Class 8 English Literature
“The Luncheon” — W. Somerset Maugham
Enhanced Printable Worksheet • Each passage on its own page • 20 Passages with 10 Varied Questions Each • Separate Answer Key
Prepared by: M. R. K. Murty Naidu
School: DAV Centenary Public School, Ukkunagaram
Passage 1
I caught sight of her at the play and in answer to her beckoning I went over during the interval and sat down beside her. It was long since I had last seen her and if someone had not mentioned her name I do not think I would have recognized her. She addressed me brightly. "Well, it's many years since we first met. How time flies! We are not getting any younger. Do you remember the first time I saw you? You asked me to luncheon."
- Where does the narrator see the woman? (Comprehension)
- Why might the narrator not recognize her? (Inference)
- What does "How time flies!" suggest? (Theme)
- Define "beckoning." (Vocabulary)
- What is the tone of the woman's greeting? (Tone/Mood)
- How does this set up the flashback? (Structure)
- What event does she remind him of? (Comprehension)
- Why is the meeting ironic? (Irony)
- How does age affect recognition? (Personal Response)
- Summarize the central idea. (Theme)
Passage 2
Did I remember? It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a tiny apartment in the Latin Quarter and I was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. She had read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I answered, thanking her, and presently I received from her another letter saying that she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me; but her time was limited and the only free moment she had was on the following Thursday.
- When did the event occur? (Comprehension)
- What was the narrator's financial state? (Inference)
- Why did she write to him? (Comprehension)
- Synonym for "barely." (Vocabulary)
- What mood does the setting evoke? (Tone/Mood)
- How does this build character? (Character)
- What is her request? (Comprehension)
- Why is her letter flattering? (Theme)
- Relate to aspiring writers. (Personal Response)
- Identify foreshadowing. (Literary Device)
Passage 3
She asked me if I would give her a little luncheon at Foyot's. Foyot's is a restaurant at which the French senators eat and it was so far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there. But I was flattered and I was too young to say no to a woman. I had eighty francs to live on till the end of the month and a modest luncheon should not cost more than fifteen. If I cut out coffee for the next two weeks I could manage well enough. I answered that I would meet her at Foyot's on Thursday at half past twelve.
- What restaurant does she choose? (Comprehension)
- Why is it beyond his means? (Inference)
- How much money does he have? (Comprehension)
- Define "flattered." (Vocabulary)
- What does his decision reveal about him? (Character)
- How is humor introduced? (Humor)
- What is his plan to afford it? (Comprehension)
- Why can't he refuse? (Theme)
- Have you faced similar dilemmas? (Personal Response)
- Summarize the irony. (Irony)
Passage 4
She was not so young as I expected and in appearance imposing rather than attractive. She was in fact a woman of forty, and she gave me the impression of having more teeth, white and large and even, than were necessary for any practical purpose. She was talkative, but since she seemed inclined to talk about me I was prepared to be an attentive listener.
- How old is the woman? (Comprehension)
- What impression does her smile give? (Inference)
- Why is he a good listener? (Comprehension)
- Synonym for "imposing." (Vocabulary)
- What tone describes her? (Tone/Mood)
- How does this develop humor? (Humor)
- What is her personality? (Character)
- Why mention her teeth? (Literary Device)
- Does appearance matter in meetings? (Personal Response)
- Central idea of the passage. (Theme)
Passage 5
I was startled when the menu was brought, for the prices were a great deal higher than I had expected. But she reassured me. “I never eat anything for luncheon," she said. "Oh, don't say that!" I answered generously. "I never eat more than one thing. I think people eat too much nowadays. A little fish, perhaps. I wonder if they have any salmon."
- What surprises the narrator? (Comprehension)
- What does she claim about eating? (Inference)
- What does she suggest for herself? (Comprehension)
- Define "reassured." (Vocabulary)
- What mood shifts here? (Tone/Mood)
- How is foreshadowing used? (Literary Device)
- Why his generous response? (Character)
- What theme on appearances? (Theme)
- Light eaters in reality? (Personal Response)
- Summarize the conflict start. (Comprehension)
Passage 6
Well, it was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the menu, but I asked the waiter if there was any. Yes, they had a beautiful salmon, it was the first they had had. I ordered it for my guest. The waiter asked her if she would have something while it was being cooked. "No," she answered, "I never eat more than one thing. Unless you had a little caviar. I never mind caviar." My heart sank a little. I knew I could not afford caviar, but I could not tell her that. I told the waiter by all means to bring caviar. For myself I chose the cheapest dish on the menu and that was a mutton chop.
