This document summarizes a PowerPoint presentation about the lesson "The Accidental Tourist" by Bill Bryson. It includes sections on objectives, teaching aids, a pre-reading activity, an introduction to the author and lesson, reading the text with explanations, comprehension questions, vocabulary, and homework. The presentation was prepared by Jay Shankar Tiwari for a class of students.

1. Power Point Presentation
Lesson :- THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
Author :- Bill Bryson
Source - MOMENTS
CLASS- IX
Prepared by Jay Shankar Tiwari - TGT( English)
JNV Rahikwara, Satna (M. P.)
JST

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General Objectives
Specific Objectives
Teaching Aids
Pre-Reading Activity
Previous Knowledge
Introduction
a. About the Author
b. About the Lesson
Text(Reading) with Explanation
Comprehension Questions
Vocabulary
Homework

3. JST
1.To enable students to understand the
passage and grasp its meaning
2. To enable the students to read English
passage loudly with correct pronunciation
3. To enable them to understand the
passage by silent reading
4. To enable them to express the ideas of
the passage orally and in writing
5. To enrich their active and passive

4. JS
T
To read the lesson “The Accidental
Tourist” with correct pronunciation.
 To enable the students to express the
ideas of the passage orally and in
writing.
 To enable them to comprehend the
lesson.
 To enrich their vocabulary.
 To make the students enjoy the
humour in the story.
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5. JST
All Usual Classroom Teaching Aids
 Power point Presentation
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6. JST
PRE-READING ACTIVITY
Ask students to think of examples of
people doing silly things without
actually meaning to like:
- tripping and falling.
- dropping things and breaking
them.
- forgetting important things and
getting into trouble.
1.

7. William McGuire “Bill” Bryson, (born December 8,
1951), is a best-selling American author of humorous
books on travel, as well as books on the English
language and science. Born in America, he was a
resident of Britain for most of his adult life before
returning to the U.S. in 1995. In 2003 Bryson moved
back to Britain, living in the old rectory of
Wramplingham Norfolk, and was appointed chancellor
of Durham University.
 Bryson shot to prominence in the United Kingdom with
the publication of Notes from a Small Island (1995),
an exploration of Britain, and its accompanying
television series. He received widespread recognition
again with the publication of A Short History of Nearly
Everything (2003).
JST
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8. Bryson offers himself up for laughter: he
describes his lack of grace or skill when
traveling. From moments of supreme
klutziness to outstanding confusion, he
presents himself as the eternal nebbish,
stumbling and fussing his way around the
world. The essay is both funny and
comforting -- at least to those of us similarly
unskilled in the byways and skyways of
world travel.
JST

9. 1. Bryson – Easily confused while
travelling
a. Bryson never had a pleasant journey.
b. Got easily confused – as
- could not easily find lavatory in a cinema
- at hotels, asked his room number many
a time in a day.
c. He feels living in the real world is
perhaps most difficult things.
JST

10. Contents
2. Trip to England at Easter:
a. Bryson is a frequent air traveller.
b. Went to England with family on a big trip
at Easter.
c. Forgot the frequent flyer programme card
at Logan airport.
d. Thought the card was in his carry-on-bag.
e. Trouble started – accidents ………..
accidents …………… accidents

11. 3. Zip jammed:
a. The zip was jammed.
b. Brutal force – the zip gave way.
c. Newspaper cuttings, loose papers,
tobacco packet, magazines, passport,
English money and film spread over a
large area.
d. He was dumbstruck.
e. Worried about tobacco.
JST

12. 4. Bleeding finger:
a. Bryson’s finger gashed while he tried to
pull the zip forcefully.
b. It started bleeding.
c. At this his wife looked at him with an
expression of wonder and remarked, “I
can’t believe you do this for a living.”
JST

13. JAY
SHANKAR
5. Bryson got into Crash Position:
 Bryson always had catastrophes while
travelling.
 Once while travelling, he leaned over
to tie a shoelace. At the same time,
someone ahead of him threw his seat
back into full recline.
 He got himself in a crash position.
 Finally, clawing the leg of the man
next to him, he freed himself.
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14. JAY
SHANKAR
6. THE SOFT DRINK EPISODE:
a. Once he knocked a soft drink onto the
lap of a sweet lady sitting beside him.
b. The flight attendant came and cleaned
her up, and brought a replacement drink
and he knocked it onto the woman
again.
c. This was not his worst experience.

