CHAPTER: - 5
TOPIC: - A SUNNY MORNING
SERAFIN & JOAQUIN ALVAREZ QUINTER
TOPIC: - A SUNNY MORNING
SERAFIN & JOAQUIN ALVAREZ QUINTER
STORY ANALYSIS
Meeting of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura / Background
The play opens in the setting of a park where Dona Laura enters the park with the help of her maid, Petra and finds place to sit on a bench to feed the birds with breadcrumbs. Meanwhile, Don Gonzalo also enters the park with his servant, Juanito and hesitates to sit on other side of the bench, which was already occupied by Dona Laura. He even curses the priests for being occupied his bench on which he usually sits in every sunny morning. He looks negatively at every aspect of his life and goes on complaining whereas Laura expresses her grievances when others disturb her. In the beginning both of them are reluctant at each other but soon they tried to understand each other in the progress of their conversation.
Flashback / The past
Sharing a pinch of snuff between them softens their tone into friendliness. Soon their conversation stumbles upon reading books. This paves the way for the next level of their story. Dona Laura reads a poem from a book given by Don Gonzalo, which surprises them, that they were the lovers of several decades before and now talking about themselves. However, they do not want to disclose their true identities since they have lost seen each other in early youth. So, they spin fictitious stories where Laura identifies herself as a friend of „The Silver Maiden‟ Laura Llorente while Don Gonzalo identifies himself as the cousin of Don Gonzalo.
Their Love story - Dona Laura‟s version
Laura Llorente lived at Maricela in Valencia. She was known as „The Silver Maiden‟ in her locality. Gonzalo would pass by on his horseback every morning under Laura‟s house window and would toss a bouquet of flowers up to her balcony. In the afternoon, while he would return by the same path and catch a bouquet of flowers that she would toss him down. When Laura‟s parents wanted to marry her to a merchant a duel was followed and the merchant was badly wounded by Gonzalo. Don Gonzalo fled away fearing of the consequences. Laura waited for days and months and not hearing from him for a long time she left her home one afternoon and went to the beach. While she was engrossed in Don Gonzalo‟s thoughts she was washed away by the waves.
Don Gonzalo‟s version
Don Gonzalo also tried to spin his version of a story about his supposed cousin. Gonzalo also loved Laura intensely. After injuring the merchant seriously, fearing the consequences, he took refuge in Seville and Madrid. He wrote many letters to her but her parents seized them. As there was no reply, in despair, he joined the army and went to Africa where he died in one of the trenches holding the flag of Spain and muttering the name of his love, Laura.
Conclusion / Reality In reality,
after two years of their separation, Laura married someone and settled down in her life. Similarly, Gonzalo disappointed over his lost love, three months later he too married a ballet dancer and settled down in Paris. Though, they were separated, in their hearts the yearning for the romantic love continued. When they met in the park after nearly 50 years both of them were able to recall their intense romantic affair. Although they came to know about each other in reality, they did not want to reveal, as they had lost their charming youth. Thus the play “A Sunny Morning entertains the audience.
SUMMARY
The play "A Sunny Morning" is a comedy of Madrid in one act, by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero. On a sunny autumn morning in a quiet corner of a park in Madrid, Dona Laura, a graceful, white-haired lady of about seventy, is feeding pigeons in the park. Don Gonzalo, a gentleman of seventy, gouty and impatient enters. Their servants Petra, Dona Laura's maid and Juanito come and go nearby. The conversation between the two seventy year olds begin sarcastically, with each accusing the other of encroaching on their private space. Don Gonzalo complains the priests have taken his bench, and says Dona Laura is a, "Senile old lady! She ought to be at home knitting and counting her beads." She finds him "an ill-natured old man!" He resigns himself to "sit on the bench with the old lady."
A pinch of snuff helps to clear their heads, and they find something in common with alternating sneezes of three times each. Dona Laura confides to the audience, "the snuff has made peace between us." They begin to banter back and forth in a friendly manner. Then Don Gonzalo reads out loud from a book of poems. They begin to discuss Valencia and without acknowledging it to each other, realize he and she are two lost lovers. He was a native of Faencia and she spent several seasons at a nearby villa. He remembers her as "The Silver Maiden," and they discuss a duel involving his cousin. When the play ends, they agree to meet at the park again, still not acknowledging what they both know to be true."
