Question 1

How did Pablo Neruda know that somebody behind him was looking at him?
2. How did Pablo Neruda counter Frau Frieda’s claims to clairvoyance?

Accepted Answer

1. Pablo Neruda knew that somebody behind him was looking at him because he felt the gaze or presence, which made him aware of Frau Frieda watching him.
2. He countered Frau Frieda’s claims to clairvoyance with a look of amazement, indicating skepticism or disbelief in her claim that she dreamed he was dreaming about her. — The text describes Neruda's awareness of someone looking at him, which was Frau Frieda. His reaction to her claim shows his doubt about her clairvoyance, suggesting he did not take her claim seriously.

Question 2

Did the author believe in the prophetic ability of Frau Frieda?
2. Why did he think that Frau Frieda's dreams were a stratagem for surviving?
3. Why does the author compare Neruda to a Renaissance pope?

Accepted Answer

1. The author did not believe in the prophetic ability of Frau Frieda; he was skeptical about her claims.
2. He thought Frau Frieda's dreams were a stratagem for surviving because they seemed to be a way for her to cope with her circumstances rather than actual prophetic visions.
3. The author compares Neruda to a Renaissance pope to highlight Neruda's charismatic and almost mystical presence, suggesting a figure of authority and reverence in a poetic or artistic sense. — The author’s skepticism is evident in his conversation with the Portuguese ambassador and his reflections. The comparison to a Renaissance pope is metaphorical, emphasizing Neruda's stature and aura.

Question 3

Discuss in groups

1. In spite of all the rationality that human beings are capable of, most of us are suggestible and yield to archaic superstitions.
2. Dreams and clairvoyance are as much an element of the poetic vision as religious superstition.

Accepted Answer

These are discussion prompts intended to encourage group dialogue. There is no single correct answer. Students should explore how human beings, despite rational thinking, often believe in superstitions due to psychological and cultural factors. They should also discuss how dreams and clairvoyance contribute to poetic imagination and how they parallel religious beliefs in their symbolic and visionary nature. — The questions are designed to provoke critical thinking and discussion rather than elicit factual answers.

Question 4

The story hinges on a gold ring shaped like a serpent with emerald eyes. Comment on the responses that this image evokes in the reader.
2. The craft of a master story-teller lies in the ability to interweave imagination and reality. Do you think that this story illustrates this?
3. Bring out the contradiction in the last exchange between the author and the Portuguese ambassador

'In concrete terms,' I asked at last, 'what did she do?' 'Nothing,' he said, with a certain disenchantment. 'She dreamed.'

4. Comment on the ironical element in the story.

Accepted Answer

1. The gold ring shaped like a serpent with emerald eyes evokes mystery, allure, and perhaps danger or temptation. It symbolizes the enigmatic nature of Frau Frieda and her dreams, drawing the reader into the story's mystical atmosphere.

2. Yes, the story skillfully blends imagination and reality by presenting dreams and clairvoyance alongside real events like the Havana Riviera disaster, making the narrative compelling and thought-provoking.

3. The contradiction lies in the ambassador's admiration for Frau Frieda's extraordinariness, yet when asked what she concretely did, he replies 'Nothing,' implying that her only activity was dreaming, which contrasts with the high praise.

4. The irony is that Frau Frieda is admired for her dreams, which are intangible and seemingly useless, yet these dreams have a profound impact on others and the story itself, highlighting the paradox between appearance and reality. — Each answer explores thematic and literary elements of the story, analyzing symbolism, narrative technique, contradictions, and irony.

Question 5

Look up the meanings of the following phrases under ‘dream’ and ‘sell’ in the dictionary

|  dream | sell  |
| --- | --- |
|  dream on | sell-by date  |
|  dream something away | selling-point  |
|  (not) dream of doing something | sell-out  |
|  dream something up | selling price  |
|  look like a dream | seller’s market  |

Accepted Answer

Students should consult a dictionary to find meanings of the listed phrases. For example:
- dream on: used to tell someone that what they hope for is unlikely to happen.
- dream something away: to spend time dreaming instead of doing something useful.
- (not) dream of doing something: to not even think about doing something.
- dream something up: to invent or imagine something.
- look like a dream: to look very attractive or impressive.

Similarly, for 'sell' phrases:
- sell-by date: the date after which a product should not be sold.
- selling-point: a feature that makes a product attractive.
- sell-out: someone who betrays their principles for personal gain or a product that is completely sold.
- selling price: the price at which something is sold.
- seller’s market: a market condition where sellers have the advantage. — This exercise helps students expand vocabulary by understanding idiomatic expressions related to 'dream' and 'sell'.

