Neighbours Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

Neighbours

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like.

The young couple’s house was small, but it’s high ceiling and paned windows gave it the feel of an elegant cottage. From his study window the young man could see out over the rooftops and used car yards the Moreton Bay figs in the park where they walked their dog.

b. How did the young couple identify their neighbours in the beginning of their arrival?

The young couple identify their neighbours in the begining of their arrival by the sound of spitting, washing and day break watering.

c. How did the neighbours help the young couple in the kitchen garden?

The neighbours helped the young couple in the kitchen garden by advicing them about spacing, hilling, mulching and providing the bagful of garlic cloves for planting.

d. Why were the people in the neighborhood surprised at the role of the young man and his wife in their family?

The people in the neighborhood were surprised at the role of the young man and his wife because his wife used to do work in hospital while he used to live in the house working on his thesis and cook for his wife when she return back home.

e. How did the neighbours respond to the woman’s pregnancy?

The neighbours responded to the woman’s pregnancy by smiling tirelessly. The man in the deli gave her small presents of chocolates and him packets of cigarettes. In the summer, Italian women began to offer names. Greek women stopped the young woman in the street, pulled her skirt up and felt her belly, telling her it was bound to be a boy. By late summer the woman next door had knitted the baby a suit, complete with booties and beanie and the Polish widower next door had almost finished his two-car garage.

f. Why did the young man begin to weep at the end of the story?

The young man began to weep at the end of the story because he was greatly touched by the help of neighbours which wasn’t expected by him due to the human feelings of neighbours towards them.

g. Why do you think the author did not characterize the persons in the story with proper names?

I think the author didn’t characterize the persons in the stroy with proper names because he wants to generalize the case not to specific person but also for the every person who are culturally and linguistically from different society. So the writer make the couple for the universal character and he tries to share his idea that in neighbourhood, humanity remains even after having different languages and cultural norms.

A Respectable Woman Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

A Respectable Woman

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. Why was Mrs. Baroda unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm?

Mrs. Baroda was unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm because she was looking forward to a period of unbroken rest, now, and undisturbed tete-a-tete with her husband.

b. How was Gouvernail different from Mrs. Baroda’s expectation?

Mrs. Baroda had formed an image of Gouvernail in her mind as tall, slim, cynical; with eyeglasses, and his hands in his pockets but he was different from her expectation. He was slim enough, but he wasn’t very tall nor very cynical, neither did he wear glasses nor carry his hands in his pockets.

c. How does Mrs. Baroda compare Gouvernail with her husband?

Mrs. Baroda compares Gouvernail with her husband by their frankness. Mr. Gaston Baroda, her husband was frank and chatty but Gouvernail was not frank and he was quite silent person.

d. Why and how did Mrs. Baroda try to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits?

Mrs. Baroda was a frank woman and wanted. Gouvernail to be frank chatty and demanding to make him feel at home. She tried to change Gouvernail solitary habits by being frank and offering wordy hospitality.

e. How does Gaston disagree with his wife on Gouvernail’s character?

Mrs. Baroda was taking Gouvernail seriously and Gaston disagrees with his wife on Gouvernail character by saying that Gouvernail gave no trouble to her and he didn’t like commotion.

f. Why is Gaston surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story?

Gatson is surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story because she never like the arrival of Gouvernail but at the end she proposed, wholly from herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again.

Reference to the context

a. What is the cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind? What role does Mrs. Baroda ‘being a respectable woman’ play in the story?

The cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind is her attraction towards Gouvernail and the fear of society. Being a respectable woman Mrs. Baroda controls her feeling and let the social norms win. She was so attracted to her husband’s friend Gouvernail, she wanted to touch his face, lips with her sensitive fingers but she doesn’t do that and controls herself being a respectable woman.

b. Sketch the character of Gouvernail and contrast it with Gaston.

Gouvernail is the Mr. Baroda’s college friend who came to spend a week or two in his friends’ sugar plantation. Gouvernail is a slim and attractive man. He doesn’t wear eyeglasses and he is so lovable and inoffensive. He is a silent guy and loves peace. He neither frank nor too chatty. He loves to sit on portico and enjoy the cool air with cigar. He accepts what Baroda couple gives and doesn’t demand anything. Some characters of Mrs. Baroda and his friend Gouvernail are just opposite. Mr. Baroda is so frank and chatty but Gouvernail is too silent. Gouvernail smokes but Mr. Baroda does not. It can be said that Mr. Baroda is extrovert and more sociable man whether in contrast Gouvernail is introvert and less sociable man.

c. Why does Mrs. Baroda not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband?

There are some battles in life which a human being must fight alone. Mrs. Baroda was a respectable woman and if she discloses her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband, it may cause a serious problem. A husband never likes his wife being attracted to another man. Many husbands have given divorce to their wives after knowing that they are attracted towards other man. Moreover, if she reveals her feelings the friendship of Mr. Baroda and Gouvernail may weaken. That’s why Mrs. Baroda does not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband.

d. The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. After reading these three sentences, how do you analyze Mrs. Baroda’s attitude towards Gouvernail?

The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. Mrs. Baroda liked Gouvernail but due to the fear of society and fear of loss of her respect she didn’t want Gouvernail to come in their house. But last she proposed, wholly from herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again. She said to her husband, “I have overcome everything! You will see. This time I shall be very nice to him”. After reading this I think Mrs. Baroda has overcome the fear of society. And now, she will not control herself and will flow with her emotion. I think she will do everything what her heart wants to do with Gouvernail as she has said that she will be nice to him. In another point of view, we can say that she has overcome her feelings and emotions towards Gouvernail and will be normal to him.

Reference beyond the text

a. The entry of an outsider into a family has been a recurring subject in both literature and films. Narrate a story real or imaginative where an outsider’s arrival destroys the intimate relationship between the husband and the wife and causes break up in marital relationship without direct fault of anyone. Anton’s Chekhov’s story ‘About Love’ is a story on this subject.

The story of “About Love” has been written by a Russian writer Anton Chekhov. “About Love” is a story about love affairs. Here in this story, the third love story somewhat reflects the same ideas as seen in the story of Kate Chopin’s “A Respectable Woman”.

The third story has presented the love story of the major character Alyohin and Anna, the wife of Dimitry Luganovich.

