The Phantom Luncheon by Saki
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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'Phantom' refer to in the context of the story?

  • A mysterious occurrence
  • A real event
  • An imaginative or fictional event (correct)
  • A supernatural phenomenon

    • What is the occupation of Sir James in the story?

  • A writer
  • A businessman
  • A philanthropist
  • A politician (correct)

    • Why does Sir James want his wife to invite the Smithly Dubb sisters for lunch?

  • Because they can help him win votes (correct)
  • Because they are wealthy
  • Because they are old friends
  • Because they are influential in society

    • What is the attitude of Lady Drakmanton towards the Smithly Dubb sisters?

    <p>She finds them greedy and difficult to tolerate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who does Lady Drakmanton try to pass off the task of entertaining the Smithly Dubb sisters to?

    <p>Her sister, Milly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does Milly inform Lady Drakmanton she had lunch on the same day?

    <p>Carlton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What plan does Lady Drakmanton come up with after talking to Milly?

    <p>To transform Milly into herself and meet the sisters at a club</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the three sisters talk about during lunch?

    <p>Politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the tone of the story 'The Phantom Luncheon'?

    <p>Humorous and satirical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author of the story 'The Phantom Luncheon' known for?

    <p>His humorous satires</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Lady Drakmanton's initial response to the sisters' topic about politics?

    <p>She confidently told that she was hardly interested in politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did the sisters try to make Lady Drakmanton remember her identity?

    <p>They indirectly pointed towards the responsibility of paying the bill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Ellen Niggle's occupation?

    <p>She was a part of Ladies' Brass Polishing Guild</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did Ellen Niggle forget her identity?

    <p>The expensive food and wine took away her memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Smithly Dubbs predominantly do before Lady Drakmanton's prank?

    <p>They spent huge amounts to display their wealth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Lady Drakmanton and her sister Milly achieve through their prank?

    <p>They taught the Smithly Dubbs a lesson about social class</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was it intolerable for the Smithly Dubbs to invite a middle-class person to their social circle?

    <p>They were too proud of their wealth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the real identity of the person who had lunch with the Smithly Dubbs?

    <p>Ellen Niggle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Ellen Niggle do after remembering her identity?

    <p>She thanked them and left for her work</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Smithly Dubbs start doing after the incident?

    <p>They started doing good for the society</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of Sir James's advice to his wife to invite the Smithly Dubbs to lunch?

    <p>To gain their votes and support in committees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Lady Drakmanton describe the Smithly Dubbs' behavior?

    <p>As avaricious and always searching for opportunities to accept expensive invitations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Lady Drakmanton's attitude towards hosting luncheons for affluent members of society?

    <p>She has mixed feelings about hosting them, but does it to maintain social connections</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Lady Drakmanton accuse her sister Milly of doing?

    <p>Convincing her to host the Smithly Dubbs for lunch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the tone of the conversation between Sir James and Lady Drakmanton?

    <p>Argumentative and confrontational</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of the story about the social class of the Smithly Dubbs?

    <p>They are members of the upper class who are used to luxury and extravagance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author's purpose in portraying the characters of Sir James and Lady Drakmanton?

    <p>To satirize the excesses of the upper class</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Phantom Luncheon

    • The story is about an imaginative lunch, written by Saki (H.H.Munro), known for his humorous satires.
    • The story starts with a conversation between Sir James and his wife Lady Drakmanton about inviting the three Smithly Dubb sisters for a luncheon.

    The Smithly Dubb Sisters

    • The sisters were back in town, and Sir James wanted Lady Drakmanton to take them for a luncheon to keep them happy and win votes.
    • Lady Drakmanton refused, calling them greedy and only interested in being invited to expensive high-class restaurants for a six-course meal.

    The Prank

    • Lady Drakmanton's sister Milly refused to take the sisters for lunch, so Lady Drakmanton transformed Milly to look like her.
    • Milly, acting as Lady Drakmanton, met the sisters at a club and suggested Carlton for lunch.
    • The sisters happily agreed, imagining high-quality fresh food, and the lunch was a success.

    The Reveal

    • When the sisters discussed politics, "Lady Drakmanton" (Milly) claimed to have lost her memory and didn't recognize them.
    • The sisters tried to make her remember, but "Lady Drakmanton" insisted she didn't know who they were or why they were there.
    • Just as they were about to figure out the truth, the real Lady Drakmanton arrived, and the sisters were shocked.

    The Aftermath

    • The imposter, Ellen Niggle, revealed her true identity, a member of the Ladies' Brass Polishing Guild.
    • The sisters were left with a huge bill and a lesson learned: they were capable of spending money on luxury but couldn't tolerate inviting a middle-class person into their high-class network.
    • The prank taught them to leave politics and start doing good for society.

    Luncheon and Phantom

    • Luncheon refers to a formal meal, whereas Phantom symbolizes imagination.

    The Tale's Setting

    • The conversation between Sir James and his wife Lady Drakmanton establishes the setting for the story.
    • Sir James is a respected, wealthy member of society who uses his connections and favors to gain votes.
    • He advises his wife to take the Smithly Dubbs (three sisters) out for a formal lunch when they return to town.

    The Smithly Dubbs

    • The Smithly Dubbs are members of a club and barely participate in anything other than attending lunches.
    • They are characterized as avaricious, constantly seeking opportunities to accept invitations to expensive, upscale restaurants for six-course meals.

    Lady Drakmanton's Concerns

    • Lady Drakmanton refuses to host a lunch for the Smithly Dubbs, citing their difficult nature.
    • She recalls hosting similar luncheons for other affluent members of their society.
    • She attempts to shift the blame to her sister Milly.

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    Description

    A humorous satire about an imaginative lunch, exploring themes of power, influence, and social class in British society.

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