The Trip of Le Horla

Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1. What is special about the sentences in the telegram?
Answer: The sentences are not grammatical. The message is conveyed through short phrases.

Question 2. What does the author compare the balloon to?

Answer: The balloon is compared to a cake made of yellow cloth.

Question 3. What is the other thought that occurs to every mind?

Answer: The other thought that occurs to every mind is a baby in the womb that is nourished
through the umbilical cord until its birth.

Question 4. Express the attitude of the spectators and passengers towards the sport of ballooning.
Answer: Some spectators think that the balloon will come down before reaching its destination.
They also criticize several other things about the balloon. But the passengers are happy and excited
about what they are going to do and they are optimistic about their success.

Question 5. What is the established custom mentioned here?

Answer: Dining in the canteen of the gas-works by the passengers is the established custom
mentioned here.

Question 6. When the travellers come out, what do they see?

Answer: When the travellers come out they see that the balloon is moving from side to side,
enormous and transparent, a big golden fruit, a wonderful pear which is still ripening with the last
rays of the setting sun. The basket is attached. The barometers and the siren are brought. Two
trumpets, the eatables, overcoats and raincoats were also there.

Question 7. Name the passengers in the balloon.

Answer: Jovis is the Captain. Then there are Lieutenant Mallet, M. Etierine Beer, M. Paul Bessand
and the narrator, Guy de Maupassant.

Question 8. Who is posted as the officer on watch?

Answer: Lieutenant Mallet is posted as the officer on watch.
Question 9. Why does M. Eyries get out of the balloon? Is he regretful? Why?
Answer: M. Eyries gets out of the balloon because the basket carrying the passengers has become
too heavy for the balloon. He is regretful. He had planned for this flight and since he had to abandon
it at the last minute he was unhappy. He would miss all the adventure and fun.

Question 10. What does M. Joliet’s deeds and words tell us about him?
Answer: His words and deeds tell that M.Joliet is a chivalrous gentleman. He gallantly asks the ladies
to stand aside a little because the rising balloon might throw sand on their hats. It shows how
considerate he is to the ladies.

Question 11. Comment on the use of the word ‘liberty.’

Answer: Maupassant has used this word ‘liberty’ in a most appropriate fashion. By cutting the rope
that holds Le Horla to the ground, Le Horla is given the liberty to fly freely in the infinite skies like a
bird.
Question 12. Describe the aerial view of Paris.
Answer: Paris is like a dark bluish patch, cut by its streets. Domes, towers and steeples of Paris are
visible from the sky. Around it there is the plain, traversed by long roads amidst green fields and
forests.
Question 13. Have you ever had an aerial view of a place?
Answer: Yes, I had. Once I flew from Cochin to Mumbai and I had an aerial view of Mumbai.

uestion 14. Can a view from an aeroplane be as picturesque as this balloon view? Why?
Answer: No, it can’t be. Because an aeroplane flies at a much greater height and at a greater speed
and so your view can’t be as picturesque as from a balloon which flies at a lower height and with
less speed.

Question 15. How do the travellers know whether they are rising or sinking?
Answer: Travellers know whether they are rising or sinking by throwing a cigarette paper out of the
basket. If the paper falls down like a stone, it means the balloon is rising. If it appears to shoot
skyward, the balloon is sinking.
Question 16. All the noises are easily recognisable. Mention the diverse sounds that reach the
travellers’ ears.
Answer: The noises that reach the travellers’ ears are: the sound of wheels rolling on the streets, the
snap of a whip, the shouts of drivers, the rolling and whistling of trains and the laughter of the boys
running after one another. When they pass over a village, the noise of childrens voice is heard above
the rest with much clarity.

Question 17. How do the animals receive the balloon? How does the balloon appear before them?
Answer: The dogs bark. The cows low. To all the animals the balloon appears as a monster moving
through the air. They are scared of it.

Question 18. The delicious odours of the soil rise toward us, the smell of hay, of flowers, of the
moist, verdant earth, perfuming the air … Identify the type of imagery used here.
Answer: The imagery is that of a wedding – the bride eagerly and happily welcoming the groom.

Question 19. What do you think would be the fate of the balloon?
Answer: I think the balloon would get out of control.

