FOURTEEN, Alice Gerstengberg

UNIT 3A

A FUNNY FIASCO

Fourteen, Alice Gerstengberg

WORD MENAING

1.         Elaborately – in details

2.         Butler – a manservant

3.         Hovering – moving here and there

4.         Temper – anger

5.         Blizzard – awkward

6.         Undignified – not respected

7.         Apologies – feel sorry

8.         Hesitates – not willing

9.         Stutters – feel down, gloomy

10.       Distressed – worried

11.       Enthusiastically – with lot of interest, eagerly

12.       Dismay – disappointed

13.       Relieved – stress free

14.       Rudeness – cruel and rough behaviour

15.       Furious – angry

16.       Exhausted – completely tired

17.       Harassed – tortured

18.       Considerate – regarded

 

A.2 Work in pairs

a. Oh, Madam! It is a predicament! You wouldn’t sit down with thirteen! Why can’t one have 13 guests for dinner?

The number 13 is often associated with bad luck. This superstition, originated from the Biblical story of Jesus in Last Supper, is widely prevalent even today – and some people consider it unlucky to have thirteen guests at a dinner party. Hence, many people avoid such situation.

b. How do you and your family manage when some guests cancel for the party at the last hour?

DO BY SELF (Sample given below)

When some guests cancel at the last hour, we find it very hard to manage the wastage of food. Since food amount is measured and prepared accordingly, we feel bad to see excess of food. We go and distribute them among our neighbourhood. We try to find out at the last moment someone in hunger. Even then I see food wastage and feel sorry to see it.

c. How do you decorate your house ahead of a party?

DO BY SELF (Sample given below)

Before the party, the house is cleaned. Cushion covers, tablecloths and curtains may also be changed. The table is set with the finest of crockery and cutlery. Lights are put up and the music is set up as well. The decoration for a party depends on the occasion being celebrated.

 

A.3 From the text

a. Why do you think Mrs. Pringle enters the stage in haste? What might this convey to the audience watching the play?

Mrs. Pringle enters the stage in haste because she is anxious. She just had a word from Mr. Harper who had gone to meet a sick friend of his and would not be able to come for the party organised by Mrs. Pringle. This worries her and her feeling is expressed to us with her entry in haste.

b. Why do you think Mrs. Pringle pretends otherwise over the telephone?

Over the telephone Jessica informs Mrs. Pringle, she is not coming to the party. Mrs. Pringle was actually delighted and relieved, as the number then would be 14, a perfect and lucky number. However, as a perfect hostess, she is not supposed to express her actual feelings. Hence, she pretends to show some sympathy towards Jessica.

 

A. 9 Answer the following questions

a. I don’t care how rich and influential they are! Mrs. Pringle said this during an emotional moment. Do you agree with this assertion? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

No. I do not agree with this assertion. Mrs. Pringle was exhausted, harassed, angry and tempestuous. Many of the guests, whom she had invited did not turn up at the last moment. She herself tell Elaina, "Didn't I put you next to Oliver Farnsworth? Millions! He's worth millions.” When Oliver Farnsworth, (whom she planned to be seated beside her daughter, Elaine) did not show up, she pours out her frustration.

b. Didn’t I always say that Oliver Farnsworth was the most considerate of men? Did Mrs. Pringle always say this? If not, what made her change her mind?

No, Mrs. Pringle did not always say this. Oliver Farnsworth could not come for the dinner himself but sent the Prince of Wales instead. The consideration of Oliver Farnsworth Mrs. Pringles' mind about him.

c. You murderous instrument! What was Mrs. Pringle referring to using these words? Why do you think she called it a murderous instrument.

Mrs. Pringle was referring to the telephone when she used these words. Instrument was the telephone that was giving all the bad news that evening. Many of her guests rang up to inform Mrs. Pringle they would not be able to come to the dinner party. Hence the telephone seems to have murdered her perfect plan.

d. So much depends upon having guests seated harmoniously! Do you think that Mrs. Pringle changed this opinion by the end of the play? Supports your answer with evidence from the text.

Yes, Mrs. Pringle changed her opinion by the end of the play. In the beginning of the play, she was very sophisticated and rigid about manners. But then, as the Prince of Wales arrived to the party, she was so excited she no longer cared where anyone would be seated. She says, “the guests may sit anywhere they choose.”

Ex. A.6 (Page: 71)

Ex. A.7 Read the passage and complete the answers. (Page: 71)

Dunham [entering with table board]: The cook is in a rage, Madam – she says she has only prepared for fourteen.

