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Lesson at a Glance Nicola and Jacopo were two brothers, aged 13 and 12 respectively.

Their widower father was a well-known singer and was killed in the war against

Germany. The war made them homeless and they had no one in the world except their sister

Lucia.

After the war they were reunited but found their sister suffering from tuberculosis

of the spine.

The narrator met the boys at the outskirts of Verona and he bought a box of wild

berries from them.

The narrator found them undertaking different jobs to earn a living.

The boys polished shoes, sold newspapers, and did many other jobs to earn money.

They also took the tourists to the places of their interestto Juliets tomb in and

around Verona.

They were very helpful to the narrator and his driver Luigi as they could buy a

packet of American cigarettes or arrange seats for the opera. The narrator was leaving Verona on Monday. He asked if he could do anything for

them before going.

The younger brother Jacopo asked the narrator if he could drive them to their

village which was 30 miles from Verona.

The narrators driver Luigi had the Sunday off but the narrator drove them himself

to Poleta.

They leaped out from the car before a large red-roofed villa and promised to come

back within an hour.

The narrator rang the bell of a grilled entrance and a young lady in the dress of a

nurse came out.

She was a nurse who bade him to look through the glass partition without saying

anything. The narrator saw both the brothers sitting at the bedside of a girl of twenty.

The girl resembled her two brothers.

The narrator requested the nurse to tell him everything what she knew about them.

The nurse told him everything and also how the brothers persuaded them to take

their sister Lucia into the hospital.

102

LITERATURE READERFICTION

F1 Two Gentlemen of VeronaA. J. CroninF1

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TWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA n 103

She had made good progress in the last twelve months and they hoped that Lucia

would be able to walk and sing again.

The nurse told him that Lucias brothers made weekly payments for the hospital bills.

The narrator waited outside until the boys rejoined him, then he drove them backto the city.

They sat beside the narrator but no one uttered a word.

The narrator wanted them feel that they had kept their secret safely.

Their selfless love, sacrifice and devotion touched the narrators heart.

Even the war had not broken their spirit.

Their selfless action gave a new hope for humanity.

SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

Two Gentlemen Of Verona is the story of two young boys, Nicola and Jacopo. The story

recounts how the two brothers devoted themselves to a hard and difficult life to earn moneyfor the treatment of their sister. She was afflicted with tuberculosis of the spine. The authorwas impressed by their sincerity and devotion to the cause. They displayed maturity andunderstanding beyond their years. Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life

and gave promise of a greater hope for human society.

Two Small Boys Nicola and Jacopo

Two young boys stopped the narrator on the

outskirts of Verona. They were selling wild

strawberries. The elder brother Nicola was

thirteen while the younger brother Jacopo

was nearly twelve. The narrator was

strangely attracted towards them. He bought

their biggest basket inspite of Luigis (his

driver) unwillingness.

Willingness to Do Any Work to Earn Money

Next morning, the narrator saw both the

brothers bending over shoeshine boxes in

the public square. They were doing a brisk

business. They didnt only pick up fruit but

also did many other things to earn a living.

Often they showed visitors round the town-

to Juliets tomb and other places of interest.

They proved ext remely useful to the

narrator and his driver Luigi. They couldbuy a pack of American cigarettes or seats

for the opera. They could be relied upon to

satisfy their needs. They shined shoes, sold

fruits and newspapers, took tourists round

the city and did all odd jobs for others to earn

money.

NicolavkSj Jacopouke os$ nks NksVs yM+os$

nks;qok yM+dksausdFkkdkj dksVeronauke os$ 'kgj dhckgjh lhek ij jksdkA ostaxyh LVkcsfj;kcsp jgsFksA cM+kHkkbZNicolarsjg o"kZdk Fkk tcfd NksVk HkkbZJacopo

yxHkx ckjg dkA dFkkdkj fofp=k :i ls mudh vksjvkdf"kZr gks x;k FkkA Luigi mldk MkbZoj dh vfuPNk

os$ ckotwn] dFkkdkj usmudh lclscM+h Vksdjh dks [kjhnfy;kA

iSlk dekusos$ fy;s fdlh Hkh izdkj dk dk;Zdjus os$bPNqd

vxys fnu dFkkdkj usnksuksaHkkbZ;ksadks lkoZtfud pkSd esatwrspedkus okyscDlksasos$ ij >qdk gqvk ns[kkA os[kwcdekbZ dj jgs FksA os jksVh dekus os$ fy;s Qy gh ugharksM+dj ykrs Fks] cfYd vkSj cgqr&lh phtsa Hkh djrs FksAvDlj oslSykfu;ksadksuxj esa?kwekrstwfY;V os$ edcjsvkSj nwljs #fptud LFkkuksa ijA os dFkkdkj vkSj mlos$

Mkboj Luigios$ fy;scgqr T;knk ykHknk;d jgsA osmuos$fy;svesfjdu flxjsV dk ,d iSos$V ;k vkWisjk dh fVdVsa[kjhn ldrs FksA mudh t:jrksadks iwjk djusos$ fy;smuyM+dksa ij Hkjkslk fd;k tk ldrk FkkA os twrs pedkrs]

Qy vkSj v[kckj csprs] lSykfu;ksa dks ys tkrs vkSj nwljksaos$ fy;s gj izdkj os$ dke djrs FksA

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104 n ENGLISH-COMMUNICATIVELITERATUREREADERX

Waiting for the Last Bus to Sell Newspapers

One night, the narrator saw both the

brothers resting on the stone pavement.

Jacopos head was resting upon his elderbrothers shoulders. He was asleep. It was

nearly midnight. Nicola told them that they

were waiting for the last bus from Padua.

They could sell all their papers when the

bus came in there. The narrator thought

that they must earn quite a lot. They

worked so hard and ate so little. They spent

nothing on their clothes. The narrator

thought that perhaps they were saving up

to emigrate to America. But they had other

plans.

Narrator Drives Nicola and Jacopo toPoleta

The author was to leave Verona on Monday.

He asked the brothers if he could do

anything for them before leaving. Jacopo

told that every Sunday they made a visit to

the country to Poleta, 30 kilometers from

there. Usually they hired bicycles to go

there. He asked the narrator if he could

take them there in his car. Luigi had the

Sunday off but the narrator answered

that he would drive them out himself.

The following afternoon they drove to atiny village. The two brothers came out

of the car and went towards a red-roofed

villa. They promised to be back within an

hour.

Lucia Suffering from Tuberculosis of the

Spine

The narrator found a grilled slide entrance.

