Class 11 NCERT Solutions eNGLISH 

Woven Words essay Chapter 6

The Story

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT 

1. What do you understand of the three voices in response to the question ‘What does a novel do’?

✅ 20 words:

The first man is casual, the second is passionate about stories, and the third, Forster himself, is regretful but accepting.

✅ 40 words:

The three voices show different views on novels. One is indifferent, one loves a good story, and the third, Forster himself, sadly agrees that storytelling is essential to novels, though he wishes it were something higher like melody or truth.

✅ 60 words:

Forster describes three types of people answering what a novel does. The first is vague and unconcerned, the second aggressively insists that novels must tell stories, and the third voice—his own—is thoughtful and somewhat regretful. He acknowledges that storytelling is fundamental but wishes novels could offer deeper things like perception or truth instead of just events.

✅ 80 words:

The three voices reflect varied attitudes toward novels. The first speaker is indifferent, not deeply engaged with literature. The second speaker strongly prefers straightforward storytelling and dismisses deeper elements. The third voice, Forster’s own, agrees that storytelling is central but views it as primitive and limiting. He longs for novels to be more about melody, perception, or truth, yet admits that without a story, novels can’t function. This contrast highlights Forster’s conflict between literary depth and basic narrative structure.

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2. What would you say are ‘the finer growths’ that the story supports in a novel?

✅ 20 words:

The finer growths are character development, emotions, morals, beauty, truth, and artistic elements that enrich the simple story structure.

✅ 40 words:

‘Finer growths’ are the deeper aspects of a novel like character depth, themes, emotions, values, and artistic expression. They grow around the basic story, enriching it and giving it meaning beyond just a sequence of events or suspense.

✅ 60 words:

‘The finer growths’ refer to everything that makes a novel more than just a story. These include character development, emotions, moral questions, themes, descriptions, and artistic style. While the story forms the base, these finer aspects give the novel richness and depth, allowing readers to connect with it emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually, beyond mere curiosity.

✅ 80 words:

In Forster’s view, the ‘finer growths’ of a novel are the rich and thoughtful elements that rise above the basic story. These include complex characters, vivid descriptions, powerful emotions, moral dilemmas, philosophical ideas, and artistic beauty. While the story is like a backbone or tape-worm, these finer elements bring life and soul to the novel. They transform a plain narrative into meaningful literature, giving readers more than just suspense—they offer insight, value, and emotional resonance.

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3. How does Forster trace the human interest in the story to primitive times?

✅ 20 words:

Forster traces storytelling to early humans, saying Neanderthals enjoyed suspense and Scheherazade survived by telling stories skillfully.

✅ 40 words:

Forster shows that storytelling began in primitive times with people listening around campfires. They stayed awake only due to suspense. He cites Scheherazade, who saved her life by telling cliffhanger stories, proving that suspense and storytelling have always fascinated humans.

✅ 60 words:

Forster says the human love for stories dates back to prehistoric times when Neanderthals listened around campfires. Their curiosity kept them awake as long as suspense existed. He discusses Scheherazade, who used storytelling to save herself from execution. This shows that the basic desire to know “what happens next” is deep-rooted and essential to human nature.

✅ 80 words:

Forster traces human fascination with stories back to ancient times. He describes how primitive people gathered around campfires, tired from hunting, listening only as long as suspense was maintained. The storyteller had to constantly keep them curious or face punishment. He further supports this with Scheherazade’s tale from One Thousand and One Nights, where her clever storytelling, full of suspense, kept her alive. This highlights that storytelling, especially the suspenseful kind, is a timeless, universal human trait that connects all readers.

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4. Discuss the importance of time in the narration of a story.

✅ 20 words:

Time gives structure to a story. Events must follow a sequence. Without time, a novel loses its form and meaning.

✅ 40 words:

Time is essential in storytelling as it arranges events in order—like breakfast before dinner. A story needs a clear sequence to make sense. Even creative writers must follow time; otherwise, their stories become confusing and meaningless to readers.

✅ 60 words:

Forster believes that time is the backbone of every story. Without a time sequence, stories lose meaning and coherence. Events must happen one after another—this gives shape to the plot. Even if a novelist tries creative techniques, they still rely on time. Unlike daily life, where time can feel irrelevant, in novels, it is essential and unavoidable.

