The Third Level

The Third Level

                                  By Jack Finney

Analysis :

·      The story ‘The Third Level is written by Jack Finney, an American writer who is best known for his science fiction and thrillers.

·      The story is about modern-day problems and how the common man tends to escape the reality and slips into imaginary world.

·      This is the story about a man named Charley who hallucinates and reaches the third level of the Grand Central Station which only has two levels.

·      It is a fiction which narrates a set of events happening in the life of the protagonist, Charley and explains his childhood fascination for past time and past things such as stamp collection.

·      The story narrates small incidents, historical events and characters and does the comparative study of the events and characters in the past and present life of Charley.

·      The 1890s depict a tranquil lifestyle that is not feasible in the present. The main character wants to take his wife, Louisa to Galesburg, Illinois, and thus he escapes into his more attractive past and happens to go to the third level of the Grand Central station.

·      The story conveys the message that we may pass into an imaginary world which is more attractive yet we have to face the bitter reality of life.

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Summary :

This is the story of a man named Charley who was thirty-one years old. The narrator had a doubt whether he had been on the third level of the Grand Central Station or not. So he talked to his psychiatrist friend and told him about the third level but he said it was a waking dream or his old wish fulfilment in imagination. He explained that the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the negativity, and which he wanted to escape. The narrator was doubtful and thought that everybody wants to escape, but no one wanders down into any third level. All his friends also felt that his stamp collecting is a ‘temporary refuge from reality. He told that his grandfather who started the collection didn’t need any refuge from reality as things were pretty nice and peaceful in his days. It was a nice collection with blocks of four of practically every U.S. issue, first-day covers, and many other important stamps. He told that President Roosevelt also collected stamps.

He narrated what happened at Grand Central to his psychiatrist friend, Sam. Last summer when he was working late at the office, he was in a hurry to get home to his wife, Louisa so he decided to take the subway from Grand Central because it’s faster than the bus. He passed a dozen men who looked just like him. Being in hurry he turned into Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue, and went down to the first level, from where trains like the Twentieth Century could be taken. Then, he walked down to the second level, from where the suburban trains leave. He had been in and out of Grand tunnel hundred times. He got into a tunnel about a mile long and came out in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel. Another time he came up in an office building on Forty-sixth Street. He felt, Grand Central is growing like a tree with new branches and new roots.

He felt, there’s probably a long tunnel under the city on its way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. Grand Central has been an exit for many years that’s how he got into the tunnel. The corridor was turning left and downward. He could hear his own footsteps, not a soul passed, there. Then, the tunnel turned sharp left. Taking a flight of stairs he came out on the third level at Grand Central Station. There were fewer ticket windows and train gates, smaller rooms and the information booth was of wood and old looking. The man in the booth wore a green eyeshade and long black sleeve protectors. The lights were dim and flickering. There were brass spittoons on the floor, and glint of light across the station. A man was pulling a gold watch from his vest pocket, glanced at his watch and frowned. He wore a derby hat, a black suit and had big, black, handlebar mustache. Everyone in the station was dressed like eighteen-ninety century time with beards, sideburns and fancy mustaches.

Then, he saw a very small Currier & Ives locomotive with a funnel-shaped stack. A newsboy had the stack of  the news paper ‘The World’ which hasn’t been published for years. The lead story on front page was about President Cleveland printed on 11 June 1894. It could be found in the Public Library files. He turned toward the ticket windows on the third level to buy tickets that would take him and Louisa anywhere in the United States in the year 1894. He wanted two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois, a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns and big trees with the branches meeting overhead. He was overwhelmed with everything associated with the time - summer, people, their habits and working culture and a peaceful world. He wanted to be back there in the past and wanted two tickets for that.

Video on Lost Spring

He had enough money for two coach tickets but when he was counting the money, the clerk said, ‘that ain’t the money’. The money was old-style bills and different-looking. He left the place and came back. Next day, during lunch hour, he drew three hundred dollars out of the bank and bought old-style currency. The three hundred dollars bought less than two hundred in old-style bills, but he didn’t care. But, when he went to buy the tickets, he never again found the corridor that leads to the third level at Grand Central Station, although he tried often enough. Louisa was pretty worried to know all this, and didn’t want him to look for the third level any more. He stopped and went back to his stamps. But then, they both started looking for it every weekend, because now they had proof that the third level is still there. His friend, Sam Weiner disappeared. Sam’s a city boy, and he liked the sound of the place and that’s why he was in Galesburg. In 1894 he found what a first-day cover is. When a new stamp is issued, stamp collectors buy some and use them to mail envelopes to themselves on the very first day of sale; and the postmark proves the date. Such envelope is called a first-day cover. They’re never opened, and had only a blank paper.

