Treasure Trove Book ICSE Guide

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 4 Hearts and Hands

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 4 Hearts and Hands – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

EnglishMathsPhysicsChemistryBiology

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

Comprehension Passages

Passage 1

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

At Denver there was an influx of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B. & M. express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in elegant taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveler. Among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed together.

As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only vacant seat offered was a reversed one facing the attractive young woman. Here the linked couple seated themselves. The young woman’s glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile brightening her countenance and a tender pink tingeing her rounded cheeks, she held out a little gray-gloved hand. When she spoke her voice, full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaimed that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.

“Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, 1 suppose 1 must. Don’t vou ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?”

The younger man roused himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.

“It’s Miss Fairchild,” he said, with a smile. “I’ll ask you to excuse the other hand; “it’s otherwise engaged just at present.”

He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining “bracelet” to the left one of his companion.

Question 1.
Describe the young woman in the coach.
Answer:
In one of the coaches there sat a young woman who was very pretty and dressed in elegant taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveller. When she spoke her voice was full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaiming by its tone that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.

Question 2.
What is strange about the way the two men are travelling? Why do you suppose they are like this?
Answer:
The two men who entered from Denver were an odd pair. One had a handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner; the other was a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. And what was really strange about them was that they were handcuffed together.

Question 3.
Why does the author call the two men as the ‘linked couple?’
Answer:
The author addresses the two men as the linked coupe because they are handcuffed to each other and so linked like a couple.

Question 4.
What was the reaction of the young women to them initially? Why did her manner change?
Answer:
Initially the young woman glanced at them with a distant and swift disinterest, but then her manner changed when she recognised one of them as an old friend, Mr Easton.

Question 5.
Why was Mr Easton embarrassed when the young woman recognised him?
Answer:
Mr Easton was embarrassed because he was handcuffed and he felt she would not appreciate seeing that he was in that condition.

Passage 2

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Easton, with a little laugh, as if amused, was about to speak again when the other forestalled him. The glum-faced man had been watching the girl’s countenance with veiled glances from his keen, shrewd eyes.

“You’ll excuse me for speaking, miss, but, I see you’re acquainted with the marshall here. If you’ll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the pen he’ll do it, and it’ll make things easier for me there. He’s taking me to Leavenworth prison. It’s seven years for counterfeiting.”

“Oh!” said the girl, with a deep breath and returning color. “So that is what you are doing out here? A marshal!”

“My dear Miss Fairchild,” said Easton, calmly, “I had to do something. Money has a way of taking wings unto itself, and you know it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington. I saw this opening in the West, and—well, a marshalship isn’t quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but—”

Question 1.
How did the young woman react when she saw the handcuffs on her friend’s wrist?
Answer:
When the young woman saw the handcuffs on her friend’s wrist The glad look in her girl’s eyes slowly changed to a bewildered horror. The glow faded from her cheeks. Her lips parted in a vague look of relaxing distress and she was evidently mortified.

Question 2.
What is the relationship between Mr. Easton and Ms. Fairchild?
Answer:
They seem to be old friends and are even slightly flirtatious.                                        .

Question 3.
What was the crime of the prisoner? And what is the punishment.
Answer:
The crime of the prisoner was counterfeiting. And the punishment was imprisonment for seven years.

Question 4.
Where was the prisoner being taken.
Answer:
The prisoner was being taken to Leavenworth prison.

Question 5.
What did the glum faced man tell the young woman ? What effect did it have on her?
Answer:
The glum faced man told the young woman that Mr Easton was a marshal and he was taking him to the prison that is why they were handcuffed. When the girl heard the man she was relieved. She took a deep breath and colour returned to her cheeks.

Question 6.
Easton states that, “Money has a way of taking wings unto itself, and you know it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington”. What does Mr. Easton mean by the idiom, “taking wings unto itself,” and what does this tell us about both Mr. Easton and Miss Fairchild’s former lives in Washington?
Answer:
Mr. Easton is referring to the idea that money goes too quickly and their lives in Washington were expensive. This can also be connected to the other man’s comment that. “It’s seven years for counterfeiting” because the life in Washington could have led someone to counterfeit to have enough money to fit in.

Passage 3

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“So that is what you are doing out here? A marshal!” “My dear Miss Fairchild,” said ’ Easton, calmly, “I had to do something. Money has & way of taking wings unto itself, and

you know it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington. I saw this opening in the West, and—well, a marshalship isn’t quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but—” “The ambassador,” said the girl, warmly, “doesn’t call any more. He needn’t ever have done so. You ought to know that. And so now you are one of these dashing Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That’s different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd.” The girl’s eyes, fascinated, went back, widening a little, to rest upon the glittering handcuffs. “Don’t you worry about them, miss,” said the other man. “All marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business.” “Will we see you again soon in Washington?” asked the girl. “Not soon, I think,” said Easton. “My butterfly days are over, I fear.”

Question 1.
What reason does Easton give for not keeping up with their crowd in Wahington?
Answer:
Easton tells Miss Fairchild that he had shifted to the west and had lost touch with his rich friends in Washington because he did not have enough money.

Question 2.
Easton says, “it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington.” What do you suppose he means by this?
Answer:
These words by Mr Easton means that their friends in Washington were very rich and as he did not have that much money he was not fitted to be in their crowd.

Question 3.
What does Mr Easton say to Miss Fairchild to confirm that he is a marshal?
Answer:
Mr Easton in an attempt to remove all doubts about himself tells Miss Fairchild that he saw an opportunity to occupy a position of respect so he took the job of a marshal. He says, ‘—well, marshalship isn’t quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but..’

Question 4.
Why do marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners?
Answer:
Ail marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from escaping.

Question 5.
What does Mr Easton mean by the phrase, “My butterfly days are over, I fear.”
Answer:
When Mr Easton says “ My butterfly days are over,” he is hinting at his future imprisonment. Miss Fairchild, however, thought he was referring to his social days.

Question 6.
Give three similarities between Mr Easton and a butterfly.
Answer:
Mr. Easton is now a marshal, he has gone from living on the East coast to living in the West, and he has a possibility of a relationship with Miss Fairchild. This is similar to a butterfly because of the metamorphosis a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly, the migration butterflies take on, and how they search for other butterflies. Mr. Easton could also mean that he is not as fancy anymore since moving to the west where things are less refined. He is also has to wear handcuffs instead of being “free to fly” so to speak.

Passage 4

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“I love the West,” said the girl irrelevantly. Her eyes were shining softly. She looked away out the car window. She began to speak truly and simply without the gloss of style and manner: “Mamma and I spent the summer in Deliver. She went home a week ago

because father was slightly ill. I could live and be happy in the West. I think the air here agrees with me. Money isn’t everything. But people always misunderstand things and remain stupid—” “Say, Mr. Marshal,” growled the glum-faced man. “This isn’t quite fair. I’m needing a drink, and haven’t had a smoke all day. Haven’t you talked long enough? Take me in the smoker now, won’t you? I’m half dead for a pipe.”

The bound travellers rose to their feet, Easton with the Same slow smile on his face. “I can’t deny a petition for tobacco,” he said, lightly. “It’s the one friend of the unfortunate. Good-bye, Miss Fairchild. Duty calls, you know.” He held out his hand for a farewell. “It’s too bad you are not going East,” she said, reclothing herself with manner and style. “But you must go on to Leavenworth, I suppose?” “Yes,” said Easton, “I must go on to Leavenworth.”

The two men sidled down the aisle into the smoker. The two passengers in a seat near by had heard most of the conversation. Said one of them: “That marshal’s a good sort of chap. Some of these Western fellows are all right.” “Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn’t he?” asked the other. “Young!” exclaimed the first speaker, “why—Oh! didn’t you catch on? Say—did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”

Question 1.
Why is Fairchild heading east?
Answer:
Miss Fairchild is heading east because her father is ill and now she is going to join her parents.

Question 2.
What does the glum faced man want to do and how does Easton take leave from Miss Fairchild?
Answer:
The glum faced man wants to smoke as he has not smoked the whole day. Mr Easton excuses himself from Miss Fairchild saying that he could not refuse the other man’s request to smoke and he had to do his job of guarding the man.

Question 3.
What does the other passenger conclude about Easton?
Answer:
The passenger says that the marshal seems a decent guy but seems young to hold such a position.

Question 4.
What ironical twist is revealed by the other passenger in the end?
Answer:
In an ironical twist the other passenger in the end reveals the true identities of Mr. Easton and the marshal when he says that a marshal always cuff’s prisoners to their left hand. The passenger says, ‘did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand.’ Thus we realize that Easton is not the marshal, he is the criminal.

Question 5.
Why is it ironic when Fairchild says, “people always misunderstand things and remain stupid —”?
Answer:
Yes it is ironic because she herself had not understood that Mr Easton was the criminal and not a marshal. She had been gullible and stupid not to realize the truth about her friend, reather she kept talking about him as if he was a hero. She had been fooled by appearances .

Assignment

Question 1.
What is the conflict and twist to the short story “Heart and Hands”?
Answer:
In “Hearts and Hands,” the conflict and twist revolve around two men who are handcuffed to one another on a train in Denver. One of them is young and handsome, the other is older and glum-looking. They sit down across from a pretty young woman dressed very elegantly. Her name is Miss Fairchild. She recognizes the younger man as someone who used to run in the same social circles, Mr. Easton. Miss Fairchild implies that she used to have romantic feelings or attraction to Mr. Easton. There is a hint that Mr. Easton feels uncomfortable and embarrassed that she has recognized him and started talking to him.

Before he can say much else, the glum faced man stops him and tells the girl that Mr. Easton is a United States marshal, who is taking the glum faced man to prison at Leavenworth. He has been sentenced to seven years for counterfeiting. Miss Fairchild seems to be impressed by Mr. Easton’s new job because he is now a “dashing Western hero.”

The girl starts talking about irrelevant and fluffy things, and Mr. Easton seems to be becoming more and more uncomfortable. The glum faced man asks Mr. Easton to take him out to the smoker car for a smoke, which he complies with. The excuse allows the men to leave Miss Fairchild. When they leave, the point of view shifts to two different passengers who had been listening to the conversation between Miss Fairchild, Mr. Easton, and the glum faced man. One of them remarks on how young the marshal is, and the other corrects the man. It was actually the glum faced man who was the marshal, and Mr. Easton who was going to prison for seven years for counterfeiting money. The detail was that Mr. Easton’s right hand was cuffed to the marshal’s left hand, when both men were right handed. Clearly, the marshal would choose to cuff his non-dominant hand to the prisoner’s dominant one.

The twist comes at the end when we learn that the unnamed man is, in fact, the true marshal, and that Easton is the one heading to prison. The marshal does not want to humiliate Easton in front of an  old friend by showing Miss Fairchild that Easton is the true convict.

A second twist comes at the very end when passengers who overheard the conversation, recognize that a marshal would never handcuff a man to his right hand. O’Henry shows us how we often ignore seemingly obvious details when the information is not appealing to us — two complete strangers picked up on Easton’s character much quicker than an old friend.

