It is time for you to take the Night of the Scorpion Quiz specially structured to enhance your knowledge of Nissim Ezekiel‘s poem. The poem shows the selfless love of a mother for her children after getting stung by a scorpion. The poet recalls a rainy night when his mother was stung by a scorpion that took refuge in their house. The poem highlights the superstitious atmosphere of rural India.
Text of NIGHT OF THE SCORPION
I remember the night my motherยWas stung by a scorpion. Ten hoursยOf steady rain had driven himยTo crawl beneath a sack of rice.ยParting with his poison-flashยof diabolic tail in the dark room-he risked the rain again.ยThe peasants came like swarms of fliesยAnd buzzed the name of God a hundred timesยTo paralyze the Evil One.ยWith candles and with lanternsยThrowing giant scorpion shadowsยOn the sun-baked wallsยThey searched for him: he was not foundยThey clicked their tongues.ยWith every movement that the scorpion madeยHis poison moved in motherโs blood, they said.ยMay he sit still, they said.ยMay the sins of your previous birthยBe burned away tonight, they said.ยMay your suffering decreaseยThe misfortunes of your next birth, they said.ยMay the sum of evilยBalanced in this unreal worldยAgainst the sum of goodยBecome diminished by your pain, they said.ยMay the poison purify your fleshยOf desire, and your spirit of ambition,They said, and they sat aroundOn the floor with my mother in the centre,The peace of understanding on each face.More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours,More insects, and the endless rain.My mother twisted through and through,groaning on a mat.My father, sceptic, rationalist,trying every curse and blessing,powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.He even poured a little paraffinupon the bitten toe and put a match to it.I watched the flame feeding on my mother.I watched the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with an incantation.After twenty hoursit lost its sting.My mother only saidThank God the scorpion picked on meAnd spared my children.
Night of the Scorpion Quiz
Here is Night of the Scorpion Quiz.
Source of the quiz : IGNOU
Attempt previous quiz :ย On His Blindness by John Milton Quiz Part -1
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Nice
Thank you so much ๐
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