A Ghostly Wife Question Answer (5 Mark)। Lal Behari Dey। Class 11 2nd Semester । Long Question Answer । WBCHSE

A Ghostly Wife Question Answer (5 Mark)

(1) Who is the ghostly wife ? What role does she play in the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’ ? (1+4)

[ভূতে পাওয়া বউটি আসলে কে ছিল ? ‘A Ghostly ‘Wife’ গল্পে সে কী ভূমিকা পালন করে ?]

Answer –

In the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’, the ghostly wife is a Sankchunni (she-ghost) who takes the appearance of the Brahman’s wife and lives in the family of the Brahman.

In the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’, the she ghost called Sankchunni is the protagonist of the story. She is the villain of the folktale. The character of ghost is very common in the folktales of Bengal. Here the she gost creates the world of fantasy. The ghost takes the appearance of the wife of the Brahman. She stuffs the Brahmani into a hole in a tree. Then she goes back to the Brahman’s house. But her strange activities are noticed by the mother-in-law. She suspects her and after consulting with her son she calls an exorcist. The exorcist manages to find out from the ghost that she has stuffed the wife of Brahman in a hole of a tree trunk. Then the ghost is beaten up and forced to leave the house. Lal Behari Day sketches the character of ghost just like other villains of folktaless. The she-ghost’s super natural activities amuse the readers. The ghost in this story constitutes the main plot of ‘A Ghostly Wife’ .

(2) “There the woman lay almost dead with fear”- Who is the ‘woman’ referred to here ? Why did she lie almost dead with fear ? (2+3)

[ সেখানে মেয়েটি ভয়ে প্রায় মৃত অবস্থায় শুয়েছিল”- এখানে ‘মেয়েটি’ বলতে কাকে বোঝানো হয়েছে ? কেন সে ভয়ে প্রায় মৃত অবস্থায় শুয়েছিল ?]

Answer –

In this line the woman is the wife of a Brahman in the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’. She was attacked by a she ghost.

One day a Brahman’s wife went to the tank near her house to get some water. She accidentally brushed past a ghost who lived on the boughs of a tree. The ghost was a sankchunni. The she ghost became very angry with the Brahman’s wife. She seized her by the throat and thrust her into a hole in the trunk. Though the woman was not physically injured, she was psychologically affected as she lay almost dead with fear. Then the ghost took the appearance of the Brahmani and went back to her house.

(3) “Next morning the mother-in-law discovered some change in her daughter-in-law”- Who was the mother-in-law ? What change did she discover in her daughter-in-law ? How did she react to the change ? (1+2+2)

[ “পরের দিন সকালে শাশুড়ি তার পুত্রবধূর মধ্যে কিছু পরিবর্তন লক্ষ করেছিল”- কে ছিল শাশুড়ি ? তার পুত্রবধূ র মধ্যে কোন্ পরিবর্তন সে খুঁজে পেয়েছিল ? সেই পরিবর্তনে সে কীভাবে আচরণ করেছিল ?]

Answer –

Here the mother-in-law was the mother of Brahman in the story, ‘A Ghostly Wife.’

In this story a ghost seized the wife of a Brahman and went to the house of the Brahman in her appearance. At first mother-in-law thought that it was her daughter-in-law. But next morning the mother-in-law discovered some changes in her daughter-in-law. Brahman’s wife was weak and lauguid and according to her mother-in-law she took a long time to do the work of the house. But suddenly she had changed in many ways. The wife became a different person. She became very active. She did the work of the house in short time. All these changes surprised the mother-in-law.

The changes in her daughter-in-law surprised the mother-in-law but she did not suspect anything. Rather she rejoiced that her daughter-in-law was changed and she did all her works quickly. Like a typical mother-in-law she reacted at the changes in her daughter-in-law and became happy to see her active.

