On the face of it

SYNONYMS

ableism NOUN
prejudice towards or unfair treatment of people with disabilities

ableist ADJECTIVE
showing prejudice towards people with disabilities or treating them unfairly

impediment NOUN
a physical or psychological problem that affects how well someone can do something

lame ADJECTIVE
used for describing someone who is disabled because their leg or foot is damaged. This word is
now considered offensive.

mean no harm PHRASE

to not intend to hurt, damage, or upset someone or something

turn the other cheek PHRASE

to deliberately not hurt or upset someone who has hurt or upset you

not lay a finger on someone PHRASE

to not hit or harm someone in any way

Idioms

Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

Meaning: External appearance is a superficial basis for judging someone.
Example: Sarah is gorgeous, but watch out—she has a really nasty side. Beauty is only skin
deep.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Meaning: Don’t be deceived by looks; don’t rely on looks when judging someone or something.
Example: Don’t judge a book by its cover — she’s beautiful, but she can be very deceptive.

(as) ugly as sin

The expression as ugly as sin is used to refer to people or things that are considered to be very
unattractive.
"Have you seen the new neighbour's dog? It's as ugly as sin!"
Appearance are deceptive

Reasons for Mr Lamb’s positive influence on Derry

1. Mr Lamb himself was physically handicapped and had also been laughed at and rejected. It
was easier for Derry to accept what he said.

2.His Attitude:

(i)Mr Lamb is not scared or repulsed by him. He accepts him and treats him like a normal
person.

(ii) He seems to understand Derry and his anguish and doesn’t pity him.

(iii) He does not lecture or moralise.

(iv) He has a positive attitude toward everything. Even feeling that bees sing and do not buzz.

(v) The fact that he doesn’t get angry or put off by Derry’s rudeness and doesn’t force him to
stay or listen to him.

3. His views, which are so different from those held by others:

(i) He lets him see he can lead a normal life, unlike Derry’s overprotective parents and others
who have isolated him with their negative comments about his appearance.

(ii) He tells Derry he can have the world; that it is in his hands.

(iii) Makes him realise that handicaps are not an obstacle.

(iv)Tells him that all were similar and that there was no difference between him and others who
were not handicapped. That beauty was relative.

(v) He also emphasizes that people cannot be grouped together on the basis of their
impairments. Each person is different.
(vi) Lets him see that people are important and that you cannot reject them or be afraid of them
for then they will do the same.

(vii) Makes him realize that you cannot just remember the bad things people say. That one
should remember that good thing.

(viii) Tells him that he feels everyone is a friend till proved otherwise.

(ix) The fact that he opens the world to him by telling him to just wait, watch and listen. He
doesn’t expect him to do anything difficult.

Derry

1.Scared of meeting people as he hates seeing their fear of him and facing their rejection.

2.Very sensitive—people’s comments hurt him deeply.

3. Upset with parents’ overprotectiveness and mother’s revulsion with his face.

4. Defiant, rude as he is too scared to talk to people.

5. Negative about everything – sees everything in a bad light.

6. Indulges in self-pity over his face.

7. Hates sympathy.

8. Hates the world and keeps away from it.

9. Inner deep desire to be accepted which he hides under an abrasive exterior.

10.Change in the end after listening to Mr Lamb. Ready to face the world and overcome
obstacles to do so. Finds courage and strength to get what he wants.

Mr Lamb

1.Very positive in his outlook. Sees the beauty in everything, including weeds.

2 .Doesn’t let physical handicap prevent him from living life to the fullest.

3. Very friendly, opened his doors to the world.

4. Sees the world is important and that people are important.

5. Strong; doesn’t let people’s negative comments hurt him.

6. Practical; knows one’s life is in one’s own hands.

7.Understanding of Derry’s problems.

Things which hurt Derry

1. His mother kissing him on the good cheek and not the burnt one.

2. Parents talking about what he would do after they died with his face.

3. Parents’ overprotectiveness and making him feel he could not live a normal life.

4. A woman saying only a mother could love him.

5. The person saying he would be better off with people of his own kind.

6. People scared of him.

Meaning of Title

1. On the surface, both Mr Lamb and Derry are similar as both have a handicap, but there are
differences in their outlook on life.

2.Mr Lamb is positive about everything and remains happy. He likes people and lives a full life
and does not think handicaps are obstacles.

3. But Derry is bitter, hurt at people’s comments, hates the world and isolates himself.

2 marks

1.In what sense is the friendship between Mr. Lamb and Derry fruitful? (Delhi 2014 C)
2 Why did Mr. Lamb help Derry? (AI 2014 C)
3.If you were to give a different ending to the story. “On The Face of It” how would you end it?
(AI 2013)
4.How does Mr. Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool? (Delhi 2012)
5.What peculiar things does Derry notice about the old man, Mr. Lamb? (AI 2012)
6.Why does Derry’s mother not want him to go back to visit Mr. Lamb? (2018)
7.Why did Derry insist that he would go back to Mr. Lamb? (Delhi 2015 C)
8.How did Derry’s handicap damage his life?
2 marks

9.What benefits did Derry reap from his association with Mr. Lamb? (Delhi 2014)
10.Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is the responsibility of society to
understand and support people with infirmities so that they do not suffer from a sense of
alienation. As a responsible citizen, write in about 100 words what you would do to bring about a
change in the lives of such people. (AI 2014)

2 marks

11.“Things that matter. Things nobody else has ever said. Things I want to think about.” What
are the things’ that Derry is referring to? How did Derry’s chance meeting with Mr. Lamb prove
meaningful for him? (AI 2019)
12.Derry and Mr. Lamb both are victims of physical impairment, but their attitudes towards life
are completely different. Elaborate. (Delhi 2019)
13.Derry sneaked into Mr. Lamb’s garden and it became a turning point in his life. Comment.
(Delhi 2016)
14.Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for them is
the feeling of loneliness. Comment. (AI 2016)
15.Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, yet each has a different attitude
from the other. Comment. (Foreign 2016)
16.What change took place in Derry when he met Mr. Lamb? (Delhi 2015 C)
17.What is the bond that unites the two- the old Mr. Lamb and Derry, the small boy? How does
the old man inspire the small boy? (Delhi 2013)
18.The lesson, ‘On the Face of It, is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of alienation
experienced by people on account of a disability. Explain. (Delhi 2011)
19.How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life? (Delhi 2015
C)

Answers

1.Mr. Lamb helped Derry overcome his sense of inferiority. He advised him not to pay too much
attention to what others thought about him; to celebrate life and its wonders. Mr. Lamb brought
about a positive change in Derry’s attitude.
2.Mr. Lamb helped Derry because he too was handicapped, therefore he understood how Derry
felt. Also, he was concerned about Derry’s negative attitude towards life. Mr. Lamb wanted to
save the little boy from the habit of self-pitying.
3.The play is quite sad and open ended. According to me, the play should have ended on a
positive note, giving the reader a sense of hope. I feel, even if Mr. Lamb dies in the end, Derry
would show some positive changes in his character. He would not remain his old withdrawn and
defiant self. Instead, he would become as cheerful, open and friendly as Mr. Lamb.
4.When it is a bit cool, Mr. Lamb likes to keep himself busy by breaking crab apples and making
jelly from them. He enjoys the humming of bees in his garden while he sat in the sun reading
books.
5.Derry notices that Mr. Lamb always leaves the gates open for anybody and everybody so as
to welcome strangers. Derry is amazed that unlike others old Mr. Lamb treated him with utmost
kindness, that he is not repulsed by Derry’s scarred face. Derry also finds it peculiar that Mr.
Lamb lives in a huge house with a huge garden but without curtains.
6.Derry’s mother does not want him to go back to visit Mr. Lamb because she has not heard
good things about him and hence, she does not have positive views about him. She thinks that
Mr. Lamb is not a nice man and forbids Derry to get acquainted with him or even see him.
7.Derry insisted that he would go back to Mr. Lamb because it was for the first time that Derry
felt comfortable and happy in someone’s presence. That someone was Mr. Lamb. While Derry
was jovial with Mr. Lamb, Derry completely forgot about his burnt face. He felt that he too could
live an independent life for he had all his faculty intact. Therefore, even though his mother
forbade him from meeting Mr. Lamb, Derry insisted on going; he did not want to lose his new
found companion. Fourteen years old Derry had half a burnt face, which resulted in poor self
image
8.He became conscious of people’s stares and their comments hurt him. This made him avoid
people. Eventually, he become introvert. Thus, Derry’s handicap damaged his life.
9.Derry is a withdrawn and defiant boy. He does not like to be around people because they look
at his face and pass uncharitable remarks. Once, one side of his face got burnt by acid, which
left a scar on his face. This created a complex in his mind. He thinks that people are afraid of
him. Mr. Lamb is a physically challenged man, whose one leg is made of tin.
Mr. Lamb is a complete contrast to Derry when it comes to his attitude and outlook towards life.
He is an optimist who does not allow trivial teasing and name calling bother him. In fact, he likes
having company. Mr. Lamb is not repulsed by Derry’s scarred face. Neither he is angry nor put
off by the boy’s rudeness. Instead, Mr. Lamb understands Derry’s anguish and tries to make
him realize that being handicapped is not a drawback.
His meeting with Mr. Lamb becomes a turning point in Derry’s life because Derry is ready to
overcome his obstacles and face the world. He finds courage and strength to get and do what
he wants.

