the Interview Christopher Silvester , il chapter Sketch ‘peieniew is an excerpt from the «urs induction to the ‘Penguin ‘nil nteniows, An Anthology from '8 tthe Present Day’. The author seresses hs views on the interview eacanmunication genre. The ater has two parts. The first part ‘235 wth the views of eminent ‘yp about the condemnatory 92 of the interview. The latter ‘atrepoduces an actual interview of ‘tea Eco, who is being ‘eriened by Mukund Padmanabhan tx The Hing’ ics (the study of signs) and a Pitssor al the University of Bologna Pal Hi novel ‘The Name of the hee Padmanabhan He is vine Hea eH eee i Sold 1 f 10. million. (pes 9 More than 10, milion, About the Author Christopher Silvester was a student of History at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He was a reporter for Private Eye for ten years and has written features for Vanity Fair magazine. Summary of the Chapter Part! Background of the Interview Having a history of over 130 years, different people have varied opinions about the uses, modes and advantages of interviews. Till now, thousands of celebrities have been interviewed. Every educated person is familiar with it. Some people claim that it is a source of truth while others feel that in practice it is an art. Opinions about Interviews Many celebrities despise the interview because it is an encroachment o their privacy. They believe themselves to be victims of unwarranted a intrusion. It depreciates their personality in a manner depicted in primitive cultures, where people believed that if someone takes eo photographie porta of someboxly, then one is stealing that percon's soul VS Naipaul is of che opinion that interviews injure people as they ig part of themselves, Lewis Carrol, the cteator of “Alice in Wengen OS & said to have a just ‘horror ofthe interviewer" and never onetland was interview. He was horrified at being treated as a celeb eed © A interviews helped him keep hi ity. His refusals for fans, acquaii fans, acquaintances and intervi Later he would narrate such experiences of his refus, i ae viewers at bay. satisfaction and amus sal with great ment.Rudyard Kipling, HG Wells and Saul Bellow’s Views on Interviews Rudyard Kipling vehemently condemned interviews. His wife, Caroline, writes in her diary that on 14 October 1892 their day was ruined by two reporters. Since then, her husband refused giving interviews because he considered them immoral, a crime and an assault which is worthy of punishment. According to him, interviews were something vile and cowardly. He neither held the interviewee in esteem nor the interviewer. Although Kipling criticised the interview, he had himself interviewed Mark Twain only a few years before this, tirade against interviews. HG Wells, an eminent science fiction writer, frequently gave interviews but, in an interview in 1894, referred to ‘the interviewing ordeal’. Forty years after this comment, he interviewed Joseph Stalin, a great Russian revolutionary. Saul Bellow felt that interviewers created so much tension and pressure that he felt suffocated. He describes interviews as ‘thumbprints on his windpipe’. Summing Up the Genre of Interviews Despite its disadvantages, the interview is an excellent medium of communication. Denis Brian gives an elevated position to the interviewer because of his power and influence over the interviewee. He terms the interview as an expressive medium. Part Il The second part of the chapter is an extract from an interview of Umberto Eco, who is being interviewed by Mukund Padmanabhan from ‘The Hindu’, Umberto Eco is a renowned scholar who is known for his ideas on semiotics (the study of signs), literary interpretation and medieval aesthetics. He is also an author who has an array of works ranging from literary fiction, academic texts, essays, children’s books and newspaper articles. He rose to prominence with his work ‘The Name of the Rose’ which sold a staggering 10 million copies. Eco’s Views on his Philosophical Interests and ‘Interstices’ The interviewer, Mukund Padmanabhan, quotes David odge (an English novelist) who had expressed stonishment at Umberto Eco’s varied and sizeable orks, He expresses his surprise by saying that how could one man do all the things set Umberto Bea 10 Eco says that this is a delusive impression shut fir because he has always been doing the sam thing by writing the same philosophical and