- What does she order first? (Comprehension)
- Why does his heart sink? (Inference)
- What does he order? (Comprehension)
- Synonym for "sank." (Vocabulary)
- What internal conflict? (Character)
- How humor builds? (Humor)
- Her contradiction? (Irony)
- Theme of politeness? (Theme)
- Awkward social situations? (Personal Response)
- Key event here. (Comprehension)
Passage 7
"I think you're unwise to eat meat," she said. "I don't know how you can expect to work after eating heavy things like chops. I never overload my stomach."
- What does she criticize? (Comprehension)
- Why unwise in her view? (Inference)
- What does she claim? (Comprehension)
- Define "overload." (Vocabulary)
- Tone of her advice? (Tone/Mood)
- Character insight? (Character)
- Irony in her words? (Irony)
- Theme on judgment? (Theme)
- Diet advice experiences? (Personal Response)
- Summarize hypocrisy. (Comprehension)
Passage 8
Then came the question of drink. "I never drink anything for luncheon," she said. "Neither do I," I answered promptly. "Except white wine," she went on as though I had not spoken. "These French white wines are so light. They are wonderful for the digestion." "What would you like?" I asked her.
- What topic next? (Comprehension)
- Her initial claim? (Inference)
- What exception? (Comprehension)
- Synonym for "promptly." (Vocabulary)
- How he responds? (Character)
- Humor in dialogue? (Humor)
- Why ignore him? (Irony)
- Theme of conversation? (Theme)
- Social drinking norms? (Personal Response)
- Building tension. (Comprehension)
Passage 9
"My doctor won't let me drink anything but champagne." I think I turned a little pale. I ordered half a bottle. I mentioned casually that my doctor had absolutely forbidden me to drink champagne. "What are you going to drink, then?" "Water." She ate the caviar and she ate the salmon. She talked gaily of art and literature and music. But I wondered what the bill would come to.
- What does she order? (Comprehension)
- His reaction? (Inference)
- What does he drink? (Comprehension)
- Define "gaily." (Vocabulary)
- Internal thought? (Character)
- Contrast in choices? (Irony)
- Topics discussed? (Comprehension)
- Theme of disparity? (Theme)
- Expensive tastes? (Personal Response)
- Tension peak. (Comprehension)
Passage 10
When my mutton chop arrived she said: "I see that you're in the habit of eating a heavy luncheon. I'm sure it's a mistake. Why don't you follow my example and just eat one thing? I'm sure you'd feel much better then." "I am only going to eat one thing," I said, as the waiter came again with the menu.
- What does she comment on? (Comprehension)
- Her suggestion? (Inference)
- His defense? (Comprehension)
- Synonym for "habit." (Vocabulary)
- Her tone? (Tone/Mood)
- Character flaw shown? (Character)
- Why menu again? (Foreshadowing)
- Theme of advice? (Theme)
- Unsolicited tips? (Personal Response)
- Summarize interaction. (Comprehension)
Passage 11
She waved him aside with a light gesture. "No, no, I never eat anything for luncheon. Just a bite, I never want more than that. I can't eat anything more unless they had some of those giant asparagus. I should be sorry to leave Paris without having some of them."
- What does she do to waiter? (Comprehension)
- Her repeated claim? (Inference)
- New craving? (Comprehension)
- Define "gesture." (Vocabulary)
- Mood of passage? (Tone/Mood)
- Humor element? (Humor)
- Contradiction evident? (Irony)
- Theme of greed? (Theme)
- Indulgent "diets"? (Personal Response)
- Key contradiction. (Comprehension)
Passage 12
My heart sank. I had seen them in the shops and I knew that they were horribly expensive. My mouth had often watered at the sight of them. "Madame wants to know if you have any of those giant asparagus," I asked the waiter. I hoped he would say no. A happy smile spread over his broad face, and he assured me that they had some so large, so splendid, so tender, that it was a marvel.
- His reaction? (Comprehension)
- Why expensive? (Inference)
- What does he ask waiter? (Comprehension)
- Synonym for "marvel." (Vocabulary)
- Internal emotion? (Character)
- Waiter's response irony? (Irony)
- Past longing? (Comprehension)
- Theme of temptation? (Theme)
- Luxury items? (Personal Response)
- Tension build. (Comprehension)
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