I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase or a sentence each: -
1. How is Dona Laura able to read the poem without her glasses?
i.She has a keen eyesight
ii.She struggles but manages to read the poem
ii.She knows every word by heart
iv.She is merely repeating what Gonzalo had earlier read
Ans. She knows every word by heart
2. Why does Don Gonzalo sit next to Dona Laura in the park?
i.He prefers to sit with her
ii.His legs are aching
iii.He did not get any other bench to sit
iv.He owned the bench
Ans. iii. He did not get any other bench to sit.
3. Dona Laura does not reveal herself to Gonzalo because _________
i.She no longer loves him
ii.Her appearance has changed a lot
iii.He looks grotesque
iv.None of these
Ans. ii. Her appearance has changed a lot
4. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura had to part ways because of __________
i.His marriage to another lady
ii.Her appearance has changed a lot i
ii.Her father‟s death
iv.Her fickle heart
Ans. ii. Her appearance has changed a lot
5. How does the play end?
i.Gonzalo and Laura separate forever
ii.Gonzalo and Laura fail to recognize each other
iii.Gonzalo and Laura promise to meet again
iv.None of the above
Ans. iii. Gonzalo and Laura promise to meet again
6. Who occupied Gonzalo‟s usual bench?
Ans. Three Priests occupied Gonzalo‟s usual bench.
7. Whose name, according to Gonzalo, was his cousin whispering at the time of his death?
Ans. Laura‟s name
8. Name the villa Laura Llorente lived in.
Ans. Maricela
9. What did Dona Laura carry every day to feed the pigeons in „A Sunny Moring‟?
Ans. Bread Crumbs.
10. Who is the caretaker of Don Gonzalo in the play „A Sunny Morning‟?
Ans. Juanito
11. How did Laura feel coming to the park?
Ans. Tired but glad
12. Who accompanied Dona Laura or Who is Dona Laura‟s Maid?
Ans. Petra
13. What quality of the birds does Dona Laura appreciate?
Ans. Gratefulness and paying attention
14. How did Gonzalo annoy Dona Laura?
Ans.Scaring the birds away.
15. What does Don Gonzalo expect a woman like Dona Laura to do sitting at home?
Ans.Knitting and counting beads.
16. How did Don Gonzalo greet Dona Laura
Ans.By touching his hat.
17. What did Don Gonzalo use to brush the dust from his shoes?
Ans.His Handkerchief
18. What establishes peace between Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo?
Ans.A Pinch of snuff
19. Why did Gonzalo go to Aravaca ?
19. Why did Gonzalo go to Aravaca ?
Ans.To kill time and to hunt
20. Who was the gallant horseman in the play?
Or
Or
Who is the „Gallant Lover‟ in the play „A Sunny Morning‟?
Ans.Don Gonzalo
21. What was Laura Llorente known in her locality?
Ans.The Silver Maiden
II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:
Ans.Don Gonzalo
21. What was Laura Llorente known in her locality?
Ans.The Silver Maiden
II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:
III. Answer the following questions in about 200 words:
1. Why is Don Gonzalo ill-tempered at the beginning of the play?
Ans.Don Gonzalo is found to be in an ill-tempered state at his first appearance itself. He is so irritated because he finds that not even a single bench is vacant in the park. Moreover, the one on which he used to sit is occupied by three priests.
2. Would you agree that the snuff unites Gonzalo and Laura here? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans.Gonzalo shares the same bench on which Dona Laura the old lady is sitting. Both of them annoy each other at first. Laura is angry because Gonzalo scared her pigeons. Gonzalo feels irritated as Laura is annoying him. Then Gonzalo takes out his snuff box and offers a pinch of snuff to her. Both of them says that they will sneeze three times after taking a pinch of snuff and finds it to be a strange coincidence. This unites Laura and Gonzalo after the disagreement in the park.
3. A number of Spanish writers are mentioned in the play. Why?
Ans.In his conversation with Laura, Don Gonzalo reveals his admiration to the Spanish Romantic poets like Espronceda, Zorrilla, Becquer and the Spanish realist and philosopher Ramón de Campoamor. The mentioning of these Spanish writers‟ highlights Gonzalo‟s interest on their works. It also throws light on the Spanish literary heritage.
4. How does Dona Laura describe the story of her death?
Ans. Dona Laura describes that her friend „Laura, the Silver Maiden‟ awaited the news of her beloved for “days, months and a year and no letter came.” Then one day she went to the sea shore, wrote her lover‟s name on the sand and sat down upon a rock. The tides rose to the rock and swept her out to sea.
