Heaven Of English Studies : Theatre script of The Prose 'Three Questions'

Heaven Of English Studies : Theatre script of The Prose 'Three Questions': Film/Theatre script ·         Introduction What is film?      A film is a series of still images which creates an illusion of movin...

Theatre script of The Prose 'Three Questions'

Film/Theatre script

·        Introduction

What is film?

     A film is a series of still images which creates an illusion of moving images when on a screen. This helps us to discover continuous motion between different objects viewed rapidly in succession.

            The process of film-making is both an art and an industry which include an optical sound track, which is a graphic recording of the spoken words, music and other sounds that are needed to accompany the images.

·        What is Theatre?

Theatre is one of the most popular forms of fine art. It is a collaborative form of art. In this form of art we find live performers who present real or imaginary events of our life. It is performed in front of an audience live in an auditorium or sometimes on an open-air state.

·        What is a script?

A script is a written form of outline which contains audio, visual, behavioral and linguistic elements which are needed to present a life-like situation. Script is very important because film and theatre require a team effort consisting of the director, the editor, actors, actresses, technical persons, makeup artistes etc. Together they

Theater Script

Theater Script based on Leo Tolstoy”s Prose, ‘Three Questions’.

Characters: Tsar, Learned man 1, Learned man 2, Learned man 3, Learned man 4, Hermit, Bearded man.

Place: Palace of the Tsar.

                                     Script

                          Seen - I

                                          [Curtains drawn back]

Tsar: (Walking at his palace, thinking and saying in his mind) If I know the right time to begin everything, if I know who are the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid ; and , above all, it I always know what is the most important thing to do, I will never fail in anything I may undertake.

          [Some learned men are coming to the palace and seeing the Tsar]

Learned man -1 : Your Royal Highness, do you have any confusion? Can I help you?

Tsar : Yes, I am just thinking about you all. Can you give me the answer of my questions. If you give me the right answers, I shall give you a great reward to you.

Learned man -2 : (politely) please tell us about your questions.

Tsar : (loudly) I just want to know what is the right time for every action, and who are the most necessary people, and how I may know what is the most important thing to do?

Learned man -3 : My Lord,  I think one must draw up in advance, a table of days, month and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only thus you can be done at its proper time.

Learned man -4 : Your honor, It is impossible to decide before hand the right time for every action: but that, nor letting oneself be absorbed in idle past times, one should always attend to all that is going on, then do what is most needful.

Learned man -1 : Your Royal Highness,  It is impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a council of wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything.

Learned man -2 : Your honor, it is impossible for the council to make out what is going to happen. It is only magicians who know the right time for every action, one must consult with a magicians. 

Tsar : (Unhappily)  I am not satisfied with your answer. Now tell me who are the most necessary people?

Learned man -1 : Your honour, the most needed are your councilors.

Learned man -2 : My Lord,  I think Priests are the most needed.

Learned man -3 : Your honour, the most needed are the doctors.

Learned man -4 : My Lord, I think the Warriors are the most necessary people.

 Tsar : (In Utter Surprise) No, I think your answers are not fully correct. Now tell me what is the most important thing?

Learned man -1 : Your Royal Highness, the most important thing in the world is science.

Learned man -2 : Your honour, it is the skill in warfare.

Learned man -3 : My Lord, the most important thing in the world is religious worship.

Tsar : (Loudly) Your answers are quite well but I am not satisfied with your answers. Being different answers I do not give any reward to all of you.

                                                    Seen – II

                                 [The Tsar left them and goes to bed]

Tsar : (Saying aside) Now the hermit only can give the answer of my questions because he only has a great innet wisdom. But he only meets with the common folk. So I shall go to meet him indisguish.

[Rising from his bed putting on simple clothes the tsar is going with his body guard to the forest to meet the hermit. Dismounting from his horse and leaving his body-guard behind, going alone to the hermit’s hut.]

Tsar : (Respectfully) your honour, how are you? I have come to ask you to answer of my three questions. How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?

Hermit:  (listening the and keeping quiet, spit on hand and digging beds)

Tsar : (looking at hermit) You are tired, please give me the spade  and I want to work awhile for you.

Hermit:  (giving the spade and sitting down) Thanks.

Tsar : (digging beds) Excuse me hermit, please give me  the answer of my three questions.

Hermit:  (stretching out his hand for the spade) you have dug two beds. Now rest awhile and let me work a bit.

Tsar : It is a great pleasure to work for you, I am not tired ( continue digging and the sun setting off behind trees, at last striking the spade into the ground) I came to you wise man for an answer of my questions. If you give me none, tell me so, and I will return home.

