THE MYSTERIOUS PICTURE
By CHARLES DE COSTER
Short Summary
The Mysterious Picture”, narrates the dilemma of Tyl Ulenspiegel a painter from Flanders. Tyl reached the court of the Archduke of Battenburg, riding on a donkey. When the Captain of the Guards heard that Tyl was a Flemish painter, he allowed him to enter the palace. The Archduke made him the court painter. He wanted Tyl to paint his portrait, along with all the courtiers. The Archduke asked Tyl to paint everyone as they were. But the courtiers demanded Tyl to paint them beautifully. Tyl was confused. In order to escape from being killed, he planned not to draw the picture at all. Tyl asked for more and more time to complete the picture. On the sixtieth day he gathered all the courtiers around him. He said that only those who had noble blood in their veins would be able to see the picture. To prove that they had noble blood, everyone pretended that they could see the picture. To Tyl’s surprise, the court-jester spoke the truth that there was no picture on the canvas. But before the secret spread far, Tyl escaped from the court, riding on his donkey.
Scaffolding Questions and Answers.
1. Where do the events in the story take place?
Answer : The events of the story took place in the palace of the Archduke of Battenburg
2 .Mention the two central char-acters you identify at this point?
Answer: Tyi Ulenspiegel and the Captain of the Guards are the characters at this point.
3. What do you understand about the character of Tyl? Is he a serious man or one with a sense of humor? How do you know this?
Answer: Tyl is person who wanders from court to court. He is a man with a good sense of humor. His appearance and mannerisms make us think so.
Answer: Tyl is person who wanders from court to court. He is a man with a good sense of humor. His appearance and mannerisms make us think so.
4. Is there a change in the attitude of the Captain? What is the reason behind it?
Answer: Yes, because the Captain of the Guards understood that Tyl was a Flemish painter.
5. The language used by Tyl when he speaks to the Archduke shows his respect for him. Pick out a few instances which show this.
Answer: The words, “May, Your Highness pardon me. I might lay it at your noble feet.” shows Tyl’s respect for the Archduke.
6. What does Tyl wish to become?
Answer: Tyi wished to become the court painter.
Answer: Tyi wished to become the court painter.
7. Do you think Tyl and his donkey are hungry? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The donkey was not hungry as it was fed fairly well all along the way. But Tyl had nothing to eat for the last three days.
8. What does the Archduke want Tyl to do?
Answer: The Archduke wanted Tyl to paint his portrait so as to leave his memory to his descendants.
9. What does the sentence, ‘We do not know when God will think fit to summon us,’ mean?
Answer: lt means we do not know when we will die.
10. Why does Tyl feel unhappy?
Answer : Tyl was unhappy because the Arch-duke asked him to paint him alone without the courtiers in the portrait.
Answer : Tyl was unhappy because the Arch-duke asked him to paint him alone without the courtiers in the portrait.
11. Who is compared to the moon and the lanterns?
Answer: The Lord and the Lady are compared to the moon and the courtiers are compared to the lanterns.
12. What were the demands of the Archduke and the courtiers in painting their pictures?
Answer: The Archduke demanded Tyl to paint all the courtiers as such. But the courtiers demanded that he should make them more attractive than they actually were.
Answer: The Archduke demanded Tyl to paint all the courtiers as such. But the courtiers demanded that he should make them more attractive than they actually were.
13. Why did Tyl think that if he painted the picture, he would definitely be killed?
Answer: If he painted the picture as directed by the Archduke, he might be killed by the courtiers. If his picture satisfied the whims of the courtiers, he might be killed by the Archduke.
14. What will Tyl do to save himself from being killed?
Answer: He will perhaps - Not to paint the picture or paint the picture as the courtiers had demanded.
or paint the picture as the Archduke had instructed.
Answer: He will perhaps - Not to paint the picture or paint the picture as the courtiers had demanded.
or paint the picture as the Archduke had instructed.
15. How did Tyl manage to stay in the court for long? How many days did he finally get to complete the picture?
Answer: He kept on saying that the picture was nearing completion and he needed some more days to complete it.
