Class 11 English (Elective) Essay Chapter 5- What is a Good Book? Important Question Answers from Woven Words Book
Class 11 English (Elective) What is a Good Book? Important Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Essay Chapter 5 – What is a Good Book? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 11 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Essay Chapter 5 – What is a Good Book? now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract-based questions, multiple choice questions and Extra Question Answers
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- What is a Good Book? NCERT Solutions
- What is a Good Book? Extract Based Questions
- What is a Good Book? Multiple Choice Questions
- What is a Good Book? Extra Question Answers
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What is a Good Book? Textbook Questions (NCERT Solutions)
Look for these expressions and guess their meaning from the context
canaille
peerage
fain
national noblesse of words
Ans.
canaille: The common crowd or low-class people (derogatory for commoners).
peerage: The noble class or aristocracy; here metaphorically applied to words, meaning the ‘nobility’ or high quality of words.
fain: Gladly, willingly, or desirous to do something.
national noblesse of words: The national nobility or high-ranking status of words in language history.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
1. What, according to Ruskin, are the limitations of the good book of the hour?
Ans. According to Ruskin, the good book of the hour, though often useful and pleasant like a friend’s talk, is limited because it serves mainly as immediate communication rather than permanent knowledge. Such books, including travel accounts, newspapers, or novels, are valuable for occasional reference but do not qualify as true books since they lack permanence and deeper, lasting insight. They are more like printed letters or conversations intended for temporary use rather than thoughtful study.
2. What are the criteria that Ruskin feels that readers should fulfil to make themselves fit for the company of the Dead.
Ans. Ruskin believes that to be fit for the company of the Dead, the great thinkers and writers of the past, readers must have a genuine love and respect for these people and a true desire to learn from them. They must be willing to rise to their level of thought, not seeking to confirm their own ideas but to understand the author’s meaning fully, even if it is strange or challenging. Ambition or superficial interest will not suffice; one must prepare oneself intellectually and morally to engage deeply and earn the right to enter this timeless fellowship.
3. Why does Ruskin feel that reading the work of a good author is a painstaking task?
Ans. Ruskin feels that reading a good author’s work is painstaking because true wisdom is hidden and must be carefully uncovered through intense effort, much like a miner digging for gold. The meaning is not simply laid out; it is encoded in the text and requires patience, sharpness, and a thoughtful mind to extract. Readers must work hard to understand every word and nuance, applying their intellect and soul to grasp the deeper message, which is often revealed slowly and indirectly.
4. What is the emphasis placed by Ruskin on accuracy?
Ans. Ruskin places great emphasis on accuracy, especially in understanding words precisely. He argues that education and true learning come from careful, detailed reading, letter by letter, syllable by syllable, to appreciate the exact meaning and history of words. Without such accuracy, even knowledge of many languages is shallow. The precise use and understanding of language is what distinguishes educated people from the uneducated, and it is essential because words carry power and meaning that must be respected to avoid confusion or harm.
TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT
Discuss in pairs
1. Ruskin’s insistence on looking intensely at words, and assuring oneself of meaning, syllable by syllable—nay, letter by letter.
Ans. Ruskin’s insistence on looking intensely at words, assuring oneself of meaning syllable by syllable, and even letter by letter, highlights his belief that language is precise and every part matters in understanding the full meaning. He emphasizes that true comprehension requires careful attention to detail, suggesting that one cannot simply skim over words but must engage deeply to grasp their exact sense. This intense scrutiny ensures that readers do not misunderstand or lose the subtlety of the author’s message, reinforcing the idea that language is a carefully crafted tool for communication.
2. Choice of diction is very crucial to the communication of meaning.
Ans. Ruskin shows that the choice of words is crucial for communicating meaning effectively. The right word carries the correct nuance and connotation, which influences how readers interpret the text. If a writer uses inaccurate or careless words, the intended meaning can be lost or distorted. Thus, diction is not just about vocabulary but about selecting words with precision to convey clear and powerful ideas. Ruskin’s focus on diction underlines his respect for language as an instrument that shapes thought.
APPRECIATION
1. The text is an excerpt from Sesame and Lilies which consists of two essays, primarily, written for delivery as public lectures in 1864. Identify the features that fit the speech mode. Notice the sentence patterns.
