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Important Questions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 3 Prose

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An Overview of Important Questions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 3 Prose

Do you ever wonder how family and money can affect our feelings? In Important Questions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 3 Prose, you’ll explore the story “The Rocking-horse Winner,” where a boy named Paul tries to bring happiness to his family in surprising ways. This chapter makes you think about luck, love, and what truly matters at home.


With these important questions and answers, you can quickly understand the main story ideas, tricky points, and key characters. It’s perfect if you want to clear up your doubts or prepare well for your Class 11 English exams. You’ll also find the meanings behind famous phrases from the chapter, which will help you answer confidently in exams. If you want to see what else you’ll learn this year, check the latest Class 11 English Syllabus.


All the questions are prepared by Vedantu’s teachers and are easy to follow. You can even download a free PDF for revision or find more practice using these Class 11 English Important Questions. Happy learning and good luck with your studies!


Study Important Questions For Class 11 English -Woven Stories Chapter 3 –The Rocking-Horse Winner

Very Short Answer Questions                                                                           1 Mark

1. Word – Meaning from the given chapter-

(i) Anguish

Ans: A severe mental or physical pain

(ii) Stoutly

Ans: With courage and determination

(iii) Frenzy

Ans: A state or period of uncontrolled excitement

(iv) Iridescent

Ans: Showing luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles


2. Fill in the blanks

(i) They lived in ____, they felt always _____ in the house.

Ans: Style, anxiety

(ii) The puppy was looking ______ for no reason but heard the ______.

Ans: Extraordinarily foolish, secret whisper.


3. True – False:

i. When her children were present, she always felt the centre of her heart.

Ans: True

ii. The mother had a small income but the father was rich.

Ans: False

iii. The expensive and splendid toys filled the nursery at Christmas.

Ans: True

iv. The whisper was nowhere and therefore no one spoke about it.

Ans: False


4. What troubled the woman?

Ans: She always felt the centre of her heart went hard when her children were present, which caused her trouble.


5. What was the birthday present of Paul to her mother?

Ans: The birthday present of Paul to her mother was thousand pounds for five successive years.


Short Answer Questions                                                                              2 Marks

1. How did the failure affect the woman?

Ans: The woman tried a variety of things but was unable to discover anything worthwhile. She racked her wits even more, and her failure left deep lines on her cheeks.


2. What was the haunted phrase and who heard it?

Ans: An unsaid word began to plague the house: “There must be more money!” I'm sure there's more money!” Nobody stated it out loud, but the kids could hear it all the time.


3. What did Paul do with the rocking horse?

Ans: Paul sat on his large rocking horse, became enraged, and careered the horse erratically. He climbed down and stood in front of his rocking-horse as he reached the conclusion of his short insane adventure.


4. Why did the uncle feel delighted?

Ans: The uncle felt delighted to find that his small nephew was posted with all the racing news and events that were happening and was also accustomed to the names and details of the horses.


5. What was Paul’s secret?

Ans: Paul’s secret of secrets was his unnamed wooden horse. He had his horse taken from his own bedroom and placed at the top of the house when he was freed from his duties as a nurse and nursery governess.


Short Answer Question                                                                               3 Marks

1. What were the gifts of Christmas?

Ans: On the occasion of Christmas, the house was full of expensive and splendid toys which filled the entire nursery. The gifts were a gleaming contemporary rocking horse, a smart dollhouse, a large pink doll who sat in her new pram, and an exceptionally stupid dog who replaced a teddy bear.


2. How did uncle manage five thousand pounds without letting Paul’s mother know about it?

Ans: Uncle promised Paul that he would handle it without his mother's knowledge, and he did it without difficulty. Uncle deposited the five thousand pounds with the family lawyer, who was then to notify Paul's mother that a relative had placed five thousand pounds in his hands.


3. What made Paul frightened terribly?

Ans: The house was already haunted by the phrases that were heard by all the children. The voices in the house suddenly went mad, like a chorus of frogs on a spring evening. The voices in the house were behind the spray of mimosa and almond blossoms, and from under the piles of iridescent cushions, trilled and screamed in sort of ecstasy. This frightened Paul terribly.


4. What happened two nights before the Derby?

Ans: Paul's mother went to a huge party in town two nights before the Derby. One of her panic attacks was concerning her son, her firstborn, which grabbed her heart and made her unable to speak. She battled the sensation since she was a firm believer in logic. But that was too much for her, so she left the dance and walked downstairs to contact her son on the phone.


