1. Who says, "At last, a sympathetic audience" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Is the speaker sarcastic or serious? Why does he say it?
1. Who says, "At last, a sympathetic audience" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Is the speaker sarcastic or serious? Why does he say it?
Explanation:
(i) Gerrard is the character who says, "At last, a sympathetic audience."
(ii) Gerrard says this sarcastically when the intruder asks him to talk about himself.
(iii) Gerrard says this sarcastically because he knows that the intruder wants to steal his identity and kill him.
2. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard's identity to take on?
2. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard's identity to take on?
Explanation:
The intruder chooses Gerrard's identity to take on because Gerrard is a mystery man who phones his orders and sometimes disappears suddenly and returns just the same.
3. Who says, "I said it with bullets" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? What does the statement mean? Is it the truth, and why does the speaker say it?
3. Who says, "I said it with bullets" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? What does the statement mean? Is it the truth, and why does the speaker say it?
Explanation:
(i) Gerrard says the statement, "I said it with bullets."
(ii) The statement means that when Gerrard was in trouble, he shot someone to escape.
(iii) No, it is not the truth. Gerrard says this to manipulate the intruder so that he does not kill him.
4. What is Gerrard's profession in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer.
4. What is Gerrard's profession in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer.
Explanation:
Gerrard's profession in the play is that of a dramatist.
The parts of the play that support this implication are:
"In most melodramas, the villain is foolish enough to delay his killing long enough to be frustrated."
"Sorry I can't let you have the props in time for rehearsal..."
"I think I'll put it in my next play."
"At last, a sympathetic audience!"
5. Who says, "You'll soon stop being smart" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Why does the speaker say it, and what does he imply will stop Gerrard from being smart?
5. Who says, "You'll soon stop being smart" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Why does the speaker say it, and what does he imply will stop Gerrard from being smart?
Explanation:
(i) The intruder says the statement, "You'll soon stop being smart."
(ii) The intruder says this to scare Gerrard and learn more about him.
(iii) The speaker intends to kill Gerrard. According to the speaker, when Gerrard learns that the intruder came to kill him and steal his identity, he will become scared and stop being smart.
6. Who says, "They can't hang me twice" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Why does the speaker say it?
6. Who says, "They can't hang me twice" in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? Why does the speaker say it?
Explanation:
(i) The intruder says the statement, "They can't hang me twice."
(ii) The speaker says this because he has already murdered someone, so killing another person would not be a big deal. He cannot be hanged twice.
7. What is the mystery that the speaker proposes to explain in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"?
7. What is the mystery that the speaker proposes to explain in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"?
Explanation:
The mystery that the speaker, Gerrard, proposes to explain is why he himself is a mystery man. He explains to the intruder that he is a criminal on the run. That is the reason why he does not meet tradespeople. He says that he murdered someone and got away with it. But now he was in trouble, and that's why his bag was all packed to escape again.
8. Where is the statement "This is your big surprise" said in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? What is the surprise?
8. Where is the statement "This is your big surprise" said in the play "The Man Who Was a Detective"? What is the surprise?
Explanation:
(i) The phrase “This is your big surprise” is spoken twice in the play. The first time is when the intruder is attempting to intimidate Gerrard, and the second time is when Gerrard explains to the intruder why he will not be able to benefit from killing him.
(ii) The surprise in the first instance of the phrase is the intruder's admission that he intends to kill Gerrard. In the second instance, Gerrard reveals that he is also a criminal on the run and that killing him would not benefit the intruder in any way. This disclosure is unexpected and shocking to the intruder, who had assumed that he was in control of the situation.
9. Which adjectives can be used to describe the characters of Gerrard and the Intruder in the play?
9. Which adjectives can be used to describe the characters of Gerrard and the Intruder in the play?
Explanation:
Gerrard is depicted as intelligent, humorous, clever, cool, and confident. He remains nonchalant even when confronted with a dangerous situation. On the other hand, the Intruder is portrayed as smart, beautiful, flashy, and confident. He possesses a quick wit and cleverly responds to Gerrard's inquiries.
10. Write a brief and original retelling of the play in the form of a short story (150-200 words) with the theme "Intelligence triumphs over strength."
10. Write a brief and original retelling of the play in the form of a short story (150-200 words) with the theme "Intelligence triumphs over strength."
Explanation:
Gerrard, a playwright who lives a secluded life in a cottage, is visited by an Intruder with a gun. Despite the danger, Gerrard welcomes the Intruder with calm and intelligence. The Intruder asks personal questions and reveals that he is a fugitive, wanted for murder. Gerrard convinces the Intruder that killing him will not solve his problems and offers him a way out. As they prepare to leave, Gerrard traps the Intruder in a cupboard and calls the police. The Intruder is arrested, and Gerrard's cleverness saves the day.
The story highlights the theme that intelligence and wit can overcome brute strength, as Gerrard outwits the Intruder despite the latter's weapon. This illustrates the power of the mind over the body, and how quick thinking can help one overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. The story is titled "Mind Over Matter."
