class xi English poem Telephone conversation wooven words
CLASS XI
SUBJECT :- ENGLISH
POEM :- TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
BOOK :- WOOVEN WORDS
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
1. State the central issue in the poem.
20 words:
The poem highlights racial discrimination. It shows how people judge others based on skin colour, not on their character.
40 words:
The central issue of the poem is racial discrimination. It shows how a simple telephone conversation reveals deep-seated prejudice. The poet highlights the absurdity of judging someone by their skin colour rather than their abilities or personality.
60 words:
The main issue in “Telephone Conversation” is racial discrimination. The poet faces prejudice when a landlady asks about his skin colour during a phone call. This situation reflects how common racism was in society. Instead of focusing on his qualities, she judges him by his colour. Through humour and sarcasm, Soyinka exposes this insensitive attitude.
80 words:
In “Telephone Conversation,” Wole Soyinka addresses the problem of racial discrimination. The poem describes a phone call where a landlady questions the poet about his skin colour before renting a house. Despite his polite and honest nature, she only focuses on his race. The poet uses irony and humour to show the absurdity of such prejudice. This simple telephone call reveals the deeper reality of how society unfairly treats people based on the colour of their skin.
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2. There are intervals of silence in the interaction between the landlady and the prospective tenant. What are the reasons for this?
20 words:
The silences reflect awkwardness and shock. Both characters hesitate due to the sensitive subject of racial discrimination and social discomfort.
40 words:
The silences show discomfort and hesitation. The landlady pauses because she feels uneasy asking about race, while the poet hesitates due to shock and disappointment. These pauses make the conversation tense and awkward, exposing the uncomfortable nature of racism.
60 words:
The pauses in the telephone conversation happen because of discomfort and shock. When the poet confesses his race, the landlady falls silent, showing her prejudice and surprise. The poet, in return, is stunned by her question. These silences highlight the awkwardness of discussing racism and show how difficult it is to address such uncomfortable topics openly.
80 words:
The intervals of silence in the poem reflect the awkward and tense atmosphere between the two speakers. When the poet honestly admits his African identity, the landlady hesitates, unsure how to respond without sounding rude. Her silence shows her racial prejudice, while the poet's pauses reflect his surprise and frustration. These moments of silence make the conversation more intense, emphasizing the discomfort people feel when discussing racism or revealing their inner prejudices.
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3. How is colour highlighted in the poem and why? List all the words in the poem that suggest colour.
20 words:
Colour highlights racial differences and prejudice. Words like dark, light, red, blonde, brunette, sepia, and raven black are used.
40 words:
The poem emphasizes colour to highlight racial prejudice. The landlady focuses on the poet’s skin colour. Words like dark, light, red, brunette, peroxide blonde, sepia, and raven black reflect the obsession with colour and racial identity in society.
60 words:
Colour plays a key role in showing racism. The landlady judges the poet based on his skin tone, not his personality. Words like dark, light, red, brunette, peroxide blonde, sepia, and raven black describe the poet’s skin colour and surroundings. This focus on colour highlights society’s shallow way of judging people by appearance instead of their true nature.
80 words:
In the poem, colour represents racial prejudice and shallow judgments. The landlady is more concerned about the poet's skin colour than his character. Words like dark, light, red (booth, pillar-box, omnibus), brunette, peroxide blonde, sepia, and raven black repeatedly appear, showing how society categorizes people based on colour. By using such descriptive words, the poet highlights the absurdity of defining someone’s worth through skin tone instead of valuing them for their humanity and individual qualities.
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4. Which are the lines in the poem that impressed you the most and why?
20 words:
“Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?” impressed me most because it shows the poet’s courage and challenges the lady’s prejudice.
40 words:
The line “Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?” impressed me because it shows the poet’s honesty and confidence. Instead of feeling insulted, he bravely invites the landlady to meet him and judge his character rather than his skin colour.
60 words:
The line “Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?” impressed me the most. It shows the poet’s boldness in facing racial prejudice. Rather than arguing, he calmly invites the landlady to meet him personally. This shows his confidence, honesty, and the message that a person should be judged by their actions and personality, not their race or appearance.
80 words:
The line “Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?” impressed me deeply. Instead of reacting with anger to the landlady’s racist question, the poet responds with intelligence and courage. He invites her to meet him face-to-face, suggesting that personal experience matters more than skin colour. This line powerfully challenges stereotypes and promotes human connection beyond racial discrimination. It shows the poet’s wisdom in dealing with sensitive issues calmly and with dignity.
5. You know what ‘hide-and-seek’ is. What would ‘hide-and-speak’ mean?
20 words:
‘Hide-and-speak’ means hiding your real thoughts but still speaking indirectly. It shows people hiding racism behind polite words.
