NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
Author: Nissim Ezekiel
Table of Contents
💚 Introduction (in English – 150 words)
The poem “Night of the Scorpion” by Nissim Ezekiel describes a real incident from the poet’s childhood when his mother was stung by a scorpion on a rainy night. It shows the clash between superstition and rational thinking in a rural Indian society. The villagers rush to help, chanting prayers and offering beliefs to ward off evil, while the poet’s father, a rationalist, tries scientific methods to relieve her pain. Through simple yet powerful language, the poem captures the fear, faith, and humanity of ordinary people. It also highlights a mother’s selfless love and endurance. The poet’s use of contrast between superstition and science, light and darkness, pain and faith, gives the poem a deep emotional appeal. In the end, the mother’s simple words express pure maternal love that surpasses all logic.
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
💚 Introduction (in Hindi)
निस्सिम एजेकिल की कविता “नाइट ऑफ द स्कॉर्पियन” एक सच्ची घटना पर आधारित है, जब कवि की माँ को एक बरसात की रात बिच्छू ने डंक मार दिया था। यह कविता भारतीय ग्रामीण समाज में अंधविश्वास और तर्क के संघर्ष को दर्शाती है। गाँववाले माँ के चारों ओर इकट्ठा होकर प्रार्थनाएँ करते हैं और मंत्र पढ़ते हैं ताकि बिच्छू का ज़हर उतर जाए। वहीं कवि के पिता, जो एक विज्ञान-प्रेमी व्यक्ति हैं, औषधि और वैद्यकीय उपायों से पीड़ा कम करने की कोशिश करते हैं। कवि ने सरल भाषा में भय, आस्था और मानवता का सुंदर चित्रण किया है। अंत में माँ का भावुक वाक्य – “भगवान का शुक्र है कि बिच्छू ने मुझे काटा, मेरे बच्चों को नहीं” – मातृत्व के सबसे शुद्ध रूप को दिखाता है।
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
🌙 Night of the Scorpion – Summary
By Nissim Ezekiel
The poem “Night of the Scorpion” describes a terrifying yet deeply emotional night from the poet’s childhood. During a heavy rainstorm, a scorpion entered the house seeking shelter from the wet ground. It crept silently and stung the poet’s mother, then disappeared into the shadows. Despite an intense search, the peasants could not find the scorpion. They searched every corner with candles and lanterns, but their effort ended in disappointment.
The poet notes that they “clicked their tongues”, expressing their failure and helplessness at not finding the creature. They worried about the poison spreading through the mother’s blood—the bodily fluid affected by the sting.
The villagers hoped the scorpion would remain still and not move, believing that if it moved, the poison would travel further in her veins. They said the mother must be suffering for the sins of her previous birth, and that her pain might purify her spirit for her next birth. This revealed their underlying belief that pain and suffering cleanse a person’s soul and lead to a better rebirth.
The word ‘they’ refers to the villagers or peasants gathered there. They wished that the balance of good and evil in the world might be restored through her suffering. They believed her pain might burn away evil and purify her flesh of desire, making her spiritually pure.
The peasants sat on the floor with the mother in the centre, praying sincerely for her recovery. The emotion on their faces was one of peace and understanding, as they accepted pain as part of divine justice.
As more candles, lanterns, neighbours, insects, and the continuing rain filled the hut, the atmosphere became chaotic yet strangely devotional, full of murmurs, prayers, and flickering light. The mother, in great agony, lay twisted and groaning as the poison spread through her body.
The poet describes his father as a “sceptic, rationalist”, meaning he was a man of science and reason, not a believer in superstitions. He used a traditional method involving fire—burning the wound to stop the spread of poison. Though he did not trust the rituals, he tried everything out of deep concern for his wife.
When the poet says, “I watched the flame feeding on my mother,” he means that the flame was burning her skin as part of the treatment, showing the intensity of her suffering.
The rites and incantations performed by the peasants were meant to drive away evil and reduce the pain. Despite everyone’s efforts, the mother endured the pain patiently until, after twenty hours, the poison lost its sting—that is, the venom became weak and harmless.
The father had also tried other unconventional methods, including herbs, powders, and pouring paraffin on the wound before setting it alight, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, when the pain began to fade, the mother felt relieved, not because she was cured, but because she realized that the scorpion had stung her and not her children. Her words—“Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children”—show the depth of a mother’s selfless love.
