YYYOOOUUUNNNGGG AAADDDUUULLLTTT
RRREEEAAADDDEEERRRSSS
E. E. M. M. FORSTER FORSTER A A PASSAGE PASSAGE TO TO INDIA INDIA
SSSTTTAAAGGGEEE 444
A A A Passage Passage Passage to to to India India India “Passage “Passage “Passageto to tomore more morethan than thanIndia! India! India!O O Osecret secret secretof of ofthe the theearth earth earthand and andsky!” sky!” sky!”W. W. W.Whitman Whitman Whitman
PASSAGE TO INDIA PASSAGE TO TO INDIA INDIA AAA PASSAGE
The The Thebook book bookis is isset set setIndia India Indiain in inthe the the1920s. 1920s. 1920s.ItItItis is isis is isaaastory story storyof of ofDr Dr DrAziz, Aziz, Aziz,an an anIndian Indian Indiandoctor, doctor, doctor, his his hisfriend friend friendMr Mr MrFielding, Fielding, Fielding,aaaBritish British Britishprofessor professor professorand and andtwo two twoBritish British Britishwomen women womenMrs Mrs MrsMoore Moore Moore and and andMiss Miss MissAdela Adela AdelaQuested. Quested. Quested.Due Due Dueto to toan an anincident incident incidentoccurring occurring occurringin in inthe the thefictitious fictitious fictitiousMarabar Marabar Marabar Caves, Caves, Caves,the the thecharacters characters charactersfind find findthemselves themselves themselvesin in inthe the theturmoil turmoil turmoilof of ofaaachanging changing changingIndia India Indiawhich which which highlights highlights highlightsthe the theprejudices prejudices prejudicesand and andracial racial racialstresses stresses stressesbetween between betweenIndians Indians Indiansand and andBritish. British. British. A A APassage Passage Passageto to toIndia India Indiawhose whose whosetitle title titlecomes comes comesfrom from fromWalt Walt WaltWhitman’s Whitman’s Whitman’sfamous famous famouspoem poem poem “Passage “Passage “Passageto to toIndia”, India”, India”,is is isone one oneof of ofE.M. E.M. E.M.Forster’s Forster’s Forster’smost most mostfamous famous famousnovels novels novelsand and andis is isbased based basedon on on Forster’s Forster’s Forster’sown own ownexperiences experiences experiencesin in inIndia. India. India.
E. M. FORSTER E. M. M. FORSTER FORSTER E.
E. E. E.M. M. M.Forster Forster Forster
SSS TTT AAA GGG EEE 444
Eli Eli EliReaders Readers Readersis is isaaabeautifully beautifully beautifullyillustrated illustrated illustratedseries series seriesof of oftimeless timeless timelessclassics classics classicsand and and specially-written specially-written specially-writtenstories stories storiesfor for forlearners learners learnersof of ofEnglish. English. English.
In In Inthis this thisreader reader readeryou you youwill will willalso also alsofind: find: find: –––Information Information Informationabout about aboutE. E. E.M. M. M.Forster’s Forster’s Forster’slife life lifeand and andwriting writing writing –––A A Afocus focus focuson on onThe The TheHistory History Historyof of ofEnglish English EnglishColonialism Colonialism Colonialism –––A A Afocus focus focuson on onreligion religion religionand and andrace race racein in inIndia India Indiaduring during duringEnglish English EnglishColonialism Colonialism Colonialism –––A A Afocus focus focuson on ondaily daily dailylife life lifein in inIndia India Indiaduring during duringColonialism Colonialism Colonialism –––Glossary Glossary Glossaryof of ofdifficult difficult difficultwords words words –––Comprehension Comprehension Comprehensionand and andgrammar grammar grammaractivities activities activities Tags Tags Tags Classic Classic Classic
literature literature literature
Justice Justice Justice
Elementary Elementary SSSTTTAAAGGGEEE 111 Elementary
600 600 600headwords headwords headwords
A1 A1 A1
Pre-Intermediate Pre-Intermediate SSSTTTAAAGGGEEE 222 Pre-Intermediate
800 800 800headwords headwords headwords
A2 A2 A2 Key Key Key(KET) (KET) (KET)
Intermediate Intermediate SSSTTTAAAGGGEEE 333 Intermediate
1000 1000 1000headwords headwords headwords
B1 B1 B1 Preliminary Preliminary Preliminary(PET) (PET) (PET) B2 B2 B2 First First First(FCE) (FCE) (FCE)
Advanced Advanced SSSTTTAAAGGGEEE 555 Advanced
C1 C1 Advanced Advanced Advanced(CAE) (CAE) (CAE) 2500 2500 2500headwords headwords headwords C1
Proficiency Proficiency SSSTTTAAAGGGEEE 666 Proficiency
C2 C2 Proficiency Proficiency Proficiency(CPE) (CPE) (CPE) Unabridged Unabridged UnabridgedTexts Texts Texts C2
Classic Classic Classic
www.eligradedreaders.com www.eligradedreaders.com www.eligradedreaders.com
ELT BBB 222 ELT
RSSS EERR AADDDE l. REEA ia -66 .rr..ll.. II RREnddiiaa 888--6 I ss..r. EELLLI o IIInnd288888 ELLII sLLTTT Ee tttoo 366---228 UL aggee -55336 EELU ADDUsssaag888--5 G AADass 8--88 NG PPaas97788-8 G UN N AAA PNN 997 U OU B YO ISSBBN YYO IIS
Look on the in side ba insi ckdecoba veck r flco apveto r flfifiap nd ndto ou oufittnd ho how wto ou ttoho do do ww wto nl nloa oa dd do th thw eenl fr free eedau oa au th di di eoofrfifiee le les. s. dio au files.
