4.2. The Rising of the Moon - Class 11 - English Yuvakbharati

Author: Lady Gregory | Genre: One-Act Play / Political Drama

"The Rising of the Moon" is a famous one-act play that explores the themes of duty, patriotism, and the internal conflict between a person's professional responsibilities and their national identity.

1. Comprehensive Glossary

2. Introduction & Summary

Ice Breakers:

1. Discuss the different types of "Internal Conflicts" a person might face, such as choosing between honesty and profit, or family and career.

2. Reflect on the meaning of "Patriotism" and whether it is just about fighting in a war or also about standing up for the values of one's people.

   
   

Summary (200 Words):

Set on a moonlit quay in Ireland, the play follows a Police Sergeant who is guarding the waterfront to catch a dangerous revolutionary fugitive. The government has offered a large reward of one hundred pounds for his capture—a sum that could significantly improve the Sergeant's life.

While on duty, the Sergeant meets a man dressed in rags who claims to be a poor ballad-singer. As they sit together on a barrel, the "ballad-singer" sings old Irish patriotic songs that trigger the Sergeant's own memories of his youth when he, too, was a passionate patriot. The stranger cleverly uses these songs and shared memories to create a "rapport" with the Sergeant, eventually revealing that he is, in fact, the fugitive they are searching for.

The play reaches its "pinnacle" when the other policemen return. The Sergeant faces a "grave" moral dilemma: should he do his duty and arrest the man for the reward, or should he listen to his "soul" and let a fellow countryman go free? In the end, he hides the fugitive and allows him to escape, sacrificing the reward for a higher sense of national brotherhood.

3. HSC Board Activity Sheet Pattern (Drama Section)

A1. Global Understanding (2 Marks)

• Set 1: True or False

  1. The play takes place in the bright sunlight of the afternoon. (False)

  2. The reward for catching the prisoner is one hundred pounds. (True)

  3. The Sergeant's assistants are named B. and X. (True)

  4. The ballad-singer was actually the fugitive in disguise. (True)

  5. The Sergeant arrests the man and takes the reward. (False)

     
     

• Set 2: Complete the Web

  • Question: Identify the elements of the setting in the play.

  • Answer: 1. Moonlit Night. 2. A Quay/Waterfront. 3. Large barrels. 4. Post/Placards.

    
    

• Set 3: Character Traits

  • Question: Describe the Sergeant's character.

  • Answer: 1. Dutiful. 2. Ambitious for promotion. 3. Sentimental/Patriotic at heart. 4. Conflicted.

    
    

• Set 4: Sequence of Events

  1. The Sergeant allows the man to escape.

  2. The Sergeant and the singer sit on a barrel and sing.

  3. The Sergeant posts placards about the escaped prisoner.

  4. The ballad-singer reveals his true identity.

  5. Answer: 3 → 2 → 4 → 1.

     
     

• Set 5: Identification

  1. The author of the play: Lady Gregory.

  2. The sum of the reward money: One hundred pounds.

     
     

A2. Complex Factual (2 Marks)

1. Question: Why is the Sergeant so interested in catching the fugitive?

   • Answer: Besides the "lucrative" reward of one hundred pounds, the Sergeant hopes that catching such a dangerous "rebel" will lead to a promotion and make his career "brighter".

     
     

2. Question: How does the ballad-singer manage to build a "rapport" with the Sergeant?

   • Answer: He sings traditional Irish ballads that the Sergeant knew as a young man. He talks about shared feelings for the country, making the Sergeant "muse" on his own past "patriotism".

     
     

3. Question: Describe the "Internal Conflict" faced by the Sergeant at the end of the play.

   • Answer: He is torn between his "professional" duty to the law and the government, and his "emotional" connection to his country and the man who represents the "spirit" of Irish freedom.

     
     

4. Question: What role do the "Placards" play in the story?

   • Answer: The placards provide the "exposition" of the plot, informing the audience about the escape and setting the "anxiety" and high stakes for the fugitive's capture.

     
     

5. Question: What is the significance of the title "The Rising of the Moon"?

   • Answer: It refers to an Irish revolutionary song. It symbolizes the hope for a new dawn or "rebellion" that will eventually lead to the country's freedom.

     
     

A3. Inference / Interpretation / Analysis (2 Marks)

1. Question: "The Sergeant's heart was not in his uniform." Interpret this statement.

   • Answer: This implies that although he wears the uniform of the British-controlled police force, his true "identity" and sympathies still lie with the Irish people and their struggle.

     
     

2. Question: Analyze the singer's "technique" in manipulating the Sergeant.

   • Answer: He uses "psychological" tactics by pretending to be poor and weak, while subtly reminding the Sergeant of the "friendships" and values he abandoned for a job.

     
     

3. Question: Why does the moonlit quay serve as an effective "setting" for the play?

   • Answer: The darkness and the "shadows" create an "ambience" of mystery and suspense, allowing for "disguises" and secret conversations to happen without being noticed by others.

     
     

4. Question: Interpret the ending of the play. Is the Sergeant a hero or a failure?

   • Answer: He is a hero of "conscience." Though he fails his official duty, he succeeds in being true to his "soul" and his people, showing that human "fraternity" is more important than money.

     
     

5. Question: Analyze the importance of the "Barrel" in the staging of the play.

   • Answer: It acts as a physical "bridge" between the two men. Sitting back-to-back or side-by-side on it symbolizes their shared "origin" despite their current opposing roles in society.

     
     

A4. Personal Response (2 Marks)

1. Question: Would you have let the fugitive go if you were the Sergeant? Give reasons.

   • Answer: (Personal Answer Example): Yes, because like the Sergeant, I would find it hard to arrest someone fighting for a "just cause," even if it meant losing a "lucrative" reward.

     
     

2. Question: How do you feel about "Disguises" in real life? Are people always who they seem?

   • Answer: Often, people wear a "mask" or a professional "uniform" that hides their true "perspectives." Like the singer, anyone can be a "fugitive" from their true selves.

     
     

3. Question: Describe a time you had to choose between "Duty" and "Friendship."

   • Answer: (Personal Answer Example): Once I had to report a friend for a "grave mistake" in class. It was a "difficult" choice, but I felt that honesty was the better "pillar" of my character.

     
     

4. Question: Do you like "Folk Songs" or "Ballads"? How do they make you feel?

   • Answer: I love them because they carry the "scent" of our history. They make me feel "connected" to my "ancestors" and the traditions of my land.

     
     

5. Question: What is your "Message" to someone struggling with an internal conflict?

   • Answer: My message would be to listen to your "inner voice." As the Sergeant shows, "peace" comes from doing what is morally right, not just what is legally expected.

About BhashaLab

BhashaLab is a dynamic platform dedicated to the exploration and mastery of languages - operating both online and offline. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), we offer language education that emphasizes measurable learning outcomes and recognized, transferable credits.

We offer:

1. NEP alligned offline language courses for degree colleges - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

2. NEP alligned offline language courses for schools - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

3. Std VIII, IX and X - English and Sanskrit Curriculum Tuitions - All boards

4. International English Olympiad Tuitions - All classes

5. Basic and Advanced English Grammar - Offline and Online - Class 3 and above

6. English Communication Skills for working professionals, adults and students - Offline and Online

Contact: +91 86577 20901, +91 97021 12044

Mail: info@bhashalab.com

Website: www.bhashalab.com