The Ghost Brahman Class 11 Long Questions for Semester 2
WBCHSE Class 11 Semester 2 Drama ‘The Ghost Brahman’ Long Questions Answers as per West Bengal new exam pattern. These descriptive type questions carries 5 marks each.
The folktale ‘The Ghost-Brahman’ by Lal Behari Dey: Summary in Bengali
একদা এক দরিদ্র ব্রাহ্মণ ছিল, যিনি কুলীন না হওয়ায় বিয়ে করা অত্যন্ত কঠিন হয়ে পড়েছিল। ধনী লোকদের কাছ থেকে টাকা সংগ্রহ করে শেষমেশ তিনি বিয়ে করেন। কিছুদিন পর জীবিকা নির্বাহের জন্য তিনি অন্য দেশে যাওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নেন। ওইদিনই এক ভূত ঠিক তার মতো রূপ ধারণ করে বাড়িতে এসে, স্ত্রী ও মায়ের সামনে নিজেকে আসল ব্রাহ্মণ বলে পরিচয় দেয়। বহু বছর পর আসল ব্রাহ্মণ ফিরে এলে, দুজনের চেহারা এক হওয়ায় বিচারক করতে অসমর্থ হন।
অবশেষে, রাখালদের ‘রাজা’ বিচারের ভার নেন। সে এক কৌশলে ভূতকে বোতলের মধ্যে ঢুকতে রাজি করিয়ে সেই বোতলের মুখ আটকে ফেলে। আসল ব্রাহ্মণ তখন বাড়ি ফিরে সুখে জীবনযাপন করেন।
The Ghost Brahman - Question Answer 6 marks
Answer: In the story, the poor Brahman ran out of money after his wedding and needed to find work to support his mother and new wife. He decided to leave his village for a long time to earn money. He took his mother’s blessings and set off on his journey. That evening, a ghost appeared as the Brahman and returned home. When his wife asked why he was back early, the ghost lied, saying it was an unlucky day but he had already made some money. She believed him. This way the ghost convinced his mother and wife that he was the real Brahman, and he lived with them for years without anyone noticing the trick. 115 words
Q. How did the poor Brahman manage to marry his bride?
Answer: The poor Brahman found it hard to get married because he was not a Kulin, which made it difficult for him to find a wife in society. To marry, he needed to arrange a large sum of money, not just for the wedding itself, but also to give to the bride’s parents. Being poor, he had no means to gather such an amount, so he resorted to begging. He went from door to door, asking wealthy people for help. By flattering and persuading many of them, he finally managed to collect enough money. With this money, the wedding was arranged, and the Brahman married his bride. After the ceremony, he brought his new wife home to live with his mother. 120 words
(Similar question)
Q. What strategies did the Brahman use to gather the money needed for his wedding?
Answer: The Brahman faced difficulties in getting married due to his non-Kulin status and lack of financial resources. The dowry tradition required a substantial amount of money, which he did not have. Despite his efforts, his poverty hindered his ability to gather enough funds. To overcome this, he tried various strategies, such as begging door to door and asking wealthy individuals for help. He also used flattery, appealing to their generosity by emphasizing the importance of marriage and family obligations. Additionally, he may have used personal connections and social networks to reach more donors. Through persistence and determination, the Brahman managed to collect the necessary sum, showing his resourcefulness in fulfilling his marital aspirations despite the financial challenges he faced. 119 words
Q. Why did the poor Brahman have to leave home and go another country?
Answer: The poor Brahman had to leave home and travel to another country because immediately after his marriage, he had no means to support both his mother and his newly wedded wife. Although he managed to gather enough money for the wedding by begging and flattering rich people, he did not have a stable source of income. Faced with this problem, he decided to travel far away in search of better job opportunities or earn money somehow. He planned to remain away for several years if necessary, determined to gather enough wealth to support his family. Before leaving, he gave all his savings to his mother and asked her to take care of his wife until he returned. 117 words
Q. How did the king behave when the Brahman went to him for judgement?
Answer: When the Brahman went to the king for judgment, the king was in a difficult situation. Both the Brahman and the ghost looked exactly the same, making it impossible for him to distinguish the real Brahman from the imposter. Confused and unable to decide, the king kept postponing the case, asking the Brahman to return the next day. Every day, the Brahman begged the king to return his house, wife, and mother, but the king delayed making a decision, hoping for a solution. This left the Brahman feeling hopeless and betrayed by the justice system. Every day the Brahman goes away from the palace weeping and striking his forehead with the palm of his hand, feeling miserable about his life and could not find a way to get over it. 130 words
Q. How did the neat herd king help Brahman to get rid of ghost Brahman?
or
Describe the role of the neat-herd king and his court in the Brahman’s story.