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
💫 Conclusion
In “Night of the Scorpion”, Nissim Ezekiel beautifully captures faith versus reason, fear versus love, and superstition versus science in a simple village setting. The poem ends on a deeply emotional note, celebrating the strength and sacrifice of a mother, whose love remains pure and divine even in the face of suffering.
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
✍️ Summary (In Hindi)
कविता “नाइट ऑफ द स्कॉर्पियन” कवि के बचपन की एक सच्ची घटना पर आधारित है। एक रात तेज़ बारिश हो रही थी। उसी बारिश ने बिच्छू को घर के अंदर आने के लिए मजबूर किया, क्योंकि वह सूखी जगह की तलाश में था। वह चुपचाप अंधेरे में घुसा और कवि की माँ को डंक मार दिया, फिर तुरंत किसी कोने में भाग गया। कवि लिखता है कि बिच्छू ने यह काम एक तेज़ और अचानक हरकत (quick and sudden action) में किया, इसलिए ‘flash’ शब्द का अर्थ यहाँ यही है।
कवि ने बिच्छू की पूँछ को ‘diabolic’ (शैतानी) कहा है क्योंकि वह ज़हर से भरी हुई थी और जैसे किसी दुष्ट शक्ति का प्रतीक लग रही थी। डंक मारने के बाद बिच्छू फिर से बारिश में भाग गया, ताकि पकड़ा न जाए। उसने जान बचाने के लिए जोखिम उठाया। यह दर्शाता है कि बिच्छू का व्यवहार स्वाभाविक और रक्षात्मक था, वह किसी को नुकसान पहुँचाना नहीं चाहता था।
डंक की खबर फैलते ही गाँववाले दीये और लालटेन लेकर वहाँ पहुँच गए। उन्होंने माँ को घेरकर सैकड़ों बार भगवान का नाम जपना शुरू किया, क्योंकि उन्हें विश्वास था कि हर बार जप करने से बिच्छू की हरकतें रुकेंगी और ज़हर का असर कम होगा। उन्होंने दीये और लालटेन की रोशनी में बिच्छू को ढूंढा, पर वह नहीं मिला। उनका ढूँढने का परिणाम असफलता रहा, वे बिच्छू को नहीं ढूंढ पाए।
कवि ने लिखा कि उन्होंने “clicked their tongues”, जिसका अर्थ है कि वे बिच्छू को न पाने की असफलता और निराशा व्यक्त कर रहे थे। गाँववाले मानते थे कि माँ के शरीर की रक्त में ज़हर फैल रहा है। वे चाहते थे कि बिच्छू स्थिर रहे और हिले नहीं, ताकि ज़हर न फैले।
गाँववाले कहते हैं कि यह माँ के पिछले जन्म के पापों का फल है और यह पीड़ा उसके अगले जन्म को बेहतर बनाएगी। उनका अंतर्निहित विश्वास था कि दर्द आत्मा को शुद्ध करता है और अच्छे अगले जन्म की ओर ले जाता है। यहाँ “they” शब्द से तात्पर्य गाँववालों से है।
वे मानते थे कि माँ का कष्ट संसार में अच्छाई और बुराई के संतुलन को सुधार देगा और यह पीड़ा उसके शरीर को कामना और इच्छा से मुक्त कर देगी। वे सब ज़मीन पर माँ के चारों ओर बैठ गए, और शांति से प्रार्थना करने लगे। उनके चेहरों पर शांति और समझ का भाव था।
धीरे-धीरे और लोग, दीये, लालटेन, कीड़े और बारिश की आवाज़ से वातावरण भय और भक्ति का मिश्रण बन गया। माँ का शरीर मरोड़ खा रहा था और वह पीड़ा से तड़प रही थी।
कवि का पिता “संदेही और तर्कवादी” (sceptic, rationalist) व्यक्ति था, जो अंधविश्वासों में विश्वास नहीं करता था। फिर भी उसने पत्नी के दर्द से व्यथित होकर आग से घाव को सेंकने की पारंपरिक विधि अपनाई। वह सब कुछ इसलिए कर रहा था क्योंकि वह अपनी पत्नी के लिए बेहद चिंतित था।
कवि लिखता है — “I watched the flame feeding on my mother”, यानी उसने देखा कि आग की लपटें माँ की त्वचा को झुलसा रही थीं, जिससे उसकी पीड़ा और बढ़ गई।
गाँववाले झाड़-फूँक और मंत्रों से दर्द कम करने और बुराई भगाने की कोशिश करते रहे। अंततः बीस घंटे बाद, ज़हर ने अपना असर खो दिया – यानी ज़हर की शक्ति समाप्त हो गई।
पिता ने पैराफिन डालकर जलाने, जड़ी-बूटियाँ और पाउडर लगाने जैसे असामान्य उपाय भी किए। अंततः माँ ने राहत महसूस की, क्योंकि उसने कहा — “भगवान का शुक्र है कि बिच्छू ने मुझे काटा, मेरे बच्चों को नहीं।”
यह कथन एक माँ के निःस्वार्थ प्रेम और त्याग का सर्वोत्तम उदाहरण है।
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
💫 Conclusion
कविता “नाइट ऑफ द स्कॉर्पियन” भारतीय गाँव के जीवन, अंधविश्वास और विज्ञान के संघर्ष को बड़े सहज और यथार्थ रूप में दिखाती है। अंत में यह कविता मातृत्व के अमर प्रेम, आस्था की शक्ति और मानव संवेदना की गहराई को उजागर करती है।
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
Question-Answers
Intext Questions 11.1
- What drove the scorpion inside the house?