16. What is special about the picture?
Answer: There was no picture at all. Tyl told lies to the courtiers that only those who have noble blood can see the picture.
Answer: There was no picture at all. Tyl told lies to the courtiers that only those who have noble blood can see the picture.
17. Is the jester a mere fool? Why do you think so?
Answer: No, he is not. He is the only one who told the truth.
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Activity 2 - CONVERSATION
Construct a conversation between the Captain of the Guards and Tyl, at the gate. (4 exchanges)
Answer
Captain : Hei there, you fellow on the donkey, stop there
You and your donkey look like skeletons.
Tyl : May God bless you sir Captain ! I am very hungry.
Captain : Where do you come from?
Tyl : From Flanders.
Captain : What do you want?
Tyl : I would like to show His Highness, the Archduke, one of my paintings. I am a painter.
Captain : Well, If you are a painter and if you come from Flanders, you may come in.
Tyl : Thank you sir.
Answer
Captain : Hei there, you fellow on the donkey, stop there
You and your donkey look like skeletons.
Tyl : May God bless you sir Captain ! I am very hungry.
Captain : Where do you come from?
Tyl : From Flanders.
Captain : What do you want?
Tyl : I would like to show His Highness, the Archduke, one of my paintings. I am a painter.
Captain : Well, If you are a painter and if you come from Flanders, you may come in.
Tyl : Thank you sir.
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Activity 3 - PROFILE WRITING
CHARLES DE COSTER
Charles De Coster the famous Belgian writer was born in Munich in 1827. His masterpiece is ‘The Legend of Tyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak’ published in 1867.It is a 16th-century romance, which is not read in Belgium. But it gained popularity all over the world. It is considered as one of the classics in Belgian Literature. He is known as the father of Belgian literature. He died in 1879.
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Activity 4
The courtiers did not want to be portrayed in the picture in the manner they really looked like. Complete the following table by revisiting the story.
Answer -
DIARY
What a fool the Archduke is ! I have really be-fooled him. But he could not understand it. For two months my companions and myself were feasting. How tasty the wine and meat were! The courtiers and the Duke were competing to find out who the worse fool was! Anyway, people like me will always have a chance in this world. The only thing is that I have to try another role next time. I am too happy to sleep tonight!
First bell 2.0 Online Class 4 - July 13, 2021
Activity 4
First bell 2.0 Online Class 5 - July 23, 2021
First bell 2.0 Online Class 6 - July 30, 2021
First bell 2.0 Online Class 7 - August 17, 2021
After reaching home, Tyl wrote his diary. How would that diary be?
Monday 25 June 2020
Monday 25 June 2020
A Fantastic Day!
What a fool the Archduke is ! I have really be-fooled him. But he could not understand it. For two months my companions and myself were feasting. How tasty the wine and meat were! The courtiers and the Duke were competing to find out who the worse fool was! Anyway, people like me will always have a chance in this world. The only thing is that I have to try another role next time. I am too happy to sleep tonight!
Activity 6
Character Map
What are the words that the author uses to describe the Captain of the Guards?
The captain of the Guards is a tall, well-built and red haired man. He is twenty-five years of age. He looks handsome in his gold braided uniform. He does his duties well and he likes paintings too.
Character map of Tyl
The character of Tyl appears in the story 'The Mysterious picture'. He was a Flemish painter. He wandered from court to court on his donkey named Jeff. He was slim and looked like a skeleton. He always wore a cap with three feathers on it. He was cunning and tricky. He had a sense of humour. He valued his own freedom ad creativity.
Character map of the Archduke
The character of the Archduke appears in the lesson. 'The Mysterious Picture'. He was the ruler of the Dukedom of Battenburg. He loved his painting and artistry. He liked feasting. He ate heartily. He was extravagant. He spent too much money and gold for painting the portrait. He hoped to shine like the moon surrounded by the lanterns. He was a fool who had no ability to think. That's why he never questioned Tyl even when he found that there was no picture o the wall.
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Activity 7
Friendly / Personal Letter
Tyl during his stay in the palace of the Archduke of Battenburg, wrote a letter to his wife. How would that letter be?
