The Gold Frame Summary and Explanation
PSEB Class 12 English Chapter 4 – The Gold Frame Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from A Rainbow of English Book
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PSEB Class 12 English Chapter 4- The Gold Frame
R.K. Laxman
The lesson “The Gold Frame ” by R.K. Laxman is an ironic story about a frame-maker called Datta who runs a shop called “The Modern Frame Works”. The lesson highlights how an ordinary man’s small mistake leads to a big problem and how he cleverly tries to cover it up. The author through the lesson and Datta’s mistake and how he turns his mistake around highlights human nature, our weaknesses, and the funny side of everyday life. The lesson emphasizes that people often care more about appearances than reality and that honesty, though difficult, is always the best choice instead of deceit.
- The Gold Frame Summary
- The Gold Frame Summary in Hindi
- The Gold Frame Theme
- The Gold Frame Explanation
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The Gold Frame Summary
The lesson “The Gold Frame” by R.K. Laxman talks about a simple and hardworking man named Datta, who owns a small frame-making shop called “The Modern Frame Works”. Datta’s shop is tiny and crowded with pieces of wood, glass, nails, paint tins, and pictures of gods, leaders, and famous people. He is a quiet man who minds his own business and speaks very little. One day, a customer comes to his shop carrying an old photograph of an elderly man. The customer speaks proudly about the man in the picture, calling him a great and noble soul, and wants the best frame for him, no matter the cost. Datta shows him many types of frames, and the customer after a lot of confusion finally selects a beautiful German-made gold frame with a cut mount. Datta promises to have it ready in two weeks.
A few days later, the customer comes in early to collect the photo. Datta realizes that the man is very attached to the picture, so he decides to make it his first job the next morning. While working, Datta searches for his pencil stub and accidentally spills white enamel paint all over the photograph. He tries to wipe it off, but in doing so, he destroys the picture completely, resulting in half the face and turban of the picture being gone. Datta panics and worries about what to tell the customer. After thinking for a long time, he decides to find a replacement photograph. He searches through a box of unclaimed photos and finds one that looks a little similar to the damaged one. He puts it in the gold frame and feels nervous and proud with his clever solution. When the customer returns, he is very happy to see the frame. Datta feels nervous, expecting to be caught due to his lie. But instead of noticing the wrong photograph, the customer only complains that the mount shape is square instead of oval. Datta feels relieved that his lie had gone unnoticed.
Summary of the Lesson The Gold Frame in Hindi
आर.के. लक्ष्मण का पाठ “द गोल्ड फ्रेम” दत्ता नाम के एक साधारण और मेहनती व्यक्ति के बारे में बताता है, जिसकी “द मॉडर्न फ्रेम वर्क्स” नामक एक छोटी सी फ्रेम बनाने की दुकान है। दत्ता की दुकान छोटी सी है और लकड़ी, काँच, कीलों, पेंट के डिब्बों और देवताओं, नेताओं और प्रसिद्ध लोगों की तस्वीरों से भरी हुई है। वह एक शांत स्वभाव का व्यक्ति है जो अपने काम से काम रखता है और बहुत कम बोलता है। एक दिन, एक ग्राहक उसकी दुकान पर एक बुज़ुर्ग व्यक्ति की पुरानी तस्वीर लेकर आता है। ग्राहक तस्वीर में दिख रहे व्यक्ति के बारे में गर्व से बात करता है, उसे एक महान और नेक इंसान कहता है, और उसके लिए सबसे अच्छा फ्रेम चाहता है, चाहे उसकी कीमत कुछ भी हो। दत्ता उसे कई तरह के फ्रेम दिखाते हैं, और ग्राहक काफ़ी उलझन के बाद आखिरकार एक सुंदर जर्मन निर्मित सोने का फ्रेम चुनता है जिसमें कट माउंट लगा होता है। दत्ता वादा करता है कि वह इसे दो हफ़्तों में तैयार कर देगा।
