MP Board 12th English Flemingo The Interview by Christopher Silvester & Umberto Eco

MP Board 12th English Flemingo The Interview by Christopher Silvester & Umberto Eco :

📖 The Interview

Part I: By Christopher Silvester Part II: Interview of Umberto Eco (by Mukund Padmanabhan) Genre: Literary journalism / Media critique

✍️ About the Authors

• Christopher Silvester is a British journalist and historian. His excerpt is taken from The Penguin Book of Interviews which traces the history and evolution of the interview as a journalistic form.
• Umberto Eco was an Italian novelist and scholar, best known for The Name of the Rose. In the interview, he discusses his writing style, views on interviews, and balance between academic and popular writing.

📚 Summary

Part I: The Art of Interviewing

• Silvester discusses the rise of the interview as a major journalistic form in the 20th century.
• He notes how interviews are often seen as an intrusion by writers like V. S. Naipaul and Lewis Carroll, while others view them as a useful medium for truth and insight (like H.G. Wells).
• The excerpt examines how some interviewees feel invaded, while others enjoy being featured.

Part II: Umberto Eco’s Interview

• Eco explains how he balances his academic work and fiction writing.
• He calls himself a “professor who writes novels on Sundays.”
• His novels explore interlocking stories and themes especially in non-violent ways.
• Eco emphasizes that his success as a novelist came from writing about “serious” topics in an accessible way, which appealed to a wide audience.

🌟 Themes

• Nature, purpose, and ethics of interviews
• Public versus private personas
• Literary fame and media portrayal
• Intellectual creativity and time management

📝 Moral / Message

• The chapter encourages readers to critically examine how interviews shape public opinion.
• It also shows how a great mind like Umberto Eco uses time wisely blending scholarship with creativity.

