Short question from Alias Jimmy Valentine

 Short question from Alias Jimmy Valentine 

1. Where did the guard come to escort Jimmy Valentine?

 Or, Where did Jimmy Valentine work during the ten months of his imprisonment? 

Or, where do we find Jimmy Valentine at the beginning of the story? 

Ans.At the beginning of O.Henry's eponymous short story the guard came to a prison shoe-shop where Jimmy Valentine used to work during the brief tenure of his imprisonment, to escort him to the front office. 

2. What Jimmy Valentine used to do in the prison shoe shop ?

Ans. Jimmy Valentine, during his brief tenure of imprisonment used to stitch uppers, assiduously, in a prison shoe-shop. 

3. What did Jimmy get in the front office? Who had given him that? 

Ans. In the front office the Warden of the jail had handed Jimmy his pardon letter which had been signed by the Governor that morning. 

4. What was the actual tenure of Jimmy's imprisonment? How long was he in prison? 

Ans. Jimmy Valentine was given a sentence of four years imprisonment. But he got his pardon at the tenth month of his four years sentence. 

5. Why was not Jimmy Valentine content with his pardon letter of early release? 

Ans. Jimmy expected to stay only about three months, at the longest, but had served nearly ten months of a four years sentence. That was why he was not content with his early release mentioned in the pardon letter.

6. Why was he released from prison before his due tenure ? 

Ans. Jimmy Valentine had many friends outside who perhaps had influenced his matter and he got the pardon of the governor. 

7. Why was Jimmy sent to jail ? 

Ans. Jimmy was caught by Ben Price for cracking a safe in Springfield and was thus sent to jail.

8.  What was the Warden's advise to Jimmy? How did he reply to him ?

Ans. The Warden thought Jimmy a man of good heart and advised him to live straight and stop cracking safes.

At this advice of the Warden, Jimmy pretended to be surprised and said that he had not cracked a safe in his entire life. 

9. How did the Warden responded to Jimmy's reply?

Ans. The Warden laughed and said that it was always one or the other of the "innocent victims" like Jimmy who used to give the excuse that because he wouldn't prove an alibi for fear of compromising somebody in extremely high-toned society or, that it was  simply a case of a mean old jury that had it in for the person like him. The Warden got used to these seemingly innocent replies. 

10. What was the name of the guard of the prison? What was he ordered by the Warden? 

Ans. The name of the prison guard was Cronin, as the Warden called him and ordered him to fix Jimmy up with outgoing clothes and that to unlock him at seven in the morning, and let him come to the bull-pen.

11. What did Jimmy wear at the time of his release? 

Ans. At the time of his release Jimmy had on a suit of the villainously fitting, ready-made clothes and a pair of the stiff, squeaky shoes that the state used to furnish to its discharged compulsory guests.

12. What did the Clerk and the Warden give Jimmy ?

Ans. The Clerk handed him a customary railroad ticket and the five-dollar bill with which the law expected him to rehabilitate himself into good citizenship and prosperity. The warden gave him a cigar, and shook hands. 

13. What was the number of Jimmy in jail? What was written as the cause of his release? 

Ans. The number of Jimmy in jail was chronicled as 9762. The cause of his release was written as "pardoned by the Governor". 

14. What did Jimmy disregard after his release from the jail? 

Ans. Jimmy Valentine, after his release from the jail, disregarding the traditional "sweet joys of liberty", i.e., the song of the birds, the waving green trees, and the smell of the flowers, instead, he headed straight for a restaurant. 

15. "There he tasted the first sweet joys of liberty"..... Where did he taste his "first sweet joys of liberty" and how? 

Or, where did Jimmy go immediately after his release from prison? How did he treat himself? / What did he eat ? 

Ans. In the restaurant, Jimmy tasted the first sweet joys of liberty in the shape of a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine--followed by a cigar a grade better than the one the warden had given him. 

16. How much did Jimmy pay the blind man?

Ans. Jimmy paid a quarter of a dollar to the blind man, sitting by the door.

17. Who was Mike Dolan ?  

Ans. Mike Dolan was a friend of Jimmy who owned a cafe in a little town and probably had helped Jimmy to shorten his tenure of imprisonment. 

18. Why did Mike say sorry to Jimmy ?

Ans. Mike asked Jimmy's apology because he could not make the tenure of his imprisonment even shorter as the protest from Springfield bucked against, and the governor nearly balked. 

19. What did Jimmy ask for ? 

Ans. After shaking hands and exchanging a few words of formality, Jimmy asked Mike about his keys. 

20. What treat Mike gave to Jimmy and why?

Ans. When Mike asked Jimmy if he had got on anything, in an apparently puzzled tone, Jimmy replied that he was representing the New York Amalgamated Short Snap Biscuit Cracker and frazzled Wheat Company. Mike understood that Jimmy had resumed his business and that was his new get up. 

Jimmy's statement delighted Mike to such an extent that he had given Jimmy a seltzer-and-milk on the spot. 

21. “He opened this and gazed fondly.” – What was opened?  

Ans. Jimmy opened his dust-covered suitcase which he dragged out by pulling out from the wall a folding-bed, and sliding back a panel in the wall.

22. “He opened this and gazed fondly.”...What did the person gaze fondly at?

Ans. Jimmy gazed fondly at the finest set of burglar's tools in the East. It was a complete set, made of specially tempered steel, the latest designs in drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, and augers, with two or three novelties. 

23. “He opened this and gazed fondly.”...Why did he gaze at it fondly? How much does it cost him ? 

Ans. Jimmy gazed at it fondly because he invented it by himself and it had cost him over nine hundred dollars. For him, it seemed to be an asset in which he took pride. 

24. How many burglaries did Jimmy commit after his release from jail? How much amount was stolen from the three burglaries respectively?

Ans. After his release from the jail Jimmy committed three burglaries – at Richmond, Logansport and Jefferson City.

Jimmy had stolen Eight hundred dollars from Richmond, Fifteen hundred dollars from Logansport and Five thousand dollars from Jefferson City. 

 25. “He resumed his business” – Why did Ben Price sure that Jimmy resumed his business?

Ans. Ben Price, a skilled detective, after his detailed investigation, his observation of the patterns of burglary and comparing different evidence and symbols, came to the conclusion that all burglaries were done by Jimmy Valentine and he had resumed his "business" of cracking safes. 

26.  "That's Dandy Jim Valentine's autograph". What does the speaker mean by it ? 

Ans. Ben Price, after comparing notes, noticed a remarkable similarity in the methods of burglaries. Ben Price looked at the combination knob which was jerked out as easy as pulling up a radish in wet weather. Jimmy had the only clamps that could do it. Also, Jimmy punched out those tumblers with cleanness and precision as Jimmy never had to drill but one hole. From his Springfield case he knew all these traits and tools of Jimmy and based his detection upon it. 

27. Where did Jimmy go after his three burglaries? How was Jimmy looking like? 

Ans. After his three consecutive burglaries, Jimmy Valentine and his suitcase climbed out of the mail-hack in Elmore, a little town five miles off the railroad down in the black-jack country of Arkansas. 

Jimmy was looking like an athletic young senior just home from college. 

28.  "Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was, and became another man"... Whose eyes are referred to here? Where did she go ? 

Ans. The eyes of Jimmy's love Annabel Adams are referred to here. 

Annabel went to the Elmore Bank that her father owned.

29.  How did she respond to Jimmy's looking into her eyes? 

Ans. When Jimmy looked into her eyes, Annabel lowered her eyes and coloured slightly as young men of Jimmy's style and looks were scarce in Elmore.

