9th

NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: Ch 14 The Bishop's Candlesticks English

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NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: Ch 14 The Bishop's Candlesticks Literature Reader English
By Norman McKinnel
Page No:128

1. Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play in pairs:

The play deals with a _______________and __________________Bishop who is always

ready to lend a _________________hand to anyone in distress. A _________________
breaks into the Bishops house and is ___________________________and warmed. The
benevolence of the Bishop somewhat _____________________the convict, but, when he
sees the silver candlesticks, he ____________________ them, and runs away. However, he is
_______________________and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop
informs the police they are a _______________________________. The convict is
___________________by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priests
blessing.
Answer
The play deals with a kind and charitable Bishop who is always ready to lend a helping hand to
anyone in distress. A convict breaks into the Bishops house and is fed and warmed. The
benevolence of the Bishop somewhat confounds the convict, but, when he sees the silver
candlesticks, he steals them, and runs away. However, he is arrested and brought back. He
expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a gift. The convict
is moved by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priests blessing.
5. (a) Working in pairs give antonyms of the following words
kind- hearted unscrupulous forgiving stern

benevolent

credulous

generous

pious

suspicious sympathetic understanding wild

innocent

penitent

clever

sentimental

trusting

protective concerned

brutal

cunning

caring

honourable

embittered

Answer
(i) Kind-hearted nasty, unkind, cruel
(ii) Unscrupulous ethical, moral, good
(iii) Forgiving censure, charge, punish
(iv) Stern cheerful, funny, lenient
(v) Benevolent greedy, malevolent, mean, selfish
(vi) Credulous skeptical, suspecting, suspicious
(vii) Generous greedy, mean, miserly
(viii) Pious - atheist, impious, irreligious
(ix) Suspicious innocent, trustworthy, trusty
(x) Sympathetic callous, merciless, uncaring, unconcerned
(xi) Understanding misunderstanding, intolerant
(xii) Wild civilized, controlled, delicate, gentle
(xiii) Innocent bad, blamable, corrupt
(xiv) Penitent happy, unashamed
(xv) Clever awkward, foolish, idiotic, ignorant,
(xvi) Brutal generous, humane, kind, nice
(xvii) Cunning gullible, kind, naive
(xviii) Caring disregarding, ignoring, neglecting
(xix) Sentimental hard-hearted, indifferent, pragmatic, unemotional
(xx) Trusting- disagree, dispute, reject, renounce
(21) Protective attacking, harmful, hurtful, injurious
(22) Concerned happy, undisturbed, unperturbed
(23) Honourable not respectful, unhonourable
(24) Embittered pleasant, content, genial
Page No: 129
(b) Select words from the above box to describe the characters in the play as revealed by the
following lines from the play.
Lines from the play

Speaker Quality

revealed
1. You told him she was feeling poorly, did you? And so my brother is
to be kept out of bed, and go without his supper because you told him
she was feeling poorly.
2. __________ take my comforter, it will keep you warm.
3. If people lie to me they are poorer, not I.
4. You are like a child. I cant trust you out of my sight. No sooner my
back is turned than you get that minx Marie to sell the silver saltcellars.
5. My dear there is so much suffering in the world, and I can do so very
little.
6. My mother gave them to me on on her death bed just after you
were born, and and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her,
so I would like to keep them.
7. I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.
8. You have your soul to lose, my son.
9. Give me food or Ill stick my knife in you both and help myself.
10. __________they have made me what I am, they have made me a
thief. God curse them all.
11. Why the devil are you kind to me? What do you want?
12. I I didnt believe there was any good in the worldbut
somehow I I know youre good, and and its a queer thing to ask,
but could you, would you bless me before I go?

Answer
Lines from the play

Speaker

Quality
revealed

1. You told him she was feeling poorly, did you? And so my
brother is to be kept out of bed, and go without his supper because
you told him she was feeling poorly.

Persome

Stern,
Unsympathetic

2. __________ take my comforter, it will keep you warm.

Bishop

Kind-hearted,
caring

3. If people lie to me they are poorer, not I.

Bishop

Pious,
Understanding

4. You are like a child. I cant trust you out of my sight. No sooner
my back is turned than you get that minx Marie to sell the silver
Persome Caring
salt-cellars.
5. My dear there is so much suffering in the world, and I can do so
Bishop
very little.

Sympathetic

6. My mother gave them to me on on her death bed just after you

were born, and and she asked me to keep them in remembrance
Bishop
of her, so I would like to keep them.

Sentimental

7. I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.

Convict

Cunning

8. You have your soul to lose, my son.

Bishop

Pious

9. Give me food or Ill stick my knife in you both and help

myself.

Convict

wild, brutal

10. __________they have made me what I am, they have made

me a thief. God curse them all.

