INDIAN SCHOOL AL WADI AL KABIR

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
CLASS X : (2015 16)
QUESTION BANK TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
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About the author:
A.J. Cronin (18961974) was a doctor by training. He practiced medicine in Wales and in London.
It was while recovering from a breakdown in health that he wrote his first novel Hatters Castel. It
was a huge success. Cronin gave up practicing medicine and took to writing as a career. He wrote a
number, of novels and short stories, among his bestknown novels are the Citadel, The key of the
Kingdom, and The Spanish Gardener. Some of his novels have been made into successful films. The
title of the
story is that of one of the early plays of Shakespeare. The story recounts the hard life chosen by
two young boys so that they could pay for the treatment of their sister afflicted with tuberculosis.
The boys
sacrifice, sincerity and devotion to the cause and the maturity they display in their actions gives a
new hope for humanity.

Summary:
Two Gentlemen of Verona is a touching story of Jacopo and Nicola, two brothers aged 12 and
13, who do odd jobs and live a hard life themselves to sustain and treat their elder sister Lucia,
who is suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. A J Cronin uses the title of William
Shakespeare's famous play, The Two Gentlemen of Verona in an ironic manner. Cronin's
portrayal of these modern "gentlemen" of Verona redefines the concept of what it means to be a
gentleman, Cronin shows us that one may polish boots or sell newspapers, but it is the
magnanimity of heart and the nobleness of purpose that actually determines whether one is a true
"gentleman".

The first meeting with the two poor boys

The narrator is being driven down the foothills of the Alps when the car is stopped by two young
brothers who are in a rather ruffled physical state, selling wild strawberries. The narrator is curtly
stopped by his driver Luigi from buying the strawberries, as he claims that he could get better
quality fruit in Verona. Yet, the narrator buys the biggest basket. Through the driver Luigi, the
narrator comes to learn that the names of the two boys are Nicola and Jacopo, aged 13 and 12
respectively. Despite their shabby and disheveled outward appearance, it is the earnestness in
their eyes that attracts the narrator towards them.

The author observes the boy

The narrator spots the two boys again at Verona, as they are busy making money by shining
shoes in the public square. This amazes the narrator who was of the opinion that they sell
strawberries for a living. The narrator comes to learn about the multiple jobs that these two boys
carry out in the city and notices that they possess maturity far beyond their years, despite their
childish demeanor.

The boys help the author with their services

Over the week that ensued, the two boys prove to be of great help to the narrator and run errands
for him, such as getting American cigarettes, booking opera show tickets and even
recommending a good restaurant. The narrator is in complete awe of the two boys because of
their determination to work despite the hot weather. The narrator again spots the two boys sitting
in the deserted square on a windy night, waiting for the bus for Padua so that they can sell the
remaining newspapers. Not able to hold back, the narrator tells them that it is not necessary to
overwork, to which the boys reply that they have no complaints.

The boys' request to the author

The following morning, the narrator finds the boys back near the fountain, shining shoes. He
goes up to them and inquires about what they do with the money that they earn since they do not
seem to spend it on clothes or food. The narrator suggests that they might be saving up to
emigrate to the United States. Nicola states that he would like to go there, but at present they
have other plans. The narrator then asks the boys if there is something he could do to help them
out since he was leaving on Monday. To this, Jacopo excitedly requests the narrator to drive
them down to the countryside of Poleta, as that is where they go every Sunday by hiring
bicycles. Nicola is angered by Jacopos impulsive request as he seems hesitant to involve the
narrator in their trip to Poleta.

The author discovers the purpose of the visit

The narrator drives Nicola and Jacopo to Poleta. They pull over outside a villa and the two boys
leap out of the car and ask the narrator to visit the nearby caf in the village. The narrator is
eager to know more about the boys and decides to follow them into the villa, which is actually a
hospital. He meets a nurse who shows him the room in which the boys are. He secretly views
them talking to a girl and even though he does not want to intrude, he ends up asking the nurse
more about the boys.

