CBSE Class 12 English: The Interview NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 12 PDF

This section provides NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 12 English, Chapter 7, titled "The Interview." It delves into the multifaceted nature of interviews, exploring both the positive aspects and the criticisms leveled against them by prominent figures. The solutions address the historical context of interviews in journalism, the psychological impact on interviewees, and the unique perspectives of celebrated writers and academics like Umberto Eco. Students will gain insights into why some individuals find interviews intrusive, while others see them as a vital tool for communication and understanding. The chapter also examines Umberto Eco's prolific writing career and his distinctive academic style, offering a comprehensive understanding of the text and its underlying themes, aiding in exam preparation.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 12
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter7. The Interview

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English, Chapter 7, "The Interview," offers a detailed exploration of the interview as a journalistic and communicative tool. It covers the historical significance, the art of interviewing, and the controversies surrounding it, including celebrity perspectives and cultural beliefs about personal representation. The solutions also analyze Umberto Eco's views on interviews, his academic approach, and the success of his novel, providing a thorough understanding of the chapter's content for students.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the historical and artistic significance of interviews in journalism.
  • Analyze the positive and negative views on interviews from various perspectives.
  • Explain the psychological impact of interviews on individuals, particularly celebrities.
  • Interpret the expression "thumbprints on his windpipe" in the context of interviews.
  • Evaluate Umberto Eco's approach to interviews and his academic writing style.
  • Identify the reasons behind the success of Umberto Eco's novel, 'The Name of the Rose'.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • The nature of interviews in journalism
  • Positive and negative views on interviews
  • Interviews and celebrity writers
  • Cultural beliefs about representation
  • Figurative language in describing interviews
  • Umberto Eco's writing habits
  • Umberto Eco's academic style
  • Umberto Eco's identity as a scholar and novelist
  • Analysis of 'The Name of the Rose'

Important topics

  • The art and impact of interviews
  • Celebrity perspectives on interviews
  • Umberto Eco's prolific writing process
  • Umberto Eco's academic vs. literary identity
  • The significance of 'The Name of the Rose'

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Questions and Solutions

Think As you Read - Question 1

What are some of the positive views on interviews?
Solution: Interviews are viewed positively as an integral and established part of journalism, having existed for approximately 130 years. They are considered a valuable method of communication and are sometimes described as an art form. Furthermore, interviews serve as a crucial source for uncovering truth and understanding contemporary figures, as noted by Denis Brian.

Think As you Read - Question 2

Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
Solution: Many celebrity writers dislike interviews because they perceive them as an invasion of their private lives. They often feel that interviews diminish their persona, drawing parallels to ancient cultural beliefs that a person's soul could be captured or diminished by a portrait. Some, like V.S. Naipaul, have described the experience as wounding, while others, such as Rudyard Kipling, have condemned it as immoral.

Think As you Read - Question 3

What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed?
Solution: In certain primitive cultures, there was a belief that having one's photograph taken was akin to having one's soul stolen from their body. This act was thought to leave the individual incomplete and diminished.

Think As you Read - Question 4

What do you understand by the expression "thumbprints on his windpipe"?
Solution: The expression "thumbprints on his windpipe" is a powerful metaphor used to describe the feeling of being suffocated or strangled. In the context of an interview, it suggests that the experience can be so intensely stressful and invasive for the interviewee that it feels like a physical assault, leaving them feeling choked.

Think As you Read - Question 5

Who, in today's world, is our chief source of information about personalities?
Solution: In contemporary times, the interviewer is considered the primary source of information about notable personalities. Through their skill and influence, interviewers extract significant details and insights from individuals, presenting them to the public and shaping our understanding of these personalities.

Understanding the Text - Question 1

Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
Solution: It appears highly probable that Umberto Eco enjoys being interviewed. His interactions with the interviewer suggest he was comfortable and responsive, answering questions thoroughly and patiently without any sign of haste. He discussed his accomplishments with modesty and clearly articulated his philosophical ideas and interests. His willingness to share insights into his creative process, even with a laugh, and his polite, warm, and engaged demeanor all indicate a positive reception to the interview.

Understanding the Text - Question 2

How does Eco find the time to write so much?
Solution: Umberto Eco explains his prolific writing through two main factors. Firstly, he points out that everyone's life contains periods with no significant professional duties, which he calls 'empty spaces.' He utilized these intervals for writing. Secondly, he notes that while people might be surprised by the breadth of his subjects, his works are often linked by common underlying interests (like peace and non-violence). This thematic consistency allows him to write extensively on related topics efficiently, contributing to his large volume of work.

Understanding the Text - Question 3

What was distinctive about Eco's academic writing style?
Solution: Umberto Eco's academic writing style is notably distinctive due to its inherent playfulness and personal tone. This approach stands in contrast to the conventional academic style, which is often characterized by being impersonal, dry, and lacking engagement.

Understanding the Text - Question 4

Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
Solution: Umberto Eco clearly identified himself primarily as an academic scholar, with his novel writing being a secondary pursuit. He explicitly stated, "I consider myself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays," indicating his professional focus on academia during weekdays.

Understanding the Text - Question 5

What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
Solution: While 'The Name of the Rose' is recognized as a serious novel and a detective story on one level, it also delves into complex themes of metaphysics and medieval history. Despite its depth and multifaceted nature, the specific reasons contributing to its immense success remain a subject of mystery.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the literal meaning of 'thumbprints on his windpipe' with its figurative sense.
  • Overlooking the nuanced reasons why celebrity writers might dislike interviews.
  • Failing to connect Umberto Eco's academic work with his novel writing.
  • Misinterpreting Umberto Eco's modesty as a lack of confidence.

Revision tips

  • Focus on the contrasting opinions about interviews presented in the text.
  • Pay close attention to the explanations of figurative language used to describe interviews.
  • Understand Umberto Eco's dual identity as an academic and a novelist.
  • Review the specific reasons given for the success of 'The Name of the Rose'.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What is considered an inherent part of journalism, existing for about 130 years?

Q2. Which ancient belief is compared to the feeling of being diminished by an interview?

Q3. What does the expression "thumbprints on his windpipe" metaphorically suggest about an interview?

Q4. According to Umberto Eco, what are the 'empty spaces' in a person's life that allow for writing?

Q5. How did Umberto Eco describe his own writing preference?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main purpose of the NCERT Solutions for 'The Interview'?

These solutions provide clear, detailed answers to all questions in Chapter 7 of the Class 12 English textbook, helping students understand the text's themes, characters, and concepts for their exams.

What are some positive views on interviews mentioned in the chapter?

Positive views include interviews being an inherent part of journalism, a useful means of communication, an art form, and a source of truth that helps us understand our contemporaries.

Why do some celebrity writers dislike interviews?

They feel interviews unduly interfere with their private lives, diminish them, and can leave them feeling wounded, comparing it to ancient beliefs about portraits stealing souls.

How does Umberto Eco manage to write so much?

Eco attributes his prolific writing to utilizing 'empty spaces' in his life (periods with no major commitments) and focusing his writing on interconnected themes, which saves time.

What makes Umberto Eco's academic writing style distinctive?

His style is distinctive because it possesses a playful and personal quality, differing from the typically depersonalized, dry, and boring nature of standard academic writing.

Does Umberto Eco consider himself primarily a novelist or an academic?

Umberto Eco clearly considers himself an academic scholar first, stating he is a university professor who writes novels on Sundays.

Important links

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