Or
How did the neat-herd king solve the case of the Brahman?
or
What role does the neat-herd king play in solving the identity crisis in the tale ‘The Ghost-Brahman’?
or
How did the complication arising out of mistaken identity get resolved?
or
How was the identity of the real Brahman established?
Answer: The neat-herd king and his group of cowboys played a decisive role in resolving the Brahman’s plight. Seeing the Brahman’s daily sorrow, the cowboy king took an interest and listened to his troubles. After listening to the entire story, the neat herd king asked the Brahman to seek permission from the real king to let him judge it. The Herd King tricked the ghost by having both the ghost and the Brahman enter a small phial to prove their claim. Only the ghost could fit, so when it transformed into a tiny creature and entered the phial, the neat-herd king sealed it and asked the Brahman to throw it into the sea. By this trick, the poor Brahman got back his home, his wife, and mother. 126 words
Q. What does this story teach about intelligence and wisdom?
Answer: The story highlights the importance of wisdom over brute strength or supernatural power. Although the ghost had extraordinary abilities, he was defeated by the clever plan of the neat-herd king, who used wit to trap the ghost rather than physical force. This teaches that even those with simple backgrounds can possess insight and intelligence that can outsmart seemingly powerful beings. The neat-herd king’s decision to trap the ghost in a phial, using the ghost’s own powers against it, demonstrates that wisdom often involves finding simple yet effective solutions to the toughest problems. In the end, the story teaches that true strength comes from quick thinking and intelligence, not just outward strength or magical powers. 114 words
Q. What problem did the poor Brahman consider to be ‘the hardest thing in the world’? Why did he think so? How did he overcome the problem?
Answer: In ‘The Ghost-Brahman’, the poor Brahman found it ‘the hardest thing in the world’ to get married.
> The poor Brahman found it difficult to marry because he had neither the social prestige of a ‘kulin’ (i.e. the status of belonging to the highest social hierarchy) nor enough money.
To overcome the problem, he went to the rich people and begged them to give him money to get married. At that time, aside from the wedding expense, a large sum of money was needed to give dowry to the parents of the bride and to meet the expenses of the wedding. He begged from door to door, flattered rich people and thereby managed to get enough money to get married. 120 words
Q. Why did the poor Brahman leave home for a long time? What did the ghost-Brahman do while he left home for a long time? How did the Brahman’s wife and mother react to the arrival of the ghost-Brahman?
Answer: The poor Brahman left home to earn money as he had no means to support his mother and wife. He told his mother he might be away for years and gave her whatever little he had before leaving.
That very evening, a ghost came into the house, looking exactly like him. When the wife asked why he returned so soon, the ghost said the day was unlucky for travel and that he had already got some money. His mother also believed him.
Since the ghost looked and acted just like the real Brahman, his wife and mother did not suspect anything. They fully accepted him, and even the neighbours thought he was the real Brahman. So, the ghost lived in the house, pretending to be the Brahman. 127 words
Q. Why did the Brahman leave his home for a long time? What happened during his absence? [3+2]
OR,
What problem did the Brahman face after his marriage? How did he decide to solve it? Who took advantage of the situation and how? [1+2+2]
Answer: In Lal Behari Dey's folk-tale "The Ghost-Brahman", immediately after his marriage, the poor Brahman found it extremely difficult to maintain his family as he had no means to support his mother and wife.
To solve his problem, he decided to travel far away countries to earn money by any means and return only after when he had saved enough. He handed over whatever money he had to his mother to maintain the family and he left home.