That night, among his oldest first-day covers, he found one more envelope which was mailed to his grandfather at his home in Galesburg on July 18, 1894. The stamp had a picture of President Garfield. There was a note to Charley signed by Sam who had gone missing recently. Sam wrote that he always wanted to believe in the idea of third level and now he is there himself. He also encouraged Charley and Louisa to go to him through the third level. He found out that Sam bought eight hundred dollars’ worth of old-style currency. from a coin and stamp store. That money was sufficient to set him up a nice little business. 

Video on The Last Lesson

Important Question Answers

Q. What does ‘Third level refer to?

Ans. There is a subway in New York called The Grand Central Station which basically has two levels from where passengers go to their respective destinations by train. When Charley was in hurry to catch his train running from first and second level of the station, he found an unknown way which led him to the another part of the station which was the third level. It made him think about the period of 1980s which was very peaceful that is not there in that present era but in reality there was no third level ever built, it was all his imagination.

Q. Do you think, the third level is an escape from reality? Why? Why not?

Ans. Yes, the third level is an escape from reality for Charley because the present era is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and he was unhappy in the present conditions. So, when he imagined the third level, he found it peaceful and pleasant and he felt happy in that period of time so definitely it proved that the third level wasa medium of escape for Charley.

 

This is Jody’s Fawn

This is Jody’s Fawn
                                                      By Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Analysis: 

·      This chapter ‘This is Jody’s Fawn’ is written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, an American author who lived in rural Florida and wrote novels and stories with rural themes and settings.

·      The chapter promotes kindness and care for animals and other creatures.

·      It describes the life of animals, their habitat, behaviour and needs beautifully and impactfully.

·      It depicts that the relationship between a human and an animal can also be so beautiful.

·      The character of Jody is adorable and admirable as he is quite sensitive as well as sensible.

·      The story gives a strong message that we need to be kind and compassionate towards animals and other creatures. We must also take up the responsibility of our actions the way Jody did. He brought the little fawn home as the mother of fawn was killed to save the life of his father.

Summary

Jody’s father Penny Baxter was bitten by a rattle-snake. He quickly killed a doe and used the doe’s heart and liver to draw out the poison. Jody saw that the doe’s baby, little fawn, was left alone.

The thought of fawn kept haunting Jody’s mind. He quietly went to his father’s bed side and asked him to allow him to bring the fawn home. Jody wanted to raise it.

At first Penny was in a dilemma. Jody argued that raising the fawn would not be a burden. Fawn could drink Jody’s milk until he started eating leaves and acorns. Jody also said that his family was responsible for the fawn’s plight. Penny agreed as it would be ungrateful to leave the fawn to starve. He asked him to seek his mother’s permission before bringing the fawn in. The mother was taken aback and quite unwilling when Jody talked of bringing the fawn home. Mother felt helpless but finally she gave her permission for pity’s sake.

Dr. Wilson told Jody’s mother that nothing in the world comes quite free. He meant that they must pay price by raising the fawn, for having taken its mother’s life. Mill-wheel offered to take Jody on his horse to the forest. He made Jody sit behind him on the horse. Mill-wheel asked Jody how he knew that the fawn was male. Jody said that the spots on the fawn were all in a line, indicating that the fawn was male.

Reaching near the clearing Jody asked Mill-wheel to go back he wanted to be alone when he would find the fawn for two reasons. He would not like Mill-wheel to see his disappointment if he could not find fawn. Secondly, if he met the fawn, he would not like to share his emotions with anyone else. Mill-wheel was however afraid to leave Jody alone. Jody however insisted saying that he would be careful. So, Mill-wheel went back.

Jody came to the carcass of the doe surrounded by buzzards. The fawn was not found nearby. He took a round of clearing. After a while, there was some movement directly in front of him. Jody was overjoyed to see his fawn. It was shaking but it didn’t try to rise or run.

Jody laid his hand on the fawn’s soft neck. He was very happy to feel it. Jody lifted the fawn very softly. He feared that the sight of its mother’s carcass might agitate the swan. So he avoided the clearing and went through the bushes, carrying the fawn in his arms. He reached the trail and then he came to the road that could take him home. Now he stopped to rest and put the fawn down. It bleated and looked at Jody. He started slowly. The fawn didn’t move. So he came back to pick him. He went ahead carrying the fawn in his arms. He reached the gate of his home and went straight his father’s bed with the fawn. His father was glad that Jody had found what he wanted.

