XII ENGLISH 1.1 An Astrologer's Day: R. K. Narayan (Activity-Based Questions)

1.1 An Astrologer's Day: R. K. Narayan

-:Activity-Based Questions:-

1) What is the moral of the story- An Astrologer's Day?

Ans:- The moral of "An Astrologer's Day" seems to relate to the fact that the protagonist does not rely on the hocus-pocus of the pseudo-science of astrology with its useless paraphernalia, but on his own perception, intuition, and practical experience. The astrologer is versatile and adaptable.

2) Who comes to see the astrologer when he was about to close down for the night?

Ans:-  Guru Nayak

3) What man comes to see the astrologer as he is just about to close down for the night?

Ans:- Guru Nayak.

4) What is the source of irony in the story an astrologer's Day?  

Ans:- There are several examples of irony in "An Astrologer's Day." The most striking example of situational irony is the fact that Guru Nayak comes to the astrologer for help in finding the man who nearly killed him--and the astrologer himself is the very man he is looking for.

5) How did the astrologer convince Guru Nayak about his future?

Ans:- The astrologer says that Guru Nanak and that impresses in creating the astrologer that he felt out with stabled him. It pushed into the presuming and thus it should undergo a plan for take care of revenge and plunge with them. He gives the information which is true and based on the painful story.

6) What do you learn from the story?

Ans:- A theme is the message, or lesson, that the reader learns by reading the story. Sometimes a story has a particular kind of message, known as a moral. A moral is a type of message that teaches a reader a life lesson, such as what is right or wrong, how to make decisions, or how to treat other people.

7) What does the astrologer feel at the end of the story?

Ans:- The end of the story is also interesting as Narayan appears to be exploring the theme of relief. The astrologer feels relieved that Guru is not dead as it lifts a great weight from the astrologer's shoulders. How relaxed the astrologer is; is noticeable by the way that he explains his story to his wife.

8) What made the astrologer feel very uncomfortable in the presence of the stranger?

Ans:- When the stranger lit his cheroot, the astrologer recognized him that he was the man whose blood he thought was on his hands. So he felt very uncomfortable in his presence.

9) How much money did the astrologer charge per question?

 

Ans:- The astrologer charged his customers three piece per question.

10) What Mark did Guru Nayak have on his chest?           

Ans:- Guru Nayak has a stab scar on his chest. He shows it to the astrologer after the latter predicts that he has once endured a knife wound in the chest.

11) What circumstances made the astrologer run away from his village?

Ans:- The astrologer ran away from his village because of a false impression. The astrologer as a youngster drank, gambled and quarrelled with other people. Once, under the influence of alcohol he had fought with a man, stabbed and pushed him down a well.

12) What should I ask astrologer?

Ans:- Here are some examples of good questions to ask the astrologer:

    1) Where do my talents lie?

    2) What do my aspects show for the next 12 months? ...

    3) What career would best suit me?

    4) Am I under good aspects for meeting someone?

    5) When will my finances improve?

    6) Is this a good time for me to start my own business?

13) What did the astrologer tell his wife after dinner?

Ans:- After dinner, sitting on the pyol, he told her: "Do you know a great load is gone from me today? I thought I had the blood of a man on my hands all these years. That was the reason why I ran away from home, settled here, and married you. He is alive."

14) What is the theme of an astrologer's Day?

Ans:- In An Astrologer's Day by R.K Narayan we have the theme of fear, freedom, appearance, desperation, guilt and relief.

15) What do you mean by astrologer?

     

Ans:- Cultural definitions for astrologer: A study of the positions and relationships of the sun, moon, stars, and planets in order to judge their influence on human actions. Astrology, unlike astronomy, is not a scientific study and has been much criticized by scientists.

16) Why did the astrologer choose the spot under the tamarind tree to conduct business?

Ans:- In ''An Astrologer's Day, '' the astrologer chooses to conduct business under the tamarind tree mainly because of its location, where there is a lot of foot traffic. ... '' That spot is also next to many other vendors, such as a fried peanut seller and a loud cloth merchant, who attract business to the area.

17) What articles did the astrologer carry?

