Book: Kaliedoscope - Short Stories| NCERT Solutions for class 12 English - Short Stories Chapter - 1
I Sell My Dreams
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Understanding the text
Q.1. Did the author believe in the prophetic ability of Frau Frieda?
Ans :- The author believed in the prophetic ability of Frau Frieda. The significant event that depicts his faith in her prophetic ability is when Frau Frieda tells him to leave and not return for the next five years because the previous night she had a dream. The author takes her words very seriously and leaves the next day and makes sure not to return before the prohibited time frame. Years later he meets her on the ship and invites over Coffee where Pablo Neruda is also present He talks about her prophetic powers that astound Pablo Neruda.
Q.2. Why did he think that Frau Frieda's dreams were a stratagem for surviving?
Ans :- He thought that Frau Frieda's dreams were s stratagem because the time to time conversations with her made it clear that by selling her dreams, she had built her entire fortune from her ineffable patrons in Vienna. These did not surprise him and he thought it this way.
Q.3. Why does the author compare Neruda to a Renaissance pope? Ans :- The author compares Neruda to Renaissance Pope because he was gluttonous as well as refined. Even if he didn't want to still he would preside at the table. Matilde, his wife, would put a bib around his neck to keep his attire neat and dean. He was blessed with childlike curiosity and was eager to learn new things. He had surgeon like skills of eating the lobsters and talking of delicacies.
Talking about the Text
Q.1. In spite of all the rationality that human beings are capable of, most of us are suggestible and yield to archaic superstitions. Ans :- No matter how much a human being is rational towards the outer world, they still yield to archaic superstitions. Humans have believed in superstitions since time immemorial. The poet too believes in superstitions it is visible through his faith in lady's dream and after hearing her prediction he is determined to follow her instructions.
Q.2. Dreams and clairvoyance are as much an element of the poetic vision as religious superstition. Ans :- Dreams are the base of great works and most poems based on dreams and clairvoyance provides great joy to readers. The dreams and clairvoyance are also part of religious superstitions as the priest and fortune tellers use dream as the base to sell their prophecies and earn their daily bread.
Appreciation
Q.1. The story hinges on a gold ring shaped like a serpent with emerald eyes. Comment on the responses that this image evokes in the reader.
Ans :- The image of the lady casts different effects on different readers. The author was successful in creating a conspicuous image of the lady that a traditional fortune teller who wore a chunky and elaborate piece of jewelry, a ring - shaped like a serpent with emerald eyes. The narration gains a gothic effect as the story moves forward. Even after the end of the story the readers must be still in a state of wonder about the connection between the jewelry and the lady. Some may even predict the jewelry to be some sort of magical ning that helped the lady in dreaming and interpreting.
Q.2. The craft of a master story - teller lies in the ability to interweave imagination and reality. Do you think that this story illustrates this?
Ans :- The craft of a master story - teller lies in the ability to interweave imagination and reality. storytelling leaves a long lasting impact on readers and leads the listener to a virtual world where the listener can create a connection with it. This masterpiece particularly transfers its listeners to the world of narrative. This story too reveals its ability to be a master - piece by impacting its reader greatly. If an author can make readers dream, it means his composition is successful in creating impact.
Q.3. Bring out the contradiction in the last exchange between the author and the Portuguese ambassador 'In concrete terms,' I asked at last, 'what did she do? '' Nothing, he said, with certain disenchantment. She dreamed.
Ans :- The last part of the story is a conversation between the author and the Portuguese ambassador, but here the contradiction is shown as the author was already aware of the whole past history of the lady still he puts forward his question. And the reply of an ambassador is already known by the author.
Q.4. Comment on the ironical element in the story.
Ans :- The irony is defined as, "a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result." The plot is weaved realistically but still fragments of irony and gothic effects are found inside. The elements like superstition and lady's appearance plays a major role in it. At the end, the conversation between the author and the Portuguese ambassador also highlights the ironic element, even though the author is well aware of the dead lady's background he still inquires about it.
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