HERMES ACADEMY

ENGLISH HON’S & PASS

M: 9612256900
Unit 1
The Fly
Q: Who was Mr. Woodifield?
A: A retired person who used to work in an elegant office.
Q: On which day he went to the office to meet with the Boss?
A: Tuesday.
Q: Mention the name of the newspaper in the text.
A: Financial Times.
Q: What are things that the Boss was boasting?
A: New Carpet, New Furniture, Electric Heating etc.
Q: Wherefrom the whisky was?
A: From the cellars at Windsor Castle.
Q: In which name Woodifield called the Boss?
A: D.
Q: What was Woodifield’s daughter’s name?
A: Gertrude.
Q: To which country Gertrude recently went?
A: Belgium.
Q: What was Mr. Woodifield’s cause of anger on the visit of Belgium by Gertrude?
A: As a Hotel charged Ten francs from her for a little pot of Jam.
Q: Why did Gertrude went to Belgium?
A: To visit Reggie’s grave there.
Q: What was the name of the office messenger?
A: Macey.
Q: The story of Mr. Woddifield reminded what to the Boss?
A: Of his own son who died in the war.
Q: What habit did the boy of the Boss have?
A: He had the habit of saying “simply splendid.”
Q: How many years ago did the son of the Boss die?
A: Six years ago.
Q: What is Windsor Castle?
A: One of the principal residences of the English Royal Family.
Q: What happened at the end of the story?
A: The fly episode.
Q: How did the fly die?
A: With the ink of the pen of the Boss.
Q: Who said ‘never say die?’
A: The Boss to the fly on his desk.
Q: Who is the protagonist of the story?

1|Page
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: The Boss.
Q: What abstract policy is the core of the story?
A: Destiny or the role of fate.
Q: What is the reaction of the Boss after the fly dies?
A: He cries for Macey to clear the table.
Q: What is the theme of the fly?
A: Grief and mourning are the primary themes in ''The Fly. '' Themes are topics or moods that
the text focuses on. It has been six years since his son's death, and the Boss manages to cope by
not thinking about it.
Q: What does the fly symbolize in the short story?
A: The fly in the story “The Fly” symbolizes helplessness of man before fate. Man may try hard
to escape his death, but he is not given a chance to escape. Just like the fly, man tries hard and
gets out of the grip of death for the time being, but fate again captures him.
Q: Who did woodifield visit in the fly?
A: In the short story "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield, an old man named Woodifield is visiting
a friend referred to only as the boss, who is five years older.
Q: Who was Mr Woodfield?
A: Having retired following a stroke, Woodifield is a trembling, forgetful, dim-eyed and
shrunken man who spends most of his days stuck in the house and being bossed around by his
wife and daughters. He admires how the boss, who is five years his senior, has somehow
maintained his youthful vigor despite his age.
Q: Who are the main characters of the story The Fly?
A: The main characters in "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield are "the boss" and old Mr.
Woodifield.
Q: What did Woodifield do on Tuesday?
A: On Tuesday he is dressed and combed and allowed to cut back the city, a commercial part of
London. However, Woodifield spends the day visiting his friends specially his former boss,
sitting in comfortable rooms, smoking cigar and if chance permits drinking though forbidden.
Q: How did the boss look like?
A: He is energetic and he is able to steer his office smoothly. He is a source of inspiration for
those who think themselves inactive due to old age. He is presented as a contrasted figure of old
Woodifield.
Q: Describe the office room of the boss.
A: There is a big green leathered armchair to sit for, the floor is covered with new red carpet with
a pattern of large white rings, a massive bookcase and a table with legs like twisted treacle.
Q: Why did Gertrude visit Belgium? How did she teach a lesson there?
A: She has visited Belgium to have a look to her brother’s grave and the grave of the boss’s son
also.