15. JAY
SHANKAR
7. THE WORST EXPERIENCE:
a.
b.
c.
d.
It occurred while he was writing
something important in a notebook while
travelling.
Important thoughts – buy socks, clutch
drinks carefully etc.
At the same time, he was sucking the
end of his pen and fell into conversation
with an attractive young lady.
After 20 minutes, the author found that
his pen had leaked and his mouth, chin,

16. JAY
SHANKAR
8. The Author ached to be suave:
a. Bryson never could do his daily routine work
without causing some trouble.
b. He found it very difficult to behave properly
in public places but was never successful.
c. Bill Bryson always met with some sort of
accidents while following the rules of public
behaviour.
d. He would always make chicken pieces fly
after is fork’s stroke.
e. If he would open the lid of some edible
chances are he would splatter it all over his
clothes.

17. 9. Bryson never got his free air miles:
a. Bryson- an accidental traveller.
b. He got confused in doing small things.
c. Due to his confusion, he could not take
advantage of the schemes provided by
different airlines.
d. He could not find his card when required.
e. He could accumulate only 212 airmiles
divided between 23 airlines.
f. This was so because he forgot to ask for
the airmiles.
JAY
SHANKAR

18. g. Once he produced his card but the name
on the card and the ticket did not match.
h. So, he was not entitled for a first class
flight to Bali.
i. He missed this opportunity because of his
absent-mindedness.
JAY
SHANKAR

19. 
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1. Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily
confused.” What examples has he given to
justify this?
Answer: Bill Bryson cannot do a simple day to
day activity without creating a mesh. He often
forgets the way to lavatory. He finds it difficult to
remember his hotel room number. He can forget
almost everything which is required to carry out
our routine activity. Most of us never ponder how
effortlessly we carry out our routine activity. It is all
wired up in our brains. But some people, like Bill
Bryson find it difficult and almost impossible.

20. 2. What happens when the zip on his carry-on bag
gives way?
 Answer: His fingers get hurt by the zip. He is bleeding
profusely. All belongings in his bag are flying across
the floor of the waiting hall of the airport. He seems to
be making a mockery of himself and of civilized way of
behaving at a particular place.
 3. Why is his finger bleeding? What is his wife‟s
reaction?
 Answer: His finger is hurt by getting stuck in the zip of
his bag. His wife is astonished by the way he has
created a mess all around himself.
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21. 4. How does Bill Bryson end up in a “crash position” in
the aircraft?
 Answer: Bill Bryson leans down to tie his shoelaces. In the
meantime the person on the seat ahead of him pushes back
his seat. As a result he gets stuck in the kneel down position.
Certain people have this strange affinity with always getting
stuck in an awkward position.
 5. Why are his teeth and gums navy blue?
 Answer: While pondering over his writing he was chewing on
his pen. He was so careless that he did not notice the ink
getting into his mouth. It took longer for him to impress the
lady sitting next to him. For ink also it was enough time to
show the bizarre effect in his mouth.
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22. 6. Bill Bryson “ached to be suave”. Is he
successful in his mission? List his „unsuave‟
ways.
 Answer: Certain unwritten rules dictate the way we
should behave in public places. For example you
should know proper manners while at dinning table. It
is considered uncivilized if you burp publicly. You
should not make chomping noise while eating. The list
is endless.
 Bill Bryson always met with some sort of accidents
while following these rules. He would always make
chicken pieces fly after is fork’s stroke. If he would
open the lid of some edible chances are he would
splatter it all over his clothes.
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7. Why do you think Bill Bryson‟s wife says to the children,
“Take the lids off the food for Daddy”?
Answer: His wife knew his knack of creating misery for himself. As
a precautionary measure she asked her children to do normal
chores for their father.
8. What is the significance of the title?
Answer: The main character here is prone to create small mishaps.
Especially during tour this can lead to discomfort of fellow
passengers. Think for a while, you are sitting on a window seat in
the train enjoying the beautiful scenery outside. Then somebody
sitting on the upper birth spills his favourite curry and spoils your
new shirt and your mood too. Those sort of persons are better at
their homes. The way he creates accidents justifies the title, “The
Accidental Tourist”.

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Notes & Glossary:
Self locking
lock
Conseternation Dumbstruck
Oblivion
forgetfulness
Disgorge
Cascade
downpour
Exasperation
irritation
JST
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automatic
dismay
surprised
total
to pour sth. Out
sudden
-
great

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automatic lock

26. HOMEWORK
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5.
Why does Bryson fill with wonder?
How did the zip create trouble for the
writer?
Write a character sketch of Bill
Bryson.
What was the author’s worst
experience on a plane flight?
How did the narrator feel while
travelling with his family.

27. Contents