YYY OOO UUU NNN GGG AAA DDD UUU LLL TTT EEE LLL III RRR EEE AAA DDD EEE RRR SSS
Upper UpperIntermediate Intermediate Intermediate 1800 1800 1800headwords headwords headwords SSSTTTAAAGGGEEE 444 Upper
ELT ELT ELT BBB222
YYYOOOUUUNNNGGG AAADDDUUULLLTTT
RRREEEAAADDDEEERRRSSS
Downloadable Downloadable Downloadable AUDIO AUDIO AUDIOFILES FILES FILES
YOUNG ADULT
READERS
The ELI Readers collection is a complete range of books and plays for readers of all ages, ranging from captivating contemporary stories to timeless classics. There are three series, each catering for a different age group; Young ELI Readers, Teen ELI Readers and Young Adult ELI Readers. The books are carefully edited and beautifully illustrated to capture the essence of the stories and plots. The readers are supplemented with ‘Focus on’ texts packed with background cultural information about the writers and their lives and times.
B2
E. M. Forster
A Passage to India Retold and Activities by Alice Venessa Bever Illustrated by Lucia Sforza
YOUNG ADULT
READERS
E. M. Forster A Passage to India Retold and Activities by Alice Venessa Bever Illustrated by Lucia Sforza Language Consultant: Lisa Suett ELI Readers Founder and Series Editors Paola Accattoli, Grazia Ancillani, Daniele Garbuglia (Art Director) Graphic Design ELI - Sergio Elisei Layout Serafina D'Urzo Production Manager Francesco Capitano Photo credits Shutterstock © 2020 ELI s.r.l. P.O. Box 6 62019 Recanati MC Italy T +39 071750701 F +39 071977851 info@elionline.com www.elionline.com Typeset in 11,5 / 15 pt Monotype Dante Printed in Italy by Tecnostampa – Pigini Group Printing Division Loreto – Trevi(Italia) - ERA 425.01 ISBN 978-88-536-2888-6 First edition: March 2020 www.eligradedreaders.com
Contents 6
Main Characters
8
Before you read
10 Chapter 1 The Mosque 18
Activities
20 Chapter 2 The Bridge Party 28 Activities 30 Chapter 3 Tea at Mr Fielding’s 38 Activities 40 Chapter 4 New Friendships 48 Activities 50 Chapter 5 The Caves 58 Activities 60 Chapter 6 Trouble in Chandrapore 68 Activities 70 Chapter 7 The Trial 78 Activities 80 Chapter 8 Changes 88 Activities 90 Chapter 9 The Temple: Life Beyond Chandrapore 100 Activities 102 Focus on... E. M. Forster’s Life and Writing 104 Focus on... Religion and Race in India during Colonialism 106 Focus on... Colonialism in India 108 Focus on... Friendship in A Passage to India 110 Test yourself 111 Syllabus 112 Other Titles
These icons indicate the parts of the story that are recorded start stop
MAIN CHARACTERS
MRS MOORE
An elderly Englishwoman who travels to India with Adela Quested and befriends Dr Aziz. She hopes that Adela will marry her son, Ronny.
DR AZIZ
A young widow and father of three children. He is a local Indian doctor in Chandrapore.
RONNY HEASLOP
Mrs Moore’s son, and the Magistrate in Chandrapore.
MISS ADELA QUESTED
A young woman from England who travels to India with Mrs Moore to decide whether or not to marry her son, Ronny.
CYRIL FIELDING
The headmaster of Government College near Chandrapore. 6
MRS TURTON
Mr Turton’s wife.
MR TURTON
The Collector, the highest administrative official in Chandrapore.
PROFESSOR GODBOLE
A Brahman Hindu who teaches at Government College.
MAJOR CALLENDAR
A civil surgeon (head of hospital) in Chandrapore and Dr Aziz’s superior. MR MCBRYDE
The superintendent of police in Chandrapore.
7
BEFORE YOU READ
Reading Comprehension 1
Find the correct word to fill in each gap in this text about Aziz. Aziz is an intelligent young widower who lives (1) ________ Chandrapore, India and has three children. He’s a doctor who has a good sense of humour but is also moody and emotional. He thinks (2) ________ morality is actually part of social correctness and therefore believes (3) ________ good intentions as opposed (4) ________ the black and white idea of right or wrong. He has conflicted feelings (5) ________ the British in India but (6) ________ his contradictions, he does have affections (7) ________ some of the British people he gets to know.
Vocabulary 2 You will see these words in Chapter 1. Complete the table with the correct forms, checking the meaning in your dictionary when necessary.
8
NOUN
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
(1)
(2)
symbolic
(3)
mystery
x
(4)
(5)
(6)
to open
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
thankfully
(12)
(13)
real
(14)
apology
(15)
(16)
(17)
Listening 2
3 You will hear the beginning of Chapter 1. Choose the best answer A,
B, or C for the following questions.
1 The city of Chandrapore is: A enormous. B extraordinary. C ordinary.
2 The Ganges River in Chandrapore is: A considered holy. B not seen because of the market. C a popular tourist destination.
