LESSONWISE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

SUBJECT: ENGLISH FOR CLASS 10 (For the students of Don Bosco High School,
Langjing)

Topic: The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet

Short Answer Type Questions (2/3 Marks, 30-40 words)

Q1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school?

Ans: Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared the lesson on
participles, on which his French teacher M Hamel was to question the class
that day. Besides* the warm and bright weather, the chirping of birds and the
watching the drill of Prussian soldiers also tempted Franz to stay away from
school.

Q2. What was unusual about M Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school?

Ans: M Hamel had put on his ceremonial clothes on his last day in the school.
He was wearing a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a little black
embroidered silk cap. This was special ceremonial attire which he usually wore
on days of inspection and prize distribution.

Q3. Why the order from Berlin is called a thunderclap by Franz?

Or

“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that
shocked and surprised the narrator?

Ans: M Hamel told his students that it was their last French lesson, as an order
had come from Berlin that henceforth only German was to be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement seemed to be a
thunderclap to Franz. He was left in surprise and shock to learn that a new
master was going to arrive the next day and they would learn German instead
of their mother tongue.

Q4. Who were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s last lesson? Why?

or

Why had the villagers come to school on the day of the last lesson?

or

Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom?

Ans: Some of the elderly people from the village were sitting on .the back
benches during M Hamel’s last lesson. The villagers had come there to attend
his last lesson as it was their way of paying respect to the Master, who had
given forty years of faithful service to the school.

Q5. Why does M Hamel reproach himself for his students’ unsatisfactory
progress in studies?

Ans: M Hamel had been rather irregular as a teacher. He took leave whenever
he wanted to. Besides, he had often sent the students to water his plants, and
whenever he wanted to go fishing, he just gave them a holiday. So, he
reproaches himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies.

Q6. What shows M Hamel’s love for the French language?

or

What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask
them to do and why?

Ans: In his last lesson, M Hamel told the students that the French language was
the most beautiful language in the world—the clearest and the most logical.
He asked them to guard it amongst themselves and never forget it, because
when a people were enslaved, as long as they held fast to their language, it
was as if they had the key to their prison.

Q7. What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the
last class?

What did they mean?

Ans: Before dismissing the last class, M Hamel turned to the blackboard, and
wrote the phrase, ‘Vive La France!’ as large as he could. These words meant
‘Long live France’, and spoke of M Hamel’s great love for his country and his
deep sense of patriotism.

Q8. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?

Ans: M Hamel had taught French at the school for the last forty years. He was
emotionally attached to the school and everything in and about it. He was
really heartbroken to leave it all. Besides, his own predicament reminded him
that his country would soon lose its independence. All this made him cry
towards the end of his last lesson.

Q9. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?

or

What announcement did M Hamel make? What was the impact of this on
Franz?

or

‘‘This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of M
Hamel?

or

What changes came over little Franz after he heard M Hamel’s

announcement?
or

What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson? What
impact did it have on them?

Ans: The French teacher M Hamel announced that he would be teaching his
last French lesson that day because the orders had come from Berlin to teach
only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. On hearing this, all the
students as well as Franz felt very sorry that they would not be learning their
mother tongue in future. Franz regretted not having learnt his lessons. Earlier
his books seemed a nuisance to him, but at that moment they became very
dear to him.

Q10.What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the
school?

or

What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school?

or

What was the mood in the classroom when M Hamel gave his last French
lesson?

Ans: The order from Berlin stated that only German will be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order effected many changes, as an
unusual silence prevailed in the school, compared to the hustle and bustle
earlier. M Hamel became soft in speaking to the students, while the people
realised the importance of their language. The villagers even attended the
school to show respect to M Hamel.

Q11. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the
town?

Ans: At the end of his ‘Last Lesson’, M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his
students and the people of the town. He tried to speak, but overwhelming
emotion choked his voice. He then wrote as large as he could on the
blackboard ‘Vive La France’; then he dismissed the class with a gesture with his
hand.

Q12. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day?

Ans: Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day. His teacher
M Hamel, was to question him on the topic. Franz had not learnt his lessons
and feared to be scolded by him.

Q13. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?

Ans: Since the last two years the bulletin-board had news of lost battles, the
draft and the orders of the commanding officer. On that day a notice had been
put up stating that orders from Berlin were to teach only German in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Q14. Who did M Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys
like Franz?

Ans: M Hamel blamed himself for the neglect of learning on the part of boys
like Franz. He himself was not quite regular and took leave whenever he
needed it, which reflected on the behaviour and studies of the students. He
also blamed their parents for not taking interest in their education.

Q15. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?”
What does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?

Ans: This shows that the Frenchmen were full of hatred and desperation
against the Germans. Besides, they feared German atrocities. They thought
that they would be forced to read German and no one will be spared.

