MP Board Class 11th English A Voyage Solutions Chapter 21 The Dear Departed

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MP Board Class 11th English A Voyage Solutions Chapter 21 The Dear Departed (Stanley Houghton)

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The Dear Departed Textual Exercises

Word Power

Question 1.
Find the words in the play that mean:
1. window shades
2. go about seeking pleasure
3. tiny particle
4. steal
5. without any sign of feeling
6. move without attracting attention
7. push sharply with a stick or something pointed
8. unforgiving
9. with hurt pride
10. a senseless behaviour
Answer:

blinds
gallivant
speak
pinch
impassive
skip
poke
……..
……..
tomfoolry

Question 2.
Make sentences the following phrases:
1. to lay table
2. to usher in
3. to breathe a word to
4. to sail into the room
5. hang about
6. put up with
7. feel equal to
8. work oneself up
9. a near thing
10. stagger in
11. have an eye on
12. off (somebody’s) hands
13. out of (one’s) senses
Answer:

to lay table – He laid the table for the discussion.
to usher in – Our country has ushered in a new era.
to breathe a word to – The thief was not ready to breathe a word about the crime to the police.
to sail into the room – Suddenly a doubt about the ghost sailed into the room.
hang about—Still the decision of this case is hanging about with the President.
put up with -I cannot put up with such an awkward situation.
feel equal to – He always feels himself equal to the great king.
work oneself up -I have worked myself up to the final verdict.
a near thing – His settlement is now a near thing.
stagger in – The old man staggered in the room.
have an eye on – Now the police have an eye on every unattended thing.
off (somebody’s) hands – He Was caught offhanded.
out of (one’s) senses – Don’t go out of your senses.

Question 3.
Frame sentences to differentiate the meanings of the following pairs of words:

straight – strait
saft – deft
droop – drop
breath – breadth
adapt – adept
worse – verse
pique – pick
mourning – morning

Answer:
(1) straight— strait
straight—It is a straight road.
strait — The strait of Gibralter is very famous.

(2) ‘saft—deft
saft
deft

(3) droop-drop
droop – He is sitting with his drooping should is.
drop — There is not a single drop of water in this glass.

(4) breath — breadth
breath – He breaths with difficulty.
breadth -The breadth of this river is narrow.

(5) adapt — adept
adapt – We have adapted the new climate.
adept — We are adept to the new situation.

(6) worse — verse
worse – The patient’s condition became worse.
verse—This is a verse of traditional pattern.

(7) pique—pick
pique –
pick — The child picked up the chocolate.

(8) mourning-morning
mourning – Many people gathered in the mourning of the leader,
morning – I get up early in the morning.

Comprehension

(A) Arrange the following sentences in sequence so that a continues narrative of the story of the Dear Departed could be made. Begin your story with the first statement as the first sentences:
1. Abel Merry weather had two daughters Amelina and Elizabeth (lovingly called by him Melia’ and Lizzy ’.)
2. The Slaters had a daughter named Victoria.
3. They discussed the advertisement, which should be put up in the newspapers.
4. Mrs. Slater and her husband waited for the arrival of Mrs. Jordan and her husband so that preparations for cremation could be made.
5. Abel Merry weather said that in his new Will he would make the provision that his belongings and property would go to the person with whom he lived at the time of his death.
6. Victoria was sent to Abel Merryweather’s room to bring the key
bunch of the bureau in which Abel Merryweather might have put the insurance premium receipt.
7. Abel Merryweather informed that he was going to marry Mrs. John Shorocks, a widow.
8. Abel Merryweather said that he was going to change his Will.
9. One day Mrs. Slater felt that Abel Merryweather had died.
10. Suddenly Victoria came into room telling that grandfather (Abel ’Merryweather,) was moving.
11. Before the arrival of the Jordons, the Slaters had pinched grandfather’s bureau and wall clock.
12. Mrs. Slater sent a telegram to her sister about the death of Abel Merryweather.
13. Amelia after marriage had become Mrs. Slater while Elizabeth was called Mrs. Jordan.
14. At the time of the story he lived with Amelia.
15. Both of the daughters were married.
16. The sisters (Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan) wanted to ascertain if Abel Merryweather had deposited his insurance premium.
Answer:

Abel Merry weather had two daughters Amelina and Elizabeth (lovingly called by him ‘Melia’ and ‘Lizzy’.)
Both of the daughters were married.
Amelia after marriage had become Mrs. Slater while Elizabeth was called Mrs. Jordan.
One day Mrs. Slater felt that Abel Merry weather had died.
At the time of the story he lived with Amelia.
Mrs. Slater sent a telegram to her sister about the death of Abel Merry weather.
Mrs. Slater and her husband waited for the arrival of Mrs. Jordan and her husband so that preparations for cremation could be made.
They discussed the advertisement, which should be put up in the newspapers.
Before the arrival of the Jordans, the Slaters had pinched grandfather’s bureau and wall clock.
The sisters (Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan) wanted to ascertain if Abel Merry weather had deposited his insurance premium.
The Slaters had a daughter named Victoria.
Victoria was sent to Abel Merry weather’s room to bring the key bunch of the bureau in which Abel Merry weather might have put the insurance premium receipt.
Suddenly Victoria came into room telling that grandfather (Abel Merryweather) was moving.
Abel Merryweather said that in his new Will he would make the provision that his belongings and property would go to the person with whom he lived at the time of his death.
Abel Merryweather said that he was going to change is will.
Abel Merryweather informed that he was .going to marry Mrs. John Shorocks, a widow.

(B) Answer the following questions in about 150 words:

Question 1.
Write a character sketch of Mrs. Slater highlighting the following .points:
(a) her greed
(b) her overpowering nature.
(c) her straight walk
(d) her impoliteness, and
(e) her lack of the sense of feelings.
Answer:
Mrs. Slater is one of the daughters of Abel Merrweather. She plays the most dominant role in the play. She is a vigorous, plump, redfaced, vulgar woman prepared to do any amount of straight talking to get her own way. She is sharp-witted. After she gets confirmed about the death of her father, she tries to first grab all the essentials of her father. She takes Victoria, her sister into confidence. She takes the bureau of her father. She also asks her sister to take his slippers. She also takes the mantelpiece from her father’s room. Then she turns her attention to the insurance policy of Abel Merry weather and also wants to get sure that he had paid its premiums. She doesn’t want anyone to come there before she takes everything in her possession.

She is a lady of overpowering nature. She instructs how to pose to be a perfect mourns before the visitors, She expresses her mourning in a very perfect way before her uncle and aunt who have come there to their sympathy. She doesn’t show sympathy to anyone. She is very rude in her behaviour.

When she comes to know that her father is not dead, she is shocked. But she controls herself in a clever manner. Though she is exposed. The father comes to know everything and changes his will. She tries to convince her father that she has taken the things just to keep them safe. But the father leaves the house and denounces his daughters, behaviour. Mrs. Slater represents a great materialistic character who has no emotion, no relation, but only her own-self. She is completely feelingless

Question 2.
In the play the two daughters do not seem to be concerned at their father’s death. Do you think it is proper? If not, why?
Answer:
‘The Dear Departed’ is a play which exposes the degradation of moral values in the British class. The theme is put in the form of a story of a family affair represented by two sisters Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan. Their father Mr. Abel is shown to be dead. The behaviour of the daughters and their husbands after the confirmation of Abel’s death is changed completely. They are not at all concerned with the dead body or the funeral : rites. Instead they take care of the things and other belongings like slippers mantelpiece, bureau, insurance policy etc. of Abel. They want to grab all the things before any outsiders come there for mourning They even want to get sure whether Abel had paid the last premium of the policy.

They are in hurry because their relatives are to reach there any moment. They become too much greedy. On the other hand they are in black dress as a mark of mourning. They posses to be in great grief. This attitude is in no way appreciating because it shows very low grade mentality. After all Abel is their father. Whatever he died or possessed, it is for his daughters. If he were died in fact, if the first concern for Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan first to arrange his funeral in a perfect manner. But their attitude shows they have no attachment with him. They are concerned only with his belongings. They are exposed for their lost moral value.

