( A CHARACTER STUDY OF MAGGIE ,THE GIRL IN THE STORY THE PRICE OF FLOWERS ;11 UNIT 2)
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People might resort to negative behaviour when they become victims of poverty.Begging ,stealing, sand mining , drug trafficking , bootlegging ,smuggling and alcoholism have their roots in poverty .In the story " The Price of Flowers " we have Maggie as a sterling example of a character who stood against the negative effects of destitution. She does not resort to any negative methods to overcome poverty .Instead Maggie is facing life courageously .She works hard every day to help her mother in making both ends meet.Maggie is a symbol of dedication ,love and politeness. Maggie tells the writer ,Mr.Gupta that she is anxious to grow up as early as possible.Then she could help mother more because she would be paid high.When asked whether she liked her job , she points out that her present job is rather mechanical.She would like the job which would excite her mind and brain,some thing like that of a secretary. This shows that she has a plan for her future. She is hopeful ,intelligent and ambitious.She believes that she could find her lost brother,Frank if a yogi from India looked through the magic ring.From this it is clear that she is worried about her brother.She is innocent and rather superstitious but her love towards her family is compelling her to behave like fool. When she plays 'scotland blues ' in violin ,the writer is astonished by her music abilities as well as her humility. There is a hope that their financial status would improve one day and then she would be sent to take music classes. Maggie , along with her mother is always hopeful that things would change for a better state one day. And to bring about that change she knows one has to take an effort.She uses the power of words effectively to change the mind of the writer too.She told the writer honestly that she was doubtful about the power of the magic ring. But it would make her mother feel comfortable if the writer gazed through the ring and told a lie that he could find her brother alive.These tactical words make the write gaze through the ring ,tell a lie and that makes her poor old mother feel relaxed .Here we find a girl with the gift of the gab !I
n fact she is presented as a person who is able to communicate with others effectively and change the minds of people.Her polite approach helps her to get in touch with a stranger like the writer from India. Towards the final part of the story we find that she is giving up the shilling she had earned after a day's hard work to buy flowers .She is a proud and polite human being who always showers her love and affection towards her family.
-PREPARED BY Radhakrishnan C K
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A SELF LEARNING TOOL. PRACTISE AND LEARN
ACTIVITY 1
Important aspects of Maggie's character
1. Maggie as a sterling example of a character who stood against the negative effects of destitution. Do you agree ? does not resort to any negative methods to overcome poverty .Instead how is she facing life .Write your opinion.
2.How does she help her mother ?
She ( works hard / does not care to work ) every day to help her mother in making both ends meet.Maggie is a symbol of.....................
Maggie tells the writer ,Mr.Gupta that she is anxious to grow up as early as possible.why ?.)
3.When asked whether she liked her job , what does she say ?
What would she like ?
What does this show ?
4.She believes that she could find her lost brother,Frank if a yogi from India looked through the magic ring.
DO YOU THINK Maggie is worried about her brother? is SHE innocent and rather superstitious ?What makes her behave like a fool ?
5.What does the writer make out about her abilities and ambitions in music
( When she plays 'scotland blues ' in violin ,the writer is astonished by............ abilities as well as her ................. There is a hope that their financial status would................ one day and then she would be sent to ..................s. )
6. Is Maggie always hopeful that things would change for a better state one day. ?
to bring about that change what does she do ? .How does she use the power of words effectively ?Why does she want the writer to tell a lie ? what quality of the girl is revealed here ? what aspect of her character help her to communicate effectively ?
7.Towards the final part of the story we find that she is giving up the shilling she had earned after a day's hard work to buy flowers .
What do you think about the girl from this event. ?
-PREPARED BY Radhakrishnan C K
ACTIVITY 2
Maggi's activities
She works as a clerk though she is a young girl.
She talks to a stranger and takes him home to meet her mother
She is giving up the shilling she had earned after a day's hard work to buy flowers .
She helps her mother in making and selling cakes.
She wants the writer to tell a lie
She thinks her job is mechanical.
She has a plan to learn music when their conditions improve.
She compels the writer to gaze through the magical ring.
Maggi's qualities
(She is a proud and polite human being .She showers her love and affection towards her family.She is able to communicate with others effectively and change the minds of people .She does not resort to any negative methods to overcome poverty .She is always supportive to her mother.She is always hopeful that things would change for a better state one day.she has her plans and ambitions in life.She is proud , polite and confident.She uses the power of words.She is rather superstitious.She is tactical in her approaches.)
Join the ideas and try writing a paragraph, link the ideas using connectives like...
From this it is clear that ,,,/ it is evident that ......
We can understand that...
This activity reveals another aspect of her character that
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ACTIVITY 3
A minimum level approach (for special learners)
Margeret Alice Clifford is thirteen years old.She has large eyes , long hair and a sad expression on her face .She wears a simple but neat dress.She has a poor family back ground. But she does not resort to any negative methods. Maggie is a symbol of positive thinking and hard work. She is intelligent ,ambitious and confident. She thinks the work of a clerk is mechanical. She likes the work of a secretary . She takes care of her mother sincerely .She is very polite with every one.She is always hopeful .She uses the power of her words to change the mind of the writer. She loves her brother very much. She tells the writer to buy flowers as a token of her love and respect.She gives him a shilling to buy the flowers .It is the money she earned after a week's hard work .She does not like any free service done to her family. This shows that she is a proud and dedicated girl. She is a symbol of love ,pride and dedication.
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Practise making sentences with ideas and write a paragraph
Maggie is
Margeret Alice Clifford is thirteen years old.
She has large eyes , long hair and a sad expression on her face .
She wears a simple but neat dress.
1.............. positive thinking and hard work.
3. ....not resort to any negative methods.
4...... intelligent ,ambitious and confident.
5........... the work of a clerk is mechanical.
6............the work of a secretary .
7............... of her mother .
8.............the power of her words to change the mind of the writer.
9............her brother so much.
10.................. the writer to buy flowers as a token of her love and respect.
11..............him a shilling.to buy the flowers .
12............ the money she earned after a week's hard work .
13.This shows that .........................
She is a symbol of ......... and ..........................
14 ,She is ( very effective / is not effective in communication)
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( a symbol of , She is, She does not,She takes care of , She uses ,She compells ,She does, She does not,She gives, hope,love,affection,fear,gratitude,She likes)
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