CBSE Class 8 English Literature Prose Mr Bean Interview

Prose: Mr. Bean’s Interview

Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson are the creators of the lovable, comical character, Mr. Bean.

The first episode of the original Mr. Bean series starring Rowan Atkinson was first broadcast on 1st January 1990. Since then Mr. Bean has become known all over the world. Created by Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis and Robin Driscoll, there were only 14 episodes ever made.

The original series emerged from Rowan Atkinson’s stage reviews of the 1980’s which featured the silent odd-ball. Rowan Atkinson’s comic acting genius has created a highly original work for television. The Mr. Bean series has been sold to 190 territories worldwide and has won an International Emmy and the Golden Rose of Montreux.

EXERCISES

I.  Answer with reference to context:

a) ‘Why don’t we do a sketch of a man who can’t stay awake?’

(i) Identify the speaker and addressee.

(ii) What was the speaker’s profession?

(iii) Which character was created by these two people?

b) ‘I think children identify with him absolutely, immediately’

(i) Identify the lesson and speaker

(ii) Who does ‘him’ refer to?

(iii) Why do children identify with his character?

c) ‘I don’t know yet exactly, and I’m not saying never.’

(i) Identify the lesson and speaker

(ii) What  is he/she referring to?

(iii) Why is he unsure about it?

II.  Answer the following questions briefly:

a) What is the reason for the popularity of the series ‘Mr. Bean’ all over the world?

b)What was Rowan Atkinson studying to become before he started playing the character, Mr. Bean?

c) Describe Mr. Bean’s character in your own words.

d) What great effort did Max Baldry have to make during the shooting of ‘Mr. Bean’s Holiday’?

III. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

a) The series ‘Mr. Bean’ follows the style of old silent films

(i) where acting is not required

(ii) where his expressions and physical gestures say it all

(iii)where he communicates through subtitles

b) In the series, Irma Gobb was

(i) Mr. Bean’s mother

(ii) Mr. Bean’s neighbor

(iii) Mr. Bean’s girl friend

c) One of the names considered for this role was

(i) Mr. Potato

(ii) Mr. Brinjal

(iii) Mr. Ladyfinger

(iv) Mr. Cauliflower