5. When does Dona Laura realize that Don Gonzalo is her former lover?
Ans. On a sunny autumn morning in a quite corner of a park in Madrid, Dona Laura, a graceful, white-haired lady of about seventy, is feeding pigeons in the park. Don Gonzalo, a gentleman of seventy, gouty and impatient enters. At first, both of them accuse each other of encroaching on their private space. But after having a snuff, both of them come to terms with each other and start talking of their hometowns and other things. Then Laura reveals that she lived in a villa Maricela, near Valencia-one of the largest cities in Spain. Gonzalo is startled to hear the name “Maricela.” He then tells that he knows a girl who lived in that villa in Maricela, who was perhaps the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He also reveals that the girl‟s name was Laura Llorente. This revelation of Gonzalo helps Laura to realize that he was her former lover.
6. What happened to Gonzalo and Laura after they separated?
Ans. Gonzalo and Laura loved each other during their youthful days. But the affair was not successful as they were separated by fate. There was a quarrel between Gonzalo and a suitor who was a merchant. The merchant was badly wounded in the duel and Gonzalo had to conceal himself for a few days. Later he fled from his hometown to Seville and then to Madrid. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, all attempts failed. He then joined the army and went to Africa. According to Don Gonzalo, his „cousin- the lover of Laura‟ met with a glorious death in Africa. Laura waited for her beloved‟s arrival for days, months and a year. But then one day she went to the sea shore, wrote her lover‟s name on the sand and sat down upon a rock. The tides rose to the rock and swept her out to sea. This is narrated by both Gonzalo and Laura respectively. But in reality after three months Gonzalo ran off to Paris with a ballet dancer and Laura on the other hand, got married after two years.
1. Why is Don Gonzalo ill-tempered at the beginning of the play?
Ans.Don Gonzalo is found to be in an ill-tempered state at his first appearance itself. He is so irritated because he finds that not even a single bench is vacant in the park. Moreover, the one on which he used to sit is occupied by three priests.
2. Would you agree that the snuff unites Gonzalo and Laura here? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans.Gonzalo shares the same bench on which Dona Laura the old lady is sitting. Both of them annoy each other at first. Laura is angry because Gonzalo scared her pigeons. Gonzalo feels irritated as Laura is annoying him. Then Gonzalo takes out his snuff box and offers a pinch of snuff to her. Both of them says that they will sneeze three times after taking a pinch of snuff and finds it to be a strange coincidence. This unites Laura and Gonzalo after the disagreement in the park.
3. A number of Spanish writers are mentioned in the play. Why?
Ans.In his conversation with Laura, Don Gonzalo reveals his admiration to the Spanish Romantic poets like Espronceda, Zorrilla, Becquer and the Spanish realist and philosopher Ramón de Campoamor. The mentioning of these Spanish writers‟ highlights Gonzalo‟s interest on their works. It also throws light on the Spanish literary heritage.
4. How does Dona Laura describe the story of her death?
Ans. Dona Laura describes that her friend „Laura, the Silver Maiden‟ awaited the news of her beloved for “days, months and a year and no letter came.” Then one day she went to the sea shore, wrote her lover‟s name on the sand and sat down upon a rock. The tides rose to the rock and swept her out to sea.
5. When does Dona Laura realize that Don Gonzalo is her former lover?
Ans. On a sunny autumn morning in a quite corner of a park in Madrid, Dona Laura, a graceful, white-haired lady of about seventy, is feeding pigeons in the park. Don Gonzalo, a gentleman of seventy, gouty and impatient enters. At first, both of them accuse each other of encroaching on their private space. But after having a snuff, both of them come to terms with each other and start talking of their hometowns and other things. Then Laura reveals that she lived in a villa Maricela, near Valencia-one of the largest cities in Spain. Gonzalo is startled to hear the name “Maricela.” He then tells that he knows a girl who lived in that villa in Maricela, who was perhaps the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He also reveals that the girl‟s name was Laura Llorente. This revelation of Gonzalo helps Laura to realize that he was her former lover.