40 words:
‘Hide-and-speak’ refers to pretending to be polite while actually being rude. The landlady hides her racism behind careful words but still reveals her prejudice. The poet cleverly shows how people try to hide their true feelings but still express them.
60 words:
‘Hide-and-speak’ is a play on ‘hide-and-seek.’ It means saying something unpleasant while pretending to be polite. In the poem, the landlady hides her racist feelings but cannot stop herself from asking about the poet’s skin colour. The phrase highlights how people cover up their prejudice using polite language, but their true feelings still come out.
80 words:
The phrase ‘hide-and-speak’ is a clever twist on the childhood game ‘hide-and-seek.’ Here, it means speaking in a way that hides true intentions. The landlady tries to be polite and well-mannered, but her questions about the poet’s skin colour reveal her hidden prejudice. This expression shows how people often hide their racism behind gentle words, but their true feelings eventually come out through their speech and actions.
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6. Certain words in the poem are in capital letters—why?
20 words:
Capital letters show the landlady’s loud, rude, and insensitive tone. They reflect her strong prejudice and harsh attitude.
40 words:
The poet uses capital letters to show the landlady’s loud and rude tone. She speaks harshly when asking about his skin colour. The capital letters highlight her prejudice and discomfort, making her questions sound aggressive, insensitive, and blunt.
60 words:
The capital letters in the poem emphasize the landlady’s rude and insensitive tone. They show how loudly and harshly she speaks when she questions the poet’s skin colour. Instead of speaking politely, she sounds aggressive and blunt. This use of capital letters highlights her racial prejudice and how uncomfortable she feels, exposing the ugliness of racism in simple everyday conversations.
80 words:
The poet uses capital letters to clearly show the landlady’s rude, blunt, and insensitive tone. When she asks about the poet’s skin colour, she speaks loudly and harshly, showing no respect for his feelings. The capital letters capture her shouting voice, making her prejudice stand out clearly. This use of capital letters reflects her lack of manners and her discomfort with the topic of race. It emphasizes how racism often comes across in harsh and rude conversations.
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7. Why do you think the poet has chosen the title ‘Telephone Conversation’? If you were to suggest another title for the poem, what would it be?
20 words:
The title shows how racism appears in ordinary talks. Another title could be “Colours of Prejudice” or “Skin Deep Conversation.”
40 words:
The poet titled it “Telephone Conversation” to show how racism creeps into daily talks. Even a simple call reveals prejudice. Another fitting title could be “Colours of Prejudice” or “Beyond the Skin,” highlighting how colour becomes the focus of human judgment.
60 words:
The title “Telephone Conversation” fits because it shows how even a normal phone call exposes racial prejudice. A simple conversation about renting a house turns into a discussion about skin colour. If I suggested another title, it could be “Colours of Prejudice” or “Skin Deep Conversation” because these titles highlight how people judge others by their appearance, ignoring their character and personality.
80 words:
The poet chose the title “Telephone Conversation” because it reflects how racial prejudice can appear in everyday life, even during simple discussions. The conversation, which should have been about renting a house, turns into a racist interrogation about skin colour. The title highlights how racism affects ordinary situations. If I were to suggest another title, it could be “Colours of Prejudice” or “Skin Deep Conversation” because these titles better explain the theme of judging people by appearance instead of understanding their true identity.
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8. The power of poetry lies in suggestion and understatement. Discuss this with reference to the poem.
20 words:
The poem uses humour and irony to suggest racism’s cruelty. It subtly shows how prejudice harms daily human interactions.
40 words:
The poem suggests racism’s cruelty without directly saying it. Through humour, irony, and understatement, the poet shows the pain of racial discrimination. He uses a simple telephone conversation to expose society’s hidden prejudice, making the message powerful and clear.
60 words:
The poem shows the power of suggestion and understatement. Instead of directly attacking racism, the poet uses humour and irony to highlight how cruel and shallow prejudice is. A simple phone call turns into an uncomfortable situation. The poet’s calm, witty answers and the landlady’s blunt words cleverly reveal society’s racist mindset, making the message strong and impactful without using harsh language.
80 words:
Wole Soyinka uses suggestion and understatement powerfully in this poem. He does not directly accuse or criticize anyone but uses humour and irony to reveal racism’s ugliness. The poet’s calm, witty responses expose the landlady’s prejudice, and a simple telephone call becomes a reflection of society’s deep-rooted racism. Without shouting or blaming, the poem quietly shows how painful such bias can be. This subtle approach leaves a strong impact on the reader’s mind, making the message clear and powerful.
TRY THIS OUT
1. Enact the conversation bits with your partner.
(Since this is a speaking activity, here are sample dialogues for easy preparation.)
20 words:
Poet: Hello Madam, I am African.
Landlady: HOW DARK? ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?
Poet: West African Sepia.
