Two Gentlemen of Verona Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature

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Two Gentlemen of Verona Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English Literature

Two Gentlemen of Verona Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Who were the two boys who the narrator met on his way to Verona? Why was the narrator attracted towards them?
Answer:
The two boys—Nicola aged 13 years and Jacopo 12 years were selling strawberries when the narrator met them for the first time. The narrator and his companion were strangely attracted towards the two boys with their brown skins, tangled hair and dark earnest eyes. When the narrator and his companion talked to them they discovered that they were brothers. The remarkable demeanour of the two boys attracted the narrator towards them.

Two Gentlemen of Verona Extra Questions and Answers

Question 2.
Describe the narrator’s observation of the two boys as they showed them the town as guides.
Answer:
The narrator was very impressed with their willingness to work and their reliable ways. He felt that little Jacopo was lively as a squirrel, while Nicola the older of the two was steady and focused. They were looking much serious than their age.

Two Gentlemen of Verona Short Questions and Answers

Question 3.
The two boys were of great help to the narrator while he stayed in the town. How?
Answer:
The boys were of great help to the narrator. They provided the narrator and his companion with American cigarettes, booked them seats for the opera and told them about the names of good restaurants in the city. They would also run errands for them, and guide them around Verona.

Question 4.
“We do many things, Sir,” Nicola answered seriously. Illustrate this statement.
Answer:
Nicola says this in reply to a question made by the narrator regarding the exact nature of their work. He tries to create a good impression on the narrator by listing all the things they were capable of doing, including selling paper and shining shoes. He looks at Cronin hopefully, expecting the latter to employ them as his tour guide.

Question 5.
What were the boys doing one midnight resting on the stone pavement, beneath the lights in a windy and deserted square?
Answer:
The boys were resting in the deserted square at night with a bundle of unsold newspapers. It was past midnight and they were waiting for the last bus from Padua to arrive so that they could sell it to the passengers on that bus.

Question 6.
What did the nurse tell the narrator about the boys?
Answer:
The nurse explained that the boys were quite alone in the world except for their sister Lucia. Their father, a widower and a well-known singer, had lost his life in the early part of the war. Shortly after this tragedy, unfortunately, a bomb blast destroyed their house. The boys and their sister were thrown onto the streets, exposed to a life of poverty and starvation.

They had hitherto led a comfortable and a cultured life. War had enveloped their life in perpetual tragedy. The boys grew to hate the Germans and were the first to join the resistance movement. As soon as the war was over, the boys ran back to be with their sister. Tragically, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the spine. They admitted her to the hospital to bring her back to absolute normalcy.

Question 7.
What led the boys to dislike the Germans?
Answer:
The boys disliked the Germans, because their beloved father was killed during the war, leaving thenj all alone in the world. Besides, a bomb had destroyed their home depriving them of a comfortable and cultured life. The 3 siblings were thrown out onto the streets to face the misfortunes of life. Their hatred was further aggravated, when the war took its toll on their sister’s health. Though they were steadfast in their determination to tide over, the hatred towards the Germans was to stay.

Question 8.
The narrator preferred to keep the secret which the boys did not want to reveal. What was the secret and why did the boys want to keep it?
Answer:
The narrator had requested the nurse to tell him all that she knew about the boys. It was through her disclosure that Cronin is introduced to the reason behind the struggle and relentless work schedule of the two boys. They had not disclosed their sister’s illness to anyone, probably because of the social stigma attached to disease ‘tuberculosis’. Besides they did not wish to seek financial or emotional support from anyone. Honouring their privacy and respecting their untold secret, the narrator refrains from speaking about it to the boys.

Question 9.
Based on your discussion above, what do you think the story is about?
Answer:
The story could be a revelation to the readers of the qualities that one needs to possess to qualify for the title of ‘ gentleman’.

Question 10.
Why didn’t Luigi, the driver, approve of the two boys?
Answer:
Luigi, the narrator’s driver, didn’t approve of the two boys because of their shabby appearance.