6. What happened to Gonzalo and Laura after they separated?
Ans. Gonzalo and Laura loved each other during their youthful days. But the affair was not successful as they were separated by fate. There was a quarrel between Gonzalo and a suitor who was a merchant. The merchant was badly wounded in the duel and Gonzalo had to conceal himself for a few days. Later he fled from his hometown to Seville and then to Madrid. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, all attempts failed. He then joined the army and went to Africa. According to Don Gonzalo, his „cousin- the lover of Laura‟ met with a glorious death in Africa. Laura waited for her beloved‟s arrival for days, months and a year. But then one day she went to the sea shore, wrote her lover‟s name on the sand and sat down upon a rock. The tides rose to the rock and swept her out to sea. This is narrated by both Gonzalo and Laura respectively. But in reality after three months Gonzalo ran off to Paris with a ballet dancer and Laura on the other hand, got married after two years.
7. Describe the circumstances leading to Gonzalo‟s separation from Laura?
Ans. Gonzalo and Laura, the two former lovers had to separate from each other. In her youthful days, Dona Laura was known in her locality as „The Silver Maiden.‟ She was fair as a lily, with jet black hair and black eyes. She was like a dream. She was in love with Gonzalo, the gallant lover. He used to pass by on horseback every morning through the rose garden and tossed up a balcony of flowers to her balcony which she caught. On his way back in the afternoon she would toss the flowers back to him. But Laura‟s parents wanted to marry her off to a merchant whom she disliked. One day there was a quarrel between Gonzalo and the merchant, the suitor. The merchant was badly wounded in the duel and Gonzalo had to conceal himself for a few days. Later he fled from his hometown to Seville and then to Madrid. Even though he tried to communicate with Laura through letters, all attempts failed. He then joined the army and went to Africa.
8. Precisely at what point of time, do you think, Laura and Gonzalo begin to recognize each other?
Or Trace the incidents where Laura and Gonzalo secretly guess about each other‟s identity on the play „A Sunny Morning‟.
Ans. Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo become friends soon after enjoying a pinch of snuff offered by Don Gonzalo. While Don Gonzalo is reading a book aloud, he comes across a few lines of Spain poet. Incidentally, he tells Laura that it is from Campoamar's works. Then Dona Laura expresses her sympathy for him as he finds difficult to read the book with his big glasses. At this moment, Don Gonzalo tells her that he is a great friend of many known poets especially Campoamar and he has met him in Valencia. Then he adds that he is a native of Valencia. Dona Laura tells him that she also has spent several seasons in her youth at the villa called Maricela, which is not far from the city Valencia. The name Maricela surprises Don Gonzalo and he goes on to tell her that he has seen the most beautiful woman there. The moment he tells her name Laura, both look at each other intently. Precisely at this point they begin to recognize each other.
9. What were the circumstances that led Gonzalo to flee Valencia?
Ans.The protagonists Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo loved each other in their young. Every day in the morning, he used to pass by on horseback down the rose path under the Laura's window. While passing, Gonzalo used to toss up her balcony a bouquet of flowers, later in the afternoon while he was returning by the same path, he would catch the flowers she would toss him. As days pass by, Laura's parents thought of marrying her to well-known merchant in their locality. One unfortunate night, while Gonzalo was waiting under her window to hear her songs, the merchant came there unexpectedly and insulted him. This led to a quarrel and later turned into a duel. At the sunrise, the rich merchant was severely wounded by him. The merchant was highly regarded in the locality as he was rich man in the city. Gonzalo became apprehensive of consequence and he decided to conceal for a few days. Therefore, he left the place as well his love
10. Did Laura and Gonzalo pine for each other after they were separated by circumstances? Who is more passionate? How do they react to each other now?
Ans. The young lovers, Laura and Gonzalo pine after they separated. Soon after Gonzalo flees to Valencia, then he joins the army in Africa and meets a glorious death on the Warfield. At this, Laura mutters about the story which is concocted cleverly by him and she pretends to sympathize with him, saying that he must have been distressed by the calamity. Taking it as a strong pinot, Gonzalo pretends saying that it is indeed a calamity, but also tries to express his resentment and presumes that on the contrary Laura might have forgotten him and she must have spent days in chasing butterflies in the garden without any regret. Dona Laura protests saying no on his comment that it is a woman's way. She narrates a story of her version that the silver maiden awaited the news of Gonzalo for a year. As she did not receive any letters from him and one day she went to sea after sunset, wrote his name on the sand, sat on a rock. Knowing the threnody of her the waves took her into the sea. He mutters himself that it is a worse lie than his. They mutter themselves that they got married after breakup. From their conversation and reaction to each other, we can conclude that Laura is more passionate as understood by the way she narrates the end of her friend. Now they are very friendly and sweet to each other without unveil their true identity.