Battenburg
15 June 2020
15 June 2020
My dear Angela,
Parting is not new for you. After our marriage in 2000, I have gone on tour many a time. Most of the time, I have taken you too. But this time I came alone because I wanted to take advantage of the foolish Duke of Battenburg. He has been leading a very luxurious life and has been spending lavishly on arts and paintings. If this situation continues, our country will perish economically. So I am going to teach him some lessons to make him think about his luxury. I hope that I will succeed in my attempt. I shall return after two months. Praying for your good health, I remain.
With love
Sd/-
Tyl
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First bell 2.0 Online Class 4 - July 13, 2021Follow up Activities
Activity 1
Question How many times did Tyl salute the Archduke?
Tyl saluted the Archduke three times and stood before him with his head bowed.
Activity 2
Read the part " The captain knew that Flemish painters and their pictures ....... ..... .... treat it like one of my animals " from the story Mysterious Picture and answer the following questions.
While speaking to the Archduke, Tyl always uses highly respectful language.
For example,
‘May, Your Highness pardon me for my rashness in thinking that one of my paintings will please Your Highness.’
How would this be said in day-to-day conversation? (page 25)
Answer
What we might say (less formal)
1. Please pardon me for thinking that one of my paintings will please you.
2. I have painted it specially for you.
3. I hope that this picture will please you.
4. I wish you will make me the court painter.
5. Sir, please remember me and my donkey.
6. I have been dreaming of dining with you.
7. Sir, you're very generous.
Activity 3
Rewrite the conversation between Tyl and Archduke using informal language.
Activity 4
Suffixes (പ്രത്യയം) A suffix is a letter or a group of letters attached to the end of a word to form a new word or to change the grammatical function.
- '-s' , '-ed' , '-ly'
Plural forms
Feather + -s = Feathers
Loafer + -s = Loafers
Example - moments, pictures, works, paintings, robes, cheeks.
Past / past participle forms of verbs
Attract + -ed = attracted
Dance + -ed = danced
Example - embraced, painted, bowed, looked, continued, impressed, presented
Adverbs
smart + -ly = smartly
handsome + -ly = handsomely
Example - certainly, curiously, recently
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First bell 2.0 Online Class 5 - July 23, 2021Follow up activities
Reading section - Before long, supper was served and it was like a wedding feast........ It will forever burn in your honour.’
New Words - flush, satisfaction, ancestors, descendants, summon, accompany, adorn, rival, splendour, chivalry, valour, lantern. (refer to the dictionary - ഡിക്ഷണറി ഈ ബ്ലോഗിൽ കൊടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ട്. ആ ഡിക്ഷണറി ഉപയോഗിച്ച് വാക്കുകളുടെ അർഥം കണ്ടെത്തുക )
1. What was the demand of the Archduke ?
Answer: The King demanded that the court painter should paint his portrait so that he could have the satisfaction of leaving his memory to his descendants. He too should have his place in history along with the noble ancestors whose portraits adorned those walls.
2. What does the sentence ' We do not know when God will think fit to summon us', mean?
Answer: It means we don't know when we will die.
3. Did Tyl accept his demand readily? Why did Tyl feel unhappy?
Answer: No, Tyl felt unhappy because the Archduke asked to make his portrait without the courtiers in it.
4. Who are compared to the moon and lanterns?
Answer: The lord and the lady are compared to the moon and the courtiers are compared to the lanterns.
Assignment -
5. Imagine that he writes a letter to his friend describing his warm welcome and unexpected good luck at the palace of the Archduke of Battenberg. Write the likely letter.
