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The Invention of Vita-Wonk Summary in English by Roald Dahl
The Invention of Vita-Wonk by Roald Dahl About the Author
Author Name
Roald Dahl
Born
13 September 1916, Llandaff, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Died
23 November 1990, Oxford, United Kingdom
Movies
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda
Short stories
The Landlady, Lamb to the Slaughter
The Invention of Vita-Wonk Summary by Roald Dahl
The Invention of Vita-Wonk Summary in English
Part I
Mr. Willy Wonka was a scientist. He first invented a tonic Wonka-Vite which made people younger. But it was such a powerful medicine that many people disappeared after their age went in minus. One person even became minus 87. The poor fellow had to wait 87 years to come back. Willy Wonka decided to invent a new thing to undo the harm. He had to make people old.
He wanted to know what the oldest living thing in the world was or what lived longer than anything else. His assistant Charlie named tree. But the question emerged which tree. It was certainly not the fir, oak or cedar. It was a tree called Bristlecone that grew in Nevada USA. Such trees were 4000 years old. Wonka got into his Great Glass Elevator and rushed all over the world. He collected special items from the oldest living things. He took a pint of sap from the Bristlecone Pine, the toe nail clippings from a 168 year old Russian farmer, an egg laid by 200 year old tortoise, the whiskers of a 36 year old cat and so on.
Part II
Mr. Wonka tracked down very old animals and took a bit of something from each one of them. In the end he boiled and tasted the product in his inventing room. He produced one small cupful of black liquid. He gave four drops of it to a brave young volunteer, Oompa-Loompa to see what happened.
“What was the result”? Charlie asked.
Mr. Wonka said that the effect of the medicine was swift and fantastic. The moment that young man gulped down those drops, he began growing old and wrinkled. His hair dropped off and his teeth also started falling out. In an instant the twenty-year old boy became an old man of seventy- five. In this way Vita-Wonk was invented.
The Invention of Vita-Wonk Summary in Hindi
Part I
मि. विली वोंका एक वैज्ञानिक थे। उनका पहला आविष्कार था एक ऐसी औषधि जो लोगों को अपनी आयु से छोटा बना देती थी। पर यह टानिक इतना प्रामाणिक था कि कई व्यक्ति तो जब उनकी आयु कम होती (घटती) गई तो अदृश्य हो गये। एक व्यक्ति तो अपने जन्म काल से 87 वर्ष पीछे चला गया। बेचारे को पुनः अपने वर्तमान रूप में आने के लिए 87 वर्ष प्रतीक्षा करनी पड़ी। इस कारण विली वोंका ने एक नयी खोज करने की सोची जो इस नुकसान की भरपाई कर दे। उन्हें अब लोगों को अपनी आयु से बड़ा बनाना था।
वोंका के मस्तिष्क में अनेकों विचार आये। उन्हें लगा कि वह विश्व के सबसे पुराने जीवित प्राणी को खोजें। उसके साथी चार्ली ने कहा वृक्ष बहुत दिन जीवित रहते हैं पर चीर, या ओक अथवा दयार के वृक्ष नहीं। अमरीका में निवादा में ब्रिसिलकोन चीर नामक वृक्ष सबसे लम्बे समय तक नहीं मरता। ऐसी प्रजाति के कछेक वक्ष तो 400 वर्ष पुराने हैं। वोंका अपने शीशे की गाड़ी में बैठकर विश्व भ्रमण पर निकल पड़े। उन्होंने सर्वाधिक पुरानी चीजों और जीवों से कुछ विशेष चीजें पा लीं। इनमें ब्रिसिलकोन चीर के वृक्ष का रस था, 168 वर्षीय रूसी किसान के नाखूनों की कहरन थी, 200 वर्ष पुराने कछुए का अण्डा था, 36 वर्षीय बिल्ली की गलमँछे थीं और भी न जाने कितनी पुरानी चीजें थी।
Part II
मि. वोंका ने बहुत लम्बी आयु वाले जीवों की खोज की तथा उनमें से प्रत्येक से कुछ न कुछ भाग ले लिया। अंत मे उन्होंने उन्हें उबाल कर एक मिश्रण तैयार किया तथा अपने अनुसंधान कक्ष में उसका परीक्षण किया। उन्होंने एक काला द्रव से भरा प्याला तैयार कर लिया। उसकी चार बूंदे उन्होंने ऊम्पा-लूम्पा नामक वीर स्वयंसेवी युवक को प्रयोग के रूप में पिला दिया ।
क्या परिणाम हुआ,, चार्ली ने पूछा।
मि. वोंका ने बताया कि उस दवा का असर शीघ्रता से और आश्चर्य में डालने वाला साबित हुआ। जैसे ही चुनर ने उन बूंदों को गले से नीचे उतारा, वह बूढ़ा होने लगा तथा उसके चेहरे पर झुर्रियाँ आ गईं। उसके बाल गिर गये तथा दाँत भी गिरने लगे। क्षण भर में वह बीस वर्षीय युवक 75 वर्षीय वृद्ध में बदल गया। इस प्रकार से वोंका ने आयु बढ़ाने वाली दवा की खोज की।
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Hearts and Hands Story Summary by O. Henry
Hearts and Hands Summary by O. Henry About the Author
O. Henry was an American writer whose actual name was William Sydney Porter. His short stories are known for wit, wordplay, humor and twisted endings. He was born on 11th September, 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina. His father, Algernon Sidney Porter, was a medical doctor. When he was only three years old, his mother died and his grandmother and aunt raised him. He left the school at the age of 15 and did many jobs.
