1.

THE KILLERS

Q: 1 what is the theme of the story "The Killers"?

Ans: The story "The Killers" points out a very funny and ridiculous aspect of
Western society. It shows that crimes are committed often without any
genuine reason. Al and Max wanted to kill Ole Anderson only to oblige a
friend. They had not even seen their possible victim.
They knew very little about him except that he was a usual visitor at
Henry’s lunch-room.
(1). the theme of the story "The Killers" is very serious and thought
provoking about crime and the criminals. The writer wants to say that, we
cannot escape from the punishment of our crimes. Ole Anderson tried his
best to escape from the killers but could not. Two professional Closet killers
were after him, and they want to kill him.
(2) The law and order situation in America is very poor because the killers
of the story have no fear to be arrested by the police. They are fully
confident. They openly declare that they have come to kill Ole Anderson.
The killers remain two hours in the restaurant without any fear. They wait
for Ole Anderson. They want to kill him only to oblige their friend. We can
say that the story has two main themes.
(I) The lawlessness condition in America where there is no security of life
and the hired killers are common in America.
(II) We cannot escape from the consequences of our crime."
Conclusion: The story "The killers" is full of suspense, irony and satire.
The use of these three literary devices has made the story a powerful
modern story. From the beginning to the end, it is full of surprise.

Q2:"The killers is a powerful story of atmosphere. 2009

Ans. Horrors suspense and curiosity in stories and plays are liked very
much, especially by the younger readers. 'The Killer's is also a story which
has some elements of suspense, horror and curiosity. Here are curiosity.
Here are some of the elements which arouse such feelings while we read
the story.
 The main scene of the story "The Killers" is Henry's lunch-room, two
hired killers in. Their names are Al and Max. They ask for food but
 their attitude towards and Nick is rude and authoritative. The hired
killers create atmosphere of terror and horror in the lunch-room.
 They have worn tight overcoats with derby hats. The behaviours of
old Max with George is as if he were a very inferior creature and very
low man.
 They start eating their meal with their gloves on. From their .
Behaviours, dress and eating manners, they look very dangerous
persons.
 Al and Max frighten the staff of the restaurant by telling them that they
have come to kill Ole Anderson who comes in that restaurant for
dinner. The staff is frightened and do not know what the killers will do
with them. Either they will kill them with Ole Anderson or make them
free.
 The killers have controlled the restaurant without any fear. They are
waiting for Ole Anderson. As he comes, they will shoot him. The
reader remains under suspense from the beginning of the story to the
end that what will happen next.
Conclusion: We can say that “The Killer” is full of suspense and horror.
Hemingway has drawn the picture of society very realistically. His society
has been shown full of horror. Bloodshed, despair and crime.
Q: 3 the story "The Killers" reflects some of the darkest aspects of the
Modern American society.
☆ “Write briefly how we can look upon the "The Killers" as a piece of
Criticism of modern American society.
Ans: We can certainly look upon "The Killers" as a piece of criticism of
modern American society by having a look at the horrifying plot of the story.
It is regrettable that the lawlessness in America has grown so much that
the hirelings are easily moving in the society.
Hemingway, the writer of the story "The Killers" has pointed out some weak
points of American society.
Firstly, there is a poor police system in America. The American police can
do nothing against criminals and killers. Andreson is justified in deploring
the helplessness of the police in protecting his life. When Nick says to
Anderson, "Don't you want me to go and see the police?” Ole Anderson's
categorical answer is: "No.
Secondly, there is no safety is of life in America. The criminals are
common in America. They can kill anyone just for money.
Thirdly, the writer also wants to tell that the judicial system in America is
very weak. The court is not giving severe punishment to the criminals. The
hired killers are common. They have no fear to be caught and punished.
The hired killers tell George that:
"We are going to kill a Swede. Do you know a big Swede named Ole
Anderson?”
"The Killers" is a story in which Hemingway reflects crime, corruption
lawlessness in the American society. He has created an atmosphere of
suspense and horror.
It gives us a glimpse of American society which flourishes murder, disorder
and lawlessness. The atmosphere of the Henry's Lunch Room is full of
terror, suspense horror and mystery.
Conclusion: The writer has succeeded fully in showing the real face of so
much advanced country that claims to have peace and democracy. It wants
to bring peace everywhere in the world but it cannot uproot violence and
other crimes from its own country,
Q: 4
What is the behaviours of the killers towards the attendants of the
hotel?
They (the two killers) leave the place but also leave behind the
looming shadow (LED) of death and horror. 2009
Ans: "The killers" is a typical modern short story by Hemingway. It is the
story of two killers who want to kill Ole Anderson. They want to kill Ole
Anderson just to oblige a friend. They are bold and dauntless. They come
and control Henry's lunch-room.
(1)The attitude of the killer's towards George and other servants of the
restaurant is rude. They treat them like a cruel boss. They order for
different kinds of food. George, the waiter tells them that the demanded
food is not available. The hired killers use sarcastic remarks for the waiter
and the counter man.
(2)They often use the words "Shut up" in their talk. They do not let them
talk. They even do not look at them. They treat the servants of the
restaurant very rudely. They do not let them laugh.
(3)The hired killers order the cook and the little boy to go back to the
kitchen. They make them hostage and then threaten them to kill. Al threats
George that he will blow his head off if he does not follow his orders. The
hired killers frighten the servants of the restaurant to death. The two killers
left the restaurant but they left behind them a looming shadow of death and
horror.
Conclusion: At the end, we can say that the attitude of the hired killers
towards the servants of the restaurant is very frightening from the
beginning to the end of the story.

2. Rappaccini’s Daughter

Discuss the story "Rappaccini's Daughter" as a fantasy.2011

Rappaccini's Daughter is an imaginative story.2010 Narrate the
incidents of horror that take place in the story. 2008
Discuss the story "Rappaccini's Daughter" as a scientific fiction. 2007
Ans: The story "Rappaccini's Daughter" is about a doctor of medicine
whose mad passion for science makes him inhuman and selfish. His
experiments put all his scientific research to a wrong direction. As a result,
his own daughter dies because of his selfishness and obsession with
science.
A story that is not based on fact rather is a product of imagination of a
person is called fantasy. In actual life, it does not happen, as it happens in
the story. There are many incidents in the story "Rappaccini's Daughter"
which are unreal and unbelievable.
Firstly, we see unreality when Beatrice comes to the garden and smells
the most poisonous plant and says: "I am faint with common air". Fresh
air is good for health. And poisonous air is dangerous for health.
Secondly, when Beatrice comes in the garden, the insects draw towards
her as if she were a flower. At one occasion, she give forth her breath
among the insects, they fall and 'die at her feet. It does not happen in
common life.
Giovanni was astonished to see one day the death on an animal creeping
near Beatrice's feet. It died when she picked some flower and its liquid
drops fell on its head.
Thirdly, when Giovanni gives fresh flowers to Beatrice as a token of love.
The fresh flowers begin to die in her hands as if, she were not a natural but
a supernatural being.
Fourthly, when Giovanni wants to pluck a flower from the magnificent plant
is Beatrice catches his hand. In the next morning, a purple mark appears
on the back of Giovanni's hand. It seems that touching dangerous as
poisonous animal.
Conclusion: All the above things show that Rappaccini's Daughter is
science fiction. Though characters in the story are not supernatural (events
are unreal while the theme of the story revolves (boys) around a sense, it is
truly a science fiction or a fantasy.

Q: 2 Rappaccini's Daughter is a tragic love story. Discuss it. 2009.

"I would rather have been loved, not feared," says Beatrice be in
"Rappaccini's Daughter". Elaborate. 2010
What is the terrible fate of Beatrice? 2005
Beatrice is the center of interest in the story "Rappaccini's Daughter
Elaborate. 2014
Ans: The story "Rappaccini's Daughter" is about a scientist, his daughter,
his friend Pietro Baglioni and a young man Giovanni Guasconti. Giovanni is
a student at university and is living near Dr. Rappaccini's garden in a
rented room. When he was sitting in the window of his room, he saw the
beautiful daughter of Dr. Rappaccini.
He was highly impressed too by the beauty of Beatrice. He decided to meet
her. He succeeded to meet Beatrice. After the first and second meeting, I
used to meet Beatrice daily. He was mad in her love. But he did not know it
would be the result of his love story. The relationship of Beatrice and
Giovanni were mysterious and full of love and doubt.
Beatrice, Giovanni's innocent beloved is not emotional in her feelings like a
romantic heroine. She is aware of her poisonous body and its effects on
others.
As a result of close relationships, Giovanni also become poisonous. He
brought a medicine to cure her problem. As soon as she took that
medicine, she fell dead immediately. In this way Rappaccini's scientific
research ended with the death of his own daughter.
Conclusion: This love story has a very tragic end when Beatrice dies in
the feet of her father and her lover in a very miserable condition with the
reaction of medicine that was given to her by Giovanni for the purification of
her body
Q:3 Dr. Rappaccini loves science more than human beings, 2004 *
Rappaccini's destructive knowledge is dearer than his daughter. ☆ Is
Beatrice a pitiable and miserable character Discuss. 2009
Ans: A thorough reading of the story makes it crystal clear that Rappaccini
is a crazy person. He has devoted himself for science. But his commitment
to science is for the sake of science. He does not even care for his sole for
this evil because daughter. He is completely devoid of humane feelings.
Rather, he is a cruel man.
Beatrice, the only daughter of Dr. Rappaccini is deprived of all kinds of joy
and happiness in life.
(1) She has no mother, no brother, and no sister and is living alone.
Only her father gives her company. Her father has no natural love
with her. So, we can say, that she is deprived of the caring and lovely
feelings of her father.
(2) (2)She has no friend, no relatives she only talks with her father and
plants. She inhales the poisonous smell which has become the
element of their life. She calls the magnificent bush as her sister.
(3) When Giovanni, the young student meets her, she tells him about
her loneliness her father's deep love of science which has separated
her from the other human was. "The effect of my father's mad love
of science, which separated me from all kinds of men".
(4) She becomes puppet in the hands of her father. She does only what
her father to do. When her father orders her to care the most
poisonous plant. She says:
“And gladly will I attempt it.”
At the end of the story, we see Beatrice dies in the feet of her father and
love.
Conclusion: By summing up the discussion, we can say that Dr.
Rappaccini is more loyal to his art than his daughter. He is so crazy for
poisonous herbs and plants even he slaughters his sole daughter at the
altar of scientific experiments. The role of Rappaccini makes him a
disgusting and awful-up person for
readers.
Q: 4 Discuss the elements of irony and suspense in the story.2008
Irony means "a mode of speech or writing in which the meanings are
Ans: The story "Rappaccini's Daughter" is about a doctor of medicine
whose mad passion for science makes him inhuman and selfish. His
experiments put all his scientific research to a wrong direction. As a result,
his own daughter dies because of his selfishness and obsession with
science.
The story "Rappaccini's Daughter" has four main characters and is full of
ironic events. All the characters have their own expectations.
(1) Dr.Rappaccini has spent all his life in the study of poisonous plants. He
makes his only daughter and Giovanni poisonous. He is very happy to see
love between Giovanni and Beatrice. Beatrice's death is against
Rappaccini's expectations.
(2) Beatrice is Dr. Rappaccini's only daughter. She expects that she will
love Giovanni and be with him for a long time. She does not know that she
will be separated from Giovanni forever. She does not want to make him
poisonous creature like her but Giovanni becomes poisonous.
(3) Professor Baglioni, Giovanni's father's old friend has brought a
medicine. Both Giovanni and professor Baglioni expect that the medicine
will cure Beatrice, from her poisonous qualities. But the result is quite
opposite job to their expectations. Beatrice, Dr. Rappaccini's beautiful
daughter dies with that medicine. The reader remains under suspense from
the beginning of the story to the end that what will happen next.
Conclusion: The suspense goes on mounting as we 'read the story. We
are all the time desirous of knowing "what next." Until Beatrice's death we
remain hopeful of some good results and the union of Giovanni and
Beatrice.
 3. THE NEW CONSTITUTION

Q:1 Why did Ustad Mangu hate the British?

