9th English: Unit 11: The Dear Departed Online Test, Short Questions Notes
The Dear Departed is a one-act play by William Stanley Houghton. It is a humorous and satirical play about greed, materialism, hypocrisy and the false display of family affection. The story centres on Abel Merryweather, his daughters Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan, and their families. The family believes Abel is dead, but he suddenly returns alive and exposes their selfishness.
Summary of this lesson
“The Dear Departed” is a humorous and satirical one-act play written by William Stanley Houghton. The play presents a family whose selfishness and greed become clear when they believe that Abel Merryweather, an elderly man, has died. Instead of showing genuine grief, his daughters, Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan, immediately become concerned about his belongings and inheritance.
Mrs. Slater secretly moves her father’s bureau and clock downstairs because she wants to keep them. When Mrs. Jordan and her husband arrive, the family discusses Abel’s possessions and even worries about his insurance. Their conversation shows that they are more interested in his property than in their father’s death.
The situation takes a surprising turn when Abel Merryweather suddenly appears alive. He had only been sleeping deeply and had not died. He discovers that his family has already started taking his belongings. He becomes angry and realizes how selfish his daughters are.
Abel then decides to change his will. He says that he will leave his property to whichever daughter is willing to keep him and treat him properly. In the end, he announces that he plans to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks, making his daughters’ plans for his inheritance uncertain.
9th English: Unit 11: The Dear Departed Online Test, Short Questions Notes
Important Short Questions and Answers
What kind of play is The Dear Departed?
The Dear Departed is a one-act play. It is a realistic comedy and satire that exposes greed, materialism and hypocrisy in family relationships.
Who wrote The Dear Departed?
The play was written by William Stanley Houghton, an English playwright known for his realistic social dramas.
Where does the play take place?
The entire action takes place in the living room of the Slater family’s Edwardian home.
Why is the single setting important?
The single setting brings all the characters together in one room. Their dialogue and actions reveal their true personalities, greed and hypocrisy.
Who are the main characters in the play?
The main characters are Abel Merryweather, Mrs. Amelia Slater, Henry Slater, Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan, Ben Jordan and Victoria.
What is the main conflict in the play?
The main conflict is between the two daughters and their families over Abel’s possessions and inheritance.
Who is Abel Merryweather?
Abel Merryweather is an old man and the father of Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan. He is believed to be dead at the beginning but later returns alive.
Why did the family think Abel was dead?
Abel was in a deep, drunken sleep upstairs. The family misunderstood the situation and believed that he had died.
What was Abel doing instead of paying his insurance premium?
Abel went to the Ring-o’-Bells pub with Mr. Tattersall instead of paying his insurance premium.
How does Abel expose his daughters?
He notices that his bureau and clock have been moved. He questions the family and reveals that he knows about their selfish behaviour.
What condition does Abel place on his will?
He says that he will leave his belongings to whichever daughter he is living with at the time of his death.
Why is Abel’s decision effective?
His decision exposes the daughters’ greed because they immediately begin competing for his favour instead of showing genuine love.
What is Abel’s final announcement?
Abel announces that he plans to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks, who keeps the Ring-o’-Bells pub.
Why does Mrs. Slater want the bureau?
Mrs. Slater has wanted the bureau for a long time. She tries to take it before her sister arrives and claims it.
What does Mrs. Slater do with the bureau and clock?
She secretly moves them downstairs and replaces the bureau with an old chest of drawers.
What does Mrs. Slater’s action reveal?
It reveals that she is selfish, dishonest and more interested in Abel’s possessions than in mourning him.
How does Mrs. Jordan react to the bureau?
She accuses Mrs. Slater and Henry of stealing the bureau after believing that Abel was dead.
Are Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan genuinely mourning their father?
No. Their mourning is largely superficial. They are more concerned with possessions, insurance money and inheritance.
How are the two sisters similar?
Both sisters are greedy, hypocritical and interested in Abel’s property. They pretend to care about their father but compete for his belongings.
How are the two sisters different?
Mrs. Slater is more active and secretly moves the bureau and clock. Mrs. Jordan is more outspoken and openly accuses the Slaters of theft.
How is Victoria different from the adults?
Victoria is innocent and honest. She does not understand the adults’ greed and openly reveals facts that expose their selfishness.
What does Victoria reveal about Abel’s morning?
She reveals that Abel went to the Ring-o’-Bells pub with Mr. Tattersall instead of paying his insurance premium.
What does Victoria’s expression “pinching” show?
It shows that she sees the adults’ secret removal of Abel’s possessions as stealing. Her innocent observation exposes their dishonesty.
What kind of person is Henry Slater?
Henry is weak and easily controlled by his wife. Although he feels uneasy about moving the bureau, he follows Mrs. Slater’s instructions.
What kind of person is Ben Jordan?
