"Dusk" is a short story written by Saki (the pen name of H.H. Munro) that was first published in 1916. The story takes place in a rural village in England and follows the protagonist, a young man named Norman Gortsby, as he sits on a bench in a park at dusk.
As Gortsby sits on the bench, he notices a man who appears to be searching for something in the darkening park. The man approaches Gortsby and asks if he has found a lost object, but Gortsby cannot help him. The man then tells Gortsby a story about how he lost a valuable hotel voucher that would have allowed him to stay at a posh hotel. The man's story seems plausible, and Gortsby is inclined to believe him, but he does not have any money to lend him.
After the man leaves, Gortsby realizes that the story may have been a ruse to get money from him. He begins to doubt the man's honesty and decides to search the park for the lost voucher. As he looks for it, he encounters a young couple who are also searching for something. They tell Gortsby that they are looking for the woman's lost brooch, which she believes she dropped in the park. Gortsby helps them look, and they eventually find the brooch.
As Gortsby continues to search for the voucher, he reflects on the nature of trust and deceit. He wonders if he was too quick to believe the man's story and if his own desire to help a stranger had clouded his judgment. In the end, Gortsby is unable to find the voucher and returns to the bench feeling disappointed and slightly foolish.
As he sits on the bench, Gortsby notices the man who had approached him earlier walking towards him. The man hands him the lost voucher and explains that he had found it after all. Gortsby is relieved and grateful, but he also feels somewhat embarrassed by his earlier doubts. The story ends with Gortsby reflecting on the irony of the situation and the fact that he had misjudged the man's character.
Overall, "Dusk" is a clever and thought-provoking story that explores themes of trust, honesty, and the nature of human interaction. The story's surprise ending adds an extra layer of complexity and nuance to its exploration of these themes, and it leaves the reader with much to ponder about the complexities of human relationships.
Dusk - Communicate in English Literature Reader - Class 8 - English
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Extra Questions - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
“You don’t seem to be in a good temper.”
“You don’t seem to be in a good temper.”
a. Name the chapter and the author.
b. Who do 'you' refer to?
c. Why was he not in a good temper?
a. The quoted line is from the short story "Dusk" by S. H. Munro, popularly known as Saki.
b. Here, 'you' refers to the young man who sat down on the bench next to Norman Gortsby.
c. The young man was not in a good temper because he was in a difficult predicament. He claimed to have lost his hotel, was without money, and didn't have any friends or connections in London, leaving him with no place to go for the night.
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“You wouldn’t be in a good temper if you’re in the fix I’m in.”
a. Who said to whom?
b. Why was he not in a good temper?
c. What was he in a fix about?
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Unlock now 🔓“Poor boy, he nearly broke down”
a. Who said to whom?
b. Was he really a poor boy?
c. Who do you think he was?
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Unlock now 🔓How do you like the story? Comment.
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Unlock now 🔓Back Questions - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
The young man turned to him with a look of disarming frankness which put him instantly on his guard.
To whom did the young man turn?
What did the young man say to him?
Describe the young man.
Why do you think the ‘look of disarming frankness’ put the person on his guard?
The young man turned to him with a look of disarming frankness which put him instantly on his guard.
To whom did the young man turn?
What did the young man say to him?
Describe the young man.
Why do you think the ‘look of disarming frankness’ put the person on his guard?
1. The young man turned to Norman Gortsby.
2. The young man shared his predicament, telling Gortsby he had come to another city, intending to stay at a hotel which he later discovered had been demolished. He mentioned going out to buy soap, and on his return, he realized he had forgotten the name and location of the new hotel the taxi driver had taken him to.
3. The young man was described as fairly well-dressed, but he was not any more cheerful than his predecessor - the old man. He was in a fix and voiced his frustration through an audible expletive.
4. The 'look of disarming frankness' puts Gortsby on his guard because the young man's forthcoming story could be a distraction or deception. His open and honest behaviour could potentially be a ploy to lower Gortsby's defences and make him more likely to believe his story without scepticism.
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‘It’s a lesson to me not to be too clever in judging by circumstances.’
Name the speaker.
Who did the speaker judge?
Did his judgement turn out to be correct?
What lesson did the speaker ultimately learn?
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Unlock now 🔓According to the narrator, who does the dusk hour belong to?
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Unlock now 🔓Compare and contrast the two people who came and sat on the bench with Norman Gortsby.
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Unlock now 🔓What proved to be the weak point in the young man’s story?
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Unlock now 🔓‘Lucky thing your finding it.’ What ‘luck’ did the young man have in the story?
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Unlock now 🔓Back Exercises - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
Some people possess a flair for making up a story at a moment’s notice. With the help of your partner make up a story on any one of the following themes: friendship, fraud, kindness, family, school like, society, in not more than half an hour. Then narrate it to the class.
The Fruit of Friendship
In a small Indian village called Sunheri, two boys, Amar and Prem, were best friends. They would always be seen doing chores, studying, and playing together. They also regularly attended the village school, encouraging each other to excel acadically.
One day, a large old tree in the village bore golden mangoes, and villagers believed that those fruits could only be eaten by the most deserving person. Villagers anxiously waited to see who the tree would choose. To everyone's surprise, Amar and Prem were chosen.
Though they had the rights to enjoy all the golden mangoes, they decided to share them with the entire village. The people were thrilled with their act of kindness and humility. Their action of sharing their fortune transformed their friendship into a village legend, teaching everyone a valuable lesson about friendship, selflessness, and the importance of community. Their story became an exemplary tale told to future generations in Sunheri.
The story has a surprise ending. This is called a twist in the tale. We are led to believe something and suddenly the end is not what we had expected. Read other stones by Saki, such as The Open Window and The Background, and write a note on each of the endings.
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Unlock now 🔓Quiz - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
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Unlock now 🔓About the Author - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
The author of "Dusk" is the British writer Hector Hugh Munro, who wrote under the pen name Saki. Born in Burma in 1870, Saki was sent to live with his grandmother in England at a young age after his mother's death. He worked as a journalist and began writing short stories that often featured a mix of satire, wit, and macabre humor. Saki's stories were popular in his time and continue to be read and enjoyed today. He died at the age of 45 while serving in World War I.
Summary - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Theme of Deception:
Deception plays a central role in the chapter. The young man tricked Gortsby into believing his convoluted story about reaching...........................
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Unlock now 🔓Important Lines - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
Some important lines used in the chapter and their explanations are:
"Dusk, to his mind, was the hour of the defeated."
This line is important as it sets the tone for the entire story. It shows how the defeated come out in the evening to enjoy themselves and also sets the mood for Gortsby, who is feeling defeated and disillusioned.
"Money troubles did not press on him; had he so wished he could have strolled into the thoroughfares of light and noise."
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
sward - a stretch of land covered with grass
The horses grazed peacefully on the lush sward in the meadow.
railings - a fence made of vertical bars
The garden was enclosed by beautiful iron railings to keep the animals out.
hoot - a loud, harsh cry or sound
The owl let out a........................
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Unlock now 🔓Plot - Dusk | Communicate in English Literature Reader | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Setting the Scene:
The chapter begins with Norman Gortsby sitting on a park bench at dusk, observing the people around him. Gortsby reflects on his own similarities....
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