THE BISHOP'S CANDLESTICK DRAMA SOLUTION
Q4. Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play in pairs:
The play deals with a _______________and ________Bishop who is always ready to lend a _________________hand to anyone in distress. A _________________breaks into the Bishop’s house and is ______________________and warmed. The benevolence of the Bishop somewhat _____________the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he ____________________ them, and runs away. However, he is _______________________and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a _____________. The convict is__________by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest’s blessing.
Answer :
The play deals with a ( kind) and ( charitable) Bishop who is always ready to lend a (helping) hand to anyone in distress. A (convict) breaks into the Bishop’s house and is (fed ) and warmed. The benevolence of the Bishop somewhat (confounds) the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he (steals) them, and runs away. However, he is (arrested ) and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a (gift). The convict is (moved) by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest’s blessing.
5. (a) Working in pairs give antonyms of the following words:
1. kind- hearted 2. unscrupulous 3. forgiving 4. stern
5.benevolent 6. credulous 7. generous 8.pious
9.suspicious 10. sympathetic 11.understanding 12. wild
13.innocent 14. penitent 15. clever 16. brutal 17. cunning
18. caring 19. sentimental 20. trusting 21. protective
22. concerned 23. honourable 24. embittered.
Answer :
(1) Kind-hearted − nasty, unkind, cruel
(2) Unscrupulous − ethical, moral, good
(3) Forgiving − censure, charge, punish
(4) Stern − cheerful, funny, lenient
(5) Benevolent − greedy, malevolent, mean, selfish
(6) Credulous − skeptical, suspecting, suspicious
(7) Generous − greedy, mean, miserly
(8) Pious - atheist, impious, irreligious
(9) Suspicious − innocent, trustworthy, trusty
(10) Sympathetic − callous, merciless, uncaring, unconcerned
(11) Understanding − misunderstanding, intolerant
(12) Wild − civilized, controlled, delicate, gentle
(13) Innocent − bad, blameable, corrupt
(14) Penitent − happy, unashamed
(15) Clever − awkward, foolish, idiotic, ignorant,
(16) Brutal − generous, humane, kind, nice
(17) Cunning − gullible, kind, naive
(18) Caring − disregarding, ignoring, neglecting
(19) Sentimental − hard-hearted, indifferent, pragmatic, unemotional
(20) Trusting- disagree, dispute, reject, renounce
(21) Protective − attacking, harmful, hurtful, injurious
(22) Concerned − happy, undisturbed, unperturbed
(23) Honourable − not respectful, unhonourable
(24) Embittered − pleasant, content, genial
6. Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/why not?
Answer : Yes, the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars because he was an ideal person. He could not bear the thought of an old and sick lady to be thrown out of the house due to non-payment of rent. He always helps people in times of need.
(b) Why does Persome feel the people pretend to be sick?
Answer : Persome is not as generous as her brother. She feels the people pretend to be sick in order to exploit her brother’s magnanimity. People want the Bishop to be near them and help them financially.
(c) Who was Jeanette? What was the cause of her death?
Answer : Jeanette was the convict’s wife. She died due to illness and starvation.
(d) The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does he mean by this statement?
Answer : The convict has suffered, he is embittered, he is experienced. So he couldn’t be tricked. He ordered the Bishop to stay put because he couldn’t trust anyone not to report to the police and get him arrested.
(e) Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
Answer : The convict was sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He was sentenced to ten years in a prison hulk.
(f) Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/ why not? Why is the convict eager to reach Paris?
Answer : The punishment given to the convict for a minor crime was too much and was unjustified. He did not commit a murder or indulge in any other major crime. His circumstances forced him to steal. He should have been given a light punishment in stead of ten years in a “hell”.
The convict is eager to reach Paris and get lost in the crowd. He wants top escape from the police which would be looking for him everywhere as he has not yet completed his sentence.
(g) Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this change in him?
Answer : The Bishop’s benevolent, kind and caring attitude had brought about a change in the convict. That is why before leaving for Paris, he asks the Bishop to bless him.
7. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct options.
A. Monseigneur the Bishop is a ------------ahem!’
(a) Why does Persome not complete the sentence?
(i) she used to stammer while speaking.
(ii) she was about to praise the Bishop.
(iii) she did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(iv)she had a habit of passing such remarks.
Answer: (iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(b) Why is she angry with the Bishop?
(i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
(ii) The Bishop has gone to visit Mere Gringoire.
(iii) He showed extra concern for Marie.
(iv) She disliked the Bishop.
Answer : (i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
B. ‘She sent little Jean to Monseigneur to ask for help, and—’
(a) Who sent little Jean to the Bishop?
(i) Mere Gringoire (ii) Marie (iii) Persome (iv) Marie's mother
Answer : (i) Mere Gringoire
(b) Why did she send Jean to the Bishop?
(i) so that he could pray for her
(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
(iii) as she was a greedy woman
(iv) as she was a poor woman
Answer : (ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
C. ‘I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it might distress you.”
The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.
(a) The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because ______.
(i) she was sick (ii) she had no money.
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(iv) she was a close friend of Persome.
Answer : (iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(b) Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire's being taken in because ________.
(i) she did not want to help anyone
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
(iii) she was a self-centred person
(iv) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience
Answer : (ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
9. Identify the situations which be termed as the turning points in the convict's life?
Answer : The Convict, when was caught and brought to the Bishop’s house, was asked to be released by the Bishop saying that he is a friend to him. The Bishop also gives him his mother’s only memory i.e. candle-sticks. This entire incidence makes convict believe that there still exists humanity. This is the turning point in the convict’s life.
