Forgetting by Robert Lynd

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English

FORGETTING BY ROBERT LYND

Robert Lynd is an exceptionally humorous and great writer. His articles are simple, amusing and satirical. His style of composing is rich and enchanting. In his essay โ€œForgettingโ€, Robert Lynd expounds on the main causes of forgetting and furthermore clarifies what things are usually forgotten by individuals.

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โ€œForgettingโ€ is a short essay. From a laymanโ€™s perspective, Lynd gives his views about forgetting or disremembering. His keen observation of forgetfulness among old and young vis-a-vis small and routine matters is minutely described in the essay.

Summary of Forgetting

The essay begins with the writerโ€™s surprise at the publication of a list of articles lost by travellers at a railway station in London. Lynd says that absentmindedness has puzzled the readers of the list. Lynd doubts that such type of absentmindedness and wonders at the efficiency of human memory. Ordinarily, a person remembers everything that is expected of him.

However, there is a twist to the argument like in the matter of taking medicines. Lynd imagines that only an extraordinarily systematic mortal can always remember to take his pills. Medicine is the easiest thing to remember because it is taken before, during or after meals and the meal itself should remind us about it. But people still forget to take medicines even if they are truly interested in taking them. In his view, chemists make a lot of fortunes out of the forgotten medicine. Same is the case with posting letters. This, he thinks, might be due to lack of interest in other peopleโ€™s letters but again he contradicts his own opinion by saying that he forgets to post some of his own letters. As for the things that are forgotten in the trains and taxis, Lynd says walking sticks he himself often forgets. He does not carry an umbrella for fear of losing it.

As for the items lost in trains, it is the young rather than the adults who forgot to take their belongings. Lynd says that as players returning from the playfields still think of the game they are either happy or sad depending on have they won or lost. Such imagination keeps them away from the real world and they forget their belongings.

Lynd then talks about anglers or fishermen who also forget their fishing rods when they return to their homes after the dayโ€™s fishing. This is because they are always concocting tales in their heads. Whether it is an angler who forgets his a fishing rod or a poet who forgets to post a letter, their forgetting or loss of memory is a blessing in disguise as their minds think about matters more glorious. For Lynd, such kind of forgetting is a virtue as it helps them in making the best of life and thus the mediocrity of things does not bother them.

The tone of the essay gets serious as Lynd raises some genuine points. A comparison is drawn between memory and intellect and Lynd says that men with exceptional memories are considered to be efficient but the truth is that they may lack intellect. Poets and writers have better and sharper memories than those of politicians and statesmen.

Significance of the Title

Lyndโ€™s essays are humorous, satirical and simple. The subject matter of most of his essays is concerned with chores of daily life and he draws his characters from it. The title of the essay is appropriately chosen as the subject matter under discussion and the message, thereof, symphonize with each other. The title assumes greater significance because it does not refer to any ideal perspective. Forgetting is about a common manโ€™s persona. The title is a living manifestation of our being human. We are a pack of efficiencies and errors. Forgetting is one of the important characters in the story of a common man which Lynd has boldly and beautifully portrayed.

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Forgetting by Robert Lynd

Forgetting

Long answer types question

1. What are the most common things we often forget? OR
What does Robert Lynd say in defence of forgetfulness?

Ans. Forgetting is a very important lesson by Robert Lynd. Forgetting is also good merit of manโ€™s life. The writer says that there are certain things about which people are generally forgetful. The reason is not due to the weakness of their memory but we often forget the things in our daily life. It is the common habit of every person. Forgetting is not mental weakness. It is a boon as well as a curse.

Some people forget to take their medicines timely. There are few people who remember to take them regularly. Posting letter is another thing which people forget easily. They hold their letters in hands but forget to drop it into the post boxes.

People also forget their books, walking sticks and umbrellas. The young men also forget their articles on trains and taxies. The sportsmen forget their football and bats because their minds are full of the victory or defeat. Generally, anglers forget theyโ€™re fishing- rod.
The modern man remembers telephone numbers, addresses, time for lunch and dinner etc. It is said that great men often forget small things. We canโ€™t hope from Socrates or any great poet like Thomas grey to remember to post a letter. After forgetting small things, man achieves great things.

The moment of forgetfulness is the moment of great joy and excitement. For example, the sportsmen forget their bats and balls when they leave the train. But a man who is like a remembering machine is never a wise man.