✅ 80 words:

Time is the foundation of every story. Forster explains that stories are narratives of events arranged in a time sequence. This structure helps readers follow what happens and build suspense. Even authors who play with time, like Proust or Brontë, can’t completely avoid it. In novels, time is always present and important, guiding the plot and keeping the reader engaged. Without time, a novel becomes unintelligible. Thus, time gives direction, meaning, and rhythm to storytelling, making it clear and effective.

APPRECIATION

1. How does Forster use the analogy of Scheherazade to establish his point?

✅ 20 words:

Forster uses Scheherazade’s suspenseful storytelling to show that readers stay interested only when they want to know what’s next.

✅ 40 words:

Forster compares storytelling to Scheherazade’s survival trick. She told stories full of suspense to delay her execution. This shows how powerful the element of suspense is in storytelling—it keeps listeners hooked and is the backbone of every great story or novel.

✅ 60 words:

Forster uses the story of Scheherazade from The Arabian Nights to show the power of suspense. Scheherazade kept her life safe by stopping her stories at crucial moments, making the king want more. This clever storytelling reflects the same principle in novels—readers stay interested when suspense is alive. It proves that suspense is the lifeline of a story.

✅ 80 words:

Forster cleverly uses the example of Scheherazade to prove that suspense is the most powerful tool in storytelling. Her life depended on keeping her listener—the king—curious every night. She stopped her stories at interesting points so he would let her live to continue them. Forster explains that, just like the king, readers also want to know “what happens next.” This need for suspense makes stories survive. It proves that a novel’s foundation lies in engaging, continuous, and well-paced storytelling.

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2. Taking off from Forster’s references to Emily Brontë, Sterne and Proust, discuss the treatment of time in some of the novels you have read.

✅ 20 words:

Some novels follow strict time. Others, like Proust’s, mix time freely to show emotions and memories more deeply.

✅ 40 words:

Writers like Brontë, Sterne, and Proust play with time in their novels. Some change the order of events, move between past and present, or slow time to show emotions. This adds depth and helps readers connect more strongly with the story.

✅ 60 words:

In many novels, time isn’t shown in a simple order. Some authors, like Marcel Proust, explore memory and emotions by shifting between past and present. Others, like Emily Brontë in Wuthering Heights, use flashbacks. This creative use of time makes stories richer and more meaningful. It lets readers experience both the timeline and the emotional journey of the characters.

✅ 80 words:

Forster mentions how authors like Emily Brontë, Sterne, and Marcel Proust treat time in creative ways. In Wuthering Heights, Brontë hides the linear flow of time by using layered flashbacks. Sterne’s Tristram Shandy distorts time by narrating at an unusually slow pace. Proust blends memory and present moments, showing how feelings distort time. Similarly, many novels use time not just to structure events but to reflect emotions, thoughts, and inner lives. This enriches storytelling and deepens reader engagement.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

1. Why does Forster call the story the “backbone” of a novel?

✅ 20 words:

Forster calls the story the backbone because it holds the novel together and gives it structure and direction through time.

✅ 40 words:

The story is like a backbone because it provides the basic structure of the novel. Without a clear story, a novel would fall apart. It supports characters, emotions, and values—just like a backbone supports the body and helps it move.

✅ 60 words:

Forster uses the word “backbone” to describe how essential the story is in a novel. Like a backbone gives shape and support to the human body, the story gives a novel its shape. Though finer parts like emotions and characters are important, they grow around the story. Without the backbone, the novel would not stand or connect properly.

✅ 80 words:

Forster calls the story the backbone because it is the central support structure of a novel. It holds all other literary elements together—characters, emotions, morals, and themes. While these add depth and beauty, they cannot exist meaningfully without a story. Just as the backbone supports a living body, the story guides the flow of events, builds suspense, and maintains reader interest. It may seem simple, but it is essential to the form and function of every successful novel.

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2. What does Forster mean by calling the story a “tape-worm”?

✅ 20 words:

He means a story is long and winding. It continues endlessly, sometimes dull, but still necessary to the novel’s structure.

