Ajantala

Question

1. Ajantala, the mysterious child
Stocky and short like a dwarf
But stronger than the giant
His head is as big as cow's head
A charcoal-skinned child
It hid itself in the animals' food basket
Opening the basket he met wonders,
He met Ajantala in the basket!
10. Ajantala beat hell out of the tortoise
Bruised its face and wounded its neck
'pack me back in the basket:
Ajantala ordered the greedy tortoise
Getting back to other animals tortoise lied,
'I fell from the tree.
16. Leopard also went to steal from the basket
It was also beaten and wounded.
'What happened to you, other animals asked?"
'I fell where tortoise fell,'leopard answered.'
Other animals pitied leopard
For they knew not the truth
But tortoise knew.
23. The zebra also 'fell' from the tree.
'Fell from the tree, indeed you fell,'
Both tortoise and leopard laughed
Who is next to fall from the tree?
This is the question for other animals.
Question
1. What is your observation about the poet's style as regards the stanzas
2(a) How many similies do you recognize in stanza one of the poem?
(b) List the similes
3. Point out the two opposing nouns in stanza one
4. Who claimed he fell from tree
5. Who is Ajantala
6. Leopard stole from Ajantala's basket and was ________ and ________
7. Which animal knew the truth about what was happening with the animals and Ajantala
8. _______ had a charcoal skin in the poem
9. According to the poem, how many animals 'fell' from the tree?
10. Name the animals that 'fell from the tree' in the poem

Answer 1

1. The poet's style is simple and straightforward, with each stanza telling a part of the story in a clear manner.
2(a) There are two similes in stanza one of the poem.
(b) "Stocky and short like a dwarf" and "stronger than the giant"
3. The two opposing nouns in stanza one are "Stocky" and "short".
4. The tortoise claimed he fell from the tree.
5. Ajantala is the mysterious child in the poem.
6. Leopard stole from Ajantala's basket and was beaten and wounded.
7. Tortoise knew the truth about what was happening with the animals and Ajantala.
8. Ajantala had a charcoal skin in the poem.
9. According to the poem, three animals 'fell' from the tree.
10. The animals that 'fell from the tree' in the poem are tortoise, leopard, and zebra.