PART I
THINK AS YOU
READ PAGE
69
1. What are some of the positive views on
interviews?
Answer:
Interviewing has become an inseparable aspect of journalism over the last 130
years. It is incredibly useful in today's employment market, and it is regarded
as an art form that serves as proof of truth.
2. Why do most celebrity writers despise
being interviewed?
Answer:
Celebrities who saw themselves as victims may regard interviews as an unwelcome
intrusion into their lives, or believe it diminishes them, just like some
primitive civilizations believed that taking a photograph of someone meant
stealing their soul. V.S. Naipaul believes that "interviews harm some
people and cause them to lose a part of themselves."
3. What is the belief in some primitive
cultures about being photographed?
Answer:
Previously, some primitive civilizations believed that taking a photographic
snapshot of someone meant pulling that person's soul from his body and leaving
them slighted.
4. What do you understand by the
expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”?
Answer:
Being strangled defines the expression. And this phrase alludes to the stress
and anxiety a celebrity feels while giving interviews.
5. Who, in today’s world, is our chief
source of information about personalities?
Answer:
The interviewer, who uses his authority and influence to gather information and
give us the finest available information about the interviewees, is now the
main source of information on people.
PART II
UNDERSTANDING
THE TEXT PAGE
73
1. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being
interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
Answer:
Yes, Umberto Eco enjoys being questioned. He is composed and confident in his
interactions with the interviewer. He patiently answers all of the questions without
being rushed. He presented his accomplishments in a professional manner and
effectively defined his philosophical viewpoints and areas of interest. He was
amusing and responsive to the interviewer.
2. How does Eco find the time to write so
much?
Answer:
He didn't have a lot of time in general, but he stated that with no significant
tasks, everyone has a lot of time. He claims that he only spends his free time
writing. People are surprised that Eco has written so much on so many topics,
but he claims that this is because he was writing on the same lines and with
the same interests—peace, for example. His entire body of work was connected by
the same lines. This device saves him time, allowing him to produce a large
number of stories in a short amount of time.
3. What was distinctive about Eco’s
academic writing style?
Answer:
Umberto Eco had a unique point of view that he skillfully employs in his
stories. His story was fascinating, and it was a refreshing change from the
typical academic tone, which is depersonalized, dry, and uninteresting.
4. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a
novelist first or an academic scholar?
Answer:
Umberto Eco saw himself first and foremost as a scholar and then as a fiction.
He clarified the situation by claiming to be a professor at a university who
used to write books on Sundays. He also used to go to scholarly conferences on
weekdays.
5. What is the reason for the huge
success of the novel, The Name of the
Rose?
Answer:
The novel 'The Name of the Novel' was a huge success because it was so
different from other novels. It was a serious and engaging work that told the
narrative of a detective. However, it also includes theology and medieval
history. However, the true cause for this story's success remains a mystery.
TALKING ABOUT
THE TEXT PAGE 74
Discuss in pairs or small groups.
1. Talk about any interview that you have
watched on television or read in a newspaper. How did it add to your
understanding of the celebrity, the interviewer and the field of the celebrity?
Answer:
Directions:
The students can watch or read an interview of a politician or a Bollywood
actor. Some of the issues that can be discussed are:
The celebrity and his/her life
His/her work and the career
The interviewer, his questions and his mood
The way the celebrity answers the questions- his
language, mood, gestures, body language
The views and opinions of both the interviewer and
the interviewee
2. The medium you like best for an
interview, print, radio, or television.
Answer:
Each
medium has positives and negatives – yet, television is the best medium – more
enjoyable and attractive – visual medium allows us to observe the celebrity,
his gestures, expressions and body language – helps connect better with the interview
3. Every famous person has a right to his
or her privacy. Interviewers sometimes embarrass celebrities with very personal
questions.
Answer:
Everyone
has a right to maintain his/her privacy – wrong to ask private and humiliating
questions about his/her past – wrong to consider the private life of public
figures as public – once their privacy is breached, it may be difficult for
them to recover – may affect their personal relationships even
(Directions/pointers have been provided for
students’ benefit. It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer
on their own.)
WRITING PAGE
75
1. If the interviewer Mukund Padmanabhan
had not got the space in the newspaper to reproduce the interview verbatim, he
may have been asked to produce a short report of the interview with the salient
points.
Write this report for him.
[The teacher should be able to help the
pupils in what to include and what can be omitted. We could also provide a
short report of an interview as a sample.]
Answer:
A
CHAT WITH UMBERTO ECO
By Mukund Padmanabhan
Delhi, 6 September
Umberto Eco, the renowned scholar and writer, in a
short interview with The Hindu claimed to be an academician first and a
novelist later. He is a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy. His
works range from semiotics to literary interpretation, medieval aesthetics and
finally to novels and children’s books.
When asked about his wide-ranging works, he clarified his position
saying “I am a professor who writes novels on Sundays”.
One is amazed by his ability to manage time. He
revealed his secret theory of empty spaces or ‘interstices’, as he calls them.
Eco explained his way of utilising every second, even the free ones between two
different tasks.
All of Eco’s works including his academic
publications have a personal touch to them. This is Eco’s unique style of
writing which, he declared, began at the age of 22 when he was a research
scholar. His inclination towards creative writing led him to novel-writing in
his later years.
His detective novel The Name of the Rose has sold 10
million copies, but its success apparently did not surprise him. He stated that
the success of the book proves that there are people who read difficult texts.
All in all, Eco turned out to be a dynamic
personality who loves his work. His enthusiasm is apparent in the way he gave
the replies to all the questions, without any apprehension or qualms.
THINGS TO DO PAGE
76
1. Interview a person whom you admire
either in school or your neighbourhood and record it in writing.
Answer:
Directions:
Think of a person whom you admire. He or she may be one of your teachers, your
relatives, your role model or any elderly person in the family. Consider his or
her profession or work and based on that prepare a questionnaire. Before the
actual interview, remember to ask for permission and accordingly fix a date for
the interview. During the interview, follow the questionnaire but you may ask
any relevant questions that crop up during the course of the interview. Try to
note down the important points.
(Directions have been provided for students’
benefit. It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their
own.)
10. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Question Answer | |
Comments
Post a Comment
Need English Assistance, Have Doubts or Any Suggestions? Do let us know.