an angle in disguise

 

                                                                       an angle in disguise

1)      How did the old woman die? Give the meaning of -" Death touches the spring of our common humanity."

Answer:- The women died because of intoxication. It means that the human beings irrespective of their financial status, morals etc. have to die one day.

 

2)      What kind of relations did the woman have with others? Why do you think it was so?

Answer:-The woman did not have good relation with others. She was not liked by anyone in the village due to her bad behaviour and habits. She had been despised, scoffed at, and angrily denounced.

 

3)      What change occurred in the behaviour of the neighbours after the woman's death?

Answer:- Before the woman's death everyone hated her but after her death everyone felt pity instead. Some of the neighbours took grave clothes for the woman decent burial, while some carried food for the starving children.

 

4)      What kind of living condition were the woman and her children subjected to?

Answer:-The woman and her children were subjected to pathetic living conditions. They lived in an old tumbled down hut. It was more than a place of shelter from summer & winter cold. The woman did not even have decent clothes of her own to be used for her burial.

 

5)      What was the prospective future of the children after the death of their mother?

Answer:-John the oldest boy was adopted by farmer Jones. Kate, a girl between ten and eleven years was adopted by Mrs. Ellis. Maggie who had injured herself two years a go was crippled for life and was not adopted by anyone.

 

6)      Who was glanced at with pity? Why?

Answer:-Maggie was glanced at with pity. She was a boon like an angel but was not adopted by anyone as she was disabled. Nobody wanted to take her as she was crippled for life.

 

7)      Give the meaning of:

"Her wan and wasted form."

Answer:-Maggie, the youngest child of dead mother looked pale and thin.

"Even knocked at them for entrance."

Answer:-Maggie's innocence and sadness attracted everyone to take her with them.

 

8)      Which incident made the child bed ridden?

Answer:- Two years ago, Maggie had fallen from the window and had injured her spine which made her bed ridden.

 

9)      Which shelter was suggested by one of the neighbour for the bed-ridden child? Why?

Answer:-It was suggested that Maggie should be taken to the poor-house because for her it would be a blessed change where she will be kept clean, have healthy food, and be doctored.

 

10)  Who are having a conversation in the above extract? What is the main topic of their conversation?

 

Answer:-Joe Thompson and Blacksmith's wife were having conversation in in the above extract. They were discussing that where Maggie should be sent after her mother had passed away.

 

11)  Why was Maggie's effort to raise herself painful?

Answer:-Maggie's effort to raise herself was painful because she was a crippled child as she had injured her spine two years ago by falling from the window.

 

12)  What thought terrified Maggie? What did she exclaim to Mr. Thompson?

Answer:-The thought of being left all alone terrified Maggie. She cried out to Mr. Thomson to not to leave her alone.

 

13)  Why do you think the man stood with a puzzled air? What did he do when he went into the hovel?

 

Answer:-He was puzzled because he did not know what to do. Neither did he want to leave Maggie alone, nor did he wish to send her to the poor house. When he went into the hovel, he supported Maggie and told her she would not be left there alone. He wrapped her with his hands and bore her out into the air across the field.

 

14)  What kind of man was Joe Thompson? How can you say so?

Answer:-Mr. Thompson was rough and tough man. But unlike his external appearance he was a kind hearted man. He was only one person in whole village who helped Maggie and cared for her.

 

15)  Whom did Mrs. Thompson see approaching? What precious burden was he carrying? Why is the burden precious?

Answer:- Mrs. Thompson saw Joe Thompson approaching. He was carrying Maggie, who is regarded as a 'precious burden'. She was referred to be 'precious' because she turned to an angel in disguise, who filled Thompson's home and heart with love.

 

16)  What did Mrs. Thompson ask her husband? How did Joe Thompson react to it?

