The Hundred Dresses-II

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By– El Bsor Ester

Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each

1.The short except highlights the sensitive story of a poor polish girl who becomes the victim of discrimination. Peggy and Maddie did not want to befriend her because of her poor social status. How far do you agree to judge people on the basis of money, possessions and caste? What enduring values should we actually look for in a person before developing a friendship with that person? Write in 100-120 words.

Ans. (i) It is absolutely wrong to judge people on the basis of money, possessions and caste. Wanda was a polish girl at an American school. Her name sounded funny to the other students who made fun of her name. Peggy and other girls teased her about a hundred dresses which she claimed she had but wore the same faded blue dress. Fed up with her teasing Wanda left the school and went to a big city.

(ii) Before leaving she took part in the art competition and submitted a hundred drawings of different designs. They were so beautiful that all her classmates were wonderstruck. Peggy and Maddie not only realised their mistake but were also impressed by her talent. They felt guilty about their behaviour. Hence, one should actually know a person’s behaviour, talent and nature before befriending him. One should not judge others with their status.

2. How did Maddie feel when she and Peggy could not find Wanda? What important conclusion did Maddie reach then?

Ans. When Maddie and Peggy did not find Wanda at Bogin’s Heights, Maddie felt much disturbed. The whole night she kept thinking about Wanda, the way they used to make fun of her, her drawings of a hundred dresses, her faded blue dress and the little house they lived in. She thought hard and made a resolution. From then onwards she would never stand by and remain silent if anyone made fun of or treated someone unkindly for her or his funny name or looks. She would speak up. She was ready to lose Peggy’s friendship on that point.

3.’Though Peggy and Maddie made fun of Wanda, she gifted them her special drawings.’ In the light of this statement write a character-sketch of Wanda Petronski.

Ans. Wanda Petronski was a Polish girl at an American school. Her name sounded unfamiliar to other students who made fun of her name. They also teased her by asking her about her hundred dresses which she claimed she had but wore the same faded blue dress every day. She never felt embarrassed or cried. She was cool-headed and tolerant. When others thought she was lying about having a hundred dresses, she knew that she was truthful as she did have a hundred dresses but only the drawings and not the real ones. And she proved that she was right when she submitted them for the contest.

Wanda had gifted two of her special drawings—a green dress with red ash to Peggy and a blue dress with colourful trimming to Maddie with their faces on the respective drawings. This showed that she liked them in spite of their teasing her. Gifting those drawings to them was also her way of making them realise their mistake. She was a large-hearted, understanding, forgiving, talented and intelligent girl.

4. Which act of Wanda made the girls know that she liked them even though they had teased her? How did Peggy and Maddie realise this? Explain.

Ans. The letter of Wanda to Miss Mason showed that she loved room number thirteen. She had gifted her a hundred drawings to her class. She mentioned that she missed her school and friends and felt that her teacher was not equal to Miss Mason.

Wanda had gifted two of her special drawings—a green dress with a red rash to Peggy and a blue dress with colourful trimmings to Maddie. When they discovered that their faces were drawn on their respected dresses, they realised that they were drawn for them and that she liked them in spite of their teasing her In a subtle way Wanda made them realise their mistake.

5. Give the character-sketch of Peggy.

Ans. Peggy was a rich, pretty girl with curly hair. She was the most liked girl in her class. She had many beautiful dresses. She was intelligent, good in studies, scored good marks and sat in the front row. She could understand the hidden message of Wanda’s gifts that she liked her and Maddie and was not angry with them for teasing her. At times she seemed bossy and dominated Maddie who was her close friend. She loved fun and enjoyed teasing Wanda, playing the game of hundred dresses with her.

She was not crud as she would cry for hours if she saw any animal being mistreated. She was a self-righteous girl. She thought she did nothing wrong teasing Wanda. Anyhow, she never made fun of her name or called her a foreigner.

6. Give the character-sketch of Maddie.

Ans. Maddie was the classmate of Peggy and poor and Wanda. She was Peggy’s inseparable friend. Both were always seen together. She was wearing hand-me-down clothes, mostly of Peggy with a little innovation.

She did not like Peggy’s making fun of Wanda. She used to feel uncomfortable; perhaps it reminded her of her own poverty.

She was not courageous. Once she wrote a note to Peggy asking her to stop teasing Wanda but tore it. She was afraid that Peggy and other girls would make her the next target.

