Three Men
in a Boat
Jerome K. Jerome
A Complete Solution of Book
Class
IX
Vol-I
Chapter-I
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. In What way author's illness different from his friend's?
Ans. The author actually suffers from a disease called 'hypochondria'
whereas his friends suffer from strange attacks of giddiness.
2. Why did the writer believe that he had all the diseases?
Ans. A man suffering from hypochondria imagines that he has all disease of
the world and the writer suffers from 'hypochondria'.
3. What did the prescription say?
Ans. The prescription said:
1 lb beef steak with 1 pt bitter bear every 6 hrs
1 ten-mile walk every morning
1 bed at 11 sharp every night and
"Don't stuff your head with things you don't understand."
4. What did the three friends eat for supper and how was it funny?
Ans. They ate a little steak, onions and some rhubarb tart. Having fancied of
illness, they took no interest in their food for half an hour. It was an
unusual thing for the writer. It is quite funny that they are not ill, still
avoid eating rather enjoy drinking and smoking.
5. How did the writer's family cure him from his supposed liver
problem?
Ans. They striked him with clumps on his head and he felt cured of his liver
problem. The incident also happened in the past with him.
6. What surprised the two friends when George gave a suggestion?
Ans. George was a lazy person. He comes up with the find suggestion of
taking a boat trip. His two friends were surprised, as they thought he
was not capable of making such a sensible suggestion.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What type of disease is hypochondria?
Ans. A man is said to be suffering from 'hypochondria' who imagines that he
has all the diseases of the world. As he reads about diseases and
symptoms of some disease, he feels that all those symptoms are present
in him and he is suffering from all of them.
2. In what ways writer think himself to be a boon for medical
students?
Ans. The write visited a British Museum to read about the treatment for
some slight ailment. He read about every disease alphabetically in the
medical dictionary and was convinced that he suffered from every
disease except the house maid's knee (arthritis). This self-diagnosis
filled him with horror and despair. His body housed innumerable
diseases, hence he could be the best body for case study for the medical
students. They would not have to go to hospitals to study. His body was
a hospital and the medical students would have to walk round him and
take their diploma.
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3. What did the doctor mean by saying "And don't stuff up your head
with things you don't understand"?
Ans. The writer considered himself to be suffering from all kinds of diseases.
He went to a doctor who was his friend. The doctor examined him
thoroughly and found that he had no illness rather he was
hypochondriac. So the doctor, with some other funny prescriptions,
suggested him so. He means to say that the writer should avoid reading
those things ie medicines which he does not understand. He means the
writer should not bother with the matters about which he has no
knowledge.
4. Why was writer not willing to go on a sea-trip?
Ans. The write hates sea-voyages. He gives a detailed and graphic
description of what happened with his brother-in-law when he went for
a short sea trip once for the benefit of his health. He had to return from
London to Liverpool and when he returned, the only thing he was
anxious about was to sell his return tickets. He is of the view that sea
voyage needs as long a period as two months at least. A short trip to a
sea voyage was worth nothing because falling ill was on inevitable
effect of it.
5. Give day wise account of author's sea journey for a week.
Ans. When Harris recommends a sea trip in order to take rest and change, the
author vehemently opposes the idea and asserts that sea-trip is a viable
idea when one has as little time as two months at his disposal. He says
that a man sets out on a sea voyage with high spirits but soon falls sick
and gets depressed due to the mundane routine. As he gradually
recovers and starts liking the sea-trip, he realises it is time to return to
shores. He also describes about the experience of a short sea-trip his
brother-in-law had taken.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Give your opinion about the three friends.
Ans. The three friends, Harris, George and the writer are doubtful of
themselves to be suffering from all imaginable diseases. One evening
they meet and discuss their ailments and desire to find solution of them.
George and Harris feel acute fits of giddiness whereas the author is sure
that his liver is out of order.
All the three are in fact hypochondriacs. None of them is really ill, their
illness is in their minds. They fancy and invent illness. They apprehend
to be ill. They feel to be ill as an excuse to hard work as they are all lazy
and want nothing to do.
2. Jim makes fun of his friends but doesn't spare himself too. How?
Ans. The writer mocks the funny traits of his friends but spares not even
himself. He himself fancies of suffering from innumerable illnesses but
charges George of being whimsical of illness and that there is nothing
really bad about his health. He also derides Harris who recounts a funny
way of beating sea sickness. But the writer is quite fair as he has the
ability to make fun of himself. He goes to the British Museum, reads
about all the diseases and finds himself as suffering from all kinds of
diseases except the housemaid's knee.
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3.
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4.
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The writer is surprised over the fact that he does not suffer from
housemaid's knee. It is funny when he calls himself a hospital. When he
visits the chemist with the doctor's prescription, the reader is quite
forced to laugh at his funny wit.
What personality and character of George do you form in your
mind after reading this chapter?
George loves to speak in medical terms. When the three friends meet to
discuss remedies of their ailments, he suggests them to take a boat-trip.
Harris and Jim both are surprised at his sensible suggestion which they
had never expected from such a lazy and unwilling fellow. He is
extremely lazy and pretends to be ill out of fear of any kind of labour.
He weights about twelve stones.
Being out the humour in doctor examining Jim.
Horrified and depressed by the fact that his body was a store house of all
kinds of diseases, Jim visits his doctor for treatment. When the doctor
inquired about his problem the writer replied that life was too brief to
describe and that he might pass away before he would finish the list of
his ailments. Only he said that except housemaid's knee, he had all
diseases. The doctor takes everything quite normally. He examines him
casually, sees his tongue, feels his pulse and thumps his chest strongly
and writes the prescription. The writer goes to chemist and gives him
the prescription. The chemist returns it to the writer and says that he is a
chemist and not a cooperative stores or family hotel. In fact the doctor
had prescribed him no medicines but healthy food, long walk and early
sleep as he had no illness.
Chapter-II
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. George did not take leave? What does it show?
Ans. George worked in a bank. He slept in the bank from ten to four each day
except Saturdays. Next day it was Sunday. Since they planned a short
trip, George need not take leave. It shows that he is careless.
2. Who supported camping out and why?
Ans. George supported camping out because he is lazy and ready to sleep
anywhere, anytime.
3. Give two examples to show writer's love for river?
Ans. The writer has described his love for the river in poetic mood. He loves
her as his sister who is going to meet her king-the sea. Secondly he
compares her with a mother who nurtured and brought up man since his
origin.
4. How has writer described the arrival of night?
Ans. The night like a ghost will gradually creep out, costing its shadow and
chasing out every trace of light of the sun.
5. What example does the writer give to prove that Harris is
unemotional?
Ans. When the writer is lost into his imagination and praises nature
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poetically, Harris intrudes with harsh reality that sleeping in the open
would not be a good idea when it rains. The writer is irritated and called
him to be practical and unemotional.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Do you agree with the writer's opinion about civilization? What
harm has civilization done to man?
Ans. The writer is lost in poetic imagination. He dreams of man's early life
when he used to live in forests near rivers. He lived a happy and
contented life in the company of nature. But now civilization has taken
him far from the beauty of nature. Man has made cities where there is
no natural beauty. The writer curses and abuses man's follies for being
civilized. He laments that civilization has separated man from his real
and natural happiness which he used to relish in the company of nature.
2. How is the sweet and romantic world of dreams contrasted with
the real practical world?
Ans. The writer becomes romantic during his trip to the world of nature. He
imagines as lulled by the lapping water of the river and the rustling
trees. He sleeps and dreams that the world has become young again as it
used to be when man lived by nature. But he is shocked to know that
civilization has drifted him away from the soothing touch of nature.
Man has become materialistic and he has no time to enjoy the beauties
of the nature. Man has bean so over taken by worldly anxieties that he
feels no attraction for nature. Though nature takes us to the sweet and
romantic world of dreams, but we are bound to our worldly duties.
3. How can rain play a spoil sport in the camping trip?
Ans. Every thing gets wet in the rain water. The tent is fixed somehow. Being
soaked it is heavy and soon it tumbles down. To fix a wet tent creates
tension between those who are fixing it. When one fixes it at one point,
it tumbles down at the other. And the persons fixing it get engaged in a
hot argument blaming each other for not fixing it properly. It becomes
difficult to make a wood fire. All the eatable articles are water-soaked.
The jam, the butter, the salt and coffee all are mingled with water to
make a delicious soup. One cannot enjoy smoking because tobacco and
pipes are damp. Everybody feels restless in bed. They catch cold and
quarrel with each other. Thus the rain plays a spoilsport.
4. Describe the mood of the three friends after a restless and peace
less wet night.
Ans. After a rest less wet night all the three are speechless because of having
severe cold. All of them feel very quarrelsome. They involve in a hot
argument blaming each other in hoarse whisper during their breakfast
time. All the three are so much disturbed and sick that they decide to
stay in an inn or a pub like respectable people where they could feel a
change and sleep quietly.
5. How does the writer describe Montmorency and his antics?
Ans. Montmorency is a fox-terrier dog in their company on the trip. He looks
like an angel, behaves in a noble way. When the author first saw him, he
was not sure that he would survive. He rescued him from street fighters.
He had to pay for dozens of chickens he had killed and ate.
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Montmorency led a gang of most notorious dogs and enjoyed fighting
other gangs in the slums. All the three friends give due respect to his
valuable opinion on important matters. He is not happy with their
decision of sleeping in open but he hails the decision of sleeping in an
inn or a pub. He is adventurous and responds to every challenge.
Analysing the Characters:
1. What character of writer is casted on your mind after reading this
chapter?
Ans. After reading this chapter we conclude that he has a great sense of
humour. The description of camping out in the open, the narration of
rain spoiling their food, their ridiculous remarks are all full of humour.
Gradually we find the writer to be poetic and romantic in the
description of nature. The description of falling night, the sun, the
moon, the personification of the river and the singing of birds are all
described in a poetic and romantic way. Though he seems to be lazy, yet
he is sensible, practical and imaginative. He also touches the main
weakness of man and abuses him for being materialistic.
2. How is Harris different from the writer? What traits of Harris's
character are shown in this chapter?
Ans. Harris is quite different in nature from the writer. The writer becomes
poetic and romantic in a favourable situation. He becomes lyrical and
beautifully paints the picture of the nature. He is sensible and
humorous. He has a great sense of humour that we can see in the
description of their camping out in the open. On the other hand Harris is
a practical person. He is fond of drinking and knows where a pub can be
found. He is aware of the problems which can occur while sleeping in
the open if it rains. That is why he is not in favour of sleeping in the open.
3. Give a brief character description of Montmorency as it is treated
as an equal with a separate personality.
Ans. Montmorency, the dog, is portrayed not as a mere dog but as a human
personality of rowing party. He is a fox-terrior who are supposed to be
clever, adventurous and fighters. He looks like an angel sent upon the
earth. When the author first saw him, he was not sure he would survive.
But the writer rescued him from several street fights, paid for dozens of
chickens he has killed and was rebuked for killing a neighbour's cat and
thus he was sure of him to live. Montmorency led a gang of most
notorious dogs and enjoyed fighting other gangs in the slums. He gives
valuable opinion on import matters. He approved the idea of staying in
an inn, pub or a hotel. He has been described as equal to humans having
different personality.
Chapter-III
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What made writer remind of his uncle Podger?
Ans. Harris was ready to take the burden of everything himself, but put it on
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2.
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the backs of other people. Harris's this habit made the writer remind of
his uncle Podger.
Why could not all the six people find uncle Podger's Coat?
Because Uncle Podger had put the coat on a chair and he himself had
been sitting on it.
What harms happened to the wall and the picture before it was
finally hung?
The picture fell down, its glass broken and uncle Podger cut his finger.
The picture was crooked and insecure and the wall around it was in
shambles.
What is Maria's comment?
Maria comments that she would not allow her children to stand round
and hear such language. She would arrange to go spend a week with her
mother while Podger was involved in such work.
What is same about Harris and Uncle Podger as per Jim?
Harris shuns doing work rather wants others to do it while he just given
them command. The same is with uncle Podger. He employs every
member of his family in the minor work of hanging a picture on wall.
Why didn't George want Harris to have early morning swim?
Because after having a morning swim he would feel hungry and would
eat more than he ordinarily eats.
Why did Jim and Harris regret believing George?
Jim and Harris believed that George knew very well about clothes and
washing them. But they regretted for George knew nothing about how
to wash clothes.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Narrate the humour in the episode of Uncle Podger in your own
words.
Ans. The episode shows Uncle Podger trying to hang a picture on the wall.
