SCHEDULE OF MADHYAMIK PARIKSHA, 2014

     Madhyamik Pariksha, 2014 will possibly start from 24 Feb. The probable routine is given below :

24 Feb, 2014 – 1^st Language, 1^st Paper

25 Feb, 2014 – 1^st Language, 2^nd Paper

26 Feb, 2014 – 2^nd Language

28 Feb, 2014 – History

1 March, 2014 – Geography

3 March, 2014 – Mathematics

4 March, 2014 – Physical Science

5 March, 2014 – Life Science

6 March, 2014 – Additional Subject

Click here to get the original notification by the board.

Result of Madhyamik Pariksha, 2013: An Analysis

  The result of Madhyamik Pariksha was declared on 27 May this year.Here is some data on the result:

Rate of Success : 81.81% (the highest since 1978)

• Rate of Success of the boys : 86.33%
• Rate of Success of the girls: 77.56%

Rate of Success district wise :

• Midnapur East : 92.90%
• 24 Parganas South : 86.93%
• Kolkata : 86.84%
• Howrah :85.60%
• 24 Parganas North : 85.43%

 Toppers of the exam :

• 1^st Sourashis Biswas , Rupayan Kundu – 682
• 2^nd Anisha Mandal – 681
• 3^rd Deepmalya Baroi – 679
• 4^th Anik Das, Bilwashiv Basu Mallik – 677
• 5^th Sudip Ghosh, Souvik Jana – 676

LETTER WRITING: OFFICIAL AND PERSONAL SPECIMENS

                                               

Official                                                                      (Marks: 10 each)

1. Write a letter  (within 120 words) to the Editor of an English daily expressing grave concern about the rampant misuse of mobiles especially by the teenagers.

Ans.

To

The Editor

The Telegraph

6 Prafulla Sarkar Street

Kolkata – 700001

         Sub: Rampant misuse of mobile phones especially by the teenagers

Sir,

     Through the Readers’ column of your esteemed journal daily, I would like to express my grievance against the rampant misuse of mobile phones especially by the teenagers.

      Day by day, the misuse of mobile phones is increasing highly especially with the teenagers. They are often seen around us posturing with cell phones. In public places, in buses, trains, trams and even in hospitals and auditoriums, they often blare out or enjoy songs loudly. They are indifferent to their loud voices or songs which cause trouble to other fellow passengers. The teenagers fashionably use mobiles even while driving a bike or a car and cause accidents. They become so much mobile-addicted that they use it while crossing a railway track or a road. Naturally, they become victims of accidents. Sometimes, they take objectionable snapshot of someone and circulate it through MMS. They often get access to the unwanted sites through mobile internet and commits crime out of fun.

    This is a matter of grave concern. The guardians should immediately be conscious about their wards. The teenagers should be given proper counselling at school and home. The Govt. should also strictly enforce vigilant laws. (192 words)
                                                                                                                  Yours faithfully,
                                                                                                                       (own name)

(Own address & date)

2.Write a letter (within 120 words) to the Editor of an English daily expressing grave concern about the bad condition of road causing accidents in your area:

Ans.

To

The Editor

The Telegraph

6 Prafulla Sarkar Street

Kolkata – 700001

Sub: Bad condition of road

Sir,

       Through the Readers’ column of your esteemed journal daily, I would like to express my grievance against the bad condition of road causing accidents in our area.

       The condition of the NH 34 near Raiganj is so dreadful with so many pits and pot-holes on it that it is always a danger to the traffic. No repair was done after the rains of the last year. The stones are teething out in patches rendering the road open to accidents. Moreover, there are road materials and shops on both sides of the road leaving very little space in the middle. But the drivers of the buses, lorries, taxies and mini-buses very often try to overtake other buses and lorries and collide with one another. Hardly a day passes without a serious accident. The death toll is increasing day-by-day.

      I feel that the authorities should take necessary steps to repair the road and stop reckless driving at the same time. A public opinion should also be created through your editorial column. ( 169 words)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                     Yours faithfully,
                                                                                                                         (own name)

(own address & date)

3.Write a letter (within 120 words) to the Editor of an English daily expressing grave concern about giving punishment in educational institutions.