11. What makes Dona Laura assume that Don Gonzalo is an ill-natured man?
Ans. Don Gonzalo is an old gentleman of seventy years old, gouty and impatient. He is found to be in an ill-natured state at his first appearance itself. When he enters the park, he finds that the bench on which he used to sit is being occupied by the three priests. So he gets irritation and expresses his annoyance by remarking that the priests are idling their time away instead of sitting in the church. Juanito suggests that he could sit on the bench on which Dona Laura is seated. But he tells him that he wants a bench to himself. This instance shows that he is an ill-tempered man. After having no alternatives, he decides to share the bench. While, he comes towards the bench he scares the birds away. To this, Laura gets annoy with him and criticize his actions but Don Gonzalo replied her with impolite manner. He seems to be quite rude when he replies to her. The way he justifies his action shows her that he is indeed an ill-natured person. Therefore, she assumes and questions that why must people get so fussy and when they reach a certain age.
12. Trace how irony is built in the play. Did you guess the characters past even before they did so?
Ans. In the play A Sunny Morning, irony has been built throughout the play. There are several instances of irony. The protagonists in the play seem to be very old but their mentality serves like young in humorous way. After settling on her bench, Dona Laura sends Petra to chat with the guard and makes fun of her. Later when he cleans his shoe from his handkerchief, she mocks at him. Gonzalo starts reading lines aloud from Campoamar's work, she again teases his sight. These three instances make readers to laugh. We could guess the characters that they are the old lovers before they recognize each other. Gonzalo reads aloud the lines that " all love is sad, but sad as it is" and " twenty years pass. He returns. And each beholding the other exclaims can it be that this is he? Heavens, is it she? These lines are much relevant to this play and taken as dramatic irony and also give a hint that they got separated and their love ended with sad. After long years, they are meeting and unveiling their identity as Campoamar‟s lines. When they unveil their identity, both start to conceal the emotions by narrating concocted story of their end. Thus, a careful reading of the play reveals that there is a relationship between the old lady and the old gentleman.
13. Bring out the feelings of Laura and Gonzalo as they leave the park. Is it different from what they felt about each other in the beginning of the play?
Ans. In the beginning of the play, the protagonists enter the park with their servants. The conversation between these two seventy years old gets begun sarcastically with each other accusing the other of encroaching on their private space. Later they start to criticize their actions each other as haters. However, their feelings towards each other in the beginning of the play become more evident only when Don Gonzalo walks towards her bench, he scares away all the birds. So she warns him in rash, in return he arrogantly replies which provokes her to make a personal comment later as he does so. After a few heated exchanges between them they take a pinch of snuff which makes them relief. Soon after taking snuff they start conversation friendly. By the end of the play, we find a total change in their attitudes towards each other. In the course of their conversation they discover that they were lovers once in their youthful days. But neither of them is ready to disclose their identity. However, the animosity that we witness in the beginning of the play is no longer there when they are ready to depart. Before taking leave of each other, they formally thank each other for having met. Both think that it's been great pleasure to meet and ensure that they are coming to the park the next day. Both of them wave farewell and leave the place as friends.
14. What do you think would have happened if they had revealed their identity? Do you think they know each other towards the end of the play?
Ans. Once Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura realize that they are the same old young lovers of Maricela who were separated in life by the fate, they make up fictitious stories and conceal their identity. If they are revealed their identity both of them would have been utterly shocked and would have accused each other of deceiving the other. They know that both of them had held the other in high esteem and both of them had fallen deeply in love in their past. They wonder when both realize that they are the lovers of Maricela. They have changed a lot in their appearance. Don Gonzalo has become seventy-year-old and uses parasol and big glasses to read books. So called beauty, the silver Maiden has also become old and her appearance has changed too. That is why, Dona Laura after listening to Don Gonzalo's praise of her beauty as The Silver Maiden now feels ashamed to confess that she is the old silver maiden of Maricela. Similarly, Don Gonzalo knows that he is grotesque and so wishes to keep his image as a gallant horseman who everyday passed under her window by on horseback. Thus they think that it would be better to conceal their identity rather than complaining each other.
15. How is the title „A sunny Morning‟ justifiable? Discuss.
Or Comment on the tilte „A Sunny Morning‟.
