The Interview Chapter Notes Class 12 NCERT English Core Flamingo

Get here Study Notes based on the chapter “The Interview” from Class 12 NCERT book of English titled “Flamingo”. The Notes include summary of ‘Chistopher Silvester and An Interview with Umberto Eco’ together with key points. Themes, messages, key takeaways, character sketches and some important lines and their explanations. Click here for Q&A of NCERT Exercises of “The Interview” Chapter.

Summary of “The Interview”

PART I – Christopher Silvester

The first part of the chapter discusses the origin and significance of interviews in journalism. Since their invention about 130 years ago, interviews have become a common way to communicate and share information. Many people have read interviews, and many celebrities have been interviewed, often multiple times. However, opinions on interviews vary. Some see interviews as an important art form and a way to discover truth. Others, especially celebrities, view interviews as an invasion of privacy or something that can harm their image.

V. S. Naipaul, for example, believed that interviews could hurt people and take away part of their identity. Lewis Carroll, creator of Alice in Wonderland, avoided interviews because he feared being overly admired. Rudyard Kipling strongly disliked interviews and considered them immoral and an attack on personal dignity. Despite these negative views, interviews have become a powerful tool of communication, and people today often learn about famous individuals through interviews. The interviewer holds great power in shaping public perceptions.

Key Points

1. The interview has been a common part of journalism for over 130 years.
2. Many people have read interviews, and many celebrities have been interviewed multiple times.
3. Opinions about interviews are divided:

• Some believe interviews reveal truth and can be considered an art.
• Others, especially celebrities, see them as intrusions and harmful to their personal lives.

1. V. S. Naipaul felt interviews could harm people and take something away from them.
2. Lewis Carroll avoided interviews due to a fear of being overly admired or bothered.
3. Rudyard Kipling strongly opposed interviews, calling them immoral and invasive.
4. Despite criticisms, interviews are an important communication tool in modern times.
5. Denis Brian highlights that interviews are a powerful way to form impressions of public figures.

PART II – An Interview with Umberto Eco

In the second part, we read an interview with Umberto Eco, an Italian professor and author, conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan. Eco explains that even though he appears to do many things, he is actually focused on the same philosophical interests in all his work. He shares that he uses the “empty spaces” in life, like waiting for an elevator, to work productively.

Eco also reflects on his writing style, which is more personal and informal compared to typical academic writing. He believes that research should be presented as a story, showing both successes and failures, which he adopted early in his career. This narrative style later led him to write novels, starting around the age of 50.

When Mukund asks Eco about his fame as a novelist, Eco acknowledges that although he is a professor, many people know him only as the author of The Name of the Rose, a popular novel that explores deep themes like theology and history. Despite his success, Eco sees himself primarily as a university professor and finds humor in being known more for his novels than his academic work.

Lastly, Eco discusses the unexpected success of The Name of the Rose. Even though the book is complex, it reached a large audience because people sometimes crave challenging reading experiences. The success of the novel, especially in countries like the U.S., was a mystery even to him, as it exceeded all expectations.

Key Points

1. Umberto Eco is interviewed by Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu.
2. Eco explains that although it seems like he does many things, he is always working on similar philosophical ideas.
3. He uses “empty spaces” or short periods of time in his life to work productively.
4. Eco’s academic writing style is informal and personal, telling the story of his research.
5. He began writing novels later in life, starting at age 50, partly due to his love for storytelling.
6. Despite being famous for his novel The Name of the Rose, Eco sees himself as a university professor first.
7. Eco finds humor in the fact that people know him more for his novels than for his academic work.
8. The success of The Name of the Rose was unexpected, but Eco believes that some readers enjoy complex and challenging books.
9. The book’s success in the U.S., where it was expected to sell very few copies, remains a mystery to him.

Summary of the “The Interview” in key points:

1. Commonplace in Journalism: Interviews have become a standard practice in journalism, significantly shaping how information is shared and consumed.
2. Varied Opinions: People have differing views on interviews:

• Some see them as a source of truth and artistic expression.
• Others, particularly celebrities, view them as intrusive and damaging to their privacy.