कुछ दिनों बाद, ग्राहक तस्वीर लेने के लिए जल्दी आ जाता है। दत्ता को एहसास होता है कि उस आदमी को तस्वीर से बहुत लगाव है, इसलिए वह अगली सुबह उसे अपना पहला काम बनाने का फैसला करता है। काम करते हुए, दत्ता अपनी पेंसिल की ठूँठ ढूँढ़ता है और गलती से सफ़ेद एनामेल पेंट तस्वीर पर गिर जाता है। वह उसे पोंछने की कोशिश करता है, लेकिन ऐसा करते हुए, वह तस्वीर को पूरी तरह से खराब कर देता है, जिससे तस्वीर का आधा चेहरा और पगड़ी गायब हो जाती है। दत्ता घबरा जाता है और ग्राहक को क्या बताएँ, इस बारे में चिंता करता है। काफी सोचने के बाद, वह एक नई तस्वीर ढूँढ़ने का फैसला करता है। वह बिना दावे वाली तस्वीरों के एक डिब्बे में से एक तस्वीर ढूँढ़ता है और उसे एक ऐसी तस्वीर मिलती है जो क्षतिग्रस्त तस्वीर से थोड़ी मिलती-जुलती है। वह उसे सोने के फ्रेम में लगाता है और अपने इस चतुराई भरे उपाय पर घबराता और गर्व महसूस करता है। जब ग्राहक वापस आता है, तो वह फ्रेम देखकर बहुत खुश होता है। दत्ता घबरा जाता है, उसे डर लगता है कि कहीं उसका झूठ पकड़ा न जाए। लेकिन गलत तस्वीर पर ध्यान देने के बजाय, ग्राहक बस यही शिकायत करता है कि माउंट का आकार अंडाकार की बजाय चौकोर है। दत्ता को राहत मिलती है कि उसका झूठ किसी ने नहीं पकड़ा।
Theme of the Lesson The Gold Frame
The lesson “The Gold Frame ” by R.K. Laxman revolves around the following themes:-
Irony and Human FoolishnessThe lesson is filled with irony that exposes human foolishness. Datta replaces the ruined photograph, expecting the customer to notice the difference, but the man complains only about the shape of the mount. This shows how people often fail to see what truly matters, focusing instead on trivial details. Laxman humorously portrays human nature and its absurdities through this ironic situation
Conflict Between Truth and Survival
Datta’s dilemma highlights the moral conflict between honesty and practicality. Though hardworking and sincere, he chooses deceit when faced with the fear of losing his reputation. This theme reflects the reality of ordinary people who, under pressure, compromise their integrity to protect themselves or their livelihood.
Appearance vs. Reality
In the lesson, the customer reveres the picture as a sacred symbol but fails to recognize that it has been replaced. The author uses this to show that people often value outward appearances over truth, revealing the superficiality of human perception and devotion.
The Gold Frame Explanation
Passage: The Modern Frame Works was actually an extra-large wooden packing case mounted on wobbly legs tucked in a gap between a drug store and a radio repair shop. Its owner, Datta, with his concave figure, silver-rimmed glasses and a complexion of seasoned timber, fitted into his shop with the harmony of fixture.
Word Meanings:
mounted (v): to fix something firmly on something else
wobbly (adj.): moving unsteadily from side to side
drug store (n): a store that sells medicine
concave (adj.): curved inwards
silver-rimmed glasses (n): eyeglasses with frames made of silver metal
timber (n): wood from trees that is used for building
harmony (n): a state of agreement or of peaceful existence together
fixture (n): a permanently fixed piece of furniture
Explanation of the passage: The lesson begins with a description of a small shop. The shop, called “The Modern Frame Works,” was not a real shop building. Instead, it was just an old packing case standing on shaky legs. It was placed in a small space between a medicine store and a radio repair shop. The owner, Datta, was a thin and slightly bent man with glasses and dark, rough skin that looked like old, polished wood. Datta and his shop looked like they were made for each other. His old, worn-out look perfectly matched the tiny, untidy shop, making him seem like a permanent part of it.
Passage: He was a silent, hard-working man. He gave only laconic answers to the questions his customers asked and strongly discouraged casual friends who tried to intrude on his zone of silence with their idle gossip. He was always seen sitting hunched up, surrounded by a confusion of cardboard pieces, bits of wood, glass sheets, boxes of nails, glue bottles, paint tins and other odds and ends that went in to putting a picture in a frame. In this medley a glass- cutter or a pencil stub was often lost and that was when he would uncoil from his posture and grope impatiently for it. Many times he had to stand up and shake his dhoti vigorously to dislodge the lost object. This operation rocked the whole shop, setting the pictures on the walls gently swinging.