3 From the colonial area, Chandrapore looks: A attractive. B mysterious. C desolate.
4 Mahmoud Ali and Hamidullah were discussing: A whether British people were better than Indians. B whether British people were friendly. C whether Indians and British people could be friends. 5 The friends agreed that: A Indians and English people could be friends only in England. B Indians and English people could never be friends. C Indians and English people could only be friends in India. 6 It takes ___________ for British women to become intolerable. A two years B two months C six months
9
Chapter 1
The Mosque
2 The small city of Chandrapore is an ordinary city, except for the
mysterious Marabar Caves which are in the hills in the distance. In this city the Ganges River is not considered holy and there are no steps to walk to the water. The view of the river is hidden by the markets. The nicest houses in the city come from two hundred years ago. The rest of the landscape is dirty and dull. Beyond the city are the British buildings which are efficient and simple. From this view Chandrapore looks pretty because the worst parts of it are not seen because of the thick greenery and fruit trees beyond the railway running parallel to the river. People who are new to the area must be driven down to the centre in order to understand how it is in reality. The only thing that connects the two contrasting areas is the sky which is ever-present. A young man named Aziz arrived at his uncle Hamidullah’s home by bicycle. ‘I’m so sorry for being late!’ His other friend Mahmoud Ali had arrived before him and the two of them were discussing whether Indians and English people can be friends. Mahmoud Ali and Hamidullah had been talking about their varying experiences with British people, both positive and negative. In the end, the friends came to the decision that Indians could only be friends with an English person if they both live in England.
10
a passage to india
‘It takes two years for an Englishman and six months for an Englishwoman in India to become unbearable,’ said Hamidullah. 3 Before dinner Aziz spoke with Hamidullah’s wife (who was also his aunt) through a purdah*. ‘You should have remarried after your wife’s death.’ ‘One marriage is enough for me,’ said Aziz. Though his children had moved to a different city to live with his mother-in-law, he could see them whenever he wanted to. They sat down to eat dinner with Hamidullah’s cousin and Aziz happily started reading poetry aloud, something he loved to do. The guests were entertained by this typical Indian way of publically reciting poems. Unfortunately, Aziz was interrupted by a servant who handed him a note saying that he needed to go to Major Callendar’s bungalow* right away. This made Aziz quite frustrated but Callendar, the head of the hospital, was his boss. He had to leave dinner and abandon his poetry reading to find out what Callendar needed. On the way to the Callendars, Aziz got a puncture* in his bike tyre so he hired a tonga*to take him. As soon as Aziz arrived at Callendar's bungalow, two English ladies, Mrs Callendar and Mrs Lesley, came out of the house and rudely stepped up into his tonga and left. Discovering that Major Callendar had gone out without having left a message for him, Aziz decided not to write a note. He simply told the servant to advise the major that Aziz had in fact come as requested. Since all the tongas of Chandrapore were at the Club and the ladies had taken his, Aziz decided to walk home. While walking in the night air, Aziz decided to stop to rest at his favourite mosque. He always felt very at home there and believed the mosque to be a symbol of Islam and love. He was purdah a curtain worn or used by women so they are separated from men and strangers bungalow a building developed in India which is a type of low house with one storey or upper rooms on the roof
puncture a small hole in a tyre tonga a small carriage used in India led by a horse or a donkey
11
e.m. forster
filled with emotion and started to cry. Suddenly he saw a column moving which he thought might be a ghost! He had confused the column for an Englishwoman and Aziz was not happy about her being there. ‘Madam! You cannot be here. This is a mosque and it is a holy place! And take off your shoes!’ Aziz shouted angrily. ‘But I did take them off. I left them at the entrance to the mosque. I know that God is here.’ The woman spoke cautiously. ‘I’m sorry, I thought you were just like the other English ladies. What’s your name?’ The woman shyly told him that her name was Mrs Moore. She had decided to leave the Club earlier because she had seen play before in London and it was too hot for her inside. ‘I’m so sorry for scaring you but it isn’t a good idea to go out at night by yourself.’ This started a friendly conversation between them. Aziz told Mrs Moore that he was a doctor and she mentioned that her son was Ronny Heaslop, the City Magistrate. Aziz knew him well. Then the two discovered that they both have two sons and a daughter. As the conversation became more relaxed, Aziz revealed that he did not like Mrs Callendar. Mrs Moore seemed to be sympathetic towards him so he continued to talk to her about how he’d been treated badly on various occasions by British people. ‘You’re an Oriental because you can sense who you like and who you don’t like,’ he told Mrs Moore before walking her to the Club. ‘I would invite you in but I am not a member,’ Mrs Moore said as they arrived at the gates. ‘I am an Indian so I can never go to the Club, not even with the
12
e.m. forster
invitation of a guest,’ replied Aziz plainly as he walked away. On the path he looked at the beautiful moon and his treasured mosque and felt content. Mrs Moore entered the Club again and met Adela Quested, the woman she had accompanied to India from England to possibly marry her son. As neither of them wanted to watch the play, they chatted together to pass the time. Adela told her that she wanted to see authentic India and Mrs Moore felt the same. Mrs Moore was tired after her walk and bored of her surroundings. She began thinking about how her new life was dull, especially after the exciting journey they’d taken to arrive there. Her thoughts were interrupted by Mr Turton, the Collector* who offered drinks to the two women. He went on to speak of Mrs Moore’s son who was helping out with the play, giving him many compliments and saying that Ronny was a man of honour. His mother was quite surprised by this as she had never thought of her son in that way. After the performance finished, Ronny joined the two women. ‘I want to see the real India!’ Adela said. Hearing this, the women at the club looked at Adela strangely. Being quite racist towards the Indians, they were surprised by her interest to want to meet Indians and know their country. ‘Indians cannot be trusted!’ the women warned Miss Quested. Ronny asked Cyril Fielding, the headmaster at Government College, his advice on seeing ‘the real India’ and he replied: ‘Go see real Indians if you want to see the real India,’ and walked away. The English ladies were shocked by his comment and continued to speak about the Indians quite harshly until Mr Turton interrupted them. *a Collector was the most important British official in Chandrapore.