Question 6

Study the following sentences and underline the part which receives emphasis

- I never saw her again or even wondered about her until I heard about the snake ring on the woman who died in the Havana Riviera disaster.
- That did not surprise me, however, because I had always thought her dreams were no more than a stratagem for surviving.
- Although she did not say so, her conversation made it clear that, dream by dream, she had taken over the entire fortune of her ineffable patrons in Vienna.
- Three tables away sat an intrepid woman in an old-fashioned felt hat and a purple scarf, eating without haste and staring at him.
- I stayed in Vienna for more than a month, sharing the straitened circumstances of the other students while I waited for money that never arrived.

Accepted Answer

Students should identify and underline the parts of each sentence that carry the main emphasis, typically the information that is most important or new in the sentence. For example:
- Emphasis on 'until I heard about the snake ring on the woman who died in the Havana Riviera disaster.'
- Emphasis on 'her dreams were no more than a stratagem for surviving.'
- Emphasis on 'she had taken over the entire fortune of her ineffable patrons in Vienna.'
- Emphasis on 'Three tables away sat an intrepid woman...'
- Emphasis on 'while I waited for money that never arrived.' — This exercise helps students understand sentence stress and how emphasis affects meaning.

Question 7

Say your name aloud and decide how many syllables there are in it. Do the same with the names of your classmates.
Pick out five words each for two syllable, three syllable and four syllable words from the lesson.

Accepted Answer

Students should pronounce their own and classmates' names to count syllables, recognizing the vowel sounds that form each syllable. Then, from the lesson, they should identify five words with two syllables (e.g., 'foolish'), three syllables (e.g., 'agreement'), and four syllables (e.g., 'arithmetic'). — This exercise develops phonological awareness and pronunciation skills by focusing on syllable division.

Question 8

What is the symbolic significance of the gold serpent-shaped ring with emerald eyes in the story 'I Sell My Dreams'?

Accepted Answer

The gold serpent-shaped ring with emerald eyes symbolizes mystery and connects characters and events across time and space. For example, it represents the link between dreams and reality in the story. — The ring acts as a central image evoking mystery and symbolism, serving as a tangible connection between different characters and timelines. It embodies the theme of magical realism by blending the real with the supernatural.

Question 9

Which literary technique is predominantly used in 'I Sell My Dreams' to blend imagination and reality?

Accepted Answer

Magical realism — The story uses magical realism, a technique that interweaves magical elements with the real world, creating a narrative where the extraordinary is treated as ordinary.

Question 10

Explain the paradox in the ambassador's remark about Frau Frieda's role: 'she did nothing, she dreamed.'

Accepted Answer

The paradox lies in the idea that dreaming is seen as doing nothing, yet it holds great power. For example, Frau Frieda's dreams influence events and symbolize the intangible power of imagination. — This statement highlights the contradiction between physical action and mental or spiritual influence. Dreams, though intangible and passive, affect reality and fate in the story, emphasizing the power of the mind.

Question 11

What is the irony present in the story 'I Sell My Dreams'?

Accepted Answer

The irony lies in the tension between belief and skepticism, reality and fantasy, survival and fate. For example, characters struggle between trusting dreams and rationality, reflecting human contradictions. — The story's irony arises from opposing forces coexisting, such as the clash between superstition and reason, and the unpredictable influence of dreams on survival, which creates a complex narrative tension.

Question 12

How does the story 'I Sell My Dreams' illustrate human suggestibility to superstition despite rationality?

Accepted Answer

a) Introduction: The story explores how humans are prone to superstition even when they are rational.

b) The gold serpent-shaped ring acts as a symbol of superstition linking characters across time.

c) The ambassador's skepticism contrasts with the belief in dreams and clairvoyance.

d) Group discussions reveal that people often rely on dreams and poetic vision as a form of religious or cultural belief.

e) Conclusion: The story highlights the persistent human tendency to believe in the supernatural despite logical reasoning. — The story uses the serpent ring and the ambassador's contradictory views to show how superstition persists. Characters' belief in dreams as prophetic or powerful contrasts with rational skepticism, illustrating suggestibility. This tension is central to the narrative's magical realism and thematic depth.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the role of dreams and clairvoyance in the story?

Accepted Answer

Elements of poetic vision and religious belief — Dreams and clairvoyance in the story symbolize poetic vision and religious belief, blending the mystical with reality to enrich the narrative's magical realism.

Question 14

Identify the central theme that connects the characters and events in 'I Sell My Dreams'.

Accepted Answer

magical realism — The central theme connecting characters and events is magical realism, which blends the real and the imaginary seamlessly throughout the story.

Question 15

What literary device is used when the story creates a tension between belief and skepticism?

Accepted Answer

Irony — The story uses irony to highlight the tension between belief and skepticism, showing contradictions between what characters believe and what is rational.

Short stories

Short stories — Study Notes

Short stories - INTRODUCTION

I Sell My Dreams - About the Author

I Sell My Dreams - Narrative Opening and Setting

Practice Questions — Short stories

All 21 Chapters in Kaliedoscope