NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 13 The Bishop's Candlesticks

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Q. What would you do in the following situations? Give reasons for your answer.

• If you were travelling by bus and you saw someone pick another passenger’s pocket.
• If you found a wallet on the road.
• If you were in a shop and you saw a well-dressed lady shoplifting.
• If your best friend is getting involved with an undesirable set of friends.
• If you were in school and you saw one of your class-mates steal another child’s pen.

Ans: Do it yourself.

Note: Read the drama, The Bishop's Candlesticks, given in the book.

Q. Complete the following paragraph with suitable words/phrases highlighting the theme of the play. You can do it in pairs.

The play deals with a _________ and _________ Bishop who is always ready to lend _________ a hand to anyone in distress. A _________ breaks into the Bishop’s house and is _________ and warmed. The benevolence of the Bishop somewhat _________ the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he _________ them, and runs away. However, he is _________ and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a _________.
The convict is _________ by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest’s blessing.

Ans. The play deals with a kind and benevolent Bishop who is always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in distress. A convict breaks into the Bishop's house and is clothed and warmed. The benevolence of the Bishop somewhat softens the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he steals them, and runs away. However, he is caught and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police that they are a gift.
The convict is reformed by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest's blessing.

Q. (a) Working in pairs, give antonyms of the following words:
[kind-hearted, unscrupulous, forgiving, stern, benevolent, credulous, generous, pious, suspicious, sympathetic, understanding, wild, innocent, penitent, clever, brutal, cunning, caring, sentimental, trusting, protective, concerned, honourable, embittered]

Ans.
kind-hearted — unkind
unscrupulous — scrupulous
forgiving — unforgiving
stern — friendly
benevolent — uncharitable
credulous — skeptical
generous — miserly
pious — impious
suspicious — trusting
sympathetic — unsympathetic
understanding — misunderstanding
wild — tame
innocent — wicked
penitent — impenitent
clever — stupid
brutal — humane
cunning — naive
caring — careless
sentimental — practical
trusting — suspicious
protective — unprotective
concerned — unconcerned
honourable — dishonourable
embittered — loving

Q (a) Working in pairs, give antonyms of the following words:
kind-hearted, unscrupulous, forgiving, stern, benevolent, credulous, generous, pious, suspicious, sympathetic, understanding, wild, innocent, penitent, clever, brutal, cunning, caring, sentimental, trusting, protective, concerned, honourable, embittered

Ans: kind-hearted — unkind

forgiving — unforgiving
benevolent — uncharitable
generous — miserly
suspicious — trusting
understanding — misunderstanding
innocent — wicked
clever — stupid
cunning — naive
sentimental — practical
protective — unprotective
honourable — dishonourable

unscrupulous — scrupulous
stern — friendly
credulous — skeptical
pious — impious
sympathetic — unsympathetic
wild — tame
penitent — impenitent
brutal — humane
caring — careless
trusting — suspicious
concerned — unconcerned
embittered — loving

(b) Select words from the above box to describe the characters in the play as revealed by the following lines from the play.

Lines from the Play	Speaker	Quality revealed
“You told him she was feeling poorly, did you? And so my brother is to be kept out of bed, and go without his supper because you told him she was feeling poorly.”
“take my comforter, it will keep you warm.”
“If people lie to me they are poorer, not I.”
“You are like a child. I can’t trust you out of my sight. No sooner my back is turned than you get that minx Marie to sell the silversalt-cellars”
“My dear there is so much suffering in the world, and I can do so very little.”
. “My mother gave them to me on - on her death bed just after you were born, and ….and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so I would like to keep them.
“I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.”
“You have your soul to lose, my son.”
“Give me food or I’ll stick my knife in you both and help myself.”
“... they have made me what I am, they have made me a thief. God curse them all.”
“Why the devil are you kind to me? What do you want?’
“I - I - didn’t believe there was any good in the world…but somehow I - I - know you’re good, and - and it’s a queer thing to ask, but could you, would you bless me before I go?”

Ans:

Lines from the Play	Speaker	Quality revealed
“You told him she was feeling poorly, did you? And so my brother is to be kept out of bed, and go without his supper because you told him she was feeling poorly.”	Persome	stern, suspicious
“take my comforter, it will keep you warm.”	Bishop	protective, caring
“If people lie to me they are poorer, not I.”	Bishop	pious, trusting
“You are like a child. I can’t trust you out of my sight. No sooner my back is turned than you get that minx Marie to sell the silversalt-cellars”	Persome	caring, concerned
“My dear there is so much suffering in the world, and I can do so very little.”	Bishop	benevolent, sympathetic
. “My mother gave them to me on - on her death bed just after you were born, and ….and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so I would like to keep them.	Bishop	sentimental
“I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.”	Convict	suspicious, clever
“You have your soul to lose, my son.”	Bishop	sympathetic
“Give me food or I’ll stick my knife in you both and help myself.”	Convict	wild, cruel
“... they have made me what I am, they have made me a thief. God curse them all.”	Convict	embittered
“Why the devil are you kind to me? What do you want?’	Convict	suspicious
“I - I - didn’t believe there was any good in the world…but somehow I - I - know you’re good, and - and it’s a queer thing to ask, but could you, would you bless me before I go?”	Convict	trusting, credulous

Q. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct options.

