The Telltale Heart by Edger Allen Poe

Summary
The story “The Tell-Tale Heart” throws light on the fact that a criminal cannot conceal his crime and the voice of one’s conscience cannot be subdued. It is impossible to ignore its pricking for long.
The narrator of the story decides to kill and old man just because of one of his eyes. That eye is very ugly. He also wants to prove that he is not mad, so he tells the reader how he killed the old man and why.
Whenever the old man’s eye fell on him he felt afraid, and so he decided to kill him. He kept on going to the old man’s room for seven nights. However, he did not kill him because his was always close.
On the eighth night, he was very careful. He found the eye open. He took a lot of time to kill the old man. He enjoyed the fears of the old man and laughed at him. Then he killed the old man. The old man screamed before dying. After killing him, he dismembered the dead body. He concealed the pieces under the flooring of the room.
Some neighbor had heard the screams and he had informed the police. Two police officers came to check the premises. He welcomed them and satisfied them that nothing wrong had happened. He took them to the old man’s rom.
Then suddenly he started hearing the heartbeat of the old man. This sound went on increasing. He tried to overcome it but failed. He thought that the police officers knew about his crime and they want him to confess to his crime. He could not bear this situation for long. At last, he confessed to his crime before the police officers.
Discuss the elements of horror in the story “The Telltale Heart”.
The story “The Telltale Heart” is a horror detective and crime story. Discuss.
The Story “The Telltale Heart” is full of elements of horror. It also fulfils the requirements of a detective and crime story.
First, the motive of the murder creates horror. The killer did not want to kill the old man because of some object or passion. The killer loved the old man. The old man had never wronged him. He had not insulted him. The killer had no desire for the old man’s gold. The height of cruelty was that he wanted to kill the old man because he did not like one of his eyes. This motive of the killing creates horror.
The process of the killing also creates horror. When he went to kill the old man on the eighth night, he was very proud of his sagacity. Therefore, he laughed quietly and the old man heard him. He jumped on his bed with fear. It is very horrible that the killer enjoyed the fear of the old man. Then he yelled and jumped into the room the old man shrieked with terror. The killer dragged the old man to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. When the old man died, he removed the bed and tried to feel the heartbeat of the old man. When the reader reads about the fear of the old man and the process of killing, he feels afraid.
We find the most horrible situation when the killer dismembered the dead body to conceal it. He cut off the head, the arms, and the legs. It is very horrible. We feel near nausea. How cruel the killer is! After killing the old man his own condition is a very horrible. The way his conscience pricks him is also very horrible. (290)
Discuss the elements of suspense in the story.
Suspense starts from the start of the story. The start of the story is very sudden. The word ‘nervous’ and ‘mad’ create a lot of suspense.
The narrator of the story sets the reader to a task. He wants him to find out whether he is mad or not. He keeps talking to the reader. He asks our opinion repeatedly. He gives arguments in his favour and keeps the suspense alive until the end of the story. This suspense is not satisfied. The reader is left to guess whether the narrator is mad or not. This is first element of suspense.
When the narrator kills the old man, the reader wants to know whether he will be caught or not. When the police officers come, the suspense reaches the highest point. This is the second element of suspense.
This element of suspense is satisfied when the killer confesses to his crime. Therefore, the story is full of suspense. (158)
Was the killer a mad man?
Why did the killer kill the old man? Was he a mad man?
We can rightly say that the killer was not mad, although he was very nervous and sensitive. Perhaps he had some sort of disease. That disease had made him too sensitive.
When we read the story “The Telltale Heart” carefully, we find that he was not mad at all. In our daily life, sometimes we do not like certain things without any serious reason. Sometimes we express our dislike and sometimes we do not. Therefore, the killer’s dislike of the old man’s eye was not abnormal. Problem was that he was too sensitive and nervous. When he looked at the old man’s eye, his blood ran cold. Therefore, by degrees he made up his mind to get rid of the old man’s eye by killing him.
The process of killing also suggests that he was not mad. He kept on going to the old man’s room for seven nights. However, he did not kill the old man, because he found his eye open. It means he had full control over his nerves. The killer was right when he said that he was not mad because a mad man knows nothing. On the other hand, he knew the safest way of killing. He put the heavy bed over the old man. The way he concealed the dead body also proves that he was not mad.
The most important pint is that he told a lie to the police officers that the old man was not present and it was his own shriek. Now we do not expect that from a mad man. Besides, the way he handled the police officers also proves that he was not mad. Therefore, the killer was not mad. (282)
Discuss the title of the story. OR Why did the killer confess to his crime?
Justify the title of the story. OR How was the murderer caught?
Confession of the killer at the end of the story is very sudden and unexpected. However, the title of the story suggests that the killer will make this confession. In the title, “The Tell-Tale Heart” the word “heart” means the guilty conscience of the killer. That “heart” forced him to confess to his crime.
At the start of the story, the killer was very nervous. We find him sensitive too. We see that after committing the crime he was quite satisfied and proud at his work. He even laughed.
When the police officers came, he satisfied them with his lies and peaceful manners. Everything was all right for him. However, suddenly, he grew pale. Now he wanted to get rid of the police officers. His head ached. He imagined a ringing in his ears. This ringing became louder. He was so nervous that he said, “Oh God! What could I do?” He talked wildly. He swore, and grated the chair on the floor. He wanted to overcome the ringing, but could not. He feared that the police officers might hear the ringing.
He thought that it was old man’s heartbeat. Actually, it was his guilty conscience. Its pricking was unbearable. He said. However, anything was better that this agony! I felt that I must ream of die.” And he screamed.
It was all due to his heart or guilty conscience that he confessed to his crime. The title of the story suggests this. (243)
How did the killer kill the old and how did he conceal the body?
How did the killer execute the murder and conceal the dead body?
The killer had been going to the old man’s room to kill him for seven nights. However, he did not kill him because he found his eye close. Actually, he wanted to kill the old man because he did not like one of his eyes. That eye was very ugly.
On the eighth night, he was very cautious in opening the door. He opened the door very slowly. He was proud of his sagacity. Therefore, he laughed quietly and the old man heard him. He moved on his bed. When he was about to open the lantern, his thumb sloped, and the old man sprang up in the bed. He started enjoying the fear of the old man and he chuckled again. He threw a thin ray of light on the old man’s eye. It was open. However, he delayed in killing the old man. Then suddenly with a loud yell, he jumped into the room. The old man shrieked. The killer dragged him onto the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him. When the old man died, he removed the bed. He tried to feel the heartbeat of the old man’s heart. He was dead.
To conceal the dead body first he dismembered it. He cut off the head, the arms, and the legs. He took up planks from the flooring of the room. He put the dead body in the hole and then replaced the planks. Therefore, in this way he killed the old man and concealed the dead body. (253)
What is the lesson or moral of the story/
The lesson or moral of the story “The Tell-Tale Heart” is that a criminal cannot conceal his crime and subdue the voice of his conscience. It is impossible to ignore it s pricking for long.
When we read the story carefully, we find that the killer is quite satisfied after killing the old man. In fact, he is proud of his successful work. He has killed the old man in the safest way. There is no blood spot. He had also concealed the dead body under the flooring. No one can detect anything wrong. Therefore, he laughs ha! Ha! Everything is all right. He is rather enjoying.
When the police officers come, he receives them with complete peace of mind. He is confident that there is nothing to fear. He satisfies them that nothing wrong has happened. He tells a lie. He tells them that the old man is not present. He also tells them that he shrieked in his dream. Now the police officers are satisfied.
Suddenly, he grows pale. Now he wants to get rid of the police officers. He feels headaches. He imagines a ringing in his ears. This ringing becomes louder. He is so nervous that he says, “Oh God! What could I do?” He talks wildly. He swears. He grates the chair on the floor just to overcome the ringing, but cannot. He fears that the police officers may hear this ringing. He thinks that it is the sound of old man’s heartbeat. Actually, it is his guilty conscience. Its pricking is unbearable. He says, “But anything was better that this agony!” he further says, “I felt that I must scream or die.” And he screams. It is all due to his heart or guilty conscience that he confesses to his crime. The title of the story suggests that. (304)
Discuss the atmosphere of the story.
There is an atmosphere of horror and suspense in the story “The Tell-Tale Heart”.
To create the atmosphere of horror first the writer presents the motive of the murder. The killer did not want to kill the old man because of some object or passion. The killer loved the old man. The old man had never wronged him. He had not insulted him. The killer had no desire for the old man’s gold. The height of cruelty was that he wanted to kill the old man for one of his eyes. This motive of the killing creates horror.
The process of the killing also creates horror. When he went to kill the old man on the eighth night, he was very proud of his sagacity. Therefore, he chuckled and the old man heard him. He moved on his bed. It is very horrible that the killer enjoyed the fear of the old man. Then he yelled and jumped into the room. The old man shrieked with terror. The killer dragged the old man to the floor, and pulled the heavy be over him. When the old man died, he removed the bed and tried to feel the heartbeat of the old man. When the reader reads about the fear of the old man and the process of killing, he feels afraid.
We find him most horrible situation in the story when the killer dismembered the dead body to conceal it. He cut off the head, the arms, and the legs. It is very horrible. We feel near nausea. How cruel the killer is! His own condition after committing the murder and the way his conscience pricked him are also very horrible.
We find the atmosphere of suspense right from the start of the story. The start of the story is very sudden. The word ‘nervous’ and ‘mad’ create a lot of suspense. The writer sets the reader to a task. He wants him to find out whether he is mad or not. He keeps talking to the reader and asks his opinion repeatedly. He gives arguments in his favour and keeps the suspense alive until the end of the story. When he commits the crime, the reader wants to know whether he will be caught or not. When the police officers come, the suspense reaches the highest point. This suspense is satisfied when the killer himself confesses to his crime. Therefore, there is an atmosphere of horror and suspense in the story.41