Ben is influenced by Mrs. Jordan and participates in the family’s concern about Abel’s property and inheritance.
What is the central theme of the play?
The central theme is materialism and hypocrisy in family relationships. The play shows that greed can replace love when people expect an inheritance.
What is the moral lesson of the play?
The play teaches that family affection should be sincere and should not depend on money or property. Greed and hypocrisy eventually bring shame and disappointment.
How does the play criticise materialism?
The family begins planning how to divide Abel’s belongings even before confirming his death. Their actions show that they value property more than human relationships.
How does the play expose hypocrisy?
The daughters pretend to mourn Abel, but their words and actions reveal that they are interested in his bureau, clock, watch, insurance and will.
What is satire?
Satire is a literary technique that uses humour, irony or exaggeration to criticise the faults of individuals or society.
How does Houghton use satire?
Houghton presents the family’s selfish behaviour humorously. Abel’s unexpected return and final marriage make the family’s greedy plans appear foolish.
Why is the title ironic?
The title is ironic because the “dear departed” man has not actually died. Abel returns alive and discovers that his family has already begun dividing his possessions.
What does the bureau represent?
The bureau represents property and the family’s greed. The struggle over it shows that the characters are more concerned with material objects than with Abel’s feelings.
What does the final twist teach us?
The final twist shows that the daughters’ schemes are pointless. Abel’s remarriage changes the situation and exposes the emptiness of their greed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms and Antonyms
Word Usage
- Bureau: Mrs. Slater wanted to take Abel’s bureau.
- Mourning: The family wore mourning clothes.
- Inheritance: The daughters were interested in Abel’s inheritance.
- Greed: Their greed destroyed family affection.
- Hypocrisy: Their false mourning showed hypocrisy.
- Malicious: Her malicious remarks hurt her sister.
- Impassive: Abel remained impassive during the argument.
- Precocious: Victoria was a precocious and observant girl.
- Shabby: The old chest of drawers looked shabby.
- Stupefied: The family was stupefied when Abel appeared alive.
- Reveal: Victoria revealed the truth about Abel’s visit to the pub.
- Inheritance: The family quarrelled over the inheritance.
Important Spellings
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Departed | Departed |
| Buro | Bureau |
| Gallavanting | Gallivanting |
| Hearth | Hearth |
| Impassive | Impassive |
| Mallicious | Malicious |
| Piqued | Piqued |
| Precotious | Precocious |
| Shabby | Shabby |
| Speck | Speck |
| Stupified | Stupefied |
| Mouring | Mourning |
| Inheritence | Inheritance |
| Possesion | Possession |
| Hipocrisy | Hypocrisy |
| Materialisim | Materialism |
| Funeral | Funeral |
| Premiem | Premium |
| Insurence | Insurance |
| Accusse | Accuse |
| Robbery | Robbery |
| Superfitial | Superficial |
| Sincere | Sincere |
| Opportunistic | Opportunistic |
| Affection | Affection |
Denotative and Connotative Meanings
A denotative meaning is the literal dictionary meaning of a word. A connotative meaning is the feeling or association suggested by a word.
Grammar: Direct and Indirect Narration
Statements
- Direct: Victoria said, “Grandpa is getting up.”
Indirect: Victoria said that Grandpa was getting up. - Direct: Mrs. Slater said, “I have always wanted this bureau.”
Indirect: Mrs. Slater said that she had always wanted that bureau. - Direct: Abel said, “I am going to make a new will.”
Indirect: Abel said that he was going to make a new will. - Direct: Henry said, “I did not move the clock.”
Indirect: Henry said that he had not moved the clock. - Direct: Mrs. Jordan said, “The bureau belongs to my father.”
Indirect: Mrs. Jordan said that the bureau belonged to her father.
Questions
- Direct: Abel said to Victoria, “Where are my keys?”
Indirect: Abel asked Victoria where his keys were. - Direct: Mrs. Slater said to Henry, “Did you move the bureau?”
Indirect: Mrs. Slater asked Henry if he had moved the bureau. - Direct: Ben said, “Is Abel really dead?”
Indirect: Ben asked whether Abel was really dead. - Direct: Mrs. Jordan said to Victoria, “Why did you go upstairs?”
Indirect: Mrs. Jordan asked Victoria why she had gone upstairs.
Orders, Requests and Advice
- Direct: Mrs. Slater said to Victoria, “Put on your mourning dress.”
Indirect: Mrs. Slater ordered Victoria to put on her mourning dress. - Direct: Abel said, “Do not touch my bureau.”
Indirect: Abel ordered them not to touch his bureau. - Direct: Henry said to Mrs. Slater, “Please do not move the clock.”
Indirect: Henry requested Mrs. Slater not to move the clock. - Direct: The teacher said, “Do not be greedy.”
Indirect: The teacher advised the students not to be greedy.
Modals
- Direct: Abel said, “I will make a new will.”
