The Two Questions - A traditional story in dramatic form (Cambridge Connection English)
Comprehension
A. Answer the questions.
1. What did the knight report to the king about the abbot?
= The knight reported to the king about the abbot that one hundred men sit down to dine with him. Fifty knights in velvet coats wait on him. They bring him food on golden plates.
2. Why did this make the king angry?
= This made the king angry because he could not afford the luxury of the abbot in spite of being the king of the land.
3. What explanation did the abbot offer to the king?
= The kind explained that he dines with his only friends and he does all these with his own money.
4. How did King John react?
= The king became angry. The king reminded the abbot that everything in that land belongs to him. He also wanted the the abbot to be in the prison.
5. What were the two questions the king asked the abbot?
= The two questions the king asked the abbot are - How long he should live? and What did he think?
6. Why were the professors unable to help the abbot finding answers to these questions?
= The professors were unable to help the abbot finding answers to these questions because they did not find the answer after finding in every book, every house and every town.
7. Who offered to help the abbot? Why did he do so?
= The Shepherd offered to help the abbot.
He did so because he so much like the abbot. They live a happy life in their village since the abbot visited to them.
8. What answers did the shepherd give to the king's questions?
= For the first question, the shepherd answered that the king would live till the day that he die, and not one day longer.
For the second question, the shepherd answered that the king thinks he is the abbot while he was only his poor Shepherd.
9. Why wasn't the king angry with him?
= The king wasn't angry with him because his answers were very much funny. The king just laughed aloud.
10. What reward did King John offer the man?
= King John offered the man that he would pardon the Abbot and let him keep his lands and knights, if he would stay and live there in his court.
B. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. "King: I will give you just two weeks. If you cannot answer then, I'll have your head cut off. And then I'll take your lands and palaces.
Jester: And your knights and golden plates!"
a. Who was the king addressing?
= The king was addressing the Abbot.
b. What questions did he ask the person?
= He asked the person that How long he should live? and What did he think?
c. What punishment would the person get for failing to answer?
= For failing to answer those two questions, the king would have his head cut off. And then he would take his lands and palaces.
d. Why does the jester mention the knights and golden plates? What does this reveal about the situation?
= The jester mentioned the knight and golden plates to remind the abbot that the king would take all he has.
This reveals that the situation is very serious. The king is very much angry upon the abbot. And the jester is very much jealous of the abbot.
2. "King: I will pardon the Abbot and let him keep his lands and knights, if you will stay and live here in my court."
a. Who was the king speaking to?
= The king was speaking to the shepherd who was in the disguise of the abbot.
b. What had he done to please the king?
= He had answered the two questions of the king to please him.
c. Why did the king agree to pardon the abbot?
= The king was compelled to laugh aloud after hearing the funny answers of the shepherd. He was so pleased with him that he agreed to pardon the abbot.
d. What did the king want the person to do in his court?
= The king wanted the person to be the jest in his court.
D. Think and answer.
1. What was the real reason for the king's anger with the abbot?
= The real reason for the king's anger with the abbot was his royal ego. The abbot led a more luxurious life than the king. The abbot spent more money that the king did.
2. Why did the king ask the abbot questions which were impossible to answer?
= The king asked the abbot questions which were impossible to answer because he wanted him to be in trouble. The king wanted to punish him anyway.
3. Why do you think the shepherd offered to help the abbot?
= I think the shepherd offered to help the abbot from him gratitude towards the same. They were living happily in their village till the abbot village. He was grateful to the kind abbot. In addition, he looked so much like the abbot. This would help him to reach out the king very easily.
4. What do you make of the characters of King John and the abbot?
= King John is a man like other kings with all his royal egos and tastes. He gets angry to know the luxury of the abbot. He has kingly fury. He gets instantly angry and makes his mind to punish the abbot anyway. He is successful to take the abbot in his trap. He is also has the kingly light mood. He laughs at the funny witty answers of the shepherd. He is the patron of talent. He keeps the witty shepherd in his court.
The abbot is a simple kind man. He is truthful. He is respectful towards the king. He is little bit timid. He is scared for his life and kneels down before the king to beg for pardon. He is kind towards his professors. He is not rude to them in spite of not finding the answers. He is kind to the shepherd. The is ready to take his own head in case the shepherd fails to give the answers of the king.