How it Happened Question and Answer

How it Happened

 Arthur Conan Doyle

Answer these questions in one or two words.

1. Who was Perkins?

Ans: Perkins is the chauffeur of the narrator.

2. What is the name of the vehicle mentioned in the story?

Ans: The narrator refers to the vehicle as his new thirty-horse-power Robour.

3. What did Stanley die of?

Ans: Stanley had died of enteric at Bloemfontein in the Boer War.

4. Where did the car crash?

Ans: The car crashed into the park gate.

5. How many sharp turns did Claystall Hill have?

Ans: Claystall Hill is one of the worst hills in England with three fairly sharp turns.

 

Answer these questions in a few words.

 

1. What was whirring like a high wind?

Ans: As the narrator and his chauffeur were just over the high-brow of Claystall Hill, where the grade was steeper. But as he got helpless while driving the car, at a point, the wheels were whirring like a high wind.

2.  Why is Perkins said to have been 'splendid' in his behavior?

Ans: Perkins was perfectly cool and alert as he could read the narrator's intention when the narrator had thought at the very beginning of taking the bank. He keeps his calm even though he knows that his master is not driving well.

3. What are the brakes of the vehicle known as?

Ans: The brakes of the vehicle are known as footbrake and side-brake.

4. Where did the narrator meet Stanley a few years prior to the incident?

Ans: The narrator met Stanley at college a few years prior to the accident. The narrator had a really genuine affection as he believed that there was always something peculiarly sympathetic to him in Stanley's personality.

 

5. Why did the narrator feel no pain?

Ans: When Stanley asked the narrator if he could feel any pain, he replied that there is none. Stanley asserts that there is no pain after death. When he tells Stanley that he was long dead, Stanley tells him that he too is dead.

Answer these questions briefly.

1. Why did the narrator feel that he was 'like a man in a dream'?

Ans: As the car crashes into the pillar of the gate, the narrator was flung into the air. Everything happens very fast and before he can make out anything. By the time he becomes aware about his existence, he sees a man standing near him. He recognizes that the man is Stanley. He is taken aback to see Stanley but he was in a dream 'like a man in a dream' which makes him feel that Stanley's presence is not out of place.

2. Give a brief description of the vehicle as mentioned in the story.

Ans: The narrator describes his vehicle as the big motor having glaring headlights and glitter of polished brass. He calls it his new thirty-horse-power. The narrator refers to the car as 'she'.

3. What is narrator's view about foolishness?

Ans: The narrator's heightened confidence to show off his car, which in many ways may be interpreted as a symbol of wealth. This is representative of the attitudes of the upper class as their irresponsible behaviors fail to see how their actions have an impact on others. The narrator's reckless attitude is further observed when he shares how 'one often does foolish things, but does not always have to pay the full price for it'.

4. What did the narrator and Perkins do when they realized that the open gate lay in front of them?

Ans: When the narrator and Perkins realized that the open gate lay in front of them, the narrator whirled round the wheel of his car with all the strength of his wrists. Both Perkins and the narrator threw out their bodies across and then the next moment. His front wheel struck full on the right-hand pillar of his own gate and then they could hear the crash.

5. Why was the narrator amazed when the actual status of Stanley dawned upon him?

Ans: As Stanley laid his hand upon his shoulder, the narrator found his touch to be inexpressibly soothing. The narrator felt light and happy, in spite of all the seeming pain. Stanley asked him if he could feel any pain and the narrator says that he could feel none. Stanley asserts that there is no pain after death which makes the narrator remember about Stanley's death many years earlier in the Boer War. When he tells Stanley that he was long dead, Stanley tells him that he too is dead.

Answer these questions in details.

1. Comment on the significance of the ending of the story.

Ans: In the story, 'How It Happened', Arthur Conan Doyle carefully builds up the plot and presents the shocking revelation of the protagonist's death in a powerful and compelling manner through a soliloquy. The incredible moment of discovery in the story occurs at the end of the story, when he realizes that Stanley has already died, and Stanley replies: 'so are you.' This anagnorisis- recognition of the character's true identity which shocks us.

If the main character had not been as impulsive and arrogant as to try his new car out close to midnight, the accident would likely have been avoided. He demonstrated a willful, hegemonic masculine pride as he feminized the car: 'try her', and also showed a defiance of Perkins as he rejected his offer of driving the car. Through this, the protagonist exhibits both gender and class divide he tries to assert his own dominance of Perkins, which subsequently depicts the distinct indication of class and corresponding arrogance and ignorance of the upper class. The protagonist was at fault for the accident because of his overwhelming confidence, bringing across the very powerful message about the detrimental consequences of bourgeoisie supremacy. Thus, Doyle makes the revelation of his protagonist's death an extremely powerful and affecting one.

2. Describe the drive undertaken by the narrator from the station to his home.

Ans: The narrator had owned a brand-new car, which was usually driven by his chauffeur. But the narrator insists on trying the car himself and gets into the driver seat. As they reached Claystall Hill which is one of the worst hills in England, a mile and a half long and one in six in places, with three fairly sharp curves. As they were just over the brow of this hill, where the grade is steepest, when the trouble began. By the time the car was moving at a great rate, so he clapped on both brakes, and one after the other they gave way. As they got round the corner with one wheel three feet high upon the bank, he thought that they were surely over, but after staggering for a moment she righted and darted onwards. The park gate was right in front of them. It was about twenty yards to the left up the main road into which they ran. As the steering-gear had been jarred when we ran on the bank but the wheel did not turn easily. He whirled round his wheel with all the strength of his wrists. Both Perkins and he threw their bodies across, and then the next instant, going at fifty an hour, his right wheel struck full on the right-hand pillar of his own ate. Finally, he could hear the car crash.

Additional questions.

1. What was the time when the narrator walked down the platform?

Ans: It was half past eleven when.

2. When was the brand-new car delivered to the narrator?

Ans: The brand-new car was delivered on that very day.

3. What did Perkins say when the narrator insisted to drive the car himself?

Ans: Perkins said that "The gears are not the same," "Perhaps, sir, I had better drive."

4. Who was Stanley?

Ans: The narrator’s college friend.