🌦️ Unit 2, Lesson 4: Craft
Craft
A. Now, read the text below and answer the questions that follow.
While art is considered intuitive and visionary, craft is seen to be a practical application of skills for producing objects like pottery, cane items, and textile items. Artisans pick up their skills through on-the-job training.
2.
Rural communities relied on artisans for household items and social occasions. Craftworks range from winnowing baskets to clay oil lamps. Unlike artwork, which depends on the stature of the creator, the maker of a terracotta doll often remains anonymous. Even so, the tactile feeling of the work makes it very inviting.
3.
A craftwork is always evolving and keeping abreast of changing tastes. While it changes, it also functions as a stable signifier of community values over time.
4.
Sonargaon attracts many visitors because of its antiquity and historical importance. It was once a splendid trading post with a busy river port. Famous travelers like Ibn Battuta were amazed by its beauty.
5.
One of the historical landmarks is Panam Nagar. It became a prosperous trading post under British rule. At the peak of the trade, thousands of weavers
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Necessary Words and Phrases
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| intuitive (Adjective) |
IPA: /ɪnˈtjuː.ɪ.tɪv/ Bengali: স্বতঃস্ফূর্ত; অন্তর্জ্ঞাত Meaning: based on natural feeling or instinct rather than reasoning Synonyms: instinctive, innate, natural |
Her design choices are highly intuitive and creative. |
| visionary (Adjective) |
IPA: /ˈvɪʒ.ən.ər.i/ Bengali: দূরদর্শী; কল্পনাপ্রবণ Meaning: having or showing clear ideas about the future; imaginative Synonyms: imaginative, farsighted, innovative |
The visionary artist introduced a completely new style. |
| craft (Noun) |
IPA: /krɑːft/ Bengali: কারুশিল্প; হস্তশিল্প Meaning: skill in making objects by hand Synonyms: handiwork, artisan skill, craftsmanship |
Pottery is a traditional craft in rural Bangladesh. |
| pottery (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈpɒt.ər.i/ Bengali: মৃৎশিল্প; মাটির পাত্র Meaning: objects made from clay and hardened by heat Synonyms: ceramics, earthenware |
She bought handmade pottery from the village market. |
| cane (Noun) |
IPA: /keɪn/ Bengali: বেত; বাঁশজাতীয় উপাদান Meaning: a tall plant used for making furniture or baskets Synonyms: rattan, bamboo material |
The craftsman made a chair out of cane. |
| textile items (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈtek.staɪl ˈaɪ.təmz/ Bengali: বস্ত্রজাত সামগ্রী Meaning: products made from woven or knitted fabrics Synonyms: fabrics, cloth products |
Textile items from Bangladesh are famous worldwide. |
| pick up (Phrasal Verb) |
IPA: /pɪk ʌp/ Bengali: শিখে নেওয়া; অর্জন করা Meaning: to learn something gradually through practice Synonyms: acquire, learn, grasp |
He picked up the craft by watching his father work. |
| winnowing baskets (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈwɪn.əʊ.ɪŋ ˈbæs.kɪts/ Bengali: চাল-ডাল ঝাড়ার ঝুড়ি Meaning: baskets used for separating grain from chaff Synonyms: grain baskets, threshing baskets |
Farmers used winnowing baskets to clean rice. |
| stature (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈstætʃ.ər/ Bengali: মর্যাদা; খ্যাতি Meaning: importance or reputation gained by ability or achievement Synonyms: reputation, standing, prestige |
Her artistic stature grew after the exhibition. |
| terracotta doll (Noun) |
IPA: /ˌter.əˈkɒt.ə dɒl/ Bengali: টেরাকোটা পুতুল; পোড়ামাটির পুতুল Meaning: a doll made from baked clay Synonyms: clay doll, earthen doll |
The museum displayed ancient terracotta dolls. |
| anonymous (Adjective) |
IPA: /əˈnɒn.ɪ.məs/ Bengali: নামহীন; অজ্ঞাতপরিচয় Meaning: not identified by name Synonyms: unknown, unnamed, unidentified |
The craftsman remained anonymous despite his beautiful work. |
| tactile feeling (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈtæk.taɪl ˈfiː.lɪŋ/ Bengali: স্পর্শজনিত অনুভূতি Meaning: sense of touch experienced through texture Synonyms: touch sensation, physical feel |
The soft texture of the kantha gives a warm tactile feeling. |
| abreast (Adjective/Adverb) |
IPA: /əˈbrest/ Bengali: সমসাময়িক; সমানতালে Meaning: keeping up with; aware of the latest trends or changes Synonyms: updated, informed, current |
Artisans stay abreast of new trends in design. |
| signifier (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈsɪɡ.nɪ.faɪ.ər/ Bengali: সংকেতদাতা; প্রতীক Meaning: something that represents or indicates meaning or identity Synonyms: symbol, indicator, representation |