2|P a ge
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Mr. Woodifield likes to inform the boss about the hotel keepers who trade on our emotions and
also of her daughter Gertrude who teaches the hotel keepers a lesson by taking away the pot of
jam for which they charge ten francs.
Q: ‘The Girls are delighted……….place is kept.’ —Whose girls are referred here? Which
place is suggested and how is it kept?
A: The girls of the old Woodifield are referred here.
The place is the cemetery in Belgium where the graves of many soldiers who fell in the world
war- I are kept. The graves are beautifully kept. The flowers grow on all the graves and miles of
nice broad paths within the area. The whole place looks like as neat and clean as a garden.
Q: ‘And that promise……fulfilled’ What is the promise? How is it going so near to fulfill?
A: The promise is the boss’s hope that his son will carry out his business where he would leave
off.
Boss found that his hope was so near to be fulfilled as the boy was going very well with his
works. But then came the war which had snatched away such a promising boy. All the hope of
the boss was nipped in the bud.
Q: Discuss in brief how Mr. Woodifield and the Boss in Mansfield’s short story ‘The Fly’
differ in their reaction to the death of their sons? 5+5
A: The elderly Mr. Woodifield visits his former employer, the boss, every Tuesday in London
for company. Having retired following a stroke, Woodifield is a trembling, forgetful, dim-eyed
and shrunken man who spends most of his days stuck in the house and being bossed around by
his wife and daughters. He admires how the boss, who is five years his senior, has somehow
maintained his youthful vigor despite his age. The boss gains great satisfaction from
Woodifield’s weekly visit, as his unreliable memory means the boss can regularly boast of his
new office furnishings. However, on this occasion, Woodifield’s unexpected declaration that his
daughters were recently in Belgium to visit his son Reggie’s grave unsettles the boss.
Woodifield’s ramblings trigger internal conflict for the boss, as Woodifield’s reference to the
boss’s son’s own well-kept grave forces the boss to grapple with the painful repercussions of the
war six years later.
The unnamed protagonist referred to exclusively as “the boss” is a successful London
businessman and the former employer of Mr. Woodifield. The boss initially appears to be a man
of action who has aged well, retaining a youthful countenance. He commands respect from all
those around him, including Woodifield and the boss’s loyal clerk, Macey. As the story unfolds,
it is clear that the boss lost his son six years ago in World War I. Woodifield’s reference to each
of their son’s graves unnerves the boss, as he is deeply affected by the memory of his beloved
boy. After Woodifield’s departure from the office, the boss reflects on his crushing loss but
strangely finds himself unable to cry, even though the mere thought of his son would make him
weep in years past. He quickly grows distracted by a fly floating in his ink pot and decides to
torture it repeatedly until it dies, all the while barking at it to “look sharp” and be resilient. At the
story’s conclusion, the boss suddenly transforms into a nervous and forgetful character who
echoes Woodifield’s frailties.
3|P age
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Q: What is the central theme of the story The Fly? What is the significance of the Fly
Episode? 4+6
A: To speak about the central theme of the poem some interpret the short story as a vivid
representation of the cynical philosophy uttered by Gloucester in Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’: “As
flies to wanton boys, are we to gods / They kill us for their sport. On the other hand, some
explain it as an opposite and find this text as a message of poetic justice, that man gets what he
deserves. The incessant effect of time on human mind also works as a sub-theme of the story. It
is also associated with the irony that man does not know himself till it is too late. Ignorance of
self-knowledge inevitably keeps one blind to the true meaning of life, and the way life and death
are closely associated. Forgetfulness also works as a theme here. The weakness of Woodifield’s
memory is accounted for his physical weakness and age. To differentiate between two chief
characters – the theme of forgetfulness, in case of Woodifield it was a rather natural amnesia;
and in the case of Boss, it is an incurable Alzheimer.
The fly episode has made this story so interesting. This episode is the foundation on which the
superstructure of the story has been raised. The story is rightly named after the fly whose grim
struggle for life and death constitute the episode. It helps to depict the character of the Boss. The
episode is an eloquent commentary on Katherine Mansfield’s philosophy of life. It hints at the
mystery of human life and gives a special dignity to the short story.The fly episode expresses the
authoress’s tragic view of life. Her ill health, her unhappy conjugal life, the death of her brother
in the battlefield, the grief of her father caused by the untimely death of her brother-all those
made Katherine Mansfield adopt a gloomy view of life. With the help of the fly episode the
writer has created a tragic world. In this world man is helpless like a fly. Man struggles like the
fly when he is placed in adverse circumstances.
Q: Why is Mr. Woodifield not allowed to go out except on Tuesday? What is the name of
Woodifield’s daughter? Why does she visit Belgium? Relate what Mr. Woodifiled tells the
Boss about the visit? 2+1+1+6
A: After Mr. Woodifield suffered a stroke and physically became ill and weak, he was not
allowed to go out except on Tuesday. On the other days, he remained ‘boxed up’ by his wife and
daughter.
Gertrude.
She went to Belgium to see Reggie’s grave.
On the as usual meeting of Tuesday between the Boss and Mr. Woodifield, and being boozed up,
the latter came to his usual form of behavior and being torn by conscious memory, he started
narrating the event of his daughter and wife’s visit to Belgium recently to see Reggie’s grave. He
started with the fact that both the girls were happy to see their intended place of visiting as tidy.
The proper maintenance of the grave made both of them according to him. He even dragged the
comparison that such thing was not possible at home even. He was not minded of the fact that
whether his listener is properly listening to him or not but he kept on speaking having his own
mood. He said later on the place is huge and it is almost like a garden - “Flowers growing on all
the graves. Nice broad paths.” But Mr. Woodifield was not happy with the hotel affair due to
4|P age
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
higher rate chart, where his wife and daughter stayed. He was sounding angry and frustrated.
“D’you know what the hotel made the girls pay for a pot of jam?... Ten Francs, Robbery, I call
it.” He further continued what Gertrude did in that situation. Then without giving any second
thought to situation that developed there Mr. Woodifield left for his home.
Q: Trace the symbolism in the short story The Fly.
A: The titular fly, struggling for survival before succumbing to death at the boss’s hand, is a
symbol that offers multiple interpretations. The fly’s victimization, the boss renders it helpless
by repeatedly submerging the fly in ink on his blotting papersuggests the sadism and brutality of
warfare. Mansfield’s personification of the fly with its “little front legs” “waving” in a “cry for
help” represents the tragedy of Britain’s sacrifice to the horrors of World War I. The fly’s
struggle for survival can be read as a symbol of the boss’s son and Woodifield’s son Reggie, who
were both killed in World War I and now lie buried in Belgium. The fly’s symbolic ambiguity
also opens up interpretations of the boss and Woodifield “drowning” in grief and incompetence
following their sons’ deaths. The boss’s “grinding feeling of wretchedness” after he kills the fly
perhaps signifies an older generation’s guilt at sending their sons to war; senior authorities
committed Britain’s youth to battle using ink penned on documents, while similarly the boss uses
ink to drown the fly. Mansfield furthermore depicts Woodifield as vulnerable stroke survivor
who is dominated by his well-intentioned family—they control his daily movements in a similar
manner to the boss’s control over the fly. At a broader societal level, the fly’s suffering and death
can also symbolize the human condition, as all creatures must grapple with mortality. In
particular, the boss, Woodifield and the boss’s clerk, Macey, are all aging men who are
approaching the ends of their lives. At the time of writing “The Fly,” Mansfield was nearing
death herself, suffering terribly from tuberculosis and fighting for life like the fly doused in ink.
Q: Trace the significance of the title of the short story The Fly.
A: The story speaks in the concise format of a fly. Katherine Mansfield’s “The Fly” is a very
brief and interesting short story. The fly episode has made this story so interesting. This episode
is the foundation on which the superstructure of the story has been raised. The story is rightly
named after the fly whose grim struggle for life and death constitute the episode. It helps to
depict the character of the Boss. The episode is an eloquent commentary on Katherine
Mansfield’s philosophy of life. It hints at the mystery of human life and gives a special dignity to
the short story.After a brief conversation with the Boss Mr. Woodifield left the office. He made
some remarks on the grave of the Boss’s son in Belgium as seen by his daughters along with the
grave of his son Reggie near it. He made the remarks casually. But the Boss was reminded of the
pathetic death of his son in the First World War. After the departure of Mr. Woodifield the Boss
make preparation for weeping. Just at that time he saw a fly trying desperately to come out of an
ink pot into which it had fallen. The Boss helped the little creature to come out of the ink pot.
When the fly regained its strength to move, the Boss had an idea. He plunged his pen into the ink
and put a drop of ink on the body of the fly. The fly struggled hard to clean its wing and
survived. In a playful mood the boss shook another drop of ink on the body of the poor creature.
The fly struggled again to clean its wings, and he wanted to breath into its body to help the ink to
5|Page
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
dry. When the fly was struggling for survival, the Boss had the last blot fall on it. Then the poor
creature died. After the death of the fly an unknown fear seized him.The fly episode expresses
the authoress’s tragic view of life. Her ill health, her unhappy conjugal life, the death of her
brother in the battlefield, the grief of her father caused by the untimely death of her brother-all
those made Katherine Mansfield adopt a gloomy view of life. With the help of the fly episode the
writer has created a tragic world. In this world man is helpless like a fly. Man struggles like the
fly when he is placed in adverse circumstances. He tries his level best to come out victorious but
to no effect. Whatever is decreed will befall him. From this point of view the title is a significant
one.

6|P age
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
The Rocking Horse Winner
Q: When did it first publish and where?
A: The story was first published in 1926 in the anthology called ‘The Ghost Book.’
Q: What phrase haunted the house?
A: “There must be more money! There must be more money!”
Q: Who is the protagonist of the story?
A: Paul.
Q: What was Paul’s mother’s notion about money?
A: According to her it was better to be born lucky than rich.
Q: What was the name of the uncle?
A: Oscar Cresswell.
Q: How did Paul earned money?
A: By betting in race.
Q: What did the boy want fiercely?
A: Luck that would fetch money.
Q: Which horse came first in their first bet?
A: Daffodil came first. The second one was Lancelot and Mirza was the name of the third horse.
Q: What was the secret of Paul?
A: His wooden horse.
Q: Who used to take care of the children?
A: Miss Wilmot.
Q: Who removed the wooden horse of Paul?
A: Paul’s mother. She thought Paul was big enough and he doesn’t need that anymore.
Q: What was the name of the horse that Paul was taking name in the last hours of night?
A: Malabar.
Q: What happened to the boy?
A: He died at night.
Q: How much amount he earned in total?
A: Eighty Thousand Pounds.
Q: What do you mean by ‘bonny’?
A: Pleasant looking.
Q: What is a jockey?
A: One who rides a horse during the race or associated with horse riding.
Q: What genre the story touches upon?
A: Magic Realism.
Q: What troubled the woman?
A: She always felt the centre of her heart went hard when her children were present, that caused
her trouble.

