Treasure Trove Short Storie Workbook Answers The Little Match Girl
The Little Match GirlQuestions and Answers Extract Based
Question 1.
It was bitterly cold, snow was falling and darkness was gathering, for it was the last evening of the old year —it was New Year’s Eve.
In the cold and gloom a poor little girl walked, bareheaded and barefoot, through the streets. She had been wearing slippers, it is true, when she left home, but what good were they ? They had been her mother’s, so you can imagine how big they were. The little girl had lost them as she ran across the street to escape from two carriages that were being driven terribly fast. One slipper could not be found, and a boy had run off with the other, saying that it would come in very handy as a cradle some day when he had children of his own.
(a) What kind of weather was there in the evening? What was the special about the particular evening ?
Answer:
It was terribly cold and the snow was falling fast. It was the last evening of the old year i.e., it was New Year’s Eve and the people were making preparations to celebrate this occasion.
(b) Who was wandering through the streets and in what state ?
Answer:
A poor little girl who was bareheaded and naked feet was roaming through the streets. She seemed to be shivering with cold and also felt extremely hungry. Her naked feet had grown red and blue with the cold.
(c) Why were the slippers of the girl of no use ?
Answer:
The girl had a pair of slippers on when she left home, but they were not of much use. They were very large indeed, for they belonged to her mother.
(d) What happened to the girl’s slippers ?
Answer:
The poor little girl had lost the slippers while running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling as a terrible rate. One of the slippers she could not find and the other was seized by a boy.
(e) What did the boy say to the little girl while running with one of her slippers ? What was the state of girl’s feet without slippers ?
Answer:
While running with one of the slippers of the little girl, he told the girl that he would use it as a cradle when he had children of his own. So the little girl went on with her naked feet which were quite red and blue with the cold.
(f) Why was the girl out in the bitter and freezing cold ? Why didn’t she dare to go home ?
Answer:
The girl was out in the bitter and freezing cold as she wanted to sell the matches to earn some money for her family. She did not dare to go home because she could not succeed to sell any matches and thus she had no single penny to give her father. She knew her father would surely beat her if she went back home empty handed.
Question 2.
So the little girl walked about the streets on her naked feet, which were red and blue with the cold. In her old apron she carried a great many matches, and she had a packet of them in her hand as well. Nobody had bought any from her, and no one had given her a single penny all day. She crept along, shivering and hungry, the picture of misery, poor little thing!
The snowflakes fell on her long golden hair which curled so prettily about her neck, but she did not think of her appearance now. Lights were shining in every window, and there was a glorious smell of roast goose in the street, for this was New Year’s Eve, and she could not think of anything else.
(a) In what miserable condition was the girl when she set out to sell the matches ? ,
Answer:
When the girl set out to sell the matches, she was shivering with cold as she had not proper clothes which could be suitable to save her from severe winter. She was bareheaded and naked feet. Her tiny hands had become numb with cold and her feet were red and blue. Moreover she felt extremely hungry.
(b) What did the girl carry in her apron ? Why could she not earn anything?
Answer:
The girl carried a great many matches in her old apron. She could not earn anything because nobody had bought any matches from her and no one had given her a single penny.
(c) What shows that the girl’s father was totally unconcerned towards her daughter or the child ?
Answer:
The little girl was sent by her father to sell the mathces in a bitter and freezing cold. While sending her out in such a cold weather, he did not think for a moment that in such a tender age how the little girl could endure the freezing cold when she had no proper woollen clothes. Moreover before sending her out she was not given proper food. This clearly shows that the girl’s father does not have any concern for her welfare.
(d) How do we come to know that the little girl was victim of child abuse ?
Answer:
The little girl was victim of child abuse. She was not fed and clothed properly by her family. She had to earn money herself by selling matches. Moreover she was ill-treated by her father.
(e) To which thing did she not give more importance and why ?
Answer:
The snowflakes fell on her long and fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she did not give importance to her appearance because she was lost in her own dreams and was thinking of the celebration of the New Year’s Eve.
(f) Why could she not stop thinking about the New Year’s Eve ?
Answer:
The little girl saw the lights shining from every window and she could smell of roast goose being cooked for New Year’s Eve in all the houses so she could not stop thinking about it.
Question 3.
She huddled down in a heap in a comer formed by two houses, one of which projected further out into the street than the other, but though she tucked her little legs up under her she felt colder and colder. She, did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches and earned not a single penny. Her father would be sure to beat her, and besides it was so cold at home, for they had nothing but the roof above them and the wind whistled through that, even though the largest cracks were stuffed with straw and rags. Her thin hands were almost numb with cold. If only she dared pull just one small match from the packet, strike it on the wall and warm her fingers!