Word Meanings:
laconic (adj.): using very few words
discouraged (v): to stop somebody doing something
intrude (v): to go into a place or situation in which you are not wanted or not expected to be
hunched (adj.): leaning forward with your shoulders raised, or bending your back and shoulders into a rounded shape
medley (n): a mixture of different things
uncoil (v): straighten or cause to straighten from a curled position
grope (v): to feel with your hands, especially in order to find or move towards something when you cannot see
dhoti (n): a loose piece of clothing wrapped around the lower half of the body, worn by some men from South Asia
vigorously (adv.): in a way that is very forceful or energetic
dislodge (v): to remove something or someone, especially by force, from a fixed position
Explanation of the passage: Datta was a quiet and hardworking man who spoke very little. When customers asked questions, he gave short and brief answers. He did not like people coming to his shop just to chat or gossip, as he preferred to work in silence. He was usually seen sitting bent over his work, surrounded by cardboard pieces, bits of wood, glass sheets, nails, glue, and paint tins, everything needed for making picture frames. His shop was messy and crowded, so small things like his pencil or glass-cutter often got lost. When that happened, he would get up and search for them, sometimes shaking his dhoti to find the missing object. This would make the whole shop shake, leading to the pictures on the walls to move .
Passage: There was not an inch of space that was not covered by a picture; gods, saints, hockey players, children, cheap prints of the Mona Lisa, national leaders, wedding couples, Urdu calligraphy, the snow-clad Fujiyama and many others co-existed with a cheerful incongruity like some fabulous world awaiting order and arrangement. A customer standing outside the shop on the pavement, obstructing the stream of jostling pedestrians, announced, ‘I want this picture framed.’ Datta, with his habitual indifference, ignored him and continued to be engaged in driving screws into the sides of a frame. ‘I want a really good job done, no matter how much it costs. The customer volunteered the information, unwrapping a faded newspaper and exposing a Sepia-brown photograph of an old man. It was sharp and highly glazed inspite of its antiquity.
Word Meanings:
saints (n): a holy person
calligraphy (n): decorative handwriting done with a special pen or brush
Fujiyama (n): a volcano in Japan
incongruity (n): strangeness
pavement (n): a path with a hard surface on one or both sides of a road, that people walk on
obstructing (v): to block a road, passage, entrance, etc.
jostling (n): the action of knocking or pushing roughly against someone in order to move past them or get more spa
pedestrians (n): a person who is walking, especially in an area where vehicles go
habitual (adj.): usual or repeated
indifference (n): lack of interest in someone or something
volunteered (n): a person who does something, especially helping other people, willingly and without being forced or
Sepia-brown (n): the dark reddish brown shade of photographs
antiquity (n): an object that was created a very long time ago
Explanation of the passage: Datta’s tiny shop was filled with pictures everywhere. There were pictures of gods, hockey players, children, famous paintings like the Mona Lisa, national leaders, wedding couples, Urdu calligraphy, and even the snowy mountain Fujiyama. All these pictures were mixed together in a colorful but unorganised way, making the shop look like a crowded world of images waiting to be arranged properly. One day, a customer stood outside the shop, blocking the busy path, and said that he wanted a picture framed. Datta, as usual, showed no excitement or interest and kept working silently. The customer then said he wanted the best frame possible, no matter the cost. He opened a faded newspaper and took out an old brown photograph of an elderly man. Even though it was old, the photo was clear and shiny.
Passage: ‘What sort of a frame would you like?’ Datta asked, still bent over his work.
‘The best, of course. Do you expect I would stint where this great soul is concerned?’
Datta gave a side glance and caught a glimpse of the photograph; just another elderly person of those days, he told himself; a standard portrait of a grandfather, a philanthropist, a social worker, with the inevitable whiskers and top-heavy cascading turban – it could be anyone of these. At least half a dozen people came to him every month bearing similar portraits, wanting to demonstrate their homage to the person in the picture in the shape of a glittering frame.
Word Meanings:
stint (v): (here) to spend a small amount of money
portrait (n): a painting, photograph, drawing, etc. of a person
philanthropist (n): one who gives money for charity
inevitable (adj.): certain to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented
whiskers (n): the hair that grows on a man’s face; beard
cascading (n): a large amount of something that hangs down
turban (n): a head covering for a man, worn especially by Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus, made from a long piece of cloth that is wrapped around the top of the head many times
dozen (n): twelve
homage (n): deep respect and often praise shown for a person or god
glittering (adj.): shining with a lot of small bright flashes of light
Explanation of the passage: When Datta asked the customer what kind of frame he wanted, the man proudly replied that he wanted the best because the person in the picture was a great and respected man. Datta looked briefly at the photograph and thought it looked like any other old man’s portrait, a common type he often saw in his shop. The man had a beard, moustache, and a big turban, just like many old photographs of grandfathers, social workers, or community leaders. Datta was not impressed because many people brought similar pictures to his shop every month. They all wanted to show their respect or devotion to the person in the photograph by putting it in a fancy, golden frame.
