An encounter with a ghost can be really intimidating. Read this poem about a colonel to find out how he turned his paranormal experience into a comic one!
भूत से सामना वाकई डराने वाला हो सकता है। कर्नल के बारे में यह कविता पढ़ें और जानें कि कैसे उन्होंने अपने अलौकिक अनुभव को हास्यपूर्ण बना दिया!
Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth-Toast
कर्नल फ़ाज़करली बटरवर्थ-टोस्ट
Bought an old castle complete with a ghost,
ने एक पुराना किला खरीदा, जिसमें एक भूत था,
But someone or other forgot to declare
लेकिन किसी ने या तो यह घोषित करना भूल गया
To Colonel Fazak that the spectre was there.
कर्नल फ़ाज़क को यह बताने कि भूत वहां था।
On the very first evening, while waiting to dine,
पहली शाम को, भोजन का इंतजार करते हुए,
The Colonel was taking a fine sherry wine,
कर्नल एक अच्छा शैरी वाइन पी रहे थे,
When the ghost, with a furious flash and a flare,
तभी भूत, एक प्रचंड चमक और उजाले के साथ,
Shot out of the chimney and shivered, ‘Beware!”
चिमनी से बाहर निकला और कांपते हुए बोला, ‘सावधान!’
Colonel Fazackerley put down his glass
कर्नल फ़ाज़करली ने अपना गिलास नीचे रखा
And said, ‘My dear fellow, that’s really first class!
और कहा, ‘मेरे प्रिय साथी, यह तो वाकई शानदार है!
I just can’t conceive how you do it at all.
मैं यह समझ नहीं सकता कि आप इसे कैसे करते हैं।
I imagine you’re going to a Fancy Dress Ball?
मुझे लगता है कि आप किसी फैंसी ड्रेस बॉल में जा रहे होंगे।
At this, the dread ghost made a withering cry.
इस पर, डरावने भूत ने एक भयंकर चीख मारी।
Said the Colonel (his monocle firm in his eye).
कर्नल ने कहा (उनकी आँख में मोनोकल मजबूती से था)।
‘Now just how you do it I wish I could think.
‘अब आप इसे कैसे करते हैं, यह मैं सोच नहीं सकता।
Do sit down and tell me, and please have a drink.’
बैठिए और मुझे बताइए, और कृपया एक ड्रिंक लीजिए।
The ghost in his phosphorous cloak gave a roar
भूत ने अपनी फास्फोरस चादर में गर्जना की
And floated about between celling and floor.
और छत और फर्श के बीच तैरने लगा।
He walked through a wall and returned through a pane
वह दीवार के पार चला गया और एक खिड़की से वापस आया
And backed up the chimney and came down again.
और चिमनी में पीछे मुड़ा और फिर से नीचे आ गया।
Said the Colonel, ‘With laughter I’m feeling quite weak!”
कर्नल ने कहा, ‘हंसी के साथ मैं बिल्कुल कमजोर महसूस कर रहा हूँ!’
(As trickles of merriment ran down his cheek).
(जैसे हंसी के पानी उसकी गालों से बह रहे थे)।
My house-warming party I hope you won’t spurn.
मेरी हाउस-वॉर्मिंग पार्टी मुझे उम्मीद है कि आप नकारेंगे नहीं।
You MUST say you’ll come and you’ll give us a turn!
आपको ज़रूर आना चाहिए और हमें एक मोड़ देना चाहिए!
At this, the poor spectre-quite out of his wits-
इस पर, बेचारा भूत—पूरी तरह से दिमागी रूप से टूट चुका—
Proceeded to shake himself almost to bits.
अपने आप को लगभग चिथड़ों में झकझोरने लगा।
He rattled his chains and he clattered his bones
उसने अपनी चेनें झंकार की और अपनी हड्डियाँ बजाईं
And he filled the whole castle with mumbles and moans.
और उसने पूरे किले को गड़गड़ाहट और कराहों से भर दिया।
But Colonel Fazackerley, just as before,
लेकिन कर्नल फ़ाज़करली, पहले की तरह,
Was simply delighted and called out, ‘Encore!’
सिर्फ़ खुश हुए और चिल्लाए, ‘एंकोर!’
