Questions for practice on section no- 4

4.1 History of English Novel

1. (i) Match the columns : (02)

A B
a) Murasaki Shikibu 1) Cervantes
b) Novella 2) Bankimchandra chattopadhyaya
c) Don Quixote 3) Tale of Genji
d) Rajmohan’s wife 4) New
Answer : a) - 3), b) - 4), c) - 1), d) - 2)

(ii) Match the columns : (02)

A B
a) Samuel Richardson 1) The Pilgrim’s Progress
b) John Bunyan 2) Epistolary Novels
c) Frances Burney 3) Frankenstein
d) Mary Shelley 4) Evelina
Answer : a) - 2), b) - 1), c) - 4), d) - 3)

(iii) Match the columns : (02)

A B
a) Emily Bronte 1) Psychological insights
b) George Eliot 2) Novels on crime
c) Agatha Christie 3) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya
d) Rajmohan’s wife 4) The wuthering Heights
Answer : a) - 4), b) - 1), c) - 2), d) - 3)
(iv) Match the columns : (02)

A B
a) Rajmohan’s wife 1) Salmon Rushdie, V.S.Naipaul
b) Immigrant authors 2) First Novel in English by an Indian
c) The heart of Darkness 3) Henry James
d) The Turn of the screw 4) Joseph Conrad
Answer : a) - 2), b) - 1), c) - 4), d) - 3)

(v) Match the columns : (02)

A B
a) Theme 1) struggle
b) Plot 2) Central idea in a nutshell
c) Setting 3) Story or the course of events
d) Conflict 4) Background
Answer : a) - 2), b) - 3), c) - 4), d) - 1)

2. (i) True or false : (02)

State whether the following statements are True or false. Correct

the false statement.
1) Novels make life easier to understand than in drama and poetry.
(T)
2) “Tale of Genji’ has been described as the world’s first Novel. (T)
3) The spread of machines was the reason that the readers could not
get time to read
novel.(F)
CORRECT STATEMENT The spread of machines could provide a
time to the educated middle class for reading and discussion
about novels.
4) Agatha Christie was the most famous Romantic Novelist. (F)
CORRECT STATEMENT Agatha Christie used to write novels on
crime.

(ii) True or False : (02)

State whether the following statements are True or false. Correct
the false statement.
1) “Rajmohan’s wife” by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was the first
novel in English written by an Indian. (T)
2) Novella is a short narrative often satire or realistic in tone. (T)
3) The language and the techniques used by the author for the narrator
is known as plot. (F)
CORRECT STATEMENT The language and the techniques used
by the author for the narrator is known as Style.
4) Realistic Novels are dealing with imaginative things. (F)
CORRECT STATEMENT Realistic Novels are dealing with
Realism/manner.

(iii) True or False : (02)

State whether the following statements are True or false. Correct

the false statement.

1) Picaresque novels are related to pictures, images. (F)

CORRECT STATEMENT Picaresque novels are related to Rogue/
disreputable person
2) Epistolary novels are about Epics/ Mythology etc. (F)
 CORRECT STATEMENT Epistolary novels are related to
correspondence/documents/ letters/ diary entries.
3) Autobiographical novel is based on the life of the author. (T)
4) Stream of consciousness novel means flow of the thoughts. (T)

3. (i) Choose : (02)

Choose the correct alternatives and rewrite the sentences.

1) The present English word,” Novel” is derived from Italian

……………………
a) Novelty b) Nationality
c) Novella d) Noel.

2) The ………………………………….. is written by Geoffrey Chaucer.

a) Canterbury Tales b) Tales of Grandmother
c) Cadbury stories d) Romantic stories

3) Salman Rushdie.V.S Naipaul,Kazao Ishigura are considered as

…………………
a) Romantic writers b) Historical writers
c) Autobiographical writers d) Immigrant Authors.

4) ……………………… is the pioneer of the stream of consciousness

technique.
a) Ketan patel b) Virginia Woolf
c) R.K Narayan d) Arundhati Roy.

(ii) Choose : (02)

Choose the correct alternatives and rewrite the sentences.

