Notes: JKBOSE Class 10th English Chapter 2 An Excellent Father

Class 10 English (JKBOSE) — “An Excellent Father”

Character Details:

• Mr. Bennet: Calm, witty, thoda sarcastic, family ka head; apni betiyon se pyaar, lekin zyada practical guidance nahin deta, isi liye “excellent father” line thodi ironic lagti hai.

• Mrs. Bennet: Excited aur anxious mother; bas ek hi mission—betiyon ki shaadi jald se jald ho.

• Elizabeth (Lizzy): Sensible, sharp aur independent soch wali beti.

• Jane: Gentle, kind aur modest nature ki beti.

• Bingley: New, rich, friendly bachelor jo nearby aaya hai; poore ghar ko excitement.

• Darcy: Proud aur reserved gentleman; pehle impression mein rude/pompous lagta hai.

Story in Hinglish:

Bennet family ke ghar ek badi khabar aati hai: “Mr. Bingley” naam ka rich bachelor aas-paas settle ho raha hai, aur society mein ek grand ball hone wala hai. Mrs. Bennet turant hyper ho jaati hai—“Meri betiyon ke liye perfect chance!” Mr. Bennet cool rehta hai, thoda masti aur sarcasm karta hai, lekin chup-chaap woh pehle hi Bingley se mil aata hai taaki family ko ball ka proper invitation mil jaye. Ball mein Jane aur Elizabeth sabko impress karti hain; Bingley ko Jane pasand aati hai. Darcy, jo Bingley ka dost hai, proud sa behave karta hai, Elizabeth ko dance ke liye refuse karta hai, jisse Elizabeth ko bura lagta hai. Ghar aakar Mrs. Bennet sapne bunne lagti hai—“Bingley-Jane perfect!” Mr. Bennet haske bolta rehta hai, family ko tease karta hai. Is poori situation mein line “an excellent father” thodi humorous-ironic lagti hai—kyunki Mr. Bennet pyaar toh karta hai, par practical parenting mein kabhi-kabhi lightly leta hai.

Moral:

• First impressions hamesha sahi nahin hote—pride aur prejudice dono galat raaste le ja sakte hain.

• Family mein pyaar ke saath guidance bhi zaroori hai—sirf tease ya sirf tension nahin, balanced parenting best hoti hai.

• Shaadi ko sirf wealth-status ke hisaab se dekhna unhealthy hai—character aur understanding zyada important hote hain.

  Answers to Questions:

  1. What does Mrs Bennet tell her husband?
  Mrs. Bennet tells her husband that Netherfield Park has been let (rented) to a single man of large fortune – Mr. Bingley. She is very excited about this news because she sees him as a potential husband for one of their five daughters.

   

  2. Who takes over Netherfield Park? Why is Mrs Bennet happy about it?
  Mr. Bingley takes over Netherfield Park. Mrs. Bennet is happy because he is a single, wealthy young man with an income of four or five thousand pounds a year, making him an excellent marriage prospect for one of her daughters.

  3. Why does Mrs Bennet insist her husband to meet Mr Bingley?
  Mrs. Bennet insists that Mr. Bennet visit Mr. Bingley because it is necessary for proper social etiquette. A gentleman must be formally introduced before the ladies of the family can be introduced to him, and she wants her daughters to have the opportunity to meet this eligible bachelor.

  4. ‘You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves’. Explain.
  Mrs. Bennet says this because she feels Mr. Bennet is deliberately teasing and frustrating her by pretending he won’t visit Mr. Bingley. She believes he doesn’t understand how important this opportunity is for their daughters’ futures, and she claims he has no sympathy for her anxiety about securing good marriages for their girls.

  5. Why does Mrs Bennet think that Mrs Long is selfish?
  Mrs. Bennet thinks Mrs. Long is selfish because she fears that Mrs. Long, being their neighbor, might introduce her own nieces to Mr. Bingley first, giving them an advantage in winning his affections before the Bennet girls have a chance to meet him.

  6. How does Mr Bennet react to the plan designed by his wife?
  Mr. Bennet reacts with amusement and mild sarcasm to his wife’s plans. He teases her by initially pretending he won’t visit Bingley, but he has actually already visited him. He enjoys watching her anxiety and excitement without immediately revealing that he has already done what she wants.