---

Question Answer The Interview by Christopher Silvester & Umberto Eco

1. What are some of the positive views on interviews?
   o Answer: Some positive views on interviews include the idea that interviews can be a source of truth and an art form. They are seen as a powerful medium of communication that provides vivid impressions of contemporary figures.
   o कुछ साक्षात्कारों पर सकारात्मक दृष्टिकोण में यह विचार शामिल हैं कि साक्षात्कार सत्य का स्रोत और एक कला रूप हो सकते हैं। इन्हें संचार का एक शक्तिशाली माध्यम माना जाता है जो समकालीन व्यक्तियों की जीवंत छापें प्रदान करता है।
2. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
   o Answer: Most celebrity writers despise being interviewed because they see it as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives. They feel it can diminish their personal space and privacy.
   o अधिकांश प्रसिद्ध लेखक साक्षात्कार देने से नफरत करते हैं क्योंकि वे इसे उनके जीवन में अनुचित हस्तक्षेप मानते हैं। उन्हें लगता है कि यह उनके निजी स्थान और गोपनीयता को कम कर सकता है।
3. What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed?
   o Answer: In some primitive cultures, it is believed that taking a photographic portrait of someone steals that person’s soul.
   o कुछ प्राचीन संस्कृतियों में यह माना जाता है कि किसी की फोटोग्राफिक तस्वीर लेना उस व्यक्ति की आत्मा को चुरा लेता है।
4. What do you understand by the expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”?
   o Answer: The expression “thumbprints on his windpipe” means that interviews make the person feel choked or restricted, as if someone is pressing on their throat.
   o “गले पर अंगूठे के निशान” मुहावरे का मतलब है कि साक्षात्कार व्यक्ति को घुटन या प्रतिबंधित महसूस कराते हैं, जैसे कोई उनके गले पर दबाव डाल रहा हो।
5. Who, in today’s world, is our chief source of information about personalities?
   o Answer: In today’s world, interviewers and journalists are our chief source of information about personalities.
   o आज की दुनिया में, साक्षात्कारकर्ता और पत्रकार हमारे प्रमुख स्रोत हैं जिनसे हमें व्यक्तियों के बारे में जानकारी मिलती है।
   Understanding the Text
6. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
   o Answer: Yes, it seems Umberto Eco likes being interviewed. He speaks openly about his work and thoughts, shares personal anecdotes, and appears comfortable discussing his various interests. His humorous and engaging manner also suggests he enjoys the process.
   o हां, ऐसा लगता है कि उम्बर्टो ईको को साक्षात्कार देना पसंद है। वह अपने काम और विचारों के बारे में खुलकर बात करते हैं, व्यक्तिगत उपाख्यान साझा करते हैं, और अपने विभिन्न रुचियों पर चर्चा करने में सहज दिखते हैं। उनके हास्यपूर्ण और आकर्षक स्वभाव से भी पता चलता है कि उन्हें यह प्रक्रिया पसंद है।
7. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
   o Answer: Eco finds time to write by utilizing the “empty spaces” in his life, which he calls interstices. He works during small, otherwise wasted moments, like waiting for an elevator, to maximize his productivity.
   o ईको अपने जीवन के “खाली स्थानों” का उपयोग करके लिखने का समय निकालते हैं, जिसे वे अंतर्विशेष कहते हैं। वह छोटी-छोटी, अन्यथा बर्बाद होने वाली क्षणों का उपयोग करते हैं, जैसे लिफ्ट का इंतजार करते समय, अपनी उत्पादकता को बढ़ाने के लिए।
8. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
   o Answer: Eco’s academic writing style was distinctive because it included a narrative aspect. He told the story of his research, including his trials and errors, which made his scholarly work more engaging and accessible compared to the traditional dry and depersonalized academic style.
   o ईको की शैक्षणिक लेखन शैली विशिष्ट थी क्योंकि इसमें एक कथा पहलू शामिल था। उन्होंने अपने शोध की कहानी बताई, जिसमें उनकी कोशिशें और गलतियां शामिल थीं, जिससे उनका शैक्षणिक काम पारंपरिक सूखी और निर्जीव शैक्षणिक शैली की तुलना में अधिक आकर्षक और सुलभ हो गया।
9. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
   o Answer: Umberto Eco considered himself an academic scholar first. He identified more with the academic community and saw his novels as a secondary pursuit that he did on Sundays.
   o उम्बर्टो ईको खुद को पहले एक शैक्षणिक विद्वान मानते थे। उन्होंने खुद को शैक्षणिक समुदाय से अधिक पहचाना और अपने उपन्यासों को एक गौण कार्य के रूप में देखा जो उन्होंने रविवार को किया।
10. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