14
a passage to india
‘I could host a Bridge Party at my home if you’d like.’ He explained that it wouldn’t be a party for card playing but a party to bridge the two cultures. Both Indians and English people would be present. Adela was thankful to Mr Turton. On the way home with Adela and Ronny, Mrs Moore felt better and looked up at the sky, especially the moon. It made her think of heaven. When they passed by the mosque, she mentioned the man she had met earlier. Ronny was surprised that she had wandered out alone and said that it wasn’t a good idea. Mrs Moore responded stating that ‘the young doctor’ had said the same thing to her. Her description made Ronny think that the man she was speaking of was English though his identity was a mystery to him. He didn’t know any young British doctors in town. He was shocked when he understood that his mother had been chatting to an Indian but when he learned that it was Aziz, a man he knew, he was relieved. ‘I have no problems with him. But did he say anything bad about the English?’ Ronny asked his mother after they’d returned to the bungalow and Adela had gone to bed. ‘He doesn’t really like the Callendars,’ said Mrs Moore. She didn’t think this information was something that would interest her son. Instead, he told her he was going to tell the Major because it wasn’t right for an Indian to speak badly about his boss. ‘Oh, no! Please don’t say anything. It was a private conversation.’ Mrs Moore was worried but her son felt that telling Major Callendar was the right thing to do. ‘I would want him to do the same thing for me. In India, private does not exist.’ Mrs Moore didn’t understand what he meant.
15
e.m. forster
Ronny continued to tell her about the place of Indians in society using words and phrases she had never heard him say before. He seemed unreasonable and repeated that Aziz had not been correct in speaking to his mother about Major Callendar. ‘An Indian cannot say those things to a British lady.’ He thought that the young doctor was being inappropriate. In the end, Ronny agreed to keep quiet only if his mother would promise not to talk about Dr Aziz anymore to Adela. Ronny wasn’t comfortable with her being so curious about the Indians. ‘What if she starts worrying about how we treat the Indians?’ he thought to himself. Mrs Moore agreed to do as her son wished and they kissed good night. Mrs Moore continued thinking about Aziz when she was alone in her room. At first he had been angry at her, then kind and then he had complained about a lot of things. He had been open with her and so emotional. As she was going to bed, she saw a wasp* asleep on a hook. Thinking of all the animals which deserve respect, she did not bother it. ‘You’re lovely,’ she said kindly. The next day Mr Turton sent invitations to his Bridge Party to all the Indian gentleman in Chandrapore who found the gesture surprising and curious. The invitation also stated that women could come without their purdah! The Indian men discussed the upcoming event and the reason they thought Mr Turton was having the party. Some were impressed by the invitation but the event would be far from where they lived and not easy to get to. Mahmoud Ali believed that Mr Turton had been ordered by the Lieutenant-General to organise the Bridge Party. wasp a winged insect with a sting, typically yellow with black stripes
16
a passage to india
The most important man in the group, the Nawab* Bahadur* said he’d go to the party. This got the attention of the group. ‘You would be thought to be cheap if you accept the invitation,’ said one of the men, Ram Chand. This kind of expression was not very polite, especially to someone so prominent. ‘You can’t say that to him!’ said Mahmoud Ali. The Nawab Bahadur was the leading landowner of the district who was also a philanthropist*. He decided he wasn’t offended by the comment. ‘I don’t think it will be ‘cheap’ if I go or if any of us attend the party. Mr Turton’s invitation was written very well.’ He left, saying as he went that he would see the other men at the event. As he was an important and hospitable person in the community, the other gentlemen then began to encourage each other to go to the party. Around the group were others who would never be invited to such a party. Either they were not educated or wealthy enough or they were missionaries who were not part of the rest of the British.
Nawab a Muslim nobleman or person of high status Bahadur an honourable title given to officers in British India
philanthropist a person who tries to help others, especially by a generous donation of money
17
AFTER-READING ACTIVITY
Multiple Choice 1
Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
1 People who are new to the area must be driven down to the city because A they think the city is dangerous. B they think the city is too far. C they don’t know the roads to the city. D they don’t have their own transportation.
2 A purdah is used to A protect women from men. B protect women from the sun. C hide women’s faces from men and strangers. D allow women to have privacy.
3 After learning that Major Callendar is no longer at his home, Aziz decides to A write him a note. B wait for him. C leave a message with the servant for him. D go looking for him.
4 When Mrs Moore says: ‘I would invite you in but I am not a member,’ Aziz tells her A that he’d love to join her sometime. B that he didn’t really like the Club. C that he’d already been to the Club. D that he could never go to the Club because he was Indian.
5 Who is Miss Adela Quested? A The possible future wife of Mrs Moore’s son, Ronny. B The new wife of Ronny Heaslep. C Ronny Heaslep’s friend. D Mrs Moore’s daughter from her second marriage.
6 How did Ronny feel when he learned that the Indian man in the mosque was Aziz? A Relieved. B Angry. C Indifferent. D Surprised.
18
7 How did Mrs Moore react when she saw a wasp? A She screamed. B She trapped it and put it outside. C She spoke kindly to it. D She ran away from it.
8 The Nawab Bahadur thought A Mr Turton’s invitation was written poorly. B Mr Turton was cheap. C anyone who went to the Bridge Party was cheap. D Mr Turton’s invitation was written well.
