MATERNITY
Lilika Nakos
Read the following passage from the story 'Maternity' and answer the questions that follow :
It was more than a month since they were at Marseilles. The camp of Armenian refugees on the outskirts of the town already looked like a small village. They had settled down in any way they could: the richest under tents; the others in the ruined sheds; but the majority of the refugees, having found nothing better, were sheltered under carpets held up at the four corners by sticks. They thought themselves lucky if they could find a sheet to hang up at the sides and wall them from peering eyes. Then they felt almost at home. The men found work- no matter what - so that in any case they were not racked with hunger and their children had something to eat. Of all of them, Mikali alone could do nothing. He ate the stale bread which his neighbours cared to offer and it weighed on him. For he was a big lad of fourteen, healthy and robust. But how could he think of looking for work when he literally bore on his back the burden of a new-born babe? Since his birth, which had caused his mother's death, he had wailed proclaiming his famished state from morn till night. Who would have accepted Mikali's services when his own compatriots had chased him from their quarters because they were unable to bear the uninterrupted howls which kept them awake at night.
1. Where did the Armenian refugees make their shelters?
Answer :
At Marseilles.
2. How did the camp of Armenian refugees look like?
Answer :
It looked like a small village.
3. How did they settle down in the camp?
Answer :
They had settled down in any way they could: the richest under tents; the others in the ruined sheds; but the majority of the refugees, having found nothing better, were sheltered under carpets held up at the four corners by sticks.
4. Why didn't Mikali go for a job?
Answer :
Mikali's mother died at the birth of her second child. So, Mikali had to look after his new-born brother. Nobody gave him a job because the burden of the baby was always on his shoulders and its uninterrupted howling made everyone annoyed.
5. What did Mikali eat?
Answer :
He ate the stale bread which his neighbours cared to offer and it weighed on him.
6. What kind of a boy was Mikali?
Answer :
Mikali was a big lad of fourteen, healthy and robust.
7. Pick out a word from the passage that means 'as in hungry'
Answer :
Famished
8. Pick out a word from the passage that means ' very strong and healthy'
Answer :
Robust
9. Pick out a word from the passage that means ' fellow countryman '
Answer :
compatriots
10. Why did Mikali's compatriots case him away?
Or
Why was he chased away by his fellow Armenians?
Answer :
Because they couldn't bear the uninterrupted howling of Mikali's new-born brother. The baby cried for milk all the time. So, the people in the camp didn't get much sleep.
11. Describe the life of the refugees in the camp.
Answer:
The men found works and so that they and their families had something to eat.
Read the following passage from the story 'Maternity' and answer the questions that follow :
Mikali himself was dazed by these cries; his head was empty and he wandered about like a lost soul, dying from lack of sleep and weariness, always dragging about with him the deafening burden that had been born for his misfortune - and its own - and that had so badly chosen the moment to appear on this earth. Everybody listened to it with irritation - they had so many troubles of their own - and they all pitifully wished it would die. But that did not happen for the new-born child sought desperately to live and cry louder his famished state. The distracted women stuffed their ears and Mikali wandered about like a drunken man. He hadn't a penny in his pocket to buy the infant milk and not one woman in the camp was in a position to give it the breast. Enough to drive one mad!
12. Why did Mikali wander about like a lost soul?
Answer :
The new-born baby on his back made cries all the time. So he couldn't get any job, food and even a shelter. His fellow refugees also drove him away from the camp. That is why Mikali wandering about like a lost soul.
13. Who is mentioned here as 'deafening burden'.
Answer :
Mikali's new-born brother.
14. Why did the people of the camp pitifully wished the infant would die?
Answer :
Because they couldn't bear the uninterrupted howling of Mikali's new-born brother. The baby cried for milk all the time. So, the people in the camp didn't get much sleep and comfort. They had so many troubles of their own. So they wished it would die.
15. Why couldn’t Mikail earn even a penny?
Answer:
Nobody offered Mikail work because he had with him his new-born brother. His mother had died at childbirth.
16. What made Mikali mad?
Answer :
The new- born baby cried louder for milk. Mikali hadn't a penny in his pocket to buy the infant milk and not one woman in the camp was in a position to give it the breast.