Question 11.
Why were the narrator and his companion impressed by the two boys?
Answer:
The narrator and his companion were impressed by the determination of the boys, and their willingness to undertake any task.

Question 12.
Why was the narrator surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo working as shoeshine boys?
Answer:
The narrator was surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo as shoeshine boys as just on the previous day he, had seen them selling strawberries.

Question 13.
How were the boys useful to the narrator?
The boys were of real help to the narrator. They brought them American cigarettes, booked seats for the opera, suggested the names of good restaurants in the city and ran errands for them.

Question 14.
Why were the boys at the deserted square at night? What characteristic traits do they exhibit?
Answer:
The boys were at the deserted square at night to sell newspapers to the travellers of the last bus from Padua. The character traits evident here are- perseverance, determination, willingness to work, self-respect and a single-minded devotion to achieve.

Question 15.
The narrator asks the boys, “Must you work so hard? You both look rather tired.” The boys reply, “We are not complaining, sir.” What do you learn about the boys from their reply?
Answer:
The reply of the boys indicates that they do not want to have any complaint as they are aware of the situation they are in. They reiterate that and do not grudge doing hard work.

Question 16.
When the narrator asks the boys about their plans, they are evasive. Why don’t they disclose their problems?
Answer:
The boys are evasive about their plans because their plans were so personal and painful that they did not want to share it with any outsider.

Two Gentlemen of Verona Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Imagine that you are the narrator. You have reached back to your town. Still the memory of the ‘two gentlemen of Verona’ is fresh in your mind, as you really miss those little heroes. Write a letter to one of your friends telling him/her about the gratifying experience you had at Verona in their company.
Answer:
# 50, Cedar Avenue
London
24 June 19XX
Dear Jacob
It has been months since I wrote to you. Hope you are doing well. This world is amazing. Every minute we meet and interact with different kinds of people. Recently, while on a trip to Verona I happened to meet two little boys aged around 12 and 13 selling strawberries. While interacting with them, it occurred to me, that perhaps they were children from respectable families, victims of some misfortune in their tender lives. There was a very appealing gentleness in their behaviour that attracted me towards them.

The next day we found them shining shoes at the public square. I was in for a big surprise when they told me they did various jobs to earn a living. I had to stay in the town for a few days and therefore came in contact with them several times. I realized that the boys worked very hard, day and night. I was greatly impressed by their positive attitude and willingness to work.

Though they earned fairly well, they lived a very meagre existence. I often spotted them eating black bread and figs. They almost spent nothing on clothes. Why they saved money was a mystery to me.! I tried to ask them but they were evasive. Finally, the mystery was unravelled. Yesterday, the boys had asked me for a lift to a place called Poleta. Their sister was admitted in a hospital there, for treatment of the tuberculosis of the spine. I realised why they had been saving every single penny, instead of splurging it on themselves. I was taken aback by their sacrifice. The hope and devotion with which they worked to take care of their sister was heart-rending.

The two gentlemen of Verona have left a permanent imprint on my mind. I hope and pray that many more emulate them. I am definitely working towards it.
Keep in touch
Your friend
A.J. Cronin

Question 2.
Imagine you are Nicola. You are touched by the empathy and the kindness of the narrator towards you and your brother. Thinking that such good people are rare to find in otherwise hostile world, record your sweet encounter with the narrator in the form of a diary entry putting down your experiences from the day you met him.
Answer:
23rd July, 19XX
Thursday
Dear Diary,
Every day begins with a new promise of life, a hope for a better tomorrow. It is with this attitude that we wake up every day.

