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| Fritz |
Question 1
What does he tell the narrator about Fritz?
Ans. During one of their strolls to the garden, Jayanto found a Deodar
tree to the far end and eventually recalled his memory of ‘Fritz'. After
dinner, Jayanto told Shankar that 'Fritz was a Swiss doll which his uncle had
brought for him from Switzerland. It was a foot long figure of an old man,
dressed in traditional Swiss clothing. It wore a Swiss cap with a yellow
feather sticking out from it. It's clothes too were perfect with the little
detailing like belts, buttons, pockets, collars, socks and the little buckles
on the shoes. Fritz was very life-like and always had a smile on its face. It
was very flexible too, hence could be twisted at will. Jayanto had many toys
as a child but eventually he grew obsessed with Fritz, to the point that it
even annoyed his parents. He used a spend hours talking to him. Though they
were one-sided talks, Fritz's smiling face and the look in his eyes made
Jayanto feel that Fritz understood every word of what he spoke. He even
doubted that Fritz might start conversing if Jayanto spoke in German. But to
his sorrow, a tragedy befell Fritz. Once while playing with Fritz, Jayanto
happened to spill a cup of tea on himself. For the moment when he disappeared
to change his clothes, Fritz had been attacked by a couple of stray dogs. On
returning, Jayanto saw that the dogs were having a nice tug-of-war with Fritz.
Although he didn't actually come apart, his face was battered beyond
recognition and his clothes were torn. He was 'dead to Jayanto. Eventually,
Jayanto thought of arranging a funeral for Fritz. He wanted to make a coffin
and bury him in it for it was a European. But he couldn't make one. So he
buried Fritz just like that under the very particular deodar tree in the
garden of the circuit house which the two friends had seen earlier in the
day.
Question 2
Referring closely to the short story ‘Fritz', relate why Jayanto wanted to
visit Bundi instead of any other place?
Ans. 'Fritz' by Satyajit Ray is a short story that takes Jayanto down
the memory lane into his childhood. This trip to nostalgia takes him to Bundi,
a small place in Rajasthan. Jayanto and Shankar, had been childhood friends.
Although into different professions, it did not make any difference to their
friendship. For long, the two had been planning a trip to Rajasthan. Finally,
they managed to make it to this trip together. Generally, while visiting
Rajasthan, one would prefer places like Jaipur, Udaipur or Chittor due to
their historical importance. But Jayanto insisted on Bundi being their
destination for the trip. It was so because Jayanto's father, Animesh Das
Gupta, used to work in the Archeological Department which took him to
historical places. As a child, Jayanto had visited Bundi and had always wished
to return to the place after growing up, just to see how much modern Bundi had
turned into, compared to what he had imagined about the place. Hence, he
insisted on visiting Bundi over any other place in Rajasthan.
Question 3
What is your reaction to the ending of the story? Ans. Since the very
beginning of the story ‘Fritz' an element of suspense has been created
throughout.
Ans: The opening lines of the story suggested the mystery in the air of
Bundi that made Jayanto lost in his world of childhood memories. It's later
that Jayanto after subsequent efforts of recalling his childhood memories that
Shankar as well as the reader is introduced to Fritz. It was the sleepless
night that Jayanto went through that made him feel further more anxious about
Fritz. He thought that probably it was Fritz who had come to visit him at
night and it were his small circular footprints that had made a mark on his
quilt. This irrational behavior of his friend worried Shankar and, hence in
order to put such futile thought to rest, Shankar suggests that they should
exhume Fritz. Once Jayanto sees that nothing was left of Fritz, for it was
buried decades ago, he would come to sanity and accept reality. So, finally
when they exhume Fritz with the help of a gardener, they are left in a
complete shock to find a foot long, pure white, perfect little human skeleton
lying flat on its back, covered in dust. In my opinion, the end to the story
is perfect. Although it's an open-ended story wher the reader is free to
imagine the conclusion at his own will and imagination, yet the ending further
reinforces the theme of horror and personal beings. Looking at a foot long
human skeleton buried under the same spot under the deodar tree where once
Jayanto had buried Fritz, makes them gape. Moreover it reaffirms the doubts of
Jayanto and initiates fear in the heart of Shankar and the reader, the
possibility of Fritz actually being human and hence his returning to Jayanto
and left his footprints on the quilt an absolute paranormal act.
