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Packing
Packing
Jerome K Jerome
(2 May 1859 – 14 June 1927)
OBJECTIVES :
Developing skills of writing a memoir–first person narrative
(using humour)
Developing communication skills
Enhancing vocabulary
Developing packing skills
PACKING
Jerome K Jerome
Introduction :
“Packing” reveals that routine tasks are not as easy as
they seem to be. The humorous account amuses the
readers with the chaotic and confusing situations
created by the clumsiness of three friends, all of whom
consider packing to be child's play.
PACKING
Jerome K Jerome
Key points :
Narrator’s over-confidence in his packing skills
His desire for supervising
Attitude of George and Harris
Narrator’s disaster while packing
Became a stock of laughter
Casual attitude of George and Harris
How they exposed the narrator’s miserable skills in packing
Packing by George and Harris
A funny episode
A chaotic state of affairs
Narrator’s observation
Montmorency, the dog
His nature
Montmorency’s role in packing
A wondrous packing comes to an end late night
Impact of the packing
Funny sleeping arrangement
Wake-up schedule
PACKING
Questions to test comprehension :
1. Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
2. How did George and Harris react to this?
3. Did Jerome like their reaction?
4. What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?
5. How many characters are there in the narrative?
6. What is your impression of the narrator and his friends?
7. What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped?
8. Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
9. What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome a little later?
10. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
11. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
12. How did the narrator become a stock of laughter?
13. How did George and Harris expose the narrator’s real abilities?
14. What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
15. While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things.
Tick the statements that are true.
(i) They started with breaking a cup.
(ii) They also broke a plate.
(iii) They squashed a tomato.
(iv) They trod on the butter.
(v) They stepped on a banana.
PACKING
Questions to test comprehension :
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
(vii) They stepped on things.
(viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top.
(ix) They upset almost everything.
(x) They were very good at packing.
16. How did George and Harris perform while packing?
17. Who had better skills of packing?
18. What does Jerome say was Montmorency’s ambition in life?
19. What do you think of Montmorency and why?
20. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
21. What did Montmorency do with the lemons?
22. How was he driven away?
23. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst
packer? Support your answer with details from the text. 2. Do you find this story
funny? What are the humorous elements in it? (Pick out at least three, think about
what happens, as well as how it is described)
24. How were the sleeping and wake-up schedule arranged?