WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER, by Stephen Leacock
PART TWO
Page 142. “Stop,” I said with emotion ……………Page 144.
I broke into tears and left.
Glossary
emotion — strong feeling — भावना,
आवेग
with emotion — with strong feeling — भावावेश
में
dignity — calm self-respect — गरिमा
with dignity — with self-respect and calm — गरिमा
के साथ
faults — defects — दोष
lived with it — accepted and endured it — उसे
अपनाकर जीया
learned to love — gradually accepted — धीरे-धीरे प्रेम करना
सीख लिया
out of drawing — badly shaped; badly proportioned — सही बनावट
में न होना
conscious — aware — सचेत
break in my voice — voice becoming choked — आवाज़
का भर्रा जाना
animate — give life or expression — सजीव
बनाना
features — parts of the face — चेहरे
के नाक-नक्श
rise from the seat — stand up — सीट
से उठना
pulled a string — triggered the camera — डोरी
खींचकर कैमरा चलाना
bitingly — with sharp sarcasm — तीखे,
कटाक्षपूर्ण ढंग से
caught the features — captured facial expression — चेहरे की
भंगिमा पकड़ ली
moment of animation — instant of expression — अभिव्यक्ति
का क्षण
develop the negative — process film to make image visible — नेगेटिव विकसित करना
proof — trial print of a photograph — नमूना
छायाचित्र
went back — returned — वापस
गया
beckoned — signalled by gesture — इशारे
से बुलाया
graver — more serious — अधिक
गंभीर
unfolded — opened — खोला
looked at it in silence — observed without speaking — चुपचाप देखा
hesitatingly — with doubt — हिचकिचाते
हुए
retouched — corrected or altered — सुधार
किया हुआ
splendidly — excellently — शानदार
ढंग से
come out splendidly — appear very well — बहुत
अच्छे दिखाई देना
momentary — lasting a very short time — क्षणिक
process — method or technique — प्रक्रिया
Delphide — chemical process (imaginary) — डेल्फ़ाइड
(काल्पनिक प्रक्रिया)
eyebrows are removed — eyebrows taken off — भौंहें
हटा दी गईं
carry the hair away — remove hair — बाल
हटाना
brow — forehead — भौंह / ललाट
skull — head bone — खोपड़ी
superficies — surface — सतह
clear back — pushed far back — पूरी
तरह पीछे किया हुआ
bitterness — deep resentment — कड़वाहट
lost on the photographer — not understood by him — फोटोग्राफर पर
असर न होना
adjusted — slightly altered — थोड़ा
बदला हुआ
likeness — resemblance — समानता
strike me as — seem to me — मुझे
प्रतीत होना
thoughtfully — after thinking — विचारपूर्वक
fix that in the print — correct in final photo — अंतिम
फोटो में सुधार करना
Sulphide — chemical substance/process — सल्फ़ाइड
interrupted — stopped while speaking — बीच
में रोका
drawing myself up — standing erect proudly — गर्व
से तनकर खड़ा
होना
to their full extent — to the maximum — पूरी
सीमा तक
withering scorn — crushing contempt — विनाशकारी
तिरस्कार
blasted the man — utterly crushed him — उसे
पूरी तरह ध्वस्त कर
देना
depict — represent; show — चित्रित
करना
mad though it seems — however foolish it may appear — चाहे यह
पागलपन लगे
as Heaven gave it to me — as God made it — जैसा
ईश्वर ने दिया
humble though the gift — modest though the gift was — भले ही
उपहार साधारण था
reconcile them to my loss — help them accept my death — मेरी मृत्यु
को स्वीकार कराने
में सहायक
mistaken — wrong — भ्रमित
go on with your brutal work — continue your harsh actions — अपनी निर्दयी हरकतें
जारी रखो
brutal — harsh; cruel — निर्दयी
negative — photographic film image — नेगेटिव
whatever it is you call it — whatever name you give it — तुम चाहे जो
नाम दो
bromide — chemical compound — ब्रोमाइड
oxide — compound with oxygen — ऑक्साइड
cowhide — leather from cow skin — गाय
की खाल
anything you like — as you wish — जो
चाहो वह
restore — bring back — पुनः
स्थापित करना
reanimate — give life again — फिर
से सजीव बनाना
reconstruct — rebuild — पुनर्निर्माण
करना
waistcoat — sleeveless jacket — वास्कट
gloss — shine — चमक
emboss — raise design — उभारना
gild — cover with gold — सोने
की परत चढ़ाना
acknowledge — accept — स्वीकार
करना
keep it for yourself — retain it — उसे
अपने पास रखो
worthless — without value — मूल्यहीन
bauble — showy but useless object — दिखावटी,
तुच्छ वस्तु
broke into tears — suddenly started crying — अचानक
रो पड़ा
Summary
The narrator asks the photographer to stop, speaking emotionally but with
self-respect. He asserts that the face being altered is his own, a face he has
lived with for forty years and whose faults he knows well. Though imperfect and
awkwardly shaped, it belongs to him alone, and he has learned to accept and
even love it. He insists that his mouth and ears are his own too and begins to
rise in protest. At that very moment, the photographer takes the picture. The
photographer smugly claims he has captured the narrator’s features at a lively
moment. The narrator sarcastically responds and asks to see the photograph, but
the photographer explains that the negative must first be developed and asks
him to return later. When the narrator returns on Saturday, the photographer
appears serious and proud. They examine the photograph silently. The narrator
questions whether the image is really him, especially the eyes and eyebrows.
The photographer calmly explains that he has retouched the eyes and entirely
removed and replaced the eyebrows using a new process, as he dislikes hair low
on the forehead. The narrator grows increasingly bitter as he learns that his
mouth has been altered and his ears are to be removed using yet another
chemical process. Finally, the narrator angrily interrupts, declaring that he
wanted a simple photograph that truly resembled him as God made him, so that
his friends might remember him after his death. He condemns the photographer’s
cruel artificial methods and sarcastically invites him to alter the picture
endlessly until it becomes a glossy, decorative object. Such a photograph, he
says, is worthless to him. Overcome with emotion, he bursts into tears and
leaves.
सारांश
वक्ता भावुक होते हुए, लेकिन गरिमा के साथ, फोटोग्राफर से रुकने को कहता है। वह दृढ़ता से कहता है कि जिस चेहरे को बदला जा रहा है, वह उसी का है—एक ऐसा चेहरा जिसके साथ उसने चालीस वर्ष बिताए हैं और जिसकी कमियों से वह भली-भांति परिचित है। भले ही वह चेहरा असुंदर और असंतुलित हो, वह उसी का है और उसने उसे स्वीकार करना सीख लिया है। वह ज़ोर देकर कहता है कि उसका मुँह और उसके कान भी उसी के हैं और विरोध में उठने ही वाला होता है कि तभी फोटोग्राफर तस्वीर खींच लेता है। फोटोग्राफर संतोषपूर्वक कहता है कि उसने चेहरे के भावों को जीवंत क्षण में पकड़ लिया है। वक्ता व्यंग्यपूर्वक उत्तर देता है और तस्वीर देखने की माँग करता है, पर फोटोग्राफर बताता है कि पहले नेगेटिव विकसित करना होगा और उसे बाद में आने को कहता है। शनिवार को लौटने पर वक्ता देखता है कि फोटोग्राफर गंभीर और गर्वित है। दोनों चुपचाप तस्वीर देखते हैं। वक्ता संदेह करता है कि क्या वह सच में वही है, क्योंकि आँखें और भौंहें उसकी जैसी नहीं लगतीं। फोटोग्राफर बताता है कि आँखें सुधार दी गई हैं और भौंहें हटा कर नई तकनीक से बदल दी गई हैं, क्योंकि उसे माथे पर नीचे तक बाल पसंद नहीं। वक्ता का आक्रोश बढ़ता जाता है जब उसे पता चलता है कि मुँह बदला गया है और कानों को भी हटाने की योजना है। अंत में वह क्रोधपूर्वक फोटोग्राफर को रोकता है और कहता है कि वह एक साधारण तस्वीर चाहता था जो उसे वैसा ही दिखाए जैसा ईश्वर ने बनाया, ताकि उसकी मृत्यु के बाद उसके मित्र उसे याद कर सकें। वह फोटोग्राफर की निर्दयी और बनावटी प्रक्रिया की निंदा करता है और व्यंग्य में कहता है कि तस्वीर को जितना चाहे सजाए, चमकाए और बदले। ऐसी तस्वीर उसके लिए पूरी तरह मूल्यहीन है। यह कहकर वह फूट-फूटकर रो पड़ता है और वहाँ से चला जाता है।
MCQ – SET 1
1. Why does the narrator say “Stop” at the beginning of the passage?
A. He is frightened
B. He is angry about payment
C. He is emotional and protesting
D. He wants to change his pose
Ans. C
2. With what feeling does the narrator speak when he says “Stop”?
A. Fear
B. Emotion and dignity
C. Excitement
D. Amusement
Ans. B
3. How long has the narrator lived with his face?
A. Twenty years
B. Thirty years
C. Forty years
D. Fifty years
Ans. C
4. What does the narrator say he knows well about his face?
A. Its beauty
B. Its faults
C. Its fame
D. Its mystery
Ans. B
5. What does “out of drawing” suggest about the narrator’s face?
A. It is perfectly shaped
B. It is artistically drawn
C. It is badly proportioned
D. It has recently changed
Ans. C
6. What happens when the narrator begins to rise from the seat?
A. The photographer stops him
B. The camera breaks
C. The photograph is taken
D. The narrator faints
Ans. C
7. How does the photographer trigger the camera?
A. By pressing a button
B. By clapping
C. By pulling a string
D. By turning a wheel
Ans. C
8. How does the photographer appear immediately after taking the
photograph?
