The Pedestrian - ICSE Treasure Chest Questions & Answers | Solved Extracts

 

Section B: Context Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 

To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o'clock of a misty evening in November, to put your feet upon that buckling concrete walk, to step over grassy seams and make your way, hands in pockets, through the silences, that was what Mr. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do. He would stand upon the corner of an intersection and peer down long moonlit avenues of sidewalks in four directions, deciding which way to go, but it really made no difference; he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053, or as good as alone, and with a final decision made, a path selected, he would stride off, sending patterns of frosty air before him like the smoke of a cigar.

i) Why was there complete silence on the city streets at 8 o'clock in the evening? Who was the lone traveller who entered into 'that silence'? Why was he there at that time?

Ans: There was complete silence on the city streets at 8 o'clock because people remained indoors watching television, and outdoor social life had completely disappeared in the futuristic society of A.D. 2053.
The lone traveller was Leonard Mead, the protagonist of The Pedestrian. He was there at that time because he loved taking solitary evening walks for fresh air, observation, and personal freedom, unlike others who stayed confined inside their houses.

ii) Who was Leonard Mead? What did he love dearly? For how long he had been pursuing what he loved dearly?

Ans: Leonard Mead was a writer and the central character of The Pedestrian. He loved walking alone in the city streets at night, enjoying the silence, fresh air, and the opportunity for observation. He had been pursuing this habit every night for nearly ten years, without meeting another pedestrian even once.

iii) What is meant by 'it really made no difference'? What is suggested about Leonard Mead by this sentence?

Ans: The phrase "it really made no difference" means that all the streets were equally empty and silent, so choosing any direction had the same result. This sentence suggests that Leonard Mead was completely alone in the city, highlighting the absence of social life and showing that he was the only person who still walked freely, unlike the rest of the population.

iv) Why is he described as 'alone in this world of A.D. 2053'?

Ans: Leonard Mead is described as "alone in this world of A.D. 2053" because no one else came out of their houses at night. All people stayed indoors, absorbed in their television screens, while Mead was the only person who walked outside. This shows the complete social isolation and loss of human interaction in the future society.

v) What is suggested by the phrases 'final decision made' and 'path selected'? What do these phrases tell about Leonard Mead?

Ans: The phrases "final decision made" and "path selected" suggest that Leonard Mead chooses his direction independently, even though all streets are equally empty. These phrases show that Leonard Mead is a decisive and independent thinker who enjoys making his own choices. They highlight his individuality and freedom of action in a society where most people no longer think or act for themselves.

II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Mr Leonard Mead would pause, cock his head, listen, look, and march on, his feet making no noise on the lumpy walk. For long ago he had wisely changed to sneakers when strolling at night, because the dogs in intermittent squads would parallel his journey with barkings if he wore hard heels, and lights might click on and faces appear and an entire street be startled by the passing of a lone figure, himself, in the early November evening.

i) Why does Mead make a deliberate attempt not to produce any sound while walking?

Ans: Leonard Mead makes a deliberate attempt not to produce any sound while walking because the barking of dogs could alert people inside their houses. Loud footsteps might cause lights to switch on and faces to appear at windows, making his presence noticeable. Therefore, he wears sneakers to walk silently and avoid drawing attention to himself.

ii) Why does Leonard Mead start wearing sneakers instead of hard heels while strolling at night?

Ans: Leonard Mead starts wearing sneakers instead of hard heels because hard heels caused dogs to bark, which could alert people inside their houses. This might result in lights switching on and faces appearing at windows, so he chose sneakers to walk silently and avoid attention.

iii) What is suggested by Mead's act of wearing sneakers?

Ans: Mead's act of wearing sneakers suggests that he is cautious and aware of his surroundings. It shows his desire to avoid attention and disturbance while walking, highlighting the unnatural fear and isolation that exist in the society of A.D. 2053.

iv) Why is he described as a 'lone figure'? Who would get startled by his walk at night? Why?

Ans: Leonard Mead is described as a 'lone figure' because he is the only person who comes out to walk at night, while all others remain inside their houses.
The residents of the street would get startled by his walk because no one expects a person to be walking outside at night in that society. His presence is unusual, as people are completely used to staying indoors and avoiding outdoor activity.

v) Explain briefly the characteristic traits of Leonard Mead as reflected in this extract.

Ans: This extract reflects that Leonard Mead is quiet, cautious, and observant. He walks carefully, listens attentively, and avoids making noise, showing his alertness and sensitivity to his surroundings. His habit of wearing sneakers suggests that he is practical and thoughtful, while his solitary walks highlight his individuality and independence in a society that avoids outdoor life.

III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Was that a murmur of laughter from within a moon-white house? He hesitated, but went on when nothing more happened. He stumbled over a particularly uneven section of sidewalk. The cement was vanishing under flowers and grass. In ten years of walking by night or day, for thousands of miles, he had never met another person walking, not once in all that time.

i) What does Mead think about the 'murmur of laughter'? What does it suggest about his connection with other people?

Ans: Leonard Mead wonders if the faint sound is a murmur of laughter coming from inside a house, but when nothing follows, he continues walking.
This suggests that Mead has almost no real connection with other people, as human presence has become rare and distant. It highlights his complete isolation in a society where people remain indoors and avoid direct interaction.

ii) Why does he stumble while walking? What does 'cement was vanishing' suggest?

