Find here Question and answers of the Chapter “The Interview” given in the Class 12 NCERT Book “Flamingo. Click here for Notes for the Chapter “The Interview”.
Understanding the text
- Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
- How does Eco find the time to write so much?
- What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
- Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
- What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
Q & Answers:
Q 1. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
Ans: Umberto Eco seems to have a mixed attitude toward being interviewed. While he participates in interviews, he does not identify primarily as a novelist but as a university professor. He enjoys discussing his work and ideas but may find interviews challenging as they can oversimplify his identity and contributions. His humour and candidness suggest he is comfortable with the process, but he is aware of the limitations of interviews.
Q 2. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
Ans: Eco finds time to write by utilizing “empty spaces” in his daily life. He mentions that he works during short intervals, such as while waiting for an elevator, allowing him to be productive in moments that might otherwise be wasted. This ability to work in small increments contributes to his large body of written work.
Q 3. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
Ans: Eco’s academic writing style is distinctive because it is narrative-driven and personal, rather than dry and impersonal, which is typical of academic texts. He believes in telling the story of his research, including his trials and errors, making his writing more engaging and accessible.
Q 4. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
Ans: Umberto Eco primarily considers himself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays. He identifies more with the academic community than with the literary world, highlighting his commitment to scholarly pursuits over a focus on his novelistic career.
Q 5. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
Ans: The success of The Name of the Rose is attributed to its complex themes that appeal to a broad audience, despite being a serious work. Eco notes that the novel reached a large readership because it resonated with those seeking challenging reading experiences, contradicting the belief that people only enjoy simple or “trash” literature. The timing of its publication also played a crucial role, as it captured the interest of readers at that moment in history.
Talking about the text
Discuss in pairs or small groups.
- Talk about any interview that you have watched on television or read in a newspaper. How did it add to your understanding of the celebrity, the interviewer and the field of the celebrity?
- The medium you like best for an interview, print, radio, or television.
- Every famous person has a right to his or her privacy. Interviewers sometimes embarrass celebrities with very personal questions.
Answers: Attempt yourself.
Here are some Sample Answers given.
A 1. Discussing an interview, I watched or read about.
- Example: Here Oprah Winfrey is interviewing a prominent figure such as Barack Obama.
- Understanding:
- Celebrity Insight: The interview revealed more about Obama’s personal experiences, values, and thoughts on significant issues, providing a deeper understanding of him beyond his public persona.
- Interviewer Role: Oprah’s style of questioning allows for a relaxed atmosphere, making it easier for the interviewee to open up, showcasing the importance of the interviewer’s approach in extracting meaningful responses.
- Field Insight: The interview shed light on political life and the responsibilities of leadership, helping the audience understand the challenges faced by public figures.
A 2. Preferred medium for interviews: print, radio, or television.
- Discussion Points are given here. Choose your own preferred medium:
- Television: Offers visual and auditory engagement, making it easier to connect with the interviewee. The audience can see facial expressions and body language, which adds depth to the conversation.
- Print: Allows for in-depth coverage and careful crafting of questions and answers. It can be revisited for detailed information, which is beneficial for understanding complex topics.
- Radio: Focuses solely on the content of the conversation without visual distractions. It can create a sense of intimacy and immediacy, making listeners feel more connected.
- Personal Preference: Share which medium you prefer and why, considering factors like the ability to convey emotion, depth of information, or entertainment value.
A 3. Privacy rights of famous individuals.
- Discussion Points given here would help in discussion:
- Right to Privacy: Every famous person has a right to keep certain aspects of their life private. The discussion can revolve around the boundaries that should exist between public interest and personal life.
- Embarrassing Questions: Talk about how some interviewers may ask overly personal or intrusive questions that can lead to discomfort or embarrassment for the interviewee. This can harm their reputation and mental well-being.
- Ethical Responsibility: Consider the ethical responsibility of interviewers to respect the privacy of their subjects. Discuss whether there should be guidelines in place to protect individuals during interviews.
- Conclusion: Reflect on the balance between public curiosity and respect for personal boundaries, highlighting the need for sensitivity in interviews.
These points can help guide a fruitful discussion on interviews, exploring the complexities of the interview process and its implications for celebrities and interviewers alike.
Writing
If the interviewer Mukund Padmanabhan had not got the space in the newspaper to reproduce the interview verbatim, he may have been asked to produce a short report of the interview with the salient points. Write this report for him.
Ans: Report on Interview with Umberto Eco by Mukund Padmanabhan
In this insightful interview, Mukund Padmanabhan converses with Umberto Eco, a renowned Italian scholar, professor, and author of The Name of the Rose. The interview delves into Eco’s thoughts on his career, writing process, and personal identity.
Eco explains that although he is involved in many activities—writing novels, academic texts, essays, and children’s books—he feels he is always working on the same core philosophical interests. He describes his work as focused on ethical and philosophical themes, which he incorporates into both his fiction and academic writing.
He humorously shares how he finds time to write so much by using “empty spaces” in life—those brief moments while waiting for something, like an elevator, during which he manages to write articles or notes. Eco’s academic writing style is also unique, as he prefers telling the story of his research rather than following a traditional, dry format. This narrative approach to academic work ultimately led him to write novels at the age of 50.
When asked about his identity, Eco clarifies that he considers himself a university professor first and a novelist second. He participates more in academic conferences than literary events, even though his novels, like The Name of the Rose, have brought him widespread fame. Eco also discusses the success of The Name of the Rose, a detective novel that explores deep topics like metaphysics and medieval history. He acknowledges that its popularity surprised many publishers, but he believes the novel resonated with readers who were looking for a more challenging experience.
In summary, the interview reveals Eco’s deep connection to both academia and literature, his disciplined use of time, and his unique approach to blending intellectual rigor with creative storytelling.
This report captures the key points of the interview, focusing on Eco’s identity as a scholar, his writing style, and his views on his literary success.