(4) “The old woman was struck with wonder at the sight”- Who was the old woman why was she struck with wonder ? (1+4)

[“বৃদ্ধা অবাক হয়ে গিয়েছিল দৃশ্য দেখে’- বৃদ্ধা কে ছিলেন ? কেন তিনি অবাক হয়ে গিয়েছিলেন ?]

Answer –

Here the old woman was the mother of Brahman in the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’.

A ghost took the appearance of a Brahman’s wife and came to her house. At first Brahman’s mother suspected nothing. But she noticed some changes in the character of her daughter-in-law. Her daughter-in-law was weak and languid by nature. She took long time to do household works. But Suddenly she became very active and she did all household works in short time. When the mother-in-law ordered the daughter-in-law to bring anything from the next room, it was brought in much less time than was required in walking from one room to other. One day Brahman’s mother noticed that her daughter-in-law stretched her hand to several yards distance to bring a vessel from distance. The old woman became speechless to see this sight. But she said nothing to her and told her son about the strange activities of her daughter-in-law.

(5) “They both concluded that the young woman in the house was not his real wife but a she ghost – who is the young woman ? When did they conclude that she was a ‘she-ghost’ ? What did they do then ? (1+2+2)

[ “তারা উভয়ে সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছিল যে তার ঘরে থাকা যুবতী মহিলা তার স্ত্রী নয় কিন্তু এক পেত্নি”- যুবতী মহিলা কে ছিলেন ? কখন তারা সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছিলেন যে সে হল এক পেত্নি ? তারপর তারা কী করেছিলেন ?]

Answer –

Here in The story ‘A Ghostly Wife’ the young woman was a she-ghost who entered into the Brahmin’s house in the appearance of her wife.

Brahman’s mother noticed some changes in her daughter-in-law. She also observed some strange activities of her. One day the old woman knew that there was no fire in the house. But she saw that the hearth in the kitchen-room was blazing and her daughter-in-law thrust her leg into the even as fuel. After watching this strange sight, the old woman and her son concluded that the young woman was not his wife but a she-ghost.

The Brahman and his mother noticed the strange activities of their daughter-in-law. They told her nothing and decided to call an exorcist to punish the she ghost and rescue her daughter-in-law.

(6) “Now this was an infalliable test”- Who said this ? What was the infalliable test” ? What hap-pened in the test ? (1+2+2)

[“এটা ছিল এক আশ্চর্য অব্যর্থ পরীক্ষা”- কে একথা বলেছিল ? অব্যর্থ পরীক্ষা কোনটি ছিল ? ওই পরীক্ষায় কী হয়েছিল ?]

Answer –

In the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’ the exorcist said these words to the Brahman and his mother.

After watching the strange activities of the daughter-in-law, the Brahman and his mother called an exorcist to defeat the she ghost. The exorcist came in the Brahman’s house and wanted to assertain whether the woman was a real woman or a ghost. For this purpose the exorcist lighted a piece of turmeric and set it below the nose of the woman. The exorcist called this test as an infallible test because no ghost can tolerate the smell of burnt turmeric.

The exorcist put the burnt turmeric near the woman and she screamed loudly and ran away from the room of the Brahman. It was then cleared that the women was either a ghost or a woman possessed by a = ghost. Thus the she-ghost was identified with the test.

(7) “Then the ghost said with a strong nasal accent”- Who was the ghost ? When did the ghost say with a nasal accent ? What did she say ? (1+2+2)

[ “তারপর ভৃত্যটি বলেছিল তীব্র নাকি উচ্চারণে”- ভূতটি কে ছিল ? ভূতটি কখন নাকি সুরে কথা বলেছিল ? সে কী বলেছিল ?]

Answer –

In the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’ the ghost was a she-ghost who seized the Brahman’s wife and came to her house in the appearance of Brahmani.

The Brahman and his mother called an exorcist to indentify the she ghost. The exorcist put a piece of burnt turmeric under the nose of the woman and she screamed loudly in nasal sound. At first the she ghost refused to say anything. Then the exorcist took up his slepper’s and began belabouring her with them. Then the ghost started to confess her guilt in nasal accent.

