The Luncheon
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Choose the correct option from the bracket and fill in the blanks given below:
(a) The chief guest addressed the students.
(b) The crow was unwise to sing.
(c) I invited my relatives to luncheon.
(d) Parents always insist on children to be all-rounders.
(e) The king decided to donate his wealth generously among his subjects.
2. Go through the story again and find out various instances which create humour in “The Luncheon”. Complete the table by picking up various humorous instances and the particular line from the story.
| Humorous Instance | Line from the Story |
|---|---|
| The woman is a voracious eater | “Follow my example, and never eat more than one thing for luncheon.” |
| The woman orders caviar despite her claim | “Unless you had a little caviar. I never mind caviar.” |
| The woman criticizes the narrator’s meal while eating extravagantly | “I think you’re unwise to eat meat… I don’t believe in overloading my stomach.” |
| The woman insists on asparagus despite claiming not to be hungry | “I’m not in the least hungry… but if you insist, I don’t mind having some asparagus.” |
| The woman adds ice cream and coffee after denying hunger | “Yes, just an ice cream and coffee,” she answered. |
| The woman takes a peach absent-mindedly after a heavy meal | “She absent-mindedly took one [peach].” |
| The woman calls the narrator a humorist after his sarcastic retort | “Humorist!” she cried gaily, jumping into a cab.” |
3. Who said these words/sentences? Under what circumstances?
| Words/Sentences | Who said? | Under what circumstances? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I never eat anything for luncheon. | The woman | She said this early in the meal at Foyot’s to reassure the narrator and suggest moderation, despite later ordering multiple dishes (e.g., caviar, salmon). (Page 151) |
| 2. It’s many years since we first met. | The woman | She remarked this during their reunion at the play, reflecting on the passage of time since their initial meeting and leading to the luncheon invitation. (Page 151) |
| 3. Are you still hungry? | The narrator | He asked this faintly after the woman claimed one should leave a meal still able to eat more, reflecting his exhaustion and financial strain. (Page 153) |
| 4. I don’t believe in overloading my stomach. | The woman | She said this while criticizing the narrator’s mutton chop, ironically, as she continued to eat caviar and salmon. (Page 152) |
| 5. I’ll eat nothing for dinner tonight. | The narrator | He retorted this sarcastically as they parted, indicating his financial ruin after paying the exorbitant bill. (Page 153) |
4. Answer in your own words.
(a) Although the author was not a vindictive man, he was very happy to see her weigh twenty-one stone and had finally had his revenge. What makes him say this? Explain.
- The author felt satisfied because the woman, who had eaten extravagantly at his expense years ago, had now gained a lot of weight (twenty-one stone). He saw this as a form of natural justice or “revenge” for the financial and emotional trouble she caused him during the luncheon, even though he didn’t wish her harm himself.
(b) There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions ‘My heart sank, panic seized’ etc. What was the reason for this? Explain.
- The author used these expressions to show his growing fear and anxiety about the increasing cost of the meal. He was poor and had limited money, and as the woman kept ordering expensive dishes like caviar, salmon, and asparagus, he worried about how he would pay the bill.
(c) What are the instances which create humour in “The Luncheon”?
- Humour arises from the woman’s hypocrisy (saying she eats only one thing but ordering many dishes), the narrator’s silent panic as the bill mounts, and his sarcastic remark at the end about not eating dinner. The contrast between her actions and words, along with his suffering, makes it funny.
(d) Describe the use of irony and humour in “The Luncheon”.
- Irony is used when the woman says she doesn’t eat much but orders expensive items, leaving the narrator broke. Humour comes from her obliviousness to his struggle and his witty revenge when he notes her weight gain years later. Together, they highlight human flaws in a light-hearted way.
5. Pick out the words and phrases in the story that indicate that the author was not financially well off.
| Words | Phrases |
|---|---|
| not afford | beyond my means |
| barely enough | to last me the rest of the month |
| modest | cut out coffee for the next two weeks |
| inadequate | not a penny in my pocket |
6. After reading the story, put the following events into correct order:
- (c) Twenty years ago, I lived in Paris and earned just enough money to get by.
