Night of the Scorpion
Nissim Ezekiel
Class 12
Alternative English

A.1. Who was stung by the scorpion?”
Ans:- The poet’s mother.

2. What kind of a night was it?
   Ans:- The night was dark also it had been raining for long.
3. Who came like swarms of flies?
   Ans:- The village peasants.
4. Who is the ‘Evil one’ on the poem?
   Ans:- The Scorpion that stung the poet’s mother.
5. What will purify the flesh and soul of the mother?
   Ans:- The poison will purify the flesh and soul of the mother.
6. What led the scorpion to crawl beneath the sack of nice?
   Ans:- The scorpion had crawled beneath a sack of rice to seek

protection and shelter from the rain.

7. Which lines in the poem suggests the mother’s suffering?
   Ans:- The line “My mother twisted through and through groaning

on a mat” shows that the mother had been in pain.

8. Which word or phrase in the poem suggests that the scorpion

represents something evil?
Ans:- I’m the poem ‘The Night of the Scorpion’ by Nissim Ezekiel, the word diabolic suggest that the scorpion represents something evil. The word ‘diabolic’ means devilish or wicked integrating a venomous presence associated with the Scorpion.

9. What does ‘sun-baked walls’ suggest in the poem?
   Ans:- I’m the poem ‘The Night of the Scorpion” by Nissim

Ezekiel, the phrase ‘sun-baked walls’ suggest a harsh

environment. It conveys the intense heat and dryness of the

surroundings where the event takes place. The term ‘sun-baked’

implies that the walls have been exposed to the scorching race of

the sun emphasizing the unforgiving nature of the climate.

10. What led to the formation, of giant scorpion shadows on the

walks of the speaker’s heat?
Ans:- I’m the poem the formation of giant scorpion shadows on

the walls of the speakers heart is a result of the flickering candle

light or lanthern light. The poet describes how the villagers upon

hearing about the scorpion bite gather around the speaker’s

mother with candle and lantern. The speaker explains that the

candle and lanterns flames distorted shadows on the walls

creating the elusion of giant scorpion looming in the darkness.

This imaginary adds to the suspense and fear surrounding the

incident as the shadows contributes to the atmosphere of

uncertainity.

11. What is the formation of supersitition in poem? How do the

villagers’ beliefs impact their actions and poem attitude towards

the mother?
Ans:- In the “Night of the scorpion”, the superstition plays a

significant role in shaping the villagers actions and attitude

towards the mother. The poem explores the power of superstition

and its influence on peoples behaviour in times of crisis. The

villagers believe in superstition are deeply rooted, as seen when

they resort to traditional practises and rituals in an attempt to

remove the evil forces and help the mother. The form a circle

around her and engaged in various actions such as chanting,

burning and praying. This rituals reflects their believes on

supernatural or mystical means to deal with the threat of the

scorpion venom. The villagers superstitious believe also impact

their perception towards the mother. Despite her suffering she

remains silent and endures the suffering. They view her as a

symbol of strength and tolerance and their actions are driven by

their shared believe in the power of prayers and rituals to reduce

her pain.
Overall, superstition in the poem serves as a unifying

force within the community. As they relay on old believes and

rituals to cope up with the supernatural threat.

12. What does the mother’s reaction to the scorpion’s sting

suggest about her character.
Ans:- The mother’s reaction to the scorpion sting suggests her

character as selflessness, resilience and endurance. Despite

experiencing immense pain from the scorpion sting, the mother

remains calm and compassed. She does not panic. The poem

describes her as “my mother twisted through and through”,

growing on a mat” indicating her ability to endure her suffering

without vocalising her distress.
Furthermore the mother’s selflessness highlighted

through her concerned for her children. *Instidead on focusing on

her own pain she directs her attention towards the safety and

well-being of her children. Her response shows the motion of

maternal love and protection as she remains selfless even in the

life threatening situation.

13. What according to you is the central theme of the poem?

How does it develop in the poem?
Ans:- In the poem, the central theme revolves around the power

of community, unity and endurance in the time of distress. It

explores how individuals come together drawing strength from

their shared believes and support from one another.
The theme develops through varies elements in the

poem. Initially, the poem sets the scene of a village community

facing the threat of a scorpion. The villagers gather around the

mother forming a circle engaging in rituals and prayers. This

depictions highlights the power of unity and community at in the

time of crisis. As the poem progresses, the mother’s pain

becomes evident. Despite her immense pain from the scorpion

sting she remains silent. Her silence serves as an inspiration to

the villagers reinforcing the theme of endurance and resilience.

Moreover, the poem emphasis traditional believes and

superstitions in the shaping the villagers actions and attitude.
Overall, the central theme of community, unity and

endurance develops through the representation of communal

rituals. The idea that through collective strength and the power of

shared believes. individuals can overcome even the most

challenging circumstances.

14. What are the themes and ideas explored in the poem?
    Ans:- (i) Superstition and belief:- The poem delves the power of

superstition and influence, it has an peoples actions and attitude.

