1. What did the author spot in the junk shop?
Ans: - The author spotted a roll-top desk in the junk shop in Birdport, Dorset, England. The roll-top desk was of early nineteenth century and it was made up of oak wood.
2. What was the condition of the roll-top desk?
Ans: - The roll-top desk that the author spotted in the junkshop was in a bad condition. The roll-top desk was broken in several pieces, one leg was clumsily mended and there was scorch marks all down one side. Besides, the Veneer had lifted almost everywhere because of water.
3. Why did the author think buying the roll-top was a risk?
Ans: - The author bought the roll-top desk from a junk shop. And when the author bought the roll top desk, it was in a bad condition with water and fire damage. The author considered buying it a risk because if he could not restore the roll-top desk properly, it would be a loss for him.
4. How did the author open the last drawer?
Ans: - While opening the drawers, the author found the last drawer stuck fast. He put all his efforts to ease it out gently. But all his efforts were futile. At last the author used brute force to open the drawer. He struck the last drawer sharply with the side of his fist and the drawer flew open.
5. Tell us about the secret drawer.
Ans: - When the author opened the last drawer with brute force, he found another secret drawer in there. The author reached in and found a small black tin box. On the top of the box there was, a lined notepaper cello-taped on the top and on it, there was written “Jim’s last letter, received 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.”
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6. Explain critically – “Curiosity got better of my scruples.”
Ans: - This line reflects how curiosity of us defeats our scruples i.e. the morality which makes us reluctant to do something that may be wrong. Here the poet talks about the box which aroused his curiosity to open it. .Though his morality made him feel that opening the box of someone is incorrect, he could not contain himself and opened the box.
7. What was inside the box?
Ans: - Opening the box, the author found an envelope. On the envelope there was an address: “Mrs. Jim Macpherson, 12, Copper Beeches, Birdport, Dorset. “. And on the top written with pencil, the date reflected “December 26, 1914.”
8. Which incident did Jim talk about at the beginning of the letter?
Ans: - The letter that the author wrote on December 26, 1914, he highlighted an unprecedented incident that took place in the battleground between the British and Germans. He wrote in an elated manner how the blood thirst enemies observed Christmas enemies observed Christmas enemies observed Christmas jubilantly forgetting their enmity.
9. How was the weather of the day as described by Jim?
Ans: - The day which was talked about by Jim Macpherson was Christmas morning. Jim and other soldiers were standing in there trenches. It was crisp quiet and very beautiful morning. According to Jim it resembled cold and frosty as Christmas morning should be.
10. Explain the line- “I should like to be able to tell you that we began it.”
Ans: - Here Jim Macpherson regrets over the fact that they could not initiate the very noble work that their enemies did. On the Christmas morning the Germans wished the Christmas first and offered to celebrate the day they do on Christmas days.
11. What did the Fritz begin?
Ans: - On the Christmas morning, 25th December 1914 the Fritz i.e. the Germans and British were facing each other in the battleground expecting bloodshed. But the day begin a pious one, they decided to observe in utmost brotherhood forgetting enmity. Across no man’s land from the side of the Germans some waved a white flag and wished the British solders ‘Happy Christmas, Tommy! Happy Christmas!’
12. How did the British solder react to the German’s Christmas wish?
Ans: - When the Germans wished the British solders Christmas, the British soldiers were perplexed for moment for this unexpected wish, and then realising the true spirit of the wish instinctively they wished back ‘Same to you Fritz! Same to you!’
13. “Don’t shoot lads!” – Explain the statement.
Ans: - This statement was made by one of the soldiers. It was made so because after wishing Christmas one of the German soldiers got up on the parapet in grey great coat and started waving a white flag.
14. Why did Jim Macpherson consider German’s action to be trick?
Ans: - This has been witnessed many times that soldiers employ various means to win a battle. Here in the story in a battle situation when German soldiers surprisingly wished Christmas and stood on the parapet with the purpose of meeting them, this aroused suspicion and the British officer Jim Macpherson thought this to be trick and warned his solders.
15. How did the Germans start approaching toward the British to celebrate Christmas?
Ans: - Germans made the start to celebrate Christmas. One of the Germans started to wave a bottle over his head and said, “It is Christmas Day, Tommy”. And then they mentioned about schnapps and sausage and asked to meet them. After this in a short while dozens of Germans started to move towards the British solders through no man’s land.
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16. Explain the line- “I should have stopped them there and then, I suppose, but the truth is that is never ever occurred to me I should.”
Ans: - Through this line Jim Macpherson reflects the spontaneous response of the British soldiers to meet the Germans to celebrate Christmas. Jim Macpherson being the officer of the British soldiers should have stopped other soldiers from doing this because this could lead to their defeat and death.
17. Describe the scene where the German and English solders meet each other in no man’s land for the first time.
Ans: - When the Germans first started to approach, the first English soldier who responded was Little Private Mooris. He gave a call to all other soldiers and they responded. Jim Macpherson even did not feel to stop them. All he could see had been men walking slowly towards one another grey coats and khaki coats meeting in the middle.
18. Describe the scene where Jim Macpherson and Hans Wolf met each other first time.
Ans: - Jim Macpherson writes his wife about his inexplicable feeling when he met the German soldier. The German officer approached hand outstretched and gripping Jim’s hand warmly said, “Hans Wolf I’m from Dusseldorf. I play the cello in the orchestra. Happy Christmas.” Then Jim Macpherson also replied, “Captain Jim Macpherson, And Happy Christmas to you too. I’m a school teacher from Dorset, in the west of England.”
19. How did Hans Wolf know about Dorset, English and England?
Ans:- Hans Wolf had never been to England or Dorset. But in spite of being a German, he spoke perfect English. The Jim got to know that he had learned about Dorset, England and English from his school and reading books in English.
20. Which book was the most favourite to Hans Wolf and what about the book they discussed?
Ans: - Hans Wolf’s favourite book was “Far From the madding Crowd” (Forth novel of Thomas Hardy- 1874) written by Thomas Hardy (Famous English Novelist). In no man’s land they were discussing about the characters like Bathsheba, Gabriel Oak and Sergeant troy of Far From the Madding crowd.
21. What food did Jim Macpherson and Hans Wolf share?
Ans:- Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson enjoyed food they had in spite of being enemy. They shared Jim’s rum ration and Hans Wolf’s excellent sausage. Later on, they shared Connie’s left bit of Christmas cake. Hans Wolf complimented the marzipan to be best he had ever tasted.
22. Explain- “We agreed about everything and he was my enemy.”
Ans: - This sentence is the most striking sentence in the whole story. Generally enmity comes to two persons or groups for having strong disagreement over an issue or issues. But here in the story both Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson had no disagreement over anything. Rather they agreed about everything .They were enemies because they were made enemies by the leaders and warlords of their countries.
23. How did they started playing football match?
Ans: - When both the German and British soldiers were enjoying Christmas, smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating someone brought out a football. They used the great coats dumping in piles to make goal posts. Then there was the battle of football between Tommies against Firtzs.
24. How did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson enjoy the football match?
Ans: - When the Tommies and the Fritzs started playing football match, they enjoyed it to the utmost. They looked on and cheered clapping their hands and stamping their feet to enjoy the match and to keep out the cold as much as anything.
25. What do the breaths mingling signify?
Ans: - When Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson were enjoying playing football match, there was a moment when Jim Macpherson saw their breaths mingling in the air between them. Even Hans Wolf noticed it and smiled. The significance is that not only they are not having any enmity between them but also their breaths have no issues in unification.
26. How according to Hans Wolf, football is a better way to resolve war?
Ans: - When the football match was going on, suddenly Hans Wolf commented that football match was the way to resolve the war. He reasoned that in a football match no one dies. No children are orphaned and no wives become widows. Indeed Hans Wolf was right. War cannot be the solution. Rather it gives birth to another war. War means bloodshed, loss and pain.
27. Why did Jim Macpherson say that he would prefer a cricket match?
Ans: - According to Jim Macpherson to resolve a war or dispute between the British and Germans, he would prefer cricket instead of football match. He would do so because he knew that Germans are stronger in football match; but they are dumb in the skills of cricket. So the British would be sure of wining the match.
28. What was the result of the football match and what did Hans Wolf say over the result of the match?
Ans:- In the football match Germans defeated the British to two goals to one. But Hans Wolf opined that the result was not fair because the goal of the British was wider than the Germans.
29. What did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson say at the end of the Christmas day?
Ans:- As the Christmas day got over and all knew that it was all over Jim said that they would meet their family soon and fighting would end soon and all could go home. In reply Hans Wolf said, “I think that is what every solder wants, on both sides.” Then again Hans Wolf said, “Take care Jim Macpherson, I shall never forget this moment nor you.”
30. How did both the British and Germans spend the Christmas night?
Ans:- Both the armies enjoyed the Christmas night singing carols. Germans were singing the Christmas carol beautifully. The British solders also sang in chorus. The German solders sang ‘Stille Nacht, Silent Night’ and the British solders sang ‘While Shepherds Watched’. Then they exchanged their carols and fell silent. That very Christmas had been a time of peace good will that they would treasure always.
31. How did Jim Macpherson end his letter?
Ans: Jim ended the letter with an optimistic tone. He said his wife that by the next year this war will be nothing but a distant and terrible memory and he realized from the incident of the Christmas day that both the armies longed for peace. Jim promised that they would be together again soon.
32. What did the author do the next morning?
Ans: The author had decided to return the letter to Connie Macpherson. So in the morning he got up, drove to Bridport and asking people the address of Copper Beeches, found out the house of Connie Macpherson.
33. How was the house no. 12?
Ans: When the author reached House no. 12, he found that to be nothing but a burned out shell. The roof of the house was in a gaping state. The windows were boarded up. Evidently no one was present in the house.
34. What information did the author get from the neighbor about Mrs. Macpherson?
Ans: When the author found the house no 12 burned and deserted, he asked a neighbour about the whereabouts of Mrs. Macpherson. The neighbour knew her and considered her a lovely old lady, but a bid muddle headed. He reasoned that at the age of hundred and one years, one must be muddled headed.
35. How was the house of Mrs. Macpherson burned?
Ans: No one really knew how the fire started but it is doubted that the reason of the fire was candles. Mrs. Macpherson preferred candles than electricity because she always thought electricity to be expensive. She was inside her house when it was on fire. The firemen had got her out just in time saving her life.
36. What was the atmosphere of the Burlington House Nursing Home when the author reached there?
Ans: When the author reached the Burlington House Nursing Home, he found everyone to be in the festive mood. There were paper chains in the hallway and lighted Christmas tree. Stood on the corner with a lopsided angel on top, the author expressed the purpose of his visit. He found that in the dining room everyone along with the Matron was wearing a paper cap and singing.
37. What did the Matron inform author?
Ans: When the author met the Matron and told the purpose of his visit, the matron offered him a mince pie. Then the Matron informed the author that Mrs. Macpherson was rather confused that day so they decided to give her a good rest. After this she added that Mrs. Macpherson doesn’t have a family and seeing the author she would be happy.
38. How did the author find Mrs. Macpherson in the conservatory?
Ans: When the author saw Mrs. Macpherson in the conservatory, she was sitting in a wheel chair, her hands folded in her lap. She had silver white hair pinned into a wispy bun. She was gazing out at the garden.
