1. Rearrange the following sentences in a meaningful sequence and write the summary of the play.
a) Baldwin who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the words ‘I don’t remember’ in court, during the trial.
b) The family members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed Baldwin into accepting the money.
c) Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’ had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.
d) Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank.
e) To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying painfully against him.
f) Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham.
g) Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the attitude of his family members.
h) Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him.
i) Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and integrity.
j) The family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum offered by him.
Answer:
d. Baldwin was
an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank.
f. Gresham and
Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his
son after Gresham.
h. Gresham had
been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to
testify against him.
a. Baldwin who
returned home after meeting Gresham, informed his family that Gresham had
offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the words ‘I don’t remember ’ in
court, during the trial.
j) The
family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on
hearing the huge sum offered by him.
b. The family
members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed Baldwin into accepting the
money.
g. Baldwin felt
disgusted with himself and the attitude of his family members.
e. To save
Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the Third National, visited him and
informed him that Gresham had confessed his crime, in order to free him from
betraying his trusted friend and testifying painfully against him.
i. Mr. Marshall
also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and
integrity.
c. Thus ‘The
Hour of Truth ’ had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.
Summary of
the play:
Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working
under John Gresham, in a bank. Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for
over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. Gresham had
been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to
testify against him. Baldwin who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed
his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the
words ‘I don’t remember’ in court, during the trial. The family members who
were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum
offered by him. The family members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed
Baldwin into accepting the money. Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the
attitude of his family members. To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the
Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his
crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying
painfully against him. Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to
reward him for his honesty und integrity. Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’ had dawned
relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.
2. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.
a) Why did Baldwin meet Gresham?
John Gresham was accused
of misappropriating the bank money. His trail was on the next
day. Robert Baldwin had to give evidences against Gresham. Being a
close of friend of Gresham, Baldwin met him.
b) What made Martha withdraw her money from the bank?
Martha knew that her
husband wouldn’t tell to draw her money out. He thought it was disloyal to
Gresham. This made Martha withdraw her money from the bank.
c) How is Martha’s strong conviction in Baldwin’s integrity revealed?
Martha’s strong conviction
is that Baldwin is very honest. He is a man of principles. He never
tells lies. He is kind and loyal to others. This is Martha’s strong
conviction in Baldwin’s integrity.
d) What had Donovan told John?
Donovan had told John that nobody
had an idea that there was anything wrong until the bank crash came.
e) John feels Gresham deserves punishment. Why?
Baldwin’s son thinks that
John Gresham has acquired a lot of wealth in these twenty years while his father is getting just sixty
dollars a week. In agitation, he feels Gresham deserves punishment.
f) What was Baldwin’s advice to Gresham?
Baldwin advised Gresham to
close the bank.
g) What did Gresham want Baldwin to do?
John Gresham wanted Baldwin
to tell “I don’t remember”, when the court asks anything about the bank
crash during the trail.
h) Explain the significance of the words ‘I don’t remember’.
By telling ‘I don’t
remember’, Gresham wanted Baldwin to have an attack of his poor memory. He
wanted Baldwin to forget a little about the bank crash. To say “I don’t
remember” in the court, Baldwin could save Gresham from the punishment. Thus
‘I don’t remember’ is very significant to Gresham.
i) Why does John turn wild on hearing that Gresham had offered his father money?
Since Baldwin is working
under Gresham’s order, John has a doubt whether his father involved in the
bank crash. He thinks that John Gresham has acquired a lot of wealth. But
his father is getting just sixty dollars a week. So John turns
wild on hearing that Gresham had offered his father money.
j) When would Baldwin part company with Gresham?
When John Gresham ceased to
be an honest man, Baldwin would part company
with Gresham.
k) What does John consider ‘a technicality’?
The depositors of
the bank are not going to lose their money, though there is bank crash.
As the money was safe, John considers it ‘a technicality’.
l) Why was John filled with shame?
Baldwin’s son, John was named
after John Gresham. If Gresham was convicted, it would spoil his name
also. So John was filled with shame for bearing the name of criminal.
m) How much did Gresham offer to pay Baldwin for saving his skin and how did he justify that?