Question 4
Do you think that the story 'Fritz' is readable? What makes it
interesting?
Ans: Satyajit story is readable, do not exciting.It reads
like a simple narrative of two friends who go to visit Bundi, a small town in
Rajasthan. There are other terms of tourist interest in this state. Jaipur
attracts tourist in large number. There are Chittoor and Udaipur.Jayanto
choose to go to Bundi because Jayanto is particularly interested in this place
which is known for its Fort. The real motive is that this young man spent
childhood in Bundi when he was a child of xyz age. He wants to revive his
memories of the time when he lived there with his parents in the Circuit
House. Jayanto and his friend Shankar have checked in the Circuit House. They
sit in leisurely manner, waiting for their tea. Shankar notices that Jayanto
is in low spirits.( The Reader is unable to understand why he is down cast. He
is reminded of the good old days. He recognises the things he had been
familiar with. The Bangalore seems unchanged. The furniture is the same which
included caned chairs and tables. Giant toh has returned to this place after
31 years.
So far, it remains unclear what is the story about. The writer has described
the town. He has given details of the Circuit House and its furniture. But
something is yet to happen. Jayanto is going round recognising things he had
nearly forgotten. As they go strolling in the garden after tea, Jayanto stops.
He is searching for a Deodar tree. He is glad to find it there. He began to
think that this tree was important for some reason. He then recalled how they
had a cook in the Circuit House. As they go back to the drawing room, memories
begin to flash upon Jayanto's mind. He is reminded of 'Fritz', a toy which his
uncle has brought for him from Switzerland. It was a 12 inch long toy of an
old man. Jaynto used to give maximum time to playing with this toy until it
was Torn apart by stray dogs. The spoilt toy was buried under the Deodar tree
in the garden
The story builds up suspense. Jayanto is possessed with the thoughts of
that toy. He has his hallucinations .He Feels that Fritz walked on his quilt
when he was sleeping. He even located some small spots on the quilt to show
these were the footmarks of the old man's doll called fritz. Shankar tries to
cure his friend of his delusions. He takes the help of the gardener who digs
up the ground under the tree. In the hole they find a tiny human skeleton. The
story concludes. The suspense remains. The Reader is free to interpret the end
anyway he imagines.
Question 5
With reference to the short story 'Fritz' describe the difference between
the Bundi of Jayanto's childhood and the present times.
Ans: Satyajit Ray found the perfect setting for his short story 'Fritz'
in the small historic town of Bundi. Exploring the theme of macabre with a
tinge of humor, he required a setting that would evoke horror without any
artificial interference and forced technique. Ray invoked a sense of morbidity
in his short stories and Bundi with its old roots lent a sense of the
supernatural and horror to the story.
"Not many people visited Bundi," and yet Shankar and Jayanto found it a
perfect place to explore during a holiday. Jayanto had memories attached to
Bundi and he wanted to relive those and experience the emotions that came
along with it.
Jayanto finds nothing changed in Bundi of today than the one he had visited as
a child. He had expected Bundi to change and taken up by the storm of
modernization. In reality, the only visible change in Bundi was the arrival of
electricity in the city. Bundi was just the same as he had left. The streets
were still cobbled with houses jutting out from the first floor. The carvings
on the houses and the wooden doors were a reminder of the Rajputana that
existed in the older times. The circuit house had the same look, the same
furniture. It seemed nothing had changed in Bundi accept the intrusion of the
electric poles on the street.
Jayanto arrived in Bundi to find that time had come to a standstill as he went
back in his memory to relive his childhood days. Bundi had changed only in his
imagination but on his visit, he realized Bundi was still the same.
Question 6
What is the significance of the last lines in the story?
