“If I Were You”
- “At last, a sympathetic audience.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Why does he say it?
(iii) Is he sarcastic or serious?
Answer:
(i) Gerrard, the playwright, says this.
(ii) He says it because he pretends the intruder is interested in listening to him, as if the intruder is a sympathetic listener.
(iii) He is sarcastic because he really feels threatened and does not believe the intruder is friendly.
- Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on?
Answer:
The intruder chooses Gerrard because Gerrard is a playwright with a calm, clever personality. The intruder believes that by taking Gerrard’s place, he can avoid being caught by the police since Gerrard is respected and calm.
- “I said it with bullets.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) What does it mean?
(iii) Is it the truth? What is the speaker’s reason for saying this?
Answer:
(i) The intruder says this.
(ii) It means the intruder thinks he has forced his demands or intentions with threats or violence (“bullets”).
(iii) It is not entirely true; the intruder says this to show that his threat is serious, but he has not actually used bullets yet and is bluffing to intimidate Gerrard.
- What is Gerrard’s profession? Quote parts of the play that support your answer.
Answer:
Gerrard is a playwright. This is supported by his mention of writing plays, talking about his work (“I’m a playwright”), and his clever use of language and quick thinking which are characteristic of a dramatist.
- “You’ll soon stop being smart.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Why does the speaker say it?
(iii) What, according to the speaker, will stop Gerrard from being smart?
Answer:
(i) The intruder says this.
(ii) He says it to threaten Gerrard, implying Gerrard will lose his cleverness or ability to outsmart him.
(iii) The intruder believes fear, violence, or his control over the situation will stop Gerrard from being smart.
- “They can’t hang me twice.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Why does the speaker say it?
Answer:
(i) The intruder says this.
(ii) He says it because he has already faced execution once (or believes so) and thinks that since you cannot be punished twice for the same crime, he can take risks without fearing death again.
- “A mystery I propose to explain.” What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain?
Answer:
The mystery is how Gerrard manages to outwit the intruder and turn the situation in his favor by pretending to cooperate while actually plotting to catch the intruder.
- “This is your big surprise.”
(i) Where has this been said in the play?
(ii) What is the surprise?
Answer:
(i) Gerrard says this near the end of the play.
(ii) The surprise is that the intruder is caught by the police—the very outcome the intruder did not expect—and that Gerrard has cleverly managed to trap him.
Vocabulary and Language Use:
- Choose the correct word:
- The site of the accident was ghastly.
- Our college principal is very strict.
- I studied continuously for eight hours.
- The fog had an adverse effect on the traffic.
- Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant artist.
- The book that you gave me yesterday is an extraordinary collage of science fiction and mystery.
- Our school will host an exhibition on cruelty to animals and wildlife conservation.
- Screw the lid tightly onto the top of the bottle and shake well before using the contents.
- Irony in “If I Were You”
Gerrard uses several expressions ironically in the play, meaning something other than what is literally said. Here are examples:
- “Why, this is a surprise, Mr-er-” (He pretends the intruder is a social visitor, hiding his fear.)
- “At last, a sympathetic audience!” (Pretends the intruder is interested and kind, but actually fearful.)
Three more ironic expressions in the play could be:
- “You’ll soon stop being smart.” (He actually admires Gerrard’s cleverness but pretends to threaten.)
- “I’m a playwright.” (Used to mask his anxiety and to get time.)
- “Can’t hang me twice.” (He believes he is fearless, but actually he is scared.)
Speaking
- Imagine you are Gerrard when the intruder breaks into your house.
Describe:
- The intruder’s appearance (rough, dangerous, threatening), his speech (commands and threatens), and his plan (to take over Gerrard’s identity).
- Your reaction (calm, clever, outwitting the intruder by talking and tricking him).
- Enact the play in the class, focusing on tone (sarcastic, ironic, serious) as suggested in the script.
Writing
- Describe the Intruder using suitable adjectives:
- Intruder: clever, confident, witty, nonchalant (cool under pressure).
- Gerrard: smart, witty, clever, confident (calm and quick-thinking).
Write a paragraph about each character describing these qualities.
- Convert the play into a story (150-200 words).
Ans: Here’s a concise story version of the play “If I Were You” within 150-200 words:
If I Were You
One night, a dangerous intruder breaks into the house of Gerrard, a clever playwright. The intruder, a criminal on the run, plans to kill Gerrard and assume his identity to escape the police. Acting confidently, the intruder forces Gerrard to cooperate, intending to use his identity to avoid capture.
However, Gerrard stays calm and thinks quickly. He asks the intruder to wait while he fetches his clothes and disguise. Secretly, Gerrard switches his own clothes with the intruder’s, making the intruder look like himself. Then, using his wit, Gerrard convinces the intruder to let him change first. Once dressed as the intruder, Gerrard escapes quietly and calls the police.
When the police arrive, they arrest the real intruder, who is now disguised as Gerrard. Gerrard returns safely, having outsmarted the criminal with his intelligence and courage. In the end, his quick thinking saves his life and brings the intruder to justice.
This thrilling story highlights how presence of mind and cleverness can triumph even in dangerous situations.