Ans.

To

The Editor

The Telegraph

6 Prafulla Sarkar Street

Kolkata – 700001

Sub: Giving punishment in educational institutions.

Sir,

     Through the Readers’ column of your esteemed journal daily, I would like to express my grievance against the continuous rise in giving corporal punishment in educational institutions.

     The practice to exercise corporal or mental punishment in educational institutions needs attention to be paid. We come across several cases of this inhuman practice through media. Educational institution is a place where green minds go to get education. When they are treated like a prisoner for any cause by the teachers in the classroom, they got a great shock and humiliation. They become terrified and their mental growth is retarded. Sometimes, the teachers cross the limit in such a way that the victims have to be hospitalised. These incidents are unexpected from the learned class of the society.

     Punishment is not the way of solution to any problem faced by the teachers. Proper education and counselling should be incorporated in the classrooms to manage the students. The concerned guardian should also be called in if necessary. Corporal punishment should be strictly banneed in the institutions. The Govt. should enforce the existing law in this regard. (182  words)
                                                                                                                    Yours faithfully,
                                                                                                                        (own name)
(own address & date)

4. Write a letter  (within 120 words) to the Editor of an English daily expressing your views against the present unrest among students in different educational institutions.

Ans.

To

The Editor

The Telegraph

6 Prafulla Sarkar Street

Kolkata – 700001

     Sub: Present unrest among students in different educational institutions

Sir,

     Through the Readers’ column of your esteemed journal daily, I would like to express my grievance against the present unrest among students in different educational institutions.

     The recurring incidents of violence and clashes in different educational institutions are just reflections of growing unrest among students. Such incidents bring forth the dismal condition of student community. They are often seen to create havoc movement even on unethical issues such as to promote the unsuccessful students in test exams, to allow unfair means during exams, etc. They lock up the teachers inside the school for hours to fulfil their immoral demands. They do not pay due respect either to the law and order or to the teachers of their institutions. The ugly infiltration of narrow politics into academic life of students is the main cause behind it. The students often fall prey to various political leaders who mislead them to satisfy their own interests. The students are emotionally exploited by the leaders. As a result their studies are hampered.

      The political leaders are hereby requested to exclude the student community from politics so that the students and the society remain in peace and solidarity. The students at the same time must be ethical and unbiased to their demands. (206 words)

                                                                                                                     Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                                         (own name)

(Own address & date)

5. Write a letter  (within 120 words) to the Editor of an English daily about the harm that is caused to the environment by the use of plastic bags and plastic cups. [HS-2005]

Ans.

To

The Editor

The Telegraph

6 Prafulla Sarkar Street

Kolkata – 700001

                Sub: Use of plastic bags and plastic cups

Sir,

     Through the Readers’ column of your esteemed journal daily, I would like to express my grievance about the harm that is caused to the environment by the use of plastic bags and plastic cups.

     Nowadays, plastic is used at a large scale in various forms. The most popular use of it is in the making of plastic bags and plastic cups. These are used widely to carry food materials, groceries, fish, meat, etc and to serve tea, coffee, cold-drinks, etc. Though they are light, convenient and cheap, they create serious threats to environmental balance and healthy life. They are not biodegradable. As these are made from harmful chemicals, they are not safe for health. Throwing them away carelessly here and there creates lots of problem. They stop the flow of water in the drainage system. As a result, roads remain waterlogged for days together, particularly during the rainy season. When they mixed with soil, they prevent entry of air and water into it affecting proper cultivation.

      I, therefore, appeal to the Govt. and the concerned authorities to strictly enforce the laws that have forbidden the manufacture and use of plastic bags and plastic cups. (194 words)

Yours faithfully,

(own name)

(Own address & date)

Personal                                                                   (Marks: 10 each)

1. Suppose your brother lives in a boarding school and reads nothing beyond his school books. Write a letter to him advising him to read an English newspaper daily.

Ans.
                                                                                                                               Islampur,
                                                                                                                        Uttar Dinajpur
                                                                                                                 14^th January, 2012
My dear (brother’s name),
                          I am glad to learn that you have scored high marks in the last exam. It is true that class books are necessary for good results, but you also need to read a newspaper regularly.

