Class 11 English – Humour and Satire Notes
Ways with Words
A. Match the following words with their meanings.
a. Transcendental
➜ Spiritual, non-physical, or mystical
b. Deplore
➜ To feel or express strong disapproval of something
c. Absolve
➜ To set someone free from blame, guilt, or responsibility
d. Juju
➜ A charm or fetish used by some West African people
e. Crude
➜ In a natural or unrefined state
f. Chronicle
➜ A written record of historical events
B. Find the contextual meanings of the following words and use them in sentences of your own.
a. Condemn
Meaning: To express strong disapproval
Sentence:
Do not condemn him before you hear the evidence.
b. Terror
Meaning: A feeling of extreme fear
Sentence:
He lived in terror of being caught.
c. Unbidden
Meaning: Without being asked, invited, or expected
Sentence:
She shook her head to remove the unbidden thoughts.
d. Persist
Meaning: To continue to exist or continue doing something
Sentence:
The reporter persisted with his questioning.
e. Devout
Meaning: Having or showing strong religious feelings
Sentence:
His grandfather is a devout Buddhist.
f. Banish
Meaning: To make someone or something go away
Sentence:
The good wizard used a spell to banish the evil spirits.
g. Creed
Meaning: A system of religious or political beliefs
Sentence:
Many countries adopted the political creed enthusiastically.
h. Hasten
Meaning: To make something happen more quickly
Sentence:
The fear in his voice made her hasten her steps.
i. Sober
Meaning: Serious and sensible
Sentence:
He remained sober throughout the important discussion.
j. Scorn
Meaning: To feel or express contempt or disrespect
Sentence:
He felt scorn for those who insulted poor people.
k. Yearning
Meaning: A strong emotional desire
Sentence:
They had a deep yearning for their homeland.
l. Aloof
Meaning: Unfriendly or emotionally distant
Sentence:
His aloof response made her feel uncomfortable.
m. Swarthy
Meaning: Having dark skin or a dark complexion
Sentence:
My friend is thin and has a swarthy complexion.
n. Humbler
Meaning: More modest or less proud
Sentence:
The leader of the third group spoke in a humbler tone.
C. Trace the origins of the following words and use them in sentences.
1. Minatory
Origin: Latin minatorius
Meaning: Threatening
Sentence:
The group left a minatory message outside the house.
2. Placated
Origin: Latin placare
Meaning: Made someone less angry
Sentence:
She was placated after he apologised sincerely.
3. Cajoled
Origin: French cajoler
Meaning: Persuaded someone gently or through flattery
Sentence:
I managed to cajole her into staying a little longer.
4. Antedates
Origin: Latin ante, meaning “before”
Meaning: Occurs earlier than something else
Sentence:
This temple antedates the modern settlement by several centuries.
5. Proliferated
Origin: Latin prolifer
Meaning: Increased greatly or multiplied rapidly
Sentence:
Online learning platforms have proliferated in recent years.
6. Philter
Origin: Greek philtron
Meaning: A magical drink or love potion
Sentence:
The old story described a prince who drank a magical philter.
D. List five words beginning with the prefix “super-”. Explain their meanings with and without the prefix.
The prefix super- generally means above, beyond, extra, greater, or more powerful than normal.
a. Superimpose
Superimpose: To place one image or object over another
Impose: To force or establish something
b. Superman
Superman: A man with extraordinary strength or ability
Man: An adult male human being
c. Supernatural
Supernatural: Beyond the laws of nature
Natural: Related to nature or occurring normally
d. Supernumerary
Supernumerary: Extra or exceeding the required number
Numerary: Related to numbers
e. Superstar
Superstar: A very famous and successful performer or personality
Star: A celestial object or a famous performer
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. According to the author, what are the four types of superstition?
Answer:
According to the author, the four types of superstition are:
- Vain observances
- Divination
- Idolatry
- Improper worship of the true God
b. From which language is the word “superstition” derived? What does it mean?
