A Helpless Situation
by Samuel Langhorne Clemens
(Mark Twain)
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Tick the correct word or phrase to complete the sentences.
a. The writer of the letter wanted Mr. Clemens to publish her book/recommend a publisher/recommend her to a publisher.
b. Mr. Clemens had been a friend/an acquaintance of Uncle Simons.
c. The woman was 30/20/26 years old when she wrote the letter.
2. Arrange the questions that Mr. Clemens imagined the published would ask in the correct sequence. Write 1 for the first question, 2 for the second question, and so on.
a. What is her book about? [5]
b. Who is her publisher? [2]
c. What do you think about her writing? [1]
d. How long have you known her? [7]
e. Is this her first book? [4]
f. Have you seen her book? [6]
g. How did you get interested in her writing? [8]
h. Does she have a publisher? [3]
Reference to context
3. "Once or twice a year I get a letter of a certain pattern, a pattern that never materially changes, in form and substance … "
a. What is the pattern of the letter that Mr. Clemens is referring to here?
= The pattern of the letter that Mr. Clemens is referring to here is that they never materially changes in form and substance.
b. What was his reaction on receiving such letters?
= The narrator never got used to such letters. They always astonished him. Those affected him as the locomotive always affected him.
c. Why did he never send a reply to such letters?
= He never sent a reply to such letters fearing to hurt the senders as he had no desire to hurt them.
4. "Dear me, what has influence to do with such a matter?"
a. Who, according to Mr. Clemens, would ask this question?
= According to Mr. Clemens, a publisher called Mr. H would ask this question.
b. What is the 'matter' referred to above?
= The 'matter' referred to above is to publish a book.
c. How does the asker of the question explain that influence had no role to play in such a matter?
= The asker of the question explained that they were there to examine anybody's book that came along. It was there business. They consider it to be foolish to turn away a book unexamined only because it was of a stranger's. No publisher did that.
Reflect and answer
5. What favour did the writer of the letter want from Mr. Clemens? Why did she think he would grant it?
= The writer of the letter would like to place her book on royalty basis plan with any publisher Mr. Clemens would suggest. She wanted to keep it a secret from her husband and family. She intended it as a surprise in case she got it published.
She thought Mr. Clemens would grant it as she along with her family used to know Mr. Clemens being in Humboldt mines - '62 - '63. He and Clagett and Oliver and the old blacksmith Tillou lived in a lean-to. She also referred to her uncle Simon and how he was acquainted with Mr. Clemens.
6. What made Mr. Clemens 'a man of influence'?
= Mr. Clemens was a man of literature. He was acquainted with many publisher. They knew him and the sender of the letter considered that he can influence them and convince them to publish the book of the sender of the letter.
7. According to the author, what kind of people succeed in meeting their goals? Based on this, what do you think he wanted the woman to do to get published?
= According to the author, a struggler does his own helping; it would not occur to him to apply to anyone else. He who has talent and he knows it, and he goes into his fight eagerly and with energy and determination all alone, preferring to be alone. He can only meet his goal.
He wanted the woman to focus in her writing rather than in getting others' influence to get published. The publishers do care for books, and are eager to get them and examine them, no matter where they come from. If she goes to any publisher he will certainly examine it first. He will never accept it merely with some great man's influence.
8. At the end of the imaginary conversation, how does the publisher let Mr. Clemens know that he was wasting his time?
= At the end of the imaginary conversation, the publisher said that Mr. Clemens didn't know her, her literature, not even a single thing for them to build an estimate of her book upon. He had only a fuzzy image of knowing her uncle. That is also of sixteen years ago.
9. "Mark Twin brilliantly employs the technique of show, don't tell in this story." Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer in detail.
= Yes I do agree with the statement. Here the woman told many things to get a connection or acquaintance with the author. She told in the letter about the Humboldt mines - '62 - '63. She also reminded him of him and Clagett and Oliver and the old blacksmith Tillou lived in a lean-to.