When Alyohin is elected for honorary justice of the peace, he has to go to town for work. There he meets another judge whose name is Dimitry Luganovich. Once he goes to the house of Luganovich to have dinner. There he meets Anna Luganovich, the wife of Dimitry Luganovich. The beauty, youth and intelligence of Anna attract him. Alyohin’s mind is disturbed by Anna’s memory. He starts meeting with her. They pass time together for hours. They share gifts. They go to the theatre and also share their joys and sorrows. Alyohin falls in love with her, but his morals and thoughts stop him to express his love openly. As a result, Anna suffers from mental tiredness. Both of them suffer a lot due to middle-class moralities. But later on, Alyohin sees the illusion that Anna enjoys her life and doesn’t pay attention to him. Due to their relationship, Anna suffers from mental tiredness. Finally, the Luganovich family has to move. Alyohin goes to say goodbye to Anna inside the train. When their eyes meet for the last time, both cry and hug each other. Alyohin kisses Anna and expresses his deep love. Finally, both separate from each other because Anna is leaving for Creamea for her treatment.

b. Mrs. Baroda makes an expectation about Gouvernail even before meeting him. Suppose you are a mature girl/boy and your family members are giving you pressure for getting married. Write in about 200 words describing what qualities you would like to get in your future husband/wife.

Marriage is a sacred relationship between two people. Simply, it is the union of two people that creates a family tie and carries legal, social or religious rights and responsibilities. It is a lifetime decision and should be taken carefully as our whole life will depend on the decision we take today. Before marriage, we need to think as well as know about the person with whom we are going to get married. It is a lifelong relationship that’s why we have to choose a perfect life partner.

If I get pressure from my family members for getting married, I would like to have the following qualities in my future wife.

1. Lovable and caring: My future wife must be lovable and caring. She must be lovable and caring for all my family members.

2. Well mannered: She must be well mannered. She should be polite and well-mannered to all.

3. Beautiful: She must be beautiful not only from her physical appearance but also from her heart. She should be outstanding in performing the role in the family.

4. Responsible and respectable: She must be a responsible and respectable wife. She must know her responsibilities towards family and spend her life being a respectable wife.

5. Educated: She must be highly qualified and know the way of educating others. She must have the quality of making others realize the importance of education in life.

A Devoted Son Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

A Devoted Son

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. How did the morning papers bring an ambience of celebration to the Varma family?

The morning papers brought an ambience of celebration in the Varma family as it showed that the Rakesh had topped the Medical Examination and it was the matter of pride for the family.

b. How did the community celebrate Rakesh’s success?

The community people celebrated Rakesh’s success by visiting his little yellow house at the end of the road. There they congratulate Rakesh’s parents on their son’s remarkable success and congratulate Rakesh himself. The whole house and garden was quickly filled with the sights and sounds of a festival, with beautiful garlands, party clothes, and gifts.

c. Why was Rakesh’s success a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood?

Rakesh’s success was a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood because he was the first son in the family to receive an education. His parents had sacrificed so much in order to send him to school and then medical college. It was the matter of pride for the family as well as neighbours. Rakesh’s exemplary behavior that he touched the feet of his father as soon as he saw his results made Rakesh success a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood.

d. How does the author make fun with the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’?

Rakesh had won a scholarship in USA. His father learnt it to be called as ‘USA’ and taught the whole family not to say it as ‘America’ as it was the term to be called by his ignorant neighbours. In this way the author makes fun of the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’.

e. How does the author characterize Rakesh’s wife?

The author characterizes Rakesh’s wife as an uneducated, old fashioned, plump girl. She was so placid, complaisant and lazy but too good-natured and pretty fat one.

f. Describe how Rakesh rises in his career.

After completing his medical education, he started his career as a doctor in the city hospital and quickly reached the top of administrative: organization and was made a director. Then, he opened his own private clinic and became known not only as of the best but also the richest doctor in city.

g. How does the author describe Rakesh’s family background?

Rakesh was from a poor family who used to live in a village in India. His father worked for a kerosene vendor and his mother spent her life in the kitchen. His grandparents also used to work as vegetable vendors. Despite of the poor economic condition, his parents worked hard and sacrificed everything they have for the higher education and medical college of his son Rakesh.

h. What is the impact of Rakesh’s mother’s death on his father?

Rakesh’s father was broken into pieces by the death of his wife. He fell ill so frequently and suffered with such mysterious disease named a peevish whim (sudden irritation in mind) that even his son could no longer make it out.

i. What did Rakesh do to make his father’s old age more comfortable?

Rakesh used to bring his father his morning tea in the old man’s favorite brass tumbler, and sat at the edge of his bed, comfortable and relaxed his father’s night-shirt, and read out the morning news for him. He used to help his father down the steps and onto the bed, soothing him and settling him down for a night under the stars.

j. Why did the old man try to bribe his grandchildren?

The old man tried to bribe his grandchildren in order to buy him sweets and Jalebis from the shop at the crossroads.

k. Are Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diets reasonable? How?

I don’t think that the Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diets are reasonable. His son had made a diet plan for him so that he could live a healthy life. Rakesh being a responsible son and a doctor too, can’t allow his father to risk his life eating unnecessary foods and sweets. Rakesh did so because he didn’t what to lose his father as he had already losed his mother. Thus the Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diet aren’t reasonable.

Reference to the Context

a. How did the Varma couple make sacrifices for their son’s higher education?

Mr. Varma being a worker in a Kerosene Dealer Deport and Mrs. Varma being a housewife doing household things have done and made a lot of sacrifices for their son’s higher education. Mr. Varma had never seen how the school looks like from the inside as he had never gone to study. So, he wanted to fulfill his dream from his son and he sent Rakesh to the school for quality education. Rakesh was the first son in the family to receive an education. Thus the Varma couple worked hard and sacrificed their life, time, money and everything they have for the higher education and medical college of son for the betterment of his future.

b. Mr. Varma suffers from diseases one after another after his wife’s death. Would he have enjoyed better health if she had not died before him? Give reasons.