(a) Why is the poverty regarded as the greatest of the human frailty ? What forces the little girl to sell the matches in freezing cold?
Answer:
The poverty is regarded as the greatest of the human frailty because it is the poverty which makes people live in adverse situations and circumstances and make them do things which are beyond human tolerance. The utter poverty forces the girl’s parents to send her on the streets to sell match boxes.
(b) Where should beautiful little girl like her (the match girl) be ?
Answer:
A beautiful little girl like her (the match girl) should be at her home on such a chilly freezing day and should have been enjoying the New Year’s Eve. She was not meant to suffer but the destiny had written something else for her.
(c) What was the little girl doing when the whole world was celebrating the New Year’s Eve ?
Answer:
When the whole world was celebrating the New Year’s Eve, the little girl was on the streets trying to sell match boxes without any success. Moreover she was trying to face the most adverse situation in the form of severe cold.
(d) Where did the little girl sit down and in what state ? Why was she scared to go back home ?
Answer:
In a comer between two houses, the little girl sat down and she tucked her little feet underneath herself, but still she grew colder and colder. She was scared to go back home as she had not sold any matches and could not bring any money. Hence she was sure to get beating from her father. Besides it was cold enough at home.
(e) What was the condition of the little girl’s house?
Answer:
The little girl’s house was in a very ruined state. At the name of the house, she had nothing but a roof above the family and the wind whistled through that, even though the largest cracks were stuffed with straw and rags.
(f) What did the little girl do to warm her fingers ?
Answer:
The girl’s little hands were nearly frozen with cold. She thought that a match might warm her fingers if she lit it. After drawing one stick out of the match box, she struck it against the wall. It burnt and gave out a warm bright flame like a little candle as she held her hand over it.
4. She pulled one out—scr-r-ratch! — how it spluttered and burnt! It had a warm, bright flame like a tiny candle when she held her hand over it— but what a strange light! It seemed to the little girl as if she were sitting in front of a great iron stove with polished brass knobs and brass ornaments. The fire burnt so beautifully and gave out such a lovely warmth. Oh, how wonderful that was! The child had already stretched her feet to warm them, too, when—out went the flame, the stove vanished and there she sat with the burnt match in her hand.
(a) Where did the little girl sit and in what manner ?
Answer:
In a comer, between two houses one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but could not keep off the cold.
(b) How did the girl try to warm the fingers? How did the girl feel to see the flame of the match ?
Answer:
In order to keep her fingers warm, the girl lighted one stick of the match and got relief for some time. On seeing the bright flame of the match, the girl felt that it was a wonderful light and it really seemed to the girl as if she sat in front of a great iron stove with a lovely fire inside.
(c) HoWdid the girl enjoy the warmth of the imagined stove ? What happened with the stove and what was left later ?
Answer:
The bright flame of the match which the girl imagined to be an iron stove, burnt so nicely that the little girl stretched out her feet to warm them. She felt very comfortable, but then the flame went out, the stove vanished and nothing remained. The girl had only remains of the burnt out match in her hand.
(d) What does the heat of the iron stove which the girl imagined in the flame of the match stick, symbolise? What did it remind to the girl ?
Answer:
The heat of the iron stove imagined by the girl is symbolic of the feelings of warmth and safety which she longed for and it reminded her of the love and affection which she got from her grandmother.
(e) What do the ‘matches’ and ‘light’ symbolise ? Which kind of imagery has been used in the extract? Give example.
Answer:
The ‘matches’ symbolise hope and courage. ‘Light’ is the symbol of‘warmth’ and ‘comfort’. The tactile (sense of touch) imagery has been used in the extract. Here is an example of tactile imagery.
It had a warm, bright flame like a tiny candle When she held her hand over it…
(f) Which figures of speech have been used in the extract given above ? Give instances.
Answer:
In the extract given above the figures of speech Onomatopoeia and Simile have been used. Here are the instances :
‘She pulled one out—scr-r-ratch! — how it spluttered and burnt!’
(Onomatopoeia)
‘It had a warm, bright flame like a tiny candle ’ (Simile)
5. She struck another—it burnt clearly and, where the light fell upon the wall, the bricks became transparent, like gauze. She could see right into the room, where a shining white cloth was spread on the table. It was covered with beautiful china and in the centre of it stood a roast goose, stuffed with prunes, and apples, steaming deliciously. And what was even more wonderful was that the goose hopped down from the dish, waddled across the floor with carving knife and fork in its back, waddled straight up to the poor child! Then —out went the match, and nothing could be seen but the thick, cold wall.