7|P a ge
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Q: What was the birthday present of Paul to her mother?
A: The birthday present of Paul to her mother was thousand pounds for five successive years.
Q: How the failure affected the woman?
A: The woman tried a variety of things but was unable to discover anything worthwhile. She
racked her wits even more, and her failure left deep lines on her cheeks.
Q: What was the haunted phrase and who heard it?
A: An unsaid word began to plague the house: “There must be more money!” I'm sure there's
more money!” Nobody stated it out loud, but the kids could hear it all the time.
Q: What did Paul do with the rocking horse?
A: Paul sat on his large rocking horse, became enraged, and careered the horse erratically. He
climbed down and stood in front of his rocking horse as he reached the conclusion of his short
insane adventure.
Q: Why the uncle felt delighted?
A: The uncle felt delighted to find that his small nephew was posted with all the racing news and
events that were happening and was also accustomed about the names and details of the horses.
Q: What was Paul’s secret of secrets?
A: Paul’s secret of secrets was his unnamed wooden horse. He had his horse taken from his own
bedroom and placed at the top of the house when he was freed from his duties as a nurse and
nursery governess.
Q: What were the gifts of Christmas?
A: On the occasion of Christmas, the house was full of expensive and splendid toys which filled
the entire nursery. The gifts were a gleaming contemporary rocking horse smart doll house, a
large pink doll who sat in her new pram, and an exceptionally stupid dog who replaced a teddy
bear.
Q: How uncle managed five thousand pounds without letting Paul’s mother know about it?
A: Uncle promised Paul that he would handle it without his mother's knowledge, and he did it
without difficulty. Uncle deposited the five thousand pounds with the family lawyer, who was
then to notify Paul's mother that a relative had placed five thousand pounds in his hands.
Q: What made Paul frightened terribly?
A: The house was already haunted by the phrases that were heard by all the children. The voices
in the house suddenly went like mad, it became like a chorus of frogs on a spring evening. The
voices in the house were behind the spray of mimosa and almond-blossoms, and from under the
piles of iridescent cushions, trilled and screamed in sort of ecstasy. This frightened Paul terribly.
Q: What happened two nights before the Derby?
A: Paul's mother went to a huge party in town two nights before the Derby. One of her panic
attacks was concerning her son, her firstborn, which grabbed her heart and made her unable to
speak. She battled the sensation since she was a firm believer in logic. But that was too much for
her, so she left the dance and walked downstairs to contact her son on the phone.
Q: Why was Paul tensed and what made his mother tense more?

8|Page
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: The Derby was approaching, and the boy was becoming increasingly apprehensive. He didn't
hear a word that was spoken to him. He looked thin, and his eyes had an eerie quality to them.
His mother was also experiencing weird discomfort about him.She would feel a certain anxiety
about him that was almost anguish and wanted to rush to him at once to know about his safety.
Q: Why does Paul take to betting? Who were his betting partners? What is the symbolic
function of the rocking horse in the story? 3+2+5
A: Paul’s house has always been surrounded by an unseen voice – “There must be more money!
There must be more money.” Even the children, particularly Paul was keenly aware of it. And in
order to fetch more money, he took to betting.
Paul was engaged in the game of betting with Uncle Oscar and Basset.
The story Rocking Horse Winner is a story which speaks about reality of modern times in the
veil of symbolism. One of the prime symbols in this story is the rocking horse. Symbolism is that
literary device which helps the reader to trace the non-mentioned through the mentioned by some
sort of metonymic or synecdochic connection. He the horse symbolizes the urge of acute
materialism. The rise of modernity gave birth to materialism like anything and that is evident in
this story, written in the first decade of 21st century. This rocking horse is a costly thing in the
family and well cherished by many which essentially suggests the reader that here in Master
Paul’s family being materialistically rich is very evident throughout all the seasons of year.
Paul's mother's priority is filling her house with expensive items so that she can appear better
than her neighbors. This rocking horse also symbolizes ‘secret within a secret’ formula of human
nature and when that is revealed in front of ‘other’ then it becomes very difficult to carry forward
with. From many perspectives the story and its characters are woven by the web created by this
rocking horse of Master Paul.
Q: Why is Paul’s mother stuck by an anxiety about her son to nice before Derby? What
does she find on returning home? 3 + 1
A: Though from the outset of the story, we find Paul’s mother as a lady after materialistic
richness. However, before the race of Derby we find her worried about her son. She explains to
her son that she is worried about gambling. She also told that her family has always been into the
business of gambling and that had never helped her family in a long run. She is stuck by the fear
that her son might also get trapped there permanently.
On her returning home she found her son riding his wooden rocking horse and thereafter he cries
– ‘It’s Malabar!’
Q: What is the unspoken phrase that haunts the house of master Paul in the story? How
does it affect the lives of the characters in the story? 2+8
A: “There must be more money! There must be more money.” This is the unspoken phrase that
has surrounded Master Paul’s house every time. And as a matter of fact, this phrase gives rise to
the conflict of the story.
The story tells the tale of many things at one point of time. From greed and materialism to luck
and many – dissolving issues of modern families are all present here. Paul's mother's greed fills
the house with anxious whisperings rather than love. Instead of giving her children the love and
9|P age
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
attention they crave, she buys them expensive toys. She fills the house with luxuries the family
can't afford in an attempt to appear as wealthy as the neighbors. When she receives a gift of
birthday money, secretly given to her by Paul, she buys more fancy things instead of paying off
debts. Instead of quieting the house, it screams more loudly for money. It appears that Paul's
mother's greed is never-ending. When she receives more money, she spends it all on expensive
things, which leads her to desire more money.Paul, in his own way, is greedy, too. He is greedy
for luck to make his mother happy. At the end of the story, we come across that the delusive call
of ‘more and more’ has casted a spell over the family and costed much more. The seed of
happiness that the family sought to be solved by materialistic growth, eventually eroded their
true happiness. The race for more money however turned to be a race of misery and gloom.
Mother lost her son; cousins lost their brother and many more losses counted only because of the
presence of the unspoken phrase - “There must be more money! There must be more money.”