The Killers by Ernest Hemingway
Summary
The story “The Killers” is about the idea that crime does not pay. Criminals try to escape the consequences of their crimes, but they cannot. They have to face them resignedly. Nobody can help them. They are alone and their own.
It is five o’clock. Two men enter a restaurant. Their names are Al and Max. They are killers. They have come to kill Ole Anderson. Ole is a customer. George, Nick, and Sam are members of the staff of the restaurant.
The two men sat at the counter. They order for a heavy dinner. George tells them that it is five O’clock and they can get the heavy dinner at six O’clock. They talk to the members of the staff rudely. They make fun of them and call them bright boys.
After eating his meal, Al takes Nick and Sam to the kitchen. He makes them hostages at the gunpoint. Max sits with George at the counter to handle the situation. Max asks George to tell the customers that the cook is off. Fortunately, Ole does not come. After waiting almost two hours, they leave the restaurant.
After their departure, Nick goes to Ole’s residence to tell him about the killers. However, Ole listens about the killers very casually. He tells him that nothing can be done. He thanks Nick on his coming and telling him about the killers. Nick returns and tells George about Ole. Nick is afraid of and wants to leave the town. George agrees to it.
Discuss the start of the story with a special relevance to the two killers. OR What time do the two men enter the restaurant? Tell about their physical appearance and dress. How do they order for food?
It is five O’clock when two men enter the restaurant. It is getting dark and streetlights come on. When they come in, they find George and Nick at the counter. They are talking to each other. Both the men are of the same size. No doubt, their faces are different but they are wearing the same kind of dresses. Because of the same dresses, they look like twins. They are wearing very tight overcoats and gloves.
George asks them what they want to eat but they give a very strange answer. They tell George that they do not know what they want to eat. Then they order for a heavy dinner. George tells them that it is 5 O’clock and they can get the dinner at 6 O’clock. Then they talk about the clock that is 20 minutes fast.
The two men change their order but George again tells them that they will get that at 6 O’clock. They get angry and use harsh words. They change their order for the third time and George agrees to serve them their desired dishes. Then the killers order for some drink. George tells them that he has no bitter drink for them. It appears that the two men are strangers there because they do not know the name of the town. (219)
How do the Killers treat the members of the staff of the restaurant?
The two killers treat the members of the staff very rudely. They make fun of them. They make them hostages and threaten to kill them.
Firstly, we see that they talk very rudely and their favourite word is “hell” that they use too often. Max says about the clock, “Oh, to hell with the clock…” This sentence clearly shows their way of speaking. They do not let them talk. They even do not let them to look at them. When they eat and George looks at them, they do not like it. Max says to George, “what are you looking at?” George says, “Nothing.” Max says, “The hell you were.” When George laughs, Max says, “You don’t have to laugh.”
Secondly, they make fun of them. They call them bright boys. Al calls George ‘dumb’ and ‘thinker’. He calls Nick a bright boy too. Max says, “The town’s full of bright boys.”
Thirdly, they make them hostages and threaten to kill them. Max asks Nick to go to the other side of the counter. At this Nick says, “What’s the matter?” Al says, “You better go around, bright boy.” Al threatens George. He says that he will blow his head off. When they are about to leave Al asks Max, “What about the two bright boys and the nigger?” Actually, he wants to kill them, but Max does not agree. They frighten them to death. (235)
What was the reaction of Ole Anderson when he heard about the killers who had come to kill him? What were the feelings of Nick Adams after that?
When we read the story “The Killers” carefully, we find that the reaction of Ole was very casual when Nick told him about the Killers. The writer has described his reaction and condition very beautifully.
When Nick told Ole about the killers, he said nothing. Nick told him that the killers wanted to shoot him, but still Ole said nothing. He looked at the wall. His looking at the wall shows his indifference to the serious situation. Nick told him that George had asked him to come to him and tell him about the killers. Ole said, “There isn’t anything I can do about it.”
He also said that he did not want to know what the killers were like. He thanked Nick for his coming and telling him about the killers. He told him that going to the police and running out the town would not do any good.
He knew that the killers would kill him and it was not a bluff. He said to Nick, “There ain’t anything to do now.” He was talking in the same flat voice. When Nick left, he saw Ole lying on the bed and looking at the wall. Therefore, Ole listened to the news very indifferently and casually. He was resigned to his fate. He knew that the killers would kill him and there was no escape. (226)
What is the theme of the story “The Killers”?
The theme of the story “The Killers” is that crime does not pay. Criminals try to escape the consequences of their crimes, but they have to face them. Nobody can help them. They are alone and on their own.
Firstly, Ole’s present condition clearly tells us that crime does not pay. Two professional killers are after him and want to kill him. Perhaps he has double-crossed someone who has sent these killers. His crime has put him in a horrible situation. He is alone in his room and lying on his bed. He has lost interest in everything, even in his life. His looking at the wall shows that.
Secondly, he cannot escape the consequences of his crime. We can guess that these killers have been chasing him for a long time. Ole Anderson has been doing everything to get rid of these killers. Now he has come to know that he will have to face the consequences. That is why, he tells Nick, “I’m through with all that running around.” He thanks Nick for his coming and telling him about the killers. He plainly says, “There ain’t anything to do now.” We find resignation in his actions. He has accepted the fact that the killers will kill him.
Thirdly, we see that nobody can help him. He tells Nick that going to the police and getting out of the town will not do any good. Nick cannot help Ole.
Therefore, the theme of the story is that crime does not pay. A criminal has to face the consequences of his crime after all. (264)
Bring about the horror in the story “The Killers” by Ernest Hemingway.
The story “The Killers” is full of elements of horror. When we read the story, we find that the elements of horror are very dominant at four different places in the story.
Firstly, we find horror when the killers make the members of the staff of hostages. Al takes Nick and Sam to the kitchen at the gunpoint. He ties them back-to-back. He gags them with towels. Max stays with George at the counter. Al threatens George indirectly that he would blow his head off. This is a very horrible situation for the people like George, Nick, and Sam. They are frightened to death.
Secondly, when the killers go back, Al asks Max, “What about the two bright boys and the nigger?” Actually, he wants to kill the members of the staff of the restaurant, but Max does not agree. We see that Al is so cruel that he wants to kill three innocent people. It is horrible to kill people without any excuse.
Thirdly, the helpless condition of Ole is very fearful. He looks so much helpless that the reader takes pity on him. He feels that nobody can do anything about it. Ole’s condition is very horrible. He is lying on his bed and is looking at the wall. He is waiting for his death. He knows that he cannot escape the killers by running away and going to the police. He feels that nobody can help him. He is waiting for his death.
Fourthly, the talk between George and Nick also creates horror. Nick is so much afraid that he wants to leave the town. He says, “I’m going out of this town.” At this George says, “That’s good thing to do.” Sam is so afraid that he does not want to listen to anything relating to Ole and the killers. This is really a horrible situation. (310)
Bring out the elements of suspense and irony in the story “The Killers.”
The writer has made the story “The Killers” powerful with the help of suspense and irony.
The elements of suspense are found right from the start of the story. The sudden start of the story creates a lot of suspense. The reader wants to know about the two men. He also wants to know why they are being so rude. The way they order the waiter keeps the suspense alive. They make fun of them. They call them bright boys. They particularly make fun of George, call him a thinker, and dumb. They do not let him laugh and look at them. These things add to the suspense of the story.
The suspense reaches the highest point when the killers make the hostages. The reader wants to know why they have done so. However, the suspense is not fully satisfied when he comes to know that they want to kill Ole Anderson. At this point, the reader wants to know why they want to kill Ole Anderson. He is given only a clue that Ole might have double-crossed somebody. He also wants to know whether the killers will be able to kill Ole. We see that he does not get the answer. There was suspense that the armed men might rob money and things and someone might be injured or killed.
Irony in the story is that after committing some crime, Ole thinks that he will escape its consequences. At the end, we find him fully resigned to death. Despite of much suspense and horror, the end of the story is sudden and unexpected. (264)
The story “The Killers” reflects some of the darkest aspects of the modern society. Discuss.
No doubt, the story “The Killers” reflects some of the darkest aspects of the modern American society.
When we go through the story, we find that there appears to be no hold of law and order in the modern American society. It is very easy to kill and to make hostage to anyone. Gun is the order of the day. The killers have a gun and they make the members of the staff hostages. They control the situation in the restaurant for more than two hours and there is no police around. People are killing each just to oblige their friends. They do not need any serious excuse.
People are helpless against these killers. They cannot escape the killers even by running away and leaving towns. They cannot get help from the police. In the story, Nick advises Ole to get help from the police, but Ole says, “That wouldn’t do any good,” and “There ain’t anything to do.” This is the darkest aspect of the modern American society.
Even innocent people are helpless against the killers. They cannot get help from the police either. The best they can do is to leave towns.
At the end of the story, we find that everybody is afraid. Sam, the cook, even refuses to listen to anything relating to Ole. Nick says, “They’ll kill him,” and George says, “I guess they will.” These sentences show the situation of law and order in the modern American society.
Therefore, we can conclude that the story, “The Killers” reflects some of the darkest aspects of the modern American society. (264)
What kind of understanding does “The Killers” impart to the reader?
The story “The Killers” imparts the understanding to the reader that crime does not pay. Criminals try to escape the consequences of their crimes, but later they have to face them. Nobody can help them. Secondly, it imparts the understanding that there is no hold of law and order in the modern American society.
When the reader goes through the story, he finds Ole Anderson lying on his bed and looking at the wall. Two professional killers are after him and want to kill him. It appears that Ole has done something wrong. The reader can guess that these killers have been chasing him for a long time.
The reader also comes to know that Ole has tried everything to get rid of these killers, but has failed. Ole plainly tells Nick, “There ain’t anything to do now.” He tells him that going to the police and getting out the town will do nothing. When the reader reads this, he understands that criminals cannot escape the consequences of their crimes.
The story imparts another understanding to the reader that the modern American society has some dark aspects. It appears to him that there is no hold of law and order. Innocent peoples are at the mercy of killers. The best they can do is to leave towns.
Therefore, this is the understanding the story, “The Killers” imparts to the reader. (230)
“The Killers” is a powerful modern short story. Discuss.
No doubt, “The Killers” is a powerful modern short story. It has all the elements that make a short story powerful. It has a sudden start and unfinished ending. It has a good plot, the best-conceived characters, and a lot of suspense, irony, and satire. Moreover, the writer has not given his personal feelings anywhere in the story.
The abrupt start of the story creates a lot of suspense. The reader wants to know who these men are, why they are being so rude, and why they have come to the restaurant. He also wants to know why the killers have made the members of the staff hostages. The suspense is satisfied when the reader knows that they have come to kill Ole.
At this point, the reader wants to know why they want to kill Ole. The reader is given only a clue that he might double-cross somebody. We do not know whether they will kill Ole. Hence, the suspense remains alive even after the end of the story.
Irony in the story is that after committing some crime, Ole thinks that he will escape its consequences. Satire is on the modern American society. It appears that there is no hold of law and order. Innocent people are at the mercy of killers. The best they can do is to leave town.
Therefore, we can say that “The Killers” is a powerful modern short story. (236)
Discuss the attitude and the opinion of other characters of the story, except the two killers, about Ole Anderson. Give your own opinion too.
When we read the story “The Killers” carefully, we find that all other characters of the story except the two killers have very high opinion about Ole. For the members of the staff he is a good, nice, and regular customer. They do not know that he has double-crossed someone. That is why they cannot understand why the two killers are after him and why they want to kill him.
They like him so much that they are ready to risk their own lives to save his. George asks Nick to go to Ole’s residence to tell him about the killers. Actually, he wants to tell Ole about the killers. Nick goes there and offers his help. He advises Ole to get out of the town. This shows that he has very high opinion about Ole.
The same is the case with Mrs. Bell. She thinks that Ole is a very nice man. When she finds that Ole is not well, she advises him to go for a walk to feel better.
I also have a very high opinion about Ole. He is really a nice man. Although he is fully resigned to death, yet he thanks Nick on his coming and telling him about the killers. He may have done something wrong but we are not sure about it. Like other characters of the story, except the two killers, I also like Ole. (234)


