"The Fly" by Katharine Mansfield : Model Question Paper/ English Literature/ Literary Texts
Difficulty
Level: Post Graduation
Time: 1hr 30 Mnt
Each Question: Word Limit: 30
" The Fly" by Katharine Mansfield Short Questions - Answers
1. For what purpose did Woodifield come to the boss?
Answer: Woodifield came to the boss to pay a visit and share some news about his recent visit to the cemetery where the boss's son is buried.
2. When was Mr. Woodifield allowed to go out freely? What did his wife and daughter imagine he did on that day?
Answer: Mr. Woodifield was allowed to go out freely every afternoon. His wife and daughter imagined that he went to the pub and spent time drinking with his old friends.
3. Give in not more than thirty words your first impression of Mr. Woodifield.
Answer: Mr. Woodifield appears as an elderly man, polite and somewhat melancholic, who carries the burden of his son's death and seeks solace in visiting the cemetery.
4. What new object did the boss show to Woodifield?
Answer: The boss showed Woodifield a photograph of his deceased son, Reggie, which he kept hidden in his desk drawer.
5. "There was something I wanted to tell you," said old Woodifield. - What did old Woodifield want to tell?
Answer: Old Woodifield wanted to tell the boss about his visit to the cemetery and how he had seen Reggie's grave and placed flowers on it.
6. Why did Woodifield's girls go to Belgium?
Answer: Woodifield's daughters went to Belgium to visit the grave of their brother, Reggie, who died during World War I.
7. "They're quite near each other, it seems." - Who are they? How are they quite new to each other?
Answer: "They" refers to the graves of Reggie and the boss's son. They are quite near each other in the cemetery, symbolizing the proximity of their sons' resting places.
8. "The girls were in Belgium last week having a look at poor Reggie's grave." - Who are the girls? Who is Reggie?
Answer: The girls are Woodifield's daughters. Reggie is Woodifield's son who died during the war and is buried in Belgium.
9. What was the specialty about the wind that the boss offered to Woodifield?
Answer: The boss offered Woodifield the "specialty" of a gust of wind blowing through the window, which he considered invigorating and refreshing.
10. "He couldn't have looked more surprised if the boss had produced a rabbit." - Who is he? Why is he surprised?
Answer: "He" refers to Woodifield. He is surprised because the boss unexpectedly shows him a photograph of Reggie, his deceased son, which evokes strong emotions.
11. "There's miles of it, and it's all as neat as a garden." - Who said this and to whom? What is referred to in the line?
Answer: The boss said this to Woodifield, referring to the rows of tombstones in the cemetery where Reggie and the boss's son are buried.
12. "He wanted, he intended. He had arranged to weep..." - Who is 'he'? Did he weep?
Answer: "He" refers to the boss. He wanted to weep and had planned to do so in the privacy of his office, but he did not actually weep.
13. "Whom Macey had handed him the telegram." - Who was Macey? To whom did he hand the telegram? What did the telegram contain?
Answer: Macey was the office messenger. He handed the telegram to the boss. The telegram contained news of the boss's son's death in the war.
14. "The grey-haired office messenger, watching him, dodged in and out of his cubby-hole like a dog that expects to be taken for a run. What is a cubby-hole? What does this comparison with a dog signify?
Answer: A cubby-hole refers to a small, confined space or compartment, often used for storage or as a workspace. The comparison with a dog signifies the restlessness and anticipation of the office messenger, who, like a dog, eagerly awaits the opportunity to be active and engaged.
15. "Help! Help!" said those struggling legs. - Who cried for help and why?
Answer: The boss's struggling legs cried for help. The boss, in a moment of internal conflict, was torn between wanting to kill the fly and being overwhelmed by the guilt and empathy he felt towards the small creature.
16. "The horrible danger was over." - What was the danger? Was it really over?
Answer: The danger referred to the threat the boss perceived from the fly. It was not a physical danger but rather a symbolic representation of the boss's struggle with power and control. The danger was over in the sense that the boss had finally overcome his internal battle and made a decision.
17. How many times did the boss let fall drops of ink on the fly, and why did he do so?
Answer: The boss let fall drops of ink on the fly three times. He did so as a means of asserting his dominance and control over the small creature, displaying his power to take life and feeling a sense of satisfaction in doing so.
18. "That was the right spirit. Never say die." - Who is the speaker? To what did he say this?
Answer: The boss is the speaker. He said this to himself, encouraging his own resolve and determination to carry out his act of killing the fly.
19. What psychic motive do you find in killing the fly?
Answer: The psychic motive in killing the fly symbolizes the boss's desire for control and the exercise of power. It represents his need to exert dominance over something smaller and weaker, as a way to compensate for his feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability in other aspects of his life.
20. Do you rate the story a journey to heart or mind?
Answer: The rating of the story, whether it is a journey to the heart or mind, is subjective and can vary for different readers. However, the story explores complex themes related to human nature, power dynamics, and the internal conflicts within individuals, which can engage both the heart and the mind.
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