17. Pick out a word from the passage that means 'filled with something'.
Answer :
Stuffed
18. Mikali wandered like a ‘lost soul.’ Comment on the comparison.
Answer:Mikali did not get any help or shelter from his camp. So, As a lost soul wanders around looking for peace and rest, Mikali too was wandering.
Read the following passage from the story 'Maternity' and answer the questions that follow :
One day, unable to bear it further, Mikali went to the other side of the place where the Anatolians were: they also had fled from the Turkish massacres in Asia Minor. Mikali had been told that there was a nursing mother there who might take pity on his baby. So there he went, full of hope. Their camp was like his - the same misery. Old women were crouched on pallets on the ground; barefooted children played about in pools of dirty water. As he approached, several old women rose to ask what he wanted. But he walked on and stopped only at the opening of a tent. From the interior of the tent came the sound of a wailing infant. "Have pity on this poor orphan and give him a little milk. I am a poor Armenian . . .", he said in Greek. At his appeal, a lovely, dark woman appeared. She held in her arms an infant blissfully sucking the maternal breast, its eyes half-closed. "Let's see the kid. Is it a boy or a girl?" Mikali's heart trembled with joy. Several neighbours had come closer to see and they helped him to take from his shoulders the sack where the baby brother was held; with curiosity they leaned over. He drew back the cover. The women gave vent to various cries of horror. The child had no longer anything human about it. The head had become enormous and the body, of an incredible thinness, was all shrivelled up. As until then it had sucked only its thumb, it was all swollen. It was dreadful to see! Mikali himself drew back in fright. All of them together chased him away, threatening. His eyes filled with tears, he went off, bearing the little child still wailing in its hunger.
18. Why did Mikali go to Anatolians camp?
Answer :
Mikali had been told that there was a nursing mother there who might take pity on his baby. So there he went, full of hope.
19. What were the miserable sights could be seen in Anatolians' camp?
Answer :
Old women were crouched on pallets on the ground; barefooted children played about in pools of dirty water.
20. Why did not Mikali stop when the old women rose to ask him what he wanted?
Answer :
Because he wanted to see the nursing mother as soon as he could possible.
21. Where did Mikali Stop his walking?
Answer :
Mikali stopped at the opening of a tent where the nursing mother lived.
22. What did Mikali request the nursing mother?
Answer :
Mikali introduced himself as he was a poor Armenian and requested to have pity on his new-born brother and give him a little milk.
23. When did Mikali's heart tremble with joy?
Answer :
When the nursing mother agreed to give his new- born brother breast milk. She asked if she could see the kid and enquired whether it was a boy or a girl. On hearing this Mikali became very happy.
24. Why did the women give vent to cries of horror?
Answer:
The child had no longer anything human about it. The head had become enormous and the body was all shrivelled up. As until then it had sucked only its thumb, it was all swollen. So, the women give vent to cries of horror.
25. What was the dreadful sight did Mikali and others see?
Answer :
The child had no longer anything human about it. The head had become enormous and the body was all shrivelled up. As until then it had sucked only its thumb, it was all swollen.
Read the following passage from the story 'Maternity' and answer the questions that follow :
There was nothing to be done; the child was condemned to die of hunger. Mikali felt himself immensely alone and lost. A chill ran up his spine at the thought that he was carrying such an unlucky child. He slumped down in the shadow of a shed. It was still very warm.
The country spread out before him in arid, waste land, covered with refuse. Noon rang out somewhere. The sound reminded him that he had eaten nothing since the day before. He would have to go sneaking about the streets, round cafe terraces, filching some half-eaten roll left on a plate; or else, rake about in the garbage for what a dog would not have eaten. Suddenly, life seemed to him so full of horrors that he covered his face with his hands and began to sob desperately. When he raised his head a man stood before him gazing down upon him. Mikali recognized the Chinaman who often came to the camp to sell paper knick-knacks and charms which no one ever bought from him anyway. Often they mocked him because of his colour and his squint eyes. Mikali saw that he was looking gently down at him and moving his lips as though to speak. Finally the Chinaman said: "You mustn't cry, boy. . . ." Then, timidly: "Come with me..
