Hello students, welcome to today's English lesson. I'm so happy to see you all here, ready to learn something new and exciting. Today we are going to study a very interesting chapter from your English Beehive textbook. It's Chapter 9, and the title is "If I Were You". This is a play, students, a dramatic piece written by Douglas James. Now, before we dive into the play itself, let me tell you that this is going to be a fun and engaging lesson. We'll go through the entire chapter step by step, understand every concept, and solve all the exercises together. By the end of this lesson, you should be confident enough to answer any question from this chapter. So let's begin, shall we?
First, let's look at the "Before You Read" section. Students, you see there are some words and phrases given in a table. These are words that appear in the play, and you need to match them with their meanings. This is a vocabulary exercise that will help you understand the play better. Let me go through each word and its correct meaning with you.
The first word is "cultured". Now, in the play, you will hear someone described as having a "cultured" voice. What does this mean? It means the voice is sophisticated and well mannered, just like a educated person from a refined background. So the meaning given in the table for "cultured" is "sophisticated; well mannered". That matches perfectly.
Next, we have "count on". This phrase means to depend on someone or to rely on someone. So if you count on someone, you trust that they will help you or be there for you. The meaning in the table says "depend on; rely on" — that is exactly right.
Then we have "engaged". Now, this word appears in the play when Gerrard is packing his bag and we are told he is "thus engaged". What does "engaged" mean here? It means occupied or busy with something. So the meaning "occupied; busy" is correct.
Now, "melodramatic" is an important word. You might have heard this word before. Melodramatic means something that is exaggerated, overly emotional, or theatrical. In the play, Gerrard says "This is all very melodramatic" when the intruder points a gun at him. He means the whole situation is like something out of a dramatic play, with exaggerated actions. So the meaning "exaggerated" is correct.
The next one is "to be smart". Now, in American English, "to be smart" or "you're being a smart guy" means someone is being too clever or trying to show off their intelligence. It's often said in a slightly disapproving way. The table gives the meaning as "(American English) an informal way of saying that one is being too clever". That is correct.
Then we have "inflection". This is a word related to speech and voice. Inflection refers to the way your voice goes up or down when you speak, the tone or modulation. In the play, Gerrard mentions "a question of inflection" when the intruder asks him a question. So the meaning "here, a tone of voice" is correct.
Next is "wise guy". This is again an American expression. A "wise guy" is someone who pretends to know a lot or who makes clever remarks, often in a annoying way. The table says "(American English) a person who pretends to know a lot" — that fits.
Then we have "a dandy bus". Now, "dandy" means something that is very good or fine, and "bus" here refers to a car. So "a dandy bus" means a really nice car. The table gives the meaning as "an informal expression for a fashionable vehicle". That is correct.
"Tradespeople" is a simple word. It means merchants or people who sell things, like the baker, greengrocer, milkman, and so on. The table says "merchants" — that is correct.
"Gratuitous" means unnecessary and usually harmful or uncalled for. In the play, Gerrard asks "Why add murder to your other crimes? It's a grave step you're taking." And the intruder says he's not doing it for fun. The word "gratuitous" in the table means "unnecessary and usually harmful" — that is the meaning.
Now, "dodge" means to avoid something. If you dodge a question, you avoid answering it. The table says "avoid" — simple enough.
"Lucky break" means an unexpected opportunity for success, a stroke of good luck. In the play, the intruder says hearing about Gerrard was one of his "luckiest breaks". That means it was a fortunate opportunity that came his way. The table says "an unexpected opportunity for success" — correct.
"Sunday-school teacher" is a Christian religious teacher who teaches on Sundays in Church. That is straightforward.
And finally, "frame". In this context, "frame" means a trap or a setup. When Gerrard says "If you find it's a frame, you've got me in the car", he means if it's a trap or a setup. The table says "trap" — correct.
So students, that completes our vocabulary exercise. Now let's move on to the play itself.
