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CBSE Class 9 English Question 2 of 14

Packing — Question 2

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Question
Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
Answer

The narrator felt that he knew more about packing than any other person living. Moreover, he would get an opportunity to boss the job and George and Harris would do the job under his directions.
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Overview: Packing

The narrator, Harris, and George need to pack for a trip. The narrator volunteers, priding himself on his packing skill, but ends up forgetting boots, sitting on butter, and repeatedly unpacking and repacking. When Harris and George take over the food hampers, they create even worse chaos: squashing tomatoes, breaking cups, stepping on butter. The dog Montmorency adds to the mess by sitting on things and putting his leg in the jam. The story is a masterclass in comic writing through irony, exaggeration, and characterisation.

Key Points

  • Narrator proudly claims to be an expert packer
  • He forgets boots, has to reopen the bag multiple times
  • Sits on the bag to close it; forgets his toothbrush
  • Harris and George are even worse — break cups, squash tomatoes
  • George steps on butter; Harris packs jam on top of tomatoes
  • Montmorency (the dog) sits on things, puts paw in jam
  • The narrator mocks his friends but is equally incompetent
  • Key devices: irony, hyperbole, understatement, comic timing
  • Theme: human incompetence, laziness, blame-shifting
  • From "Three Men in a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Jerome create humour in "Packing"?
Jerome uses multiple comic techniques: irony (the narrator thinks he's good at packing but isn't), hyperbole (the scale of the mess escalates absurdly), characterisation (each person fails differently), and comic timing (disasters pile up in quick succession). Even the dog contributes to the chaos.
What is the role of Montmorency?
Montmorency is the dog who adds to the chaos by sitting on things, getting in the way, and putting his paw in the jam. He represents the final layer of comic disaster — even the pet is incompetent.

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.