If I Were You
Thinking about the Text, Language & WritingThinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions.
1. “At last a sympathetic audience.”
(i) Gerrard says this.
(ii) He says it because the intruder has asked him to talk about himself, unlike others who usually don’t listen.
(iii) He is being sarcastic, not serious. He knows the intruder is there to harm him.
(ii) He says it because the intruder has asked him to talk about himself, unlike others who usually don’t listen.
(iii) He is being sarcastic, not serious. He knows the intruder is there to harm him.
The intruder chooses Gerrard because they are of a similar build. Gerrard lives alone, has few visitors, and his movements are erratic (mysterious). The intruder, being a criminal on the run, believes taking Gerrard’s identity will help him evade the police.
(i) Gerrard says this.
(ii) It means that when things went wrong, he used a gun to shoot someone to escape.
(iii) No, it is not the truth. It is a lie Gerrard fabricates to convince the intruder that he is also a criminal, thereby dissuading the intruder from killing him.
(ii) It means that when things went wrong, he used a gun to shoot someone to escape.
(iii) No, it is not the truth. It is a lie Gerrard fabricates to convince the intruder that he is also a criminal, thereby dissuading the intruder from killing him.
Gerrard is a playwright or involved in the theatre.
Supporting quotes:
• “This is all very melodramatic, not very original…”
• “At last a sympathetic audience!”
• “In most melodramas the villain is foolish enough…”
• He also mentions “disguise outfit”, “false moustaches”, and “props”.
Supporting quotes:
• “This is all very melodramatic, not very original…”
• “At last a sympathetic audience!”
• “In most melodramas the villain is foolish enough…”
• He also mentions “disguise outfit”, “false moustaches”, and “props”.
(i) The Intruder says this.
(ii) He says it to intimidate Gerrard, implying that once Gerrard knows the plan (that he is about to be killed), he will stop his witty remarks.
(iii) The shock of knowing he is going to die will stop Gerrard from being smart.
(ii) He says it to intimidate Gerrard, implying that once Gerrard knows the plan (that he is about to be killed), he will stop his witty remarks.
(iii) The shock of knowing he is going to die will stop Gerrard from being smart.
(i) The Intruder says this.
(ii) He says this because he has already committed a murder. Even if he kills Gerrard, the punishment (hanging) will remain the same; he cannot be punished twice for two murders.
(ii) He says this because he has already committed a murder. Even if he kills Gerrard, the punishment (hanging) will remain the same; he cannot be punished twice for two murders.
The mystery is Gerrard’s lifestyle: why he lives alone, why he keeps irregular hours, why he rarely sees tradespeople, and his sudden disappearances. Gerrard invents a story that this is because he is a criminal on the run.
(i) This is said by Gerrard towards the end of the play.
(ii) The surprise is Gerrard’s revelation (a lie) that he is also a crook and a murderer who is expecting the police to arrive any minute.
(ii) The surprise is Gerrard’s revelation (a lie) that he is also a crook and a murderer who is expecting the police to arrive any minute.
Thinking about Language
I. Choose the correct word.
1. The site of the accident was ghastly.
2. Our college principal is very strict.
3. I studied continuously for eight hours.
4. The fog had an adverse effect on the traffic.
5. Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant artist.
6. The book… is an extraordinary collage of science fiction and mystery.
7. Our school will host an exhibition…
8. Screw the lid… and shake well before using…
2. Our college principal is very strict.
3. I studied continuously for eight hours.
4. The fog had an adverse effect on the traffic.
5. Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant artist.
