11th std Mother’s Day

11^th std Mother’s Day

Multiple Choice Questions

Q1. What message does the author of “Mother’s Day” try to convey?

A. To appreciate wives/ mothers for their work
B. To work hard for your mother
C. To spend time with family
D. To respect everyone

Q2. How would you describe Mrs. Pearson?

A. Dominating
B. Considerate
C. Compliant
D. Both (B) and (C)

Q3.  What does the play “Mother’s Day” talk about?

A. Status of the mother in the family
B. Status of the father in the family
C. Status of the children in the family
D. Status of the family in the society

Q4. Mrs. Fitzgerald is a __________ of Mrs. Pearson.

A. relative
B. neighbour
C. maid
D. None of the above

Q5. “It’s wonderful having a real ____________ living next door.” Complete the dialogue.

A. doctor
B. writer
C. fortune-teller
D. chef

Q6. Where did Mrs. Fitzgerald learn to tell the future?

A. The West
B. The East
C. The Middle-East
D. Not mentioned in the play

Q7. How does Mrs. Pearson describe her family members?

A. Thoughtless and selfish
B. Pleasant and helpful
C. Hardworking
D. Mindful

Q8. In what endeavour does Mrs. Fitzgerald help Mrs. Pearson?

A. To see future
B. To make her family treat her well
C. To run errands
D. None of the above

Q9. How does the author describe Mrs. Fitzgerald?

A. Worried looking
B. Sinister looking
C. Has a deep voice
D. Both (B) and (C)

Q10. How does Mrs. Fitzgerald plan to help Mrs. Pearson?

A. By talking to Mrs. Pearson’s family
B. By listening to Mrs. Pearson rants
C. By swapping personalities with Mrs. Pearson
D. Both (A) and (B)

Q11. Mrs. Pearson was ___________ about Mrs. Fitzgerald’s plan.

A. excited
B. hesitant
C. sure
D. envious

Q12. What is the first thing that Doris does as soon as she enters the house?

A. Asks her mother to give her tea
B. Asks her mother to cook something for her
C. Asks her mother about her day
D. Asks her mother to iron her yellow silk

Q13. What makes Doris astounded as soon as she enters the house?

A. The sight of her mother smoking
B. Because the tea was not ready
C. Because her mother was not there
D. None of the above

Q14. “Buck teeth and half-witted…” Who has been described here?

A. Cyril Pearson
B. George Pearson
C. Charlie Spence
D. Mrs. Fitzgerald

Q15. “Well, she’s suddenly all different.” Who said this and for whom?

A. Cyril for Doris
B. Doris for her mother
C. Cyril for her mother
D. George for Doris

Q16. How does the author describe George Pearson?

A. Pompous
B. Solemn
C. Fifty-ish
D. All of the above

Q17. Mrs. Pearson tells George that he is being ___________ at the club.

A. respected
B. laughed upon
C. called names
D. Both (B) and (C)

Q18. “It’s that silly old bag from next door- Mrs. Fitzgerald.” Who said this?

A. Doris
B. Cyril
C. George
D. Mrs. Pearson

Q19. What does George mean when he says ‘we’re at sixes and sevens here’?

A. In a state of confusion and disorder
B. In a middle of a conflict
C. In the middle of taking a decision
D. In a state of agony

Q20. What does Mrs. Pearson suggest them to do for that night?

A. Family game of rummy
B. Getting the supper ready
C. Both (A) and (B)
D. None of the above

 Short Answer Type Questions

 Question 1. Bring out the distinctive traits of the two ladies in “Mother’s Day”.

 Ans. The two ladies in the play are Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald. They are neighbours. They are totally different in their outlook, temperament and habits. Mrs Fitzgerald drinks, smokes and plays cards. She lives life on her own terms. Mrs Pearson is a submissive wife and mother. Although she suffers, she does not have the guts to check or correct her family members. So, she does all the household chores for her family without a word of appreciation from them.

Question 2. Who is Mrs Fitzgerald? What does she advise Mrs Pearson?
Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald is Mrs Pearson’s neighbour and friend. A fortune teller, who had learnt the art from the East, she tells Mrs Pearson that her fortune could turn either way. With effort and counsel, the situation would swing in her favour. She advised her to assert herself as the boss of the house.

Question 3. What was Mrs Pearson’s reaction to Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice?
Answer: Mrs Pearson said that it would not be easy to put her family members in place as she was very fond of them. She knew that they were thoughtless and selfish but felt, perhaps, they did not mean to be so.