In 1896 he was accused of embezzlement. He was sentenced for five years in jail. While in prison, he began writing short stories and his first published story was Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking in 1899. He used a pseudonym, Olivier Henry, only to hide his identity as he did not want his readers to know that he was in jail. His twelve stories were published when he was in prison.
He was released from jail only in three years because of his good behavior. He moved to New York City in 1902 and wrote a story a week for the New York World. His first collection of stories was Cabbages and Kings and the next collection was The Four Million. His success brought excessive pressure and he suffered from alcohol addiction. He died of cirrhosis of the liver on 5th June, 1910 in New York.
Hearts and Hands Summary of the story
“Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry is a short story which describes the encounter of two acquaintances, Miss Fairchild and Mr. Easton. The story is set on a train to Denver. A very pretty young woman named, Miss Fairchild is sitting in one coach. Mean while two men enter the coach who are handcuffed to one another.
Hearts and Hands Summary
Miss Fairchild greets one of them who she must know well and when she finds him bound at the wrist by shining bracelet to his companion, her smile changes to that of bewilderment. The glum faced man with the Easton senses his embarrassment and gives an explanation, he tells that Easton is a marshal and he is taking him to Leavenworth prison. Its seven years for counterfeiting.
With the advancement of conversation, Mr. Easton tells that he prefers to become marshal in West rather than life in Washington. The young woman finds it fascinating but continues to look upon the glittering handcuffs. To comfort her, the other man tells her that the marshals handcuff themselves to the prisoners to prevent them from escaping. After this, the glum faced man wishes to smoke and both leaves for the smoker and the pretty woman bids goodbye to Mr. Easton.After they are gone, one of the two passengers sitting nearby remarks on Easton’s looks that he seems too young to be marshal. He then exclaims that Mr. Easton is the counterfeit by saying that,” Did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”
Theme
Looking at the title of the story one must have the opinion that the theme will display heart, means the selfless kindness. But the theme is that, ‘sometimes looks can be deceiving’. One must not jump to the conclusion randomly. Another theme is that of compassion showed by the ruffled Marshal who had sympathetic consciousness for Easton. The irony at the end of the story makes it more interesting.
The setting of the story is in a train to Denver. A glum faced man introduces Mr. Easton as the marshal to ease the pretty woman’s doubt on seeing him handcuffed. She is relieved to know that he is not a prisoner. He speaks on his behalf on reaching Leavenworth prison, which displays his kindness. He also saves Easton from getting humiliated in front of the pretty lady. He does not care for his own prestige.
There is a blast of irony here. Mr. Easton who is handsome and good looking is criminal whereas glum-faced, rough looking, heavily built man is Marshal. That’s why when the real Marshal tells the lady that he is the criminal and is being taken to prison by Mr. Easton who is the Marshal, she quickly believes. She doesn’t notice that Easton’s right hand is handcuffed.
The twist appears in the end when the two co-passengers remark that Easton is the counterfeit and the other man is the true marshal and. This situation is not at all expected by the readers and it deepens the mystery. Therefore it is suggested that often jumping to quick conclusions results in ignoring the truth.
