ABOUT THE AUTHOR
·
ROALD DAHL
ROALD DAHL
·
Born – September, 13 1916.
Born – September, 13 1916.
·
Died – November 23, 1990.
Died – November 23, 1990.
·
He is famous as Novelist,
Short story writer, poet, fighter pilot and screen writer.
He is famous as Novelist,
Short story writer, poet, fighter pilot and screen writer.
·
Famous writings –
Famous writings –
1) Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory (1964)
the Chocolate Factory (1964)
2) The Magie Finger
(1966)
(1966)
3) Danny, the
Champion of the World (1975)
Champion of the World (1975)
4) Someone
like you (1953)
like you (1953)
SOURCE OF THE STORY
The
story “The Invention of Vita – wonk” is taken from the novel “Charlie and the
Glass Elevator”. It was first published in the year of 1972.
story “The Invention of Vita – wonk” is taken from the novel “Charlie and the
Glass Elevator”. It was first published in the year of 1972.
BACKGROUND OF THE STORY
Charlie
was presented a chocolate factory and he wanted his family to help him to run
it. But Georgina, George and Josephine, the old family members refused to help
him. So, Mr. Wonka proposed a pill that he invented to make them young. The three
bedridden old members of the family got greedy and took much more than they
needed to. As a result instead of becoming near twenty years younger. The three
grandparents lost eighty years. George became one year old, Josephine three
months, and Georgina minus two.
was presented a chocolate factory and he wanted his family to help him to run
it. But Georgina, George and Josephine, the old family members refused to help
him. So, Mr. Wonka proposed a pill that he invented to make them young. The three
bedridden old members of the family got greedy and took much more than they
needed to. As a result instead of becoming near twenty years younger. The three
grandparents lost eighty years. George became one year old, Josephine three
months, and Georgina minus two.
So to make them old again Charlie and Mr. Wonka had a journey in the great glass
elevator and discovered the formula to make people older. He took out all the
most living elements in the world and prepared vita-wonk which made them again
much older.
elevator and discovered the formula to make people older. He took out all the
most living elements in the world and prepared vita-wonk which made them again
much older.
IMPORTANT WORD MEANINGS AND EXPLANATION
·
Wonka- Vite – A medicine to
make a person young.
Wonka- Vite – A medicine to
make a person young.
·
Vita- work – A medicine to
make a person older.
Vita- work – A medicine to
make a person older.
·
Sleeves- The part of the
garment that covers the arm.
Sleeves- The part of the
garment that covers the arm.
·
Dendrochronologist – The
science dealing with the study of the annual rings of a trees in determining the dates.
Dendrochronologist – The
science dealing with the study of the annual rings of a trees in determining the dates.
·
Great glass Elevator – A
machine used by Mr. Wonka to travel past.
Great glass Elevator – A
machine used by Mr. Wonka to travel past.
·
Sap – Any vital body fluid.
Sap – Any vital body fluid.
·
Whiskers – One or two long,
stiff hair growing on the mouth.
Whiskers – One or two long,
stiff hair growing on the mouth.
·
Grimalkin – An old female
cat used in black magic.
Grimalkin – An old female
cat used in black magic.
·
Scraped- to draw or scratch.
Scraped- to draw or scratch.
·
Bubbling – A globule of air
or gas (Here in water).
Bubbling – A globule of air
or gas (Here in water).
·
Volunteer – A person who
offers himself or herself voluntarily for a service.
Volunteer – A person who
offers himself or herself voluntarily for a service.
·
Wrinkling – a small furrow
or crease in the skin.
Wrinkling – a small furrow
or crease in the skin.
·
Shriveling- To contract and
wrinkle or to wither.
Shriveling- To contract and
wrinkle or to wither.
TEXT BOOK SOLUTIONS
Q.2. Can anyone’s age be a
minus number? What does “minus 87” mean?
minus number? What does “minus 87” mean?
Ans.
Apparently no one can have age in
minus. As for the story the author refers the age to be in minus because of the
effect of Wonka- Vite.