He wants all the family members to help him in the task. He entrusts
everybody with some duty and when everything has been arranged, he
lifts up the picture but drops it accidentally and in an attempt to save it,
cuts his hand and then runs around the whole house to find his
handkerchief which he kept in the pocket of his coat. He forgets that the
coat was put on the chair and he himself was sitting on it. In his second
attempt to hang the picture he falls down on the piano; and smashes his
thumb rather than the nail with the hammer in his third attempt. Now he
drops the nail, forgets where the hammer is then he loses the sight of the
mark he had made on the wall, cries for the children to help and then he
rebukes them all for being careless and boasts he is more intelligent
than others.
2. Why was the first list discarded? At this time, which opinion of
George surprised Jim and why?
Ans. The first list, prepared by George and Jim was too long, so it was
discarded. George suggested that instead of thinking of those things
which they would like to have, they should think only those things
which they cannot do without. This opinion, a sensible opinion of
George, surprised Jim.
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3. As per Jim what do we actually need in life?
Ans. Jim (the writer) suggests us that we need more less than we pile in our
houses. We should store only what we need– a homely home and
simple pleasures, one or two friends, someone to love and someone to
love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to
wear, and a little more than enough to drink, for thirst (drinking too
much) is a dangerous thing. According to him, excessive pilling of
luxuries is nothing more than a 'lumber'.
4. Explain how does Jim compare boat of life with a "loaded boat"?
Ans. Jim compares man's life with a boat. It is easy to row it if it is light. So
we should not overload it with luxuries. We starve for things that give
us comfort and we hoard them without need. These unnecessary things
make it so cumbersome and dangerous to manage that we never know a
moment's freedom from anxiety and care. The writer suggests that we
should not store the boat of our life with foolish things which we think
to be essential for our pleasure and comfort, but which are really only
useless lumber.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Analyse the character of Uncle Podger in your own words.
Ans. Uncle Podger's episode evokes both irritation as well as humour. He
seems to have a superiority complex and looks down upon other's
abilities. He claims to be the only person who knows how to do a job
with a perfect finish. But he seems to be unable to do anything
independently as he employs every member of his family in the task
and delegates different duties to all of them. He keeps them on their toes
but unfortunately drops the picture himself and cut his hand when
everything was arranged. He is forgetful also and does not remember
where he put the hammer. He forgets where he left his coat but expects
others that they must remember it. He drops the nail and forgets the
mark where it was to be fixed and makes a fool of himself. However his
deeds amuse the readers but his arrogance irritates them.
2. What philosophy of life do you get in the chapter?
Ans. In this chapter the writer turns a philosopher when he discusses how
people load their boat of life with unnecessary stuff. They hoard things
and fill up their houses just to show off. He compares the boat to life and
says if we keep our life-boat lighter and free of clutter and if we load it
with things necessary to sustain our lives, it would be quite easy to steer
it ahead. The reader fully agrees with this philosophy. It is we who
disrupt the smooth sailing of our boat of life by overloading it with
unimportant and void things. The writer suggests to be contented with
what we have and not to hoard unnecessary things which bring
difficulties and uneasiness in our lives.
3. Some new traits of George and Harris' character have emerged in
this chapter. What are they?
Ans. With the development of the plot we come to know about some more
traits of both these characters. Harris, so far, appeared to be more
practical and less poetic. Now he seems good at nothing but instructs
others how and what to do. He takes the burden of everything on
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himself but virtually shifts it to others. He begins to command others.
He also reveals that a swim before breakfast increases his appetite.
George emerges quite sensible. The writer himself praises him for his
suggestion of focussing on those things which they cannot do without
while making the lists. He also suggests to take a boat with a cover
instead of a tent. He gives his friends a handful of wise ideas and
recommends to take plenty of shocks, handkerchiefs and leather boots
which would prove to be helpful in case their boat gets upset.
Chapter-IV
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. Why did the three friends not want to take oil along?
Ans. Once they had taken up an oil-stove. It oozed and spread all over the river
and boat. It smelt all through their journey and spoilt the atmosphere. So
they prefer a methylated spirit stove to paraffine oil stove.
2. Why didn't George want cheese to be included in the breakfast
item?
Ans. Jim reminds a funny event when he took cheese from Liverpool to
London. The smell of cheese made the horse dash off in terror. While
travelling in a train, nobody entered that bogey because of strong smell
of the cheese. His friend's wife was annoyed of the smell and left the
house. So he avoids cheese.
3. Why did the horse get terrified?
Ans. The horse was irritated by the sharp smell of the cheese and it dashed
off in terror with great speed.
4. How and why did the train carriage got empty?
Ans. The writer was travelling in a train compartment with some cheese. It
smelt so bad and strong that all the passengers ran off and nobody dared
enter that compartment. The carriage was left empty.
5. Why did the writer feel so wild when Harris said, "Aren't you
going to put the boots in"?
Ans. The writer, while packing, forgot to put the boots in the bag and when
he shut and strapped it, Harris knowingly asked him the question.
George laughed irritatingly and senselessly at his forgetfulness. The
writer felt ashamed and wild.
6. What happened to the pies packed at bottom?
Ans. The pies were packed at the bottom of the bag and heavy things were
packed on top so the pies were smashed.
7. Why did Jim want to get up at six?
Ans. Because he wanted to write some letters.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What excuse did the narrator give in order to avoid keeping cheese
with him?
Ans. The writer went to his friend's wife to deliver the cheese to her. The
cheese had got rotten and so it gave away very bad and unbearable
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2.
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smell. His friend's wife was not ready to keep it with her and she
requested the writer to keep it with him till her husband returns. The
writer was also troubled by the hateful smell of the cheese, so he
pretended that his landlady who was a widow and an orphan would
object keeping it in her house. So he avoided to keep it with him.
Do you think Jim was successful at packing? Why/why not?
Jim generally boasted of his packing skills but he was really an
unskilled packer. When he finally strapped the bag, he was told that he
had forgotten to put the boots in. He unstrapped the bag and packed the
boots in, but he was not sure if he had packed his tooth brush or not. He
had to turn everything out of the bag to look for it which was eventually
found in a boot. Once again he had to open the bag for his tobacco
pouch. Jim, who so proudly declared his fine packing skill, is exposed
as an unskilled and clumsy packer. He does not know where and how
should pack the things in a travel bag. He has just stuffed everything
roughly in the bag and strapped it.
Were George and Harris better than Jim at packing? Give reasons
to support your answer.
Jim was quite bad at packing while George and Harris proved worse
than him. They made a mess of it. They began by breaking a cup. Harris
smashed the tomatoes by packing the bottle of jam on top of them.
George trod on the butter. They smashed the pies by putting heavy
things on them. They upset salt over everything and tried to put the
butter in a kettle. They, like Jim, proved awful at packing. They seem to
be untidy, unplanned and inexperienced at packing.
Would you like to own a dog like Montmorency? Why/ Why not?
Montmorency, though a dog, has a personality of his own. We cannot
expect him to be docile and dumb fellow who barks, eats or sleeps as
per his master's wishes. It would be great fun having Montmorency as a
pet. His noble looks belie his real character. His skills as a gang leader,
his hunting excuses for fights and his habit to irritate those who know
nothing but pretend they can do everything, are really amazing. His
independent opinion on the idea of boat-riding and consent for sleeping
arrangements during the boat-riding, make the readers impressed.
Analysing the Characters:
1. "I want to get up and superintend and walk around with my hands
in my pockets, and tell him what to do. It is my energetic nature. I
can't help it." Who said this? Explain the significance of the words.
What traits of speaker's character are reflected in these lines?
Ans. The writer is reminded of a man with whom he used to stay. His habit
was to roll on the sofa and watch him doing things which irritated the
writer. The writer claims that he (writer) is different. He does not like to
sit idle when others are working hard. He wants his hands to put in his
pockets and move around to inspect the work being done. He also
wants to give his valuable suggestions to those who are actually doing
the work. The writer is proud of this trait. He claims that monitoring
others is also on important work and he is able to do this because he
belongs to the class which believes in instructing others rather than
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sitting and doing the work. It is Jim, the writer, who said it.
2. What conclusion have you drawn regarding three men's attitude
towards work by the time you reach at the end of the chapter?
Ans. After reading the chapter we conclude that all the three friends are
clumsy and unorganised, but each of them thinks that he can do a job in
a better way than others. The writer's patience to bear the scorn and pain
for a cheese-loving friend and his overconfidence in packing skill,
disappears when he actually sits down to pack the things. He is upset
when he sees his friends sitting idly and teasing and troubling him.
George and Harris laugh at him when he forgets to put the boots in the
bag. But when they themselves sit down to pack, they prove to be worse
than the writer. They smash several items and break a cup. They are
irritated at the way the writer sits and looks at them. They blame him of
exciting Montmorency to trouble them.
Thus all the three pretend to be experts but neither they know nor do
anything satisfactory.
Chapter-V
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. Who wake up the writer?
Ans. Mrs Poppets, the home keeper woke up the writer.
2. Why the men wake up late?
Ans. Because they had less time to sleep as they slept after 12:30 in the night.
3. How the holiday of writer was ruined?
Ans. His holiday was ruined by his paying attention to the weather report in a
local newspaper. The report expected clouds and rain. The writer gave
up his picnic, but the forecast proved false.
4. What did the young and giddy crowd assumed?
Ans. Some young and giddy crowd saw them with heavy luggage. They
assumed them preparing for a wedding and pointed out Harris as the
bridegroom. Some elder people thought it was a funeral and Jim was
probably the dead man's brother.
5. Name the railway by which three friends reached Kingston?
Ans. They reached Kingston by the London and South-Western Railway.
6. What amount was given to engine driver as bribe?
Ans. Half-a-crown was given to the engine driver as bribe.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Who landed on George with a slipper and why?
Ans. Harris landed George one with a slipper. George had premised to wake
Jim and Harris at 6:30 in the morning, but he did not wake them as he
himself kept on sleeping up to 9:30. Mrs Poppets woke them up at 9 in
the morning. At first both Harris and Jim involved in hot exchange
blaming one another for not waking them. Later they remembered that
it was George who had the responsibility to wake them up. But seeing
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him still sleeping they angrily slung the clothes off him and Harris
landed him with a slipper and Jim shouted in his ear to wake him.
Why does Jim think barometer to be useless?
Jim considers that the barometer is as misleading as the newspaper
forecast. He shares his observations about the barometer hanging up in
a hotel at Oxford where he stayed last spring. It pointed at 'set fair' but on
the contrary it rained the whole day. The writer tapped it and it jumped
up and pointed to 'very dry'. He tapped it the next day and it went up
higher but it rained the whole day. On Wednesday he hit it again and the
pointer went round towards 'set fair', 'very dry' and 'much heat', until it
was stopped by the peg and could not go any further. It was in a mood to
forecast drought, water famine, sun stroke and dust-laden storm but the
peg prevented it. The writer wants to prove that barometer is useless and
forecasts are not be trusted upon as they generally prove false.
Why the crowd had collected and why people were making fun of
three men?
When the three men put their luggage on to the doorstep and waited for
a cab, a crowd of people gathered to see what the matter was. It was so
because their luggage consisted of some odd things such as a big bag,
small hand bag, two hampers and a large roll of rugs, four or five over
coats, a few umbrellas, a bulky melon in a bag, a couple of pounds of
grapes and also a Japanese paper umbrella. A frying pan wrapped round
with a brown paper looked conspicuous as it was too long to pack. The
young boys in the crowd conjectured it was a wedding and Harris was
the bridegroom. The older people whispered it was a funeral and Jim
looked to be the brother of the dead. Thus the crowd made fun of them
as they looked odd and strange.
How did three men get their boat?
The three men reached Kingston by the London and South-Western
Railway but they came to know later that it was really the Exeter mail.
Their boat was waiting there just below the bridge. They stored their
luggage in it. They sat on it and moved slowly on their way.
Describe the confusion at waterloo station.
When the three men reached waterloo railway station, they were unable
to find which train starts from which platform. They had no idea of the
platform where their train was to leave from. They inquired the Porter,
the Station Master and the Traffic Superintendent but nobody had the
least idea about their train. Ultimately they met an Engine driver who
too gave a confused reply to their quarry. Finally unable to find no clue
about their train, they bribed the Engine driver and requested him to
take them to Kingston.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Who is Biggs? What is his reputation regarding the boys he hires
for work?
Ans. Biggs is the writer's greengrocer. He is perfectly good at employing the
most notorious, uncouth and untamed boys to run errands for him.
When the three men waited for a cab, their luggage and weird packets
attracted the Biggs' boy who stood there, stared at them and tried to
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guess what the matter was. The three men were unable to deter him
from his mission. The boy monitored them from close quarters and
hailed other boys to join him. Soon a small crowd gathered there which
made all kinds of conjectures and also made fun of them. The Biggs boy
has a talent in securing the services of the most unprincipled errand
boys that civilization has yet produced.
