many characters in saki's story are vulnuerable to blackmail which character in the story mrs packeltide's tiger was blackmailed and why

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Solution

One of the many instances of jealousy, ill will and false social prestige is the driving force behind the story, Mrs Packletide's quest to kill a tiger. Mrs. Packletide's pleasure and intention was to shoot a tiger because her movements and motives were largely governed by her dislike of Loona Bimberton. It was not that Mrs. Packletide had suddenly experienced the lust to kill or that she thought she would leave India safer and more wholesome by exterminating one animal of the wild species, her compelling motive was to best Bimberton at her own game. Loona Bimberton had been carried eleven miles in an aeroplane by an Algerian aviator and she had been talking of nothing but that. Mrs Packletide wanted to show that she was at the top of her game and had led a more adventurous life by killing a tiger, laying out the skin on her floor during a lunch thrown in honour of Loona Bimberton and present her with a tiger claw brooch, just to prove her daredevilry over the latter. If others were swayed by hunger and love, Mrs. Packletide's life was governed by purely selfish motives of exhibiting herself over others.

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(a) Years later Mrs. Packletide writes her autobiography. As Mrs. Packletide, write about the tiger episode with the help of the clues given below.

jealous of the applause Loona was getting-thought of tiger hunt--all arranged-- Louisa Mebbin accompanied; turned out to be a blackmailer-huge price to pay to outdo a rival

(b) In groups of four construct the dialogues and enact the following situations from the story:

1. Mrs. Packletide and the headman of the village/other villagers discussing the details of the tiger shooting

2. Miss Mebbin blackmailing Mrs Packletide into gifting her a cottage

3. Loona Bimberton and a lady-friend discussing Mrs Packletide's hunting success

Years later Mrs. Packletide writes her autobiography. As Mrs. Packletide, write about the tiger episode with the help of the clues given below.

jealous of the applause Loona was getting-thought of tiger hunt--all arranged-- Louisa Mebbin accompanied; turned out to be a blackmailer-huge price to pay to outdo a rival

In groups of four construct the dialogues and enact the following situations from the story:

Miss Mebbin blackmailing Mrs Packletide into gifting her a cottage

Discuss the following questions in detail and write the answers in your notebooks:

(a) Do you think the tiger shooting organized by the villagers was a serious affair?

Give reasons for your answer.

(b) Do you think the writer is trying to make fun of the main characters in the story i.e. Mrs. Packletide, Miss Mebbin and Loona Bimberton? Pick out instances from the story that point to this fact.

(c) A person who is vain is full of self importance and can only think of himself/herself and can go to great lengths to prove his/her superiority. Do you think Mrs Packletide is vain? Give reasons in support of your answer.

(d) Sometimes writers highlight certain negative aspects in society or human beings by making fun of it. This is called satire. In your groups discuss whether you would classify this story as a satire. Give reasons to support your answer

(e) How does the writer create humor in this story?

What do you understand of the character of Mrs Croft from the story?

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