The play is set in a small cottage. The main character is Gerrard, who lives alone in this lonely cottage in Essex. Now, students, Essex is a county in England, not too far from London. Gerrard is described as a man of medium height, wearing horn-rimmed glasses, dressed in a lounge suit and a great coat. His voice is described as "cultured", which as we learned, means sophisticated and well mannered. This tells us that Gerrard is an educated, refined gentleman.
The other character is the Intruder. He enters the cottage silently while Gerrard is making a phone call. He has a revolver in his hand, which means he has a gun. He is flashily dressed, meaning he wears flashy, showy clothes, with an overcoat and a soft hat. He accidentally bumps against the table, which alerts Gerrard to his presence.
Now, students, this is where the play really begins. Let's go through the dialogue step by step and understand what's happening.
When Gerrard turns around and sees the intruder, what does he say? He says, "(pleasantly) Why, this is a surprise, Mr— er—". Now, students, notice how Gerrard reacts. He is calm and pleasant. He pretends that the intruder is a social visitor, someone he is welcoming. This is very clever of him because he is actually hiding his fear. He doesn't want to show the intruder that he is scared. This is an example of irony, which we will discuss later in more detail.
The intruder, on the other hand, is not at all pleasant. He says, "I'm glad you're pleased to see me. I don't think you'll be pleased for long. Put those paws up!" By "put those paws up", he means "put your hands up", like in the movies when a robber tells someone to raise their hands. He's pointing a gun at Gerrard and demanding that he surrender.
Gerrard responds by saying, "This is all very melodramatic, not very original, perhaps, but..." Here, Gerrard is being ironic again. He's saying that the whole situation is like something from a melodrama — it's dramatic and exaggerated. He's also pointing out that it's not very original, meaning it's a common scenario that happens in stories. But he's saying this in a calm, almost amused way, which shows that he's not panicking.
The intruder says, "Trying to be calm and — er—" and Gerrard helpfully supplies the word "nonchalant". This is interesting, students. The intruder is trying to find the right word to describe Gerrard's calm behavior, and Gerrard actually helps him by giving him the word. This shows that Gerrard is very composed and in control of the situation, even though he has a gun pointed at him.
The intruder then says, "Thanks a lot. You'll soon stop being smart. I'll make you crawl. I want to know a few things, see." Here, the intruder is threatening Gerrard. He's saying that Gerrard won't be so clever for long, and he'll make him suffer. But Gerrard remains calm.
Now, let's look at the next part. Gerrard says, "Anything you like. I know all the answers. But before we begin I should like to change my position; you may be comfortable, but I am not." Students, this is very clever. Gerrard is trying to change his position, perhaps to sit down or move to a more comfortable position. But why? Well, he might be trying to think of a plan or create an opportunity to escape. The intruder tells him to sit down, and both of them sit — the intruder on the divan and Gerrard on the chair.
Then the intruder says, "Now then, we'll have a nice little talk about yourself!" This is when the interrogation begins. The intruder wants to know about Gerrard's life, his habits, and his routine.
Now comes a very important line. Gerrard says, "At last a sympathetic audience!" This is clearly ironic, students. The intruder is not a sympathetic audience at all — he's a dangerous criminal who wants to kill him and steal his identity. Gerrard is pretending that the intruder is interested in his life story, when actually the intruder just wants information that will help him commit his crime. This is a perfect example of dramatic irony.
The intruder tells him to keep his life story to himself and just answer the questions. Then he asks, "You live here alone? Well, do you?" Notice the inflection in his voice — the way he asks the question. Gerrard responds by saying, "I'm sorry. I thought you were telling me, not asking me. A question of inflection; your voice is unfamiliar." This is Gerrard being witty. He's pointing out that the intruder's tone of voice made it sound like a statement rather than a question. It's also a way of buying time and being evasive.
The intruder asks again with emphasis, "Do you live here alone?" And Gerrard asks, "And if I don't answer?" The intruder threatens him by saying, "You've got enough sense not to want to get hurt." Gerrard then makes another clever remark. He says, "I think good sense is shown more in the ability to avoid pain than in the mere desire to do so. What do you think, Mr— er—" Here, Gerrard is saying that being smart means knowing how to avoid pain, not just wanting to cause pain. It's a subtle way of suggesting that the intruder should think carefully about what he's doing. He also tries to get the intruder's name, but the intruder doesn't give it.