Question 4. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s opinion of Mrs Pearson’s attitude?
Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald said that Mrs Pearson’s family was undoubtedly spoilt. She felt that it was Mrs Pearson’s attitude that did them no good, tending to their needs, taking their orders, and staying at home every night while they went out enjoying themselves.

Question 5. How had Mrs Fitzgerald mastered some basics of magic spells?

  Answer:   Mrs Fitzgerald was a bold, talented and strong woman. She learnt some basics of magic in Asia where her husband was posted for twelve years. She takes Mrs Pearson’s hands and utters some words. The personalities of the two women change their bodies.

Question 5. How did the two women react after their bodies were changed?
Answer: When Mrs Pearson looked down at herself in Mrs Fitzgerald’s body, she gave a scream of fright. On the other hand, Mrs Fitzgerald is rather pleased and feels that the transition was so neat that she did not even know that she had it in her.

Question 6. What impression does George leave on you? Does Mrs Fitzgerald’s treatment meted out to him serve the purpose?

  Answer:   George Pearson is about fifty. He is selfish and pompous. He also neglects his wife. Mrs Fitzgerald cuts him to size. She tells him how the club members call him Pompy-company Pearson at his back. He feels small and cowed down. The treatment does serve the purpose.

Question 7. What sane advice does Mrs Fitzgerald give to her neighbour in the art of managing her family?

Answer:   Mrs Fitzgerald’s approach is harsh and unforgiving. She tells Mrs Pearson to stop running after her family all the time and taking their orders. Her family should learn to care for her and value her. She should show them their places and refuse to serve them.

Question 8. It’s more than hints your family needs, Mrs Pearson. Why can’t Mrs Pearson heed and act upon Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice?

 Answer:       Mrs Pearson does not dare to displease her husband or children. She can’t take a hard step and also does not know how to begin. She agrees with Mrs Fitzgerald’s views but she doesn’t want to annoy them. Her motherly heart does not allow her to be harsh towards her husband and children.

Question 9. Describe the little but very effective episode of change of the places or personalities at Mrs Pearson’s house.

Answer:   Mrs Fitzgerald is a strong and aggressive woman. She has mastered the art of casting a magic spell. She learnt that art in an Asian country. She mutters the spell—three words in all, holds Mrs Pearson’s hands and they change personalities.

Question 10. How does Mrs Fitzgerald remove Mrs Pearson’s apprehensions about the reaction of her family and the issue of changing back?

 Answer:    Mrs Fitzgerald is sure that her spell will work. But the change of personalities/places would not last long. She offers to deal with the self-centred members of the family with a heavy hand. She assures that changing back is quite easy for her, any time.

11. Describe how Mrs Pearson, with the personality of Mrs Fitzgerald, deal with Doris.

Answer:   Doris is the first target of her changed mother. After returning from the office, she demands tea and asks her mother whether she has ironed her yellow dress. But the mother refuses point blank to serve her anymore. She even makes fun of Doris’s boyfriend, Charlie. Thus, the mother makes her cry. She makes her realise that she is not her servant.

Question 11. What is Mrs Pearson’s reaction to seeing her children giggling when she returns to the room?
Answer: Mrs Pearson asks them the reason for their amusement. Doris answers that she had never understood their jokes. To which Mrs Pearson retorts, rudely, that she was bored at their jokes even before they both were born. Doris is tearful and Mrs Pearson blames them for being selfish about their needs.

Question 12. How does the changed Mrs Pearson give a rude shock to George?

  Answer:   George questions his wife why she is drinking stout at that odd hour. He disapproves of it but sets a curt reply from her. She points out how he is the laughing stock at the club, where they called him names behind his back. She even threatens to slap his big, fat, silly face, when he insults Mrs Fitzgerald. He accepts defeat and becomes normal.

Question 13. Describe how the new Mrs Pearson deals with Cyril.

 Answer:   Cyril is another person whom the changed mother sets right. She tells him to help himself in the kitchen and prepare tea. She declares she would take a holiday on weekends. She points out how he has been wasting much money and time at dog races and ice shows. She calls him a silly, spoilt, young brat.

14. What do Doris and Cyril presume about the changed behaviour of the mother?

 Answer:   Both Doris and Cyril are taken aback by the sudden change in their mother’s tone and behaviour. They think that she must have hit her head against something, which has made her light-headed. They are shocked to hear that she would enjoy free-of-work weekends for a change.

