14. The Bishop's Candlesticks Solutions
A.
Think Quick
Fill
in the blanks with words from the poem:
- The candlesticks were on the mantelpiece.
- The Bishop was late for supper
because he was visiting Marie’s mother.
- Monsieur Gervais had often polished
the candlesticks.
- Persome had lost all patience
with her brother.
- It was indeed an honour for our
school to have received the award.
- They drove away slowly to avoid arousing
suspicion.
B.
Write Short Answers
1.
Why did Persome start crying?
Persome
started crying because she was sad and angry that her brother had sold off her
silver salt cellars.
2.
Mention two instances from the play that tell us that the Bishop was a kind
man.
·
The Bishop gave his own warm comforter to ,
his maid because it was cold..
·
He asked his sister to give the convict some
food as he was hungry.
3.
Write two things that the Bishop says about the candlesticks.
·
The candlesticks were made of silver.
·
Bishop’s mother had asked him to keep it as
her remembrance.
4.
What does the convict tell the Bishop about his life before he went to prison?
Before
he went to the prison the convict had lived with his wife in a cottage. He got
caught stealing to buy food for his wife, when she was ill and he had no money
at that time.
5.
What does the convict do when he sees the candlesticks?
When the convict sees the candlesticks, he weighs them on his hand and then
tucks them in his coat and then leaves.
6.
What was the Bishop’s reaction when Persome told him that the candlesticks were
missing?
When
Persome told him that the candle sticks were missing, Bishop was sad at first
and then felt that he deserved it, as it was his punishment for valuing it too
much.
C.
Think and Answer
1.
Why did Persome think her brother’s behavior was ridiculous?
Persome thought her brother’s behaviour was ridiculous because he always gave
things and helped strangers without thinking about their own needs.
2.
Why did the Bishop sell the silver salt cellars but was unwilling to sell the
candlesticks?
The
Bishop sold the silver salt cellars because they were not of sentimental value,
but he was unwilling to sell the candlesticks because they were a gift from his
late mother.
3.
Why do you think the door and window of the Bishop’s house were unbarred and
unblocked?
The
Bishop believed in kindness and trust. He did not lock his doors because he
felt that his home should always be open to anyone in need.
4.
‘They took away my name, they took away my soul.’ What do you think the convict
was feeling when he said this line?
When he said this, he was feeling very angry and sad that his life had been
wasted in prison and he had nothing left. He was a changed person.
5.
Why did the Bishop claim that the convict was his friend?
The Bishop wanted to give the convict a second chance. By calling him a friend,
he helped the convict regain his lost humanity and self-worth.
6.
The theme of the play is that we can put love and kindness before anything
else. Do you agree? Give two reasons for your answer.
Yes, I agree because:
·
The Bishop’s kindness transformed the
convict, proving that love can change even the hardest hearts.
·
Instead of punishing the convict, the Bishop
forgave him, showing that compassion is more powerful than revenge.
D.
Reference to Context
1.
‘You’d never think of the suffering you cause to me.’
a.
Who is the speaker?
The
speaker is Persome.
b.
Who is the speaker speaking to?
She
is speaking to the Bishop.
c.
What is the suffering that the person being spoken to has caused?
Persome feels that the Bishop’s generosity causes her distress because he gives
away their possessions, making their own life difficult.
d.
What does this person say after this line?
The
Bishop tries to explain that helping others brings him peace and that material
things do not matter to him.
e.
Do you think this is really suffering? Give two reasons for your answer.
No,
this is not real suffering because:
·
The Bishop finds joy in helping others, so he
does not feel burdened.
·
True suffering is what the poor and needy
experience, and the Bishop is trying to reduce that.
2.
‘I was a man once. I am a beast now, and they made me what I am.’
a.
Who is the speaker?
The speaker is the convict.
b.
Who is he speaking to?
He is speaking to the Bishop.
c.
Where are they at this time?
They are in the Bishop’s house.
d.
Why does the speaker say this line?
The convict says this because his time in prison changed him from a decent man
into a hardened criminal due to cruel treatment.
e.
Mention two things that, according to the speaker, made him a beast.
·
The harsh punishment and suffering in prison.
·
The loss of his identity and dignity.
f.
Do you agree with the speaker’s opinion of himself? Give two reasons for your
answer.
No, I do not fully agree because:
·
He still has the ability to change, as seen
when the Bishop’s kindness reforms him.
·
His suffering made him bitter, but he was not
truly a beast—he was a victim of circumstances.
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