LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

HE HAD SUCH QUIET EYES QUESTION & ANSWER

1. In stanza 1, what does the phrase, the two pools of lies refer to?

The mans eyes

2. Explain the meaning of the last line of stanza 1 And to render him paradise
To give the man happiness / joy / pleasure

3. Which line in stanza 3 shows that the person had made a mistake?
If only shed been wise.

4. In your words, explain the main theme of the poem.

The theme is about exploration of human feelings in a relationship whereby the persona has gone
through a bad experience of betrayal and advises others to be careful when starting a relationship.

5. Why do you think the writer says that the mans eyes are layered with the thinnest ice?
To show deception as the man disguises his true intention because eyes usually mirrors ones
feelings and innermost thoughts

6. Explain the advice given in this line:

i. Be sure that nice really means nice.
It means that when you befriend someone, the person must be trustful, sincere, kind and pleasant.

ii.Never to compromise. In your own words, what do you think the persona means by the statement.
Not to give up ones principles

7. What should she have listened to?

To the advice by her elders and family

8. Why should she not have compromised?

The she would not have been betrayed / cheated / deceived

9. Be sure that nice really means nice

What do you think this phrase means?
It means that when you befriend someone, the person must be trustful, sincere, kind and pleasant.

10. What is the advice that is given in the second stanza?

Never to give up ones principles / values / beliefs to men who like to flirt and are only looking for
pleasure

11. What happened when she did not listen to the advice?
She was betrayed / hurt / let down / deceived.

12. Which line tells you not to take chances?

Then youll never be losing at dice.
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

13. In your own words,

i. What do you think about the advice given in the last stanza?
It is a good advice for young girls so that they will not be taken advantage and are able to
differentiate between sincerity and falsehood.

ii What can happen if girls do not listen to the advice?

They would be played out / cheated / deceived / betrayed / hurt.

14. From stanza 2, what should the woman have done?

She should have listened to the advice given to her that is not to give up her principles /values /
beliefs.

15. What does the poet mean when he says, Shed be free of the hows and whys?
She would not be asking herself why she had been cheated / betrayed / hurt.

16. What can you say about the womans character from the stanza 2 and 3?
She is regretful and is helpful as she advises other girls from falling into the same boat.

17. What is the personas advice in the last stanza?

She wants the other young girls to be careful when starting a relationship and the relationship must
be based on true love.

18. Which line in stanza 2 tells you that the persona may have been deceived?
If only shed been wise.

19. Why does the persona not realise she has been deceived?
She is nave and gullible to believe the mans lies as true love.

20. Which word in the poem is similar to pleading?

Imploring

21. What message do you get from reading the poem?

To be careful when starting a relationship and not gamble with affections to avoid serious
consequences.

22. How does the man try to persuade the woman to be nice?
Using his eyes to make her feel compelled her to be nice to him

23. From stanza 2,

i. What advice does the woman ignore?
Never to compromise with pleasure seeking guys.

ii. Describe the poets tone in this stanza?

Sympathetic towards the girls situation.

24. Suggest a theme of the poem.

Exploration of human feelings in a relationship / Betrayal of love / Deception
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

25. Why did the poet describe the mans eyes as two pools of lies?
He eyes were showing signs of love but those eyes were actually disguising his actual intentions of
deception.

26. What do you think the phrase, lose your heart means?
Falling in love.

27. What kind of image does the word paradise give?

Happiness

28. What is the advice given to young girls in stanza 3? Explain using your own words?
Young girls should be careful when starting a relationship and their relationship should be based
on true love and not merely physical attraction.

31 How does the man appear to the woman?

Sincere and loving

32 From stanza 2, how could the woman be wise?

She should have listened to the advice given by the elders and her family.

33 From stanza 2, what is the advice given?

Never to give up ones principles / values / beliefs to men who like to flirt and are only looking for
pleasure

34 What is your opinion on the advice given in the poem?

It is a good advice to help / save other young girls from falling into the trap of deception and get
hurt.

35 What did the girl not realise about the mans eyes?
They were full of lies

36 Why do think the eyes are described as two pools?

To show the severity / seriousness / of deceit in both eyes

37 How was the man making use of his eyes?

Using his eyes to deceive her into thinking that he needed someone to love.

38 In your own words, do you think the girl was charmed by the man? Give a reason.
Yes, she was because she believed that his quiet eyes were signalling love.