He determinedly rang the bell. A pleasant-

looking young woman appeared in the

white uniform of a trained nurse. She led

him into the hospital. She stopped at the

door of a little cubicle. She asked him tolook through the glass partition. The two

brothers were seated at the bedside of a

girl of about twenty. She resembled her

brothers. She was listening to their

chatter. The nurse asked the narrator to

go in. Lucia would be pleased to see him.

v[kckj cspusos$ fy;svkf[kjh cl dk bartkj djrsgq,

,d jkr dFkkdkj usnksuksaHkkbZ;ksadksiRFkj dscusiq$VikFkij vkjke djrs ns[kkA Jacopo dk flj vius HkkbZ os$dU/kksa ij fVdk gqvk FkkA og xgjh uhan esa FkkA yxHkxvkZ&jkf=k dk le; FkkA Nicola us mUgsa crk;k fd osPadualsvkusokyh vkf[kjh cl dk bartkj dj jgsFksA

os tc cl ogka vUnj vk tk;sxh rks vius lHkh v[kckjcsp ldrs FksA dFkkdkj us lkspk fd os vo'; gh Hkkjhjde dekrsFksA oscgqr esgur djrsijUrq[kkrscgqr deFksA osviusdiM+ksaij dqN Hkh [kpZugh djrsFksA dFkkdkj

uslkspk fd 'kk;n osvesfjdk izLFkku djusos$ fy;scprdj jgs FksA ysfdu mudh ;kstuk;sa nwljh FkhA

dFkkdkj NicolavkSj Jacopodksdkj esaPoletays tkrk gSAdFkkdkj dks lkseokj dks Verona ls tkuk FkkA mlusHkkbZ;ksalsiwNk fd D;k og tkuslsigysmuos$ fy;soq$N dj

ldrk gSA Jacopousdgk fd gj jfookj dksosnsgkr esaogkals30 fdyksehVj nwj fLFkr PoletatkrsFksA vDlj oslkbZfdysa fdjk;sij ysysrs FksA mlusdFkkdkj lsiwNk fdD;k mUgsaogkadkj esaystk ldrk FkkA Luigidh jfookjdh Nqh Fkh ysfdu dFkkdkj usdgk fd og Lo;adkj pykdjmUgsaogkystk;sxkA vxyh nksigj ckn os,d NksVslsxkodh vksj x;sA nksuksaHkkbZdkj lsckgj vk;svkSj ,d yky&Nrokysedku dh vksj pysx;sA mUgksaus,d ?kaVsesaogkokilvk tkusdk opu fn;kA

ywfl;k jh

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The narrator did not want to intrude upon

that happy family party. He begged the

nurse to tell him all she knew about those

boys. Family Destroyed by the War

Nicola and Jacopo were quite alone in the

world, except their sister Lucia. Their

father was a widower. He was a well-known

singer and was killed in the early part of

the war. A bomb had destroyed their home

and they were thrown into the streets. They

suffered horribly. They faced starvation and

were exposed to the cold winter. They

hated the Germans who brought all these

troubles for them. When the war was over,

they came to their beloved sister. Theyfound her suffering from tuberculosis of

the spine.

Sacrifice, Sincerity and Devotion to the

Cause

The boys did all that they could do for their

ill sister. They brought her to the hospital

and persuaded them to take her into the

hospital. She had made a lot of progress in

the last twelve months. It was hoped that

one day she would walk and sing again.

Lucias brothers used to pay weekly. The

narrator was shocked to know the story ofthe two boys and their sister. He hurriedly

came out and waited until the boys rejoined

him. He drove them back to the city. They

sat beside him and spoke nothing. Even he

didnt say a word to them. He knew they

would prefer to feel that they had safely

kept their secret. Their devotion, selfless

action and sincerity touched his heart

deeply. Their devotion to the cause brought

a new nobility to human life. They gave a

new hope for humanity.

ifjokj os$ feyki esan[ky ughansuk pkgrk FkkA mlusulZlsvkxzg fd;k fd tksHkh og mu yM+dksaos$ ckjsesatkurhFkh] og lc mlscrk nsA

;q) }kjk ifjokj dh rckgh

fliZ$ viuh cgu LuciadksNksM+NicolavkSj Jacopobl lalkj esa fcYoq$y vos$ys FksA mu dk firk ,d fo/kqjFkkA og ,d tkuk&ekuk xk;d Fkk vkSj ;q) os$ vkjEHk

dky esagh ekjk x;k FkkA ,d ce usmuos$ ?kj dksrckgdj fn;k Fkk vkSj mUgsa xfy;ksa esa /kos$y fn;k x;k FkkAmUgksauscgqr dqN lgkA mudk lkeuk Hkw[k lsgqvk vkSj mUgsaB.Mh lnZ_rqdh ekj lgusos$ fy;s[kqysesaNksM+fn;k x;kFkkA os teZuksa ls ui$jr djrs Fks D;ksafd os gh mudh bu

lHkh ijs'kkfu;ksa dks yk;s FksA tc ;q) lekIr gks x;k rks

osviuh I;kjh cgu os$ ikl vk x;sA mUgksausmls jh

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PAGE 4

Wild strawberriesa type of fruit grown in jungle,taxy esafeyusokyk ,d izdkj dk QyACautiouscareful and alert,

lko/kku o pqLrAShruggedshook to one side,

oa$/ks ,d rjQ fcpdk;sAConvey

to express,O;Dr djusos$ fy;sADisapprovalnot approving,Lohfr u nsukA Shabbydirty,xanhAAppearanceoutlooks,fn[kkokAWornold and damaged,iqjkuh vkSj f?klh gqbZAShortenedmadeshort,NksVh dh gqbZA Tunica loose outer garment covering the body down to the knees,?kqVuksa

rd yEch ckgj iguusokyh idhA Lit uplighted up,izdk'ke; gks x;kA Vestibulelobby,ykWchACubiclea small part of a room,cM+sdejsdk NksVk&lk fgLlkA Pausedstopped,#d x;hA Badeasked to do,dgh djus os$ fy,A Partitiondivider,foHkDr djus okykA Propped uprestingagainst something,lgkjs fVdh gqbZA Chatter(here) gossips, light talks,xIis] gYdh&iq$Ydh ckrsaATendersoft, delicate,uje] uktqdA Resemblancesimilar in looks,,d tSlk fn[kk;h nsukA Vaseflower pot,iw$ynkuA Disha plate used to serve food,jdkch Hkkstu ijkslusos$ fy,A Murmuredspoke complainingly,cqM+cqM+k;hA Intrudedisturbance,n[kyA Eagerready (to tell),bPNqd

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crkus os$ fy;sA Widowerwhose wife is dead,fo/kqj] ftldh iRuh dh e`R;q gks xbZ gksA Horriblyterribly, Hk;kud :i lsA Starvationdying of hunger, Hkw[kejhA Exposureopen to,[kqys gksukA

PAGE 7

Barelyhardly,eqf'dy lsA Sort ofkind of,izdkj dkA Sheltera living place for shelter,'kj.k&LFkkuA Rubbledebris,eyokA Resistancefighting back,izfrjks/kA Tuberculosis (T.B.)a disease of the lungs,risfnd] Vh-ch-A Spinespinal chord,jh

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Questions

(a) Why does the narrator call them childish and artless?

