Lesson No 1.
After Twenty Years ( O, Henry.)
Q1.How impressive was the policeman? How would you justify your answer?
Ans. The policeman was very impressive. His impressiveness was habitual and not for show because there were few spectators to watch his activities. He was twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements. He had a strong body and made a fine picture of a guardian of the piece.
Q2.Why did the man tell the police, it’s all right, officer?
Ans .The man told the policeman such words so that the policeman would not consider him a thief or a man with evil intentions.
Q3.Were the two friends in regular contact with each other during the twenty years? Why/why not?
Ans. No, the two friends were not in regular contact with each other during the twenty years. Though they corresponded with each other for one or two years but after that they lost each other’s track. It is so because Bob kept moving in the west to make his fortune and destiny.
Q4.How well did Jimmy’s friend prosper in life? How did you know?
Ans. Jimmy’s friend had made tremendous progress in his life though by adopting illegal ways. He had a handsome watch with diamond covering on it and a large scarf pin.
Q5.When a tall man in a long overcoat walked up to Bob, what made him think that it was Jimmy and not and not anyone else?
Ans. Bob thought so because he was expecting the arrival of his friend Jimmy Wells. Besides, the tall man went directly to him and addressed him as Bob.
Q6.Why was bob arrested?
Ans. Bob was arrested because the Chicago police wanted him for following illegal and unlawful means and practices to earn money while making his fortune in the west.
Q7.Why did Bob’s hands begin to trouble as he almost finished reading the note?
Ans. His hands began to tremble as he almost finished reading the note because he came to know that the policeman he had talked earlier was none but his old friend Jimmy Wells. He had recognized him as a culprit and sent the other policeman wearing plain clothes to arrest him.
Q8.Jimmy did not arrest his friend because (tick the correct answer)
- he couldn’t recognize Bob in the dark.
- he wanted Bob to run.
- he couldn’t reach the place in time.
- he could not bring himself to arrest his friend.
Ans. Jimmy did not arrest his friend because he could not bring himself to arrest him.
Q9.Why is the story titled’ After Twenty Years’?
Ans. When Bob and Jimmy were young, they had made an appointment that they would meet each other at particular place and time in New York exactly after twenty years. Bob went in the west to make his fortune where he adopted illegal ways to earn his living. Jimmy preferred to stay in New York where he joined the police department. For some time, the two friends corresponded with each other, but after that they lost the track of each other. Their friendship was too deep and true to be described. Hence, they did not forget the promise made twenty years ago. They reported at the scheduled place and time exactly after twenty years ago. They reported at the scheduled place and time exactly after twenty years. That is why, the story is titled ‘After Twenty Years.’
Q10.If you were in Jimmy’s shoes, what would have been the best thing to do from the following points of view?
a) Your career as a policeman
b) Your friendship with Bob.
c) Your own conscience
d) the law.
Ans.(c)My own conscience.
Extra Question
“Compare and contrast the character of Jimmy Wells and Silky Bob”?
Ans .Characters play an important role or slightly an unimportant role on a story. It is their presence that makes the events of a story understandable to the readers. Here in the story, the characters of Jimmy Wells and silky Bob are of vital importance. They were two fast and true friends. They were raised in New York like two real brothers. But their approach to work out their destiny and make their fortune is altogether different.
After promising that they would meet each other exactly after twenty years at scheduled time and date in New York. Jimmy did not leave New York to make his fortune. He stayed there and joined the police department where he performed his duty sincerely and dedicatedly. He was satisfied with his lot and did not seek for illegal ways to earn wealth .He led the life of a responsible citizen and dutiful policeman. He kept his promise and met his friend at the appointed place on time. He did not disclose his identity before his friend, for the latter had adopted unlawful ways while making his fortune in the west. He did not arrest his friend but sent the other policeman wearing plain clothes to arrest him. He really had a great respect and regard for his friend.
Bob, on the other hand, was greedy and ambitious. He wanted to earn more and more wealth through the available means. For the same, he left New York and knocked the door of the West to make his fortune. There, he adopted illegal unfair and unlawful ways for piling wealth. He hardly bothered about the duties of a responsible citizen. He became a criminal in the eyes of law. He, however, was a true and sincere friend. He did not forget the promise of meeting his friend in New York made twenty years ago. He travelled thousand miles to meet his friend at the scheduled place. He was arrested by the Chicago police on account of his illegal ways in his pursuit for money.
Reference to the Context:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. You are not Jimmy Wells,’ he snapped’ Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man’s nose from a Roman to a Pug.’
(a)Who is the he in these lines?
Ans-He is Bob in these lines.
(b)-What was his reaction when he realised that the man was not Jimmy, why?
Ans .His reaction was very stern and repulsive .It was so because the tall man had put him in deception.
(c)How did he recognize the man?
Ans. When the tall man and Bob reached in to the glare of electric lights of a drug store located at the corner of the street, each of them turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other’s face. Bob noticed that the tall man had a pug nose while his friend Jimmy Wells had a Roman nose. In this way he recognized the man.
d) Why was the man there? Who had sent him?
Ans .The man was there to arrest the Bob. Jimmy Wells had sent him.
Explanation with Reference to the context:
1. “When about a midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned ,with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly”.
Context: These lines have been taken from the lesson “After Twenty years” written by O’ Henry. Here ,the writer tells us about two true friends namely Bob and Jimmy living in New York who meet each other after a gap of twenty years.
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the policeman is shouldering his duty in one of the streets of New York. He suddenly slowed his walk when he reached near a certain block. He saw that a man with an unlighted Cigar in his mouth was standing in the doorway of a darkened hardware store. The policeman went directly to the man who spoke up quickly.
2. “There was now a fine, cold drizzle falling ……………………
……………… smoked his cigar and waited.”
Context:- Same as above.
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, we come across the weather conditions and the movement of the few foot passengers in the area where the waiting man (Bob) was eagerly waiting or the arrival of his friend .The waiting man (Bob) had covered a long distance to keep a word made twenty years ago.
He suspected that his friend (Jimmy) would fail to keep his promise.
3.“The man from the west unfolded the little piece of paper handed to him.----
………………..by the time he had finished.”
Context:-Same as above.
Explanation:- In the lines here under discussion ,we notice the reaction of Bob while going through the letter sent to him by his friend Jimmy in the hands of another policeman wearing plain clothes .He took the letter usually when began to read it but a sudden feeling of repentance and fearfulness pervaded over his being after reading it completely.