Mrs. Pringle: I can’t help it – she’ll have to prepare for sixteen. Tell her to open cans of soup and vegetables and –

Mrs. Pringle: [She starts as the telephone rings.]: [her hand to her head] Now what? Don’t answer it! It’s driving me mad – [into the telephone] Hello – yes – This is Mrs. Pringle – Oh! Yes – Jessica! – what! – your cold – too dangerous! [She waves to Dunham not to put the board in the table. They are delighted and relieved, but Mrs. Pringle pretends otherwise over the telephone.] Oh! Jessica – you poor dear – take some medicine – go to bed – so sorry! [She hangs up the receiver.] There – that’s wonderful – now we are just fourteen –

Elaine: But the cards are all wrong. Only six are coming who were invited originally. You’ll have to make another diagram. How do you want them seated?

Mrs. Pringle: Give it to me. [She makes a new diagram on a pad.]

a.         Why was the cook in a rage?

            iii. She had to cook for more people that what had originally been planned for.

b.         She starts as the telephone rings. This sentence shows that Mrs. Pringle was feeling ………………………… when she heard the telephone ring.

            iv. apprehensive

c.          Jessica – you poor dear – take some medicine – go to bed – so sorry! Do you think Mrs. Pringle was feeling genuinely sorry for Jessica?

            ii. no

d.         Mrs. Pringle pretends otherwise over the telephone… What aspect of Mrs. Pringle’s character does this reveal to you? Tich all the options you think are correct.

            ii. Being untruthful

            iii. treacherous behaviour

Ex. A.8 (Page: 72)

a.         Which of these reasons were NOT given by the guests who had to cancel?

            iii. caught in a landslide

b.         Which of these words describes Mrs. Pringle best in your opinion?

            i. fussy

c.          Why did Mrs. Tupper insist on leaving Ella and Henry at home?

            iv. She was furious at Ella for telling Elaine about the house-guests, and did not want to bring eight people when only six were invited.

A.10 Answer in detail

a. How did Mrs. Pringle’s mood changed after she found out that the Prince of Wales had to her party?

Mrs. Pringle had arranged a wonderful dinner party but most of her guests at the last moment cancelled one after the other. One of them was Oliver Farnsworth, a rich and influential businessman, whom she planned to be seated beside her daughter, Elaine. Hence, she was very upset.

Then, she learnt that the Prince of Wales would be attending her dinner party in Mr. Farnsworth's stead. This changed her mood completely and she was very delighted.

The following words presents the state of her mind before the arrival of Prince of Walse.

The following words presents the state of her mind after she learned the Prince would come.

b. Write a paragraph on Mrs. Pringle’s state of mind.

DO BY SELF (Sample given below)

Mrs. Pringle like a good hostess was anxious to make her dinner party a success. She took every attention for a perfect dinner party. Mrs. Pringle had invited fourteen guests to the party. When the guests began to cancel at the last minute, she was annoyed and felt harassed, that her party would get affected. She tries her last moment efforts to invite other guests so that the number would be 14 in the party. Finally, when Oliver Farnsworth called to inform Mrs. Pringle, she was furious. She was sure that the dinner party would be an absolute failure.

However, Oliver Farnsworth as a considerate man, had sent the Prince of Wales in his place. This gesture greatly pleased Mrs. Pringle. All worries came to an end. She felt relieved and happy. Her plan to have party with fourteen guests came true. She felt triumphant that her dinner party would be a bigger success than she had imagined.

Would you describe Mrs. Pringle as fickle, or do you think she had good reasons for the transformation she underwent?

I think Mrs. Pringle was fickle-minded. The absence of Oliver Farnsworth, one of her distinguished guests upsets her. However, her attitude completely changed at the arrival of the Prince of Wales.

This happened due to the incidents that happened just before the party time, when most of her guests one by one turn out. Hence, she had good reasons for the transformation that she underwent.

c. Do you think the play Fourteen is a humorous one? Justify your answer with examples from the play.

Yes, I think this is a humorous play. There are various instances of humour in the play. Her fickle mindedness, excitement, frustration and way of talking and behaving makes the story a humorous one. Her false sympathy to Jessica, “Oh! Jessica you poor dear – take some medicine – go to bed” is notable of humour. She scolds her telephone, “You murderous instrument! What have to say?” and then soft tone into the telephone, “Hallo! Who! Mr. Farnsworth!” wonderfully presents the comedy in the play.

---:THE END:---