UP Board Solutions for Class 11 English SHORT STORY Chapter 2 After Twenty Years all question and answer free pdf

Table of Contents

Long Answer Type Questions

Answer each of the following questions in about 150 words:

1- What is the theme or main idea of the story? Explain your answer.

Ans: The main idea of the story is that we should be satisfied with our fate or destiny and should not run after money like Bob. It also tells us that an evil doer is always punished though he may be very clever. The story also tell us about : Friendship: Bob clearly values the bonds of friendship that existed between him and Jimmy all those years ago. He came there to meet Jimmy. Moreover, Jimmy also came to meet him in time but Bob could not recognize him. Loyalty versus the law: Loyalty to people are sometimes difficult to maintain, especially when they are split between a person that is close to our heart and the law. Keeping their appointment of 20 years Bob’s loyalty to Jimmy is obviously unwavering. However, Jimmy is now a policeman, so he had to choose between the loyalty towards of his friend and the law to which he served.
Hence, the story teaches us many things like friendship, loyalty, satisfaction and duty.

2- Narrate the story ‘After Twenty Years’ in your own words

Ans: Introduction: Bob and Jimmy Wells were fast friends. They lived in New York.

Description: Bob was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. Bob was ambitious. Money was everything for him. Jimmy was a simple fellow. He was honest and sincere. One night they dined at 10 in a restaurant. Bob wanted to go to the West to become rich. Jimmy did not want to leave New York. They decided to meet after 20 years at the same restaurant at 10 p.m. They promised to tell each other what adventures they had been through during all those years. Jimmy became a policeman in New York. He was on his duty at about 10 p.m.. He saw a man with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. When he struck a match to light his cigar, Jimmy recognized that it was a face of the man wanted by Chicago police. He did not arrest his friend Bob. But he went quickly to the police station. He sent another policeman to do the job. Another policeman in plain clothes came and arrested Bob. When Bob found out that the man was not Jimney, he told him about it. The other man said that Bob was underarrest and gave him letter of his friend Jimmy wells.

3- When do you think Jimmy realizes that he has to make a difficult choice and turn in Bob?

Ans: Introduction: Bob came to meet his friend Jimmy Wells at the appointed place and time exactly after twenty years in New York. But now there was a hardware store instead of ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant. Jimmy Wells: Jimmy also came there in his policeman’s clothes. Bob could not recognize him and began to explain why he stood there. Bob struck a match and lit his cigar. In the light of the match Jimmy recognized Bob’s face. He also knew that it was the face of the man who was required by the Chicago police. He therefore, did not tell Bob that he was Jimmy. At three minutes to ten he left Bob waiting for his friend. The way of arresting: After about twenty minutes a policeman in plain clothes came to Bob. He was sent by Jimmy to arrest Bob, as his friendship did not allow him to arrest Bob himself. The plain clothed policeman met Bob as if he were Jimmy. They started up the street, arm in arm. They reached a drug store brilliant with electric lights. Here Bob found out that the man was not Jimmy Wells. The man said that Bob was under arrest. And before going the police station he handed over Bob a short note to read.

Conclusion: The note was from Jimmy. It said that he had sent a plain clothed constable because he could not arrest Bob himself as he was his friend.

4- What happens on the night of the meeting? Summarize.

Ans: It is nearly 10:00 p.m. and all was quiet and the policeman was taking his usual rounds, checking locks for safety. Suddenly, a figure standing in a doorway of a hardware store catches his attention, and he approaches towards him. The person speaks up and reassures the officer that he is not looking to cause any trouble and is waiting for a friend with whom he had made a promise to meet twenty years ago at that spot. The man lights a cigar and tells the policeman about his friend, Jimmy Wells, who had been more like a brother to him and his best friend. He praises Jimmy’s character and assures the policeman that he’ll surely come. As it was nearly ten, the officer asks if the man will wait any longer for Jimmy, and the patient friend says he’ll give him half an hour then the policeman continues his patrol. About 20 minutes later, another man approaches and calls to the waiting friend by name-Bob.