Passage: The customer was describing the greatness of the man; extravagant qualities of nobility, compassion and charity were being generously attributed to him in a voice that came close to the chanting of a holy scripture. ‘If this world had just a few more like him, believe me, it would certainly have been a different place. Of course, there are demons who may not agree with me. They are out to disgrace his name and destroy his memory. But he is God in my home!’ ‘What sort of a frame do you want?’ Datta interrupted. ‘Plain, wooden, lacquer, gold, plastic or just enamel painted?’ He waved a casual hand towards the pictures on the wall. The customer silently surveyed the various frames. After some time Datta heard him mumble, ‘I want the best…..’ I don’t have any second-rate stuff in my shop.’ Datta said. He was shown a number of samples: plain, decorative, floral, geometrical, thin, hefty and so forth. The customer was baffled by the variety. He examined the selection before him for a long time as if he was unsure of his judgment and was afraid of enshrining his saviour forever in some ugly cheap frame.
Word Meanings:
extravagant (adj.): beyond what is reasonable
nobility (n): honesty, courage, and kindness
attributed (n): a quality or characteristic that someone or something has
chanting (v): to repeat or sing a word or phrase continuously
scripture (n): the holy writings of a religion
disgrace (n): embarrassment and the loss of other people’s respect, or behaviour that causes this
lacquer (n): a liquid that is used on wood or metal to give it a hard shiny surface
enamel (n): a type of paint that forms a shiny surface when dry
mumble (v): to speak quietly and in a way that is not clear
hefty (adj.): strong and big
baffled (v): to cause someone to be completely unable to understand or explain something
enshrining (v): to contain or keep in a place that is highly admired and respected
Explanation of the passage: The customer started praising the man in the photograph, calling him a person full of kindness. He spoke so emotionally that it almost sounded like he was reciting a prayer. He said that if more people were like this man, the world would be a better place, but sadly, there were some people who tried to disrespect and ruin his good name. For the customer, this man was nothing less than a god in his home. Datta, however, was not interested in listening to all this emotional talk. He cut him short and asked again what kind of frame he wanted, such as, wooden, gold, plastic, or painted, pointing casually toward the different samples on his wall. The customer looked carefully at all the frame designs. There were so many choices that he became confused and nervous, afraid of choosing the wrong frame for someone he respected so deeply. He wanted only the best and most beautiful frame for the photograph.
Passage: Datta came to his rescue and recommended one with a profusion of gold leaves and winding creepers and in order to clear any lingering doubt he might still harbour in regard to its quality added: ‘It is German, imported!’ The customer at once seemed impressed and silenced. Datta next asked, ‘You want a plain mount or a cut mount’ and watched the puzzled look return. Again he helped the man out by showing his various mounts and suggested that the cut mount looked more elegant. ‘All right let me have a cut mount then. Is that a cut mount?’ he asked, pointing to a framed picture on the wall of a soulful-looking lady in an oval cut mount. ‘I like that shape. Will it cost much?’ ‘No. Frame, mount, glass – all will cost seventeen rupees.’
Word Meanings:
profusion (adj.): a large quantity
winding creepers (n): plants with long stems that grow along the ground or twine around other objects
lingering (v): to take longer than usual to leave or disappear
harbour (v): to think about or feel something, usually over a long period
imported (v): to buy or bring in products from another country
mount (v): to fix something to a wall, in a frame
puzzled (n): confused or difficult to understand
soulful-looking (adj.): looking very sad
Explanation of the passage: Upon seeing that the customer was confused about which frame to choose, Datta decided to help him. He suggested a beautiful frame decorated with gold leaves. To make it sound even more impressive, he told the customer that it was imported from Germany. Hearing this, the customer immediately felt satisfied and stopped doubting Datta’s choice. Then Datta asked if the customer wanted the border around the picture inside the frame to be plain or cut. The man looked confused again, so Datta showed him examples of both types and explained that a cut border looked better. The customer agreed and pointed to a framed photo of a sad-looking woman on the wall that had an oval-shaped cut frame. He said he liked that shape and asked if it would be too expensive. Datta replied calmly that the total cost would be seventeen rupees.
