NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English (Woven Words) Essays 3 Patterns of Creativity

Class : 11th

Subject : English

Chapter : 3(Essays)

Chapter Name : Patterns of Creativity

Q1 How does Shelley’s attitude to science differ from that of Wordsworth and Keats?

Answer. There is a stark difference between the attitude of Shelly’s attitude towards science
from that of Wordsworth and Keats. In one of his poems, Wordsworth was seen praising nature
but at the same time rejecting the scientific developments. On the other hand, Keats too
reciprocated Wordsworth’s idea that science is only destructive in nature. But only Shelley was
seen appreciating the scientific developments in his poems.

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Q2 ‘It is not an accident that the most discriminating literary criticism of Shelley’s thought and
work is by a distinguished scientist, Desmond King-Hele.’ How does this statement bring out the
meeting point of poetry and science?

Answer. Desmond King-Hele in his criticism displayed Shelley as a poet whose approach was
more scientific. His criticism shows that Shelly liked to explore more about the scientific things
and he lived in a modern age where science ruled the world. Shelly’s works are perfect blend of
science and poetry.

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Q3 What do you infer from Darwin’s comment on his indifference to literature as he advanced in
years?

Answer. Darwin expressed that upto age of thirty he fully enjoyed and gained pleasure from
poetry. Great poets and dramatist like Milton, Shakespeare gave him pleasure through the work.
He enjoyed reading about poems of different subjects, pictures and musical effect. But with
advancing age work overtook his source of enjoyment. He started to find Shakespeare plays
extremely dull and boring.

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Q4 How do the patterns of creativity displayed by scientists differ from those displayed by
poets?

Answer. Poetry believes in exploring the beauty of human nature and nature out there. But
science believes in creating things that saves our time and make things simpler with technology.
Whereas, Wordsworth and Keats oppose the scientific approach because they are of opinion
science destroys nature and distances you from the nature, Shelly on the hand supports
scientific approach in frequently mentions it in his work. Poets and scientists are working in their
area instead of opposing it.

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Q5 What is the central argument of the speaker?

Answer. Through the essay “Patterns of Creativity”, S. Chandrasekhar tries to answer the
question ‘Why is there a difference in the patterns of creativity among the practitioners in the
arts and the practitioners in the sciences.’ The answer in made through various remarks and
presented ideologies. Wordsworth and Keats are presented opposing the ideas while Shelly
supports the scientific approach. At conclusion an extract from Shelly’s A Defence of Poetry is
included asking why no Defence of Science was written by scientist.

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Q1 How does the ‘assortment of remarks’ compiled by the author gives us an understanding of
the ways of science and poetry?

Answer. The authors aim is to provide answers to this question, ‘Why is there a difference in the
patterns of creativity among the practitioners in the arts and the practitioners in the sciences?’
The passage shows how poet views scientific approach and how scientists view poetry as. The
passage includes remark of great poets and scientists like Keats, Wordsworth and Darwin. At
the end an extract from A defence of poetry is mentioned pointing the views over poetry by
Shelly.

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Q2 The Cloud ‘fuses together a creative myth, a scientific monograph, and a gay picaresque
tale of cloud adventure’— explain.

Answer. The Cloud by Shelly fuses together a creative myth ‘I am the daughter of Earth and
Water’, a scientific monograph, ‘And the winds and sunbeams with their convex gleams’, and a
gay picaresque tale of cloud adventure ‘And out of the caverns of rain’.

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Q1 ‘Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world’.

Answer. ​Shelly, in his essay ‘A Defense of Poetry’, says that poets are the unacknowledged
legislators of the world. He believes poetry makes happy moments immortal. According to him,
poets depicts the present of society. Poets appreciates but also participate as critics who strive
to make the world more true and better.

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Q2 Poetry and science are incompatible.

Answer. Poetry and science are not compatible. Some poets believe science have destroyed
nature. Shelly are appreciative of science and even write about it in their works. Charles Darwin,
a great scientist, was himself fond of literature during his young years. Thus it is purely based
on opinions and views.

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Q3 ‘On reading Shelley’s A Defence of Poetry, the question insistently occurs why there is no
similar A Defence of Science written by a scientist of equal endowment.’

Answer. Shelley chose to write an essay to acknowledge his study. Faraday,chose to show his
inventions. The forms can differ but both scientists and poets are appreciative of their subjects.

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Q1 How do the words in bold, in the lines below, illustrate the poet’s ability to convey criticism
cryptically? Our meddling intellect

Misshapes the beauteous forms of things:
We murder to dissect.

Answer. ​With the above mentioned points poet tell about the exploitative nature of science and
its harmful reactions if misused.

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Q2 Explain the contradiction in the similies, ‘Like a child from the womb, like a ghost from the
tomb’.

Answer. A child from the womb shows the birth, a new beginning, whereas the ghost from the
tomb is in contrast, tells about death or the end.

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Q3 ​Explain the metaphor in the line: ‘Poets are ... the mirrors of the gigantic shadows which
futurity casts on the present’.

Answer. Shelly in his ‘A Defense of Poetry’ praises poetry. He says that poets are the mirrors of
the gigantic shadows which futurity casts upon our present and the unacknowledged legislators
of the world.

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