The Savage Male

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
The Yanomamo is one of the most aggressive , war like and male oriented societies in the world. The body of adult males or females are covered with the wounds and scars. Wife have to obey their husbands immediately. Other wise they are punished. Brother-in- low are close relatives, with whom they take drugs together. Because of the hallucinogenic drugs, the Yanomamo males have supernatural visions. And can endure several pain in different types of duels. Menstruated  girls and women kept separately. Male superiority is seen in different types of duels. In the chest pounding duels, the guest hit on the chest of the host with fist as hard as he can. But later the host also hits the guest back on the chest. The more one receives, the more one can hit back. In the side slapping duel, the opponent hits with the open hands just bellow the ribs. In the club fight the competitor sticks on the head with a pole. The spear is also dangerous. The fight against the relatives and enemies is quite common. The alliance of the Yanomamo depends on the military power. They past most of time by fighting.

INERPRETATION
This assay has clearly express the lifestyle of the Yanomamo people. It shows that their life is full of struggle. In order to survive they have to keep on fighting

CRITICAL THINKING
The essayist has presented a banned view in this assay. He has quoted chignon, a male researcher, whose attitude was male oriented. He has also presented the views of Judith sapiro, a female researcher. Thus he has tried to be unbiased.

ASSIMILATION
By reading this assay I have come to know many things about male oriented society. In such society, women and girls are always abuse.  they have to do what the male want. They make myths  to prove males superior. But, on the other hand, males are more precocious  and war like. I become sad when I imagine the life of the Yanomamo people who always fighting and never at peace.

The Cabuliwallah

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
One day Mini called a Cabuliwallah but when he came to her, she ran away. In order to remove the fear of the child, the narrator, her father, brought her close to the street trader  from that day on, the child and the vendor become close friend. They would tell stories and jokes and would be very happy. Once the Cabuliwallah was imprisoned for several years and he was forgotten. But on Mini's wedding day he appeared again with some dry fruit for his little Mini. The narrator learn that Rehaman! The cabuliwallah would visit Mini because she reminded him of his own daughter parvati in Afghanistan. Then he called Mini, who was in her wedding dress. Rehaman was quite surprised to see the grown up Mini and thought of his own daughter. The narrator out his expenses and gave him a hundred –rupee note so that he could go home to see his daughter.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that friendship and that human beings are same in all over the world. So far as parental love is concerned. It may also be interpreted to mean that self sacrifices are the root of happiness. The Cabuliwallah was happy because he loved somebody else child as his own. Similarly the narrator also gave a hundred rupees to Rehaman and was happy thinking of the long-lost father meeting with his only child.

CRITICAL THINKING
This story has many beautiful aspects which touch our heart. If shows that love is the basis of human existence. If clearly express the pain of all the people who have to leave their home and go abroad to earn money in order to support their family. But we don't agree with the narrator regarding some of the things, Likes mini's mother, we would not allow our children to visit a stranger everyday. Hoe can Rehaman's daughter's name be Parvati?

ASSIMILATION
After reading this story my attitude to the vendor have totally change. Now I look to them with loving eyes. I think them as human beings who are compelled to leave their house because of their poverty. I take an interest in them. If possible I purchase things from them and thus I help them. My attitudes have been broadened.

Marriage is a Private Affair

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
The marriage in the city of Logos of Nneameka and Nene is against the custom of the bridegroom's village by cutting across religious tribal  and family beliefs. Everything is against Nane: She comes from Lagos, She is not an Ibo and she is a school teacher. Such on event has never happened in the history of the village. The opposition is express by Mnaemeka's father, who, after the event rejects any kinds of compromise. The villagers propose various suggestions but he reject them all. Even after eight years there has been no change in the father. But when a letter from his daughter in law arrives telling him about unknown grandson, his strong resistance being to grow weaker. And he feels sorry and imagines that he has left his grandson outside in the raring weather.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that marriage is a private affair and that the society should no go against the wishes of the marriage partner. Such a marriage life is happier than the life of those who are marriage traditionally. If may also be interpreted to mean that in a rapidly changing society the open conflict of the first and the second generation is resolved through the innocent third generation.