Thus, the writer advises us that we should forget some common things, then we will be able to remember some noble things in life. Forgetting results in higher things. It is a virtue and makes a man wiser and happier in life.

2. What according to Robert Lynd, are the advantages of forgetfulness?
Ans. Forgetfulness has its own advantages. It makes a man happy. It enables him to reach the object of his greater interest. The movement of forgetfulness is the moment of great joy. Such a man lives in imagination.

Failures and disappointment make a man unhappy. he forgets ordinary things. But due to it, forgetful people are able to create something new and original. They enjoy a better life than those who have strong memories.

The absent-minded man makes the best of his life. People who most often shows a forgetful nature include poets, composers of music, philosophers, anglers, sportsmen and statesmen. The reason behind it might be that they are lost thoughts of higher value things, so they forget small matter things.

3. What are the things, which modern man, generally forgets in daily life? Who are the people, who most often show a forgetful nature?

Ans. A modern man remembers a lot of things. Still, there are a lot of things, which he forgets. He forgets to take medicine. He loses walking sticks, books, umbrellas, bats, balls, fishing rods. Posting letters are also forgotten.

People, ho most often show a forgetful nature include poets, composers of music, philosophers, anglers, sportsmen and statesmen. The reason behind it might be that they are lost in thoughts of higher value things, so they forget small matter things.

4. Why does writer consider the absent mindedness in people such as anglers and poets a virtue?

Ans. Robert Lynd gives a list of people who are generally absent-minded. He says that anglers are lost in the dreams of their imaginary achievements. So, they forget their fishing rods. Poets have more responsibility for writing good poetry. So, they forget small things like posting letters.
The reason behind it might be that they are lost in thoughts of higher value things, so they forget small matter things. So, the writer considers the absent mindedness in people such as anglers and poets a virtue because their minds are filled with more glorious matters.

5. โ€œIt is the efficiency rather than the inefficiency of human memory that compels my wonderโ€โ€” What instances of an efficient human memory are given by Lynd in Forgetting? Name a few of the โ€˜mattersโ€™ regarding which memory works inefficiently.

Ans. In his essay on Forgetting Robert Lynd gives a number of examples of efficient human memory. A modern man keeps many things in his memory; names of actors, actresses, sportspersons, addresses of friends, appointments for lunch and dinner and telephone numbers. In his everyday living, he does everything he has to do. He even switched off the light before going to bed.
But despite such efficient memory, man forgets to make medicines regularly, post letters in time and keep umbrellas, walking sticks and books in mind.

6. What, after the writer of Forgetting, is the commonest form of forgetfulness? Show how this form of forgetfulness affects all including the writer.

Ans. In his essay Forgetting, Lynd says that the commonest form of forgetfulness occurs in the matter of posting letters. It is so common that Lynd cannot trust his departing guest to post his letter. Even if he does, he puts his guest under oath to post his letter. He humorously says about himself: โ€œanyone who asks me to post a letter is a poor judge of characterโ€. He carries the letter in his hand. But he remembers to post it always after passing the first letter-box. Weary of holding it, Lynd puts the letter in his pocket. Soon he forgets all about it. The unposted letter leads an unadventurous life in his pocket. At home, he faces embarrassing questions. And the guilt is brought out of his pocket.

7. What made many people wonder at their fellowsโ€™ absentmindedness?

Ans. Robert Lynd says that he is astonished by the efficiency of human memory. A present man remembers even phone numbers and names of performing artists and on-screen characters and cricketers and footballers and murderers. Hence he can recollect nearly everything in his life. For instance, modern man does not forget a single thing of his apparel when dressing. So also, nobody forgets to close the front door when going out. Lynd says that the institution of the family survives in modern societies since common individuals have effective memory power.

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8. โ€œThere are it must be admitted, some matters in regard to which the memory works with less than its usual perfectionโ€ โ€“mention a few instances OR
Chemists make their fortunes out of the medicines people forget to take!โ€

Ans. Robert Lynd says that in a few matters human memory works not as much as its typical perfection. For instance, a great number of people neglect to take the drug. Be that as it may, they keep in mind to take dinners and medications are typically taken before or after or amid meals. Psychologists state that we forget things since we wish to forget them. So, people donโ€™t care for prescriptions and that is the reason they forget them. In this specific circumstance, Robert Lynd amusingly comments that chemists profit since individuals forget to take prescriptions and their disease isnโ€™t restored and they purchase more and more meds.