Explain the causes of Ustad mangu's hatred against the English?2005
Why did Ustad Mangu call the English white mice?2011-2012
Mangu is representing common Indians who were oppressed by the
hands of the British.
Ans: The New Constitution" is the story of an Indian tongawalas. He thinks
his rights as a human being and an Indian citizen would be recognized and
accepted after the promulgation of the India Act, 1935. But his encounter
with a "gora" shatters all his hopes about his freedom. Ustad Mangu, the
tongawala lived in Lahore. He was considered man among his friends
because of his personality and common observation.
(1) He hated the British who were ruling over the India against the will of
the native people. He disliked the authoritative attitude of British soldiers
towards the native Indians.
(2)The Indians were deprived of their basic rights, they did not express their
opinions against the cruel treatment of the English. The people of India
were treated below the status of animals. Ustad Mangu hated these lot
sahibs because of their inhuman treatment with the Indians.
(3)One day, Ustad Mangu was beaten by a gora solider without any sound
reason. He had to bear his insult as an Indians because the Indians had no
rights to protest against the inhuman treatment of the English. He called
them white that had drunk the blood of the native people,
Sometimes Mangu calls them swine, bastared, human monkeys, dead and
rotten”. All these bad adjectives used by Mangu show his intense hatred
against the British.
Conclusion: So, it is obvious that Ustad Mangu hated the British rulers
very much. It is just a symbolic character. Actually he is representing
common Indians who are oppressed by the hands of the British.
Q:2 Write a note on Ustad Mangu's personality.2007-12
What do you know about Ustad Mango?2011-2006
Write a character sketch of Ustad Mangu.2009
Is Mangu a true patriotic?

Ans: Manto is a great writer who knows the art of delineating a character.
Sometimes he puts a good idea in his character's mouth to reveal his
ideas. Sometimes he throws side references to make the reader
understand different aspects of the personality of his character. Manto has
used both these techniques to make the character of Mangu interesting
and understandable.
(1)Ustad Mangu is the central character of the story. "The New
Constitution". He is illiterate and a middle aged person. He lives in Lahore
and is considered a wise man among his fellows. He is very clever. Mostly,
he over hears his fares and gets knowledge about the current affairs. He
shares his knowledge with his friends and is respected by them.
(2)He is jolly by nature. He has many friends. Everyone likes him. Ustad
Mangu is also a true patriot. He hates the English. He does not like them.
(3)One day, he was beaten by a gora solider without reason. He remains
depressed for hours. He wants to get freedom from the English. He wants
to restore the basic right of the Indians. Mangu, as a tongawala was fully
aware of the current situation in the world especially in India.
(4) Mangu has also emotional personality. Sometimes, he starts abusing
the English openly without any fear. One day, he beats a Gora soldier very
confidently.
We can say that Ustad Mangu is a good character. He is simple by nature
but sensitively about the problems of his country fellows.
Conclusion: Thus, the writer has made Mangu's character sketch very
interesting to study by throwing side references about his personality and
character. Mangu is a true patriotic.
Q:3 Describe the quarrel between Ustad Mnagu and a gora soldier.
2005-2007
Why did Ustad Mangu quarrel with the gora soldier?

Ans: The New Constitution" is the story of an Indian tongawalas. He thinks

his rights as a human being and an Indian citizen would be recognized and
accepted after the promulgation of the India Act, 1935. But his encounter
with a "gora" shatters all his hopes about his freedom.
One day, a gora solider abused Ustad Mangu without reason. He bore his
insult patiently because he knew that, he would not get any justice from the
court. On the 1st April, he was very happy when he came on the road. He
saw the same gora solider near a lamp post. The gora solider asked Ustad
Mangu to take to him to dancing girls, bazaar. It was the same gora solider
who had abused Mangu, one year ago. On the 1st April, Ustad Mangu was
very happy, because the new constitution is going to be launched that
would force the English to leave India and make the Indians free. Ustad
Mangu quarreled with the gora soldier were setting fare. He beats the gora
soldier ruthlessly because he wanted to take revenge of his previous insult.
He beated the gora soldier with his powerful blows. The gora soldier began
to shout for her of people gathered there, two policemen arrested him. He
was shouting new con "new constitution". The policemen locked him up
and told him that it was the constitution.
Conclusion: In short, Mangu was justified in beating the gora soldier and
having hatred against the English. "Look at them" he would say, shaking
his head, came to house, to fetch the candle and before, you knew they
had taken over.

Q:4 What kind of change Ustad Mangu was expecting from the new
act of 1935?
☆ Why was Ustad Mangu so happy about the new constitution. 2010
What was new constitution? What could it change if promulgated?
Ans: "The New Constitution" is the story of an Indian tongawalas. He
thinks his rights as a human being and an Indian citizen would be
recognized and accepted after the promulgation of the India Act, 1935. But
his encounter with a "gora" shatters all his hopes about his freedom.
Ustad Mangu is a humble tongawala. He lives in Lahore. He has positive
opinion about the new constitution. The new constitution was being
launched on 1st April 1935.
Firstly, Ustad Mangu expects that the new constitution will restore the civil
rights of the natives of India.
Secondly, he expects that the natives of India will be treated as human
being by the British rulers.
Thirdly, he is also hopeful that the people of India will be free from the
domination of the British rulers.
Fourthly, the Indians would also restore their status as equal to the white
men’s.
Fifthly, he expects that there will be new opportunities and the young
generations will get employment in different departments of the
government.
Sixthly, he expects that the exploitation of the natives of India would come
to an end.
Seventhly, the cruelties and injustice done by the British rulers would also
cease.
Eighthly, he hopes that the English rulers will go back to their native
country.
Ninthly, he expects that all the leaders of India that have been arrested on
the charge of treason would be set free.
Conclusion: Ustad Mangu, the 'tanga wala' is the main character in the
story "The New Constitution”. He has been portrayed as a representative
out of common Indians The common Indian people did not like these
foreign rulers. So, he also hated the English ruler very much. He thought
that the English were exploiting the local resources and people.
 4. BREAKFAST

What is the main theme of the story "Breakfast".

What message does the story give to us? 2010-2006
Write a critical note on the story "The Breakfast", 2011
Ans: In our modern materialistic age where every person desires to get
more and more eath the story "Breakfast" describes the purity of living. It
appreciates the contented of workers. It criticises the modern materialistic
world were some people very rich and some are very poor.
The story "Breakfast" is very simple but thought-provoking.The story shows
the simple hearted, hospitable and innocent people. The writer meets a
labour family. They are very poor but are very contented. They are cotton-
pickers. All the day, they work in the fields. They have got new clothes.
They are very thankful to God. Even they have not their own house. They
have got their labor for only twelve days. They are extremely happy on their
lot. They do not have any complaint against anyone.
They are very co-operative and satisfied. They are also sympathetic even
they offer job to the writer. They are very happy after earning very small
amount of money through cotton picking. They are honest, selfless, and co-
operative and open minded. They serve the writer without knowing his
name, residence and status. They are very humble, simple, hospitable and
straightforward. Actually, the writer wants to say that only hard work is a
key to success. We must always be hopeful about our bright future. We
must be contented and straightforward people in our life, because
contentment is a source of peace of mind and body.
Conclusion: The theme of the story is that the company of poor, ordinary
and selfless people gives us a spiritual kind of joy. We find most rural or
village people are hospitable. They are not proud like many rich city people.
Villagers are mostly good-natured. Their habits, behaviours and talk are
simple
0:2 "Breakfast" by John Steinbeck is the story of happy and innocent
villagers. 2007-2009
What type of people have been presented in the story "The
Breakfast"?2011-2010
☆ The writer calls his meeting with the poor family very pleasant.
why?
Ans: This story successfully illustrates the self-sufficiency of poor laborers.
It portrays the beauty and simplicity of the poor Allah-fearing people living
upon the seasonal labor of cotton picking. It is about a poor but perfectly
satisfied family willing to work anywhere for a better living. Its self-satisfied
members have no complaint or anger against their acute poverty.
The writer of this story was walking along a country side road. Suddenly, he
saw a young girl who was sitting near a stove beside a tent. She was
preparing the breakfast for her family. She was also carrying a child. It was
very cold; the writer came near the stove. He took out his hands out of the
pockets and stretched out to it.
A young man came out from the tent and an old man also came out after
the young man they were wearing cotton picking dress. The old man
greeted the writer. His face was neither friendly nor unfriendly. They both
came close to the stove and began to warm their hands. The breakfast was
ready.
They asked the writer to take breakfast, which he did with them. They
thanked God after taking the breakfast. The young man offered the writer
the job of cotton picking but he refused because he did not need it. They
told the writer that they had been picking cotton for the last twelve days.
They also had got new clothes.
Conclusion: The cotton picking family was very contented, simple and
satisfied at their lot. They were neither jealous, nor greedy and hypocrite.
The writer was highly impressed by their hospitality honesty, simplicity,
humility, and straight forwardness.
Q: 3 the story "Breakfast" can be considered as a criticism on the
modern life Discuss. 2012-2013-2014
Ans: In our modern materialistic age where every person desires to get
more and more wealth, the story "Breakfast" describes the purity of living. It
appreciates the contented living of workers. It criticizes the modern
materialistic world were some people are very rich and some are very poor.
After reading the story "Breakfast" carefully, I come to know that the writer
has satirized the modern busy life by telling the story of a cotton picking
family. They are very poor and do not have any bank balance. In spite of
their utter poverty they are extremely happy. All the day, they work in the
field, their job seasonal.
It is for short time but they are contented at their lot. They are free from any
kind of complaint against anyone.
The modern people both the rich and the poor are always seen and heard
of complaining against the government and the other people. The people of
modern age are busy in accumulating money. They are cheating one
another. They are robbing and killing others to get their money and
property. They are not hard working. They want to become rich overnight.
They hate to do work with their own hands. They are not co-operative to
each other. They do not share their skill, knowledge and wealth with other
people. Conclusion: The story is, indirectly, a criticism on our worldly,
materialistic life. A life of and outward shine of authority and power can
never bring us true peace of mind. We should try to be like the cotton-
picking laborers, inwardly satisfied with their lives.
Q:4 How does the writer describe the purity of living in
"Breakfast".2010
☆ What were the reasons that it was pleasant and there were some
elements of beauty in it?
Ans: The story "Breakfast" deals with the simplicity, contentment and
satisfaction of workers depending on seasonal work of cotton-picking. It is
chiefly with the generous and sympathetic attitude, especially making the
wilderness a beautiful and attractive place.
It is a story of hospitality of a poor family, in which, the writer has described
to the purity of living.
Firstly, he describes the purity of environment. It is morning; the whole
atmosphere is pure and clean. It is free from all kinds of pollution. There is
no smoke of chimneys of the mills as well as the smoke of the brick-tillers.
There is no noise of traffic only the writer himself is walking along the road
and enjoying the scene.
Secondly, the writer describes the purity of the characters. All the
characters of the story including the young man possess the purity of soul.
They are contented, satisfied, generous, hardworking and God fearing.
They are always thankful to God for His blessings. Outwardly, they are very
poor. They are seasonal cotton pickers. They are living in tents on a hill.
They have no complaints against any one. In this modern greedy world,
they have no lust for money. They are leading a contented and happy life.
Even in their utter poverty, they are hospitable, co-operative and selfless.
Conclusion: Whenever the writer remembers that breakfast on the cold
winter morning beside the gray tent in the valley, his heart fills with joy.
Every time he thinks of that morning, he discovers new elements of beauty
in the life of that happy and contented family.
Q:5 What are the elements of beauty that impress the writer very
much. 2012
"That's all, I know, of course, some of the reasons why it was
pleasant. But of it", What were the reasons that it was pleasant and
there was some element of beauty in? 2014
Ans: One winter morning the writer was walking along a country road in a
valley. He saw a tent and approached it. There he met a family consisting
of a young man, his father, his wife and his baby. Their congenial
atmosphere impressed him most. Their hot breakfast also pleased him
most. He can never forget its memorable moments. Whenever he finds
himself in a mood of leisure, he recalls his unplanned visit of this innocent
tented family. Some element of great beauty makes the rush of warmth
when he likes to bring to his mind that sweet memory.
This beauty he found in the young woman, really a girl, preparing breakfast
beside the stove. He found this beauty in the baby nursing its head under
her waist and in the light and quick gracefulness of her precise movements.
He found this beauty in each item of breakfast ------ bacon, bread, biscuits
and coffee.
He found this beauty in the behaviours, dress, contentment and innocence
of these two cotton pickers. His visit was just accidental, not premeditated
otherwise the reaction and behaviours of the three tent dwellers might have
assumed an affected style.
He found beauty in their unaffected manner of entertaining him at their
breakfast although he was their guest. He still enjoys the inextinguishable
light of the sweet memory of their straightforward talk with him.
Conclusion: The writer was particularly impressed by thankfulness to Allah
the Great and their contentment with their fate. They have no greed of
possessing more dungarees.
 5. TAKE PITY