Ans. The excerpt from Sesame and Lilies exhibits features typical of a speech delivered as a public lecture. The style is formal yet engaging, with rhetorical devices like repetition and balanced sentence structures that emphasize key points. The use of direct address and appeals to the audience’s intellect and emotions also fit the speech mode. Sentence patterns often include parallelism and carefully crafted contrasts, which help maintain the listeners’ attention and make the arguments memorable.
2. The lecture was delivered in 1864. What are the shifts in style and diction that make the language different from the way it is used today?
Ans. The lecture was delivered in 1864 and thus, the language reflects the formal and elaborate style of the Victorian era. The diction includes complex sentence constructions, a rich vocabulary, and an elevated tone that is less common in contemporary spoken English. Words and phrases may seem more ornate or archaic to modern readers, and there is a greater emphasis on rhetorical flourish. These stylistic shifts highlight changes over time in how language is used for public communication, with today’s speech tending to be more straightforward and informal.
LANGUAGE WORK ___________________________________
1. Many sentences and paragraphs in the excerpt begin with the word ‘And’. To what extent does this contribute to the rhetorical style of the lecture?
Ans. Beginning many sentences and paragraphs with the word “And” contributes significantly to the rhetorical style of the lecture. It creates a rhythm and flow that feels natural and conversational, as if the speaker is building an argument step-by-step in real time. This technique also emphasizes continuity, connecting ideas closely and encouraging the audience to follow the progression of thought. While it may seem informal, this repeated use of “And” helps maintain momentum and reinforces the points being made.
2. Study each of the following sentences and notice the balance between its parts. Pick out other sentences in the text that reflect this kind of balance
a. It is right that a false Latin quantity should excite a smile in the House of Commons; but it is wrong that a false English meaning should not excite a frown there.
b. Let the accent of words be watched, by all means, but let the meaning be watched more closely still, and fewer will do the work.
Ans. a. The sentence “It is right that a false Latin quantity should excite a smile in the House of Commons; but it is wrong that a false English meaning should not excite a frown there” shows a clear contrast between two ideas balanced around what is “right” and “wrong.” Other sentences in the text that reflect this kind of balance include statements where two opposing ideas or conditions are placed side by side to emphasize the difference or the importance of one over the other. For example, Ruskin contrasts the focus on pronunciation with the deeper need to understand meaning, showing the tension between surface correctness and true understanding.
b. The sentence “Let the accent of words be watched, by all means, but let the meaning be watched more closely still, and fewer will do the work” balances two imperatives that build on each other, first encouraging attention to pronunciation, then emphasizing that meaning deserves even greater attention. This creates a rhythm and hierarchy between the two related actions. Other sentences in the text use a similar structure by pairing actions or ideas with subtle shifts in importance, such as when Ruskin advises careful scrutiny “syllable by syllable, nay, letter by letter,” showing increasing levels of detail, or when he pairs “words” and “meaning” to stress their interconnected but distinct roles.
CBSE Class 11 English Essay Chapter 5 What is a Good Book? Extract-Based Questions and Answers
A.
“The good book of the hour, then—I do not speak of the bad ones—is simply the useful or pleasant talk of some person whom you cannot otherwise converse with, printed for you. Very useful often, telling you what you need to know; very pleasant often, as a sensible friend’s present talk would be. These bright accounts of travels; good-humoured and witty discussions of question; lively or pathetic story-telling in the form of novel; firm fact-telling by the real agents concerned in the events of passing history—all these books of the hour, multiplying among us as education becomes more general, are a peculiar characteristic and possession of the present age: we ought to be entirely thankful for them, and entirely ashamed of ourselves if we make no good use of them.”
1. What does Ruskin describe as a “good book of the hour”?
Ans. Ruskin describes the good book of the hour as the useful or pleasant talk of someone you cannot otherwise converse with, printed for you.
2. Why are such books considered useful or pleasant?
Ans. Such books are useful because they often tell you what you need to know, and pleasant because they are like the present talk of a sensible friend.
3. What types of content does Ruskin say are found in these “books of the hour”?
Ans. They include bright accounts of travels, good-humoured and witty discussions, lively or pathetic storytelling in novels, and factual accounts by real agents of historical events.
4. How does Ruskin suggest society should feel about the multiplication of such books?
Ans. Ruskin suggests that society should be entirely thankful for these books and ashamed of itself if it makes no good use of them.
5. What is implied about education and the availability of these books?
Ans. Ruskin implies that as education becomes more general, such books multiply and become a distinctive possession of the present age.