10.In the story, both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. To bring about a
change in the lives of such people, as a responsible citizen, I shall treat them with respect and
honor and not punish them with heartless ridicule and pity. People like Derry and Mr. Lamb
expect empathy rather than sympathy from others. Therefore, instead of looking down upon
them with a pessimistic approach, I shall be supportive and considerate. They must be treated
as equals. That is why I shall encourage them to take part in all activities. They deserve to study
in regular educational institutions and get regular jobs. Therefore, advocation of this idea is very
important. Only proper awareness and empowerment can make the world view then as equals
and at same time make the ‘different abled people feel socially accepted.
11.Derry is an angry, withdrawn and defiant young boy. One side of his face was burnt because
of which he lacked self-confidence. He was lonely because he had no friends. People either
feared him, found him disgusting to look at, treated him with pity or made fun of him. Derry had
alienated himself from the society completely. One day, Derry sneaked into Mr. Lamb’s garden
and it became a turning point in his life.One of Mr. Lamb’s leg was made out of tin. Due to his
physical impairment, he could not move around much. As a result, Mr. Lamb too was isolated
from the rest; children called him lamey Lamb. However, it did not affect him. Instead, he always
kept the gates of his garden open. Seeing Derry suffer so much at such a young age Mr. Lamb
struck up a conversation with him, spending time with Mr. Lamb made Derry look at the world
and love and admire everything he saw and heard. Mr. Lamb encouraged Derry to make friends
and not be bothered by their comments. He told the boy not to hate people.
Mr. Lamb’s life and attitude inspired Derry quite a lot. In spite of his handicap, Mr.
Lamb lived an independent and happy life seeing his positive approach to life, Derry decides to
get rid of the habit of self-pity and face the world boldly with his newly gained self-confidence.

12.Refer to answer 11.

13. Refer to answer 9.
14. Mr. Lamb and Derry have different sorts of physical disability. While Mr. Lamb has a tin leg,
one side of Derry’s face was burnt by acid and now is scarred. Both Derry and Mr. Lamb are
victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for them is the feeling of loneliness. Both
suffer alienation from the society. Derry feels that he is feared rather than accepted by the
society because of his scarred face. Mr. Lamb also has to face name calling- Lamey -Lamb’
although it does not bother him much. Loneliness has caused constant pain for both Derry and
Mr. Lamb. They both crave for friends, but neither of them have it. However, while his isolation
makes Derry a bitter person, Mr. Lamb has a positive outlook and believes that being a
handicap is not a drawback. Both expect that the society would neither treat them differently, as
freaks, nor with pity. They want to be treated with empathy as equals.
15.Refer to answer 11.
16.Refer to answer 11.
17.Mr. Lamb turned Derry into a confident boy from a complex one. Both were physically
handicapped but with different perspectives towards life. In the beginning Derry was a defiant
and withdrawn boy who hated meeting people. Their stares, jibes and pity made him frustrated.
He suffered a lot due to his burnt face and had a pessimistic approach to life. Mr. Lamb
transformed his vision of life and suggested to live it on his own terms. Mr. Lamb discussed his
own situation with Derry to make him understand that he should be open-minded. He told him
that God has made all the things and one should not keep oneself in a room forever. He also
kept his garden gate open and welcomed all.
Moreover, Derry could open up the layers of his heart and complexes in front of Mr. Lamb,
which unburdened his heart. He got a new ray of hope in his life. He also taught Derry to use
whatever God had given to him. The lesson of Mr. Lamb could not be ignored by Derry. He was
disheartened to find about his death.

To meet Mr. Lamb, defying his mother and his return to Lamb’s garden shows his appreciation
for living life as shown by Lamb. He learnt the lesson of optimism.

18.Refer to answer 14.

19.Refer to answer 9.
Value based questions

Question 1 : Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is the responsibility of
the society to understand and support people with infirmities so that they do not suffer from a
sense of alienation. As a responsible citizen, write in about 100 words what would you do to
bring about a change in the lives of such people.

Answer : As a responsible citizen it is my responsibility towards society to understand and

support people with infirmities. I will always try to be supportive and considerate towards them. I
will treat them as equals and encourage them to take part in all activities. It will be my
endeavour to ensure that they do not suffer from a sense of alienation and I will also advocate
inclusive education for them. Campaigning for their social acceptance, I will raise hope and
encouragement for their empowerment.

Question 2 : The actual or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less
than the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What is the kind of behaviour that
the person expects from others?

Answer : A person with any physical impairment can live life with respect and honour, if he is not
ridiculed and punished with heartless pity. He expects empathy rather than sympathy.

If everyone looks down on him with a condescending approach, he may never be able to come
out of his sorrow, and consequently ,will go back into his own secluded world. He is already
undergoing tremendous mental and emotional pressure. So, he expects others to be
understanding, rather than remind him of his disability.

In the play, both Derry and Mr Lamb are in a similar situation. Mr Lamb, as an adult, is able to
cope with such problems, but Derry, being a child, is not able to untangle this web alone.

He develops a strong liking for this old man because he spoke the words, a person with such a
problem would want to hear.

Indigo

Gandhiji's style of politics stressed on the self-reliance of the Indian populace so that they could
stand up for the injustices meted out to them without the need for an advocate. The movement
in Champaran began as an act of defiance, it grew out of an attempt to alleviate the distress of
the multitude of poor peasants which was emblematic of the typical Gandhian pattern. His
politics was intertwined with the practical, day-to-day problems of the millions. He did not have
any loyalty to abstractions, he owed allegiance to living, human beings. Everything that Gandhi
did was an attempt to mould a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet and make India
free.
The leadership is shown by Mahatma Gandhi to secure justice for oppressed people through
convincing argumentation and negotiation.

The chapter ‘Indigo’ emphasizes the fact that effective leadership can solve any kinds of
problems without any harm to anybody. This chapter deals with the way Mahatma Gandhi
solved the problem of poor sharecroppers of Champaran in a non-violent way.

The title ‘Indigo’ focuses our attention on the issue of exploitation of indigo sharecroppers at the
hands of cruel British planters. The British compelled them through a long-term agreement to
plant indigo on 15 per cent of their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. After the
development of synthetic indigo by Germany, the British planters extracted money from the
peasants as compensation for being released from the 15 per cent agreement. The peasants
who wanted their money back filed civil suits. Rajkumar Shukla persuaded Gandhi to take up
the case of Indigo sharecroppers. So indigo sharecropping exemplifies the injustice of the
British and the Indians’ submission to British authority.

The Champaran movement that centred on indigo sharecropping led to the social and cultural
upliftment of the peasants. Thus the title ‘Indigo’ is highly suggestive and appropriate.

Phrases

● urge the departure – insist on the going away of the British from India
● conflict of duties – clash of obligation or responsibility
● harbor a man like me – give shelter to an advocate of home-rule
● seek a prop – try to find support or assistance

Emaciated (weak)

Resolute (Determined)

Tenacity (Firmness)

Haunches (buttock)

Yeoman (small landlords)

Pestered (annoyed)

Advent (arrival)

Conveyance (transport)
Summon (called for)

Triumph (win)

Vehement (eager)

Unlettered (illiterate)

Trench (pits)

What was the incident that prompted Gandhi to raise his voice of protest against the British? HS
2013, 2017

Ans: Gandhi visited Champaran in 1917. The mass movement he led there against the cruel
landlords met with success. This episode prompted him to raise his voice of protest against the
British rule later.

12. Why did Gandhi choose to go to Muzaffarpur first before going on to Champaran? HS 2018

Ans: Gandhi chose to go to Muzaffarpur first before going on to Champaran to obtain more
complete information about the conditions of the sharecropper peasants.

13. How was a solution to the problem of indigo share croppers of Champaran found? HS 2019

Ans: The landlords agreed to make refunds to the peasants. They were obliged to surrender
part of the money and their prestige. The peasants were now entitled to their rights.

14. Why was Professor Malkani's action of offering shelter to Gandhi 'extraordinary'? HS 2020

Ans: Government employees were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of home-rule in those
days. So, he calls Professor Malkani's action of offering shelter 'extraordinary'.