At which the ghost vanished, his efforts in vain,
जिस पर भूत गायब हो गया, उसकी कोशिशें बेकार हो गईं,
And never was seen at the castle again.
और फिर कभी उस किले में नहीं दिखा।
Oh dear, what a pity said Colonel Fazak.
‘ओह, यह तो अफ़सोस की बात है,’ कर्नल फ़ाज़क ने कहा।
‘I don’t know his name, so I can’t call him back.’
‘मुझे उसका नाम नहीं पता, इसलिए मैं उसे वापस नहीं बुला सकता।’
And then with a smile that was hard to define,
फिर एक मुस्कान के साथ, जिसे परिभाषित करना मुश्किल था,
Colonel Fazackerley went in to dine
कर्नल फ़ाज़करली खाने के लिए अंदर गए।
Charles S. Causley
चार्ल्स एस. कॉसले
Know the poet
कवि को जानें
Charles Stanley Causley (1917-2003) was a British poet, a teacher, and a writer. His work often features simplicity and directness as well as a representation of folklore, legends and magic.
चार्ल्स स्टेनली कॉसली (1917-2003) एक ब्रिटिश कवि, शिक्षक और लेखक थे। उनके काम में अक्सर सादगी और सीधेपन के साथ-साथ लोककथाओं, किंवदंतियों और जादू का प्रतिनिधित्व होता है।
Summary:
The poem tells the amusing story of Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth-Toast, who unknowingly buys a castle haunted by a ghost. When the ghost appears in a dramatic manner to scare him, the Colonel is not frightened at all. Instead, he finds the ghost’s performance entertaining and treats it like a joke. He even invites the ghost to his house-warming party and offers him a drink. Despite all its efforts—rattling chains, walking through walls, and moaning—the ghost fails to scare the Colonel. Humiliated and confused, the ghost disappears forever. The poem uses humour to challenge our usual idea of ghosts being scary. It highlights the Colonel’s calm, cheerful nature and turns a spooky encounter into a light-hearted and funny event.
सारांश:
कविता कर्नल फैज़ैकर्ले बटरवर्थ-टोस्ट की मनोरंजक कहानी बताती है, जो अनजाने में एक भूत द्वारा प्रेतवाधित महल खरीद लेता है। जब भूत उसे डराने के लिए नाटकीय तरीके से प्रकट होता है, तो कर्नल बिल्कुल भी भयभीत नहीं होता। इसके बजाय, वह भूत के प्रदर्शन को मनोरंजक पाता है और इसे एक मजाक की तरह लेता है। वह भूत को अपने गृह प्रवेश की पार्टी में आमंत्रित करता है और उसे एक ड्रिंक भी देता है। अपने सभी प्रयासों के बावजूद – जंजीरों को खड़खड़ाना, दीवारों से गुजरना और कराहना – भूत कर्नल को डराने में विफल रहता है। अपमानित और भ्रमित, भूत हमेशा के लिए गायब हो जाता है। कविता भूतों के डरावने होने के हमारे सामान्य विचार को चुनौती देने के लिए हास्य का उपयोग करती है। यह कर्नल के शांत, हंसमुख स्वभाव को उजागर करता है और एक डरावनी मुठभेड़ को एक हल्के-फुल्के और मज़ेदार घटना में बदल देता है।
About the poem
Read to understand
A. Write T for true and F for false for the following statements.
1. Colonel Fazackerley did not know that there was a ghost in the old castle when he bought it. [T]
2. The first sight of the ghost frightened the Colonel but later he recovered. [F]
3. Colonel Fazackerley was not interacting with the ghost. [F]
4. The ghost left because he couldn’t scare the Colonel. [T]
5. The Colonel went to look for the ghost at the end. [F]
B. Read these lines and answer the questions with reference to the context.
1. Said the Colonel, “With laughter I’m feeling quite weak!”
(As trickles of merriment ran down his cheek).
‘My house-worming party I hope you won’t spurn.’
a) Why did the Colonel invite the ghost to the house-warming party?
Answer: The Colonel invited the ghost to the house-warming party because he was amused by the ghost’s actions and wanted to show his appreciation for the ghost’s efforts, despite not being scared by them.
b) Explain feeling quite weak’ in your own words.
Answer: “Feeling quite weak” refers to the Colonel feeling so overwhelmed with laughter that it made him feel physically weak, as if he might collapse from laughing too much.
c) Why do you think the Colonel had tears if he was happy?