B.
“But we make the worst possible use if we allow them to usurp the place of true books: for, strictly speaking, they are not books at all but merely letters or newspapers in good print. Our friend’s letter may be delightful, or necessary, today: whether worth keeping or not, is to be considered. The newspaper may be entirely proper at breakfast time but, assuredly, it is not reading for all day. So, though bound up in a volume, the long letter which gives you so pleasant an account of the inns, and roads, and weather last year at such a place, or which tells you that amusing story or gives you the real circumstances of such and such events, however valuable for occasional reference, may not be, in the real sense of the word, a ‘book’ at all, nor, in the real sense, to be ‘read’.”
1. What warning does Ruskin give about the use of “books of the hour”?
Ans. Ruskin warns that it is a bad use to allow these books of the hour to take the place of true books.
2. How does Ruskin distinguish “true books” from other printed material?
Ans. Ruskin says true books are not mere printed talk like letters or newspapers, but something more permanent and meaningful.
3. What example does Ruskin use to show that not all printed works are books?
Ans. Ruskin uses the example of a friend’s letter or a newspaper, which may be delightful or necessary temporarily but not meant to be kept or read all day.
4. What is the real sense of the word ‘book’ according to Ruskin?
Ans. The real sense of the word ‘book’ means something written for permanence and not just for temporary communication.
5. Why might a long letter printed in a volume not qualify as a true book?
Ans. A long letter printed in a volume does not qualify as a true book because it may only be valuable for occasional reference and does not possess the permanence or depth that true books have.
C.
“A book is essentially not a talked thing but a written thing; and written, not with the view of more communication, but of permanence. The book of talk is printed only because its author cannot speak to thousands of people at once; if he could, he would—the volume is mere ‘multiplication’ of his voice. You cannot talk to your friend in India; if you could, you would; you would write instead: that is mere ‘conveyance’ of voice. But a book is written, not to multiply the voice merely, not to carry it merely, but to preserve it.”
1. What is the essential nature of a book, according to Ruskin?
Ans. A book is essentially a written thing, not just spoken or talked, and it is written for permanence.
2. Why are some spoken words printed according to Ruskin?
Ans. They are printed because the author cannot speak to thousands of people at once, so printing multiplies his voice.
3. What is the difference between writing a letter and writing a book in Ruskin’s view?
Ans. Writing a letter is to convey one’s voice to someone far away, while writing a book is to preserve ideas permanently.
4. Why would an author write a book instead of just speaking?
Ans. An author would write a book instead of just speaking because the author wants to preserve something true and useful for future readers, not just communicate temporarily.
5. What is the main purpose of a book beyond communication?
Ans. The main purpose is to preserve the author’s ideas or knowledge forever.
D.
“You have heard as much before; yet have you measured and mapped out this short life and its possibilities? Do you know, if you read this, that you cannot read that—that what you lose today you cannot gain tomorrow? Will you go and gossip with your housemaid, or your stable-boy, when you may talk with queens and kings; or flatter yourselves that it is with any worthy consciousness of your own claims to respect that you jostle with the common crowd for entrée here, an audience there, when all the while this eternal court is open to you, with its society wide as the world, multitudinous as its days, the chosen and the mighty, of every place and time? Into that you may enter always; in that you may take fellowship and rank according to your wish; from that, once entered into it, you can never be outcast but by your own fault.”
1. What metaphor does Ruskin use to describe the company readers enter by reading great books?
Ans. Ruskin calls it an eternal court, a society wide as the world, with the chosen and mighty of every place and time.
2. What does Ruskin suggest about the choices we make in how we spend our time?
Ans. Ruskin suggests that spending time on trivial talk is foolish when we could be conversing with the greatest minds through books.
3. What warning does Ruskin give about losing reading opportunities?
Ans. Ruskin warns that what you lose today in reading, you cannot gain tomorrow.
4. How does Ruskin describe the inclusion in this ‘eternal court’?
Ans. Ruskin describes the inclusion in this ‘eternal court’ as anyone may enter and take fellowship and rank by merit and desire, and can only be excluded by their own fault.
5. What is the benefit of entering this society of the dead?
Ans. The benefit is to gain wisdom and companionship with the greatest minds from all times and places.
E.