(b) Contrast two different styles of Nicola and Jacopo.

(c) What is the antonym of the word artful in the passage?Answers

(a) The narrator calls Nicola and Jacopo childish and artless because they werefree from cunningness and had innocence of childhood in them.

(b) The younger brother Jacopo was full of life and energy and he was active likea squirrel. The elder brother Nicola was composed and constant.

(c) artless

4. What struck one most was their willingness to work. During these summer days,under the hot sun, they shined shoes, sold fruit, hawked newspapers, conductedtourists round the town, and ran errands. (Page 4)

Questions

(a) What was the thing that struck most?

(b) Give three works that they often did to earn a living.

(c) Find the opposite of the word bought in the passage.

Answers

(a) The young boys were ready to undertake any work and run errands. Theirwillingness to do so many things struck the narrator most.

(b) They often shined shoes, sold fruit and hawked newspapers to earn a living.

(c) sold

5. Why are you out so late, Nicola?

Waiting for the last bus from Padua. We shall sell all our paper when it comes in.

Must you work so hard? You both look rather tired.

We are not complaining, sir. (Page 5)

Questions

(a) Where were the two boys out so late and why?

(b) What did the narrator guess about them and how?

(c) Find the opposite of the word first in the passage.

Answers

(a) At midnight the two boys rested on the stone pavement in the public square tosell their unsold newspapers. They were waiting for the last bus from Padua.

(b) The narrator guessed that they were quite tired because of working very hard.

(c) last

6. You must be saving up to emigrate to America, I suggested. He looked at mesideways, spoke with an effort.

We should greatly like to go to the States. But here, at present, we have other plans.What plans?

He smiled uncomfortably. Just plans, sir, he answered in a low voice. (Page 5)

Questions

(a) Why did the author think that the boys would emigrate to America?

(b) Who is He in the second line and why did he smile uncomfortably?

(c) What is the word for going to live in a foreign country in the passage?

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Answers

(a) The boys worked very hard. They were earning and saving money. This madehim think that they were saving money to emigrate to America.

(b) He is Nicola, the elder of the two brothers. He smiled uncomfortably becausehe didnt want to reveal the secrets of their family. They were saving moneyfor the treatment of their sister Lucia.

(c) emigrate

7. There was a pause. Nicola was glaring at his younger brother in vexation. Wecould not think of troubling you, sir. (Page 5)

Questions

(a) Why was Nicola glaring at his younger brother in vexation?

(b) What favour did his younger brother ask from the narrator?

(c) Find the synonym of the word a short stop in the passage.

Answers

(a) Nicola was glaring at his younger brother in vexation because he was asking

for a favour from a stranger which was against their self-respect.

(b) The younger brother Jacopo asked the narrator if he could drive them to Poleta,30 kilometres from Verona in a car on Sunday.

(c) pause

8. She led me through a cool, tiled vestibule into the hospital ... for hospital the villahad become. At the door of a little cubicle the nurse paused, put her finger to herlips, and with a smile bade me look through the glass partition. (Page 6)

Questions

(a) Describe the hospital.

(b) Why did the nurse put her finger to her lips?

(c) What is the synonym for separation in the passage?

Answers

(a) A large red-roofed villa was converted into a hospital.

(b) The nurse put her finger to her lips to point out that the narrator should notmake a noise there.

(c) partition

9. Wont you go in? the nurse murmured. Lucia will be pleased to see you.

I shook my head and turned away. I felt I could not bear to intrude upon this happyfamily party. But at the foot of the staircase I drew up and begged her to tell meall she knew about these boys. (Page 6)

Questions

(a) What did the nurse ask the narrator to do?

(b) Why did the narrator turn away and didnt go inside?

(c) What is the word for making a forced entry in the passage?Answers

(a) The nurse asked the narrator to come inside the cubicle and meet the boysand their sister Lucia there.

(b) The narrator turned away as he didnt want to intrude upon the party andprivacy of the happy family.

(c) intrude

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10. The boys grew to hate the Germans. When the resistance movement began secretly

to form they were among the first to join. When the war was over, and we had

peace at last, they came back to their beloved sister. And they found her ... suffering

from tuberculosis of the spine. (Page 7)Questions

(a) Why did the boys hate the Germans?

(b) What did they do when the war was over?

(c) Find the antonym of the word love in the passage.

Answers

(a) The boys hated the Germans because they were responsible for all the

destructions and troubles of their family.

(b) When the war was over, they came back to their beloved sister, Lucia.

(c) hate

11. I waited outside until the boys rejoined me, then drove them back to the city.

They sat beside me not speaking. For my part, I did not say a word I knewthey would prefer to feel that they had safely kept their secret. Yet their devotion

had touched me deeply. War had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action

brought a new nobility to human life, gave promise of a greater hope for human

society. (Page 7)

Questions

(a) How did the narrator and the boys behave while they were in the car?

(b) What was their secret and what would they prefer to feel?

(c) Find the opposite of selfish in the passage.

Answers

(a) The boys sat beside the narrator and spoke nothing. The narrator also didnt

utter a word to them.

(b) The boys wanted to feel that they had succeeded in keeping their secret from

the narrator. They were working hard and saving money for the treatment of

their sister.

(c) selfless

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

Q1. What are the qualities of a gentleman? Work with your partner and

complete the following web-chart by listing the qualities of a gentleman.

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6. The author did not speak to the boys on their return journey because

(a) he thought the boys would prefer to keep their secret

(b) he thought the boys were ashamed of their sisters condition

(c) he thought they wouldnt tell him the truth

(d) he thought the boys might ask him for money for their sister.

Ans. 1. (a) the boys were untidy and poorly dressed

2. (c) ability to perform many tasks

3. (c) did not want to ask anyone for favours

4. (a) he did not want to intrude into their privacy

5. (c) the Germans had ruined their family

6. (a) he thought the boys would prefer to keep their secret.

Q5. What do you understand by the following statements?

(a) We do many things, sir, Nicola answered seriously. He glanced at us hopefully.

(b) He coloured deeply under his sunburn, then grew pale.

(c) He smiled uncomfortably. Just plans, sir, he answered in a low voice.

(d) Yet in both these boyish faces there was a seriousness which was far beyond

their years.

Ans. (a) Nicola corrected the narrator that they didnt pick fruit only but did many

other things for a living. He glanced at them hopefully so that they could use

their services and give them the wages.

