Write the explanation of the story named " The Terror".

Write the explanation of the story named ” The Terror”.

Ans.

Explanations

(1) I wish to be able…………….of being alone.

Reference: These lines have been taken from the story The Terror, written by Guy de Maupassant, a famous French story writer who is also regarded as one of the fathers of modern short story.

Context: The Terror is a story of a man named Monsieur Raymond who is afraid of being alone. Perhaps he is suffering from some typical disease of mind. He says that when he entered his room on a damp evening he saw someone sitting on his chair. When he touched him, he disappeared. In order to get rid of his loneliness, Raymond decides to get married. In these lines, he tells why he is getting married.

Explanation: Monsieur Raymond says that he wishes someone to sleep close to him so that he may awaken him/her if he feels the need of it. If someone is close by him, he may ask him/her a foolish question just to hear some human voice. It will be a big relief for him that he is not alone and there is someone who may help him in ease he is to face some trouble. He wants to see some human figure when he lights a candle hastily at some hour of night. Monsieur is ashamed to confess that he is getting married because he is afraid of being alone.

(2) Formerly I felt nothing of all……………..was firmly closed.

Reference: These lines refer to the story. The Terror, written by Guy de Maupassant, one of the founders of the modern short story. Maupassant was a French novelist and story writer.

Context: The Terror is the story of Monsieur Raymond who is getting married because he is afraid of being alone. He is suffering from some disease of the mind. He says that one damp evening, when he entered his room, he found someone sitting on his chair and when he tried to touch him he (the man) disappeared. Now, he wants someone close by him.

Explanation: Monsieur Raymond says that before that particular event of seeing someone in his lonely room, he was not afraid of anything. He lived a peaceful and calm life. He entered his home fearlessly and moved about the whole apartment without any fear. Nothing upset him, nothing disturbed the peace of his mind. In those days if someone had asked him, what he would do if he were attacked by some disorder or disease or fear, he would have laughed at it considering it a foolish question. The idea of fear never crossed his mind. He was never afraid of opening the door in the dark. He went to bed slowly and did not lock his room. He never got up in the middle of the night to ascertain himself that all was well and the door was firmly closed.

(3) Yes, it is all very well……………….he is behind me.

Reference: These lines appear in the story. The Terror, written by Guy de Maupassant, one of the fathers of the modern short story. Maupassant belongs to France.

Context: The Terror is the story of Monsieur Raymond who is getting married because he is afraid of being alone and wants someone close by him especially at night when he is alone in his apartment. He is afraid of being alone because he has seen someone sitting in his room and the figure haunts him.

Explanation: Monsieur Raymond admits that he knows his fear is imaginary. There does not exist any such person as he thinks he has seen sitting in his room. There is every reason to believe it and yet he can’t remain at home all alone because he knows that he (the strange imaginary person) is there in the room. He is sure that he will not see him again, nor will he appear before him, but he is equally sure of his presence in the room. He is always there in his thoughts. He remains invisible to him but he feels his presence in every corner and behind every object in the house. When he tries to search for him with a lighted candle he is not seen anywhere. In spite of all assurances, Monsieur Raymond is convinced that he is behind him. Raymond is unable to get rid of his thought.