Enact the play in the class. Pay special attention to words given in italics before a dialogue. These words will tell you whether the dialogue has to be said in a happy, sarcastic or ironic tone and how the characters move and what they do as they speak. Read these carefully before you enact the play.

Consult your dictionary and choose the correct word from the pairs given in brackets.

(1) The (site, cite) of the accident was (ghastly/ ghostly).

(2) Our college (principle/ principal) is very strict.

(3) I studied (continuously/ continually) for eight hours.

(4) The fog had an adverse (affect/ effect) on the traffic.

(5) Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant (artist/ artiste).

(6) The book that you gave me yesterday is an extraordinary (collage/ college) of science fiction and mystery.

(7) Our school will (host/hoist) an exhibition on cruelty to animals and wildlife conservation.

(8) Screw the lid tightly onto the top of the bottle and (shake/shape) well before using the contents.

Irony is when we say one thing but mean another, usually the opposite of what we say. When someone makes a mistake and you say, "Oh! that was clever!" that is irony. You're saying "clever" to mean "not clever."

We use a slightly different tone of voice when we use these words ironically.

Read the play carefully and find words and expressions Gerrard uses in an ironic way. Then say what these expressions really mean. Two examples have been given below. Write down three more such expressions along with what they really mean.

What is Gerrard's profession? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer.

"You'll soon stop being smart."

(i) Who says this?

(ii) Why does the speaker say it?

(iii) What according to the speaker will top Gerrard from being smart?

Imagine you are Gerrard. Tell your friend what happened when the intruder broke into your house.

(Clues: Describe (i) the intruder - his appearance, the way he spoke, his plan, his movements etc., (ii) how you outwitted him)

"This is your big surprise."

(i) Where has this been said in the play?

(ii) What is the surprise?

“A mystery I propose to explain." What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain?

"They can't hang me twice".

(i) Who says this?

(ii) Why does the speaker say it?

Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on?

"At last a sympathetic audience."

(i) Who says this?

(ii) Why does he say it?

(iii) Is he sarcastic or serious?