.
James Thuinber
The Secret Life of Walter MittY
ige'regoing fhroughli' The 6ommon{er's
voice uuos like thin ice breakilg. Hewore hii full-dress
uniform, with the;lheovily 6ps;6.6 white crp putteU down rokighly over cine cold grol -ele-,"We ,,
cgnrf moke if., sir. ft's spoili ng f9r a'hUrricone, if youosk'me.",tif 'm not osking you, l-ieutenant ,
Berg,',soid the Commonder. i'Throw on the power lights! Rev her up to 8,500! We're 9oin9
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through!'i The pounding of fhe cylinders inreased; to-pocketo-pocketo-pocketq-pocketapocke-ta. The CommonJ". stared ot the ice forming onihe pilot window. He walked overrand.- ,
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li5witch oh
f11o..8,
twisted a row of complicoted diols., 'lSwltch,on No,.8 auxiliary!" h3,1-!oyted.
auxili,arfi ,1,"p,*t"diieutenont Berg.'iFgtl'st ength in No.3,:'turr.bt!" shouted the Commonde.. . , ;
'Full st1.e4gth in No-,3 turret!":Th e crew,bending to theirriqrious tqsks in the hu$e,,hul:tllng ,, ,'' ''
eight-engihed Novy hydroplone, tooked at eoch other ond grinned. i'The old mon will get uis
,
.r1,rg_qe.h,:th9y_9g{_*_g.d11_e
g,t"I::f.l'f!""
nNot sb fqst! You'1e driiving too
fqitll'
oE][$S$I*
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soid Mrs. Mitry.'rgThot are,you driving
-so
,
('e
\-7
fost for?r
lHmm?" said Wolter Mitty. He looked gt hlLryfg,
llIlg,-sggl P-_€9-"-t p, with.shockg-dostonishmenf. She seemedgrossly unfam'Ti"dtilji;e SffiF"Iut4fr wM hAd ,;iEa Aj hlm .,n o
crowd. EYou.: werb up to fifty-five," she sqid. !'You know lldon'f like to go more thon foriy. You
'
weie up to fifty-five." Wolter Mitty drove on toword Waterbury in silence, fhe rooring of l'he
5N2OZ through the worst storm in twenty yeals of Novy flying foding in the remote, infimote
,
f wish you'd let Drr,Renghow
"You're tensed'up ogoin," said Mrs. Mitty.'!ft'p one of.your doys,
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Wo.lter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building ryher.e his wife went to hqve- hgrrhoir:i, , ,
.done, "R-emember to get those overshoes while I'm hoving my hoir dore,ir's5",toid. |T,don't n'eed
overshoes,'! soid Mitty. Stre put hei mirroi'-t dc'i(ilit6:hEr"bdg:*We've bg"n all throughthotjt,'',,1,,
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she soid,:gefting out of fhe'cor. ]Youlrre not o yqung mon onV lo nger." He roced the engineo
t'Wiy
don1,1- you wear your, gloves? Hoye.you l-a.t yuurilovJs?" Wolter Altiify r;hed't1o:
little.
pogket ond broutht'ouf the gloves,,Hg,put them on. but after ihe had turned end gone into the
.
buitdingqndhehqddrivenonto'aredlight,hetookthemoffo9oin.',Pic\itIq,brother!i,
Snopped a cop as the tight-changad; and'Miftv hostily:pulled on hjs glgves ond lurchdd,ahd. He
droye around the sfreets oimlessty for a time.gnd tfuen he dqove post the hospitol on his woy to
lllt1s fhe millionoire.bonker, Wellington McMilloni' soid'the pretty nurse. r!Yes?'i'soid Wolter' '.
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folilty, removing his gloves sJowly. '"Who hqi the cqse?'1uDr. Renshgw and Dr:.iBanbow,but.there
sre two.specialists here, Dr. Remlngton from NewYork qnd Mr.Pnit ard,Mttford frrom,London.,
He flew over." A door opened down o long; co'ol co'rri{oi'ond'D1 Renshow come out. H9 lookea -,,
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9isIiouqhtandhogqard..']Hello,^^!t,;,:hesoid.,lWe'rehavi49thedevil.soWntimewith,,:
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mcarrillaij the miiiionaire'bohi€r and cloi" personol friend of Roosevett, Ouit.aolii of
ductol trqcf. Tertiary. wish you'd toke o took at him., ,6lJ tr;;."iJ,r/riityl
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rn the operoting room therewer:.whispered introductions:.,,Dr. Remington, Dr. Mitty.