CHARACTER SKETCHES
Ole Anderson
In fact, Anderson represented many old men of his time who did not find anything interesting or worth attention in life after their active years. Life and death were now equal to him. In an extreme way, in all the surrounding dullness, boredom, and emptiness, Anderson might have thought of death as an escape like many dissatisfied, disenchanted people who even committed suicide. This is one result of highly industrial societies where active people in business leave lonely persons like Anderson to themselves. Anderson’s life, then, symbolizes some of the darkest aspects of American life or of the advanced Western civilizations. Inner peace and spiritual satisfactions are what religion alone can provide.
He may be a middle-aged fellow. He is a tall man. He has been a heavyweight boxer.
He is a polite fellow, and people like him. Mrs. Bell, the housekeeper, likes him. When George comes to tell him about the killers, he thanks him.
Two killers are after him and want to kill him. He has been running from town to town, but now he is ready to die. He has realized that nobody can help him and he will have to face his death. Nick asks him, “Isn’t there something I could do?” He answers, “No. There ain’t anything to do.” This answer shows his mental condition.
Therefore, we can say that he is a polite and good fellow. He may have done something wrong in Chicago. Now he is ready to face his death. (248

The New Constitution by Saadat Hasan Manto

Summary
The story “The New Constitution” conveys the idea that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. It also tells the reader about the true feelings of the common people of India for the British.
Ustad Mangu is a tongawala and lives in Lahore. He is illiterate. He is in the habit of overhearing his fares. Once he overhears from his fares about the communal violence. He is worried and tells his friends about the reason of this communal violence.
He hates the English because of their arrogance and insulting behavior. Once a gora soldier insults him and Ustad bears the insult silently. In rage, he abuses the English.
Once he overhears about the introduction of the new constitution. He is very happy. He returns to the Tonga stand and tells his companions about the news. After that, he overhears about the changes. He overhears that the Indians would be free. He thought that the new constitution would force the English to go back to England. The Indian would have elected assemblies. They would have equal rights. He waits for the introduction of the new constitution very impatiently.
On 1 April, he gets up early in the morning and comes on road to see the new constitution in force. However, he is disappointed to see no change. He meets a Gora soldier there and picks up a quarrel with him. He beats the Gora soldier. Two police officers lock him up. They tell him that nothing has changed and it is the same old constitution. (254)
What were the expectations of Ustad Mangu? Did these expectations come true?
Ustad Mangu was a tongawala. He was illiterate and did not know what the new constitution was. All his expectations were based on what he overheard from his fares. The most striking point is that he believed in all those expectations. He was sure that these expectations would come true.
He expected that a lot would change. The Indians would be free. The new constitution was going to be like boiling hot water, which would destroy the moneylenders. The new constitution would force the English to go back to England and they would not infest the earth anymore. The Russian king was bound to show them his paces. The things were going to open up.
The Indians would have elected assemblies and people would get government jobs. Everyone would be able to lay his hand on something. The number of thousands of unemployed graduates would reduce. The present system of allotting Tonga number plates would change.
He also expected that Indians would have equal rights. Ustad Mangu beat the Gora soldier under this illusion. According to Ustad Mangu now, it was the new constitution and he had the same rights as the Gora soldier had. If he could beat Ustad Mangu, so could Ustad. However, it was surprising for Ustad Mangu that he was locked up.
Therefore, all these were the expectations of Ustad Mangu and none of these came true. (231)




What were the feelings of the people of common working class of India for the English?
Write about the feelings of people like Ustad Mangu for the English.
The Indians hated British Imperialism. Discuss.
People like Ustad Mangu hated the British and their imperialistic system. Ustad Mangu was a tongawala and belonged to a lower working class of India. People like him were illiterate. They were unaware of the changes that were being made in India. They hated the British because of their personal insults. The English used to abuse the Indians as if they were some lower creation of God, even worse than a dog. The English were proud too.
Under the circumstances, the Indians hated the British and their imperialistic system. Even after abusing them for hours, they used to feel enraged. They used to call them lepers, something dead and rotting. They wanted to knock them all out. They were sick of their arrogance. The English were just like human monkeys to them. The English treated the Indians as if the Indians were their father’s slaves.
The people of lower working class felt that the English were ruling India against the will of the Indians. According to Ustad Mangu, “Came to the house to fetch a candle and before you knew, they had taken it over.” For the Indians, the English were usurpers and they did not have any right of ruling India. They wanted them to leave India and set the Indians free. They were so sick of the English that they used to experience near nausea when they met them.
These were the real feelings of the people of common working class of India against the English. (248)
Why did Ustad Mangu hate the British?
Ustad Mangu was a tongawala. He lived in Lahore before the establishment of Pakistan. The English were ruling India then. He hated the English because of a personal reason. Once it happened that Ustad Mangu had a quarrel with a drunken Gora soldier. The Gora soldier abused Ustad Mangu. Ustad had to bear the insult silently. This made him depressed for days and he developed feelings of hatred towards the English.
He used to tell his friends that he hated the British because they were ruling Hindustan against the will of the Indians. Besides, they missed no opportunities to commit atrocities. However, the true reason was his personal insult.
This hatred went on increasing because of the treatment of the English. They used to treat him as if he were some lower creature of God, even worse than a dog. They were very proud. They ordered him as if he was their father’s slave.
Therefore, we can conclude that the Gora soldier of the cantonment was responsible for Ustad Mangu’s hatred. This hatred went on increasing. Later it changed into a hatred for the British. (185)
What did Ustad Mangu look forward to on 1 April?
What did Ustad Mangu expect on 1 April?
Ustad Mangu looked forward to many things on the first April.
On the first April, he was very happy because he was going to see the coming of the new constitution with his own eyes. He wanted to see colour and light. He expected that everything would change. The shop signs, the lampposts, and even people would change. He wanted to see something colourful and dramatic. He wanted to see the new constitution as clearly as he could see his horse. He wanted to see the new constitution brought out with razzle-dazzle.
His most important expectation was that the Indians would have equal rights. Ustad Mangu beat the Gora soldier under the illusion that he had equal rights after the enforcement of the new constitution.
He also expected that the new constitution was going to be like boiling hot water. It would destroy the moneylenders who sucked the blood of the poor. The new constitution would force the English to go back to England. They would not infest the earth any more. The Russian king would show them his paces. The things were going to open up. The Indians would have elected assemblies. The unemployed graduates would get government jobs. Everyone would be able to lay hands on something. The present system of allotting Tonga number plates would change.
Therefore, Ustad Mangu was looking forward to these changes on 1 April. The most important thing was that he thought that the Indians would be free. They would have equal rights and everything would change. (254)
What was Ustad Mangu’s reaction to communal violence between the Hindus and the Muslims?
Ustad Mangu looked disturbed on communal violence between the Hindus and the Muslims.
Actually, Ustad Mangu was not an educated person. He did not know exactly what was going on in India. All his knowledge of things depended on what he overheard from his fares. His fares were just like newspapers to him. The most interesting point is that he believed in all what he overheard. That was why he was looking disturbed after overhearing from his fares about the communal violence.
He sat down with his friends. He took a long drag on the Hookah. He removed his khaki turban and gave his own reason of the communal violence. He believed that the communal violence acts were the result of a holy man’s curse. Then he told the whole story to his friends. According to him, once Akbar Badshah showed disrespect to a saint. That saint cursed him. He said that his Hindustan would always be troubled by riots and disorder.
Therefore, we conclude that Ustad Mangu was worried about communal violence. He believed that they were the result of a holy man’s curse. (185)
How was Ustad Mangu disillusioned about “The New Constitution”?
How did Ustad Mangu come to know that he was wrong about the New Constitution?
How was Ustad Mangu disappointed about the New Constitution?
Disillusion means disappointed in somebody or something that one had admired and believed in.
When we go through the story “The New Constitution”, we find that Ustad Mangu had many wrong expectations about the new constitution. He was illiterate and did not know exactly what the new constitution was. All his wrong expectations were based on what he overheard from his fares. The most interesting point is that he believed that all these expectations would come true.
His first wrong expectation was that the Indians would have equal rights. He English would not be able to infest the earth any more. Ustad Mangu beat the Gora soldier under the illusion that he had equal right after the enforcement of the new constitution. The same Gora soldier had abused Ustad Mangu. Ustad Mangu had to bear the insult. However, this time he thought that it was now the new constitution in force and he had the same right as the Gora soldier had. If Gora soldier could beat Ustad Mangu, so could he; but he was disillusioned. He was locked up. He was told that it was the same old constitution.
Therefore, that was how he was disillusioned of his false belief of equal rights. He also had the false belief that everything would change, but he was disillusioned of that too. He came to know that nothing had changed. Even it was the same old constitution. (236)
Discuss that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing in the context of the story “The New Constitution”.
When we read the story “The New Constitution” carefully, we conclude that it is a fact that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
At the start of the story, the writer talks about the knowledge of Ustad Mangu very ironically. According to the writer, “He had never seen the inside of a school, and in strictly academic terms was no more than a cipher, but there was nothing under the sun he did not know something about.”
We find that Ustad Mangu had a little knowledge about things. We see that he was in the habit of overhearing his fares. His fares were just like newspapers to him. The most important thing was that he believed in all what he used to overhear from his fares. He was illiterate so he did not know exactly what was going on around him.
Firstly, he believed that communal violence between the Muslims and the Hindus was because of some holy man’s curse. It was just lack of knowledge. Secondly, he believed that every country was ruled over by a king. The new constitution was being introduced because of the Russian king.
Thirdly, he wrongly expected that because of the new constitution everything would change. He would have equal rights after the enforcement of the new constitution. Nevertheless, the new constitution was not just that. Ustad had a little knowledge about that too. Because of this little knowledge, he did a very dangerous thing. He beat the Gora soldier and he was locked up.
Therefore, we can conclude that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (264)
What kind of man is Ustad Mangu? Discuss his ideas.
Ustad Mangu is the central character of the story “The New Constitution”. He is a middle-aged person and is illiterate. He is a tongawala. He lives in Lahore. He is in the habit of overhearing his fares. That is why he knows something about everything. He shares these things with his friends.
Ustad has many friends and cuts jokes with them. In normal circumstances, he is a humorous fellow.
Ustad Mangu hates the English. He does not like their arrogance. Once, a Gora soldier abuses him. From that point onward, he also starts abusing them. He remains depressed for hours. He wants to get rid of the English. He wants equal rights. For this reason, he greets the new constitution warmly.
He knows very little about what is going on around him in India. He believes that the communal violence is because of some holy man’s curse. He also believes that a king rules every country. He is interested in communist system.
Therefore, we can say that Mangu is a good character. He is simple. He hates the English and wants India free. He believes that he will get equal rights because of the new constitution. (196)
Describe Ustad Mangu’s observations on 1 April.
On 1 April, Ustad Mangu got up early in the morning. He set up his Tonga and took to road. He wanted to see the introduction of the new constitution with his own eyes.
He was disappointed to see that nothing had changed. Everything had the same old and worn-out look. He wanted to see colour and light. However, there was nothing. Even the lampposts looked the same. The shop signs had not changed. People were moving here and there as if nothing new had happened. Then he thought that was no change because it was very early in the morning. Most of the shops were closed.
In front of the Government College, he saw many students. They were nicely dressed but it appeared to him that they were wearing dirty clothes. Ustad Mangu wanted to see something colourful and dramatic. He reached Anarkali but he saw nothing new. He saw shopkeepers busy with their customers as usual. He wanted to see the new constitution as clearly as he could see his horse. He also wanted to see it brought out with razzle-dazzle.
He picked up a fare and started towards the cantonment. He was hopeful that he might learn something about the new constitution there. However, he was disillusioned and did not see anything that could prove that the new constitution had been introduced. (225)
Describe the quarrel of Ustad Mangu with the Gora soldier.
Ustad Mangu was a tongawala. He lived in Lahore. The English were ruling India then. The English were very arrogantly and treated the Indians as if they were their father’s slaves. The Indians did not like their attitude.
Once, a Gora soldier abused Ustad Mangu without any excuse. Ustad Mangu bore the insult because he knew that he would not get any justice from an English judge.
On 1 April, he was in the cantonment when he saw the Gora soldier. The Gora soldier asked to take him somewhere. Ustad Mangu recognized him. The same Gora soldier had abused him one year ago. He again talked to Ustad Mangu in the same arrogant manner.
On 1 April, the situation was different for Ustad. He thought that the new constitution was in force and now he had equal rights. Now if the Gora soldier could beat him so could he. Therefore, under the wrong impression he picked up a quarrel with the Gora soldier. Ustad wanted to take a revenge of his previous insult. He demanded five rupees as fare. The Gora soldier could not believe it. He came close to Ustad Mangu. He also recognized Ustad Mangu. He decided to beat Ustad Mangu with his stick.
Ustad Mangu was a strong and well-built man. He started beating the Gora soldier with his powerful blows. He was in rage. The Gora soldier tried to save himself but could not. He could not believe that Ustad Mangu was beating him. In desperation, he began to shout for help. A crowd had gathered.
Two policemen appeared from somewhere. They rescued the Gora soldier from Ustad with great difficulty. Ustad Mangu was very angry and was shouting, “New constitution, new constitution!” but the two policemen told him that it was the same old constitution. He was locked up. (304)
What did Ustad Mangu overhear about political changes in India?
What did Ustad Mangu overhear from his fares?
No doubt, Ustad Mangu was illiterate and just a tongawala, but he was greatly interested in political changes in India. He had his own views about everything. He was in the habit of overhearing his fares. The most important was that he believed in what he used to overhear from his fares. They were just like newspapers to him. Sometimes his fares discussed things in English, but even then, he tried to make something out of it.
Once, Ustad Mangu picked up to moneylenders. They started discussion about government of India Act 1935. Ustad Mangu gathered from their discussion that this Act would be introduced on the 1 April and because of this Act, many things would change. The moneylenders were not sure about interest and they wanted to ask a lawyer about it. Ustad was very excited on listening to this discussion. He thought that the Russian king had forced the English to introduce this Act.
After some days, he picked up to barristers. They were arguing about the new constitution. One of them was saying that he could not understand section 2 of the Act. He said that it related to the freedom of India. No such federation existed, so it would be a disaster from a political angle. As their discussion was going on in English, Ustad could not follow it. However, it was his idea that they were against the new constitution. He did not like them.
Three days later, he picked up three students. They were discussing about the new constitution. They said many good things about the Act. They said that because of the Act, things were going to open up. The Indian would have elected assemblies. They would get government jobs. Everybody would be able to get something. Unemployed graduates would get jobs. After that, he heard many things about changes. Some fares talked in favour and some talked against them. (318)

