Jimmy Valentine Question Answer | Class 11 WBCHSE
1. “Better think over my advice Valentine”- Who said this and when
M The warden said this to Jimmy Valentine in O. Henry’s short-story ‘Alias Jimmy Valentine’.
The warden called Jimmy to his office in order to give him the Governor’s pardon. While giving the pardon the warden advised him to lead a straight life shunning burglary. Instead of paying attention to the warden’s advice, Jimmy claimed that he never cracked a safe in his life. In a sarcastic humour, the warden wanted to know why he was convicted in the Springfield case. The warden recollected his experience that the convicts like Jimmy were always ready with this excuse or that to prove themselves innocent. Jimmy still persisted that he had never been in Sprinfield in his life. Annoyed, the warden left all attempts to convince Jimmy and ordered the guard to take him back to his cell. Finally when the guard was taking Jimmy away, he left this parting advice for Jimmy.
2. “Stop cracking safe and live straight”- Who said this and to whom? When did he say this? What was the reaction of the person spoken to
The warden said this to Jimmy Valentine.
The warden said this after he had handed over the pardon to Jimmy Valentine. Jimmy was given the news of his release and then the warden advised him to give up burglary and live by honest means.
However, Jimmy did not oblige like an obedient boy. He rather sharply contradicted that he never broke a safe in his life. He pretented to have been surprised at his words. When he was asked about the Springfield case, he denied once again and even said that he had never been to Springfield in his whole life.
3. Retrace Jimmy Valentine’s course of action from the moment he is granted pardon to the time he reached his room
After his release from the prison-house on parole, Jimmy Valentine was not the least overwhelmed with the beauty of nature. He did not pay attention to the chirping of birds, soothing greenery outside or fragrance of flowers. In its stead, he headed staight for a restaurant and relished the sweet joys of liberty with a grand breakfast comprising broiled chicken and white wine. After finishing his breakfast, he smoked a cigar. Then he moved to the depot in an idle manner. After three hours’ journey he reached a town near state line. He went to a cafe owned by one of his friends, Mike Dolan and collected the keys of his room. Then he went upstairs to his room where he had been residing before the detective Ben Price arrested him.
4. “After the release of Jimmy Valentine…” What hap- pened after the release of Jimmy Valentine
After the release of Jimmy Valentine three consecutive cases of safe-burglary took place. It started with Richmond, Indiana where only eight hundred dollars were robbed. Two weeks after this, a patented, improved and burglar-proof safe in Logansport was miraculously broken and this time fifteen hundred dollars were thieved. But the securities and silver were left untouched. This started drawing attention of the rogue-catchers. Then an old fashioned bank safe in Jefferson city was robbed off five thousand dollars. The method of the burglaries and the clueless subtlety indicated that Jimmy Valentine might be the burglar and consequently suspicion fell on him.
5. “Ben Price investigated the scenes of the robberies and was heard to remark…” Who was Ben Price? What did he say? What did he know of Jimmy’s habit
Ben Price was an eminent detective who investigated and got Jimmy Valentine arrested in the Springfield case.
After the consecutive cases of safe-burglary, Ben Price investigated the scenes and guessed that it was the job of Jimmy Valentine who had resumed his old business. The style, manner and the clueless subtlety of the job indicated that none but Jimmy could do this.
Ben Price was already familiar to Jimmy’s habits and strategies. He came to know these while investigating the Springfied case. Jimmy had some typical style of burglary. His habit included long-jumps, quick- gateways, no confederates and a taste for good society. All these enabled him to get off scot-free.
6. Who was Annabel? How did Jimmy come to know her identity? How was he attracted to her
Annabel Adams was the daughter of Mr. Adams, and the heroine of the story who plays a major role in bringing about reformation in Jimmy Valentine by the sweet touch of her love.
