Extra Questions and Answers of Chief Seattle's Speech | ICSE CLASS 9 AND 10 | ENGLISH LITERATURE

Extra questions

1. Who is chief Seattle? What was his speech about?

~
Chief Seattle is a Native American chief, a member of the Squamish tribe, and a prominent figure among his people.

In his
speech, he argues for his oppressed people due to the white men. This argues
for their right, land right. He shows great concern over the degradation of
nature. He also warns against the rapid progress of the white people and the
decay of the red men.

2. How did Seattle express his concern over environmental
degradation?

~
Seattle expresses his concern over environmental degradation and its impact on
humans. Nature has provided every necessary things to live. He says that the
white men want to buy their land, who have no respect for nature. They write
their religion on a stone so that people remember them throughout. He fears
that in future people will be facing a huge problem if they don’t respect the
environment.

3. Who is a great chief at Washington? What has he sent to the
natives?

~The
great chief at Washington is George Washington, the first president of the USA.

The
White Chief had arrived with the proposal and the message of friendship from
the Big Chief. They offered the natives their goodwill and friendship, whereas
it was known that they have no need of their friendship.

4. How did Seattle compare the number of the white chief to that of the
red men?

~
Seattle says that there was a time when his people were large in number now
they are nothing more than a mournful memory. He compares the Whites to the
grass that covers the vast prairies, large in number, they are powerful in
number whereas his people are few and they resemble the scattering trees of a
storm-swept plain.

5. What was the main motive for sending the greetings?

~ The White Chief had arrived with the proposal
and the message of friendship from the Big Chief. They offered the natives
their goodwill and friendship. The Big Chief wishes to buy the land of the
Native Americans. The natives have to surrender their land to the white men and
have to leave their ancestors land.

6. How did the Seattle react to the greetings sent by the Big Chief?

~ The
Big Chief wishes to buy the land of the Native Americans. He promises to do
many things if they surrender. Seattle says that the proposition seems to be
just, kind, and generous as the Redman no longer has rights. The offer appears
to be wise but they don’t need their friendship in actual. Being less in number
the Native Americans had to listen to them.

7. What was the no. Of his people earlier as said by Seattle?

~
Seattle being concerned about nature and his people exclaims in sorrow that now
there are a handful of people but once there was a time in the past when his
people were numerous in number. They covered the land as the waves of a
wind-ruffled sea covered its shell.

8. What do Seattle mean by ‘Youth is impulsive’?

~
Seattle in his speech says that the youth is impulsive, referring to the young
one of his races. The red men when grew angry, they paint their faces black
with paint which denotes that their heart was not good. Their hearts were cruel
and relentless, the old men and the old women were unable to restain them.

9. When did enmity between the red men and the white men begin?

~ As
said by Seattle in his speech the enmity between the red men and the white men
began when the white forced the tribals to leave their land. They occupied their
land, the land of the ancestor’s and forced them to move westward. But he never
wanted the enmity to return back as they have nothing to gain but had got many
things to lose.

10. Who are Haidas and Tsinshians?

~
Haidas were the Indigenous people of North America and Tsinshians were the
North American people of the northwest coast. As said by Seattle in his speech
they both were the old outside enemies of the natives who ceases to frighten
them.

11. What condition does Good Father give to protect the native
people?

~ The
white settlers wanted to buy their native lands and promised to allow them
enough to live comfortably. The natives had to accept the offer if they want
him to give them protection from their ancient enemies. He made them sure that
he will always protect the tribe. He will provide them with all they need to
live happily. They would also be allowed to visit the tombs of their ancestors.

12. How does Seattle differentiate tribal people from that of the
white people?

~
Seattle in his speech says that there was a time when his people were large in
number but now they are nothing more than a mournful memory. He says although
his people might die first but even the white men won’t be spared. Everyone
will need to die with a similar Destiny only the difference is one might face
earlier.

13. How does Seattle bring the difference between the religion of
the white man and the red man?

~The
white men follow Christianity which was written upon stones so that people
remember them throughout their life. Their religion was considered to be
somewhat artificial and mechanical by Chief Seattle, as they have no respect
for the environment and also for their ancestors.

The
the religion of the tribal people was the tradition of their ancestors. Their
ancestors were buried in the land. It was their sacred ground. They visit their
resting ground to show respect for them.

14. How are the natives dependent on their ancestors?

~ The religion of the natives has been the traditions of their ancestors. They
believe that the souls of their ancestors remain in the magnificent mountains,
murmuring rivers, deep valleys, and always walk with them. They visit their
resting ground, the burial place of their ancestors to show respect for them.

15. Why do the dead of tribal never forget them of this world?

~ The
death of the native red Indians never forgets them of the world and the things
given to them. They still love its verdant valley, murmuring river, magnificent
mountain, sequestered vales and verdant lined lakes and bays and always yearn
in tender fond affection over the lonely hearted living. They keep visiting the
burial place to guide, console and comfort.

16. How is God of red men different from that of white men?

~ The
God of both the races were different. The God of the White men loves them and
hates the Redmen. He loves the white people, protects them with His loving
arms. The native god was with them when they were strong, abundant, and
flourishing, but now when they are in need hope so even the native god has
forsaken them. They are making the red men stronger. As if everything was fair
to the whites and nothing to the red.

17. Compare the past days of Chief Seattle’s people to the upcoming
doom days according to Seattle.

~ According to Seattle the situation when his
people were in their glorious phase to the wave of a wind-ruffled sea which has
now come to the edge of doom. He states how the glowing days of the natives
have come to decay just like the tide, going back from the shore which has no
hope to return. Once there was a time when his people were large in number now
they are nothing more than a mournful memory.

18. Where was the religion of the white people written?

~
White people’s belonged to the religion ‘Christianity’. The religion of the
white people i.e. Christianity was written upon stones so that people remember
them throughout their life. Their religion was considered to be somewhat artificial
and mechanical by Chief Seattle, as they have no respect for the environment
and also for their ancestors. Their religion was not somewhere felt by heart,
it was considered to be fake.

19. How are the natives compared to the waves of seas?

~ The
two comparisons Seattle’s has made in his speech states the present situation
and the past situation of the native people. He states the situation when his
people were in their glorious phase to the wave of a wind-ruffled sea which has
now come to the edge of doom. He states how the glowing days of the natives
have come to decay just like the tide, going back from the shore which has no
hope to return.

20. What is the condition laid by the speaker before he accepts the
Big chief’s proposition?

~
Seattle says that he will be accepting the proposition sent by the Big chief if
he won’t deny the privilege of visiting the burial place of their ancestors,
friends, and children. It was their sacred ground. They visit their resting
ground to show respect for them.

21. How can you say that the red Indians were attached to their
land?

~
Seattle’s speech shows the importance of the land to the red Indians. For them,
it was not only a piece of earth but a symbol of their culture and memories. It
was the burial place of their ancestors, the land was sacred to them. Not only
the living ones but also the dead ones love their land.

22. According to Seattle what will unite both the red man and the
white man?

~
According to Seattle, the common destiny was death. He says only death can unite
both the races. The death may differ but everyone who is born here will have to
die someday or the other. Both the red men and the white men will share the
same destiny as an order of nature, everything will decay today or tomorrow.

23. How were the natives oppressed by the white man?

~
Seattle’s speech shows how his people were oppressed due to the white man’s.
The white men were colonizing them. They were so powerful in number than the
red men were forced to work according to them. The Natives were in a fear that who had no respect for nature, their ancestors, how will they allow them to
live comfortably after buying the land.