Table of Contents
Question 84
Match List I with List II
| List I (Short Story) | List II (Author) |
|---|---|
| A. “The Lion's Skin” | I. Washington Irving |
| B. "The Man who liked Dickens” | II. W. Somerset Maugham |
| C. "Rip Van Winkle" | III. Stephen Crane |
| D. “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky" | IV. Evelyn Waugh |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Matching classic British and American short stories to their authors:
A. “The Lion's Skin” — (II) W. Somerset Maugham. A story about a British diplomat in a remote posting dealing with local legends and politics.
B. "The Man who liked Dickens” — (IV) Evelyn Waugh. A dark, satirical short story later incorporated into his famous novel A Handful of Dust.
C. "Rip Van Winkle" — (I) Washington Irving. The foundational American story of the man who sleeps for 20 years through the American Revolution.
D. “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky" — (III) Stephen Crane. A famous Western short story by the author of The Red Badge of Courage.
Question 85
Who has used the term "bowling alone” to describe the erosion of community ties in the United States?
The term was coined by American political scientist Robert D. Putnam in his seminal 2000 book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.
Putnam used the metaphor of bowling to illustrate the decline of "social capital" in America. While the total number of people bowling had increased, the number of people participating in organized bowling leagues had plummeted. People were literally "bowling alone," signifying a massive, dangerous erosion of civic engagement, community ties, and local organizations in the United States since the 1960s.
Question 86
Which of the following works has Santiago as its protagonist?
Santiago is the aging, resilient Cuban fisherman who serves as the protagonist of Ernest Hemingway's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1952 novella, The Old Man and the Sea.
The story follows his epic, grueling, and ultimately tragic 84-day struggle to catch and bring home a giant marlin. He embodies the classic Hemingway "Code Hero"—demonstrating grace, courage, and endurance under pressure ("A man can be destroyed but not defeated").
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle"?
Published in 1819 in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., it is considered one of the first truly American short stories. It symbolizes the rapid, confusing political and social changes occurring during the American Revolution, as Rip falls asleep a subject of King George III and wakes up a citizen of the new United States.
What does "Social Capital" mean in the context of Robert Putnam's work?
Social capital refers to the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society. It represents the value of social networks, bonding similar people and bridging between diverse people, creating norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that allow society to function effectively.
What defines the "Hemingway Code Hero"?
A Hemingway Code Hero, like Santiago, is a character who confronts the inevitable pain, suffering, and tragedy of life with stoicism, courage, and dignity. They define themselves by their actions and their adherence to a personal moral code, even when facing absolute defeat.