1) Agatha Christie's Novels are based on ………………………………….
a) Crime b) Romance
c) suspense d) History.
2) ………………. by Bankim Chandra chattopadhyaya was the first
Novel in English Written by an Indian.
a) India of my dreams b) Rajmohan’s wife
c) Swami d) Who is afraid of him?
3) There are ……………………………………….. Elements of Novel.
a)Two b) three
c) six d) ten

4) Plots may be of two types ……………………… and

……………………..
a) Open plot/close plot b) First/second
c) primary/secondary d) simple/complex

(iii) Choose : (02)

Choose the correct alternative and rewrite the sentences.
1) The word picaresque originated from the Spanish word,”picaro” which
means……..
a)Pictures b)picnic
c) Rogue d) paintings

2) Epistolary derives from the Latin word epistola means the word
………………
a) Letter b) Epic
c) English culture d) palaces
3) …………………………….is the principle of stream of consciousness
Novel.
 a) Flow of love b) flow of thoughts
c) war and loss d) science and technology.

4) “Frankenstein” by ………………………… is considered the first novel

based on science and technology.
a) R. K. Narayan b) Jayant Naralikar
c) Chetan Bhagat d) Mary shelley.

4. Pick out : (02)

Pick out the odd element from the group.
1) Arun joshi , vikram seth, Graham Greene, kiran Nagarkar

Odd element : Graham Greene.

1) Arun joshi , vikram seth kiran Nagarkar

2) Anita Desai, Nayantara Sehgal,R. K Narayan, Herman Melville.

Odd element : Herman Melville.

Anita Desai, Nayantara Sehgal ,R. K Narayan

3) Place, period, Theme, climate, life-style.

Odd element : Theme
Place, period, climate, life-style.

4) Theme, language / style, character, stream of consciousness,

setting.
Odd element; stream of consciousness.
Theme, language / style, character
5) Realistic, psychological, Autobiographical, complex, picaresque.
Odd element : Complex
Realistic, psychological, autobiographical, picaresque

6) Theme, plot, character, Novella

Odd element: Novella
Theme, plot, character

5. Complete the following sentences. (02)

1) The two types of conflicts that the plot may have are simple or
complex.

2) Periodical Essay and Novel were two new forms predominant in the
eighteenth century.

3) The present English word Novel is derived from the Italian word
Novella means New.

4) The spread of machines could provide a time to the educated middle

class for reading and discussion about the books.

5) Salmon Rushdie, V.S.Naipaul and Kazao Ishigura are called

immigrant authors.

6) Hercule poirot and Miss.Marple are the evergreen detectives

created by Agatha Christie.

7) The indian Novels of olden times either had nationalistic virtues or

social issues as their Main framework.
8) Novelle is a type of prose fiction which is shorter than a full length
Novel and longer than short stories.

9) The reader follows the actions of the main character and it is referred
to as the Protagonist is in conflict with a character or a force known
as antagonist.

10) Plot and character are the major elements that are affected due to
setting.

6. Write short notes on : (02)

1) Novella :
The present English word,” Novel” is derived from the Italian,”
Novella” meaning,” new”. A novel narrates a story embellishing
it with more details of the place, nature, people and their minds
and their gestures and activities. It creates the picture of the
society of that time.

2) The contribution of women Novelists:

The novel of manners,” Evelina” by Frances Burney”and
“Frankenstein” by Mary shelly are landmark novels. Jane
Austene has been ruling over the minds of the people through
her novels.Emily Bronte, Charlotte Bront have created their own
place through their works.

3) Novels on crime :
Agatha Christie created her own place by writing many novels
based on crime “ Hercule poirot” and “Miss. Marple are the
 evergreen detectives created by her. Harper Lee, Margaret
Atwood, Toni Morrison and Alie walkers elevated the tradition.

4) Indian tradition of Novels :

“Rajmohan’s wife” by bankim Chandra chattopadhyay serialized
in the “ Indian field” was the first novel in English by an Indian
writer. Mulkraj Anand,R.K Narayan,Raja Rao were the major trio
who prevailed in the period after that Novelists like Anita
Desai,Nayantara Sehgal,Arun Joshi and Manohar Malgaonkar
changed the course of Indian English Novels.