Q:1 The story "Take Pity" is about the struggle of a woman again
exploitation of men. Discuss. 2011-2013
What is the theme of the story "Take Pity" 2014
"Take Pity" is a story of determination and self-respect.
Why does Eva turn down every offer of help of Rosen's? 2008
Eva stands out as a person who can endure hardships for the sake of
female glory. Elaborate. 2009
Ans: "Take Pity' is a story in which Bernard Malamud has portrayed an
undaunted struggle of a woman Eva. She turns down every effort of Rosen
who is representing male thinking regarding women.
Eva is a Polish refugee whose husband has died. She is running a general
store. She has two daughters. After the death of her husband, she tries to
establish the store by investing 1000 dollars of her late husband's life
insurance. Her business proves totally failure.
Eva possesses strong will power. She is self-confident. She has a great
courage to face the difficulties. Rosen her late husband's friend tries his
best all his offers for financial to help her. She rejects all his offer for
financial assistance, time and again. Eva has a strong will power and self-
confidence. She is hardworking and optimistic. She tries to re-establish the
store. She works hard day and night. Unfortunately, she fails in running the
store.
Rosen gave her many proposals such as to get some job, to marry
someone. She rejected all his proposals boldly because she did not want to
become a financial burden on anyone. She was fully aware that no one
would marry her with two daughters,
The story thus presents the undaunted struggle of a woman who after the
death of her husband refuses every offer made to her in the form of charity.
This Eva this stands for all the human beings who want to live with social
values.
Conclusion: So, we can say that "Take Pity" is a story of a bold, brave and
courageous woman, who wanted to spend her life honorably and
respectfully. Her dauntless struggle against the exploitation of men
becomes a representative struggle of all the needy and the poor all over
the world.
Q:2 Write a note on Rosen's hypocrisy in the story "Take Pity". (2011,
2008)
What do you know about the character of Rosen.
Ans: "Take Pity" is the story of a resolute and undaunted, confident and
courage widowed mother who, accompanied by her two orphaned girls,
makes hectic efforts to earn her own livelihood in a capitalistic country
where they are offered everything in a businesslike manner in charity but
not out of selfless and sincere love.
Rosen tries his best to help his friend Axel's widow. He offers her money,
accommodation and child-care. Eva, the wife of his friend strongly rejects
all kinds of his offers.
Rosen is highly impressed by Eva's beauty and health. He wants to marry
her. He uses various tricks to impress Eva that he has pure and innocent
feelings for her and her daughters.
Rosen advises Eva to leave the place and go somewhere because she has
to pay her husband's debt that she cannot. One day, he gives some pieces
of roasted meat to her daughters just to show her that he can carefully cool
bring up her daughters.
He also tries to impress Eva by telling her that he has a lot of money and
property.
Conclusion: Rosen's character is very complex. Outwardly he seems to be
very innocent, pure and sincere, who has tender feelings in his heart for
widow and her daughters but inwardly he seems to be a greedy and
hypocritical who wants to impress a needy and helpless widow by using the
tricks like helping her daughters, giving her different suggestions for her
future.
Q:3 Whore, bastard, bitch, go away from here. Go home to your
children.
How was Rosen provoked to make such remarks about Eva? 2008-
2010
How can you prove that Eva is a stubborn or obstinate young widow?
2007-2006
Eva rejects all suggestions of Rosen and proves to be an
Obstinate lady.
Ans: Bernard Malamud is an American fiction writer who deals with social
problems of this century. In 1930 Americans faced the worst depression
and fought with each other for a piece of bread. Polish refugees in America
also struggled to survive. "Take Pity" is the story of such a Polish family
who tried to earn their livings with hard work and dignity.
Rosen is the hero of the story "Take Pity". He worked in a company as a
sales man. He has great sympathy for the sufferings humanity. He cannot
see people in miserable condition. After his friend Axel's death, he tries his
best to help the widow, Eva and her daughters.
He gives suggestions to Eva that she should leave this place and go
somewhere. He also offers her his house to live without any rent. He also
assures her to look after her daughters. But she does not act upon his
advice. He prepares a will through which, he money and property to Eva
and her two little daughters.
After writing the will, he decides to commit suicide. Eva comes to know this.
She comes to his house and raises her arms toward Rosen as if she were
willing to marry him. He gets angry and abuses her whore, bastard and
bitch. These words are dirty in their meanings but Rosen is justified in using
these words for Eva.
Conclusion: After reading the story carefully I come to know that Rosen is
sincere and honest in his feelings for Eva and her daughters. He has only
humanistic feelings in his heart for a needy and poor widow. Eva rejects all
suggestions of Rosen and proves to be an obstinate lady.

Q:4 What are Eva's sufferings after her husband's death?2009

☆ How did Eva lead her life after the death of her husband? 2005-2007
Ans: Bernard Malamud is an American fiction writer who deals with Social
problems of this century. In 1930 Americans faced the worst depression
and fought with each other for a piece of bread. Polish refugees in America
also struggled to survive. "Take Pity" is the story of such a Polish family
who tried to earn their living with hard work and dignity.
Eva was a beautiful woman. She lived with her husband and two daughters
in Poland. Hitler persecuted on the Jews in Germany. She had to migrate
from Poland to America. In America, Eva's husband managed a grocery
shop. It was started with loan. The shop could not run well because it was
not at the proper place. Her husband fell ill and died. Eva started to run the
store with the insurance money but it failed. She had to work hard, day and
night. She had to bring up her daughters. She was alone. There was no
one who could help her. All the day, she remained depressed. Many times
she remembered her late husband and started weeping. She had to run the
shop, to keep the household activities and to care her daughters. Eva faced
so many economic and social problems after the death of her husband.
Conclusion: The story Take Pity is about the great struggle and
determination of a Polish woman, Eva. She stands out as a person who
can endure hardships for the sake of female glory. She faces many
difficulties, and refuse accept all type of help in the form of charity
0:5 What were the ways in which Rosen tried to help Eva in "Take pity
by Bernard Malamud? 2012-2009
What advice did Rosen give Eva after her husband's death and to
what was it effects. 2011
Why does Eva turn down every offer of help of Rosen?2005
Ans: Malamud is an American fiction writer who deals with social problems
of this century. In 1930 Americans faced the worst depression and fought
with each other for piece of bread, Polish refugees in America also
struggled to survive. "Take Pity" is the story of such a polish family who
tried to earn their living with hard work and dignity.
After the death of Eva's husband, Rosen showed sympathy and kindness
to Eva on many occasions but she refused to accept his every help.
Firstly, Rosen advised her to leave the place. She should go to one of her
relatives who might help and protect her, to set up her business and look
after her two daughters. In reply she said: "My relatives Hitler took away
from me."
Secondly, Rosen advised her to do any job and marry somebody. But she
rejected his advice.
Thirdly, Rosen proposed Eva to marry him because he was a sick man
with one kidney and after his death all property would be under her control.
But she rejected his proposal by saying: "I had enough with sick men."
Fourthly, He gave food to her daughters. He brought a delicious piece of
beef for them. Next day, he tried to give them some cakes. Fega refused to
accept it by saying: "We can't take, Mamma says today is a fast day."
Fifthly, He sent her two hundred dollars from another city under a fake
name. This plan also did not work because she did not accept the amount.
Sixthly, He wrote a will in which he left all his property to her and to her
daughters.
Conclusion: After reading the story carefully I come to know that Rosen is
sincerely and honest in his feelings for Eva and her daughters. He has only
humanistic feelings in his heart for a needy and poor widow. Eva rejects all
suggestions of Rosen and proves to be an obstinate lady.

6. THE HAPPY PRINCE

Why was "The Happy prince" weeping"? 2009

What type of life Happy Prince led after his death.
What did make the Happy Prince weep in "The Happy Princ”. 2008-10
What kind of misery and ugliness made happy prince weep despite
having a heart made of lead? 2006
The Happy prince see, the best when he has no eyes to see Explain.
2007
Ans: The Happy Prince, by Oscar Wilde, is a fairy tale, but a fairy tale with
a difference. It combines the imaginary with the real, in order to highlight
the cruel realities and injustices of real life. It is a skillfully written short story
that criticizes hypocrisy and exploitation.
A little swallow was going to Egypt. All his friends had already gone there.
He reached a city at night. He saw a statue of a happy prince and decided
to spend a night at its feet. When he was going to sleep, a drop of water fell
on him. He did not know where the drop came from. There was no cloud in
the sky. He decided to fly but exactly at that time, again a drop of water fell
on him. He looked up and was surprised to see that the drops were falling
from the eyes of the statue of the happy prince. On asking, the happy
prince told the whole story. He said that, when he was alive, he enjoyed life
fully.
He did not know about the problems, worries and sufferings. He lived in a
big palace which was surrounded with a high wall. He used to play in the
garden with his friends, at day time. He danced in the evenings, with his
companions in the great hall. His courtiers called him a happy prince. He
did not know about the life of common men and their problems. After his
death, he was fixed very high in the middle of the city where he could see
all the ugliness and miseries of the city. He saw the life of sorrows and
grief. He could not help weeping to see the sufferings of the people of his
city.
Conclusion: When the prince was alive and had human heart, he was
happy because he could not see such ugly things. But after death, the
suffering of the poor people made him weep despite having a heart made
of lead. So, we can say that the happy prince saw the best when he had no
eyes.