Ans. A Sunny Morning is a short play, written by Quintero brothers. It is a refreshingly new romantic comedy. It tells the story of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura, who are ardent lovers at their young age. But their love is not a successful one as they had to part from each other in life. They meet each other in a park at Madrid during their old age. The story is presented in a new pattern unlike the conventional romantic stories. The play begins in a sunny morning at a park, the entire play occurs in an autumn sunny morning. Here the title, sunny morning refers to the youthful of the day and weather seems to be very pleasant and fresh. The main characters are old age, in spite of this, the way they think is very much similar to the young minds. In the beginning of the play she mocks at Petra and tells to chat with her lover. Generally old age people don't support and talk about love unlike them. When Gonzalo enters to the park, they sarcastically accuse each other like young people. This youthfulness metaphorically refers to the title of the play.
16. What are the 'atrocious' lies that Laura and Gonzalo make up about their lives after their separation?
Or
Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura outwit each other in weaving stories about their own deaths. Elaborate.
Or
Narrate how, according to Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo, the sad love affair of her friend and his cousin ended.
Ans. During the conversation with Dona Laura, Don Gonzalo gives a romantic description of the silver maiden. Dona Laura realizes that the old man is none other than her former lover Gonzalo. Then, bothof them together narrate their romantic affair until they come to the end of their story. Don Gonzalo rounds it off telling her that his cousin had to hide himself for a few days and later to fly. At this point Dona tells him that he seems to know the story well. Don Gonzalo also tells her the same. Dona Laura tells him that she heard the story from her friend. Don Gonzalo picks up the same lie and tells her that he heard the story from his cousin. Both of them are now convinced that they were the former lovers of the romantic affair they had just reconstructed. Dona Laura wants to probe further into the affair. Therefore, she demands an explanation about Gonzalo's vanishing from Valencia. In reply, Don Gonzalo tells her that after staying hidden indoors in Valencia for some time, his cousin went to Seville and then came to Madrid, where he wrote letters to Laura. But, since the letters were intercepted by her parents, she did not get his letters at all and so she did not write back to him. He tells her that Gonzalo, then in despair, believing that he had lost his love for ever, joined the army, went to Africa and there in a trench met a glorious death grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved Laura. Immediately, Dona also creates a story.
She tells him that after waiting for a year for Gonzalo, she went to the beach after sunset one evening. She wrote his name on the sand, and then sat down on a rock, her gaze fixed upon the horizon. Then the waves slowly crept up to the rock, where the maiden was sitting and the high rising tide rose with a boom and swept her out to sea. Thus ended the sad love affair
17. 'The ways of providence are strange'. How is this true in the case of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura? Explain.
Or
Narrate how, according to Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo, the sad love affair of her friend and his cousin ended.
Ans. During the conversation with Dona Laura, Don Gonzalo gives a romantic description of the silver maiden. Dona Laura realizes that the old man is none other than her former lover Gonzalo. Then, bothof them together narrate their romantic affair until they come to the end of their story. Don Gonzalo rounds it off telling her that his cousin had to hide himself for a few days and later to fly. At this point Dona tells him that he seems to know the story well. Don Gonzalo also tells her the same. Dona Laura tells him that she heard the story from her friend. Don Gonzalo picks up the same lie and tells her that he heard the story from his cousin. Both of them are now convinced that they were the former lovers of the romantic affair they had just reconstructed. Dona Laura wants to probe further into the affair. Therefore, she demands an explanation about Gonzalo's vanishing from Valencia. In reply, Don Gonzalo tells her that after staying hidden indoors in Valencia for some time, his cousin went to Seville and then came to Madrid, where he wrote letters to Laura. But, since the letters were intercepted by her parents, she did not get his letters at all and so she did not write back to him. He tells her that Gonzalo, then in despair, believing that he had lost his love for ever, joined the army, went to Africa and there in a trench met a glorious death grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved Laura. Immediately, Dona also creates a story.
She tells him that after waiting for a year for Gonzalo, she went to the beach after sunset one evening. She wrote his name on the sand, and then sat down on a rock, her gaze fixed upon the horizon. Then the waves slowly crept up to the rock, where the maiden was sitting and the high rising tide rose with a boom and swept her out to sea. Thus ended the sad love affair
17. 'The ways of providence are strange'. How is this true in the case of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura? Explain.