1. Influence of the Interviewer: Interviewers hold substantial power in framing narratives and influencing public perceptions of the subjects they interview.
2. Impact on Identity: Interviews can affect the self-identity of individuals, leading to feelings of loss or vulnerability.
3. Public vs. Private Life: Public figures often face challenges in balancing their private lives with their public personas amidst media scrutiny.
4. Ethical Considerations: The chapter highlights ethical concerns regarding interviews, emphasizing the importance of respect and sensitivity towards interviewees.
5. Cultural Beliefs: The text draws parallels to cultural beliefs about capturing someone’s image, suggesting that interviews can feel similarly invasive.
6. Intellectual Insights: Through Umberto Eco’s interview, the chapter illustrates how interviews can reveal the creative processes and intellectual depth of prominent figures.
7. Reflection on Communication: The chapter encourages critical reflection on the complexities and implications of interviews in modern communication.

Vocabulary Notes (Engish & Hindi Meanings)

1. Commonplace:
   Something that is ordinary or very common.
   साधारण या सामान्य चीज़।
2. At some point:
   At a certain moment in time.
   किसी विशेष समय पर।
3. Extravagant:
   Excessive or over-the-top, more than what is reasonable.
   अतिशयोक्तिपूर्ण या बहुत ज़्यादा।
4. Despise:
   To strongly dislike or hate something.
   घृणा करना या नफ़रत करना।
5. Unwarranted intrusion:
   An unnecessary or unjustified invasion into someone’s personal space or life.
   बिना कारण या अनुचित हस्तक्षेप।
6. Diminishes:
   Reduces in importance, size, or value.
   महत्त्व, आकार, या मूल्य में कमी करना।
7. Primitive cultures:
   Early or ancient societies that are less technologically developed.
   प्राचीन या पुरानी सभ्यताएँ जो तकनीकी रूप से कम विकसित हैं।
8. Stealing soul:
   The belief that capturing a person’s image (in a photo) takes away part of their spirit or essence.
   यह विश्वास कि किसी व्यक्ति की तस्वीर लेने से उनकी आत्मा का हिस्सा चुरा लिया जाता है।
9. Consented:
   Agreed or gave permission.
   सहमति देना या अनुमति देना।
10. Lionize:
    To treat someone as very important or famous.
    किसी को बहुत महत्त्व देना या प्रसिद्धि प्रदान करना।
11. Would be acquaintances:
    People who want to become friends or acquaintances but are not yet.
    जो लोग मित्र या परिचित बनना चाहते हैं, लेकिन अभी तक नहीं हैं।
12. Persistent:
    Continuing firmly or stubbornly despite difficulty or opposition.
    लगातार बने रहना, चाहे कठिनाइयाँ हों।
13. Relate:
    To tell or narrate a story or event.
    कहानी या घटना सुनाना।
14. Amusement:
    A feeling of enjoyment or entertainment.
    आनंद या मनोरंजन का अनुभव।
15. Condemnatory:
    Expressing strong disapproval or criticism.
    कठोर निंदा करने वाला।
16. Wrecked:
    Ruined or destroyed.
    बर्बाद या नष्ट किया हुआ।
17. Immoral:
    Against moral principles, unethical.
    अनैतिक।
18. Offence:
    A breach of law or rule; an action that causes harm.
    अपराध या नियम का उल्लंघन।
19. My person:
    Refers to one’s body or self.
    मेरा शरीर या मेरी स्वयं की पहचान।
20. Assault:
    A physical or verbal attack.
    हमला या आक्रमण।
21. Merits:
    Deserves or is worthy of.
    योग्य होना या हकदार होना।
22. Vile:
    Extremely unpleasant or morally bad.
    घृणित या नैतिक रूप से बुरा।
23. Much less give it:
    Certainly not willing to give it; even less likely.
    देना तो दूर की बात है।
24. Perpetrated:
    Carried out or committed (usually something bad).
    करना या अंजाम देना (अक्सर कुछ बुरा)।