Describe the exploitation of the indigo sharecroppers by the English landlords. Did Gandhi help
them to get an honourable settlement? HS 2013, 2017, 2020

Ans: Most of the arable land in the Champaran district was divided into large estates owned by
Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was indigo. The landlords
compelled all tenants to plant 15 percent of their holdings with Indigo and surrender the entire
harvest as rent. This was done by long-term contract. Presently, the landlords learnt that
Germany had developed synthetic indigo. They, thereupon, obtained agreements from the
sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from the 15 percent arrangement.
Many peasants signed unwillingly. Those who resisted, engaged lawyers. The landlords hired
thugs. Meanwhile, the information about synthetic indigo reached the illiterate peasants. They
wanted their money back.
Yes, Gandhi helped them to get an honourable settlement. The landlords agreed to make
refunds to the peasants. They were obliged to surrender part of the money and their prestige.
The peasants were now entitled to their rights.

2. Describe the efforts made by R. K. Shukla to persuade Gandhi to go to Champaran? HS

2014

Ans: R. K. Shukla was one of the poor sharecropper peasants of Champaran, Bihar. He met
Gandhi at the Lucknow annual convention of Indian National Congress in 1916. He requested
Gandhi to visit his home district Champaran to rescue the indigo peasants from the exploitation
of their cruel landlords. Gandhi had to visit several places in India for months before going to
Champaran. All these months, Shukla followed Gandhi wherever he went. Impressed by the
sharecropper's tenacity and story, Gandhi told Shukla to take him from Calcutta on a particular
date. Finally, Gandhi and Shukla met Calcutta and started for Champaran.

3. 'The battle of Champaran is won', Gandhi exclaimed. Explain the context in which this was
said. HS 2015, 2016

Ans: Gandhi reached Champaran to fight against the injustice done to the peasants there by
their landlords. He was summoned to court for protesting against the landlords who were British.
Rajendra Prasad, Brij Kishor Babu, Maulana Mazharul Huq and several other prominent lawyers
had arrived from Bihar to help and advise Gandhi. Gandhi asked them what they would do if he
was sentenced to prison. The lawyers consulted among themselves and thought that if a
stranger like Gandhi was prepared to go to prison for the sake of the peasants, it would be
shameful on their part to desert him as they were the residents of Bihar. They went back to
Gandhi and told him that they were ready to follow him to jail. At this, Gandhi exclaimed, "The
battle of Champaran is won".

Question 1 : Why did Gandhiji oppose CF Andrews helping him in Champaran?

Answer : Gandhiji was opposed to his friend. CF Andrews, helping him in Champaran as he
thought that his cause was just and urged his lawyer friends to rely on themselves. He also
considered taking help from an Englishman a weakness.

Question 2 : Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of mere 25%?

Answer : Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers in order to break the
deadlock between the landlords and peasants. The fact that the landlords had been obliged to
surrender a part of their prestige with the money gave a moral victory to the farmers.

Question 3 : How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he was resolute?

Answer : Rajkumar Shukla established himself as a resolute man by going along with Gandhiji
wherever he went until Gandhiji agreed to go to Champaran with him to solve the problems of
the peasants there.

Question 4 : How was Gandhiji treated at Rajendra Prasad’s house?

Answer : The servants at Rajendra Prasad’s house took Gandhiji to be another untouchable
person. So, he was not allowed to draw water from the well lest some drops from his bucket
pollute the entire source of water.
Question 5 : What were the terms of the indigo contract between the British landlords and the
Indian peasants?

Answer : The British landlords had entered into a long-term contract with the farmers according
to which they compelled them to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and the farmers had to
surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

Question 6 : Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to court was useless?

Answer : Gandhiji got the details of the case and came to the conclusion that taking such a case
to the court would do little good. He also felt that as the peasants were fear-stricken, the real
relief would be to make them fearless.

Question 7 : How did the Champaran peasants react when they heard that a Mahatma had
come to help them?

Answer : A large number of peasants from Champaran came to Muzaffarpur when they came to
know that a Mahatma (Gandhiji) had come to help them. They came by foot and by conveyance
to meet their champion.

Question 8 : What made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji?

Answer : When Gandhiji appeared in the court at Motihari, thousands of peasants held a
demonstration. The officials felt helpless and the trial was postponed, and Gandhiji was
released wtihout bail. All this made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji.

Question 9 : What made Gandhiji demand 50% refund from the British landlords?

Answer : Gandhiji demanded 50% refund of the money collected from the peasants by the
landlords as he had a lot of evidence against the landlords. He also wanted to break the
deadlock between the peasants and landlords.
Question 10 : While at Champaran how did Gandhiji keep a long distance watch on his ashram?

Answer : Gandhiji kept a long distance watch on his ashram by sending regular instructions by
mail. This way he asked for the financial accounts of the ashram and gave instructions to the
concerned persons there.

Question 11 : How were Shukla and Gandhiji received in Rajendra Prasad’s house?

Answer : The servants at Rajendra Prasad’s house knew Shukla as he used to come there to
meet Rajendra Prasad. However, they thought that Gandhiji was just another untouchable
peasant and hence did not allow him to draw water from the well.

Question 12 : “The battle of Champaran is won!” When and why did Gandhiji exclaim this?

Answer : The lawyers first decided to return home if Gandhiji was arrested. But when they
declared that they would fight for the peasants’ cause in the event of Gandhiji’s arrest and
volunteered to court arrest, Gandhiji exclaimed, “The battle of Champaran is won!”

Question 13 : Why did Gandhiji decide to go to Muzaffarpur before going to Champaran?

Answer : Rajkumar Shulka had given a lot of information to Gandhiji about the indigo
sharecroppers of Champaran. However, Gandhiji visited Muzaffarpur to inquire from the lawyers
about the issue, as they frequently represented the sharecroppers in the court.

Question 14 : Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning
point in his life?

Answer : The Champaran episode began as an attempt to reduce the distress of poor peasants.
It proved to be a turning point in Gandhiji’s life beause it was a loud proclamation that made the
British realise that he could not be ordered about in his own country.

Question 15 : Why did the servants think Gandhiji to be another peasant?

Answer : The servants knew that Rajkumar Shukla was a poor farmer who pestered their
master, Rajendra Prasad to hep the indigo sharecroppers. Since Gandhiji accompanied Shukla
and was dressed simply, they mistook him to be a peasant.

Question 16 : How did Gandhiji help the peasants of Champaran?

Answer : Gandhiji helped the peasants of Champaran by fighting with the British authorities and
getting their land and money back. He also opened primary schools and arranged doctors for
them.
Question 17 : How was Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers at Champaran?

Answer : Gandhiji’s sincerity towards the peasants’ cause and convincing arguments and
negotiations, thoroughly influenced the lawyers. He criticised them for overcharging the
peasants and encouraged them to court arrest for the peasants’ noble cause.

Question 18 : Why did Rajkumar Shukla want to take Gandhiji to Champaran?

Answer : Rajkumar Shukla wanted to take Gandhiji to Champaran to see the injustice caused to
the peasants of Champaran due to the landlord system in Bihar. He wanted Gandhiji to solve
the issues faced by the peasants.

Question 19 : How did Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Champaran?

Answer : Shukla wanted to take Gandhiji to Champaran to see the injustice of the landlord
system in Bihar. As Gandhiji had a few meetings scheduled in various cities, he followed
Gandhiji everywhere till Gandhiji was impressed by his tenacity and fixed a date to visit
Champaran.

Question 1 : What did Gandhiji do to remove the cultural and social backwardness in the
Champaran villages?

Answer : After the Champaran battle was won and the land given back to the peasants, Gandhiji
continued to stay there as he saw the cultural ad social backwardness of the people of
Champaran and wanted to do something about it immediately. His loyalty was, indeed, to living
human beings and he took the initiative and began the work of eradicating their cultural and
social backwardness. Primary schools were started so that the poor peasants and their children
could be educated. Gandhiji appealed to teachers, and many of his disciples, including his wife
and son, volunteer for the work.

Health conditions in the area were so miserable. Gandhiji got a doctor to volunteer his services
for six months. All this goes to prove that Gandhiji’s loyalty was not to abstractions, but his
politics was always interwined with the practical say to day problems of the millions.

Question 2 : The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji’s life. Elucidate.

Answer : Gandhiji himself accepted the proposition that Champaran episode was a turning point
in his life. It was then that he decided to urge the departure of the British from India.

In fact the Champaran episode was the first experiment of Civil Disobedience in India. When
Gandhiji was on his way to Champaran, he stayed in Muzaffarpur, where he met the lawyers
who were fighting cases for the sharecroppers. The peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken
that Gandhiji concluded that law courts were useless. the real relief for them was to be free from
fear. The spontaneous demonstration by the peasants when Gandhiji was produced in court
showed that they were instilled with a new strength and spirit. Gandhiji showed the poor
peasants how to fight the British with satyagraha. He made them aware of their powers and the
power of ahimsa. He fought for the peasants’ concerns and stayed there (in Champaran) to help
them.