Hermit:  (pointing out somewhere) Here coming someone running, let’s see who it is?

Tsar : ( turning round and seeing a bearded man come running out of the wood and the holding his hands pressing against his stomach, and blood is flowing from under them) There is a bearded man and a large wound in his belly.

Hermit:  Please do something for him.

Tsar : (unfastening  the man’s cloth, washing the wounds and bandaging with his handkerchief and with a towel of the hermit) Your majesty, the blood is not stopping.

Hermit:  Then again and again remove the bandage soak the wound.

Tsar : (removing the bandage) The blood is ceased and he is reviving and saying something.

Bearded Man :  (moaning) I want to drink water.

Tsar : (bringing a glass of fresh water) Please drink it.

[Lying on the bed the man drinking and closing his eyes and the Tsar crouching down on the threshold and falling asleep]

                                            Seen – III

Tsar : (awaking in the morning) where I am ? Oh! I have come here yesterday.

Bearded Man :  (lying on the bed and gazing intently at the Tsar with shining eyes) My Lord, forgive me!

Tsar : (politely) I don’t know you, and have nothing to forgive you for.

Bearded Man :  My Lord, You don’t know me but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed my brother and sized his property. I knew you have come alone to meet hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed you did not return so I came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your body guard, and recognized me, they wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound.

Tsar : Oh! I see.

Bearded Man :  (crying) My Lord, I wished to kill you, and you have saved y life. Now, if I live and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same please forgive me!

Tsar : I am very glad to have make peace with my enemy so easily, and to gain him for a friend and I not only forgive you, but I would send my servant and my own physician to attend you, and promise to restore your property.

Bearded Man :  (leaving from there) Thanks.

Tsar : (going out into the porch looking around for hermit, seeing the hermit near the beds) your honour, for the last time I pray to answer my questions, wise man.

Hermit:  (sowing seeds in the beds) you and looking at the Tsar) You have already answered.

Tsar : your honour, I can’t understand how you have given the answers.

Hermit:  Do you not see, if you have not pitted my weakness yesterday and have not dug those beds for me, but have gone your way that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me.

Tsar : your honour, you are correct but I don’t understand it fully. Please clear it.

Hermit:  So the most important time was when you were digging the beds and I was the most important man and to do me good was your most important business.

Tsar : your honour, I quite understand it. Please define more wise man.

Hermit:  When the man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important and what you did for him was your important business. Remember then: there is only one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows he will ever have dealings with anyone else: and the most important affairs is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life.

Tsar : your honour, you are great. I understand clearly. Thank you.

                                                          [Curtains]

Theatre Script of Strong Roots (Wings of fire) For a Project work of class -XII

Film/Theatre script

·        Introduction

What is film?

     A film is a series of still images which creates an illusion of moving images when on a screen. This helps us to discover continuous motion between different objects viewed rapidly in succession.

            The process of film-making is both an art and an industry which include an optical sound track, which is a graphic recording of the spoken words, music and other sounds that are needed to accompany the images.

·        What is Theatre?

Theatre is one of the most popular forms of fine art. It is a collaborative form of art. In this form of art we find live performers who present real or imaginary events of our life. It is performed in front of an audience live in an auditorium or sometimes on an open-air state.

·        What is a script?

A script is a written form of outline which contains audio, visual, behavioral and linguistic elements which are needed to present a life-like situation. Script is very important because film and theatre require a team effort consisting of the director, the editor, actors, actresses, technical persons, makeup artistes etc. Together they

Theater Script

Theater Script based on A.P.J.Abdul Kalam’s autobiography ‘Strong Root’ (Wings of Fire)

Characters: Kalam, Kalam’s Father (Jainulabdeen) , Klam’s mother (Ashiamma)

Place: House of the Kalam

                                     Script

                          Seen - I

                                               [Curtains drawn back]

[In the reading room Kalam was reading and Kalam’s father enters wearing traditional attire]

Jainulabdeen : (Enters into the room where  Kalam was reading) What are you reading Kalam?

Kalam : (respectfully) Father, I just reading the history of India.

Janulabdeen : (casually) Kalam, do you know anything about our Rameswaram?

Kalam :  (loudly) Rameswaram is the island town in the erstwhile of Madras State.

Jainulabdeen: Yes, you are fully correct.

Kalam: Father (politely) I want to know about you.

