Summary of ‘The Luncheon’ by William Somerset Maugham

The Luncheon

(A model  Summary of the short story ‘The Luncheon’ by W. S. Maugham has been shared below. The story is taken as adapted in English For Today for Classes 11 & 12 by NCTB for the Higher Secondary students of Bangladesh)


Summary of the The Luncheon by W. S. Maugham

‘The Luncheon’, a charming short story of W.S. Maugham premises upon a restaurant visit by the narrator twenty years ago, in reception of a lady assumed to be an admirer of his arts. The narrator again hits upon the lady in a theatre later on and recalls the past story in his mind, while a formal conversation takes place between them.

The narrator recalls that he has been a bachelor residing in Paris, when the persuasive letter from the lady comes, proposing a lunchtime meet-up in the elite “Foyot’s” restaurant on her journey across the city. For the sake of their previous acquaintance through letters, the narrator could not deny the luring proposal. Although, he gets astonished later on to discover her as a woman of forty, imposing to be younger.
Just before their date, he has eighty francs for his all monthly expenses, and a modest lunch also should not cost more than fifteen. Moreover, the lady’s repetitive words “I never eat anything for lunch” give him enough hope at their arrival to the restaurant. But uttering these same words again and again the lady chooses costly salmon as the main dish, and other pricey items like caviar, champagne, asparagus etc. as side dishes. Ironically, she kept rebuking him for the cheapest mutton chop he has chosen, as an unhealthy choice.

This embarrasment from the lady leaves him totally penurious and suffering fianacially, as he possesses nothing to afford the rest of the month.

At last the author observes that the harrasments she has done on that day, though has made him suffer inescapably for the time, but has been revenged by the immortal gods on behalf of him. As the lady has now become morbidly obese weighing twenty one stones, it gives the narrator a complaisant satisfaction to observe her sufferings these days.


বাংলাদেশের HSC (এইচ.এস.সি.) পরীক্ষার্থীদের জন্য বলব, প্রথমত তোমাদের বইয়ে W. S. Maugham এর লেখা পুরো গল্পটি দেয়া নেই। দ্বিতীয়ত, তোমাদের পরীক্ষায় বইয়ে দেয়া পুরো The Luncheon গল্পটির উপরও summary লিখতে আসবে না, বরং, গল্পের একটি নির্দিষ্ট অংশ প্রশ্নে তুলে দিয়ে সেখান থেকে আসবে, এবং তা ৫০ শব্দের মধ্যেই লিখতে হবে । কাজেই তোমরা এই পুরো গল্পের summaryটি মাথায় রাখলেও, অবশ্যই যতটুকু তুলে দেয়া থাকবে প্রশ্নে, ততটুকুর summary লিখবে। নইলে হুবহু মুখস্ত করে তুলে দিলে শূণ্য পাবার সম্ভাবনাও উড়িয়ে দেয়া যায় না ।

Eating Habit and Hazards – The Luncheon : Word Meanings

Word

Synonyms

1. Habit (noun)
স্বভাব, অভ্যাস
Antonym: inexperience, dishabituation

practice, custom, pattern, routine, style, convention, policy, way, manner, mode, norm, tradition, rule, tendency, propensity, inclination, bent, proclivity, proneness, disposition, predisposition

2. Hazards  (noun)
বিপত্তি, বিরুপ প্রভাব, ঝুঁকি
Antonym: security, protection 

danger, risk, peril, threat, menace,difficulty, problem, pitfall, jeopardy, perilousness, endangerment, imperilment

3. Playwright  (noun)
নাট্যকার
Antonym: Not Applicable

dramatist, dramaturgist

4. Lucid  (noun)
সহজবোধ্য,  স্পষ্ট
Antonym: confused, delirious, incoherent, vague

transparent, clear, crystalline, colourless, diaphanous, immaculate, coherent

5. Admire  (verb)
প্রশংসা করা, তারিফ করা
Antonym: condemn, vilify, defame, disapprove of, loathe

applaud, praise, commend, approve of, favor, appreciate respect, hold in high esteem,
compliment, speak highly of