I think yes he would have enjoyed better health if she had not died before him. He had fell ill as soon as his wife died. Before the death of his wife he was enjoying his life with no mental harassment but after the death of his wife he started being in depression and many other mental conditions. He was broken mentally as well as physically. It is usual too because when a person with whom you have spended decades, they become part of your life and when they leave permanently, it is obvious to get a shock. Thus, if she had not died before him, he would have enjoyed better health.

c. Dr Rakesh is divided between a doctor and a son. As a son, he loves his father and worries about his weakening health but as a doctor, he is strict on his father’s diet and medicine. In your view, what else could Rakesh have done to make his father’s final years more comfortable?

With no doubt Rakesh is a good son and a good inspiring doctor. Though he did remain devoted to his father. Actually he is divide between a doctor and a son. In my view, Rakesh could have been more polite and respectful in his behaviour with his father in the final years. He could have let his old father take the lead and give him the same independence and freedom because it is the age where parents feel like they are left behind. Rakesh could have also given his father some personal space and let him dictate how and when his son help him. His loud-speaking made his father very troublesome and miserable. So, if he had spoke to his father politely and in respectful way, he could have made his father’s final years more comfortable.

d. What does the story say about the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren?

Desai’s story “A Devoted Son” shows loving companionship between grandfather and grandchildren. There is an unbreakable bond between them. Having a close relation, once the grandfather tried to bribe his grandchildren to bring Jalebis for him. He used the innocence and mean nature of a small kid for his own benefit. Though he loved his grandchildren very much but due to his meanness he tried to show his grandson the wrong path. For that reason, the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren was found to be innocent, tricky, trusty and bonding in the story.

e. Do you call Rakesh a devoted son? Give reasons.

Yes, I call Rakesh a devoted son. He always did whatever his parents have advised or wanted him to do like; good academic performance, crucial part of a boy’s life which is marriage, and also choosing to get back to his own nation and live with his family though he could earn a lot of more money living in the USA. Though Rakesh stucked at some part of giving his father a happy life but he had tried his best. He always used to separate time for his old father despite of being very busy in his professional life. He never wanted his father to suffer. Hence, I think that Rakesh is a devoted son in the sense that he is able to put his own wishes aside for their betterment.

Reference beyond the text

a. Write an essay on The Parents’ Ambition for their Children in Nepali Society. You must give at least five examples.

The Parents’ Ambition for their Children in Nepali Society

One of the primary roles of parents is to be a leader of their children. Dedicated, motivated parents are usually one of two kinds of leaders; ambitious leaders or led leaders. While ambition seems like a powerful quality in a leader, it’s flawed because ambition is self-serving. On the other hand, a leader who is a good follower of truth, principles, and a higher moral authority, even if it is inconvenient to themselves or lacks showiness is a powerful influence for good in the lives of their children.

Parents have great ambition for their children in Nepali Society. Most of the parents want their children to be the best person in the society such as the best doctor, the best engineer, the best teacher, and many more. Due to parents’ ambition for their children, some children work hard to achieve their destination and get succeed at the end. But due to this the children are forced to do the thing other than their interest and follow the paths shown by the parents blindly. Due to which many children are lacking behind in Nepalese society. Thus, parents should listen to the voice and aim of their children as well for their better in future.

b. Medicines replace our diets in old age. What can be done to make old ageless less dependent on medicine?

As we get older, the body becomes less efficient and weaker. It cannot fully function the way it used to on young age and hence many viruses or diseases enter into our body. At old age our immunity system also becomes weak and our body cannot fight or prevent from the severe diseases. So to prevent form this medication is done. Hence medicines replace our diets in old age.

To make old ageless less dependent on medicine, they should do the following things:

– Exercise daily by running, jogging, playing sports, dancing or brisk walking.

– Eat three nutritional meals a day with all the food groups (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals).

– Make sure to get enough sleep, i.e., 7-8 hours per night.

– Drink about 10-15 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration especially in summer.

– Don’t sleep too much or too less, because either can lead to fatigue.

– Avoid harmful habits like smoking, drinking, drugs, etc.

c. Write an essay on “Care of Elderly Citizens” in about 300 words.

Care of Elderly Citizens

Elderly refers to old people who have crossed middle age. The old age is the final period of human life. During this time a person needs love and affection and proper elderly care. It is said that caring for the elderly is the moral duty of every man. Generally, an old person faces different health issues and thus he or she needs proper care. The length of an old person’ life depends on how much care he/she gets. Taking care of the elderly is not a naïve task. The care needs for the elderly is very limited.An old man doesn’t have much requirement. He /she only need a little affection, care, and a homely environment to spend his/her final stage of life.

We all should know how to take care of old people. But in today’s busy schedule some people consider the elderly a burden. They even don’t want to spare time for their parents. And thus they prefer to put their old parents in old age homes rather than taking care of them. This is nothing but a shameful act. Being a human we all should know the importance of elderly care. In every country, there are different laws to protect the elderly. But the elderly care law can’t do anything if we don’t change our mindset.

The Treasure in the Forest Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

The Treasure In The Forest

Summary

The story begins with two men, Evans and Hooker, “stranded British wastrels”, heading in a canoe towards a coral island in the heat of the noon sun, after having paddled all night from the mainland. Hooker is studying a map, which the narrator reveals they have stolen from a Chinaman, Chang-hi, whom they murdered during the theft. Chang-hi had by chance discovered the treasure left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon, and had decided to rebury it elsewhere, at a location revealed by his map. One aspect of the map puzzles Evans and Hooker though; part of it is covered by little dashes pointing in every direction.

Evans and Hooker identify the spot indicated on the map, and after beaching their canoe they strike into the interior of the island, through the forest. They soon discover the identifying pile of stones just as the map says, but alongside it lies the purple and swollen body of a Chinaman who had evidently himself been looking for the treasure, as they can see some half-exposed yellow bars of gold in the hole he had been digging. The men assume the Chinaman to have been one of Chang-hi’s associates, who had decided to try and claim the treasure for himself.

Evans starts to pick up the gold ingots to take them back to the canoe, but as he does so feels a thorn prick. The two men load as much of the gold as they can drag back to the boat in Evans’s jacket and set off, but after about a hundred yards Evans’s arms start to ache, he becomes sweaty and he begins to convulse. Hooker, in rearranging the ingots on the jacket after Evans’s collapse, himself feels a thorn prick, and at last realizes the meaning of the little dashes on the map; Chang-hi had protected his treasure with thorns “similar to those the Dyaks poison and use in their blowing-tubes”.