              Nowadays you can’t keep pace with the outer world if you don’t read a newspaper on a regular basis. It gives you an all-round knowledge on variety of topics. It gives information on current events, sports, career options, job opportunities, etc. A man who does not read newspaper remains ignorant of the outer world like a frog in a narrow well. He cannot take part in talks and discussions in a learned society. Most of all, an English newspaper will increase your vocabulary and the power of comprehension which are vital to follow your English syllabus. It will help you to acquire skill in English.

         So, develop the habit of reading an English newspaper daily. It will help you in the long run. (158 words)
With love and best wishes,

                                                                                                                                        Yours affectionately,

                                                                                                                (own name)

Name & address
of brother

NATURE by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Sample Questions and Answers

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

   1.  Answer the following questions(each in about 50 words): 5 marks each

       (i) Show how Longfellow compares Nature to a loving mother in the poem Nature. Or, how does Longfellow bring out the similarity between a mother and nature in the poem Nature ? Or, how does the poet compare human beings to children and Nature to a loving but firm mother ? Or, why is Nature compared to a ‘fond mother’? (HS-2008) Or, How does Nature lead us to the unknown world ? Or, How, according to Longfellow, does Nature gradually lead us towards death ? Or, How does Nature prepare us for the ultimate rest ?

Ans.   The poet, Longfellow compares Nature to a fond but firm mother and the child to human beings. When the day is over, the loving mother takes her tired child from the playthings and leads him to bed for rest and sleep. Likewise, Nature takes away our so-called valuable possessions in our old age and prepares us with her loving touch for the other world for final rest. (67 words)

(ii)               “So Nature deals with us.”- How does Nature deals with us ? (HS-09)

Ans.     Nature deals with us exactly in the same way as an affectionate mother deals with her child. When the day is over ..................for final rest. [from BQ No. i]

(iii)             Bring out the significance of the title of the poem “Nature”.

Ans.    Longfellow has personified Nature in his poem. He has compared Nature to a ..............for final rest. Hence, Nature reflects the central theme of the poem. So the title “Nature” is appropriate. [from BQ No. i]

(iv)            How does the poet bring out the child’s unwillingness to go to bed ? Or, What, according to Longfellow, are the feelings of the child being led away to bed ? Or, Describe the child’s reaction as he is led by his mother to bed at the end of the day.

Ans.     The child is not at all willing to leave his scattered toys and go to bed when his loving mother takes him to bed for rest at the end of the day. He walks with his mother reluctantly but gazes at the toys fixedly. Though his mother promises him more splendid toys in their stead, he is not assured. He wishes to continue his play more with the old ones. (70 words)

(v)               Why does Nature take away our playthings ? (HS-2011)

Ans.    Our playthings are worldly possessions after which we run throughout the life. Nature gradually takes these away one by one when we grow old. In this process Nature weakens our senses which keep us attached to worldly attractions. Thus Nature prepares us and tenderly leads us along the right pathway to the ultimate rest that lies beyond death. (58 words)

      2.      Answer the following questions ( each in about 30 words ) :     3 marks each

(i)           How does the little child in Longfellow’s “Nature” behave, when his mother draws him away from play at the end of the day ? (HS-2007)

Ans.     The child is reluctant to leave his scattered toys and go to bed. He walks with his mother but gazes at the toys fixedly. Though his mother promises him more splendid toys in their stead, he is not assured. He wishes to continue his play. (45 words)

(ii)          Why does the child in the poem “Nature” go to bed ‘half willing’ and ‘half reluctant’ ?(HS-2008)

Ans.    The phrase ‘half willing, half reluctant’ denotes the child’s mental condition when the mother leads him to bed for rest. He is half willing as he feels tired and sleepy. He is half reluctant as he does not wish to leave his play. (43 words)

(iii)       “Which though more splendid, may not please him more.” – What is referred to as ‘which’ ? Why may it not ‘please him more’ ?

Ans.     The promised playthings to the child by his mother are referred to here as ‘which’.