As the two men greet each other heartily, Bob begins to recognize some unfamiliar characteristics in his friend; namely, he seems taller than he remembered. He accepts his friend’s reply that he’d grown some in 20 years, until they come across the bright lights of a drug store. Here, Bob realizes that the man in front of him doesn’t have the same nose as Jimmy, but it is far too late for him to escape from the man posing as Jimmy. Before taking him into custody, however, the officer hands Bob a note from patrolman Wells whom he had met few minutes ago. In it, Jimmy admits he recognized Bob’s face from a Chicago police bulletin but didn’t have the heart to arrest him so he send a plain-clothes man to arrest him.

5- If you were Jimmy Wells, what would you have done?

Ans: If I was Jimmy Wells, I would have done the same thing and would have arrested my best friend Bob. Being a sincere and perfect policeman, I would have performed my duty honestly. Jimmy found that Bob was a wanted criminal by the Chicago police so he performed his duty and arrested Bob. Being a sincere friend, I would not have arrested Bob as Jimmy did. I too had got him arrested by another policeman.
Between the loyalty towards my criminal friend and the law, I would surely choose the law.

6- How does O.Henry use humour to convey the theme of the story?

Ans: The theme of the story is that evil doer always gets the punishment. Bob values the bonds of friendship between him and Jimmy. He meet Jimmy but could not recognize him unless Bob read the note given by the police officer to him. Moreover Jimmy choose loyalty towards the law than the loyalty towards his friend. It was quite humourous when Bob tells Jimmy that he has become two or three inches tall and when they read at the drug store, Bob finally recognizes because his size and shape of nose has changed. Thus it added a little humour to the story.

7- Did you enjoy the surprise ending? Why or why not?

Ans: Yes, we enjoyed the surprise ending as we do not discover that Bob is a criminal till the end of the story. Rather, we think of him as a loyal friend and successful businessman, who has come to meet his friend. Moreover it was totally unexpectable that the policeman is actually the person Jimmy Wells about whom Bob has been describing to the policeman. The final revelations astonished us as they were totally reverse of our expectations. It was totally a surprise ending, and we read the story trying to guess what it will be next. A policeman is on night patrol at nearly 10:00 p.m., and finds a man standing in a corner. The person speaks up and reassures the officer that he’s not looking to cause any trouble-just waiting on a friend to whom he had made a promise to meet after 20 years at that spot. The man lights a cigar and tells the law man about his friend, Jimmy Wells. As it was already quite nearly ten, the officer asks if the man will wait any longer for Jimmy, and the person says he will. The lawman continues his patrol, leaving the person.

About 20 minutes later, another man approaches and calls to the waiting person by name-Bob. As the two men greet each other heartily, Bob begins to recognize some unfamiliar characteristics in his friend until they come across the bright lights of a drug store where Bob realizes that the man in front of him doesn’t have the same nose as Jimmy, but it’s far too late for him to escape arrest from the plain clothesman posing as Jimmy. Before taking him into custody, the officer hands Bob a note from patrolman Wells whom he’d unwillingly met earlier. When it turns out that Bob is a criminal and that Jimmy was the officer he was talking to, we are totally surprised.

Short Answer Type Questions

Answer each of the following questions in about 30 words:

1- Do you think Bob should have counted on Jimmy to meet him after twenty years?

Ans: Bob and Jimmy had promised to meet at that place after twenty years so it was not necessary that Bob should have counted on Jimmy. 2- Why did the’best chums’ apart and go their separate ways?
Ans: The ‘best chums’ aparted and went on their separate ways to achieve something great in their lives and earn money.

3- How does the police officer know that the man on the street has made a lot of money?
Ans: The police officer know that the man on the street had made a lot of money as he was well dressed and have a beautiful watch with small diamonds on its lid.

4- What do you think how Jimmy realizes that he has to make a difficult choice and turn in Bob?

Ans: When Bob lighted his cigar, Jimmy saw that Bob was the criminal whom Chicago police was searching. So, he realized that he has to make a very difficult choice between his friend ‘Bob’ and the law.

5- Who was the first man, talking to Bob?

Ans: That person was policeman and Bob’s best friend Jimmy Wells.

6- How do you think Bob feels that now he has been caught?

Ans: When Bob realizes that the man he was talking with, is not Jimmy than he got suspicious and finally the man told him that he is taking him to the police station then Bob got sure that he has been caught.