Answer: The Colonel had tears because of the intense joy and laughter the ghost’s antics brought him. It is common for people to shed tears when they laugh hard or feel extreme happiness.
2. He rattled his chains and he clattered his bones
a) Who is ‘he’ in the above lines?
Answer: ‘He’ refers to the ghost in the poem.
b) ‘Rattled’ and ‘clattered’ describe the nouns ………………. and ………………. respectively.
Answer: ‘Rattled’ and ‘clattered’ describe the nouns chains and bones respectively.
c) Why is ‘he’ rattling his chains and clattering his bones?
Answer: The ghost is rattling his chains and clattering his bones in an attempt to scare Colonel Fazackerley, trying to create a frightening atmosphere. However, the Colonel is not intimidated and instead finds it amusing.
3. But Colonel Fazackerley, just as before, Was simply delighted and called out. ‘Encore!’
At which the ghost vanished, his efforts in vain,
And never was seen at the castle again.
a) What is the meaning of the word ‘encore? Why did the Colonel say that to the ghost?
Answer: The word ‘encore’ means a request for a repeat performance. The Colonel said it because he was entertained by the ghost’s actions and wanted him to keep performing, much like an audience requesting more after an enjoyable performance.
b) Why do you think the ghost vanished?
Answer: The ghost vanished because his efforts to scare the Colonel were unsuccessful. The ghost was probably frustrated that his attempts to frighten the Colonel had failed and the Colonel even found them amusing, so he left in defeat.
c) Why do you think Colonel Fazackerley was not afraid of ghosts?
Answer: Colonel Fazackerley was not afraid of ghosts because he had a jovial and confident personality. Instead of being frightened, he was curious and entertained by the ghost’s antics. He viewed the situation light-heartedly, showing courage and amusement rather than fear.
C. Answer these questions briefly.
1. Describe Colonel’s actions to frighten the ghost?
Answer: The Colonel did not try to frighten the ghost intentionally. Instead, his cheerful and amused response to the ghost’s scary antics confused and unnerved the ghost, making him feel ineffective.
2. How did Colonel react when he first looked at the ghost?
Answer: The Colonel was calm and amused. He put down his glass, complimented the ghost’s appearance, and treated him like a guest, not showing any fear.
3. Why did Colonel think that the ghost was going to a ball?
Answer: The Colonel assumed the ghost’s dramatic and strange appearance was a costume for a Fancy Dress Ball, not realising or accepting that it was a real ghost.
4. Why did the ghost’s efforts go in vain?
Answer: The ghost’s efforts went in vain because nothing he did could scare Colonel Fazackerley. The Colonel only laughed and cheered for more, making the ghost feel defeated.
5. Why was Colonel unhappy when the ghost left the castle?
Answer: The Colonel was unhappy because he enjoyed the ghost’s entertaining presence and tricks. He regretted not knowing the ghost’s name so he could call him back.
6. Was Colonel able to finish his dinner?
Answer: Yes, after the ghost vanished, the Colonel calmly went in to dine, indicating he finished his dinner without being disturbed.
7. What made the encounter between Colonel and the ghost humourous?
Answer: The humour came from the unexpected reversal—where the ghost tried to scare the Colonel, but the Colonel treated him like a performer and was delighted by his tricks. The ghost, instead of being fearsome, ended up confused and defeated.
8. Describe the last two lines of the poem.
Answer: In the last two lines, the Colonel expresses regret over not knowing the ghost’s name, which meant he couldn’t call him back. Then, with a mysterious smile, he casually goes in to eat dinner, showing how unfazed he was by the entire paranormal experience.
