THE BISHOP'S CANDLESTICKS

In this lesson you are going to read a story entitled The Bishop's Candlesticks. Read the story and see if it is correct to say such things. But before you read the whole story, do the following exercise. It will help you with the word meanings. 

Meanings of some words or phrases are given below. The number after each meaning indicates the paragraph where it occurs. Find the word or phrase. 

large house of a rich man (2) 

Answer : mansion 

possession and enjoyment of a costly thing (2) 

Answer : luxury 

spoons, forks, knives, dishes, etc. made of silver (2) 

Answer : silverware 

give place to stay (3) 

Answer : shelter 

set free (4)

Answer : released 

badly needing rest, very tired (6) 

Answer : weary 

slave sent to work in a war ship (7) 

Answer : galley slave 

part of a room cut off from the rest of the house, particularly for a bed (10) 

Answer : alcove 

big serving spoon used for serving soup, dal, etc. (15) 

Answer : ladle 

moved slowly and quietly (16) 

Answer : crept 

without hope (20) 

Answer : despair 

greatly surprised (22) 

Answer : amazed 

spoke when someone else was speaking (23) 

Answer : interrupted 

Now read the story. 

READ CAREFULLY 

Read paragraphs 1 to 12 and decide whether each of the following statements are True or False .

	True	False
1. Bishop Myriel lived all by himself.		False
2. Silverware at his dining table was the only luxury      he had not given up.	True
3. No one was willing to give shelter to Jean Valjean,      because he had no money.		False
4. The bishop was a generous man.	True
5. The bishop had invited Jean Valjean to his house.		False
6. The bishop was as frightened as Baptistine and Madame      Magloire were when they saw Jean Valjean.		False
7. Jean Valjean was honest about his identity.	True
8. Jean Valjean had not expected the bishop to let him      stay in his house.	True
9. Madame Magloire was used to following the bishop's      orders without questions.	True
10. Jean Valjean found it most natural that the bishop should welcome him like this.		False

READ FURTHER 

Read paragraphs 13 to 26 and answer the following questions. 

1. The bishop had been very kind to Jean Valjean. Yet he stole his silverware. Why had Valjean done this? 

Answer : Because society had made him such an outcast that he did not understand kindness anymore. 

2. How did the bishop react when he heard that the convict had stolen all his silver? Would you have reacted in the same way? 

Answer : The bishop reacted as if nothing happened. No, we wouldn't have reacted in the same way. 

3. Why do you think Jean Valjean's head 'hung down in despair'? 

Answer : I think Jean Valjean's head 'hung down in despair' because he was caught by police. 

4. What did the bishop tell Jean Valjean? 

Answer : He told Jean Valjean that the silver  was given to him. 

5. What had Jean Valjean told the police? 

Answer : Jean Valjean told the police that silver was given to him. 

6. Why do you think the bishop did not deny what Jean Valjean had told the police? 

Answer : Because the bishop wanted to help Jean Valjean to be a good human being. 

7. Do you think the bishop did the right thing? Give reasons.

Answer : Yes, bishop did the right thing because Jean Valjean got an opportunity to correct himself. 

8. What do you think Jean Valjean did after he walked out of the bishop's house? 

Answer : He might have sold the silver and settled down somewhere.