English Question Answer Chapter 10 Class 8 Honeydew

The Great Stone Face 2

Solutions For All Chapters Honeydew Class 8

Working With the Text (Page 133)

Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
How was Ernest different from others in the valley?

Answer:
Ernest was unlike other commoners in the valley. He was a good, simple hearted, noble and thoughtful person. He had been under observation. He did not go with the crowd. He welcomed total strangers as the prophets.

Question 2:
Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face?

Answer:
The poet wrote wonderful songs. He had celebrated the Great stone Face in one of his poems. When Ernest read this poem he became convinced that the poet was like the stone face.

Question 3:
What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems?

Answer:
The poet confessed that he was not worthy to be compared with the Stone Face. His actions did not match with his thoughts.

Question 4:
What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?

Answer:
Ernest and the poet together went to a meeting place. Ernest addressed the gathering. His words had power and his thoughts had depth. They were the words of life, a life of good deeds and selfless love. The poet was convinced that Ernest – was much nobler than him. Ernest’s face had such a grand expression that he declared that Ernest bore the likeness of the Great Stone Face.

Question 5:
Write ‘Ernest’ or ‘Poet’, against each statement below.

(i) There was a gap between his life and his words.
(ii) His words had the power of truth as they agreed with his thoughts.
(iii) His words were as soothing as a heavenly song but only as useful as a vague dream.
(iv) His thoughts were worthy.
(v) Whatever he said was truth itself.
(vi) His poems were noble.
(vii) His life was nobler than all the poems.
(viii) He lacked faith in his own thoughts.
(ix) His thoughts had power as they agreed with the life he lived.
(x) Greatness lies in truth. Truth is best expressed in one’s actions. He was truthful, therefore he was great.

Answer:

(i) Poet (ii) Ernest (iii) Poet (iv) Poet (v) Ernest
(vi) Poet (vii) Ernest (viii) Poet (ix) Ernest (x) Ernest

Question 6:

(i) Who, by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face?
(ii) Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true? What did he say about it?

Answer:

(i) Ernest was accepted by common consent exactly like the Great Stone Face.
(ii) No, Ernest still was not convinced that the old prophecy had come true. He hoped that some day, a man wiser and nobler than him would come, and would look truly similar to the Great Stone Face.

Comprehension Check (Page 132)

Questions:

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.

1. Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. __________
2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. _______
3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. _______
4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. ________
5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. ___________
6. The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. _________

Answers:

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
What changes come to be seen in Ernest with passing of time?

Answer:
Ernest was now a man of middle age. His hairs turned white and there were wrinkles across his forehead and furrows in his cheeks. He had become wiser with profound thoughts. The valley people respected him and took his advice on several occasions.

Question 2:
Why did Ernest become sad after he examined the poet’s features?

Answer:
The poet had celebrated the Great Stone Face in one of his poems. When Ernest read that poem he became convinced that the poet had the likeness of the Great Stone Face. But when he met the poet, all his hopes shattered. He found no resemblance between the poet and the Stone Face. This was the reason why he became sad.

Question 3:
Why did the poet’s eyes fill with tears?

Answer:
The poet became sentimental to listen to Ernest. His words had power because they had depth. They were the words of life, a life of good deeds and selfless love. The poet felt that the life and character of Ernest were nobler strain of poetry that he had ever written. His eyes filled with tears and he said to himself that never was there so worthy a sage as that thoughtful face, with the glim of white hair diffused about it.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
Give a character-sketch of Ernest.

Answer:
Ernest was a small boy when he became interested in the Great Stone Face. He felt that the face smiled on him. He wished to love the man with such a face. He was dutiful and helpful to his Mother. He grew up to be a gentle and quiet youth. He regarded the Stone Face as his teacher. He turned to the face for advice. He was not influnced by the common belief that Gathergold or Blood- and-Thunder General had any resemblance with the Stone Face. Even the poet’s face made him sad. And he was right when the poet himself admitted that he wasn’t worthy to be the likeness of the face. Finally, the same poet shouted with joy that Ernest himself was the likeness of the Stone Face. But Ernest remained humble to the last. He kept hoping that some wiser and better man than himself would appear.

Question 2:
How did Ernest feel when people hailed him as the likeness of the Stone face?

Answer:
Ernest was truly noble and humble. His deeds matched with his thoughts. He received the poet warmly. For a while he thought the writer of those poems was truly the greatest and wisest person. The poet and the people ultimately hailed him as the man with the likeness of the Stone Face. But Ernest did not agree with them. He kept hoping that a wiser and better man than himself would appear to make the prophecy true.

Question 3:
Describe in brief Ernest’s reaction on three occasions when Gathergold, General Blood-and-Thunder and the poet came to the valley.

Answer:
The inhabitants of the valley believed the story that one day a man bearing resemblance to the Stone Face would come there. The first one to arrive was a rich merchant Gathergold. The people were greatly excited. But Ernest noticed no resemblance between Gathergold’s face and that of the Stone Face. Likewise he did not agree with the people who welcomed General Blood-and-Thunder as the greatest man. But Ernest almost believed that the poet was the person he had been waiting for. But again he was disappointed. In fact, Ernest himself was accepted as the Prophet.