Hearts and Hands Summary Characters
Miss Fairchild
She is a pretty young woman with a lovely smile and remarkable dressing sense. She seems to be a smart and elegant woman with a fascination for travelling. Her travelling experience is obvious from all the luxurious comforts she is surrounded by. Her hands are covered with gloves. Her voice is sweet and there is a tender pink colour on her cheeks when she smiles.
But at the same time she possesses the quality of arrogance which is obvious when she asks Mr. Easton to be given the opportunity to speak: first. She seems to be interested in handsome Mr. Easton that’s why she starts conversation with him. She is astonished to see him handcuffed with another rough looking man. Rather she is horrified. But she is so much attracted towards him that there is no place of doubt in her mind.
When she is told that Mr. Easton is the Marshal and the other ruffled man is the convict, she feels relieved. It shows her innocence that she believes in whatever the glum faced man tells her. She assumes Mr. Easton to be the hero when she says, “And so now you are one of these dashing Western heroes”. On his being talking about his butterfly days, she thinks that he is talking about his free days. She also shows her interest in West when she comes to know that he
is settled in West. She is more socialite than emotional. When her father was ill, she didn’t go to see him, rather she preferred to remain in Denver. Mr. Easton He is handsome with a bold, honest face. It misleads the readers and they think that he is a real Marshal. He knows Miss Fairchild since he was in Washington. When he enters the coach, he hears a familiar voice of Miss Fairchild, initially he feels embarrassed as he is handcuffed but soon he rouses and shakes off his embarrassment and clasps her fingers with his left hand and speaks to her with a smile on his face.
Easton is clever enough to manipulate things. As soon as he sees the expression of horror on her face, he immediately changes his expression. He tells the young woman that he has discarded the Washington life to become a Marshal in West. But being guilty he becomes more and more conscious with the advancement of conversation with Miss Fairchild.
He knows that it won’t be possible for him to carry on their relationship further as she is more a social animal and materialistic than a realistic person. He ironically replies her that his butterfly days are over which means that he will be put in prison later and not be free whereas Miss Fairchild thinks that he is talking in general. He is sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in Leavenworth prison for counterfeiting. He is handcuffed by his right hand. This is another irony that he is handsome and charming but a criminal.
Marshal
He is ruffled, glum faced person who is heavily built and roughly dressed. But he is compassionate and kind hearted. He is hand cuffed by his left hand with the criminal which is another example of irony. He pretends to be the prisoner in order to save Mr. Easton from embarrassment in front of Miss. Fairchild. He has a good judgmental quality of human behavior. He is witty to sense the embarrassment felt by Mr. Easton and so delivers an explanation on his behalf.
He tells Miss Fairchild that all the Marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away when she continues to stare at the handcuffs. He does not want to humiliate Easton in front of an old friend and even doesn’t care for his own reputation. At one point when the conversation between Mr. Easton and Miss. Fairchild is going on, he remains quiet and listens to them calmly and at a situation when he thinks that Easton might not reveal the truth mistakenly, he takes an excuse and goes along with him in the smoker room. This shows his humbleness and large heartedness.
Hearts and Hands Summary Word-Meanings
influx – arrival of large number of people
elegant – graceful and stylish
countenance – facial expression
ruffled – upset
aisle – a passage between rows of seats
tingeing – slight coloring
proclaimed – announced something publically
accustomed – used to
embarrassment – awkard feeling
clasped – grasp something tightly
bewildered – puzzled or confused
vague – not clearly explained
forestalled – prevent by taking action first
veiled glances – indirect looks
pen – enclosure, prison
counterfeiting – forging
petition – an appeal or request specially a written one
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A Horse and Two Goats Story Summary by R. K. Narayan
A Horse and Two Goats Summary by R. K. Narayan About the Author
R.K. Narayan was an Indian writer best known for his short stories set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was born on 10th October, 1906, in the then Madras. His full name was Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayan- swami. He was the leading author along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao.
Graham Greene was his friend and mentor. He was also instrumental in getting publishers for Narayan’s books which included Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts and The English Teacher. Narayan’s The Financial Expert was known as one of the original works of 1951, He won Sahitya Academy Award for The Guide which was adapted for film. His style was simple, easy and highlighted the social context and everyday life of his characters.
There is humor and pity in his stories. In his career of sixty years, he won many awards and honors including the AC Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s third and second highest civilian awards. He was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament. He died in the year 2001 On 13th May at the age of 94.
