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dterature Companion 10
25

2. Mrs. Packletide's Tiger

(Saki)

ABOUT THE STORY

Introduction:
Mrs. Packletide's liger" is an amusing story where the author
makes a skilful use of humnour of situation, humour of statement as
well as humour of character. The story brings out the female foibles
(weaknesses) and frivolities (childishness).The author has adig at the
fruitless pursuits of women of high society who prompted by adesire
to be in the limelight resort to weirdactivities.
Summary:
"Mrs. Packletide's Tiger" is arn amusing story of a vain lady who
wished to shoot a tiger only to outshine her rival Loona Bimberton
who had been carried eleven miles in an
aeroplane byan Algerian
pilot. The time period in which this story is set, being carried away in
U. an aeroplane even for eleven miles was a great achievement. If Mrs.
Packletide could hunt a tiger, her photographs would appear in the
press, which would pale Loona's achievement into insignificance. She
had already decided togive a lunch in honour of Loona Bimberton.
But her actual motive was to display the tiger-skin rug at the party
and to show Loona Bimberton down.
aving worked out her strategy, Mrs. Packletide announced that she
would give a thousand rupees to anyone who would help her in
shooting atiger. Circumstances proved favourable. It so happened
that an old tiger used to visit anearby village in search of prey. Hence
the people ofthe village readily became interested in Mrs. Packletide's
ttheernpitiger.ng offer. They made
all the necessaryarrangements to retain
Children were employedto prevernt the tiger from going
away to some hunting ground. Cheaper types oof goats wereleft about
 Literature Companion 1
26 L

not die of starvation

crelessly to keep the tiger satisfied so that it might
t

dayof its shooting down by Mr

a natural death before the appointed
Packletide.
hunter;
arrived. Aplatform was erected for the
The great night companion, Miss Mebbin sa
with her paid
Mrs. Packletide, along goat was tiedthere to temp
bleating
comfortably on it. A| persistently for a while before attacking
arrived, it rested
the tiger. When the tiger very old and the
MissMebbin suggested that the tiger was
the goat. Meanwhile
thousand rupees was too large for it.
amount of one dead. Clustering around
the shot. The tiger lay
Mrs.Packletide fired Mrs
animal, the excited villagers gave shouts of victory.
the dead
Packletide was overwhelmed withjoy.
the bullet had hit the goat and not the
But Miss Mebbin observed that
nowound on the body of the tiger; it had only died of
tiger. There was
Mrs. Packletide. But in any case
heart failure. This discovery annoyed
skin. The villagers wanted one
she was the proud owner of the tiger
that Mrs. Packletide
thousand rupees, so they too spread the story
Loona
had shot the tiger. Her photographs appeared in the press.
Bimberton burned with jealousy.
for Mrs.
Miss Louisa Mebbin was a cunning woman. She waited
Packletide to get a lot of publicity. Then she began to blackmail her.
She threatened to give out the secret of the tiger hunting to the worla.
She assured her that if not others at least Loona Bimberton woula
believe that the bullet had hit the goat and not the tiger and that the
tiger died only of the heart-failure caused by the loud sound o
the gun. She, then indirectly demanded a price for guarding MI
Packletide's secret
ret saying that she wanted to buy a cottage, but she
had no money. Thus Mrs. Packletide was forced to give her sIS
hundred and eighty pounds to buythe cottage so that Louisa mig
keep her mouth shut as she had nochoice but to pay thehush mone)
eratureConmpanion10 27

saveherface. Howevershee never ventured to shoot another tiger as

he exorbitantincidental expenses of game shooting deterred her
Tom doingso.
TITLE

Mrs. Packletide's Tiger" is the story of how Mrs. Packletide's ego,

lwy and urge to outshineothers cost her a fortune and subdued her
for all times to come. However, it is through the medium of an
unfortunate,old, infirm tiger that the whole drama is enacted. This
tiger thus plays avery prominent role in the story as it brings about a
transformation in Mrs.Packletide's approach and attitude. Hence, the
author has rightly chosen the title"Mrs. Packletide's Tiger."
THEME
The story lays bare the shallowness and
hollowness of the so-called
sophisticated elite of the society who go about pursuing hazardous
activities not to taste personal thrill and
excitement but to imnpress
people around. Having aweakness for
publicity,they pose toexpose
themselves to risk and danger but in reality
to ensure their safety and they use money-power
comfort while getting their false brave
images built.

