The Interview

By Christopher Silvester
Summary
The Interview Summary
The lesson begins with the introduction to interview as a commonplace of journalism since
its invention, which was a little over 130 years ago. According to the author, it is not very
surprising that people have very distinct opinions about the usage of interview. Some think
of it in its highest form whereas some people can’t stand being interviewed. An interview
leaves a lasting impression and according to an old saying, when perceptions are made
about a certain person, the original identity of his soul gets stolen. Famous celebrities,
writers and artists have been heard criticising interviews. Rudyard Kipling’s wife wrote in her
diary how their day in Boston was ruined by two reporters. Kipling considers interviewing an
assault, a crime that should attract punishment. He believes that a respectable man would
never ask or give an interview.
There is an excerpt from the interview between Mukund (from The Hindu newspaper) and
Umberto Eco, a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy who had already acquired a
formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on semiotics (the study of signs), literary
interpretation, and medieval aesthetics before he turned to writing fiction. The interview
revolves around the success of his novel, The Name of the Rose whose more than ten
million copies were sold in the market. The interviewer begins by asking him how Umberto
manages to do so many different things to which he replies by saying that he is doing the
same thing. He further justifies and mentions that his books about children talk about peace
and non-violence which in the end, reflect his interest in philosophy. Umberto identifies
himself as an academic scholar who attends academic conferences during the week and
writes novels on Sundays. It doesn’t bother him that he is identified by others as a novelist
and not a scholar, because he knows that it is difficult to reach millions of people with
scholarly work. He believes there are empty spaces in one’s life, just like there are empty
spaces in atoms and the Universe. He calls them interstices and most of his productive
work is done during that time. Talking about his novel, he mentions that it is not an easy-
read. It has a detective aspect to it along with metaphysics, theology and medieval history.
Also, he believes that had the novel been written ten years earlier or later, it would have not
seen such a huge success. Thus, the reason for its success still remains a mystery.

The Interview Question and Answers

1. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
A. Eco is a university professor who attends academic conferences all week. He finds so
much time to write in the empty spaces that we all have in our lives, just like the structure of
atoms and Universe. He terms these empty spaces as ‘interstices’. If he is waiting for

1|Page
someone coming to his house via the escalator, he would use that time to write an essay
rather than sit idle. Therefore, he considers himself a scholar who writes novels on
Sundays.

2. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?

A. Generally, academic scholars write false hypothesis, rectify them and then give
conclusions. On the other hand, Umberto takes the readers through the journey of his
research, quoting all the trials and errors to reach the conclusion. His narrative style of
writing made him distinctive.

3. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?

A. Umberto Eco identifies himself with the academic community. According to him, he is a
university professor who attends academic conferences all week and writes novels on
Sundays.

4. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
A. The novel, The Name of the Rose is a hard-read, differentiating it from other novels. It is
a detective narrative that contains metaphysics, theology and medieval history. Thus, it
targeted the audience that is not interested in an easy reading experience, probably not all
the time. However, the success of the novel still remains a mystery. According to Umberto,
had the novel been written ten years earlier or later, it would have not attracted the same
proportion of audience.
1. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?

Ans. Most celebrity writers despise being interviewed as they consider it as an undesirable intrusion
into their personal lives. Some viewed it an immoral and offensive activity. Some others feel it would
‘diminish’ them.

2. How is Umberto Eco’s non-fictional writing style different from academic writing style?

Ans. Umberto Eco’s non-fictional writing style has a certain playful, narrative and personal quality about
it whereas his academic writing is depersonalized and often dry and boring.

LONG ANSWER QUESTION

1. "Interviews an unwarranted intrusion in the lives of others". Elucidate with reference to The
Interview.
Ans. Value points:- Interviews are common feature in Journalism – Most celebrities consider
them as an unnecessary intrusion in their lives – "a horror of the interview", "an ordeal",
"thumbprints on windpipe"- interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication-
the most vivid impression of our contemporaries -the interviewer holds a position of
unprecedented power and influence.

2|Page
 Important Questions based on lesson

Short Answer Type Questions 02

Ques-(i) What are some of the positive views on interviews ?
Ans- Following are some of the positive views on interviews:
(a) The interview has become a commonplace of journalism.
(b) In its highest form an Interview is a source of truth and in practise it is an art.
(c) An interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication.
Ques-(ii) What do you understand by the expression “ thumbprints on his windpipe” ?
Ans- It means that it was like somebody strangled his freedom or choked the free flow of his
thoughts.
Ques-(iii) When was the interview invented?
Ans- The interview was invented over 130 years ago.
Ques-(iv) Why do the opinions of the interview vary considerably ?
Ans- Thousands of famous persons have been interviewed over the years some of them been
repeated So the opinions of the interview vary considerably.
Ques-(v) Which is, according to Mukund, a marked departure from academic style ?
Ans- According to Mukund, Eco’s style is a marked departure from academic style. His scholarly
work has a certain playful and personal quality about it. Which is a marked departure from a
regular academic style.
Ques-(vi) Why is Umberto Eco not satisfied to be only a novelist ?
Ans- Umberto Eco is not satisfied to be only a novelist because he is a university professor. He
participates in academic conferences, He identifies himself with the academic community.

Long Answer Type Questions 10

Ques-1- Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed ?

Ans- Yes, I think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed. Following are the reasons for my
opinion:
(i) I infer from the way Umberto Eco replied the questions put by Mukund
Padmanabhan that he likes being interviewed.
(ii) Eco seems to be in a relaxed mood and at ease throughout the interaction.
(iii) Eco replies questions with patience. He never seems to be in a hurry.

(iv) He shows his sense of humour when he says while waiting for Mukund’s elevator to
come up from the first to the third floor, he has already written an article.

(iv) His statement, “ I am a professor who writes novels on Sunday’s shows that Eco
likes being interviewed.

Ques-2- How does Eco find the time to write so much ?

Ans- Eco finds the time to write so much in the following way.

3|Page
 (i) Umberto Eco himself says that he is a professor who writes noels on Sunday. Thus
he utilises his holidays for writing work.
(ii) He also points out that he started writing novels by accident He had nothing to do
one day and so he started. Novels probably satisfied nothing to do one day and so
he started. Novels probably satisfied his taste for narration. He writes from his
heart. Writing being his passion he finds time anyhow or other to satisfy his
passion.
(iii) Eco himself explains how he gets time for writing We have a lot of empty spaces in
our lives Eco calls these empty spaces. He says to his interviewer, Mukund, “While
waiting for your elevator to come up from the first to the third floor, I have already
written an article” Thus he works in empty spaces and finds time to write so much.
These moments between one action and the other actions provides him time for
writing.

Additional Questions 10

(1) Te writer says that it is hardly surprising that opinions of the interview vary considerably.
Elaborate with reference to the essay, “The Interview, By Christopher Silvester.

(2) What were the salient points that emerged about Umberto Eco and his writing through his
interview by Mukund Padmanabhan ?

4|Page