Jody offered the milk to the fawn. The milk was in the gourd. The fawn could not drink it. Then Jody dipped his fingers in the milk and thrust them into the fawn’s soft mouth. The fawn drank the milk greedily. Then he lowered his fingers into the gourd. The fawn started drinking from the gourd now.

Message:

The story gives a strong message that we need to be kind and compassionate towards animals and other creatures. We must also take up the responsibility of our actions the way Jody did. He brought the little fawn home and took care of it so lovingly in order to compensate the absence of its mother because he found it his responsibility as the mother of the fawn was killed to save the life of his father.

Character Sketch Jody Baxter:

The character of Jody is so adorable and admirable. In such a small age he understands his responsibility as well as the needs of the fawn. He understands that ‘we must pay for our sins and correct our mistakes’.

He is quite sensitive to understands that the little fawn needs care and love in the absence of its mother. Equally sensible he is as he understands that all must also take up the responsibility of their actions. He realises that the fawn is his and his family’s responsibility as its mother was killed to save his father’s life.

He is very kind and compassionate He takes care of fawn so lovingly, gets him milk, teaches him how to drink milk from a container and move in the house. He also ensures that the fawn finishes the milk as the animal didn’t know how to drink from a pot.

RTC

“That’s right, Ma’am. Nothing in the world comes quite free. The boy’s right and his daddy’s right.”

Q1. What does the speaker convey, here?

Q2. Who is the speaker in the above line and who is being spoken to?

Q3. What price does the speaker talk about?

Q4. What message is conveyed, here?

The Open Window

The Open Window

                                                      By Saki (H. H. Munro)

Analysis : 

·      ‘Open Window’ is a humorous, interesting and witty story written by Saki who is regarded as one of the greatest short story writers in English language.

·      Hector Hugh Munro used the pseudonym ‘Saki’ to write several well-known short stories. He is known to write witty, thrilling and suspenseful stories.

·      The story ‘Open Window’ is a beautiful blend of wit, humour and irony and a perfect example of the best story possessing all the required elements of a story – interest, surprise, narration and plot.

     It is an interesting story about Mr. Framton Nuttel who was a patient of nervous system and how was troubled by a clever and quick witted girl, Vera who made a practical joke on him using her gift of story weaving.

Summary / Synopsis :

Mr. Framton Nuttel was a patient of nervous weakness and he was suggested by the doctors to change place and meet new people. His sister gave him letters of introduction of some people whom she knew because he would feel lonely and disturbed and his condition would become worse if he remained aloof.

Frampton moved to a less crowded and peaceful town where his sister lived four years ago. There, he visited Mrs. Sappleton, one of his sister’s acquaintances. Mrs. Sappleton took some time to come downstairs and he spent some time with her fifteen years old niece, Vera.

Vera, while talking to him, got to know that he knew least about the people here. She created a story about how her aunt’s husband and two younger brothers had been engulfed in a bog and died a tragic death when they had gone for hunting in a marsh. This tragedy happened exactly on that very day three years ago. She also told Framton that her aunt never accepted their deaths and believed that some day they would return and enter through the window that Mrs. Sappleton kept open even in October afternoon so that they may enter the house after crossing the lawn.

Mrs. Sappleton entered the room and started talking about her husband and her brothers who would be coming back after hunting. She talked about all that Vera had already told him. Framton is deeply disturbed by her continuous talks about the persons whom he believed to be dead. He tried to tell that his doctor had advised him to take complete rest and avoid mental excitement but Mrs. Sappleton didn’t pay much attention as she was more concerned about her husband and brothers who would be back any moment.

Suddenly, there was horror in his eyes when he saw three male figures dressed in hunting gear approaching the house along with a spaniel. He felt that he had seen ghosts and ran out of the house with a dash. A cyclist had to run into the hedge to avoid collision with him.

Mrs. Sappleton’s husband wanted to know about Mr. Nuttel and the reason why he fled out like a mad person. Vera explained that Framton fled as soon as he saw the spaniel because he was scared of dogs severely.  Spinning another tale, she told that once, he had been chased by the hunting dogs to a cemetery on the banks of the Ganges, where he had fallen into a newly dug grave and the dogs had frightened him with their snarling and growling throughout the night.

Examples of Irony in the Story

·      It is ironical when Mrs. Sappleton keep talking about the open window, hunting, her husband and young brothers when Framton tells her that he requires rest and no mental excitement.

·      Mr. Frampton needs peace, no excitement, no anxiety and that’s he visits Mrs. Sappleton’s place but there receives only anxiety and excitement.