MESSAGE
eStory conveys the
message that those who consider themselves
Smart enough to outshine others
The actions of these often get outsmarted
themselves.
them. Thus before manipulative people can backfire and recoil on
biter canbe bitten. targetting anyone, one must not forget that even a

HUMOUR
The"Mrs.
Packletide's of Tiger" is a humorous story where the author
makes a skilful use humour of situation, statement as well as
character. Mrs. Packletide's decision to kill a tiger to counter Loona
 Lilera
28 Literature Companion 1

Bimberton's image tickles the readers. Then her desperate hunt for: whG
lamb-like tiger to kill it without exposing herself to any risk o bit
inconveniencelends a comical air to the entire episode. The villagers abs
desperate attempts to confine the infirm tiger to their area and thei for
apprehension of the poor tiger dying before the memsahib's shooting to
add to the humour of the story/The incident where this 'crack-sho ach
shoots the goat instead of the tiger who is frightened to death by the WO
loud report of the gun) sends us into peals of laughter. Later when tin
Miss Mebbin stoops to her mean blackmailing, the reader apart from m

getting 'serves her right feeling feels absolutely amused to see the lit
biter bitten. Miss Mebbin's protective 'elder-sister attitude' towards ar

money, her 'morbid dread of performing even a bit more than she th

was paid for add piquancy (pleasant pungency) to the abundant d

humour.Apart from it the author's comparison of Mrs.Packletide to a ti1

mighty hunter like 'Nimrod' and witty statements like 'heavy harvest
of photographs, 'propitious circumstances' and 'venerable herd h
robber make the story all the more hilarious.
OXYMORON
An Oxymoron is a figure of speech where two
ideas are put together. This figure of speech is
contradictory words or
used to draw attention
to apparent contradiction. Its usage gives a
smoothness and crispness
to the style of writing.
Saki's usage of oxymorons in "Mrs. Packletide's Tiger" like
'elaborate
carelessness' (of the villagers); 'venerable herd-robber' (the old tiger);
'immeasurably nearer (lunch planned in Loona Bimberton's honour);
Miss Mebbin's 'disagreeably pleasant laugh' enhance the
story.
humour of the
CHARACTERS
Mrs. Packletide
Mrs. Packletide is a shallow. vain and
ostentatious woman most o

on Latest CBSE Sample Paper..