    o Answer: The exact reason for the huge success of “The Name of the Rose” is unclear and considered a mystery. However, it may be attributed to its unique blend of a detective story with deeper themes like metaphysics, theology, and medieval history, appealing to readers who seek more than just simple entertainment.
    o “द नेम ऑफ़ द रोज़” की विशाल सफलता का सटीक कारण स्पष्ट नहीं है और इसे एक रहस्य माना जाता है। हालांकि, इसका कारण इसके अद्वितीय मिश्रण को माना जा सकता है जो एक जासूसी कहानी के साथ गहरे विषयों जैसे कि आध्यात्मिकता, धर्मशास्त्र और मध्यकालीन इतिहास को जोड़ता है, जो उन पाठकों को आकर्षित करता है जो केवल सरल मनोरंजन से अधिक चाहते हैं।
    Important Questions Useful for Exam from the Chapter “The Interview” (with Hindi Translations)
11. Why do some celebrities dislike interviews?
    o Answer: Some celebrities dislike interviews because they feel it invades their privacy and can diminish their personal lives.
    o कुछ हस्तियों को साक्षात्कार पसंद नहीं होते क्योंकि उन्हें लगता है कि यह उनकी गोपनीयता का उल्लंघन करता है और उनके निजी जीवन को कम कर सकता है।
12. What does V. S. Naipaul believe about the impact of interviews on people?
    o Answer: V. S. Naipaul believes that interviews can wound people and cause them to lose a part of themselves.
    o वी. एस. नायपॉल का मानना है कि साक्षात्कार लोगों को आहत कर सकते हैं और उन्हें अपनी पहचान का एक हिस्सा खोने का कारण बन सकते हैं।
13. What was Lewis Carroll’s attitude towards interviews?
    o Answer: Lewis Carroll had a strong dislike for interviews and never consented to be interviewed, as he feared being lionized.
    o लुईस कैरोल साक्षात्कारों को बेहद नापसंद करते थे और कभी भी साक्षात्कार देने के लिए सहमत नहीं हुए, क्योंकि उन्हें प्रशंसा से डर लगता था।
14. What did Rudyard Kipling think about interviews?
    o Answer: Rudyard Kipling considered interviews to be immoral, comparing them to an assault and believed they deserved punishment.
    o रुडयार्ड किपलिंग साक्षात्कारों को अनैतिक मानते थे, उनकी तुलना हमले से करते थे और मानते थे कि उन्हें सजा मिलनी चाहिए।
15. How did H.G. Wells describe the experience of being interviewed?
    o Answer: H.G. Wells referred to being interviewed as an “ordeal” but still participated in interviews and even conducted one with Joseph Stalin.
    o एच. जी. वेल्स ने साक्षात्कार देने के अनुभव को “कष्टदायक” कहा, लेकिन फिर भी उन्होंने साक्षात्कार में भाग लिया और यहां तक कि जोसेफ स्टालिन का एक साक्षात्कार भी किया।
16. What metaphor did Saul Bellow use to describe interviews?
    o Answer: Saul Bellow described interviews as being like “thumbprints on his windpipe,” indicating they made him feel choked or restricted.
    o सॉल बेलो ने साक्षात्कारों को “गले पर अंगूठे के निशान” के रूप में वर्णित किया, जिसका मतलब है कि उन्हें घुटन या प्रतिबंधित महसूस होता था।
17. What does Denis Brian say about the role of interviews in modern communication?
    o Answer: Denis Brian states that interviews are a highly effective medium of communication, providing vivid impressions of contemporary figures and granting interviewers significant power and influence.
    o डेनिस ब्रायन का कहना है कि साक्षात्कार संचार का एक अत्यधिक प्रभावी माध्यम हैं, जो समकालीन व्यक्तियों की जीवंत छापें प्रदान करते हैं और साक्षात्कारकर्ताओं को महत्वपूर्ण शक्ति और प्रभाव प्रदान करते हैं।
18. How does Umberto Eco utilize his time to write despite a busy schedule?
    o Answer: Eco utilizes the “empty spaces” or interstices in his life, such as waiting times, to write and be productive.
    o ईको अपने जीवन के “खाली स्थानों” या अंतर्विशेषों का उपयोग करते हैं, जैसे इंतजार का समय, लिखने और उत्पादक होने के लिए।
19. What is distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
    o Answer: Eco’s academic writing style is distinctive because it includes a narrative aspect, telling the story of his research, making it more engaging compared to traditional academic styles.
    o ईको की शैक्षणिक लेखन शैली विशिष्ट है क्योंकि इसमें एक कथा पहलू शामिल है, जो उनके शोध की कहानी बताता है, जिससे यह पारंपरिक शैक्षणिक शैलियों की तुलना में अधिक आकर्षक हो जाती है।
20. How did Eco accidentally start writing novels?
    o Answer: Eco started writing novels by accident; he had nothing to do one day, so he began writing a novel, which satisfied his taste for narration.
    o ईको ने गलती से उपन्यास लिखना शुरू किया; एक दिन उनके पास करने के लिए कुछ नहीं था, इसलिए उन्होंने एक उपन्यास लिखना शुरू किया, जो उनके कथन के स्वाद को संतुष्ट करता था।