·      When Mrs. Sappleton mentions that Framton fled away as if he had seen ghosts, she actually didn’t know that it was truth according to Framton.

The Treasure Within

THE TREASURE WITHIN

                                 Interview by BELA RAJA

Analysis : 

·      The chapter ‘The Treasure Within’ is an interview with Hafeez Contractor taken by the writer, Ms. Bela Raja, the editor of Sparsh, a newsletter from the Resource Centre, The Valley School, Bangalore.

·      This interview is a sneak peek into the life of Hafeez contractor describing his personality, life, achievements and the making of Mr. Hafeez Contractor into one of India’s leading architects. 

·      The chapter highlights how the hidden talent which is a treasure within a person can be explored, polished and nurtured.

·      It gives the message that no matter how bad a student is, he always possesses a treasure which is his hidden talent and it needs to be explored and developed. In order to explore this treasure within a change is required in teaching practices and methodologies. We can learn more by doing than what academics would teach.

·      Right guidance, sensible approach and encouragement of each student equally is what is needed most.

·      Every child is a potential achiever and is different from other children in her/his style of learning and area of interest.

· 

        Summary / Synopsis:

Hafeez Contractor was an unhappy school boy. He loved doing things in practical life but detested mechanical learning and bookish knowledge. He was very bad at languages, Science and geography he could deal with but Mathematics gave him  shivers and he used to get continuous nightmares about appearing for a Math examination. In third standard, he lost interest and stopped studying. He took interest in games, running around, playing jokes and pranks on others. He would copy in class during exam times as he could not remember things taught in class. He used to bunk classes and was quite indisciplined with regard to his studies and homework that’s he used to receive caning. But, he never bothered about it and went out to play. Students used to book his textbooks for next year because they were almost brand new as he had hardly opened them one day before exams.

His life took 360 degrees turn, when his Principal in his 11^th std. told him about his family conditions and the problems his mother was facing to look after his life and his studies in absence of his father. He also influenced him deeply saying that he was good student but he never studies. He had taken care of him but now, he had to take care of himself.” and motivated him to work on his strengths.

He was a very good sportsman, had been the senior champion for so many years, and the cricket captain also. But after talking to the Principal he stopped playing sports and took his studies seriously. As a result, he got a second class, 50 per cent in his SSC, 12^th std.

After 12^th he wanted to join army as he got only 50 percent and no college was giving admission below 85 percent. But, his aunt tore his admission letter for army. On his mother’s advice to do graduation he went to Jaihind College in Bombay. Though he had studied French for seven years, he did not know seven words of French so he took German in college. Due to sudden demise of German teacher he had to learn French again. He used to go to an architect’s office to learn French from his cousin, she was an architect’s wife. There in the office he corrected the drawing of a window, which was wrong. His cousin’s husband was surprised. He asked him to draw few things, which he immediately did. He asked him to design a house and he did that, too. He asked him to drop everything and join architecture. He got an ‘A+’ in the entrance exam of the architecture. He stood first class first throughout in the college.

He had never made a plan, but he knew how something looked like, from the top. He did not know what a section was, but knew how a cut plan would look like. All this understanding came from what he used to play and do during school when he used to have competitions with his friend, Behram Divecha for designing forts, guns and ammunition.

In his third standard, his teacher, Mrs. Gupta recognized his talent and told me that he was useless in everything else but his sketches are good and suggested him to become an architect. Later, after he became an architect, he went to meet her and tell about his achievement.

He agreed with Bela Raja that giftedness and learning disabilities go hand in hand giving examples of some students from his class, who always stood first or second and were doing ordinary jobs. He learnt more by doing than what academics taught him. If it started raining, I would think how to build a dam to block the flowing water and how much of water the dam would be able to hold. When a student lost a button while playing or fighting, he would cut a button from chalk, using a blade, for him.

He decides the choice of structure for a client after looking at the client’s face, his clothes, the way he talks and the way he eats as these things tell his taste and choice. He could relate to people using his instinct and Mathematics. He told, Putting design, construction, psychology and sociology together and making a sketch from all that is ‘mathematics’.

Bela Raja concluded that they have come to a full circle where Mr. Contractor derived his own interpretation of Mathematics —  from a subject he hated to a subject he now loves dealing with.

Important Question Answers

Q1. How did the Principal’s words influence Hafeez Contractor?
Ans. The Principal was a sensible man. He had been seeing Hafeez from day one. He thought it as his duty to guard him on right time. So, when Hafeez approached his eleventh standard, he called him and told him that he was a good student but he never studied. He had lost his father and his poor mother had worked hard to bring him up and pay his fees. It was the time now to rise to the occasion and study. These words of the Principal influenced Hafeez deeply. He forgot games that year and studied day and night. As a result, he got a second class, 50 per cent in his SSC. His Principal was very happy because he had got 50 per cent in 12th std.