Question 2.
Discuss theme of kindness and compassion in “Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry?
Answer:
In our society people generally hold the universal romanticized wish that people are intrinsically good and unselfish. This wish is exploited in the short story “Hearts and Hands.” In fact, the title of this story suggests the theme that people will display “heart,” or kindness, for others with no self-interest.

After they are seated across from the pretty young woman, the glum-faced man identifies the younger man handcuffed to him as the  marshal. Miss Fairfield, who has recognized this younger one as her old friend , is relieved to know that he is no prisoner.

This glum-faced man asks Miss Fairfield to entreat the marshal to speak on his behalf when they reach Leavenworth prison. But, that it is he who possesses an unexpected kindness becomes known only in O. Henry’s ironic reversal. For, two other passengers remark upon what has occurred about the two men who are handcuffed together. The ‘one, who has overheard the glum-faced man identify the younger man as the marshal, remarks to the other about the kindness of this man:

“That marshal’s a good sort of chap. Some of these Western fellows are all right.”
“Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn’t he?” asks the other man.

 The first one exclaims with disbelief, “Young!…didn’t you catch on? Say—did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”

Ironically, it has been the glum-faced man who is the marshal. But, he has extended  kindness and “heart” to his prisoner by pretending to be the convict who is going to prison.

Question 3.
What is the primary purpose of “Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry?
Answer:
“Hearts and Hands” is a wonderful example of O. Henry’s signature literary style of irony. It is like watching a magician performing sleight of hand.

There are three characters: a U.S. marshall, a fugitive, and a proper young lady. They have a chance meeting on a railroad car.

The young lady goes to shake hands with the younger of the two, for she recognizes him as a former acquaintance. He shows great regret at the need to take her hand with his left hand, as his right is tethered to that of the grizzled older man. It is her assumption that her well-mannered, stately friend is the marshall, thus leading to the assumption that the glum man is the fugitive.

It is only as the two exit to the smoker’s car that another passenger points out the obvious. A marshall always keeps his right hand unshackled.It is at this point that O. Henry quite artfully points out that you cannot judge a book by its cover.

Question 4.
Discuss the theme of the story ‘ Hearts and Hands.’
Answer:
“Hearts and Hands” is a wonderfully ironic story by O. Henry. In the story, a passenger on a train in Denver named Miss Fairchild is seated across from an old acquaintance named Mr. Easton. She notes that Mr. Easton is handcuffed to an older, less attractive man, and the less attractive man asks her to intervene with the marshal, indicating Mr.Easton. Miss Fairchild believes that Mr. Easton is a marshal, a man of the law, and they have a conversation about old times. In the end, strangers on the train note that a marshal would never handcuff a man to his right hand. In other words, Mr. Easton is the prisoner, and the other man, older and heavier, is the marshal.

In many of his stories, O. Henry holds the universal romanticized wish that people are intrinsically good and unselfish. This wish is exploited in the short story “Hearts and Hands.” In fact, the title of this story suggests the theme that people will display “heart,”or kindness, for others with no self-interest. After they are seated across from the pretty young woman, the glum-faced man identifies the younger man handcuffed to him as the marshal. Miss Fairfield, who has recognized this younger one as one of her society, is relieved to know that he is no prisoner.

This glum-faced man asks Miss Fairfield to entreat the marshal to speak on his behalf when they reach Leavenworth prison. But, that it is he who possesses an unexpected kindness becomes known only in O. Henry’s ironic reversal. For, two other passengers remark upon what has occurred in an interchange interchange about the the two men who are handcuffed together. The one, who has overheard the glum-faced man identify the younger man as the marshal, remarks to the other about the kindness of this man:

“That marshal’s a good sort of chap. Some of these Western fellows are all right.”
“Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn’t he?” asks the other man.

The first one exclaims with disbelief,“Young!…didn’t you catch on? Say—did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”

Ironically, it has been the glum-faced man who is the marshal. But, he has extended kindness and “heart” to his prisoner by pretending to be the convict who is going to prison.

The other theme of the story is that appearances can be deceiving. Miss Fairchild believes that her old friend must be a marshal because she knows him and because he is young and attractive. However, the reality is quite different, as he is a prisoner. O. Henry suggests that people often jump to conclusions that aren’t true.

When they leave, the point of view shifts to two different passengers who had been listening to the conversation between Miss Fairchild, Mr. Easton, and the glum faced man. One of them remarks on how young the marshal is, and the other corrects the mistake. It was actually the glum faced man who was the marshal, and Mr. Easton who was going to prison for seven years for counterfeiting money. The detail was that Mr. Easton’s right hand was cuffed to the marshal’s left hand, when both men were right handed. Clearly, the marshal would choose to cuff his non-dominant hand to the prisoner’s dominant one.

The twist comes at the end when we learn that the unnamed man is, in fact, the true marshal, and that Easton is the one heading to prison. The marshal does not want to humiliate Easton in front of an old friend by showing Miss Fairchild that Easton is the true convict.

A second twist comes at the very end when passengers who overheard the conversation recognize that a marshal would never handcuff a man to his right hand. O’Henry shows us how we often ignore seemingly obvious details when the information is not appealing to us — two complete strangers picked up on Easton’s character much quicker than an old friend

For More Resources

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 5 A Face in the Dark 

by

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 5 A Face in the Dark – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

EnglishMathsPhysicsChemistryBiology

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

Comprehension Passages

Passage 1

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Mr. Oliver, an Anglo-Indian teacher, was returning to his school late one night on the outskirts of the hill station of Shimla. The school was conducted on English public school lines and the boys – most of them from well-to-do Indian families – wore blazers, caps and ties. “Life” magazine, in a feature on India, had once called this school the Eton of the East.

Mr. Oliver had been teaching in this school for several years. He’s no longer there. The Shimla Bazaar, with its cinemas and restaurants, was about two miles from the school; and Mr. Oliver, a bachelor, usually strolled into the town in the evening returning after dark, when he would take short cut through a pine forest.

Question 1.
Who was Mr Oliver? Where was he working?
Answer:
Mr Oliver was an Anglo Indian teacher. He was a bachelor and worked in a English medium school located on the outskirts of Simla.

Question 2.
Why was the school where Mr Oliver worked called the Eton of the East?
Answer:
The school where Mr Oliver worked was run on the lines of an English public school. The students belonged mostly to elite families and were supposed to wear blazers, caps and ties. Eton is also a school meant for children of the British royalty and elite class. Hence the comparison.

Question 3.
What did Mr Oliver generally do in the evening?
Answer:
In the evening,Mr Oliver usually strolled into the town to visit the Simla Bazaar with its restaurants and cinemas. The Bazaar was only about three miles from the school.

Question 4.
When did Mr Oliver return from the town?
Answer:
Mr Oliver usually returned after dark.

Question 5.
Which route did Mr Oliver take on his way back?
Answer:
Mr Oliver took the shortcut through the pine forest.

Passage 2

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

When there was a strong wind, the pine trees made sad, eerie sounds that kept most people to the main road. But Mr. Oliver was not a nervous or imaginative man. He carried a torch – and on the night I write of, its pale gleam, the batteries were running down – moved fitfully over the narrow forest path. When its flickering light fell on the figure of a boy, who was sitting alone on a rock, Mr. Oliver stopped.

Boys were not supposed to be out of school after seven P.M. and it was now well past nine. What are you doing out here, boy, asked Mr. Oliver sharply, moving closer so that he could recognize the miscreant.                                         ‘

Question 1.
Why did the people keep to the main road instead of taking the shortcut?
Answer:
The shortcut passed through the pine forest and at night the strong wind seemed to howl and the leaves rustled. All this created an eerie and frightening atmosphere so the people avoided taking the lonely shortcut and followed the main road.

Question 2.
Why did Mr Oliver take the shortcut? What did he carry with him?
Answer:
Mr Oliver took the shortcut because he was not a nervous or imaginative man who would think that the forest hid unnatural things. He was not frightened. He carried a torch with him.

Question 3.
Whom did Mr Oliver meet in the forest?
Answer:
Mr Oiver while walking along the shortcut in the forest saw in the flickering light of his torch a boy, crouched down sitting on a rock and weeping.

Question 4.
What thought ran through Mr Oliver’s mind when he saw the boy?
Answer:
When Mr Oliver saw the boy he immediately thought the boy was a miscreant from his school. He was sure the boy was absconding from school as boys were not allowed to leave the premises after dark.

Question 5.
What was Mr Oliver’s reaction?
Answer:
Mr Oliver questioned the boy as to what he was doing out so late and then he approached closer to the boy in order to recognise the miscreant.

Passage 3

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

But even as he approached the boy, Mr. Oliver sensed that something was wrong. The boy appeared to be crying. His head hung down, he held his face in his hands, and his body shook convulsively. It was a strange, soundless weeping, and Mr. Oliver felt distinctly uneasy.

Well, what’s the matter, he asked, his anger giving way to concern. What are you crying for? The boy would not answer or look up. His body continued to be wracked with silent sobbing.

Oh, come on, boy. You shouldn’t be out here at this hour. Tell me the trouble. Look up.

Question 1.
When did Mr Oliver sense that there was something wrong?
Answer:
As soon as Mr Oliver walked closer to the boy he sensed that there was something wrong.

Question 2.
What did the boy appear to be doing?
Answer:
The boy appeared to be crying.

Question 3.
Describe the posture of the boy.
Answer:
The boy was sitting with his head hung down, he was holding his face in his hands, and his body shook convulsively.

Question 4.
Why did Mr Oliver feel uneasy? What was strange?
Answer:
Mr Oliver felt uneasy because the boy was weeping strangely. He was crying silently without sound but his body was racked with silent sobbing.

Question 5.
Why did Mr Oliver’s anger change to concern?
Answer:
Seeing the boy crying so strangely in the dark all alone in the forest made Mr Oliver concerned and he asked him to tell him what was troubling him and to look up.

Passage 4

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

The boy looked up. He took his hands from his face and looked up at his teacher. The light from Mr. Oliver’s torch fell on the boy’s face, if you could call it a face. He had no eyes, ears, nose or mouth. It was just a round smooth head with a school cap on top of it.

And that’s where the story should end, as indeed it has for several people who have had similar experiences and dropped dead of inexplicable heart attacks. But for Mr. Oliver, it did not end there. The torch fell from his trembling hand. He turned and scrambled down the path, running blindly through the trees and calling for help. He was still running towards the school buildings when he saw a lantern swinging in the middle of the path. Mr. Oliver had never before been so pleased to see the night watchman. He stumbled up to the watchman, gasping for breath and speaking incoherently.

What is it, Sahib? Asked the watchman, has there been an accident? Why are you running?

I saw something, something horrible, a boy weeping in the forest and he had no face.
No face, Sahib?
No eyes, no nose, mouth, nothing.
Do you mean it was like this, Sahib? asked the watchman, and raised the lamp to his own face. The watchman had no eyes, no ears, no features at all, not even an eyebrow. The wind blew the lamp out and Mr. Oliver had his heart attack.

Question 1.
Why did the torch fall from Mr Oliver’s hand? Why was his hand trembling?
Answer:
The torch fell from Mr Oliver’s hand when he saw that the boy had no face,ears, eyes or nose. He was horrified and frightened and the torch fell from his hand.