Use of English 2 Read the text below and choose the best answer (A, B, C, D) to fill in the gap. The Ganges River The Ganges River which (1) _____ across India and Bangladesh has always been (2) _____ to be one of the most important rivers in the world. It is 2,525 kilometres (3) _____ and runs through the western Himalayan mountains in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and (4) _____ the Gangetic plain of India and Bangladesh in the south and east. It (5) _____ into the Bay of Bengal. The river is important to the millions of people who live (6) _____ its banks and is very sacred to Hindus. (7) _____, pollution has become a major threat to both humans and animals who live near the river. The Ganga Action Plan wants to help clean the water although it has been criticized for bad planning and (8) _____ support from the authorities. 1 A is 2 A deserved 3 A length 4 A across 5 A falls 6 A in 7 A However 8 A losing of
B starts C occupies B thought about C considered B long C short B above C underneath B stops C closes B of C long B Therefore C Because B lack of C finishing of
D spans D counted on D tall D overhead D empties D next to D Otherwise D finding of
19
Chapter 2
The Bridge Party
4 The guests at the Bridge Party, were waiting for Mr Turton to arrive.
All the Indians who had been invited had arrived early. Mrs Moore and Miss Quested did as well because they wanted to be polite. Arriving at the party and observing the situation, Adela was disappointed to see the large division between the British and the Indians. The Indian guests were standing on one side of the garden and the English on the other. Mrs Moore and Adela talked with Ronny and Mrs Turton who did not feel the same way. Ronny was not interested in the party at all. ‘No one here is important. The important people are those who are not at this party.’ Mrs Moore and Miss Quested understood that this was not the party that they had hoped for. The English and Indians weren’t ‘mixing’ at all. As they waited for Mr Turton, Mrs Turton and Ronny continued to discuss the clothing of the Indian guests which were a mix of Eastern and Western styles. Other English guests talked about the play from the night before at the Club. Mrs Moore could not believe how her son had changed – he had become less tolerant than when he was in England. When Mr Turton arrived, he told his wife to assist him with the guests. ‘You need to help with the party.’ ‘What am I supposed to do? I didn’t think any of the Indian women would come!’ she said.
20
a passage to india
So, she took Adela and Mrs Moore to meet a small group of Indian ladies. She reminded them that being English, they were higher in class and better than the Indian ladies and all Indians. Mrs Moore asked Mrs Turton to introduce them. When Mrs Turton greeted the Indian women, she spoke a few basic words of Urdu* to them which she had learned so she could communicate with her servants. ‘Tell the women that I am sorry I cannot speak to them in their language,’ said Mrs Moore and to Mrs Turton’s surprise, one of the Indian women replied in English. Mrs Turton had no idea that they knew language. If they understood her, she would have less power over them. But Mrs Moore and Miss Quested felt differently. They were content because they could now communicate with the Indian guests. They tried to chat- with the women but the Indian women were not comfortable and acted uncertain. It was a strange situation for them as they were not used to speaking to English women and were not sure how to act. Eventually the ladies were able to have an actual conversation with two women in the group. Mrs Moore, delighted to have had the opportunity to speak with them had an idea, chat turned to Mrs Bhattacharya, one of the Indian women she’d been speaking with as she was leaving. ‘May Miss Quested and I come to visit you sometime at your home?’ ‘Yes, that would be fine.’ ‘Is Thursday morning alright?’ ‘We are going to Calcutta on Thursday.’ Mrs Moore was confused as to whether she would be creating a problem for them to visit if they were travelling that day. urdu a language closely related to Hindi but written in Persian which is widely used in India
21
e.m. forster
Mr Bhattacharya had heard the conversation with his wife and walked over to reassure Mrs Moore. ‘No, Mrs Moore, it is not a problem at all. We will send a carriage for you at your home on Thursday morning,’ said Mr Bhattacharya. He laughed pleasantly as did the other Indians in the crowd, though it was unclear to Mrs Moore if she had offended them or if there truly was no problem like he had said. The three women then left quickly, saying goodbye to the Indian women and walking back to the place where other English people were standing. Mr Turton went around greeting everyone at the party and was very cheerful. He didn’t mind hosting the party. He knew that it was a good idea to have a Bridge Party though he also thought that everyone at the party attended only for their own reasons. Most of the Indian guests were grateful for the invitation but some people like Mahmoud Ali were convinced that Turton was only having the party because of a request by his superiors. Regardless, the Indians stood around and were happy that they had been invited to a high official’s home. It was an honour for them to be there. Mr Fielding, the headmaster at Government College was genuinely very open to meeting the people at the party; eating, talking and drinking with everyone around him. He worked with many Indians at the school and he was very comfortable with them. They liked him as well and enjoyed being with him. He was pleased to hear that Mrs Moore and Adela, the English ladies who had recently arrived in Chandrapore, had shown interest in meeting the Indian guests. Mr Fielding met Mrs Moore and Miss Quested and after understanding that they might enjoy a different kind of experience
22
e.m. forster
than the Bridge Party, he invited the two ladies to tea at his home. ‘I’d like to meet more Indians,’ said Adela. ‘And why were the English people so rude to them?’ She hadn’t liked the situation at the party at all. Fielding agreed with her but wasn’t sure if Adela truly cared about the Indian people and had an honest interest in meeting them. ‘Do you know Dr Aziz?’ she asked. Mr Fielding had heard a lot about him though he had never actually met him. ‘I can invite him as well. I won’t ask Mr Heaslop to come – I know he is busy with work.’ ‘Yes, he is,’ said Adela. As they left, Adela looked at the hills and thought about her possible life in India. They all went to the Club after the party and later had dinner with the McBrydes and Miss Derek. They ate typical British food and Miss Derek talked and laughed about how she thought her experience in India had been very funny. Adela imagined how her life would be limited to these kinds of meetings if she were to marry Ronny. She promised herself she would not become like the other English guests at the party who were arrogant to the Indians. However, Adela was glad she met Mr Fielding and Mrs Bhattacharya at the party and hoped she would meet other people like them. After dinner, Adela went to bed and Ronny and his mother had another talk. Mrs Moore told her son that Adela was upset about how the English acted towards the Indians at the party. ‘That is so typical of a woman to worry about something insignificant! I work for the British government. It is not my job to be nice to them.’
