TABLE OF CONTENTS

3
UNIT 1

First Attempt and Challenges

4
UNIT 2

Environment and Nature

6
UNIT 3

Changing Attitudes

7
UNIT 4

Acquiring Values

9
UNIT 5

The Lighter Side (Humor and Fun)

10
UNIT 8

True Friendship
 FBISE ENGLISH COMPULSORY // HSSC - 1
AUTHOR NAMES & LESSON TYPES
No. Title Author Type
Unit 1: First Attempt and Challenges
1.1 His First Flight Liam O’ Flaherty Story
1.2 First Year at Harrow Sir Winston S. Churchill Essay
1.3 First Day of School Howard Nemerov Poem
Unit 2: Environment and Nature
2.1 It’s Country for me Patricia Demuth Story
2.2 Our Environment Frank S. Skarpitti Essay
2.3 Tears of Nature Graeme King Poem
Unit 3: Changing Attitudes
3.1 The Blanket Floyd Dell Story
3.2 The Way it was Bill Cosby Autobiography
3.3 The Most Beautiful Cheryl L. Costello-Forshey
Poem
Flower
Unit 4: Acquiring Values
4.1 The Scholarship Jacket Marta Salinas Story
4.2 A Long walk home Jason Bocarro Story
4.3 Be the Best Douglas Malloch Poem
Unit 5: The Lighter Side (Humor and Fun)
5.1 Fly Away Ralph Helfer Narrative
5.2 The Man who was a Jerome K. Jerome
Extract from a Novel
Hospital
5.3 When I’m an Old Lady Joanne Bailey Baxter Poem
Unit 6: Learning to Communicate
6.1 Finding a Job -
Dialogue
6.2 A Stressful Job -
6.3 Writing Formal Letters -
Instructions
6.4 Writing Resumes/CVs -
Unit 7: Visiting the Dentist
7.1 Making an -
appointment
7.2 At the reception - Dialogue
7.3 Dental Check-up -
7.4 Dental Hygiene -
Unit 8: True Friendship
8.1 Damon and Pythias Fan Kissen One- Act Play

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o A: The author Sir Winston S. Churchill was twelve of
UNIT 1: FIRST ATTEMPT AND CHALLENGES age and he introduced his essay by recalling that that
he had scarcely passed his twelfth birthday when he
1.1 His First Flight entered “the inhospitable regions examination” where
Prelude: In the story His First Flight by Liam O’ Flaherty he was destined to be in the “regions” for the next
• Q1: What is the young seagull afraid of? seven years.
o A: The young seagull is afraid of flying. Every time he
takes a run forward to the brink of the ledge, he gets • Q2: Which subjects were dearest to Churchill and which
afraid. That’s why he remains unable to muster up the ones were fancied by the examiners?
courage to take the plunge to fly. He feels that his o A: Churchill’s choice was very different from that of
wings would never support him so he always runs the examiners. His dearest subjects were history,
back. poetry and writing essays and he would have liked to
be examined in these subjects. The examiners, on the
• Q2: Why don’t his parents, his brothers and sister give other hand were partial to Latin and mathematics. As
him food? so, the will of the examiners prevailed and Churchill
o A: The parents and siblings of the young seagull don’t had to be examined on the latter subjects.
give him food, because they want him to gain
confidence in flying. If they give him food, he wouldn’t • Q3: In which way did Mr. Weldon take a broadminded
have the incentive to fly. Therefore, they decide to view of Churchill’s Latin?
leave him alone and hungry on the ledge, hopeful he o When Churchill appeared for the entry test for
would take the leap to fly in lieu of staving. Harrow, he was unable to answer a single question in
the Latin paper. However, the headmaster of Harrow -
• Q3: What does his mother do to force him to fly? Mr. Weldon, took a broad-minded view of his Latin
o A: The mother of the young seagull tempts him with prose. He showed discernment in judging his general
food to encourage him to fly. She picks up a piece of ability instead of sticking to his performance, this got
fish and takes it almost within the reach of the young Mr. Weldon to admit him into Harrow.
seagull’s beak – but then she withholds the food from
him just out of his grasp. The young seagull grows • Q4: How were the names printed in the school’s list, and
impatient and leaps for the piece of fish, his mother at which position did Churchill’s name appear?
pulls back and he falls from the ledge, but his wings o A: The names were printed in the school’s list in
help him in flying. alphabetic order, Churchill was placed in the lowest
division for two reasons. Firstly, his performance in
• Q4: What does he feel when he finally flaps his wings the entrance examination was not tremendous.
and finds that he is not falling? Secondly, the list was sorted in the alphabetic order.
o A: When the young seagull jumped off the ledge, a Therefore, as his name began with ‘S’ Spencer, his
monstrous terror seized over him. His heart stood still, name was printed at the very bottom of the list.
but it lasted only for a moment. The next moment his • Q5: What was Mr. Somervell’s system of teaching
winds spread outwards and help him fly. He utters English?
different sounds, joyous from his success. His family o A: Mr. Somervell was one of the best teachers of
also flies with him and appreciates him. English. He regarded grammar as an important
element of the language. He helped the students in
1.2 First Year at Harrow analyzing long complex sentences and broke it up into
Prelude: In the essay First Year at Harrow by Winston the components by means of colored inks, different
Spencer Churchill for subject, verb, object, relative clauses etc. Each had
• Q1: How old was Churchill when he entered “the its colors and its bracket.
inhospitable regions of examinations”?