Convict

pitiless, brutal

11. Why the devil are you kind to me? What do you want?

Convict

Suspicious

12. I I didnt believe there was any good in the worldbut

somehow I I know youre good, and and its a queer thing to
ask, but could you, would you bless me before I go?

Convict

repentant

Page No: 130

6. Answer the following questions briefly

(a) Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/why not?
Answer
Yes, the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars because he was an ideal person. He could not
bear the thought of an old and sick lady to be thrown out of the house due to non-payment of
rent. He always helps people in times of need.
(b) Why does Persome feel the people pretend to be sick?
Answer
Persome felt that people pretended to be sick to take undue advantage of the Bishop. She was of
very protective nature and pained to see that the entire humanity is turning upon them for charity
and kindness.
(c) Who was Jeanette? What was the cause of her death?
Answer
Jeanette was the wife of the convict. She died due to illness and starvation.
(d) The convict says, I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff. What does he mean by this
statement?
Answer
The convict meant that he has is experienced so that he couldn't be misleaded. He ordered the

Bishop to stay put because he couldnt trust anyone not to report to the police and get him
arrested.

(e) Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
Answer
The convict was sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He was sentenced to ten years in a
prison hulk.

(f) Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/ why not? Why is the
convict eager to reach Paris?
Answer
The punishment given to the convict was not justified. It is too inhuman for someone who was
caught stealing just to feed his sick wife. He was guilty of stealing only to feed his wife who was
dying of starvation. But they showed him no mercy and treated him like a beast. They chained
him like a wild animal, lashed him like a hound and fed him filth. He was covered with vermin
and had to sleep on boards. This kind of treatment is inhuman and not justified.
The convict is eager to reach Paris because it was a big city and the Police would never be able
to find him there.

(g) Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this change in
him?

Answer

The Bishops benevolent, kind and caring attitude had brought about a change in the convict.
That is why before leaving for Paris, he asks the Bishop to bless him.
7. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow by choosing the
correct options.

A. Monseigneur the Bishop is a ------------ahem!

(a) Why does Persome not complete the sentence?

(i) she used to stammer while speaking.
(ii) she was about to praise the Bishop.
(iii) she did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(iv)she had a habit of passing such remarks.

Answer

(iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.

(b) Why is she angry with the Bishop?

(i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
(ii) The Bishop has gone to visit Mere Gringoire.
(iii) He showed extra concern for Marie.
(iv) She disliked the Bishop.
Answer
(i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
Page No: 131
B. She sent little Jean to Monseigneur to ask for help, and
(a) Who sent little Jean to the Bishop?
(i) Mere Gringoire
(ii) Marie
(iii) Persome
(iv) Marie's mother

Answer
(i) Mere Gringoire
(b) Why did she send Jean to the Bishop?
(i) so that he could pray for her
(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
(iii) as she was a greedy woman
(iv) as she was a poor woman
Answer
(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
C. I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it might distress you.
The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.
(a) The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.
(i) she was sick
(ii) she had no money
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(iv) she was a close friend of Persome
Answer
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(b) Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire's being taken in because ________.
(i) she did not want to help anyone
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
(iii) she was a self-centred person
(iv) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience
Answer
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
Page No: 133
9. Identify the situations which be termed as the turning points in the convict's life?

Answer
The Convict, when was caught and brought to the Bishops house, was asked to be released by
the Bishop saying that he is a friend to him. The Bishop also gives him his mothers only
memory i.e. candle-sticks. This entire incidence makes convict believe that there still exists
humanity. This is the turning point in the convicts life.

Study Material of The Bishop's Candlesticks (Summary, Character Sketch and Word Meanings)
Character Sketch
Bishop: He is a very noble and simple person, who always ready to help anyone in distress. He
has all the characteristics of a good human being. When he hears the story of the convict, he
showed his sympathy for him. He comes to know that the attitude of the convict turned inhuman
due to bad treatment in the prison. He treats him like a friend even after the convict stole his
candlesticks. He also freed him from the Sergeant by telling a lie. He gives his candlesticks to the
convict and helps him to get to Paris. These kind acts of the Bishop prove that he is really a 'man
of god'.
Persome: She is the sister of Bishop. She was not generous and kind as her brother and very
materialistic. She feels that the simplicity and nobility of the bishop has been misused by the
people. She show rude behaviour against oppressed people.
Convict: He was leading a common life before he became a criminal. He had no faith in
religion. He had given severe punishment which made him heartless and soulless, but bishops
noble behaviour changed his mind. He promised Bishop to start his life in a new way.
Summary of the Chapter

The play opens with a scene in the kitchen of Bishops cottage. Bishops younger sister Persome
and maid servant, Marie are busy in conversation while soup is being cooked on the stove.
Persome is worried that her brother has gone out in extreme cold. When she learns that her
brother has gone to see Maries ailing mother, she bursts out in anger at the selfishness of the
people, who went about troubling him. Persomes anger is genuine because her brother has
already sold off his estate, furniture and other valuables to help the poor and the needy. Persome
is shocked to discover further that the Bishop has even sold off his silver salt-cellars to help
another ailing lady, to pay her rent.