(b) The narrator asked what the boys did with all the money they earned. They

seemed to spend little on clothes and food. Nicola felt ashamed to answer

such a question. He coloured deeply under his sunburnt skin and finally

turned pale.

(c) Nicola replied that they had other plans rather than going to the States. He

felt uncomfortable in telling the narrator that cure of Lucia was their most

important plan at the moment.

(d) Outwardly Nicola and Jacopo appeared childish enough and in many ways

quite artless. But there were heavy responsibilities on their shoulders. They

brought a seriousness over their boyish faces which was far beyond their

tender age.

Q6. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) Why didnt Luigi, the driver, approve of the two boys?

(b) Why were the narrator and his companion impressed by the two boys?

(c) Why was the author surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo working as shoeshine

boys?

(d) How were the boys useful to the author?

(e) Why were the boys in the deserted square at night? What character traits dothey exhibit?

(f) The narrator asks the boys, Must you work so hard? You both look rather

tired. The boys reply, We are not complaining, sir. What do you learn about

the boys from their reply?

(g) When the narrator asks the boys about their plans, they are evasive. Why

dont they disclose their problems?

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Ans. (a) Luigi, the driver, didnt approve of the boys for two reasons. First, their shabby

appearance discouraged him. The boys were selling wild strawberries. Luigi

hoped that they could get much better fruit in Verona. Hence, the cautious

driver didnt approve of the two boys.(b) The two small boys could do many things. They proved themselves extremely

useful to the narrator and his companion. They could buy packets of

cigarettes, seats for the opera and name a good restaurant. They made them

very comfortable by doing such odd things.

(c) The author was surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo working as shoeshine boys

in the public square. He thought that they only picked fruit to earn a living.

But he got surprised to know that they could do so many things at such a

tender age.

(d) The boys were extremely useful to the author. They could be relied upon to

satisfy his needs. They could do so many useful things for him. They could take

him to places of tourists interest. They could buy a pack of American cigarettes

or seats for the opera for him. They could guide him to a good restaurant.

(e) The boys were resting on the stone pavement in the deserted square at the

windy and cold night. They were waiting for the last bus from Padua. They

could sell all their unsold newspapers after the arrival of the last bus. This

shows their dedication, hard work and selfless action to their cause.

(f) The narrator could see that the boys of such a tender age worked really very

hard. They looked rather tired. However, they didnt complain of their difficult

and hard work. They were self-sufficient and self-respecting. They could suffer

without complaining.

(g) The narrator asked the boys about their plans. They were evasive. They didnt

want to tell a stranger that their only plan was to earn enough money for the

treatment of their ailing sister. They didnt want to share their family secrets.

Q7. Discuss the following questions and write the answers in your notebook.

(a) Appearances are deceptive. Discuss with reference to the two boys.

(b) Do you think the boys looked after Lucia willingly? Give reasons for your answer.

(c) How does the story Two Gentlemen of Verona promise hope for society?

Ans. (a) Appearances are deceptive. One is likely to reach a wrong conclusion if one

goes by just appearances. In Two Gentlemen of Verona, the narrator and

his companion form a very superficial image of the two young boys in the

beginning. Their shabby appearance left a poor impression on Luigi. The elder

brother wore a worn jersey and the other wore a shortened army tunic. Their

tangled hair and dark eyes could deceive anyone. They were childish enough.

In many ways, they were quite artless. However their remarkable appearance

and behaviour aroused sympathy in the heart of the narrator. He bought the

biggest basket inspite of Luigis disapproval. He took a little long time to

understand that their boyish faces hid a seriousness which was a sign ofmaturity. This seriousness was born out of sharing responsibilities. The boys

did so many things and shouldered many responsibilities. Their faces reflected

such a seriousness which was far beyond their tender years.

(b) There is no doubt that Nicola and Jacopo looked after their sister Lucia quite

willingly. The family was destroyed during the war. Once the war was over,

the orphan boys came back to their beloved sister. They had no one in the

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whole world to call their own except their sister. They were extremely pained

to know that Lucia was suffering from the tuberculosis of the spine. They

didnt give up. Even the war couldnt break their spirit. They brought her to

the hospital and persuaded the hospital authority to take her into it. Shehad been a patient in the hospital for the last twelve months. She had made

a good progress. They hoped that one day she would walk and sing again.

Both the boys were willing to do any job to earn more and more money for

the treatment of their sister. Everything was so difficult. The food and work

were scarce in Verona. They worked exceptionally hard. They polished shoes,

sold fruit and newspapers and took the tourists around in Verona. Whatever

they did, they did willingly. They could wait on a wintry night for the last bus

from Padua to sell their unsold newspapers. They had self-respect and

maintained their family secrets. They paid the bills of the hospital every

week. Even the nurse praised their love and devotion towards their sister.

(c) The story Two Gentlemen of Verona has a universal appeal. It gives a definite

message to humanity. It is the message of selfless action, sacrifice and

complete devotion for a cause. It doesnt matter what the circumstances areto achieve a goal. The two boys, Nicola and Jacopo were orphans and had no

one in the world except their sister. Even difficulties and the war could not

break their spirit. They worked for a noble cause. Their sister Lucia suffered

from the tuberculosis of the spine. They were quite young. Living was so

difficult in Verona. Even the job was scarce. However, they overcame all

difficulties and succeeded in their cause. They did all kinds of jobs. They

sold fruit and newspapers. They polished shoes and took the tourists around

the places of their interest. Whatever they did, they did with self-respect and

dignity. They never complained or asked for favours. They kept their family

secrets to themselves. Their selfless love, sacrifice, sincerity and devotion

to the cause give a new hope for humanity.

Q8. Look at the italic words in the following examples.

(a) We bought their biggest basket, then set off toward town.

(b) One night we came upon them in the windy and deserted square.

(c) He bit his lip, then in a rather put out tone he said, Very well.

(d) I shook my head and turned away.

Here are a few more. Match the phrases to their meanings.

Phrases Meanings

set up to start on a journey

break down to tolerate a situation or a person

set off to lose control of your feelings and start crying

put up with to enter

put off to be faced with or opposed by

put on to start/establish a company

come in to refuse/reject

come across to postpone

come up against to try to get help/advice/sympathy from someone

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turn down to wear

turn in to meet or find by chance

turn to to inform on or deliver up

Ans. Phrases Meanings

set up to start/establish a company

break down to lose control of your feelings and start crying

set off to start a journey

put up with to tolerate a situation or a person

put off to postpone

put on to wear

come in to enter

come across to meet or find by chance

come up against to be faced with or opposed by

turn down to refuse/reject

turn in to inform on or deliver up

turn to to try to get help/advice/sympathy from someone.

Now use the phrases given above to complete the following sentences.