Question 20. Why does Mallet ask the Captain to throw down half a handful of sand?
Answer: Mallet ask the Captain to throw down half a handful of sand because by doing that the
weight of the balloon would be reduced helping it to rise.

Question 21. The balloon is both a free toy and a slave of the wind. Express your views on this
statement.
Answer: The balloon is both a free toy and a slave of the wind. The travellers rise and sink in the
balloon as they wish making use of the bag of ballast (sand, stones etc.) with them. This way it is a
toy for them. But they can do nothing if it is caught by a storm and then the balloon becomes a slave
and the travellers lose their control over it.

Question 22. Can you observe odour? Why does the author say so?
Answer: Normally we can’t observe odour. We can only smell it. The author says that it could be
observed because he can see the balloon expanding because of the current of warm air and the gas
going out by the escape-valve.
Question 23. Comment on the expression: ‘losing its invisible blood by the escape-valve.’
Answer: Blood keeps the body alive. In the case of the balloon, it is the gas that keeps it ‘alive’ –
flying in the air. Gas is thus the invisible blood.

Question 24. What do the mist-covered earth and star-studded sky indicate?
Answer: The mist-covered earth and star-studded sky indicate that it is night and the balloon and its
passengers are at a great height.

Question 25. How is the rising of the moon described?

Answer: A silvery light appears and makes the sky turn pale. It is rising from unknown depths,
behind the horizon, on the edge of a cloud.

Question 26. Look at the expression ‘delicious inertia. ’ Can you identify the figure of speech used
here?
Answer: The figure of speech used here is Metaphor.

Question 27. Why is space travel considered as ‘delicious inertia’ by the narrator?
Answer: Inertia means apathy, unwillingness to move or act. The narrator feels that space travel is
wonderful and compares it to having delicious food. There is a great sensation of satisfaction and
happiness while travelling in space in a state of inertia. They feel like birds that don’t even have to
flap their wings.

Question 28. Coin expressions to describe the balloon just like the author who calls the balloon’ a
world wandering in the sky’ and ‘a wandering, travelling world.’
Answer: ‘Soaring, fleeting world’ and ‘a fleeting world in the sky’.

Question 29. When does the balloon stop? Why?

Answer: The balloon stops when it reaches a height of two thousand three hundred and fifty
metres. The air pressure must have come down so the balloon stops rising and then it starts to
descend.

Question 30. How does the author describe the rapid descent of the balloon?
Answer: The author says that they are going down very rapidly. M. Mallet asks the passengers to
throw out more ballast. They are throwing out sand and stones to lighten the balloon so that it can
fly upwards but their descent is so fast that the sand they throw flies back into their eyes.
Question 31. How does the shadow of the balloon appear to the travellers?
Answer: The travellers look down and see something running on the ground with great speed ,
jumping over ditches, roads and trees so easily but they cannot guess what it is until the captain tells
them that it is the shadow of the balloon.

Question 32. How far does the polar star guide the travellers?
Answer: The polar star guides the travellers to Belgium which borders France on the south.

Question 33. Do you think it is a scientific way to travel?

Answer: Yes. The polar star is also called the North Star. It has been used by travellers for centuries
to help them to know the direction as it remains constant in its position.
Question 34. Who is the bewildered man? Why is he bewildered?
Answer: Lieutenant Mallet who was watching the course of the balloon is the bewildered man. He is
bewildered or confused because the balloon is moving so fast that he does not even know where
they are. Comment on the reaction of the captain to the roaring wind.

Question 35. Can you justify the Captain’s behaviour?

Answer: The Captain knows that the sound they hear is the sound of a storm coming. He does not
want to frighten his passengers so he says it is the sound of the waterfalls and nudges the narrator
to keep silent. I can justify the Captain’s behaviour. If the passengers are frightened they may do
something foolish and this would be very dangerous as they are in a small basket of a flying balloon.

Question 36. Identify the sights and sounds that welcome the dawn.
Answer:The growing light shows the little details of the earth, the trains, the brooks, the cows and
the goats. They could hear the cocks crowing, but the voice of ducks drowns everything.

Question 37. ‘The world fleeing under our feet’ —what experience does the author try to convey?
Answer: The world is running under our feet. The author uses a personification to convey the
experience of rapid movement of the earth while he was travelling in the balloon.