Passage: The customer had expected it would be more. He pretended to be shocked all the same and tried to bargain. Datta withdrew to his corner without replying and began to cut a piece of plywood. The customer hung about uncertainly for some time and finally asked, ‘When will you have it ready?’ and barely heard the reply over the vibrating noise of the saw on the plywood, ‘Two weeks from today.’ Datta had learnt by long experience that his customers never came punctually. They came days in advance and went away disappointed or came months later, and some never turned up at all and their pictures lay unclaimed in a box, gathering dust and feeding cockroaches and silver fish. Therefore he made frames for those who came to him and visited him at least twice before he actually executed their orders.
Word Meanings:
bargain (v): to try to make someone agree to give you something that is better for you, such as a better price
plywood (n): wood that consists of several thin layers of wood stuck together
uncertainly (adv.): not sure of something
punctually (adv.): on time
unclaimed (adj.): no one has said that it belongs to them or that they should have it
silver fish (n): a small silver coloured insect that damages clothes and other objects
executed (v): to do or perform something, especially in a planned way
Explanation of the passage: The customer thought that the price of the frame would be higher than seventeen rupees, but to look smart, he pretended to be surprised and tried to lower the price. Datta did not respond and just went back to his work. After waiting for a while, the customer asked Datta when the frame would be ready. Datta replied that it would take two weeks. Datta knew from experience that customers were never on time. Some would come earlier than promised and get angry if the frame was not ready, while others would come much later or never return at all. The picture left behind would then lie in a box collecting dust and even attract insects. That is why Datta had developed a rule, which is that he only made frames for those customers who visited him more than once, proving that they were serious about collecting their orders.
Passage: Ten days later the tall, rustic-looking man appeared and enquired, ‘Has the picture been framed? I was passing by and thought I could collect it if it was ready.’ Datta cast a sideways look at him and continued with his work. ‘I know I have come four days early,’ the customer grinned nervously. ‘Will it be ready by Tuesday?’ Datta merely nodded without shifting attention from a tiny nail which he, with precise rhythmic strokes, was driving into a frame, but sensed the man’s obsessive attachment” to the photograph. He told himself there would be trouble if he did not deliver the order on the promised date. Next morning he made that his first job, keeping aside all the others. The photograph was lying on a shelf among many others. He took it and carefully kept it on a wooden plank on the floor. Then he looked for the pencil stub for marking the measurements. As usual it was missing. He swept his hand all round him impatiently, scattering fragments of glass and wood.
Word Meanings:
rustic-looking (adj.): simple, natural, and rough
enquired (v): to inquire
rhythmic (adj.): a regular movement or beat that is repeated
plank (n): a long, narrow, flat piece of wood
obsessive attachment (n): an unreasonable kind of love
scattering (v): to drop or throw things in different directions over a wide area
Explanation of the passage: After ten days, the same customer returned to Datta’s shop. He asked if his picture was ready, saying he was just passing by and thought he could collect it early. Datta looked at him sideways but did not stop working. The man said he was four days early and then asked if the frame would be ready by Tuesday. Datta nodded silently, still focused on his work. Even though he did not say much, Datta understood that the man was deeply attached to the photograph, probably because it was very special to him. Datta realized that if he failed to deliver it on time, there would likely be trouble. So, the next morning, he decided to make that frame his first task, setting aside all other work. He took the photograph from a shelf full of other pictures and placed it carefully on the wooden floorboard to start measuring. But when he looked for his pencil, it was missing again. Irritated, Datta moved his hands around searching for it, and in doing so, mixed bits of glass and wood lying nearby.
Passage: False shapes that he mistook for the pencil harassed him on end and stoked his anger. Frustrated in all his attempts to find it he finally stood up to shake the folds of his dhoti – an ultimate move which generally yielded results. But he shook the folds so violently that he upset a tin containing white enamel paint and it landed right on the sacred photograph of the old man, emptying its thick, slimy contents on it. Datta stood transfixed and stared at the disaster at his feet as if he had suddenly lost all faculty of movement. He could not bring himself even to avert his eyes from the horror which he seemed to be cruelly forced to view. Then his spectacles clouded with perspiration and helpfully screened his vision.
