The Home-Coming
The Home-coming by Rabindranath explores the complexities of familial relationships and reveals the deep ties between home, memory, and self-discovery. Practise the following MCQs and questions & answers from the chapter.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What mischief does Phatik plan with the other boys?
2. What is Phatik's initial reaction after he sees Makhan not getting off the log?
3. What does Phatik’s mother think of him?
4. What does the conflict between Phatik and Makhan symbolize?
5. How does the arrival of Bishamber affect the family dynamics?
6. Describe the role of Phatik’s aunt who lived in Calcutta
7. How does the theme of homesickness manifest in Phatik’s experiences?
8. What does Phatik losing his new lesson book signify?
Reference to Context Questions
The cramped atmosphere of neglect in his aunt's house oppressed Phatik so much that he felt that he could hardly breathe. He wanted to go out into the open country and fill his lungs and breathe freely.
Question: How does the author describe the atmosphere in the aunt's house?
Answer: He describes it as cramped and neglectful, indicating that Phatik feels stifled and uncared for. He also feels oppressed, stating an emotional burden that adds to his discomfort.
Question: How does the imagery 'fill his lungs' contrast with the environment he is living in now?
Answer: The imagery filling his lungs refers to a deep desire for freedom and escape from confinement. It reflects Phatik’s yearning to live his life beyond his aunt’s house where he can breathe freely, highlighting a stark contrast between the current stifled environment and dreams of liberation.
A kind of physical love like that of animals; a longing to be in the presence of the one who is loved; an inexpressible wistfulness during absence; a silent cry of the inmost heart for the mother, like the lowing of a calf in the twilight.
Question: What kind of physical love is being portrayed here?
Answer: The author describes Phatik's love for his mother as a kind of physical love like that of animals, emphasizing its instinctual and deep-rooted nature. It explores the longingness and purity of the relationship.
Question: What do the words inexpressible and silent cry contribute to the overall tone of the passage?
Answer: The words inexpressible and silent cry contribute to emotional pain and longing. They suggest that Phatik's love for his mother is so intense that it cannot be articulated, enhancing the sense of sorrow and death in his longing for his mother.