Comprehension

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Solomon Margolin regarded her quietly. She had had her own share of troubles. She had suffered in silence for her two brothers, even for Hans, the Nazi. She had gone through a prolonged change of life. Now her face was flushed and covered with beads of sweat. He earned more than enough to pay for a maid, yet Gretl insisted on doing all the housework herself, even the laundry. It had become a mania with her. Every day she scoured the oven. She was forever polishing the windows of their apartment on the sixteenth floor and without using a safety belt.
(A Wedding in Brownsville)

Question: 1

Who does 'she' refer to ?

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In literary analysis, keep track of family connections (such as her brother Hans) to easily identify characters when only pronouns are used in a passage.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 2

Why does the narrator say 'Gretl suffered in silence'?

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Characters who suffer “in silence” often carry complex inner conflicts, such as family guilt or shame, that they cannot openly share due to their social or personal circumstances.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 3

Why was Gretl's face flushed and covered with beads of sweat?

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To explain physical descriptions in a text, look for both natural biological causes (like menopause) and physical actions (like heavy housework) mentioned in the passage.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 4

What do you infer from the statement, 'He earned more than enough to pay for a maid, yet Gretl insisted on doing all the housework herself'?

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Compulsive physical actions that are not financially necessary often point to a character trying to cope with inner anxiety, guilt, or unresolved emotional pain.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 5

How does she demonstrate her manic behaviour?

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Mania in literature is often shown through repetitive, extreme behaviors where a character loses sight of common safety, such as cleaning high windows without a safety belt.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 6

Which word is an apt synonym for 'mania'?

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Compulsive, dangerous, and repetitive habits are classic signs of an “obsession,” making it the most accurate synonym for “mania” in literary character studies.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026