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Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 6 How It Happened
–Arthur Conan Doyle
About the Author
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a renowned British author, physician, and creator of the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where he began writing stories alongside his medical training.
Doyle gained worldwide fame through his Sherlock Holmes stories, which are celebrated for their logical reasoning, sharp observation, and engaging mysteries. Some of his well-known
works include A Study in Scarlet and The Hound of the Baskervilles. Besides detective fiction, he also wrote historical novels, science fiction, and adventure stories.
In his later years, Doyle developed a strong interest in spiritualism and the supernatural, which influenced several of his writings, including stories like How It Happened. He died in 1930, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential writers in English literature.
Word Notes
Chauffeur: driver employed to drive a private car.
Enteric: relating to the intestines; often refers to typhoid fever.
Crested: reached the top of a hill.
Whirring: making a continuous low, rapid sound.
Gear: a mechanism for transmitting motion in a machine.
Brake: a device used to slow down or stop a vehicle.
Steering: the system used to control the direction of a vehicle.
Pillar: a strong vertical support structure.
Impact: a forceful contact or collision.
Braced: prepared or steadied oneself for something difficult.
Alert: quick to notice and respond to danger.
Calm: free from agitation or excitement.
Foolish: lacking good sense or judgment.
Illusion: something that deceives by producing a false impression.
Supernatural: beyond the laws of nature; not explained by science.
Realisation: the act of becoming fully aware of something.
Accident: an unexpected event causing damage or injury.
Speed: the rate at which something moves.
Control: the power to direct or manage something.
Dreamlike: resembling a dream; unreal or strange.
Summary
How It Happened by Arthur Conan Doyle is a compelling short narrative that blends realism with the supernatural to explore the fragile boundary between life and death. The story is
presented in the first person, which creates an immediate sense of intimacy and credibility, drawing the reader into what initially appears to be a straightforward account of a motor
accident.
The narrative begins with the narrator’s confident yet somewhat careless decision to drive his newly acquired car despite lacking familiarity with its mechanism. This decision introduces the theme of human folly, as the narrator knowingly takes a risk but underestimates its consequences. The gradual loss of control over the vehicle, marked by the failure of gears and
brakes, builds a strong sense of tension and inevitability. The detailed description of the descent down Claystall Hill effectively heightens suspense and foreshadows the tragic outcome.
A key turning point occurs after the crash, when the narrator encounters Stanley, a friend who had died years earlier. This moment introduces the supernatural element, yet it is handled subtly and without dramatic exaggeration. The narrator’s calm acceptance of the situation and his belief that he is merely dreaming reflect the human tendency to rationalize the unfamiliar rather than confront uncomfortable truths.
The most striking feature of the story is its ending, where it is revealed that the narrator himself is dead. This twist not only surprises the reader but also redefines the entire narrative, compelling a reassessment of earlier events. Doyle uses this technique to blur the distinction between reality and illusion, emphasizing how perception can be deceptive.
Critically, the story can be seen as a reflection of Doyle’s interest in spiritualism, as it suggests the continuation of consciousness beyond death. At the same time, it serves as a subtle moral commentary on overconfidence and reckless behavior. The calm tone of the narrative, even in the face of death, adds to its eerie effect and reinforces the idea that death may not be as abrupt or terrifying as commonly imagined.
In conclusion, How It Happened stands out as a skillfully crafted story that combines suspense, psychological insight, and supernatural elements. Its understated style and powerful ending leave a lasting impression, encouraging readers to reflect on both human limitations and the mysteries beyond life.
Comprehension: Textual Questions & Answers
I. Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. Who was Perkins?
Ans: Perkins was the narrator’s personal chauffeur.
2. What is the name of the vehicle mentioned in the story?
Ans: The vehicle mentioned in the story is a thirty-horsepower car.
3. What did Stanley die of?
Ans: Stanley died of an enteric disease at Bloemfontein during the Boer War in South Africa many years earlier.
4. Where did the car crash?
Ans: The car crashed just after crossing Claystall Hill, one of the most dangerous hills in England.