Question 2.
Why did Mr Oliver tell the boy that he should not be out at that hour?
Answer:
Mr Oliver told the boy that he should not be out at that hour because he thought the boy was a student from the school where he taught and the boys were not allowed out after dark.

Question 3.
What was Mr Oliver’s reaction when he saw the faceless boy? Whom did he stumble into?
Answer:
When Mr Oliver saw the faceless boy he ran in fear towards the school crying for help. It was then that he stumbled into the watchman.

Question 4.
What did the watchman ask Mr Oliver? ‘
Answer:
The watchman asked him the reason why he was running and if there had been an accident.

Question 5.
What was strange about the watchman? What happened to Mr Oliver when the watchman raised the lantern to show his face?
Answer:
When the watchman raised the lantern to his face, Mr Oliver saw that the watchman had no face, just like the boy. He had no face, no ears, no eyes and no nose. He had no features, not even an eyebrow. Seeing this strange and weird thing Mr Oliver fainted in fear.

Assignment

Question 1.
Discuss the art of Ruskin Bond as depicted in the story ‘A face in the Dark.’
Answer:
A Face in the Dark is a short story by Ruskin Bond. It’s the story set on a windy night when Mr Oliver, an Anglo-Indian teacher, dares to walk through the pine forest on his way back to the school after an evening at Simla Bazaar. He comes across a weeping boy who lifts his face, which is not a face but a flat something without eyes, nose or mouth. Mr Oliver runs only to bump into a watchman who again had a face like that of the faceless boy.

In this story Ruskin Bond yet again proves he is a master story teller. He draws on his travels, interactions with people, and his bonding with them gives them the confidence to share their stories with him which then he presents in the same tone and style bringing his silent listener’s great talent in it. His writing skill lies in the way he graphically uses his language and imagination to transport us to the hills and watching the sun setting beautifully and the dark night enveloping the forest with the wind howling in the trees to create an eerie and strange atmosphere. The imagery abounds in supernaturalism and paranormal scenes. The image of a lonely boy in the night in a dark forest amidst the howling wind $nd rustling leaves, sitting on a rock ‘racked by silent weeping’ not only evokes a feeling of strangeness, of impending horror but also of sympathy for a weeping child. Thus a mastery of language helps him to achieve this effect. Ruskin Bond stories are not horror they are like haunting experiences. The experience is not dangerous, life threatening or altering -it is just different. It is honest and believable.

The story is eerie, leaving one haunted in a melancholy sort of way, and is beautifully written. In his stories, ghosts, jinns, witches—and the occasional monster—are as real as the people he writes about. He makes the supernatural appear entirely natural, and therefore harder to ignore.

He adroitly uses language to create his mysterious and strange atmosphere. He opens the story with a everyday, normal occurrence and through the use of words and phrases like ‘sad,’ ‘eerie sounds,’ ‘racked with silent sobbing,’ ‘shook convulsively’ succeeds in creating an atmosphere replete with supernatural and fearful connotations. Thus we can rightly say that he is a story teller par excellence and a master of his craft.

Question 2.
Discuss the theme of supernatural and paranormal as presented in the story?
Answer:
Ruskin Bond graphically uses his language and imagination to transport us to the hills and watching the sun setting beautifully and the dark night enveloping the forest with the wind howling in the trees to create an eerie and strange atmosphere. The imagery abounds in super naturalism and paranormal scenes. The image of a lonely boy in the night in a dark forest amidst the howling wind and rustling leaves, sitting on a rock ‘racked by silent weeping’ not only evokes a feeling of strangeness, of impending horror but also of sympathy for a weeping child. Thus a mastery of language helps him to achieve this effect. Ruskin Bond stories are not horror they are like haunting experiences. The experience is not dangerous, life threatening or altering -it is just different. It is honest and believable.

The story a Face in the Dark exhibits Bond’s interest in the supernatural. It deals with the paranormal depicting the story of a school teacher who while returning from the Simla Bazaar takes a shortcut through the forest and encounters a faceless weeping boy. The boy has no nose, ears or eyes. Mr Oliver runs in fear but to his horror meets the watchman who is also without a face.

Ruskin Bond employs words and phrases like ‘sad,’ ‘eerie sounds,’ ‘racked with silent sobbing,’ ‘shook convulsively’ to create an atmosphere replete with supernatural and fearful connotations. He opens the story with a everyday, normal occurrence and then gradually builds an atmosphere of strangeness and supernatural events through the use of appropriate imagery and language. The very title suggests that something is not right, its suggestive of eeriness. The use of the word dark connotes the paranormal, the supernatural, the weird.

One is transported into the world of paranormal activities without realising but the story is in no way macabre. Bond builds the atmosphere from the ordinary to the surreal. He opens with the description of the ordinary school teacher’s routine, then introduces the eerie atmosphere of the dark forest with the howling wind, then a surprise element of sympathy and anger at the boy out after dark leading to the horror of the faceless entity, a surreal and weird encounter. The narrator writes, ‘He carried a torch -on the night I write of, its pale gleam, the batteries were running down – moved fitfully over the narrow forest path. When its flickering light fell on the figure of a boy, who was sitting alone on a rock, Mr. Oliver stopped. Boys were not supposed to be out of school after 7 p.m. and it was now well past nine.’ This detail about the torch suggests that something is not right and makes us wait expectantly for the unusual. And such an effect speaks of the superior writing and storytelling skills of Ruskin Bond.

“Raise the possibility of another layer of life outside our material selves – something of the soul-force, the aura of a person that lingers on after the body is no more.” And so lingers on long after it has been read.

Question 3.
What are the techniques used by Ruskin Bond to create an atmosphere of strangeness, mystery and super naturalism in the story? Can Ruskin Bond be called a visual writer? Why?
Answer:
Ruskin Bond is a “visual writer” because for short stories, he first imagines it like a film and then notes it down. The story A Face in the Dark is eerie, leaving one haunted in a melancholy sort of way, and is beautifully written. In his stories, ghosts, jinns, witches— and the occasional monster—are as real as the people he writes about. He makes the supernatural appear entirely natural, and therefore harder to ignore.

The story opens with the description of the ordinary school teacher’s routine, then introduces the eerie atmosphere of the dark forest with the howling wind, then a surprise element of sympathy and anger at the boy out after dark leading to the horror of the faceless entity, a surreal and weird encounter. The narrator writes, ‘He carried a torch -on the night I write of, its pale gleam, the batteries were running down – moved fitfully over the narrow forest path. When its flickering light fell on the figure of a boy, who was sitting alone on a rock, Mr. Oliver stopped. Boys were not supposed to be out of school after seven p.m. and it was now well past nine.’ This detail about the torch suggests that something is not right and makes us wait expectantly for the unusual. And such an effect speaks of the superior writing and storytelling skills of Ruskin Bond.

Ruskin Bond employs words and phrases like ‘sad,’ ‘eerie sounds,’ ‘racked with silent sobbing,’ ‘shook convulsively’ to create an atmosphere replete with supernatural and fearful connotations. He opens the story with a everyday, normal occurrence and then gradually builds an atmosphere of strangeness and supernatural events through the use of appropriate imagery and language. The very title suggests that something is not right, it’s suggestive of eeriness. The use of the word dark connotes the paranormal, the supernatural, the weird.

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 6 An Angel in Disguise

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 6 An Angel in Disguise – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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Comprehension Passages

Passage 1

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

This woman had been despised, scoffed at, and angrily denounced by nearly every man, woman, and child in the village; but now, as the fact of, her death was passed from lip to lip, in subdued tones, pity took the place of anger, and sorrow of denunciation.

Neighbours went hastily to the old tumble-down hut, in which she had secured little more than a place of shelter from summer heats and winter cold: some with grave-clothes for a decent interment of the body; and some with food for the half-starving children, three in number. Of these, John, the oldest, a boy of twelve, was a stout lad, able to earn his living with any farmer. Kate, between ten and eleven, was bright, active girl, out of whom something clever might be made, if in good hands; but poor little Maggie, the youngest, was hopelessly diseased. Two years before a fall from a window had injured her spine, and she had not been able to leave her bed since, except when lifted in the arms of her mother.

“What is to be done with the children?” That was the chief question now. The dead mother would go underground, and be forever beyond all care or concern of the villagers. But the children must not be left to starve.

Question 1.
Why was the dead woman despised and hated by all the people of the village?
Answer:
The dead woman was an alcoholic and despised because of her idleness and addiction to liquor.

Question 2.
Why did the neighbour’s attitude change when they heard the news of her death?
Answer:
The neighbour’s attitude changed when they heard the news of her death because they felt pity for her three children left destitute and with no one to care for them after her death.

Question 3.
What did the neighbours do to help?
Answer:
The neighbours rushed to the dilapidated cottage of the woman to help. Some carried grave-clothes for a decent interment of the body; and some with food for the half-starving children, three in number.

Question 4.
Describe the three children.
Answer:
The dead woman had three children. John, the oldest, a boy of twelve, was a stout lad, able to earn his living with any farmer. Kate, between ten and eleven, was bright, active girl, out of whom something clever might be made, if in good hands; but poor little Maggie, the youngest, was hopelessly diseased. Two years before a fall from a window had injured her spine, and she had not been able to leave her bed since, except when lifted in the arms of her mother.

Question 5.
What was a matter of concern now that the woman was dead?
Answer:
What concerned the villagers now that the woman was dead was the question of the care of her three children. They were too young to fend for themselves and could not be left alone to fend for themselves.

Passage 2

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

After considering the matter, and talking it over with his wife, farmer Jones said that he would take John, and do well by him, now that his mother was out of the way; and Mrs. Ellis, who had been looking out for a bound girl, concluded that it would be charitable in her to make choice of Katy, even though she was too young to be of much use for several years.

“I could do much better, I know,” said Mrs. Ellis; “but as no one seems inclined to take her, I must act from a sense of duty expect to have trouble with the child; for she’s an undisciplined thing—used to having her own way.”

But no one said “I’ll take Maggie.” Pitying glances were cast on her wan and wasted form and thoughts were troubled on her account. Mothers brought cast-off garments and, removing her soiled and ragged clothes, dressed her in clean attire. The sad eyes and patient face of the little one touched many hearts, and even knocked at them for entrance. But none opened to take her in. Who wanted a bed-ridden child?

“Take her to the poorhouse,” said a rough man, of whom the question “What’s to be done with Maggie?” was asked. “Nobody’s going to be bothered with her.”

“The poorhouse is a sad place for a sick and helpless child,” answered one.
“For your child or mine,” said the other, lightly speaking; “but for tis brat it will prove a blessed change, she will be kept clean, have healthy food, and be doctored, which is more than can be said of her past condition.”

Question 1.
Who offered to take John? Why?
Answer:
Farmer Jones offered to take the boy John with him as John was stout and the farmer could make him work in his fields.

Question 2.
Who took Katy? Why?
Answer:
Mrs Ellis took Katy as she had been looking for a bound girl to work in her house. However, Mrs Ellis pretended that she was doing charity as she said the girl would be of no use for several years and would surely cause trouble as she seemed headstrong.