10 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
The Gift of the Magi
Q: Who are the magi? Why Jim and Della are called the wisest among men?
A: The Magi were the three wise men who travelled from East to Jerusalem. They were guided
by a star to see the infant Jesus. They carried precious gifts for Jesus.
Jim and Della are called the wisest among men because they have sacrificed the most valuable
thing of their life for their respective beloved.
Q: How did Della save the money to buy Christmas gifts?
A: Della saved the money gradually. She saved one or two pennies at a time or two. She
bargained with the vegetable seller or the butcher for a discount. This is how she saved the
money to buy a Christmas gift for her husband Jim.
Q: Why did Della started crying after counting her money? Why did she count her money
thrice?
A: After counting the money, Della cried because she knew with one dollar and eighty seven
cents she cannot buy any Christmas present for Jim.
Della counted the money for three times to make sure that her savings were too small to buy a
Christmas gift for Jim. However, she has managed to save one dollar and eighty-seven cents
only.
Q: What are the two possessions of the Dillinghams? How did they regard them?
A: There were two possessions of the Dillinghams, one was the gold watch of Jim and the other
was Della’s hair.
Both Jim and Della took mighty pride on their prime possessions.
Q: Are Jim and Della really foolish? Explain. What is the full name of Jim?
A: Jim and Della loved each other a lot and that is why they were ready to sacrifice their prime
possessions, so they cannot be called as really foolish.
The full name of Jim was James Dillingham Young.
Q: What is a pier glass? How would Della see herself in it?
A: A pier glass is a large mirror that was often placed between two windows in a room.
Della used to see herself in that pier glass by agilely moving so that she develops the full image
of herself in the narrow mirror. Being slender, Della has mastered the art.
Q: Who is Jim? How much does he earn?
A: Jim was the loving husband of Della.
He earns 20 dollars a week.
Q: How much money did Della get for her hair?
A: Twenty Dollar.
Q: What did Della buy for Jim?
A: A platinum fob chain for Jim’s gold watch.
Q: What did Jim buy for Della?
A: A fantastic comb for Della’s beautiful hair,
Q: Write a note on the appropriateness of the title of the Short story 'The Gift of Magi'.

11 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: The story centers on a young couple of Della and Jim who are poor but hardworking and their
existence is full of struggle but they manage to experience joy through the power of their love for
each other. They were planned to make the Christmas evening a special one with a wonderful
gift for each other. Jim and Della had to sell-off their precious possessions to buy gifts for each
other on Christmas Della in order to a fine, rare, and sterling gift for Jim sold her long and
beautiful hair. Finally, she bought a platinum fob chain, simple and chaste in design, for Jim's
gold watch. On the other hand, Jim sold his precious gold watch to buy an expensive
tortoiseshell comb for Della's beautiful hair. But the gifts of Della and Jim are unique and wise in
the sense that they reveal the true essence of gift-giving on Christmas i.e. selflessness a desire to
add the happiness of the one who receives the gift and the spirit of sacrifice. Through O' Henry
terms the couple as 'the foolish children' he points out clearly that they value the human
relationship and their mutual love and generosity make them the 'Magi'. Love, generosity and the
various definitions of wealth and poverty are central themes of in this story. In this story, a poor,
loving husband and wife sell the only valuable things they own to give each other special
Christmas gifts. Although, these gifts might seem useless in one sense, but the narrator points out
that the young couple possess a greater gift that is the gift of love. Very often O Henry’s
characters are taken as types not as unique individuals. However, the story tells that the bonds of
love strengthen when both the lovers are ready to sacrifice their best for the sake of love.
Considering all the elements in this short story, it can be said that it is the gift of both the
characters that make them great and worth following. The title here seems in perfect synchrony
and justified.
Q: Discuss the central theme of the short story The Gift of the Magi.
A: The story centers on a young couple of Della and Jim who are poor but hardworking and their
existence is full of struggle but they manage to experience joy through the power of their love for
each other. They were planned to make the Christmas evening a special one with a wonderful
gift for each other. Jim and Della had to sell-off their precious possessions to buy gifts for each
other on Christmas Della in order to a fine, rare, and sterling gift for Jim sold her long and
beautiful hair. Finally, she bought a platinum fob chain, simple and chaste in design, for Jim's
gold watch. On the other hand, Jim sold his precious gold watch to buy an expensive
tortoiseshell comb for Della's beautiful hair. But the gifts of Della and Jim are unique and wise in
the sense that they reveal the true essence of gift-giving on Christmas i.e. selflessness a desire to
add the happiness of the one who receives the gift and the spirit of sacrifice. Through O' Henry
terms the couple as 'the foolish children' he points out clearly that they value the human
relationship and their mutual love and generosity make them the 'Magi'. Love, generosity and the
various definitions of wealth and poverty are central themes of in this story. In this story, a poor,
loving husband and wife sell the only valuable things they own to give each other special
Christmas gifts. Although, these gifts might seem useless in one sense, but the narrator points out
that the young couple possess a greater gift that is the gift of love. Very often O Henry’s
characters are taken as types not as unique individuals. However, the story tells that the bonds of
love strengthen when both the lovers are ready to sacrifice their best for the sake of love.
12 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Q: Analyze the situational irony and the surprise ending of The Gift of the Magi.
A: The story centers on a young couple of Della and Jim who are poor but hardworking and their
existence is full of struggle but they manage to experience joy through the power of their love for
each other. They were planned to make the Christmas evening a special one with a wonderful
gift for each other. Jim and Della had to sell-off their precious possessions to buy gifts for each
other on Christmas Della in order to a fine, rare, and sterling gift for Jim sold her long and
beautiful hair. Finally, she bought a platinum fob chain, simple and chaste in design, for Jim's
gold watch. On the other hand, Jim sold his precious gold watch to buy an expensive
tortoiseshell comb for Della's beautiful hair. In 'The Gift of Magi' the author O' Henry uses the
comic irony with a view to emphasizing the moral of the story Jim and Della, two key characters
of the story, had to sell off their precious possessions to buy gift for each other on Christmas
Della in order to a fine, rare and sterling gift for Jim sold her long and beautiful hair. Finally, she
bought a platinum fob chain, simple and chaste in design, for Jim's gold watch. On the other
hand, Jim sold his precious gold watch to buy an expensive tortoiseshell comb for Della's
beautiful hair. The ironic twist in the story is that both Della and Jim sold off the very treasures
each possessed for which the gifts were meant. A faint smile spread across the lips of the reader
with this ironic twist in the plot. but this irony makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson
that the selflessness a desire to add the happiness of the one who receives the gift and the spirit
of sacrifice are the essence of gift-giving on Christmas.