This episode laid the foundation of his future movements and served as a great source of
strength and motivation for all Indians.

Question 3 : Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian
struggle for independence?

Answer : The Champaran episode was one of the major events in the struggle for
independence. It was in the course of this small but significant movement that Gandhiji decided
to urge the departure of the British from India.

A close examination of the problems of the Champaran peasants opened Gandhiji’s eyes to the
unjust policies of the British. He reaslied that people had to be made free from fear and only
then could they be freed from foreign oppression. The spontaneous demonstration of the people
proved that Gandhiji had the nation’s support in his fight against the Britishers. It also aroused
patriotism in the heart of the Indians.

The triumph of the civil disobedience at Champaran motivaed the launching of the movement on
a large scale during the freedom struggle. Gandhiji’s winning the case of the sharecroppers
proved that the British authority could be challenged. Hence, the Champaran episode served as
a stepping stone to the Indian struggle for independence

Question 4 : Describe how, according to Louis Fischer, Gandhiji succeeded in his Champaran
campaign.

Answer : The Champaran campaign was an attempt to free the poor peasants of Champaran
from the injustice and exploitation at the hands of the Britishers. Gandhiji succeeded in this
campaign using his method of satyagraha and non-violence. He visited Muzaffarpur to obtain
complete information about the actual condition of the sharecroppers. He first appealed to the
concerned authorities, but when there was no positive response, he organised a mass civil
disobedience movement, with the support of the peasants.

Gandhiji’s main objective was to remove the fear of the British landlords from the heart of the
poor peasants and mould a new free Indian, who could participate in the freedom movement of
the country. He made the peasants aware of their rights and gave them a new-found confidence
for fighting their own battles. He also taught them to be self-reliant by refusing to take the help of
CF Andrews, his English friend.

Question 5 : Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers? How did it
influence the peasant-landlord relationship in Champaran?
Answer : Under an ancient arrangement, the peasants of Champaran were sharecroppers. The
landlords forced the Indian tenants to plant 15% of their land with indigo and surrender the
entire indigo harvest as rent.

After Germany developed synthetic indigo, the landlords wanted to dissolve the agreement, as
synthetic indigo would be cheaper. They asked the peasants for compensation to release them
from this arrangement. Most of them signed it willingly, but felt cheated after they learned about
the synthetic indigo.

Gandhiji fought their case and the evidence he collected was so overwhelming that the
landlords were asked to repay. When Gandhiji asked for 50% repayment, the landlords offered
to pay only 25% as they wanted to create a deadlock, and thus prolong the dispute. To
everybody’s surprise, Gandhiji agreed to a refund of only 25%. Gandhiji explained that the
amount of refund was not important. What mattered was that the landlords were obliged to
surrender a part of their money and with it, part of their prestige. He also wanted to end the
deadlock between the peasants and the landlords.
Question 6 : Give an account of Gandhiji’s efforts to secure justice for the poor indigo
sharecroppers of Champaran.

Answer : In the course of his journey to Champarn with Rajkumar Shukla, Gandhiji stayed at
Muzzafarpur where he met the lawyers and concluded that fighting through courts was not
going to solve the problem of the poor sharecroppers of Champaran. He declared that the real
relief for them was to be free from fear. With this intention, he arrived in Champaran and
contacted the Secretary of the British Landlord’s Association. The Secretary refused to provide
any information to him. After this, Gandhiji met the Commissioner of the Tirhut division who
served a notice on him to immediately leave Tirhut.

Gandhiji accepted the notice by signing it and wrote on it that he would not obey the order. He
was even willing to court arrest for the cause of the peasant. After four rounds of talks with the
Governor, an official commission of inquiry was appointed in which Gandhiji was made the sole
representative of the peasants.

Through this commission, Gandhiji succeeded in getting 25% of the compensation award for the
poor sharecropper from the British landowners.

Question 7 : Why did Rajkumar Shukla invite Gandhiji to Champaran? How did Gandhiji solve
the problem of the indigo farmers?

Answer : Rajkumar Shukla who was an illiterate and oppressed indigo farmer from Champaran,
invited Gandhiji to visit his district so that he could solve the problems faced by the miserable
peasants.
Gandhiji’s truthfulness, sincerity of purpose and fearless efforts enabled him to solve the
problem of the indigo farmers. He began by trying to get the facts. The British landlords as well
as Commissioner of Tirhut were non-cooperative and did not entertain Gandhiji. Lawyers from
the Murzaffarpur briefed him about court cases of these peasants.

Gandhiji and lawyers collected depositions by about ten thousand peasants. Notes were made
on other evidence. Documents were collected. The whole area throbbed with the activities of the
investigators and forceful protests of landlords.

The Lieutenant Governor summoned Gandhiji. After four long interviews between Gandhiji and
Lieutenant Governor, an official commission of inquiry was appointed to look into the indigo
sharecroppers’ situation. Gandhiji was the sole representative of the peasants. The official
inquiry assembled huge quantity of evidence against the big planters. After negotiation a
settlement of 25% refund to the farmers was agreed on. This was a moral victory for the
peasants. They recognised their rights and learned courage.
Question 8 : How did Gandhiji use satyagraha and non-violence at Champaran to achieve his
goal?

Answer : Gandhiji reached Champaran with a goal to alleviate the peasants’ sufferings at the
hands of the British landlords. He met the Secretary of the Landlords’ Association and the
Commissioner who told him to leave Champaran. He signed the order but also wrote that he
would disobey it and sent a full report to the Viceroy. This was followed by spontaneous
demonstrations by thousands of peasants around the court house. The lawyers too resolved to
follow Gandhiji to jail forcing the case against him to be dropped. This was the first victory of
Civil Disobedience. Then an official enquiry into the indigo sharecropper situation was instituted
and the landlords agreed to refund the peasants. Gandhiji accepted the 25% refund. The
landlords surrendered part of their prestige with the money. So, Gandhiji achieved the objective
of removing the fear from the minds of the poor peasants and getting justice for them through
satyagraha and non-violence.

Value based questions

Question 1 : Exploitation is a universal phenomenon. The poor indigo farmers were exploited by
the British landlords to which Gandhiji objected. Even after our independence we find
exploitation of unorganised labour. What values do we learn from Gandhiji’s campaign to
counter the present day problems of exploitation?

Answer : Gandhiji’s campaign in Champaran is relevant even in the present day to counter the
problems of exploitation. What we must keep in mind is to teach the oppressed to be
courageous. Unless they overcome the fear within them, they will never be able to fight for their
rights. Therefore, priority has to be given to empowering and making the labour class bold and
fearless and to give them the courage to oppose injustice and exploitation. Another thing we
must remember is to focus not on the problems but on the solution of the problems. We must
possess a humanitarian approach and should be ready to brave harships with non-violence,
patience and perseverance. Only then can we overcome the present-day problems of
exploitation.

Question 2 : Our scriptures tell us that determination and perseverance are cardinal virtues of a
good human being. Rajkumar Shukla succeeded in taking Gandhiji to Champaran with the help
of these two. How can young students today use these two qualities to make successful careers
for themselves?

Answer : Determination is your decision to do something against all odds. Perseverance is to

keep doing something for the time needed to achieve your goal no matter how long or difficult
the path is. No wonder these two qualities should be the mantra for young students to make a
successful career for themselves. If there is one quality, one personality trait that is most
correlated with success, it is the trait of persistence – the ability to endure till the end. With a
little more perseverance , what once seemed a hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.
Determination and perseverance gives us hope that the righteous suffer no other failure except
that of giving up and no longer trying

Question 3 : “Several days later, Gandhiji received a written communication from the magistrate
informing him that the Lieutenant Governor of the province had ordered the case to be dropped.
Civil Disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India.”

Since our childhood we are taught not to indulge in disobedience to anyone. But Gandhiji did
not and finally, Civil Disobedience won.

After reading ‘Indigo’ and the above statement, how can we display disobedience occasionally
and succeed? Explain.

Answer : Disobedience is usually not considered a characteristic of desirable behaviour. Here,

in this chapter, we see someone as great as Gandhiji indulge in disobedience, and still achieve
success. However, Gandhiji practised disobedience against he unjust rules laid down by the
Britishers. He waged a ‘peaceful war’ against the Britishers by the method of Civil
Disobedience. Disobedience is not permitted in society. However, if we are fighting for a noble
cause, it does not matter if we are disobedient. If our disobedience can solve the problems of
innocent sufferers, we may need to be disobedient sometimes.