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UNIT 2: ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE • Q5: What skills must a farmer have to run a farm like the
Hollands?
2.1 It’s Country for Me o A: To run a farm like the Hollands, farmers have to
Prelude: In the story His First Flight by Patricia Demuth have many skills. They have to be machine operators,
• Q1: How does Joel feel about getting out of bed at 11:15 driving immense and powerful vehicles; they have to
P.M. to feed the lamb? How can you tell? be mechanics, repairing them; husbandmen, raising
o A: Joel feels enthusiastic about it because at once, He livestock; veterinarians, tending them when sick;
gets up from his bed and greets their dog, Jessica and agriculturists, growing good on a large scale; and
ruffles her thick fur as they lop together to the barn. In businesspeople, managing (like Joel’s father, Ed) a
one hand he carries Lamby’s meal - milk replacement farm operation worth nearly one million dollars
in a soda-pop bottle capped by a black nipple.
“It was 11:15 at night when Joel, reading in bed, heard • Q6: Joel says that of all the places on earth, he would
his mother call up, “Joel, come and feed Lamby, will choose to live “right here” – on the farm. Do you think
you?” She usually fed the orphaned lamb, but tonight his choice is a good one?
she had come home from a meeting and did not want o A: Yes, as Joel says “You just don’t have the freedom
to go to the barn wearing good clothes.” or the responsibilities in a city” Farm lands tend to be
more spacious, one could truly live there unlike the
• Q2: Describe the Hollands farm small, expensive apartments the cities have to offer.
o A: The Holland farm is in the North-Western corner of They are generally much quieter and more peaceful.
Illinois, in a small town of 400 people called Scales On the contrary, cities tend to overcrowded and filled
Mound. It is just a few miles away from the highest with noise pollution of every corner
point in the state. It is an area of 245-acres. It was
bought by Joel's great-great-grandfather, James • Q7: In a sentence, state the main idea of the story
Holland in 1860, five generations ago. The soil has o A: The main idea of the story is that it does not matter
been pampered for over 120 years what profession you have adopted; you can earn
enough and enjoy life. But you must work hard and
• Q3: In what ways does Joel play the role of an adult? devote yourself to the profession.
o A: The daily chores that Joel does help in running the
farm and to support the family. Joel is a teenager, 13 2.2 Our Environment
years old yet he does the work of an adult. Unlike Prelude: In the Essay Our Environment by Frank S.
most families, where the parents alone make the Skarpitti
money, farm families like The Hollands work together. • Q1: Why did man start corrupting the environment?
Each child’s labor is not only important to the family’s What were the reasons?
well-being, it is essential. o A: In the 1950s, only a few alert scientists predicted
our present despair. Back then, “resources seemed
• Q4: Does Joel agree with his brother about the rewards unlimited, the air was fresh and clean, and rivers and
of a farming life? oceans were seen as elements to be harnessed power
o A: Joel’s older brother, Bill talks about the rewards of from and used to dispose of waste.” However, our
farming saying “It’s a good independent life, you’re environment now is a social problem and not only a
your own boss”. Joel agrees with his brother, if Joel problem for the sciences. This is because of the greed
could choose any place to live, he guesses he’d live element in humans
right here, in the country. Furthermore, if he had to
live in the city for a year, Joel says he would miss the • Q2: Why does the author say that environment is now a
land and seeing things grow. social problem?
o A: The author says, “Our environment is now a social
problem, not just a problem for the sciences. With
huge increases in air, water and land pollution in the
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past quarter century, the world we now live in poses befitting manner? What kind of world we would be
problems of health and welfare for a large portion of living in fifty years from now, a hundred years from
the population. A dirty lake or river not only affects now?
those who live near it, but it also affects the entire o A: Common public acceptance of the problem,
ecosphere.” combined with real concern is the only way the
society as a whole can deal with the costs and efforts
• Q3: What is an ecosystem? How does nature keep the of the clean-up ahead. If society does not respond to
ecosystem balanced? the question about our environment in a befitting
o A: Biologists refer to the intricate web of relationships manner, we would be digging our own graves.
between all living things and the physical environment Eventually, our planet, the Earth would become
they share as the ecosystem. It has been shown that inhabitable. In fifty years from now, clean water
each living thing plays a part in this ecosystem. There would be become scarce; so much so that wars could
is a food chain, in which organisms that produce their be incited over our basic necessity. In a hundred years
own food using the sun’s energy (green plants) are from now, if we are to continue in the same rate,
eaten by small animals, which in turn are eaten by homo sapiens would become extinct.
larger animals
UNIT 3: CHANGING ATTITUDES
• Q4: Why does an alteration in one part of the ecosystem
impact other parts of the ecosystem? 3.1 The Blanket by Floyd Dell
o A: An alteration in one part of the ecosystem impacts Prelude: In the story The Blanket, written by Floyd Dell
other parts of the ecosystem because it can bring • Q1: What do Peter and Granddad talk about when the
harm to human and animal life and damage our story begins?
environment. “An illustration can be seen in the o A: Peter and Granddad talk about a red and black
outcome of the campaign wages in South Africa blanket. The blanket is a going away gift from Peter’s
against the hippopotami that used to graze on Father to Peter’s Grandad. Peter’s Father is going to
agricultural land. The hippo population was marry a new girl and his Granddad will have to leave
successfully reduced, but new problems set in. It for an old home the next morning. Peter is frustrated
turned out that the movement of hippos kept the at his Father for sending his Granddad to an old home.
channels open.
• Q2: Who is giving the blanket as a gift to whom? Why is
• Q5: What is the question before the society now? How the blanket called a going away gift?
could the society respond to this question? o A: Peter’s Father is giving the red and black double
o A: The question before our society is both elementary blanket to Peter’s Granddad as a gift for going away. It
and monumental. is called a going away gift because Granddad will be
“Will we pay for the clean-up our environment? How leaving for an old home with that blanket. Peter is
will we pay? Can we simple pay cash, or must we give frustrated that Granddad is leaving and Granddad
up some of our now taken for granted machines and tries to be optimistic about the whole situation,
luxuries?” making it seem like it is the best option.
Society could respond to this question by
“forming action groups to ensure passage of • Q3: Why is Peter’s Dad sending Grandad away and
environmental legislation. Moreover, ecology courses where to?
should be given at many levels of the education o A: Peter’s Dad is getting married and he plans on
system; and just plain watching for one’s own garbage sending Grandad away to an old home. Peter is
and littering is a beginning.” frustrated over this, but the Grandad tried to make
the best of the situation and say: “It’s a fine girl your
• Q6: What do you think would happen if society does not father’s going to marry. He will feel young again with
respond to the question about environment in a a pretty wife like that. And what would an old fellow
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like me do around the house, getting in the way, with however. There are personality differences, difference
backaches and pains in perspectives and also just basic conflicts of
interests.
• Q4: Why does Peter’s Dad get angry with the girl he is
going to marry? • Q3: Bill Cosby said that he was “falling into the great
o A: Peter’s Dad had bought Grandad a blanket as a American trap” by buying a stereo for his daughter.