Question 3.
How did the villagers look at Maggie? Why did no one want to take her?
Answer:
The villagers looked at Maggie with pity because she was thin and diseased. They showed concern for the poor child and many mothers even brought cast-off garments and, removed her soiled and ragged clothes and dressed her in clean attire. They felt sympathy and concern for the sad eyes and patient face of the little but none of them wanted to take, her with them as she was disabled and of no use to them.

Question 4.
What solution did the rough man suggest for Maggie? Why would the poorhouse be a good place for Maggie?
Answer:
The rough man suggested that Maggie be taken to a poorhouse which was meant for destitute and orphans like Maggie who had no one to take care of them. It was felt that it would be the best place for her because she would be kept clean, have healthy food, and be doctored, which was more than could be said of her past condition or her life with her alcoholic mother.

Question 5.
Who came to mourn the dead woman? Why did no one follow the dead cart?
Ans.
A few neighbours came to mourn the dead woman but none followed the dead cart because they did not feel she deserved any respect or sympathy.

Passage 3

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Its a cruel thing to leave her so.”

“Then take her to the poorhouse: she’ll have to go there,” answered the blacksmith’s wife, springing away, and leaving Joe behind.

For a little while the man stood with a puzzled air; then he turned back, and went into the hovel again. Maggie with painful effort, had raised herself to an upright position and was sitting on the bed, straining her eyes upon the door out of which all had just departed, A vague terror had come into her thin white face.

“O, Mr. Thompson!” she cried out, catching her suspended breath, “don’t leave me here all alone!”           ,

Though rough in exterior, Joe Thompson, the wheelwright, had a heart, and it was very tender in some places. He liked children, and was pleased to have them come to his shop, where sleds and wagons were made or mended for the village lads without a draft on their hoarded sixpences.

“No, dear,” he answered, in a kind voice, going to the bed, and stooping down over the child, “You she’n’t be left here alone.” Then he wrapped her with the gentleness almost of a woman, in the clean bedclothes which some neighbor had brought; and, lifting her in his strong arms, bore her out into the air and across the field that lay between the hovel and his home.

Question 1.
Who said, ‘It’s a cruel thing to leave her so.’ Why did he say this?
Answer:
The wheelwright man named Joe Thompson said this when all the villagers showed that inspite of pity for the disabled child none of them wanted to to take her home and were ready to leave her alone in the hovel.

Question 2.
Describe the feelings and plight of Maggie when she was left alone.
Answer:
Maggie felt desolate and frightened at being left helpless in the rundown cottage that was the only home she had known. Her spine was broken so with a painful effort, she raised herself to an upright position and tried to sit on the bed, in an effort to strain her eyes upon the door out of which all had just departed, uncaring that she was alone and not in a position to help herself. Her thin white face reflected a vague terror at the thought of the dark future she could foresee for herself.

Question 3.
What did Maggie say to Mr Thompson? What do her words show?
Answer:
Maggie pitifully begged Joe Thompson saying, “O, Mr. Thompson! don’t leave me here all alone!” She was almost not able to breathe due to the fear of being left alone.

Question 4.
What assurance did Joe Thompson give Maggie? What did he do?
Answer:
Joe Thompson was a kind man and he assured Maggie by saying, “No, dear,” “You she’n’t be left here alone.” Mr Thompson went to the bed, and stooping down he wrapped her with the gentleness almost of a woman, in the clean bedclothes which some neighbour had brought. He then lifted her in his strong arms and bore her out into the air and across the field to his home.

Question 5.
What idea do we get of the character of Mr Thompson?
Answer:
Mr Tompson is revealed by his actions as a kind hearted man. Although he had a rough exterior, Joe Thompson, the wheelwright, had a heart, and it was very tender in some places. He liked children, and was pleased to have them come to his shop, where sleds and wagons were made or mended for the village lads free of cost without taking anything from their hoarded six pences.

Passage 4

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“You haven’t brought home that sick brat!” Anger and astonishment were in the tones of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her face was in a flame.

“I think women’s hearts are sometimes very hard,” said Joe. Usually Joe Thompson got out of his wife’s way, or kept rigidly silent and non-combative when she fired up on any subject; it was with some surprise, therefore, that she now encountered a firmly-set countenance and a resolute pair of eyes.

“Women’s hearts are not half so hard as men’s!”

Joe saw, by a quick intuition, that his resolute bearing h«d impressed his wife and he answered quickly, and with real indignation, “Be that as it may, every woman at the funeral turned her eyes steadily from the sick child’s face, and when the cart went off with her dead mother, hurried away, and left her alone in that old hut, with the sun not an hour in the sky.”

“Where were John and Kate?” asked Mrs. Thompson.

“Farmer Jones tossed John into his wagon, and drove off. Katie went home with Mrs. Ellis; but nobody wanted the poor sick one. ‘Send her to the poorhouse,’ was the cry.”

“Why didn’t you let her go, then. What did you bring her here for?”

“She can’t walk to the poorhouse,” said Joe; “somebody’s arms must carry her, and mine are strong enough for that task.”

Question 1.
What was Mrs. Thompson’s reaction on seeing Maggie?
Answer:
Mrs Thompson showed anger and astonishment when she saw Maggie being brought home by Mr Thompson.

Question 2.
How did Joe counter his wife on her remark about Maggie?
Answer:
Generally Joe kept got out of his wife’s way, or kept rigidly silent and non-combative when she fired up on any subject but her remark about Maggie upset him and he reacted with a firmly-set countenance and a resolute pair of eyes. He said in anger, “I think women’s hearts are sometimes very hard.”

Question 3.
What kind of person does Mrs Thompson appear to be?
Answer:
Mr Thompson was childless, and not a woman of saintly temper, nor much given to self­ denial for others’ good. The author describes her as a ‘vinegar-tempered’ person.

Question 4.
What does Mr Thompson feel about the other women who had left Maggie alone  and gone away?
Answer:
Mr Thompson has nothing but disdain and indignation for the women who had mouthed verbal sympathy for Maggie and then abandoned her alone and helpless in the cottage and gone away.

Question 5.
Does the attitude of the villagers convey some truth about society at large?
Answer:
Yes, the harsh and selfish attitude of the villagers shows that in this world people help only those from whom they can gain something. Very few people like Mr Thompson genuinely are concerned about the destitute and want to help.

Passage 5

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“Jane,” said the wheelwright, with an impressiveness of tone that greatly subdued his wife, “I read in the Bible sometimes, and find much said about little children. How the Savior rebuked the disciples who would not receive them; how he took them up in his arms, and blessed them; and how he said that ‘whosoever gave them even a cup of cold water should not go unrewarded.’ Now, it is a small thing for us to keep this poor motherless little one for a single night; to be kind to her for a single night; to make her life comfortable for a single night.”

The voice of the strong, rough man shook, and he turned his head away, so that the moisture in his eyes might not be seen. Mrs. Thompson did not answer, but a soft feeling crept into her heart.

“Look at her kindly, Jane; speak to her kindly,” said Joe. “Think of her dead mother, and the loneliness, the pain, the sorrow that must be on all her coming life.” The softness of his heart gave unwonted eloquence to his lips.

Question 1.
What did Joe want to convey to his wife from his quotes from the Bible?
Answer:
By quoting from the Bible Joe wanted to tell his wife that even their religion advocated love for children. He wanted her to feel sympathy and love for the disable, loney and abandoned Maggie.

Question 2.
Why does the author make the character repeat the phrase, ‘a single night’?
Answer:
The author uses repetition to lay emphasis on the last words of the sentence and to convey his point and to make the story interesting.

Question 3.
What impact does Joe’s words have on Mr Thompson?
Answer:
Joe’s words were so emotional and heart felt that Mrs Thompson melted and a softness crept in her heart.

Question 4.
What did Joe say to his wife?
Answer:
Joe quoted from the Bible and told his wife how Christ had also said that kindness to children would not go unrewarded. He invoked her emotions and her feelings of pity and sympathy by asking her to imagine the plight of Maggie who had lost her mother and the loneliness, pain and suffering which was her fate.

Question 5.
What brought eloquence to Joe’s lips when he spoke to his wife?
Answer:
The kindness and love that Joe felt for the abandoned Maggie, alone in the world and helpless, made Joe emotional and eloquent.

Passage 6

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Mrs. Thompson did not reply, but presently turned towards the little chamber where her husband had deposited Maggie; and, pushing open the door, went quietly in. Joe did not follow; he saw that, her state had changed, and felt that it would be best to leave her alone with the child. So he went to his shop, which stood near the house, and worked until dusky evening released him from labor. A light shining through the little chamber windows was the first object that attracted Joe’s attention on turning towards the house: it was a good omen. The path led him by this windows and, when opposite, he could not help pausing to look in. It was now dark enough outside to screen him from observation. Maggie lay, a little raised on the pillow with the lamp shining full upon her face. Mrs. Thompson was sitting by the bed, talking to the child; but her back was towards the window, so that her countenance was not seen. From Maggie’s face, therefore, Joe must read the character of their intercourse. He saw that her eyes were intently fixed upon his wife; that now and then a few words came, as if in answers from her lips; that her expression was sad and tender; but he saw nothing of bitterness or pain. A deep-drawn breath was followed by one of relief, as a weight lifted itself from his heart.

Question 1.
Why did Joe not follow Mr s Thompson? What had changed her?
Answer:
Joe did not follow Mrs Thompson because she realised that his eloquent words and quotes from the Bible had affected her and her mindset had changed.

Question 2.
What attracted Joe’s attention after he returned from the day’s work?
Answer:
A light shining through the little chamber windows was the first object that attracted Joe’s attention on turning towards the house. He considered it a good sign.

Question 3.
What did Joe see from the window?
Answer:
Joe saw a pleasant scene from the widow. He saw Maggie lying a little raised on the pillow, with the lamp shining on her face which was devoid of any bitterness or pain although it was sad. She seemed to be in conversation with his wife who had her back to the window and it was obvious to him that they were developing a bond.

Question 4.
Why was Joe relieved?
Answer:
Joe felt relieved to see that his wife was no longer resentful of Maggie being in their house and was infect talking tenderly with the child.

Passage 7

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

After washing from his hands and face the dust and soil of work, Joe left the kitchen, and went to the little bedroom. A pair of large bright eyes looked up at him from the snowy bed; looked at him tenderly, gratefully, pleadingly. How his heart swelled in his bosom! With what a quicker motion came the heart-beats! Joe sat down, and now, for the first time, examining the thin free carefully under the lamp light, saw that it was an  attractive face, and full of a childish sweetness which suffering had not been able to obliterate.

“Your name is Maggie?” he said, as he sat down and took her soft little hand in his.
“Yes, sir.” Her voice struck a chord that quivered in a low strain of music.
“Have you been sick long?”
“Yes, sir.” What a sweet patience was in her tone!
“Has the doctor been to see you?”
“He used to come”
“But not lately?”
“No, sir.”

Question 1.
How did Maggie look at Joe when he entered her room?
Answer:
Maggie looked at Joe tenderly, gratefully, pleadingly with her large bright eyes.