13 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
The Diamond Necklace
Q: How did the Loisels react when they realised that the necklace had been lost?
A: Matilda Loisel became very sad when they realised that the necklace had been lost. They
were sure that the loss of necklace would make their life hell because Mr Loisel was only a petty
clerk and it was very difficult for him to replace necklace of diamond.
Q: Why did Matilda not like to visit her rich friend?
A: Matilda had inferiority complex. Whenever she visited her rich friend she felt dejected and
disappointed because of her poverty. She used to compare her lodgings to that of her friend’s.
She did not have attractive dress and jewellery to adorn herself with. That is why, she did not
like to visit her rich friend.
Q: Why is Matilda unhappy with her life?
A: Matilda is unhappy with her life because she ceaselessly, felt herself born for all delicacies
and luxuries. The shabby walls, the worn chairs in her house tortured and angered her.
Q: What had Matilda’s husband saved the money for? Why did he then part with his
savings?
A: Matilda’s husband had saved a good amount of money to buy a gun for him. But when his
wife refused to attend the party without a new dress, he had to give up buying the gun. He used
the saved four hundred francs to buy her costume.
Q: What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?
A: Matilda’s aspiration and unrealistic dreams were the cause of her ruin. She paid due
importance to materialistic things. She could have easily avoided if she had remained within her
means. She was not a practical lady and had not understood her husband’s feelings.
Q: What did Mme. Forestier tell Matilda about the reality of her Necklace?
A: After having lost the borrowed necklace, Matilda replaced it with a diamond necklace bought
for thirty-six thousand francs. But Mme Forestier told her that her necklace was false costing
about 500 francs.
Q: What changes came into the life of Loisels after the necklace was lost?
A: They had to shift to a cheaper room and dismiss the servant. She did all the household works
and shopping by herself. She fetched water, washed the floor, utensils and dirty clothes by
herself. Matilda’s husband worked in the evening and late at night to pay back the debt.
Q: Why was Mme Forestier shocked to hear Matilda’s story?
A: One Sunday, while walking, Matilda happened to see Mme Forestier. Matilda called her, but
she could not recognise Matilda because she looked much older than her age. Mme Forestier was
shocked to know that Matilda had suffered so much worrying about losing her necklace of real
diamonds, whereas it was false.
Q: What kind of a person is Mme Loisel? why is she always unhappy?
A: Mme. Loisel is a woman who lives in the world of dreams. She gives much value to her
dreams and hence overlooks the realities of life. That is why she is always unhappy as dreams
are a virtual reality and can’t be true.

14 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Q: What kind of a person is her husband?
A: Her husband is a very simple and kind-hearted person. He is an ordinary man, who just like
others, is caring and wants his wife to be happy.
Q: How do they replace the Necklace?
A: They decided to replace the necklace. They bought a new one for thirty-six thousand francs.
Mr Loisel had eighteen thousand francs which his father left him. He borrowed the rest on a very
high rate of interest.
Q: What, was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?
A: The cause of Matilda’s ruin was her dissatisfaction with whatever life offered her. She was
always unhappy. She felt that she was born for all the delicacies and luxuries of life. She disliked
being in her current circumstances. She could have avoided this ruin by bringing content with
whatever she had.
Q: Why was Matilda married to a clerk?
A: Matilda belonged to a family of clerks. Her parents were not rich. They did not have a big
dowry for Matilda. She had no means to be married to a rich and famous man. So she was
married to Loisel who was a clerk.
Q: Why was her husband saving money?
A: Her husband was fond of shooting birds. He wanted to take part in shooting larks next
summer. Some of his friends were also going for shooting. So he was saving money. He wanted
to purchase a gun with that money.
Q: What did her husband bring home one evening? Why was he so elated?
A: One evening, her husband brought home an invitation card. They were invited to a party at
the residence of the Minister of Public Instruction. He was so elated because he thought that it
would make his wife happy.
Q: What were the reasons for Matilda’s unhappiness?
A: Matilda was a pretty young lady but belonged to a poor family. She was married to a petty
clerk. Her poverty and lack of recognition made her angry and unhappy.
Q: Who is Madame Loisel in the short story the Diamond Necklace? Who was she married
with? Why was she sad? Make a critical estimate of the character of Madame Loisel that
you find in the story? 1+1+3+5
A: Madame Loisel is the protagonist of the short story The Diamond Necklace written by Guy de
Maupassant.
She was married to Monsieur Loisel who was a little clerk in the Ministry of Education.
She was sad because, when the invitation came to attend a party at Ministry of Education she
was thinking what she will wear to attend that evening where rich and respected people will
arrive. She was also very sad because of their poverty. Her best friend was rich but Madame
Loisel was poor.
Three character traits that Madame Loisel possesses that are easily apparent when reading the
short story "The Necklace" is she is ungrateful, selfish, and greedy. No matter what her poor,
loving husband does for her to satisfy her and make her happy, it just is never enough and she
15 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
always wants more. He sees that she is dissatisfied with lot in life. She has no fancy jewelry to
match the fancy dress. Therefore, she borrows a necklace from her wealthy friend Madame
Forestier. She's never grateful for what she has. She's always thinking about what she doesn't
have.
Q: Where from did Madame Loisel get the Diamond Necklace to attend the party? How
much debt the diamond Necklace caused? What was the only thing Madame Loisel love?
What was there in the envelope Monsieur husband brought home? Write a short note on
what happens after Madame Loisel loses the necklace? 1+1+1+1+6
A: Madame Loisel got the diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier.
The diamond necklace caused them the debt of thirty six thousand francs.
Madame Loisel loved the diamond necklace of her best friend Madame Forestier.
A: There was an invitation letter to attend a party on Monday evening of January 18 th at the
Ministry of Education in the envelope brought home by Monsieur Husband.
After the party, both Mr. and Mrs. Loisel tarrived home in the early hours of the morning, she
realized the necklace was missing. They searched for it everywhere in the house. They wondered
if it fell in the cab that brought them home but neither of them noticed the number. Matilda’s
husband went out to search the streets but returned empty-handed. In the meantime, they found a
similar kind of necklace. The cost of the necklace was thirty-six thousand francs. Her husband
inherited eighteen thousand francs from his father and he borrowed the rest of the amount from
the moneylenders. Finally, they purchased the necklace and Matilda gave it to Jeanne who did
not care to look at it. Matilda’s life changed dramatically in the next ten years. Jeanne was
shocked to hear the entire story behind the necklace and she confessed that the necklace Matilda
borrowed was a fake, which was not more than worth five hundred francs.

16 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Unit 2
Seaside
Q: Who has written Seaside? Wherefrom the essay Seaside has been taken?
A: Seaside is a personal essay written by Robert Lynd. The essay has been taken from the book
called The Peal of the Bells.
Q: How and where do men, women and children move and why?
A: Men, women and children move in a sea beach like insects and they are doing so because they
are busy with doing something or the other.
Q: Who are flying kites and why?
A: The little boys and elderly men are flying kites in order to pass their time in a sea beach.
Q: Where do people spend holidays? What does the doctor say about holiday?
A: People spend their holidays mostly in a sea beach. Doctors say that the chief danger of
holidays is not that we may do too little during them but that we may do too much during
holiday.
Q: What is the symbol of perfection according to the essayist?
A: According to the essayist, Robert Lynd, the round ball is the symbol of perfection.
Q: Who is Captain Ahab?
A: Captain Ahab is character in the novel Moby Dick written by Herman Melville.
Q: Who are the melancholy figures in this essay?
A: The women who are dressed in black and with black shawls over their head and wade up to
their waists at low tide to catch shrimps are the melancholy figures according to the essayist.
Q: What does the phrase mean Tam o Shanter in this essay?
A: Tam o Shanter is a round woolen or cloth cap of Scottish origin, with a bobble in the centre.
Q: How do the sauveteurs look like?
A: Sauveteurs are the rescuers in that sea beach. They are wearing a red tassel at the top of their
blue tam o shanters, their white trousers rolled up to the knee, a life line rolled up and hanging
near the waist and a trumpet to alert people on their hand.
Q: What are dangers in a sea beach and how do the sauveteurs look up to that?
A: There are dangers like holes, channels and undertow in a sea beach. Sauveteurs blow their
trumpet if they see any danger especially on the days of wind and waves.
Q: Who were compared with Captain Ahab’s crew?
A: Two boys, whom the sauveteurs were asking to come to safety were compared by the essayist
with the Captain Ahab’s crew.
Q: What do you mean by Croquet?
A: Croquet is a game in which wooden balls are driven by small wooden hammers.
Q: What is wigwam?
A: A wigwam is a hut or tent made by fastening skins or mats over a framework of poles,
generally made by North American Indians.
Q: What is Fandangoes?