            The promised playthings may not please the child more because he has a deep affection to his present toys. He cannot give up his attraction and affection for them. (44 words)

(iv)      “Nor wholly reassured and comforted” – Why is the child not wholly ‘reassured’ and ‘comforted’ ?

Ans.     When the mother promises her child to offer him more splendid toys in place of the broken ones, he is not wholly assured and comforted as he has a deep affection to his present toys. He cannot give up his attraction and affection for them. (45 words)

(v)               What does the poet mean by ‘our playthings’ in the poem “Nature” ?

Ans.      The poet means, by ‘our playthings’, the earthly possessions of man including vigour, youth and beauty, in which they remain deeply immersed in worldly life. Those are as trivial as toys, after the poet. (34 words)

Special Increment for Having a Doctorate Degree

Q. Whether a teacher having a doctorate degree is eligible to draw additional increment ?

Ans.         Yes, a teacher having a doctorate degree is eligible to draw two special additional increments from the day of receiving such degree. When a teacher gains additional higher degree, it is fruitful and beneficial for the students and for the society in broader sense. So the teacher is eligible to draw special increment. It is to note here that the Govt. had issued a circular in 2012 that a teacher who gained such a doctorate degree after 2005 would not be able to draw any special increment. Many cases were filed against the Govt.’s circular. The High Court dismissed the Govt.’s circular and ordered the Education Department to follow and enforce the previous system of giving two special additional increments to teachers having a doctorate degree.

THE MOON by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Sample Questions & Answers

1. Answer the following questions ( each in about 50 words ): 5 marks each

(i) Discuss The Moon as a nature myth. Or, Show how, in the poem The Moon, Shelley has created myth out of a natural phenomenon.

Ans. Myth is an imaginative mechanism to present a natural phenomenon as a living being. Shelley(1792-1822), renowned for his myth-making power, personifies the moon, a natural object in the poem The Moon.

In the first stanza, the moon appears to be a weak, pale lady. She is thin and white. She cannot think or move steadily. The second stanza depicts the moon as a maiden suffering from weariness. She is in desperate search of a worthy companion. (76 words)

(ii) How does Shelley personify the moon in the poem ? Or, describe how Shelley has personified natural phenomenon in the poem The Moon.

Ans. Shelley has personified the moon by imagining it to be a person in both the stanzas. In the first stanza, the moon .......................of a worthy companion. (from broad type question no.i) (61 words)

(iii) “The moon arose up in the murky east.” – How does Shelley describe the rising of the moon in his poem The Moon ? (H.S. ’07)

Ans. The moon rises in the gloomy eastern sky. Under the layer of thin clouds, it appears whitish and shapeless. It looks like a dying lady lean, pale and confused, with a soft transparent covering on the face. Like this lady tottering out of her bedroom led by the insane and bewildered thoughts of her weak brain, the dull moon rises in the sky. (63 words)

(iv) Describe how the moon is compared to a dying lady ?

Ans. Shelley has compared the moon to a dying lady in the first stanza of the poem. The moon rises in the gloomy ................... in the sky. (from broad type question no.iii ) (79 words)

(v) “And ever changing, like a joyless eye / That finds no object worth its constancy.” – Bring out the significance/meaning of the lines. Or, who has ‘a joyless eye’ and why ? (H.S. ’12)

Ans. Here the moon has been compared to the eyes of a depressed maiden who does not find anybody worthy of her love. The moon slowly changes its shape from a complete round to a semi-circular as it proceeds towards the new moon phase. Just as the eyes of a sad maiden droop, so also the moon loses its round figure and looks pale and drooping. (65 words)

2. Answer the following questions ( each in about 30 words ) : 3 marks each

(i) What is the moon compared to in the first section of Shelley’s poem ? (HS sample question) Or, how is the moon compared to ‘a dying lady’ ?

Ans. In the first section of Shelley’s poem, the moon is compared to ‘a dying lady’. She is thin and pale. She totters out of her bedroom. Her face is covered with a thin layer of gauze. She seems to suffer from memory loss. (43 words)

(ii) What does Shelley mean when he says that the moon is ‘wrapped in a gauzy veil’ ?

