| Board | UP Board |
| Textbook | NCERT |
| Class | 11th |
| Subject | English |
| Chapter | 1 |
| Chapter name | My Struggle for An Education |
| Category | English PROSE Class 11th |
UP Board chapter 1 Class 11 English
Explain withreference to the context oneof the followingpassages:
(1) In the fall of 1872, Idetermined to make an effort toget there.My mother was troubled with agrave fear that I was starting out on a “wild goose chase”. At | any rate, I got onlya half-hearted consent from her that I might start. I had very little money with which to buyclothes and paymytravelling expenses. My brother John helped me all that he could; but, of course, that was not agreat deal..
Reference :
Reference : These lines are taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An Education‘ written by Brooker T. Washington,agreatnegro educatorand reformer.
Context :
Context : The writer of the essay, as a boy, worked inacoal mine.One day two miners were talkingaboutagreat school for coloured people. Bychance he heard their conversation.
Explanation :
Explanation : The twominers were talking about theschool named Hampton -NormalandAgricultural Institutein Virginia.Thewriter was very much impressed and attracted towards theschool. The school seemed to him morecharming than Heaven. He knew nothing about the school. He did not know how many miles from his house it was. He did notknowthe proper approachofthe school. Eventhen he made up his mind togo there. His onlyambition was togo to that school. He
was veryexcited. He was always thinking of it.
(2) Finally, the great day came, and I started for Hampton. I had onlya small cheap satchel that contained the fewarticles of clothing I could get. My motherat the time was rather weakand broken in health. I hardlyexpected to see heragain, and thus our parting wasall the more sad. She, however, was verybrave through it All,
Reference :
Reference : These lines have been taken from the lesson “My Struggle For AnbEducation“, written by Brooker T.Washington, agreatnegro writer.
Context :
Context : Here theauthor describes his departure from his home to the Insti- tute in Virginia.
Explanation :
Explanation : At last the authorgot ready togo to Hampton. He had very few clothes. Heputthem inasmall cheapsatchel.Atthat time his mother was weakand ill. He was going on a long and difficult journey. So he thought that she would not
live till his return. This seperation was painful. Even then his mother behaved very bravelyat that time. She showed no sign of weakness.
(3) Thad never been in a large city, and this ratheradded to my misery. WhenI reached Richmond, I was completely out of money. I had not a single acquain- tance in the place; and being unused to city ways, I did not know where to go, I
asked at several places for lodging, but theyall wanted money, and that was what Idid not have. Knowing nothing else better to do, I walked the streets.
Reference :
Reference : These lines have been taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An Education‘, written by Brooker T.Washington. .
Context :
Context: When Washington started forHampton he had very little money. He walked and begged rides. After some days he reached Richmond.
Explanation :
Explanation : When theauthor (Washington) reached Richmond he was tired and hungry. He was in great difficulty. He was unknown to the city. The city was large. So his difficulties increased. He did not know anybody there. He did not know the habits and customs of the people inacity. So he could not getany place to stay. Everyone wanted money for lodging and food. He could not decide what he should do. He began to wander the streets.
(4) I waited for a few minutes till I was sure that nopassers-by could see me and then crept under the side walkand lay for the night on the ground, with my satchel of clothing for a pillow. Nearly all night I could hear the tramp offeet over my head.
Reference :
Reference : These lines have been taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An Education,’ written by Brooker T. Washington.
Context :
Context: When the writer reached Richmond, he had no money. He did not knowanybody there. He could not getanyplace to stay.Atlast hedecided to sleep
under the side walk..
Explanation :
Explanation : He sawa side walkwhich was much raised above the road. He | decided to sleep there. He waited till no passers-by could see him. He then crept under the side footpathand lay down on the ground topass thenight. He used his small bag of clothes as a pillow. He could not have a sound sleep because he had | to hear the sound of foot steps of the passengers walking on the foot-path.
(5) My workpleased the captain so well that he told me that I could continue working fora smallamount per day. ThisI was veryglad todo. I continued working | on this vessel for a number of days.