Every day we meet countless customers. Some are forgotten, while some leave a permanent imprint on the mind. Let me tell you about the experience Jacopa and I had a few days back. We met a very honourable gentleman, whom we addressed as ‘sir’. I still remember that day when we first met him. He bought the biggest basket of strawberries from us and we were delighted.
He kept on observing us doing various jobs. He enlisted our help during his stay in the town. We enjoyed being of assistance. Today when sir told that he was leaving, I felt disappointed. Jacopo grew so attached to him that he asked for a drive to the hospital. We have not revealed the misfortune of our life to Sir, because we did not want anyone to sympathise with us.
For the first time in my life, after dad left us, I felt the hand of a guardian over our head. I felt protected.
We have been bereft of happiness since the dreaded war. Dad had gone, and no home to live in.
Now, this harbinger of hope, is leaving us today. Why do good people stay for such a short time in our lives?
My heart is so heavy today. I wish I had expressed my love and regard for him before he left.
Oh! Father in Heaven, please bring him back into our lives.
Good night, I am so tired. It has been a long day.
Nicola

Question 3.
“War is another name for destruction. It brings with it endless number of maladies in the form of poverty, crime, innocent killings, social unrest, food crisis and so on.” With reference to the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’, write an article telling how war has affected the lives of the characters in the story.
Ans.
War and its Destruction
(By ABC)
War is another name for destruction. It brings with it endless number of maladies in the form of poverty, unemployment, crimes, social unrest, lack of basic amenities of life like food, shelter and clothing and a lot many other problems associated with it. History bears testimony to the fact that the wheel of progress is turned backward in those nations which are under the cruel clutches of war. For example, nations like Syria, Iraq, Myanmar and the like. All the resources of these nations had been exploited to prepare ammunitions and soldiers for the deadly battle. If these resources had been utilised for constructive and welfare purposes, these nations would have been among the developing nations of the world.

No one in the world likes war. It destroys homes and families, the basic unit of society. Mothers lose their sons, wives their husbands and children become orphans! Isn’t a war that shattered the lives of Nicola and Jacopo. They lost their widowed father during the wars, a bomb destroyed their home, where they lived a comfortable and cultured life. They were thrown out onto the streets to face the hazards caused by war.

Abject poverty, and the ailment of their sister, were the two monsters that stared them in the face. Not disheartened, the boys undertake the fight for survival from a very tender age, at a time when they should have been at school.

War is not the solution for resolving conflicts. Nations should hold talks, discussions and arrive at decisions that are conducive to a peaceful human existence. How can we dream of peace and harmony when the world is at war?

Question 4.
Imagine you are Jacopo. When the narrator leaves, he gives his address to you in case he could be of some help to you in future. However, you and your brother never approached him for help being self-righteous. Ten years have passed. You both are well established young men now. Remembering your struggle, write a letter to the narrator recounting your journey from rags to riches.
Answer:
# 36, Rocking Villa
Edmund Street
Verona
19 June, 19XX
Dear Sir
I am sure you will be surprised to receive my letter. I wonder if you would remember me. I write to you on behalf of Nicola and on my own behalf. I am elated to establish this communication with you after a gap of ten long years. My elder brother Nicola is 23 now and I have turned 22.

When I look back I remember our long struggle for survival. I am sure you must be remembering how we used to sell fruits, newspapers, shine shoes and guide tourists. We would not hesitate to do any job, as we desperately needed to earn that extra penny. When you stayed at Verona, you were curious to know why we worked so hard and led a very meager existence. It was a safely guarded secret. We didn’t tell you about our dear sister, Lucia. She was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine and had been admitted to a hospital in Poleta. We saved all the money to pay for her treatment. I told Nicola to tell you about her, but he didn’t reveal this because he didn’t approve of wallowing in self-pity, or seeking favours from anyone .

We missed you a lot when you left Verona, and kept hoping you would come again. Ten years have gone by. With God’s grace, our sister recovered from her illness. She is now ‘ an established singer. We have scaled the social ladder and are comfortable financially too. We have a beautiful house in Verona. We have managed to fulfil most of our parents’ dreams.

