Chapter 8 (Columbus and the Egg)
'Gentlemen, I will lay a wager that none of you can make this egg stand up, as I will ... without anything at all.'
1. When and where were these lines spoken?
Ans: These lines were spoken during a banquet held by the Cardinal of Spain in honour of Christopher Columbus, after his successful return from his voyage.
2. Who are the 'gentlemen' being addressed?
Ans: The 'gentlemen' being addressed were the grandees (landowners), courtiers, and clergymen present at the banquet.
3. What did the speaker want to prove by laying the wager?
Ans: The speaker, Columbus, wanted to prove that a task seems simple only after someone has shown how to do it. He wanted to teach a lesson to the guests who were belittling his achievement.
4. Describe how the wager was won.
Ans: After everyone else failed, Columbus took the egg and won the wager by gently crushing one end of its shell on the table. This created a small flat base, allowing the egg to stand upright on its own.
1. How long did Columbus try to get help in Spain?
Ans: Columbus spent more than six years in Spain trying to get help from King Ferdinand.
2. Who did he try to get help from? Who helped him finally?
Ans: He tried to get help from the rulers of European countries, specifically King Ferdinand of Spain. Finally, Queen Isabella helped him.
3. When did Columbus and his fleet set sail?
Ans: Columbus and his fleet set sail on 3rd August, 1492.
4. What did they set sail in search of?
Ans: They set sail in search of a 'Land to the West'.
5. Was Columbus successful in his expedition?
Ans: Yes, Columbus was very successful in his expedition and received a tremendous welcome upon his return.
6. Who were the people who attended the Cardinal's banquet?
Ans: The Cardinal's banquet was attended by grandees (landowners), courtiers, and clergymen.
7. What was the topic of their conversation?
Ans: The topic of their conversation was the discovery of the Indies.
8. How did one man try to belittle Columbus?
Ans: One man tried to belittle Columbus by saying that even if Columbus hadn't found the Indies, someone from Spain would have succeeded eventually, implying it wasn't a great achievement.
9. Did he succeed?
Ans: No, he did not succeed. Columbus cleverly responded with the egg wager to prove his point.
1. Describe Columbus' struggle to find support for his expedition.
Ans: Columbus' struggle was long and difficult. For many years, he tried in vain to persuade the rulers of European countries to provide him with a fleet of ships and supplies for his historic voyage. He spent over six years in Spain alone trying to get help from King Ferdinand. During this time, he faced hardship, poverty, and ridicule. He was just about to give up and leave Spain for ever when Queen Isabella finally agreed to support his proposals fully.
2. How did people treat Columbus after his successful return?
Ans: After his successful return, people treated Columbus as a national hero. He received a tremendous welcome wherever he went. He was received at the court in Barcelona by the king and the queen, who seated him on their thrones. Princes, nobles, and clergy all attended the ceremony, and the king himself rose as Columbus was about to kneel, ordering him to be seated—a very great honour at the court.
3. In what manner did the king and queen honour him after his return?
Ans: The king and queen honoured him in a grand manner. They received him at the court in Barcelona and had him seated on their thrones, a sign of great respect. When Columbus was about to kneel before them, the king himself rose and ordered him to be seated, which was a very great honour.
4. What did one person say during the Cardinal's banquet?
Ans: During the Cardinal's banquet, one of the jealous guests tried to diminish Columbus's achievement. He said that Columbus's discovery of the Indies wasn't a brilliant feat and suggested that even if he hadn't done it, someone from their own country of Spain would have eventually succeeded, as Spain was full of great men.
5. How did Columbus respond?
Ans: Columbus did not argue. Instead, he responded cleverly by asking for an egg to be brought. He then proposed a wager, challenging any of the gentlemen to make the egg stand up on its own without any support, a task he claimed he could do.
6. What was the wager that Columbus laid down at the banquet?
Ans: Columbus laid down a wager that none of the gentlemen present at the banquet could make an egg stand up on its end, as he could, without using anything at all to support it.
7. How did he win the wager?
Ans: After all the guests tried and failed, Columbus took the egg. He won the wager by gently pressing the egg down on the table, crushing the shell slightly at one end. This created a small, flat base, which allowed the egg to stand upright by itself.
8. What do we learn from the story 'Columbus and the Egg'?
Ans: The story teaches us a valuable lesson about innovation and perception. It teaches that many great ideas or discoveries seem very simple and obvious after they have been demonstrated. However, the real genius lies in being the first person to think of the idea and have the courage to execute it. The story is a reminder that originality is a great quality, and we should not belittle the achievements of others just because they seem easy in hindsight.
