In "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry, two men named Sam and Bill Driscoll hatch a plan to kidnap a child and demand a ransom in order to raise enough money to buy some land. They choose a small town called Summit in Alabama as their target and decide to ...........................
The Ransom of Red Chief - The English Channel - Class 7 - English
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Extra Questions - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Literature | English | Class 7
Since love of children was strong in country people, we decided to kidnap a kid from that town.
Since love of children was strong in country people, we decided to kidnap a kid from that town.
a. Who are "we" in these lines?
b. Why do they plan a kidnapping?
c. Why do they plan to kidnap a child?
d. How does their plan backfire?
a. "We" in these lines refers to the two main characters of the story, Bill Driscoll and the narrator (Sam).
b. They planned a kidnapping because they needed to raise additional money. They had a joint capital of six hundred dollars and needed two thousand dollars to buy some land and fraud people.
c. They plan to kidnap a child because they believe that the strong love of children in country people will make them likely to pay a ransom for the child's safe return.
d. Their plan backfires because the child they kidnap turns out to be a handful and enjoys being with the kidnappers more than his own life at home. He causes them a great deal of trouble and pain during the kidnapping. Ultimately, instead of receiving a ransom, they end up having to pay the child's father to take him back, losing money in the process.
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The boy nearly hit Bill in the eye with a piece of brick. That will cost, the old man an extra five hundred dollars,' said Bill, climbing down.
a. Who is the 'boy' referred to in the first line?
b. What was Bill's first experience of the boy?
c. What does Bill mean by 'That will cost the old man an extra five hundred dollars'?
d. Who is the old man referred to by Bill?
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Sign up nowHow did the boy react to his kidnapping?
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Sign up nowWhy did Sam and Bill plan a kidnapping? Whom did they choose to kidnap and why?
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Sign up nowHow did Bill fall in the fire?
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Sign up nowBack Questions - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Literature | English | Class 7
From the words meaning given in brackets, tick the word closest in meaning to the underlined words in each sentence.
a) The boy was a captive and the two men were his kidnappers. (prisoner/slave/victim)
b) The boy was sitting on Bill's chest with one hand twined in his hair. (twisted/woven/looped)
c) A rowdy kid like that is just the kind parents dote on. (prefer/are fond of/dislike)
d) Bill's father made a counter-proposition. (a different proposal/an opposite proposition/a substitute proposal)
From the words meaning given in brackets, tick the word closest in meaning to the underlined words in each sentence.
a) The boy was a captive and the two men were his kidnappers. (prisoner/slave/victim)
b) The boy was sitting on Bill's chest with one hand twined in his hair. (twisted/woven/looped)
c) A rowdy kid like that is just the kind parents dote on. (prefer/are fond of/dislike)
d) Bill's father made a counter-proposition. (a different proposal/an opposite proposition/a substitute proposal)
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Why did the two men kidnap the boy?
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Sign up nowWhich words tell you that the boy's father understood his character very well?
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Sign up nowDo you think the boy's father was cruel and did not love him? Give reasons.
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Sign up nowSam says, 'A rowdy kid like that is just the kind parents dote on.' Describe some of the things the kidnapped child did which made Sam call him rowdy. Do you think parents love their kids more if they are rowdy?
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Sign up nowWas the boy frightened of the kidnappers or vice versa?
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Sign up nowSam and Bill were kidnappers and they kidnapped a young boy, but why does it seem as if Sam and Bill were more desperate than the boy?
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Sign up nowDid the boy want to go home? What did the kidnappers have to do to get the boy to go home? How does this make the story funny?
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Sign up nowHumour is sometimes created while writing when the events in a story turn out to be the opposite of what is expected. The boy was supposed to be frightened of the kidnappers, but he thinks that he is the Red Indian Chief and the kidnappers are his captives. What are the other things that make the story humorous?