lAr,
Prifghard-Mitford, Dr. Mittyj' 'ff 've reod your book on strepfothricosi-!," soid Pritchard-' "",
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Mitford,-shaking honds, !'A br:iltiont performonce, s-ir.i' ,'Thonk you;,, soidtfiolter Mitty.;i1Didn,t ,.., ..,
youw:e?e in the Stotes, Mi.tty," giumUba Remingto,n.'l,Coa!s to Newcosfla,brinEing'Mifford :,
,kn1w
rond me up
!e1'e,io? o tbitiary.'l'You are ier' kind," .oia rUitty. h huge, cohpti;atea *;-i'f,ine;.,' '
' connected to the operoting tqble, with many tub"s ond wir*,begsn -ot this moment to go ;,T;Zi.i, no
pocketo;pocketo-pocketo.l'Th e new anesthetizer is giviig
one.in the Eosf who'knows how to fix it!" "Quiet; roi!" riid Liiitty, in a'tow..ool voice. H" rp*ng
':-i, i''''
t9.the mgchine; wlich wos going pogkg,to-pocketo-gueep-poikeio.
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Qiei,ep:Hebegan'?ing"i1;E ""
delicotely_o
glrgJening-dials. 'liive me o fountoil'p:ff
low_oJ,
l !l".g1opp"g,.-sg[,g;n" hgf'agd-him o
,oyiiiiori"J;; i;;;;;
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fountoin p.tt HtFullaAoTouity pislbh oufofitrelnoifrine q;d insiiied fhe panln its-ptaEt"'-' lt will hold foi ten miniites,'i'he sqid-"' Oit onwith the operotion." A nurse nur.i.JtV 6' " ,' ' '"
wluspered to Renshow; qnd A itty saw fhe mon turn pole. "Coreopsis hos set inj'."iJn"*f,o,
nervously- "ff you would toke over, Mitty?" Mitfy looked ot
hirn qnd qt the grgven fig,i"e of
Benbour, who drqnk, ond qt the grave, uncertoin fsces of the two gr"ot sfecioti.t..l,iivou
wish,,, '
so!d. They slipped q whitegorn on him; he qdjqsted q mosk onid."* on tt in:glor..l'i..r"*i'f." 'i
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hqndedhimshining...'
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fT th$ Buichlr. Wrtter /t/ritty jommed on the brskes. ,,Wrong lane,
::".f soid
-uP, foc! f.ok :rl
,tGee.ygh,,,
the porking-lot ottendant,
looking of ltrlitty.los.ly.
rnutt"."a nri+ty H"
Io.,"
began coutiously fo bock ouf of the lane mo.k"d "Exit Only.; ,,Leaveher
sit ti".",li.oia in"
put he1owoy." Mitty got out of the cqr. "Hey,bettler li.*ve*,L x;rt;,',6i;i-ioia
1i]endgt."r'll
I1'1y.l.Tl,ir tle mon rhe ignitionkey.The.ottendqnt vqutted into rhe cqr, bocked ir uf'rini-
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insolentskill,ondputitwhereitbelonged.
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Ti "re so dqmn
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Wqlter Mitty, wolking otorilfmoin s treet:'thelthjnklrur=know
everything. onc,e :o.y,.t[rg.hl
he hqd t.ied io tqke his choiis off,Iuisid" N;; Iiitfond,'ond tre hodgoi
wound oround the oxtes. A qon hod hod r" .m"
;r;
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gri;,rning9qrq9emon.5incethenMrs.Mittyotwoysmodenima.ivZ';il;;;;;;;1'ra,a'r..","r^;,'
-bff.
choins t*k"n
rr'e next time t" tnrught; i;fi ,"".;;
ili;;r",n o sti19; theyr^?;'ri,; ar'
-me
then. r'll hove my risht orr in o .iing:oni fl,,;;;, ;""'i .iiian:ipor.iuty
rake the choins off
oy thZ stush on the.u"r,.ll*:J5r"r.ho"s,, he sqid;#[*fi#ffi;o"n''
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Whenhecomeoutintofhestreetogoin,withtheovershoesinoboxunderhisqrm,Wolter
whamhe6Ih.?f
{liltv
f9e-onto.wonder
F, hi.;;;-h"J';;;:hir,-i;#.-sfu iiat+lj
twice,beforetheyse|.outfromtheirhousJ*,woi:.;;.,=;"dn""#*o"i.^'"j}eekly
o,r',
Ji,p:TP*Ihe.wai:olwo1,s9ettihgsomathi.49,ru-ri"";;;;;;:.;;EildT|io=;,l'j
No. Toothpaste,
,bJodes?
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toothbrush,
uilarboilti, .l.ao.uau;, iriiiativ" ona raf"rertiinp H,e
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tell
it
up, But she would. remember it. 'lWhergls fhe whotls.its-name;" she urould ask. |Don't
me ygu forgot the uuhat's.its-nome." A newsboy went by shouting something obout the
gave
Wqterbury
triol.
