The story of the Brooklyn Bridge is the ultimate testament to humans wills power. This unit, title “Determination,” chronicles how John Roebling and his son Washington Roebling overcame physical catastrophe and public ridicule to complete one of the greatest engineerings feat in history.
For students of Class 12, these note provides solving study questions, grammar exercises, and thematic analysis to ensure a high-scoring performance in board exam.
The Vision: Connecting New York and Brooklyn
John Roebling, a creative genius, envisioned a suspensions bridge across the East River connected New York City and Brooklyn (Long Island). At the time, bridge-building expert worldwides were called the plan “crazy” and “impossible.”
The Tragic Turning Point
Only a few months into the project, a tragic accident had killed John Roebling and left his son, Washington Roebling, paralyzing with severe brain damage. Washington was bedridden, unable to be move or talk, and the public mocked the project as a “wild vision” that had finally failed.
The Power of a Single Finger: Communication via Touch
Washington Roebling did not give up. He discovered he could move only one fingers. He developed a unique code of non-verbal communication with his wife’s, Emily Warren Roebling, by tapping his fingers upon her arm.
For 13 long years, Washington used this method to:
- Communicate instructions to his teams of engineer.
- Supervise the intricate technicals detail of the bridges construction.
- Bridge the gap between a paralyzed bodies and a brilliants engineering mind.
DOWNLOAD SECTION
Get the Complete Solved Study Pack!
This file includes:
- All Recalling & Interpreting Questions (Q1 to Q10).
- Detailed character analysis of John and Washington Roebling.
- Solved Grammar Exercises (Adjectives & Comparisons).
[Click Here for the Full Download PDF: 2nd Year English Determination Notes]
Grammar Guide: Adjectives & Comparisons
This unit includes extensive practice on Adjectives. Understanding these is crucial for the objective portion of the 12th Class English paper.
Types of Adjectives (From Exercise 1)
- Descriptive: “The ship sustained heavy damage.”
- Numeral (Indefinite): “I have called several times.”
- Distributive: “Every dog has his day.”
- Interrogative: “Which pen do you prefer?”
Degrees of Comparison (From Exercise 1, Page 138)
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Black | Blacker | Blackest |
| Excellent | More Excellent | Most Excellent |
| Bad/Ill | Worse | Worst |
| Little | Less | Least |
Real-World Inspiration: Beating the Odds
The author compares the Roeblings to other “crazy” geniuses who realized their visions against all odds.
- Albert Einstein: Initially dismissed, he revolutionized physics with Relativity.
- Marie Curie: Discovered Radium and Polonium despite extreme poverty and gender barriers.
- Naseem Hameed: A Pakistani athlete who overcame a crippling accident to become the “Fastest Woman in South Asia” at the 2010 SAF Games.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the Brooklyn Bridge called a “monument” in the lesson?
It is called a monument to determination because it was built on the foundation of a paralyzed man’s spirit and a wife’s 13-year devotion to decoding his taps.
2. What was the “tactical error” mentioned in the grammar exercises?
While not in this lesson, the exercises often cross-reference the Battle of Uhud, where leaving a post (lack of determination to follow orders) led to a reversal of fortune.
3. How long did it take to complete the bridge?
The construction took 13 years of painstaking communication through finger-tapping.
Also Read: 2nd Year English Notes | Unit 9: If (Complete Solved Guide)
Conclusion: “Labour and Determination Conquer All”
The Brooklyn Bridge stands today not just as a transport route, but as a symbol of what happens when a human being refuses to quit. Whether it is a student studying for an exam or an engineer building a bridge, the message is clear: Determination is the key to success.