Bihar Board Class 11 English Read, Think and Enjoy Chapter 7 – Letter To Cork
Bihar Board Class 11 English Read, Think and Enjoy Chapter 7 – Letter To Cork is an interesting lesson from Rainbow Part 1. The chapter is written in the form of a letter by Dean Mahomed and describes different animals and aspects of life in India.
Letter To Cork is particularly important because it introduces students to the writing of Dean Mahomed, who is regarded as the first Indian author to write a book in English. The lesson also provides interesting descriptions of the elephant, rhinoceros and camel.
Bihar Board Class 11 English Letter To Cork – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 11th |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Rainbow Part 1 |
| Section | Read, Think and Enjoy |
| Chapter | Chapter 7 – Letter To Cork |
| Writer | Dean Mahomed |
| Form | Letter |
| Main Topics | Elephant, rhinoceros, camel and observations about India |
Letter To Cork – About the Writer
Dean Mahomed was an Indian writer and traveller who wrote in English. He is widely recognised as the first Indian author to publish a book in English.
His writings introduced European readers to various aspects of India, including its people, places, customs and animals.
In Letter To Cork, he presents observations about animals in a descriptive and informative manner.
Letter To Cork – Introduction
The chapter is presented as a letter addressed to a person in Cork. Through the letter, Dean Mahomed describes some remarkable animals associated with India.
The three major animals discussed in the lesson are the elephant, rhinoceros and camel. The descriptions include their physical characteristics, habits, usefulness and relationship with human beings. 1
The lesson is interesting because the writer combines information with personal observation. His descriptions also give readers a glimpse of how India was being presented to readers outside the country.
Letter To Cork – Summary
In the letter, Dean Mahomed describes several large and remarkable animals found in India. He discusses the elephant, rhinoceros and camel and explains their characteristics in an informative style.
The Elephant
The elephant is presented as a huge and powerful animal. The writer discusses its size, strength, skin, trunk and teeth.
He also describes the elephant’s ability to swim and its usefulness to human beings. The elephant’s physical strength and intelligence make it one of the most remarkable animals described in the letter.
The lesson also discusses the way elephants were traditionally captured and the methods associated with their use.
The Rhinoceros
The rhinoceros is another large animal described by Dean Mahomed. The writer draws attention to its unusual appearance, strong body and physical power.
Its distinctive horn and thick skin make it different from other animals discussed in the letter.
The Camel
The camel is described as an extremely useful animal, particularly in areas where it is difficult for other animals to travel.
Its ability to carry heavy loads and survive in difficult conditions makes it valuable to people. The writer also discusses its physical characteristics and behaviour.
Animals Described in Letter To Cork
| Animal | Main Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Elephant | Large, powerful, intelligent and useful to humans |
| Rhinoceros | Large, strong, thick-skinned and distinctive in appearance |
| Camel | Strong, useful for carrying loads and suited to difficult environments |
The textbook questions also specifically identify these three animals as the animals described by the author, noting that all three are large, bulky and strong. 2
Elephant in Letter To Cork
The elephant receives considerable attention in the letter. The writer describes its great size and physical strength.
According to the lesson, elephants have extremely tough skin and a powerful trunk. The trunk serves several purposes, including breathing, eating, lifting objects and defence.
The elephant is also described as a strong swimmer. Its usefulness to people is another important aspect of the description. 3
Rhinoceros in Letter To Cork
The rhinoceros is described as a powerful and unusual animal. Its large body, thick skin and horn distinguish it from the other animals in the letter.
The description helps readers understand the physical characteristics of an animal that would have been unfamiliar to many readers outside India.
Camel in Letter To Cork
The camel is presented as an animal particularly suited to carrying burdens and travelling through difficult areas.
The letter describes its physical characteristics and its usefulness to human beings. The camel’s ability to carry heavy loads makes it an important working animal.
The chapter also describes how camels are loaded and how their pace can be controlled by their driver. 4
Importance of Letter To Cork
The lesson is important from both literary and historical perspectives. It gives students an example of early Indian writing in English and demonstrates how an Indian writer described his country to an outside audience.
At the same time, the detailed descriptions of animals make the lesson informative and engaging.
Main Themes of Letter To Cork
1. Observation
The writer carefully observes animals and describes their physical features and behaviour.
2. Indian Life and Culture
The descriptions provide readers with glimpses of animals and practices associated with India.
3. Animal-Human Relationship
The chapter highlights the usefulness of animals to human beings, especially for transportation and carrying loads.
4. Early Indian Writing in English
The lesson introduces students to the work of Dean Mahomed and the history of Indian writing in English.
5. Descriptive Writing
The chapter demonstrates how detailed descriptions can help readers visualise unfamiliar animals and surroundings.
Important Questions from Letter To Cork
- Who wrote Letter To Cork?