Question 38. If you were in such a situation how would you react?
Answer: If I were in a flying balloon and a storm was coming and we had to descend fast, I would do
as the passengers in the balloon did. I would certainly be scared but would help out to ensure that
we land as safely as possible.

Question 39. ‘Religiously enclosed’- what is your opinion about the adverb used here? How is the
adverb connected with the verb ‘enclosed’?
Answer: It shows how seriously and carefully things have to be done while travelling in a balloon.
The phrase ‘religiously enclosed’ is a personification. The adverb ‘religiously’ denotes seriousness
and care and it is used to describe the verb ‘enclosed.’ The narrator means that the escape valve
had been very carefully enclosed in a white bag so that all the passengers would be careful and treat
it with respect and not meddle with it or touch it.

Question 40. Why do you think the birds are hesitant to follow the balloon?
Answer: The thunder is rumbling and so the birds are hesitant to follow the balloon which looks like
a monster. They don’t want to be caught in the storm and by the monster.

Question 41. List out the words and expressions that indicate the mad flight of the balloon.
Answer: The mad flight of the balloon is described:
• • The basket trembles and tips over.
• • The guy-rope touches the tall trees.
• • The balloon passes with frightful rapidity.
• • Bewildered chickens, pigeons, and ducks fly away
• • Cows, cats and dogs run, terrified, toward the house.

Question 42. What action does Mallet perform?

Answer: Mallet reaches for the rope to the escape valve and hangs on to it. Then the cord to the
anchor is cut with a knife.

Question 43. Comment on the visual effect of ‘the balloon landing’.

Answer: The balloon landing is visualized like the fall of a wounded beast during a hunt. It is very
effectively pictured as a wounded beast trying to escape. But then it falls down and struggles, finally
breathing its last.

Question 44. Describe the reception of the balloon by the peasants.

Answer: The peasants ran towards the landing balloon and as they waited for the balloon to deflate,
a few of the peasants were jumping and gesturing like savages. The peasants were accommodating
and hospitable and helped the travellers to pack all their material and carry it to the nearest station.

Activity -1 (Think and respond)

Question 1. Imagine that you get a chance to be the captain of a tour programme. What type of a
captain would you like to become?
Answer: I would like to be a smart and efficient tour programme captain. Everyone in the
programme should enjoy and have fun.
List the qualities of an ideal Captain.
• • Helpful
• • Efficient
• • Smart
• • Resourceful
• • Courageous
• • Humorous

Activity – II (Live TV report)

Question 2. Draft a live TV report of Le Horla’s take off.
Answer: Next on our infotainment section we have Rahul Binoy reporting live on the story “Le Horla
Conquers the Skies” from the Gas works at La Villette.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Today is the day, 8th July, for Le Horla is taking off from La
Villette. We are right in front of Le Horla, the hot air balloon. It is getting filled up and is swelling and
wriggling like a huge worm. It is surrounded by some 300 enthusiastic people. Now the passengers
are getting in. The Captain is Jovis. The others in the basket attached to the balloon are Lieutenant
Mallet, M. Etierine Beer, M. Paul Bessand, and M. Patrice Eyries.
I see them talking animatedly. Now Patrice Eyries is coming down. It seems he can’t go because the
balloon can’t take the weight of all of them. He walks away dejectedly. Poor guy! All his dream of an
adventure is gone!
M. Joliet tells the ladies to keep off. When the balloon lifts sand will be thrown into their hats. He
cuts the ropes that hold the balloon to the ground. Look! Le Horla is lifting upward, like a bird lifts
off. Up, up and up goes the balloon! People scream with joy! Le Horla climbs above the city of Paris
and it is slowly disappearing! The sight of the earth from the balloon will be fantastic. We wish the
passengers a lot of luck!

Activity – III (Dos and Don’ts)

Question 3. While planning a trip, we have to consider many things. What are the dos and the don’ts
while doing so?
Answer: DOs
• • Take a first aid kit.
• • Wear appropriate clothes.
• • Wear proper shoes.
• • Ensure you have some drinking water.
• • Keep enough money.
• • If you are going abroad, ensure you have your . passport and visa with you.
• • Have your camera.

