Jimmy Valentine Questions and Answers Class 11 English Second Semester
Here we have shared Jimmy Valentine Questions and Answers Class 11 English Second Semester // Alias Jimmy Valentine by O. Henry.
Jimmy Valentine Long Questions and Answers Class 11 English Second Semester
Marks: 6
1. Throw a light on the character of Ben Price.
Ans. Ben Price is the eminent detective in O. Henry’s short story ‘Jimmy Valentine’. He is a prudent and plodding person. It was his wit and skill for which Jimmy, a notorious safe- cracker was once caught and sent behind the bars. His intelligence was quite evident when he investigated Jefferson City bank robbery case and ascertained Jimmy’s involvement. Despite a dutiful, long sighted and shrewd detective he is a man with generous heart. It was he who at last allowed Jimmy to lead a normal life. He feigned as if he did not recognise Mr. Valentine. Here we see that he advocates the law the purpose of which is to give a chance of reformation to a criminal. This trait of his character is really great and magnificent.
2. What did Jimmy do from the time he got out of jail till he met Mike Dolan?
Ans. After getting his acquittal from the jail, Jimmy headed towards the restaurant to have a filling meal. There he enjoyed the first sweet joys of liberty with a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine. Then he lit a cigar and proceeded leisurely to the depot. On reaching the depot he tossed a quarter into the hat of a blind man and boarded the train. He reached his destination after three hours train journey and went to the cafe owned by Mike Dolan.
3. “He opened this and gazed fondly” Who is ‘he’ here? What is referred to here as ‘this’? What things did Jimmy find there opening ‘this’?
Ans. Jimmy Valentine the central character of O. Henry’s short story “Jimmy Valentine” is ‘he’ here. The dust covered suitcase of Jimmy is referred to here as ‘this’.
After sliding back a panel in the wall of his room Jimmy dragged out the dust covered suitcase. The suitcase was filled with Jimmy’s burglary tools of various kinds. The finest sets of burglar’s tools were made of specially tempered steel. There were drills of latest designs,
punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, augers and two or three novelties invented by Jimmy himself.
4. What new name did Jimmy assume at Elmore? What business did he open there and why? How did Jimmy fare at Elmore?
Ans. At Elmore Jimmy assumed the name Ralph D Spencer.
Jimmy opened a shoe-store at Elmore. He came to learn from the clerk at Planters Hotel about the good prospect of shoe business. There was not any exclusive shoe-store at Elmore. The dry goods and general stores mainly handled them. Moreover, he had a good idea about shoe making since he himself had worked in the prison shoe shop. He also wanted to lead an honest life for the sake of his love for Miss Annabel Adams and so he thought it better to open a shoe-shop.
Jimmy’s shoe-business was a great success. He became a prosperous and successful businessman. Socially he was also a success and made many friends. He had won the respect of the community and had grown a healthy love relationship with Annabel. He also built up a friendly and family relationship with Annabel’s family and was going to marry Annabel shortly.
5 What did Jimmy write to his old friend in St. Louis? Why did he write so?
Ans. Jimmy stayed at Elmore for a year and became a successful businessman. When his marriage was settled with Annable Adams, he wrote a letter to his old friend Billy in St. Louis. He told him that he wanted to meet Billy on the next Wednesday right at Sullivan’s place, in Little Rock. He said that he would no longer engage himself in burglaries and wanted to make him a present of his burglary tools. He wanted to quit his old profession for the sake of the finest girl on earth whom he was going to marry two weeks from then. After his marraige he would sell out everything and settle in the west.
Jimmy was in love with Annabel Adams whom he described as an angel. He had the desire to live by honest means as he would not like to break Annabel’s heart and deceive her by doing another crooked thing. He was then a totally reformed person and realised that the honest and straight life was the only life to be happy. That was why Jimmy wrote so.
Class 11 English Second Semester Jimmy Valentine Broad Questions And Answers
Marks : 6
6. How did Jimmy prove his nobility towards the end of the story?
Ans. When Agatha, the little girl of Annabel’s married sister, was accidentally locked inside the vault, everybody became panic stricken. They could not find out any means to save and rescue the child from inside the vault. Now Jimmy was requested by Annabel to do something to save the five year old little girl. Jimmy had the tools with which he could open the vault but there was a problem. If he went forward to break open the vault door, his real identity would be revealed. Miss Annabel Adams whom he loved so deep might reject him as a suitor. His future might be at risk. But finally he responded to the call of humanity. He showed his nobility by giving up his new reformed look and putting his love at risk. He returned to his old job of breaking open vaults and saved the child. He knew that this activity might ruin his prospect of marrying Annabel and yet he sacrificed his identity for saving the girl child. In this way he proved himself as a man with a large heart for whom saving life is more imporotant than retaining his self identity as a businessman to marry his long cherished beloved Annabel.