40 words:
Poet: Hello Madam, I am African. I didn’t want a wasted trip.
Landlady: (Pause) HOW DARK? ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?
Poet: West African Sepia, like in my passport. Wouldn't you rather see for yourself?
60 words:
Poet: Hello Madam, I’m calling about the house. I’m African, to be honest.
Landlady: (Long pause) HOW DARK? ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?
Poet: You mean, like milk or plain chocolate? Well, I’m West African sepia. Madam, wouldn't you rather see for yourself instead of judging over the phone?
80 words:
Poet: Hello Madam, I’m African. I wanted to tell you in advance so I don’t waste my time.
Landlady: (Silence, then harshly) HOW DARK? ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?
Poet: Do you mean like milk chocolate or dark chocolate? I’d say I’m West African sepia—it's in my passport. But madam, why don’t you see for yourself instead of deciding based on my skin colour?
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2. Attempt a description of:
a. The place from which the call was made
20 words:
The poet made the call from a red public phone booth surrounded by noisy streets and red buses, creating a busy scene.
40 words:
The call was made from a public phone booth, probably placed near busy London streets. The surroundings included a red pillar box, red double-decker buses, and tar-smeared roads, giving a noisy, everyday city environment. It contrasts with the poem’s serious theme.
60 words:
The poet made the call from a red public telephone booth, surrounded by the sights and sounds of a busy London street. The booth stood near a red pillar box and noisy red double-decker buses passing over tarred roads. The ordinary setting of the public place contrasted sharply with the serious personal issue of racism that the poet faced during the call.
80 words:
The call was made from a typical London red public telephone booth, probably located near a busy street corner. Around the booth were a red pillar box and the famous red double-decker buses squelching on the tarred roads. This noisy, everyday background of city life creates a sharp contrast with the serious and sensitive conversation taking place inside the booth, showing how racism invades even the most ordinary moments of life.
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b. The lady at the other end
20 words:
The lady seems polite at first but is rude and prejudiced inside. Her voice is harsh, showing her racist mindset.
40 words:
The lady first sounds polite, but soon reveals her racism. Her words are blunt and harsh when she questions the poet’s skin colour. She hides her prejudice behind manners but fails. Her voice, sharp and insensitive, reflects narrow-mindedness and ignorance.
60 words:
The landlady initially appears polite, but soon her racist thoughts surface. Her tone becomes sharp and rude as she bluntly questions the poet’s skin colour. Though she tries to sound well-mannered, her prejudice is clear. Her character shows how people sometimes hide their racism behind politeness, but their harsh words and attitudes reveal the truth of their discriminatory mindset.
80 words:
The landlady in the poem comes across as someone who hides her prejudice behind a mask of politeness. In the beginning, she speaks calmly, but when she learns the poet is African, her tone changes drastically. She becomes rude, insensitive, and aggressive, focusing only on his skin colour. Through her speech, we see how racism exists in the minds of ordinary people, breaking through even when they try to cover it up with politeness.
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c. The speaker in the poem
20 words:
The speaker is honest, witty, and polite. He calmly faces racism and responds with humour and confidence instead of anger.
40 words:
The speaker is a calm, intelligent man who handles the landlady’s racism with wit and grace. Instead of reacting angrily, he uses humour and clever words to show how foolish and rude her prejudice is, highlighting his inner strength.
60 words:
The speaker in the poem is an African man who faces racism politely. He is truthful about his identity and uses wit and humour to respond to the landlady’s rude questions. He remains calm and confident despite the hurtful situation. His ability to stay composed while exposing the absurdity of racial prejudice shows his maturity, dignity, and cleverness in handling discrimination.
80 words:
The speaker in the poem is an African man who honestly reveals his identity to avoid any confusion. Instead of being angry or upset, he uses his intelligence and humour to deal with the landlady’s racist remarks. He calmly answers her rude questions about his skin colour and even invites her to see him in person, showing his confidence and sense of self-worth. His calm and witty attitude highlights his maturity and strong character in facing discrimination.
✅ Question 3: The poem evokes a mental picture of the scene. Draw a rough sketch to illustrate the episode. (Written Answer Form)
20 words answer:
The scene shows a red phone booth on a noisy street, with the poet calmly speaking while facing racial prejudice from the landlady.
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40 words answer:
In the poem, we picture a red telephone booth on a busy London street. Outside, red buses move and people pass by. Inside, the poet stands quietly, facing rude racial questions from the landlady on the phone, showing loneliness amid a crowd.
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60 words answer:
The mental picture of the poem shows a bright red telephone booth standing on a noisy street. The poet stands inside, speaking on the phone. The background includes a red pillar box, red double-decker buses, and tarred roads. While everything seems ordinary outside, inside the booth a serious racial conversation is taking place, showing a man silently facing society's prejudice alone.