30. What change did she bring in his life? 

Ans. Her presence in Jimmy's life had completed transformed him from a burglar to a self-made successful entrepreneur. For her love Jimmy started living straight and the reformation that the prison failed to bring, was restored by her love. 

31. “Mr Ralph D. Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes.” – Who is Ralph D. Spencer? 

Ans. Ralph D. Spencer was the new identity that Jimmy had adopted for himself in Elmore. The taking up of this new identity is metaphoric as with this new name Jimmy became a different man and started his life afresh by living straight. 

32. What is Phoenix? 

Ans. In ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, the phoenix was a legendary bird that was said to burn itself to ashes, and then rise from the ashes to live again. Phoenix is thus associated with the sun and is said to symbolize immortality, resurrection, and life after death.  

33. Why Jimmy was compared with a  Phoenix?

Ans. Jimmy was compared with a Phoenix as he burnt his old self of an "elusive cracksman" with the fire of his passionate love for Annabel and emerged as Ralph D Spencer , his new name with a new life of honesty, dedication and surrender after the death of his old self, like a Phoenix. 

34. Where did Jimmy board at Elmore ? What did he say to the clerk? 

Ans. Jimmy boarded a room in Planter's Hotel and registered himself as Ralph.D. Spencer. 

He said to the clerk that he had come to Elmore to look for a location to go into business. 

35. Why was the clerk impressed with Jimmy?

Ans. The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manner of Jimmy. He, himself, was something of a pattern of fashion to the thinly gilded youth of Elmore, but he now perceived his shortcomings.

36. What information did the clerk give Jimmy?

Ans. The clerk said that business in all lines was fairly good and that there ought to be a good opening in the shoe line as there was not an exclusive shoe-store in the place. The dry-goods and general stores handled them.He also said if Mr. Spencer would decide to locate in Elmore he would find it a pleasant town to live in, and the people very sociable. 

37. What business did Jimmy do in Elmore? 

Ans. He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run of trade. He had learned the skill of shoe-stitching in prison and utilized it to earn his straight living. 

38. "At the end of a year the situation of Mr. Ralph Spencer was this"... What was the situation of Jimmy Valentine?

Ans. At the end of a year Mr. Ralph Spencer ( alias Jimmy) had won the respect of the community, his shoe-store was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks. 

39. Whom did Jimmy write a letter ? Where did he want to meet him? 

Ans. Jimmy wrote a letter to Billy, one of his old pals that he would meet him at Sullivan's place, in Little Rock, next Wednesday night, at nine o'clock.

 40. What did Jimmy write to his old friend?

Ans. Jimmy wanted to make his friend Billy a present of dearly kit of tools. Jimmy knew that Billy would be glad to get them as he couldn't duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars. He also wrote about his store and his getting married to the finest girl on earth for whose love he would no longer touch a dollar of another man's money for a million.

 41.Why did he write so? 

Ans.  Jimmy wrote this letter because he wanted to wipe out any trace of his past  that could affect his relationship with Annabel. After his marriage he wanted to sell out and go West, where there would not be so much danger of having old scores brought up against him. 

42. When did Ben Price arrive at Elmore? What did he do there ? 

Ans.  On the Monday night after Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben Price jogged unobtrusively into Elmore in a livery buggy. 

He lounged about town in his quiet way until he found out what he wanted to know about Jimmy's. 

43. Why was Jimmy going to Little Rock ? Why did he consider that to roam was safe ?

Ans. Jimmy was going to Little Rock that day to order his wedding-suit and buy something nice for Annabel. That would be the first time he had left town since he came to Elmore.

 As it had been more than a year then since those last professional "jobs," he thought he could safely venture out.

44. Who was Dolph Gibson? 

Ans. Jimmy was about to go to the railway station on his horse and buggy and Dolph Gibson was going to drive him over to the railroad station. 

45. Why was Jimmy welcome anywhere?

Ans. Jimmy was welcome anywhere into the Elmore Bank as he was the future son- in -law of Mr. Adams , the owner of the bank. 

46. What Mr. Adams was very proud of ? 

Or, Why did everyone go into the Elmore Bank? 

Ans. The Elmore Bank had just put in a new safe and vault. The vault was a small one, but it had a new, patented door. It fastened with three solid steel bolts thrown simultaneously with a single handle, and had a time-lock.Mr. Adams was very proud of it, and insisted on an inspection by every one. 

47. What were names of Annabel's sister's daughters? What were their ages? 

Ans. The names of Annabel's married sister's daughters were May and Agatha. The elder daughter May was nine years old and the younger Agatha was five.

48. What happened to Agatha ? 

Ans. May and Agatha were delighted by the shining metal and funny clock and knobs of the new safe. Unperceived by the elders, May, the nine-year-old girl, in a spirit of play, had shut Agatha in the vault and had then shot the bolts and turned the knob of the combination as she had seen Mr. Adams do. This made Agatha got locked inside the vault and her life was in danger.

49. Why did Jimmy ask for the rose from Annabel?

Ans. Jimmy asked for the rose from Annabel because he knew that in the process of saving Agatha he would have to disclose his previous identity and this would lose his love forever. So, he wanted to keep a souvenir of Annabel and asked for the rose.

50. How was Agatha saved by Jimmy?

Ans. Jimmy put his suitcase on the table and opened out it flat whistling softly to himself as he always did when at work. In a minute Jimmy's pet drill was biting smoothly into the steel door amidst a deep silence. In ten minutes--breaking his own burglarious record--he threw back the bolts and opened the door and  saved the life of Agatha. 

51. Why did Ben Price refuse to recognize Jimmy ? 

Ans. Ben Price observed the entire Agatha episode and understood that Ralph.D.Spencer was no longer the old Jimmy Valentine. He is a reformed man. So he let him go and live straight. 

Long questions from Alias Jimmy Valentine

 L.A.Q from Alias Jimmy Valentine 

1. Narrate the character of Jimmy Valentine in your words.       (6)

Ans. Jimmy Valentine is the protagonist of O. Henry's eponymous short story. He was adept in safe-cracking with the assistance of his self designed burglary tools. This proved that he was not only smart but quite analytical and creative as well. His signature included 'quick get aways', ' long jumps', ' no confederates' with a taste for 'good society'. He had quite a number of influential friends who used to aid him in shortening the tenure of his imprisonment. He had an athletic figure with a good dressing sense and a natural gesture to get along with people. But this man underwent a complete transformation once he came across the love of his life----- Annabel. That one gaze into her eyes had completely changed this man to the extent that he not only took up a new identity but did everything to leave his darker past behind. He even started to live straight with a shoe shop, a skill he had learnt in prison. He even tried to give up his burglary tools which he was so fond of. He even did not hesitate to put his marriage at stake to save the life of Agatha, Annabel's niece which could reveal his identity. The prison failed to transform him but Annabel's love did it and to that extent even Ben Price noticed it and significantly allowing him the chance to live free. 

2. What is the significance of the title of this short story ?                      (6)

Ans. The original title of O Henry's shor story is 'A Retrieved Reformation' which is adapted here as 'Jimmy Valentine' because the plot of the story revolves around him. This story talks of a man, engaged in the business of safe-cracking with his self designed burglary tools. For that, he was even sent to prison to lead a reformed life and start afresh. But after his release from prison he resumed his business and again became subject of Ben Price' search. But the love of Annabel changed his inner self so completely that he even started to live straight with a shoe shop, a skill he had learnt in prison. He even tried to give up his burglary tools which he was so fond of. He even did not hesitate to put his marriage at stake to save the life of Agatha, Annabel's niece which could reveal his identity. The prison failed to transform him but Annabel's love did it and to that extent even Ben Price noticed it and significantly allowing him the chance to live free. The reformation in the original title had actually taken place in Jimmy Valentine. As the story revolves around him, thus the title is apt. 