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ioid Wqlter Mittyr He stopfed
Wolklng ond the buil{ingg of,W t"rbury rose up
out of .the mistycourtroom ond surrounded him ogoin. A womon whg wos possing laughed.'iHe
soid 'Puppy biscuit'," she sqid to her componion. "Thot mon soid 'Puppy biscuit'-to himsetf."
Wqlter Mitty hurried on. He went into qn A&P, not the first one he come to but o smqller one'
fqrther up the str eet.u,T wont some biscuit for smqlt, young dogs," he soid to the clerk. "Any
speciot brond, sir?" The greatest pistol shot in the urortd t[ought o'moment. 'ift soys 'Puppies
"Puppy bis.cuif,"
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BarkforIf.onthe.box,]'.soidWoiterMitty..;'.
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His wife would be through at the hoirdresser's in fifteenminutes, Mitty sqw in looking ot his
wotch. unJess they, hod irouble drying
sometimes they hqd trou'6le drying'it. sna alir,it,lik.
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to get to the hote! first; she woufd wont him to be fhere woiting for-her os usuol. He found o big
- r)cfoir
lobby, fqcing a wi.nd9w, ond he,putthe or"..ho"s ond the puppy biicuit on
i1tle
the floor beside it. He picked up qn otd copy of Liberty ond sqnk down into the.hoi.,':con
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6ermony9,ie*.,the\,i/orldThroughtheiir?',Wqlter,uit'yi,,r"J"itr."pi.t,..',iiomuin9
plopes ond
of ruined streets:
'.Th: connllodifg has.got'the,1v,rnd yp in /oung Roteigh, sir,u soid the sergponi, coptqin Mitty'
looked uP ql him through tousled hair. "6et him to bed," he sqid wearily. 'With the others. I'll
fty olone." "Buf, yoit con't, sir," soid the s;ergeant onxiously. "ft tokes.two.men to hondle that
bomber ond the AnEfies ore.pounding hell out of the sir. iion Richtmqn's circus is between herre
ond Soulier." "SomebofY's gol
get thot ammunition dump," soid Mitty, "f't1l.going over: Spgt
lo
of brondy?" H? poured o drink for the sergeont ond one.fon himself. WLr tnuilaerea and whined
around the dugciut ond bottered of the door. Therewqs o rending of wood ond splinters flew
through the room. 'A bit of o neor thing,u soid Coptoin Mitty corZtessly. "The box barroge is.
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closing in,f' soid the sergeant.''We only live once, Sergeant,'! said Mitty with his foint, fleeting
smile. '1Or do we?'t He poured onother brondy and tossed it off. "T never see omqn could,hold
his brqndy like you, sir," said the s ergeant."Beggingyour pordon, sir." Coptoin Mitfy stood up
,
ohd.strappedonhishugeWebiley.Vic.kersoutomqtic.''It!sfor,1ykilomete1sthr:oughh9!l,s!r,,'
soid the seqgeant. Mitty finished one tost brondy. "Af,ter qll,'1he soid softty, !'whot isn't?" The
pounding of theconnon increased;therewts thq rot-tot-totting of mochineguns, ond from
somewhere crtme the menacing pocketo-pocketo-pocketa of the new flame-throwers. Wslter
' Mi+ry
l,tolked io the door o;'ilg,dugout humming:r'4rp."s de [r\a Blonde.' l-{e turnadand woved
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Something struck his shoulder. "f 've been looking oll over this hot-al for you," soid Mr:s. Mitty.
"Why do you hove to hide in this old choir? How did you expect me tg find you?" "Things ctose
.ih;''::5qi6:Wtlter[^ittyl.vguely:,'Whot?'1.[Itrs;ItAitty56;6.,t|Didyouget.t'hewhoils:ifs.nome?.Ihe
in
puppy Qiscuit? Whot's il thot,box?" !'Oyershoes,l'soid Mit-ty,'iCoqldnlt you,hoVLputthem on
storelu']f wos thinking,f'soia Watter Mitty.1Does it dxdr oCcur to you thqi t ah jometimes
thrnking?" She looked qt him. "I'm goingto toke your temperature when T ggt you'home," she
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went ouf t-hrough th" i"Vulring doors thattrnod" o fointly derisive whistlinj t;r.d when you
pushed them. ft wos two blocks to the parking lot At the drugstore on thg corner she soid,
rhef
uWoitheretorrne.rfor:9otsomething.Iwon,tbeominute.',5hewosmorethonominute.
Wslter Mitty lighted a qigareJte.'ft begon to roin, rain,with s'teet init. Ha siOod up ogoinit:the
woll of the drugstote, smoking... He put his shoutders bqck ond his heels together."To hell with
the hondkerchief," said Wotter Mitty scornfully. He took o-ne last drog on his c.igorette ond
snopped it owoy. Then, with thqt foint , fleeting smile ptaying obout his lips, he facedthe firing
sguod;erectondm6tion!e9s,.:proudqnddisdoinfut.WoltenMittytheUndef:eateld,inscrutableto
the-
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35
,
Learner is able to recognise how language and images may reflect and shape values and
in texts.
