Table of Index
Summary of Chapter 'Packing' by Jerome K. Jerome
In this humorous story, the narrator, who is confident in his packing skills, takes charge of packing for a trip. He insists that his friends, George and Harris, let him do the job while they relax, but this wasn’t what he intended. He wanted to be in control while they helped. Their laziness annoys him, but he starts packing anyway.
Things don't go smoothly. He forgets to pack his boots, which Harris points out after the bag is already closed. Then, he becomes obsessed with whether he packed his toothbrush, leading him to unpack everything, only to find it inside a boot. Frustrated, he repacks, only to discover that he accidentally packed his spectacles, which means he has to open the bag again.
Finally, George and Harris take over packing the hampers. They start with enthusiasm but make a mess, breaking a cup, squashing a tomato, and creating chaos with the butter. Their dog, Montmorency, adds to the confusion by getting in the way, sitting on things, and causing more trouble.
Despite all the mishaps, the packing is finally done, and they prepare for bed. They argue about what time to wake up, eventually settling on 6:30. However, they find George already asleep, so they set a prank for him by placing a bath where he might stumble into it in the morning.
Difficult Words and Meanings from the chapter Packing
- Pride - A feeling of satisfaction from one’s achievements.
- Uncanny - Strange or mysterious in a way that is surprising or hard to explain.
- Irritate - To make someone annoyed or angry.
- Slaving - Working very hard.
- Superintend - To supervise or manage something.
- Strap - To fasten something with a strap or belt.
- Horrible - Very bad, unpleasant, or shocking.
- Haunt - To stay in your mind and make you feel worried.
- Rummage - To search through something, especially in a messy way.
- Chaos - Complete disorder and confusion.
- Light-hearted - Cheerful and carefree.
- Exciting - Causing great enthusiasm or eagerness.
- Squash - To crush something so that it becomes flat or out of shape.
- Spectacles - Another word for eyeglasses.
- Teapot - A pot used for making and serving tea.
- Conceit - Excessive pride in oneself.
- Nuisance - Something or someone that causes trouble or annoyance.
- Frying-pan - A flat pan used for frying food.
- Hamper - A basket or container used for storing or carrying things.
- Tumble - To fall or roll over suddenly.
- Reflection - Thought or consideration about something.
Thinking About the Text (Q&A)
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How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (Don’t forget the dog!).
- There are four characters in the narrative: Jerome (the narrator), George, Harris, and the dog, Montmorency.
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Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
- Jerome volunteered to do the packing because he prided himself on his packing skills and believed he was better at it than anyone else.
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How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
- George and Harris readily agreed to let Jerome pack and relaxed while he did all the work. Jerome didn’t like their reaction because he wanted them to assist him, not sit idle.
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What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?
- Jerome’s real intention was to supervise and manage the packing while George and Harris helped, allowing him to correct their mistakes and show off his packing skills.
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What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
- After the bag was shut and strapped, Harris asked if Jerome had packed the boots. He probably waited because he wanted to tease Jerome after all the effort was already done.
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What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome a little later?
- A “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome that he might have forgotten to pack his toothbrush, which always troubled him when travelling.
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Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
- Jerome finally found the toothbrush inside a boot after searching through the entire bag.
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Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
- Jerome had to reopen the packed bag because he realized that he had packed his spectacles inside it by mistake.
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What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
- George and Harris offered to pack the hampers because they thought it would be quicker and easier if they did it, especially since they were short on time.
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While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.
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The true statements are:
(i) They started with breaking a cup.
(iii) They squashed a tomato.
(iv) They trod on the butter.
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
(vii) They stepped on things.
- Jerome says Montmorency’s ambition in life is to be a nuisance and get in people’s way. Despite his troublesome behaviour, Montmorency is playful and adds humour to the story, making him an amusing and endearing character.
1. Of the three, Jerome, George, and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst packer?
- Among the three, Jerome seems to be the best packer, although he still makes mistakes. He is meticulous, even if it means unpacking everything to find his toothbrush or spectacles. However, George and Harris are clearly the worst packers. They create chaos while packing the hampers, breaking items, stepping on things, and making a mess of everything. Their clumsiness and lack of organisation highlight their incompetence in packing, making them far less effective than Jerome.
2. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
- Montmorency, the dog, “contributed” to the packing by being a constant source of disruption. He would get in the way at every opportunity, sitting on items that needed to be packed and interfering with the process. He even put his leg in the jam and pretended that the lemons were rats, which caused further chaos. Montmorency’s antics added to the confusion and made the already difficult task of packing even more challenging for George and Harris.
3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it?
- Yes, this story is very funny. The humour comes from the absurd situations and the way they are described. First, Jerome’s frustration with George and Harris lounging around while he packs is amusing, especially when he realises they took his offer too literally. Second, the chaos caused by George and Harris while packing the hampers, like squashing tomatoes and stepping on butter, adds to the comedic effect. Finally, Montmorency’s mischievous behaviour, such as sitting on things and attacking the “rat” lemons, brings a playful and light-hearted humour to the story. Jerome’s witty and sarcastic narration enhances the overall comedic tone.
Thinking About Language
Following is the matching of words/phrases from Column A with their meanings in Column B:
- slaving - (viii) working hard
- chaos - (vi) complete confusion and disorder
- rummage - (v) search for something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly
- scrape out - (ii) remove something from inside another thing using a sharp tool
- stumble over, tumble into - (vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking
- accomplish - (iv) finish successfully, achieve
- uncanny - (iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to explain
- (to have or get into) a row - (i) a quarrel or an argument
II. Use suitable words or phrases from Column A to complete the paragraph.
A Traffic Jam
During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter chaos at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by having or getting into a row over their right of way, and nearly come to blows. Sometimes passers-by, seeing a few policemen stumbling over, tumbling into at regulating traffic, step in to help. This gives them a feeling of having accomplished something.