going away gift. When Grandad tells the girl Peter’s What does he mean by it?
Dad is going to marry about this blanket, she starts o A: He alludes to the lure of capitalism and achieving
arguing over how it “must have cost a pretty penny”. the great American Dream. People work to gain social
Peter’s Dad gets annoyed with her because it was her mobility and prosperity in turn to provide happiness
for whom he was sending his father away. through material possessions for their family. By “the
• Q5: Why does Peter ask his father to cut the blanket in great American trap” Cosby is referring that he should
two? provide his daughter an expensive stereo and make
o A: Peter was frustrated at his Father for sending her happy.
Granddad away. In order express his emotions, he
asks his father to have the blanket cut in two. He • Q4: Why did Cosby pretend to like his daughter’s music?
intends to give one half to his Granddad and save the o A: When Cosby’s daughter played a record on the
other half for his Dad for when he grows old and had stereo, he thought it sounded like a “train
to be sent away to an old home. This gives us an derailment”. However, he pretended to like it because
important lesson of “as you sow, so shall you reap”. he was trying to reach out to her generation. He
wanted her to think he too, was cool and understood
• Q6: Why do all three – Peter, Dad and Granddad – cry at her generation.
the end of the story?
o A: When Peter expresses his frustration by asking his • Q5: What was humorous about the way Cosby described
Father to cut the blanket in two, all three of them – the volume of his daughter’s music?
Peter, Dad and Granddad come to an important o A: Cosby’s description of his daughter playing the
realization that there is great pain of heartache in music on top volume adds humor to the story because
what Peter’s dad had planned. Granddad might have he relates the volume of the music to an earth quake
tried to put on a brave face, but he was hurt at the affecting the house. In reality it was just riotous music
possibility of being left alone. and dancing kids. However, Cosby exaggerates the
experience and compares it to an earth quake, making
3.2 The Way it Was and Is it humorous.
Prelude: In the story The Way it Was and Is by Bill Cosby
• Q1: Did Bill Cosby tell his father how he really felt about 3.3 The Most Beautiful Flower
the music his father enjoyed? Prelude: In the poem The Most Beautiful Flower by Cheryl
o A: Bill Cosby did not tell his father how he really felt L. Costello-Forshey
about the music – he did not like it. He would just • Q1: Why is the old lady sitting under a willow tree? Why
respectfully smile and move his head in line with the not some other tree?
rhythm of the music to act like he enjoyed that type of o A: The old lady is sitting under a willow tree which is a
music. However, he honestly considered it to be symbol of meditation, expression of grief and
“junk”. dejection. She goes through the phase of
contemplation over the adjustment with life. In this
• Q2: Is generation gap the only factor of misunderstand way, the willow tree suits well to picture the dismal
among family members? situation of the life the old lady meditates on.
o A: Generation gaps are certainly a major contribution
to problems among family members. However, not
everything can be attributed to a generation gap
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• Q2: What is the old lady’s attitude towards the intruding the highest grades for eight years. It was a beautiful
boy at first? What is her attitude towards the boy after gold and green jacket, the colors of the school.
she finds out he was blind?
o A: At first, the old lady gets annoyed at the • Q2: Why did Marta expect that she would win the
interference of the boy who intends to give her the Scholarship Jacket that year?
beautiful flower. But her attitude soon changes when o A: Her older sister, Rosie had won the jacket a few
she finds out that the boy who is describing the years back and Marta fully expected to win as well.
beauty of the flower is blind. She realized that true She was fourteen and in the Eighth-Grade. She had
sight comes from the vision which allows humans to been a straight A student since the first grade, and the
appreciate the beauty they are surrounded with. last year she had looked forward to owning that
jacket. Her father was a farm laborer who couldn’t
• Q3: Do you know that the willow tree is also called a earn enough money to feed eight children. These
‘Weeping willow’? were the reasons she had expected to win the jacket
o A: A willow tree is indeed called a weeping willow. The that year.
tree got its name because the raindrops that fall from
the drooping branches of a willow tree resemble • Q3: Why couldn’t Marta take part in sports at school?
tears. Willow trees have elongated leaves and is a o A: Marta couldn’t take part in sports at school
deciduous plant, which means that it sheds its leaves because her family’s financial situation did not make it
each winter. feasible to pay for the costs of the registration fees,
uniform costs and trips out of town. Therefore, even
• Q4: This change of attitude towards the boy also brings though Marta was quite agile and athletic, she did not
about a change in her attitude towards life. What is that participate in sports.
change? How would you describe her attitude towards
life before and after the incident? • Q4: Who were angrily arguing when Marta reached her
o A: The change of attitude towards life connects to the classroom to pick her shorts? And what were they
way the lady observes the world around her. Before arguing about?
the incident, she was plunged into the sadness over o A: Mr. Schmidt (Marta’s history teacher) and Mr.
the disillusionment the world has opened up for her. Boone (her math teacher) were arguing about who
Her sadness made everything around her as pitiful. should receive the scholarship jacket. Mr. Boone was
But later on, when she saw the boy who despite asking Mr. Schmidt to falsify Marta’s academic record
having no physical sight, admires the beauty of the so that she would not win the scholarship jacket so
flower, she realized that it is the vision which endows that it would go to the next candidate in line.
the individual with the potential to see the beauty of
the world. The change of though is meditative. • Q5: Who refused to lie or falsify Marta’s academic
record and why?
UNIT 4: ACQUIRING VALUES o A: Mr. Schmidt (Marta’s history teacher) refused to lie
or falsify about Marta’s academic record because
4.1 The Scholarship Jacket Marta has a straight A+ average while Joann, who was
Prelude: In the story The Scholarship Jacket by Marta the next candidate in line had a weaker and
Salinas inconsistent academic record. Mr. Schmidt wanted
• Q1: What tradition was followed by the small Texas Marta to win the Jacket and was her ardent supporter.
school which Marta Salinas attended?
o A: The small Texas school that Marta attended, • Q6: What was the change in policy regarding the award
maintained a tradition of awarding the Scholarship of the scholarship jacket?
Jacket every year during the Eighth-Grade graduation o A: Each year, the scholarship jacket was granted to the
to the class valedictorian, the student who maintained Eight-Grade’s valedictorian free of cost. However, this
year the school board had recommended the change
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in policy regarding the award and had implemented a that he must have failed as a father if he brought up a
charge of fifteen dollars. This was a malicious tactic son who could not even tell him the truth.
against Marta, implemented so that she may not win
the Jacket. • Q4: Why did Jason’s father decide to walk the 18 miles
back home?
• Q7: What did her grandfather say when Marta told him o A: Jason’s father decided to walk the 18 miles back
about the payment to be made for the jacket? home in order to contemplate over the way he had
o A: Marta’s grandfather explained that it is not money parented his son. He thought that Jason’s lies must be
but her excellent performance which should earn her a reflection of his own parenting failures. Therefore,
the scholarship jacket. Therefore, he refused to pay he punished himself and in doing so, caused Jason
for the jacket. Furthermore, he told her that if she has great pain. However, this also taught Jason a vital
to pay for it, it would not be a scholarship jacket. lesson.

