NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Kaleidoscope Poetry Chapter 7 Time and Time Again

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Class 12 English Kaleidoscope Poetry Chapter 7 Question Answer

Answer:
When reading the first few lines, the poem appears to be about the clock towers of an old city and the different sounds they produce while marking time. The poet seems interested in how these clocks strike at slightly different moments and create a variety of sounds. At first, the poem appears to be a simple observation of city life and timekeeping, but later it develops into a deeper reflection on human society, history, communal relations and the effects of violence.

Answer:
The significance of the title Time and Time Again becomes clear from the lines:
“beating their gongs round the clock, each slightly off the others’ time”
and
“beating out a different sequence each half-hour”
These lines suggest that time is not experienced in exactly the same way everywhere. The repeated striking of the clocks symbolizes the continuous movement of time, while the slight differences among them hint at the diversity and complexity of human experiences. The title thus refers not only to the passage of time but also to recurring social and historical events.

Answer:
The clocks differ because of several factors such as differences in the bronze alloy used to make them, the craftsmanship of the clockmaker, the distances between the clock towers and various historical circumstances. As a result, each clock produces a slightly different sound and may not keep exactly the same time.
The implicit comparison is with human society. Just as no two clocks are exactly alike, people and communities also differ in their beliefs, traditions, cultures and experiences. The poet suggests that diversity is a natural part of both human life and society. Despite these differences, all clocks continue to mark time just as different communities continue to coexist within the same society.

Answer:
The act of nature refers to lightning striking and damaging a clock tower. It is described as ‘precise’ because nature acts with sudden accuracy and certainty. Unlike human violence, which may be motivated by hatred, revenge or communal conflict, nature operates without intention or prejudice. A lightning strike hits a particular target directly and decisively. The word “precise” also emphasizes the power and unpredictability of nature. While humans create destruction through riots and bombs, nature can bring about similar destruction through its own forces in a swift and exact manner.

(i) Critical condemnation
(ii) Helpless acceptance
(iii) Wistful lament
Answer:
(iii) Wistful lament
The poet’s attitude is best described as a wistful lament. He does not openly condemn communal conflicts, nor does he completely accept them. Instead, he expresses sadness that communities such as Hindus, Christians and Muslims, who sometimes form alliances, are also divided by recurring conflicts and tensions. The tone of the poem suggests regret and sorrow over these divisions rather than anger or helplessness.

Answer:
Yes, to a large extent the poet’s attitude reflects how many Indians feel about both human violence and natural disasters. People often view communal violence with sadness because it disrupts social harmony and affects innocent lives. At the same time, natural disasters such as storms, floods and lightning are accepted as forces beyond human control.
The poem presents both human violence and nature’s fury as destructive forces that can suddenly interrupt normal life. The poet’s reflective and sorrowful tone mirrors the feelings of many people who wish for peace and stability but recognize that both social conflicts and natural calamities remain a recurring part of human existence.

Class 12 English Kaleidoscope Poetry Chapter 7 English to Hindi Translation.

A.K. Ramanujan is one of India’s finest Englishlanguage poets. He is best known for his pioneering translations of ancient Tamil poetry into modern English. At the time of his death he was professor of linguistics at the University of Chicago and was recognised as the world’s most profound scholar of South Indian languages and culture. His interests included anthropology and folklore. These influenced his work as a craftsman of English. This poem represents the complex distillation of a lifetime of unusual thought and feeling.
Hindi Translationए.के. रामानुजन भारत के श्रेष्ठ अंग्रेज़ी कवियों में से एक थे। वे विशेष रूप से प्राचीन तमिल कविताओं के आधुनिक अंग्रेज़ी अनुवादों के लिए प्रसिद्ध हैं। अपने निधन के समय वे शिकागो विश्वविद्यालय में भाषाविज्ञान के प्रोफेसर थे और दक्षिण भारतीय भाषाओं एवं संस्कृति के गहनतम विद्वानों में गिने जाते थे। उनकी रुचि मानवशास्त्र और लोकसाहित्य में भी थी। इन रुचियों का प्रभाव उनकी अंग्रेज़ी लेखन-कला पर स्पष्ट दिखाई देता है। यह कविता उनके जीवनभर के गहरे चिंतन और संवेदनाओं का जटिल तथा परिपक्व रूप प्रस्तुत करती है।