A. Angry
B. Ashamed
C. Pleased
D. Confused
Ans. C
9. What does the photographer claim to have captured?
A. A perfect pose
B. The features in a moment of animation
C. A sad expression
D. A stiff posture
Ans. B
10. How does the narrator respond to the photographer’s claim?
A. Happily
B. Silently
C. Bitterly
D. Politely
Ans. C
11. Why can’t the narrator see the photograph immediately?
A. It is lost
B. It is damaged
C. The negative has to be developed first
D. The photographer refuses to show it
Ans. C
12. When is the narrator asked to return?
A. Friday
B. Saturday
C. Sunday
D. Monday
Ans. B
13. How does the photographer appear when the narrator returns on
Saturday?
A. Noisy and cheerful
B. Nervous and weak
C. Quieter and graver
D. Careless and rude
Ans. C
14. What quality does the narrator notice in the photographer’s manner?
A. Fear
B. Pride
C. Shame
D. Sadness
Ans. B
15. What do the narrator and the photographer do when the proof is
shown?
A. Laugh
B. Argue
C. Look at it in silence
D. Turn away
Ans. C
16. What is the narrator’s first question on seeing the photograph?
A. Is it clear?
B. Is it finished?
C. Is it me?
D. Is it for sale?
Ans. C
17. Which part of the narrator’s face does he first doubt?
A. Nose
B. Mouth
C. Eyes
D. Chin
Ans. C
18. What has the photographer done to the narrator’s eyes?
A. Removed them
B. Retouched them
C. Covered them
D. Enlarged them
Ans. B
19. How does the photographer describe the retouched eyes?
A. Ordinary
B. Poor
C. Splendid
D. Useless
Ans. C
20. What has happened to the narrator’s eyebrows?
A. They have been left unchanged
B. They have been darkened
C. They have been removed
D. They have been hidden
Ans. C
21. Which process does the photographer mention for putting in new
eyebrows?
A. Sulphide
B. Bromide
C. Delphide
D. Oxide
Ans. C
22. What does the photographer dislike about the narrator’s hair?
A. It is too thick
B. It is too long
C. It is low on the skull
D. It is curly
Ans. C
23. What does the narrator’s reply, “Oh, you don’t, don’t you?” mainly
express?
A. Agreement
B. Admiration
C. Irony
D. Gratitude
Ans. C
24. What does the photographer say about the narrator’s mouth?
A. It is perfect
B. It is too high
C. It is too low
D. It is untouched
Ans. C
25. How does the narrator feel while discussing his mouth?
A. Joyful
B. Bitter
C. Proud
D. Relaxed
Ans. B
26. Which feature does the narrator think is a good likeness?
A. Eyes
B. Mouth
C. Nose
D. Ears
Ans. D
27. What does the photographer propose to do with the ears?
A. Enlarge them
B. Shade them
C. Remove them
D. Darken them
Ans. C
28. Which process does the photographer mention for removing the ears?
A. Delphide
B. Sulphide
C. Bromide
D. Oxide
Ans. B
29. Why does the narrator interrupt the photographer?
A. He is bored
B. He is late
C. He is deeply angry at the photographer’s alterations
D. He is confused
Ans. C
30. How does the narrator speak during his outburst?
A. Softly and kindly
B. With hesitation
C. With withering scorn
D. With amusement
Ans. C
31. What did the narrator originally want?
A. A painted portrait
B. A modern image
C. A photograph that looked like him
D. A fashionable picture
Ans. C
32. How does the narrator describe the gift of his face from Heaven?
A. Magnificent
B. Perfect
C. Humble
D. Unfair
Ans. C
33. For whom did the narrator want the photograph to be kept after his
death?
A. The photographer
B. His friends
C. Strangers
D. The public
Ans. B
34. Why did the narrator want his friends to keep the photograph?
A. For decoration
B. For advertisement
C. To reconcile them to his loss after his death
D. To sell it later
Ans. C
35. Why does the narrator say that he was mistaken?
A. He had chosen the wrong shop
B. He had trusted the photographer
C. What he wanted was no longer done
D. He had lost interest in photography
Ans. C
36. How does the narrator describe the photographer’s work?
A. Artistic
B. Creative
C. Brutal
D. Careful
Ans. C
37. Which of the following is NOT mentioned by the narrator among the
substances in his sarcastic list?
A. Sulphide
B. Bromide
C. Oxide
D. Chloride
Ans. D
38. What does the narrator sarcastically invite the photographer to do?
A. Destroy the camera
B. Continue altering and reconstructing the picture
C. Take another photograph
D. Refund his money
Ans. B
39. What does “reanimate the necktie” suggest in the context?
A. Artificially altering even the clothing in the photograph
B. Cleaning the tie
C. Removing the tie
D. Changing the colour of the tie
Ans. A
40. What does “reconstruct the waistcoat” suggest?
A. Sewing the narrator’s actual waistcoat
B. Artificially remaking even the clothing in the image
C. Removing the waistcoat
D. Changing its fashion
Ans. B
41. What does the narrator call the finished photograph?
A. A masterpiece
B. A treasure
C. A worthless bauble
D. A rare object
Ans. C
42. To whom does the narrator suggest that the photographer should give
or keep the photograph?
A. Himself
B. His friends
C. Himself and his friends
D. Nobody
Ans. C
43. What is the narrator’s final emotional state?
A. Calm
B. Satisfied
C. Tearful
D. Proud
Ans. C
44. What does the narrator do at the end of the passage?
A. Shouts at the photographer
B. Laughs
C. Leaves in tears
D. Takes the photograph with him
Ans. C
45. What aspect of photography is mainly criticized in the passage?
A. Its cost
B. Its technology
C. Excessive artificial alteration
D. Its popularity
Ans. C
46. What tone dominates the narrator’s speech, especially in his final
outburst?
A. Romantic
B. Humorous
C. Satirical
D. Neutral
Ans. C
47. What attitude does the photographer display towards the narrator’s
natural features?
A. Respect and acceptance
B. Indifference to their natural appearance
C. Emotional sensitivity
D. Moral concern
Ans. B
48. Why does the narrator value his face despite knowing its faults?
A. It is handsome
B. It is famous
C. It is his own
D. It is new
Ans. C
49. The central conflict in the passage is between
A. Art and money
B. Natural appearance and artificial alteration
C. Youth and age
D. Silence and speech
Ans. B
50. What does the ending of the passage emphasize?
A. Triumph
B. Satisfaction
C. The narrator’s emotional rejection of the altered photograph
D. Humour
Ans. C
MCQ – SET 2
1. When the narrator says, “Stop, I said with emotion but, I think, with
dignity,” what is he mainly trying to do at that moment?
A. Ask for a discount
B. Stop the photographer and defend the natural appearance of his face
C. Request a different background
D. Complain about the lighting
Ans. B
2. How long has the narrator lived with his face, according to the
passage?
A. Twenty years
B. Thirty years
C. Forty years
D. Fifty years
Ans. C
3. What does the narrator admit about his own face?
A. That it is perfect
B. That it is “out of drawing” and was not made for him
C. That it is very handsome
D. That it is too small
Ans. B
4. Why does the narrator say he has “learned to love” his face?
A. Because others praise it
B. Because the photographer has improved it
C. Because it is his own face, the only one he has
D. Because it looks good in photographs
Ans. C
5. What happens just as the narrator begins to rise from the seat?
A. The photographer asks him to sit down
B. The light changes
C. The photographer takes the photograph
D. The narrator leaves the studio
Ans. C
6. How does the photographer take the photograph at that instant?
A. By tapping the machine
B. By clapping his hands
C. By saying “cheese”
D. By pulling a string with a “Snick!”
Ans. D
7. What does the photographer say he has captured in the photograph?
A. A perfect likeness
B. A serious expression
C. The features in a moment of animation
D. A smiling portrait
Ans. C
8. What is the narrator’s tone when he repeats the word “features, eh?”
A. Grateful
B. Bitter and sarcastic
C. Fearful
D. Confused
Ans. B
9. When the photographer asks the narrator to return on Saturday, what
does he promise to show him?
A. The final framed photograph
B. The negative
C. A proof of the photograph
D. A contact sheet
Ans. C
10. How does the photographer seem when the narrator returns on
Saturday?
A. More talkative and cheerful
B. Quieter and graver, with a certain pride
C. Angry and irritated
D. Indifferent and bored
Ans. B
11. What do the narrator and the photographer do when the proof is
unfolded?
A. Argue about the price
B. Laugh loudly
C. Look at it in silence
D. Tear it up
Ans. C
12. What is the narrator’s first verbal reaction to seeing the proof?
A. “It’s wonderful!”
B. “Is it me?”
C. “You ruined it!”
D. “Thank you very much.”
Ans. B
13. How does the photographer answer when the narrator asks, “Is it me?”
A. “No, it’s my creation.”
B. “Not really, but it’s better.”
C. “Yes, it is you.”
D. “It doesn’t matter.”
Ans. C
14. What has the photographer done to the narrator’s eyes in the proof?
A. Closed them
B. Enlarged them
C. Retouched them
D. Covered them with glasses
Ans. C
15. What does the narrator say about the eyes in the photograph?
A. They look exactly like his
B. They do not look very much like his
C. They are too small
D. They are too bright
Ans. B
16. What process does the photographer say is used for putting in new
eyebrows?
