Jharkhand Board Class 9TH English Notes | THE LAST LEAF
JAC Board Solution For Class 9TH English S Reader Chapter 7
Long Answer Type Quesions
■ Answer these questions in about 80-100 words each :―
Q. 1. What is Behrman's masterpiece? What makes Sue say
so ?
Ans. Behrman was an old painter. He had a dream to paint a
masterpiece in his life. When Johnsy fell ill and related her life
with the last leaf in a way she had lost the will to live. Behrman
knew it very well that the leaf would fall very soon in the stormy
night. He decided to paint an artificial leaf on the creeper during
the stormy night. The artificial leaf looked so real that Johnsy
thought the last leaf was still there. She regained her hopes and
came out of depression. But Behrman died because of Pneumonia
while painting in the stormy night. Sue called his painting a master
piece because it saved the life of Johnsy.
Q. 2. Give the central idea of the story "The Last Leaf.
Ans. A diseased mind is more harmful and even dangerous
than the disease itself. Negative thinking and foolish superstitions
can ruin human lives. The effect of medicines depends largely on
the will of the patient to live. No doctor can save a patient who has
the idea of death. This idea finds expression in the story of Johnsy's
illness. Johnsy was bed-ridden with pneumonia. She developed
foolish superstition that she would die the moment the last ivy
leaf fell down from the front wall. She had given up the will to live.
Her chances of survival were thin: Sue's wise decision and
Behrman's painted masterpiece "The Last Leaf saved Johnsy. She
realised her mistake. She regained the will to live.
Q.3. What role did Sue play in saving the life of her friend,
Johnsy?
Ans. Sue and Johnsy were most intimate companions. One
could not live without the other. It was winter season. Pneumonia
broke out in the colony. It attacked Johnsy and her condition was
worsening day by day. Medicines and other treatments had failed
to cure her. Even the doctor had declared that her chances of life
were very few because she had no will to survive. At this Sue was
much grieved. She went into her workroom and cried bitterly. She
knew that she would be miserable without her. But she did not
want that Johnsy should have any idea of this fact, she went into
Johnsy's room whistling a cheerful tune. She did all this so that
Johnsy might not feel otherwise. In reality she loved Jonhsy from
the core of her life. Her declaration about doctor's prediction might
affect her adversely. So she entered her room in a very cheerful and
affectionate mood.
Q.4. Give a character-sketch of Johnsy.
Ans. Johnsy was a young painter living with Suc. They lived
in a flat on the top of a three-storey brick house. Johnsy was a lean
and delicate young girl. Once she had an attack of pneumonia. Her
condition deteriorated. The doctor who examined her declared
that her chances of recovery were thin. Her problem was more
psychological than physical. Johnsy was a weak-hearted and
superstitions girl. She developed a foolish superstition. It was that
she would die the moment the last leaf on the ivy fell down. But
Sue's selfless service and Behraman's masterpiece "The Last Leaf
saved her. She regained her will to live and got well soon. Behrman
gave up his life to save her. His masterpiece "The Last Leaf had
revived a will to live in Johnsy.
Q. 5. How did the fall of ivy leaves have a direct bearing on
Johnsy's illness?
Ans. Johnsy was down with pneumonia. She lay, scarcely
moving, on her bed. She constantly looked through the window at
the blank brick-house in front. The curative power of medicines
had no effect on her. She had not the will to survive. An old ivy
vine climbed halfway the front wall. The cold autumn air had
made its leaves fall. Poor Johnsy was watching them falling one
by one. Johnsy had developed a strange superstition. She thought
that the falling of ivy leaves had something to do with her getting
well. She would die when the last leaf fell. Sue rebuked Johnsy for
having such a stupid idea. Johnsy's will to live came back when
she saw it the next morning. It had not fallen. Old Behrman painted
the last leaf on the wall. She developed an interest in life. She was
soon out of danger.
Short Answer Type Quesions
■ Answer these questions in about 30-40 words each :―
Q. 1. What is Johnsy's illness? What can cure her, the
medicine or the willingness to live?
Ans. Johnsy had fallen ill. She was suffering from Pneumonia.
She was not getting well. She had made a misconception in her
mind that she would die with the falling of last leaf on the creeper.
No medicine can cure of such type of misconception. When she
has left a feeling to live in her mind, none can save her.
Q. 2. Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is
common among teenagers?
Ans. No, we don't think so. But this type of fear may come in
every teenagers mind of this complicated era since our life is full
of tension and stress This is life. It is not necessary that every
teenager may remain hopeless like Johnsy. There are chances of
seeking and getting help. There are some, who remain happy and
hopeful even in adverse conditions.
Q.3. Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?
Ans. Behrman was a 60 years old painter. He lived on the
ground floor of the building. His only dream in life was to paint a
masterpiece. His dream was fulfilled when he painted the las leaf
of the ivy creeper.
Q. 4. How did Sue try to keep Johnsy cheerful?
Ans. Sue tried her best to keep Johnsy cheerful. She wanted
her to give up the foolish fancy dying with the fall of last leaf. She
talked to her about clothes and fashions. She whistled while
working so that Johnsy's mind might be away from her negative
thinking.
Q.5. What saved Johnsy's life?
Ans. Behrman finally painted his masterpiece. It was the leaf
on the wall. It saved Johnsy. Johnsy looked at it. She said the last
leaf didn't fall despite strong storm and winds. It had saved her life.
So it was Behrman's masterpiece.
Q. 6. What kind of a friend was Sue to Johnsy?
Ans. Sue was a true friend of Johnsy. Johnsy fell ill. Sue looked
after her. She told Behrman about her. He painted the last leaf and
Johnsy was saved. If she had not been there, she would have died.
Q. 7. Who were Sue and Johnsy? Where did they live?
Ans. Sue and Johnsy were two young artists who shared a
small flat, located on the third storey of a house in Artists colony.
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