English ncert class 9 drama

1. By Norman Mckinnell

2. 
Norman Mckinnel
(1870-1932)was an actor
and a dramatist, As a
playwright he is
known for the play
“Bishop’s candlesticks”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

3. 
1.The Bishop
2.The Convict
3.Persome,the Bishop’s sister
4.Marie
5.Sergent of Gendarmes
CHARACTERS

4. 
The plays ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’ conveys a
number of messages to the readers. It explains
that empathy is one of the most important
features that a man should possess. Everybody
should be given a second chance just like the
Bishop gave a the convict a chance to improve
his life. The plays also exemplifies the power of
love ,kindness and benevolence in transforming
a person. We should always hate the sin and not
the sinner. Optimism is the key to better
relationships and a well developed society.
Message to readers

5. 
Summary

6. 
The Bishop is a noble and kind hearted soul who lives
with his sister Persome. The Bishop is always ready to
help anyone in distress. The doors of his house are
always open for the poor and the needy. He has
donated everything except Candlesticks gifted by his
dying mother.
The Bishop’s sister Persome feels that most people take
advantage of his simplicity and nobility. In her opinion,
he is often cheated and misused of his generosity. One
such occasion is Mere Gringoire; the old woman who
lives on the top of the hill and does no work. He is
made to pay for an old lady’s house rent by selling his
salt-cellars.

7. 
One day in the midnight the Bishop sits to read. A
convict enters the Bishop’s house and asks for food
at the point of his knife. He threatens to kill the
Bishop if he tries to call out. The convict is rude,
hard-hearted, rough and suspicious and full of fear.
The Bishop calls Persome to open the cupboard. He
treats him with kindness and provides him cold pie,
wine, and bread to eat.
The convict tells his painful story. He tells convict
that he has lived in the prison for ten years. His
wife, Jeanette was ill and dying of hunger. He stole
a piece of bread for his wife but was arrested soon.
He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. While
in the jail, he was informed that his dear wife had
died. He lived in the Hell for ten long years and had
broken the prison and came out.

8. 
 The Bishop is moved on hearing the convict’s story and asks him
to sleep in his house and assures no harm would come to him.
Saying this, the Bishop goes inside to sleep. The convict happens
to see the candle sticks on the mantel piece. He was told before by
the Bishop that they were given by his mother. Unable to resist
the temptation, the convict steals them and runs away.
 When Persome and the Bishop get up the next morning, they
find the candlestick missing. There is knocking at the door. A
sergeant enters with three soldiers and the convict. They tell him that
the convict is walking on the road with the candle sticks and arrest
him on suspicion. They remember the candlesticks of the Bishop and
so they bring the silver candle sticks there to get identified. Though
the candlesticks are very dear to the Bishop as it is the parting gift
presented to him by his mother, the Bishops saves the convict from
going to hell by telling he has gifted them to the convict and calls
convict his friend.

9. 
The convict is deeply touched by
the noble gesture and
generosity of the Bishop.
Now, he is full of repentance
and asks for the Bishop’s
blessings. The Bishop gives
him the candlesticks and
shows him a secret road
to Paris. The convict’s human
values and human goodness
are restored due to the noble
act of the Bishop. The convict
becomes a man again and
leads an honest living in Paris

10. 
Made by Anzar Shah
“43”
 9th c