1

QUESTION 12 (CONTEXTUAL QUESTION)

THE LUNCHEON
Read the following extracts from the short story and answer the set questions. The
number of marks allocated to each question serves as a guide to the expected
length of your answer.
NOTE: Answer the questions set on BOTH extracts, i.e. QUESTION 12.1 AND
QUESTION 12.2.
12.1

[The narrator meets a friend at a French restaurant.]

I answered that I would meet my friend by correspondence at
Fayots on Thursday at half-past twelve. She was not so young as I
expected and in appearance imposing rather than attractive. She
was in fact a woman of forty (a charming age, but not one that
excites a sudden and devastating passion at first sight), and she
gave me the impression of having more teeth, white and large and
even, than were necessary for any practical purpose. She was
talkative, but since she seemed inclined to talk about me I was
prepared to be an attentive listener.
I was startled when the bill of fare was brought, for the prices
were a great deal higher than I had anticipated. But she reassured
me.
I never eat anything for luncheon, she said .
Oh, dont say that! I answered generously.
I never eat more than one thing. I think people eat far too much
nowadays. A little fish, perhaps. I wonder if they have salmon.
Well, it was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the bill
of fare, but I asked the waiter if there was any. Yes, a beautiful
salmon had just come in, it was the first they had had. I ordered it
for my guest. The waiter asked her if she would have something
while it was being cooked.
No, she answered, I never eat more than one thing. Unless you
have a little caviare. I never mind caviare.
My heart sank a little. I knew I could not afford caviare, but I
could not very well tell her that. I told the waiter by all means to
bring caviare. For myself I chose the cheapest dish on the menu and
that was a mutton chop.
I think youre unwise to eat meat, she said. I dont know how
you can expect to work after eating heavy things like chops. I dont
believe in overloading my stomach.

12.1.
1

10

15

20

25

Refer to paragraph 1.
(a) Quote no more than TWO consecutive words from paragraph
1 to show that this story is written in the first person.
(b) Quote no more than FOUR consecutive words from the extract

(1)

2
to show that the narrator has never met the woman in person
before.

(1)

(c) Using your own words, briefly describe the narrators

emotions when he first meets the woman. State TWO points.

(2)

(d) In your view, why does he feel this way? State TWO points.
12.1.
2

Refer to lines 10 11: (I was startled she reassured me.)

What do you think the woman reassured the narrator about?

12.1.
3

(2)

(2)

Refer to line 12: (I never eat anything for luncheon).

Explain the irony in this line.

(2)

12.1.
4

From your knowledge of the story as a whole, discuss the womans

character.

(3)

12.1.
5

Refer to lines 23 24: (My heart sank to bring caviar.)

(a) What does the use of the word sank suggest about the
narrators feelings?

(1)

(b) Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Give a reason to

support your answer.
The narrator is not pleased with the womans actions, but
doesnt want to offend her.
12.1.
6

(2)

Refer to line 27: (I think youre unwise to eat meat).

Do you agree with the womans statement that the narrator is
unwise to eat meat? Give a reason to support your answer.
AND

(2)

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12.2

[The narrator is concerned that he will not be able to pay the bill.]
The asparagus appeared. They were enormous, succulent and
appetizing. The smell of the melted butter tickled my nostrils as the
nostrils of Jehovah were tickled by the burned offerings of the
virtuous Semites. I watched the abandoned woman thrust them
down her throat in large voluptuous mouthfuls and in my polite way I
discoursed on the condition of the drama in the Balkans. At last she
finished.
Coffee? I said.
Yes, just an ice-cream and coffee, she answered.
I was past caring now, so I ordered coffee for myself and an icecream and coffee for her.
You know, theres one thing I thoroughly believe in, she said, as
she ate the ice-cream. One should always get up from a meal
feeling one could eat a little more.
Are you still hungry? I asked faintly.
Oh, no, Im not hungry; you see, I dont eat luncheon. I have a
cup of coffee in the morning and then dinner, but I never eat more
than one thing for luncheon. I was speaking for you.
Oh, I see!
Then a terrible thing happened. While we were waiting for the
coffee, the head waiter, with an ingratiating smile on his false face,
came up to us bearing a large basket full of huge peaches. They had
the blush of an innocent girl; they had the rich tone of an Italian
landscape. But surely peaches were not in season then? Lord knew
what they cost. I knew too a little later, for my guest, going on with
her conversation, absent-mindedly took one.
You see, youve filled your stomach with a lot of meat my one
miserable little chop and you cant eat any more. But Ive just had
a snack and I shall enjoy a peach.
The bill came and when I paid it I found that I had only enough for
a quite inadequate tip. Her eyes rested for an instant on the three
francs I left for the waiter and I knew that she thought me mean. But
when I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before
me and not a penny in my pocket.
Follow my example, she said as we shook hands, and never
eat more than one thing for luncheon.
Ill do better than that, I retorted. Ill eat nothing for dinner
tonight.
Humorist! she cried gaily, jumping into a cab. Youre quite a
humorist!
But I have had my revenge at last. I do not believe that I am a
vindictive man, but when the immortal gods take a hand in the
matter it is pardonable to observe the result with complacency.
Today she weights twenty-one stone.