2. Why was Montmorency unhappy and deeply suspicious as he sat in
the prow of the boat?
Ans. The three friends finally reached Kingston where they found their boat
waiting for them under a bridge. They stored their luggage and took
their position in different convenient places of the boat.
Montmorency had no choice but to sit in the prow. He did not enjoy
solitude but liked noise and action. He felt there lonely and that he was
on a journey devoid of adventures. So he looked unhappy and
suspicious.
Chapter-VI
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. Why was Kingston so famous?
Ans. Kingston saw many kings Crowned, Great caesar crossed the river
there, Roman Kings camped there and Queen Elizabeth of England
stopped there which made it famous.
2. With Whom is Harris being compared and Why?
Ans. Harris is compared with Queen Elizabeth who is described to have
visited all public houses of Kingston. In the same way Harris knows
every nook and corner where one can find drinks as he is fond of
drinking.
3. Why do you think the owner of shop had covered the old oak
panelling with blue wall paper?
Ans. The owner of the shop had covered it with blue wall paper because oak
panelling looked very gloomy. He did not like the look as he thought it
would be like living in a church.
4. What was peculiar about Stivvings?
Ans. Stivvings' ambitions were indeed peculiar because when other boys of
his age explored all ways and means to get sick and to miss school,
Stivvings felt sad that due to his ill health he was not able to do his Latin
exercise.
5. Do you think Harris was a good guide? Why or Why not?
Ans. Harris was not a good guide. He could not come out of the maze. He met
some people who were lost and asked them to follow him. But every
time he tried to begin from the entrance, he lost his way and took them
in a middle and found no way to come out.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What does Jim say about the China Dog and other such objects?
Ans. Jim shows his philosophical view on man's attitude towards the
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2.
Ans.
3.
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4.
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treasure of art. He says that things priced and looked at with awe today
are nothing but commonly used articles of common people of three or
four hundred years ago. He shows his love for history and nature and
reveals a reality that present will become past. He talks of the China
dog showpiece lying in his furnished lodging which is an ordinary
piece of art work disliked by the writer as well as his land lady. He
thinks after two hundred years, when this ordinary China dog would be
dug up, people would admire it and praise the use of colours. He claims
that it is human nature to prize what is rare and overlook what is
common and easily accessible to man.
What was special about shopkeeper's house? What changes were
made by him in it?
There was a superb carved oak staircase in the shopkeeper's house. Its
walls were oak-panelled with exquisite carvings. The drawing room
was decorated with blue wall paper because the shopkeeper felt that
oak gave a gloomy and awful look to the whole house, so he covered it
with bright blue wall paper. The writer says that other people have to
spend a lot to give their homes a look of carved oak but this man having
it in plenty did not care a little for it.
What happened to Harris in the maze?
Harris felt it was quite easy to come out of the maze at Hampton where
he had gone to guide one of his cousins. He studied the map but found it
misleading. He met some people in the maze who could not find their
way out. Harris confidently asked them to follow him. They thought
him as a great saviour and followed him. He planned to keep on turning
to the right but reached the some place again. People realised their folly
and called him and impostor. Finding no way out people shouted out for
the keeper but the newly employed keeper did not know the way out. At
last and old keeper rescued them.
Why wouldn't writer like to live actually at Hompton Court?
Though the writer admires the peacefulness of Hampton Court, but he
would not like to live there as he was bred in a city and was accustomed
to its din, population, commotion and noise. The serenity of nature, the
rustling of trees seem to be pleasant during the day but ghostly and eerie
in the night. They present a strange, dull and mysterious stillness all
around. So he would like to live in a place where there are gas-lit streets
echoing with human voice and throbbing with life.
Analysing the Characters:
1. What is writer's opinion about the "art treasures of today"?
Ans. The writer has described his view about the art treasures. In his opinion
things priced highly and looked at with awe today are nothing more
than commonly used articles by common people three or four hundred
years ago. He wonders if this trend will be followed in future also. Then
he talks of the China dog showpiece lying in his lodgings which
everybody disliked. He thinks after two hundred years when this
ordinary China piece would be dug up in 2228 people would admire it
and would be wonder-struck by the use of colours. The author
comments that it is the human tendency to prize what is rare and
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3. Was Harris a lover of Tombs?
Ans. Harris is a lover of Tombs. Whenever he gets to a village he rushes off to
the churchyard and enjoys the graves.
4. Who broke Jim's reverie and Why?
Ans. An old bald-headed man broke Jim's reverie intervening by asking him
if he wanted to see the tombs whereas Jim was lost in imagination of a
pious life free from all sins and absurdities on seeing the lovely
landscape. But the old man's shrill voice upset him.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Explain the beauty of riverside as narrated by the writer.
Ans. The sunny river is flanked by the inhabitants of Hampton and Mousley
who dress themselves up in their finest boating costumes. People
wearing colourful costumes and sitting in the boats look fascinating.
The riverside becomes the venue for people to flaunt their taste in
colours and attractive attires. People with their dogs come here. They
flirt, smoke and watch the boats. The hats, pretty coloured dresses of
ladies and jackets of men make the river a confluence of amazing and
fascinating colours. Pretty girls, excited dogs, moving boats, white
sails, the pleasant landscape and the sparkling water produe the gayest
sights of the river.
2. What experience the writer has to face when he accompanied two
ladies on a boat-trip?
Ans. Once Jim accompanied two ladies who were in silky stuff, flowers and
ribbons, dainty shoes and light gloves. Jim thought that they were
dressed for a photographic studio and not for a river picnic. They found
the boat quite dirty and felt it might spoil their lovely dresses. When the
writer sculled the boat, the oars splashed a few drops of water on their
dresses and left stains. The writer tried his best to avoid flickering of
water from falling over their dresses. But the oarsman splashed a good
amount of water on them. The ladies covered themselves with rugs to
save their clothes from staining. Every time a drop touched them, they
visibly shrank and shuddered. Though it was a noble sight to see them
suffering silently, but the writer felt nervous as he is too sensitive. During
the lunch the ladies were reluctant to sit on dusty grass. The were always
apprehensive that somebody might spill the curry on their dresses. They
thought only of their dresses and could not enjoy the picnic.
3. How do you enjoy the humour in dressing sense of the three men?
Ans. The dressing sense of the three friends is quite humorous. Jim likes red
and black that match his golden brown hair. He feels that a light blue
necktie goes well with it. A pair of Russian shoes and a red silk hanky
round the waist give the combination a push. Harris likes shades of
orange and yellow but that does not suit him as his complexion is too
dark for yellow dress. The writer advises him to have a combination of
blue and white but he refuses. The writer concludes that the less taste a
person has in dress, the more obstinate he is. George has brought new
things for the trip. His blazer is gaudy and showy. Jim thinks that it does
not suit him but George is adamant. He says people should wear such
dresses with can bear onslaughts of water.
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underestimate what is common and easily obtained.
2. Give your own examples to show that people are not contended
with what they have got, they always long for what they don't have.
Ans. There are people who crave for new art pieces and they are ready to pay
any price for that. Through this anecdote the writer presents bitter fact
of human nature that people are not contended with what they have but
crave for what they don't have. For example a man, maintaining a bike,
is not satisfied with it rather he craves for a car which may be out of his
reach and impossible to maintain. Yet another craves for a big house
which he does not have. The writer tries to prove that it is a human
nature that the more he has the more he desires.
3. Experience counts much, a novice may go wrong. Justify this
statement in the light of the troubles faced by Harris in maze.
Ans. Experience has its own importance in human life. An experienced
person is always good at every task whereas a novice generally may go
wrong. As in the maze episode, Harris is an inexperienced man who in
spite of trying again and again failed to come out of the maze. The same
is the case with the newly appointed Keeper. He goes to rescue the
people who lost their way out but he himself was lost in the maze. It is
the experienced man like the old keeper who succeeds and rescues the
people along with Harris. Though Harris is confident of himself but he
has no experience of the job that is why he wandered in the maze
without finding a way out.
4. Writer has commented upon two traits of Harris's character in this
chapter. What are they?
Ans. The writer takes a dig at Harris and tells us that there was hardly any
pub which Elizabeth had not visited as shown by the signs displayed
there. This reminds him of his friend Harris who frequently visited pubs
in search of drinks. The writer imagines if Harris becomes the Prime
minister and dies, the pubs he had never entered would become famous.
Secondly the writer mocks at his boastful and over confident attitude.
He braggs about knowing the ins and outs of the maze but soon he is
awarded with the title of 'an imposter' by the people stranded there and
his chains get exposed. Thus his two traits are– he is fond of drinking
and he is over confident.
Chapter-VII
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What objection did writer raised?
Ans. Harris wanted to visit Mrs Thomas's tomb but who she was, was not
known to him. Jim objected it strongly and said that they had to reach
Shepperton by 5 to meet George.
2. Why Jim disliked the blazer of George.
Ans. His blazer was gaudy and showy which did not suit him, so Jim did not
like it.
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4. What happened when Harris tried to pick a bottle from the
hamper?
Ans. Harris wanted to go to a pub for a drink. Jim told him that there was no
pub for miles around and suggested to take out the bottle of
concentrated lemonade lying in the bottom of the hamper. Harris with
one hand searched for it and bent down. He also had to steer the boat at
the same time. Mistakingly he pulled the wrong line and sent the boat
into the bank. The shock upset him and he dived right into the hamper
and stood there on his head holding on the sides of the boat, his legs
sticking up into the air. Jim held his legs and hauled him back. This
made him mad and furious.
5. Mention the reason of fleeing the writer from village church.
Ans. One golden morning of a sunny day, the writer visited the country
church where he was so much impressed by the beautiful landscape that
he became idyllic, poetical and it inspired him to imagine, to lead a
blame less, noble and pious life free from sins and absurdities. But an
old bald-headed man broke his reverie and asked him if he wanted to
see the graves. The writer was disturbed as he was lost in the
imagination and was not least desirous to see them. He got angry with
the old man who again and again asked him to see the graves or sculls.
The writer angrily said, "When you yourself are buried, I will come and
see yours." Troubled by the old man he fled from the village church.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Bring out the humour in the conversation between the old feeble
hobbling sexton and the writer.
Ans. When the writer was brooding over life, friends, forgiveness and sin in
the peaceful and charming landscape of a village churchyard, an old
sexton disturbed him when he come shouting, 'I am coming sir'. He
repeatedly pleaded the writer to follow him, if he wanted to see the
graves, if he was eager to see the sculls. The writer was maddened and
he threatened him to kill the old fool. But the old man kept calm and his
tone became softer. The writer went harsher and harsher but the old
man coolly insisted on him to see the graves. The writer said angrily
that he had a family graveyard and that he was not desirous to see the
graves of strangers. The way the writer discourages the old man and the
way he pleads to the writer to see the graves make the episode truly
humorous. The writer flees at the mention of sculls.
2. "The less taste a person has in dress, the more obstinate he always
seem to be." What does the statement reveal about the speaker's
nature?
Ans. Jim, the writer, makes this statement when he talks about Harris's taste
of colours. He finds that Harry is poor at choosing the right colours of
dress for himself. Harris likes orange and yellow but according to the
writer his complexion was too dark for yellow coloured costumes. The
writer attributes his obstinate nature to his choice of colours. The writer
is some what more sophisticated in his attitude towards dress and likes
red and black that match his golden brown coloured hair.
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Chapter-VIII
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. Why Jim and Harris wanted to kill the owner of the park?
Ans. They wanted to kill the owner of the park for employing a blackmailer
keeper who declined the offer of breadend jam but wanted a shilling in
return of trespassing the park.
2. In what situation Harris wanted to sing a comic song?
Ans. Harris is so furious on the matter of blackmailing them by the
gentleman in shirt-sleeves and a short pipe that he wants to kill the
owner of the park with all his kith and kin and even to burn their house
and then he wants to sing a comic song on their ruins.
3. Who was Herr Boschen? What happened with him?
Ans. Herr Boschan was a German singer. Once he had made the German
Emperor weep by his tragic song. In the present episode, it is told that
he is going to sing his famous comic song. Nobody understood the
German language so they laughed and tittered thinking it a comic song
whereas it was really a tragic song. The singer was surprised and even
angry to see people laughing rather than weeping.
4. Why did the two people insulted the singer?
Ans. The two young men who had just returned from Germany seemed
restless and uncomfortable in the fashionable party. The polished
conversation and the high-class tastes of the people at the party, were
beyond them. So they felt humiliated and in order to take revenge, they
insulted the singer.