✅ 40 words:

Calling the story a tape-worm, Forster means it stretches from beginning to end, sometimes in a boring, unbroken way. It doesn’t always feel beautiful or smart but still runs through the whole novel and holds its parts together through time.

✅ 60 words:

Forster calls the story a “tape-worm” to emphasize its long, sometimes unattractive nature. Like a worm, the story runs endlessly through the novel—often predictable and repetitive. It’s not always artistic or deep, but it is essential. Without this sequence of events, the other richer elements of a novel like emotions and values cannot survive or make sense.

✅ 80 words:

Forster compares the story to a “tape-worm” to express how it stretches throughout the novel—sometimes dull, repetitive, or even ugly—but still essential. This image highlights the continuous, unbroken nature of the story. Though it may not be graceful or intellectual, it ties the events together. Without it, the novel’s deeper themes and characters lose their foundation. Forster uses this metaphor humorously yet critically to show that stories are the necessary but not always attractive threads in literature.

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3. How does suspense play a vital role in storytelling?

✅ 20 words:

Suspense keeps the reader curious. Without it, readers lose interest. It makes them want to know what happens next.

✅ 40 words:

Suspense is the tool that makes readers keep reading. It creates curiosity and excitement. Forster says even in ancient times, stories survived only when listeners were eager to know what would happen next, proving suspense is the heart of storytelling.

✅ 60 words:

Suspense is what makes stories interesting. Forster explains that from prehistoric times to modern novels, audiences have loved suspense. Whether it’s a caveman or a king like Scheherazade’s husband, people stay engaged when they don’t know what happens next. A story without suspense becomes dull and loses its power. It is the spark that keeps storytelling alive and meaningful.

✅ 80 words:

Forster highlights that suspense is the lifeblood of storytelling. From primitive campfires to Scheherazade’s clever tricks, stories have always relied on the listener’s curiosity to survive. Suspense makes the reader or listener eager to know what comes next. It creates emotional involvement and drives the narrative forward. Without suspense, stories become predictable and uninteresting. That’s why even the most beautifully written novel must have suspense to hold attention, just like Scheherazade used it to save her life night after night.

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4. Why does Forster say that the story is the simplest literary form?

✅ 20 words:

The story only follows events in time. It doesn’t need beauty or emotion—just curiosity about what happens next.

✅ 40 words:

Forster calls the story the simplest form because it is just a sequence of events. It doesn’t need deep themes or strong characters. Its only goal is to keep readers asking, “What next?” If it fails there, it fails completely.

✅ 60 words:

According to Forster, a story is the simplest of all literary forms because it only requires one thing—telling events in a time order. It doesn’t need complex characters, themes, or emotions. Its only strength is suspense—if people want to know what happens next, the story succeeds. If they don’t, it fails. This makes it both easy and risky.

✅ 80 words:

Forster says the story is the simplest literary form because it does not need emotional depth, complex characters, or high literary style. All it requires is a sequence of events—things happening one after another, like Monday after Sunday. Its only aim is to keep readers interested in what happens next. If it does, it succeeds. If not, it fails. That’s why, despite being the base of every novel, the story alone is the most basic and straightforward literary structure.

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5. How does daily life reflect both time and value, according to Forster?

✅ 20 words:

Daily life runs by time and by value. We follow clocks but also live for emotional moments and meaningful experiences.

✅ 40 words:

Forster says life follows both a timeline—like days and hours—and a value line—like love or importance. We live by schedules, but we remember meaningful moments, not just minutes. So, both time and emotional value shape how we live each day.

✅ 60 words:

Daily life, Forster explains, has two sides. One follows clock time, with events arranged in sequence. The other follows emotional values—intense moments we remember forever, even if they lasted only minutes. Our memories and dreams aren’t bound by time. We act by schedules but feel through values. These two aspects—time and value—guide our actions and shape our daily experiences.

✅ 80 words:

Forster describes life as having two layers: the life in time and the life by values. We live our lives by the clock—following hours, days, and schedules. But we also live emotionally—where a short moment may carry great meaning. For instance, five minutes with someone we love might feel more valuable than an entire day. Our conduct reflects both aspects. Novels, like life, must also follow time but can still reflect emotions, love, memories, and meaning—what Forster calls the life by values.

