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If I Were You — Question 14

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14
Question
Convert the play into a story (150-200 words). Your story should be as exciting and as witty as the play. Provide a suitable title to it. ‘Intelligence is powerful than strength’.
Answer

Gerrard is a dramatist who lives in a cottage. A very few people come to visit him. He rarely goes out. If he goes out, he comes back suddenly. Once an intruder enters his cottage who has a gun in his hands. Gerrard receives him with a warm welcome. The intruder asks many questions to him about his personal life. He answers his queries intelligently and thoughtfully. The intruder tells him that he wants to take on his identity because he is being chased by police as he has murdered a cop. But Gerrard tells him that he will not be benefited by killing him as he is also wanted. And he expects the police there tonight to arrest him. So he asks him to run with him in the car. But when they are about to cross the door, Gerrard pushes him into the cupboard and slams it. Then he calls the police and gets him arrested.
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Overview: If I Were You

In this one-act play, Gerrard (a playwright living alone in a cottage) is confronted by an Intruder who plans to kill him and assume his identity to escape police. Gerrard stays calm and witty. He fabricates a story about being a criminal himself, convincing the Intruder that assuming his identity would be dangerous. He tricks the Intruder into looking into a cupboard and locks him inside, then calls the police. The play demonstrates that intelligence and wit defeat brute force.

Key Points

  • One-act play — only two characters: Gerrard and the Intruder
  • The Intruder resembles Gerrard physically
  • Intruder's plan: kill Gerrard, take his identity, escape police
  • Gerrard remains calm while the Intruder is aggressive
  • Gerrard claims to be a criminal himself — this is a lie
  • He says assuming his identity would bring police attention, not safety
  • Tricks the Intruder into looking into a cupboard — locks him in
  • Calls the police immediately
  • Theme: Wit and intelligence defeat brute force
  • Dramatic irony: audience senses Gerrard is lying; Intruder does not

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Gerrard outwit the Intruder?
Gerrard used his theatrical skill and quick thinking. He pretended to be a criminal on the run, making the Intruder believe that stealing his identity would be dangerous. He then tricked the Intruder into looking into a cupboard (supposedly containing escape props) and locked him inside.
What makes this play effective as drama?
The play works through dialogue alone — no action scenes, no physical conflict. The battle is purely verbal and psychological. The dramatic irony (the audience suspects Gerrard is lying but the Intruder doesn't) creates suspense and entertainment.

Common Mistakes

  • Not reading the text carefully before attempting questions.
  • Giving vague answers without specific textual references.
  • Confusing characters, events, or themes from different chapters.
  • Writing too much for short-answer questions (should be 30-40 words).

Scoring Tips

  • For extract-based MCQs: read the passage carefully; eliminate wrong options systematically.
  • For short answers: be concise (30-40 words), use key vocabulary from the text.
  • For long answers: structure with introduction, body, conclusion. Quote from the text.
  • Always identify the chapter/poem name and author when answering.