“Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.” What do secret agents in books and films look like, in your opinion? Discuss in groups or in class some stories or movies featuring spies, detectives and secret agents, and compare their appearance with that of Ausable in this story. (You may mention characters from fiction in languages other than English. In English fiction you may have come across Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or Miss Marple. Have you watched any movies featuring James Bond?)
Secret agents in this fiction are represented as ideal men, tall dark and handsome. They are typically well built and have beautiful women in accompany them. They usually smoke pipe or cigar and do dangerous breath taking difficult stunts. James bond is a very famous and special character by lan fleming. The movies that based on james bond show hi-tech gizmos which help the detective in encountering the villains. There is an character named fleuda which was created by satyajit ray, the famous bangla filmmaker. He was typical bhadralok by appearance.
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?
Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in detail right from the beginning? Or did he make up a plan taking advantage of events as they happened?
How does Ausable say he got in?
Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?
How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
How has Max got in?
Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
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?
Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
How do they replace the necklace?
What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
Bholi’s story must have moved you. Do you think girl children are not treated at par with boys? You are aware that the government has introduced a scheme to save the girl child as the sex ratio is declining. The scheme is called Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Save the Girl Child. Read about the scheme and design a poster in groups of four and display on the school notice board.
Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
“Horace Danby was good and respectable — but not completely honest”. Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can’t he be categorised as a typical thief?
Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
Who is speaking to Horace Danby?
What fresh problem now disturbs Mme Loisel?