1. Work in pairs and give:
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(i) Two commands to your partner:
- Sit down.
- Open the book.
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(ii) Two dos and don'ts to a new student in your class:
- Do: Always be on time.
- Don't: Don't interrupt when someone is speaking.
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(iii) Directions to get to each other's houses:
- Board Bus No.121 and get down at Sagar Restaurant. From there, turn right and walk till you reach a book shop. My home is just behind the shop.
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(iv) Instructions for moving the body in an exercise or a dance, or for cooking something:
- Exercise: Stand straight with feet shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms above your head and stretch. Bend forward and try to touch your toes without bending your knees.
- Cooking: Wash the fruit. Cut them into small pieces. Mix them well. Add a few drops of lime juice. Add sugar to taste. Now add some cream or ice cream if you wish to make fruit salad with ice cream.
2. Fill in the blanks and add a few more proverbs to the table:
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Positive:
- (iii) Look before you leap.
- (iv) Live and let live.
- Negative:
- (iii) Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
- (iv) Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Writing
Speaking
Here are some examples of how to use "had better" in response to the situations listed:
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Hasn't returned a book to the library:
- "You had better return that book to the library today, or you'll get a fine."
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Has forgotten to bring lunch:
- "You had better find something to eat, or you'll be hungry all day."
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Hasn't got enough change for bus fare:
- "You'd better ask someone for change, or you might miss the bus."
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Has found out a secret about you:
- "You'd better keep that secret to yourself, or else."
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Has misplaced your English textbook:
- "You had better find my English textbook, or you'll be in trouble."
MCQs Based on "Packing" by Jerome K Jerome
- Who is the narrator of the story?
- A. George
- B. Harris
- C. Jerome
- D. Montmorency
- What is the narrator's primary concern throughout the packing process?
- A. Breaking something
- B. Losing his belongings
- C. Running out of time
- D. Arguing with his friends
- Which animal plays a significant role in the story?
- A. A cat
- B. A dog
- C. A bird
- D. A horse
- What is the narrator's opinion of Harris and George's packing skills?
- A. He admires their efficiency
- B. He finds them to be quite good
- C. He believes they are terrible
- D. He thinks they are better than him
- Where does the narrator plan to go on this trip?
- A. The narrator does not mention a destination
- B. A nearby city
- C. A foreign country
- D. A rural area
- Why does the narrator insist on packing himself?
- A. He is a perfectionist
- B. He wants to show off his skills
- C. He doesn't trust his friends
- D. He enjoys being in control
- What can we infer about the narrator's personality based on his interactions with his friends?
- A. He is patient and understanding
- B. He is lazy and irresponsible
- C. He is bossy and opinionated
- D. He is kind and generous
- Why does Montmorency seem to enjoy causing trouble?
- A. He is bored
- B. He is jealous
- C. He is mischievous
- D. He is hungry
- What is the significance of the constant arguments between the narrator, Harris, and George?
- A. They highlight the challenges of friendship
- B. They show that they are not really compatible
- C. They create comedic relief in the story
- D. They reveal underlying tensions and conflicts
- What is the overall tone of the story?
- A. Serious
- B. Romantic
- C. Tragic
- D. Humorous
- What does the narrator's constant references to his toothbrush reveal about his character?
- A. He is forgetful and disorganized
- B. He is overly cautious and anxious
- C. He is superstitious and irrational
- D. He is obsessive and compulsive
- The constant chaos and bickering among the three men can be seen as a metaphor for what?
- A. The challenges of travel
- B. The complexities of human relationships
- C. The absurdity of life
- D. The difficulties of planning a vacation
- Why does the narrator seem so irritated by his friends' packing skills?
- A. He is a perfectionist and values efficiency
- B. He is jealous of their abilities
- C. He is trying to assert his dominance
- D. He is simply annoyed by their incompetence
- What is the significance of the narrator's frequent use of humor and exaggeration in the story?
- A. To create a sense of realism
- B. To make the characters more relatable
- C. To provide comic relief and entertain the reader
- D. To highlight the seriousness of the situation
- The story can be interpreted as a critique of what aspect of Victorian society?
- A. The obsession with class and status
- B. The emphasis on material possessions
- C. The lack of respect for women
- D. The value placed on leisure and recreation
- How does the narrator's perspective on the trip change as the story progresses?
- A. He becomes more excited and optimistic
- B. He becomes more disillusioned and pessimistic
- C. He remains largely unchanged
- D. He becomes more appreciative of his friends
- What is the significance of the constant references to time and deadlines in the story?
- A. To create a sense of urgency and tension
- B. To highlight the limitations of human planning
- C. To emphasize the importance of efficiency
- D. To symbolize the passage of time and the inevitability of change
- How does the character of Montmorency contribute to the overall theme of the story?
- A. He represents the natural world and its indifference to human affairs
- B. He symbolizes the chaos and unpredictability of life
- C. He serves as a foil for the human characters
- D. He represents the petulant and demanding nature of children
- What is the underlying message of the story?
- A. The importance of planning and preparation
- B. The value of friendship and camaraderie
- C. The absurdity and unpredictability of life
- D. The dangers of excessive indulgence and hedonism
- How does the story reflect the values and attitudes of the Victorian era?
- A. By emphasizing the importance of hard work and discipline
- B. By romanticizing the natural world and wilderness
- C. By satirizing the upper classes and their excesses
- D. By promoting the ideals of individualism and self-reliance
- C
- B
- B
- C
- A
- A
- C
- C
- A
- D
- B
- B
- A
- C
- C
- C
- A
- B
- C
- C
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