TELEVISION BY ROALD DAHL -class-12-english-summary-questions-and-answers-chse
SUMMARY
Roald Dahl’s poem Television is a humorous yet serious criticism of the excessive use of television by children. He argues that television has become the main activity in every household, with children sitting glued to the screen all day.
According to the poet, television kills creativity and imagination. It makes children lazy, destroys their ability to think, and prevents them from reading books. Dahl warns parents that although television keeps children quiet, it fills their minds with meaningless rubbish.
The poet strongly advises parents to throw away their television sets and replace them with bookshelves. He assures them that although children may protest at first, eventually they will start reading books and discover the joy of imagination, adventure, and learning.
Through humour, exaggeration, and rhyme, Dahl delivers a powerful message: books are better teachers and companions than television, and they enrich children’s minds in a way that television never can.
SHORT QUESTION ANSWERS
Q1. Who is the poet of Television?
Ans. The poet is Roald Dahl.
Q2. What is the main subject of the poem?
Ans. The harmful effects of television on children.
Q3. How does television affect children’s imagination?
Ans. It kills their creativity and stops them from thinking on their own.
Q4. Why do parents like television for their children?
Ans. Because it keeps children quiet and stops them from making noise.
Q5. What does the poet say children do all day?
Ans. They sit, stare, and watch the television endlessly.
Q6. What kind of rubbish does television fill in children’s minds?
Ans. Meaningless shows and useless entertainment.
Q7. According to the poet, what should replace television?
Ans. Bookshelves filled with books.
Q8. What is the initial reaction of children if books are given instead of TV?
Ans. They may protest, scream, or resist.
Q9. What will children eventually do when TV is removed?
Ans. They will begin to read and enjoy books.
Q10. What is the tone of the poem?
Ans. Humorous yet didactic (teaching a lesson).
Q11. What does the poet think television does to the human brain?
Ans. It rots and damages it.
Q12. How does television control children’s activities?
Ans. It makes them sit still without movement.
Q13. What alternative does the poet suggest to TV for children’s entertainment?
Ans. Reading books.
Q14. How does reading benefit children?
Ans. It develops imagination, creativity, and knowledge.
Q15. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Ans. Rhyming couplets (aa, bb, cc…).
Q16. How do parents misuse television according to Dahl?
Ans. They use it as a tool to control and silence their children.
Q17. Why does the poet call television harmful?
Ans. Because it spoils thinking ability and prevents children from learning.
Q18. What message does Dahl give to parents?
Ans. Remove television and encourage children to read books.
Q19. How does the poet describe children’s love for TV?
Ans. They are obsessed and watch it for hours without moving.
Q20. What is the final advice of the poet in the poem?
Ans. Throw away the television set and fill the house with books.
LONG QUESTION-ANSWERS
Q1. What is the main theme of Roald Dahl’s poem Television?
Ans. The main theme of the poem is the harmful effect of television on children. Dahl criticizes how children waste their time watching television instead of reading books. He argues that television kills creativity, spoils imagination, and fills children’s minds with useless rubbish. He urges parents to replace television sets with bookshelves so that children can develop knowledge and imagination.
Q2. Why does the poet call television an “idiotic thing”?
Ans. Dahl calls television an idiotic thing because it makes children passive and thoughtless. Children sit still for hours staring at the screen, losing the ability to think, imagine, or create. Instead of learning, their brains are filled with meaningless shows and programs. The poet feels it destroys intelligence and spoils healthy growth.
Q3. How does television affect the creativity and imagination of children?
Ans. According to Dahl, television completely destroys creativity and imagination. Children stop thinking independently and become addicted to watching shows. Unlike books, which encourage imagination and mental activity, television makes them lazy and inactive. This is why the poet strongly warns parents about its dangers.
Q4. Why do parents allow children to watch television? What is the poet’s opinion about it?
Ans. Parents allow children to watch television because it keeps them quiet and stops them from making noise or disturbing the household. The poet criticizes this attitude, saying that parents are spoiling their children’s minds for temporary peace. He advises them to throw away the television and encourage reading books instead.
Q5. What alternative does Roald Dahl suggest to television?
Ans. The poet suggests that parents should throw away television sets and fill their homes with bookshelves. Even if children protest at first, they will eventually read books and discover joy in them. Books not only entertain but also enrich children’s minds, improve imagination, and develop creativity.
Q6. How does Dahl highlight the harmful effects of television in his poem?
Ans. Dahl highlights the harmful effects through exaggeration and humor. He says television rots the brain, kills imagination, and turns children into inactive beings. It prevents them from reading books and learning properly. By painting this negative picture, Dahl forces parents to realize how television damages young minds.
Q7. How does Dahl describe children’s obsession with television?
