What do the above lines tell you about Ali's attitude towards nature?
What do the above lines tell you about Ali's attitude towards nature?
Official answer
Ali's attitude has shifted from dominance (hunting) to 'admiration', showing a new-found love and connection for the natural world.
Marking scheme
- 1.1 mark for identifying that Ali's attitude shifted from dominance/hunting to admiration and love for nature.
Hint
Compare what Ali used to do in nature (hunt) with what he does now (stand in admiration). What word from the text best describes his new attitude?
Quick oral answer
Ali's attitude towards nature has completely changed from exploitation to admiration. As a hunter, he saw nature only as a hunting ground, but after his transformation, he stands lost in admiration before a cornfield, showing genuine love for the natural world.
Common mistakes
- 1.Writing a vague answer like 'Ali loves nature' without contrasting it with his previous attitude as a hunter, missing the transformation that the question implicitly asks about.
- 2.Failing to quote the keyword 'admiration' from the text, which is the most direct evidence of his changed attitude and the word CBSE examiners look for in the answer.
- 3.Interpreting his standing before the cornfield as loneliness or sadness rather than appreciation. The text clearly says 'lost in admiration', not 'lost in thought' or 'lost in grief'.
Analysis and explanation
Tests analysis of Ali's changed relationship with nature in the extract from 'The Letter'.
Concept
- The key phrase 'lost in admiration' shows Ali now views nature with wonder, not as a hunting ground.
- Earlier, as a skilled hunter, Ali traversed fields and forests at dawn only to track and kill birds — nature was merely a backdrop for sport.
- After being transformed by separation from Miriam, he became sensitive enough to admire the beauty of a golden cornfield at sunrise.
Before-and-after contrast
- The same man who once caused death in natural settings now stands still in reverence before nature's beauty — this shift from exploitation to admiration should be highlighted for full marks.
Common mistakes
- Generic answers like 'he likes nature now' are too vague — quote 'admiration' directly and show the transformation from prey-seeker to nature-lover.
- This links to the broader theme: suffering refines and humanises a person, making them more sensitive to the world.
Interesting facts
Dhumaketu was deeply influenced by Rabindranath Tagore's nature philosophy, which viewed the natural world as a manifestation of the divine. This influence is visible in how Ali's spiritual transformation is mirrored by his new relationship with nature.
The literary technique of showing a character's inner change through their relationship with nature is called the 'pathetic fallacy' when nature mirrors emotions, or 'nature symbolism' when nature represents psychological states. Dhumaketu uses the latter in Ali's story.
Studies in environmental psychology have shown that people who experience deep personal loss often report a heightened sensitivity to natural beauty, a phenomenon called 'post-traumatic growth', which is exactly what Ali undergoes in the story.
Question details
Q33 of 47 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 10
- Subject
- English (Communicative)
- Year
- 2025
- Section
- Section D
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- Short Answer
- Chapter
- Literature
- Topic
- The Letter
- Syllabus topic
- Prose - The Letter by Dhumaketu (Ali's Relationship with Nature)
- Updated
- 2026-02-19
- Author
- Padhantu
- Reviewed by
- Padhantu
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Frequently asked questions
What specific scene shows Ali's changed attitude towards nature?
The text describes Ali standing before a golden cornfield at dawn, 'lost in admiration' of its beauty. Previously, he would have walked through the same field focused solely on hunting prey, completely ignoring the natural beauty around him.
How is Ali's new relationship with nature different from his old one?
As a hunter, Ali saw nature as a resource to exploit for sport. After his transformation, he sees nature as something beautiful to admire and connect with emotionally. He moves from domination to appreciation.
Does Ali's love for nature replace his love for Miriam?
No, Ali's appreciation of nature does not replace his longing for Miriam. Rather, the pain of losing Miriam opened his eyes to beauty and suffering in the world. His love for nature and his grief for Miriam coexist and both stem from his emotional awakening.