DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL MEGACITY
CLASS X STUDY MATERIAL 2024-25
ENGLISH LITERATURE
THE ELEVATOR
Questions and Answers:
1. How did Martin feel in the elevator in his old apartment building? Give reasons
why.
A: Martin felt nervous in the elevator in his old apartment building. He had always
felt uncomfortable in elevators, fearing that they would fall, but this particular
elevator amplified his discomfort.
Martin might have felt uncomfortable for several reasons. Firstly, the elevator had
poor lighting, which created a dim, gloomy atmosphere. Additionally, the dirty
walls gave it an unclean and unwelcoming appearance. The door did not stay open
for long, causing him anxiety whenever he entered or exited. Lastly, due to its small
size, the elevator seemed cramped, even with just two people inside.
2. What made Martin try the stairs one day ? Why were the stairs not any better
than the elevator?
A: Due to his discomfort with the elevator, Martin tried the stairs one day after
school. However, the stairs of the building were not any better than the elevator.
The stairs had no windows and the lights inside the stairway were not operable.
The resulting darkness scared him. Moreover, his footsteps echoed behind him,
making it seem as though there was another person climbing behind him and
getting closer to him with every step.
3. How did Martin feel when there were other passengers in the elevator?
A: When there were other passengers in the elevator, Martin felt distinctly
uncomfortable and longed for personal space. He disliked being in close proximity
to strangers, trying to avoid eye contact and staring at nothing. Thus, the presence
of other people intensified Martin’s uneasiness.
4. What did Martin experience at school? How do you think it impacted him?
A: Martin experienced bullying at school. He had got used to being bullied,
suggesting that it had been a regular occurence in his life.
It is likely that Martin felt hurt, powerless and unhappy about the bullying.
It seems to have contributed to his already low self-esteem and may have made
him more sensitive to criticism or judgement, such as his father’s disapproving look
regarding his choice to take the stairs, instead of the elevator.
5. Why did Martin always take the elevator despite his fear?
A: Despite his fear, Martin always took the elevator out of a sense of obligation
towards his father and the desire to conform to societal norms. He believed that
he needed to get used to using the elevator, just as he had got used to being bullied
at school. Martin’s decision to take the elevator was driven by a sense of societal
expectations, his father’s disapproval of his alternative choice (of taking the stairs)
and his own internalized pressure to face his fears. He hoped that repeated
exposure to the elevator would eventually help him overcome his fear and make
him comfortable.
6. What did Martin notice about the fat lady who entered the elevator one
morning?
A: When the fat lady entered the elevator one morning, Martin observed that she
was wearing an old green coat which ballooned around her, emphasizing her size.
As she waddled into the elevator, Martin perceived the elevator sinking slightly
under her weight, further emphasizing her physical presence. He had to squeeze
himself into a corner to make room for her because of her size. He also noticed
that, instead of facing the door like most passengers, she turned around and stared
directly at him, fixating her gaze upon him throughout the elevator ride.
7. How far, in your opinion, is Martin’s fear of the old lady justified ? Elucidate.
A: Martin’s fear of the fat lady is justified given the unusual and intrusive behaviour
she exhibited towards him. Her intense and persistent stares, seemingly deliberate
actions, the eerie atmosphere she created, as well as the unsettling moments he
experienced in her presence – all contributed to a sense of threat and danger. An
individual’s instinct, emotions, experiences and perception of danger (real or
imagined) naturally arouse anxiety and nervousness. Martin, a lonely and bullied
child, was no exception.
8. What impact did the fat lady have on Martin’s daily life and routine?
A: The fat lady had a significant impact on Martin’s daily life and routine. Her
presence instilled fear and anxiety within him, intensifying his already existing
discomfort in the elevator. Her unwelcome attention and perceived fixation
disrupted his sense of safety and control. The fat lady’s presence infiltrated his daily
thoughts and influenced his choices, leading to a constant state of vigilance and
fear. Ultimately, his fear led to an injury that further limited his mobility and
increased his vulnerability. Her impact extended beyond the physical encounters,
significantly impacting Martin’s daily activities, emotional well-being and his sense
of security within the building.
9. How would you describe Martin’s relationship with his father ?
A: Martin’s relationship with his father appears strained, characterised by a lack of
understanding and empathy. Martin longs for his father’s support and protection,
but is often chided by him. His father’s disapproval of his timidity and his
expectation for Martin to display more courage, contribute to Martin’s feeling of
inadequacy and lack of confidence. Their interactions are devoid of emotional
connection and empathy, as evident in his father’s dismissive responses to Martin’s
fears. Martin’s desire for his father’s acceptance and understanding remains
unfulfilled throughout the story.