Ans: He stumbles while walking because the sidewalk is uneven and poorly maintained.
The phrase "the cement was vanishing" suggests that nature is slowly reclaiming the city, as there are fewer people using the streets. It highlights the neglect of public spaces and the absence of active human life in society.

iii) Why has he not encountered another person on the road in ten years of his solitary walks? What does it suggest?

Ans: He has not encountered another person on the road because people no longer go out for walks and prefer to stay indoors, absorbed in their houses. This suggests a society marked by extreme isolation and loss of social interaction, where normal human activities like walking have disappeared.

iv) How does this extract reveal the dormant potential of nature?

Ans: This extract reveals the dormant potential of nature through the image of cement vanishing under flowers and grass. It shows that when human activity decreases, nature slowly reclaims man-made spaces, highlighting its quiet strength and ability to grow even in neglected urban areas.

v) Explain briefly the theme of 'Nonconformity' as presented in the story.

Ans: The theme of nonconformity is shown through Leonard Mead, who refuses to follow the lifestyle of the majority. While others remain indoors, absorbed in their houses and avoiding outdoor life, Mead chooses to walk freely and observe the world around him. His simple act of walking makes him different and unacceptable in society, highlighting how independent thinking is treated as abnormal in a conformist, technology-controlled world.

IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

He turned back on a side street, circling around toward his home. He was within a block of his destination when the lone car turned a corner quite suddenly and flashed a fierce white cone of light upon him. He stood entranced, not unlike a night moth, stunned by the illumination, and then drawn toward it.
A metallic voice called to him:
"Stand still. Stay where you are! Don't move!"

i) Where was Mead when he saw a lone car? What was the 'lone car' in actuality?

Ans: Leonard Mead was walking on a side street near his home, just a block away from his destination, when he saw the lone car. The lone car was actually a police car, the only one left to patrol the city streets in the future society.

ii) State two figures of speech is used in the line given below:

He was within a block of his destination when the lone car turned a corner quite suddenly and flashed a fierce white cone of light upon him.

Ans: The two figures of speech used in the given line are:
Metaphor: The phrase "fierce white cone of light" compares the beam of the car's headlights to a cone without using like or as.
Personification: The lone car is shown as acting deliberately when it "turned a corner quite suddenly and flashed", giving it human-like qualities.

iii) How did Mead react to the light flashed on him by the car?

Ans: When the light was flashed on him, Leonard Mead stood still, stunned and motionless, like a night moth caught in bright light. He was dazed and drawn towards the light, unable to react immediately due to its sudden intensity.

iv) What is suggested by Mead's comparison with a moth?

Ans: Mead's comparison with a moth suggests that he is helpless and vulnerable in front of the powerful authority of the car. Like a moth attracted to light, he is drawn towards it without resistance, highlighting the overwhelming control of authority in the society.

v) How does this extract convey the feeling of fear and foreboding?

Ans: This extract conveys a feeling of fear and foreboding through the sudden appearance of the lone car, the harsh beam of light, and the metallic commanding voice ordering Mead to stop. The silence of the street, combined with the car's aggressive authority, creates an atmosphere of threat, tension, and impending danger, suggesting that something unpleasant is about to happen.

V. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Ever since a year ago, 2052, the election year, the force had been cut down from three cars to one. Crime was ebbing; there was no need now for the police, save for this one lone car wandering and wandering the empty streets.
"Your name?" said the police car in a metallic whisper. He couldn't see the men in it for the bright light in his eyes.
"Leonard Mead," he said.
"Speak up!"
"Leonard Mead!"
"Business or profession?"
"I guess you'd call me a writer."
"No profession," said the police car, as if talking to itself. The light held him fixed, like a museum specimen, needle thrust through chest.
"You might say that," said Mr. Mead. He hadn't written in years.

i) Why did the voice from the police car speak in a metallic whisper? Why could not Mead see the men in the car?

Ans: The voice from the police car spoke in a metallic whisper because the car was fully automated and controlled by machines, not by human policemen.
Mead could not see the men in the car because the strong, blinding beam of light from the headlights was fixed on his eyes, preventing him from seeing inside the vehicle.

ii) Why was there only one car? What did it suggest about the people of the city?

Ans: There was only one police car because crime had almost disappeared, so the police force was reduced. This suggests that the people of the city were passive, obedient, and completely controlled, living indoors and conforming to a uniform lifestyle, leaving no scope for crime or independent action.

iii) What was Mead's profession? Why did the police car describe it as 'No profession'?

Ans: Mead's profession was that of a writer. The police car described it as "No profession" because he had not written anything for years, as books and magazines were no longer read in that society. This shows that creative work had lost its value and was not recognised as a profession in the futuristic world.

iv) Explain briefly the simile in this extract.

Ans: The simile in this extract is "The light held him fixed, like a museum specimen, needle thrust through chest." It compares Leonard Mead to a lifeless exhibit pinned for observation, showing how the police car treats him as an object rather than a human being. This simile highlights the cold, mechanical nature of authority and the loss of human sensitivity in the society of The Pedestrian.

v) Why had not Mead written anything for years? Which characteristic trait of Mead is revealed in this extract.

Ans: Mead had not written anything for years because books and magazines were no longer read, as people preferred to remain indoors, absorbed in their viewing screens. Writing had lost its importance in society.
This extract reveals Mead's individualistic and creative nature, as he still identifies himself as a writer despite living in a society that does not value creativity or independent thinking.