ENGLISH LITERATURE PROSE

Chp- 5 AFTER TWENTY YEARS Std VII

Reference to context:

1.Its all right, officer, he said Im just waiting for a friend.

1. Who is the speaker? Where was he waiting for his friend?

Ans. The speaker is the man standing in the doorway of a darkened hardware store with an
unlighted cigar in his mouth, waiting for his friend.

2. Describe the speaker. How do his possessions help us to understand his economic situation?

Ans. The speaker had a pale square jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his
right eyebrow. He was wearing a large diamond as his scarf pin which helped in understanding
his economic situation. Later he pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small
diamonds.

3. Who was the listener? Comment on the impressiveness of this man.

Ans. The listener was a policeman who on the beat moved up the avenue, impressively. The
impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few.

4. At what hour was the conversation among the two taking place?

Ans. The time was barely ten oclock at night when the conversation took place .

5. Give a brief description of the weather during the conversation .

Ans. Chilly gusts of winds were blowing with a taste of rain in them, which had well nigh driven
most people off the streets.

6. Why was the speaker waiting for his friend?

Ans. The speaker was waiting for his friend because it was an appointment made twenty years
ago to meet at Big Joe Bradys restaurant.

2. Twenty years ago tonight, said the man, I dined here at Big Joe Bradys with Jimmy
Wells.
1. Who was Jimmy Wells? According to the speaker, what kind of a person was he?

Ans. Jimmy Wells is the speakers best chum and the finest chap in the world.

2. What information did the speaker give the policeman about their relationship twenty years
ago?

Ans. The speaker and Jimmy Wells were raised in New York, just like two brothers, together.

2. Why did both the friends meet at Big Joe Bradys restaurant?

Ans. Both the friends met at Big Joe Bradys restaurant to dine and decide about their next
meeting since they were parting in order to make their fortune.

3. What was the agreement made between the two of them?

Ans. The speaker and Jimmy Wells agreed to meet again exactly twenty years from that date and
time, no matter what their conditions might be or from what distance they might have come.

They figured that in twenty years each of them ought to have their destiny worked out and their
fortunes made, whatever they were going to be.

3. Well, yes, for a time we corresponded, said the other.

1. Who said these words and to whom?

Ans. The waiting man said these words to the policeman.

2. For how long did the two friends correspond with each other?

Ans. The two friends corresponded for a year or two and then lost track of each other.

3. What was the reason given by the speaker for not being in contact with each other for long?

Ans. The reason given by the speaker was that the West was a pretty big proposition and he kept
hustling around over it, pretty lively.

4. Even though the two friends could not correspond for long ,still the speaker was very sure of
his friends arrival. Why?

Ans. The speaker was very sure that his friend Jimmy would definitely come because he was
always the truest and staunchest old chap in the world and so he thought he would never forget.

4. He was a kind of a plodder, though, good fellow as he was.

1. Who said these words? To whom was this remark addressed?

Ans. The man standing in the doorway said these words. This remark was addressed to the
policeman .

2. Who was being described? What is meant by Plodder

Ans. Jimmy Wells was being described by the waiting man in the doorway .The speaker
described him as a plodder-that is a slow and steady worker.

3. What are the differences between the good fellow and the speaker?

Ans. The difference between the good fellow and the speaker was that the speaker had to
compete with some of the sharpest wits going to get his pile in the west, whereas the good fellow
(Jimmy) must have done half as well because a man gets in a groove staying in New York.

5. Ill be on my way. Hope your friend comes around alright.

1. For how long would Bob wait for his friend?

Ans. If his friend was late he would wait for him for half an hour , he said that if Jimmy was
alive on earth he would be there by that time.

2. What was the weather like then? Give a brief description of the scene at that hour of time?

Ans, There was a fine cold drizzle falling and the wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a
steady blow. The few pedestrians in the neighbourhood hurried dismally and silently along with
coat collars turned high and pocketed hands.

3. How did the man feel, waiting for his friend in the doorway? How long did he wait?

Ans. Bob who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment, felt uncertain almost to
absurdity with the friend of his youth. He waited for half an hour.

6.Is that you, Bob? he asked doubtfully.

1. Who said these words? Describe this man who asked doubtfully.

Ans. The man who asked doubtfully was a tall man who was wearing a long overcoat, with
collar turned up to his ears who hurried across from the opposite side of the street.

2. How did he react towards Bob?

Ans, He went directly to Bob asked if it was him then grasped Bobs hand with his own and
sounded quite sure about him. He was certain that he would find him there if Bob was still in
existence. He reminded Bob that twenty years was a long time and the old restaurant had gone.
3. What did he wish for?

Ans, He wished to dine in The Big Joe Bradys restaurant once again and wished it had lasted, so
they could have another dinner in Big Joe Bradys restaurant.

7.Youre not Jimmy Wells, he snapped.

1. When did Bob suspect that the man he was talking to, was not his old friend, Jimmy Wells?

Ans. Bob suspected the man when they came into the glare of the brilliant electric lights of the
drug store and each turned simultaneously to gaze upon the others face.

2. What was the reason given by Bob for suspicion?

Ans. Bob said that twenty years was a long time but not long enough to change a mans nose
from a Roman to a pug.

3, Why didnt Jimmy Wells make himself known to his old friend?

Ans. Jimmy Wells didnt make himself known to his old friend because when he came to meet
Bob at the appointed place on time , in the light of the match he realized it was Bobs face that
was the face of the man wanted in Chicago.

4. What were the contents of the note handed over to Bob?

Ans. The content of the note were -Bob, I was at the appointed place on time, when you struck
the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face wanted in Chicago. Somehow I could not do it
myself, so I went around and got a plainclothes man to do the job.

Think and write .

1. Which of the two friends had done well for himself? Why?
2. One , his egotism enlarged by success, was beginning to outline the history of his
career. What does this sentence about Bob tell you about his personality?

.Do the following exercises in the text book.

Word study: Ex-D

Ex E (learn)