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6. Why does Forster say novelists must respect time in their writing?

✅ 20 words:

Novelists must use time because stories need sequence. Without it, the novel becomes confusing and readers lose interest.

✅ 40 words:

Forster insists that every novelist must follow time. A novel without a proper sequence of events becomes unclear. Readers need to know what happens first, next, and last. Even experimental writers still use time in some way to stay understandable.

✅ 60 words:

According to Forster, time is essential in novels. Even if a writer hides it or plays with its order, time still controls the story’s flow. Novels need events to follow a sequence; otherwise, they confuse the reader. Life may not always follow time, but a novel must. Without this time thread, the story becomes unreadable and meaningless.

✅ 80 words:

Forster says novelists cannot avoid time. No matter how creative or experimental a writer may be, they must follow some kind of time structure to keep the novel clear and meaningful. Time helps arrange events and build suspense. While daily life can sometimes ignore time, a novel cannot. If it doesn’t follow the order of events—even in a loose way—the novel becomes confusing. Readers won’t know what is happening when. So, time becomes an essential tool for all novelists.

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7. How does Forster use humour in the essay to make his point?

✅ 20 words:

Forster uses gentle humour and witty comparisons like “tape-worm” to explain serious ideas in a fun, engaging way.

✅ 40 words:

The essay uses light humour to make serious points. Forster jokes about prehistoric people, calls the story a “tape-worm,” and makes fun of critics. His humour keeps the tone friendly, making readers understand deep ideas without feeling overwhelmed or bored.

✅ 60 words:

Forster uses humour to explain complex ideas simply. He jokes about cavemen falling asleep during stories and compares storytelling to a “tape-worm.” He also lightly mocks literary critics and himself. This friendly, casual tone makes his points more engaging and memorable. Instead of sounding too serious, his humour helps readers enjoy and understand literary theory in an easier, more relatable way.

✅ 80 words:

Forster uses light, intelligent humour throughout his essay to keep the tone engaging. He calls the story a “tape-worm,” jokes about Neanderthals and even pokes fun at himself and other critics. This makes complex literary analysis more enjoyable and less intimidating for readers. His casual style, full of wit and irony, helps readers understand and remember serious ideas. Forster proves that deep topics—like the role of stories in novels—can be explained clearly and effectively through humour and simplicity.

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8. What is the only merit and only fault of a story, according to Forster?

✅ 20 words:

The only merit is making readers curious to know more. The only fault is making them lose that interest.

✅ 40 words:

Forster says a story has one strength—keeping the audience curious. If it makes them want to know what happens next, it’s good. But if it fails to do that, it has only one fault—making the audience uninterested or bored.

✅ 60 words:

According to Forster, a story succeeds only when it keeps readers asking, “What happens next?” That’s its only merit. On the other hand, if a story fails to make the audience curious, it has only one fault—it becomes dull. These are the only two clear criticisms possible for any story, proving how simple yet important storytelling really is.

✅ 80 words:

Forster explains that the story is a basic literary form with just one clear merit and one clear fault. Its merit is its ability to keep readers engaged—wanting to know what happens next. This curiosity keeps the story alive. Its only fault, however, is making the reader lose interest. If the audience doesn’t care what comes next, the story fails completely. No matter how beautiful the language is, if suspense is missing, the story loses its entire purpose.

9. Why does Forster mention dreamers, artists, and lovers in relation to time?

✅ 20 words:

Forster says dreamers, artists, and lovers live by emotions, not clocks. Time doesn't control their inner experiences and feelings.

✅ 40 words:

He mentions them to show that not everyone lives by the clock. Dreamers, artists, and lovers live in moments of value. For them, time stops or becomes irrelevant because emotions, creativity, and love matter more than a strict time sequence.

✅ 60 words:

Forster says that dreamers, artists, and lovers escape the control of time. Unlike ordinary life that follows hours and days, these people live through emotions, imagination, and feelings. Their experiences are measured by value, not by minutes. Even when time passes outside, they are lost in moments that feel timeless. This shows how powerful emotional value is over time.