ethical; in different genres. Eco discloses his secret of producing such voluminoy, works. He utilises the ‘empty spaces’ i.e, the shorts gaps between two different works. That's the reason yj, he has produced so many works. He calls the ‘empry spaces’ “interstices”. Eco’s Intimate and Playful Style The interviewer, questions him about his playful ang personalised style of writing which is quite different from the dull and drab style adopted for writing academic works. He asks him if this comes naturally ¢5 him or whether he has to make a conscious effort to develop this style. At this, Umberto Eco replies that he learnt this style of writing when he was 22 years of age. At that time he had presented his first Doctoral dissertation in Italy. Hi Professor was impressed because he had included his trials and errors in it. He had told the story of his research. His Professor published his dissertation as a book which was his way of complimenting his student Eco understood that he had to adopt the narrative ¢ in his works also. This led him to become a novelist st the ripe age of 50. At this stage, Umberto Eco remembers his friend, Roland Barthes an essayist who died frustrated because he could not fulfil his wish of being a creative writer. Umberto says that he never felt this frustration, as even his essays had a narrative aspect to them. He says that he started writing novels by accident on a day when he had nothing to do. They catered to his taste for narration, ey The Phenomenal Success of ‘The Name of the Rose’ Mukund Padmanabhan then the Rose’ made him famous an academician with over 40 Most people know Umberto doesn’t please him. He belo community and particiy He writes novels states that ‘The Name of as a novelist although he is works in non-fiction. Eco as a novelist but this ngs to the academic ipates in academic conferences. only on Sundays. He accepts the fact that by writing fiction he can reach more people. He says, “I cannot expect to have one million rendess with stuff on semiotics”.one ete .e interviewer, asks him if he is s ed en success of the novel, The Name of the” estes the “The Name of the Rose’ is a serious wa Apis a detective ya atone level and alo 19 yes int metaphysics, theology and medieval se T CS considered a difficult and serious ber Heo 8 that he is not puzzled by its dein es HEUTE The only people who look at ein dcblief are journalists and publishers. They sat people lke trash and “don like dificult ae cxpvinces The people who bought his book readers who do not want easy experiences. He may that after working the whole day he hes himself by watching light entertainment fogammes such a8 Miami Vice! or “Emergency forer dinner. Similarly, everybody likes light reading only to a certain extent. As such, serious miing does have the capability to draw people. The medieval period to which this book belongs could have played a major role in its success. For Umberto fen the success of the book is a mystery. His nstican Publisher had told her that the book was not aapected to sell more than 3000 copies in a counsry Sree one has seen a cathedral or studied Latin. If fehad written it ten years earlier or ten years Later it night have not been such a remarkable success stor}- WORD MEANINGS “The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the NCERT textbook. Page 68 - 69 ‘commonplace. — normal part colebitles famous people unwarranted = — unnecessary diminishes — lowers stature lionized — glotiied ‘condemnatory — reproachful perpetrated — — carted out thumbprints on his windpipe — giving a feeling of suffocation serviceable medium = usetul method Page 70-71 ‘ofmoment — having importance staggeringly —— surprisingly elevator it depersonalised — formal dissertation — thesis hypotheses —_ proposed exlerations based on fed evidence Page 72-73 academic — scholar seminal — that which strongly influences later developments yan = lengthy stoy ‘relaphysics — philosophy concermed with abstract ideas theobgy _—_ thestudy of God and retgious beetHK as you Read (Page 69) ‘TL What ore some of the pas dies Interview i a gente that has Done a commonplace patisen within a span of about LO years, is an ings out truth and gives uy vivid pressions of the interviewees. It is an excellent itive views on interviews? y writers despise being Rs Internews and feels that people lose a patt of themselves in the process of interview: Some others such as Rudyard Kipling condemn interviews a immoral an offence, a crime and something cowanil: Saul Bellow feels suffocated during inteniews, le and 3 Whot is the betief in some primitive cultures about being photographed? *s Some primitive cultures condemn photography and view it with suspicion. They dislike it, as they have a sroundless and false fear of their soul being robbed if they are photographed. 