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80 words answer:
The scene in the poem shows a bright red public telephone booth on a busy street corner in London. Around the booth, red pillar boxes and red double-decker buses squelch over the tarred roads. People walk by, unaware of the painful conversation happening inside. Inside the booth, the poet calmly holds the phone, facing the landlady’s rude questions about his skin colour. This scene highlights the sharp contrast between the lively outer world and the quiet suffering caused by racism.
✅ 4. The poem ends with ‘Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?’ Imagine a personal encounter between the two people in the poem and write down the dialogue they might have had.
Q: Imagine a face-to-face meeting between the poet and the landlady. Write their possible dialogue.
20 words:
Poet: Hello, madam. I’m the caller.
Landlady: Oh... you are dark.
Poet: Yes, but would you like some tea?
40 words:
Poet: Good evening, madam. I called earlier about the flat.
Landlady: You didn’t tell me you were this dark.
Poet: I did, but colours are not everything. Wouldn’t you like to know me better before judging me?
60 words:
Poet: Hello, madam. I’m the one who called about the apartment.
Landlady: (hesitantly) Oh... you didn’t mention how dark-skinned you are.
Poet: I tried, madam. But colour is only skin-deep. Wouldn’t it be better to know my character first? I hope we can have a peaceful conversation over tea rather than judge each other by appearances.
80 words:
Poet: Hello, madam. I spoke to you on the phone earlier about the apartment.
Landlady: (looking surprised) Oh, you are... much darker than I imagined.
Poet: Yes, madam, I mentioned I was African. But colour shouldn’t matter. Don’t you think it’s better to meet someone and learn about their character first? I’d like to invite you for tea, so you may judge me by my manners and personality, not by my appearance.
EXTRA QUESTIONS
✅ 1. What does the telephone symbolize in the poem?
20 words:
The telephone symbolizes communication and distance. It shows how people talk but still keep emotional and cultural distances due to prejudice.
40 words:
The telephone in the poem symbolizes distant communication where people speak but fail to connect emotionally. The call shows how people judge others without meeting them. Though technology connects them, prejudice creates a big gap between their hearts and minds.
60 words:
The telephone symbolizes distant and cold communication. Though the poet and the landlady are connected by the phone, there is no emotional understanding between them. Their conversation becomes a barrier rather than a bridge because of the landlady’s prejudice. Instead of creating a human connection, the telephone only highlights their racial and social distance.
80 words:
In the poem, the telephone is a symbol of both connection and distance. While the telephone call brings the poet and the landlady together through conversation, it also highlights their emotional and social separation. The landlady’s racist attitude shows that technology may connect people physically, but it cannot remove the barriers of prejudice and judgment. The telephone conversation reveals how people often speak but fail to understand each other due to differences in race, culture, and beliefs.
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✅ 2. What kind of tone does the poet use in his responses?
20 words:
The poet uses a calm, witty, and sarcastic tone. He stays polite even when facing rude and insensitive questions about his race.
40 words:
The poet’s tone is calm and clever. Even when the landlady asks hurtful questions, he uses humour and sarcasm. He controls his anger and responds politely. This tone shows his confidence and highlights how foolish the landlady’s racial prejudice is.
60 words:
Throughout the conversation, the poet maintains a calm, witty, and sarcastic tone. He doesn’t lose his temper, though the landlady is rude. He responds with humour and clever remarks, exposing the absurdity of judging someone based on skin colour. His polite tone highlights his dignity and self-control, making the landlady’s harshness seem even more unjust and senseless.
80 words:
The poet uses a calm, intelligent, and sarcastic tone throughout the conversation. Despite facing rude and insensitive remarks about his race, he stays composed and polite. He uses humour and clever replies to expose how ridiculous the landlady’s racist mindset is. His tone shows that he refuses to be angered or humiliated by her words. Instead, he uses wit and confidence to turn the uncomfortable conversation into a powerful message against prejudice.
✅ 3. Why does the poet confess his identity before meeting the landlady?
20 words:
The poet confesses his identity to avoid wasting time and facing rejection later because of his African heritage.
40 words:
The poet openly shares his African identity before visiting to save time and trouble. He wants honesty from the start, preventing an uncomfortable situation later. This shows his straightforward nature and also reflects his awareness of the racial discrimination he might face.
60 words:
The poet confesses his identity during the call to avoid disappointment or rejection when meeting in person. Being aware of racial prejudice, he wants the landlady to know that he is African before he travels. This shows his honesty and practical approach to avoid embarrassment and reflects his bitter experiences with racism in society.
80 words:
The poet confesses his African identity before visiting the landlady because he wants to avoid wasting his time on a journey that may end in rejection. He is practical and honest, preferring to address potential racial discrimination upfront. His decision reflects the sad reality that people of colour often have to explain or defend their identity in advance. This confession also shows his hope that honesty might change the landlady’s attitude, though the response he gets proves otherwise.