Answer:
The word “superstition” is derived from the Latin word supersisto. It means “to stand in terror of the Deity.”
c. How do psychologists understand superstition?
Answer:
Psychologists understand superstition as a compulsive belief or behaviour that even neurosis may not completely remove.
d. How does superstition differ from religion?
Answer:
Religion is an organised system of faith, worship, and moral values shared by a community. It usually involves belief in God or divine powers.
Superstition, on the other hand, is an irrational belief in supernatural causes, lucky or unlucky signs, charms, rituals, or omens. It is generally based on fear, uncertainty, or tradition rather than evidence.
e. What do some people in Central Europe believe about sneezing?
Answer:
Some people in Central Europe believe that when a person sneezes, the soul temporarily leaves the body. Therefore, they quickly bless the person.
f. Why, in the author’s view, are people fascinated by superstition?
Answer:
According to the author, people are fascinated by superstition because they strongly desire to know their future and want to have some control over their fate.
Critical Thinking
a. What is the key message of the essay? Do you think the essay is satirical? Why?
Answer:
The key message of the essay is that superstition exists in the lives of almost everyone, whether educated or uneducated. People may consider themselves logical and rational, yet they often follow superstitious practices knowingly or unknowingly.
The author suggests that many superstitions are ancient and widespread. They appear in different societies, religions, races, and cultures. This shows that superstition may arise from deep human fears, uncertainty, and the desire to control fate.
Yes, the essay is satirical. The author uses humour, irony, and criticism to expose the irrational behaviour of people. He satirises both educated and uneducated individuals who claim to be logical but still follow superstitions.
Examples include throwing salt over the left shoulder after spilling it, avoiding walking under ladders, consulting the I Ching for university matters, and placing lucky coins or charms on examination desks.
Through these examples, the author makes readers laugh while also encouraging them to question irrational beliefs.
b. Can education bring change in superstitious beliefs? Present arguments to support your answer.
Answer:
Education can significantly reduce superstitious beliefs, although it may not remove them completely.
Superstition often develops from fear, ignorance, and a lack of scientific understanding. Education teaches people to question beliefs, examine evidence, and understand natural causes.
For example, an educated person is more likely to take a sick person to a hospital than to depend entirely on rituals, charms, or priests. Education explains the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of diseases.
Education also develops critical thinking and reasoning skills. It encourages people to test ideas before accepting them as true. Once the unknown becomes scientifically understood, many superstitious fears disappear.
However, education alone may not completely eradicate superstition. Even highly educated people sometimes follow traditional beliefs, lucky signs, horoscopes, or rituals. Such beliefs may be deeply connected with culture, emotions, and family traditions.
Therefore, education can greatly reduce superstition by promoting scientific thinking, awareness, and rational judgment. Complete elimination may be difficult, but education remains the most effective tool for challenging irrational beliefs.
Writing
a. Write an essay on superstitions that exist in your community in about 250 words.
Superstitions in My Community
Superstitions are beliefs that are not based on scientific evidence or logical reasoning. They have existed since ancient times and are still common in many communities.
In earlier times, people had little scientific knowledge. They could not explain diseases, natural disasters, or unusual events. Therefore, they connected such events with ghosts, spirits, luck, and supernatural powers.
Many superstitions still exist in my community. Some people believe that a black cat crossing the road brings bad luck. Others believe that the cawing of a crow means that a guest will arrive soon.
Some people consider the twitching of an eye to be a sign of good or bad news. Sneezing before beginning a journey is also considered inauspicious by some. Similarly, people may avoid starting important work on particular days or at certain times.
Belief in ghosts, witches, fortune-tellers, and magical healers also exists. Some people visit traditional healers instead of hospitals when they become ill. Dishonest individuals sometimes take advantage of such beliefs and exploit innocent people.
However, faith and superstition are not the same. Faith may provide hope and moral strength, whereas superstition often creates unnecessary fear and anxiety.
Education and scientific awareness can reduce such beliefs. People should question every claim and examine it using reason and evidence.
