Grade-11 (English) Unit- 5 Life and Love - The Looking Glass- by Anton Chekhov (Part-II)

Grade-11 (English) Unit- 5 Life and Love - The Looking Glass- by Anton Chekhov (Part-II)

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a.  Who was Nellie? What did she use to dream of?

Ø Nellie was the daughter of a landowner and a young and pretty girl. She used to dream of getting married.

b.  What was she doing with the looking glass?

Ø She was gazing into the looking glass with exhausted and  her half-closed eyes.

c.   Why did she go to the doctor on one winter night?

Ø She went to the doctor to call him as her husband was ill.

d.  What was Stephen Lukitch doing when she reached her bedroom?

Ø Stephen Lukitch was lying in bed dressed but without his cap when she reached her bedroom.

e.  Why was the doctor not ready to see her husband?

Ø The doctor was not ready to see her husband because he was exhausted and ill himself from typhus.

f.    Why did Stephen Lukitch suggest Nellie to go to the Zemstvo doctor?

Ø Stephen Lukitch suggested Nellie to go to the Zemstvo doctor because he himself was very ill and was unable to go with her.

g.  Nellie said, “Come, perform that heroic deed! Have pity on us!” What was that pity to be done?

Ø Nellie said, “Come, perform that heroic deed! Have pity on us!” The pity to be done was on her husband’s sickness or suffering of typhus.

h.  When Nellie said, “I must have fallen asleep.” What does it mean?

Ø When Nellie said, “I must have fallen asleep.” It means she was in a terrific dream.

     i.            What is the main theme of the story?

Ø The story explores the theme of devotion and the lengths that Nellie passes on in order to save her husband’s life.

Critical Thinking

a.  “The looking glass (mirror)” is used as symbol in the story.  What does it symbolise?

— Chekhov uses “The looking glass” or mirror as symbol in the story which simply portrays the future. From how the author depicts the character, the use of mirror remains to be instrumental because it serves as a window to her subconscious. Here,  Chekhov uses this object to portray Nellie’s inner feelings, her fears and the manner she continues to feel helplessness. Through the use of looking glass, the story becomes successful in bringing together its goals and objectives to readers.

— Overall, ‘The Looking Glass’ is one valuable story by Anton Chekhov because of its portrayal of dreams and how it remains to be significant in helping understand human condition. By dwelling into the consciousness of Nellie, readers are able to see situations that put her in a delicate position and state of helplessness. By the use of the looking glass as symbol, the author is able to advance the struggles of a woman who is unable to respond to the situation she is in, despite being a dream. The state of helplessness can be seen both internally and through Nellie’s interaction with Dr. Lukitch. It also illustrates man’s fear of uncertainty and the unknown.

 b. Chekhov employs the magic trick in the story, using a very elegant transition from reality to imagination to reality sequence. Discuss its relevance to life of young people.

— In the story the writer has used the magic trick, using a very elegant transition from reality to imagination to reality sequence. It moves systematically giving the explanations from the beginning of the story to the dream of the main character described until the character wakes up.

— This story is set on New Year’s Eve. The transition from reality to imagination occurs in the introductory part of the story. The story begins with a young woman named Nellie who always wants to get married, staring into the mirror. She drifts into her imagination and encounters a terrifying glimpse of the future which involves a desperate attempt to save her husband from typhus. The action becomes more specific, and the readers can safely assume they have been transitioned completely into the realm of the imagination. And this is a wonderful trick of Chekhov’s part.

— At the end of the story, we find ourselves in the part of reality. One of the looking glasses falls from Nellie's hand and knocks on the floor. She wakes up from her imagination. This is how the transition shifts into reality.

— Most of the young people dream of their life as in the fairy tales, full of happiness and perfection, and don’t recognize the difficult part. Nellie represents one of the young people of privilege whose main concern has been the prospect of romance and marriage. She believes that romance is the gateway to her happiness in life.

Writing

v Write a couple of paragraph about an interesting dream that you have had.