Ans:- The astrologer carried his professional equipment of a dozen cowry shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook and a bundle of palmyra writing.

18) What did the astrologer tell the customer about the attempt made on his life?

Ans:- He tells the client that the man who tried to kill him was killed four months ago, crushed under a lorry in a far-off town, and warns him: "Your village is two day's journey due north of this town. Take the next train and be gone. ... He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.

19) What made the astrologer forehead look grand?

Ans:- The astrologer's forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion and his eyes sparkled with abnormal gleam and this made the astrologer's forehead look grand.

20) Who is the writer of an astrologer's Day?

Ans:- R. K. Narayan

21) When did the astrologer usually start his day's business?

Ans:- The astrologer usually begins his day's business at noon or midday, as the story goes. According to the text, the astrologer is always punctual; this means that, at exactly the same time each day, customers can expect to find him sitting underneath the huge tamarind tree at Town Hall Park.

22) What were the equipments that the astrologer had at his disposal?

Ans:- He opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing. Cowrie shells are large sea-snail shells.

23) Where did the astrologer sit to carry out his business?

Ans:- The astrologer usually begins his day's business at noon or midday, as the story goes. According to the text, the astrologer is always punctual; this means that, at exactly the same time each day, customers can expect to find him sitting underneath the huge tamarind tree at Town Hall Park.

24) How did the astrologer save himself?

Ans:- The astrologer rescues himself from Guru Nayak's revenge by convincing Nayak that he has the power to predict the future then telling Nayak that he must go home to his village permanently, and not come to the astrologer's city again.

25) How much do astrologers charge?

Ans:- Depending on the astrologer, the fees can be as low as $125 per hour and as high as $350 per hour for experienced astrologers.

26) Who is Guru Nayak?

Ans:- Guru Nayak is the man whom the astrologer tried to murder several years before the story takes place. Very little is said about Guru Nayak other than that he has left his village and gone searching for the man who tried to kill him so that he can strangle him to death.

27) How did he look like an astrologer?

Ans:- The astrologer had an appearance that suited his profession. His forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion and his eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam which was really the outcome of a continued search for customers. However, it made the astrologer look wise in an uncanny manner.

28) Who was the astrologer run away from his village?

Ans:- Guru Nayak One day , he drank, gambled any quarrelled badly. He stabbed a man named Guru Nayak. He pushed the man into well and left him for dead. For fear of being arrested for murder, he run away from the village and left his house.

29) What happened one evening when the astrologer was preparing to go home?

Ans:- One day when he was ready to go home, a man named Guru Nayak came to him in the dark. He was the astrologer's enemy and he was in search of him. So he felt very uncomfortable in his presence.

30) How do you prepare for astrology reading?

Ans:- Prepare for Your Astrology Reading with Five Easy Steps:

1) Share what you know with your astrologer. Astrology is complex and most astrologers could spend months  exploring the  details of any one chart.

2 )Ask questions.

3) Know your info. ...

4) Be curious, but let some things go. ...

5) Prepare for action.

31) What is an astrology reading?

Ans:- Astrology readings that are based solely on the date of you birth are sometimes also called Natal Astrology, or The Law of Beginnings. ... An astrology reading begins with a birth chart. Every person will have a detailed, specific birth chart, or horoscope, based on their exact date of birth.

32) Should I see an astrologer?

Ans:- For your horoscope, you should go to an astrologer only during problems, after birth, and before entering 60s. ... For your horoscope, you should go to an astrologer only during problems, after birth, and before entering 60s. These three are the only situations where a prediction would be required and helpful.

33) What did the astrologer's professional equipment consist of?

Ans:- The astrologer's professional equipment consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook and a bundle of palmyra writing.

34) Who is the famous astrologer?

Ans:- Bejan Daruwalla. He is the most acclaimed astrologer worldwide and a famous columnist. Millions of believers refer him for the accurate predictions. He is a leader in palmistry, numerology, tarot-reading, match-making, and compatibility  rests.

35) Is astrology a real word?

Ans:- The word astrology comes from the early Latin word astrologia, which derives from the Greek ἀστρολογία—from ἄστρον astron ("star") and -λογία -logia, ("study of"—"account of the stars"). Astrologia later passed into meaning 'star-divination' with astronomia used for the scientific term.

