Explanation of Hindi Passages (Prose and Poetry)

What the official syllabus says

Main Written Examination, Paper II: Hindi and Hindi Essay (in Devnagri script):

• (iii) Explanation of Hindi passage (prose and poetry) in the same language.

The explanation is written in Hindi. The syllabus prescribes no texts or authors, so any Hindi prose or poetry passage may be set.

Topics in detail

Explaining a prose passage

• Stating the context: what the passage is about and, where known, the work and the writer
• Explaining the meaning of the passage in simple Hindi
• Bringing out the central idea or message
• Explaining difficult words, phrases and idioms as used in the passage
• Noting features of style: language, sentence structure, tone

Explaining a poetry passage

• Stating the context of the verse
• Giving the meaning of the lines in prose
• Explaining the feeling or idea the poet expresses
• Figures of speech used: simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification and others
• Imagery and symbols
• Language and diction: standard Hindi, Braj or Awadhi forms, Sanskrit-based or everyday words
• Rhythm, rhyme and metre in broad terms

Background that helps

• Broad phases of Hindi literature: early poetry, devotional (Bhakti) poetry, the court poetry that followed, and modern Hindi prose and poetry
• Major forms of modern prose: story, essay, novel, drama, memoir
• Hindi grammar terms used in describing style

Writing the answer

• Organising the answer as context, explanation and special features
• Keeping the explanation faithful to the passage, without adding unrelated matter
• Writing in clear, correct Hindi

Overlaps

Reading for meaning is the same skill as in the comprehension part of English and English Essay.