24
a passage to india
‘We must be kind to the Indians. We are here to be pleasant to them. It is what God wants,’ answered Mrs Moore. Ronny worried about his mother and how she was becoming more religious. He felt that this indicated that she wasn’t well. Mrs Moore regretted mentioning God to Ronny even though religion had been on her mind since she had arrived in India. More than that, she was upset that she had not talked to her son about the real reason she was in India. The conversation had gone in a direction that she had not planned. She wanted to know if he and Adela would marry and wanted to know his feelings. In her mind, they should have discussed this instead of talking about the Indians. When Doctor Callendar saw Aziz at the hospital he yelled at him for not passing by his home when summoned the day before. Although Aziz tried to explain why it had taken him so long, the doctor didn’t care and didn’t listen to him. Major Callendar never tried to understand him or the other Indians. Aziz was used to this kind of behaviour and didn’t take it too seriously. Aziz did not go to the Bridge Party although at first he had planned to do so. He had heard about the party and then his colleague, an older man called Panna Lal had asked if they could go together. Panna Lal thought it would look good to the other guests and the hosts if the two doctors arrived together. Mr Lal said he would pick up Aziz, but when he came to his house, Aziz was not there. So, he went to the party alone. Aziz had decided not to go because it was the anniversary of his wife’s death. She had died while having their third child. He was not in the mood to be social and wanted to spend time thinking about her and honouring her memory. He didn’t have any desire to spend time
25
e.m. forster
with Callendar and other British people on this particular day. Aziz was sad and decided to go to the post office to send a telegram to his children without leaving a message for Panna Lal telling him where he had gone. When he returned home, he took out a picture of his wife. He thought about the sadness of death and how much he missed her. Later, Aziz decided to stop by Hamidullah’s home to say hello to him. He was still at the Bridge Party so he decided to borrow his pony to practise polo on the town lawn. While he was there, he met another Englishman and they played polo together for a while. Though they had had a nice exchange, they never introduced themselves to each other. On his way home Panna Lal called to him from the road. He was angry that Aziz had not told him that he would not go to the Bridge Party. ‘Where were you? I waited for you! You could have told your servant to give me a message.’ ‘I’m sorry. I had to go to the post office.’ ‘You should have told me. Also, people at the party wanted to know where you were. You should be careful; people might talk about you behind your back.’ ‘I don’t care what you or other people think. I’ll do what I want.’ Aziz knew that he was being rude but he didn’t care. He returned home to find an invitation to Mr Fielding’s home for tea and his mood changed. He was very happy because he had always wanted to meet him. Mr Fielding was different from the other British living in Chandrapore. Mr Fielding liked teaching very much and had a good heart. He
26
a passage to india
enjoyed getting to know the other Indians and didn’t have much in common with his own countrymen. Though the other Englishmen accepted Mr Fielding in spite of the fact they did not fully trust him, their wives did not. They disliked him and did not appreciate that he did not do the typical things that other English people did. He only went to the Club to play billiards* and tennis and he enjoyed the company of Indians. Also, he would say things that were strange like whites were “pink-grey”‒ they thought this was strange.
billiards a game for two people, played on a billiard table
27
AFTER-READING ACTIVITIES
Vocabulary 1
Change the form of the word at the end of the line. 1 Aziz was _____________ after speaking to Mr Fielding at d inner. Misery 2 Godbole felt love for all of _____________ and all living things. Human 3 The villagers had no _____________ that the Rajah had died. Know 4 The children were _____________ to their father. Obey 5 Aziz’s _____________ towards Mr Fielding was cold and detached. Behave 6 Mr Fielding wanted to repair his _____________ with Aziz. Friend 7 Ronny wrote that Ralph was _____________ and needed care. Health 8 Adela’s letter _____________ Aziz’s anger. Strength 9 Aziz felt no _____________ when he heard someone enter the room. Embarrass 10 Ralph felt _____________ when Aziz looked at his injury. Ease 11 The accident was _____________ in bringing Aziz and Mr Fielding together again. Success 12 Godbole was _____________ as to why Mr Fielding could not see the school. Secret 13 Many Indians wanted _____________ from the British rule. Free 14 Mr Fielding and Aziz heard _____________ voices telling them ‘not yet’. Imagine
Writing 2
100
Who do you think is the happiest at the end of the book, Aziz or Mr Fielding? Explain your answer.
Speaking 3
Discuss the following questions with a partner. 1 When Aziz met Mr Fielding he accused him of secretly dating Miss Quested. Have you ever accused a friend of doing something without actually knowing the truth? 2 Aziz’s friend convinced him that Mr Fielding had been with Miss Quested and he believed them. Have you ever let other people influence you about a friend? 3 Mr Fielding wrote many letters to Aziz but he did not read them because he thought Mr Fielding had married Adela. Have you ever been so angry with a friend that you stopped communicating with them? 4 Can a friendship recover when there has been a big misunderstanding causing hurt on both sides?
Grammar 4 Complete the sentences with the correct alternative. 1 Mr Fielding was interested/keen on seeing Venice. 2 Godbole was a respectful/respected Brahman in Mau. 3 Aziz didn’t want to see Mr Fielding due/because of his choice
to marry Miss Quested.
4 Ronny asked Mr Fielding to care/look after Ralph. 5 Ralph told Aziz that he was being cruel/careless to him. 6 Talking to Ralph reminded/remembered Aziz of Mrs Moore. 7 Aziz thought he ought/should to write a letter to Adela. 8 Mr Fielding and Aziz disagreed/argued on whether India should
be an independent state.