1. The landlord was suspicious of the two men staying in his flat so he calledthe police and ......... them ......... .

2. Early in the morning we packed our bags and ......... for a hike over the mountain.

3. Janvi ......... some photographs of her grandfather in the old trunk.

4. My father ......... his own business 10 years ago.

5. The Bank ......... Pauls request for a loan.

6. The Corporations decision to reduce the leave of the employees ......... a lotof opposition.

Ans. 1. turned ... in 2. set off 3. came across4. set up 5. turned down 6. came up against

Q9. Two Gentlemen of Verona is written in the first person.A story written in the

first person is a first-hand account of events told or narrated through the eyes

of a single character, typically the main character. Stories written in the first

person are easily identified by the use of the pronoun I rather than he or she.

The reader will see phrases such as I said, I thought, rather than he said,

she thought. Everything is experienced through the eyes of a single character,

and all thoughts and observations are limited to that one person. There can be

no outside observer. If the narrator does not see or experience an event first-

hand, it cannot be a part of the story. All scenes in the story are filtered through

this persons unique perception.

The third-personis a narrative mode in which both the reader and author observethe situation either through the senses and thoughts of more than one character,

or through an overarching godlike perspective that sees and knows everything

that happens and everything the characters are thinking. In this mode of

narration, the narrator can tell the reader things that the main character does

not know, or things that none of the characters know.

Rewrite any part of the story you like in the third person.

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Ans. Passage from the book in the first person

I waited outside until the boys rejoined me, then drove them back to the city. Theysat beside me, not speaking. For my part, I did not say a word---I knew they would

prefer to feel that they had safely kept their secret. Yet their devotion had touchedme deeply. War had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action brought a newnobility to human life, gave promise of a greater hope for human society.

The same passage in the third person.

He waited outside until the boys joined him, then drove them back to the city. Theysat beside him, not speaking. For his part, he did not say a wordhe knew theywould prefer to feel that they had safely kept their secret. Yet their devotion hadtouched him deeply. War had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action brought anew nobility to human life, gave promise of a greater hope for human society.

Q10. The narrator realises why Nicola and Jacopo work so hard. Yet he does notgo in to meet their sister nor does he speak to them about what he learnsfrom the nurse. Working in groups, discuss the following aspects of the storyand share your views with the class.

(a) The love and devotion, and the family values Nicola and Jacopo display.

(b) Their pride in themselves and their family.

(c) The trust they place in the narrator.

(d) The reason the narrator does not disclose to them that he knows their secret.

Ans. Group A : Nicola and Jacopo display love and devotion.

Group B : They love their sister Lucia so much.

Group C : They are totally devoted to their cause.

Group D : They have pride in their family values.

Group A : They work so hard and are ready to do any kind of work to earn money.

Group B : They spend little on clothes and food.

Group C : They save every penny so that they can pay the hospital bill every week.

Group C : They are totally devoted to their sister.Group D : They hope that one day Lucia will be able to walk and sing again.

The students should try (b), (c) and (d) working in groups. It is purely a

classroom-activity.

WRITING TASK

Q11. As the narrator, write an article on the lesson of love, faith and trust that

you have learnt from the two young boys of Verona.

Ans. The story Two Gentlemen of Verona recounts the selfless struggles and

sacrifices of the two young boys of Verona. Nicola and Jacopo are two brothers.

They are victims of the war. The Germans brought destruction and all troubles

to their family. Their widower father died in the early part of the war. Their house

was razed to the ground. They became homeless. They had no one of their own

in the world except their sister Lucia. Unfortunately, when they met her afterthe war, they found her suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.

The two boys are burdened with the responsibilities at a very tender age. They

are willing to do anything to earn a living. They sell fruit, hawk newspapers, shine

shoes, conduct tourists round the town, and run errands. They are self-respecting

and dont need any favour from a stranger. Lucia is in the hospital. She has shown

a great progress. They are sure that one day Lucia will walk and sing again.

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These two young boys from Verona represent the best values of humanity. They

are proud of their family and its values. They dont want to live on charity. They

lead a very hard life and wake up till midnight to sell their unsold newspapers.

They dont want to expose the misery of the family in front of the outsiders. Theyprefer to keep their family secrets only to themselves. Their sacrifice, sincerity

and devotion can be a lesson for humanity.

Q12. After her brothers visit, Lucia writes a page in her diary about her past life

and her present situation. As Lucia write the diary entry in about 150 words.

Ans. 20th March, 1945. Verona.

The war came as a disaster to thousands of families. It brought death and

disaster to our family too. My mother had died much earlier. Our father died

during the early part of the war. German bombing destroyed our house. We were

homeless orphans. My younger brothers Nicola and Jacopo were separated from

me. The war was over. My two lovely brothers came to see me. I remember how

much shocked they were when they came to know that I was suffering from the

tuberculosis of the spine. O God ! These two little angels are overburdened with

so many responsibilities at such a tender age. They are always willing to do any

kind of work to earn money. They spend little money on their food and clothes.

They save every penny so that they can pay the hospital bills every week. They

come to visit me every Sunday. They make me feel that one day I will be able to

walk and sing again. I am proud of my self-respecting younger brothers. They

are a living example of selfless sacrifice and devotion to a cause.

LISTENING TASK

Q13. Listen to an excerpt from the diary of a 13 year old girl Zlata Fillipovic whowrites of the horrors of war in Sarajevo in her book Zlatas Diary.

Based on your listening of the passage, complete the following statements.

1. The first sign of approaching war was .......

2. The family went into the cellar when .......3. The awful cellar was the only place that could save their lives because .......

4. Zlatas friend, Nina died when .......

5. Zlata and her father were worried about her mothers safety because .......

Ans. Attempt yourself

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVEDI. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (30-40 words)

Q1. Where did the narrator find the two young boys and what were they doing there?

Ans. The narrator and his driver Luigi were driving through the foothills of the Alps.Two young boys stopped them on the outskirts of Verona, a city in Italy. Theywere selling wild strawberries. They stopped them considering them their

prospective customers.

Q2. Why did the cautious driver show his disapproval of the two small boysselling wild strawberries?

Ans. The two young boys were selling wild strawberries. The cautious driver Luigiconveyed his disapproval of buying strawberries from them on two grounds. Theboys looked shabby in their appearance. Moreover, they could get much betterfruit in Verona, which was not far away from there.

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Q3. Describe the physical appearance of Nicola and Jacopo as they are describedby the narrator.

Ans. Nicola, the elder brother was 13 and was more composed and steady than his

younger brother. Jacopo was 12 and was as lively as a squirrel. One boy waswearing a worn jersey and cut-off khaki pants. The other was wearing a shortenedarmy tunic gathered in loose folds over his skinny frame. The two brothers hadbrown skins, tangled hair and dark earnest eyes.