Ans. Dahl describes that children sit all day long staring at the screen, without moving or playing. They are completely absorbed in television, ignoring everything else around them. Their love for television becomes so strong that they forget the value of reading and learning. This blind obsession deeply worries the poet.
Q8. What role do books play in children’s development, according to the poet?
Ans. Books play an important role in developing creativity, imagination, and knowledge. They encourage children to think, dream, and explore new ideas. Reading books makes children wiser and more intelligent, unlike television which only provides shallow entertainment. Dahl believes books are the true teachers and companions of children.
Q9. How does the poet use humor and exaggeration in Television?
Ans. Dahl uses humor and exaggeration to make the poem entertaining and memorable. For example, he says television “rots the senses in the head” and “kills imagination dead.” Though exaggerated, these lines make readers laugh while also understanding the seriousness of the issue. His humorous tone helps convey a strong moral lesson.
Q10. Why does the poet say that television fills children with “rubbish”?
Ans. The poet says so because most television programs provide meaningless entertainment rather than useful knowledge. Instead of learning new things, children are exposed to shallow stories and unrealistic shows. This prevents them from developing critical thinking skills, and their minds are filled with “rubbish” ideas.
Q11. What does Dahl say about the initial reaction of children if parents remove the TV?
Ans. Dahl admits that children will protest, scream, or resist when television is removed. They may feel bored or restless at first. But he assures parents that gradually children will turn to books, and once they discover the joy of reading, they will forget their obsession with television.
Q12. How does the poem Television criticize modern lifestyle?
Ans. The poem criticizes modern lifestyle by showing how families depend on television instead of books. Dahl highlights that parents take the easy way out by silencing children with TV rather than encouraging creativity through reading. He points out that this modern habit leads to lazy, unimaginative, and ignorant children.
Q13. What message does the poem convey to parents?
Ans. The poem strongly advises parents to stop children from watching too much television. Instead, they should encourage reading books. Dahl’s message is that books shape children’s character and intelligence, while television only wastes time. Parents must be responsible in guiding their children toward knowledge and creativity.
Q14. How is Television relevant even in today’s digital age?
Ans. The poem is highly relevant today, as children are not only addicted to television but also to smartphones and gadgets. Just like television, these devices reduce imagination and creativity. Dahl’s advice about books and reading remains meaningful because books still provide the best way to develop knowledge, focus, and originality.
Q15. Do you agree with Dahl’s opinion in Television? Why or why not?
Ans. Yes, Dahl’s opinion is convincing because too much television does harm children. It makes them lazy, passive, and less creative. Books, on the other hand, encourage imagination and learning. However, one may also argue that television can be educational if used wisely. Still, Dahl’s warning is important for guiding children towards a balanced lifestyle.
Q16. What is the poet’s attitude towards television in the poem?
Ans. The poet’s attitude is strongly critical and negative. Dahl sees television as harmful, calling it an “idiotic thing” that damages children’s growth. His tone is humorous but serious, mixing exaggeration with strong advice. He genuinely believes television is dangerous and must be replaced with books.
Q17. Compare the effects of television with the benefits of reading books.
Ans. Television makes children inactive, kills imagination, and fills their minds with useless entertainment. It prevents them from thinking and learning. In contrast, books encourage imagination, creativity, knowledge, and independent thinking. Dahl suggests that while television weakens the brain, books strengthen and enrich it.
Q18. How does Dahl appeal to parents in his poem Television?
Ans. Dahl appeals directly to parents by highlighting how television harms their children. He shows that although television keeps children quiet, it ruins their brains and imagination. He then urges parents to throw away TV sets and bring in books instead. His advice is presented humorously, making it convincing and memorable.
Q19. How does the poet describe children’s protest when books replace television?
Ans. Dahl admits that children will scream, shout, or complain when their television is taken away. They may resist reading at first. However, he reassures parents that this protest will not last long, and once children start reading, they will discover joy and soon forget about television.
Q20. What is the moral lesson of the poem Television?
Ans. The moral lesson is that television is harmful to children’s intellectual growth, while books are the true source of knowledge and creativity. Parents should not depend on television to keep children quiet but should guide them toward reading. The poem teaches that imagination and wisdom come from books, not from watching screens.
Summary with Questions and Answers
Unit-I Prose
Chapter 1 My Greatest Olympic Prize
Chapter 3 The Portrait of a Lady
Chapter 4 The Magic of Teamwork
Chapter 5 Development of Polio Vaccines
Unit-II Poetry
Poem 2 The Ballad of Father Gilligan
Unit-III Non-Detailed Study
Chapter 2 The Nightingale and the Rose
Chapter 3 Mystery of the Missing Cap
Chapter 6 Stay Hungry Stay Foolish