(A) Monseigneur, the Bishop is a ... a-hem!

(i) Why does Persome not complete the sentence?

(a) she used to stammer while speaking.
(b) she was about to praise the Bishop.
(c) she did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(d) she had a habit of passing such remarks.
Ans. (c) she did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.

(ii) Why is she angry with the Bishop?

(a) the Bishop has sold the salt-cellars.
(b) the Bishop has gone to visit Mere Gringoire.
(c) he showed extra concern for Marie.
(d) she disliked the Bishop.
Ans. (a) the Bishop has sold the salt-cellars.

(B) She sent little Jean to Monseigneur to ask for help.

(i) Who sent little Jean to the Bishop?
(a) Mere Gringoire
(b) Marie
(c) Persome
(d) Marie’s mother
Ans. (a) Mere Gringoire

(ii) Why did she send Jean to the Bishop?
(a) so that he could pray for her.
(b) as she knew that he was a generous person.
(c) as she was a greedy woman.
(d) as she was a poor woman.
Ans. (b) as she knew that he was a generous person.

(C) I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it might distress you.

(i) The Bishop wanted to take Mere Gringoire in because __________.
(a) she was sick.
(b) she had no money.
(c) she was unable to pay the rent of her house.
(d) she was a close friend of Persome.
Ans. (c) she was unable to pay the rent of her house.

(ii) Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire’s being taken in because __________.
(a) she did not want to help anyone.
(b) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop.
(c) she was a self-centred person.
(d) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience.
Ans. (b) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop.

Q. Answer the following questions briefly :
(a) Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/ Why not?
Ans. Yes, I think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars as the money helped Mere Gringoire to pay the rent.

(b) Why does Persome feel that the people pretended to be sick?
Ans. Persome feels that since people know that the Bishop is so kind-hearted, they take advantage of the fact and pretend to be sick so that they will get help from the Bishop.

(c) The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does he mean by this statement?
Ans. The convict means that he is too experienced and clever to be fooled by anyone.

(d) Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
Ans. While stealing food for his starving and sick wife, the convict is caught and sent to prison for ten years.

(e) Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/ Why not? Why is the convict eager to reach Paris?
Ans. No, the punishment was not justified because stealing bread was not such a major crime so as to deserve such a severe punishment. The convict was eager to reach Paris since nobody knew him there and he wanted to start a fresh life there.

(f) Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this change in him?
Ans. The Bishop’s benevolent, kind and caring attitude brought about a change in the convict. The love given by the Bishop made him rekindle his faith in humanity. That is why before leaving for Paris, he asks the Bishop to bless him.

(g) What did Persome mean by, 'charity begins at home'?
Ans. Persome wanted the Bishop to invest more in their house because they already had a shortage of supplies and money. However, the Bishop gave away all their belongings in charity which left them almost destitute.
(h) What is the reason behind the convict quoting a number as his identity?
Ans. The convict had lost all faith in humanity because he had been reduced from a human being to just a number in prison. The harsh inhumane treatment stole his identity, and degraded and dehumanised to number 15729.
(i) The role of a 'mother hen' aptly fits Persome. Comment.
Ans. Persome is fussily overprotective of her brother, the Bishop, which often makes her look dominating. She scolds her maid Marie to get things done the way she likes. She does not have much authority over her brother, who is an ordained member of clergy, yet she acts like his mother.

QB. Answer in detail:
(a) The Convict goes to Paris, sells the silver candlesticks and starts a business. The business prospers and he starts a reformatory for ex-convicts. He writes a letter to the Bishop telling him of this reformation and seeks his blessings.
As the convict, Jean V aljean, write the letter to the Bishop.

Ans. Paris
22 November
, 2014
Reverend Bishop
I am writing to you
to thank you for saving me and showing me the right path in life. My life was full of bitterness because of all the suffering I faced in prison, but your love and benevolence turned me into a believer of goodness in humanity. This very belief, I have converted into a reformatory for ex-convicts like me. We are doing good work for them and are creating avenues for the rehabilitation of the ex-convicts. All this has been possible because of your precious candlesticks that have funded this project of mine. Please bless my reformatory and do give us the honour of your visit soon.
Yours faithfully,
Jean Valjean

(b) People say that the smallest change in perspective can transform a life. What facts from the play would you select to justify the above statement with reference to the Bishop?

