Question

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

He was only in it a second, -just time enough for one look at me, - and then he was out again, tearing at the cotton sheet and the window panes with a hooked stick, apparently frantic for light and air.

1. Who is ‘he’ here in this extract? Was ‘he’ at peace with himself? (Evaluation)
2. What do you think of the studio where the photographer was to take the narrator’s photograph? (Analysis)
3. What was the photographer trying to do in his studio? (Understanding)
4. What was the photographer’s reaction when he came out of the black cloth draped on the camera? (Understanding)
5. What was thought to be the problem with the face of the narrator? (Understanding and Analysis)

Answer 1

1. ‘He’ refers to the photographer. He was clearly not at peace with himself because he appeared restless and dissatisfied. His frantic attempts to get more light and air suggest that he was uncomfortable and intensely focused on getting the perfect photograph.
2. The studio appears to be dark, poorly ventilated, and uncomfortable. The photographer had to tear at the cotton sheet and window panes to let in more light and air. This unusual setting adds to the humorous atmosphere of the story.
3. The photographer was trying to arrange the camera and lighting properly so that he could take the narrator’s photograph. He was carefully examining the narrator and preparing to capture his image.
4. When the photographer came out from under the black cloth, he looked serious and dissatisfied. He immediately began examining the narrator’s face and concluded that something was wrong with it.
5. The photographer thought that the narrator’s face was “quite wrong” and that almost every feature needed correction. He suggested changing the hair, eyebrows, mouth, ears, eyes, and other features, showing his obsession with creating an artificially perfect photograph.