Q.3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Use your own language. (20)

Human beings are afraid of death just as children feel afraid of darkness. The fear of darkness of kids increased by the stories of the heard ghosts and thieves. In the same way, the fear of human being is increased by the stories which they heard about the agony of dying man. If a human being regards death as a kind of punishment for his sins he has committed and if he looks upon death as a means of making an entry into another world, he is certainly taking a religious and sacred view of death. But if a human being looks upon death as a law of nature and then feels afraid of it, his attitude is of cowardice. However, even in religious meditations about death there is sometimes a mixture of folly and superstition. Monks have written books in which they have described the painful experiences which they underwent by inflicting physical tortures upon themselves as a form of self-purification. Thus, one may think that the pains of death must be indescribably agonizing. Such books and such thoughts increase a man's fear of death.

Seneca, the Roman Philosopher is of the view that the circumstances and ceremonies of death frighten people more than death itself would do. A dyeing man is heard uttering groans; his body is seen undergoing convulsions; his face appears to be absolutely bloodless and pale; at his death his friends begin to weep and his relations put on mourning clothes; various rituals are performed. All such facts make death appear more horrible than it would be otherwise.

1. What is the difference between human beings' fear of death and children's fear of darkness?

The writer in this passage has differentiated that children’s fear of darkness is due to heard stories of ghosts and thieves, and human being’s fear of death is also due to heard stories about punishment and agony of dying man.

2. What is a religious and sacred view of death?

The writer pronounced in this passage that it is considered religious and sacred view when human being’s understand death as an entry into another world.

3. What are the painful experiences described by the Monks in their books?

Monks have described terrible experiences in their books that they went through physical tortures for their self-purification as they know pain of death is extremely unbearable. In this way they increase fear of death at extreme level.

4. What are the views of Seneca about death?

Seneca, the Roman Philosopher is of the view that the various situations and rituals has frighten people more than the death itself would do.

5. What are the facts that make death appear more horrible than it would be otherwise?

Some of the heard and observed things and executed rituals such as moaning of dying man, bloodless and whitish face at the time of death, transforming body, crying friends, and grieving relatives make the death more terrible than it would be otherwise.