The Interview by Christopher Silvester, 12 English (Flamingo) CBSE (Detailed Explanation, Summary, Word-Meaning and Question-Answer)
THE INTERVIEW
By Christopher Silvester
DETAILED SUMMARY, DETAILED EXPLANATION, WORD MEANING, AND SHORT QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWER
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INTRODUCTION
The Interview" is an extract from a book titled “The Penguin Book of Interviews,” written by Christopher Silvester. In this chapter, the author talks about the art of conducting interviews. He explains why interviews are important and how they have become a significant part of everyone's life. The author shares the thoughts of various famous writers on interviews, He also discusses the purposes, techniques, and benefits of conducting interviews. Furthermore, the author includes an interview with Umberto Eco, conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan from “The Hindu”. This conversation gives us a glimpse at Umberto's style of writing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Silvester is a British journalist and author. He worked for various publications, including “The Spectator”, “The Times”, and “The Independent”. Silvester's work often explores literature, culture, and contemporary issues. He also wrote many books and essays, which reflect his keen analytical skills. His contributions have made him a renowned personality in journalism and literature.
DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS
commonplace– ordinary
Extravagant- excessive
Despise– hate/dislike
Unwarranted– unjustified/unfair
Intrusion– intervention
Primitive– ancient
Lionize– acclaim/make someone famous
Repel- drive or force back
Persistent – continuous
Condemnatory–expressing strong criticism or disapproval
Wrecked- destroyed
Assault- attack
Vile– disgraceful/evil/disgusting
Perpetrated- commit a crime or a violent or harmful act
Formidable- alarming/ fear or respect
Medieval- related to the Middle Ages
Aesthetics- the study of beauty
Staggeringly– shocking/surprising
Elevator – a lift
Dissertation– a long piece of writing on a particular subject
Hypotheses – assumption/an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved
SUMMARY, EXPLANATION & QUESTION-ANSWER OF THE CHAPTER "THE INTERVIEW)
Since its invention a little over 130 years ago,..................... if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing that person’s soul.
According to the author, the interview has a history of more than 130 years. Therefore, it has become common now.
These days almost everyone who can read has gone through an interview. On the other hand, many celebrities have been interviewed.
People have different opinions about interviews. Some say an interview is a great way to know the truth. Some go to the extent of saying that it is an art.
On the other hand, some celebrities feel that they are targeted in interviews. So, they dislike interviews. They see it as an unwanted invasion into their personal lives and that it makes them look smaller.
The author has compared the views of celebrities to those of ancient people who thought that their souls would be stolen if their photograph was taken.
Q. How old is the history of the interview?
Ans. It is more than 130 years old.
Q. What do people in general think about interviews?
Ans. The people consider the interview a source to know the truth about the celebrities. A few go to the extent of calling it an art.
Q. Why do some celebrities despise/hate interviews?
Ans. They think that it is an unwarranted intrusion into their lives. Moreover, they feel that interviews bring down their images in public.
V. S. Naipaul ‘feels that some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves,’ …………………… in silencing all such people with much satisfaction and amusement.
Celebrities have different opinions about interviews. V. S. Naipaul, a Nobel laureate, believes that interviews hurt some people. Moreover, he says that it makes them lose a part of themselves.
Lewis Carroll, who wrote “Alice in Wonderland”, really didn't like being interviewed. He was afraid of getting too much attention and would avoid meeting new people, interviewers, and even fans who wanted his autograph.
Q. What did V. S Naipaul say about the interview?
Ans. V. S. Naipaul believed that people were hurt in an interview and lost a part of themselves.
Q. How was Lewis Carroll's attitude regarding the interview?
Ans. Lewis Carroll was so afraid that he never agreed to be interviewed. He used to avoid not only journalists but also his admirers.
Q. Which famous book did Lewis Carol write?
Ans. Alice in Wonderland.
Rudyard Kipling expressed an even more condemnatory attitude towards the interviewer………………………….. much give it.