A child should normally be obedient to his elders, but when they are exploiting him, then he has
to be disobedient. This disobedience will be justified because he has a right to raise his voice
against exploitation.

Evans tries an o level

Chap - Fellow, Guy

Card - Unusual
Imitation - Mimicry, Copy

Kleptomaniac - Obsessive impulse to steal

Incommunicado - Isolated, Solitary confinement

Persistent - Constant, Perpetual

Dank Schon - Thank you very much

Grubby - Dirty, Unwashed

Bunk - Bed, Berth

Burly - Strong, Sturdy

Bobble - A tufted ball on a hat

Surly - Ill-tempered, Sulky

Smouldered - Burn, Seethe

Mug - Face

Contemptuous - Scornful, Disdainful

Leered - Sneer, Stare

Filthy - Dirty, Soiled

Drizzle - Shower, Mizzle

Battered - Threadbare, Worn out

Swath - Strip, Space

Bug - Annoy, Irritate

Minister - Priest, Pastor

Riveted - Rooted, Fixed

Frisked - Search, Check

Hitherto - So far, Till now

Amiable - Pleasant, Friendly

Ruffled - Disturbed, Upset

Pleasantry - Humorous comment, remark

Haemorrhoids - Piles

Demeanour - Behaviour, Deportment

Staccato - Disconnected, Short abrupt sound

Bleep - Brief high pitched sound

Askew - Aslant, Lopsided

Meticulously - Very careful, Painstaking

Manicured - Cosmetic treatment of nails

Fishy - Doubtful, Suspicious

Daft - Crazy, Foolish

Squelchy - Soggy, Sodden

Wodge - Lump, Piece

Perplexed - Baffled, Bewildered

Grim - Grave, Serious

Dredging - Unearth, Bring up

Crescendo - Gradual increase in volume

Tarnished - Faded, Lackluster

Squealed - Screeched, Screamed

Scathing - Caustic, Burning

Blithering - Stupid, Jabbering

Paraphernalia - Kit, Articles used in a particular activity

Strident - Harsh, Cacophonous

Gullible - Innocent, Naive

Groggy - Weak, Unsteady

Gagged - A piece of cloth stuffed into mouth

Wreckage - Remains, Ruin

Ruefully - Sorrowfully, Remorsefully

Reluctant - Unwilling, Disinclined

Idioms and phrases

● Barking up the wrong tree-
● Making a mistake or a false assumption in something you are trying to achieve.
● Get out of hand- Get out of control
● A perfect storm-the worst possible situation
● A feather in one's cap - An achievement to be proud of.
Theme

This story depicts a clash of wit between a criminal and the law enforcing authorities in which
the prisoner Evans befools the jail authorities and manages to escape from the prison. If the
government and law enforcing officials are vigilant, crime can be detected and criminals can be
booked. But criminals like Evans can hoodwink the authorities and escape punishment as long
as the officials are slow and lack alertness and wit. More Summary It is the month of early
March. The secretary of the Examination Board receives a call from the Governor of the H.M.
Prison, Oxford. He tells that a prisoner named Evans has started night classes in O Level
German. Now he wants to attain some academic qualification. The Secretary replies that there
is no need to worry. All the necessary forms and other requisite material will be sent. They will
give him a chance. He enquires about Evans. The Governor tells him that Evans has no record
of violence. Rather he is an amusing fellow. He is one of the stars at the Christmas concert. The
Secretary asks him if they can arrange a room where Evans can sit in for the examination. The
Governor tells that the room of Evans can be used for this purpose. The Secretary agrees and
tells that they could get a parson from St. Mary Mags to invigilate. The Governor takes utmost
care to see that he would not be fooled. Every care was taken to make Evans prepare for the
exam. He was tutored by a German teacher for 6 months.
The day before the exam the teacher wishes good luck but makes it clear that he had hardly
any ‘chance of getting through.’ But Evans gives an ironical twist to the tutor’s observation by
saying “I may surprise everybody.” On the day of the exam Jackson and Stephens visited
Evan’s cell and took away everything that may help him injure himself. Evans was insisted to
take away the hat but he refused saying that it was lucky charm. Evan’s cell was bugged so that
the Governor could himself listen to each and every conversation in the cell. The invigilator Rev.
S. Mc Leery too was searched and left him invigilator Rev. S. Mc Leery too was searched and
left him to complete the task. Stephen sitting outside the cell every now and then peeped into
the cell. The exam went on smoothly. Stephen escorted the invigilator to the main gate and
looked into Evan’s cell and found the invigilator (actually Evans) wounded, informed the
Governor. The latter was to be hospitalized but informed that he was alright and asked them to
follow Evans. Thus he escaped the prison. When the invigilator was not found in the hospital
they went to the residence of Rev. S. Mc Leery only to find him ’bound and gagged in his study
in Broad Street”. He has been there, since 8.15 a.m. Now everything was clear to the Governor.
Evan escaped the prison the fourth time. But by taking the hint from the question paper the
Governor reached the hotel where Evans was staying. He captured him and came to know how
he planned his escape. The Governor said that his game was over. Evans surrendered himself
to the Governor. Evans was handcuffed and sent away with a prison officer in the prison van.
But here again he befools the Governor Both the prison officer and the prison van were part of
the plan devised by Evan’s friends.
Once again he was a free bird.

Question and answer

1.What kind of person was Evans? Why did he want to sit for O-level German examination?
Ans. Evans was considered a pleasant sort of chap by the prison authorities. They called him
‘Evans the Break’ because of his prior attempts to escape from the prison. He was a congenital
kleptomaniac. Evans wanted to sit for the O-level German examination because he saw it as
another opportunity to escape from the prison.

Q. Who was Carter? What did the Governor ask him to do?
Ans. Carter was Detective Superintendent. The Governor asked him to take McLeery with him
and follow Evans in the direction as told by McLeery.

Q. What did the Detective Superintendent inform the Governor about Evans?
Ans. Superintendent Carter informed the Governor that McLeery had spotted Evans driving off
along Elsfield Way. They had got the number of the car all right. They had given a chase
immediately, but they had lost him at the Headington roundabout. He assumed that Evans must
have doubled back into the city.

Q. What were the content of the small brown suitcase that McLeery carried?
Ans. The small brown suitcase, which Reverend McLeery carried, contained all that he would
require for his morning duties, including a sealed question paper envelop, a yellow invigilation
form, a special authentication card from the Examination Board, a paper knife, a Bible and a
current copy of the Church Times.

Q. How did the Governor react to the two phone calls he received in quick succession?
Ans. The two phone calls the Governor received in quick succession made him suspect that the
calls might be fake, that it might be some kind of signal or a secret message. To be completely
sure, he dialed the Exam Board number. However, he heard beeps of an engaged line.
Q. Why did Evans not take off his hat when Jackson ordered him to do so?
Ans. Evans did not take off his hat when Jackson ordered him to do so because according to
Evans it was his lucky Charm. However in reality he wanted to hide his cropped hair so that he
could pass off as McLeery. Also, keeping his hat on would hide his plan to escape.

Q. What precautions did the authorities take for the smooth conduct of the O-level examination?
Ans. Fearing that Evans might escape, the exam was conducted in Evans’ prison cell itself. It
was installed with a microphone so that the Governor could listen to every talk. The cell was
fully checked by the staff who took away anything that could Answers pose a threat. Moreover,
the staff was put on high alert, doors and gates were locked. Prison officer Stephens was to
peep into Evans’ cell after every few minutes. The parson who came to invigilate, was frisked at
the prison gate and his briefcase was checked thoroughly.

Q. Which article in McLeery’s suitcase played perhaps the most significant role in Evans’
escape and how?
Ans. The most significant article in McLeery’s suitcase was the rubber tube, which he said he
required to sit on since he was suffering from piles. In reality, the rubber tube contained pig
blood. Evans was going to disguise as Rev. McLeery and pretend to be injured and bleeding. It
was a strategy to help Evans escape from the prison.
Q. How did the Governor, Oxford Prison describe Evans to the Secretary, Examination Board?
OR

According to the Governor what kind of person was Evans?

OR
What opinion of Evans did the prison authorities convey to the Secretary, Education Board?
Ans. The Governor gave quite a satisfactory report about Evans to the Secretary of the Board. It
was stated that Evans had no record of violence and that he was quite a ‘pleasant sort of chap’.
He also said that Evans was one of the stars at the Christmas concert. However, he suffered
from a weakness, he was just a congenital kleptomaniac.

Q. What was his German teacher’s opinion of Evans’ proficiency in German?

Ans. According to Evans’ German teacher, his language ability was not quite up to the mark, in
fact, it was doubtful. Evans could not even understand basic pleasantries in German.

