In The Great Stone Face-II by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ernest, a very simple and unnoticed boy, had grown up to be an old man with white hair. All those years made him so wise and knowledgeable that distant men from cities came to visit him just to have a conversation with him. He received them with gentleness and kindness. As he talked to people, his face would brighten and would shine upon others as if he was a mild evening light. The story then introduces us to another son of the valley who moved to distant cities, pouring them with his sweet music. He kept the Great Stone Face alive in his poems. Ernest came to know about him and as he read the poet’s thoughts in his book, he wished the poet to be the likeness of the Great Stone Face. When the poet came to know about Ernest, he expressed a strong desire to meet him. Thus, he comes back to the valley and asks Ernest to give him a night’s shelter. They talked to each other. Never before had the poet talked with a man like Ernest, so wise, and gentle, and kind. Ernest, on the other hand, was moved by the living images flung out of the poet’s mind. Upon being asked, the poet told him that he was the writer of the book Ernest was reading. As soon as he heard this, Ernest compared the poet’s features with that of the Great Stone Face and when they did not match, he became sad. Upon being asked, Ernest told the poet that when he read his book, he thought him to be the man that would fulfill the prophecy but to his disappointment, he was not. The poet considered himself unworthy of bearing the resemblance to the Great Stone Face as he knew that although his thoughts were great and he had great dreams but those had just remained dreams and he himself lacked faith in his thoughts. It was a ritual for Ernest to speak to his neighbours every evening at sunset in the open air. Both men went to the meeting place from where the Great Stone Face was clearly visible and as Ernest began speaking, he shared whatever he had in his mind and heart. His thoughts were so powerful since they were supported by a life full of good deeds. Those were not mere thoughts, but words of life. The poet, as he listened, felt that the life and character of Ernest were a nobler form of poetry than he had ever written. His eyes were filled with tears as he realised never had he seen a man so kind, gentle, sweet and wise as Ernest. Suddenly, he noticed the Great Stone Face with the golden light of the setting sun upon it and mist around it. He noticed that it resembled the eyebrows of Ernest. When the poet compared Ernest’s grand expression to the Great Stone Face, he couldn’t help but tell everyone that Ernest himself bore the likeness of the Great Stone Face. Everyone agreed. Ernest, however, hoped for a man better and wiser than himself to come, bearing resemblance to the Great Stone Face.
Page No: 136
Comprehension Check
1: Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.
1. Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. ______
Ans: True
2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. ______
Ans: True
3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. __________
Ans: False
4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. ______
Ans: True
5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. ______
Ans: False
6. The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. ______
Ans: True
Working with Text
Answer the following questions.
1. How was Ernest different from others in the valley?
Ans: Earnest was a humble, hardworking and thoughtful person. He was not an unknown person unlike others. As he grew old, he had become well known personality beyond limit of valley. College professors and even active men of cities came from far to meet him. Earnest received those people with gentle sincerity and spoke with them freely with open heart. He led a life of good deeds and with self-less love for others. He used to deliver thoughtful words from the depth of his heart. His words had power since they agreed with the reality of his life. While talking to his audience, his face would brighten and shine upon them, as with as mild evening light. In this way Earnest was different from others in the valley.
2.Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face?
Ans: The poet wrote songs with lofty thoughts. The poetry of the poet found his way to Earnest also. Earnest used to read the poet’s poems and songs after his day’s work and found them worthy. When the poet came to meet Earnest, he looked wise, gentle and kind. Even the Great Stone Face appeared bending forward to listen to his talk. For all these reasons, Earnest began to think that the poet was like the Great Stone Face.
3.What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems?
Ans: The poet said that Ernest could hear the distant voice of a heavenly song in his thoughts and poems. However, the poet felt that his own life had not corresponded with his thoughts. He had grand dreams, but they had been only dreams. Sometimes he even lacked faith in his own thoughts.
4.What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?
Ans: The poet observed Earnest while he was talking to his audience. Earnest was speaking kindly but from the depth of his heart and mind. The poet felt that Earnest’s own life and character were a nobler strain of poetry than he had ever written. The poet found great similarities between the misty white clouds around the Great Stone Face and the white hairs around the brow of Earnest. So, the poet proclaimed that Earnest himself was the Stone Face.
5. Write ‘Ernest’ or ‘Poet’, against each statement below.
(i) There was a gap between his life and his words.
(ii) His words had the power of truth as they agreed with his thoughts.
(iii) His words were as soothing as a heavenly song but only as useful as a vague dream.
(iv) His thoughts were worthy.
(v) Whatever he said was truth itself.
(vi) His poems were noble.
(vii) His life was nobler than all the poems.
(viii) He lacked faith in his own thoughts.
(ix) His thoughts had power as they agreed with the life he lived.
(x) Greatness lies in truth. Truth is best expressed in one’s actions. He was truthful, therefore he was great.
Ans. (i) Poet
(ii) Ernest
(iii) Poet
(iv) Ernest
(v) Ernest
(vi) Poet
(vii) Ernest
(viii) Poet
(ix) Ernest
(x) Ernest
6.(i) Who, by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face?
(ii) Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true? What did he say about it?
Ans: (i) By common consent, Ernest turned out to be like the Great Stone Face.
(ii) No, Ernest did not believe that the old prophecy had come true. Even though everybody had agreed that he was the likeness of the Great Stone Face, he himself hoped that some wiser and better man than himself would appear, bearing a resemblance to the Great Stone Face.
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