7. was Jimmy’s reply then? What did the warden advise, Jimmy at the time of his discharge from the jail?
Ans. When the guard escorted Jimmy to the warden’s office, the warden handed Jimmy his pardon signed by the Governor. He told him that he would be released from the prison next morning and advised Jimmy to be resolute enough to make a man of himself. In his opinion Jimmy was not a bad fellow by heart. He exhorted Jimmy to stop cracking safes and lead a decent and honest life.
On hearing the words of the warden, Jimmy pretended to be an innocent fellow and told him that he had never cracked a safe in his life. He even denied his presence in springfield in his
life. He tried to prove himself virtuous as if he had never committed any crime.
8. “There he tasted the first sweet joys of liberty”-Who is ‘he’ here? Where did he taste the first sweet joys of liberty? Describe in brief how did the person taste the sweet joys of liberty.
Ans. Jimmy Valentine, a specialist in cracking safes who was released from the prison is ‘he’ here.
Jimmy Valentine who was pardoned by the Governor went straight to a restaurant after his release and there he tasted the first sweet joys of liberty.
James Valentine was chronicled on the books, ‘Pardoned by Governor and walked out into the sunshine. Then he went straight to a restaurant and enjoyed his first meal after getting freedom in the shape of a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine. Then he lit a cigar and proceeded leisurely to the depot to catch his train. In this way Jimmy tasted the first sweet joys of liberty.
9. “Ben Price knew Jimmy’s habits”-Who was Ben Price? How did Ben Price come to learn about Jimmy’s habits? What were Jimmy’s habits?
Ans. Ben Price was the detective who was in charge to investigate the cases of safecracking incidents in the short story ‘Jimmy Valentine’.
Once Ben Price took the charge of investigation of the Springfield case in which Jimmy Valentine was involved. While working on the case Ben Price came to learn about Jimmy’s habits.
Jimmy Valentine was a safecracker with an extraordinary and peculiar modus operandi. He practised some unique styles to execute his purpose. Long jumps and quick get-aways were some of his ways that proved very useful for him. While involving in a crime he never kept any partner and he had a great acquaintance with the people of high society. Those were his useful habits for which he could easily evade punishment.
10. “He’s resumed his business”-Who is the speaker? who is ‘he’ here? How did the speaker come to the above conclusion?
Ans. Here the speaker is Ben Price, the detective who was involved to investigate the safecracking cases in the short story ‘Jimmy Valentine’.
Jimmy Valentine is referred to here as ‘he’.
Jimmy Valentine was released from the jail very recently. But soon after his release, incidents of burglaries were reported from Richmond Indiana, Logansport and Jefferson city. The last one in Jefferson city, an old fashioned bank-safe was cracked and five thousand dollars were looted. The losses were high enough to involve Mr. Ben Price to investigate the cases. After being engaged, Mr. Ben Price visited the spot and started his investigation. He was familiar with Jimmy’s style and mode of operation. After investigating the scenes of the robberies and comparing notes he discovered the signature of the seasoned safecracker, Jimmy Valentine. Thus he concluded that Jimmy started his burglaries afresh once again.
Class XI English Second Semester Jimmy Valentine Descriptive Questions and Answers
Marks : 6
11. Describe the contents of Jimmy’s suitcase. Why do you think he gazed at them fondly?
Ans. The suitcase that Jimmy kept with him contained the finest set of burglary tools. It was a complete set made of specially tempered steel. The tools were of latest designs like drills. punches, braces and bits Jimmies, clamps and augers. Of these tools Jimmi invented two or three himself and those were quite novel.
Jimmy was very much fond of his set of finest burglar’s tools in the East as he was an expert safecracker. He had a great attachment to these tools and took pride in them. He had spent over nine hundred dollars to be the owner of such precious tools. Some of them were invented by Jimmy himself and that also filled him with pride. These tools were very dear to him and were of great value. So, he gazed at them fondly.