• Q8: What happened when Marta told the principal what • Q5: What was the most distressing and painful
her grandfather had said? experience for Jason?
o A: When Marta told the principal what her o A: Seeing his father in extreme physical and emotional
grandfather had said, he wondered why her pain was the most distressing and painful experience
grandfather had refused to pay for the scholarship, for Jason. He watched his father walk for 18 miles
despite owning a small bean farm. This prompted while he slowly trailed behind him in the car.
Marta to explain her grandfather’s stance on the Moreover, he also had a guilty conscious for having
issue. Finally, the principal said he would make an lied to his father. However, this experience proved to
exception in Marta’s case. be a life changing lesson for Jason.

4.2 A Long Walk Home UNIT 5: THE LIGHTER SIDE (HUMOR AND FUN)
Prelude: In the story A Long Walk Home by Jason Bocarro
• Q1: Why did Jason readily agree to drive his father to 5.1 Fly Away
Mijas? Prelude: In the story Fly Away by Ralph Helfer
o A: Jason readily agreed to drive his father to Mijas • Q1: What was Helfer asked to do?
because he had just learned to drive. He hardly ever o A: Helfer was asked to train 5,000 flies to “fly away”
had the opportunity to use the car. Most recent on command for a film shoot. The director of the film
drivers love any chance they have at driving. Jason needed the flies to be crawling on an artificial monster
dropping off his father was a great opportunity to baby until he would command them to “fly away”. The
drive the car. flies had to fly away when commanded and not
• Q2: What excuse did Jason invent as an explanation for before. The whole film crew had little faith that Helfer
his being late? would be able to accomplish this yet despite this he
o A: Jason told his father that the car needed extensive managed to surprise them all.
repairs. He thought that in doing so his father would
not be upset with him for being irresponsible. In • Q2: What plan did he develop?
reality, Jason had decided to catch a couple of movies o A: Helfer developed a plan to put the flies to sleep
at a theater near the garage, where he ended up with the help of a special tranquilizer which was given
losing track of time and being nearly two hours late. to him by his good friend Professor Jonathan Ziller.
Together, they formulated a plan that would involve
• Q3: Why did his father say that he was angry with Helfer tranquilizing the flies which would make them
himself, not with Jason? swarm around and not fly away. Finally, when
o A: When Jason’s father said that he was angry with requested he would initiate a cue which would have
himself and not with Jason, he was taking Jason’s them fly off.
dishonesty as a reflection of his own parenting. He felt
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• Q3: What happened at the shoot? o A: The author, Jerome K. Jerome went to the British
o A: At the shoot, Helfer brought the fly house and Museum to read up the diagnosis for some slight
when the upon the initiation of the director, he ailment which he had touched. He started by reading
started swarming the artificial baby monster with flies. a patent liver-pill circular and went on studying
He reached within the fly house and broke the special indolently about other diseases and before he had
tranquilizer, making them drowsy. This prompted him glanced half down the list of “premonitory
to be able to control the flies as per the instruction. symptoms”, it was borne in upon him that he had
fairly got all of the symptoms.
• Q4: How did the director and the crew react?
o A: The director and the crew were quite unfaithful at • Q4: Why did the author feel hurt when he discovered
Helfer’s ability to pull this off. Infact, the director had that he did not have the housemaid’s knee [disease]?
promised to double Helfer’s fee if he achieved what o A: The author felt rather hurt and insulted for not
was required. Therefore, when he successfully pulled having the housemaid’s knee. He was suffering from
it off, the whole team was awfully amazed at how numerous diseases and only the housemaid’s knee
Helfer was able to do so. had not inflicted him. He wondered why this disease
ignored him? Could the disease not condescend to
5.2 The Man Who Was A Hospital inflict his body? Therefore, the absence of this disease
Prelude: In the story The Man Who Was a Hospital by caused him distress
Jerome K. Jerome,
• Q1: How did Jerome K. Jerome come to suspect that he • Q5: Why should the author be an acquisition to the
had a bad liver? medical class? Why did he think that the medical
o A: Jerome K. Jerome had become suspicious about his students would have no need to walk to the hospital?
liver after reading a patent liver-pill circular. The o A: The author thought that he should be an
circular had a detailed account of the various acquisition to the medical class because he was
symptoms by which one could tell whether or not suffering from so many diseases. This made him an
one’s liver is out of order in its virulent form. Jerome interesting case from a medical point of view. He was
was a neurotic and hypochondriac person, a person a hospital in himself according to his point of view. He
who was abnormally worried about his health. thought the medical students would have no need to
Therefore, the mere reading of a circular made him “walk to hospitals” to learn about diseases. They
come to the conclusion that he had a bad liver. would find all the diseases in one person.