A. Bromide
B. Sulphide
C. Delphide
D. Oxide
Ans. C
17. What has the photographer done to the narrator’s eyebrows?
A. Left them unchanged
B. Darkened them
C. Removed them and proposed putting in new ones
D. Covered them with hair
Ans. C
18. What does the photographer dislike about the narrator’s hair?
A. Its colour
B. Its curliness
C. The fact that it is low on the skull
D. Its length
Ans. C
19. What does the photographer say he likes to do with the hair?
A. Leave it natural
B. Cut it short
C. Dye it darker
D. Get it clear back to the superficies and make out a new brow line
Ans. D
20. How does the narrator respond to the photographer’s remark about the
hair?
A. He silently agrees
B. He laughs
C. He says, “Oh, you don’t, don’t you?”
D. He apologises
Ans. C
21. What has the photographer done to the narrator’s mouth?
A. Left it exactly as it is
B. Adjusted it because he found he could not use the original
C. Covered it with a beard
D. Enlarged it greatly
Ans. B
22. Why does the photographer say he could not use the narrator’s
original mouth?
A. It was too big
B. It was too low
C. It was crooked
D. It was smiling
Ans. B
23. Which feature does the narrator think is at least a good likeness?
A. Eyes
B. Mouth
C. Nose
D. Ears
Ans. D
24. What process does the photographer mention for removing the ears
entirely?
A. Delphide
B. Sulphide
C. Oxide
D. Bromide
Ans. B
25. How does the photographer propose to “fix” the ears that resemble
the narrator’s?
A. By enlarging them
B. By covering them with hair
C. By removing them in the print using Sulphide
D. By hiding them with a hat
Ans. C
26. What is the narrator’s emotional state when he says “Listen!” and
draws himself up?
A. Calm and pleased
B. Timid and shy
C. Deeply angry and scornful
D. Amused and indifferent
Ans. C
27. What does the narrator say he originally came to the studio for?
A. A heavily retouched portrait
B. A photograph that would look like him
C. A free sample
D. Advice on grooming
Ans. B
28. Why did the narrator want the photograph, according to his speech?
A. To send it to the photographer’s friends
B. To compete in a beauty contest
C. For his friends to keep after his death and reconcile them to his loss
D. To use it in a newspaper advertisement
Ans. C
29. What does the narrator sarcastically suggest the photographer do
with the negative and the various substances he mentions?
A. Throw them away
B. Use them carefully on other clients
C. Apply them freely while altering every part of the picture
D. Stop using them altogether
Ans. C
30. Which of the following is NOT something the narrator sarcastically
tells the photographer to alter, correct or reconstruct?
A. Face
B. Lips
C. Necktie
D. Shoes
Ans. D
31. What does the narrator ultimately tell the photographer to do with
the finished photograph?
A. Give it to him at a discount
B. Send it by post later
C. Keep it for himself and his friends
D. Destroy it
Ans. C
32. Why does the narrator call the photograph a “worthless bauble”?
A. Because it is too expensive
B. Because it no longer has value to him as a likeness of himself
C. Because it is technically poor
D. Because it is too small
Ans. B
33. What does the word “bauble” most nearly mean in the expression
“worthless bauble”?
A. Precious jewel
B. Valuable memory
C. Trifling ornament or useless object
D. Old photograph
Ans. C
34. How does the narrator leave the studio at the end of the passage?
A. Laughing
B. Calmly shaking hands
C. Breaking into tears and leaving
D. Leaving angrily without showing emotion
Ans. C
35. What does the narrator’s long sarcastic speech about sulphide,
bromide, oxide, cowhide and other alterations mainly demonstrate?
A. His knowledge of chemistry
B. His confusion about technical terms
C. His bitter sarcasm and frustration with the photographer’s excessive
alterations
D. His admiration for photographic processes
Ans. C
36. Which quality of the photographer is most strongly highlighted in
this passage?
A. Humility and gentleness
B. Laziness and carelessness
C. Excessive concern with altering features according to his own standards
D. Fearfulness and insecurity
Ans. C
37. What central idea is expressed when the narrator insists, “This face
is my face. It is not yours, it is mine”?
A. Friendship
B. The value of money
C. The narrator’s claim to his own natural identity
D. The importance of punctuality
Ans. C
38. Which line best shows the narrator’s emotional attachment to his
natural appearance despite its faults?
A. “I know it’s out of drawing.”
B. “Such as it is, I’ve learned to love it.”
C. “Oh, there’s nothing to see yet.”
D. “They may value it.”
Ans. B
39. How does the photographer react when the narrator questions the
alterations to his features?
A. He apologises and offers to redo the work
B. He becomes angry and throws him out
C. He calmly explains each alteration as though it were normal and necessary
D. He refuses to speak further
Ans. C
40. What is the narrator’s overall attitude towards the photographer’s
technical alterations by the end of the passage?
A. Admiration and gratitude
B. Indifference
C. Respect mixed with fear
D. Strong rejection because the alterations destroy his natural likeness
Ans. D
MCQ - SET 3
1. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct
order from Part Two of “With the Photographer”.
(i) The photographer says that the ears can be removed by using
Sulphide.
(ii) The narrator asks whether the eyes in the photograph look like his.
(iii) The narrator returns on Saturday to see the proof.
(iv) The photographer retouches the narrator’s eyes.
(a) (iii), (ii), (iv), (i)
(b) (ii), (iv), (iii), (i)
(c) (iv), (ii), (i), (iii)
(d) (iii), (iv), (ii), (i)
Answer: (a) (iii), (ii), (iv), (i)
2. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct
order.
(i) The narrator begins to rise from the seat.
(ii) The photographer pulls a string.
(iii) The photograph is taken.
(iv) The photographer says that he has caught the features in a moment of
animation.
(a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
(b) (ii), (i), (iv), (iii)
(c) (iii), (ii), (i), (iv)
(d) (i), (iii), (ii), (iv)
Answer: (a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
3. Choose the option that lists the sequence of the photographer’s
alterations in the correct order.
(i) The eyes are retouched.
(ii) The eyebrows are removed.
(iii) The mouth is adjusted.
(iv) The ears are proposed to be removed.
(a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
(b) (ii), (i), (iv), (iii)
(c) (i), (iii), (ii), (iv)
(d) (iv), (iii), (ii), (i)
Answer: (a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
4. Which of the following options contains the same literary device as
the expression “the machine still staggering from the shock”?
(a) “I think that I caught the features just in a moment of animation.”
(b) “Such as it is, I’ve learned to love it.”
(c) “It is but a worthless bauble.”
(d) “They may value it.”
Answer: (a) “I think that I caught the features just in a moment of
animation.”
Both expressions involve giving human-like qualities or actions to
something non-human. The machine is described as “staggering,” while the
features are described as capable of “animation.”
5. Which of the following expressions contains hyperbole?
(a) “I’ve lived with it for forty years.”
(b) “I thought he seemed quieter and graver than before.”
(c) “speaking with a withering scorn that should have blasted the man on the
spot”
(d) “We both looked at it in silence.”
Answer: (c) “speaking with a withering scorn that should have blasted
the man on the spot”
The narrator exaggerates the power of his scorn by suggesting that it
could have “blasted” the photographer.
6. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between
Statements I and II.
Statement I: The narrator says that his face is his own.
Statement II: He has lived with it for forty years and has learned to
love it.
(a) Statement I is true, but Statement II is false.
(b) Statement II is true, but Statement I is false.
(c) Statement II explains why the narrator feels attached to his face.
(d) Statement I contradicts Statement II.
Answer: (c) Statement II explains why the narrator feels attached to his
face.
7. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between
Statements I and II.
Statement I: The narrator’s eyes do not look very much
like his in the photograph.
Statement II: The photographer has retouched the eyes.
(a) Statement I is true, and Statement II is false.
(b) Statement II is true, and Statement I is false.
(c) Statement II is a reason for Statement I.
(d) Statements I and II contradict each other.
Answer: (c) Statement II is a reason for Statement I.
8. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between
Statements I and II.
Statement I: The narrator considers the ears a good
likeness.
Statement II: The photographer proposes removing the ears entirely.
(a) I is the cause of II.
(b) I contradicts II.
(c) I and II are independent of each other.
(d) II proves that the ears are unlike the narrator’s.
Answer: (b) I contradicts II.
9. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between
Statements I and II.
Statement I: The narrator becomes increasingly bitter
during the conversation.
Statement II: The photographer continues to suggest alterations to his
natural features.
(a) I is the effect of II.
(b) II is the effect of I.
(c) I contradicts II.
(d) I and II are unrelated.
Answer: (a) I is the effect of II.
10. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between
Statements I and II.
Statement I: The narrator calls the photograph a
“worthless bauble.”
Statement II: The photograph no longer represents the face he knows as
his own.
(a) I is caused by II.
(b) II is caused by I.
(c) I contradicts II.
(d) I and II are independent.
Answer: (a) I is caused by II.
11. The narrator’s feelings towards his face can best be described as
- acceptance
- affection
- shame
- attachment
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 3 and 4 only
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4
12. The photographer’s attitude towards the narrator’s natural features
is shown through his
- retouching of the eyes
- removal of the eyebrows
- adjustment of the mouth
- proposal to remove the ears
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
13. Which of the following best describes the narrator’s mood when he
asks, “Is it me?”
(a) confident and proud
(b) doubtful and surprised
(c) cheerful and amused
(d) calm and satisfied
Answer: (b) doubtful and surprised
14. Which of the following best describes the narrator’s tone when he
says, “Oh, you don’t, don’t you?”
(a) sincere admiration
(b) innocent curiosity
(c) sarcastic disbelief
(d) friendly agreement
Answer: (c) sarcastic disbelief
15. Which of the following best describes the photographer’s manner when
explaining the alterations?