Q:2 How does the happy prince help the poor and the needy? 2006-
2008
How did the swallow help the people? 2009-2013
☆ The Happy Prince tells the Swallow. "There is no mystery as great
as misery". Explain this line.2012

Ans: The story "The Happy Prince" is about a statue and a swallow. It is a
story of self-sacrifice and humanism. One day, a swallow was going to
Egypt. He reached a city at night. It was a cold night. He decided to spend
the night at a safe place. He saw the statue of a prince and descended at
its feet. When he was going to sleep, some drops of water fell on him. He
got up and saw that the statue was weeping. The swallow decided to leave
the statue but the statue requested him to stay.
i. He told the swallow that there lived a seamstress in a small street.
Her son was wing in a bed. He was ill and asking for oranges.
Happy prince requested the swallow to Lake the ruby of his
swords and gave it to the poor woman. The swallow did so.
ii. Next day, the prince told the swallow about a young man, who was
trying to write a play for the director of theatre but it was too cold to
write any more. The happy prince requested the swallow to pluck
out a sapphire from his eye and gave it to the young man. The
swallow obeyed his orders.
iii. Then the prince asked the swallow to give the pearl of his other
eye to a poor weeping girl, who had no money to buy match which
had fallen into the gutter. She had no shoes and socks and was
bare headed. The prince became blind, he could not see the
people of the city.
iv. The happy prince also gave costly stones and gold leaves to the
poor of his city who were suffering from different problems. In this
 way the Swallow distribute all the pearls and golden leaves to the
poor and the needy.
Conclusion: This story is very interesting and full of moral purpose. In
it, the writer tells us the lesson of welfare, sympathy and pity etc. This
lesson has been given through a bird and a statue. We are told that we
should do only those tasks that are liked by God. This world is mortal.
The tasks of goodness are immortal.
Q:3 Discuss the story “The Happy Prince" as a fantasy or fable? 2005-
2007
☆ Discuss the story"The Happy Prince" as an imaginative or faire
tale.2008

Ans: The Happy Prince" is not only a story of love and sacrifice but also a
fine piece of social criticism It has a fairy-tale atmosphere. In the story, the
statue of the Happy Prince sees the poverty of people. He, with the help of
a swallow, helps the poor. During this process, the statue loses his outward
glory and the little swallow dies. However, they are rewarded by God with
eternal blessings in Paradise.
A fairy tale or a fantasy is a story which is product of imagination of a
person and is not concerned with the real world. Its characters are not
human beings. It has also a moral lesson for the readers.
There are two main characters, the happy prince and a swallow. They are
not human beings. The qualities of human beings have been given to them
that is why, they work, feel and talk like human beings. In real life it is not
possible. How can an inanimate statue see the sufferings of the people of
city and feel sympathy for them, how can a swallow pull pearl and gold
from the body of a statue without any tool and distribute among the poor
and the needy.
It is also impossible that a bird falls in love with a stature? All these events
cannot happen in real life. The story "The Happy prince" has also a deep
moral lesson for the readers that out warmly shining and beauty is
temporary. The real beauty is the beauty of the soul. The heart of the
statue and the swallow had been thrown at the heap of rubbish but God
liked them.
Conclusion: "The Happy Prince" is not according to our experiences or the
realities of life. Statues and birds do not feel, think, speak and act like us as
they do in the story. It is a fairy tale in which the bird and the statue of the
Prince think, feel and talk, and so partly it is also a fable or a fantasy.

Q:4 this story is the discussion of the problems of the Victoria,

Of the Victorian age?2010-2007
Ans: The story "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde has been written in the
In the style of a fairy tale. The writer has highlighted the problem of
Victorian age. He has divided the society into two classes. One class is
enjoying life. The rich are enjoying their life without caring the poor. There
is a second class of poor people who are suffering from food, shelter,
clothes and other necessities of life. Their life is hard. The description of a
poor lady, a starving dramatist, a little weeping girl, the who have no warm
clothes to wear in cold season are the examples of poverty. The poor were
being exploited by the rich who lived in palaces.
The main problem is the problem of money. The poor seamstress, the
starving dramatist and a little weeping girl need money. After reading the
story, we can say that the rich people of that age were totally indifferent
from the problems of poor. They had no feelings for the suffering humanity
and of God in their heart.
Conclusion: Oscar Wilde criticizes the society of his age. The rich making
merry, the pale starving children, the beggars, the hypocrite Town
Councilors, the shallow judgement of the Art Professor and the self-
importance of the Mayor---------all these pictures are fine examples of social
criticism.
Q:5 "The Happy Prince" is a story of love, self-sacrifice and
humanism. 2006
Ans: The Happy Prince is a thought provoking Clay story by the famous
writer, Oscar Wilde. He has portrayed two different attitudes of the prince.
One is, when the prince was alive and one is, when the prince was dead
and his statue was erected on the high place in the city.
The story "The Happy Prince" is about a statue and a swallow who
sacrificed their everything for the welfare of the poor and the needy. The
writer tells us, the lesson of sympathy and pity. When Happy Prince was
alive he didn't know the problems of the people. After his death, he stood
on a high column, in the shape of a statue. He saw the miserable condition
and sufferings of the people. He could not help weeping. With the help of
the swallow, he helped the poor lady whose son was ill and she had
nothing and her son was crying for oranges. He gave the poor woman a
ruby. He also helped the young dramatist with a costly pearl of his eye. He
could not bear the condition of the poor weeping girl and requested the
swallow to pluck out the other costly pearl from his eye and give it to the
poor girl. The happy prince gave costly stones and gold leaves to the poor
of his city who were suffering from different problems. The little swallow
also postponed his journey to Egypt on the request of the happy prince. He
also sacrificed his energy and life for the sake of his love for the prince and
the poor human beings.
Conclusion: In short, the prince asked the swallow to help the suffering
humanity as much as possible. It inspires us to help the suffering and the
needy. The story highlight the fact that God favors those who love the
needy and the poor. Though the ma characters of the story i.e. the Prince
and the Swallow and the story itself are not they reveal the fundamental
truth that man's inner beauty i.e. the beauty of his character is far better
than his outer or physical beauty. This inner beauty is created by the kind
and ad love that man feels for his fellowmen.
Q:6 Describe briefly the story "The Happy Prince" as a piece of social
criticism.
Ans: The story "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde has been written in the
style of a fairy tale. The writer has highlighted the problems of Victorian
age. He had divided the society into two classes. One class is enjoying life
without any worry. The rich are enjoying their life without caring the
problems of the poor.
The story "The Happy Prince" is a piece of social criticism of many human
For example, the story is a social criticism on the hypocrisy of the Town
Councilor who admired the statue of the Happy Prince to gain a reputation
for having artistic tastes.
Secondly, the story is a social criticism on the false statement of a mother
who told her little son that the Happy Prince never dreams like him of crying
for anything. Her comparison is absolutely fallacious because it is logically
absurd to compare the present wishes of a living son with the non-existent
desires of a dead statue.
Thirdly, the story is a social criticism on the frowning of the Mathematical
Master for not approving of children dreaming of the existence of angels.
Fourthly, the story is a social criticism on the flirting habits of the Reed, the
lady love of the swallow, in proving herself a coquette! At by making the
most graceful curtsies before the wind and not before him.
Fifthly, the story is a social criticism on the Happy Prince himself who
never thought of coming out of his palace in his life time to see the ugliness
of the human misery hovering over his country.

7. “ARABY”

0:1 What is the main theme of the story Araby"?

☆ What message does the story "Araby" convey?2012
Ans: The story "Araby" is about the thoughts and passions of a young boy.
He is a student and lives with his uncle and aunt. He play with his friend in
street. One of his fellow is Mangan whose sister calls him for tea. He
watches her standing near the railing. He loves her hair and voice.
Sometimes, he lays on the floor of his parlour and looks at her door. When
she comes out on the door step leaps. He always keeps quiet. He has
never talked to her because of his shy naturel.
Whenever, he hears her name he feels pleasure When he is alone mostly
he repeats the word, "Love, Love". When the boy reaches “Araby" he finds
half of the bazaar close and dark. He reaches near a stall and decides to
buy a vase for his beloved. He cannot buy it because he has a little money.
It means that he is running after something which is beyond his
reach.The writer has pointed out that modern young generation has not
pure thinking. The youth of modern age is suffering from doubts and
conflicts. Electronic and print media have brought a revolutionary change.
The use of internet has advantages and disadvantages also.
There is everything open on internet. Mostly, the misuse of internet is
making the minds of the users dirty. The boys and the girls have become
mature before age. Even the teenagers have strong feeling for the opposite
sex. In this age ne science, even the children begin to feel sexual courage
at the age often and eleven.
Conclusion: The visit of the boy to 'Araby' proves to be a meeting with
reality. It brings him pain and frustration. He gazes up into the darkness
and realizes that he is a creature driven and derided by vanity.

Q:2 What are the feeling of the narrator for his beloved 2009
☆ The role of the main character in "Araby" is to run after the
shadows Discuss. 2008
Ans: James Joyce's "Araby" is the story of a young schoolboy who falls in
love with a neighboring girl. His love for the girl is a reality for him because
this reality has dominated his whole being. This is the subjective reality felt
intensely and interpreted through his likes and dislikes. But the boy's visit to
Araby, a splendid bazar, makes him face the real world that brings about
the boy's defeat.
A child of fourteen or fifteen is the central character of the story "Araby". He
lived with his uncle and aunt. He used to play with the boys of the street.
One of his friend was Mangan. His sister often came to the door steps to
call him for tea. The narrator, along with other often saw her. He began to
like her but she was not aware of such feeling of the narrator. The young
boy applied different tricks to show his love. Sometimes he followed the girl
to her school. Sometime she played on the floor and satisfied himself by
looking at the girl.
Being alone he repeated to her name again and again Sometimes he
started weeping when he did not see her. Whenever, she came out on the
door step, his heart leaped He always kept her figure in his eyes. He lost
interest in his studies. He always render her thoughts.
One night, when he was alone in a soundless dark drawing room he
showed feelings for her and said "I pressed the palm of my hands
together until they trembled, murmuring; o Love O love many times..
He was always lost in her thoughts. He always thought of his beloved and
was careless about his study, food, dressing and responsivities. The writer
has successfully described between the subjective feelings of the boy and
the objective reality of life.
Conclusion: The boy realizes that he has placed all his love and hope in a
world that does not exist except in his imagination. He feels angry and
betrayed. But it was he who was deceiving himself. He feels he is a
“creature driven and derided by vanity and the vanity is the falsity of ideal,
romantic love.
There is a great difference between the world of dreams and reality.
Discuss? 2005
Write a note on the disillusionment of the boy2013
Describe briefly the effects of romantic love on the adolescent mind
of small boy? 2009
"Araby' is a psychological explanation of boy's emotional and mental
condition. Discuss. 2005
The role of the main character in 'Araby' is to run after shadows.
Discuss.