CRITICAL THINKING
This story questions the custom of arrange marriage by showing the prejudice (narrow minded) against inter-tribal marriage and calls for acceptance and understanding to protect and institutions believed to be the foundation of society. This beautiful story represents the traditional society all over the world. The writer presents this as a victory of natural forces of kin and affection over custom. The society gradually changes and the older generation has to accept the new situation slowly. I did not find any weakness in this story

ASSIMILATION
After reading this story I understood myself and my father batter. In our society fathers are like Okeke, and sons revolt  against fathers if they do not accept their son's desire. This story has encouraged us to find out a marriage partner who will have all the good qualities of Nene or Nnaemeka. Only does an educated partner make a marriage life happy.

Teaching In The Television Culture

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
When English teacher learn that their students were born in the house where the television was always on and when they consider TV at the park, they become worried about their students. They like a anti-TV tale in which the main character Lennie, addicted to TV, later things that TV people are not real. In the beginning of the TV era (age) many critics thought that TV was responsible for lowering the quality of students and people in generation. They supposed that people would be less educated after a decade (10 years time) or so. The critics did not support when TV was used for educational purpose. In reality, today's students were brought up with TV which plays an important role in their lives. Actually TV does not cause addiction. The viewers are not concentrated in one particular program. There are commercial and TV serials being broadcast alternately. With the remote control, many stations can be viewed alternately. Moreover there is an interaction between the real world and the TV world. A viewer is a traveler, who goes from one world to another. Homework and TV can be handling at the same time.

INTERPRETATION
This assay might be trying to tell us that TV is not as harmful as people in the past considered it to be. It has become a part of modern life. This assay has also presented a new theory of perception( learn, knowledge) which stressed  that it is possible to group so many things at the same time from various sources.

CRITICAL THINKING
This assay has presented the modern situation realistically. It has put forward the idea of past generation, who considered TV harmful and later on it has beautifully presented a new approach of perception. Whenever we learn we can get so many things from different sources. It is possible to write a letter and to watch the news on the TV at the same time.

ASSIMILATION
When I read this assay I understood how some of my friends solve their math's problem when their radio is on. They can do both things at the same time. Perhaps modern generation is smarter than the earlier generation. They grasp whatever they need from various sources.

Curbing The On–Eyed Monster

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Television stations are owned by very rich people. They do not tell us the truth. Their main purpose is to handover us to advertisers as long as possible. Ordinary people are tired of protesting against them. The easiest way to make our home TV free or to put our TV set on the curb. We may missed very useful programs and become outsiders. But we can use the spare time to do something really valuable. We can live a real life. We can make our self familiar with the highest quality in art, music and literature. But TV present us the lower quality of all these and reality in fragments and thus misguides us. We don't know what reality is? We do what the advertiser or rich people want us to do. We fill their pockets with our money. So, the effective way to save us is to boycott TV otherwise we will be getting misinformation. We have been compelled to feel that our natural life is worse and therefore we being to live artificially.

INTERPRETATION
This assay tell us that rich people and bigness man have made us puppets . They will use us the way they like. They will use us for their own advantages by misguiding us. They will never give us anything of the best quality. Therefore we have to protect ourselves from their exploitation.

CRITICAL THINKING
Although the writer has presented some of the advantage of TV, he has emphasized its bad aspects. He has made us escapists. Instead of fighting against the rich people, he wants us to stop watching TV. If we do so we will missed many good programs. If everyone throws their TV sets where shall we go to watch the historical events? Can't we make a choice and watch only good programs?

ASSIMILATION
This assay has help me to understand many of the things which I did not understand before. Now I have understood how easily people imitate mannerism and why people watch TV. They don't like to be outsiders. I also know why people use the things advertise on TV. They want to be number one.

Great Scott

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
We should not allow our children to go near the Television set. If possible we should not install it at all. In nearly every home child watch TV until their eyes get tired. They sit and watch TV until they are spellbound and absolutely drunk with very bad things. We allow them to watch TV because they will not fight and do naughty things and they allow us to do our work freely. But we have never supposed that TV will kill their senses and imagination, that they do not understand the imaginary world and that they can not think at all. If you take the set away, they will be unhappy at first and then they will start reading good books as children in the past would do.