The intruder says he likes Gerrard's name better and asks for his Christian names, which means his first names. Gerrard tells him, "Vincent Charles." The intruder then asks if Gerrard runs a car, meaning if he owns a car. Gerrard says no, but the intruder knows he's lying. The intruder says, "That's a lie. You're not dealing with a fool. I'm as smart as you and smarter, and I know you run a car. Better be careful, wise guy!" Here, the intruder uses the expression "wise guy", which we discussed earlier. He's calling Gerrard a wise guy, meaning someone who thinks they're very clever.
Gerrard asks if the intruder is American, or just imitating an American accent. This is a clever question because it gives him information about the intruder's background. The intruder doesn't answer directly but threatens to hurt Gerrard with the gun if he doesn't cooperate. Gerrard then admits that he does have a car, and it's in the garage round the corner.
The intruder asks if people often come out to Gerrard's cottage. Gerrard says very rarely, and then he lists the people who do come — the baker, the greengrocer, and the milkman. He adds that none of them are as interesting as the intruder. This is another example of Gerrard's wit and his ability to stay calm in a dangerous situation.
The intruder says he knows that Gerrard never sees tradespeople. This shows that the intruder has been watching Gerrard and knows quite a lot about him. This is important because it sets up the later revelation about why Gerrard lives the way he does.
Now, students, let's move to the next part of the play. Gerrard says, "You seem to have taken a considerable amount of trouble. Since you know so much about me, won't you say something about yourself? You have been so modest." This is Gerrard turning the tables on the intruder. He's asking the intruder to talk about himself, which is a clever way of finding out more about the intruder's plans and motivations.
The intruder says, "I could tell you plenty. You think you're smart, but I'm the top of the class round here. I've got brains and I use them. That's how I've got where I have." The intruder is boasting about his intelligence and criminal achievements. He's saying he's the best at what he does.
Gerrard asks, "And where precisely have you got? It didn't require a great brain to break into my little cottage." This is Gerrard being sarcastic. He's pointing out that breaking into a cottage doesn't require great intelligence, so the intruder's claim to be so smart is not very impressive.
The intruder then reveals why he's there. He says, "When you know why I've broken into your little cottage, you'll be surprised, and it won't be a pleasant surprise." This builds suspense. What is the intruder's plan?
Gerrard asks about the intruder's "line of crime", whether he's a specialist in a particular type of crime. The intruder says his "speciality's jewel robbery" and that Gerrard's car will be useful — he calls it "a dandy bus", a nice car.
Gerrard says there are few jewels in Essex, to which the intruder responds that there are also few cops, meaning police. He says he can retire there nicely for a while — meaning he can hide out there.
Then Gerrard asks, "You mean to live with me? A trifle sudden isn't it; you've not been invited." This is Gerrard again being witty. He's making it sound like the intruder is a houseguest who wasn't invited, when actually the intruder is planning to murder him and take over his identity.
The intruder says, "You won't be here long; so I didn't trouble to ask." This is a chilling response. It means the intruder plans to kill Gerrard, so there's no point in asking for an invitation.
Gerrard asks, "What do you mean?" And the intruder delivers the shocking line: "This is your big surprise. I'm going to kill you."
Now, students, this is the climax of the play. The intruder reveals his plan. He wants to kill Gerrard and take on his identity. Why? Because he's a wanted criminal. He's already wanted for murder, and he killed a police officer. He says, "I've been hunted long enough. I'm wanted for murder already, and they can't hang me twice." This is a crucial line. The intruder is saying that since he's already going to be hanged for murder if he's caught, adding another murder to his crimes won't make any difference. He has nothing to lose.
Gerrard asks, "Why add murder to your other crimes? It's a grave step you're taking." Notice the word "grave" — it can mean serious, but it also literally refers to a grave, a place where dead people are buried. This is Gerrard being clever with words again.
