Class 9 English Notes Chapter 7 (Packing) – Beehive English Text Book Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 7, 'Packing', from your Beehive textbook. This is an amusing extract from Jerome K. Jerome's classic novel, 'Three Men in a Boat'. It's often a favourite for its humour, but for exam purposes, we need to understand the details, characters, and underlying themes.

Chapter 7: Packing - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Introduction & Author:

• Text: An extract from the humorous travelogue 'Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)' by Jerome K. Jerome.
• Author: Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927), an English writer and humorist.
• Context: Three friends (Jerome, George, and Harris) are preparing for a boat trip on the River Thames, accompanied by Jerome's dog, Montmorency. This chapter focuses solely on the chaotic process of packing for the trip.
• Genre: Humour, Anecdotal Narrative.

2. Summary of Events:

• Jerome's Offer: The narrator, Jerome, prides himself on his packing skills and offers to do the packing. He actually intended only to supervise or "boss the job," letting George and Harris potter about under his direction.
• George and Harris's Reaction: They readily agree, much to Jerome's irritation. They relax comfortably (George smoking a pipe, Harris with legs on the table) while Jerome does all the work. This wasn't what Jerome wanted; he hates seeing others idle when he's working.
• First Packing Attempt (The Bag):
  • Jerome starts packing the main bag. It takes longer than expected.
  • He finally finishes and straps the bag, only for Harris to ask if he packed the boots.
  • Jerome realises he forgot them and has to reopen the bag.
  • He packs the boots and is about to close the bag again when a "horrible idea" strikes him – did he pack his toothbrush?
• The Toothbrush Hunt:
  • Jerome becomes obsessed with finding his toothbrush. He claims his life becomes a misery when travelling without it.
  • He unpacks everything but cannot find it. He shakes every item.
  • He eventually finds it inside one of the boots he just packed.
  • He repacks everything once more.
• Second Packing Completion & Soap Incident:
  • Jerome finishes packing the bag around 10:05 PM.
  • George asks if the soap is packed. Jerome doesn't care if it is or isn't but finds he has packed his tobacco pouch inside the bag and has to reopen it again.
  • He finally finishes packing the bag at 10:05 PM (Note: The text repeats this time, likely for humorous effect, emphasizing the frustration and time wasted).
• Packing the Hampers (George and Harris):
  • With the main bag done, the food hampers remain. George and Harris offer to pack them to show Jerome how it's done. Jerome agrees, anticipating chaos.
  • Their packing is disastrous:
    • They start by breaking a cup.
    • Harris packs strawberry jam on top of a tomato and squashes it. They have to scrape the tomato out with a teaspoon.
    • George treads on the butter. It sticks to his slipper. They struggle to get it off, then try to put it in the kettle (it won't fit), and finally place it on a chair. Harris sits on it, and it sticks to him. They then look for it all over the room before finding it on Harris's back. They pack it in the teapot.
    • They put heavy things on top of lighter things (like pies at the bottom, smashed).
    • They spill salt over everything.
• Montmorency's Contribution:
  • The dog, Montmorency, adds to the chaos. His ambition in life seems to be to get in the way and be sworn at.
  • He comes and sits on things just when they are about to be packed.
  • He puts his leg into the jam.
  • He pretends lemons are rats and gets into the hamper to kill them. Harris hits him with a frying pan to get him out.
• Packing Completed & Blame:
  • The hampers are finally packed around 12:50 AM.
  • George and Harris are exhausted. Harris blames George for most of the mess (especially the butter incident).
• Deciding Wake-up Time:
  • They need to decide when to wake up.
  • Harris wants 7:00 AM, Jerome wants 6:00 AM.
  • They compromise on 6:30 AM after an argument.
  • George was asleep during this discussion, so they place the bath tub next to his bed so he'll tumble into it upon waking.
• Conclusion: The chapter ends with them going to bed, reflecting the utter chaos and inefficiency of their packing efforts, particularly highlighting Jerome's initial misplaced pride.