5. What had George brought with him and why?
Ans. He brought a curious oilskin-covered parcel in his hand and that was
not a frying pan but a banjo.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. How could Harris and Jim escape from being blackmailed?
Ans. Harris and Jim stopped under the willow by Kingston Park and were
enjoying their lunch when and old bald-headed man told them that they
were trespassing the park and that it was his duty to remove them. Jim
and Harris were not worried of it and Harris who well built and strong
asked him how he would remove them. The man retreated from there.
Actually he wanted some money by blackmailing them. He said that he
would through them in the river after consulting his owner but when
they both rebuked him angrily and threatened to kill him and his owner,
the man disappeared and did never return.
2. What are the views of Jim and friends of Harris regarding the
singing talent of Harris?
Ans. Harris is confident that he can sing comic songs very well but his
friends did not believe so. They say he will never be able to sing nor he
should be allowed to try. Once in a party he got up to sing a comic song.
After a long lecture on the qualities of a comic song, he sang the Judge's
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3.
Ans.
4.
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5.
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6.
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song out of Pinafore. The nervous pianist tried to follow him but failed
miserable. When he knew from his friends that he was singing the
Admiral's song from Pinafore, the over confident Harris argues a lot
and takes a general roar of laughter as a compliment. He could not sing
a single line properly but believed that he had really entertained his
audience and assures that he will sing again after supper. Jim knows
that he had made a fool of himself and dragged himself in a fix.
Describe the intention of two young men behind the singing of
German Professor.
The two young men intended to take revenge on the German singer for
insulting them. These young men who had just returned from Germany
seemed restless and uncomfortable in a fashion party. The polished
conversation and the high-class tastes of the people were beyond their
understanding. They brought a German professor to sing in the party.
They announced that he was going to sing one of his most famous
comic song. The prelude of the song was tragic, sullen and gloomy.
When he sang these two young men laughed and roared. The audience
not knowing German language, followed them and created a scene of
comedy. The professor felt deeply insulted. They had done it
knowingly to insult the German professor and make him a laughing
stock. They took their revenge and left the other people heart-broken.
Why German Professor was upset and felt insulted?
The German Professor had not imagined even in his wildest dreams
that he would have to bear such insult during his performance. Though
he sang the most tragic song in German language, but the audience
sniggered and laughed at his song considering it to be a comic one. The
professor tolerated their behaviour for some time but when he could not
bear it anymore, he stopped and abused them with all the words he
knew of English language.
Describe the tragic and pathetic reasons behind the song sung by
German professor.
The song was tragic and pathetic, the most famous song written and
sung by the German professor. Once he sang it before the German
Emperor who became so sad to hear it that tears fell from his eyes.
Actually this song was related to the story of a young girl who
sacrificed her life for her lover. When he died he met her spirit in the
heaven but later on he left her spirit for the spirit of another girl. Thus
the song contained a tragic, gloomy and pathetic touch.
What surprised the two friends when they met George at
Weybridge?
When Jim and Harris reached Weybridge, they were surprised to see
George's blazer on one of the lock gates. They suspected something
unhappy has happened with George. But closer inspection showed that
George was inside it. Montmorency barked furiously, Harris roared
and Jim shrieked. George waved his hat and yelled back. Due to this
commotion the lock-keeper rushed out thinking someone had fallen
into the lock. George showed them a curious oilskin parcel. He told
them that it was not a frying pan but a banjo which was very easy to play
on as he had brought a instruction book.
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Analysing the Characters:
1. Blackmailers thrive because people do not oppose them. Give your
opinions.
Ans. When Jim and Harris were enjoying their lunch in the park, an old man
approached them and told them that they had trespassed into a private
property. He also told them that his duty was to remove such people
from the park and threatened to throw them into the river. Actually he
wanted to get some money by blackmailing them. But the friends were
bold and they did not succumb to his tactics and put up a brave
encounter which made the man retreat quietly. The writer claimed that
people in order to avoid any trouble, encourage them by giving into
their demands. That was the reason the blackmailers thrived. He
suggests people should oppose and question such people which can
curb on such practices.
2. Can language be a hurdle in getting the tone and theme of a song?
What do you say?
Ans. Language can be a hurdle in understanding the wordings of a song but
one can clearly get the tone and theme of a song when sung in some
foreign language. We can understand whether the tone is tragic or
comic. In the opisode of the German singer, the prelude of his song was
tragic and pathetic. But people were confused by the two young men
who laughed and pretended to show by their appearances that it was a
comic song. People did not know the German so they were deluded by
the expressions of the young men and they followed them and
presented a comic scene. Had they been able to understand the German
language, they would have never behaved in that manner.
3. Write a diary entry from Herr Boschen's side about how he felt
after the party is over.
Ans. Monday, March 25, 201...
10 p.m
While singing that tragic song which was full of sentiments and
emotions, I felt very sad. I expected pin drop silence and people to shed
tears. But I was puzzled to see people laughing and roaring as if I was
singing a comic song. I could not understand why people behaved in
such a way. Emotions and sentiments are universal and language can be
no barrier in grasping the soul and spirit of a song even if it is sung in an
alien language. Tears lurked in my eyes but stopped them from rolling
down my cheeks.
Now I feel that I was foolish when I shook my fists and murmured nasty
words to the listeners. How could I stoop so low and be a pedestrian. fie
on me. How can I call them uncivilized when I behaved like a denizen
of a jungle. I should have told the audience about the song before hand
or presented the theme through gestures. So I am to blame. I would like
to be cautious in future.
Herr Slossenn Boschen
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Chapter-IX
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What work was given to George when he joined his friends?
Ans. When George joined his friends, they made him tow them up to
Runnymede.
2. How did George try to escape work?
Ans. George tried to escape the work by putting off the tow-lines, but Jim
and Harris made him tow.
3. In what way tow-lines are strange and unaccountable?
Ans. Tow-lines are strange and unaccountable because the one who tries to
disentangle it, thinks all the faults lie with the man who rolled it up. It is
too difficult to disentangle the rolled up tow-lines.
4. Why, according to writer it's better to let one person tow?
Ans. According to the writer it is better to let one person tow. When two
persons are towing, they get chattering and forget the boat.
5. Why did the three friends regret not having stopped at Penton
Hook?
Ans. There was a quiet wooded part of the river and a good shelter. The
friends desired to enjoy this natural beauty but it was a dull and weary
task at the end of the day. They regretted it and wished afterwards that
they had stopped at Penton Hook and enjoyed it in the morning when
they were refreshed.
6. Which lock was writer looking for? Why couldn't they find it?
Ans. The writer was looking for the Wallingford lock. They could not find it
because there was no Wallingford lock for the last one year.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What was the Boveney incident? Narrate in your own words.
Ans. The writer describes an interesting incident that took place at Boveney.
As they came round the bend they saw two men on the bank. They
looked confused and had a miserable expression. They had a long towline between them on asking they told that their boat had drifted off.
When they were busy in disentangling the tow-line their boat was gone.
It went down a mile further and was held by some rushes. Jim and party
brought it back to the two bewildered men.
2. "When girls tow, there is never a dull moment." Explain.
Ans. The writer says that to see girls towing is much enjoyable. He suggests
never to miss the opportunity to see them towing a boat. As the ladies
begin by getting themselves tied up. They first wrap it round their legs
and sit down to undo it and then they would wrap it round their necks
and get nearly strangled. Eventually when they get it straight, they pull
the boat so fast that they run out of breath and so sit down to rest but
their boat drifts out in the river. Thus their attempts at towing the boat
evoke laughter and humour.
3. The sound of accordian was the sweetest music he had ever heard.
With What does the writer compare it?
Ans. The writer compares the sweet sound of the accordion with heavenly
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4.
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5.
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melody, a soul-moving harmony. The wheezy sound of the accordion
was something singularly human and reassuring. It was far, far more
beautiful than the voice of orpheus or the lute of Apollo.
What happened to the boat being towed by a small boy on a
powerful barge horse?
The three men saw a small boat being towed through the water at a
tremendous pace by a powerful barge horse, on which a small boy was
sitting, five other fellows were lying in the boat in dreamy and
reposeful attitude. George said that he wanted to see the man (towing it)
pull the wrong line. Suddenly the man did it and the boat rushed up the
bank with a noise like the ripping up of forty thousand linen sheets. Two
men fell down on the starboard side, two men disembarked from the
starboard and sat down among boat-hooks and sails. The fifth went on
twenty yards further and then got out on his head. The boat got lighten
and went on much easier. The boy kept on shouting and urging his steed
into a gallop. All the five men realised what had happened and began to
shout lustily for the boy to stop. But the boy did not hear them, so the
men flew after him.
"We thanked them over and over again." Who are "We" here?
Whom are they thanking and Why?
Here "We" are the writer and the young lady– a cousin from the side of
writer's mother. They thanked those attractive and lovable people who
were the part of the party of provincial 'Arrys and' Arriets, out for a moon
light sail. They thanked for telling them that there was no Wallingford
lock the writer was looking for and that he was close to cleave.
Analysing the Characters:
1. What do you understand about the characters of three friends
from this chapter? Explain with examples.
Ans. This chapter does not reveal much about the characters of three friends
as it is more devoted to the stories about tow-lines. However we come
to know that George is lazy and wants to avoid work but the writer and
Harris are bent on making him do it. Harris is a bit blunt and not prone to
pity. The writer, while narrating his experiences at dealing with towlines, does not miss any chance to seek humour in each story. Besides
being lazy, George is mischievous also as he makes the young couple
tow their heavily laden boat. The writer becomes a bit philosophical in
the description of towing.
2. Why do you think writer tells so many stories about towing? How
do these stories help in the progress of plot and explaining human
foibles?
Ans. In the beginning of the Chapter, the writer declares that towing is not a
simple business. It is a matter of dealing with a world of knots, loops
and tangles. In order to prove himself right and to tell the readers how
the business of towing could cause a number of humorous incidents, he
relates some interesting stories. The tow-line and the towing business
give the writer an opportunity to talk of a variety of people and their
attitude. The reader is thoroughly entertained by the interesting and
humorous episodes related to towing.
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Three Men in a Boat
Chapter-X
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. Why did the three dropped the idea of camping at Magna Charta?
Ans. Now they didn't want to look at any scenery but just to eat supper and go
to bed, so they dropped the idea of camping there.
2. Why George suggested to make camp first?
Ans. He suggested to put up the tent before eating supper because it was
getting dark and they might not to able to see what they were doing.
3. Give one example each to show the changed behaviour of three
friends after supper.
Ans. After supper all of them felt deeply contented and satisfied with
themselves and with the world. Harris, in moving about, trod on
George's corn. George was not annoyed but he only said, "Steady, old
man", and nothing happened. Had this happened before supper there
would have been a scene. Harris also was very humble and regretted by
saying, "oh I'm sorry, old chap." George said why could not they be
always like this, away from the sin and temptation, leading sober and
peaceful lives and doing good. Jim said it was the sort of thing he had
often longed for himself. Thus they behaved politely and friendly.
4. Why could the writer not sleep after the supper?
Ans. The writer felt restless and uncomfortable because of the hardness of
the boat, novelty of the place and the sound of the lapping water round
the boat.
5. How does a person feel when his stomach is empty according to Jim?
Ans. He feels tired and annoyed. He cannot work, he cannot think, even he
cannot bear someone talking about anything.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What problems did the three friends face in making the camp?
Ans. The three friends thought putting up the tent was an easy job but it
turned out to be quite tedious. They struggled hard to put the hoops into
sockets but they put them into wrong sockets. They had to take them out
and during the process they hurted themselves. After fixing them they
tried to cover over them. George unrolled the canvas and fastened one
end, Harris stood in the middle to pass it on to the writer who stood on
the other side. Harris bungled it and got himself wrapped in it and
knocked over George who too got entangled in it. They had to struggle
hard to disentangle themselves. Finally with Jim's kind support they
were able to disentangle themselves.
2. What makes the writer feel happy and contented?
Ans. The writer feels happy and contended when his stomach is full ie when
he is satisfied with proper meal. He says that after a good meal we feel
happy and contented. We feel so forgiving and generous after a hearty
and well-digested meal– so noble minded and so kind-hearted that the
whole world seems to us to be happy.
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Three Men in a Boat
3. What were the feelings of the writer and his two friends after
supper?
Ans. After the supper all the three friends felt satisfied, happy and contented.
Before the supper they were quarrel some and ill-tempered. They felt
irritated even while talking to each other. But after the supper, they
became quiet, civilized and humble and they behaved humbly and
politely. Harris, while moving about, trod on George's corn but George
did not react and Harris apologized for it. For the writer, it was quite
amazingly pleasant to watch the two man behave so politely. So the
writer said, "It was pleasant to hear them."