✅ 80 words:

Forster brings up dreamers, artists, and lovers to highlight how some people live outside of time’s control. While most of us live by clocks and calendars, these people focus on feelings, imagination, and passion. For them, a few seconds can hold deep meaning, and long hours may pass unnoticed. Their experiences are guided by emotional intensity, not by schedules. This supports Forster’s idea that life is not only lived through time but also through moments of personal value and meaning.

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10. What does Forster suggest about memory and anticipation in relation to time?

✅ 20 words:

He suggests that memory and anticipation don’t follow time. We remember or imagine based on feelings, not a time order.

✅ 40 words:

Forster believes memory and anticipation ignore time. When we remember or dream of the future, we don’t follow a strict order. Our thoughts jump between moments based on emotions and values. Time becomes unimportant in these inner experiences.

✅ 60 words:

According to Forster, memory and anticipation are not bound by time. We don’t remember things in the order they happened, and we imagine the future in emotional ways—full of hope, fear, or dreams. These parts of life focus more on what felt important, not when it happened. This supports his idea that value, not time, often guides our inner lives.

✅ 80 words:

Forster argues that memory and anticipation don't follow a timeline. When we look back, we don’t recall every moment evenly—we remember the ones that mattered most. Similarly, when we think of the future, we picture dreams, fears, or goals, not fixed days or dates. Time loses its grip in these moments. This shows that human experience is not always controlled by time but by value. Our inner life follows emotions and importance more than a clear order of events.

11. Why does Forster feel regretful that the story is essential to the novel?

✅ 20 words:

He wishes novels could focus on deeper things like truth or beauty, not just the basic need to tell stories.

✅ 40 words:

Forster feels sad that the story is the base of every novel. He believes storytelling is primitive and wants novels to focus on higher goals like emotions, truths, or perceptions. But still, he accepts that the story is unavoidable.

✅ 60 words:

Though Forster accepts that storytelling is the foundation of a novel, he regrets it. He sees it as a basic, ancient form. He wishes novels could be more about beauty, emotion, or truth, instead of just narrating events. But he admits that without a story, a novel cannot exist, showing his conflict between artistic ideals and narrative structure.

✅ 80 words:

Forster feels regretful because he wishes the novel could evolve beyond its basic form of telling a story. He sees storytelling as an old, atavistic need rooted in primitive times. He wants novels to be about something deeper—like emotional perception, spiritual insight, or artistic beauty. But despite his desire, he accepts that storytelling is the essential backbone of all novels. This inner conflict shows his thoughtful critique of fiction and his longing for literature to serve a greater purpose.

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12. What does Forster mean by saying “there is always a clock” in novels?

✅ 20 words:

He means that time must exist in all novels. Events must follow a sequence, even when writers play with it.

✅ 40 words:

Forster says “there is always a clock” to explain that time can’t be removed from novels. No matter how creatively it’s handled, time still guides the story’s events. Writers may bend it, but they can’t ignore it completely.

✅ 60 words:

By saying “there is always a clock,” Forster means that time is always present in a novel’s structure. Even when writers experiment—like jumping between past and present—they still follow a time pattern. Events must occur in some order. Without time, the story becomes confusing. So, the clock symbolizes the unbreakable rule that novels must respect narrative time.

✅ 80 words:

Forster’s line “there is always a clock” means that time is always ticking inside a novel, even when the author tries to hide or twist it. Whether a writer follows a straight timeline or moves back and forth, the events still unfold through time. Time gives structure to the plot and helps readers follow what’s happening. Forster believes that while daily life might break free from time, a novel must always follow it to remain meaningful, logical, and readable.

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13. What role does the reader’s curiosity play in storytelling?

✅ 20 words:

The reader’s curiosity is key. A story succeeds only when it makes the reader want to know what comes next.

✅ 40 words:

Forster says curiosity is the most important part of storytelling. Readers keep turning pages because they care about what happens next. If a story loses that suspense, it fails. Curiosity drives the story forward and keeps it alive.

✅ 60 words:

A reader’s curiosity gives a story its energy. Forster believes a story must always make the reader wonder, “What’s next?” This suspense keeps the reader connected to the plot. If that curiosity fades, the story loses its impact. Great writers carefully maintain suspense so that their audience stays interested, proving that curiosity is the lifeblood of good storytelling.