3. What was the tenure of Jimmy's imprisonment? How long did he remain in prison? Why was he released from prison before his due tenure ? What did the Clerk and the Warden give Jimmy ? ( 1+1+2+2=6)

Ans. The actual tenure of Jimmy's imprisonment was four years. 

But, Jimmy remained in prison for about ten months. 

Jimmy Valentine had many friends outside who perhaps had influenced his matter and he got the pardon of the governor. 

The Clerk handed him a customary railroad ticket and the five-dollar bill with which the law expected him to rehabilitate himself into good citizenship and prosperity. The warden gave him a cigar, and shook hands. 

4. Why Jimmy was sent to jail ? What Jimmy used to do in the jail ? Why Jimmy was not content with his early release from the jail ? What was the Warden's advise to Jimmy? How did he reply to him ? ( 1+1+1+1+2=6)  

Ans. Jimmy was caught by Ben Price for cracking a safe in Springfield and was thus sent to jail.

Jimmy assiduously used to stitch uppers in the prison shoe shop.

Jimmy expected to stay only about three months, at the longest, but had served nearly ten months of a four years sentence. That was why he was not content with his early release. 

The Warden thought Jimmy a man of good heart and advised him to live straight and stop cracking safes.

At this advice of the Warden, Jimmy pretended to be surprised and said that he had not cracked a safe in his entire life. 

5. "There he tasted the first sweet joys of liberty"..... Who is referred to as "he"?What does it mean by "the first sweet joys of liberty"?Where did he taste his "first sweet joys of liberty" and how?                                                    (1+2+1+2=6)

Or, where did Jimmy go immediately after his release from prison? How did he treat himself? / What did he eat ? Why did he do so? (2+2+2=6)

Ans. Jimmy Valentine, after his release from the jail, disregarded the traditional "sweet joys of liberty", i.e., the song of the birds, the waving green trees, and the smell of the flowers, instead, he headed straight for a restaurant. 

In the restaurant, Jimmy tasted the first sweet joys of liberty in the shape of a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine--followed by a cigar a grade better than the one the warden had given him.

Jimmy was shown to be a practical man who only entertained the material aspects of life at that phase of his life and had a good taste to relish. Thus, he decided on treat himself with good food and drink, instead of romanticising his liberty. 

6. Who was Mike Dolan ? What did Jimmy ask for ? What treat Mike gave to Jimmy and why ? (1+1+2+2=6)

Ans. Mike Dolan was a friend of Jimmy who owned a cafe in a little town and probably had helped Jimmy to shorten his tenure of imprisonment. 

After shaking hands and exchanging a few words of formality, Jimmy asked Mike about his keys. 

When Mike asked Jimmy if he had got on anything, in an apparently puzzled tone, Jimmy replied that he was representing the New York Amalgamated Short Snap Biscuit Cracker and frazzled Wheat Company. Mike understood that Jimmy had resumed his business and that was his new get up. 

Jimmy's statement delighted Mike to such an extent that he had given Jimmy a seltzer-and-milk on the spot. 

7. “He opened this and gazed fondly.” – What was opened? What did the person gaze fondly at? Why did he gaze at it fondly? (2+2+2 =6)

Ans. Jimmy opened his dust-covered suitcase which he dragged out by pulling out from the wall a folding-bed, and sliding back a panel in the wall.

Jimmy gazed fondly at the finest set of burglar's tools in the East. It was a complete set, made of specially tempered steel, the latest designs in drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, and augers, with two or three novelties. 

Jimmy gazed at it fondly because he invented it by himself and it had cost him over nine hundred dollars. For him, it seemed to be an asset in which he took pride. 

8. “Ben Price investigated the scene of the robberies and was heard to remark.” – Who was Ben Price? What did he say? What did he know of Jimmy’s habits? (1+2+3 = 6)

Or, "Ben Price knew Jimmy's habits"... How did Ben Price knew Jimmy's habits? What were his habits ? (2+4=6)

Ans. Ben Price was a proficient detective who had sent Jimmy to jail earlier by his analytical methods of detection. 

 By comparing notes, and noticing a remarkable similarity in the methods of the burglaries, Ben Price investigated the scenes of the robberies and remarked that all these burglaries were dandy Jim Valentine's autograph and he resumed his business.

Ben Price knew Jimmy's habits which he had learned while working on the Springfield case. Long jumps, quick get-aways, no confederates, and a taste for good society--these marked the unique style of this otherwise elusive cracksman, Jimmy Valentine. 

9. "Thats' dandy Jim Valentines’s autograph.” – Who said this and why? How did he come to such a conclusion? (1+1+4=6)

Ans. Ben Price, the famous detective, said this after comparing notes, noticing a remarkable similarity in the methods of the burglaries, and investigating the scenes of the robberies that Jimmy Valentine was the man behind this burglaries.

Ben Price looked at the combination knob which was jerked out as easy as pulling up a radish in wet weather.  Jimmy had the only clamps that could do it. Also, Jimmy punched out those tumblers with cleanness and precision as Jimmy never had to drill but one hole. From his Springfield case he knew all these traits and tools of Jimmy and based his detection upon it. 

10. "Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was, and became another man"... Whose eyes are referred to here? Where did she go ? How did she respond to Jimmy's looking into her eyes? What change did she bring in his life ? (2+1+1+2=6)

Ans. The eyes of Jimmy's love Annabel Adams are referred to here. 

Annabel went to the Elmore Bank that her father owned.

When Jimmy looked into her eyes, Annabel lowered her eyes and coloured slightly as young men of Jimmy's style and looks were scarce in Elmore.

Her presence in Jimmy's life had completed transformed him from a burglar to a self-made successful entrepreneur. For her love Jimmy started living straight and the reformation that the prison failed to bring, was restored by her love. 

11. “Mr Ralph D. Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes.” – Who is Ralph D. Spencer? What is Phoenix? Why has the comparison been made? (2+2+2 = 5)

Ans. Ralph D. Spencer was the new identity that Jimmy had adopted for himself in Elmore. The taking up of this new identity is metaphoric as with this new name Jimmy became a different man and started his life afresh by living straight. 

In ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, the phoenix was a legendary bird that was said to burn itself to ashes, and then rise from the ashes to live again. Phoenix is thus associated with the sun and is said to symbolize immortality, resurrection, and life after death.  

Jimmy was compared with a Phoenix as he burnt his old self of an "elusive cracksman" with the fire of his passionate love for Annabel and emerged as Ralph D Spencer , his new name with a new life of honesty, dedication and surrender after the death of his old self, like a Phoenix.

12. "At the end of a year the situation of Mr. Ralph Spencer was this"... What was the situation of Jimmy Valentine?What business did he do ? (4+2=6)

Ans. At the end of a year the situation of Mr. Ralph Spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community, his shoe-store was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks. Mr. Adams,the typical, plodding, country banker, approved of Spencer. Annabel's pride in him almost equalled her affection. He was as much at home in the family of Mr. Adams and that of Annabel's married sister as if he were already a member.Socially he was also a success, and made many friends.

He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run of trade. He had learned the skill of shoe-stitching in prison and utilized it to earn his straight living. 

13. What did Jimmy write to his old friend? Why did he write so? (3+3 = 6)

Ans. Jimmy wrote to one of his old pals that he would meet him at Sullivan's place, in Little Rock, next Wednesday night, at nine o'clock.  He wanted his friend Billy to wind up some little matters for him. Also, he wanted to make him a present of dearly kit of tools in which he took pride. Jimmy knew that his friend would be glad to get them as he couldn't duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars. He also wrote about his store and his getting married to the finest girl on earth for whose love he would no longer touch a dollar of another man's money for a million.