6. Luncheon (noun)
 মধ্যাহ্নভোজ, দুপুরেরখাবার
Antonym: Not Applicable

lunch, a formal lunch

7. Humor (noun)
মেজাজ, কৌতুকরস
Antonym: seriousness

mood, temper, disposition, temperament, state of mind, spirit

8.Irony (noun)
পরিহাস, বিদ্রুপ
Antonym: sincerity, logic 

sarcasm, sardonicism, cynicism, sharpness, acerbity, acid, bitterness, trenchancy, mordancy,

9. Lavish (adjective)
অতিরিক্ত খরচ করার প্রবণতা, টাকা উড়ানো, উদারচিত্ত
Antonym: meager, frugal, mean, scant

sumptuous, luxurious, luxuriant, costly, opulent, grand, elaborate, splendid, rich, regal, ornate, expensive

10. Expense (noun, verb)
খরচ, ব্যায়
Antonym: Income

cost, price, expenditure charge, outlay, fee, tariff, toll, levy, payment, amount, rate

11. Sight (noun)
দর্শন, নজর, দৃষ্টি
Antonym: oversight, invisibility

eyesight, vision, come into view, visual perception, observation

12. Beckon (noun, verb)
ইশারা, সংকেত দেয়া, ইঙ্গিতকরা
Antonym: Not Applicable

gesture, signal, wave, gesticulate, make a gesture, motion, nod, call

13.Interval (noun)
বিরতি
Antonym: continuity

intermission, interlude, entr’acte, interim, break, recess, pause, gap

14. Mention (verb)
উল্লেখ করা
Antonym: conceal, hide

allude to, refer to, touch on, hint at, raise, introduce

15. Hardly ( adverb )
কদাচিৎ, কষ্টকর, কঠিনভাবে
Antonym: fully, regularly

scarcely, barely, faintly, narrowly, slightly, rarely, little

16. Recognize ( verb )
চিনতে পারা, স্বীকার করা
Antonym: forget, overlook

identify, acknowledge, remember, recall, recollect, call to mind

17. Address (verb, noun)
সম্বোধন, পরিচয় করা
Antonym: avoid

evoke, summon, accost , speech, locatio

18. Brightly ( adverb )
উজ্জ্বলভাবে
Antonym: palely

glaringly, lively

19. Overlook (verb)
উপেক্ষা করা, মার্জনা করা, উচুহতে পর্যবেক্ষণ করা
Antonym: spot, notice, punish

ignore, miss, fail to notice, fail to observe, leave unnoticed, forgive, observe

 

20. Cemetery ( noun )
গোরস্থান, সমাধিকেন্দ্র
Antonym: Not Applicable

graveyard, churchyard, burial ground, garden of remembrance, bone-yard, tomb

21. Barely (adverb)
কোনমতে, কেবলমাত্র
Antonym: easily

hardly, scarcely, just, only just, narrowly, by a very small margin, by the narrowest of margins

22. Presently (adverb)
বর্তমানে
Antonym: pastly

at present, currently, at this moment, nowadays, these days, today

23. Afterwards (adverb)
ভবিষ্যতে, পরে
Antonym: before

later, later on, subsequently, then, after that, following that, next, eventually, after a period of time, in due course

24. Beyond ( preposition )
বহুদূরে, ব্যতীত, দূরে
Antonym: near, close, within

far, outside, the farther side of, behind, past, after, out of

25. Flatter (verb)
তোষামোদ করা, চাটুকারিতা করা, পটানো, পটে যাওয়া
Antonym: disparage, disdain

eulogize, false praise, persuade

26. Modest (adjective)
ভদ্র
Antonym: immodest, impolite, boastful, conceited, grand ,grandiose, flamboyant 

polite, decent, gentle, moderate, unpretentious, humble, unpresuming, unostentatious, free from vanity, keeping, 

shy, bashful, timid, reserved, retiring, media-shy, reticent, quiet, coy, blushing, meek, docile, mild, apologetic

