Answers to textbook exercises

Prepared by: learnloophq@gmail.com

Last edited 11 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 03. The Overcoat

⁠

A. Answer these questions.

What was Akaky Akakievich employed as?

Akaky Akakievich was employed as a perpetual titular councillor in a certain government department, primarily involved in copying documents.

What was Akakievich good at doing?

Akakievich was exceptionally good at copying documents. He performed his duties with love and zeal, never making a single mistake, even amidst annoyances.

How did the young officials treat Akaky Akakievich?

The young officials laughed at him, made fun of him, and strewed bits of paper over his head, calling them snow. They would also jog his hand to prevent him from working.

Why did Akaky Akakievich take the overcoat to the tailor?

Akaky Akakievich took the overcoat to the tailor because it was old, dilapidated, and served as an object of ridicule to his colleagues, who called it a ‘dressing jacket’. The severe Northern cold made it essential for him to have adequate protection.

Who was Petrovich? How did he help Akaky Akakievich?

Petrovich was a one-eyed, pock-marked tailor who lived on the fourth floor. He helped Akaky Akakievich by making him a new overcoat when the old one was beyond repair. He also helped Akaky choose the cloth and completed the tailoring with great skill.

How did Akaky Akakievich save money for the overcoat?

Akaky Akakievich saved money for the overcoat by severely curtailing his ordinary expenses for at least a year. He stopped drinking tea in the evening, burned no candles (working by his landlady’s light), walked carefully on tiptoe to avoid wearing out his shoe heels, gave the laundress as little to wash as possible, and wore only his cotton dressing-gown at home to preserve his other clothes.

B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

It would be difficult to find another man lived so entirely for his duties. a. What were Akakievich’s duties? * Akakievich’s primary duties involved copying documents in a government department. b. What was the man’s attitude to his work? * The man’s attitude to his work was one of profound devotion and love. He found “varied and agreeable employment” in copying and labored with zeal. c. What was the speaker’s tone in those lines? * The speaker’s tone in those lines is one of observational admiration or perhaps slight awe at Akaky’s extreme dedication, mixed with a hint of pity for his singularly focused existence.

When he went into the street, he must walk as lightly as he could. a. Who was being talked about here? * Akaky Akakievich was being talked about here. b. Why did ‘he’ need to be careful in this way? * ‘He’ needed to be careful in this way to avoid wearing down his heels too quickly, as part of his strict plan to save money for his new overcoat. c. How did ‘he’ save up? * He saved up by significantly reducing his expenses, which included cutting out evening tea, not burning candles, washing clothes less often, and taking off his outdoor clothes as soon as he got home to prolong their life. Walking lightly was another part of this extreme frugality.

C. Think and answer.

Are you careful about how you spend your pocket money? Why is it important to save money? Choose three different people from your life and ask them why it is important to save money. Write a report on this and be sure to include your own opinion.

(This question requires a personalized report from the student and cannot be answered universally.)

Just like Akaky Akakievich, we too are ridiculed by our friends, relatives and neighbours for the way we look or dress. Discuss about the ways how the narrator dealt with the situation and how you would face such situations.

How Akaky Akakievich dealt with the situation: The narrator indicates that Akaky Akakievich mostly dealt with ridicule by ignoring it completely, as if “there had been no one there besides himself.” He was so absorbed in his work that the taunts had “no effect upon his work.” Only when the joking became physically unbearable (like jogging his hand) would he exclaim, “Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?” – a rare and poignant protest. His primary coping mechanism was detachment and an almost childlike oblivion to the social world around him.

How I would face such situations: (This part requires a personalized answer from the student, but here’s a general approach a student might take:)

Initial Reaction: It’s natural to feel hurt or embarrassed when ridiculed for appearance.

Self-Reflection: Consider if there’s any constructive feedback, but mostly remember that personal style is subjective.

Confidence & Self-Acceptance: The most effective way to face ridicule is often to display confidence in one’s choices. If you like how you look or dress, others’ opinions shouldn’t diminish that.

Communication:

Ignoring: Sometimes, like Akaky, ignoring petty taunts is best as it shows they don’t affect you and might cause the bullies to lose interest.

Assertive Response: If it persists or is particularly hurtful, a calm, clear statement like “Please stop, I don’t appreciate that” or “My clothing choices are my own” can be effective.

Humor: Sometimes, a lighthearted, self-deprecating joke can disarm the situation.

Seeking Support: If the ridicule is severe or persistent, talking to a trusted friend, family member, or teacher is important.

Focus on Inner Worth: Remind myself and others that a person’s worth is not defined by their clothes or outward appearance, but by their character, kindness, and actions.

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.