Jimmy wrote  this letter because he wanted to wipe out any trace of his past completely that could affect his relationship with Annabel. After his marriage he wanted to sell out and go West, where there would not be so much danger of having old scores brought up against him. 

14. “That child – she can’t stand it long in there.” – Who is referred to here? Why was she in danger? How was she saved? (1+2+3= 6)

Or, Why was Agatha in danger ? How did Jimmy save the life of Agatha? (2+4=6) 

Ans. Agatha, Annabel's married sister's younger daughter is refererred to here.

May and Agatha , the two daughters of Annabel's married sisters were delighted by the shining metal and funny clock and knobs of the new safe. Unperceived by the elders, May, the nine-year-old girl, in a spirit of play, had shut Agatha in the vault and had then shot the bolts and turned the knob of the combination as she had seen Mr. Adams do. This made Agatha got locked inside the vault and her life was in danger. 

When everyone almost gave up on the thought of saving Agatha and her mother cried hysterically, Annabel with immense trust asked Jimmy to see if he could do something. Jimmy then asked her the bud she pinned the dress of her bosom. On getting it, Jimmy put it into his vest pocket, threw out his coat and pulled up his shirt sleeves. He put his suitcase on the table and opened out it flat whistling softly to himself as he always did when at work. The old Jimmy Valentine then replaced Ralph D Spencer. In a minute Jimmy's pet drill was biting smoothly into the steel door amidst a deep silence. In ten minutes--breaking his own burglarious record--he threw back the bolts and opened the door. Others watched him as if under a spell. That was how he saved the life of Agatha. 

15. How did Ben Price act at the end of the short story and why ? (3+3=6)

Ans. Jimmy, after saving the life of Agatha put on his coat, and walked outside the railings towards the front door as he saw Ben Price at the door and understood that everything ended there. He went to Ben Price and with a helpless smile on face, surrendered. But strangely, Ben Price denied to recognise Jimmy whom he was seeking so hard that he came to Elmore even. Ben Price let Jimmy go and lead his life. 

At this moment of climax , we the readers are perplexed to see Ben Price' behaviour. But he was a man who genuinely put convicts behind the bar for their transformation.When he saw how Jimmy saved the life of Agatha even putting his marriage at stake, with the chances of revealing his past misdeeds, Ben understood that Jimmy was then a changed man. The reformation had already been taken place in him. Thus, in Ben's eyes he was no longer a convict. This sets an example that once a person is corrected, law must set them free. Ben Price had given a true message of humanity through his act. 

SAQ from The Noble Lecture

 SAQ from The Noble Lecture 

1. In which year Mother Teresa received Nobel prize and for what ?or,  “As we have gathered here”-Who had gathered there and why?

Ans. Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the year 1979, for her untiring efforts for the marginalized section of society to combat the threats of hunger and poverty.

2.Which prayer did Mother Teresa wish to offer at the beginning of her Nobel Lecture? 

Ans. Mother Teresa, after thanking God for the Nobel prize, began her lecture by asking everyone present there to utter the prayer composed by St. Francis of Assisi.

3. Why does the prayer always surprise Mother Teresa?

Ans. The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, composed 400-500 years ago, talked about the same hardships and problems that the people in modern times face. This surprises Mother Teresa as the prayer seems to surpass time and becomes a timeless truth.

4. Who was St. Francis?

Ans. St. Francis was a 13th century Italian Catholic friar and preacher who was born at Assisi and dedicated himself to the service of humanity and nature.

5. What is Holy Communion? 

Ans. Holy Communion is a Christian ritual where through prayer and meditation, the disciples commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ where he gave his disciples bread and wine.  

Mother Teresa, every day after Holy Communion , would pray the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

6.Why did Mother  Teresa ask everyone to thank God in her lecture? 

Ans. Mother Teresa asked everyone to thank God as being given an opportunity to enjoy the gift of peace which reminds them that we , the human beings are created to live in that peace. 

7.Who is referred to as the son of God in ‘Nobel Lecture’? Why did God give His son to the world?

Ans. Jesus Christ is refererred to as the son of God in 'Noble Lecture'. 

God sacrificed His son because He loved the world so dearly and for our salvation He gave him to us.  

8.“As soon as he came in her life”-Who came in whose life?

Ans. Jesus Christ is refererred to here as ' he'. 

He came in the life of Mother Mary as her son.

9.What did Mother Mary do in haste and why ? 

Ans. Mother Mary rushed to her cousin Elizabeth to give her the good news that she was conceived with a child. 

10.What happened when Virgin Mary came to her cousin Elizabeth and why did it happen? 

Ans.  When Virgin Mary came to her cousin Elizabeth to share the good news of her child, the unborn child in Elizabeth's womb too leapt with joy  as the unborn child was the first messenger of peace who recognized Christ, the Prince of peace who was about come to the world to bring that good news to everyone.

11.Who was the first messenger of peace? Who was the Prince of Peace? 

Ans. The unborn child in Elizabeth's womb was the first messenger of peace, who recognized Christ, the Prince of peace and leapt with joy.

12.What was the good news and by whom was it brought to the world? Or, Why was Jesus sent to the earth? 

Ans. The good news was the message of love and peace to the distress, brought by Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and for this Christ was sent to earth. 

13.What except Jesus became a man in all things? Or, In which respect was Jesus different from us?

Ans. Jesus, the son of God became a man in all things except sin and this made his difference from us. 

14. “…this is the hunger of our poor people.”-Which hunger is referred to here and felt by whom?

Ans. The hunger for love is referred to here, felt by the  poor people across the world. 

15. How did Jesus show his greater love to man? What did he insist on us to do ? 

Ans.  Jesus Christ showed his greater love to mankind by sacrificing his own life on the cross for human salvation.

He insisted that every human being should love one another in the same way he loved each one of them.

16. According to Mother Teresa for whom did Jesus Christ die on the cross? 

Ans. According to Mother Teresa, Jesus Christ died on the cross for all the marginalized people ------ the leper, the man dying of hunger, as well as the naked person dying in the street, not only of Calcutta, but also of Africa, New York, London and Oslo. 

17. What does St. John say? Whom should we love to love God as advised by St. John?

Ans. St. John says you are a liar if you say you love God but you don’t love your neighbour. 

St. John advised that to love God we should first love our neighbours as it is not possible to love God whom we do not see , if we do not love our neighbours whom we can see, touch and live with.

18. Whom does St.John call a liar ?

Ans. St. John regarded the person liar who says that he loves God but does not love his neighbour. 

19. What is a Gospel ? What has been said in it ?

Ans. The first four books of the New Testament that tell the story of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection along with his teachings. 

In Gospel, Jesus Christ asked everyone to love one another in the same way as they were loved by Jesus who, in turn, was loved by God.

20. What  did Jesus do to make sure that we remember his great love ?

Ans. To make sure that we remember his great love, Jesus made himself the bread of life to satisfy our hunger for love. 

21.Among whom can we find Christ ?

Ans. Christ can be found among the starved, the naked, the homeless, the sick, the imprisoned, the lonely and the unwanted people. 

22. " I never forget an opportunity" ...who said this? What opportunity has been spoken of ? 

Ans. Mother Teresa said this in her Nobel lecture. 

The opportunity she spoke was of visiting an old age home.

23. Why was everybody in the old age home looking towards the door?

Ans. Everybody in the old age home was looking towards the door with an eye of  expectation that if their son or daughter would come to visit him or her or take them back.

24. What struck Mother Teresa most in the old age home? Why are the old parents at the old age home without smile? 

Ans. Despite being provided with all the necessary amenities the people of Old age home were devoid of smiles and that struck Mother Teresa the most. 