Mikali's only answer was to shake his head negatively; he longed to flee. He had heard so many horrors about the cruelty of the Orientals! Yet the man remained there and did not budge. So, being in great distress, Mikali followed him. What more awful thing could happen to him? As they walked along he stumbled weakly and almost fell with the child. The Chinaman came to him and taking the baby in his arms, tenderly pressed it to him.
26. "the child was condemned to die of hunger" - Who was the child mentioned here? What happened to him?
Answer :
The child referred to here is the new-born brother of Mikali. He lost his mother at his birth.He had no other ways to get breast - milk. So the child was nearing his death in hunger.
27. Why did he feel immensely alone and lost?
Answer:
Mikali didn't get food and shelter. He was helpless and his life was full of misery. He was driven away by people. Moreover, he had no other ways to feed his new - born brother with breast milk. He was sure that the baby would die in hunger. So he felt immensely alone and lost.
28. How did Mikali find food for living?
Answer :
He would have to go sneaking about the streets, round cafe terraces, filching some half-eaten roll left on a plate; or else, rake about in the garbage for what a dog would not have eaten.
29. Why did he sob?
Answer:
Mikali didn't get any food and shelter. He would have to go looking for some half-eaten roll left on a plate; or else, rake about in the garbage for what a dog would not have eaten. Suddenly, life seemed to him so full of horrors that he covered his face with his hands and began to cry badly.
30. Who was the man came forward to help Mikali?
Answer :
The Chinaman who often came to the camp to sell paper knick-knacks and charms.
31. In what way is the Chinaman different from the refugees?
Answer:While all the refugees tried to drive away Mikali, t
he Chinaman came forward and helped Mikali to overcome the difficult situation. He was kind-hearted and helpful.
32. Why did Mikali refuse to go with the Chinaman at first?
Answer :
Mikali feared that the Chinaman would harm him because he had heard so many horrors about the cruelty of the Orientals.
Read the following passage from the story 'Maternity' and answer the questions that follow :
They crossed several empty lots and then, the man took a little lane that led them to a sort of wooden cabin surrounded by a very small garden. He stopped before the door and clapped his hands twice. A few light steps
inside and a tiny person came to open the door. Seeing the men, her face reddened and then a happy smile lit it up. She made a brief courtesy to them. As Mikali remained there, hesitatingly rooted to the threshold, the Chinaman said to him: "Come in, then; do not be afraid. This is my wife." Mikali went into the room, rather large it seemed, separated in the middle by a coloured paper screen. It was all so clean and neat, though very poor looking. In the corner he noticed a wicker cradle. "That is my baby," said the young woman cocking her head graciously to one side and smiling at him. "He is very tiny and very beautiful; come and see." Mikali went up closer and silently admired it. A chubby baby, but lately out of the darkness of the maternal body, slept peacefully, covered with a gold brocade cloth, like a little king. Then the husband called his wife over. He told her to sit on a straw mat. Without a word, he set down on her lap the little famished one, bowing deeply before her. The woman leaned over with astonishment and drew back the covering in which the child was wrapped. It appeared to her in all its skeletonic horror. She gave a crya cry of immense pitythen pressed the babe to her heart, giving it the breast. Then, with a gesture of modesty she brought forward a flap of her robe over the milk-swollen breast and the poor, gluttonous infant suckling there.
33. Where did the Chinaman take Mikali?
Answer :
Chinaman took Mikali his to his own home.
34. How did the Chinaman’s wife behave when she saw Mikali with her husband?
Answer:
Seeing the men, her face reddened and with a happy smile she made a brief courtesy to them.
35. What did the Chinaman’s wife do when she saw the famished infant?
Answer:
She gave a cry of immense pity and then pressed the baby to her heart, giving it the breast. Then, with a gesture of modesty, she brought forward a flap of her robe over the milk-swollen breast and the poor, gluttonous infant suckling there.
36. Pick out a word from the passage that means ' surprise'.
Answer :
astonishment
37. Pick out a word from the passage that means "excessively greedy"
Answer :
gluttonous
38. What is mentioned here as "skeletonic horror"?
Answer :
The new - born baby who looked like a skeleton due to lack of food.
