Hi Everyone!! This article will share After Twenty Years Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of The Walrus and the Carpenter and Pushkar so, you can check these posts as well.
After Twenty Years Questions & Answers
- Stalwart – strongly built
- Depeopled – without people
- Reassuringly – to restore confidence
- Proposition – an area to explore
- Plodder – someone who works slowly
- Swagger – to walk confidently
- Plainclothesman – a policeman dressed like a civilian
- Gusts – sudden and strong
- On the beat – patrolling in an area
- Scarfpin – a pin used to hold tie in place
- Chum – a close friend
- Trying doors – checking houses
- Guardian of peace – look like a typical uniformed beat cop
- Staunchest – loyal and committed in attitude
- Hustling – move hurriedly
- Bless my heart – expression used to express sympathy (or fondness) for someone
- Bully – a person who use his/her strength to hurt people who are weak
- Egotism – thinking only about oneself and considering oneself better and more important than other people
- Snapped – say something irritably/lose one’s self control
- Twirled his club – spin repeatedly a heavy stick with a thick end
- Submerged – completely covered
After Twenty Years Questions & Answers
Question 1: What time does the story begin?
Answer: The story began around 10 o’clock at night when the policeman was patrolling along the roadside trying doors, working as a guardian of peace.
Question 2: Where was the man from the West leaning?
Answer: The man from the west was leaning in the doorway of a darkened hardware store where there used to be ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant, twenty years ago.
Question 3: Read the lines and answer the questions.
“I’m just waiting for a friend. It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it?”
(a) Who said this and to whom?
Answer: ‘Silky’ Bob said these words to Jimmy.
(b) Why would it sound funny to the listener?
Answer: It would sound funny to the listener as he had come all the way from the West to keep an appointment made twenty years ago.
(c) What happened twenty years ago?
Answer: Twenty years ago, Bob started for West to make his fortune. It was then that they decided to meet, no matter what their conditions might be or from what distance they might have to come.
Question 4: Where was ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant pulled down?
Answer: As informed by the policeman to the man from the West, ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant was pulled down five years ago.
Question 5: Where were Jimmy and Bob raised?
Answer: Bob and Jimmy Wells, his best chum, were raised up in New York City.
Question 6: Why did the man speak up quickly when the police man approached him?
Answer: Bob spoke to the policeman because he didn’t want his behaviour to raise any suspicion. He calls out the policeman to let him know what he is doing there at that hour.
Question 7: Read the lines and answer the questions.
‘It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him.’
(a) Who said these words and to whom?
Answer: Silky Bob said these words to the Patrolman Wells.
(b) Who does ‘him’ refer to here?
Answer: ‘Him’ refers to anyone who goes to the West to seek fortune.
(c) According to you, how Bob has become razor-sharp?
Answer: By competing with some of the sharpest wits in the West to earn wealth, Bob became the razor sharp.
After Twenty Years Questions & Answers
Question 8: Describe the policeman on the beat.
Answer: The policeman moved along the street in a very impressive manner. He was looking smart and important and it was his natural style. On the main road, he was keeping his alert eyes at the people’s movements. He was trying at each door ensuring that it was closed for the night. His strong figure with a slight swagger made him a fine picture of a guardian of peace.
Question 9: Why do you think Jimmy Wells continued to talk to ‘Silky’ Bob?
Answer: Jimmy already knew that his childhood pal had become a criminal. As a cop, he had all the information about his criminal activities. Jimmy also remembered that Bob will come to meet his old friend as planned and promised twenty years ago. The friends reached the fixed meeting point. Jimmy knew he was meeting Bob but Bob didn’t know that the officer he was interacting with is his childhood buddy. Jimmy continued to talk to Bob for a while because he, as a friend wanted to keep his promise of meeting him. Though Jimmy had the warrant and authority to arrest Bob, yet he didn’t do it.
Question 10: Describe the watch that ‘Silky’ Bob was wearing. What does this tell us about him?
Answer: The watch that ‘Silky’ Bob wore was quite expensive. It was covered with small jewels all around it and gave the impression that it belonged to a very wealthy man. As he was a criminal so he would have made money by unfair means. Thus, he could afford it.
Question 11: How do you think ‘Silky’ Bob would have felt when he realized that he had spoken to Patrolman Wells without realizing it?
Answer: Bob must have been assailed by mixed feelings. Either he must be cursing himself for not being able to identify his staunchest chap or he must be angry with his friend for not revealing his identity. He might have also felt a sense of regret that they didn’t converse like pals. They met and parted like strangers which must have been a real let down for Bob.
Question 12: Write the character sketch of Jimmy Wells.
Answer: Jimmy Wells is one of the major characters of the story. He is quite well-balanced and is faithful towards his duty and also towards his friend. His physical description and his alertness proved that he shouldered the duty of a police officer very well. He was quite contented with his job. Though he was a loyal and loving friend but for him, his duty comes first. He did not even hesitate to get his best friend Bob arrested.
Question 13: Write the character sketch of Bob.
Answer: Silky Bob is an ambitious person who didn’t mind going illegal ways to accumulate wealth. Apparently, we see Bob as a negative character as at the end of the story, he was found guilty and was arrested. But, when we see that he travelled miles and risked his life to meet his best friend, we realise how loyal and faithful he was. Again, we find him a bit boastful as he was flaunting about his fortune and comparing his luck with Jimmy’s luck.
So, these were After Twenty Years Questions & Answers.