Class 10 English - ANDHRA-PRADESH
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur is an engaging detective story featured in the Class 10 Andhra Pradesh (BSEAP) English curriculum. The chapter follows Ausable, a secret agent who defies the traditional stereotype of a spy by being fat and clumsy. When a young writer named Fowler accompanies him to his hotel room, they are confronted by Max, another rival agent brandishing a pistol. Through quick thinking, presence of mind, and a clever bluff about a nonexistent balcony, Ausable effortlessly outsmarts Max. This story emphasizes that intelligence and calmness under pressure matter much more than physical appearance or brute force.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Character Contrast (Ausable vs. Max)
Ausable is portrayed as dull, overweight, and living in a small room, contrasting sharply with the dashing, athletic stereotype of secret agents embodied by Max, who is agile and threatening.
Presence of Mind
Ausable demonstrates exceptional calmness and quick thinking when faced with a gun-toting intruder, fabricating an elaborate lie rather than panicking.
The Balcony Trick
Ausable invents a story about a non-existent balcony outside his window, convincing Max that anyone could break in, which ultimately leads to Max's downfall when he tries to hide there.
Apperance vs. Reality
The central theme of the chapter is that appearances can be deeply deceptive; a fat, unglamorous man turns out to be a brilliant and resourceful secret agent.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Andhra Pradesh (BSEAP) Class 10 English board exams, questions from supplementary readers typically carry around 4 to 8 marks. Students can expect short answer questions testing plot comprehension, as well as paragraph-level questions focusing on character sketches (especially Ausable) and the theme of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there really a balcony outside Ausable's room?
No, there was no balcony. Ausable completely made up the story about the balcony to trick Max into jumping out of the window.
Why was Fowler disappointed when he met Ausable?
Fowler was disappointed because Ausable looked and acted nothing like the romantic, mysterious secret agents he had read about in books or seen in movies.
How did Max enter Ausable's room?
Max entered Ausable's room using a passkey, catching both Ausable and Fowler by surprise.
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