5) Elements of Novel :
1) Theme, 2) plot, 3) character, 4) setting, 5) conflict, 6)
language, style

4.2 To sir with love

1. Summarize the novel ‘To Sir with love’

‘To Sir with love’ is an autobiographical novel.It pictures the

life of the narrator. The main character Ricky Braithwaite has
served in the Royal British Air Force in the war. After the war
he searched for employment but being a black person he was
rejected. Finally he was selected as a teacher at Greenslade
school in London. Even in school he undergoes color conflict.
He became a laughing stock for students. Prejudice played an
important role in his life. He was prejudiced that students are
ill mannered. In the beginning he was rude to the students so
the students treated him in the same way. After evaluating the
situation he used a polite way to handle the situation and he
was successful as a teacher. It also highlights the
teacher-student relationship in particular. Overall the novel
ends with a positive note.

2. Explain the theme of Prejudice in ‘To Sir With Love’

Prejudice is an integral part of the novel. The protagonist of

the novel Braithwaite is prejudiced to be treated partially due
to black colour. He was prejudiced that he was rejected
employment due to his colour. Even though he was selected
in the Greenslade school of London, he felt the students were
ill mannered. On the contrary students are also prejudiced
that black people are outsiders. He outbursts his anger on the
students. Even in the social context, protagonists always feel
humiliated due to their colour. In short the novel picturises the
conflict between the black and the white. It is the conflict of
superiority and inferiority. The relationship between the
students and teacher became bad to worse due to prejudice.
Instead of understanding they look for weakness. Students
disrespected the protagonist due to prejudice. His black
colour is the villain for the narrator. As soon as the prejudice
was eliminated, they had a new way of thinking .
3. Explain the theme of teacher student relationship in ‘To
Sir With Love’.
The complete plot of the novel revolves around the student
teacher relationship. Writer pictures the real life situation in
the society of black and white people. The obstacles and
limitations of the black people are very well delineated by the
writer. The protagonist represents the black people on the
contrary the students represent the white people in the
society. The deep rooted conflict between the black and white
leads to spoil the pure relationship of the students and
teacher. The protagonist as a teacher prejudiced that the
white are responsible for all the problems in his life so he
treated the students arrogantly. The students treated the
teacher in the same way. The students treated him as an
outsider and arrogant. As soon as he gives up his arrogance
and meets the students on a new level of respect, his life
becomes less complicated.He saw massive change in the
students too. He very well realized the real role of the teacher
in society.

4. Sketch the character of Braithwaite.

Braithwaite is the protagonist of the novel. He represents the

society after the world war. He also represents the black
people in the society of white people. He is the victim of the
white dominated society. He was rejected all types of jobs
even though he had served in the war. All this happened due
to his colour. The novel highlighted the colour discrimination
in the society representing the protagonist. He also picturises
the views and opinions of the black in the society. The
protagonist minutely describes his inner and outer conflict. His
treatment to the students in the beginning and after months
very well pictures the thinking of the narrator. The protagonist
is not only strong but also an ideal person. He never
continued to be a sadist in fact he changed the situation. He
believed anger can be conquered only through love. He
treated the students with more politeness and respect so
students reciprocated the same to him.

A5. Summarize the extract of ‘To Sir With Love’

The given extract is about the first semester report on the

progress in the school on curricular and co-curricular
activities. The headmaster led the meeting and student
representatives proceeded the meeting. Students reported the
progress in different subjects. Each student representative
presented a subject. The subjects included Arithmetic,
History, P.E.etc. Students also interacted with three teachers
with a variety of questions. Students also criticized the P.T.
Teacher and his progress. Overall in this extract six months in
school are evaluated thoroughly and minutely. The
protagonist was proud of the performance of his students.
Mrs. Phillips defended the criticism and questions raised by
the student representatives. The protagonist was impressed
with the teachers and students' performance. This extract is
indirectly linked with the success of the protagonist in the
education field and the peace brought in the society after the
war.

4.3 Around the world in 80 days

1. Explain how the author has made use of the International Date Line
and time zones in his novel.
Ans : Phileas Fog accepts the challenge of going around the world in eighty
days. The members of the Reform club in England accept the wager for
twenty-thousand pounds. Fog goes around the world. He goes through
Brindisi, Suez, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hong Kong, Yokohama , San Francisco,
New York and Liverpool. He thinks that he has missed the deadline of eighty
days and hasn't reached London. His companion Passepartout learns that
their journey through the different time zones had gained them a day. They
reached London a day before the deadline. The author has aptly used time
zones in his novel 'Around the World in Eighty days.'