The story ends as Hooker lies dying alongside the “still quivering” body of his companion.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. Describe the expository scene of the story.

The story opens with two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker in the canoe approaching the land, the thicker and deeper green forest, sloppy hill with a little river flowing to the sea.

b. What does the map look like and how do Evan and Hooker interpret it?

The map looks like very old rough map. By much folding it was creased, unclear and worn to the pitch of separation. Evan interprets twisting lines in the map as the river and the star as the place whereas Hooker interprets the dotted line and straight line and the way to the lagoon in the map.

c. How did Evan and Hooker know about the treasure?

Evan and Hooker knew about the treasure by hearing the Chinese man conversation and the map he had.

d. Describe Evan’s dream.

During their journey, Evan began to doze and saw a dream. Evan had a dream about the treasure and Chang-hi. In the dream, they were in the forest and saw a little fire where three Chinese men sat around it and talked in quiet voices in English. Evans went closer and he knew that Chang-hi took the gold from a h4ish galleon after shipwrecked and hide it carefully on the island. He worked alone and it was his secret, but now he wanted help to get the gold back. There was a battle and Chang-hi was brutally killed by them. He thought that someone was calling him, so he suddenly woke up.

e. What do the two treasure hunters see when they walk towards the island?

The two treasure hunters saw three palm trees, thick bushes and dim white flowers at the mouth of the stream when they walk towards the island. They also saw the dead body of Chinese man named Chang-hi which makes both of them surprised.

f. In what condition did the treasure hunters find the dead man?

When Evan and Hooker reached the place where the treasure was buried, they saw a dead man lying in a clear space among the trees with a puffed and purple neck and swollen hands and ankles.

g. How did the treasure hunters try to carry gold ingots to the canoe?

The treasure hunters tried to carry gold ingots to the canoe with the help of the coat of which one end of the collar catching by the hand of Hooker and the other collar by Evan.

h. How were Evan and Hooker poisoned?

Evan and Hooker were poisoned as a slender (thin) thorn nearly of two inches length pricked in Hooker’s thumb and Evan rolled over him and both of them crumpled together on the ground which made them suffered a lot.

Reference to the Context

a. How do you know the story is set on a tropical island?

The story “The Treasures in the Forest” has been set on a tropical island. It begins with two men, Evans and Hooker, heading in a canoe towards a coral island in the heat of the sun. It’s atmosphere, naturally variable ecosystems, thicker and green forest, freshwater lakes and streams, salt marshes and mudflats (wetland), mangrove and coastal forests, fringing and offshore coral reefs, and deep sea represents that the story is set on a tropical island.

b. Why do you think Evan and Hooker took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island?

I think Evan and Hooker took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island because of their greed for wealth. They took it as a challenge and the risks as rewards. They were also attracted by the fact that it was the treasure left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon which may cost millions of dollars. So they became crazy about the treasure and took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island.

c. Do you think the narrator of the story is racist? If yes, what made him feel superior to other races?

Yes, I find some sort of racist feelings in the narrator of the story when he presents Evan and Hooker as superior to that of the Chinese man in the story. In fact, a racist is a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic towards people based on their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. In the story, we find the Chinese man was brutally killed by Evans and Hooker. When Hooker said to Evans, “Have you lost your wit?”, it also reflects dominating nature of Hooker over Ivan. Thus, many instances in the story state that the narrator of the story looks like a racist.

d. What do you think is the moral of the story?

The moral of the story is that peoples can do anything for money. They can take any kind of risks for it. As in the story Evan and Hooker killed a Chinese man brutally to get their way to treasure buried in the desert, people can even take lives of other. It’s greed that is the disordered desire for more than is decent, not for the greater good but one’s own selfish interest, and at the detriment of others and society at large. Greed can be for anything but is most commonly for money or treasures and power which is much more. At the end of the story, Evan and Hooker both were poisoned. This shows that greediness leads to the destruction. So we should not run behind the money and treasure, rather than focus on our dreams and be happy with the things as much as we have.

Reference beyond the text

a. Interpret the story as a mystery story.

The story “The Treasures in the Forest” is full of mystery. The story has fine descriptions of its mysterious setting and characters. It has a fine plot with various twists in characters’ situations.It’s hard for a reader to predict what is going to happen next. The story is about two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker who seek to find the hidden treasures in the forest left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon. Some mysterious events are : Hooker murder Chang-hi, a Chinese man to steal the treasure map. Chang-hi grins at them when he gets murdered. They travel by canoe sailing towards the coral island. However, neither of them understands the intention behind it. The fearful surroundings of the forest and the final painful death of the characters create a kind of suspense among the readers. The poisonous thorns appear out to be the main cause of the death of the characters. All these things prove this story as a mystery story.

b. Treasure hunting is a favorable subject of children’s story. Remember a treasure hunting story you read in your childhood and compare and contrast it with ‘The Treasure in the Forest.’

I have read a treasure hunting story named “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Both “The Treasures in the Forest” and “Treasure Island” are almost similar.

In the story, treasure hunts began when Stevenson sketched an imaginary island complete with swamps, graves, and an X to mark the spot where the “Bulk of Treasure” was buried. From his sketch, Stevenson conceived the tale of young Jim Hawkins, who finds the map in a dead man’s chest and takes up the role of cabin boy in a search for pirate gold. At the end of the story, a significant part of the treasure is left on the island, and the way is left open for a number of sequels, though none by Stevenson himself. Treasure Island is packed with vivid characters, but it’s Long John Silver who steals the show as a murderous mutineer who nevertheless spares Jim’s life. In a metafictional companion piece, The Persons of the Tale, Stevenson has Silver and his arch-enemy Captain Smollett step out of the story between chapters to smoke a pipe and discuss the intentions of the Author, of whom Silver says: “I’m his favourite chara’ter … he likes doing me.”

My Old Home Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

My Old Home

Summary

Lu Xun’s “My Old Home” tells the story of one’s memories, from youth to old age, and the confrontation of the delusions created when memories challenge realities. With the protagonist, Lu Xun’s persona, being away from home for so many years, images of glamour, beauty, and respectability framed his childhood, diluting his memories. Upon arriving at his long-past home, his memories are forced to come to terms with the truth, thereby shattering his prior conceptions and understandings of the world.