Jimmy kept hobnobbing with the boy standing on the steps of the Elmore Bank and cunningly collected information about the town feeding him dimes. In the meantime, when the lady came out, Jimmy asked if she was Polly Simpson. Infact, Jimmy slyly made a deliberate mistake. The boy instinctively corrected him that she was Annabel Adams, the daughter of the owner of this bank. This was exactly what Jimmy wanted. Thus he came to know Annabel’s identity.
He fell in love with Annabel at the very first sight. Jimmy looked into her eyes and for the time being, Jimmy forgot all about his identity and was captivated by her beauty.
7. Narrate Jimmy Vatentine’s first meeting with Annabel
After Jimmy’s release from prison, a series of burglaries occurred and the involvement of the famous detective Ben Price was announced. Jimmy then arrived at Elmore for the need of an effective cover. Here he chanced to come across a young lady. She crossed the street, passed Jimmy at the corner and entered the Elmore Bank. Jimmy, the professional burglar and a hardcore realist was somewhat spell-bound. Jimmy looked into her eyes and was captivated by her charms. He fell in love with her at the very first sight. The lady lowered her eyes and her cheeks blushed. Jimmy’s impressive style and looks were not unobserved by the lady, though she put on an air of aristrocratic indfference. While talking to a boy on the steps of the bank, the lady came out and Jimmy came to know that she was Annabel Adams.
8. “While trying to figure out Jimmy’s manners of tying four-in-hand, he cordially gave information”- What is the occasion? What information did he give? Or, Summarise Jimmy Valentine’s conversation with the hotel clerk
On arriving at Planter’s Hotel Jimmy Valentine registered his name as Ralph D. Spencer. While conversing with the clerk, he told that he was planning to run a business in the town. That is why he had come to look for a suitable location. Jimmy added that he had thought of opening a shoe-business and enquired if it would go well. While following Jimmy’s style and manner of tying the knot of the tie, the clerk cordially gave information.
The clerk assured that there was enough prospect in this business in the town as there was no exclusive shoe-store. Only the dry-goods and general stores handled them. He hoped that Mr. Spencer would decide to stay at Elmore and assured that he would find it a pleasant place and the people were also quite sociable.
9. “Mr Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes-ashes left by the flame of a sudden…” Explain with reference to the con-text. Or, How did Jimmy Valentine turn into Ralph. D. Spencer
The afternoon Jimmy Valentine reached Elmore he happened to come across Miss Annabel Adams and was captivated by her angelic beauty. Induced by the sweet attraction of love, Jimmy decided to stay in Elmore for few days. By and by, he opened a shoe-store and prospered in his business. His long-cherished desire was also realised and he won not only the heart of Annabel bit also the love and faith of her family. Thus, love brought Jimmy, the notorious burglar to the mainstream of life. Like a Phoenix, the mythological bird which burnt itself and arose in a new form from its own ashes, Jimmy Valentine passed away and was reborn in the form of Ralph. D. Spencer. Like fire, love here acted as a purgatory force in reforming the burglar into a good citizen.
10. “Can’t you do something, Ralph…” Who said this and to whom? Describe the situation
Miss Annabel Adams said this to Jimmy alias Ralph D. Spencer.
When the elders were busy with themselves May, the elder girl, shut her sister Agatha in the vault in a spirit of play. Her mother began to cry hysterically, fearing her death. Even Mr. Adams did not know how to open the door as the clock had not been wound and the combination was not set. Agatha’s mother frantically beat the door of the vault. Mr. Adams was at his wit’s end. Though breaking open the vault was not an easy job for any ordinary person, Annabel under the pressure of the situation and being driven by her great faith in the ability of Ralph. D. Spencer, asked him if he could do something to save the girl and the family.