Ans. The Bishop believed that no matter what sins one has committed, it does not take away one’s right from getting humane respect. The convict led a life of crime and justified every bad deed in his head because he was once treated the same. But when the Bishop shows him compassion and mercy, he has a change of heart simply because he had never been shown a different perspective of humanity.

(c) Evaluate the roles of Persome and the 12-year-old Sudha Murthy (from how I talk my grandmother to read) in the light of the given quote. “I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.” —Pablo Casals

Ans. Both Persome and 12-year-old Sudha Murthy showed a precocious trait of taking care of people who were much older and higher in authority over them. Persome was the Bishop’s younger sister, yet she took care of the house and worried about the finances. She was solicitous about leaving Bishop or his candlesticks alone with the convict. Sudha had an age difference of fifty years with her grandmother, yet she taught her to read and write Kannada like an efficient teacher.

Working in groups of four complete the following table. Find instances of irony from the play and justify them.

Extract	Justification
I believe you want to convert me; save my soul, don't you call it? Well, it's no good ------ see? I don't want any damned religion. • ____________ ____________ * ____________ ____________	Later, the convict says, "it's a queer thing to ask, but - could you, would you bless me before I go. * ____________ ____________ ____________ * ____________ ____________
‘Why the devil do you leave the window unshuttered and the door unbarred so that anyone can come in?’ • ____________ ____________ ____________ * ____________ ____________	If the door had been barred the convict couldn’t have entered the house. • ____________ ____________ ____________ * ____________ ____________
My mother gave them to me on -- on her death bed just after you were born, and --- and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so I would like to keep them. • ____________ ____________ ____________ * ____________ ____________	Later he hands the convict the candlesticks and tells him to start a new life. • ____________ ____________ ____________ * ____________ ____________

Ans.

Extract	Justification
I believe you want to convert me; save my soul, don't you call it? Well, it's no good ------ see? I don't want any damned religion. Bishop: But Persome, the traveller is hungry Convict: They caught me. I pleaded to them, I told them why I stole, but they laughed at me and I was sentenced to ten years in the prison hulks (pause), ten years in Hell	Later, the convict says, "it's a queer thing to ask, but - could you, would you bless me before I go. The Bishop calls the, convict a ‘traveller’ because the convict, like a traveller travelling the path of life like us. His being ‘hungry’ means he needs to be taught the lessons of gods. Here ‘hungry’ means spiritually dry. The word ‘Hell’ is ironic as the life lived by the convict is as torturous as hell to him. Secondly, his telling the truth did not evoke any appreciation from the prison authorities except ridicule and laughter.
‘Why the devil do you leave the window unshuttered and the door unbarred so that anyone can come in?’ Now I’m not a man; now I’m a number; number 15729, and I’ve lived in Hell for ten years Convict: Yes, my son, you have forgotten your property (giving him the candlesticks)	If the door had been barred the convict couldn’t have entered the house. The convict now considers himself degraded to just a number. He has lost his identity. When the convict was in prison, he was fed. But when he escaped, which is illegal, he had to starve.
My mother gave them to me on -- on her death bed just after you were born, and --- and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so I would like to keep them. Bishop: Stay, my son, you have forgotten your property (giving him the candlesticks). Bishop: But—but I don’t understand; this gentleman is my very good friend.	Later he hands the convict the candlesticks and tells him to start a new life. Earlier the Bishop did not want to sell his candlesticks. But now, he himself was offering them to the convict. When the Sergeant came to arrest the convict, the Bishop saves him. This was not anticipated

Q. Identify the situations which can be termed as the turning points in the convict’s life?
Ans. Some situations which were the turning points in the convict’s life are:
• When he got caught stealing food.
• When he was sentenced to ten years in prison.
• When he escaped and met the Bishop.
• When Bishop’s benevolence touched him.

Q. The convict is the product of the society he had lived in, both, in terms of the suffering that led him to steal a loaf of bread, as well as the painful sentence he received as a punishment for his “crime”. He was imprisoned for stealing money to buy food for his sick wife. This filled him with despair, hopelessness, bitterness and anger at the injustice of it all.
Conduct a debate in the class (in groups) on the following topic. Instructions for conducting a debate and use of appropriate language are given in the unit “Children” of the Main Course Book. ‘Criminals are wicked and deserve punishment’

Ans. Do it yourself.

Q. The play is based on an incident in novelist Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables.’ You may want to read the novel to get a better idea of the socio-economic conditions of the times and how people lived. Another novel that may interest you is ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Charles Dickens.
Divide the class into two groups and read a book each. Later, share your views on the book. Choose an incident from the book to dramatise and present before the class.

Ans. Do it yourself.