4. Narrate the story of George's father in your own words.
Ans. One night, George's father had to stay at an inn along with his friend
where they met a few more people and spent their evening with them.
Then they took a candle to reach the room where there were two beds
for them. But the candle went out and it was totally dark. Due to
darkness they both landed on the same bed with one's head on the
pillow and the other's legs on it. After sometime they told each other
that there was someone lying in their bed and decided to fight him out.
They both hit each other thinking they were hitting the strangers and
fell down on the floor with a loud thud. Actually they both were on the
same bed but because of darkness and drinks they had taken, they could
not understand it and took each other to be a stranger.
5. What were the observations and feelings of the writer when after
supper he walked on the bank of the river?
Ans. As the writer felt restless and uncomfortable in the boat, he could not
sleep and came out of it and walked on the river-bank. He found the
night to be a loving mother. Who lays her hand upon our favered head.
She turns our sad faces to smiles. Without speaking a word she places
our tormented cheek against her bosom and relieves us of our pains.
Our day remains full of fret and care. Our hearts remain full of evil and
bitter experiences. We moan, we cry and we groan but night, like a
mother, understands our emotions of grief. Her heart melts as she
cannot bear to see us tossing in pain. She soothes our emotions, she
checks our lurking tears and makes us understand that pain and sorrow
are but the angels of God. We are blessed with rest and peace of mind in
the lap of night.
Analysing the Characters:
1. "We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach." What do
these words signify? How do they reveal the character of the writer?
Ans. Man is the slave of his stomach. Morality and righteousness come later
on. All human and worldly activities depend on the stomach. If our
stomach is empty, we cannot work, we cannot think. Our stomach
directs us to emotions and passions. After breakfast it says work, after
lunch it says take rest and after supper it says sleep. After a stimulant it
says to the brain, now rise and show your strength, be elegant, deep and
tender. Search nature and soar up high and reach the gates of eternity. A
full stomach makes us noble, benevolent, friendly and polite.
Here the writer becomes philosophical and justifies the old Indian
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2.
Ans.
3.
Ans.
philosophy which says– one cannot meditate or sing in praise of God, if
one's stomach is empty.
Describe the character of the writer as a lover of nature.
The writer could not sleep in the boat. He woke up and got lost in the
beauty of nature. He paints the beauty of the night and concludes that
there is something greater present in nature that takes away pain and
suffering. The writer becomes poetic and philosophical in his mood.
The night, adorned with stars, provided him comfort and solace. He felt
in its presence all sorrows creep away and like a mother, it embraces his
tear stained face in its comforting lap. The pleasant star-lit might had
great soothing effect on the writer. Thus we come to know that besides
his humorous narration of events, he has a great love for nature. He
seems to exaggerate the events in order to produe humour, at the same
time he seems to be true and real while narrating beauty of nature.
What does the writer say about pain and sorrow?
The writer says that pain and sorrows have no language but only a moan.
He regards the night as a caring mother who embraces our tear-strained
faces in her comforting arms and relieves us of our sorrows. It takes our
pained hearts into its fold and takes us to the Almighty where our sorrows
appear to be too small to be felt. He feels that our pains and sorrows are
the twin angels of God. Those who have undergone real sufferings, feel
the glorious light but never speak of the mystery behind it.
Vol-II
Chapter-XI
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What made George got up early when he was staying with Mrs
Gippings?
Ans. One evening his watch had stopped at a quarter past eight. He had an
appointment the next day at nine. He woke up at 3:00 but when he saw
his watch showing 8:15, he dressed and rushed downstairs.
2. What made him curse the lady and call her a lazy old woman?
Ans. George was angry with Mrs Gippings for not waking at a decent time.
He thought he was already late and she was yet sleeping with locked
main door which he himself had to open.
3. What advice did the policeman give to George?
Ans. The policeman advised George to go back home and throw his watch.
4. What made George think policeman would handcuff him?
Ans. George was afraid of making his breakfast for fear of noise which might
make Mrs G. wake up and that she would think it was burglars, open the
window and call "Police!" and lest police should handcuff him.
5. What made George laugh at the writer and what made him mump
soon?
Ans. In a hurry to dress, the writer's shirt fell into the water which made
George laugh loudly. But soon he felt ashamed when Jim told him that
it was his (George's) shirt.
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Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What made the three friends not to swim although they earlier had
planned to do so?
Ans. The three friends had decided to have and early morning swim but the
chilly wind and the cold water made them lose their zeal for it. Harris
and George were reluctant but the writer decided to go down to the edge
and just throw water on him. So he took his towel and crept to the
branch of a tree that dipped into the water. The branch gave way and he
fell into the water with a tremendous splash.
2. What happened to the writer and how did he try to hide the
humiliation?
Ans. The writer decided to go down to the edge of water and just to throw
water on himself. He crept to the branch of a tree that dipped into the
water. As the writer stepped in, the branch gave way and he fell into the
water with a loud splash. Harris cried "By Jove! old J.'s gone in." The
writer tried to hide the humiliation by telling that it was lovely and that
they both were clumsy not to come in. He showed as if he were
enjoying in the cold water. He asked George and Harris to try it but
could not persuade them.
3. Describe the humour in Harris's attempt to prepare breakfast.
Ans. Harris offered to cook scrambled eggs for all of them for breakfast. He
assured them that it was his speciality. It made their mouths water. They
handed him the stove, the frying-pan and half a dozen eggs. He had
difficulty in breaking the eggs and putting them into the frying-pan.
Whenever he touched the pan he burned himself. He was also afraid of
messed eggs running up his trousers and sleeve. He just dropped
everything into the frying-pan and danced. After sometime what they
got was a teaspoonful of burnt and unappetising mess.
4. Find out the great historical event that happened on June 1215 in
England.
Ans. The signing of the Magna charta by king John, was the great historical
event that took place in June 1215. It was a charter of liberties to which
the English barons forced King John to give his assent. The Magna
Charta was signed by the king at Runningmede in England.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Harris had a boastful nature that always landed him in nothing but
trouble. Explain.
Ans. Harris always seems boasting of himself. He boasts that he prepares
very good scrambled eggs. But while doing so he makes a fool of
himself. He is troubled of breaking the eggs and also looks incapable of
getting them into the frying-pan after breaking them. He keeps the
broken eggs off his trousers and preventing them from running up his
sleeve. He put half a dozen eggs into the pan at last and then squatted
down beside the pan. Then he dropped everything into the pan. He kept
on flicking his fingers about and cursing the things and dancing around
the stove. Finally all that came out was a teaspoonful of burnt and
unappetising looking mess.
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2. Describe the character sketch of Jim as an admirer and lover of
history.
Ans. A new fact of Jim's nature has come out in this Chapter in the form of his
love for history. He recount a memorable event of history, illustrating it
with great verbal pictures full of details describing King John, the
barons and the people of England. He has given us a vivid picture of the
events that compel King John to sign the charter of liberty. The inner
struggle of the king when he debates with himself to cut loose, a signal
to his french troops, one desperate charge upon the rebellious barons
and then he weighs the odds against him. His heart sinks before the
stern faces of the English fighting men and the arm of King John drops
back on to his rein, he dismounts and takes his seat in the barge. Thus he
takes his first step to the signing of the great charter of liberties the
Magna Charta. The writer has described and recorded the event for his
readers and the posterity.
Chapter-XII
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What was special about the ruins of old priory in the grounds of
Ankerwyke House?
Ans. The ruins were famous for meetings between Henry VIII and Anne
Boleyn, his second Queen.
2. Why did the writer call the small boy an angel?
Ans. The writer called him an angel because the boy had taken them to his
house and his mother provided them with food and shelter at such a
time when they could find no room in any hotel.
3. What accommodation did the three friends get at Datchet?
Ans. At first they rejected all the hotels for this or that reason and later on
there was no room left for them. Then a small boy took them to their
house where his mother gave them two beds to sleep in.
4. What had the three friends forgotten to bring with them? How did
the writer feel about its absence?
Ans. They forgot to bring mustard with them for which the writer hankered
at lunch time and had his lunch without mustard.
5. What had Jim done while dreaming?
Ans. Jim, while steering the boat, began to dream and barged straight into a
boat in which three old men were sitting on chairs and fishing.
6. Why did the three old men curse the three friends?
Ans. Jim barged the boat in which three men were sitting on chairs and
fishing. They fell down and got badly hurt. After getting recovered,
they cursed them comprehensively in a bad manner.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What was the reason behind rejecting two hotels by Jim and
Harris?
Ans. The writer rejected the first hotel as it did not have a honeysuckle in its
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2.
Ans.
3.
Ans.
4.
Ans.
5.
Ans.
porch. Harris rejected the second hotel because he didn't like the look of
the man leaning against the front door and wearing ugly boots. These
were the only two inns in the place.
What humour did the three friends experienced at Datchet?
After rejecting the second hotel they went back to the first hotel to stay.
But it was full and there was no accommodation there. Already there
were three men in one bed. Then they went to manor, the second hotel.
The landlady told them they were the fourteenth party she had refused
in the last one and a half hour. A shop nearby was also full with two
married couples and a single gentleman. The grocer next door was also
full. An old lady took them to her friend's house which was also full.
This way the three friends walked miles. Harris felt exhausted and
unable to go further or die there. He requests George and Jim to kiss his
mother on behalf of him and tell his relatives that he forgave them and
died happily. They fell upon the neck of the small boy in gratitude and
the boy unable to sustain himself, sank to the ground and the three
friends fell down on top of him.
Narrate the experience of three friends in opening the pineapple
tine.
George drew out a tin of pineapple from the hamper and all of them felt
that life was worth living after all. They searched for a tin opener but
could not find it. Harris tried to open it with a pocket knife but broke the
knife and cut himself badly. George tried with a pair of scissors but the
scissors flow up and struck his eye. Jim tried to make a hole in it with
the spiky end of a hitcher which slipped and jerked him out between the
boat and the bank into two feet of muddy water and the tin rolled over,
uninjured, and broke a tea cup. Then they all tried to smash it with a
large stone. George was narrowly saved by his straw hat. The
description presents the three friends to be all humorous and behaving
like idiots.
How does the writer describe sailing?
The writer knew no more thrilling sensation than sailing. He imagines
to be flying while sailing. The wings of the rushing wind seem to take
him onward. We feel no longer the slow puny thing of clay plodding
and creeping tortuously upon the ground rather we are a part of nature.
Our heart throbs against hers. The glorious arms of nature are around
us, raising us up against her heart. Our limbs grow light. The voices of
the air sing to us. We feel away from earth and the clouds close to our
heads are like our brothers whom we desire to take in our arms.
Narrate their trip from Magna Charta Island to Marlow in your
own words.
On the way from Magna Charta Island to Marlow, Jim was sailing the
boat. Meanwhile he was lost in imagination dreaming of the beauty of
nature and carelessly he barged a boat in which three old men were
sitting on chairs and enjoying fishing. The three men fell down their
chairs and got hurted and cursed the three friends with long and
comprehensive curses. George said that he (Jim) should not give away
his brilliant mind is steering boat rather a mere common place human
being (like George) should sail it last they all should get drowned.
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George took the lines then and sailed the boat up to Marlow, where they
left the boat by the bridge and went to stay at the "Crown."
Analysing the Characters:
1. What do you learn about George's character in this chapter?
Ans. George has been shown as a sensible and practical person except for
what happened to him when he tried to open the pineapple tin. He keeps
the tin with him and brings it down to show to people and telling them
the old story with fresh exaggeration. It shows his attachment and
sentimentality. When Jim barges his boat into another fishing boat
knocking three old men into the boat, George said that he would steer it
himself as the writer with a mind like his ought not to be expected to
give itself away in steering boats. It would save them all from being
drowned. This shows he is out spoken and does not mince words. His
decision to go back to the stag shows that his approach is practical.
2. What does the way the three old men cursed the friends tell us
about human nature?
Ans. Jim, while steering his boat, knocked down the three old men into their
boat by ramming his boat into theirs. They were just fishing sitting on
chairs. They got hurtled and started cursing the three friends, not with a
common cursory curse but with long, carefully thought out and
comprehensive curses that embraced the whole career of the three
friends and went into the distant future and included all their relations
and covered everything connected with them. We get at once aggressive
upon such incidents and abuse and curse the person responsible for that
without knowing the actual reasons for the happening. This is a
common human nature to abuse others in such a situation.
