Captain Jovis -a Brave and Jovial Team Leader

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Q :"Then Jovis nudges me; he fears to frighten his happy, quiet passengers, for he knows full well that a storm is pursuing us", says Maupassant. Here we see the trait of an ideal leader in the captain. What other traits of the captain, as a good team leader, do you find in the story, 'The Trip of Le Horla'? Sketch the character of captain Jovis in about sixty words. ( March 2017 )

Captain Jovis -a  Brave and Jovial Team Leader

(with SELF LEARNING TOOLS exclusive for this blog)

Captain Jovis from the story The Trip of Le Horla is a very brave and pleasant team leader.He is always ready to take calculated risks. He has excellent communication skills . His orders are crisp and short. This is evident from the letter he wrote to the writer informing about the departure of the hot air balloon . He was with the  team right from the preparations of the journey till the happy but jerky landing. He works along with his attendants to make it a safe journey. He takes care of every activity during the trip.  He is a strict disciplinarian and every one obeys his instructions.He listens to the words of his assistant Mallet at the same time he allows his officers to command whenever it is necessary.As the travellers in the balloon enjoys the trip ,the captain remains jovial but watchful and cool .He gives them good company as they speed fast in the balloon .When the writer gets alarmed by the hush and  speed  of the wind ,the captain nudges him and says that what they hear is the sound of a waterfall .He does not want to frighten his crew though he knew that they were trapped in a storm and the balloon would crash at any moment. This is the trait of an ideal leader .He shows great presence of mind .He does not allow panic to control his thoughts.He kept waiting to reach  a safe place for favorable landing .Then he gives prompt orders to open the escape valve.He does not forget to give proper warning to the riders who jump that they should take care of their heads while jumping down .He gets the help of his officers like Mallet in managing the disaster well. In the end of the story we see the travellers like Maupassant feel  thankful to the captain for providing such a wonderful experience . It can be  said without doubt that  Captain Jovis played a vital role in making the trip look like a comfortable pleasure trip. 

- prepared by Radhakrishnan C K 27/06/2019

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SELF LEARNING TOOLS exclusive for this blog

Write a paragraph on Captain Jovis using the following hints

( Captain Jovis - a very brave and pleasant team leader.-takes calculated risks- excellent communication skills-orders  crisp and short.- the letter he wrote to the writer informing about the departure of the hot air balloon-  with the  team throughout the trip -.  works along with his attendants - takes care of every activity -  a strict disciplinarian ,every one obeys- listens to the words of his assistant , at the same time he allows his officers to command - the travellers  enjoy the trip ,the captain jovial but watchful and cool - gives them good company , speed fast-the writer gets alarmed  of the wind ,the captain nudges him and says that ..... .- does not want to frighten his crew- knew that they were trapped in a storm and the balloon would crash at any moment. - the trait of an ideal leader -shows great presence of mind- does not allow panic to control his thoughts.- waiting to reach  a safe place for favorable landing - gives prompt orders to open the escape valve-e does not forget to give proper warning to the riders-He gets the help of his officers in managing the disaster effectively-- we see the travellers like Maupassant feeling  thankful to the captain for providing such a safe and wonderful experience . It can be  said without doubt that  Captain Jovis ......unforgettable trip of adventure.)

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Practice for slow /special learners

1).Captain Jovis from the story The Trip of Le Horla is a very ................team leader.( fierce brave / pleasant  / lazy )

 2).He has ............... communication skills .(no / poor / excellent /good)

3). His orders are ............ This is evident from the letter he wrote to the writer informing about the departure of the hot air balloon . (short / long / easy to understand / harsh and difficult)

4).He was with the  team .......( for a short time / throught the journey )

5). He ............( works / does not work )  along with his attendants to make it a safe journey.

 6).He .......... of every activity during the trip. ( does not take care of / takes care of  )

 7).He is .........................disciplinarian( a strict / not a strict )

8).He .............( listens to / does not listen to ) the words of his assistant Mallet.

 9).At the same time he ...............( allows/ does not allow )his officers to command whenever it is necessary.

10).The captain remains...........................( silent and passive / loud and grumbling / jovial but watchful and cool .)

11).He .....................( keeps way from  the travellers / gives the travellers good company )as they speed fast in the balloon .

12).When the writer gets alarmed by the hush and  speed  of the wind ,the captain ..............(  says they are trapped in a storm  /   nudges him and says that what they hear is the sound of a waterfall .)

13).The captain was telling a lie because ( he does not want to frighten his crew / he saw a waterfall )

14).This is the trait of ..............(  an average / an ideal/ a bad ) leader .

15).He shows great presence of mind .

16).He takes.......................(  calculated risks / no risks)

17).He gives prompt orders to open the escape valve.

18).He gives proper warning to the riders who jump that they should take care of their heads while jumping down .

19).He ( gets / does not get ) the help of his officers like Mallet in managing the disaster effectively.

 20).Travellers like Maupassant feel  ............( hatred towards / disapponted with  / thankful to ) the captain for providing such a wonderful experience .  

21).Captain Jovis ..............(  plays / does not play ) a vital role in making the trip look like a comfortable pleasure trip. 

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click here for more character sketches

More questions based on Le Horle

A LIVE TV REPORT OF LE HORLA  click here

A speech of welcome by Captain Jovis