- Who was Dean Mahomed?
- To whom were the letters of Dean Mahomed addressed?
- Which animals are described in Letter To Cork?
- What does the author say about the elephant?
- How does the author describe the rhinoceros?
- What does the author say about the camel?
- How is an elephant sold today?
- What are the common features of the three animals?
- Why is the camel useful to human beings?
- Why is Dean Mahomed important in Indian English literature?
- What is the significance of Letter To Cork?
- What are the major themes of the lesson?
- Write the summary of Letter To Cork.
Short Answer Questions
Question 1. Who wrote Letter To Cork?
Answer: Dean Mahomed wrote Letter To Cork.
Question 2. Which animals are described in the letter?
Answer: The author describes three animals: the elephant, rhinoceros and camel. 5
Question 3. What do the three animals have in common?
Answer: The three animals are large, bulky and strong.
Question 4. What is special about the elephant?
Answer: The elephant is remarkable for its great size, strength, tough skin, powerful trunk and usefulness to human beings.
Question 5. Why is the camel useful?
Answer: The camel is useful because it can carry heavy loads and travel through difficult environments.
Question 6. What was the old method of selling animals mentioned in the letter?
Answer: The letter mentions that animals were commonly sold by measurement. The textbook answer explains that this practice does not continue today and that elephants are now sold through bargaining. 6
Long Answer Questions
Question 1. Describe the three animals mentioned in Letter To Cork.
Answer: Dean Mahomed describes three large animals in his letter: the elephant, rhinoceros and camel.
The elephant is described as a huge and powerful animal with a strong trunk and tough skin. It is also useful to human beings.
The rhinoceros is presented as a large and strong animal with thick skin and a distinctive horn.
The camel is described as a useful working animal capable of carrying heavy loads and travelling through difficult areas.
All three animals are large, strong and powerful.
Question 2. Describe the importance of the elephant in Letter To Cork.
Answer: The elephant is presented as one of the most remarkable animals in the letter. Its enormous size, strength and powerful trunk distinguish it from other animals.
The writer also describes its physical features and usefulness to people. The elephant’s ability to swim and its strength make it particularly interesting.
Question 3. Why is Letter To Cork important in Indian English literature?
Answer: Letter To Cork is important because it introduces students to the writings of Dean Mahomed, an early Indian writer in English.
His work is significant because it presents observations about India to readers outside the country. The lesson therefore has both literary and historical importance.
Letter To Cork – Important Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant | A very large land animal | हाथी |
| Rhinoceros | A large thick-skinned animal with a horn | गैंडा |
| Camel | A desert animal used for carrying loads | ऊँट |
| Measurement | The act of measuring something | माप |
| Bargain | An agreement reached through negotiation | सौदा / मोलभाव |
| Trunk | The long nose of an elephant | सूंड |
| Burden | A heavy load | बोझ |
| Useful | Helpful or beneficial | उपयोगी |
Exam Oriented Points
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Section | Read, Think and Enjoy |
| Chapter | Chapter 7 |
| Lesson | Letter To Cork |
| Writer | Dean Mahomed |
| Animals | Elephant, rhinoceros and camel |
| Main Themes | Observation, animals, Indian life and early Indian English writing |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 7 of Read, Think and Enjoy?
Chapter 7 of the Read, Think and Enjoy section is Letter To Cork. 7
Who is the writer of Letter To Cork?
Dean Mahomed is the writer of Letter To Cork.
Which animals are described in Letter To Cork?
The three animals described are the elephant, rhinoceros and camel. 8
Why is Dean Mahomed important?
Dean Mahomed is regarded as the first Indian author to write a book in English.
What is the main focus of Letter To Cork?
The lesson focuses on descriptions of animals and observations about India presented through a letter.
How to Prepare Chapter 7 for the Exam
- Remember the writer’s name — Dean Mahomed.
- Remember that the lesson is presented as a letter.
- Learn the three animals described in the chapter.
- Prepare the important characteristics of the elephant.
- Prepare the descriptions of the rhinoceros and camel.
- Understand the significance of Dean Mahomed in Indian English writing.
- Learn the important word meanings.
- Practise the short-answer questions.
- Prepare the long-answer questions.
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Previous Chapter | Bihar Board Class 11 English Read, Think and Enjoy Chapter 6 – Of Remembering God |
| Bihar Board Official Website | Bihar Board Online |
Conclusion
Bihar Board Class 11 English Read, Think and Enjoy Chapter 7 – Letter To Cork introduces students to the descriptive writing of Dean Mahomed.
The lesson describes the elephant, rhinoceros and camel and provides interesting observations about these animals and their usefulness to human beings.
For examination preparation, students should focus on the writer, three animals, important descriptions, significance of Dean Mahomed, word meanings and questions and answers.
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