Rudyard Kipling didn't like being interviewed. In 1892, his wife Caroline wrote in her diary that their day was ruined by two reporters from Boston.
Kipling told them he did not want to give interviews because he considered it immoral. Further, he calls the interview a crime, and an attack. He even called it cowardly and vile. According to him,. no decent person would ask for it or give it.
But interestingly, Kipling had interviewed Mark Twain just a few years ago.
Q. What did Rudyard Kipling think about the interview?
Ans. Rudyard Kipling considered the interview immoral. He thought it was cowardly, vile and an assault.
Q. What is the irony in these lines?
Ans. On the one hand, Rudyard Kipling considered the interview cowardly, vile, and a kind of assault. But ironically he himself had assaulted Mark Twain a few years ago.
Q. How, according to Rudyard Kipling's wife, Caroline, their day was ruined?
Ans. Their day was ruined by the two reporters from Boston.
H.G Wells, in an interview in 1894 referred to the interviewing ordeals …………………………. the interview holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.
In 1894, H.G. Wells called interviews challenging. But he got interviewed frequently. Forty years later, he himself interviewed Joseph Stalin.
Saul Bellow, who agreed to be interviewed on a few occasions, once called interviews a thumbprint on windpipe.
Even though interviews have certain drawbacks, they are a really useful way for people to communicate.
According to Denis Brian, people know about celebrities, through interviews. Almost everything important about celebrities reaches through the interviewer asking questions. In this way, interviewers have a lot of power and influence.
Q, What is the irony in the statement of H.G. Wells?
Ans. H.G. Wells called the interview an ordeal. But a few years later he himself interviewed Joseph Stalin. This is ironic.
Q. What were the views of Saul Bellow about the interview?
Ans. Saul Bellow called the interview a thumbprint on a windpipe.
Q. How does an interviewer have a lot of power?
Ans. It is through his/her questions that people come to know about celebrities.
The following is an extract from an interview of Umberto Eco …………………………… The Name of the Rose, which sold more than 10 million copies.
This is part of an interview with Umberto Eco, conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan from “The Hindu”.
Umberto Eco was a professor at Bologna University in Italy. He was known for his ideas about semiotics, literary interpretation, and mediaeval aesthetic art.
He wrote different kinds of books, including stories for children and newspaper articles. In 1980, he became very famous for his novel "The Name of the Rose," which sold over 10 million copies.
Q. Who was Umberto Eco?
Ans. Umber to Eco was a famous writer and novelist. He was a Professor at Bologna University in Italy.
Q. Write a few words about Eco's writing.
Ans. Umberto Eco wrote on different subjects such as semiotics, and mediaeval aesthetic art. He also wrote children’s books, literary interpretations, and novels.
Q. How did he become famous?
Ans. Umberto Eco became famous after the publication of his novel, “The Name of the Rose”.
Q. What does ‘aesthetic’ mean?
Ans. It is the study of the principles of art and beauty.
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.” …………………………………………………………………
Mukund: Which is?
Mukund Padmanabhan started his interview with Umberto Eco by giving reference to David Lodge who once said that it's hard to believe how one person (Umberto Eco) could do so many things at the same time. In this way, David Lodge praised Eco’s versatility.
In reply, Umberto Eco said that he might give the impression of doing so many things at the same time but in reality, he always did the same thing.
When Mukund Padmanabhan asked him to explain, Umberto Eco said that he had certain principles like peace and non-violence. In all his writings he included these.
Q. What were the views of David Lodge about Umberto Eco?
Ans. David Lodge had high praise for Umberto Eco. He considered Eco a versatile genius.
Q. What was Umberto Eco’s reply when Mukund referred to the views of David Lodge?
Ans. Very humbly he replied saying whatever he did, it contained his philosophical interests such as peace and non-violence.