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

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12.2.
1

12.2.
2

Refer to lines 2 4: (The smell of the virtuous Semites.)

(a) Identify the figure of speech used here.

(1)

(b) Explain why the writer has used this figure of speech.

(2)

Refer to line 4: (I watched the abandoned woman).

Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence:
The narrator describes the woman as abandoned because
A
B
C
D

12.2.
3

she couldnt control her appetite.

she had been deserted.
she is an unmarried woman.
she was hungry.

(1)

Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Quote no more than

THREE CONSECUTIVE WORDS from paragraph 1 to support your
answer.
(2)

12.2.
4

The woman could be described as sophisticated.

Refer to line 9: (I was past caring now).
In your view, explain why the narrator feels this way.

12.2.
5

12.2.
6

Refer to line 19: (Then a terrible thing happened.)

(a) Describe the narrators emotion at this point in the story.

(1)

(b) Why does he express this emotion?

(1)

Refer to line 40: (But I have had my revenge at last).

Why does the narrator say he has gained revenge?

12.2.
7

(2)

Consider the story as a whole.

The narrator is solely responsible for the predicament he finds
himself in at the restaurant. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

12.2.
8

(2)

(3)

Refer to lines 40 41: (I do not believe that I am a vindictive man).

Do you think the narrator is a vindictive man? Discuss your view.

(2)
[35]

TOTAL SECTION C:

35

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QUESTION 12
12.1.
1

(a) I/ my/ me(1)

(b) by correspondence/ young as I expected (2)
(c) He was surprised/ shocked (1)
Disappointed (1)
Overwhelmed/ astounded (1)
Accept any TWO of the above.
(d) She was older than he had imagined/ expected. (1)
She was forceful/ powerful/ influential/ manipulative. (1)
She was not attractive./ he was not attracted to her. (1)
She was talkative. (1)
Accept any TWO of the above.

12.1.
2

She would not order expensive items. (1)

She would not order much (1)
ALLOW FOR THE CANDIDATES OWN INTERPRETATION.

12.1.
3

She says she never eats anything for luncheon, however, she
constantly order more/ the most expensive food. (2)
[2 or 0]
MUST SHOW IRONY!

12.1.
4

She is manipulative. She has the narrator under her control/ He is

unable to say no to her. She invites herself to luncheon with him.
She flatters him by speaking about him. (3)
OR
She is dishonest. She says one thing, but does the complete
opposite. She keeps ordering more food even though she says she
doesnt eat much. She has managed to create a false impression of
herself in her letters. (3)
OR
She speaks to him in a condescending manner. She tells him what to
eat and what not to eat. She despises him when he only has a small
tip for the waiter. (3)
OR
She is inconsiderate. She orders the most expensive items on the
menu and expects him to pay for everything. (3)
OR
She has the gift of the gab. (1 mark)

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12.1.
5

(a) He feels depressed/ unhappy/ disheartened (1)

(b) True (1)
He feels she is too talkative, but he tolerates her because she
is talking about him. (2)
OR
He is disturbed by the fact that she orders the most
expensive food, but he remains polite.(2)

12.1.
6

Open-ended. Accept a well-substantiated response, e.g.

Yes
He should eat healthily. Too much red meat has health risks/ could
cause heart disease. (2)
OR
No
He has only ordered a small portion. It was the cheapest item on the
menu. He could not afford to order anything more expensive. He
needed to economize in order to have enough money for the rest of
the month. (2)

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12.2.
1

(a) Simile (1)

(b) He is describing the delicious smell of the asparagus. He was
tempted to order some for himself. (2)

12.2.
2
12.2.
3

A/ She couldnt control her appetite. (1)

12.2.
4

He had already spent most of his salary, so he might as well spend

everything/ he might as well enjoy a cup of coffee. (2)

False (1)
abandoned woman thrust/ woman thrust them/ thrust them
down/ large voluptuous mouthfuls (1)

12.2.
5

(a) He was shocked , angry (1)

(b) He thought his terrible experience had ended, then his guest
had some more to eat. (1)

12.2.
6

Years ago she had spent his entire salary at the restaurant, now she
he fat/ obese (2)

12.2.
7

Open-ended. Accept a well-substantiated response, e.g.

No
The woman is manipulative. She invites herself to luncheon and
expects the narrator to pay the bill. She says she doesnt eat much,
but she orders the most expensive items on the menu. (3)
OR
Yes
He should not have allowed the woman to manipulate him. He
should have been honest with her/ told her he could not afford the
expensive meals.
(3)

12.2.
8

Open-ended. Accept a well-substantiated response, e.g.

No
He is polite at the restaurant. He tolerates her talkativeness. He
tolerates her expensive tastes. He spends his whole salary on her.
(2)
OR
Yes
He enjoys that fact that she is fat. He feels he has finally gained
revenge. He still remembers the experience after so many years.
(2)
TOTAL SECTION C: 35