She had a high opinion about Peggy. She thought that the most liked girl could never do something really wrong. She also thought that Peggy would win the art contest.

She was sensitive and emotional. Many nights before sleeping she would give imaginary speeches defending Wanda when others teased her.

7. How did Wanda win the hearts of her classmates at the end of the story?

Ans. Wanda was a Polish girl. She had an unfamiliar name and different looks. Other students made fun of her name and called her Pollack’. Peggy and other girls teased her about a hundred dresses which she claimed she had but wore the same faded blue dress. Fed up with her teasing she left the school and went to a big city.

Before leaving she had taken part in the art competition and submitted a hundred drawings of different designs. They were so beautiful that all her classmates were wonderstruck. They could never guess that she could be so talented. Moreover, she had proved herself right that she possessed a hundred dresses. Her classmates not only realised their mistake but were also impressed by her creative talent.

Wanda finally won their hearts when she gifted all her drawings to her class.

8. Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life there was going to be different for the family?

Ans. Wanda’s family could no longer tolerate the mockery she was subjected to other students made fun of her name and called her ‘Pollack’. Peggy and other girls often teased her by asking her about her hundred dresses which she said she had ‘all lined up in her closet’ but wore the same faded blue dress that was too long and hung loosely on her body.

Fed up by this teasing Wanda’s family shifted to a big city where there were a lot of foreigners with unfamiliar names.

One cannot be certain whether the life of Wanda’s family was going to be different in the city. But one thing seems certain that no one would have made fun of Wanda’s name or looks.

9. What did Wanda’s father write in his letter? How did Maddie feel after listening to that letter?

Ans. In his letter, Wanda’s father had informed Miss Mason that Wanda would not come to the school any more. They were moving to a big city. In that city, nobody would consider her name funny and laugh at her. The entire class became silent and felt bad about Wanda. Miss Mason understood their feelings. She told them that no one should hurt anyone’s feelings because his or her name was long or funny. She said that what had happened in the school about Wanda was bad. She asked them to third( about that. Maddie listened to what Miss Mason said about Wanda. She could not concentrate on her studies. She had a sick feeling. It was the tree that she had never made fun of Wanda herself. But at the same time, she had not objected Peggy’s asking Wanda about her dresses. She felt that she was a coward.

10. What did Maddie decide to do after listening to the letter from Wanda’s father?

Ans. Maddie wondered if she could do anything. She wanted to meet Wanda and tell her that she had never meant to hurt her feelings. She made up her mind to go to her house and tell Wanda that she had won the contest and her hundred dresses were beautiful. She decided that she would find out Wanda Petronski. She and Peggy would go to her house to meet her. When school was over, Maddie told Peggy to go to Wanda’s house. They walked towards her colony. On the way, Peggy said that she had never called Wanda a foreigner. She always thought that Wanda was a dumb girl. She never imagined that Wanda could sense the girls had been making fun of her. Maddie said nothing. She just wanted to meet Wanda and tell her that they were sorry for their rude treatment. She would request her not to move away.

11. What happened when Maddie and Peggy reached Wanda’s house? What decision did Maddie make?

Ans. Peggy and Maddie found Wanda’s house in Boggins Heights. The house looked shabby but clean. It reminded Maddie of Wanda’s one dress. But there was no one in the house. Peggy knocked at the door. There was no response. Wanda and her family had already left the place. They came back. Peggy said that her asking Wanda about her dresses actually helped her. Otherwise, perhaps she might not have won the drawing contest. But Maddie was not satisfied. She could not sleep that night. She thought of Wanda, her drawings and her house. At last, she made a decision. She decided that she would not keep quiet if someone made fun of anybody before her. She would not mind even she had to lose Peggy’s friendship. She had no way of making things right with Wanda, but now she would never make anybody unhappy.

12. What did Pew, and Maddie write to Wanda? What happened on the last day of the school before Christmas?

Ans. Peggy and Muddle wrote a letter to Wanda. They praised Wanda’s drawings. They wrote to her that she had won the contest. A number of days passed but there was no answer from Wanda. Peggy had begun to forget the whole incident. Maddie tried to sleep at night making speeches about Wanda. Then it was Christmas time. On the last day of the school, Miss Mason received a letter from Wanda. She showed the letter to the class and read it. Wanda had written that the girls could keep those hundred dresses because in her new house she had a hundred new ones. She had gifted the green dress with the red trimmings to Peggy. She wrote that Maddie could have a blue dress. She wished Merry Christmas to all. They accepted the drawings. On the way home Peggy and Maddie held their drawings very carefully.

