1.The Open Window H.H
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1.The Open Window H.H. Munro (Saki) Summary: The Open Window is a story about FramtonNuttel, a hypochondriac and how he is frightened out ofhis wits by a young girl, Vera. Framton has moved to the country on his doctor‟s advice to effect a cure for a nervous condition he suffers from. His sister had lived in the area he visits and had given him letters of introduction to his new neighbours. The story concerns his visit to the home of one of these neighbours, a Mrs. Sappleton. Mr. Nuttel is first met by Mrs. Sappleton‟s niece Vera, who entertains him until her aunt is available. Vera, apparently bored with her guest, has an overactive imagination and a sense of mischief. Once she determines that Mr. Nuttel knows nothing about the family and is a very literal-minded fellow, Vera spins a horror story involving her aunt, whom she characterizes as a mentally disturbed widow. Three years ago, Mr. Sappleton and his two younger brothers-in-law went hunting, leaving the house through a French window, which was left open until their return. However, all three of them were lost in a bog that day, Vera asserts, and their bodies were never recovered. The aunt, driven to distraction by her grief and loss, left the window open thereafter, anticipating that they, along with their dog would return the same way. When Mrs. Sappleton finally appears, she explains why the window is open, apparently confirming Vera‟s story. Mr. Nuttel then tells Mrs. Sappleton about his nervous disorder and his need to avoid any “mental excitement.” Mrs. Sappleton is clearly bored, but at that very moment she sees her husband and brothers returning from their hunt. Vera appears horrified by the sight of them. The nervous Mr. Nuttel is therefore terrified and beats a hasty retreat from the house. Vera‟s yarn was purely imaginary. Mr. Nuttel has obviously been duped by Vera‟s story, but Vera, a habitual liar, does not explain his odd behavior to the others. Instead, Vera invents another story that suggests Mr. Nuttel had once been frightened by “a pack of pariah dogs” in a cemetery “on the banks of the Ganges” and apparently had bolted at the sight of the spaniel accompanying the hunters. Thus, Mr. Nuttel is perfectly victimized by the young girl‟s imagination. 2. The Lion’s Share Arnold Bennett Summary: Arnold Bennett’s The Lion’s Share is a tragi-comic story of Horace whose benevolent nature makes him live a life misery and unhappiness. Horace Carpole lived in Five Towns with his stepmother and his stepbrother, Sidney. By the time he was 19, he was a model youth. He was too perfect to be liked by his neighbours. Sidney, on the other hand was loved by everybody. He was mostly unhealthy and slightly deaf. One day after Sidney had scarlet fever, Horace wanted to carry him downstairs despite his stepmother’s opposing it. It was then the tragedy occurred, Horace slipped and fell down the stairs and landed on Sidney. Sidney was unconscious for a long while. After regaining consciousness and frequently afterwards, he suffered from unbearable pains in the head. After further treatment, Sidney improved slowly. Horace took great care of him and put him in school. But very soon his head pains recurred and he quit school. Everyone was sympathetic to Sidney and silently blamed Horace for the young lad’s condition. Horace took Sidney to a specialist but to no avail. Horace tried homeschooling but Sidney didn’t learn anything except to play the banjo. Time passed and Sidney never recovered from the accident. Very frequently he had to go to a seaside resort to improve his health. This depleted Horace’s resources. Meanwhile Ms. Carpole died of ill health. Around this time, Horace came into a small fortune from his maternal grandfather. With some of the money, he bought a house on a hill for his brother. With the rest of the money, he bought a partnership in the pottery firm he had been working in. Sidney reached the age of eighteen and had grown into a handsome young man. His deafness disappeared and his health improved. He had painting skills. So Horace employed him in his firm. Very soon, Sidney’s head-attacks started again. He used to work very little and took frequent leave. Meanwhile Horace was in love to Ella, who was on a visit to the Five Towns. She was staying with Mrs. Penkethman. As Sidney had gone off to a European cruise to restore his health, Horace was feeling lonely. He thought that Ella too admired him. One day he invited both of them to his house for tea. As they were enjoying tea and conversation, Sidney appeared on the scene. He had returned from his travels. Ella was left speechless from that point on. After a while, the visitors were on their way back accompanied by the brothers. Ella was walking with Sidney and both were chatting to each other. A few weeks later, Sidney was married to Ella and Horace bore all the expenses. Horace suffered both emotionally and financially. He also had to continue supporting his brother now that he was married. His manufacturing unit was suffering losses. Meanwhile Ella came into some money of her own and the couple decided to travel. Horace wanted to ask Ella for financial help but couldn’t bring himself to do so. So he repaid all his creditors and went to Sidney and Ella to inform of his departure to Germany to take up a job. That very night Sidney had another attack and Horace, without disturbing Ella, took care of his brother. He then informed her in the morning and left for Germany. A few months later Ella and Sidney bought Horace’s old house and moved in. Horace returned to the Five Towns after several years. He had done well in Germany and now wanted to start life afresh. When he met his brother, he found him to be healthy with a banjo in his hand. Ella was also happy. They had a child too. They didn’t seem too interested in Horace’s life. When Ella suggested having tea in the drawing room, Horace’s nephew came up to him asking to be carried downstairs. Horace, with the experience of a man doomed throughout his life, immediately refused to do so. 3. The Sparrows K.A. Abbas Summary: Sparrows is one of the greatest short stories from the pen of K.A. Abbas. It tells the story of RahimKhan, who, despite his despicable behaviour, proves to have a heart of gold. Rahim Khan, a 50-year old farmer, was disliked by the people of his village. He was rude and violent to everyone. His sons couldn‟t stand his violence and had run away from home. One day he returned home from his farm only to be informed by his neighbour that his wife too went away to her brother‟s house. Rahim knew she would never come back. Her absence angered him. He had always known she would leave him one day. He wanted her to leave him. He decided to sleep without eating. In his youth, Rahim Khan was an athlete and a sportsperson. He excelled in wrestling, kabadi and diving. In fact he wanted to join the circus. He fell in love with Radha who was enamoured by him during a wrestling match. His career ambitions and his love were both crushed by his parents. He wanted to rebel but couldn‟t. Rahim‟s father ensured that Radha got married by talking to her father. Very soon, she adjusted to her new life and bore 5 children. Rahim Khan too married a girl his parents chose for him. His father thought that his son had accepted his fate. But Rahim Khan took a vow on the night of his consummation that he would take revenge on his family and the society for denying him his heart‟s wish. Thirty years hence, he still continued showing his anger on his wife and children, his bullocks and the entire village. The villagers were first hostile and later became indifferent and afraid. With everyone avoiding him, he started showing his anger and bitterness on his wife by beating her regularly. No one tried to understand his transformation. Finally he was left alone. The next day after his wife left, he woke up late. He had meals and sat down to smoke. After that, he decided to clean the cobwebs in his hut. As he was doing this, he saw a nest in the thatched roof. Two sparrows were flying in and out of the nest. Rahim‟s first impulse was to destroy the nest. But something stopped him. He climbed a stool and saw that there were two baby sparrows less than a day old. Seeing this, the mother sparrow attacked him. He decided not to do anything to the nest. From the next day onwards, Rahim Khan was a changed man. He went to his farm every day. But his interest was in the two little sparrows which had now grown. He named them Nuru and Bundu after his lost sons. The four sparrows were his only friends. He even stopped beating his bullocks Nathoo and Chhiddoo and fighting with the villagers. One day when the sky was overcast, Rahim returned home early. It started raining by the time he reached home. The two sparrows were all agog. Rahim Khan on inspection realised that the nest was getting drenched in the rain.