3.1 - Night of the Scorpion - Std 10 - Kumarbharati

Poet: Nissim Ezekiel

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

Genre: Narrative Poem / Free Verse

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary:

The poem narrates a childhood memory of the poet when his mother was stung by a scorpion one rainy night. The scorpion had entered the house to escape the rain and stung the poet’s mother before slipping away. Villagers rushed in with candles and lanterns, chanting prayers and offering superstitious explanations for her suffering. They believed her pain would purify her soul and reduce the misfortunes of her next birth.

The poet’s father, a rationalist, tried various remedies – both traditional and scientific – including burning the wound with paraffin. A holy man also attempted to cure her through rituals. After twenty hours, the pain subsided. The mother’s only concern was gratitude that the scorpion had stung her instead of her children, revealing her selfless love.

Theme / Central Idea:

The poem contrasts superstition and rationality in dealing with human suffering while highlighting the deep, selfless love of a mother. It also reflects on human nature – the villagers’ collective empathy, the father’s logical approach, and the mother’s sacrifice.

Word Meanings

Figures of Speech (with examples)

Grammar Questions

Q1. Identify the infinitive and explain its function:“

May he sit still.”

→ Infinitive: to sit (understood form)

→ Function: Expresses the villagers’ wish or hope.

Q2. Change to indirect speech:

My mother said, “Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children.”

→ My mother expressed her gratitude that the scorpion had stung her and spared her children.

→ Explanation: The direct words are changed to reported form, maintaining tense.

Q3. Identify the modal and its function:

May your suffering decrease the misfortunes of your next birth.

→ Modal: May

→ Function: Expresses a wish or blessing.

Q4. Rewrite in present continuous tense:

The peasants sat around on the floor with my mother in the centre.

→ The peasants are sitting around on the floor with my mother in the centre.

→ Explanation: Present continuous shows action happening now.

Q5. Frame a Wh-question:

The scorpion stung the poet’s mother.

→ Who did the scorpion sting?

→ Explanation: Asks for the object of the verb stung.

Personal Response Questions

Q1. What does the poem reveal about the mother’s character?

→ The poem reveals that the mother is selfless, loving, and courageous. Even after enduring severe pain for twenty hours, her only thought was relief that her children were unharmed. This shows that a mother’s love is unconditional and prioritises her children’s safety over her own suffering.

Q2. How does the poem contrast superstition and rationality?

→ The poem presents superstition through the villagers’ chanting, beliefs in karma, and ritualistic explanations, while rationality is shown in the father’s scientific approach and practical remedies. This contrast reveals how communities rely on both faith and reason when faced with adversity, reflecting a blend of cultural traditions and modern thought.

Q3. What message does Nissim Ezekiel convey through this poem?

→ The poem conveys that love, especially a mother’s love, is far greater than pain or fear. It also shows how different perspectives – faith-based or scientific – coexist in society during a crisis. Through vivid description, the poet reminds us of the power of empathy and sacrifice.

True or False

1. The villagers caught and killed the scorpion. → False

2. The father was a believer in rituals and magic. → False

3. The poem is written in first person. → True

Probable Board Questions

Q1. What forced the scorpion to take shelter in the poet’s house?

→ Continuous heavy rain forced the scorpion to enter the poet’s house to escape the wet conditions. It hid under a sack of rice inside, which brought it close to the poet’s mother, leading to the sting.

Q2. How did the villagers try to neutralise the scorpion’s sting?

→ The villagers surrounded the mother with candles and lanterns, clicking their tongues in sympathy. They chanted God’s name and expressed beliefs that her pain would cleanse her spirit and reduce misfortunes in her future life.

Q3. How did the father respond to the situation?

→ The father, a sceptic and rationalist, attempted every possible remedy, from applying powders and herbs to using paraffin and even calling a holy man. His approach showed determination to ease the pain through both science and local traditions.

Q4. What is the significance of the poem’s ending?

→ The ending is significant because it highlights the mother’s unconditional love. Despite her long and painful suffering, she expressed only gratitude that the scorpion had chosen her instead of harming her children, underlining a mother’s self-sacrificing nature.

Appreciation of the Poem

The poem Night of the Scorpion by Nissim Ezekiel is a powerful narrative in free verse. It vividly captures a rural Indian setting and the community’s reaction to a crisis. The poet uses imagery, similes, metaphors, and onomatopoeia to enhance the storytelling. The contrast between superstition and rationality is skillfully portrayed. The tone shifts from tension to relief, ending with a touching expression of a mother’s love. The absence of rhyme and the use of first-person narration make the poem realistic and personal. I liked the poem for its deep emotional impact and the way it honours a mother’s sacrifice.

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