Word Meanings:
stoked (v): to make people feel something more strongly
frustrated (adj.): feeling annoyed or less confident because you cannot achieve what you want
yielded (n): an amount of something positive
sacred (adj.): considered to be holy and deserving respect, especially because of a connection with a god
transfixed (adj.): unable to move
avert (v): prevent
spectacles (n): glasses to correct vision
perspiration (n): sweat
Explanation of the passage: Datta was getting more and more irritated while searching for his missing pencil. He kept spotting other objects that looked like the pencil, which only made him angrier. After several failed attempts, he decided to stand up and shake his dhoti, a trick he usually used when something small got lost in its folds. But this time, he shook it too hard, and by accident, he knocked over a tin of white paint. The tin fell directly onto the photograph of the old man and spilled all its thick, sticky paint over it. Datta was completely frozen, staring at the ruined picture in shock. After a few moments, his glasses became foggy with sweat, which blurred his view of the mess and gave him a small sense of relief from the messy sight.
Passage: When at last he fully recovered his senses he set about rescuing the picture in such a desperate hurry that he made a worse mess of it. He rubbed the picture so hard with a cloth that he peeled off thin strips of filmy coating from its surface. Before he realized what he had done half the old man’s face and nearly all of his turban were gone. Data helplessly looked at the venerable elder transformed into thick black sticking to the enamel smeared on the rag in his hand. He sat with both hands clutching his head; every nerve in his head throbbed as if it would tear itself apart if he did not hold it down. What answer was he going to offer to the customer who had a fanatic devotion to the photograph he had just mutilated beyond recovery? His imagination ran wild, suggesting nightmarish consequences to his own dear self and to the fragile inflammable shop.
Word Meanings:
helplessly (adv.): unable to do anything to help yourself or anyone else
venerable (adj.): respectable
smeared (v): to spread a liquid or a thick substance over a surface
clutching (v): to take or try to take hold of something or someone tightly, usually in fear, worry, or pain
throbbed (n): pain that is felt as a series of regular beats
fanatic (n): a person who is extremely interested in something, to a degree that some people find unreasonable
devotion (n): loyalty and love or care for someone or something
mutilated (v): damaged severely
nightmarish (adj.): frightening
fragile (adj.): easily damaged or broken
inflammable (adj.): something that burns very easily
Explanation of the passage: After a few moments, Datta quickly tried to save the photograph. But in his hurry, he only made the situation worse. He rubbed the photo roughly with a cloth, trying to clean off the white paint. Unfortunately, this damaged the surface of the photograph, and thin layers of the image peeled away. By the time he realized what he was doing, half of the old man’s face and almost the entire turban were gone. The picture had turned into a mess of black and white paint. Datta knew how attached the customer was to that photograph, the man had treated it almost like a holy image. His mind filled with fearful thoughts, imagining what the angry customer might do when he found out. Datta even feared for his own safety and for his small shop, which could easily be damaged if things went out of control.
Passage: He racked his brain for a long while till sheer exhaustion calmed his agitated nerves and made him accept the situation with a hopeless resignation. Meanwhile the plethora of gods, saints and images gazed down at him from the walls with a transcendental smile and seemed to offer themselves to him to pray. With a fervent appeal in his heart he stared at them. In his state of mind it did not register for quite a while that a particular photograph of a person on the wall had held his attention rather more than it was qualified to do. It was an ordinary portrait of a middle-aged man in a dark suit and striped tie, resting his right arm jauntily on a studio prop made to look like a fluted Roman pillar. Datta was amazed to see that he had a faint likeness to the late-lamented old man. The more he gazed at the face the more convincing it appeared to him. But he dismissed the odd resemblance he saw as one of those tricks of a thoroughly fagged out mind. All the same, at the back of his mind an idea began to take shape; he saw the possibility of finding an acceptable substitute!
Word Meanings:
racked (v): thought very hard about something for a long time
exhaustion (n): the state of being extremely tired
agitated (adj.): worried or angry
plethora (n): a large number of
transcendental smile (adj.): a smile that makes one look angelic
fervent (adj.): used to describe beliefs that are strongly and sincerely felt or people who have strong and sincere beliefs
jauntily (adv.): in a happy and confident way
fluted (adj.): If an object, especially a round object, is fluted, its edges have many curves that go in and out
amazed (adj.): extremely surprised
likeness (n): the fact of being similar in appearance
late-lamented (adj.): used for referring to someone who has died or to something that no longer exists
gazed (v): to look at something or someone for a long time
dismissed (v): to decide that something or someone is not important and not worth considering
resemblance (n): the fact that two people or things look like each other or are similar in some other way
fagged (adj.): extremely tired
substitute (v): to use something or someone instead of another thing or person
Explanation of the passage: Datta spent a long time thinking about how to fix the mistake he had made. He was so tired and stressed that he became calm out of exhaustion and accepted that nothing could be done to save the damaged photograph. As he sat, he noticed the many pictures of gods and famous people hanging on the walls of his small shop. Their calm and peaceful faces seemed to smile down at him, almost as if they were telling him to pray for help. Datta looked up at them silently asking for some kind of solution. Then, without realizing it at first, his eyes kept returning to one particular photograph. It was the image of a middle-aged man wearing a dark suit and striped tie. Upon a closer look, he noticed that this man’s face looked a little like the old man in the ruined photograph. He was happy but thought maybe it was just a trick of his tired mind. Still, he thought that he could use this similar-looking picture as a replacement for the one he had destroyed.