The heart-rending story of the two brothers and their sister

The nurse eagerly tells the narrator about the heart-rending story about how the father of the boys
was killed in war and how their home had also been devastated. The children come from a
cultured family and the war took away their home and parents, leaving them on their own. The
children bore hatred against the Germans and joined the resistance movement against them.
Upon their return, they found their sister suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They brought
her to this hospital and she has been undergoing treatment for the past one year and has shown
improvement. The nurse also expresses her astonishment at how the boys manage to pay for a
treatment as work is scarce in Verona.

The author considers the boys as the Gentlemen of Verona

The narrator then understands that the other plans of the boys is to ensure their sisters proper
treatment. They are indeed the 'Two Gentlemen of Verona', as coined by the narrator, as they are
keeping their noble deed a secret and are determined in spirit. The magnanimity of the boys
hearts and their humanity bade the narrator to not disclose that he has knowledge of their secret.

THEME:
1. Sacrifice .which stems from love for sister
2. Strength of character.
3. Focussing on solution rather than problem helps one overcome all the challenges of life.
4. Selfless action brings new nobility to human life and greater hope for human society.
MESSAGE:
1. Sacrifice, integrity and devotion form strength of character.
2. These qualities are inspire and influence others.

CHARACTERS

1. NICOLA
a. 13 years old.
b. Loving, caring, responsible & innocent.
c. Diligent worker
d. Takes care of his brother & ailing sister with motherly affection.
e. Lets younger brother sleep while he sells newspapers.
f. Never indulges in self-pity despite poverty.
g. With his rebellious spirit he faces life stoically.
h. Works with great sense of devotion with one mission i.e. to cure their elder sister Lucia who
was suffering from tuberculosis.

2.JACOPO
a. Younger of the two brothers.
b. 12 year old.
c. Full of life, innocent
d. Carries an air of seriousness that seems beyond his years.
e. Works with equal diligence as that of Nicola.
f. Shares responsibilities & common interest to cure elder sister with Nicola.

3.NARRATOR
a. Keen observer
b. Sensitive
c. Relates to others joys & sorrows.
d. Considerate & kind hearted.
e. A thorough gentleman
f. Wants to help the two kids but does not want to hurt their self-esteem.
g. Admires the courage & determination of the two orphaned kids.
h. Despite knowing the truth about Lucia, he resists from intruding into the privacy of Nicola &
Jacopo.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:

1. He coloured deeply under his sunburn then grew pale: Explain.

The narrator was astonished to see that the boys worked hard day and night and yet lived
meagerly. He wanted to know what the boys did with the money they earned. When he
questioned Nicola, he appeared uncomfortable. Perhaps the boys were not used to anybody
questioning them regarding their earnings and so the narrators question embarrassed them.

2. He smiled uncomfortably. Just plans, sir, he answered in a low voice. Explain.

When the narrator suggested that the boys were saving to emigrate to the States, Nicola
responded that how much ever they wished to do that, currently they had other plans, which he
was not willing to share with the narrator. The boy seemed quite uncomfortable while answering
the question

3.Why, do you think, did the narrator and his companion buy the biggest baskets of
strawberries from the two brothers?
The narrator and his friend were attracted to the two boys. Determined to help the boys in their
humble way, the narrator and his friend bought the biggest basket of strawberries from them.

4.How did the narrators bond with the boys deepen in course of time?
Having taken a special interest in the two boys, the narrator found them in his reach for any
odd jobs. He could rely on them for a pack of American cigarettes, seats for the opera or for
the name of a good restaurant. They were always willing to work.

5.They were childish enough, and in many ways quite artless. Explain.
The two children were extremely innocent in their nature. Though they were in need of a lot of
money for their sisters treatment, they did not resort to any unfair means to earn money. In a
city like Verona, they too were able to resort to theft and snatching but the two of them, quite
determined and in need, believed in hard work and honesty.

6.What sort of seriousness did the narrator trace in the faces of the two brothers?
The narrator traced in the faces of the two little boys a seriousness that was far beyond their
age.

7.Why was the narrator initially attracted to the two boys?

The two boys were too little to do the kind of work they did in Verona. They had earnest eyes
and refined behaviour. Their weather beaten appearance and brown skin also attracted the
narrator to them, considering the amount of work that they did.