Q16. Mention two things about M Hamel that surprised Franz on his last day at
school.
Ans: M Hamel didn’t scold Franz for being late; instead he told him very kindly
to go to his place. Also, that day he was dressed in his best clothes; he was in
his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little black silk cap with embroidery,
which he wore only on inspection or prize days.

Q17. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson
different from that on other days?

Ans: Usually, there used to be great hustle and bustle when the school began.
The din of opening and closing of the desks, lessons being repeated in unison
and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table, could be heard out in the
street. But that day, it was all very quiet and still as on a Sunday morning.

Long Answer Type Question

Q1. What changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from
Berlin came?

Ans: The order from Berlin prohibited teaching of French in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. Instead, German was to be taught in the schools. Franz
was late for school that day. He noticed that the hustle and bustle was missing.
There was no opening and closing of desks, no repetition of lessons or rapping
of the teacher’s ruler on the table could be heard. It was all very quiet and still.
Franz was further surprised because, instead of meeting an angry teacher, he
was welcomed by a kind and polite teacher, who was dressed in his best
clothes, a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered silk cap, which
he wore only on inspection and prize days. The back benches were occupied by
the village people who never came to school, as they were more concerned
about their livelihood. He was further astounded to know that, M Hamel was
going to teach his last lesson that day.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S “MACBETH”

SA and Essay Type Questions:

Q1. How did the words of the three women affect Macbeth?

Ans: The words of the three women occupied the heart and mind of Macbeth
completely and he was filled with the lust for power without thinking much
about right and wrong. He wanted to have all the supposed prophecies fulfilled
at once.

Q2. What did the women tell Banquo? How did he react? What was his advice
to Macbeth?

Ans: The women told Banquo that he would never reign, but his sons would be
the kings in Scotland.

He didn’t allow the words of the women to get into his head and be obsessed
with them. He was very careful.

He advised Macbeth that though the words of the witches might raise a hope
in him, but often these supernatural creatures deceive people and lead them
to do wrong.

Q3. Macbeth was reluctant to kill Duncan. What reasons does he give?

Ans: Macbeth was reluctant to murder Duncan. He gave reasons that he was a
close relative of the king and as his host; it was his duty that day to protect
him. Moreover, Duncan was a just and merciful king who was loved by his
subjects. Thus the subjects were bound to revenge his death. Besides, because
Macbeth was loved by the king, all honoured him. A murder would tarnish his
reputation.

Q4. How does Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill Duncan?

Ans: Lady Macbeth poisoned her husband’s ears and said that it was a very
easy deed. Once done he would rule the country. She even accused Macbeth
of fickleness and cowardice. These made Macbeth gather courage, and take
the dagger in his hand.

Q5. Banquo and Macbeth both get exciting prophecies from the witches, but
they react in very different ways. How do their reactions reflect their different
personalities and ambitions? How do they act toward each other after the
prophecies?

Ans: Though Banquo and Macbeth both received exciting prophecies, they
both reacted differently. These different reactions reflect that Banquo and
Macbeth had very different personalities. Banquo was not an ambitious man,
would not make hasty decisions and would not be convinced easily. Macbeth,
on the other hand, was dangerously ambitious. He would make decisions in
impulse and was a gullible person who could be convinced easily.

After the prophecies, on one hand, Banquo did not let the words of the
witches take root in his head, on the other hand, Macbeth was obsessed with
the prophecies. Banquo advised Macbeth that these supernatural beings often
lead others to do wrongs. Macbeth but was not impressed by the advice of
Banquo. Later after murdering King Duncan, Macbeth murdered Banquo too in
an attempt to kill him and his son to secure his throne. Banquo’s son Fleance,
however, could not be killed.

Q6. Macbeth visited the witches a second time after the death of Duncan.
What did they tell him? How did he feel after he heard their prophecies?

Ans: When Macbeth visited the witches for the second time after the death of
King Duncan, the witches presented him with further prophecies. They told
him that he must beware of Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who opposed
Macbeth’s accession to the throne. They also told that he was incapable of
being harmed by any man born of woman, and he would be safe until Birnam
Wood came to Dunsinane Castle.

After hearing a prophecies Macbeth felt relieved. He felt secure because he

knew that all men are born of women and that forests cannot move.
Q7. How did Macbeth meet his end?

Ans: Prince Malcolm, Duncan’s son, had succeeded in raising an army in

England, and Macduff joined him to fight against Macbeth’s forces. He was
struck numb with fear, however, when he learnt that the English army was
advancing on Dunsinane shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood as this
fulfilled half of the witches’ prophecy.

In the battle, Macbeth fought bravely, but the English forces gradually
overwhelmed his army and castle. On the battlefield, Macbeth encountered
the vengeful Macduff, who declared that he was not “of woman born” but was
instead “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Though he realized that he
was doomed, Macbeth continued to fight until Macduff killed and beheaded
him.

