UP Board class 11 English 12. Telephone Conversation - (Poetry) is a Hindi Medium Solution which is prescribed by Uttar Pradesh Board for their students. These Solutions is completely prepared considering the latest syllabus and it covers every single topis, so that every student get organised and conceptual learning of the concepts. class 11 Students of UP Board who have selected hindi medium as their study medium they can use these Hindi medium textSolutions to prepare themselves for exam and learn the concept with ease.
Answer: The central issue of the poem is racial prejudice and color discrimination. It exposes the harsh reality where a person seeking accommodation is judged not by his ability to pay rent or his character, but solely by the color of his skin. The poem powerfully critiques the deep-seated racism prevalent in society, highlighting the unjust disadvantages faced by people of color.
Answer: The awkward silences occur due to the landlady's shock and prejudice. When the speaker reveals he is African, her immediate focus shifts to his skin tone, causing a stunned pause. Later, when he sarcastically describes his complexion, she is left speechless, trying to process his witty yet sharp response that exposes her narrow-mindedness.
Answer: Colour is the poem's central theme, used to symbolize racial identity and societal bias. The poet contrasts the impersonal red of public objects (telephone booth, bus, pillar-box) with the loaded descriptions of human skin, underscoring how people are reduced to mere colors.
Words suggesting colour: Red, Black, White, Brunette, Peroxide blonde, Raven black, Milk chocolate, West African sepia, Plain or milk chocolate, Dark, Light, Gold-rolled.
Answer: The line "West African sepia" is particularly impressive. It is the tenant's sophisticated and sarcastic reply to the landlady's crude question about his darkness. Instead of a simple answer, he uses the term 'sepia'—a brownish tone used in photography—to intellectualize and deflect her racism. This line shows his dignity and intelligence in the face of bigotry, turning her attempt to humiliate him into a moment that exposes her own ignorance.
Answer: While 'hide-and-seek' is a children's game, the poet's coined term "hide-and-speak" refers to the duplicitous nature of racism. The landlady is not physically hiding, but she hides her true racist self behind a polite, business-like telephone conversation. She 'speaks' of rent and location, but her real concern—skin color—is the hidden agenda she eventually reveals. It criticizes the indirect and hypocritical way prejudice often operates.
Answer: The words in capital letters—"HOW DARK?", "ARE YOU LIGHT? OR VERY DARK?", "OR VERY LIGHT?"—represent the landlady's intrusive, shouting thoughts. They visually and audibly emphasize the shocking bluntness of her racism. The capitalization makes her questions loom large in the speaker's mind, highlighting the absurdity and offensiveness of reducing a human being to such crude categories.
Answer: The title "Telephone Conversation" is deliberately ordinary, contrasting with the explosive theme within. It sets the scene for a modern, impersonal interaction where prejudice can thrive without face-to-face confrontation. The telephone becomes a symbol for the distance and anonymity that embolden the landlady's racism.
An alternative title could be "The Colour Line" or "A Question of Colour," as it directly points to the central conflict of the poem.
Answer: The poem masterfully uses suggestion and understatement to deliver a powerful social critique. The poet doesn't directly shout about injustice. Instead, he uses irony and sarcasm (e.g., "West African sepia"). The mundane setting of a phone call about an apartment understates the profound issue being discussed. The landlady's polite yet probing questions suggest a deep-seated societal sickness. This technique makes the reader actively uncover the ugliness of racism, creating a more lasting and impactful message than a straightforward condemnation would.
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