27. Cut out (verb)
বাদ দেওয়া
Antonym: add

exclude, eliminate, rule out

28. Correspondence (noun)
পত্র বিনময় করে
Antonym: Not Applicable


29. Appearance (noun)
আবির্ভাব, উপস্থিতি
Antonym: disappearance, departure 

letter, mail, post, communication, similarity 


advent, presence, arrival, emergence, look, countenance, mien

30. Imposing (adjective)
মনোরম, প্রতারণাপূর্ণ
Antonym: unimposing, modest

deceptive, insidious, impressive in appearance, eye-catching, dramatic, spectacular, staggering, stunning, awesome, awe-inspiring, remarkable, formidable,splendid, grand, majestic, august, lofty, stately, dignified, resplendent

31. Rather (adverb)
বরং, ইহা অপেক্ষা বরং
Antonym: Not Applicable

more precisely, to be precise, to be exact, correctly speaking

32. Impression (noun)
প্রভাব, ছাপ
Antonym: Not Applicable

impact, influence, mark, reputation, suspicion, apprehension

33. Talkative (adjective)
বাচাল
Antonym: taciturn, reticent 

chatty, loquacious, garrulous, voluble, conversational, gossipy, chattery, chattering,communicative

34. Inclined (adjective)
উৎসাহ, আগ্রহপূর্ণ, ইচ্ছুক
Antonym:disinclined, unlikely 

disposed, desirous, enthusiastic, minded, willing, ready, prepared predisposed

35. Attentive (adjective)
মনােযাগী
Antonym: inattentive,inconsiderate

alert, awake, watchful, observant, perceptive, percipient, aware, noticing, heedful, mindful, vigilant, on guard, on the qui vive

36. Startle (verb)
হকচকিয়ে উঠা, চমকানো, আঁতেক ওঠা
Antonym: put at ease

surprise, frighten, scare, alarm, shock, amaze, perturb, unsettle, agitate, disturb, disconcert, disquiet

37. Anticipate (verb)
ধারণা করা,অনুমান করা
Antonym: lag behind, dread

expect, foresee, predict, forecast, prophesy, foretell, contemplate the possibility of, allow for, be prepared for

38. Generously (adverb)
উদার ভাবে
Antonym: greedily

kindly, magnanimously, benignantly

39. Caviare ( noun )
একপ্রকার মাছের ডিম
Antonym: Not Applicable

Not Applicable

40. Sink (p. Sank) [verb]
চমকানো, ধক ধক করা, ডুবে যাওয়া
Antonym: float

succumb, immerse, drown

 

41. Afford (verb)
সামর্থ্য থাকা
Antonym: unbearable

bear, sustain, stand, carry

42. Unwise (adjective)
মুর্খতাপূর্ণ, অবিবেচক, বোকামি
Antonym: wise, sensible

foolish, thoughtless, injudicious, goofy, ill-advised, imprudent

43. Promptly (adverb)
চটপট, তৎক্ষণাৎ
Antonym: late , slowly

instantaneously, quickly, swiftly, rapidly, speedily, fast, as soon as possible, ASAP, expeditiously 

at once, immediately, straight away, right away, without delay, without hesitation, forthwith, directly, instantly, instaby unhesitatingly

44. Proceed (verb)
অগ্রসর হওয়া, চলতে থাকা
Antonym: stop, discontinue

continue, begin, make a start, get going, move, go on, make progress

45. Digestion (noun)
হজম, পরিপাক
Antonym: indigestion

dissolution,assimilation, absorption, ingestion

46. Hospitable (adjective)
অতিথিপরায়ণ, বন্ধুত্বপূর্ণ
Antonym: inhospitable, unfriendly

welcoming, friendly, congenial, genial, sociable, convivial, cordial, gracious, amicable, amenable, helpful, accommodating, neighbourly, warm-hearted, kind, kind-hearted, generous, liberal, bountiful, open-handed

47. Effusive (adjective)
প্রবল ভাবে আবেগ প্রকাশ
Antonym: restrained

gushy, unrestrained, unreserved, extravagant, fulsome, demonstrative, lavish, enthusiastic, exuberant, ebullient

