ISWARAN THE STORYTELLER
Iswaran the Storyteller
CHARACTER SKETCH
Iswaran
Iswaran was Mahendra’s cook and was an asset to him. He was dedicated to his master and followed him uncomplainingly to all his postings. He would cook for him, wash his clothes, and also chat with him at night. He had the ability to improvise cooking material even at the remotest place and cook delicious dishes in a very brief time. Iswaran was fond of reading popular Tamil thrillers. Their imaginative descriptions and narrating styles would fascinate him. He became a master storyteller by adopting the art of storytelling from these novels. He would always add suspense and surprise even to the smallest incident and could make up innumerable stories on different subjects. While describing, he would get so involved that he would jump about on the foor. He would narrate the story in installments and would deliberately leave it unfinished midway. On returning, he would not pick it up right away till Mahendra reminded him to. In this manner he would involve his listener too. Every day, Iswaran would recount a new story filled with adventure, horror and suspense. Mahendra loved his stories and listened with rapt attention even if they were unbelievable. Iswaran thus entertained Mahendra just as TV does. Iswaran enjoyed his job and would not sit idle when Mahendra was at work. He would use that time to tidy up the shed and wash clothes. He was also religious because he would mutter a prayer throughout his bath ritual. This character displays a shade of comedy as well when he teasingly asks Mahendra about his reaction at having seen the female ghost.
Mahendra :-
Mahendra used to work as a junior supervisor in a firm which offered, on hire, supervisors at construction sites. His work involved moving from one site to another. He was unmarried and a simple man. He was quite accommodating and adjusted well to odd conditions that he faced at different places. He was a disciplined man and would get up early in the morning. He would leave for work after breakfast and carry lunch with him. Mahendra was very fond of his cook Iswaran whom he considered to be an asset. He relished the food cooked by him and enjoyed listening to his stories. He was a good listener and never interrupted Iswaran even when he exaggerated. He was very patient and would wait for Iswaran to return and complete the unfinished story. He was also curious as he would insist on knowing all the details. Mahendra was a rational man and did not believe in ghosts or spirits but could not help getting influenced by what Iswaran told him about the female ghost. He tried to ignore the strange sounds at night but got scared when he saw the apparition. This character appeals to the reader for his qualities as a devoted worker, a kind-hearted master and a trusting man.
Answers to Text book questions
1. In what way is Ishwaran an asset to Mahendra? (ANS)Iswaran was a skilled cook .He worked for Mahendra; he cooked for him, washed his clothes and chatted away with his master at night. Mahendra always kept him wherever he was posted. The cook was also quite attached to Mahendra and followed him uncomplainingly anywhere that Mahendra was posted.That is why he was an asset to Mahendra.
2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
(ANS) Iswaran describes the uprooted tree by first adding suspense and then a surprise ending to the account. He arched his eye brows suitably and hands were held out in dramatic gesture while recounting that he was alone on a deserted road when he saw something that looked like an enormous bushy beast. Later, on a closer look, he saw that it was a fallen tree with dry branches spread out. He adopts this style of description because he wants to catch the attention of the listener. He employs suspense and adds details so that the story captivates his audience. His style of narrating stories was influenced by Tamil thrillers that were quite long. He knew from his experience of reading that elaborate descriptions made the story enjoyable and interesting. He wanted to give the same experience to his listener.
3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible? 3
(ANS)Iswaran had a great narrative skill .Once he narrated the story of a tusker who had escaped from the jungle .The tusker destroyed everything that came in his way. At last it reached Iswaran's school and broke the brick wall, pulled out the football goal post, tore down the volley ball net. Everyone was helplessly watching the whole drama. Sudden Iswaran grabbed a cane from the hands of a teacher and faced the dangerous tusker. He whacked the third toe nail of tusker with the cane. The elephant was stunned; it shivered from head to foot and collapsed. No, the tale does not appear to be plausible since it is not possible that a whack by a boy with a cane would cause a dangerous elephant to collapse.
4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of T.V. in Mahendra's living quarters?
(ANS)The author says so because Iswaran was a fascinating storyteller. Every day he recounted some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense whether the story was credible or not Mahendra enjoyed listening to it because of the inimitable way in which it was told. Iswaran’s descriptions were greatly influenced by the books of Tamil authors that he read.
5. Mahendra calls ghost or sprits a figment of the imagination. What happen to him on a full moon night?
(ANS)Mahendra was a man with scientific approach. One day when Iswaran told him that the entire factory area that they were occupying was once a burial ground. Mahendra chided Iswaran and told him not to believe in ghost or spirits because these are nothing but a figment of the imagination. On one full moon night he heard a low moan close to his window. At first he thought it was a cat prowling around for mice but the sound became loud and harsh. He looked through the window and found a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. That sight sent a chill down Mahendra’s spine. He resolved to leave the haunted place the next day.
6. Can you think the other end of the story?
(ANS)The other ending of the story could be that Mahendra could have found the right reason of his ghastly experience. He would not have left the place instead faced the bull by its horns. Mahendra could have caught Iswaran red handed while playing a trick on him.
