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Question
Given below are the main incidents in the play. They are in a jumbled order. Arrange them in the sequence in which they occur in the play.
1. Victoria is asked to fetch the bunch of keys to the bureau to look for the insurance
receipt.
2. Mrs. Slater instructs Victoria to put her white frock on with a black sash.
3. Mrs Slater discovers that grandfather is 'dead'.
4. The Slaters fetch the bureau and the clock from upstairs.
5. The family sits down to have tea.
6. Henry wears the new slippers of grandfather's
7. Grandfather comes to know how his daughters have been in a hurry to divide his
things between them.
8. Grandfather announces his intention to change his will and to marry Mrs.
Shorrocks.
9. Grandfather comes down and is surprised to find the Jordans.
10. They discuss the obituary announcement in the papers and the insurance
premium payment.
11. The Jordans arrive and learn the details of grandfather's 'demise'from the Slaters.
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Solution
- Mrs. Slater discovers that grandfather is ‘dead’.
- Slater instructs Victoria to put her white frock on with a black sash.
- Henry wears the new slippers of grandfathers.
- The Slaters fetch the bureau and the clock from upstairs.
- The Jordans arrive and learn the details of grandfathers ‘demise’ from the Slaters.
- The family sits down to have tea.
- They discuss the obituary announcement in the papers and the insurance premium payment.
- Victoria is asked to fetch the bunch of keys to the bureau to look for the insurance receipt.
- Grandfather comes down and is surprised to find the Jordans.
- Grandfather comes to know how his daughters were in a hurry to divide his things between them.
- Grandfather announces his intention to change his will and to marry Mrs. Shorrocks.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Read an excerpt from the diary of a 72 year old man :
As I sit here alone and waiting
I gaze at people passing me by.
I try to smile and reach out to them
But no one notices; no one waits.
They look to me like I am nothingAre they afraid to be seen saying "Hi" to an old
man like me?
Once my life, it's like a flower,
I had bloomed into a child.
Now, like the dying flower
Waiting for my one day to comeIt will be then that I am gone,
And yet, I still would not have heard that simple word, "Hi"
That for so long my heart had desired.
• What do you think is he feeling?
• What situation do you think leads people to feel so?
• Can such people be helped? How?
Read the news story given below.
|
India's elderly face growing neglect Traditionally older people have been revered in India, signified by the touching |
Discuss in groups:
a) What are the reasons for the old people being "abused, harassed and
abandoned" in India?
b) What are the problems faced by the old people as a result?
Answer the following question briefly.
How does Mrs. Slater plan to outshine the Jordans? What does it reveal about her character?
Answer the following question briefly.
Why does Mrs. Slater decide to shift the bureau from grandfather's room before the arrival of the Jordans? How does Henry react to the suggestion?
Answer the following question briefly.
Ben appreciates grandfather saying 'its' a good thing he did'. Later he calls him a 'drunken old beggar'. Why does he change his opinion about grandfather?
Answer the following question briefly.
What change does grandfather make in his new will? What effect does it have on his daughters?
Answer the following question briefly.
What are the three things that grandfather plans to do on Monday next?
Answer the following in detail:
Bring out the irony in the title of the play.
Answer the following in detail:
Compare and contrast Henry's character with that of his wife. Support your answer with evidence from the play.
Bring out the traits in Mrs. Slater's personality quoting evidence from the play.
| Trait | Evidence from the play |
| Greedy | |
| Overpowering/ dominating | |
| Blunt/ straight talking | |
| Impolite | |
| Insensitive |
Answer the following with reference to the context.
"I don't call that delicate stepping into a dead man's shoes in such haste."
a) Who makes this comment?
b) What prompts the speaker to say this?
c) Bring out the significance of this statement.
Answer the following with reference to the context.
"Now, Amelia, you mustn't give way. We've all got to die some time or other. It might have been worse."
b) Who is the speaker of these lines?
c) What prompts the speaker to say these words?
d) What does he mean when he says 'It might have been worse'?
e) What does it reveal about the speaker's character?
Writing
Victoria Slater is truly attached to her Grandpa. As she sees the elders in her family quarrel over the inheritance, she is bewildered and upset by their attitude. As Victoria, write a diary entry outlining the incident and your feelings. (150 words)
Grandfather says, "It seems to me that neither of you has any cause to feel proud about
the way you've treated me.'' While it is true that the daughters disregard modesty,
decency and filial obligation, grandfather cannot be fully justified in practically
disowning his family. Besides, Victoria loves him and he seems to have spared no
thought for her feelings.
Divide yourselves into groups of four or five and discuss the statement: Grandfather is not entirely right in moving away from his daughters.
After the discussion, a representative from each group will present the views of her/ his group to the class in about 3 minutes.
What is Stanley Houghton's primary purpose in employing irony in the play ‘The Dear Departed’?