Indirect: Abel said that he would make a new will. - Direct: Mrs. Slater said, “We can take the bureau.”
Indirect: Mrs. Slater said that they could take the bureau. - Direct: Henry said, “We must be careful.”
Indirect: Henry said that they had to be careful. - Direct: Abel said, “You should respect family relationships.”
Indirect: Abel said that they should respect family relationships.
Active and Passive Voice
- Active: Mrs. Slater moved the bureau.
Passive: The bureau was moved by Mrs. Slater. - Active: The family discussed the inheritance.
Passive: The inheritance was discussed by the family. - Active: Abel made a new will.
Passive: A new will was made by Abel. - Active: Victoria revealed the truth.
Passive: The truth was revealed by Victoria. - Active: The family wore mourning clothes.
Passive: Mourning clothes were worn by the family. - Active: Abel surprised the family.
Passive: The family was surprised by Abel. - Active: Mrs. Jordan accused the Slaters.
Passive: The Slaters were accused by Mrs. Jordan. - Active: Abel will leave his belongings to one daughter.
Passive: His belongings will be left to one daughter by Abel.
Sentence Transformation
Change into negative
- Mrs. Slater was genuinely mourning.
Mrs. Slater was not genuinely mourning. - Abel was dead.
Abel was not dead. - The family respected Abel’s wishes.
The family did not respect Abel’s wishes. - Victoria understood the adults’ greed.
Victoria did not understand the adults’ greed.
Change into interrogative
- Abel was alive.
Was Abel alive? - Mrs. Slater moved the bureau.
Did Mrs. Slater move the bureau? - The family wanted Abel’s possessions.
Did the family want Abel’s possessions? - Abel planned to remarry.
Did Abel plan to remarry?
Combine the sentences
- The family thought Abel was dead. They began dividing his property.
The family thought Abel was dead, so they began dividing his property. - Victoria went upstairs. She saw Abel getting up.
When Victoria went upstairs, she saw Abel getting up. - Mrs. Slater wanted the bureau. She moved it downstairs.
Because Mrs. Slater wanted the bureau, she moved it downstairs. - Abel returned alive. The family was shocked.
When Abel returned alive, the family was shocked. - The daughters wanted the inheritance. They competed for Abel’s favour.
As the daughters wanted the inheritance, they competed for Abel’s favour.
Comprehension Practice
Passage 1
Mrs. Slater had always wanted the bureau. Before her sister and brother-in-law arrived, she persuaded Henry to move it downstairs. They replaced it with an old chest of drawers. Mrs. Slater was not thinking about her father’s death; she was thinking about how to obtain his property.
Questions
- What had Mrs. Slater always wanted?
She had always wanted the bureau. - Whom did she persuade to move it?
She persuaded Henry to move it. - What did they put in its place?
They put an old chest of drawers in its place. - What was Mrs. Slater really thinking about?
She was thinking about obtaining her father’s property. - What does her action reveal?
It reveals her greed and materialism.
Passage 2
The Jordans arrived in expensive mourning clothes. They talked about Abel’s funeral and possessions. Mrs. Jordan claimed that her son Jimmy had been promised Abel’s gold watch. The family also discussed Abel’s insurance premium. Their conversation showed that they were more interested in property than in mourning.
Questions
- What were the Jordans wearing?
They were wearing expensive mourning clothes. - What did Mrs. Jordan claim about the gold watch?
She claimed that Abel had promised it to her son Jimmy. - What else did the family discuss?
They discussed Abel’s insurance premium. - What did their conversation reveal?
It revealed their interest in property rather than genuine mourning. - Give a suitable title.
The Family’s Greed.
Passage 3
Victoria went upstairs to fetch the keys. She soon returned frightened and announced that Grandpa was getting up. Everyone was shocked because they had believed Abel to be dead. Abel entered the room in his dressing gown and asked why his bureau and clock had been moved.
Questions
- Why did Victoria go upstairs?
She went upstairs to fetch the keys. - What did she announce?
She announced that Grandpa was getting up. - Why was everyone shocked?
They were shocked because they had believed Abel to be dead. - What did Abel ask about?
He asked why his bureau and clock had been moved. - What is the importance of this scene?
It is the climax because Abel’s return exposes the family’s selfishness.
Passage 4
Abel told his daughters that he would leave his belongings to whichever one of them he was living with when he died. Both women immediately changed their behaviour and tried to please him. At the end, Abel announced that he intended to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks. His announcement made their plans useless.
Questions
- What condition did Abel place on his will?
He would leave his belongings to whichever daughter he was living with when he died. - How did the daughters react?
They immediately began competing to please him. - Whom did Abel plan to marry?
He planned to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks. - Why did this make their plans useless?
His marriage would change his plans about his property and inheritance. - What theme does the passage highlight?