39. Prepare a Character sketch of Mikali.
Answer :
Mikali - A Responsible Brother
Mikali was the central character of the story 'Maternity' written by the popular Greek writer Lilika Nakos. He is a Armenian refugee boy who shelters at the refugee camp of Marseilles. He is a fourteen years old orphan . His mother died at the birth of his younger brother. So, Mikali had to look after the new-born baby. He always carries the baby on his back. The infant cries every time in hunger. Mikali had no money to buy some milk for the baby and moreover nobody in the camp ready to feed the infant with brest milk. The uninterrupted cries of the infant make every one mad. They couldn't even get enough sleep. So the people in the camp drives away Mikali. Though Mikali is very strong and healthy, nobody gives him a job as he gets the burden of the new - born baby. Anyhow, Mikali tries to withstand all these difficulties. He searches everywhere for a woman who can feed his infant brother. He is never willing to let his brother die in hunger. This shows that he is very determined, bold and also a responsible brother.
40. Mikali could never forget the day his little brother was fed by the Chinaman's wife. He records his thoughts and feelings in his diary. Write the diary entry.
Answer :
May 20, 2023
Monday
What an unforgettable day it was! Hoe can I forget those moments? The Chinese man appeared before me like a god as I thought that everything was over! How kind he was! He took me to his home and introduced his wife. His wife greeted me very warmly. What a lovely couple! I felt like home there. Without any hesitation, she got ready to feed my infant brother with her breast milk. I could see the greatness of maternity there. She is really a good mother and and an angel of mercy. Today my little brother got a new birth. It's only because of the Chinaman and his wife. I really owed to them. May God bless them. I can never forget this day.
41. Prepare a news paper report of Mikali’s life in the camp
The quest for maternity
Marseilles:The pathetic sight of Mikali, a 14 year old orphan boy wandering with a crying infant, shocked the world yesterday. Mikali, a poor victim of war is forced to carry the motherless and famished brother on his back . The starving cries of the infant has become a disturbance to other people of the camp. Mikali does not get food ,work or shelter. Even the women in the refugee camps are not ready to feed the baby. They all horrified to look at the child which has an enormous head and a thin body as it was starving since its birth. Many people who lost their sleep by the uninterrupted cries of the infant, pitifully wished that the child would die. What a tragic plight it was! Mikali is wandering from camp to camp in search of a nursing mother. The picture of Mikali and the helpless child is reported to have strengthened the common request to end war.
42. Prepare a narrative of the story 'Maternity'.
Answer :
The Greatness Of Maternity
“Maternity” is a heart touching story written by the popular Greek writer, Lilika Nakos. The story describes the misery and sufferings of a fourteen-year-old orphan boy named Mikali who was an Armenian refugee. The story comprises of three main settings- a camp of Armenian refugees, a camp of Anatolian refugees and a house of a Chinaman. The story deals with the uncertainties occurred in the life of Mikali and his new born brother in a refugee camp in Marseilles.
Mikali's mother had died while giving birth to his brother. So he had to look after his new-born brother. Since the baby was kept on his back, he was unable to do any job or earn his livelihood. The other refugees lost their sleeps as the famished infant was crying continuously whole the day. They even wished that the baby would die. At last the refugees drove Mikali away from the camp.
Mikali went straight to the camp of Anatolians. He had heard that there was a nursing mother in the camp. So he reached there with full of hope. But unfortunately the women in the camp of Anatolians became afraid as they saw the Skeltonic structure of the infant. The child had no longer anything human about it. The head had become enormous and the body, of an incredible thinness, was all shrivelled up. As until then it had sucked only its thumb, it was all swollen. It was dreadful to see! Mikali himself drew back in fright. Then Mikali was chased away from there too.
There was nothing to be done; the child was condemned to die of hunger. Mikali felt himself immensely alone and lost. What should he do? At that time a Chinaman reached there. The Chinaman took Mikali to his home and introduced him to his wife. The Chinaman's wife felt immense pity on the infant. She fed the baby with her breast milk. By portraying the Chinaman's wife as an ideal mother, the writer upholds the nobility of 'maternity'.