Thinking about the Text

I. Short Answer Questions (30–40 words each)

1. How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them.

The story has 4 characters. They are Jerome, the narrator, his two friends, George and Harris, and their mischievous dog, Montmorency.

2. Why did Jerome volunteer to do the packing?

Jerome was proud of his packing skills and volunteered. He thought he knew more about packing than anybody else.

3. How did George and Harris react? Did Jerome like their reaction?

George sat comfortably in an armchair and smoked his pipe. Harris lit a cigar and put his legs on the table. Jerome did not like their reaction because they left all the work to him.

4. What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?

Jerome’s real intention was to supervise the packing. He wanted George and Harris to work under him, so that he could correct and instruct them.

5. What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why did he wait?

Harris asked Jerome whether he had packed the boots. He probably waited until the bag was closed and strapped because he wanted to tease and irritate Jerome.

6. What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome?

Jerome suddenly wondered whether he had packed his toothbrush. This was a horrible idea because his toothbrush always troubled him whenever he travelled.

7. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?

He pulled everything out and looked carefully and finally found his toothbrush in a boot.

8. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?

Jerome realised he had packed his tobacco pouch in it by mistake and had to go back and open the bag.

9. What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?

George and Harris offered to pack the hampers. They did so because less than twelve hours remained before their journey, and much work was still unfinished.

10. While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.

• (i) They started with breaking a cup. — ✔ True

• (ii) They also broke a plate. — False

• (iii) They squashed a tomato. — ✔ True

• (iv) They trod on the butter. — ✔ True

• (v) They stepped on a banana. — False

• (vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them. — ✔ True

• (vii) They stepped on things. — ✔ True

• (viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top. — False (They packed the pies at the bottom.)

• (ix) They upset almost everything. — ✔ True

• (x) They were very good at packing. — False

(True statements: (i), (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii), (ix))

II. Montmorency’s ambition

Jerome says that Montmorency’s ambition in life was to get in everyone’s way and be scolded. He wanted people to stumble over him and throw things at him.

Montmorency was a very mischievous and troublesome dog. But his funny antics added some humour and entertainment to the packing-up scene.

III. Long-answer questions
1. Who was the best or worst packer?

Among the three friends, Jerome appears to be the best packer, although he also makes several mistakes. He forgets to pack the boots and repeatedly opens the bag to search for his toothbrush. Finally, he has to reopen it again because his tobacco pouch is inside.

George and Harris are much worse at packing. They break a cup, squash a tomato by placing the jam on it and step on the butter. They pack the pies at the bottom and put heavy objects on top of them. They also spill salt and lose the butter. Therefore, George and Harris are the worst packers.

2. How did Montmorency “contribute” to the packing?

Montmorency contributed to the packing by creating trouble. He sat on the things just when George and Harris wanted to pack them. Whenever they reached for something, he placed his cold, wet nose near their hands.

He put his foot in the jam and knocked the teaspoons over. He pretended that the lemons were rats, jumped into the hamper and spoilt three of them. What he did held up the work and made everyone mad. Thus, his “contribution” was only to create confusion and amusement.

3. Do you find this story funny? What are its humorous elements?

Yes, the story is very funny. Its humour comes from the characters’ mistakes and their strange behaviour. Jerome claims to be an expert packer, but he forgets the boots and repeatedly searches for his toothbrush. He also accidentally packs his tobacco pouch.

George and Harris break a cup, squash a tomato and step on the butter. They put the butter on a chair, and Harris sits on it. Then they search everywhere, not realising it is stuck to Harris. Montmorency adds more humour by putting his leg in the jam and treating the lemons as if they were rats. These incidents make the story highly amusing.