Reference :
Reference : These lines have been taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An | Education, written by Brooker T. Washington.
Context :
Context: Theauthor reached Richmond. He was unknown to the city. He was | in attire need of money. So he worked on a ship, got some money. He took food.
Explanation :
Explanation : Theauthor worked on the ship so sincerely that the Captain of the ship was pleased very much. Therefore, heallowed theauthor to workon the
ship for days to come.Theauthorgotasmall amountper dayyethe was happy to work there. He worked hard for many days on the ship…
(6) Without any unusual occurrence l reached Hampton, with a surplus of exactly fifty cents with which to begin myeducation. The first sight of the large, three-storey brickschool building seemed to have rewarded me for all that I had undergone in order to reach the place. Thesight of it seemed to give me new life.
Reference :
Reference : These lines are taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An Education‘, written by Brooker T. Washington. The writerisanegro educatorand reformer.
Context :
Context : The author of this essay was going to join the famous school for coloured people.On his way he stayed at Richmond. After some days he reached Hampton. He sawthe magnificent buildingofthe school for the first time. He was
very happy. In these lines the author describes his feelings about the school.
Explanation :
Explanation : The author remained at Richmond for some days. He worked onaship. He saved fifty cents. He started for Hamptonand reached there without any remarkable difficulty. He reached the school. He saw the threestorevbuilding for the first time. He was very happy. He felt that it was his reward for what he had suffered on the way.When he sawthe building he felt as if he had gota new life. He forgotall of his pains and sufferings to see the beautiful and grand buildingofthe school.
(7) For some time she did not refuse to admit me, neither did she decide in my favour. I continued to linger about her, and to impress her in all the Ivys
could with my worthiness. In the mean time sawher admitting other students. and thatadded greatly to my discomfort..
Reference :
Reference : These lines have been taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An Education’, written by Brooker T.Washington..
Context :
Context : The author stood before the head teacher for admission. He was dirty in appearance and clothing. The head teacher could not decide whether to giveadmission to sucha dirtyboy. Even then theauthor remained standing there before her.
Explanation :
Explanation : The head teacher remainedsilent for sometime on the subject of admission. Meanwhile theatuhor continued to stay there. He wanted togivean expression of his ability and to seek the favour of the head teacher. The head teacher was permittingadmission to the other students butneglecting theauthor. This neglect put him inavery painful situation.
(8) I swept the recitation room three times, then I gota dusting cloth, and I dusted it four times. All the woodworkaround the walls, every bench, table and desk, I went over four times with myausting cloth. Besides, everypiece offurniture had been moved and every closet and corner in the room had been thoroughly cleaned.
Reference :
Reference : These lines have been taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An Education, written by Brooker T. Washington.
Context :
Context: Theauthor was ordered to sweep the recitation room. He thought it | agolden chance toget admission. Sohe swept the room thoroughly.
Explanation :
Explanation : The author was ordered to sweep the recitation room. He cleaned all the woodwork, every.bench and desk for four times. After sweeping it he tookadusting cloth and rubbed all the items present in the room. He dusted the furniture and walls for four times. He moved every closet and cleaned it thoroughly.
(9) I was one of the happiest souls on earth. The sweeping of that room was my college examination. I have passed several examinations since then, but I have always felt that this was the best one lever passed…
Reference :
Reference: These lines have been taken from the lesson My Struggle ForAn Education’, written by Brooker T. Washington ,anegroeducatorand reformer.
Context :
Context : The author requested the head teacher togive admission. But the head teacher did not admit the author at once.Washington could not make a favourable impression on the head teacher because he was dirty, weak and shabbily dressed. The head teacher asked him to sweep the recitation room. Washington obeyed and cleaned the room.
Explanation :
Explanation : Washington had cleaned theroom, thoroughly.The head teacher checked the room. She was satisfied with his workof cleanliness. She decided to admithim to the school.Washington was glad to hear it. He felt him as one of the happiest men in the world.Cleaning the room wasavery important test for him. It was likeanexamination in the college. Hepassed manyexaminations after that. But no other examination gave him so much joy and excitement. It was the best examination of his life.