12. What new name did Jimmy Valentine assume at Elmore? What business did he open there? How did Jimmy fare at Elmore?
Ans. The new name that Jimmy Valentine assumed at Elmore was ‘Ralph D Spencer’.
Jimmy Valentine opened a shoe-store at Elmore.
Jimmy started a new journey of life at Elmore where he decided to live honestly. His shoe- store secured a good run of trade and Jimmy prospered. Jimmy was a fashionable guy and had a taste for good society. His decent manner and fashionable look made him familiar in the high class society and he made many friends. Socially he proved himself successful. Thus on the one hand his shoe-store began to flourish and on the other he won the respect of the community. At last his dream also came true when he and Miss Annabel were engaged to be married. In this way Jimmy fared at Elmore.
13. “I wouldn’t do another crooked thing for the whole world.” Who is the speaker here? To whom did he say this and when? What prompted the speaker to make this promise?
Ans. Here the speaker is Jimmy Valentine alias Ralph D. Spencer in O Henry’s short story ‘Jimmy Valentine.
Jimmy said this to one of his old accomplices, Billy. He made this promise while writing a letter to him with the intension of presenting him his precious box filled with safe-cracking tools. He was going to marry the daughter of Mr. Adams after two weeks and was resolute enough to continue with his honest leading of life. Just then he said this to his old pal.
Jimmy fell in love with Annabel at first sight when he was at Elmore. His life turned radically since then. He bade his old profession of safecracking good-bye and embraced an honest life of a businessman. He even changed his name. He was so impressed by Annabel that he mentioned her as the finest girl on earth with whom he was going fasten the string of marriage very soon. He loved Annabel very much and could not deceive her as she had belief in him. For that angel, the girl whom he loved so dearly, he could not do another crooked thing for the whole world.
14. “That child-she can’t stand it long in there”-Who is referred to here? Why was she in danger? How was she saved?
Ans. Agatha, one of the two daughters of Annabel’s married sister is referred to here.
Mr. Adams was very proud of the new safe and vault which had just been put in the Elmore Bank. Mr. Adams brought his whole family along with Jimmy alias Spencer to show the vault and its function. Now when everyone was busy in conversation, May, the elder grand-daughter of Adams in a spirit of play shut Agatha in the vault and locked her. The combination knob was not set. There was little air inside and moreover, the little girl might go in convulsions from fright. Therefore, she was in danger.
There was nobody who could unlock the vault. Everybody there was dumbstruck and panicky. Now Annabel put forth an earnest request to Jimmy to do something to save the little girl.
Jimmy immediately responded to the call of his beloved and brought out his toolkit to rescue the child even in spite of the risk of revealing his past criminal life. He laid out his shining, queer implements swiftly and orderly and his pet drill worked miraculously. The vault-door was opened in ten minutes and the child was rescued.
15. “The frightened child, unharmed, fell into her mother’s arm”-Who was the child referred to here? Why was the child frightened? How did the child fall into her mother’s arm unharmed?
Ans. Here the child refers to the younger grand-daughter of Mr. Adams, Agatha
When everybody was busy in talking, May, the elder daughter of Annabel’s married sister put Agatha in the vault playfully and in a careless mood. She then shot the bolts and turned the knob of the combination what was not set yet. Now little Agatha felt suffocation inside the darkness. Locked inside she felt convulsions in fear until the door was opened.
Jimmy with the help of his burglary tools opened the vault in ten minutes in response to the call of his beloved. Agatha was then gathered by her mother in her arms almost collapsed but safe.
WBCHSE Class 11 English Second Semester Jimmy Valentine Questions and Answers
Marks : 6
16. “With that act Ralph D Spencer passed away and Jimmy Valentine took his place”- What act is referred to here? What followed ‘that act’?
Ans. When Agatha was locked inside the vault, everybody present there looked panicky and confused as there was nobody who knew the way to unlock the vault door. Now Annabel requested her beloved Jimmy to do something to rescue the child. Jimmy responded to the call of Annabel knowing it well that he was going to risk his pleasant future. He then asked for the rose Annabel was wearing and stuffed it into his vest pocket. Then throwing off his coat he pulled up his shirt sleeves. This was the act referred to here.
With that act old Jimmy replaced Ralph D Spencer. Now Jimmy gave a command to vacate the door and opened his suitcase on the table. He remained engrossed in his own work and laid out the shining, queer implements swiftly and orderly whistling to himself. Soon his pet drill began to bite the still door quite smoothly. Finally he threw back the bolts and opened the door in ten minutes. The child was carried by her mother unconscious but safe.
