Patol Babu

Extract based questions and answers of the story Patol Babu.

 Read the following and answer the questions that follow :

1.    ‘‘I hope the part calls for some dialogue ?’’ ‘‘Certainly. It’s a speaking part. You have acted before, haven’t you?’’

 (a) Identify the two people exchanging the above dialogue.

 Ans : The two people exchanging the above dialogue are Patol Babu and Naresh Dutt

(b) What reservations are expressed by the first person? Why?

Ans : Patol Babu expresses his apprehension as to whether the role he is being offered 

         has dialogue. It is because he is a true artist and delivering a dialogue will give   

         him an opportunity to display his talent. He wants time to rehearse his dialogues.

(c) Do you believe the information given by the second speaker is truthful? Why/Why no

Ans: No, because he was not given a dialogue but his role required him to utter only a 

       monosyllable.

2.                    Patol Babu hadn’t expected such news at the start of the day. That an offer to act in film

      would come to a 52 years old nonentity like him was beyond his wildest dreams.

(a)   Why didn’t Patol Babu expect such news ?

Ans: Patol Babu was 52 years old nobody. He could not imagine in his wildest

       dreams that he would get an offer to act at that age.

(b)   Why did he consider himself an nonentity after acting in theatre ?

Ans: He had acted in amateur theatre when he was a young man. It was a long time ago.

        Circumstances had forced him to give up his passion and he was busy in trying to

        earn his livelihood.

©     What was his reaction ?

Ans: Initially he was surprised and taken aback, but later on he was happy and excited.

3.  ‘‘Is that so ? Well, I suggest you go and wait in the shade there. We have a few things

     to attend to before we get going ?’’

(       (a)   Who is the speaker and the listener?

Ans: Naresh Dutt is the speaker and the listener is Patol Babu.

(               (b)  What is the context of the above statement?

Ans: This statement has been made in response to Patol Babu’s   remark   that he has   

         always  been a punctual man.

(       (c)  What does the above statement reflect about the speaker’s attitude?

Ans: The speaker has a very casual attitude.

4.  ‘‘As an artist your aim should be to make the most of your opportunity and squeeze

       the last drop of meaning out of your lines’’.

  (a) Who was supposed to have said these lines and to whom?

Ans : These lines were said by Patol Babu’s mentor Mr Gogon Pakrashi to Patol Babu.

 (b) Discuss the relevance of the above statement in the given context?

Ans: Patol Babu was very disappointed when he came to know that he had to utter a

         monosyllabic expression. Then he remembered his mentor’s words that however small         the part offered never consider it below your dignity to accept it and always do                       complete justice to it.

©    Do you think, the listener followed these instructions? How?

Ans: Yes, he delivered his role to perfection. He practiced enunciating ‘Oh” and how he                 would  express his pain and surprise when the collision took place.  

5. ‘‘Patol Babu glanced at the paper... and found a sudden throbbing in his head. The  

     heat was unbearable’’.

(    (a)    What was written on the paper ?

Ans: The monosyllable ‘Oh’ was written on the paper

(    (b)   What was Patol Babu’s reaction on seeing it?

Ans: He felt disappointed and insulted. He thought he being made a laughing stock.

(    (c)  Why did he react in such a way?

Ans: It was because he had been called upon to act in a role that had dialogues.But he was given a role that required him to utter only a monosyllabic expression.