Poets and Pancakes NCERT Solutions For Class 12
NCERT Books Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Poets and Pancakes
NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Poets and Pancakes – NCERT Solutions is known as an extremely helpful resource for preparing for the exam. Takshila Learning provides its learners with access to a wealth of NCERT problems and their solutions. CBSE Class 12 English NCERT Solutions are built by subject matter experts, so be sure to train learners for a good grade. The questions set out in the NCERT Books are prepared in compliance with the requirements of the CBSE.

NCERT Solution For Class 12 Flamingo English Poets and Pancakes provides us with all-inclusive information on all concepts. As students would have to learn the basics about the subject in class 12, this curriculum for class 12 is a comprehensive study material, which explains the concepts in a great way.
Questions Covered In Poets and Pancakes NCERT Solutions For Class 12:
Question 1:
Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.
Answer:
- blew over – give a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation
- was struck dumb – render speechless, as by surprise or shock
- catapulted into -to shoot forth or launch
- a coat of mail -an armoured coat made of chain mail, interlinked rings, or overlapping metal plates
- played into their hands -to act or behave so as to give an advantage to (an opponent).
- the favourite haunt -a frequently visited place
- heard a bell ringing -stirring an often indistinct memory
Page No 59:
Question 1:
What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up’?
Answer:
The makeup room at Gemini Studio resembled a haircutting salon. Around it were about half a dozen mirrors with incandescent lights at all angles. The artists will realize the heat emanating from these lights. Thus, the author uses the term ‘raging sorrow’ to denote the uncomfortable condition of people subjected to makeup.
Question 2:
What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
Answer:
The makeup division of Gemini Studios was an example of national integration. According to the author, this is because people from different regions and religious groups have worked together in the same department. The department was headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. Other assistants included a Dharwad Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and a local Tamil.
Question 3:
What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studio? Why was he disappointed?
Answer:
The Office Boy was responsible for the make-up of people who used to be part of the crowd in films. He used to mix his paint into a giant pot and slap the paint on the players’ faces.He aspired to become an actor, or screenwriter, or director or songwriter, joining Gemini Studios years ago. He was disappointed with the studio that failed to recognize his talent. He called it a “department fit for only and barbers”.
Question 4:
Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
Answer:
The job of the author was to cut newspaper clippings and file them. For the other employees, all he seemed to be doing is tearing newspapers, which according to them did not qualify as work.
Page No 61:
Question 1:
Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
Answer:
Office Boy joined the studio years ago in hopes of becoming an actor or screenwriter, or director, or lyricist. The fact that he ended up none of this leaves him disappointed. According to him, “the great literary genius was being let off in the department fit only for barbers and perches”. He used to direct his anger at the writer, even if it was for Kothamangalam Subbu.
Question 2:
Who was Subbu’s principal?
Answer:
The Boss, who was also the founder of Gemini Studios, was Subbu’s principal.
Question 3:
Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Answer:
Subbu was a multi-disciplinarian. He was could provide solutions to problems, could remain cheerful all the time and was an actor, a poet and a novelist.
Question 4:
Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
Answer:
A lawyer used to be a part of the story department at Mithun Studio. Although a legal adviser should have been involved in legal matters, her views on ending an actress’s career are still naive. Due to this, he was called by the people as the opposite of the legal advisor.
Question 5:
What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
Answer:
The lawyer wore pants and a tie and sometimes a coat, while everyone else in the story department wore a slightly oversized and clamsily tailored white Khadi shirt to Khadi’s dhoti. Thus, the lawyer stood out from others in the Gemini studio as if he was a controversial man who did not take sides. Furthermore, he was a logical person with no emotional attachment.
Page No 64:
Question 1:
Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
Answer:
The people of Mithun Studio had no special political connections. General political perceptions of the day succeeded in influencing them but it was limited to wearing khadi and limiting Gandhian philosophy. He was influenced by the term ‘communism’, but had only a mistaken understanding of the concept.
Question 2:
Why was the Moral Re-Armament army welcomed at the studio?
Answer:
Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament Army was welcomed into the studio mainly because of their political connections. The people at Gemini Studios were opposed to communism, and therefore, were ready to host the MRA.Also, the studio people had hardly any occupation and were suffering from boredom. MRA came as a welcome change in his monotonous days at the studio.
Question 3:
Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
Answer:
Almost all of his plays in Madras and the Tamil drama community included scenes from the ‘Valley Jotham Valley’ and sunset and sunrise. It shows how MRA staged plays have influenced Gemini Studios.
Question 4:
Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios?
Answer:
Mr. S.S. Vasan was The Boss of Gemini Studios.
Question 5:
What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
Answer:
Stephen Spender’s accent was the main reason for the lack of dialogue between him and the people in the English, Gemini studio. Also, people had no idea about what he was talking about.
Question 6:
Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
Answer:
The Englishman’s journey to Gemini Studios is known as an obscure mystery because no one may be able to understand his identity, whether he is a poet or editor. Furthermore, when he said that no one in the studio spoke, he understood what he had to say because his pronunciation was beyond his comprehension.
Page No 65:
Question 1:
Who was the English visitor to the studio?
Answer:
The English visitor to the Gemini Studios was Stephen Spender. He was the editor of The Encounter, a British Periodical, and a famous English poet, essayist and novelist of the twentieth century.
Question 2:
How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
Answer:
Before investing money to participate in a short story competition organized by The Encounter, an English periodical, the author did a research on the magazine. He went to the British Council Library, where, going through an issue of that time, he found that its editor was Stephen Spender, the poet who had ever visited the studio.
Question 3:
What does The God that Failed refer to?
Answer:
The God That Fell was a compilation of six essays written by six famous authors, Andre Gidd, Richard Wright, Ignazio Ceylon, Arthur Kostler, Louis Fisher, and Stephen Spender. In each essay, the respective authors described “their journey into communism and their disillusionment”.