(a) When did the stove vanish from the little girl’s sight ?
Answer:
In order to warm herself, the little girl lit the match and in its warm, bright flame she imagined as if she were sitting in front of a great iron stove. But as the flame went out the stove vanished.
(b) What did the girl visualise when she lit another match ?
Answer:
When the girl lit another match, its light fell upon the wall and it became as transparent as a veil and she could see into the room. She saw that the table was covered with a snowy white table cloth on which stood a splendid dinner service and a steaming roast goose stuffed with apples and dried plums.
(c) What was more delightful and wonderful to the girl? What happened to the splendid dinner service?
Answer:
While visualising the splendid dinner service, the girl found that the goose jumped from the dish, with knife and fork still in its breast and waddled along the floor straight towards the little girl. Then the match went out and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.
(d) What does the sight of splendid dinner service depict ?
Answer:
The girl saw a splendid feast laid on table comprising a roast goose stuffed with apples and dried plums. It depicts or shows the need of a poor hungry child to partake in such a delicious meal which only the rich could enjoy. It also shows how hungry the little girl was and if she had not frozen, she would have surely died of starvation.
(e) What kind of imageries have been used in the extract ? Give instances.
Answer:
In the extract the author has used the visual and gustatory imageries. Here are instances :
- ‘She could see sight into the room, where a shining white cloth was spread on the table. It was covered with beautiful China and in the centre of it stood a roast goose, stuffed with prunes and apples.
(Visual Imagery) - ‘……………… a roast goose, stuffed with prunes and apples, steaming deliciously……………………..’ (Gustatory Imagery)
(f) Where is the entire action of the story confined ? Where does most of action take place? Give an instance of figure of speech simile in the extract.
Answer:
The entire action of the story is confined to a comer in a street, formed by two houses, where the little girl sits and tries to comfort herself from the cold by lighting the matches. Most of the action of the story takes place on the New Year’s Eve and continues till the hour of dawn.
Question 6.
She struck another match, and suddenly she was sitting under the most beautiful Christmas tree. It was much larger and much lovelier than the one she had seen last year through the glass doors of the rich merchant’s house. A thousand candles lit up the green branches, and gaily coloured balls like those in the shop windows looked down upon her.
(a) What did the little girl visualise when she lit the match a third time ?
Answer:
When the little girl lit the match a third time, she found herself sitting under the most magnificent Christmas tree. It was brightly lighted and beautifully decorated, the sort of which could be found in a wealthy home.
(b) In what way was the Christmas tree visualised by one little girl different from the tree seen by her in a rich merchant’s house.
Answer:
The Christmas tree visualised by the little girl was much better than that of a rich merchant’s house. It was larger and more beautiful. It was glistening with lights. Thousands of candles were burning upon the green branches.
(c) What happened to the candles on the Christmas tree that she imagined ?
Answer:
As the little girl stretched out her hand towards them, the match went out and the Christmas candles rose higher and higher till they looked to her like the stars in the sky.
(d) Which kind of imagery has been used in the extract ? Give instances :
Answer:
The visual imagery has been used by the author. Here are instances of visual imagery:
- ‘She was sitting under the most beautiful Christmas tree. It was much larger and much lovelier than the one she had seen last year through the glass doors of the rich merchant’s house.
- ‘A thousand candles lit up the green branches and gaily coloured balls like those in the shop windows looked down upon her.
(e) Between whom has the author depicted the disparity ?
Answer:
The author has depicted the disparity between those who had a warm place to live in, more than enough to eat and enjoy worldly pleasures and those who could not afford the basic necessities of life like food, clothing and shelter.
(f) What does the Christmas tree depict in the concern of the little girl ? What does the Christmas tree symbolise ?
In her third vision, the little girl sees a huge Christmas tree which depicts her longing for celebration and enjoyment. The evergreen Christmas tree is a sign of undying life, rebirth and stamina needed to endure the winter months.
Question 7.
“Now someone is dying” said the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever been good to her but who was now dead, had said, “Whenever a star falls, a soul goes up to God.”
She struck another match on the wall. Once more there was light, and in the glow stood her old grandmother, oh, so bright and shining, and looking so gentle, kind and loving. “Granny!” cried the little girl. “Oh, take me with you! I know you will disappear when the match is burnt out; you will vanish like the warm stove, the lovely roast goose and the great glorious Christmas tree!”
