A Sunny Morning Questions & Answers

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Comprehension I

1.       Do you think Laura was a regular visitor to the park? What makes you think so?

Ans: Yes. Her words, “I feared my seat would be occupied”, show that she was a regular visitor.

2.       Why are Don Gonzalo and Laura annoyed with each other?

Ans: Because both want bench to themselves.

3.       Dona Laura reads without her glasses as

Ans: (c) she knows every word by heart.

4.       Gonzalo and Laura keep up humorous conversation because they:

Ans: (b) enjoy being with each other.

5.       Laura and Gonzalo’s friendly conversation begins with

Ans: (c) a pinch of snuff.

6.       Do you think Laura is an effective narrator?

Ans: Yes, she is.

7.       Gonzalo does not reveal his identity because:

Ans: he looks grotesque and old.

Comprehension II

1. Precisely at what point of time, do you think, Laura and Gonzalo begin to recognise each other?

Ans: Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, “A Sunny Morning” they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. Though the passage of time has taken away the physical charm in the protagonists, yet, their yearning for love and friendship remains strong. Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo are in their 70s when they chance to meet at a park. Like anyone at their age, they show their anger, frustration and hatred. Amid initial verbal exchanges, a pinch of snuff changes their tone and mood. When Dona Laura takes the book from Don Gonzalo and reads aloud, “Twenty Years Pass”, exactly at this point both of them begin to recognize each other.

2.       What were the circumstances that led Gonzalo to flee Valencia? 

Ans: Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, “A Sunny Morning” they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. Don Gonzalo was in love with Dona Laura, the Silver Maiden. He used to pass by on horseback every morning down the rose path under her window and tossed up to her balcony a bouquet of flowers which she caught. Later in the afternoon, the gallant horseman would return by the same path, and catch the bouquet of flowers she would toss him. One night, when he waited under her window, the local merchant whom Laura’s parents wanted her to marry showed up and insulted Gonzalo. This led to a quarrel and later led to a duel. Don Gonzalo badly wounded the merchant. Fearing the circumstances, he fled Valencia.

3.       Did Laura and Gonzalo pine for each other after they were separated by circumstances? Who is more passionate? How do they react to each other now?

Ans: Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, “A Sunny Morning” they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. Laura and Gonzalo did pine for each other. Both of them express in their created stories how much they felt the loss. Gonzalo tells her that he wrote letters to Laura from Madrid but she never answered them at all s they were intercepted by her parents. Disappointed, he joined the army and met a glorious death in Africa. He later admits that in three months after he left Aravaca, he fled to Paris with a ballet dancer. On the other hand, Laura says that she waited for months and a year without any letter. One afternoon she went to the beach where her beloved had risked his life and sat on a rock with her gaze fixed on the horizon. She was swept away by the waves. In their words of their tales, Laura seems to be more passionate. Now, both of them came to know about their real identity. However, they do not want to disclose their real self. They are rather happy to meet on more sunny mornings as good new friends.

4.       What makes Dona Laura conclude that Don Gonzalo is an ill-natured man?

Ans: Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, “A Sunny Morning”, they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. Don Gonzalo comes to a park in Madrid. He wanted to sit on the bench Laura was sitting. She got annoyed because he dragged his feet while walking; scaring away the birds she was feeding. Besides, he replied to her indignantly upon being asked for rude actions. This is when Dona Laura concluded that Don Gonzalo was an ill-natured man.

5.       Laura and Gonzalo create stories about themselves so that they can

a.       fool each other.

Ans: Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, “A Sunny Morning” they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. Laura and Gonzalo create stories about themselves so that they could fool each other. When they meet at a park, they are unknown and unwelcome to each other. Both of them express their share of emotions which are characteristic of their senile age. This story takes a twist when they share a pinch of snuff. They then mellow down to talk about interesting things. The reading of a poem “Twenty Years Pass” ensures that they were the star-crossed lovers once in their prime youth, but now destined to meet at a park. Though they have similar feelings, their grotesque and time worn physical appearances keep them their identities under cover. Digging into their past, they just create stories to fool each other so that they could continue on a new discovery of happiness.

Comprehension III

1.       Trace how the irony is built in the play. Did you guess the characters’ past even before they did so?

Ans: This is from the one act play “A Sunny Morning” written by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. This play has elements of humour and irony in it. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura are the protagonists who accidentally meet at a park as two strangers throwing banters at each other and eventually making amends.

