Collect examples of prejudiced behaviour from films or novels.
Examples of prejudiced behaviour from films and novels include the portrayal of certain communities as 'lazy' or 'cunning' in both English and Indian fictional writings. In Indian literature and films influenced by colonialism, some communities were characterised as 'martial races', while others were depicted as effeminate or cowardly, and yet others as untrustworthy.
These portrayals reflect prejudices because they are based on stereotypes — fixed and inflexible characterisations applied to entire groups. While some individuals may actually be lazy or brave, such traits cannot be generalised to a whole community. Prejudiced depictions form opinions in advance without direct evidence and resist change even when new information is available.
Explanation
This is an activity-based question that asks students to identify examples of prejudice in media. The textbook context provides specific examples of stereotypes commonly found in English and Indian fictional writings, particularly those rooted in colonial history. Students should understand that prejudiced portrayals involve generalising traits (like lazy, cunning, cowardly) to entire social groups, which is unfair because such characteristics apply only to individuals, not whole communities.