English Literature Made Easy for Students

  Answer the following questions in about 300 words each: Q1. Describe the atmosphere and the setting of the play ‘Monkey’s Paw’. How do these add to the gloom and melancholy of the play? Ans. The writer of this one-act play has appropriately created a suitable atmosphere and setting in this play. It surely adds to the gloom and the melancholy of the play. Taken in one view, the story of this play is very simple. The family of Mr. and Mrs. White lives in a house, that is, at distance from the city of Fulham. Their son dies in an accident that occurred when he was at work in an electric factory. The company sends a compensation of two hundred pounds to the deceased son’s parents. This is all about the story of the supernatural and what we call the setting of this play is removed. But to make the story more interesting and also to fill in the story with some elements of mystery and awe, the writer has added a supernatural element through a monkey’s dried-up paw and also by pr...

The Swan Song-Anton Chekhov-Questions-Answers

  Answer the following questions in about 100 words each: Q1. How does Svietlovidoff prove to Nikita that his histrionic talents have not been exhausted? Ans. Svietlovidoff is an old actor of sixty-eight years. He acted on stage for forty-five years. After giving his last performance, he drinks and falls asleep in the dressing room of the theatre. On waking up, he finds himself alone. His loneliness and the influence of wine make him remember his past. All this makes him feel sad. He thinks that his energy is lost due to old age. He is alone. No one is there to care for him. Then Nikita meets him. He reassures him that he is still a powerful actor. He is a genius. This makes Svietlovidoff feel rejuvenated. He performs a few lines from King Lear and then Othello with full energy and talent. He feels that old age is no hurdle if a man is a genius and has talent. Thus he proves to Nikita that his histrionic (very emotional, energetic but not sincere) talent is not exhausted. Q...

     Questions & Answers on ‘The Swan Song’ A.     Answer in one word or in a phrase or a sentence: Q1. What was the last solo performance enacted by Svietlovidoff  before leaving the stage? Ans. He recited very touching lines from Shakespeare’s Othello. Q2.Why does Svietlovidoff feel dismayed? Ans. HE feels dismayed because he is alone and in old age. Q3.What was Nikita Ivanich’s occupation? Ans. He is a prompter. Q4. How does the protagonist describe the prime days of his life? Ans. He calls them glorious days when his audience appreciated him a lot. Q5. What was the condition that the woman who Svietlovdoff loved put  on their marriage? Ans. She told the actor to quit the stage if he would like to marry her. Q6. How long has Svietlovidoff been an actor? Ans.. He has been an actor for forty-five years. Q7. How does Svietlovidoff realise that old age is no more a burden? Ans. In the end, he realises that old age ...

  Q2. Explain the theme of ‘alienation’ and ‘mental torment’ in this play . Ans. We find several aspects of human emotion in this play ‘The Swan Song’. Alienation and loneliness are also its themes. Apathy leads to alienation and loneliness. We find apathetic behaviour of the woman toward Svietlovidoff, who was not ready to marry him because he did not want to leave the stage. Acting is the life force of any actor. So if acting is lost or left by any actor, his or her life becomes miserable. A huge emotional void (vacuum/gap) will appear in the personality of the actor. In this play, Svietlovidoff has become a victim of the audience’s indifferent attitude. He says that the audience is always selfish. They do not love the actor as a human being. They love them only for their acting. He remembers the days when he was young and how the audience applauded him for his great acting talent. They loved his performances but not him. His own worship of art was an illusion. The lady whom...

  C.      Answer in about 300 words each: Q1. Discuss the appropriateness of the title ‘The Swan Song’. Ans. The title of the play ‘The Swan Song’ is based on popular belief. It is believed that a swan sings a beautiful song before it dies. Here in this play, Svietlovidoff’s last performance on the stage becomes his swan song because it is his last performance. It is his beautiful performance like a swan song. He tells Nikita that the audience called his name sixteen times. They were mad in enthusiasm and joy. They had also brought garlands for him. But after the performance, he entered the dressing room, drank wine, and fell asleep there. When he woke up, he was alone there in the dark pit of the night. All the theatre crew including the audience had left for their home. No one woke him up to take him to his house. Now he laments the apathy he received from his own fellows. Then he lands down into his memory lane and remembers how the audience was selfish...