48. Amicable (adjective)
বন্ধুসুলভ
Antonym: unfriendly, hostile

friendly, good-natured, cordial, hospitable, courteous, polite, easy-going, neighbourly, brotherly, fraternal, harmonious, cooperative, civilized

49.Trifle (noun)
তুচ্ছ পরিমাণ, অল্প
Antonym: great amount, crucial

unimportant, unimportant thing, trivial matter, trivial thing, triviality, matter of no importance, thing of no importance, bagatelle, inessential

50. Pale (adjective)
ম্লান, বিবর্ণ, ফেকাশে
Antonym: bright, vivid

faded , flabby, discoloured, bleak, white, tarnished

51. Casually (adverb)
উদ্দেশ্যহীনভাবে, আকস্মিক ভাবে
Antonym: carefully

vainly, miraculously, without purpose

52. Forbidden (adjective)
নিষিদ্ধ
Antonym: permitted, legal

prohibited, banned, debarred, vetoed, not allowed, disallowed, illegal, impermissible, not acceptable, unauthorized, unsanctioned

53. Gaily (adverb)
ফূর্তিতে, সানন্দে
Antonym: miserably, sombrely,anxiously

merrily, cheerfully, cheerily, happily, joyfully, joyously, light-heartedly, blithely, jauntily, gleefully, with pleasure

54. Task (noun)
কর্মভার চাপানো, কাজ
Antonym: leisure

job, duty, chore, charge, labour, assignment, function, engagement, exercise. 

55. Wave (verb)
ইশারা করা, ঢেউ
Antonyms: Not Applicable

beckon, sign, gesture

56. Gesture (noun)
অঙ্গভঙ্গি করা
Antonym: Not Applicable

signal, posture, sign, hint, make a gesture, motion, wave, indicate, gesticulate

57. Conversation (noun)
আলাপ আলোচনা, কথোপকথন
Antonym: speech, oration

discussion, colloquy, talk, chat, gossip, head-to-head, exchange, dialogue, parley, conference

58. Horribly ( adverb )
ভয়াবহ, ভয়ংকরভাবে
Antonym: pleasantly, slightly

dreadfully, terribly

59. Often (adverb )
প্রায়ই
Antonym: seldom, rarely, never

frequently, many times, many a time, on numerous occasions, a lot, in many cases,repeatedly, again and again, time and again, over and over again, regularly, recurrently, continually, usually, habitually, commonly, generally, ordinarily,

60. Asparagus (noun)
শতমূলী, সবজি বিশেষ
Antonym: Not Applicable

Not Applicable

 

61. Giant (adjective, noun)
দৈত্য আকৃতির, বিশাল,
Antonym: tiny, miniature

huge, gigantic, monstrous, prodigious, demon

62. Watered (verb)
লালা ঝরা
Antonym: plain

dribble​, slaver, water

63. Priest ( noun )
ধর্মযাজক, পন্ডিত
Antonym: layman

clergyman, clergywoman, minister of religion, cleric, ecclesiastic, pastor, parson, churchman, father

64. Splendid (adjective)
চমৎকার
Antonym: modest, unimpressive, ordinary, indistinguishable, ,dreadful, awful, horrible

magnificent, sumptuous, grand, impressive, superb, spectacular, resplendent, opulent, luxurious, palatial, deluxe, rich, fine, costly, expensive, lavish, ornate, gorgeous, glorious, dazzling, elegant, handsome, beautiful

65. Tender (adjective)
কচি, কোমল
Antonym: hardy, hard-hearted, callous, unsympathetic, tough

delicate, soft, loving, affectionate fragile, breakable, frail

66. Least ( adjective )
ন্যূনতম
Antonym: greatest, most

slightest, smallest, minimum, minimal, minutest, tiniest, littlest

67. Sigh(ed) ( verb )
দীর্ঘশ্বাস ফেলা
Antonym: Not Applicable

Not Applicable

68. Panic (noun)
আতঙ্ক, ভয়
Antonym: calm, calmness, relax

fear, alarm, anxiety, nervousness, fright, trepidation, dread, terror, horror, agitation, hysteria, consternation, perturbation, dismay