Answer:-Seeing the child in her husband's arm, Mrs. Joe Thompson sharply questioned: "What have you there?". Joe did not reply immediately but pleaded and cautioned his wife with his looks, that asked her to be gentle. Joe spoke to angry wife only after comfortably placing Maggie on a bed.

 

17)  Describe Joe Thompson's behavior since the day he brought the sick child home?

Answer:- Joe formed a bond with the child as soon as he lifted her in his arms. Usually Joe Thompson kept rigidly silent in front of his wife but that day he displayed a firmly-set countenance and a resolute pair of eyes.

He also answered his wife with real indignation for Maggie, something which he never did before.

 

18)  What reason did Joe Thompson give his wife for bringing the child home?

Answer:-Joe Thompson told his wife that he had brought Maggie home because she herself can't walk to the poorhouse. He would take her there the next day speaking to the guardians of the poor house regarding it.

 

19)  What was the reaction of Mrs. Thompson when the sick child was brought in? How did her attitude change later? What, do you think, brought about the change?

Answer:- Joe Thompson became furious when the sick child was brought in. She was seething with anger and could not utter a word. Later, she not only gave Maggie supper but like a mother sat throughout with her while she was relishing it. She gave up the thought of sending Maggie to poorhouse and began to take care of her. Maggie's nature brought a change in heart of Mrs. Thompson.

 

20)  To whom did Mrs. Thompson not reply? Who was Maggie? What made Mrs. Thompson move towards Maggie in the little chamber?

Answer:- Mrs. Thompson did not reply to Joe request to treat Maggie kindly. Maggie was a recently orphaned child whom nobody wanted. The love and concern reflected for Maggie made Mrs. Thompson move towards Maggie in the little chamber.

21)  Why did Joe Joe leave his wife alone with the child? What did Joe see when he came back home from his shop?

 

Answer:- Joe realised that being childless had made Jane a bitter person. He left her with the child so that she could talk with her. On coming back Joe Thompson saw Maggie lying in a little raised position with the lamp shining full upon on her face.

 

22)  Why did Joe consider light shining through the windows a good omen?

Answer:-Joe considered the light shining through the window a good omen because it was a sign of hope that revealed the change in Mrs. Thompson's attitude towards the girl. He light symbolized to him the sunshine of love that would now fall upon their home.

 

23)  Describe briefly Joe Thompson's characteristics traits as reflected in this extract.

Answer:- Intuitive:- Joe recognize the change in wife toward Maggie. He left the child and his wife alone to bond.

Superstitious:- On returning home he took light in the chamber as a good.

 

24)  What did Joe gather from Maggie's facial expression? To what extent, did it relieve him? Why did it relieve him?

Answer:- From Maggie's facial expression Mr. Thompson could make out that she was not in pain. Joe saw that her expression was sad and tendered but there was no bitterness or pain.

 

25)  Question. Why was Joe relieved when he came back home?

Ans. Joe was relieved to see that his wife was no longer resentful of Maggie being in their house and was in fact sitting in her chamber, talking tenderly to the child.

 

26)  Question. What did Joe notice about Maggie in the light of the lamp?

Ans. Under the lamplight, Joe saw Maggie"s thin face. He noticed that it was an attractive face and full of childish sweetness which so much suffering, had not been able to remove.

 

27)  Question. Why did Joe not see the guardians of the poor house ever again?

Ans. Joe did not see the guardians of the poor house ever again because Mrs. Thompson's feelings had changed for Maggie. She had started loving Maggie. They decided to adopt her as their own child.

 

28)  Question. What kind of person was Mrs. Thompson before Maggie came to her life?

Ans. Mrs. Thompson was a bitter and angry person before Maggie came to her life. She had nothing to love and care for out of herself, and so she had become sore, irritable, ill-tempered and self-afflicting.

29)  Question. In what way was Maggie an angel in disguise?