Learner is able to explore key features of texts and explain h6w they contribute to meaning
texts)
What is this "secret life" of Walter Mitty?
Choose the best answer: Walter Mitty is (retarded, delusional, dumb).
Name the five fantasy roles that Walter Mitty play/assume right throughout the story,
What is the setting of this short story?
What kind of a narration do we find in this story?
Provide a brief character sketch of Walter Mitty's wife.
During his fantasy as a doctor, how did Walter save the day/succeed in fixing the
machine?
Provide three adjectives that are used to described how Dr Renshaw looked.
What is humorous or significant about the fact that Dr Renshaw forms part of his
fantasy?
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lO.What happened when Walter had to park the car?
1l.What does this also tell us about Walter?
;' 12.What was the parking attendant's attitude towards him?
' 13.In all his fantasy all mechanical objects.always produce the same sound. Quote this
sound/word.
14.Which sound device is this word an example ofi Exptain you answer.
: 15.In his fourth fantasy, mention made of the'tArchies". Who are they?
I 16.Which song did Walter hum in this fantasy?
17.Which language is this song?
i 18.At the end of the story Walter is waiting for his wife, almost hidden away in the foyer
of a hotel. She confronts him and asks.him why he is hiding in that old chair. \l/alter
responds, "Things are closing in." Explain what he means by this.
19.In his final fantasy, Walter is facing a firing squad. What is this flring squad a
metaphor for?
!
20.Quote a word from the end of the story to show that Walter will continue with his
habit of retreating to his world of fantasy; that not even his wife's nagging will stop
him from d.oing so.
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rit.ut.6, Iuu, mji SrsIEr.
't ook'
forrrard, Eaybe to breek into &e
-t"y"" mortng
when-next
she-looked
ba* rie *s *""* And she
faclory!'
hadn't even asked him his nam". how unfri-riary
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thought,.
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Ia[er that winter moming the sbeet r*as cleared of most
pepJe.. The *'orkers.
Bg.So. away., TtE
sadsfactoqy at.eement. stsikEi *,"r".rfi .*.tul iorGg
ui"ei p*iii;.
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anvhow.
icorne back
td worh gr yog
oJd, or go to gaol,, had
-ft;;-fi:;'
-ord;.
rthe
1p sifld
stock ecacuuvi
come
"#if irra u*.r,
;
ft rrras-comparaiively quiet now in this sqEalid West End
sector of the city. I{en and woae-n aontiriued .their daity
mund. A drearv-imok r mist lingered i"
ilr$;;-"rr, crctuni
shot
y3l't_urictggoE
upilurisn#uy;
there
_F_T:a
"tia,"-fri
was
sf.ong.
of bacon;
the ftriit aira ve[etabli sho.ps
rcsusred Eade"-9.+
rtth a uemutbus eTpectancy; ol"d rneir
..
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;a
Buddha-like ar the entrances witlr fttded
,#
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st#d
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;h; a"J;;rF*
*"*itgf
fafngeneral
4rl-191^q:ith.t,
their mnteurptible mercantile"n.*"ttlrewL
and
cirde in particglar;
iod tt e
generogs enoggh to errrtn ;n
:.putrlltrrese good suffering folk sttoot out of their nrouths at
tne s,usnlest proroetion. A gl miEht tear duuri the crirss.
;; t6][i1
=lr"Ft,1l_d.:"t .qp." sguatl and weep aii, trors.
cirdect in the airir a mornentar5r+E+, increasingthespitting
gusto
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gool eagh is
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tIuIIo, want caffee?"
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'Yes, and two hot buns.'
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She hardly looked at him as she senred hifn. For a b,rief spell
-the
her eyes leU ort lhe orstomer. SIowIy she gathered up
scatte-red bits of m€mory and unmn*ously-the prctdri wrs
framed, She looked at tfrm and fsund him--scannine her.
'Oh!' She garre a Easp an{ hir hhnd weni to hd moutlr.
You're the good uncle who saved rry chrt!1.
Don't unde me, please. My naure-is Ruben l.emeko. Itre
bop at the factory #Il me Gliina. Yoqrst"
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WhO iS eaPAblg Ol 8cl-ercnlllt trtoo{r sEIr u-r}uup_sttE rErt
_!:
s"rqf for hisr; and he d4ec$d iL
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figftt,
l.