39 What is the main theme in the poem?

Exploration of human feelings in a relationship / Betrayal of love / Deception

40 Why do you think the poet uses the words, be sure that nice really means nice in her advice? In your
own words, give a reason to support your answer.
It means that when you befriend someone, the person must be trustful, sincere, kind and pleasant
so that the relationship is based on true love and not on physical attraction.
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

41 What are the mans eyes compared to?

Two pools

42 Write two words that are related to feelings of happiness.

nice
paradise

43 How do you think the man managed to charm the girl into accepting him? In your own words, give a
reason to support your answer.
Using his sincere looking eyes which disguised his insincerity to make her think that he truly loves
her.

44 In stanza 1, what did the persona think the mans quiet eyes were conveying to her?
He was longing for love and companionship.

45 What truth did the persona finally learn about the mans quiet eyes?
His quiet eyes were actually filled with deceit as she was left heart-broken.

46 Which line in stanza 3 suggests that we will not lose out or get hurt if we are cautious?
Then youll never be losing at dice.

47 What do you think happened to the persona when she allowed herself to be compromised?
She was cheated and hurt.

48 What advice would you give a friend who had met a stranger?
I would advise her / him to be very careful make sure that the person is thoroughly sincere and
innocent.

49 Why does the girl believe the man cares for her?
He shows her that he is in love with her through his sincere-looking quiet eyes.

50 Write two words related to happiness?

nice
paradise

51 What do you think the man said to convince the girl to accept him? In your own words, give a reason to
support your answer.
He must have said that he truly love her because she believed in him and had willing given up her
principles to show her love to him.

52 What does the poet mean by the following lines?

i. He had such quiet eyes?
His eyes were sincere-looking and were sign of love.

ii. Shed free from the hows and whys

She would not be asking herself why she had been cheated / betrayed / hurt.
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

53 What is the poets tone of voice when she criticises the man for using trickery to charm the woman?
The tone was serious but at the same time understanding and sympathetic towards the girl.

54 Do you think this kind of human relationship is difficult to handle? Give a reason for your answer.
No, if the person involved, is not easily influenced by sweet nothings and is more careful when
going into a relationship.

55 What does the title of the poem suggest about the poets feelings concerning the pair of eyes?
The man concerned has insincere and deceit eyes.

56 Give two reasons why the persona thinks the eyes are so irresistible?
i. He was using the eyes to breath desolate / sad / unhappy signs
ii. Imploring / pleading / begging her to be nice.

57 Do you think the woman charmed by the man has been foolish? Give a reason for your answer.
Yes, because she too nave to realise that the man was a cheater and finally she was ditched /
betrayed / hurt.

58 What does the expression quiet eyes suggest the nature of the man?
He was not a trustworthy / sincere / loving person.

59 Give two reasons those quiet eyes made the woman give in to his woes.
He was using the eyes to breath desolate / sad / unhappy signs
Imploring / pleading / begging her to be nice.

60 If you met a man and fell in love with him, would you believe him by looking at the expression in his
eyes? Why?
No, not really, as eyes can be deceiving and do not reveal the true identity or character of a person.

61 What does the first stanza imply?

The girl is unaware that the man she is in relationship with only wants pleasure from her and he
plays with her feelings using his sincere looking eyes.

62 Give a word from the poem which means giving up something to reach an agreement.
Compromise

63 Explain what the expression hows and whys means?

It is an idiom that refers to confusion where the person is asking herself why and how she allowed
herself to be betrayed..

64 What lesson can you learn from the last stanza?

When starting a relationship, one has to be extra careful in recognising the partners true intention,
differentiate between sincerity and falsehood and may only meet the right person after losing their
hearts a few times .
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

ARE YOU STILL PLAYING YOUR FLUTE QUESTION & ANSWER

1 Which lines in stanza 1 tell you that the flautist plays the flute beautifully?

Uncovered by .depth of my heart

2 In the second stanza, what does the word deserted mean?

Empty / abandoned / neglected / vacant

3 In the second stanza, why are the rice fields deserted?

The farmers have left the fields for the city / better income jobs away from the village.

4 In your own words, explain the meaning of the last stanza.

The persona is feeling anxious because there are political and economical problems in
her city and she feels the world is changing for the worst.

5 From stanza 1, what does the persona want to hear?

The flautists song / flute music. / The flautist playing his flute.

6 In stanza 2, what does the word here refer to?

The city / town / personas place

7 In stanza 3, why does the persona feel guilty for thinking about her beloved?
She feels guilty because at present people around her are suffering.

8 Suggest two things you would do to stop the world from bleeding.
Spread the message of peace, tolerance and living in harmony

Learn to appreciate what life has offered and be happy with it.