Q4. Why were the narrator and Luigi surprised to see the boys in the publicsquare? [Imp.]

Ans. The two small boys met the narrator and Luigi selling wild strawberries on theoutskirts of Verona. They thought that they sold fruit only for a living. Nextmorning, they were surprised to see the same boys bending over shoeshine boxesin the public square and doing a brisk business. They were surprised at thevarious works undertaken by the young boys to earn a living.

Q5. We do many things, sir, Nicola answered. Describe the various jobsundertaken by the boys to earn a living. [V. Imp.]

Ans. The narrator thought that the small boys sold fruit only to earn a living. However,Nicola told him that they did many things. They sold fruit and hawkednewspapers. They took the tourists out to their places of interest. They shinedshoes and ran errands to make a living.

Q6. Describe the remarkable demeanour of the boys. [V. Imp.]

Ans. The two small boys had a remarkable demeanour. It provoked the interest ofthe narrator in them. They were childish enough and even artless. Jacopo waslively as a squirrel. Nicolas smile was steady and engaging. However, their boyishfaces betrayed a seriousness which was far beyond their years.

Q7. Draw the contrast between childish and artless faces and the seriousnessbeyond their years visible on them. [V. Imp.]

Ans. Both the boys were of a tender age. Outwardly their faces looked boyish and

artless. They were far from being clever or cunning. However, theirresponsibilities had made them mature much before their age. Hence, therewas a seriousness far beyond their years and it was clearly visible on their faces.

Q8. How did Nicola and Jacopo prove extremely useful to the narrator and Luigi?

Ans. Nicola and Jacopo proved extremely useful to the narrator and Luigi. They coulddo many things for them. In the following weeks they used their services quitefrequently. If they wanted a pack of American cigarettes, or seats for the operaor the name of a good restaurant, the boys were always ready to undertake anywork quite willingly. They could be relied upon to satisfy their needs.

Q9. Why were Nicola and Jacopo resting on a stone pavement beneath the lightson a windy night?

Ans. Nicola and Jacopo could do any job to earn a living. They even hawkednewspapers. One day so many newspapers were left unsold. They waited for the

arrival of the last bus from Padua on a cold and windy night. They could sell alltheir unsold newspapers to the passengers.

Q10. Why did Nicola smile uncomfortably when the narrator asked them abouttheir future plans? Why was Nicola evasive? [V. Imp.]

Ans. The narrator thought that the two young boys were saving money to emigrate toAmerica. Nicola replied that for the time being they had other plans than goingto the States. The narrator wanted to know about their future plans. Nicola wasevasive on this question. He didnt want a stranger to know their immediate family

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plans. They saved money to pay for the treatment of their ailing sister. Hence, hewas evasive and only uttered Just Plans, sir and smiled uncomfortably.

Q11. Luigi might have the Sunday off. Even then why did the narrator agree to drive

them to Poleta?Ans. The narrator told the boys that they were leaving Verona on Monday. He asked

if he could do anything for them before going. Nicola remained silent but Jacopo

burst out. He asked if he could drive them to Poleta, 30 kilometres from Verona

on Sunday. The narrator knew that Luigi might have the Sunday off. He was

highly impressed by the sincerity and devotion of the boys. He agreed to drive

them himself to Poleta on Monday.

Q12. Did Nicola like Jacopos asking the narrator to drive them to Poleta on the

coming Sunday? If not, why did he glare his brother in vexation?

Ans. Both the boys were self-respecting and hardly looked for favours from other

persons. However, Jacopo, the younger brother showed a little weakness. He got

ready to take a little favour from the narrator. The narrator asked if he could do

anything for them before leaving Verona on Monday. The younger brother was

tempted to ask if he could drive them to Poleta on Sunday. The self respecting

and proud Nicola didnt relish it. He didnt want to take favour or put others in

trouble for them. He looked glaringly at Jacopo in vexation.

Q13. Where did the two passengers leap from the narrators car and disappear?

Why didnt they take the narrator with them? [Imp.]

Ans. The narrator was asked to stop the car before a large red-roofed villa at a tiny village.

The two passengers, Nicola and Jacopo leaped from the car. They promised to come

back only in an hour. They disappeared beyond the corner of the wall. They didnt

take the narrator with them. They didnt want to share their story of earning and

familys secrecy with a stranger. They preferred to keep their secrets to themselves.

Q14. Why couldnt the narrator scarcely believe his eyes and was out of his breath

when the boys stopped at large red-roofed villa at Poleta?

Ans. They reached a tiny village. The car stopped at a large-roofed villa, surrounded

by a high stone wall. The author couldnt believe his eyes and before he could

recover his breath, Nicola and Jacopo disappeared. The narrator had hoped to

stop before a small house or hut. The poor boys could afford only such a modest

dwelling. He came to know only later on that the grand villa was not their home.

It was only a hospital where their sister Lucia was admitted as a patient.

Q15. What did the narrator see when he looked through the glass partition?

Ans. The nurse bade the narrator to look through the glass partition. He saw the two

boys seated at the bedside of a girl. The girl propped on the pillows listening to

their chatter. She resembled her brothers.

Q16. Why did the nurse put her fingers to her lips? Why did she ask the narrator

to go in after some time?

Ans. The nurse took the narrator to the door of a little cubicle. Reaching there she

paused and put her fingers to her lips. She asked the narrator to look only through

the glass partition. The ailing girl Lucia was talking to her brothers sitting at

the bedside. The nurse didnt want to alarm them. She assessed the situation

and allowed the narrator to go in after some time.

Q17. Why didnt the narrator go in to see the boys and their sister in the cubicle

inspite of the nurses insistence on it?

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Ans. The nurse asked the narrator to go inside as Lucia would be pleased to see him.

But the narrator dropped the idea of going inside. He shook his head and turned

away. He didnt want to intrude upon that happy family party and privacy.

Q18. Describe how the war destroyed Nicola and Jacopos family and made themhomeless. [V. Imp.]

Ans. The war brought disaster and ruin for Nicola and Jacopo. Their father, a widower

a well-known singer had been killed in the early part of the war. A bomb destroyed

their home. They were homeless and orphans. They had tough times and

remained without food and shelter for long. Nicola and Jacopo had no one to call

their own except their sister Lucia.

Q19. Why did the boys grow to hate the Germans? [V. Imp.]

Ans. The Germans were responsible for their ruin. They brought troubles for their

family. Their father, a well-known singer, died in the early part of the year. Their

mother had died much earlier. The bombing destroyed their house. The Germans

occupied the city for three years. The boys hated the Germans. They were among

the first to join the resistance movement against the Germans.Q20. How did they meet their sister and in what condition did they find her? [Imp.]

