Quality - Question and Answers

Quality

John Galsworthy (1867-1933) was an English novelist and playwright. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932. 

Reading One:

Q1. How had the narrator been introduced to Gessler? What was unique about his shoes?

A. Gessler was the bootmaker to the narrator’s father. The boots made by Gessler are of good quality. They were mysterious and wonderful.

Q2. The process of getting Gessler to make shoes was as meticulous as his creation. Do you agree with his statement? Give reasons for your answer.

A. I agree that the process of getting Gessler to make shoes was meticulous. Here are some reasons for my answer. 1. He would not make shoes without order. 2. His shop had a kind of respect. 3. He selected only beautiful pieces of gold-brown leather.  4. He made boots with great care and devotion.

Q3. How did Gessler react when he learned that the boots had creaked? What does it tell you about him?

A. Gessler reacted as if he was hurt and he was sorrowful when he learned that the boots had creaked. It tells me about the devotion and care he had towards his profession.

Q4. What did Gessler feel about the big firms?

A. Gessler felt that the big firms had no self-respect. The big firms attracted customers not by the quality of work but by advertisement.

Q5. Why did the narrator not visit the shop for a long time?

A. The narrator did not visit the shop for a long time because he had ordered many pairs of boots and they lasted longer.

Q6. Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?

A. The author ordered several pairs of boots to encourage and support Gessler. He really didn’t need so many pairs of boots.

……..

Reading Two:

Q1. How do you understand that Gessler was passionate about his job?

A. I understand that Gessler was passionate about his job because he treated his job as an art. His boots had some essence of boot stitched to them. He did his job with devotion and care. He treated leather pieces as beautiful pieces. He treated his profession with respect. He didn’t allow anybody to touch the boots he was making.

Q2. What had Gessler dies of? What does it reflect about industrialization?

A. Gessler dies of starvation. He couldn’t find work and had no money to buy food. Industrialization robbed artisans like Gessler of their profession and self-respect. It reflected the bad things that happened because of industrialization.

Q3. Is the title ‘Quality’ appropriate? Why? If you were to give this story another title what would it be?

A. I think the title ‘Quality’ appropriate. It is a sad story of a bootmaker who made good quality boots with devotion and care. He respected his profession. Industrialization robbed artisans like Gessler of their profession and self-respect. If I were to give this story another title, it would be ‘the other side of industrialization’.

Q4. Rewrite the story giving it a happy ending.

A. There was a bootmaker’s shop in London. It was run by two brothers. The name of the shop was Gessler Brothers. They made shoes with devotion and care. They respected their profession. They always made quality boots. People liked their boots for their quality. Their shoes fitted well and lasted longer. People waited for their boots to be made on order. The shop prospered in spite of the competition from big companies. Gessler Brothers became a famous shop.

Q5. Do you think Gessler should have changed with the times? Why?

No. I do not think that Gessler should have changed with times. Quality is the most important thing. Everyone should try to make quality products. People should have given more orders for Gessler’s boots because of quality and durability.

 If you want to watch an animated photostory with images and subtitles for the lesson 'Quality'.CLICK HERE,