Ans. Maggie was an angel in disguise. She came to the house of the Thompson's disguised as a sick, helpless and miserable child and filled all its dark and dreary chambers with the sunshine of her love. The miraculous effect that Maggie's presence had on the woman's character and the happiness that she brings to them proved her to be an angel in their lives.

 

30)  Question. What suggestion was given by the rough man?

Ans. The rough man suggested that Maggie should be taken to a Poor house. It would be the best place for her because she would be kept clean, get healthy food and be doctored.

 

31)  Question. Who finally took Maggie and why?

Ans. Mr. Thompson, the wheelwright finally took Maggie. He took her home because he had a tender heart and liked children. Maggie had requested him not to leave her alone in the hovel.

 

32)  Question. What idea do we get of the character of Mr. Thompson?

Ans. Mr. Thompson had a rough exterior but unlike his external experience he was a kind-hearted man, who loved children. He was the only one in the village who volunteered to take Maggie home and took good care of her.

33)  Question. What was Mrs. Thompson's reaction on seeing Maggie?

34)   

Ans. Mrs. Thompson showed her anger and astonishment when she saw Maggie being brought home by Mr. Thompson. She questioned him if he had brought that 'sick brat' home.

35)  Question. What reason did Mr. Joe Thompson give his wife for bringing the child home?

Ans. Joe Thompson told his wife that the little child's mother had died and she was left alone in the little hut. He informed her that nobody was ready to take the bedridden girl and she could not walk to the Poor house on her own as suggested by the others. It was getting dark so he decided to bring her home and would take her to the Poor house after taking permission from her guardians.

 

36)  Question. What made Mrs. Thompson move towards Maggie in the little chamber?

Ans. Joe asked Mrs. Thompson to be kind by giving an example of the lines in the Bible (the views of Jesus Christ on how God rewards those who help little children). He also reminded her of Maggie's dead mother and loneliness, pain and sorrow, which Maggie was undergoing at that moment. This probably melted her heart and she went to see Maggie in the little chamber.

 

37)  Question. Why did Joe consider the light shining through the window a good sign?

Ans. Joe considered the light shining through the window a good sign (omen) because it was a sign of hope that revealed the change in Mrs. Thompson's attitude towards the girl (Maggie). The light symbolized to him the sunshine of love that would now fall upon their home.

 

38)  Question. Which woman is referred to in the beginning of the story? What had happened to her?

Ans. The woman was the mother of three children, John, Kate and Maggie. She was an alcoholic and despised because of her idleness and addiction to liquor. She had fallen upon the threshold of her own door in a drunken fit, and died in the presence of her frightened little children.

 

39)  Question. What kind of relations did the woman have with others?

Ans. The woman did not have good relations with others. Due to her bad behaviour and habits, she was not liked by anyone in the village. She had been despised, scoffed at, and angrily denounced.

 

40)  Question. How many children did the woman have? Describe them.

Ans. The woman had three children. The first one was John, the oldest, a boy of twelve years, was a stout lad, able to earn his living with any farmer. The second one was Kate, between ten and eleven years was a bright, active girl, out of whom something clever might be made. The third one was poor little Maggie, the youngest, who was hopelessly diseased. She had injured her spine after a fall from a window, two years before and was now bedridden.

41)  Question. What was the matter of concern now after the woman's death?

Ans. Now, after the woman's death the matter of concern was that, who would take care of her three children. They were too young to fend for themselves and could not be left alone.

 

42)  Question. Who offered to take John? Why?

Ans. Farmer Jones offered to take John with him as John was stout and the farmer could make him work in his fields.

43)  Question. Who offered to take Katy? Why?

Ans. Mrs. Ellis took Kate as she had been looking for a bound girl to work in her house.

 

44)  Question. How did the people look at Maggie? Why did no one want to take her?

Ans. The villagers looked at Maggie with pity. They showed concern for the poor child. They felt sympathetic and concerned for the sad eyes and patient face of the little girl. No one wanted to take her home as she was disabled and bedridden and would be of no use to them.