NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 8 The Luncheon

Ans : The statement that the author provided is a result of the earlier meeting of the author and that lady. It was the time when the author was not well off and neither did he have the sense to say no to that women. That time he had to part with all his money with the whole month ahead of him. This happened because the lady kept on ordering the most expensive items on the menu one after the another. Every time he had to say no for ordering for himself because that would double up the cost. The lady ordered salmon, asparagus, caviare etc and the author's heart sank with each order she placed. The author being a vindictive man did not say a word but now after 20 years, he remembered the embarrassment while the lady is now only twenty-one stone. 

Ans : The use of expressions like 'my heart sank' and 'panic seized' is used to show the author's inability to pay for the expensive items that the lady kept ordering. Through the entire story, these expressions have been used to establish the state of mind that the author was going through. It also deals with the humour element as the author was unable to refuse to the lady and cost him the entire money that he had. 

Ans : The story is full of an ironic element that is related to the difference between the statements and the actions of the young lady. The statement of the lady before ordering each expensive item that she did not like anything for the luncheon except…. And then this expect was the most luxurious item on the menu card that included salmon, asparagus, caviare being the major elements. Each time the author's heart skipped a beat when the young lady ordered something after saying that she would not like to have something. Every time he had to refuse for the order for himself for that he clearly could not afford double the cost. 

Ans : Foibles are the minor weaknesses or the eccentricity in the individual's characters. This is true that the people with foibles are themselves unaware of the same as in the individual perspective they are perfect. It the people in the surroundings that observe the difference in the behaviour while the person himself might be acting completely normal. 

Ans : It was clearly observed in the entire story that how by every new order author's heart sank but still he maintained a friendly behaviour. He established the fact that he was a true gentleman as he did not even once have an objection on the repetitive expensive orders by the lady.