7 std MUF
Summary
TLDRIn 'My Unknown Friend' by Stephen Leacock, the protagonist encounters a stranger who mistakes him for an old acquaintance. The stranger engages in conversation, discussing mutual friends and the narrator's supposed grandmother's death. The narrator plays along, not correcting the mistake. When the stranger hastily exits the train, he leaves behind a suitcase, which the narrator assumes contains money. However, another man soon claims the suitcase, revealing the stranger's ruse. The narrator is left reflecting on the folly of his own cleverness.
Takeaways
- 🤝 The protagonist encounters a stranger who acts familiar, initiating a conversation with a warm greeting.
- 🧳 The stranger carries a heavy suitcase, which he places on the seat, indicating he might be traveling with valuables.
- 😅 The protagonist pretends to recognize the stranger to avoid awkwardness, despite not recalling who he is.
- 🕒 The conversation reveals they haven't met in a long time, suggesting a past connection that has faded.
- 👴 The mention of 'old gang' members like Billy and Pete indicates they were once part of a close-knit group.
- 🏠 The stranger shares updates about their mutual acquaintances, including one who is ranching and another who has married.
- 😢 The protagonist is led to believe someone close to him has died, only to realize it was a misunderstanding about his grandmother.
- 🚄 The stranger hastily exits the train after a mix-up, leaving his suitcase behind in his rush.
- 💸 The protagonist offers the stranger money for his missed stop, which the stranger accepts and leaves the train with.
- 😤 The protagonist is left with the stranger's suitcase, only for another man to claim it, realizing he's been duped.
- 😱 The protagonist reflects on the situation, feeling dismayed at being outsmarted and losing his money.
Q & A
Who is the main character interacting with when he steps into the compartment?
-The main character is interacting with an unknown friend who carries a 50 suitcase.
How does the main character react when he doesn't recognize the man?
-The main character maintains his presence of mind and engages in conversation without revealing that he doesn't recognize the man.
What does the unknown friend say when he first sees the main character?
-The unknown friend says, 'Well, well,' and comments on how the main character hasn't changed.
What does the main character repeat when the unknown friend mentions it's been a long time since they met?
-The main character repeats 'a long time' to maintain the conversation.
Who is 'Billy' mentioned in the conversation?
-'Billy' is a member of the 'old gang' and is said to be ranching out in Montana.
What is the condition of 'Old Pete' according to the unknown friend?
-Old Pete is mentioned to be quite changed, and it is implied that he is married.
What does the unknown friend express sympathy for?
-The unknown friend expresses sympathy for the main character's loss, which is later revealed to be the death of his grandmother.
How does the main character react when he learns of his supposed 'loss'?
-The main character is initially confused but then realizes it's about his grandmother's death and plays along.
Why does the unknown friend get off the train suddenly?
-The unknown friend realizes he has missed his stop and needs to get off the train immediately.
What does the main character do when the unknown friend struggles with the suitcase lock?
-The main character offers him money instead of bothering with the lock.
What happens to the 50-dollar suitcase left behind by the unknown friend?
-Another man, who is not the main character's friend, claims the suitcase as his own and takes it away.
What is the main character's final realization about the situation?
-The main character realizes he has been tricked and that the conversation was an act to distract him and steal his money.
Outlines
🤔 Encounter with a Familiar Stranger
The narrator describes an unexpected encounter with a man who seems to know him well but whom he does not recognize. The man enters the compartment, greets the narrator warmly, and engages in conversation. Despite not recalling the man, the narrator maintains his composure and participates in the dialogue. They discuss mutual acquaintances, including a 'Billy' who is ranching in Montana and a 'Pete' who has gotten married. The conversation takes a turn when the man expresses condolences for the narrator's supposed loss, which turns out to be the death of the narrator's grandmother. The man becomes flustered when he realizes he has missed his stop and, in his haste to disembark, leaves behind a suitcase containing fifty dollars. The narrator reflects on the irony of the situation, having unknowingly engaged in conversation about a deceased grandmother and lost money, all while being deceived by a stranger.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Compartment
💡Presence of Mind
💡Old Gang
💡Ranching
💡Marriage
💡Death
💡Junction
💡Porter
💡Money
💡Recognition
💡Casual Stranger
Highlights
The protagonist encounters an unknown friend who mistakes him for someone else.