In conclusion, superstition still exists in my community, but it can be reduced through education, awareness, scientific thinking, and open discussion.
b. “Superstition is prevalent in every walk of life.” Argue for or against this statement.
Answer:
Yes, I agree that superstition is prevalent in almost every walk of life.
Human beings began developing superstitions when they were unable to understand natural events. Thunder, lightning, disease, death, drought, and earthquakes created fear. People therefore believed that supernatural forces controlled their lives.
Many ancient societies worshipped the sun, moon, stars, rivers, trees, and other forces of nature. Even today, people in different cultures believe that planets, stars, and supernatural powers influence human life.
Superstition is not limited to uneducated people. Educated individuals may also believe in lucky numbers, horoscopes, charms, omens, or particular rituals.
For example, the number thirteen is considered unlucky in many Western countries. Some buildings do not have a thirteenth floor. Spilling salt is also regarded as a bad sign.
In Nepal, some people believe that a black cat crossing the road brings bad luck. The howling of a dog, the hooting of an owl, or sneezing before a journey may also be considered inauspicious.
Superstition is found in education, politics, business, sports, marriage, health, travel, and daily life. Players may wear lucky clothes, students may carry lucky pens, and businesspeople may choose favourable dates.
Most of these beliefs have no scientific basis. However, they continue because they are passed down through generations.
Therefore, superstition remains prevalent in many areas of life despite scientific and technological development.
Grammar
B. Put the verbs into the correct form: present simple or present continuous.
a. Nisha __________ English very well.
(speak)
Answer: Speaks
Complete sentence:
Nisha speaks English very well.
b. Hurry up! We __________ for you.
(wait)
Answer: Are waiting
Complete sentence:
Hurry up! We are waiting for you.
c. Excuse me! __________ English?
(you/speak)
Answer: Do you speak
Complete sentence:
Excuse me! Do you speak English?
d. She __________ a shower in the bathroom.
(have)
Answer: Is having
Complete sentence:
She is having a shower in the bathroom.
e. How often __________ a newspaper?
(you/read)
Answer: Do you read
Complete sentence:
How often do you read a newspaper?
f. I am sorry, I __________. Can you speak more slowly?
(not/understand)
Answer: Do not understand
Complete sentence:
I am sorry, I do not understand. Can you speak more slowly?
g. You can turn off the radio. I __________ to it.
(not/listen)
Answer: Am not listening
Complete sentence:
You can turn off the radio. I am not listening to it.
h. I usually __________ at five o’clock every morning.
(get up)
Answer: Get up
Complete sentence:
I usually get up at five o’clock every morning.
i. Look! The river __________ very fast.
(flow)
Answer: Is flowing
Complete sentence:
Look! The river is flowing very fast.
j. Amrita __________ very happy at the moment.
(not/seem)
Answer: Does not seem
Complete sentence:
Amrita does not seem very happy at the moment.
C. Are the underlined verbs correct? Correct them where necessary.
a. Water boils at 100°C.
Answer: Correct
Correct sentence:
Water boils at 100°C.
b. The water boils. Can you turn it off?
Answer: Incorrect
Correct sentence:
The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?
c. I must go now. It gets late.
Answer: Incorrect
Correct sentence:
I must go now. It is getting late.
d. This sauce is tasting really good.
Answer: Incorrect
Correct sentence:
This sauce tastes really good.
e. I am thinking this is your key.
Answer: Incorrect
Correct sentence:
I think this is your key.
f. Are you believing in God?
Answer: Incorrect
Correct sentence:
Do you believe in God?
g. I usually go to school on foot.
Answer: Correct
Correct sentence:
I usually go to school on foot.
h. Look! That man tries to open the door of her car.
Answer: Incorrect
Correct sentence:
Look! That man is trying to open the door of her car.
i. The moon is going around the Earth.
Answer: Incorrect
Correct sentence:
The moon goes around the Earth.
j. I am getting hungry. Let us go and eat.
Answer: Correct
Correct sentence:
I am getting hungry. Let us go and eat.
Discussion
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