101
FOCUS ON...
E.M. Forster’s Life and Writing Life E. M. Forster was born on January 1st, 1879 in London. At birth, his name was registered Henry Morgan Forster but when he was baptised he was named Edward Morgan Forster. He was raised by his mother and his aunt because his father, an architect, died of tuberculosis when he was very young. When his aunt died, she left him enough money to go to a good school and then he went to Cambridge University where he learned a lot about philosophy and Mediterranean culture. After university he travelled to Europe with his mother and then moved to Surrey with his mother.
102
During WWI Forster worked in Egypt and while he was there, he visited India. After the war he returned to London. In the early 1920s he went to India again and shortly after coming back to England wrote A Passage to India. In the 1930s and 1940s he worked for the BBC where he was an important broadcaster. Forster did not want Americans to adapt his books to film because he was critical of American foreign policy. In general, Forster was against adaptations because he felt that reading books was a unique experience. He lived with his mother until her death in 1945. He also had a home in London and had many famous artistic friends during his lifetime. He died in 1970 in Coventry.
The Writing of E.M. Forster
E. M. Forster published six novels during his life. After he died, his seventh most controversial novel was published though he had written it sixty years before. E. M. Forster’s novels expressed themselves in a clear and uncomplicated way. Like Virginia Woolf, he was not interested in showing technique but focused on simple stories which could represent bigger issues. In addition to his novels, Forster published short stories, poetry and essays. Through his work Forster was considered to be a supporter of democracy and was called a humanist*.
His biggest success was A Passage to India which was the last novel he published. He began the novel after the first time he visited India in 1913 and finished it after he returned from his second stay there. It was published in 1924. The themes of Imperialism and Colonialism are very present in the book, as we read in the conflict between Miss Quested and Aziz during the trial. In 1960 it was adapted into a play and in 1984 it was made into a film. In spite of his feelings about adaptations, many of his works were made into films and were very successful. humanist a person having a strong interest in human values
Task A Passage to India discusses how British women perceived India. Many years earlier, an Englishwoman visited India and wrote letters about her experiences there. They were partially published during her lifetime and in 1925, E. M. Forster edited the letters. Research Eliza Fay and explain why you think her writing and travels were significant. 103
FOCUS ON...
Religion and Race in A Passage to India Religion Religion is an important theme in A Passage to India. It was something that not only divided the British who were Christian, but also the Indians amongst themselves. To this day there are still areas of India that have conflict because of religious differences. Currently the main religion in India is Hinduism though Islam is also significant in the country. When Mrs Moore hears the ‘boum’ which upsets her in the cave, E. M. Forster expresses his negative opinion to religion in general. However, the novel does investigate the possibility of other religions being more inclusive and human than Christianity. A Passage to India explores the division that any religion can create, especially in Chandrapore but also expresses how love in any religion can be the thing that connects all people to each other. When the British arrived in India, Christian missionaries exposed Hindus to different ways of thinking. Though the missionaries generally supported the Hindus in their traditions, they also divided them into those who were more traditional and those who were more modern. This, among other conflicts with British culture created boundaries within the religion as well as among the other religions in India. 104
Race In the novel, E. M. Forster examines the customs and cultures of the different groups of people living in India. For example, he introduces Ronny as a generally good person who after his time in India didn’t trust Indians. In addition, the other English people in Chandrapore see Adela as someone who is childish for wanting to know ‘the real India’ and not understanding how the Indians really are. We also see how Forster shows the British people to be overly reasonable and without imagination. In contrast, the most developed Indian character in the novel is Aziz who is shown to be very emotional and impulsive. He is also someone who believes rumours without having evidence, a tendency that Forster expresses as Indian. The book shows that even with the best intentions, race and culture can have great conflict. Although human connection is important, sometimes there are strong forces which get in the way of friendship.
Reflection How do you think different cultures can influence each other? How has your country’s history been influenced by other civilizations? How does religion play a role in world politics today?
105
FOCUS ON...
Colonialism in India
For centuries many different civilizations ruled over parts of India but only the British were successful in taking over the whole country. They arrived when the Mogul Empire which had been in control of most of India since 1526 had lost most of its power. As the empire was failing, many other countries attacked India. The British were able to use this weakness to their advantage. They first came as traders of tea, spices, cotton and silk with the British East India Company in 1600. Differently from the French and Portuguese who had been there before them, the British became involved with the Indians. They sold their weapons to the Indians who often paid them with land. Eventually they developed a system of law and were able 106
to collect taxes. The Mogul emperor tried to get power back in 1857 with the Sepoy Rebellion but it failed. Shortly after, the British took control completely. Indian States were formed and English governors for each province worked for the GovernorGeneral (Viceroy) who was chosen by the King of England. After World War I, Indians were promised their own government and though some Indians were part of the Viceroy’s Council, India continued to fight for their independence.
Life in India during Colonialism A Passage to India shows a picture of life during The British “Raj” (the British Colonial Empire in India). This empire started in 1858 and ended after World War II. In the novel Forster is critical of colonialism by describing problems within the system. While most of the English characters in the novel were not bad people, within colonialism they became
racist and at times mean towards Indians. The women are generally shown as less understanding than the men, so much so that Mr Turton says that the tension with the Indians is because of them. Ronny becomes less sympathetic after coming to India and Mrs Moore and Adela see the change as negative. These characters treat the Indians with more respect than the other British people in the novel, except Mr Fielding. We see that many Indians feel anger towards the British, even when they are open to their culture. Aziz’s character transformation is the best example of this as he shifts from wanting to be friends with the British to wanting nothing to do with them. The rare friendship between an English man and an Indian man is nearly ruined because of the conflict of colonialism.