(a) apologetic and embarrassed
(b) calm and matter-of-fact
(c) frightened and uncertain
(d) emotional and sympathetic
Answer: (b) calm and matter-of-fact
16. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the
passage?
(a) The narrator has lived with his face for forty years.
(b) The narrator admits that he knows the faults of his face.
(c) The narrator wants the photographer to replace all his natural features.
(d) The narrator has learned to love his face despite its faults.
Answer: (c) The narrator wants the photographer to replace all his
natural features.
17. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
(a) The photographer retouches the narrator’s eyes.
(b) The photographer removes the narrator’s eyebrows.
(c) The photographer says that the narrator’s mouth is too low.
(d) The photographer says that the narrator’s ears are too small.
Answer: (d) The photographer says that the narrator’s ears are too
small.
18. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the narrator’s
desired photograph?
(a) He wanted it to look like him.
(b) He wanted it to depict his face as Heaven gave it to him.
(c) He wanted his friends to keep it after his death.
(d) He wanted the photographer to alter it according to his own standards.
Answer: (d) He wanted the photographer to alter it according to his own
standards.
19. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the
photographer?
(a) He appears quieter and graver on Saturday.
(b) There is a certain pride in his manner.
(c) He accepts all the narrator’s natural features without alteration.
(d) He calmly explains the processes used to alter the photograph.
Answer: (c) He accepts all the narrator’s natural features without
alteration.
20. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the narrator’s
final speech?
(a) He sarcastically lists several substances.
(b) He tells the photographer to continue altering the photograph.
(c) He mentions correcting the mouth and adjusting the face.
(d) He sincerely praises the photographer’s work.
Answer: (d) He sincerely praises the photographer’s work.
21. Which of the following best explains why the narrator says, “This
face is my face. It is not yours, it is mine”?
(a) He wants to prove that he owns the photograph.
(b) He objects to the photographer treating his natural features as material to
be redesigned.
(c) He wants the photographer to take another photograph.
(d) He wants to hide his face from the photographer.
Answer: (b) He objects to the photographer treating his natural features
as material to be redesigned.
22. What causes the narrator to lose patience with the photographer’s
work?
(a) The photographer asks him to return on Saturday.
(b) The photographer refuses to show him the proof.
(c) The photographer repeatedly alters or proposes altering his natural
features.
(d) The photographer says the photograph is unfinished.
Answer: (c) The photographer repeatedly alters or proposes altering his
natural features.
23. Why does the narrator’s statement “I’ve learned to love it” become
significant later in the passage?
(a) It shows that he wants his face to remain recognisably his own.
(b) It shows that he wants the photographer to improve his appearance.
(c) It proves that he considers his face perfect.
(d) It explains why he wants to become a photographer.
Answer: (a) It shows that he wants his face to remain recognisably his
own.
24. What is the effect of the photographer’s repeated use of technical
processes such as “Delphide” and “Sulphide”?
(a) It makes the narrator admire modern photography.
(b) It emphasizes the photographer’s tendency to treat the narrator’s features
as objects that can be technically modified.
(c) It makes the narrator interested in chemistry.
(d) It shows that the narrator understands photographic science.
Answer: (b) It emphasizes the photographer’s tendency to treat the
narrator’s features as objects that can be technically modified.
25. What does the narrator’s sarcastic list “sulphide, bromide, oxide,
cowhide” mainly convey?
(a) His scientific knowledge
(b) His admiration for photographic technology
(c) His mockery of the photographer’s excessive technical interference
(d) His desire to learn photographic processes
Answer: (c) His mockery of the photographer’s excessive technical
interference.
26. What does the contrast between the narrator’s wish for a natural
photograph and the photographer’s alterations mainly highlight?
(a) The difference between age and youth
(b) The conflict between natural identity and artificial modification
(c) The importance of expensive photography
(d) The difficulty of taking photographs
Answer: (b) The conflict between natural identity and artificial
modification.
27. Which pair of statements correctly describes the narrator’s
attitude?
Statement 1: He accepts that his face has faults.
Statement 2: He nevertheless wants his face to be represented as his
own.
(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true.
(b) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false.
(c) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true.
(d) Both statements are false.
Answer: (a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true.
28. Which pair of statements correctly describes the photographer’s
approach?
Statement 1: He considers the narrator’s natural features
suitable for alteration.
Statement 2: He calmly describes processes for changing them.
(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true.
(b) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false.
(c) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true.
(d) Both statements are false.
Answer: (a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true.
29. Which of the following best explains the irony in the narrator’s
final speech?
(a) He genuinely wants every part of the photograph to be improved.
(b) He pretends to encourage unlimited alteration while actually condemning the
photographer’s excessive alterations.
(c) He has suddenly become interested in photographic chemicals.
(d) He wants to produce a better photograph for his friends.
Answer: (b) He pretends to encourage unlimited alteration while actually
condemning the photographer’s excessive alterations.
30. Which of the following best explains why the narrator finally
rejects the photograph?
(a) It is too small.
(b) It is technically unfinished.
(c) It has been altered so extensively that it no longer represents his natural
face.
(d) The photographer refuses to give it to him.
Answer: (c) It has been altered so extensively that it no longer
represents his natural face.
31. Choose the option that correctly matches the feature with the
photographer’s treatment of it.
- Eyes — retouched
- Eyebrows — removed
- Mouth — adjusted
- Ears — proposed to be removed
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
32. Which of the following combinations best represents the narrator’s
emotional progression in the passage?
(a) Calm acceptance → happiness → pride → laughter
(b) Emotional protest → bitterness → anger and scorn → tears
(c) Fear → amusement → excitement → satisfaction
(d) Surprise → happiness → gratitude → calmness
Answer: (b) Emotional protest → bitterness → anger and scorn → tears
33. Which of the following statements best explains the significance of
the words “such as it is, I’ve learned to love it”?
(a) The narrator believes his face is physically perfect.
(b) The narrator’s attachment to his face comes from familiarity and personal
identity rather than physical perfection.
(c) The narrator wants the photographer to make his face more attractive.
(d) The narrator is unaware of the faults in his face.
Answer: (b) The narrator’s attachment to his face comes from familiarity
and personal identity rather than physical perfection.
34. Which of the following is the most appropriate interpretation of
“worthless bauble” in the context?
(a) A beautiful but expensive ornament
(b) A photograph that has become meaningless to the narrator because it does
not truly represent him
(c) A damaged photographic negative
(d) A valuable photograph that should be preserved
Answer: (b) A photograph that has become meaningless to the narrator
because it does not truly represent him.
35. Which of the following statements best expresses the central idea of
the passage?
(a) Modern photography always produces perfect portraits.
(b) A person’s natural identity may be undermined when technical improvement
becomes more important than faithful representation.
(c) Photographers should never use any technical process.
(d) People should always be satisfied with photographs of themselves.
Answer: (b) A person’s natural identity may be undermined when technical
improvement becomes more important than faithful representation.
36. What does the narrator’s breaking into tears at the end chiefly
reveal?
(a) He is disappointed about the cost of the photograph.
(b) His anger and emotional attachment to his natural identity have reached a
breaking point.
(c) He is pleased with the photographer’s work.
(d) He is afraid of the photographic machine.
Answer: (b) His anger and emotional attachment to his natural identity
have reached a breaking point.
One-Mark Questions
1. How does the narrator describe his manner when he says “Stop”?
Ans. He says it with emotion and dignity, trying to show that he is upset but
still composed.
2. Whose face does the narrator insist the photographer is altering?
Ans. His own face, the only face he has lived with for forty years.
3. For how many years has the narrator lived with his face?
Ans. For forty years.
4. What does the narrator claim he knows well about his face?
Ans. He knows its faults and admits that it is “out of drawing.”
5. What physical reaction shows the narrator’s emotion while speaking?
Ans. There is a break in his voice, showing his deep emotion.
6. What action of the narrator shows his protest before the photograph
is taken?
Ans. He begins to rise from the seat in protest.
7. What sound marks the moment the photograph is taken?
Ans. A sharp “Snick!” marks the moment the photograph is taken.
8. What expression does the photographer wear after taking the
photograph?
Ans. He wears a pleased smile, with his lips pursed.
9. According to the photographer, in what state were the narrator’s
features captured?
Ans. They were captured in a moment of animation.
10. What does the narrator ask for immediately after the photograph is
taken?
Ans. He asks to see the photograph.
11. What must be done before the picture can be seen?
Ans. The negative must first be developed so that a proof can be shown.
12. On which day does the narrator return to see the photograph?
Ans. He returns on Saturday.
13. How does the photographer’s behaviour differ on Saturday?
Ans. He appears quieter and graver than before.
14. What feeling does the narrator sense in the photographer’s manner?
Ans. He senses a certain pride in the photographer’s manner.
15. How do both men initially react on seeing the photograph?
Ans. They look at it silently without speaking at first.
16. What is the narrator’s first doubt about the photograph?
Ans. He doubts whether it is really a photograph of him because it looks so
different.
17. Which feature does the narrator say does not look like his own?
Ans. He says that the eyes do not look much like his own.
18. What reason does the photographer give for the changed eyes?
Ans. He says that he has retouched them so that they come out splendidly.
19. What has been done to the narrator’s eyebrows?
Ans. His eyebrows have been completely removed from the photograph.
20. What name is given to the process used on the eyebrows?
Ans. It is called the Delphide process.
21. Which part of the head does the photographer dislike having hair low
on?
Ans. He dislikes having hair low on the skull.
22. What complaint does the narrator make about his mouth?
Ans. He bitterly asks whether the mouth in the photograph is really his.