The she ghost said that she was a sankchunni and she lived on a tree by the side of the tank. She had seized the young Brahmani and put her in the hollow of her tree because one night she had touched her accidentally .

(8) Why does the arrival of the ghostly wife cause no suspicion in the family ? How does she gain appreciation of the family ? (2+3)

(পেতনিটির আগমন পরিবারের কারও মনে কেন সন্দেহের উদ্রেক করেনি ? সে কীভাবে পরিবারের প্রশংসা লাভ করে ?)

Answer –

The female ghost enters into the house, wearing the clothes of the mistress of the Brahman. She comes perfectly disguised as the replaced wife. Obviously, no doubt crosses the minds of the Brahman and his old mother.

Now, the ghostly wife pleases her mother-in-law with her exceptional skills in any household work. She fetches things from near or far in a second. Earlier, the mistress of the family, due to her physical weakness and languidness, could not satisfy her mother-in-law. But she is now a changed being. Perhaps, the husband might feel satisfied with her strength and charm in their personal life. All this enables the ghostly wife to earn appreciation in the family.

(9) How does the ghostly wife impress her mother-in-law ? What specific events create suspicion in her in-law’s mind ? (3+3)

(ভুতুড়ে স্ত্রীটি কীভাবে তার শাশুড়িকে মুগ্ধ করে ? কোন্ বিশেষ বিশেষ ঘটনাগুলিতে শাশুড়ির মনে তার প্রতি সন্দেহ জাগে ?)

Answer –

The ghostly wife appears with perfect disguise in the house of the Brahman. None has an ounce of doubt about her identity. She first wins the heart of her mother-in-law with her extraordinary skill in housekeeping. Her mother-in-law is amazed at her changed way of dealing with things of family. Whenever she wants a thing, the ghostly wife presents it in a trice. This impresses the old lady who has long been dissatisfied with her daughter-in-laws sluggishness and idleness.

However, some specific events create a suspicion in her daughter-in-law. Once she ordered to fetch a thing from the next room. The thing was brought to her in a fraction of second. Second, she wanted a vessel lying some yards away. This time too she saw with her own eyes that her daughter-in-law, spreading her abnormally long hand, brought it for her. Now the old lady began to feel that it was not possible for a normal human being to the task in such a way. Her suspicion started mounting up.

(10) What does the old woman see her daughter-in-law in the kitchen ? Who else sees the strange sight ? What does the family think of their woman ? (2+1+2)

(বৃদ্ধা মহিলাটি রান্নাঘরে তার বৌমাকে কী করতে দেখে ? এই দৃশ্যটি অন্য আর কে দেখে ? পরিবারটি তাদের মহিলা সম্পর্কে কীভাবে ?)

Answer –

One day the old mother of the Brahman sees an eerie sight in the kitchen. Her daughter-in-law is engaged in cooking. To her utter horror, she finds the woman making fire using her foot in stead of fuel.

The mother shows the horrible scene to her son. They are fully convinced of the real nature of the woman.

They immediately want to get rid of the uncanny woman. They send for an exorcist to expose this evil spirit. They are confirmed that she is a malicious spirit or she is their former woman possessed with devil. Only an ojha can be an answer to this riddle. So they take his help.

(11) Where does the Brahman’s wife go one night ? What happens to her ? How does the event change the setup of the family ? (3+2)

(একরাতে ব্রাহ্মণের স্ত্রী কোথায় যায় ? তার সঙ্গে কী ঘটে ? এই ঘটনা পরিবারটির মধ্যে কী পরিবর্তন ঘটায় ?)

Answer –

One night, the Brahman’s wife, on a casual occasion goes to the pond near their house.

There at the bank has been standing the ghostly woman. The wife brushes her and thereby incurs her anger. The angry spirit seizes the wife by the throat and climbs up a tree with her victim. There she thrusts her into a hole of the trunk. In great fear the helpless woman lies almost dead. The female ghost puts on her clothes and disguised as the wife of the Brahman enters the house.