4 What do you understand by the expression ‘thumbprints on his windpipe? © Saul Bellow compares interviews to ‘thumbprints on the windpipe’. This refers to the fact that interviewers make the interviewees feel suffocated and uneasy Guring the course of an interview. Bellow feels that interviewers are strangulators while interviewees are their victims, > Who, in today’s world, is our chief source of information about personalities? s Ever since interviews were invented over 130 years 280, this excellent medium of communication has become our chief source of information. As compared to the other sources of information, say biographies, autobiographies and movies, to know about Personalities, interviews convey information in a fast, simple and effective way, standing the Text (Page 73) Doyou think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion, Umberto Eco, the interviewee does not seem to dislike being interviewed. He gives long and elaborate answers to the questions posed by Mukund Padmanabhan. He answers all the questions in a straightforward, truthful and sincere way sharing his experiences with the world at large. paul feel wounded by : Ans. Ans 4 Ans or Ans ~ Nowhere does he try to evade a question. He alsy smiles and shrugs during the interview which, shows his interest. At no point during the interview do we feel that he is in a hurry to wing up the interview. Thus, he seems to like being interviewed. How does Eco find the time to write so much? Umberto fico values time; in fact, he values each and every second, He utilises even the ‘intersticey ie, the empty spaces or gaps between any two pieces of literature written by him. Most of us ignore this time but Umberto Eco uses it in a productive manner. Thus, he has found time to write a large number of works. What was distinctive about Eco's academic writing style? Delhi 2011 Umberto Eco’s style was distinctive because it isa narrative written in the manner of a story, in contrast to a regular academic style, which is invariably depersonalised, dry and boring. Even his scholarly works have a certain playful and personal quality about them. He wrote books for children on non-violence and peace. He pursued his philosophical interests through his academic work and his novels. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist frst or an academic scholar? Umberto Eco considers himself an academic Scholar first. He has over forty works in non-fiction, but only about five novels. The fictional works make him reach a large audience He participates in academic conferences but not meetings of fan clubs and writers. The Professor thoroughly identifies himself with the academic community. He writes novels on Sundays ot only When he is not involved in any scholarly activity What is the reason for the huge success of the Novel, The Name of the Rose’? State the reason for the huge success of the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ Delhi 2008yLTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS ‘al experience of the auth ste gene ors regardi : ineriows IS that of ___. ame *ymusement (b) Harassment fo satisfaction (a) Anger 7) prarassment ow does the author describe an interview? ja) Amedium of gaining popularity. 7 fp) As something that is hated by authors. (ej Asam attack on an individual's honor. {ay As one ofthe best mediums of communication. 1) Asone of the best mediums of communication. 