Ans: "Araby" is a simple story about a school going boy who is running
after shadows. He falls in love with the sister of his playmate Mangan. He
does not muster up courage to talk her face to face. One day, by chance
she meets him. She suggests him to visit Araby and also to buy a gift for
her. The boy is deeply involved in love with the girl. His body is like and her
words and gestures are like fingers running upon the string.
He gets his uncles permission to go to the bazaar, Araby, at the weekend.
He waits for the weekend very anxiously and impatiently. On Sunday
evening, his uncle reached home at 9'O clock. He asks him for some
money to go to "Araby". His uncle gives him one forin equal to two shillings.
He reaches Araby at 9:50 pm and pays the entrance fee and enters Araby.
He becomes despair to see the empty bazaar because about more than
half of the bazaar has already closed and he has also pausity of money to
buy a gift for his beloved.
He wants to buy a vase as a gift for her but in vain because of the shortage
of money. Soon the light is off and "Araby" is closed. To see the complete
darkness in the hall he becomes disappointed and realize that (1)"Dreams
never come true in life". (2) "There is a great difference between the sweet
dreams and bitter reality of life".
Conclusion: The story has two aspects, the actual reality of the world and
the world of desires and dreams. Very often, we run after shadows cherish
high passions, indulge in wishful thinking out and are defeated.
Q:4 What is the symbolic significance of deserted train and darkness
of the
Bazaar? 2009
What is the significance of Araby in the story? 2011
* What is the symbolic meaning of the story 'Araby'? 2006-2008

Ans: The story "Araby" is about a school going boy who has not attained
yet maturity. He falls in love with a sister of his friend. One evening, he
promises her that he wailed go to Araby bazaar and also bring some gift for
her. He takes from his uncle and goes to bazaar. He reaches the station
and sits in a third is compartment of an empty train which is only for the
bazaar "Araby." The train is exerted and is quite late (1) it represents the
dejection and frustrations of the boy. The empty train is also a symbol
of hard reality of life which is bitter. We cannot face it without courage
and strong determination. The persons who live in the world of ideas
are also me like the train.
(2) When the boy reaches " Araby" he finds half of the bazaar close and
dark. He reaches near a stall and decides to buy a vase for his beloved. He
cannot buy it because he has a little money. It means that he is running
after something which is beyond his reach. Soon the light is off and
Araby is closet. There is a complete darkness around him. The darkness
of the bazaar is a symbol of bitter reality of real life which is very hard
to face. The writer has successfully described a conflict between the
subjective feeling of the boy and the objective reality of life. The darkness
of bazaar indicates his innocence, simplicity and ignorance that he cannot
buy a gift for his beloved. It also indicates that the reality is a bitter and one
has to taste it. He experiences the harsh reality that money has vital force
and he cannot but a gift. He also realizes his foolishness by looking up in
the darkness, that all wishes are not fulfill.
 8. THE TELL-TALE HEART

How did the narrator murder the old man? 2005-2006

Why and how did the killer kill the old man? 2008-2013
How was the crime of the killer revealed in the story "The Tell-Tale?
Heart"? 2010

Ans: The story "Tell-Tale Heart “is full of suspense. There are two main
characters in it. The narrator is the hero of the story who kills an old man.
He does not like the old man. One eye which is like that of vulture. The
narrator himself tells that he became very kind and polite to old man for a
week before killing him. He had made full preparations to kill him. For
seven nights, he tried his best to kill the old man but could not. On the 8th
night, he entered the room again.
The old man’s room was totally dark. He was going to open the light to
throw it upon the old man but his hand slipped from the fastening. The old
man jumped in the bed and cried, “Who is there? The narrator stood
motionlessly and did not speak. The light of his vulture like eye.
The eye was open he became furious. He caught the old man and dragged
on the floor. He pulled the heavy bed over him. The old man shrieked once
and died. The narrator killed the old man very skillfully and hid limbs of his
body under the wooden floor of his room.
Conclusion: The reader remains in the grip of fear from the beginning to
the end. The writer has successfully created the atmosphere of horror. The
description is so detailed and clear that the reader really feels as he is
watching a crime and detective which is full of horror and action.
0:2: The story is full of horror and suspense Discuss? 2010
☆ Discuss "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, as a horror
story2013
Poe haunts us and puts us into a situation where we can expect
anything horrible may happen any time. Discuss in view of history,
"Tell Tale Heart" 2005
Ans: The Tell-Tale Heart' can rightly be called a story of horror and
suspense. Both the elements run parallel in the story. Edgar Allan Poe has
mastery of writing such stories. He does this very tactfully. Throughout the
story, he captures the attention of the readers. Let us discuss these
elements in the story.
(1)Suspense of the story goes to the peak when the narrator" goes into the
old man's room for seven nights very secretly. He tries his best to kill the
old man but in vain.
(2)The darkness of the night and the secret activities of the killer create
suspense at every step. On the 8th night, the narrator enters the old man's
room. The old man awakes and sits in the bed. He cries “who is there! This
situation is full of horror and suspense
(3)At last, the narrator kills the old man and describes the details of murder
without any feeling of remorse for the act. He also tells us about the cutting
of the corpse. He cuts off the head, arms and legs.
(4)The investigation of the Police also creates suspense either the killer will
be caught and confess the crime or deceive the police men
(5) At the end of the story, we find the murderer in the grip of horror. The
beating of heart creates horror and suspense in the story.
(6) The sound of the beating of the old man's heart long before and long
after his murder and the endless pricking of the narrator's guilty conscience
create a longer situation of suspense.
Conclusion: In short, the writer kills the old man. His action of killing the
old man is full of horror and fear. There is no doubt that the story is full of
horror and suspense. Moreover, the reader feels fear and suspense when
he reads the story...
Q: 3 what is the significance of the title of the story "Tell- Tale Heart"?
Whose heart was it that told the real story 2004?
Why has the story been named "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
What is the moral lesson of the story 2006?
What is the main idea or theme of the story?
Ans: The story the tell-Tale Heart' deals with the behaviours of an abnormal
character who kills an innocent old man without any solid reason. The killer
is mental patient but considers himself quite sane and healthy. He mocks at
who blames him for madness. As a proof of his mental health, he explains
how cleverly and carefully he planned and carried out the murder of the old
man.
This story describes the beating of the old man's heart even after his death,
the murderer listens the beating of old men's heart even after his death.
This sound is only heard by the killer and troubles him so much even he
confesses his crime before the police.
"Tell-Tale Heart" is a befitting title for the story because it refers
psychological truth that a murderer cannot digest a murder because it is
unnatural which is totally against God's will. It is also a deadliest sin that
makes the killer restless. The man in the story is very confident after killing
the old man. He completes his task very skillfully and even faces police
comfortably. He satisfies the police officers with the inspection of his room
and he also tells them that it was his own cry because he is in the habit to
cry in dream. The imaginary ticking of dead man's heart is actually the
pricking of the conscious of the killer which make him reveal the truth. So
we can say that the title of the story "Telltale Heart" is very significant and
also relevant to the man idea of the story.
Conclusion: The title of the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" is quite
appropriate. A tell-tale is an uncountable person who reveals to the secrets
of others. Here the tell-tale heart is the heart of the story. After having been
murdered, old man's heart continues beating and its voice keeps singing in
the ears of the murder
Q: 4 the narrator in the story thinks that while killing the old man, he
was perfectly in his senses. What is your idea? 2007
☆ Whether the killer in the story is a mad or sane person? 2003

Ans: The narrator of the story kills the old man only because he does not
like vulture like eye. A man in good health and senses cannot do so. He
cannot kill person for so trivial a cause. But the murderer says that he was
perfectly in he senses when he committed the crime. He gives the following
arguments:
i. He does a careful planning to commit this crime .He plane to kill
old man in his bed at the dead of night.
 ii. He opens the door carefully. He covers the lamp so that there may
not be direct light in the room. Then, he throws the light carefully
on his sleeping body.
iii. For seven nights, he does not kill him because his eye is closed in
sleep.
iv. On the eighth day, he finds the eye open and he smothers him to
death. He does not kill him with a knife, gun or pistol. He knows
that it will produce noise. It will also spread blood on the floor.
v. He hides the chopped body of the dead man very carefully. If he
had done it in confusion, he would certainly have left some marks
on the floor.
vi. He collects all the blood and marks on the floor in a tub. In this
way, he does not leave any mark or clue of murder.
Conclusion: All this proves that he was a sane person not a mad one. He
was very sensitive. His sense of guilt overpowered him and he confessed
the crime.
 9. THE NECKLACE

Q:1 What were the Maflda,s dreams? 2010-2009

What are the dreams of Matilda? What type of life she wants to lead?
There is always a suspicious hope for Matilda Loisel in "The
Necklace".
Ans: The short story "The Necklace" brings into light man's foolish dreams
of looking prominent, attractive and smart. It also reveals man's foolish
stupidities.
Matilda come of a poor family. She is very beautiful and charming lady
having an attractive personality. She is very ambitious to lead a
comfortable life like the rich ladies. Being poor, she is married to a poor
clerk. She is not satisfied with her present life.
(1) She dreams splendid drawing rooms with beautiful and costly silky
curtains. She also wants to have grand furniture in them.
(2) She wants to move in high circle of society. She wants to have costly
dinner-set. She dreams of magnificent curtains with pictures of ancient
personalities and fairy land. She wants to enjoy all the luxuries of life to the
full extent. We can say that by nature, she is the member of aristocratic
family but it is her bad luck that she is born to a poor family. She often
remains dejected and sad. Mostly, she remains in loving and caring but
both have no mutual understanding.
One day, he brings an invitation card for a royal dance party just to please
her wife. She borrows a diamond necklace from her friend to attend the
party. This diamond necklace is lost. This incident brings countless
sufferings for the husband and wife.
Conclusion: We can say that Matilda is highly a romantic and imaginative
type of lady who always ignores the real world and remains in dreamy
world.

Q: 2 how did Matilda lead her life after the lesson after the loss
Necklace?
☆”She replaces the necklace at the cost of her life and marriage. 2011
How was her entire life determined by the loss of necklace? 2006
Ans: "The Necklace" is a superb story in which human predicament has
been portrayed through the character of Matilda Loisle. The writer criticizes
two great evils present in human society -- pride and materialism.
One day, Matilda's husband brings an invitation card for a royal dance
party just to please his wife. She borrows a diamond necklace from her
friend to attend the party.
Matilda lost the borrowed diamond necklace. Both the husband and wife
took loans and bought a new one. They returned it to Madam Forebier
without telling her the real story. The financial condition of grand Mrs. Loisel
was already very pitiable. It became very difficult for them to lead a normal
life. Mr. Loisel had to borrow money on interest. He worked day and night
like a blind horse. He copied almost five hundred pages every day. He got
up early in the morning and slept late night. He worked very hard for ten
years.
They dismissed their maid servant and began to live in a rented house.
Matilda herself had to do all the house-hold works such as, dish-washing,
washing of the old clothes etc. She also had to throw the garbage into the
streets. She herself went to bazaar for shopping to save money. She wore
very simple and cheap dress like a common maid servant.
Conclusion: At the end we can say that there came a great change in her
appearance. She became a very hard lady. She also lost her physical
charms.

Q: 3 "The Necklace" is a story of human vanity. Discuss? 2008-2011

What are the moral and social aspects of the story "The
Necklace"2015?
"The Necklace" is a criticism on pride and materialism. 2010
What is the moral lesson or theme of the story?

Ans: The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant is a satire on the pride and

material women. It is also a bitter criticism on the vanity of women. Women
are very fond of jewelry, nice clothes and material. They want these things
to show others. They want to impress others by their riches.
This story is about a poor family. An ordinary mistake brings a great
change in the life of Mr. and Mrs. Loisel. Mrs. Loisel borrows a diamond
necklace from her friend because she has to attend a royal dance party.
Both the husband and wife do not know about the reality of necklace. The
necklace is lost. They search it but in vain. They buy a new one from the
market and give it to Mrs. Forestier from whom, they have borrowed it.
They have to take loans on high interest from many people. They worked
day and night for ten years. The trivial mistake of Matilda becomes a cause
of so many troubles.
Matilda should be a humble and contented lady. She should also have told
her friend the real story before buying the new diamond necklace. May be
they were saved. With the help of this story the writer has exposed human
vanity that becomes a cause of suffering for them. According to the writer
we should try our best to live within our means. It is the basic theme and
moral lesson of the story.
Conclusion: In short, the writer wants to say that vanity is self-deception,
and we should try to lead our life within our means. The story also teaches
a moral lesson that borrowed feathers never fit. It also highlights that
beauty needs no ornaments.
0:4 after reading this story, what do you gather about the society and
social customs of France of those days? 2007
Ans: In the story, "Necklace" no special reference to the society and social
life of the people of those days is made. But a deep reading discovers the
following points.
(i) In those days, the society of France was divided into two classes,
the rich and the poor. There was a hell difference between their
modes of livings.
(ii) The rich lived a luxurious life. They had access to every comfort of
life. They arranged and attended social functions. Women wore
fine clothes and costly jeweler. They loved bracelet ,necklaces
diamonds and jewels. They arranged grands feasts and functions
to display their clothes, jeweler and fashion.
(iii) The poor had to work like donkeys. They worked without enjoying
any leisure. They lived in very humble houses. They wore poor
and common dresses. Matilda belonged to this class. She also
wanted to be attended on by waiters. But her poverty deprived her
of all the comforts of life.
 She had to do the household work herself. She was quite young and
attractive. But, she was reduced to bones within a few years due to her
hard labor.
Conclusion: The rich people lived in big and fashionable bungalows,
with chamber in anti-chambers. The rooms were decorated with graceful
furniture and colored curtains. The waiters and footmen used to wait on
the ladies and were always ready to serve them. The rich people
traveled in buggies and coaches.