A Horse and Two Goats Summary of the Story
The story opens with a clear picture of the poverty in which the protagonist Muni lives. Only one Big House out of thirty houses in the village is made up of brick. The others including Muni are made up of bamboo’s thatch, straw, mud and other materials. There is no running water or electricity supply. Muni’s wife cooked food over a fire in a mud pot. One day Muni has shaken down six drumsticks from the tree growing in front of his house and asks his wife to prepare them in a sauce for him. She agrees, provided he can get the other ingredients like rice, dhaal, spices, oil and a potato.
Muni has not been so poor since the beginning. Once he owned a flock of forty sheep and goats which he used to graze every day. But years of drought, famine and an epidemic had destroyed all and he is left with only two goats. And because he belongs to a lower caste, he was never allowed to go to school. He and his wife have no children to take care of them in their old age. They run their house from the odd jobs his wife does at the big house.
Muni has taken so much credit from every shop that when he asks for the ingredients his wife requires for cooking the drumsticks, he is refused. There is nothing in the house to cook so his wife asks him to fast till evening and graze the goats. Muni goes to his usual place on the outskirts where he would sit on the pedestal of the old horse statue and his goats meandered. The horse statue is made up of clay and is brightly coloured.
As Muni waits for the evening, he notices a yellow coloured wagon from which a red faced American wearing khaki gets down and asks him for a nearby gas station. Then he notices the statue and exclaims ‘Marvelous’.
Muni mistakes him as a policeman or a soldier and he wants to run away but finds it difficult due to his old age. The two starts conversing in their own language without understanding each other. The American offers him a cigarette and then gives him his business card which Muni thinks to be warrant card. He gives innocent explanation that he knows nothing about the crime the man is investigating.
A Horse and Two Goats Summary
American put forth his desire to buy the horse statue as he thinks Muni is the owner of it. The two talk about their own life. Muni tells him about the statue what his father and grandfather had told him. The American listens with fascination and appreciates his sound. Muni tells him that he has never been to school and only Brahmins went to school in those days therefore he doesn’t know Parangi language. He further describes the horse as their guardian. At this the American replies that he assures that the statue will have the best home in the U.S.A.
This way trying to understand each other’s language, they continued their conversation. Ultimately, the American waved a hundred rupee note and hand it over to Muni. Muni thinks it is an offer for the goats. He happily runs back home leaving his goats. But his wife suspects him of theft and threatens to leave him. On the other hand, the American gets the help to detach the horse from its pedestal and place it in his station wagon.
A Horse and Two Goats Summary Theme
The story is about a misunderstanding between an Indian and an American. A major theme is clash of cultures as exhibited by the wealthy American and the poor Hindu, Muni. Main focus is on miscommunication. Narayan used humor in place of anger to demonstrate how the two worlds are entirely differing from each other: the two cultures exist in the same time and space but speak different languages either literally or metaphorically.
The two main characters in the story are equally different: Muni is a poor, rural, illiterate, Hindu, dark complexioned whereas the American is wealthy, urban, educated, Christian and white. Behaving like a religious man, Muni accepts his fate while the American is willing and determined to take major steps to change his life. Both are unaware of each other’s lifestyle.
The inability to understand one another’s language leads only to confusion but does not harms anyone. Both the men are dissatisfied conversing with each other but still finds company while talking. Each gives details of his life without realizing that the other hears and understands nothing. At the end of their meeting each man gets what he wants or needs without any loss. The selection of words is mind blowing. While the reader may find this conflict painful at times, but it’s amusing altogether. One can say that it’s a fine example of comic masterpiece.
A Horse and Two Goats Summary Characters
Muni
He is the protagonist of the story. He is old and extremely poor. But he had not always been poor. He had a large flock of sheep and goats but fortunes declined and now he was left only with two goats. He and his wife had no source of income and besides they had no children to take care of them in old age.
His usual work was to set out every day to graze his goats on the outskirts of the town whereas his wife earned something by doing different jobs in the big house. While the goats meandered along to the foot of the horse statue on the edge of the village, he sat on its pedestal for the rest of the day and crouched under its belly for shade.
There he remembers his olden days when life was tough but they were never short of food. He was uneducated and illiterate because he was not Brahmin and only Brahmins were supposed to acquire education. Overall he created humor in the whole story through his accents and assumptions.
