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A Living God: ISC Class 11 English (Prism) summary, answers
Get notes, line-by-line explanation, summary, questions and answers, critical analysis, word meanings, extras, and pdf (Workbook – Beeta Publication/Morning Star) of the story “A Living God” by Lafcadio Hearn which is part of ISC Class 11 English (Prism: A Collection of ISC Short Stories). However, the notes should only be treated for references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
The story is about Hamaguchi Gohei, a respected man in a Japanese village. He lived in a big farmhouse on a small hill overlooking a bay. The hill was surrounded by forests on three sides. The land from the hill sloped down to the water’s edge.
Japan sometimes experiences huge tidal waves called tsunamis, caused by earthquakes or underwater volcanic eruptions. One such tsunami hit Hamaguchi’s village, causing a lot of damage and fear. The village and the fields were destroyed, leaving only two straw roofs floating in the water.
Before the tsunami, Hamaguchi had set his rice stacks on fire. This made the villagers go to the hill to try to put out the fire. This act saved them from the tsunami that hit their village soon after. Hamaguchi lost his wealth, but he saved four hundred people. At first, the villagers were shocked by the loss, but they soon understood why Hamaguchi did what he did and thanked him.
After the disaster, the villagers honored Hamaguchi by calling him a god. They built a temple for him and worshipped him there. Even though they honored him this way, Hamaguchi continued to live simply in his old farmhouse on the hill. Even after he died, his temple still stands, and the people still pray to him when they are scared or in trouble.
The story ends with a thought about the soul. The villagers believed that a person’s spirit could be in many places at once, even while they are alive. This idea is different from Western ideas about the soul. The story suggests that the villagers’ belief might have some truth to it if we think that all minds are connected.
Workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. How many times did the sea strike against its shore with reducing surges?
(a) Twice
(b) Thrice
(c) Four times
(d) Five times
Answer: (d) Five times
2. The only buildings that withstood the tsunami were
(a) Hamaguchi’s house
(b) Two houses
(c) The temple on the hill
(d) Only (a) and (c)
Answer: (d) Only (a) and (c)
3. What did the Choja see after he felt the earthquake?
(a) The sea darkened
(b) The sea apparently moved against the wind
(c) The water ebbed till the horizon
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d) All of the above.
4. What did the monstrous ebb signify?
(a) A tsunami
(b) A freak event
(c) Uplift of land
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (a) A tsunami
5. Taimatsu are kept in coastal houses for use
(a) on stormy nights
(b) at certain Shinto festivals
(c) to set crops afire
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
6. Which of the following was NOT struck by the Tsunami of June 17, 1896?
(a) Miyagi
(b) Muraosa
(c) Iwate
(d) Aomori
Answer: (b) Muraosa
7. Which of the following was NOT used as an epithet for Hamaguchi Gohei?
(a) Muraosa
(b) Ojiisan
(c) Meiji
(d) Choja
Answer: (c) Meiji
8. Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
(a) Choja : grandfather
(b) Muraosa : headman
(c) Nobori : banners
(d) Ujigami : guardian spirit
Answer: (a) Choja : grandfather
9. How does a Japanese peasant know of an impending earthquake?
(a) Despite the absence of breeze the air is cool
(b) Despite breeze the air seems uncomfortable
(c) The mild tremors that precede the earthquake are felt on hilltops
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (b) Despite breeze the air seems uncomfortable
10. How did Hamaguchi provide financial help to his villagers?
(a) He advised them about their interests
(b) He lent them money
(c) He helped them get maximum profit on sale of their crops
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d) All of the above.
11. How far was Hamaguchi’s house from the sea?
(a) Three miles uphill
(b) Four miles uphill
(c) Three-quarters of a mile uphill
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c) Three-quarters of a mile uphill
12. The village comprised a Shinto temple and
(a) houses along the bay
(b) ninety thatched houses
(c) houses along the mountain road
(d) nine houses along the white zig-zag road.
Answer: (b) ninety thatched houses
13. Why did Hamaguchi decide to stay at home?
(a) Because he was in poor health.
(b) Because he felt like staying at home.
(c) Because he was tired.
(d) Because his grandson was in poor health.
Answer: (a) Because he was in poor health.
14. During the calamity what purpose did Hamaguchi’s large farmhouse serve?
(a) To shelter the villagers
(b) To store wheat
(c) To assemble people
(d) None of the above.