10. DUCHESS AND THE JEWLLER

The Duchess and the Jeweler is a story about the moral decadence of
Elite class of those days. Discuss. 2012-2009
☆ How does the story reflect the moral decadence of English
aristocracy?
Ans: "The Duchess and the jeweler" mirror the end of nineteenth century
and beginning of 20th century. It was an age of transitions, development of
industry and commerce, brought a revolutionary change.
The story reflects the moral decadence of the English aristocracy in the
following manners.
Firstly, Oliver Bacon, the richest jeweler of England and the most
hypocritical Duchess of Lambourne represent two poles of moral
deterioration. We observe Oliver losing 20,000 pounds in the temptation of
enjoying a long weakened by riding alone in the woods with Diana, her
youngest daughter.
Secondly, Oliver has so far been telling his mother. "I have kept my word
with you. I have won my bet. I am now the richest jeweler in England.
Oliver now loses his 20,000 pounds because he does not obey the warning
of his mother speaking from her picture when he has just written "twenty"
on his cheque and is about to write thousand". His disobedience shows his
moral decadence.
Thirdly, The Duchess represents "the aroma the prestige the arrogance,
the pomp and the pride of all the Dukes and Ducheses swollen in one
wave. She thus belongs to the ruling section of England. She goes away
with the desired cheque leaving behind her 10 false pearls and her promise
of letting him enjoy his long weekend with her daughter Diana. Her action
shows the moral decadence of the wives of the rulers of England.
Fourthly, in all his monologues Oliver Bacon telling us how he rose to his
enviable position from his boyhood which he passed as a criminal seller of
stolen dogs, seller of cheap watches at high prices by showing them as top
quality watches, smuggler of diamonds in Holland, etc. Oliver Bacon's shift
from adversity to prosperity is founded on moral decadence.
Conclusion: A careful reading of the story proves that it is the story of
change in English class in Victorian era. This change portrays that
aristocracy was going downwards while the poor were replacing them in
worldly moral decadence was parallel in the both classes.

Discuss the significance of internal monologue of Bacon? 2009-10

Ans: In "The Duchess and the Jeweler', Virginia Wolfe describes a single
incident in the life of Oliver Bacon, his meeting with the Duchess. This
single incident is presented in a way that depicts almost the entire career
and the essential jewelers through in mental reflections and flashbacks.
Bacon, the famous jeweler of England often remains indulged in internal
monologues. The reader comes to know his past life ruin these
monologues. (1)Being alone, he often recalled! how he started life as a
child in a narrow and dirty street. He also remembered that how he sold
stolen dogs and cheap watches for the survival of his family. He
remembered one incident of life when he killed by a dog-owner and how his
mother saved him.
(2) He also remembered about the early days of his business of diamond.
Mother of Bacon was very loving and caring lady. She always reminded
him to be careful about his future. Time and again, he remembered by his
mother pieces of advice.
(3)He also remembered how he worked at a jewel’s shop and how he
established his own shop in Bond Street.
(4)He also remembered his youth and youthful activities when he went to
theatres and how a young lady in his vile picked a rose and stacked it in his
button hole.
(5)He often talked to his mother's picture which was hung in his office.
Conclusion: From the internal monologues of Oliver Bacon the readers
come to know about his childhood, his dishonesty and cheating nature. The
internal monologues are of a great help to know the past life of Bacon.

The character of the Duchess and Bacon depict loss of faith in human
values? 2008-2012
Ans: The story "The Duchess and the Jeweler" is about a change in
English society. The end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century,
this period is called the age of transition.
(1)After reading the story, we come to know that the poor and middle class
people were getting higher position in life. All the rich were losing their
wealth and status.
(2)The Duchess is a gambler, liar, clever, dead conscious and morality
corrupt. Even, she has no react for her family honour and the status of her
husband. She sheds crocodile tears and uses her daughter Diana just to
grab money from Bacon, the richest jeweler of England.
(3)Oliver Bacon has also a dark childhood. He sold stolen dogs and fake
diamonds. He is also dishonest, clever and corrupt jeweler. Bacon has
used all types of means to become the richest jeweler of the world. Being a
rich jeweler, still he is not satisfied; he wants more and more money.
Conclusion: At the end, we can say that the writer of the story has closely
depicted, the loss of faith in human values in her age. The writer has
depicted the two classes of Victorian society. The characters of the
Duchess and Bacon show the social and moral conditions of the Victorian
age. The Story "The Duchess and the Jeweler" is about the moral
decadence of the English elite class at the end of the 19th century and at
the beginning of the 20th century.
 11. THE SHADOW IN THE ROSE GARDEN

What are the root causes of an estrangement between the relations of

the husband and his wife? 2010
What were the causes of conflict between husband and wife? 2005
Ans: The writer says that husband and wife are two wheels of a carriage. If
any wheel is disordered, the carriage does not run. Similarly, there should
be mutual understanding between them.
The Shadow in the Rose Garden' is a love story of a woman who cannot
help digging her past. She is haunted by her past love. Even after her
marriage, her mind is absorbed in the past. Frank and his wife are passing
their life in tension because they have no love and mutual understanding
for each other. They are just bearing each other, as if they were joined
without their will. The conflict between them can be described on the basis
of following reasons.
Firstly, Frank's wife is not an attractive woman. She is older than he and
lacks feminine beauty.
Secondly, the wife is very careless towards her husband as if she hates
him. It is the desire of every husband to have the attention of his wife.
Thirdly, the character of both husband and wife must be transparent for
each other, especially female should be more careful about her character
because every husband wants to see his wife with transparent character.
Franks doubts the character of his wife especially when she asks Frank not
to tell anyone about her visit of garden.
Fourthly, the personality of wife is divided between two persons, her
husband and ex-lover. She always remains in her thoughts and does not
care the desires of her husband.
Conclusion: These are the root causes of an estrangement between
relations of the husband and his wife. According to the writer the young
people must be careful while taking refuge in the cool shadow of emotions
enjoyment.
Why did Frank's wife visit the garden?
* Describe the visit of Frank's wife to the garden? 2011
* Discuss the meeting of Frank's wife with her mad love2006
☆ Explain "The shadow in the Rose Garden" as a love story.
Ans: "The Shadow in the Rose Garden' is a love story of a woman who
cannot help digging her past. She is haunted by her past love. Even after
her marriage his mind is absorbed in the past.
The relationships of Frank and his wife were not good. They were passing
their life in tension since the time of their marriage. She married Frank
under compulsion. Before marriage, she loved a son of Rector, Archie. One
day, both the husband and wife decided to visit a seaside village on a
holiday. They reached the required place. She asked her husband to stroll
alone and pretended that she had to do some work. When her husband
went out alone she reached the seaside garden and sat on a bench.
Suddenly, there came a young man and sat near her. It was her ex-lover.
She was grieved to see Archie's miserable condition.
She was shocked to see her ex-lover as a mad man who did not recognize
her. Her visit of garden proved to be a bitter experience. Which made her
sad. She quickly came back to her residence and told the whole story to
her husband. First, her husband got angry but after sometime he became
normal. Her husband forgave her the experience of the garden brought a
revolutionary changes in Frank's wife. She forgot her past and adjusted her
to the present.
Conclusion: In short, it is a story of love and misunderstanding between
the husband and his wife. So, the relationship between them signifies that
frankness and understanding play an important role in married life.

Q: 3 How was the conflict resolved between Frank and his wife?
The wife in 'The Shadow in the Rose Garden' cannot help digging her
past. Discuss. 2011
How did the husband and wife come to terms at last? (The Shadow
Rose Garden) 2014

Ans: The story "The Shadow in the Rose Garden" is about a couple Mr.
Frank and his wife. One day, the wife asked her husband to go to the
seaside village. He agreed. She asked her husband not to tell anybody
about their visit. This created suspense in the mind of her husband. He got
angry but did not disclose his anger to his wife. Actually, she loved Archie,
a Rector's son before her marriages, both wanted to marry but could not
because of some unsuitable circumstances. When they reached the
required place, she asked her husband to go alone for strolling. When her
husband went for strolling she came out from her room and reached the
seaside garden.
There she met her ex-lover, Archie was a mad man. She was grieved to
see pitiable condition of her ex-lover. She neither ate nor spoke. She went
to upper room and locked the door. After some time, her husband came
and asked the cause of her sadness. She told him the whole story.
At first, he became angry but after sometime he became normal and
forgave his wife. The conflict between husband and wife was resolved after
their visit to seaside garden.
Conclusion: At the end of the story, there is disillusionment. They redefine
their relationship with the sense of actuality. Now, they are no longer
impersonal and do not hate each other.

Q: 4 discuss the relevancy of the title of the story? –

Ans: The writer says that husband and wife are two wheels of a carriage. If
any wheel is disordered, the carriage does not run. Similarly, there should
be mutual understanding between them.
The title of the story is attributed to the personality of woman's old lover.
The young man with dynamic personality, healthy and attractive body
structure some years back has become a mere shadow of his actual
personality after turning into a lunatic.
The story "The Shadow in the Rose Garden" is about a couple they have
no mutual understanding with each other. Frank, the husband is very
worried about the situation because his wife is not adjusting herself with
him. One day, Mr. Frank and his wife, decided to visit a seaside village.
They reached their required to place. Frank wanted to visit the garden with
his wife. But his wife did not want to visit the garden in the company of her
husband. She asked him to stroll alone. When he went out, she also came
out from her room and reached the seaside garden. There she met her ex-
lover. Mr. Archie. She was grieved to see her ex-lover as a mad man.
It was a very strange and unexpected situation for her. She asked him
whether, he recognized her. He replied in yes but actually, he could not
recognize her. Archie saluted her strongly and left the place. Before this
experience, the young wife had different beautiful ideas in her mind but
now everything shattered. The person whom she meets in the garden has
become a shadow of the real man. Now, he has no sense. He cannot
recognize anyone. He has become very miserable.
Conclusion: The title of the story is very suitable and appropriate because
the Story is about the past life of the wife. Actuality, there was a shadow in
the mind of girl· Now, this shadow is removed. The shadow in the garden
indicates the shadow of that is prevailed all the time over near mind. This
shadow causes the strained owns between her and her husband.

12. A CONVERSATION WITH MY FATHER

Q: 1"A conversation with My Father" is a story about generation gap?