13. How did Maddie and Peggy realize that Wanda loved them?

Ans. Maddie was missing Wanda too much. There were tears in her eyes. She felt sad to think that she would never see Wanda again. She felt that Wanda had been nice to her. She gazed at the drawing for a long time. Suddenly, she noticed the face and head in the drawing. It looked like her own head and face. She was excited to find that Wanda had made that drawing especially for her. She ran to Peggy’s house. She told Peggy that Wanda had drawn the drawing for her. Then they saw her drawing also. There was Peggy’s face in the drawing. Peggy was also happy to see that the face and head of the drawing looked like her. Peggy told Maddie that Wanda really liked them. There were tears in Maddie’s eyes every time, she thought of Wanda Petronski.

Q14. Peggy was not really cruel but definitely insensitive to human feelings and a little arrogant too. Maddie, on the other hand, was very sensitive and delicate but timid and lacked the courage to stand up against injustice. Compare and contrast the two girls.

Ans. Peggy and Maddie were the closest friends and always lived together. Maddie was highly impressed by Peggy. Peggy was the most popular girl in the class. She was pretty and had many pretty dresses. Her hair was curly. She was a talented girl who could draw better than all others in the class. She was thought to be a favourite for the girls’ medal in the drawing and colouring competition. Maddie, on the other hand, was a poor girl. She received old dresses offered to her by Peggy. She thought Peggy to be her closest friend and benefactor. She was rather proud of her. However, Maddie didn’t like Peggy when she asked teasing and embarrassing questions from Wanda Petronski about her hundred dresses. She became very sad when she came to know that Wanda had left the school and Boggins Heights. She knew that she would never see that little Polish girl, Wanda again in life. Tears blurred her eyes when she studied the drawing of the green dress gifted to her by Wanda Petronski. In the end, she resolved to speak up if anyone teased the other because of his or her funny face or name. She was prepared to lose even Peggy’s friendship in this regard.

Q15. Why did Wanda’s father Mr Jan Petronski write a letter to Miss Mason? What effect did it leave on the teacher, Peggy and Maddie?

Ans. Wanda’s father Mr Jan Petronski wrote a letter to Wanda’s teacher, Miss Mason. He made it clear that her daughter Wanda Petronski would not come to her previous school any more. Nor would Jake. He was shocked at the treatment his daughter met at the hands of her classmates just because she looked funny and her name was long and unfamiliar. They had moved to a big city where plenty of people with funny names lived.

The letter of Wanda’s father disturbed Miss Mason mentally. She was very sad. She hoped that none of the boys and girls of her class would purposely and deliberately hurt anyone’s feelings. They wouldn’t do such a thing because his or her name happened to be a long, unfamiliar one. Peggy was not so sensitive as Maddie but still offered to go to see Wanda at Boggins Heights. Maddie was totally upset. She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. She decided to go and meet Wanda and tell her that she had won the contest. She would also tell her that she was smart and her hundred dresses were beautiful.

Q16. How does Wanda Petronski’s letter to Miss Mason reveal Wanda’s real character?

Ans. Wanda Petronski’s letter written to her class teacher, Miss Mason, reveals many aspects of her noble character. First of all, it shows that Wanda is not vindictive. Though she had been a constant target and a stock of laughter for Peggy and other girls, she replied to their letter. There is no trace of in her letter. On the other hand, she shows her generosity and love towards the girls of Room Thirteen. She requests Miss Mason to tell the girls that they can keep those hundred dresses. The other aspect of Wanda’s character is her large-heartedness. She is of obliging and forgiving nature. She shows her love even to Peggy who used to torment her by asking embarrassing and humiliating questions about her hundred dresses and shoes. She offers to give the drawing of the green dress to Peggy and of the blue one to Maddie. She is not ‘dumb’ but a highly sensitive girl. Her kind and forgiving nature never allowed even a trace of visible in her character.

Q17. How did Maddie and Peggy react when they received the sketches gifted by Wanda Petronski?