25. Serviceable medium of communication:
    A useful or effective way to share information.
    सूचना साझा करने का उपयोगी या प्रभावी साधन।
26. Impressions:
    Ideas or feelings someone has about something or someone.
    किसी चीज़ या व्यक्ति के बारे में धारणा या विचार।
27. Contemporaries:
    People living or existing at the same time as someone else.
    समकालीन व्यक्ति या साथी।
28. Unprecedented:
    Never done or known before.
    अभूतपूर्व, जो पहले कभी नहीं हुआ।
29. Formidable reputation:
    A reputation of being powerful, impressive, or deserving respect.
    शक्तिशाली या सम्मानजनक प्रतिष्ठा।
30. Semiotics:
    The study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.
    चिन्हों और प्रतीकों के अध्ययन की विधा।
31. Medieval aesthetics:
    The study of beauty and artistic expressions from the Middle Ages.
    मध्ययुगीन सौंदर्यशास्त्र, जिसमें मध्ययुगीन कलात्मक अभिव्यक्तियों का अध्ययन होता है।
32. Staggeringly large:
    Extremely large or shocking in size.
    बहुत ही विशाल या आश्चर्यजनक रूप से बड़ा।
33. Ethical:
    Related to moral principles and values.
    नैतिक या सदाचार से संबंधित।
34. Eliminate:
    To remove or get rid of.
    हटाना या समाप्त करना।
35. Interstices:
    Small gaps or spaces between things.
    छोटी जगहें या खाली स्थान।
36. Depersonalized:
    Lacking personal elements; made impersonal.
    व्यक्तिगत तत्वों से रहित, निराश्रित।
37. Dissertation:
    A long essay or research paper written for a university degree.
    विश्वविद्यालय की डिग्री के लिए लिखा गया विस्तृत निबंध या शोध पत्र।
38. Hypotheses:
    Ideas or explanations that are tested through experiments.
    परिकल्पनाएँ या अनुमान जो प्रयोगों द्वारा परखी जाती हैं।
39. Narratives:
    Stories or accounts of events.
    कहानियाँ या घटनाओं का वर्णन।
40. Detective yarn:
    A story that involves solving a mystery or crime.
    एक कहानी जिसमें रहस्य या अपराध का समाधान होता है।
41. Delves:
    Investigates or explores deeply.
    गहराई से जांच करना या अध्ययन करना।
42. Metaphysics:
    A branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of reality and existence.
    दर्शनशास्त्र की वह शाखा जो वास्तविकता और अस्तित्व का अध्ययन करती है।
43. Theology:
    The study of the nature of God and religious beliefs.
    धर्म और ईश्वर के स्वरूप का अध्ययन।
44. Medieval history:
    The history of the Middle Ages (roughly 500–1500 AD).
    मध्यकालीन इतिहास (लगभग 500 से 1500 ईस्वी)।
45. Trash:
    Something of poor quality or low value.
    घटिया या कम मूल्य की चीज़।
46. Cathedral:
    A large, important church, often the main church of a district.
    एक बड़ा और महत्वपूर्ण गिरजाघर, अक्सर किसी जिले का मुख्य गिरजाघर।

Theme of The Chapter “The Interview”

The theme of the chapter “The Interview” revolves around the significance, impact, and varying perspectives on interviews as a form of communication. It explores the role of interviews in modern journalism and how they shape public perceptions of individuals, particularly celebrities and intellectuals. The chapter highlights the following key aspects:

1. Diverse Opinions on Interviews: It showcases the contrasting views of those who appreciate interviews as a source of truth and art, and those who see them as intrusive and harmful.
2. The Power of Interviews: The chapter emphasizes the power and influence that interviews have in shaping our understanding of famous personalities and intellectual figures.
3. Personal Reflections: Through the interview with Umberto Eco, the chapter provides insight into how scholars and writers like Eco balance their public and private personas, while reflecting on the nature of their work and identity.

