The Letter
1. “ The grief of separation is inescapable”. How is this proved in the case of coachman Ali
2. Miriam received the letter from Lakshmi Das and is filled with remorse at her father’s death. She expresses her sorrow as a diary entry. Write the diary entry.
3. How could Ali tolerate so much of insults and rude behaviour of the post office staff for five years?
4. The postmaster says he has seen coachman Ali come to the post office to collect the letter, but when enquired further he is informed that he died three months ago. What do you think he must have seen? Justify with reference to the text.
5. The letter assumes a central point in the story. How?
6. How was the postmaster a changed person at the end.
7. What did Ali think of life? How did he get such a view of it?
8. Do you think Lakshmi Das could have delivered the letter to Ali’s grave had he not received the five golden coins given to him by Ali? Why? /Why not?
9. Comment on the postmaster’s change at the end.
10. Coachman Ali hands over five gold guineas to the clerk asking him to deliver the letter to his grave if the letter comes from his daughter. When the letter comes, he delivers the letter accompanied by the postmaster. On returning home he makes a diary entry recollecting the previous incident and his present feelings. Write the diary entry.
11. Imagine that you are the postmaster. You saw Ali’s ghost and were bewildered. The ghost has opened your eyes and you are changed at heart. Write an account of your encounter and how the apparition has changed you forever.
12. You belong to Ali’s village. After his death you felt very sad. Write a letter to your sister on the character and suffering of this extraordinary person.
13. The ghost whom the postmaster saw disappeared in the morning light.Was it really a ghost, or a projection of his anxiety and guilt?Comment.
14. Imagine Ali got Miriam’s letter before his death. As Ali, write a letter to a friend expressing your joy at such an event.
15.Ali is a representative of an aged parent of modern times,who are abandoned by their children.Explain.
16. “Ali’s was an isolated small world and no one bothered to disturb him. “ Discuss.
THE LETTER
1. The postmaster had been doing his duty with a stern face. But one day he realized that a letter is not just scribbled words. It carries the warmth of relationship. He decides to make his staff aware of his feelings and ask them to be more sensitive towards the people they interact with. Write a speech on behalf of the postmaster, which he would deliver in the next staff meeting.
2. Age and experience mellow down a person. Comment with reference to the change in Ali’s outlook.
3. Comment why Ali’s journey to the post office has been considered as a pilgrimage?
4. ‘Stars still glowed, as happy memories light up a life that is nearing its close.’ Comment on the relevance of the above remark in the context of the story ‘The Letter’.
5. Karmic theory focusses on the dictum, ‘as you sow so shall you reap’. Discuss with reference to the story ‘The Letter’.
6. Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches. It is only after his daughter fell ill that the postmaster realized what Ali was going through. Full of remorse you express your feelings in your entry in your diary. Write the diary entry.
Question : Age and experience mellow down a person. Comment with reference to the change in Ali`s outlook?
Value Points-
- Robust hunts in earlier life.
- With the passage of time his outlook towards life changes.
- The pain of separation from his daughter changed his outlook.
Question : Only the wearer where the shoe pinch. It is only after his daughter fell ill that the postmaster realized what Ali was going through. With reference to the story make a diary entry.
Value points-
- Postmaster insensitive towards others feelings.
- Understands the pain when he himself goes through it.
- Has a sense of guilt for his behavior towards Ali.
Question : True love is based on boundless faith and patience. Ali displays remarkable qualities of love and patience .Do you agree? Give evidence in the story in support of your answer.
Ans.- Ali’s remarkable display of love and patience. Grief or pangs of separations is inescapable. Boundless faith, infinite patience , incurable optimism. Doesn’t mind pocketing insults and humiliations.