Ans. The term ‘gauzy veil’ means a thin transparent piece of cloth that is used to cover a woman’s face from the sun, dust etc. Here a thin layer of cloud floating over the face of the moon appears to be a gauzy veil to the poet. ( 46 words)

(iii) “Art thou pale for weariness ?” – What, according to the poet, is the cause of the moon’s weariness ? Or, What reasons are given by Shelley for the moon’s ‘weariness’ ?

Ans. The poet P. B. Shelley imagines that the moon labours hard in moving about lonely in the sky and gazing eagerly for hours on the earth in search of a worthy companion. This makes her look weary and pale. (39 words)

(iv) “And feeble wanderings of her fading brain” – What is meant by ‘fading brain’ ?

Ans. ‘Fading brain’ is a brain that is losing its power, particularly the power to memorize. The poet says this while comparing the moon to a dying lady. Old age and illness have made her brain inactive. She fails to remember anything. (42 words)

(v) What scientific truth is referred to when Shelley says about the moon ‘wandering companionless’ ?

Ans. P. B. Shelley says that the moon wanders companionless. This is based on the scientific fact that the moon is the only satellite of the earth, i.e. it has its origin from the earth. There is no other celestial body having the same origin. That is why the moon is said to be companionless. (54 words)

Structure of Questions and Division of Marks for the current session (2013-2014) of Class-XII [English B] under WBCHSE

Prose

• Objective type [Four out of four]  1x4=4
• Short type [Word limit – about 30 words] (Two out of four)  3x2=6
• Broad type [Word limit – about 50 words] (One out of four)  5x1=5
• Total – 15 Marks

Poetry

• Objective type (Four out of four)   1x4=4
• Short type [Word limit – about 30 words] (Two out of four)   3x2=6
• Broad type [Word limit – about 50 words] (One out of four)   5x1=5
• Total – 15 Marks

Play

• Objective type (Four out of eight)  1x4=4
• Short type [Word limit – about 30 words] (Two out of four)   3x2=6
• Broad type [Word limit – about 50 words] (One out of four)  5x1=5
• Total – 15 Marks

Textual Grammar

• Do as directed  2x5=10
• Fill in the blanks with articles and prepositions  0.5x6=3
• Framing Wh-question  1x2=2
• Total – 15 Marks

Letter Writing 

[Word limit – about 120 words] (One out of two)  10x1=10

ESP [English for Special Purpose]

(One out of two)  10x1=10

• Report Writing [Word limit – about 150 words]
• Summary Writing [Word limit – about 100 words] 

Comprehension Test [Unseen Prose]

• Choosing correct alternative   1x7=7
• Short type question [Word limit – about 20 words] (Four out of four)  2x4=8
• Re-arrange of sentences [Five sentences]  5
• Total - 20 Marks

Subject Total - 100 Marks

Syllabus for the old session (2013-2014) of Class-XII [English B] under WBCHSE

Prose   [15 Marks]

1. Rajam and Mani : R. K. Narayan
2. Further Progress in Specialisation : Stephen Leacock
3. Life at Mokameh Ghat : Jim Corbett
4. Consequences of Environmental Plunder : Jean Dreze & Amartya Sen

Poetry  [15 Marks]

1. The Moon : P. B. Shelley
2. Nature : H. W. Longfellow
3. Futility : Wilfred Owen
4. Where the Mind is Without Fear : Rabindranath Tagore

Play  [15 Marks]

• The Bishop’s Candlesticks : Norman Mckinnel

Textual Grammar   [15 Marks]
[Transformation, joining and splitting of sentences, change of narration,
use of articles and prepositions, Wh-questions, etc]

Letter Writing  [10 Marks]
[Official, personal, etc]

ESP [English for Special Purpose]  [10 Marks]

• Report Writing
• Summary Writing

Comprehension Test [Unseen Prose]  [20 Marks]

Total  [100 Marks]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Find the texts in the TEXT page.

Result of ICSE and ISC Exam, 2013: An Analysis

     The result of ICSE and ISC Exam, 2013 was declared on 17.05.2013 as expected. Here is some data on the overall result :

Rate of Success                India                   West Bengal

ISC                                                           95.15%                              95.22%

ICSE                                                         98.20%                              97.82%


   The marksheets of ICSE and ISC may be given on 21 May, 2013 and 23 May, 2013 respectively.