A ghost took advantage of the Brahman's absence and entered his home assuming the exact appearance of the Brahman. Since nobody doubted him, he lived in the house as its owner, as the son of the old woman and as the husband of the young woman. 123 words
Q. What problem did the Brahman face on returning from his travels? What was his initial reaction? What did he decide to do for justice?
Answer: When the Brahman returned home after many years, he was shocked to find someone exactly like him living in his house. The ghost, pretending to be the real Brahman, asked him who he was and why he had come to his house. The Brahman was surprised and said that it was his home, his mother, and his wife.
The ghost claimed that he had been living there for years and that the Brahman must have lost his mind. Then, the ghost forcefully drove him out of the house.
The Brahman was speechless and did not know what to do. After thinking for a while, he decided to go to the king and explain everything, hoping to get justice and reclaim his home and family. 124 words
Q. Why did the Brahman go the court of the king? What did the king do? Who ultimately solved the problem?
OR,
Describe the circumstances that led the Brahman to seek help from the neat-herd king, and how did the latter's unique approach to justice ultimately resolve the dispute?
What problem did the Brahman face after his marriage? How did he decide to solve it? Who took advantage of the situation and how? [1+2+2]
Answer: In Lal Behari Dey's folk-tale "The Ghost-Brahman", immediately after his marriage, the poor Brahman found it extremely difficult to maintain his family as he had no means to support his mother and wife.
To solve his problem, he decided to travel far away countries to earn money by any means and return only after when he had saved enough. He handed over whatever money he had to his mother to maintain the family and he left home.
A ghost took advantage of the Brahman's absence and entered his home assuming the exact appearance of the Brahman. Since nobody doubted him, he lived in the house as its owner, as the son of the old woman and as the husband of the young woman. 123 words
Q. What problem did the Brahman face on returning from his travels? What was his initial reaction? What did he decide to do for justice?
Answer: When the Brahman returned home after many years, he was shocked to find someone exactly like him living in his house. The ghost, pretending to be the real Brahman, asked him who he was and why he had come to his house. The Brahman was surprised and said that it was his home, his mother, and his wife.
The ghost claimed that he had been living there for years and that the Brahman must have lost his mind. Then, the ghost forcefully drove him out of the house.
The Brahman was speechless and did not know what to do. After thinking for a while, he decided to go to the king and explain everything, hoping to get justice and reclaim his home and family. 124 words
Q. Why did the Brahman go the court of the king? What did the king do? Who ultimately solved the problem?
OR,
Describe the circumstances that led the Brahman to seek help from the neat-herd king, and how did the latter's unique approach to justice ultimately resolve the dispute?
Answer: The Brahman went to the king’s court because a ghost had taken his place at home. The ghost looked exactly like him and had taken his house, wife, and mother. No one could tell them apart, so the Brahman had no way to prove himself. He wanted the king to do justice and give him back his home and family.
> The king was confused because the Brahman and the ghost looked the same. Every day, the Brahman begged for justice, but the king kept delaying, telling him to come back the next day. This left the Brahman feeling hopeless and betrayed by the justice system, feeling miserable about his life.
> The neat-herd king ultimately solved the problem. 118 words
Q. Discuss in brief the summary of the folktale “The Ghost Brahman”
Answer: The folktale "The Ghost-Brahman" by Lal Behari Dey tells the story of a poor Brahman who struggles to get married and finally does so by begging for money. However, he soon realizes he cannot support his wife and mother, so he leaves to earn a living, promising to return only after gaining enough wealth. That very evening, a ghost takes his place, fooling his wife and mother into believing he has come back. When the real Brahman returns years later, he finds the ghost living as him. The confused king keeps delaying judgment, but a clever herd-boy king tricks the ghost into a phial, helping the Brahman reclaim his home. This folktale highlights how intelligence and justice defeat lies and deception. 121 words
