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The Interview

Chem

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22 views

The Interview

Chem

Uploaded by

sonicumin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gr 12 Prose – The Interview

Q1) Extract:
Others usually celebrities who see themselves as its victims, might despise the
interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or feel that it somehow
diminishes them, just as in some primitive cultures it is believed that if one
takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing that person’s
soul. V.S.Naipaul feels that some people are wounded by interviews and lose a
part of themselves. Lewis Caroll the creator of Alice in Wonderland was said to
have had a just horror of the interviewer and he never consented to be
interviewed.
Questions:
(a) Choose the appropriate option with reference to the given extract
Most of the celebrities dislike being interviewed because
(i)It is sheer nonsense
(ii)Nobody reveals his/her innerself.
(iii)It is sheer waste of time
(iv)It is an unwanted intrusion into their lives

(b)Complete the analogy with a word from the extract


Light : darkness :: …………………. : refused

(c)In primitive cultures, being photographed implied……….. .

(d)From the given extract, we know that ………….. never agreed to be


interviewed.

(e)In the given extract, the word diminish most nearly means
(i)deepens (ii)disappoints (iii)lessens (iv)languishes

(f)In the given extract, the writer indicates that most people…………interviews
(i)celebrated (ii)read (iii)gave (iv)despised

ANSWERS
(a) iv (b)consented (c) soul has been stolen
(d)Lewis Caroll (e)ii disappoints (f) despised

II) Short Answer Type Questions:


1) What kind of writer is Umberto Eco? What sort of writing does he have to
his credit?
Ans.: Umberto Eco is a versatile writer. He had already acquired formidable
reputation as a scholar for his ideas on semiotics literary interpretation and
medieval aesthetics before he turned to non-fiction writing. He had a narrative
style of writing. He has writings like literary fiction, academic texts, essays,
children's books, newspaper articles to his credit. He believes in non-violence
and peace. He has written five novels and more than forty non-fiction works.

2) Despite the drawbacks, the interview is a „supremely serviceable medium of


communication‟. Explain .
Ans: Despite its drawbacks, the interview has its own advantages. Though,
interview is an intrusion into the personal life of the interviewee, it is always a
supremely serviceable medium of communication. Through the interviews
only, we get vivid impressions of our contemporary celebrities. We get a glance
of their way of working.

3) The name of the Rose is a very serious novel. Yet it enjoyed a mass audience.
Give reasons for its popularity.
Ans: While Umberto calls its success a mystery, he does claim that, contrary to
popular belief, people don’t just like reading easy stories. He sold 10-15 million
copies of his novel, Name of the Rose, so it must mean that this 164 many
people long for more than just easy experiences. He also gives credit to the
time or decade in which it was published.

4) Eco’s academic work has certain playful and personal quality about it.
Comment.
Ans: Eco presents his arguments very logically and with a subtle wit and
playfulness to it. He himself says that he started writing novels by accident. He
essentially considers himself a university professor who wrote novels on
Sunday. This non-fictional writing is a marked departive from the regular
depersonalised style which is often dry and boring. Even his research work has
the quality of creative writing and makes not only information but also
interesting reading. In his doctoral dissertation, Eco tells the story of his
research including his trials and errors. His: essays too always have a narrative
aspect.

III) Long Answer Type Question:


1)Several thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years, some of
them repeatedly.’ But still many of them ‘despise the interview as an
unwarranted intrusion in their lives’. Describe opinions for and against the
interview as mentioned in the lesson.
Answer: The interview has become an indispensable feature of journalism
today. Several thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years.
Some of them have been interviewed repeatedly. Opinions vary. Some consider
it a source of truth. Some call it a great art. It is the most effective and powerful
medium of knowing important persons or celebrities.
Usually celebrities despise being interviewed. They consider it as an
‘unwarranted intrusion’ into their lives. They somehow feel that it diminishes
them. Naipaul feels that people are ‘wounded by interviews’. They lose a part
of themselves. Lewis Carrol never consented to be interviewed. Rudyard
Kipling considered it immortal and an offence against his person. H.G. Wells
interviewed Joseph Stalin.But he also considered it as ‘an ordeal’. Saul Bellow
considered interviews as ‘thumbprints on his windpipe’. In spite of some of
these drawbacks, the interview remains ‘a supremely serviceable medium of
communication’. Because of this, the interview holds a position of great power
and influence.

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