Pinkie,
ffotft
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I'll
takE
eEId
t!.3L':f
rebCn$ itan*{ fult sorrl'
it todap'
-cnrel, '
d$I.'
sta*e to death in this
'And then? lots of theur Etarve; ttdtk oI this--ighty
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nr*i".
tlrhat arE we, you and me? If we sarred altd Bot sick
-E
ghe missef,hEt.'And thst
ChEna aitln't coule,
*tr*
-iometlting
-rtaid
that
mvsteriws
"r
;a;#ti,i"t
it ifE thdre;
"#-i;;'
wiknirr
Hrofi i"t" t *"r, r"l"tiue, aEa Uetoe
' and .becausit ft E Hd"'e-;dt it docs not tnoru horv rc
;;oiiAirc"If *iE ""T o.",*ig gnnic and posibly prr+t{Gg
A"*iU""As of companionsrhip-'In his presgnq $r! tied to
t"f" refuge in an arfess sisteSly p-ity fionliim- And althoughlE
GateaTt, he cartied Ona dridb $*= Witdn, heav€Er arrd
an{
#t tt""i*"d;d-;at"d,;Ei-i"i
anA ga[-
to mee+ sinis'lrine
Preterd-ed ftiendshipi ftE
in hanfr t&rs and laughtu hugBed edt
""a
"r.t"r
tt.e scree*rtnE of ttreEngeind
itort"a off wittr nd aescant pf a dovds ooing;_derdls waved
orur of 4iigAs. Finkie in{ A$ie pani*ed
tor.ilr L.tore
"t
"
at tha thought of a love affaF antl reutained drulb. '
. .fitXie, IYve got a job at hstl'
rain minglea;
*"nt t
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;iil iil'at ilr.vit*id
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t_,rt
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1'mhappy6:Pti,China"r ,
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iif a pr&ent first money I 8et Adr,
r,'u. toia"td".T;d;d to sgrpriseloo-' He was
t'lfou'll
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sorry.
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'=rruinel1....
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afgn't r\rorrr, Chh& fll iust preEnd I'ur suarrisd leally,
you1l
- see.'. They la"ghed.
Friday
cine.-
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Tll show you.f ttre led frff
to the dreapiirck dtiwn the street, '
fiister, tr want her b choose anythingshe wants.'
: The dreapiacl imnediatety sPrang up'and h rcluble cataractsbegan b sing praiqgs upon his dr6clee. '
'AIl frght, misftr, Iet.sre droose.' Pirikie pid<ed up.one
artide after anofirs, nrpedeA it, and at last slre eeleed a
end a pairofbangles. Naidoo,
beiuEfuI longbodkin,
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COFFEE-CART
GERL
QLIESTIGPTES: (fcr elass- en h*me'**.r*rE<)
eCIS€FItED EY: F'€s RoneuElin tsERTfrP*I
k'g ES'KSA
Ef pE*AE-SILE
PGRT E{SLLOTI{ HIGH SCHSOL
SCIUReE: TITERATI.FRE STU*Y GUEBE: FrescrEbed Shont SterEes
{[4asker* t4clEer
Longman)
LO 2: READING AFID VIEWING
At: leorner is oble to demonstrute various reoding cnd viewlng strategles for comprehension cnd
oppreciotion.
AS: Learner is sble to explore the mesning of o wide range of wriften texfs.
AS: leorner is eble to recognise how longuage ond imoges mcy reflect orrd shupe veiiues cnd
AS:
Leqrner is cble to explore key features of texts ond exploin how ihey contrilrute to rneaning (litercry
lexts)
1. "The crpwd
Z.
moved like one mighty being..,"
supply one word that will mean the same as the underlined part.
Complete the following by choosing the correct answer from the options given,
When people move in a crowd like " one mighty being" one can call them a ....
spectators
mob
C many
D loads
Who did these striking workers work for?
Say whether the following is true or false and substantiate your answer.(you may
A
B
3.
4.
The workers did not know why they were on strike.
n---,
'urnPiled by: Ms Adriane C Cloete (Subject Advisor: Namaqua Diskict) & Ms Roncrrllin Berioni (Educator porf Nollolh
HS)
page 26
Grade 12 2011: Short Stories
5.
6.
Supply possible reasons why these workers would be on strike. Use previously
acquired knowledge.
"...the law was brandishing batons;,,
6.1.
6.2.
6.3.
7,
8.
9.
Who or what is the law?
Explain what it means to brandish a baton.
Why were they there?
Say why it can be said that the coffee-cart girl was oblivious to the danger she was in,
What made her aware of the danger she was in?
",.. looking like a bird fr,ightened out of its nest.,,
9.1.
9.2.
Name the figure of speech in the above line.
Explain what this comparison tell us about how she felt at the time.
10.say whether the following is true or false and motivate your answer,
Pinkie lost her coffee-caft when the crowd went out of control.
11.In what way did she reward her benefactor?
12. Explain what it means to be" signed off".
13.Which two details of her appearance tell us that she was small and thin?
|4.Give a brief description of Zodwa,
15. "You're the good uncle who saved my cart,i
$.1. Who is'he' referred to in the extract?
