The Dance of the Eunuchs Questions and Answers: 20 MCQs with Answers

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The Dance of the Eunuchs Questions and Answers: 20 MCQs with Answers

It was hot, so hot, before the eunuchs came

To dance, wide skirts going round and round, cymbals

Richly clashing, and anklets jingling, jingling

Jingling… Beneath the fiery gulmohur, with

Long braids flying, dark eyes flashing, they danced and

They dance, oh, they danced till they bled… There were green

Tattoos on their cheeks, jasmines in their hair, some

Were dark and some were almost fair. Their voices

Were harsh, their songs melancholy; they sang of

Lovers dying and or children left unborn….

Some beat their drums; others beat their sorry breasts

And wailed, and writhed in vacant ecstasy.

TheyWere thin in limbs and dry; like half-burnt logs from

Funeral pyres, a drought and a rottennessWere in each of them.

Even the crows were soSilent on trees, and the children wide-eyed, still;

All were watching these poor creatures’ convulsions

The sky crackled then, thunder came, and lightning

And rain, a meagre rain that smelt of dust in

Attics and the urine of lizards and mice…

Brief Overview of “The Dance of the Eunuchs Questions and Answers”

Kamala Das’s poem “The Dance of the Eunuchs” is a vivid portrayal of marginalized lives of eunuchs and a poignant exploration of their existential despair. Through rich imagery and symbolism, the poet conveys the stark contrast between external vibrancy and internal emptiness. Below is a set of 20 MCQs designed to enhance understanding and appreciation of the poem.

20 MCQs on “The Dance of the Eunuchs”

Theme-Based Questions : The Dance of the Eunuchs Questions and Answers

1. What is the primary theme of the poem?

a) Joy

b) Suffering

c) Hope

d) Revenge

Answer: b) Suffering

2. The eunuchs’ dance symbolizes:

a) Celebration

b) Hidden sorrow

c) Triumph

d) Indifference

Answer: b) Hidden sorrow

3. Which element reflects barrenness in the poem?

a) Rain

b) Anklets

c) Funeral pyres

d) Thunder

Answer: c) Funeral pyres

4. What do the eunuchs’ songs often describe?

a) Victory in battle

b) Lovers dying

c) Joyous celebrations

d) Political themes

Answer: b) Lovers dying

5. The tone of the poem can best be described as:

a) Optimistic

b) Sympathetic

c) Satirical

d) Neutral

Answer: b) Sympathetic

Imagery and Symbolism-Based Questions : The Dance of the Eunuchs Questions and Answers

6. The fiery gulmohur tree symbolizes:

a) Passion

b) Despair

c) Unity

d) Fertility

Answer: b) Despair

7. What does “meagre rain” signify in the poem?

a) Renewal of life

b) Inadequate relief

c) Joyful moments

d) Abundance

Answer: b) Inadequate relief

8. The phrase “half-burnt logs” is a metaphor for:

a) Vibrancy

b) Fragmented lives

c) Determination

d) Eternal hope

Answer: b) Fragmented lives

9. The jingling anklets and clashing cymbals represent:

a) Harmonious unity

b) Superficial joy

c) Political chaos

d) Spiritual peace

Answer: b) Superficial joy

10. The natural imagery in the poem primarily reflects:

a) Hope and growth

b) Decay and desolation

c) Love and romance

d) Strength and determination

Answer: b) Decay and desolation

Structural and Contextual Questions : The Dance of the Eunuchs Questions and Answers

11. What literary device is prevalent in the poem?

a) Hyperbole

b) Alliteration

c) Symbolism

d) Pun

Answer: c) Symbolism

12. Which aspect of the eunuchs is emphasized in the poem?

a) Their physical beauty

b) Their joy and celebration

c) Their emotional and physical suffering

d) Their wealth and power

Answer: c) Their emotional and physical suffering

13. How does Kamala Das create contrast in the poem?

a) By juxtaposing joy and sorrow

b) Through comparisons of wealth and poverty

c) By using political metaphors

d) Through cultural references

Answer: a) By juxtaposing joy and sorrow

14. The eunuchs’ harsh voices suggest:

a) Confidence

b) Vulnerability

c) Authority

d) Celebration

Answer: b) Vulnerability

15. What effect does the free verse structure have on the poem?

a) Creates a rigid rhythm

b) Enhances the chaotic emotions

c) Simplifies the theme

d) Makes it lyrical

Answer: b) Enhances the chaotic emotions

Miscellaneous Questions : The Dance of the Eunuchs Questions and Answers

16. The poem reflects which societal issue?

a) Gender equality

b) Marginalization

c) Economic disparity

d) Cultural conflict

Answer: b) Marginalization

17. What do the “green tattoos” symbolize in the poem?

a) Permanence of identity

b) Religious devotion

c) Superficiality

d) Beauty

Answer: a) Permanence of identity

18. Why are the crows silent in the poem?

a) They are mourning

b) They reflect nature’s stillness

c) They are afraid of the eunuchs

d) They symbolize death

Answer: b) They reflect nature’s stillness

19. Kamala Das uses which literary device to depict the eunuchs’ suffering?

a) Hyperbole

b) Metaphor and symbolism

c) Satire

d) Alliteration

Answer: b) Metaphor and symbolism

20. The phrase “half-burnt logs” is used to describe:

a) The environment

b) The eunuchs’ physical and emotional state

c) The audience’s reaction

d) The festival decorations

Answer: b) The eunuchs’ physical and emotional state

Table: Key Symbolisms and Their Interpretations in “The Dance of the Eunuchs”

SymbolDescriptionInterpretation
Fiery GulmohurRed-flowered tree under which they danceSymbolizes barrenness and torment
Meagre RainLight rainfall with unpleasant smellsRepresents inadequate relief and decay
Half-Burnt LogsEunuchs compared to burnt woodReflects incompleteness and lifelessness
Green TattoosTattoos on the eunuchs’ cheeksSignify permanence amidst their transient lives
Anklets and CymbalsObjects used during the danceHighlight superficial joy masking deep sorrow

 

Girdhari Lal

Girdhari Lal , एक dedicated अंग्रेजी विषय के वरिष्ठ अध्यापक और gyankundli.com के संस्थापक हैं। 1.5 वर्षों के ब्लॉगिंग अनुभव के साथ, वे अंग्रेजी व्याकरण, साहित्य, भाषा और शिक्षा से जुड़ी अद्भुत जानकारी अपने ब्लॉग पर publish करते हैं। उनके ब्लॉग पर English Grammar, Literature और शैक्षिक अपडेट मिलती रहती हैं।

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