Umberto Eco: Ah, now that is more difficult to explain………………………… I have already written an article. (Laughs)
Thereafter, Eco said that there are empty spaces in this universe. If we remove the empty spaces, the world will be very small.
Further, he added that life is like that too. We have lots of empty spaces, which he called "interstices." He told that he used the empty spaces to get work done.
Then he created humour saying that while he was waiting for Mukund to come up from the first to the third floor in the elevator, he had written an article.
Q. What does Eco mean by interstices?
Ans. It means empty spaces.
Q. How did Umberto Eco make use of interstices?
Ans. Umberto Eco used interstices to get his work done.
Mukund: Not everyone can do that of course…………………………. Something that just came naturally to you.
Mukund pointed out that everyone could not write like Umberto Eco.
Then he mentioned that Umberto's non-fiction and scholarly works had a playful and personal touch which was quite different from others.
Moreover, Mukund said that Eco’s style was quite different from the usual academic style, which is usually serious and thus boring. Then Mukund asked if he had adopted the informal style knowingly or if it happened naturally.
Q. How was Eco’s style different from others?
Ans. Umberto Eco adopted an informal approach in his non-fictional writing. It had a personal and playful quality.
Q. What is the traditional way to write non-fictional works?
Ans. Usually, non-fictional writing is depersonalised, dull, and boring.
Umberto Eco: When I presented my first Doctoral dissertation in Italy, one of the Professors said, “Scholars learn ………………………………. I started writing novels by accident. I had nothing to do one day and so I started. Novels probably satisfied my taste for narration.
Umberto Eco recalled when he was 22 years old, he presented his first doctoral dissertation in Italy. One of the professors said research scholars usually learn a lot about a subject, then make false hypotheses, and then correct them and finally write their conclusions. Eco, on the other hand, told the story of his research, including his trials and errors. The professor was impressed by Eco’s style of writing and promised to publish his dissertation as a book.
This experience taught Umberto that scholarly books could be written telling the story. That’s why Eco's scholarly works always had a narrative aspect.
According to Eco, he started writing novels very late, at the age of 50 because he included narrative in his non-fictional writings.
He also mentioned that his friend Roland Barthes was always worried that he was an essayist and not a novelist. Barthes wanted to write a novel. But unfortunately, he died before he could do so.
Eco said that he never felt that frustration. According to him, he started writing novels by chance. One day, he had nothing to do. So, he started writing novels, and novels satisfied his love for narration.
Q. What does ‘dissertation’ mean?
Ans. It means thesis (a long piece of writing that uses research to bring to light an original idea).
Q. What is the usual way to write a dissertation?
Ans. The research scholars show that they have learnt a lot about a certain subject, make false hypotheses, correct them, and then come to a conclusion.
Q. How was Eco’s style of writing the dissertation different from others?
Ans. In his dissertation, he wrote the story of his research and mentioned trials and errors.
Q. How did the Italian professor remark about Umberto Eco’s dissertation?
Ans. The Italian professor appreciated Umberto Eco for his style of writing and promised that his dissertation would be published as a book.
Q. What did Eco learn from the remark by the Italian professor?
Ans. He learnt that scholarly books could be written by telling the story.
Q. Why did he start writing novels so late, at the age of 50?
Ans. He tried his hands on novels so late because his scholarly works and non-fictional writings had a narrative aspect.
Q. Who was Roland Barthes? What did he aspire for? Was his wish fulfilled?
Ans. Roland Barthes was an essayist. He wished to write novels. But he died before fulfilling his wish.
Mukund: Talking about novels, from being a famous academic you went on to becoming spectacularly famous after the publication of The Name of the Rose ……………………… But ask most people about Umberto Eco and they will say, “Oh, he’s the novelist.” Does that bother you?
Mukund pointed out that Umberto Eco was a famous academician, but he got more popularity after the publication of his novel “The Name of the Rose”.
According to Mukund, Eco wrote only five novels. On the other hand, he wrote more than 20 scholarly works. Umberto Eco corrected him saying that he had 40 non-fictional writings in his name.