The appearance of the female ghost disturbs the usual setup of the Brahman’s family. Though initially appreciated for her exceptional skill, she is soon detected. And her evil presence is dealt with severely.

(12) Explain the significance of the title of the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’ (5)

[‘A Ghostly Wife’ গল্পের শিরোনামের গুরুত্ব বর্ণনা করো ।]

Answer –

The title of the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’ refers to the wife of a village Brahman who is attacked by a she ghost. In this story the she ghost, in the appearance of Brahman’s wife is the main character. She constructs the central plot of the story. One night Brahman’s wife leaves home to get some water for the household from a nearby tank. Here she brushes past a ghost who becomes very angry. The ghost thrusts the Brahmani into a hole in the trunk of a tree. The ghost takes the appearance of the Brahmani and comes to the house. Her mother in-law observes some strange changes in her character. By nature she is lazy and takes much time to do something, but now she does all household works very quickly. Not only that she also watches her daughter-in-law stretches her arm to fetch a vessel from distance and uses her leg as fuel burning to cook in. Then the old woman and her son decide to call an exorcist. The man gets hold of the ghost and beats it up until it reveals the location of the Brahmani. The wife is discovered and the ghost is sent away. Thus the ghost in the appearance of Brahman’s wife constitutes the main plot of the story. The abnormal, strange activities of the ghost help to create the typical world of fantasy in traditional folktale. So, the title of the story is appropriate according to the charactersization and the main plot of the story.

(13) Discuss the role of the exorcist in the story ‘A Ghost Wife’ (5)

[‘A Ghostly Wife’ গল্পে ওঝার ভূমিকা আলোচনা করো। ]

Answer –

The exorcist or Ojha is a significant character in

The story ‘A Ghost Wife’. This character brings the climax of the story. The introduction of character of exorcist is an example of folk-culture in the story. It shows the tradition of using exorcist to control demonic forces in medieval Bengal. In this folktale the exorcist helps the Brahman to defeat the villain she ghost. The mother of the Brahman noticed some strange activities of the ghost in the appearance of her daughter-in-law. Then the exorcist was called up to help them. He comes in the house. Then he identifies the she ghost with smell of burnt turmeric. He takes up his slippers and started belabouring her with them to make her confess. The method of the exorcist has been criticized by feminists. The character of the exorcist is implanted in the story only to punish the Villain and rescue the wife of the Brahman. The activities of the exorcist remind us about the ojhas in medieval Bengal. Thus the exorcist helps to create the world of fantasy in this folktale.

(14) Comment on the ending of the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’. (5)

[‘A Ghostly Wife গল্পের পরিসমাপ্তির ওপর মন্তব্য করো।]

Answer –

The ending of the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’ is like the

Other folktales. The ending is all about the punishment of the she-ghost and the rescue of the Brahman’s wife. The remarkable part of the ending is the introduction of the character of exorcist. The character of the exorcist is the example of using folk-culture in the tales. Brahman’s mother became sure that her daughter-in-law was not real wife but a she-ghost from her strange activities. The Brahman also witnessed supernatural acts of the ghost. So they decided to call an exorcist. The exorcist identified the she ghost in Brahman’s wife’s appearance. At first the she-ghost refused to make any confession. Then the exorcist started to beat her with his slippers. After that the she ghost confessed that she had seized the young Brahmani and put her in the hollow of her tree because one night she had touched her. Then the woman was brought from the tree almost dead. The wife of the Brahman recovered slowly and the ghost was released by the spell of the exorcist. Thus we find a happy ending of the story with the punishment of the villain and the rescue of the Brahmani. At last the Brahman and his wife lived many years happily. The use of short poem of two lines at the end of the story reminds us about the tradition of folktales ending with a poem.

A Ghostly Wife Question Answer (5 Mark)। Lal Behari Dey। Class 11 2nd Semester । Long Question Answer । WBCHSE

A Ghostly Wife Question Answer (5 Mark)

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