17. “And then Ben Price acted rather strangely”-Who was Ben Price? Describe his strange action.
Ans. Ben Price was the detective who was engaged to solve the safecracking cases occurred soon after the release of Jimmy Valentine from the prison.
In O Henry’s short story ‘Jimmy Valentine’, Jimmy rescued the little girl Agatha by cracking open the vault in the Elmore Bank at the risk of revealing his past criminal life. He was aware of Ben Price’s presence. Jimmy was exposed as a safecracker and so he thought that Ben would now arrest him. When he offered to go with Ben, the detective refused to recognize him and reminded him that his buggy was waiting for him. He then turned and strolled down the street.
18. “And then Ben Price acted rather strangely” Why do you think Ben Price acted strangely?
Ans. Jimmy exposed himself, as a safecracker, when he cracked open the safe in the Elmore Bank. His real identity was revealed before Ben Price who witnessed the whole episode. He could have arrested Jimmy soon after but in spite of recognizing Jimmy he pretended not to have any knowledge of him. Here Ben proved his greatness by letting Jimmy go. He was then quite certain that Jimmy was a reformed man. A criminal also should get an opportunity to lead a simple and honest life when he wants to start life afresh. Here Ben Price played a noble role by giving Jimmy a chance of reformation. Ben was certain that Jimmy was a changed man and no more a criminal. He also realized that even at the risk of revealing his past criminal records, Jimmy cracked the safe only to save the little girl. A criminal with a reformed soul must get a chance to begin his new life in an honest way. So, Ben Price acted quite strangely.
19. What idea of Jimmy Valentine do you get from the story ‘Jimmy Valentine’?
Ans. Jimmy Valentine is the central character in O. Henry’s short story “Jimmy Valentine”.
He was a skilled safe-cracker, who carried out burglaries with precision and ease, leaving no trace behind. He was master of deception, and without having any remorse he could effortlessly spin lies with charm. When the prison warden questioned him about the Springfield burglary, he feigned innocence. Despite his criminal ways, Jimmy had a good heart. The warden urged him to start anew, but Jimmy remained unmoved. However, his life took a significant turn when he met Annabel Adams, the daughter of a small-town banker. Her love inspired him to change his ways. He underwent a transformation. Two weeks before their wedding, Jimmy heroically rescued a child by cracking a safe, risking his own freedom, future and love. This selfless act revealed Jimmy’s true nature. Showcasing a compassionate and courageous individual beneath his roguish exterior. His love for Annabel inspired a desire to change, and Jimmy ultimately chose redemption over his life of crime. Jimmy Valentine’s story is an example of redemption and the transformative power of love, illustrating how even the most hardened individuals can change when given the right motivation and opportunity.
20. ‘Oh Ralph, isn’t there something you can do?’ Who is the speaker here? What was the situation that led the speaker to make this appeal? What did Ralph do?
Ans. Here the speaker is Miss Annabel Adams, whom Jimmy Valentine is going to marry in two weeks.
The day Jimmy Valentine decided to give away his safe cracking tools to one of his friends. Mr. Adams requested Jimmy to stay back with his other family members as he wanted to show off to them all his brand new vault. The group consisted of Annabel, her married sister with two small daughters, Mr. Ralph D. Spencer alias Jimmy and Mr. Adams. They all saw the shiny vault with a time lock. The heavy door of the vault stood open as the vault was not in use. The little girls looked inside with great interest as Mr. Adams explained its workings. Suddenly the older girl playfully pushed her little sister into the vault and shut the door trapping her Inside. Inside the vault the little girl screamed in terror. The adults were horrified realising the girl might die of suffocation. In this crisis, the speaker Annabel Adams begged Ralph alias Jimmy to do something to save the child.
Fortunately, Ralph alias Jimmy had the safe cracking tools with him. Without hesitation Jimmy sprang into action drilling into the heavy vault door with lightning speed. Within few minutes he opened the door breaking his own speed record. The child came out frightened but unharmed. Ralph’s quick thinking and expertise save the day.