9. What is the commonest form of forgetfulness referred to by Lynd? OR

โ€œThis, it might be thought, must be due to a lack of interest in other peopleโ€™s lettersโ€ โ€“ What is Lyndโ€™s remarks on this? โ€“ OR

What articles does Lynd forget most often?

Ans. To Robert Lynd, the commonest type of absent-mindedness is in posting letters. The vast majority neglect to post letters. In this way, Robert Lynd interestingly comments that if anybody requests him to post a letter is a poor judge of character since Robert Lynd never posts the letter regardless of whether he keeps it in his pocket for a long time. Essentially, the author leaves walking sticks and umbrellas amid his journey.

10. โ€œThey had souls above such things!โ€ Who?
Ans. Lynd says that a rundown of articles lost by railway travellers has been published and numerous individuals who read the list have been surprised at the inattentiveness of the general population on the grounds that a large portion of these voyagers is young sportsmen. They have forgotten their cricket-bats and footballs. Lynd says that these young men coming back from the games have their creative energies loaded up with the vision of the playing field. The vanquished players are extremely miserable and they think their lost chances and disappointments. The successful young men have their heads among the stars, contemplating their accomplishments. In any case, both the two groups of young men remain in a fantasy world and they neglect to take their cricket bats and footballs when leaving the train. They are people of dreamland.

11. โ€œMemory indeed is half the substance of their artโ€
Ans. The anglers like sportsmen are also the citizens of dreamland. They are daydreamers. They neglect to take the fishing rod when they return home at night. Their mind is loaded up with things more fantastic. In this way, both the sportsmen and fishermen are absentminded individuals. Lynd comments that such absentmindedness is a gift in light of the fact that these individuals forget their despondency and live in a fantasy universe of Utopia. Great philosophers, artists, poets and thinkers were absentminded people because their brains were brimming with high beliefs and creative energies. Socrates, the incomparable Greek Philosopher and S.T.Coleridge, the great English artist were absentminded people.

12. What prompts Lynd to believe that the world has not yet begun to produce ideal statesmen?

Ans. Robert Lynd mentions that the ownership of a decent memory is a great thing for all. Numerous incredible writers, poets and music composers have an incredibly decent memory. Memory is half of the substance of their art. On the other hand, statesmen have remarkably bad memories. Mostly the facts in the autobiographies and speeches of statesmen are tested. It demonstrates that they have an exceptionally poor memory. In this specific situation, Robert Lynd comments that the world has not yet delivered a perfect statesman.

13. โ€œHow many men below the rank of a philosopher would be capable of such absent-mindedness as this?โ€ What is the absentmindedness referred to here?

Ans. A good memory is usually very common. So if a man does not have a decent memory, we may consider him a whimsical. Lynd portrays an extremely clever story of a father who takes his child out in a perambulator in the morning time. When he was running with his child in the perambulator, he strolled into a public house for a glass of beer. The young child was sitting in the perambulator outside in the road. After some time, his wife came that path for shopping. She was shocked to see her infant sleeping in the perambulator. She was so furious with her husband that she chose to teach him a lesson and wheeled away from the perambulator. At noon, the husband got back home grinning happily. He has totally forgotten his child and the perambulator. Lynd comments that not many men below the position of a scholar would be able to do such absentmindedness as this man in the story.

Forgetting by Robert Lynd

Forgetting

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What has been published at a great London station?

Ans. A list of articles lost by railway travellers has been published at a great London station.

2. Give a few examples of forgetting.

Ans. The quality of forgetting is common in every manโ€™s life. There are some people who forget to turn off the lights of their houses. Someone forget to take medicine timely and someone forget to post the letters.

3 What were the articles on sale at a great London station?

Ans. There were some umbrellas, walking sticks, bags, bottles and sometimes boxes on sale at a great London station.

4. What is the thing that a modern man usually remember?

Ans. A modern man remembers all the things that he is expected to remember like telephone numbers, the name of cricketers and addresses of friends etc.

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5. Why is the memory of sportsmen is worse than that of other ordinary people?

Ans. The memory of sportsmen is worse than that of other ordinary people because they lost in a daydream and recall their errors. Their heads are among the stars and they are cut off from the world outside them.

6. Who remembers to take their medicine regularly?

Ans. Only the methodical man remember to take their medicine regularly.

7. What do certain psychologists tell us?

Ans. certain psychologists tell us that we forget things because we wish to forget them.

8. Where do the players forget their footballs and bats?

Ans. The players forget their footballs and bats on the trains and buses while returning from the games.