INTERPRETATION
This poem might be trying to tell us that, the TV set has prevented children from reading
books. It may also be interpreted to mean that parents are solely responsible for spoiling their children. they have thought of their convenience alone. They have never studied the bad inflect of TV programs on their children

CRITICAL THINKING
This poem has beautifully presented the trouble of every parent. It is true that children don't read any good books a part from their text book. But the poem has ignored the advantage children get by watching TV. When classic was televised they will be interested in watching more such serious. When they don't get such serials they borrow classics from the library and read them. More over TV helps them to imaging much more clearly. How does it kill their imagination Del.?

ASSIMILATION
This poem has help me to understand why children passed most of their time before their TV set. It hypnotizes them. I also came to know why the younger generation thinks differently. They have taken in so many good as well as bad things from different sources including TV. Modern culture has been changing rapidly because of television.

The Wretched Stone

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
When the Rita Anne started her voyage, her crew passed their free time by reading, singing and talking stories. They found a stranger island on the way. They brought a rock from there and place it in the cargo store. Now when the salers were free, they would watch the peculiar light it gave off. The captain missed their music and story telling. Their behavior change. They rarely spoke. They climbed on the rope more easily. Then the captain said that he would throw the rock. After this he did not see any one on the deck. They all had locked themselves in the store waiting the Uretched stone. They suppose that the captain alone could sail the ship. A powerful stream was heading that way. So he went to call them. But surprisingly, they all had turned in to hairy apes. They did not understand the word he said. The storm passed and the ship was still floating. The crews were sad because the stone had gone dark. Then the captain stared playing the violin and reading to them. After this who could read improved more quickly afterwards they were rescued by a passing ship and the Rita Anne was born with the stone

INTERPRETATION
Since the title of this unit is Television, the stone here stands for television. Therefore we may say that this story is trying to tell us something about television. T V makes people dull and finally they were change in to uncivilized once. They don’t understand what is told to them. They neglect their duties. They prefer to pass their whole time sitting before their TV sets.

CRITICAL THINKING
The writer has rightly presented the bad influences of TV on people. But he has not mentioned the advantages people get by watching TV. People can see new places and new people sitting in their own rooms. They can also watch many important historic events. They can get a lot of information from it.

ASSIMILATION
When I read this story I remember my own passed life at home. Years ago I and my brother requested our parents to buy a TV set. When it was brought home, we would watch it only after we had finished our homework. But later we neglect our study. When an interesting programs was being broadcast. We would not even go for our meals. Once the TV set was struck by lightning and our father did not repair it. Then we started doing our homework and everything was all right.

Stickeen

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
John Muir, the narrator, in spite of his objection, had to take the dog Stickeen to the dog in icy cold region of Alaska at the request of its master. The creature proves to be an interesting company in the journey. It always followed the narrator even leaving its own master. It never complains. It did not love anyone and did not allow anyone to do so. It did not leave the narrator when he was making the most measurable journey in his life. That day he left the comp early in the raring morning with breakfast in his pocket. The dog somehow follow him. They were walking in the snow. There were many crevasses on the way. The narrator crossed them carefully but the dog was moving like the flying cloud. It did not notice any danger. After reaching the end, they were returning to the camp. On the way they were trapped on the island surrounded by crevasses (holes). The only way to cross it was Sliver Bridge. The narrator cut notches (V shape holes) on the bridge. After he crossed the bridge, he again had to cut the holes at the other end to climb up. After he reached the other side he called the dog. But it did not come because it had wisely sensed the danger. When the writer repeatedly threatened to leave it there, it very carefully crossed the bridge. And afterwards it was so happy that it cried and danced and dashed. From that day on, it likes to be a close to the narrator. It might have thought that the narrator was its god.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that experience teaches us more than anything else. The dog stickeen changed completely after it successfully cross the silver bridge and save its life. It may also be interpreted to mean that there are many things which we find in animals and human beings equally. Friendship and gratitude are equally found in animals.

CRITICAL THINKING
This beautiful story has many points which are normally unacceptable to us. Why do people explore such remote place by putting their lives in danger? Don't they die of cold when they are wet in the icy cold region? Otherwise this story is really impressive. It makes us feel as if we are with the writer making the journey.
ASSIMILATION
After reading this story I came to know so many things about Alaska. I also learned that beauty in nature and danger are interwoven that experience makes one perfects is true even in the case of animals.