Result of High Madrasha, Alim and Fazil, 2013: An Analysis

   

     As expected, the result of High Madrasha, Alim and Fazil, 2013 was declared on 17/05/2013. The overall result is as follows :

Rate of Success

High Madrasha        -- 77.60%

Alim                        -- 76.97%

Fazil                        -- 77.71%

Genderwise Rate of Success      Boys            Girls

High Madrasha                                               -- 83.35%       74.69%

Alim                                                               -- 86.75%       66.93%

Fazil                                                               -- 81.37%       68.65%

Possible Toppers        Marks Obtained

High Madrasha :   1. Masud Reja -                                 733

                            2. Saiyad Ramij Ali -                          732

                            3. Rosonara Khatun  -                        728

Alim :                   1. Md. Mojammel Hossain -               776

                            2. Md. Sanowar Hossain -                  773

                            3. Soiful Islam -                                   766

Fazil :                   1. Abdul Kalam Sardar -                     550

                            2. Md. Najmul Arefin -                        533

                            3. Samsul Nahar -                                528

NOBEL LECTURE by Mother Teresa: An Analysis

The Writer :

   Mother Teresa's early name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu and she was born on 26 August, 1910 in Skopje, Yugoslavia. She was the youngest child of her Albanian family. Her mother raised her as a Roman Catholic. She was fascinated by stories of missionaries. At the age of twelve, she was convinced that she should commit herself to a religious life as a missionary.

    She left her home at the age of 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto. After learning to speak English in Ireland, she started for India. She began her training to be a nun in Darjeeling under Sister Murphy. She also learnt Bengali and Hindi there. After completing her training, she took her first religious vows as a nun on May 24, 1931 and chose the name Teresa. She joined Loreto Convent at Entally in Kolkata to teach children. But her heart cried seeing the pathetic condition of the poor dwellers of a slum opposite to the convent.

    She decided to leave the Convent on 10 September, 1946 to work wholeheartedly for the poor. She got a medical training from Patna to be a nurse. Then she started to serve the poor and the distressed in Kolkata. People liked her work and helped her.

    She received permission from the Vatican on October 7, 1950 to start her own charitable organisation, "The Missionaries of Charity". Its aim was to work for "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers." She opened shelters, homes, orphanages and leper houses all over the world with the help of charitable funding.

    She sacrificed her life for the betterment of the poor and she was satisfied in doing so. She passed away on September 5, 1997 but will be remembered all over the world for her work for the sick, the poor, the orphans and the destitute. She was beatified in Vatican by Pope John Paul II on 19 October, 2003.

The Lecture :

    As mentioned above, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress. During her gripping prize acceptance speech on December 11, 1979 in Oslo, Norway, she motivated her audience to spread peace and love by sharing with one another and putting one's ideas into action. She said, " You must come to know the poor, may be our people here have material things, everything, but I think that if we all look into our own homes, how difficult we find it sometimes to smile at each other, but that smile is the beginning of love ...and so let us always meet each other with a smile."

    When she received the prize she was asked, "What can we do to promote world peace ?" She replied, " Go home and love your family." In her lecture she said, "Around the world, not only in the poor countries, but I found the poverty of the West so much more difficult to remove. When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread. I have removed the hunger. But a person that is shut out, that feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person that has been thrown out from society -- that poverty is so hurtable and so much, and I find that very difficult." She also mentioned abortion as "the greatest destroyer of peace in the world."

ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE by O Henry: An Analysis

The Writer :

O Henry (1862-1910)

      O. Henry is the pen name of William Sydney Porter. He is a famous American Short-story writer. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. He lost his mother only at the age of three. His early education was incomplete. He had to leave the school at the age of fifteen to work in a drug store. He got married in 1887 and went to Texas in search of job. There he worked as a journalist and then as a bank-teller. Unfortunately he was convicted for fraudulence as a bank-teller and undergo three years' imprisonment. He started to write short-stories in prison. After getting release from the convicted life, he settled in New York and continued his writing career. Me married again in 1907 but could not live long. He died of consumption on 5th June, 1910.       

