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Summary
- The narrator was driving through the foothills of the Alps along with his companion. While driving on the outskirts of Verona, two young boys who sold wild strawberries stopped their car. The small boys appeared to be quite shabby and the driver was not keen on buying strawberries from them. Then the narrator’s companion got to know that the boys were brothers. The elder one aged 13 was Nicola, and the younger brother, aged 12, was Jacopo. The narrator and his companion bought the biggest basket of strawberries from the boys and went towards the city. The next morning, they again saw the same two boys doing the shoe shining job and on being asked, they said that they did many things for a living. They also told the narrator and his companion that they could work as guides and show the visitors places of interest in the town. So, the narrator asked them to take them around. During the time of their stay in the town, the two young boys turned out to be very helpful to the visitors.
- Then, the boys were found with a bundle of unsold newspapers and were ready to sell them when the last bus arrived one night. The narrator asked them why they were working so hard. He also told them that they seemed to fetch sufficient money and asked why they were not spending anything on clothes and food. Nicola told him that they had something in their minds but he did not elaborate.Jacopo then requested the narrator to drop them in his car to the village Polenta that was around 30 kilometres away. Nicola did not like the fact that his brother was troubling the narrator. But the narrator gladly agreed to help the boys reach that place. So, the next afternoon, he along with his companion drove to the village. After reaching the place, the small boys entered a large red-roofed villa, which was actually a hospital. When the narrator entered the hospital he saw those boys talking to a girl who was a patient in the hospital. When the narrator entered the hospital he saw those boys talking to a girl who was a patient in the hospital. He tried to find out from the nurse about the girl in the hospital and the boys. Later, the nurse told him that Lucia was the sister of those two boys and was suffering from tuberculosis. She also mentioned that a bomb destroyed their home during the war. And even their father, a widower, had got killed during the early part of the war. When he died, his three children were left to starve. She told the narrator that the boys became a part of the resistance movement. Once the war was over, Lucia got afflicted with tuberculosis and the boys had to admit her to the hospital. So, they had been trying their best to make the payments regularly to the hospital.
- The narrator waited outside the room. He did not say anything to the boys on their way back in order to give the impression that he did not know about their secret.
Glossary
- shrug – raise one’s shoulders slightly and momentarily
- tunic – a loose outer garment without sleeves
- slackened –reduced
- demeanour–appearance and behaviour
- artless –innocent, guileless
- hawk – sell things crying out loudly, going from place to place
- deserted –uninhabited, unoccupied
- emigrate – take up citizenship of another country
- vexation –annoyance
- vestibule –lobby
- chatter –a series of short, quick, high-pitched sounds
- intrude –enter without permission
- rubble –debris, broken bricks
- convey – express
- glanced – looked at
- shabby – untidy
- provoked – incited
- worn – damaged
- steady – firm
- tunic– a loose outer garment without
- sleeves
- engaging– attractive
- gathered– collected
- frequently – often
- skinny frame – lean body
- relied upon – trusted
- gazing – staring, looking
- errands – going here and there doing
- work for others
- tangled – twisted
- deserted– uninhabited, lonely
- earnest – serious
- emigrate to leave one’s country /to live in another country
- barely – hardly
- burst out – spoke quickly
- shoe shine – polishing the shoes
- pause – silence
- brisk – quick
- vexation-annoAnswer
Exercise with Answer
Choose the correct synonyms for the underlined words from the options given.
1. He shrugged his shoulders to convey his disapproval.
a) bent
b) shook
c) drooped
d) raised
2. ------- the other a shortened army tunic gathered in loose folds.
a) collected
b) carried
c) opened
d) closed
3. Jacopo who barely came up to the door handle of the car, was nearly 12.
a) surely
b) happily
c) hardly
d) sadly
4. ------- then as trade slackened we went over.
a) party
b) business
c) function
d) meeting
5. They were in many ways quite artless.
a) ugly
b) beautiful
c) innocent
d) proper
6. In the week which followed we saw them frequently.
a) often
b) rarely
c) seldom
d) happily
7. One day we came upon them in a windy and deserted square -------
a) inhabited
b) crowded
c) sandy
d) empty
8. There was a pause.
a) order
b) silence
c) movement
d) laughter
9. ------- before I could recover breath my two passengers had leaped from the car.
a) ran
b) walked
c) jumped
d) danced
10. Everything is so difficult now, food so scarce and dear, we could not keep going unless we charged
a fee.