15.2. What was his. nickname and give a reason why this nickname was so apt.
16'Quote one word from the story that proofs that the stoop of Ruben's shoulders, made
him look harmless.
17.True or false. Ruben had a very cruel side to him.
Quoi.e to proof your answer.
government
18. "No work, no
papers, no papers, no work, then out of town.
18.1. Which law determined that black people who didn't work should leave a particular
town or cifi?
18.2. whatwould happen to a person without *government
19. Explain the idiomatic expression "Grow as big as an elephant for your
20.Write down a phrase from the story that tells us that Zodwa was both attracted to and
afraid of Ruben.
2l.True or false. Zodwa didn't have much experience of intimate relationships
subst-antiate your answer,
22. Read the paragraph starting "Days when China didnt come, she missed him...
to,,
papers,,
goodness.
remained dumb.
22.L. How did they really feel about each other?
22.2. How did she behave towards him to hide this?
22.3. How did he behave towards her?
23.What is a cheapjack?
s*n
!
:
Grade LZ 20Ll: Short Stories
24.WhY were theY there?
jealousy of Naidoo was justified.
25, Explain whether China's
he saw the ring on Pinkie/ Zodwa's finger?
26. How does China initially react when
27.What sParked his anger?
give her the ring?
28.Why, according to her, did Naidoo
you since I first saw you" to " She locked at him
29, Refer to do you See me? I've loved
mystified and answer the following questions'
29.L. What had just haPPened?
extract choose
zg.z.'..., something rorl inside of him and choked him..." Refer to above
only the correct answer.
A. nausea
C. love
D. sadness
30. "a menacing blade" is a knife that is ...
A, verY sharP
B. shining
?;llffiIrrry the figure of speech in the foliowing and explain why they are effective.
31.1...She panteo tit<e a timid little mouse cornered by a cat."
31.2. "... which gleamed and glanced..."
32. Explain why he could not kill her.
..
33. Things were all in a barbed wire tangled in his mind."
was
34. Choose ttre correct answer " She looked at him, mystified" means that Pinkie
A. horrified
B. angry
C. feafful
story of these
35. To what extend does the setting and the realities of Apartheid affect the
two people? ( consider the direct and indirect connections)
have?
3G. The writer uses dialogue often to tell the story. What effect does this
37. What does the coffee- cart symbolise in the context of the story?
38. Explain the irony in the knife he used when he tried to kill her.
39. What does the knife sYmbolise?
40. Why wasn't Pinkie theie when China went back to her at the end of the story?
41. Do you think the writer want us to sympathise with Ruben at the end of the story?
whv?
42. Who told him what happened to Pinkie?
43.The story ends on an anti- climax' Explain why?
=g=g!858ffi
compiled
by: M,
Adri*" c. clo"t"
(s,rbject Advisor: Namaqua District) & Ms Roncullin Bertoni (Educator: Port Nolloth
HS)
Page 28
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Grade 122l1jrz Short Stories
"THE LO?F€ff LAKT EI 9.L
,-
.
(
I.!YgI4[PUM
THE
COFFEE.CA$TT GIRL
.COITTPILED
.PORT
:
BY: Ms Ronca|Iin BERTONI
by ES,KIA MPHALELE
NOLLOTH HIGH SCHOOL
.
.' ,1. "The crowd moved like one miohty being...,,
supply one word that will mean the same as the underrined part.
Mob
Complete the following by choosing the correct
answer from the options given.
When people move in a crowd like " one mighty
being" one can aull thu,
A spbctators
B mob/
C many
-
, ....
D loads
Who did these striking workers work for?
Mekopolitan Steel Wndows Ltd.
Say whether the following is true or false and
substantiate your answer.(you may
quote.
The workers did not know why they were on strike.
True' 'rf you asked him he wouldiust spit and sa/:
Do you think we,ve coffie here to
play."
by: Ms Adriane C. Cloete (SubjectAdviso"
*"-rn"
Grade 12 2011: Short Stories
-. 5. Supply possible reasons why these workers would be on strike. Use previously
t.
i,,
- 6.
acquired knowledge.
Working conditions, unfair labour practices, better pby.
"..,the law was brandishing batons;"
Who or what is the law?
r':6.1. The police,
,: 6.2. Explain what it means to brandish a baton.
To wave a baton in a threatening, angry or excited mafiner
,r',
l. 6.3. Why were they there?
To disperse the striking workers.
-?-----\
( l. $ay why it can be said that the coffee-caft girl was oblivious to the danger she was in.
"Y She was so absorbed by her customers and the striking workers that she didnt realise
'"
the crowd was crashing into the coffee-cafts.
' L What made her aware-of tne danger she was in?
Somebody was screaming,
'
, 9.1.