Informal/friendly letter - (Features of a friendly letter is given in the discourse section of this blog)
(ഈ ബ്ലോഗിലെ ഫീച്ചർസ് സെക്ഷൻ സന്ദർശിക്കയുക )
The Palace of Battenberg
Battenberg
7 July 2021.
Dear friend,
How are you? Hope everyone is fine there. I would like to tell you a piece of good news. I am staying at the palace of the Archduke of Battenberg. Yes, I have become a Court Painter In the course of my wandering from court to court, I reached the palace of the Archduke of Battenberg. As I reached the gate of the Palace the Captain of the Guards stopped me. I told him that I am a painter and I come from Flanders. Thus I got an opportunity to enter the Palace and impress the Archduke. I showed one of my paintings, the Virgin’s picture to the Archduke. He liked it very much. He even embraced and kissed me on both cheeks and made me the Court Painter. I had a delicious supper. It was like a wedding feast indeed! Tables were loaded with every kind of food. Wine flowed like water. He expressed his desire to paint him along with his courtiers so that he could have the satisfaction of leaving his memory to his descendants. I have to fulfill his desire. I am busy now. I shall write to you later.
Convey my regards to all.
With love,
sd/-
Tyl.
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First bell 2.0 Online Class 6 - July 30, 2021Entry activity - Reading of the letter written by Tyl to his friend.
Reading Section -The next day Tyl asked the Archduke to allow him to see all the courtiers who were
to be painted along with him. ..................... ‘Should Your Lordship see the painting now, you would not be satisfied with it,’ he said. (para 8-12)
After listening to the announcement of his highness, the courtiers came one by one
1. Who was the first to come?
Answer: The Commander-in-Chief of the army.
2. How did the Commander-in-Chief look like?
Answer: He was a short fat, bald man with an enormous paunch.
3. What did he whisper in Tyl's ear?
Answer: He whispered in Tyl’s ear that when Tyl paint his picture, he should remember to make him look handsome. If he did not make his stomach look flat, He would have him hanged.
4. Who was the next to come?
Answer: An elderly lady came next. She had a large hump on her back.
5. What did she say?
Answer: She addressed Tyl, Sir painter, and told him softly to make her look young and beautiful. And if he didn’t remove the hump on her back and supply what she lacked in beauty, she would have him torn to pieces.
6. Who came next?
Answer: A young lady, who was the companion of the Duchess, came in as soon as the old lady left.
7. How was the young lady? What did she say?
Answer: She was young and pretty, but had lost three of her front teeth in an accident. She warned Tyl that if in her picture she didn’t see herself smiling, with a perfect set of pearly teeth, she would have him cut into small bits by her lover.
8. Who is her lover?
Answer: The Captain of the Guards.
9. What kind of portrait did the Archduke want? And what will he do if Tyl disobeyed?
Answer: He wanted the portrait to be perfect in every detail. Tyl should paint all his courtiers exactly as he sees them. And If Tyl left out a mole, a pimple, or a single grey hair, he would have Tyl slaughtered like a pig.
(Tyl was in dilemma. He thought his death was sure in both cases. So he decided not to paint the picture at all. But He knew he has received 100 gold coins in advance. Therefore, he should think of another plan. The following day he asked the Archduke for the hall where he was to paint the picture. He was shown a large room with bare walls. Tyl asked for thick curtains to be hung on the walls)
10. Why did Tyl ask for thick curtains?
Answer: He wanted his painting to be protected from flies and dust.
11. What was his next need?
Answer: He asked for three assistants to help him in mixing colours.
12. How many days did the Archduke give Tyl to finish the painting?
Answer: Thirty days.
(For thirty days Tyl and his assistants feasted themselves on the choicest dishes and drank the finest wines.)
'The Archduke thrust his nose in through the door.'
What does this phrase mean?
In fact, it's an Idiom
IDIOM - An idiom is a word or a phrase that means something different from its literal meaning.
ഇത് ആലങ്കാരികമായ ഭാഷ പ്രയോഗമാണ്. തന്നിരിക്കയുന്ന വാക്കുകളുടെ അർത്ഥമല്ല അത് ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നതു.
To thrust one's nose in(to) something means to involve or insert oneself in a noisy manner into something that is not one's business or responsibility
(മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ കാര്യങ്ങളിൽ അനാവശ്യമായി നമ്മുടെ പ്രെസെന്സ ഫീൽ ചെയ്തുകൊണ്ട് ഇടപെടുക )
Here the Archduke was so eager to see the painting. So without knocking on the door or even without calling him. He directly rushed in through the door. Tyl sends him away saying he wanted another fortnight to finish the painting. The Archduke was impatient.