The American
The American was a businessman who entered the story when Muni was grazing his goats on the outskirts of the town. He wore Khaki and gave Muni the impression of a policeman or a soldier. He knew only English language but expected Muni to speak the same language. He was annoyed to know that Muni could speak only Tamil. His entry was symbolic of a new culture displaying Western culture. He was wealthy in contrast with Muni. He was very well acquainted with the fact that he was in the remotest of the Indian villages, still he was looking for the gas station and English speaking people.
He wanted to own the thing whatever he liked without giving a second thought. He wanted to own the horse statue as a souvenir for his living room at any cost and thought Muni as the owner of statue by the way Muni was sitting on its pedestal. He knew that nobody could understand his language still he listened Muni very seriously but very well acquainted with the fact that money would solve all the problems. He was a materialistic man who had no value for the cultural or religious importance of the statue.
The Shop man
The shop man is a man whose mood swings frequently. He has given Muni food on credit in the past, but now is no more willing to lend him anything as Muni has passed his limit. Muni owes him five rupees too which is a great amount. Sometimes they share a bit of humorous conversation, but apart from this they have no more connection. He sends him back disappointed when his wife asks for some ingredients to prepare drumsticks The Wife Muni’s wife has lived with him since they were children.
Neither of them was sure about their ages. They had spent years through prosperity and poverty. She was somewhat irritated with him now and had grown tired of him, but cared also. She was a typical Indian woman who was ready to cook whatever her husband wanted. At times she scolded him also. Her temper was manageable. She wanted to fulfill his request for a special meal. She worked hard in the big house as he did, or harder.
She picked up odd jobs as grinding corn, sweeping, scrubbing, for buying food stuff. In fact she was not dependent on Muni but Muni was dependent on her. She was ready to do as much work as she could for her living but was against earning the money by unfair means. Poverty had drained her down as she accused Muni of stealing after seeing hundred rupees and threatened to leave the house.
A Horse and Two Goats Summary Word-Meanings
dotting – mark with dots
grandiose – imposing
subcontinent – a large landmark forming a part of continent
gorgeous – beautiful, attractive
gargoyles – a water spout in the form of a grotesque carved face on a building
balustrade – a row of short pillars supporting a rail or coping
sallied – set out on a journey
pedestal – a base supporting a column or statue
crook – a hooked stick
snapped – break
foliage – leaves
avenue – a wide road
faggots – a tied bundle of sticks or twigs
dawn – the first light of the day, the beginning
millet – a cereal plant
tethered – tied to a spot with a rope or chain
triumph – a great victory
precisely – exactly
upturned – upside downails – make or become ill
inordinately – excessively
humor – quality of being amusing
debt – something owed
mumbled – spoke indistinctly
sneered – made a scornful remark or expression
famine – extreme scarcity of food
parapet – a low wall along the edge of balcony or a bridge
unobtrusively – not making oneself noticed
recoup – regain
fatigue – tiredness
conjure – summon, evoke
unleashing – releasing
weird – uncanny, bizarre
accosted – approached and spoke to
cronies – companion
lounging – sitting
hailed – an expression of greeting
summoned – ordered to appear in a law court
progeny – generation
meandered – wandered in a leisurely way
crouch – stoop low with knees tightly bent
prancing – moving springily
scythe – a tool with a curved blade on a long handle for cutting long grass
aquiline – curved like an eagle’s beak
vandals – a person who damages things willfully
gashed – long deep cut
lewd – treating sexual matters vulgarly
scrounge – borrow
sputtered – a spluttering sound
fidgeted – made small restless movements
slanderers – a false statement made by the people to damage one’s reputation
We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding. in this article, we are covered Old Man At The Bridge Summary
Old Man at the Bridge Story Summary by Ernest Miller Hemingway
Old Man at the Bridge Summary by Ernest Miller Hemingway About the Author
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist, short story writer and journalist. He was born on 21st July, 1899 in Oak-Park, US. After high school, he spent few months in Kansas City as a reporter. He published his debut novel, The Sun also Rises in 1926. His economical style had a strong influence on twentieth century fiction while his adventurous life and public image influenced later generations. He published seven novels, six short story collections and two non-fiction works. In 1918, he was seriously wounded and returned home. His novel A Farewell to Arms was the result of his war time experiences.