5. How many sharp curves did Claystall Hill have?
Ans: Claystall Hill had three sharp curves.
II. Answer these questions in a few words.
1. What was whirring like a high wind?
Ans: The wheels of the car were spinning rapidly, producing a sound similar to that of a strong wind.
2. Why is Perkins said to have been ‘splendid’ in his behaviour?
Ans: Perkins is described as ‘splendid’ because he remained calm, attentive, and composed throughout the dangerous situation. He understood the narrator’s intentions instantly and stayed steady even though he realized that the narrator was not handling the car properly.
3. What are the brakes of the vehicle known as?
Ans: The vehicle had two types of brakes, known as the footbrake and the side-brake.
4. Where did the narrator meet Stanley a few years prior to the incident?
Ans: The narrator had met Stanley during their college days a few years before the incident.
5. Why did the narrator feel no pain?
Ans: The narrator felt no pain because he had already died.
III. Answer these questions briefly.
1. Why did the narrator feel that he was ‘like a man in a dream’?
Ans: After the car went out of control and struck the gate pillar, the narrator was thrown into the air, and everything happened very quickly. When he regained awareness, he noticed a man nearby and recognized him as Stanley, his old college friend. Since Stanley had died long ago, the narrator found the situation unreal and dreamlike, leading him to believe that he was experiencing a dream where such strange occurrences seem natural.
2. Give a brief description of the vehicle mentioned in the story.
Ans: The narrator describes the vehicle as a large motor car with bright headlights and shining brass fittings, waiting outside the station. It was a newly delivered thirty-horsepower Ranger. The car was manufactured by a German company and belonged to a category of vehicles produced in the early twentieth century. The narrator often refers to the car as ‘she,’ giving it a feminine identity. Eager to test his new possession, he chooses to drive it himself despite lacking familiarity with its controls.
3. What is the narrator’s view about foolishness?
Ans: The narrator believes that people sometimes act foolishly, but such actions do not always lead to serious consequences. Although he recognizes that attempting to learn to handle a new car in the dark is unwise, he reassures himself that the situation might not turn dangerous.
4. What did the narrator and Perkins do when they realised that the open gate lay in front of them?
Ans: On noticing the open gate ahead, the narrator gripped the steering wheel firmly and turned it with great effort. At the same time, both he and Perkins leaned their bodies to assist the turn while the car rushed forward at high speed. Despite their attempt to control it, the car crashed violently into the gate pillar, throwing the narrator into the air.
5. Why was the narrator amazed when the actual status of Stanley dawned upon him?
Ans: The narrator was astonished when he suddenly realized that Stanley had actually died long ago from typhoid fever during the Boer War. This realization made their encounter even more strange and unsettling.
IV. Answer these questions in detail.
1. Comment on the significance of the ending of the story.
Ans: The ending of the story is highly significant because it reveals an unexpected twist. At the beginning, the narrator appears to return home normally after getting off a train and setting out in his new car with his chauffeur. However, the journey ends in a fatal accident, although this is not immediately made clear to the reader. Throughout the narrative, events unfold in a seemingly ordinary manner, creating the impression that everything is happening in the real world. Only at the end does the truth emerge that both the narrator and Perkins are dead. This delayed revelation adds a powerful shock effect and deepens the impact of the story. It highlights the theme of illusion versus reality and shows how the narrator unknowingly describes events beyond death.
2. Describe the drive undertaken by the narrator from the station to his home.
Ans: After returning from London, the narrator was received by his chauffeur and his newly delivered thirty-horsepower car. Although Perkins warned him that the car’s gear system was
unfamiliar and offered to drive, the narrator insisted on driving himself. As they approached Claystall Hill, known for its steep slope and dangerous curves, the situation became risky. The hill stretched for about a mile and a half, and the narrator’s park gate was located at the bottom along the main road.