Or listen to the clocktowers
of any old well-managed city
beating their gongs round the clock, each slightly
off the others’ time, deeper or lighter
Hindi Translationया सुनो उन घड़ियाल-मीनारों को
किसी भी पुराने सुव्यवस्थित शहर की,
जो चौबीसों घंटे अपने घंटे बजाती रहती हैं, हर एक थोड़ी
दूसरे के समय से थोड़ा अलग, कोई गहरा तो कोई हल्का।

in its bronze, beating out a different
sequence each half-hour, out of the accidents
of alloy, a maker’s shaking hand
in Switzerland, or the mutual distances
Hindi Translationअपने काँसे में, एक अलग
क्रम में हर आधे घंटे, मिश्रधातु के
संयोग से, किसी कारीगर के काँपते हाथ से
स्विट्जरलैंड में, या आपसी दूरियों से

commemorating a donor’s whim,
the perennial feuds and seasonal alliance
of Hindu, Christian, and Muslim—
cut off sometimes by a change of wind,
Hindi Translationकिसी दानकर्ता की सनक की याद दिलाती हुई,
हिंदू, ईसाई और मुस्लिम के
चिरस्थायी झगड़ों और मौसमी गठबंधनों से—
कभी-कभी हवा के बदलाव से कट जाती हैं,

a change of mind, or a siren
between the pieces of a backstreet quarrel.
One day you look up and see one of them
eyeless, silent, a zigzag sky showing
Hindi Translationमन के बदलाव से, या किसी सायरन से
किसी गली की लड़ाई के टुकड़ों के बीच।
एक दिन तुम ऊपर देखते हो और उनमें से एक को पाते हो
नेत्रहीन, मौन, एक टेढ़ा-मेढ़ा आकाश दिखता है

through the knocked-out clockwork, after a riot,
a peace-march time bomb, or a precise act
Of nature in a night of lightnings.
Hindi Translationटूटी हुई घड़ी की मशीनरी के पार, दंगे के बाद,
शांति-मार्च के किसी टाइम बम से, या प्रकृति के
एक सटीक कार्य से, बिजली से भरी किसी रात में।

Class 12 English Kaleidoscope Poetry Chapter 7 Summary in English and Hindi.

A.K. Ramanujan’s poem invites us to listen to the clocktowers of an old city, each striking the hour slightly differently – some earlier, some later, some deeper, some lighter in tone. The poet explains these differences through both trivial causes (variations in bronze alloy, a craftsman’s shaking hand, distance between towers) and deeper social ones (a donor’s whim, the “perennial feuds and seasonal alliance” of Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities). Their chimes are sometimes cut off by a change of wind, a change of mind or a siren rushing toward a local quarrel.
The poem then turns darker: one day, a clocktower is found damaged – its face empty and silent, its broken mechanism open to the sky. This could be the result of a riot, a bomb planted during a peace march or simply lightning during a storm.
Through this image, Ramanujan reflects on how communal harmony in a shared city is always fragile and uneven – disturbed equally by human violence and nature’s fury, both striking with the same indifferent “precision”.

Summary in Hindiए.के. रामानुजन की यह कविता हमें एक पुराने शहर के घंटाघरों (क्लॉकटावर) की आवाज़ सुनने का आमंत्रण देती है, जो हर घंटे थोड़ा आगे-पीछे और अलग-अलग स्वर में बजते हैं। कवि इसका कारण छोटी-छोटी बातों में ढूँढ़ते हैं – जैसे कांसे की मिलावट में अंतर, कारीगर का काँपता हाथ – और साथ ही गहरे सामाजिक कारणों में भी, जैसे किसी दानदाता की इच्छा, और हिंदू, ईसाई व मुस्लिम समुदायों के बीच पुराने वैमनस्य और अस्थायी मेल-मिलाप। कभी-कभी हवा के बदलने, मन के बदलने, या किसी झगड़े को रोकने आती सायरन की आवाज़ से उनकी घंटियाँ बीच में ही थम जाती हैं।
कविता आगे और गंभीर हो जाती है – एक दिन कवि देखते हैं कि एक घंटाघर टूटा हुआ है, उसका चेहरा खाली और चुप है, और टूटी मशीनरी से आसमान झलक रहा है। यह किसी दंगे, शांति-मार्च के दौरान हुए बम विस्फोट या तूफान में गिरी बिजली – किसी भी कारण से हो सकता है।
इस बिंब के माध्यम से रामानुजन यह दर्शाते हैं कि किसी साझा शहर में सामुदायिक सद्भाव सदैव कमज़ोर और असंतुलित होता है – जिसे मानव-हिंसा और प्रकृति का प्रकोप, दोनों समान उदासीन “सटीकता” से बिगाड़ सकते हैं।

Class 12 English Kaleidoscope Poetry Chapter 7 Very Short Answer Type Questions with Explanation.

