Class 11 English Lesson 7: Reference to the Context

 

Reference to the context

a.      Suspense is the feeling of anticipation you may have as you read. In this story, what details contributed to your feelings of suspense and surprise? Explain.

This story is a nice combination of suspense and surprise. Here, the feeling of suspense is created about the personal and past life of the astrologer. The reader is told that he was not intended to be an astrologer. He left his village without any previous plan. The readers are also told that astrology is not his family business. This creates a curiosity in the mind of the reader about the reasons why he broke this ancestral cycle and was forced to leave his home all of a sudden. The sense of suspense continues with the astrologer's encounter with the stranger. 

The astrologer catches a glimpse of the stranger’s face in the flash of light created by the matchstick and immediately refuses to accept the stranger’s challenge. At the end of the story, the readers are surprised by the revelation of the fact that the astrologer was the person who stabbed the stranger and left them for dead when he was drunk during one of his days as a youngster.

b.     Analyse the conflicts in “An Astrologer’s Day.” Explain how the conflicts are resolved and what they reveal about the characters involved in the story.

In the story, conflicts arise when a stranger appears as a client of the astrologer on the site to consult him. The astrologer is packing up his things and is ready to call him one day. The stranger challenges the astrologer to provide specific answers to his questions. As the stranger lights his cheroot, he catches a glimpse of his face to tell the stranger something that will satisfy him. The stranger is surprised to be told about his past life by the astrologer and agrees to give up his search for his enemy, who was declared to have been crushed under a lorry. The astrologer ensures a safe and secure life for himself hereafter.

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rJfRf1miHk 

 

c.      “All right. I will speak. But will you give me a rupee if what I say is convincing? Otherwise, I will not open my mouth, and you may do what you like.”

i.       Who is the speaker?

The astrologer is the speaker.

ii.     Who is he speaking to?

He is speaking to Guru Nayak.

iii.  What does the expression ‘open my mouth’ mean?

The expression “open your mouth” means conveying convincing information about the stranger.

d.     The description helps readers visualize what is happening in a story. What details and techniques does the author use to describe the astrologer?

The astrologer is an impressive character. He can develop a new personality and survive in a densely populated urban environment by using his intelligence. The astrologer lives by his wits. Despite having no mystical knowledge, he knows how to put on a show to attract passers-by. He must sit for long hours to collect enough to keep himself and his family alive from day to day. In addition to his intelligence, he is courageous and determined. When he is dealing with Guru Nayak and his life is in danger, he still insists on bargaining for money. He brings every single anna home to his wife so that she can buy food for the family. He is a devoted husband and father.

The story has the mode of third-person omniscience. The use of dialogue throughout the story serves the function of providing multiple points of view without changing the overall authority of the narrator. The story is set in Town Hall Park, in the late evening.

e.      The irony is a contrast between appearances and reality. What is ironic about Guru Nayak’s meeting with the astrologer?

The irony of the situation centres around the meeting of Guru Nayak’s meeting with the astrologer. He comes to the astrologer for help in finding and killing the man he is talking about. The man whom Guru Nayak is looking for is none other than the astrologer. He makes Guru Nayak wait and bargain for the money. When he finally calls the stranger by his name and tells him about the incident that happened in the village, he has Guru Nayak in the palm of his hand.

f.       How does the astrologer’s manner of dress suit his character?

The main character in this story is an astrologer. He wears a saffron turban. He presents himself so perfectly that he is a point of attraction for all the people. He helps the customers satisfy their needs with his work analysis of their troubles, like marriage, money, etc. Due to his sense, many people are attracted to him. His eyes are assumed to have a prophetic light by his customers, and everyone thinks of him as a wise astrologer.

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