As they began descending the steep part of the hill, the car gathered speed, and trouble started when the gears became jammed. The narrator attempted to reduce speed by applying both the footbrake and the side-brake, but neither worked. The car continued to rush downhill uncontrollably. At one sharp turn, one of the wheels rose high up the bank, but the car somehow regained balance and sped forward again.
Soon, the entrance to the narrator’s park appeared ahead, slightly to the left. However, the earlier impact had damaged the steering, making it difficult to turn the wheel. The narrator struggled to control it, and both he and Perkins leaned in an effort to guide the car. Despite their desperate attempt, the car, moving at great speed, crashed into the gate pillar. The impact was severe, bringing the journey to a tragic end.
Additional Questions & Answers
I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who was Perkins?
(a) The narrator’s friend
(b) The narrator’s chauffeur
(c) A mechanic
(d) A soldier
Ans: (b) The narrator’s chauffeur
2. What type of car did the narrator own?
(a) Twenty-horsepower car
(b) Thirty-horsepower car
(c) Forty-horsepower car
(d) Fifty-horsepower car
Ans: (b) Thirty-horsepower car
3. Where had Stanley died?
(a) London
(b) Paris
(c) Bloemfontein
(d) Delhi
Ans: (c) Bloemfontein
4. In which war did Stanley die?
(a) World War I
(b) World War II
(c) Boer War
(d) Crimean War
Ans: (c) Boer War
5. What disease caused Stanley’s death?
(a) Malaria
(b) Typhoid (enteric fever)
(c) Cholera
(d) Plague
Ans: (b) Typhoid (enteric fever)
6. What problem did the narrator face while driving?
(a) Engine failure
(b) Flat tyre
(c) Jammed gears
(d) Broken seat
Ans: (c) Jammed gears
7. What happened to the brakes?
(a) They worked perfectly
(b) They became loose
(c) They failed
(d) They overheated
Ans: (c) They failed
8. Where did the accident occur?
(a) At the railway station
(b) On Claystall Hill
(c) In a city street
(d) In a forest
Ans: (b) On Claystall Hill
9. How many sharp curves did Claystall Hill have?
(a) Two
(b) Three
(c) Four
(d) Five
Ans: (b) Three
10. What speed was the car moving at before the crash?
(a) 20 miles per hour
(b) 30 miles per hour
(c) 40 miles per hour
(d) 50 miles per hour
Ans: (d) 50 miles per hour
11. What sound did the wheels make?
(a) Like thunder
(b) Like a whistle
(c) Like a high wind
(d) Like rain
Ans: (c) Like a high wind
12. What did Perkins do during the crisis?
(a) Panicked
(b) Jumped out
(c) Remained calm
(d) Cried loudly
Ans: (c) Remained calm
13. What did the car hit?
(a) A tree
(b) A wall
(c) A gate pillar
(d) Another car
Ans: (c) A gate pillar
14. What happened to the narrator after the crash?
(a) He fainted
(b) He ran away
(c) He was thrown into the air
(d) He remained inside the car
Ans: (c) He was thrown into the air
15. Who did the narrator see after the accident?
(a) Perkins
(b) A stranger
(c) Stanley
(d) A doctor
Ans: (c) Stanley
16. Why did the narrator feel the situation was dreamlike?
(a) Because he was sleeping
(b) Because everything happened slowly
(c) Because he met a dead friend
(d) Because it was night
Ans: (c) Because he met a dead friend
17. Where had the narrator met Stanley earlier?
(a) At school
(b) At college
(c) At work
(d) In the army
Ans: (b) At college
18. Why did the narrator not feel pain?
(a) He was unconscious
(b) He was brave
(c) He was already dead
(d) He was injured slightly
Ans: (c) He was already dead
19. What is the central theme of the story?
(a) Adventure
(b) Love
(c) Supernatural life after death
(d) War
Ans: (c) Supernatural life after death
20. What makes the ending of the story surprising?
(a) The car was new
(b) The narrator wins a race
(c) The narrator realizes he is dead
(d) Perkins saves the day
Ans: (c) The narrator realizes he is dead. 0 0 0
