The Hack Driver

The Hack Driver

Q.1 Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place?

Ans. The lawyer is the narrator of this story. He is sent to New Mullion to serve summons on a man called Oliver Lutkins. He thinks that New mullion will be a sweet and simple village.

Q2. Who befriends him? Where does he take him?

Ans. A hack driver befriends him. He offers the lawyer in searching for Oliver Lutkins. He takes him to all the places where Lutkins could be found.

Q. 3. What does he say about Lutkins?

Ans. He says that Lutkins is not an honest person. He often borrows money from people. But he never pays anybody a cent. He also says that Lutkins is not really bad. Only he can't part with his money.

Q. 4. What more does Bill say about Lutkins and his family?

Ans. Bill says that Lutkins plays a lot of poker. He is good at deceiving people. He says that Lutkins has a mother. She is a terrible woman. She is about nine feet tall and four feet thick. She is quick as a cat.

Q. 5. Does the narrator serve the summons on Oliver Lutkins that day?

Ans. No, the narrator is not able to serve the summons that day.  However his firm sends him again to New Mullion the next day with another person. This is time he is able to serve summons.

Q. 6. Who is Lutkins?

Ans. Lutkins is a hack driver who lives at New Mullion. He is needed by a law firm because his evidence is very important for a certain legal case. He is a cheat. He often borrows money from people but never pays back anybody a cent.

Q. 7. When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did 'Bill' know that he was looking for Lutkins? When do you think Bill came up with his plan for fooling the lawyer?

Ans. Yes, Bill knew from the very start that the lawyer was looking for Lutkins because the lawyer had himself told him about the purpose of his visit. But the lawyer did not recognise him. When he (Bill) went to fetch his hack for the lawyer, he made up his plan of taking the lawyer around the town and befool him.

Q. 8. Lutkins openly takes the lawyer all over the village. How is it that no one lets out the secret? Can you find other subtle ways in which Lutkins manipulates the tour?

Ans. Yes Lutkins manipulates the tour cleverly. He is an extremely clever person. He takes the lawyer to the places where Lutkins can be found. He takes the lawyer to Fritz's, Gray's and Gustaff's. But everywhere, he keeps the lawyer at his back. He tells each one in a loud voice that the lawyer is looking for Oliver Lutkins. Thus the other people come to know that the hack driver was befooling the lawyer. They also enjoy being part of his plan.

Q. 9. Why do you think Lutkins' neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?

Ans. All the people of New Mullion enjoyed when the hack driver had taken the lawyer around the whole town. Everyone knew how he was befooling the lawyer. But only Lutkins' neighbours had missed seeing him. So they were also anxious to see the man.

Q. 10. After his first day's experience with the hack driver, the lawyer thinks of returning to New Mullion to practise law. Do you think he would have reconsidered this idea after his second visit?

Ans. I think, the narrator must have changed his mind. Everybody in the town knew how the hack driver had fooled him. He could never face their mocking looks. And if Lutkins was so cunning, others in the town could be no less.

Q. 11. Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride?

Ans. Yes, the lawyer was a gullible person. He immediately tells the hack driver the purpose of his visit. The hack driver takes advantage of this and takes him round the town. He also charges from him a very high fare for this. He could have saved himself from all this if he had himself made enquiries about Lutkins instead of depending on the hack driver.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTION

Q. Write a summary of the lesson ‘The Hack Driver’

Ans. The story "The Hack Driver' by Sinclair Lewis is the story of a hack driver called Oliver Lutkins. He lived at New Mullion. He was an important witness in a court case. The law firm wrote many letters to him but he did not appear before the court. At last the firm sent a young lawyer to New Mullion to issue summons to Lutkins. The junior assistant clerk did not recognize Lutkins. Lutkins met him at the station. He took the assistant clerk all over the town in search of Lutkins although he himself was Lutkins. The lawyer could not serve the summons to Lutkins that day. The next day he had to return back to the city. This time he was able to serve summons to Lutkins.