(a) What change did the little girl observe in the candles on the Christmas tree she imagined ?
Answer:
A great change was observed by the little girl in the candles. As she spread out her hands towards them, the match went out and the Christmas candles rose higher and higher till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak.
(b) Why did the little girl say ‘Now someone is dying*?
Answer:
When the little girl saw a star fall, she murmured softly that someone was dying, for her grandmother who had loved her the most and who was now dead, had told her that wherever a star falls a soul goes up to heaven.
(c) What do the matches in the story symbolise ?
Answre:
The matches in the story are symbolic of warmth from cold and the warmth of love, which the little girl longs for. The matches are also symbolic of the light of God and hope.
(d) How did the little girl’s grandmother look when she visualised her after lighting another match ?
Answer:
When the little girl struck another match against the wall, it lit and in its brightness, her dear old grandmother appeared before her. She seemed to be mild and loving in her appearance.
(e) Why did the little girl quickly strike all the matches she had in the packet ?
Answer:
In the light of another match, the little girl saw her loving grandmother. This time she thought that if the match were to run out her grandmother would disappear like the warm stove, the lovely roast goose and the great glorious Christmas tree, so she struck the whole bundle of the matches on the wall to keep her grandmother near her.
(f) Why did the little girl not want to let her grandmother disappear?
Answer:
The little girl did not want to let her grandmother disappear as she (grandmother) was the only person who loved the girl intensely and the girl greatly wished to live with her grandmother.
Question 8.
Then she quickly struck all the rest of the matches she had in the packet, for she did so want to keep her grandmother with her.
The matches flared up with such a blaze that it was brighter than broad daylight and her old grandmother had never seemed so beautiful or so stately before. She took the little girl in her arms and flew with her high up, oh, so high, towards glory and joy! Now they knew neither cold nor hunger nor fear, for they were both with God.
(a) What request did the little girl make to grandmother and why ?
Answer:
The little girl requested her grandmother to take her with her as she was not happy in the world. The little girl felt great pain to see as there was none to love her in the world.
(b) What happened when the little girl lit all the matches of the packet?
Answer:
When the little girl lit all the matches of the packet, they burnt with such brilliant light that it became brighter than the midday sun. In such a brilliant light, the grandmother looked very beautiful.
(c) Where did the grandmother take the little girl ? Where did they fly?
Answer:
The grandmother took the little girl in her arms and they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they were with God.
(d) What is the importance of the matches in the story ?
Answer:
The matches are source of livelihood for the little girl. She wanders through the streets to earn money by selling the matches in a bitter and freezing cold. It is by lighting the matches that the little girl tries to keep herself warm and it is in the light of the matches that she sees the vision of an iron stove, a sumptuous feast, a twinkling Christmas tree and her late grandmother.
(e) What lesson does the story The Little Match Girl teach to the wealthy people?
Answer:
The story The Little Match Girl is meant to teach, especially the wealthy, to show empathy for those who do not have the basic necessities of life. It reminds them not to overlook the needs of their less fortunate brethren, especially of the innocent children.
(f) Which kind of imagery has been used in the extract ? Give an instance.
Answer:
The author has used visual imagery. Here is an instance of visual imagery: ‘The matches flamed up with such a blaze that it was brighter than broad daylight and her old grandmother had never seemed so beautiful or so stately before.’
Question 9.
But in the cold dawn, in the corner formed by the two houses, sat the little girl with rosy cheeks and smiling lips, dead— frozen to death on the last evening of the old year. The dawn of the new year rose on the huddled figure of the girl. She was still holding the matches, and half a packet had been burnt. ”
“She was evidently trying to warm herself,”people said. But no one knew what beautiful visions she had seen and in what a blaze of glory she had entered with her dear old grandmother into the heavenly joy and gladness of a new year.
(a) Where did the grandmother take the girl ? Why did cold, hunger and fear have no effect on the grandmother and the little girl ?
Answer:
The grandmother took the girl with her to another world i.e., to heaven. The grandmother and the little girl did not have any effect of cold, hunger and fear as they were entirely free from the mortality of the earth. Their souls had left for the journey of another world. In another words, both of them were in the kingdom of God.
(b) What happened to the little girl on the last evening of the year ? In what state was the girl found ?
Answer:
On the last evening of the year, the girl had died of cold and starvation. The next morning the girl was found leaning against the wall in the corner formed by the two houses. A smile was floating on the lips of the little girl.