The intruder explains his plan more fully. He says, "I've got freedom to gain. As for myself, I'm a poor hunted rat. As Vincent Charles Gerrard I'm free to go places and do nothing. I can eat well and sleep and without having to be ready to beat it at the sight of a cop." So the intruder's plan is to become Gerrard — to take his identity, his name, his life. He wants to live a comfortable life without having to run from the police.
Now, here's an interesting part. The intruder says, "In most melodramas the villain is foolish enough to delay his killing long enough to be frustrated. You are much luckier." This is the intruder saying that he's smarter than the typical villain in stories, who waits too long and gets caught. He's saying he's not going to make that mistake.
But then Gerrard says something very important. He says, "That is extremely interesting, but you seem to miss the point of my remark. I said, you were luckier than most melodramatic villains. It was not a tribute to your intelligence. You won't kill me for a very good reason."
The intruder is confused. He says, "So that's what you think."
And Gerrard says, "You'll let me go, and thank God you didn't shoot sooner."
Now, students, this is the turning point of the play. Gerrard is about to reveal something that will change everything. But first, let's answer some of the questions from the "Thinking about the Text" section to make sure we understand what's happening so far.
Question 1: "At last a sympathetic audience." (i) Who says this? This is Gerrard who says this line. (ii) Why does he say it? He says it because the intruder has just told him that they will have a nice little talk about Gerrard's life. Gerrard pretends that the intruder is genuinely interested in his life story, when actually the intruder just wants information for his criminal plan. (iii) Is he sarcastic or serious? He is being sarcastic. This is an ironic statement. The intruder is not a sympathetic audience at all — he's a dangerous criminal. Gerrard is making a joke, pretending to welcome the attention, while in reality he's in great danger.
Question 2: Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on? The intruder chooses Gerrard because he has been watching him. He saw Gerrard in Aylesbury, in his car. He heard other people talking about Gerrard — that he's a bit of a mystery man, that he phones his orders, that he sometimes goes away suddenly and comes back just the same. The intruder thinks that Gerrard's lifestyle would suit him perfectly. He can live in Gerrard's cottage, use his car, and enjoy a comfortable life without having to run from the police. Also, Gerrard lives alone and rarely has visitors, which makes it easier for the intruder to take over his identity without being discovered.
Question 3: "I said it with bullets." (i) Who says this? This is Gerrard who says this line. (ii) What does it mean? It means that Gerrard solved his problems by using violence, by "speaking" with bullets, just as one might "speak" with words. He's saying that when he had trouble, he dealt with it by shooting people. (iii) Is it the truth? What is the speaker's reason for saying this? Yes, it is the truth. Gerrard is actually a criminal, just like the intruder. He's a gangster who has been in trouble with the law. He says this to convince the intruder that he's not a Sunday-school teacher, as the intruder assumes. His reason for saying this is to trick the intruder into thinking they are alike, to gain his trust, and to ultimately outwit him.
Now, let's continue with the play. The intruder wants to know more about Gerrard. He says he's going to be Vincent Charles Gerrard, and he wants to know how Gerrard talks. He practices speaking in a cultured voice, saying "This is Mr V.C. Gerrard speaking." He then stands up and tells Gerrard to look at him. He says that with glasses, he'll look enough like Gerrard to get away with it. He also plans to take Gerrard's clothes, which will fit him.
Now, here's where Gerrard reveals his secret. He says, "You seem to miss the point of my remark. I said, you were luckier than most melodramatic villains. It was not a tribute to your intelligence. You won't kill me for a very good reason."
The intruder demands to know the reason. Gerrard then explains everything. He says, "Your idea is to elude the police by killing me and taking on my identity?" The intruder confirms this.
Then Gerrard asks, "But are you sure it's going to help you?" The intruder explains his plan further. He says he did a job in town, things went wrong, and he killed a cop. Since then, he's been running, dodging the police. He came to Aylesbury, saw Gerrard, listened to people talking about him, and thought Gerrard was a "mystery man" whose lifestyle would suit him.