6. The book… is an extraordinary collage of science fiction and mystery.
7. Our school will host an exhibition…
8. Screw the lid… and shake well before using…
II. Irony
| What the author says | What he means |
|---|---|
| “You have been so modest.” | He implies the intruder has been arrogant and hasn’t spoken about himself yet. |
| “With your figure” | He is mocking the intruder’s physique, implying he doesn’t have a good figure for disguise. |
| “Very melodramatic, not very original” | He means the intruder is acting like a cliché villain from a cheap play, rather than being scary. |
Dictionary Use
Word Forms Table:
| Noun | Adjective | Adverb | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sympathy | Sympathetic | Sympathetically | Sympathise |
| Familiarity | Familiar | Familiarly | Familiarise |
| Comfort | Comfortable | Comfortably | Comfort |
| Care | Careful | Carefully | Care |
| Surprise | Surprising | Surprisingly | Surprise |
Speaking
1. Narrate the incident as Gerrard:
“You won’t believe what happened today! I was packing my bag when this fellow broke into my cottage. He had a revolver and looked rather flashy. He was actually planning to kill me and steal my identity because we look somewhat alike! He was a criminal on the run. Can you imagine? I had to think on my feet. I spun him a yarn about being a criminal myself, expecting the police any moment. I convinced him to hide in the cupboard—which was actually the garage door—and locked him in! It was quite a close shave, but I think I’ve got a plot for my next play!”
Writing
I. Character Sketches
Gerrard:
Gerrard is a cool, confident, and witty man. Even at gunpoint, he remains nonchalant and does not lose his composure. He has a humorous side, often making sarcastic remarks about the intruder’s melodramatic behavior. He is extremely clever and resourceful, managing to outsmart an armed criminal simply by using his presence of mind and ability to tell a convincing story.
The Intruder:
The Intruder considers himself smart and confident, but he is actually over-confident and gullible. He is flashy in his appearance and speaks with a sense of arrogance. While he has a dangerous plan, he lacks the wit to see through Gerrard’s lies. He is easily manipulated because he believes he is superior, which ultimately leads to his capture.
Gerrard is a cool, confident, and witty man. Even at gunpoint, he remains nonchalant and does not lose his composure. He has a humorous side, often making sarcastic remarks about the intruder’s melodramatic behavior. He is extremely clever and resourceful, managing to outsmart an armed criminal simply by using his presence of mind and ability to tell a convincing story.
The Intruder:
The Intruder considers himself smart and confident, but he is actually over-confident and gullible. He is flashy in his appearance and speaks with a sense of arrogance. While he has a dangerous plan, he lacks the wit to see through Gerrard’s lies. He is easily manipulated because he believes he is superior, which ultimately leads to his capture.
II. Story: A Witty Escape
The Biter Bit
Gerrard, a playwright, lived alone in a lonely cottage. One day, while packing his bags, a man with a gun entered silently. He was a criminal who looked much like Gerrard. His plan was sinister: kill Gerrard and take on his identity to escape the police.
Instead of panicking, Gerrard remained calm and chatted nonchalantly. The intruder threatened him, saying, “You’ll soon stop being smart.” But Gerrard was smarter. He concocted a story that he, too, was a criminal on the run and was clearing out because his accomplice had been caught. He showed his disguise outfit as proof.
“The police are coming!” Gerrard warned. He urged the intruder to escape with him in his car. Confused and scared, the intruder agreed. Gerrard opened a door, claiming it led to the garage. The intruder leaned in to check, but it was a cupboard! Gerrard pushed him in, slammed the door, and locked it. He then coolly picked up the phone to call the police. The villain had been outwitted by a simple storyteller.
Instead of panicking, Gerrard remained calm and chatted nonchalantly. The intruder threatened him, saying, “You’ll soon stop being smart.” But Gerrard was smarter. He concocted a story that he, too, was a criminal on the run and was clearing out because his accomplice had been caught. He showed his disguise outfit as proof.
“The police are coming!” Gerrard warned. He urged the intruder to escape with him in his car. Confused and scared, the intruder agreed. Gerrard opened a door, claiming it led to the garage. The intruder leaned in to check, but it was a cupboard! Gerrard pushed him in, slammed the door, and locked it. He then coolly picked up the phone to call the police. The villain had been outwitted by a simple storyteller.