iteratureCompanion10 29

activities are dictated by her emotions of jealousy, ill-willand

against Loona Bimberton - her arch rival. Smitten with
bitternesS
absolute jealousy and driven by her competitive nature and craze
forpublicity, this hypocrite goes out of her wayto plan her strategy
Loona Bimberton down and dilute the impact of her
to show
achievenment. She chooses to go in for big game hunting toimpress the
world with her bravery and to shoot into prominence. However,
imid as she is, she makes the villagers look for a lamb-like tiger to
make her task easy and risk-tree. This woman with no principles in
life stoops down to bribe the villagers to look for such an old, infirm
and incapacitated tiger who would get killed without any fuss. After
the shooting, she shamelessly lets the press give her ample coverage
despite knowing that rather than proving her mettle by killing the
tiger, she had made a fool of herself by killing the goat. She humiliates
Loona Bimberton by purposely sending her a tiger-claw brooch on
her birthday. Her proposed luncheon-party to be thrown in Loona's
honour is actually an exercise in embarrassing and mortifying (to
wound one's feelings) her by exhibiting the superiority of her feat.
Miss Louisa Mebbin
AVery cunning, manipulative, calculating, stingy and money-minded
person, Miss Mebbin gave priority to money over everything else.
She could go to the extent of depriving the hotel waiters of tips to save
her money. Not only tthat she didn't wish to putin even an iota of more
work than she was paid for while giving her services. This shrewd
Woman had a good understanding of human psychology also. She
succeeded in extorting 680 pounds from Mrs. Packletide to buy
herself a week-end cottage as she had judged the extent to which the
lady would go to save reputation, She knew athreat to expose her
her
herLoona
her cough up large Bimberton was enough to twist her arm and make
a amount of money as the price for keeping her
secret.
 30 Literature Companion 1
EXTRACTSFOR COMPREHENSION
Read the following extracts and answer the questions
that follow in one or two lines.
()
Mrs. Packletide had already arranged in her mind the lunch sh
would give at her house in Curzon Street.
(a) Inwhose 'honour' did Mrs. Packletide wish to host the lunch a
her house? What prompted her to plan this move?
Mrs. Packletide wished to host a lunch in honour of Loon:
Bimberton. Her jealousy and her desire to boast of a bigge
achievement than Loona Bimberton's prompted her to plan thi
move.

(b) What trait of Mrs. Packletide's character does the idea of hosting
the lunch bring out?
It brings out her jealousy and sense of rivalry.
(c) What do yyou understand by the expression 'arranged in her mind?
The phrase 'arranged in her mind' means that Mrs. Packletide
had mentally worked out the details of the lunch that she was
planning to host.
(II)
In aworld that is supposed to be chiefly swayed by hunger and by
love Mrs. Packletide was an exception; her movements and notives
were largely governed by dislike of Loona Bimberton.
(a) What does the author mean by, 'the world swayed by hunger and
love'?

The author means that nost of the activities of the world are
dictated by man's basic urge to satisfy his hunger and by t
emotions of love.
(b) How was Mrs. Packletide'an exception'?
ot
Mrs. Packletide was an exception as it was neither the urge
Literature Onmpanion10
31

satistying her hunger nor her emotional involvement that

determined the course of her actions. Her activities were
governedlby an utter dislike for Loona Bimberton.
(c) Howdid'dislike of Loona Bimberton' affect Mrs. Packletide's life?
Most of the activities of Mrs. Packletide's life were planned and
executed as aresultof her utter hatred for Loona Bimberton. Her
urge to show her down swung her into particular actions like
the big game hunting, sending her a tiger-claw brooch and
planning aluncheon-party in her honour'.
(III)
The one great anxiety was lest he should die of old age before the date
appointed for the memsahib's shoot.
(a) Whom does 'he' stand for in the above lines?
'He stands for the infirm tiger that had been selected to be
'hunted' by Mrs. Packletide.
(b) Who were anxious about 'his' premature death? What caused the
anxiety?
The villagers who were to receive one thousand rupees were
anxious about the tiger's premature death because this event
would spell agreat financial loss for them.
(C) Who is referred to as 'memsahib' and what had the date been
appointed for?
Mrs, P'ackletide is referred to as 'memsahib'!. The date had been
appointed for shooting the tiger.
(IV)
"Isupposewe
(a) Who was Miss
are in someedanger?"'said Miss Mebbin.

Mebbin?
Miss Mebbin was Mrs. Packletide's paid companion who was
Supposed to assist her during the tiger shoot.
32 Literature Companion 10

(b) What danger is she anticipating?

Miss Mebbin is apprehensive about the tiger leaping up to thei
platform and attacking them.
(c) Why is Miss Mebbin referring to 'some danger'?
It is not out of nervousness about the tiger that Miss Mebbin
referred to 'some danger'. It is because she didn't want to render
even a bit of more service than she was paid for. She wanted to
feign the danger the project involved, so that accordingly she
could demand more money for her services.