The old parents at the old age home without smile because they were forgotten. 

25. “…are we there to receive them…?”-In what context does Mother Teresa put this question before us? 

Ans. Mother Teresa puts question in the context of whether we are ready to receive someone in our families who is lonely, sick or worried with love and warmth as the hunger of love is within our home itself. 

26.What is Mother Teresa’s point of view about drug addiction among young people? Or, ‘I was surprised in the West to see.’ – Why was Mother Teresa surprised to see in the west?

Ans. Mother Teresa felt that most of the boys and girls in the West got addicted to drugs as they had none in their home to take care of them or to receive them because their parents are busy in their life and profession. This loneliness leads the adolescent boys and girls to such malpractice and addiction 

27. Whom did Mother Teresa blame for the misfortune of the children in the West ? And why ? 

Ans. Mother Teresa blamed the parents for the misfortune of the children in West.

Mother Teresa blamed that as the parents are busy in their work and life they could hardly provide sufficient time to their children. As a result the children grew up lonely without proper care and attention. Thus, they are compelled to turn to streets and are addicted to drugs.

 28.What, according to Mother Teresa, is the greatest destroyer of peace? 

Ans.  For Mother Teresa, in modern times, the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion which she considers as a direct war against God. 

29. " ....it is a direct war, a direct killing..." Who said this and where ? What is refererred to here as " direct killing" or " direct war"? Or, How did Mother Teresa describe abortion in The Nobel Lecture? 

Ans. Mother Teresa in her The Nobel Lecture discusses the pros and cons of a peaceful society. In this regard she mentions "abortion" as the greatest destroyer of peace and a direct killing which, for her, is equivalent to proclaim a war against God. 

30. How did Mother Teresa fight abortion? Or, what message did Mother Teresa send to all the clinics, hospitals and police stations? 

Ans. Mother Teresa sought a very humanitarian solution of abortion by adoption. She sent messages to all the clinics, hospitals and police stations, to look into the matters carefully so that no child left unborn as her Missionaries of Charity was ready to take their responsibility and could provide the joys of parenthood to childless couples. 

31. “…that is the blessing of God for us.”-What is the blessing?

Ans.  For Mother Teresa the ability to conceive, give birth and nurturing a child is a boon of the Almighty. She also considers that by saving the unwanted child from abortion she and her institution could bless  childless couples with the joye of parenthood.

32. Who were taught natural family planning and by whom ? What way of natural family planning were they taught?

Ans. Mother Teresa and her Sisters taught natural planning to the poor people especially the beggars, the leprosy patients, the slum dwellers and the people live on the street. 

They were taught the natural way of abstaining and self control for natural family planning. 

33. What was the result of the natural family planning?

Ans. The result of natural family planning was visible in the statistics as 61,273 less babies were born alone in Calcutta in six years. The people who were taught natural family planning told Mother Teresa that their families were healthy and united and they could have a baby whenever they wanted. 

34. Who, according to Mother Teresa, are great people? 

Ans. According to Mother Teresa poor people are very great people because despite the economic hurdles and underprivileged social status they can teach us valuable lessons from their experiences and understanding of life. This makes Mother Teresa so reverent towards the people who live in poverty. 

35. "...she gave me her grateful love". Who is refered to here ? 

Ans. Here "she" is refererred to a lady whom Mother Teresa took from the streets in a terrible condition. But that lady held Mother's hand gratefully, thanking her with a beautiful smile. 

36. What made Mother Teresa examine her conscience before the lady ? 

Ans. That lady's gratefulness invoked Mother Teresa's conscience as she was surprised to see how a person on her deathbed did not even try to draw attention to express any grievances. Instead, she died with a smile on her face. 

37. What did the man who was picked up from the drain say to Mother Teresa?

Ans. The man who was picked up from the drain, half eaten with worms said to Mother gratefully that he had lived like an animal in the street but was dying like an angel, loved and cared for. Mother Teresa was overwhelmed as this man died without blaming or cursing or expecting anything from anyone but with gratitude. 

38. " I was hungry---- I was naked-----  I was homeless -----I was unwanted" who said this ? 

Ans. These were the words by Jesus Christ to his disciples. Mother Teresa brought this reference to talk about the wretched man's condition who lived like an animal but was content at the time of his death as he was loved and cared for.

39. Why did the Hindu boy come to meet Mother Teresa in her home ? 

Ans. Once when there was a scarcity of sugar in Calcutta, a four years old Hindu boy saved his portion of sugar by not eating it for three days and came to the house of Mother Teresa to donate it to her children. He could not utter Mother Teresa's name properly but he could feel the love of sharing. 

40. What did the lady of the Hindu family do after getting the rice ?

Or, " They are starving too"... Who said this and to whom? Who were 'they'?

Ans. Mother Teresa, on hearing from a gentleman that a Hindu family with eight children were starving for a few days rushed to give them rice. But to her surprise the Hindu mother shared the rice to the Muslim family who too were starving. 

41. " I didn't bring more rice in that evening". Why did not the speaker bring more rice ? 

Ans. Mother Teresa did not bring more rice that evening because she wanted both the Hindu and the Muslim families to enjoy the joys of sharing. This is how love begins at home. 

42. What did Mother Teresa intend to do with the Nobel prize money ?

Ans. Mother Teresa with her Nobel prize money wanted to make home for the homeless to give them shelter as she believed that love begins at home. 

43. How , according to Mother Teresa, poverty can be removed in financially weak countries ? 

Ans.  Mother Teresa believed that the poverty can be removed by removing the hunger with a plate of rice or a piece of bread. 

44. Why, according to Mother Teresa, it was difficult to remove poverty in the West ? 

Ans. Mother Teresa felt that it was difficult to remove poverty in the West  because there people felt unwanted and  unloved. They felt terrified and often were thrown out of society. Thus, they were hungry of love and care. 

45. What, according to Mother Teresa, is the importance of smile? Or, what , according to Mother Teresa, is the beginning of love ?

Ans. Smile, according to Mother Teresa, is the beginning of love and a natural way to feel empathy for a fellow human being. 

46. " It must have been a terrible sacrifice for him".... Whose sacrifice had been referred to? What did he sacrifice? 

Ans. The sacrifice of a crippled man had been referred to as for twenty years smoking had been his only companion. But he quitted it and saved fifteen dollars and donated that amount for the well being of the distressed. 

47. " Let us make that one point" what does the speaker mean to say ? 

Ans. The " one point" that Mother Teresa talks about was that no children would be unwanted and we all should receive one another with a smile even when it is difficult to smile. 

48. Who came to visit the " home for the dying"? 

Ans. Fourteen Professors from different universities of the United States of America came to Calcutta to visit the " home for the dying".

49. What, according to Mother Teresa, a person should always remember ?

Ans. According to Mother Teresa, a person should always remember that God loves him/ her unconditionally, therefore, they have got the opportunity to love others. 

50. How can a Nobel peace prize be considered a gift for the Norwegian people ? How did Mother Teresa end her speech? 

Ans.  Mother Teresa said that if the people of Norway can become a burning light in the world of peace then the Nobel peace prize be considered a gift for the Norwegian people. 

Mother Teresa concluded her speech by praying for the well being of everyone. 

Rape of the Lock short notes

 Rape of the Lock short Notes

1. What is the genre of Rape of the Lock?

Ans. Written in imitation of Boileau's 'Le Lutrin', Pope's Rape of the Lock is one of the finest instance of mock-epic / mock- heroic poetry, which is an imitation or often a parody of the elaborate form and ceremonious style of the epic genre, but applies to a trivial subject.  The disparity between the theme and the technique, the manner and the matter leads to a ludicrous effect that seems to create a spectacle of a dwarf in a giants's robe.