A. Fill in the blanks choosing the appropriate words from the box.
(expedition, journey, voyage, trip, trek)
1. The school has organised a day's trip to the Botanical Gardens.
2. At the end of his voyage, Columbus was considered a great hero.
3. It had been a long journey since they had travelled for almost thirty hours.
4. He hated the long trek through the hills.
5. Many others had attempted the Himalayan expedition before Tensing and Hillary.
1. a galaxy of -> stars
2. a congregation of -> worshippers
3. a crew of -> sailors
4. a choir of -> singers
5. a horde of -> men
6. a collection of -> antiques
7. a bench of -> judges
8. a board of -> directors
A. Fill in the blanks choosing the correct word given in brackets.
1. a. I have been living here since the war.
b. I lived there for twenty years, before I moved out.
2. a. The house was beside the lake.
b. Besides the house, no other building could be seen.
3. a. I expect to reach home on time.
b. All the boys except Ram have finished their work on time.
4. a. No further reasons were given for the delay.
b. Chennai is farther from Delhi than Mumbai.
5. a. This is the nearest post office to my house.
b. The post office is just next to my house.
6. Columbus discovered America while Edison invented the phonograph.
7. His voyage to the New World was a great success, and when he returned he made the journey to Barcelona.
8. He was acclaimed as a national hero and the king proclaimed that he would be rewarded.
9. They could not endure that a foreigner should have acquired so much glory. They felt he was being honoured far more than was required.
1. Don Antonio said he was invited to the Cardinal's banquet.
Ans: 'I was invited to the Cardinal's banquet,' said Don Antonio.
2. He said that when he arrived, he could see that many were jealous of the attention given to the man from Genoa.
Ans: He said, 'When I arrived, I could see that many were jealous of the attention given to the man from Genoa.'
3. Don Pedro said that Spain was full of brave men who could easily have done what Columbus had done.
Ans: Don Pedro said, 'Spain is full of brave men who could easily have done what Columbus has done.'
4. Columbus said he would not argue, instead he asked for an egg.
Ans: Columbus said, 'I will not argue; instead, I ask for an egg.'
5. Columbus then challenged the courtiers present to make the egg stand up on the table.
Ans: Columbus then said, 'I challenge you, gentlemen, to make this egg stand up on the table.'
6. The courtier wanted to know if anyone succeeded.
Ans: The courtier asked, 'Did anyone succeed?'
7. No one could, said Don Antonio, till Columbus made it stand up by pressing it down and crushing it a little at one end.
Ans: 'No one could,' said Don Antonio, 'till Columbus made it stand up by pressing it down and crushing it a little at one end.'
a. Thomas Edison was an inventer. -> inventor
b. He did many experments in his lab. -> experiments
c. Edison worked together with other sceintists. -> scientists
d. He did not let failyur stop him from trying. -> failure
e. Edison was dilligent in his work. -> diligent
f. Thomas Edison invented an electrick bulb. -> electric
(Note: These are creative tasks. Sample answers are provided below.)
Listening: Based on the context of inventions, Thomas Edison might mean that even if we know the basic components (like filaments for a light bulb), we cannot make a useful product without the hard work, experimentation, and innovative thinking to combine them correctly.
Writing Dialogue:
Don Antonio: I was invited to the Cardinal's banquet. When I arrived, I could see that many were jealous of the man from Genoa.
Don Leonato: You mean Christopher Columbus? Weren't they happy for his success?
Don Antonio: Some were, but one man, Don Pedro, said that any brave man from Spain could have discovered the Indies. It was quite rude, wasn't it?
Don Leonato: It was! So, what did Columbus do? He didn't just sit there, did he?
Don Antonio: No, he's a clever one. He asked for an egg and challenged everyone to make it stand on its end. A simple egg! No one could do it, could they?
Don Leonato: Of course not! So, how did he do it? It's impossible, isn't it?
Don Antonio: He just tapped it on the table, crushing the end a little. And it stood perfectly. 'It's easy when you're shown how,' he said. He taught everyone a fine lesson, he did!
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
B. Fill in the Blanks
1. It is very easy afterwards, to _______________ what has been shown to us.
Ans: repeat
2. For years Columbus had tried in _______________ to persuade the rulers of European countries.
Ans: vain
3. Wherever he went he was _______________ as a national hero.
Ans: acclaimed
4. They should first have _______________ the Indies and not laughed at him who had sought it first.
Ans: sought
5. The story about Columbus and the egg is referred to in many scientific _______________.
Ans: papers
C. Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark)
1. What do we often wonder about simple discoveries?
Ans: We often wonder why we did not think of them ourselves.
