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प्रश्न
The unexpected presence of a criminal wielding a gun triggers different reactions in the two men who entered the room. In this light, discuss the appropriacy of the title.
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उत्तर
A visitor usually comes during the wakeful hours. Nocturnal visitors are usually thieves. They don’t inform one in advance because the purpose of their visit is never noble enough to inform in advance. People involved in shady businesses only choose midnight to break into someone’s house. In this story, a spy is after an important report about missiles, a secretly guarded report, which is expected to be delivered to the private detective Ausable at 12.30 am. The spy gets the secret information from his trusted connections. So, he arrives earlier than Ausable and sneaks into his room using a passkey. The spy is brandishing his pistol to coerce the private detective to pass on the report as and when it arrives. Ausable outsmarts him by cooking up a story about a non-existent balcony beneath his window which extends from the neighboring apartment. He connects brilliantly the knock of Henry the waiter to that of police who might fire at Max as he is armed. So, the title of the story, “The Midnight Visitor” is very pertinent.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
What made Aksionov leave the inn before dawn?
What made Aksionov think that Makar was the real murderer?
Why was Pi not afraid of the hyena?
How did Pi feel after drinking water?
If you were lost at sea for as long as Pi was, what is the one item you would want with you? Write a diary entry in which you identify the item and explain why it is the one thing you would want with you.
What had Donovan told John?
Explain the significance of the words ‘I don’t remember’.
Why does John turn wild on hearing that Gresham had offered his father money?
When would Baldwin part company with Gresham?
Is Baldwin really honest or does he maintain his honesty fearing criticism? Why do you say so?
Who was the Midnight Visitor? What was the purpose of his visit?
How had Max actually entered the room?
Where did Max try to hide himself?
Was Ausable really waiting for the police? Give reasons.
Sketch the character of Ausable.
Do you enjoy watching movies? What type of movies do you like to watch? Here are the pictures of a few blockbuster movies.
What do children get ready for at the beginning of the story?
Why does Margot wish to return to the earth?
Why did the children lock Margot in a closet?
Margot could recall what the sun looked like while the other children could not. Why?
Now read the sentence below. Complete them appropriately with the word you identified from the grid.
When the Sun comes out, the children ______the Sun.
Complete the summary of the play, choosing the appropriate words from the list given below the passage.
Lord Weston was a (1)______ judge in England. Being pompous and vain, he told his secretary Roger that he had attained glory by hard work and (2)______. He expressed his displeasure over Roger’s request for a half-holiday. Suddenly, he discovered a piece of paper with the words (3)______ in his pocket, and he feared that the message was a warning conveyed by his enemies who had received legal punishments from him. As the message was sent on the 15th of March, (the day Julius Caesar was assassinated), he was (4)______ that someone affected by his fair judgement was plotting his murder. Sensing the definite attack, Lord Weston ordered his secretary to (5)______ all the doors and windows. But his wife remained (6)______ by the threat. So, Lord Weston was angered by her (7)______ reaction. He ordered Roger to send the cook and the (8)______ away. Both Weston and Roger took elaborate precautionary measures to thwart the (9)______ attempt. Finally, Weston was able to recollect that he had written the message “Remember Caesar” himself as a (10)______. Caesar was actually a gardener who had an appointment to visit Weston’s garden. The play revolves around Weston’s absent-mindedness which is the crux of the play.
| callous | unperturbed |
| well-known | gardener |
| reminder | zealous service |
| Remember Caesar | assassination |
| shut | convinced |
How did Lord Weston ‘defuse’ the ‘infernal machine’?
“Remember Caesar” is a light hearted comedy. Discuss the statement in a group and identify various aspects such as title, plot, and characterisation that contribute to the humour in the play
Compare the character traits of Lord Weston and his wife.
Group Work
The play revolves around a ‘perceived threat’ and how Lord Weston and Lady Weston react to it. Let’s reverse their roles. Imagine a panic-stricken Lady Weston and a frivolous Lord Weston. Read the following piece of dialogue from the play and rewrite it to suit the changed roles.
| WESTON | My dear, your husband’s life is in grave danger. |
| LADY WESTON | The last time it was in danger you had been eating game pie. What is it this time? |
| WESTON (annihilating her flippancy with one broadside) | Assassination! |
| LADY WESTON | Well, well! You always wanted to be a great man and now you have got your wish! |
| WESTON | What do you mean? |
| LADY WESTON | They don’t assassinate anybody. |