Q. Why did ‘Rev. McLeery’ bring a rubber ring with him to the prison?
Ans. Rev. McLeery brought a rubber ring with him to the prison for an important reason.
Although he told the prison guards that the ring was for him to sit on (due to his piles), the ring
contained pig blood, which would eventually help Evans to escape from the prison. Since, there
was no other way to carry the blood into the examination room, it was carried in the rubber ring.
Q. How did Evans have the last laugh at the Governor?
Ans. Evans already had a well thought out plan B in case his initial plan failed. When the
Governor recaptured Evans and handed him over to the silent prison officer, the Governor was
unaware that the officer as well as the driver of prison van were actually Evans’ accomplices. As
Evans finally escaped, he had the last laugh at the Governor.

Q. Jackson went through the contents of Rev. McLeery’s suitcase. Which object therein puzzled
him sorely? What was his comment on that?
Ans. While Jackson went through the contents of Rev. McLeery’s suitcase, the object, which
puzzled him the most was the semi-inflated rubber tube. Seeing the rubber tube there Jackson
asked the Reverend whether he was thinking of going for a swim.

Q. What could the Governor have done to securely bring Evans back to the prison from the
‘Golden Lion’?
Ans. To bring Evans securely back to the prison from the Golden Lion, the Governor could have
brought the police force with him from the prison itself. Alternatively, he could have travelled in
the van himself with Evans to take him to the prison. The Governor should have been more
vigilant and checked the credentials of the officials escorting him to the prison.
Q. Which important call did the Governor receive when the examination was going on?
Ans. When the examination was going on, the Governor received two important phone calls.
The first call was from the University regarding a correction slip, which was not sent with the
question paper. The second call was supposedly from the magistrate’s office requesting for a
van and two prison officers.

Q. Describe the precautions taken by the prison officers to prevent Evans from escaping.
OR

What precautions were taken by the prison authorities to ensure that the German exam was
conducted smoothly and also under strict security?
Ans. During Evans’ O-Level German test, special precautions were taken by the prison staff to
prevent him from escaping. The test was scheduled to be taken in his own cell. A parson from
St. Mary Mags was called to invigilate and to keep the prisoner incommunicado during the
exam. Evans was placed in the heavily guarded Recreational Block. There were two locked
doors between his cell and the yard, which boasted of a high wall. Moreover, all the prison
officers were on high alert. The Governor got a microphone installed in Evans’ cell, while
Stephens kept peeping into the cell every few minutes. Two prison officers, Mr. Jackson and Mr.
Stephens, thoroughly checked his cell for any sign of possible escape. His razor, nail filer and
nail scissors were also taken away.
Q. It was sheer negligence on the part of the prison staff that helped Evans to escape.
Comment.
Ans. Even after taking various drastic precautions, for the smooth conduct of the exam, Evans
fools the Governor and the prison authority in every step of the way. Stephens notices that
Evans is wearing a hat but does not ask him to remove it. The hat concealed Evans’ cropped
hair. Similarly, the prison staff do not check McLeery’s identity or verify the phone call or
recognise Evans impersonating McLeery. All this helps him to escape prison easily. Later,
though the Governor is able to catch him red-handed, at the capital, Evans escapes once again,
this time audaciously in the prison van. Therefore, it proves that it is sheer negligence on the
part of the prison staff that helps Evans to escape.

Q. Give a character-sketch of the Governor of Oxford Prison based on your understanding of

the story, ‘Evans Tries an O-Level’.
Ans. The Governor of the Oxford prison was a kind-hearted man, who requested the Secretary
of the Examination board to allow Evans to appear for the O-level German Examination. He also
seemed smart and efficient fellow, who, knowing that Evans had a tendency to escape prison,
took every precaution to prevent that from happening. Yet, by the end of the story, he turned out
to be a gullible man with qualities, which are ‘good-for-agiggle’. Never once he doubted Evans’
intentions of appearing for the test even though his German was very bad. The Governor’s men
made sure that Evans was not left with anything sharp and informed him that the Governor
himself would be listening to each and every conversation going on in the cell. In spite of that
neither the Governor nor his men were able to stop Evans from escaping. In the end the
Governor was able to catch hold of Evans because of his smart thinking and commendable
investigating skills. However, his habit of leaving things on others caused Evans to escape his
clutches yet again. Therefore, it is suffice to say that the Governor was alert on some occasions,
but on others, quite negligent and over-confident man, with a bad judgment of character. It is for
this reason, Evans was able to escape from his prison multiple times.
Q. How did the question paper and correction slip help the prisoner and the Governor?
Ans. The Governor received a call from the Assistant Secretary of the Examination Board
saying that there was a correction slip, which was not attached to the question paper. He
requested the Governor if he could read out the correction to Evans. The correction was ‘zum
goldenen Lowen’. In reality, it was an indication informing Evans where he was supposed to go
after escaping from jail. Although, the Governor did not suspect anything, the correction slip
helped Evans to know the name of the hotel and its location. Later, when the Governor learned
about Evans’ escape, Rev. McLeery (Evans in reality) showed him the question paper at the
back of which, instructions were given to help Evans escape. These instructions were meant to
misguide the jail authorities. However, the Governor was able to put together the index and
centre numbers. With the six digit reference and the help of a survey map, the Governor came
to know Evans had escaped to Chipping Norton. Now, the Governor could work out a plan to
arrest Evans.

Q. How was ‘injured’ McLeery able to befool the prison officers?

Ans. An ‘injured’ McLeery was able to fool the prison officers easily because he was actually
Evans dressed as parson, pretending to be Rev. McLeery. Evans was nicknamed ‘Evans the
Break’ because earlier he had been able to escape prison thrice already. This time, he
requested to appear for O-Level German Exam. The one who came to invigilate carried pig
blood in a rubber tube. With the help of fake blood McLeery pretended to be bleeding profusely.
He pretended to cover his ‘bleeding wound’ with a handkerchief. This was an opportunity for him
to hide his face and since he was in so much pain be could not speak. To avoid being taken to
the hospital, Evans (as McLeery) offered to help the officers track ‘Evans’, whom they thought
had escaped. He even told them that ‘Evans’ had gone towards Elsfield Way. The Governor
ordered McLeery to accompany Carter since he was the only one who knew everything that had
happened. Thus, Evans (as McLeery) managed to leave the premises with Detective
Superintendent Carter without anyone suspecting anything. An unsuspecting Detective
Superintendent Carter dropped ‘McLeery’ at the Radcliffe hospital. However, when the
Governor called the hospital, he was told that the injured McLeery had escaped.

The Rattrap

A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new
trees.
– Amelia Earhart

Always be a little kinder than necessary.

– James M. Barrie

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes
misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
– Albert Schweitzer

Glossary

profitable
(adjective) (of a business or activity) yielding financial gain; beneficial; useful

monotonous
(adjective) dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest

vagabond
(noun) a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job

meditation
(noun) a written or spoken discourse expressing considered thoughts on a subject

plod
(verb) walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps

bait
(noun) food to entice fish or other animals as prey; an allurement; a thing intended to tempt or
entice

snare
(noun) a trap for catching birds or animals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord; a thing
likely to lure or tempt someone into harm or error

Mjölis
(noun) a Swedish card game played with a standard 52-card deck

crofter
(noun) someone who works a small rented farm (a croft) comprising a plot of arable land
attached to a house and with a right of pasturage held in common with other such farms.

krona
(noun) the basic monetary unit of Sweden, equal to 100 öre

incredulous
(adjective) (of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something

pane
(noun) a single sheet of glass in a window or door

despair
(noun) the complete loss or absence of hope

smelt
(verb) extract (metal) from its ore by a process involving heating and melting

anvil
(noun) a heavy steel or iron block with a flat top, concave sides, and typically a pointed end, on
which metal can be hammered and shaped.

bellows
(noun) a device with an air bag that emits a stream of air when squeezed together with two
handles, used for blowing air into a fire.

tramp
(noun) a person who travels from place to place on foot in search of work or as a vagrant or
beggar

inconspicuous
(adjective) not clearly visible or attracting attention
persuasion
(noun) the action or fact of persuading someone or of being persuaded to do or believe
something.

valet
(noun) a personal male attendant, responsible for his clothes and appearance.

dissimulate
(verb) conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character)

Justification of Title

“The Rattrap” is an appropriate title as it is the story of a rattrap peddler. The author has used
the metaphor of a Rattrap to highlight the human predicament. Just as a rat is fooled by bait and
gets trapped, most human beings also fall into the trap of material benefits. The story revolves
around the incident of a man getting trapped due to his greed. Hence, the title is an apt one.

