Class 12 English - WEST-BENGAL
Prose: The Interview
The chapter 'The Interview' by Christopher Silvester, prescribed for Class 12 West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) students, explores the multi-faceted medium of the interview as a communication tool. Part one is an excerpt from Silvester's Penguin Book of Interviews, discussing the varied opinions of celebrities regarding interviews—some viewing it as a supreme service while others, like V.S. Naipaul and Lewis Carroll, feeling it wounded them or robbed them of their privacy. Part two features an insightful interview between Mukund Padmanabhan of The Hindu and the renowned author Umberto Eco, who discusses his academic work and novel The Name of the Rose.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Varying Perspectives on Interviews
Celebrities and writers hold polar opposite views; some see interviews as an art form and a reliable source of truth, while others consider them an unwarranted intrusion into personal life.
Umberto Eco's Academic Persona
Umberto Eco was primarily a university professor who wrote novels on Sundays, showcasing how one can successfully juggle multiple demanding intellectual pursuits.
The Interstices Concept
Eco explains that his philosophical and scholarly work fills the empty spaces ('interstices') of his life, which allows him to accomplish a massive volume of work efficiently.
The Secret of The Name of the Rose
Eco attributes the phenomenal success of his novel to a mystery, noting that if it had been published ten years earlier or later, it might not have achieved the same cult status.
The Evolution of the Interview
Originating in the mid-nineteenth century, the interview has become an immensely prevalent yet universally debated facet of journalism and popular culture.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the WBCHSE Class 12 English exam, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 10 marks. Common question types include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Short Answer Type Questions (SAQs) focusing on specific opinions of authors like V.S. Naipaul or Mark Twain, and Broad Answer Type Questions (Long questions) usually centered around Umberto Eco's views on writing, his academic success, and the concept of 'interstices'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some celebrities despise being interviewed?
Writers like V.S. Naipaul and Rudyard Kipling felt that interviews were an immoral intrusion into their privacy and left them feeling wounded or diminished.
How does Umberto Eco manage to write so many scholarly and fictional works?
Eco utilizes the 'interstices'—the empty spaces or spare moments in between his regular academic duties and daily activities—to write.
What is the significance of the title 'The Name of the Rose'?
It is the title of Umberto Eco's highly successful medieval mystery novel that unexpectedly brought him massive global fame as a novelist rather than just a scholar.
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