Show Dialogues between miss mebbin blackmailing Mrs packletide into gifting her a cottage
Answers
Mrs Packeltide was in no mood to let Loona Bmberton be more famous and publicized than herself and so she decided to kill a tiger and bring more limelight and fame than the other lady had received.
What does it tell you about her?It shows she is jealous of Loona and also that she was hungry for publicity.
What is the tone of the storywriter?The story has a sarcastic tone. In a humorous tone, the author satirizes Mrs Packeltide’s hunger for fame and the haughtiness of British ladies that lived in India when it was a British colony.
Do you think she was successful in her mission?Mrs Packeltide was successful but not to a complete extent because the event had a comic ending and she frightened the tiger to death while she shot the goat instead.
What do you think the story is all about?The story is about a haughty British lady who plans to hunt a tiger for fame.
Answer the following questions in your own words:
Why did Mrs. Packletide wish to kill a tiger?Mrs Packletide had heard of Loona Bimberton’s fame after having acquired tiger skin. She was jealous and wished to give her an apt reply. So she decided to do something that could bring more fame and publicity. Thus, she went for killing a tiger.
(b) What made her decide to give a party in Loona Bimberton’s honour? What did she intend to give Loona on her birthday?
The party was just a method to show Loona down before others. Actually, Mrs Packeltide was jealous and was trying to show Loona that she was more famous than her. In this way, she wanted to make Loona feel jealous and to double her jealousy, Mrs Packeltide decided to gift her a brooch made of Tiger claws.
(c) How was the tiger shooting arranged? What kind of a tiger was chosen for the
purpose?
It was a paid arrangement. The villagers were eager to win the prize and therefore arranged for an old Tiger who could barely be dangerous. This tiger fed on cattle and could be an easy target for Mrs Packeltide’s gun.
(d) In what way did the villagers help Mrs. Packletide shoot the tiger?
The villagers were excited about the prize money. For days they kept useless cattle on loose so the Tiger kept around and did not have to go far in search of prey. They also arranged for a platform from where Mrs Packeltide could shoot the tiger.
(e) Who was Miss Mebbin? Was she really devoted to Mrs. Packletide? How did she
behave during the tiger shooting?
Miss Mebbin was just a money hungry assistant whom Mrs Packeltide had hired to lend her company during the hunt. While they were on the platform she kept chatting about money and that Mrs Packeltide must not pay the villagers as much for the old tiger. She has no real devotion for Mrs Packeltide but is manipulative and exploitative in nature.
(f) Mrs. Packletide was a good shot. Discuss.
This is a sarcastic statement. Mrs Packeltide was a bad shot. She hunted the goat and the tiger died of heart attack. However, everyone kept it a secret for money and the news got around that she was a good shot.
(g) What comment did Miss Mebbin make after Mrs Packletide had fired the shot?
Why did Miss Mebbin make this comment? How did Mrs Packletide react to this
comment?
Miss Mebbin commented that the Tiger had not been shot and that the wrong animal was hit. Mrs Packeltide was annoyed at her comment because she expected her to remain silent if she discovered anything peculiar. However, Miss Mebbin was a cunning woman and knew she could exploit this fact later.
(h) How did the villagers react to the tiger’s death?
The villagers were excited about the prize money and did not worry whether the Tiger was shot or the goat. So, they decided to keep mum about the reality so they got paid.
(i) Do you think Mrs. Packletide was able to achieve her heart’s desire? Give reasons
for your answer.
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