“When you come to a good book, you must ask yourself, ‘Am I inclined to work as an Australian miner would? Are my pickaxes and shovels in good order and am I in good trim myself, my sleeves well up to the elbow, and my breath good, and my temper?’ … your pickaxes are your own care, wit and learning; your smelting furnace is your own thoughtful soul. Do not hope to get at any good author’s meaning without these tools and that fire; often you will need sharpest, finest chiselling, and patientest fusing, before you can gather one grain of metal.”
1. What metaphor does Ruskin use to describe reading a good book?
Ans. Ruskin compares a good book to mining for gold, requiring pickaxes, shovels, and a furnace to extract precious metal.
2. What are the ‘pickaxes’ and ‘shovels’ in this metaphor?
Ans. The words ‘pickaxes’ and ‘shovels’ represent your own care, wit, and learning.
3. What does the ‘smelting furnace’ symbolize?
Ans. The smelting furnace symbolizes your own thoughtful soul.
4. Why does Ruskin say you need effort to understand a good book?
Ans. Ruskin says you need effort to understand a good book because the author’s meaning is often hidden and requires patient chiselling and fusing to be understood.
5. What should a reader prepare before approaching a good book?
Ans. A reader should be prepared mentally and emotionally, with readiness to work hard, be patient, and think deeply.
Class 11 What is a Good Book? Multiple-Choice Questions
1. According to Ruskin, what is a “good book of the hour”?
(A) A book that entertains only
(B) Useful or pleasant talk printed for readers
(C) A religious text
(D) A book that is difficult to read
Ans. (B) Useful or pleasant talk printed for readers
2. Ruskin says that books of the hour often include:
(A) Bright travel accounts
(B) Scientific formulas only
(C) Poetry exclusively
(D) Religious sermons only
Ans. (A) Bright travel accounts
3. What does Ruskin suggest about the multiplication of books of the hour?
(A) They are to be ignored
(B) They should replace all old books
(C) We should be thankful and make good use of them
(D) They are only for children
Ans. (C) We should be thankful and make good use of them
4. What does Ruskin mean by “true books”?
(A) Newspapers and letters printed neatly
(B) Written works intended for permanence
(C) Only fiction books
(D) Books with pictures
Ans. (B) Written works intended for permanence
5. Why does Ruskin say letters and newspapers are not true books?
(A) They are too expensive
(B) They are meant for temporary communication
(C) They contain too many errors
(D) They are only for children
Ans. (B) They are meant for temporary communication
6. According to Ruskin, why are true books written?
(A) To be printed in large numbers
(B) To preserve the author’s lasting truth or knowledge
(C) To entertain readers only
(D) To follow fashion trends
Ans. (B) To preserve the author’s lasting truth or knowledge
7. Ruskin compares reading a good book to which activity?
(A) Swimming in the ocean
(B) Mining for gold
(C) Painting a picture
(D) Playing a musical instrument
Ans. (B) Mining for gold.
8. What does Ruskin say is necessary to understand a good book’s true meaning?
(A) Luck and chance
(B) Care, wit, and learning
(C) Speed reading
(D) Discussing with friends
Ans. (B) Care, wit, and learning.
9. Ruskin believes that the true bits in a book are:
(A) Mixed with ill-done and affected parts
(B) Easy to find always
(C) Only in fiction books
(D) Found only in old books
Ans. (A) Mixed with ill-done and affected parts.
10. What does Ruskin say about ambition in relation to entering the “court” of great books?
(A) Ambition helps you get in quickly
(B) Ambition is scorned; love and desire to learn are needed
(C) Ambition is the most important factor
(D) Ambition can replace understanding
Ans. (B) Ambition is scorned; love and desire to learn are needed.
11. How should a reader approach a book written by someone wiser than themselves?
(A) Look for their own opinions
(B) Ignore the author’s ideas
(C) Try to understand the author’s meaning first
(D) Only read the parts they agree with
Ans. (C) Try to understand the author’s meaning first
12. Ruskin claims the deeper thoughts of wise men are:
(A) Clearly explained
(B) Hidden and given only as a reward for effort
(C) Easy to understand immediately
(D) Meant to entertain
Ans. (B) Hidden and given only as a reward for effort.
13. What does Ruskin compare to the hidden nature of wisdom in books?
(A) Gold hidden in small fissures underground
(B) Water flowing freely
(C) Light shining brightly
(D) Wind blowing openly
Ans. (A) Gold hidden in small fissures underground.