15.   How does Mrs Pearson (acting as Mrs Fitzgerald) silence her neighbour as she comes back to see the little drama?

 Answer:   Real Mrs Pearson returns to her house to see that everything is all right. But she is shocked to see the painful drama of tears and scolding. When she tries to intervene, Mrs Fitzgerald tells her severely to let her manage her family in her own way. She says she is putting them all in their places and cutting them to size.

16. Why does George react when the neighbour calls him George? What does he complain of?

 Answer:   George objects strongly when the neighbour addresses him as George. But the new Mrs Pearson sees no reason to feel offended. She tells him that he is not the Duke of Edinburgh. Ile further complains that no tea has been served to him, that poor Doris is crying upstairs because her mother has hurt her feelings.

17. When and why does Mrs Fitzgerald (in Mrs Pearson’s body) threaten to slap George?

Answer:   George feels offended and insulted. At that moment the next-door neighbour Mrs Fitzgerald comes to visit them and addresses him as George. He objects to her presence in the house and insults her. He asks angrily if she (his wife) has gone eccentric. At this, his wife jumps up and threatens to slap his big, silly face.

18. What does Mrs Pearson finally ask her family to do?

 Answer:   When Mrs Fitzgerald has gone. the real Mrs Pearson asks her family to do as she wants them to do. She wants them all to stay at home that evening and perhaps play a game of rummy with her. She asks her son and daughter to get the supper ready. In the meantime, she will have a talk with her husband George. No one dares to challenge her demand.

Question 19. How was the experience for the two women after the change of bodies?
Answer: The real Mrs Pearson (now Mrs Fitzgerald) had not enjoyed the experience as she had seen her family being treated roughly and rudely by Mrs Fitzgerald. On the other hand, Mrs Fitzgerald had enjoyed the experience, as she had been able to teach Doris, Cyril and George Pearson a lesson to value Mrs Pearson.

Question 20. What is Mrs Fitzgerald’s parting advice to Mrs Pearson?

  Answer:   Mrs Fitzgerald is a liberated woman, a bold and empowered woman in the real sense. She warns Mrs Pearson to be tough and demanding for a couple of hours with her family. She forbids her to feel sorry for the drama, and offer no explanation or apology. If she stays firm, they will all change for the better very soon.

Question 21. What, according to Mrs Pearson, were her plans for the weekends?
Answer: Mrs Pearson tells her children that at the weekend she would have her two days off. She agreed to make beds and cook a little as a favour, conditional to how she was treated. Mrs Pearson tells her children that she would go elsewhere for the weekend if they did not like the arrangement.

Question 22. What did Mrs Pearson say to her husband when he was angry with her for not making tea?
Answer: Mr Pearson informed Mrs Pearson that he did not want tea but grew angry at being told that tea was not ready. She taunted him that if he went up to the bar at the club and refused a glass of beer and showed irritation because they had not served it earlier, he would invite ridicule.

Question 23. What does Mrs Pearson say to Doris that really bothered her?
Answer: Mrs Pearson asked where Doris would wear her yellow silk dress. She said that she planned to go out with Charlie Spence. Mrs Pearson told her to find somebody better and insulted Charlie Spence by calling her buck-toothed and was half-witted.

Question 24. What do Doris and Cyril feel about Mrs Pearson’s changed behaviour?
Answer: Doris and Cyril discuss that there is something wrong with their mother as she is not behaving in character. They discuss how Mrs Pearson behaved oddly with each of them. They try to fathom if she had gone crazy or had a concussion.

Question 25. How is the tense little drama at Mrs Pearson’s house filially resolved?

  Answer:   The little drama is staged chiefly by Mrs Fitzgerald by interchanging her personality with Mrs Pearson. She takes all the spoilt and self-centred members of the Pearson family to the task. After she succeeds in making all the family members realise how mean and selfish, they have been towards Mrs Pearson, she changes back their personalities. When they see their mother behaving normally but firmly, they agree at once to play a game of rummy at home and to work in the kitchen. George also is pleased to have a talk with her. The members of the family are to respect Pearson’s sentiments. The play ends on a happy note.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Narrate the story of the play Mother’s Day in about 100 words.

Answer:  The play ‘Mother’s Day’ depicts the status of the woman in a family. She is treated as a domestic slave, taking orders from her husband as well as children. Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald are neighbours. They stand in sharp contrast to each other.