17 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: It is a old Spanish duet dance.
Q: What do you mean by the phrase ‘Alors monsieur, vous etes servi, avec du frangipane’?
A: It is a French phrase which means, ‘Here you are Sir, you are being served with icing on’
Q: Discuss Seaside as a personal essay of Robert Lynd.
A: An essay is a composition of moderate length on any particular subject or branch of a
subject, originally implying want of finish. Essays can be divided into two categories: formal
essay and personal essay. In order to define personal essay, in the language of A.C. Benson, it
can be stated that “it (personal essay) is related personal sensation, personal impression, evoked
by something strange or beautiful or curious or interesting or amusing.” Robert Lynd’s essay,
Seaside represents his characteristic features as an essayist. This essay has been taken from
Lynd’s collection of essays called ‘A Peal of Bells.’ The subject matter of the essay is seaside
scenes. He sees butterfly rising from the sands, black and red bees living among the blue flowers.
Men, women and children are moving like insects and engaged in various activities. They fly
kites, play football, cricket and tennis. There are shrimpers who catch shrimps wading up to their
waist. An old man gives pie to a child. Another old man does exercise in the beach by walking.
There are bathers in the sea. Rescuers are also there with their shrill trumpets to be blown on
seeing any dangers. They do not allow anyone to be on the sea or beach is there is a serious sign
of danger to be caused by natural calamity. The description of the sea side has been given in a
simple manner which has some way or the other impressed the mind of the essayist i.e. Robert
Lynd. There is humour in this essay. He states that no one can be happy by being indolent. As a
matter of fact, man do greater amount of work on holidays than on working days. And this
observation has been made by him after looking at the seaside from subjective point of view.
Thus the essay, Seaside can be called as a personal essay.
Q: What is a plage? Who are Mead and Woolley? What was the job of a sauveteur? What
are the seaside scenes described by loyyd in the essay seaside? 1+2+1+6
A: A plage is a beach by the sea, especially at a fashionable resort.
Philip Mead and Frank Woolley are famous cricket players.
Sauveteur is a person who works at a beach and rescues people when they are in danger of
drowning.
The subject matter of the essay is seaside scenes. He sees butterfly rising from the sands, black
and red bees living among the blue flowers. Men, women and children are moving like insects
and engaged in various activities. They fly kites, play football, cricket and tennis. There are
shrimpers who catch shrimps wading up to their waist. An old man gives pie to a child. Another
old man does exercise in the beach by walking. There are bathers in the sea. Rescuers are also
there with their shrill trumpets to be blown on seeing any dangers. They do not allow anyone to
be on the sea or beach is there is a serious sign of danger to be caused by natural calamity. The
description of the sea side has been given in a simple manner which has some way or the other
impressed the mind of the essayist i.e. Robert Lynd.
Q: What are the games played in the essay the Seaside? Give two examples to show how
people on the seaside are very busy doing nothing? What living things apart from human
18 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
beings does Lynd notice on the play? Why do the shrimpers march like a silent procession
mourners? How are they distinguished from children's? 1+2+2+2+3
A: Cricket, football, tennis, croquet and golf was played on the seaside.
People are flying kites and moving here and there, they are also playing different sorts of games
like cricket, football etc. showing themselves very busy but ultimately they are doing nothing.
Apart from human beings Robert Lynd notices living beings like butterflies, insects, crabs and
shrimps.
The shrimpers are catching shrimps with diligent attention and grave seriousness and moving in
the sea water very silently, so their move seems like the silent procession of the mourners. They
are looking so because they are not excited after catching a shrimp. They do not even shout.
The women and elderly shrimpers are different from the young or children shrimpers. Children
shout after catching a shrimp. On the other hand, these elderly shrimpers are silent like mourners.
Nothing excites them not even a large crab, let alone shrimps. They are just passing time without
any sort of excitement. So they (shrimpers) are looking different in terms of attitude from
children.

19 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Shakespeare’s Sister
Q: Who wrote Shakespeare’s sister and wherefrom the essay has been taken from?
A: Shakespeare’s Sister is an essay by Virginia Woolf. The essay has been taken from A Room
of One’s Own.
Q: To which group Virginia Woolf was associated?
A: Bloomsbury Group.
Q: To which type of writing Virginia Woolf was associated?
A: Stream of Consciousness writing technique.
Q: Name the classical writers whom Shakespeare has studied in grammar school?
A: Ovid, Virgil and Horace along with elements of grammar and logic.
Q: What happened when Shakespeare’s sister used to read a book?
A: Her parents used to come to her and used to ask to look after the household issues but not to
study.
Q: What was the name of the stage manager?
A: Nick Greene.
Q: What is Elephant and Castle?
A: Elephant and Castle is a famous pub or tavern in South London.
Q: Who was Professor Trevelyan?
A: George Macaulay Trevelyan was a English historian. He wrote books on social history.
Q: Who is referred as ‘a woman in the neighbourhood’?
A: Anne Hathaway.
Q: Who is Jane Austen?
A: A famous female English novelist. She has written domestic novels like Pride and Prejudice.
Q: Who is Emily Bronte?
A: Emily Bronte was an English author and one of the famous Bronte sisters. She is famous for
Wuthering Heights.
Q: Who is Edward Fitzgerald?
A: Edward Fitzgerald was an English writer and famous for the novel The Great Gatsby.
Q: Who is Currer Bell?
A: It is the pet name of Charlotte Bronte who was an English female novelist.
Q: Who is George Eliot?
A: George Eliot was an English novelist and her real name was Mary Ann Evans.
Q: Who is George Sand?
A: George Sand was a French novelist whose real name was Amandine Lucile Dupin.
Q: Who is Pericles?
A: Pericles is an Athenian statesman. He famous for his political theories.
Q: Q: What is the main concern of Virginia Woolf in the essay Shakespeare’s Sister?

20 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: The main concern of the essay Shakespeare’s Sister by Virginia Woolf is that woman are not
equal like man in the society. It is a critique of patriarchy. The genius of the woman is not given
fare chance to exhibit as man take advantage of their role in the society.
Q: What is the name of Shakespeare’s hypothetical sister and what is her faith?
A: The name of Shakespeare’s hypothetical sister is Judith.
She was not allowed to read. Even though she had interest for theatre but men laughed at her
face. She was asked to marry the son of a neighboring wool stapler.
Q: What is the Wolf’s critique of the society as reflected in the essay Shakespeare’s Sister?
A: Virginia Woolf criticizes the society for discriminating men and women. Women never got
any opportunity to express their genius. Even earlier they had to write in disguise by taking the
name of a men like George Eliot, who real name was Mary Ann Evans. In stage also women
were not allowed to perform. The patriarchal regime killed many talents in our society by gender
discrimination.
Q: What happens to Judith?
A: The actor manager called Nick Greene impregnated her and out of shame and social stigma
she committed suicide. Her body is buried at some cross-roads where the omnibuses now stop
outside the Elephant and Castle.
Q: Why according to Virginia Woolf any women in Shakespeare’s day could not have
Shakespeare’s genius?
A: Virginia Woolf believed that any women in Shakespeare’s day could not have Shakespeare’s
genius because women were never allowed to express their talent before mass. They were forced
not to show any interest for study or theatre or any other literary form. They were forced to be
busy with domestic activities.