Breakfast by John Steinbeck

Summary
The story “Breakfast” throws light on the fact that the most important thing is contentment. If man has contentment, he can be happy even if he has no house, no permanent job, and no good food to eat.
Once, the writer is going somewhere. On his way, he sees a young woman working outside her tent. The writer is feeling cold and hunger. He goes to the tent. He finds the woman preparing breakfast.
An old man and a young man came out of the tent. They offer the writer to join them for breakfast. The writer agrees. All of them sit on the ground and enjoy a good breakfast. The old man and the young man thank God for that good breakfast. They have been eating good food only for twelve days, but they are happy.
After the breakfast, the young man offers the writer a job, but the writer denies and departs saying thanks for the breakfast. At the end, the writer expresses his feelings.
What is the theme of the story “Breakfast”?
The theme of the story “Breakfast” is that if man has contentment, he can be happy even if he has no house, no permanent job, and no good food for long.
The writer relates his personal experience to prove that things do not bring happiness. It is our attitude towards life and God that ensures it. Once, the writer met a family. This family was living in a tent just like gypsies who do not have any permanent job or house. These gypsies are always on the move. They pitch up their tent where they find work.
This family was just like them. This family did not have a grand house. They were poor. When they sat to eat, they used a packing box as a table. They sat on the ground to eat because they do not have any chairs, but they were happy. They did not have any complaint or anger against any person or agency because of their poverty. They were happy with the little living they had.
They had been eating good food just for twelve days, but they were grateful to God. The older man said while eating, “God Almighty, it’s good.” Contentment and gratefulness to God was their wealth. After working for twelve days, they were able to get good clothes. They were happy. It was very easy for them to become happy on little favours from God. They did not need much to be happy.
Therefore, the story presents the theme that we are at wrong when we think that things bring happiness. The writer has proved that money is not wealth, but contentment is. (272)
Elaborate the last remark in the story “Breakfast”.
What were the reasons that it was pleasant and there was some element of beauty in it?
In his last remarks, the writer has talked about the theme of the story very beautifully. He has not tried to draw the theme for the reader. He has just given the hint that there is some element of beauty in the story.
The writer has narrated a very short and common event. This event does not have any thrill, surprise of suspense in it. However, something has made this event pleasant. There is some element of great beauty. A long time has passed but this element of beauty still fills his heart with pleasure whenever he thinks of it.
When we go through the story, we find that the element of great beauty was contentment of those people. Besides, they were simple, and were thankful to God on what they had. We see that the family presented by the writer lived in a tent just like gypsies. This family did not have any permanent house or job. The two men pitched up their work where they found work.
They were so much poor that when they sat to eat, they used a packing box as a table. They sat on the ground to eat because they did not have any chairs, but they were happy. They had been eating food just for twelve days, but they were grateful to God. The older man said while eating, “God Almighty, it’s good.” The family did not need much to be happy. This was the element of beauty in the story, which the writer has mentioned in the last lines of the story. (261)
Read the story “Breakfast” carefully and describe the experience and feelings of the writer about the family of cotton pickers.
Describe in your own words the writer’s chance meeting with the family of cotton pickers.
The writer had an experience of meeting with the family of cotton pickers. That experience had an everlasting impact on the writer.
One day, the writer was walking down a country road. He was feeling cold. He saw a grey tent at a distance. A woman was preparing breakfast nearby. The writer approached the tent. After some time two men came out of the tent. One was young while the other was old. They said good morning to the writer. The young man said “Keerist” when he smelt the hot bread.
They offered the writer to join in the breakfast. The writer accepted the offer. They all sat down on the ground and ate to their fill. The young and the old man both were happy at their new dungarees. The old man thanked God. When the writer thanked the cotton picker for the breakfast, he waved his hand in a negative. The young man offered the writer to join in their work, but the writer told them that he had to go along.
The writer expressed his feelings at the start and at the end of the story. According to the writer, this short event still brings curious warm pleasure. He indirectly refers to his pleasant feeling on the simplicity and contentment of cotton pickers. He was impressed by their thankfulness to God. (225)
“Breakfast” is a criticism on the materialistic modern age particularly on city people. Discuss.
No doubt, the story “Breakfast” is a criticism on the materialistic modern age, particularly on city people.
In this story, the writer has indirectly criticized the people who think that only things can bring happiness. The writer relates his own personal experience to prove that things do not bring happiness. It is our attitude towards god and life that ensures it.
Once, the writer met a family. The family was living in a tent just like gypsies who do not have any permanent house or job. These gypsies are always on the move. They pitch up their tent where they find work. This family was just like them. They did not have a grand house. They were poor. When they sat to eat, they used a packing box as a table. They sat on the ground to eat because they did not have any chairs, but they were happy.
They did not have any complaint or anger against any person or agency because of their poverty. They were happy with the little living they had. They had been eating good food just for twelve days, but they were grateful to God. The older man said while eating, “God Almighty, it’s good.” Contentment and gratefulness to God was their wealth. They were able to buy new clothes, after working for twelve days. It was very easy to them to become happy on little favours from God. They did not need much to be happy.
Therefore, the story is a criticism on the materialistic modern age, particularly on city people who think that things bring happiness. (264)
Write a note on the atmosphere and setting of the story.
The setting of a story means time, place, and social circumstances in which its action occurs. When we read the story, we find that the time of the story is present. The writer wants to promote the idea that things do not bring happiness. Nevertheless, it is our attitude towards God and life that ensures it.
The place of the action of the story is a hilly area or a village. The family of cotton pickers is living in a tent just like gypsies. They pitch up their tent where they find work. When they sit to eat, they use a packing box as a table. They sit on the ground because they do not have any chair. They have been eating good food just for twelve days. However, they were happy and have contentment and gratefulness to God.
In this story, the writer presents the social circumstances of a poor family. He presents their poverty by describing the things like the tent, the rusty stove, packing box, the humble food and the cotton skirt of the woman. The action of the story takes place outside the tent where the family meets the writer. They have their breakfast there. (199)
What did the younger man offer the writer in the story? What effect did this offer has on his mind?
Discuss the attitude of cotton pickers with the writer.
Why does the writer decline the offer of a job but could never forget these people?
After having breakfast, the younger man offered the writer to join in their work of cotton picking, but the writer rejected the offer. However, he thanked for the breakfast.
The writer expressed his feelings at the start and at the end of the story. At the start of the story, the writer says that the remembrance of the offer of work and the attitude of the cotton pickers fill him with pleasure. He can remember these in the smallest detail. This memory is so good that he finds himself recalling it repeatedly. Each time he remembers something new. He gets curious warm pleasure.
At the end, he thinks that there was a great element of beauty. That element of great beauty makes him happy whenever he thinks about it.
Therefore, we see that the offer of work and the attitude of the family of cotton pickers had a very good effect on the writer. He still remembers it and it appears that he will always remember it. Whenever he remembers it, he gets happiness.
He is impressed by the simplicity, contentment, and the sincerity of the cotton pickers. They had only twelve days of work; still they offer the writer to join in. They were very kind with the writer. Although the writer was a complete stranger to them, yet they received him very kindly. They exchanged greeting with the writer and received him with a smile. They were very poor but they offered the writer to join in the breakfast. (251)
Write a note on the characters of the story “Breakfast”.
Characters are the persons presented in a story. A character may remain unchanged in his outlook from beginning to end or he may change. If a character remains unchanged, it is called a flat or type character and if it changes it is called a round character.
When we read the story “Breakfast” carefully, we find that the characters presented in the story are flat. They remain unchanged from the beginning to the end. There are five characters in the story. The members of the family of cotton pickers represent village people. The fifth one is the writer himself. He takes the role of a narrator. He receives the favours of the family of cotton pickers.
The first quality of the cotton pickers is that they are kind and good-hearted people. Their circumstances do not allow them to offer a stranger to join in the breakfast. They are very poor and they have been eating good food just for twelve days. They have seen and tasted good food after a long time. It is very difficult to offer somebody else. However, they are not just ordinary people. They are symbols of good qualities. The writer has presented them to prove that a person can be kind even to a stranger if he wants to. It is not difficult at all.
Their second quality is their contentment. They are contented people. They are so poor that they live in a tent just like gypsies. When they sit to eat, they use a packing box because they do not have any table. They sit on the ground to eat because they do not have any chair. However, they are happy and smile when they look at each other.
Their third quality is their gratefulness to God. In spite of all their poverty, they are happy and grateful to God on his favours. Their gratefulness to God is very touching and impresses the writer very much.
In the present circumstances, it is very difficult to find such people. However according to the writer there are such people in the world. One may come across them on one’s way. (355)
The story “Breakfast” is a symbolic story. Discuss.
The story “Breakfast” has an allegorical interpretation. Discuss.
The qualities are personified in the story “Breakfast”
No doubt, the story “Breakfast” is a symbolic story and it has an allegorical interpretation. In this story, the good qualities of contentment and gratefulness to God have been personified as persons. The writer has presented a family of cotton pickers. The writer has not told the names of the characters because they are type characters. They are symbol of contented and grateful village people.
Firstly, they are symbol of kindness and good-heartedness. Their circumstances do not allow them to offer a stranger to join in breakfast. They are very poor and eating good food only for twelve days. They have seen and tasted good food after a long time. It is very difficult to offer someone else. However, they are not just ordinary people. They are the symbol of good qualities. The writer has presented them to prove that a person can be kind even to a stranger if he wants to.
Secondly, they are the symbol of contentment. They are contented people. They are so poor that they live in a tent just like gypsies. They pitch up their tent where they find work. When they sit to eat, they use a packing box because they do not have any chair. However, they are happy and smile when they look at each other.
Thirdly, they are symbol of gratefulness to God. In spite of all their poverty, they are happy and grateful to God on His favours. Their gratefulness to God is very touching and impresses the writer very much.
In the present circumstances, it is very difficult to find such people. However, according to the writer, there are such people in the world. One may find them on one’s way. Such people are really symbol of good qualities. (291)