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✅ 4. What emotions does the poet experience during the call?
20 words:
The poet feels disappointment, hurt, and sarcasm. He hides his sadness and uses humour to deal with the landlady’s prejudice.
40 words:
During the call, the poet feels hurt and surprised by the landlady’s prejudice. Instead of showing anger, he uses sarcasm and humour to defend his dignity. He experiences sadness at being judged by his skin colour rather than his personality.
60 words:
The poet experiences mixed emotions during the conversation. At first, he is hopeful, but he feels disappointed when the landlady shows her racial prejudice. Instead of reacting with anger, he uses humour and sarcasm to deal with the hurt. He feels the sadness of being misunderstood and the loneliness of facing discrimination but remains calm and composed throughout.
80 words:
Throughout the telephone conversation, the poet goes through many emotions. Initially, he feels hopeful about finding a house. But as soon as the landlady’s racial prejudice becomes clear, he feels disappointed, hurt, and frustrated. Instead of expressing anger, he cleverly uses sarcasm and humour to protect his dignity and express his feelings. He also feels lonely because such racism is a common part of his life. His calm reaction shows his inner strength and maturity in facing such situations.
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✅ 5. What does “spectroscopic flight of fancy” mean in the poem?
20 words:
It means imagining various skin colours. The poet humorously describes how the landlady mentally examines his colour like a scientist.
40 words:
“Spectroscopic flight of fancy” refers to the landlady’s mental effort to guess the poet’s skin tone. The poet imagines her examining his colour scientifically, like using a spectroscope to analyze colours, showing the absurdity of judging someone by skin colour.
60 words:
The phrase “spectroscopic flight of fancy” humorously shows how the landlady imagines the poet’s skin colour. It refers to her mental attempt to analyze and categorize him, almost like using a scientific instrument to study colours. The poet uses this phrase sarcastically to highlight how ridiculous and unnatural it is to judge a person’s worth based on their skin tone rather than their character.
80 words:
In the poem, “spectroscopic flight of fancy” humorously describes how the landlady mentally analyzes the poet’s skin colour as if she is using a spectroscope to measure shades. The poet imagines her brain going on a scientific journey, trying to classify him based on his complexion. This phrase exposes the absurdity of her behaviour. Instead of seeing him as a human being, she views him as a colour sample. The poet uses this phrase to criticize racial judgment in a witty way.
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✅ 6. Why does the poet mention the colours of his palms and soles?
20 words:
The poet mentions them humorously to show that skin colour varies and judging someone by it is foolish and unfair.
40 words:
The poet humorously mentions that his palms and soles are lighter to show the foolishness of racial judgment. He points out that a person’s body is made of different colours, proving how silly it is to judge people based on skin tone.
60 words:
The poet refers to his palms and soles being peroxide blonde to humorously highlight that a single person’s skin has different shades. This shows how shallow it is to judge someone based on skin colour. His witty remark exposes the absurdity of the landlady’s question and teaches that a person’s real worth comes from their personality, not their skin tone.
80 words:
When the poet mentions that his palms and soles are peroxide blonde, he is using humour to point out that even one person’s body is made up of various colours. This witty remark highlights how absurd it is to classify a person simply by their outer appearance. He uses this example to show that colour alone cannot define a person’s character. Through this clever explanation, the poet criticizes the shallow thinking of those who judge others based on skin tone.
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✅ 7. What is the significance of the poet’s final question, “Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?”
20 words:
It means the poet challenges the landlady to meet him in person and judge his character, not his skin colour.
40 words:
The final question invites the landlady to meet the poet personally rather than judge him over the phone. He challenges her prejudice by saying that true understanding comes from meeting people, not judging by skin colour. This shows his honesty and confidence.
60 words:
The poet’s final question, “Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?” is a bold and thoughtful challenge to the landlady’s prejudice. Instead of judging him based on his skin colour, he invites her to meet him and form an opinion based on his personality. Through this simple question, the poet shows his dignity, confidence, and belief that human beings should be valued for who they truly are.
80 words:
The poet’s last question, “Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?” carries a powerful message. He politely challenges the landlady’s racial prejudice and invites her to judge him based on his character, not his skin colour. This question reflects his honesty and self-confidence. Instead of getting angry, he gives her a chance to rise above her bias. The question encourages open-mindedness and personal interaction, showing that true understanding comes only from personal experiences, not through shallow judgments based on appearance.
✅ 8. How does the poet use humour in the poem?
20 words:
The poet uses humour through witty comparisons like “milk chocolate” and “peroxide blonde” to highlight the foolishness of racism.