9. 't... looking like a bird frightened out of its nest."
Name the figure of speech in the above line.
Simile
Explain what this comparison tell us about how she felt at the time.
9he felt afrafd and threathened.
10.Say whether the following is true or false and motivate your answer.
Pinkie lost her coffee-caft when the crowd went out of control.
False. A man from the crowd helped her and pushed her and the coffee-caft out of the
way.
11.In what way did she reward her benefactor?
She gave him coffee and pancakes,
12.Explain what.it means to be" signed off".
To loose your job.
l3.Which two details of her appearance tell us that she was small and thin?
Her "small slender frngers" overshed man's jersey. Her face was "not well* fed. (any 2)
l4.Give a biief description of Zodwa.
She was a small undeffed girl with a peach coloured face. Dressed in oversized jersey
and thin dress.
15."You're the good uncle who saved my cart'i
/lS.l/uno is'he'referred
to in the ertract?
Lemeko.
15.2. What was his nickname and give a reason why this nickname was so apt.
China. He had very small eyes"
16.Quote one word from the story that proofs that the stoop of Ruben's shoulders'made
W*
him look harmless.
Benign.
piled by: Ms Adriane C. Cloete (Subject Advisor: Namaqua District) & Ms Roncullin Bertoni (Educator: Port Nolloth
HS)
Page 30
Grade LZ }OLL: Short Stories
: l7.True
or false. Ruben had a very cruel side to him. Quote to proof your answer.
True "There was something sly in those sofr moist, slit eyes.
lB."No work, no government papers, no papers, no worlq then out of town.
18.1. Which law determined that black people who didn't work should leave a particular
town or city?
The pass laws.
18.2. What would happen to a person without "government papers"
They would have to leave their jobs, the area they were in, go back to the hamelands or
be jailed.
19. Explain
the idiomatic expression "Grow as big as an elephant for your goodness.
That she would become a persan of stature/ impoftance, because she was so kind to
him.
20.Write down a phrase from the story that tells us that Zodwa was both attracted to and
afraid of Ruben.
" repelling, admiration'.
21.True or false. Zodwa didn't have much experience of intimate relationships
substantiate your answer.
True. "The pity she fett for Ruben she never fett for a strange man."
zz.Read the paragraph stading "Days when China didn't come, she missed him... to"
remained
dumb. -
I
22,t. How did they really feel about each other?
They were attraded to each other or They were falling in love.
22.2. How did she behave towards him to hide this?
Wrth sisterly pity,
22.3. How did he behave towards her?
He carried on a dumb show, thus pretending not to care. He behaved stupidly.
23.What is a cheapjack?
Somebody who selts cheap goods.
24.Why were they there?
To buy a'gifr for Zodwa, because she gave him free cotfee and buns when he was
unemployed.
25. Explain whether China's jealousy of Naidoo was justified.
This is debatable Naidoo is very admiring of Pinkie when Ruben buys her presents but
this might have been a sales pitch. The gift of the ring through makes one wonder
whether he had romantic interests in her. Stre might have felt nothing for him, but the
fact that she accepted the gift might suggest that she felt comfortabfe with Naidoo.
26. How does China initially react when he saw the ring on Pinkie/ Zodwa's finger?
it.
He praised it. Liked
27.What sparked his anger?
,,
He became angry when she told him Naidoo gave it to her.
28.Why, according to her, did Naidoo give her the ring?
by. Ms Adriane C. Cloete (Subject Advisor: Namaqua District) & Ms Roncullin Bertoni (Educator Port Nolloth
HS)
Page 31
Grade T2 2011: Short Stories
,
it was payment for coffee
and cakes.
you
see me? I've loved you since I first saw you" to " She looked at him
29.Refer to do
mystified and answer the following questions.
She said
29.L. What had just happened?
'China saw the ring and accused her of being in love with Naidoo.
29.2. "... something rose inside of him and choked him..." Refer to above extract choose
only the correct answer.
A. nausea
B.
jealousy/
C. love
D. sadness
30. "a menacing blade"
is a knife that is ...
A. very sharp
B, shining
C. threatening
D. blunt
/
31. Identify the figure of speech in the following and explain why they are effective.
31.t. "She panted like a timid little mouse cornered by a cat."
Simile. She was extremely frightened of him and felt powerless.
31.2. "... which gleamed and glanced..."
Alfiteration. Emphasized the vialence of Rubeng iealousy.
32. Explain why he could net kill her.
She did nat resist him like hii previous victims.
33. " Things were all in a barbed wire tangled in his mind."
Metaphor. He was extremely confused and upset about the fact that he almost killed her.
