Two Gentlemen

of Verona
- A J Cronin
 DISCUSSION

• What are the qualities of a gentleman?

• Does a gentleman have consideration for others and their feelings?

• Based on your discussion above,what do you think the story is about?

Qualities of a Gentleman
• Confident
• Generous
• Have a positive outlook
• Wise
• Empathetic
• Life-long learner
• Treats everyone equally
• Has a strong work ethics
• Has high moral integrity
• Well mannered
About Verona
• a city on the Adige River in Veneto, Italy
• one of the seven provincial capitals of the region, and is the largest
city municipality in the region
• one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy because of its
artistic heritage and several annual fairs and shows as well as the 
opera season in the Arena, an ancient Roman amphitheater.
• Two of William Shakespeare's plays are set in Verona: 
Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. 
Verona- The Gateway to Italy

Verona Arena
Nicola
elder of the loving, caring and
two brothers, responsible;
13 year old indomitable spirit

showers motherly The war

love and care on infused in him a
Jacopo
12 year old,
younger of the
shabbily dressed,
two brothers full of life

loving, caring narrator found

and him to be as ‘lively
Narrator
sensitive to
a man of keen
the world
observation
around him

though inquisitive, considerate

doesn’t have a and kind-
Theme
• The story is about responsibility, hope, hardships, sincerity and staying
satisfied.
• Right from the outskirts of Verona to the heart of the town the brothers
go all over with grace and dignity. Considering no work to be menial,
these young boys with gentlemen-like qualities go about performing all
jobs with a great sense of integrity.
• The story deals with the theme that it is not the span of years but the
strength of character that lends finesse to the texture of life. Nobility of
life is more significant than physical appearance and financial status.
• Focusing one’s attention to the solution rather than the problem helps
one get over the most challenging hardships of life.
Significance of the title Two Gentlemen
of Verona

• The two brothers were kind and caring towards their sister
and very polite towards others.
• They never wanted to exploit other people's pity or
kindness to achieve their end.
• War did not spoil their gentle nature.
Answer the following questions
1. Why didn’t Luigi, the driver approve of the two boys?
2. The two boys were of great help to the narrator while he stayed in the
town. How?
3. What led the boys to dislike the Germans?
Reference to Context
“I don’t know what they do, I do not ask. Work is scarce in Verona.”
a. Who is the speaker?
b. Who are ‘they’ in the given lines?
c. In what context does the speaker speak these lines?
Value based question
Do you think the boys looked after Lucia willingly? Give reasons for
your answer. What qualities do they exhibit?