3 For Kipling, an interview is worthy of (a) Incrimination (b) Ban (¢) Appreciation (d) Slandering os (a) Incrimination 4 according to an old saying what happens when perceptions are made about a person? {a) The person is judged according to the societal norms (b) Person becomes popular {c) Person feels irritated (a) The original identity of his soul is lost ing (d) The original identity of his soul is lost 5 The name of the popular book for Umberto Eco is {a) Vanity Fair (b) Emergency room (c) The Name of the Rose (a) Penguin book of Interviews Ans (c) The Name of the Rose 6 Umberto Eco feels that he (a) Has written novels on various genre (b) Has written novels with same ethical interests. (c) Expected his books to pe a big flop. (a) That people desire easy reads: Ans (b) Has written novels with same in lew can 7 According to Christopher Silvester the intron a be “in its highest form, @ source of truth”. enGSE Question Bank 2021 for discovel He enterviewer andl oF the ethical interests. the option that does NOT enable this? ry of new {a) An interview allows [0 knowledge about the in subject being discussed ; (b) An interview enables the interview"? ig probe deeply, seek ‘clarifications, and co”! irr understandings. (c) An interview represents an opportunity to open. doors to experiences that may not otherwise finda voice. (d) An interview requires the interviewer to have in-depth prior knowledge of the rviewee and the subject. Ans (d) An interview requires the in-depth prior knowledge the subject. 8 Mukund Padmanabhan mentions that much like his novels, Umberto Eco's “scholarly work has a certain playful and personal quality about it.” To what is this attributed? CBSE Question Bank 202! (a) Eco thought regular academic style was depersonalised, dry and boring. (b) Eco presented his first Doctoral dissertat in this style. (c) Eco realized that scholarly books should tell the story of the research. (d) Eco identified himself with the academic and scholarly community. Ans (c) Eco realized that scholarly books should tell the story of the research. 9 Umberto Eco mentioned that he was not puzzled | the tremendous mass popularity of his novel, The Name of the Rose. What does this tell you about Umberto Eco? CBSE Question Bank 2 (a) He believes he understands readership trends w and writes accordingly to ensure mass appeal. {b) He elevates himself above publishers and journalists who were surprised by the success © the book. (c) He respects and understands that there are variations in people's reading choices and terviewer to have interviewee and tion in Ital experiences. (a) He feels that the success of a book is a mysten there was no point pondering over it. ‘Ans (¢) He respects and understands that there are variations in people’s reading choices and experiences. 10 Column A below describes Rudyard Kipling’s v ‘on interviews. Column B provides fictional descriptions of some of Kipling’s works if they about interviews and interviewers. Choose th option that correctly matches interview attrib given in Column A to the works in Column B: CBSE Question Ba~ 2 B Column A Column 3 _ 7" “The Mark of the Beast’ ~ ae (ict tale of unforgivable offences against man and society. ‘ fi) “The Jungle Book’ ~ A journey 2 Cowardly |) ro he corrupt jungle of information where conscience and principles do not exist. iii) ‘The Light that Failed’ - A story ae (of audacious truth being left in the dark alleys of craven scandal and mistepresentation. 4° Criminal (iv) ‘The Man Who Would be King’ =A saga of evil depravity of ‘man who ruled over heroes and became a villain. (a) 1 (i); 2 ~ (ii): 3 ~ (iis 4 (iv) (b) 1 = (ii); 2 ~ (ii = (ivy 4-(i) 2- (iv); 3- (i); i) (a) 1 = (iv); 2 ~ (i); 3 = (i); 4 - (iil) Ans (b) 1 ~ (ii); 2 ~ (iii); 3 - (iv): 4 - (i) © EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS Read the extracts given below and answer the geustions that follow by choosing the correct option. 1 “Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral! Iris a crime, just as much of a crime as an offence against my person, as an assault, and just as much merits punishment. It is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask it, much less give it.” (@) Who is the speaker here? (a) Lewis Carroll (b) Rudyard Kipling (c) Mukund Padmanabhan (4) Vs Naipaul i) What drawbacks of the ‘interview’ did his wife point out? (a) It was an assault on the individual (b) It was a crime (c) It was an immoral act (d) All of the above (iil) The attitude of the speaker of these lines towards Interview was (a) applauding (b) depreciative (c) critical (d) very appreciative (iv) What does the expression ‘merits punish, mean here? (a) Interviewer should be punished (b) appreciated (c) should be jailed (d) should be isolated nse towards intervie y) From the kind of respo fl t do you think that the speaker had a bad Bes experience with the interviewers? (vi) What is ironical about the speakers’ statemeny Ans (i) (b) Rudyard Kipling (ii) (d) All of the above (iii) (b) depreciative (iv) (a) Interviewer should be condemned and punished (v) Yes, I think that the speaker had a bad experience with the interviewers as his wife mentions in her dairy that on 14 October 1892 that their day was ‘wrecked by two reporters from Boston. (vi) The speakers’ view about the interviews is ironical as although he states that he does, not find interviews to be respectable he himself took an interview later on. 2 Saul Bellow, who has consented to be interviewed on several occasions, nevertheless once described interviews as being like thumbprints on his windpipe. Yet despite the drawbacks of the interview, it is a supremely serviceable medium of communication. “These days, more than at any other time, otf most vivid impressions of our contemporaries are through interviews,” Denis Brian has written. “Almost everything of moment reaches us through one man asking questiows of another. Because of this, the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.” CBSE Question Bank 2021 Modifié (@ How would you describe Denis Brian's opinion on interviews? Choose the most appropriate condemned and option. 1. appeasing 2. utilitarian 3. approving 4. praising (a) Options (1) and (2) (b) Options (3) and (4) (c) Options (2) and (3) (4) Options (1) and (4)Y ring t0 Saul Bellow, a Atnpprints on his wees are like vit best describe such an images to” image? cases (b) frustration coy pa! (@) fear Brian states that the i yer the interviewer occupies gposition of power and influence as jy everything reaches us through o} {questions of another, pe men asking erview is a supremely servic (py the inte ipremely serviceable medium of communication, te {jour most vivid impressions of our contemporaries are through interviews, {a)interviews are Hike thumbprints on the interviewee’ windpipe. (g penis Brain’ view on interview isin | _____with that of VS Naipaul, {a Contrast (0) Complementary (c) Synonymous (a) Agreement (y The use of the word “serviceable” implies that interviews are (a) Interviews had been called as thumbprints on windpipe’. Explain. ins (i) (c) Options (2) and (3) (i) (c) pain (di) (a) everything reaches us through one man asking questions of another. (iv) (a) Contrast (v) Useful (v4) Saul Bellow calls interviews to be thumbprints on windpipe because interviews suffocates an interviewee. 3 Maybe I give the impression of doing many things. But in the end, Lam convinced I am always doing the same thing... And then I have a secret. Did you know what will happen if you eliminate the empty spaces from the universe, eliminate the empty spaces in all the atoms? The universe will become 38 big as my fist. Similarly, we have @ Jot of empty spaces in our lives. I call them interstices. Say you are coming over to my place. You are inan elevator and while you are coming UP» Tam waiting for you. This is an interstice, 2% em "TL work in empty spaces. my Pace BSE ti tao Baa ‘2021 Modified ()) Read the questions given below. Imagine they were interjections raised by the interviewer based ‘on the above extract. Choose the option hat correctly describes the given questions, 1. Ifyou are “always doing the same thing", isn’t your work lacking In originality? 2. Could you elaborate on these larger ethical, philosophical interests that Inform your work? 3. All writing happens In empty spaces. In fact, why dont tll you al about ny experiences? (a) (1) is not relevant; (2) is appropriat is unnecessary (b) (1) is appropriate; (2) is repetitive; and (3) is ‘useful information (c) (1) Is inappropriate; (2) is relevant; and (3) is not relevant {d) (1) is unnecessary; (2) is intrusive; and (3) is extrapolatory and (3) (ii) Based on your reading of Part | of The Interview’, which one of the following may NOT be an appropriate title to the above extract? (a) The Empty Spaces of Umberto Eco (b) Big Exposé: Eco’s Secret Revealed! {c) “Lam always doing the same thing”: Eco’s Echoes (d) Umberto Eco, Mr. Prolific! (ii) “I work in empty spaces". Choose the option that most accurately captures Eco's idea of empty spaces. 