Shep's Hobby

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
James herriot, the narrator, was going to Mr. Bailes's place to see how his cow Rose was. She was suffering from stomach trouble of unknown nature. As the narrator was passing between the two walls, shep suddenly jumped and frightened him. He jumped up in to the air and his heart was beating violently. After giving the Lawage to the cow he wet to home. The next day he was passing through Mr. Bailes's field to see the farmer in the barn. The midday sun, the sweet breeze, the greenery and the solitude impressed Jemes very much. All of a sudden, the sky darkens and roared. It was Shep again. Jemes was so afraid that he almost evacuated (empty) his bowel (stomach). After giving some treacle to the cow, he came again the next day. Now he was happy to see rose all right. But it was the postman who had cured the cow by making her run. Then Jemes was lost in deep thought and solid his hand. To wash the hand as he was going to Mr.Bailes's kitchen, he was frightened again the dog. This time he was so angry that he punished the dog by scolding and threatening. When he comes to Mr. Bailes next time Shep did not frightened him and he was sorry because he had deprived the dog of its pleasure. But later when he found the dog frightening a tinker (pot maker), the speaker was happy.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that any animal has the right to make fun and that there is not much different between dogs and men so far as recreation is concerned.

CRITICAL THINKING
This lovely animal story has some points which might be unacceptable. How could a postman cure the cow which a vet could not? Has a dog's sense of timing so perfect as to frighten the people? Is the story convincing enough? Perhaps we have raised such questions because we have not absence dogs as closely as a vet.

ASSIMILATION
This story has changed by attitudes to animals completely. Before I read this story, I would run away if a dog comes close to me. I would think that it had come to bite me. But now I think that it has come to play with me. Now I love a dog and want to make friend with it.

A fight between a lion and a crocodile

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
It was late evening. The narrator and his friend being to sleep drowsily on the bank of the river. They could hear different kind of roaring sound. Job told them to look to the water toward them. They sow the lion's signing eyes as one of was 15 feet away. Leo fired at the lions and see died. A fully grown male was to step behind her. Suddenly there was a rush and disturbance of the water. The lion uttered a roar. A crocodile had cut him by the leg. The lion pull the crocodile on to the bank and clawed its head, and one of its eyes was turn. Both of them were struggle fiercely. The lion's body up to the hive was in the crocodile's jaws. The lion clawed the crocodile's throat a part. The lion felt on the crocodile's back and died . After a while the crocodile also died.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that there are many more wonderful things in the world of nature. All living things are closely related to their environment, and are equally important in their own place. The lion is the king of the jungle, but the crocodile can defeat him in the water, which is not the kingdom of the lion.

CRITICAL THINKING
There are many things in the story, which seem unbelievable. How can people try to fall as sleep when they hear the rearing sound? How can people feel safe in such a place? Can is a crocodile strong enough to grip a lion? Since this story seems to be realistic, we have to accept many things without questions.

ASSIMILATION
After reading this story I am fully convince that all animals are equally important in the eco –system. Every animals has its importance in its own place. But if it goes to the place to other animals, it will be defeated. There for every living things identifies its habit act and lives accordingly.

Why go to University

We may wonder why to take university classes and to bar so many extra responsibilities. We could pass the time more enjoyably. Instead of paying money for university education. We could earn it by getting a job. The exam result does not always make us happy. Knowledge does not always bring us happiness. Knowledge is the source of many of the social evils.
But there are many more advantages of going to university. First of all, the more educated you are, the more you earn, and the more easily you are promoted. For the nation also, educated people are more important than the land, natural resources or population. Educated person make the quality of life batter.

Secondly, knowledge can be practically useful. We can protect our self from much trouble and also save our money. An educated person can solve many of the problems easily. He or she behaves more rationally.

Thirdly, the more educated you are, the batter health you enjoy. You know the risk of smoking and you do not smoke. You tried to prevent many risk or reduce them. You live a meaningful life. You will not run the risk of dying on the operation table.

Fourthly, as physical exercise is good for your health, so is mental exercise for your brain. Gaining knowledge is the exercise of the brain.

Fifthly, knowledgeable people have been respected in any society at anytime in human history. A person may have so many good qualities, but if he is uneducated he will not be respected in the society as well as in his own eyes. An educated person generally feels batter about himself

Sixthly, children and animals are curious to learn everything around them. But human being as they grow older loses some of the curiosity. Love of knowledge for the sake of knowledge is a universal phenomenon. In many culture this has been ignored. We make cultivate these aspects by going to university.

