Bihar Board Class 12th English Chapter 8 features “Fire-Hymn” by Nissim Ezekiel, a poem that delves into the themes of spirituality, self-exploration, and the search for divine truth. This chapter offers an opportunity for students to reflect on existential questions, the role of fire as a symbol of transformation, and the significance of Indian spiritual traditions. In this article, we provide a comprehensive summary, subjective and objective questions, and a free PDF download of the chapter for students.

“Fire-Hymn” is a nice heart touching poem that is highly composed by an outstanding Indo-Anglian poet Keki N. Daruwalla.

In this poem, the poet has presented a very realistic scene of funeral rites performed after death at the burning ghat where dead bodies of Hinduism are burnt.

One day the poet goes with his father to a nearby burning ghat. There, he sees the unburnt dead body (the half-burnt finger). The red-hot embers still glowing many hours after a dead body has been cremated. Really the sight of that half-burnt dead body in the darkness of night creates the feeling of shock and horror pointing to that dead body.

Father says to him that sometimes fire fails to perform its duty/task. Being a Parsi and the worshiper of fire as a God. The poet is very much pained at the gratefulness of fire towards its deed. He was shocked. Parsi instead of cremating their dead bodies carry it to the tower of silence to put them in.

He was horrified to see such a cruel act. The poet once came to such a ghat to cremate his own newborn child into the fire because there was no tower of silence there and the distance of the tower of silence was a thousand miles away from his residence.

The poet says that burning a dead body is an inhuman act. He regrets doing so because he has consigned his child into the fire. He says that he has committed a sin by doing this inhuman act. At last, he swears that he will never violate the Parsi code again in future.

1. Fire-Hymn has been composed by ……….
(A) John Donne
(B) John Keats
(C) T. S. Eliot
(D) Keki N. Daruwalla | Ans- (D)

2. The term “Zoroastrian” in ‘Fire-Hymn’ stands for ……..
(A) Hindu
(B) Muslim
(C) Christian
(D) Parsi | Ans- (D)

3. The nearest ‘Tower of Silence’ according to the poem, ‘Fire-Hymn’ was ………… away.
(A) A thousand miles
(B) Two thousand miles
(C) Three thousand miles
(D) None of these | Ans- (A)

4. The speaker in the poem, ‘Fire-Hymn’ swears …….
(A) Once
(B) Twice
(C) Thrice
(D) None of these | Ans- (B)

5. Who has composed the poem Fire-Hymn ………
(A) K. N. Daruwalla
(B) Kamala Das
(C) Mahatma Gandhi
(D) None of these | Ans- (A)

6. K. N. Daruwalla received Sahitya Akademi Award in ……..
(A) 1983
(B) 1984
(C) 1985
(D) 1986 | Ans- (B)

7. Daruwalla has been a well-known poet as well as a ………….
(A) dramatist
(B) novelist
(C) short-story-writer
(D) None of these | Ans- (C)

8. “Fire-Hymn” deals with ……… ghat.
(A) bathing
(B) burning
(C) drinking
(D) None of these | Ans- (B)

9. The term ‘debauchery’ in ‘Fire-Hymn’ stands for …….
(A) moral behaviour
(B) disgusting behaviour
(C) immoral behaviour
(D) None of these | Ans- (C)

10. Keki N. Daruwalla has written the poem …….
(A) Song of Myself
(B) Snake
(C) Fire-Hymn
(D) The Soldier | Ans- (C)

11. Keki N. Daruwalla is an all ………… poet.
(A) American
(B) Indo-Anglian
(C) African
(D) British | Ans- (B)

12. Keki N. Daruwalla was a ………… by religion.
(A) Parsi
(B) Muslim
(C) Hindu
(D) Christian | Ans- (A)

13. …….. swears to save fire from the sin of forgetfulness.
(A) John Donne
(B) Keki N. Daruwalla
(C) John Keats
(D) T.S. Eliot | Ans- (B)

1. In what sense does the fire forget its dead?
Ans: The fire forgets its dead in the sense that it sometimes leaves the dead body half-burnt and does not completely turn the body into ashes.

2. What does the poet see in the morning at the ghat?
Ans: The poet sees the red hot embers still glowing many hours after a dead body has been cremated.

3. What does the poet see/observe in the morning at the ghat?
Ans: The poet observes pieces of wood and coal, not burning but still red, in the morning at the ghat.

4. Why did he consign his first-born to the flames?
Ans: He consigned his first-born to the flames because the nearest ‘Tower of Silence’ was a thousand miles away.

5. What did the ‘Fire-Hymn’ say to him?
Ans: The Fire-Hymn said to him that it had forgiven him. Now it has taken an oath to overlook and pardon him for the sin he had committed.

6. What was the religion of the poet?
Ans: The religion of the poet was Parsi.

7. Why does the speaker reveal his religious identity?
Ans: The speaker reveals his religious identity by saying that he is a Parsi by birth because, according to their belief, there is always a struggle between the forces of light and dark. Thus, they dispose of the dead bodies on a structure called ‘Tower of Silence’.

Why Download This PDF?

Fire-Hymn vvi questions

• Detailed Explanation: Covers all key points and themes in an easy-to-understand format.
• Exam Preparation: Includes likely questions and answers for Bihar Board exams.
• Free Access: Get the PDF for free to enhance your learning experience.

Fire-Hymn vvi questions

Conclusion

Fire-Hymn vvi questions

“Fire-Hymn” by Nissim Ezekiel provides deep insights into the human quest for meaning, spirituality, and self-transformation. The poem encourages students to engage with existential questions and reflect on their own spiritual journeys. By analyzing the poem’s rich symbolism and vivid imagery, students can appreciate its thematic depth. Don’t forget to download the free PDF for easy reference and study.

(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions

Fire-Hymn vvi questions

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