The Hound of the Baskervilles: Chapter two:The Curse of Baskervilles: Qs & Ans

Chapter two

1.       The curse of Baskervilles

Detail:  Baskerville had been under the effect of the curse since the time when Hugo Baskerville (senior) had done a heinous deed. He was a cruel and wicked type of person. Once he got obsessed with the idea of possessing the daughter of a farmer, living there at some distance. She avoided him as she already knew about the bad reputation of Hugo Baskerville, the senior.

One day, he kidnapped the girl and made her captive in an upper chamber, while, he along with his wicked and idle friends, started singing, shouting and enjoying wine as usual.

The girl was so much terrified that she found no way to escape. At last, she took a great risk and climbed down from the room with the help of an ivy.              

Hugo Baskerville was mad with anger to find the room empty. He gave the scent of her handkerchief to the hounds and let them loose on her. He also chased her on his black mare. His thirteen friends also followed, who later found the dead bodies of the girl and Hugo. They also found the most frightening and blood curdling thing there. They saw that a hound like black beast tore Hugo’s throat. Since then the black hound- like beast became a nightmare for the Baskervilles.

2.       The circumstances that led to Charles Baskerville’s death and some stories related to it.

Detail: Dr. Mortimer was Sir Charles’s medical attendant. He knew that the latter suffered from poor health and fits of nervous breakdown because of the constant fear of the legend of the hound-like beast.

Sir Charles was habitual of having a short walk near his residence after eating his dinner. One day before he was to leave for London, he had come out of the main gate to have a stroll. It was a horrible and last night for Sir Charles. His dead body was found by a servant at some distance from the gate. This was published in a newspaper.

As there was no mark of injury on his body, it was concluded that he had died of heart failure.

But Dr. Mortimer had noticed something strange at some distance from the dead body of Sir Charles. He had seen the footmarks of a hound-like beast.

There was a different story made about the footmarks of the beast. Barrymore remarks that Sir Charles’s footprints had changed character near the moor gate. It seemed that Charles had walked on his toes. Another story reveals that a drunken gipsy had heard the cries of Sir Charles.

3.       The facts hidden or not revealed to police by Dr. Mortimer

Detail: There were several facts that were not revealed to the police by Dr. Mortimer. He reveals all these details to Sherlock Holmes. He tells him that Sir Charles usually had the company of  Mr. Frankland and Mr. Stapleton, the only educated persons in that area. Dr. Mortimer also explains to Sherlock Holmes as to how Sir Charles was obsessed with the fear of the legendary hound. It always kept haunting his mind and, as a result of it, he suffered from frequent nervous breakdown. Dr. Mortimer had consulted Stapleton and decided to suggest Sir Charles to go to London so that he might feel relaxed from the stress and depression caused by the fear of the hound.

Dr. Mortimer also reveals another thing to Sherlock Holmes that it was only three weeks before his death that Charles had given him the secret manuscript. He also adds that he had seen the footprints of a gigantic (big in size) animal, a little distance away from Sir Charles dead body.

4.       Why did Sir Charles give the manuscripts to Dr. Mortimer? When? What do you think about their relationship? 

Detail: Sir Charles gives the manuscript to Dr. Mortimer just three weeks before he died. The text of the novel shows that he was under the constant fear of the hound. Three weeks ago, Sir Charles saw a gigantic animal going when he was standing at the gate of his mansion. He froze in fear to see the dreadful beast. It had a very deep effect on Sir Charles’ mind. So Dr. Mortimer had to stay with him that evening and it was the time when Sir Charles thought it wise to hand over that manuscript to Dr. Mortimer. Since that day, the manuscript was under the safe custody of Dr. Mortimer. This event also shows as to how Sir Charles trusted Dr. Mortimer. It was a relationship of trust and friendship between them. Dr. Mortimer kept the trust intact and he was now more worried about the new heir Henry Baskerville’s safety.

Qs. & Ans on ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Chapter One

Chapter One

1.      Importance of the title of the first scene or the opening scene of the first chapter.

Ans. The title ‘Sherlock Holmes’ given to the first chapter of the novel is quite appropriate. After reading it, we come to know that Sherlock Holmes is going to play a pivotal (important) role in the novel. This chapter also introduces us with another character whose name is Dr. Watson, who is an assistant to Sherlock Holmes. This character has been introduced here to highlight the outstanding qualities of the main character, Sherlock Holmes. The situation is that a person, whose name they come to know in the later part of this chapter, visits their office in their absence. His stick is found in the office. Now they are  to reveal the mystery of that stick.

They forward inferences according to their understanding. Dr. watson’s observations prove to be erroneous and Sherlock Holmes studies the case minutely and logically. Dr. Mortimer also adds his comments to highlight the mental agility and his deep insight by calling him the “second highest” expert in Europe. But soon, he corrects himself by saying that “as a practical man of affairs…you stand alone”

All this strikes the keynote that Sherlock Holmes is going to play a pivotal role in this novel.

2.      The mystery of the walking stick and the inferences drawn by Dr. Watson from it.

Ans. Dr. Watson is the assistant of the crime detective Sherlock Holmes in this novel. A visitor, named Dr. Mortimer left his stick in their office in their absence. Now a sort of mystery was about it. Both of them made their own observations about the left stick.

Dr. Watson looks at the stick very closely and finds something engraved on it. He draws the inference (conclusion) that the stick has been given as a gift to a person named James Mortimer, M.R.C.S. by his friends of the CCH in 1884. He also believes that the owner of the stick is an old man and successful medical practitioner, who does practice in the countryside and walks a lot. His stick is “dignified, solid and reassuring”. He reaches the conclusion that the medical practitioner, Dr. Mortimer walks a lot in the countryside because the ferrule ( the upper part of a stick) is worn down.