9 How is the rice field?

Sick / unhealthy / infertile / neglected

10 State two activities that I consider luxuries.

i. Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening rays

ii. Collecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers

11 Why do you the personas conscience is disturbed? Give reasons for your answer.

Thinking of the flautist while feeling worried about the troubled with the situation around her.
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

12 What musical instrument is the poets friend playing?

A flute

13 Describe the village.

It is empty has people have left for the city.

14 Who feels guilty?

The persona

15 While here it has become a luxury!

To spend time watching the rain

Why do you think the persona says it is a luxury to spend time watching rain? Give reasons for
your answer.

Life in the city is so busy that one has no time for simple pleasures and there are other
problems to worry about.

16 Why does the persona ask if the flute player is still playing his flute?

She does not know if he is still in the village enjoying his favourite pastime.

17 How does she feel about his music?

Nostalgic / desirous / wishful

18 Write down the line which shows that the persona thinks highly of his music.

To the depth of my heart

19 In your own words,

i. What kind of a person do you think is the flute player?
Passionate / Obsessed / An introvert / A sequester

ii. Have you been involved in a similar passion over any interest or hobby? Provide
explanation.

20 Identify two words used to describe the village.

Quiet and deserted

21 What has happened to the village?

It is deserted as the people have left for better jobs.

 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

22 In stanza 2, what does the words here refers to?

The city / town / personas place

23 In your own words,

i. What do you of the things the persona consider luxuries?

Rain, sunset (evening rays) / dew / fragrance of flowers

ii. What would you enjoy doing for pleasure?

24 Why does the poet feel guilty?

To be longing for the flautists song

25 What musical instrument does the poets love play?

Flute

26 How is the situation in the village?

Quite bad as it is empty because the villagers have left the village for better jobs and
conditions.

27 Why do think the poet is surprised that the flautist is still playing his flute? Give reasons for
your answer.
She thinks that he is undisturbed with the turmoil in the nation and the world.

28 Why is the village so quiet and deserted?

The villagers have left the village for better jobs and conditions.

29 Which phrase in stanza 1 implies how much the music affected the poet?

To the depth of my heart

30 What does the poet mean by using the words concealed and uncoveredto describe the
music?

It means that the melody is in the bamboo and will only be heard when the flautist plays
the flute.

31 What could the poem be about?

It is about upholding values, accepting changes in life and appreciating simple

pleasures of life.
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

32 Describe ONE emotion the poet is feeling in the first stanza.

Guilty / nostalgic

33 What does the phrase, slim hollow of the bamboo refer to?
The flute

34 Describe a significant memory that you have. Explain briefly why it is significant to you.

___________________________________________________________________________________

35 Based on stanza 2, where do you think the persona is?

In the city

36 Based on stanza 2, what is the contrast between the personas place and the flautists?
The flautists place is empty and deserted whereas the personas place is undergoing a
turmoil [ political and economical crisis].

37 Based on stanza 2, in the first line, what do you think the persona is feeling?
A sense of doubt / unsure / puzzled

38 Based on stanza 1, which line reveals the intensity of the personas feelings?
To be longing for your song

39 Based on stanza1, how does the persona feel about the flautist?

Longing / pining/yearning/passionate / love

40 Based on stanza 1, which line (s) reveal (s) that the persona is struggling with her feelings?
Where there is hardly time for our love

41 Based on stanza 1, describe the personas mood.

Sombre / solemn / Sad

42 What is so distinctive about the melody from the flute?

It touches the depth of her heart

43 Why is the rice field described as sick?

It has been neglected so it is no longer productive and fertile.

44 What is the meaning of the metaphor slaughtered mercilessly?

People are no longer tolerant of each other and people are being killed cruelly.

45 What kind of feeling is expressed by the persona in the poem?

A sense of sadness, hopelessness, despair and misery
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

46 Why does the persona feel guilty?

To be longing for the flautists song.

47 Why is the personas conscience disturbed?

She is worried about the present situation in her nation which is facing a crisis.

48 In your opinion, does the persona feel depressed about this world? Give your reasons.
Yes,..

49 Based on stanza 2, how would you describe the person who seems to be very interested in
his flute?
Idle / unaffected by the crisis / carefree / in his own world

50 Write the two words that relate to how a flute is played?

Breath
fingers_

51 What do you think the persona feels about the other persons obsession with playing the
flute? Using your own words, give a reason to support your answer.