11. “With this act Ralph D. Spencer passed away and Jimmy Valentine took his place”-Narrate the scene. Or, How was Agatha saved
Moments passed in anxiety when Agatha got locked in the vault. None was nearby who could open the door. There was no other way left for them but be the silent onlookers of her death. Annabel pleaded Ralph to do something. This was a moment of dilemma for Ralph. He knew that saving this girl meant the revelation of his identity. His long-dreamt future with Annabel or his duty to this little child-he was faced with such a difficult choice. Shrugging off all hesitation, however, he decided to pay heed to the command of his conscience. Once again he laid hands on his dear old instruments and Jimmy Valentine, the safe burglar came back in him again, but this time to save a life. So breaking all his previous records he opened the door within ten minutes and saved the little girl.
12. Describe the character of Jimmy Valentine
Jimmy is a safe-cracker who was released from prison after a ten month long sentence. However, he seems to have no intention to come to the mainstream of life. He comes to Elmore, Arkansas to find a cover. But there he comes under the spell of two lovely-looking eyes of Annabel Adams, the daughter of the bank owner and resolves to break all ties with the dark world. He gets completely transformed into a genuinely gentle person, loving Annabel from deep within. He does not ever hesitate to sacrifice his glorious future in order to save the little child. This act of conscious self surrender to save an innocent child reveals the sign of a complete transformation, the transformation of a criminal into a true lover, glowing with the music of humanity.
13. How does O. Henry highlight the differences be- tween Jimmy Valentine and Ralph D. Spencer
Henry has highlighted the differences between Jimmy Valentine and Ralph D. Spencer. Jimmy was a burgler. He had served imprisonment for it. He had influential connections. He worked alone. He followed his heart and was back into safe cracking just a week after his release.
Ralph D. Spencer, a phoenix that arose from Jimmy’s ashes, had arrived at Elmore with plans of safecracking but he changed his mind after seeing Annabel. He fell in love and was completely changed. He left back his previous life and moved ahead. He made friends and gathered the respect of the community. He became prosperous too.
However, both Jimmy and Ralph come together when Annabel’s niece gets shut in the vault and Ralph uses Jimmy’s tools to open the safe and rescue the child. That Jimmy did not pretend to be a clean man and used his skills to save the child knowing that he will be exposed to Ben Price, shows that Jimmy ceased to be a crook anymore. He has transformed into an honest man.
14. What idea do you form of Ben Price the detective
Ben Price was the detective who arrested Jimmy Valentine and put him into prison. It is when Jimmy Valentine gets ready for a new life at Elmore with Annabel Adams, Ben Price comes to the spot, recognises him and is all set to arrest Jimmy. But when he finds Jimmy saving a little girl, Ben Price detects the hidden goodness in Jimmy’s character and decides to allow Jimmy settle down in his new life at Elmore.
Actually, this decision proves not to be very easy on the part of Ben considering the legal formalities. But to Ben Price humanity is of prime importance and counts ahead of all other factors. And herein lies the beauty and excellence of Ben Price’s character.
15. Bring out the spirit and essence of the story ‘Alias Jimmy Valentine’
The story reveals the healing power of love that transforms a criminal into a saviour of life. Jimmy comes to Elmore. When his eyes meet those of Annabel Adams, the daughter of the bank owner, he instantly resolves to cut out all connection with the criminal world to lead a life of gentility and respectability. Jimmy is transformed so much from within that he does not hesitate to save the little child even at the risk of his own future. Ben Price, having been convinced of the change in Jimmy for the better, leaves him on his present identity of Ralph Spencer to get married to Annabel Adams. So, the entire story revolves round the magical transformation of Jimmy Valentine, the safe-cracker under the spell of love.
16. “O. Henry has given a real twist in the ending of the story”- Justify
Henry has given a real twist in the ending of the story ‘Alias Jimmy Valentine’. In the context of the story, when it was very much evident that Jimmy was going to be arrested by Ben Price, the detective himself comes forward to Jimmy’s rescue. He refuses to recognise him in order to allow him to remain in safety in his new life with Annabel Adams. Ben Price gives priority to human quality above everything else and therefore, deliberately allows Jimmy to lead a normal happy life with Annabel. So, the conclusion, though unexpected, by virtue of being a happy ending, stands dramatic, highly appreciating and acceptable to the readers.
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