Chapter - 8: The Pie and the Tart
— By Hugh Chesterman
Comprehension Questions
I. Answer briefly the following questions.
1) “If I stop walking, I shall freeze”, said Pierre. “I prefer to die sitting down”, said Jean. This shows. a. that it was extremely cold in Paris on that day b. that Jean is quick-witted and reacts intelligently c. their ability to laugh at and talk lightly about their miserable condition.
Answer: (c) their ability to laugh at and talk lightly about their miserable condition.
2) Why was Pierre pinched? How did he defend himself before Judge Gaston?
Answer: Pierre was arrested for begging. He defended himself before the judge saying that he begged because he wanted to live.
3) “I really don’t see the necessity”, said Judge Gaston. This remark is a reflection on … a. the judge’s insensitivity b. how people felt about vagabonds in those days c. the judge’s sense of humor
Answer: (a) the judge’s insensitivity
4) What, according to Pierre, is a sure sign of starvation?
Answer: Squinting slightly is a sure sign of starvation.
5.
Answer: M. Gaultier, the owner of the cake shop, opens the door.
6) Pick out the common response of Gaultier and Marion to the Vagabond’s begging.
Answer: Both of them say, “Go away, I’ve got nothing for you.” Gaultier says that his wife is away and he is busy, whereas Marion says that her husband is away and she is busy.
7) Choose from the box given below the phrases/adjectives that can be used to describe Gaultier. Marion and Pierre. content with his lot, conceited, hypocritical, foolish A-stoutish, clever, has presence of mind, sensitive, comely, generous, kind, quick-witted, gullible, resourceful, pompous, excellent pastry cook.
Answer: Gaultier: content with his lot, hypocritical, foolish, sensitive, pompous, excellent pastry cook. Marion : conceited, stoutish, comely, gullible. Pierre : clever, has presence of mind, quick-witted, resourceful.
8) “I can’t very well be seen carrying an eel pie through the streets of Paris. Can I?” says Gaultier. This shows that he is a) Lazy b) wise c) too conscious and proud of his position
Answer: (c) too conscious and proud of his position.
9) What details of the conversation between the baker and his wife help Jean in his planning?
Answer: The baker tells his wife that he would instruct the messenger to kiss his wife’s hand. This helps Jean in his planning.
10) Why does Jean ask Pierre to get the pie instead of taking it himself?
Answer: Jean had already knocked once on the door and had already been seen by Marion.
11.
Answer: Pierre mixes up the words and says, “Good morning lady. I have come from M. Pie, who sends me to fetch the Gaultier – I should say I have come from M. Gaultier, who sends me to fetch the pie – the eel pie.”
12) How was Marion going to identify Gaultier’s messenger?
Answer: The messenger had to ask to kiss Marion’s hand.
13) Jean does not give the details of the conservation between the baker and his wife to Pierre, as
a) it is not necessary
b) Jean wants to play the boss :
c) Jean wants to take advantage of the situation
Answer: (c) Jean wants to take advantage of the situation
14) Pick out any one comparison that Pierre mentions while describing to Marion how he would cany the eel pie?
Answer: Pierre gives many comparisons. One of them is ‘as a shepherd with his ewes.
15) Why does Pierre think he was dreaming?
Answer: Marion handed the pie to Pierce very easily and looking at it, in his extremely hungry state, Pierre thinks he has been dreaming.
16) Why do the vagabonds go back to the bakery after eating the pie?
Answer:
17) What makes Pierre say that the eels “give themselves up to Gaultier”? What does it tell you about the baker?
Answer: Pierre means that Gaultier is such a wonderful baker that even the eels wouldn’t mind dying at his hands if they could only be used in his wonderful pies. Since Pierre mentions that even the tart looked very inviting, we conclude that Gaultier is an excellent baker.
18) What is the only one fault that Pierre finds with the eel pie?
Answer: Pierre thinks the only fault with the pie was that there was only one pie and not two.
19.
Answer: Marion opens the door.
20) Does Jean get the tart? What happens to him? Why?
Answer: No. Jean does not get the tart. M. Gaultier runs out of the shop and starts cudgeling him. Gaultier thinks that it was Jean who had come to take the pie before.
21) Why did Jean lie to Pierre and send him to fetch the tart?
Answer: Jean resented the beating he had got at M. Gaultier’s hands, and wanted Pierre to experience the same since he too had eaten the pie with Jean.
22) What did Jean tell Pierre to convince him that Pierre should go to get the tart?
Answer: Jean tells that Marion wanted the same messenger who took the pie to take the tart too. He also says that no matter how many times he kissed Marion’s hand, she wouldn’t budge an inch.
23) Give one example to show that Marion has a good sense of humour.
Answer: Marion asks Gaultier to choose a good-looking messenger as her hand is not for everyone to kiss.
II. Close Study: Read the following extracts carefully. Discuss in pairs and then write the answers to the questions given below them:
1) Pierre: He does not catch them. They give themselves up. No eel could resist the blandishments of such an artist as M. Gaultier.
a) What does ‘them’ refer to?
Answer: The eels.
b) What does the above statement tell us about Gaultier?
Answer: It tells us that Gaultier is such a wonderful baker that the eels do not mind dying if they could be included in one of his pies. They voluntarily die so that he could use them in his pie.
c) What prompts Pierre to give such a compliment to Gaultier?
Answer: Pierre, along with Jean, has just finished eating the pie that Gaultier had baked. That wonder pie, on a starving stomach, prompts him to give such a compliment.
2) Gaultier: I can’t very well be seen carrying an eel pie through the streets of Paris, can I? … Do you think you could bring it along after me? Where is Gaultier supposed to carry the pie?
Answer: Gaultier is supposed to carry the pie to the house of the Mayor of Paris.
b) What does the passage tell you about his character?
Answer: It tells us that Gaultier is very conscious of his position and importance, and thinks too high of himself.
c) Who is he addressing?
Answer: He is speaking to his wife, Marion.
III. Paragraph Writing. Discuss in pairs/groups of 4 each the answers to the following questions. Individually, note down the points for each question and then develop the points into one-paragraph answers.
1) Jean and Pierre have a lot of similarities. But the dramatist ensures that in spite of their similarities, they are different enough to be individuals. How are Jean and Pierre similar? How are they different? (Answer these sub-questions in a paragraph each).
Answer: Jean and Pierre are both vagabonds. Both are shivering in the cold weather. Both have good sense of humour. Both are determined to get ‘ something to eat that day. They do not wallow in self-pity.
Answer: Plays meant to be enacted. Stage directions help to stage the play effectively. Even young, inexperienced people can stage it. Director can change movements if he wants to.
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