      His notable works are -

• Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking (1899)
• Cabbages and Kings (1904)
• The Four Million (1906)
• The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories (1907)
• The Gentle Grafter (1908)
• Roads to Destiny (1909) etc.

The Source:

  Alias Jimmy Valentine is an interesting short-story by O. Henry. But it is not its original title. It first came out with the title A Retrieved Reformation in 1909. In 1928, it was adapted into the film, Alias Jimmy Valentine, MGM’s first all-talking film. The present title of the story has been coined from that film. The story is a popular one which describes the events leading up to the reformation of an ex-convict.

The Summary:

  Jimmy Valentine is an expert safe-cracker and he is released from prison after 10 months though he was sentenced to four years of imprisonment. He goes to his old house, takes his tools and leaves the place. A few days later, a number of cash robberies are reported. Ben Price, a detective who sent Valentine to jail, is employed to work on the new cases of robberies. After investigating the cases, he realizes that the robberies are committed in Jimmy’s style. Everything is clear to him. He is confirmed that Jimmy is very much behind these.

  In the meantime Jimmy changes his address. He comes to Elmore, a little town in Arkansas. On the way to the hotel there he comes across a lovely lady. He falls in love with her at first sight. He learns from a local boy that the young lady is Annabel Adams, the daughter of the owner of Elmore Bank. He is so much attracted by her beauty that he decides to give up his criminal career to begin a new life with her. He takes up the identity of Ralph D. Spencer, opens an exclusive shoe-store and lives in the town. When he makes a social position there through his flourishing shoe-business, he becomes engaged to Annabel with the approval of Mr. Adams.

  Jimmy writes a letter to his old friend Pal two weeks before the day of marriage. He tells him in his letter to meet him at Little Rock. His target is to hand him over his kit of tools forever. He also mentions his forthcoming marriage in the letter. That a change comes over him is clear from this letter. Ben Price, by this time, tracks him down at Elmore. He also learns about his proposed marriage.

  Jimmy prepares to go to Little Rock one morning on the pretext of ordering his wedding suit and buying something nice for Annabel. He leaves the hotel with his suitcase and turns up at the Elmore Bank along with Mr. Adams, Annabel and Annabel’s married sister with her two little girls, May and Agatha, aged nine and five respectively. Actually, Mr. Adams has installed a new safe and vault in his bank. He is very proud of his new possession. He wants to show it to all of his family including Jimmy. At that time appears Ben Price there but remains unnoticed by others.

  Mr. Adams explains the workings of the vault to the visitors. In the meantime, May, in a spirit of play, has shut Agatha in the vault and turns the combination knob. All are in extreme panic. For, the system of unlocking is not known even to Mr. Adams. Tension mounts up. Agatha’s mother is panic-stricken. Everybody fears Agatha will die of fright and from suffocation. Annabel begs Jimmy to do something for her. He cannot ignore her. He gets to work ignoring the risk that it will reveal his true identity. He opens his suitcase, draws out his tools and arranges them one by one on the table. To the utter amazement of others, Jimmy breaks open the vault in ten minutes with immaculate expertise and saves the little child.

  Now everything is clear to all. Jimmy has nothing to defend himself. He slowly walks towards the door of the bank. At the door stands Ben Price. Jimmy senses what is in store for him. He welcomes Price and is ready to give in. But Ben Price acts otherwise. He refuses to recognize Jimmy Valentine. He calls him Spencer. Utterly surprised Jimmy sees him strolling down the street.

The Features:

  There is nothing new in the story of Alias Jimmy Valentine. It is about the transformation of a thief into a good human being. Such a story is often used in English language classes and writing courses. But the way it is woven by O. Henry is highly interesting. There are many twists and turns in the characters and situations of the story. But the real charm lies in the abrupt ending of the story. Ben does not arrest Jimmy. He violates law but values love and humanity. Ben knows that once a thief is not a thief always. The act of Ben is striking here. However, O. Henry leaves here his trademark of fine story-telling. As a whole, the story is very much interesting and enjoyable.

The Text:

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