Ans. Nicola and Jacopo had no one of their own in the world except their sister Lucia.

The war had separated them. When the war was over, they came back to their

beloved sister. However, they were shocked to find that Lucia was suffering from

tuberculosis of the spine.

Q21. Describe Lucias illness and her progress in the hospital.

Ans. Lucia, the beloved sister of Nicola and Jacopo suffered from a terrible disease.

She was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. Her brothers moved her to the

hospital and she lay there as a patient. She had made a good progress within

those twelve months. It was hoped that she would walk and sing again one day.

Q22. What did Nicola and Jacopo do for her ailing sister? How could they manage

to pay off the hospital bills? [V. Imp.]Ans. Nicola and Jacopo did everything to make her ailing sister comfortable and happy.

Lucia was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They got her admitted in a

hospital. They visited her on Sunday every week. They worked very hard and did

all kinds of jobs to earn money. But they didnt give up and arranged to pay the

bills regularly. They hoped that she would be able to walk and sing again one day.

Q23. Why did the narrator say a word to Nicola and Jacopo during their return

journey to Verona ? Why did the boys sit beside him without speaking?

Ans. The narrator drove Nicola and Jacopo back to the city. They sat beside him

without saying anything. On his part, he didnt say even a word. He knew it well

that they would prefer to feel that they had safely kept their secret. He didnt

want to share their family secrets and embarrass them. On their part, the boys

were also unwilling to make public their personal misfortune and grief.

Q24. Why was the author touched deeply? Why does he think that their selfless

action give promise of a greater hope for human society?

Ans. Nicolas sacrifice and devotion to their cause deeply touched the narrator. The

way they were taking care of their ailing sister deserves our sympathy. Difficulties

and even the war could not break their spirit. Their selfless action, sacrifice,

sincerity and devotion to the cause give a new hope for humanity.

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Q25. Describe and justify the title: Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Ans. the story has been aptly and logically titled two gentlemen of verona. the titleof the story is that of one of the early plays of shakespeare. in the story the two

gentlemen are nicola and jacopo. they are thorough gentlemen. they are gentle,cultured and human. they do all kinds of jobs to earn a living and make othersextremely comfortable. they can be relied upon to give any kind of service. their

selfless sacrifice and devotion to their cause raise them to human heights and

dignity.

II. VALUE-BASED LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (80-100 Words)

Q1. Give pen-portraits of two brothers, Nicola and Jacopo highlighting their main

traits and virtues in your own words. How does their selfless sacrifice and

devotion to their cause give a new hope to humanity? [V. Imp.]

Ans. Nicola and Jacopo were two young boys. They were epitomes of selfless love and

dedication. They were real fighters who could overcome all hurdles and obstacles

that came in their way. Nicola, the elder brother was 13. Jacopo, was nearlytwelve. One boy was shown wearing a worn jersey and cut-off khaki pants. The

other wore a shortened army tunic. They had brown skins, tangled hair and dark

earnest eyes. Even Luigi conveyed his disapproval of their shabby appearance.

The poor boys were the victims of the German war. The Germans brought disaster

and destruction of their family. Their mother had died much earlier. The father,

who was a well-known singer, died in the early part of the war. They were left

as shelterless orphans as their house was destroyed by a bomb. They hated the

Germans. They were among the first to join the resistance movement against

them. They had no one to call their own except their sister Lucia. They met

their beloved sister after the war. And they found that she was suffering from

tuberculosis of the spine.

Nicola and Jacopo were real fighters, heroes. Even the worst kinds of difficulties

and the war could not break their spirit. They continued their struggle against

heavy odds. They were self-respecting and never complained or asked for favours

from anybody. They were ready to do any kind of work to earn a living. They sold

fruit, hawked newspaper, conducted tourists round the town, and ran errands. They

saved every penny which they could earn. They spent little on their food and clothes.

But they never forgot to make their payment of the hospital bills every week. They

got their sister admitted to a hospital and visited her on Sundays. They hoped that

one day she would be able to walk and sing again. Their selfless action, sacrifice

and devotion to the cause give a new hope for humanity.

Q2. The boys were willing to undertake any job not only for making a living but

also for a noble cause. They had to save their beloved sister. This made their

struggle and sacrifice quite ennobling and unique. How did their struggle and

sacrifice to save their beloved sister make them real heroes? [V. Imp.]Ans. Nicola and Jacopo were fighting against heavy odds. Their family was completely

destroyed in the war. They had lost their shelter and parentage. Now they were

orphans. They had none in this world who they could call their own except their

beloved sister Lucia. And even she was suffering from the tuberculosis of the spine.

Their struggle for existence is long but heroic. They were forced to shoulder much

bigger responsibilities at a very tender age. They were innocent and artless. They

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sold fruit, hawked newspapers, conducted tourists round the town, shined shoes

and ran errands. They proved extremely useful to anyone. They could be relied

upon to satisfy the needs of their patrons. They remained awoke till midnight on

a chilly wintry night waiting for the last bus from Padua. They did all this not onlyto buy food and clothes. Actually, they spent little money on them. They were

struggling and saving every penny for a nobler cause. They had to pay the hospital

bills every week. They had to save their beloved sister Lucia. She was in the

hospital for the last few months. Life was very hard in Verona. They had no regular

job or any source of income. However, they didnt give in. Their devotion and selfless

sacrifice bore the desired results. Lucia had shown a lot of progress. It was hoped

that she would be able to walk and sing again one day.

Their selfless struggle and sacrifice to save their beloved sister made them real

heroes. They did so without complaining or without asking for any favour from

anyone.

Q3. The narrator was highly impressed by the selfless struggle of Nicola and

Jacopo for their existence. But what touched him most was their sense of

self-respect and their devotion to their sister. He makes a diary entry in about

80-100 words. Reproduce that entry here in your own language.

Ans. 20th March, 1947. Verona.

Life throws many surprises. When I first encountered Nicola and Jacopo on theoutskirts of Verona, I took them just two ordinary boys and nothing more. Theywere selling wild strawberries. My driver Luigi did not approve of their shabbyappearance but I bought the biggest basket. Soon I found them shining shoes inthe public square. They did so many things to earn a living. They shined shoes,hawked newspapers, conducted tourists round the town and ran errands. Verysoon they proved very useful to us. If we needed a pack of American cigarettes,seats for the opera or the name of a good restaurant, we could rely on them tosatisfy our needs. One day I saw them resting on a stone pavement on a windy

and chilly night. They were waiting for the last bus from Padua. They wanted tosell their unsold newspapers to the passengers.

