Story-14: Overcoat by Ghulam Abbas
Question / Answers |
"The Overcoat" is a satirical short story by Ghulam Abbas, a renowned Pakistani writer. The story revolves around a poor but proud clerk, Mirza, who buys an expensive overcoat to impress his colleagues and superiors.
Theme:
"Overcoat" by Ghulam Abbas revolves around the social commentary on class struggle, corruption, and the human weaknesses that stem from societal pressures. The narrative critiques the social and economic inequalities of Pakistani society, where people are judged based on their material possessions. Mirza's obsession with the overcoat represents his vanity and pride, which ultimately lead to his downfall. The story also exposes the deception and hypocrisy that pervades society, highlighting the consequences of greed and the pursuit of material possessions. Through this thought-provoking tale, Abbas emphasizes the importance of living a simple and honest life, free from the corrupting influences of societal expectations. |
| 1 |
What was the colour of the overcoat of the young man? |
| Ans: |
The colour of the overcoat of the young man was brown. |
| 2. |
How did he look like? |
| Ans: |
The young man seemed well-groomed. His hair was sleek and shining. He had thin moustache. He was wearing a brown overcoat and a green flat hat. |
| 3. |
Why did the people come out on the Mall? |
| Ans: |
Cold weather provoked people to come out on the Mall Road. |
| 4. |
Who were the people wearing such dress and had come on the Mall? |
| Ans: |
The profligate and dull people came out on the Mall in cold weather. Most of the people were wearing overcoats of different kinds. |
| 5. |
Why was the cat shivering? |
| Ans: |
The cat was shivering because of extreme cold. |
| 6. |
Why did the driver of the truck speed away after the accident? |
| Ans: |
The driver of the truck speed away after the accident because he was afraid of being caught by the police. |
| 7. |
Who took the young man to the hospital? |
| Ans: |
A crowd gathered there in a short while. A car was stopped and the young man was loaded into it and he was taken to a nearby hospital. |
| 8. |
What kind of music was played in one of the restaurants? |
| Ans: |
An orchestra could be heard playing in one of the nearest restaurants. |
| 9. |
How did he look like? |
| Ans: |
The young man seemed well-groomed. His hair was sleek and shining. He had then moustache. He was wearing a brown overcoat, and a green flat hat. |
| 10. |
What was the colour of the overcoat of the young man? |
| Ans: |
The colour of the overcoat of the young man was brown. |
| 11. |
What was the colour of the hat of the young man and how did he wear it? |
| Ans: |
The young man had a green flat hat at a rakish angle. |
| 12. |
What did the young man hold in his hand? |
| Ans: |
The young man was holding a short polished cane in his hand. He twirled it jauntily every now and then. |
| 13. |
How was the weather that evening? |
| Ans: |
The weather was very cold with sharp icy gusts of wind. |
| 14. |
Why where the people walking briskly on the road? |
| Ans: |
It was very cold outside, therefore people were walking briskly to keep themselves warm. |
| 15. |
Why did tonga-wallas race towards the young man? |
| Ans: |
The young man was looking like a dandy that’s why tonga-wallas whipped up their horses and raced towards him. |
| 16. |
How did the young man turn away the tonga-wallas and the taxi? |
| Ans: |
The young man turned away the tonga wallas with a wave of his stick, and the taxies by saying “No, thank You”. |
| 17. |
Why did the people come out on the Mall? |
| Ans: |
Old weather provoked people to come out on the Mall Road. |
| 18. |
Who were the people wearing such dress and had come on the Mall? |
| Ans: |
The profligate and dull people came out on the Mall in cold weather. Most of the people were wearing overcoats of different kinds. |
| 19. |
How did the people amuse themselves on the Mall? |
| Ans: |
The people amused themselves among the variety of hotels, restaurants, cafes and snack bars according to their means. Especially, the people on the Mall road, outside the restaurants enjoyed the music played by orchestra. |
| 20. |
what was the condition of the overcoat of the young man? |
| Ans: |
The overcoat was old but well cut. It was made of the fine material the sleeves were well creased. There were big, a shiny horn button across the coat. |
| 21. |
what did the young man purchase from the boy? |
| Ans: |
The young man purchased a cigarette in one anna from a pan and cigarettes selling boy. |
| 22. |
Did the young man relish his cigarette? |
| Ans: |
The young man smoked to relish the every puff of cigarette, while walking on the mall road. |