- (g) She had read a book of mine.
- (i) She suggested him to invite her to a famous and expensive restaurant.
- (e) “I never eat anything for luncheon.”
- (f) I ordered a mutton chop for myself.
- (h) She ordered asparagus.
- (d) I was really scared what could happen when I would pay the bill.
- (j) I didn’t have dinner for the rest of the month.
- (a) She gave me her last kind advice how to improve my eating habits.
- (b) I met her in the theatre after many years and I could hardly recognize her.
7. Irony is the expression of meaning through the use of language signifying the opposite. Describe the use of irony in ‘The Luncheon’. Pick the sentences from the story that are examples of irony.
| Sentence | Direct meaning | Hidden meaning |
|---|---|---|
| If I cut out coffee for the next two days, | to stop drinking coffee | to stop spending money in order to save money for some purpose. |
| “I had eighty francs to last me the rest of the month.” | He has sufficient funds for the month. | He must carefully ration his money to avoid running out. (Page 151) |
| “I chose the cheapest dish on the menu.” | He prefers a simple meal. | He selects it to minimize expenses due to his financial limits. (Page 152) |
| “I had only enough for a quite inadequate tip.” | He left a reasonable tip. | He could barely afford even a small tip after the meal’s cost. (Page 153) |
| “I made up my mind that I would put my hand in my pocket and with a dramatic cry, start up and say it had been picked.” | He lost his money accidentally. | He planned this as a desperate ruse to avoid paying if short of funds. (Page 152) |
8. Fill in the blank a word or a phrase given in the brackets in their appropriate forms.
- “I never overload my stomach,” she said.
- I was startled when the menu was brought.
- The author caught sight of the guest at the play.
- I had seen asparagus in the shops, my mouth often watered at the sight of them.
- The author’s guest was passing through Paris.
9. Use appropriate articles.
- I have just had a snack.
- I have a cup of coffee in the morning.
- I want just an ice cream and coffee.
- The author and his guest gave an order and then waited for the asparagus to be cooked.
10. Classify the following words in the given table appropriately.
| Noun | Verb | Adjective | Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| luncheon | brought | modest | generously |
| restaurant | started | large | brightly |
| appearance | afford | expensive | thoroughly |
| watch | practical | ||
| coffee | |||
| apartment | |||
| moment | |||
| rank |
11. Study the different uses of ‘could’. Identify what it indicates.
(a) Lack of rain could cause drought. (possibility)
(b) Abhi could perform well in his school days. (past ability)
(c) Instead of playing computer games you could play real games with friends. (suggestion)
(d) Could I use your computer for surfing the net? (request)
(e) We could go on an excursion, if we didn’t have an exam. (condition)
12. Fill in the gaps with appropriate Prepositions to make the passage meaningful.
I waited at the airport in Atlanta. My old school-mate was going to arrive by New Airlines from Mumbai, on 21st March in the year 2018. We had not met for 40 years since 1978. She was going to stay for a week with me in Atlanta from 21st to 27th March, 2018. My joy knew no bounds when I saw her after 40 years. At home, I introduced her to my family. Then I took her to a big mall for shopping. It was just near my house. We went across the street and climbed using the elevator, instead of the staircase.
13. On the occasion of Diwali, write a letter to your friend to invite him/her to celebrate the festival in an innovative way.
Dear [Friend’s Name],
I hope you’re doing well! This Diwali, I’d love for you to join me at my place, 15 MG Road, on 5th November at 5 PM, to celebrate in a unique way. Other friends like Riya and Aman are also coming. My mom’s preparing a special dish-paneer tikka pizza! After lunch, we’ll have fun with games like musical chairs and a DIY lantern-making contest. The innovative twist? We’re doing an eco-friendly Diwali with clay diyas and seed crackers that grow into plants. Let me know if you can make it!
Yours, [Your Name]
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