23. What does the photographer say about the narrator’s mouth?
Ans. He says that the mouth is too low and has been adjusted slightly.
24. Which feature does the narrator think closely resembles his own?
Ans. He thinks that the ears closely resemble his own.
25. What does the photographer propose to do with the ears?
Ans. He proposes to remove them from the print.
26. What chemical process is mentioned for removing the ears?
Ans. The Sulphide process is mentioned for removing the ears.
27. What does the narrator say he originally came to the studio for?
Ans. He came for a photograph that would look like him—a true likeness.
28. According to the narrator, who gave him his face?
Ans. He says that Heaven gave him his face.
29. What object does the narrator call the final photograph?
Ans. He calls it a “worthless bauble.”
30. What is the narrator’s final action in the passage?
Ans. He breaks into tears and leaves the studio.
31. What does the narrator say about his face not being made for him?
Ans. He admits that his face was not made for him and is “out of drawing,” but
it is still his only face.
32. What does the narrator mean when he says he has learned to love his
face?
Ans. He means that he has accepted his face, including its faults, and has
grown to love it over forty years.
33. What does the narrator mean when he says, “This is my mouth, not
yours”?
Ans. He means that his mouth belongs to him and should not be changed according
to the photographer’s preference.
34. What does the narrator mean when he says, “These ears are mine”?
Ans. He insists that his ears belong to him and should not be altered or
removed.
35. What does the photographer mean when he says he “caught the features
just in a moment of animation”?
Ans. He means that he captured the narrator’s face at a brief moment when his
features were lively.
36. What does the narrator mean when he says the eyebrows are removed?
Ans. He means that the eyebrows have been completely removed from the
photograph through retouching.
37. What does the photographer mean when he says he likes to get the
hair clear back to the superficies?
Ans. He means that he wants the hair pushed back to the surface of the skull to
create a different appearance.
38. What does the narrator mean when he says he wants something to
reconcile his friends to his loss?
Ans. He wants a true photograph that will help his friends remember him after
his death.
39. What does the narrator mean when he says he was mistaken?
Ans. He means that he was wrong to think that he could get a true likeness of
himself at the studio.
40. What does the narrator mean when he says, “What I wanted is no
longer done”?
Ans. He means that true, natural photographs like the one he wants are no
longer made; instead, photographs are heavily retouched.
41. What does the narrator suggest the photographer do with the negative
and the various “-ides” and “-oxides”?
Ans. He sarcastically tells the photographer to use all sorts of chemicals and
processes to alter the negative further.
42. What does the narrator mean when he says the photographer should
“reanimate the necktie and reconstruct the waistcoat”?
Ans. He sarcastically suggests that the photographer should alter even his
clothes and accessories to make the whole portrait artificial.
43. What does the narrator mean when he says the finished photograph
should be kept for the photographer and his friends?
Ans. He means that the artificial photograph may be kept by the photographer
and his friends, but it is of no use to him.
44. What does the narrator mean when he says, “To me it is but a
worthless bauble”?
Ans. He means that the photograph is worthless to him because it does not
resemble him.
45. What does the narrator say the photographer may value the photograph
for?
Ans. He suggests that the photographer and his friends may value the artificial
photograph as a piece of work.
46. What does the narrator imply when he says the photographer’s work is
“brutal”?
Ans. He implies that the photographer’s alterations are cruel because they
destroy his natural appearance and identity.
47. What does the narrator mean when he says he wants something “headed
by Heaven”?
Ans. He means that he wants his natural face as it was given to him by Heaven,
without artificial alterations.
48. What does the narrator mean when he says his friends may keep the
photograph after his death?
Ans. He wants them to have a true likeness of him so that they can remember him
as he really was.
49. What does the narrator mean when he says the eyes “come out
splendidly”?
Ans. He repeats the photographer’s words sarcastically because the altered eyes
do not look like his own.
50. What does the narrator imply when he says the photographer found he
could not use his mouth?
Ans. He implies that the photographer considered his natural mouth unsuitable
and changed it according to his own preference.
51. What does the narrator mean when he says the ears “strike him as a
good likeness”?
Ans. He means that the ears are one of the few features in the photograph that
look like his own.
52. What does the narrator mean when he says the photographer can “fix
the ears all right in the print”?
Ans. He sarcastically means that the photographer intends to alter or remove
even the ears from the photograph.
53. What does the narrator mean when he says he came for a picture that
would look like him?
Ans. He means that he wanted a simple, natural photograph that would be a true
likeness of himself.
54. What does the narrator mean when he calls the photograph a “bauble”?
Ans. He means that it is a showy but worthless object with no real value to
him.
55. What does the narrator mean when he says the photographer’s work is
finished but worthless to him?
Ans. He means that although the photographer is satisfied with his work, the
resulting photograph has no value for the narrator.
56. What does the narrator imply when he says his friends may value the
photograph?
Ans. He implies that the artificial photograph may please the photographer and
his associates, but it does not satisfy him.
57. What does the narrator mean when he says he broke into tears and
left?
Ans. He means that he was deeply upset and disappointed, so he cried and left
the studio.
58. What does the narrator mean when he says he was conscious of a break
in his voice?
Ans. He means that his voice trembled with emotion while he spoke about his
face.
59. What does the narrator mean when he says he drew himself up and
animated his features to their full extent?
Ans. He means that he straightened himself, made his face as expressive as
possible, and showed strong contempt for the photographer.
60. What does the narrator mean when he says his “withering scorn”
should have blasted the man on the spot?
Ans. He means that his contempt for the photographer was so intense that he
felt it should have completely overwhelmed or humiliated him.
Who Said to Whom?
1. “Stop,” I said with emotion but with dignity.
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
2. “This face is my face. It is not yours, it is mine.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
3. “I’ve lived with it for forty years and I know its faults.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
4. “Such as it is, I’ve learned to love it.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
5. “This is my mouth, not yours.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
6. “These ears are mine.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
7. “If your machine is too narrow—”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
8. “Snick!”
Ans. This sound was heard when the photographer took the photograph.
9. “I think that I caught the features just in a moment of animation.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
10. “So!” I said bitingly.
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
11. “But let me see the picture.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
12. “There’s nothing to see yet.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
13. “I have to develop the negative first.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
14. “Come back on Saturday and I’ll let you see a proof of it.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
15. “Is it me?”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
16. “Yes,” he said quietly, “it is you.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
17. “The eyes don’t look very much like mine.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
18. “Oh, no,” he answered, “I’ve retouched them.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
19. “They come out splendidly, don’t they?”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
20. “Fine,” I said.
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
21. “But surely my eyebrows are not like that?”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
22. “No,” said the photographer, “the eyebrows are removed.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
23. “We have a process now—the Delphide—for putting in new ones.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
24. “I don’t like the hair low on the skull.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
25. “Oh, you don’t, don’t you?”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
26. “What about the mouth?”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
27. “It’s adjusted a little; yours is too low.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
28. “The ears, though, strike me as a good likeness.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
29. “Yes,” said the photographer thoughtfully, “that’s so; but I can fix
that in the print.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
30. “We have a process now—the Sulphide—for removing the ears entirely.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
31. “Listen!”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
32. “I came here for a photograph—a picture.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
33. “Something which would have looked like me.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
34. “I wanted something that would depict my face as Heaven gave it to
me.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
35. “I wanted something that my friends might keep after my death.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
36. “What I wanted is no longer done.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
37. “Go on, then, with your brutal work.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
38. “Keep it for yourself and your friends.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
39. “To me it is but a worthless bauble.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
40. “I broke into tears and left.”
Ans. The narrator says this to the reader.
41. “I know it’s out of drawing.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
42. “I know it wasn’t made for me, but it’s my face, the only one I
have.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
43. “Here I started to rise from the seat.”
Ans. The narrator describes this action to the reader.
44. “The photographer had pulled a string.”
Ans. The narrator describes this action to the reader.
45. “The photograph taken.”
Ans. The narrator states this to the reader.
46. “I could see the machine still staggering from the shock.”
Ans. The narrator says this to the reader.
47. “Pursing his lips in a pleased smile.”
Ans. The narrator describes the photographer’s action to the reader.
48. “You didn’t think I could animate them, I suppose?”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
49. “On Saturday I went back.”
Ans. The narrator says this to the reader.
50. “The photographer beckoned me in.”
Ans. The narrator describes this action to the reader.
51. “I thought he seemed quieter and graver than before.”
Ans. The narrator says this to the reader.
52. “I think, too, there was a certain pride in his manner.”
Ans. The narrator says this to the reader.
53. “He unfolded the proof of a large photograph, and we both looked at
it in silence.”
Ans. The narrator describes this action to the reader.
54. “We went on looking at it.”
Ans. The narrator says this to the reader.
55. “Oh, no,” he answered, “I’ve retouched them.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
56. “They come out splendidly, don’t they?”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
57. “No,” said the photographer, with a momentary glance at my face,
“the eyebrows are removed.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
58. “I don’t like the hair low on the skull.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
59. “Yes,” said the photographer thoughtfully, “that’s so; but I can fix
that all right in the print.”
Ans. The photographer said this to the narrator.
60. “Then when you have done all that—keep it for yourself and your
friends.”
Ans. The narrator said this to the photographer.
Two-Mark Questions
1. Why does the narrator protest when the photographer is about to take
the photograph?
Ans. The narrator protests because he fears that the photographer will alter
his natural appearance. He insists that his face belongs to him, including all
its faults, and wants a true likeness rather than an artificial one.
2. What does the narrator mean when he says he has “lived with” his face
for forty years?
Ans. He means that he has lived with and accepted his appearance for forty
years. Despite its imperfections, his face has become an important part of his
identity.