21 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
India Again
Q: To which group of writers E. M. Forster was associated?
A: Bloomsbury group of writers.
Q: On which day Forster left England?
A: Friday morning of October 1945.
Q: Which forest has been mentioned in the essay and how did it look?
A: The desert of Rajputana was mentioned in the essay and it looked as if baked in the sun and
blotched with the shadows of clouds.
Q: What is the full form of PEN club?
A: Originally PEN means Poets, Essayists, Novelists Club but now its means Poets, Playwrights,
Editors, Essayists, Novelists Club. PEN club was founded in London.
Q: How many times Forster visited India?
A: Forster came to India in 1912, 1921 and 1945.
Q: With whom the essayist was about to meet?
A: The essayist has come to India for the third time to attend the PEN club conference for which
he was invited. He was supposed to meet with the intellectuals like lawyers, doctors, public
servants and professors of the university.
Q: What change did the essayist notice after coming to India?
A: He noticed the change that people had growing interest in politics.
Q: What according to the essayist was the opinion of the people of India about politics?
A: According to essayist people of India believed that “first we must find the correct political
solution and then we can deal with the other matters.”
Q: What should be the role of literature according to the Indians at that time?
A: People at that time believed that literature should expound or inspire a political creed.
Q: What issue suffered the essayist most beyond political crisis of India?
A: The issue of poverty suffered the essayist most and he believed it is an obstacle towards
development.
Q: What is ‘the real India’ and what is his opinion regarding this?
A: The real India is the changelessness of her real self and the essayist suspected this.
Q: What change did the essayist noticed among women?
A: The essayist noticed that from his first visit to the present visit women have become more
liberal about veil or purdah, only the conservative women use it now.
Q: How was the dinner?
A: The dinner was arranged in a buffet manner and vegetarian and non-vegetarian food was kept
separately.
Q: What was the matter of debated in the PEN club?
A: The matter of debate in the PEN club was “why talk English at all?”
Q: What is mentioned about language in this essay?

22 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: The essayist noticed that people from central or upper India supported Hindi or Urdu, writers
from Bengal supported Bengali, writers from south India preferred English.
Q: When did the author left India?
A: Author left India on another Friday afternoon of December, 1945.
Q: When did Foster leave England and where did he go? How did he travel through the
Delhi bazaars? Why did he come to India? How many times did Foster visit India? Briefly
state the views of the author about India? 1+1+2+1+5=10
A: Foster left England on a Friday morning in October 1945 and on the Sunday afternoon he
reached India.
He travels through a tonga in Delhi bazaar.
He came to India to join a conference of Indian writers which was organised by the All India
Centre of the P.E.N club.
Foster has visited India two times before this concerned visit of 1945.
Foster had a reserved view about Indian people particularly he noticed increased interest of
people in politics. He has also notice people are less concerned about the artistic angle of
literature rather people were wanting literature to be a political tool. He did not see any external
change in the Indian society . He was particularly concerned about poverty which is still stopping
the progress of the country. However he tried to find out "the real India" which is real and
attractive to him.
Q: Write a note on Foster’s attitude to Indian people as reflected in his essay Indian again.
(10 Marks)
A: E.M. Foster is the famous novelist of English literature. He has a strong association with
India. He has visited India in 1912 and again in 1921. And his third visit was in October 1945.
India again is an essay where Foster's deep interest in Indian life and people is reflected. Foster
had a reserved view about Indian people particularly he noticed increased interest of people in
politics. He has also notice people are less concerned about the artistic angle of literature rather
people were wanting literature to be a political tool. He did not see any external change in the
Indian society. Foster had a reserved view about Indian people particularly he noticed increased
interest of people in politics. He has also notice people are less concerned about the artistic angle
of literature rather people were wanting literature to be a political tool. He did not see any
external change in the Indian society . He was particularly concerned about poverty which is still
stopping the progress of the country. However he tried to find out "the real India" which is real
and attractive to him. He was particularly concerned about poverty which is still stopping the
progress of the country. However he tried to find out "the real India" which is real and attractive
to him. He was less worried about the correct political situation of India. But he strongly believes
that the people of India must not be poor and rats ought not to turn in the labor camp of Bombay.
He has also noticed industrial development like cotton mills at Ahmadabad and little factories at
Calcutta.

23 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
Unit 3
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Q: When did the novel was written?
A: 1886.
Q: Name the newspaper which influenced Hardy for writing this novel.
A: Dorset County Chronicle.
Q: Who is the protagonist of the story?
A: Michael Henchard.
Q: Who is the mayor of Casterbridge?
A: Michael Henchard.
Q: Who has been placed against Henchard in this novel?
A: Donald Farfrae.
Q: What was Henchard’s Job?
A: Hay Trussing.
Q: “The woman is no good to me. Who’ll have her?” Who says about whom?
A: Michael Henchard says about Susan.
Q: What is the full title of the novel?
A: The Life and Death of the Mayor of CasterbridgeA Story of A Man of Character.
Q: From which location does the text begin?
A: Weydon-Priors, Wessex.
Q: Who sells his wife?
A: Michael Henchard.
Q: For how many rupees Henchard sold his wife?
A: Five Pounds.
Q: Who buys Henchard’s wife?
A: A sailor called Newson.
Q: For how many Henchard takes vow not to take any liquor?
A: Twenty One Year.
Q: On which date he takes the oath?
A: Sixteenth of November.
Q: Who is Elizabeth Jane?
A: The daughter of Michael Henchard and Susan.
Q: To which place Henchard asked Susan to come?
A: At the Ring on the Budmouth Road at eight o’clock.
Q: What was Henchard’s first word when he met Susan?
A: “I don’t drink.”
Q: Who turns into Henchad’s rival in the course of the novel?
A: Donald Farfrae.
Q: Where did Henchard sell his wife?