Page No 66:
Question 1:
The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
Answer:
Examples of humor, used by the author, mark eccentricities and idiocy without making direct and rude comments on anyone. For example, the author portrays the use of makeup artists and pancakes in an interesting way. Even Subbu’s caricature is hilarious. The way he tries to help his chief by offering quick solutions to his problems is quite entertaining. The episode of Legal Counselor that inadvertently causes the end of an actress’ career is yet another example. The frustration of the office boy, the superficial appreciation of Gandhi, his hatred of communism, and the ‘mystery’ surrounding Stephen Spender are just a few examples where the author has incorporated gentle humor.
Page No 66:
Question 1:
- This piece is an example of a chatty, rambling style. One thought leads to another which is then dwelt upon at length.
- Read the text again and mark the transitions from one idea to another. The first one is indicated below.
Make-up Department Office-boy Subbu
Answer:
The writer makes a change from a detailed overview of the office boy’s character in the makeup department of Gemini Studios. The writer then proceeds to a more detailed depiction of Kothamangalam Subbu’s character, when he came to live with the office boy.Subbu changes the writer to a legal adviser and an episode where he inadvertently ends the career of an actress. The writer’s next thought on the disturbances of the Gemini studio moves quickly toward the arrival of Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament Army.The description of the arrival of the second visitor, the English poet-editor and his reception changes to reflect on the author’s creative writing. Finally, the episode of the short story contest and the visitor’s revelation of the mystery of the poet makes way for an event that takes place years later, the purchase of the book The God That Fails.
Page No 66:
Question 1:
You must have met some interesting characters in your neighbourhood or among your relatives. Write a humorous piece about their idiosyncrasies. Try to adopt the author’s rambling style, if you can.
Answer:
An old woman in my neighborhood loves to criticize and gossip about people. Throughout the day she sits on the balcony, weaving and making random comments on people. As neighbors, we are aware of his stupidity and strange habits but innocent strangers are his usual victims.One afternoon after school, I had barely started climbing the stairs of our building, when a man saw me descending the stairs. I had never seen a man from our area before. Curiosity got the better of me and I followed him and reached the old lady’s apartment. The feeling overwhelmed me; I understood that it was a woman’s trick to confront a stranger. That day, the woman shouted for help and the man raced to help her, believing it to be a real case of emergency.
Page No 66:
Question 1:
Discuss in small groups taking off from points in the text.
- Film-production today has come a long way from the early days of the Gemini Studios.
- Poetry and films.
- Humour and criticism
Answer:
1. Filmmaking is more technical nowadays. While earlier only five percent of shooting was done outdoors, nowadays outdoor shooting is not limited to such a negligible percentage. Cameras and other equipment allow for more advanced and accurate presentation.The quality of makeup has improved manifold since the days of Gemini Studios where only pancakes were used. People involved in various departments specialize in their particular work, be it director, producer, screenwriter, lyricist or actor. The overall quality of the films is more striking and vibrant.2. Poems and films are intricately interwoven in India. The people of Jaimini Studios, all claimed the talent of the poet. The main reason behind this was his dull and leisurely life in the studio. However, these people were not knowledgeable or educated to be poets. Unlike poetry, films can be enjoyed by those with little resources who cannot cultivate a taste for poetry and literature.3. The story is interwoven with examples steeped in subtle humor. Humorous examples, however, make interesting and relevant remarks on the behavior of ordinary people. A comic story has more readers, a comic film has more viewers. The reason for this is that they provide entertainment and a respite from the tedious existence. Criticism through humor is more effective, so writers and filmmakers often use comic elements in their works and make sarcastic comments and criticism.
Question 2:
Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
Answer:
Kothamangalam Subbu Through flattery succeeded in securing the nearest position to the boss. He was not brilliant but a cheerful man and highly loyal to the boss. Whenever the boss was alright, he offered a solution. Thus, other employees considered him No. 2 at Gemini Studios.
Question 3:
How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Answer:
The audience at Gemini Studio did not have enough knowledge to understand the thrill and trauma of an English poet, about whom the visiting poet-editor spoke in his speech. The studio made films for simple people, whose limited resources did not offer them the opportunity to develop a taste in English poetry. Due to the latter accent, the poet said that the audience failed to understand everything. The poet-editor, in turn, was stunned, realizing the utter inappropriateness of his speech being directed to such audiences.
Question 4:
What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from the account?
Answer:
Although the writer’s studio had a very tiring and unsolicited job, his interest in literature and writing is evident in his desire to participate in a short story competition organized by the British periodical, The Encounter. In addition, the author seems to be a keen reader to visit libraries and buy books on a wide range of subjects whenever he can buy them. In addition, the narrative also establishes the fact that the author was one of the most knowledgeable individuals in Gemini Studios. His idea of prose writing was not for Genius, but for those with patience and perseverance to highlight his reflective and deep thoughts on literature and creative writing.
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NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Subjects

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English(Flamingo)
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 2
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 3
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 4
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 5
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 6
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 7
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 8
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 9
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 10
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 11
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 12
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 13
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 14

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English (Vistas)
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 2
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 3
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 4
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 5
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 6
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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 8
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