52 What is the main theme in the stanza above?

Upholding values, appreciating simple pleasures of life, accepting changes in life

53 Write two words that are related to the condition of the village.
Quiet and deserted

54 Where do you think the persona is? Using your own words, give a reason to support your
answer.
In the city because .

55 Who is playing the flute?

The flautist in the village / The personas love

56 Why does the persona feel guilty?

To be longing for the flautists song

57 Where does the melody originate from?

The bamboo / The slim hollow of the bamboo

58 Which two lines best describe how a flute is played?

Uncovered by the breath of an artist & composed by his fingers

59 Which word would you use to describe the personas village? Name one.
Quiet / deserted
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

60 What does the persona mean by the sick rice field?

The paddy fields are neglected so they are barren and unproductive.

61 What are the evening rays referred to?

Sunset

62 Write two activities that are considered a luxury by the persona.

Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening rays
Collecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers

63 Why is the person still thinking of her beloved?

She has feelings for him. / She still loves him.

64 Write two problems faced by the persona as mentioned in the stanza above.
Her brothers are unemployed and desperate / Her people are disunited by politics / Her
friend is slaughtered mercilessly

65 What is the tone used? Give a reason for your answer.

Sad / Hopelessness / Despair / Anxious

66 Where do you think the persona is likely to be?

In the city / town

67 Where is the flautist playing his flute?

In the village

68 What does the flute represent?

Tradition

69 Why is the phrase, Are you still playing your flute?, repeated three times in the
poem? Using your own words, give reasons to support your answer.
To reinforce the emotion (wondering/puzzled) behind the question and create a dramatic
effect

70 In stanza 1, what poetic device does the first line above refer to?
Rhetorical question
71 In stanza 1, what does line 2 tell us about the relationship between the persona and the
flautist?
They loved each other when they were together.

72 What is the persona guilty about?

To be longing for the flautists song.

73 The poet used certain words to indicate where the melody is:
i.What are these words?
Concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

ii. Do you think they are suitable? Why?

Yes, because the flute is played by blowing into hollow of the bamboo and
melody is created by the fingers.

74 In stanza 1, why does the persona feel guilty listening to music of the flautist?
She is very busy and also her nation is undergoing a crisis.

75 Why is enjoying the fragrance of flowers regarded as a luxury by the persona in stanza 2?
In the city, one can be very busy in the rat race that they have no time to even
appreciate the flowers growing around them.

76 Give one problem the nation is undergoing.

Political crisis / Economical crisis / Disharmony

77 Explain in your own words why the persona feels her world is too old and bleeding.
The world is changing for the worst and non-renewable resources cannot be
replenished.

78 What do you think the flute represents?

Tradition

79 What do you think the phrase, the world is too old and bleedingrepresents?
The world is changing for the worst and non-renewable resources cannot be
replenished.

80 Suggest a reason why the persona cannot forget the music from the flute?
The music must have been beautiful and special that it has embedded in her heart.

81 Do you think the persona has made the right decision in leaving the village? Give a reason.
Yes,
No, .

82 What is it like in the village?

Quiet and empty

83 What does the word sick imply about the rice field?
Barren / Unproductive / Infertile / Neglected

84 What are the luxuries mentioned by the poet? State two of them.
Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening rays
Collecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers

85 Do you like to live in the village? Give reasons to your answer.

Yes,
No, ..
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

86 In the last stanza, what is the personas feeling when she remembers the flautist?
Guilty / Remorseful /

87 Why is there disunity among the citizens of the country?

They lack tolerance and understanding.

88 What happened to the personas friend?

Killed cruelly

89 What do you think the last line of the stanza mean?

The world is changing for the worst.
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

Literature - Nature
NATURE

1. Why do you think the poet write this poem?

2. Which phrase evokes our sense of smell?
3. What does the phrase reaped canefields lie bare and fallow indicate?
4. What are the good days mentioned in the poem?
5. What the bad days mentioned in the poem?
6. What is the poet trying to tell us about the weather in his country?
7. What does the phrase lush green canefields tell us about the land?
8. Which line in the poem indicates that Jamaica suffers from strong winds?
9. Where can we hear the sound of water during the heavy rain?
10. When do the leaves fall off the guango trees?
11. What do you understand by the phrase paved the earth?
12. Which line indicates that there are bright sunny days and the sun shines on fertile fields of cane?
13. How do you know that the rains come down in torrential showers?
14. Why do you think the poet mentions the regular English seasons of summer, winter, autumn and
spring?
15. When it rains, where to the rain water usually flow into?
16. What is the impression you get when the winds blow in Jamaica?
17. During the season of flowers, what can you hear and smell?
18. What are the yellow stars?
19. In your opinion, has the poem given you a comprehensive picture of the changes that take place
in Jamaica?
20. Name the four seasons that some countries have.
21. Why do you think the colour of the sun is considered as gold?
22. Why do trees have to struggle?
23. What are the words that have been used to describe the movement of the rain?
24. Are these words suitable?
25. Which of the four seasons are equivalent to Jamaicas wet and hot seasons.
26. Write two words that are related to the appearance of the canefields.
27. Why do you think the persona feels that Jamaica does not need to have the four seasons. In
your own words, give a reason .
28. During which season do leaves fall off trees.
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