Overall, the chapter examines the interview as a powerful tool for both revealing truths and exposing vulnerabilities, while questioning its ethical implications.

The Essence of the chapter “The Interview”:

1. Highlight the Role of Interviews in Journalism: The chapter explains how interviews have become a key tool in journalism for conveying information and shaping public opinion. It shows how interviews offer insights into the lives of celebrities, intellectuals, and public figures.
2. Present Contrasting Views on Interviews: The chapter explores different perspectives on interviews—some view them as a source of truth and art, while others see them as intrusive and harmful. By presenting these contrasting opinions, it encourages readers to think about the ethical aspects of interviewing.
3. Reflect on the Power of Interviews: The chapter emphasizes the immense influence that interviews have in modern society. Through the words of Denis Brian and other figures, it shows how interviews form our most vivid impressions of famous personalities.
4. Provide Insight into Umberto Eco’s Life and Work: The interview with Umberto Eco offers a glimpse into the personal and professional life of a famous intellectual, revealing how he balances his academic work and creative writing. It also reflects on how he perceives the role of interviews in his public image.

In short, the chapter aims to give readers a deeper understanding of the interview as both a journalistic tool and a personal experience, examining its power, ethics, and effects on individuals.

Different Views in the Chapter “The Interview”

In the chapter “The Interview”, different views are expressed regarding the value and impact of interviews:

Positive Views on Interviews:

1. A Source of Truth and Art: Some people believe that interviews, when done well, can be a source of truth and a form of art. They think interviews help reveal personal truths and provide deeper insights into the thoughts and lives of individuals.
2. Powerful Communication Tool: Interviews are seen as an effective medium to communicate and share information. Denis Brian points out that interviews provide vivid impressions of people, making them a key way of understanding public figures today.

Negative Views on Interviews:

1. Invasion of Privacy: Many celebrities, like V. S. Naipaul and Rudyard Kipling, view interviews as intrusive. They feel that interviews invade their personal lives and can be an unwelcome intrusion. They think interviews reduce their dignity and privacy.
2. Harmful and Diminishing: V. S. Naipaul believes that interviews can wound people and make them lose a part of themselves. He feels that interviews can diminish a person’s identity, similar to the belief in primitive cultures that taking someone’s photograph steals their soul.
3. Immoral and Unethical: Rudyard Kipling went as far as calling interviews immoral and a crime. He compared being interviewed to a personal assault and believed it deserved punishment.
4. Suffocating Experience: Saul Bellow described interviews as feeling like “thumbprints on his windpipe,” showing how some people find interviews uncomfortable and restrictive, as if they are being suffocated.

Balanced Views:

1. Necessary Despite Drawbacks: Although some individuals find interviews unpleasant or invasive, there is a general acknowledgment that interviews are a “serviceable medium of communication” and play an essential role in conveying important information to the public.

Thus, the chapter presents a range of opinions, showing how interviews are both a valuable tool for sharing knowledge and a potential source of discomfort and ethical concern for those being interviewed.

Message of the Chapter “The Interview”

Yes, the chapter “The Interview” conveys several key messages:

1. Power of Interviews: The chapter highlights the significant role interviews play in shaping public perception. Through interviews, we form impressions of famous people, learn about their thoughts, and gain insights into their lives. It conveys how interviews are a powerful medium for communication, enabling society to connect with prominent figures.
2. Ethical Concerns: The chapter also addresses the ethical implications of interviews. It presents the view that interviews can be intrusive, diminish a person’s dignity, and invade their privacy. Through examples like V. S. Naipaul and Rudyard Kipling, the chapter emphasizes the need to consider the ethical boundaries when conducting interviews, especially with unwilling subjects.
3. Different Perspectives: By showing both positive and negative perspectives on interviews, the chapter communicates that not all interviews are beneficial or welcome. It underscores that interviews, while valuable for society, can be harmful to individuals, and this duality should be understood and respected.
4. The Balance Between Public and Private: Through the example of Umberto Eco, the chapter illustrates the challenge public figures face in balancing their professional and personal lives. It sends a message about the need for mutual respect in interviews—both for the interviewee’s privacy and for the public’s desire to know more about them.