What was the cause of conflict between the writer and her old father?
Why does Grace Paley fail to write a story in keeping with the
sensibilities of her father's times? 2009
The daughter and her father are both living in their proper age’s set-
ups. 2005

Ans: The story "A Conversation with My Father" is about a wide gulf
between old and new generation. The writer writes a story, on the request
of her father who is a patient and unable to walk. She often writes real
incidents stories.
The story is about a mother who has a junkie son. She wishes that her son
should give up drug-addiction. Having very close contact with her son the
mother also becomes junkie and does not pursue, her son to give up drug
addiction. Later on, a preaching girl succeeds in convincing the junkie son
of the old woman. He gives up the use of drugs and tries his best to
convince his mother, to give up drugs-addiction but all in vain. The young
preacher and the son of the old woman marry and leave her alone. She
often cries out for her son. Here, the author finished the story. The father
finds many objections in the story. He asks her daughter to write the story,
giving all the necessary details and social background of the character. The
story must have proper beginning, middle and end.
Conclusion: At the end, we can say that every generation has his own
principles and values and they stick to them. The old generation is very
touching about their values. The two generations cannot agree with each
other because they live in different worlds.

Q: 2 what is the first version of the story?

☆ Write a note on the title of the story "A Conversation with My
Father"

Ans: The story "A Conversation with My Father" is actually a discussion

between authoress and her father. The authoress tells that her father was
an old man of eighty-six. He requested her to write a story like that of his
favorite’s writers, Chekhov, Guyed, Maupassant and Turgenev.
She agreed to do so because she wanted to please her father at any cost.
She wrote a story about an incident that happened in her street many years
ago. The story was about a woman and her son of fifteen years, who lived
in a small apartment. The son became a junkie. Her mother also became
junkie because she had close relation with her son. After sometime the boy
gave up addiction. He tried his best to convince his mother to give up it but
all in vain. The boy left her mother alone. The mother was very grieve,
helpless and deserted. The father of the writer was not satisfied with that
story because his daughter had not told the proper detail of the story and
the characters.
The father finds many objections in the story. He asks her daughter to write
the story, giving all the necessary details and social background of the
character. The story must have proper beginning, middle and end.
Conclusion: This is a fantastic short story which brings out the contrast
between the two generations. It also elaborates the concept of the short
story and now it can be written in a most successful way. It is a
manifestation of the sensibilities of a conversation between a father and a
daughter, therefore, the title of the story is 'A Conversation with My Father'.
What is the second version of the story?

Ans: In this story, the writer discusses the changing ways of expressing life
in literature. A literary piece should deal with realistic characters, their lives
and their problems. A story in which things happen automatically and in an
orderly way is no more appealing. In the second version, the writer told her
father that there was a woman across the street. She had a son whom she
loved very much. In his youth, he became a junkie. He was very intelligent
boy. He wrote many essays in his high school. He worked hard in this field
and became very popular.
His mother also became a drug addicted by living in his company. Her
kitchen became a center of writers. All these writers were addicted. Once,
her son was watching a movie in a cinema. He met a young preacher. She
offered him apricot and nuts. She talked to him using sweet words. The boy
fell in love with her. He gave up his habit of addiction under the influence of
love and preaching of the girl. The young preacher and the son of the old
woman tried their best to bring the mother to normal life but failed. They left
her alone. The mother could not change her. She often cried out for her
son. The writer ended the story at this and was sure that her father would
like it. Her father listened the story attentively and admired her nice sense
of humor but objected at the end of the story.
Conclusion: The story is in fact a comment on the kind of modern fiction in
which effect is not granted by the cause and characters are not properly
developed and portrayed.

Q: 4 write a character sketch and objection of Grace's father on her

story writing?
Ans: This story 'A Conversation with my Father by Grace Paley is a story of
generation gap. This generation gap exists everywhere and in every age.
Although a lot of things have been written on this topic yet in this story, the
writer has described this in a very unique and different way.
Father of the writer is of eighty-six. He always remains in his bed.
Physically, he is disable but mentally, he is healthy. He himself has been a
doctor and has practiced as a doctor for twenty years. He is very fond of
classical literature. His favorite writers are Maupassant, Chekhov, and
Turgenev etc. He advises his daughter to write a story like favorite writers.
Mostly, he entertains the stories in which the writer gives Detaille
description of the character with proper social background.
(1)According to him, the writer should describe the full detail of color of hair,
skin and eyes of the characters.
(2)He is fond of simple stories and does not like compline.
(3)He is a conservative type of person who lives in the past. He is against
the new trends of modern generation. He is a lover of old moral values.
(4)He does not like the stories which have no positive moral lesson
Me readers.
(5)Being an old and mature person he does not live in imagination.
Conclusion: According to him, there should be realism in the stories. He
advises his daughter that the end of the story should be clear and there
should be harmony between the characters and incidents.

13. THE FLY

Q: 1 what did the boss feet after his friend left the office?
What is the moral lesson of the story? "They Fly"
☆ This story shows that everybody is a fly in the hands of fate.

Ans: The Fly, by Katherine Mansfield, is a story with different layers of

meaning. It is a study of the cruelty of man, here represented by Boss who
kills a fly while observing its courage and perseverance. It also is the story
of human beings who struggle as they may are helpless before fate.
Old Woodfield was a friend of boss. He came in the office of the boss and
told him about the graves of his and boss son in Belgium. He did not want
to make fresh the grief of the boss. The boss loved his son very much who
was killed in First World War. When Mr. Woodifield left the office the boss
became sad because the visit of Mr.Woodified brought him back to the old
memories, the memories of his son. He ordered his servant not to let
anyone in the office and bent forward in his comfortable chair.
Being alone, he covered his face with his two hands. He wanted to weep
but could not. He was lost in the thoughts of his son. In his imagination, he
saw the open grave of his of his son in which his son was lying with
uniform.
His son was very intelligent and handsome. He had great hope for the
future for his son. At the death of his son, he wept a lot and told everyone
that time could not reduce his grief, because he had labored a lot to train
his son in business.
Conclusion: The main theme or moral lesson of the story is: "There is no
escape from death." Everything has to taste death, sooner or later. This
story also shows that everybody is a fly in the hands of fate no one can
save himself or herself from the hands of it.

Q2: How and why the boss killed the fly?

"There is no escape from death". Every living thing has to taste death
Sooner or later...

Ans: Mr. Woodifield was a retired old man. One day, he called his ex-boss.
The son of Mr. Woodifield and boss were killed fighting in the 1st world war.
He told the boss that last week his daughters visited the graves. He also
told the boss that the graves were being well looked after. After sometime
Woodfield left the office and went to his home.
The boss was lost in his grief. He bent on his comfortable chair and
covered his face with his hands. He wanted to weep but could not. He
stood up from his chair. He wanted to do something. He was lost in the
thoughts of his son. Just at that time, a fly fell into his inkpot. The fly tried a
lot to come out of it but could not.
The boss took out his pen and picked the fly out of the inkpot. He kept it on
the blotting paper. It laid there for some time. After some time, it spread its
wings and was ready to fly. Suddenly, there came an idea in the mind of
the boss. He put a heavy drop of ink on the fly. The fly tried its best to clean
itself. The boss again put his pen into the inkpot and poured a drop of ink
on the fly which was about to fly. The fly drowned in the heavy drop of the
ink. He repeatedly, this action five times, the fly died. He lifted to the dead
fly and threw it into the dustbin. After reading the story, we can say that
everybody is a fly and there is no escape from death. Every animal
has to taste death, sooner or later.
Conclusion: In short, as fate has killed Boss's son, he has killed the fly.
This is how the strong and the powerful oppress the weak and put them to
death. This timid activity makes the Boss forget his grief for the time stand.

Q: 3 Is the story "The Fly “about the conquest of time over grief? 2007

Ans: The Fly, by Katherine Mansfield, is a story with different layers of

meaning. It is a study of the cruelty of man, here represented by Boss who
kills a fly while observing its courage and perseverance it also is the story
of human beings who struggle as they may are helpless before fate.
Mr.Woodifield, an old retired person comes to see his close friend and
former boss. He is cordially welcome by his boss. During the course of their
talk , Mr Woodifield tells his boss that last week his daughters went to the
graves of his Reggie" as well as the boss's son.
The story does now show any single word of grief spoken by Woodifield in
the brace of Reggie, his only son who died perhaps six years ago.
Secondly, Woodifield himself did not go to Belgium to visit his son's grave
and stead sent his daughters there.
Thirdly, by saying that his daughters had "a look at poor Reggie’s
grave”, Woodifield implies that even his daughters visited the graves
merely as a picnic spot without shedding any tear for the two dead youths.
Fourthly, the Boss never went during these six years to his son's grave as
of the expression of his grief.
Fifthly, Woodifield's talk reminds the boss of his dead son but soon he kills
a fly and again becomes as much forgetful of his son as before. These 5
points prove that this story portrays the conquest of time over grief.
Conclusion: As the time passed, the boss took courage and started to
take part in the activities of his business. The engagements of the business
became source to lessen the grief of the boss. We can say that the story
"The Fly" in about the conquest of time over grief.

Q: 4 what does the title "The Fly" mean?

Everybody in the story is fly2011 Write a note on the symbolic
significance of the story. 2005-2007
What does the killing of fly by the boss signify? 2012
Ans: The story "The Fly" is about the conquest of time over grief. It is a
symbolic story that can be interpreted in many ways. Every character of the
story stands for another.
1. The fly is a symbol of all the little birds, animals, insects and poor human
beings who are killed mercilessly by the cruel hands of fate.
2. The boss in the story represents, the cruel fate as the boss killed the fly,
and similarly, the fate also snatched away his only son from him. It normally
happens that the strong kills the weak creatures.
3. The fly is also a symbol of helpless and poor people who are living in
different countries of the world like slaves and are also being killed by their
cruel leaders.
4. The boss in the story is also a symbol of cruel dictators who are killing
the innocent people of the world without any sound reason but just for fun.
5. The grave yard is a symbol of sorrow, pain and end of human struggle. It
is the last destination of human beings.
6. In this story the fly also symbolizes a human beings treated mercilessly
in the hands of destiny. This means that every man or woman on earth is
like a helpless fly in the inkpot of this world. It is certain that everybody is a
symbol of helplessness before his fate. After reading the story, we can say
that everybody is a fly and there is no escape from death. Every animal has
to taste death, sooner or later.
Conclusion: In short, the Boss is the symbol of the strong and the
powerful. The fly is the symbol of the weak and the helpless. Time is the
symbol of conquest and peace against our grief. The theme of the story is
"There is no escape from death. Every living thing has to taste death
sooner or later”.

14. A PASSION IN THE DESERT

Q: 1 Describe the escape of French soldier from the African Arab?

Ans: The story "A Passion in the Desert" is about the imprisonment,
escape love of a French soldier with the she-panther. In 1946, a French
soldier was caught by the Moors in Egypt. These Arabs took him in the
desert, away from the river, the Nile. Their purpose was to have a great
distance between him and French army. So, they travelled swiftly in day
time and slept only at night. They installed to their camps near a well that
was covered with the palm trees. They tied the hands and feet of the
soldier. They ate some dates and gave fodder to their horses and slept.
When the soldier saw his enemies asleep, he side a dagger with the help of
his teeth. He cut his cords and freed himself. He took rifle, some dried
dates and escaped on a horse. After traveling in a long distance, his horse
died. Then he was alone in the desert. He became hopeless for his
survival. Loneliness, tiredness and despair our developed in him a suicidal
attitudes. He decided to do to kill himself with a bit but after sometime he
encouraged himself and walked.
He reached near a hill in the evening. Some palm trees were also grown on
that place. The green sight consoled to him a lot. He lays on a rock and
went to sleep.
Conclusion: Balzac was basically a novelist and he wrote stories at a
great speed. His vision is really amazing. In this story, he has combined
many elements to exert a peculiar impact on readers. The writer wants to
say that human beings and animals may lead to peaceful life in secure
atmosphere.

