CBSE Class 9 English Bishops Candlesticks Worksheet

 

 

 

The play,‟ Bishop‟s Candlesticks‟ deals with a convict and a benevolent Bishop who„s always ready to help anyone in distress. Bishop‟s sister, Persome, however, feels that the Bishop‟s simplicity and nobility of character is taken advantage of by the people, of the parish, who under false pretexts rob him off his belongings. The convict, on the other hand, went into prison for stealing money to buy food for his sick wife and was arrested and sentenced to rigorous punishment. He escaped one day filled with despair, hopelessness and bitterness, at his unjust treatment. He had become hard-hearted and unscrupulous. A stroke of luck, however, brought him to the Bishop‟s house, who treated him with kindness and provided him with food and shelter for the night, despite the suspicion and frequent threats to life by the convict. The convict however, repaid the Bishop‟s kindness by running away with his most cherished possession, i.e. a pair of silver candlesticks, bequeathed to him by his mother. When caught by the sergeant and brought back to the Bishop, later on, the Bishop introduced him as his friend to the sergeant. The convict was full of remorse, for what he‟d done. Deeply penitent, he sought the Bishop‟s blessing before leaving. The noble act of the Bishop, reforms the convict to a belief, in the spirit of god, that dwells in the heart of every human being.

 

There is no doubt that “Bishop‟s Candlesticks” unfolds inherent characteristics of Christianity. A bishop unfolds what it really means to be a Bishop. Compassion, love, being benevolent etc. are the key facets which are skillfully woven by the author. Kindness to all irrespective of class, creed and status is what goes as the bottom line. The convict wrapped in devilish thoughts and a true atheist turns into a true believer of Christianity.

 

 

a) Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt sellers? Why / Why not?

 

A. Aptly Bishop was right in selling the salt sellers. Being benevolent is the true nature of a bishop. Indeed, the Bishop acted as a true helper to Mere Gringoire in spite of Persome‟s ill feeling towards her. “Service to people is service to god” has been justified when mere Grengoire, who had been in dire need of money, was helped by the Bishop. He sold the silver salt sellers to help Mere Gringoire

 

b) Why does Persome feel the people pretend to be sick?

 

A. Persome is pole asunder to her brother in characteristics. She never approved her brother‟s habit of being philanthropist. She even had a notion that people exploit her brother as a Bishop. They misuse the bishop‟s simplicity, innocence and honesty. People are of the habit to call the bishop unnecessarily pretending to be sick. They never think about the troubles of Bishop.