✅ 80 words:

Forster emphasizes that the story lives only if the reader remains curious. The desire to know what happens next is universal—whether it’s a child listening to a fairy tale or an adult reading a novel. If a reader loses interest, the story collapses. That’s why authors like Scheherazade survived—by keeping curiosity alive. This shows that curiosity is not just a literary tool; it’s the soul of the story. It connects the reader with the writer through a shared sense of suspense and anticipation.

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14. What does Forster mean by “life in time” and “life by values”?

✅ 20 words:

Life in time follows clocks and calendars. Life by values follows emotions and importance, beyond time and routine events.

✅ 40 words:

“Life in time” refers to our routine life—moving from one moment to another. “Life by values” refers to emotional moments that hold deep meaning, even if short. Forster says real life is a mix of both time and emotional depth.

✅ 60 words:

Forster divides life into two types. “Life in time” is the regular passing of days and hours. It’s about structure and routine. “Life by values” is about meaningful experiences that stay in memory, regardless of how long they lasted. Emotional importance, not just duration, gives those moments value. He says we live both lives together every day.

✅ 80 words:

Forster’s idea of “life in time” is about how we live our daily lives through hours, days, and schedules. “Life by values” is different—it’s about special moments that feel important, even if they’re brief. A five-minute meeting with someone dear might matter more than a full day of routine. Forster argues that life is a combination of both these aspects. And while the novel must follow time, it should also reflect the emotional and valuable moments that make life meaningful.

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15. How does Forster link storytelling to human evolution?

✅ 20 words:

He says storytelling is ancient, dating back to early humans. Even Neanderthals needed suspense to stay awake around fires.

✅ 40 words:

Forster links storytelling to evolution by saying early humans told stories around campfires. They were tired and only listened if suspense kept them curious. This need for “what happens next” has stayed with humans from ancient times to today.

✅ 60 words:

Forster believes storytelling is deeply rooted in human history. He imagines prehistoric people—after hunting mammoths—sitting around fires and listening to stories. But they stayed awake only if the stories had suspense. This shows that curiosity and the need for narrative are ancient instincts. Storytelling helped pass time, share experiences, and build culture, making it essential to human life.

✅ 80 words:

Forster traces the roots of storytelling back to primitive humans. He says that even Neanderthals likely enjoyed stories after long days of hunting. They sat around fires, listening as long as the tale held suspense. If the storyteller lost their interest, they either fell asleep or punished him. This ancient need to know “what comes next” became part of human nature. From early man to modern readers, storytelling satisfies a basic emotional and evolutionary need for connection, curiosity, and entertainment.

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16. Why does Forster admire the first speaker, fear the second, and identify with the third?

✅ 20 words:

He admires the first for honesty, fears the second’s aggressive simplicity, and relates to the third’s regretful acceptance of storytelling.

✅ 40 words:

Forster admires the first man’s simplicity, fears the second’s aggressive love for story-only novels, and identifies with the third—himself—who accepts that stories are essential but wishes they weren’t. This shows his inner struggle as both a critic and novelist.

✅ 60 words:

The first speaker is calm and indifferent, which Forster admires for its honesty. The second is aggressive and blindly loves only plot-based stories, which he finds frightening. The third voice, which is his own, is full of regret but accepts that stories are necessary for novels. This mix of reactions shows Forster’s conflicted feelings about the purpose of fiction and storytelling.

✅ 80 words:

Forster responds differently to the three imaginary voices answering the question “What does a novel do?” He admires the first speaker’s good-natured simplicity, who sees novels casually as stories. He fears the second for his aggressive, narrow view that only the story matters. The third, Forster’s own voice, is thoughtful and sad—accepting that stories are essential but wishing novels could focus on truth, emotion, or beauty instead. This reveals his deep, philosophical conflict about the nature and purpose of novels.

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17. Why does Forster say it’s risky to talk philosophically about time?

✅ 20 words:

He says time is a complex topic. Philosophers have failed discussing it, so it’s risky for ordinary people to attempt.

✅ 40 words:

Forster warns that discussing time deeply can be dangerous. Many great thinkers have been confused or criticized for it. That’s why he avoids going too far into philosophy and sticks to practical storytelling time, not deep metaphysical ideas.