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Sign up nowA pun is a play on words where one word suggests two or more meanings. Puns and witty language are used to elicit laughter from the readers and listeners. Read the letter sent by the kidnappers to Mr Dorset, the boy's father, and his reply. The words 'Two Desperate Men' used in both the letters are a pun. Can you explain how the meaning of these words differs in both letters?
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Sign up nowFind stories related to kidnapping from the newspaper. Are those stories very different from the story you have read? Why?
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Sign up nowHave you read any other story of a boy or a girl who was kidnapped? Write a small summary of the story.
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Unlock now 🔓The ransom of the red chief - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
About the Author - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
O. Henry, born William Sydney Porter on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina, was an American short story writer known for his wit, wordplay, and twist endings. His stories often featured ordinary people facing unexpected situations and were set in various locations, including New York City and the American West.
O. Henry began his career as a pharmacist, but he eventually moved to Texas, where he worked in various jobs, including as a bank teller, journalist, and draftsman. He was accused of embezzlement while working at the bank and was sentenced to prison. During his time in prison, he began writing short stories to support his family and used the pen name "O. Henry" to hide his identity.
After serving his sentence, O. Henry moved to New York City, where he continued writing and gained considerable fame for his short stories. Some of his most famous works include "The Gift of the Magi," "The Ransom of Red Chief," and "The Cop and the Anthem." O. Henry's stories are characterized by their humour, surprise endings, and a deep understanding of human nature.
O. Henry's prolific career was unfortunately short-lived, as he passed away on June 5, 1910, due to complications from cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and other health problems. Despite his relatively short writing career, O. Henry's unique style and memorable stories continue to entertain and inspire readers around the world.
Summary - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
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Plot - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
In this chapter, the story "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry is discussed. The plot revolves around two small-time criminals, Sam and Bill, who hatch a plan to kidnap a wealthy man's child and demand a ransom. They believe that kidnapping a child in the small town of Summit will be an easy task with little risk of getting caught.
They kidnap Johnny, the 10-year-old son of Ebenezer Dorset, a prominent citizen in the town. However, things do not go as planned. Johnny ....
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Unlock now 🔓Important Lines - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
"It looked like a good thing: but wait till I tell you."
This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the story, introducing the reader to the idea that the plan concocted by Sam and Bill might not go as smoothly as they initially thought.
"We knew that Summit couldn't get after us with anything stronger than constables and, maybe, some lackadaisical bloodhounds....
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Unlock now 🔓Themes - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
Situational Irony:
Situational irony is a major theme in "The Ransom of Red Chief." The story is built on the premise that the kidnappers' plans go awry due to their misjudgment of their victim. Sam and Bill expect an easy payday, but instead, they find themselves tormented by the very person they kidnap. This ironic turn of events highlights how one's plans can backfire, often in humorous and unexpected ways.
The Role of Expectations:
"The Ransom of Red Chief" showcases how preconceived expectations can lead to unforeseen outcomes. Sam and Bill, as....
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
- Bas-relief (here) raised from its background
- Strutted: walked proudly with head up
- Surreptitiously: secretly
- Impudent: rude; not showing respect for other people
- Moccasins: a soft leather shoe with large stitches originally worn by North American Indians
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Unlock now 🔓Character Sketches - The Ransom of Red Chief | The English Channel | Class 7 Literature | English
Sam: Sam is the narrator of the story and one of the two "desperate men" involved in the kidnapping plot. He is more level-headed than his partner Bill and is the one who comes up with the idea to kidnap young Johnny. Although ruthless and desperate, Sam also has a pragmatic side to him, as he eventually chooses to accept old Dorset's offer to pay $250 to return Johnny. Sam is also quite observant, as he notices the town's reaction to Johnny's disappearance by talking to the townspeople and blending in. Throughout the story, he balances out Bill's more emotional reactions and keeps them focused on their goal of getting the ransom.
Bill Driscoll: Bill is Sam's partner in crime and ...
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