Symbol

The Signature (Symbol)

At the end of the story, Edla reads the letter the vagabond leaves for her, on which he signs off
as Captain von Ståhle. We never learn the vagabond's true name, so this label he gives himself
(the name of the Captain with whom the Ironmaster confused him), becomes, for the reader, his
only identity. Perhaps denying the vagabond a name is a way for Lagerlöf to emphasize his
transformation from someone who is expected to steal and swindle, to someone who is
expected to be an upstanding citizen. In any case, the signature definitely signifies the
vagabond's belief in his personal transformation.

Themes

Poverty/Class

Lagerlöf forefronts the poverty endured by the vagabond—in the very first paragraph, she
describes his destitution. She tells her reader that though he sells rat traps to survive, "the
business was not especially profitable, so he had to resort to both begging and petty thievery to
keep body and soul together. Even so, his clothes were in rags, his cheeks were sunken, and
hunger gleamed in his eyes" (66). The tone of the story is not one of judgment; the reportorial
manner with which Lagerlöf simply lays out the facts of the vagabond's condition suggests that
Lagerlöf recognizes the impossible challenge of surviving poverty while also following the law
and abstaining from thievery.

On the other hand, Lagerlöf also portrays the crofter and the Willmanssons, who represent,
respectively, two socioeconomic classes that are very distinct from each other and from the
vagabond's. The crofter seems to have his needs met, but he still relies on his cow for a living.
In other words, he needs the money that the vagabond steals from him. The Willmanssons are
the richest people in this story. They live in a large house on a spacious lot, and Mr.
Willmansson owns a successful iron mill. Edla, the Ironmaster's daughter, feels a strong desire
to provide for the vagabond, despite the initial deceit of him allowing the Ironmaster to think he
was a former war buddy. Perhaps Edla feels this obligation because she recognizes that she
and her father have so much, while others have so little.

Pessimism
Closely related to the theme of poverty is that of pessimism. Lagerlöf interweaves these themes,
demonstrating how a life in poverty can lead to desperation and disillusionment. This is why the
central metaphor of the story, the vagabond's theory that all good things in the world are simply
different forms of bait luring people to their respective demises, is so rooted in a pessimistic
outlook on the world. This outlook originates in the experience of someone (the vagabond) who
rarely has enough resources to feed and clothe himself. The vagabond is actually quite happy
when he comes up with the rat trap metaphor for the world because, Lagerlöf writes, "the world
had, of course, never been very kind to him, so it gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it in this
way" .

Furthermore, any act of kindness or generosity surprises the vagabond. Lagerlöf writes that he
is usually greeted by "sour faces" when he knocks on a door looking for food or shelter. The
kindness of the crofter comes as a surprise, and the incessant kindness of Edla, even after they
find out that the vagabond is not who they thought he was, downright shocks him. As he sits
down for Christmas dinner, Lagerlöf describes his confusion: "Time after time he looked at the
young girl who had interceded for him. Why had she done it? What could the crazy idea be?".
The man doesn't believe himself worthy of kindness, and so he questions the motives of those
who extend kindness to him. The moral of Lagerlöf's tale is that people's actions often reflect the
expectations that others hold for them, and for the first half of the the story, the vagabond holds
the pessimistic view that strangers simply cannot see his value as a human being.

Hospitality
It is worth noting that the events of the story take place on and around Christmas Day. The
biblical story of Christmas involves Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, where they are told
that there are no rooms available at the local inn. The lack of vacancy results in Jesus being
born in a manger, in a barn. When Edla appeals to her father to let the vagabond stay, she cites
the holiday as her main argument. Lagerlöf writes, "That morning she had felt so happy when
she thought how homelike and Christmassy she was going to make things for the poor hungry
wretch". And when Edla speaks on behalf of the vagabond, she says to her father, "I don’t think
we ought to chase away a human being whom we have asked to come here, and to whom we
have promised Christmas cheer" .

It is this very hospitality that gives the vagabond the confidence to return the money. In his note,
he writes, "The rat trap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this
world’s rat trap if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear
himself" . The theme of hospitality exists at the center of the story's moral: that people will often
act in accordance with others' expectations of them, and that therefore, people should treat
each other well. The vagabond writes that their hospitality gave him "power to clear himself,"
suggesting that he actually gained agency from their generous hospitality.

Loneliness
The most subtle theme in this otherwise unsubtle, didactic tale is loneliness. In each act of the
story, Lagerlöf introduces a new character who is motivated by their loneliness. The first is, of
course, the protagonist, the vagabond, about whom Lagerlöf writes, "no one can imagine how
sad and monotonous life can appear to such a vagabond, who plods along the road, left to his
own meditations" . The vagabond's loneliness and sense of alienation and isolation from the
human community significantly contribute to his pessimism.

Then there is the widower crofter, who seems almost as happy to invite the vagabond into his
home as the vagabond is to be invited. Lagerlöf describes the crofter as "an old man without
wife or child, [who] was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness" . The crofter is
radically trusting of his guest, and he goes so far as to show the vagabond exactly where he
keeps his money and how much he has. The crofter is so happy to have human contact that he
doesn't even think to judge the vagabond.

And finally, there is Edla, who lives in a big, mostly empty house with her widower father. She
wants to host the vagabond for Christmas out of the kindness of her heart, but when the
Ironmaster threatens to throw the vagabond out, Lagerlöf writes that "[Edla] had felt so happy
when she thought how homelike and Christmassy she was going to make things for the poor
hungry wretch" . The idea of a fuller house gives Edla joy, and it is clear that her motivations are
not entirely altruistic. She desires the company. "The Rat Trap" is a story in which lonely people
are motivated to be kind in order to feel connected to other human beings.