Question 2.
What was Joe’s reaction to the look Maggie gave him’
Answer:
Joe experienced a surge of tender emotions. His heart swelled in his bosom and his heartbeats quickened because he was overcome with love and pity for Maggie.

Question 3.
What did Joe notice about Maggie in the light of the lamp?
Answer:
Joe saw Maggie’s thin face under the lamp light. He observed that it was an attractive face, and full of a childish sweetness which suffering had not been able to obliterate.

Question 4.
What does Maggie tell Joe?
Answer:
Maggie tells Joe that she had been sik for a long time and initially the Doctor came but not lately. He back had pained on her hard bed but there was less pain now as the bed in Joe’s house was soft.

Passage 8

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Joe did not see the Guardians of the Poor on that day, on the next, nor on the day following. In fact, he never saw them at all on Maggie’s account, for in less than a week Mrs. Joe Thompson would as soon leave thought of taking up her own abode in the almshouse as sending Maggie there.

What light and blessing did that sick and helpless child bring to the home of Joe Thompson, the poor wheelwright! It had been dark, and cold, and miserable there for a long time just because his wife had nothing to love and care for out of herself, and so became soar, irritable, ill-tempered, and self-afflicting in the desolation of her woman’s nature. Now the sweetness of that sick child, looking ever to her in love, patience, and gratitude, was as honey to her soul, and she carried her in her heart as well as in her arms, a precious burden. As for Joe Thompson, there was not a man in all the neighbourhood who drank daily of a more precious wine of life than he. An angel had come into his house, disguised as a sick, helpless, and miserable child, and filled all its dreary chambers with the sunshine of love.

Question 1.
Why did Joe not see the Guardians of the poor on that day or ever again?
Answer:
Joe did not see the Guardians of the Poor on that day, on the next, nor on the day following. In fact, he never saw them at all on Maggie’s account because Mrs Thompson had changed and had started loving Maggie. They decided to adopt her as their own child.

Question 2.
What had changed Mrs Thompson?
Answer:
The love and tenderness that Maggie gave to Mr s Thompson changed her and she wanted Maggie to stay with them forever.

Question 3.
What kind of person was Mrs Thompson before Maggie came into her life?
Answer:
Mrs Thompson was a bitter and angry person before Maggie came into her life.She had nothing to love and care for out of herself, and so became sore, irritable, ill-tempered, and self-afflicting in the desolation of her woman’s nature.

Question 4.
What changed her ? Describe the change in her.
Answer:
Maggie and her love changed Mrs Thompson. The sweetness of that sick child, looking ever to her in love, patience, and gratitude, was as honey to her soul, and she carried her in her heart as well as in her arms like a precious burden.

Question 5.
Who was the angel? Why does the author say she was disguised?
Answer:
Maggie was the angel who came into their house. She came disguised as a sick, helpless, and miserable child, and filled all its dreary chambers with the sunshine of love. The author says she is disguised because her true self of love and beauty was hidden from the eyes of everyone and only when the Thompsons selflessly cared and loved her did the angel shower them with happiness in their lives.

Assignment

Question 1.
Discuss with reference to the story An Angel in Disguise how love has the power to transform.
Answer:
An Angel in Disguise recounts one of the more troubling times in America; set in a small village, where life is made difficult. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, who are the “heroes” in the short story, rescue a young child by the name of Maggie, who is ill, bedridden, and unable bodied. Because no one else takes the initiative to help this young child, Mr. Thompson takes it upon himself to. Mr. Thompson is revered as an older quiet, kind soul, who resides with his wife, who is introduced as one who holds a temper, and a bitter attitude. Maggie is the “angel in disguise”, and is an ailing, innocent, young girl, who yearns for love, and acceptance. The root problem that drives the story is the absence of love in both Maggie, and Mr. and Mrs. Thompson’s life. In Maggie’s case, it is the absence of love from a parental figure, and in the Thompson’s situation, it is the absence of love from a child that has plagued their relationship, and their lives; with the passing of Maggie’s mother, also comes the scattering of her siblings into other families, and her foreboding loneliness, the Thompson’s in turn, are unable to bear children, which stimulates the bitter and tempered demeanor of Mrs. Thompson. The gray town is overcome with pity for the children, despite their scorn towards the children’s now deceased mother, they pay their respects and some decide to care for the fending children. However, no one decided to care for Maggie, the bed ridden ill-borne; whispers of pity and charitable words were often uttered, but none were taken into action. That is until, the heart of Mr. Thompson went out to the young ailing girl, who grabbed hold of it in her paling grip, frightened of loneliness. Mr. Thompson returned home with Maggie, and laid her to sleep, at first, his sullen wife did not approve of the harboring of such a child, but after some time spent with her, and the sudden, unexpected rise of resistance from her husband, she grew to care for the child, and the hole in heart which propelled all the waves of bitter anger, and pain of being infertile was filled with what their family so longed for, a child. And in sequence, the child had what she had always so longed for, someone to stay by her bedside. Maggie was their “angel in disguise”. This story was one that held promise of a sombre tale, but it delivered that sombre, sincere quality in a way that was bursting with tender affection. The saying that love binds all things, has never been more legitimate, after reading T.S. Arthur’s An Angel in Disguise. The absence of such love truly did plague the lives of the Thompson’s, and Maggie. Notwithstanding the negative comments against Arthur’s writing, this story was pieced together with articulate brilliance, and honest morale; a realistic depiction of the deprivation of love, in the hearts of both the young, Maggie, and old, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. A tale to remind us of the importance of love in everyone’s lives.

Question 2.
Show with references from the story how T.S Arthur uses direct and indirect characterisation to highlight the traits of the characters.
Answer:
The writer reveals all the characters by means of both direct and indirect characterization. For example, at the very beginning of the story the author introduces us some characters by direct characterization: This woman had been despised, scoffed at, and angrily denounced by nearly every man, woman, and child in the village’; judging by these words, we may assume that the woman’s life was very hard, there was nobody to support her, to help her. About her children the author says: ‘John, the oldest, a boy of twelve, was a stout lad, able to earn his living with any farmer. Kate, between ten and eleven, was bright, active girl, out of whom something clever might be made, if in good hands; but poor little Maggie, the youngest, was hopelessly diseased’. Mr. Thompson’s personality is vividly revealed: ‘Though rough in exterior, Joe Thompson, the wheelwright, had a heart, and it was very tender in some places. He liked children, and was pleased to have them come to his shop…’ judging by this phrase we get to know that Mr. Thompson is really a kind- hearted sort of person, who loves to spend his time with children. Then In a nutshell, using direct characterization, the author’s point of view is expressed in black and white.

Using indirect characterization, the author doesn’t give his direct appreciation of what the character does but leaves us to draw conclusions as to the person’s actions. For example: ‘The voice of the strong, rough man shook, and he turned his head away, so that the moisture in his eyes might not be seen. Mrs. Thompson did not answer, but a soft feeling crept into her heart’. The first sentence of this example proves that a man’s strength is not in ‘the voice’, but in the actions. Mr. Thompson is a strong man, but the experience with Maggie touched him greatly, that’s why he cried a little bit. And what is more, those tears proved that he was happy that his wife had changed. This example shows changes in Mrs. Thompson’s personality also. At first, she was absolutely against taking care of Maggie, T.S.Arthur renders her mood by speech characterisation: ‘Why didn’t you let her go, then. What did you bring her here for?’, ‘Then why didn’t you keep on? Why did you stop here?’, but suddenly her heart opened and she loved that small child: ‘What are you going to do with that child? … Mrs. Thompson looked rather strangely at her husband for sonic moments, and then dropped her eyes’. We may just imagine how sad were the Thompsons because they didn’t have children and one day ‘An angel had come into his house, disguised as a sick, helpless, and miserable child, and filled all its dreary chambers with the sunshine of love’.

Farmer Jones and Mrs. Ellis, are minor characters and presented in the story, so to say, just directly: ‘Farmer Jones, after the coffin was taken out, placed John in his wagon and drove away, satisfied that he had done his part. Mrs. Ellis spoke to Kate with a hurried air, ‘Bid your sister good by,’ and drew the tearful children apart ere scarcely their lips had touched in a sobbing farewell’. However, we may imagine what kind of people they are. They weren’t interested in Maggie’s life, they took children as things. They left Maggie alone and no one cared about her future life, to sijnd Maggie to the poorhouse was the easiest way out. There is one more example of indirect characterisation: ‘For a little while the man stood with a puzzled air; then he turned back, and went into the hovel again’. While reading this sentence we imagine Joe Thompson hesitating about his actions, he is not sure what to do: whether to take Maggie or not. Such dreadful situation festers his soul and he can’t be apart from it. The next example is a direct proof to show how Mrs. Thompson was shocked: ‘Anger and astonishment were in the tones of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her face was in a flame’. Actually, she was seething with anger, she couldn’t utter a word.

Maggie, is described as a weak person, but quite experienced. She didn’t talk a lot, the author pays special attention to her personality indirectly, but very masterfully. From the very beginning of the story one can feel how much Maggie was afraid to stay alone: ‘But no one said ‘I’ll take Maggie’. Pitying glances were cast on her wan and wasted form and thoughts were troubled on her account. Mothers brought cast-off garments and, removing her soiled and ragged clothes, dressed her in clean attire. The sad eyes and patient face of the little one touched many hearts, and even knocked at them for entrance’. She kept silent, her eyes told more. By all means, she understood that ‘But none opened to take her in. Who wanted a bed-ridden child?’, thus the author shows us a remarkable piece of realistic character drawing. The author renders the atmosphere of her loneliness very artfully.Usage of such words as ‘tearful’, ‘scarcely’, ‘a sobbing farewell’, ‘refraining from a look’, ‘alone’ evoke an emotional response and the reader gets the vivid notion of the situation described. ‘O, Mr. Thompson!’ she cried out, catching her suspended breath, ‘don’t leave me here all alone!’, it has a very specific emotional colouring and the author conveys much while saying little. The author gives a very bright indirect characterization of Maggie’s personality: ‘…somebody’s arms must carry her, and mine are strong enough for that task’. On the one hand, this example shows how weak and helpless Maggie is and, on the other hand, the example demonstrates Mr. Thompson’s responsibility, his strong character. Besides, the author uses speech characterization to reveal Maggie’s personality. There is a dialogue which shows the personality of a small child, who is in despair, who has just lost her family but now has other parents, who is happy and sad at the same time, who doesn’t know what to expect next. In the dialogue Maggie gives very short replies. For example: ‘Yes, sir’, ‘He used to come’, ‘No, sir’. She is very polite, always said ‘sir’. Thus the author masterfully describes the characters, they are life-like and T. S. Arthur uses indirect and speech characterization to bring his characters alive.

