Question

Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

‘You’re not only skinny and weak and bad at sports,’ his face seemed to say, ‘but you are also a coward’. After that, Martin always took the elevator. He would have to get used to it, he told himself, just as he got used to being bullied at school.

1. What would you say about father’s attitude towards Martin? (Analysis)
2. What was Martin’s problem? (Understanding and Analysis)
3. What did Martin have to come to terms with? (Understanding)
4. Why did Martin take the elevator although he was scared of it? (Analysis)
5. Was Martin a coward? Give two reasons for your answer. (Evaluation)

Answer 1

1. Martin’s father was critical, insensitive, and unsympathetic towards him. Instead of understanding Martin’s fear, he made him feel weak and cowardly. His attitude increased Martin’s insecurity rather than helping him overcome his fear.
2. Martin was extremely afraid of elevators. He feared that the elevator might fall or that he might become trapped inside it. He was also a skinny, weak boy who was bullied at school, which contributed to his lack of confidence.
3. Martin had to come to terms with his fear of the elevator and his feelings of weakness and insecurity. He decided that he would have to face his fear and get used to travelling in the elevator.
4. Martin took the elevator because his father had made him feel that avoiding it was an act of cowardice. He also realized that he could not keep avoiding it and told himself that he had to get used to it, just as he had learned to tolerate being bullied at school.
5. No, Martin was not necessarily a coward. His fear of the elevator was genuine and intense, but he still faced it and continued using the elevator despite being frightened. Moreover, he endured bullying at school and tried to cope with his fears rather than completely giving up.