            Mrs Pearson is a submissive wife and mother. She is unhappy with the treatment she gets from her family. She discusses her problem with her neighbour. Mrs Fitzgerald is bold, liberated and an aggressive woman. She knows the art of casting magic spells as well. She changes her personality with that of Mrs Pearson. Then she stays on in Mrs Pearson’s house to deal with George. Doris and Cyril. She sets them right and makes them see reason. She cuts them to size. They agree to do as Mrs Pearson desires. The two women again become their old normal selves. The play ends on a happy note.

Question 2. What does Mrs Pearson have to say to Doris that disturbs her?
Answer: When Mrs Pearson’s daughter Doris returns and tells Mrs Fitzgerald, in the body of Mrs Pearson, to iron her yellow silk dress as she would like to wear it that night, her mother continues playing patience. Doris asks her what she is doing and she answers her smugly that she was not whitewashing the ceiling. She also says that there is no law against smoking. She informs Doris that she had already had her tea but had not made tea for the others. She had not cooked dinner either and would have her meal at the Clarendon. She tells Doris that she worked twice as hard as the others and got no wages or thanks for it. She then inquired from Doris where she wanted to wear her yellow dress. Doris tells her that she was going out with Charlie Spence. Mrs Pearson tells her to find someone better than the buck-toothed and half-witted man. Doris is offended and runs out.

Question 3. Write a note on the theme of the play Mother’s Day. Do you approve of the method adopted by Mrs Fitzgerald? Elucidate.

 Answer:  The theme of Mother’s Day is the low status of a woman in her family, and how she deserves to be the boss of the house. This issue is common in every country. She is the weaker sex. She is neglected. Her services are neither acknowledged nor paid for. Mrs Fitzgerald, the liberated and strong neighbour of Mrs Pearson, shows the way. She enters her spirit into Mrs Pearson’s body and spends a couple of hours in the neighbour’s house. She deals very harshly with all the family members. George. Cyril and Doris—all of them are shocked and surprised at the changed behaviour of Mrs Pearson. They give in at last to her wishes. Mrs Fitzgerald’s method proves very successful in solving the problem.

Question 4. Give your brief comments on the five main characters in the play Mother’s Day.

Answer: Mother’s Day is a humorous and satirical presentation of a grim little family drama. It discusses the issue of the status of a mother and wife in the family. The play has five characters in all. Mrs Fitzgerald is a strong woman, aggressive and demanding. Her neighbour Mrs Pearson is just her opposite. She is given to serving her husband and children. She makes no demands: she does not dare to displease anybody, but she resents their behaviour inwardly. Her husband George is pompous, selfish and the centre of jokes at the club. Her son Cyril is a young man and her daughter is Doris. Both are working in offices. They come home in the evening, demand tea and ironed clothes so that they can go out again. All three are self-centred. They neglect Mrs Pearson who is all docile, motherly and submissive.

Question 5. “Sometimes it does people good to have their feelings hurt.” Who says this and what does she say to hurt Mr Pearson?
Answer: When Mr Pearson announces that he did not wish to drink tea after he returned from work, the real Mrs Fitzgerald informs him that his tea was not ready. He is angry and she reminds him that he was annoyed because he did not get the tea that he did not want in the first place. She adds that if he did that at the bar—went up to the bar at the club and told them he did not want a glass of beer but got irritated because they had not already poured it out for him, they would laugh at him even more than they did already. George was indignant and she added that he was one of their standing jokes and was called ‘Pompy-ompy Pearson’ because they thought that he was slow and pompous. George checks with Cyril on the truth of the matter, and Cyril accuses his mother of not being fair and sensitive. To which, she replies that sometimes it does people good to have their feelings hurt.

Question 6. How does Mrs Fitzgerald passing for Mrs Pearson put Mr George, Doris and Cyril in their places?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald comes to the rescue of Mrs Pearson. She transfers her spirit into Mrs Pearson’s body and gets ready to show all the three members their places. Her first target is Doris. She comes home demands tea and orders the mother to iron her yellow silk. But she is astonished when her mother goes on smoking and is planning to eat out at a restaurant. She gets such a rough treatment that she is all in tears. The next target is Cyril. He also finds his mother cold and defiant. Both suspect that she has hit her head against something. Mother chides them for whispering and laughing. George, as he enters the room, finds his wife smoking, drinking stout and playing cards. He objects to all that but is told curtly to shut up. He is told how the club members make fun of him behind his back. Thus, they all are made to realise how mean and selfish they have been towards Mrs Pearson.