Answer: (a) To shelter the villagers
Complete the sentences
Here are the completed sentences with their corresponding reasons.
1. The author mentions the tsunami of June 17, 1896 because____________.
Answer: …it provides a recent and factual example of the immense destructive power of a tsunami in Japan. This reference helps to establish the reality and severity of such a disaster, setting the stage for the story of Hamaguchi Gohei, which is about a similar calamity that happened long ago.
2. Hamaguchi was liked and respected in his village because____________.
Answer: …he was the village headman (muraosa) who actively helped his community. He would advise the farmers, settle their disputes, lend them money when needed, and use his influence to help them get the best possible price for their rice. For these reasons, the villagers affectionately called him Ojiisan, or Grandfather.
3. Hamaguchi first realised that the earthquake was an unusual one because____________.
Answer: …although it was not strong, it had a “long, slow, spongy motion” that was unlike the hundreds of other shocks he had felt in his lifetime. This queer feeling made him suspect that it was not a local tremor but the distant effect of a much larger seismic event.
4. Hamaguchi called out to his grandson instead of sending a message to the villagers or the priest because____________.
Answer: …he knew there was no time to waste. He understood that the sea would return with devastating force very quickly, and the time it would take to send a messenger down the hill or to have the temple bell rung would be too long to save the villagers.
5. Rice was the staple crop of Hamaguchi’s village because____________.
Answer: …the plateau overlooking the bay was almost entirely devoted to rice cultivation. The entire village was preparing a festival to celebrate the year’s “very fine rice-crop,” and Hamaguchi’s own great wealth was represented by the hundreds of harvested rice-stacks in his fields.
6. Tada was astonished because____________.
Answer: …he saw his respected grandfather deliberately setting fire to the family’s entire fortune—the hundreds of valuable rice-stacks. He could not understand why his grandfather would commit such a seemingly senseless and destructive act.
7. Tada was terrified because____________.
Answer: …he concluded that his grandfather had gone mad. The sight of the old man purposefully burning their wealth was so inexplicable and frightening that the boy ran back to the house in tears, convinced his grandfather had lost his mind.
8. The growing multitude of villagers were in sorrowful wonder because____________.
Answer: …they saw their respected leader’s fortune going up in flames, which made them sorrowful, yet they were filled with wonder because he himself had set the fire and was now preventing them from putting it out. They could not understand his actions.
9. The Choja became almost as poor as the poorest of the villagers because____________.
Answer: …his entire wealth, or “invested capital,” was in the form of his harvested rice. By setting fire to all of his rice-stacks to create a signal, he sacrificed his whole fortune to save the lives of the villagers.
10. After the tsunami the old man wept because____________.
Answer: …he was overcome with emotion for two reasons: he was happy that his plan had succeeded and he had saved four hundred lives, but he was also aged, weak, and exhausted from the terrible strain of the ordeal.
11. The villagers did not give gifts to their Choja as a token of thanks for saving their lives because____________.
Answer: …they felt that material gifts would be a completely inadequate way to express their deep reverence for him. They believed his selfless and wise act proved that the spirit within him was divine, and so instead of giving him gifts, they chose to honour him as a living god.
Short answer questions
1. Hamaguchi Gohei was an important man in the village. List the roles he played in the lives of the villagers before the event that made him A Living God.
Answer: Before the event that made him a Living God, Hamaguchi Gohei was a very important and influential man in his village. He had been the village’s muraosa, or headman, for many years and was also its richest resident, sometimes officially called the Chōja. The villagers, who both liked and respected him, usually called him Ojiisan, which means Grandfather.
He played several key roles in the community. He used to advise the smaller farmers about their interests and would arbitrate their disputes. He also advanced them money when they were in need and helped dispose of their rice for them on the best possible terms. His counsel was regularly sought by the villagers in matters relating to finances, disputes, and the sale of crops.
2. Describe how the village was prepared for the festival.
Answer: The village was preparing for a merry-making to celebrate a very fine rice-crop. The peasants planned to celebrate their harvest with a dance in the court of the ujigami, the guardian god.
From his house, Hamaguchi could see the preparations. Festival banners, or nobori, were fluttering above the roofs of the solitary street. There were strings of paper lanterns festooned between bamboo poles, and the shrine of the local deity was decorated. He could also see the brightly colored gathering of the young people who were dressed for the celebrations.