Answer
continuous rain
- The word ‘flash’ means —
a) a cowardly action
b) a quick and sudden action
c) a wicked action
d) a bright action
Answer
b) a quick and sudden action - Why does he call the tail ‘diabolic’?
Answer
He calls the tail ‘diabolic’ because it poisons his mother. - What is the scorpion’s action after stinging the mother?
a) It crawls beneath a sack of rice
b) It bites the speaker
c) It runs away from the house
d) It hides in a dark room
Answer
a) It crawls beneath a sack of rice - Why did the scorpion risk going out again into the rain?
a) It wanted to find more prey
b) It regretted stinging the mother
c) It needed to replenish its poison
d) It was seeking shelter from the rain
Answer
d) It was seeking shelter from the rain - What does the stanza suggest about the scorpion’s behaviour?
a) The scorpion is cunning and evil
b) The scorpion is a harmless creature
c) The scorpion is desperately seeking shelter
d) The scorpion is attacking the villagers
Answer
c) The scorpion is desperately seeking shelter
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
Intext Questions 11.2
- How did the peasants arrive at the scene?
Answer
The peasants arrived at the scene “like swarms of flies.” - Why do the villagers come together and chant the name of God a hundred times?
a) To celebrate a religious festival
b) To ward off evil and help the mother
c) To express their frustration with the scorpion
d) To honour the scorpion’s bravery
Answer
b) To ward off evil and help the mother - How did the peasants use candles and lanterns?
Answer
The peasants used candles and lanterns to illuminate the area and search for the scorpion. - What visual effect is created by the candles and lanterns used by the villagers in their search for the scorpion?
a) They create a warm and welcoming atmosphere
b) They cast giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls
c) They illuminate the room entirely
d) They make the room appear smaller
Answer
b) They cast giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls - What was the outcome of the peasants’ search for the scorpion?
a) They found it and captured it
b) They gave up and left the scene
c) They were disappointed
d) They found traces of the scorpion’s presence
Answer
c) They were disappointed - Did the peasants successfully find the scorpion?
Answer
No, the peasants didn’t successfully find the scorpion.
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
Intext Questions 11.3
- The phrase ‘clicked their tongues’ expresses
a) The peasants’ worries about the sting
b) The peasants’ sorrow for the mother
c) The peasants’ failure to find the scorpion
d) The peasant’s anger towards the scorpion
Answer
c) The peasants’ failure to find the scorpion - What bodily fluid was affected by the scorpion?
Answer
The bodily fluid affected by the scorpion was blood. - In the stanza, what do the villagers hope for regarding the scorpion’s movements?
a) They hope it will escape and be safe
b) They hope it will sting others as well
c) They hope it will remain still and not move
d) They hope it will reveal its hiding place
Answer
c) They hope it will remain still and not move - What did the villagers express regarding the sins of the Mother’s previous birth?
Answer
The villagers expressed the hope that the sins of the speaker’s previous birth would be burned away that night. - What was the focus of the wishes regarding the Mother’s next birth?