9. What compels the wonder of the writer?

Ans. Forgetting is more efficient than human memory. It compels the wonder of the writer.

10 What is quite impossible for the writer to remember?

Ans. The writer fails to remember his walking sticks and books when he goes on a visit.

11. What is the commonest form of forgetfulness?

Ans. The commonest form of forgetfulness occurs in the matter of posting letters.

12. Why do many people fail to remember to take their medicine at the appointed time?

Ans. Many people fail to remember to take medicine at the appointed time because they wish to forget it. They are not interested in taking pills and potions.

13. Why may an angler forget his fishing- rod?

Ans. The writer says that the anglers are the most imaginative persons. Every time they invent good lies on their journey home. So they forget the fishing -rod.

14. What does the author say about the memory of statesmen?

Ans. The writer says that the memory of statesmen is like a sieve or he is a liar. Their memory is not sharp and good.

15. Who is more forgetful- the young or the adults?

Ans. The young are more forgetful than adults. As young people forget their bats and footballs in the trains while the adults reach their places without forgetting anything.

Explanation With Reference to Context

1. Certain psychologists tell usโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆforget to take.

Reference: These lines have been taken from the lesson โ€˜Forgettingโ€™ written by Robert Lynd.

Context: Here the writer is telling us about the good and evils of Forgetting. He also says that the quality of forgetting is common in every manโ€™s life. It is very good merit as well as bad of the man.

Explanation: In this passage, the writer describes the notion of the psychologists about forgetting. The situation of taking medicine at the right time, take place in psychologists. The doctor fixes the time of medicines to be taken before, during or after meals. Thus the time of meal itself remind the person to take the medicine.

Even then people generally forget it. In fact, we remember to take the medicine at the right time till we are sick because our interest is in the recovery of heath. As soon as we improve our health, our interest in taking medicines becomes less. So we start forgetting to take medicines at a fixed time. Thus it shows that forgetfulness is the result of a lack of our interest. That is why the writer says that we forget things because we want to forget them.

2. The commonest formโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ.letter to him.

Reference-context: The same as the above.

Explanation: The quality of forgetting is very common among all kind of people. The commonest form of forgetfulness occurs in the matter of posting a letter. As an example, a large number of people forget to post the letter. The writer also has felt that even his visitors forget to post his important letters. So he does not believe in them. If sometimes he hands over them his important letters, he asks them to take an oath that they will not forget to post them.

COMPREHENSION

1. His loss of memoryโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆsuch things.

1. Why is his of loss memory really a tribute?

Ans. His loss of memory is really a tribute because he is lost in the enjoyment of his sport and the enjoyment is greater than the finishing rod.

2. How does the writer justify fishermenโ€™s forgetting the fishing rod and the poetโ€™s to post a letter?

Ans. The writer justifies fishermanโ€™s forgetting the fishing rod and the poetโ€™s to post a letter because both of them forget the things which are ordinary to them while their minds are full of more glorious matter.

3. what do you mean by the sentence โ€œWho would have trusted Socrates or Coleridge to post a letter?โ€

Ans. The given sentence means that Socrates and Coleridge were so great men that posting of the letter was a very ordinary thing for them. When their minds are full of lofty ideas, how they would remember an ordinary thing of posting a letter.

4 What does the word โ€˜Mediocreโ€™ stand for?

Ans. The word โ€˜Mediocreโ€™ stand for the second rate.

2.I have heardโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆsleeping baby.

1 Describe the story of the father, the baby and the perambulator in brief.

Ans. Once a man took his baby in a perambulator for an outing. On his way, he slipped into a public-house for a glass of beer leaving the baby outside perambulator. By chance, his wife happened to be there. She was horrified to find her sleeping baby in the perambulator.

2. Where did the father go leaving the baby in the perambulator?

Ans. The father went into the public-house for a glass of beer, leaving the baby alone in the perambulator.

3. When did the wife see her baby?

Ans. The wife saw her baby when she passed from the public-house on her way to the market.

4. Why was the wife full of horror?

Ans. The wife was full of horror as the baby was left alone outside the public-house in a perambulator.

Fill in the blanks

1. Anglers are generally called the most imaginative of men.

2. The commonest form of forgetfulness occurs in the matter of posting letters.

3. I find quite impossible to keep my walking stick.

4. A list of articles lost by railway traveller has been published.

1 thought on โ€œForgetting by Robert Lyndโ€

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