36) How do you use astrology in a sentence?

Ans:- Astrology in a Sentence:- 

Because she followed astrology, she read her horoscope each day. ...

There is a section on astrology in the local newspaper where people can read about their future. ...

My hobby is following astrology and the effects that it has on my friends and family.

37) How did the astrologer earn his living why was he forced to hide his identity?

Ans:- The astrologer had a saffron turban on his head. He applied sandal paste on his forehead. Thus, he hide his identity and began to sit under a tamarind tree. He answered the questions satisfactorily of the customers and charged three pies as fees from them.

38) What did the astrologer tell his wife?

Ans:- The astrologer and his wife appear to have a close relationship. No doubt the astrologer shares almost everything with her. They lead a very simple life. He brings home money every night and undoubtedly tells her about the events of his day.

39) What do short stories teach us?

Ans:- Short stories bring more pressure, because like poets, each paragraph, sentence, and word is more important than they would be inside a large novel.  Short stories will likely never be as widely read as novels, but they do matter to those who are paying attention.

40) What is the source of irony in the story an astrologer's Day?

Ans:- There are several examples of irony in "An Astrologer's Day." The most striking example of situational irony is the fact that Guru Nayak comes to the astrologer for help in finding the man who nearly killed him--and the astrologer himself is the very man he is looking for.

41) How did the astrologer convince Guru Nayak about his future?

Ans:- The astrologer tells Guru Nayak about the incidences happened in his past life and the coming danger for his life in future, that impresses Guru Nayak to believe in him. He gives the information which is true and based on the painful story.

42) Who invented astrology?

Ans:- Babylonians, Astrology originated in Babylon far back in antiquity, with the Babylonians developing their own form of horoscopes around 2,400 years ago. Then around 2,100 years ago, astrology spread to the eastern Mediterranean, becoming popular in Egypt, which at the time was under the control of a dynasty of Greek kings.

 43) What can an astrologer tell you?

Ans:- In the West, astrology most often consists of a system of horoscopes purporting to explain aspects of a person's personality and predict future events in their life based on the positions of the sun, moon, and other celestial objects at the time of their birth.

44) What is the work of astrologist?

Ans:- Prepares and analyzes horoscope to advise clients regarding future trends and events: Prepares horoscope by computing position of planets, their relationship to each other and to zodiacal signs, based on factors, such as time and place subject was born.

45) What did Guru Nanak preach?

Ans:- The most famous teachings attributed to Guru Nanak are that there is only one God, and that all human beings can have direct access to God with no need of rituals or priests. His most radical social teachings denounced the caste system and taught that everyone is equal, regardless of caste or gender.

46) What made the astrologer feel uncomfortable?

Ans:- When the stranger lit his cheroot, the astrologer recognized him that he was the man whose blood he thought was on his hands. So he felt very uncomfortable in his presence.

47) What Mark did Guru Nayak have on his chest?

Ans:- Guru Nayak has a stab scar on his chest. He shows it to the astrologer after the latter predicts that he has once endured a knife wound in the chest.

48) What does the astrologer feel at the end of the story?

Ans:- The end of the story is also interesting as Narayan appears to be exploring the theme of relief. The astrologer feels relieved that Guru is not dead as it lifts a great weight from the astrologer's shoulders. How relaxed the astrologer is; is noticeable by the way that he explains his story to his wife.

49) Why did the astrologer run from his village?

Ans:- The astrologer ran away from his village because of a false impression. The astrologer as a youngster drank, gambled and quarrelled with other people. Once, under the influence of alcohol he had fought with a man, stabbed and pushed him down a well.

50) Why had the astrologer left his village?

Ans:- The Astrologer was a very simple villager. one day he killed his friend under the influence the alcohol This made him leave his house. An astrologer was a young man when he had to leave his village. He was then a silly youth.

51) What did the astrologer tell his wife after dinner?

Ans:- After dinner, sitting on the pyol, he told her: "Do you know a great load is gone from me today? I thought I had the blood of a man on my hands all these years. That was the reason why I ran away from home, settled here, and married you. He is alive."

