PACKLETIDE TIGER
SAKI
a) Why
did Mrs. Packletide wish to kill a tiger?
Ans: Mrs.
Packletide wanted to kill a tiger because she wanted to show off that she was
an adventurous person. She wanted to become famous and be noticed. Her social
rival Loona Bimberton had flown in an aircraft. She wanted to do something
which was more adventurous than that and become popular.
b) What
made her decide to give a party in Loona Bimberton’s honour? What did she
intend to give Loona on her birthday?
Ans: Mrs.
Packletide wanted to show off in front of Loona Bimberton. It was nothing but
social rivalry and jealousy which made her decide to give a party in honour of
Ms. Bimberton. She wanted to present her a tiger-claw brooch.
c) How
was the tiger shooting arranged? What kind of a tiger was chosen for the
purpose?
Ans: The
tiger shooting was arranged by paying the villagers a sum of Rs.1000/-, the
villagers arranged a weak goat as bait for the tiger. And old tiger, which was
frail in health and could not even run to save his life, was chosen for this
purpose.
d) In
what way did the villagers help Mrs. Packletide shoot the tiger?
Ans: The
villagers took Rs.1000/- and made all arrangements for the hunting expedition.
They set up a platform top of a tree, arranged for a goat to be tethered to
attract the tiger and identified this weak and frail tiger which was incapable
of saving its life.
e) Who
was Miss Mebbin? Was she really devoted to Mrs. Packletide? How did she behave
during the tiger shooting?
Ans: Miss
Mebbin was Mrs. Packletide’s paid companion. She was devoted only to money and
nothing else. She was very clear that she wanted to be there only for the time
that she was paid for and she had no intention of staying a minute more than
that.
f) Mrs.
Packletide was a good shot. Discuss.
Ans: No,
she wasn’t a good shot. Mrs. Packletide did not even know how to hold the
rifle. She was doing all this only to outdo Loona’s popularity. She could not
even aim at a weak tiger which had no desire to run. It was just a blind shot
that she fired which hit the goat instead of the tiger and the tiger died due
to heart failure caused by the sudden sound of the rifle.
g) What
comment did Miss Mebbin make after Mrs. Packletide had fired the shot? Why did
Miss Mebbin make this comment? How did Mrs. Packletide react to this comment?
Ans: Miss
Mebbin said “How amused everyone would be if they knew what really happened”.
She made this comment to make fun of Mrs. Packletide’s shooting; Mrs.
Packletide said that no one will believe it. As soon as the tiger died then
villagers came shouting excitedly for they were happy to get their money.
h) How
did the villagers react to the tiger’s death?
Ans: The
villagers shouted happily. How the tiger was killed did not matter to them.
They were only excited to get Rs. 1000.
i) Do
you think Mrs. Packletide was able to achieve her heart’s desire? Give reasons
for your answer.
Ans: Yes,
she was able to rejoice at her achievement. There were people from the press to
take her photographs, she gave interviews and overnight she shot to fame,
became a celebrity.
j) How
did Miss Mebbin manage to get her week-end cottage? Why did she plant so many
tiger lilies in her garden?
Ans: Miss
Mebbin managed to get her week-end cottage by blackmailing Mrs. Packletide. She
openly asked for the money. She told Mrs. Packletide that if she did not pay
for the cottage she will reveal the truth about tiger to Ms Loona. She planted
tiger lilies in her garden to remind Mrs. Packletide about the big game
shooting.
k) “The
incidental expenses are so heavy”, she confides to inquiring friends. Who is
the speaker? What is she referring to here?
Ans: The Speaker is
Mrs. Packletide. She is referring to the game of hunting.