40 words:
Humour appears in the poet’s clever replies. He compares his skin colour to chocolates and jokes about his palms being blonde. This sarcasm lightens the tone but clearly exposes how ridiculous it is to judge someone’s character based on skin colour.
60 words:
The poet uses humour and sarcasm to deal with the uncomfortable situation. Instead of becoming angry, he makes witty comparisons, like calling his complexion “West African sepia” and describing his palms as peroxide blonde. This playful tone highlights the ridiculousness of judging people by colour. Humour becomes his way of exposing and coping with the landlady’s prejudice.
80 words:
Humour plays a key role in the poem as the poet uses witty comparisons and sarcasm to expose the stupidity of racism. When the landlady rudely questions his skin colour, he jokingly compares himself to chocolate and describes his palms and soles as peroxide blonde. This clever humour makes the racial prejudice look foolish and petty. Instead of reacting angrily, the poet uses humour as a strong weapon to point out how ridiculous it is to judge a human by colour.
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✅ 9. What role does irony play in the poem?
20 words:
Irony shows how a simple house inquiry turns into a racist interrogation. The poet stays polite, but the landlady behaves badly.
40 words:
The irony lies in the contrast between expected and actual behaviour. Instead of asking about the poet’s character, the landlady rudely focuses on his skin colour. The poet, being polite and honest, faces ugly prejudice during what should have been a normal conversation.
60 words:
Irony is seen when a simple telephone call about renting a house turns into a conversation about skin colour. The landlady, who should be professional and kind, is rude and racist. Meanwhile, the African poet remains polite and calm. This ironic situation exposes the absurdity of racism, where outward politeness hides inner prejudice, and a house inquiry becomes a racial judgment.
80 words:
Irony plays a strong role in the poem. A conversation that should have been about house rent becomes a harsh racial inquiry. The polite, well-mannered poet is the one treated unfairly, while the landlady, expected to be courteous, rudely questions his skin colour. The irony highlights the contrast between expected human behaviour and actual prejudice. This situation shows that even in modern, educated societies, racism still silently exists beneath the surface of ordinary conversations.
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✅ 10. How is the theme of racism presented in a modern setting?
20 words:
Racism is shown in a modern city, using a phone call, proving that prejudice still exists in educated, urban society.
40 words:
The poet presents racism in a modern city, during a simple phone call about renting a house. Despite modern technology and urban living, the landlady shows her old, ugly prejudice, proving that racism still exists even in seemingly educated societies.
60 words:
The poem shows that racism is not limited to the past or rural areas but also exists in modern cities. Even during a telephone conversation, a modern tool of communication, the landlady displays racial prejudice. This setting proves that racism is deeply rooted in human thinking and continues to influence ordinary conversations and daily decisions, even in the most progressive places.
80 words:
Racism is presented in a modern, urban setting through a simple telephone conversation. The poet shows that despite living in a world with advanced technology and modern lifestyles, human minds are still filled with ancient prejudices. Even while discussing house rent in an educated, urban society, the landlady’s focus shifts from the poet’s character to his skin colour. This shows that racism is not a problem of the past but continues to exist in modern social interactions.
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✅ 11. What does the colour “West African sepia” represent in the poem?
20 words:
“West African sepia” represents the poet’s skin colour. He uses this phrase humorously to describe his African heritage in a polite way.
40 words:
The poet describes his skin colour as “West African sepia,” a term that sounds artistic and polite. Instead of saying simply dark or black, he uses this phrase humorously and cleverly, showing that colour is just a part of identity, not everything.
60 words:
“West African sepia” is the poet’s witty way of describing his skin colour. Sepia refers to a rich brown tone, often seen in old photographs. By using this phrase, the poet removes the harshness from the conversation, showing his pride in his African heritage while calmly addressing the landlady’s prejudice. It reflects both his cultural identity and his smart way of handling racism.
80 words:
In the poem, “West African sepia” represents the poet’s skin colour in a sophisticated and humorous way. Instead of simply saying dark or black, he chooses this creative phrase to describe his complexion. Sepia is a warm brown tone, often associated with art and photography. By using this word, the poet takes control of the conversation, adds beauty to his description, and calmly addresses the landlady’s racial curiosity. It shows his pride in his African identity and his cleverness.
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✅ 12. What is the landlady’s main concern during the call?
20 words:
The landlady’s main concern is the poet’s skin colour. Instead of asking about his character, she focuses on race.
40 words:
During the call, the landlady’s only concern is the poet’s skin colour. She ignores his honesty and politeness and repeatedly asks how dark he is. Her behaviour shows how deeply prejudice influences some people’s thoughts and actions.
60 words:
The landlady is mainly concerned about the poet’s race. Instead of discussing his character, profession, or ability to pay rent, she focuses entirely on his skin colour. Her repeated questioning shows that her decision is based on racial prejudice. This reflects how people sometimes ignore important qualities and judge others only by appearance, proving that racism is still present in ordinary social situations.