52) What should I ask astrologer?

Ans:- Here are some examples of good questions to ask the astrologer:

       Where do my talents lie?

       What do my aspects show for the next 12 months? ...

       What career would best suit me?

       Am I under good aspects for meeting someone?

       When will my finances improve?

       Is this a good time for me to start my own business?

53) Why has the astrologer chosen the spot under the tamarind tree to conduct business?

Ans:- The astrologer has chosen to conduct his business under the tamarind tree because it flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. ... Apparently the astrologer has to work late in order to pick up enough small coins to support himself, his wife, and their young child.

54) Can astrology tell the future?

Ans:- Astrology is always capable of predicting the future for anyone, whether it is a man, country or the world itself, but astrologers can sometimes predict the future and events accurately and at times can even fail to predict it correctly. To say, astrology is a vast science that demands deep learning.

55) How can I find out the time of my birth?

Ans:- To find out what time you were born, try asking your parents or other people who were present during your birth. If they don't know or you can't reach them, try contacting the Office of Vital Statistics or the hospital where you were born to request a birth certificate with birth time from the government.

56) What can your birth chart tell you?

Ans:- Though astrology is a vast, complex, and highly specialized study, the core principles are straightforward: A birth chart is a snapshot of the sky at the moment of your birth (you can calculate yours here). It reveals the precise location of each of the planets and which constellation they occupied.

57) Do astronomers believe in astrology?

Ans:- Astrologers believe that the position of the stars and planets determine an individual's personality and future. Astronomers study the actual stars and planets but have found no evidence supporting astrological theories.

58) How accurate are astrology readings?

Ans:- Online horoscopes may be considered a pseudoscience, but serious astrology can be surprisingly accurate. Over the decades, evidence has been accumulating of striking correlations between events in the heavens and events on earth. If astrological "influence" is a fact, it ought to be susceptible to statistical study.

59) Who is an astrologist?

Ans:- Someone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets and sun and Moon. astrologer. forecaster, predictor, prognosticator, soothsayer - someone who makes predictions of the future (usually on the basis of special knowledge)

60) Cultural definitions for astrologer

Ans:- A study of the positions and relationships of the sun, moon, stars, and planets in order to judge their influence on human actions. Astrology, unlike astronomy, is not a scientific study and has been much criticized by scientists. (See zodiac (see also zodiac).)

61) What is the root word of astrology?

Ans:- The word astrology comes from the early Latin word astrologia, which derives from the Greek ἀστρολογία—from ἄστρον astron ("star") and -λογία -logia, ("study of"—"account of the stars"). Astrologia later passed into meaning 'star-divination' with astronomia used for the scientific term.

62) What is the purpose of a story?

Ans:- An author's purpose is his reason for or intent in writing. An author's purpose may be to amuse the reader, to persuade the reader, to inform the reader, or to satirize a condition. ... To relate a story or to recount events, an author uses narrative writing.

63) What articles did the astrologer carry?

Ans:- The astrologer carried his professional equipment of a dozen cowry shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook and a bundle of palmyra writing.

64) What were the deferent names given by the nuts vendor for his business? 

Ans:- R.K. Narayan highlights the creativity of the nuts vendor who refers to his business with different names. Bombay Ice Cream, Delhi Almond and Raja’s Delicacy were the different names given by the nuts vendor for his ware.

65) What kind of life would the astrologer have in his own village?

Ans:- The strange turn of events transformed a farmer into an astrologer. If the astrologer had stayed back in his own village, he would have carried on the work of tilling the land, which was the work of his ancestors. He would have married and grown old in his corn field and ancestral home.

66) How much did the astrologer charge his clients?

Ans:- The astrologer charged his clients three paise per question.

67) Why did the astrologer remain silent for at least ten minutes, initially?

Ans:- Remaining silent for at least ten minutes initially was an intelligent move by the astrologer. The astrologer silently listened to his clients for the first ten minutes and gathered sufficient information to answer the questions of the clients.

68) What was the signal for the astrologer to bundle up?

