Class 10 English - ICSE
Story: With the Photographer
With the Photographer by Stephen Leacock is a humorous short story included in the Class 10 ICSE English Literature curriculum. The narrative revolves around the author's visit to a photo studio, where the photographer and his assistant repeatedly try to alter and 'improve' his facial features, claiming the photograph is a work of art rather than a true likeness. This chapter matters greatly for ICSE board exams as it tests a student's understanding of satire, irony, and subtle humor. Examiners frequently test character analysis, comprehension of the underlying social commentary on vanity, and critical interpretation of the story's witty dialogue.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Satire and Irony
The story uses humor to criticize the obsession with artificial perfection and how people commercialize art.
Character Contrast
The contrast between the calm, patient narrator and the arrogant, opinionated photographer highlights the theme of customer disrespect.
Theme of Vanity
It explores how society values edited appearances over natural reality, stripping away a person's true identity.
Pacing and Tone
Leacock builds frustration through a steady pace, shifting the tone from mild annoyance to deep emotional outrage.
Climax and Resolution
The emotional turning point occurs when the author bursts into tears upon seeing the heavily manipulated, unrecognizable photograph.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the ICSE Class 10 English Literature paper, this chapter typically contributes around 5 to 10 marks through context-based extract questions and long-answer narrative or character analysis questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of 'With the Photographer'?
The central theme is the absurdity of artificial perfection and the loss of individual identity in modern society.
Why does the narrator get angry with the photographer?
The narrator gets angry because the photographer criticizes his natural facial features and tries to replace them with a completely fake, generalized face.
How does Leacock use humor in this story?
Leacock uses gentle exaggeration, deadpan dialogue, and ironic situations to create comic relief out of an everyday annoying experience.
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