Q8. Why does Macduff support Malcolm as the next king?

Ans: Macduff supported Malcolm as the next king because Malcolm was the
true heir to the throne. Further, Macbeth had killed Lady Macduff and her
children and seized Macduff’s castle. These all are made Macduff a vengeful
man and ultimately he killed Macbeth in the battlefield.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. Who was Macbeth ? Why was he respected?

Ans: He was a valiant Lord in the kingdom of Scotland. He was a courageous

person and a close relative of King Duncan.

Macbeth was greatly respected for his heroism especially because he had
lately defeated a Rebel Army assisted by the troops of Norway.

Q2. What was the first prophecy to come true? What impact did it have on
Macbeth?
Ans: The first prophecy to come true was that the king conferred upon
Macbeth the honour of being the Thane of Cawdor. It had a deep impact on
him as this corresponded with the predictions of the witches and his will to
become the ruler of Scotland was strengthened as that too was one of the
prophecies. This led him to eventually murder King Duncan.

Q3. How did Macbeth ascend the Throne?

Ans: At the arrival of King Duncan with his two sons and attendants to honour
Macbeth for his victory in the wars, under the influence of Lady Macbeth, he
stabbed King Duncan in his sleep and blamed the children for it who had fled
from the scene fearing their own lives. In the absence of a successor, Macbeth
assumed the Throne.

Q4. How did Lady Macbeth react to the strange predictions of the witches?

Ans: Lady Macbeth was an ambitious woman. On learning about the

prophecies, she harboured the desire to be the queen and encouraged her
husband to murder the king if necessary to fulfil the prophecy.

Q5. How did Lady Macbeth spur her husband to the path of evil? What does it
reflect about her?

Ans: Lady Macbeth spurred her husband to the path of evil by encouraging him
to kill King Duncan to fulfil the prophecy of him becoming the king of Scotland.
She was an ambitious woman and wanted to be the queen of Scotland. She
poisoned her husband’s ears with the plot of killing the king even when he
hesitant about it. It reflects Lady Macbeth’s ambitious, impatient and evil
nature.

Essay Type Questions on ‘Macbeth’

Q1. Describe the first meeting of Macbeth with the witches?

Ans: The witches met Macbeth for the first time in the blasted heath when
Macbeth and Banquo were coming back after crushing a rebellion led by the
Thane of Cawdor and assisted by the King of Norway. The first witch hailed
Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis. The second witch called him the Thane of
Cawdor and the third witch hailed him as the future King. Then turning to
Banquo, the witches said that Banquo would be lesser than Macbeth yet
greater, not so happy yet much happier, and he would be the father of future
kings. Macbeth was amazed and puzzled at the prophecies and wondered how
he could be the king when Duncan was living and having two sons to succeed
him to the throne.

Q2. "Macbeth is more guided by his wife and less by his ambition"--Do you
support this statement? Give reasons.

Ans: Though this is the general perception that Macbeth is more guided by his
wife and less by his ambition, we think this statement is far away from the
truth. If Macbeth did not have strong ambition within, his wife could not have
instigated him to commit the murder of Duncan. In fact, Macbeth was planning
so from the moment he was hailed by the witches as the King of Scotland.
Later in the play Macbeth kills Banquo, Macduff's family and other people
without any instigation from Lady Macbeth. He is remorseless and remains
self-assured of his indestructibility. Therefore, though Lady Macbeth was
responsible, it was Macbeth's ambition which guided him throughout.

Q3. What role do the witches play in "Macbeth"?

Ans: The witches play a very important role in "Macbeth". Had they not been
there, perhaps, Macbeth's ambition of becoming the king would have
remained suppressed in his heart. The witches act as a catalyst and increase
Macbeth's desire. It is because of the witches that Macbeth decides so early to
plunge into criminality and realize his ambitions. The witches first make
Macbeth hope, then give him the confidence only to lead him slowly and
steadily towards his tragedy. But the witches cannot be held absolutely
responsible for Macbeth's fall. Unlike Banquo, Macbeth could not show the
strength of character and falls prey to the dark desires of his mind.

Q4. Describe in detail Macbeth's experience when he goes to kill Duncan?

Ans: When Macbeth goes to kill Duncan he experiences some of the most
miserable moments of his life. He hallucinates and sees air drawn dagger which
is bloody. When he tries to get hold of the dagger, it vanishes into the air. Then
as he murders Duncan, one of the grooms cry out "murder" and both the
grooms wake up. They pray together and say "amen". Macbeth also tries to say
"amen", but words would not come out from him. Then Macbeth hears
(because of his heat oppressed brain) someone saying that Macbeth has
murdered sleep and as a result Macbeth shall sleep no more. Facing all this
nightmares, Macbeth returns to his wife.

Q5. Why did Macbeth murder Banquo? How was Banquo murdered?