2. 'Money was never a concern for Mr. Phileas Fogg; it was for honour
he accepted the wager.' Discuss.
Ans: Mr Phileas Fogg has the opportunity to double his fortune,but Fogg's
adventurous journey has nothing to do with the money. He accepts the wager
to preserve his honour and prove his worth. He wants to show the members
of the Reform Club that he can do anything he sets out to do. He spends
nearly all of his money along the way . This shows that for Fogg, honour is
more important than money.

3. Phileas Fogg's travel around the world was full of adventures and
surprises. Illustrate.
Ans : The title 'Around The World in Eighty Days' itself indicates the
adventures in the novel. The novelist takes the readers to a journey of many
hair-raising incidents and exciting, adventurous and thrilling places. The
journey with trains and ships add adventures. To the surprise Fogg wins the
heart of a beautiful and charming woman in India. The detective arrests Fogg
at Liverpool. The great surprise is that he keeps his word traveling around the
world in eighty days.

4. Explain how the time gained of a full day is revealed to Mr. Fogg.
Ans : Passepartout is sent to engage a clergyman. He runs out to get a
reverend to marry Fogg and Aouda whom Fogg brought from India. The
marriage is to be solemnized the next day on Monday according to them.
Passepartout learns that the next day is Sunday not Monday. He concludes
that their journey through the different time zones had gained them a day. and
that they are not late. He hurries home and reveals the truth to Mr Fogg.

5. Passepartout stations himself outside Phileas’ door. Give reasons.

Ans: Passepartout stations himself outside Phileas' door because he wants to
keep watch upon his master. Mr. Phileas confined himself as he thought he
didn't reach London in time and lost the wager. Knowing that Englishmen
governed by a fixed idea sometimes resort to suicide. Mr Phileas may do that.
Passepartout wants to avert the situation if it happens. He remains outside
Phileas's door without the knowledge of Phileas.

6. Passepartout blamed himself for the misfortune of his master. Justify.

Ans : Passepartout blamed himself for the misfortune of his master Mr Fogg.
He had concealed Fix's errand from his master. Fix had revealed his true
character and purpose . If he had warned his master about Fix's purpose, his
master would have given proof of his innocence. Fix would not have been on
the heels of his master to arrest him.
7. Compare the remorse in the minds of Mr. Fogg and Aouda for the
seeming failure of his wager.
Ans: Aouda is surprised when Mr Fogg is arrested. Her heart revolts against a
charge of robbery on Fogg. She weeps bitterly as she can do nothing to save
her protector. Mr. Fogg thought that he was rich enough when he decided to
bring Aouda from India. She would be free and happy. But as he lost his
wager he was ruined.

8. Narrate the happenings at Reform Club on the 80th day of the wager.
Ans : The five club members awaited Mr Fogg at Reform club on the 80th
day of the wager. They were excited about winning the wager as they were
sure Mr Fogg would not reach there in time . Thomas Flanagan enquired
about the arrival of the last train. They were constantly looking at the clock.
They counted the seconds. At the fifty-fifth second a loud cry was heard
followed by applause. And Phileas Fogg appeared before the pendulum beat
the sixtieth second. He made his promise of traveling the world in 80 days.

9. Narrate the happenings at a prison where Fogg was kept under arrest.
Ans: Mr Fogg was kept in prison. He was arrested by Fix, the detective for
robbery. Passepartout would have fallen upon Fix had he not been held by
some policemen. Aouda and he had remained at the prison to see Mr Fogg.
Mr Fogg seated motionless, calm and without anger on the bench. At
thirty-three past two Fix disclosed that the real robber was arrested and he set
Mr Fogg free.
 4.4 Sign of four

A1. Summarize the novel ‘Sign of Four’.

