Text Book Solutions All Class

Characters:
Jim, the narrator : Jim loves to brood. His thoughts are philosophical. He comments On life. He says that people are not satisfied with what they have and they yearn for something they don’t have. He thinks how after three or four hundred years the commonplaces become ancient pieces of art. The description of the oak stairs in the old houses reveals his love for history. The description of natural scenery shows his love for nature. The description of everything has an element of humour.

Harris : Harris narrates about the maze at the Hampton Court. He gets lost and fails to find the way out. But he offers to lead others who, too, have failed to find the way out. He is boastful by nature and his boasts land him into trouble.

Plot
It is late spring and their journey takes them to historical places. The narrator is reminded of a magnificent carved oak staircase in one of the houses of Kingston. Jim narrates the story of a school boy who loved studies. Harris narrates about the maze at the Hampton Court.

Characters
All the three friends keep arguing and quarreling with one another. They disbelieve in ‘weather forecast’. They think that they are generally wrong. The narrator remembers a lovely day that was ruined by the forecast ‘Heavy showers with thunderstorms may be expected’. Montmorency invites two dogs who while away their time by fighting with each other. They are calmed with an umbrella.

Plot
A lot of discussion takes place. They consider ‘weather-forecast’ a fraud. They don’t trust them. A lot of luggage that they place on the doorstep attracts attention of others. People curiously look at the luggage. A small crowd collects there. One group remarks that it is a wedding, while another group says that it is a funeral. They bribe the engine driver and reach Kingston.
Finally, they store their luggage in the boat and step in and start their journey.

Characters
All the three characters reveal their follies and foibles. They all think that they are good at packing. George and Harris don’t do anything; they simply watch the narrator doing the work. They don’t help him. Harris wants Jim to unpack the bag because he has not packed the boots. Hams and George get nervous and break certain things. They mess up the food items. They laugh at other’s stupidity. In fact all the three are hopeless at packing. They are experts in giving arguments.

Plot
They are busy in packing. They do foolish actions while packing. They keep light bottom and heavy things on the squashes a tomato and sits on Montmorency creates confusion. He into the jam. The packing is finished night. They plan to wake up at 6.30.

Characters

Jim (The narrator):  Jim who laughed at George earlier now gives credit to him for thinking sensibly. Jim  becomes philosophical in his comments. He says that the boat of Life should be light because it will be easier to pull.

George : George is given the responsibility of preparing the grocery catalogue. He suggests that they should make a list of those things that they can’t do without. It is considered a sensible suggestion by Jim.

Harris : Harris wishes to command others. He does not want to do work himself but wants other people to do it. He is like Uncle Podger who simply commanded others to get the work done. Hams loves an early morning swim because it gives him appetite.

Plot

The friends now decide about the things to be taken on the trip. Harris who does not want to do work himself is compared to Uncle Podger. The character of Uncle Podger is described in details and in a humorous manner. Jim (the narrator) makes a philosophical comment. He says that the boat of life should be Light because it will be easier to pull.

Characters

The same four characters — George, Harris, the narrator and Montmorency — are there.

The narrator (Jim) : The writer is romantic by nature. He loves the beautiful objects of nature. We realise that his description of the night fall is poetic and lyrical. He agrees with George to ‘camp out’ at night. He dislikes the practical attitude of Harris. He is witty and humorous in his comments.

George : George likes to ‘camp out’ at night. His friends say that he sleeps in the bank the whole day. He is considered to be lazy. He likes to take rest any ti me , anywhere.
Harris : Harris is practical in his attitude towards life. He is very fond of drinks. For him that place is the best where he can get a drink. He does not like to ‘camp out’ at night.

Plot
After taking a decision of having a boat trip along the river, the friends plan their journey. They plan to ‘camp out’ at night when it does not rain, but decide to sleep in a hotel or pub when it rains. The debate is adjourned to the following night. All the three put on their hats and go out.

Characters

Three friends — George, Harris and the narrator.

The Dog- Montmorency

The narrator

He is a hypochondriac. He has the habit of imagining that he suffers from the same disease as described in the patent medical advertisements. He is very friendly with his doctor. He hates to go on a sea-voyage. He narrates to his friends about what happened to his brother-in-law and a friend.

Harris

Harris thinks that he suffers from fits of giddiness. He pretends to be interested in sea-trips. He thinks that all of them need rest and a holiday.

George

He likes to talk in medical terms. He suggests to his friends that they should undertake a boat trip. His suggestion surprises his friends think that he is incapable of making such a suggestion. He is considered lazy by his He weighs about twelve stones.

Montmorency-the Dog

He opposes the suggestion of going up the river. He doesn’t like outside scenery. He is not allowed to run after a rat.

Plot

The three friends — George, Harris and the narrator — discuss about their imagined illness. Then they decide to go out for a holiday. The readers can have a peep into the working of the narrator’s mind. They come to know how people suffer from sea-sickness and how they refuse to admit it in their conversation with others on land.

Answer the following questions in short:

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. 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.

Q4. 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.

Q5. 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 short:

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. 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.

Q4. 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.

Q5. 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 short:

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. 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.

Q4. 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.

Q5. 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 short:

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. 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.

Q4. 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.

Q5. 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.