Skip to content
Question

Q.Bring out the irony in the given statement from the extract. (Lost Spring)

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2026Subjective· 1mImportance★★★★★
🔒 Locked · start free trial →

You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.

Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →

The irony lies in the ragpickers wearing discarded shoes, an item meant for comfort and protection, which instead highlights their extreme poverty and the wastefulness of society.

"Lost Spring" by Anees Jung is a poignant exploration of the lives of children trapped in cycles of poverty and exploitation, particularly focusing on ragpickers in Seemapuri and bangle-makers in Firozabad. The narrative often uses subtle observations to underscore the harsh realities faced by these children, and irony is a powerful tool employed to highlight the stark contrasts in their existence.

One particularly striking instance of irony emerges when the narrator observes some of the ragpickers, who live in abject poverty and are often barefoot, wearing shoes. This observation, at first glance, might seem to contradict their destitute circumstances. However, a deeper look reveals the profound irony embedded in this situation.

Here's how the irony unfolds:

  • The Expectation: In a society where shoes are a basic necessity for comfort, protection, and even a symbol of dignity, one would naturally expect that children living in extreme poverty, who cannot afford proper food or shelter, would certainly not possess shoes. Being barefoot is often a direct visual cue of their destitution.
  • The Reality: The narrator notes that some ragpickers do wear shoes. However, these are not new, well-fitting, or even matching pairs. They are invariably discarded shoes, often found in the very garbage heaps these children sift through daily. They might be too large, have holes, or be mismatched, clearly indicating their origin as refuse.
  • The Ironic Twist: The irony lies in the fact that an item meant to provide comfort, protection, and a semblance of normalcy instead becomes another stark symbol of their deprivation. The shoes, rather than elevating their status or providing genuine relief, serve as a constant reminder of their reliance on society's discards. They are 'wearing' a symbol of privilege, but in a way that underscores their lack of it. It highlights the vast disparity between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', where even basic necessities for the poor are often the unwanted leftovers of the rich.
Note

This is an example of situational irony, where the outcome is contrary to what is expected, and often serves to mock or highlight a deeper truth. …

Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Start 14-day free trial →See Plans & Pricing →

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.