Class 12 English Chapter 14 | Human Rights Exercise & Grammar

Unit 14 Human Rights “I am Sorry”- The Hardest Three Words to Say Notes

Unit 14: Human Rights – “I Am Sorry”

Genre:

Essay (Personal, Reflective)

Book:

NEB Class 12 Compulsory English (2082)

Lesson Overview

The essay "I Am Sorry" is a deeply personal narrative taken from These Shadowy Waters. It explores domestic violence, intergenerational trauma, and systemic injustice, as well as the strength required for forgiveness. The author revisits childhood memories of his abusive father during apartheid-era South Africa and reflects on how healing requires understanding and compassion, not just punishment.

Summary of the Essay

The author’s father was authoritative and abusive towards his mother. He will always walk with that pain, but later he understands that his father was also a victim of a cruel, tyrannical system. It begs to differ that forgiving is not impossible and that it is needed, more than for others, for oneself, for peace of mind.

He describes how apartheid institutionalized unequal education and economic pressures, giving people no choice but to act a certain way. His father turned violent not solely because of individual failings, but because of injustice as a system. As a parent now, the author sees how pain that is left unhealed can travel down generations. He takes a different route — the one built upon compassion and grace.

People tend to beat around the bush when apologizing, even when the essay title reads, “I am sorry.” Writing this, I put myself in the shoes of others who have had a hard time recognizing the sins they have committed, and I want to get this important point across: You will never be healed when you choose to ignore or deny your sins. However, forgiveness here is not about excusing — it is about letting go of the emotional weight and refusing to involve ourselves in the ongoing cycle of violence.

Key Themes

• Forgiveness vs. Blame
• Impact of Systemic Injustice
• Intergenerational Trauma
• Domestic Violence and Silence
• Compassion as Resistance
• Reflective, Confessional Writing

Grammar Focus

1. Connectives: Time and Cause-Effect

• When / While: Bibha was having her homework while the bell rang.
• Because / Due to: The trip was off due to adverse weather.

2. Past Continuous Tense

• He was writing the letter when I arrived.
• They were arguing when the lights went out.

3. Suffix and Word Formation

Vocabulary Highlights

• Despair – complete loss of hope
• Transgress – to violate a law or boundary
• Forgiveness – the act of letting go of resentment
• Systemic – deeply rooted in the structure of a system
• Intergenerational – spanning across generations

Comprehension Questions

• Q: Why is the author less angry at his father than at the system?
  A: The father was a victim of apartheid, a system that dehumanized everyone and normalized violence.
• Q: What is the author’s message about forgiveness?
  A: Forgiveness is not about excusing wrongs, but about breaking cycles of harm and choosing peace for oneself.
• Q: What does the essay suggest about how trauma is passed down?
  A: Unhealed trauma spreads across generations unless consciously addressed and healed.

Critical Thinking

• Is forgiveness a form of strength or weakness?
• How do systems shape personal behavior?
• In what ways do we carry our parents’ pain without realizing it?
• Can forgiveness be offered without an apology?

Writing Practice

Essay Questions

• Personal Reflection: Write about a time when you had to say “I’m sorry.” What made it difficult? What came after?
• Social Justice Essay: Compare apartheid’s legacy to inequality in Nepal’s education system.
• Character Building: Is it more important to be right or to be kind?

Why This Lesson Matters

Unit 14 challenges students to think beyond black-and-white ideas of good vs. evil. It asks them to reflect deeply on social justice, personal responsibility, and the emotional cost of silence. Through grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing, this lesson develops language fluency and emotional intelligence.

Keywords

• Class 12 Unit 14 Summary in English
• Human Rights Essay
• NEB English 2082 Notes
• Forgiveness & Domestic Violence Essay
• Grammar – Connectives and Past Continuous

Final Note

Unit 14: “I Am Sorry” is not just an English lesson — it’s a life lesson. With its emotional insight and real-world relevance, this chapter asks students to grow as readers, writers, and people. Mastering the grammar and vocabulary is important — but reflecting on its message is essential.