10. Why do you think the fat lady laughed and then pushed the ‘Stop’ button ?
A: The fat lady laughed and pushed the ‘Stop’ button in the elevator, probably with
the intention of trapping Martin inside and prolonging their time together. Her
laughter denotes that she was amused by Martin’s discomfiture. Her action of
disabling the elevator’s movement implies a deliberate attempt to assert control
and manipulate the situation. By laughing and stopping the elevator, the fat lady
exhibited her wicked enjoyment of Martin’s helplessness and her dominance over
him, creating a sense of power imbalance and heightening his fear of being
trapped.
11. The story ends in a cliffhanger. Explain how.
A: ‘Cliffhanger’ is a literary device in which the story ends abruptly in an exciting or
frightening situation with no resolution, leaving the reader in suspense, wondering
what would come next. This increases the reader’s engagement, as it piques human
curiosity and keeps the ending open to discussion.
‘The Elevator’ has a cliffhanger ending because the plot of the story features the
main character (Martin) confronting a shockingly difficult situation. Readers are
uncertain about the outcome of the encounter and thus, they continue speculating
how the fat lady behaves with the petrified little boy (Martin) trapped inside the
old elevator, isolated from the world.
12. Give a character sketch of Martin and his father based on the story.
A: Martin, the protagonist of the story, is a weak and timid boy, bad at sports and
bullied at school. Throughout the story, he struggles with his fears of confined
spaces (claustrophobia), heights (acrophobia) and possibly even a general fear of
strangers. He suffers from low self-esteem, as demonstrated by his self-
deprecating thought regarding his physicality and perceived cowardice. Despite his
fears, Martin shows signs of introspection and self-awareness, continuously
challenging his anxieties and bravely trying to confront them.
Martin’s father is emotionally distant from his son. He stays at home, but seems
too engrossed in his work and other activities to pay much attention to Martin’s
worries or fears. The story portrays him as insensitive, dismissive and impatient,
which aggravate Martin’s feelings of isolation, nervousness and anxiety. A strict
disciplinarian, he does not indulge in spoon-feeding his son, as he wants Martin to
face his fears independently. His harsh comments on Martin, like ‘grow up’ and
‘act like a man’, show lack of empathy for his son’s genuine fears and lack of
concern for his son’s well-being.
Multiple Choice Questions (with answers)
1. Who is the protagonist of the story?
a) Martin’s father
b) the fat lady
c) Mrs. Ullman
d) Martin
2. According to the story, which of these is NOT a reason why the stairs were no
better than the elevator?
a) there were no windows
b) echoing footsteps and a feeling of someone following
c) the lights were not working
d) fear of encountering other people on the stairs
3. Which of these did Martin want to do after looking away when the fat lady
stared at him?
a) close his eyes
b) turn around
c) stare into the corner
d) all of the above
4. What did Martin’s father suggest he should do about his fear?
a) confront it
b) ignore it
c) share it with a friend
d) write about it
5. What happened when Martin tried to press the button for the ninth floor?
a) the elevator did not stop
b) the fat lady stopped him
c) he could not reach the button
d) the elevator got stuck
6. What does the word ‘waddled’ suggest about the fat lady’s movement?
a) she walked swiftly
b) she walked slowly and with a clumsy, swaying motion
c) she walked with grace
d) she walked quickly
7. What is the meaning of the word pudgy, as used in the story?
a) slim
b) small
c) slightly fat
d) tall and skinny
8. Which of these themes does the story ‘The Elevator’ explore?
a) isolation and loneliness
b) fear and anxiety
c) parental expectations
d) all of the above
9. Which literary device is used in the sentence, “She smiled as the door
slammed.”?
a) metaphor
b) irony
c) foreshadowing
d) simile
Assignment – Reference to Context
‘He thought about her all day. Did she live in the building? He had never seen her
before and the building was not very big.’
1. Who is referred to as ‘He’ in this extract? Where did he live? Whom did he think
about all day?
2. What about ‘her’ did he notice and think all day? Why?
3. How did he feel when he got back to the building? Why?
4. What did he do next in order to overcome what he was feeling? Was his hope
fulfilled? Give reason.
5. Do you think that her presence had an impact on his personality in any way?
Justify your view by citing instances from the story.