Now, here's the crucial part. Gerrard says, "Apparently you haven't the intelligence to ask why I am invested in this cloak of mystery." This means the intruder didn't bother to find out why Gerrard lives the way he does — why he's a mystery man, why he rarely sees anyone, why he sometimes disappears and comes back.
The intruder gets ready to shoot, saying the conversation bores him. But Gerrard says something very important: "Don't be a fool. If you shoot, you'll hang for sure. If not as yourself, then as Vincent Charles Gerrard."
This is brilliant! Gerrard is telling the intruder that if he kills him, he'll be caught and hanged. And here's why: Gerrard is actually a criminal. The police are after him. His bag is packed, ready to flee. If the intruder kills Gerrard and takes his identity, the police will come looking for Gerrard. When they find the intruder's body, they'll think it's Gerrard. But wait, no — actually, if the intruder kills Gerrard and then tries to run away as Gerrard, the police will be looking for Gerrard, and they'll catch the intruder. Or, if the intruder's body is found, they'll think it's Gerrard and the real Gerrard will be blamed. Either way, the intruder loses.
Gerrard then reveals the truth. He says, "This is your big surprise. I said you wouldn't kill me and I was right. Why do you think I am here today and gone tomorrow, never see tradespeople? You say my habits would suit you. You are a crook. Do you think I am a Sunday-school teacher?"
This is the key revelation. Gerrard is not a normal, law-abiding citizen. He's also a criminal, a gangster. That's why he lives alone, that's why he disappears and comes back, that's why he doesn't see many people. He's in the same line of work as the intruder, perhaps even more dangerous.
Gerrard continues: "The game's up as far as I'm concerned. Things went wrong with me. I said it with bullets and got away. Unfortunately they got one of my men, and found things the fool should have burnt. Tonight I'm expecting trouble. My bag's packed ready to clear off. There it is."
So Gerrard's bag isn't packed for a normal trip — it's packed because he's fleeing from the police. His men have been caught, and the police have evidence that could link him to crimes. He's planning to escape.
The intruder is starting to realize that he's made a mistake. He looks at the bag and says it's a bag, and the gun is a gun. What's going on?
Gerrard opens the bag and shows the intruder the contents: "That's a disguise outfit; false moustaches and what not." So Gerrard uses disguises to escape from the police. He's a master of deception, just like the intruder thought he was.
Now, here's where Gerrard's cleverness really shines. He says to the intruder, "For God's sake clear that muddled head of yours and let's go. Come with me in the car. I can use you. If you find it's a frame, you've got me in the car, and you've still got your gun."
What is Gerrard doing here? He's inviting the intruder to escape with him! He's saying that they should both run away together. If it's a trap, the intruder still has his gun and can deal with Gerrard. But if it's not a trap, they can both benefit — Gerrard gets help, and the intruder gets to escape the police.
The intruder agrees: "May be you're right."
Gerrard picks up his hat and bag. But he's not really planning to escape with the intruder. He's planning something else. He says he has a man posted on the main road who will ring up if he sees the police. Then the telephone bell rings.
Now, students, this is the climax. The phone rings, and Gerrard says, "Come on! They're after us. Through here straight to the garage."
The intruder asks how he knows Gerrard is telling the truth. Gerrard tells him to look for himself. Then Gerrard opens a door — and this is the trick. He steps away, and the intruder leans forward to inspect the door. As the intruder's back is turned, Gerrard gives him a push into what appears to be a cupboard. He knocks the revolver out of the intruder's hand, slams the door, and locks it. Then he picks up the revolver and stands by the phone, pointing the gun at the cupboard door.
The intruder is trapped! He rattles the door and shouts, "Let me out of here!"
And then Gerrard makes a phone call. He says, "Hello. Yes, speaking. Sorry I can't let you have the props in time for rehearsal, I've had a spot of bother — quite amusing. I think I'll put it in my next play. Listen, can you tell our friend the Sergeant to come up here at once? You'll probably find him in the Public Bar."
So Gerrard is calling the police! He's telling them to send the Sergeant. The "props" and "rehearsal" and "play" talk is just a cover — he's pretending to be talking about a drama production, when actually he's reporting the intruder. This is classic Gerrard — always clever, always in control.
