Heat Lightning by Robert F. Carroll
Characters: The Girl of 23. The First
Man of 35.The Second Man of 30
Q.1 Why could the girl not describe
the killer?
Ans. The girl
could not describe the killer because there was no light. She was also scared
to see the dead body that he was dragging out of the car. She could see only
the dead body where there was lightning.
Q.2 Why did the girl change her
programme to go back to her home?
Ans.
The girl changed her programme to go back
to her house. She was sure that there was enough gas in her car. She thought
that she could easily reach her house. She was coming from a party.
Q.3 what were the circumstances that
forced her to leave her car?
Ans. She did
not want to leave the car but the fuel ended up. So, she was forced to leave
the car on the road. She decided to reach her home by bus and later she would
get her car.
Q.4
what did the girl see on the road while walking on the road?
Ans. While
walking on the road, the girl saw a car pulled off into a lane. She saw the
rear light burning. She saw that the front door of the car was open and someone
was standing by it. She saw that a man was dragging out a dead body of a woman
out. She could see only the long hair and hand of the dead body.
Q.5
Why did she ask for help from the first man?
Ans.
She asked for help from the first man because she thought some killer
was chasing her. She also needed help, as there was no one in the waiting room.
The killer had reached there before she reached.
Q.6
what was the condition of the weather?
Ans. The weather
was stormy and unpleasant. It was raining heavily. There was a flash of
lightning followed by the burst of thunder. Thunder and flashes of light
enhance the suspense and horror in the play.
Q.7
How did the girl succeed in escaping from the man running after her?
Ans.
She ran off the road into the woods. She
circled round and round to escape from the man. She kept running until she
fell. Then she felt that she had lost the man who was chasing her.
Q.8
what was the condition of the girl when she entered the waiting room?
Ans.
The girl’s clothes were wet and muddy. Her
hair was scattered and she was sobbing. She was scared to see the dead body and
the killer. He was chasing her in the woods.
Q.9
Why the girl was reluctant to inform the police?
Ans.
The Girl was too much horrified. She could not
tell the exact features of the killer because she had not seen him exactly in
the darkness. She could not face the investigation of the police, so she was
reluctant to inform the police.
Q.10 What did the first man say to the
girl?
Ans. The man
consoled her and asked her about the reason for her miserable condition. He
assured her of his full help. He tried to hide his real identity.
Q.11 Why was the first man asked her
many questions?
Ans. The First man asked the Girl
many questions because he was the killer himself. He wanted to make it clear
whether the Girl had recognized him or not. He tried to hide his real identity.
Q.12 Why did the first man asked her
to go the Woman’s Room?
Ans. The man asked
the Girl to go to the Woman’s Room because of her bad appearance. Her hair was
unkempt and untidy. He wanted her to get fresh and presentable.
Q.13 Why did the second man accuse the
first man of lying?
Ans.
The
Second Man accused the First Man of lying because he had tried to hide the
presence of the Girl from him. Moreover, the Second Man had seen the Girl in the
waiting room from the window pan when the door was locked.
Q.14 Does the girl get suspicious of
the first man as the play progress?
Ans.
As
the play progresses, the Girl does not get suspicious of the First Man.
However, the end of the play hints at the fear of the Girl when she sees her
flashlight in his hands.
Q.15 What is her impression about
the second man?
Ans.
The Girl was very horrified and afraid of the Second Man as she thought of him the killer who was after her in the woods. When he was gone, she was not sure
about him.
Q.16 Why didn’t she accompany the
Second Man?
Ans.
She did not accompany the Second Man as she thought that he might be the killer
and would also kill her on the way. However, when he was gone, she was not sure
about him.
Q.17 What are the external
elements that add to the suspense of the play?
Ans.
The deserted road, the drab condition of the waiting room, the dim light, the
flashes of lightning, the bursts of thunder, a man dragging a dead body, the
late arrival of an empty bus all add to the suspense of the play.
Q.18
How did the second man persuade the girl to see the lightning?
Ans.
The Second Man realized that the Girl was very disturbed. So he tried to pacify
her. He said that lightning would be one of the beautiful sights. It would be
brilliant like the big 4th of July. It would seem to cut the world
into two parts.
Q.19 How did the girl recognize
the killer?
Ans.
As the light completely went out and the man took out the flashlight from his
pocket and lighted it. The Girl recognized the killer who was chasing her in
the woods after seeing her flashlight in his hands.
Q.20 How was the Girl saved in
the end?
Ans. The departure of the Second Man, the Girl’s flashlight and the dog are the factors
that saved the Girl. At the end, the Girl opened the door and a dog rushed in.
It tried to seize the Man. However, the killer ran away.
Q.21 How does the playwright
create suspense in the play?
Ans. The
playwright creates suspense from the very beginning. He maintains it
throughout the play. Even the reader likes that Girl comes to know the truth in
the end. Thunder and flashes of light enhance the suspense and horror in the
play.
Q.22 “Heath Lightning” is a
melodrama. Why?
Ans.
This play contains all the elements of a melodrama. As is the case with good
melodrama, context and characterization are secondary. It has terror, violence,
suspense and emotions.
Q.23 What is the significance of
light & storm in the play?
Ans.
The lightning flashes to dim the room light. It flashes to enhance the horror
and suspense of the play. The bursts of thunder, the lightning, the flashlight
and the dim room light are significant.
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