Ans: The last line brings an element of surprise and shock where the
readers are left in perpetual confusion whether to believe in the supernatural
or not. The readers find a chill running down their spine when the remains of
a skeleton of the size of a doll are found at the end. Satyajit Ray is famous
for writing stories that appeal to both children as well as adults. Many of
his stories are written in the horror genre and Fritz is one of them. Ray
introduces the theme of supernatural and macabre in this story but on a very
subtle note. His stories induced an element of shock and mystery in the
readers through the setting and words. Fritz, set in the location of Bundi, is
about Jayanto recounting his childhood memories which come to haunt him when
he visits the old places, only to find nothing has changed with time. He is
reminded of his Swiss doll, a favorite toy with whom he talked and shared most
of his feelings as a child. The Swiss doll had been mauled by stray dogs and
the separation was painful. Jayanto clearly remembered that he had ensured a
very dignified burial for his doll under the Deodar tree.
The horror begins when the Swiss doll returns to talk to Jayanto, trying to
pick up the strands of their relationship from where it ended. Jayanto is
horrified at the sequence of events that take place. He is convinced of the
doll's return from the dead. His friend Shankar lends a sane voice, neither
believing Jayanto's words nor dismissing them. He suggests going to the Deodar
tree where the Swiss doll was buried to find remains and be convinced of its
fate.
However, much to the horror of Shankar and Jayanto, the last line reveals that
after digging under the tree, a human skeleton of the size of the doll was
found.
The last line of the story leaves everything to the imagination of the
readers. Readers are allowed the comfort to either rue in the elements of
supernatural or allow their logic to supersede. The logical readers will find
the entire situation funny and laugh off it as comic relief while the
believers can remain perpetually engulfed in the world of the dead and
macabre. Thus, the last line serves a dual purpose, while it induces a sense
of comic relief, it also gives a sense of shock and surprise to the readers.
Question 7
Jayanto appeared absent-minded throughout the trip. Why? How did the author
assuage his mind on the night of the incident?
Ans: Fritz by Satyajit Ray is a short story in the horror genre. The
story explores two friends, Jayanto and Shankar visiting Bundi on a short
vacation. While Shankar was interested in visiting Bundi due to its old-world
charm and mention in Tagore's literature, Jayanto had spent a significant part
of his early life in Bundi and was keen to relive his old memories.
During the period, he stayed in Bundi at the Dak Bungalow where he had been
gifted a Swiss doll named Fritz by his uncle. In no time, Fritz had become
Jayanto's favorite toy, treating the doll almost like a confidant and a true
sharer of his feelings just as he would do with a human friend. The
relationship of the doll and Jayanto ended on a very tragic note, with the
doll being shredded to pieces by a pack of stray dogs. Fritz was buried but
had remained an essential part of Jayanto's life throughout. He was a very
distinct memory and the visit to Bundi rekindled those old emotions and
feelings within him for Fritz reminded him of the dear friend he had lost.
This is why Jayanto remained absent-minded throughout the trip.
Jayanto was woken up one night by some nocturnal visitors in the Dak house.
The rumblings of these creatures had created a sense of irrational fear in his
mind which he had started associating with supernatural elements and the Swiss
doll. Fritz. Shankar realized his friend was haunted by the memories of the
past and therefore comforted him and tried to calm him down with soothing,
calm words so that he could manage a good night's sleep after a tiring day. He
convinced Jayanto of no presence of any untoward elements in the room and
reassured him by checking the room himself. He also suggested giving a
tranquilizer to Jayanto to soothe his words.
Despite all these assurances, Jayanto was sure of the presence of Fritz around
him and thus finally, the author relented by suggesting they dig it up under
the Deodar tree to do away with his friend's fear for once and for all.
Question 8
Evaluate 'Fritz' as a mystery story or thriller.
Ans: Fritz is a queer story which keeps the readers guessing
throughout. It is not ghastly, but a bit ghostly. The suspense keeps building
up, but it never turns bizarre or overly frightening. It appeals to child and
adult alike as it teases the imagination with the promise of the unknown.
The story begins on an easy note with the introduction of two childhood
friends, Shankar and Jayanto. Although Jayanto appears to be preoccupied right
from the beginning, yet he was very eager to come to Bundi, but also fell
quiet after reaching it. When both the friends were strolling, Jayanto was
struck with the thought of a Deodar tree. He was absolutely thrilled to find
it. When questioned, he revealed that something paranormal brought him here.