| 23. |
Why was the cat shivering? |
| Ans: |
The cat was shivering because of extreme old. The young man patted it on its fur. He also felt pity for the cat. |
| 24. |
what kind of music was played in one of the restaurants? |
| Ans: |
An orchestra could be heard playing in one of the nearest restaurants. |
| 25. |
what was displayed on the table in the Western music shop? |
| Ans: |
The records of the latest hit songs were displayed on a large table in the Western Music Shop. |
| 26. |
How did the young man examine the Spanish guitar? |
| Ans: |
The young man examined the Spanish guitar like an expert and read the price label attached to it. |
| 27. |
What did the young ask from the western music shop Salesman? |
| Ans: |
The young man asked a list of that month’s gramophone records at music shop from salesman. |
| 28. |
What was the carpet owner wearing and how did he treat the young man? |
| Ans: |
The owner of the shop was wearing a long robe and a silk turban who greeted the young man warmly. |
| 29. |
What was the price of a Persian carpet? |
| Ans: |
The price of a large Persian carpet was fourteen hundred and thirty-two rupees. |
| 30. |
Was the young man enjoying his walk on the Mall Road? |
| Ans: |
The young man had been roaming about for a quite a long time but his spirits were still high. Infact, he was neither tired nor bored. |
| 31. |
Describe the appearance of a young couple walking on the Mall? |
| Ans: |
The young man was tall, wearning black corduroy trousers and a leather jacket. The girl wore a floppy shalwar or white satin and a green coat but short-statured and bulky as compared to the young man. |
| 32. |
how did the young man follow the young couple? |
| Ans: |
The young man was delighted to watch the spectacle of excited young couple on the Mall and started following them closely. |
| 33. |
Where did the young couple turn from the Mall road? |
| Ans: |
The young couple stopped at the big cross-roads near the General post office and turned toward McLeod Road. |
| 34. |
Describe how did the accident occur? |
| Ans: |
While the young man was crossing the Mall towards McLeod Road, a truck full of bricks came from behind, it knocked down the young man and rushed off. |
| 35. |
Why did the driver of the truck speed away after the accident? |
| Ans: |
The driver of the truck speed away after the accident because he was afraid of being caught by the police. |
| 36. |
Why did the witnesses shout after the young man’s accident on the Road? |
| Ans: |
After serious accident of the young man on the road, two or three passers-by how had witnessed it shouted as “stop him, take the number.” |
| 37. |
What was the condition of young man after the accident? |
| Ans: |
After the accident, the young man was badly hurt. There was a lot of blood and he was in a very precarious state. |
| 38. |
Who took the young man to the hospital? |
| Ans: |
A crowd gathered there in a short while. A car was stopped and the young man was loaded into it and he was taken to a nearby hospital. |
| 39. |
Who were present to perform duties in the Casualty Department? |
| Ans: |
On duty that night in the Casualty department, Assistant Surgeon Khan and two young nurses, Shahnaz and Gill were present. |
| 40. |
Why the young man’s flat hat found on his chest? |
| Ans: |
After the severe road accident of the young man, someone had placed his green hat on his chest so it should not be lost. |
| 41. |
How did the nurse comment on the young man’s conditions? |
| Ans: |
The Nurse commented to see the impressive appearance of the young man in such words “He seems quite well-to-do and togged up for Saturday night, Poor chap.” |
| 42. |
Give a list of the articles, which were found in the pockets of the young man’s overcoat. |
| Ans: |
A small black comb, a handkerchief, six annas and a few pies, a half-smoked cigarette, a little diary, a list of gramophone records and a few handbills were found in the pockets of the young man’s overcoat. |
| 43. |
What is the moral lesson of the story? |
| Ans: |
The story teaches the realistic lesson to live life with all its charms and ugliness. The writer urges the readers to shun the sign of affectation and show-off for temporary fame. As a matter of fact, reality unveils itself and proves a great source of embarrassment for him. |
| 44. |
What is the central theme of the story? |
| Ans: |
The story unfolds the social, moral and economic depravity of the middle class. The young man also tried to show-off as a member of elite family but road-accident exposed his poverty and helplessness. |
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