3. Describe in your own words how the fire started and its progress.
Answer: The fire started when Hamaguchi, realizing the impending danger of the tsunami, asked his ten-year-old grandson, Tada, to quickly light a pine-torch. Once the child kindled the torch, Hamaguchi hurried with it to his fields, where hundreds of his newly harvested rice-stacks stood.
He began to apply the torch to the stacks, moving from one to another as quickly as his aged limbs could carry him. The sun-dried stalks caught fire instantly, like tinder. The fire grew rapidly as a strengthening sea-breeze blew the blaze landward. Presently, the stacks burst into flame rank behind rank, sending huge columns of smoke skyward that mingled into one enormous cloudy whirl. Hamaguchi continued setting fire to his rice-stacks until he had reached the limit of his field. The blaze became so large that the acolyte at the hill-temple noticed it and began to boom the big temple bell as a fire alarm.
4. Describe how help arrived at Hamaguchi’s house?
Answer: Help arrived after the villagers were alerted by two signals: the sight of the huge fire on the plateau and the sound of the big temple bell, which the acolyte began to boom. Responding to this double appeal, the people rushed up the hillside from the village and the beach, thinking that their headman’s house was on fire.
The first party of helpers to arrive consisted of a score of agile young peasants. They were soon followed by the rest of the village. All the young men and boys were soon on the spot, along with many of the more active women and girls. After them came most of the older folk, mothers carrying babies on their backs, and even children, who could help pass water. The elders who were too feeble to keep up with the first rush could also be seen making their way up the steep ascent.
5. What happened as soon as the old man shouted, “Say now if I be mad!”?
Answer: As soon as Hamaguchi shouted and pointed towards the open sea, all the villagers looked eastward through the twilight. At the edge of the dusky horizon, they saw a long, lean, dim line that looked like the shadow of a coast where no coast had ever been.As they gazed, this line thickened and broadened with incredible speed. They realized that this long darkness was the returning sea, which was now towering like a cliff and moving more swiftly than a kite flies. The people shrieked, “Tsunami!”. Immediately, all shrieks and other sounds were annihilated by a nameless shock heavier than any thunder. This was the sound of the colossal wave striking the shore with a weight that sent a shudder through the hills and produced a foam-burst that looked like a blaze of sheet lightning.
Long answer questions
1. Hamaguchi Gohei was an important man in the village. List the roles he played in the lives of the villagers before the event that made him A Living God.
Answer: Before the event that made him a Living God, Hamaguchi Gohei was a very important and influential man in his village. He had been the village’s muraosa, or headman, for many years and was also its richest resident, sometimes officially called the Chōja. The villagers, who both liked and respected him, usually called him Ojiisan, which means Grandfather.
He played several key roles in the community. He used to advise the smaller farmers about their interests and would arbitrate their disputes. He also advanced them money when they were in need and helped dispose of their rice for them on the best possible terms. His counsel was regularly sought by the villagers in matters relating to finances, disputes, and the sale of crops.
2. Describe how the village was prepared for the festival.
Answer: The village was preparing for a merry-making to celebrate a very fine rice-crop. The peasants planned to celebrate their harvest with a dance in the court of the ujigami, the guardian god.
From his house, Hamaguchi could see the preparations. Festival banners, or nobori, were fluttering above the roofs of the solitary street. There were strings of paper lanterns festooned between bamboo poles, and the shrine of the local deity was decorated. He could also see the brightly colored gathering of the young people who were dressed for the celebrations.
3. Describe in your own words how the fire started and its progress.
Answer: The fire started when Hamaguchi, realizing the impending danger of the tsunami, asked his ten-year-old grandson, Tada, to quickly light a pine-torch. Once the child kindled the torch, Hamaguchi hurried with it to his fields, where hundreds of his newly harvested rice-stacks stood.
He began to apply the torch to the stacks, moving from one to another as quickly as his aged limbs could carry him. The sun-dried stalks caught fire instantly, like tinder. The fire grew rapidly as a strengthening sea-breeze blew the blaze landward. Presently, the stacks burst into flame rank behind rank, sending huge columns of smoke skyward that mingled into one enormous cloudy whirl. Hamaguchi continued setting fire to his rice-stacks until he had reached the limit of his field. The blaze became so large that the acolyte at the hill-temple noticed it and began to boom the big temple bell as a fire alarm.