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
Summary
The story “The Happy Prince” has at least three themes. The first theme of the story is that outward beauty is nothing. It is just a show. The real beauties are love and sacrifices. The second theme is that love and sacrifice are two saving forces. The third theme is that there is great gap between the rich and the poor, the rulers and the masses.
When the happy prince is alive, he lives in a palace where sorrow is not allowed to enter. He lives a life of happiness. However, when he dies his courtiers set u his statute on a tall column.
The statue of the happy prince sees all the misery of the city. He weeps when he sees people in trouble. He wants to help them.
A swallow stays at the feet of the statue of the happy prince for the night. On happy prince’s request, he prolongs his stay and helps the poor with the ruby and the sapphires. When the happy prince cannot see any more, the swallow decides to stay with the happy prince forever. The he helps the people with the gold covering of the happy prince. At the end, he dies frost. The heart of the happy prince also breaks.
Once, the mayor and the town councilors pass by the stature of the happy prince. They are shocked to see it without ruby, sapphires, and gold covering. It looks ugly without them. They pull it down and decide to make another statue. The heart of the happy prince not melt in the furnace and the workers throw it on the dust heap where the dead swallow is already lying. An angel comes and takes both the heart and the dead Swallow to God as two precious things. (296)
“The Happy Prince” is a fairly tale. Discuss.
No doubt, the story “The Happy Prince” is a fairy tale. In a fairly tale we find unreal characters like fairies, giants, witches and talking animals. It is a story, which is hard to believe. The events of a fairy tale do not happen in real life. The most important quality of a fairy tale is that it always has a happy conclusion.
When we read the story, we find that it is a perfect fairy tale. It fulfils all the requirements of a fairy tale. Firstly, we find two imaginary characters – a talking Swallow and a talking statue. In our daily life, we do not find such characters. Secondly, we see the statue of the Happy Prince shedding tears on the sufferings of the poor. He has sapphire eyes and a lead heart. However, he can see through these sapphire eyes and has love and sympathies for the poor in his lead heart. This is highly unbelievable and it does not happen in real life. A statue has no eyes and no heart.
Thirdly, we see that the Swallow first picks off ruby, sapphires, and then gold covering without any tools. This is also unbelievable. Fourthly, the end of the story is also fairy tale like. No doubt, the Swallow and the statue of the Happy Prince are dead and on the dust heap. However, this is not the real ending. The real ending is that the Swallow will always sing in the garden of Paradise and the Happy Prince will always praise God in the city of gold. This is quite a happy ending and fulfils the most important requirement of a fairy tale. Therefore, we can conclude that the story “The Happy Prince” is a perfect fairy tale. (291)
How has the writer brought out poverty in the story “The Happy Prince”?
The writer has brought out poverty in a very beautiful manner. The son of the tailor is suffering from fever. He is thirsty and asking for oranges. However, she is a poor tailor. She cannot buy oranges for her son. She is embroidering passionflowers for the Queen’s maids-of-honour. Her poverty is very touching. The poverty of the writers of the Victorian age has also been reflected very beautifully. The young writer is cold and hungry. Hunger has made him faint.
The little weeping match girl also depicts the poverty of the Victorian age. She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. The beggars are sitting at the gates of the houses of the rich people. In dark lanes, there are children who have white starving faces. They are looking out listlessly at the black streets. People do not have their own houses go two little boys are lying under the archway of a bridge. It is cold so they are lying in one another’s arm to keep themselves warm. They are very hungry.
Therefore, all these suggest the poverty of the Victorian age. (187)
How has the writer brought out exploitation in the story “The Happy Prince”?
The writer has brought out exploitation very beautifully. The people at court, the Jews, and the rich are exploiting the poor. The Mayor and the Town Councilors represent the exploitation of the power. The son of the seamstress is suffering from fever, but she cannot attend to him. She is embroidering passionflowers for the Queen’s made-of-honour to wear at the next court-ball. The poor are working hard, but they cannot buy even oranges. This is the worst kind of exploitation.
On one side, some people are so poor that they are starving and on the other hand the rich are making merry and the Jews are weighing out money on copper scales. The writers of that time are also being exploited. They are cold and cold with hunger. The Mayor and the Town Councilors are exploiting their powers. Each one of them himself wants to have built statue. The Mayor even issues a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die there. This is purely an exploitation of power. (171)
How has the writer brought out hypocrisy in the story “The Happy Prince”?
The writer has brought out hypocrisy in the story “The Happy Prince” in a very beautiful manner. One of the town councilors does not have artistic taste, but he wants to show that he has that artistic taste. He praises the beauty of the Happy Prince in the most inartistic way. He says that the statue is as beautiful as a weathercock. His simile shows how ignorant he is. He is so hypocrite that he adds that he is not quite useful for the fear of the people. Because in those days people believed that art must have had some usefulness, otherwise it was bad art.
The town councilors are the worst example of hypocrisy. They always agree with the Mayor just to get his favour. They are so hypocrites that they even repeat the words spoken by the Mayor. When the professor sees the Swallow, he writes a long letter to the local newspaper. It is full of so many words that people cannot understand it. However, they still quote it to each other just to show off.
Therefore, this is how the writer shows the hypocrisy of the people. (191)
What is the theme of the story “The Happy Prince”?
The story “The Happy Prince” has at least three themes. The first theme of the story is that outward beauty is nothing it is just a show. The real beauty is the love and sacrifice. The end of the story gives this idea.
The Happy Prince has a lead heart, but this heart is full of sympathies for the poor and the needy. He sacrifices his eyes and beauty just to help them. He gives away his gold covering bit by bit to the poor. Now without his eyes and gold covering, he looks so ugly that he is sent to furnace to melt. He has lost outward beauty, but with sacrifice and love, he has achieved spiritual beauty. God is pleased with him. After his death, he is taken to the city of gold where he will praise God forever.
The same happens with the Swallow. He sacrifices his life for the love of the Happy Prince. Nevertheless, he also achieves spiritual beauty. He will sing for evermore in God’s garden of Paradise.
The second theme is that love and sacrifice are two saving forces. This world is full of poverty, hypocrisy, and exploitation. If there were no love and sacrifice, the world could not go on its axis. It is because of love and sacrifice that this life is going on. Therefore, it is true that love and sacrifice are two saving forces.
The third theme of the story is that there is great gap between the rich and the poor, the rulers and the masses. The Happy Prince did not know about the poor and their problems when he was alive. Therefore, it means that the rulers at that time did not know about the problems and the difficulties of the masses. (295)
Why does the Happy Prince weep?
The Happy Prince weeps because he cannot bear the sufferings and the miseries of the poor and the needy. He weeps because he has a very soft heart, although it is made of lead. This heart had nothing but the sympathies for the poor and the needy. The writer values this lead heard so much that he tells the reader that this heart does not melt in the furnace.
The Happy Prince used to live in the Palace of Sans-Souci. Sorrow was not allowed to enter the Palace. At that time, the Happy Prince did not know what tears were. In the daytime, he used to play with his companions in the garden. In the evening, he led the dance in the Great Hall. There was a very lofty wall around the garden. The Happy Prince did not know that what was beyond that wall. Inside this wall, everything was beautiful and he was very happy. His courtiers called him Happy Prince. After his death, his courtiers made his statue and set it up on a very tall column. Now from that height he can see all the ugliness and all the misery of the city. Therefore, he weeps because he has very soft heart and he cannot stand the miseries of the people. It is because of this soft heart that he sacrifices his beauty and sapphire eyes. (229)


