Unit -3 THE UMBRELLA MAN – ROALD DAHI

1. Narrate the events that led…. In the rain for a taxi?

Ans: “The Umbrella Man” is a popular short story written by Roald Dahi, a British novelist, short story write, poet and fighter pilot. His famous works are ‘The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘The Witches etc. There is real twist in the tale that makes delightful to read and we can appreciate the irony, the gap between the appearance and reality.

The narrator of the story is a 12 years old girl and her mother, aged 34, has gone to London to visit the dentist. The girl had a tooth filled and then both went to a café. The mother had a cup of coffee, while the girl enjoyed the banana split. When they want to go home it had begun to rain. They have no umbrella. So they decided to hire a taxi to get back home. Though many taxi passed by, all were occupied with passengers. The mother was still looking out for a vacant taxi, an old gentleman approached them for a favour, offering them an umbrella for a worth of twenty pounds to hire the taxi. Mean time the mother and the girl drenched completely. These events led the little girl and her mother in the rain for a taxi.

b) Sketch in a paragraph the character … request for a favour.

Ans: “The Umbrella Man” is a popular short story written by Roald Dahi, a British novelist, short story write, poet and fighter pilot. His famous works are ‘The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘The Witches etc. There is real twist in the tale that makes delightful to read and we can appreciate the irony, the gap between the appearance and reality.

When the narrator girl and her mother are waiting for taxi, an old gentleman approached them. He was a trickster. He told that he had forgotten his wallet at home and would like to sell the umbrella in return for a taxi fare. But the mother offered him to drop him at his home or give money for cab fare. He refused both the options. The mother suspected something rotten and irrational about him. But the little girl believes him as a gentleman. Finally the mother accepted and gave him one pound and took the umbrella. The little old man went to pub and drank for the whole pound. He picked up another umbrella and went to another street. Thus we find him not only as a heavy drunkard but also a man of dishonesty and of stealing nature.

c) Describe the approach of the mother to the old man, who requested them to help him.

Ans: “The  Umbrella Man” is a popular short story written by Roald Dahi, a British novelist, short story write, poet and fighter pilot. His famous works are ‘The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘The Witches etc. There is real twist in the tale that makes delightful to read and we can appreciate the irony, the gap between the appearance and reality.

The girl and her mother came out on to the road and it started raining and decided to hire a taxi, the little old gentle man approached the mother and offered to sell the skill umbrella for one pound. At the first the narrator’s mother is suspicious. Later stage the old man convinced and the deal was done. The mother felt happy and victoriously for the silk umbrella. As she was explaining her daughter the importance of judging people, the daughter notices the old man was entering a pub. Thus the woman seem to be very kind hearted, but not cautious enough.

d) What did the girl and her mother find out about the gentlemen after he entered the pub?

Ans: “The  Umbrella Man” is a popular short story written by Roald Dahi, a British novelist, short story write, poet and fighter pilot. His famous works are ‘The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘The Witches etc. There is real twist in the tale that makes delightful to read and we can appreciate the irony, the gap between the appearance and reality.

The mother was explaining the importance of judging the people to her daughter, the narrator girl noticed the old man entering a pub. They were really astonished. He ordered whisky for one pound at “The Red Lion” pub and enjoyed himself. The old man finished his drink and went to retrieve his coat and hat and just before leaving the pub, he smoothly plucked another umbrella from the coat rack. He went to another street to sell the umbrella for money and he would have another round of whisky. They finally know that she became a victim of the old man’s trick. Thus, the story highlights the difference between the appearance and reality.