13. When did the Archduke come again?
Answer: After another 14 days. (on the forty-fifth day)
Once again the Archduke poked his nose in through the door.
What does this phrase mean?
Answer: It has a similar meaning as thrust one's nose in(to) something - to involve or insert oneself in a noisy manner into something that is not one's business or responsibility.
Again Tyl requested the Archduke that he needed more time. He disappointed the Archduke.
14. Did the Archduke grant his request?
Answer: The archduke granted him fifteen more days. But with a warning.
15. What was the warning?
Answer: The Archduke said, He should either complete the picture within fifteen days or he should show him the unfinished picture then.
16. What did Tyl promise the Archduke?
Answer: Tyl said that only a few minor details remained to be filled in and he promised the Archduke that the picture would be completed within fifteen days.
17. Did Tyl draw anything? Do you think the Archduke would forgive him?
Answer: Both the answers are 'No'.
Now Tyl needs to find a way to escape from the wrath of the Archduke. He thought of a plan.
Assignment: Imagine that Tyl scribbled his thoughts in his diary. Write the likely diary entry of Tyl? (സങ്കല്പിക്കുക, റ്റിൽ അദ്ദേഹതിന്റെ മനസ്സിൽ വന്ന ചിന്തകൾ ഡയറിയിൽ എഴുതി. അത് ഏതായിരിക്കും?)
Features of a diary entry
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First bell 2.0 Online Class 7 - August 17, 2021Answer -
Likely Diary entry of Tyl
5 July 2021, Tuesday
10.45 pm
I'm quite confused... didn't get a proper plan yet. What will I tell the Archduke tomorrow? He will not grant me any more days. That is for sure. I can't even imagine what he will do if he comes to know that I haven't drawn the picture. What will I do now? I merely wasted all the days I got to finish the portrait. Oh God! Have mercy on me. Give me an idea to overcome this difficulty. What did I return to the generosity that His Highness shower on me! But.. how could I paint that picture? If I painted it in real, the courtiers would murder me...if not, His Highness would kill me. So it was better not to draw it at all. I'm Tyl... would find out a way to overcome this dilemma. I hope I would get a plan by tomorrow. What I need now is proper sleep. I will deal with it tomorrow.
Tyl is missing... what might have happened? Let's read and find.
Reading section - Tyl and his companions enjoyed themselves for yet another fortnight......................the feathers in his cap danced in the gentle breeze.
1. What was the last favour Tyl asked for?
Answer: He wanted the Archduke to order all the courtiers to assemble in that room.
2. What warning did tyl give the courtiers in his speech?
Answer: Tyl warned the courtiers that he had done something very special in that picture. Only those who had noble blood in their viens would be able to see that painting. All the rest, regardless their rank or position, will see nothing but a blank wall.
3. Tyl flung the curtains aside. What does the word 'flung' mean?
Answer: Fling: to throw or push something with force. (flung Past tense fo the verb fling)
4. What is the meaning of the word 'admiration'?
Answer: A feeling of respect for somebody/ something.
5. What does the word 'acquaintance' mean?
Answer: A person that you know but who is not a close friend.
6. Character Sketch - read Activity 6 - above class 4 - July 13, 2021 (മുകളിൽ കൊടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ട് )
Activity 4. Read the following paragraph and fill in the table below.
The Archduke ordered all the courtiers to assemble in the hall. Tyl addressed them, 'My Lord, ladies and gentlemen, the picture is ready. You will now be able, as I draw the curtains, to see how well I have done my work. You can all admire my work. But I must warn you that there is something very special about this picture. Only those among you who have noble blood in your veins will be able to see this painting.
The underlined words are either nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases.
Noun Phrase - a noun phrase is a word or group of words containing a noun. A noun phrase can function as a subject, object, or prepositional object.
The Archduke ordered all the courtiers to assemble in the hall.
Subject position - The Archduke
Object position - all the courtiers
Prepositional object position- the hall.
Assignment - Write the noun phrases and their positions
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