Novel 4.3 Around the World in Eighty days by Jules Verne Part II Brainstorming activities prepared by Mrs. Premjit Sunil Gatigante

 

BRAINSTORMING ACTIVITIES : - pg no. 201 to 203

 

CHARACTER:-

 

A1 (i) Which one among the following is not a major character of the novel? Justify. (Select the correct one)

a. Phileas Fogg

b. Aouda

c. James Strand

d. Jean Passepartout

 

Answer : -  

c. James Strand

He is the real robber, who had robbed the Bank of England and Mr. Fix was searching for. He was arrested three days before Fogg’s mistaken arrest. Thus, he is not a major character.

 

 

A1 (ii) Complete the table highlighting the various traits of the major characters in the extract.

 

Phileas Fogg
Aouda
Passepartout
Detective Fix

 Answer:- 

  

Phileas Fogg	precise, honest, intelligent, courageous, eccentric, exact, fastidious, tranquil, honourable, punctual, generous, forgiving, helpful,determined, composed, confident, heroic.
Aouda	honest, loyal, charming, beautiful, grateful, self-respecting, caring, kind, steadfast, optimistic.
Passepartout	faithful, loyal, endearing, warm, comical, brave, innocent, clever, energetic, gullible, reliable, honest, honourable, economical, diligent, obedient, hard-working, rueful
Detective Fix	dutiful, determined, sneaky, self-aware, regretful

    

A1 (iii) Phileas Fogg is as cool as a cucumber whereas Passepartout is as crazy as a loon. Explain the statement by citing some references from the extract.

Answer: 

Passepartout’s personality is completely opposite to Fogg’s. While Fogg is serious and meticulous, Passepartout is comical and clumsy. 

Phileas Fogg was always cool except he hit the detective Mr.  Fix. He was cool and calm in prison even when he felt that he had lost the wager, he shut himself up in his house quietly without any noise.  He was cool,  when he was dealing with passepartout and also when dealing with Aouda. He could control his emotions and appear to be expressionless. Passepartout , on the other hand was a very emotional and excitable person. He was very repentant when he realised that he could not have prevented Fogg's arrest. He was thrilled when he knew that  Fogg was marrying Aouda.He was tremendously worried about Fogg when he thought that Fogg had lost his wager . Finally he came to know that they had reached earlier than they had thought and there was a chance that they could reach the Reform Club in time to win the bet, he became very excited.He rushed back breathlessly to inform Fogg of the fact that he it was Saturday and not Sunday

Thus, Passepartout’s emotional, impulsive, and energetic personality is in definite contrast to Fogg’s calm and contemplative nature.

 

A1 (iv) Detective Fix tried hard but could not fix the charge of robbery on Fogg. Explain the statement from the point of view of Fix.

Answer:- 

Scotland Yard had given only vague description of the man who had robbed a great sum from the Bank of England. I thought that Mr Fogg fitted the description as it bears a close resemblance and he was the bank robber . I put obstacles in Fogg's path just so that I could arrest him whenever I got the warrant from England. The moment we reach Liverpool I arrested him. However after arresting him I found that he was not the guilty person and the robber had already been arrested in Edinburgh some days earlier . Fogg was a respectable gentleman living at Saville Row . There was no proof and no evidence against him except that he had been traveling all over the world apparently without any purpose. I was so sorry that I had arrested him wrongly and I apologized to him. Thus, I  ultimately fails in fixing the charge of robbery on Fogg.

 

A1 (v)  Describe the character sketch of Aouda from Fogg’s point of view.

 

Answer:- 

Aouda is a charming, beautiful and young woman who is captured in trouble as she lost her husband. She has had a very difficult time in India.She was nearly killed by the persecutors.She was rescued from dangerous circumstances by me and Passepartout. I bring her to England with me. I guaranteed her safety. Throughout our journey, she was grateful to me for saving her. 

She is wonderful person and so grateful for what I did.She was even  apologetic for having delay my return - did not think about the danger.She was in from her persecutors ! She is very loving.She is not at all money- minded and ready to marry me even though I did not have a penny to my name . How many will do this ? What a compassionate , kind-  hearted and generous person and generous women ! An admirable woman  and one whom I am proud to have as my to be wife.

 

PLOT :- 

A2 (i)  Arrange the incidents in the correct sequence as per their occurrence in the extract.

a. Aouda accepted Fogg’s proposal of marriage.

b. When set free, the first thing that Fogg did was he knocked Fix down.

c. As a part of duty, Fix arrested, Fogg.

d. At the fifty-seventh second, Fogg entered the Reform Club Saloon.

Answer : -  

c. As a part of duty, Fix arrested Fogg.

b. When set free, the first thing that Fogg did was he knocked Fix down.

a. Aouda accepted Fogg’s proposal of marriage.

d. At the fifty-seventh second, Fogg entered the Reform Club Saloon.

 

 

A2 (ii)  There is a sudden twist in the climax of the novel. Explain by citing some lines and relevant examples from the extract.

Answer:- 

Fogg and the reader , first think that Fogg has lost not only the wager but also the money and honour that went with it. The following lines tells us this : " After having steadily transversed after that long journey , overcome a hundred obstacles , braved many dangers and still found time to do some good on his way , to fail near the goal failure by a sudden event which he could not have foreseen and against which he was unarmed , it was terrible!" The unforeseen event was his arrest and imprisonment by detective Fix who mistakenly thought that he was bank robber. However, the twist comes when Passepartout find out that it was not Sunday but Saturday and perhaps they can just make it to Reform Club in time as Fogg's antagonists are counting the seconds to their win , Fogg manages to reach the Reform Club and win the wager,  giving a happy and thrilling ending to the novel. The following lines tells us this, " At the fifty - seventh second the door of the salon open and the pendulum had not beat the sixtieth second when Phileas Fogg appeared  followed by an excited crowd who had forced their ways through the Club doors and in his calm  voice said, " Here,  I am, gentlemen!"

A2 (iii)  Which of the following is an appropriate reason for Phileas Fogg starting his journey around the world?

Fellow members bet Fogg

Fogg bets his fellow members

Fogg wants to marry Aouda

Fogg committed robbery

 

Answer: -

Fellow members bet Fogg

SETTING:-

 

A3 (i) Which of the following are used as a means of transport in the novel? How do they help the character/s in the extract?

a. Elephant

b. Horse

c. Train

d. Steamer

Answer :-

All four of the given modes of transport are used by Fogg and his companions at some time or the other during the course of the journey. However, in the given extract, only the train has been used to travel from Liverpool to London. Worried that he might not make it in time to win the bet, Fogg, Passepartout and Aouda arrive at the station to catch the express train to London. However, the express train had already left the station. Desperate to reach London, Fogg then orders a special train and bribes the engineer to set out for London as soon as possible. There is also mention of the Steamer (China) which the men at the Reform Club assume Fogg must have taken to come to Liverpool. However, this journey is not part of the extract and in reality, Fogg had missed the Steamer and ended up finding an alternative way to reach Liverpool.

 

 

A3 (ii) The beginning of the extract is a scene in the prison at the custom-house. From there the novel moves further from one place/spot to another. Pick and explain all the places/spots where the incident took place.

The most of the part of the setting in the extract is in London. Explain how the setting of the extract is suited to the theme of the novel.

Answer : -  

The following is an outline of the places/spots mentioned in the extract:

The extract begins in the prison at the Custom-House in Liverpool. Fogg has been wrongly imprisoned and the deadline of the bet is drawing near. Fogg’s arrest at Liverpool proves to be the worst blow to his plans. Once released, Fogg and his companions rush to the station to take a train to London. Here, Fogg orders a special train and bribes an engineer to set out for London as soon as possible. This shows Fogg’s desperation to reach London in time. However, they are too late when they arrive in London, Fogg loses the bet and they all retire to Fogg’s house on Saville Row. Fogg’s home is the only place where he allows himself to be truly upset. It is also a sanctuary for Aouda who has been provided with food and shelter. It is here, in Fogg’s home, that Fogg and Aouda confess their love for each other and intend to marry, thereby sending Passepartout to hire a Reverend for the marriage ceremony to be performed the next day. Passepartout’s interaction with the Reverend makes it clear that they have made a mistake in keeping time and that there is still some time left before the deadline. Passepartout then travels back home to Savile Row, quickly convinces Fogg to come along and they rush to the Reform Club where they arrive just in time to win the bet.

 

The importance of the Setting of London to the Theme of the novel:

Answer : - 

The extract is set primarily in 1870s London. This setting is best suited for the novel because the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain led to the development of many modern means of transport. These made world travel a realistic goal and inspired Verne’s story. The novel’s theme of adventure and excitement are both directly related to the use of these marvellous inventions as the main character relies on them to undertake his adventures around the world. Another important aspect of the London setting is the Reform Club of England. The Reform Club symbolizes the refined London society that Fogg and Passepartout must leave behind when they embark on their trip around the world. Thus, it acts as the threshold between ordinary life and the world of adventure. Lastly, the Victorian Era setting of London, England highlights the themes of morality and honour. During this era, the notion of a ‘gentleman’ was considered to be a matter of pride and honour. A ‘gentleman’ was considered to be typically associated with wealth and privilege, but also possessed the values of morality, generosity and proper etiquette. Because of this, it was very important for Fogg to uphold his reputation and was in fact, his primary motivation in making the bet. Even in difficult situations, Fogg does not give up on his morals and behaves honourably, as was expected of an English gentleman.

A3 (iii) Describe the importance of the following place in the development of the plot and behaviour of the character.

Liverpool

 

Answer: - It is the final stop in Fogg’s eighty-day journey before he returns to London. It is of particular importance to Detective Fix because it marks Fogg’s arrival in England, where Fix has the authority to arrest him. This arrest severely delays Fogg’s plans to reach the Reform Club before the deadline and he almost loses the bet.

London

Answer :- It marks the beginning and the ending of Fogg’s eighty-day journey. Towards the end of the novel, reaching London becomes the most important objective for Fogg and when released from prison, he even orders a special train and bribes an engineer just to get to London on time.

Reform Club

Answer : -  It acts as the starting point of the plot, since it is the place where the bet is first made. The members of the Reform Club, as with all gentlemen’s clubs of that era, hold the values of honour and morality in high esteem, which leads to Fogg accepting the bet to defend his honour. It is also the place where the bet is finally won and the action of the novel is resolved.

 

Saville Row

Answer :-  It is the street where Fogg lives, located in central London. It is an upscale neighbourhood, indicating that Fogg is a wealthy man. From the point of view of the extract, Savile Row is significant because of two reasons. Not only is it the first place where Fogg truly allows himself to be upset about losing the bet, but it is also the place where Fogg and Aouda declare their love for each other. Both these instances serve as a reminder of Fogg’s transformation from a cold, distant individual at the beginning of the trip, to one softened by the power of human relationships at the end of it.

Edinburgh

Answer :-

It is the place where the actual robber of the Bank of England is finally arrested on 17th December, three days before. Because of his arrest, Fogg, who has been wrongfully imprisoned, is finally released and is free to go to London, even as the deadline of the bet draws near. In addition, the actual robber’s arrest clears Fogg’s name in the eyes of the English people and they once again consider him to be a man of honour and even place bets in favour of him successfully completing his extraordinary journey around the world.

 

A3 (iv) Select the correct options:

 

Which of the following place/s in India is/are not mentioned in the extract of the novel?

a. Bombay (Now, Mumbai)

b. Allahabad

c. Chennai

d. Calcutta (Now, Kolkata)

Answer :-  b. Allahabad  c. Chennai

 

THEME:-

A4 (i) Find and explain the significance of various exciting incidents in  the extract.

Answer :-

Incident 1:  Phileas Fogg , Thomas Flanagan ,  Samuel Fallentin ,  John Sullivan sitting by the fireplace in the Reform Club in England accepted the wager for 25000 pounds as a challenge for who strongly considers that no one can complete a journey around the world in 80 days.

Incident 2 : Fogg embarks on his journey with his vallet Passepartout.

Incident 3: Fix, the detective follows Fogg all over. Fix believe that Fogg is the bank robber who had robbed a great sum from the Bank of England.

Incident 4 :  Fix puts obstacles in Fogg's path so that he can arrest him whenever he gets a warrant from England.

Incident 5:  Fogg reaches London in time after travelling through Brindisi, Suez, Bombay now Mumbai,  Calcutta now Kolkata,  Hong Kong,  Yokohama, San Francisco,  New York and finally Liverpool.

Incident 6 :  Fogg meets Aouda in India as he as it happens to see her being carried to be offered in Sattee. Saves  her and there after protects her by making her his travel companion.

Incident 7 : He reaches Liverpool only to be arrested for robbery that he has never committed.

Incident 8 : Out from Custom House,  he catches a train to reach London realising he arrived late by few minutes.

Incident 9 : Fogg proposals Aouda and both agree to marry. As Passepartout approached  Reverend Samuel, he realise it's a Saturday not a Sunday. So they realise they are on time ahead of time.

Incident 10 : Fogg reaches the Club 57 minutes to 9 and wins the wager.

A4 (ii)Write 4-5 sentences on the ‘Time’ theme of the extract.

Answer : - 

The most important theme of the novel is the concept of ‘Time’. Through the given extract, the writer tries to convey to the readers that time cannot be controlled or manipulated. When Fogg is arrested at Liverpool, this causes a delay in Fogg’s plans. Throughout his journey, Fogg is depicted as a particular, precise man, who is obsessed with planning for every moment. However, even he could not have predicted his arrest and therefore, could not have prepared for such an event in advance. This shows that no matter how many plans you make, whether time will work for you or against you is uncertain. Consequently, Fogg loses his bet because he is late by five minutes, an example of his defeat at the hands of time. Time also plays a crucial role in the climax of the novel, wherein Fogg wins his bet because he had ‘gained time’ by travelling eastwards on his journey around the world. However, he does not realize this on his own and almost loses the bet. Through sheer coincidence and luck, Fogg becomes aware of the additional ‘day’ that he had gained and wins the bet with just seconds to spare. Thus, the extract ultimately wishes to convey the lesson that no one can control time; it is an uncontrollable, random force and humans are at its mercy.

 

A4 (iii) Write 4-5 sentences on the ‘Morality’ theme of the extract.

Answer : -

The extract’s theme of Morality is seen clearly through the actions and behaviour of the honourable Phileas Fogg. Although the bet was made for a winning amount of twenty-thousand pounds, Fogg spends nearly all of his money along the way, proving that reputation, and not money, is his true purpose of placing the bet. Though his arrest by Fix delays his plans severely, Fogg understands that Fix was only doing his duty and soon forgives him. The delay causes him to lose the bet, but even then, Fogg refuses to blame anyone for his misfortune. Even in these trying circumstances, he does not abandon Aouda, but instead makes sure that she has been provided with food and shelter. Finally, when he does win the bet, he divides his earnings between Passepartout and Fix, proving once again, that he is truly a gentleman. The only instance of the extract wherein Fogg’s morals can perhaps be questioned is the bribery of the engineer at the train station. However, on the whole, Fogg displays a keen sense of morality. The theme of morality therefore serves as a reminder, that in the fast-paced excitement of the journey and in difficult situations, it is often easy to forget one’s morals, but Fogg’s actions set an example that others should follow.

 

A4 (iv) Write the central idea of the given extract of the novel, ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’.

Answer : -  

The given extract focuses on the importance of human connection. Before undertaking a trip around the world, Fogg lived a lonely life. He was detached from society and did not care about what people thought of him. The central idea of the given extract is that when we set are hard to achieve something the wave gets paid and with perseverance and sincere efforts one can attain success throughout the journey. Fogg and his groups encountered obstacles standing in the way instead of getting bogged down. They utilise the challenges and with sincere deliberation come up with quick solutions.This release the message that no problem is unsolvable. Thus, through the ending, the author tries to convey to the reader that life holds more meaning than mere worldly desires and that sometimes, the prize is the relationships we form with people.

 

A4 (v) Justice is served/done in the end. Explain.

Answer: - 

Journey undertaken by Fogg and Passepartout, when they set out to circumnavigate the world in eighty days, is filled with dangerous obstacles and impossibly difficult situations. Mr Fix suspects Fogg of being a bank robber and arrests him at Liverpool due to which Fogg loses a day and thinks he has lost the bet but soon the real robber is caught at Edinburgh and Fogg is freed. After sequence of events,  Fogg realises that his sincerity towards the journey and his ingenuity towards Aouda helps in reach the destination.As Passepartout approaches Reverend Samuel realises that it was Saturday and thus Fogg reaches the Reform Club on time. Thus, the author wants to drive home the simple lesson that sincere , efforts and selfless attitude takes is to success. Hence, one can say that justice was served because Fogg’s win was truly well-deserved.

 

A5 (i) (a) Elaborate the following quote in the light of the extract of the  novel, ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’.

‘Quitters never win and winners never quit’

 Answer : - 

Hardships are a part and parcel of life. Those, who give up too easily when things get tough, can never achieve their goals. On the other hand, those who continue to strive hard, without being bogged down by difficult situations, are always successful. Fogg’s objective of completing a trip around the world in eighty days is a highly ambitious one. The journey is long, arduous, and full of dangerous situations and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. However, no matter what comes his way, Fogg does not give up; instead, he continues to believe in himself, keeps working towards his goal, and eventually wins the bet. Thus, the message conveyed by the quote is to not be discouraged by difficult situations; because those who quit can never attain their goals, while those who are determined and keep working will always succeed in the end.

 

A5 (i) (b) Elaborate the following quote in the light of the extract of the novel, ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’.

‘Time is the only solution to problems’

Answer: - 

Sometimes, we come across certain problems in our lives which we are unable to solve, no matter how much we try. Such problems can only be resolved if we stop trying to control the situation and leave it up to time (fate). Fogg is a meticulous person, who painfully plans every moment of his life. He believes he has prepared for every possibility as he journeys around the world. However, his arrest at Liverpool leaves him helpless. His plans are severely delayed and he cannot do anything to control this unpredictable turn of events. Once he stops trying to control the situation and accepts it for what it is, things begin to change. Through sheer coincidence and luck, he ends up winning the bet, proving that some problems are best left to the hands of time.

 

A5 (ii) Following are some dialogues of the major characters in the extract. Find out who the speaker is, his/her tone, style, significance, etc., of the dialogue.

Dialogue	Speaker	Who said to Whom	Tone, Style, Significance, etc.
“Why do you not curse me? It was my fault that"
“If Phileas Fogg had come in the 7:23 train, he would have got here by this time. We can, therefore, regard the bet as won.”
“Sir-forgive me - a most- unfortunate resemblance - robber arrested three days age-you-are free!”
“Will you pardon me for bringing you to England?”
“It is for me to ask that question. You were ruined, but now you are rich again.”

 Answer:- 

  

Dialogue	Speaker	Who said to Whom	Tone, Style, Significance, etc.
“Why do you not curse me? It was my fault that"	Passepartout	Passepartout said to Phileas Fogg	Tone: Guilty, Apologetic Style: Persuasive Significance: Believing himself to be the cause of his master’s misfortune, Passepartout is overcome with guilt and utters this dialogue to Fogg, hoping it will make Fogg punish him and thus, help him to feel less shameful.
“If Phileas Fogg had come in the 7:23 train, he would have got here by this time. We can, therefore, regard the bet as won.”	Stuart	Stuart said to Fallentin, Sullivan, Ralph, Flanagan	Tone: Confident, arrogant Style: Expository Significance: As the five gentlemen wait to see if Fogg turns up before the deadline of the bet, Andrew Stuart argues that, although there are twenty minutes left to the deadline, they have already won the bet because the only train which could bring Fogg to London on time had been at 7:23 and if Fogg had boarded that one, he would have already reached the Club. Thus, the dialogue showcases Andrew’s confident tone and his belief that Fogg will not arrive on time.
“Sir-forgive me - a most- unfortunate resemblance - robber arrested three days age-you-are free!”	Detective Fix	Detective Fix said to Phileas Fogg	Tone: Shocked, Apologetic, Guilty Style: Expository Significance: Having followed Fogg around the world and finally arresting him in Liverpool, Fix is shocked to discover that he has caught the wrong person. When he realizes this, he is so overcome with guilt at having wrongly imprisoned Fogg that he becomes speechless. The dialogue is, therefore, a string of random words tied together that don’t make much sense, showcasing that Fix is incredibly shocked and ashamed. His tone, though apologetic is one of absolute disbelief.
“Will you pardon me for bringing you to England?”	Phileas Fogg	Phileas Fogg said to Aouda	Tone: Courteous, Polite, Apologetic Style: Interrogative Significance: After having lost his riches and finding himself unable to offer Aouda the promise of a comfortable life, Fogg asks Aouda to forgive him, because he believes it was his duty to provide her with protection and comfort since he brought her to England.
“It is for me to ask that question. You were ruined, but now you are rich again.”	Aouda	Aouda said to Phileas Fogg	Tone: Direct, Bold, Dignified Style: Direct Significance: This dialogue is uttered by Aouda in response to Fogg’s offer of marriage. Though they had already agreed to marry each other, Fogg’s financial situation had since then changed. Fogg had won the bet and was now a rich man while Aouda had nothing new to offer. Thus, Aouda believed that instead of Fogg asking her if she still wanted to marry him, it should be her asking him that question.

 

 The word ‘exciting’ refers to incidents that contribute to the development of action in the extract. There are five such ‘exciting’ incidents in the given extract:

 

Fogg’s release:
Fix arrests Fogg at Liverpool and severely delays his plans to reach London on time to win the bet. Fogg and the others are devastated. However, several hours later, Fix finally realizes his mistake and releases Fogg. This causes excitement as the tone of the extract changes from one of disappointment to sudden hope as Fogg races to make it to London on time.

Arrival at London:

Fogg, Passepartout, and Aouda finally arrive in London after several delays and obstacles but realize that they are five minutes late and Fogg has lost the bet. This incident is exciting because it changes the tone of the extract from full of hope to sudden disappointment.

Aouda’s proposal:

At Savile Row, Fogg finally allows himself to be depressed and begins to believe that all is lost. Passepartout and Aouda, too, share Fogg’s feelings and an atmosphere of gloom hangs over Savile Row. However, through these moments of sorrow, emerges a glimmer of happiness when Aouda confesses her love to Fogg and he, too, admits that he loves her. Aouda’s proposal and their subsequent decision to marry are extremely significant because they highlight the message of the novel, that of true love and happiness, the idea of which helps Fogg to come out of his state of deep depression. This incident is also exciting because it ultimately leads to the discovery of the true date, thus allowing Fogg to win the bet.

Passepartout’s discovery: 

When Passepartout sets out to hire the services of a Reverend for Fogg and Aouda’s marriage, he discovers that the deadline for the bet has not passed. This leads to a complete turn of events, which ultimately results in Fogg winning the bet. Thus, his discovery and its subsequent explanation are a source of great excitement to the reader.

Fogg’s triumph:

In the final moments of the bet, the five members of the Reform Club await Fogg’s arrival. However, they are convinced that they have won the bet and that Fogg will not return on time. At this point, the climax has not been revealed to the reader. The readers and the major characters are under the impression that Fogg has lost the bet. However, Fogg arrives at the club, mere seconds before the deadline, leaving the members of the Club, and more importantly, the readers of the novel, in absolute shock at this turn of events.