Jainulabdeen: (In a dreamy way) I am very proud of my son. You ask a good question. (In low voice) I had neither much formal education nor much wealth and despite these disadvantages I have been continuing my religious cultural life. You were born in a middle class Tamil family.

Kalam:  (respectfully) I know father.

Jainulabdeen: I know my son knows everything. Do you know Kalam how many people feed at our home?

Kalam : No, I don’t recall the exact number father.

Jainulabdeen : (Standing from Sitting) Do you know anything about your mother’s family?

Kalam : (Respectfully Saying) My mother’s linage is the more distinguished, one of her forbears having been bestowed the of ‘Bhadur’ by British. I also  know you are the ideal couple.

Jainulabdeen: (Sitting) what do you know about your house?

Kalam : I live in our ancestral house, which was built in the middle of the 19^th century and it is fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick, on the Mosque street in Rameswaram.

Jainulabdeen: (In a dreamy way) yes, you are fully correct. I am proud of my son. You see, I always avoid all inessential comforts and luxuries, and I want to give my all essential things to you but I am not a reach man. I only can give you cloths, foods and medicine.

Kalam : You are very good father. I don’t need anything father. I have a very secure childhood, materially and emotionally.

Jainulabdeen : Ok my son, now close your book and you go to eat.

Kalam: Ok, Thank your father.

                                         Seen - II

[Mother is in kitchen, decorating food items, Kalam running to the kitchen]

Kalam : (sitting on the floor of Kitchen) mother I am hungry, please give me food.

Ashiamma  : (looking at Kalam)  Don’t hurry Kalam. Is there any banana leaf?

Kalam : No, mom.

Ashiamma : ( come with banana leaf and foods ) Kalam take this banana leaf.

Kalam : (take the leaf and place it) mother how many things you have cooked today?

Ashiamma  : (Smilingly) Today’s items are rice, aromatic sambar, sharp, pickle and coconut chutney. (gives them one by one and sitting beside Kalam)

Kalam : Thank you mother, I have completed my eating.

                                                      Seen – III

[In the evening  Kalam going with his father to a Mosque for evening prayer wearing a traditional attire]

Kalam : (Suddenly) Father, why does our Rameswaram famous for?

Jainulabdeen : (simply saying) Rameswaram is famous for the Shiva temple and you know it is about ten-minute walk from our house.

Kalam : Father, is there any Hindu?

Jainulabdeen : (loudly) yes, our locality is predominantly Muslims, but there are a lot of Hindu families too, living amicable with their Muslims neighbors.

[Reaches at the Mosque and returning after prayer]

Kalam : (Curiously)Why are the people waiting for you out side of the Mosque?

Jainulabdeen: They are waiting to solve their problem.

[Near to the people Kalam seeing many of them offer bowls of water to his father and father dips his fingertips in them and say a prayer, someone gives him thank and then they going in front of Rameswaram Temple]

Kalam : (indicating some in front of Temple) Father, who is the person at the Temple?

Jainulabdeen: (Softly) He is Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high Perist of Rameswaram Temple. He is also a very close friend of mine and I often discussing spiritual matters with him. Now let’s go home.

                                                      Seen – IV

[This routine is going for some years , Kalam is now eighteen years old, in the reading room Kalam was reading and Kalam’s father enters wearing traditional attire]

Kalam: Father, I have a question in my mind. What is the relevance of prayer?

Jainulabdeen:  (Thinking something and saying) Nothing is mysterious about prayer. It makes possible a communion of the spirit between people when you pray; you transcend your body and become a part of the cosmos, which knows no division of wealth, age, caste or creed.

Kalam: Father, Is there anything good or bad?

Jainulabdeen: In my own time, in my own place, in what I really am, and in this stage I have reached –good or bad – every human being a specific element within the whole of the manifest Devine Being.

Kalam: Then why do we afraid of difficulties, sufferings, and problems?

Jainulabdeen:  (Standing) when troubles come, try to understand the relevance of your sufferings because Adversity always presents opportunities for introspection.

Kalam: (Respectfully) Why don’t you say this to the people who come to you for help and advice?

 Jainulabdeen:   (puts his hand on Kalam’s shoulders and looks straight into Kalams eyes, and answering in a low, deep voice) When ever human beings find themselves alone, as a natural reaction, they start looking for company. Whenever they reach an impasse, they look to someone to show them the way out. For the people who came to me in distress, I am but a go between in their effort to propitiate demonic forces with prayers and offerings.

Kalam: (listening motionlessly with enthusiasm) Oh! What a speech. I shall remember this forever and ever.