4. Describe how help arrived at Hamaguchi’s house?
Answer: Help arrived after the villagers were alerted by two signals: the sight of the huge fire on the plateau and the sound of the big temple bell, which the acolyte began to boom. Responding to this double appeal, the people rushed up the hillside from the village and the beach, thinking that their headman’s house was on fire.
The first party of helpers to arrive consisted of a score of agile young peasants. They were soon followed by the rest of the village. All the young men and boys were soon on the spot, along with many of the more active women and girls. After them came most of the older folk, mothers carrying babies on their backs, and even children, who could help pass water. The elders who were too feeble to keep up with the first rush could also be seen making their way up the steep ascent.
5. What happened as soon as the old man shouted, “Say now if I be mad!”?
Answer: As soon as Hamaguchi shouted and pointed towards the open sea, all the villagers looked eastward through the twilight. At the edge of the dusky horizon, they saw a long, lean, dim line that looked like the shadow of a coast where no coast had ever been.As they gazed, this line thickened and broadened with incredible speed. They realized that this long darkness was the returning sea, which was now towering like a cliff and moving more swiftly than a kite flies. The people shrieked, “Tsunami!”. Immediately, all shrieks and other sounds were annihilated by a nameless shock heavier than any thunder. This was the sound of the colossal wave striking the shore with a weight that sent a shudder through the hills and produced a foam-burst that looked like a blaze of sheet lightning.
Additional questions and answers
1. Who is Hamaguchi Gohei?
Answer: Hamaguchi Gohei was an influential resident of a Japanese village. He was the village’s headman, or muraosa, and was well-respected and liked by the people. He was often referred to as Ojiisan, which means Grandfather, but sometimes he was officially referred to as the Chōja, the richest member of the community. He used to advise the smaller farmers about their interests, arbitrate their disputes, advance them money at need, and dispose of their rice for them on the best terms possible.
2. What is a tsunami?
Answer: A tsunami is an enormous tidal wave caused by earthquakes or by submarine volcanic action. These sudden risings of the sea occur at irregular intervals of centuries and have swept the shores of Japan from immemorial time. The term ‘tsunami’ is used by the Japanese to refer to these catastrophic events.
3. What did Hamaguchi do to save the villagers from the tsunami?
Answer: Hamaguchi Gohei saved the villagers from the tsunami by setting fire to his rice stacks. He noticed the sea acting strangely, moving away from the land, which he recognized as a sign of an incoming tsunami. To get the villagers to safety, he set his rice stacks on fire. The villagers, seeing the fire, rushed to the plateau to put it out. This act led them away from the village and up to the safety of the plateau just before the tsunami hit. His quick thinking and selfless act saved four hundred lives.
4. How did the villagers honor Hamaguchi after the disaster?
Answer: After the disaster, the villagers honored Hamaguchi by declaring him a god. They called him Hamaguchi DAIMYOJIN, thinking they could give him no greater honor. They built a temple to his spirit and worshipped him there.
They also fixed a tablet bearing his name in Chinese text of gold above the front of the temple. Even after his death, his temple still stands, and the people still pray to his spirit for help in times of fear or trouble.
5. What is the setting of the story?
Answer: The story is set in a small village in Japan. The village is located on a plateau overlooking a bay and is surrounded by thickly wooded summits on three sides. The land slopes down from the plateau to the water’s edge, and this slope is terraced and used for rice cultivation. The village consists of ninety thatched dwellings and a Shinto temple. The most influential resident of the village, Hamaguchi Gohei, lives in a big thatched farmhouse at the edge of the plateau.
6. What was the aftermath of the tsunami?
Answer: The aftermath of the tsunami was devastating. The village and the fields were completely destroyed, with only two straw roofs left floating in the water. The terraces used for rice cultivation ceased to exist. The villagers were initially speechless and stunned by the loss. However, they soon realized that Hamaguchi’s act of setting fire to his rice stacks had saved their lives. They expressed their gratitude to him, and despite the loss of his wealth, Hamaguchi was content knowing he had saved four hundred lives.
