Class 10 English - MAHARASHTRA
Prose: The Luncheon
The Luncheon by W. Somerset Maugham is a witty and satirical short story prescribed for Class 10 Maharashtra students under the Kumarbharati syllabus. The narrative revolves around a struggling young writer who is trapped into hosting an expensive lunch at a high-end restaurant by an overly talkative female admirer. Throughout the meal, the lady repeatedly claims she never eats anything for luncheon while ordering the most expensive items on the menu, such as salmon and caviar. For board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, character analysis, irony, and vocabulary.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Situational Irony
The contrast between the guest's repeated assertion that she 'never eats anything for luncheon' and her continuous ordering of the most expensive dishes on the menu.
Character Sketch of the Lady
A manipulative, imposing, and pretentious woman who uses flattery to exploit the narrator's polite nature without any regard for his financial struggles.
Character Sketch of the Narrator
A young, struggling writer who is too polite and self-conscious to refuse his guest's expensive choices, leading to severe financial embarrassment.
Theme of Pretense and Hypocrisy
The story exposes the superficiality of high society, where people pretend to be abstemious while indulging excessively at someone else's expense.
Poetic Justice
The narrator's quiet satisfaction at the end of the story when he discovers the woman has grown exceptionally fat, fulfilling his silent wish for retribution.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Maharashtra (Kumarbharati) Class 10 English board exam, questions from 'The Luncheon' typically carry around 4 to 6 marks. Students can expect extract-based comprehension questions, questions testing appreciation of literary devices like irony, character sketches, and open-ended questions based on personal opinions regarding the narrator's handling of the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main moral or message of The Luncheon?
The story highlights the folly of pretense and teaches us not to judge people by their outward words, while also showing the awkwardness of social obligations.
Why didn't the narrator just tell the lady he couldn't afford the expensive food?
The narrator was too polite, young, and intimidated by social etiquette to cause a scene or admit his poverty, fearing he would look ungracious.
How does the author use humor in this chapter?
Maugham uses dry humor and dramatic irony, especially through the recurring dialogue 'I never eat anything for luncheon,' contrasted with the heavy bills piling up.
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