CLASS-VIII - The Best Christmas present in the world

 CLASS-VIII       The Best Christmas present in the world.

TEXTUAL  EXERCISES :

I COMPREHENSION CHECK:

1.What did the author find in a junk shop?

Ans. The author found a very old 19^th century roll-top desk in a junk shop.It was made of Oak.

2.What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?

Ans. The author found a small tin box in the secret drawer. There was a letter  in that box.

The address on the envelope revealed that it was for Mrs. Jim Macpherson of 12, Copper Breeches Bridport,Dorset.”So, Connie , the wife of Jim Macpherson must have put it there.

II COMPREHENSION CHECK:

1.Who had written the letter,to whom and when?

Ans.Jim  Macpherson was a Captain of the British army.He wrote this letter while fighting the German forces. The letter was dated December 26,1914. It was addressed to his wife  Connie.

2.Why was the letter written-what was the wonderful thing that had happened?

Ans.The letter was written to describe a wonderful incident. It occurred on the Christmas day of 1914.The wonderful thing was that the armies fighting against each other celebrated Christmas together. Both the armies ate,drank and played a football match together. Ultimately when they parted, they did so with a heavy heart.

3.What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have  when they were not soldiers?

Ans.Hans Wolf played the cello in the orchestra when he was not a soldier. Jim Macpherson was  a teacher in Dorset when not a soldier.

4.Had Hanswolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?

Ans. No,Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He had been reading English books. Hardy was his favourite author. Hardy;s novel,’Far from the Madding Crowd’ was his favourite book. This book describes Dorset. So, Hans Wolf said he knew well about  Dorset.

5.Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?

Ans.Macpherson never came back from the war. His wife Connie knew about his death. That was why she kept the letter in a tin box.She wrote on the top of the box  that it was Jim’s last letter.

III COMPREHENSION CHECK:

1.Why did the author go to Bridport?

Ans.The author went to Bridport in search of Mrs. Jim Macpherson. He wanted to give her back her important letter.

2.How old was Mrs.Macpherson  now? Where was she?

Ans. Mrs.Macpherson was now 101 years old. She was in the conservatory of a nursing home.

IV COMPREHENSION CHECK:

1.Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?

Ans. Connie Macpherson thought that the visitor was her husband Jim Macpherson.

2.Which sentence in the text  shows that the visitor did not try to hide  his identity?

Ans.The sentence which shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity is, 'I explained about the desk, about how I had found it, but I don't think she was listening.'

WORKING WITH THE TEXT:

1. For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim's letter? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
Connie must have kept Jim's letter for a long time. This is because she told the narrator how she read it quite often every day so that she could feel that Jim was near her.

2. Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when?
Answer
The desk must have been sold when the house in which Connie Macpherson lived had caught fire. She was taken to a nursing home. All the burnt up things must have been sold after that.

3. Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree?
Answer
Jim and Hans thought that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts because nobody dies in matches. No children are orphaned and no wives become widows.
Due to these reasons, games are good ways for resolving conflicts. Wars only lead to death and devastation.

4. Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other, or different from each other? Find evidence form the story to support your answer.
Answer
The soldiers of the two armies were like each other. Below are some instances from the story to prove:

→ Both the armies celebrated Christmas
→ Both the armies shared their food and spent time together in smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating.
→ They played a football match and agreed that conflicts and disputes may be resolved by football match
→ They agreed about the negative aspects of war and longed peace.
→ They exchanged carols and hoped to unite with the families again.

5. Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas.
Answer
The British and the German troops celebrated Christmas with each other. They enjoyed each other's food. All of them were smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating. Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson shared the cake Connie had baked. They talked about Bathsheba, Gabriel Oak, Sergeant Troy and Dorset. They even talked about the books they liked. They agreed about everything. Both the troops played a game of football for which both Hans and Jim cheered, clapped hands and stamped feet. They also exchanged carols at night. In this way, they celebrated Christmas together, finding a lot in common between them.

6. What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it “the best Christmas present in the world?
Answer
When the narrator came to see Connie and gave her the box, she mistook him for her husband Jim. She thought that Jim had come home for Christmas. This was Connie's Christmas present. It was the best Christmas present in the world for her because Jim had written in the letter that he would come home on Christmas. She had read that letter several times everyday to feel that he was near her. Now that he was finally there with her, she was extremely happy.

7. Do you think the title of this story is suitable for it? Can you think of any other title(s)?
Answer

Yes, the title of the story is suitable for it. The spirit of Christmas is the theme that prevails throughout the story. The message of Christmas peace and good will to all is brought out so clearly through the story. It was on a Christmas day, in the middle of a raging war, that two warring troops made peace. The moment of peace that the soldiers shared with each other was the best Christmas present for them. Again, it was on a Christmas day that the narrator went to see Mrs Macpherson. He went to return her husband’s letters to her. The letter was precious to her, but even more precious was her delusion that the narrator was her husband Jim, who she believed had returned as promised on a Christmas day. This was the best Christmas present in the world for her.

Suitable titles could be “A Christmas wish comes true!”, “Someday at Christmas…””The Christmas Message”.

WRITING:

1.Imagine that you are Jim. You have returned to your town after the war. In your diary record how you feel about the changes you see and the events that occur in your town. You could begin like this ……………… .

Answer:

25^th December 1919

It’s Christmas today but the town looks gloomy. It’s so natural. This town has lost many of its great sons in the war. The hearts of the people who know them,are burdened with sorrow. They cannot feel cheerful. They know that it’s Christmas. They see the beautiful cold weather and the crisp frosty morning associated with it. They see the beauty but they can’t feel it.

The politicians have visited the town. They have praised the bravery of the dead. They have raised their statues.They have honoured their parents. Yet, how can they compensate the loss of a child, a husband or a brother? War is the most dreadful thing I know of. How I wish an end of all wars! The problems are bound to be there. Man should find some peaceful way to resolve these problems. Perhaps one world Government would be a good idea. But how to reach it?

2.Suppose you are the visitor. You are in a dilemma. You don’t know whether to disclose your identity and disappoint the old lady or let her believe that her dear Jim has come back.Write a letter to a friend highlighting your anxiety,fears and feelings.

Answer:

23 Dorset

20 May 1920

My dear Tom

A recent happening has so much surprised me that I can’t help sharing it with you. You know I always wanted a roll-top desk. At last I got a second hand one from a junk shop.I decided to restore it and in the process I came upon a letter in one of the drawers.

It was a very old letter written in early nineteenth century. The writer was a captain Jim of the British army. It was kept in a box with the words:Jim’s last letter received January 25,1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.” The address on the envelope was “Mrs.Jim Macpherson,12 Copper Beaches,Bridport. I decided to search the lady to whom this letter belonged.

I found her in a conservatory. She was a little confused. She looked at me vacantly. But when I gave her the letter,her eyes lit up. She thought that I was Jim. She made me sit beside her and kissed me. She said that she had got that day the best Christmas present in the world. I tried to tell her who I was and how I had found her letter. But she was not listening.

Now  I was in a dilemma. Shall I force my identity on her and disappoint her? Or shall I let her dear jim had come back? I thought and thought. Then I decided to do the letter. I walked away from her quietly after sometime.

Michael