Seventhly, we can widen our social horizon. University provides us a new opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Eighthly, education gives us freedom. We can understand our own thoughts and desires and make as free from indoctrination systematic teaching along time.

Ninthly, we can learn something about the universe. We understand that human beings are a part of living things, and that human civilization and environment can be protected or destroyed by human activities.

Finally, culture develops in a democracy and democracy becomes stable in the country where there are educated
People. They can judge the policy and the policy makers. They will not be biased cone sided . Although politician use the power for their own advantages. Educated citizen can chose the right leaders. The future of humanity depends on the right decisions of the people. By going to university, people can learn what is right and what is wrong     

The Library card

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
One day, Richard Wright reads articles on H.L Memken. He likes the article so much that he makes up his mind to read other works of the author. With this intension, he approach one of the catholic English officer for whom he has earlier got books from the library. Mr. Falk lends him library card. Equipped with this card and forged note by Falk, Richard entered the library. The librarian looked at him doubtfully but gives him two books by Menken. Richard is pleased. He goes through Menkem prejudices and find it very interesting. He is inspired to write like the author, but realize his inability to do so. How ever, the book encourages him to read other authors who are maintained in it. As he borrows more books, his thirst for knowledge and his desire to write increases. He starts identifying himself and the others around him with the characters in the books. Unconsciously, through those books, he creates a barrier between himself and others. He also starts considering his mission in his life. But is worried about fulfilling it

INTERPRETATION
This story may be trying to tell us that a strong desire is the main cause of the success. One need not go to school or colleges to educate one self. It may also be interpreted to mean that reading makes once life batter and more meaningful.

CRITICAL THINKING
When I read this story written by an African American writer in the beginning of the 20th century, I was socked. Was a Negro so hatful in the democracy like the USA? Was there such a great discrimination between the black and the white? Otherwise this story is excusable and inspiring.

ASSIMILATION
This story has influence me a lot. I learned the way to improve the language. In order to learn English easily I must read more books in English. English grammar and dictionary will not help me very much. If I reads more and enjoy the book of the same time, my life and my knowledge of the language will be batter.

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The Astyage's Revenge

Literal Comprehension
An Astyages, the king of media dreamed that his daughter's urine flooded the whole Asia. Then she was married to a Persian. Again the king dreamed that our of his daughter's private part, there grew a covering all Asia. After consulting the dream interpreter, he called back his daughter from Persia. She was imprisoned because the majai had told the king that his grandchild would become a king in his palace. When she gave birth to a son, the king called his most faithful officer, Harpagus, and asked his to expose the child. He also warned him not to give this task to anyone. But Harpagus did not like to kill the royal child. He sent for the king's shaphard mitradutes and instructed him this task. Mitradutes expose his own dead child as a royal child. And he brought up the royal child as his own. Once in a play in their village this child was made king and he punished the boy of Astyger's officer. Then this child and the sharphert were taken to the court. The king came to know that it was his own grandchild, and harpagus was asked to send his son to the palace. In first the king gave harguse his son's place to eat. And thus the king took revenge on harpagus for disobeying the royal order, later the king sent his grandson, syrus to his parent's house in Persia because the majai had told him that the would no longer became the king in his place

INTERPRETATION
This story might be tying to tell us that the rulers do anything to sustain their power and that politics regards neither blood nor relation. This story tell us that that suffering of the people where there is no freedom. This story may also be interpreted to mean that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

CRITICAL THINKING
The modern readers discharge with many things in this story. Is the king so merciless to expose his own child? Could not he impression the child? Is a man so coward (8/5]?jf) as harpagus, who accept the anything the king does? if we think that this story gives a real picture of a past life, we may find if acceptable.

ASSIMILATION
By reading this story I came to know that man is basically a savage. He is so selfish that he does anything for his advantages. I also understood that politics is a dirty game. In politics anything the powerful person does is excusable the politician does not hesitate to use unfair means.

Phaedo

Synopsis

This is a philosophical story about noble death of a great person, Socrates, a s accused of unsocial activities. The story is presented through the knowledge and perspective of Phaedo, a disciple of Socrates in the form of dialogue as asked by Echecrates.