7. What was Hamaguchi’s role in the village?
Answer: Hamaguchi Gohei was a highly respected and influential figure in the village. He had served as the village’s headman, or muraosa, for many years. The villagers affectionately referred to him as Ojiisan, meaning Grandfather, but he was also officially recognized as the Chōja, or the richest member of the community. Hamaguchi played a crucial role in advising the smaller farmers about their interests, arbitrating their disputes, lending them money when needed, and selling their rice for them under the best possible terms. His wisdom and foresight were instrumental in saving the lives of the villagers during the tsunami.
8. What is the philosophical reflection at the end of the story?
Answer: The story ends with a philosophical reflection on the concept of the soul. The peasants believed that the spirit of a person could be in many places at once, even during life. This idea is contrasted with Western ideas about the soul, with the suggestion that the peasants’ belief might contain some truth if one accepts the doctrine of the unity of all mind.
The villagers’ worship of Hamaguchi as a god, even during his lifetime, is seen as a manifestation of this belief. The story suggests that this belief, while different from Western notions of the soul, might contain a deeper understanding of the nature of consciousness and the interconnectedness of all beings.
9. What is the significance of Hamaguchi’s farmhouse in the story?
Answer: Hamaguchi’s farmhouse holds a significant place in the story. It was a large thatched structure located at the edge of a small plateau overlooking the bay. The house was not just a dwelling but a symbol of Hamaguchi’s status and influence in the village. As the wealthiest member of the community and the village headman, Hamaguchi’s house was a place where he advised the smaller farmers, arbitrated their disputes, and helped them financially.
Moreover, the location of the farmhouse played a crucial role in the story. From his house, Hamaguchi could oversee the entire village and the sea, which allowed him to spot the unusual retreat of the sea, a sign of the impending tsunami. Thus, the farmhouse was significant both as a symbol of Hamaguchi’s status and as a vantage point that enabled him to save the village.
10. Describe the geographical setting of the village.
Answer: The village in the story is located along the shores of Japan, nestled in a landscape that is both coastal and mountainous. The village proper consists of ninety thatched dwellings and a Shinto temple, all situated along the curve of the bay. The houses extend up the slope on either side of a narrow road that leads to Hamaguchi’s farmhouse. The farmhouse itself is situated on a small plateau overlooking the bay. This plateau is mostly used for rice cultivation and is surrounded on three sides by thickly wooded summits. From the plateau, the land slopes down to the water’s edge, creating a large green concavity. This slope, terraced and appearing like a massive flight of green steps when viewed from the sea, adds to the unique geographical setting of the village.
11. What event was the village preparing for on the autumn evening?
Answer: On the autumn evening, the village was preparing for a celebration. They had had a very successful rice harvest that year, and the villagers were planning to celebrate this bounty with a dance in the court of the ujigami, or the local Shinto deity. The preparations for the merry-making were in full swing, with festival banners fluttering above the roofs, strings of paper lanterns hung between bamboo poles, and the shrine decorated for the occasion. The villagers, especially the young people, were gathering in their brightly colored attire, adding to the festive atmosphere. This celebration was a significant event for the community, a time to come together and express their joy and gratitude for a successful harvest.
12. How did Hamaguchi predict the upcoming disaster?
Answer: Hamaguchi Gohei was able to predict the upcoming disaster due to his knowledge of the traditions of the coast and the stories told to him by his grandfather. On the day of the disaster, he noticed a long, slow, spongy motion of the ground, which he found unusual. This was followed by the sea acting strangely, moving against the wind and receding from the land. These unusual occurrences, combined with his knowledge of the coastal traditions, led him to understand that a tsunami was imminent.
13. What unusual phenomenon did Hamaguchi observe in the sea?
Answer: Hamaguchi observed an unusual phenomenon in the sea that indicated an impending disaster. He noticed that the sea had suddenly darkened and was behaving strangely. It seemed to be moving against the wind and was receding from the land. This was an unusual occurrence as no such ebb had been witnessed on that coast within the memory of living man. This phenomenon, along with the earlier unusual motion of the ground, led him to predict the upcoming tsunami.
14. What action did Hamaguchi take upon realizing the impending disaster?
Answer: Upon realizing the impending disaster, Hamaguchi took immediate and decisive action. He asked his grandson to light a torch, which he then used to set fire to his rice stacks in the fields. This act was significant as the rice stacks represented most of his invested capital. However, the sight of the burning rice stacks drew the villagers up to the plateau, away from the village and the coast. This action saved the lives of four hundred villagers when the tsunami struck, as they were safely on the plateau, away from the destructive force of the tsunami.
