YOU ARE OLD FATHER WILLIAM --- EXTRA QUESTIONS

YOU ARE OLD FATHER WILLIAM

EXTRA QUESTIONS

Q1.What is the theme of the poem?

 The poet of the poem "You are Old, Father William", Lewis Carrol takes

generation gap as the theme. He brings this theme for our focus sarcastically

through the dialogue between old man and young man who represent older

generation and younger generation.

Q2.What does the first stanza say?

The first stanza says that young people think that,

when people become old, they become very weak. But we know that all are not like

that. The old people are sometimes stronger than younger. We also understand that the

young man can't stand on head through the above lines. It is really shows the gap

between the older generation and younger generation.

Q3.What does Father William mean by ‘One shilling a box'?

By saying ‘One shilling a box', he means that although they couldn’t afford much, they

managed to fulfill their needs to the best extent with what they had, and learned to

save money, similarly this generation should also try to do the same.

Q4.Explain this line "In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,

And argued each case with my wife.”

The father says that he has argued many cases with his wife which has made his jaws strong. Here

we see how he fought for his rights. ‘With my wife’ here symbolizes the whole

society. He struggled for good causes, and this strengthened his personality, with the

strength of the jaw representing his strength to bear hardships.

SHORT QUESTIONS

1.What astonishes the son?

ANS. that his father effortlessly eats and chews up bones

and beak of a goose.

2.What does the son expect his father to eat?

ANS. the son expects his father to eat  the suet.

3.How does Father William manage to keep his jaws strong?

ANS. He has argued many cases with his wife which has made his jaws strong.

4. What could one not suppose about Father William?

ANS. that his eye was as steady as ever.

5. What astonishing act of father William is mentioned in the above lines?

balancing an eel on the end of his nose.

6.How many questions has Father William answered?

ANS. He has answered only three questions.

7.How does he reprimand his son?

ANS. Father William snaps at his son for being so

cheeky and asks him to leave him alone lest he will kick him down the stairs.