is a strong tool for personal freedom to differentiate what is right and what is wrong. It means the knowledge or educated people examine able everything critically and reasonably.

-          Through the educational process we are acknowledged about co-existence in the universe. It is the educated person who understands that all species of the earth are equally important for existence.

-          Since there is interrelationship between democracy and education, education purifies and makes a matured democracy.

In short, there are limitless advantages of university of education despite of its few drawbacks. It is the higher education that helps to lead quality, independent, healthy, sound and reasonable life. So most of Nissani’s ideas are fully supported here.

The Library Card Richard Wright, USA

The Library Card

Richard Wright, USA

(1908-1960)

Education is the supreme ornament of life. Reading opens up mental horizon of the writer. He knew about the discrimination, injustice and inequalities between whites and blacks. So, he wanted to forget his studies by indulging in sex and alcohol.

b. Apply the four levels of interacting with the text in “The Library Card”.

Literal Comprehension: when the writer was 19 years old he had gone to the bank lobby and started to read the newspapers. All of a sudden he stopped seeing a critical and furious comment made to white writer, Mencken as “Mencken is a fool.” Reading such harsh comment towards white became a matter of curiosity to the writer to know why people called him so. He thought a lot how to know about Mencken a lot because Negros were not allowed to go to library and take book to read. He couldn’t be sure to ask his boss or other whites friends about library card. Lastly, he contacted Irish Catholic Mr. Falk and kindly requested to manage him his library card. With doubt any confusion Mr. Falk managed to Richard his library card. Richard cunningly wrote a foot-note and managed to take two books “The Book of preface” and “prejudice.”  Richard started to read in his rented room and knew that Mencken had mucked god and European countries. He also read the famous writers of the world. Reading became his passion and he went on reading and widened his mental horizon, when he was asked by whites and his landlady he just used to say he was just killing time. He also tried to write in the papers but he stopped it sooner. There appeared a great change in Richard’s manner. His hunger for reading books went on increasing. He saw a vast gap between his mental world and the outer world. He knew how Negroes were behaved and living their life. Being terror, anxiety in his mind he was bearing how far he could. He was also thinking one day it would burst out.

Interpretation: This impressive story “The Library Card” might be trying to give the idea of progress if we do something being dedicated and wholeheartedly. How, after a long time struggle, a Negro boy got educational success is given very heart touching way. Richard (a 19 years Negroes boy) had a keen interest to know about H.L Mencken at first and gradually about various subjects. This proved “where there is will, there is way.” This story also tries to give a clear picture of color discrimination in the then America. While the Negroes were not allowed to go to libraries, parks, romantic places. From mental, personal, social to political sectors all Negroes were fully controlled. Even then, Richard got huge success with his strong passion and same ratio of dedication to study and knowledge.

Critical Thinking: at present America has become the center of world’s people. But her situation in few years back was very serious. Negroes were not taken as human beings. As presented in this auto biographical story: Was there such discrimination in USA? How could the white Mr. Falk agree to give Richard his library card? Does anyone have such keen desire to learn? Still, the story teaches to be hardworking and studious to have personal identity and progress of any kind.

Assimilation: When I read this story it touched me a lot. I evaluated myself a lazybones and cowardice person. I have evaluated myself to do nothing. If I have keen interest in doing anything, reading or what so ever, I will get success. The success of Richard has become a great inspiration to me to do something productive in my life. I always complained with others not able to be talented student. Now what I got is I should have deep interest from inside. If so, it is certain that I will do progress in my life.

c. Do you agree with Richard Wright and the author of “Why go to university?” that education is supremely valuable? Why or why not?

In most of the ideas given by these two writers Richard Wright and Moti Nissani are agreeable to me. In this story “The Library card” Richard Wright has talked about the progress of a Negro boy with hard practice education and knowledge. The narrator encountered with a criticism of H.L Mencken as a fool, he got some strong desire to know about him and the reason of criticism. The white men Mr. Falk helped him to offer library card, with great passion for knowledge the 19 years Negro boy progressed a lot in his study and understanding about his world and author’s behaviors on him. Richard Right has talked that it is knowledge that brings awareness, it is awareness that brings change in attitude and behaviors .this story also tells that where there will there is way. It is the speaker’s deep study by which he has understood the value of freedom life, human rights and human relationship. He has understood the value of being in human and position of being minority group. These all aspects are agreeable to me as well. It is the then American society when Negroes were behaved as non-human. Another agreeable point in this story is that we can do progress a lot if we have strong determination and dedication to do something. It is education that gives capacity to identify what is good and what is bad as the narrator in this story.

Again, similar type of agreeable ideas are presented by the essayist Moti Nissani in his essay “Why go to University?”. Here, he has discussed about the value and advantage of going to university. According to him, it is education that makes us capable to develop reasoning power, makes open-mind, and gives power of tolerance, makes chances of getting opportunities and jobs. Again, the social respect and prestige are other advantages that are possible by university education. According to Nissani, it is education that gives us personal freedom, knowledge to understand the value of social culture, norms, democracy, etc.  Personal, social and cultural aspects become strong by education.

Although Richard Wright and Moti Nissani have discussed similar type of ideas moti Nassani’s essay seems more compiled and detail. Anyway both of them seem agree about the importance of education. As they say education makes people conscious, skillful, independent which are agreeable points to everybody. In our judgment of their ideas presented both writers are right in their views and have positive impacts in readers. Again, Nissani’s arguments about university education is a bit questionable in the sense that everybody can’t go for university education because it can’t be available to all levels of people. But we have to respect the detail presentation of various advantage of university education given in this essay-“Why go to university?”