Important Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) from the Chapter “The Interview”

1. Who expressed a strong dislike for interviews, calling them immoral and a crime?
   • a) V. S. Naipaul
   • b) Rudyard Kipling
   • c) Lewis Carroll
   • d) H. G. Wells
   • Answer: b) Rudyard Kipling
2. Which famous author never consented to be interviewed due to a horror of being lionized?
   • a) H. G. Wells
   • b) Rudyard Kipling
   • c) Lewis Carroll
   • d) Mark Twain
   • Answer: c) Lewis Carroll
3. What metaphor did Saul Bellow use to describe interviews?
   • a) An assault
   • b) Thumbprints on his windpipe
   • c) A necessary evil
   • d) A waste of time
   • Answer: b) Thumbprints on his windpipe
4. Who found the practice of being interviewed as “an ordeal” but participated in it anyway?
   • a) V. S. Naipaul
   • b) H. G. Wells
   • c) Rudyard Kipling
   • d) Mark Twain
   • Answer: b) H. G. Wells
5. According to Denis Brian, what role do interviews play in modern communication?
   • a) They are mostly entertainment
   • b) They are a powerful medium of communication
   • c) They are a waste of time
   • d) They are outdated
   • Answer: b) They are a powerful medium of communication
6. What does V. S. Naipaul feel about the impact of interviews on people?
   • a) They empower people
   • b) They wound people and make them lose a part of themselves
   • c) They are beneficial
   • d) They are neutral
   • Answer: b) They wound people and make them lose a part of themselves
7. How does Eco manage to write so much despite his busy schedule?
   • a) He has a team of writers
   • b) He utilizes the “empty spaces” or interstices in his life
   • c) He sleeps very little
   • d) He works late nights only
   • Answer: b) He utilizes the “empty spaces” or interstices in his life
8. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
   • a) It was very formal and dry
   • b) It included a narrative aspect and told the story of his research
   • c) It focused only on facts
   • d) It was full of technical jargon
   • Answer: b) It included a narrative aspect and told the story of his research
9. What did Eco consider himself primarily as?
   • a) A novelist
   • b) A journalist
   • c) An academic scholar
   • d) A politician
   • Answer: c) An academic scholar
10. What is the mystery behind the success of Eco’s novel “The Name of the Rose”?
    • a) Its unique blend of a detective story with deeper themes
    • b) Its easy-to-read language
    • c) Its short length
    • d) Its comedic elements
    • Answer: a) Its unique blend of a detective story with deeper themes

More Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) from the Chapter “The Interview”

1. Who is the author of “The Interview”?
   • a) Umberto Eco
   • b) Christopher Silvester
   • c) Lewis Carroll
   • d) Saul Bellow
   • Answer: b) Christopher Silvester
2. What is the primary subject of “The Interview”?
   • a) The history of journalism
   • b) The invention of the interview
   • c) The opinions of interviews and their impact
   • d) The future of interviews
   • Answer: c) The opinions of interviews and their impact
3. How does H.G. Wells describe his experience of interviewing Joseph Stalin?
   • a) As a pleasant experience
   • b) As an “interviewing ordeal”
   • c) As a waste of time
   • d) As a groundbreaking achievement
   • Answer: b) As an “interviewing ordeal”
4. Which author is known for describing interviews as “thumbprints on his windpipe”?
   • a) Rudyard Kipling
   • b) H.G. Wells
   • c) V. S. Naipaul
   • d) Saul Bellow
   • Answer: d) Saul Bellow
5. What did Lewis Carroll fear that made him avoid interviews?
   • a) Public speaking
   • b) Being lionized
   • c) Legal consequences
   • d) Incorrect reporting
   • Answer: b) Being lionized
6. What is the profession of Umberto Eco?
   • a) Journalist
   • b) Novelist
   • c) Professor of semiotics
   • d) Film director
   • Answer: c) Professor of semiotics
7. What was the name of Umberto Eco’s famous novel that brought him widespread fame?
   • a) The Godfather
   • b) The Da Vinci Code
   • c) The Name of the Rose
   • d) The Great Gatsby
   • Answer: c) The Name of the Rose
8. According to the text, who believed interviews can diminish a person just like a photographic portrait steals one’s soul in some cultures?
   • a) H.G. Wells
   • b) Rudyard Kipling
   • c) V. S. Naipaul
   • d) Mark Twain
   • Answer: c) V. S. Naipaul
9. What field is Umberto Eco known for academically?
   • a) Physics
   • b) Literature
   • c) Semiotics
   • d) Economics
   • Answer: c) Semiotics
10. How does Eco describe his academic writing style?
    • a) Formal and technical
    • b) Narrative and engaging
    • c) Depersonalized and dry
    • d) Short and concise
    • Answer: b) Narrative and engaging