15. Why did Hamaguchi set fire to his rice stacks?
Answer: Hamaguchi set fire to his rice stacks as a way to save the villagers from the impending tsunami. He had observed unusual signs in the sea, indicating a massive tidal wave was approaching. Knowing that the villagers would rush to put out the fire, he used this as a tactic to get them to higher ground, away from the reach of the tsunami. His quick thinking and selfless act saved the lives of the villagers.
16. How did the villagers react to Hamaguchi’s actions initially?
Answer: Initially, the villagers were confused and astounded by Hamaguchi’s actions. They couldn’t understand why he would set fire to his rice stacks, which represented a significant part of his wealth. Some even thought he had gone mad. However, when they saw the approaching tsunami, they realized the wisdom behind his actions and were grateful for his foresight and selflessness.
17. What happened when the tsunami hit the village?
Answer: When the tsunami hit, it caused massive destruction. The village and most of the fields were wiped out, and even the terraces ceased to exist. All that remained were two straw roofs floating in the sea. The villagers, who had reached higher ground due to Hamaguchi’s actions, were left speechless at the sight of the devastation. However, they were alive and safe, thanks to Hamaguchi’s quick thinking and selfless act.
18. How did Hamaguchi’s actions save the villagers?
Answer: Hamaguchi’s actions saved the villagers by leading them to safety before the tsunami hit. He had noticed the sea behaving unusually, indicating an impending tsunami. To get the villagers to higher ground, he set fire to his rice stacks, knowing that the villagers would rush to put out the fire. As a result, when the tsunami hit, the villagers were on the plateau, safe from the destructive force of the wave. His quick thinking and selfless act saved the lives of four hundred villagers.
19. What was the extent of the destruction caused by the tsunami?
Answer: The tsunami caused massive destruction to the village and its surroundings. The village and most of the fields were completely wiped out. Even the terraces ceased to exist. All that remained of the homes around the bay were two straw roofs floating in the sea. The site of the village and temple was left bare, with only rocks and deep-sea wrack remaining. The devastation was so extensive that the area was unrecognizable after the tsunami.
20. What is the significance of the temple built for Hamaguchi?
Answer: The temple built for Hamaguchi signifies the immense respect and gratitude the villagers had for him. After the tsunami, the villagers declared Hamaguchi a god, calling him Hamaguchi DAIMYOJIN, and built a temple in his honor. This temple served as a place where they could express their reverence and gratitude towards him. They believed that his spirit was divine and prayed to him in times of fear or trouble. The temple still stands even a hundred years after his death, indicating the lasting impact of his actions on the community.
21. How did Hamaguchi’s life change after the tsunami?
Answer: After the tsunami, Hamaguchi’s life changed significantly. Despite losing his wealth in the disaster, he gained immense respect and reverence from the villagers. They declared him a god and built a temple in his honor. However, Hamaguchi continued to live simply in his old thatched home on the hill, maintaining his humble lifestyle despite the honor bestowed upon him.
22. What is the role of Hamaguchi’s grandson in the story?
Answer: Hamaguchi’s grandson plays a small but crucial role in the story. When Hamaguchi realizes the impending disaster, he asks his grandson to light a torch for him. The child does so promptly, enabling Hamaguchi to set his rice stacks on fire and alert the villagers to the danger. This quick action plays a part in saving the villagers from the tsunami.
23. How does the story reflect the cultural beliefs and practices of the Japanese people?
Answer: The story reflects the cultural beliefs and practices of the Japanese people in several ways. The villagers’ decision to honour Hamaguchi by declaring him a god and building a temple in his honor reflects the deep respect and reverence they have for those who act for the community’s benefit. The story also highlights the belief that the spirit of a person can be in many places at once, even during life, which is a concept different from Western ideas about the soul. This belief is reflected in the villagers’ worship of Hamaguchi’s spirit.
24. What are the risks the people living on the coastal line face?
Answer: The people living on the coastal line face the risk of enormous tidal waves, or tsunamis, caused by earthquakes or by submarine volcanic action. These tsunamis can cause massive destruction, ruining towns and villages, and leading to loss of life.
25. Which is the natural calamity discussed here? When and where did it take place?
Answer: The natural calamity discussed here is a tsunami. It took place long before the era of Meiji on the Japanese coast.