And that's the end of the play. The intruder is caught, and Gerrard has saved himself through his wit and intelligence.
Now, let's go back and answer the remaining questions from "Thinking about the Text".
Question 4: What is Gerrard's profession? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer. Gerrard is a criminal, a gangster. The parts of the play that support this are: when he says "I said it with bullets and got away", when he says "The game's up as far as I'm concerned. Things went wrong with me. I said it with bullets and got away. Unfortunately they got one of my men, and find things the fool should have burnt. Tonight I'm expecting trouble. My bag's packed ready to clear off." Also, he has disguise outfits with false moustaches, and he has a man posted on the main road to watch for police. All these details show that Gerrard is a criminal, not a law-abiding citizen.
Question 5: "You'll soon stop being smart." (i) Who says this? The intruder says this. (ii) Why does the speaker say it? He says it because Gerrard is being calm, witty, and nonchalant despite having a gun pointed at him. The intruder is annoyed that Gerrard isn't scared and is trying to be clever. (iii) What according to the speaker will stop Gerrard from being smart? According to the intruder, the gun and the threat of violence will stop Gerrard from being smart. He says "I'll make you crawl" and threatens to hurt him.
Question 6: "They can't hang me twice." (i) Who says this? The intruder says this. (ii) Why does the speaker say it? He says it because he's already wanted for murder. He's already going to be hanged if he's caught, so adding another murder to his crimes won't make any difference. He has nothing to lose by killing Gerrard. This shows the desperation and recklessness of the intruder.
Question 7: "A mystery I propose to explain." What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain? The mystery is why Gerrard lives the way he does — alone in a lonely cottage, rarely seeing anyone, sometimes disappearing suddenly and coming back, never seeing tradespeople. The intruder thinks it's because Gerrard is a mysterious, interesting person. But the real explanation is that Gerrard is a criminal who is hiding from the police.
Question 8: "This is your big surprise." (i) Where has this been said in the play? This has been said twice in the play. First, the intruder says it when he tells Gerrard that he's going to kill him. Then, Gerrard says it when he reveals his own criminal background to the intruder. (ii) What is the surprise? The first time, the surprise is that the intruder plans to kill Gerrard and take his identity. The second time, the surprise is that Gerrard is also a criminal, not a Sunday-school teacher as he appeared to be.
Now, students, let's move on to the "Thinking about the Language" section. This has some important exercises.
First, we have an exercise about choosing the correct word from pairs given in brackets. Let me go through each one.
1. The (site, cite) of the accident was (ghastly/ghostly). The correct answer is "site" and "ghastly". "Site" means the place where something happened, while "cite" means to mention something as an example. "Ghastly" means horrible or terrible, while "ghostly" means like a ghost. So the sentence should read: "The site of the accident was ghastly."
2. Our college (principle/principal) is very strict. The correct answer is "principal". "Principal" means the head of a school or college, while "principle" means a basic truth or rule. So: "Our college principal is very strict."
3. I studied (continuously/continually) for eight hours. The correct answer is "continuously". "Continuously" means without stopping, while "continually" means happening repeatedly with pauses in between. If you studied for eight hours straight, you studied continuously.
4. The fog had an adverse (affect/effect) on the traffic. The correct answer is "effect". "Affect" is usually a verb meaning to influence, while "effect" is usually a noun meaning the result of something. So: "The fog had an adverse effect on the traffic."
5. Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant (artist/artiste). The correct answer is "artist". "Artist" is the general word for someone who creates art, while "artiste" is more specifically used for performers like actors or singers. Cezanne was a painter, so he's an artist.
6. The book that you gave me yesterday is an extraordinary (collage/college) of science fiction and mystery. The correct answer is "collage". "Collage" is a collection of different things, while "college" is an educational institution. So: "The book... is an extraordinary collage of science fiction and mystery."
7. Our school will (host/hoist) an exhibition on cruelty to animals and wildlife conservation. The correct answer is "host". "Host" means to organize or provide facilities for an event, while "hoist" means to lift or raise something. So: "Our school will host an exhibition..."
