Comprehension

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
‘I only came to tell you that I dreamed about you last night,’ she said. ‘You must leave right away and not come back to Vienna for five years.’
Her conviction was so real that I boarded the last train to Rome that same night. As for me, I was so influenced by what she said that from then on I considered myself a survivor of some catastrophe I never experienced. I still have not returned to Vienna.
(I Sell My Dreams)

Question: 1

What prompted her to tell him to leave right away?

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In magical realism, prophetic devices (like dreams) act as absolute, unquestioned authorities that dictate physical actions and drive the plot forward.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 2

Where did the author go, after leaving Vienna ?

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In literature, physical journeys are often triggered by psychological shifts or warnings, showing how characters respond to unseen or supernatural forces.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 3

Why does the author say, he considered himself a survivor of some catastrophe he never experienced ?

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A “catastrophe never experienced” is a perfect example of magical realism, where imaginary or psychological threats have the same weight and consequences as real-world events.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 4

What do you infer about her attitude towards the author ?

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To analyze a character's attitude, look for exceptions to their normal behavior—such as offering a paid service (like dream interpretation) for free to protect a friend.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 5

Why did the author not return to Vienna ?

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In literature, a physical space can become symbolic of danger, showing how characters can be held back by past warnings and their own lingering fears.

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

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Question: 6

Which word is an apt synonym for 'conviction'?

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To identify synonyms in literature, look at how characters act. Her “conviction” was so powerful that it drove him to action, showing she spoke with absolute “certainty.”

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026