In summary, the message of the chapter is that interviews are a powerful tool for communication and understanding, but they must be conducted ethically and with consideration for the personal impact on individuals being interviewed.

Key Takeaways

Here are the key takeaways from the chapter “The Interview”:

1. Interviews as a Common Practice: Interviews have become a standard and prevalent part of journalism, influencing how information is shared and perceived in society.
2. Diverse Perspectives: There are varied opinions about interviews:

• Some view them as valuable tools for discovering truth and understanding individuals.
• Others see them as invasive, harmful, or even immoral, particularly from the perspective of celebrities who may feel their privacy is compromised.

1. The Power of the Interviewer: The interviewer holds significant power in shaping public perceptions and narratives, influencing how audiences view the subjects of the interviews.
2. Impact on Identity: Interviews can affect the identity and self-perception of the individuals being interviewed, leading some to feel that they lose a part of themselves in the process.
3. Balancing Public and Private Life: Public figures often struggle to balance their private lives with their public personas. The chapter illustrates the challenges of maintaining this balance in the face of media scrutiny.
4. Ethical Considerations: The chapter raises important ethical questions about the nature of interviewing, highlighting the need for respect and sensitivity toward the interviewees.
5. Cultural Context: The chapter draws parallels to cultural beliefs about capturing someone’s image, suggesting that interviews can be seen as similarly intrusive in some contexts.
6. Literary and Intellectual Value: Through the example of Umberto Eco, the chapter shows how interviews can reveal the intellectual depth and creative processes of prominent figures, showcasing the intersection of academic and literary pursuits.

Alltogether, the chapter encourages readers to reflect critically on the role of interviews in modern communication, emphasizing their complexities and the ethical considerations involved.

Character Sketch – The Interview

Here are character sketches of key figures mentioned in the chapter “The Interview”:

1. Christopher Silvester

• Role: Author and Editor
• Background: A historian and former reporter, Silvester has a strong background in journalism, contributing features to various notable publications.
• Characteristics:
• Inquisitive: His work showcases a keen interest in exploring the intricacies of interviews and their implications in journalism.
• Analytical: He presents a balanced view of interviews, considering both their merits and drawbacks.
• Purpose: Silvester aims to shed light on the significance of interviews in media, highlighting their role in shaping public perceptions.

2. V. S. Naipaul

• Role: Renowned Writer and Nobel Laureate
• Background: Known for his cosmopolitan writing, Naipaul often explores complex themes related to identity and culture.
• Characteristics:
• Sensitive: He perceives interviews as potentially harmful, believing they can diminish a person’s identity and emotional well-being.
• Introspective: Naipaul reflects deeply on the impact of public exposure, indicating a concern for personal integrity.
• Perspective: He views interviews as a form of intrusion, suggesting that they can “wound” individuals.

3. Lewis Carroll

• Role: Author and Mathematician
• Background: Creator of the beloved children’s classic Alice in Wonderland, Carroll is known for his whimsical and imaginative storytelling.
• Characteristics:
• Reclusive: He had a strong aversion to being interviewed, stemming from a fear of excessive admiration and intrusion.
• Humorous: Despite his horror of interviews, he found amusement in recounting stories of his encounters with persistent fans.
• Perspective: Carroll’s reluctance reflects a desire for privacy and a dislike for the celebrity culture that surrounds him.

4. Rudyard Kipling

• Role: Prolific Writer and Poet
• Background: Known for works like The Jungle Book, Kipling’s writings often reflect British colonial themes and adventure.
• Characteristics:
• Outspoken: He openly condemned interviews, likening them to personal assaults and viewing them as morally wrong.
• Contradictory: Despite his strong stance against being interviewed, he had previously conducted an interview with Mark Twain, highlighting a complex relationship with media.
• Perspective: Kipling’s vehement opposition illustrates the tension between personal beliefs and professional obligations in journalism.