Do some research to find out more. 1 What was the Amristar Massacre? 2 What is the difference between imperialism and colonialism? 3 Who created the phrase ‘The White Man’s Burden’ and what does it mean? 107
FOCUS ON...
Friendship in A Passage to India Although A Passage to India expresses strong historical and social themes about politics, colonialism, religion and racism, one of the most important aspects of the book is about friendship. Friendship seems to be more important than romance in this novel as Forster’s humanistic point of view is expressed through the characters’ connection with each other. This book shows the struggles of an English and Indian friendship and that the differences in culture and power make it nearly impossible. Forster shows the divide that both sides face even if they both want to be friends. We are left to question what the true definition of friendship is.
108
Although Aziz’s friendships with Mrs Moore and Mr Fielding are positive because each character is respectful of the other, everything is eventually lost. First Mrs Moore dies and then after the trial Aziz and Mr Fielding are separated by the rumours about Miss Quested. As Mr Fielding becomes more understanding towards Adela, Aziz becomes more influenced by his Indian friends and thinks the worst of Mr Fielding. It seems that the two of them will become friends again at the end of the books however Forster doesn’t make that conclusion. The end leaves the reader with the uncertainty about how two people so different could stay friends, even with good intentions.
Writing 1
Write a short response to these questions about friendship in the text. 1 Why do you think that Aziz let himself be influenced by his Indian friends about Mr Fielding? 2 If you were Mr Fielding, how would you have reacted when you saw Aziz after two years, knowing that he had never answered any of your letters? 3 Are Aziz and Mrs Moore friends? Explain your answer. 4 How are the friendships represented in this novel different from friendships between people of different cultures today? Which, if any, of the same kind of problems happen?
Quotes 2 Read
the quotes from the book below. What situation is the author describing? Are these people showing an act of friendship and support or something else? Explain. 1 2 3
But they were friends, brothers. That part was settled… They trusted one another. ‘Which chapter does this quote come from? Who is the author talking about? What had the characters shared to make them feel so close?’ ‘Never be angry with me. I am, as far as my limitations permit, your true friend; besides, it is my holy festival.’ Who is talking? And why does he not want his friend to be angry? ‘I am counting on you to help me through; it is such a blessing to be with you again, everyone else is a stranger.’ Who is Adela talking to? What does she mean that ‘everyone else is a stranger’? Why do you think she feels this way? Does this person want to help her? 4 …they… rose to their feet… and while honouring him they condemned Aziz and India. Who is the author speaking about? Why does he say this about the actions of these people? How does this condemn Aziz and India?
109
TEST YOURSELF
Choose A, B, C or D to answer the questions about A Passage to India. 1 Why is Miss Quested unhappy about her time in India at the beginning of the novel? A Because she wants to see ‘the real India’. B Because she cannot communicate with the Indian women. C Because Mrs Moore ignores her. D Because she thinks the Englishwomen don’t like her. 2 What happens after the accident in the car? A Adela and Ronny get married. B The Narab Bahadur starts crying. C Adela and Ronny walk home. D Adela decides she wants to be with Ronny. 3 Why is Miss Quested’s servant paid to leave the station? A Because they already had too many servants. B Because Miss Quested did not want him there. C Because he does not help Mrs Moore. D Because Aziz wants to be alone with Miss Quested. 4 Who accuses Mr Fielding of visiting Aziz in prison? A Mr McBryde B Mr Turton C Mr Callendar D The soldier 5 What does Mr Fielding want Adela to do to make things better? A Write Aziz a letter of apology. B Pay Aziz for his court costs. C Pay Aziz a lot of money. D Go back to England. 6 Aziz is A Muslim B Hindu C Buddhist D Sikh
7 What does Mr Fielding want Aziz to talk about? A The Marabar Caves and Islam. B The Marabar Caves and religion. C Why he loved their mother so much. D The Marabar Caves and Hinduism. 8 In A Passage to India Forster shows British people to be… A reasonable and sensitive. B reasonable and sometimes dull. C emotional and unreasonable. D unreasonable and emotional.
110
SYLLABUS Level B2 This reader contains the items listed below as well as those included in previous levels of the Eli Readers syllabus. Verb Tenses Present Perfect Simple/Continuous Past Perfect Simple/Continuous Verb Forms and Patterns Passive forms with all tenses and modal verbs Phrasal verbs Reported Speech Modal perfects (must have, could have, etc.) Clauses Embedded relative clauses Third conditional, wish Complex sentences with more than one subordinate clause.
111
YOUNG ADULT
READERS
STAGE 1
Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
STAGE 2
William Shakespeare, Hamlet Prince of Denmark Charles Dickens, Great Expectations William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet Bram Stoker, Dracula William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat John Buchan, Thirty-Nine Steps
STAGE 3
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray William Shakespeare, Macbeth Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White Anonymous, Beowulf Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped Elizabeth Ferretti, The Earthkeepers Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles
STAGE 4
James Joyce, Dubliners Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Henry James, The Turn of the Screw Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights Edgar Allan Poe, Stories of Mystery and Suspense Charles and Mary Lamb, Tales from Shakespeare Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities Anthony Hope, The Prisoner of Zenda Hermann Melville, Moby Dick George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss Jane Austen, Emma Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
STAGE 5
E. M. Forster, A Passage to India Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway Francis Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair
STAGE 6
Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness J. Borsbey & R. Swan, Editors, A Collection of First World War Poetry Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest
YOUNG ADULT
READERS LIGHT
Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket Natsume Soseki, Botchan