Gresham offered one hundred
thousand dollars to Baldwin for saving his
skin. Though it was really a large amount of money, he justifies that it was
a compliment and compensation for his low salary.
n) What was Mr. Marshall’s offer to Baldwin?
Mr. Marshall’s was ready to
offer Baldwin a better job in The Third National Bank.
o) How was Baldwin’s honesty rewarded?
Mr. Marshall was impressed by Baldwin’s honesty. So he offered
him a job at his bank. Thus he was rewarded for his honesty and integrity.
3. Based on your understanding of the play, complete the Graphic Organiser given below.
Title : The hour of truth
Author : Percival Wilde
Setting: Baldwin’s cottage, At Sunday afternoon
Characters : Robert Baldwin, Martha, John, Evic, John, Greshamm, Mr.Marshal, Donovan
Theme : The good gets rewarded and the bad get punished.
Plot : The play analyses the bad trait, “greed” from different angles.
Climax : Baldwin got a job at the third National Bank.
Values highlighted in the play : Honesty and Integrity
4. Answer in a paragraph of about 150 words each.
a) Trace the bond of friendship between Baldwin and Gresham. Explain why Baldwin wished to attribute some credit to his friend.
Baldwin and Gresham had
been friends since their boyhood. They had known each other for over 35 years.
Baldwin was an honest, diligent and hardworking employee. He was very kind and
loyal to his friend Mr.Gresham. Gresham was the president of National Bank.
Baldwin considered Mr. Gresham as a good boss. He had even named his son after
Gresham. Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank
and Baldwin was to testify against him. Gresham had offered Baldwin a hundred
thousand dollars, if he would utter the words “I don’t remember” in the court,
during the trail. Though he was a good friend to Gresham, he had rejected the
offer. The family members also forced him to accept the offer and also save his
dearest friend of 35 years. Finally Gresham had confessed his crime. He knew
that Baldwin would not tell lie. He appreciated Baldwin’s honesty. He changed
his mind and surrendered at the end for the truthful attitude of his friend
Baldwin.
b) How did Martha and John react when they came to know that Baldwin had rejected the generous offer made by Gresham?
Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him. Gresham was ready to offer a hundred thousand dollars, if Baldwin helped him. The family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum offered by him. They began to convince Baldwin. Martha asked him whether the depostiors would lose their money. She came to know that the money was safe and no one would lose their money. Martha told him that since they named their son’s name after Gresham, it would be a disgrace to their son. So she began to persuade Baldwin to say lie and to help Gresham. John told-his father if Gresham did not go to jail, he would start a business and Baldwin could become his partner. If he accepted to tell lie, the family could lead a cozy life. Thus Martha and John tried to convince Baldwin to accept the offer and save Gresham.
c) Is Baldwin really honest or does he maintain his honesty fearing criticism? Why do you say so?
Baldwin is really honest.
He does not maintain his honesty for fearing criticism. Baldwin leads a simple
life with his family. He is an honest, diligent and hardworking employee.
Infact he is kind and loyal to everyone. He is not ready to make any kind of
compromise with his morality, when his friend has been arrested for
misappropriation for money at the bank. Baldwin is to testify against him.
Gresham has offered a hundred thousand dollars, if he will utter the word “I
don’t remember” in the court, during the trail. But he has rejected the offer.
At the same time, Baldwin’s family forces him to accept money. Baldwin wants to
go to his grave clean. He wants to live the rest of his life with honesty and
integrity. At the end Gresham also admits that Baldwin will not tell lie.
Everyone knows the honesty and morality of Robert Baldwin. So it is not fear
that makes him honest. His morality makes him honest.
d) Sketch the character of: i) Robert Baldwin ii) John Gresham.
Robert
Baldwin:
Robert Baldwin is the protagonist of this play. He leads a simple life
with his family. He is working as the secretary of The National Bank. He is an
honest, diligent and hardworking employee. Gresham and Baldwin have been thick
friends for over 30 years. Baldwin has even named his son after Gresham. He is
a good friend. When his friend John Gresham was arrested for the
misappropriation in bank account, Baldwin was not ready to make any kind of
compromise. He did not accept his friend’s offer and tried to save him. He is a
man priciples. It is because of his deep-rooted morality and honesty, he gets a
job at the Third International Bank.