The craftwork is a signifier of cultural tradition. |
| antiquity (Noun) |
IPA: /ˌæn.tɪˈkwɪ.ti/ Bengali: প্রাচীনতা; প্রাচীন যুগের ঐতিহ্য Synonyms: ancientness, oldness, age |
Sonargaon attracts visitors because of its antiquity and historical importance. |
| splendid (Adjective) |
IPA: /ˈsplen.dɪd/ Bengali: চমৎকার; দুর্দান্ত Synonyms: magnificent, glorious, superb |
Sonargaon was a prosperous trading post with a splendid river port. |
| river port (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈrɪv.ər pɔːrt/ Bengali: নদী বন্দর Synonyms: dock, harbor, quay |
Merchants used the river port to transport goods to distant markets. |
| amazed (Adjective) |
IPA: /əˈmeɪzd/ Bengali: বিস্মিত; চমকে উঠা Synonyms: astonished, surprised, stunned |
Ibn Battuta was amazed by the splendor of Sonargaon. |
| landmarks (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈlænd.mɑːrk/ Bengali: ঐতিহাসিক বা পরিচিত স্থান Synonyms: notable place, monument, historic site |
One of the historical landmarks of Sonargaon is the ancient city of Panam Nagar. |
| prosperous (Adjective) |
IPA: /ˈprɒs.pər.əs/ Bengali: সমৃদ্ধ; সমৃদ্ধশালী Synonyms: wealthy, thriving, flourishing |
Panam Nagar became a prosperous trading post under British rule. |
| peak (Noun) |
IPA: /piːk/ Bengali: শীর্ষ; সর্বোচ্চ পর্যায় Synonyms: height, pinnacle, summit |
At the peak of the trade, about 1400 families of weavers lived in and around the city. |
| weavers (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈwiː.vərz/ Bengali: তাঁতবয়ক; তাঁত কারিগর Synonyms: textile workers, artisans, craftsmen |
About 1400 families of weavers lived and worked in Panam Nagar during the muslin trade peak. |
1. Multiple Choice Questions
- According to the passage, how is craft mainly defined?
- As a form of imaginative artistic expression.
- As the practical application of skills to make useful objects.
- As a method of teaching religious values.
- As an activity performed only for entertainment.
- Who are the individuals that usually pick up craft skills?
- Trained university graduates.
- Travelers who learn from foreign cultures.
- Younger artisans guided by older and experienced ones.
- People who study engineering.
- Why did rural communities in Bangladesh rely on artisans?
- To obtain necessary household and ceremonial items.
- To document historical events.
- To operate large machines for agriculture.
- To conduct local court functions.
- What does the passage suggest about the makers of craftworks?
- Their fame determines the value of the craft.
- They sign every piece they create.
- Their names are always known through records.
- They often remain anonymous despite their skill.
- What feeling does a nakshikantha evoke according to the passage?
- A sense of fear and mystery.
- A sense of formality and distance.
- A warm, intimate, and tactile feeling.
- A strong political message.
- Which factor influences the changing nature of craftwork?
- The abolition of traditional festivals.
- The disappearance of rural farms.
- An increasing decline in artistic talent.
- Changes in lifestyle and material conditions.
- What does the passage imply about certain motifs and styles in craft?
- They remain stable and act as cultural signifiers.
- They constantly change every year.
- They lose cultural meaning over time.
- They are created only for foreign buyers.
- Why is Sonargaon considered historically important?
- It was a modern industrial city in the 19th century.
- It was once the capital of the independent Sultanate of Bengal and a prosperous trading post.
- It was a site for the British East India Company headquarters only.
- It is located in the northernmost part of Bangladesh.
- What was the primary purpose of Panam Nagar after the Moghuls conquered Sonargaon in 1611?
- To serve as a religious pilgrimage center.
- To host British administrative offices exclusively.
- To provide residential quarters to the governors and facilitate trade.
- To act as a military fortress only.
- Who set up the Folk Arts and Crafts Museum in Sonargaon, and when?
- Raja Danauja Rai in the 14th century
- Zainul Abedin in 1970
- The British East India Company in the 19th century
- Ibn Battuta during his visit in 1346
- What is a notable feature of Panam Nagar’s infrastructure built by the Moghuls?
- It had an extensive railway network.
- It included highways, bridges, and three artificial canals.
- It was entirely made of wooden buildings.
- It had modern skyscrapers for trade.