My Watch by Mark Twain
My Watch by Mark Twain
Tick-tock goes the clock, but Twain's timepiece
marches to its own drum. Join our hapless hero as he battles bonkers
watchmakers, defiant gears, and the relentless passage of time itself!
1. What was the importance of the watch to the author?
Answer: The watch was very important to the author. He
believed it was infallible and imperishable, having run perfectly for 18
months. It seems the author has developed an emotional attachment for the
watch.
2. What were the attempts made by the author to get
his watch repaired?
Answer: The author made following attempts to get his
watch repaired:
He took it to the chief jeweler, who adjusted the
regulator.
He took it to a watchmaker for cleaning, oiling, and
regulating.
He visited another watchmaker who said the barrel was
"swelled."
He went to a third watchmaker who repaired the
"king-bolt."
He took it to a fourth watchmaker who fixed the
crystal and mainspring.
Finally, he went to a fifth watchmaker (former
steamboat engineer).
3. Why did the author finally give up on his watch?
Answer: The author gave up on his watch because every
repair attempt made the watch worse, and he had spent thousands of dollars on
repairs for a watch that originally cost $200.
4. What was Uncle Williams’ comment on the ‘tinkerers’
of the world?
Answer: Uncle William's comment was that unsuccessful
tinkers, gunsmiths, shoemakers, engineers, and blacksmiths likely became watch
repairers.
5. Explain these lines:
a. ‘I seemed to detect in myself a sort of sneaking
fellow-feeling for the mummy in the museum, and a desire to swap news with
him.’
Answer: The author felt so outdated due to his slow
watch that he related to an ancient mummy.
b. ‘Within a week it sickened to a raging fever and
its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade.’
Answer: This is a humorous exaggeration describing how
fast the watch was gaining time.
c. ‘She makes too much steam—you want to hang the
monkey wrench on the safety valve!’
Answer: This is a nonsensical solution proposed by the
last watchmaker, showing his incompetence.
Talking About the Text
Discuss in pairs or groups of four:
1. Replacing old machines with new is better than
getting them repaired.
Answer: For: Replacing old machines with new
ones ensures up-to-date technology, better efficiency, and fewer breakdowns.
New machines often come with warranties, reducing maintenance costs. They may
also be more energy-efficient, saving money long-term.
Against: Repairing
old machines is often more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. It
preserves craftsmanship, reduces waste, and maintains sentimental value. Older
machines may be more durable and built with higher-quality materials than
newer, mass-produced alternatives.
2. It is difficult to part with personal items like a
watch which have a sentimental value attached to them.
Answer: For: Personal items with
sentimental value hold memories and emotional connections that are
irreplaceable. They often represent significant life events or relationships.
Parting with them can feel like losing a piece of our history and identity.
Against:
Attachment to material objects can hinder personal growth and adaptability.
Focusing on memories rather than physical items allows for a more minimalist
lifestyle. Letting go of sentimental objects can be liberating and create space
for new experiences.
Appreciation
1. How is humour employed to comment on the pains that
the author took to get his watch set right?
Answer: The author employs hyperbole and surreal
situations to emphasize his exasperation. He describes the watch gaining
months, drifting through time, and exhibiting impossible behaviours. These
exaggerations humorously convey the mounting frustration with each unsuccessful
repair attempt.
2. ‘The author’s treatment of the subject matter makes
the readers identify themselves with the experience.’ Comment on this statement.
Answer: Many readers have likely experienced the
frustration of a cherished item breaking down repeatedly. The cycle of hope,
disappointment, and increasing costs resonates with common experiences of
dealing with unreliable cars, electronics, or appliances.
3. Identify some of the improbable images the author
has used to effect greater humour.
Answer: The author creates vivid, impossible scenarios
to humorously exaggerate the watch's malfunctions. These absurd images - a
sentient watch experiencing seasons, time travel, and clock hands behaving like
tools - effectively illustrate the extent of the timepiece's unreliability.
Language Work
Make a list of the expressions that imbue the watch
with human attributes.
Answer: Expressions attributing human qualities to the
watch:
"sickened to a raging fever"
"its pulse went up"
"it hurried up house rent"
"it ticked like the very mischief"
"barking and wheezing and whooping and sneezing
and snorting"
"using its own discretion"
"it kicked back like a musket"
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