  7. Why does Mrs Bennet tell her girls that they have an excellent father?
  Mrs. Bennet tells her daughters they have an “excellent father” when Mr. Bennet reveals that he has already visited Mr. Bingley. She is delighted that he has made the necessary social call, which means her daughters can now be properly introduced to the eligible bachelor. The word “excellent” here reflects her joy and relief that her husband has facilitated this important social connection.

  Language  Work:

  1. Find word/s from the passage having the following meanings:
  a) rent out → let
  b) unmarried → single
  c) make someone angry → vex
  d) in great haste; unwilling to wait → impatiently
  e) to live somewhere permanently → settle
  f) intention or plan → design

  2. Agreement of the Verb with the subject (concord)
  Concord means a harmonious relationship between two grammatical items.

  Rule1:

  1. Basic Rule:
     – Agar subject singular ho, verb bhi singular use karo.
     Example: “The list of things is quite long.”
     – Agar subject plural ho, verb plural hoga.
     Example: “The lists of things are quite long.”

  Exceptions:

  i) “You” hamesha plural verb lega, chahe ek bande ko bula rahe ho:

  • “You are watching TV, perhaps.”

  • “All of you are wasting your time.”

  ii) Agar “A and B” ek hi insaan ya cheez ko refer karte hain, verb singular hoga:

  • “The minister and scientist is on a tour.”
    (minister hi scientist bhi hai)
    Lekin agar do alag log hain:

  • “The minister and the scientist are on a tour.”

  iii) Agar “A and B” ek hi idea ke do naam hain, verb singular:

  • “Law and order is in utter chaos.”

  • “Bread and butter is not the only aim of education.”

  • “Slow and steady wins the race.”

  iv) Jab “A and B” ke aage “each, every, many a, somebody, no one, either, nobody, little, much, more” jaise words ho, verb singular use karo:

  • “Each boy and girl has done his or her homework.”

  • “Every shirt and coat is on sale.”

  • “Many a soldier has laid down his life for the sake of his country.

Jab ek singular subject kisi aur noun/pronoun ke saath “with,” “together with,” “along with,” “besides,” “as well as,” “including,” “in addition to,” “and not,” etc. se judta hai, tab verb singular hi rahega. Kyunki asli subject wahi hota hai jo verb decide karega.

Examples:
a) The laptop, along with the carry bag, is on sale.
(Asli subject: “the laptop” → singular → verb “is”)

b) He, together with his parents, has gone out.
(Asli subject: “he” → singular → verb “has”)

c) She, as well as I, is not wrong.
(Asli subject: “she” → singular → verb “is”)

Special “as well as” note:
Verb first subject ke number/person se agree karega:

– I, as well as she, am not wrong.
(First subject “I” → first person singular → verb “am”)

– She, as well as I, is not wrong.
(First subject “she” → third person singular → verb “is”)

Rule 3: 

Jab subject ke do hisson mein ek singular aur ek plural word ho, jo ‘nor’, ‘or’, ‘either…or’, ‘neither…nor’, ‘not only…but also’ se judte ho, toh verb usi part ke hisaab se hoga jo verb ke sabse kareeb hai.

Examples:
a) “Either he or you have done it.”
(Verb ke paas “you” hai → plural → “have”)

b) “Either you or he has done it.”
(Verb ke paas “he” hai → singular → “has”)

Rule 4:
Collective noun (jaise “jury”, “team”, “family”) agar ek single unit ka idea de, matlab sab milke ek group bana rahe hain, toh verb singular use karo.
Agar group ke individual members pe focus ho, matlab alag-alag log alag-alag tarah act kar rahe hain, toh verb plural use karo.

Examples:
a) “The jury is unanimous in its opinion.”
(Sab ek hi rai pe hain → ek unit → singular verb “is”)

b) “The jury are divided in their opinions.”
(Members alag-alag rai rakhte hain → individuals pe focus → plural verb “are”)

Now use a verb in agreement with its subject in the following sentences:

Mrs. Bennet stands out in Pride and Prejudice as a vivid, energetic, and often exasperating figure. Her dominating presence and constant preoccupation with marrying off her daughters drive much of the novel’s early action.

1. Single-Minded Mother
Mrs. Bennet’s primary—and almost sole—purpose is to secure advantageous marriages for her five daughters. She repeatedly reminds Mr. Bennet of the “business” to introduce them to eligible bachelors, especially the newly arrived Mr. Bingley. Her fixation on matchmaking stems partly from the Bennet estate’s entail (which prevents her daughters from inheriting) and partly from her own anxiety about their financial security and social standing.