• Q2: The author says, “I had walked into that reading- UNIT 8: TRUE FRIENDSHIP
room a happy, healthy man. I crawled out a decrepit
wreck.” Why? 8 Damon and Pythias
o A: Jerome K. Jerome says “I had walked into the Prelude: In the One Act Play Damon and Pythias by Fan
reading room a happy, healthy man. I crawled out a Kissen
decrepit wreck.” Because he entered the reading- • Q1: Who were Damon and Pythias and where did they
room of the British museum to read up the treatment live?
of hay fever; which is a slight aliment. He went on o A: Long, long ago there lived on the island of Sicily two
studying indolently about other diseases. He found young men named Damon and Pythias. They were
that he had all the diseases except the housemaid’s known far and wide for the strong friendship each had
knee. Therefore, with his limited knowledge, he for the other. Their names have come down to our
thought of himself to be a hospital and the epitome of own times to mean a metaphor for true friendship.
all diseases.
• Q3: Why did the author think he had all the diseases • Q2: What was the King like?
listed in the book? o A: The King of the island of Sicily was a cruel tyrant. He
made strict laws and showed no mercy. He was
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ferocious and did not spare anyone who broke his Pythias was being able to securing a financial future of
laws. The people of the island longed for a fair ruler his mother and sister. He hoped that Damon might be
but no one dared to rebel his reign. able to help him in some way.