5. Why was Paul tense and what made his mother tense more?

Ans: The Derby was approaching, and the boy was becoming increasingly apprehensive. He didn't hear a word that was spoken to him. He looked thin, and his eyes had an eerie quality to them. His mother was also experiencing weird discomfort about him. She would feel a certain anxiety about him that was almost anguish and wanted to rush to him at once to know about his safety.  


Long Answer Questions                                                                                      5 Marks

1. Give the details of the woman and her family.

Ans: The woman was lovely, but she lacked fortune in her life. She married for love, but the love lasted just a few months. She had three lovely children, two girls and a boy, but she felt forced to have them and couldn't love them. She knew there was a hard tiny spot in the centre of her heart that couldn't feel love for anyone. They lived in a nice house with a garden and quiet maids, and they thought they were better than everyone. Both the father and the mother had a meagre salary. The father was attractive and moved into town to work at some office, but his plans never materialised. Despite the fact that the style was maintained at all times, there was always a nagging feeling of financial scarcity.


2. What did Paul’s mother do for income?

Ans: Paul's mother travelled into town on a daily basis. She'd discovered a strange talent for drawing furs and clothing fabrics. She also worked in secret at a friend's studio who was the head artist for the big drapers. For the newspaper advertising, she created representations of ladies in furs and ladies in silk and sequins. Paul's mother barely made a few hundred dollars a week and was unsatisfied despite working numerous jobs at once. She always wanted to be first in things, even when it came to producing designs for curtain commercials.


3. What was her reaction after reading the letter?

Ans: She received the letter while eating breakfast on her birthday morning. Her face stiffened and became more expressionless as she read the letter. Her face took on a hard, determined expression afterwards. She hid the letter under the piles of some other letters and did not say a word about it. She did not disclose the letter nor said anything related to it to anybody, and she went to the town without saying more to her son.


4. What did Paul’s mother observe in her house after her return from the party?

Ans: Paul's mother was in town for a huge celebration. She returned to her room and removed her white fur coat. She walked upstairs to her son's room since she was experiencing odd anxiousness. She waited outside his door, muscles tense, listening to weird, weighty, but not loud sounds. For a little moment, her heart remained still. It was a silent sound, yet it was rushing and strong. She felt as though she recognised the cacophony, which seemed to be going insane. The room was dark when she turned the door handle, but she heard and saw something move to and fro in the space near the window. She stared, terrified and astonished.


5. What happened to Paul and how did he die?

Ans: Paul was in his green pyjamas, madly surging on the rocking horse. The blaze of the light suddenly lit him up as he urged the wooden horse. His eyes blazed at her mother for one strange and senseless second, as he ceased urging his wooden horse. He fell off with a crash to the ground and became unconscious. He remained unconscious with some brain-fever as well. He was very critical on the third day of the illness and everyone was waiting for a change. He neither slept nor regained consciousness and his eyes were like blue stones. He died the same night after being conscious for some time while talking to his mother.


Related Study Materials for Class 11 English (Woven Words) Chapter 3 - Prose

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Important Other Links for Class 11 English (Woven Words) Chapter 3 Prose

1.

CBSE Class 11 The Rocking-horse Winner Notes

2.

CBSE Class 11 The Rocking-horse Winner Solutions



CBSE Class 11 English (Woven Words) Important Questions for All Chapters

CBSE Class 11 English Important Questions and Answers include topics from Woven Words, helping with thorough preparation and easier revision.






Important Study Materials for Class 11 English


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FAQs on Important Questions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 3 Prose

1. What are the most important questions for Class 11 CBSE exams from ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’ for 2025–26?

  • Theme-based questions (5-mark): Explain how the theme of greed and materialism impacts the characters in ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’ as per the CBSE 2025–26 syllabus.
  • Character analysis (3-mark): How does Paul’s mother influence the events in the story?
  • Symbolic question (5-mark): Discuss the significance of the rocking horse in Paul’s quest for luck.

2. How does D.H. Lawrence highlight the dangers of materialism in ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’?

Lawrence portrays materialism as a destructive force by showing how the constant desire for money creates anxiety within the family. The repeated phrase “There must be more money” haunts the house, shaping the mother's coldness and Paul's unhealthy obsession with luck, which ultimately leads to tragedy.