✅ 60 words:

Forster humorously admits that time is a dangerous topic for outsiders. Many respected philosophers have stumbled trying to define it. Instead of diving into complex theories, he keeps his focus on how time works in storytelling. He suggests that trying to philosophize about time often leads to confusion or failure, so it’s safer and clearer to view time through the lens of novels.

✅ 80 words:

Forster calls time a dangerous topic for outsiders, especially non-philosophers. He jokes that even famous thinkers have been dethroned for mishandling time in their arguments. That’s why he avoids diving into deep philosophical discussions. Instead, he sticks to how time functions in novels—structuring events and guiding the plot. His warning shows that time is not just a literary tool but also a confusing concept that must be handled carefully, especially when explaining it beyond the storytelling context.

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18. How does Forster differentiate between story and novel?

✅ 20 words:

The story is just events in time. The novel includes values, emotions, characters, and deeper meaning along with the story.

✅ 40 words:

Forster says a story is only a time-bound sequence of events. A novel is more complex—it combines story with characters, emotions, values, and artistic beauty. The story is just the backbone, while the novel is the full living body.

✅ 60 words:

According to Forster, a story is simply a narrative of events in time. It tells what happens next. But a novel includes more than that—it brings in character development, emotional depth, moral values, and literary creativity. While the story is essential, the novel uses it as a base to explore deeper aspects of life and human experience, making it richer and fuller.

✅ 80 words:

Forster draws a clear line between a story and a novel. A story is a simple sequence of events—like one happening after another. It only asks, “What happens next?” But a novel is much more. It builds on the story to add meaning, emotion, truth, and depth. A good novel also expresses values, explores human nature, and creates memorable characters. So, while the story forms the skeleton, the novel adds the soul, heart, and flesh, making it a complete, living organism.

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19. Why does Forster say stories existed even in the Neolithic period?

✅ 20 words:

He believes humans have always told stories. Even early humans needed suspense and curiosity to keep them interested at night.

✅ 40 words:

Forster imagines that even in the Neolithic era, humans told stories. After hard days, they sat around fires and stayed awake only if the storyteller created suspense. This shows that the need for stories and curiosity is very old and natural.

✅ 60 words:

Forster traces storytelling back to early human history. He imagines Neolithic people listening around a campfire, tired from hunting. They needed suspense to stay awake—if the storyteller failed to interest them, they fell asleep or reacted angrily. This shows that storytelling is not a modern invention, but an instinctive, ancient part of human nature driven by curiosity and imagination.

✅ 80 words:

Forster suggests that storytelling is an ancient human need, existing even during the Neolithic period. He imagines primitive humans, exhausted after chasing mammoths, gathered around fires listening to stories. But they would only stay engaged if suspense was maintained. If the storyteller failed to surprise them, they either lost interest or punished him. This humorous yet insightful idea proves that storytelling, driven by curiosity and the desire to know what’s next, has been essential to human communication and culture for ages.

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20. What is the significance of the phrase “At this moment Scheherazade saw the morning appearing and was silent”?

✅ 20 words:

This phrase shows Scheherazade’s smart storytelling. She stopped at a suspenseful point, saving her life each time.

✅ 40 words:

The phrase is repeated often in The Arabian Nights. Scheherazade used it to stop her story right at dawn. It created suspense so the king would spare her life and wait for the next part, showing suspense’s power in storytelling.

✅ 60 words:

This phrase marks the clever technique Scheherazade used to delay her death. By stopping her story each night at a thrilling point, she left the king desperate to hear more. It was not her storytelling beauty alone that saved her, but suspense. This phrase became the tool that kept her alive for 1001 nights, showing the survival power of suspense.

✅ 80 words:

The phrase “At this moment Scheherazade saw the morning appearing and was silent” is crucial to her survival. She ended each night’s story at a high suspense point, so the king would let her live another day to finish it. Forster uses this phrase to show how suspense—not just beauty or wisdom—kept her alive. It’s also a symbol of how suspense connects storyteller and audience. This single line ties together the entire Arabian Nights and highlights suspense as storytelling’s strongest weapon.