1. management of time 2. organization of space 3, philosophical inclination ‘4, command of thought (3) Options (1) and (2). (b) Options (3) and (4) (c) Options (1) and (3) (d) Options (2) and (4) (iv) Umberto Eco states that empty spaces’ actually fill spaces, and without them the universe would be the size of the human fist. He also goes on to say that it is in an interstice such as waiting, which the dictionary defines as a time for pause, that he works. That is, passive ‘waiting is essentially active writing time. Choose the literary device that best describes what Eco does with the concepts of ‘empty spaces’ and ‘waiting’ (a) juxtaposition (c) oxymoron {b) irony (a) symbolism (vy) What does the given lines tellus about the speaker? (vi) How would you explain an ‘interstices? ‘ana (i) (6) (1)'8 inappropriate: (2) is relevant: and (i ) is not relevant(ii) (b) Big Exposé: Eco’s Secret Revealed! (ili) (c) Options (1) and (3) (iv) (b) irony (v) The given lines tell us that the speaker, Umberto Eco, is a person who values his time very much. He does not want to waste even a moment and utilizes them to write things. (vi) According to Umberto Eco, ‘interstices’ are those empty spaces wherein we do not do anything useful. 4 “Itis a marked departure from a regular academic style - which is invariably depersonalised and often dry and boring. Have you consciously adopted an informal approach or is it something that just came naturally to you?” (i) Who said these words in the extract? (a) Umberto Eco (b) Mukul Padmanabham (c) VS Naipaul (d) Christopher Silvester (ii) About which work of the author ‘Umberto’ is the interviewer referring to here? (a) Essay and newspaper articles (b) Children’s looks (c) Fictions (d) Author's non-fictional writings (ii) What is the speciality of Umberto Eco’s Literary writing? (a) Highly philosophical (b) Dramatised (c) Full of narrative style (d) Full of figures of speech (iy) The concerned author ‘Umberto Eco’ teaches in which university? (a) Oxford University, London (b) University of Bologna, Italy (c) Cornell University, U.S.A (d) None of the above (¥) The tone of the speaker in the given lines is (vi) How is Umberto Eco’s writing style different from others? Ans (i) (b) Mukul Padmanabham i) (4) Author's non-fictional writings (iii) (c) full of narrative style (iv) () University of Bologna, Italy (v) Applauding (vi) Umberto Eco’s writing style is taken to be different from others because he wrote in a playful personalized style while other writer wrote in a dry and dull manner. 5 “So ina way I reached only a small perce of readers. But it is exactly these kinds of “8 readers who don't want easy experiences, Or at least don't always want this.” I myself, at 9 PM after dinner, watch television and want to sce either Miami y,., or ‘Emergency room’. I enjoy it and I neggst But not all day. () Who is referred to in thse lines? (a) Mukund from the Hindu (b) Christopher Sylvester (c) Umberto Eco (d) Lewis Carroll (ii) Why does the speaker conclude ‘I reached onj, a small percentage of leader's? (a) 10 million copies is small number compared y worldwide readers (b) Novel was read only in Europe by few people (c) Eco's novel was appreciate only by literary figures of his time (d) The novel did not become very popular (ii) What does the author mean by “Easy Experiences” in reading? (a) Some humourous reading material like comic, etc. (b) Horror stories which keep you engaged (c) Reading material which is entertaining and easy to understand (d) Reading of newspapers, magazines, etc. (iv) Why does the author love to watch TV. after 9pm? (a) To listen to important news (b) To relax (c) To entertain himself (d) Both (b) and (c) () Why does the speaker say the given lines? (vi) Why does the speaker say about himself? Ans (i) (c) Umberto Eco (i) (a) 10 million copies is small number compared to worldwide readers (ili) (c) Reading material which is entertaining and easy to understand (iv) (d) Both (b) and (c) (v) The speaker says the given lines as an answet to the question asked by his interviewer Mukund Padmanabhan who had asked hit about the theme and readership of his book The Name of the Rose. (vi) The speaker in the given lines states that he himself like to enjoy easy experiences but that only upto a certain extent.> pont ANSWER TYPE 0 AygsTIONS cine drawbacks of interviews have been A pol ed out by Lewis Carroll? Delhi 2010 6 Fr drawbacks of interviews which have been sn Minted out DY Lewis Carroll are that the points lionises or glorifies people, Ths make cone Gncluding other interviewers, fans ete vee tn whch he does no want, int jyow 40 WE know that Lewis Carroll was triumphant in his success of not giving © interviews! ys we nO that Lewis Carroll was triumphant in Vor giving interviews because afterwards he meld tell the stories of his suc in silencing, Spauch people with much satisfaction and amusement. 