Ans: Macbeth murdered Banquo because Macbeth knew that only Banquo was
witness to what the witches said and had strong reasons to suspect and
investigate Macbeth's hand in the murder of Duncan. Moreover, Macbeth was
also jealous of Banquo as the witches had foretold that many of Banquo's
successors would be kings. So to eliminate that chance, Macbeth wanted to kill
Banquo and his son Fleance.

Macbeth invited Banquo to a banquet and hired three murderers to kill

Banquo and Fleance on their way to the Banquet. The murderers attacked
them but could manage to kill only Banquo while Fleance escaped.

Q6. What role did Lady Macbeth play in the murder of Duncan?

Ans: Lady Macbeth played a very important role in the murder of Duncan.
Macbeth had his ambitions but was not bold enough to achieve it by
murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth instigated him and successfully put pressure
on him to kill the king. She did it by just using the valour off her tongue.
Though she herself failed to stab Duncan as the sleeping old king resembled
her dead father, she convinced Macbeth that he should go and do the job
instead. They could then easily fix the blame on the grooms. So the planning of
the murder and the way it was to be executed had come out from the mind of
Lady Macbeth though Macbeth himself remains responsible for his crime.

Q7. Narrate the fight between Macbeth and Macduff.

Ans: Macbeth and Macduff fought each other towards the end of the play
when the army of Malcolm, of which Macduff is a part, invaded Scotland to
dethrone and punish Macbeth. In the battlefield, Macbeth tried to avoid
Macduff because of the Apparition's warning where he was told to be "beware
of Macduff". But Macduff had many scores to settle with him and attacked
him. Replying to Macbeth's assertion, Macduff informed him that he was not
of woman born and was from his mother's womb untimely ripped off.
Macbeth then realized that his end was near but he carried on his fight with
Macduff and got killed in the battlefield in Macduff's hands.

Q8. Describe the Banquet Scene in the play "Macbeth"

Ans: The Banquet Scene is an important part of the play "Macbeth". The
banquet is hosted by Macbeth to celebrate his accession to the throne. People
attending the banquet were supposed to have allegiance for Macbeth. In the
meantime Macbeth got Banquo killed by hired murderers. In the banquet
Macbeth complained about the absence of Banquo and questioned his
friendship. Suddenly Macbeth saw the blood smeared ghost of Banquo started
talking to him. He even challenged the ghost to fight with him. Nobody else
saw the ghost, though. Fearing that Macbeth would reveal his crime in front of
others, Lady Macbeth immediately ordered dispersal of the crowd citing
Macbeth's illness.

Q9. How did the witches deceive Macbeth through the apparitions they
conjured in their second meeting with him?

Ans: The witches deceived Macbeth in their second meeting through the
apparitions. The second apparition told him that he would not be killed until
the Birnam Woods came walking to Dunsinane and Macbeth was not to be
killed by any man who was of "woman born". This was deception as the
soldiers in Malcolm's army cut down branches from the Birnam Wood and,
holding them up, marched to Dunsinane to hide their actual numbers. It was
also revealed that Macduff was not normally born. He was from his mother's
womb "untimely ripped". Thus, the witches, through their equivocation,
deceived Macbeth with statements that had double meaning.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

Q1. How did the words of the three women affect Macbeth?

Ans: The words of the three women occupied the heart and mind of Macbeth
completely and he was filled with the lust for power without thinking much
about right and wrong. He wanted to have all the supposed prophecies fulfilled
at once.

Q2. What did the women tell Banquo? How did he react? What was his advice
to Macbeth?

Ans: The women told Banquo that he would never reign, but his sons would be
the kings in Scotland.

He didn’t allow the words of the women to get into his head and be obsessed
with them. He was very careful.

He advised Macbeth that though the words of the witches might raise a hope
in him, but often these supernatural creatures deceive people and lead them
to do wrong.
Q3. Macbeth was reluctant to kill Duncan. What reasons does he give?

Ans: Macbeth was reluctant to murder Duncan. He gave reasons that he was a
close relative of the king and as his host; it was his duty that day to protect
him. Moreover, Duncan was a just and merciful king who was loved by his
subjects. Thus the subjects were bound to revenge his death. Besides, because
Macbeth was loved by the king, all honoured him. A murder would tarnish his
reputation.

Q4. How does Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill Duncan?

Ans: Lady Macbeth poisoned her husband’s ears and said that it was a very
easy deed. Once done he would rule the country. She even accused Macbeth
of fickleness and cowardice. These made Macbeth gather courage, and take
the dagger in his hand.

Q5. Banquo and Macbeth both get exciting prophecies from the witches, but
they react in very different ways. How do their reactions reflect their different
personalities and ambitions? How do they act toward each other after the
prophecies?

