CLASS 10 F - 3 THE LETTER

 1. Give one reason why the writer refers to the post office as “One of the most uninteresting buildings in the world.”

Ans. The same tedious task of gathering letters, locating addresses, and delivering them is carried out by all staff, including the postmaster and postmen. People get bored after a while because there is nothing new to discover or learn, making the post office one of the least interesting buildings in the entire world.

2. “Ali displays qualities of love and patience”. Give evidence from the story to support the statement.

Ans. Without a doubt, Ali exemplifies traits like love and patience. The story’s title tells volumes about the author’s unending love for his daughter Miriam and the extreme patience he displays in pursuing her letter. He arrives at the post office as the day breaks, sits on a bench in the corner, and waits for hours for the postmaster to call his name so he can pick up his daughter’s letter. He has never experienced the fateful day when he receives a letter from Miriam. But despite this unfortunate reality, it hasn’t reduced his patience in waiting for the letter or his love for his daughter.

3. How do you know Ali was a familiar figure at the post office?

Ans. Due to his regular attendance at the post office, Ali was a known figure to all of the employees. From the postmaster to the peon, everyone knew Ali and could put a face to the name. Typically, they made fun of him while discussing his strange behaviour. They even referred to him as a madman for coming to the post office every day even though he never received a letter.

4. Why did Ali give up hunting?

Ans. Ali stopped hunting because he grew physically frail and old in his final years, not for any other reason. Even though he no longer had the strength and vitality of youth, he still had his natural hunting instincts. Truthfully, his separation from his daughter following her marriage was the most significant factor in his decision to stop hunting. He came to understand that true happiness comes from loving and residing with loved ones as a result of his loneliness. He stopped shooting birds and other animals as a result since it causes separation.

5. What impression do you form of the postmaster after reading the story ‘The Letter’?

Ans. The postmaster seems to have two sides to him, just like a coin has two sides. He comes across as being incredibly cold-hearted and uncaring in the first part of the story. Even the author’s comparison of his face to a dull pumpkin shows how callous his nature is, yet as the story goes on and he finds himself in the same precarious situation as poor old Ali, something unexpected happens to him. When his sick daughter doesn’t respond, he gets maddened with grief and realises how difficult and crazy it must have been for old Ali to visit the post office every day in order to receive his daughter’s letter. His fatherly feelings are now rising to understand Ali’s soul. His behaviour becomes extremely sympathetic towards Ali.

6. The postmaster says to Ali, “What a pest you are, brother!” Do you agree with the statement? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Ali seems to be a nuisance to the postmaster. Perhaps it is because he visits the post office every day in the hopes of receiving a letter from his daughter. The everyday presence of Ali is a constant disturbance to the postmaster and his subordinates, just like a pest is a persistent source of annoyance and agony to humans. Otherwise, old Ali doesn’t act or behave in a way that would qualify him as a pest—neither is he particularly violent or malicious.

7.  “Ali came out very slowly, turning after every few steps to gaze at the post office. His eyes were filled with tears of helplessness, for his patience was exhausted, even though he still had faith.” Why were Ali’s eyes filled with tears of helplessness? What had exhausted his patience but not his faith?

Ans. Ali was ill for a number of days. His ongoing illness robbed him of all bodily fortitude and vigour. Due to his physical condition and frailty, he was also losing his patience. He understood that it was now difficult for him to go to the post office every day to pick up his daughter’s letter. He also understood that he was running out of time, which caused him to cry. Even while his physical ailments and the impending death tested his patience, they were unable to break his spirits and unwavering conviction that, one day, he would undoubtedly receive his daughter’s letter. Because a letter eventually arrived for him, his faith prevailed.

8. “Tortured by doubt and remorse, he sat down in the glow of the charcoal sigri to wait.” Who is tortured by doubt and remorse? Why? What is he waiting for?

Ans. The postmaster is tortured by doubt and remorse. He is in doubt about the news regarding his daughter’s health. He is remorseful for his ill-behaviour with Ali because now when he is in a similar situation, he can understand the father’s pain.
The postmaster’s heart was completely filled with intense sorrow and suffering. He began to question whether he actually saw old Ali or his ghost in the early hours of the morning. He remained mentally confused and unsteady. Despite this, the illness of his daughter was causing him immense emotional pain. He is waiting for both- information from his daughter to ease his sorrow and the return of old Ali to dispel the doubt that has clouded his judgement.