Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
The twentieth century was often called the era of the book because in those days there were books about everything from the ant eaters to Zulus. Books taught people everything that 'how to' and 'when to' and 'where to' and 'why to'. They adorned, educated, punctuated and even decorated.
Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
If you were in Noodle’s place, how would you handle Think-Tank’s mistakes?
What guesses are made by Think–Tank about the books found on earth?
Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion? Which is your favourite book and why? Write a paragraph about that book.
Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?
Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
What does Horace Danby like to collect?
How did the invisible man first become visible?
How did a book become a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life?
What kind of a person is Mme Loisel — why is she always unhappy?
Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place?
Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? (Hint: Compare, for example, the thought: “I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve” with these later thoughts: “Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal — and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.”) What makes him return to Anil?
Why was he wandering the streets?
How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
How do they replace the necklace?
What do M. and Mme Loisel do next?
How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room? Look back at his detailed description of it. What makes it a convincing story?
How would you assess Griffin as a scientist?
Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?