34. Choose the correct answer " She looked at him, mystified" means that Pinkie was
A. horified
B. angry
C. fearful
D. confused
35. To what extend does the setting and the realities of Apartheid affect the story of these
two people? ( Consider the direct and indirect connections)
The seffing is in Johannesburg during a strike. The strike brought them together, and
causes Chinab pove$. It is also the Apartheid laws that takes PinkieS livelihood from her
and causes them to lose each other. Both of them did not have well paid jobs as a direct
result of Apaftheid.
36. The writer uses dialogue often to tell the story. What effect does this have?
It makes the story immediate and interesting - we feel that we know the main characters
personally.
37. What does the coffee- cart symbolise in context of the story?
It symbolises the beginning and the end of the relationship between Zodwa and Ruben.
38. Explain the irony in the knife he used when he tried to kill her.
/
by: Ms Adriane C, Cloete (Subject Advisor Namaqua District) & Ms Roncullin Bertoni (Educator: Port Nolloth
HS)
Page 32
Grade 12 2A112 Short Stories
It is ironic that the knife he bought the same time when he bought her a gifr, The
purchases was done on a day where they were tappy
and it beiame the very thing that
threatened her life.
39. What does the knife symbotise?
It symbolises his uiolent past as well as the cruet/ uiotent side of his character,
40. Why wasn't Pinkie there when China went back to her at the end
of the story?
The government passed a taw that forced them to close thek
businesses.
41. Do you think the writer want us to sympathise with Ruben at the end of the
story?
whv?
Y9s. By highlighting his remorse and intense desire to make
amends to her.
42. Who told him what happened to pinkie?
Naidoo
43.The story end on an anti- climax. Explain why?
The story starts out as a potential love story. You expect that
the two of them witt end up
together, but because of his violent actions and the states eviction of the coffee- carts
it
didn't ttappen.
GRADE 12
: sHoRT
sToRrEs (The storytefier - (eds.) Lindsay Lewis q{at)
(Learnins ro Fly - (eds.)
rrrr irr,rEFlJ
Tne
?o__r:lt.rtrt'j.rri
by paulin6 Smith
COMPILEDW: Ms Adriane C. Cloete
,/
ADUTEoR:
ENGLTsH (FEr)
:YFlFgr
sr\nsns
NAMAQUA
EVALUATTNG.
you\owlEDcE
From the btock below
OF THE SUOntr
the suitable
by: Ms Adriane C. Cloete (Subject Advisor: Namaqua
Distri"tt
SfORy
- a bird,s eye view
rd for the empty spaces below.
t u"io"*ilie*oni Gj
:
Port Nolloth HS)
Page 33
"
EMORANDUM
E SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
SWERS: (for teacher only)
MPILED: Ms Adriane C, Cloete
BJECT ADVISOR: ENGLISH (FET)
MAQUA DTSTRTCT
1'
Z.
,,,,,
'l
BY JAT*EES THURBER
ii,,,;i[
i,i
Iti
r';fl
:;ll
ii#
The "secret life" is Walter's fantasy world he retreats to regularly. He imagines hirnself
t3}rgf"hero always saving someone or a situation.
r,ilij
iiiiiil
,riiii
3.
First fantasy: Commander of a hydro-ptanse
Second fantasy: a famous doctor
Third fantasy: defendant in a murder case
I9-y,t! fantasy: captain of a bomber prane (fighting the Germans)
Fifth fantasy: (a soldier oR spy oR undergror"nJai*t
oR secret agent) facing a firing
squad.
4. Waterbury (in the.state Connecticut, in
the USA)
5. (Omniscient OR All-seeing) third peison
narration.
6. she is over-bearing, nagging, dismissive, patronizing.
she is a bully; she treats him like
a naughty child.
7
He succeeded in fixing anesthetizer, by replacing
a faulty piston with a fountain pen.
8. Distraught; haggard, pate
9' Dr Renshaw is the real-llfe doctor/psychologist that his wife makes him visit, when
she feels he needs to see a doctor. Ii is sigiliR.rni
tnut the Dr Rensaw of his fantasy
world seem to be incompetent and not in iontroi.
rn his fantasy world he saves the life
of the famous patient, where doctor Renshaw and
his colleagues raited to do so.
drove
up
an
"Exit
onry"
rane
when
ne nai to pirk the car.
19'I"
11. He is absent-minded and clumsy.
1?'Ihu parking attendant was arrogant , insolent and irritable towards Walter.
1 3. "pocketa -pocketa-pocketa,,
l4.Onomatopoeia
15.The Germans
16."Auprds de Ma Blonde,,
17. French
18' Reality becomes overwhelming, therefore
he needs to escape to his fantasy world.
ts'rf.9
squad is a metaphol'for his wife. rrii**e is
lling
consrangy nagging him;
criticizing him; bombarding him with demands
anJ constantly shooting him down,
figuratively' This barrage of negative feedback, ii
not unlike facing a firing squad.
20. "Undefeated,,
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