Question 3.
Discuss the conflict in the story, An Angel In Disguise.
Answer:
Two of the major internal conflicts in the story are Joe and Mrs. Thompson’s feelings about Maggie. Joe couldn’t find it in himself to let Maggie go to the poor house all alone and sick so Joe decided to take her home. He tells his wife, “Look at her kindly, Jane; speak to her kindly,” said Joe. “Think of her dead mother, and the loneliness, the pain, the sorrow that must be on all her coming life.” However, Mrs. Thompson had the opposite problem and couldn’t find it in herself to let Maggie stay with them. When she sees Maggie with Joe she loses control and gives vent, “You haven’t brought home that sick brat!” Anger and  astonishment were in the tones of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her face was in a flame. But eventually Mrs. Thompson changed her mind because of Maggie’s kindness towards them. ‘Joe did not follow; he saw that, her state had changed, and felt that it would be best to leave her alone with the child.’

The other conflict that was external were between Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and Maggie. Maggie was ill and bedridden and that caused nobody to want to adopt her. Joe decided that he couldn’t leave her there and took her to live with him and his wife. When Maggie begged him not to leave her alone he with all the compassion inside him answered, “No, dear,” he answered, in a kind voice, going to the bed, and stooping down over the child, “You sha’n’t be left here alone.”

Another conflict was that Mr. and Mrs. disagreed on the idea of adopting Maggie. “What are you going to do with that child?”

“I thought you understood me that she was to go to the poorhouse,” replied Joe, as if surprised at her question.

This was resolved when later in the story Maggie has a positive impact on their lives and they finally decided she would stay. The author tells us, ‘Joe did not see the Guardians of the Poor on that day, on the next, nor on the day following. In fact, he never saw them at all on Maggie’s account, for in less than a week Mrs. Joe Thompson would as soon leave thought of taking up her own abode in the almshouse as sending Maggie there.

Question 4.
Is the story Didactic and gives a moral?
Answer:
Being born to highly religious parents, many of T. S. Arthur’s works are moralistic in nature. He was also a strong proponent of temperance and the tone of the story is didactic. His short story, An Angel in Disguise features both his characteristic moral message, and his strong views on the consumption of alcohol. It shows that you can always find good in people, despite their lives, and how they look. The man found the pureness of the little girl and called her an angel because to him, she was one, in disguise. The tone to us was peaceful, because everything worked out in the end. The evil people  try and shun a motherless, poor and disabled girl. A man with a mean wife takes in the girl to find that she’s an innocent, pure soul. They tend to her and care for her due to her condition, physically, mentally and emotionally, and see that she’s An Angel in Disguise. The moral of the story is to not judge a book by its cover, and to give people or things a chance before you push it away. The man gave her a chance while everyone judged her for being motherless and disabled and unwashed. He welcomed her into their childless home. He didn’t judge her while everyone else did, and we think that was the intended message.

The author quotes extensively from the Bible to uphold his didactic theme that one must help the disabled and children. Joe lectures his wife on the virtue of selfless benevolence to children. He says, ‘How the Savior rebuked the disciples who would not receive them; how he took them up in his arms, and blessed them; and how he said that ‘whosoever gave them even a cup of cold water should not go unrewarded’.

Thus the story carries a message about love, kindness, human feelings and bereavement.The author’s message is to help other people, because we should be kind, sympathetic and tender. We should help poor and hopelessly diseased children, because there could be an angel in disguise for us. The main theme of the story is that people can change and feel the plight of other people.

 

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 7 The Little Match Girl

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 7 The Little Match Girl – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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Comprehension Passages

Passage 1

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening— the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that rolled by dreadfully fast.

One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an urchin, and off he ran with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle when he some day or other should have children himself. So the little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing. She crept along trembling with cold and hunger—a very picture of sorrow, the poor little thing!

Question 1.
Which day of the year was it in the story?
Answer:
It was terribly cold. It snowed, and it was nearly quite dark. It was New Year’s eve and the night was freezing cold.

Question 2.
Describe the condition of the girl.
Answer:
The little girl was bare headed and barefoot in the freezing cold as she had lost the slippers she had worn which belonged to her mother and were too large for her. Her feet were quite red and blue from cold.

Question 3.
What did the girl carry in her pocket?
Answer:
The little girl carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her hand.

Question 4.
Had she managed to sell any matches?
Answer:
Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing.

Question 5.
Does the author give us a glimpse into the Victorian society?
Answer:
Yes, we get a glimpse into the society in which parents were cruel enough to make their * small children work in the freezing cold. Begging was a menace and child abuse was common.

Passage 2

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savoury smell of roast goose, for it was New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and

she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out—“scratch!” how it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.

Question 1.
Where did the girl seek some shelter from the cold?
Answer:
The girl in order to escape the freezing cold huddled in a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold.

Question 2.
Why could the girl not go home?
Answer:
The little girl did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her for earning no money.

Question 3.
Describe her home.
Answer:
Her house was in as poor a condition as her. It was almost as cold at home as on the street because they had only the roof to cover them. They lacked adequate woollens to keep them warm. There also the wind howled through the cracks, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags.

Question 4.
How did she try to keep herself warm?
Answer:
She thought of lighting her matches to keep herself warm .

Question 5.
What did she imagine when she lighted the first match?
Answer:
When she lighted the first match it seemed to give a warm, bright light, like a little candle. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and it seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them.

Passage 3

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas-tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door at the rich merchant’s. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colored pictures, like those she had seen in the show- windows, looked down upon it all. The little one stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.

The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.

Question 1.
What did she see when she lighted another match?
Answer:
When the girl lighted another match she saw herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas- tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door at the rich merchant’s.

Question 2.
Describe the Christmas tree.
Answer:
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. There were thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and coloured pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked down upon it all.

Question 3.
What happened when she stretched her hand to touch?
Answer:
As soon as she stretched her hand to touch the match went out and the tree disappeared.

Question 4.
How did the Christmas lights appear when the match went out?
Answer:
When the match went out the Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire.

Question 5.
Why did the girl think that “Someone is dying” ?
Answer:
The girl thought that “Someone is dying” because her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.

Passage 4

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance. “Grandmother,” cried the little one, “O take me with you; I know you will go away when the match burns out; you will vanish like the warm stove, the roast goose, and the large, glorious Christmas-tree.” And she made haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon-day, and her grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they were with God.

In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth, leaning against the wall; she had been frozen to death on the last evening of the year; and the New-year’s sun rose and shone upon a little corpse! The child still sat, in the stiffness of death, holding the matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt. “She tried to warm herself,” said some. No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her grandmother, on New-year’s day.

Question 1.
What happened when she lighted another match?
Answer:
When she lighted another match the light shone round her and in the brightness stood her old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance.

Question 2.
What did the girl say to her grandmother? Why?
Answer:
The girl pleaded with her grandmother to take her along with her because she was the only one in the world who loved her.

Question 3.
Why did the girl make haste to light the whole bundle of matches?
Answer:
The girl made haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon day, and her grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they were with God.

Question 4.
What happened to the little girl? What did the people think?
Answer:
The little girl died and the people saw that one bundle of matches was burnt. They said she had tried to warm herself.

Question 5.
Why was there a smile on the girl’s lips? Did the people understand?
Answer:
The girl had a smile on her face when she died because she was relinquishing a world of pain and suffering and was reunited with the person she loved the most, her grandmother and God.No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her grandmother, on New-year’s day. They had no idea about the beautiful pictures she had seen.

Assignment

Question 1.
The author shows death as a relief from a harsh life. Justify with reference to the story.
Answer:
In the snowy streets of the city a pitiable young girl is selling matches on New Years Eve in a desperate attempt to appease her father’s violent anger. Alone with her matches and their accompanying visions the girl passes on and is found later the next day, dead and with a smile playing across her face. The plot of The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian

Anderson is meant to inspire a charity of tears for this young girl and her untimely death. However not in all instances should such a death be so unfortunate In the little match girls case death would not be the worst of all evils but an alleviation to mortals who are worn out with sufferings. Thus death can come as a relief to those whose toils and cares overcome the will to live and when a better life can only be satisfied by fate. Firstly, for some, peace and comfort can only be obtained in death. The little match girl seeks such comfort in the streets but obviously finds none in the bitter bleak night. Once she is quite numb with cold, she thinks that a little match would be a comfort. So light here represents the comfort of heat. For example when she does light the match it blazes into a clear warm flame, which transforms with a little help from her imagination into a warm friendly fire. When the match goes out the stove vanishes and she is left again to suffer the icy night. So peace and contentment cannot always be found in this life but the one after death. Therefore death need not be viewed as the ultimate evil as for many it can be a release into a better life.

Question 2.
Anderson through the story a Little Match Girl gives an idea about the Victorian society of his times?
Answer:
Andersen portrays in this tale not only a realistic and crude view of society in Victorian times, but also a deep criticism of social class differentiation. During those times, children were not regarded the same way people regard them nowadays. Instead, they were viewed as ‘miniature adults’ and were usually used for cheap labour.

Andersen takes advantage of these strong social differences to leave a moral teaching at the end of his tale, this consists of the idea that children should be considered as creative people, able to transcend difficult situations through the power of imagination.

The girl, suffering from the cold and the ignorance of the people around her and maybe as a result of these, is still capable of imagining certain things that would make her feel better about her situation- huge Christmas trees, a table full of Christmas food and her grandmother’s loving face.

Andersen describes the social stratification of Victorian times in just a few sentences. During this historical period, while the ‘middle class’ emerged and took over an important percentage of work places, the ‘under class’ grew resentful of both aristocracy and middle class, remaining unemployed and living in poverty. Although Andersen does not explain the girl’s background, he denotes social differentiation by opposing the extremes. The reader understands that the girl and her family stand on the less fortunate side, and it also gives him/her an idea of their social impediments. Nevertheless, it can only be assumed that the story is set during Victorian times, mainly because Andersen lived during this period.

Question 3.
The Little Match Girl can be viewed as a work of opposites. Justify.
Answer:
Little Match Girl can be viewed as a work of opposites can be analysed as a work of opposites. Andersen plays with the interaction between violence and love, poverty and wealth, struggle and redemption, life and death. These constant relationships are displayed in such a manner that keeps us entertained during the reading process, and we are later left with a moral learning.

The author talks about segregation, religious faith and human relationships.Instead of getting love and care from her father, the girl only got blows for not selling matches. The girl sees only her old grandmother as the only loving relationship and views her, ‘bright and radiant, so mild, and with such an expression of love.’

The family situation of the little girl and her experiences daily show that parents of such poor children did not care if it was cold outside. They send their daughter out to sell matches anyway. The girl does not have the appropriate clothing to shelter herself from the winter cold. She is not capable of selling any matches and scared to return home because her father would beat her for her poor work. Instead of going back, the girl prefers to sit in the snow and imagine her grandmother’s face, full of tenderness and love. The reminder of her grandmother’s love helps her to keep warm and get through this painful moment, as passers-by remain oblivious to her suffering, ;just like her parents.

She is now dead in the cold winter, but with a smile on her face because she is with her grandmother and God. This can be seen as an allegory for Christian faith, in regards to the notion that good people go to heaven to enter heaven. This explains the fact that the little girl suffered during her lifetime which denotes a more significant sense of purpose to the girl’s struggle and the tale’s ending.