(V)
"I believe it's ill," said Louisa
Mebbin, loudly in Hindustani, for the
benefit of the village headman,who was in ambush in a
tree. neighbouring
(a) Who or what is 'it' in the present
context? Why does 'it' appear to
be ill to the speaker?
"It' stands for the tiger that the
villagers had
Packletide's game hunting. It appeared toarranged
for Mrs.
be ill to Louisa
because it was old and moved very
slowly. Moreover, it lay
down to rest before attacking the
(b) Why did Louisa talk loudly in
tethered goat.
Hindustani?
Louisa spoke loudly in Hindustani so that
could hear and understand that she the village headman
and Mrs. Packletide knew
that the villagers had
charged an exorbitant sum for a senile or
sick tiger.
(c) What light does the above
The comment brings out
observation reflect on Louisa Mebbin?
Miss Mebbin's
keen sense of
observation. shrewdness and her
(d) Why was the village
headman lying in ambush in a
tree? neighbouring
The village headman was lying in ambush in a tree
nearby so
ureCompanion10 33

thatthecould help Mrs. Packletide and her companion in killing

savethem. should the beast assault them.
the tiger orto
(VI)
OW,now!" urged
Miss Mebbin with some excitement: "ifhe doesn't
chthegoattwe needn'tpay for it." (Thele bait was an extra.)
What does Miss Mebbin mean by"Now, now"?
Miss Mebbin in her excitement urged Mrs. Packletide to take an
aim and shoot at the tiger immediately.
) Why was Miss Mebbin so keen for her companion to act
immediately?
Miss Mebbin wished Mrs. Packletide to shoot immediately so
that the tiger would be killed before attacking the goat. Thus
they would not h¡ve to pay for the bait (goat).
(c) Whattrait of her character does Miss Mebbin's remark highlight?
The remark brings out Miss Mebbin's calculating nature, money
mindedness and her promptness.
(VI)
And their triumph and rejoicing found a ready echo in the heart of
Mrs.
(a)
Packletide.
Whose triumph and rejoicing is :referred to here? What are they
celItisebrattheeitriumph
ng? and rejoicing of the villagers who had facilitated
theetiger hunting. They are celebrating their success in thetiger
hunting expedition.
(b) What
will they getfor their triumph?
They have helped Mrs. Packletide in asuccessful tiger hunt.
They wilIget onethousand rupeessfortheirefforts.
Explain the meaning of the expression 'a ready echo in the heart
of Mrs. Packletide'?
34
Literature Companion 10

The phrase 'a ready echo in the heart of Mrs. Packletide' meane
that Mrs. Packletide readily believed that her bullet had killed
the tiger and that she was happy that her mission of killinga
tiger without much fuss or bother was accomplished.
(VII)
The luncheon-party she declined; there are limits beyond which
repressed emotions become dangerous.
(a) Which 'uncheon-party' is being referred to?
Who declined this
party?
The luncheon-party mentioned in the above
lines was thrown
by Mrs. Packletide ostensibly in Loona
Bimberton's honour.
This party was declined by Loona Bimberton
herself.
(b) Why did'she' decline the
invitation?
Angered and irritated by Mrs. Packletide's feat (of
tiger) that paled her own adventure into killing the
Bimberton insignificance, Loona
declined the invitation as she couldn't bear to
rival in the limelight. see her
(c)
Explain: 'there are limits beyond which
become dangerous'!. repressed emotions
The statement means that when the pent up
suppressed beyond aparticular limit they tend emotions are
to erupt like
volcanoes.
(X)
"How you shot the goat and
Mebbin, with her disagreeablyfrightened
pleasant
the tiger to death," said Miss
(a) Whom is Miss Mebbin talking to? laugh.
Miss Mebbin is talking to Mrs.
(b) Which figure of speechis usedinPackletide.
The author has made use of 'disagreeably pleasant laugh"?
oxymoron
words, 'disagreeably' and 'pleasant!. by using two
contrasting
ztureCompanion10 35