8.Mention the odd jobs that the two brothers did in Verona.
The two brothers did a number of odd jobs in Verona. They sold fruits, polished shoes at busy
squares, conducted tourists and sold newspapers at nights.

9.What were the brothers doing in the windy and deserted square, beneath the lights at
midnight?
In the windy and deserted square, beneath the street lights at midnight, the two brothers were
waiting for the last bus from Padua so that they could sell newspapers to the passengers.

10.Why did the narrator say that Nicola and Jacopo must be earning quite a bit?
It was quite ordinary that the narrator felt that the two boys earned quite a bit. He came to
this conclusion from the fact that they did a lot of work for money at any time of the night
and the day. They spent little on clothes and ate black bread and cheap figs.

11.What favor did Jacopo want from the narrator? Why was Nicola indifferent to his
brother?
 Jacopo wished the narrator give him and his brother a drive to Poleta where they went to
meet their sister every Sunday.

12.Why did the narrator think that his destination was going to be some humble
dwelling?
The narrator knew from his association with the boys that they were poor and belonged to a
very poor family. The way to Poleta, a small town on the hills, strengthened his speculations.

13.Why did the two boys leap out of the car when the car stopped in front of the villa?
The villa where the car stopped was a hospital. The two boys leaped out of the car because
they were greatly excited to see their sister who was under treatment in this hospital.

14.What did the narrator mean when he said that the two boys could not do the work
they do in Verona better?
The narrator had a close association with the two boys. He knew about all sorts of work they
did in Verona. He was greatly impressed by the dexterity and willingness with which the
boys worked and therefore believed that no one could do such loads of work as they did.

15.Why, do you think, were the boys silent while returning to Verona?
The boys were returning after a weekly meeting with their sister. They were silent because
their minds were overflowing with the thoughts of their sisters pains, progress, of earning
for the next payment and of the narrator who was so good to them to take trouble for them.

16.Why did the narrator not ask the boys anything about Lucia?
The narrator knew that the boys didnt want him to sympathize for their infirmed sister. He
also knew that they had no idea about what he knew about them. So, in order to keep it a
secret, to keep them feel proud of doing their work in Verona and to make them feel proud of
what they did for their sister, the narrator didnt ask anything about Lucia.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS:

1. Why are the boys, barely 12 and 13, called gentlemen?

The two gentlemen of Verona were the two poor boys .They were truly gentlemen .They
never gave up, never asked for help and didnt accept the pity of the two visitors. They had
their self-respect in them. They never gave up the spirit of living. They helped the two visitors
in every possible way, which we often see gentlemen doing. They didnt tell the visitor about
their plans. They did not want to expose it as the gentlemen do .They were very helpful .They
also loved their sister who was admitted in hospital. They were very poor but they visited the
hospital every weekend and paid the hospital charges from the money which they earned
through various kinds of work they did. They were truly the two gentlemen.
2. The narrator asks the boys, "Must you work so hard? You both look rather tired."
The boys reply, "We are not complaining, sir." What do you learn about the boys from
their reply?

When the narrator saw them selling newspapers till midnight, he asked them if they must do
work so hard as they both looked tired. . At this, Nicola replied that they were not complaining
 about it. It means that both the boys had a lot of courage and patience of working hard. It
shows their willingness and readiness to work.

VALUE BASED QUESTIONS: (120-150 words 5marks)

1) Nicolo and Jacopo sacrificed the pleasures of childhood in order to offer a better
treatment for their sister. They also dreamt of going to America one day. How would
you set your goals and work towards achieving them?

Hint:
Goal setting
a) Necessity of having an aim in life.
b) Strong will to perceive goals.
c) Work hard
d) Be ready to sacrifice pleasures.

2) They proved extremely useful to us. If he wanted a pack of American Cigarettes or

seats for the opera or the name of a good restaurant , Nicola and Jacopo could be relied
upon to satisfy our needs.
Man is Interdependent. He is expected to help society. In what way will you help a
person who needs your support?

Hint:-Helpful, showing concern for problem. Sympathy, pacifying the person and
extended
needed support.

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