UP Board class 11 English (7. Glory At Twilight - (Short Stories)) solution PDF

Understanding The Text

Q1. Give reasons for the following:

a. Satyajit attending the village wedding.
Satyajit attended the village wedding because he was considered one of the village's most respected and well-off gentlemen. His presence at such events was expected due to his high social standing.

b. Satyajit’s recollection of the forger when he was on the train.
On the train, Satyajit remembered the forger because his mind was occupied with thoughts about the nature of fame and downfall. He pondered how quickly fortunes can change, and this led him to think about the incident that originally catapulted him to success.

c. Srinath and his family members’ eager expectation of Satyajit’s arrival.
Srinath and his family eagerly awaited Satyajit because of a long-standing, unspoken agreement. Satyajit had always helped them financially in the past, and in return, they showed him great respect and honour. They expected his visit to bring them further assistance.

d. Srinath’s disappointment with Satyajit.
Srinath was disappointed because his high expectations were not met. The entire village believed Satyajit was their wealthy benefactor. When Satyajit arrived without the anticipated financial help, Srinath's disappointment was a natural reaction to this broken expectation.

e. Satyajit’s feeling that he was an impostor.
This feeling arose when Satyajit reflected on the villagers' hopeful anticipation. He knew he could no longer fulfill the role of the generous patron, yet he was still receiving their reverence. This mismatch between perception and reality made him feel like a fraud.

f. Satyajit not disclosing his present financial status to his uncle.
Satyajit felt deep shame about his sudden financial downfall. He knew his uncle expected help, and he was unable to provide it. To avoid this humiliation and the pity it might invite, he chose to hide the truth.

Q2. Describe the cycle of events in Satyajit’s life that brought him back to where he began.

Satyajit's life was a rollercoaster largely driven by luck. He started as a lowly bank clerk. His big break came when he accidentally caught a forger, which led to a rapid promotion to Managing Director. He soon realized this lofty position was gained by chance, not merit. He learned that fame and downfall are closely linked. When his luck eventually ran out, the "wheel of fortune" turned, stripping him of his wealth and status. He found himself back in a state of financial struggle, too ashamed to even discuss his situation, thus completing a full circle back to his humble beginnings.

Talking About The Text

Q1. It is difficult to adjust to a fall from glory.

This statement is profoundly true, as shown by Satyajit's struggle. Falling from a position of high respect and wealth is not just a financial loss; it is a crushing blow to one's pride and identity. The world knows you for your success, and when that vanishes, you face not only internal shame but also the potential misunderstanding or judgment of others. Rebuilding self-worth after such a public fall is often much harder than building the initial fortune.

Q2. ‘Failure had a tempo faster than success.’

This line highlights a universal truth: success is often built slowly through hard work or a lucky break, but failure can strike swiftly and without warning. Satyajit's rise was sudden (catching the forger), but his fall was equally rapid. The story suggests that achievements based merely on luck are fragile. When destiny turns, failure arrives with overwhelming speed, leaving little time to prepare, and one is forced to accept fate and make difficult adjustments.

Q3. Satyajit should have revealed his predicament to his uncle.

A predicament is a difficult, unpleasant situation. Satyajit's was the conflict between his impoverished reality and the villagers' rich expectations of him. Yes, he should have been honest with his uncle. By staying silent, he perpetuated a deception, enjoying respect under false pretenses. Honesty, though difficult, would have freed him from the burden of pretense and allowed his family to understand his true situation, potentially leading to genuine support rather than misplaced expectation.

Q4. The author’s comment on crime and punishment.

The author presents an ironic view through Satyajit's experience. Catching the criminal (the forger) was the "crime" against his ordinary destiny, for which he was "punished" with unexpected fame and wealth. However, this reward felt unearned. The real punishment was the subsequent, swift downfall. The story comments that gains acquired hastily through luck, rather than diligent effort, are fleeting. In a twist, the "punishment" for his good deed was a painful lesson in the temporary nature of fortune.

Appreciation

Q1. How is Satyajit’s financial crash introduced to the reader?

The author subtly introduces Satyajit's financial crisis through small, telling actions instead of stating it outright. For instance, we see him carefully rationing his cigarettes, hesitating before taking one from the packet. These minor details of cutting daily expenses effectively show he is grappling with severe financial constraints, allowing the reader to infer the magnitude of his crash.

Q2. Comment on the way in which the story is narrated from Satyajit’s perspective.

Narrating the story from Satyajit's first-person perspective gives us direct access to his thoughts, justifications, and inner turmoil. We experience his shame, regret, and sense of fraudulence intimately. However, this style can also limit the narrative, as every event is filtered through his reasoning, leaving little room for the reader's own interpretation of other characters or events.

Q3. How has the author used the episode of the bank theft to comment on Satyajit’s success in his career?

The bank theft episode is the pivotal event that defines Satyajit's career. It shows that his spectacular rise to Managing Director was not a result of skill or hard work, but a mere accident of luck. The author uses this to argue that success built on such a fragile foundation is unsustainable. It directly supports the theme that such easily-won glory leads to an equally swift failure, emphasizing the fickleness of fate.

Q4. How do these lines capture the essence of the story: ‘Glory was all overlaid with dark shame. Glory was dead.”... let him be wrapped a while in the lingering twilight splendour of departed glory’.

These lines perfectly capture the story's core conflict. Satyajit's past glory is now buried under the shame of his present failure; the "glory was dead." Yet, he is unable to let go completely. The "lingering twilight splendour" is the faint, fading glow of his former respect that he still clings to. The lines encapsulate his painful state of being stuck between a glorious past he can't reclaim and a shameful present he can't accept.