3. How is the photograph taken at an unexpected moment, and why is it
ironic?
Ans. The photograph is taken suddenly as the narrator begins to rise from his
seat in protest. It is ironic because the photographer considers this moment of
animation a successful photograph, while the narrator dislikes the resulting
image.
4. How does the photographer justify his satisfaction with the
photograph?
Ans. The photographer says that he has captured the narrator’s features in “a
moment of animation.” He considers the lively expression a sign of a successful
photograph.
5. Why is the narrator unable to see the photograph immediately after it
is taken?
Ans. The narrator cannot see the photograph immediately because the negative
has to be developed first. The photographer asks him to return on Saturday to
see the proof.
6. What change does the narrator notice in the photographer when he
returns on Saturday?
Ans. The narrator finds the photographer quieter and graver than before. He
also notices a certain pride in his manner, suggesting that the photographer is
pleased with his work.
7. Why does the narrator hesitate when commenting on the eyes in the
photograph?
Ans. The narrator hesitates because the eyes in the photograph do not look like
his own. He is beginning to realise that the photographer has altered his
features.
8. How does the photographer explain the changes made to the narrator’s
eyes?
Ans. The photographer explains that he has retouched the narrator’s eyes. He
considers the alteration an improvement and says that they “come out
splendidly.”
9. What does the removal of eyebrows using the “Delphide” process reveal
about the photographer?
Ans. It shows that the photographer relies heavily on artificial processes to
improve a person’s appearance. He values his idea of perfection more than the
person’s natural features.
10. Why does the narrator react bitterly to the discussion about his
mouth?
Ans. The narrator reacts bitterly because the photographer has altered his
mouth, claiming that it is too low. He is annoyed that even his natural facial
features are being changed without his consent.
11. Why do the narrator’s ears become the turning point of the conflict?
Ans. The narrator feels that the ears are a good likeness of his real ears.
When the photographer proposes removing them as well, the narrator becomes
extremely angry because almost nothing of his natural face would remain.
12. What does the narrator mean by wanting a photograph “as Heaven gave
it to me”?
Ans. He means that he wants a natural and truthful photograph of his face as it
was given to him by God. He prefers authenticity to artificial alteration.
13. Why does the narrator mention his friends remembering him after his
death?
Ans. He wants his friends to have a true likeness of him that they can keep
after his death. The altered photograph cannot fulfil this purpose because it
does not represent his real appearance.
14. How does the narrator use sarcasm while addressing the photographer
in his final speech?
Ans. The narrator sarcastically tells the photographer to continue using his
various chemicals and processes to alter the photograph. His exaggerated
remarks mock the photographer’s obsession with artificial perfection.
15. What is the significance of the narrator breaking into tears at the
end?
Ans. His tears show his deep disappointment and emotional hurt. He realises
that the photograph has been altered so much that it no longer represents his
true identity.
Three-Mark Questions
1. How does the narrator assert his individuality at the beginning of
the passage?
Ans. The narrator asserts his individuality by firmly declaring that his face
belongs to him. He emphasizes that he has lived with it for forty years, knows
its faults, and has learned to love it. His dignified protest shows his belief
that his identity should not be changed according to artificial standards of
beauty.
2. Explain the significance of the sudden “Snick!” in the passage.
Ans. The sudden “Snick!” indicates that the photograph is taken unexpectedly
while the narrator is protesting and beginning to rise. It highlights the
mechanical nature of the photographer’s work and creates humour through the
unexpected timing. The narrator is caught in a moment of animation rather than
in the calm pose he expected.
3. Describe the photographer’s attitude as revealed through his
conversation with the narrator.
Ans. The photographer appears cold, technical, and insensitive to the
narrator’s feelings. He treats facial features as things that can be altered or
removed through photographic processes. His pride in retouching the face shows
that he values technical improvement more than the narrator’s individuality and
desire for a true likeness.
4. Why does the narrator feel disturbed when he first looks at the
photograph?
Ans. The narrator is disturbed because the photograph looks very different from
his real face. His eyes have been retouched, his eyebrows have been removed,
and his mouth has been altered. He gradually realizes that the photographer has
changed his natural features according to his own ideas of improvement.
5. How does the use of scientific terms add to the humour and satire of
the story?
Ans. Terms such as “Delphide” and “Sulphide” make the photographer’s treatment
of the human face sound like a scientific experiment. The technical language
creates humour because ordinary facial features are treated as objects to be
chemically altered. It also strengthens the satire on artificial beauty and
excessive dependence on photographic techniques.
6. Discuss the importance of the ears episode in the development of the
story.
Ans. The ears episode is important because the narrator finally finds a feature
in the photograph that resembles his real appearance. When the photographer
suggests that even the ears can be removed, the narrator reaches the limit of
his patience. This becomes the turning point that leads to his final sarcastic
and angry speech.
7. What does the narrator mean by saying that what he wanted “is no
longer done”?
Ans. The narrator means that the kind of natural and truthful photograph he
wants is no longer made. He believes that modern photographers focus on
retouching and improving people’s appearances instead of preserving their real
features. The statement expresses his criticism of artificial perfection
replacing authenticity.
8. Explain the narrator’s final speech and its tone.
Ans. The narrator’s final speech is bitterly sarcastic and emotional. He mocks
the photographer’s obsession with chemicals and alterations by suggesting that
he should continue his “brutal work.” His words express his anger and
disappointment at not receiving the natural, truthful photograph he had wanted.
9. Why does the narrator call the photograph a “worthless bauble”?
Ans. The narrator calls the photograph a “worthless bauble” because, although
it may be technically polished, it has no personal value for him. It does not
resemble his real face and therefore cannot serve as a true record of his
identity. To him, authenticity is more important than artificial perfection.
10. How does the ending of the story reinforce its central theme?
Ans. The ending reinforces the theme of individuality and authenticity by
showing the narrator rejecting the altered photograph. His breaking into tears
reveals how deeply the photographer’s changes have affected him. His reaction
emphasizes that technical perfection cannot replace a truthful representation
of a person.
11. How does the narrator’s emotional tone change from the beginning of
the passage to the end?
Ans. At the beginning, the narrator is emotional but dignified as he firmly
defends his natural appearance. As he discovers the alterations, his tone
becomes increasingly bitter, sarcastic, and scornful. Finally, his anger gives
way to emotional pain, and he breaks into tears and leaves the studio.
12. What does the narrator’s reference to “forty years” emphasize about
his relationship with his face?
Ans. The reference to “forty years” emphasizes the narrator’s long familiarity
with his face. He knows its faults and has gradually learned to accept and love
it. It shows that his face is closely connected with his identity and personal
history, which is why he resents its alteration.
13. How does the photographer’s pride in his work show his
misunderstanding of the narrator’s wishes?
Ans. The photographer’s pleased smile and pride show that he considers the
retouched photograph a successful piece of work. He believes that improving the
narrator’s features is desirable. However, the narrator wants a natural
likeness, so the photographer completely misunderstands his wish for
authenticity.
14. What is the effect of the narrator’s sarcastic list of
chemicals—sulphide, bromide, oxide, and cowhide—in his final speech?
Ans. The list humorously exaggerates the photographer’s dependence on
artificial processes. By adding “cowhide” to the names of chemicals, the
narrator makes his sarcasm deliberately absurd. The list mocks the
photographer’s methods and emphasizes the narrator’s anger at the excessive
alteration of his natural appearance.
15. How does the narrator’s desire for a photograph “as Heaven gave it
to me” reflect his values?
Ans. The statement shows that the narrator values naturalness, truth, and
acceptance of oneself. He considers his face, with all its imperfections, to be
the face given to him by Heaven. He therefore rejects artificial changes and
considers personal authenticity more important than conventional ideas of
physical perfection.
16. Why does the narrator feel that the photograph cannot serve as a
memory for his friends after his death?
Ans. The narrator wants his friends to possess a true likeness of him after his
death. However, the photograph has been altered so extensively that it no
longer represents his natural appearance. Therefore, he feels that it cannot
preserve the memory of the person his friends actually knew.
17. How does the contrast between the narrator’s emotional protest and
the photographer’s calm reaction create tension in the passage?
Ans. The narrator becomes increasingly angry and distressed, while the
photographer remains calm and confident about his work. This contrast creates
tension because the two men have completely different ideas about what makes a
good photograph. It highlights the conflict between personal identity and the
photographer’s mechanical pursuit of improvement.
18. What does the narrator’s statement “What I wanted is no longer done”
suggest about his view of modern society?
Ans. The statement suggests that the narrator believes modern society has
become too concerned with improving appearances. He feels that natural and
truthful representation has been replaced by artificial perfection. Thus, the
statement reflects his criticism of a society that values appearance and
technique over individuality and authenticity.
19. How does the narrator’s use of “brutal work” in his final speech
show his attitude to the photographer’s methods?
Ans. The phrase “brutal work” shows that the narrator considers the
photographer’s alterations cruel and destructive. He feels that the
photographer is not merely improving his appearance but destroying his natural
identity. The phrase therefore expresses his anger, resentment, and deep
disappointment.
20. What role does silence play in the scene when the narrator and the
photographer look at the proof together?
Ans. The silence creates a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere as both men
examine the photograph. It gives the narrator time to realize how greatly his
features have been altered. The silence also heightens the contrast between his
growing shock and the photographer’s quiet satisfaction with his work.
Four-Mark Questions
1. How does the narrator’s protest at the beginning of the passage show
the conflict between individual identity and professional arrogance?
