Answer the following questions briefly.
a) Why didn't Luigi, the driver, approve of the two boys?
Luigi is a local driver who has seen much and heard much about
Verona. He is used to the ways of cheats and fraudsters. Nicola and
Jacopo standing by the roadside to sell fruit was an unusual
occurrence. Good quality fruit was generally sold at the market.
Moreover, their ragged and torn attire made him conclude that they
were so impoverished that they would get bad quality fruit and sell it
at a high price to make some easy money.
b) Why were the narrator and his companion impressed by the two
boys?
The two boys’ clothing did not pass muster for them to be to be
considered decent or respectable. Yet the narrator and his friend
found something appealing in their grave faces and their trusting
nature. Their simplicity and childlike appearance seemed to draw the
writer and his friend to them.
c) Why was the author surprised to see Nicola and Jocopo working as
shoeshine boys?
The author found the two boys as fruit vendors when they drove into
Verona . He built a fixed notion of them as fruit sellers. But next day, he
was surprised to find them shining shoes beside the fountain in the
public square. The author did not expect to meet them again shining
shoes.
d) How were the boys useful to the author?
According to the narrator and his friend, both Nicola and Jacopo
seemed propitious. They proved to be prompt and skillful in tending to
the needs of the author and his friend. If the author and his friend
required a pack of American cigarettes or seats for the opera or the
name of a good restaurant, Jacopo and Nicola proved handy to
meet their needs.
e) Why were the boys in the deserted square at night? What
character traits do they exhibit?
The boys had been at the deserted square at night resting on the
pavements waiting for the bus from Padua. They had a bundle of
newspapers with them which they intended to sell to the passengers.
This shows that they did not submit to the adversity in their life. They
chose to face it with courage and determination. They were willing to
go the extra mile in order to earn money. They went beyond their age
and showed extreme diligence and determination to get what they
required.
f) The narrator asked the boys, "Must you work so hard? You both
look rather tired." The boys reply, "We are not complaining, sir."
What do you learn about the boys from their reply?
The boys are the greatest hope for society wherein some people
tread on the wrong track when misfortune befalls them. The two boys
struggle to earn their livelihood enduring pain and suffering without
complaining. They do not mind the hard work because their goal is to
get treatment for their sister so that she recovers from the tuberculosis
that afflicts her spine.
2. Complete the following.
a. The phrase ‘make the rounds’ means to go around from one place to
another.
b. The narrator describes the boys’ demeanour as remarkable because
even though they were in their teens they displayed a seriousness that
is rarely seen in boys of that age.
c. The narrator presumed that the boys were saving up money to go to
the United States.
The narrator was proved wrong when he came to know that the boys
were paying for their sister Lucia’s treatment in a nursing home.
d. The two boys grew to hate the Germans as they had lost their father in
the war and a German bomb had destroyed their beautiful home.
Long Answers
a. Justify the title ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’.
A gentleman is a person who is kind and considerate towards others.
He treats people with respect and serves the needs of others. His
adheres to high standards of behaviour and is mindful of his duty. The
two boys worked hard: they sold fruit, shone shoes, acted as tourist
guides and even sold newspapers well past midnight to make enough
money to pay for their sister’s treatment in a hospital. They never
complained nor did they speak of their problems to garner sympathy
from others. They led a frugal life saving every penny they got. They
faced the challenges of life with courage and were never
disheartened by the toil of their existence. The two teenagers
displayed a maturity that went well beyond their age. They were true
gentlemen.
b. How does the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ by AJ Cronin
promise hope for society?
The story with the importance of family and commitment towards
relationships. The boys selflessness touches the heart and a salute
goes up in admiration for the girt and determination of the two. The
boys ad lost their father in the war and their home too was destroyed
by the enemy. But this did not deter them from their course. They
displayed nobility that went far beyond the call of duty. They worked
at numerous jobs and ran errands to make money for their sister’s
treatment.
The value that comes across in the story is that although war ravages
and destroys life and property it does not destroy the sprite of these
two boys. They find in themselves the courage to pick up the pieces
of their broken lives and rebuild a bright future. Their selflessness,
devotion to duty and cheerfulness inspires us to move forward despite
all odds to face squarely the challenges of life and emerge victorious.
a) Why didn't Luigi, the driver, approve of the two boys?
