Reading

An Astrologer’s Day

Understanding the Text

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the astrologer’s appearance help him attract customers? How does he help the customers satisfy their needs?
Ans: The astrologer of this story is dresses in such a way that everyone falls in his trap and believes him to be a legit fortune teller. He wears a saffron turban along with holy ash and vermilion glisten on his forehead. He’s so well-reosented that he’s a crowd-pleaser. His customers believe his eyes have a prophetic light. He assists customers in meeting their needs by analysing issues such as marriage, money and so on.

b. How do you characterise the astrologer’s attitude toward the stranger?
Ans: The astrologer sees the stranger before him and perceives him to be his possible customer.

c. What details does the astrologer give the stranger about his past?
Ans: The astrologer tells the stranger that he was stabbed with a knife and pushed to death, but that some locals saw him and saved him.

d. Why does he advise the stranger to go home immediately?
Ans: He advises the stranger to go home immediately to get rid of danger in his life.

e. What is your reaction to the conversation between the astrologer and his wife?
Ans: I am very happy that this astrologer gor rid of his guilt and fear and made some money that day. I am surprised that these people lead a simple lifestyle. The coins collected by an astrologer in one day are enough to keep them alive until the next day.

Reference to the Context

a. Suspense is the feeling of anticipation you may have as you read. In this story, what details contributed to your feelings of suspense and surprise? Explain.
Ans: This shoort story is a fine blend of suspense and surprise. The story starts with the description of the astrologer and his business. When the stranger appears during the evening time infront of the astrologer, the astrologer thinks of him as his prospective customer. They make a bet on the satisfactory answer. The astrologer provides him with various facts related to his life during his prophecies. He tells him about his past events, his name and address accurately. Here, these accurate details hve created feelings of suspense for me. The stranger becomes too excited and satisfied but I feel a kind of suspense. A question arises in my mind as “How did he answer accurately?” This particular suspense turns into surprise when the astrologer relates his past story’s details to his wife after dinner. Here, I find the answer to my feelings of suspense. Astrologer’s past story’s details have solved the mystery of suspense and created surprises for me as well as all the readers.

b. Analyze the conflicts in “An Astrologer’s Day”. Explain how the conflicts are resolved and what they reveal about the characters involved in the story.
Ans: Coonflicts arise in the story when a stranger appears as a client of the astrologer on the site to consult him, the astrologer packs up his things and is ready to call him one day. When the stranger smokes his cigar, he sees his face in the light of the game, and for some obscure reason, the astrologer feels uncomfortable and refuses the challenge, but is forced to say something to the stranger in ordere to please him. He is surprised when the astrologer tells him about his past life and agrees to stop looking for his enemy who would have been knocked down under a truck. The astrologer guarantees a safe life in the future.

c. “All right. I will speak. But will you give me a rupee if what I say is convincing? Otherwise, I will not open my mouth, and you may do what you like”.

i. Who is the speaker?
Ans: The astrologer is the speaker.

ii. Who is he speaking to?
Ans: He is speaking to Guru Nayak.

iii. What does the expression ‘open my mouth’ mean?
Ans: The expression ‘open my mouth’ means to utter some convincing information about the stranger.

d. Description helps readers visualize what is happening in a story. What details and techniques does the author use to describe the astrologer?
Ans: The author of this story uses various details and narrative techniques to describe the main character who is an astrologer. From the beginning to the end, the author keeps on presenting this story usinf various details through his narration. He related about astrologer’s background, his everyday business and his shrewd calculations with his customers, his preparations before business, his meeting with Guru Nayak and his conversation with his wife. The author has presented every detail of astrologer creating suspense and surprises through his narrative technique.

e. Irony is the contrast between appearances and reality. What is ironic about Guru Nayak’s meeting with the astrologer?
Ans: The irony of the situation centers around the meeting of Guru Nayak’s meetingwith the astrologer. He comes to the astrologer for help in finding and killing the man he is talking to. The man whom Guru Nayak is looking for is none other than the astrologer himself. As soon as the astrologer recognizes the man, he feels very uncomfortable. But the astrologer wisely misinforms him. He makes Guru Nayak wait and bargain for money. When he finally calls the stranger by his name and tells him about the incident that happened in the village, he has Guru Nayak in the palm of his hand.

f. How does the astrologer’s manner of dress suit his character?
Ans: The protagonist of the story is an astrologer. The first part of the story describes the dress and appearance that the astrologer wears when performinig his duties. He is usually disguished as an astrologer and his forehead is lit with holy ash and vermilion. He wraps a saffron-colored turban on his head, his dress and his appearance match his character and become a point of attraction. The astrologer easily fools his customers and has clever ways of getting the job done. He does a functional analysis of human problems.

Reference beyond the text

a. The astrologer attracts many customers in the street who are pleased and astonished by what he tells them. What does this tell you about the people of the town walking in the street?
Ans: The main character here in this story is an astrologer. His business of astrology depends on his astrological tools, his dressnig sense and his guess works. His manner of dress suits his character. He is quite clever at his business of astrology. As an astrologer, he dresses perfectly like an astrologer. His saffron turban and his dress help him a lot to attract his customers. He finely presents himseld so that his customers can believe him. Due to his dressing sense, his clients think of him as a wise astrologer.

b. Why do most people want to know their future? Do you think astrologers can help them know their future?
Ans: Most people would want to know what their future holds because they are concerned about a variety of things, including their happiness, their ability to cope with challenges, study, marriage, relationships and their safety. True astrologers who have a thorough knowledge of astrology can help their clients know about their future.

c. Is astrology a good practice of fortune-telling or is it blind faith? Give reasons.
Ans: Yes, astrology is a good divination practice. In Eastern societies, moost people practice and believe in divination. Astrology is said to be the best part of human life. The practise of astrology is seen in various life events. In Eastern societies, people believe a lot in astrology. People find the right solutions to their problems through astrology. Astrological prophecies are also proved to be correct in many cases.