26. What was Hamaguchi’s status in the village?
Answer: Hamaguchi was the most influential resident of his village. He had been the village headman for many years and was well-respected. He was often called “Grandfather” by the villagers, but due to his wealth, he was sometimes officially referred to as the Choja. He used to advise the smaller farmers, arbitrate their disputes, lend them money when needed, and sell their rice for them on the best terms possible.
27. Where was Hamaguchi’s house located? What was its importance?
Answer: Hamaguchi’s house was located at the verge of a small plateau overlooking a bay. It was a big thatched farmhouse and was the highest point in the village. Its location was important as it provided a vantage point to observe the village and the sea. This strategic location played a crucial role in Hamaguchi’s ability to save the villagers during the tsunami.
28. Where had his family members gone on that day?
Answer: On the day of the tsunami, Hamaguchi’s family members had gone to the village for a festival. The villagers were celebrating a good rice harvest with a dance in the court of the local Shinto temple. Hamaguchi and his little grandson were the only ones left at home because he was not feeling well.
29. What unusual thing the old man saw from his balcony?
Answer: The unusual thing the old man saw from his balcony was the sea behaving strangely. It had darkened quite suddenly, and it seemed to be moving against the wind. It was running away from the land, a phenomenon that indicated an impending tsunami.
30. What did the villagers do on looking at the sea and why?
Answer: On looking at the sea, the villagers ran to the beach and even beyond the beach to watch it. They were astounded by the unusual phenomenon of the sea receding far beyond its normal limit. This was something they had never witnessed before, and they did not understand that this monstrous ebb signified an impending tsunami.
31. How were the villagers generally warned?
Answer: The villagers were generally warned by the acolyte of the hill-temple, who would set the big bell booming in case of danger. In this particular instance, the bell was rung after Hamaguchi set his rice stacks on fire, creating a visual signal that something was wrong.
32. Who is Tada? Why did Hamaguchi call him?
Answer: Tada is Hamaguchi’s grandson. Hamaguchi called him to quickly light a torch. This was part of Hamaguchi’s plan to save the villagers from the impending tsunami. He set his rice stacks on fire to attract the villagers to higher ground, away from the sea.
33. What was the importance of rice for the old man?
Answer: For Hamaguchi, the rice was of great importance as it represented most of his invested capital. The rice stacks were his wealth and livelihood. However, in the face of the impending disaster, he chose to sacrifice this wealth to save the lives of his fellow villagers.
34. Hamaguchi proves to be a ‘Living God’ to the villagers. Discuss and illustrate from the text.
Answer: Hamaguchi, the headman of the village, is revered as a ‘Living God’ by the villagers due to his selfless act of sacrifice and foresight that saved their lives. When he noticed the sea behaving unusually, he understood that a tsunami was imminent. He set fire to his rice fields, which was his wealth, to gather all the villagers at the higher ground of his field. This act of setting the rice fields on fire was a sacrifice he made to save the villagers from the impending disaster.
After the tsunami, the villagers realized the reason behind his actions and were grateful for his wisdom and selflessness. They lost their homes and fields, but their lives were saved. In their gratitude and reverence, they declared him a god, Hamaguchi Daimyojin, and built a temple in his honor. They believed that the spirit within him was divine and worshipped him, considering it the greatest honor they could bestow upon him.
35. What is observed keenly by Hamaguchi from the window of his house? What does he do to save the whole village?
Answer: Hamaguchi observed the sea behaving unusually from the window of his house. He noticed that the sea was moving against the wind and was receding from the land, exposing parts of the seabed that were never seen before. Understanding the signs of an impending tsunami from the tales told by his ancestors, he acted quickly. He set fire to his rice fields, which were his wealth, to gather all the villagers at the higher ground of his field. He did this knowing that the villagers would rush to put out the fire, thus moving them away from the lower ground near the sea where the tsunami would strike. His quick thinking and selfless act saved the lives of the villagers.
36. ‘Selfless service is the best’, validate this statement with close reference to the text.
Answer: The story of Hamaguchi validates the statement ‘Selfless service is the best’. When he noticed the signs of an impending tsunami, he did not think about his wealth or the loss he would incur. He set fire to his rice fields, which were his wealth, to gather all the villagers at the higher ground of his field. He made a personal sacrifice for the greater good of the community.