Most of his works are known to be the classic of American Literature. He wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls in 1940 when he returned from Spanish civil war where he had been a journalist. Shortly after the publication of The Old Man and the Sea in 1952, Hemingway went on safari to Africa where he was almost killed in two successive plane crashes and for his remaining life he was left in pain. He killed himself in 1961. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
Old Man at the Bridge Summary of the Story
The story is set in the countryside during the Spanish Civil War. An old man who was wearing steel rimmed spectacles and dirty clothes sits exhausted by the road side near a pontoon bridge that crosses a river. Peasant refugees and Republican soldiers were fleeing from the advancing Fascist army. Carts, trucks, men, women and children were also crossing the bridge.
Old Man at the Bridge Summary
The narrator who is crossing the bridge as a part of his business to And out to what point the enemy had advanced, notices the old man while crossing back. Upon questioning him, he comes to know that the old man is from a town San Carlos. He is so exhausted as he has just walked 12 kms from his hometown that he has to halt at the bridge. His duty is to take care of animals left behind and he is more conscious and worried about their safety rather than his own safety. He is in charge of two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons. Sadly, he is compelled to leave them behind.
He tells that cat will take care of itself but doesn’t know what will happen to the other animals.The correspondent suggests that he can catch a truck towards Barcelona at the crossroads but the old man explains that he knows no one there. The correspondent seems unconcerned and thinks that soon the enemy would cross the bridge and the old man would meet his fate.
Old Man at the Bridge Summary Theme
The theme of the story “Old Man at the Bridge” is sense of duty. The old man encounters the soldier at the bridge. The town has to be evacuated due to artillery. The young soldier’s duty is to make sure that everybody has left the town. When the narrator sees the old man sitting at the same place while exploring the region, he feels empathy for him and as a part of his duty, urges him to leave the place. But the old man is too tired to move and above all his caring nature and duty to take care of his animals restricts him from going.
The story conveys the problems faced by the innocent and helpless victims, especially the old people. It’s a short but heart touching story. The language is simple and unnecessary usage of sentimental words is being avoided. The climax is missing and everything is left on reader’s opinion.The story consists of lots of metaphors and symbols. One of the symbols is bridge which reflects risks, dangers and uncertainty which equalizes the feeling of people during wartime. People feel insecure and unsafe and are frightened but they do not want to give up.
The bridge is symbolic of life too, on one side there is death as the enemy is approaching and on the other side there is life if one gets success in fleeing. Then it’s Easter Sunday which signifies the hope and faith in God. Refugees have the same kind of feeling. They feel insecurity and danger on one hand and on the other they have faith in God and their army men. Animals are also used as symbols in the story.
The pigeons are the symbol of peace which will fly away from the war as the refugees will. The cat is independent and does not need anybody’s help whereas the goat is a meek and submissive animal. Old man’s situation in the story is like the goat that is helpless. The end is abrupt and the ironical situation arises when the old man is left to his fate whereas it’s an Easter Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection.
Old Man at the Bridge Summary Characters
The old man
The main character of the story is a 76 year old man, a war refugee who has not been given any name. He is the protagonist of the story. He has been displaced by the Civil War. He had no family at all and was without politics. But few animals were his world and that too was destroyed. He was worried about their safety. He was confused and disconnected with the world. He had made a cocoon around himself in which he lived isolated from rest of the world.
He remained occupied in his self-oriented thoughts where there was no place for anyone except the animals and was too tired to go any further as he had already walked 12 kilometers from his town San Carlos to the bridge. He would die as an unnamed innocent victim of war. But when the soldier asked about his whereabouts, he felt happy. He was grateful towards him and thanked him many times. He opened up his worries before him. He felt guilty as he was not able to fulfill his duty of protecting the animals. He was like the goats that couldn’t take care of himself and had to surrender to his fate.
Narrator
The story is written in first person and narrated by an anonymous soldier. The narrator did not make clear statements about himself apart from the fact that he was a soldier and it was his duty to observe the advancement of enemy across the bridge. But it was somewhat obvious that he was among the people who volunteered to help the Republicans during the Civil War. Initially he was not interested in the old man’s story but when he saw no anxiety on his face to leave the place, he gradually began taking interest in him. He indulged in conversation with him.
He realized old man’s condition and consoled him by telling that his animals would be fine. By his lively description, he made the reader see the old man. He was conscious about the old man’s safety although was unable to convince him to move. But he made him speak and smile by talking about the old man’s hometown. He felt pity for him by saying, “There was nothing to do about him”.