What did the Swallow tell the Happy Prince about the city and the people?
What did the Swallow report to the Happy Prince about human misery or suffering?
When the Happy Prince gave away his sapphire eyes, he could not see any more. Therefore, he asked the Swallow to fly over his city and told him what he saw there. The Swallow flew over the great city and reported to the Happy Prince what he saw.
He told the Happy Prince about the condition of the rich and the poor. The rich were making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at the gates. In the dark lanes, he saw the white faces of starving children. These children were so hungry that they were looking out listlessly at the black streets.
He told the Happy Prince a very miserable thing. He told him about the two boys who were hungry and homeless. These boys were lying under the archway of a bridge. They were cold so they were lying in one another’s arms to keep themselves warm, but the watchman did not let those boys lie under the bridge either. He drove them out into the rain.
Therefore, the Swallow told the Happy Prince about the condition of the rich and the poor. The rich were hungry and homeless.
When the Happy Prince listened to this, he asked the Swallow to give his gold covering to the poor and the needy. (216)
Discuss the end of the story “The Happy Prince”.
The story “The Happy Prince” is a fairy tale and the end of a fairly tale is always happy. In a fairly tale characters face difficulties and they endanger their lives to get their desired goals. They face so many hardships that it appears that they cannot succeed. However, at the end they always succeed and live happily ever after.
In the story, “The Happy Prince” the end appears tragic. The Swallow and the Happy Prince both die and are thrown on a dust heap. However, this is not the real end of the story. The Swallow and the Happy Prince has sacrificed their lives to help the poor and the needy. God is happy with their sacrifices. Therefore, God rewards them and orders that the Swallow will sing in the garden of paradise and the Happy Prince will praise him.
Therefore, we see that this is quite a happy ending. It fulfills the most important requirement of a fairy tale. This end cannot be called a tragic end. (169)

Araby by James Joyce

Summary
The story “Araby” conveys the idea that the personal feelings of a person and the real world are two different things. First, we do not understand this difference but when we come to understand that, we are disillusioned. Then we are sad.
The narrator of the story is a schoolboy and lives with his uncle. He plays with his companions in the street until dusk and then they return their homes.
Mangan is his playmate. He falls in love with his sister. However, he cannot express his love to her. He keeps looking at her from a distance. He keeps on thinking about her all the time. Her image is always before his eyes. He is very intense in his love. Tears fill his eyes but he does not know why.
Once she talks to him and asks him to go to Araby. Araby is a bazaar. He promises that he will bring something for her if he goes there. Now going to Araby becomes his business. He takes permission to go. He waits for the appointed day impatiently. Now everything appears to him unimportant and a child’s play.
On the appointed day, he leaves for Araby very late with a very little money. He goes to a shop, looks at things. However, he cannot buy anything because of his little money. He repents on his promise and his eyes burn with anger and anguish. (235)


With reference to “Araby”, discuss the intensity of the schoolboy’s love.
Describe narrator’s attitude towards Mangan’s sister.
The schoolboy is a passionate lover. Discuss.
James Joyce shows the effect of love on its victims.
The writer has described the intensity of the schoolboy’s love at various places in the story. From his description, the schoolboy appears to be a passionate lover. We also come to know the effect of love on its victims.
The schoolboy is a teenager. He loves Mangan’s sister very passionately, but he cannot express it. Therefore, he looks at her from a distance without saying anything. He wants to be around her. At school time as soon as she comes out of her house, he takes his books, rushes out and follows her without letting her know. The narrator says, “I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.” He keeps on thinking about her even in the classroom. Her image comes between him and the pages he tries to read.
He keeps on thinking about her even in the market. He is so intense in his love that he cannot understand his prayers and praises for her. He cannot understand why his eyes are full of tears. He says about his condition: “But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires.”
Sometimes he wants to get rid of his senses too. He usually murmurs “O love! O love!” Sometimes form the window of his house he looks at her house. He had become so much intense in his love that now her image is always before his eyes.
Therefore, we see the intensity of the schoolboy’s lover. His love had become his whole business. This is the effect of love on its victims. (280)
What were feelings of Mangan’s sister for the narrator and what did she talk to him?
The narrator used to watch Mangan’s sister from a distance. She used to come at the doorstep of her house to call Mangan to his idea. He watched her in fascination. Slowly he started liking her. On the other hand, she was unaware of his liking. She did not pay any special attention to him.
No doubt, she talked to him once but she did not talk about anything except Araby. Her talking proves tht she was completely unaware. The narrator of the story was confused when she talked to him. He did not know what to answer. However, she was quite normal. She asked him if he was going to Araby. She further told him that Araby would be s splendid bazaar and she would like to go there. The narrator asked her why she could not go to Araby. She answered that she could not go to Araby because there would be a retreat that week in her convent.
When she was talking, the narrator was looking at her in fascination. He was looking at her neck, hand, and dress that were lighted by the light. She said that if he went to Araby, it would be good for him. She meant to say that he would enjoy there. The narrator promised her that if he went there he would bring something for her. After that, their talk ended and they departed. (234)
Write a note on the mental condition of the schoolboy after his talk with Mangan’s sister.
Why were the schoolboy’s teachers annoyed with the schoolboy?
After his talk with Mangan’s sister, he started thinking about Araby all the time. He thought about that not only during daytime but also in his dreams. He was so impatient that he could not wait. He wanted to go to Araby at once.
He was to go on the next Saturday and a few days were left. He wanted to destroy these few days to go to Araby. He lost interest in everything else. Now he was annoyed with his schoolwork. Even in the classroom, he thought about her. Her image came between him and the pages he tried to read. He answered a few questions in the classroom. Before that, his teacher used to like him. Now he was very strict with him and thought that he was becoming idle.
He remained so absorbed in his thoughts that he could not concentrate on his studies. He had no patience for his work because he could not go to Araby because of this work. Now his class work seemed to him child’s play.
When he was, alone he recalled the syllable of the world Araby. As Araby was an eastern word, he thought he was under eastern enchantment. He asked for leave to go to Araby on Saturday. (209)
How did the schoolboy behave on Saturday when he was to go to Araby? Describe his feelings.
The writer has described the feelings of the narrator soon before leaving for Araby very beautifully.
On Saturday, he was very restless and impatient. He wanted to go at once. Nevertheless, he had to wait the whole day. He had to go to school and he had to wait for his uncle’s return. Before leaving for school, he reminded his uncle that he wished to go to Araby that day. He was not in a good mood when he left. His uncle did not return until dinnertime. He wanted money from him. Therefore, he had to wait.
First, he sat staring at the clock. When its ticking began to irritate him, he left the room. He went upstairs. He was feeling cold and gloomy. He went from one room to another singing. From the front window, he saw his companions playing. He looked at the dark house of the girl. He started imagining that the girl was standing and before him. He saw light touching her neck, her hand, and her dress. He stood there for an hour.
Then he came down. He saw Mrs. Mercer sitting at the fire. She had come to see his uncle. He was so impatient that he did not want to talk to her.
When she left, he started walking up and down the room. At nine O’clock, his uncle returned home. At the dinner table, he asked for money. His uncle said in a funny way that people were in their beds and after their first sleep. However, the boy did not enjoy the joke and did not smile. His aunt asked his uncle to give him the money and let him go. His uncle gave him one florin and started reading a poem, but he did not listen to it and started for Araby. (302)
Describe the schoolboy’s departure, feelings and visit to Araby in your own simple English.
The narrator’s visit to Araby proved useless because he could not buy anything for the girl. Therefore, he was very disappointed and angry and his eyes burned with anguish.
He got one florin from his uncle and went to the station. He was in a state of absent-mindedness. He got a seat in a third class carriage. The train was deserted because there were no passengers. He wanted to reach Araby very soon but the train left very late. It was a special train for Araby so the porters did not let the crowd of people gets into the train. He remained alone in the carriage.
When he reached Araby it was ten minutes to ten. Therefore, he was too late. He entered the bazaar by handling a shilling to a weary looking man. Most of the shops and stalls were close. The boy went to an open stall and looked at vases and tea sets. Three shop assistants were arguing. A young lady came over to him and asked what he wanted to buy. Perhaps he had read the prices written on the vases. He had come to know that he did not have enough money, so he told her that he did not want to buy anything. He was very much disappointed now. He stayed at the stall for some time and then turned away.
Now the upper part of the hall was completely dark. He touched the little money in his pocket. He had realized his foolishness. He should not have promised the girl to bring something for her. Therefore, his eyes burnt with anger and anguish. (270)
The schoolboy of the story “Araby” is the representative of the adolescence. Discuss.
The schoolboy is the representative of his class. Discuss.
No doubt, the schoolboy of the story “Araby” represents the adolescence. It is an age when boys are not mature. They are inexperienced and sentimental. They do not know anything about the bitter realities of life. To them their subjective world is everything. They want such things as are out of their reach. However, they do not come to know their real position until they are face-to-face wit bitter realities.
We see that the boy or the protagonist is just like that. He is immature and inexperienced and only a schoolboy. He is sentimental too. He falls in love, but does not know how to express it. He looks at his beloved in fascination from a distance. He keeps on thinking about her not only at night but also during the daytime. He remembers her when he is in his classroom and even when he goes to market with his aunt. Her image always remains before his eyes. His eyes are full of tears and he does not know why he is weeping. Now the serious work of life seems to him child’s play.
He does not know anything about the bitter realities of life. He promises to the girl that he would bring something for her. He forgets that he depends on his uncle and he does not have any money with him. He does not realize that until he stands at the shop and perhaps sees the high prices of things written on them. Now he is face to face with the bitter realities of life. He comes to know that he has very little money and with that money, he cannot buy anything for the girl. (279)
How does the schoolboy come to know that he is wrong and he should not have promised to bring something for the girl?
Why is the protagonist angry at the end of the story and why do his eyes burn with anguish?
“Araby” describes a conflict between the subjective feeling of the protagonist and the objective world.
What is the disillusionment of the schoolboy or the protagonist?
Discuss the narrator’s mental condition and the gap between his hopes and their fulfillment.
Conflict is a state of disagreement between opposing ideas. When we read the story “Araby” carefully, we find that two opposing ideas have been presented. The first idea is schoolboy’s subjective feelings and the second idea is his objective or real world. There is a conflict between the personal feelings of a person and the real world.
The boy falls in love with his friend’s sister. To him his subjective feeling of love is the only reality. All the other things have no importance for him. To him the serious work of live is a child’s play. He keeps on thinking about her all the time. Even when he goes to market, he thinks about her.
In the classroom, he cannot pay attention to his studies. Nothing is important for him now. He usually weeps without knowing why he is weeping. He promises to buy a gift for the girl. These are the subjective feelings of the boy. This is his illusion. His objective world is that he is just a schoolboy. Perhaps he is an orphan too. His uncle is his patron. He should not have promised the girls to bring something for her. He cannot buy anything for her because he himself is dependent on his uncle.
Therefore, we see that there is a big disagreement between his subjective feelings and objective world.
It is only at the end of the story that he comes to know what he is and what he should not have done. He is disillusioned. With his little money, he cannot buy anything for her. It was his vanity when he promised to bring something for her. It is the sense of reality that makes his eyes burn with anguish and anger. (289)
What is the theme of the story “Araby”?
The theme of the story “Araby” is that the subjective feelings of a person and the objective world are two opposing things. There is no agreement between them. First, we do not understand this disagreement, but later we come to understand that, and we are disillusioned. Then we are sad and dejected.
When we read the story carefully, we see the subjective feelings of a schoolboy. He is in love with his fried’s sister. To him his subjective feeling of love is the only reality. All other things have no importance for him. To him the serious work of life is child’s play. He keeps on thinking about her all the time. Even when he goes to market, he thinks about her. In the classroom, he cannot pay attention to his studies. Nothing is important for him now. He usually weeps without knowing why he is weeping. These are the subjective feelings of the boy. This is his illusion.
His objective world is that he is just schoolboy. Perhaps he is an orphan too. His uncle is his patron. He should not have promised the girls that he would bring something or her. He cannot bring anything for her, because he is himself dependent on his uncle.
We see that is a great disagreement between his subjective feelings and the objective world. First, he does not understand this disagreement, but later he comes to understand that and he is disillusioned. Then he is sad and dejected.
It happens to all of us. Sometimes we wish for such things as are out of our reach. We keep on thinking about them, but at the end, we are disillusioned. (277)
What are symbolic meanings of the deserted train and dark bazaar in the story “Araby”?
The deserted train and the dark bazaar have great symbolic meanings in the story “Araby”.
The deserted train is one of the means that can take him to his most serious place ‘Araby’. It also symbolizes gloom and a kind of disappointment that the schoolboy is going to face.
Writers always set the situation for the end of the story. The setting of story always foretells the end of the story. If the end is pleasant, the writer always talks about light, day, and good things. If the end is tragic, the writer always talks about night, darkness, cold, gloom, death and other bad things. Therefore, the desertedness of the train, its delay, and slowness all symbolize the tragic end and the disappointment that the boy is going to face.
The dark bazaar symbolizes the narrator’s ignorance. He promises to the girl that he will bring something for her from “Araby”. He does not know that he cannot buy a gift for the girl with his little money. Therefore, the darkness of the bazaar shows his ignorance. The darkness of bazaar also symbolizes the bitter realities of life. It is a reality that he is immature and inexperienced and does not know anything about the power of money. Therefore, by looking into the darkness, he realizes his foolishness. This darkness also symbolizes that we cannot fulfill all wishes. Various things that are out of our reach and we cannot get them.
Therefore, we see that the deserted train and the dark bazaar are highly symbolic. (255)