3. Throw a light on Harris's character as emerged in this chapter.
Ans. Harris is a humourous character not in his thinking but also in his
actions. He rejects the second hotel because he doesn't like the hair of
the men leaning at the front door. He is annoyed of his boots. How he
falls on the boy who offered them lodgings, creates a humarous scene.
How he leaves George and the writer to carry the luggage is quite
humorous. His attempts at opening the pine apple tin and his comments
on the language of the three old men all reveal his humorous and jolly
character. Though he is grieved by the language of the old men still he
feels grateful to them for providing some excitement. Thus we find him
quite laughing and humorous throughout the chapter.
Chapter-XIII
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What is Jim's opinion about fox-terriers?
Ans. The writer thought that fox-terriers are worse four times than other dogs.
2. Why did Montmorency shrink with fear by the name of "Cats"?
Ans. Once Montmorency had picked up a fight with a large black tom (a he
cat), a very strong animal who just waited for montmorency to come to
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3.
Ans.
4.
Ans.
5.
Ans.
it with a look that said, "Yes! you want me?" Montmorency retreated
and allowed that cat to continue his walk. From that day, the word
'Cats!' made him shrink with fear.
What all things were brought by the three friends before leaving
Marlow?
Before leaving Marlow, they filled up their boat with vegetables
weighing more than ten pounds.
Why did the writer think he might have typhoid?
The three friends had no water left in their jar. They wanted tea so they
took water from the river, boiled it and prepared tea. All of them sat to
drink it. But George and Harris paused with their cups halfway to their
lips whereas the writer had emptied half his cup. When they saw a dog
who eased up into the river water, the writer was worried whether he
might have typhoid.
Why do you think Harris believed that his friends have brought
him in trouble?
Harris had been sitting, without knowing it, on the very verge of a small
gully. He asked George and Jim to give him a spoon to help the gravy
with. Meanwhile he tumbled down into the gully. He blamed George
and Jim for doing it deliberately and bringing him in trouble.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Describe the event that took place in the lobby of Hay-market stores.
Ans. One day, in the Hay-market stores lobby, different types of dogs were
waiting peacefully and patiently for their owners who were busy in
shopping. A lady came and tied up her fox-terrier between a bull dog
and a poodle. The fox-terrific bit the fore leg of the poodle. The puddle
cried loudly and suddenly all the dogs started fighting. There was a
pandemonium and terrific din all around. When the situation became
more grim police was called. Montmorency had a fight with a long and
strong tom cat. After that day Montmorency fears cats.
2. Describe the humour in the friends shopping before they left
Marlow.
Ans. They did their shopping after breakfast and stored up the boat for three
days. On the advice of George they bought vegetables– ten pounds of
potatoes, a bushel of peas and a few cabbages. Then they got a beefsteak
pie, a couple of gooseberry tarts, a leg of mutton, fruits and cakes, bread
and butter, jam, bacon and eggs. They had insisted all the shops they
had been, to send the things with them then and there. By the time they
finished, they had a fine collection of boys with baskets following them
to the river. It looked like a procession. The three friends and several
boys were going towards their boat loaded with baskets, hamper, bag,
coats, rugs, hats bulged out Gladstone bag and bottle of lime-juice etc.
The scene looked very funny and humorrous procession.
3. Describe the event that happened with Harris when he was carving
the beefsteak pie.
Ans. When Harris was carving the beefsteak, George and Jim were waiting
with their plates ready. Harris asked them for a spoon to help the gravy
with. They both turned to the hamper for a spoon. After five seconds
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4.
Ans.
5.
Ans.
when they looked round again, Harris and the pie were gone. They
found him invisible and imagined about various places where he might
have gone or what might have happened to him. Actually he had been
sitting, without knowing it, on the very verge of a small gully, the long
grass hiding it from view; and in leaning a little back, he had fallen into
it with pie. Harris believed that George and Jim had done it deliberately.
What advice did the friends get at Hambledon Lock? What
difficulty they found in admitting it?
The three friends found themselves short of water at Hambledon lock,
so they took their jar and went up to the lock keeper's house to beg for
some water. The lock keeper said that they could have as much as they
wanted. They thanked him and asked where it was, then he replied, in
the same place just behind them. They turned and saw the stream and
realised that he meant the river water. But they were reluctant and so
they got some water from a cottage. Still they thought it too might be
river water. They were not ready to admit the lock keeper's advice for
fear of falling ill by drinking river water.
How was the small boat of three friends more annoying and
aggravated then steam launches or all other crafts on the river put
all together?
The writer and his friends did not like steam launches. They disliked the
blatant confidence of a steam launch that arouses jealousy in their
minds. The writer disliked seeing the man standing with his hands in
his pocket, by the stern, smoking a cigar. He feels insulted by their
lordly whistle for smaller boats to get out of their way. He says that their
small boat (during that week) caused more annoyance and delay to the
steam launches than all the other crafts put together. The writer wishes
their boat to be directly in the way of the launch. The launch would
whistle like a mad, people on board would shriek but for nothing. Then
with one final shriek of a whistle, the launch would swing around and
get aground.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Give a brief character sketch of Jim as you read this chapter.
Ans. Jim, the writer, becomes poetic while passing through the historical
places. He also gives us a brief of anecdotes about important places. We
realise that he is a lover of scenery. He says that 'God has made this
sweet spot so bright'. His love for nature and pleasure is revealed when
he passed an adverse comment on the life of monks who lived in the
abbey "a grim life." He disapproves their way of life as they remained
silent waiting for a voice from heaven whereas God speaks to us in
myriad tones through nature which the monks did not hear. The writer
has an indulgent attitude towards the antics of Montmorency and puts
the entire blame on his breed– the fox-terries. He describes
Montmorency's encounter with the tom cat with a great sense of
humour. He is always ready with a story to support his views.
2. What does the behaviour of two friends on the event of Harris's
disappearance show about their character?
Ans. George and Jim behave in a manner that arouses laughter and humour.
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They seem not even the slightest worried about Harris rather they are
bent on making fun of him when he fell into the gully.
George and Jim gazed all around them but could not find Harris. The
writer was surprised–could he have been smatched up by Heaven? To
which George replied that they would hardly have taken the pie too and
thought there must have been an earthquake. Their shocked eyes came
up Harris's head– sticking bolt upright among the tall grass, the face
very red and indignant. George cried, "Speak and tell us whether you
are alive or dead-and where is the rest of you?"
Actually Harris had been sitting, without knowing it, on the very verge
of gully hidden with long grass, and in leaning a little back he had fallen
into it along with pie.
Chapter-XIV
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. Who was Mrs Sarah Hill? Why is there a memorial to her in the
church?
Ans. Mrs Sarah Hill was a lady who left 1 pound in her will to be divided at
Easter, every year between two boys and two girls who have never been
undutiful to their parents, who never told a lie to steal or to break
windows and this was the reason why her memorial was put in the
church.
2. Why was the writer not satisfied with the contribution of Mrs
Sarah Hill?
Ans. The writer felt the sacrifice of the two boys and girls to be too great to
recieve such a petty amount.
3. Mention the ingredients of Irish stew.
Ans. All the vegetables they found in their hampers including bacon, potted
salmon and pork pie etc. were the ingredients of the Irish stew.
4. What contribution did Montmorency want to make to the stew?
Ans. Montmorency wanted a dead rat to contribute to the stew.
5. Mention how Montmorency and Harris reacted when George
played the Banjo.
Ans. When George played on the banjo, Harris complained of headache and
Montmorency howled steadily right through the performance.
6. What happened to Harris after supper?
Ans. Harris felt upset due to the stew as he was not used to high living.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Describe the village scene at Sonning.
Ans. The village Sonning is a fairy-like little nook on the river. It is more like
a stage village than one built of bricks and mortar. Every house is
smothered in roses and in the early June they burst forth in clouds of
dainty splendour. The "Bull" is a village inn behind the church and in
the writer's words it is a genuine picture of an old country with green,
square courtyard in front where groups of old people sit under the trees
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2.
Ans.
3.
Ans.
4.
Ans.
in the evening and they drink their ale and gossip over village politics.
The houses have low, quaint rooms and latticed windows, awkward
stairs and winding passages.
Describe the reaction of society against the people who wish to
learn music.
Learning a musical instrument is quite a disheartening work. We would
think that society could assist a man to acquire the art of playing a
musical instrument. But it never helps anybody.
The writer is reminded of a young fellow who was studying to play the
bagpipes. He was opposed so vehemently not only by the neighbours
but also by his family members that we would be surprised. His father
opposed it and spoke unfeelingly on the subject. He used to get up early
in the morning to practise, but gave it up because of his sister who was
religious minded and thought it was an awful way to begin the day. He
began to practise in the night after his family had gone to bed, but
people going home late at night rebuked him and spread the tale that a
murder had been committed at the Jefferson's for they had heard the
victim's shrieks and the brutal oaths and curses of the murderer. Thus
everybody including the whole society cursed the boy who wanted
only to learn music.
Explain the experiences of the writer and Harris in pealing and
scrapping the potatoes.
George suggested his friends to prepare an Irish stew when they were
staying at Shiplake island. It seemed to them a fascinating idea. George
gathered wood and made a fire. Harris and the writer started to peel the
potatoes. The writer had never thought that peeling potatoes was such
an undertaking. The job turned out to be the biggest thing of its kind that
he had ever been in. They felt that the more they peeled, the more peel
there seemed to be left on. They kept on peeling till no patato was left-it
looked about the size of a peanut. George advised to scrap them and
then they felt it harder work than peeling as the potatoes had
extraordinary shaps–all bumps and warts and hollows. They worked
steadily for five-and-twenty minutes and did only four potatoes. They
felt tired and wanted rest. Then they just washed and without peeling
put half-a-dozen potatoes in the stew.
Narrate Harris's battle with swans as told by him.
Harris had a sad expression on him. When the writer and George
noticed it and asked him the reason, Harris said "Swans!" He boasted
that he had a fight with two swans and he defeated them with courage
and skill. But after half-an-hour they returned with eighteen other
swans and there had been a fearful battle. The swans had tried to drag
him and Montmorency out of the boat. He had defended himself like a
hero for four hours and had killed many of them. When George asked
him about the number of swans, he replied "Thirty two" and then told
they were twelve as he could not count them. We think his stomach was
upset with stew and whisky he had consumed. His brain became foggy
and confused. In the morning he could not even remember talking
about swans and said "What swans?"
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5. What did Montmorency do to the kettle and how was he rewarded?
Ans. Throughout the trip, Montmorency had manifested great curiosity
concerning the Kettle. He sat and watched it, as it boiled, with a puzzled
expression. He tried and roused it every now and then by growling at it.
When it began to splutter and steam, he regarded it as a challenge and
wanted to fight it. He wished to catch his prey before someone would
take it. He advanced towards it growling in a threatening attitude and
seized it by the spout and got hurt and burnt his nose. His reaction to the
boiling kettle reveals his fighting nature. From that day whenever he
saw it, he growled and ran away at a rapid speed and when it was upon
the stove, he climbed out the boat and sat on the bank.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Do you feel sorry for George when he was forced to sell the Banjo?
Ans. To some extent we feel sorry for George as he was forced to sell his
banjo. We agree that everyone has a right to learn and enjoy their
hobbies but not at the cost of other's comforts. It would have been better
if he had at first acquainted himself with the basics of playing a banjo.
He should have joined a good institution, coaching centre or a music
teacher and learnt to play on it regularly. Then he would have been able
to produce some good musical notes and not the blood-curdling shrieks
to terrarise and disturb others. Actually he is very bad at playing it and
so everybody feels annoyed and disturbed by the displeasing odd tunes
he produced.
2. Do you think Harris's encounter with swans was a real story or
not?
Ans. We regard the story not real. We feel Harris was a bit foxed due to his
upset stomach after eating the Irish stew and consuming whisky on top
of it. His brain become more foggy and confused. He seems to create
the story for he gave different accounts of the swans saying that they
were thirty two, then eighteen and then twelve. He claimed that the
swans had tried to drag him and Montmorency out of the boat and
drown them in the river. He told that with courage and skill, he had
defended himself for four hours and killed a lot of them. In the morning
he could not even remember talking about swans in the night. He is also
boastful by nature and good at creating fake stories.
3. Describe the character of three friends as lovers of food.
Ans. The three friends loved good food. Throughout the chapter we see that
they are very fond of tasty foods. In this chapter we come across the first
evidence of making Irish stew. The way it is described, the way they
prepare it, the names of food items and the nourishment it could give
them-everything shows they love food. The taste being piquant and
appetising with a sharp taste liable to increase the desire to eat and all
ready with their plates in hands show how eager they are to relish the
new food item. While walking around Henley, they long to be back in
their boat and indulge in talking of supper, whisky, cold meat and
chunks of bread. Again after returning to their boat they have a hearty
supper and wish to have some toddy which they could not find as Harris
had no idea where it was.