The unknown friend carries a heavy suitcase into the compartment.
The friend greets the protagonist warmly, assuming they are old acquaintances.
The protagonist plays along, not wanting to admit he doesn't recognize the man.
They discuss old friends, including 'Billy' and 'Pete', and their current whereabouts.
The conversation shifts to the supposed death of the protagonist's grandmother.
The protagonist humorously tries to guess who has died, playing along with the conversation.
The friend expresses condolences for the protagonist's supposed loss.
The protagonist describes the supposed death in a humorously exaggerated manner.
The friend becomes flustered when he realizes he has missed his stop.
The friend struggles with the suitcase lock, trying to retrieve his money.
The protagonist offers money to the friend, who hastily exits the train.
The friend leaves behind the suitcase, which the protagonist initially thinks is a mistake.
A stranger enters the compartment, claiming the suitcase as his own.
The protagonist realizes he has been tricked, as the stranger takes the suitcase.
The protagonist reflects on the conversation, realizing the stranger was part of the scam.
The protagonist vows to be less clever when talking to strangers in the future.
Transcripts
my unknown friend
by stephen leecock
he stepped into my compartment he
carried a 50 suitcase
that he put down on the seat then he saw
me
well well he said well well
i repeat it who would have thought of
seeing you
he said shaking hands eagerly you
haven't changed a bit
neither have you said i and all the time
i was wondering who he was i couldn't
recall him at all
but when a name or face escapes me i
never lose my presence of mind
i know how to deal with the situation my
friend
sat down it's a long time since we met
he said a long time i repeated
i sometimes wonder where the old gang
are gone to
he said say i said where's billy
this is a safe line every old gang has a
billy in it
billy is ranching out in montana said my
friend
and where's pete i said there's always a
beat too
old pete's quite changed answered the
man
why pete's married i started to laugh
too
i meant to write to you said my friend
when i heard of your loss
i remained quiet what had i lost
yes the man went on death is always sad
death oh that was it was it i almost
hiccuped with joy that was easy one has
only to sit quiet and wait to find out
who is dead
yes i murmured very sad strong and
bright to the last
i suppose he continued yes i said
able to sit up in bed and smoke within a
few days of the end
he looked confused did your grandmother
my grandmother
pardon me i said i mean able to sit up
and be smoked too as i said this
the train slowed down my friend looked
quickly out of the window
his face was agitated that's the
junction he said
i have missed my stop i should have got
out at the last station
he hopped up and fumbled at the lock of
the suitcase with a bunch of keys
i'll have to wire back he gasped
whatever's the matter with this lock
my money's in the suitcase don't bother
with the lock
i said here's some money thanks he said
grab the entire roll of money out of my
hand he sprang from the train
i saw him through the window moving
toward the waiting room but
not very fast the porters were calling
all aboard
there was the clang of a bell a hiss of
steam
and the train was off idiot i thought
he's missed it and there was his fifty
dollar suitcase lying on the seat
then i heard the porter's voice again
guiding someone through the car
ah looked all through the car for it he
was saying
i left it on the seat in the car there
said the angry voice of a stranger
a well-dressed man who put his head into
the door of my compartment
then his face beamed with recognition
but it was not for me
it was for the 50 suitcase ah
there it is he cried seizing it
and carrying it off i sank back in
dismay
the old gang pete's marriage my
grandmother's death
great heavens and my money i saw it all
the other man was making talk too and
making it with a purpose
stung the next time i fall in to talk
with a casual stranger in a car
i shall not try to be quite so clever
تصفح المزيد من مقاطع الفيديو ذات الصلة
Before You Judge Someone - WATCH THIS | by Jay Shetty
START LEARNING Spanish with a Simple story (A1-A2)
Enfrentamos Al Dueño De Un Civic Stock Por Querer Robarme Gta Rp
Ripple (Award Winning)- Kindness and good deeds will come back to you
Horror Hinge Date Goes Very Weird 👀 | CATERS CLIPS
Living with your ex after a break-up – B1 English Listening Test
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)