0:2 why did the soldier kill the panther?

* What were the reasons for the murder of panther 2004?
Who wins in the trial of love?
The soldier or the she panther. 2013
What is the moral lesson of the story? 2006

Ans: A French soldier fell into the hands of the Arab African he got a
chance and away He reached near a There, he saw a cave and decided
spend a night there. Being tired he slept very soon. During his sleep at
night, the soldier was disturbed by a strange noise in the cave.
As he woke up, he was shocked to find a she-panther in the cave been
First, he decided to kill the site-panther but he feared that he might aim
when he saw, the drops of blood on the muzzles of the she-panther, he
thought that she had eaten some animal. He consoled himself that she
hungry.
When the sun rose, she opened her eyes. She looked at him and came
close to soldier passé his hand over her body from head to tail. The she-
panther replied he the same love. They became friends and enjoyed each
other’s company. He called her Magnonni which was the name of his
beloved. One day, the soldier saw a bird was flying in the air at noon.
He left the she-panther to see that bird clearly, the she-panther became
sad at his attention towards the bird.
He felt that she had become jealous. When the bird disappeared, the she-
panther caught the leg of the soldier in her mouth very softly. The soldier
thought that she would eat his leg, so he thrust his dagger into throat and
killed her.
Conclusion: That was indeed the tragic and pathetic end of the story
friendship and love between a French soldier, a man and a she panther, a
beast. He wept bitterly. Then he was prepared to pay any cost or price to
see her alive again but vain. It is, however, the panther, and not the soldier,
who wins in the trial of love.
Q: 3 discuss the story as a Fantasy or Fairy Tale. 2012
☆ A Passion in the Desert is a fantasy, 2005

Ans: A fantasy is a story in which characters and events are often unreal,
factitious and imaginative. According to this definition 'A Passion in the
desert’ is really a fantasy. In this story, a love affair between a panther and
human has been described. We know this is not possible in reality.
The story "A Passion in the Desert” is about a man and a lioness they
came near each other. They lived and played together like true and sincere
friends. They had not any fear in their hearts about each other. The soldier
moved his hands over her whole body from head to tail. She wagged her
tail with pleasure.
She was a beautiful panther with curved tail and spotted skin. The soldier
played with her ears, passed his hand over her belly and touched her head.
The panther was also madly involved with soldier. She licked his shoes
with her rough tongue, and removed all the dust. One day, the soldier saw
a bird that was flying in the air at noon. He left the she-panther to see that
bird clearly, the she-panther became sad at his attention towards the bird.
He felt that she had become jealous. When the bird disappeared, the she-
panther caught the leg of the soldier in her mouth very softly. The soldier
thought that she would eat his leg, so he thrust his dagger into throat and
killed her.
The whole incident shows that such kinds of things are not possible in
reality. The panther is a beast. Such things can only be possible in
fantasies.
Conclusion: The story is a fantasy in the sense that the love of human
being with a beast is un-natural because a beast is naturally and
instinctively man’s enemy, unless it is tamed.
Q: 4 discuss the story “A Passion in the Desert” as a tragedy or tragic
love story?

Ans: A tragedy is a play or a story of a serious kind with sad end. The story
“A Passion in the Desert” is also a serious story with sad end. This story
is about a French who escaped from the African Arabs. He reached in the
heart of a vast desert and slept in a natural cave.
At midnight, he woke up and saw a she-panther in the cave. First, he
thought to kill the panther with a bullet but he could not do so. In the
morning, the she-panther awoke me near him. The soldier encouraged
himself and put his hand on her body. She responded him by wagging her
tail soon they became friends. He played with her ears, and touched her
belly. She also showed her love by looking at him with eyes full of love.
The soldier was not afraid of she-panther because she always expressed
love to him. He patted her. Thus, the story deals with a serious theme.
There is nothing funny and humorous in it.
This story has a tragic end. One day, the she-panther caught the leg of the
soldier in her mouth very softly. The soldier thought that she would eat his
leg. He killed the she-panther with his dagger. After killing the she-panther,
the soldier felt great remorse. He wanted to bring her back to life at any
cost but it was impossible.
Conclusion: It was only due to misunderstanding that he killed her for
which he felt an extreme regret and remorse. In this respect, he tells us 'It
was as though I had murdered a real person." It is a tragic story
because from the beginning to the end it is full of suspense and the story
has a tragic end.

0:5 describe the end of the French soldier's passion for the panther
by killing her and his regret afterwards.
☆ What is the moral lesson of the story "A passion in the Desert"
2013
☆ it is the panther and not the soldier who wins in the trial of love.
2008
☆ Why did the soldier kill the panther and there after wanted to pay
any cost to see her alive? 2006
Ans: The story "A Passion in the Desert" is about a man and a lioness.
They came near each other. They lived and played together like true and
sincere friends. They had not any fear in their hearts about each other.
The French soldier and the panther-were very fond of each other’s will. The
panther could not tolerate separation from him. One night, the soldier tried
to escape while she was sleeping. She chased him and forced him to go
back. She felt great jealous whenever the soldier attended to a bird in the
air.
One day, a bird hovered over him in the air. The soldier began to look at it.
The panther could not tolerate it. The man did not know that he had hurt
her feelings. She looked at him, turned round with rage and caught hold of
his leg gently. He thought that the animal would devour him. So, he drew
his dagger and plunged deep into her throat. She rolled over and gave a
cry. He saw her dying. She was still looking at him without anger.
He was very repentant of this act. He was deprived of a good and sincere
companion in the desert. He was ready to give everything to bring
Her to life again. He felt as if he had murdered a real person. It is the
panther and not the soldier who wins in the trial of love.
Conclusion: A slight misunderstanding had caused his tragedy. The moral
of the story is that we should try to understand others and should not act
one-sided. Any misunderstanding between the parties should be discussed
and clarified.
 15. THE LITTLE WILLOW

Q:1 How did Simon and Lisby come close to each other?
Ans: In the short story, "The Little Willow" Francis has brought into light
love as everlasting force. It is the matter of feelings and a complex state.
Even, the low themselves are unware of its real meanings.
Simon Byrne was an army officer. He came court-house with his friend,
who interested in playing Piano. Simon was introduced to the three sister
Charlotte Brenda and Lisby. He was highly impressed, by Lisby's simplicity,
the younger sister of Charlotte and Brenda.
Simon felt as if he were in the company of a good and true friend. Lisby
was very sim and innocent, mostly she remained silent. She loved only two
things. One was dark picture in the living room and other was a little willow
tree prepared by some Chinese craft man both the lovers had same nature.
They both did not express their love to each other's face. Lisby was a noble
and straight-forward girl.
Simon found that they had common qualities. The things that made Lisby
laugh made him laugh too. On the last day Lisby came to see him off the
door. She gave Simon a little-willow tree as a token of love. Simon Byrne
received, the little-willow tree from Lisby and felt much pleasure. Both the
lovers wanted to embrace t each other but could not. Lisby requested him
to come again. Simon promised to come in spirits if not in the body. Simon
was killed in the war and could not come for ever.
Conclusion: The story, “The Little Willow” describes the death of silent love.
It hints at the delicate and tragic aspects of true love. The moments of true
love although temporary and short lived are of great value in the life of
human beings.

Q:2 What does little-willow tree signify.2005

What is the significance of the title "The Little Willow”.2008
Simon keeps the little willow as a token of Lisby's love, which gives
him strength till his death. 2012 ..
Ans: 'The Little Willow’ is a symbolic story which is about the true untold
love, between Lisby and Byrne. A symbol is used to enhance the meaning
of something else. It brings the hidden meaning of the object to view. The
willow is the story has great symbolic importance.
The little-willow tree stands for love of Simon and Lisby. It was a small
decoration piece of green color, made of green stone and crystal. Lisby
bought it from an antique shop. It was made by a Chinese artist.
Lisby fell in love with Simon Byrne who was a grace and modest
gentleman. Lisby' was also a quiet, calm, innocent and simple young girl.
She loved Simon but did not express her love to his face. According to her,
the untold and silent love was more deep and sincere than the declared
one. After receiving the little Willow tree from Lisby, Simon felt a great
pleasure. He praised the little willow. He also said that he often used to
dream of such a willow tree.
Simon was highly impressed by the innocence of Lisby. He kept the little
willow with him even in the war. That tree was smashed into pieces when a
shell fell on it. The breaking of willow tree indicates separation or of Simon
and Lisby forever.
As the little willow tree is beautiful, attractive, innocent, pure and clear as
was the love of Simon and Lisby. The little willow tree represents their
simple and pure love that they did not express to each other.
Conclusion: Thus the little willow tree becomes a symbol of the true untold
love between Lisby and Byrne. He keeps the little willow tree as a token of
Lisby's love that gives him solace and strength before and at the time of his
death. He dies as a whole man, perfect in his faith in love and this defeats
death with a little willow tree.

Q:3 Discuss the tragic story of Lisby's love in your own words 2007
* Discuss the theme of the story "The Little Willow.".
Bring out the pathos in the story "The Little Willow'2011

Ans: Three sisters Charlotte, Brenda and Lisby lived in a court house, near
London. The two elder sisters Charlotte and Brenda were very social. They
were also very fashionable. The younger sister Lisby was very sensitive
and sincere. She was simple and innocent. One day, an army officer
Simon, came there. He was a young and graceful soldier. When Lisby saw
him, her heart gave a little leap. Simon had a fine taste of music and
painting. Lisby and Simon loved each other but they did not express their
love. They had same liking and disliking all the things which made her
laugh, made him laugh too. Simon had to leave her and go to the battle
field Lisby gave him a little willoe tree as a token of love.
She had bought it from an antique shop, with the money of her salaries as
a teacher. It was a masterpiece of a Chinese artist.
Lisby requested Simon, to come again. He promised to come in spirit if not
in body. He looked at her and turned away. Lisby was told by Captain
Simon was a prisoners in the camp and died last year. That was a great
shock to Llisby. The innocent love story of Simon and Lisby has a tragic
end.
Conclusion: In a nutshell we can say that Lisby is the pivotal character of
the story. The whole story is woven about her character. She is simple,
honest and true from the core of her heart.

Q:4 Campare and contrast the three sisters?

Ans: Lisby is the younger sister of Charlotte and Brenda who are living in a
house court-house, near London.
Lisby is quite different from her two sisters not only in her appearance but
also in her behaviours, towards other people. She is very simple and
straight forward. Lisby is not glamorous, outwardly but has a marvelous
soul. She loves sincerity, simplicity, and straight-forwardness. She does not
flirt anyone. She gives company to those who are ignored by her elder
sisters because they are neither handsome nor good conversationalists.
Lisby is also kind and loving to those who are rejected by her sisters. Her
love is selfless, genuine and sincere.
Charlotte and Brenda are just flirts who pose to be in love with young
soldiers but take no time to forget them. Both Brenda and charlotte are
beautiful sexually attractive and fashionable, but they lack the real feelings.
They take the death of young men causally was. They are beautiful but fuel
and feeling less.- They lack the inner beauty of soul. They are hypocrite in
their treatment sets and manners with army officers. The younger sister
Lisby is quite different from her sisters. She is simple, silent and sincere.
Conclusion: The two elder sisters dazzle like powerful electric lights. Their
beauty overpowers. There is something cruel about them. Lisby's beauty
on the other hand, shines quietly like soft moonlight. It brings comfort and
peace to those who can distinguish beauty from glamour.