"Othello" written by William Shakespeare play explores themes of jealousy, manipulation, betrayal

The Adventure of the Mason (Abridged from ‘The Adventure of the Mason by Washington Irving)

About the passage

A.  Read to understand

1.   Write T for statements that are true and F for those that are false.

      a.   The stranger asked the mason to build a vault on the fountain. F  

       b.   The stranger gave the mason three pieces of gold for the job. T

       c.   The mason was left outside a church at the end of the first night’s work. F

       d.   The money that the mason had received for his work lasted fourteen days. T

       e.   The landlord could not find any tenants for the house as it was in total disrepair. F

       f.    The mason offered to buy the worn-down house from the landlord at a low price. F

2.   Choose the correct options.

      a.   The stranger chose the mason for the job because he wanted

                     i.        the best bricklayer in the city.

                    ii.        someone who could be relied upon.

                  iii.        a person who could work for very little money.

      b.   ‘The poor mason’s hair rose on his head at these words.’ This means that the mason

                     i.        was really frightened at what he thought he had to do.

                    ii.        was quite excited and looked forward to his next task

                  iii.        was very angry with the stranger for hiding his motives.

       c.   The landlord chose the mason for the job because he wanted

                     i.        the best bricklayer in the city.

                    ii.        someone who could be relied upon.

                  iii.        a person who would work for very little money

      

3.  Answer the following questions.

         a.   What conditions did the mason lay down before agreeing to work for the stranger?

Ans. The condition that the mason laid down before agreeing to work for the stranger was that he should be paid accordingly.

         b.   The blindfold of the mason was removed in a court. Where was the court located? What did the mason see over there?

Ans. When the bandage was removed from his eyes, he found himself in a court, dimly lighted by a single lamp. In the centre was the dry basin of an old Moorish fountain. The court was located in the interior part of the building.

         c.   What terrified the mason? When was his mind put at ease?

Ans. The job of burying the dead bodies terrified the mason. He was expecting to see some horrible scene of death but was relieved on seeing three or four portly jars full of money standing in one corner.

         d.   What did the stranger ask the mason to do after giving him the two pieces of gold?

Ans. The stranger asked the mason not to uncover his eyes until he hear the cathedral bell toll for the morning prayer. If he dare to uncover his eyes before that time, evil will come upon him.

         e.   Why did landlord complain about the ‘old miser’s’ house?

Ans. The landlord complained about the ‘old miser’s’ house because the old house was decaying, which costs him more money than it is worth to keep it in repair, for nobody will live in it.

B.  Read to infer

1.   Why did the stranger blindfold the mason and lead him to and from the house by different and complex routes?

Ans. The stranger blindfolded the mason and led him to and from the house by different and complex routes because he did not want him to find the way to the mason.

2.   Do you think the mason was both honest and clever? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Honest – Mason was honest because he never revealed the secret of the vault until on his deathbed to his son and heir and he did not uncover his eyes until the cathedral bell toll, as asked by the stranger.

Clever – Mason was clever as he smartly asked the landlord to let him live in his house rent free and he will repair the house in return. He then used to take out money as and when he required from the vault. This way he became one of the richest men in Granada.

3.   Do you think the mason lived up to the expectations of both the stranger and the landlord? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. The mason lived up to the expectations of the stranger because he did what the stranger asked him to do. Moreover he remains honest to the stranger by not revealing the secret of the vault until on his deathbed to his son and heir. 

The mason lived up to the expectations of landlord because he agreed to do patch work for less money and also offered to live in his house rent-free until he get some better tenant.

C.  Discuss

1.   We are told that the mason ‘increased rapidly in wealth’. The landlord and other people would certainly have wondered about how the poor mason had become one of the richest men in Granada. How do you think the mason would have answered their queries?

Ans. (Hint -The mason would have said that he won big prize money in lottery.)

2.   Can you think of any other story in which the main character comes into possession of unexpected wealth? Share the story in class, and compare it with ‘The Adventure of the Mason’.

Ans. Hint - Story - The Woodcutter and the Axe, in the story ‘The Woodcutter and the Axe’, woodcutter receives a gold axe as a gift for his honesty whereas in story ‘The Adventure of the Mason’, mason became rich due to his cleverness.