80 words:
The landlady’s main concern throughout the telephone conversation is the poet’s skin colour. Although the poet is polite, honest, and respectful, she keeps asking whether he is “dark” or “very dark,” showing her racial bias. Instead of giving importance to the poet’s character or financial ability, she lets her prejudice control her decision. This highlights how some people are blind to humanity and judge others only by their outer appearance, revealing the hidden racism in modern society.
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✅ 13. What message does the poem convey about human dignity?
20 words:
The poem teaches us that human dignity comes from character, not colour. We must treat everyone with respect and kindness.
40 words:
The poem conveys that human dignity should be based on qualities like honesty, politeness, and courage—not skin colour. The poet remains calm and dignified even when facing discrimination, teaching us to respect people for who they are, not how they look.
60 words:
The poem gives a strong message about human dignity. It shows that people deserve respect for their honesty, character, and personality, not for their race or appearance. The poet keeps his dignity by staying polite and using humour, even when the landlady behaves rudely. Through this, the poem teaches that true respect comes from how we treat others, not from the colour of their skin.
80 words:
The poem beautifully conveys the message that human dignity is not determined by the colour of one’s skin but by one’s actions and character. Despite facing racial prejudice, the poet does not lose his calm or self-respect. Instead, he uses humour and politeness to maintain his dignity. The landlady’s rude behaviour contrasts sharply with the poet’s grace. This shows that real humanity lies in treating people with kindness and fairness, not judging them by their appearance or race.
✅ 14. How does the poet expose the absurdity of racial discrimination?
20 words:
The poet uses humour and clever replies to show how ridiculous it is to judge someone only by their skin colour.
40 words:
The poet exposes racism’s absurdity by using witty comparisons like chocolate and sepia. He remains calm and polite while the landlady foolishly focuses on his colour. His clever answers make her prejudice seem silly and unnecessary, showing the shallowness of racism.
60 words:
The poet exposes the absurdity of racism through his calm, clever words. He compares his skin tone to chocolates and sepia, using humour to mock the landlady’s prejudice. Instead of arguing, he responds wisely, showing how small-minded people judge by colour. This approach highlights the foolishness of racism and teaches that a person’s true worth lies in their personality, not their appearance.
80 words:
Through wit and humour, the poet skillfully exposes how ridiculous racial discrimination is. When the landlady rudely questions his skin tone, he does not react with anger. Instead, he compares his complexion to chocolates and describes his palms as peroxide blonde, making her prejudice seem laughable. His intelligent responses expose how shallow and absurd it is to judge someone’s character by their skin colour. This shows that racism is not only harmful but also foolish and senseless.
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✅ 15. What is the poet’s attitude toward prejudice in the poem?
20 words:
The poet’s attitude is calm and witty. He faces prejudice bravely, without anger, and uses humour to handle the situation.
40 words:
The poet remains calm and confident in the face of prejudice. Instead of arguing or getting angry, he uses humour and clever replies to deal with the landlady’s rude behaviour. His attitude reflects wisdom, patience, and a strong sense of dignity.
60 words:
The poet shows a calm, composed, and witty attitude toward prejudice. When the landlady rudely questions his skin colour, he doesn’t react with anger. Instead, he uses humour to expose her narrow-mindedness. His positive attitude reflects his maturity and strength, showing that hatred can be answered with kindness, and prejudice should be handled with intelligence and grace.
80 words:
The poet’s attitude toward prejudice is mature and wise. Despite facing rude and insensitive questions from the landlady, he stays calm, polite, and witty. Instead of arguing or losing his temper, he responds with humour and clever comparisons, turning the conversation into a lesson on tolerance. His attitude shows that instead of spreading hatred, we should respond to prejudice with kindness, dignity, and intelligence. This makes his message against racism even more powerful and inspiring.
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✅ 16. How does the public setting contrast with the private conversation?
20 words:
The busy, normal street contrasts with the private, tense phone call. Outside is lively, but inside the booth is serious.
40 words:
The public setting is lively and ordinary with buses, roads, and people. But inside the phone booth, a serious and personal conversation about racism happens. This contrast shows how such sensitive issues often remain hidden from public life and attention.
60 words:
The public setting of the poem includes a bustling street, red buses, and a phone booth, creating a lively background. In contrast, inside the booth, the poet faces a private, painful conversation about race. This contrast shows how personal struggles with prejudice often happen silently in the middle of ordinary, everyday life, unnoticed by those around.
80 words:
The poem presents a strong contrast between the public and private worlds. Outside the red phone booth, life goes on normally—buses move, people walk, and streets are busy. But inside the booth, the poet experiences a deeply personal and painful conversation about race. This contrast highlights how racism affects individual lives quietly, even when the world outside seems peaceful and normal. It reminds us that discrimination happens silently within common, public spaces.