“Ah! Surely this was not the old home I had remembered for the past twenty years?” the narrator declared as he stood in front of an old, broken-down home. Having been worn down by weather and inhabitants, alike, the house’s old, perceived, splendor was invisible to the eye, only to be seen in that of the mind. Rationalizing the discrepancy between memory and that standing before him, he tried to convince himself that his “home had always been like this, and although it had not improved, it was not so depressing as imagined; it was only his mood that had changed, because he was coming back to the country without illusions”. Despite his rationalization, it was clear that his memories had deceived him; having transformed his past home into a grand building it had never been, only to be torn down for re-evaluation along with his other assumed childhood memories that had been built into the magnificent illusions.

After recovering from the shock of seeing his old home, he was informed that his old friend, Jun-Tu, would be returning to town to visit him. Over thirty years had passed since the narrator had last seen his friend, Jun-Tu, and at first, memories were scarce. After pausing for a moment, “a strange picture suddenly flashed into his mind”. Stories, ripe from the passing of time, filled the narrator’s mind. He was full from the fleshy details he recalled, from the glory of his friend, Jun-Tu’s sea-side childhood. Oh, how he wished he could be Jun-Tu. His stories were like candy, appealing to a child and idealized in every way, shape, and form. The narrator could no long wait to reacquaint himself with Jun-Tu; he wanted to hear more of the sea-side glamour. Upon his long-awaited arrival, the narrator was flustered from anticipation. “Jun-Tu stood there, mixed joy and sadness showing on his face. His lips moved, but not a sound did he utter. Finally, assuming a respectful attitude, he said clearly: “Master! . . .” The narrator’s memories had deceived him once again. Had Jun-Tu not been his friend? Had they not played together and shared stories with one another? As a child, the narrator was unable to understand class differentiation. He remembered, due to his childhood naivety, that his time with Jun-Tu was that of a mutual friendship. This memory grew until it reached utopian standards. Their friendship had been perfect, he had believed.

The narrator’s childhood was shattered. His house was not as it had seemed. Jun-Tu had not even been his equal, living a glorified, sea-side life. Memories had deceived the narrator, blurring truth, ignoring class boundaries, forgetting the power money possessed. How such a divide could form between himself and Jun-Tu, memories and truth was unfathomable to the narrator. The true fickleness of one’s mind and one’s memories, of one’s past, became apparent. One cannot trust one’s recollections of the past. The mind changes the past, glorifies it, in order to glorify the individual. By seeing himself as Jun-Tu’s equal, the narrator was able to separate himself from the wrongs associated with class differences. His having to face the truth, having to face Jun-Tu, means having to face poverty within China. His memories had provided a means of protection, a way to detach himself from the inequalities Chinese society produced. Only by confronting his memories, by discovering the truth behind the memories, was he able to see the realities of China.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions

a. How does the narrator describe his feeling at the arrival of his old home?

At the arrival, the narrator perceives the mixed and blended emotions. He feels pleasure and happiness. In his childhood, his hometown was lovely where the green sky lies above. But now, he saw that everything had changed. The green sky changed into a vast and greying sky: they were gloomy, deserted, devoid of any deception of life. There is no sign of development in his hometown. The condition of his home was extremely bad. His childhood deceived him here and made him nostalgic.

b. What were the three kinds of servants in China then? What does it indicate about contemporary Chinese society?

There were three kinds of Chinese servants: dailies, yearlong and busy-mothers. First are day workers who work for the day or for some time only, sometimes known as short-timers. Yearlong are people who work for the same family all year or more. Finally, Busy-mothers were landowners who only worked for one family at a time, such as around New Year’s festivals, or when rent was due to pay.

The servant in contemporary Chinese society demonstrates the slavery system and the tendency of dividing the work. Based on their statuses, the work used to be allocated.

c. What makes the narrator nostalgic? What did he do with Runtu in his teenage years?

With the words of his mother to meet his childhood friend Runtu, the narrator becomes nostalgic. When he was a teenager, He and Runtu used to catch the bird with a trick and also kill the Zha by stabbing it. They went to collect shells—reds, blues, ghost-scarers. They also went out to look for badgers, porcupines.

d. How did Runtu hunt a Zha at a young age?

Runtu hunted a Zha by attacking with a pointed knife suddenly while he was standing to watch over watermelons at a young age.

e. How does the narrator make a humorous picture of Mrs Yang?

The narrator has described the image of Mrs Yang. He has associated Yang with the beancurd beauty. The narrator narrates the appearance of Yang with narrow cheekbones and lips. She used to powder her face. He portrays her as the face of two compasses in a geometry box when he sees her and expresses her as a humorous picture.

f. According to the narrator, what were different factors that made Runtu a poor man throughout his life?

The narrator exposes Runtu as a poor man throughout his life. There are many factors behind the poverty of Runtu. Different obligations and social division play the most important role behind his poverty. Alongside he suffered from a lack of opportunities. feeble economic background and discrimination he faced in his prime time is a reasonable factor. Besides it, the bad harvest, too many children, harsh taxes, famine and gentry folks are the other factors behind his poverty throughout his life.

g. How does the narrator help Runtu before leaving the old home?

The narrator helps Runtu before leaving the old home by offering different household items. Since they were leaving Runtu was financially poor, the narrator thought he could make his life a bit easier so he gave him two large tables, a few candles, an incense burner, and a set of scales.

h. How does the author differentiate two kinds of idols?

Superstitious idols and hope are two mentioned idols of the story. He distinguishes between these two types of idols in sense of time and belief, stating that people worship superstitious idols for the short term because they want something immediately, while hope is shown as the long term enduring empathy people need in most circumstances.

Reference to the context

a. While reading the friendship between the narrator and Runtu, Hindu readers remember the friendship between Krishna and Sudama. Which particular description reminds you of the mythological example?

