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Unit 04: Self-Discipline
Icarus And Daedalus
English II (C)
For Class XII (All Groups)
Icarus And Daedalus
(By Josephine Preston Peabody)
Pre-Reading
EXERCISE 01:Read and discuss the following quote.
1. "Discipline is the bridge between goals and actomplishments" by Harvey Mackay
Ans: Discipline leads a pivotal role with the help of self-control and consistent efforts in achieving desire results and outcomes. Discipline keeps the track of success and eradicates the hinderance and obstacles on the way of ultimate goals and targets. Discipline provides a momentum and gradually moves to turn our dreams into tangile results or realities.
2. "Self discipline is the key to personal greatness."
Ans: Self-discipline is the major theme of Icarus and Daedalus because unchecked ambition can be checked by the self-discipline on the track of goals and accomplishments. Icarus has no self-discipline against his wish of flight after the imprisonment ignoring the wise councel of his father related to the dangers of overreaching.
Daedalus symbolizes intelligence and Craftsmanship. He proposes a plan to escape from the imprisonment by crafting wings for himself and for his son Icarus but he fails to convey the significance of self-discipline to his son in freedom from the captivity. His son paid the price of freedom without discipline in drowning at the end of the story. To be precise, self-discipline is necessary for the personal growth.
3. "The difference between the successful and the unsuccessful is discipline." By Ed Mylett
Ans: This quote emphasizes that discipline is the key factor distinguishing success from failure. Consistent self-control and dedication enable individuals to achieve their goals, highlighting discipline as the foundation of success. Without it, even talented efforts may fall short.
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While-Reading
EXERCISE 02:Work in pairs.Write the contextual meaning of the following words.
| Words | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Winnow | Drive way by fanning |
| Cleave | Split, Rive |
| Fledgling | Novice |
| Cunning | Crafty, foxy |
| Draught | A cold burst of wind |
EXERCISE 03:
Read the following statements and choose the correct option.
1. The story challenges human limitations by implying _____:
(a) humans should defy nature
(b) knowledge is dangerous
(c) overconfidence leads to destruction ✔
(d) learning makes humans divine
2. _____ inspired Daedalus to escape:
(a) Dreams of flight
(b) Watching seagulls ✔
(c) A vision from gods
(d) A magical clue
3. Daedalus warned Icarus from _____:
(a) fear of drowning
(b) sun's heat danger ✔
(c) minos' revenge plan
(d) wings might break
4. In the story, Icarus symbolizes _____:
(a) wisdom and caution
(b) youthful recklessness
(c) divine punishment
(d) human ambition ✔
5. How does Daedalus feel after Icarus' fall?
(a) Vengeful and furious
(b) Proud but sad
(c) Grief-stricken and regretful ✔
(d) Fearful of Minos
6. The flight of Daedalus and Icarus is symbolic because it _____:
(a) represents human desires ✔
(b) shows gods' kindness
(c) means defying nature
(d) warns about risks
7. What ultimately caused Icarus' fall?
(a) Wind's strong force
(b) Sun's extreme heat ✔
(c) Weak feather glue
(d) Daedalus' miscalculation
EXERCISE 04:
Answer the following questions after reading the text:
Q.1: How does the story reflect the dangers of unchecked ambition?
Ans: The story reflects the character of Icarus who exhilarates the ever-tasting sensation of light and ignores the warnings and orders of his father Daedalus. This myth links the ideas of controlled ambitions rather than unchecked ambition which Icarus has who ignores the wise councel. It highlights the limits of the human ambiton and dangers of overconfidence.
Q.2: Compare and contrast Daedalus and Icarus.
Ans: Daedalus symbolizes intelligence and craftsmanship. He proposes a plan to escape from the imprisonment by crafting wings for him and for his son Icarus but he fails to convey the significance of discipline to his son in freedom from the captivity.
Icarus symbolizes unchecked ambition which leads him to ignore the wise councel and ultimately his wish of going beyond the horizons due to his uncontolled ambiton and overconfidence. He paid the price of freedom without discipline in drowning at the end of the story.
Q.3: What is the significance of Daedalus dedicating his wings to Apollo after Icarus' fall?
Ans: Daedalus is dedicating his wings to Apollo after Icarus' fall because he is in deep grief after the lost of his son and presents his wings as offering to Appollo. Daedalus returns wings to Apollo and declares that the humans should not defy nature and be submissive to the supreme power of nature without challenging the supremacy of their gods.
Q.4: What moral lessons can be drawn from the story? Provide examples from the text to justify each lesson.
Ans: The first moral lesson is to have controlled ambition raher than unchecked ambition like Icarus has who ignores the wise councel of his father ralated to the dangers of overreaching.
The second moral lesson is to have intelligence and craftsmanship like Daedalus has who proposes a plan to escape from the imprisonment by crafting wings for himself and for his son Icarus.
Q.5: Did Daedalus foresee Icarus. fall when he warned him about flying too high or too low? Justify your response with evidence from the text.
Ans: Deadalus has already foreseen Icarus' fall when he warns his son Icarus, "Remember. never to fly very low or very high, but the blaze of the sun will surely melt your feathers apart if you go too near." He knows that Icarus likes to do the rash adventures and does not care of his warnings in favor of his unchecked ambitions.
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Post-Reading
EXERCISE 05:Work in a pair. Analyse the statements given below and write 'true' of 'false' before each.
| No. | Statement | True/False |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Daedalus built the Labyrinth for King Minos. | True |
| 2. | Deadalus and Icarus escaped Crete using a boat. | False |
| 3. | Icarus followed his father's advice carefuly while flying. | False |
| 4. | The wax in lcarus's wings melted because he flow too close to the sun. | True |
| 5. | Deadalus named a nearby island after his son, Icarus. | True |
| 6. | Icarus' fall was caused by strong winds pushing him down. | False |
| 7. | After Icarus' fall, Deadalus continued to experiment with flying. | False |
| 7. | Deadalus made an offering to Apollo after his escape. | True |
EXERCISE 06:
Work in pairs. Read the statement of column "A" and write the cause / reason in column "B". First one is done as an example.
| No. | Column A | Column B |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Deadalus built the Labyrinth. | Because King Minos orderd him. |
| 2. | Deadalus created wings for himself and Icarus. | Because Daedalus wanted to escape from the imprisonment. |
| 3. | Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high or too low. | Because thp fogs would weigh Icarus down or the blaze of the sun would melt wax and the feathers apart. |
| 4. | Incarus ignored his father's warning. | Because he wanted to fly high and high after the captivity. |
| 5. | The wax in Icarus' wings melted. | Because the heat of the sun melted the wax. |
| 6. | Icarus fell into the sea and drowned. | Because the feathers were falling one by one due to heat of the sun and the feathers were afloat on the water. |
| 7. | Deadalus named an island lcarus. | Because Icarus was drowned near that island and Daedalus gave the name in the memory of his son. |
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