2. "What dire Offence..... trivial Things". Explain the significance. 

Ans. The above quoted lines are an example of Proposition of the subject matter. Cowley, in one of his notes to his epic Davideis said, the custom of beginning all Poems, with a proposition of the whole work, and an invocation of some God for his assistance to successfully execute it. Hence, these lines introduce the theme of the trivility of the dispute of two families over the cut of a lock of hair of Mrs. Fermor with epic grandiloquence, alluding to the abduction of Helen and the consequent War of Troy in Homer's Iliad. 

3. " I sing" . Bring out the allusion.

Ans. The above quoted lines are an example of Proposition of the subject matter.  Traditionally the term used in epic invocations. But "I Sing" here resonates Dryden's translation of Virgil's Aeneid, " Arms and the Man I sing" . This allusion adds to the epic magnificence to a poem dealing with a trivial contest between two families. 

4.  This verse to Caryll, Muse! . Who was Caryll ? Why he was regarded as Muse ? / Explain the context.

Ans. John Caryll was a friend of Pope who asked him to write Rape of the Lock to ease out the tension between two families over the cutting of the lock of hair. 

As per the epic convention, an epic poem begins with a proposition of the whole work, and an invocation of some God for his assistance to successfully execute it. Hence, Pope, in order to apply the mock-epic touch to his poem invokes John Caryll, his patron as his poetic Muse for inspiration ( patronship). 

5. "This eve'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view" .... Bring out the context.

Ans. As per the epic convention, an epic poem begins with a proposition of the whole work, and an invocation of some God for his assistance to successfully execute it. Hence, Pope, in order to apply the mock-epic touch to his poem invoked John Caryll, his patron as his poetic Muse for inspiration ( patronship) and gently appealed to Belinda's ( Arabella Fermor's) favour for his poetic success. 

6. What is the significance of the name 'Belinda' ? 

Ans. Pope used the name Belinda as a decoy for the actual name of Arabella Fermor who was nicknamed as "Bell". Another interesting reference was Pope's deep affection for the Blount sisters Teresa and Martha. Teresa's dark curling lock of hair in her portrait hints at the similarity between her and Belinda which is further increased by Teresa's nickname among her friends "Zephalinda". Apart from that Belinda was quite a common name of the time and her values epitomize those of her world of moral vacuum and social pomp. 

7. " Slight is the Subject, but not so the Praise,

If She inspire, and He approve my Lays." 

Ans. This line summarizes the matter and manner of the poem that is how the triviality is treated with epic magnificence. "She" here stands for Belinda( Arabella Fermor) whose tolerance and approval was expected by the poet along with the favour of "he", the supposed Muse John Caryll( Pope's patron). Moreover, these lines bear an allusion to the following lines of Dryden's translation of Virgil's Georgics : 

"Slight is the subject but the Praise not small.

If Heav'n assist, and Phoebus hear my call." 

This passage was famous for the way in which Virgil discussed a humble subject in a dignified tone adding mock -heroic touch to it. 

8. Who is addressed here as a Goddess and why ? 

Ans. Belinda a decoy for Arabella Fermor, is addressed as a Goddess as Pope does not want to incur her anger and annoyance and want her appraisal instead, for his poetic venture. Hence, she is addressed as a Goddess or probably another Muse for poetic inspiration as literally the subject matter is concerned with her. 

9. " A well bred Lord to assault a gentle Belle?" Who is the Lord referred to? What is the significance of the line ?

Ans. The Lord here refere to Lord Petre, the Baron of the poem who had cut the locks of Arabella Fermor. 

The word assault contains a sexual innuendo as the Latin root of the word was "assultare" which means to "leap violently upon". This line alludes probably to Helen's abduction by Paris in Iliad. 

The word 'compel' here significantly suggests Pope's defence of Baron's act as if he was compelled to act like this despite being "well-bred". This may open a space for a feminist and psychoanalytic discourse of representation and gaze. 

10. Who are referred to as "Little Men"?

And. Lord Petre, the Baron of the poem was a short man , so as Pope himself. As Lord Petre was turned down ny Arabella Fermor ( the reason is not clear), Pope's height and physical deformity  had affected his relationships with women. Thus,"Little Men" here suggests both Lord Petre and Pope and their "tasks so bold" were to cut the lock of hair and to satirize the morality of the women respectively. 

11. "And in soft Bosoms dwells such mighty Rage?" Bring out the significance.

Ans. The phrase "mighty Rage" has often been associated with Achilles, the protagonist of Homer's Iliad. Likewise, Belinda is the central character in Pope's mock-epic. Thus, to create a ludicrous effect Belinda's anger alludes to that of Achilles. 

The phrase "soft Bosoms" adds to the feminine identity of Belinda as if she is the female (parodied) version of Achilles. In this regard it must be mentioned that throughout the text Belinda has been portrayed through her body and the Baron through his" tasks so bold", that traditionally align to the patriarchal perception of woman as "body" and man as " mind/ action". 

12. " Sol thro' white Curtains shot a tim'rous Ray". What is meant by Sol? Why it is timorous ? 

Ans. Sol is the Latinise expression of the sun. This use of Latin indicates the Neo-classical element in the poem. 

The sun timorously peeps through the curtains of Belinda as it is afraid to wake her up. For, if she is woke up, her anger would eclipse the sun and outshine it. This is an instance of comic exaggeration. 

This line also is an example of transferred epithet since the epithet " timorous" was transferred from Sol to which it properly belongs to that of rays to which it does not belong. 

13. " Her Guardian Sylph prolong'd the balmy rest"... Explain.

Ans. Pope adopted the Rosicrucian theory of the transmigration of soul as per the libido. The Guardian spirit of Belinda is a Sylph, an airy spirit whose name is Ariel. Just as the ancient gods communicate with men through dreams, similarly Ariel conjured for up a dream and helps in prolonging her morning sleep. 

14. "The morning-dream that hover'd o'er her head;".... What is the significance of the morning dream ? 

Ans. Dream in ancient Greek literature played a pivotal role as a mode of communication between the gods and the mortals or sometimes a foretelling of an incident. Pope, through Belinda's morning dream, incorporates the Neo-classical touch to his mock epic. Along with that, through this dream, Pope introduces the supernatural machinery into this mock-epic in the Rosicrucian fashion. In this dream, Ariel comes as a birthnight beau to caution Belinda against the impending danger. And Belinda's blushes in her dreams to see the charming Ariel highlights the female sexual anxiety. 

15. What is a "Birth-night Beau"?

Ans. According to Dr. Johnson, beau is a man of dress whose great care is to deck himself. Since Belinda's Guardian Sylph Ariel is a spirit, it can appear it different forms and genders in different sizes. In Belinda's morning dream Sylph appears as a fashionable beau who dressed himself as if to attend one of royal birthday parties which used to be celebrated with much splendour. This choice of appearance of Ariel brings a comparison with Satan in Paradise Lost Book I, " For Spirits when they please. Can either Sex assume, or both; .." and his tempting dream to Belinda draws a parallel to Satan's diabolical dream to Eve in Paradise Lost Book IV, 

"....close at the ear of Eve,

Assaying by his devilish art to reach

The organs of her fancy."

Ariel appearing as a "Birthnight beau " and Belinda blushing at him sums up the revelry and sexual hunting of the time.

16. "Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish'd care

Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air!". Bring out the significance.

Ans. In this hyperbolic expression Ariel, Belinda's Guardian Sylph has addressed her to caution her against the impending danger. According to the Rosicrucian philosophy of the transmigration of the soul, after death, the souls transform into the four elements of earth, air, fire and water and ponder over human actions. In these lines Pope aligned Belinda with the Sylphs( characterized by Wit, sensuality and flirtatiousness)by saying that she needs the care of the "thousand bright Inhabitants of Air!", i.e, the Sylphs as her own flirtatious nature is associated with the element of air. 

