Thinking about the Text
I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30–40 words).
1. How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (Don't forget the dog!)
Answer: There are four characters in the narrative. They are Jerome (the narrator), George, Harris and Montmorency (the dog)[reference:0].
2. Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
Answer: Jerome volunteered to do the packing because he felt that he knew more about packing than any other living being. He thought he was the best packer and wanted to show off his skills[reference:1].
3. How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
Answer: George and Harris readily accepted Jerome's suggestion. George spread himself over the easy-chair and Harris put his legs on the table and lit a cigar. No, Jerome was irritated by their reaction[reference:2].
4. What was Jerome's real intention when he offered to pack?
Answer: Jerome's real intention was to supervise the work, not do everything himself. He wanted to boss over the job and have George and Harris follow his orders[reference:3].
5. What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
Answer: After the bag was shut and strapped, Harris said, "Ain't you going to put the boots in?" He waited till then to ask because he wanted to irritate Jerome and make him realise his mistake[reference:4].
6. What "horrible idea" occurred to Jerome a little later?
Answer: The "horrible idea" that occurred to Jerome was whether he had packed his toothbrush or not. Whenever he travelled, he could never remember if he had packed his toothbrush[reference:5].
7. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
Answer: Jerome finally found the toothbrush inside a boot. He unpacked everything, held everything up and shook it, and at last found it inside a boot[reference:6].
8. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
Answer: Jerome had to reopen the packed bag because he realised that he had packed his spectacles in it. He had to unpack everything again to get them out[reference:7].
9. What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
Answer: George and Harris offered to pack the hampers. They offered because it was getting late and Jerome had taken too much time. They also wanted to show their skills to Jerome[reference:8].
10. While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.
True statements:
(i) They started with breaking a cup. ✓
(iii) They squashed a tomato. ✓
(iv) They trod on the butter. ✓
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn't find them. ✓
(vii) They stepped on things. ✓
(ix) They upset almost everything. ✓
False statements:
(ii) They also broke a plate. ✗
(v) They stepped on a banana. ✗
(viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top. ✗
(x) They were very good at packing. ✗[reference:9]
II. What does Jerome say was Montmorency's ambition in life? What do you think of Montmorency and why?
Answer
Answer: Jerome says that Montmorency's ambition in life was to get in the way and get scolded. He wanted to be a perfect nuisance and make people mad. To get somebody to stumble over him and curse him steadily for an hour was his highest aim and object[reference:10].
I think Montmorency is just another dog who seeks love and attention of the people around him. He wants to irritate people so as to make his presence felt. His mischievous nature is his way of participating in the activities of his companions.
III. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).
1. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst packer? Support your answer with details from the text.
Answer: Of the three, Jerome is the best packer as he knows how to arrange things properly. He is not a flawless packer as he forgets things and has to reopen the bag. He searches for his toothbrush and finds it in a boot. He also packs his spectacles in the bag accidentally. However, compared to George and Harris, he is more systematic.
George and Harris are equally worse in packing. They stepped on things, put things behind them and then couldn't find them. They packed the pies at the bottom and put heavy things on top, smashing the pies. They upset salt over everything and created complete chaos in the room. Harris squashed a tomato by placing strawberry jam on top of it. George trod on the butter, which then stuck to Harris's bottom when he sat on it. They broke a cup and created a mess everywhere[reference:11].
2. How did Montmorency 'contribute' to the packing?
Answer: Montmorency's contribution to the packing cannot be forgotten. His ambition in life was to disturb others and be abused by them. He came and sat on things just when they were going to be packed. He put his leg into the jam, worried the teaspoons, and pretended that lemons were rats. He got into the hamper and killed three of them (as he thought). He created trouble whenever he noticed everyone around him busy. The narrator called his acts the fulfilment of his conceit. Montmorency wanted to be a perfect nuisance and make people mad. If things were thrown at his head, he felt his day had not been wasted. To get somebody to stumble over him and curse him steadily for an hour was his highest aim and objective[reference:12].
3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it? (Pick out at least three, think about what happens, as well as how it is described.)
Answer: Yes, the story is really humorous and funny. The mess that is created when the friends pack for the trip is amusing to read.
Humorous elements:
First, Jerome's episode of packing is funny. He wanted to supervise but ended up doing all the work. He forgot whether he had packed his toothbrush and had to unpack everything to find it in a boot. He also packed his spectacles in the bag.
Second, the incident of the butter is hilarious. George trod on the butter and it stuck to his slipper. He put it on the chair, and Harris sat on it. It stuck to Harris's bottom, and they searched the whole room for it.
Third, Montmorency's contribution adds to the humour. He sat on things just when they were to be packed. He put his leg into the jam and pretended the lemons were rats. He got into the hamper and "killed" three of them. His conceit became unbearable when he succeeded in accomplishing his aim of being a nuisance[reference:13].
Thinking about Language
I. Match the words/phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
| Column A |
Column B |
| 1. slaving |
(viii) working hard |
| 2. chaos |
(vi) complete confusion and disorder |
| 3. rummage |
(v) search for something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly |
| 4. scrape out |
(ii) remove something from inside another thing using a sharp tool |
| 5. stumble over, tumble into |
(vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking |
| 6. accomplish |
(iv) finish successfully, achieve |
| 7. uncanny |
(iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to explain |
| 8. (to have or get into) a row |
(i) a quarrel or an argument |
Correct matching:
1. slaving → (viii) working hard
2. chaos → (vi) complete confusion and disorder
3. rummage → (v) search for something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly
4. scrape out → (ii) remove something from inside another thing using a sharp tool
5. stumble over, tumble into → (vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking
6. accomplish → (iv) finish successfully, achieve
7. uncanny → (iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to explain
8. (to have or get into) a row → (i) a quarrel or an argument[reference:14]
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