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Chapter-XV
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What is the writer's opinion about work?
Ans. The writer claims that he loves work. It fascinates him so much that he
sits back and admires it. He hates to part with it. He does not like to do
more than his share.
2. Why does the writer call the two youngsters at the sculls, "Simpleminded"?
Ans. The youngsters were made fool of them by the old and experienced
boatmen. They told them stories of their past feats and made them work
hard by rowing their boats. So they are called simple-minded.
3. How do the old boatmen differ from the new ones?
Ans. The old boatmen are crafty and experienced who avoid work by
befooling the new ones. The simple minded novices feel quite proud of
being allowed to row these old, wonderful oarsmen and they row the
boat with great zeal without stopping.
4. After exchanging their sculls for the second time, why did Bow and
Stroke become friendly?
Ans. When they exchanged their sculls for the second time and felt them
inconvenient, they concluded that the man has given them the wrong
set of sculls. They both abused the man and became quite friendly and
sympathetic.
5. Quote the remark which the writer makes to tell you that he has got
style in rowing a boat.
Ans. The writer opines that before sailing on the Thames, he had no style. He
says, "It was not till I came to the Thames that I got style. My style of
rowing is very much admired now. People say it is so quaint."
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Describe the encounter with Joskins.
Ans. The writer has described an event that took place when George was
sixteen. George and eight other gentlemen of about the same age had an
idea of hiring a boat at Kew and pulling it to Richmond and back.
Joskins, a shock-headed youth among them who had once or twice taken
out a boat on the Serpentine, told them that it was jolly fun, boating.
They hired an eight-oared racing outrigger. They took off their coats and
prepared to take their seats. A particularly nervous boy was appointed
cox and he was told by Joskins how to streer. Joskins himself took
stroke. When they started they received a violent blow in the small of the
back from the buttend of number five's scull, his own seat disappeared
from under him and he fell on board, number two also was lying on his
back at the bottom of the boat with his legs in the air. They passed under
Kew Bridge at the rate of eight miles an hour. George, on recovering his
seat, tried to help him but his oar disappeared under the boat. The cox
threw both rudder lines over board and began to weep. It was a
disastrous experience for them. They were saved by an old fisherman.
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2. Describe any one incident at punting given in the Chapter.
Ans. Once the writer went for punting with a boy. The boy was over
confident who was walking up and down the punt working his pole
carelessly. He took one stop more than was necessary and walked off
the punt altogether with the pole firmly fixed in the mud with him
clinging to it while the punt drifted away. The writer was left alone in
the punt without any pole and drifted midstream unable to stop himself
or steer to safety. Then he was helped by two old fishermen who lent
him a pole as they met him midstream in their fishing punt.
3. What happened to the writer when he went sailing with a young
boy called Hector? How did it prove to be costly adventure?
Ans. They hired a boat from a man who advised them "to take in a reef and
luff sharp" when they get round the bend. The did not understand what
it meant.
When they were on a wide stretch of waler, out of sight of the town, they
felt it was the time to begin that operation. Hector went on pulling while
the writer unrolled the sail. It seemed a complicated job. They didn't
know which was the top end. They finally got the sail up, upside down.
It did not work. Hector advised the writer to wet the sail. At last they got
the sail up the two of them together. Why the boat did not upset was an
enigma. They had to cling to the gunwale as the boat sped and so they
managed to keep inside the boat. The boat travelled upstream for about
a mile at a speed he had never sailed, and don't want to sail again. At last
a mud bank saved them. The boat stuck, they cut off the sail and tried
the sculls with broke down. After three house they were saved by an old
fisherman.
Analysing the Characters:
1. What do you learn about the writer's character as revealed by
himself in this chapter?
Ans. The writer reveals quite a lot about his own character. He claims that he
loves work, work fascinates him. He insists that he does more work
than he should do. He says that you cannot give him too much work as it
is his passion to accumulate work. He boasts that he is careful of his
work. He has been keeping his work in his possession for years, he just
keeps the work and does not do it and has not done if for years. He says
he does not want more than his share of work. All this gives us quite an
insight of his character. He is a great story teller, works magic with
words, has a deep insight of human nature, evaluates Harris and George
by saying that they eat and sleep most of the time. He also points to the
cunningness of old and witty fishermen. He peeps into the boyish
nature of youngsters.
2. Give examples to illustrate that experience wins over youth and
inexperience.
Ans. That experience always wins over youth and inexperience– is a proved
fact from the two stories given in this chapter. The first example is that
of a young boy who goes for punting. At first he does quite well,
becomes confident and then careless. He walks up and down the punt,
works his pole with carelessness that looked quite fascinating, he took a
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step more than was necessary and walked off the punt altogether. The
pole fixed firmly in the mud and he was left clinging to it while the punt
drifted away. The writer went on drifting alone midstream as he had no
pole to stop it. Two fishermen fishing in a punt saw him and helped him
by landing him a pole.
The second example is that of the writer when he goes for sailing with a
young boy called Hector. On a wide stretch of water they put up their
sails. Being inexperienced they put up the sail upside down. Their boat
picked speed violently. They had to cling to the gunwale and some how
managed to keep inside the boat. Fortunately they were saved by a mud
bank. The boat stopped and they cut down the sails. An old experienced
fisherman saved their lives.
Chapter-XVI
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What are the writer's view about Reading?
Ans. Though Reading was a town of historical importance, but the river at
Reading was dirty and full of small wretched boats which were a
hindrance in the way of their steam launch.
2. What made towing unpleasant for Jim?
Ans. The great number of wretched small boats that continually got in the
way of their launch made his towing unpleasant.
3. Describe the looks of woman as described by the writer.
Ans. The dead woman's face was sweet and calm, thought not beautiful. It
was too prematurely aged looking, too thin and drawn. The face was
gentle and lovable but looked worried and poor.
4. Give two reasons, why the woman committed suicide.
Ans. The woman was deceived by her lover. She had sinned and had a child.
Her family and friends had closed their doors for her. Secondly she
found it difficult to keep both herself and her child on twelve shillings a
week which she received after a hard work of twelve hours. She was
forced to abandon her child and leave the town as nobody helped her.
Unable to bear pain and poverty she had committed suicide.
5. What made the three friends stay near the village of Goring and
streatley?
Ans. The sweet smiling face of the river and the charming places near the
river tempted them to stay there.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What is the historical importance of Reading?
Ans. The town of Reading was itself a famous old place since the dim days of
King Ethelred, when the Danes anchored their warships in the Kennet
and started from Reading to destroy all the land of Wessex. Here
Ethelred and his brother Alfred fought and defeated them, Ethelred
doing the praying and Alfred the fighting.
Afterwards Reading became a handy place to run down to. When
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2.
Ans.
3.
Ans.
matters became unpleasant in London, Parliament generally rushed off
to Reading. During the parliamentary struggle Reading was beseiged
by the Earl of Essex and after a quarter of century the Prince of Orange
defeated King James's troops there. Henry I lies buried in Reading.
John Gaunt was married to the Lady Blanche here.
Narrate the story of the woman in your own words.
George noticed something black floating on the water. It was the dead
body of a woman. Later the writer knew about her and described that
she was deceived by her lover or she deceived herself. She had sinned
and had a child. Her family and friends had closed their doors against
her. She worked hard for twelve hours and earned twelve shilling a
week. But she could not maintain herself and her baby on this petty
amount. No one helped her and so she was forced to abandon her child
and leave the town. Unable to bear the pain and poverty she committed
suicide by drowning herself into the river.
Describe the beauty of Streatley and Goring as described by the
writer.
Streatley on the right bank and Goring on the left bank of the river were
both charming places to stay at for a few days. The beautiful stretches
down to Pangbourne attract everybody for a sunny sail or for a moonlight
row and the country round about is full of natural beauty. Attracted by the
beauty. Three friends left the boat at the bridge and went up into Streatley
and lunched at the Bull. Streatley is an ancient place dating back to
British and sexton times. Goring is not so pretty as Streatley but it is
passing fair enough in its way and it is nearer to the railway.
Analysing the Characters:
1. The writer calls the woman as a "sinner" in both living and dying.
Why does he think that way? Do you also agree with him? Why or
Why not?
Ans. Actually the writer does not condemn the woman as a sinner because it is
not his personal view rather he brings out the views of a society as a
whole. He is simply stating the age old custom of propriety, moral code,
sin and the consequences as prevalent in a society where young unwed
mothers are looked down upon as a sinner, where religion condemns both
immorality and the sin of taking their own lives. It has generally been the
custom to condemn such practices by society and religion. It is indeed a
sad story. It is not the story of one age, one people, one society or of one
religion. It is the same in every age, every society and every religion. The
writer views the event through the eyes of the society and religion.
2. The writer condemns the "wretched small boats." Is there
something humorous in it? How had he described his boat earlier
in connection with the steam launch? Explain what it tells you
about him.
Ans. The description of boats and launches is full of humour. The way the
writer gives an account of the small boats on two occasions is quite
contradictory. At first he upholds the dignity of small boats and
condemns the fast moving, snobbish steam launches while later he
considers small boats as nuisance calling them 'wretched small boats'
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that continually got in their way. The reason is quite simple. In the first
instance the three friends had been slogging and labouring, sculling
their boat and they resented the fast moving steam launches as the
people on them had not to labour. They just stood on the deck smoking
their pipes and ordering small boats out of their way. In the second
instance their boat was being towed by a steam launch. Now they
enjoyed moving rapidly on the water effortlessly. They felt the small
boats were hurdles troubling them by coming in their way.
The description how he feels and becomes irritated shows that he is
concerned about his own self, his boat and their journey and not about
the boats or steam launches.
Chapter-XVII
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What happened when the friends washed their clothes in river?
Ans. Their clothes became more dirty than before washing. It looked as if all
the dirt of the river has been absorbed by their clothes.
2. For what was the area near Streatley and Goring famous?
Ans. The area near Streatley and Goring was famous for good fishing as the
river abounded in different kinds of fish.
3. Why doesn't the writer consider himself a good fisherman?
Ans. The writer had not sufficient imagination, he lacked the ability to tell
lies– in important qualities of a fisherman. So he does not consider
himself a good fisherman. He was advised by his elders to give up
fishing.
4. Why did the twenty five per cent plan of the young man fail?
Ans. A most conscientious young boy determined never to exaggerate his
hauls by more than twenty-five per cent. But his plan failed as he was
not able to add twenty-five per cent of three the number of fish he
caught one day.
5. What fascinated the two friends in the parlour?
Ans. They were fascinated by the monstrous size of the fish fixed up very
high in a glass case above the chimney of the parlour.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What does the writer say about fishing in the river Thames?
Ans. The writer described that the neighbourhood of streatley and Goring
was a great fishing centre. One could do excellent fishing there. The
river abounded in different kinds of fish such as pike, roach, dace,
gudgeon and eel. One could fish there all the day. Some people stayed
there for a month, others even for a year but they never caught them.
The writer also tried to become a good fisherman but he was advised by
some old fishermen to give it up as he lacked imagination to become a
Thames angler. They said it is quite necessary to have an ability to tell
lies easily with a blush to become a good fisherman. The writer lacked
this quality.
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2. Where had the old man caught the fish and how much did it weigh
in his story?
Ans. One day George and the writer visited a parlour where they saw a dusty
old glass case, fixed very high up above the chimney-piece, containing
a trout. It was a monstrous fish. When an old man saw them looking at
the fish, he told them that it was eighteen pounds and six ounces in
weight and that he had caught it sixteen years ago from below the
bridge over the river Thames.
3. How many people claimed to have caught the fish? Describe the
stories told by them.
Ans. The old man told them that he had caught that fish sixteen years ago and
went away. After that a series of people came in the parlour and they all
claimed to have caught that fish (in the glass case) and each time the
size became bigger. Local carrier, the third man, a stolid solemn
working middle-aged individual and finally the landlord, all claimed
that they have caught that fish.
The local carrier told them that he had caught it nearly five years ago
and it weighed twenty-six pounds.
The third man told them that it was the most remarkable thing to catch it
and that they were right to say it was he who caught it. It took him half
an hour to land it and it had broken his rod. He took it home and
weighed thirty-four pounds.
Finally the land lord told them that he caught it when he was a boy and
was saved from a whacking for being a truant at school, by this fish.
4. Why do you think these five people had the courage to tell such a lie?
Ans. All these five people were fishermen who lived around streatley and
Goring. They were expert at telling lies and their ability to catch fish is a
lie as well. The entire fishing fraternity has a powerful imagination.