Whattwo character traits of Miss Mebbin does this excerpt reveal?

sher
reveals opportunismand a keen sense of observation.
It
(X)
she asked.
nsarely wouldn'tgive me away?"
whois the speaker of the above line and whois being spoken to?
The above line is spoken by Mrs. Packletide. She is addressing
herself to Miss Mebbin.
What does 'giving away' mean?
Giving away' means to betray or toexpose.
How, could'you'give 'me' away?
You', that is, Miss Mebbin could let the wworld know that 'me',.
that is,Mrs. Packletide's fame was
ill-deserved as she had shot a
goat dead whereas the tiger had died of heart
failure due to the
loud report of the gun.
(XI)
ite abargain, only Idon't
happen to have the money.
Who speaks these words? Whom is
he/she
Louisa Mebbin is: speakingthese words totalking to?
Mrs. Packletide.
What'bargain' is the speaker talkingabout here?
The speaker is
talking about the prospect of buying a week-end
Cottage at an attractive
What doesthe price.
th
The spealker expecttthe listener to do?
speaker, Miss Mebbin wishes to extort money from the
lthisattener,Mrs. Mrs. Packletide, by blackmailing her. Here she wants
cot age. Packletide
should give her money to
buy a summer

e
incidental
ds. expenses are
(XII)
so heavy," she confides to inquiring
 LiteratureCo
Literature Companion 10
36

ig
(a) What inquiry did the friends make? her
successful in her
Thefriends wished to know that despite being a t
first venture why Mrs. Packletide didn't pursue big-game shooting hur
(b) How did Mrs. Packletide satisfy her friends? 03. Wh
Mrs. Packletide told her friends that she couldn't continue with
Mr
big-game shooting because it involved immense additional
to h
secondary expenses.
is a
What 'incidental expenses' did Mrs. Packletide's biggame shooting
incur? has

Mrs. Packletide had to pay six hundred and eighty pounds to 04 W

Miss Mebbin as hush money for keeping the secret that she had Bin
killed agoat rather than a tiger. birt
Jeal
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS her
(to be answered in about 40 words each)
Cu
Why did Mrs. Packletide wish to kill a tiger?
(Textual) Suc
Or
fact
What was the motive behind Mrs.
Packletide's decision to shoot ins;
a tiger?
she
Smitten with great jealousy, Mrs. Packletide
that she was more wanted to prove hex
adventurous than her arch
Bimberton who had been carried eleven miles in anrival LOona Q5. Wh
by an Algerian pilot. And to her, aeroplane tige
the only way out to shooting tiger
a appeared to be Wh
outshine Loona's achievement; hence she
decided to shoot a tiger. Pac
O2. What was Mrs.
Packletide's plan to show Loona Bimberton down' Mrs
Mrs. Packletide would vill
procure a tiger-skin of her own shoot
and would throw a
luncheon-party
With the tiger-skinrug spread on theostensibly in Loona's honout tenr
floor she would make sure
to engage all guests
and the media in
conversation about her 6.htige
LiteratureCompanion 10
37

tigershoot and.rouse Loona's jealousy. Thussshe

her and show her
would irritate
down. Apart from it, she would also
atiger-claw brooch to Loona as a
send
humiliate her.
birthday gift to further
03. Whyis Mrs. Packletide compared to a'Nimrod'?
Mrs. Packletide is compared to
to hunt atiger to show
Nimrod because of her decision
Loona Bimberton down. The comparison
Bible, Nimrod, the great
is an apt one as in
has been described as amighty hunter. grandson of Noah
04/Nhat made Mrs. Packletide decide to
give a
Bimberton's honour? What did she intend to giveparty in Loona
birthday? Loona on her
Jealous of Loona Bimberton, Mrs. (Textual)
her down. Hence she Packletide wished to show
decided to host a
Curzon Street, ostensibly to honour party at her house in
and acknowledge
successful eight miles flight which she Loona's
fact Mrs.
Packletide wished to pale undertook recently. n
insignificance by having an edgeover Loona's success into
she wished to her. With her tiger shoot
present Loona with a tiger-claw
next birthday. brooch on her
. Why did the villagers
tiger? decide to help Mrs.Packletide to
Or
shoot a
Why were the
villagers so much interested in helping
Packl
Mrs.
etide? Mrs.