17. What does the poet mean by the " circled green"? 

Ans. Sometimes in green laws circles of an intense green colour appears and as per the  folklore it is called " fairy circles" by children as fairies were supposed to leave a silver coin in the slippers of maids who worked hard. Later on, this belief was changed and children expected the fairies to leave a silver coin in exchange for a milk-tooth put under the pillow. Through this reference, Pope here sought to recreate the myths about the fairies to enhance his supernatural appeal with a gentle touch of humour. 

18. " Or virgins visited by Angel-pow'rs." Who are the virgins referred to? 

Ans. The virgins in the above quoted lines do refer to Virgin Mary and Joan of Arc as the former was visited by Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation and the later listened to the voice of the angels. It was believed that the virgins would receive a golden crown in heaven. Again, Pope had sought to establish the myth about the fairies to enhance his supernatural appeal with a gentle touch of humour. 

19. "Nor bound thy narrow views to things below." What does the poet mean by "narrow views"? 

Ans. By "narrow minds" Pope probably hint at the logicality of the eighteen century age of reason that hardly spares any room for such supernatural beliefs in fairies and elves. He, perhaps, means to say that these creatures were the figment of imagination and can not fit into logic. 

20."Some secret truths, from learned pride conceal'd,

To Maids alone and Children are reveal'd:". Explain.

Ans. These lines seem to echo the patriarchal perception of womanhood as a symbol of innocence and childlike  simplicity that can easily bend into believing the "fairy tales" which appear to be too fabricated by the logical mind of a "man" as manhood has traditionally been conceived as "mind". Therefore, the phrase "learned pride" perhaps hint at the eighteen century men in particular and manhood in general who do not endorse such beliefs. And these "secret truths" that are the vision of fairies and elves are revealed to woman as they are childish and have a lack of prudence. 

21. What does the term " the light militia of the lower sky"  mean? 

Ans. The word "militia" stands for army. Light indicates the fragility of the spirits and lower sky is used to explain the provinces assigned to different grades of sylphs. This line sounds like a parody of the Greek gods who from the heaven look over the human actions and often influence it, likewise these fragile, transparent army of sylphs inhabit "lower sky", perhaps , a region near earth to monitor and manipulate human course of action. This , indeed, enhances the mock-epic tone of the poem.

22. What does the poet mean by "box", "rings" and "equipage"?

Ans. The box refers to the prominent seats in the theatres of the time.

The Ring was a circular area in London's Hyde Park at that time im which the coaches of the fashionable world used to parade, to exchange gazes.

Equipage means carriage with horses nd footmen in attendance. 

All these synecdochic expressions form a part for the whole picture of the social life of Pope's time when the Beaux and Belles used to visit theatres and parks on their equipages to show off their vanity which lasts long even after their death. Thus, these spirits , even after leaving their mortal bodies still hover over the boxes, rings and equipages to which they still have an inclination. This partly parodied the participation of the Greek gods into human affairs and manipulate their course of action. 

23. What does the phrase " earthly vehicle" suggest ? 

Ans. Earthly vehicles suggests bodies which have been referred to here as the vehicles upon which the souls ride.  Ghe sylphs go though a transformation from body to spirit but their love of sport and revelry remains intact. 

24. "Her joy in gilded Chariots, when alive,

And love of Ombre, after death survive."

Ans. These two lines allude to the following lines of Dryden's translation of Virgil's Aeneid :

" The love of Horses which they had alive

And care of Chariots after Death survive."

Virgil's hero Aeneis visits the underworld where he sees happy souls of dead heroes enjoying the music and exercises which they loved on earth. Thus, Pope alluded to these lines to hint at the mock-epic element in the poem as the dead heroes are parodied as the moral vaccum beaux and belles of his time who, even after their death, retains their earthly habits. 

25.  What is an ombre ? 

Ans. A very popular card game of the time in which three players used forty cards. One player challenged the other two and if successful, the challenger became Ombre,"the man". In Canto III of Rape of the Lock, Belinda was the Ombre. 

26. "For when the Fair in all their pride expire,

To their first Elements their Souls retire:"

Ans. These two lines sum up the supernatural machinery in Rape of the Lock, based on Rosicrucian philosophy of the transmigration of soul.

"First elements"  denote the original or the predominant quality. In ancient theories human body was conceived to be an amalgamation of four elements of nature--------- earth, air, fire and water. A person's nature was thought to be determined by the particular element predominating in his/her body. These lines allude to Dryden's translation of Ovid's Metamorphosis XV  in which he describes the Pythagorean theory of transmigration of souls: 

" Those very elements, which we partake

Alive, when dead some other bodies make."

27. What is a Salamander? 

Ans. In ancient theories human body was conceived to be an amalgamation of four elements of nature--------- earth, air, fire and water. A person's nature was thought to be determined by the particular element predominating in his/her body and after death, the soul transmigrate into the first element. The termagant or turbulent woman's soul transmigrate into the element of fire and is named as Salamander, a lizardlike  eternal spirit living in fire.  

28. What is a Nymph ? 

Ans. In ancient theories human body was conceived to be an amalgamation of four elements of nature--------- earth, air, fire and water. A person's nature was thought to be determined by the particular element predominating in his/her body and after death, the soul transmigrate into the first element. The soul of a woman with a "soft, yielding mind" transforms into the element of water, after death and is named as Nymph, a spirit of water. 

29. What is a Gnome ?

Ans. In ancient theories human body was conceived to be an amalgamation of four elements of nature--------- earth, air, fire and water. A person's nature was thought to be determined by the particular element predominating in his/her body and after death, the soul transmigrate into the first element. The soul of a woman with a grave temperament transmigrates into the element of earth and is known as Gnome who " in search of mischief" still roam on earth.

30. What is a Sylph? 

Ans. In ancient theories human body was conceived to be an amalgamation of four elements of nature--------- earth, air, fire and water. A person's nature was thought to be determined by the particular element predominating in his/her body and after death, the soul transmigrate into the first element.The soul of a coquette woman transmigrates into the element of air and is known as Sylph who look for " sport and flutter in fields of air". 

31. "For Spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease

Assume what sexes and what shapes they please."

Ans. The spirits are beyond the "mortal laws" , that is, the rules of charging over human bodies and mold in any shape or sex they like. These lines do recall the description of Satan's fallen angels in Paradise Lost Book I: 

"For Spirits when they please

Can either sex assume or both

...in what shape they choose...."

32. What is "Midnight Masquerades"?

Ans. "Midnight Masquerades" mean the mask dance that used to prolong till midnight. Courtly balls and Midnight Masquerades used to represent the socio-cultural phenomena of Pope's time where the beaux and belles used to exchange their hearts with melting music and dancing fires. Addison, in Spectator, calls the "Midnight Masquerade" a 'lawless assembly' in which all participants are masked.  It was contrived "for the Advancement of Cuckoldom". 

33. " 'Tis but their Sylph, the wise Celestials know,

Tho' Honour is the word with Men below."

Ans. In these lines Belinda's guardian spirit Ariel claims that since they are "celestial" entities, thus, they know how men on earth are concerned about honour and if a woman can easily accept the proposal of a suitor her value is taken for granted. Therefore, these sylphs detained the proposals and made the belle turn it down. This sounds a parody of the gods in Greek epic ,who aided humans to protect their honour and destiny. 

34. Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their face,

For life predestin'd to the Gnomes' embrace.

