Play # 1: Heat Lightning; Book III, First Year English

Summary

The play “Heat Lightning’ is about a girl who is victim of fear. She is afraid of something unknown. On a dark and stormy night she has a notion that she is being attacked by someone, Running away from the killer she finds shelter in a bus station. She tells a man in the station that she is being chased by a killer. The Man consoles her and assures her complete protection.

The Girl does not trust his words. She is emotionally disturbed. She has always fearful notions in her mind. As a frightened person she behaves in a strange way. Her mind is occupied with symbols of terror. Storm terrifies her. Lightning terrifies her. The crash of thunder terrifies her.

The image of the killer terrifies her. The Man is waiting for the bus, which is late because of storm. The Man asks the Girl about the killer. The Girl does not give a satisfactory answer. In fact she does not remember clearly what she had seen. In the meanwhile, a stranger comes in.

In the play he is described as Second Man. The Man is reluctant to let him come in, but he had to permit him. The stranger enquires about the Girl. He wanted to know why she looked so fearful. As they were talking the bus comes. The Second Man asks the Girl to accompany him. The Girl tells him that she will like to stay with the Man. The Second Man goes away. Soon the Girl sees someone approaching the hall. She tries to bolt the door. The Man Comes near her. Incidentally, a dog comes for safety from the storm. He bites the Man with his sharp teeth. The Man runs away. The Girl heaves a sigh of relief.

Muhammad Qasim Nazar Lecture in English(0311-7763164) Punjab College Sambrial

Questions and Answers

Q.1. Why was the girl unable to describe the killer? (imp)

Ans: She could not describe the killer as she had not seen him clearly due to darkness. She had already seen the corpse of a woman so she had become nervous too.

Q.2. What was condition of the weather? (imp)

Ans: The weather was stormy. It was heavy rain with thundering and lightning.

Q.3. Why did the girl consider the First Man her helper? (imp)

Ans: She was already nervous and upset. She knew that the killer was chasing her. She was looking for help. As she first met the First man, so she considered him her helper and asked for his help.

Q.4. Did the girl become suspicious of the First Man as the play progresses?

Ans: No, she did not get suspicious of the First Man in the beginning of the play. Rather she trusted him.

Q.5. Why did the girl not want to go to the police?

Ans: The girl did not want to inform the police as she was unable to describe the killer. She knew that the police would harass her by putting unnecessary questions.

Q.5. Why did the second man accuse the First man of lying? (imp)

Ans: The first man tried to hide the presence of the girl whom the Second man had already seen through the glass of the door. So, the second man accused him of lying.

Q.6. What were the circumstances that forced her to leave her car?

Ans: It was stormy midnight. Her car ran out of gas on the road. There was nobody nearby to help. So, she had to leave her car there.

Q.7. Why didn’t she company the second man? Why did girl not accept the offer of the second man to go with him? (imp)

Ans: The girl considered the second man the killer. She did not want to go with him. So she refused his offer to go with him.

Q8. Why did the girl ask help from the first man?

Ans: See the answer to question No.3

Extra questions

Q.9. How did the Girl realize the truth?

Ans: The girl saw a flashlight in the hands of the First man. It was the same flashlight that she had dropped on the road. So, she realized that the first man was the killer.

Muhammad Qasim Nazar Lecture in English(0311-7763164) Punjab College Sambrial

MULTIPLE CHOICES

1. The bus was late due to

(a) Rush (b) storm (c) accident (d) change in schedule

2. The girl was coming from

(a) The party (b) tour (c) a hill station (d) a station

3. The girl was afraid of

(a) a friend (b) the policeman (c) a killer (d) a person

4. She thought of reaching the house but

(a) The car broke down (b) the brakes failed

(c) To cheat a man (d) the road was blocked

5. She saw the man dragging out of his car

(a) A sack (b) the corps of a woman (c) a statue (d) a dog

6. Why did she circle round and round into the wood?

(a) to escape from the killer (b) to reach a safe place

(c) to cheat a man (d) to save herself

7. "You couldn't think of something that might give them a lead" means

(a) To find a culprit (b) to find a treasure (c) to persecute (d) to get a clue

8. She saw in the flash of lightning

(a) A dog (b) a bus (c) a car (d) a man's face

9. The difference in the age of two men is of

(a) ten years (b) five years (c) two years (d) one years

10. Which door read "men"?

(a) up centre (b) up right (c) up left (d) up side

Muhammad Qasim Nazar Lecture in English(0311-7763164) Punjab College Sambrial

SYNONYMS

1. The girl looks at the light and begins sobbing again.

(a) Dancing                    (b) weeping          (c) dragging         (d) smiling

2. There is a second flash of LIGHTNING illuminating the Center door.

(a) Breaking         (b) enlightening    (c) knocking         (d) thundering

3. The door rattles viciously.

(a) Carefully         (b) violently          (c) slowly             (d) rapidly

4. Rattles the door viciously once more.

(a) Makes             (b) opens              (c) clatters            (d) closes

5. The piercing light of the flashlight is the only light in the room.

(a) Sharp              (b) faint                (c) full                   (d) dim

6. Oh’ God! I’m scared.

(a) Dared              (b) peered            (c) paired             (d) afraid

7. I could hear the water splashing under his feet as he ran.

(a) Splatter           (b) touching                   (c) waterfall         (d) catching

8. He glances back at the door.

(a) Looks              (b) neglects          (c) overlooks        (d) looks through

9. Her hair is disheveled.

(a) Combed                    (b) ordered           (c) set                   (d) disordered

10. The girls hysterically say: "Thank God! You're here!"

(a) Cleverly                    (b) delightfully      (c) wildly              (d) quickly

11. She shudders at her own thoughts

(a) moves             (b) runs               (c) trembles          (d) worries

12. The girl stunned.

(a) Slowed            (b) stung              (c) amazed            (d) laughed

13. The drab interior of a bus station.

(a) Inhibited          (b) populated       (c) weary              (d) dreary

14. One bench faces the audience (Spectators), one faces the rear wall.

(a) Confronts        (b) occupies          (c) overtakes         (d) overlooks

15. He picks up a discarded paper.

(a) Fresh               (b) latest               (c) abandoned       (d) new