Reference to Context:

“See, you are useless in everything else but your sketches are good. When you grow up you become an architect.”

(a)  Who is the speaker?

(b) Who is the speaker speaking to?

(c)  How was the listener related to the speaker?

(d) What made her advise him so?

Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse of Memory

Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse of Memory

                                                      By Satyajit Ray

 

Analysis: 

·      The Story ‘Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse of Memory’ is written by Satyajit Ray, a great film director, story writer and Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner for having made enormous contribution to Indian film industry.

·      This story is about Bipin Choudhary who is known for his sharp memory and love for reading books. But he fails to prove his friendship and suffers as its consequence.

·      The story is quite humorous and interesting. It keeps the readers glued till the end of the story.

·      The story teaches us that friendship is very important in our life and we should help our friends in need as a friend in need is friend, indeed.

 

Summary / Synopsis:

It is a humorous story in which the main character, Bepin Chaudhary is made to believe that he has lost his memory. Bepin Choudhury was a regular visitor at Kalicharan’s book shop in the New Market as he is fond of reading books. That day, when he was browsing books in the library, a meek looking person was staring at him with a smile. Bepin Babu did not recognise him. He was surprised at this and told that his name is Parimal Ghosh and he had been with him for a week on his trip to Ranchi in 1958. Bepin Babu said that the man was mistaken as he had never been to Ranchi and he had never met him.

But Ghosh looked at him in disbelief and narrated the incidents of the journey such as Bepin Babu had injured his knee in Hudroo and he had come to his help and Mr. Dinesh Mukerji was also in Ranchi at that time. He also told that Mr. Choudhury had stayed in a hired bungalow while Mukerji remained with his sister as he didn't like hotel food. He told other things about Bepin that he always carried a bag with his books on his trips as he loved reading books, his wife is dead and his only brother died insane. When he told that the trip was made in October, 1958, Bepin Babu said that in October, 1958, he was with his friend at Kanpur.

Bepin Babu was little disturbed so he asked his driver Sitaram to drive by the Ganga. He regretted having paid attention to Ghosh. Yet the incident haunted his mind. The man knew a great deal about him. Now, he was doubtful. Suddenly he thought of writing to Haridas Bagchi, his host at Kanpur but he had left for Japan a few weeks before.

Bepin Babu rolled up his trousers and took a look at his right knee and he found a cut mark, there. Then he thought of going to Dinesh Mukerji and enquire about the incident but hesitated as Dinesh was never his well-wisher.

Next day Bepin Babu decided to ring up Dinesh. To his surprise, Dinesh confirmed that he went to Ranchi in 1958. He had lost his appetite and was worried.

Bepin Babu had been in that firm for twenty five years. For the first time he was feeling sick. He came home early after lunch.

In the evening Chunilal had come. Chunilal was his school friend but was having a rough time. He wanted Bepin Babu’s help about a job. Bepin Babu knew he could not do anything so he sent word that he could not meet Chunilal for few weeks. Then suddenly, he hurried down to see him. He asked Chunilal if he remembered anything about his visit to Ranchi in 1958. Chunilal looked at his face with concern and asked if he had taken drugs otherwise, how a man with such sharp a memory could forget it. Chunilal had himself booked his tickets as he was working in a travel agency and went to the station to see him off.

Bepin Babu decided to consult a specialist. He went to Dr. Paresh Chandra and explained everything. The doctor was puzzled at this unusual case. He remembered everything except his trip to Ranchi. So, the doctor suggested that he should go to Ranchi again. The sight of the place might remind him of the trip.

Following his doctor’s advice, Bepin Babu went to Ranchi. But at the railway station itself, he felt certain that he had never been there before. He went round the city and had the same feeling. He also went to Hudroo Falls. But there, two Gujarati gentlemen found him unconscious beside a boulder. On regaining consciousness he felt he was finished and there’s no hope left because he could not remember anything about the trip.

Next morning, he was back in Calcutta. He worried if he would never get his memory back and he was going to end up in an asylum. He rang up Dr. Chandra and asked him to come over. That day he went to bed with an ice bag clamped on his head. Then he received a letter. It was from Chunilal. In his letter Chunilal had first expressed his bitterness for getting no help from Bepin Babu. Then he frankly told Bepin Babu that his memory was alright. It was his plan in retribution against his unconcerned and unsympathetic behaviour. In fact, he had played a practical joke upon him with the help of Mr Ghosh and Dinesh Mukerji. Now, it was clear to Bepin Babu that he had not really lost his memory.