Question 3.
How are the two sisters exposed in the play “The Dear Departed”?
Answer:
‘The Dear Departed’ is a play which exposes the degradation of moral values in the British class. The theme is put in the form of a story of a family affair represented by two sisters Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan. Their father Mr. Abel is shown to be dead. The behaviour of the daughters and their husbands after the confirmation of Abel’s death is changed completely. They are not at all concerned with the dead body or the funeral : rites. Instead they take care of the things and other belongings like slippers mantelpiece, bureau, insurance policy etc. of Abel. They want to grab all the things before any outsiders come there for mourning They even want to get sure whether Abel had paid the last premium of the policy.

Question 4.
Narrate the story of ‘The Dear Departed’ from the point of view of Abel Merryweather.
Answer:
I am Abel Merryweather. I have seen long life. It has been full of wonderful experiences. The ups and downs, joy and grief, lost and found have been some of the unforgettable moments. But one thing is sure that these have made me learn a real life situations. But the most bitter experience I had was the behaviour of my own daughters. One day I was in deep sleep.

I wanted to try my daughters concerned for me. I posed to be dead. Suddenly my daughters came to know it. The moment they knew about my death they became more active. First my second daughter took away my slippers. I was feeling everything and was listening to their talk. My elder daughter took away my bureau and then the mantelpiece; they were trying to get the insurance policy and its premium receipt. They were making all efforts to grab my all belongings.

I felt they were not at all worried about my funeral. Now it became intolerable for me and I got up. I exposed their behaviour and snapped all relations with them. Though they begged their pardon but I was too much pained at their excessive selfishness and materialistic attitude. I disowned them and decided to marry a widow. I also changed my will. I was shocked what a fall man has met with.

Question 5.
Justify the title of the play ‘The Dear Departed’?
Answer:
‘The Dear Departed’ is a satirical play which exposes the degradation of moral values in the British middle class. The two sisters- Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan represent the characters who have lost all moral values. The moment they come to know that their father is dead. They become active to grab all his belongings one by one they take his bureau, slippers, mantelpiece, insurance policy etc. they have no concern for the dead father. They pose to be in perfect mourning. But their attitude is not honest.

They don’t want to spend anything for the funeral. However Abel, their father, gets up. The two sisters are surprised. Abel exposes them. He is not convinced at their pleas in excuses. He disowns them. Here the dear father departs from his daughters. On the other hand, it is the belongings of the father which were most dear to the two daughters are also lost for them. So, the writer has chosen the title ‘The Dear Departed’ very aptly.

The Dear Departed Summary In English

‘The Dear Departed’ is a satirical play by Stanley Houghton. It satirises the degradation of moral values in the British class people. The story begins in the sitting room of a small house in a lower middle class district of a provincial town; Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan are two sisters. Henry Slater and Ben Jordan are their husband respectively. Mrs. Slater is a vigorous, plump, red faced vulgar woman prepared to do any amount of straight talking to gets her own way.

They have come to know that their father Abel is no more. They wear black dresses to show their mourning. They have informed their uncle the death of Abel. In the meantime they want to grab all the belongs of their father. They take the slippers, mantelpiece, bureau and some other things from father’s room. They also wait to get the insurance policy of Abel.They have, in fact, no concern for the death of Abel. They don’t care for his funeral. They don’t bother to care for the dead body.

The two sisters including their husbands posed to be in perfect mourning of the death of Abel. But the payment of premium for the insurance policy still haunts in their mind. Mrs. Slater sends Victoria, her daughter, to check Abel’s room find the premium receipt. Victoria goes there but returns very scared. She informs them that there is movement in the body of Abel.

