The river

1. A Few Multiple Choice Questions From The Short Story The River by Punyakante Wijanaike, the noted Sri Lankan writer .The Questions are prepared for the Students of T.D.C 1styrENGLISH(G).
[1st Semister-2011-12]
GU
[ Assam/ India.]
THE RIVERBYPUNYAKANTE WIJANAIKE

2. THE RIVERBYPUNYAKANTE WIJANAIKEpicture taken from www.loc.com
3. Introduction:
PunyakanteWijanaikeis one of the most prominentCommon Wealth writersfrom Sri Lanka. She was born in Colombo in 1930. Her stories deals with Rural themes .Most of her Early Stories were published in Third Women in 1963. So far she has published six novelsThe Waiting Earth (1966), Giraya (1971), The Betel Vine(1972),The Rebel(1977) and A Way of Life(1978) which have placed her in an elite rank of Litterateurs. A neutral assessment, whatsoever, tells her to be a better story teller.
4. PunyakanteWijanaikeis regarded as a progressivewriter dealing with the themes of minority oppressionand ethnic conflicts in her Country. Her writings have created a remarkable impact on the socio-cultural issues in her contemporary society. She is admired by all sections of Writers. She has already beenconferred with several Sri-lankanand Internationalawards during the last few years.
5. The River is one of her most noted short stories. Here, we are told the story of an ordinary girl named Lansina Nona challenging the ravaging and all powerful River. She fought bravely and defeated the ravaging power of the river but ultimately died by another mighty power of wild nature, a Leopard.
6. THE RIVERBYPUNYAKANTE WIJANAIKE
Taken from BBC.com[An ariel photograph taken on January 15, 2011 shows Sri Lanka's motorway bridge submerged in flooded water after the bridge broke in the flood-hit eastern coastal district of Batticaloa](---appears to me relevant to the story---i. sarkar
7. Her fight against the wild and ruthless natural powers like the disastrous River and a ferocious Leopard reveal her indomitable courage and determination. Her ultimate tragic death, whatsoever, signifies the helplessness and ultimate futility of an individual against the cruelty and vengeance of Nature.
The story is really interesting and inspiring.
A Sri Lankan flood victim WeerakuttiNesamma carries a pot of drinking water at her submerged compound in Kartivu, about 220 kilometers (137 miles) east of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011.
[The Ladys plightreselmbles to that of Lansina Nona in the storyThe River.---i.sarkar]
Let us now see the Questions or play the Quiz:
Answers areHighlighted in yellow.
1.Punyakante Wijanaikeis a Common Wealth writer from-------
a.Sri Lanka
b.Pakistan
c.Nicaragua
d.India.
11. 2.Which one of the following novels not written by PunyakanteWijanaike?
a.Giraya
b.The Rebel
c.A Way of Life
d.The Shadow Line
12. 3.Punyakante Wijanaikewas honouredby the Govt. of Sri Lanka with the
a.Kalasuri Class 1Rank.
b.Women of achievement award 1985.
c.Both a & b.
d.None of the above
13. 4. The short story The River narrates the uneven fight between ---
a.A helpless girl and the mighty river.
b.A disastrous flood .
c.The benefits from a river.
d.None of the above.
14. 5. Here I was born and here I will die when the time comes----is a statement made by---
a.Lansina Nona
b.The Boat man
c.Aiya
15. 6. Which immortal character created by Earnest Hemingway in The Old Man and the Sea resembles Lansina Nona?
a.Santiago
b.Solomon
c.Andrew
d.None
16. 7.What does the name Lansina Nona mean in the story The River?
a.Lansina Nona means half-white
b.Lansina Nona means undaunted lady
c.Lansina Nona means a cowardly fellow
17. 8.What did the villagers do after the ravages of the first flood?
a.They decided to make a barrage
b.They decided to leave the village en mass.
c.They startedworshipingthe river to pacify its destructive fury.
18. 9.What purpose did the BO-Tree served in the story The River?
a .A worshiping place.
b. A source of natural fruits.
c. Herbal Medicine
d. All of the above.
19. 10. How did Lansina Nonas life came to an end?
a. She was eaten by a Leopard.
b. She was swept away by the River.
c. She fell from the mountain into the River and died.
d. None of the above.
20. Its a non-profit academic project by:-
IndranilSarkar
Associate Professor
Dept. of English
Sapatgram College, Sapatgram,
Assam/India

21. Credits,acknowledgements & References:-
1.The River by PUNYAKANTE WIJANAIKE fromA Companion to B.A.English 1stSemister Edited by FatehaHoqueBarbaruah
2.The Sunday Times
3.The South Asian Literary RecordingsProjects [Library of Congress NewDelhi Office website]
4.www.sawnet: Bookshelf:PunyakanteWijanaike
5.www.srilankanbooks.blogspot.com
Etc.

Education

The river