Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Summary CBSE Class 10 English First Flight book Chapter 2 Difficult word meaning and Question Answer
- Deputy- Second in command
- Sworn- given under oath; determined to stay in the role specified
- Pledged- committed (a person or organization) by a solemn promise
- Assembled- (of people) gather together in one place for a common purpose
- Confer- grant
- Glory- honour
- Outlaws- because of its policy of apartheid, many countries had earlier broken off diplomatic relations with South Africa
- On our own soil- in our own country
- Possession- ownership
- Dignity- the state or quality of being worthy of respect.
- Apartheid- a policy or system of segregation on grounds of race
- Profound- very great or intense
- Unintended- not planned or meant
- Comrades- a colleague or a fellow member of an organisation
- Resilience- the ability to deal with any kind of hardship and recover from its effects
- Defies- refuse to obey
- Triumph- great victory or achievement
- Grimmest- very serious or gloomy
- Glimmer- shine faintly with a wavering light
- Pushed to our limits- pushed to the last point in our ability to bear pain
- Reassure- say or do something to remove the doubts
- Obligations- a duty or a commitment
- Civil- courteous and polite
- Inclination- natural tendencies of behaviour
- Inevitably- unavoidably
- Twilight- half-light, semi-darkness
- Secrecy- the action of keeping something secret
- Rebellion- the action or process of resisting authority, convention or control
- Stream- a small, narrow river
- Mealies- a maize plant
- Abided- obeyed
- Boyhood- the state or time of being a boy
- Illusion- a false idea or belief
- Transitory- not permanent
- Yearned- have an intense feeling or longing for something
- Curtailed- reduce; impose a restriction on
- Dignity- the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect
- Frightened- afraid or anxious
- Monk- a member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
- Virtuous- having or showing high moral standards
- Indivisible- unable to be divided or separated
- Prejudice- a strong dislike without any good reason
Emancipation- the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions
Liberate- free; release
Bondage- the state of being a slave
Discrimination- being treated differently or unfavourably
Deprivation- the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society
Oppression- prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority.
Glorious- having, worthy of, or bringing fame or admiration.
Reign- rule; govern
Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Question and Answers
1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
A. The ceremonies took place in an amphitheatre which was formed by Union Buildings in Pretoria. In India, we have many public buildings made of sandstone, some of which are Rashtrapati Bhavan, Red Fort and the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
A. Since South Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere, we can say that May falls in the autumn season.
3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious … human achievement” he speaks of at the end?
A. By “an extraordinary human disaster”, Mandela is referring to the apartheid system that was prevalent in South Africa under the previous leadership. People of colour were treated unfairly and no human being deserves that. He stood against the unjust practices and finally won the democratic elections to become the first black President of South Africa. He refers to this win as “glorious human achievement”.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
A. The author thanked the international leaders for joining and supporting them in their victory of freedom, justice and human dignity. Earlier, many nations had cut ties with South Africa because of their practice of apartheid.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
A. As the newly elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela wanted to liberate the country of all the unjust practices. He set out ideals for a country which was free of poverty, discrimination and injustice.
6. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
A. The military generals saluted Nelson Mandela and promised their support to the newly formed democratic government of South Africa. Their attitude has changed because earlier they were under the ruke of the white supremacy. During that rule, they would have arrested Mandela as he was considered to be a criminal. Now, with the abolition of Apartheid and the formation of a democratic government, their attitude has also changed.
7. Why were two national anthems sung?
A. The two national anthems, one of the Blacks and other of the Whites were sung symbolising equality and respect for the entire community irrespective of their colour.
8. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country
(i) In the first decade, and
(ii) In the final decade, of the twentieth century?
A. (i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, white supremacy created a system of racial domination and made life a living hell for the dark-skinned people. Mandela referred it as one of the “harshest, inhumane societies” of the world.
(ii) In the final decade of the twentieth century, the system of apartheid has been changed into one that recognises all humans as equal regardless of their colour, race or gender.
9. What does courage mean to Mandela?
A. To Mandela, “courage” does not mean the absence of fear, but the victory over it. A man who is courageous is the one who has overcome his fear to fight all the odds.
10. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
A. He believes love comes more naturally to humans as opposed to hate. No one is born with hatred in his heart for another.
11. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
A. According to Mandela, every person has “twin obligations”, one towards his family and the other, towards his society.
12. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?
A. As a young boy, and a student, Mandela’s idea of freedom was to be able to stay out at night, read whatever he desired and go wherever he chose. On growing up as a man, he realised that these were “transitory freedoms” he was looking for because their “basic and honourable freedoms” had been taken away. There was no liberty to have a peaceful marriage, family and life. Dark-skinned people were deprived of their fundamental human rights. For them, freedom was an “illusion”.
13. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
A. According to Mandela, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. As soon as the former robs the oppressed of their freedom he, himself gets robbed of his humanity. Thus, he thinks that the oppressor too, is not free.
14. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
A. At the inauguration ceremony, there were a large number of international leaders to celebrate the end of apartheid system and to display their support for South Africa. It signified the triumph of justice over prejudice, courage over fear and right over wrong.
15. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
A. Mandela wanted to thank the generations before him who had fought for justice. He gathered his courage from these brave heroes and it is because of that, he fought fearlessly for what is right. Thus, he referred to himself as “simply the sum of all those African patriots” that had gone before him.
16. Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
A. Yes, I agree that “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”. Mandela illustrated this idea by the example of all those who had emerged as great freedom fighters after years of oppression and brutality. Though unintended, effect of all this was men with extraordinary courage and strength. One of the greatest examples is of our own country, where our people were exploited under British rule for about 200 years. As a result of oppression of such magnitude, India got freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
17. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
A. As a young boy, and a student, Mandela’s idea of freedom was to be able to stay out at night, read whatever he desired and go wherever he chose. On growing up as a man, he realised that these were “transitory freedoms” he was looking for because their “basic and honourable freedoms” had been taken away. There was no liberty to have a peaceful marriage, family and life. Dark-skinned people were deprived of their fundamental human rights. For them, freedom was an “illusion”.
18. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
A. Once Mandela realized his hunger for freedom, his life changed forever. It transformed him from a family-man to a man of his people and a frightened young man into a bold one. He built his entire life around fighting for the basic fundamental rights for his community. He was more selfless and virtuous than ever.
Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Grammar Exercises
Make a list of pairs of noun and verb.
| NOUN | VERB |
Rebellion | Rebel |
Constitution | Constitute |
Formation | Form |
Government | Govern |
Obligation | Oblige |
Transformation | Transform |
Discrimination | Discriminate |
Deprivation | Deprive |
Demonstration | Demonstrate |
Oppression | Oppress |
Imagination | Imagine |
Answers-
Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks with the noun forms of the verbs in brackets.
Martin Luther King’s __________ (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the __________ (assist) of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean __________ (subjugate) and __________ (humiliate) by the police and the legal system. Beatings, __________ (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent __________ (resist) to racial injustice.
Answers-
Martin Luther King’s contribution (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the assistance (assist) of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean subjugation (subjugate) and humiliation (humiliate) by the police and the legal system. Beatings, imprisonment (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance (resist) to racial injustice.
Here are some more examples of ‘the’ used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for ‘the’.)
1. Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.
2. Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
3. History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.
Answers-
- This means that Mr. Singh regularly invites famous personalities like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
- This means Madhuri Dixit is such a great actress that she is worthy of being called the legendary actress Madhubala of present times.
- This means that History not only consists of famous people like Alexanders, Napoleons and Hitler, but also of ordinary people.
Match the italicised phrases in Column A with the phrase nearest in meaning in Column B. (Hint: First look for the sentence in the text in which the phrase in Column A occurs.)
| A | B |
1. I was not unmindful of the fact | (i) had not forgotten; was aware of the fact |
2. when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits | (i) pushed by the guards to the wall |
3. to reassure me and keep me going | (i) make me go on walking |
4. the basic and honourable freedoms of…earning my keep,… | (i) earning enough money to live on |
Answers-
| A | B |
1. I was not unmindful of the fact | (i) had not forgotten; was aware of the fact |
2. when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits | (iii) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer |
3. to reassure me and keep me going | (ii) help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation |
4. The basic and honourable freedoms of…earning my keep,… | (i) earning enough money to live on |
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