Q. What role did the cowboy king and his companions play in the story?
Answer: The cowboy king and his companions played a crucial role in resolving the Brahman’s problem. They noticed the Brahman’s daily sorrow and became curious about the cause. After listening to his story with empathy, the cowboy king decided to help him. The cowboy king got permission from the king to act as a judge. He tricked the ghost by asking both the ghost and the Brahman to enter a small phial to prove their claims. When the ghost turned into a tiny creature and entered the phial, the cowboy king quickly sealed it. With his wise decision and leadership, the Brahman was able to reclaim his rightful place and possessions. Their intervention brought justice and peace, highlighting their compassion, fairness, and role as leaders in the community, making them key figures in resolving the conflict. 135 words
Q. Why was it difficult for the Brahman to get married initially?
Answer: At the beginning of “The Ghost Brahman,” the Brahman faced difficulty in getting married due to his non-Kulin status and financial constraints. Being a non-Kulin Brahman, he belonged to a lower social stratum within the Brahmin community, making it challenging to find a suitable bride from higher-caste families. Additionally, the tradition of dowry required substantial financial resources, which the Brahman lacked. Despite his efforts to beg for funds, his impoverished status hindered his ability to accumulate the necessary wealth to secure a marriage alliance. Thus, the combination of his low social status and financial limitations made it difficult for the Brahman to find a willing bride and arrange a marriage at the outset of the story. 116 words
Q. What emotions did the Brahman experience upon returning home and finding the ghost living his life?
Answer: In Lal Behari Dey’s tale "The Ghost-Brahman", the real Brahman finally gathers enough money to get married after much struggle. However, he soon realizes he cannot support his wife and mother, so he leaves to earn a living. When he returns years later, he is shocked to find a ghost living as him. At first, he feels disbelief and confusion since the ghost looks exactly like him. As he understands the truth, he feels betrayed and angry that his identity, home, and family have been taken away. His frustration grows as no one believes him. Along with anger, he feels helpless and desperate to prove himself, highlighting his struggle to reclaim his rightful place and seek justice. 116 words
Q. How did the ghost manage to convince the Brahman’s wife and mother?
Answer: In Lal Behari Dey’s tale, the real Brahman left home to earn money to support his mother and wife, saying he would not return until he gathered enough. The ghost took his place by tricking the Brahman’s wife and mother with his identical appearance. He imitated the Brahman’s speech and mannerisms, making them believe he was real. The ghost also took advantage of their longing for the Brahman’s return, using their emotions to strengthen his deception. He claimed he had come back early after receiving unexpected wealth, further convincing them. Through his physical resemblance, clever lies, and emotional manipulation, and exploitation of emotions, the ghost succeeded in convincing the Brahman’s wife and mother of his false identity as the real Brahman. 121 words
Q. How does the story depict the concept of justice through the actions of the king and the cowboy king?
OR,
How do the two kings approach justice differently, and what does this reveal about the importance of critical thinking and creative problem-solving?
Answer: The story highlights two contrasting approaches to justice. The king, despite being in a position of authority, hesitates and continuously delays making a decision, leaving the Brahman helpless. His indecisiveness reflects a lack of true leadership in delivering justice. In contrast, the cowboy king takes an active role in uncovering the truth. Seeing the Brahman’s struggle, he and his companions investigate the matter fairly and devise a clever test to expose the ghost. By tricking the impostor into revealing his true nature and trapping him, the cowboy king ensures that justice is served. His actions restore the Brahman’s rightful place, home, and family. Through these two figures, the story emphasizes that true justice requires wisdom, action, and courage. 118 words
Q. How far does the story maintain the basic principles of storytelling?
or
Discuss ‘The Ghost-Brahman‘ is a perfect folktale.
Answer: The folktale *The Ghost-Brahman* follows a simple yet effective storytelling structure. It begins with the classic phrase, “Once on a time there lived…,” setting a fantasy tone. The story introduces the Brahman, his struggles, and his departure. The plot takes a twist with the ghost’s arrival, leading to complications when the real Brahman returns. The climax occurs in the trial scene, where the "neat-herd king" cleverly traps the ghost in a phial. The tale highlights the conflict between good and evil, ultimately delivering a moral lesson through the triumph of good. The ending follows the traditional style of Bengali folktales,
Here my story endeth,
The Natiya-thorn withereth, etc.