Answer
The focus of the wishes regarding the Mother’s next birth was to reduce her misfortunes - What is the underlying belief or sentiment expressed by the villagers in their words to the mother?
a) They wish her suffering to increase
b) They hope her pain will lead to a better next life
c) They believe she deserves the scorpion’s sting
d) They want to punish her for past sins
Answer
b) They hope her pain will lead to a better next life
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
Intext Questions 11.4
- Who are ‘they’ in the above lines?
Answer
They in the above lines are the peasants. - What is the wish expressed regarding the balance of good and evil in the world?
Answer
The wish expressed is that the sum of evil in the unreal world would be diminished by the mother’s pain, thereby balancing it against the sum of good - How do the villagers believe the mother’s pain might affect the balance of good and evil?
Answer
The villagers believe that the mother’s pain might diminish the sum of evil in the world, thus balancing it against the sum of good. - According to the villagers, what is the effect of the poison from the scorpion’s sting on the mother?
a) It intensifies her desires
b) It purifies her flesh of desire
c) It increases her ambition
d) It has no effect on her
Answer
b) It purifies her flesh of desire - Where do the villagers sit as they offer their prayers and wishes for the mother’s well-being?
a) On the roof of the house
b) On chairs and benches
c) On the floor with the mother in the centre
d) In a circle around a fire
Answer
c) On the floor with the mother in the centre - What is the prevailing emotion on the faces of the villagers in this stanza?
a) Fear and anxiety
b) Anger and frustration
c) Peace and understanding
d) Sadness and despair
Answer
c) Peace and understanding
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
Intext Questions 11.5
- What was the atmosphere like with the addition of more candles, lanterns, neighbours, insects, and rain?
Answer
The atmosphere in the stanza becomes more crowded and chaotic with the addition of more candles, lanterns, neighbours, insects, and the ongoing rain. - How was the mother’s physical condition described in this stanza?
Answer
The mother is described as “twisted through and through, groaning on a mat,” indicating that she is in significant pain and discomfort due to the scorpion sting. - “My father, sceptic, rationalist” What does that mean?
Answer
This suggests that he is a person who relies on logic and reason rather than superstition or faith. - What does the father do in an attempt to treat the scorpion’s sting?
a) He pours water on the wound to cool it down
b) He applies a special ointment on the bitten toe
c) He uses a traditional method involving fire
d) He rushes the mother to the hospital
Answer
b) He applies a special ointment on the bitten toe - How does the speaker’s father react to the scorpion’s sting?
a) He resorts to superstitious rituals and prayers
b) He ignores the situation and continues with his work
c) He rushes to find medical help immediately
d) He scolds the mother for allowing the scorpion to sting her
Answer
a) He resorts to superstitious rituals and prayers - The poet says that his father, who was a rationalist, tried everything. Why did he do so?
a) because the father had changed
b) because the father wanted to do what others were doing
c) because the father was deeply concerned
d) because the father was superstitious
Answer
c) because the father was deeply concerned
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
Intext Questions 11.6
- What does the speaker mean when they say, “I watched the flame feeding on my mother”?
a) The mother was being consumed by the scorpion’s venom
b) The mother was engulfed in a holy fire
c) The mother was undergoing a ritual purification
d) The mother was trying to control the scorpion
Answer
a) The mother was being consumed by the scorpion’s venom - What was the purpose of the rites and incantation?
Answer
The purpose of the rites and incantation was to try to tame or counteract the poison from the scorpion sting and heal the mother. - The speaker mentions that the poison from the scorpion’s sting “lost its sting.”
What does this imply?
a) The scorpion’s venom became less potent.
b) The mother’s pain intensified.
c) The scorpion returned to sting again.
d) The villagers’ efforts were in vain.
Answer
a) The scorpion’s venom became less potent - How long did it take for the poison to lose its sting?
Answer
20 hours - What unconventional method did the father attempt to use in treating the scorpion sting?
Answer
In an unconventional and desperate attempt, the father poured a little paraffin (a type of fuel) onto the bitten toe and set it on fire by putting a match to it. This unusual method was likely an extreme measure in an attempt to counteract the effects of the scorpion’s venom. - Why did the mother feel relieved?
Answer
The mother felt relieved because she believed that by being stung by the scorpion, she had spared her children from a similar fate. Her gratitude reflects her deep love and maternal instinct to protect her family.
NIOS Class 12 for English Night of the Scorpion
