Achilles
by Gerald Malcolm Durrell
1. Match the idioms given below with their meanings.
=
Idioms | Meanings |
|---|---|
a. have one’s back to the wall | i. have a defect in one’s character. [c] |
b. have a chink in one’s armour | ii. have no means of escape. [a] |
c. have a feet of clay | iii. harm or cause harm to oneself. [d] |
d. shoot oneself in the foot | iv. have a small weakness or fault. [b] |
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Quick Answers
1. Complete the following sentences.
a. The narrator first met the Rose-Beetle Man on a lonely road leading to one of the remote mountain villages.
b. The Rose-Beetle Man carried, on his back, bamboo cages full of pigeons and young chickens and several mysterious sacks.
c. The narrator liked the small tortoise because it seemed more lively than the others.
d. The narrator says that Achilles is an intelligent beast because he learned his name soon and he was with a sense of humour.
e. Achilles liked human company as he was living among many human beings.
Reference to context
2. "He held up both hands, fingers spread out. I shook my head firmly and held up two fingers, unconsciously imitating him."
a. Who are the two people referred to here? What were they doing?
= The narrator and the Rose-Beetle Man are the two people referred to here. They were bargaining on the price of the little tortoise.
b. Why were they not having a verbal conversation?
= They were not having a verbal conversation because the Rose-Beetle Man could not speak.
c. What was the result of their interaction?
= The Rose-Beetle Man agreed to give the little tortoise at the rate of five. Then the narrator informed him that he agreed to take it for five but had no money with him. So, the Rose-Beetle Man had to come to the narrator's house to take the money.
3. "But the fruit that Achilles liked best was wild strawberries."
a. How did the narrator know that Achilles liked this fruit the best?
= The narrator knew that Achilles liked strawberries best as he would become excited at the mere sight of them.
b. How did Achilles eat this fruit, both the small and the big ones?
= Achilles could devour the small strawberries at a gulp because they were the size of a fat pea. But if he was given a big one, he would grab it and, holding it firmly in his mouth, run to a quiet spot where he could eat it at leisure.
c. What would Roger do to Achilles after he was fed?
= After he was fed, Roger would creep up to Achilles and lick him to get the grape-juice that the tortoise had dribbled down on himself.
4. "... the family wandered about the olive-groves, shouting, ‘Achilles... strawberries, Achilles...’ At length, we found him."
a. How had Achilles escaped?
= Achilles escaped because the garden gate was left open on that day.
b. Explain why the family shouted 'strawberries' during their search.
= The family shouted ‘strawberries’ because Achilles loved strawberries the most. They hoped he would come out if he heard the name of his favourite fruit.
c. Where did the family finally find Achilles? What had happened to him?
= The family finally found Achilles in a well. He had fallen into the well, whose wall had long disintegrated. He appeared lifeless to the narrator and the family.
Read, reflect and write
5. Describe how the Rose-Beetle Man was dressed.
= The Rose-Beetle Man's dress was unusual and colourful. He wore a hat with a wide, floppy brim. His shirt was worn. Around his neck was a bright blue satin cravat. The pockets of his coat were overflowing with items. His patched trousers hung loosely over leather shoes with upturned toes. He also carried bamboo cages full of pigeons and young chickens along with several mysterious sacks.
6. How did the narrator react when he realized that the Rose-Beetle Man could not speak? What does this tell you about the narrator?
= When the narrator realized that the Rose-Beetle Man could not speak, he continued the conversation using gestures and signs. The Rose-Beetle Man also responded through expressive actions.
This shows that the narrator was kind, empathetic, understanding, and intelligent. He adjusted immediately to communicate in a way the man was comfortable with.
7. How did Roger feel at Achilles' funeral? Support your answer with examples from the story.
= Roger felt cheerful at Achilles’ funeral. He kept wagging his tail throughout the burial, even though the narrator tried to stop him.
Achilles and Roger often competed for grapes, and Roger would watch Achilles eat, waiting for any juice to drip. This rivalry may have contributed to Roger’s behaviour during the funeral.
8. Do you think that the narrator was an animal lover? Give a reason for your answer.
= Yes, the narrator was definitely an animal lover. He chose the little tortoise lovingly and brought it home even though he had no money at the moment. He cared for Achilles, fed him, protected him, and understood his habits. The family searched for Achilles when he went missing and later buried him respectfully under a strawberry plant.
The narrator also brought home another pet later—a pigeon named Quasimodo—showing his continued affection for animals.
9. Extended writing: How do you know that Achilles was very special to the narrator? Support your answer with instances from the story.
= Achilles was very special to the narrator. He chose the little tortoise with great fondness and brought him home even without having money. He named him Achilles and took loving care of him. He knew the tortoise’s favourite foods and protected him from Roger.
When Achilles went missing, the whole family searched for him. After finding him lifeless, they buried him respectfully under a strawberry plant—his favourite fruit. Larry read a short funeral address, and the narrator was deeply affected, showing how much Achilles meant to him.
About the Author:
Gerald Malcolm Durrell (1925-1995) was born in Bihar, India, but his family shifted to England after his father's death in 1928. Apart from being a renowned author, naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist and television presenter, Durrell was talented artist and caricaturist too. Mostly autobiographical in nature, his work reflects his love for nature and all animals. This story is a part of the collection of stories in My Family and Other Animals.