So, we can say ‘The Ghost-Brahman’ is an excellent example of a folktale. 121 words
Q. Consider 'The Ghost-Brahman' as a supernatural short story.
Ans: The word "supernatural" means anything that goes beyond the normal rules of nature. A supernatural short story is a type of story that includes ghosts, spirits, demons, or other strange and magical things.
The title “The Ghost-Brahman” clearly shows a the supernatural theme. The story is about a ghost who takes on the exact look of a Brahman and lives in his house while the real Brahman is away. This ghost uses his magical power to fool everyone, but in the end, it leads to his downfall. To prove his identity, the ghost turns into a tiny insect-like creature and enters a small bottle. The real Brahman quickly traps him inside, seals the bottle with a cork, and throws it into the sea. (123 words)
Q. Analyse the character of the real Brahman.
Ans: In Lal Behari Dey’s folktale “The Ghost-Brahman,” the real Brahman is the main character. He is shown as a poor, non-Kulin Brahman, socially and financially weak. Still, he shows determination and patience. He leaves home to earn money for his mother and wife. His honesty is seen in his efforts to support them, even after years of struggle. When a ghost takes his place, he keeps trying to prove who he really is. He accepts the herd-boy king's help without pride. His honesty, patience, and humility make him a likable and inspiring hero in the fight for justice. The Brahman stands for resilience, responsibility, and perseverance (strength, duty, and determination). He shows the value of patience, hard work, and facing problems with honesty. His win over the ghost shows that good defeats evil, and his character teaches us how to face life’s challenges with courage. (145 words)
Q. Discuss in brief the significance of the title "The Ghost Brahman".
Ans. The title of Lal Behari Dey's "The Ghost-Brahman" is significant because it highlights the main conflict of the story. The core conflict of the story is identity and deception, where the real Brahman must reclaim his life from the impostor. It revolves around a ghost who takes the place of a real Brahman, leading to confusion and struggle. The title captures the theme of identity and deception, as the real Brahman fights to regain his home and family. It also reflects the supernatural element, making the story more engaging. Additionally, the title emphasizes the moral lesson of truth and justice, showing how the rightful owner must prove himself. By combining "Ghost" and "Brahman," it contrasts illusion with reality. Overall, the title not only represents the key themes of the story and its central conflict but also the essence of the narrative, blending elements of folklore, moral dilemmas, and cultural commentary. So the title is apt. (155 words)
Q. What was the king's response each time the Brahman came to him? How did the Brahman react to this?
Answer: Each time the Brahman went to the king to seek justice and get back his home, his wife and mother, the king continuously postponed the decision. Day after day, the king would simply tell the Brahman to come tomorrow. The king could not tell the real man from the ghost and was unable to make a fair decision.
In frustration, the Brahman expressed grief over the king's inaction. Every day, he would go away from the palace weeping and striking his forehead with the palm of his hand in great despair. As he walked away, he would lament over his situation, saying what a wicked world it was where he could be driven from his own house and have his wife taken by another. He also criticized the king saying the king does not do justice. (136 words)
Q. Describe the game of royalty that the cowboys played. What roles did they assign themselves?
Answer: On the Brahman's way from the court outside the town, he passed a spot at which many cowboys used to play. The cowboys used to play game of royalty under a large tree while letting their cows graze on the meadow. In their game of royalty, they imitated the real king's court. They would gather together and create their own make-believe kingdom as a form of entertainment and play while they watched over their herds. The cowboys assigned specific royal and official roles to one another. One cowboy was elected king, Another was chosen to be the prime minister or vizier, acting as the king's chief advisor. Another cowboy was given the role of kotwal, or prefect of the police. The other cowboys took on the roles of constables. (129 words)
Q. Sketch the Character of Ghost Brahman.
Ans. The theme of deception plays a crucial role in “The Ghost-Brahman.” The conflict of the story is based on mistaken identity. The Ghost Brahman represents deceit, manipulation, and a negative identity. The ghost uses the Brahman’s disappearance to enjoy a comfortable life in his house with his wife and mother. The ghost adopts the Brahman’s appearance and pretends to be him. He deceives his family members, the people around him, and even the king. The ghost’s actions clearly show that he utilizes the situation for personal gain and lacks empathy or morality. Despite mimicking the real Brahman’s appearance and behaviour, he lacks true authenticity and integrity, choosing deception over honesty. He did not intentionally give back the real Brahman's authority upon his return. Finally, the ghost was trapped forever, which proves that truth wins over lies and reminds us to look beyond appearances. 143 words
Q. How is the deception factor (misleading someone) explored in the story "The Ghost Brahman"?
OR
How does the story illustrate that appearances can be deceiving? Use examples from the text.