24 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: Weydon Fair.
Q: With whom Farfrae had a secret relation ignorant to Henchard?
A: Elizabeth Jane.
Q: “Mr. Michael henchard. Not to be opened till Elizabeth Jane’s wedding day.” Who
wrote to Whom?
A: Susan wrote to Michael.
Q: What was in that letter?
A: It was a confessional letter twlling that Elizabeth Jane was not Michael Henchard’s original
daughter.
Q: What was the other fair other than the weydon fair?
A: Candlemas Fair.
Q: “Surely he will buy my body and soul likewise”? who is this he?
A: Donald Farfrae.
Q: How do we know that Michael is ashamed of what he has done?
A: He finds a church and vows a solemn oath that he will not touch strong liquors for twenty-one
years.
Q: How do Susan and Henchard intend to resolve their problem?
A: He will court and marry the widow Mrs. Newson and thereby have his family again.
Q: What causes the very first rift between Henchard and Farfrae?
A: Henchard punishes Abel Whittle for lateness by making him work without his breeches.
Farfrae contradicts Henchard in the presence of the men, and this deeply wounds Henchard's
pride.
Q: How does Henchard reveal the deep need for the intimacy he feels for Elizabeth-Jane?
He begs Elizabeth-Jane to accept him as her father and begs her not to "take against" him. He
confides that he ill-treated her mother but promises to be kinder to her.
Q: How does Elizabeth-Jane feel about the attraction between Farfrae and Lucetta?
A: She is disappointed and a bit hurt yet has become so familiar to rejection, given her father's
treatment of her, that she accepts their relationship. Her fondness of Lucetta does not permit an
ugly jealousy to rise as does her regard for Farfrae prohibit dislike to occur.
Q: Why does Henchard buy all the grain he can?
A: He wishes to buy low and sell high in an effort to hurt Farfrae's business.
Q: Why does Henchard agree to return Lucetta's love letters?
A: He is disposed to feel guilt at being the cause of suffering to a member of the frail and weaker
sex. Their meeting at the Ring brings back to his memory his past meeting there with Susan, and
he is touched and pitying.
Q: What is a skimmity ride?
A: It is a practical joke played upon a woman who has had a "past." It is a public joke.
Q: Describe the skimmity-ride.

25 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
A: A loud, musical procession leads a donkey upon which sit effigies of Henchard and Lucetta.
They are tied back to back; she is facing the head and he is facing the tail. This is a very coarse
joke which accuses Lucetta of not being a lady and of having been Henchard's mistress.
Q: How does Lucetta react to the skimmity-ride?
A: She falls to the floor in a kind of an epileptic seizure.
Q: Why does Henchard lie to Newson?
A: He cannot bear the thought of losing Elizabeth-Jane. She is the only human being that he has
a chance to feel close to and who will return his feelings.
Q: Write down the will of Michael Henchard.
A:
“Michael Henchard’s Will
“That Elizabeth-janeFarfraebe not told of my death, or made to grieve on account of me.
“& that I be not bury’d in consecrated ground.
“& that sexton be asked to toll the bell.
“& that nobody is wished to see my dead body.
“&that no murners walk behind me at my funeral.
“& that no flours be planted on my grave.
“&that no man remember me.
“To this I put my name.
Q: Write a note on Elizabeth Jane's role in the novel 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'.
A: The character of Elizabeth Jane is quite significant in the novel, Mayor of Casterbridge by
Thomas Hardy. Hardy makes Elizabeth tender, sweet and lovely. Lucetta’s death and Farfrae’s
enmity drive Henchard to run. At that time only Elizabeth remains his strength and attachment.
Through Elizabeth we are made to think how and why life distributes happiness, peace and pain.
We also wonder at the disproportionate extent they are offered to those who receive them.
Elizabeth makes us question the system of natural justice and if there is justice at all in nature.
While Susan surrenders, Lucetta manipulates there Elizabeth accepts everything. Elizabeth is
good, simple and innocent whom both life and time cheat. With a sense of Victorian morality she
expects others also to be moral like her. When Lucetta wins away Farfrae, she mediates on the
meaninglessness of life. Elizabeth has a passion for Farfrae but she never speaks it out. She is
unsuspecting and frank. Her mother deceives her into believing that Michael Henchard is her
father. But, Newson’s arrival clears all suspense and ambiguity of her mind about her
fatherhood. Our sense of moral goodness is disturbed when Elizabeth rejects him when Henchard
begs her forgiveness. Henchard accepts her judgment through his death. With this, Elizabeth
learns the lesson of mercy too late. Comprising all these factors it can be said that her character
in this novel is round not flat and keeps the reader engaged always to her life and to her course of
action.
Q: Write down the character of Michal Henchard.
A: Michael Henchard is the main character or he may even be called the hero of the novel, The
Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. Though many other major characters are of interest to
26 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900
the reader the character of Michael Henchard is the one which captivates and impresses the
reader, the most. In fact the novel and the character of Henchard pan be identified with each
other. The story of the novel is actually the story of Michael Henchard right from the beginning
till the end. Michael Henchard gives the appearance of a strong man with a well-built body and
powerfull physique. Henchard's nature is turbulent. One of the most important qualities to be
noticed in his character is that of impulsiveness and emotional vehemence. His strong likes and
dislikes are exhibited in the way he behaves towards, Farfrae initially and then again when
Farfrae begins to become more prosperous. Another very important feature of Henchard's
character is his impulsiveness which has a great impact on the course of events of his life. There
is a gloominess which pervades the whole character of Henchard so much so that even his
features exhibit a kind of gloominess which is described as 'swarthy and stern in aspect.' . His
grimness is intensified all the more by his 'dark bushy brows and flashing eyes. His rare laughter
is not very encouraging and his gaze is ambiguous and hard to understand. When he is
introduced to us at the beginning of the book, he is merely twenty but even at that age he is
gloomy, taciturn and reserved. He is convinced that his early marriage is the cause of his ruin.
So, he does not speak to his wife while walking along the road. Ultimately, it can be said that the
character of Michael Henchard is very much tragic and touchy.
Q: What is the significance of the title of the novel Mayor of Casterbridge. (Theme of the
Novel)
A: The Mayor of Casterbridge: The Life and Death of a Man of Character (1886) is a novel by
Thomas Hardy, an English novelist and poet. The novel begins at a country fair in Wessex, a
fictional English county. Drunk on rum, twenty-one-year-old Michael Henchard, feuding with
his wife, Susan, impulsively auctions her and their baby daughter off for five guineas. The buyer
is Richard Newson, a sailor passing through town. The novel shifts to eighteen years after the
tragic sale. Henchard, now a successful merchant of grain, as well as the Mayor of Casterbridge.
Susan suddenly reappears with their daughter, Elizabeth-Jane. Henchard learns that her owner,
Newson, became lost at sea, forcing Susan to search for him to regain a livelihood. Donal Farfrae
comes to Casterbridge. After Susan dies, Henchard learns from her sealed letter that he is not
Elizabeth-Jane’s biological father. Lucetta appears in Jersey and buys a house in Casterbridge.
She takes in Elizabeth-Jane, hoping to compel Henchard to visit. Meanwhile, Farfrae meets
Lucetta and falls in love with her, Henchard finally resolves to marry Lucetta to improve his
credit. Lucetta’s prior relationship with Henchard is exposed by town gossips. Lucetta, pregnant
at the time, suffers an epileptic seizure from the stress and dies. At the novel’s end, Newson
returns from sea. Henchard tells him that Susan is dead. At the same time, his twenty-one-year
period of sobriety comes to a close. At the novel’s end, Elizabeth-Jane searches for him, finding
that he has died and written a will that asks simply to have no funeral. The Mayor of
Casterbridge thus suggests that human vices are pervasive and cyclical, requiring constant
emotional investment to suppress. Analyzing all aspects it seems that the story is about the
tragedy of Michael Henchard who is also the mayor of Casterbridge. So the title seems
significant.
27 | P a g e
 HERMES ACADEMY
ENGLISH HON’S & PASS
M: 9612256900

28 | P a g e