Ans. A Sunny Morning' presents the story of two young lovers who were once passionately attached to each other. Their love would have endedin their marriage but they were separated by a cruel blow of fate. Gonzalo was a young man living in Valencia. Not far from his house there was a villa near the sea, known as Maricela. There lived a beautiful young lady Laura Lorente and everyone called her „The Silver Maiden'. A romantic affair developed between the two. Gonzalo used to pass by on horseback every morning down the rose path under her window and tossed up a bouquet of flowers to her balcony which she would catch. Later, in the afternoon, when he returned by the same path, he would catch the bouquet of flowers she tossed him. However,the parents of Laura wanted to marry her to a merchant against her wish. One night when Gonzalo was waiting under her window her merchant- suitor came there unexpectedly and insulted Gonzalo. Soon, there resulted a duel (fight) in which Gonzalo injured the merchant. Since the merchant was well known in that locality, Gonzalo fled to Seville and then to Madrid. Though, the lovers tried to contact each other through letters, their letters were intercepted and they were separated for ever. However, the ways of fatebeing strange, both the lovers Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo who are now in their 70's, meet again in a retired corner of a parkin Madrid. Though initially they make rude remarks abouteach other, they gradually discover that they were the very same lovers of their youth when they were living in Maricela in Valencia.
17. How effectively does Gonzalo narrate the story of his cousin's love for Laura's friend?
Ans. Narrating his storyas his cousin's, Dona Gonzalo said that his cousin loved the Silver Maiden every morning, he would pass on horseback, tossing up a bouquet of flowers. She too, would toss them in the evening. Once, when Gonzalo's cousin waited under her window to hear her singing, a merchant, whom she was expected to marry, appeared and insulted the cousin. There was aquarrel that led to a duel. As a result, the merchant was badlywounded. And so, his cousin had to conceal himself for a few days. Fearing the consequences of a duel with a person highly regarded in that locality, he had to take refuge in his house. He went to Seville and, then, to Madrid. He wrote many letters to Laura. None of the letters ever reached her, so they went unanswered. He thought that he had lost his love forever, joined the army, went to Africa and there in a trench, met a glorious death, grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved, Laura.
18. Everything is fair in 'Love and war'. How do you substantiate this statement relating to the attitudes of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo in the play 'A Sunny Morning'?
Ans. The play A Sunny Morning' is a romantic comedy which blends both the elements of romance and comedy. The play deals with the love story of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo and the dialogues of the play are humorous and lively. The play begins in the park where Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo meet when they are old. They both were lovers when they were young. But now, both do not recognize each other. Once, when they start talking, they understand the reality but both do not want to reveal their identities. One day when Dona Laura was feeding the pigeons with bread crumbs, Don Gonzalo, the old man, comes with his servant and sits on the same bench. Laura gets angry with Gonzalo for frightening the birds. Both get annoyed with each other. He starts reading poems from his book. Then, he tells her that he belonged to Valencia, a city in Spain. Laura is surprised and tells that she too spent her youth there in a villa called Maricela. When Gonzalo asks her if she remembered the name Laura, she lies to him that she was a friend of Laura. They both discuss the story of Laura's friend and Gonzalo's cousin which was really their own story. Laura tells him that her friend waited for her lover for many years and later was married to a merchant. Gonzalo replies that his cousin joined army and died as a soldier. In the play, we find that both the central characters do not reveal their true identity. They hope to meet every morning there. The play ends on a positive note and we find a beautiful mix of romance and comedy, last like a sunny morningcold and heat and depart from park. Here,we see that they do not acknowledgethe fact of being old but lost lovers; rather theyprefer to think that they have befooled eachother with their fictitious stories. Infact they donot want to remember their past and they want to be frozen in time in each other's memories, as they once were. Their suchan attitude makes us to think that everything is fair in love and war'.
19. Give instance to show Laura‟s witty remarks about Gonzalo in the play „A Sunny Morning‟?
Ans. Dona Laura a handsome, white haired lady of seventy, refined in appearance her mental faculties unimpaired and sits in a park feeding pigeons. Dona Laura sees an old, grumpy man called Don Gonzalo. She makes fun of him in different ways as an „ill natured man‟, „should have asked permission to sit on bench‟ when he sits there. When Gonzalo dusts his shoes she comments „do you use handkerchief as shoe brush?‟ When Gonzalo takes out glasses to read she comments „thought you were taking out a telescope‟ and finally when he boasts about hunting animals she says „kill time that is all you kill‟.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