Why did Peggy and Maddie feel that Wanda must have really liked them?

Ans. Wanda Petronski had offered the girls of Room Thirteen to keep those ‘hundred dresses, with them. She wrote that she would like Peggy to have the drawing of the green dress with red trimming and Maddie to have the blue one. On the way, Maddie and Peggy held their drawings very carefully. Peggy said, “This shows she really likes us.” She got their letter and answered it. Peggy thought that everything was all right. There was no issue now. However, Maddie felt very sad. She knew that she would never see that little Polish girl again. She thought that they wouldn’t ever really make things right between them. When she looked at the drawing. Maddie became emotional. Tears blurred her eyes. She found the face and the head of the drawing, looked like her own self. She also showed that Peggy’s drawing too had the head and the face exactly like her. Peggy exclaimed “What did I say! She must have really liked us”. And certainly, Wanda Petronski did like even a girl like Peggy who always pestered her with her teasing and embarrassing questions. Maddie realised it more deeply than Peggy.

Q18. Give a brief character-sketch of Maddie highlighting her limitations and timidity to speak up against injustice meted out to Wanda Petronski by her closest friend, Peggy.

Ans. Maddie belongs to a poor family. Perhaps Wanda may be still poorer than her as she lived at Boggins Heights. Maddie feels lucky that she doesn’t live there. But she realises how poverty and being different from others can be a curse. She knows that she receives the old dresses discarded by her friend Peggy. Her mother tries to disguise them with new trimmings. This is done so that no one in Room Thirteen may recognise them. Maddie is a very sensitive and emotional girl. She feels very sad when Wanda’s father disclosed that he has withdrawn his daughter from the school. She has a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. She curses herself that she failed to stop Peggy from teasing Wanda. She realises that her silence and timidity is as bad as Peggy’s act. She resolves that she will speak up when someone tries to make fun of anyone simply because his or her name is difficult to pronounce or strange one. She will do so even if it means losing her friendship with Peggy. She can be the next target for Peggy and other girls. After all, Peggy can ask about the dresses she is putting on. So, Maddie can’t defy and speak up against her closest friend and benefactor.

Maddie’s insistence on going to Wanda’s house at Boggins Heights and writing a letter to her shows her sensitiveness to human feelings.

Q19. Attempt a brief character-sketch of the teacher, Miss Mason, highlighting her understanding and sensitiveness to human issues, particularly related to her students.

Ans. Miss Mason appears to us as a very mature and understanding human being. She is an ideal teacher. She understands the pulse of her students. Her students love and respect her Even Wanda Petronski confesses in her letter that her new teacher in the big city can’t equalise Miss Mason.

Miss Mason is full of human kindness. She feels sad when Wanda Petronski, the winner of the contest, is not present to receive the honour. The letter Wanda’s father, Mr Jan Petronski, writes to her completely disturbs and upsets her mentally. She can’t imagine that any boy or girl in Room Thirteen can hurt anyone’s feelings purposely or deliberately. She leaves a profound effect on her students without using any threats or harsh measures.

Miss Mason shares happy moments with her students. She is very happy to announce Wanda as the winner of the girl’s medal. She asks the boys and girls to file around the room and look at Wanda’s beautiful drawings.

Q20. How did Peggy and Maddie realise Wanda’s feelings that she liked them?

Ans. Peggy and Maddie realised that Wanda liked them very much through her letter and drawings. Wanda replied to Maddie and Peggy and wished them all a Merry Christmas. In addition to that, she also wrote in the letter that Peggy should be given the drawing of the green dress and Maddie should be given the drawing of the blue dress. Maddie saw that Wanda had drawn her picture in the drawing of the blue dress and in the same way, the drawing of the green dress had been drawn for Peggy.

Thus they came to know that Wanda liked them very much.

Q21. What did Maddie and Peggy decide to do after hearing the letter?

Ans. After hearing the letter, Maddie and Peggy were very sad. They wanted to say sorry to Wanda. They felt ashamed. Maddie immediately decided to go to Boggins Heights looking for Wanda. Peggy was also ready for it. After school, both of them started hurriedly towards Wanda’s house.

When they reached Boggins Heights, they saw a little white house. Small bundles of old grass were there on the path and its yard was looking shabby. It reminded Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress. They knocked at the door but did not get any reply. After this, they went to the backyard but they could not get an answer.