• Q3: Why didn’t the people rebel against the cruel king? • Q9: What does Pythias wish to do before he is put to
o A: The people didn’t dare to rebel against the cruel death?
king because they were afraid of the king’s tyrannical o A: Pythias wishes to secure the financial future of his
and unjust rules. It was in his nature to show no mother and sister before he dies. He hopes Damon
mercy. He tossed the rebels in prison and sentenced would perhaps help in some way and indeed Damon
them to death. makes a plea with the King which gets Pythias free for
a week to go on about accomplish these settlements.
• Q4: Why was Pythias arrested?
o A: Pythias was arrested by the soldiers of the King for • Q10: What is Pythias known for throughout Sicily?
speaking against the tyrannical laws proclaimed by the o A: In Sicily, Pythias is known as a man who has never
King. Pythias was an honest man and when he spoke broken his word and keeps his promises. He is trusted
up, he voiced the opinions of many other citizens who throughout Sicily.
felt abhorred the King’s rule.
• Q11: What plan does Damon proposes to Pythias to help
• Q5: How does the king react to Pythias’s disapproval of him do what he wants to do?
the laws? o A: Damon proposes to substitute Pythias’s place in
o A: The king gets furious listening to Pythias’s prison so he can go and say goodbyes and make
disapproval of his laws. He calls him a rebel and asks arrangements. Pythias was not happy with Damon’s
the soldiers to throw him into prison. Furthermore, he suggestion. He called him a fool; however, Damon
commanded his soldiers to put Pythias to death in the does not listen to him.
public square to make an example out of him so that it • Q12: How does Damon plead Pythias’s case before the
would prevent others from trying to decent. King?
o A: Damon pleads before the King to let Pythias bid
• Q6: What punishment does the kind accord to Pythias? farewell to his mother and sister. He bargains to take
o A: The King was extremely offended by Pythias and Pythias’s place in prison. Moreover, he ensures the
proclaimed him a rebel of the throne. He commanded King that in case of Pythias’s failure to return on time,
his soldiers to throw him into prison for two weeks he will sacrifice his life in Pythias’s place.
followed by a sentence of death in the public square
to make an example out of him and prevent others • Q13: Why does the king agree to Damon’s proposal?
from trying to decent. o A: The King was first shocked but then became very
interested in Damon’s request. He willingly approves
• Q7: What does Damon do when he hears about his of exchanging prisoners for two weeks out of curiosity
friend’s imprisonment? to test their loyalty and friendship.
o A: When Damon heard that his friend Pythias had
been thrown into prison, and about the severe • Q14: Does Pythias like Damon’s bargain with the King?
punishment that was about to follow, he was Why?
heartbroken. He rushed to the prison and persuaded o A: Pythias does not like Damon’s bargain with the
the guards to let him speak to his friend. kind. It is risky to leave the prison and things can get
out of his control. He does not want to risk the life of
• Q8: What thought troubles the mind of Pythias? his dear friend if something goes wrong.
o A: When Pythias was sentenced, he was prepared to
die hoping it would bring about a better time for Sicily. • Q15: What do the people, represented by the voices,
However, the thought that troubled the mind of think whether Pythias will return to die or not?
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o A: There were conflicting opinions. Some people
express the view that Pythias is not fool enough to put
his under the King’s ace once he has escaped. Others
however, consider him an honorable man who will
keep his promise and not let his friend die in his place.

