FA English (Compulsory) Syllabus

Who is the author of the story "The Reward"?

Lord Dunsany.

In "The Reward," what does the man wish for as he is dying, and what does he expect?

He pleads for one last drink (a glass of beer) and expects to be granted his wish before going to the next world.

What is the ironic 'reward' the man receives in Lord Dunsany's "The Reward"?

He is given an endless smell/aroma of beer he can never drink — a torment rather than a reward — suggesting a kind of hell for his earthly cravings.

What is the theme of "The Reward" by Lord Dunsany?

Consequences of human desire and craving; punishment in the afterlife mirrors one's earthly weaknesses.

Who wrote the short story "Heat Lightning"?

Robert Crane.

In "Heat Lightning," who are the two main characters waiting at a bus stop?

A young woman (the narrator/protagonist) and a stranger (a man) who turns out to be dangerous.

What is the suspenseful situation in "Heat Lightning"?

A woman alone at a roadside bus stop on a stormy night realizes the man with her may be a murderer who has just killed a couple in a parked car nearby.

What does the title "Heat Lightning" symbolize in the story?

The flashes of lightning that reveal danger and create tension; symbolic of looming, silent threat and the woman's fear.

What is the central theme of "Heat Lightning"?

Fear, suspense, and a woman's vulnerability and presence of mind when confronted with hidden danger.

Who is the author of the play "Visit to a Small Planet"?

Gore Vidal.

In "Visit to a Small Planet," what is the name of the alien visitor?

Kreton.

In "Visit to a Small Planet," why does Kreton come to Earth?

He comes to enjoy and observe a war/violence, which he finds amusing and exciting, treating Earth as entertainment.

In "Visit to a Small Planet," who tries to stop Kreton, and how is Kreton ultimately controlled?

General Powers and others resist him; Kreton is finally taken away by his superior, Delton 4, who stops him from causing a war.

What is the satirical theme of "Visit to a Small Planet"?

A satire on human love of war and violence; it mocks humanity's destructive tendencies through the eyes of an amused alien.

Who wrote the play "The Oyster and the Pearl"?

William Saroyan.

In "The Oyster and the Pearl," what is the setting (place)?

Harry Van Dusen's barbershop in the small coastal town of O.K.-by-the-Sea, California.

In "The Oyster and the Pearl," what does the boy Clay Larrabee hope to find in the oyster?

A pearl (worth $300) so he can buy gifts and help his family, since his mother left and father is jobless.

In "The Oyster and the Pearl," how does Harry the barber help the boy Clay?

Though the oyster has no real pearl, Harry secretly buys/sends money so Clay believes the pearl was real and valuable, preserving his hope.

What is the central theme of "The Oyster and the Pearl"?

Hope, kindness, and human dignity; the value of dreams and compassion over material reality in a poor seaside community.

Who is the author of the humorous essay "My Bank Account" (also titled "My Financial Career")?

Stephen Leacock.

In "My Bank Account," why does the narrator go to the bank?

He has received a salary raise of fifty dollars a month and wants to open an account, but is terrified and nervous of banks.

What humorous mistake does the narrator make in "My Bank Account"?

In his nervousness he deposits fifty-six dollars, then tries to withdraw and accidentally writes a cheque for the whole amount ($56), withdrawing everything and closing the account in embarrassment.

What is the theme/tone of "My Bank Account" by Stephen Leacock?

A humorous, satirical sketch of nervousness and shyness; comedy arising from an ordinary man's irrational fear of banks.

Who wrote the story "The Foolish Quack"?

It is a folk tale retold from the 'Kashmiri Folk Tales' collection (commonly attributed to the retelling by J. Hinton Knowles / Flora Annie Steel tradition).

In "The Foolish Quack," how does the woodcutter accidentally become a 'doctor'?

By sheer luck (chance), the foolish/ignorant man cures patients accidentally, gaining a false reputation as a great physician (hakim).

What is the moral lesson of "The Foolish Quack"?

It satirizes quackery and undeserved reputation; luck and pretence cannot replace real knowledge, and false fame eventually exposes the fool.

Who is the author of "A Mild Attack of Locusts"?

Doris Lessing.

Where is "A Mild Attack of Locusts" set, and who are the main characters?

On a farm in Africa (Rhodesia); the main characters are the farmer Richard, his wife Margaret, and his father, old Stephen.

In "A Mild Attack of Locusts," what disaster strikes the farm?

A massive swarm of locusts descends, covering the land and trees, threatening to devour the crops the farmers depend on.

How do the farmers fight the locusts in "A Mild Attack of Locusts"?

They light fires to make smoke and beat tins/make noise to drive the swarms away from the crops.

What is the irony of the title "A Mild Attack of Locusts"?

The attack is actually devastating, but seasoned farmers call it 'mild' compared to worse swarms — showing how hardened they are to nature's destruction; theme is man's helplessness against nature.

Who wrote the poem "Night Mail"?

W. H. Auden.

What is the subject of the poem "Night Mail"?

It describes a postal train (the night mail) crossing the border into Scotland, carrying letters of all kinds to people across the country.

What poetic technique gives "Night Mail" its rhythm, and what does it imitate?

Its galloping, varying rhythm and meter imitate the motion and chugging sound of the speeding train along the tracks.

What types of letters does the train carry in "Night Mail"?

Letters of all kinds: receipts and applications, letters of thanks, letters from banks, news (financial, social), love letters, gossip — for rich and poor alike.

What is the central theme of the poem "Night Mail"?

The importance of communication and human connection; how the mail train links people together and how everyone longs to receive a letter and not be forgotten.