Old Man at the Bridge Summary Word-Meanings
rimmed – an edge or border of something circular
pontoon bridge – a temporary floating bridge
staggered – unsteady movement
steep – sharp slope
spokes – any of the bars connecting the hub to the rim of a wheel
plodded – walk doggedly, work slowly but steadily
artillery – a branch of an army using large guns for fighting
forks – divided into two
Tortosa – a city in Spain
Barcelona – a city in Spain
unquiet – noise, disturbance
urged – advise strongly
swayed – moving gently to and fro
easter Sunday – Sunday when Christ rose on the third day of his crucification
We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.
Expert Detectives Summary in English by Sharada Dwivedi
Expert Detectives Summary in English
Part I
The story has half a dozen characters in it. Three of them are children – the narrator, his younger brother Nishad (Seven) and sister Maya. They become expert detectives. Their mother is a doctor with her clinic. Mr. Nath, the principal character and who lives in Shankar’s house alone, is under her treatment. Ramesh takes tea and meals from the restaurant to Nath’s room. Nath pays cash and also tips to the bearer well.
The children go ahead to collect information about Nath. They think Mr Nath is a mysterious person. He has no friend there. Nishad has a bit of sympathy for Nath. His approach in this case is sensible.
The narrator is sure that Mr. Nath is an escaped crook or criminal. Nishad is doubtful. He wants to discover the truth. And he collects a lot of information in the case. The narrator has got a ready answer to all Nishad’s doubts. He thinks that Nath is a rich man. He has perhaps got millions of rupees locked in some trunks in his room. He notes dark scars also on Nath’s face. Nath might have got them during a shot out with the police. But Nishad contradicts him. Mummy had told him that they were bum scars.
One day Seven goes alone to his Mamma’s clinic at Girgaum. He gets upset to see Mr. Nath who looks so thin, poor and starving. He goes to Nath’s room and puts a bar of chocolate in the man’s hand. He collects one more clue about Mr. Nath’s routine. Ramesh told him that on every Sunday he carries two lunches to Mr Nath’s room and the same visitor is with him each time.
The tall, fair and stout visitor talks a lot whereas Mr. Nath simply listens. But he cannot imagine that Nath is a crook.
Part II
The narrator makes a long list of all the information they have collected about their target. He reads it out to Nishad.
They don’t know what Mr. Nath’s first name is, they must discover it.
The other tenants at Shankar house say that Nath is mad, strange and unfriendly.
He doesn’t talk to anyone.
He is under Mamma’s medical treatment so he has to be polite to the children.
He receives no letters.
He has been living in Room 10 for more than a year. He doesn’t work to earn his livelihood.
He has no visitors Only on Sunday a fair, white man comes to him for lunch.
Food and tea are taken to his room by Ramesh from the restaurant distributors.
Nishad doesn’t pay much attention to the narrator’s list of facts. He only pities that the poor man is without any friend. The narrator argues that the Sunday visitor must be Nath’s partner in crime, and comes on Sunday to give a part of ill-gotten money to Mr. Nath. As for Ramesh, Mr. Nath bribes him to keep quiet about his criminal activities.
Nishad doesn’t quite agree with the narrator. He says he will not cooperate in their investigation if they did not stop calling Mr. Nath an escaped criminal. In his opinion, the purpose of their enquiry is to find out why Mr. Nath is so thin and lonely. He declares that he likes Mr. Nath and he will try to befriend him.
The narrator laughs at the madness of Nishad. He warns him that the police would take him also to jail along with his friend. Nishad walks out of the room quietly.
Expert Detectives Summary in Hindi
Part I
इस कहानी में लगभग आधा दर्जन पात्र हैं। तीन तो बच्चे हैं-कथाकार, उसका छोटा भाई निशाद (सेवेन) तथा बहन माया। वे कुशल जासूस बन जाते हैं। उनकी माँ एक डाक्टर है जिसका अपना क्लीनिक है। प्रमुख पात्र है मि. नाथ जो शंकर के घर में किराये पर रहता है। माँ उसका इलाज कर रही है। रमेश नामक लड़का नीचे एक रेस्तराँ से उसके लिए भोजन और चाय लाता है। नाथ नकद पैसा देते हैं तथा साथ ही रमेश को बख्शीश भी।
बच्चे अपना काम शुरु कर देते है। वे मि. नाथ के बारे में सूचना एकत्रित करते हैं। उनके विचार से नाथ रहस्यमय व्यक्ति हैं। उसका वहाँ कोई मित्र नहीं हैं। निशाद को उसके प्रति सहानुभूति है। इस मामले में उसका दृष्टिकोण समझदारीपूर्ण है।
कथा वाचक को पूरा विश्वास है कि मि. नाथ कोई जेल से फरार कुटिल अपराधी है। निशाद को इस बात पर संदेह है। वह सच्चाई जानना चाहता है। वह इस मामले में काफी सुचना एकत्रित करता है। कथा वाचक के पास निशाद के हर संदेह का एक जवाब है। वह सोचता है कि नाथ कोई गरीब व्यक्ति नहीं है। शायद उसके पास करोड़ों रुपये हैं जो कमरे में पेटी में बंद हैं। वह नाथ के चेहरे पर काले दाग भी नोट करता है। हो सकता है नाथ को पुलिस से मुठभेड़ में गोली लग गयी हो । पर निशाद उसके इस संशय का विरोध करता है। मम्मी ने उसे बताया था कि नाथ के चेहरे का वह दाग जलने के कारण बना है।
एक दिन निशाद अकेले अपनी मां के साथ गिरगाम के क्लीनिक में जाता है। वह नाथ को दुबला, निर्धन देखकर दु:खी होता है। वह नाथ के कमरे में जाकर उसके हाथ में एक चाकलेट थमा देता है। उसे एक और तथ्य की जानकारी मिलती है।
रमेश उसे बताता है कि मि. नाथ से मिलने हर रविवार को एक व्यक्ति आता है। वह लम्बा, गोरा तथा सबल काठी का है जो खूब बोलता है, मि. नाथ तो केवल सुनते रहते हैं। पर निशाद को फिर भी नहीं लगता है कि नाथ कोई धोखेबाज या कुटिल व्यक्ति है।
Part II
वर्णन कर्ता अपने शिकार मि. नाथ के बारे में प्राप्त सूचनाओं की लम्बी सूची बनाता है। वह इसे पढ़कर निशाद को सुनाता है। उन्हें मि. नाथ का पूरा नाम नहीं पता। इसे खोजना पड़ेगा।
शंकर के मकान में रहने वाले अन्य किरायेदार कहते हैं कि नाथ एक पागल, विचित्र तथा अमैत्रीपूर्ण व्यक्ति है।
वह किसी से भी बात नहीं करता।
वह बच्चों की डाक्टर माँ के इलाज में है। इसलिए वह बच्चों के प्रति इतना विनम्र है। उनके पास कोई पत्र नहीं आता।
वह अपनी जीविका अर्जन के लिये कोई काम धंधा नहीं करता।
वह दस नम्बर कमरे में एक वर्ष से अधिक समय से रह रहा है।
उसके पास कोई आता जाता नहीं। रविवार को ही एक गोरा चिट्टा, मोटा व्यक्ति लंच के लिये नाथ के पास आता है।
दोनों का भोजन तथा चाय सीढ़ी से नीचे बने रेस्तराँ से रमेश पहुँचाता है।
निशाद वर्णनकर्ता के तथ्यों की सूची पर ध्यान नहीं देता। उसे बेचारे मित्रहीन नाथ पर दया आती है। वर्णन कर्ता तर्क देता है कि रविवार को आने वाला व्यक्ति संभवतः नाथ को बेईमानी से कमाये धन का एक हिस्सा देने आता हो। मि. नाथ शायद रमेश को बख्शीश घूस के तौर पर देते हों ताकि वह उनका भेद किसी को न बताये।
निशाद अपने बड़े भाई की बातों से बिल्कुल सहमत नहीं। वह कहता है मैं आपकी इस जाँच पड़ताल से अलग हट जाऊँगा यदि आप मि. नाथ को जेल से भागा कैदी कहेंगे। उसकी राय में जाँच पड़ताल का उद्देश्य है यह पता लगाना कि मि. नाथ इतने पतले और एकाकी क्यों हैं। वह कहता है कि मैं तो मि. नाथ को पसन्द करता हूँ तथा उनसे मित्रता करूँगा।
वर्णनकर्ता निशाद की मूर्खता पर हंस देता है। वह सचेत करता है कि पुलिस तुम्हें भी तुम्हारे मित्र के साथ जेल पहुँचा देगी। निशाद चुपचाप कमरे से निकल जाता है।