Passage: He brought down the old wooden box in which he had kept all the photographs unclaimed over the years. As he rummaged in it, panicky cockroaches and spiders scurried helter-skelter all over the floor. Unmindful of them Datta anxiously searched for the brownish photographs of the old man’s vintage. Soon there was a pile before him; he was surprised he could pick up so many which qualified to take the old man’s place. But he had to reject a lot of them. In most of the portraits the subjects sported a very conspicuous flower vase next to them, or over-dressed grandchildren sat on their laps and therefore had to be rejected. Luckily, there was one with which Datta felt he could take a fair risk; the print had yellowed a bit noticeably but he calculated that the total effect when put in a dazzling gold frame would render it safe.
Word Meanings:
rummaged (v): searched for something
panicky (v): to suddenly feel so worried or frightened that you cannot think or behave calmly or reasonably
scurried (v): to move quickly, with small, short steps
helter-skelter (adv.): quickly and in all directions
unmindful (adj.): not remembering, noticing, or being careful about something
anxiously (adv.): in a way that shows you are worried or nervous
conspicuous (adj.): easy to see or notice
dazzling (adj.): extremely attractive
render (v): to cause someone or something to be in a particular state
Explanation of the passage: Datta then took down an old box where he had been keeping the photographs left behind by customers over the years. As he opened it, cockroaches and spiders ran out in all directions, but Datta did not care as he was too focused on finding a replacement photograph for the one he had ruined. He began to search quickly through the pile, looking for a brown, old photograph that matched the old look of the destroyed one. After searching for some time, he managed to collect some that could possibly replace the old man’s photo. However, he had to reject most of them because they had obvious issues. In some pictures, there was a flower vase that stood out too much, while in others, children were sitting on the person’s lap, making it clear that the photo did not match the original. Finally, Datta found one photograph that looked good enough. The picture had faded and turned slightly yellow, but Datta believed that once it was placed inside a bright, shiny gold frame, the difference would not be noticed. He felt it was a safe choice and decided to take the risk of using it as a replacement.
Passage: After a couple of hours’ concentrated work he sat back and proudly surveyed the old man’s double, looking resplendent in his gold frame. He was so pleased with his achievement that he forgot he was taking perhaps one of the greatest risks any frame-maker ever took! He even became bold enough to challenge the customer if his faking was discovered. ‘Look, my dear man,’ he would say, ‘I don’t know who has been fooling you! That’s the picture you brought here for framing. Take it or throw it away!’
Word Meanings:
surveyed (v): to look at or examine all of something, especially carefully
resplendent (adj.): having a very bright or beautiful appearance
frame-maker (n): a person that makes and fits frames for pictures
Explanation of the passage: After working carefully for a few hours, Datta finally finished framing the replacement photograph. When he looked at it, he felt very proud and satisfied, the new picture looked just like the old man’s photo he had ruined. Datta was so pleased with his work that he completely forgot how risky his plan really was. If the customer noticed the change, he could get into serious trouble. But in his excitement, Datta even started to feel confident enough to face that situation boldly. He imagined himself confidently telling the customer that he had not replaced the photograph and that it was the same one he had brought for framing, and if the man didn’t like it, he could either take it or throw it away.
Passage: The days that followed were filled with suspense and anxiety. Datta feared that the customer would surprise him at an unguarded moment making him bungle the entire, carefully thought-out plot. But the man turned up promptly a couple of days later. At that moment Datta was bent over piece of work and slightly stiffened as he heard the voice, shrill with expectation ask, ‘Is it ready?’ Datta’s heart began to race and to compose himself, he let a whole minute pass without answering. Then he put aside the scissors in his hand with slow deliberation and reached out to take the neatly-wrapped package in a corner. ‘Ah, it is ready!’ the customer exclaimed with childish delight, at the same time mumbling flattering tributes to Datta for his promptness and so on. He spread his arms widely with dramatic exuberance to receive the photograph as if it was actually a long-lost person he was greeting.