Ans: Though Banquo and Macbeth both received exciting prophecies, they
both reacted differently. These different reactions reflect that Banquo and
Macbeth had very different personalities. Banquo was not an ambitious man,
would not make hasty decisions and would not be convinced easily. Macbeth,
on the other hand, was dangerously ambitious. He would make decisions in
impulse and was a gullible person who could be convinced easily.

After the prophecies, on one hand, Banquo did not let the words of the
witches take root in his head, on the other hand, Macbeth was obsessed with
the prophecies. Banquo advised Macbeth that these supernatural beings often
lead others to do wrongs. Macbeth but was not impressed by the advice of
Banquo. Later after murdering King Duncan, Macbeth murdered Banquo too in
an attempt to kill him and his son to secure his throne. Banquo’s son Fleance,
however, could not be killed.
Q6. Macbeth visited the witches a second time after the death of Duncan.
What did they tell him? How did he feel after he heard their prophecies?

Ans: When Macbeth visited the witches for the second time after the death of
King Duncan, the witches presented him with further prophecies. They told
him that he must beware of Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who opposed
Macbeth’s accession to the throne. They also told that he was incapable of
being harmed by any man born of woman, and he would be safe until Birnam
Wood came to Dunsinane Castle.

After hearing a prophecies Macbeth felt relieved. He felt secure because he

knew that all men are born of women and that forests cannot move.

Q7. How did Macbeth meet his end?

Ans: Prince Malcolm, Duncan’s son, had succeeded in raising an army in

England, and Macduff joined him to fight against Macbeth’s forces. He was
struck numb with fear, however, when he learnt that the English army was
advancing on Dunsinane shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood as this
fulfilled half of the witches’ prophecy.

In the battle, Macbeth fought bravely, but the English forces gradually
overwhelmed his army and castle. On the battlefield, Macbeth encountered
the vengeful Macduff, who declared that he was not “of woman born” but was
instead “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Though he realized that he
was doomed, Macbeth continued to fight until Macduff killed and beheaded
him.

Q8. Why does Macduff support Malcolm as the next king?

Ans: Macduff supported Malcolm as the next king because Malcolm was the
true heir to the throne. Further, Macbeth had killed Lady Macduff and her
children and seized Macduff’s castle. These all are made Macduff a vengeful
man and ultimately he killed Macbeth in the battlefield.
Topic: On Saying ‘Please’ by Alfred George Gardiner

Q1. Why does the writer call the law reasonable with reference to the lift-man
in the story?

Ans: The lift-man was fined for pushing a passenger out of the lift. The law is
reasonable because people cannot be allowed to punish any person.
Discourtesy is not a legal offense and it does excuse assault and battery.

Q2. What compels us to be civil in our social behaviour?

Ans: There is an old social practice which compels us to be civil in our social
behaviour. To make social life easy, it is necessary.

Q3.In what sense is courtesy an investment?

Ans: Courtesy is a good investment because in lightening other people’s spirits

by being courteous, he is Lightening his own task.

Q4.What penalty does one have to pay for being discourteous?

Ans: Law prescribes no penalty for a discourteous man, but he is considered an

ill-mannered fellow.

Q5.What are small courtesies, according to A.G. Gardiner? How do they help
us in our day to day life?

Ans: According to A.G. Gardiner, saying ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’,
‘much obliged’ etc. are small courtesies. They lighten our work and sweeten
our life.
Q6.What better way of taking revenge does the writer suggest to the angry lift
man?

Ans: The writer suggests to the angry lift-man that he should have treated the
gentleman who would not say ‘please’ with elaborate politeness.

Q7.How do good and bad manners affect the people around according to A.G.
Gardiner?

Ans: Good and bad manners affect our daily life very much. Good manners
help the machine of our life oiled and running sweetly. Bad manners infect the
world by poisoning the stream of life.

Q8.Why was the young lift-man in a city office fined?

Ans: The young liftman threw the passenger out of his lift because the
passenger had refused to say, “Top please”. That is why the young liftman was
fined.

On Saying Please

Q1. Why do we call bad manners infections?

Ans: This essay ‘On Saying Please’ has been written by Alfred George Gardiner
whose pen name was "Alpha of the Plough". He was a journalist, biographer
and essayist. He was an ardent social reformer.

In the present essay he throws light on the importance of good manners. He

urges us to be civil and spread civility around us. Similarly we should avoid bad
manners because bad manners spread very quickly. We can call bad manners
infections because every action has a reaction. A good act will get a good
reaction and a bad action will surely produce a bad reaction. If we deal with
people in a good way, naturally they will adopt the same course and will be
civil but if we are hostile to someone, he is bound to be uncivil and hostile to
us. We can see it in our day-to-day life that the people behaving in a bad way
always incur a bad and unpleasant aura around them.

