Moments: Iswaran the Storyteller

Topics in this chapter

• Plot and Key Events
• Iswaran’s Character and Skills
• Mahendra’s Character and Reactions
• Storytelling Style and Suspense
• Ghost Story, Fear and Rationality
• Themes, Humour and Literary Influences

Cheat sheet

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-966081

   What is the profession of Mahendra, the narrator's master in 'Iswaran the Storyteller'?

   1. A.School teacher
   2. B.Junior supervisor
   3. C.Railway guard
   4. D.Police inspector
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-8DBDF5

   How did Iswaran manage to produce vegetables and cooking ingredients in remote, desolate work sites?

   1. A.He traveled to town every morning by bus.
   2. B.He magically conjured them using spells.
   3. C.He mysteriously conjured up the most delicious dishes seemingly out of nowhere within an hour of arriving at a makeshift place.
   4. D.He grew an extensive greenhouse farm at every site.
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-061BAF

   Which literary style or genre heavily influenced Iswaran's storytelling technique?

   1. A.Tamil thrillers and crime fiction
   2. B.Tamil novels and popular suspense thrillers
   3. C.Classical Sanskrit dramas
   4. D.Scientific journals
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-ECA8C8

   Describe the incident of the mad elephant as narrated by Iswaran to Mahendra.

   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-3DDDDE

   How did Iswaran build suspense while describing an ordinary object, such as a fallen tree on a highway?

   1. A.He would draw a picture on the wall before speaking.
   2. B.He would abruptly stop, arch his eyebrows, and suggest it was a gruesome beast.
   3. C.He would remain completely silent until someone guessed.
   4. D.He would read directly from a prepared script.
   See the answer and solution