The stick was gifted to James Mortimer by his friends .

3. Sherlock Holmes’ reaction to Watson’s views about the stick and the visitor.

Sherlock Holmes’ obervation about the stick and its owner are more accurate than those of his assistant Dr.  Watson.

There is only one  observation that is also made by Dr. Watson. That reveals the fact that the owner of the stick is a medical practitioner, who walks a lot in the countryside with the help of that stick.

Sherlock Holmes appreciates his assistant for this but calls the rest of his conclusions as “erroneous”

He is also able to decode the abbreviation ‘CCH’ as ‘Charing Cross Hospital’. According to Dr. Watson, James Mortimer was an old man, but Holmes observes that he is a young man of about thirty years “amiable, unambitious and absentminded”, having a spaniel dog in his possession. Holmes also predicts the breed of the dog by looking at several teeth marks made by the dog on the stick.

There is only one point on which Sherlock Holmes proves wrong , that is about the stick which he thought was presented to him at the time of his (Mortimer’s) marriage.

Thus Sherlock Holmes supersedes his assistant in the skill of making observation about a case.

4.      Purpose of Dr. Mortimer’s visit to Sherlock Holmes’ office.

In the first chapter of the novel ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’, the stick left by James Mortimer plays a very important role not only for Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson, but also for the readers. It has been left in the office of Sherlock Holmes by a visitor, named James Mortimer. In the beginning of the chapter, the purpose of the visit is not clear, but towards the end of the chapter, it becomes clear.

In his second visit, James Mortimer is full of praise for Sherlock Holmes. He also considers Sherlock Holmes as the second highest expert in Europe next only to Monsieur Bertillon. But soon he corrects himself and adds by saying that  Sherlock Holmes is the best. Thus it becomes very much clear that James Mortimer wants to get some problem solved by Sherlock Holmes.

1.      Importance of the title of the first scene or the opening scene of the first chapter.

2.      The mystery of the walking stick and the inferences drawn by Dr. Watson from it.

3.      Sherlock Holmes’ reaction to Watson's views about the stick and the visitor.

4.      Purpose of Dr. Mortimer’s visit to Sherlock Holmes’ office.

The Merchant of Venice as a Tragi-comedy

Q8. The Merchant of Venice as a Tragi-comedy

Ans.  ‘The Merchant of Venice’ cannot be called purely a tragedy or a comedy. The great dramatist mixed both the comic and the tragic elements together in this play. That is why ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a unique play.

The bond story is the main plot that creates tragic atmosphere in the whole play. There are three other subsidiary plots that are very deftly (skillfully) interwoven by the playwright (dramatist). Whenever tension mounts (rises) in the play, some relaxing scene from any of these subplots takes place (occurs). The comic scenes provide both entertainment and relief to the audience/reader. In this way, the play has a well-knitted plot. Let’s have some examples from the play to discuss the play as a tragi-comedy.

Antonio’s woes make the general atmosphere in the play gloomy and sad. He is not a cheerful person. He remains sad even though he does not know the reason for his sadness. Then he signs a deadly bond to enable his close friend, Bassanio, get a loan of three thousand ducats from the greedy and cruel money lender Shylock. At that time, he hoped that his ships would return with great profit and he would easily repay Shylock’s loan on time.

But it does not happen. He easily falls into the death-trap created by Shylock to take his life. Antonio is unable to pay the loan on time because he gets reports that his ships are destroyed. The tragic atmosphere is built up in the play by this unfortunate incident. Antonio surrenders (feels defeated) in front of his destiny. He becomes hopeless in the Duke’s court because Shylock was adamant to take his life. The tension reaches the climax when Portia allows Shylock to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. But at another moment, there is some relief as Portia starts pushing the Jew to the back-foot by her intelligence and wisdom. At last, the Jew, Shylock, is punished by the law of Venice. This is the main plot that culminates with punishment to the wrong doer and relaxation to the sufferer and his companions. It also brings relief to the audience/reader too.

But still, there are some incidents and some characters’ dialogues that create much of tragic effect in the play. First, Antonio’s sad mood sets the keynote of the play. Then Portia talks about her father’s will which limits her desire to choose a husband of her own choice. After that, the conversation between Shylock and Antonio is full of bitterness. This is the time when Bassanio and Antoino were present in Shylock’s house and asked him to get a loan of three thousand ducats. Then Antonio’s ships are reported to be wrecked in the sea. Shylock lodges a complaint against Antonio in the Duke’s court. Bassanio also reaches Venice after hearing the sad news. Further, the atmosphere in the trial scene remains tensed.

On the other hand, Shakespeare has also created comic effects in the play. These scenes serve both the purposes. They not only entertain the audience/reader, but also relax the tension that mounts in the play from time to time. Portia’s description of her suitors is entertaining to the reader. Launcelot’s playing pranks with his own father Old Gobo, who is almost blind, is quite entertaining. Then their conversation with Bassanio is quite funny. Again Launcelot’s conversation with Jessica is entertaining. The ring episode also serves the same purpose. The happy ending of the play is also a welcome to the audience.

Thus the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is neither a pure tragedy nor is it a pure comedy.

But the tragic elements overshadow the comic elements in the play. The reader does not forget about Shylock’s punishment of forcing him to convert himself from a Jew to a Christian.