29. Why are the fields left to fallow after the harvesting season?
30. What happens to the tall grass at the slightest breeze and why?
31. What words have been used to describe the buttercups?
32. Do you think they are suitable.
33. What can we call the season that is implied in the lines above?
34. What are the two words that relate to the appearance of the canefields after they are harvested
35. What does the persona feel about nature at this time of the year in Jamaica? Give a reason to
support?
36. How does the persona show that he loves nature as is experienced in Jamaica?
37. What are the two words that are related to fruits?
38. What do you think is the main crop in Jamaica? Give a reason.
39. To whom does the we in the opening line of the poem refer?
40. Do you agree with the poet that there are no seasons in Jamaica? Give a reason for your answer
41. What are the seasons mentioned in the poem?
42. What kind of crop grows in canefields?
43. What are the raindrops compared to
44. What does swish of water in the gullies refer to?
45. What word can replace bare and fallow?
46. What does the word blossom refer to?
47. Why are the bees in the bushes?
48. Why do the tall grass sway?
49. What are the yellow stars?
50. How does the poet describe the sun?
51. Which line uses the imagery of sound and smell?
52. What are buttercups? Describe them.

ANSWERS

1. celebrate nature
2. the scent of honey
3. is idle and unproductive
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

4. The good days are the short periods where the bright golden sun shines brilliantly on the
healthy green canefields
5. The bad days are the periods of heavy rain which beats nosily like bullets on the rooftops and
when the strong Jamaican winds threated to uproot the trees.
6. Jamaica is a country that has no regular four seasons but experiences short periods of golden
sunshine which alternates with days of heavy rain followed by strong winds.
7. The land is fertile
8. Line 8
9. on the eroded trenches
10. after the harvesting of the canes
11. covered everywhere
12. The gold sun shines on the lush, green canefields.
13. The rain beats like bullets on the roofs.
14. He was studying and working there for some time
15. It usually flows into the gullies.
16. The winds blow so strongly that the trees are swayed from side to side that they have to struggle
to prevent themselves from being blown away.
17. smell the scent of honey and hear the sound of bees.
18. They are a type of flowers grown there.
19. No, because it lacks details and a lot depends on the imagination perception of the reader.
20. Spring, summer, autumn and winter
21. The colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset is yellow and looks like gold.
22. The winds are strong and so they have to struggle to save themselves from being uprooted.
23. beats like bullets
24. Because when the rain falls on the roofs it sounds like bullets being released from a gun.
25. Winter and summer
26. lush and green
27. He feels Jamaica does not need the four seasons because it has its own two differing seasons
and they are good enough for Jamaica
28. Autumn
29. They are left to fallow for the soil to recover its fertility.
30. They sway and shiver because they are not stable.
31. yellow stars and beauty
 LITERATURE Q & A | SET 2

32. Yes, because the buttercups are yellow and look like shining stars and they are beautiful to look
at.
33. Spring or the flowering and fruiting season
34. bare and fallow
35. He feels that nature at this time of the year is beautiful and rich in colour and fragrance because
he says that the trees are fruiting and there is the smell of honey and the earth is paved with
beautiful stars.
36. He says that Jamaica may not have the four seasons but it has its own wet and dry seasons.
37. mango, cane
38. I think it is sugar cane because the persona mentions the canefields as being lush and green so
they must be planted in big plantations and after harvesting the fields are left to fallow meaning
they will be replanted with cane.
39. The poet and his countrymen
40. Yes, Jamaica has no seasons associated with cool temperate countries such as spring, summer,
autumn and winter. What it has are days associated with changes in the weather at specific times
of the year.
No, although there are no seasons associated with cool temperate countries, there are the hot
seasons as well as the rainy season that coincides with growth, ripening, rest and regrowth in a
cycle.
41. Spring, summer, autumn and winter
42. Sugarcane
43. water on the roof
44. the sound of water in the gullies
45. empty
46. flowers
47. to look for nectar
48. gentle breeze
49. Buttercups
50. As golden and magnificent
51. When the bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey
52. Buttercups are small, beautiful yellow flowers. They grow wild in the fields of Jamaica and they
look like yellow stars.