DISCOURSES
Prepare a Review of the anecdote ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ focusing on the suspense and flashback.
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‘The
Best Investment I Ever Made’ – a review
The anecdote ‘The Best Investment I
Ever Made’by the Scottish writer Dr. AJ Cronin is a typical short story with
all its ingredients. It has suspense in the beginning, a fantastic flash-back
to develop the plot and a moral lesson which is exemplary. Dr Cronin was on a voyage back from
New York. On the second day, he noticed that one of the passengers was
closely watching him. He ignored him as he wanted to take rest. On the
following forenoon, the man with his wife was seen again earnestly watching
him. This time Dr. Cronin also had some interest to know about the person and
his intention. Here the story creates suspense and arouses eagerness in the
minds of the readers too. Encouraged by his wife, finally the man approached
Dr. Cronin and introduced himself very timidly. In the beginning Dr. Cronin could not
recognize him. But when he said
something in his ears, he recognized the man and his thoughts went back to an
incident happened 25 years ago. Here starts the flash black of the plot in
the story. Once a police sergeant approached Dr. Cronin and requested him to attend
a suicide case. Dr. Cronin examined the young man who tried to commit suicide
and found his condition was very pathetic. After an hour’s hard work with the
help of the sergeant and the landlady of the lodge, Dr. Cronin could bring
him back to life. The man told them his pathetic story. His name was John, and he was an orphan. His uncle found him a job in the town. Soon he began to lead a loose life, and gambled to find money for pleasures of life. He lost everything and stole some money from his office. Being afraid of the prosecution, in great despair and anguish, he resolved to end his life. Having heard John’s story, they decided to help him. Dr. Cronin gave him seven pounds and ten shilling to put back in the office safe. For John, it was like a second life. He determined to change in life and to make a fresh start. He later became a great social worker.
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Write-up
Do you think the title ‘The Best
Investment I Ever Made’ is appropriate to the story? Why? Prepare a write-up on
the aptness of the title.
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Dr. AJ Cronin
used the title The Best Investment I Ever Made for his story. When we read the story,
we realize that the title is very apt to the theme of the story. The word
‘investment’ literally means the act of putting money, time, efforts, etc. into
something to make a profit or an advantage. But Dr A J Cronin used the word in
connection with his story in a different sense. He invested his money, time and
efforts not for any worldly gain. He spent seven ponds and ten shillings only
to help a poor young man, and he forgot the whole incident in a short while.
But after a long period of time – a quarter of a century – now he comes to know
that his timely help totally transformed the young man’s life and made him to
be a great social worker. Thus his timely interference, his time and efforts to
help a young man has become fruitful. His contribution of seven pounds and ten
shillings to help him has now brought him an immense profit, though not in the
form of any worldly gain. So he calls it ‘the best investment he ever made,
which is apt and meaningful in every sense. |
Diary Entry
After being saved by Dr AJ Cronin, Mr. John expressed in his diary his regrets upon his loose life, foolish attempt of committing suicide and his determination to start a fresh and fruitful life. Prepare the likely Diary Entry.
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18 March 2021 What a terrible experience! How foolish I was! In that moment of despair, I tried to embrace death. Hope came in the form of the sergeant and the doctor. They saved my life. The landlady also helped me. I can never forget them in my life. I will never again follow that dark and evil life of mine. Definitely I will change. Like the doctor, the sergeant and the landlady, I will also try to change the lives of others. This is a second life to me, for which I owe to this society. I should do something to serve the society. |
Imagine that Mr. John, after meeting the narrator for the second time, writes his diary. What would be the possible diary entry? Write it down.
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11:00pm.
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Notice
Imagine that a Youth Welfare Club of your locality has decided to honour Mr. John for the tremendous contributions he renders in the field of charity and youth welfare. Prepare a Notice announcing the honoring ceremony.
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Dear friends, The Kairali Youth Welfare Club of Palakkad has decided to honour Mr. John, the renowned social worker for his devoted services in the field of social work and youth welfare. Many socio-cultural leaders will attend the function to honour Mr. John. You are cordially invited to attend the ceremony. Date: 25 March 2021 Time: 10 am Venue: Community Conference Hall Palakkad Secretary, 18 March 2021 Kairali
Club. |
The Youth Welfare Organization has decided to honour Mr John for his valuable contributions in the field of social work. You are delivering a felicitation speech attending the function. Prepare the likely speech.
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Honourable dignitaries on the dais, our
esteemed chief guest Mr. John and my dear friends: A very warm, good morning to
all of you. A timely act of kindness can transform a man’s life! Mr. John’s life substantiates that great truth. Once he had transgressed and led a loose life in his youthful days. He gambled to find money for his pleasures. He lost everything and he even stole some amount from his work-place. Finally having lost everything, he decided to end his own life. Luck alone saved him. Kind-hearted persons like Dr A J Conin helped and brought him back to a normal life. I’m very proud and happy to tell you that Mr. John has already paid all the
debt he owed to the society. He and his wife have been travelling to different
parts of the world to experience and execute the charity work among the maladjusted
and delinquent youths. We have a lot to learn from the life of Mr. John. A
timely intervention of three good people saved a young man and the young man in
return keeps on serving our society! A tiny deed of kindness can sometimes change the life of a man. That’s what has
happened in the life of Mr. John. On behalf of our Youth Welfare Club, I would like to extend to Mr. John our appreciation of his unparalleled services in the
field of charity. Let me conclude my speech with much pleasure. Thank you all,
thanks a lot! |
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The Character Mr. John has an equally important role as that of the narrator Dr AJ Cronin in the anecdote ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’. He is in his early 40s, and rather short in build with a fair complexion and clear blue eyes. His thin hair has begun to recede from his forehead. He looks serious and reserved in his dark suit, sober tie and rimless spectacles. Mr. John was an orphan and had an unhappy and miserable past. When he was young, he led a loose life. To enjoy pleasures of life, he pledged all his belongings, borrowed huge amount from others, stole some money from his workplace and gambled. Lost everything , finally he tried to commit suicide, but was fortunately saved by Dr. AJ Cronin. All these
happened 25 years ago. He learned a good lesson from his tragedy and determined
to change himself. Now he is a solicitor
by profession and director of a charitable organisation. He wished for a second
meeting with Dr. Cronin. But when Mr. John unexpectedly meets him after 25
years during a voyage , he cannot approach him. His diffidence prevents him
from approaching Dr Cronin. Finally encouraged by his wife, he approaches and
tells him his story. Dr. Cronin becomes extremely happy to know that Mr. John
is now a social worker. |
18 March 2021 Dear Sergeant,
How are you?
Hope you’ll find this email in good health. Two days back an unexpected
incident happened. I was on my voyage back from New York. I noticed a stranger watching me very seriously throughout the journey.
In the beginning
I ignored him. But the next day also he and his wife were watching me. I
understood from my steward that they were Mr. and Mrs John _S from London. He wanted to approach me, but he
was too shy to carry out his plan. Anyway, on the final evening of the journey, he
came to me encouraged by his wife. But I couldn’t recognize him. Then he told me
about the suicide attempt he made 25 years back.
Don’t you
remember once we saved a young man from death, who tried to commit suicide
inhaling gas? The same man! Now he is practicing as a solicitor and director of
a charitable organization. He and his wife have been in the field of social work for
the past 15 years. Now I realize that our efforts didn’t go in vain.
He is planning a
get together. He’ll inform us and the landlady about it. Let’s hope to meet
soon.
With best
regards,
(Sd/) Dr. AJ Cronin. |
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