DON’Ts
• • Don’t carry expensive things
• • Don’t overeat before you start a trip.
• • Don’t carry too much luggage. Less luggage more comfort.
• • Don’t try to show off by doing very risky things.
• • Don’t get upset with small irritants.

Activity – IV (Comparison)
Question 4. Nothing is more amusing, more delicate, more interesting than the manoeuvring of a
balloon. What degree of comparison is used here? Comparative Degree Read the passage on p. 88.
Rewrite it comparing it with the life on earth.
Answer: Now our minds and thoughts are more independent than they were when we were on
earth. We are happier here because we have no regrets. We look and feel better here. Our journey
here is wilder and more fantastic than any journey on earth because here the only thing we can see
is the moon. We are a wandering, travelling world, like our sisters, the planets. The five of us have
almost forgotten that we belong to the earth as we move in the space like birds. No crowds, no
noise, no dust, no smoke! Beautiful blue sky and the right moon! We feel we are in heaven, floating
through a stream of joy!

Activity – V (Narration)
Question 5. Read the notes on the mode of narration given below: Narrate the landing of the
balloon from the point of view of one of the peasants there.
Answer: I see a huge balloon from which a basket is hanging over the canal at a distance. The basket
trembles and tips over slightly. I can see a rope trailing behind touching the tall trees on both banks.
Now it is passing with frightful speed over a large farm. The bewildered chickens, pigeons and ducks
fly away. The terrified cows, cats and dogs run towards the house. I don’t know what is happening.
Now the balloon is passing over the trees. I see the balloon and the basket shaking. Something falls
down and suddenly the balloon stops. Soon it touches the ground. The basket touches the earth.
Then it goes up again. Once more, it falls and bounds upward again and at last, it settles on the
ground. The balloon is struggling madly like a wounded beast. Now it comes to a standstill. I see five
men climbing out of the basket. There is the joy of success on their faces. My companions and I help
them. They say they want to go to Heyst, a railway station nearby. They want to take the 20:20 train
to Paris. We help them to carry their luggage to the station.

Activity – VI (Travel Essay)

Question 6. Write a travel essay, describing a ravel experience you had recently.

Answer: My parents had promised me a foreign trip if I passed my SSLC with very high scores. I
worked very hard and I passed with distinction. So my parents allowed me to go on a trip to Europe.
Since travelling alone would be difficult, I decided to join a tour group organized by the company
called Intersight, Kochi. The first problem was getting a European visa. The company said it would
get it for me. I was planning to go in April. April is hot in Kerala, but in Europe it is still cold. So I had
to get warm clothes for the trip. I also needed a good camera.
We started our travel from Kochi. The representative from the Intersight was there to organize
things. I reported to the airport 3 hours before the take off time. After completing the check-in, I
went for the immigration formalities. After a thorough body check, I was allowed to go into the
comfortable waiting lounge.
We were flying by Qatar Airways to Zurich. The flight was announced and we got into the aircraft. It
was a huge aircraft. The smiling airhostesses showed us our seats. Soon we took off. We were
served refreshments. After that I watched an in-flight movie. After 3 hours, we landed at Qatar
airport. It is a huge airport. We had to spend some time at the airport lounge to get our flight to
Zurich.
The flight to Zurich was also by Qatar airways. We were served meals in the flight. After the meals I
went off to sleep. Eight hours later, we landed at Zurich. We were taken to our hotel in a coach. It
was then I came to know who the people in the group tour were. There was another boy of my age
and soon we became friends.
Our first visit was to the Titlis Mountains, in the Alps. On our way, we saw the life of the people.
How disciplined people were. How nicely they behaved on the roads. No animals and birds crossed
the roads. We hardly saw anyone walking on the roads. On both sides there were fields. We could
see cattle grazing. Switzerland is a beautiful country.
Soon we reached Titlis. We would be taken to the top by rope ways and lifts. We reached the top.
The scene was breath-taking. The whole area was covered with snow and ice. People were skating.
We went for an ice-tunnel walk. They have built a tunnel in the ice and I walked for nearly a
kilometre inside the tunnel. Ice on top, ice at the bottom and ice on both sides. It was a wonderful
experience. I was exhilarated. Tomorrow we would go to Paris by coach to see the Eiffel Tower and
other wonderful sights of that great city.