• Q16: Why doesn’t Pythias stay for another day as his

mother asks him to?
o A: Pythias does not stay for another day at his
mother’s request because he does not want to take
any chances with his friend’s life. He wants to get back
to the prison in time to save Damon.

• Q17: Do the robbers believe Pythias’s story about

Damon and himself?
o A: The robbers do not believe Pythias’s story that he
has to get back to prison to save his friend’s life. They
think the story is a fabrication and that no one would
be foolish enough to willingly go to his death.

• Q18: Why does the King mock Damon and what is

Damon’s response?
o A: The king mocks Damon when he finds out that
Pythias has not returned to take his place yet. Despite
that King’s mocking, Damon remains firm and keeps
his faith in Pythias. He is willing to die instead of his
friend.

• Q19: What does the King say when he hears about the
two robbers?
o A: The king at once becomes alert upon hearing
Pythias speak of the robbers. Furthermore, he assures
that he will see to it that those two robbers are caught
and punished, for they nearly killed an innocent man.

• Q20: Why dies the King let Damon and Pythias go free?
o A: The King is impressed and awestruck by the faith,
loyalty and friendship shown by Damon and Pythias.
Therefore, he sets them free. He talks about all his
riches and wealth but exclaims that he would gladly
give away all he owns for one friend like Damon and
Pythias.

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