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Question
Answer in your own word.
There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions ‘My heart sank, panic seized’ etc. What was the reason for this? Explain.
Solution
The writer was living in a tiny apartment in Paris and earning barely enough money to make both ends meet. The lady wanted him to give her luncheon at Foyot's, an expensive restaurant. When they met, she ordered some of the most expensive dishes available. The writer was terribly worried about whether he had enough money to pay the bill. Hence, he has used the expressions my heart sank', 'panic seized me', etc.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
B. Read the following passage and do the given activities:
B1. Choose the correct options from the bracket and fill in the blanks:
(younger, eighty, twenty, interval)
i. I went over during the _______ and sat down beside her.
ii. None of us are getting any _______.
iii. It was _______ years ago.
iv. I had _______ francs to last me the rest of the month.
I caught sight of her at the play and in answer to her call. I went over during the interval and sat down beside her. It was long since I had last seen her and, if someone had not mentioned her name, I hardly think I would have recognized her. She addressed me brightly.
“Well, it’s many years since we first met. How time does fly! We’re none of us getting any younger. Do you remember the first time I saw you? You asked me to luncheon.”
Did I remember?
It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a tiny apartment and I was earning barely enough money. She had read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I answered, thanking her, and presently, I received from her another letter saying she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me. But her time was limited and the only free moment she had was on the following Thursday and would I give her a little luncheon at Foyot’s afterward? Foyot’s is a restaurant and it was so far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there. I had eighty francs (gold francs) to last me the rest of the month and a modest luncheon should not cost more than fifteen. If I cut out coffee for the next two weeks, I could manage well enough.
B2. Where and when did they decide to have luncheon?
B3. Find out the ‘Synonyms’ from the passage for the following words:
i. A set of rooms
ii. Acknowledged
iii. Handle
iv. Directed.
B4. Do as directed:
i. I hardly think about it.
(Begin the sentence with ‘How_______!)
ii. She had read a book of mine.
(Begin the sentence with ‘Hadn’t _______?)
B5. Personal Response:
If you were in the place of the narrator, how would you have reacted in the given situation?
Talk with your partner and discuss the following question:
Have you ever been invited to lunch, at any hotel, by your friend?
Talk with your partner and discuss the following question:
Did you enjoy the lunch? Why?
Discuss in pairs:
People with foibles are often not conscious of them. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Choose the correct option from the bracket and fill in the blank given below.
(addressed, luncheon, generously, unwise, insist)
The chief guest____________ the students.
Choose the correct option from the bracket and fill in the blanks given below.
(addressed, luncheon, generously, unwise, insist)
Parents always____________ on children to be allrounders.
Choose the correct option from the bracket and fill in the blank given below.
(addressed, luncheon, generously, unwise, insist)
The king decided to donate his wealth among his subjects____________.
Go through the story again and find out various instances which create humor in ‘The Luncheon’. Complete the table by picking up various humorous instances and the particular line from the story. One is done for you.
| Humorous Instance | Line from the story |
| l The woman is a voracious eater | ‘‘ Follow my example, and never eat more than one thing for luncheon.’’ |
Who said these words/sentences? Under what circumstances?
| Words/Sentences | Who said? | Under what circumstances? |
| I never eat anything for luncheon. | ||
| It’s many years since we first met. | ||
| Are you still hungry? | ||
| I don’t believe in overloading my stomach. | ||
| I’ll eat nothing for dinner tonight |
Answer in your own word.
Describe the use of irony and humour in “The Luncheon”.