They are amazed and scared also. They peep into the room and then go there. Abel thrust his hand at Ben who skips back to a safe distance below the safe. Now they are sure that grandfather is not dead. Abel exposes both of his daughters one by one. Though they try to convince him that they s took his things just to keep them safely. But Abel is not convinced. He rejects their pleas and all their excuses. Then Abel declares that he is going to change his will. He will give all his belongings to the one with whom he will remain at the time of his death. He don’t want to be robbed again. Now both the daughters try to win over Abel. But finally Abel declares that he is going to marry a widow. The daughters are fade up. But Abel is determined to disown them for their materialistic and selfish attitude.

The Dear Departed Summary in Hindi

‘The Dear Departed’ Stanley Houghton द्वारा लिखी हुई एक व्यंग्यात्मक नाटक है। यह ब्रिटिश वर्ग के लोगों के नैतिक मूल्यों के पतन की निन्दा करता है। कहानी की शुरुआत एक निम्न मध्य-वर्गीय प्रादेशिक शहर के जिले में एक छोटे-से घर के . बैठक-खाने में होती है। Mrs. Slater और Mrs. Jordon दो बहनें हैं। उनके पति क्रमश: Henry Slater एवं Ben Jordon हैं। Mrs. Slater एक तेज तर्रार, मोटी, लाल चेहरे वाली भद्दी महिला है जो अपने स्वार्थ के लिए कुछ भी कहने-सुनने और करने को तैयार रहती है। उन लोगों को पता चलता है कि उनके पिता Abel की मृत्यु हो चुकी है। वे शोक प्रदर्शन के लिए काले लिबास पहन लेती हैं। वे अपने चाचा को Abel की मृत्यु की सूचना दे चुकी हैं। इस बीच वे चाहती हैं कि पिता के सारा सामान हड़प लें। वे उनकी चप्पलें, समयसूचक यंग, अलमारी और पिता के कमरे के अन्य सभी सामान ले लेती हैं। दरअसल उन्हें Abel
की मौत से कोई मतलब नहीं है। वे उसके अंतिम संस्कार के बारे में जरा भी नहीं सोचती हैं।

वे मृत शरीर के रख-रखाव की भी चिंता नहीं करतीं। दोनों बहनें और उनके पति Abel की मृत्यु पर पूर्ण शोक मनाने का नाटक करते हैं। लेकिन अभी भी उनके दिमाग में Insurance Policy की किस्त की अदायगी की चिंता समायी हुई है। Mrs. Slater अपनी बेटी Victoria को Abel के कमरे में किस्त की रसीद खोजने के लिए भेजती है। Victoria वहां जाती है लेकिन डरकर तुरंत वापस आ जाती है। वह उन्हें बताती है कि Abel के शरीर में हरकत हो रही है। उन्हें आश्चर्य और डर दोनों होता है। वे कमरे में झांकती हैं और फिर वहां जाती हैं।

Abel Ben पर जोर से हाथ उठाता है जो सोफे पर गिरकर बच जाता है। अब वह समझ गए कि दादाजी जीवित हैं। वे मरे नहीं हैं। Abel एक-एक कर दोनों बेटियों की पोल खोलता है। हालांकि वे Abel को समझाने की पूरी कोशिश करते हैं, कि उन लोगों ने सामानों की सुरक्षा के लिए उन्हें अपने पास रख लिया। लेकिन Abel को इस पर विश्वास नहीं हुआ। वह उनकी दलीलों और सफाई को अस्वीकार कर देता है। फिर वह अपनी वसीयत बदलने की घोषणा करता है। वह अपनी सारी सम्पत्ति उसे देगा जिसके साथ वह अपनी मृत्यु के समय रहेगा। वह अब फिर से ठगा जाना नहीं चाहता। अब दोनों बेटियाँ Abel को पटाने की कोशिश करती है। लेकिन अंतत: Abel उन्हें बताता है कि वह एक विधवा से शादी करने जा रहा है। दोनों लड़कियां निराश हो जाती हैं। किन्तु Abel उनकी दुनियादारी और स्वार्थी विचारों के कारण उन्हें त्याग देने का निश्चय कर चुका है।

The Dear Departed Word Meaning

MP Board Class 11th English A Voyage Solutions Chapter 21 The Dear Departed 1

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