Ans. At the beginning of the passage, the narrator’s protest reveals the
conflict between his sense of individual identity and the photographer’s
professional arrogance. He insists that his face belongs to him and that he has
lived with it for forty years, knowing its faults and learning to love it. This
shows his attachment to his natural appearance and his desire for an authentic
likeness. The photographer, however, treats the face as something that can be
technically improved and altered. His indifference to the narrator’s feelings
highlights the clash between personal identity and professional standards of
appearance. The incident therefore establishes the story’s central concern with
authenticity versus artificial perfection.
2. Discuss how the photographer’s use of chemical processes such as
Delphide and Sulphide satirises modern attitudes towards beauty and identity.
Ans. The photographer’s use of chemical processes such as Delphide and Sulphide
creates a humorous and satirical picture of artificial beauty. He treats the
narrator’s facial features as though they were parts that could be removed,
replaced, or redesigned. His willingness to remove the eyebrows, alter the
mouth, and even remove the ears exaggerates the idea of photographic
improvement. The technical terminology makes the process appear scientific and
impersonal, while the results become increasingly absurd. Through this
exaggeration, the writer mocks the tendency to sacrifice natural identity for
an artificial idea of perfection.
3. Explain how the narrator’s final speech reveals his deep frustration
and his rejection of artificial perfection.
Ans. The narrator’s final speech reveals his frustration through its bitter,
sarcastic, and emotional tone. He mocks the photographer’s obsession with
chemical processes by referring to substances such as sulphide, bromide, oxide,
and even “cowhide.” He sarcastically encourages the photographer to continue
his “brutal work” of altering every part of the image. Finally, he tells him to
keep the photograph for himself and his friends, calling it a “worthless
bauble” to him. His speech clearly shows that he would rather have an imperfect
but truthful likeness than a technically perfect but artificial image.
4. How does the ending of the story, with the narrator breaking into
tears and leaving, emphasise the theme of lost individuality?
Ans. The ending emphasizes the narrator’s emotional suffering after seeing his
natural features altered beyond recognition. His tears show that the issue is
not merely dissatisfaction with a photograph but a deeper sense of having his
identity violated. By rejecting the photograph and leaving the studio, he
refuses to accept the artificial version of himself created by the
photographer. His reaction shows that technical skill cannot compensate for the
loss of authenticity. The ending therefore reinforces the idea that
individuality and personal identity are more valuable than artificial
perfection.
5. Compare the narrator’s attitude to his face with the photographer’s
attitude towards the same face. How does this contrast develop the central
theme of the story?
Ans. The narrator views his face with acceptance and affection, despite knowing
its imperfections. He has lived with it for forty years and has learned to love
it as it is, wanting a photograph that represents him “as Heaven gave it to
me.” The photographer, in contrast, views the face as something that can be
improved through technical alteration. He retouches the eyes, removes the
eyebrows, changes the mouth, and even proposes removing the ears. This sharp
contrast develops the central theme of authenticity versus artificial
perfection. The narrator values individuality and truth, whereas the
photographer values appearance and technical improvement.
6. How does the
photographer’s manner at the beginning of the passage contribute to the
narrator’s dissatisfaction?
Ans. The photographer’s manner at the beginning is cold, indifferent, and
lacking in warmth. He treats the narrator as an ordinary subject rather than as
a person with feelings and individuality. His mechanical approach prepares the
reader for his later attempts to alter the narrator’s features according to his
own ideas. This behaviour increases the narrator’s dissatisfaction and
establishes the conflict between the photographer’s professional attitude and
the narrator’s desire for a natural likeness.
7. How does the unexpected
taking of the photograph contribute to the humour and irony of the passage?
Ans. The photograph is taken unexpectedly when the narrator is beginning to
rise from his seat in protest. The photographer regards this as a “moment of
animation” and seems pleased with the result. The situation is humorous because
the narrator’s agitation is treated as a successful photographic pose. It is
also ironic because the narrator wants a dignified, natural likeness, yet the
photographer captures him at a moment of emotional disturbance.
8. Trace the progressive
alteration of the narrator’s face in the photograph. What does this reveal
about the photographer?
Ans. The photographer first retouches the narrator’s eyes, then removes his
eyebrows, changes the position of his mouth, and finally proposes removing his
ears. Each alteration makes the photograph increasingly different from the
narrator’s real appearance. This progression reveals that the photographer is
obsessed with improving the face according to his own standards. It also shows
that he values technical manipulation more than the preservation of the
narrator’s identity.
9. Explain the significance
of the narrator’s statements, “This is my mouth, not yours” and “These ears are
mine.”
Ans. These statements strongly express the narrator’s claim to his own
identity. He accepts that his features may have imperfections, but he considers
them an inseparable part of himself. By saying that his mouth and ears are his,
he rejects the photographer’s authority to decide what should be changed. The
statements therefore emphasize the narrator’s struggle to protect his
individuality from artificial alteration.
10. How does the narrator’s
attitude change as he discovers one alteration after another in the photograph?
Ans. At first, the narrator is surprised and uncertain when he notices that the
photograph looks different from him. As the photographer explains the
alterations to the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and ears, his surprise gradually
changes into irritation and anger. His responses become increasingly bitter and
sarcastic. Finally, he openly rejects the photographer’s work, calls it a
“worthless bauble,” and leaves the studio in tears.
11. Why does the narrator
want a photograph that his friends can keep after his death? How does this
desire contrast with the photograph he receives?
Ans. The narrator wants his friends to have a genuine likeness of him that will
preserve his memory after his death. He therefore wants a photograph that shows
his face as it naturally is. Instead, the photographer produces an altered
image in which several of his features have been changed or removed. The
contrast shows why the photograph fails its most important purpose: it cannot
serve as a true reminder of the person the narrator actually was.
12. How does the story use humour, irony, and
exaggeration to criticize artificial standards of appearance?
Ans. The story uses humour through the photographer’s absurd treatment of
facial features as objects that can be removed or redesigned. Irony arises
because the photographer considers his alterations improvements, while the
narrator sees them as a destruction of his identity. The exaggerated suggestion
of removing even the ears makes the photographer’s obsession with perfection
ridiculous. Through these techniques, the writer satirizes artificial standards
of appearance and emphasizes the importance of natural individuality.
Reference To context
Extract 1
“Stop,” I said with emotion but, I think, with dignity. “This face is my
face. It is not yours, it is mine. I've lived with it for forty years and I
know its faults. I know it's out of drawing. I know it wasn't made for me, but
it's my face, the only one I have –” I was conscious of a break in my voice but
I went on – “such as it is, I've learned to love it. And this is my mouth, not
yours. These ears are mine, and if your machine is too narrow –” Here I started
to rise from the seat.
(i) Why does the narrator suddenly say “Stop”?
What has prompted this emotional outburst?
Ans. The narrator says “Stop” because he has lost patience
with the photographer’s constant criticism of his face and features. The
photographer has been treating him as an object to be corrected and improved
rather than as a person. Feeling that his individuality is being ignored, the
narrator finally protests and defends his appearance. This marks a turning
point in the story.
(ii) What does the narrator mean when he says,
“This face is my face. It is not yours, it is mine”?
Ans. The narrator means that his face is a part of his
identity and does not belong to the photographer to judge or alter. Although he
admits that it has faults, he accepts it as his own. The statement expresses
his self-respect and his determination to defend his individuality against the
photographer’s criticism.
(iii) Explain the significance of the line: “I've
learned to love it.”
Ans. The line shows that the narrator is fully aware of his
imperfections but has gradually come to accept them. He values his face not
because it is perfect, but because it is his own. This highlights the theme of
self-acceptance and contrasts sharply with the photographer’s obsession with
physical perfection.
(iv) Why does the narrator become emotional while
speaking? How does this affect the tone of the extract?
Ans. The narrator becomes emotional because he feels that the
photographer’s repeated criticisms are an attack on his identity and
self-respect. His voice breaks as he passionately defends the face he has lived
with for forty years. This emotional response introduces a more serious and
reflective tone into the story. However, the humour is not completely lost,
since the argument arises from the absurd situation of a photographer trying to
redesign a customer’s face.
(v) How does this extract highlight the central
conflict and themes of the story?
Ans. This extract presents the central conflict between the
narrator’s acceptance of his natural self and the photographer’s desire to
alter and perfect his appearance. The narrator believes that personal identity
should be respected, while the photographer is concerned only with technical
standards and artificial improvement. Through this conflict, Leacock develops
the themes of self-acceptance, individuality, and professional arrogance. The
extract serves as the climax of the story, where the narrator finally asserts
his dignity against the photographer’s excessive criticism.
Extract 2
“Snick!” The photographer had pulled a string. The photograph taken. I
could see the machine still staggering from the shock. “I think,” said the
photographer, pursing his lips in a pleased smile, “that I caught the features
just in a moment of animation.” “So!” I said bitingly, – “features, eh? You
didn’t think I could animate them, I suppose? But let me see the picture.”
“Oh, there’s nothing to see yet,” he said, “I have to develop the negative
first. Come back on Saturday and I’ll let you see a proof of it.”
(i) What does the narrator mean when he says that the machine was “still
staggering from the shock”?
Ans. The narrator humorously exaggerates the moment when the photograph
is taken by saying that the camera was “still staggering from the shock.” He
suggests that the task of photographing him was so difficult that even the
machine seemed shaken by it. This personification adds to the comic tone of the
story.
(ii) Why does the narrator respond bitterly to the photographer’s remark
about “a moment of animation”?
Ans. The narrator responds bitterly because the photographer’s remark
implies that his face is usually lifeless or expressionless. Throughout the
session, the photographer has repeatedly criticised his appearance. Therefore,
the narrator sarcastically asks whether the photographer thought he was
incapable of showing any expression or animation at all.