7- Do you think that Jimmy Wells did the right thing by having his old friend arrested?

Ans: Yes, Jimmy Wells did the right thing because one’s personal relation should not divert one from fulfilling his duties. Jimmy was a policeman and it was his duty to obey the law and arrest the criminals.

8- How and why did Jimmy get Bob arrested?

Ans: Jimmy sent a plain clothes policeman to arrest his best friend Bob. When Jimmy saw the face of Bob, he realized that he was a criminal who Chicago police was searching, so he did his duty and made Bob arrested.

9- What was Bob’s estimate of Jimmy?

Ans: In the opinion of Bob, Jimmy was a true, trustworthy and a good person. He was his best familiar friend. He was a kind of plodder but was his best companion.

10- What is the significance of the title ‘After Twenty Years’?

Ans: The story ‘After Twenty Years’ shows that how two person choose different path and meet each other after twenty years. It tells us that we should not run after money and an wicked doer is always punished for his acts. The two friends chooses their different paths in life and finally their destiny has decided something when they meet after twenty years.

Appreciating the Story

A. Choose the most suitable option:

1- Why is the policeman walking down the street?
(i) Heis searching for a criminal.
(ii) It is his regular job to patrol the street.
(iii) He is on his way home.
(iv) None of the above

2- Where does Jimmy live?
(i) in New York
(ii) in the West
(iii) in London
(iv) in Port Blair

B. Answer each of the following questions in about 150 words:

1- Do you have friends that you have not seen for a long time? Do you think they have stayed the same or do you think they have changed? Explain your answer.

Ans: Yes, I have a friend that I had not seen for a long time. I have a friend named Swati whom I have not seen since three years. We used to study in same school and in same class. We used to eat and play together. She used to help me in every difficult situation. When we were in fifth class, her father got transferred and they moved to a new city. But, she meet me after two years and we had the same fun as we used to do before. Now, we used to call each-other on every sunday and she had promissed me that she will come and meet me after her final examinations are over. I can surely say that she has not changed a little bit. By the passage of time we had growned up and now we have different views on some topic but we are always ready to help each other in need. We provide suggestions to each other and enjoy each other’s company. So, I can surely say that time cannot change a true friend. As even in the story Jimmy loved his friend like his friend loved him but it was his duty to arrest criminal so he arrested Bob.

2- What conflict is evident in the story ‘After Twenty Years’? Is the conflict with another character with nature, with society or within the main character?

Ans: In the story we have seen that the conflict between a personal relation and duty. The conflict is within the character Jimmy, who is a police officer. Jimmy and Bob were best friends who decided to meet each other after twenty years. Bob adore Jimmy and waited for him at the same place. While waiting for his friend Bob met to a policeman. The policeman was Jimmy but Bob did not recognize him but when Bob lit the match then Jimmy saw his face and noticed that his old friend has become a criminal whom Chicago police was searching. He quietly heard Bob’s story of their friendship. His conscience was in deep conflict that he should arrest his best friend, a man who was like a brother to him or old friend who came 1000 miles just to keep the promise they made. He quietly made a choice and went away. He sends a plain clothed officer to arrest him. He can’t even face Bob after making him arrested so he sends a note to him. Jimmy made a right choice and choose his duty over his personal relation.

3- Is the surprise ending believable? Why or why not?

Ans:– Yes, the surprise ending is totally believable. We felt totally satisfied with the character of Jimmy and with his decision. Being a policeman it was the duty of Jimmy to arrest the criminals. When he saw Bob’s face, he at once noticed that he was a criminal. He made a very difficult choice to choose between his friend and his duty. As a friend, both Jimmy and Bob were kept their promise which they made to each other before twenty years and came to meet each other at the decided place and on time. Bob loved Jimmy and adore him as he spoke good words about Jimmy and decided to wait patiently for Jimmy for more time. For Jimmy it would be a very difficult situation to arrest his long time friend who came there to meet him. But being a loyal person Jimmy choose his duty and send a plain clothes man to arrest Bob. Thus, though the ending surprised us but it was totally believable because one should perform one’s duty first and personal relations should not divert in fulfilling his duties.

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