Question and answer of "Jimmy Valentine" written by O. Henry. (Class xi of wbchse)

2.  What new name did Jimmy Valentine assume at Elmore? What business did he open there? How did Jimmy fare at Elmore?

[ এলমোরে জিমি ভ্যালেন্টাইন কোন নতুন নাম গ্রহণ করেছিল? সেখানে সে কিসের ব্যবসা খুলেছিল? এলমোরে সে কেমন সাফল্য পেয়েছিল?

Ans.

         Jimmy assumed the new name Ralph D. Spencer at Elmore.

           He opened a shoe-business at Elmore.

          Jimmy came to know from the clerk of the Planters' Hotel that there was no exclusive shoe-store at Elmore. So, he opened a shoe-store there and his business flourished quickly. Socially he also fared well and was accepted by one and all. But above all he fell in love with a beautiful girl named Annabel Adams whose father owned the Elmore Bank. At the end of year he and Annabel were engaged to be married. Mr Adams also accepted him as his would-be son-in-law.

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Question and answer of "Jimmy Valentine" written by O. Henry (Class 11 of wbchse)

1. "That child she can't stand it long in there." - who is referred to here? Why was she in danger? How was she saved? 

["ওই শিশুটা ওখানে বেশিক্ষণ থাকতে পারবে না" - এখানে কার উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে? কেন সে বিপদে পড়েছিল? কেমন করে সে রক্ষা পেল?]

Ans.

      In O. Henry's story 'Jimmy Valentine", Agatha is referred to here.

      Agatha was in danger because she had been shut in the vault by her elder sister in a spirit of play. The door could not be opened as the clock had not been wound, nor the combination set. There was not enough air inside. Moreover, she might go into convulsions from fright.

     In that dangerous situation, Annabel requested Ralph to do something. Ralph could not deny the request of his lady-love. Though he knew his action would reveal his true identity, he took up his instruments and broke the lock of the door within ten minutes and freed the frightened  child. Thus Agatha was saved.

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Question and answer of 'The Proposal' written by Anton Chekhov (Class 12 of wbchse)

4. "Oh, what a burden, Lord, to be the father of a grown-up daughter" - Who is the speaker here? Why does the speaker call it 'a burden' to be the father of a grown-up daughter?

Ans.    Chubukov is the speaker here.

     Chubukov is the old father of a marriageable daughter, Natalya. He feels the pressure of society to get his daughter married. But he is always puzzled by the whimsical mood of his daughter. When Lomov comes with a marriage proposal, Chubukov is greatly pleased. But Natalya is engaged in a bitter quarrel with Lomov. She drives Lomov out from their house. But when she comes to know about Lomov's proposal, she asks her father to call him back. Chubukov goes to call him back being an affectionate father. But it seems disrespectful to him. This uncertain behaviour of Natalya is unbearable to him. So he calls 'a burden' to be the father of a grown-up daughter.

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Question and answer of "The Proposal" written by Anton Chekhov (Class 12 of wbchse)

3. Sketch the character of Chubukov. [চুবুকভের চরিত্র অঙ্কন কর।]

Ans.
       In the play "The Proposal", Anton Chekhov has presented three characters. Chubukov is one of them. He is an old landowner and the father of grown-up daughter Natalya.  He is concerned about his daughter's marriage. He is delighted when Lomov comes with a proposal to marry Natalya. But he takes his daughter's side in the argument over Oxen Meadows and their hunting dogs. Together with his daughter, he insults, abuses and drives Lomov out of their house. But he brings him back as he does not want to lose Lomov as his son in-law. He curses his own fate as to how he will get Natalia married with Lomov. Eventually when Lomov faints, he plays a trick on them to get them married. Thus Chubukov is relieved of his social liability as a father.

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Question and answer of "The Proposal" written by Anton Chekhov (Class 12 of wbchse)

2. Sketch the character of Natalya Stepanovna. [নাতালিয়া স্তেপানোভৎনার চরিত্র অঙ্কন কর।]
Ans:-

     In the play 'The Proposal', Anton Chekhov has presented three characters. Natalya is one of them. She is a young unmarried girl of twenty five years. She is well educated, an excellent housekeeper and is not bad looking. But she is very quarrelsome and abusive by nature. She begins a bitter quarrel with Lomov over Oxen Meadows. She drives Lomov out. But when she learns that Lomov has come to propose to her, she forgets all her grievances. She begins to wail over her lost chance. She asks her father to call him back. She begs pardon of Lomov. She again starts quarrelling with  Lomov over the hunting dogs. Finally, when she gets married, she shows no sign of romance. Again, she starts quarrelling. So she is a perfect match for Lomov.

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Question and answer of "The Proposal" written by Anton Chekhov (Class xii of wbchse)

    1. Why did Lomov think about taking a decision about getting married? Whom did he want to marry? Why? [লোমোভ বিবাহের ব্যাপারে সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়ার কথা চিন্তা ভাবনা করেছিল কেন? সে কাকে বিবাহ করতে চেয়েছিল? কেন?]

    Ans. Lomov thought about taking a decision on getting married for many a reason. Firstly, he was going through a critical age and suffering from nervous dysfunction. Secondly, he was in need of leading a quiet and regular life. Thirdly, If he gave himself time to think, to hesitate, to look for an ideal, or for real love, he would never get married.

        Lomov wanted to marry Natalya Stepanovna.

             He found in Natalia an ideal wife. She was an excellent housekeeper and was not bad looking. She was well educated too. Moreover, she was the only daughter of a wealthy landowner.

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Question and answer of Karma (Class xi of wbchse)

Question: 'you are a bit of all right, old chap' - Who is the speaker? Who has been referred to as 'old chap'? What picture of the person's character here, spoken to is revealed in this line?

['তোমার সব কিছুই ঠিকঠাক বুড়ো খোকা' -- বক্তা কে? বুড়ো খোকা বলতে এখানে কার উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে? যে ব্যাক্তির কথা এখানে বলা হয়েছে তার চরিত্রের কোন চিত্র এই লাইনে প্রকাশিত হয়েছে?]

Or, 

Sketch the character of Sir Mohan Lal. [স্যার মোহনলাল এর চরিত্র অঙ্কন কর।]

Ans. Here the personified mirror is the speaker here.

      Or,  Here the speaker is the mirror of the first class waiting room of a railway station where Mohan Lal was waiting for the train.

       Sir Mohanlal has been referred to as 'old chap' in this line.

       Sir Mohan Lal was an anglicized Indian. He blindly embraced British ways and culture. He felt himself as an Englishman and hated everything of India. He was fond of speaking English all the time. He wore expensive suit from Saville Row, London. There was a carnation in the buttonhole of his coat. He used eau de cologn, talcum powder and scented soap. His moustache was neatly trimmed. In a word, he was minutely particular about his dress and make-up. His treatment of Indians was so cruel that he was ashamed to travel even with his wife.  Here Khushwant Singh presented the character of Sir Mohan Lal in an ironic manner.

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