As the story begins with any information about the death of Socrates and finally concludes with the death by drinking Hemlock inside the prison. Thus the story unveils death of Socrates as he derived to believe by then society. He rather believed in philosophy and was presented as atheist. Hence, the bold and brave death was transcended him to spiritual world.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Echecrates asked phaedo to tell him about Socrates's death, and phaedo warmly welcomed the chance to remember his friend Socrates in the final hours of his life. He said that it was a surprising experience because although he was witnessing the death of dear friend, he had no pity because the way in which Socrates bravely and happily faced it, unafraid of the unknown. Socrates drank the hemlock (poison) and his friends become quite disturb. Socrates scolds them slightly and said that he had sent the woman away for fear of them reacting with tears. Phaedo said that he felt Ashamed for crying when Socrates was so dignified  and the great philosopher and man took his last breath of air before dying. Those who knew him respected highly up to the very end of his life.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that we ought to live our life as long as we gain some thing from it and that we should not be attached to it if it has nothing to offer. It may also be interpreted to mean that the dying man teach us how to live. In other words we can leave the life to the full extent  if we have no fear of death.

CRITICAL THINKING
When we read this story we find it very difficult to believe in what Socrates has done. Can a man drink poison so happily? Doesn't he like to live? Is his principal more important than his life? But this story has defined soul as a traveler. The soul makes a journey from this world to another. If we accept this view, we will dead tolerable..

ASSIMILATION
The life of the Socrates has influence me very much. One must have courage enough to declare once conviction and follow it. Socrates did what he had already said. Such a person is really great. If all of as hold the same attitude to life and to other things, we can make our life really valuable. We should live happily and died happily.

If Not Higher

If Not Higher
This is a story about connection between physical and spiritual world. Here the spirit transcends physical world and attain higher level of world( i.e  Heaven).  In the story Rabbi of Nemirov, during Penitential prayers and everyone try to find out but he is in the service of old people.He is not easily found in the physical world as he is embedded in the spiritual world. So the story finally admits that he has reached to spirituality if not higher. (This higher refers to heaven.)

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Once a Litvak wants to know where the rabbi of nemeroc went at the time of penitential prayers Every Friday morning. He did not believe that the rabbi went to the heaven as supposed by other people. In order to check the rabbi, he went to the rabbi's room secretly on Thursday evening and passed the night lying laying under his bed. In the morning the rabbi woke up and went to the nearby forest disguising  himself as a farmer. The litvak followed him and watch every thing. The Rabbi cut down a tree and caring the wood on his back, he went to a poor sick woman's house. He sold her the wood on credit. And put it in to the oven. Then he resisted (kf7 ug'{) the first portion of the prayer. As he kindle (afNg') the fire he resisted the second portion more happily. When the fire was ready he resisted
the third portion. Seeing all this the litvak become the Rabbi's disciple . And later when people asked him where the Rabbi went at the tine of prayer, he would reply quickly that he went to he heaven certainly although he did not go higher than that.


INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that to worship humanity is to worship god. So the Rabbi went to the sick woman's house in order to help her instead of going to the praying house. By serving her the Rabbi worship god. This story may also be interpreted to mean that the best way to give advice is to set a good example. Instead of telling people to serve the poor and the helpless, the, Rabbi first served and then he resisted the prayer.

CRITICAL THINKING
An orthodox  may ask so many questions about this beautiful story. Can a man go to heaven in his lifetime? Will a Rabbi work at the time of prayer? Should he not go to the praying house? A man feels satisfy if he can help the people in trouble and dissatisfaction is heavenly pleasure.

ASSIMILATION
When I read this story I remember devkota's poem "Yatri". In the poem the speaker request the traveler to go to the poor and the suffering people. If their wounds  are healed, the traveler will be happy. We can't see god on earth but we can see him in the form to man. Therefore those who serve human beings in trouble serve god best.

King David's Crime

King David’s Crime

Summary

The story depicted from the Bible unveils the crime committed by Christian king in the ancient time. According to the story, the king happens to see a washing woman and gets attracted to her.Although the woman clearly states that she is married but the king sends his servant to bring her.

A war between the king’s force and people honestly supported the woman’s husband. In the war, the husband dies and the woman honestly mourns the death.

