The Luncheon 


UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. Although the author was not a vindictive man he was very happy

to see the twenty one stone lady who had impoverished him

twenty years ago, and says he had finally had his revenge. What

makes him says this?

Answer:


2. There are quite a few places where the author uses the

expressions ‘my heart sank’, ‘panic seized’ etc. What was the

reason for this?

Answer:


3. Locate instances of irony in the story.

Answer:


TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Discuss in pairs or in small groups

1. People with foibles are often not conscious of them.

Answer: 


2. The author’s attempts at keeping up his pretence of friendliness

while he was mentally preoccupied with the expense of the

luncheon.

Answer: 


APPRECIATION

1. The author is a humorist

a. How does the story reflect his sense of humour?

b. What makes his lady friend remark—‘you are quite a

humorist’?

c. Give instances of the author’s ability to laugh at himself.

2. How does the first person narrative help in heightening the

literary effects of the story?

LANGUAGE WORK

♦ Pick out the words and phrases in the text that indicate

that the author was not financially well off.

SUGGESTED READING

1. ‘The Phantom Luncheon’ by Saki

2. ‘The Ant and the Grasshopper’ by W. Somerset Maugham