The individual is the unit of society and if the unit is going wayward the whole
society will be doomed to disturbance. The writer gives an example. In a city
office a customer asked the liftman to take him to "top" but the liftman
demanded, "top Please". This gave rise to a serious brawl and liftman threw
the customer out of his lift. The writer conceives that the customer behaved
rudely because his employer did not greet him and the employer was uncivil
because he had been hen-pecked by his wife to whom the cook had been
insolent because the housemaid had answered the cook back. On the other
hand the liftman, who was not allowed to express his anger, would go home
and beat his wife to restore the equilibrium.

This shows how quickly the bad manners are transferred from one person to
another. Bad manners and rudeness spread sooner than any virus and are
more fatal to the civilization and society.

Q2. Is there any law against the bad manners?

Ans: We have many laws that can protect us against material losses. For
example if we are attacked physically or if our property is damaged, we can
retaliate with the same amount of wrath and the law will protect us. If we do
not avenge ourselves the law will give us redress. This is because the material
loss is a solid phenomenon while the hurt pride is an abstract thing. Loss of
material can be proved but the loss of self-respect and vanity cannot be
proved. Moreover, the concept of being hurt intellectually, changes from
person to person. Some people are more tolerant but some are less. At times
we become so much hostile and prejudiced about some people that we always
view their actions negatively and we, ourselves, become uncivil to them. So it
can be almost impossible for any law court to judge such cases.

Although there is no law against bad manners but there are very strong social
traditions that compel us to be tolerant, polite and humane. Laws can never
make us civil. It is the voice of humanity inside and outside us that makes us
behave unlike the brutal animals or the residents of jungle.
There is liberty of expression in almost all the societies of the world and there
are certain limitations levied on this liberty by a man's conscience. As it is our
self-respect that makes us respect the "self" of others.

So, no law can be feasible for keeping us civil and humane, only the tradition
and humanity can ask us to do so.

Q3. Draw a character sketch of the polite conductor?

Ans: The writer has featured a very impressive character in order to stress the
need of civility and good manners in our daily social life. This character was a
bus conductor who impressed the writer with his pleasant personality and
helpful manners. The writer noticed him when, once, he boarded a bus
without any money in his pocket. This was a very trying situation for him
because in this situation no one believes that the money has been accidentally
misplaced. Common people and specially the conductors think that the person
is trying to cheat. The writer searched his pockets thoroughly and declared
that he would have to alight from the bus. He was ready for any kind of
reaction but quite unexpectedly the conductor behaved generously and
politely. He offered to take him to his destination even without any money.
The writer was very impressed. Though later the writer could square his
account with a stray coin present in his pocket but such a nice act gave him a
serene pleasure and satisfaction.

On second occasion the writer met the same conductor when he heavily
trampled writer’s toe but he apologized in such a humble and nice way that
writer assured him that he had not hurt him at all. This reaction was only due
to his polite ways. This proves that every action has a reaction equal in
strength. The writer says that he is not ashamed of writing a panegyric to an
unknown bus conductor because the wisdom of life can be achieved from
anywhere. No one is low or high it is their manners that divide human beings
in low or high level.

Q4. Why should a person be civil?

Ans: A person should be civil in his dealings with others. "Man is a social
animal" and if he does not respect the society and its values he is just an
animal. All the societies in the world have their own specific set of values. No
society allows its members to have bad manners or to express their annoyance
openly. Societies devise some civilized ways to give vent to any resentment.

The peaceful coexistence of the individuals in a society is only possible through

courtesy and good manners. In a society, people have to indulge in continuous
give and take that is possible only through acknowledging the services of other
people. If we start ordering, like a superior, nobody will cordially listen to us.
But if we ask something in a polite manner, no one will refuse us. Our religion,
Islam also teachers us to be civil, The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,
"The best amongst you is one, who has good manners”.

We should adopt the ways of courtesy and civility to spread smiles on

faces of all those who live around us.

Q5. How can good manners affect our social life?

Ans: Alpha of the plough attempts to stress on the need of having good
manners in life. He asserts that we should behave in a polite and gentle way.
We should not hurt anybody and should not lose our temper because these
things cast a deep impact on our general life.

The writer presents an incident from a city office where a liftman threw out a
person who insulted him by treating him as a social inferior. The person
demanded "top". The liftman asked for “top please”. It led to a fierce quarrel.
It was only a question of "please". The liftman was punished for his violent
behaviour. It happened because the law doesn’t recognize the damage to our
feelings but if we experience a material or physical loss the law can protect us.
The liftman was punished because he broke a definite command of law by
hitting the customer. We may sympathize with the liftman whose feelings
were hurt but we will have to admit that the law is quite reasonable.

The bad manners are subjective. Their effects change from person to person.
Sometimes even a light comment or action can hurt a man. It depends on our
mental state at that time. If we are already hurt or disturbed then anything
can provoke us. As was the case with the man who did not say "please" to the
liftman. He was rude because his employer had misbehaved with him. The
employer did so because he had been hen-pecked by his wife and his wife was
angry because the cook had been insolent, as the housemaid had answered
back to the cook. This shows how quickly the bad manners start a chain
reaction of penetrating in the social life.