4 what aid Rudyard Kipling’s wife has to soy about Kipling’s attitude towards interviewers? Ans udyard Kipling’s wife, Caroline, wrote in her fiary on 14th October, 1892, that their day was ieked by two reporters from Boston’, she reports that after the incident het husband told the reporters that interviews are 4 crime as they ire an assault against the person being interviewed. 4 What did the publisher think of The Name of the Rose? ns The publisher loved the book sthe Name of the Rose” but didn’t expect to sell mere than 3000 Copies in a country such as the USA, where body has seen a cathedral OF studied Latin. 5 what is the variety of writing that Umberto Eco has produced? ‘Ans Umberto Eco has produced a Jarge variety of writings which inclu (the study of signs), litera texts, essays, children’s books, newspaper anticles and finally detective novels. 6 whats the one thing thac Umberto Fcois convinced that he is doin through all his variety of writing? Why is he ‘convinced about! i? ‘Ans: Umberto Eco is convinced * work and his novels. He is convil because, as he says, even his be are about non-violence and Pea part of his ethical, philosophical jnterests- 7 Ans Ans 10 Ans 1 Ans 12 ‘Explain the concept of interstices in our WE, cas given by Umberto Eco. Uinbertn fice explained that wre have @ 16 4 teat spaces of tire en Sires, ACR te calls Anterstices’, Far brisanice, Hae are ¢ meet samenne, we are ‘Sree TH ‘or an empty space. He fs able to be verter because he vows auriny, thee space’. why did Umberto Feo start weiting, nw? Umnbertes fice started v7itiy, TC wy accident, as he himself says. BE had 19 Yo one day and probably “007, satisfied his taste for narration. 57 he startet waiting therm. ‘pid the fact thot mast peaple thought of Umberto Eco as only 9 novelist bother Fh Why? Yes, the fact that snost people tho Umberto Eco as only a noveliss O8 because he considered himnsell 2 uni professor viho wrote novels on Sundays. Hie also participated in academic co he identified himself with the academic community. ‘wihat is the advantoze of writing nove, mentioned by ‘as mentioned by Umberto Eco, th “of writing novels is U Targer audience, which + with his scholarly writings. Why do you think Christopher Silvester describes the viewpoints of Oter sathors when discussing the concept ‘on interview? Support your opinion with reference to ony one writer cited. ‘CBSE Question Bank 2021 Christopher Silvester describes the viewpoiz! of other writers and ‘authors when discuss: the concept of an interview to shove bow the views about interviews vary 20ss people. While for common people interviews are 2 effective medium of communication. for Guthors and writers itis a vile cimme- Take for example, Rudyard Kipling who finds that Faterviews are so vile that the interviewers should be punished. How would you evaluate Mukund Padmanabhan as an interviewer? Mention east two qualities he displays in his interview, supported by textual evidence. ‘CBSE Question Bank 203Ans Mukund Padmanabhan comes out to be a ee sensible and a logical journalist who nie a to exasperate a writer. AS an interviewer, he tall about things that interests the interviewee a even asks his questions in an orderly mann 13. Christopher Silvester shares authors’ : er about interviewing. Bearing that in ‘mind, would you interview a writer of your choice? If so, what would you pay particular attention to in interviewing the said writer? CBSE Question Bank 2021 Ans If had an opportunity 1 would interview JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, While doing do, twould a number of things in mind, 1 would make sure that the interviewee is comfortable and would prepare questions that interest her. 1 would avoid going into the personal lives of the author and would focus on. her professional outlook and works. © LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 1 What made the American publisher think that the novel, The Name of the Rose’ won't sell in America? What actually happened? What was the secret of its success? Ans The American publisher loved the book ‘The Name of the Rose’, but didn’t expect it to sell ina country such as the USA, where