When Dr. Chandra came, Bepin Babu told a lie that he had remembered everything on reaching Ranchi Railway station. He asked him to prescribe a pain-killer for the pain in his hip due to a fall in Ranchi.

Important Question Answers

Q1. Write a small paragraph about Bepin Choudhary.

Ans. Bepin Choudhury was known for having a sharp memory. He was a regular visitor at Kalicharan’s book shop in the New Market and always carried a bag of books on his trips as he was fond of reading books. His wife had been dead for years and his only brother died insane. Bepin Babu had been working daily in his office for 25 years. It was a big firm, and he was doing a responsible job and since then he had never forgotten any work or important detail. He wasn’t aware of anything ever going seriously wrong. That day itself he spoke for half an hour at an important meeting. For the first time he was told that he forgot an important incident of his life. But, he failed to prove himself as a good friend as he neglected his school friend, Chunni Lal’s financial problems and didn’t help him in his need.

Q2. Mention any three things Parimal Gosh knew about Bepin Cuoudhary.

Ans. Parimal Ghosh met Bepin Choudhary at Kalicharan’s Book shop in New market and told three important things about him in order to convince Bepin that he knew him very well. Parimal told him that Bepin was a regular visitor at Kalicharan’s book shop and always carried a bag of books on his sight seeing trips as he was fond of reading books. The second thing he told was that his wife had been dead for ten years. Thirdly, his only brother died insane and that’s why he didn’t visit mental hospital in Ranchi.

The Best Christmas Present

The Best Christmas Present in the World

                                                                           By Michael Morpurgo

 

Analysis:

·      The chapter ‘The Best Christmas Present in the World’ written by Michael Morpurgo is an account of the life of a soldier, Jim Macpherson and his family in the backdrop of world war I (1914-1919).

·      The story highlights mental condition of a soldier and his viewpoint about the war disclosing the ironical truth that no soldier wants war which is the result of political differences.

·      The story forces us to understand that family of a soldier suffers hugely. Connie, wife of Jim Macpherson loses her memory and leads a life of loneliness, grief, anxiety and helplessness.

·      The letter written by Jim clearly states there are better ways to resolve ways. It also highlights that sports and festivals may unite people across the boundaries and war divides humanity causing loss of lives and property and making children orphans and wives widows.

·      The most beautiful part of the chapter is the celebration of Christmas in the middle of war at no man’s land where the soldiers of German and English armies stop fighting war, share their meal, sweets, drinks, thoughts and opinions and play football to have good time together.

·      The chapter successfully gives a beautiful message of peace, love and universal brotherhood stressing upon the fact that war is futile.

 

Summary / Synopsis:

The story begins with the narrator buying a roll-top desk from a junk shop in Bridport. The man at the shop told that it was made of oak from early nineteenth century. The narrator bought it as others were too expensive. This one was in bad condition with the roll-top in several pieces, one leg clumsily mended, and scorch marks on it. He thought he would repair it. He started working on it at the back of his garage. He removed the roll-top completely and pulled out the drawers. Both fire and water had destroyed the desk. The last drawer was stuck but he used all the force and removed it. There was a shallow space underneath, a secret drawer. There he found a small black tin box and sello-taped to the top of it there was a note, “Jim’s last letter, received on January 25, 1915, to be buried with me when the time comes”. He felt, he should not open the box but his curiosity made him open it. There was an envelope with  the address “Mrs Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset.” There was a letter written in pencil and dated December 26, 1914. Jim wrote to his wife Connie when he was in war with Germany. He described what happened on the border on Christmas.

First someone waved a white flag from the trenches of enemy army and shouted, “Happy Christmas, Tommy!”. Someone responded, “Same to you, Fritz! from their side, too. Then waving a white flag someone said, “Don’t shoot”. First, he felt that there was a trick and warned his men to keep their heads down. Then, the German officer waving a bottle suggested to share their schnapps and sausage as it was Christmas and dozens of soldiers started walking towards Jim across no man’s land without any rifle. Little Private Morris was the first to move from their side and then, all along both the borders were walking slowly towards one another meeting in the middle, no man’s land. Jim also joined them. In the middle of the war they were making peace. The name of the Fritz officer, who approached first was Hans Wolf, he was from Dusseldorf and he played the cello in the orchestra. Captain Jim Macpherson also introduced himself as a school teacher from Dorset, England and both wished a Happy Christmas to each other They ate and drank together and talked in almost perfect English though he had never been to England. He had learned of England from school and by reading books in English. His favourite writer was Thomas Hardy and favourite book ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. They discussed the story and characters of the book. He had a wife and a six months old son. All soldiers over no man’s land were smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating. Jim also shared Christmas cake made by Connie. Hans Wolf found the marzipan the best thing and Jim agreed. Ironically, they agreed about everything, but they were fighting war.