After the tsunami, the villagers realized the reason behind his actions and were grateful for his wisdom and selflessness. They lost their homes and fields, but their lives were saved because of Hamaguchi’s selfless service. In their gratitude and reverence, they declared him a god and built a temple in his honor. His selfless service earned him the respect and reverence of the villagers, validating the statement that ‘Selfless service is the best’.
Additional MCQs
1. Who is Hamaguchi Gohei?
A. A miner
B. A journalist
C. A farmer
D. A riverboat pilot
Answer: C. A farmer
2. What did Hamaguchi Gohei do to save the villagers?
A. He set fire to the rice
B. He built a temple
C. He built a house
D. He wrote a letter
Answer: A. He set fire to the rice
3. How did the villagers honor Hamaguchi Gohei after the disaster?
A. They made him rich
B. They declared him a god
C. They built him a house
D. They gave him a medal
Answer: B. They declared him a god
4. What is the distinctive style of the author’s narratives?
A. Serious and melancholic
B. Humorous and satirical
C. Adventurous and thrilling
D. Romantic and poetic
Answer: B. Humorous and satirical
5. What is the author’s view on societal standards and expectations?
A. They are necessary for order
B. They camouflage and conceal uniqueness
C. They are a source of humor
D. They are a source of adventure
Answer: B. They camouflage and conceal uniqueness
6. What did the villagers build to honor Hamaguchi Gohei?
A. A house
B. A statue
C. A temple
D. A school
Answer: C. A temple
7. What is the name of the enormous tidal waves that occasionally hit the shores of Japan?
A. Tsunami
B. Typhoon
C. Cyclone
D. Hurricane
Answer: A. Tsunami
8. Who was Hamaguchi Gohei in his village?
A. A fisherman
B. The village headman
C. A school teacher
D. A blacksmith
Answer: B. The village headman
9. What did Hamaguchi Gohei do for the smaller farmers in his village?
A. He taught them farming techniques
B. He advised them about their interests and arbitrated their disputes
C. He provided them with seeds and farming tools
D. He helped them build their houses
Answer: B. He advised them about their interests and arbitrated their disputes
10. Where was Hamaguchi’s farmhouse located?
A. Near the sea
B. On a small plateau overlooking a bay
C. In the center of the village
D. On the top of a hill
Answer: B. On a small plateau overlooking a bay
11. What did the villagers believe about Hamaguchi Gohei after the disaster?
A. That he was a hero
B. That the ghost within him was divine
C. That he was a traitor
D. That he was a wizard
Answer: B. That the ghost within him was divine
12. What was the villagers’ perception of the mind or spirit of a person?
A. It can be in many places at the same instant
B. It is confined to the body
C. It is immortal
D. It is a source of power
Answer: A. It can be in many places at the same instant
13. What was the villagers’ reaction when Hamaguchi led the way to his house after the disaster?
A. They were silent
B. They cried and shouted
C. They followed him quietly
D. They refused to follow him
Answer: B. They cried and shouted
14. What did the villagers do when better times came after the period of distress?
A. They left the village
B. They rebuilt the village and built a temple to honor Hamaguchi
C. They celebrated with a feast
D. They built a monument in memory of the disaster
Answer: B. They rebuilt the village and built a temple to honor Hamaguchi
15. What did the villagers call Hamaguchi after declaring him a god?
A. Hamaguchi the Great
B. Hamaguchi DAIMYOJIN
C. Hamaguchi the Divine
D. Hamaguchi the Savior
Answer: B. Hamaguchi DAIMYOJIN
16. What did the villagers do at the temple they built for Hamaguchi?
A. They held annual festivals
B. They worshiped him there with prayer and offerings
C. They held community meetings
D. They kept his belongings as relics
Answer: B. They worshiped him there with prayer and offerings
A very comprehensive lesson imparted. It will be helpful to the students and for the teachers.
Amazing explanation and questions
Thank you for this help and guidance.
Really helpful
ikr
Read them aloud and you’re done! Especially if you hadn’t read the chapter just read this
It’s really Veryyyyyyyy helpful thankk you˖♡
ue answers are very well written, as well as easy to learn. Thanku for your valuable Guidance , un a simple yet influential language.
It’s a very helpful note. It’s very understandable and easy study.
Amazing explanation