PACKING

PACKING

1. How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them.

Ans. There are four characters in the narrative. They are the author Jerome K. Jerome and his two friends George and Harris. There is also their the dog, Montmorency.

2. Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?

Ans. The narrator Jerome) volunteered to do the packing because he took pride in doing it. He thought that he knew more about packing than any other person.

3. How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?

Ans. George and Harris readily agreed to Jerome's suggestion. George put on a pipe and spread himself over the easy-chair. Harris cocked his legs on the table and lit a cigar. No, Jerome did not like their reaction because he had thought that Harris and George would pack and he would boss over them and keep on saying to them how to do it.

4. What was Jerome's real intention when he offered to pack?

Ans. Jerome's real intention was to superintend the job. He wanted Harris and George to work under his directions. He had thought that Harris and George would pack and he would boss over them and keep on saying to them how to do it.

5. What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask? 

Ans. After the bag was shut and strapped, Harris told that Jarome had not packed the boots in the bag. We think he had waited till then to ask because he wanted to make fun of Jarome.

6. What "horrible idea" occurred to Jerome a little later?

Ans. The "horrible idea" that occurred to Jerome a little later was if he had packed his tooth brush or not. It was his toothbrush which haunted him every time whenever he went on a trip.

7. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?

Ans. Jerome opened the bag and had to make a lot effort to find the toothbrush. He finally found it inside a boot. After that he had to repack everything once more.

8. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?

Ans. Jerome had to reopen the packed the bag. Once he had to reopen it as he had forgotten to pack the boots. The next time, he unpacked it when he realised he had packed his tobacco-pouch in.

9. What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?

Ans. George and Harris offered to pack large baskets for carrying food. It was already 10 pm. They were to start their journey in less than twelve hour's time. Thus they offered to do the rest of the packing. They also wanted to show Jerome how to do the packing.

10. What does Jerome say Montmorency’s ambition in life? What do you think of Montmorency and why?

Ans. Montmorency's ambition in life was to get in the way of things and get scolded. He wants to squirm in anywhere where he particularly is not wanted at all. He wants to create a nuisance and make people mad. He likes to have things thrown at his head.

We think so of Montmorency because his main object is to get somebody to stumble over and curse him for an hour. When he has succeeded in doing so, he feels proud of himself and becomes unbearable.

Essay Type Questions

Q. Why did the narrator offer to do the packing? What was his intention?

Ans. The narrator, Jerome, considered himself to be an expert packer. He wanted to go on a trip with his friends. The narrator was proud of his packing skill. He felt that he knew more about packing than any other person. So he offered to do the packing. He told his friends to leave the whole matter entirely to him. His friends at once accepted his suggestion. George put on a pipe and spread himself over the easy-chair. Harris cocked his legs on the table and lit a cigar. They kept on watching the narrator's way of packing. This irritated him a lot.

In fact, the author had intended to boss the job. He had expected that Harris and George would pack and he would boss over them and keep on saying to them how to do it. He would teach them a lot about packing things. But it did not happen. They were sitting about doing nothing. Only the narrator was busy in working.