Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: The Fire (Class 5: Reference Study)

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: The Fire (Chapter 16): Question and Answers. Reference Study.

Question: What did Black Beauty’s master and mistress decide to do?

Answer: Black Beauty’s master and mistress decided to pay a visit to some friends who lived about forty-six miles from Birtwick Park.

Question: Why were Black Beauty and Ginger not at all harassed?

Answer: Black Beauty and Ginger were not at all harassed because James drove them very carefully and thoughtfully, to go uphill much of the way.

Question: Where did they stop for the night?

Answer: They stopped at a large hotel for the night.

Question: Where did James drive Black Beauty and Ginger to the hotel?

Answer: James drove them under an archway, into a long yard, at the end of which were the stable and the coach houses.

Question: Who came there to take them out? Describe them.

Answer: Two Ostlers came to take them out. The head ostler was a pleasant, active little man with a yellow striped waistcoat and a crooked leg. He unbuckled Black Beauty’s harness in a minute and with a pat and a good word he led Black Beauty to a long stable with six or eight stalls in it and two or three horses. The other ostler brought Ginger. Then they were rubbed down and cleaned.

Question: “I have forty years’ practice,” – Who said this and what was the fact for saying this? How was his practice and what was his ability to do after the practice?

Answer: The head Ostler said this when he was cleaning Black Beauty and Ginger skillfully and quickly.

He had looked after horses since he was twelve years old, and he told that it was a pleasure to handle such well-mannered and well-cared animals.

Just by handling a horse for twenty minutes, he could tell what sort of treatment they have had. He treats the horses as children and wanted to train them in such a way that would not depart from their good manners even when they were old.

Question: Who lounged into the stable while the second Ostler was cleaning another horse? What was his name? What did the second ostler ask him to do ?

Answer: A young man with a pipe in his mouth lounged into the stable to gossip.

His name was Towler.

The second Ostler asked Towler to go up into the loft and put some hay into that horse’s track.

Question: Describe Black Beauty’s experience of the fire ?

Answer: At a certain time of the night, Black Beauty was feeling very uncomfortable because the stable was full of smoke and it could hardly breathe. Ginger was coughing and one of the other horses was moving about restlessly. The trap door above Black Beauty was open and a low crackling and snapping sound came from it.

Question: Who first came into the stable once the fire broke out? What did he do and what was the horses’ reaction to it?

Answer: The second Ostler came into the stable first once the fire broke out.

He burst into the stable with a lantern and began to untie the horses to lead them out. But he was so frightened that none of the horses would go with him.

Question: “Come my beauties,” – Who said this? Who are the ‘beauties’? What did he want to do them right then?

Answer: James said this. The beauties he is referring to are – Black Beauty and Ginger.

He wanted them to be off from the stable.

Question: How did James rescue Black Beauty and Ginger?

Answer: James tied his scarf lightly over Black Beauty’s eyes and patting and coaxing him and led him out of the stable. He slipped off safe in the yard and darted back into the stable to get Ginger.

Question: Describe in detail the rescue of Ginger.

Answer: After rescuing Black Beauty, James slipped off the scarf and darted back into the stable to get Ginger. There was a lot of confusion and noise. Horses were being got out of other stables, carriages were being pulled out of their sheds in case the fire spread further. Black Beauty kept his eyes fixed on the stable door where the smoke was pouring out thicker than ever and he could see flashes of red light. He could hear the loud and clear voice of his master. Someone was calling James Howard. But there was no reply. There was a crash of something falling in the stable and the next moment he saw James coming through the smoke leading Ginger. Ginger was coughing violently and James was not able to speak.

Question: Why there were two fire engines ?

Answer: There were two fire engines because two horses were dashed into the yard.

Question: What did the master do to Black Beauty and Ginger after the accident?

Answer: The master got out the horses as fast as he could and took them to a large hotel on the other side of the marketplace. he told James to order whatever they needed and hurried back to their mistress.

Question: What made Black Beauty and Ginger feel bad?

Answer: As they went into their stalls they heard the shrieks of those poor horses who were left burning to death in the stable. It was very terrible and made both of them feel very bad.

Question: What was the cause of the fire?

Answer: It seemed the fire had been caused by Dick Towler’s pipe which he had left behind in the stable.

Question: What were the casualties of the fire?

Answer: The roof and the floor had all fallen in and only the black walls were standing. Two horses had burnt to death. So much damage had been caused by a little carelessness.

Question: When and where did they return?

Answer: They returned to Birtwick Park after a few comfortable days at the house of their master’s friend.

Question: Who was coming in James’ place and why?

Answer: Little Joe Green was coming in place of James. He was coming to look after Black Beauty and Ginger.

Question: Describe Little Joe Green.

Answer: Little Joe Green is fourteen and a half years old. He is short. He is quick and willing and kind-hearted too. He wishes to come and the master would like to try him out.

Question: Describe John’s life.

Answer: John was of the same age when his father died and left him and his crippled sister Nelly alone in the world. He was a farmer’s boy, not earning enough to keep himself, much less both of them. Nelly would have gone to the workhouse but for their mistress’ kindness. She hired a room for Nelly, gave her knitting and needlework to do when she could do it, and looked after her like a mother when she was ill. the master took him into the stable under old Norman could have refused to be bothered with a raw boy like him. The master treated him like a son. After the death of his master, he stepped into his place and having top wages, and Nelly is as happy as a bird.

Question: “Everybody look after himself, and take care of number one?” – Who said this to whom? What did the person’s opinion about this whom this has been asked?

Answer: James asked this to John.

John did not agree to this opinion of James. He said that what would have happened to Nelly and him if his master and mistress and Norman had only thought of themselves. What would have happened to black beauty and Ginger if James only thought of himself during the fire. They would have been roasted to death.

Question: How was Joe at work?

Answer: Joe came to the stables to learn all he could before James left. He was a nice, bright little fellow and always came whistling to work.

Question: How was James on the day for him to leave?

Answer: The day came for James to leave Black Beauty and Ginger. He looked quite down-hearted and everyone was sorry to lose him. Merrylegs pined after him and quite lost his appetite.

Question: What did John do to make Merrylegs all right?

Answer: John took Merrylegs out for several days for extra exercise in the mornings and he was soon all right.