Packl etide promised to pay one thousand rupees to the

viOr l agers for arrangingia tiger for her to shoot without any risk
exertion. It wasa big amount.
empted bythis Prompted by greed they were
6. offer.So they decided to help her.
What preparations did the villagers
ger for Mrs. make to arrange ffor asuitable
Packletide and earn a thousand rupees?
 Literature Companion 10
38

Or

what way did the villagers help Mrs. Packletide shoot the
n
(Textual)
tiger?
village, the
Having come across a feeble old tiger in their own
villagers were determined to grab the opportunity. They deputed
their children night and day on the outskirts of the jungle and
left cheaper goats to prevernt it from going away to fresh
hunting-grounds. Women returning to their homes after day's
work hushed their singing lest they should disturb the sleepof
much sought after tiger.
Q7. Why was the tiger called 'herd-robber' and 'venerable'?
The tiger being the most prominent species of the jungle animals
was called 'venerable'. Moreover, its age earned it respect.
However, as its dwindling strength had obliged him to resort to
prey on the domestic animals, it also earned the reputation of
being a'herd-robber',
Q8. How was the tiger shooting
arranged? (Textual)
Having spotted a suitable incapacitated tiger for Mrs.
shooting, the viltagers built a platform in a tree on thePackletide's
day and tied a goat to attract
the tiger. These
appointed
made things very comfortable and easy for
Mrs.
arrangement
Jeft the lady with little Packletide and
chances to miss shooting the tiger.
What kind of a tiger was
chosen for the shoot? (Textual)
The tiger chosen for the
shoot was weak, old and
incapacitated. could neither kill any prey, nor leap orabsolutely
It had given up
It
killing big beasts and had run tast
domestic animals to satisfy its begun killing sma
tailor-made object for Mrs. hunger. Hence it was absolutel
Q10. What was the
greatest worry forPackletide'
the
s
purpose.
The greatest worry of the villagers?
villagers was that the weak,
incapacitate
LiteratureCompanion10
39

old tiger that they had selected

selected for Mrs.
would die before the arrival of the day Packletide's shoot
shooting..Thus they wouldIbe deprived of the
appointed for the
one thousand rupees. handsome sum of
How did Miss Mebbin behave
during thetigershooting?o
A
very (Textual)
money-minded and a'stingy lady, Miss Mebbin took full
interest in the shoot. She observed that
one thousand rupees
was an exorbitant price for an old
and
exhorted Mrs. Packletide to shoot the tigerinfirm tiger. She also
the goat to avoid paying for the bait. before it could touch
Q12. WhatasL.ouisa
Mebbin's attitude towards money?
Or
"Louisa Mebbin had a protective
money in general." How? elder-sister attitude towards
Miss Mebbin was a very
shrewd and
great love for money.She did not miserly woman. She had a
give
hotels. In this way she saved money. even tips to the bearers in
She adopted a
elder-sister attitude towards it and even stooped protective
to the level of
blackmailing to earn money.
Q13. What did Miss Mebbin
observe when she noted the tiger resting
near the goat?
When Miss Mebbin
noted the tiger resting near the goat she
remarkedthat the tiger was ill. She also said if it did not attack
the goat, Mrs.
Packletide should not pay for the goat because
thebait was extra.
What caused the old tiger's
death?
The old tiger's death was caused by heart failure due to the
sudden
not
report of the gun. The bullet had, in fact, hit the goat and
the tiger. In all
excitement, this fact was over-looked by all
40 Literature Companion l0

