Chapter 7: Packing

Thinking About the Text (Questions & Answers)

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

1. Who are the three friends in the story 'Packing'?

   The three friends are Jerome (the narrator), George, and Harris.

2. What was the narrator's intention when he offered to pack?

   The narrator's intention was to take charge and show off his superior packing skills, overseeing the job himself.

3. What did George and Harris do when the narrator offered to pack?

   George and Harris readily agreed and sat down to watch the narrator pack, offering no help.

4. What was the first thing the narrator forgot to pack?

   The first thing the narrator forgot to pack was his boots.

5. What was the second item he had to unpack for?

   The second item he had to unpack for was his toothbrush.

6. What did Harris discover about the butter?

   Harris discovered that George had stepped on the butter.

7. Who was Montmorency? What was his ambition in life?

   Montmorency was the dog. His ambition in life was to get in the way and be sworn at, making himself a perfect nuisance.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. What was the narrator’s mood at the beginning of the packing?

   The narrator felt capable and a bit superior, believing himself to be an expert in packing. He was eager to take charge and guide his friends.

2. How did George and Harris react to the narrator’s packing?

   George and Harris watched him silently and did not offer any help, which annoyed the narrator. Their silence seemed to be a subtle mockery of his efforts.

3. What was the most difficult item for Jerome to pack? Why?

   The most difficult item for Jerome was the toothbrush because he kept forgetting if he had packed it or not, leading him to unpack his bag multiple times.

4. How did George and Harris mess up the hampers?

   George and Harris packed the hampers clumsily. They squashed the tomatoes, put the heavy things on top of the light ones, and broke a cup.

5. Describe Montmorency’s contribution to the packing.

   Montmorency, the dog, added to the chaos by putting his nose into everything, pretending that lemons were rats and trying to get into the hampers wherever he could.

III. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).

1. Describe the humorous incidents that occur during the packing.

   The chapter "Packing" is filled with humorous incidents stemming from the characters' ineptitude and the narrator's witty observations. The primary source of humor is Jerome's initial overconfidence as he volunteers to pack, only to create utter chaos. He packs and unpacks multiple times, forgetting essential items like his boots and, most famously, his toothbrush. The constant re-opening of the bag and his frustration at his own forgetfulness are highly amusing.

   Further humor is added when George and Harris take over packing the hampers. Their method involves squashing tomatoes, stepping on butter, and breaking crockery. The scene where Harris sits on the butter and it sticks to his back, then they search for it all over the room, only to find it later, is classic slapstick comedy. Finally, Montmorency, the dog, contributes to the hilarity by getting in everyone's way and showing an active interest in being a nuisance, especially by inserting his cold nose into packed items or pretending to kill lemons. The entire process, depicted through Jerome's exasperated yet comical narration, turns a mundane task into an entertaining disaster.

2. What does the story tell us about the nature of the three friends?

   The story "Packing" reveals the distinct, yet complementary, natures of the three friends: Jerome, George, and Harris. Jerome, the narrator, is initially portrayed as somewhat conceited, believing himself to be superior in packing. He is prone to self-delusion, starting with great confidence but quickly descending into frustration and inefficiency. He is also observational and witty, providing the comical narration and commenting on his friends' flaws, often while being equally flawed himself.

   George and Harris, on the other hand, are depicted as somewhat lazy and unhelpful initially, preferring to watch Jerome struggle. When they do take charge, they prove to be even more incompetent than Jerome, showcasing a collective lack of practical skills and a propensity for creating greater chaos. Harris is portrayed as particularly clumsy, while George has a more laid-back, almost indifferent approach. Despite their individual shortcomings and the resulting mayhem, they share a good-natured camaraderie and tolerate each other's eccentricities. Their combined efforts, or lack thereof, turn a simple task into a memorable and highly amusing adventure, highlighting their mutual inability to perform practical tasks efficiently.