How does the story illustrate that appearances can be deceiving? Use examples from the text.
Answer: The theme of deception plays a crucial role in “The Ghost-Brahman”. The conflict of the story is based on mistaken identity. A ghost uses the Brahman’s disappearance to enjoy a comfortable life in his house with his wife and mother. The ghost adopts the Brahman’s appearance and pretends to be him. He tricks his family, the people around him, and even the king, who holds the power of judgment. This shows how appearances can be misleading. When the Brahman came back, it became hard for anyone to believe him, showing trust can be fragile. The ghost’s actions disturb relationships, social order, and justice. The danger of judging by sight alone becomes clear when the neat-herd king also deceived the ghost into changing his appearance in exchange of the Brahman's house and family. The ghost then reveals its true, non-human nature and it proves that what we see is not always the truth.
Q. What lesson can we learn from this story?
OR
How does the story end, and what moral is conveyed?
Ans: The story ends with the "neat-herd king" tricking the ghost into entering a small phial and trapping him there forever. Meanwhile, the real Brahman reclaims his home, wife, and mother. He then lives happily, free from the ghost’s deception. The story conveys the moral that truth and justice always prevail over lies or confusing situations. It also proves that intelligence and critical thinking is important to expose any deception. Here, the "neat-herd king" represents fairness and wisdom. His simple nature can see through the deception of the ghost, that the Brahman, the king or others failed to notice. He shows that it is cleverness that defeats trickery and proves more powerful than status or strength. Additionally, the story highlights the value of integrity and staying true to one’s identity. As in the end, righteousness wins and shows that those who are honest and patient will ultimately find justice and happiness, just like the Brahman.
How did the ghost deceive the Brahman’s family?
Answer: The ghost assumed the exact appearance of the Brahman and returned to his home, convincing the Brahman’s wife and mother that he was their son and husband. The ghost lived with them for years until the real Brahman returned, causing confusion and leading the Brahman to seek justice from the king.
How did the neat-herd king solve the conflict between the Brahman and the ghost?
Answer: The herd-boy king solved the dispute by challenging both the Brahman and the ghost to enter a small phial, saying the one who could fit inside was the real owner. The Brahman refused, knowing it was impossible, but the ghost shrank and entered the phial. The boy quickly sealed it and told the Brahman to throw it into the sea. With the ghost gone, the Brahman got his home back and lived happily.
Why did the Brahman leave his home after getting married?
Answer: After his marriage, the Brahman found himself unable to support both his mother and his wife. He decided to leave his home and travel to distant places to earn money, intending to return only once he had accumulated enough wealth to provide for his family.
How did the Brahman react when he saw the ghost in his house?
Answer: The Brahman was shocked and confused to find another person identical to himself living in his house, claiming to be him. When the ghost insisted that the house and family belonged to him, the Brahman, feeling helpless, decided to seek the king’s help to regain his rights.1
How did the king initially handle the Brahman's complaint?
Answer: The king was perplexed, as both the Brahman and the ghost looked identical. Unable to determine the real Brahman, the king postponed the case repeatedly, asking the Brahman to return the next day, thus leaving the Brahman feeling disillusioned with the justice system.
Why did the poor Brahman find it difficult to get married?The poor Brahman found it difficult to get married because he was not a Kulin (a high-ranking Brahman), and he needed a large sum of money for marrying and to pay to the parents of the bride.
Examine the symbolism of the phial in the story; what does it represent, and how does it serve as a tool for resolving the conflict?
The phial represents a test of authenticity. It reveals the ghost-Brahman's true nature, allowing the neat-herd king to distinguish between the two.
THE END
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