Afterwards, the king David brings the woman in his palace, marries her and gives birth to a son. Thus, the king commits crime by cheating his man.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Once King David send joub, his commander to fight, but he himself remained at Jerusalem. One evening he saw Bathsheba a beautiful woman taking a bath. She was the wife of Uriah an officer in the battle field. The king sent for her and lay with her. When she became pregnant he asked joub to send Uriah. When Uriah came to the palace, the king asked him to go home, but Uriah refused to do so because his commander had been in the battle field. When he did not go home the second time, the king send him to the battle field with a letter to joub. Then joub appointed him to the forefront as ordered by the king an Uriah was killed. This massage was send to the king. And Bathsheba mourned for her husband. When the mourning was over the king married her and she bore him a son. But god was unhappy with the king.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that every one is the victim of passion. The rulers use their special power and enjoy it, but other persons suppress  this desire. It may also be interpreted to mean that every is excusable in politics. The king is free to do what ever he likes. But an ordinary citizen is punished if he or she does not helps rulers to satisfy their whims .

CRITICAL THINKING
When I read this story, I had wrong impression of the BIBLE. Aren’t their other gods' characters in the story of BIBLE? Or does king David stand for a good king? If he is a good king, what are the other ruler's views? If we read this story as a political story regardless of  morality, we can appreciate it. It truly describes human weakness. Even the king is not free from passion.

ASSIMILATION
This story has help me to understand myself batter. It is also taught me that I should not follow the example of a great person if his action is bad. Absolute power corrupts the leadership of the rulers. If the rulers are corrupt the whole society decay.Now I know why my country has not improved. Immoral and undemocratic politician have used their power for their personal benefits, not for the development of the country. There for the condition of my country becoming worse every day.

The Brave Little parrot

Summary 

Once there was a little parrot living in a jungle. The Buddha turned to be a parrot while there was a huge fire in the jungle. All the animals and insects were trapped in the fire.The parrot decided to rescue them and flew to a river and carned few drops of water in its wings.The parrot knew that it's effort alone was not enough but it continued.The Gods in the heaven were happy and were busy with delicious food.They mocked the parrot but it didn't give up its effort.Later the god was impressed and joined parrot to extinguish the fire.

Finally, the fire was , turned off and all the animals and insects louded the parrot.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Once the Buddha was born as a little parrot in a jungle. One day a fire broke out in his jungle home because of lighting and thundering. So they run here and there to save his life first. As he was flying to the river, he sows the suffering animals bellow, trapped in the burning jungle. Then he wanted to save them. A wonderful idea came to his mind to putout the fire. He dipped in to the river water and flew back to the burning forest and released the water attached with his wings. He rapidly flew to the river and brought water. Seeing this, some of the gods in the heaven laugh at the foolishness of the parrot, but one of them was moved and flew down to the parrot in the form of golden eagle. He then advised to the parrot to save his own life. But the parrot did not like his advice. He needed his help. In order to help the parrot the god in the form of golden eagle began to weep. His tears put out the fire in a jungle. All the burned plant and animals were restored freshly. The animal prays the brave little parrot and the wonderful rain.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that good intension  is always rewarded and that the action is better than advice. It was the parrot's good intension which made the god help him and thus he was able to save all the animals. So the proverb "heaven helps those who help themselves" is certainly true. This story may also be interpreted to mean that courage  is the surest weapon against danger because the parrot was able to bring everything out of danger

CRITICAL THINKING
A skeptic may raise the so many questions about this beautiful story. Do gods exist? Is reincarnation possible? Can tears putout the burned plant and animals back to life? As a reader we should read the deep meaning of the story, not the surface meaning. If we do so, many things become clear to us

ASSIMILATION
When I read this story for the first time I also considered that the parrot was a fool. But as I thought about it seriously, I understood the value of his action. I compare his action to an individual's task of building his nation. It is true that a single person can not do much for his or her nation. If the person can inspire the whole mass to do something for the country, he or she is really great. The vision to the great leaders seems meaningless in the beginning. But when it is put in to practice it can really build the nation great.

                                                                     

Yudhisthira's Wisdom

Summary of Yudhisthira's Wisdom               

Once Pandava brothers were in jungle in pursuit of a deer, they get tired and thirsty. Yudhisthira asked his brother to bring water. But the brother didn't come back and another brother went. He too didn't return. Finally, Yudhisthira himself went in search of his brothers and haappened to see them lying  down unconsciously.

