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.
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