Class-12 Flamingo: All Chapters and Poems Vocabulary Review

These flashcards cover the key characters, important vocabulary terms, literary metaphors, and central themes from the Class-12 Flamingo textbook chapters and poems including 'The Last Lesson', 'Lost Spring', 'Deep Water', 'The Rattrap', 'Indigo', and all associated poetry.

M. Hamel

A dedicated and passionate teacher who promoted the French language and culture; known for being a patriot with a sharp sense of humor.

Franz

A young French student who was an emotional daydreamer and initially ignorant of political tensions; he eventually developed a deep appreciation for his mother tongue.

Linguistic Chauvinism

The realization of the absurdity of imposing one's language on others, symbolized by Franz's thought: 'Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?'

Thunderclap

M. Hamel's shocking announcement that an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Saheb-e-Alam

A young migrant from Bangladesh living in Seemapuri; he worked as a ragpicker until taking a job at a milk booth for $800/-$ rupees.

Seemapuri

A slum on the periphery of Delhi inhabited by squatters; lives here revolve around ragpicking in primitive structures devoid of sewage or drainage.

Mukesh

A courageous boy from Firozabad who aspires to be a motor mechanic despite his family's long history in the hazardous bangle-making industry.

Hazardous Bangle Industry

A profession in Firozabad where workers toil in glass furnaces at high temperatures in dingy cells, often leading to vision loss from polishing dust.

Hydrophobia

A paralyzing fear of water suffered by William Douglas, originating from childhood trauma at a California beach and a near-drowning at the YMCA pool.

YMCA Pool

A swimming facility with a gradual drop from two to three feet to nine feet, chosen by Douglas for its perceived safety over the treacherous Yakima River.

The Rattrap Metaphor

The peddler's philosophical view that the world offers riches and comforts as baits to trap humans, much like cheese and pork in a cage.

Edla Willmansson

The Ironmaster's modest and compassionate daughter whose unconditional kindness and empathy performed the 'miracle' of the peddler’s moral resurrection.

Rajkumar Shukla

A poor, illiterate, but resolute sharecropper from Champaran whose persistence brought Gandhi to Bihar to fight the injustice of British landlords.

Satyagraha in Champaran

The first successful large-scale application of Civil Disobedience in India, where Gandhi won a $25\%$ refund for peasants as a moral victory.

Gemini Studios

A massive film studio in Madras where Asokamitran worked; its make-up department was an early example of national integration.

Kothamangalam Subbu

The No. 2 at Gemini Studios; a resourceful, tailor-made film professional known for his hospitality, creative solutions, and loyalty to the boss.

Interstices

The small intervals or gaps of time in a daily schedule that Umberto Eco utilized to remain highly productive even in his spare moments.

Sophie

An escapist and romantic dreamer from a working-class family whose high aspirations of becoming a manager or actress lead to disappointment.

Jansie

Sophie's realistic and practical friend who recognizes they are earmarked for the biscuit factory and values grounded thinking.

Ashen like that of a corpse

A simile used in 'My Mother at Sixty-six' to describe the pale, frail appearance of the poet's mother, symbolizing the fear of aging and death.

Exotic Moment

A rare instance of stillness and silence advocated in 'Keeping Quiet,' characterized by the absence of engines, rushing, and human conflict.

Bower

A pleasant, shady, and quiet place under trees described by John Keats as an eternal source of joy, health, and peace.

Roadside Stand

A humble setup by rural people pleading for cash flow from 'polished traffic' to support their livelihoods and stop their 'longing in vain.'

Chivalric Certainty

A phrase from 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' describing the bold, brave, and honorable way the embroidered tigers move across the green screen.

Unbalanced Marriage Symbolism

The 'massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band' that 'sits heavily' upon Aunt Jennifer's hand, representing the oppressive burdens of marital duty.