2. Nervous and Flighty Disposition
She is quick to excitement and equally prone to panic. Her language often betrays her nerves: “You have no compassion on my poor nerves,” she tells her husband when he teases her over Mr. Bingley’s invitation. Mrs. Bennet’s dramatics—rapid shifts between elation and despair—contrast sharply with Mr. Bennet’s calm wit.

3. Social Climber
Mrs. Bennet judges people by rank and wealth above all. She regards Netherfield Park’s new tenant as “a single man of large fortune” and immediately views him as a potential husband for Jane. Her incessant commentary on Mrs. Long’s selfishness (“She will introduce her nieces before my girls!”) reveals her competitive spirit and acute awareness of social advantage.

4. Lacks Self-Awareness
Though loud in her pronouncements, Mrs. Bennet rarely perceives how she appears to others. Her failure to notice Mr. Bingley’s polite reserve and Mr. Darcy’s growing admiration for Elizabeth underscores her superficiality: she assumes every wealthy visitor must admire her eldest daughter’s beauty.

5. Comic Relief and Foil
Jane Austen uses Mrs. Bennet’s exaggerated behavior to inject humor and to highlight Elizabeth’s intelligence. Where Mrs. Bennet leaps to conclusions and panics unduly, Elizabeth observes quietly and acts with measured judgment. This dynamic not only amuses but reinforces the novel’s theme that true understanding and temperament matter more than rank or fortune.

6. Underlying Good Intentions
Despite her flaws—narrow ambition, hubbub, and occasional vulgarity—Mrs. Bennet genuinely loves her daughters and fears for their futures. Her anxieties are rooted in a real concern for their welfare. Her success in arranging Jane’s attachment to Mr. Bingley, even if by accident, shows her maternal devotion.

Conclusion
Mrs. Bennet remains one of literature’s most memorable comic mothers: an earnest, excitable woman consumed by marriage plans, insensitive at times, yet lovable in her relentless devotion to her daughters’ prospects. Her boisterousness perfectly counters Elizabeth’s keen intelligence and Mr. Darcy’s reserve, making her indispensable to Austen’s social tapestry.

Hinglish version

Parental love—whether from a mother or a father—shares the same roots of deep affection, commitment, and the desire to protect and nurture. Yet many people perceive differences in how mothers and fathers express that love.

1. Expression of Emotion
   Mothers often feel culturally permitted to display a wide range of emotions—tenderness, worry, pride—openly and frequently. A mother’s love may be described as more visibly nurturing: soothing scraped knees, offering comfort in tears, or instinctively anticipating a child’s needs. Fathers, in contrast, are often socialized to emphasize strength and problem-solving. A father’s love might show up as encouragement to tackle challenges, teaching practical skills, or supporting risk-taking—with fewer overt displays of emotion.

2. Roles and Expectations
   Traditional gender roles can shape parental behavior. Mothers frequently take on primary caregiving duties—feeding, bathing, daily routines—so their love becomes woven into every aspect of a child’s day. Fathers historically served as financial providers or disciplinarians; their love may be expressed through ensuring security, setting boundaries, or being a role model. These differing roles can create the sense that mother’s love is “softer” and father’s love “tougher,” even though both aim at the child’s well-being.

3. Complementary Strengths
   Rather than being “better” or “more” loving, mothers and fathers often compliment each other. Mother’s intuitive empathy helps children feel emotionally safe; father’s encouragement of independence gives them confidence to explore. Together, these expressions form a balanced environment—nurturing roots and guiding wings.

4. Individual Variation
   It’s important to acknowledge wide individual differences. Some fathers are highly expressive and hands-on caregivers; some mothers emphasize discipline or career support. Personality, upbringing, culture, and personal values shape every parent’s unique way of showing love.

5. Evolving Norms
   Contemporary families increasingly share caregiving and breadwinning duties. As fathers take on more nurturing roles—feeding infants, attending to emotional needs—and mothers pursue careers, the traditional distinctions of “mother’s love” versus “father’s love” blur. Love becomes defined more by the parent-child relationship quality than by gender.

Conclusion
While social expectations often lead us to feel mother’s love is different—more openly nurturing—and father’s love more reserved or challenge-focused, both springs from the same parental bond. Each parent contributes distinct but equally vital expressions of care. Recognizing these complementary strengths—and valuing individual differences—helps us appreciate that love itself is deeper than any gender-based stereotype.

Hinglish Version