CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 11: If I Were You NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by · Updated on

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 9 PDF

CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 11, 'If I Were You', presents NCERT Solutions for a gripping play. The story centers on Gerrard, a playwright, and a mysterious intruder intent on killing Gerrard and taking over his life. The solutions explore how Gerrard uses his intelligence and quick thinking to outsmart the intruder. Key themes include deception, cleverness, and the instinct for survival. Students will find detailed explanations of the plot, the characters' reasons for their actions, and the deeper meanings within the play. These resources are designed to help students understand the narrative thoroughly and prepare effectively for their examinations, offering insights into the dramatic tension and the ultimate triumph of wit over malice.

Home

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 9
SubjectBeehive
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter11. If I Were You

Chapter summary

Chapter 11, 'If I Were You,' presents a thrilling narrative where a playwright, Gerrard, is confronted by an intruder intending to steal his identity. The NCERT Solutions for this chapter break down the plot, focusing on the dialogue and the clever stratagem Gerrard employs to outwit the criminal. It covers the 'Before You Read' vocabulary, 'Thinking About The Text' questions, and essential plot points, ensuring students grasp the play's suspenseful climax and its exploration of identity and survival.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the plot and character dynamics in 'If I Were You'.
  • Analyze Gerrard's cleverness in dealing with the intruder.
  • Identify the themes of deception and identity in the play.
  • Interpret the meaning of key dialogues and phrases.
  • Improve comprehension skills through detailed question-answer analysis.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Plot Summary of 'If I Were You'
  • Character Analysis: Gerrard
  • Character Analysis: The Intruder
  • Themes: Identity and Deception
  • Themes: Wit and Survival
  • Vocabulary from 'Before You Read'
  • Analysis of Key Dialogues
  • Understanding Dramatic Irony
  • Question-Answer Explanations
  • Literary Devices in the Play

Important topics

  • Gerrard's strategy to outwit the intruder
  • The intruder's motive and plan
  • Analysis of the dialogue 'At last a sympathetic audience.'
  • The play's climax and resolution
  • Themes of identity and deception

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …
Page of
Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Before You Read - Question 1

Gerrard lives alone in a lonely cottage. An intruder, who is a criminal, enters his cottage. He intends to murder Gerrard and take on his identity. Does he succeed?
Solution: No, the intruder does not succeed in his plan to murder Gerrard and take on his identity. Gerrard, through his intelligence and quick wit, manages to outsmart the intruder, leading to the intruder's downfall.

Before You Read - Question 2

The following words and phrases occur in the play. Do you know their meanings? Match them with the meanings given, to find out.

cultured an informal expression for a fashionable vehicle count on unnecessary and usually harmful engaged exaggerated melodramatic sophisticated; well mannered to be smart here, a tone of voice inflection avoid wise guy an unexpected opportunity for success a dandy bus trap tradespeople a Christian religious teacher who teaches on Sundays in Church gratuitous (American English) a person who pretends to know a lot dodge depend on; rely on lucky break (American English) an informal way of saying that one is being too clever Sunday-school occupied; busy teacher frame merchants

Solution: Here is the correct matching of the words and phrases with their meanings:

cultured: sophisticated; well mannered

count on: depend on; rely on

engaged: occupied; busy

melodramatic: exaggerated

to be smart (American English): an informal way of saying that one is being too clever

inflection: here, a tone of voice

wise guy (American English): a person who pretends to know a lot

a dandy bus: an informal expression for a fashionable vehicle

tradespeople: merchants

gratuitous: unnecessary and usually harmful

dodge: avoid

lucky break (American English): an unexpected opportunity for success

Sunday-school teacher: a Christian religious teacher who teaches on Sundays in Church

frame: trap

Thinking About The Text - Question 1.1

"At last a sympathetic audience."
  1. Who says this?
  2. Why does he say it?
  3. Is he sarcastic or serious?
Solution:
  1. Gerrard says this line.
  2. He says this to the intruder who has just broken into his cottage and is about to reveal his plan to murder Gerrard and take his identity. Gerrard says this because he feels he has found someone to listen to him, even though the situation is dangerous.
  3. Gerrard is being sarcastic. He is not genuinely pleased to have an audience; rather, he is using sarcasm to mask his fear and to assess the intruder and the situation. His tone is ironic, given the deadly circumstances.

Thinking About The Text - Question 1.2

Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on?
Solution: The intruder chooses Gerrard's identity because he believes Gerrard's life is simple and solitary. Gerrard lives alone in a remote cottage, works as a playwright, and has a car. The intruder thinks this lifestyle will provide a perfect cover for his own criminal activities, allowing him to escape the police and live a new life without suspicion.

Thinking About The Text - Question 1.3

"I said it with bullets."
  1. Who says this?
Solution:
  1. Gerrard says this line. He uses it to imply that he has dealt with similar dangerous situations in the past, possibly by resorting to violence, to intimidate the intruder and make him believe that Gerrard is not an easy victim.

Common mistakes

  • Misinterpreting Gerrard's initial reactions as fear rather than strategy.
  • Failing to recognize the intruder's flawed plan and Gerrard's manipulation.
  • Confusing the meanings of vocabulary words presented in the 'Before You Read' section.
  • Overlooking the significance of the play's climax and resolution.

Revision tips

  • Reread the play, paying close attention to Gerrard's dialogue and actions.
  • Summarize the plot in your own words, focusing on the turning points.
  • Practice answering the 'Thinking About The Text' questions without referring to the solutions.
  • Discuss the play's themes and character motivations with classmates.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What is the primary intention of the intruder in the play 'If I Were You'?

Q2. Who says the line, 'At last a sympathetic audience.'?

Q3. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard's identity to assume?

Q4. What does Gerrard mean when he says, 'I said it with bullets.'?

Q5. How does Gerrard ultimately outsmart the intruder?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main story of Chapter 11, 'If I Were You'?

Chapter 11, 'If I Were You,' is a play about a playwright named Gerrard who is confronted by an intruder intending to kill him and take his identity. Gerrard cleverly uses his wit to trap the intruder instead.

Who are the main characters in 'If I Were You'?

The main characters are Gerrard, a playwright, and the Intruder, a criminal who wishes to assume Gerrard's identity.

How do these NCERT Solutions help Class 9 students?

These solutions provide clear, detailed answers to all questions in Chapter 11, helping students understand the plot, characters, themes, and vocabulary, which aids in exam preparation.

What is the significance of Gerrard's dialogue 'At last a sympathetic audience.'?

This line is spoken sarcastically by Gerrard to the intruder. It highlights Gerrard's quick thinking and his attempt to control the situation by feigning interest in the intruder's story.

What key themes are explored in 'If I Were You'?

The play explores themes of identity, deception, wit, survival, and the contrast between appearance and reality.

Are the vocabulary meanings from the 'Before You Read' section included?

Yes, the NCERT Solutions provide the correct matching of vocabulary words and phrases with their meanings as presented in the chapter.

Important links

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.