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant

Summary
The story “The Necklace” is about the fact that even a small thing can change the life of a person. Chance or fate plays very important role in human life. It is more powerful than human resolution. It is man’s destiny.
Mathilda is the central character of the story. She was very pretty. She thought that she was born in the family of clerks by the error of destiny. Her husband, Losiel was also a clerk.
She believed that she was born for all the luxuries of life. She did not like her poor house. She always dreamed of a big house.
One day her husband brought an invitation card for a ball at the residence of the Minister of Education. She was not happy at the invitation because she had no good dress to wear at the party. Loisel gave her 400 francs to buy the dress. However, she was still unhappy. Now she wanted some jewels to wear.
She went to her friend to borrow some jewel. She borrowed a necklace. She went to the party and enjoyed it. On her return, she lost the necklace. Her husband tried to find it but failed. Later they borrowed money and bought a new necklace to replace the lost one.
Now Loisel worked day and night to return the borrowed money. Mathilda discharged the maidservant and did everything of the household by herself.
They were able to return the money after ten years. Now Mathilda had lost all her beauty. She had changed so much that her friend could not recognize her. Mathilda told her the whole story but her friend told her that the necklace she had borrowed was not real. (282)
The story “The Necklace” is a superior work and its plot is conceived in terms of an affecting ironic reversal. Discuss.
No doubt, the story “The Necklace” is a superior work of art and its plot has been conceived in terms of an affecting ironic reversal.
First, when we go through the story, we find that Mathilda was not satisfied with her life. She was very beautiful and thought that she was born for all delicacies and luxuries of life. Therefore, she wanted to marry a rich man. However, it is ironic reversal that she was married to a poor a petty clerk against her wishes.
Secondly, she always dreamed living in a palace. She thought of big houses having eastern construction and luxuries. However, her expectation of living in a big house did not come true. She got a poor apartment. Ironically, she had to leave that apartment too. She had to rent some rooms.
Thirdly, she thought that she was born for all delicacies and luxuries. However, what did she get? She had to send away the maidservant. She had to wash the dishes. She had to wash clothes. She lost her beauty and ten years of her life. She had become the poor household woman. She seemed older now.
Fourthly, when she lost the necklace, she thought that it was real. However, ironic reversal is that the necklace was false. Fifthly, she went to the ball. She wore expensive clothes and jewellery. She expected that she would be very happy. But ironic reversal is that she had to lead a life of misery and sufferings. (247)
2. How singular is life and how full of changes! How a small thing will ruin or save one,” Mathilda thinks. Do you agree?
In the drama of human life, chance or fate, sometimes, is more powerful than human resolution. It is man’s destiny. Do you agree?
How was chance, luck, or fate at the basis of the suffering of Mathilda and Loisel?
Yes, I fully agree that a small thing or a chance or fate can ruin or save a person. Chance is more powerful than human resolution and it is man’s destiny.
When we go through the story carefully, we find that Mathilda’s life was going on very well. Although she was not satisfied with her life, het she was living better than most of the middle class women. She had a loving husband. She had a maidservant who did everything for her. She was very beautiful and looked out of her dress. All this suggests that her life was all right.
Now chance played its role and changed all her life. Her husband brought an invitation to the ball at the Minister’s residence. She had no jewel to wear on the party. She went to her friend and borrowed a necklace to wear. She was very happy, but a small thing happened. She lost her necklace. It was necessary to replace that necklace. Her husband borrowed the money from every possible source and brought the necklace.
Chance again played its role. When she went to return the necklace, her friend did not open the jewel box. Actually, the necklace she had borrowed from her friend was false and she was returning the real one. If she had opened the jewel case, she would have come to know that fact and Mathilda would have been saved from future sufferings. However, chance or fate did not let her friend open the jewel case. Now their life changed and they lost everything.
It proves that chance is more powerful than human resolution. It is man’s destiny. (273)
3. It is said that Madam Loisel was responsible for her tragedy. Do you agree?
When I read the story “The Necklace”, I quite agree that Madam Loisel was responsible for her tragedy.
Firstly, she should have accepted the fact that she was a poor woman and she would be misfit among people of high class. She was completely wrong when she thought that she was born of all delicacies and luxuries because she was the wife of a petty clerk. Her high ideas about the luxuries of life were the first reason of her tragedy. She should not have gone to the ball. It was her mistake.
Secondly, she should not have borrowed the necklace from her friend. This was her second mistake and it was the main reason of her tragedy. Wearing that necklace, she wanted to make a show of her riches. Thirdly, she acted quite carelessly. She should have taken great care of the necklace. However, she was in a world of dream. This was what she always wanted. At that time, no one and nothing had any importance for her. She had even forgotten her husband. That was her third mistake. She lost the necklace because of her carelessness.
Fourthly, she should have told her friend that she had lost her necklace. If she had told her friend about the loss of the necklace, she would have come to know that the necklace she had borrowed was false. In this way, she would have been saved of her tragedy. It was her greatest mistake.
Therefore, we can conclude that Madam Loisel was responsible for her tragedy. She committed four mistakes that resulted in her tragedy. (265)
4. It is said that Mr. Loisel was also responsible for his and his wife’s tragedy. Do you agree?
When I go through the story “the Necklace”, I agree that Mr. Loisel was also responsible for his and his wife’s tragedy.
Firstly, Mr. Loisel should not have brought the invitation to the ball. He knew that he was only a clerk and he would be quite misfit among the people of high class. However, he wanted to please his wife. When his wife told him that she did not have anything to wear, he should not have insisted on going to the ball. It was a great mistake on his part. He should have dropped the idea of going. However, he did not do so.
Secondly, he should not have advised his wife to borrow some jewel from her friend. His wife did not have any idea about that. It was his second great mistake. Thirdly, when the necklace was lost he asked his wife to tell a lie. He asked her to write to her friend that she had broken the clasp of the necklace and she would have it repaired and then return it. Now it was his greatest mistake because it resulted in his and his wife’s tragedy.
Therefore, we can conclude that Mr. Loisel was responsible for his and his wife’s tragedy. He committed three mistakes. (211)
5. What is the theme of the story “The Necklace”?
The theme of the story is that even a small thing can change the life of a person. Chance or fate plays a very important human life. It is more powerful than human resolution. It is man’s destiny.
When we go through the story carefully, we find that Mathilda’s life was going on very well. Although she was not satisfied with her life, yet she was living better than most of the middle class women. She had a loving husband. She had a maidservant who did everything for her. She was very beautiful and looked out of her class. All this suggests that her life was all right.
Now chance played its role and changed all her life. Her husband brought her invitation to the ball at the Minister’s residence. She had no jewel to wear on the party. She went to her friend and borrowed a necklace to wear on the party. She was very happy, but a small thing happened, she lost her necklace. It was necessary to replace that necklace. Her husband borrowed the money from every possible source and bought the necklace.
Chance again played its role. When she went to return the necklace, her friend did not open the jewel case. Actually, the necklace she had borrowed from her friend was false and she was returning the real one. If she had opened the jewel case, she would have come to know that fact and Mathilda would have been saved from future sufferings. However, chance or fate did not let her friend open the jewel case. Now their life changed and they lost everything. It proves that chance is more powerful than human resolution. It is man’s destiny. This is the theme of the story. (290)
6. “The necklace” is a tragedy. Discuss.
According to Aristotle, a tragedy is a story of suffering over a long period. The hero of the tragedy is better than ordinary people are. He suffers because of a mistaken act. He exhibits great endurance in the face of sufferings. He may die or fail miserably at the end. His sufferings may arouse pity and terror.
In the light of the above definition, when we read the story, “The Necklace”, we find that Mathilda was higher in the sense that she was very beautiful. She suffered because of her four mistaken acts. Firstly, her high ideas about the luxuries of life were the first reason of her tragedy. She should not have gone to the ball. It was her mistake. Secondly, she should not have borrowed the necklace from her friend. This was her second mistake and it was the main reason of her tragedy.
Thirdly, she acted quite carelessly. She should have taken great care of the necklace. She lost the necklace because of her carelessness. Fourthly, she should have told her friend that she had lost her necklace. In this way, she would have been saved of her tragedy.
We see that she suffered for ten long years, but like the heroine of a tragedy, she exhibited great endurance in the face of all the sufferings. We see that she failed in the end in a sense that all her struggle proved useless. The end of the story arouses pity and horror. We see her older than her friend of the same age. When her friend revealed that the necklace was false, we pity her. It is a shock not only for Mathilda but also for readers.