8. Screw the lid tightly onto the top of the bottle and (shake/shape) well before using the contents. The correct answer is "shake". You shake a bottle to mix its contents. "Shape" means to form into a particular shape, which doesn't make sense here.
Now, the next exercise is about irony. Students, we discussed some examples of irony in the play. Let me remind you of what irony is. Irony is when we say one thing but mean another, usually the opposite of what we say. There are two examples given in the book, and we need to find three more.
The first example given is: "Why, this is a surprise, Mr — er —" What it means: He pretends that the intruder is a social visitor whom he is welcoming. In this way he hides his fear.
The second example: "At last a sympathetic audience!" What it means: He pretends that the intruder wants to listen to him, whereas actually the intruder wants to find out information for his own use.
Now, let me find three more examples from the play.
First additional example: "This is all very melodramatic, not very original, perhaps, but..." What it really means: Gerrard is saying that the intruder's threat with the gun is like something from a cheap play. He's being dismissive and ironic, as if the situation is not worth taking seriously. He's hiding his fear behind this casual remark.
Second additional example: "Anything you like. I know all the answers." What it really means: Gerrard is pretending to be cooperative and helpful, as if he's ready to answer any question the intruder might have. In reality, he's trying to buy time and may be planning his escape. He's being ironic because he doesn't intend to tell the truth.
Third additional example: "At last a sympathetic audience! I'll tell you the story of my life. How as a child I was stolen by the gypsies..." What it really means: Gerrard is pretending to welcome the opportunity to tell his life story to an interested listener. But actually, he's being sarcastic and evasive. He's making fun of the intruder's interrogation by treating it as if it were a friendly conversation. He's trying to confuse the intruder and gain time.
Now, let's look at the Dictionary Use section. Students, this is very important. A word can have different meanings in different contexts. The exercise shows how the word "culture" has different meanings in different sentences. Let me explain this to you.
In the first sentence, "The students are taught to respect different cultures," the word "culture" means a way of life of a particular country or group — their customs, beliefs, and traditions.
In the second sentence, "The school is organising a cultural show," the word "cultural" (which comes from "culture") means connected with art, literature, music, and so on.
In the third sentence, "His voice is cultured," the word "cultured" means sophisticated and well mannered, like someone who is educated and refined.
Now, the exercise asks you to look up the dictionary entries for the words "sympathy, familiarity, comfort, care, and surprise" and complete a table. Let me help you with this.
For "sympathy": - Noun: sympathy — feeling of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune - Adjective: sympathetic — showing sympathy - Adverb: sympathetically — in a sympathetic way - Verb: sympathize — to feel or express sympathy
For "familiarity": - Noun: familiarity — being familiar with something, close knowledge of something - Adjective: familiar — known to you, well known - Adverb: familiarly — in a familiar way - Verb: familiarize — to make someone familiar with something
For "comfort": - Noun: comfort — a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or worry - Adjective: comfortable — giving physical ease and relaxation - Adverb: comfortably — in a comfortable way - Verb: comfort — to give solace or help to someone who is suffering
For "care": - Noun: care — the process of looking after someone or something - Adjective: careful — showing caution or paying attention - Adverb: carefully — in a careful way - Verb: care — to look after or to feel concern for
For "surprise": - Noun: surprise — the feeling caused by something unexpected - Adjective: surprising — causing surprise - Adverb: surprisingly — in a surprising way - Verb: surprise — to cause surprise to someone
Now, let's move on to the Speaking activities. The first activity asks you to imagine you are Gerrard and tell your friend what happened when the intruder broke into your house. You need to describe the intruder — his appearance, the way he spoke, his plan, his movements, and so on. And then you need to describe how you outwitted him. This is a great exercise for developing your storytelling skills. When you do this, remember to use vivid language and describe the events in a way that captures the tension and drama of the situation.