All the religions have preached in favour of good manners but neither any
religion nor any constitution has ever tried to legislate against bad manners.

In writer's view "Please", "thank you” and "sorry" are the little courtesies by
which we keep the machine of life oiled and running sweetly. They produce an
atmosphere of cordiality and good will. The writer pleads us to restore these
manners and behaviours so that the society can become a safe and pleasant
place to live in.

Q6.What is the theme of this essay?

Ans: "On saying please" is an apt commentary on the mannerism of people in

the society. The writer wants people to be civil and courteous. The world is a
place where, we have to live with a lot of different people who have different
attitudes, different manners, traditions and mentalities. They behave in
different ways but we have to put up with them so that the life can smoothly
go on. If we do not adopt good manners, we will poison the whole
atmosphere and spoil the stream of life.

Moreover the writer wants to tell us that there is no law that can compel
people, to have good manners. No law can force people to be well mannered.
But the civilization, culture and tradition of all good nations enjoin a man to be
civil and tolerant. So people should have good manners to make their lives
easier and more pleasant.

……………………………………..
Topic: Norman Mckinnel’s “The Bishop’s Candle Sticks”

Q1. Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought
about this change in him?

Ans: Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. The Bishop’s
kindness brought about this change in him. Understanding the circumstances
in which the convict stole the candlesticks, the Bishop told the Police that the
convict was his friend and the candlesticks were gifted to him. He even asked
the convict to take away the candle sticks so that he could go to Paris and
begin a settled life.

Q2. Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/ why
not? Why is the convict eager to reach Paris?

Ans: The punishment given to the convict was not justified. It is too inhuman
for someone who was caught stealing just to feed his sick wife. The convict was
eager to reach Paris to escape from the police. He thought that as Paris was a
very big and densely populated city the Police would not be able to identify
and arrest him in future.

Q3. Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to
him?

Ans: The convict was sent to prison for stealing. He had stolen so that he could
buy his wife some food. He was sentenced to ten years in a prison hulk.

Q4. The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does
he mean by this statement?

Ans: By this statement he means to say that he is well experienced so that he

cannot be befooled. When on asking for food by the convict the Bishop tries to
call his sister for keys of the cupboard, the convict thinks that the Bishop is
making a plan to nab him.
Q5. Who was Jeanette? What was the cause of her death?

Ans: Jeanette was the convict’s wife. She died of disease and hunger.

Q6. Why does Persome feel the people pretend to be sick?

Ans: Persome feels that people pretend to be sick so that the Bishop calls on
them. She feels that people take advantage of the simplicity and kind-
heartedness of the Bishop who extends his helping hand to anybody who is in
distress.

Q7. Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/why not?

Ans: No, the Bishop was not right in selling the salt-cellars. His own economic
condition was not good and he should have asked for Persome’s opinion
before he sold the cellars, which belonged to her too.

From another point of view, the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars as he
wanted to give the money he got from selling the cellars to Mere Gringoire
who could not give rent to the landlord on time and was about to face eviction.
The Bishop was very broadminded as he could empathise with the condition of
Mere Gringoire and chose to do away with the salt-cellars. The Bishop felt that
one could eat salt out of china as well.

Q8. Monseigneur the Bishop is a ————ahem!’

Why does Persome not complete the sentence?

(i) She used to stammer while speaking.

(ii) She was about to praise the Bishop.

(iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.

(iv) She had a habit of passing such remarks.

Ans: (iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.

Q9. Monseigneur the Bishop is a ————ahem!’

Why is she angry with the Bishop?

(i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.

(ii) The Bishop has gone to visit Mere Gringoire.

(iii) He showed extra concern for Marie.

(iv) She disliked the Bishop.

Ans: (i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.

Q10. ‘She sent little Jean to Monseigneur to ask for help, and—’

Who sent little Jean to the Bishop?

(i) Mere Gringoire

(ii) Marie

(iii) Persome

(iv) Marie’s mother

Ans: (i) Mere Gringoire

Q11. Why did she send Jean to the Bishop?

(i) so that he could pray for her

(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person

(iii) as she was a greedy woman

(iv) as she was a poor woman

Ans: (ii) as she knew that he was a generous person

Q12. ‘I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it
might distress you.”

The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.

(i) she was sick

(ii) she had no money

(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house

(iv) she was a close friend of Persome

Ans: (iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house

Q13. ‘I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it
might distress you.”

Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire’s being taken in

because________.

(i) she did not want to help anyone

(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop

(iii) she was a self-centred person

(iv) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience

Ans: (ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop

Q14. Identify the situations which be termed as the turning points in the
convict’s life.

