Education Is The Key To SuccessSSC Part 1 and 2

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

Icarus And Daedalus (By Josephine Preston Peabody) - UNIT # 04 Self-Discipline - English Paper II (Compulsory) - For Class XII (All Groups) - Text Book Exercise

Go To Index
Unit 04: Self-Discipline
Icarus And Daedalus
English II (C)
For Class XII (All Groups)

Pre-Reading
While-Reading
Post-Reading

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.

Go To Top

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.

Go To Top

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.

Go To Top

Icarus And Daedalus (By Josephine Preston Peabody) - UNIT # 04 Self-Discipline - English Paper II (Compulsory) - For Class XII (All Groups) - Short Questions Answers

Go To Index
Unit 04: Self-Discipline
Icarus And Daedalus
English II (C)
For Class XII (All Groups)

Short Question Answers
From Text Book Exercise

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.

More Short Question Answers

Q.6: How did Daedalus fix his feathers before flying?
Ans: Daedalus gathered a store of feathers great and small and fastened with thread, moulded them in with wax, and so successfully made the two large feathers like a bird to fly. Deadalus fitted them to his own shoulders .He found that by waving his arms he was able to hold himself in air and wavered his flight with the wind.

Q.7: How did Daedalus get the idea of escaping from the imprisonment?
Ans: Daedalus was watching the seagulls flying in the sky and they were the only creatures were at liberty at that time. So he got the Idea of escaping from the impronsinment not only for himself but also for his son Icarus by crafting wings.

Q.8: What was the reaction of Icarus after listening to his father about the danger?
Ans: Icarus listened the warnings and precautions of his father and ignored them thoroughly. He asked the questions to himself: who could remember to be careful when he was to fly for the first time? Are birds careful? Icarus enjoyed the sensation of his flight of skyward till the last destiny that is the sun.

Q.9: What was the reaction the country folk after observing Daedalus and Icarus flying in the sky?
Ans: Both Daedalus and Icarus were ready to fly and checked all the wings put at their proper places. When they were flying, the country folks were watching and considering them as a vision of the gods Apollo and Cupid. Both of them were high above the tree-tops and moving towards the skyward.

Q.10: What was the terror in the joy of flying?
Ans: There was a terror in the joy because the empty space in the air dazzled them and a glance downward made them lose their balance and staggered violently. They were overwhelmed by the blow of the wind over their whole bodies especially their heads.

Q.11: Why did Icarus forget everyone and everything in the joy of the flight?
Ans: Icarus managed to fly with a blow of a great wind and sustained like a halcyon-bird in the hollow of the wave. He forgot everything in the world but joy. He forgot Crete and the other islands even he forgot his own father who was flying in the distance before him and wise councel that his father taught him. Icarus symbolizes the unchecked ambition.

Q.12: How did Icarus lose his life in the flight against the captivity?
Ans: Icarus decided to go near to the sun. When he was moving towards the sun, the wind turned out to warmer and warmer. The arms were not supporting the body of Icarus with the passage of time. He was falling towards the ground. At last, the heat of the sun melted the wax from his wings and feathers were falling one by one like snowflakes and there was no one to help him.

Q.13: What is the major theme of Icarus and Daedalus?
Ans: Self-discipline is the major theme of lcarus 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 fight 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.

Q.14: How was Icarus drowned?
Ans: Icarus ignored wise councel of his father and made his flight towards the sun. When the heat of the sun started melting the wax of the feathers, he was falling towards the ground. At last, the feathers were falling one by one like snowflakes and there was no one to help him. He felt like a leaf tossing down gradually towards the sea. Daedalus came and sought for his son but he saw nothing but the feathers afloating on the water and Icarus was drowned ultimately.

Q.15: What happened after the death of Icarus?
Ans: After the death of Icarus, Daedalus gave his son a tribute after naming the nearest island after his name 'Icarus' in the memory of his son. He went to the temple of Apollo in Sicily, Italy. He hang up his wings as an offering and never attempted to fly again in the worldly life.

Icarus And Daedalus (By Josephine Preston Peabody) - UNIT # 04 Self-Discipline - English Paper II (Compulsory) - For Class XII (All Groups) - (MCQs)

Go To Index
Unit 04: Self-Discipline
Icarus And Daedalus
English II (C)
For Class XII (All Groups)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
From Text Book Exercise

Choose the correct answer for each from the given 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