(c) What was the girl still holding in her hand even after her death ? What did the people say ?
Answer:
In the stiffness of death, the girl was still holding the matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt. The people said that it was clear that the girl was trying to keep herself warm by lighting the matches.
(d) From which thing were the people unknown ?
Answer:
No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her grandmother on New Year’s Day.
(e) How do we come to know that the girl was brave and courageous?
Answer:
The little girl was brave and courageous, having faith in God as she did not give up despite hardships. She tried to keep herself warm by lighting matches and survive the pangs of cold and hunger.
(f) What does the cold symbolise ? Why was the girl frozen to death?
Answer:
Cold symbolises of hardships, desperation and hopelessness. The girl did not have enough warm clothes and shoes to protect herself from cold. Her hands and feet became numb with cold and ultimately she was frozen to death because of being exposed to cold.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Though the girl faces cold, hunger and apathy of the people around her, she does not lose her faith and hope. Justify this statement in context on the story.
Answer:
The Little Match Girl is a brutal short story about reality. On a daily basis she is required to sell matches to make money and is forced to give up all profits to her father. While out in the blistering cold she attempts to sell her matches to the town people, but the poor little girl keeps getting turned down. After everybody has gone inside with their loved ones to celebrate the new year, the little girl cannot go inside to her house because she will get beat for not selling any matches. She decides to stay outside, rather than going inside, for her own safety. The little girl cannot survive out in the cold with no protection and she soon develops hypothermia and has to resort to her matches for her only chance of living. In the end of this story, the little match girl is relieved by hope and faith.
Despite facing cold, hunger and apathy of the people among her, the little girl does not lose her faith and hope. She hopes she will pull through the difficulties. She has firm faith in God. She thinks that God will help her. Due to having an optimistic attitude and true faith in God, she is capable of imagining certain things which she must have longed for and which made her feel better, including an iron stove, a huge Christmas tree and a table laden with delicious food. Just because of having hope and faith, she is capable to imagine her deceased grandmother’s face. When she lights a match, she sees her grandmother and does not want to lose her. Hence she lights the whole bundle of matches.
She pleads with her grandmother to take her to heaven with her where there would be neither cold nor hunger, nor any abuse. It is her faith and hope that she dies with a smile on her face. When the people find her the next morning, leaning against the wall with red cheeks and smiling mouth, they feel surprise to see her face and ask in wonder why she looks so happy.
Question 2.
Describe the class differences in the society during Victorian Era in the context of the story The Little Match Girl.
Answer:
The story The Little Match Girl is said to have taken place in a town around the early 20th century when the middle class emerged and took over an important percentage of work places. It is at this time, there appeared an ‘under class’, which remained unemployed and lived in abject poverty. There existed a huge gap between the financial condition of this class and the wealthy. The author has reflected this class differentiation through the character of the little girl in the story. The girl’s clothes and her house as having only the roof, through which wind whistled and large cracks were stuffed with straw and rags, clearly showed that she belonged to the ‘under class’ of the society.
Due to suffering from poor financial condition, the little girl was sent on a cold night to sell match. When she walked along the street in the freezing cold, she was seen bareheaded and with no shoes on. When she left home, she had slippers on, but they were so large for her feet that she had lost them. It seemed that the slippers belonged to her mother and the little girl had no slippers of her own. In an old apron that she wore she had bundles of matches . All this shows utcer poverty of girl’s family.
The class difference is clearly reflected in the story through the comforting vision the little girl had. In her first vision, the little girl saw a large iron stove. When the little girl’s hands were nearly frozen with cold, she thought that a match might warm her fingers if she lit it. So she draw one out. She struck it and it blazed and burnt.
It gave out a warm, bright flame like little candle, as she held her hands over it. It really seemed to the little girl as if she sat in front of a great iron stove with a lovely fire inside it. In her second vision, she saw a snow-white cloth spread on the table on which were laid beautiful china plates, while a stuffed roast goose cooked away and made a most delicious smell. In her third vision, she found herself sitting under the most magnificent Christmas tree. Thousands of candles were burning on the green branches and little painted figures, like she, had seen in shop windows, looked down on her. In her fourth vision she saw her grandmother who was dead.
The first three visions clearly show the gap between the rich and the poor and the things which the little girl could only dream of. The fourth vision reflects her desire of being loved and cared for. It is symbolic of apathetic attitude of the rich towards the poor. Those who were prosperous and wealthy, were least worried of their poor fellows. They enjoyed of eating, drinking and merry making without thinking of those people who, like the poor little girl in the story, died of cold and starvation.