Question 7. Pick out the instances that bring out the element of humour in the play.
Answer: The play is a light-hearted comedy. A mother accomplishes changing the attitude of her family by exchanging her body with her friend, Mrs Fitzgerald, a bold and assertive woman, thus, introducing humour in the play. The moment the spirits change, Mrs Pearson notices the cigarette, snatches it off Mrs Fitzgerald, while she looks down at her changed body and screams out of fright. Mrs Pearson answers her daughter’s query, sarcastically, that she was not whitewashing the ceiling. Mrs Pearson insults Doris’ date, comically, calling him ‘buck-toothed and half-witted’. Cyril is told that she does not ‘like mending’ his clothes, stunning him to silence. When Mrs Pearson walks out, Doris and Cyril laugh at the idea of her having gone crazy and decide to wait till the father comes. She tells Mr Pearson how he was a standing joke in the club and was called ‘Pompy-ompy Pearson’ because they thought that he was slow and pompous. She also tells him that he was George and not the Duke of Edinburgh.

Question 8. Compare and contrast the characters of Mrs Fitzgerald and Mrs Pearson. Who do you admire and why?

 Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald and Mrs Pearson make an interesting study in contrast. Mrs Fitzgerald is strong, aggressive, liberated and domineering. She lives life on her own terms. She smokes, plays cards and drinks stout. She can challenge anybody. She even jumps up to slap George. She runs down Doris’ fiancé. She takes Cyril to task for wasting time and money on dog races and ice shows. Mrs Pearson, on the other hand, is weak-minded and docile. She does not dare to displease any member of her family. She agrees with the way suggested by Mrs Fitzgerald, but she is afraid of hurting the feelings of her family members. Mrs Fitzgerald has a domineering personality while Mrs Pearson has pleasing looks and nature and she is rather nervous. We certainly need more women like Mrs Fitzgerald, who can stand up for their rights.

Question 9. Mrs Fitzgerald’s effort does not go in vain, as the family changes for the better. Justify.
Answer: Mrs Pearson has a selfish and thoughtless family, who is insensitive to the feelings of the mother. But after the staged trick, and when Mrs Fitzgerald leaves, the three—George, Doris, and Cyril look anxiously at Mrs Pearson, who smiles. They are much relieved and smile back at her. Mrs Pearson tells them that since they have decided to stay at home, they would have a nice family game of rummy and then the children could get the supper ready while she talked with their father. All of them agree. Mrs Pearson wishes Mrs Fitzgerald goodbye and the family surrounds Mrs Pearson, implying a happy ending. It looks as if Mrs Fitzgerald’s effort is rewarded and they seem eager to appease the real Mrs Pearson.

Question 10. How do you look at Mrs Pearson’s genuine problems and Mrs Fitzgerald’s suggestion? Is it practicable, imaginative and realistic?

  Answer: The resentment of Mrs Pearson is genuine and realistic. Hers is a miserable life. That is the experience of most women. She is sensitive and servile. That is why she is neglected by her family members. The solution suggested by Mrs Fitzgerald is quite effective. But it is not practical as everyone does not have magic skills. Mrs Fitzgerald commands a drastic action. Any woman in Mrs Pearson’s place would have to deal with the situation in a tactful manner. The matter would have to be resolved by discussing things with each other rather than in the dramatic way shown by Mrs Fitzgerald.

Question 11. We talk of the women’s liberation movement but it is a grim and sad reality that our women, except some, are slaves of the wheel as they were in the past. What place do women have in Indian society? Discuss.

Answer: India has been and is still a male-dominated society. Boys are definitely preferred to girls. In reality, the man still governs unquestioned. It will not be wrong to say that employed women in general work at home like drudges. In our society a wife depends upon her husband; a daughter remains under her parents; a mother depends on her husband and son. The condition of a widow is worse. A woman finds it difficult to move freely. All social taboos are meant for her.

Some women today are free to choose their careers, but the majority of them are still oppressed. Strangely enough women in ancient India enjoyed honour and respect and were true better halves of men. They enjoyed equal rights to men. They were at liberty to get an education and choose their life partners.

Nowadays, due to education, the condition of women is improving. All-important services are thrown open to them. We see women occupying high posts. They have excelled men in many fields. In the social, economic and political sphere, they have earned names and fame. Due to education, views and old thinking of the Indian society is changing. Today women have earned a place for themselves in every field and the future of Indian women is brighter still.