CBSE Book Class 10 English Drama The Dear Departed

1.Answer the following questions briefly.

1. How does Mrs. Slater plan to outshine the Jordans? What does it reveal about her  character?

2. Why does Mrs. Slater decide to shift the bureau from grandfather's room before  the arrival of the Jordans? How does Henry react to the suggestion?

3. What is the reason for the Jordans taking a long time to get to the house of the  Slaters? What does it show about the two sisters' attitude towards each other?

4. What does Mrs. Jordan describe as 'a fatal mistake'?  What is the irony in the  comment she makes on Mrs. Slater's defense?

5. Ben appreciates grandfather saying 'its' a good thing he did'. Later he calls him a  'drunken old beggar'. Why does he change his opinion about grandfather?

6. What change does grandfather make in his new will? What effect does it have on  his daughters?

7. What are the three things that grandfather plans to do on Monday next?

2.  Answer the following in detail:

1.  Bring out the irony in the title of the play.

2. How does the spat between his daughters lead to grandfather discovering the  truth?

3. Compare  and  contrast  Henry's  character  with  that  of  his  wife.   Support  your  answer with evidence from they play.

Answer the following with reference to the context.

1.  "Are we pinching it before Aunt Elizabeth comes?"

a) What does 'it' refer to here?

b) How does Vicky conclude that her parents are 'pinching it'? 

c) Mention the two reasons that Mrs. Slater gives for her action.

d) What does it reveal about the difference between the attitude of the elders and that  of Vicky? 

2. "I don't call that delicate, stepping into a dead man's shoes in such haste."

a) Who makes this comment?

b) What prompts the speaker to say this?

c) Bring out the significance of this statement.

3. "Now, Amelia, you mustn't give way. We've all got to die some time or other. It might  have been worse."

b) Who is the speaker of these lines?

c) What prompts the speaker to say these words?

d) What does he mean when he says 'It might have been worse'?

e) What does it reveal about the speaker's character?

3.  Writing

Victoria Slater is truly attached to her Grandpa. As she sees the elders in her family  quarrel over the inheritance, she is bewildered and upset by their attitude. As Victoria  write a diary entry outlining the incident and your feelings. (150 words) 

4.  Speaking 

Grandfather says, "It seems to me that neither of you has any cause to feel proud about  the way you've treated me.''  While it is true that the daughters disregard modesty,  decency  and  flial  obligation,  grandfather  cannot  be  fully  justified  in  practically  disowning his family.  Besides, Victoria loves him and he seems to have spared no  thought for her feelings.

Divide yourselves into groups of four or five and discuss the statement:  Grandfather is  not entirely right in moving away from his daughters. After the discussion, a representative from each group will present the views of her/ his  group to the class in about 3 minutes.

Please refer to the link below - CBSE Class 10 English Drama The Dear Departed