Class 10 English - GUJARAT
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur is an engaging detective story featured in the Class 10 English curriculum for Gujarat (GSEB) students. The chapter revolves around Ausable, a secret agent who defies the stereotypical image of a spy. Unlike James Bond, Ausable is fat and sloppy, yet he possesses exceptional quick-thinking and presence of mind. The plot thickens when a young writer named Fowler visits Ausable and encounters a rival secret agent, Max, who holds them at gunpoint with a report on a new missile. Ausable brilliantly outsmarts Max through an elaborate, convincing lie about a non-existent balcony, teaching students that intelligence triumphs over physical strength.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Ausable's Characterization
Ausable breaks the traditional stereotype of secret agents by being overweight, living in a small room, and speaking with an American accent, yet he is remarkably sharp and resourceful.
Fowler's Perspective
Fowler is a young, romantic writer who initially expects thrilling adventures with secret agents, but instead learns that real espionage requires mental agility rather than violence.
Max's Threat
Max is a rival secret agent who sneaks into Ausable's room with a master key and a pistol to steal an important report concerning missiles.
The Balcony Illusion
Ausable creates a brilliant, convincing story about a non-existent balcony beneath his window to trick Max into believing the police or intruders are entering.
Presence of Mind
The central theme of the chapter is that quick thinking, calm demeanor, and intelligence can save a person from dangerous situations better than weapons.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 10 English Board Exam, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 4 marks. Questions usually include short answer questions (2 marks) testing character traits or the plot twist, and multiple-choice questions (1 mark) based on key details of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ausable get rid of Max?
Ausable fabricates a story about a balcony outside his window, convincing Max that the police are knocking. When Max steps out to hide on the balcony, he falls to his death because the balcony does not exist.
Was there really a balcony outside Ausable's room?
No, there was no balcony. Ausable completely invented the story on the spot using his exceptional presence of mind to trick Max.
What was Fowler's first impression of Ausable?
Fowler was disappointed because Ausable looked nothing like the romantic secret agent he had read about in books; he was fat, sloppy, and lived in a dull French hotel room.
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