but was noticed by Miss Louisa Mebbin, Mrs. Packletide's pajd

companion.
Q15, How did the villagers react to the tiger's death? (Textual)
There wasa wave of jubilation among the villagers when they
saw the tiger lying dead. They gathered round it in excitement
and soon carried this happy news to the village where there was
agreatrejoicing with thumping of tom-toms.
Q16. Mrs,Packletide was not agood shot. Discuss.
(Textual)
Mrs. Packletide wished to procure a tiger skin but she neither
had heart nor talent to kill the beast. Hence, she chose to shoot
an old, infirmand incapacitated tiger.
However, having a poor
aim her shot killed a goat rather than the tiger
proving that she
was a very poor shot.
Q17. How did Louisa Mebbin discover that
the tiger had not been shot?
Louisa Mebbin discovered the goat in
with a serious bullet wound on its agonising pain of death
body. The tiger on the other
hand died without a bullet on its
body. This
therefore, concluded that the tiger had not beenobservant lady,
shot and it had
died of shock on hearing the loud
Q18.Why did the dying of the report of the gun.
tiger due to heart attack Q21
a secret? initially remain
Mrs. Packletide was
the tiger had died due annoyed at Miss Mebbin's
to discovery that
quiet for a while. The heart attack. So, Miss Mebbin kept
thousand rupees. villagers were anxious to get theu t
thetiger had not diedThus, they too closed their reyes tothe fact that e
due to the shot fired by Mrs.
Hence this fact Packletide. B
Q19 why did remained asecret for
quite some time.
Loona Bimberton avoid Co

weeks? How did she react to looking at the for

brooch and invitation to the
Mrs.
Packletide's newspapers
gift of
tiger-cla
luncheon-party? ma
Literature Companion 10
41

Or
How did Loona Bimberton react on hearing Mrs.
Packletide's
successful tiger hunt?
Ioona Bimberton was shocked to learn that Mrs.
Packletidobad
nerformed even more daring feat than that of hers.
an
with jealousy she refused to look at the Seething
Packletide's remarkable feat of hunting newspaper reports on
a tiger. Although she
did thank Mrs. Packletide
coldly for the tiger-claw brooch, she
madejtapoint not to attend the luncheon-party.
Q20,What comment did Miss Mebbin make after Mrs.
fired the shot? Why did Miss Packletide had
did Mrs. Packletide react to
Mebbin make this comment? How
thiscomment?
(Textual)
Discovering no bullet mark on the dead tiger, Miss
drew her attention to the fact Mebbin
that it was the goat and not
tiger that had been killed the
with Mrs.
Actually, Miss Mebbin wished to Packletide's bullet.
Mrs. Packletideby extract some money from
reminding her that her shooting spree had
turned into a mockery. The
asit upsetall-hrer plans to comment annoyed Mrs. Packletide
get popularity.
Q2Aew did Miss Mebbin manage to get her a
near Dorking? Or
week-end cottage
How did Miss Mebbin (Textual)
Miss Mebbin
blackmail Mrs.Packletide?
the loud
knew that it was not Mrs. Packletide's bullet but
report of the gun that killed the tiger.
epOse the truth to the world and Threatening to
Bimberton, she made Mrs. Packletideparticularly Loonato
buy her aweek-end
cottage for six hundred and
eeping hernouthshut. eighty pounds as a price for

does Miss Mebbin call the cottage 'Les Fauves' and plant so
many tiger-lilies in it? (Textual)
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Literature Companion 10

Wild Beasts'. It
"Les Fauves' is aFrench expression that means
that helped Miss
was only the death of a wildbeast, an old tiger,
this name to the
Mebbin get this cottage. That is why shegave
as a tribute to the dead
cottage and planted so many tiger- lilies
tiger.
"Mrs. Packletide indulges in no more big-game shooting. The
Q23.
to inquiring
incidental expenses are so heavy," she confides
Mrs Packletide
friends. What are the 'incidental expenses' that
refers to?
Or
did Mrs. Packletide give up big-game shooting?
Or