The second speaking activity is to enact the play in class. This is wonderful because it helps you understand the characters better. The play has words in italics before the dialogues, and these tell you how to say the lines — whether it's happy, sarcastic, or ironic — and how the characters move. Pay special attention to these stage directions. For example, when Gerrard says "(pleasantly)", you need to speak in a pleasant tone. When the intruder says "(with emphasis)", you need to speak forcefully. When Gerrard says "(musingly)", you need to speak in a thoughtful, reflective way. These stage directions are very important for bringing the play to life.
Now, let's look at the Writing activities. The first one asks you to describe Gerrard and the Intruder using words from the given list. The words are: smart, humorous, clever, beautiful, cool, confident, flashy, witty, nonchalant.
For Gerrard, I would use words like: smart, clever, witty, confident, cool, nonchalant. He's definitely smart and clever because he outwits the intruder. He's witty because he makes clever remarks throughout. He's confident because he stays calm even with a gun pointed at him. He's cool because he never loses his composure. He's nonchalant because he acts as if the whole situation is not a big deal.
For the Intruder, I would use words like: flashy, confident (but overconfident), smart (but not as smart as he thinks). He's flashy because he's dressed showily. He's confident in his plan, but he's overconfident, which is why he gets caught. He thinks he's smart, but he's not as smart as Gerrard.
Now, the second writing activity asks you to convert the play into a story of 150-200 words. Your story should be as exciting and as witty as the play, and you need to provide a suitable title. Let me give you an example of how you might write this story.
Title: "The Master of Deception"
Here's a sample story:
Gerrard lived alone in a lonely cottage in Essex. One day, while he was packing his bag to flee from the police, an intruder entered his cottage with a revolver in hand. The intruder was a dangerous criminal who wanted to kill Gerrard and take on his identity. He had been watching Gerrard and thought that Gerrard's mysterious lifestyle would suit him perfectly.
Gerrard remained calm and witty throughout the encounter. He made clever remarks and even helped the intruder find the right words. When the intruder revealed his plan to kill him, Gerrard didn't panic. Instead, he convinced the intruder that he was also a criminal, not a Sunday-school teacher as he appeared to be. He showed the intruder his bag packed with disguise outfits and told him about his plan to escape.
The intruder believed Gerrard and agreed to escape with him. But when the phone rang, Gerrard tricked the intruder into looking at the door. As the intruder turned his back, Gerrard pushed him into a cupboard and locked him in. Then he called the police and had the intruder arrested.
In the end, Gerrard's wit and intelligence saved his life. He was able to outwit the intruder and turn the tables on him. This story shows that being calm and clever can help you even in the most dangerous situations.
Now, students, we've covered the entire chapter. Let me give you a complete summary of everything we've learned today.
In this chapter, we studied the play "If I Were You" by Douglas James. It's a thrilling story about Gerrard, who lives alone in a cottage in Essex. One day, an intruder enters his cottage with a gun, planning to kill him and steal his identity. The intruder is a wanted criminal who has killed a police officer and is on the run. He thinks Gerrard's mysterious lifestyle would be perfect for him.
Throughout the play, Gerrard remains calm and uses his wit to deal with the intruder. He makes ironic remarks, pretends to welcome the intruder as a guest, and gradually learns about the intruder's plans. The turning point comes when Gerrard reveals that he is also a criminal, not a Sunday-school teacher. He tricks the intruder into thinking they should escape together, but instead, he traps the intruder in a cupboard and calls the police.
We learned important vocabulary words like "cultured", "melodramatic", "inflection", "wise guy", and others. We understood the use of irony in the play, where characters say one thing but mean another. We practiced choosing the correct words from similar-sounding pairs. We learned how to use a dictionary to find different meanings of words. And we discussed how to describe the characters and convert the play into a story.
The main themes of this play are cleverness, quick thinking, and the importance of staying calm under pressure. Gerrard uses his intelligence to outwit a dangerous criminal, showing that brains can overcome brawn. The play also shows that things are not always what they seem — Gerrard appears to be a respectable gentleman, but he's actually a gangster.
Students, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed this lesson and learned a lot. Remember to review the play, practice the exercises, and prepare for your exams. Thank you for listening, and I'll see you in the next lesson. Goodbye!