Apparently no one can have age in
minus. As for the story the author refers the age to be in minus because of the
effect of Wonka- Vite.
Minus 87 means that a person’s age
has gone in minus and he will have to wait for long 87 years to come back to
human life. He might have taken excessive dosage of the Wonka-Vite.
has gone in minus and he will have to wait for long 87 years to come back to
human life. He might have taken excessive dosage of the Wonka-Vite.
Q.3, Mr. Wonka begins by
asking himself two questions. What are they?
asking himself two questions. What are they?
Ans.
1) What is the oldest living thing in
the world?
1) What is the oldest living thing in
the world?
2) What lives longer than anything
else?
else?
Q.1. i) What trees does Mr.
Wonka mention? Which tree does he say lives the longest?
Wonka mention? Which tree does he say lives the longest?
ii) How long does this tree live?
Where can you find it?
Where can you find it?
Ans.
I) In
conversation with Charlie about his invention of vita-wonk, he mentions some
trees. They are-
I) In
conversation with Charlie about his invention of vita-wonk, he mentions some
trees. They are-
1)
Douglas fir 2) The oak, and 3) Cedar. Besides, he mentioned about Bristle cone Pine.
Douglas fir 2) The oak, and 3) Cedar. Besides, he mentioned about Bristle cone Pine.
ii)
According to Mr. Wonka, Bristle cone Pine lives more than 4000 years. It can be
found in the hills of wheeler Park in Nevada, U.S.A.
According to Mr. Wonka, Bristle cone Pine lives more than 4000 years. It can be
found in the hills of wheeler Park in Nevada, U.S.A.
Q.2. How many of the oldest
living things can you remember from Mr. wonka’s list? (Do not look back at the
story)
living things can you remember from Mr. wonka’s list? (Do not look back at the
story)
Do you think all
these things really exist, or are some of them purely imaginary.
these things really exist, or are some of them purely imaginary.
Ans.
Indeed, most of the matters related to
Mr. wonka’s list are fanciful. There is no real base of the items listed for
preparing the vita-wonk. Some of the following strongly hint to be imaginary.
Indeed, most of the matters related to
Mr. wonka’s list are fanciful. There is no real base of the items listed for
preparing the vita-wonk. Some of the following strongly hint to be imaginary.
i) The knuckle-bones of a 700 year –
old cattaloo from Peru.
old cattaloo from Peru.
ii) The tail of a 200 year old giant
Rat from Tibet.
Rat from Tibet.
iii) The tail of a 51 year old horse
in Arabia etc.
in Arabia etc.
Q.3. Why does Mr. Wonka
collect items from the oldest things? Do you think this is the right way to
begin his invention?
collect items from the oldest things? Do you think this is the right way to
begin his invention?
Ans. Mr. Wonka collected the oldest things with
the target of making Vita – Wonk which would make people older. As he wanted to
make people older so he decided to collect all the oldest things.
the target of making Vita – Wonk which would make people older. As he wanted to
make people older so he decided to collect all the oldest things.
Perhaps this could be the way to
invent Vita – Wonk. His target was to make people old. So this may be the right
way. But on realistic ground this seems to be impractical.
invent Vita – Wonk. His target was to make people old. So this may be the right
way. But on realistic ground this seems to be impractical.
Q. 4. What happens to the volunteer
who swallows four drops of the new inventions? What is the name of the
invention?
who swallows four drops of the new inventions? What is the name of the
invention?
Ans.
The Vita – Wonk was a big success when
it was applied on the twenty year old Oompa – Loompa . When he consumed four
drops, he began wrinkling and got shriveled up all over his body. His hair
started to drop off and his teeth started falling out. The twenty year old
Oompa – Loompa turned into an old person of seventy five.
The Vita – Wonk was a big success when
it was applied on the twenty year old Oompa – Loompa . When he consumed four
drops, he began wrinkling and got shriveled up all over his body. His hair
started to drop off and his teeth started falling out. The twenty year old
Oompa – Loompa turned into an old person of seventy five.
–
The Name of the invention was Vita – Wonk.
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