The friendship between Xun and Runtu reminds the story of the friendship between Krishna and Sudama to the Hindu readers. The friendship between Krishna and sudama is described in the Mahabharata epic. The friendship doesn’t cost anything but a good heart is shown in the Mahabharata epic showing the true friendship between Krishna and sudama. Same as the old home story also resembles the moral and story of true friendship. There are many similarities between the friendship of Xun and Runtu to Krishna and sudama. The mythological examples include:

The story shows that xun is a rich person and Runtu as a poor man which resembles the Mahabharata where Krishna was the king and rich person whereas sudama was a poor brahmin. Xun’s friend Runtu is suffering from poverty, same as Krishna’s friend sudama.

Runtu is not even able to fulfil the basic needs of his family like sudama.

In the story, when Sudama meets Krishna he felt ashamed and shy thinking that he is very poor and in front of Krishna his standards are not even like servants. the same incident is narrated in this story too. Runtu is feeling shy and ashamed to meet Xun thinking that Xun is rich and happy.

Another similarity or the incident is when sudama meet Krishna, Krishna welcomes him very greatly and with love for him. Krishna helped Sudama by changing his hut to a palatial mansion where every facility was available to live a happy life. Similarly, xun also welcomes Runtu with a great heart and gives him household goods and helps him to make his life a little better.

By both stories, we get to learn that friendship is not about wealth, status, fame or anything. True friendship is often conducted with a good heart and respect for each other. Wealth never can desperate true friends. And we should help our friends with their needs.

b. How does the story support the proposition that the relationships of childhood are innocent, impartial and disinterested?

The story of ‘My Old Home’ supports the proposition that the relationships of childhood are innocent, impartial and disinterested by showing the friendship between Xun and Runtu. We all know that children are natural. They are innocent. They don’t know the meaning of life or death, love or hate, struggle or persistence, hatred or betrayal and other social boundaries. They don’t know what is rich and what is poor. Which is upper-class and which is lower-class. Children make friends in their childhood not for the seek of profit besides their friendship. The friendship in childhood is pure and never changed. they are helpful and willing to do the same in the future. The relationship built-in childhood never changes. But later different social boundaries and greed make them apart. When the desire is fulfilled most of the friendships become stories.

In the story, the friendship between Xun and Runtu is shown. xun is portrayed as rich and Runtu as a poor person. But the friendship between them is stronger as much when they were childhood friends. They used to play and enjoy themselves together. In the story, the friendship between them is shown as a great gesture when Runtu is suffering from poverty and needs help, Xun helps him by providing household goods such as a long table, incense burner to make his life a little easier. Therefore the helping nature of Xun and their pure friendship is an example of childhood relations that are innocent and impartial.

c. After reading the story, what inferences can you make about the contemporary Chinese economic and social system?

The story ‘My Old Home’ is a story based in the contemporary society of China which shows us the value of true friendships and gives a vision of ancient Chinese society. The narrator narrates the geographical features, types of classes and the value of friendship in this story. Two main characters Xun and Runtu are portrayed as poor and rich personalities to indicate the economical divergence in ancient society. After reading the story, many assumptions can be made about the contemporary Chinese economy and social systems.

The story shows the main occupation of people in ancient Chinese society is agriculture. Thus the economy and income of people associated with agricultural activities were low. They are making their basic life hard. they couldn’t even fill their family’s stomachs. Thus the poor economic condition of Chinese society is shown as a main agenda of the story.

Alongside, the story tells about the different social classes of people and servants. the main society was divided into two classes i.e. rich or upper class and poor or lower class. The tradition of being a servant was there as poor people also had to make a living. servants or people are classified as Yearlongs, short-timers, and busy mothers. If they worked for a whole year, they would be called year-longs, if they worked for a day or short time, they were short-timers, and people who own land or worked for a specific family just during holidays and when rents were collected, they would be called busy-mothers. people of one class weren’t allowed to make any relations with other or lower classes. This shows the redundant and narrow-minded society which has inhuman social boundaries and discrimination.

d. What does the story indicate about the geographical features of the narrator’s hometown?

The setup of the story ‘ My Old Home’ is in the winter season of 1921 in ancient China. The story includes the ancient Chinese society often called the contemporary society, its economic condition and social boundaries. The obligations put by ancient society is somehow unethical and inhuman. The story focuses on the true friendship of Xun and Runtu by justifying their respect and locality beside the obligation of making relations between a different class of people.

The story also speaks about climate change and destruction in the name of development. The narrator nostalgically narrates his hometown. In his childhood, his hometown was lovely and surrounded by greenery where the green sky lies above. The story especially focuses on the hometown of the narrator that was underneath the blue-black sky and land covered with green grasses and vegetables. The birds used to fly around his garden and house. He feels very good and warm when he comes home.

But now, when Xun went back to his old hometown after twenty years, everything was changed. The green sky he used to see and wonder was changed into the vast and greying sky where no imagination was possible to be made. they look like they already lost the resemblance of any life, they were drab and desolate. There is no sign of progress over the years.

He also talked about the seaside where he used to go to collect shells of different colours. He also described how he caught the bird, kill Zha underneath the blue-black sky.

Half-closed Eyes of Buddha Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

Half-Closed Eyes Of Buddha

Understanding the Text

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the tourist describe his initial impression of the Kathmandu valley?

The tourist describes his initial impression of the Kathmandu valley through the words of appreciation of natural sceneries, landscape, the fragrance of soil, and the clay-made homes painted in red, yellow, and white. He feels the air filled with the serenity of mountains and is fascinated by views of the valley.

b. According to the tourist, why is the West indebted to the East?

Tourists insist that the west is indebted to the east because the west has provided different civilizations through Puranas, brass- figures and ivory decorations. In addition, the manuscripts of palm leaves, copperplate inscriptions and ornaments of the west have a different value and this fascinates the west. The atmosphere, cultural and religious harmony is what the west is indebted to the east.

c. How does the tourist interpret the gaze of the monks and nuns?

The tourist interprets the gaze of the monks and nuns as ‘the samyak gaze’. They believe that the gaze of monks has a holy sight. They take it as an uncontaminated, free from all impurities and discriminations.

d. Why do the tourists think Nepali people are wonderful and exceptional?

The tourists think Nepal is wonderful and exceptional because of their co-existent lives and peaceful nature.

e. What are the different kinds of communities in the Kathmandu valley and how do they coexist with each other?

Aryans, non-Aryans, Hindus, and Buddhists are the various kinds of communities in the Kathmandu Valley. They co-exist with each other due to the effect of Nepali soil that allows them to grow together and live together in harmony and peace.

f. What does the tourist feel about the temple of Adinath?