I came to know of their selfless sacrifice and devotion rather late. I thought theywere saving money to emigrate to the States. They were self-respecting boys whonever troubled others or asked for any favours from anyone. When I drove them toPoleta, I didnt know why they came there. I could know only from the nurse howthe war made them homeless orphans. Their only sister Lucia was suffering fromtuberculosis of the spine. Now I could understand why they spent little money ontheir food or clothes. They saved every penny for the treatment of their sister. Theydidnt want to make their personal pains and grief public to anyone. They wereproud to keep their family secrets only to themselves. Their selfless love anddevotion to the cause give a new hope to all of us and to humanity.

Q4. Both the boys Nicola and Jacopo were so much self-respecting and careful

that they could not make their family troubles public. They couldnt eventhink of asking for favours or revealing their family secrets to any outsider.

Give three examples to show how they struggled and suffered in silence

without murmuring or complaining.

Ans. Both Nicola and Jacopo lived against heavy odds. They were the victims of the

war which ruined their family. They were left as homeless orphans. They had

no one who they could call their own except their sister Lucia. Even their beloved

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sister suffered from tuberculosis of the spine. Both of them had boyish faces and

looked innocent and artless. But they had to shoulder huge responsibilities at a

very tender age. They had to earn not only for a living but also for the treatment

of their sister. But they struggled without complaining. Actually they suffered insilence without murmuring or complaining.

They could never imagine of asking any favour from anyone. The narrator asked

what he could do for them before leaving Verona. The younger brother betrayed a

little weakness. He asked if the narrator could drive them to Poleta on Sunday.

This was quite unbearable for Nicola. He glared at his younger brother in vexation.

He replied, We could not think of troubling you, sir. He bit his lip in vexation,

Both the brothers were too proud and self-respecting to make their personal grief

or troubles public. The narrator knew it well. He didnt want to intrude upon the

privacy of the family by meeting Lucia. He knew that they would prefer to feel

that they had safely kept their secret. They sat beside the narrator without

speaking anything.

Q5. How did the Two Gentlemen of Verona, Nicola and Jacopo give promise of agreater hope for human society. Justify the title. What message does the

story give to the readers? [V. Imp.]

Ans. A. J. Cronin titles the story Two Gentlemen of Verona, a title of one of the early

plays of Shakespeare. The story is aptly and rationally titled. Really, the two small

boys, Nicola and Jacopo, have all the virtues and gentlemanly grace and grandeur.

Their selfless action, their sacrifice and total devotion to their cause make them

noble characters. They and their family were totally ruined by the war. The war

left them as homeless orphans. They had no one in the world to call their own

except their sister. And she was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. Both

Nicola and Jacopo showed rare courage and determination to fight against heavy

obstacles that came in their way. They undertook all kinds of work not only to

earn a living but also to save money for the treatment of Lucia. They spent littleon their food or clothes. They saved every penny so that they could pay the bills

of the hospital every week. Their selfless sacrifice, sincerity and devotion to their

cause earn our respect, sympathy and love for them. They were too self-respecting

and proud to show their personal troubles or grief to any outsider. Nor did they

ever ask for any favour from anyone. They didnt want anyone to intrude upon

their familys secrecy. Nor could they imagine to trouble others for their own

advantage. They were the finest specimen of humanity and their example gives

promise of a greater hope for human society.

TEST YOUR SKILLS

I. REFERENCE TO CONTEXTRead the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. One boy had on a worn jersey and cut-off khaki pants; the other a shortened army

tunic gathered in loose folds about his skinny frame. Yet, gazing at the two little

figures, with their brown skins, tangled hair and dark earnest eyes, we felt

ourselves strangely attracted. My companion spoke to the boys, discovered that

they were brothers.

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Questions

(a) How were the boys dressed?

(b) How did the author feel after gazing at the boys?

(c) Who was the companion of the narrator?2. Next morning, coming out of our hotel, we saw our friends bent over shoeshine

boxes beside the fountain in the public square, doing a brisk business.

We watched for a few moments; then as trade slackened we went over. They

greeted us with friendly faces.

I thought you picked fruit for a living, I said.

Questions

(a) What did they find the boys doing next morning?

(b) How did the boys greet them?

(c) What did the author think the boys did for a living?

3. Well, said, were leaving on Monday. Is there anything I can do for you before

we go?Nicola shook his head, but suddenly Jacopo said, Sir, he burst out, every Sunday

we make a visit to the country, to Poleta, 30 kilometers from here. Usually we

hire bicycles. But tomorrow, since you are so kind, you might send us in your car.

Questions

(a) Who were leaving on Monday?

(b) Did Nicola grab the opportunity provided by the narrator?

(c) What did Jacopo urge the narrator to do?

4. Why are you out so late, Nicola?

Waiting for the last bus from Padua. We shall sell all our papers when it comes in.

Must you work so hard? You both look rather tired.

We are not complaining, sir.

Questions

(a) Why were they waiting for the last bus?

(b) What did the narrator ask the boys?

(c) What did Nicola answer?

5. But next morning, when I went over to the fountain to have my shoes shined, I

said, Nicola, the way you and Jacopo work, you must earn quite a bit. You spend

nothing on clothes. You eat little enough--- when I see you have a meal its usually

black bread and figs. Tell me, what do you do with your money?

He coloured deeply under his sunburn, then grew pale. He looked to the ground.

Questions

(a) Where did the narrator find the boys next morning?

(b) What did the narrator think about the money the boys earned?

(c) Why did Nicola colour deeply under his sunburn and grew pale?

II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What were the boys doing on the outskirts of Verona and who were they?

2. Why does the author call his driver cautious. Give one example to prove it.

3. How were the two boys dressed up and how did they look?

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4. How many things Nicola and Jacopo did to earn a living?

5. Why was a seriousness beyond their years visible on their faces?

6. How did the boys prove extremely useful to the narrator and Luigi?

7. Why did they wake up for the last bus?

8. Why didnt they tell their plans to the narrator?

9. Why did Nicola glare at his brother in vexation?

10. Where did they ask to stop the car and why didnt they take the narrator with

them?

11. What did the narrator see through the glass partition in the hospital?

12. Why did the boys hate the Germans?

13. How did they turn homeless and orphans?

14. How could they pay the bills of the hospital?

15. Why did the boys and the narrator not speak during their journey back home?

16. How did the boys give a new hope for humanity?

III. VALUE-BASED LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Describe the various works done by the boys to earn a living. How did they prove

useful to the narrator and Luigi?

2.They struggled and sacrificed not only to get food and clothes but for a noble cause.

What was their cause and how did they fulfill it?

3.The narrator records the struggles and devotions of the boys in his diary.

Reproduce that entry in about 100 words in your own words.

4. How were Nicola and Jacopo a symbol of selfless sacrifice and devotion for a cause?

How can they be a great hope for human society?

Documents

1455779362English-10_(Comm)_T-1_(Ch-1)