17. How effectively does Gonzalo narrate the story of his cousin's love for Laura's friend?
Ans. Narrating his storyas his cousin's, Dona Gonzalo said that his cousin loved the Silver Maiden every morning, he would pass on horseback, tossing up a bouquet of flowers. She too, would toss them in the evening. Once, when Gonzalo's cousin waited under her window to hear her singing, a merchant, whom she was expected to marry, appeared and insulted the cousin. There was aquarrel that led to a duel. As a result, the merchant was badlywounded. And so, his cousin had to conceal himself for a few days. Fearing the consequences of a duel with a person highly regarded in that locality, he had to take refuge in his house. He went to Seville and, then, to Madrid. He wrote many letters to Laura. None of the letters ever reached her, so they went unanswered. He thought that he had lost his love forever, joined the army, went to Africa and there in a trench, met a glorious death, grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved, Laura.
18. Everything is fair in 'Love and war'. How do you substantiate this statement relating to the attitudes of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo in the play 'A Sunny Morning'?
Ans. The play A Sunny Morning' is a romantic comedy which blends both the elements of romance and comedy. The play deals with the love story of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo and the dialogues of the play are humorous and lively. The play begins in the park where Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo meet when they are old. They both were lovers when they were young. But now, both do not recognize each other. Once, when they start talking, they understand the reality but both do not want to reveal their identities. One day when Dona Laura was feeding the pigeons with bread crumbs, Don Gonzalo, the old man, comes with his servant and sits on the same bench. Laura gets angry with Gonzalo for frightening the birds. Both get annoyed with each other. He starts reading poems from his book. Then, he tells her that he belonged to Valencia, a city in Spain. Laura is surprised and tells that she too spent her youth there in a villa called Maricela. When Gonzalo asks her if she remembered the name Laura, she lies to him that she was a friend of Laura. They both discuss the story of Laura's friend and Gonzalo's cousin which was really their own story. Laura tells him that her friend waited for her lover for many years and later was married to a merchant. Gonzalo replies that his cousin joined army and died as a soldier. In the play, we find that both the central characters do not reveal their true identity. They hope to meet every morning there. The play ends on a positive note and we find a beautiful mix of romance and comedy, last like a sunny morningcold and heat and depart from park. Here,we see that they do not acknowledgethe fact of being old but lost lovers; rather theyprefer to think that they have befooled eachother with their fictitious stories. Infact they donot want to remember their past and they want to be frozen in time in each other's memories, as they once were. Their suchan attitude makes us to think that everything is fair in love and war'.
19. Give instance to show Laura‟s witty remarks about Gonzalo in the play „A Sunny Morning‟?
Ans. Dona Laura a handsome, white haired lady of seventy, refined in appearance her mental faculties unimpaired and sits in a park feeding pigeons. Dona Laura sees an old, grumpy man called Don Gonzalo. She makes fun of him in different ways as an „ill natured man‟, „should have asked permission to sit on bench‟ when he sits there. When Gonzalo dusts his shoes she comments „do you use handkerchief as shoe brush?‟ When Gonzalo takes out glasses to read she comments „thought you were taking out a telescope‟ and finally when he boasts about hunting animals she says „kill time that is all you kill‟.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
• On a sunny morning, Dona Laura was feeding pigeonswith bread crumbs.
• Laura and Gonzalo met there.
• He sat on the bench with the old lady.
• They accused each other for their private seat.
• A pinch of snuffhelped them to make peace
• They sneezed three times each.
• Then they began to chat in a friendly manner.
• They were old lovers.
• He remembered her as "The Silver Maiden".
• She did not like to marry a merchant.
• The merchant was badly wounded by Gonzalo.
• So Gonzalo went to Seville and then to Madrid.
• Then Gonzalo went to Paris with a ballet dancer.
• Laura got married after two years.
• They framed stories about their own death.
• Laura posed herself to be the friend of the real Laura.
• Gonzalo also posed as the cousin of the dead Gonzalo.
RECAPITULATION:
• Meeting between Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura
• A sunny morning/Park in Madrid
• Complain each other not friendly
• A pinch of snuff brings peace
• Fictitious story of „The silver maiden‟ and „gallant lover‟
• Meeting and exchanging flowers
• Dual with the merchant/ the lover hides
• Gonzalo writes letters but were intercepted
• Gonzalo and Laura get separated
• The gallant lover joins army- goes to Africa and dies
• The silver maiden leaves her house- goes to beach- swept away by waves
• Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura hide their real identity
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