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✅ 17. Why does the poet mention public items like buses and pillar boxes?
20 words:
He mentions public items to show normal life around him. These things contrast with the serious racial conversation happening privately.
40 words:
The poet mentions items like red buses and pillar boxes to show the busy, ordinary world around him. These familiar public objects contrast with his private struggle, highlighting how racism silently affects people in the middle of everyday surroundings.
60 words:
The poet describes public items like red pillar boxes, buses, and streets to create a normal city setting. These ordinary things contrast with the serious racial conversation he’s having on the phone. While the outside world appears normal and peaceful, the poet faces personal discrimination. This contrast highlights how racism quietly affects people even during daily life in public spaces.
80 words:
The mention of public objects like red pillar boxes, buses, and tarred roads creates a typical urban scene. These things represent the normal, busy world around the poet. However, they sharply contrast with the private, hurtful conversation about racial discrimination happening inside the phone booth. By describing these surroundings, the poet shows that such personal struggles are hidden from public view, reminding readers that racism happens quietly even in the most ordinary places.
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✅ 18. What is the landlady’s tone in the conversation?
20 words:
The landlady’s tone is rude and harsh. Though she pretends to be polite at first, her true prejudice soon appears.
40 words:
The landlady’s tone shifts from polite to rude. At first, she speaks normally, but when she learns about the poet’s race, she becomes harsh, insensitive, and loud, showing her prejudice and lack of respect for the poet’s feelings.
60 words:
In the conversation, the landlady starts with a polite tone but quickly changes when she finds out about the poet’s African identity. Her words become rude, sharp, and insensitive. She speaks loudly, questioning his skin colour in a harsh way. Her tone reveals her racial prejudice, showing how some people’s politeness disappears when they face something they dislike or don’t understand.
80 words:
The landlady’s tone during the conversation changes drastically. At first, she sounds polite and professional. But when the poet mentions he is African, her politeness vanishes, and she becomes blunt and rude. She speaks loudly, shown by the capital letters in the poem, asking hurtful questions about his skin colour. Her insensitive and harsh tone exposes her prejudice. This shift in tone reflects how racism strips away people’s kindness, leaving only rude, unkind behaviour behind.
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✅ 19. Why does the poet describe the landlady’s voice as ‘lipstick coated’?
20 words:
The phrase shows her false politeness. Her voice sounds sweet but hides her ugly prejudice, like lipstick hides imperfections.
40 words:
The phrase ‘lipstick coated’ means the landlady’s politeness is fake. Her voice sounds smooth and attractive, like lipstick covering flaws, but inside, she hides ugly thoughts. The poet uses this phrase to show the contrast between her words and feelings.
60 words:
The poet describes the landlady’s voice as ‘lipstick coated’ to show how her outward politeness hides her true prejudice. Just as lipstick covers imperfections on the lips, her smooth, sweet voice tries to cover her rude, racist thoughts. The phrase highlights how people often pretend to be kind and well-mannered, but their real feelings are different and much uglier inside.
80 words:
The phrase ‘lipstick coated’ reflects the false sweetness in the landlady’s voice. On the surface, her voice sounds polite and pleasant, much like lipstick adds beauty. But underneath that politeness, she hides ugly thoughts filled with racial prejudice. The poet uses this phrase to show the difference between her outward behaviour and her inner feelings. Even though her words seem gentle, her intentions are harsh and discriminatory. This image highlights how fake politeness often hides true cruelty.
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✅ 20. What is the overall mood of the poem?
20 words:
The mood of the poem is serious, thoughtful, and slightly humorous. It reflects sadness, irony, and the ugliness of racism.
40 words:
The overall mood of the poem is a mix of sadness, humour, and irony. Though the poet uses witty words, there is an underlying seriousness about racial prejudice. The poem exposes the pain and loneliness felt by people facing discrimination in daily life.
60 words:
The mood of the poem combines sadness, humour, and irony. While the poet responds with wit and sarcasm, the situation itself is painful and serious. The landlady’s rude questions create a mood of discomfort, highlighting the ugliness of racial discrimination. The humour lightens the mood slightly, but the overall feeling remains serious, showing the emotional impact of facing prejudice in ordinary life.
80 words:
The overall mood of the poem is a blend of seriousness, irony, and dark humour. The poet uses wit to make the unpleasant topic of racism easier to discuss, but the sadness behind his words is clear. The discomfort of the telephone conversation creates a tense atmosphere, while the poet’s sarcastic responses add a touch of humour. This mixture of tones shows the complex emotions people feel when dealing with racism—pain, loneliness, and the courage to face prejudice calmly.
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