The Sign of Four is a suspense novel written by Sir Arthur Canon
Doyle.The plot revolves around the mysteries. The important
character Miss Marston hired a detective Sherlock Holmes to solve
the case. Her father mysteriously disappeared ten years ago. Miss.
Marston had received a letter to meet an unknown person who knew
about her father. Sherlock Holmes promised her to solve the case.
Holmes, Miss. Morstan and Dr.Watson met the stranger. The stranger
was Solto, the son of Major Salto, friend of her father. Mr. Morston was
dead due to a heart attack. Solto also added that she would get the
share in treasure found by them. It was the treasure brought by their
father. As they reached to get the treasure at Pondicherry lodge.
They were shocked as Solto’s brother Bartholomew was murdered.
Police arrested Salto as a suspect. At last Holmes finds the murderer
Jonathan Small and Tongo who murdered Bartholomew and looted
the treasure. Small was betrayed by Major Salto so he took revenge.
He also revealed the secret of the Sign of four.

A2. Explain the theme of Greed in Sign of Four.

Greed is the main theme in the novel Sign of Four. Greed of Agra
treasure leads to all mysteries and mishaps in the plot. Major Salto
and Mr. Morstan became the first victim of greed. Major Solto betrayed
his friend as soon as he got the treasure. It leads to the death of Mr.
Morstan. Greed also brings disaster in the life of Major Salto. Finally
he died due to illness and the burden of betrayal. Both the Salto
brothers complicated the events due to greed for treasure. They
wasted six years of their life in search of treasure. Finally as they got
the treasure, Bartholomew was murdered due to treasure. It is the
greediness of Jonathan Small which complicated his life. He spoiled
the life of all the major characters in the story for the Agra treasure. He
was responsible for all the deaths in the novel. He also killed Tongo.
Finally Small was arrested . In short all the events in the plot revolve
around the theme of Greed.

3. Sketch the character of Miss. Morstan.

Miss. Morstan is the protagonist of the novel. She is the centre of

the events. It is her search for her father that resolves all the mysteries
in the story. She is the bold and defiant woman who is ready to face
life. She was not afraid as she received the letter from the stranger
who would tell her about her father. She was very intelligent and
logical in handling the situation. As soon as she met Sherlock Holmes,
Holmes was also impressed with the proof she had brought. Though
she was not rich but she assured Holmes to pay the money. Her
appearance in the novel is very common, just like a poor person. She
was curious to know about the disappearance of her father 10 years
before. She was not greedy but just searched for the culprits who
were responsible for her father’s death. She was the most beautiful
woman as Doctor Watson was in love with her. Watson had proposed
to her at the end of the novel. It's Miss. Morstan who solved the
mystery of Sign of Four with the help of Holmes.

A4. Summarize the given extract.

The given extract is about the main character in the novel Miss.
Morstan. She visited the detective Sherlock Holmes and gave the
case of her father. Her father disappeared 10 years ago. Suddenly she
received six pearls in six years on the same day each year. Now she
had received a letter from a stranger who invited her to meet alone or
with two friends without informing the police . It was an opportunity for
her that she may get information about her father. She requested
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as her friends and met the stranger.
She was confident that Holmes would solve the case. She didn’t have
money to pay but she assured Holmes. Holmes accepts the case. The
trio went to the spot to meet the stranger. They were taken in a cab in
small streets and finally they reached the destination. Before the visit
Holmes had gathered all the information about the case. Everyone
was curious about the meeting and eager to get information about the
disappeared Mr. Morstan.

5. Sketch the character of Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes is a well known private detective. He is passionate
and curious about his case. Sometimes some clients didn’t even pay
him the money but he solved the case. His sense of logic and
accuracy in judgement is unacceptable. He always look for the
evidence with minute details and corelate it with the case. In the given
story he was impressed with Miss. Morstan and her information. His
investigation with the case provides him lot of clues for the case. He
accepts the case and decides to help the lady to find her father. It
indicates his kind and generous nature. As soon as he read the letter
sent to Miss. Morston, he was ready to go with her. It indicates his
bravery and courage. He was always ready to accept challenges. He
had good knowledge of the situation and well experience of the
mystery cases. He came to the conclusion that the sender of the letter
and pearls is the same person. He finds it with the handwriting. It
implies Holmes as a good observer. He is always calm and quiet. He
studies the evidence in the right direction. The inspector simply
arrested Mr. Salto for the murder of Bartholomew but Holmes knew he
was not guilty. He helped the police to solve the case with his
experience. Holmes also saved the life of Dr. Watson from poisonous
thorns. The idea of the dog to smell creosote is the biggest clue
invented by Holmes to reach the culprit. It indicates his ability to solve
the case. His never give up attitude and quest for truth saved many
lives in the story.