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CBSE Class 9 English Question 2 of 12

If I Were You — Question 2

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Question
Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on?
Answer

The intruder chose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on because he is a kind of a mystery man. He phones his orders and sometimes goes away suddenly and come back just the same.
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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.