Jainulabdeen:   (interrupting) I know this is not correct approach at all and should never be followed. You must understand the difference between a fear-ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables to seek the enemy of fulfillment within ourselves.

Kalam:  Father , is there anything special to rise early ?

Jainulabdeen:   Yes, you know I start my day at 4 a.m. by reading namaz before dawn, and walks four miles to go coconut grove.  I return by walking with a dozen of coconut tide together thorn over my shoulder. It’s a great exercise.

Kalam:  (politely saying) Father, I throughout my life try to follow you and your Devine theory also. You are my best guide and teacher.

Asleep in the Valley Arthur Rimbaud short questions and answers

Asleep in the Valley short questions and answers for class- XII

1. ‘Asleep in the valley’ is the poem about—War.

2. ‘Asleep in the valley’ is—Italian sonnet.

3. The green valley was—Small.

4. The stream flows through the—small green valley.

5.  The feet of the soldier were among the—flowers.

6. The smile of the soldier was like—an infant/child.

7. The rest of the soldier could not be disturbed by—the humming insects.

8. The soldier was lying—open mouthed.

9. The head of the soldier was lying on the pillow of—fern.

10. His one hand was on—his breast.

11. The sitting of the poem is—a bosky pit.

12.Who composed the poem ‘Asleep in the Valley’?

Ans. Arthur Rimbaud has composed the poem ‘Asleep in the valley’.

13. What was Rimbaud’s nationality ?

Ans. Rimbaud was a French.

14. What is the theme of the poem ‘Asleep in the valley’?

Ans. The theme of the poem is the futility of war.

15. Where from does the sunrays come ?

Ans. The stream of sunrays comes from the mountaintop.

16. How old is the soldier?

Ans. The soldier is very young.

17. How does the soldier lie ?

Ans. The soldier lies open-mouthed.

18. What is the soldier’s pillow made of ?

Ans. The soldier’s pillow is made of fern.

19. Where is the body of the soldier stretched out?

Ans. The body of the soldier is stretched out in the grass under the sky.

20. What does the expression ‘heavy undergrowth’ suggest ?

Ans. The ‘heavy undergrowth refers to the bushes and plants among which the soldier delightfully sleeps.

21. How does the poet describe the soldier’s smile ?

Ans. The young soldier’s smile is as pure and innocent as that of a child.

22. Where do the soldier’s feet lie ?

Ans. The soldier’s feet lie among flowers.

23. Where does the slow stream flow ?

Ans. The slow stream flows through the valley.

24. How does the stream look like ?

Ans. The stream looks like long strands of silver.

25. What is suggested by the word ‘hollow’ ?

Ans. The word ‘hollow’ suggests a valley surrounded by mountains.

26. What are the sunrays compared with ?

Ans. The sunrays are compared to a softly flowing stream.

27. What  does the poet ask Nature to do ?

 Ans. The poet asks Nature to take pity on the soldier sleeping in the valley and provide him warmth so that he may not catch cold.

28. What are the insects doing ?

Ans. The insects are humming, perhaps trying to wake the soldier from his sleep, but in vain.

29. What do the two red holes depict ?

Ans. The two red holes depict bullet wounds in the soldier’s body and the poet reveals the fact that the soldier is dead.

30. What is meant by the phrase ‘Sun-soaked bed’ ?

Ans. The phrase ‘sun soaked bed’ suggests that the valley absorbs the warmth of the sun and lush vegetation grows there abundantly.

31. How can you say that ‘Asleep in the Valley’ is an anti-war poem ?

Ans. ‘Asleep in the Valley’  is an anti-war poem because the ending of the poem implies our pity at the untimely and unfortunate death of a young soldier.

32.  “…..In his side there are two red holes”

       What do the ‘two red holes’ in the poem, ‘Asleep in the Valley’ signify ?

Ans. The two red holes in the side of the soldier suggest  two bullet wounds which have caused his death.

33. What is the setting of the poem ?

Ans. The setting of the poem is probably the Franco-Russian war of 1877 or the Franco-Prusian war of 1870.

34. Who is asked to keep the soldier warm?

Ans. Nature is asked to keep the soldier warm.

35. Why cannot the humming insects disturb the soldier’s rest ?

Ans. The soldier is dead, so nothing can disturb the soldier’s rest.

A slow stream—a small river flows slowly,  strands—yearn,   stream—the sunrays flow like a stream from the top of the mountain,  rays—sunrays,  hollow—the valley like a hole from the top ,  stretched—extended,  undergrowth—grass and shrubs that grow in plenty in the valley,   humming—making a soft continuous sound .