Class 10 English Notes Maharashtra Board – Chapter 3.1: Night of the Scorpion 

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Chapter Title and Brief Introduction 📖

Night of the Scorpion is a moving poem from the Class 10 Maharashtra Board English syllabus. It describes a tense night when the poet’s mother is stung by a scorpion. The poem explores themes of pain, superstition, love, and sacrifice, showing the contrast between traditional beliefs and modern care.

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Author/Poet Information ✍️

The poem Night of the Scorpion was written by Nissim Ezekiel, a renowned Indian poet and playwright. Known as the father of modern Indian English poetry, Ezekiel’s works often depict Indian life with subtle irony and humor. His poems reflect social realities and human emotions with simplicity and depth.

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Summary of the Poem 📝

On a rainy night in a rural village, the poet’s mother is stung by a scorpion. The villagers come running to help, each blaming fate, curses, or bad luck for the incident. They perform rituals and prayers, hoping to drive the poison away. The poet’s father, a rational man, uses scientific methods to treat her. Despite the pain, the mother’s concern is for the scorpion’s survival, showing her selfless love. The poem ends with the mother’s pain and suffering contrasting with the villagers’ superstitions.

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New Words and Meanings 📚

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Figures of Speech with Examples 🎭

• Simile: “Like a living flame” – comparing the scorpion’s sting pain to fire.

• Personification: “The peasants came like swarms of flies” – villagers are given insect-like behavior.

• Alliteration: “Blessed my poison” – repetition of ‘b’ sound.

• Irony: The mother worries about the scorpion’s death rather than her own pain.

• Metaphor: The scorpion’s sting is compared to a curse or evil force.

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Poetic Appreciation 🌟

Title

The title Night of the Scorpion immediately sets the mood and hints at a dramatic event during the night involving a scorpion.

Theme

The poem deals with the theme of human suffering and the conflict between superstition and rationality. It explores how people react differently in crises—some through fear and old beliefs, others through reason and science. It also highlights maternal love and sacrifice.

Language and Style

Ezekiel uses simple, clear language accessible to young readers. The poem is narrative and vivid, with emotional and sensory descriptions that bring the scene alive—the rain, the pain, and the villagers’ reactions. The tone shifts from anxious to reflective.

Figures of Speech

The poem uses similes, metaphors, personification, and irony effectively to convey emotions and contrast between different attitudes. These literary devices enrich the poem’s meaning and engagement.

Message/Moral

The poem teaches us about the power of love and sacrifice, especially a mother’s unconditional care. It also questions blind faith in superstitions, encouraging a balance between tradition and scientific reasoning. Ultimately, it shows that human compassion and rationality can coexist even in the darkest moments.

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Grammar and Language Study 📌

• Tenses: Mainly past tense to narrate events.

• Reported Speech: Villagers’ beliefs and mother’s responses can be used to practice indirect speech.

• Adjectives: Descriptive words like “poisoned,” “living,” “heavy” show the importance of adjectives.

• Prepositions: Usage of prepositions in expressions like “in the night,” “with the scorpion,” “like a swarm.”

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Important Exam Questions with Answers ✍️

Q1: Who came to help the poet’s mother after she was stung by the scorpion?

The peasants of the village came quickly to help the poet’s mother. They believed in superstitions and tried various rituals to drive away the evil caused by the scorpion sting.

Q2: Describe the mother’s reaction after getting stung.

Despite the intense pain, the mother was more concerned about the scorpion’s death. She showed selfless love and sacrifice, worrying about the creature rather than her own suffering.

Q3: What does the poem reveal about the villagers' beliefs?

The villagers were deeply superstitious. They believed the sting was a curse and that the mother’s pain would bring blessings to the family if she suffered patiently.

Q4: How did the poet’s father react to the scorpion sting?

The poet’s father was calm and scientific. He treated the mother rationally, showing a contrast to the villagers’ superstitions.

Q5: Explain the irony in the poem Night of the Scorpion.

The irony lies in the mother’s concern for the scorpion’s survival despite her own pain. Also, while villagers depend on prayers and rituals, the father uses reason and medicine.

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Central Idea or Moral Message 🌈

Night of the Scorpion reflects on human pain and the different ways people respond to suffering. It highlights the power of maternal love and sacrifice, showing how the mother’s concern for the scorpion overshadows her agony. The poem contrasts superstition and science, encouraging rational thinking while acknowledging cultural beliefs. Ultimately, it conveys a message of empathy, courage, and the coexistence of tradition and modernity.

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Previously Asked Board Exam Questions (Last 5 Years) 🏆

1. What was the reaction of the villagers after the scorpion sting? (2 marks)

The villagers rushed to help and performed rituals believing the sting was a curse. They hoped the mother’s suffering would bring blessings.

2. How did the poet’s father treat the situation differently? (3 marks)

Unlike the superstitious villagers, the poet’s father calmly used scientific methods to treat the sting. His practical approach highlights the conflict between tradition and modernity.

3. Discuss the theme of sacrifice in the poem. (4 marks)

The poem shows sacrifice through the mother’s selfless concern for the scorpion despite her pain. It also portrays the villagers’ belief that enduring suffering brings blessings, reflecting cultural ideas of sacrifice.

4. Explain the use of irony in Night of the Scorpion. (5 marks)

Irony is present as the mother worries more for the scorpion’s life than her own. The villagers rely on superstitions while the father uses reason, contrasting beliefs and highlighting human nature’s complexity.

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Practice Questions with Answers (20 Q&A) 🎯

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the poet of Night of the Scorpion?
   Answer: Nissim Ezekiel.

2. What caused the mother pain?
   Answer: A scorpion sting.

3. How did the villagers react to the incident?
   Answer: They came to help and performed rituals.

4. What did the mother worry about?
   Answer: The death of the scorpion.

5. What natural event was happening during the incident?
   Answer: It was raining heavily.

6. What did the father do after the sting?
   Answer: Treated the mother scientifically.

7. Why did the villagers think the sting was a curse?
   Answer: Because of their superstitious beliefs.

8. Name a figure of speech used in the poem.
   Answer: Simile.

9. How does the poet describe the villagers?
   Answer: Like swarms of flies.

10. What lesson does the poem teach?
    Answer: The coexistence of superstition and reason.

Long Answer Questions

11. Describe the atmosphere during the night of the scorpion sting.
    Answer: The night was stormy with heavy rain, adding to the tension and urgency as the mother suffered.

12. Explain the contrast between the villagers’ and the father’s reactions.
    Answer: Villagers relied on superstitions and rituals, while the father used scientific methods, showing the clash between tradition and modern thinking.

13. What does the mother’s reaction tell us about her character?
    Answer: She is selfless and compassionate, showing love even for the scorpion.

14. How does the poet create sympathy for the mother?
    Answer: Through vivid descriptions of her pain and her noble concern for the scorpion.

15. Discuss the theme of superstition in the poem.
    Answer: The poem shows how deeply ingrained superstitions affect people’s reactions to misfortune.

16. How does the poet use imagery in the poem?
    Answer: The poet uses imagery to describe the rain, the pain, and the villagers’ frantic efforts vividly.

17. What is the significance of the title?
    Answer: It highlights the central event and sets the somber mood.

18. How does the poem reflect Indian rural life?
    Answer: Through villagers’ beliefs, communal living, and response to crises.

19. Discuss the role of community in the poem.
    Answer: The community comes together in times of trouble, showing collective support.

20. What is the overall message of the poem?
    Answer: It teaches empathy, rationality, and respect for human emotions and traditions.