When she saw the Adinath temple from Chobhar hill, she feels the living example of Nepalese tolerance. Nepal is stand out with the example of harmony because of coexistence and variety of gods, religions, and philosophies

g. Why does the guide take the tourist to the remote village?

The guide takes the tourist to the remote village to find the harsh reality of people living beyond the scenario. He wants to see her the poverty and sympathetic elements of the beautiful country which was never talking in any novels or books nor seen by other tourists and neither captured by their cameras.

h. What does the innocent village couple think of the doctor?

The innocent village couple accepts her as the eldest son who has brought a life-restoring treatment across the seven seas for his brother.

i. What are the differences between the paralyzed child and his sister?

The difference between the paralyzed child and his sister as mentioned in the story are:

Paralyzed child (boy) is very sick as his whole body is useless; he cannot speak, he can’t move his hands, he can’t chew his food, or even spit. His body is not in the situation of heeding commands from his brain. The thing that indicates himself alive is his eyes.

Meanwhile, his sister is quite fine as her whose body functions properly work. She crawls around, picking up everything she comes across and putting it into her mouth, knocking over the beer, overturning the cooking stone.

j. Why does the guide show the instances of poverty to the tourist?

The guide shows the instances of poverty to the tourist to make her feel how actually so-called bright faces are in reality. In the beginning, tourist only sees the bright aspect of the country i.e. various cultural and religious diversity, natural beauty and Himalayas, the gaze of monks and nuns. So, the guide shows him the pulse of reality to guide him through the instances of poverty and sympathetic way i.e. poverty and sympathetic aspect of the beautiful country in the farmer’s house.

Reference to the Context

a. Which narrative technique is used by the author to tell the story? How is this story different from other stories you have read?

The author uses the technique of ‘stream of consciousness technique’ in this story. This story is different from other stories I read ever now because of the appearance of double views on the story which shows the good and bad aspects. Unlike other many stories where the author writes only about the event of the story from one side but if you read this story, it deals with the monologues of two characters a tourist guide of Kathmandu valley and a foreign tourist. in other many conventional stories, I read ever follow the stream of awareness techniques where a narrator shows the action and events through fictional characters or other ways.

b. How is the author able to integrate two fragments of the narration into a unified whole?

The author is able to integrate two fragments of the narration into a unified whole by providing the insights and examples of different eyes, views, experiences and linking them to two different aspects. The author shows the reality of Nepalese(eastern) poverty and sympathetic aspect which the western not see from their eyes and doesn’t capture from their camera nor write in their books. They only see the upper beauty of the Himalayas and green forests. But they don’t understand and feel the inner reality of the eastern and their pain suffocated in the poverty and the life spent in lacking. The author shows the hardship, diseases that the people face in the community. The tourist only pictures the things of beauty But a guide makes her see the things of reality and sympathetic pain.

c. The author brings some historical and legendary references to the story. Collect these references and show their significance in the story.

In the story ‘The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun’, the author brings some historical and legendary references in the story. They are:

Manjushri and his deed: It is believed that Kathmandu was once a lake and Manjushri cut a gorge at a place called Chobhar Gorge, near Chobhar Ancient Hill Village, and drained away the waters to establish a habitable land and that’s where the Kathmandu valley was formed.

Cultural, tradition, and art crafts: it is mentioned in the story that easterner had given many things to Westerners; Puranas, images of brass and ornaments of ivory, manuscripts of palm leaves and inscriptions on copperplate and also civilization and many musical instruments. If we destroy all the history books then these are things which would again create a new tradition, religion, and culture and made us rich in culture, tradition, religion, and air crafts.

The gaze of monks and nuns: The story shows the gaze of monks and nuns who received alms and spread the law in the nooks and fissures of the Kasthamandap with ‘the samyak gaze’. This is a sight that perceives everything in its purest form.

Historical Relationship: The close relationship of Nepal and Tibet at the time of the licchavi dynasty is mentioned in the story.

Half closed eyes of buddha and setting sun reflected in the eyes of the Buddha: The Half closed eyes of buddha and the setting sun reflected in the eyes of the Buddha represents peacefulness and harmony in the country by which people feel the love and peace.

d. The author talks about the eyes in many places: the eyes of the shaven monks and nuns, eyes in the window and door panels, the eyes of the Himalayas, the eyes of the paralyzed boy, the eyes of the welcoming villagers and above all the half-closed eyes of the Buddha. Explain how all the instances of eyes contribute to the overall unity of the story.

Different eyes are mentioned in the story: the eyes of the shaven monks and nuns which is compared with eyes ‘samyak gaze’: a sight that senses everything in the purest form. The author mentions other many eyes in the story; eyes in the window and door panels, the eyes of the Himalayas, the eyes of the paralyzed boy, the eyes of the welcoming villagers, and above all the half-closed eyes of the Buddha. These all eyes represent Nepal as a country that is rich in culture, religion, tradition and diversity.

The half-closed eyes of Buddha represent Nepal as a peaceful country where people feel peace and warmth. The author connects all these eyes for the overall unity of the story through the connection of cultural, traditional, religious aspects which made Nepal rich. He insists that if all the history books were even burnt then also these eyes will create the old tradition of love and peace.

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the narrator describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the story?

The narrator set up the picture of a rainy day to describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the story. The rain falls continuously for three days and makes the land and houses filled with rainwater. During the rainy season, the sky and sea were changed into ash grey colour and the sand of the shore glimmered like powdered light, which had become a hash of mud and rotten shellfish. The light sparked was so weak and hard to see.

b. Describe the strange old man as Pelayo and his wife first encounter within their courtyard.

When Pelayo and his wife first encountered the strange old man, they noticed him dressed in the manner of a rag picker. He had a bald head and looked almost completely shaved. His mouth was almost empty with no sans teeth remaining. His large and dirty buzzard wings were half-plucked and entangled in mud.

c. Why did Pelayo and Elisenda imprison the old man in the chicken coop?

Pelayo and Elisenda imprisoned the old man in the chicken coop thinking that he is an angel and he was there to take their child.

d. Why was Father Gonzaga not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger?