'Memory is a strange business', and in bits and parts, he recalled everything
about a doll he had possessed. It was a twelve-inch long figure of an old man,
brought from Switzerland by one of his uncles. The very thought of an old man
as a doll, somehow makes the readers wonder. Another detail was that it was
not mechanized and very lifelike. It had a smile on its face and it was
possible to bend and twist its limbs, and the uncle told him that he would
respond only to the name Fritz and nothing else. At that time Jayanto had a
lot of toys as he was the only son of his parents. But once he got Fritz, he
left all other toys and played only with the doll. He would talk to him for
hours, and he had this uncanny feeling that the doll could understand every
word of his. There was such a smile on its face and a look in its eyes.
Sometimes he would feel the doll could talk to him. if he spoke in German.
Well, we can rationalize this by thinking that it was a childhood fantasy of
an over-sensitive boy, but yes somewhere the readers become aware of something
deeper at this point of time.
Then comes the story of what happened to the doll. One day when Jayanto was
away from the doll, a couple of dogs fought over it and damaged it beyond
recognition. The boy felt the doll did not exist anymore. It was dead and thus
was buried under the Deodar.
The suspense grips stronger when we read what happened in the night Nothing
blood-curdling, but a strong doubt that some presence was felt in the night.
Jayanto woke up from his sleep saying that something, maybe an animal, was in
the room. It was strange that the doors and the windows were closed. He to his
horror found small footmarks on the cover of his quilt. Shankar made it light
by saying that it might be a cat, but Jayanto was disturbed.
That night in the circuit house, Jayanto told Shankar that it was Fritz who
walked over the quilt. As Shankar felt that his friend was becoming obsessed
with the doll, there was only one way to bring him out of this. So he decided
to dig the ground under the Deodar tree where Fritz was buried. The writer
builds suspense amidst the humorous exchange with the gardener, by juxtaposing
it with the anxious expression on Jayanto's face. His shirt's collar was
soaked in sweat. Then he made a strange sound. His eyes were bulging as he
pointed with a trembling finger. The spade slipped from the gardener’s hand.
Shankar too gaped at the ground, opened-mouthed in horror, amazement, and
disbelief. In the hole, was lying a perfect twelve-inch little human skeleton.
Satyajit Ray ends the story by leaving the rest to the imagination of the
readers. It builds up a spooky feeling with subtle hints of the unreal, more
of a paranormal genre.
Question 9
Compare and contrast the characters of Jayanto and Shankar.
Ans: The protagonists of Fritz, Jayanto, and Shankar were childhood
friends; they were together in school and college. Both enjoyed the company of
each other and liked to take vacations together. Both had been thinking of
visiting Rajasthan for a long time. Jayanto had a fascination for Bundi, but
Shankar was puzzled with the choice. Nevertheless, he appreciated the natural
beauty of Bundi and derived much pleasure from the old world charm of the
place.
Jayanto worked in the editorial division of a newspaper and Shankar was a
school teacher. The different kinds of jobs did not interfere with their
friendship. There was an easy camaraderie between them and they shared their
thoughts without reservation. Thus Shankar came to know his friend's
sentiments for the place and appreciated them.
But the similarities ended there. Jayanto was overly emotional and prone to
imaginative flights. He even had to take the help of tranquilizers for anxiety
and depression. Shankar was down to earth, practical and had no flights of
fancy. He always tried to show the practical side of things to his friend.
When he saw Jayanto rather quiet, after coming to Bundi, he tried to make a
rational explanation by thinking that it was natural to feel depressed because
of past memories. When Jayanto thought something had walked into his room at
night, Shankar tried to convince him that it must be a cat or some animal.
Ultimately, when the obsession about the doll increased, he tried to put an
end to it by getting the burial spot dug. Thus Shankar emerges as the more
practical of the two; but what happens at the end puzzles him as he never
expected the skeleton to be there, making Jayanto's sensitivity, the winner at
the end.
Of the two, Shankar is the more mature one, taking care of Jayanto, who needed
brotherly care and at times tranquilizers to control his hypersensitivity.
Question 10
Describe the character of Jayanto with reference to the short story ‘Fritz’
?
