NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 9 – If I Were You

Who is the main character in the play “If I Were You”?
Answer: The main character is Gerrard, a playwright, who lives alone in a cottage and is intelligent, calm, and quick-witted.

What is the play “If I Were You” about?
Answer: The play is a dramatic conversation between Gerrard and a criminal, where Gerrard smartly outwits the intruder using his presence of mind.

Who is the intruder in the play?
Answer: The intruder is a criminal on the run, trying to kill Gerrard and steal his identity to escape the law.

Why does the intruder want to kill Gerrard?
Answer: He believes Gerrard is a loner, so killing him and assuming his identity would help the intruder avoid capture by the police.

How does Gerrard handle the situation?
Answer: Gerrard stays calm and composed, uses clever reasoning, and tricks the intruder into believing that he too is a criminal.

What lie does Gerrard tell the intruder?
Answer: Gerrard pretends to be a criminal wanted by the police, making the intruder feel that killing him would only invite more trouble.

What does the intruder plan to do with Gerrard’s identity?
Answer: He wants to kill Gerrard, take over his home, clothes, and car, and live safely using his identity.

How does Gerrard trap the intruder?
Answer: He uses a mix of logic, courage, and quick thinking to confuse the intruder, then disarms and ties him up.

What qualities of Gerrard are revealed in the play?
Answer: Gerrard is shown as intelligent, witty, brave, and quick to act, which helps him escape a dangerous situation without panic.

Why is the title “If I Were You” appropriate?
Answer: The title reflects the intruder’s plan to become Gerrard, and Gerrard’s clever play on identity that saves his life.

What does the intruder learn at the end of the play?
Answer: He learns that crime doesn’t pay and is tricked by a smarter man, proving that violence is not the solution.

What is the central theme of the play?
Answer: The main theme is intelligence versus force, showing how wit and calmness can overcome even a life-threatening situation.

What role does dialogue play in this drama?
Answer: The play relies entirely on dialogue between two characters, which keeps the tension high and reveals their personalities and intentions.

What kind of setting does the play have?
Answer: It is set in Gerrard’s cottage, a simple and quiet place that becomes the scene of a tense encounter.

What lesson does the play teach us?
Answer: The play teaches us to stay calm in crisis, use presence of mind, and never underestimate the power of intelligence over violence.

How does Gerrard trick the intruder?
Answer: Gerrard fabricates a story that he is a wanted criminal and that killing him would only bring police trouble to the intruder.

How does the intruder react to Gerrard’s story?
Answer: At first, he is confused and suspicious, but Gerrard’s convincing tone and details make him believe the lie.

Why is the intruder ultimately defeated?
Answer: He is defeated because of his overconfidence and Gerrard’s ability to stay calm, manipulate, and act quickly at the right moment.

What does the play suggest about assumptions?
Answer: It warns against making assumptions about people, as the intruder wrongly believed Gerrard to be an easy target.

What shows Gerrard’s alertness during the encounter?
Answer: He notices every detail, stays observant, and never loses control. His questions and stories are all part of a clever plan.

Why doesn’t Gerrard panic?
Answer: He knows that panic leads to mistakes. His profession as a playwright might have also made him used to tense situations.

What is Gerrard’s profession?
Answer: He is a dramatist/playwright, which helps him think creatively and come up with a convincing false identityon the spot.

What does the intruder symbolize in the play?
Answer: He represents criminals who seek shortcuts, trying to escape consequences instead of facing reality or choosing honest work.

What does the ending of the play show?
Answer: It shows the victory of wit and reason over crime. Gerrard’s actions result in the intruder being defeated and captured.

Summarize the message of the play.
Answer: The play emphasizes the importance of intelligence, presence of mind, and how calm thinking in a crisis can outsmart even a criminal.