5. Saul Bellow

• Role: Acclaimed Novelist and Playwright
• Background: Bellow is celebrated for his exploration of existential themes in works like Herzog and The Adventures of Augie March.
• Characteristics:
• Witty: His description of interviews as “thumbprints on his windpipe” conveys a sharp sense of humor and a critique of the interview process.
• Reflective: Bellow’s insights reveal a struggle between engaging with the public and preserving his personal space.
• Perspective: He acknowledges the discomfort of interviews, likening them to a suffocating experience.

6. Umberto Eco

• Role: Scholar, Novelist, and Professor
• Background: Eco is known for his contributions to semiotics and literary criticism, as well as for his bestselling novel The Name of the Rose.
• Characteristics:
• Intellectual: Eco blends academic rigor with creative storytelling, reflecting a deep understanding of philosophical and ethical themes.
• Playful: He approaches his work with a sense of humor and lightheartedness, using metaphors like “empty spaces” to describe his creative process.
• Perspective: Eco sees interviews as a means to share his thoughts and ideas, but he also grapples with being perceived primarily as a novelist rather than an academic.

These character sketches capture the essence of each individual’s perspective on interviews, their backgrounds, and how they relate to the themes presented in the chapter.

Some Important Lines & Explanations – ‘The Interview”

Here we are giving the simple explanations for some important phrases and lines:

1. A commonplace of journalism:
   Interviews are a very common and regular part of journalism.
   (पत्रकारिता का एक सामान्य हिस्सा)
2. Opinions of the interview — of its functions, methods, and merits — vary considerably:
   People have very different opinions about interviews, how they are conducted, and how useful they are.
   (साक्षात्कार के उद्देश्यों, तरीकों और फायदों के बारे में लोगों की राय बहुत भिन्न होती है)
3. Extravagant claims for it as being, in its highest form, a source of truth, and, in its practice, an art:
   Some people believe that interviews, at their best, can reveal truth and are like a form of art.
   (कुछ लोग मानते हैं कि साक्षात्कार, अपनी उच्चतम स्थिति में, सत्य को प्रकट कर सकते हैं और कला की तरह होते हैं)
4. Despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives:
   Celebrities often hate interviews because they feel interviews invade their privacy.
   (प्रसिद्ध व्यक्ति साक्षात्कार को अपने जीवन में अनावश्यक हस्तक्षेप मानते हैं और उसे नापसंद करते हैं)
5. Diminishes them, just as in some primitive cultures it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing that person’s soul:
   Some people feel interviews take away part of who they are, similar to the belief in ancient cultures that a photo can steal a person’s soul.
   (कुछ लोग महसूस करते हैं कि साक्षात्कार उनकी पहचान को छीन लेते हैं, जैसे कुछ पुरानी संस्कृतियों में यह माना जाता था कि फोटो आत्मा चुरा लेती है)
6. V. S. Naipaul feels that some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves:
   V. S. Naipaul believes that interviews can hurt people and take away a part of their identity.
   (वी. एस. नायपॉल मानते हैं कि साक्षात्कार से कुछ लोग आहत हो जाते हैं और उनकी पहचान का हिस्सा खो जाता है)
7. Horror of being lionized:
   Fear of being treated like a celebrity or being overly admired.
   (प्रसिद्ध व्यक्ति की तरह अत्यधिक प्रशंसा किए जाने का भय)
8. Repel would be acquaintances:
   To avoid or push away people who want to become friends or get to know them.
   (जो लोग उनसे दोस्ती करना चाहते थे, उन्हें दूर करना)
9. Their day was ‘wrecked by two reporters’:
   Their day was ruined by two reporters who disturbed them.
   (उनका दिन दो रिपोर्टरों द्वारा बर्बाद कर दिया गया था)
10. “Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral! It is a crime, just as much of a crime as an offence against my person, as an assault, and just as much merits punishment. It is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask it, much less give it,”:
    Kipling believed that being interviewed was morally wrong, like a personal attack, and should be punished. He thought it was shameful and no respectable person should agree to it or even ask for it.
    (किपलिंग मानते थे कि साक्षात्कार देना अनैतिक है, यह एक व्यक्तिगत हमले की तरह है और इसे दंडित किया जाना चाहिए। यह कायरता है, और कोई सम्मानजनक व्यक्ति इसे नहीं मानेगा)
11. Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an ‘assault’ on Mark Twain only a few years before:
    Despite his views, Kipling had interviewed Mark Twain a few years earlier, which was like committing the same offense he was against.
    (हालांकि किपलिंग साक्षात्कारों के खिलाफ थे, उन्होंने खुद कुछ साल पहले मार्क ट्वेन का साक्षात्कार लिया था, जो उनके विचारों के खिलाफ था)
12. Interviewing ordeal:
    A difficult or unpleasant experience of being interviewed.
    (साक्षात्कार देना कठिन और अप्रिय अनुभव)
13. Interviews as being like thumbprints on his windpipe:
    Saul Bellow described interviews as a suffocating experience, like someone pressing on his throat.
    (सौल बेलो ने साक्षात्कार को घुटनभरा अनुभव बताया, जैसे किसी ने उनकी गर्दन दबा दी हो)
14. Supremely serviceable medium of communication:
    A very useful and effective way to communicate and share information.
    (सूचना साझा करने का एक अत्यधिक उपयोगी और प्रभावी तरीका)
15. Equivalent of intellectual superstardom:
    Gaining great fame in the academic and intellectual world.
    (बौद्धिक जगत में अत्यधिक प्रसिद्धि प्राप्त करना)
16. Ethical, philosophical interests:
    Moral and philosophical ideas or interests.
    (नैतिक और दार्शनिक रुचियाँ)
17. Doctoral dissertation:
    A research paper written to complete a Ph.D.
    (डॉक्टरेट की उपाधि प्राप्त करने के लिए लिखा गया शोध पत्र)
18. Spectacularly famous:
    Extremely well-known and popular.
    (बहुत अधिक प्रसिद्ध और लोकप्रिय)
19. A seminal piece of work on semiotics:
    An important and influential work on the study of signs and symbols.
    (संकेतों और प्रतीकों के अध्ययन पर एक महत्वपूर्ण और प्रभावशाली काम)
20. The Name of the Rose is a very serious novel. It’s a detective yarn at one level but it also delves into metaphysics, theology, and medieval history:
    The Name of the Rose is not just a detective story but also explores deep topics like philosophy, religion, and medieval history.
    (द नेम ऑफ़ द रोज़ केवल एक जासूसी कहानी नहीं है, बल्कि यह दर्शनशास्त्र, धर्म और मध्यकालीन इतिहास जैसे गंभीर विषयों में भी गहराई से जाती है)
21. People like trash and don’t like difficult reading experiences:
    Some journalists and publishers believe that people prefer simple and easy entertainment, not complex or challenging books.
    (कुछ पत्रकार और प्रकाशक मानते हैं कि लोग सरल और आसान मनोरंजन पसंद करते हैं, जटिल या चुनौतीपूर्ण किताबें नहीं)
22. I think the success of the book is a mystery. Nobody can predict it. I think if I had written The Name of the Rose ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn’t have been the same. Why it worked at that time is a mystery:
    Eco believes that the success of The Name of the Rose cannot be explained or predicted. If it had been written at a different time, it might not have been as successful.
    (इको मानते हैं कि ‘द नेम ऑफ़ द रोज़’ की सफलता एक रहस्य है जिसे समझा नहीं जा सकता। अगर इसे दस साल पहले या बाद में लिखा जाता, तो इसकी सफलता इतनी नहीं होती)