I Believe The Books Will Never Disappear Questions & Answers

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Questions and Answers

Comprehension I

1. I was educated by my father’s library says Borges. He means----

Ans: b. he educated himself by reading on his own.

2.  Why did Borges feel guilty about his mother?

    Ans: Because he was not more understanding of her while she lived.

3.  According to the author, blindness is ------------

c. is actually a resource

4.   What according to Borges is the ultimate function of writing?

     Ans: It is to bring happiness.

5.        Why does Borges prefer to believe that he is not blind?

Ans: Because he has accepted it and enjoys as normal human being.

6.       Borges feels that when we read a book what matters is not the author’s intention, but what sense we get out of it.  True/False

Ans: True.

7.       When does the poetic act happen, according to Borges?

Ans: When the poet writes it and the reader reads it.

8.       What cannot be defined without oversimplifying it?

Ans: Poetry

9.       Which is the most astounding invention of man?

Ans: The book.

Common Introduction

Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentine story-writer, essayist, poet and translator from Buenos Aires. A highly talented poet became blind completely at the age of 55. However, his spirit in life and literature never diminished. He took his challenge as an opportunity to excel and proved that one’s determination in life enables one to realise one’s dreams. In this interview, Roberto Alifano unravels Borges’ personality, his passion for life and literature.

Comprehension II

1. Why does Borges feel remorseful after his mother’s death regarding his relationship with her? Can this experience be generalised?

Ans: Borges feels guilty for not having given his mother a deserved happiness. He is remorseful about that. He regrets that he should have been more understanding of her. He generalises this experience when says that it is true of all children that when the mother dies, the children then realise the importance of their mother. They begin to feel that they had taken her for granted and abused her. Mother in every individual’s life is integral with her unconditional love to her children. A mother is kind, forgiving and divine even when her children do not treat her well. She takes all the pain to ensure that her children get a better future. She sacrifices her life for the sake of her younger ones. Borges’ mother stood by him throughout his writing career.  

2.       How does Borges elaborate on Goethe’s words, ‘all that’s near becomes far’?

Ans: Borges loses his eyesight and it is dark world to him. But, his acceptance of the reality gives the bliss of his life. He quotes Goethe, ‘all that’s near becomes far’ meaning all of us are sure to experience the physical loss at one stage with which we are so attached. This does not merely refer to the sunset but to life which leaves us. The best gifts of nature will move away from us one day and for any ordinary human being such a loss is next to nothingness in life. But, for an extraordinary poet like Borges, the other avenues open themselves with his untrammeled spirit to accept the realities of life. He says that it is one’s duty to embrace life with things as they are and enjoy. The will to live like a normal person keeps one moving. He never thought that he was blind and continued to read, write and buy books.

3.       What according to Borges should one think of humiliation and misfortune?

Ans: Luis Borges was an extraordinary individual and a gifted poet who never thought that his blindness would be an obstacle in his life. He says that we must think that whatever happens to us is a resource. All things have been given to us for a purpose. Humiliation, our misfortunes and our embarrassments are all given to us raw materials as clay so that we may shape our art. He further says that humiliation, misfortune, discord were given to us so that we may transmute them so that we may make from the miserable circumstance of our life eternal works. Borges is happy that his misfortune has been replaced by other things. He says that if one accepts the realities, one will start enjoying life. He continued to pretend that he was not blind. He bought books and continued to enjoy their company.

4.       Discuss Borges views on poetry and poem.

Ans: Borges says that poetry is something so intimate, so essential that it cannot be defined without oversimplifying it. It would be like attempting to define the colour yellow, love and the fall of leaves in the autumn. He views poetry as the aesthetic act. On the other hand, he says that the poem is nothing more than a series of symbols. He believes that poetry is the poetic act that takes place when the poet writes it, when the reader reads it and it always happens in a slightly different manner. He further says that poetry is a magical, mysterious and unexplainable but comprehensible event. If one doesn’t feel the poetic act upon reading it, the poet has failed. 

5.       Why is it important to use language precisely? What example does Borges use to determine this aspect of poetic language?

Ans: It is very important to use language precisely, especially in poetry. Borges says that it is the precise words that elicit the needed emotion. He quotes Emily Dickinson words to demonstrate this aspect of poetic language. She writes in one of her poems, “This quiet dust was gentlemen and ladies”. The idea of dust referring to death is a cliché, but her use of words ‘gentlemen and ladies’ create magic and poetic effect. If she had written “men and women” instead, it would have failed as poetry. She used precise words to create perfect emotion. He further says that in order to evoke the best emotions, metaphors should be reduced to five or six which are essential. The best books of the world contain these essential metaphors. Thus Borges stresses on precise language.

6.       In spite of modern modes of communication, Borges believes that books will not disappear.”  Illustrate.

Ans: Borges experienced the urge of 20^th century to advance in science and technology changing the face of modern century. At the same time, there was an ostensible change taking place in modes of communication. When asked if the books would disappear replaced by other means of modern communication, he says, “I believe that books will never disappear. It is impossible that that will happen.” He is of the view that among the many inventions of man, the book is the most astounding invention. All the others are just extensions of our body whereas the book is an extension of our imagination and memory. Books are the great memory of all centuries. Their function is irreplaceable. If books disappear, surely history would disappear, and surely man would disappear. This is true to the most as we continue to read books even amid other attractions of social media and digital revolution in information and entertainment.

Comprehension III

1.       Poetry is magical, mysterious and unexplainable’. How does Borges explain the strange aspect of poetry?

Ans: Borges views poetry as something intimate and very essential. According to him, it is the aesthetic act. Poetry is the poetic act that takes place when the poet writes it and the reader reads it. It always happens in a slightly different manner. When the poetic act takes place, we become aware of it. He says that poetry is magical, mysterious and unexplainable. If one doesn’t feel the poetic event upon reading it, the poet has failed. 

Luis Borges quotes Emily Dickinson, the finest American poet who brought these emotions precisely in her poetry. In one of her poems, she writes about death. The line, “This quiet dust was gentlemen and ladies,” creates such a poetic magic that the reader is arrested by the effect. There are great poets who continue to recreate this magic with their selection of precise words.

One of the most distinguished poets of Kannada, Kuvempu creates heaven on earth. His words are magical. When a bevy of birds flies overhead in the vast expanse of the sky, the poet describes it as the god’s signature: ‘‘Devaru ruju madihanu”.  This is how the best poetry comes with magic and imagination with precise language.   

2. How does Borges value literature? Why is it important for the future of mankind?

Ans: Literature, as Borges views is a dream, a controlled dream. He owes literature almost everything we are and what we have been and what we will be. Our past is nothing but a sequence of dreams. He says that books are the great memory of all centuries. Their function is irreplaceable. If books disappear, history would disappear and man would disappear. Literature is the treasure house of mankind’s glorious past. When we read an ancient book, it is as if we were reading all about the time that has passed since the day it was written to the present day. Literature is something sacred, something mortal and something magical which brings happiness. Literature reflects the past life and leads mankind to live better.

Literature is important, for it is an extension of our imagination and memory. Every human society preserves its rich history of literature as it guides generations to create a much better civilization.

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