Sohrab And Rustam-1

GLOSSARY

 

WORD                     MEANING

 

1. Advance                1. Forward movement, progress

2. Challenger            2. One who calls another for a fight

3. Combat                 3. Fight

4. Invader                  4. One who attacks

5. Opponent              5. Person against whom one fights

6. Parentage              6. One’s parents

7. Swordsmanship         7. Skill in the use of sword

8. Compete                 8. Take part in a race, contest

9. Precious                  9. Of great or special value

10. Hastily                   10. Quickly

11. Invasion                11. Attack

 

SHORT QUESTION ANSWERS

 

Q1. Who was called “The Shield of Persia?”

A1. Rustum

Q2. Where did Rustum meet Tanimeh?

A2. In Tartar

Q3. What did Rustum give to his wife when he parted from her?

A3. A precious stone.

Q4. What did Tanimeh name her child?

A4. Sohrab

Q5. Who challenged Sohrab to a fight?

A5. A young warrior

Q6. What did the young warrior wanted to know about Sohrab before the fight?

A6. His parentage

Q7. Who was Sohrab’s father?

A7. The great Rustum

Q8. Where did Sohrab go to find his father?

A8. To Persia

Q9. Who was the ruler of Persia at that time?

A9. Kaikoos

Q10.” He fights like a lion.” Who does here ‘he’ refer to?

A10. Sohrab

 

ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS

 

Q1. Describe the secret of Rustum Tanimeh marriage?

A1. Rustum was a great warrior of Persia. Once while travelling he met a Tartar princess, Tanimeh. They fell in love with each other and got married. However, the king of Persia sent for him and he was not able to live with his wife for long. Tanimeh was pregnant at that time. At the parting, Rustum gave her a precious stone. He asked Tanimeh to tie it on their child’s arm and asked her to keep their marriage a secret. Tanimeh gave birth to a son and named him Sohrab. Fearing that Rustum might take him away, she sent word to him that the child was a girl. So Sohrab did not know who his father was.

 

Q2. What did Sohrab do when he came to know the secret of his birth?

A2. Sohrab’s heart was filled with pride when he came to know that he was the great, Rustum’s son. He made up his mind to go in search of his father. His mother failed to dissuade him in doing so. Sohrab was bent on going,s so his mother told him a secret. Sohrab was wearing a precious stone on his arm. The mother said to Sohrab, “It was given to me by your father. If you find him, show it to him and he will know who you are.” Sohrab collected an army and marched to Persia.

 

Long ago there lived in Persia a great soldier called Rustum. He was so brave and fearless that he had always saved his country from foreign invasions and was hence called “SHIELD OF PERSIA”. Kaikoos, the king of Persia felt safe in the presence of Rustum and used to say that “No enemy can dare threaten us”.

• Once in the course of his travel, Rustum met a Tartar princess Tanimeh. They fell in love with each other and married.

• However, Rustum could not stay there for long as king Kaikoos called him back to protect his kingdom

• So Rustum had to go away from his wife who was then pregnant. At the parting he gave her a precious stone and said, “When you become a mother, tie this stone on the child’s arm, and keep our marriage a secret”.

• In due course of time a son was born to Tanimeh. She sent word to Rustum that their child was a daughter so that Rustum might not take his son away.

• Tanimeh named her son Sohrab which means ‘child of many smiles’. Sohrab grew up into a brave and handsome boy. He was skilled in arts of war.

• One day a young warrior from distant land challenged Sohrab to a single combat. Before the fight he asked Sohrab about his parentage as he never fought with one of low birth.

Sohrab did not know the secret of birth. So he went to his mother and asked to tell about his father or she would find him dead. Tanimeh said, “You are the son of the great Rustum, the Shield of Persia.” Next day Sohrab went to his challenger and announced, “I am Sohrab, son of Rustum, I accept your challenge. Are you ready to fight? Such was the fear of Rustum’s name that the opponent withdrew his challenge.

• Sohrab returned home and told his mother of his going to search his father.

Tanimeh finally said, “The precious stone you wear on your arm is given to me by your father. If you find him, show it to him and he will know who you are.” Sohrab collected an army and marched to Persia to find his father and also to make him the king of Persia as Kaikoos was an unpopular ruler.

• When Sohrab crossed into Persia, Kaikoos sent an army to fight the invaders. But the King’s generals were no match for Sohrab and they were all defeated.

• Fearing this king sent for Rustum at once.