Home | Current Affairs | General Knowledge | Science | Mathematics | Tutorials | Quiz
English Notes → The Piece of String
Short textual questions and answers.
1. Why did Manana accuse Hubert of picking the lost pocketbook?
Manana accused Hubert of picking the lost pocketbook because he had seen him pick up something from the ground. Then, he blamed him for picking up the lost pocketbook without any proof. It is said that Manana had old enmity with Hubert and he thought it a golden opportunity to take revenge on poor Hubert. It seemed that Manana was a man of dead conscience. He tried to take away his honour through false blame.
2. What did the people think of Hubert when they heard the return of the pocketbook by some other person?
The people thought that Hubert was still blameworthy even when they heard the return of the pocketbook. They thought that he was acting cleverly. He might have thrown the pocketbook on the way to the village. It was a strange logic without any proof. They cursed and criticized him behind his back. They called him old rascal.
3. Why did George give the pocketbook to his employer?
George gave the pocketbook to his employer because he was an illiterate person. He did not know how to read it. He could have played an effective role in removing the false blame of theft on Hubert if he knew how to read. He could have explained the innocence of Hubert. But, both poverty and illiteracy often combine to bring miseries for the poor people like Hubert.
4. What made Hubert shameful?
Hubert felt shameful when he was falsely accused of theft. It was a baseless blame. He thought that nothing was more shameful in the world than to be called a liar. He was hurt at his disgrace and insult. His character and self-respect were in danger. He wanted to remove the stigma of theft from his character.
5. Why did the people make fun of his innocence?
The people made fun of his innocence. They thought that he was making lame excuses. They did not believe in his story of a piece of string. They abused him and called him old rascal. They thought that he might have thrown the pocketbook on the way to the village. They criticized him behind his back. The more he tried to explain, the more he was suspected.
6. Why did he keep claiming his innocence before his death?
He kept claiming his innocence before his death to show that he was speaking the truth and that a dying person could not tell a lie. He was in deep grief and sorrow over his insult and disgrace. He was a very sensitive fellow. He wanted to remove the stigma of theft from his character. He wanted to regain his lost honour and self-respect. He tried hard even at the last breath to convince people about his innocence.