Ans: The term turning point means any situation which brings a decisive
change in the course of events in somebody’s life. The convict in the play “The
Bishop’s Candlesticks” confronts several situations that may be termed as
turning point. The situations are:

The convict was a normal human being living with his wife. Once his wife got
seriously ill. The convict due to unemployment could not even buy food. This
led him to steal and buy food for his dying wife. This was a turning point as the
police nabbed him. From an ordinary human being he became a convict.

Another turning point in the convict’s life was when he managed to escape
from the prison and broke into the house of the Bishop. In Bishop’s house he
could experience the practice of noble Christian ideals like benevolence and
mercy in the conduct of the Bishop. While at the Bishop’s house, he saw the
silver candle sticks which he stole.

Another turning point in the convict’s life was when the police caught him with
the candle sticks. They arrested him and brought him back to the house of
Bishop. But the Bishop asked the policemen to release the convict saying that
he was his guest and the silver candle sticks had been gifted to the convict by
him. The Bishop told the convict to take the candle sticks and move to Paris
where he could start a new life. This event really changed his life.

Short answer type questions

Q1. ‘I was a man once and I am a beast now.’ What circumstances turned the
man into a beast in ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’?

Ans: The protagonist was a jobless man who had stolen food for his ailing wife.
The authorities put him in jail for this minor offense and he suffered inhuman
treatment in the prison. He was given no food or medical attention. He was
beaten like a beast. He underwent corporal punishment and had vermin all
over his body. These atrocities that they inflicted on him ultimately turned him
into a beast.

Q2. In spite of being siblings, the Bishop and Persome have different
characters. Elaborate.
Ans: The Bishop and Persome are siblings in real life but their characters are
totally different. The Bishop is kind and compassionate. Persome is somewhat
selfish. She does not like it when the Bishop works for the welfare of others.
She once rebuked Marie for telling the Bishop that her mother was ill because
she thought that they were lying so that the Bishop might visit them. Bishop
sold his salt cellars for helping Mere Gringoire but Persome does not like her.
She wants the Bishop to hand over the convict who had stolen his candlesticks
to the police but he saves the man and manages to reform him.

Q3. Why did the Bishop sell his salt-cellars?

Ans: The Bishop sold his salt-cellars to help Mere Gringoire who didn’t have
enough money to pay her house rent. The Bailiff had threatened to oust her
from the house if she didn’t pay the rent. The Bishop was a kind hearted man
and always helped people who were in distress. When he realized that
Gringoire was going through a lot of financial hardships, he sold his salt-cellars
to give her money.

4. How does the Bishop reform the convict?

Ans: The Bishop showed the convict that human values like love, compassion
and mercy still exist in the world. The convict had received inhuman treatment
in the prison and that had turned him into a beast. He broke into the Bishop’s
house one night but the Bishop treated him with love and compassion. In spite
of that the convict stole the Bishop’s candlesticks and escaped. However, he
was caught and when the police brought him to the Bishop’s house, the Bishop
told them that the convict was his friend and that he himself had given him the
candlesticks. This act of selfless love and compassion touched the convict’s
heart and reformed him for good.

Long answer type questions

1. What do you think are the situations that can be termed as the turning
points in the life of the convict?
Ans: There were mainly three turning points in the life of the convict. The first
one was when he stole food for his ailing wife. He was jobless and could not
afford to buy food for his wife. This forced him to steal bread. Unfortunately,
this minor offence landed him in prison and he received inhuman treatment
there. The cruelties that the jail authorities inflicted on him turned him into a
beast. The second turning point was his meeting with the Bishop. Although the
Bishop treated him with love and kindness, the convict was not moved. He
stole the Bishop’s candlesticks and escaped from there. The third turning point
was when the police took him to the Bishop’s house. The Bishop knew that the
convict would again be put in prison and to save him, the Bishop told the
police that the convict was his friend and that he himself had given him the
candlesticks. This act of kindness moved the convict to tears and transformed
him into a good human being.

Q2. Prepare a character sketch of Persome.

Ans: In the play, “The Bishop’s Candlesticks”, Persome is portrayed as a cruel

and selfish woman. She is exactly the opposite of Bishop. While he is kind and
compassionate, she can only think of her own interests. Yes, she loves her
brother and shows great concern for his wellbeing. She is worried that others
may take advantage of the Bishop because he is a simple hearted man. She
once rebuked Marie for telling the Bishop that her mother was ill because she
thought that they were lying so that the Bishop might visit them. She didn’t
like it when the Bishop sold his salt –cellars to help Mere Gringoire. She
showed her cruelty to the convict as well. She wanted the Bishop to hand him
over to the police when they realized that he had stolen their candlesticks. All
of these acts clearly prove that Persome was a narrow-minded woman with
little care or concern for others. However, she is highly protective of her
brother and that is the only positive quality we can find in her.

…………………………….