"The incidental expenses are so heavy," she confides to inquiring

friends. Who is the speaker? What is 'she'referring to here?
(Textual)

Miss Mebbin knew that the old tiger had died of the heart
failure caused by sudden report of the gun and therefore,
threatened to tell this secret to everybody. So, Mrs Packletide
had to pay six hundred and eighty pounds to her to keep her
mouth shut. This heavy amount referred to as the 'incidental
expenses' made her give up big-game hunting.
Q24, Do you think Mrs. Packletide was able to achieve her hearts
desire? Give reasons for your answer. (Textual)

Mrs. Packletide failed to achieve her heart's desire as her brie

spell of popularity got a rude shock when Miss Mebbin
threatened to expose the truth of the tiger shoot to the worla
and particularly to Loona Bimberton. She paid through her
nose to silencethe villainous Louisa Mebbin. Thus her heart's
desire rather than being fulfilled became a constant irritant
for her.
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4

O25. Who was Miss Lousia Mebbin? Was she really devoted to Mrs.
Packletide?
(Textual)
Miss Louisa Mebbin was Mrs. Packletide's paid companion.
Che had been appointed to asSist her and give her
company
during the tiger hunt. A very materialistic, calculating and a
manipulative lady she posed to be very loyal toMrs. Packletide.
However when Mrs. Packletide was blissfully
fame that the tiger shoot had earned her, she rejoicing the
turned the tables
andthreatened to expose her.
02&When and in which country did Mrs. Packletide kill the
How do you know? tiger?
Mrs. Packletide killed the tiger in (Textual)
the early 20th century. She
killed it in India. There are
various hints in the story in this
regard. The English were there in India in the
century. Miss Mebbin spoke in early twentieth
were pleased at the prospect ofHindustani. Then, the villagers
All these facts earning a thousand rupees.
in India. conclusively prove that the incident took place
Q27. What does the
author try to convey through his story "Mrs.
Packletide's Tiger"?
Ihrough the story "Mrs. Packletide's Tiger" the
the message that those who author conveys
to consider themselves smart enough
of
outshine others often get outsmarted themselves. The actions
these manipulative anyone,
people can backfire and recoil on them.
*tuS betore targetting one
bii¿rcan be must not forget that even a
A bitten.
person who is vain is full of self importance and can
think of only
himself/herself
his/her superiority. Do you and can go to great lengths to prove
think Mrs. Packletide is vain? Give
reasonsin
support of your aanswer. (Textual)
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Literature Companion 10

Mrs. Packletide's vanity that had made her enact the tieor
It is
Loona Bimberton Wae
hunting drama. Her urge to outshine
but an attempt to satisfy this vanity. Her posing for the
nothing
with the tiger
photographs and throwing a luncheon-party
drawing room reflect this vain
skin prominently spread in the
efforts to prove her superiority and become a celebrity.
lady's
organized by the villagers was a
Q29 De youthink the tiger shooting (Textual)
serious affair? Give reasons for your answer.
villagers a handsome
As the successful shooting would fetch the
serious affair for them.
amount of money, it was undoubtedly a
urge to outshine her rival
So was it for Mrs. Packletide whose
best card to win.
Loona Bimberton prompted her to play her
turned out to be
However, the way the shooting was carried out
been serious
nothing more than a farce. Thus what should have
turned out to be ludicrous (ridiculous).
and
Q30,Compare and contrast the characters of Mrs. Packletide
Loona Bimberton.
Both Mrs. Packletide and Loona Bimberton are shallow, vain
and pretentious women. They perform 'daring feats' not to
satisfy their spirit of adventure but to earn name and fame.
Jealousof each other, they plan all their activities to show down
each other. However,Mrs. Bimberton seems to be a shade more
graceful than Mrs. Packletide as rather than attending her luncn
and creating an ugly scene there, she chooses to decline the
invitation.