Ans:- The astrologer had no way of knowing the time. When the nuts vendor blew out his lamp and rose to go home, it was the signal for the astrologer to bundle up.

69) How much did the astrologer demand from his new client to answer his question?

Ans:- At first the astrologer demanded five rupees and then eight annas.  After hackling for some time, the amount of one rupee was agreed upon to answer the questions.

 70) What did the astrologer ask Guru Nayak to do?

Ans:- The astrologer recognized Guru Nayak the very minute he saw him. That is why he asked Guru Nayak to return to his village immediately and never travel southwards again.

71) Why did the astrologer have no light of his own for his business?

Ans:- The profession of the astrologer was such that semi-darkness added to the mystery of the set-up. That is why he was satisfied with whatever light was available from shop lights, a couple of hissing gaslights, some naked flares stuck on the poles. In fact the astrologer did not want to be in light. He just wanted enough light to give the impression that he was reading the face of his clients. He did not want the clients to read his face as he did not know anything about astrology.

72) Why did the astrologer close his business when the nuts vendor blew out his flare?

Ans:- The astrologer did not have any source of light of his own. When the nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home, the astrologer had to bundle up too. Otherwise, he would be in darkness except for a little shaft of green light which strayed in from somewhere.

73) How efficient was the astrologer in his business?

Ans:- Despite the fact that the astrologer had no knowledge of astrology, he was efficient in his business. This was possible because he had a working analysis of mankind’s troubles, marriage, money and the tangles of human relations. Long practice had sharpened his perception. Within five minutes, he understood what was wrong. He would silently listen to his clients for the first ten minutes which provided him sufficient information to answer their questions. In addition, he would make some general statements which would be true for all. The gullible client was easily led to believe that it was the power of astrology and was highly impressed.

74) “When shall I get him?”  Who is the speaker?

Ans:- Guru Nayak is the speaker.

75) Who does ‘you’ refer to?

Ans:- ‘You’ refers to the astrologer.

76) Why was he worried?

Ans:- He was worried because he had seen the man whom he thought he had killed.

77) Why did the astrologer run away from his village?

Ans:- The astrologer ran away from his village because of a false impression. The astrologer as a youngster drank, gambled and quarreled with other people. Once, under the influence of alcohol he had fought with a man, stabbed and pushed him down a well. He thought that the man had died and ran away from his village to escape punishment.

78) In the story, do you think the astrologer should he punished for his crime?

Ans:- No crime should go scot-free. So, the astrologer deserves to be punished. However, we don’t know what provoked him to push Guru Nayak into the well. Secondly, we see that the astrologer repents his wrong doing. Thirdly, Guru Nayak is not dead after all. Hence, at the end of the story we don’t feel very strongly about the astrologer getting away with his crime.

79) Describe how the astrologer felt at the end of the story.

Ans:- The astrologer felt greatly relieved on knowing that the man whom he thought he had killed was still alive. When the astrologer was young, he used to drink and quarrel with people. He had attacked a man and stabbed him and left him for dead. He ran away from his village to escape punishment and settled in a town in the guise of an astrologer. As a strange coincidence, the same man came to him after many years to know whether he would succeed in his search of locating his enemy to take revenge. When the astrologer came to know that the man was not dead, he felt as if a great load had gone from him.

80) Describe the role of fate and chance in the story.

Ans:- The story shows that our life changes according to our fate. None of us can escape what we are destined for. Fate plays a decisive role in the story. A villager turns into an astrologer because of his fate. Again, it is fate that brings the enemies face- to face. However, the story also shows that not everything is dependent on fate. The way the astrologer deals with his enemy shows that the astrologer who was irresponsible as a youngster, has changed for the better. He is now mature and is able to deal with the di􀃞cult situation. Thus, R.K. Narayan shows that though we are bound by our destiny, we can control it to some extent if we have self-control.

81) Does the story make you think that all the astrologers are false?

Ans:- Just because the astrologer in this story is a sham, we cannot conclude that all astrologers are liars. There are scholars who have learnt astrology and predict events that would take place in the future. India is a nation that is famed for Vedic Sciences like astrology, yoga etc. Hence, to dismiss all astrologers as quacks is not a healthy trend. Moreover, even in the case of the astrologer of the story, though he is not a genuine astrologer, we see that he does no harm to people. He uses his understanding of people to earn his living. We should also remember that people go to him of their own free will.

