CBSE Class 12 English The Interview Notes Set 03

THE INTERVIEW

BY CHRISTOPHER SILVESTER

THEME

The Interview by Christopher Silvester is an excerpt from his Penguin Book of Interviews. It is set against the backdrop of journalism and the art of interviewing. It is considered the most recent innovation in journalism. In this, he explores several celebrity opinions on interviews, including their roles, strategies, and traits. It also includes an excerpt from an interview with Umberto Eco, a renowned writer and semiotics professor at the University of Bologna known for his brilliant use of language and symbols, a remarkable array of allusions and references, and intelligent use of puzzles and narrative innovations.

The story explores people's perceptions of interviews and their varied characteristics. It suggests that an interview might leave a lasting impression. Furthermore, according to an old saying, when we acquire opinions about a person, the original identity of their soul is lost. We find out how the most popular celebrities have criticised interviews. While celebrities regard interviews to be an intrusion into their lives, listeners, viewers, and interviewers see them as a source of truth.

Main points.

• Celebrities have been interviewed over time.
• Interviews have become a common part of journalism.
• Some regard them as a valuable source of truth and art.
• Most celebrities see them as unnecessary "intrusions" into their lives.
• V.S. Naipaul believes that during an interview, people "lose a part of themselves."
• Lewis Carroll regards it as an attack against his person.
• H.G. Wells refers to them as 'ordeals'.
• Saul Bellow refers to interviews as "thumbprints on his windpipe."
• Mukund Padmanabhan interviews Umberto Eco, a renowned novelist and academic.
• Mukund wonders how Eco manages to perform all of his jobs. Eco is extremely modest and replies that he has been doing only one job.
• He has been following his philosophical interests through his academic work.
• He reveals a secret about his work: his success stems from his ability to identify and use 'empty spaces' in life.
• Umberto Eco favours the title "academician" rather than "novelist."
• On Sundays, he thinks of himself as 'a university professor' who writes novels.
• Mukund Padmanabhan asks Umberto Eco why his work "The Name of the Rose" was so successful.
• The interviewer believes that the novel’s medieval setting may have contributed to its enormous success.
• Eco reminds him that numerous volumes have been written about the medieval past.
• Perhaps he wrote "The Name of the Rose" at an appropriate time. Had he written it ten years earlier or later, it would not have been as successful.

READ THE EXTRACT GIVEN BELOW AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW: 

She reports her husband as saying to the reporters, "Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral! It is a crime, just as much of a crime as an offence against my person, as an assault, and just as much merit’s punishment. It is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask it, much less give it," Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an 'assault' on Mark Twain only a few years before. H. G. Wells in an interview in 1894 referred to 'the interviewing ordeal', but was a fairly frequent interviewee and forty years later found himself interviewing Joseph Stalin.

Question 1. “……...as an offence against my person, as an assault, and just as much merit’s punishment.” The tone of Kipling in the above line is of:
(a) Anger
(b) Annoyance
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) Only (a)
Answer: (c) Both (a) & (b)

Question 2. State whether true or false with reference to the extract: H.G Wells was fond of giving interviews.
Answer: False

Question 3. Complete the sentence appropriately. Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an 'assault' on Mark Twain. This means…………
Answer: Kipling did not see his interview with Mark Twain as immoral or criminal.

Question 4. Identify a word from the text that means a severe trial or suffering.
Answer: Ordeal

Question 5. “She reports her husband as saying to the reporters.” Who is referred to as “She”?
Answer: Kipling’s Wife

PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

Mukund: The English novelist and academic David Lodge once remarked, "I can't understand how one man can do all the things he [Eco] does."
Umberto Eco: Maybe I give the impression of doing many things. But in the end, I am convinced I am always doing the same thing.
Mukund: Which is?
Umberto Eco: Aah, now that is more difficult to explain. I have some philosophical interests and I pursue them through my academic work and my novels. Even my books for children are about nonviolence and peace...you see, the same bunch of ethical, philosophical interests.

Question (a). The two different kinds of interest that Umberto Eco has is:
(a) Ethical and moral
(b) Philosophical and ethical
(c) Religious and ethical
(d) Philosophical and peaceful
Answer: (b) Philosophical and ethical

Question (b). State whether the following statement is true or false with reference to the extract: Umberto Eco is always doing the same thing.
Answer: True

Question (c). Complete the sentence appropriately. Umberto Eco pursues his philosophical interest through………
Answer: his academic work and his novels.

Question (d). What does David Lodge feel about Umberto Eco?
Answer: David Lodge feels a sense of bewilderment and wonder at how one person can manage to perform such a wide variety of tasks and roles as Umberto Eco does.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 

Question (a). What do Rudyard Kipling and his wife express about interviews?
Answer: Rudyard Kipling and his wife passionately opposed interviews, believing them to be an immoral and offensive act against an individual. They felt the interviews violated their privacy, distorted their words, forced outsider perspectives, sensationalised their life, and dehumanized them.

Question (b). What do you know about Mukund Padmanabhan?
Answer: Mukund was knowledgeable about his career and committed to journalism. He did not make the interviewee uncomfortable at any point during the interview and asked only relevant, intelligent, and good questions. His questions were designed to elicit positive responses from Umberto and extract the most from his expertise and perspectives.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

• c. Who is Umberto Eco?
• d. Why do you think Christopher Silvester describes the viewpoints of other writers and authors when discussing the concept of an interview? Support your opinion with reference to any one writer cited.
• e. How would you evaluate Mukund Padmanabhan as an interviewer? Mention at least two qualities he displays in his interview, supported by textual evidence.
• f. Christopher Silvester shares authors’ reservations about interviewing. Bearing that in mind, would you interview a writer of your choice? If so, what would you pay particular attention to in interviewing the said writer?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS: 

Question (a). You are a professor. You have been called to Delhi University to talk about the great success of Umberto Eco’s work, "The Name of the Rose," even though it is a difficult and serious novel? Tell the audience why and when Umberto Eco began writing novels?
Answer: A very good morning to all of you!! I am delighted to be in the University of Delhi to talk about Umberto Eco who was a scholar who wrote about his research. He wrote over 40 non-fiction books before becoming a novelist by accident. That was why he began writing books at the age of nearly fifty. Eco describes himself as 'a university lecturer who writes books (only) on Sundays'. He isn't even sure why his novel 'The Name of the Rose' was such a success. He feels that the timing was appropriate. The novel's success was primarily due to its release. The fact that it looks to be a detective novel while also delving into metaphysics, theology, and medieval history adds to its appeal. Even though the novel is a lengthy read, it drew a large audience and established Eco's reputation as a novelist rather than an academician. I am sure you would enjoy reading this book.

Question (b). Why do you believe Christopher Silvester presents the perspectives of other writers and authors while addressing the concept of an interview? Cite any one of the writers mentioned to back up your point of view.
Answer: The term 'interview' comes from the French derivative word "entrevue". It is a chat between a journalist or broadcaster and someone of public interest. H.G. Wells remained hostile to the 'interview', referring to it as an ordeal in 1894. But forty years later, he was caught interviewing Russia's Joseph Stalin. People believe that practically everything we learn comes from asking the interviewer, who wields incredible power and influence. Christopher Silvester presents these diverse perspectives to show the evolution and the inherent conflict in the art of interviewing—viewed as an art and source of truth by some, and as an intrusive ordeal or assault by others.