CHARACTER SKETCH
Iswaran
Iswaran was Mahendra’s cook and was an asset to him. He was dedicated to his master and followed him uncomplainingly to all his postings. He would cook for him, wash his clothes, and also chat with him at night. He had the ability to improvise cooking material even at the remotest place and cook delicious dishes in a very brief time. Iswaran was fond of reading popular Tamil thrillers. Their imaginative descriptions and narrating styles would fascinate him. He became a master storyteller by adopting the art of storytelling from these novels. He would always add suspense and surprise even to the smallest incident and could make up innumerable stories on different subjects. While describing, he would get so involved that he would jump about on the foor. He would narrate the story in installments and would deliberately leave it unfinished midway. On returning, he would not pick it up right away till Mahendra reminded him to. In this manner he would involve his listener too. Every day, Iswaran would recount a new story filled with adventure, horror and suspense. Mahendra loved his stories and listened with rapt attention even if they were unbelievable. Iswaran thus entertained Mahendra just as TV does. Iswaran enjoyed his job and would not sit idle when Mahendra was at work. He would use that time to tidy up the shed and wash clothes. He was also religious because he would mutter a prayer throughout his bath ritual. This character displays a shade of comedy as well when he teasingly asks Mahendra about his reaction at having seen the female ghost.
Mahendra :-
Mahendra used to work as a junior supervisor in a firm which offered, on hire, supervisors at construction sites. His work involved moving from one site to another. He was unmarried and a simple man. He was quite accommodating and adjusted well to odd conditions that he faced at different places. He was a disciplined man and would get up early in the morning. He would leave for work after breakfast and carry lunch with him. Mahendra was very fond of his cook Iswaran whom he considered to be an asset. He relished the food cooked by him and enjoyed listening to his stories. He was a good listener and never interrupted Iswaran even when he exaggerated. He was very patient and would wait for Iswaran to return and complete the unfinished story. He was also curious as he would insist on knowing all the details. Mahendra was a rational man and did not believe in ghosts or spirits but could not help getting influenced by what Iswaran told him about the female ghost. He tried to ignore the strange sounds at night but got scared when he saw the apparition. This character appeals to the reader for his qualities as a devoted worker, a kind-hearted master and a trusting man.
Answers to Text book questions
1. In what way is Ishwaran an asset to Mahendra? (ANS)Iswaran was a skilled cook .He worked for Mahendra; he cooked for him, washed his clothes and chatted away with his master at night. Mahendra always kept him wherever he was posted. The cook was also quite attached to Mahendra and followed him uncomplainingly anywhere that Mahendra was posted.That is why he was an asset to Mahendra.
2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
(ANS) Iswaran describes the uprooted tree by first adding suspense and then a surprise ending to the account. He arched his eye brows suitably and hands were held out in dramatic gesture while recounting that he was alone on a deserted road when he saw something that looked like an enormous bushy beast. Later, on a closer look, he saw that it was a fallen tree with dry branches spread out. He adopts this style of description because he wants to catch the attention of the listener. He employs suspense and adds details so that the story captivates his audience. His style of narrating stories was influenced by Tamil thrillers that were quite long. He knew from his experience of reading that elaborate descriptions made the story enjoyable and interesting. He wanted to give the same experience to his listener.
3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible? 3
(ANS)Iswaran had a great narrative skill .Once he narrated the story of a tusker who had escaped from the jungle .The tusker destroyed everything that came in his way. At last it reached Iswaran's school and broke the brick wall, pulled out the football goal post, tore down the volley ball net. Everyone was helplessly watching the whole drama. Sudden Iswaran grabbed a cane from the hands of a teacher and faced the dangerous tusker. He whacked the third toe nail of tusker with the cane. The elephant was stunned; it shivered from head to foot and collapsed. No, the tale does not appear to be plausible since it is not possible that a whack by a boy with a cane would cause a dangerous elephant to collapse.
4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of T.V. in Mahendra's living quarters?
(ANS)The author says so because Iswaran was a fascinating storyteller. Every day he recounted some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense whether the story was credible or not Mahendra enjoyed listening to it because of the inimitable way in which it was told. Iswaran’s descriptions were greatly influenced by the books of Tamil authors that he read.
5. Mahendra calls ghost or sprits a figment of the imagination. What happen to him on a full moon night?
(ANS)Mahendra was a man with scientific approach. One day when Iswaran told him that the entire factory area that they were occupying was once a burial ground. Mahendra chided Iswaran and told him not to believe in ghost or spirits because these are nothing but a figment of the imagination. On one full moon night he heard a low moan close to his window. At first he thought it was a cat prowling around for mice but the sound became loud and harsh. He looked through the window and found a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. That sight sent a chill down Mahendra’s spine. He resolved to leave the haunted place the next day.
6. Can you think the other end of the story?
(ANS)The other ending of the story could be that Mahendra could have found the right reason of his ghastly experience. He would not have left the place instead faced the bull by its horns. Mahendra could have caught Iswaran red handed while playing a trick on him.
Very informative sketch
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