69. Seize (verb)
পাকড়াও করা, বাজেয়াপ্ত করা, গ্রাস করা
Antonym: relinquish, liberate, release, ransom

grab, grasp, snatch, grip, clutch, take, pluck, arrest, occupy, confiscate

70. Appear (verb)
হাজির হওয়া
Antonym: disappear, vanish

come, arrive, visible, come into view, come into sight, materialize

71. Enormous (adjective)
প্রচুর, বৃহদাকার
Antonym: tiny, small

huge, vast, extensive, expansive, broad, wide

72. Succulent (adjective)
রসাল
Antonym: dry, shrivelled, unappetizing

juicy, luscious, lush, fleshy, pulpy, soft, tender, fresh, flavoursome, flavourful, tasty, delicious, delectable, palatable, toothsome

73. Appetizing (adjective)
মুখরোচক, ক্ষুধা উদ্রেককারী
Antonym: bland, unappealing, unappetising 

mouth-watering, inviting, tempting, tasty, succulent, delicious, palatable, delectable, flavoursome, luscious, toothsome

74. Tickle (verb)
কুতুকুতু দেয়া, আলতো স্পর্শ করা
Antonym: hurt, annoy

lightly touch, kittle, lightly prod, chuck

75. Nostril (noun)
নাক এর ছিদ্র
Antonym: Not Applicable

Not Applicable

76. Faintly (adverb)
দূর্বল ভাবে
Antonym: strongly, brightly, loudly, extremely 

indistinctly, softly, weakly, feebly

77. Ingratiating (adjective, verb)
তোষামুদে, উৎসাহে
Antonym: Not Applicable

Not Applicable

78. Blush (noun)
লজ্জ্বারূপ হওয়া, আরক্তিম হওয়া
Antonym: Not Applicable

flush, reddening, high colour, colour, rosiness, bloom

79. Peaches (noun)
এক ধরণ এর ফল
Antonym: Not Applicable

Not Applicable

80. Landscape (noun)
প্রাকৃতিক ভূদৃশ্য
Antonym: portrait

scenery, countryside, topography, country, land, terrain, environment outlook, view, panorama

 

81. Miserable (adjective)
শোচনীয়, করুণ
Antonym: happy,contented, luxurious,glorious, lovely 

unhappy, sad, sorrowful, dejected, depressed, downcast, downhearted, despondent, despairing, disconsolate, wretche, gloomy, dismal, melancholic, low-spirited, mournful, woeful, woebegone, doleful, forlorn, crestfallen, broken-hearted, heartbroken, inconsolable, luckless, grief-stricken

82. Inadequate (adjective)
অপর্যাপ্ত
Antonym: adequate, sufficient,competent

insufficient, not enough, deficient, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, sparse, too little, too few, short

83. Tip (noun)
বকশিশ
Antonym: Not Applicable

pourboire , point, top

84. Rested (verb)
নিশ্রান্ত, নিদিষ্ট দিকে তাকান
Antonym: spent,tried

placed, refreshed

85. Instant (adjective)
তাৎক্ষণি
Antonym: delayed, long-term

immediate, instantaneous, prompt, direct, swift, speedy, rapid, quick, expeditious, lightning, sudden, precipitate, abrupt

86. Mean (adjective)
নিকৃষ্ট, কৃপণ, হীনমর্যাদাপূর্ণ
Antonym: generous, extravagant, munificent, palatial

miserly, niggardly, close-fisted, parsimonious, penny-pinching, cheese-paring, ungenerous, penurious, illiberal, avaricious, Scrooge-like

87. Retorted (verb)
প্রতিশোধমূলক বা চতুর উত্তর দেওয়া
Antonym: Not Applicable

revenge,pay back

88. Humorist (noun)
রসিক,কৌতুকপূর্ণ
Antonym: Not Applicable

comic writer, comedian, comedienne, joker, jokester, clown, jester

89.Cab (noun)
ট্যাক্সি বা ঘোড়ার গাড়ি
Antonym: Not Applicable

cart , carriage, taxi

90. Vindictive (adjective)
প্রতিশোধ পরায়ণ
Antonym: forgiving 

vengeful, revengeful, avenging, unforgiving, grudge-bearing, resentful, ill-disposed, implacable, unrelenting, acrimonious, bitter, spiteful, mean-spirited, rancorous, venomous, poisonous, malicious, malevolent, malignant, malign, evil, evil-intentioned, nasty, cruel, unkind, ill-natured, baleful 