3. What is the role of Paul's mother in influencing his actions in the story?

Paul’s mother’s dissatisfaction and emotional detachment drive Paul to seek her approval by obtaining ‘luck’ and money. Her constant anxiety and inability to love genuinely cause Paul to believe that earning enough money will earn her affection, motivating his dangerous actions.

4. Describe a frequently asked 5-mark exam question based on symbolism in ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’ with a model answer.

Exam-style question: Analyze the symbolic role of the rocking horse in the story.
Model answer: The rocking horse symbolizes Paul’s desperate attempt to gain control over uncertainty and win his mother’s love by predicting race winners. Its frenzied motion represents his psychological turmoil, and his final ride marks the culmination of his sacrifice, highlighting the dangers of equating love with material success.

5. What are common misconceptions students have regarding Paul’s ‘luck’ in ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’?

Many students mistakenly believe Paul’s ‘luck’ refers to mere good fortune; however, in the story, ‘luck’ is equated with wealth and success, which is a flawed belief promoted by his mother. This misconception highlights the central irony of the narrative and how seeking approval through money can be self-destructive.

6. How do CBSE examiners expect students to connect the story’s events to its themes for high-mark answers?

Examiners look for answers that link character actions and story events with major themes like greed, love, and fate. High-mark responses should use specific examples such as the whispering house, Paul’s desperate efforts, and the mother’s coldness to illustrate the consequences of materialism on family relationships (as per CBSE 2025–26 board marking scheme).

7. Why does Paul ride his rocking horse, and what does this action reveal about his character? (CBSE HOTS)

Paul rides his rocking horse in a trance-like state to predict winning horses, believing this ‘luck’ will resolve his family’s financial woes and win his mother’s love. This highlights his innocence, determination, and the psychological burden placed on him by adult anxieties.

8. What question can appear for 3 marks related to the ending of ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’?

Question: Discuss the circumstances of Paul’s death and its significance.
Answer: Paul dies from exhaustion and mental strain after the Derby, having sacrificed his health for his family’s wealth. His death underlines the tragic consequences of equating love with financial success.

9. How should students structure a 5-mark answer for ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’ in the CBSE exam?

  • Begin with a clear, relevant introduction citing the question’s focus.
  • Use specific references from the text for evidence.
  • Connect examples to central themes (greed, love, fate).
  • Provide a concise conclusion that directly answers the question as per CBSE 2025–26 marking guidelines.

10. Why is the phrase ‘There must be more money’ significant in the story and in CBSE board questions?

This phrase symbolizes the ever-present anxiety and pressure for wealth within the household, which shapes the family’s actions. CBSE board frequently asks about its impact as it connects directly to core themes of materialism and psychological distress.

11. What are key character traits of Paul that are likely to be asked in 2025 CBSE Class 11 exams?

  • Determination: His unwavering quest to gain ‘luck’ and please his mother.
  • Sensitivity: He deeply internalizes household anxieties and responds emotionally.
  • Innocence: Paul’s effort emerges from a childlike belief in magic and family love, not in greed.

12. How does ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’ fulfill the criteria of a modern short story, as per CBSE board standards?

The story uses concise narration, symbolic language, psychological depth, and irony, all characteristics valued in the CBSE English curriculum for analyzing modern fiction. These qualities enable students to develop higher-order responses in board exams.

13. What high-order thinking skill (HOTS) question can be asked about the mother’s attitude in ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’?

Sample HOTS question: How does the mother’s inability to feel love relate to the story’s central conflict?
Answer: Her emotional coldness prevents real familial connection, intensifying the destructive cycle of materialism and causing Paul’s tragic efforts to win her affection, which is a key exam-tested conceptual focus in CBSE 2025–26.

14. How is irony used as a literary device in ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’ and why might CBSE exams focus on this?

Irony appears when Paul’s success in winning money fails to bring happiness or love to his mother and instead leads to his demise. CBSE examiners may test this to assess literary analysis skills and the ability to connect narrative devices to broader themes.

15. What expected short and long answer trends should students prepare for Class 11 English board exams based on ‘The Rocking-horse Winner’?

  • Short answer: Focus on key events, character motivations, and symbolism.
  • Long answer: Analyze thematic depth, use well-structured arguments, and cite textual evidence, following the 2025–26 CBSE marking guidelines for important questions.