A Glass Of Water (A one-act-Play) Class 8 English Solution

Chapter Name: A Glass Of Water
Subject: Modern English
Lesson: 8
Class: 8
Board: Board Of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM/BSEM)
Contents: Chapter Summary, Questions and Answers.

About the Drama:

The lesson A Glass of Water is written in the form of a drama or play. It is different from the stories of the previous lessons in the style and mode of writing. A drama or play is a piece of writing which is artistically presented with dialogues. It provides a live setting where the characters are real and demonstrates the story in a natural way.

A drama has some features which are unique like characters, plot, and symbols. It could be comedy, melodrama, Tragicomedy, Dramatic, convention, Monologue, Soliloquy, aside etc. Some imperative aspects of drama include setting, theme, structure dramatic irony and characterization.

Summary

In this lesson, the stage is set with a thatched hut and a fading melancholic melody suggesting dreariness and poverty. Four characters are there in this play —Nungshi, Thoiba, David and Ali and the story revolves around Nungshi so she is the protagonist or the main character of the play.

Nungshi is the sister of Thoiba who leads a hard life so she had to take money from their mother. But Thoiba wanted the money back and tricked Nungshi into giving the money to him. He left with the money but not before Nungshi who loved her brother very much blessed him instead of being angry with him so that he may never suffer like her and also gave two rupee coins to him to buy sweets and have with his friends.

After he left, his two friends David and Ali came to visit Nungshi to enquire about her health. They brought gifts for her too and shared the glass of water Nungshi offered to them without any hesitation. Looking at them she feels such happiness that in spite of belonging to different communities and religions they considered her as their sister and treated her so. Because of their affection and purity of heart, she considered them as her kin and kin.

After they left, Thoiba too came back feeling sorry for his behaviour earlier and returned the money back to her. He also brought some new clothes for her. She feels such happiness that her brother comes to realise her love for him is above everything.

She accepted his gifts but told him she would be the happiest sister if he went and met David’s and Ali’s sisters Diana and Amina and presented the gifts to them. She told him that society is more important than any Of us, me or you. She further advised him to share some drops of water from the glass David and Ali drank and pour some for her too so that they all share some drops of humanism.

BOSEM Solutions for Class 8 English Lesson 8: A Glass Of Water

Answer the following question in one sentence each

i. What does Thoiba ask Nungshi to return?

Ans: Thoiba asked Nungshi to return the one thousand rupees that Mother, gave to

ii. How does Nungshi bless him?

Ans: Nungshi bless him so that he may not suffer like her.

iii. Who are David and Ali?

Ans: David and Ali are Thoiba’s friends.

iv. Why do they come to meet Nungshi?

Ans: They come to meet Nungshi because Thoiba told them that she is sick.

v. What does Nungshi Offer them?

Ans: Nungshi offers them a glass of water.

vi. What can she see in the feelings of David and Ali?

Ans: She can see so much purity in the feelings of David and Ali.

vii. What is the tie that binds us together?

Ans: Love is the tie that binds us together.

viii. What does the glass of water stand for?

Ans: The glass of water stands as a proud symbol of their communal harmony.

ix. What gifts are presented by David and Ali to Nungshi?

Ans: David and Ali presented a five hundred rupee note and a hand-made shawl to Nungshi as gifts.

x. What does Nungshi heartily welcome?

Ans: Nungshi heartily welcomes David and Ali’s tokens of love.

Answer the following questions in about 20-25 words each.

i. How does Thoiba take the money from his sister?

Ans: Thoiba requested his sister to hand over the money to him so that he could give it to her himself. But when his sister gave to him he took the money and didn’t give it back to his sister.

ii. How do David and Ali accept Nungshi’s offer of a glass of Water?

Ans: While Nungshi was offering a glass of water to David who had come to enquire about her health, Ali too arrived. So she offered to bring another glass of water for Ali but David replied that both of them could take the water from the same glass and thus they both share the water.

iii. Why does Thoiba come once again?

Ans: Thoiba comes back again because he wants to apologize for his behaviour earlier of forcefully taking the money from her. He also brought some new clothes for her.

iv. What does Nungshi advise him to do?

Ans: Nungshi advised Thoiba to meet Diana and Amina the sisters of David and Ali. She further says that she will be the happiest sister on earth if he goes and presents the gifts he brought for her to them.

v. How do all of them share the water from the same glass?