Therefore, we can conclude that “The Necklace” is a tragedy and it fulfills all its requirements. (297)
7. What is the moral of the story “The Necklace”?
There are at least three lessons or morals in the story “The Necklace”.
The first lesson is that we should be contented. We should learn to live according to our circumstances. When we read the story careful, we find that Mathilda was very beautiful. She was not contented. She thought that she was born for all the luxuries of life. She wanted to live in grand houses. She wanted to marry a rich man.
That was why she was always depressed. She did not enjoy her household life and food. When her husband praised the food, she thought of elegant dinners. She had neither frocks nor jewels and she felt that she was made for them. Therefore, she suffered for ten long years for her high ideas. No doubt, we should have high ideas but we should cut our coat according to our cloth.
The second lesson is that we always suffer if we try to get happiness through borrowed things. Shakespeare was right when he said that neither a borrower nor a lender be. Mathilda should not have borrowed the necklace from her friend. In this way, she should have been saved from her tragedy.
The third lesson is that we should always tell the truth. Truth always saves us. By telling a lie, we invite sufferings and misfortune. We see that when they lost the necklace, they should have told Mathilda’s friend about that. In this way, they would have come to know that it was a fake necklace. However, they told a lie and suffered for ten long years. In the end they found out that, they did not have anything to be proud. The necklace was not real and their struggle was just useless. What a pity! (292)
8. Write a note on the vanity of Mathilda Loisel.
No doubt, Mathilda Loisel was proud and self-loving. She was very beautiful and charming and she was proud of her beauty. Because of this beauty, she thought that she was born in a family of clerks through the error of destiny. She felt that she was born for all delicacies and luxuries. She also felt that she was made for expensive frocks, jewels and other such things.
As she belonged to a family of clerks, she was married to a petty clerk, but she was not happy at this marriage. She thought that she was out of her class and she belonged to upper class. That was why she did not like the poverty of her house. She thought that because of her beauty she had a right to live in a grand house. This house should have graceful furniture, footmen, and perfumed rooms. She wanted to chat with rich friends at five o’clock in those rooms.
When she and her husband sat to eat, she did not enjoy the food. Her husband praised the humble food but she thought of elegant dinners. She imagined that she would enjoy the food with a smile. There would be expensive wall cloth on the walls.
Therefore, we can conclude that Mathilda was very vain and proud because of her beauty. She was not happy with her life of poverty. She thought that she was born in the family of clerks through an error of destiny. As she was born for all the delicacies and luxuries of life, she should be among the people of high class. When we read the story we find out that, she suffered because of this vanity. (279)
9. How did Mathilda lose the necklace and what efforts did Loisel make to search it?
What caused the loss of the necklace?
When we read the story “The Necklace” carefully, we find that Mathilda might have lost the necklace in the cab or somebody might have stolen it during the party. The thief might have thought that it was a real and expensive necklace.
Mathilda was very careless about the necklace. She enjoyed the party. Her greatest desire had come true. She was in a world of dream and she had forgotten everything, even her husband. Therefore, it was probable that either someone had stolen it during the party or she might have dropped it there. She might not have lost it on the road. If she had dropped it on the road, she, and her husband would have heard it fall. Therefore, if she had not lost it at the party she might have lost it in the cab while returning home.
When they found out that Mathilda had lost the necklace, they looked in the folds of the dress and in the pockets. In short, they searched for it everywhere, but could not find it.
After that, Loisel went to search the necklace on the track where they had walked on foot. He returned at 7 o’clock without any success. Then he went to the police and to the cab office. He put an advertisement in the newspaper and offered a reward. He did everything that he could do but failed to find the necklace. The continued their search for one week but lost all their hopes. (247)
10. What did Loisel and Mathilda do to buy a necklace to replace the lost one?
When they could not find the necklace, they decided to get some more time. First Mathilda wrote to Madam Forestier that she had broken the clasp of the necklace and she would return it after getting it repaired. In this way, they got some time to search the necklace but they could not find it even after one week.
Now they decided to replace the necklace. They took the box of the necklace to the jeweler whose name was written inside the box. However, he told them that he had not sold that necklace; he had only supplied the box. Then they went from jeweler to jeweler to find a necklace like the lost one.
At last, in a shop they found a necklace that seemed like the lost one. Its value was forty thousand francs, but they could it four thirty-six francs. They begged the jeweler not to sell the necklace for three days. They hoped that they would the necklace. Therefore, they arranged with the jeweler that if they found the lost necklace before the end of February they would return the necklace in thirty-four thousand francs.
Mr. Loisel had eight thousand francs and he borrowed some of the amount form his friends and relatives. The rest he took form usurers and lenders. He signed bond that he could not fulfill. At last, he bought for thirty-six francs and gave it to Madam Forestier. (236)
11. How did Mr. Loisel and Mathilda suffered to return the borrowed money?
To return the borrowed money Mr. and Mrs. Loisel suffered for ten long years.
First, they sent away the maidservant. Then they changed their lodging and rented some rooms. Now Mathilda learnt heavy cares of household life. She had to do the difficult chores of her kitchen. She had to wash dishes, greasy pots and stew pans. She had to use her rosy nails to wash the greasy pots and the bottoms of the stew pans. She had to wash dirty clothes and to hang them on the line to dry. Then each morning she had to take down the refuse to the street. She also had to bring up the water for daily use. She had to stop at each lending to breath. She did not have much money so she haggled with the shopkeepers to get reduction in prices.
Once she was very beautiful and used to wear beautiful dresses. Now she seemed old. Now she looked a common household woman. She had badly dressed hair and dirty dresses. Her hands were red and she spoke in a loud tone. She washed the floors in large pails of water.
Mr. Loisel had to work in the evenings after his office hours. He put the books of some merchants in order. At nights, he did copying for five sous a page.
Therefore, Mr. and Mr. Loisel led a life of difficulty after the loss of the necklace. They suffered for ten long years. However, that was not all. When they had returned the borrowed money, they came to know that they were suffered for nothing. The necklace they had lost was not real and its price was not over five hundred francs. We take pity on them for that. (291)
12. Was the necklace real or fake? How Mathilda come to know of this?
Discuss the end of the story.
Reproduce the talk between Madam Loisel and Madam Forestier.
On one Sunday Madam Loisel was taking a walk to free her of the cares of the week. Suddenly she saw Madam Forestier who was also taking a walk with a child. She decided to talk to her. She was meeting her after ten years. Now that she had paid up for the necklace, she could talk to her without any fear.
She approached her and said good morning to her very frankly. However, Madam Forestier could not recognize her because Mathilda had changed completely. She was not beautiful any more. She looked an ordinary poor woman. On the other hand, her friend was looking young and attractive. Madam Forestier said that she did not know her and she must be mistaken. Mathilda introduced herself. Madam Forestier was surprised. She told her that she had changed very much.
Mathilda told her that she faced many hardships because of Madam Forestier. She reminded her that she had borrowed a diamond necklace from her and then later lost it. She told her friend that she had returned her another necklace. She was happy because she had paid all the borrowed money.
Madam Forestier asked her if she had returned her a real diamond necklace. When Madam Forestier came to know that it was real, she was greatly moved. She took Mathilda’s both hands and told her that her necklace was not real and it was not worth over five hundred francs.
Therefore, that was how Mathilda came to know that the necklace she had borrowed was false and all her struggle was useless. (263)
13. Write a note on the cultural background of the story.
The writer has satirized the French life of his time.
The writer has reflected the life style of French people of his time. Discuss.
When we read the story carefully we find that the story as a strong cultural background. The writher has presented woo classes of people – middle class and the upper class. There was a great gap between the two.
The people of high class were enjoying all the luxuries of life. They had ball parties. They enjoyed themselves by dancing, chatting, and playing indoor games. They wore fake jewellery. However, they tried to show off that they were wearing real and expensive jewellery. Madam Forestier’s fake diamond necklace proves this point. They made a show of their costly dresses. They were so carefree that they enjoyed parties until late at night.
On the other hand, people of middle class were suffering. They wanted to close the gap but could not do so. They suffered and because of these sufferings, they lost their beauty and looked old. On the other hand, rich people of the same age looked younger and more attractive. At the end of the story, we see that Mathilda’s rich friend of the same age was still beautiful and attractive.
Therefore, the writer has presented class difference vey satirically. The talk between Mathilda and her friend at the end of the story throws light on the class difference. (209)