Think and write
D. Think and write the answer to these questions.
1. Read the following table and write your reflections of Colonel’s reactions and feelings. One has been done for you.
| The Ghost’s Action | The Colonel’s Reaction | Colonel’s Feeling |
| a) The ghost shot out of the chimney with a furious flash and a flare | The Colonel said that it was a first-class act and asked him if he was going to a fancy-dress ball | curiosity |
| b) The ghost made a withering cry | The Colonel calmly admired the act, kept his monocle firm, and offered the ghost a drink | Amusement |
| c) He walked through a wall in his phosphorous cloak | The Colonel laughed heartily and invited the ghost to his house-warming party | Enjoyment |
| d) He shook his chains and moaned | The Colonel clapped and asked for an ‘Encore’, encouraging the ghost to perform again | Delight |
2. What would have happened if you were in Colonel Fazackerley’s place? How would you have reacted looking at the ghost?
Answer: If I were in Colonel Fazackerley’s place, I might have been terrified at first upon seeing a ghost appear with a flash and a loud “Beware!” I would probably have screamed, tried to run away, or hidden somewhere. Unlike the Colonel, who remained calm and amused, I might not have had the courage or presence of mind to treat the ghost as a guest or performer. It would have taken me time to realise the ghost meant no harm, and even then, I might not have been as friendly or entertained as the Colonel was.
PTP 25 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who is the main character in the poem?
a) Colonel Fawcett
b) Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth-Toast ✔
c) Colonel Featherstone
d) General Butterworth
2. What did Colonel Fazackerley buy?
a) A haunted hotel
b) A farmhouse
c) An old castle ✔
d) A large mansion
3. What was special about the castle?
a) It was new and shiny
b) It had a ghost ✔
c) It had no roof
d) It was under renovation
4. What drink was the Colonel having when he saw the ghost?
a) Tea
b) Coffee
c) Sherry wine ✔
d) Lemonade
5. From where did the ghost first appear?
a) The door
b) The window
c) The chimney ✔
d) The basement
6. What did the ghost say when he appeared?
a) Boo!
b) Help!
c) Run!
d) Beware! ✔
7. How did the Colonel react to the ghost’s appearance?
a) He complimented the ghost ✔
b) He fainted
c) He ran away
d) He called the police
8. What did the Colonel assume about the ghost?
a) That he was a thief
b) That he was going to a Fancy Dress Ball ✔
c) That he was an actor
d) That he was lost
9. What did the Colonel offer the ghost?
a) Food
b) A drink ✔
c) Money
d) A job
10. How did the ghost try to scare the Colonel?
a) By shouting loudly
b) By appearing in dreams
c) By floating and walking through walls ✔
d) By breaking things
11. What was the ghost wearing?
a) A uniform
b) A phosphorous cloak ✔
c) A sheet
d) A black suit
12. What did the Colonel invite the ghost to?
a) A dance
b) A house-warming party ✔
c) A tea party
d) A magic show
13. What was the Colonel’s reaction to the ghost’s tricks?
a) He laughed and enjoyed them ✔
b) He screamed in fear
c) He ignored them
d) He warned the ghost
14. What happened when the Colonel asked for an encore?
a) The ghost danced
b) The ghost vanished ✔
c) The ghost became friendly
d) The Colonel got scared
15. What does the word ‘Encore’ mean?
a) Goodbye
b) A request for another performance ✔
c) Warning
d) Silence
16. Why did the ghost leave the castle?
a) The castle was too cold
b) The Colonel was not scared ✔
c) He was caught
d) The Colonel ordered him to leave
17. How did the Colonel feel after the ghost disappeared?
a) Relieved
b) Angry
c) Slightly regretful ✔
d) Nervous
18. What did the Colonel regret?
a) Not recording the ghost
b) Not knowing the ghost’s name ✔
c) Not calling a priest
d) Not selling the castle
19. What did the Colonel do at the end of the poem?
a) Went looking for the ghost
b) Went in to dine ✔
c) Ran away
d) Slept outside
20. What is the tone of the poem?
a) Scary
b) Humorous ✔
c) Serious
d) Sad
21. What literary device is used in “furious flash and a flare”?
a) Simile
b) Alliteration ✔
c) Hyperbole
d) Metaphor
22. What emotion did the ghost show by rattling his chains and clattering his bones?
a) Joy
b) Anger and frustration ✔
c) Shyness
d) Surprise
23. What word best describes the Colonel’s character?
a) Brave and humorous ✔
b) Cowardly
c) Confused
d) Angry
24. What is the poem mainly about?
a) War and bravery
b) A ghost haunting a castle
c) A humorous encounter with a ghost ✔
d) The Colonel’s childhood
25. The line “Do sit down and tell me, and please have a drink” shows the Colonel’s:
a) Politeness ✔
b) Annoyance
c) Nervousness
d) Ignorance
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