1. Who is the poet of Time and Time Again?
See AnswerA.K. Ramanujan.

2. What structures are mentioned at the beginning of the poem?
See AnswerClock towers.

3. What do the clock towers beat?
See AnswerTheir gongs.

4. How often do the clocks strike?
See AnswerRound the clock.

5. Why are the clocks slightly different in sound?
See AnswerBecause of differences in alloy and craftsmanship.

6. Which country is mentioned in the poem?
See AnswerSwitzerland.

7. Which three religious communities are mentioned?
See AnswerHindu, Christian and Muslim.

8. What sometimes interrupts the sound of the clocks?
See AnswerA siren.

9. What is mentioned between the pieces of a backstreet quarrel?
See AnswerA siren.

10. What happens to one of the clock towers one day?
See AnswerIt becomes eyeless and silent.

11. What can be seen through the knocked-out clockwork?
See AnswerA zigzag sky.

12. What human event is mentioned as a cause of destruction?
See AnswerA riot.

13. What kind of bomb is mentioned in the poem?
See AnswerA peace-march time bomb.

14. What natural phenomenon is mentioned in the last lines?
See AnswerLightning.

15. What is the central theme of the poem?
See AnswerTime, society and human conflict.

Class 12 English Kaleidoscope Poetry Chapter 7 Short Answer Type Questions with Explanation.

1. How does the poet describe the clock towers of an old city?
See AnswerThe poet describes the clock towers as important landmarks that continuously beat their gongs throughout the day and night. Although they all perform the same function, each clock has a slightly different sound and timing. Their unique voices create a rich musical pattern that reflects the diversity and character of the city.

2. Why do the clocks strike differently from one another?
See AnswerThe clocks strike differently because of variations in the materials used to make them, the skill of their makers and the distances between the towers. The poet mentions the accidents of alloy and a maker’s shaking hand. These differences make each clock unique, just as every individual and community has its own identity.

3. What does the poet suggest through the reference to Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities?
See AnswerThe poet highlights the diversity of Indian society. He suggests that different religious communities live together, sometimes forming alliances and at other times experiencing conflicts. The reference shows both the richness and complexity of a multicultural society and reflects the recurring nature of communal relationships.

4. Explain the significance of the phrase “a change of wind, a change of mind.”
See AnswerThis phrase suggests how quickly situations can change. A change of wind may alter the direction in which sounds travel, while a change of mind may alter human behaviour and relationships. The poet uses these expressions to show that both natural conditions and human attitudes are constantly changing and can affect the harmony of society.

5. What symbolic role do the clock towers play in the poem?
See AnswerThe clock towers symbolize society and the passage of time. Although they differ in sound and timing, they continue to function together within the city. They represent different communities, traditions and individuals living side by side. Their continuous ringing also reminds readers of the ongoing movement of time.

6. How does the poet connect time with human history?
See AnswerThe clocks continuously mark the passing of time, while the city experiences changing social and historical events. Through references to communal tensions, riots and peace marches, the poet shows that human history repeats itself over time. Thus, time becomes closely linked with the experiences of society.

7. What does the image of the damaged clock tower suggest?
See AnswerThe damaged clock tower symbolizes destruction caused by violence or natural disasters. Its broken clockwork and silence represent the interruption of normal life. The image suggests that both human conflicts and natural forces can suddenly destroy what has existed peacefully for years.

8. Why does the poet mention riots and peace marches together?
See AnswerThe poet mentions riots and peace marches together to highlight the contradictions of human society. While some people work for harmony and peace, others create conflict and violence. These opposite forces exist side by side and influence the course of social life.

9. What mood is created in the final lines of the poem?
See AnswerThe final lines create a mood of sadness, reflection and uncertainty. The sight of a damaged clock tower reminds readers of the fragility of human creations. The poet reflects on how quickly violence or natural disasters can alter the familiar landscape of life.