Father Gonzaga Was not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because the old man didn’t know how to greet ministers and also didn’t understand the language of god. Father noticed this when he said good morning in Latin, he just murmured something in his dialect which father didn’t understand.

e. Many people gathered at Pelayo’s house to see the strange old man. Why do you think the crowd assembled to see him?

Many people gathered at Pelayo’s house to see the strange old man because he was unique and strange with his buzzard wings. People thought of him as an angel or messenger of god and thought of making some fun with him.

f. Some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. What are these miracles?

In the story, it is mentioned that some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. Those miracles were the blind man who couldn’t recover his eyes but grew three new teeth, the paralytic person who couldn’t walk but almost won the lottery and the leper whose shore flourished sunflowers.

g. State the irritating things that the people did with the strange old man.

The people gathered at Pelayo’s house also did some inhuman and teasing tasks with the strange old man. Such irritating things include throwing stones at the old man and burning his side with an iron rod. Which made him injured and he was not capable of moving. He laid there like a dead man for half an hour and woke up full of tears. People pulled his feathers too.

h. How and why was the woman changed into a spider?

The reason behind the changing of the woman into a spider is lightning. Without any permission, she went out to dance and when she was returning from the forest a massive lightning strike shattered the sky and a bolt of brimstone hit and converted her into a spider.

i. Describe how Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the houses?

Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the house from her windows while she was chopping vegetables in the kitchen. While doing so, she felt a breeze and moved to the window to check whether it is. She then saw the elderly guy was trying to fly and after a while, she saw that he succeeded to fly and vanished as quickly.

Reference to text

a. The arrival of a strange old man at Pelayo’s courtyard arouses many suspicions and explanations. Explain how the neighbour woman, Father Gonzaga and the doctor speak of the strange man. Why do you think these three people give three different kinds of interpretations?

The appearance of a strange old man at Pelayo’s courtyard produces many suspicions and explanations. According to the neighbour woman, he was an “angel” who came for their child, but the poor fellow is so old that the rain knocked him down. When Father said Good Morning in Latin, he muttered something in his dialect which father couldn’t understand.

Father Gonzaga was not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because he (old man) did not understand the language of God or know how to greet His ministers. He looked much too human, he had an intolerable smell of the outdoors, and the backside of his wings was sprinkled with parasites. There was nothing about him measured up to the proud dignity of angels. So Father told to the viewer that an old man who has wings wasn’t an angel. But the crowd didn’t pay attention to Father Gonzaga.

According to the doctor, the strange man couldn’t be alive for a long time. He found so much whistling in the heart and so many sounds in his kidneys. It seemed the body of an angel was complete as a human organism but he couldn’t understand why other men didn’t have them too.

In my opinion, these three people give three different kinds of variations to a strange old man because they are all involved in different types of activities and they all see the strange old man with their different views. An old woman believes in things like an angel, ghosts, etc. Father Gonzaga was a person who believed in god and interpreted everything with proof. And a doctor was a person who see the strange old man as his patient.

b. This story belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism, a genre perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his novels and short stories. Magical realism is a narrative technique in which the storyteller narrates the commonplace things with magical colour and the events look both magical and real at the same time. Collect five magic realist happenings from the story and argue why they seem magical to you.

The story ‘a very old man with enormous wings’ belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism’, a genre perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his novels. Following are the five magic realist happenings from the story:

At the beginning of the story Pelayo saw a very old man, lying face down in the mud in his garden who couldn’t get up in spite of his tremendous efforts which also had wings. The writer here uses Magical realism techniques through the word ‘enormous wings’ of an old man. This show that an old man belongs to another universe or world.

When Pelayo and Elisenda tried to talk with the strange old man, he answered in an unbelievable dialect with a strong voice. It shows the example of a magical link in the sense that he was from another mysterious world.

After seeing the old man, the old woman called him the “angel” who came for their child, but the old man is so old that the rain knocked him down. The word ‘angel’ itself justifies the magical link in the story.

The modification of the woman in spider for having disobeyed her parents by going out to dance without any permission to a spider. In his childhood, she had crept out of her parent’s house to go to a dance, and while she was coming back through the dark forest after having danced all night without permission, a massive thunderclap hit and through the crack came the lightning bolt of brimstone that changed her into a spider. This also links the story to magical realism techniques.

As shown by the story, the doctor failed to treat the old man. According to the doctor, the strange man couldn’t be alive for a long time. He found so much whistling in the heart and so many sounds in his kidneys. An old man became weak and sick. His feathers had fallen down. But quickly his feathers regrow again and fly in the sky. This also links the story to magical realism.

c. The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disobeyed her parents. This episode at once shifts people’s concentration from the strange old man to the spider woman. What do you think is the purpose of the author to bring this shift in the story?

The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disregarded her parents by going outside to dance without any permission. The scene of shifting a woman into a spider is somewhat breaking the attention of an old man, I think, the author brought this shift in the story is to show another example of magical realism. The intention of the author was to show us the greed of humans. In the beginning, Pelayo, and Elisenda take care of a strange old man when they benefit from him by charging five cents admission to see. But when a spider woman comes and people pay less attention to an angel, they do not care about him. Old man drags here and there. The house of an old man collapse due to rain and sun but they didn’t repair it.

d. The story deals with the common people’s gullibility. How do Pelayo and his wife take advantage of common people’s whim?

The story ‘A Very Old man with Enormous Wings’ deals with the common people’s gullibility. Pelayo and his wife saw an old man with wings in their garden. When they wanted to talk with him, he answered in an impenetrable dialect with a strong voice. They were unable to understand his language. So they called an old woman who was a witch. She called an old man an “angel” who come to take their child but he is so old that the rain knocked him down. Pelayo pulled him out of the mud and locked him up with the hens in the wire chicken coop. A short time afterwards the child woke up without a fever and with a desire to eat. They now felt like magic just happened. Then they felt generous and decided to put the old man on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three days and leave him to his fate on the high seas.

But when they get early in the morning and saw that, their courtyard was full of crowds and they were amazed by seeing that. The news of the angel spread like a fire. People didn’t even listen to Father Gonzaga’s voice that he was not an angel. Pelayo’s wife got an idea to charge five cents admission to see an angel. They gathered a lot of wealth from it and built a luxurious house for themselves.