John
Gresham:
Mr. Gresham
is the President of The National Bank. He is the corrupt from the beginning. He
has a strong attachment with money. He misappropriates the money from his own
bank. His attitude towards money is really selfish. He is ready to do anything
for hiding his corrupted nature. He is ready to give and take bribes. He is
arrested. Due to the truthful attitude of his friend John Baldwin, he becomes a
new man. This shows that he has a will to be a man of honesty by confessing his
crime.
e) Who do you think exhibits true friendship–Baldwin or Gresham? Justify your answer.
Baldwin and Gresham had been friends since their boyhood. They had known
each other for 35 years. Baldwin led a simple life with his family. He was an
honest, diligent and hardworking employee. He was very kind and loyal to his
friend Mr.Gresham. Gresham was the president of a National Bank. But he had a
strong attachment with the money. Baldwin considered Mr. Gresham as a good
boss. Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. He exhibited his true
friendship here. Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the
bank. Before that he advised his friend to close the bank in order to save him.
Being a good friend, he had tried to save Gresham. But Gresham did not care and
was caught. Baldwin was to testify against him. Gresham had offered a hundred
thousand dollars, if he would utter the word “I don’t remember” in the court, during
the trail. But Baldwin had rejected it. As he was honest, he could not help his
friend. But he did not give up his friendship. Even Gresham could understand
the truthful attitude of Baldwin and confessed his crime at last. So I think,
Baldwin exhibited true friendship.
5. IDIOMS
An idiom is an expression in English language that has a special meaning of its own. It cannot be understood from the meanings of the individual words.
Here are a few idioms that you came across in the play you have just read. For e.g. ‘I told him he would have to make good.’ The idiom ‘to make good’ means ‘to compensate for a wrongdoing’.
Now match the idioms under column A with their meanings in column B:
Summary of
the play:
Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working
under John Gresham, in a bank. Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for
over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. Gresham had
been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to
testify against him. Baldwin who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed
his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the
words ‘I don’t remember’ in court, during the trial. The family members who
were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum
offered by him. The family members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed
Baldwin into accepting the money. Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the
attitude of his family members. To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the
Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his
crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying
painfully against him. Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to
reward him for his honesty und integrity. Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’ had dawned
relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.
ESSAY
• Introduction
• Life of Baldwin
• Friendship with Gresham
• Bank crash
• Family members’ greed
• Baldwin’s Honesty
• Reward to Baldwin’s Honesty
• Conclusion
Introduction:
Percival
Wilde, in his one act play ‘The Hour of Truth’, shows how easily people forget
their moral values, and principles, being loved by greed.
Life of
Baldwin:
Robert
Baldwin was the protagonist of this play. He led a simple life with his wife
Martha and his son John and daughter Evie. He was working as the secretary of
The National Bank. He is an honest, diligent and hardworking employee.
Friendship
with Gresham:
Mr. Gresham
was the President of The National Bank. He was a corrupted person. His attitude
towards money was really selfish. John Gresham and Baldwin had been thick
friends for over 30 years. Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham.
Bank crash:
Gresham had
been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to
testify against him. Gresham had offered Baldwin a hundred thousand dollars, if
he would utter the words “I don’t remember” in the court, during the trail.
Family
members’ greed:
The family
members who were initially against Gresham, tried to justify Gresham’s act and
enticed Baldwin into accepting the money. Baldwin felt disgusted with himself
and the attitude of his family members.
Baldwin’s
Honesty :
Though
Baldwin was a good friend to Gresham, he had rejected Gresham’s offer. He was
not ready to make any kind of compromise with his morality.
Reward to
Baldwin’s Honesty:
Mr.
Marshall, President of the Third National Bank, visited him and informed him
that Gresham had confessed his crime. It made free him from betraying his
trusted friend and testifying painfully against him. Mr. Marshall also offered
him a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and integrity.
Conclusion :
Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’
had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.
Moral: The Honesty get
rewarded and dishonesty get punished.
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