— One night I had a very wonderful dream. I saw that a fearful robot caught me by the collar of my shirt and lifted me 100 meters above the ground. The robot then threw me into flooded a river. Thank God ! Nothing happened to me and I knew swimming very well.

— When I had reached the river bank, I found myself alone in a snake park surround by poisonous snakes. But I didn’t get scared of them. Like a skilled snake -charmer, I cleverly grabbed a snake by its neck.  To my surprise, all the other snakes followed me as if I was their master. Having waked a little ahead, a lion roared from the nearby forest and appeared before me. Then it charged (attacked) upon me and with its sharp teeth tore away a part of my arm’s flesh. At this, I managed to catch hold of its neck. Then it was under my grip (control). I pressed its neck with all my strength and threw on the ground.  As a result, the poor lion died.  As I threw the lion on the ground , I woke up and found myself fallen on the floor of my room from the bed. I’ll never forget this dream.  The special meaning of this dream may be that I will be able to fight any kind of challenges in my life.

Grammar: Will or Be going to

A. Look at these examples.

           A: Gita is in hospital.

           B: Oh, really? I’ll go and visit her.

           A: Gita is in hospital.

           B: Yes, I know. I’m going to visit her this evening.

B. Match the expressions in column A with their functions in column B.

A        

a.  A:  What do you want to take?

     B: I’ll have tea, please.

b.  A: Are you free this evening?

     B: No, I’m going to meet my uncle.

c.    The day will be lovely tomorrow.

d.    There is no cloud in the sky. It is going to be a lovely day.

e.    Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.

f.     I’ll take you to the movies if you like.

g.    I’ll tell your parents what you did.

B

          i. Promising

         ii. Threatening

         iii. Deciding

         iv. Expressing a prior plan

          v.  Predicting a future action

         vi. Offering

         vii. Predicting with evidences

Answer:         a.-iii         b.-iv                c.-v          d.-vii       e.-i

                        f.-vi         g.- ii

c. Choose the correct answer.

a.  A:  Are you busy this evening?

     B:  Yes, I ……..the movies. (will/am going to)

b.  A: Where are you going for holiday this summer?

     B: Not, sure yet. May be I ….to Ilam. (will go/ am going to)

c.   I think you …like this movie. (will/ are going to)

d.  I can’t join you at the party, I ……be away for two weeks. (will/ am going to)

e.  This exercise looks really hard. I …..help you. (will/ am going to)

f.     A: Hello! Can I speak to Sima, please.

       B: Just a minute. I ….get her. (will/ am going to)

g.  Perhaps she …….pass the exam. (will/ is going to)

h.  ‘I haven’t got my phone.’ ‘That’s OK. I ….lend you mine.’ (will/ am going)

 

D. Complete the sentences using will or going to with the verbs.

a.  Hari: Did you call Bina?

     Prem: Oh, I forgot. I …..her now. (call)

b.  Sunita: Have you got a ticket for the play?

      Hema: Yes, I ……..it on Saturday. (watch)

c. ‘The alarm is ringing. It’s making an awful noise.’ ‘OK, I …..it off.’ (switch)

d.  Do you think they ….the presents we got for them? (like)

e. ‘Lok is starting university tomorrow.’ What ….study?’

f.   If I meet him, I....... him the news. (tell)

g.  The phone is ringing. I ……..it. (answer)

h.  If you don’t stop bullying her, I …….the teacher. (tell)

Answer:
    a. will call       b. am going to watch c. will switch d. will    
    e. is he               f. will tell                   g. will       h. will tell
 

B. Study the examples.

a.  We’re going to get a new car soon. (It’s our intention)

b.  I’m going to wash my hair. (That’s my intention)

c.   Will you come to my party? Sorry, I’m going to help Lola. (Prior plan/arrangement)

C. Work in pairs. Talk about your decisions, intentions and plans on the following.

a.   Making money

b.   Next year

c.    After your exam

d.   Coming Saturday

e.   Further study

(All Images Credit: Google Images)