Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
What brought Captain Hagberd to Colebrook?
Solution
When Captain Hagberd went out of the tap-room of the New Inn near the harbor, as soon as the door was shut the barber laughed and said: “The old one and the young one will be strolling arm in arm to get shaved in my place presently.” Noticing a stranger listening to him with a vacant grin, he explained, that this queer old Hagberd, a retired coasting skipper, was waiting for the return of a son of his. Barber said that I think he believes Colebrook is only the place in the United Kingdom for his long-lost sons. So, he sold up his old home in Colchester this is what brought Captain Hagberd to Colebrook three years ago.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Why did the people of Colebrook not have a favorable opinion of Captain Hagbard?
What sort of a seaman had Captain Hagberd been?
Captain Hagberd constantly hinted at something that made Bessie blush. What was it?
What were Bessie’s reactions to old Hagberd’s ravings?
What sort of a person was Mr. Carvil?
What was the point of similarity between Captain Hagberd and old Mr. Carvil?
Why did Bessie sometimes show signs of irritation and disgust?
Who was the stranger who met Captain Hagbard? What was the Captain’s reaction to the meeting?
What did young Hagberd think it meant when old Hagberd said that his son would be coming home ‘tomorrow’?
What reasons did Bessie give for encouraging old Hagberd in his insane hopes?
What makes Bessie convinced that the young man is indeed Harry?
What kind of life had Harry lived after he left home?
What does Bessie tell Harry about his father’s plans for him?
What did Captain Hagberd call out to Bessie from the window?
What is the consistency one finds in the old man’s madness?
How does Captain Hagberd prepare for Harry’s homecoming?
How did Bessie begin to share Hagberd’s insanity regarding his son?
What were Harry’s reasons for coming to meet old Hagberd?
Why does Harry’s return prove to be a disappointment for Bessie?
Discuss in small groups or pairs
‘Every mental state, even madness, has its equilibrium based upon self-esteem. Its disturbance causes unhappiness’.
Discuss in small groups or pairs
Joyce’s ‘Eveline’ and Conrad’s ‘Tomorrow’ are thematically similar.
Comment on the technique used by the author to unfold the story of Captain Hagberd’s past.
Identify instances in the story in which you find streaks of insanity in people other than Hagbard. What implications do they suggest?