We wish to thank you for being so kind to us, when we were left in the lurch by fate.
I wish to invite you, Sir, to spend some time, with us in Verona. We will be glad to see you.
With warm regards
Jacopo

Question 5.
“The real gentlemen are the people who never give up like Nicola and Jacopo.” What values do you learn from the two gentlemen of Verona.
Answer:
Nicola and Jacopo are the two young protagonists of A J Cronin’s, “Two gentlemen of Verona”. In this lesson, the author makes a scathing attack on the propagators of war. On the other hand he appreciates the resilience of the victims of war and applauds their commitment towards survival. Thrown out of their home, and orphaned by the war, the two young boys, toil relentlessly to sustain themselves and to secure the funds required for the treatment of their ailing sister. Their steadfastness, willingness to work, honesty, dignity, self-righteousness, selflessness, love, devotion, and positive attitude, are the values projected by the author. He tries to impress upon his readers that there is no alternative to hard work.

Question 6.
How does the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ promise hope for society? How can you promise hope for society?
Answer:
The German invasion had snatched the very essence of life from the people of Verona. Orphaned by war, the two young boys Nicola and Jacopo along with their sister Lucia were rendered homeless. Poverty and disease swept through the city. Lucia was not spared. She fell prey to the dreaded tuberculosis. Not smitten by the disaster, the spirited boys resolve to set matters right. They admit Lucia in a hospital, and go about the task of generating the funds for their survival and for the treatment of their sister.

Time or weather did not act as a deterrent to their resolve.Cronin was extremely attracted and impressed with the exceptional demeanour of the boys. He thereby exclaims that these committed children are a promise to the future the of society, and that they have brought back nobility to human life and hope for a better

Two Gentlemen of Verona Extra Questions and Answers Reference-to-Context

Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Next morning, coming out of our hotel, we saw our friends bent over shoeshine boxes beside the fountain in the public square, doing a brisk business.
(i) Who are ‘we’ in the above extract?
(ii) Who are the ‘friends’ here?
(iii) Are they the friends of the speaker? If not then why does he call them friends.
(iv) What are these boys doing?
Answer:
(i) ‘We’ are the author and his friends.
(ii) ‘Friends’ are the two little boys, Nicola and Jacopo.
(iii) No, they are not the friends of the speaker. The author called them his friends because he was very impressed by them.
(iv) They were bent over shoe shine boxes beside the fountain in the public square, doing brisk business.

Question 2.
One night, we came upon them in the windy and deserted square, resting on the stone pavement beneath the lights.
(i) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(ii) Who is ‘them’ in the extract?
(iii) Why are they resting on the pavement at night?
What characteristics trait of ‘them’ is exhibited in the above line?
Answer:
(I) The speaker is the narrator.
(ii) In the extract, ‘them’ are the two brothers, Nicola and Jacopo.
(iii) They were resting on the pavement, awaiting the arrival of the last bus, to sell their newspapers.
(iv) They were very hardworking.

Question 3.
He coloured deeply under his sunburn, then grew pale. He looked to the ground. “You must be saving up to emigrate to America, ” I suggested. He looked at me sideways, spoke with an effort.
(i) Who is ‘he’ in this extract?
(ii) Why does he look to the ground?
(iii) Explain the expression ‘coloured deeply under his sunburn’.
(iv) What assumption did the speaker make to justify the reason behind the children saving money?
Answer:
(i) In this extract, ‘he’ refers to Nicola.
(ii) Nicola looked to the ground in embarrassment, because he did not want any one to know the secret behind their “plans” for working hard, till late in the night and leading a miserly existence.
(iii) It means to blush with embarrassment.
(iv) The speaker assumed that the boys must be saving money to emigrate to America.

Question 4.
Nicola shook his head, but suddenly Jacopo said, “Sir” he burst out, “every Sunday we
make a visit to the country to Poleta, 30 kilometres from here. Usually we hire bicycles. But
tomorrow, since you are so kind, you might send us in your car. ”
(i) What was the question to which Nicola shakes his head?
(ii) Why did the boys make a visit to Poleta every Sunday?
(iii) How did they go to Poleta every Sunday?
(iv) What was Jacopo’s response to the speaker’s offer?
Answer:
(i) When the writer asked Nicola if he could do something for them as he was leaving the next day, Nicola shook his head in a gesture that indicated a refusal to accept any favour.
(ii) The boys made a visit to Poleta to see their ailing sister and to pay the hospital fees.
(iii) They usually hired bicycles to go to Poleta every Sunday.
(iv) Jacopo acknowledges the kindness of the speaker and requests him to send them by his car to Poleta that Sunday.