3. Themes:

• Humour and Exaggeration: The primary theme. Everyday frustrations (packing, forgetting things) are exaggerated for comic effect (e.g., the toothbrush hunt, the butter incident).
• Chaos and Incompetence: None of the characters are good at packing. Their attempts lead to mess, breakage, and frustration.
• Pride and Reality: Jerome's pride in his packing skills is quickly deflated by his own forgetfulness and the subsequent chaos caused by his friends.
• Friendship Dynamics: Despite the irritation and blame, their friendship endures the chaotic situation. Their interactions reveal typical dynamics – teasing, annoyance, shared incompetence.
• Man vs. Inanimate Objects: The struggle with luggage, butter, jam, and toothbrushes is portrayed humorously as a battle the humans often lose.

4. Character Sketches:

• Jerome (Narrator): Overconfident about his skills (especially packing), easily irritated by others' idleness, somewhat forgetful and clumsy himself, prone to exaggeration. Provides the humorous perspective.
• George: Laid-back, enjoys watching others work, equally incompetent at practical tasks like packing, contributes significantly to the hamper mess (butter incident).
• Harris: Similar to George, clumsy, easily flustered during packing, quick to blame others (like George for the butter), responsible for squashing the tomato.
• Montmorency: Jerome's fox terrier. Mischievous, enjoys creating chaos, seems drawn to trouble, adds a layer of animal-induced mayhem to the scene. Described as having a natural sin that makes him interfere.

5. Key Vocabulary/Phrases:

• Potter about: To move around aimlessly, doing small, unimportant things.
• Boss the job: To supervise and tell others what to do.
• Uncanny: Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way. (Used to describe Montmorency's knack for appearing where he isn't wanted).
• Scrape: To remove something by pulling a hard edge across a surface. (Used for the tomato).
• Squash: To crush or squeeze something flat.
• Tread on: To step on something.
• Rummage: To search unsystematically and untidily through things.
• Superstition: A widely held but irrational belief. (Jerome mentions his 'superstition' about his toothbrush).
• Messing about: Behaving in a silly or annoying way; handling things incompetently.

6. Important Points for Exams:

• Remember who offered to pack first (Jerome) and why (pride, intention to supervise).
• Know the sequence of forgotten items: Boots, Toothbrush, Soap/Tobacco Pouch.
• Recall the specific incidents during the hamper packing: broken cup, squashed tomato, butter incident (George steps on it, Harris sits on it, packed in teapot), salt spillage, pies smashed.
• Understand Montmorency's role: sitting on things, putting leg in jam, chasing lemons in the hamper.
• Note the final packing times: Bag (10:05 PM), Hampers (12:50 AM).
• Remember the argument about wake-up time and the final agreed time (6:30 AM).
• The trick planned for George (bathtub).

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Why did Jerome volunteer to do the packing?
   a) He genuinely loved packing.
   b) George and Harris forced him to.
   c) He wanted to supervise George and Harris while they packed.
   d) He prided himself on his packing skills and intended to 'boss the job'.

2. What was the first item Jerome realised he had forgotten to pack in the bag?
   a) His toothbrush
   b) The soap
   c) The boots
   d) His tobacco pouch

3. Where did Jerome eventually find his toothbrush?
   a) Inside the teapot
   b) Under the bed
   c) Inside one of the boots
   d) In his pocket

4. Who packed the food hampers?
   a) Jerome alone
   b) George and Harris
   c) All three friends together
   d) Montmorency

5. Which item did Harris pack on top of a tomato, squashing it?
   a) A pie
   b) Strawberry jam
   c) Butter
   d) A bottle of salt

6. What happened to the butter during the hamper packing?
   a) It melted all over the floor.
   b) George trod on it, and later Harris sat on it.
   c) Montmorency ate it.
   d) They forgot to pack it altogether.

7. What did Montmorency pretend the lemons were?
   a) Balls
   b) Mice
   c) Rats
   d) His toys

8. What time did the friends finally finish packing the hampers?
   a) 10:05 PM
   b) 11:30 PM
   c) 12:00 AM
   d) 12:50 AM

9. What time did the friends agree to wake up the next morning?
   a) 6:00 AM
   b) 6:30 AM
   c) 7:00 AM
   d) They couldn't agree on a time.

10. What trick did Jerome and Harris plan for George for the morning?
    a) Hiding his clothes
    b) Putting salt in his tea
    c) Placing the bath tub where he would fall into it
    d) Waking him up an hour early

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. d
2. c
3. c
4. b
5. b
6. b
7. c
8. d
9. b
10. c

Study these notes carefully. Focus on the sequence of events, the specific mishaps, the characters' roles, and the overall humorous tone. Good luck with your preparation!