Luigi is a local driver who has seen much and heard much about
Verona. He is used to the ways of cheats and fraudsters. Nicola and
Jacopo standing by the roadside to sell fruit was an unusual
occurrence. Good quality fruit was generally sold at the market.
Moreover, their ragged and torn attire made him conclude that they
were so impoverished that they would get bad quality fruit and sell it
at a high price to make some easy money.
b) Why were the narrator and his companion impressed by the two
boys?
The two boys’ clothing did not pass muster for them to be to be
considered decent or respectable. Yet the narrator and his friend
found something appealing in their grave faces and their trusting
nature. Their simplicity and childlike appearance seemed to draw the
writer and his friend to them.
c) Why was the author surprised to see Nicola and Jocopo working as
shoeshine boys?
The author found the two boys as fruit vendors when they drove into
Verona . He built a fixed notion of them as fruit sellers. But next day, he
was surprised to find them shining shoes beside the fountain in the
public square. The author did not expect to meet them again shining
shoes.
d) How were the boys useful to the author?
According to the narrator and his friend, both Nicola and Jacopo
seemed propitious. They proved to be prompt and skillful in tending to
the needs of the author and his friend. If the author and his friend
required a pack of American cigarettes or seats for the opera or the
name of a good restaurant, Jacopo and Nicola proved handy to
meet their needs.
e) Why were the boys in the deserted square at night? What
character traits do they exhibit?
The boys had been at the deserted square at night resting on the
pavements waiting for the bus from Padua. They had a bundle of
newspapers with them which they intended to sell to the passengers.
This shows that they did not submit to the adversity in their life. They
chose to face it with courage and determination. They were willing to
go the extra mile in order to earn money. They went beyond their age
and showed extreme diligence and determination to get what they
required.
f) The narrator asked the boys, "Must you work so hard? You both
look rather tired." The boys reply, "We are not complaining, sir."
What do you learn about the boys from their reply?
The boys are the greatest hope for society wherein some people
tread on the wrong track when misfortune befalls them. The two boys
struggle to earn their livelihood enduring pain and suffering without
complaining. They do not mind the hard work because their goal is to
get treatment for their sister so that she recovers from the tuberculosis
that afflicts her spine.
2. Complete the following.
a. The phrase ‘make the rounds’ means to go around from one place to
another.
b. The narrator describes the boys’ demeanour as remarkable because
even though they were in their teens they displayed a seriousness that
is rarely seen in boys of that age.
c. The narrator presumed that the boys were saving up money to go to
the United States.
The narrator was proved wrong when he came to know that the boys
were paying for their sister Lucia’s treatment in a nursing home.
d. The two boys grew to hate the Germans as they had lost their father in
the war and a German bomb had destroyed their beautiful home.
Long Answers
a. Justify the title ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’.
A gentleman is a person who is kind and considerate towards others.
He treats people with respect and serves the needs of others. His
adheres to high standards of behaviour and is mindful of his duty. The
two boys worked hard: they sold fruit, shone shoes, acted as tourist
guides and even sold newspapers well past midnight to make enough
money to pay for their sister’s treatment in a hospital. They never
complained nor did they speak of their problems to garner sympathy
from others. They led a frugal life saving every penny they got. They
faced the challenges of life with courage and were never
disheartened by the toil of their existence. The two teenagers
displayed a maturity that went well beyond their age. They were true
gentlemen.
b. How does the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ by AJ Cronin
promise hope for society?
The story with the importance of family and commitment towards
relationships. The boys selflessness touches the heart and a salute
goes up in admiration for the girt and determination of the two. The
boys ad lost their father in the war and their home too was destroyed
by the enemy. But this did not deter them from their course. They
displayed nobility that went far beyond the call of duty. They worked
at numerous jobs and ran errands to make money for their sister’s
treatment.
The value that comes across in the story is that although war ravages
and destroys life and property it does not destroy the sprite of these
two boys. They find in themselves the courage to pick up the pieces
of their broken lives and rebuild a bright future. Their selflessness,
devotion to duty and cheerfulness inspires us to move forward despite
all odds to face squarely the challenges of life and emerge victorious.
No comments:
Post a Comment