Ans: Jayanto is the protagonist of the story who worked in the
editorial division of anewspaper.. A Man Influenced by Memories ,Jayanto was
so influenced by his memories from past that he chose to visit Bundi in
Rajasthan rather than visiting the famous places like Jaipur,Udaipur or
Chittor.This was because he had visited Bundi as a child.He always wished to
return to Bundi as an adult to compare the modern Bundi with his childhood
image of the place.
Jayanto seemed to be a quiet man.He seemed to be lost in his .past.He seemed
to be in low spirits to the narrator the day they arrived inBundi.His
childhood memories with Fritz haunted him to such an extent that he felt
depressed and emotional. A Single Child Jayanto was the only child of his
parents.He had lots of toys when he was young.He was so loved and pampered
that his parents gave him practically everything.
Jayanto was not only loved but loving.When he got Fritz,he used to spend
all his time with him.He could talk to his doll for hours.Perhaps,because of
being a single child,he was adamant too.When his parents warned him not to
overdo things with Fritz,he did not listen to them. Jayanto was a sensitive
soul.He was deeply attached to his doll Fritz. He could not protect his doll
from being destroyed by a couple of stray dogs.Heburied Fritz as if a real
human being had died.His sensitive self continued to beanxious,even thirty one
years later.
Some of Jayanto’s other characteristic traits are: He was a man of strong
senses-one night when he was walked over by some strange creature,he was sure
it had two feet,not four. Jayanto was a diffident man.Though he seemed to like
his friend’s idea of digging the ground to free”himself of his weird
notions”,he was reluctant.
Question 11
Describe how memories plays an important role in Satyajit Ray short story
Fritz.
Ans: Memory has an important role in Satyajit Ray’s story “Fritz”.
Major elements in the story including the plot itself are directly connected
to the memory and feelings of Jayanto, the protagonist. It was his memory of
the place named Bundi that was behind Jayanto’s decision to make the trip to
Bundi and not to the other popular places in Rajasthan like Jaipur, Udaipur or
Chittor. Then, while staying in the circuit house in Bundi, his old memories
were slowly coming to his mind.
Now some of my memories are coming back slowly. The bungalow certainly appears
unchanged. I can even recognize some of the old furniture, such as these cane
chairs and tables.
Thirty one years before when Jayanto was just six, he visited the place with
his parents. Now he is nostalgic remembering those days. He remembers his
favourite doll Fritz and his obsession with it. He used to spend a lot of time
with that doll, playing and conversing with it. He also remembers how sad he
was when two stray dogs had killed Fritz, his only playmate. He then buried
Fritz under a deodar tree in the garden of the circuit house.
Now, returning to the same place again after 31 years, Jayanto is lost in
thought and his friend Shankar is well aware of this change in his behaviour.
That is why he asks —
“Are you well? You seem to be in low spirits today,”
This is where the story begins, highlighting the gravity of the nostalgic
feeling in Jayanto’s inner self aroused by his past memory of the place.
Moreover, he was constantly trying to remember some missing links from his
memory. That is why, as Shankar noticed, he “had turned rather quiet after
arriving in Bundi”. He recognizes most of the furniture in the circuit house
and remember that things looked lot bigger than they are now.
While walking in the garden, Jayanto suddenly remembers a deodar tree in the
garden but is troubled trying to remember, in vain, what had actually happened
there.
No, I can’t recall anything at all. Memory is a strange business …
Thus, throughout the story memory is the thing that haunts him down. Though
Jayanto later knows why he remembered that deodar tree, the memory of his doll
Fritz doesn’t let him enjoy his holiday. In the night he awakes from sleep
horrified with a feeling that something has just walked over his chest. After
a thorough search when they do not find anything, Jayanto concludes that it is
his doll Fritz that has come alive to him. Though Shankar readily dismisses
his unrealistic claims, he agrees to have the ground under the deodar tree dug
up in order to find if the remains of his doll are still there. To their utter
shock, they found a twelve-inch long white human skeleton there under the
ground.
Irrespective of the ending of the story and its open-ended finish, the plot
development is directed by Jayanto’s memory. If it were not for his past
memories of the doll Fritz, the thought of the doll coming alive had not been
possible for him. He could then simply think that it was just a small creature
like a rat which ran over his chest. In that case, the supernatural element
that the author introduces would not have been feasible.