Question 4.
The story propagates the idea that dreams are necessary to remain happy, even if for a short while.
Answer:
The little match girl didn’t have any desire to go home since it was a cold attic where her violent father would hit her often. The wind that was blowing from all sides of that attic didn’t leave any room for a happy family. She thought how to get warm so he decided to light up one match. After she lit up another match she dreamt. And in her dream saw a beautiful set table with a lot of food. The turkey on the table started moving and went towards her but she never came to the girl because the match burned out. She decided to light up another one and she saw a decorated Christmas tree and many candles around it. When she reached her hands to touch it the light went out.

All of the candles started to rise towards the sky and one star fell down, leaving behind a mark. The girl thought that it meant somebody died and that it was their soul. In that moment she saw her grandma and in order to keep her near she lit up all of the matches. Her grandma took her with her to a place where hunger and coldness were gone.

The next morning she was found frozen with a smile on her face. Everybody commented on her attempts to keep herself warm but nobody knew she waited for New Year with the prettiest pictures and dreams in her mind. Her dreams made her happy and she could no longer feel the cold or the harshness of the world around her. She was at peace.

Question 5.
Anderson’s story shows the young girl having visions. Through them Anderson gives didactic and moralistic lessons. Discuss.
Answer:
This story is said to have taken place in a town around the early 20th Century. The story consists of a small girl no older than eleven, sent out to sell matches, which during that time was considered a form of begging. It is the dead of winter and she has little to keep her warm. Her ill fitting shoes had been taken from her, and with the fear of going home only to be beaten for her unsuccessful sales, she curls up in the cold. As she is struggling to keep warm all she can contemplate is the thought of lighting one small match. Then, as she does so, she is filled with feelings of warmth and safety as she sits beneath a large iron stove. She continues to light matches and get extraordinary visions, each one better than before.

During the early 20th century many people paid no mind to the poor “[since] begging was illegal during Andersen’s time the poor would make matches and sell them on the street as a front for their actual begging” Child abuse, was also common during this time.

As the girl lights her first match, she sees a vision of a large warm iron stove. But soon the stove disappears. All that is left are the gray/black remains of a burnt-out match. “Like black, gray is used as a colour of mourning as well as a colour of formality”. This shows that before the little girl has reached her fate the signs of mourning are already presenting themselves.

During the Second vision Hans Christian Anderson wrote of a magical New Years Eve Feast that any poor hungry child would be overjoyed to partake in, he said, “where the light fell on the wall, there the wall became transparent like a veil, so that she could see into the room. On the table was spread a snow-white tablecloth; upon it was a splendid porcelain service, and the roast goose was steaming famously with its stuffing of apple and dried plums. And what was still more capital to behold was, the goose hopped down from the dish, reeled about on the floor with knife and fork in its breast, till it came up to the poor little girl; when—the match went out and nothing but the thick, cold, damp wall was left behind.” It is a vision about Thanksgiving feast, a Christian belief that we must feed the hungry on such days.

During this time the poor could only dream of partaking in such an extravagant meal. Salaries were small and for some, times were very hard. This vision addresses how hungry the small girl truly is, and if she doesn’t freeze she shall surely starve.

The Third Vision of the night, only to be seen after the striking of another match, is. a magnificent Christmas tree. It is brightly light and beautifully decorated. It was the sort of tree only to be found in a very wealthy home. As the colors and lights rise, and the tree disappears, the stars become visible, and it seems as though the lights from the tree have become the stars. The little girl then sees a star fall and claims “Someone is just dead!” “For her old grandmother, the only person who had loved her, and who was now no more, had told her, that when a star falls, a soul ascends to God”. A Creole superstition states: ‘Shooting-stars are souls escaping from purgatory: if you can make a good wish three times before the star disappears, the wish will be granted’. This is almost as if the three visions before were wishes, but it is also thought, that it is either the young girl’s soul ascending into heaven, or yet the cause for the final vision.

The small girl drew another match, and there her loving grandmother stood before her in the dark of the night, with no reservations, only kindness. The little girl knew that if the match were to run out her grandmother would disappear just like all her other wonderful visions, so in turn she struck the entire rest of the bundle on the wall. “Many near-death experiences around the world, regardless of religious belief, involve the visitation of dead loved-ones, usually family members and close friends” The little girl pleads with her grandmother to take her back to heaven so “she took the little maiden, on her arm, and both flew in brightness and in joy so high, so very high, and then above was neither cold, nor hunger, nor anxiety—they were with God”.

Nearly 1,876 patients were treated in American hospitals for hypothermia in 2010/ 11.This hits close to home with The Little Match Girl, seeing as how she froze to death on an icy New Years Eve. The next morning the townspeople found the girl frozen in a corner, matches in hand, smile on her face, and all they can think of is how she must have tried to warm herself. Not one person stops and thinks of the beautiful splendour the girl saw. Hans Christian Anderson believed this was a happy ending in his book to relinquish the suffering of a little girl only to be joined with her one true relative and God. Anderson’s story serves a good purpose “reminding people to be charitable and help the poor during the holidays, ..id hopefully year round, to keep young children from suffering with poverty and death.” This isn’t much of a fairy tale, more so a“folk tale for adults. These tales were often told orally during the times when the peasants could not read. They passed them down through the generations, and the folk tales were eventually illustrated and sold as fairy tales for children. In conclusion, Anderson’s short tale is not only a sad holiday story reminding us to give during the season, but a reality check.

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 8 The Blue Bead

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Short Stories Workbook Answers Chapter 8 The Blue Bead – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

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Comprehension Passages

Passage 1

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

From the day, perhaps a hundred years ago when he sun had hatched him in a sandbank, and he had broken his shell, and got his head out and looked around, ready to snap at anything, before he was even fully hatched-from that day, when he had at once made for the water, ready to fend for himself immediately, he had lived by his brainless craft and ferocity. Escaping the birds of prey and the great carnivorous fishes that eat baby crocodiles, he has prospered, catching all the food he needed, and storing it till putrid in holes in the bank. Tepid water to live in and plenty of rotted food grew him to his great length. Now nothing could pierce the inch-?thick armoured hide. Not even rifle bullets,

which would bounce off. Only the eyes and the soft underarms offered a place. He lived well in the river, sunning himself sometimes with other crocodiles-muggers, as well as the long-? snouted fish-?eating gharials-on warm rocks and sandbanks where the sun dried the clay on them quite white, and where they could plop off into the water in a moment if alarmed. The big crocodile fed mostly on fish, but also on deer and monkeys come to drink, perhaps a duck or two.

Question 1.
How old was the crocodile? How big?
Answer:
The crocodile was probably a hundred years old. He was twice the size of a tall man.

Question 2.
How did he survive as a baby crocodile from the day he was hatched.
Answer:
From the day he was hatched he was ready to snap at anything and he had survived with the help of his brainless craft and ferocity.

Question 3.
What posed a danger to him when he was young?
Answer:
The birds of prey and the great carnivorous fishes that eat baby crocodiles posed a danger to his survival when he was a bay crocodile.

Question 4.
What helped him grow to his present size?
Answer:
Tepid water to live in and plenty of rotted food grew him to his great length.

Question 5.
What protected him now? How?
Answer:
Now nothing could pierce the inch—?thick armoured hide. Not even rifle bullets, which would bounce off. Only the eyes and the soft underarms offered a place of vulnerability.

Question 6.
What did the big crocodile feed on?
Answer:
He fed on fish, but also on deer and monkeys who came to drink, perhaps a duck or two, corpses, dogs etc.

Passage 2

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Beside him in the shoals as he lay waiting glimmered a blue gem. It was not a gem, though: it was sand—?worn glass that had been rolling about in the river for a long time. By chance, it was perforated right through—the neck of a bottle perhaps?—a blue bead. In the shrill noisy village above the ford, out of a mud house the same colour as the ground came a little girl, a thin starveling child dressed in an earth—?coloured rag. She had torn the rag in two to make skirt and sari. Sibia was eating the last of her meal, chupatti wrapped round a smear of green chilli and rancid butter; and she divided this also, to make

it seem more, and bit it, showing straight white teeth. With her ebony hair and great eyes, and her skin of oiled brown cream, she was a happy immature child—?woman about twelve years old. Bare foot, of course, and often goosey—?cold on a winter morning, and born to toil. In all her life, she had never owned anything but a rag. She had never owned even one anna—not a pice.

Why does the writer mention the blue bead at the same time that the crocodile is introduced?

Ans. The author mentions the blue bead at the same time that the crocodile is introduced to create suspense and a foreshadowing of the events’to happen.

Question 1.
Describe the blue bead.
Answer:
The blue bead glimmered in the water. It was not a gem, though: it was sand—?worn glass that had been rolling about in the river for a long time. By chance, it was perforated right through—the neck of a bottle perhaps.

Question 2.
Describe Sibia’s home.
Answer:
Sibia lived in a mud hiuse which was the same colour as the ground.

Question 3.
Describe Sibia.
Answer:
Sibia was a little girl, a thin starving child dressed in an earth—?coloured rag, straight white teeth. With her ebony hair and great eyes, and her skin of oiled brown cream, she was a happy immature child—?woman about twelve years old. Bare foot, of course, and often goosey—?cold on a winter morning, and born to toil. In all her life, she had never owned anything but a rag. She had never owned even one anna—not a pice.

Question 4.
What was Sibia’s life like?
Answer:
Sibia was born to toil and had always lived in poverty. She had been working since childhood. In all her life, she had never owned any thing but a rag. She had never owned even one anna—not a pice.

Passage 3

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

The women came out on the shore, and made for the stepping—?stones. They had plenty to laugh and bicker about, as they approached the river in a noisy crowd. They girded up their skirts, so as to jump from stone to stone, and they clanked their sickles and forks together over their shoulders to have ease of movement. They shouted their quarrels above the gush of the river. Noise frightens crocodiles. The big mugger did not move, and all the women crossed in safety to the other bank. Here they had to climb a steep hillside to get at the grass, but all fell to with a will, and sliced away at it wherever there was foothold to be had. Down below them ran the broad river, pouring powerfully out from its deep narrow pools among the cold cliffs and shadows, spreading into warm shallows, lit by kingfishers. Great turtles lived there, and mahseer weighing more than a hundred pounds. Crocodiles too. Sometimes you could see them lying out on those slabs of clay over there, but there were none to be seen at the moment.

Question 1.
Why did the women rolled their skirts up?
Answer:
The women girded their skirts so as to jump from stone to stone and this gave them ease of movement.

Question 2.
What did the women carry?
Answer:
They carried sickles and hay forks to cut and gather the dried grass.

Question 3.
Why did they shout louder than the sound of the water?
Answer:
They shouted louder than the sound of the water because noise frightens crocodiles.

Question 4.
What were they doing on the hill?
Answer:
The women climbed the hill to reach the grass there and cut it with their sickles and then gather with their hay forks so that they could take it and sell in the market.

Question 5.
What all lived in the river below the hill?
Answer:
In the river below the hill lived great turtles, and mahseer weighing more than a hundred pounds. Crocodiles too.

