Page 1 :
Ch. - 5, ‘Mother's Day’, Short Answer Questions:, Q1. What picture of Mrs. Pearson, emerges in the opening of the play, ‘Mother's Day’?, , Ans. Mrs. Pearson is in her forties., She is a pleasant looking woman., , She is a typical housewife. She takes, delight in serving her family, though, they take no notice of her. Even if, they are thoughtless and selfish, she, is very fond of them. She bears with, them patiently as she does not want, any unpleasantness in the house., , Q2. What was Mrs. Fitzgerald's, advice to Mrs. Pearson?, , Ans. She advised Mrs. Pearson to be, the boss of her own family., , Q3. Why is Mrs. Fitzgerald insisting, upon Mrs. Pearson's being the boss, of her family?, , Ans. Because Mrs. Pearson’s, husband and children considered her, as a housemaid rather than a loving
Page 2 :
and caring mother and wife. They, treated her like a slave, ordered her to, make tea and never thought that she,, too, is a human being and needs rest., They thought that it was her duty, , to work for them while they never, considered her work as work., , Q4. How was Annie Pearson, responsible for her fate?, , Ans. To a certain level, Annie, Pearson was herself responsible for, her fate. She loved and cared for her, children and husband so much that, they failed to understand her value, and worth, , . She had wished to correct them but, for fear of hurting them, she didn't, mention it., , Q5. Write down Mrs. Fitzgerald's, opinion about a perfect household?, , Ans. In a perfect household all, , the family members should be, considerate towards the lady of the, house. They are not supposed to, order her but are supposed to lend a, helping hand in the smooth running, of the family. The lady sacrifices her
Page 3 :
entire life making the family happy, and comfortable. She should be, given due regard and recognition., , Q6. How did Mrs. Fitzgerald offer to, help Mrs. Pearson to set her family, , right?, , Ans. Mrs. Fitzgerald tells her plan, and says that they would change, their personalities with each other., She had learnt this art when she was, in East. Mrs. Fitzgerald would look, like Mrs. Pearson and vice versa., Thus Mrs. Fitzgerald offered to set, Mrs. Pearson's family right for her., , Q7. What were the immediate effects, of the magic spell?, , Ans. When it was spelled, the two, women stirred out of their selves, and transformed into contrasting, characters. Annie became bold and, started behaving like Mrs. Fitzgerald., She snatched the cigarette from Mrs., Fitzgerald's mouth and put it in her, own mouth., , Q8. How is George Pearson treated, at the club?
Page 4 :
Ans. The members of the Club laugh, at George Pearson. His wife Mrs., Pearson says, “He is their one of, their standing jokes at the club.”, They call him “Pompy-Ompy” Person, because they think him very “slow, and pompous’. She tells that people, always laugh at him behind his back., They call him names but he is quite, unaware about all this., , Q9. Mrs. Pearson was behaving, strangely but her children were, making fun of her. What does this, show?, , Ans. Mrs. Pearson, after having, undergone a change in her, personality started behaving with her, children Cyril and Doris severely but, they did not take her seriously. Deris, said she might have hit her head and, had a concussion, which caused, , her strange behaviour. She began to, giggle and Cyril felt it very strange., He wanted to stay and see what, would happen on the arrival of their, father., , Q.10. Mention three things in the, behaviour of mother that astonish
Page 5 :
Doris Pearson., , Ans. First, mother, as usual, has, , not got tea ready for her. Secondly,, mother’s smoking. Thirdly, she is, not in mood to iron her silk that she, intends to wear that evening., , Q.11. How does mother make fun of, Charlie Spence?, , Ans. Charlie Spence is Doris’s, boy-friend. She intends to go out with, him that evening. But mother makes, fun of Charlie Spence. She says, , that Charlie has buck-teeth and he, , is half-witted. She wonders whether, Doris could not find of anyone better, than Charlie Spence., , Q.12. Why is Cyril Pearson, astonished at mother’s behaviour?, , Ans. First, mother has not got tea, ready for him, as usual. Secondly, she, has not got his things ready though, she had promised in the morning, , to look through them in case there, was any mending. Obviously, he is, astonished at strange behaviour of, the mother. Then, mother asks him