Then Mukund said that Eco had written over 40 non-fictional works, including an important one on semiotics. Despite this, most people recognised him as a novelist. Mukund asked Umberto Eco if it bothered him.
Q. How many non-fictional works does Eco have in his name?
Ans. There are over 40 non-fictional works in his name.
Q. How many novels has Eco written?
Ans. 5 novels
Q. People recognise Umberto Eco as a …………………………
Ans. novelist
Umberto Eco: Yes. Because I consider myself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays. It’s not a joke………………………. I cannot expect to have one million readers with stuff on semiotics.
Umberto Eco said he thought of himself as a university professor who wrote novels on Sundays. Further, he added that he used to attend academic conferences, not meetings for the pen clubs and writers. He identified himself with the academic community.
But he knew that more people read his novels than his academic writing. He accepted that he couldn't have reached a million readers with books on semiotics.
Q. What did Eco prefer himself to be recognised?
Ans. Umberto Eco preferred to be recognised as a professor or academician.
Q. When did Eco write novels?
Ans. He wrote novels on Sundays.
Q. What did Eco frankly accept?
Ans. Umberto Eco accepted that he must not have reached a large number of readers writing about semiotics.
Mukund: This brings me to my next question. The Name of the Rose is a very serious novel. It’s a detective yarn at one level ………………………………. and want to see either ‘Miami Vice’ or ‘Emergency Room’. I enjoy it and I need it. But not all day.
According to Mukund “The Name of the Rose” was a serious novel that dealt with topics such as metaphysics, theology, and mediaeval history. Then he asked Umberto Eco if he was puzzled by the popularity of the novel.
In reply, Eco said that he was not puzzled. Furthermore, he added that journalists and publishers were puzzled because they thought people liked easy experiences and trash. Further, he added that some people did not like trash. He gave his own example saying that he used to watch” Miami Vice” and “Emergency Room” on television after dinner at 9:00 p.m. but he could not watch the same all day long.
Q. What does the novel “The Name of the Rose” deal with?
Ans. It is a serious novel. It deals with serious topics like metaphysics, theology and mediaeval history.
Q. How did Umberto Eco react when Mukund asked him if he was puzzled by the popularity of the novel “The Name of the Rose”?
Ans. According to Umberto Eco, he was not puzzled. Further, he added that publishers and journalists were puzzled because they thought that people liked trash.
Q. What are “Miami Vice” and “Emergency Room”?
Ans. TV dramas.
Mukund: Could the huge success of the novel have anything to do with the fact that it dealt with a period of medieval history that…………………………… I think if I had written The Name of the Rose ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn’t have been the same. Why it worked at that time is a mystery.
Mukund asked Umberto Eco if the popularity of the novel “The Name of the Rose” was because it dealt with mediaeval history. Umberto Eco agreed with Mukund.
He told a story about how his American publisher didn't expect to sell more than 3,000 copies of the novel “The Name of the Rose” because she thought that people in the U.S. weren't familiar with cathedrals or Latin. So he was given an advance for 3000 copies by the publisher. But in the end, it sold two to three million in the U.S.
Eco further said that many books about the mediaeval past had been written, But they did not get such a response. He expressed that if he had written the book ten years earlier or later, it wouldn't have been so popular. Finally, he said that the success of the novel was a mystery.
Q. What happened when Umberto Eco approached the American publisher with the manuscript of “The Name of the Rose”?
Ans. When Eco approached the American publisher, she appreciated the plot and the theme of the novel but said that it would not sell more than three hundred copies in America as it dealt with mediaeval history, Cathedral, Latin, etc. So, he got the advance for three thousand copies.
Q. What was the reason behind the success of the novel “The Name of the Rose”?
Ans. According to Umberto Eco, the success of the novel was a mystery. But it might be because of the timing of the publication and also because it dealt with mediaeval history.
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