Here is a list of glossary (contextual meanings) for new vocabulary from the text, The Tattered Blanket for class 8 English. Do make note of them and go through as many a time as possible to get the meaning clear. And make a note of all the questions and answers to read them many a time to get clear understanding of the text. All the best.
The tattered blanket
(Contextual meanings)
countryside : the land and scenery of a rural area
veranda : a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor.
futile : unsuccessful
widow : a woman who has lost her spouse by death and has not married again
huddle up : to draw people together or to crouch low or curl up
reluctantly : unwillingly
peer : look with difficulty or concentration at someone or something
bald : having a scalp wholly or partly lacking hair
grating : sounding harsh and unpleasant
a note of alarm : fear or worry that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen
awkwardly : in a way that shows uneasy embarrassment
wrinkled : (especially of fabric or the skin) having wrinkles or slight folds
wouldn’t dream of (doing) something: used to say that you would never do something because you think it is bad or wrong
mumbling: to say something too quietly or not clearly enough, so that other people cannot understand you (mutter)
drop in: to come to visit or go to a place for only a brief period of time, often unexpectedly
exasperatedly: in a way that shows you are annoyed, especially because you can do nothing to solve a problem
thinna: a raised area on the veranda
mist: a cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface that limits visibility (to a lesser extent than fog)
tattered: old and torn; in poor condition
yarn: spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing
stretch out: to lie down
expensive: costing a lot of money
look after: take care of someone or something
make both ends meet: earn just enough money to live on
keep up: move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else (continue)
talk over: discuss something thoroughly
irritation: the state of feeling annoyed, impatient, or slightly angry
pull on: to manage or deal with a situation
feebly: in a way that lacks strength or force
Important questions and answers to understand the text better
Go through these questions and answers to get the
idea clear
Gopi arrived
unexpectedly.
2.
Where did he arrive?
He arrived at his
home in the countryside.
3.
How did he get there?
He came there in
his office car.
4.
Who sat in an armchair?
His mother sat in
an armchair.
5.
Where did they sit?
They sat on the
veranda.
6.
What does the word “futile” mean?
Futile means
unsuccessful in doing something.
7.
Why do you think her attempt was futile?
She was too old
and weak, so her attempt to get up was unsuccessful.
8.
Why do you think she wanted to get up?
She wanted to get
up to check who arrived there.
9.
Mother said “somebody in a car.” Who do you think
is the somebody?
Somebody is none
other than her son, Gopi.
10.
Who was a widow?
A woman who loses
her husband is called a widow. Here, Kamala is a widow.
11.
How did Kamala sit on the thinna?
Kamala was sitting
huddled up on the thinna on the veranda, her head and ears covered with a thin
bath towel.
12.
Why do you think Kamala got up reluctantly?
Kamala might have
not been interested to see who arrived at the gate. Hence, she got up
reluctantly and walked slowly to the gate.
13.
Why do you think Kamala screwed up her eyes?
Kamala might have
been facing some problem with her vision (eyes). Hence, she screwed up her eyes
to find who arrived at the gate.
14.
How was Gopi?
Gopi was a bald,
fat, middle-aged man.
15.
‘Oh, Gopi!’ she said in her grating voice. Why do
you think her voice was grating?
Grating means
harsh and unpleasant. So, we can understand that Kamala was angry with Gopi for
not caring for them for many days.
16.
Gopi’s mother asked who that was many times. Why?
His mother was old
and lost her memory. So, she asked again and again.
17.
I just dropped in on my way back … means?
I just dropped in
on my way back means he casually visited his home when he was returning to
Delhi.
18.
Why did Kamala ask awkwardly?
She was asked
again and again. For that she might be irritated. So, she asked a little
awkwardly.
19.
Do you think Gopi really wrote letters to his
mother?
No, he didn’t
write letters. But Kamala consoled her mother by saying he wrote.
20.
How was Amma’s memory according to Kamala?
As she was old,
her memory was not good enough to identify anybody. But sometimes her memory
was quite sharp.
21.
Why do you think Kamala lied that Gopi writes
letters everyday?
Kamala didn’t want
to make her mother unhappy. Hence, she lied that Gopi wrote letters everyday.
22.
What does “wouldn’t dream of doing something” mean?
It is used to say that you would not do something because you think
it is wrong or bad or silly: Here in this story Kamala didn’t want to tell his
mother that Gopi was not sending a letter for her. Because Kamala thought that
it was wrong or silly to hurt her mother.
23.
Who got the
promotion?
Gopi got the promotion a year ago.
24.
I am always
on my toes … What does it mean?
I am always busy.
25.
“I don’t get
time to write a letter,” said Gopi. Do you think he really had no time to do
so?
No, if he wished, he could have written a letter.
26.
Who was
Vimala?
Vimala was the wife of Gopi.
27.
Who was
Nambiar?
Nambiar was father of Vimala.
28.
Why do you
think Gopi’s sister said exasperatedly?
Exasperatedly … means a very annoyed or upset manner.
Kamala was very upset and couldn’t find the way to get back her mother’s
memory.
29.
What is
thinna?
Thinna means a sit out place raised in a veranda.
30.
What did his
mother want for?
She wanted a new red blanket because the old one is
tattered.
31.
I can’t make
both ends meet with my salary. How do you understand it?
This means that he had a limited salary. It was just
enough to live on. So, he needed more money.
32.
Why do you
think he wanted more money though his salary was enough for living?
His salary was enough to live on. But he said that he had
to keep up his status. Hence he wanted more money.
33.
Finally, do
you understand why Gopi came home this time?
Yes, I could sense it. He had come over here to sell his
share of the family property. But not to see his mother and her welfare.
34.
Do you think
Gopi will come back to see his mother again?
No, I don’t think he will come back again to see his
mother.
35.
How old is
Amma now?
She is eighty three years old.
36.
How long was
it for Gopi to visit his mother this time?
It’s more than five years to find time to come to his
mother.
37.
What does the
title, “The Tattered Blanket” mean?
Here in this context we could understand that the
tattered blanket is compared to tattered/spoiled relations.
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