Both of them at their old age show different disposition as the play opens. While she is feeding the birds, Gonzalo scares away the birds inviting Laura’s wrath involving verbal exchanges. She attacks him picking on his mannerism while Gonzalo tries to defend his actions. Ironically enough, a pinch of snuff irons out their differences. Then the book Gonzalo was reading takes them on a time trail into the past. Their references to the location and sequence of events and their association clearly hint that they were once lovers each other. It is ironical that they do not want to disclose their identities, for they fear that their unpleasantly changed looks could be deterrents in their newly found joy. The play has a beautiful plot with well-crafted characters and situations that one cannot guess the past of the characters before they actually do. 

2.       Why do Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo spin fictitious stories about themselves?

Ans: This is from the one act play “A Sunny Morning” written by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. This play has elements of humour and irony in it. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura are the protagonists who accidentally meet at a park as two strangers throwing banters at each other and eventually making amends.

 Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo make up their differences on sharing a pinch of snuff. From this point onward they soften in their tone and feeling towards each other. Talking about various things of their interest they stumble upon reading books. This paves the way for the next twist in their story. Dona Laura reads a poem from a book given by Gonzalo which surprises both of them that the two lovers of several decades that they were talking about were actually they, themselves. However, they do not want to disclose their true identities since they have lost the sheen of their early youth. They fear that it might be embarrassing to know about each other in real. So, they spin fictitious stories where Laura identifies herself as the friend of the Silver Maiden while he identifies himself as the cousin of Don Gonzalo.

3.       Bring out the feelings of Laura and Gonzalo as they leave the park. Is it different from what they felt about each other in the beginning of the play?

Ans: This is from the one act play “A Sunny Morning” written by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, they bring in the theme of long lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. This play has elements of humour and irony in it. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura are the protagonists who accidentally meet at a park as two strangers throwing banters at each other and eventually making amends.

Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo are overwhelmed with newfound joy. They are so thrilled by the same feelings that harboured their love several decades ago. Their urge to relive these moments is manifest, though they do not want to disclose their true identities. As they leave the park, they are keen to wait for the next sunny morning. Thus, a new spirit is infused into them in their twilight years.

Their feelings now are more amiable. When they know that they are the ones who treasured each other’s company in the past makes them yearn for their togetherness yet again. It is interesting to know that they try to fool each other creating a new story for each other over their deranged love story.

4.       What do you think would have happened I they had revealed their identity? Do you think they know who they are towards the end of the play?

Ans: This is from the one act play “A Sunny Morning” written by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura are the protagonists who accidentally meet at a park as two strangers throwing banters at each other and eventually making amends.

It is universal to a large extent that if secrets are kept, they keep the interest, spirit and excitement. Here again, on the same principle, the playwrights have anchored the protagonists from drifting towards each other with their true identities. The only deterrent, perhaps, is their age and looks. Both the characters fear revealing their true identities since they have lost their charming aspect of youth that had been their constant source of their love.

Had they revealed at all, it would only be regret for them which would either make them get closer or it could still spell a doom on them. Interestingly towards the end, they are sure who they are.

5.       How is the title  ‘A Sunny Morning’ justifiable? Discuss.

Ans: ‘A Sunny Morning’ is a beautiful one act romantic comedy. Serafin and Alvarez have spun the characters and situations so remarkably that they remain etched in our memories. This play which shuttles between past and present comes with youthful romance of the lead characters’ past and romantic aspects of love in the guise of new friendship for the veteran souls.

Here in this play, comedy takes precedence over romance which can be witnessed in the opening scene of the play. The comic sense of Laura is admirable when she quips at Gonzalo’s walking. “A carriage would not raise more dust than his feet.” Her words create such ringing laughter that they are delectable. When she asks him, “Do you use your handkerchief as a shoe brush?” adds to the perfect timing of comedy. The snuff bridges their rift; reading brings them yet closer; the poem takes them to their past love story. By now, they have a strong desire to get along well. They admire each other’s interests. The title is befitting considering ‘A Sunny Morning’ contrasting their late evening years. They just want to relive the past romantic moments when Gonzalo stoops with great difficulty to pick up the violets Laura dropped while leaving the park. 

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