nobody has seen a cathedral or studied Latin. The reason was that the novel dealt with subjects such as metaphysics, theology, and medieval history, none of which most people who read novel would have ever heard of, let alone understand their concepts. Thus, the publisher gave him an advance for only 3000 copies. However, the novel became a over 10 million copies, i: best seller, as it sold out of which between two and three million were sold in the USA alone, Ter gecret of the novel's success is still a mystery for the author. A lot of books have been written about the medieval past before his novel, He thinks that if he had written this novel ten years Sarlier or ten years late, it wouldn't have had the same success, 2 ‘What impression do you form about Umberto £co as a scholar and writer on the basis of The Interview? other famous writers Ans He does literary interpretation, writes academic text, children’s books, newspaper articles and novels. The novels are written Sundays, a he says that he started writing first novel at the age of 50 years when he found one day that he had nothing to do, He has written 40 papers on scholarly work 4 nonfiction and five novels. He has a narratgg style which is informal and playful. His research work has the qualities of a creative and narrative style. His first novel, ‘The Namg of the Rose’, brought a lot of fame to him ang a large readership, so that he came to be Known as a novelist, although he wanted tog known as an academician. Imagine that you are Christopher Silvester You have been invited to a seminar series titled ~ Ethics and Techniques of interviewing The organisers would like you to speak abou the challenges of conducting interviews, and skills interviewers must have in order to conduct good and ethical interviews. Based on Your reading of The Interview, Part | and I, draft your speech. Include relevant details from the text in support of your answer, CBSE Question Bank 2021 Good morning to one and all present here. [ am very pleased to be standing her at the seminar titled Ethics and Techniques of Interviewing’ to be able to tell you all about how an effective medium of communication can be a course of distrust for many. We all are aware that interviews are one of the major sources of getting know about our favourites today. Be it film stars, writers, singer or any other public personality, interviews have become a must. But do you know that the process of taking at interview is not always smooth. Sometimes, Out hurry to get good trending data, we as inetviewers cross our boundaries and make the interviewee so Uncomfortable that they tre) Biving interviews altogether and change their perception about it, Hence, we must be careful about how we conduct good and cthical interviews. Remember, focus on Setting the interviewers Comfortable. Bither take an appointment oF pre-inform the interviewee about the i d ¢ vain. They must interest the rove Cee as well, These few things can Move to be a boon to take a successtal interview, Thank you; interview 4 Mukund Padmanabhan was gifted the ‘Penguin ook of Interviews - An Anthology from 1859 to tne Present Day’ edited by Christopher Silvester, ajter interviewing Eco, He shared his thoughts on his personal blog exploring his own “concerns about interviewing a distinguished ns writer like Eco, followed by an evaluation of the interview in light of his reading..As Mukund Padmanabhan, write the blog post. CBSE Question Bank 2021 Exploring Interviews Itwas a fantastic week for me for I got to read a book that had been on my list for a long time. Penguin Book of Interviews - An Anthology from 1859 to the Present Day’ edited by g Christopher Silvester was something that had blown my mind away given the fact that I successfully interviewed Umberto Eco. I did not for once feel that a distinguished writer like Eco was irritated at the question I was asking. In fact, the interview went smoothly. One reason for this was my approach. I think approach is very essential to any interview. If an individual interferes in any person life or asks questions that are not at all interesting to the interviewee then, the person is bound to have a bad experience. I believe that the people who hated interviews had gone to some bad experiences with interviewers. Thus, we have to remember that we need to follow certain rules for a smooth, successful and good interview.