82) How has R.K. Narayan portrayed the attractive appearance of the astrologer?

Ans:- The portrayal of the astrologer shows R.K. Narayan’s keenness of observation and strength of description. The astrologer had an appearance that suited his profession. His forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion and his eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam which was really the outcome of a continued search for customers. However, it made the astrologer look wise in an uncanny manner.

83) Read the following sentences from the story and arrange them in the sequential order as they appear in the story:

    1. Take the next train and go home.

    2. The astrologer pressed his invitation.

    3. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.

    4. The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the match light.

    5. The place was lit up by shop lights.

    6. The child has been asking for sweets since so many days.

    7. The nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home.

 Ans:- 5. The place was lit up by shop lights.

           3. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.

           7. The nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home.

           2. The astrologer pressed his invitation.

           4. The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the match light.

           1. Take the next train and go home.

           6. The child has been asking for sweets since so many days.

84) Why was the place a remarkable one for the astrologer to sit?

Ans:- A surging crowd always moved up and down on that narrow road from morning till night; so it was a good place to catch clients.

85) Name the traders who occupied that place.

Ans:- Medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, an auctioneer of cheap cloth and a vendor of groundnuts occupied that place.

86) What was the one question that the client wanted to know about?

Ans:- He wanted to know if he would succeed in his present search.

87) Describe the appearance of the astrologer.

Ans:- On his forehead, the astrologer had smeared sacred ash and vermilion. There was something special about his eyes. There was a sparkle in them that attracted people. This light was mistaken as prophetic light by his simple customers even though it was nothing but the continuous searching look for customers that reacted through his eyes. He had dark mustache that came down to his cheeks. To complete the look, he had a saffron-colored turban as well.

88) How was the astrologer successful in pleasing his customers?

Ans:- Though the astrologer had no knowledge of astrology, he could manage to astonish people with what he said. This he made possible with practice and shrewd calculation. He was clever enough to trick others with his guesses. He managed to make a living as an astrologer because of his experience. He knew that people had problems due to money, marriage and household issues. Within five minutes he could guess what was wrong and never spoke for the first ten minutes. He let his customers talk and gathered information for many of the answers from which he would create his advice for them. He had some questions which he usually asked to get clues as to what advice he should give his customers. This way he was successful in pleasing his customers.

89) What challenge did the man put before the astrologer?

Ans:- The stranger challenged the astrologer by saying that if the astrologer gave him right answers for his questions, then he would give him eight annas and if he failed then the astrologer would have to pay him back twice the amount. The astrologer happily accepted the challenge.

90) Why could the astrologer not live like his forefather?

Ans:- The astrologer was forced to leave his village and home in a hurry, without telling anybody about it. He could not rest until he left his village behind a couple of hundred miles. All this was because he thought that he had the blood of a man on his hands. In his village, when he was still a silly youngster, he had quarreled with one of his companions. They were drunk, they gambled and in a fit of anger the astrologer stabbed and pushed the man into a well. Later, thinking that the man was dead, he fled his village. Due to this, the astrologer was unable to live like his forefathers in the village.

91) What did the astrologer tell the stranger about his enemy?

Ans:- Very soon the astrologer realized that the new client was searching for none other than himself. The astrologer was the person who had tried to kill the man. It was to his advantage that the client did not recognize him. Therefore, the astrologer made the best use of the opportunity and told him that his enemy had died. And to satisfy his client he even said that the enemy had died a brutal death, coming under a lorry and being crushed by it. He also told his client never to stir out of his village again, particularly southward, which was the direction of this town. He told him that he would live to be a hundred if only he stayed in his village.

92) What was the reaction of the astrologer’s wife, seeing his day’s earnings?

Ans:- The astrologer’s wife was very pleased that her husband had earned twelve and a half annas that day. She was also overjoyed because she could prepare some sweets for her daughter. The child had been asking for sweets for so many days. So, she decided to buy some jaggery and coconut with which she planned to prepare the sweets.