NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Short Stories Chapter 4 Tomorrow

This worksheet provides NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter Tomorrow from the Kaleidoscope book. This chapter is a short story that explores human emotions, hope, illusion, and psychological conflict through the character of Captain Hagberd and others. It highlights how unrealistic beliefs can shape lives and relationships. This worksheet includes complete and accurate NCERT Solutions, helping students clearly understand the chapter and prepare effectively.

Chapter summary: stories, poems & themes

This chapter is a short story titled Tomorrow by Joseph Conrad. It focuses on Captain Hagberd, who lives in constant hope that his lost son will return “tomorrow.” The story explores themes of illusion, madness, emotional suffering, and human helplessness. It also shows the struggles of Bessie, who is trapped in her difficult life and supports Hagberd’s beliefs out of kindness. The narrative highlights psychological depth and the impact of false hope on individuals.

What this NCERT chapter covers?

• Understanding themes like illusion, hope, and emotional conflict  
• Character analysis and psychological interpretation  
• Development of reading and comprehension skills  
• Speaking and discussion-based understanding  
• Vocabulary and figures of speech (allusion)  
• Pronunciation and stress patterns in words  

How to use these NCERT solutions?

Students should first try answering all questions in this worksheet on their own and then compare their answers with the given solutions. Parents and teachers can use these solutions to guide students and explain difficult concepts. The answers strictly follow the NCERT sequence and structure, which helps in better revision and exam preparation.

Student tips & learning tricks

• Focus on understanding characters like Captain Hagberd and Bessie deeply  
• Do not memorise answers blindly—understand the psychological themes  
• Use examples from the story while writing answers  
• Be careful while answering interpretation-based questions  
• Practice language work exercises to improve expression  

Why NCERT solutions are important?

NCERT Solutions provide accurate and structured answers that match the textbook pattern. They help students build strong concepts, improve understanding, and perform better in exams. These solutions also develop analytical and writing skills, which are essential for Class 12 English.

Complete answer key – NCERT solutions

Stop and Think (Page 42)  
1. Captain Hagberd came to Colebrook in search of his lost son, Harry. A letter had suggested that his son might have been seen there, so he settled in the town hoping for his return.  
2. People considered him strange and unreasonable because he obsessively believed his son would return “tomorrow.” His behaviour and constant hope made others think he was mentally unstable.  

Stop and Think (Page 46)  
1. He was a coastal sailor who never liked the sea. He preferred land and home life and avoided long voyages, showing his emotional dislike for seafaring.  
2. He hinted that Bessie would marry his son Harry when he returned. His constant references to their future together made her feel shy and embarrassed.  

Stop and Think (Page 49)  
1. Bessie listened patiently and humoured him. Though she knew his hopes were unrealistic, she did not contradict him out of kindness and pity.  
2. Mr Carvil was harsh, selfish, and tyrannical. Despite being blind, he dominated and depended heavily on Bessie, making her life difficult.  

Stop and Think (Page 52)  
1. Both were mentally and emotionally trapped—Hagberd in his delusion about his son, and Carvil in his bitterness and dependence. Both caused suffering to themselves and others.  
2. Bessie felt frustrated due to her difficult life, her father’s behaviour, and Hagberd’s unrealistic dreams. This emotional burden sometimes made her irritated.  

Stop and Think (Page 58)  
1. The stranger was Harry Hagberd, the Captain’s son. The Captain, however, refused to believe him and reacted with fear and denial, thinking he was being mocked.  
2. He thought it was a trick or joke planned by someone to deceive his father, not realizing it was his father’s delusion.  
3. She did so out of kindness. She believed that denying his hope would break him mentally, so she supported his illusion to keep him stable.  

Stop and Think (Page 64)  
1. Bessie becomes convinced because the young man shares detailed personal memories about his parents, especially his father’s habits and behaviour. His resemblance to Captain Hagberd and his natural manner also confirm his identity.  
2. Harry had lived a rough, wandering life as a sailor. He moved from place to place, struggled for survival, and lacked stability, showing that his life was harsh and uncertain.  

Stop and Think (Page 66)  
1. Bessie tells Harry that his father has been preparing a home for him and expects him to settle down, marry her, and live a stable life. Everything has been arranged with the belief that he will return “tomorrow.”  
2. Captain Hagberd called out that he would force his son to stay and, if necessary, disinherit him. He declared that he would leave all his property to Bessie if Harry refused to accept his plans.  

Understanding the text  
1. The consistency in Captain Hagberd’s madness is his unwavering belief that his son will return “tomorrow.” No matter what happens, his hope never changes, showing a fixed and repetitive pattern in his delusion.  
2. He prepares by buying furniture, arranging a house, and planning a settled life for Harry. He even imagines Harry’s marriage with Bessie, showing how deeply he lives in his imagined future.  
3. Bessie gradually begins to half-believe his illusion because she constantly listens to and supports his ideas. Out of compassion, she stops opposing him, which slowly makes her emotionally involved in his belief.  
4. Harry comes mainly out of curiosity and after seeing the advertisement. He also hopes to get some help or money, not out of emotional attachment or desire to reunite permanently.  

Talking about the text  
1. This statement is true in the case of Captain Hagberd. His madness is balanced by his belief that his son will return. When this belief is challenged, he becomes disturbed and agitated. His self-esteem depends on this illusion, and any threat to it causes emotional instability. (Answer may vary)  
2. Both stories deal with escape, helplessness, and emotional conflict. In Eveline, the protagonist cannot leave her home despite suffering, while in Tomorrow, Bessie remains trapped in her situation. Both highlight fear, duty, and inability to change one’s life. (Answer may vary)  

Appreciation  
1. The author uses indirect narration and gradual revelation. Hagberd’s past is revealed through conversations, gossip, and observations rather than direct explanation, creating mystery and psychological depth.  
2. Bessie shows partial insanity by believing and supporting Hagberd’s illusion. Old Carvil’s cruel and dependent behaviour also reflects imbalance. These suggest that madness is not limited to one person—it exists in different forms in society.  
3. Bessie is disappointed because Harry is selfish, careless, and unwilling to stay. He destroys the illusion she had protected and does not value his father’s love or her sacrifice.  

Language Work  

A. Figures of speech: Allusion  

Example 1:  
“Father Neptune” → Hagberd is compared to Neptune, the Roman sea god. This shows his sailor background and strong personality.  

Example 2:  
“deposed sea-god” → Suggests that Hagberd was once powerful (a sailor) but is now reduced to a lonely, helpless man.  

B. Pronunciation  

inform → in'form  
information → infor'mation  
hesitate → 'hesitate  
hesitation → hesi'tation  

Verb – Noun  
'present → pre'sent  
ex'amine → exami'nation  
pro'duce → pro'duction  
'calculate → calcu'lation  
dis'tribute → distri'bution  
'specialise → speciali'sation  

This complete answer key is based entirely on the worksheet provided in the uploaded file :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} and follows NCERT guidelines accurately.

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