(iii) What does the photographer’s pleased smile reveal about his
attitude towards his work?
Ans. The photographer’s pleased smile reveals his confidence and
satisfaction with his professional skill. He believes that he has successfully
captured a suitable expression on the narrator’s face. At the same time, his
self-satisfaction reflects the professional arrogance that characterises him
throughout the story.
(iv) How does the conversation between the narrator and the photographer
contribute to the humour of the extract?
Ans. The humour arises from the contrast between the photographer’s
seriousness and the narrator’s sarcasm. The photographer proudly claims that he
has captured the narrator’s features “in a moment of animation,” as though this
were a remarkable achievement. The narrator immediately responds with a biting
remark, suggesting that the photographer has treated him as if he were
incapable of expression. The exaggerated importance attached to a simple
photograph and the witty exchange between the two characters create comic
effect.
(v) How does this extract reflect the strained relationship between the
narrator and the photographer?
Ans. The extract shows that the relationship between the narrator and
the photographer has become tense and uncomfortable. The narrator’s sarcastic
response reveals his resentment towards the photographer’s repeated criticisms
and condescending attitude. Meanwhile, the photographer remains absorbed in his
work and appears unaware of the narrator’s irritation. Their exchange
highlights the growing conflict between the narrator’s sense of self-worth and
the photographer’s professional arrogance, a conflict that drives the story
forward.
Extract 3
“Is it me?” I
asked.
“Yes,” he said quietly, “it is you,” and we went on looking at it.
“The eyes,” I said hesitatingly, “don’t look very much like mine.”
“Oh, no,” he answered, “I’ve retouched them. They come out splendidly, don’t
they?”
“Fine,” I said, “but surely my eyebrows are not like that?”
“No,” said the photographer, with a momentary glance at my face, “the eyebrows
are removed. We have a process now — the Delphide — for putting in new ones.
You’ll notice here where we’ve applied it to carry the hair away from the brow.
I don’t like the hair low on the skull.”
“Oh, you don’t, don’t you?” I said.
“No,” he went on, “I don’t care for it. I like to get the hair clear back to
the superficies and make out a new brow line.”
“What about the mouth?” I said with a bitterness that was lost on the
photographer; “is that mine?”
“It’s adjusted a little,” he said, “yours is too low. I found I couldn’t use
it.”
“The ears, though,” I said, “strike me as a good likeness; they’re just like
mine. Is it me?”
“Yes,” said the photographer thoughtfully, “that’s so; but I can fix that all
right in the print. We have a process now — the Sulphide — for removing the
ears entirely. I’ll see if —”
(i) Why does the narrator repeatedly ask, “Is it
me?”
Ans. The narrator repeatedly asks, “Is it me?” because the
photograph has been altered so extensively that he can hardly recognise
himself. His eyes, eyebrows, hairline, and mouth have all been changed. The
question reflects his confusion and disbelief at seeing a portrait that bears
little resemblance to his actual appearance.
(ii) What changes has the photographer made to
the narrator’s face in the photograph?
Ans. The photographer has retouched the narrator’s eyes,
removed and replaced his eyebrows, altered the hairline, and adjusted the mouth
because he considered it unsuitable. These changes are made according to the
photographer’s personal standards of beauty rather than to preserve the
narrator’s true appearance. As a result, the photograph becomes increasingly
artificial.
(iii) How does the photographer’s explanation of
the ‘Delphide’ process contribute to the humour of the extract?
Ans. The humour lies in the absurd seriousness with which the
photographer describes the ‘Delphide’ process. He speaks as though removing
eyebrows and creating entirely new ones is perfectly normal. The exaggerated
technical language contrasts with the simple purpose of a photograph, making
the situation ridiculous and satirising professionals who rely excessively on
artificial techniques.
(iv) What does the photographer’s treatment of
the narrator’s features reveal about his character and attitude?
Ans. The photographer’s treatment of the narrator’s features
reveals that he is highly critical, perfectionist, and arrogant. Instead of
trying to capture the narrator’s true likeness, he freely alters every feature
that does not match his personal preferences. He dismisses the narrator’s
natural appearance and assumes that his professional judgment is superior.
Through this character, Leacock satirises experts who become so obsessed with
technical perfection that they lose respect for individuality and reality.
(v) How does this extract develop the themes of
identity and artificial perfection in the story?
Ans. This extract represents the climax of the conflict
between identity and artificial perfection. The narrator wants a photograph
that reflects who he really is, but the photographer continually changes his
features to fit an ideal image. Every alteration moves the portrait further
away from the narrator's true self. The absurd proposal to remove the ears
entirely demonstrates how the pursuit of perfection can destroy individuality.
Through humour and exaggeration, Leacock criticises the tendency to value artificial
standards of beauty over authentic human identity.
Extract 4
“Listen!” I interrupted, drawing myself up and animating my features to
their full extent and speaking with a withering scorn that should have blasted
the man on the spot. “Listen! I came here for a photograph — a picture —
something which (mad though it seems) would have looked like me. I wanted
something that would depict my face as Heaven gave it to me, humble though the
gift may have been. I wanted something that my friends might keep after my
death, to reconcile them to my loss.”
(i) Why does the narrator interrupt the photographer and say “Listen!”?
Ans. The narrator interrupts the photographer because he is exasperated
by the endless alterations made to his photograph. The photographer has changed
so many of his features that the picture no longer resembles him. Determined to
make his feelings clear, the narrator forcefully explains what he had
originally wanted from the photograph.
(ii) What does the narrator mean by wanting a picture that would “look
like me”?
Ans. The narrator means that he wants a genuine likeness of himself
rather than an artificially improved image. He believes that a photograph
should faithfully represent a person's natural appearance, including
imperfections. His statement reflects his desire for authenticity and
self-acceptance.
(iii) Explain the significance of the phrase “my face as Heaven gave it
to me.”
Ans. The phrase suggests that the narrator accepts his appearance as a
natural gift, however imperfect it may be. By referring to Heaven, he
emphasises that his face is part of his identity and should not be altered
according to someone else's standards. The statement highlights the theme of
respecting individuality and natural appearance.
(iv) How does humour emerge even in this serious speech by the narrator?
Ans. Although the narrator speaks passionately, humour is created
through exaggeration and irony. His dramatic declaration that friends might
keep the photograph after his death “to reconcile them to my loss” is
deliberately overstated. Similarly, the phrase “mad though it seems” humorously
suggests that wanting a photograph to resemble oneself has become an
unreasonable expectation. The contrast between the narrator's emotional speech
and the absurd situation maintains the comic tone of the story.
(v) How does this extract reinforce the central themes of the story?
Ans. This extract strongly reinforces the themes of identity,
self-acceptance, and professional arrogance. The narrator insists that a
photograph should preserve his true appearance rather than transform him into
someone else. In contrast, the photographer believes in altering and improving
every feature according to his own standards. The extract highlights the
conflict between authenticity and artificial perfection, showing that excessive
professional interference can erase the individuality it claims to improve. It
represents the narrator's strongest defence of his personal identity and
dignity.
Extract 5
“It seems that I was mistaken. What I wanted is no longer done. Go on,
then, with your brutal work. Take your negative, or whatever it is you call it,
— dip it in sulphide, bromide, oxide, cowhide, — anything you like, — remove
the eyes, correct the mouth, adjust the face, restore the lips, reanimate the
necktie and reconstruct the waistcoat. Coat it with an inch of gloss, shade it,
emboss it, gild it, till even you acknowledge that it is finished. Then when
you have done all that — keep it for yourself and your friends. They may value
it. To me it is but a worthless bauble.”
I broke into tears and left.
(i) Why does the narrator say, “What I wanted is no longer done”?
Ans. The narrator realises that modern photography, as represented by
the photographer, is no longer concerned with capturing a person's true
likeness. Instead, it focuses on altering and improving appearances through
artificial techniques. Therefore, he feels that the simple photograph he
originally wanted can no longer be obtained.
(ii) What is the effect of the list “sulphide, bromide, oxide, cowhide”?
Ans. The list creates humour through exaggeration and absurdity. The
first three words sound like technical photographic chemicals, while “cowhide”
is completely unrelated. By mixing scientific terms with a ridiculous one, the
narrator mocks the photographer's obsession with complicated processes and
suggests that all such alterations are equally meaningless to him.
(iii) How does the narrator use sarcasm to criticise the photographer's
methods?
Ans. The narrator sarcastically encourages the photographer to continue
altering every part of the picture. He suggests removing eyes, correcting the
mouth, reconstructing the waistcoat, and covering the image with gloss and
decoration. Through this exaggerated description, he ridicules the
photographer's belief that endless modifications can improve a photograph and
expose the absurdity of such practices.
(iv) What does the narrator mean when he calls the photograph “a
worthless bauble”?
Ans. By calling the photograph “a worthless bauble,” the narrator means
that it has lost all personal value because it no longer represents him.
Although it may appear polished and attractive, it lacks authenticity and
emotional significance. The statement emphasises his belief that a photograph's
worth lies in its truthfulness, not in artificial perfection. It also reveals
his deep disappointment with the final result.
(v) How does this extract serve as a fitting conclusion to the story?
Ans. This extract brings the story's central conflict to its climax and
resolution. The narrator completely rejects the photographer's artificially
perfected image and reaffirms his belief in authenticity and self-acceptance.
His sarcastic attack on photographic retouching exposes the absurdity of
valuing technical perfection over genuine identity. The final line, “I broke
into tears and left,” combines humour and pathos, providing a memorable ending
that reinforces Leacock's satire on professional arrogance, modern
artificiality, and the loss of individuality.