Ans: Nungshi told Thoiba to pour some drops of water into her mouth from the glass David and Ali had shared and drank. She further advises Thoiba to also drink some drops of water from the same glass which he did. Thus all of them the water from the same glass.

Answer the following questions in about 50-60 words each

i. How does Nungshi conquer the heart of Thoiba?

Ans.’ When Thoiba demands the money back from Nungshi which he succeeded in taking by lying to his sister she tries to reason with him not to take the money forcefully. And instead of cursing him for his action Nungshi lovingly kissed his forehead and blessed him that he may never suffer like her. She further gave a two-rupee coin to him to buy sweets and eat them with his friends.

Thoiba left but came back again sometime later to apologise for his action and return the money he forcefully took. He also brought some new clothes for her. He also agrees willingly to take some drops of water from the glass every one of them had drunk and thank Nungshi for enlightening him. Thus Nungshi conquered the heart of Thoiba.

ii. Write why Nungshi regards Davis and Ali as her Kith and Kin.

Ans: Nungshi regards David and Ali as her Kith and Kin because of their affection and respect shown to her as sisters through they are the friends of her brother. They came to enquire about her health when they heard that she was Sick and brought gifts for her. And even though they all belong to different communities they didn’t mind sharing the glass of water to quench their thirst. They belong to the same sea of humanity. Such purity of feelings touches her heart and she considers them as her Kith and Kin.

iii. Nungshi is the central figure of the play, Discuss.

Ans: In a drama or play, a protagonist (main character) is the central figure on whom the story revolves. ln this play ‘ A Glass of Water’ Nungshi is at the centre of the story which means she is the protagonist. She makes the key decisions and experiences the consequences of those decisions. The Story revolves around her and she makes the decisions that move the story forward.

Extra Questions and answers

Q1. Why did Nungshi and Thoiba argue over the money given by their mother?
Ans: Nungshi and Thoiba argued over the money given by their mother because Nungshi had taken the money to support her difficult life, but Thoiba wanted the money back. Thoiba tricked Nungshi into giving the money to him, which led to the disagreement. Despite the argument, Nungshi, out of love for her brother, chose to bless him instead of getting angry, showing her selflessness and care for Thoiba.

Q2. How did Ali and Thoiba exemplify communal harmony?
Ans: Thoiba and Ali exemplified communal harmony by treating Nungshi as their sister despite belonging to different communities and religions. They showed genuine care and affection, demonstrating that love and friendship transcend religious and cultural differences.

Q3. Why did Thoiba return the money to Nungshi?
Ans: Thoiba returned the money to Nungshi because he felt sorry for tricking her earlier. He realized his mistake and wanted to make amends, showing his love and respect for his sister.

Q4. Why did Nungshi advise Thoiba to gift new clothes to Ali and David’s sister?
Ans: Nungshi advised Thoiba to gift the new clothes to Ali’s and David’s sisters to emphasize the importance of unity and communal harmony. She believed that by sharing with others, especially those from different communities, they could strengthen their bonds and promote humanism, which she valued above individual needs.

Q5. Justify the title ” a glass of water “.
Ans: The title “A Glass of Water” is symbolic and carries deep meaning in the story. The glass of water represents the simplicity and purity of human relationships, transcending social, religious, and cultural boundaries. When Nungshi offers water to David and Ali, it’s not just an act of hospitality; it symbolizes her acceptance of them as family, regardless of their different backgrounds.

Moreover, Nungshi’s advice to Thoiba to share the same glass of water highlights the idea of shared humanity. By suggesting that they all drink from the same glass, she is advocating for unity, equality, and the breaking down of barriers that often divide people.

In essence, the glass of water becomes a powerful symbol of communal harmony, mutual respect, and the simple yet profound ways in which human connections can be nurtured. The title is justified as it encapsulates the central theme of the story: the importance of unity and the value of human relationships above all else.

Match the words in column A with those in column B

Ans:

Write True or False

Fill in the Blanks

Ans:

1. You should never waste your time.
2. A glass of water quenched their thirst.
3. The clouds linger in the sky.
4. Our mutual love will succeed at last.
5. Nungshi is thirsty for some drops of humanism.

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