14. According to Ruskin, what habit must a good reader develop?
(A) Reading quickly
(B) Avoiding difficult books
(C) Reading only summaries
(D) Looking intensely at words, letter by letter
Ans. (D) Looking intensely at words, letter by letter
15. Ruskin says that a well-educated person is recognized by:
(A) Their ability to speak many languages
(B) Precise knowledge and pronunciation of words
(C) The number of books they own
(D) Their wealth and social status
Ans. (B) Precise knowledge and pronunciation of words.
16. What does Ruskin say about an uneducated person who knows many languages?
(A) They may still not truly know any word
(B) They are always better educated
(C) They can easily teach others
(D) They are superior in knowledge
Ans. (A) They may still not truly know any word
17. According to Ruskin, what excites a frown more than a false Latin quantity?
(A) A false English meaning
(B) A bad handwriting
(C) An incorrect page number
(D) A misspelled name
Ans. (A) A false English meaning.
18. What does Ruskin mean by “peerage of words”?
(A) Words with royal origins only
(B) The noble ancestry and correct use of words
(C) Words that are easy to understand
(D) The latest slang words
Ans. (B) The noble ancestry and correct use of words.
19. According to Ruskin, what should words be watched for?
(A) Only their accent
(B) Their meaning more closely than their accent
(C) Their length
(D) Their font style
Ans. (B) Their meaning more closely than their accent.
20. Ruskin compares the study of books to what kind of labor?
(A) Easy and effortless
(B) A social activity only
(C) A casual pastime
(D) Painful but rewarding work like mining
Ans. (D) Painful but rewarding work like mining.
CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Essay Chapter 5 What is a Good Book? Extra Question Answers
Answer the following-
1. What does Ruskin mean by “true books” and how are they different from books of the hour?
Ans. Ruskin defines “true books” as those written with lasting intent, books that preserve wisdom, experience, or deep insight. These are not written to meet immediate needs or temporary trends but to endure time. In contrast, “books of the hour” are those that may be pleasant or useful in the short term but are not intended for permanence. They include articles, travel accounts, or brief opinions designed for casual reading. Ruskin respects both types but elevates “true books” because they contain the distilled thought of great minds, offering timeless guidance and enriching the reader’s intellect across generations.
2. According to Ruskin, what qualities should a good reader possess?
Ans. Ruskin emphasizes that a good reader must be attentive, patient, and respectful of the writer’s intellect. He believes that true reading is not passive; rather, it demands active engagement. The reader must aim to understand the author’s intended meaning before forming personal opinions. A good reader should look closely at words, letter by letter, and grasp their precise meaning and pronunciation. Ruskin discourages ambition for mere display and encourages deep love and desire to learn. Only through such care can one mine the “gold” hidden within books. True reading is thus a discipline and an act of thoughtful discovery.
3. How does Ruskin use the metaphor of mining to describe the process of reading?
Ans. Ruskin compares the act of reading valuable books to mining for gold. Just as gold is hidden deep within the earth and requires patient, skilled labor to extract, the wisdom in books is not always easily visible on the surface. The best parts of a book, its deepest truths, are often embedded in complex language or abstract thought. The reader must dig through pages and persevere through challenging passages to uncover the true meaning. This metaphor highlights that meaningful reading is not easy or immediate; it demands effort, reflection, and a willingness to endure difficulty for the sake of gaining knowledge.
4. What warning does Ruskin give about the misuse of language, especially in educated society?
Ans. Ruskin warns that misusing language, whether through poor pronunciation, incorrect meaning, or careless usage, is a sign of poor education. He criticizes the tendency among some educated individuals to value foreign or classical languages over their own, leading to a shallow understanding of any. A truly educated person, he argues, knows the exact value, history, and proper use of each word they speak. Ruskin stresses that false understanding of words is more offensive than errors in classical pronunciation. For him, language is not just a tool for communication but a measure of one’s intellectual discipline and cultural refinement.
5. What is Ruskin’s advice to those who wish to gain wisdom through reading?
Ans. Ruskin advises that anyone seeking wisdom through reading must approach books with humility, patience, and seriousness. He stresses that true learning comes not from skimming or superficial understanding but from a genuine effort to uncover the author’s deeper intentions. Readers must develop the habit of focused attention and cultivate an appreciation for the precise meaning of language. Ruskin suggests that readers should not seek to show off what they read but to be changed by it. He believes that books are silent companions of the wise, and to benefit from them, one must read with purpose, passion, and persistence.