Class 12 English - BIHAR
Prose: The Interview
The chapter 'The Interview', written by Christopher Silvester, is an insightful prose piece included in the Class 12 English curriculum for Bihar Board (BSEB) students. It explores the medium of the interview as a common genre of modern journalism, presenting both its pervasive influence and the mixed opinions celebrities hold about it. Through excerpts from an interview between Mukund Padmanabhan of 'The Hindu' and Umberto Eco, a famous novelist and semiotician, students learn about Eco's unique academic methods, his accidental entry into fiction writing, and the secret behind his immense productivity. The chapter is highly relevant for board exams as it tests both comprehension and critical thinking skills regarding media and literature.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Nature of the Interview
Interviews are a common feature of journalism today, praised as a source of truth and dismissed by others as an unwarranted intrusion into personal lives.
Celebrity Perspectives
Many celebrities view interviews as an immoral crime or an assault that diminishes them, much like primitive cultures believe being photographed steals one's soul.
Umberto Eco's Academic Work
Umberto Eco considered himself an academic scholar first who wrote novels only on Sundays, utilizing empty spaces or 'interstices' in his schedule to accomplish massive productivity.
The Secret of Eco's Productivity
Eco explained his prolific output through the metaphor of filling empty spaces in a jar with pebbles and sand, meaning he utilized every small pocket of time effectively.
The Success of The Name of the Rose
Eco's novel 'The Name of the Rose' achieved unexpected mass popularity, shifting him from a small circle of academic intellectuals to a global readership of millions.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Bihar (BSEB) Class 12 English board exams, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 8 marks. Questions frequently appear as objective (MCQs), short-answer type questions focusing on Umberto Eco's views or his novel, and long-answer questions summarizing the author's perspective on interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many celebrities view interviews negatively, believing that they profoundly damage their personality, act as an intrusion into their private lives, and leave them feeling diminished.
Many celebrities view interviews negatively, believing that they profoundly damage their personality, act as an intrusion into their private lives, and leave them feeling diminished.
How does Umberto Eco manage to write so much?
Eco explains that he utilizes the empty spaces or 'interstices' in his life—such as waiting for someone or traveling—to do his productive writing and thinking.
Why was Umberto Eco's novel 'The Name of the Rose' so unique?
It was a serious academic novel dealing with medieval history and semiotics that unexpectedly captured the imagination of a massive general audience, becoming a huge commercial success.
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