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The Canterville Ghost: Question & Answers on Incidents Chapter 1

 The Canterville Ghost: Question & Answers on Incidents

Chapter 1

Q1. Why did Mr. Hiran B. Otis purchase the Canterville Chase from Lord Canterville even if he was told beforehand about the truth of the haunted house?

Ans. Lord Canterville told every thing which he knew about the Canterville Chase to Mr. Hiran B. Otis. But he was adamant (firm) on purchansing the villa. He told Lord Canterville that he belonged to a modern country, America. So he did not believe in ghosts. Rather he suggested to him to value the ghost while valuing all the furniture of the house. He also told Lord Canterville that if there had been such a thing as a ghost in Europe, they would allow them to live in their public museums or keep them on roads for shows.

Q2. What truth about the Canterville Chase was revealed to Mr. Otis by Lord Canterville?

Ans. Lord Canterville told Mr. Otis that the members of his family had not cared to live in the palace since his granddaughter, the Duchess of Bolton was frightened into a fit, from which she never really recovered. He also explained that she was frightened by two skeleton hands that were placed on her shoulders as she was dressing for dinner. Lord Canterville further told Mr. Otis that the ghost was seen by several living members of his family. He also added that a cleric (priest, member of the clergy) of the parish (the area that comes under a priest), the Rev. Augustus Dampier had seen the ghost.

He continued saying that his own wife Lady Canterville often got disturbed in her sleep as some noise would come mysteriously (in a strange manner) from the corridor and the library. He also informed him it always made its appearance before the death of any of his family members.

Q3. Give a brief introduction to each member of Mr. Otis's family.

Ans. Mrs. Otis had been a celebrated New York Belle /bel/  (a beautiful and attractive woman). She was still a very beautiful, middle-aged woman, with fine eyes, and a great profile (the outline of a person’s face seen from a side). Her full name is Lucretia  R. Tappan. She had a marvelous (extremely good) figure and very vibrant (lively, energetic, animated) spirits. In fact, in many ways, she was quite English.

   Her eldest son was named Washington by his parents out of patriotic feelings. He was a fair-haired, good-looking young man. He had qualified himself for American Diplomacy. He was also known as a famous dancer in London. Altogether he was a very sensible person.

   Mr. Otis had a daughter, whose name was Miss. Virginia E Otis. She was a little girl of fifteen, who was a lover of freedom. She had blue eyes and she was also a wonderful athlete.

Q4. What did Mrs. Umney, the maidservant tell Mr. Otis's family about the blood stain that was found on the floor of the library?

Asn. While taking tea in the sitting room, a blood stain on the floor was noticed. Mrs. Otis wanted it to be removed immediately. The housekeeper told Mrs. Otis that it was the blood of Lady-Eleanore de Canterville, who was murdered on that very spot by her own husband, Sir Simon de Canterville in 1575.” After nine years, Sir Simon disappeared suddenly under mysterious circumstances. His body could not be recovered.

After nine years, Sir Simon disappeared suddenly under mysterious circumstances. His body could not be recovered.

5. What was Washingon Otis’ reaction to the blood stain found on the library floor? What did he do to remove it?

Ans. Washington Otis called it a non-sense and remarked that those blood stains could be easily cleaned by ‘Pinkerton’s Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent.’ Before the terrified housekeeper could interfere, Washington Otis had knelt down on his knees and started rubbing the floor with a small stick that looked like a black cosmetic. After a few minutes, the blood stain was completely removed from the floor. After removing the blood stain, Washington Otis stood triumphant (winner) and looking at his admiring family said that he already knew that Pinkerton would remove it easily.

But no sooner did he say this than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the dark room. It was so fearful that all of them were stunned and Mrs. Umney got fainted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur

  3. The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur (notes prepared by Shish Pal Chauhan)

Q1. How is Ausable different from other secret agents?

Ans. Ausable is very fat. He looks like an ordinary person. Normally secret agents have a very smart look. They carry a pistol. Ausable does not carry any pistol. Thus he looks different from other secret agents.