It explores how individuals relay on traditional believes, rituals

and practises to cope-up with fear and uncertainity.
(ii) unity and community:- The poem highlights the theme of

unity within a community in the time of crisis. The villagers

come together offering support and participating in rituals

showcasing the strength of communal bonds.
(iii) Endurance and resilence:- The poem explores the theme of

endurance and resilence in the time of danger. The mother

ensured the pain caused by the scorpions sting without

complaint.
(iv) Love and sacrifice :- The poem also shows the theme of love

and sacrifice particularly maternal love. The mother’s concern for

her children well being highlights the depth of mother’s love and

the willingness to make sacrifices for the loved ones.
(v) fear and helplessness:- The poem portrays the theme of fear

and helplessness in the face of danger and unknown forces. It

captures the villagers initial panic & anxiety upon discovery of

the scorpion. Reflecting the fear of humans beings in the

presence of percieved threats.

15. Describe the use of language and vivid imagery by the poem?
    Ans:- In the poem, the poet use vivid imaginary and evocative

language to give detailed picture for reader.
1) Sensory details:- The poet incorporates rich sensory details

that appeals to the readers mind the describes the scorpion

monument as diagonal acrobats, the mothers sufferings as

diabolic dail and the villagers actions as chanting and intentions.

These vivid description allow the readers to experience the

events and emotions more intensly.
(ii) Symbolism:- The poem employees symbolism to convey

deeper meanings. The scorpion symbolizes a malevolent

representing fear and danger. The shadows on the wall

symbolises uncertainity and the poor of imagination.
(iii) Repeatation:- The use of repeatations is prominent in the

poem. The phase ‘they said “is repeated multiple times

emphasizing the spread of information. The repeatation of

“Thank God” at the end shows a sense of relief and gratitude.
iv) Aliteration:- The poem uses aliteration the repeatation of

consonant sounds to create a musical quality, eg- phrases like

diabolic tail, swarms of flies and twisted through and through.
v) Similies and metaphor :- The poet includes similies and

metaphor to create clear comparision, eg- Scorpions eyes are

compared to ‘Two poles of darkness’ and the mothers body is

described as ‘A hill of paraffin

16. Comment on the poem’s use of various literary devices.
    Ans:- The poem employees varies literary devices to enhance its

impact and meaning-
(i) Imagery:- The poem uses vivid imagery to create a sensory

experience fore the readers. The imagery allows the readers to

visualize the scene and emotionally engaged with the events

described. eg. the scorpions movement, the shadow on the walls

and the actions of the villagers.
(ii) Similies and metaphor: The poet includes similies and

metaphor to create clear comparisons. For example – The

scorpions eyes are compared to ‘Two pooles of darkness’ and the

mother’s body is described as ‘A head of paraffin’.
(iii) Repeatation: The use of repeatations is preminent in the

poem. The phase ‘they said” is repeated multiple times

emphasizing the spread of information. The repeatation of

“Thank God” at the end shows a sense of relief and gratitude.
(iv) Symbolism :- The poem employees symbolism to convey

deeper meanings. The scorpion symbolizes malevolent

repreesenting fear and danger. The shadows on the wall

symbolises uncertinity and the pook of imagination.
(v) Aliteration:- The poem uses aliteration the repeatation of

consonent sounds to create a musical quality. eg- pharse like

diabolic fails, swarms. of flics and twisted through and through.

17. How does the poem bring both the strong sense of solidarity

among the village folk of India?
Ans:- The poem portrays a strong sense of solidarity among the

village folk of India through varies eliments –
1) Communal rituals:- The poem emphasis the collective nature

of the villagers response to the scorpion’s attact. They came

together forming a circle arround the mother and engaged in

communal rituals. The communal participation of the villagetes

showcases the shared believe system and the sense of solidarity

within the community.
ii) Unity and adversity:- The poem highlights the unity and

support of the villagers in the time of difficulty. The villagers

actions and words reflect their shared believe and a desire to help

one another.
(iii) Mutual care and support:- The poem shows the villagers

cake and support fore one another. The demonstrate their concern

for the mother’s well being and take immidiate action to relief

from her suffering. The communal effort and rituals revealed a

strong sense of community and mutual cake.
v) Superistion and belief:- The religious and cultural references

in the poem reflects the villagers superistious belief and their

reliance on traditional customs and rituals. The mentioned of the

priest and the act of praying shows their deep faith in

supernatural invention.
v) Gratitude and relief:- The concluding lines of the poem,

“Thank God the scorpion picked on mer and spared my

children”. It shows a sense of gratitude and relief. The mother’s

expression of gratitude reflects not only her personal relief but

also the collective relief experienced by the viagers.

18. How do the religious and cultural references in the poem

contribute to its theme?
Ans:- The religious and cultural reference in the poem contribute

significantly to the themes explores in the poem-
(i) Cultural identity:- The religious and cultural reference

highlights the significance of cultural identity within the poem.

The specific custom and rituals mentioned in the poem are

representative of the cultural heritage of the villagers.
(ii) Superistition and belief:-The religeous and cultureal

references in the poem reflects the villagers superistions believe

and their reliance on traditional customs and rituals. The

mentioned of the preist and the act of praying shows their deep

faith in Supernatural invention.
iii) Unity and community:- The poem highlights the theme of

unity within a community in the time of crisis. The villager come

together offering support and participating in rituals showcasing

the strength of communal bonds.