10. What message does the poem convey about society?
See AnswerThe poem suggests that society is diverse, complex and constantly changing. Different communities may experience cooperation as well as conflict. Despite these differences, time continues to move forward. The poem encourages readers to reflect on the importance of harmony and the destructive consequences of violence.

Class 12 English Kaleidoscope Poetry Chapter 7 Long Answer Type Questions with Explanation.

1. Discuss the significance of the clock towers in Time and Time Again.
See AnswerThe clock towers are the central symbols of the poem. On the surface, they are ordinary structures that tell time, but they also represent society, history and human experience. Each clock tower produces a slightly different sound because of differences in material, craftsmanship and location. These variations symbolize the diversity of human communities and cultures.
The clocks ring continuously, reminding people of the constant passage of time. Their sounds blend together to create a larger pattern, just as different communities contribute to the life of a city. The poet uses the clock towers to show that diversity is a natural and valuable part of society.
At the same time, the clock towers are vulnerable to destruction. Riots, bombs and lightning can damage them, just as violence and conflict can damage society. Through the image of the clock towers, the poet explores themes of time, coexistence, conflict and change.
Thus, the clock towers become powerful symbols of both human civilization and the forces that threaten it.

2. How does A.K. Ramanujan portray the diversity and complexity of Indian society in the poem?
See AnswerA.K. Ramanujan portrays Indian society as diverse, dynamic and complex. The different clock towers symbolize various communities, traditions and groups that coexist within the same city. Each clock sounds slightly different, suggesting that every community has its own identity and character.
The poet specifically mentions Hindus, Christians and Muslims. These references highlight India’s multicultural nature. He points out that relationships among communities are not always the same. Sometimes there are alliances and cooperation, while at other times there are disagreements and conflicts.
The poem also refers to riots, peace marches and backstreet quarrels. These images reflect the social tensions that occasionally disturb harmony. However, the clocks continue to ring despite these disturbances, suggesting the resilience of society.
Through these images, Ramanujan presents India as a place where diversity creates both richness and challenges. The poem encourages readers to appreciate diversity while recognizing the importance of social harmony.

3. Examine the theme of time in the poem Time and Time Again.
See AnswerTime is the central theme of the poem. The clock towers constantly strike their gongs, marking the passage of hours and reminding people that time never stops. The repeated ringing symbolizes the continuous flow of life and history.
However, the poet shows that time is experienced differently by different people and communities. Just as the clocks are slightly out of sync, human experiences of time vary according to circumstances and perspectives. The differences among the clocks suggest the diversity of human life.
The poem also connects time with historical events. Riots, peace marches and communal tensions occur repeatedly over the years. The title Time and Time Again suggests that certain social patterns and conflicts return again and again throughout history.
Ultimately, the poem presents time as both a unifying and a revealing force. It connects all people while exposing the recurring strengths and weaknesses of society.

4. How does the poet present the relationship between human violence and natural destruction?
See AnswerThe poet presents human violence and natural destruction as two powerful forces capable of causing sudden damage. He refers to riots and time bombs as examples of destruction created by human beings. Such events arise from conflict, hatred or social unrest and can leave lasting scars on society.
Alongside these examples, the poet mentions lightning as a “precise act of nature”. Unlike human violence, natural destruction has no motive or prejudice. It occurs as part of the natural order of the world. Nevertheless, its effects can be just as dramatic and devastating.
Both forms of destruction are shown through the image of a damaged clock tower. Whether caused by human conflict or natural forces, the result is the same: silence, loss and disruption. The poet encourages readers to reflect on the fragility of human achievements and the forces that threaten them.

5. Why is Time and Time Again considered a reflective poem on society and human life?
See AnswerTime and Time Again is a reflective poem because it goes beyond the simple description of clock towers and explores deeper truths about society and human existence. The poet begins by observing the sounds of clocks in an old city, but gradually these observations lead to reflections on diversity, history and conflict.
The different clocks symbolize different communities living together within society. Their slight differences suggest the variety of human experiences and identities. The references to communal relations, riots and peace marches reveal the social realities that shape human life.
The poem also reflects on the passage of time and the recurring nature of historical events. Human beings continue to experience both cooperation and conflict across generations. Finally, the image of the damaged clock tower reminds readers that everything in life is temporary and vulnerable.
Through these reflections, Ramanujan encourages readers to think deeply about society, history, coexistence and the passage of time, making the poem both philosophical and meaningful.