Thus, memory plays an important role here in the story “Fritz” for setting the
tone of the story by causing the nostalgic feelings and lost-in-thought mood
in Jayanto and also for defining the entire plot
Question 12
Discuss how does the use of imagery and suspense add to the element of
horror in Satyajit Ray’s short story Fritz
Ans: Satyajit Ray ,a noted filmmaker and author explores the theme of
macabre and supernaturalism in his stories. His stories appeal to the readers
at an intelligent level, comporing them to race their imagination and get
involved in the story. His stories bring about the chill and thrills of the
haunted places through carefully chosen words an situations to which his
characters react. He creates an ultimate horror setting a perfectly spun
situation which provides the ultimate shock and terror to its readers.
However, Ray while exploring the theme of macabre and supernaturalism was
perfectly aware of its young readers and therefore avoided the explicit gore
of horror narrated by other writers. Satyajit Ray believed in the fear
produced in the mind through frightening situations, emotions and inanimate
objects and this is implicitly found in all his horror stories written till
date. Ray explores the very same theme and employs the same tactics in his
short story "Fritz".
Jayanto and Shankar, two childhood friends visit Bundi for a holiday, Shankar
in the very beginning confesses that Bundi is an odd choice to visit as a
holiday destination in Rajasthan as opposed to the highly popular and tourist
friendly cities of Jaipur, Udaipur and Chittor. Moreover, Bundi still retains
the old world charm of the Rajputana times, with very less invasion of the
modern times. The ”cobbled streets”, ”balconies jutting out from the first
floor”, bore an evidence to the old setting. With these words, Ray finely
introduces us to the unnatural setting of his story and sows in the seed of
psychological curiosity in the mind of his readers.
Jayanto and Shankar are put up in the circuit house that is almost hundred
years old a legacy of the British era. This brings about a chill in the
readers with the reminder of the popular belief that old buildings are always
haunted. Indeed, this is a very clever way to get the readers ready for the
horror and the unnatural happenings or experiences that are about to begin for
the characters of the story. Shankar’s reference to Tagore’s poem ”The Fort of
Bundi” adds to the theme of macabre as the poem narrates the historic
valiance of the Rana’s troops in the battle with very vivid words that
heightens the sense of tension and fear in the readers.
＂Rana’s troops slay his head…He drops dead,His blood, crimson redSanctifies the castle cleanIn ablution of all vicious sin.”
Ray carefully creates the setting and explores the emotions of his characters
which further induces a sense of fear and horror.The story begins with Jayanto
in low spirits and his friend acknowledging the change in Jayanto as soon as
he arrived at Bundi.”Jayanto had turned rather quiet…perhaps some of his
memories had returned.”His writings clearly depict the depression and puts the
reader with a sense of unease on what is about to follow. His description in
details with no clear reference to the story, simply brings forward his
technique to heighten the sense of horror. Jayanto recalling the physical
details of the cook whose ”eyes were always red” makes the reader anticipate
the unnatural and haunted incidents with the lead.
Satyajit Ray in the short story ”Fritz” employs the use of inanimate object to
explore the supernatural aspect and induce horror in the mind of the readers.
Fritz is described as a twelve inch long Swiss doll, very life like, whose
arms and limbs could be twisted. Ray’s particular mention of Fritz won’t
respond unless he is called by his name adds to the thrill and confirms the
presence of a supernatural theme in the story.
Fritz’s tragic death and his burial by Jayanto adds to the thrill of the
supernatural occurrences that is bound to be experienced by Jayanto. Ray, much
like the authors of the horror genre, uses situation that induces a sense of
frightening and horror in the reader’s senses. Jayanto waking up to notice
”tiny, brown circular marks ”on his quilt is clearly one of the technique
employed to explore the theme of the supernatural. Digging always unearths the
dark secrets of the past. Ray leaves this till the end to give the final
brutal shock to its readers in the form of the unearthing of the twelve inch
long, perfect little human skeleton under the Deodar tree, giving a
psychological relief and yet leaving the minds of the readers in perpetual
digging of heads to create various permutations and combination of situation
that would have happened.