Q2. Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day? 

Ans. Fowler is a writer. He wants some exciting material to write a story on the life of secret agents. He had his first thrill of the day. He found another person with a pistol in Ausable’s room.

Q3. How has Max got into Ausable’s room?

Ans. Max got into Ausable’s room through the door. He used a pass key to open the door.

Q4. Why did Fowler want to meet Ausable? Why was he disappointed?

Ans. Fowler wanted to meet Ausable. He had a plan to write a story on the life of a secret agent. He had expected Ausable to be a mysterious type of person, having a pistol with him. But he found him fat and ordinary person. So Fowler was disappointed.             

Q5. How was the episode of meeting Max a thrilling experience to Fowler?

Ans. It must have been a very thrilling experience for Fowler. As the door was opened, Max was waiting in front of them with a gun in his hands. He threatened to kill both of them.

Q6. Write a few sentences about Max.

Ans. Max was another secret agent. He was a long and thin person. The features on his face showed that he was as cunning as a fox. He had a gun with him. He had come to Ausable’s room to snatch the report on missiles.

Q7. What did Ausable say about the balcony to Max?

Ans. First, he showed some anger. Then he said that it was for the second time that a person entered his room through the balcony. He called the balcony a nuisance (that creates trouble). He would raise the issue with the management.

Q8. What did Ausable say to Max when there was a knocking at the door? Who was there in reality? Why did Ausable tell a lie to Max?

Ans. There was a knocking at the door. It alerted Max. He asked Ausable as to who could be there. Ausable told Max that it was the police. But it was Henry, the waiter. Ausable told a lie to befool Max.

Q9. How did Ausable get rid of Max?

Ans. Max thought that there was a balcony just below the window. Then there was a knock at the door. Ausable told him that it could be the police. So Max jumped out of the window to wait at the balcony. He fell down and died because there was no balcony.

Q10. What was the paper about which Ausable told Fowler while entering the room? 

Ans. Ausable told Fowler that it was a very important paper regarding missiles. Several men and women had risked their lives for getting it. He also said that it might affect the course of history.

Q11. Who was Henry? What important role did he play in the story?

Ans. Henry was a waiter. Ausable had ordered some drinks. He had come to deliver them. But he played very important role. He helped Ausable in getting rid of Max.

Long Answer-type Qs &Ans. (Notes prepared by Shish Pal Chauhan)

Q1. Describe how Ausable outwitted Max.

Ans. Ausable was to receive an important paper. So he was to wait for it in a room in a French hotel. But as he opened the door, he found another secret agent, Max, standing in front of him with a revolver. Ausable was stunned (very much surprised). He, at once, made up a story. First, he told Max that there was a balcony just below the window of his room. Then he told another lie to him. He said that the knocking was done by the police. In a panic, Max jumped out of the window to stand and wait there at the balcony. But there was no balcony. So he killed himself.

Q2. Attempt a character sketch of Ausable.

Ans. Ausable was a typical secret agent. He did not look smart because he was fat. But he had the qualities of being a smart secret agent. He was a cool-minded person. He did not lose his wits when Max stood before him with a pistol. He, at once, made up a story. First, he told Max that there was a balcony just below the window of his room. Then he told another lie to him. He said that the knocking was done by the police. In a panic, Max jumped out of the window to stand and wait there at the balcony. But there was no balcony. Thus he proved himself a better secret agent. He outwitted Max.

Very Very short Qs & Ans.

1.      The writer of ‘ The Midnight Visitor’ is Robert Arthur

2.      The Midnight visitor was Max.

3.      Ausable was a secret agent.

4.      Max was also a secret agent

5.      Max got into Ausable’s room through the door by opening it a pass-key.

6.      A writer, Fowler, came to meet Ausable.

7.      Fowler was  ROMANTIC writer. He wanted to write a story on the life of secret agents.

8.      Ausable was staying in a French hotel in Paris.

9.      The paper was about missiles.