These swell their prospects and exalt their pride,

When offers are disdain'd, and love deny'd:

Then gay Ideas crowd the vacant brain,

While Peers, and Dukes, and all their sweeping train,

And Garters, Stars, and Coronets appear,

And in soft sounds, Your Grace salutes their ear." 

Ans. Here 'nymph' does not denote the spirit of water, instead, Pope here mockingly addresses the beautiful earthly maiden who under the influence of Gnomes could analyse their values in the game of heart . Thus, through the mechanism of disdain and turning down they enhanced their pride and vanity and created an impression of "inaccessibility" till they received proposal from Dukes, Lords or Knights who are symbolized by Garters, Stars and Coronets as Garters were the sign of highest order of Knighthood in England and Coronets were small crowns to which Dukes were entitled. Here Pope used the symbols for the persons symbolized. However, those proud "nymphs", under the influence of Gnomes scrutinized their better prospect of courtship and marriage and preferred to be the Duchess of some handsome Dukes and to be addressed as "your grace", the manner in which the Dukes and Duchess were addressed at that time. Thus, these denials led those women to better prospects ( as per Pope). 

These lines are significant as per the proposition of the subject of this mock-epic "Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?" Pope, as it seems, pretended to defend Belinda's alias Arabella Fermor's rejection of Baron alias Lord Petre but intensely criticised that the cause of this rejection perhaps could be an eye on a better prospect. In this regard, it can be said that Pope here made a patriarchal representation of the women as 'gold-diggers' and questioned the liberty of her 'choice'. 

35."'T is these that early taint the female soul,

Instruct the eyes of young Coquettes to roll,

Teach Infant-cheeks a bidden blush to know,

And little hearts to flutter at a Beau."

Ans. "These" here refers to the Gnomes who taint the female souls by its detailed instructions to young coquettes that how they should roll their eyes or blush to get the attention of the Beaux. These Gnomes seemed to corrupt the innocence of the earthly maiden. Through the shield of Ariel's speech Pope here comments on the women's gestures to attract the attention of beaux. On one hand, he comments ( through Ariel's speech) on the "Women stray" and gave the blame upon the Gnomes and Sylphs who manipulated them. Thus, Pope here satirized the gesture and conduct of the  women of his time for their "impertinence" or frivolity. But it is interesting to note that no such comments on men's conduct is visible throughout text except of Baron's possession of the things of his beloved , but still the "force or fraud" had not been detailed in the same fashion as carefully he noted  Belinda's mischievous intrigue.

36. Who were Florio and Damon ?

Ans. Names such as Florio and Damon were common in Pastoral or love poetry of the time where they were either shown to give flattering speeches or to gently squeeze the hands of their beloved to tease them. Thus, Pope here seemed on satirize the pastoral and love poetry of the time. 

37. "With varying vanities, from ev'ry part,

They shift the moving Toyshop of their heart;

Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive,

Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive." 

Ans.  Through these lines Pope satirizes the irrational materialism of the bourgeoisie that sought to objectify human beings by giving primacy to surface over substance. He described a woman's heart like a toyshop full of gewgaws. This indicates the inconsistency of the women of his time whose hearts were metaphorized as toy shop that could be shifted effortlessly from one beau to the other for a better prospect. Pope's comment on the impertinence of women though sounds a little biased as women too were objectified as mere "body". Actually Pope has captured the glimpse of his time in which virtue has been reduced to vanity and men themselves to mere sword knots and whigs. Thus, through the metonymy of whigs and Sword knots Pope conceived men whose virtues were estimated on the basis of wealth and affluence. Levity was the only morality and swiftly the heart moved from one "coaches" to another to pick the best one. The battle of sexes were fought on the pretext of honour and wealth and people were dehumanized into materialistic objects. 

38. Describe the significance of Belinda's toilet scene. 

Ans. In Belinda's toilet scene we, the reader , like a voyeur, are intruding into a quintessential female ritual. This scene has its significance on multiple aspects. The mirror is an embodiment of a self-enclosed narcissism where Belinda's body becomes the site of both male and female gazes. The eyes that admires and nurtures her beauty in the reflection is the eyes of men who remained awestruck with her beauty and grace. Secondly, this scene is a mock -heroic parody of the epic hero's wearing the armours and invoking the God/ Goddess for prowess and victory. In this regard, Belinda is both the warrior who wears the armours of her grace to emerge victorious in the battle of sexes and invoked her own self as a Goddess whom she worships and reveres as a priestess. She plays the dual role of a deity and a devotee of her own image. She becomes the female epitome of beauty and the male eye of passion at the same time. This intensity and the merging of the object and subject creates the moments of narcissism and Belinda becomes a bodiless entity and a timeless creature who is beyond the contour of a specific sexual identity. The reference of her "cosmetic pow'rs" , however, adds to the reality of an artificial society which is implicitly suggested in the social binary of the centre and the margins, as metaphorized by the altar upon which Belinda's centrality is articulated against Betty's marginality. The "inferior priestess" was shown to be at the threshold of the margin to receive orders from her mistress. Betty's silence is indicative of the silence and invisibility of the "subalterns" in the metanarratives of history. Being a Roman Catholic, Pope mocks at the Catholic rituals of feasting and offerings by mentioning the different offerings received by the Goddess( Belinda). "India's glowing gems" and Arabia's perfume in "yonder Box" makes us wonder at the British Imperialism and Adam Smith's concept of the"drainage of wealth" from the colonies which were accumulated into the dressing rooms of the economically privileged Belindas. The macrocosmic epic battle can be witnessed in the microcosmic arrangement of the cosmetics here and there portraying the chaos of the battle field. The confusion of the dressing table "Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux" is a bathos of the moral confusion of the time. For Belinda, Bible too is an accessory to give her an air of purity and billet doux will make her pricey. The repairing of her smile intensifies the social hypocrisy as smile was not spontaneous but artificially ornamented. Finally, with the "curious toils" of Belinda, Betty and above all the sylphs Pope raised the stature of Belinda from a mere "cosmetic" beauty to "cosmic" beauty at whom even Pope unconsciously sighs with admiration. 

                       Canto -II

39. "Not with more Glories....on her alone"(line 1-6). Explanation.

Ans. Pope started Canto II with the description of the late afternoon ambience to correlate the sparkling beauty of Belinda. " Ethereal plain" refers to the fields of aether or the upper air of the sky, whereas "purpled Main" conventionally stands for bright sea, though here, it suggests the late afternoon beauty of Thames upon which the falls the 'glorious' rays of the sun. The capitalized Sun and Thames seem to symbolize the beaux and belles as the word like "bosom" give the river Thames a female identity upon whose bosom the Sun throws its amorous light. This incites a sexual innuendo which the term "issuing forth" further justifies as it probably hints a sexual process of reproduction. Interestingly, Belinda too wore a sparkling cross that to enhance the attractiveness of her bosom. Thus, on one hand, Belinda is metaphorized with the femininity of the river Thames upon which falls the male gaze of the Sun, on the other hand, Belinda also incorporated the Sun - like dominance in her presence that " ...ev'ry Eye was fixed on her alone". Therefore, as the Sun was given an action to shine upon the Thames which reciprocated it passively on the receiving end, Belinda, deliberately had armoured herself in a charming way to dominate the "Ethereal plain" of the Beaux and Belles, and actively she remained a "passive" recipient of all the male gazes around her. Thus, she here embodies both the dominance of the Sun and the charm of the Thames, going beyond a conventional male and female identity and again became a cosmic presence (like her toilet scene). The word " issuing forth" and "silver Thames" perhaps echo the following lines from Spenser's Prothalamion : 

" From those high towers this noble lord issuing,

Like radiant Hesper when his golden hair

In th'Ocean billows he hath bathed fair,

Descended to the river's open viewing,

With a great train ensuing."