The are able to invent and tell story with utter conviction and an air of
absolute truthfulness. The place was full of fish but mostly nobody
caught fish. As the place was famous as a fishing place and people came
there to fish so they never doubted their ability to catch fish. When they
heard others telling stories of handsome catches, they exaggerated their
own haul and thus they were encouraged to tell such lies.
5. How and what truth did the friends discover about the trout?
Ans. When the landlord went out of the room, George kept on gazing at the
trout with surprise. He was so excited that he climbed up on the back of
a chair to have a close look at it. But the chair slipped and he clung to the
trout-case and tried to save himself. The trout came down with a crash
and shattered into thousand pieces as it was made of plaster of Paris.
Thus the truth was discovered.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Sketch the character of the narrator as a fisherman.
Ans. The writer is a great story teller. He tells us various humorous stories
related to fishing fraternity. In this chapter he tells us how expert the
fishermen are at telling whopping lies about their prowess in catching
big fish. In fact the writer laughs at their powerful imagination, the
ability to invent, to tell a story with utter conviction and an air of absolute
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truthfulness. The writer himself wants to become a good fisherman. But
some old hands tell him that a good imagination and ability to tell a lie
with a blush are necessary to become a good fisherman. But the writer
admits that he lacked these qualities. Thus he comes out as a great
observer of human nature and an admirer of natural beauty.
2. Imagining yourself to be present in the parlour along with George
and the writer, make a diary entry about the stories told by
different people.
Ans. 20th June, 2014
Once I happened to be at a country parlour at Streatley. There was a
large glass-case containing a trout up above the chimney-piece which
attracted me as well as everyone in the room. Two strangers were eager
to know about the giant trout. An old gentleman who was smoking a
pipe told them that he had caught it sixteen years ago and that it
weighed more than eighteen pounds and went out. After that a series of
people came and each claimed he had caught it. finally the landlord
came and told then the real story. He claimed he had caught it years ago
when he was a boy. He had bunked school and this trout had saved him
from whacking. As he went out, George tried to have a close look of it.
He climbed up a chair but slipped and while and while trying to save
himself clung to the glass case. He fell down on the ground along with
the case. The trout lay shattered into a thousand fragments as it was
made of plaster of Paris.
Chapter-XVIII
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. Why is the writer fond of locks?
Ans. The writer can have a short stay from the monotony of pulling, can have
a chat with cheerful-looking wife or bright-eyed daughter of the stout
old lock-keeper and even he can meet other boats in the lock. So he is
fond of locks.
2. Mention the importance of Wallingford.
Ans. Wallingford is situated six miles above Streatley. It is a very ancient
town and it had been an active centre for the making of English history.
It was a rude mud-built town in the time of the Britons who were
evicted by the Roman legions.
3. Why was the writer surprised to notice the actions of George?
Ans. The writer was surprised at noticing George hurriedly smooth out his
trousers, ruffle up his hair and stick his cap on in a rakish manner and
assuming an expression of mingled affability and sadness.
4. What did the writer do when the truth came to his knowledge?
Ans. The writer came to know that some cameraman was taking their
photographs. He quickly took up a position in the prow in an attitude
suggestive of agility and strength. He arranged his hair with a curl over
the forehead and put up an expression of tender wistfulness and
cynicism.
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5. How does the writer describe Dorchester?
Ans. Like wallingford, Dorchester was a city in ancient British times. It was
then called 'Caer Doren", "the city on the water." In sexton days it was
the capital of Wessex.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. What happened to the boat when they were posing for a photograph?
Ans. When George and the writer were posing for their photographs, their
boat had got fixed with its nose under the wood work of the lock while
the incoming water was rising all around it and tilting it up. In another
moment they should have been over. Very quickly they seized on oar
and a vigorous blow against the side of the lock with the buttends
released the boat, and sent them sprawling on their backs.
2. How did the photograph actually turn out?
Ans. Their photographs did not turn out well. As both of them were lying on
their backs in boat and their legs stuck straight upwards at the moment,
only their legs were visible in their photographs. If the man should have
set his wretched machine in motion at the precise moment, their
photographs would have been in order.
3. Why is the bit of river between Iffley and Oxford difficult to
manage?
Ans. Between Iffley and oxford, is the most difficult bit of the river. It is very
difficult to understand this bit of water unless you are born on it. The
writer tells us that he has been over it several times, but he found
himself unable to understand it. first the current drives you on the right
bank and then on to the left, then it takes you out into the middle turns
you round three times and carries you up stream again and ends by
trying to smash you up against a college barge. As a consequence, the
writer got in the way of other boats and other boats in theirs and thus a
lot of bad language occurred.
4. What different views had the writer formed about "Barley Mow."?
Ans. The writer suggests if somebody has to spend a night on land at Clifton,
Barley Mow is the best place for him to stay at. It is the quaintest and
most old-world inn up the river. It stands on the right of the bridge, quite
away from the village. Its low-pitched gables, thatched roof and
latticed windows give it quite a story-book appearance while inside it is
even still more once-upon-a-timeyfied.
But it would not be a good place for the heroine of a modern novel to
stay at. The heroine of a modern novel is always "divinely tall", and she
is ever "drawing herself up to her full height." At the "Barley Mow" she
would bump her head against the ceiling while doing so. Thus the
writer has different views for different people for staying there.
5. "The air of the river is demoralising". Comment on the remark of
the writer.
Ans. The writer is unaware of the reason why everybody is always so
exceptionally irritable on the river. A little mishap that you would
hardly notice on dry land, drive you nearly mad with anger, when it
occures on the water. When Harris or George makes an ass of himself
on dry land, the writer smiles indulgently, but when they behave in a
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chuckle-head way on the river, he uses the most blood-curdling
language for them. When another boat gets in his way, he feels as he
wants to take oar and kill all the people in it.
The mildest tempered people on land, become violent and blood-thirsty
when in a boat. The writer means that the atmosphere of a river, due to
bad language of everybody on sail, has a demoralising effect upon one's
temper.
Analysing the Characters:
1. Sketch the character of Mr W. Lee.
Ans. The writer describes that in Helen's Church, at Abingdon, it is recorded
that W. Lee, who died in 1637, "had in his life-time issue from his loins
two hundred lacking but three." If you work this out you will find that
Mr. W. Lee's family consisted of one hundred and ninety-seven
members. Mr. Lee had been five times Mayor of Abingdon.
Undoubtedly he was a benefactor to his generation. The writer
considers that there are not many of his kind about in this over crowded
nineteenth century.
2. Explain human nature on being photographed.
Ans. Through the incident of a photographer taking photographs of the
people in their boats and launches, we come to know about vanity of
human nature. The people in the boats were trying to put up a pose that
suited them best in their photographs. George and the writer also did the
same. They became so involved that they forgot where they were or
where their boat was. Even they narrowly escaped after a violent blow
when their boat's nose had got fixed under wood work of the lock.
When the photographs finally came up nobody was ready to buy them,
for nothing was visible in them except the four feet of George and the
writer who were lying on their backs with some wild expressions on
their faces.
3. Give examples to illustrate that even the mildest tempered people
become irritated when sailing in a boat.
Ans. The writer gives us several examples why everybody while sailing
about on a river becomes irritable. Even a little mishap that we
otherwise ignore on dry land, drive us crazy on a river. The writer
himself feels irritated when George or Harris makes a fool of himself
while sailing their boat and he uses blood-curdling language where as
he smiles indulgently when they do so on earth. When another boat
comes in their way he wants to pick up an oar and kill all the people on
it. Even the mildest tempered people on land, becomes violent and
blood-thirsty when in a boat. The writer is reminded of a young, sweet
by nature and gentle lady who once did boating with him. It was quite
awful to hear her while boating. When some unfortunate sculler got in
her way, she exclaimed, "oh, drat the man! why don't he look where
he's going?" and "oh, bother the silly old thing!" Thus the air of the
river had a demoralising effect upon one's temper to use such absurd
language.
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Chapter-XIX
Questions on The Text
Answer the following questions in short:
1. What did Montmorency do to keep himself busy for the days they
spend at Oxford?
Ans. There were plenty of dogs in the town of Oxford. Montmorency kept
himself busy in fighting with them. He had eleven fights on the first day
and fourteen on the second and evidently thought he had got to heaven.
2. How does the writer describe the people who prefer to go
upstream?
Ans. The people who prefer to go upstream are described as energetic and
active. They relish boating upstream.
3. What were the expressions and feelings of Harris, writer and the
dog after George's "comic song" was over?
Ans. After George's "Comic song" was over, they broke down. They were in
a state of depression, unable to bear. Harris sobbed like a child and the
dog howled till his heart or his jaw was about to break. Though the song
was comic but George sang it in such a voice that it gave the feeling of a
pathetic song.
4. How does the river seem like in the rains?
Ans. The river seems like a golden fairy stream. The chill and weary river
with ceaseless rain-drops falling on its brown and sluggish waters,
sounds like a woman weeping low in some dark chamber.
5. How did the men party at Alhambra?
Ans. The three friends decided to take their supper in a restaurant at
Alhambra. They were the cynosure of every eye and felt quite proud.
They enjoyed the supper thoroughly. They ate and drank, till they felt
good.
Answer the following questions in detail:
1. Describe the three men's reaction when they saw. "The pride of the
Thames."
Ans. The three friends went to hire a boat where the boy showed them one
and called it 'The pride of the Thames'. It was supposed to be a good
sailing boat but it looked as an old fashioned chunk of wood. The writer
described it as if it had been recently dug out of somewhere and dug
carelessly getting damaged in the process. He, on first seeing thought it
to be a Roman relic of a coffin and later addressing the lad he called it
his (the lad's) mother's washing tub. Seeing it they reacted desperately
and asked if it was a fossil of a pre-Ademits whale.
2. What made the writer and Harris decide to give up gambling?
Ans. After supper they played penny nap for about an hour and a half, by the
end of which time George had won four pence as he is always lucky at
cards. Harris and the writer lost exactly two pence each. Then they gave
up gambling as Harris said it breeds an unhealthy excitement when
carried too far. George offered to go on and give them their revenge, but
Harris and the writer decided not to gamble any further against fate.
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Three Men in a Boat
3. Describe how they felt about having dinner at Pangbourne.
Ans. The Three friends decided to abandon the boat and to return to their
homes two days before their holiday was to end. George told them that
there was a train that leaves Pangbourne soon after five which would
land them in town in a comfortable time to get a chop and then go to
Alhambra, provided they had not made up their minds to contract their
certain deaths in this 'bally old coffin' (the boat) They reached
Pangbourne at seven and drove straight to the restaurant. They had a
hearty supper and drank a toast to 'Three Men Well out of A Boat'. They
had been living on cold meat, cake and bread and jam for about ten
days. Now they enjoyed the delicious dinner at the restaurant and left.
4. Narrate the beauty of the river as described by the writer.
Ans. The writer explains to us the beauty of the river with changing moods.
When it was sunny, he describes– the river-with the sunlight flashing
from its dancing wavelets, gilding gold the grey-green beech-trunks,
glinting through the dark, cool wood paths, chasing shadows over the
shallows, flinging diamonds from the mill-wheels, throwing kisses to
the lilies and making the air soft with glory seems to be a golden fairy
stream.
But when it begins to rain he calls it chill and weary with the ceaseless
rain-drops falling on its brown and sluggish waters, with a sound as of a
woman weeping low in some dark chamber; while the woods, all dark
and silent stand like ghosts.
5. Why can't the writer honestly say, "we had a merry evening"?
Ans. The writer and his friends did not feel happy as the rain poured down
with quiet persistency. Everything in the boat was damp and clammy.
Supper was not a success. Cold veal pie is apt to cloy when one does not
feel hungry. The writer wanted white bait and a cutlet, Harris babbled
of soles and white-sauce, and passed the remains of his pie to
Montmorency, who apparently felt insulted of the offer, went ant sat
over at the other end of the boat by himself. Thus the writer felt
troublesome due to bad weather and continuous rain and so they could
not enjoy a happy evening.
Analysing the Characters:
State your opinion about the decision of the three men to finish rest
of the journey by train.
Ans. In our opinion the three friends made the right decision to finish their
boat journey and to return home by train. It rained continuously, all the
goods, food and clothes were wet. It could have resulted in their falling
ill seriously. It was inconvenient, depressing and foolish to keep on
boating in such a bad weather. They did not tell the boatman that they
were running away because of the rain, rather they instructed him to
stay ready at nine next morning. They left the boat and all it contained in
his charge and told him if something unforeseen happens, they would
write to him stating they would return or not.
Bookman India
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Three Men in a Boat