Class 11 English Second Semester Jimmy Valentine Long Questions and Answers
Marks : 6
21. How did Jimmy Valentine fall in love?
Ans. Jimmy Valentine, a charming safe cracker, ha just completed three burglaries after his prison release. He decided to try his luck elsewhere and took a train to Elmore. Upon arrival, he came across a lovely young lady, Annabel Adams, crossing the street and entering the Elmore Bank. Smitten, Jimmy forgot his purpose of coming to Elmore and became infatuated. As he gazed at Annabel, he caught her attention, and she hurried into the bank. Jimmy approached a nearby boy and, after paying him six dimes, learned Annabel’s identity as the bank owner’s daughter. Jimmy fell in love with the lady. He decided to leave his criminal life behind, assume a new name, and start an honest business to win Annabel’s heart.
22. “Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes….” What is phoenix? Who is referred to as phoenix? What does the author mean by the above line?
Ans. According to myth, the phoenix is a magical bird that cycles through a transformative journey, living for hundreds of years before burning itself to ashes, only to be reborn again.
Here Jimmy Valentine is referred to as phoenix.
Like a phoenix, Jimmy Valentine underwent a significant metamorphosis when he laid eyes on the lovely Annabel Adams, the banker’s daughter. Overwhelmed by love, Jimmy resolved to turn over a new leaf, abandoning his illicit safe-cracking profession to embrace an honest livelihood. As he shed his past, Jimmy Valentine ceased to exist, and from his ashes emerged a new entity-Ralph D. Spencer. Settling in Elmore, Ralph established a thriving shoe store and prospered in all aspects. He even pledged to marry Annabel and embrace a secure life. With unwavering determination, Ralph vowed never to revert to his old ways, ensuring that the man born from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes would be a paragon of virtue.
23. How does O. Henry present Jimmy as a reformed character in the course of the story?
Ans. Jimmy’s transformation was a gradual process, a series of ongoing steps that ultimately led to his reformation. His release from prison was not a turning point in itself, but rather the catalyst for change sparked by his encounter with Annabel, the banker’s daughter. It was Annabel’s influence that brought about a profound shift in Jimmy’s perspective, transforming him from a notorious safecracker to a man committed to honesty. As Jimmy’s love for Annabel grew, so did his determination to leave his past behind. He adopted a new profession, started a shoe- manufacturing business, and assumed a new identity as Ralph D. Spencer. Although circumstances forced him to briefly revisit his old skills to rescue a child from a vault, Jimmy remained true to his new identity. Detective Ben Price, sympathetic to Jimmy’s transformation, chose not to arrest him, recognizing the authenticity of his reformation. In the end, Jimmy’s transformation was a testament to the power of love and redemption, a true rags-to-riches story of personal growth and renewal.
24. Comment on O. Henry’s use of humour and suspense in the story ‘Jimmy Valentine’.
Ans. O. Henry beautifully employs humour and suspense to craft a narrative that not only entertains but also stimulates thought among readers. These literary devices expertly wovan throughout the story sustain interest and add depth to the plot. Jimmy’s declarations of being a cookie and biscuit sales manager and his denials of safe-cracking and Springfield connections are cleverly used as false self-defense mechanisms, injecting humour into the story. Meanwhile, suspense is skillfully maintained at every turn, Ben Price’s arrival in Elmore coincides with Ralph and Annabel’s blossoming love, creating tension. Annabel’s plea to rescue the trapped girl from the vault, with Ben Price present, ratchets up the suspense. The climax reaches its peak as Jimmy breaks the vault to save the girl, leaving the reader wondering it Ben Price will arrest him. The detective’s feigned ignorance of Jimmy’s identity adds a surprising twist. amplifying the thrill. The expertly balanced humour and suspense make the story a captivating pageturner.
25. Jimmy Valentine’s character stands as a foil to Ralph. D. Spencer. Discuss the appropriateness of the statement.
Ans. Jimmy Valentine and Ralph D. Spencer are two names that refer to the same individual, but at different stages of his life. While they share common qualities like intelligence, agility, and good looks, they differ significantly in their social status, associations, professions, and mental dispositions, Jimmy, a notorious safe cracker, is a far cry from Ralph D. Spencer, a successful businessman. Their paths diverge further as Jimmy becomes the target of Detective Ben Price’s pursuit, whereas Ralph earns Ben’s sympathy and admiration for his honesty and greatness. Interestingly, both Jimmy and Ralph utilize the same set of tools, but for contrasting purposes. Jimmy employs them for burglary, while Ralph uses them to rescue a young girl’s life. This dichotomy highlights Ralph’s transformation from his former life as Jimmy. Love brought about this change and love has reformed him into a moral and upright individual.
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