Before he reached to water of a pond Yakshya ask him six question to answer.The questions are

1. "What makes the sun shine?" Answer "The power of God."
2. "What is man's surest weapon in danger?" Answer "Courage"
3. "What gives more to man than ever the earth does?" "A mother"
4. "When does a man become loved by his fellows?" "When gives up pride"
5. "What is that which makes a man happy when he has lost it?" "Anger"
6. " What can a man give up and immediately becomes rich?" "Desire"Thus, as Yudhisthira's answers satisfied Yaksha, he asked which brother he wanted to get back. Here, he asked Nakula as he was from Madri's side. Yaksha become more happy and revived all his brothers and suggested them to go to Matsya's kingdom for safer life.Thus yudhisthira's virtue of righteousness and honesty was rewarded.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
While running after a deer in the forest, the pandava brothers became thirsty. It was hot and they were tired. Then yudhisthira sent sahadev, one of his brothers to look for water. When he did not return, he sends the other three brothers one at a time. When none of them returned he himself went to look for them. He saw them lying on the ground near a pool. They were either dead or unconscious. Yudhisthira did not no that they had ignored a yakshya's warning not to drink the water of his pool until they answer his questions. Although Yudhisthira was very thirsty, he obeyed the yakshya and answers all his questions correctly. The Yakshya was pleased with him ready to revive (bring back to life) one of his brothers. Then Yudhisthira chose Nakula on the moral ground. Pleased with Yudhisthira's righteousness, the Yakshya showed himself as yama, and revived the entire four brother. He then advised them to go to Matcha and also promised to help them when they were in danger.

INTERPRETATION
This story may be trying to tell us some thing about the importance of patience, obedience to god's wisdom and right conduct. Without these qualities, the pandava brothers would not have become successful. This story can also be interpreted to mean that righteousness make us feel good here on earth. In other word good actions are immediately rewarded.

CRITICAL THINKING
An atheist may ask a lot of questions about this beautiful story. Do gods really exist? If they exist what is the proof for their existence? Is righteousness always rewarded? Aren’t the good people ever in trouble? In spite of such questions, the answer given by Yudhisthira is very simple. I am very much satisfied with the answers to the questions, "what can a man give up and immediately become rich?" "it is desire." If we have no desire we can really be happy.

ASSIMILATION
This tale has influence me very much. All the answers are Yudhisthira are simple but very powerful. If we follow his wisdom we can make our life successful. I also knew that the value of wisdom and patience. We should be as patience as Yudhisthira in time of danger

Piano Summary

The short poem is reflection about the author.Here, he recalls back his mother and laments on the effect of music produced on him.
According to the Poet, his mother used to play piano every Sunday evening while he used to press his mother's feet.Finally, the poet unveils his pain of missing his mother and admits to cry like a child.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
It was evening. A woman was playing on the piano and singing to the speaker. Her song made him think of his childhood days. When he was a little boy and would sit under the piano. The piano would make a loud unpleasant sound. He would press his mother's feet. But she would continue playing on the piano without being disturbed and smile at her son. The speaker tried to control himself and remain with the singer in the present time. But the lady's song was so skillful that it took him again his boyhood days. When the family would sing religious song in their warm sitting room on Sunday evening, the piano played by his mother would guide him and other family members. Now the speaker did not like the song of the woman at all, because it had completed its task by taking him to his passed days with his mother. Therefore it sounded to him like a loud noise. He wanted to forget his present manhood and wish to become a child. After this he wept openly like a child.

INTERPRETATION
This poem may be tying to telling us that music take us back to our happy past. It may also be interpreted to mean that motherly love is superior to sensual love. The attraction of childhood makes us forget our manhood. More over "piano" is the poem about the power of memory.

CRITICAL THINKING
I don't agree with the speaker because being a man he wipes openly in the presents of a woman. His pride of being man does not allow him to do so. The poet has rightly observed that one can not be satisfy with the presents if he is reminded of happy past days.

ASSIMILATION
This poem has help me to understand myself better. A nostalgic feeling is equally found in human being. I have also desire to belong to my past. Sometime I think if I were a child ' I would not have to be worried about my present difficult time.