Then someone, brought a football and there was a football match between Tommy and Fritz  in the middle of no man’s land. Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson looked on and cheered. Hans said that they could resolve the war through the match as no one dies in a football match with no children orphaned and no widows. Jim agreed but he preferred Cricket as Tommies would surely win the Cricket match.  Fritz won the match by two goals to one. The fun time was over. They wished each other well and hoped to see their family again soon after the fighting ended as every soldier on both sides wanted peace. That night, the Germans sang a carol ‘Silent Night’. His boys joined them in the chorus of ‘While Shepherds Watched’ another carol. They all had good time of peace and goodwill to be treasured forever. Towards the end of his letter, Jim told Connie that surely by the next Christmas the war will be over and they shall be together again soon.

The narrator decided to find Connie as the letter is supposed to be buried along with her dead body. He drove to Bridport, it was just a few miles away. Reaching there he asked about the whereabouts of a Mrs Macpherson. An old man there knew her well and told him that she was a bit muddle-headed as she was a hundred and one years old. She had been in the house when it caught fire due to candles. She used candles as electricity was too expensive for her. She was saved by a fireman and since then she was in Burlington House Nursing Home. Reaching there he told that he was a friend of Mrs Macpherson and wanted to meet and give her a Christmas present. There, the people were busy in Christmas celebration and singing carols. The matron approached with a paper hat on her head and offered him a mince pie. She told, Mrs Macpherson was resting that day as she was unwell and confused. She took him into a conservatory. Connie was sitting in a wheelchair. He told her that the box belonged to her. He opened the tin box and gave it to her. Her eyes were fixed on his face. Her eyes lit up as she seemed to recognise it and there was a glow of happiness on her face. He explained how I had found it, but she wasn’t listening. But she stroked the letter tenderly with her fingertips. With eyes filled with tears she caught his hand and said, “You told me you’d come home by Christmas, dearest, and here you are”. Addressing him Jim she said it was the best Christmas present in the world. She had read the letter, every day. The letter had always made her feel that Jim was with her but that day she wanted to hear it in his own voice thinking him to be Jim, her husband. She said, after reading the letter they would enjoy tea, Christmas cake and marzipan since he had always loved marzipan. 

Important Question Answers

Q 1. How did the German and the British soldiers celebrate Christmas?

Ans. Christmas celebration was begun by the German army as someone from them waved a white flag and shouted, “Happy Christmas, Tommy! Someone from English army also responded, “Same to you, Fritz! Then, the German officer, Hans Wolf approached first and waving a bottle suggested to share their schnapps and sausage with them as it was Christmas and dozens of soldiers started walking across no man’s land without any rifle. All from both the borders walked towards one another met in the middle. Captain Jim Macpherson also joined and both wished a Happy Christmas to each other. They ate and drank together and talked in almost perfect English though he had never been to England. He talked about his English, his favourite writer, Thomas Hardy and favourite book ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. All soldiers over no man’s land were smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating. Jim also shared Christmas cake made by Connie and the marzipan which Hans found as the best thing. In the middle of the war they made peace for some time and celebrated Christmas.

Q2. How is football, according to Hans Wolf, a better way to resolve war?

Ans. After sharing food, drink and cake they had good time with Football. There was a football match between Tommy and Fritz in the no man’s land. Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson looked on and cheered. The Fritz won the match by two goals to one. Hans while enjoying the match said that they could also resolve the war through the match as no one dies in a football match. No children become orphan and no wives become widows. The result of the Football match could decide the fate of war and strife could be resolved without any casualty. Jim agreed and ironically, they both despite being enemies, agreed on everything. But, they were fighting and they could not decide whether war should be there or not and how it could be resolved.

Q3. Explain the sentence, ‘We agreed about everything and he was my enemy’.

Ans. This sentence was written by Jim Macpherson in his last letter to his wife, Connie Macpherson. He described what had happened between him and the German Officer, Hans Wolf. They both shared food and drink and wished happiness to each other. When Hans said Marzipan is the best thing they had, he agreed. He also agreed that the matter of war could be solved through a football match and again Jim agreed. They both agreed on everything though Hans was his enemy as he was a soldier in German army and fighting against his country, England. Ironically, the soldiers fighting in war don’t consider each other as enemies and both want the war to end as early as possible.