2. What did Columbus need to raise money for?
Ans: He needed to raise money for his historic voyage.
3. What was Columbus on the verge of doing before the queen's intervention?
Ans: He was on the verge of leaving Spain for ever.
4. What great honour did the king give Columbus at the court?
Ans: The king rose and ordered Columbus to be seated.
5. What is a 'cardinal'?
Ans: A cardinal is a priest of the church, next in rank to the Pope.
6. What did the jealous courtier claim about Spain?
Ans: He claimed Spain was full of great men who could have made the discovery.
7. What is a 'wager'?
Ans: A wager is a bet.
8. Did anyone at the banquet succeed in making the egg stand up?
Ans: No, none of them succeeded.
9. How did Columbus create a base for the egg?
Ans: He crushed the shell a little at one end.
10. What does 'in vain' mean?
Ans: It means without success.
11. Who are 'grandees'?
Ans: Grandees are rich landowners.
12. On what date did Columbus set sail?
Ans: He set sail on 3rd August, 1492.
13. What did the guests understand after the egg deed was done?
Ans: They understood that after a deed is done, everybody knows how to do it.
14. Who are 'clergymen'?
Ans: Clergymen are priests.
15. What did the guests try to do with the egg?
Ans: They all tried, but none succeeded in making it stand up.
D. Medium Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)
1. Why is the story of Columbus and the egg considered a 'famous example'?
Ans: It is a famous example because it perfectly illustrates a key truth about discovery: a new idea seems simple and obvious only after someone else has demonstrated it. Before Columbus showed the way, no one thought of the simple solution, just as no one thought of sailing west to find the Indies. The story is a timeless metaphor for originality versus imitation.
2. What kind of hardships did Columbus face during his years of struggle?
Ans: The text mentions that during the years he was seeking support, Columbus had to put up with great hardship, poverty, and even ridicule. This implies he likely lacked money for basic needs and was mocked by people who thought his idea of sailing west was foolish or impossible.
3. What was the significance of the king ordering Columbus to be seated?
Ans: In the formal court of a king and queen, protocol and hierarchy were extremely important. It was expected for a subject like Columbus to kneel before the monarchs. For the king himself to rise and order Columbus to be seated was a very great and rare honour, showing the immense respect and acclaim he had earned for his achievement.
4. What was the underlying reason for the courtier's comment at the banquet?
Ans: The underlying reason was jealousy. The text states that many at the banquet "could not endure that a foreigner should have acquired so much glory." The courtier's comment was not a genuine critique but an attempt to belittle Columbus's unique achievement and suggest that a Spaniard could have done it just as easily.
5. Explain the phrase "After the deed is done, everybody knows how to do it."
Ans: This phrase is the central lesson of the story. It means that once an innovative act or a complex problem's solution is demonstrated, it becomes common knowledge and seems simple to everyone. The difficulty and genius lie in being the first to conceive of and perform the act, not in copying it afterward.
6. Why did Columbus choose not to argue with the courtier directly?
Ans: Columbus was a clever man and likely knew that a direct argument would be undignified and ineffective. Arguing would put him on the same level as the jealous courtier. Instead, he chose a practical demonstration (the egg wager) which was far more powerful and memorable, allowing him to prove his point without a single word of debate.
7. What does the story suggest about the nature of genius?
Ans: The story suggests that genius is not about doing something incredibly complicated, but about seeing a simple solution that no one else has seen before. The solution to making the egg stand was simple, but only Columbus thought of it. This implies that genius lies in creative, original thinking and the courage to try a new approach.
8. How did Columbus's voyage change the world?
Ans: While the story doesn't go into detail, Columbus's voyage was a monumental event in world history. His arrival in the Americas (which he called the 'Indies') initiated a period of European exploration and colonization, leading to a massive exchange of goods, ideas, peoples, and diseases between the 'Old World' (Europe) and the 'New World' (the Americas), forever changing global geography and societies.
9. What was Queen Isabella's role in Columbus's success?
Ans: Queen Isabella's role was crucial. After Columbus had struggled for years and was about to give up, she was the one who decided to fully support his expedition. She gave the orders for the fleet to be fully equipped, providing the essential resources that King Ferdinand and other rulers had denied him. Without her support, the historic voyage might never have happened.
10. How does this story serve as a lesson against jealousy?
Ans: The story shows that jealousy can make people belittle the great achievements of others. The courtier's comment was driven by envy of the glory Columbus, a foreigner, had received. Columbus's clever response exposed the courtier's remark as petty and foolish, thereby teaching a lesson that it is better to appreciate and learn from a great achievement than to try and diminish it out of jealousy.
E. Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)
1. "The story about Columbus and the egg is referred to in many scientific papers." Why do you think this is so? Explain the connection between this simple story and complex scientific discovery.
Ans: This simple story is relevant to scientific discovery because it perfectly illustrates the concept of a "paradigm shift" or "out-of-the-box thinking." Many scientific breakthroughs are not about discovering a new, complex law, but about looking at an existing problem from a completely new angle, which then makes the solution seem obvious in hindsight.
For example, before Einstein's theory of relativity, everyone was trying to solve problems of physics within the old framework. Einstein's genius was in changing the fundamental assumptions (like the nature of time and space). Once he did that, the solutions to many problems became clear. The courtiers were stuck trying to balance the egg (working within old rules). Columbus changed the rule by altering the egg itself. This is why the story is a powerful metaphor for scientific innovation: the true breakthrough is often a simple, elegant idea that challenges existing assumptions, and once it's shown, everyone says, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?"
2. Analyse the character of Columbus as presented in the story. What qualities beyond being a great explorer does he demonstrate?
Ans: The story reveals several qualities in Columbus beyond his famous skills as a navigator and explorer.
- Patience and Resilience: He spent years facing "hardship, poverty, and ridicule" while seeking support for his voyage. His ability to endure this for over six years in Spain alone shows incredible resilience and unwavering belief in his vision.
- Wisdom and Intelligence: He demonstrates social intelligence at the banquet. Instead of getting into a petty argument with the jealous courtier, he uses a clever and memorable analogy—the egg—to make his point in a dignified and powerful way.
- Composure: When faced with a direct insult to his life's work, he "did not answer." This shows great self-control. He remains calm and responds with a thoughtful challenge rather than anger.
- Humility and Honour: The text mentions he was about to kneel before the king and queen, showing he understood and respected courtly traditions, even though he was being celebrated as a hero.
3. Discuss the theme of 'Recognition and Jealousy'. How does the story show both the positive and negative reactions to a great achievement?
Ans: The story masterfully contrasts the two extreme reactions to great success: recognition and jealousy.
The positive reaction is represented by the grand honour Columbus receives from the king and queen. They acclaim him as a "national hero," receive him at court, and bestow upon him the rare honour of being seated in their presence. This is the noble and generous recognition of a monumental achievement.
The negative reaction is embodied by the courtiers at the banquet. The text explicitly states they "could not endure that a foreigner should have acquired so much glory." Their jealousy manifests as an attempt to "belittle" Columbus's feat, suggesting it was nothing special and that anyone could have done it. This shows how envy can make people petty and unwilling to acknowledge true genius. Columbus's clever response with the egg serves to silence this jealousy by proving the value of being the first to dare and to do.
4. Imagine you were a guest at the banquet who initially doubted Columbus. Describe your thoughts before, during, and after the egg wager.
Ans:
Before: When I first heard Don Pedro speak, I must admit I nodded in agreement. Columbus is a foreigner, after all. Spain has many great minds. Surely, discovering some islands by sailing west is not so difficult a feat? I watched as Columbus, rather than arguing, simply asked for an egg. An egg! I thought it was a strange and weak response.
During: He laid the wager, and I scoffed silently. Make an egg stand on its end? Impossible. I watched as man after man, wiser and nobler than I, tried and failed. I tried it myself, turning it carefully, trying to find a point of balance. It was hopeless. The egg rolled over every time. When it came back to Columbus, I was certain he had made a fool of himself.
After: Then, with a simple tap, he crushed the end and stood it upright. A wave of silence fell over the room, and then a wave of understanding—and shame—washed over me. He was right. It was so simple, so obvious... but only after he had shown us how. In that moment, I understood what he had truly done. He hadn't just found a new route; he had dared to do what no one else had thought possible. He had crushed the 'egg' of conventional wisdom. I felt very small indeed.
5. Explain the importance of Queen Isabella's decision to support Columbus. What does this tell us about her character as a leader?
Ans: Queen Isabella's decision was the single most critical turning point in Columbus's quest and, by extension, in world history. For years, Columbus had been rejected by other rulers and her own husband, King Ferdinand. He was on the brink of failure, ready to leave Spain forever. Her decision to overrule the prevailing opinion and "fully equip" his expedition was a massive risk, but it shows her remarkable character as a leader.
This decision reveals that Queen Isabella possessed:
- Vision: She could see the potential in Columbus's idea where others only saw risk and ridicule.
- Courage: She was willing to take a bold gamble, investing state resources in a highly unconventional and unproven enterprise.
- Decisiveness: At a critical moment when Columbus was about to give up, she acted decisively to keep the opportunity alive for Spain.