a) d
d) sad
Answers
1. d
2. a
3. c
4. b
5. c
6. a
7. d
8. b
9. c
10. a
Antonyms
- shabby × neat
- extremely × mildly, moderately
- worn × new
- windy × calm
- loose × tight
- deserted × inhabited
- tangled × straight
- tiny × big, huge
- earnest × frivolous, indifferent
- scarcely × sufficiently
- strangely × commonly
- pleasant × ugly
- brisk × slow
- pretty × ugly
- seriously × casually
- early × late
- hopefully × doubtfully
- destroyed × created
- lively × dull, gloomy
- comfortable × uncomfortable
- steady× unsteady, unreliable
- horribly × attractively
- frequently × seldom
- exposure initial
Exercise with Answer
Choose the correct antonyms for the underlined words from the options given.
1. He shrugged his shoulders to convey his disapproval of their shabby appearance.
a) dirty
b) neat
c) tattered
d) ragged
2. ------- we saw our friends bent over shoe shine boxes beside the fountain in the public
square, doing brisk business.
a) slow
b) quick
c) poor
d) difficult
3. In the week which followed we saw then frequently.
a) often
b) regularly
c) seldom
d) happily
4. The following afternoon we drove to the tiny village.
a) small
b) dirty
c) neat
d) huge
5. A pleasant-looking woman with steel-rimmed spectacles appeared.
a) good
b) ugly
c) beautiful
d) sad
6. Their father, a widower, a well-known singer, had been killed in the early part of the war.
a) late
b) primary
c) timely
d) initial
Answers
1. b
2. a
3. c
4. d
5. b
6. a
1. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each based on your understanding
of the story.
a) Whom did the narrator meet at the outskirts of Verona?
- The narrator met two brothers, Nicola and Jacopo at the outskirts of Verona.
b) Why did the driver not approve of the narrator buying fruits from the boys?
- The boys looked very shabby and the driver thought that the fruits might not be neat and clean. So he did not approve of the narrator buying fruits from the boys.
c) The boys did not spend much on clothes and food. Why?
- Though the boys earned enough money, they did not spend much money on clothes and food because they had to pay every week for the treatment of their sister.
d) Were the boys saving money to go to the States? How do you know?
- The boys did not have any idea of going to the States. They told the narrator they had some other plans for the money they earned.
e) Why did the author avoid going to Lucia’s room?
- The author saw the boys talking to their sister in the hospital. He avoided going inside the room because he decided not to interfere in the family get-together.
f) What was Lucia suffering from?
- Lucia was ailing from tuberculosis of the spine.
g) What made the boys join the Resistance Movement against the Germans?
- The boys lost their father and the house because of the war. When the Germans started ruling them, they hated them. So they joined the Resistance Movement against the Germans.
h) What made the boys work so hard?
- Their wish to cure their sister of tuberculosis made them work so hard.
i) Why didn’t the boys disclose their problem to the author?
- The boys wanted to keep their family matter with themselves. So they did not disclose their problem to the author.
2. Answer the following questions in three or four sentences each.
a) Describe the appearance of Nicola and Jacopo.
- Nicola and Jacopo were brothers. Nicola was 13 and Jacopo seemed to be 12. They looked shabby with a worn jersey and a shortened army tunic. They had brown skin, tangled hair and earnest eyes. The author was strangely attracted towards them.
b) What were the various jobs undertaken by the little boys?
- They sold fruit to the tourists. They shined shoes at the public square. They guided the tourists to different tourist centers. They sold newspapers.
c) How did the narrator help the boys on Sunday?
- On every Sunday the boys used to travel to a village Poleta, 30 kilometres from their place. They usually hired cycles to go there. Jacopo asked the narrator to take them to Poleta in his car. He readily accepted and took them to Poleta in his car.
d) Who took the author to the cubicle?
- When the author and the boys reached a good-looking villa the boys went inside. Out of curiosity the author followed them. He rang the bell and a nurse opened the door. Now he realised that it was a hospital. The nurse took him to the cubicle.
e) Describe the girl with whom the boys were talking to in the cubicle.
- The two boys were sitting near a girl of about twenty. She wore a pretty lace jacket. Her eyes were soft and tender. She resembled the two boys. The nurse informed the author that she was Lucia, the sister of those boys and she was being treated for tuberculosis.
f) Recount untold sufferings undergone by the siblings after they were rendered homeless.
- They lost their father in the War. They had a comfortable life before the death of their father. Shortly after they lost their house in bombing. So the three children were thrown into the street. They all suffered from near starvation and severe cold. For few months they lived in a make –shift shelter they managed to build. Then the girl was affected by tuberculosis.
g) The narrator did not utter a word and preferred to keep the secret to himself. Why?
