14 Questions
What time was it when the old friends made an appointment to meet?
Barely 10 o'clock at night
How would you describe the policeman's role in the story?
He was an intimidating figure
What did the policeman do as he walked down the street?
Twirled his club
What did the man in the hardware store doorway have on his face?
A little white scar near his right eyebrow
What piece of jewelry did the man in the hardware store doorway wear?
A large diamond scarf pin
Why do you think there were few people on the streets at that time?
Because of chilly gusts of wind with rain taste
What was the policeman's demeanor as he walked down the street?
Habitually impressive
Why did the policeman slow his walk when he saw the man in the hardware store doorway?
He noticed a suspicious movement by the man
What can be inferred about the man in the hardware store doorway based on his appearance?
He was wealthy and well-dressed
Why did the policeman shine his torch in the direction of the man in the hardware store doorway?
To get a better look at the man's face
What type of businesses were present in the vicinity where the policeman was patrolling?
Hardware stores and chemists
Why was the majority of the doors along the street closed when the policeman was patrolling?
Because they belonged to businesses that had closed long ago
What time did the old friends make an appointment to meet?
10 o'clock at night
How would you describe the setting in which the story takes place?
Deserted street at night with closed businesses
Study Notes
The Story Begins
- The scene is set at 10 o'clock at night, with few people on the streets due to chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain.
- The majority of the doors on the street belong to business places that had long since been closed.
The Policeman on the Beat
- The policeman is an impressive guardian of the peace, with an habitual and not-for-show impressiveness.
- He walks down the street, twirling his club, checking that doors are securely locked and keeping a watchful eye over the area.
The Encounter
- The policeman suddenly slows his walk in front of a darkened hardware store, where a man is leaning against the wall.
- The light from the policeman's torch reveals a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, a little white scar near his right eyebrow, and a large diamond scarf pin.
- The man speaks up quickly as the policeman approaches him.
Test your understanding of the short story 'After Twenty Years' by answering questions about friends meeting after a long time and discussing how people change over the years.
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