Question and answer

1.From where did the peddler get the idea of this world being a rattrap?
While plodding along the road, left to his own meditations ,the peddler was struck by the idea
that this world around him with its lands and cities is a big rattrap.It had never existed for any
other purpose than to set baits for its people.
2 Why was he amused by this idea?
The peddler’s life was sad and monotonous. Since the world had never been kind to him, he
was full of bitterness and malice against it. He peddler experienced unwonted joy at everyone
else’s discomfort, pain at being ensnared by the devilish ways of the world. It gave him sadistic
delight to see others caught in the snare and still otherscicling around the bait.
3 Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
The peddler was accustomed to being greeted by sour faces or better still be refused help of
any kind if he approached someone. The crofter , on the contrary was happy to get someone to
talk to in his loneliness. The crofter served him with porridge for supper and tobacco. He also
played a game of cards with him.
4 Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
The crofter was an old man without a wife or child. He was happy to get someone to talk to in
his loneliness. He valued the presence of the peddler so much that he shared his confidences
generously with him. It was probably a way for the crofter to infuse a sense of joy in his
otherwise dreary life
5 Why did he show the thirty kronor notes to the peddler?
The crofter told the peddler that he had earned a reasonable sum of money from his
extraordinary cow that gave him so much milk for creamery everyday and had earned thirty
kronor last month. The peddler seemed incredulous to acknowledge this piece of information.
So, in order to assure his guest of the truth, he showed thirty kronor to him.
6 Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
crofter offered hospitability
shared his secrets, showed him the money
next morning peddler smashed window panes
got the pouch, stole the notes
hung the leather pouch at its place
smartly walked away with the money
7 What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
When the peddler realized that he had been walking around in circles in the forest, he recalled
his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He felt that now his own time had come and the
forest was like an impenetrable prison, a rattrap. Since he had taken the bait, the thirty kronor,
he was caught and escape may not be possible.
8Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
The ironmaster mistook the peddler for his old acquaintance ,the regimental comrade, Captain
von Stahle. He was shocked to see that his old comrade had fallen on bad days. So ,he invited
him to his own house to give him company at Christmas and to make his future secure.
9 Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
The peddler declined the invitation as he was afraid of being detected as a thief. He felt that by
accepting the invitation to go to the ironmaster’s house, he was voluntarily walking into lion’s
den. He only wished to sleep in the forge and sneak away as inconspicuously as possible.
10 What made the peddler accept Edla’s invitation?
Edla’s kindness, persuasive nature, friendly and compassionate manner allowed thepeddler to
have confidence in her. Her assurance that he would be just as free to leave as he came left
him with no option but to accept the invitation.
11What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
When Edla approached him and lifted his hat the man jumped up abruptly and seemed to be
quite frightened. She noticed that the man was afraid as if he had either stolen something or
escaped frm jail. Next morning she went on to express her reservations about the man and told
her father that he did not seem educated at all.
12 When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
When the stranger had been bathed, shaved and had his hair cut by the valet, he appeared truly
clean and well dressed.The ironmaster looked at him with puckered brow, and it was easy for
him to understand that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the
furnace he might have made a mistake.
13 What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the
ironmaster had thought that he was?
The peddler insisted that it had not been his fault for he never pretended to be anything but a
poor trader, and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. He offered to put on his rags and go
away.
14Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Edla did not think it proper to chase away a human being whom they had invited to their house
and had promised him Christmas cheer. She also felt pity for the peddler, who she felt had no
place to rest without the fear of being chased away. She wanted him to have a day of peace
and rest with them. She wanted the peddler to enjoy the Christmas festivities with them. Hence
she still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him.
15Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
16 Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stahle?
The peddler signed the letter as Captain Von Stahle to vindicate his stand and prove that it was
Edla’s kindness and compassion which enabled him to behave in a manner worthy of her trust.
Signing his name as Captain Von Stahle was an acceptance of the exalted stature of the
captain that the peddler had been placed at.
17 How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by thecrofter, the
ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer: Legerlof’s first scene of compassion is from the old man’s hospitality. Despite the fact
that he did not know the peddler, the old man still opened his arms and actedcharitable by
providing food and shelter. Showing scant regard to the crofter’sgenerosity and violating the
trust the old man reposed in him, he stole thirty kronorsfrom his house. Feeling no compunction
about robbing him of his hard earned money, the peddler thought he had acted very smartly.
. As the peddler ponders on the road of guilt, he soon receives a second action of care from the
ironmaster’s hospitality which also did not touch the peddler’s heart. When the iron master
mistook him as an old acquaintance he did not clear his doubt in hope of getting a couple of
kronor notes. When he is invited by the ironmaster to his house to celebrate Christmas, he feels
a sense of entrapment and thus , declines the invitation. On realizing his real identity when the
ironmaster shows him the door, the ungrateful vagabond gives him a piece of his mind saying
that he too might be ensnared in therattrap of this world.
However Edla’s warmth, friendliness and hospitality touched him. When the girl treated him like
a Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left a rattrap as a Christmas gift for
Edla and enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it. Leaving behind the stolen money to be
restored to the owner, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged an
altogether transformed person.
18 What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different
from that of his daughter in many ways?
Answer: The ironmaster misunderstood the peddler for an old acquaintance,whereas his
daughter could make out that the man was afraid, which was suggestive of himhaving stolen
something. Though the father and the daughter express compassion for the vagabond both do
so for different reasons .The ironmaster was sure to help the vagabond get over his tramp
manners because he had mistaken the latter for his old comrade. The daughter however wishes
to feed him and welcome him inspite of knowing that he was not Captain Von Stahle. The father
acts impulsively and casually and invites him without confirming the stranger’s identity. On
realizing his mistake he recklessly wants to hand him over to the sheriff. Only when he is
threatened to be ensnared by the rattrap of this world that he thinks otherwise. Edla on the other
hand shows a strong sense of observation. She rightly judges him to be a tramp without any
education. She persuades her father to let him stay because they had promised him Christmas
cheer. When the blacksmith’s daughter infects the protagonist with her true altruism the
peddler’s inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly duckling to a dazzling
swan.
19 The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’
behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer: The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others.
Used to being greeted by sour faces the crofter seems taken aback at the peddler’s request for
accommodation for the night. Then the peddler’s act of stealing does not match the reader’s
expectations. The breach of trust comes as a bit of a shock.Then the ironmaster’s sudden
invitation to the tramp comes as the next surprise. The peddler’s vehement refusal to
accompany him and later on accepting the invitation at Edla’s insistence all generate surprise.
Edla’s readiness to entertain the peddler even after knowing his reality was quite unexpected.
The most unexpected of gestures is when the peddler leaves for Edla a Christmas gift, a letter
of thanks and the stolen money to be returned to the old crofter. His transformation is that which
completes the chain of unexpected reactions.
20 The story “The Rattrap” focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Comment.
‘The Rattrap’ tells us the story of a lonely peddler who has nothing and no one to call his own.
He wanders from place to place mistreated and mistrusted by the world.
.Then we come across the old crofter who leads a solitary life and hungers for company. He
accords a warm reception to the peddler as he views him as someone to talk to and pass a few
lonely hours with. It is his need to bond that makes him trust the peddler and show him his
money.
Similarly, the ironmaster shows his eagerness for the peddler’s company mistaking him for an
old aquaintance. His wife is no more, his sons are abroad.and he has no one but his eldest
daughter at home. He offers his hospitality to the peddler wanting some suitable company to
ward off his loneliness. Even his daughter, a shy and modest girl, persuades the peddler to stay
with them on Christmas Eve as she has no one to look after and make comfortable except her
father. She looks forward to some company to make the occasion more festive. Finally the
peddler is also enticed by the kindness of the ironmaster’s daughter and the proposition of
peace, rest, good food and excellent company for a change.
The theme of loneliness and the need to bond is projected strongly in all the characters in the
story.
21 The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss
The narrative enthralls the reader toning down its philosophical didacticism. The fast paced third
person narrative together with graphic description of characters, elements of humour, drama
and irony make it an interesting read(Give examples). The element of surprise with regard to the
flow of events holds our interest. This is true of being accepted as a guest by the crofter,
breaking his trust, getting lost in the forest, being invited by the ironmaster and subsequent
refusal together with Edla’s insistence and peddler’s final submission.The final acts of
transformation and redemption make the narrative quite gripping and entertaining.
The author has used the metaphor of a rattrap to highlight the human predicament.Just like the
rats are trapped by cheese and food similarly men are lured by land, food, shelter, clothing etc.
these are baits. Those who touch them are trapped by material benefits. The rattrap brings
home the fact that human goodness is an intrinsic part ofones nature. It can be forever kept
alive through love and understanding. No one is infallible and in ones weak moments is
susceptible to falling to temptation. There could be some individuals with the strength of
character to break through the rattrap and discover the essential human goodness.Thus the
story comes across as both entertaining and philosophical.
22.The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why this is
so? Is the sympathy justified?
The peddler wins the readers’ sympathy for his way of life and how the world treats him. The
vagabond moves about selling small rattraps. As his business is not rewarding , he takes to
begging and petty thievery to keep his body and soul together.
His life is sad and monotonous. He plods along the road lost in his own meditation. HE
CONSIDERS THE WHOLE WORLD AS A BIG RATTRAP. The world has never been kind to
him and it gives him unwonted joy to think ill of it . Whenever he asks shelter for a night , he
meets sour faces. He is an unwelcome , unwanted and undesirable figure. The blacksmith at
forge glance at him only casually and indifferently. The master smith nods a haughty consent
without honouring him with a single word.
His sympathy is justified not only because he was a victim of circumstances but also because
he redeems himself in the end. Edla Willmanson’s kind and compassionate behavior arouses
the tramp’s goodness. He thanks her for her sympathy and returns the stolen money.
23. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
The peddler had been living a despicable life of poverty, despair and frustration without ever
coming across any soul to understand, sympathize, love and guide him. Neither the crofter’s
hospitality nor the ironmaster’s invitation to the manor house made any impact on him. In fact he
repaid the crofter by stealing his earnings and the ironmasterby giving a piece of his mind when
the latter talked of taking the matter to the sheriff.
However , the meeting with the ironmaster’s daughter was the turning point in his life. The
kindness , the concern and the understanding that she showed him touched the core of his
heart and transformed his way of thinking. The ironmaster’s daughter understood that he
needed security and succor and convinced her father to allow him to stay on in their house to
share the Christmas cheer. She restored his dignity and self worth. She treated him like a
captain of the army though she was aware that he was a common tramp.
When the girl treated him like a Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left
a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it.
Leaving behind the stolen money to be restored to the owner, he redeemed himself from his
dishonest ways and emerged an altogether transformed person.
24. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One can notimagine
how dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread. The
metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was plodding along the road, duly lost
in his own meditations. The whole world about him- the whole world with its lands, seas, cities
and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose
than to set baits for people to trap them. The world offered riches, joys, food, shelter and
clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. As soon as anyone is
tempted and he to touches the bait, it closes on him and then everything came to an end for him
in life.
The peddler remembered his thoughts about the world and the rattrap when he was lost in a
huge , confusing forest , with the stolen money in his pocket. He felt now his turn had come. He
had let himself befooled by bait. Now he had been caught and there was no escape. Once
again the metaphor of rattrap gets relevant in connection with the peddler’s encounter with the
ironmaster. The ironmaster invited the peddler to his house. He refused to go there thinking that
going up there would mean throwing himself into the lion’s den.
Whenever a person finds himself at the crossroads of temptation and righteousness, the mirage
of materialism fools him and he gets entrapped in the world’s dangerous snare. This is where
human predicament follows suit.
The metaphor of a rattrap reveals man’s helplessness in pursuit of life’s ambitions. The world
thus becomes a huge rattrap. Though one can’t see the bars and wires yet one gets firmly
entrenched in the quagmire of situations and circumstances. The pettiness and triviality of life’s
situations pull an individual deeper into the abyss of loss with no scope for deliverance.