Question 3.
In what state did the little match girl walk along the street ? Why did she not want to go home ? What did she think to keep her warm ?
Answer:
It was a New Year’s Eve and dreadfully cold. The snow fell quickly in the darkening light as evening came on. In the cold and the darkness, there walked along the street a poor little girl. In such a freezing and bitter cold, the girl wore rags. She was bareheaded. She had no shoes on as she had lost her mother’s slippers while running across the street. She went on with her bare feet which had become red and blue with cold. She was not only shivering with cold but also felt extremely hungry. In an old apron that she wore she had bundles of matches and she also carried a bundle in her hand.
For a long time, the girl had been wondering to sell the matches, but she could not find any customer who could buy her matches. In such adverse circumstances she could not dare to go back home without earning a penny. She knew that if she went back home without selling any matches, she would get severe beating and torture. She was greatly afraid of her cruel father who would not spare her. Besides, it was cold at home, for they had nothing over them but a roof through which the wind whistled even though the biggest cracks had been stuffed with straw and rags.
When the cold became unbearable for her she sat down in a comer between two houses. She tucked her little feet in underneath herself, but still she grew colder and colder. Her little hands were nearly frozen. Suddenly an idea came in her mind. She thought that a match might warm her fingers if she lit it. So at last she drew one out. She struck it. It blazed and burnt. It gave out a warm, bright flame like a little candle, as she held her hands over it. So nicely it burnt that the little girl stretched out her feet to warm them.
Question 4.
What shows that the little girl was suffering from utter poverty or she belonged to a poor family ?
Answer:
On New Year’s Eve, in a freezing cold the little girl was roaming along the street for selling the matches. She had no proper woollen clothes to keep her body warm in such a bitter cold. At the name of clothes, she wore an old apron in which she had the bundles of matches. She was bareheaded. She had no slippers. When she left home, she had slippers on, but they were too large for her feet. It seemed that the slippers belonged to her mother. The little girl did not have her own slippers. Unfortunantely she lost the slippers while running across the street when two carriages were passing quickly by, when she looked for them, one was not to be found.
Then we see that she was asked by her father to sell the matches in such a bitter and freezing cold and was not allowed to return her home until she earns some money. It clearly shows that family was in vital need of money. All the family members lived hand to mouth. Then we come to know that the girl’s father was harsh and cruel towards the girl. The girl was badly beaten and tortured when she returned empty handed. It shows that the father was unemployed and therefore he gave vent to his frustration and dejection by beating and torturing the girl.
Next we find that the condition of the girl’s house was very pitiable. It was very shabby and it was not worth living. In the harsh winter the house was very cold. They had nothing over them but a roof through which the wind whistled even though the biggest cracks had been stuffed with straw and rags.
Question 5.
Do you feel pity and sorrow for the little match girl ? Give rasons for your answer.
Answer:
When the story begins, we see the little girl wandering through the streets for selling the matches in a bitter and freezing cold of December month. The girl is seen in rags. She is bareheahed and barefooted. At the name of woollen clothes, she has put on an old apron. She is shivering in utter cold. Her feet have become red and blue from cold. We feel pity to see her sufferings and pains in such a tender age when she should be playing with the companions of her age and when she should be celebrating and enjoying the New Year’s Eve at her home. But it is the irony of her fate that her family has forced her to sell the matches in this severe weather of December.
On seeing her pathetic state, we are inclined to sympathise the little girl. When we come to know that the girl has been roaming for a long time but could not succeed to earn a single penny all day, we feel pity for her. We again feel pity for her when she tries to take shelter for saving herself from freezing cold but the people show their inhuman and indifferent attitude towards her and she has to creep in a comer formed by two houses.
Next we feel pity for her when we come to know that she is badly tortured and beaten by her father when she returns empty handed. Indeed it is the matter of sorrow that the father does not have any concern for the welfare of his little child. He does not have compassion for the little child.
Then we feel sorrow for the little girl who greatly longs for love and recalls the love of her dead grandmother. When, in her vision, she sees the image of her grandmother, she pleads to her to take her to heaven as she desires to be with one true relative.
Finally the tragic end of the girl’s life brings us great sorrow. The next morning the girl’s dead body is found with the bumt-out matches clutched between her fingers. The responsibile factors of her death are her poverty, starvation and the inhuman attitude of the people around her. With the departure of this world, she has got rid of her sufferings and pains.
Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers