Quality

John Galsworthy

Learning outcomes:-

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1.Make inference and judgements.

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2. Understand the importance of putting heart and soul in any work.

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3.Critically examine the passion of an artist to produce a masterpiece.

About the Author

John Galsworthy was an English novelist & playwriter

He was born in 1867 in England and passed away in 1933

He notable work include’ The Forsyth Saga’ and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter

He won the Nobel prize in literature in 1932

Word Meanings

Words means opposite words

Distinction Different deficiency

Mysterious secret explicable

Awfully horrible pleasant

Guttural croaky euphonious

Penetrate keen gentle

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Summary

Quality is the story of a German shoemaker settled in London. His name was Mr. Gessler. He was a perfect Artist. He used to make the boots of the narrator’s father also. Gessler lived with his elder brother. Shop had no signboard. He made boots only on advance order and they failed to fit. His boots lasted long. So the narrator did not need to go his shop very early.

Whenever the narrator goes to his shop feels like going to some Church. The narrator wanted a pair of Russian leather boots. Gessler showed his piece of gold brown leather. He promised to deliver the boots after a fortnight. He, it seemed, used to dream of boots.

Once the narrator complained that his last pair of boots creaked. Gessler was shocked to hear it. He agreed to repair or replace them.

On another occasion the narrator entered Gessler’s shop. He was wearing a pair of shoes bought at a large firm. Gessler told that those were not his boots. He put a finger on the place where the left boot was not comfortable. He also spoke about the hard times of his trade. His own business was going down.

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The narrator was so deeply moved that the ordered for many pairs. For two years he couldn’t go to Gessler’s shop. When he came to known that Mr. Gessler’s shop next time he came to know that Mr. Gessler’s brother had died. He again ordered for many pairs of boots.

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He was also upset to see Mr. Gessler who seemed to have grown older by 15 years. And he again ordered for many pairs of boots. He went broad.

When

Continue……….

When he returned his country after a year, he went to Gessler’s shop to thank him for the new boots which he had parcelled to him. But he found that the name of the shop was gone . Tt had been taken over by some Englishman. The poor fellow died of slow starvation. His business failed for he took a long time to supply the order. He made any advertisement. He Used the leather. He never gave himself time to eat. He was a character, who really made good boots.

Working with the Text

Question 1: What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a boot maker?

Answer : The author was very impressed with Mr Gessler. He liked the boots made only on order and those boots perfectly fitted the customers. Their boots had the best materials and lasted long , He found the work mysterious and wonderful.

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Question 2: Why did the author visit the shop so frequently ?

Answer : The author visited the shop so frequently because the boots made by Mr Gessler’s brothers lasted whole long.

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Question 3: why was the effect on Mr Gessler of the author’s remark about a certain pairs of boot?

Answer : Mr Gessler at first found the remark unbelievable. He argued that the author might have got them wet. He was shocked. He told the author

that he will either repair them or adjust the money in his bills.

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Continue….

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Question 4 : What was Mr Gessler’s complain against ‘big farms’ ?

Answer : Mr Gessler complained that the big farms did not value the money of the customers.

They were capturing the markets from advertisement and not from the quality of their work. He was mostly out of work because those of farms and day by day the volume get reduced.

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Question 5 : Why did the author order so many pairs of boot? Did he really need them?

Answer : The author felt bad for Mr Gessler who was really talented and made great boots.He ordered so many pairs to have the boot maker. No , he did not really need them.

Working with the Language

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THANK YOU

Prepared by

Arita Bai Meena

(TGT English)

JNV, GOLAGHAT (ASSAM)

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