- Substantiate the statement with reference to the story.The boys did not want to reveal that they were earning to treat their sister suffering from tuberculosis. When the narrator went to Poleta with the boys he came to know about their problem. Once he asked the boys whether they were earning to emigrate to the States, they said they had some other plan. So the narrator understood they wanted to keep it as a secret. He did not want to spoil their dignity and intrude into their private lives.
3. Answer the following in a paragraph of 100 – 150 words each.
a) What was the driving force that made the boys do various jobs?
Title : Two Gentlemen of Verona
Author : A.J. Cronin
Theme : Supreme sacrifice of two boys for their suffering sister
Sacrifice we make for others and that others make for us, result in blessings for all.
- The narrator was driving through the foothills of the Alps along with his companion. While driving on the outskirts of Verona, two young boys who sold wild strawberries stopped their car. The small boys appeared to be quite shabby and the driver was not keen on buying strawberries from them. Then the narrator’s companion got to know that the boys were brothers. The elder one aged 13 was Nicola, and the younger brother, aged 12, was Jacopo. Then the narrator came to know that the boys did many jobs to earn money. They shinned shoes, guided the tourists and sold newspaper. Before the War they had a very comfortable life but the war devastated their life. They lost their father and their house. They were thrown into the streets and suffered from starvation and severe cold. Because of this, tuberculosis affected their sister Lucia but it did not crush their spirit. They admitted her in a posh hospital for treatment. They had to pay the hospital bill every week. Their love for their sister was the driving force that made the boys do various jobs.
Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place.
b) How was the family affected by the war?
Title : Two Gentlemen of Verona
Author : A.J. Cronin
Theme : Supreme sacrifice of two boys for their suffering sister
Shortly afterward a bomb had destroyed their home and thrown the three children into the streets.
- The narrator was driving through the foothills of the Alps along with his companion.
- While driving on the outskirts of Verona, two young boys who sold wild strawberries stopped their car.
- The small boys appeared to be quite shabby and the driver was not keen on buying strawberries from them. Then the narrator’s companion got to know that the boys were brothers.
- The elder one aged 13 was Nicola, and the younger brother, aged 12, was Jacopo. Before the War they had a very comfortable life but the war devastated their life.
- They lost their father and their house. They were thrown into the streets. They suffered from starvation and severe cold. For months together they lived with a lot of difficulties. They stayed in a make-shift shelter they built over the rubble. Then the boys joined the resistance movement against Germans. By the time their sister was affected by tuberculosis. This made them work a lot to earn money to treat their sister.
War is what happens when language fails.
c) Write a character sketch of Nicola and Jacopo.
Title : Two Gentlemen of Verona
Author : A.J. Cronin
Theme : Supreme sacrifice of two boys for their suffering sister
Yet in both these boyish faces there was a seriousness which was far beyond their years.
- ‘The two gentlemen of Verona’ are the boys in the story, Nicola and Jacopo. Nicola, aged 13, was the elder brother of Jacopo aged 12. Both the siblings were very sincere and self-sacrificing.
- They were prepared to do anything for helping their sister Lucia to recover from tuberculosis. They lived a hard life and did all sorts of odd jobs. Right from shining shoes, selling fruit, distributing newspapers, to working as tourist guides and running their errands, they still looked contented and maintained their self-respect. They did not have the intention of talking about their struggles and sufferings.
- They wanted to keep it a secret. During the war period, they started hating Germans and also joined the Resistance Movement for their country’s freedom.
d) What message is conveyed through the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’?
Title : Two Gentlemen of Verona
Author : A.J. Cronin
Theme : Supreme sacrifice of two boys for their suffering sister
Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life,
gave promise of a greater hope for human society.
- J. Cronin wrote this memoir after visiting Verona. The short story’s title is inspired by a popular Shakespeare’s play. Nevertheless, the main idea of the author is to underline the virtues that make a man a real man. The story captures the sentiment that true humanity is not about letting go, and it is about courage and determination. The two young gentlemen of Verona face their difficulties head on without a single complaint. When the author tried to tell them they were working too much, they simply said they had no complaint. Their love for the agonising sister is amazing. Their dignity of labour is remarkable. Their dedication for their sister is supreme. Their selfless action brought a new nobility to human life and gave promise of a greater hope for human society. Their love and emotional strength are truly commendable. And the boys’ maturity and sense of responsibility are also praiseworthy. The author says that in both the boyish face there was a seriousness which was far beyond their age. These boys display exemplary courage amidst extreme poverty and devastation and the author manages to find real inspiration from their lives.
Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have or do.
e) Justify the title of the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’.
Title : Two Gentlemen of Verona
Author : A.J. Cronin
Theme :Supreme sacrifice of two boys for their suffering sister
Age does not define your maturity.
- Taken from the early play by William Shakespeare, the title of this story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ is gripping. The story is about how two sincere and selfless young boys face hardships for the treatment of their sister suffering from tuberculosis. It conveys the message that as long as people are willing to make sacrifices for the well-being of others, there is hope for humanity. J. Cronin wrote this memoir after visiting Verona. The short story’s title is inspired by a popular Shakespeare’s play. Nevertheless, the main idea of the author is to underline the virtues that make a man a real man. The story captures the sentiment that true humanity is not about letting go, and it is about courage and determination. The two young gentlemen of Verona face their difficulties head on without a single complaint. Though the heroes of this short story are two boys of the age 13 and 12, their behaviour suits the grown-up men. Their composed life tells the readers they have all the qualities of gentlemen. So the title ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ is very apt for this short story.A gentleman inspires others to dream more, learn more,do more and become more
f) Adversity brings out the best as well as the worst in people. Elucidate this statement with reference to the story.
Title : Two Gentlemen of Verona
Author : A.J. Cronin
Theme : Supreme sacrifice of two boys for their suffering sister
Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of life.
- When man suffers from hardship and difficulty the best or the worst of his will be brought out. Some will try to overcome the adversity with negative elements like anti-social dealings and others will use the positive energy to overcome the adversity. The best or the worst comes out due to the pressure of adversity. In this story, the two boys use their best to overcome their problems. Nevertheless, the main idea of the author is to underline the virtues that make a man a real man. The story captures the sentiment that true humanity is not about letting go, and it is about courage and determination. They lost everything in their life except hope. The hope pushes them to use their positive energy. So this story is an example to prove that adversity brings out the best in people.You can’t be brave if you have only had wonderful things happen to you.
Title : Two Gentlemen of Verona
Author :A.J. Cronin
Theme : Supreme sacrifice of two boys for their suffering sister
Yet their devotion had touched me deeply. War had not broken their spirit.
- A.J. Cronin, the author of ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ pictures the two boys – Nicola and Jacopo – with the real characters of gentlemen. The two ‘gentlemen’ of Verona are the boys in the story, Nicola and Jacopo. Nicola, aged 13, was the elder brother of Jacopo aged 12. Both the siblings were very sincere and self-sacrificing. They were prepared to do anything for helping their sister Lucia to recover from tuberculosis. They lived a hard life and did all sorts of odd jobs. Right from shining shoes, selling fruit, distributing newspapers, to working as tourist guides and running their errands, they still looked contented and maintained their self-respect. They did not have the intention of talking about their family problem and wanted to keep it a secret. During the war period, they started hating Germans and also joined the Resistance Movement for their country’s freedom. So I like the characters of these two boys.
(Only through suffering can character be strengthened.)
Grammar part
b) Homophones and Confusables
i) Given below is a list of common confusables. Distinguish the meaning of each pair of
words by framing your own sentences.
a) emigrate – immigrate
- •My friend wants to emigrate from India.
- •He wants to immigrate to Australia.
b) beside – besides
- I was sitting beside my friend.
- People choose jobs for other reasons besides money.
c) judicial – judicious
- The minister is facing a judicial enquiry.
- Education should be the judicious mixture of skill and knowledge.
d) eligible – illegible
- He is eligible to enter the university.
- His handwriting is illegible so we cannot read the letter.
e) conscience – conscious
- As he did not receive any bribery his conscience is clear.
- He is conscious of the mistake he committed.
f) industrial – industrious
- Japan is an industrial country.
- Ant is known to be the most industrious of all insects.
g) eminent – imminent
- Her humbleness stands out in the most eminent way among her peers.
- A new trade agreement between India and China is imminent.
h) illicit – elicit
- He was caught by the police because he sold illicit liquor.
- The teacher elicited the answer from the student.
i) prescribed – proscribed
- Doctor prescribed medicine for the child.
- The two organisations were proscribed by law.
j) affect – effect
- The severe cold affects the child.
- The child is cured because of the effect of the medicine.
k) aural – oral
•
- The patient received something to assist her aural functioning.
- Oral medicine is prescribed for the child.
l) born – borne
•
- She has borne the adversity with dignity.
- She was born in Ireland.