91. Pardonable (adjective)
ক্ষমা করা যায় এমন
Antonym: inexcusable, unpardonable

excusable, forgivable, allowable, condonable, minor, slight, venial, not serious, permissible

92. Observe (verb)
পর্যবেক্ষণ করা
Antonym: overlook, disregard, ignore, break

notice, see, note, perceive, discern, remark, spot, detect, discover, distinguish

93. Complacency (noun)
মনের আনন্দ ,প্রসন্নতা
Antonym: dissatisfaction

gladness, happiness, delight, smugness, self-satisfaction, self-approval

94. Weigh (verb)
ওজন হওয়া
Antonym: Not Applicable

heavy, measure, mass, load,

95. Stone (noun)
14 Pounds in Weight
Antonym: Not Applicable

(14 pounds, 6.35 kilograms)

 

Khulna University Admission Test Question 2018-19 : B-Unit : Set A

Question 40-44 : Read the excerpt from the play Nuroldiner sara Jiban by Sayed Shamsul Haq and answer the questions 40-42 :

[ প্রশ্নে প্রদত্ত কবিতাংশটি একটু দীর্ঘ, আমরা কেবল প্রয়োজনীয় অংশটুকু উদ্ধৃত করব, এবং পরীক্ষার্থীদেরও মনে রাখতে বলব, পরীক্ষার হলে পুরো কবিতা পড়ে সময় নষ্ট না করে আগে প্রশ্নগুলো পড়বে, যেন কোন কোন লাইন প্রশ্নের সাথে সম্পর্কিত তা আগেই বাছাই করে নিতে পারো ]

Get ready, ready, ready, ready, ready, wake and start up,
Look with careful eyes, listen with careful ears
Listen carefully, brothers mine.
[..]Nabab Sirajuddaulah has been defeated at Palassey,
The Gora [..] company rules the country now…
Look at his tricks, brothers mine.
I grow rice, I grow jute with blood-like sweat.
The Mahajan buys rice with the price of his sweet will….(translated by Khairul Haque Chowdhury)

Q.40 : Which of the following sets of words best describes the condition of rural people of Bengal during colonial India?
(a) misery, suffering, oppression
(b) suffering, hunger, merriment
(c) oppression, deprivation, cheerfulness
(d) deception, hostility, benevolence
Q. 41 : The figure of speech ‘blood-like’ in line 12 is an example of –
(a) metaphor
(b) simile
(C) hyperbole
(d) irony
Q. 42 : The excerpt presents Nuroldin who is –
(a) arrogant and headstrong
(b) cowardly and gullible
(c) concerned and committed
(d) clever and selfish

Answers :

Q. 40 এর উত্তর হল (a), কেননা অন্য তিনটি উত্তরের মাঝে একটি করে বিপরীতার্থক শব্দ রয়েছে, যা কবিতার বর্ণনা ও প্রেক্ষাপটের সাথে সঙ্গতিপূর্ণ নয়

Q. 41 এর উত্তর (b) simile, কারণ, simile সেই figure of speech যার ক্ষেত্রে দুটি একদম ভিন্ন বিষয় বা বস্তুর মাঝে explicit comparison অর্থাৎ প্রকাশ্য বা ব্যক্ত তুলনা ঘটে; এখানে blood like sweat শব্দ দুটির মাঝে like এসেছে এবং তার দ্বরুণ comparison টা explicit হয়ে গেছে যদি like শব্দটি না থাকত, তবে উত্তর হত (a) metaphor, এটি সেই figure of speech যার মাঝে as, like, as like as ইত্যাদি তুলনাবাচক শব্দ ব্যবহার করা হয় না।
বিস্তারিত দেখুন : A Glossary of Literary Terms by M. H. Abrams

Q. 42 এর উত্তর (c)