Passage 4

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Sibia sprang.
From boulder to boulder she came leaping like a rock goat. Sometimes it had seemed difficult to cross these stones, especially the big gap in the middle where the river coursed through like a bulge of glass. But now she came on wings, choosing her footing in midair without even thinking about it, and in one moment she was beside the shrieking woman. In the boiling bloody water, the face of the crocodile, fastened round her leg, was tugging to and fro, and smiling. His eyes rolled on to Sibia. One slap of the tail could kill her. He struck. Up shot the water, twenty feet, and fell like a silver chain. Again! The rock jumped under the blow. But in the daily heroism of the jungle, as common as a thorn tree, Sibia did not hesitate. She aimed at the reptile’s eyes. With all the force of her little body, she drove the hayfork at the eyes, and one prong went in—right in— while its pair scratched past on the horny cheek. The crocodile reared up in convulsion, till half his lizard body was out of the river, the tail and nose nearly meeting over his stony back. Then he crashed back, exploding the water, and in an uproar of bloody foam he disappeared. He would die. Not yet, but presently, though his death would not be known for days; not till his stomach, blown with gas, floated him. Then perhaps he would be found upside down among the logs at the timber boom, with pus in his eye. Sibia got arms round the fainting woman, and somehow dragged her from the water.

Question 1.
Why does Sibia think of the two brass vessels when the Gujar woman is attacked?
Answer:
Sibia thought of the two brass vessels when the Gujar woman was attacked because she was poor enough to understand the value of two brass vessals.

Question 2.
Describe how Sibia flew to save the woman.
Answer:
Sibia leapt forward from boulder to boulder. She came leaping with the agility of a rock goat. Sometimes it had seemed difficult to cross these stones, especially the big gap in the middle where the river coursed through like a bulge of glass. But now she came on wings, choosing her footing in midair without even thinking about it, and in one moment she was beside the shrieking woman.

Question 3.
What was the reaction of the crocodile when he saw Sibia?
Answer:
When the crocodile saw Sibia his eyes rolled on to Sibia. One slap of the tail could kill her. He struck. Up shot the water, twenty feet, and fell like a silver chain. He again tried to strike with his tail. The rock jumped under the blow.

Question 4.
How does Sibia save the woman?
Answer:
Sibia displayed great courage and fearlessness in saving the woman from being devoured by the crocodile. Sibia did not hesitate. She aimed at the reptile’s eyes. With all the force of her little body, she drove the hay fork at the eyes, and one prong went in—right in— while its pair scratched past on the horny cheek.

Question 5.
What would happen to the crocodile?
Answer:
He would die. Not yet, but presently, though his death would not be known for days; not till his stomach, blown with gas, floated him. Then perhaps he would be found upside down among the logs at the timber boom, with pus in his eye.

Passage 5

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Then there it lay in her wet palm, perfect, even pierced ready for use, with the sunset shuffled about inside it like gold—?dust. All her heart went up in flames of joy. After a bit she twisted it into the top of her skirt against her tummy so she would know if it burst through the poor cloth and fell. Then she picked up her fork and sickle and the heavy grass and set off home. Ai! Ai! What a day! Her barefeet smudged out the wriggle— ?mark of snakes in the dust; there was the thin singing of malaria mosquitoes among the trees now; and this track was much used at night by a morose old makna elephant—the Tuskless One; but Sibia was not thinking of any of them. The stars came out: she did not notice. On the way back she met her mother, out of breath, come to look for her, and scolding. “I did not see till I was home, that you were not there. I thought something must have happened to you.” And Sibia, bursting with her story, cried “Something did). I found a blue bead for my necklace, look!”

Question 1.
Why did Sibia feel overjoyed?
Answer:
Sibia felt overjoyed when she saw the blue bead lying on the ground next to her hay fork. It was perfect for her necklace. Even pierced ready for use, with the sunset shuffled about inside it like gold—?dust.

Question 2.
Where did she keep it?
Answer:
Sibia twisted it into the top of her skirt against her tummy so she would know if it burst through the poor cloth and fell.

Question 3.
What all did Sibia not notice as she went home?
Answer:
Sibia was so full of joy at finding the blue bead that she did not notice the thin singing of malaria mosquitoes among the trees, nor was she worried that she might come across the dangerous old makna elephant—the Tuskless One or that the stars had come out in the sky and night was falling.

Question 4.
Why did Sibia not tell her mother about her fight with the crocodile or how she saved the woman?
Answer:
Sibia was so excited and happy that she had found the blue bead and now she could make a necklace that all other things were insignificant. The only thing of importance for her was that now she also could have jewellery which she had always wanted but was too poor to get.

Question 5.
Is the Ending Appropriate?
Answer:
Yes, the ending was appropriate because it not only shows Sibia is a brave young woman who put her own life in danger for the safety of the older woman but it is also evident, at the end of the story that how humble Sibia. She told her mom about the blue bead she came across, but did not mention her heroic act.

Assignment

Question 1.
Show how the story shows a conflict between humans and nature.
Answer:
The Blue bead is a story about conflicts.lt is the story of Sibia, story of a twelve year old Indian girl who saved a gujjar woman from being devoured by a crocodile. There was a mugger crocodile laying in the water, A little 12-year-old girl name Sibia lived in a small village and she was marked for work from a very young age. She had never owned anything in her life In the village the woman would get paper grass from above the river. When they had enough they would take it to the bullock and sell it for money. One day when they were crossing the river on their way home, Sibia decided to rest. One of the Gujjar women went down to fill her two gurrahs with water. Things took a turn for the worst and all of a sudden a crocodile attacked the woman, biting on the woman’s leg. At that moment Sibia got up, sprinted, grabbed the hayfork and stabbed the crocodile in the eye with all her power. Immediately the crocodile let go and went away. Sibia saw a small blue bead lying by the river, she grabbed it. Since she was poor she didn’t have a necklace. She’d always wanted one like the other women, now she could make one with the blue bead. After that she went home and told her mother all about it.

There are various conflicts in the story. Sibia wants jewellery but cannot afford it. Has to work much harder than any child should and struggles to survive. Everyday Sibia has to cross the Indian River which is full of crocodiles. The grown Gujjar women is attacked by the crocodile and the twelve year old Sibia kills the crocodile and saves the women.

Then there is the conflict of lack of wealth in Sibia’s family. The author states in the beginning of the story:”She was a happy immature child woman, about 12 years old. Bare foot, of course, and often goosey cold on a winter morning, and born to toil. In all her life, she had owned anything but a rag.”

Another major conflict highlighted in the story is Human versus Nature. The conflict was that a woman was attacked by a crocodile and Sibia was there to save the woman. This conflict served the purpose of telling us how brave and courageous Sibia was and how she found the blue bead.Crocodiles often attack humans in India and surrounding countries. It’s very unlikely that one would survive an attack,but luckily, Sibia was there to save that woman.

Question 2.
Can we say that it is a story about heroism and a true soldier?
Answer:
In the short story A Blue Bead the author has given an account about how inherent courage can make even a child fight the greatest odds. It is comparable to the story from the Bible of David and Goliath.

Sibia is only twelve years old but is ready to help others even at the cost of endangering her own life. When she lunges at the crocodile, not for a moment does she think of saving herself and running. Infact she behaves like a true soldier thinking of others before self. Yes, the woman would be dead if Sibia didn’t rescue her. In the end also she did not give importance to her act of bravery.

She was fearless and quick footed . When she saw the woman being attacked, Sibia leapt forward from boulder to boulder. She came leaping with the agility of a rock goat. Sometimes it had seemed difficult to cross these stones, especially the big gap in the middle where the river coursed through like a bulge of glass. But now she came on wings, choosing her footing in midair without even thinking about it, and in one moment she was beside the shrieking woman. She was adventurous and courageous. ‘With all the force in (Sibia’s) little body, she drove the hayfork at the eyes, and one prong went right in.’ Sibia shows that she is capable of disabling the crocodile, she demonstrates courage in an overwhelming, impressive manner Even after rescuing the woman from the crocodile she helped her and tended her wounds. “Sibia got her arms around the fainting woman…she stopped her wounds with sand, and bound them with a rag.” Sibia represents herself as a hero in this portion of the story, as she successfully defeated the crocodile in order to save a woman. Sibia is only 12 years old, but without hesitation or a second thought, she kills a crocodile. “With all the force in her little body, she drove the hayfork at the eyes, and with one prong went in -right in- while it’s pair scratched past on the horny cheek… He would die.” Therefore, inspite of with Sibia’s young age, she simply attains courage to execute a vicious crocodile.

Question 3.
Show how the story demonstrates that a good deed begets good.
Answer:
Sibia was a little 12-year-old girl name who lived in a small village and was marked for work from a very young age. She had never owned anything in her life. In the village the woman would get paper grass from above the river. When they had enough they would take it and sell it for money. One day when they were crossing the river on their way home, Sibia decided to rest. One of the Gujjar women went down to fill her two gurrahs with water. Things took a turn for the worst and all of a sudden a crocodile attacked the woman, biting on the woman’s leg. At that moment Sibia got up, sprinted, grabbed the hay fork and stabbed the crocodile in the eye with all her power. Immediately the crocodile let go and went away. Sibia saw a small blue bead lying by the river, she grabbed it. Since she was poor she didn’t have a necklace. She’d always wanted one like the other women, now she could make one with the blue bead.

Sibia wants jewellery but cannot afford it. Has to work much harder than any child should and struggles to survive. Everyday Sibia has to cross the Indian River which is full of crocodiles. The grown Gujjar women is attacked by the crocodile and the twelve year old Sibia kills the crocodile and saves the woman.

The blue bead symbolizes that even the little things can make Sibia happy. We take many things for granted and don’t realize the little things that make us happy. The blue bead represents Sibia’s happiness because she grew up in poverty. The blue bead is used as a symbol, it represents the riches and luxuries that she could never afford, and all she fought for in order to achieve it. It is also a symbol and reminder of her bravery and heroism on that day. So she could never hope to buy jewellery but her good deed gets her a reward in the form of the bead which she could use to make a necklace for herself.

Question 4.
Describe the picture of India given by the author.
Answer:
The Blue Bead is the story of an Indian girl who lives in a mud house the same colour as the groun Most of the people in India in the villages belonging to poor class live in such houses . Sibia like most Indian labourers is dressed ‘in a rag torn in two to make skirt  and sari. Sibia was eating the last of her meal, chupatti wrapped round a smear of green chilli and rancid butter; and she divided this also, to make it seem more. She was bare foot, and often goosey—?cold on a winter morning, and born to toil. In all her life, she had never owned anything but a rag. She had never owned even one anna—not a pice.’This could be the description of any poor beggar or labourer in India. The author also describes the animals that abound in the jungles of India. The huge crocodile which was twice the size of a tal man and was a danger to all who tried to cross the great Indian river. There is a mention of the great turtles who lived in the waters of the river and the mahseer weighing more than a hundred pounds. The author casually writes that you could see the crocodiles Tying out on those slabs of clay over there.’ Another Indian menace which is there is the ‘singing of malaria mosquitoes among the Malaria and some waterborne diseases kill infect and kill many Indians in the villages.Then the author also mentions the elephants to be found in the jungles, ‘morose old makna elephant—the Tuskless One.

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