The Frog and the Nightingale

Question 1

Question:    Where did the Frog sit and sing?

Answer:    The Frog sat under a Sumac tree in the Bingle Bog.

Question 2

Question:    What was the reaction of the creatures to the Frog's singing?

Answer:    They hated his singing. They begged him to stop. They hurled abuses and stones at him but it had no effect.

Question 3

Question:    "In this I've long been known for my splendid baritone". Explain.

Answer:    The frog is very presumptuous and boastful. He is also lying.

Question 4

Question:    "You'll remain a mere beginner. But with me you'll be a winner". What does this reveal about the frog's character?

Answer:    The frog is very presumptuous and boastful.

Question 5

Question:    "This is a fairy tale - And you're Mozart in disguise. Come to earth before my eyes". What does this reveal about the Nightingale's character?

Answer:    The bird is fawning. She is also not a good judge of character.

Question 6

Question:    Explain the lines: "And the Sumac tree was bowed with a breathless titled Crowd".

Answer:    There were so many creatures sitting on the Sumac tree listening to the bird's singing. These were well-known personalities such as the Owl of Sandwich, Duck of Kent, Matin Cardinal Mephisto who had come to enjoy the concert.

Question 7

Question:    Explain the lines: "And the frog with great precision counted heads and charged admission".

Answer:    The money-minded frog was charging an entrance fee for the Nightingale's concerts so he was busy selling tickets to each one of them and collecting money from them.

Question 8

Question:    Said the frog 'I tried to teach her but she was a stupid creature' , do you agree with the Frog's view. Give two reasons to support your answer.

Answer:    Yes, I agree because the bird was not a good judge of character and could not see through the frog. She did not have confidence in herself and was very gullible.

Question 9

Question:    Not too bad.... But far too long the technique was fine, of course, but it lacked a certain force". What does this reveal about the Frog's nature?

Answer:    The frog is behaving extremely superior and in a condescending manner. He is also extremely cunning and is trying to convince her to take training from him.

Question 10

Question:    "And the ticket office gross crashed, and she grew more morose".

a) Why did the ticket office gross crash?

b) Why did the bird grow morose?

Answer:    a) The bird was tired and sick. The spirit was broken. Her voice lost its beauty and the people got tried of her voice and stopped coming.

b) The frog was successful in breaking the bird's spirit. He was goading her to practice harder. The bird could not take in the pressure and grew depressed and sad.