A Visit to Cambridge

A Visit to Cambridge

                                          By Firdaus Kanga

Analysis: 

·      The chapter ‘A Visit to Cambridge’ is a beautiful opportunity to peep into the life of one of the greatest scientists of our time, Stephen Hawking. It is an extract ‘From Heaven on Wheels’.

·      A Visit to Cambridge is written by Firdaus Kanga, a writer and journalist from Mumbai. He was born with ‘brittle bones’ that tended to break easily when he was a child.

·      The lesson is an account of the meeting between Firdaus Kanga and Stephen Hawking. It was during Firdaus Kanga’s visit to Cambridge when they met each other. Both these men moved around in wheelchairs.

·      Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest scientists of our time suffered from a form of paralysis that confined him to a wheelchair, and allowed him to ‘speak’ only by punching buttons on a computer.

·      The life story of Stephen Hawking is a true example of a beautiful personality with a beautiful mind. His life and achievements are a big motivation to the disabled people and the young inquisitive minds. He died in 2018 at Cambridge, UK. He was not only a scientific genius and but also a beautiful mind and a thoroughly genuine person.

Summary /  Synopsis

§  Stephen Hawking was born on 8 January, 1942 at Oxford, United Kingdom. Stephen Hawking suffered from slow progressing motor neurone disease and became completely disabled in the late 1970s. He is considered to be the successor of Issac Newton and has his Chair at the university. He is a brilliant astrophysicist. He is also the author of ‘A Brief History of Time’. It is the biggest best-seller of his time.

§  Earlier England was important to the author only because there was Cambridge. Now it had a greater appeal for him as he had met Stephen Hawking there during a walking tour.

§  The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house. Hawking’s assistant attended the telephone call. He told the assistant that he had come from India and wanted to meet Stephen Hawking as he was writing a book about his travels in Britain. The time for meeting the Professor was fixed. It was from three-thirty to four.

§  The writer felt that the disabled got fed up with people asking them to be brave. They got stronger on seeing somebody like them, achieving something huge.

§  When Kanga asked what had motivated him to be brave, the scientist with the help of the computer voice replied that he hadn’t ever been brave. He had no choice about it.

§  The writer told him that most people think that the disabled people are chronically unhappy. He asked Hawking if he found this amusing. The voice replied that he found it amusing when people patronised him. The writer’s next question was whether he felt annoyed when people like him disturbed him. The answer flashed ‘yes’. Hawking smiled after giving this answer. Prof. Hawking appeared to the writer as one of the most beautiful men in the world. However, the writer was shaken by his first glimpse as he seemed only a skeleton then.

§  The writer asked Hawking’s opinion about the best thing about being disabled. The reply was that there is nothing good about it. The writer’s next question was if this didn’t help him discover great kindness in the world. The voice agreed fully with the writer. Next, he asked whether the thought that he inspires millions of people in the world has helped him in anyway and the reply was negative. The question made the writer feel sorry.

§  The writer asked him to give a piece of advice to the disabled people. He advised the disabled to concentrate on what they are good at. They should try nothing beyond it. According to him, Olympics for the disabled is a waste of time. At this the writer remembered how he broke the strings of Spanish guitar while trying to play it in his early years.

§  Then, Hawking proposed to show his big garden to the writer. They wheeled in the garden but Hawking could not talk further due to the glaring sun on his computer screen.

§  The writer found his journey successful and inspiring. He could see his bravest self in the frame of Stephen hawking as he has given him inspiration to reach out farther and he has made him feel stronger.

 

Important Question Answers

Q1. Guess the first question the writer asked Stephen hawking.

Ans. The writer asked the same question that he used to think quite often and kept asking himself. He asked what has motivated him to be brave and reach out farther than he could have thought.

Q2. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?

Ans. Although Stephen Hawking said he had had no other choice but to be brave. The writer thinks there was a choice. He thinks that to live creatively and use his creative mind with the reality of his disintegrated body was certainly his choice.

Q3. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?

Ans. The astrophysicist would get exhausted and irritated by tapping at the little switch in his hand to find words on his computer. The author mentions he could feel Hawking’s anguish on how even after having a buoyant mind and fluent thoughts, his answers came out in broken phrases and emotionless sentences without any tone and feeling and that too, after making much effort and taking lot of pain.

Q4. What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?

Ans. The scientist’s pure and hearty smile made the author feel like he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world. His smiling face and beautiful eyes made him one of the most beautiful men in the world.