GSEB Class 8 English Chapter 4 At the Theatre
Activity 5 – Match the Column
| Column A | Column B |
| Plot | Interest or Give Pleasure |
| Seeks | Events in The Story of Play |
| Merit | Interest |
| Amuse | to Try to Find, Get or Achieve |
| Foretold | Stupid |
| Infer | Told Beforehand |
| Halfwit | Reach and Opinion from Facts |
| Foul | A Composition in Music Drama Sculpture Etc. |
| Piece | Manner less |
| Assistance | The Sun or Daughter of a Brother or Sister |
| Mute | Help |
| Niece | Speechless |
Activity 6 – Answer the following questions
What kind of play do you think was the poet watching at the theatre?
The poet was watching suspense or mystery thriller at the theatre.
How did the poet know that the lady had seen the play earlier?
The lady was telling her niece what was going to happen next in the play and from her words the poet felt that the lady had seen the play before.
Why did the poet get annoyed? Give reasons.
The poet became upset because the lady and her niece were talking loudly about what was going to happen next in the play.
The poet told the lady two things plainly. Write them in your words
The poet plainly told the lady two things:
He asked her not to discuss the plot of the play loudly with her neighbor before it unfolded. This was because it was a suspense drama.
The poet also asked the lady not to breathe on his neck, as she had moved uncomfortably close to him.
Activity 7 – Select appropriate alternative for each of the following
I ever saw it till today means…………..
I haven’t seen it so far.
But the surprise now must be small means……….
The suspense of the play is rather lost.
Don’t breathe upon my neck so much means…..
Don’t keep so close to me.
Activity 8
- A Piece of Cake
- A Piece of Art
- A Piece of Mind
- A Piece of Evidence
- A Piece of Fabric
- A Piece of Wisdom
Additional Que Ans from the Chapter
Q1: What is the main theme of the poem?
A1: The main theme of the poem is the portrayal of bad manners and the disruption they cause to others in a public setting, specifically during a suspenseful drama.
Q2: How does the lady sitting behind the poet disrupt his experience at the drama?
A2: The lady behind the poet disrupts his experience by loudly discussing the plot of the drama with her niece before it unfolds, spoiling the suspense for the poet and causing annoyance.
Q3: Why does the poet lose interest in watching the play?
A3: The poet loses interest in watching the play because the lady behind him has already revealed the entire plot, eliminating the element of surprise and suspense.
Q4: What does the poet request the lady and her niece to do?
A4: The poet requests the lady and her niece to keep silent during the play, as it is meant to be a suspense drama, and their talking is disturbing both him and others.
Q5: How does the poem highlight the lack of consideration for others’ feelings?
A5: The poem emphasizes the lack of consideration for others’ feelings by depicting how the lady and her niece disrupt the experience of those around them with their loud talking and close proximity to the poet.
Q6: What is the poet’s final request to the lady?
A6: The poet’s final request to the lady is to not breathe on his neck, as she has gotten uncomfortably close to him.