Word Meanings:
suspense (n): a feeling of excitement or anxiety while waiting for something uncertain to happen
unguarded (adj.): not guarded or protected
bungle (v): to do something wrong, in a careless or stupid way
stiffened (v): to become firm or more difficult to bend
deliberation (n): considering or discussing something
flattering (adj.): making someone look or seem better or more attractive than usual
promptness (n): the quality of doing something quickly and without delay
exuberance (n): energy
Explanation of the passage: For the next few days, Datta lived in fear. He kept worrying that the customer might return suddenly exposing his lie about the replaced photograph. After a couple of days, the customer arrived on time. Datta was busy working when he arrived, but as soon as he heard the man’s excited voice asking if the frame was ready, he froze for a moment. His heart started beating fast because he was nervous about how the customer would react. To calm himself down, Datta waited for a whole minute before answering. Then, he put down his scissors and picked up the neatly wrapped package that contained the framed photo. The customer appeared happy and excited. He was happy that the frame was ready and began praising Datta for being so quick. Then, he spread his arms wide, as though he were about to hug the photograph, treating it like a person he had been reunited with after a long time.
Passage: But Datta took his time removing the wrapper from the frame. The customer waited impatiently, filling in the time showering more praise on his worshipful master who was to adorn the wall of his home. Datta finally revealed the glittering frame and held it towards him. The customer seemed visibly struck by its grandeur and fell silent like one who had entered the inner sanctum of a temple. Datta held his breath and watched the man’s expression. With every second that passed he was losing his nerve and thought that in another moment he would betray the big hoax he had played. Suddenly he saw the customer straighten, the reverential look and benevolent expression vanished from his face.
Word Meanings:
impatiently (adv.): in a way that shows you want something to happen as soon as possible
showering (v): to give a lot of something to someone
worshipful (adj.): giving someone or something great respect or admiration
adorn (v): to add something decorative to a person or thing
grandeur (n): the quality of being very large and special or beautiful
sanctum (n): a holy place, a private room where somebody can go and not be disturbed
hoax (n): an act intended to make somebody believe something that is not true
reverential look (adj.): a look of great respect and admiration
benevolent (adj.): kind and helpful
vanished (v): to disappear suddenly
Explanation of the passage: Datta moved very slowly and carefully while unwrapping the frame. The customer was waiting eagerly to see the finished picture. As he waited, he kept praising the old man in the photograph, saying how great and respected he was, and how proudly he would hang the picture on his wall. When Datta finally removed the wrapping, the customer was shocked by how beautiful it looked, staring at it with the same respect that one might show in a temple. Datta stood there watching and he feared that the customer might notice that the photograph inside the frame was not the original one. Then, all of a sudden, the customer’s expression changed. The respectful and calm look disappeared, replaced by a serious and questioning one.
Passage: ‘What have you done?’ he demanded, indignantly. For Datta the moment seemed familiar for he had already gone through it a thousand times night and day since he splashed the white paint on the original photograph. Several times he had rehearsed his piece precisely for this occasion. But before he could open his mouth the customer shouted with tremendous authority in his bearing, ‘Now, don’t deny it! I clearly remember asking for a cut mount with an oval shape. This is square. Look!’
Word Meanings:
indignantly (adv.): in an angry way, because of something that is wrong or not fair
splashed (v): to scatter liquid or to cause liquid to scatter through the air or onto something
tremendous (adj.): very large or great
Explanation of the passage: The customer suddenly became angry and shouted at Datta, asking what he had done. He spoke in a rude tone, which made Datta scared. Datta thought that the customer had found out that the photograph had been replaced. He had imagined this scene many times in his mind. Datta had even prepared and practiced excuses in case he was questioned about it. But before he could say anything, the customer spoke again. To Datta’s surprise and relief, the man was not angry about the photograph at all. Instead, he complained that the frame was the wrong shape. He said that he had asked for a cut frame with an oval shape, but the one in front of him was square.
Conclusion
This post provides the students with a comprehensive understanding of Chapter 4 The Gold Frame By R.K. Laxman from the PSEB Class 12 English A Rainbow of English Book. It provides the students with the introduction, theme, summary, lesson explanation with word meanings, ensuring that the students comprehend the chapter effectively.