Thinking about the Text
- Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph
(30 – 40 words).
Question 1. How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (Don’t forget the dog!).
Answer:- In the story, there are four characters, including the dog. The narrator, George, Harris, and Montmorency- the dog, are the four characters.
Question 2. Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
Answer:- The narrator was confident that he knows more about packing than anyone else. Additionally, he would have the opportunity to supervise the work, and George and Harris would follow his orders.
Question 3. How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
Answer:- The narrator’s suggestion was quickly accepted by George and Harris. George sat in the easy chair, while Harris rested his legs on the table. Jerome, on the other hand, did not like it.
Question 4. What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?
Answer:- Jerome’s real intention was to become their boss and want them to work under his supervision and instructions.
Question 5. What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
Answer:- “Ain’t you going to put the boots in?” Harris asked after the bag was shut and strapped. He waited till then to ask the question so that he can irritate Jerome.
Question 6. What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome a little later?
Answer:- The horrible idea that occurred to Jerome a little later was whether he had packed the toothbrush or not. He says that he doesn’t know why he always forget his toothbrush.
Question 7. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
Answer:– Jerome unpacked everything and started rearranging the items one by one. He shook everything as he held it up. The toothbrush was eventually found inside a boot.
Question 8. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
Answer:- Jerome had to reopen the bag because he realised he had forgotten to take his spectacles out of it.
Question 9. What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
Answer:- George and Harris were offered to pack the hamper. George suggested that he and Harris would better do the rest of the packing while Jerome take some rest.
Question 10. While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.
- (i) They started with breaking a cup.
- (ii) They also broke a plate.
- (iii) They squashed a tomato.
- (iv) They trod on the butter.
- (v) They stepped on a banana.
- (vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
- (vii) They stepped on things.
- (viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top.
- (ix) They upset almost everything.
- (x) They were very good at packing.
Answer:- Following are the true statements among all:-
- (i) They started with breaking a cup.
- (iii) They squashed a tomato.
- (iv) They trod on the butter.
- (vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
- (vii) They stepped on things.
- (ix) They upset almost everything.
- What does Jerome say was Montmorency’s ambition in life? What do you think of Montmorency and why?
Answer:- Montmorency’s ambition in life is to cause trouble for people and be abused. He wants to be a perfect nuisance and make everyone mad. If things are not thrown at his head, he feels his day has been wasted. His highest goal and object is to have someone stumble over him and curse him for an hour.
III. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions in two or three paragraphs (100 –150 words)
Question 1. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst packer? Support your answer with details from the text.
Answer:- Jerome is the best packer of the three since he understands how to correctly organise stuff. He isn’t perfect when it comes to packing since he forgets items outside. Later, he searches for his spectacles and discovers that they were also placed in the suitcase. He also has an unusual tendency of forgetting to bring his toothbrush.
In terms of packaging, George and Harris are equally worse. They unexpectedly stepped on items. They placed items behind them and couldn’t find them when they needed them. They stuffed the pies into the bottom of the pan, then piled heavy objects on top and smashed the pies in. They spilled salt all over the place. George treads on the butter. He takes it off from his slippers and puts it in the kettle. He puts it down on a chair and Harris sits on it. It sticks to him and then they look for it all over the room and caused havoc in the room.
Question 2. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
Answer:- The importance of Montmorency’s contribution to the packaging cannot be understated. His life’s aim was to annoy others and be mistreated by them. He came in and sat on the items just as they were about to be packaged, and he got his leg caught in the jam. Everything was thrown off by him. He imagined the lemons were rats and snatched three of them from the basket.
Montmorency desired to be a complete annoyance and drive people insane. He doesn’t feel his day has been well spent if things are not thrown at him. His biggest goal and objective was to have someone trip over him and curse him for an hour. His conceit grew unbearable when he was successful in achieving it.
Question 3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it? (Pick out at least three, think about what happens, as well as how it is described.)
Answer:- The narrative is quite funny and humorous. The storey has been made funnier and more interesting by Jerome’s packing episode, Harris’s and George’s packing methods, and Montmorency’s contribution. Jerome had misplaced his toothbrush and discovered it in a boot. He also stuffed his glasses into the bag. The reader laughs at the butter incident. The butter sticks to George’s footwear when he walks on it. He then places it on the chair. The butter adheres to Harris’s bottom when he sits in it. They squish the tomatoes by slathering them with strawberry jam.
Montmorency’s claim that the lemons are rats is both interesting and funny.
These events are described in an orderly and flawless manner.