It highlights greed, materialism and hypocrisy.
Fill in the Blanks
- The Dear Departed is a play.
one-act - The play was written by William Stanley .
Houghton - The action takes place in the room of the Slater family.
living - Abel Merryweather is believed to be at the beginning.
dead - Mrs. Slater wants Abel’s .
bureau - The bureau is replaced by an old of drawers.
chest - The family discusses Abel’s gold .
watch - Victoria reveals that Abel went to the .
pub - Abel’s will is kept in the .
bureau - Abel says he will make a new .
will - The daughters compete for Abel’s .
favour - Abel plans to marry Mrs. John .
Shorrocks - The central theme is materialism and .
hypocrisy - A word meaning “dead” is .
departed - Houghton uses humour and to criticise society.
satire
True/False Statements
- The Dear Departed is a poem.
False - William Stanley Houghton wrote the play.
True - The whole play takes place in the Slater family’s living room.
True - Mrs. Slater is genuinely concerned only about Abel’s comfort.
False - Mrs. Slater wants Abel’s bureau.
True - Abel is actually dead throughout the play.
False - Victoria reveals that Abel went to a pub.
True - The family is more interested in inheritance than affection.
True - Abel promises all his property to Mrs. Slater immediately.
False - Abel proposes a new arrangement for his will.
True - Abel plans to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks.
True - Victoria is more greedy than the adults.
False - The play contains satire.
True - The title is completely literal and not ironic.
False - The play teaches that greed strengthens family bonds.
False
Important Long Questions
Write a character sketch of Mrs. Slater.
Mrs. Slater is selfish, greedy and materialistic. When she believes that her father is dead, she does not show genuine grief. Instead, she worries about obtaining his bureau and clock. She persuades Henry to move the bureau downstairs before Mrs. Jordan arrives. Her behaviour shows that she values property more than family affection. She also pretends to mourn Abel, which makes her hypocritical. Through Mrs. Slater, Houghton exposes the selfishness that can exist in family relationships.
Write a character sketch of Mrs. Jordan.
Mrs. Jordan is also greedy and hypocritical. She arrives in expensive mourning clothes but is mainly interested in Abel’s possessions, gold watch and insurance money. When she sees the bureau, she accuses the Slaters of stealing it. However, she is no better than her sister because she also wants Abel’s property. Her behaviour shows that both sisters are driven by materialism rather than love.
How is Victoria different from the adults?
Victoria is innocent, honest and observant. Unlike the adults, she does not hide her thoughts or take part in their schemes. She reveals that Abel went to the pub and later announces that Grandpa is getting up. She also thinks that her parents are “pinching” Abel’s belongings. Her straightforward behaviour contrasts sharply with the adults’ greed and hypocrisy.
What is the central theme of The Dear Departed?
The central theme is materialism and hypocrisy in family relationships. The daughters pretend to mourn their father, but they are more interested in his bureau, clock, gold watch, insurance and inheritance. Their behaviour shows that greed can destroy genuine affection. The play teaches that family love should be sincere and should not depend on financial gain.
Explain the irony in the title.
The title The Dear Departed is ironic because the family believes that Abel has died, but he is actually alive. Before confirming his death, his daughters begin planning how to divide his possessions. Abel’s unexpected return exposes their greed. Therefore, the supposedly “departed” person has not departed, while the family’s false affection is exposed.
How does Houghton use humour and satire?
Houghton uses humorous dialogue, exaggerated selfishness and an unexpected plot twist to criticise social behaviour. The family’s quick change from mourning to property-sharing is both funny and disturbing. Abel’s return shocks everyone, and his final announcement about remarriage makes the daughters’ plans useless. Through satire, the writer exposes greed, hypocrisy and materialism.
Why is Abel’s return important to the plot?
Abel’s return is the climax of the play. It changes the situation completely and exposes the family’s dishonesty. The daughters had already begun dividing his property, but Abel appears alive and questions them about the stolen bureau and clock. His return also allows him to control his own inheritance and reveal the foolishness of his relatives.
What lesson does the play teach?
The play teaches that greed and materialism can destroy family relationships. People should not pretend to love others for money or property. Genuine affection, respect and honesty are more valuable than possessions. The play also shows that selfish plans may ultimately fail.
Explain the significance of the bureau.
The bureau is a symbol of Abel’s property and the family’s greed. Mrs. Slater secretly moves it downstairs because she wants to possess it. The quarrel over the bureau reveals that the family members care more about material objects than about Abel. It also contains Abel’s will, so it becomes central to the conflict.
Describe the final twist of the play.
At the end, Abel says that he will leave his property to whichever daughter he lives with. Both daughters immediately compete to gain his favour. Then Abel announces that he plans to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks. This makes their schemes pointless and provides a humorous ending. The twist reinforces the message that greed and hypocrisy are foolish and morally empty.
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