Question 5.
“The two boys were seated at the bedside of a girl of about twenty two who propped up on the pillows, wearing a pretty lace jacket, was listening to their chatter, her eyes soft and tender. ”
(i) Who is the girl in this extract?
(ii) Where are the boys and why have they gone there?
(iii) What is the relation between the boys and the girl?
(iv) Why does her eyes become soft and tender?
Answer:
(i) The girl is 20 years old Lucia, Nicola and Jacopo’s elder sister.
(ii) The boys are in a hospital. They have gone there to see their ailing sister.
(iii) They were siblings. The boys were the brothers of the girl.
(iv) Her eyes are soft and tender, as they are filled with love, appreciation and gratitude towards her loving brothers.

Question 6.
“Won’t you go in?” the nurse murmured. “Lucia will be pleased to see you.”
(i) Who is Lucia?
(ii) Does the narrator go to meet Lucia?
(iii) What makes the writer decide to do so?
(iv) Where was Lucia?
Answer:
(i) Lucia is the sister of the two boys, Nicola and Jacopo.
(ii) No, the writer does not meet Lucia.
(iii) He did not want to intrude upon the happy family party.
(iv) Lucia was at the villa, which served as a hospital.

Question 7.
Nicola was glaring at his younger brother in vexation. “We could not think of troubling
you, sir.”
(i) Why does Nicola not want to trouble the narrator?
(ii) What does the above lines tell about Nicola?
(iii) Whom does Nicola glare at?
(iv) Why does Nicola glare at?
(i) Nicola is a self-righteous boy. He does not approve of seeking favours from anyone including the narrator.
(ii) These lines suggest that Nicola is a very mature, self-respecting, sensitive and cultured boy.
(iii) Nicola glared at his younger brother Jacopo.
(iv) Nicola glares at his younger brother Jacopo because he does not like Jacopo asking favour from the narrator.

Question 8.
“I don’t know what they do, I do not ask. Work is scarce in Verona. But whatever it is, I know they do it well. ”
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) Who is she speaking to?
(iii) In what context does she speak these lines?
Who are ‘they’ in the given lines?
Answer:
(i) These lines are spoken by the nurse attached to the hospital where Lucia is admitted. She is speaking to the narrator.
(ii) The nurse is referring to the honesty with which the boys make the payment for their sisters treatment. She wonders how they manage to do so when work was scarce. She was however certain that they were essentially doing a good job.
(iii) ‘They’, refers to the two boys, Nicola and Jacopo.

Question 9.
“He shrugged his shoulders to convey his disapproval of their shabby appearance. ”
(i) Who is ‘he’ referred to here?
(ii) Why did he react in this manner?
(iii) Whose shabby appearance did he disapprove of?
(iv) What were ‘they’ doing there?
Answer:
(i) ‘He’, refers to the narrator’s driver, Luigi.
(ii) He reacted in this manner because he disapproved of the way in which the car was stopped by two untidy looking ‘urchins’.
(iii) He disapproved the shabby appearance of the two boys, who were selling wild strawberries
(iv) They were selling wild strawberries.

Question 10.
“What struck one most was their willingness to work. During these summer days, under the hot sun they shined shoes, sold fruit, hawked newspapers, conducted tourists round the town, ran errands. ”
(i) Who is ‘their’ in the above lines?
(ii) What work did they do?
(iii) What was striking about them?
(iv) Under what severe condition did they work?
Answer:
(i) ‘Their’, refers to the two young boys, Nicola and Jacopo.
(ii) They would sell fruit, shine shoes, hawk newspapers, conduct tourists and even run errands.
(iii) Their willingness tp work was the most striking thing about them.
(iv) They worked during summer days under the hot sun.

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