The Bishop promptly arrives and dispatches Marie to tend to her mother. He gives away his
comforter to her to ward off the cold outside. Persome gets furious and says, Youll sell your
candlesticks next. The Bishop thanks her for giving him the idea, although he admits that the
candlesticks were his proud possessions, a gift from his dying mother and he would not like to
part with them. Persome takes leave and the Bishop settles down to read. It is already midnight.
A convict enters the room stealthily, seizes the Bishop from behind and demands something to
eat. He threatens to kill the Bishop if he raises an alarm. The Bishop is unflustered. He calls the
convict son and wakes his sister to serve some food and wine to the convict. He also calms
down Persome who was frightened to see the knife in the convicts hand.
The convict pounces on the food greedily. After eating, the convict warms up to the Bishop and
relates his sad story. He tells the Bishop that he was once a normal man. He had a wife and a
home, but no work. So he stole to feed his sick wife. He was caught and sentenced to serve ten
years in prison. He was chained like an animal and beaten mercilessly. The Bishop consoles him
and arranges for him to rest there for the night.
The next morning Persome finds that the convict and the silver candlesticks are missing. She
raises an alarm and informs the Bishop about the theft. The Bishop is upset, but he refuses to
report to the police.
Soon a Sergeant appears with two soldiers and the convict in chains. They had arrested the
convict on the suspicion of stealing the Bishops candlesticks. The Bishop tells the police that the
convict was his friend and he had gifted the candlesticks to him. The police free the convict and
go away. The convict is thunderstruck by such kindness. He promises to reform himself and
begin his life in a new manner. The Bishop blesses him and gifts the candlesticks to him. He
shows him a secret path to Paris, where the convict could lead a safe and respectable life.
Terms and Meanings from the Chapter
Page No: 113
Substantially - adequately
Mantelpiece - shelf
Settee - seat with high back
Crucifix - image of Jesus on the cross
Tended - kindled
Rude - disrespectful
Rebuke - scold
Monseigneur: My Lord
Imitating - copying
Page No: 114
Mon Dieu - My God

 Nincompoop - fool
Feeling poorly - felt unwell
Gratitude - gratefulness
Salt-cellars - containers to shake out salt and pepper kept on the dining table
Mere: Mother
Page No: 115
Bailiff - an officer of the court.
Estate - landholding
Dot dowry
Disgracefully - shameful
Hastened - hurried
Courtesy - respect
Presently soon
Comforter muffler
Page No: 116
Dupe - a person who is easily deceived.
Scamp - a rascal
Parish - an area with its own church.
Ridiculous - humorous
Mend - fix
Minx - cunning
Pity - unfortunate thing
Page No: 117
Audacity - insolence
Distress - discomfort
Gesture - a movement of the hands, arms, or head etc. to express an idea or feeling
Comic - funny
Dispose of - sell off
Incorrigible - a person who cannot be changed
Tire - drop
Page No: 118
Stirs - shakes
Trims - makes neat

 Shivers - trembles
Convict - prisoner
Stealthily - quietly and secretly in order to avoid being noticed
Seizes - grabs
Hoarsely - roughly
Too old a bird to be caught with chaff - too old to be tricked
Rouse - awaken
Wolf hunger
Entrails intestines
Page No: 119
To be at the beck and call of - to obey.
Ne'er-do-well - a good for nothing.
Glares - stares
Evidently - clearly
Enormous - huge
Unshuttered - open
Unbarred - open
Page No: 120
Voraciously greedily
Virgin - Mother of Jesus
Chuckling - laugh quitely
Page No: 121
Earnestly - seriously
Pleaded - begged
Prison hulks - ships used as a prison houses.
Gaoler - Jailor
Sobs - weeps
Fury - anger
Lashed - whipped
Hound - a hunting dog
Flith - mud
Vermin - worms
Rags - torn clothes
Barns - granary

Page No: 122

Couch - bed
Molest - assault
Haste - hurriedly
Defiantly - opposing
Page No: 123
Preached - instructed
Start me fair - enable me to get a good start in life
Collaring - dragging
Plunder - loot
Stows - puts
Page No: 124
Temptation - desire
Scoundrel - rogue
Slinking - moving stealthily
Page No: 125
Dogged stubborn
Incredulously - disbelievingly
Benefactor - supporter
overwrought - agitated
Severity - seriousness
Page No: 126
Reluctance - unwillingness
Page No: 127
Prie-dieu: kneeling desk for use in prayer